It’s been a month of uncertainty for many Bay Area workers facing state and local stay-at-home orders, but construction sites have been particularly confusing places to be. And things got a little more complicated this week. Top Bay Area health leaders on Tuesday updated the region’s existing shelter in place order, extending it to May 3 and...
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South Bay cannabis shops can no longer sell recreational weed on-site under new order
Santa Clara County’s cannabis dispensaries will no longer be allowed to sell recreational marijuana at their shops under a new stay at home order issued by top health officials this week. It’s a reversal from a decision a few weeks ago that allowed the shops to stay open for both recreational and medicinal customers —...
South Bay taxi and rideshare drivers grapple with coronavirus shutdown
It’s a good day when Shakur Buni manages to get three fares a day as a taxi driver. Since Santa Clara County has ordered residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, rides have dwindled for taxi drivers in San Jose. The number of taxi trips at the Mineta San Jose...
Coronavirus: South Bay distilleries working to ease sanitizer shortage
When shortages of cleaning supplies and protective equipment were first announced across Silicon Valley in response to the coronavirus, San Jose distiller Virag Saksena realized he already had all the tools to help. The CEO of the 10th St. Distillery in San Jose halted production of his award-winning whiskey two weeks ago and pivoted to producing an...
Silicon Valley officials, tech giants launch program to help residents pay rent
A group of local government, business and philanthropic leaders have launched a program that will help pay rent for low-income residents in Santa Clara County who have had their lives financially upended by the coronavirus. The program, part of the Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System, is being led by Sacred Heart Community Service, which...
Paying it forward: How coronavirus has inspired generosity in San Jose
Despite the growing fear and anxiety from the rapid spread of the coronavirus and shelter-in-place orders across the Bay Area, a slew of local business owners are stepping up to make things a little brighter. Tony & Alba’s, a family-run San Jose gem that serves pizza and pasta, last weekend offered free pizza and free...
Silicon Valley cities launch new coronavirus initiatives as companies step up
Silicon Valley government and nonprofit leaders on Wednesday launched a new initiative, called Silicon Valley Strong, to centralize coronavirus resources for residents and small businesses. Those leaders also called on residents and companies to step up with their time, energy and perhaps most importantly, money. But across the Bay Area, organizations have already begun to...
San Jose: Cisco to pay $4.75M for salary discrimination claim
San Jose-based Cisco Systems Inc. will pay $4.75 million to employees after the U.S. Department of Labor found the local tech giant had paid female, black and Hispanic employees less than male and white employees for comparable work. In an agreement announced Monday, Cisco will soon pay a total of $2 million to 1,505 affected...
San Jose bars serve their last cocktail amid coronavirus shutdown
Like other San Jose watering holes, San Jose’s Britannia Arms in Almaden has temporarily closed its doors following the health mandate from Santa Clara County and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request. On Sunday, Newsom asked all state bars, nightclubs, wineries, and brewpubs to close in an increased effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants...
Coronavirus takes toll on San Jose small businesses
When Sean Yang was in college, he bussed tables at the San Jose sushi bar Kazoo. Now, some 28 years later, he owns the place. But since the coronavirus pandemic began, what he suspects is fear of the virus has caused a significant dip in business. He wonders how long his restaurant can tough it...