i'm eric thomas. it looks almost like business at usual before the pandemic. things are definitely picking up, maybe a little bit too much and the city has taken notice of the large crowds outside the bars. lauren martinez has our story. >> today was definitely the busiest i have seen on chestnut street. >> there is a lot more people coming out i feel like as the weeks progress. >> reporter: retails sales are up at california wine merchant where they converted their window into a sanitizer station. >> this barrier helps. i'm the only one in the shop. we're doing a lot of deliveries as well. people are extremely grateful for that. >> reporter: close by on union street, there were groups of people, but nothing compared to this line in front of a bar on chestnut street on friday night. >> we have our table. people can't come in. we have our to go menus everywhere. >> reporter: john owns four bars. the blue light is the only one open. pina seller. >> at least they can have a semivacation. >> reporter: pol

thanks for joining us, i'm eric thomas. the mayor of livermore is outraged over the judge's decision. in an open letter he wrote the suspect is now living in one of our neighborhoods. >> my number one priority is the safety of my community. >> reporter: the livermore mayor penned this letter friday soon after judge thomas reardon released 61-year-old gregory vien. he faces several sexual assault charges including rape. >> reporter: this month the california judicial council began moving towards setting bail at zero for low level felonies. vien's lawyer clarified her client was not released under this new emergency bill. >> reporter: in a statement to abc 7 news, vien's lawyervien'sr to be clear, mr. vien was not released pursuant to the emergency bail schedule. however, in light of the covid-19 pandemic and mr. vien's unique personal and medical circumstances, i argued that his bail should be reviewed. she didn't clarify his medical condition. vien must wear an ankle bracelet but mayor marchand says that is not enough. >> i

eric thomas is live in downtown santa rosa tonight with today's first day, eric, of curbside service. >> reporter: and, dan, it was limited in more ways than one. as we drove through downtown santa rosa, we didn't find a whole lot of shops that reopened curbside or not, fat d wer hopg bunel pickp. >> if we coul tnkyou h the firse mid-march that customers could visit the citrus vape store. there's tape marking the required six feet of social distance and even how far you can reach over the table. >> when this all started i really feared that i would have to let a lot of people go. i didn't want to do that. hem squeak by.nline sales and randall doesn't think business will returning to normal any time soon, but curbside should mean extra revenue after governor newsom announced the easing of restrictions around the state, sonoma county alerted local businesses. >> businesses included in this category are something like bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, for example. >> reporter: timothy patrick jewelers was one of the stores offering a walk-up window er's orderopen. >> i haven't been

good evening, i'm eric thomas. the group is home from new york city, and some say the return flight was among their biggest fears. there was no social distancing. abc 7 news reporter, luz pena is live with the story for us. >> this was precisely the concern that several doctors had prior to boarding this flight, the 737, after 215 people and according to passengers it was packed. >> please maintain a distance of at least 6 feet. >> this is the constant announcement that fills the halls at sfo. unlike this empty airport, inside this united flight from newark, new york city, to san francisco, every seat was packed. >> how close were you to people on that flight? >> i guess it was packed. we were sitting three in a row, like six in a row, and it was full packed. >> on board, 25 medical professionals coming back home to san francisco after two to four weerks of working on the front lines of new york city. ethan wise told abc 7 he was concerned about this scenario during a six-hour flight. >> i'm scared of getting on th

i'm eric thomas. abc 7 news continues tomorrow morning at 4:30. for dion, the weather's perfect... family is all together and we switched to geico; saved money on our boat insurance. how could it get any better than this? dad, i just caught a goldfish! there's no goldfish in this lake. whoa! it's pure gold. we're gonna be rich... we're gonna be rich! it only gets better when you switch and save with geico. ♪ feel like getting back out there? nissan is ready to help you with a bold, award-winning lineup. and great offers. kick off summer... with no payments for 3 months. plus, we'll cover your payments for up to 2 more months. or get 0% financing on 13 models for up to 84 months. ♪music) (john h.) all right, america. let's play big balls. come and get me, ballsy! (john a.) that's right. 24 competitors are about to hit the field and fall headlong into a battle for $50,000... i'm okay! on the world's most extraordinary obstacle course. ugh! i'm blue!

i'm eric thomas. thanks for joining us. three of the government's top doctors are also in self quarantine tonight because of possible exposure to the coronavirus. and more on that story right now. >> it is scary to go to work, you know, it's a small crowded place. it's a little bit risky. but you have to do it because you have to serve your country. >> in less than 48 hours, this past week, two white house staffers tested positive for coronavirus. first, the president's personal valet on thursday. then on friday, the vice president's press secretary, katie miller, now three key members of the coronavirus task force are following their own recommendations, self-isolating after possible exposure to covid-19 at work. dr. anthony fauci, the country's leading infectious disease expert, starting what he calls a modified quarantine, after testing negative for the virus, mostly working from home. >> the cdc director dr. robert redfield, determined who to have had a low risk exposure on wednesday. he along with fda commissioner dr.

i'm eric thomas. the fire destroyed one warehouse and narrowly missed burning a historic ship. abc 7 news reporter lauren martinez is live in the newsroom with more on this. lauren? >> reporter: eric, the historic pier is critically important to the fishing industry and to tourism in the bay area. these industries are already trying to get by because of the pandemic and now this. >> everyone want to back out? this thing's really taking off. >> reporter: in the heart of san francisco's fishing industry, pier 45 at fisherman's wharf was engulfed in intense flames. >> we'll be going defensive on this fire. >> reporter: 150 firefighters battled the fire from the ground and the water. one of them taken to the hospital with severe cuts. the fire was reported around 4:40 and took nearly eight hours to contai fishermen.rts we're adhe was nooss of life. >> reporter: the pier, built in 1926 i splstruures. one was dtroyed. it houses museum space, office space, and storage units for fishermen and seafood companie

in richmond, eric thomas, abc 7 news. >>> a lot more to come. with now know it's key in our road to reopening. a major change in how we test for covid 9, what stanford researchers say they are developing, a look at what it could be, next. >>> plus, the 12-year-old boy who came to town for an emergency organ transplant, then a pandemic hit. how he and his family have been coping ever since. >>> also here, the future of the grocery store. see if you can guess what new trend shoppers i do motivational speakingld. in addition to the substitute teaching. i honestly feel that that's my calling-- to give back to younger people. i think most adults will start realizing that they don't recall things as quickly as they used to or they don't remember things as vividly as they once did. i've been taking prevagen for about three years now. people say to me periodically, "man, you've got a memory like an elephant." it's really, really helped me tremendously. prevagen. healthier brain. better life. we saw the earthquake grace in bold was offering a grant progr

i'm eric thomas. in it won't be a return to normal but in a joint announcement officials promised to ease some restrictions in almeda, contra costa county, sant mat, santa clara, san francisco and marin counties. separately, napa, and solano counties have already eased guidelines on what now can be open while governor newsom says the rest of the state is closed to more modifications to the stay-at-home order. with all of the different guidelines we wanted to give you some clarity about what is open and answer some of our top viewer questions. abc 7 news reporter chris reyes has the details. >> reporter: when it comes to what is open on monday, the answer is a lot of yes, but, and let's start with the rule across the board in the bay area. >> construction projects can resume. so can real estate transactions. outdoor businesses like landscaping and nurseries can get back to work. marcus zerban owns a landscaping company in san francisco. he is jumping for joy that he made the cut. >> tomorrow, we're abl

in antioch, eric thomas, abc7 news. >> there is a very slim chance of rain in the seven-day forecast. you're more likely to notice gusty winds. spencer explains when and where next. >>> and the "wheel of fortune" great american cities series features san francisco and the bay area every night this week at 7:30. it's right after that could mean an increase byin energy bills.. you can save by setting your heat to 68 or lower... unplugging and turning off devices when not in use... or just letting the sun light your home. stay well and keep it golden. that liberty mutual customizes your insurance, i just love hitting the open road and telling people so you only pay for what you need! [squawks] only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ dad, i'm scared. ♪ it's only human to care for those we love. and also help light their way. it's why last year chevron invested over $10 billion to bring affordable, reliable, ever cleaner energy to america. ♪ >>> moved up and ahead of schedule. you are looking live at caltrans work on 101 in san francisco near alp emany b

abc7 news anchor eric thomas shows us exactly what that experience was like. >>disinfecting from floor to soda machine is the easy part. now that the mall is let me ge? >> eager shoppers lined up a little too closely outside a shoe palace store inside the mall. that prompted repeated warnings from the manager. >> they will shut us down. i have no control of that. >> and at 11:00, when they opened. >> 29, 30. and that's what we're going to hold it right now. >> a maximum of 30 people were allowed in initially. william pham was first. he says the people waiting were getting a little frustrated. >> at first it was okay. maybe when it gets closer to go, it got a little hectic. >> shop. >> 31 and 32 had to wait until two customers left, and they were not happy about folks in line standing so close. >> we're not going make foolish decisions. we're going stay our six feet. but that's on them. >> the sneaker store was the only really busy business inside. masks ma. the food court is open but some chairs have been removed to keep diners farther apart. the mall itself i

i'm eric thomas. your health, children's education and the changing workplace. as well as your money. all issues we're focusing on in our effort to build a better bay area. tonight, the economy. looser restrictions go into place tomorrow in marin, san francisco, and san mateo counties for some businesses, and those counties in green, much of the north bay, is already in phase two. while almeda and contra costa countys say they will begin to move on to the next phase very soon. santa clara county has no date set to begin phase two. we begin our coverage with abc 7 news reporter jr stone who went to marin county. >> we're going to do everything we possibly can to make it right. put our best food forward. >> from tom melvino who owns a o men's apparel shot in marin county and will be back to work on monday as phase two allows retail stores to open with curbside pickup. >> i think people will come. and if they cane walk to the window and we can do something through the door, through the window, that would

eric thomas has more on the difficulties facing both. >> restaurants are relentlessly resourceful. >> all are not created equal. >> we are determined as a restaurant comment in napa to do it right, and safe. >> the latoke restaurant has been shut down since march. franks is trying to ready the place for a june opening, they will miss memorial day opening. >> we won't make money for a while. >> the money he does make will likely be locals, it will take a while for tourist business. >> for us, it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. >> co-owner of the wines in napa. they are not yet allowed to reopen. he gave his landlord the okay to renovate the place. he has had to rely on the mpp loans, to pay workers, and wave good bye to memorial weekend. >> ordinary, the memorial weekend is one of the two busiest times. >> memorial day and labor day are two of the biggest of the year. we are capacity here, 34 people, typically on a weekend like that we are at full capacity. >> the same for many neighboring businesses. chuck hopes to reopen in phase three of the governor's plan. until th

eric thomas explains. >> reporter: the county says it is not an essential business. the suit filed in federal court says according to the criteria laid down by governor newsom it is and the state takes precedent. the suit claims "alameda county irrigated the power to force the closure of businesses that state government had ordered could stay open." musk and the county sparred over whether the company could stay open in mid march but with some parts of the state loosens restrictions that kept businesses from operating, alameda county forbids tesla from resuming work. the suit says that violates due process and equal protection claulzs of the constitution and says "the county's orders should be declared void and without legal effect." county officials are trying to find middle ground. >> he just needed to give us another week to get this done right to make sure that his employees came back safely. >> reporter: musk has local supporters, fremont's mayor issued this statement saying "the city encourages the county to engage with our local businesses to come up with acce

. >> i'm eric thomas. sky 7 was over the scene as the warehouse smoldered and firefighters continued to pour water on it. it shows how large it was and how close it came to spreading to the ss jeremiah o'brien. this is what it looked like. you can see the iconic sign in this video with the flames billowing in the distance. cornell bernard has been following the story all day and joins us live now with an update on the investigation. cornell? >> reporter: eric, this fire officially contained just hours ago, although we are seeing some smoke coming from the fire scene. the fire happened at a warehouse at the rear of pier 45. it was destroyed, but the famous world war ii liberty ship, jemi this monster fire. several people on board at the time escaped. the flames were intense, jumping 100 feet into the early morning sky. a warehouse at pier 45 at fisherman's wharf fully engulfed. >> it's a huge fire. >> reporter: people from across the city captured video of the blaze. 150 firefighters battling to put it out.

in napa, eric thomas, abc7 news. >> that is so challenging for so many businesses. more than two dozen counties have been approved by the state to move further into phase 2, and we've highlighted them right here. so far napa county is the only one in the bay area, but sonoma and solano counties have applied for what the state calls regional variances. so very slowly, step by step, we are heading into whatever the new normal is. kristen? >> all right. and as some of those napa dine-in places open, spencer, it's going to be tempting for people to go, because it's going to get warmer and warmer over the holiday weekend. >> you're right, kristen. it's going get a lot warmer. tempting to me because i'm such a wine lover myself. but i think i'll be staying at home this weekend. here is a look at live doppler 7. we have sunny skies across the bay area right nouch it's pretty breezy out there. earlier out there the wind was fairly gentle. surface wind speeds 13 to 26 miles per hour in san francisco. and that of course is stirring up all those irritants in the air that bothe

here is abc7 news ankle or eric thomas. >> social bubbles are n included in governor newsom's phase 2 reopening plan. but in a news conference today, he said that could soon change. >> it's a dynamic process, and all of this will begin to change. every single point of reference specific and general is reflected in that stay-at-home order. we expect to change. so the answer is yes, we expect that to change, by definition. >> translation, we're looking at it. >> it feels good to have some space. >> oakland'sde and her husband brought their 3-year-old son out to lake merritt to kick the ball around this holiday weekend. if done safely. >> a louing small groups of friends to hang out could be a good thing. >> we are opening to that possibility. i think i feel like a lot of people are starting to do that. they've sheltered in place for eight weeks, nine weeks, and they're starting to feel like a bubble, as people call it is starting to feel appropriate. >> people have different names for it. your squad, your cohort, your bubble. but it all comes down reconnecting with people in your life.

. >> abc7 news anchor eric thomas reports. >> this is the cell phone video from america's heartland that's inflaming passions across the country. it shows a minneapolis police officer with his knee planted on the neck of 46-year-old george floyd, who is being arrested on forgery charges. witnesses say the officer kept his knee there for seven minutes, even after floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe. >> i think i thought of what every hardworking police officer quite frankly think, and i was appalled. >> eddie garcia took to twitter to make his feelings known. his tweet says in part, what i saw happen to george floyd disturbed me and is not consistent with our goal of the mission. >> as leaders in law enforcement, when we see something that we know in our hearts is wrong, we can't remain silent. >> in minneapolis, protests over the death of floyd, a black man, in a confrontation with white police officers, have escalated over several nights with demonstrators breaking windows and setting fires, and police firing rubber bullets to disperse them. >> the video is extremely disturbing. i c

eric thomas reports from the east bay. ♪ even if my heart hurts now >> while pursuing a music degree, she did what a lot of us do, waited tables until she was laid off. >> it's extremely painful. >> then lost her apartment and moved back in with mom in el cerrito. >> i have been on my own since 17 years old and i don't want to have to rely on other people. >> but layoffs are a way of life under covid-19. here are just a few bay area based companies that have announced big job cuts recently. uber is laying off 3700 workers. lyft is cutting 982 positions. airbnb laying off 1900 people. and we don't know how many local workers are affected at those three companies. we do know that the oakland a's are laying off nearly 800 people. the san francisco giants cutting 1200 jobs, and bon appetit restaurant is laying off more than 1500 workers in san francisco. >> i think in the short-term there are going to be some sectors that are going to have trouble coming back, even under the best public health response. >> uc berkeley and economics professor jesse rothstein says that includes restaurants

eric thomas, abc7 news. >> tough and will get tougher. california's economic recovery task force is co-chaired by tom steyer. the san francisco billionaire and former democratic presidential candidate. we spoke with him on midday live today about the balance between health and the economy. >> everybody wants to preserve each other's health and lives, and i think that when people understand how impactful it is to follow those protocols, people are going to buy into it and people in california are going to keep each other safe. >> the protocols he mentioned include social distancing, wiping down distances and wearing masks, as you've heard many times. abc7 news is partnering with iheartradio to help support local businesses being hit so hard during this pandemic. thousands of bay area stores and services are still open offering to help with essential needs, and many are hiring as well if you're looking for a job. go to abc7news.com to find resources. just click on support the bay. >>> drive-by parades have become a common sight, but there i

i'm eric thomas. >> and i'm dion lim. "abc7 news" reporter cornell bernard joins us live from san francisco with more on how families celebrated during this covid-19 pandemic, and they certainly got creative, cornell. >> reporter: yeah, they really did, dion. mother's day definitely being reimagined. no outings or long brunches, but families making the best of it, even if they couldn't be in the same room. greg smith and his sister are hanging out with their 89-year-old mom, margaret. >> happy >> reporter: marg laret is sendg love and heg hugs from afar. margaret lives here, where visitors are not allowed due to covid-19. greg says the last time the family was together in the same room was christmas. >> this is rsurreal. but we got to be with her, which is what counts. >> reporter: the police department tweeted these pictures, mother's day treats, flowers, cards, and coffee for its working moms on duty. it's mother's day brunch to go here on santana row in san jose. the staff, happy to be busy, filling phone orders for fo

to anchor eric thomas live in downtown santa rosa with a logistic at things there. eric? >> larry, santa rosa is the county seat of sonoma county. so if there was going to be any place with a lot of businesses reopening on a limited basis, you could figure it would be right here. but finding them was more miss than hit. >> just get your signature there, please. thank you so much. >> it's the first time since mid-march that customers have been able to visit the citrus vape store for their smoking and vaping needs. curbside pickup only and there is tape marking the sidewalk of six feet of social distance and even when you can reach over the table. >> when this all started i really feared that i would have to let a lot of people go. and i didn't want to do that. >> online sales and delivery provided just enough revenue to let them squeak by. randall doesn't think business will return to normal any time soon, but curbside should mean some extra revenue. after governor newsom announced the easing of restrictions around the state, sonoma county alerted local businesses. >> busi

live in oak lands, eric thomas, abc 7 news. >>> eric, be careful, okay. >>> let's turn back to on the phone, mayor sam liccardo, the mayor of san jose. sam, are you there? >> i am. >> thanks for coming on again. we appreciate it. when we spoke with you last, these protests were quite peaceful in san jose. things have changed considerably. what are your thoughts? >> well, they have taken a turn. we know we've seen an assault on an officer. we sent to the medical center. seen some damage. obviously the officers have stepped in and not going to tolerate violence, nor should they. i think they're showing an enormous amounts of restraint. most of the protesters are peaceful but some are trying to provoke. there have been a lot of fireworks being thrown at the officers. there are various objects being thrown at them and the officers are showing a lot of restraint. they're going to wait this out and be as patient as they need to be. >> they did make a decision to move the protesters and take control of intersections. do you have any idea why they decided to do that? >> primary focus is just

abc7 news news anchor eric thomas reports from oakland. >> the church is essential. the people of god are essential. >> about 40 clergymen and women from all over the state held a news conference in the parking lot of oakland's baptist church to argue that the governor's order banning churches during the coronavirus outbreak is not only government overreach, it also puts people's mental health at risk. >> you get suicide. you get depression. you get mental problems. >> one by one, the religious leaders stepped up to the mic to ask why grocery stores could be open but houses of worship could not. >> can't we reopen under the same conditions that the stores and supermarkets, marijuana clinics, tattoo parlors are opening under? >> both bishop barber whose diocese covers 85 churches in alameda and contra costa county and bishop bob jackson whose church holds 4,000 parishioners say they already have protocols in place including masks, seating to keep parishioners six feet apart and cleaning and disinfecting of pews after every service. some say they plan to reopen on may

eric thomas reports from the east bay. ♪ even in my heart hurts now well i won't ♪ >> while pursuing a music career in southern california, emily stein did what a lot do, she waited tables until laid off. >> it's extremely painful. >> then lost her apartment and moved back in with mom in el cerrito. >> i'm a young adult, and i've been on my own since 17 years old, and i don't want to have to rely on other people. >> but layoffs are currently a way of life under covid-19. here are just a few bay area-based companies that have announced big job cuts recently. uber is laying off 3700 workers. lyft is cutting 982 positions. airbnb laying off 1900 people. and we don't know how many local workers are affected at those three companies. we do know that the oakland a's are laying off nearly 800 people. the san francisco giants cutting 1200 jobs, and bon appetit management is laying off more than 1500 workers in san francisco. >> i think in the short-term, there are going to be some sectors that are going to have trouble coming back, even under the best public health response. >> uc berkeley p

in sacramento, eric thomas, abc7 news. >>> my coworkers are in danger. their health and safety is in danger, and amazon refuses to help out. >> this is what it looked like from sky 7 at the amazon distribution warehouse in richmond. a small group appeared outside to protest what they say are inadequate measures being taken to protect them during the pandemic. amazon says health and safety are their top priority, and they're spending $800 million on safety measures. >> so far today, we've sheltered in place for 46 days here in the bay area. new rules take effect on monday and will last for the rest of this month. the stay-at-home order did come up again today during the governor's daily press conference in sacramento. abc7 news anchor dan ashley joining us live now. and dan, the governor hinted that changes could be coming and perhaps coming pretty soon? >> yeah, he did indeed, larry. and it certainly injects a needed dose of optimism. but it also comes with an equal measure of caution. tonight the governor is talking about easing restrictions in a matter

abc7 news anchor eric thomas with a closer look. >> do you see it? >> there are four of them. >> they started off as just specks on the horizon. [ cheering ] then came the distant roar of powerful jet engines. finally, the whoops and yells of appreciation from the people being honored. >> i've never seen a jet that close before. to see them fly that low and that slow is absolutely amazing. >> four f-15 eagle fighter jets from a fresno air national guard squadron flew over a number of hospitals in the bay area and elsewhere to honor the doctors, nurse, paramedics, and police officers on the front lines of caring for people with covid-19. >> i think it's really tremendous that they would pause and recognize the work that has gone on in california with health care workers. >> to make sure that everyone had a chance to see on this cloudy wednesday, the planes flew low and slow, about a thousand feet in altitude, a little more than 300 miles an hour. benjamin bonnes, the flight surgeon even made the trip to richmond to admire the flyover. >> my hat's off

in walnut creek, eric thomas abc7 news. >>> the city of pittsburgh is offering early retirement incentives to try to offset millions in lost revenue because of the virus. according to the east bay times pittsburgh is facing a $7.2 million revenue shortfall. the early retirement program will be offered to employees 55 years of age and older who have worked for the city for at least five years. officials say they'll save about $875,000 if 25% of its eligible employees take the package. >>> this year's alameda county fair has been canceled. organizers are calling it off because of covid-19, obviously. it was scheduled to run from june 19th until july the 12th. it's the first time the fair has been canceled in 108 years. >>> the department of motor vehicles will actually reopen select field offices across the state tomorrow. 25 offices will be reopened including five in the bay area. concord, oakland, clermont, the san francisco fell street office, the senter road location and the office in santa rosa. today we spotted crews getting the concord office ready. the offices will assist customers w

i'm eric thomas. >> and i'm dion lim. we begin tonight with an economic rally to reopen. your money, health, children's education and the changing workplace are all top issues we're focusing on in our effort to build a better bay area. abc 7 news reporter cornell barnard joins us live now from livermore where people rallied today to get the city back to business. and cornell, you heard from a lot of business owners there. >> yeah, dion and eric, we certainly did. many business owners say they are fighting for survival. they say reopening their doors really needs to happen sooner than later. >> open up! open up! >> reporter: dozens of people rallied in downtown livermore to support small businesses, urging local leaders to allow them to reopen. >> livermore was nothing before these businesses came in. and to let them sit here and fall to the wayside blindly is not okay with me or my family. >> we're hurting. we've had zero revenue for two months now. >> reporter: darren and andrea liggett own anytime fitness gym. they believe they can safely reopen their doors now. >> peop

i'm eric thomas. >> i'm dion lim. now to the coronavirus pandemic and how it could lead to a legal battle for one bay area county. it was a fierce barrage of tweets by tesla ceo elon musk. he says he's suing alameda county over the shelter in place order that doesn't allow tesla to resume manufacturing operations and he may not stop there. >> reporter cornell barnard is live in fremont with the story. cornell? >> reporter: yes, eric and dion, things are moving very fast this afternoon. abc 7 news learned that elon musk indeed filed an injunction against alameda county to allow this plant to reopen. musk is also threatening to relocate the entire operation to another state. >> the last thing i want to see them do is leave. >> alameda county supervisor scott haggerty doing damage control following a firestorm of tweets from elon musk. clearly, unhappy about not being able to resume manufacturing operations at his plant in fremont. tesla is filing a lawsuit against alameda county immediately. the unelected and ignorant i

i'm eric thomas. >> and aye dion lim, wishing you a happy mother's day wherever you happen to be. abc7 news reporter cornell bernard joins us live now in san francisco with more on how families celebrated during this covid-19 pandemic. hey, cornell. >> hey, dion, mother's day definitely different this year, to say the least. no long brunches, no outs. but many families making the best of it, even if they couldn't be in the same room. >> it's your day, mom. >> greg smith and his sister are spending mother's day hanging out with their 89-year-old mom. >> happy mother's day. >> thank you. >> the balcony is as close as margaret can be these days. she is sending love and hugs from afar. >> sorry we can't be in a nice warm household. but this is a lovely place to be. >> margaret lives in vibrant park senior village in walnut creek where visitors are not allowed dow to covid-19. the last time the family was together in the same room was christmas. >> this is surreal. but the thing is we got to be with her, which is what counts. and we'll look back on it fondly, perhaps. >> the concord po

. >>> i'm eric thomas. it was scenes like this one in oakland last weekend that drew the ire of officials. they're warning people to follow the guidelines or else the restrictions may not be lifted. abc 7 news reporter cornell barnard to see if people were behaving a little better this weekend. he's live in san francisco. cornell, what did you find? >> eric, many say it's been so tough staying indoors for so long. a popular place to be today, marina green. we saw a lot of people out and about on both sides of the bay. luckily, no large gatherings, though. >> you getting antsy? >> a little bit, yeah. >> reporter: seven weeks at home has been a long time for roxana rojas. she's not alone. lake merrick was crowded with folks getting sun and exercise on saturday. >> the lake is one of the few places that counts as a place to be allowing us to walk because a lot of the parks are closed. >> last week it looked like pre-covid 2019. not much social distancing happening. it prompted the mayor to send a warning. give

i'm eric thomas. >> and i'm dion lim. abc 7 news reporter cornell bernard joins us live in fremont now with what we know about the suit's claims. cornell? >> reporter: yeah, dion, alameda county has made it very clear tesla cannot operate during the shelter-in-place order despite restrictions being eased, so today tesla went to court filing a lawsuit alleging that alameda county violated its due process and equal protection under the law. now tesla's elon musk is threatening to move this entire operation out of the state. >> the last thing i want to see them do is leave. >> reporter: alameda county supervisor scott hagerty damage control saturday following a firestorm of tweets from tesla's ceo, elon musk, clearly unhappy about not being able to resume manufacturing operations at his plant in fremont. saturday afternoon tesla filed this lawsuit in federal court seeking an injunction against alameda county to allow the company to resume operations. >> we're really focused on trying to save lives, but i'm also laser focused

abc7 news anchor eric thomas spoke with him yesterday and said he doesn't regret putting that idea out there. >> you don't think people would be calling for your head afterwards? >> not calling for my head, no. i got my first death threat today, so i guess i made it big time. >> i saw it and very appalled and then i thought somebody that represents antioch. >> city council member wilson leading the charge for his removal. the city council will meet in special session today for a vote. >>> couples in california can now legally get married remotely. governor newsom signed an order through video conference instead of in person. zoom weddings earlier this week. in california brides and grooms can get marriage licenses from county clerks as long as both are in the state. the license can then be issued through an e-mail. governor newsom's order is in effect for 60 days. >>> cities in the east bay are moving ahead with plans to get at least some of their homeless out of the streets because of this pandemic and that includes using brand-new trailers from the state. abc7 news reporter laura ant

eric thomas reports from the east bay. ♪ even in my heart hurts now well i won't ♪ >> while pursuing a music career in southern california, emily stein did what a lot do, she waited tables until laid off. >> it's extremely painful. >> then lost her apartment and moved back in with mom in el cerrito. >> i'm a young adult, and i've been on my own since 17 years old, and i don't want to have to rely on other people.

abc7 news anchor eric thomas shows us exactly what that experience was like. >>disinfecting from floor to soda machine is the easy part. now that the mall is let me ge? >> eager shoppers lined up a little too closely outside a shoe palace store inside the mall. that prompted repeated warnings from the manager. >> they will shut us down. i have no control of that. >> and at 11:00, when they

. >>> that's it for abc 7 news at 5:00, i'm eric thomas. >> as we head to break we want to take a final look at the protest in san francisco. we know it is over mission dolores park where the protesters are making their way in one direction as to know where, that is to be determined. we'll see you right back here at 6:00 with the latest updates. >>> tonight -- america on edge, as violent protests erupt across the country and the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the nation. >>> rage in the streets. the intense scenes from coast to coast. in minnesota, the national guard fully mobilized for the first time in history, following the death of george floyd. a police officer charged with his murder. fires igniting in the night sky. new protests breaking out today in philadelphia. thousands of protesters clashing with police in new york city. in atlanta, the cnn center attacked. in detroit and in california, deaths tied to the protests. >>> and the investigation into floyd's death. his family calling for an independent autopsy. more serious charges and new arrests for the three other offi

. >> i'm eric thomas. we'll see you right back here at 11:00. ♪ >> hey, bay area. it's time to share some amazing stories and feel good. we could all use some inspiration right now. and you've come to the right place. this show is all about good food, good people, and good living. ♪ today, cool face masks. graduation caps are being put to good use. >> people are really grateful for what she's doing. it's really a cool thing to see. >> and sign me up. diy cookie kits delivered right to your front door. >> people will order, and i will either deliver them, or we can ship them, as well. >> then drawing on walls.? oh, yeah, it's allowed in this house. >> this is a great opportunity to get creative. >> also, front-line workers get some much deserved love. >> i drew, "we'll get through this, america." >> plus, say, "cheese!"

abc7 news news anchor eric thomas reports from oakland. >> the church is essential. the people of god are essential. >> about 40 clergymen and women from all over the state held a news conference in the parking lot of oakland's baptist church to argue that the governor's order banning churches during the coronavirus outbreak is not only

i'm eric thomas. >> and i'm dion lim. we begin tonight with an economic rally to reopen. your health, children's education and the changing workplace and your money all issues we're focusing on in an effort to build a better bay area, and tonight it's the economy. abc 7 news reporter cornell bernard report from livermore where some rallied to get the city back to business. >> reporter: many small businesses tell me they are fighting for survival. they say reopening their doors needs to happen sooner than later. dozens of people rallied in downtown livermore to support small businesses, urging local leaders to allow them to reopen. >> livermore was nothing before these businesses came in, and to let us let them sit here and fall to the wayside blindly is not okay with me or my family. >> we're hurting. we've had zero revenue for two months now. >> reporter: darin and andrea own anytime fitness gym. they believe they can

i'm eric thomas. >> and i'm dion lim. abc 7 news reporter cornell bernard joins us live in fremont now with what we know about the suit's claims. cornell? >> reporter: yeah, dion, alameda county has made it very clear tesla cannot operate during the shelter-in-place order despite restrictions being eased, so today tesla went to court filing a lawsuit alleging that alameda county violated its due process and equal protection under the law. now tesla's elon musk is threatening to move this entire operation out of the state. >> the last thing i want to see them do is leave. >> reporter: alameda county supervisor scott hagerty damage control saturday following a firestorm of tweets from tesla's ceo, elon musk, clearly unhappy about not being able to resume manufacturing operations at his plant in fremont. saturday afternoon tesla filed this lawsu

. >> and i'm eric thomas. the shelter in place orders for much of the bay area are loosening tomorrow. all construction projects can resume, but must comply with new protocols. outdoor businesses can reopen like landscaping and garden centers, but they're required to follow social distancing requirements. child care can expand beyond families of essential workers to families who work in outdoor businesses. other things you'll be able to do is go car washing. cornell barnard joins us with that part of the story. cornell? >> hey, eric, these days it's the little things that matter. so starting tomorrow, most folks in the bay area can get a car wash, and then play a round of golf if they want. workers are making last-minute equipment repairs to the shinology car wash in mill valley. lots of towels need folding too. the shelter order forced car washes to close. but on monday, soap bubbles will be foaming again. >> we return to work after a month and a half, and we happy to beba

i'm eric thomas. >> and aye dion lim, wishing you a happy mother's day wherever you happen to be. abc7 news reporter cornell bernard joins us live now in san francisco with more on how families celebrated during this covid-19 pandemic. hey, cornell. >> hey, dion, mother's day definitely different this year, to say the least. no long brunches, no outs. but many families making the best of it, even if they couldn't be in the same room. >> it's your day, mom. >> greg smith and his sister are spending mother's day hanging out with their 89-year-old mom. >> happy mother's day. >> thank you. >> the balcony is as close as margaret can be these days. she is sending love and hugs from afar. >> sorry we can't be in a nice warm household. but this is a lovely place to be. >> margaret lives in vibrant park senior village in walnut creek where visitors are not allowed dow to covid-19. the last time the family was

. >> and i'm eric thomas. it's a moment retailers are counting on and a step closer to the life we used to know. >> so what exactly does entering phase 2 mean? it includes child care for those outside of the essential workforce. it allows manufacturing companies to resume business as well as limited services like dog washing and car washes. plus, some offices where telework isn't possible can reopen. phase 2 also allows for curbside retail pickup. following all of the changes is abc7 news reporter cornell bernard who joins us in san francisco with more. cornell? morrow cannot come fast enough. for many retailers, a chance to finally greet customers in person and generate some sales. but not everybody is celebrating tonight. some business also not be allowed to reopen. >> the most important monday probably in the last many years in san francisco. >> david parry from the san francisco chamber of commerce says monday will be big. the day many

. >> i'm eric thomas. with the pandemic, our efforts to build a better bay area are focused on four key areas right now -- health, education, the changing workplace, and the economy. today we focus on the economy as more counties in the bay area enter deeper into phase 2 of reopening. on friday, santa clara became the last county to reopen, so the entire bay area is now green, but with some counties farther along than others. outdoor dining has resumed this weekend in parts of the north bay. cornell bernard went to sonoma county today. he is life in santa rosa. cornell? >> yeah, eric, memorial day weekend usually packed with people up here in sonoma wine country. outdoor restaurants and wineries like kendall jackson packed. obviously not the case this year, but starting today, some doors are reopening. and a lot of folks anxious to get back to normal. >> it's all brand-new. so we're all learning kind of together so bear with us. >> kendall jackson winery taking lots of

. >> i'm eric thomas. abc 7 news continues tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. and there will be of course extended coverage of any problems in the bay area that may result from protests or what -hi, america. -hey, there, america. -hi, america. -hi, america. during this crisis... over 37 million people... don't have access... to nutritious foods. but there is a way we can all help. with feeding america. their network of 200 food banks are up and running. distributing food to people and communities they serve. across the country. please visit feedingamerica.org... to locate a food bank in your community. -together... -together... -together... -let's feed the love. ♪ (john a.) it's mind vs. muscle, america... (stretches) ah! give a shout out to muscle beach! yeah, buddy! ha ha ha! in this very special brains vs. brawn edition of "wipeout." 12 brainiacs... i work with d.n.a. 12 bodybuilders... what are y'all waitin' for? going toe to toe against the most extraordinary obstacle course ever assembled. only three of our mightiest and brightest competitors will advan

eric thomas, abc7 news. >> harsh words there. >>> take a look at this, late last night musk tweeted, quote, i'm not messing around saying his constitutional civil liberties are being violated. our coverage of the pullout continues with cornell bernard detailing the company's threat to leave california. >> the last thing i want to see them do is leave. >> reporter: alameda county supervisor scott haggerty doing damage control saturday following a firestorm of tweets from tesla ceo elon musk, clearly not happy about not being able to resume manufacturing operations at his plant. >> we're focused on trying to save lives and i'm laser-focused on trying to get people back to work. >> reporter: earlier musk tweeted, frankly, this is the final straw. he will move headquarters to texas and nevada immediately. even if we retain fremont activity at all, it will be inheoe nt howreated maki ce have a huge factory and trying to get production back on but at the same time trying to make sure it's safe for community as well. >> reporter: the mayor appearing to side with musk saying in a statement,

abc7 news anchor eric thomas spoke with him yesterday. >> you didn't think people would call for your head afterwards? >> not calling for my head, no. i got my first death threat today, so i guess i made it big time. >> i saw it and very appalled and this is somebody that represents antioch. >> oh, okay. city council member monica wilson is leading the charge for his removal. the council will meet in special session today for a vote. >>> special ambassadors in brightly colored shirts will be at lake merritt this weekend to make sure that people are physically distancing themselves. >> the lake is getting a little crowded and we are not seeing the kind of social distancing that we have got to be practicing while we are still under these health orders. >> signs will also be up to remind everyone about the she shelter at-home order. she will be at lake merritt handing out masks this weekend. >>> sausalito will track down on nonessential travel and in response to visitors who crowded the town last weekend. police will issue citations to anyone violating the rules. citations carry fines of

eric thomas, abc 7 news. >>> late last night, musk tweeted "i am not messing around." saying his constitutional civil liberties are being violated. our coverage of the potential pullout continues with abc 7 news reporter cornell bernard detailing the company's threat to leave california. >> the last thing i want to see them do is leave. >> reporter: ama me da county supervisor scott haggerty doing damage control following a firestorm of tweets from elon musk, clearly unhappy about not being able to resume manufacturing operations at his plant in fremont. >> we're really focused on trying to save lives but i'm also laser focused trying to get people back to work. >> reporter: earlier, elon musk tweeted "frankly, this is the final straw. tesla will now move its headquarters to future programs to texas and nevada immediately. even if we retain fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how tesla isedn e skndure to resume making electric cars and bring 14,000 employees back to work. >> he's got a huge factory and you know, trying to get production back

abc7 news anchor eric thomas spoke with him yesterday and turnage said he doesn't regret putting that idea out there. >> you didn't think people would be calling for your head afterwards? >> not calling for my head, no. i got my first death threat today, so i guess i made it big time. >> i saw it and i was just very appalled and this is somebody that represents antioch. >> city council member monica wilson is leading the charge for tu turnage's removal. >>> well, couples in california can now get married legally remotely. governor newsom signed an executive order allowing adults to get married through a video conference instead of in person. new york state began allowing zoom weddings earlier this week and in california brides and grooms can get marriage licenses from clerks as long as they both are in the state and can present identification during the video conference. the license can then be issued through an e-mail. the governor's order is in effect for 60 days. >>> east bay cities are moving forward with plans to get homeless people into housing so they can shelter in place durin