bay area for a safe and secure future, this is abc 7 news. hi, there. i'm kristen sze pep welcome to our daily program called "getting answers." as you know we ask everyday your questions of experts to get answers for you in realtime. today, as bay area counties move to the red tier, a look at what will be different when they reopen. we're also talking with u.s. representative rowe khanna of the south bay on reports that the house has to canals cancel votes tomorrow because of new militia threats at the u.s. capitol. plus the latest on the stimulus checks and the faurt of the $150 minimum wage. but let's begin with the urgent

money to districts that allow kids to return in person by the end of the month. the governor set aside 10% of vaccines consecutively for educators. in many big city districts including san francisco, vaccination for teachers is part of the deal to return to in-person learning. joining us to talk about the challenges facing san francisco is supervisor hillary ronan, who has been pushing for the process to go faster. supervisor ronan, thanks for joining us. >> thank you so much. it's a pleasure to be here. >> all right. so a lot to get to. the governor and the cdc and most doctors we interviewed have said while teacher vaccinations should be a priority they should not be a prerec which is toit resume in person learning based on science. but that's the deal agreed upon by the board and teachers union unless the city moves to the orange tier. that's what we're working with? >> that is still what we're working with, yes. >> so give that i'm sure you want to expedite teacher

vaccinations. but i understand there was a delay this week in getting thousands of unique qr codes for teachers for them to use to make a vaccine appointment. what happened? >> yes. so what happened is the state decided that in order to prioritize teachers they would give them individualized codes to each school district. but the government -- the governor said that we would give it to school districts where there is a plan to bring back teachers to in-person learning within 21 days. because we don't have a concrete plan or time line here in san francisco and as a matter of fact i believe the district and the union as we speak are at the negotiating table trying to hammer out the last details of the plan, sfusd g sfusd g codes from the state. what that meant was that at moscone center in san francisco, our largest vaccination site not a single teacher was vaccinated

in san francisco yesterday. that very much upset me, because while you are right the experts say it's not necessary to vaccinate teachers or educators before going back to the classroom, it's part of the deal. and we want to get moving on that part of the deal. that has already been agreed upon. >> i did read a statement on the -- the board's website, if you will, that made it sound like it was sort of a mix-up, that the codes were sent to the city and that the ski didn't promptly turn it over to the school district. was that part of the confusion? >> so the, yes and no. so what -- the city complained. i complained. the mayor's office complained to the state. . as a result of those complaints last night in the evening time the state sent to the city a certain number of the codes. this morning, first thing in the morning, the city sent a majority of the codes to sfusd to begin to vaccinate the first

wave of teachers that we expect will go back, even though we don't have an official agreement or time line yet. >> so let's say they do get the vaccinations within the week now because they have those codes that allow them to get appointments. that will be shot number one. let's say they don't get the johnson & johnson, so they need shot number two which is three to four weeks. are we talking about at least five weeks before san francisco kids can go back? >> so here is the confusing thing kristen and the thing driving me crazy. i don't believe that vaccines will be the difference between teachers coming back and not coming back. but the superintendent has told the city is the that once they have the final agreement with the union that it will take them five weeks anyway to open up the first classes from that day when they have the agreement. well, if we get teachers vaccinated tomorrow, today and they've been getting vaccinated -- so not all teachers will start the clock

today and tomorrow with these specific codes, then apparently we're still going to have to wait five weeks to see the first classrooms open up. there is so much confusion and has been so much confusion. and there's been so little concrete information or time line coming out of the school district that it's hard to say. what i can say is that to it will not be vaccines that cause schools to open up slower. dph, the department of public health is anticipating that we're going to be in the orange tier where the teachers no longer need to be vaccinated before opening up by the middle of march. so i highly doubt vaccinations will delay one day before reopening. what we need right now. and what i am pleading for from the district and the union is please reach the final agreement so that we can get that work started, those five weeks that the superintendent says we need to open up schools.

we cannot wait another day to get kids back in the classroom. they are suffering in untold ways academically, socially, emotionally and physically. and we need to back in the classroom. >> that's been well documented. and anyone with a kid can tell you that. but san francisco unified has 4,600 teachers. do you know what percentage have gotten vaccinated or have now gotten the codes and will soon be vaccinated? >> i don't know how many have been vaccinated. but what i do know is the number of codes the city sent to the school district was 2,700 codes. >> that's more than half. >> that's right. and those are the teachers that we expect to come back in the first wave. knows are all of the educators that are either in school right now teaching, are going to be teaching special ed kids of any grade or in the first wave one and two group, which is kindergarten to second grade in the elementary schools. >> asko can i ask you, they

don't even have a schedule hammered out what the cohoerts look like, how many hours a day how they handle that they don't have that. >> that's what they are negotiating right now. and we have yet to hear details about that. >> the other thing i want to ask you about is the cdc said clearly that the keys to safe going back is ventilation for classroom, masks eraing, keeping people six feet apat part. have steps been taken to ensure those requirements are going to be met in san francisco? are those barriers? >> yes and no. there have been five schools fully okayed to go back flew service the minute the union and the teachers make an agreement. those are the first five schools meant for the wave one and two represent openings. i know that district staff is working daily together with the city and the city sort of lent many staffers to go into those

elementary school classroom, getting the windows function attention, sinks working, making sure there are ventilation. that is happening every day and continues to happen. but we can't move forward getting a single kid in the classroom until the agreement is reached between the union and the district. and i am waiting -- holding my breath every day, texting everyone i know who is part of the negotiations to give us updates and tell us when they expect to make it and announce it publicationly to the parents and city. because we need to know what we're dealing with. >> as you know, here in the bay area, and many schools have been open, right, in marin county, san mateo county, other counties within san francisco, the private schools have been open. what do you make of the argument that, hey, they can open because they have more money, they can spread out, hire more aides, get everybody tested weekly. and we here in a big city simply

can't? >> the i -- you know, i think there is some truth to the argument. private schools do have more money. but what i will say is that i believe the epidemiologists and the pediatricians and the overwhelming consensus among scientists that public school systems can do it as well. this is -- they've been doing it all over the country, all over the world. we just haven't seen, especially in the elementary schools, we have not seen any outbreaks that would make it concerning to bring elementary school children back. we know there is a safe way to do it. we know we can do it. and we just need the district and the union to make that agreement around the schedule and announce it so we can start getting kids back into the classroom. this has been incredibly frustrating and incredibly damaging to kids and families all across san francisco. >> all right. san francisco suvrz hillary ronan, thank you so much for giving us the latest on the push to get kids back in school into

the classroom in the city. thank you. appreciate your time. >> thank you. you too. bye. coming up next, u.s. representative rowe ana on the brand-new threats the u.s. capitol. plus the update on the stimulus checks. are you getting one? as of today you may be

khanna in five seconds. frustrations from americans in the hopes of a new covid stimulus package have stechd for days, weeks and now months. to do efood president biden and senate democrats agreed to shrink the pool of people qualifying for a stimulus check. here are the details. individuals making less than $75,000 would get the one-time

$1400 check. couples making less than $150,000 as well get it as well. under the new agreement the checks get gradually smaller and end for individuals making poevr 80,000 or couples making $160,000. joining us now for some answers is u.s. representative row khanna of california's 17th district in the south bay. congressman khanna, thanks for making the time for us. >> thank you for having me back on. >> absolutely. before we get to the stimulus checks, first i want to ask you about the developing news, word that house votes are being cancelled tomorrow because of a new credible threat on the u.s. capitol. what are you hearing? what is this about? >> it's scary. i'm at the capitol right now. and i just learned this afternoon that we've been told not to come to the capitol tomorrow for votes, thatvotes, , stay in our place work remotely. there is apparently a serious threat. i'm grateful to all of the law

enforcement and to the national guard. but it's sad for our democracy that we can't be doing the people's business. >> so does this delay the pandemic relief negotiations? >> i don't think it will. we have made -- we passed it already through the house. the senate, as you know reached agreement today with the president on a number of key provisions. i expect that it will be out of the senate by early next week. and then should be at the president's desk soon after. >> which will we do hope you stay safe tomorrow with that threat. hopefully it will not come to pass. but i want you to break down this new internal deal between president biden and senate democrats. are you good with it capping who gets the checks at the income level of $80,000. that may be a lot in some states but certainly doesn't get you far in the bay area. >> no, i'm not good with it. i mean -- i ended up having to vote for the bill because i'm not going to stop the money

coming to our state for state and local aid and the folks who are getting the checks and unemployment. but i pushed very hard to say we need to increase those who qualify. . there are less people getting checks than got under the last stimulus under president trump. it makes no sense we try to restrict those income requirements. as you know, making 100,000 in the bay area with the cost of living doesn't make you rich. it often makes you very much in the middle class in some cases struggling to make ends meet. >> yeah, you mentioned that fewer americans would get a check under this deal than did under the trump administration. i wanted to ask you about that. because president biden and many democrats promised $2,000, the day they took office. it's been 43 days since inauguration. and the size of the check is shrinking. do you worry democrats will pay a political price? >> well, there is a lot that's good about the bill. it's reducing child poverty. it's going to provide money for

vaccinations. it's providing money for the schools to open. it's going to increase unemployment. but i do think that we should have provided the $2,000 checks and should have had more generous income cutoffs. i have been making that case very strongly from the very beginning. >> um-hum. >> overall, i think people will be happy with this. but it's not what i would have done in a number of these cases. and i made my positions very well known to the president and to my constituencies. >> i also want to talk about raising the minimum wage to $15. you made your position known. you sent a letter with democrats to president biden. you wrote it's more important now than ever that we deliver relieve to americans. 81 million people cast ballots to elect you on a platform calling for a $15 minimum wanl. we urge you to keep that promise. so congressman khanna what are the ways to keep that promise, since it appears dead at least as part of this pandemic relief

bill. and it was the senate parliamentarian procedural ruling. what are you urging the administration to do. >> well i'm urging the administration and vice-president harris to disregard the parliamentarian decision, which has happened many times in our nation's history. and to allow for a 51 vote senate majority to give americans the raise they deserve. we can afford to pay $15 an hour. right now it's $7.45. you can't survive on that. i understand the importance of helping small businesses. i've called for small business assistance and tax credits and making sure we are taking care of small businesses. but we must deliver on this $15 wage. >> okay. all right. we'll see when it can come back. neera tanden has withdrawn as the office of management and budget director nominee after it became clear she didn't have the streets for confirmation. she didn't even have the support of all the democrats in the senate dau to her old tweets that are seen as hostile. what's your reaction?

>> well, i -- i'm looking forward to the new appointee. and i -- there are a number of good names out there. i think overall the president has done a very good job in nominating people. and i think neera made the right decision when she saw there were not the votes there. but there are a lot of great talents of people being mentioned as omb director. and i'm sure we will have them serving soon. >> that is the hope. but she would have been the first age willing american in that role. and the biden administration has not nominated many other asian-americans to cabinet positions or even cabinet level positions, kathryn tye for trade. but tell me if i missed somebody. but as part of the asian-american and pacific islander caucus, are you concerned. >> well we have kamala harris our own californian as vice-president. we have captain tye as we mentioned. we have vivek murthay.

surgeon general. many of us are encouraging other asian-american appointees. they are at different parts of the administration. i mean, not everything is the cabinet. but i will tell you that the administration has reached out strongly to kpek under judy chu's leadership. judy chu is doing a great job. and they have solicited our input. kamala harris has come and talked to us at kapec. i feel the asian-american voice is listened to. recently i voiced with the white house the rise in hate crimes on ij aen americans. >> congressman, thank you so much for your thoughts on these issues. we do hope you stay safe tomorrow and beyond as you tackle the people's work in the congress. thank you so much. >> thank you. thank you for having me on. i really appreciate it. >> all right. when we come back it's been a big day for the bay area. three counties moving to the state's red oopening tier. but what should you expect to see differently?

we're iv a san francisco restaurant that's really invested in some high-tech ways to keep people

welcome back. a major sign of rebirth in san francisco today. a city known across the world for its restaurant scene, now allowing indoors dining at 25% capacity as of today. in the red tier. but what will it all look like when you go back? how are restaurants adding in high-tech touches to make it as safe as possible? joining us now live is thomas medil a executive with the restaurant group owning lamar in the embarcadero in san francisco. thanks for joining us today thomas. >> thank you for having me. >> you have your mask on, which is great. you're there at the restaurant. i can see that. indoor reopen for the first time today. how is it going. >> yes, that he that's correct. tonight at 5:00 p.m. we will receive our first guests are for

indoor dining. >> i know lamar has made investments for hi-tech and saf androte they come in. >> upon entering in the restaurant, we have a couple of signs up, where we can see that you still have to wear your face mask. and at the door we have a couple of decals. outleting how people can keep distance while waiting to get greeted by the hostess. as you are coming into the restaurant you can clearly see how we have everything very spaced out. it's kind of like this. and as you are coming into the main dining room here, you can see that all of our tables are very, very spaced out. and, yes, for safe distancing. all of our staff is wearing

masks and gloves. so we have invested in the ppe funds. and then on the other hand also we have invested in a -- a a a a sink for the h vac system and gps needle point system that ionizes the air killing the airborne bacteria or viruss in the air. people inside don't have to worry about getting any airborne virus into their face. >> the h vac for the air purifying, i know you are employing uv lights for cleaning as well and germ killing. what is the gps used for. >> this is an ionizer. it loads up the molecules in the air once they contact the virus it kills the virus, you are pretty much like you are sand advertising the air with that.

>> thomas, i'm going to ask you to walk us out to the patio, not only because i know you have a gorgeous view there of the bay bridge, but also probably because you get a better signal. so perhaps the signal will improve a bit. as we walk through the restaurant, i would like to know what are the rules that customers and the staff have to follow as they interact with each other and dine? >> so it's -- it's very straightforward kind of situation what we have with the everything. the staff is keeping their distance. the staff is keeping their distance while they are ordering. and we asks our desks to keep the mask on while the staffer is at the table and ordering the food. afterwards, we have a -- we -- we drop off the food at the table. and keep you are distance with but otrwe it's -- the dining experience will be as close to

as it was precovid because we want everybody to have a good time here. >> are you still using paper menus or do you use the qr codes. >> we do have the qr code, correct. and if somebody cannot get the phone to work we have some paper menus available as well. >> i see. and i wonder what this reopening of the indoor part means for your business and, you know, both in terms of being able to really stay open but also employing people, your full staff. >> that's correct, yes. it means that we can hire at least another 15% back from our staff. so we are very excited to finally bring back pretty close to what we had when we were back in september when we also opened for indoor dining. so we are getting close to almost like 100 people working back atlamar. veryve all our folks back and looking forward to keep it open this time. i hope they don't shut us down

again. >> thomas with the restaurant group that owns lamar in san francisco. we're taking a break on the air. but we can

bye-bye. all right. thanks so much for joining us on this interactive show, "getting answers" today. today we talked to supervisor hillary ronan of san francisco, about ways to expedite teachers getting vaccinations in san francisco. but even minus that getting everybody back in school as soon as possible. and we talked to congressman row khanna ch the south bay about a new militia threat for the capitol tomorrow that has delayed house votes and also the stimulus checks coming your way. and we took you to lamar restaurant in san francisco, reopening their indoor part for

the first time at 5:00 today for dining. remember, we'll be here every weekday at 3:00 on air and live stream answering your questions. the bay area as tonight, several developing stories as we come on the air. the new threat against the u.s. capitol. the capitol police issuing a bulletin about a possible militia plot to storm the capitol as early as tomorrow. the house now scrapping its thursday session amid the warning. what we're learning tonight. as just today, the commanding general of the d.c. national guard testified that he waited three hours, 19 minutes before being allowed to send forces rihe capitol. rachel scott live on the hill tonight. new york governor andrew cuomo for the first time in front of the cameras in days apologizing, but says he will not resign, after three women have accused him of misconduct, saying "i now understand that i acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable.

i deeply apologize."