>> building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions, this is abc 7 news. >> our hospitals are very busy. our inpatient area is very busy. when there is a bed available, there is a patient to take that bed. >> a surge in pediatric rsp cases is forcing at least two bay area children's hospital to open tents outside. i am ama daetz. dan: i am dan ashley. some local hospitals are reaching their breaking point as flu and rsp cases continue to rise. ama: suzanne fountain explains some hospitals are taking extra measures to expand their capacity. suzanne: ready and chased thomas are heading home with their son after a quick visit to the doctor. they went to the hospital for a

different reason but they know well about the surging number of rsv cases. >> it's going around our younger child's preschool classroom. >> even if your kid is sick, you might not have somewhere to take them. suzanne: hospitals see cases of rsv every fall. they usually start in november and go through april. this year, they started in october. right now, the children's hospital in san francisco is operating at capacity. beds are full but they are still accepting patients. they just set up this tent with room for seven beds. they call it flex space. >> it is a space for lower acuity patients. a simple ear ache. suzanne: a children's hospital is making room for more young patients. >> it is an annex space in oakland where we also take care of patients when our emergency

rooms are full with patients. suzanne: lucile packard children's hospital at stanford has taken steps to keep hospital beds open. in the statement, they said stanford children's is deferring and rescheduling elective clinical surgeries amid the respiratory illness surge in order to ensure we have the capacity to care for the most at-risk young patients. kaiser permanente is increasing staffing and expanding alternate space when needed. >> i think they are planning ahead for aurge in that is what we want. suzanne: for randy thomas, any extra steps hospitals take off or her peace of mind. >> i appreciate the extra precautions they are taking to make that available. suzanne: abc 7 news. dan: santa clara county officials are urging the community to take precautions because of this rsv surge and because of flu and covid cases. the senate -- the santa clara valley hospital has space in its pediatric unit for now.

>> we are seeing some increase here. our pediatric unit is not as big as stanford's so we will see the fallout later on. rsv is increasing the number of er visits and is very dangerous for infants and elders. dan: officials are urging people to get the new covid booster as well as a flu shot. supervisor cindy chavez received her flu shot after the news conference. ama: a covid-19 outbreak is being blamed on the temporary closure of the clerk's office at the family justice center courthouse in santa clara county. signs were posted on the doors notifying people the office will be closed today and tomorrow because of staffing shortages resulting from a covert outbreak. people can submit april work electronically or through the dropbox. dan: a new cdc study finds a bivalent covid booster is effective. researchers found americans who have received the updated booster were better protected against symptomatic infection than those who did not get the

new shop. the updated booster is designed to protect against the initial coronavirus and the omicron strains that came afterwards but americans have not really embraced the new shot. only about 13% of american adults have gotten this bivalent booster. ama: dr. anthony fauci held his last white house covid briefing today before he leaves service at the end of the year. he has been a near constant source of information since the onset of the pandemic 2.5 years ago. he received praise during that time and house republicans are signaling they want to investigate his role in overseeing the response. dr. fauci remained modest about his legacy. dr. fauci: i will let other people judge the value of my accomplishments but when i would like people to remember about what i have done is that every day for all of those years, i have given it everything that i have. ama: dr. fauci did offer some advice to americans today. he stressed the importance of getting that latest booster

ahead of the winter season. dan: two weeks after election day, we finally know who will be the next mayor of oakland and the winner is making history. a councilmember has been elected through ranked choice voting. 3 old, she is one of the youngest mayors in oakland's history and she is the first hmong mayor in a major u.s. city. some of oaklanders say her win symbolizes long-overdue visibility for a sometimes overlooked community. >> may be of younger kids have someone to look up to or aspire towards, it might help build them up more. dan: she will hold her first postelection news conference tomorrow and we hope to learn more about her plan for oakland future. ama: in the south bay, a san jose music teacher was arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching students. police arrested israel santiago after 10 female juvenile victims disclosed sexual assault by the

suspect. detectives interviewed students from the dual language academy. here is a photo of santiago. authorities believe there may be more victims. sergeant christian urges schools to contact police when these incidents happen. >> there is not a more innocent victim than a child. we are trusting schools to do the right thing when we take our kids to schools. as soon as you know about these, call the police. ama: santiago faces multiple counts of sexual assault and annoying or molesting a child under the age of 12. the alleged assaults occurred in the music and band room. dan: with the official start of the holiday shopping season just days away, san francisco's retail mecca that is union square is getting ready and unveiling a plan for its economic recovery. that plan includes attracting new tenants with vision and visitors looking for experiences. abc 7 news reporter cornell barnard explains. >> i thought we were shopping? cornell: -- mayor london

breed getting a tour. >> across the street, the samsung experience is also a potluck. cornell: ceo marissa rodriguez leading the tour, making union square's post-pandemic recovery her main focus, attracting new tenants to fill empty retail and office space, the biggest challenge. >> flexibility is the name of the game. if you want to open three levels of retail, please do so. are you listening? cornell: zoning controls need to change to allow more mixed used tenants taking restaurants, retail, even a museum possible, calling all visionaries. >> now is a time for those of you who have any interest in doing something different, doing something creative and fun down here, now is the time to make it happen. cornell: the hotel industry says occupancy rates are increasing post-pandemic.

>> there is activity short-term. so it's a very positive environment. cornell: creating a safer experience is the next goal around union square. the police presence is hard to mess after last year's smash and grab robberies at high-end retail stores that cap too many frightened shoppers away. william scott had this message for holiday shoppers. >> our job is to keep people safe and make sure we are present, engaged, and try to prevent people who want to do harm to this city and all of our visitors. cornell: the alliance is working to make public spaces like halliday plaza near the turn safer and rein>> people are reao get out, and enjoy it. we know that retail is not dead. cornel the alliance says their recovery plan may take three to five years but this holiday season, there is hope for the future.

>> ice-skating happens. what more could we have? concerts? cornell: in san francisco, cornell barnard, abc 7 news. ama: it's going to be harder to find crab this thanksgiving. for the fourth year in a row, the start of the dungeness crab season has been delayed and as liz kreutz reports, this crab season may now be the new normal. liz: for fishermen on p 45 in san francisco -- pier 45 in san francisco, it's a crabby start to the holiday season. the department of fish and wildlife has pushed back the start of crab season. john barnett is a commercial clabber -- crabber. >> it is extremely challenging for the whole industry to deal with this. liz: for decades, fresh dungeness crab has been a thanksgiving staple but for four

years in a row, the start of the crab season has not started until after the holiday. max boland, a wholesale fishing company that operates out of fisherman's wharf, says this is likely the new normal. >> i think the earliest we will start ever again will probably be around the 15th of december and more likely could be january 1. liz: that many of the restaurants, crab is still on the menu but if you want it, it's going to cost you. they now pay double what they used to do to get crab from out-of-state. >> i don't know if those prices are ever going to come down. liz: global warming has been cited as one factor contributing to why there may be so many whales still in the bay. they seem to be migrating south later in the air. for fishermen who depend on the busy holiday season for their livelihood, they hope to find a long-term solution that would start the crab season just before christmas.

it any sooner, even they say, might never be possible. >> sounds like longtime san franciscans need to get used to thanksgiving without crab. >> seems that way. it's too bad. liz: in san francisco, liz kreutz, abc 7 news. dan: still ahead, new data reveals racial and gender disparities when it comes to managing finances and saving money. but now, one bay area start up is hoping to level the playing field. we will have that 'twas a wintry day, and at ihop quite soon hot cinnamon apples would be coaxed with a spoon on the fluffiest french toast with red currants on top we wish you a happy holiday, only at ihop. new gingersnap apple french toast, part of our new holiday menu. try all three flavors.

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the #1 covid-19 self test in a recent clinical study, patients using salonpas patch reported reductions in pain severity, using less or a lot less oral pain medicines. and improved quality of life. that's why we recommend salonpas. it's good medicine. dan: facebook's parent company is denying the chief executive officer, mark zuckerberg, will step down next year. the meta spokesperson says a report from the leak that zuckerberg would design in 2023 is false. the report cites an unnamed source who was "pretty to plans at meta."

zuckerberg has been firmly in control of the company since its inception and actively touted its pivot towards virtual reality and the so-called metaverse earlier this year. ama: when it comes to finances, and the playing field may not be equal for men and women, and the disparities are even greater for minorities, melanie woodrow has a look at the data and how one bay area startup is hoping to level the playing field. melanie: liz aguilar graduated from stanford university in june with plans to attend law school next year. for now, to save money, she is living with her parents. >> my parents taught me a lot about saving. they did not talk to me about investing, stocks, bonds, anything like that, mostly because i believed they were not very familiar with it as well. melanie: aguilar is not alone. a bank of america report found gen z women are saving less than their male peers. according to an institute 2021

report, compared to white women, black and hispanic women are more likely to face economic challenges that depress their financial well-being. they are also more likely to engage in costly borrowing behavior including making only the minimum payment on their credit card. something i gillard says her parents taught her not to do. still, she says, she wished she knew more. >> when i got to college, i took an econ class. my male counterparts would mention stock market and they would talk about their investments. i think i was still quite lost even in my sophomore, junior year. even today, i think i don't have as great of an understanding as i would like to. i think i would have benefited a lot had i been taught a little bit more financial literacy. melanie: group to -- she experienced similar challenges. >> i watched my mother in particular struggle with the u.s. financial system and not feel confident. melanie: it drove her decision to work in finance, developing and launching credit cards until

she had a wake-up call experience. >> i was rejected from the credit card i helped build. i felt just as helpless as my immigrant mother felt in the financial system and i did not want to feel that way. melanie: data analysis on household economics and decision-making from 2019 to 2020 one found that for all three years, women were turned down for credit more often than men. men are more likely than men to have authorized user accounts make up the bulk of their credit history which may explain the difference. she is now the ceo and cofounder of a bank account and debit card geared specifically to young women. membership includes access to financial education courses. >> as we speak to young women, disproportionately what we hear was i was never taught about finances. and i always felt the guys knew something that i did not and that is what we are just trying to make sure we do not hear anymore. >> it does mean something that

would appeal to me. melanie: they offer savings on women focused brands him out fighting the pink tax. -- brands, fighting the pink tax. they welcome anyone regardless of gender identity. for the i team, melanie woodrow, abc 7 eyewitness news. sandhya: i am meteorologist sandhya patel. i will have the forecas folks, it looks like we're gonna have to land this big old bird earlier than expected because it's the

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>> it is that time of year for tree lighting so crowds are beginning to gather for the celebration. if you miss it today, they will be many more opportunities. abc 7's very own spencer christian is there and joins us live. spencer: the excitement is about to begin. joining me is the vice president here at pier 39 and tim o'day. this tree is going to be so special this year, you say, right?

sue: this is the most beautiful tree we have ever had. this time, i really mean it. it is a 60 foot fir harvested from kharlton tree farms, delivered on -- weighing in at 16,000 pounds. this tree has been worked on for the past three weeks with our wonderful tree team and we are holiday ready. spencer: we all are. it is your company that puts the magic in the tree, right? tim: indeed, it does pick you asked me earlier if you could tell me how it works but that would be giving the magic trick away and i cannot do that or my team would kill me. it is the most fun christmas tree anywhere and it's not just a passive christmas tree. people danced to this christmas tree. where do you see that? only here. spencer: the performing tree will be lighting up at 6:00, 6:30, and every half-hour until 9:00 and it rotates through different music every half-hour.

tim: we have the trans-siberian orchestra, majestic music. and then we have a great medley from the movie elf. who doesn't love elf? spencer: good for my elf-esteem! [laughter] thank you for joining us. i cannot wait to see the lights in the performance. now back to the grown-ups. ama: that was so good yet so bad. [laughter] >> i don't even know how to respond to that. dan: thanks. that's there to abc 7 news meteorologist sandhya patel for more on the conditions out there and the thanksgiving forecast. sandhya: we have good looking weather. i love that from spencer. good looking weather for the tree lighting ceremony. let's get to that. spencer is out there as you know. a few high clouds. cool out there. temperature will be 55 degrees dropping down to the low 50's with a light breeze's definitely take the jacket with you. by the way, you can check out

the tree coming alive every half-hour from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. through january 8 and it will be synchronized to music, holiday music. starting to feel like the holidays. that is for sure. nights and mornings are chilly. high clouds are coming through the bay area in advance of a storm system that is way out in the pacific. the other system is pushing into the pacific northwest and that is what is bringing the higher clouds. we are going to stay drive. the storm track is well to our north. high-pressure controls the weather which means a warm up in the next two days but as that storm system is approaching, it is kicking up the swells. have a beach hazard statement 10:00 a.m. thursday until 1:00 a.m. friday. even though the wave heights are not that high if you are spending time at the beach on thanksgiving or on friday, risk of rip currents and sneaker waves will be higher. large, unexpected ways can wash you away or pull you in so be careful. temperatures commit 50's and 60's. today's highs were average to a

few degrees above average. low to upper 60's and as we look at live pictures, look at the gorgeous views from abc 7 news oakland airport camera. emeryville camera, san jose, the riff cam. here is a closer view. high clouds tonight, patchy morning fog. rain is looking likely early next week. here is your hourly thanksgiving planner. chilly start in the morning. at least it will be bright right on through the afternoon. temperatures will come up into the mid 60's to mid 70's by 4:00 p.m. and if you want to take a walk afterwards, it's going to be nice and comfortable. 50 cent 60's. tomorrow morning, bundle up. patches of dense fog. mid-30's to the low 50's to start your day. tomorrow afternoon, it is going to be warmer than today. a few low 70's from concord to livermore, santa rosa. 66 in oakland. storm track to our north for thanksgiving but watch what happens as we head towards monday. finally somewhat weather moving

in. the sierra will see snow but this could impact travel so keep that in mind. the accuweather seven-day forecast, a warming trend through thanksgiving before the temperatures come down closer to average for the weekend. and then trending wet with a level one system on monday, possibly some showers lingering into tuesday as well so i think shades for now, umbrellas early next week. ama: got to have it already. thanks. dan: this is the anniversary of a devastating day in u.s. history. the assassination of president john f. kennedy. he was fatally shot on this day in 1963 while riding in a motorcade driving through dallas. lee harvey oswald was shot and killed during a prison transfer two days later. of course, the assassination has been a source of intense controversy and conspiracy theories ever since. and you can watch and abc 7 originals documentary about the death of jfk -- jfk on salt examines new evidence gathered

by a marin county jfk expert. for the best viewing experience, log onto our abc 7 bay area streaming tv app, on apple tv, roku, amazon fire, and google tv. ♪music playing♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪

nothing brings the pack together like a trip to great wolf lodge. now open in northern california. ama: sacred heart community

service started its 58th annual holiday food boxes and gift distillation event. food boxes include a whole turkey, produce, dairy, bread, and more. this tradition will continue tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. only members of sacred heart will be able to participate in the distribution. dan: sacred heart will give away a lot of turkeys things to turkey day drive this morning. their goal is to cle pound turk. morgenroth become a senior at presentations as it is a privilege to help with this event. >> i feel very privileged just to be at this school originally and to be given the opportunity to go out and spend money on hundreds of turkeys. dan: the heisel community already donated more than 18,000 hygiene items and more than 13,000 cans of food tthey colles

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tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. the alarming moment in the air. the plane in chicago hitting a flock of birds. the sparks. and the top u.s. military official onboard. the dramatic images showing what happens when the jet hits those birds. the military plane then making an immediate landing. a member of the joint chiefs of staff onboard. and stephanie ramos standing by. also tonight, the busiest travel week of the year under way at this hour. 55 million americans driving or flying this thanksgiving. the biggest number since before the pandemic. and after a summer filled with delays and cancellations, gio benitez tonight inside united's command center. are they and the other airlines better prepared? gio benitez on that and ginger zee tracking two systems this thanksgiving week. will they affect travel? and it might be coming home