abc 7 news reporter stephanie sierra live for us all day at the family reunification center just blocksrom those rail yards. stephanie i can't even imagine the anxiety and stress going on there today. >> reporter: it's incredibly difficult to imagine, you're right dan. it's difficult to imagine the family members huddling here, walking from the parking lot just waiting for answers. most of those family members have left at this point. we did speak to one woman who said it's been so difficult to get any clarity about any specific employees so they found it too hard to stick around to be so close to the crime scene. however, over the last few hours we have seen roughly around six other families come through. all in different cases searching for their mothers, brothers, uncles and fathers. for city councilman raul perales who oversees this area it's his childhood friend a vta employee. he was told he's in tough shape -z. >> i'm hoping for the best. i love him. yeah it's tough. >> we actually still have no idea. we've been trying to reach him and actually really have no idea at all because

stephanie sierra, abc 7 news. >>> new developments for the college of san francisco.he school sent out notice they would lay off staff work a deal approved tonight saved jobs but came at a cost. >> city college of san francisco will avoid laying off 163 full-time employees. deal between the school and faculty was approved monday night by the board of trustees. >> it essentially exchanges temporary salary concessions in exchange for new layoffs for this year. >> reporter: employees are taking pay cuts from 4% to 11%. it is a tough pill to swallow. >> to me, it shows that they are dedicated to the college and have a willingness to the mission of having city college be a place that serves the broader community. >> reporter: the public got to chime in before trustees took their vote. some pointed out that ccsf has been down this road before. >> it is a ridiculous situation happening over and over again please, don't cut faculty. >> reporter: others felt it is time to come together as a collective for the grid good. >> the faculty are gallantly making a financial sacrifice

the bishop spoke to stephanie sierra and told her he is grateful to be alive. >> a man pulled a gun atme. told me give me your wallet and i was terrified. i i was afraid. you know, thinking maybe this is it. >> reporter: every afternoon he walks with his rosary around the cathedral. but last saturday he noticed a young man was following him right around the paramount theater on broadway. >> that's when i got a little suspicious thinking i better turn around and head toward home but i didn't make it. >> reporter: within seasons, barber says the young man slammed the gun up to his face. >> put it to my face and said give me your wallet. give me the cash, give me the cash so i gave him the cash. then he saw my bishop's ring and he said give me that ring. so i gave it to him and i did say please don't shoot me. i'm a catholic priest. >> reporter: barber stood alone on the street. no cars passed during the five minute encounter. he prayed to god expecting ex worse. >> i had just given a sermon, the good shepherd lays down for his sheep. go figure. >> reporter: the robber was young, perhaps

stephanie sierra is in the news room tonight with the details for us. stephanie. >> today the governor is proposing another $1.5 billion worth of small business grants become available after hundreds of thousands of business owners could not qualify because the money ran out. >> everything unraveled on us. >> joe field is still struggling. he's the owner of a small comic bookstore. based in concord. in the past year, 20% of his business. >> super challenging to get through. i never worked harder in my life. >> he's waiting to i a apply for the state's incoming relief grants. >> $4 billion. that's the total package of small business grants. not loans. grants. $2.5billion of that package has been allocated. the governor is proposing $1.5 billion for the next rouped. that's going to essentially allow something on the scope of 430,000 businesses to get a grant of 5 to $25,000. didi meyers is the director of the state's business and economic development department. for small business owners watching at home. once this latest round is approved, what's the easi

the bishop spoke to stephanie sierra and told her he is grateful to be alive. >> a man pulled a gun at told me give me your wallet and i was terrified. i i was afraid. you know, thinking maybe this is it. >> reporter: every afternoon he walks with his rosary around the cathedral. but last saturday he noticed a young man was following him right around the paramount theater on broadway. >> that's when i got a little suspicious thinking i better turn around and head toward home but i didn't make it. >> reporter: within seasons, barber says the young man slammed the gun up to his face. >> put it to my face and said give me your wallet. give me the cash, give me the cash so i gave him the cash. then he saw my bishop's ring and he said give me that ring. so i gave it to him and i did say please don't shoot me. i'm a catholic priest. >> reporter: barber stood alone on the street. no cars passed during the five minute encounter. he prayed to god expecting expe worse. >> i had just given a sermon, the good shepherd lays down for his sheep. go figure. >> reporter: the robber was young, perhaps i

stephanie sierra, abc 7 news. >>> new developments for the college of san francisco. the school sent out notice they would lay off staff work a deal approved tonight saved jobs but came at a cost. >> city college of san francisco will avoid laying off 163 full-time employees. deal between the school and faculty was approved monday night by the board of trustees. >> it essentially exchanges temporary salary concessions in exchange for new layoffs for this year. >> reporter: employees are taking pay cuts from 4% to 11%. it is a tough pill to swallow. >> to me, it shows that they are dedicated to the college and have a willingness to the mission of having city college be a place that serves the broader community. >> reporter: the public got to s >> it is a ridiculous situation happening over and over again please, don't cut faculty. >> reporter: others felt it is time to come together as a collective for the grid good. >> the faculty are gallantly making a financial sacrifice to save city college by agreeing to lower pay. that is i'm fair. supporting city college is our

stephanie sierra, abc 7 news. >>> san francisco unified school district allowed seniors to return to for the first time today. just in time to meet a state deadline for a portion of a $2 billion grant. fewer than600 of the close to 4,000 seniors said they would be interested in in person learning for the last weeks of the school year. not all parents were happy with the district's plans with some thinking it's a money grab. >> this plan is disgusting. everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. >> this solution may not satisfy everyone. but i do appreciate the effort. >> only 8 high schools reopened. students who's schools were closed could attend one of the open schools. >> all right, the weekend is here. and a decent amount of weather to talk about dan. >> yes, ama for sure. the wind was just howling tonight at least in the city and in other parts of the bay area. and sandhya we had some drizzle. or what did we call it earlier? drizzle rain. >> i think i said drizzle showers. >> i like it, it's descriptive. >> i like it too. it gives you an imagine. it's providing the lift n

stephanie sierra, abc 7 news. >>> san francisco unified school district allowed seniors to return tohe first time today. just in time to meet a state deadline for a portion of a $2 billion grant. fewer than600 of the close to 4,000 seniors said they would be interested in in person learning for the last weeks of the school year. not all parents were happy with the district's plans with some thinking it's a money grab. >> this plan is disgusting. everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. >> this solution may not satisfy everyone. but i do appreciate the effort. >> only 8 high schools reopened. students who's schools were closed could attend one of the open schools. >> all right, the weekend is here. and a decent amount of weather to talk about dan. >> yes, ama for sure. the wind was just howling tonight at least in the city and in other parts of the bay area. and sandhya we had some drizzle. or what did we call it earlier? drizzle rain. >> i think i said drizzle showers. >> i like it, it's descriptive. >> i like it too. it gives you an imagine. it's providing the lift necessa

20 news reporter stephanie sierra is live. are we talking about a few more weeks? >> six to be exact. it is reassuring to say that out loud. for months now, we have been hearing california may reach im doctors believe steady vaccination rates and lows transmission will continue and get his there even sooner. it's the question impacting all of us. we will california finally reach herd immunity? >> i have predicted governor newsom was right, and june 15th is when we will be done. >> reporter: june 15th is about six weeks away. monica gandhi expect by that time, vaccination rates will overpower transmission, and the result will get us more freedom. >> this is the green tier, we are off restrictions. all that will show us is that the cases aren't going up when you have enough population being immune. >> reporter: how do we know california is on track to meet that goal? >> mark my words. los angeles going to the yellow tier is huge in terms of disease control. >> reporter: the lead epidemiologist, dr. george rutherford says that moving to yellow is a signal. >> to a com

the bishop spoke to stephanie sierra and told her he is grateful to be alive.e and said give me your wallet. i was terrified. i was afraid. >> michael barber is the bishop of the catholic diocese in oakland. every afternoon he walks with his rosary around the cathedral christ the light church north of downtown. last saturday he noticed a young man was following him right in front of the paramount theater on 21st and broadway. sumac i got a little suspicious and said i better turn back and had toward home. i didn't make it. >> within seconds the young man slammed the gun onto his face. >> said give me the cash. give me the cash. >> i gave him the cash. he saw my bishops ring and said give ring. i gave it to him. i said please don't shoot me i am a catholic priest. >> he stood alone on the street. no cars tested during the encounter. you pray to god expecting the worst. >> i had just given a that morning. i ordained to new priest in the could be:and my sermon was the good shepherd lays down his life for sheep. >> go figure. >> the lumber with young perhaps in his

stephanie sierra is here with why health officials are targeting june 15 and stephanie that's encouraging to hear. >> it sure is. june 15th is a month earlier than what we've been for the next several months. doctors believe steady vaccination rates and transmission will continue and get us there even sooner. >> reporter: itof us. when will california finally reach herd immunity. >> i'm predicting that governor newsom is actually right and june 15th is when we'll have herd immunity. >> reporter: june 15th is 6 weeks away. dr. monica gandhi expects by that time vaccination rates will overpower transmission and the result will get us more freedom. >> this is the green tier that we're off restriction and he's going to have to open up more. and then we'll see the cases are not going up when enough is immune. >> it means that they through a combination of acquired infection from disease from people getting infected and vaccine immunity they're really seeing a turn down in people getting infected. >> reporter: san francisco and most of the bay area are leading the way. 17% of the 16 or older po

stephanie sierra is in the newsroom to break it all down. it's a massive plan. >> reporter: it really is. this proposal marks the final stretch for the governor after a weeklong tour highlighting the biggest challenges facing the state. he laid out solutions today in the recovery package, funding to tackle everything from rent relief, homelessness, climate change to support for our businesses. california's recovery isn't cheap. in fact, the governor's proposed budget through 2022 is the largest in the state's history. >> the hundred plus billion dollar comeback plan is biggest full stop. >> reporter: bouncing back from a shortfall last year, this year, california has a better problem, a $75 billion budget surplus. here's how some of it will be put to use. a $12 billion tax rebate for californians earning up to $75,000 a year. >> that's two out of every three californians who will receive at least a check of $600 once they file their taxes. this is an incentive to file your taxes. >> reporter: this is close to 80% of tax filers in the state.

they give for joining us, abc7 news , stephanie sierra is here in the newsroom with more. >> the city owns 22 working garages across san francisco. and security services has been cut at seven and then all at high crime areas. howard boyer is a security officer and this is one of 11 city undergraduates left with garrity personnel on site. >> the city is trying to save money, that is the bottom line. >> reporter: in the last week he has witnessed many car break- ins and it happened minutes before our interview. >> you see the guy behind us? i removed them from the second floor he was screaming and hollering and walking in front of the cars. he has not left he is hanging around the back of the garage. i will probably have to remove them again. the mac he knows that this will get worse. >> she is the director of operations for the marina security services the contracts have temporarily been cut at half of the city's parking garage is this is garages and union square, financial district, japan town in the marina district. we are seeing a higher number of assaults and vehicle break- ins and

stephanie sierra is live tonight to break it down for us. >> reporter: this proposal marks the final stretch for the governor after a weeklong tour highlighting the biggest challenges facing the state. he laid out solutions in this recovery package. funding to tackle everything from rent relief, education, homelessness, support for small businesses. >> reporter: california's recovery isn't cheap. the governor has proposed a budget through 2022 is the largest in the state's history. >> that 100+ billion-dollar comeback plant is the biggest economic recovery package. >> reporter: bouncing back from a $54 billion budget shortfall, this year california has a better problem. a $75 billion budget surplus. here is how some of it will be patillas. >> reporter: control plane dollar tax rebate for californians earning up to $75,000 a year. >> that is two out of every three californians will receive at least, at least a check of $600 once they foul the chantix is. this is a good inducement to foul your taxes. >> reporter: this applies to close to 80% of tax filers in the state. >> families with

stephanie sierra takes us back to the last year. >> a year ago on may 25 after 8:00 p.m., george floydcted of using a counterfeit $20 bill. by 8:20, and he forced on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. >> he repeated they said i can't breathe and he called for his mother. >> oakland activist kat brooks remembers watching the fitted sheet shaking in fear. she feared what happened to george floyd would happen again and again. it did. eight days after his death sean montero simplest killed by police. >> four days later

stephanie sierra takes a look back so we can better prepare for the e e >>> a year ago on may 25 afterfloyd was arrested suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill.$20 bill.$2 by 8:20, and he forced on his neck for 9 minutes

stephanie sierra is in the newsroom tonight with our teams analysis of this. >> we analyze the latestom every county in the bay area. asian police officers are underrepresented in all of them but the gap is diverse in areas a record number of hate crimes targeting asians are with them.

stephanie sierra, abc 7 news. >>> more to come here, on this special edition of abc 7 news. oakland's chinatown was attacked today, we are sharing his story with part of our work for social justice in building a better bay area. >>> i am meteorologist, samuel patel, i will tell you how the weekend will begin and what is coming up. >>> and welcome back to the happiest place on earth, here from some of the first visitors i have the pleasure to present to you... dr. martin luther king. sometimes, this is what it takes. facing down hate. facing down bias. as we step out, bay area, lets step up our march towards social justice and health equity. join aids walk san francisco live at home, streaming on may 16. register today aidswalk.net (beep) there's so much awesome stuff to stream nowadays. but the cost of it all can really add up. that's why xfinity helps you save. sign up for internet and get a free flex 4k streaming box. enjoy access to your favorite apps, even disney+. entertainment that starts at free. can your internet do that? oh boy, we're gonna need a bigger bowl. get s

stephanie sierra has been live all day for us at the family green vacation center blocks from the shootingfamilies can go to get information. stephanie, what are you seeing? >> reporter: is are going on 11+ hours still with no any indication if their loved one is safe. one woman described the call and said she wished his voicemail would automatically play so she knew he would hear her voice just something happens to him. again, she doesn't know. that is the case for all of these families. they are stuck awaiting. most families have left the unification center but six groups did stay for most of the day. the san diego councilman and the -- family have been in touch all day. says his childhood friend is one of the victims and is in tough shape. >> we have no idea. we have been trying to reach them. they have no idea at all because we know he was there and he we have been trying to contact him since it happen. you haven't been returning any cause. no text messages or anything. that was the nephew of the families who we met earlier. still awaiting any sign of their uncle as they have been clos

stephanie sierra is in the newsroom tonight with our teams analysis of this. >> we analyze the latest census bureau data from every county in the bay area. asian police officers are underrepresented in all of them but the gap is diverse in areas a record number of hate crimes targeting asians are with them. was an anomaly to see an face in a blue uniform. >> our first day on the job. this was when i was the captain of central tom sawed-off restaurant they will tell you the time i walked into the restaurant gangsters would take the guns, go to the bathroom and put them in a trashcan. these things, but not a building trust being a part of the community you would never get this information. >> he was one of only 80 police officers time. >> 80 of about 1800. it was about 5% of the police department. >> 5% in 1982. today, asian police officers make up around 18% of the force in san francisco despite accounting for dirty 4% of the population. >> not reflective upon the population that made great strides. >> according to abc [ indiscernible ] analysis of u.s. census bureau data, that trend i

stephanie sierra takes us back to the last year. >> a year ago on may 25 after 8:00 p.m., george floyd was arrested suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill. by 8:20, and he forced on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. >> he repeated they said i can't breathe and he called for his mother. >> oakland activist kat brooks remembers watching the fitted sheet shaking in fear. she feared what happened to george floyd would happen again and again. it did. eight days after his death sean montero simplest killed by police. >> four days later . this year on march 11 to have well wilson. 18 days later adam toledo. on april 7, roger allen. two weeks later, michalak bryant. >> they shot a 16-year-old child. >> the day before april 19, 26- year-old mario gonzalez, seen with no gun >> police officers piled on top of him. he too said i can't breathe. >> a year before in this same town, molly watkins was arrested by alameda police for dancing in the streets. >> brooks cofounded the anti- police pantera project. edison oakland-ba the peace police. both from alameda are why police should not be call

stephanie sierra is live for us at a family reunification center that is at 70 west heading.s now with what she is being there. >> reporter: yes. we have seen families come throughout the day to the reunification center just right here at the county administration building. they have come here searching for some sort of answer. an answer to whether their mother, brother or uncle is safe alive. sadly, there has been little clarity as you can imagine is this is very early on in the investigation. unfortunately, for these families, they have been waiting for more than 9 hours at this point for any trace of their loved one. i just spoke with san jose city councilman role paralysis shared a story about a childhood friend who is a vta employee. he actually spoke about it early this morning during the press conference. unfortunately, moments ago, he heard his friend is not in good shape and he is at the hospital but they have no word. it is stories like that that are so painful. you can't begin to imagine what these families are going through. it is similar to the story we have been

stephanie sierra is in the newsroom with details. >>> the governor is proposing a $1.5 billion worthrants become available in the next round. the announcement comes as hundreds of thousands of business owners didn't qualify. >> joe field is struggling. he is the owner of a small >> jeff: bookstore called flying colors comics. in the past year he lost 20% of his business. >> it was a challenge to get through. >> he is anxiously awaiting for application for the incoming round of covid-19 small business relief grants. >> $4 billion. that is the total package of small business grants. >> two point $2.5 billion of the package has already been allocated. statement that is going to essentially allow on the scope of 430,000 businesses to get a grant of --. >> for small small small small watching once the latest round is approved, what is the easiest and fastest way to qualify and get this aid? >> we worked hard to make the process simple but the first step is to go to the website. it will provide all of the information that businesses need to apply. >> in any small business apply for the mon

they give for joining us, abc7 news , stephanie sierra is here in the newsroom

stephanie sierra, abc7 news. >> thank you. >>> california has upgraded the guidance for face coverings. if you are fully vaccinated, the only time you're required to wear a mask outside right now is when there is a large crowd. unvaccinated, you will need to mask up for any situation where you cannot social distance. the state is closing in on another milestone this week. just under 13 million people are fully vaccinated. the seven-day positivity rate is at 1.1%. that is a record lowrecord lowrw >>> that is obviously good news. there is a downside right here. despite plenty of vaccine supply that is available in many places, santa clara county continues to see a worrisome drop in demand. abc7 news reporter chris wynn found that the transportation authority is trying to boost those numbers, and they are doing it in an unlikely spot. u >> reporter: in south san jose, a new approach to bring vaccines to the people -- >> i like that there was different spots to stop and do each step so it doesn't get backed up. >> reporter: they have teamed up with bay area health to conduct this part of t