Update to our Members: COVID-19 & Our Downtown Community

All gatherings with members of other households are prohibited, except outdoor gatherings for worship services or political expression.
Restaurants, bars, and wineries are allowed only for take-out service. Outdoor dining is now prohibited.
Personal care services (e.g. hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, etc.) are prohibited both indoors and outdoors.
Grocery Stores and pharmacies can operate at 20 percent capacity. Here’s the county’s web page for capacity limitations.
Movie theatres and family entertainment centers and are prohibited outdoors (already closed indoors).
Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums are prohibited outdoors (already closed indoors).
Outdoor recreational facilities are allowed, but overnight stays at campgrounds are prohibited. (Note: Gyms, including group fitness classes, continue to be allowed outdoors).
With limited exceptions, all individuals must stay home except as necessary to support or use critical infrastructure. However, people from the same household are allowed to leave their residence as long as they don’t interact with individuals from other households.
Guidance related to schools remains in effect and unchanged. Schools that have previously reopened for in-person instruction may remain open and schools can continue to bring students back under the Elementary School Waiver Process.

Playgrounds reopening
Following updates from the County and State on Wednesday, City of San Jose’s 296 playgrounds will begin reopening today.

Those who choose to use the newly opened amenities must follow all posted signage as well as County public health orders. Guidelines for use include washing or sanitizing your hands before and after using playground or exercise equipment; wearing face coverings at all times; keeping a six-foot distance from those outside of your household; staying home if anyone in the household is ill; not sharing personal items or toys; and sanitizing equipment before and after use with EPA approved disinfectants as the equipment is not sanitized by City staff.

Parents and caretakers are responsible for ensuring that their children are playing safe and following all of the rules.

Supervisors expected to cap meal delivery fees
The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously set in motion an emergency ordinance capping delivery fees at 15 percent, effective immediately upon approval at the Supervisors’ next meeting on Dec. 15.

Delivery companies had been charging up to 30 percent of the food order to make a delivery, much to the chagrin of restaurants already forced to close inside and outdoor dining operations due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the county. That left restaurants remaining open through the holidays no choice but to offer food for takeout or delivery.

Supervisor Mike Wasserman pointed out that the ordinance would help the entire food chain, benefiting customers as well as restaurants, their employees and the delivery companies over the long term.

On Dec. 8, Supervisor Joe Simian, who proposed the ordinance, instructed county staff to speed up the ordinance vote to Dec. 15 and to make the ordinance effective immediately and countywide, based upon public testimony by SJDA Business Development Manager Nate LeBlanc.

“Many of our restaurant members just spent the last remaining cash reserves they had on what we’re calling ‘winterization’ tents and canopies that are rendered basically unusable under this new order,” LeBlanc explained to the Board of Supervisors.

“This move will allow them to weather this long dark winter we’re about to have from a financial standpoint. Our members can live with a 15 percent cap, not the up to 30 percent fees that we’re seeing,” he said.

Normally, the supervisors take up to four weeks to approve an ordinance and another 30 days to make it effective, and often focus on just unincorporated areas. With little time left for his comments, LeBlanc noted that waiting until January would be too late.

“These restaurants need help now,” he said.

A Message from Sam Liccardo regarding "business interruption" insurance claims
“Many of our struggling small business owners have complained that they have unsuccessfully sought payment from their insurance companies for 'business interruption,' as described in their general commercial insurance policies.

"At the City of San Jose, we have no authority in this area. Although we can neither offer any legal advice, nor recommend any particular attorneys, and these comments are in my personal capacity and not on behalf of the City of San Jose, I have discussed the matter with a private attorney, Paul Caputo, Esq., who has told me that he is talking with similarly situated clients about seeking to file a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the many struggling small businesses who have been treated unfairly by their insurers.

"My understanding is that he is taking on this matter on a contingency basis, so that no fees would be paid to his attorneys unless there is a recovery through settlement or verdict. If you are interested in speaking with Mr. Caputo about this matter, please contact his office directly at (408)733-0100.”

Essential volunteers needed
Hundreds of volunteers are needed to assist nonprofit partners to help distribute critical food and necessities to residents in need.

Partners include local nonprofits Second Harvest Food Bank, Veggielution, Sourcewise, First 5 Santa Clara County, the Salvation Army, and Martha’s Kitchen.

Even with the new Stay-At-Home orders, volunteers have been deemed “essential” by the State of California to help aid in packaging, distributing, and delivering meals at food banks and other public food security programs as part of the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Apply to volunteer at Silicon Valley Strong, the emergency relief effort created by the City of San Jose, the County of Santa Clara, and partners, that calls on the community to stay informed, look after one another, and help our most vulnerable residents.

Greater Downtown San Jose Economic Recovery Task Force sends final 15 recommendations to City Council, Supervisors and state
A task force of local businesses organized by City Councilmember Raul Peralez approved the final set of task force recommendations and sent them forward to city, council and state officials to assist in economic survival amid the pandemic.

The recommendations include means to enhance outdoor business operations, tax breaks, and financial assistance program; reevaluate paid parking programs; streamline marketing programs; supporting to-go alcohol legislation; and utilize places of worship and community spaces to serve as incubators for struggling businesses.

Take a look at the recommendations here and press release here.

SJDA supports many of the recommendations. Nate LeBlanc, who had a busy Tuesday, advocated for several of the task force’s recommendations during public comment period at the San Jose City Council meeting.