San Jose Protesters Defy State’s New COVID Curfew; Health order greeted with anxiety and anger – CBS San Francisco



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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – The nighttime curfew for most of the Bay Area, for counties in the most restrictive purple level, went into effect on Saturday night. He was greeted with anxiety, resignation and anger.

About 20 protesters gathered on the street of the home of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo shortly after the 10 p.m. curfew deadline. Most of the crowd dispersed and left about an hour later.

A couple of trucks with signs saying “Remember Newsom” also drove by a few times. San Jose police set up cones and a few police vehicles on either side of 15th Street and Washington.

“There is no curfew,” said Chris Griffin, a San Jose resident. “They can’t do this.”

“It’s an illegal 10 am curfew,” added Danville resident David Gaskell. “We are not going to comply. It’s ridiculous.”

The reaction to this latest lockdown measure is mixed. A few hours before the curfew came into effect, diners were aware of the ticking of the clock.

“We plan to follow him and do our part,” said JP Patterson, a San Francisco resident. “We are here only with our family members and we are ensuring their safety. We understand how important it is to follow the guidelines of our local government. ”

“Tonight we’ve already felt a quieter evening and a presence with people,” added Rachel Kaiser of the San Jose District, San Pedro Square Restaurant and Bar. “There is already a difference in the air.”

It is not clear how the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for non-essential exits will be enforced is unclear in all counties. But San Jose Police and other local authorities say their role is to educate, not to arrest and cite offenders.

“I wouldn’t want them to be too extreme with law enforcement, but at the same time, if things get out of hand and there are big underground parties in vacant buildings, there should be quotes or warnings, ”said San Jose resident Chris Hilton.

What is certain is the impact on businesses that close early for at least the next month.

“The last few hours before midnite were our most profitable times, so financially it’s going to be a heavy toll on us as a small business,” Kaiser said.

Six of the Bay Area counties are under the new curfew. San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties are on less restrictive levels, so the curfew does not apply at this time.

But health officials expect that to change in the coming days.

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