California is expected to reopen June 15. But some local restaurants are still at risk of closing

YOUR SUNRISE TIME IS óóóóóóó. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MORNING'S TOP STORIE. S. CENTRAL COAST BEACHES WERE PACKED MONDAY... WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING THE LONG WEEKEND AND WARM WEATH. ER WITH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS EASING, AND ABOUT HALF THE COUNTRY WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF T HE VACCINE, IT WAS A BUSY TRAVEL DAY. RESTAURANTS AND SHOPSN O FISHERMAN'S WHARF GOT SOME CH NMUEEDED BUSINESS... BUT THE CROWDS WERE ALSO CHALLENGING FOSOR ME PLACES THAT ARE STILL NOT FULLY STAFFED. ## FIREFIGHTERS ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE SARGENTS FIRE... BURNING IN SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY. THE FIRE SPARKED ON SUNDAY... IN BETWEEN SAN ARDO AND BRADLEY. IT'S NOW GROWN TO1 1 HUNDRED ACRES... AND IS 60 PERCENT CONTAINE D. NO HOMES OR STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED. THE CAUSE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATIO N. COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE COULD CHANGE REOPENING TIERS TODAY. TREHE AT 35 COUNTIES IN THE ORANGE "MODERATE" CATEGORY... INCLUDING MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTY. BOTH OF THOSE COUNTIES HAD METRICS LAST WEEK THAT COULD QUALIFY THEM FOR A MOVE TO THE YELLOW TIER. 15 COUNTIES... INCLUDING SANTA CRUZ... ARE IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE YELLOW TIER. THERE ARE ONLY 8 COUNTIES REMAINING INHE T RED "SUBSTANTIAL" TIER. ## TIME NOW TO TAKE ONE LAST CHECK OF WEATHER WITH TEMEOROLOGIST ART JARRETT. GOOD MORNING CLEAR TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES ISTH EARLY MORNING WITH LIMITED COASTAL F OG FOR NOW. HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOG INLAND FOG IN HOLLISTER, THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS ALONG THE SUMMIT AND CARMEL VALLEY. LOCAL TEMPS 33-53? DEGREES. ACROSS MID MORG,IN COLDER AIR ASSOCIATED WITH LAST NIGHT'S COLD FRONT, WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES CHILLY, BUT WILL OPEN UP OUR SKIES WITH DRY AIR MIXING O LUTOCAL CLOUDS DOWN TO CLEAR-PARTLY CLOUDY. EXCEPT FOR MONTEREY -THERE COASTAL LOW CLOUDS DRI IN FT FROM HALF MOON BAY. THIS AFTERNOON, SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. DECREASING HIGH CLOUDS . MODERATE NW WINDS ACTIVATE A SMALL CR

After a year of struggle, restaurants across California will reopen doors to customers under more relaxed public health guidelines on June 15. It's the day Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to lift most COVID-19 safety restrictions on businesses in the state. "It's been a long 15 months," said Patrick Mulvaney, the owner of Mulvaney's B&L in Sacramento, who also acknowledged the challenges haven't ended. "Just like in any long race, that last mile is the hardest part."Public health officials have not declared an end to the pandemic yet. Until then, Mulvaney says his staff must give proof of vaccination to work without a face mask. His outdoor patio and socially distanced seating arrangements will stay. "What we've learned best is dance," added Mulvaney. "We are all in about reopening, but we are also aware we don't know what shape that's going to take at the end of the day."Mulvaney, like many other restaurant operators in the state, is also facing the challenge of finding people ready to work again. The demand for staff is already driving up starting wages."People coming in now , before the pandemic might have started at $15," Mulvaney explained. "Now starting at $18. That's plus tips."The California Restaurant Association reported that up to 1 million restaurant jobs in California were lost during the pandemic. Nationwide, one in six restaurants closed. "Last year was hard," said Jimmy S., staff supervisor at Kansai Ramen and Sushi House in Sacramento, who added he's concerned that there won't be enough workers to meet customer demand come June 15. "We don't have enough staff, so it's hard for us to actually open up at full capacity," he explained. "A lot of people still running on their EDD, or just nervous. It's been a year; a lot of people aren't comfortable about coming out or going back to work."Kansai Ramen and Sushi House has been trying to fill front-of-the-house and chef positions since February.

After a year of struggle, restaurants across California will reopen doors to customers under more relaxed public health guidelines on June 15.

It's the day Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to lift most COVID-19 safety restrictions on businesses in the state.

"It's been a long 15 months," said Patrick Mulvaney, the owner of Mulvaney's B&L in Sacramento, who also acknowledged the challenges haven't ended. "Just like in any long race, that last mile is the hardest part."

Public health officials have not declared an end to the pandemic yet. Until then, Mulvaney says his staff must give proof of vaccination to work without a face mask. His outdoor patio and socially distanced seating arrangements will stay.

"What we've learned best is dance," added Mulvaney. "We are all in about reopening, but we are also aware we don't know what shape that's going to take at the end of the day."

Mulvaney, like many other restaurant operators in the state, is also facing the challenge of finding people ready to work again. The demand for staff is already driving up starting wages.

"People coming in now [back-of-the-house], before the pandemic might have started at $15," Mulvaney explained. "Now [they're] starting at $18. That's plus tips."

The California Restaurant Association reported that up to 1 million restaurant jobs in California were lost during the pandemic. Nationwide, one in six restaurants closed.

"Last year was hard," said Jimmy S., staff supervisor at Kansai Ramen and Sushi House in Sacramento, who added he's concerned that there won't be enough workers to meet customer demand come June 15.

"We don't have enough staff, so it's hard for us to actually open up at full capacity," he explained. "A lot of people [are] still running on their EDD, or just nervous. It's been a year; a lot of people aren't comfortable about coming out or going back to work."

Kansai Ramen and Sushi House has been trying to fill front-of-the-house and chef positions since February.

California is expected to reopen June 15. But some local restaurants are still at risk of closing

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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