mercurynews--2020-03-15--Problem Solved: Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery gives runaround on damaged floor

Q : I ’ m having a problem with Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery .
One of its delivery men scratched my wood floor .
I submitted a claim form and a repair estimate .
Basically , Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery was responsive at first , but once I filed a claim it would not respond to my emails or answer my calls .
I simply want to ensure that my claim has been received , that it is complete and that there is a satisfactory resolution .
Can you help ?
A : Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery should deliver a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your claim .
I ’ m sorry you haven ’ t received a satisfactory answer from the company yet .
The company certainly doesn ’ t look like the type that would ignore a customer .
On its slick website , it boasts of more than three decades of experience in delivering “ an unmatched level of service ” to the high-end furniture , antiques , and fine furniture manufacturing industries .
What could possibly go wrong ?
But something did .
Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery ’ s site doesn ’ t say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its “ get a quote ” form mentions that valuation coverage for loss or damage is for a maximum period of 30 days .
“ Metropolitan will evaluate and determine [ the ] disposition of any claims submitted within 30 days of receipt of completed claim form.
” In other words , the company could take up to a month to get back to you .
Now , as I see it , that doesn ’ t mean they have a license to ignore a customer until the 30-day mark .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even acknowledging your emails or calls , I just don ’ t see any reason for that .
When I asked for your paper trail — the correspondence between you and Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery — a different picture came into focus .
The company was responding , but it was giving you what can best be described as the runaround .
It asked for more documents and details to finish your claim .
And you ’ re right , it never specifically acknowledged that you had completed the form to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too .
A Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery employee shouldn ’ t have scratched your floor .
But if he did , the company should quickly acknowledge the damage and fix it .
You might have also appealed this to a supervisor at the company .
Once you ’ ve found the name of one of its executives , figuring out their email address is easy .
The naming convention is firstinitial.lastname @ metropolitanwarehouse.com .
But all of that should be unnecessary .
You deserve a prompt , positive reply .
I contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A representative noted that claims take up to 30 days .
The company cut you a check for the full amount of the damage .
Christopher Elliott ’ s latest book is “ How to Be the World ’ s Smartest Traveler ” ( National Geographic ) .
You can get real-time answers to any consumer question on his forum , elliott.org/forum , or by emailing him at chris @ elliott.org .

Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Q: I’m having a problem with Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery. One of its delivery men scratched my wood floor. I submitted a claim form and a repair estimate.
Basically, Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery was responsive at first, but once I filed a claim it would not respond to my emails or answer my calls. I simply want to ensure that my
claim has been received, that it is complete and that there is a satisfactory resolution. Can you help?
Richard Park, Washington, D.C.
A: Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery should deliver a response, even if just to acknowledge your claim. I’m sorry you haven’t received a satisfactory answer from the company yet.
The company certainly doesn’t look like the type that would ignore a customer. On its slick website, it boasts of more than three decades of experience in delivering “an unmatched level of service” to the high-end furniture, antiques, and fine furniture manufacturing industries. What could possibly go wrong?
But something did.
Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery’s site doesn’t say much about damage claims. However, its “get a quote” form mentions that valuation coverage for loss or damage is for a maximum period of 30 days. “Metropolitan will evaluate and determine [the] disposition of any claims submitted within 30 days of receipt of completed claim form.” In other words, the company could take up to a month to get back to you.
Now, as I see it, that doesn’t mean they have a license to ignore a customer until the 30-day mark. So, if Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery wasn’t even acknowledging your emails or calls, I just don’t see any reason for that.
When I asked for your paper trail — the correspondence between you and Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery — a different picture came into focus. The company was responding, but it was giving you what can best be described as the runaround. It asked for more documents and details to finish your claim. And you’re right, it never specifically acknowledged that you had completed the form to its satisfaction. I would have been worried, too.
But let’s take a step back.
A Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery employee shouldn’t have scratched your floor. But if he did, the company should quickly acknowledge the damage and fix it. You might have also appealed this to a supervisor at the company. Once you’ve found the name of one of its executives, figuring out their email address is easy. The naming convention is firstinitial.lastname@metropolitanwarehouse.com. But all of that should be unnecessary. You deserve a prompt, positive reply.
I contacted Metropolitan Warehouse & Delivery on your behalf. A representative noted that claims take up to 30 days. The company cut you a check for the full amount of the damage.
Christopher Elliott’s latest book is “How to Be the World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). You can get real-time answers to any consumer question on his forum, elliott.org/forum, or by emailing him at chris@elliott.org.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Letter: Some Bay Area workers need a doctor’s note to stay home?

Some firms want doctor ’ s note for staff sick days ?
It ’ s very clear driving around the Bay Area that we are not doing anywhere near enough to address coronavirus .
As of March 13 , kids were still in school , companies were still having employees come to work .
And yet we are faced with a global pandemic of a virus that is contagious before it is symptomatic and testable , and our response is … business as usual ?
Too many workers in this area know how deeply frowned-upon taking a sick day is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note from a doctor to stay home at this crucial moment .
• Letter : One thing many Bernie backers and Trump have in common • Letter : The economy pushed Trump to act , not compassion • Letter : We may face a demoralizing choice : Biden or Trump ?
• Letter : The world could avoid much COVID-19 misery and death Staying the course and going to work and school is grossly irresponsible and will lead to thousands of deaths in the region .
Corporate managers , business leaders and community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to kill thousands of people , and that blood will be on your hands for failing to respond appropriately .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Some firms want doctor’s
note for staff sick days?
It’s very clear driving around the Bay Area that we are not doing anywhere near enough to address coronavirus.
As of March 13, kids were still in school, companies were still having employees come to work. And yet we are faced with a global pandemic of a virus that is contagious before it is symptomatic and testable, and our response is … business as usual?
Too many workers in this area know how deeply frowned-upon taking a sick day is; some corporations are requiring a sick note from a doctor to stay home at this crucial moment.
Related Articles Letters to the Editor | Letters: Escape Bay Area | CASA program | Feinstein replacement | Faulty comparison | Not conservatives
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps Staying the course and going to work and school is grossly irresponsible and will lead to thousands of deaths in the region. Corporate managers, business leaders and community leaders wake up: Business as usual is going to kill thousands of people, and that blood will be on your hands for failing to respond appropriately.
Mathew Clark
Campbell
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Horoscopes March 15, 2020: Will.i.am, don’t let emotional situations get you down.

Happy Birthday : Don ’ t let emotional situations get you down .
You have to rise above what everyone is doing and set your goals and standards higher .
How you handle people and situations will determine how well you do .
Wasted time will be what you regret most .
Offer to help those who will make an effort and do their part as well .
Your numbers are 9 , 11 , 20 , 28 , 35 , 39 , 42 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : A realistic look at the possibilities will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pipeline .
Knowledge is power and will enable you to make better decisions .
Work in conjunction with others to keep everything moving along seamlessly .
5 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Don ’ t fold under pressure .
A poker face will help you avoid questions .
Keep finances and love separate .
Someone will reveal a private matter that will help you make a decision .
Giving in to temptation will be costly .
3 stars GEMINI ( May 21-June 20 ) : Dissect the signals someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she may be trying to throw you off track .
A burden or added responsibility will leave you in a vulnerable position .
Distance yourself from personal problems to avoid discord .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Round up the people you feel can help you get things done .
Listen to advice , but follow the path that makes you feel most comfortable .
You have the upper hand , whether or not you realize it .
Proceed with confidence .
3 stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotions hold you back .
Let go of an old grudge , and move on to positive and productive pursuits .
A dynamic approach to an old idea will result in renewed interest .
Reconnect with someone you miss .
5 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Get out and open your mind to new beginnings .
Question your connection with someone if he or she is stifling you or holding you back .
Be prepared to make a spur-of-the-moment decision .
Your happiness is up to you .
2 stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A creative suggestion should motivate you .
As long as you don ’ t underestimate the extent of a job , you will succeed .
Set a strict budget before you begin .
Plan an outing that will help put things in perspective .
4 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : An encounter will bring about an unexpected opportunity .
Go to an event that will pique your interest in something you used to do quite well .
Love and romance are looking good , so set the mood and enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 ) : Proceed with caution .
Don ’ t trust anyone to give you sound advice or legitimate facts .
Go directly to the source to discover the truth before you make a decision that could backfire on you .
Empty promises are apparent .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Dig into your past , and you will discover something relevant to a situation you face .
Do whatever it takes to ensure that you don ’ t give up too much for too little in return .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Someone with experience will be happy to mentor you .
Learn all you can , and put it to good use .
Your sincerity will help you form a stable relationship and save you some cash .
Helping others will bring you satisfaction and happiness .
4 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : Size up whatever situation you face as well as the validity of what others tell you .
Don ’ t let your emotions interfere in your decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs or cost you financially .
Listen and learn .
2 stars Birthday Baby : You are tenacious , passionate and responsive .
You are enthusiastic and steadfast .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kellan Lutz, 35; will.i.am, 45; Eva Longoria, 45; Bret Michaels, 57.
Happy Birthday: Don’t let emotional situations get you down. You have to rise above what everyone is doing and set your goals and standards higher. How you handle people and situations will determine how well you do. Wasted time will be what you regret most. Offer to help those who will make an effort and do their part as well. Your numbers are 9, 11, 20, 28, 35, 39, 42.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): A realistic look at the possibilities will help you process what’s coming down the pipeline. Knowledge is power and will enable you to make better decisions. Work in conjunction with others to keep everything moving along seamlessly. 5 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t fold under pressure. A poker face will help you avoid questions. Keep finances and love separate. Someone will reveal a private matter that will help you make a decision. Giving in to temptation will be costly. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dissect the signals someone is sending you carefully. He or she may be trying to throw you off track. A burden or added responsibility will leave you in a vulnerable position. Distance yourself from personal problems to avoid discord. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Round up the people you feel can help you get things done. Listen to advice, but follow the path that makes you feel most comfortable. You have the upper hand, whether or not you realize it. Proceed with confidence. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let your emotions hold you back. Let go of an old grudge, and move on to positive and productive pursuits. A dynamic approach to an old idea will result in renewed interest. Reconnect with someone you miss. 5 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get out and open your mind to new beginnings. Question your connection with someone if he or she is stifling you or holding you back. Be prepared to make a spur-of-the-moment decision. Your happiness is up to you. 2 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A creative suggestion should motivate you. As long as you don’t underestimate the extent of a job, you will succeed. Set a strict budget before you begin. Plan an outing that will help put things in perspective. 4 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): An encounter will bring about an unexpected opportunity. Go to an event that will pique your interest in something you used to do quite well. Love and romance are looking good, so set the mood and enjoy. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Proceed with caution. Don’t trust anyone to give you sound advice or legitimate facts. Go directly to the source to discover the truth before you make a decision that could backfire on you. Empty promises are apparent. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Dig into your past, and you will discover something relevant to a situation you face. Do whatever it takes to ensure that you don’t give up too much for too little in return. Disclose information that will prove your claims. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Someone with experience will be happy to mentor you. Learn all you can, and put it to good use. Your sincerity will help you form a stable relationship and save you some cash. Helping others will bring you satisfaction and happiness. 4 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Size up whatever situation you face as well as the validity of what others tell you. Don’t let your emotions interfere in your decisions. Refuse to let anyone meddle in your affairs or cost you financially. Listen and learn. 2 stars
Birthday Baby: You are tenacious, passionate and responsive. You are enthusiastic and steadfast.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Bridge: March 15, 2020

Bridge: March 15, 2020

Players compete more actively today than 40 years ago .
They focus as much on making it tough on the opponents as on locating their own best contract .
The modern style can create both losses and gains .
Your constructive bidding will suffer when your partner climbs into the bidding with who-knows-what , and light intervention may give your opponents useful information if they buy the contract .
In today ’ s deal , I would classify West ’ s double of one club as dreadful .
West had a handful of losers , and his queen of clubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wanted to get involved is a mystery .
After North staked a claim to the deal with his redouble , West ran to one heart .
North-South could have doubled that for a 500-point penalty .
Instead , they bid their notrump game .
So West survived his double , but only for a moment .
When he led the king of hearts , South won the third heart and placed West with the missing high-card strength plus club shortness .
So South planned a “ compound finesse ” : He led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s eight .
East took the ten and led the ten of spades , and South won with the king and led a second club .
When West ’ s queen appeared , South took the ace and returned a club to his nine .
He won three clubs , three diamonds , two spades and a heart .
If West doesn ’ t enter the auction , North-South will get to 3NT , but South will have no particular reason to place the cards accurately .
Whether he would make 3NT @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Players compete more actively today than 40 years ago. They focus as much on making it tough on the opponents as on locating their own best contract. The modern style can create both losses and gains. Your constructive bidding will suffer when your partner climbs into the bidding with who-knows-what, and light intervention may give your opponents useful information if they buy the contract.
In today’s deal, I would classify West’s double of one club as dreadful. West had a handful of losers, and his queen of clubs was probably worthless for offense. Why he wanted to get involved is a mystery.
After North staked a claim to the deal with his redouble, West ran to one heart. North-South could have doubled that for a 500-point penalty. Instead, they bid their notrump game.
So West survived his double, but only for a moment. When he led the king of hearts, South won the third heart and placed West with the missing high-card strength plus club shortness. So South planned a “compound finesse”: He led a club from his hand to dummy’s eight.
East took the ten and led the ten of spades, and South won with the king and led a second club. When West’s queen appeared, South took the ace and returned a club to his nine. He won three clubs, three diamonds, two spades and a heart.
If West doesn’t enter the auction, North-South will get to 3NT, but South will have no particular reason to place the cards accurately. Whether he would make 3NT, we’ll never know.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S A 7 3 2
H 8 7 6
D A Q 2
C A 8 6
WEST
S Q J 9 8
H K Q J 10
D J 10 9
C Q 2
EAST
S 10 5
H 9 4 2
D 7 6 4 3
C J 10 7 4
SOUTH
S K 6 4
H A 5 3
D K 8 5
C K 9 5 3
South West North East
1 C Dbl(!) Redbl Pass
Pass 1 H Pass Pass
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H K
(C)2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Word Game: March 15, 2020

Word Game: March 15, 2020

Can you find 62 or more words in AGRIMONY ?
TODAY ’ S WORD — AGRIMONY agony airy amir among angry anomy argon arming army gain gamy gnar gory grain grainy gram gray grim grimy grin groan groin gyro rain rainy rang rangy rani raying rayon rimy ring roam roaming roan roman iron irony magi main mango mangy manor many margin mayor minor miry moan moray morn myna oaring orang organ orgy nary norm yang yarn yoga yogi To purchase the Word Game book , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , but “ bake ” and “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — AGRIMONY (AGRIMONY: AG-rih-mo-nee: A perennial plant with small yellow flowers.)
Average mark 43 words
Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 62 or more words in AGRIMONY? TODAY’S WORD — AGRIMONY agony airy amir among angry anomy argon arming army
gain gamy gnar gory grain grainy gram gray grim grimy grin groan groin
gyro rain rainy rang rangy rani raying rayon rimy ring roam roaming
roan roman iron irony magi main mango mangy manor many margin
mayor minor miry moan moray morn myna oaring orang organ orgy
nary norm yang yarn yoga yogi
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Letter: One thing many Bernie backers and Trump have in common

One thing Donald Trump and many Bernie Sanders supporters have in common is a willingness to attack the media when things don ’ t go their way .
Sanders ’ losses in the recent primaries have been described by some of his supporters as a conspiracy by corrupt Democratic Party insiders and the mainstream media to defeat him .
What some Sanders supporters seem unwilling to accept is that millions of ordinary Americans looked closely at the two remaining candidates and made their choices .
We are not a nation of pre-programmed marionettes , but of people who retain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Millions of us decided that winning this fall “ trumps ” ideological purity .
• Letter : Some Bay Area workers need a doctor ’ s note to stay home ?
• Letter : The economy pushed Trump to act , not compassion • Letter : We may face a demoralizing choice : Biden or Trump ?
• Letter : The world could avoid much COVID-19 misery and death Perhaps it ’ s just too painful for some Sanders supporters to accept that their beloved Bernie has been rejected by millions of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does every day , they attack the messenger .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Sanders supporters, like
Trump, blame the media
One thing Donald Trump and many Bernie Sanders supporters have in common is a willingness to attack the media when things don’t go their way.
Sanders’ losses in the recent primaries have been described by some of his supporters as a conspiracy by corrupt Democratic Party insiders and the mainstream media to defeat him.
What some Sanders supporters seem unwilling to accept is that millions of ordinary Americans looked closely at the two remaining candidates and made their choices.
We are not a nation of pre-programmed marionettes, but of people who retain the right to make their own choices. Millions of us decided that winning this fall “trumps” ideological purity.
Related Articles Letters to the Editor | Letters: Escape Bay Area | CASA program | Feinstein replacement | Faulty comparison | Not conservatives
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps Perhaps it’s just too painful for some Sanders supporters to accept that their beloved Bernie has been rejected by millions of their fellow citizens. Just like Donald Trump does every day, they attack the messenger.
Michael Steinberg
Berkeley
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mercurynews--2020-03-15--Ask Amy: I invited her to our book club. What a mistake.

DEAR READERS : Every year I step away from my daily column to work on other creative projects .
I ’ ve gathered some topical “ Best Of ” columns from 10 years ago .
( Some content has been lightly edited . )
I ’ ll be back in two weeks with fresh columns .
DEAR AMY : I have been in a book group of about 10 members for eight years .
About a year ago , I invited a neighbor — let ’ s call her “ Fanny Dashwood ” — to join the group without knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; she is abrasive , pushy and rude .
Whenever my two close friends ( other members of the group ) and I do something together , Fanny confronts us , drilling us about why she was not invited .
When we have larger gatherings that are book group-based , we do invite her .
• Ask Amy : I ’ m planning my wedding , and these relatives won ’ t pay their share • Ask Amy : We have 10 beds in the house , and he ’ s never in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you had to be married to have sex , there would be no abortions • Ask Amy : My husband dismisses his affairs as ‘ free booty in the elevator ’ • Ask Amy : Knowing 20th-century skill could have helped these kids A member of the book group is planning a camping trip for a family occasion ; several members are going because they have known this family for many years .
When Fanny found out , she confronted the woman at the meeting , saying , “ Is it a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fanny invited herself and her two large dogs on the trip , to our dismay .
We don ’ t want her in the group anymore , and she is not welcome on the trip .
How should we handle this ?
DEAR MEAN : Because you invited Fanny into the group , you must politely hold the door for her exit .
You say , “ Fanny , I ’ m so sorry , but this is not working out .
Because you are such a divisive member of the book group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask you to step aside .
I ’ m very sorry , but this isn ’ t a good fit.
” The person hosting the camping trip should handle this uninvited guest , herself .
Fanny may stomp and hiss , but she was doing this anyway .
Turn the page on this episode , and start a new chapter .
And remember : It ’ s a “ book group , ” not a “ friend group.
” Your “ Fanny Dashwood ” is a Jane Austen character come to life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a quote from Mansfield Park : “ If one scheme of happiness fails , human nature turns to another ; if the first calculation is wrong , we make a second better… ” DEAR AMY : My fiance and his 12-year-old son recently moved in with me , and I want to set some household boundaries without coming across like an evil stepmom .
My stepson-to-be is a good kid , but doesn ’ t do the little things around the house that I would like him to do , like pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own dishes in the dishwasher after a meal , putting the toilet seat down , taking out the garbage ( his chore ) unless asked , etc .
I ’ m pretty agreeable ( although I ’ ll admit I am used to order and like things neat ) but think that if we ’ re going to keep the house clean and presentable , we can each do our part .
On the other hand , I can also see these requests coming across as controlling , and I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is always supportive of anything I ask and will ask his son to do these things if I ask him to .
I just wanted to give it a go on my own first to establish some authority .
Any suggestions ?
DEAR STEPMOM : This adolescent is doing what all kids his age do .
Sometimes he ’ ll remember to do things without prompting , and sometimes he ’ ll forget .
Sometimes he ’ ll be agreeable and sometimes , not so much .
You should not waste your real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this relationship over something as trivial as neglecting to push in a chair after eating .
Stepparents have a tricky role to play in the life of a child .
The first thing you should establish is your warmth , trust , affection and friendship .
This takes time .
After trust is established , the authority will flow from that .
For the initial period of your cohabiting , his father should review the rules of the house with him and face the music in terms of any pushback .
You should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you as a supportive back-up .
You should always strive for the long view .
A good relationship is more important than an orderly home .
Give the boy plenty of time to adjust , and offer him opportunities to self-govern .
He may have ideas for ways he can be useful around the house .
You should ask him to choose ways to contribute , go easy on him when he flakes out , and give him credit when he does well .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , NY 13068 .
You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or Facebook .

DEAR READERS: Every year I step away from my daily column to work on other creative projects. I’ve gathered some topical “Best Of” columns from 10 years ago. (Some content has been lightly edited.) I’ll be back in two weeks with fresh columns.
DEAR AMY: I have been in a book group of about 10 members for eight years. About a year ago, I invited a neighbor — let’s call her “Fanny Dashwood” — to join the group without knowing her well.
This was a mistake; she is abrasive, pushy and rude.
Whenever my two close friends (other members of the group) and I do something together, Fanny confronts us, drilling us about why she was not invited. When we have larger gatherings that are book group-based, we do invite her.
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A member of the book group is planning a camping trip for a family occasion; several members are going because they have known this family for many years. When Fanny found out, she confronted the woman at the meeting, saying, “Is it a book group camping trip?” Then, Fanny invited herself and her two large dogs on the trip, to our dismay.
We don’t want her in the group anymore, and she is not welcome on the trip. How should we handle this?
Mean in Minnesota
DEAR MEAN: Because you invited Fanny into the group, you must politely hold the door for her exit. You say, “Fanny, I’m so sorry, but this is not working out. Because you are such a divisive member of the book group, I’m going to have to ask you to step aside. I’m very sorry, but this isn’t a good fit.”
The person hosting the camping trip should handle this uninvited guest, herself. Fanny may stomp and hiss, but she was doing this anyway. Turn the page on this episode, and start a new chapter. And remember: It’s a “book group,” not a “friend group.”
Your “Fanny Dashwood” is a Jane Austen character come to life, so I’ll leave you with a quote from Mansfield Park: “If one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better…”
DEAR AMY: My fiance and his 12-year-old son recently moved in with me, and I want to set some household boundaries without coming across like an evil stepmom.
My stepson-to-be is a good kid, but doesn’t do the little things around the house that I would like him to do, like pushing in his chair after dinner, putting his own dishes in the dishwasher after a meal, putting the toilet seat down, taking out the garbage (his chore) unless asked, etc.
I’m pretty agreeable (although I’ll admit I am used to order and like things neat) but think that if we’re going to keep the house clean and presentable, we can each do our part.
On the other hand, I can also see these requests coming across as controlling, and I want to try to avoid that.
His dad is always supportive of anything I ask and will ask his son to do these things if I ask him to. I just wanted to give it a go on my own first to establish some authority. Any suggestions?
Stepmom-to-be
Want Ask Amy delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
DEAR STEPMOM: This adolescent is doing what all kids his age do. Sometimes he’ll remember to do things without prompting, and sometimes he’ll forget. Sometimes he’ll be agreeable and sometimes, not so much. You should not waste your real authority and interrupt the positive growth of this relationship over something as trivial as neglecting to push in a chair after eating.
Stepparents have a tricky role to play in the life of a child. The first thing you should establish is your warmth, trust, affection and friendship. This takes time. After trust is established, the authority will flow from that.
For the initial period of your cohabiting, his father should review the rules of the house with him and face the music in terms of any pushback. You should see him as the primary parent, and you as a supportive back-up.
You should always strive for the long view. A good relationship is more important than an orderly home. Give the boy plenty of time to adjust, and offer him opportunities to self-govern. He may have ideas for ways he can be useful around the house. You should ask him to choose ways to contribute, go easy on him when he flakes out, and give him credit when he does well.
August 2010
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Dear Abby: If cashiers did their job right, I wouldn’t hold up the line

DEAR ABBY : For the past few years I have encountered a problem with cashiers in stores .
I pay with cash and generally have change coming back to me .
When the cashiers return my change , they hand it back in one big wad along with the receipt .
When this happens , I must stop , lay everything down on the counter and separate the different denominations .
Then I have to place the different bills into my wallet .
I have tried asking them to place the receipt into the bag , but they usually don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them reach for the next customer while I ’ m still putting my change away .
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DEAR BOTHERED : I have two suggestions .
The first is to discuss your concerns with the store manager .
The second is to shop elsewhere .
DEAR ABBY : My wife ’ s family drops by our home several times a week , usually unannounced .
I don ’ t mind them dropping in , but what does bother me is they bring their kids and expect us to feed them during the visits .
It has gotten to the point that I hide our snacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I leave them in the cupboard , they disappear .
They often end up eating the leftovers I had planned to be my lunch for the next day .
I have talked with my wife several times about this situation .
She agrees with me , but she says there ’ s nothing she can do about it .
I wasn ’ t brought up that way .
I would never think of going to someone ’ s home , opening up cupboards and helping myself to food without an invitation .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fixed income .
Am I overreacting , and must I just keep my mouth shut ?
DEAR FRUSTRATED : This is your wife ’ s family , and she is the one who should deal with this .
All she has to say is she would appreciate it if her relatives ask when they ’ d like some food or drinks because their foraging through your cupboards has created a problem for the two of you .
DEAR ABBY : I want to thank people who are kind , generous , big-hearted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the kudos we can give them , and they rarely receive the praise they are due .
It would be a lot more difficult to get through life without folks like them .
I don ’ t think I ’ d be alive today if not for the kindness they have shown me .
To each and every one of you : From the bottom of my heart — thank you !
DEAR HELPED : I am glad you took the time to write to point out that good manners and compassion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day .
Yes , there are individuals who are self-centered and others who were never taught the values you mentioned — but many times I encounter individuals who practice the virtues you are lauding .
Extending kindness to someone is beneficial not only for the recipient , but for the giver as well .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles @ @ @ @

DEAR ABBY: For the past few years I have encountered a problem with cashiers in stores. I pay with cash and generally have change coming back to me. When the cashiers return my change, they hand it back in one big wad along with the receipt.
When this happens, I must stop, lay everything down on the counter and separate the different denominations. Then I have to place the different bills into my wallet.
I have tried asking them to place the receipt into the bag, but they usually don’t listen. Also, some of them reach for the next customer while I’m still putting my change away.
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BOTHERED IN MARSHALL, TEXAS
DEAR BOTHERED: I have two suggestions. The first is to discuss your concerns with the store manager. The second is to shop elsewhere.
DEAR ABBY: My wife’s family drops by our home several times a week, usually unannounced. I don’t mind them dropping in, but what does bother me is they bring their kids and expect us to feed them during the visits.
It has gotten to the point that I hide our snacks and beverages in the bedroom because if I leave them in the cupboard, they disappear. They often end up eating the leftovers I had planned to be my lunch for the next day.
I have talked with my wife several times about this situation. She agrees with me, but she says there’s nothing she can do about it.
I wasn’t brought up that way. I would never think of going to someone’s home, opening up cupboards and helping myself to food without an invitation.
Also, I’m retired and on a fixed income. Am I overreacting, and must I just keep my mouth shut?
FRUSTRATED IN THE WEST
DEAR FRUSTRATED: This is your wife’s family, and she is the one who should deal with this. All she has to say is she would appreciate it if her relatives ask when they’d like some food or drinks because their foraging through your cupboards has created a problem for the two of you.
DEAR ABBY: I want to thank people who are kind, generous, big-hearted and considerate. Those unsung heroes deserve all the kudos we can give them, and they rarely receive the praise they are due. It would be a lot more difficult to get through life without folks like them.
I don’t think I’d be alive today if not for the kindness they have shown me. To each and every one of you: From the bottom of my heart — thank you!
HELPED BEYOND MEASURE IN NEVADA
DEAR HELPED: I am glad you took the time to write to point out that good manners and compassion are alive and well, and demonstrated every day.
Yes, there are individuals who are self-centered and others who were never taught the values you mentioned — but many times I encounter individuals who practice the virtues you are lauding. Extending kindness to someone is beneficial not only for the recipient, but for the giver as well.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Walters: Big schools reform effort of ex-Gov. Jerry Brown falls short

Los Angeles Unified is the state ’ s largest school district and the vast majority of its 400,000-plus students are poor , non-white and/or not completely fluent in English .
It is , in other words , precisely what former Gov .
Jerry Brown had in mind when he and the Legislature overhauled school districts ’ finances , giving them more money to close the stubborn “ achievement gap ” that has long separated disadvantaged students from their more privileged , English-speaking classmates .
However , in enacting the Local Control Funding Formula seven years ago , Brown also insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strings attached , saying he trusted local educators and school boards to spend it effectively .
He called it “ subsidiarity.
” That hands-off attitude didn ’ t sit well with education reformers and civil rights advocates who worried that the extra money wouldn ’ t be concentrated on “ high-needs ” students and Los Angeles Unified , because of its size and makeup , was a major arena for the conflicts over LCFF .
At one point , critics persuaded the state Department of Education that LAUSD had diverted hundreds of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids , but the state then allowed it to simply change the coding on the disputed funds to make them legal .
The district has also been undergoing institutional turmoil over the last decade — hyper-political battles over school board elections , pitting the teachers union against charter school advocates , and a revolving door of superintendents .
Brown has departed from the governorship and LCFF has been in place long enough for some scholarly examination of how it ’ s really working .
Last week , a research team headed by Bruce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UC-Berkeley , released a report on how the program has affected LAUSD ’ s high-schoolers .
The district did not fare well .
During the first five years of LCFF , declining enrollment and a surge of state funds — more than $ 1 billion a year — increased the district ’ s per-pupil spending from $ 8,657 a year to $ 11,231 , and much of it found its way into LA Unified ’ s high schools .
“ Most heartening , kids ’ learning on average improved measurably in high schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement as the report was published .
“ But somewhat greater progress was made by students from better-off homes or schools in middle-class areas .
The new funding appeared to bring far less benefit to the most disadvantaged groups.
” One factor in LCFF ’ s failure to substantially close the achievement gap , the researchers found , is that while its new funds allowed the district to hire more teachers , schools with the highest proportions of at-risk kids tended to get the least experienced teachers .
“ Despite Sacramento ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding failed to budge such wide inequities in which kids benefit most from L.A. schools , ” Fuller said in his statement .
“ Going forward , the state might ensure that funding gains reach intended students , and that principals become mindful of how fresh resources are distributed within their schools.
” The findings did not please Michael Kirst , the Stanford University professor who persuaded Brown to sponsor LCFF and served as president of the state school board during its implementation .
Kirst , who participated in Fuller ’ s webinar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t include all factors affecting LA Unified ’ s education record and argued that LCFF needs more time to prove its worth .
“ We need to stay the course , ” Kirst advised .
Brown ’ s successor , Gavin Newsom , appears to take a more hands-on approach and has , among other things , proposed a system to catalog education outcomes in detail , which will provide a more complete database for determining whether LCFF is a success or an expensive failure .
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Los Angeles Unified is the state’s largest school district and the vast majority of its 400,000-plus students are poor, non-white and/or not completely fluent in English.
It is, in other words, precisely what former Gov. Jerry Brown had in mind when he and the Legislature overhauled school districts’ finances, giving them more money to close the stubborn “achievement gap” that has long separated disadvantaged students from their more privileged, English-speaking classmates.
However, in enacting the Local Control Funding Formula seven years ago, Brown also insisted that the money flow with very few strings attached, saying he trusted local educators and school boards to spend it effectively. He called it “subsidiarity.”
That hands-off attitude didn’t sit well with education reformers and civil rights advocates who worried that the extra money wouldn’t be concentrated on “high-needs” students and Los Angeles Unified, because of its size and makeup, was a major arena for the conflicts over LCFF.
At one point, critics persuaded the state Department of Education that LAUSD had diverted hundreds of millions of LCFF dollars away from the targeted kids, but the state then allowed it to simply change the coding on the disputed funds to make them legal.
The district has also been undergoing institutional turmoil over the last decade — hyper-political battles over school board elections, pitting the teachers union against charter school advocates, and a revolving door of superintendents.
Brown has departed from the governorship and LCFF has been in place long enough for some scholarly examination of how it’s really working. Last week, a research team headed by Bruce Fuller, a veteran education analyst at UC-Berkeley, released a report on how the program has affected LAUSD’s high-schoolers.
The district did not fare well.
During the first five years of LCFF, declining enrollment and a surge of state funds — more than $1 billion a year — increased the district’s per-pupil spending from $8,657 a year to $11,231, and much of it found its way into LA Unified’s high schools.
“Most heartening, kids’ learning on average improved measurably in high schools,” Bruce Fuller said in a statement as the report was published. “But somewhat greater progress was made by students from better-off homes or schools in middle-class areas. The new funding appeared to bring far less benefit to the most disadvantaged groups.”
One factor in LCFF’s failure to substantially close the achievement gap, the researchers found, is that while its new funds allowed the district to hire more teachers, schools with the highest proportions of at-risk kids tended to get the least experienced teachers.
“Despite Sacramento’s best intentions, this surge in school funding failed to budge such wide inequities in which kids benefit most from L.A. schools,” Fuller said in his statement. “Going forward, the state might ensure that funding gains reach intended students, and that principals become mindful of how fresh resources are distributed within their schools.”
The findings did not please Michael Kirst, the Stanford University professor who persuaded Brown to sponsor LCFF and served as president of the state school board during its implementation.
Kirst, who participated in Fuller’s webinar on the study, complained that it didn’t include all factors affecting LA Unified’s education record and argued that LCFF needs more time to prove its worth.
“We need to stay the course,” Kirst advised.
Brown’s successor, Gavin Newsom, appears to take a more hands-on approach and has, among other things, proposed a system to catalog education outcomes in detail, which will provide a more complete database for determining whether LCFF is a success or an expensive failure.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Grand Princess to leave Oakland Port Sunday night

The Grand Princess cruise ship will leave the Port of Oakland on Sunday evening and anchor in San Francisco Bay for two weeks , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said .
About 340 crew members as well as six passengers from foreign countries remain on board , the governor said .
The “ skeleton crew ” will operate the ship “ in the bay at an appropriate site for the 14-day quarantine , ” he said .
In addition , 75 medical members were brought on board .
The Grand Princess docked at the Port of Oakland on Monday morning after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials tried to find a port to handle the massive disembarking operation .
At the time , 21 people on the boat , 19 of them crew members , had testified positive for the virus .
A Placer County man , who previously got off the Grand Princess in San Francisco , died from the disease .
Multiple flights were scheduled throughout the week to shuttle passengers to various federal quarantining sites , including Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego and U.S. military sites in Georgia and Texas .
Others were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fairfield .
“ The last flight goes out at 6 p.m. tonight , ” Newsom said Sunday .
Passengers displaying mild symptoms have been sent to hotels and motels in Northern California , including Asilomar Hotel in Monterey County and an unidentified hotel in San Carlos with the capacity to house 120 people .
Of the six passengers still on the ship , Newsom said the federal government had difficulty coordinating with their home countries .
Officials had originally planned for the ship to stay at the Oakland port for 72 hours .

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The coronavirus-stricken Grand Princess cruise ship, which circled at sea off the coast of California for days before docking at the Port of Oakland, finally began setting sail Monday morning — to a spot in San Francisco Bay.
Although it was slated to leave by Sunday evening, the ship remained docked in the Port of Oakland overnight, marking yet another delay in its trajectory. A few minutes before 8 a.m., the ship began slowly making its way west.
The troubled ship will anchor in the bay for two weeks, with 75 medical workers brought on board to care for the 340 crew members and six foreign passengers during the 14-day quarantine, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday.
Newsom did not specify where in San Francisco Bay the ship would anchor, but its expected departure from the Oakland port ended a nearly weeklong mission to offload more than 2,500 passengers, 21 of them who tested positive for COVID-19 illness. The area where passengers disembarked will be sanitized.
“It’s good riddance to me,” said former passenger Gene Qin of San Francisco, who along with his wife is quarantined in a San Carlos motel. “I’m suffering and even though the ship is leaving, we are taking the consequences with no choice.”
About 3,533 passengers and crew left Pier 27 in San Francisco on Feb. 21, headed to Hawaii for a 15-day pleasure cruise. Trouble arrived when passengers from the Grand Princess’ earlier Mexican Riviera trip began showing symptoms of the virus, including a 71-year-old Placer County man who later died as a result of COVID-19 illness.
Sixty-two passengers plus crew members had stayed aboard for the Hawaii trip, raising concerns of greater exposure on the Grand Princess. On land, federal and state officials scrambled to figure out how to test ship passengers and where to send the ship, as the virus spread in Bay Area counties.
In a dramatic scene, National Guard helicopters dropped off virus test kits to the Grand Princess, as it circled off the coast. Tests brought to a lab in Richmond, Calif. found 21 passengers, 19 of them crew members, tested positive.
On March 8, the day after the cruise was supposed to dock in San Francisco, Mayor Libby Schaaf, Newsom and federal officials said it would come to an unused and isolated part of the Port of Oakland’s Outer Harbor. They estimated the ship would stay for 72 hours.
Passengers cheered as they passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and the new span of the Bay Bridge. Arriving Monday morning, passengers began describing jail-like conditions and ever-changing information — or no information — from authorities.
Among the first to disembark on Monday were passengers who had tested positive and were taken to Bay Area hospitals. By Monday evening, the first plane, a Boeing 747 full of Canadian passengers, left Oakland International Airport’s North Field.
Kathleen Sterling of Oregon believed her 81-year-old father, who suffers from heart failure and asthma and had been ill, would be among the first off the ship. When he wasn’t, Sterling later hung a sign off her balcony listing her father’s ailments that read, “get him off the ship” and called 911.
“Nobody would talk to me, I don’t even know if there was a doctor on the ship on Monday. They just changed the plan. It’s no wonder it took so long for people to get off that ship, it was so disorganized,” said Sterling, who left the ship with her father and family on Tuesday and is now quarantined at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield.
Throughout the week, passengers displaying mild symptoms were sent to hotels in Northern California and many more passengers were put on flights to various federal quarantine sites, including Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego and U.S. military sites in Georgia and Texas. Others were taken by bus to Travis.
The last flight was scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. Sunday, Newsom said.
Jacqueline Baker, a Los Gatos travel agent and Grand Princess passenger, was worried about the crew still stuck on the boat. The six passengers, according to Newsom, remained because the U.S. government had difficulty coordinating with their home countries.
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Oakland Mayor Schaaf expressed gratitude “to every worker at the state, federal, and local level who kept Oaklanders safe as we conducted a humanitarian mission to reunite thousands of stranded passengers and crew with their loved ones.”
Oakland Councilman Larry Reid said, “I speak for a lot of folks, they are happy to see the ship out in the water and away from land.”
Staff writer Julia Prodis Sulek contributed reporting.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Coronavirus closes Bay Area houses of worship, but faithful find communion with livestreams

Somehow , from Friday Shabbat in slippers to Sunday Mass on Facebook , people found communion .
Across the Bay Area and around the world , worshippers of all denominations whose temples , churches and mosques had closed their doors for the first time ever to help prevent the spread of coronavirus had no choice but to put ritual aside and pray at home .
And many did so in front of their laptop computers , watching their religious leaders live-stream their services .
“ When our rabbi said , Shabbat Shalom everybody , I felt I was there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Temple Emanu-El in San Jose , who did , indeed , wear her slippers as she watched the online service with her husband from their family room couch .
“ I could sing as loud as I wanted — and pause it.
” The rapid global spread of the deadly coronavirus , which has infected at least 335 Californians and killed six statewide , has created a surreal form of spirituality and tested the faithful .
Bar mitzvahs have been postponed , weddings and baptisms restricted to family only and other rites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Vatican is barring the public from Holy Week celebrations , which draw tens of thousands of people to St. Peter ’ s Square and the Roman Colosseum .
But it is the humble weekly services where people find comfort and strength in togetherness that were upended over the weekend , throwing priests and pastors , rabbis and imams into televangelist territory .
Many felt a bit awkward at first .
“ I had to trust that there are people on the other side of the camera , ” said the Rev .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Episcopal Church in Palo Alto , who stood before her dark , empty church Sunday morning while organist James Welch played Mendelssohn and her sermon was recorded .
“ At first it felt empty .
It ’ s the gathering of the people that ’ s the point.
” Nonetheless , she soldiered on .
In front of a Logitech web camera and USB microphone hooked up to a MacBook Pro , she urged her congregants to “ check on your neighbor .
Be a witness to hope in spite of fear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame .
Aid the vulnerable and the forgotten.
” Mary Beth Train of Palo Alto was watching .
She ’ s 81 and in the demographic at highest risk for infection .
She would have stayed home whether St. Mark ’ s was open or not , she said , and appreciated the YouTube version of her Morning Prayer .
“ I put on my headphones and dialed in , ” the octogenarian said .
“ I didn ’ t know what to expect , but it felt quite comforting.
” In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Santa Clara County , one of four major coronavirus outbreak zones across the country , Bishop Oscar Cantu delivered 10 a.m. Mass via Facebook Live , followed by priests saying Mass in Spanish and Vietnamese .
Catholic churches in Oakland and San Francisco remained open , although Catholics had been given “ special dispensation ” for not attending .
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone in San Francisco said that “ it could be considered an act of charity toward others to refrain from church attendance ” especially for those who might have been exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a message , Cordileone called on Catholics to show “ heroic virtue ” like those who stayed behind in times of plague in Europe or AIDS in San Francisco , to render care to the sick .
At All Saints Catholic Church in Hayward on Sunday , a century-old house of worship that usually draws a standing-room-only crowd , only 150 souls filled a portion of the church .
The smell of hand sanitizer replaced incense and polite nods and smiles replaced handshakes and the “ kiss of peace.
” Just three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few dozen chairs .
“ We had to come , ” said Dorie Ravara , 47 , who attended Mass with her husband and three daughters .
“ We wouldn ’ t think about not coming.
” Pastor Ramon Gomez urged the congregation to remember the most vulnerable — the poor and elderly — during the crisis and suggested reciting “ The Lord ’ s Prayer ” as a spiritual substitute to singing “ Happy Birthday ” when washing their hands .
At Calvary Church in Los Gatos , Haley Green , Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mingle with some of the 600 congregants who attend services on Sundays instead were posted in front on Sunday to turn people away .
Only two people showed up , unaware that the service had gone online .
“ Normally , we try to get people to church , ” Pastor Mark Riggins said .
“ But now God is allowing us to get church to the people.
” “ I can ’ t remember not going to church , ” said David Chun , who lives nearby but watched the streaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his wife and two children .
“ Some of my earliest memories are sitting next to people who were not my relatives and singing hymns in church.
” Without people in the pews , donations to churches are sure to plunge .
At Calvary , 70 percent of its donations usually are given in person at church services , but church members on Sunday found a way to pledge online .
“ People are giving as we speak , ” said Calvary business administrator Kristi Gill , sitting at her laptop and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At Temple Emanu-El in San Jose , two bar mitzvahs are being postponed — including for Justin Ball , whose mother watched Shabbat in her slippers .
It ’ s been a spiritual and practical challenge , Deanne Ball said , canceling numerous vendors for the catering and parties planned for the event and notifying relatives who had booked flights to attend .
Her 13-year-old son has studied intensively for a year to prepare himself for the ritual of becoming an adult .
The idea that these two bar mitzvahs are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dana Magat said .
“ This is one life cycle you don ’ t mess with.
” But like every other religious leader reckoning with the coronavirus and all it brings , he is doing his best to be flexible and present with his congregation .
In his cavernous synagogue , the recording began .
“ These are definitely strange times we ’ re living in , ” he said in his live-streamed service , “ but we ’ re so glad you ’ ve joined us .
”

Julia Prodis Sulek, Lisa M. Krieger, Louis Hansen, Jim Harrington

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
Somehow, from Friday Shabbat in slippers to Sunday Mass on Facebook, people found communion.
Across the Bay Area and around the world, worshippers of all denominations whose temples, churches and mosques had closed their doors for the first time ever to help prevent the spread of coronavirus had no choice but to put ritual aside and pray at home.
And many did so in front of their laptop computers, watching their religious leaders live-stream their services.
“When our rabbi said, Shabbat Shalom everybody, I felt I was there,” said Deanne Ball, a member of Temple Emanu-El in San Jose, who did, indeed, wear her slippers as she watched the online service with her husband from their family room couch. “I could sing as loud as I wanted — and pause it.”
The rapid global spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has infected at least 335 Californians and killed six statewide, has created a surreal form of spirituality and tested the faithful. Bar mitzvahs have been postponed, weddings and baptisms restricted to family only and other rites of passage have been delayed indefinitely. The Vatican is barring the public from Holy Week celebrations, which draw tens of thousands of people to St. Peter’s Square and the Roman Colosseum.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Justin Ball, 13, center, poses for a photograph with his parents Larry and Deanne in their home in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Justin's Bar Mitzvah, which was scheduled for March 28, was postponed to sometime in September due to the coronavirus. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: An invitation for Justin Ball's Bar Mitzvah photographed in his home in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Justin's Bar Mitzvah, which was scheduled for March 28, was postponed to sometime in September due to the coronavirus. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Justin Ball, 13, holds a personalized Kippah with his Bar Mitzvah date on the inside in his home in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Justin's Bar Mitzvah, which was scheduled for March 28, was postponed to sometime in September due to the coronavirus. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
But it is the humble weekly services where people find comfort and strength in togetherness that were upended over the weekend, throwing priests and pastors, rabbis and imams into televangelist territory.
Many felt a bit awkward at first.
“I had to trust that there are people on the other side of the camera,” said the Rev. Rebecca Lyman of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, who stood before her dark, empty church Sunday morning while organist James Welch played Mendelssohn and her sermon was livestreamed. “At first it felt empty. It’s the gathering of the people that’s the point.”
Nonetheless, she soldiered on. In front of a Logitech web camera and USB microphone hooked up to a MacBook Pro, she urged her congregants to “check on your neighbor. Be a witness to hope in spite of fear. Be an agent of grace, not blame. Aid the vulnerable and the forgotten.”
Mary Beth Train of Palo Alto was watching. She’s 81 and in the demographic at highest risk for infection. She would have stayed home whether St. Mark’s was open or not, she said, and appreciated the YouTube version of her Morning Prayer.
“I put on my headphones and dialed in,” the octogenarian said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it felt quite comforting.”
In the Diocese of San Jose in the heart of Santa Clara County, one of four major coronavirus outbreak zones across the country, Bishop Oscar Cantu delivered 10 a.m. Mass via Facebook Live, followed by priests saying Mass in Spanish and Vietnamese.
Catholic churches in Oakland and San Francisco remained open, although Catholics had been given “special dispensation” for not attending. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone in San Francisco said that “it could be considered an act of charity toward others to refrain from church attendance” especially for those who might have been exposed to the virus in some way.
In a message, Cordileone called on Catholics to show “heroic virtue” like those who stayed behind in times of plague in Europe or AIDS in San Francisco, to render care to the sick.
At All Saints Catholic Church in Hayward on Sunday, a century-old house of worship that usually draws a standing-room-only crowd, only 150 souls filled a portion of the church. The smell of hand sanitizer replaced incense and polite nods and smiles replaced handshakes and the “kiss of peace.” Just three members of the choir sat amongst a few dozen chairs.
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 15: Parishioners are photographed inside of All Saints Catholic Church before mass Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Hayward, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 15: Parishioners are photographed inside of All Saints Catholic Church before mass Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Hayward, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
“We had to come,” said Dorie Ravara, 47, who attended Mass with her husband and three daughters. “We wouldn’t think about not coming.”
Pastor Ramon Gomez urged the congregation to remember the most vulnerable — the poor and elderly — during the crisis and suggested reciting “The Lord’s Prayer” as a spiritual substitute to singing “Happy Birthday” when washing their hands.
At Calvary Church in Los Gatos, Haley Green, Kelly Hesterberg and Miranda Blanks who normally greet and mingle with some of the 600 congregants who attend services on Sundays instead were posted in front on Sunday to turn people away. Only two people showed up, unaware that the service had gone online.
“Normally, we try to get people to church,” Pastor Mark Riggins said. “But now God is allowing us to get church to the people.”
The Chun family watched from home.
“I can’t remember not going to church,” said David Chun, who lives nearby but watched the streaming service on TV in his living room with his wife and two children. “Some of my earliest memories are sitting next to people who were not my relatives and singing hymns in church.”
Without people in the pews, donations to churches are sure to plunge. At Calvary, 70 percent of its donations usually are given in person at church services, but church members on Sunday found a way to pledge online.
“People are giving as we speak,” said Calvary business administrator Kristi Gill, sitting at her laptop and peering at the numbers during the service.
At Temple Emanu-El in San Jose, two bar mitzvahs are being postponed — including for Justin Ball, whose mother watched Shabbat in her slippers.
It’s been a spiritual and practical challenge, Deanne Ball said, canceling numerous vendors for the catering and parties planned for the event and notifying relatives who had booked flights to attend. Her 13-year-old son has studied intensively for a year to prepare himself for the ritual of becoming an adult.
The idea that these two bar mitzvahs are being postponed “is huge,” Rabbi Dana Magat said. “This is one life cycle you don’t mess with.”
But like every other religious leader reckoning with the coronavirus and all it brings, he is doing his best to be flexible and present with his congregation. In his cavernous synagogue, the recording began.
“These are definitely strange times we’re living in,” he said in his live-streamed service, “but we’re so glad you’ve joined us.”
Where to find these places of worship online:
Temple Emanu-El in San Jose, www.templesanjose.org
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, saint-marks.com
Diocese of San Jose, dsj.org
All Saints Catholic Church in Hayward, allsaintshayward.org
Calvary Church Los Gatos, calvarylg.com


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Fed takes emergency steps to slash rates and ease bank rules

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Federal Reserve took massive emergency action Sunday to help the economy withstand the coronavirus by slashing its benchmark interest rate to near zero and saying it would buy $ 700 billion in Treasury and mortgage bonds .
The Fed ’ s surprise announcement signaled its worry that the viral outbreak will depress economic growth in coming months and that it is prepared to do whatever it can counter the risks .
It cut its key rate by a full percentage point — to a range between zero and 0.25 % — and said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident that the economy can survive a sudden near-shutdown of economic activity in the United States .
The central bank will buy at least $ 500 billion of Treasury securities and at least $ 200 billion of mortgage-backed securities .
This amounts to an effort to ease market disruptions that have made it harder for banks and large investors to sell Treasuries as well as to keep longer-term rates borrowing rates down .
The new purchases will be similar to the several rounds of “ quantitative easing , ” or QE , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Recession to bolster the financial system and the economy .
The Fed is also joining in a coordinated global action , with the the Bank of Canada , the Bank of England , the Bank of Japan , the European Central Bank and the Swiss National Bank , to provide cheap dollar credit to banks .
This move is intended to ensure that foreign banks continue to have access to dollars that they lend to overseas companies .
In an audio news conference Sunday night , Chairman Jerome Powell explained the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by noting that “ when stresses arise in the Treasury market , they can reverberate throughout financial markets and the entire economy.
” Powell said the Fed acted Sunday after having decided to meet this weekend in lieu of the meeting its policy committee had been scheduled to hold Tuesday and Wednesday this week .
He also said the central bank decided not to issue its usual quarterly projections for the economy and interest rates this week because the virus is altering the economic picture too quickly to make such projections useful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fed ’ s announcement .
Futures for the S & P 500 index dropped 4 % , while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.7 % .
Gold prices rose 3.5 % .
All told , the Fed ’ s massive response is intended to keep financial markets functioning and lending flowing to businesses and consumers .
Otherwise , as revenue dries up for countless small businesses that have suddenly lost customers , these employers could be forced to lay off workers or even seek bankruptcy protection in some cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Fed , said Mark Zandi , chief economist at Moody ’ s Analytics .
“ They are throwing everything they ’ ve got at this .
My sense is they must be nervous about the credit system not functioning properly .
They are trying to shore up confidence.
” By aggressively slashing its benchmark short-term rate and pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into the financial system , the Fed ’ s moves Sunday recalled the emergency action it took at the height of the financial crisis .
Starting in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to near zero and kept it there for seven years .
The central bank has now returned that rate — which influences many consumer and business loans — to its record-low level .
The move drew rare praise from President Donald Trump , who had attacked the Fed as recently as Saturday , as he has frequently , for not acting quickly or aggressively enough .
“ It make me very happy , ” Trump said as he opened a White House briefing on the coronavirus .
“ I think that people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One dissenting Fed member , Loretta Mester , president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve , voted Sunday against the full-point rate cut , favoring a half-point cut instead .
She did support the Fed ’ s other actions to boost credit markets .
As more businesses across the country see their revenue dwindle as consumers stay home , many of them will seek short-term loans to maintain their payrolls .
The Fed said it has dropped its normal requirement that banks hold cash equal to 10 % of its customers ’ deposits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead .
It also said banks can use additional cash buffers that were imposed after the 2008 financial crisis for lending .
“ The Federal Reserve , ” its statement Sunday said , “ is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses and thereby promote its maximum employment and price stability goals.
” “ It confirms that the Fed sees the economy going down … very sharply ’ toward recession , said Adam Posen , president of the Peterson Institute for International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fed ’ s actions amount to a recognition that the U.S. economy faces its most perilous juncture since the recession ended more than a decade ago .
Yet with the virus ’ spread causing a broad shutdown of economic activity in the United States , the Fed faces a hugely daunting task .
Its tools — intended to ease borrowing rates , facilitate lending and boost confidence — are not ideally suited to offset a fear-driven shutdown in spending and traveling .
“ We have to hope that the Fed getting out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention other central banks , pushes the economy in the right direction , ’ Posen said .
“ The heavy lifting for stimulus and for preventing lasting economic damage has to be done on the fiscal side .
That ’ s nature of this shock.
’ Posen said he favors actions that are outside the Fed ’ s purview , such as providing sick leave and pay for quarantined workers and rolling over bank loans to small and medium sized businesses hit hard by the outbreak .
“ This isn ’ t going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything , ’ said Timothy Duy , an economist at the University of Oregon who follows the Fed , but sends a signal to Congress that the economy needs emergency stimulus .
Duy predicted that the Fed will follow up with further actions , including possibly changing its inflation target to allow for more stimulus and providing more support for commercial paper — the short-term notes that companies issue to meet expenses .
“ I don ’ t think they ’ re done yet , ’ Duy said .
Duy said the asset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets from freezing up.
’ Earlier Sunday , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that both the central bank and the federal government have tools at their disposal to support the economy .
Mnuchin also said he did not think the economy is yet in recession .
Many leading economists , though , have said they believe a recession has either already arrived or will soon .
JPMorgan Chase predicts the economy will shrink at a 2 % annual rate in the current quarter and 3 % in the April-June quarter .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnuchin said , when asked if the U.S. is in recession .
“ The real issue is what economic tools are we going to use to make sure we get through this.
” Two weeks ago , in a surprise move , the Fed sought to offset the disease ’ s drags on the economy by cutting its short-term rate by a half-percentage point — its first cut between policy meetings since the financial crisis .
The Fed ’ s policymakers have largely accepted research that says once its benchmark rate approaches zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit to cut all the way to zero rather than just to a quarter- or half-point above .
That ’ s because it takes time for rate cuts to work their way through the economy .
So if a recession threatens , quicker action is more effective .
On Thursday , the central bank said it would provide $ 1.5 trillion of short-term loans to banks .
The central bank will provide the cash to interested banks in return for Treasuries .
The loans will be repaid after one or three months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs that the bond market has been disrupted in recent days as many traders and banks have sought to unload large sums of Treasurys but haven ’ t found enough willing buyers .
That logjam reduced bond prices and raised their yields — the opposite of what typically happens when the stock market plunges .
The Fed also said last week that it would broaden its $ 60 billion monthly Treasury purchase program , launched last fall , from just short-term bills to all maturities .
The Fed is already reinvesting $ 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Treasuries of all durations , thereby bringing its total purchases to $ 80 billion .
Those purchases would help relieve banks of the Treasuries they want to sell .
Some analysts expect the Fed to extend those purchases past their current end-date of the second quarter and even vastly increase the size .
AP Economics Writers Paul Wiseman and Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report .

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve took massive emergency action Sunday to try to help the economy withstand the coronavirus by slashing its benchmark interest rate to near zero and saying it would buy $700 billion in Treasury and mortgage bonds.
The Fed’s surprise announcement signaled its rising concern that the viral outbreak will depress economic growth in coming months, likely causing a recession, and that it’s poised to do whatever it can to counter the risks. It cut its key rate by a full percentage point to a range between zero and 0.25%.
The central bank said it will keep its rate there until it is “confident that the economy has weathered recent events.”
The Fed will buy at least $500 billion of Treasury securities and at least $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities. This amounts to an effort to ease market disruptions that have made it harder for banks and large investors to sell Treasuries as well as to keep longer-term borrowing rates down.
All told, the Fed’s aggressive actions are intended to keep financial markets functioning and lending flowing to businesses and consumers. Otherwise, as revenue dries up for countless small businesses that have suddenly lost customers, these employers could be forced to lay off workers or even seek bankruptcy protection in some cases.
“This is a break-the-glass moment” for the Fed, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “They are throwing everything they’ve got at this. My sense is they must be nervous about the credit system not functioning properly. They are trying to shore up confidence.”
By slashing its benchmark short-term rate and pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into the financial system, the Fed’s moves Sunday recalled the emergency action it took at the height of the financial crisis. Starting in 2008, the Fed cut its key rate to near zero and kept it there for seven years. The central bank has now returned that rate — which influences many consumer and business loans — to its record-low level.
The new bond purchases will be similar to the several rounds of “quantitative easing,” or QE, that the Fed conducted during and after the Great Recession to bolster the financial system and the economy. Chairman Jerome Powell, in a conference call with reporters, said the Fed’s purchases are intended to ensure that credit markets function properly.
Shoring up the Treasury bond market and other sources of credit, Powell added, is vital to the health of the economy.
Powell warned that the economy would likely shrink in the April-June quarter because of the widespread shutdowns from the coronavirus and a broad pullback in consumer spending. He noted that the necessary behavioral changes being made across the country to stem the outbreak — an avoidance of travel, shopping and mass gatherings — are inherently harmful to the economy, which he said had been in solid shape before the virus hit.
“Ultimately, the virus will run its course and the U.S. economy will resume a normal level of activity,” Powell said, though he didn’t speculate on when the rebound might occur.
“The virus is having a profound effect on the people of the United States and across the world,” Powell said. The primary response will need to come from health care providers, he stressed, as many experts have.
Still, he added that “economic policymakers must do what we can to ease hardship caused by disruptions to the economy, and support a swift return to normal once they’ve passed.”
Powell acknowledged a concern sounded by many economists in recent weeks: That the Fed, the European Central Bank and other leading central banks have only a limited ability to ease the economic damage caused by the virus. The chairman said that Congress and the White House would also have to use tax and spending policies to boost the economy.
“We don’t have the tools to reach individuals and particularly small businesses,” he said on the conference call. “But this is a multi-faceted problem, and it requires answers from different parts of the government and society.”
A statement from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted that the central bank’s new Treasury purchases will begin with $40 billion on Monday, while the mortgage bond purchases will total roughly $80 billion over the next month.
“We’re going to go in strong, starting tomorrow, Powell said, “and … do what we need to do to restore market function.”
The Fed is also joining in a coordinated global action, with the the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank and the Swiss National Bank, to provide cheap dollar credit to banks. This move is intended to ensure that foreign banks continue to have access to dollars that they lend to overseas companies.
Powell said the Fed acted Sunday after having decided to meet this weekend in lieu of the meeting its policy committee had been scheduled to hold Tuesday and Wednesday this week. He also said the central bank decided not to issue its usual quarterly projections for the economy and interest rates this week because the virus is altering the economic picture too quickly to make such projections useful.
U.S. stock futures began falling after the Fed’s announcement. Futures for the S&P 500 index were down about 4.5%. Gold prices rose 3.5%.
Sunday’s action drew rare praise from President Donald Trump, who had attacked the Fed as recently as Saturday, as he has frequently, for not acting quickly or aggressively enough.
“It make me very happy,” Trump said as he opened a White House briefing on the coronavirus. “I think that people and the markets should be very thrilled.”
One dissenting Fed member, Loretta Mester, president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve, voted Sunday against the full-point rate cut, favoring a half-point cut instead. She did support the Fed’s other actions to boost credit markets.
As more businesses across the country see their revenue dwindle as consumers stay home, many of them will seek short-term loans to maintain their payrolls. The Fed said it has dropped its normal requirement that banks hold cash equal to 10% of its customers’ deposits, thereby allowing banks to lend that money instead. It also said banks can use additional cash buffers that were imposed after the 2008 financial crisis for lending.
“It confirms that the Fed sees the economy going down … very sharply’ toward recession, said Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said.
Yet with the virus’ spread causing a broad shutdown of economic activity in the United States, the Fed faces a hugely daunting task. Its tools — intended to ease borrowing rates, facilitate lending and boost confidence — are not ideally suited to offset a fear-driven shutdown in spending and traveling.
“This isn’t going to be the magic bullet that saves everything,’ said Timothy Duy, an economist at the University of Oregon who follows the Fed, but sends a signal to Congress that the economy needs emergency stimulus.
Duy predicted that the Fed will follow up with further actions, including possibly changing its inflation target to allow for more stimulus and providing more support for commercial paper — the short-term notes that companies issue to meet expenses.
“I don’t think they’re done yet,’ Duy said.
Earlier Sunday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that both the central bank and the federal government have tools at their disposal to support the economy.
Mnuchin also said he did not think the economy is yet in recession. Many leading economists, though, have said they believe a recession has either already arrived or will soon. JPMorgan Chase predicts the economy will shrink at a 2% annual rate in the current quarter and 3% in the April-June quarter.
Two weeks ago, in a surprise move, the Fed sought to offset the disease’s drags on the economy by cutting its short-term rate by a half-percentage point — its first cut between policy meetings since the financial crisis.
___
AP Economics Writers Paul Wiseman and Martin Crutsinger in Washington and David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-03-15--Raiders have the room to strike quickly in free agency

Hours after a collective bargaining agreement through the 2030 season was narrowly passed by the players Sunday , the NFL decided to go ahead with the free agency period .
The new league year begins Wednesday as the rest of the sports world is shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
That means the Raiders , as well as all other NFL teams , can begin negotiating with the agents for players Monday starting at 9 a.m. ( PDT ) .
The league considered delaying the start of free agency , but instead will forge ahead and conduct business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telecommunications .
It will also determine once and for all the Raiders ’ level of commitment to quarterback Derek Carr , which has been a hotly debated topic among the fan base .
Although social distancing could complicate matters when it comes to things such as physical examiations to close deals , expect news of some agreed-upon deals to begin leaking out before players can officially sign with new teams Wednesday .
That ’ s what happened a year ago when news of the Raiders signing tackle Trent Brown to a four-year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiating period .
The Raiders have more than $ 55 million of space under the salary cap season , meaning they are again in position to be aggressive and add to the roster of a team that went 7-9 in 2019 .
The club announced Saturday they were encouraging employees to work from home as part of the social distancing strategy designed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus .
That means free agency will open without visits to the club facility and deny the Raiders a chance to show off Allegiant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice facility in Henderson , Nevada , in person .
While the free agency period gives the NFL a chance to have the media spotlight to itself as the MLB , NBA and NHL have shut down , it is a process fraught with peril even in normal years .
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent on players whose services weren ’ t retained by their previous employers from reasons ranging from the salary cap to performance to age .
“ I ’ ve always said free agency is a buyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Mayock said .
“ For the most part , there reasons there are guys in free agency .
You ’ d better be surgical .
You ’ d better be smart .
I think that ’ s really the challenge.
” Last season , for instance , although Brown was named to the Pro Bowl , he played in only 11 games due to knee and pectoral injuries .
Wide receiver Tyrell Williams ( four years , $ 44 million ) missed three games and caught 42 passes for 651 yards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense , Lamarcus Joyner , signed for four years and $ 42 million and made minimal impact as a slot corner .
On the other hand , left guard Richie Incognito came in on a one-year “ prove it ” deal and played very well , earning an extension worth $ 5 million .
Of particular interest among the fan base is the fate of Carr , for whom never was heard a discouraging word from either Mayock or coach Jon Gruden .
The Carr buildup has always come with the caveat that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all positions .
Events over the next few days will determine the Raiders ’ true level of commitment to Carr , who is in the third year of a five-year contract .
At a recent event in Las Vegas , Gruden was asked by a reporter about the quarterback position and the possibility of bringing in Brady .
“ You ’ re killing me , man .
Our quarteback is a really good quarterback , Derek Carr , and I want to reiterate that to everyone hear in Vegas , ” Gruden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good young quarteback .
The films and the statistics and the analytics prove it .
We ’ re going to be trying to improve at every position and that ’ s what we ’ re going to do.
” • Five ways the new CBA affects Raiders • What will economic hit be for Warriors , Sharks , other Bay Area pro teams ?
• Self-isolating ?
Here are our favorite sports movies to watch at home • Raiders Alameda facility about to become a ghost town due to COVID-19 pandemic One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday when Tennessee ’ s Ryan Tannehill agreed to a four-year contract worth $ 118 million rather than playing under the franchise tag or being allowed to test the free agent market .
Other quarterbacks scheduled to be looking for work are New England ’ s Tom Brady , who has been linked with the Raiders although not as much recently , as well as Philip Rivers ( L.A. Chargers ) , Teddy Bridgewater ( New Orleans ) , Tampa Bay ’ s Jameis Winston and former Titans starter and No .
2 @ @ @ @ @ @

Ladies and gentlemen, start your modems.
Hours after a collective bargaining agreement through the 2030 season was narrowly passed by the players Sunday, the NFL decided to go ahead with the free agency period. The new league year begins Wednesday as the rest of the sports world is shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now official. NFL sent memo to teams, informing them: Negotiation window noon tomorrow. League year weds. Franchise designation ends tomorrow at noon. Official. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2020
That means the Raiders, as well as all other NFL teams, can begin negotiating with the agents for players Monday starting at 9 a.m. (PDT). The league considered delaying the start of free agency, but instead will forge ahead and conduct business through emails, cell-phones, computers and telecommunications.
It will also determine once and for all the Raiders’ level of commitment to quarterback Derek Carr, which has been a hotly debated topic among the fan base.
Although social distancing could complicate matters when it comes to things such as physical examiations to close deals, expect news of some agreed-upon deals to begin leaking out before players can officially sign with new teams Wednesday.
That’s what happened a year ago when news of the Raiders signing tackle Trent Brown to a four-year, $66 million deal happened during the negotiating period.
The Raiders have more than $55 million of space under the salary cap season, meaning they are again in position to be aggressive and add to the roster of a team that went 7-9 in 2019. The club announced Saturday they were encouraging employees to work from home as part of the social distancing strategy designed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
That means free agency will open without visits to the club facility and deny the Raiders a chance to show off Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and a new practice facility in Henderson, Nevada, in person.
While the free agency period gives the NFL a chance to have the media spotlight to itself as the MLB, NBA and NHL have shut down, it is a process fraught with peril even in normal years.
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent on players whose services weren’t retained by their previous employers from reasons ranging from the salary cap to performance to age.
“I’ve always said free agency is a buyer beware market,” Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said. “For the most part, there reasons there are guys in free agency. You’d better be surgical. You’d better be smart. I think that’s really the challenge.”
Last season, for instance, although Brown was named to the Pro Bowl, he played in only 11 games due to knee and pectoral injuries. Wide receiver Tyrell Williams (four years, $44 million) missed three games and caught 42 passes for 651 yards.
The Raiders’ big ticket item on defense, Lamarcus Joyner, signed for four years and $42 million and made minimal impact as a slot corner.
On the other hand, left guard Richie Incognito came in on a one-year “prove it” deal and played very well, earning an extension worth $5 million.
Of particular interest among the fan base is the fate of Carr, for whom never was heard a discouraging word from either Mayock or coach Jon Gruden. The Carr buildup has always come with the caveat that the Raiders will look at to improve at all positions.
Events over the next few days will determine the Raiders’ true level of commitment to Carr, who is in the third year of a five-year contract. At a recent event in Las Vegas, Gruden was asked by a reporter about the quarterback position and the possibility of bringing in Brady.
“You’re killing me, man. Our quarteback is a really good quarterback, Derek Carr, and I want to reiterate that to everyone here in Vegas,” Gruden said. “We’ve got a good young quarteback. The films and the statistics and the analytics prove it. We’re going to be trying to improve at every position and that’s what we’re going to do.”
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Other quarterbacks scheduled to be looking for work are New England’s Tom Brady, who has been linked with the Raiders although not as much recently, as well as Philip Rivers (L.A. Chargers), Teddy Bridgewater (New Orleans), Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston and former Titans starter and No. 2 NFL draft pick Marcus Mariota.