San franciscos landscape. Macys is leaving the city nearly 80 years after opening the doors to its iconic building. And tonight, some questions about whats next for union square. Everythings evolving so quickly in San Francisco, so that im kind of excited to see whats going to go in next downtown is really, really cool. Theres still so much going on. Theres still new businesses coming in. A sad day for some san franciscans, but for others, optimism about the future of union square. Good evening everyone. Im mike mibach and im Claudine Wong. Macys announced today that it will close 150 locations over the next two years. That includes the citys union square location. Macys says a change in the retail landscape has forced it to change its strategy. So instead, the company is going to open 15 new bloomingdales and 30 new bluemercury stores. The San Francisco macys will not close until the company can sell the building, which could take over a year. Ktvu is amber lee joins us now live from the city. And amber, this is a devastating loss for many, many emotionally attached to it. But it doesnt mean the end of union square. Thats right. Claudine, tonight the people we spoke with say change is unavoidable and hard, but that they are optimistic about Union Squares future without macys. Corsetti serves up coastal italian cuisine at union square. The restaurant opened just six months ago. Weve done a good job to create a little cozy pocket, um, in downtown San Francisco, executive chef holly macerlean is a San Francisco native. She says shes saddened by news of Macys Union Square closing. But says corsetti is among the new businesses that represent growth and change in the area. She tells me when she first started working downtown, she had concerns about crime and safety. There is a lot of hope and we are on the right track. Were not going backward. I already feel us moving forward. Um, tourism is still very much alive. Reporter general manager reagan hall says the restaurant has done well since it opened. She has been in the city for more than two decades. I love San Francisco and i just San Francisco is always changing. We do events here as well. The starlight Cocktail Lounge reopened at the beginning of the month for the First Time Since the pandemic. It is on the top floor of beacon grand, formerly known as the sir Francis Drake hotel, under new ownership, it offers a sweeping views, including of Macys Union Square. Theres a lot of history here and we are proud to celebrate that history again. Proud of history. But progress comes with looking towards the future. Theres a real concerted effort to support businesses to bring tourism back. Working with sf travel, the hotel council, the Union Square Alliance, as well as as the city. Devastating news at and um in some ways not totally unexpected. Supervisor aaron peskin, who represents the Union Square Area , says Online Shopping has dramatically changed the way consumers make purchases. He says theres already a group thats expressed an interest in buying the macys property. That building also could be well repositioned as multiple use and multiple stories, with restaurants that have extraordinary views of the square and everythings on the table. Someone with the right mind can, you know, come up with a creative solution to maintain the beauty and the glory that is downtown San Francisco. So peskin says macys is expected to be here at least through the end of the year. The hope is that the beauty of union square, the great restaurants and family oriented attractions, will continue to attract people here. For claudine, mike, now the end of a chapter, but hopefully not the end of the story there for union square amberleigh live tonight in San Francisco. Amber thank you. Well, with macys 400,000 square foot location now up for grabs in San Francisco, mayor london breed says she will work closely with leaders in retail, business and real estate about how that building can continue to serve San Francisco. Ktvu is christian captain, spoke to the mayor and other city officials who admit this is a big loss for the city. Since 1947, the macys name has hung above San Franciscos union square. Now, the Company Announced it is restructuring to address new financial realities. In a statement, the company says it is, quote, focusing resources by closing approximately 150 under pructive locations, including approximately 50 by the end of the fiscal year. Macys union square, one of those underproductive locations that will be shuttered. San Francisco Mayor london breed saying for macys, this was not a safety issue, but came down 2 and cents. Macys made a business decision to close 150 stores, all over the country, and now they are selling the property at union square. The Union Square Alliance released a statement saying the closure will hurt, but the head of the Union Square Alliance said she, quote, believes that we should work toward a solution that allows macys to keep this iconic store open. However, if that does not come to pass, our expectation is that a new owner for this iconic site will come forward to continue a fresh and vibrant vision at this critical location, the mayor also talking about the possibility of adapting the 400,000ft s of retail space to better fit the citys needs. Our goal is to make sure that we focus on the opportunities and the opportunity to ensure that this space is used for something that will be profitable, that will be a destination that will attract people at nearby historic johns grill, the news was devastating. We have guests that you know, during the holidays go to macys, come to johns grill. Its a Family Tradition and the restaurant has stood here since shortly after the great quake and welcomed macys in the 1940s. And the current generation of owners says theyre sorry to see macys and the tradition they built disappear. It will be interesting to see kind of where this goes. And, uh, were going to embrace the next operators into the downtown area. What is unclear at this time is an exact timetable. Various sources that have been in contact with macys say it will not be among the first 50 to close down this coming year, but that it will likely be here for at least a year, maybe two, and that the store will remain open until macys can find a buyer for the building in San Francisco, christien kafton. Ktvu fox two news as well two of the leading candidates for mayor of San Francisco are expressing their concern about the closure of the union square store. Its scary for the city of San Francisco. Macys has been an iconic part of our city for decades. Its been the anchor tenant of union square. Its the tree lighting. Its the ice skating rink over the holidays, its so much that the city of San Francisco, this is really frightening day for our city. Former supervisor and former interim mayor mark farrell said the city needs to fix issues including crime, drugs and homelessness to attract businesses to the downtown core. Another candidate, nonprofit executive daniel lurie, called today a major blow. Retailers changed. Theres no question about it. Um, but im just going to worry about San Francisco. Im going to be concerned about making sure we attract retail. We attract businesses here. And it starts with public safety. The drug crisis, the Mental Health crisis , lurie said that he also wants to cut red tape and bureaucracy and help encourage businesses, large and small, to open in the city. And a quick reminder for you that our coverage of San Francisco in the future of the city continues on your smart tv through our fox local app. It is a free download, a new list of the candidates who could be oaklands next police chief has been released tonight, the Oakland Police commission announced four names they could possibly submit to mayor xiang tao. They are new york city deputy mayor luis molina, cincinnati assistant chief lisa davis, former lubbock, texas police chief Floyd Mitchell and former San Leandro Police chief Abdul Pridgen pridgen recently left the San Leandro Police department after allegations he violated department policy. He was also on the commissions last list of finalists rejected by the mayor. And now that his name is back again, it says a lot to civil rights attorney jim shannon. The Police Commission and the mayor have evidently not sat down together and asked what they can do to make oakland a better place and get a good police chief right away that everyone agrees on. Shannon would not elaborate, but said that he is surprised the commission did not select an internal candidate to be on the short list. The four candidates will appear now at a police chief candidate Community Forum thursday night at 630 at city hall, a spokesperson for mayor shengtao said this evening. Mayor tao looks forward to receiving the list of finalists and conducting her Due Diligence in reviewing the candidates new at ten a vigil was held tonight in downtown san jose for an active duty member of the air force who died this week after he set himself on fire to protest the war in gaza. That incident happened outside of the Israeli Embassy in washington, dc. Ktvu south bay reporter Lamonica Peters live tonight in san jose at the mlk library with more on tonights vigil. Lamonica. Claudine, there are still a few people left from tonights vigil, and they say that Aaron Bushnell gave his life to have peace in gaza, and they continue to call for an end to the war. Dozens of people gathered on the steps of the mlk library in downtown san jose to remember the 25 year old Aaron Bushnell bushnell, a member of the us air force, set himself on fire sunday to protest the war in gaza near the Israeli Embassy in dc. It was excruciating to watch , he says. Um, the pain that im going to burn myself if compare with the Palestinian People in gaza, its i mean, theres no comparison. Ian, i am an active duty member of the United States air force, and i will no longer be complicit in genocide. This video of bushnell was posted on social media and metropolitan Police Believe bushnell set up his phone to live stream his actions, doused himself with an accelerant and lit himself on fire. And for Aaron Bushnell to really give the ultimate sacrifice for peace in the way he saw fit. Um i was very moved by that, and i thought i needed needed to be here. Harry adams is a Us Air Force Veteran who served in vietnam from 1966 to 1970. Clearly, he wanted to make a strong statement for peace without killing anybody. This week, President Biden said he believes there will be a temporary cease fire in the hamas israeli war by next monday. Still, the israeli Prime Minister is seeking an approval for a military operation in the city of rafah. If hostages are not freed by march 10th. Joe biden himself has said, with an Ice Cream Cone in his hand. Yeah, we should have a cease fire by monday, as if its something casual. The Gaza Health Ministry says that more than 29,000 palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war. Now, israel says that its making plans to evacuate civilians from the city of rafah before using military force. Claudine all right. Lamonica peters reporting live. Thanks so much for that report. Well, jewish student groups at uc berkeley say propalestine protesters shut down a campus lecture last night, forcing the evacuation of attendees. A normal day. This video was posted by jsi rc bay area. The University Says a crowd of about 200 people surrounded zellerbach hall, where an israeli lawyer and idf reservist were about to speak. Protesters broke open the doors to enter the building, which was evacuated to protect the audience, and the speaker said in a statement today, chancellor carol christ said, quote, we deeply respect the right to protest as intrinsic to the values of a democracy and an institution of higher education. Yet we cannot ignore protest activity that interferes with the rights of others to hear and or express perspectives of their choosing, she said. Officials are working to determine how to address what happened and why. And state senator scott wiener posted on ex quote on the heels of harassment of a jewish student at uc santa barbara, jewish students at uc berkeley had to be evacuated after a mob stormed a jewish event, broke a window and harassed jewish students. Uc must hold those responsible, accountable and do more to protect jewish students. Still to come tonight, an east Bay Community is mourning the loss of a friend and coworker who died after she was hit by a car while jogging her final act that will live on for years to come. And after the break, we take a look at the weather, which does include a frost advisory in the north bay again tonight, but also some snow in the mountains. Its going to be significant this weekend. Ill have those details and timing coming up. Plus, the Alameda CountyDistrict Attorney issuing more charges in connection with the shooting death of Oakland Police officer twan lay tonight , new de lopm overflowing with ideas and energy. Thats the San Francisco chronicle endorsing democrat katie porter for senate over all other options. Porter is easily the most impressive candidate. Known for her grilling of corporate executives. With deep policy knowledge. Katie porters housing plan has bipartisanfriendly ideas to bring homebuilding costs down. And the chronicle praises her ideas to end soft corruption in politics. Lets shake up the senate. With democrat katie porter. Im katie porter and i approve this message. Car while jogging two weeks ago has now died from her injuries and people who live around the crash site say it is a very dangerous intersection. Ktvu jose horta has more tonight, after speaking with people who knew the woman in. Ask anyone who. Lives here and theyll tell you the intersection of morin avenue and Oxford Street in the Berkeley Hills is dangerous. Its just a very, very treacherous situation. Berkeley police say a pedestrian was in the intersection on february 12th, around 1 30 p. M, when she got. Hit by a car. Friends identify her as 37 year old julia elkin, out for a jog. Tremendous future ahead of her. Elkin had just landed her dream job at sonoma land trust, her alma mater. The university of michigan posted that the accident left her with a traumatic brain injury. Police say she died sunday night. Ive met her on many occasions and she stands out. Shes how youd want your kids to be open and fresh, honest, thoughtful, smart. We spotted car after car roll through the stop sign that goes down hill on morin, where the crash happened. Drivers coming from the opposite direction have to step on the gas to make it uphill. Its a gamble for those out walking these narrow streets. Its always the same thing. Are the cars going to stop you know . Do they see me and just so people in this crosswalk can see cars coming up the hill behind them, theyve got a mirror here. Slow down. Be careful. Berkeley City Council MemberRashi Kesarwani posting. On next Tuesdays Council meeting would adjourn in memory of elkin. Former coworkers remembering her at tuesdays marin county supervisors meeting while adopting a plan to increase safety in the streets, she brought extraordinary light, positivity and skill to her work and to her life and her loss is an unspeakable tragedy to her family and to her friends. Theres now a makeshift memorial , a bouquet tied to the stop sign where elkin was hit as the woman known for her giving spirit paid it forward. One last time. Shes so generous. She gave all her organs. That was jose horta reporting. Berkeley police say they could not confirm whether she was in the crosswalk or not. And they are still investigating, trying to figure out what led up to that crash. But they did say the driver did stop and remained on the scene. Santa clara county Sheriff Deputies say a suspect in a targeted shooting is now in custody. 30 arrested yesterday. He is facing attempted murder charges in a shooting on lasswell avenue in unincorporated san jose. February 12th. The victim was seriously injured. Niece was also booked on unrelated outstanding. Warrants. Tonights results from the