Wine Country Mayor Finally Resigns Following Ninth Allegation of Sexual Assault

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• Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli finally resigned on Friday, May 21, six weeks after the San Francisco Chronicle published an investigation detailing multiple women’s allegations that he sexually assaulted them. The Chronicle reports Foppoli resigned hours after the newspaper contacted him about a police investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, into an allegation of sexual assault made by reality TV star Farrah Abraham (Abraham agreed to be named in the Chronicle’s story). Abraham is the ninth woman to accuse the Sonoma County winemaker and politician of sexual assault or sexual misconduct. Since the Chronicle’s report was published, Windsor residents filed paperwork to recall Foppoli, and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office opened its own criminal investigation into the accusations. [SF Chronicle]
• California is set to lift almost all COVID-19 public health restrictions on June 15, state officials confirmed Friday, including capacity limits and distancing guidelines for bars and restaurants. The announcement confirmed plans for California’s full reopening, however San Francisco residents are still waiting to hear what it will mean for them, as counties can choose to maintain some local restrictions. A handful of restrictions will remain in place statewide, most notably a mask requirement for people who aren’t vaccinated and several restrictions for mass gatherings that qualify as “mega events” — more than 5,000 people indoors and more than 10,000 people outdoors. [New York Times]
• The biggest hotel in California, San Francisco’s Hilton Union Square, reopened Monday, May 24, after more than a year of being closed. Guests will have to wait a bit longer to soak in the 1,900-room hotel’s famous panoramic views, however, as its popular Cityscape Bar will on the 46th floor will remain closed until occupancy picks up, reports the San Francisco Business Times. [SF Biz Journal]
• Old-school North Beach burger spot Sam’s is up for legacy status after San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission passed a resolution last week that’s expected to be finalized by the Small Business Commission. Sam El Shawa opened the unfussy late-night favorite at 618 Broadway in 1966, and today is run by a third generation of the family. If approved, Sam’s will join Beep’s Burgers on Ocean Avenue as the only burger spots on the city’s Legacy Business Registry. [SF Chronicle]
• Bombera, from star chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros, opens for takeout Tuesday, May 24, the SF Chronicle confirmed, as the first step in debuting her hotly anticipated Dimond District restaurant, as first reported by Eater SF. Bombera is a sequel to her acclaimed Cosecha restaurant in Old Oakland’s Swan Marketplace, opened about a decade ago.
• Just in time for Memorial Day travel, Emeryville-based tiki bar and restaurant Trader Vic’s is opening in San Jose airport this week, the Mercury News reported. Mineta San Jose and HMS Host first announced plans for the offshoot in 2018, along with news of Chick-Fil-A and Shake Shack joining the airport’s lineup. Along with a grab-and-go outpost, a full-service restaurant in Terminal B will serve Polynesian-influenced breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a focus on cocktails — Trader’s Vic’s founder Vic Bergeron invented drinks like the Mai Tai. [Mercury News]