Latest articles by Gaby Del Valle
![What happens to Black Friday crowds in a pandemic?](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22078605/GettyImages_156843885.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.720779220779%2C0%2C66.558441558442%2C100&w=2400)
![What happens to Black Friday crowds in a pandemic?](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22078605/GettyImages_156843885.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0.081168831168831%2C0%2C99.837662337662%2C100&w=2400)
Retailers like Macy’s, Home Depot, and Walmart are trying to keep stores safe — and you shopping sales.
![“I am humbled by what we’ve been able to create”: Small-business owners on when they knew they’d made it](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21995380/Genara_2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&w=2400)
![“I am humbled by what we’ve been able to create”: Small-business owners on when they knew they’d made it](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21995380/Genara_2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400)
It doesn’t happen all at once — if ever — but it does feel immensely satisfying.
![USPS delays are affecting the businesses that need it most](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21882272/GettyImages_1211400633.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=15.585197934596%2C0%2C72.697934595525%2C100&w=2400)
![USPS delays are affecting the businesses that need it most](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21882272/GettyImages_1211400633.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C4.1481700700405%2C100%2C91.703659859919&w=2400)
From boutiques to Etsy sellers, small businesses are bearing the brunt of changes to the United States Postal Service.
![Is the customer always right if they refuse to wear a mask?](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19986658/GettyImages_1216010257.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.316666666667%2C0%2C67.366666666667%2C100&w=2400)
![Is the customer always right if they refuse to wear a mask?](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19986658/GettyImages_1216010257.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0.51954477981197%2C100%2C98.960910440376&w=2400)
Without government regulations and strict enforcement from corporate, retail and fast food workers can only do so much to keep stores safe.
![These images show the workers who were always “essential”](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19923375/Jorge_Garcia_Vox_Essential_Workers_41.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.833333333333%2C0%2C66.333333333333%2C100&w=2400)
The people keeping New York City from falling apart are still on the city’s streets and trains. Will the pandemic change how they are treated?
![Laid-off workers are getting bad severance packages, and worse communication, from their employers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19839363/GettyImages_522936202.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.663414634146%2C0%2C66.673170731707%2C100&w=2400)
![Laid-off workers are getting bad severance packages, and worse communication, from their employers](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19839363/GettyImages_522936202.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0.0048775729197175%2C100%2C99.990244854161&w=2400)
Those in hospitality and retail are being hit the hardest as America’s coronavirus crisis deepens.
![Restaurant workers on how their lives have been changed by the coronavirus](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19826581/GettyImages_1207245510.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&w=2400)
![Restaurant workers on how their lives have been changed by the coronavirus](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19826581/GettyImages_1207245510.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400)
Many servers, baristas, and bartenders have already been laid off. Now they’re looking to the government for help.
![Workers at national restaurant chains are not covered by new sick leave bill](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19799124/GettyImages_487421598.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=15.983006152945%2C0%2C68.033987694111%2C100&w=2400)
![Workers at national restaurant chains are not covered by new sick leave bill](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19799124/GettyImages_487421598.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C1.0048808498421%2C100%2C97.990238300316&w=2400)
New protections from Washington don’t apply to workers from Chipotle and McDonald’s, and some say they’ve faced retaliation for taking sick leave.
![What the 2020 candidates’ merch says about their campaigns](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19667556/GettyImages_1203586796.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&w=2400)
![What the 2020 candidates’ merch says about their campaigns](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19667556/GettyImages_1203586796.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400)
From Andrew Yang’s “Math” pin to “M-[peach emoji]-[mint emoji]” merch from Mike Bloomberg.
![The Salvation Army says it doesn’t discriminate against LGBTQ people. Critics say that’s not true.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19444144/GettyImages_1192434959.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=16.3375%2C0%2C67.325%2C100&w=2400)
![The Salvation Army says it doesn’t discriminate against LGBTQ people. Critics say that’s not true.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19444144/GettyImages_1192434959.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0.48892189627429%2C100%2C99.022156207451&w=2400)
The organization does a lot to help underserved people, including members of the LGBTQ community. Still, it has a long history of alleged discrimination.