News Room: Miscellaneous

If it weren’t for Judy Chirco and a dedicated group of people, the room where more than 100 well-wishers celebrated Chirco’s Woman of Year award may not have been there.

When Camden High School closed in 1980, Chirco participated on a committee that saved part of the school’s land to build the Camden Community Center’s meeting rooms, swimming pool, gymnasium and fields. Chirco, a Camden High graduate, was the toast of a May 6 party thrown there by state Sen. Joe Simitian to celebrate Simitian’s selection of Chirco as the 2010 Senate District 11 Woman of the Year.

“As a community leader, a school leader and one who is committed to social justice, she doesn’t just talk a good game, but she actually rolls up her sleeves and gets it done,” Simitian said.

A state bill to give car pool patrons a free ride even after the lanes are tolled faces a fight from transportation officials across California. But the bill’s author said he’s willing to work with those concerned provided his bill meets its simple goal.

“If you are a car pooler in a car pool lane, you should not have to pay,” said Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto.

After watching Bay Area transportation officials and some agencies in Southern California proceed with plans to turn car pool lanes into toll roads, Simitian said he worried tolling agencies would soon start charging vehicles with only two people inside.

“If the goal is to get people out of their cars into a car pool, then why should we make that harder? ...,” Simitian said.