Joe on the Job

Simitian's office announced recently that the senator has decided to extend the contest deadline this year to Nov. 15 from Oct. 31, giving Californians more time to submit their ideas. Although he did not explicitly mention the contest at the town hall, he alluded to it via Colton's story.

"Winners stand a good chance of seeing their ideas affect the lives of 38 million Californians,” Simitian said in a statement. 

State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, authored a bill this year that would have reformed the use of traffic cameras by requiring local governments to post signs near where the cameras are installed; developed uniform guidelines for screening and issuing tickets from the cameras; made formal fact-findings to justify future installations; and ignored revenue, beyond the system's own costs, when considering whether to install such systems.

SB 29 had overwhelming bipartisan support, approved by the Assembly on a 70-4 vote and by the state Senate on a 38-0 vote.

Scores of residents, parents and students filled the hall to see the senator speak and answer questions at the meeting, which was broadcast live on the Cupertino community television channel.

Simitian answered every question in the room. Many of the questions focused on California's budget crisis, cuts to education, immigration and energy.