Our Improving Transportation in City Heights (ITCH) members attended Supervisor Nora Vargas' State of the County address Wednesday night. Vargas made history as being the first Latina, immigrant, and woman of color to deliver the speech.

Mid-City CAN thanks Chairwoman Vargas for her continued support of the Youth Opportunity Pass (YOP) program! During her address Vargas mentioned a student named Heidi who before YOP had a daily commute to school of 3 hours a day. Not only was it exhausting, but her family struggled to pay for her monthly bus pass to get to school.

"Access to education is one of the most crucial investments we can make as a community to support our youth and prepare them with the skills necessary to perform and excel at the jobs of the future," Vargas said.

Vargas mentioned that thanks to YOP youth ridership in public transit has increased in San Diego by 84 percent.

"That's why I will continue to champion no cost transportation for our youth. Only this time we're going to expand it to offer no cost transportation for 24 and under helping our college students, young adults, and those trying to make it to their jobs on time."

Our ITCH team has advocated for a no cost youth public transit program since 2011. Learn more about our campaign to make YOP permanent by visiting our Transportation Justice (ITCH) page.

For more photos of our team at the State of the County address, visit our Flickr page by click here.

📷: Ron Sanchez, Mid-City CAN