There was applause and people thanking the elected official for showing up and meeting with his constituents.
There were also folks incensed about actions taken by the Trump administration who demanded to know what Democrats — and in particular, their congressmember — plan to do to stop what many in the audience described as an unchecked power grab by President Donald Trump.
What was supposed to be an hourlong town hall turned into a nearly 90-minute session between Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Covina, and his largely working-class constituents in the San Gabriel Valley on Tuesday night, March 18.
The Democrat’s decision to hold an in-person town hall — in a Democrat-heavy district — contrasts with guidance from Speaker Mike Johnson, who recently told GOP House members to skip town halls to avoid protesters angry about cuts made under the Trump administration.
Recent town halls in other districts have seen members of Congress put in the hot seat.
To be sure, Cisneros faced some blowback. But attendees were, for the most part, respectful, even as they asked pointed questions and the frustration in their voices was evident.
Some attendees criticized the Democratic Party, saying it lacked leadership, a plan and a unifying message for fighting back control during next year’s midterm elections. They also pressed Cisneros for examples of what he and his Democratic colleagues have done to challenge Republicans, who have full control of the executive and legislative branches in Washington.
Others accused Cisneros of not showing enough anger over potential slashes to Medicaid, Social Security and other federal programs that Trump and other Republicans have been peddling.
“I am so angry. I am so scared,” said Melissa Morgan of San Dimas.
“I feel our democracy is in danger. … I wish you would be angry,” Morgan said.
“You’re not mirroring, I think, many of the feelings this audience has. … I just wish that the Democrats would match my anger and my fear.”
Cisneros insisted that he, too, is angry, even if he holds his emotions inside.
“I do worry about people losing their Social Security. I do worry about health care going away. … I’m hearing you. There is anger there; I am angry,” he said.
Earlier in the evening, Cisneros said 15 million Californians rely on Medicaid, including 40% of constituents in his district. He told stories about how his father used to travel to Tijuana, where it was cheaper to purchase medications, and how he’d never seen anyone happier to turn 65 than his mom because it allowed her to enroll in Medicare.
Still, one man accused Cisneros of being “out of touch,” saying the congressmember last week had a social media post about solar panels the same day Republicans were discussing cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Cisneros insisted he isn’t out of touch with the public and said he’s spoken out about such cuts on numerous occasions.
