TOWN HALL: Koch’s description is wrong

As an attendee at last Saturday’s town hall, I am compelled to share observations in rebuttal to Evan Koch’s description of the event.

The format was traditional: presentations by legislators to be followed by a Q&A. Further, the legislators had agreed to meet one on one with constituents after the forum. Legislators spoke to pending legislation they were most involved with, including both school funding and Medicaid, which Mr. Koch suggested were not addressed. I did not hear or perceive “scripted MAGA talking points.” Each legislator had his own presentation style. The presentations were substantive and not a “pep rally.” Initially the audience response was traditional applause and boos. Yes, the boos were clear and heard by the legislators and attendees. No one suppressed the boos from the crowd.

However, the boos transitioned to loud, disruptive shouting, attempting to shout over the legislators and, as a practical matter not allowing the legislators to respond. Interestingly, when attendees rose and shouted several persons seated around them rose and immediately started videoing the speaker on their phones. It was announced that disrupters would be removed if they did not allow the forum to proceed. The continued shouting made presentations impossible; and the awkward, disturbing removal of one of the shouters occurred. Ironically, the time taken to quiet repeated shouters and remove one of them cost all attendees about 20 or 30 minutes of valuable time which could have been Q&A with our legislators.

Mr. Koch says we all deserve to feel safe. As someone who has never experienced such an event with loud, disruptive shouting, including from a woman seated behind me, I did not feel safe. I did not observe “peaceful participation.” Outbursts were “scripted” objections I have heard before; shouted with no apparent desire to really hear an answer.

ALICE HERALD

Hayden