By JOHN HOWELL Will it be a town hall meeting or a neighborhood meeting? In today's charged political environment, Virginia Barham is hopeful that Monday's meeting with Congressman James Langevin does not deteriorate into the rancorous town hall meetings
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Will it be a town hall meeting or a neighborhood meeting?
In today’s charged political environment, Virginia Barham is hopeful that Monday’s meeting with Congressman James Langevin does not deteriorate into the rancorous town hall meetings witnessed in Rhode Island and across the country.
“I hope it is a productive time,” said the president of the Conimicut Village Association. The town meeting with Langevin will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William Shields Post on West Shore Road. The room holds about 150 and there will be seating for about 125, Barham said.
But there’s no knowing how many will turn out. A town meeting hosted by the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation early last month in East Providence drew an estimated 800 people. And while the all-Democratic delegation faced a generally politically sympathetic crowd, they were hit with questions over the future of the Affordable Care Act, President Trump’s immigration policies, Trump’s cabinet nominees and demands to force Trump out.
Barham put out an email for questions but, as of Tuesday, she said, she had received only three. She said one was about term limits and a second asked how members of Trump’s cabinet could be held accountable. She thinks most people are waiting to ask their questions directly of Langevin.
It was Langevin’s office that initiated the meeting in response to a letter from Leslie Derrig published prior to the election in the Warwick Beacon. Derrig wrote that the association only saw and heard from elected officials during an election year.
“If you are truly interested in what is happening in the community you wish to represent, why would you not come and show your support and be active with the people you want to lead?” she wrote.
When Langevin’s office sought her out and suggested a neighborhood meeting, Derrig, who lives in Conimicut, turned to Barham.
Because it is the association meeting, which is open to the public, Seth Klaiman, chief of staff for Langevin’s Rhode Island office, said he left advertising the meeting up to the association. In the case of other public meetings such as the “Lunch with Langevin” set for March 11 at the Cowesett Inn in West Warwick, the congressman’s office sends out press releases and notifies constituents. The luncheon meeting, explains Klaiman, is designed to give people the chance to meet the congressman one-on-one and bring up issues, like Social Security questions, that would be too personal for a large audience.
Klaiman isn’t put off by the outpouring generated by town meetings, although he is disheartened by some of the vitriol he has seen.
“It tells you the passion people have right now,” he said. As for Monday’s meeting and others the congressman may hold, Klaiman said, “We don’t want them taken over by an outside group.”
That’s not to suggest the congressman will limit questions or discussion.
“It can be about anything they want,” he said of the Conimicut Village Association meeting.
Constituents haven’t waited for town meetings to voice their opinions. Klaiman estimated that on average the office has been receiving 100 calls a day covering a range of topics including their opinions of Trump.
“We’re hearing it now,” he said.
Most recently was a flurry of emails, Facebook posts and calls following Langevin’s appearance on Fox News. Klaiman surmised as much as 90 percent of adverse reaction directed at Langevin came from out of state.
“He has energized many people,” Klaiman said of Trump.
He finds that healthy, a good thing. Yet, he added, the discourse has been divisive and that hurts.
“Too many people are being disagreeable,” he said.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
bendover
QUESTIONS? OK, "What have you personally accomplished in Washington, DC?" I'll make it easy; "Name me 4 pieces of legislation that you can claim as author or prime sponsor that got out of committee, passed the full House and Senate, signed into law by the President, and benefited ALL of your constituents, not just a select few? " That means at least one real and cogent thought of legislation every 3-4 years...The same for your cohorts in Washington....Over 60 years total time down there combined, "show me the money!" The whole lot of you have not accomplished squat, just acting as obstructionists...along with this incompetent Governor.
Thursday, March 2, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Bendover,
I know of one.
In 2007 I wrote legislation that would make bait-and-switch tactics of many of my competitors a thing of the past, and it wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime. I own a mortgage company and for the last 39 years I have refused to promise a rate until the underwriters have analyzed the applicants credit, income and appraisal. So many of my competitors do that it makes us all look dishonest. My legislation would require that the mortgage company acknowledge that to the applicant (in writing) at the time of the application and lock the rate with the applicant (in writing) only after it could be guaranteed, thus eliminating "bait-and-switch."
I met with Congressmen Langevin and Barney Frank (as well as several of Langevins staff) over several months to draft it and it was brought to congress. Parts of it, I believe, were combined with the new mortgage regulations of Dodd/Frank but the actual bill was never passed. However, the dozens of hours that Congressman Langevin invested in this consumer-protection legislation, and the sincere and professional attitude he displayed throughout the process made me a believer and a Langevin supporter for life.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Richard Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor and endorsed Democrat for Warwick Mayor in 2016
Friday, March 3, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
Keep living in the past Rick. But in the present, you still owe car taxes and utility taxes, Any chance we could get a check?
Friday, March 3, 2017 Report this
Kammy
Richard, you didn't answer the question at all. You, yourself said it never passed.The question was name 4 pieces of legislation that were singed into law. Did you even read the post by bendover?
Friday, March 3, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Kammy,
The question was "What have you personally accomplished in Washington DC?"
I feel that most politicians give lip service at best, but when I asked Congressman Langevin for help, I got a ton of it. To me, that is the trait of a real leader. What he accomplished with me was to give me more effort than 98% of the other politicians, who often don't even bother to return calls. You can feel differently if you like, but I know from personal experience and I shared that experience here.
Take good care Kammy.
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Monday, March 6, 2017 Report this