Group criticizes Costello at town hall
Scheduling conflict prevented congressman from attending event at Phoenixville High
Residents were fired up Feb. 25 at a scheduled town hall meeting where invited Congressman Ryan Costello did not attend.
The Concerned Constituent Action Group hosted a town hall meeting to voice concerns about national issues including health care, the environment, education, immigration and ethics in the new age of government under Donald Trump.
Costello told the group in ad- vance that he could not attend the forum because of a scheduling conflict.
Attendees went ahead with the town hall anyway, addressing questions to a video camera and a photo of Costello set up at the podium at the front of Phoenixville High School’s auditorium — a circumstance that some community members called “ridiculous” and “unacceptable.”
“I amnot being paid to be here. It’s not my job, it’s your job. You’re a representative and I’m here to tell you that a photograph doesn’t cut it,” said a Tredyffrin Township
resident who only identified herself as Whitney. “Like most Americans today I’m extremely concerned about the state of affairs in Washington D.C. Rampant cronyism, nepotism, corruption, shady ties to Russia, including a tampered election and interference in the investigation at the behest of the White House itself. This is unacceptable ... We are not going away.”
About 380 people showed up for themeeting and were ready to discuss some of their issues and pass along their concerns to Costello, a Chester County Republican who represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which includes portions of Chester, Mont- gomery, Berks and Lebanon counties.
Similar forums have been taking place across the country, with disgruntled Democrats and left-leaning activists targeting Republican members of Congress returning to their home districts during a Congressional recess.
Questions at the Phoenixville event spanned from immigration policies to his plans on addressing President Trump’s attacks on the media. Attendees lined the center aisles waiting to approach the microphone. So many people showed up to ask questions that the two-hour meeting was not enough time to get to everyone who had lined up. By 3 p.m., about 10 people were still in line to ask a question before it was cut short.
Those who did get time at the microphone, spoke so passionately about their causes that audience members were moved to tears and offered applause and standing ovations to those who spoke.
“The White House action to rescind President Obama’s guidelines to protect trans gender students sent me over the edge,” said Deborah Mobile, a retired public school teacher living in East Whiteland Town- ship. “After abandoning the refugees and terrorizing the immigrants, the Trump administration decided to go after perhaps the most vulnerable group of children in this country ... Congressman Costello, I implore you to stand up.”
Costello told Digital First Media Feb. 23 the town hall conflicted with his schedule and the organizers did not reach out to his staff be- fore scheduling the event. Costello said he believed the event was an attempt at political sabotage, a statement that also came under fire by several attendees. Costello said that he took issue with the group’s request to waive the $600 fee for use of the school facility and the approximately $480 fee for custodial staff.
Vince Galko, senior advisor to the Costello campaign, sent a statement via email after the Phoenixville event concluded. “Congressman Costello has never taken issue with a political organization affiliated with Chester County Democrats, Tredyffrin Township Democrats, Fair Districts PA, Organized for Action Indivisible utilizing the school district’s space to host a political event, Galko write. “Political activism should be celebrated and forums opened for such purposes.”
Costello previously hosted several town hall meetings by telephone that he said had reached 100,000 residents, as well as an 80-person town hall at a local business Feb. 24 and a school group in Berks County this past week. Costello also hosted a popup town hall meeting with protesters who had gathered outside his office in West Chester Feb. 24 to answer questions about President Trump, health care, Russia and immigration. That session lasted 90 minutes.
Organizers of the Phoenixville town hall were pleased with the turnout.
“I was blown away. The questions were incredibly thoughtful and incredibly well researched and there was an extraordinary amount of emotion,” said Tammy Harkness, one of the organizers of the town hall. “It was powerful and I think we did a great job at making ourselves heard. Even if he wasn’t here he will get our questions and see our video.”
Harkness said her group plans to post the video of the townhall online and deliver the stack of questions directly to Costello’s office in Washington, D.C.