Bradley Byrne: The value of Town Hall meetings
No one can deny that the political climate in our country today is pretty divisive. Protests and outbursts are becoming more and more common. This shouldn’t be a huge surprise when you consider that a certain group now considers themselves “the resistance.” Given the volatile condition of our politics today, many Members of Congress are no longer hosting town hall-style meetings to meet with their constituents. These events have become too risky as they provide an avenue for “the resistance” to cause problems and create negative attention. Despite the national trend away from town hall meetings, I continue to believe town halls are one of the best ways to stay in touch with the people we represent. My town hall meetings are always open to anyone and provide for an hour of open dialogue between residents and the person elected to be their voice in Congress. While I know some town halls around the country have turned confrontational, I believe that the people of Alabama have enough decency to be able to openly debate and discuss political issues without becoming nasty. I’ve held over 115 in-person town hall meetings since being elected to Congress, and I can count on one hand the number of times someone has been intentionally disruptive or hateful. Last year, a national news crew from CBS came down to Alabama to cover a day of my town hall meetings. I think they were expecting some hostile moments. At the end of the day, they commented about how nice, friendly, and hospitable the people were. I told them that was just how we operate in Alabama. See, I think being able to debate – and even disagree – about important issues is fundamental to our country. If you look at places like Russia, North Korea, and Iran, they don’t allow for open debate and dialogue about issues. It is this type of conversation and the freedom to disagree that makes our country great. So, over the past month, I hit the road to visit communities across Southwest Alabama to hold town hall meetings. Known as the “Better Off Now” Town Hall Tour, I held open meetings in Salipta, Atmore, Brewton, Dauphin Island, Millry, Citronelle, Mobile, Grand Bay, Monroeville, Seminole, Loxley, and Spanish Fort. For me, it is very important to spread out where I hold town hall meetings. Instead of just staying in larger cities, I have made a commitment to visiting communities of all sizes and in each of the six counties that make up the First Congressional District. The voice of the people in the Salipta community of Clarke County matters just as much as the voice of those in Mobile. During my recent town hall meetings, hot topics were problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, concerns about illegal immigration, issues with the “Deep State” and government bureaucracy, and the need for improvement to local roads and infrastructure. Each town hall meeting was different, but these were some of the overarching themes. At the end of the day, I refuse to give in to the narrative that we can no longer openly discuss political issues in our country. We need to embrace the diversity of opinions and views, and town hall meetings are a great way to do that. So, I promise that as long as I am your Congressman, I will continue to hold public, in-person town hall meetings throughout our area to hear directly from the people I represent. Through these meetings, I become a better Congressman, and I think our society becomes a little stronger. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne to hold 12 Town Hall meetings in August
Never one to shy away from his constituents, Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne has announced he will host 12 Town Hall meetings throughout the month of August. Known as the “Better Off Now” Town Hall Tour, Byrne will hold public town halls in each of the six counties that make up Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. There, he will discuss how he believes the American people are better off now thanks to a booming economy, stronger military, and safer communities. “You may remember two years ago when House Republicans unveiled our ‘Better Way’ agenda that focused on everything from fixing the tax code to growing our military to cutting government regulations. Well, thanks to the help of President Trump, we have successfully implemented much of that agenda, and it is safe to say the American people are ‘Better Off Now.’” Byrne said in a constituent newsletter announcing the upcoming tour. Below is a list of Byrne’s upcoming Town Hall meetings; Salipta Monday, July 30th at 3:00 p.m. CT Salipta Fire Department (145 River Crest Road; Jackson, Ala.) Atmore Tuesday, July 31st at 2:00 p.m. CT Atmore City Hall (201 East Louisville Avenue; Atmore, Ala.) Brewton Tuesday, July 31st at 4:00 p.m. CT Brewton City Hall (1010A Douglas Avenue; Brewton, Ala.) Dauphin Island Wednesday, August 1st at 10:00 a.m. CT Dauphin Island Town Hall (1101 Bienville Boulevard; Dauphin Island, Ala.) Millry Thursday, August 2nd at 1:00 p.m. CT Millry Town Hall (105 2nd Avenue; Millry, Ala.) Citronelle Thursday, August 2nd at 3:00 p.m. CT Citronelle High School (8200 Lebaron Avenue; Citronelle, Ala.) Mobile (sponsored by the Association for Mature American Citizens) Wednesday, August 8th at 2:00 pm. CT Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Center (3201 Hillcrest Road; Mobile, Ala.) Grand Bay Monday, August 20th at 3:00 p.m. CT Grand Bay-St. Elmo Community Center (11610 US-90; Grand Bay, Ala.) Monroeville Tuesday, August 21st at 3:00 p.m. CT Old Monroe County Courthouse (31 North Alabama Avenue; Monroeville, Ala.) Seminole Wednesday, August 22nd at 1:30 p.m. CT Three Rivers Church (31841 U.S. Highway 90; Seminole, Ala.) Loxley Wednesday, August 22nd at 3:30 p.m. CT Loxley Town Hall (1089 North Hickory Street; Loxley, Ala.) Spanish Fort Wednesday, August 22nd at 5:30 p.m. CT Spanish Fort City Hall (7361 Spanish Fort Boulevard; Spanish Fort, Ala.) All the town hall meetings are open to the public and free to attend. All the information can be found online at Byrne.House.Gov/BetterOffTour. Byrne ranks among the top of all Members of Congress for the number of town hall meetings held. Since assuming office in late 2013, Byrne has held over 100 town hall meetings, including meetings over the phone and through Facebook. “I am committed to being the most accessible Congressman possible, and town hall meetings are an excellent way for me to hear directly from the people I represent. I encourage you to spread the word with your friends, family, and neighbors and invite you to attend one of the free, public town hall meetings!” Byrne added in the newsletter.
