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Reed Does The Right Thing By Holding Town Hall Meetings

It’s hard to believe American citizens have cause to be surprised when their elected representatives hold town hall meetings.

We need look no further than Buffalo, where Republican Chris Collins and Democrat Brian Higgins have steadfastly refused to hold town hall meetings. Elisa Stefanik, a Central New York congresswoman, has similarly refused to hold town hall meetings in favor of small-group meetings to likely include those with a friendly message. Such behavior is unacceptable at any time, but especially during the uncertain and politically charged early days of President Donald Trump’s time in office.

It was good to see U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, continue his tradition of town hall meetings throughout his district. Reed held two town hall meetings in Chautauqua County on Saturday and, notably, surprised a group in the midst of a three-day sit-in at his Ithaca office with an impromptu meeting late Thurday evening after returning from Washington, D.C.

We’re not sure how satisfying the town hall meeting was for anyone. The Stow town hall meeting was raucous at times and too often dissolved into political point-making rather than a true give-and-take of ideas. Those who disagree with Reed’s stance on issues likely left feeling disappointed. Those who support Reed’s stance on issues likely felt drowned out. The meeting was a predictable microcosm of our national discourse in 2017 in which playing a role in the political theater is more important than arriving at consensus.

Regardless of how one feels about the meetings’ outcome, however, give Reed credit for hosting the meetings in the first place. There are many representatives from both sides of the political aisle who don’t give their constituents even that much.

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