Rep. Salud Carbajal hosts town hall in Ventura

VENTURA, Calif.-Activists helped spread the word about a town hall in Ventura on Monday by calling it "Musk or Us" online, but Rep. Salud Carbajal said he didn't give the town hall a name.

Nevertheless, people lined up around the Poinsettia Pavilion on Foothill Road to get a seat and many ended up standing.

Carbajal, who represents the 24th District in the House of Representatives, talked about the challenges before taking questions about layoffs, Gaza, Ukraine, deportations, the justice department and sonic booms following Vandenberg rocket launches linked to Musk and more.

Many people shared their concerns about the continuing resolution (CR) that prevented a government shutdown.

They feel the passage with the help of Democratic Senators left the party with little leverage.

Many shared their concerned about Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency cutting jobs held by Veterans, National Park workers and others.

Vietnam Veterans including Debora Ehrich filled the front rows of the town hall.

"I'm just concerned that 83,000, staff members that are also veterans are going to be let go, and that's going to affect all of us veterans," said Ehrich.

 Carbajal, who was a Marine, said he understands the frustration.

"Everybody needs to unite. Everybody needs to organize, everybody needs to speak out to make sure that our democracy is not destroyed, and that we resist all the terrible actions that this administration is inflicting on our country, said Carbajal.

A lot of town halls led by Republican members of Congress have turned into shouting matches that have gone viral on social media.

This town hall did have some shouting, but Carbajal asked the people speaking up to stay after to address their questions one on one.

Dave Holmes of Santa Barbara admitted he spoke up and stayed after to voice more concerns.

"We really have to get money out of politics because the billionaire donor class has way too much power. I don't have any power," said Holmes, "All of our politicians need to be out there causing good trouble. Without it, we we just look lame sitting around waiting for something to happen."

Voters said they want to see a tangible way to fight back and they want elected officials to find way to act.

The earliest people to arrive summed it up this way:

"I have gone from concerned to distressed to horrified  with all the decision that are being made intentional to basically take a wrecking ball to democracy," said Oxnard voter Dana Brooks.

Her friend Emily Fisher of Ventura agreed.

"I'm tired of the Democratic stance right now, you know that we don't have any power we don't have the house we don't have the Congress they have the Senate and House and we are just sort of waiting," said Fisher, " I feel like they are waiting for the midterms, but now is the time for action."

Bob Smith, who serves as an Associate Delegate to the Republican Party in California's 24th District did not attend the town hall but when asked about it he accused the Congressman of grandstanding.

"So instead of Mr. Carbajal being here in Ventura, politically grandstanding against the DOGE team, which is all he has been doing all week on his social media on his Congressional website and anywhere that you see him, it is constant campaign grandstanding from him, we would like to actually see him do his job," said Smith.

Smith said there is no one in the district, Democrats or Republicans, who want the Federal Government or the defense to be ineffective.

"it is unaffordable to live here in the 24th District for middle class people that are working very hard to feed their families, get things done, save or retirement, put some money into their college fund for their kids and we can't do that is we are spending money on the high tax rate that we pay her in California that goes to fraud waste and abuse either at the federal or state level."

Carbajal said this is his third town hall.

He plans to continue appearing at town halls in person and online.

The 24th District includes all of Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.

For more information about the town hall visit https://carbajal.house.gov

Your News Channel will have more on the town hall tonight on the news.