Colorado Statesman: 'Government in the Grocery' program returns to CD 7
More than 100 constituents showed up for the return of U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter's "Government in the Grocery" on Saturday at a Lakewood Safeway.
It was the first event of its kind in the nation since U.S Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was injured outside a Tucson Safeway while meeting constituents in a shooting that killed six and wounded another dozen.
"Probably every other person said, 'Thank you for doing this, we know what happened in Tucson kind of changed things, and we appreciate you doing this again,'" Perlmutter said after the event, which he extended by two hours to accommodate the crowds.
Of those who attended, roughly 80 filled out cards seeking a five-minute sit-down with Perlmutter, and about half of those made it to the table set up between the supermarket's floral and produce departments. The congressman’s staff buzzed about — an in-store Starbucks was just feet away — answering questions and initiating casework for constituents who couldn't wait or who didn't make it to the chairs across from Perlmutter.
Since taking office in 2007, the Golden Democrat has held more than 70 of the events, but his office cancelled one that had been scheduled three weeks after the Tucson shootings. After meeting with law enforcement and supermarket officials, Perlmutter said he was confident he could resume the program.
Read more at The Colorado Statesman
