Frustrated by weeks of unanswered requests for an in-person meeting with their congressman, residents of Darrell Issa’s district are no longer willing to sit and wait. Instead, they’re taking action in a way that’s gaining national attention.
In a bold move, activists have organized what they’re calling an “Empty Chair Town Hall.” The event is set for Sunday, March 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. And while Congressman Issa has been invited to attend, his seat is likely to remain unoccupied—sending a strong message about representation and accessibility in government.
Leading the charge is Allison Gill, well-known as the host of the popular political podcast “Mueller, She Wrote.” She will be moderating the event, giving community members a platform to voice their concerns about potential cuts to crucial programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. According to East County Magazine, these issues are at the forefront of constituents’ worries, especially as legislative discussions continue.
But this isn’t just a local effort—it’s part of a larger, nationwide movement. Indivisible, a grassroots organization focused on progressive activism, has been orchestrating similar town halls across the country during the congressional recess from March 13-23. The goal? To ensure that elected officials remain accountable to the people they represent.
One of the most powerful elements of this event is how community participation is being structured. Residents will have the chance to submit written questions with their names at the top. From there, selected individuals will read them aloud, prompting a panel discussion. This format ensures that real concerns from real constituents take center stage—whether or not Issa decides to show up.
The absence of face-to-face engagement from Issa has been a sore spot for many in the district. Since taking office in 2021, he has yet to hold a large-scale, in-person town hall in his current district. The last time he participated in a notable town hall was back in 2017 when he represented a different North County district. That meeting, according to reports, was anything but quiet—described as “sometimes rowdy” due to the intensity of public frustration.
This raises a pressing question: Shouldn’t elected officials be engaging directly with the people who put them in office? For many, the Empty Chair Town Hall is more than just a symbolic gesture—it’s a statement of demand. It reflects the growing impatience among voters who feel ignored and left without a direct line to their representative.
As public pressure mounts, all eyes will be on Issa to see whether he chooses to attend—or whether his empty chair will say it all. Either way, his constituents are making one thing clear: Their voices deserve to be heard, with or without him in the room.
Login