Protestors Greet Newsom At Town Hall Meeting

Mar. 27 - KGO (KGO) -- Dressed as giant chickens, they looked like team mascots, but they were really protestors who confronted Mayor Newsom Monday night.

He held his third town hall meeting to answer questions, but critics, a couple in chicken outfits, don't like the format.

The town hall meeting at the Cesar Chavez Elemenatry School was focused on healthcare for the uninsured. The city has a new, one-of-a-kind program starting this summer to provide some affordable care for people who otherwise have none.

The mayor took written questions from the audience, and addressed those questions to department of health Chief Mitch Katz, but some people at the meeting were more concerned with other issues. And they frequently interrupted.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco: "We can go down the path where we all feel better because we got something off our chest but we didn't get anything done or we can go down the path where we have a constructive dialog and listen to one another."

Cynthia Meza is a working mother of three who lives in the neighborhood. For her, affordable housing is the most important issue.

Cynthia Meza, Mother: "He's coming into our community to have a dialogue, dialogue goes two ways. I'm not saying healthcare questions shouldn't be answered but at least if they have the other questions being addressed as well then I'd be quiet."

The majority were there to find out about healthcare, and were frustrated by the interruptions.

"We are all in the same community and we must have respect."

Critics of the mayor have shown up before in chicken costumes, saying Newsom is a chicken for not having a more open dialogue.

Jeremy Pollock, Demonstrator: "A real moderated town hall should have a third party moderator who would allow any member of the public to speak."

Heather Ishimaru: "Based on the difficulty of getting through the meeting would you consider a change on format?

Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco: "I don't think it was difficult at all. We were able to answer over 60 questions."

Newsom defends focusing on one subject.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco: "So often you go to a town hall and you get 50 issues and there's not depth to the questions but when you're able to answer over 60 questions from the audience, you're able to drill down on a topic in a more meaningful way."

And he says one of his future town halls will focus on affordable housing.

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