‘Pulse of the People,’ a FOX town hall series, kicks off Monday with Senator Alex Padilla
FOX 11 partnered with our San Francisco sister station KTVU, will be co-hosting a series of political town hall discussions in a new series called "Pulse of the People."
Hosted by KTTV’s Elex Michaelson and KTVU’s Greg Lee, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was the series' first guest.
The senator addressed topics such as homelessness, wildfires, COVID-19, cost of living in CA and education.
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"Pulse of the People," puts local audiences in touch with local leaders by using questions specifically asked by viewers on the stations’ social media platforms.
ON AFGHANISTAN:
Sen. Padilla: "It’s been 20 years and there has not been a 9/11 on our soil – type of incident. Was it going to be a permanent presence there?"
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE:
Sen Padilla: "It’s important to get good information out there. No, COVID is not a hoax. Yes, the vaccine is safe"
KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL:
"We do feel safe because the protocols are being implemented."
Sen. Padilla adds he feels "lucky" and "blessed" that Gov. Newsom announced vaccine requirements for teachers last week.
HOMELESSNESS IN CALIFORNIA:
"It’s not just an affordability problem. How are we building more affordable housing? We don’t have enough supply out there… every city needs to do its part. Our population is growing."
The town halls will span 11 cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Houston, Seattle, Detroit and Phoenix.
"These town halls highlight FTS’s strong and continued commitment to providing a platform for diverse voices and increasing awareness about important issues facing local communities across the country," said FOX Television Stations Chief Executive Officer Jack Abernethy.
The bipartisan "Pulse of the People" series will "enable lawmakers to interact with their local communities through candid conversations about the issues of the day."