Perlmutter Holds First Safeway Meeting Since Giffords Shooting
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - A month and a half after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in Arizona Rep. Ed Perlmutter met with constituents at a Safeway in Lakewood.
Perlmutter felt it was important to reconnect with the public.
"I'm tired of seeing one more job leave this country," a man at the event said.
Dozens of people waited, ready to voice their concerns.
"We're concerned about care for the disabled as we move forward in this country," a woman said.
"It could be big issues, like what's going on in the Middle East, or something like they didn't get their Medicare check," Perlmutter said.
Perlmutter's hosted about 70 of the meet-and-greets.
"It's great to be here and great to get going on this thing again," he said.
But they came to a stop in January. That's when a shooting at a Safeway in Tucson killed six people and injured his good friend, Giffords.
"What happened to Gabi, she really does the government and grocery very similar to how we do this," Perlmutter said.
Extra precautions were taken. Lakewood police and Safeway security were watching and always close by.
"We have to make sure the customers and employees of the store, their safety is taken into consideration as well as all the people who want to come and share what's on their mind."
As Perlmutter listened and took notes on his iPad his close friend in Arizona was never far from his mind.
"We've contacted their office and they said she's getting stronger and she's going to be able to take more visitors."
Perlmutter said the meet-and-greet was the first official constituent meeting at a Safeway store since the shootings in Tucson.
