Posted 3:32 PM 6/22/2012 : Barber to host Congress on Your Corner event
TUCSON - Congressman Ron Barber will hold his first Congress on Your Corner event Saturday at the Safeway on Grant and Craycroft roads. The meet and greet begins at 1 p.m. and is expected to last until 2 p.m.
A spokesman for Barber said the office selected the Safeway because the company has worked well with the office of Congressional District 8 in the past and because of it's location near a busy intersection and the amount of shade available to constituents.
Pam Simon, who was wounded in the January 8th shooting at the Safeway on Ina and Oracle roads last year said she would be attending the event, "I think we do have to recognize that there are individuals that will have concerns but I do think that it is a part of the community moving forward."
Simon, who recently retired after serving for two terms in Congressional District 8 said she knows some people are uncomfortable with the idea, "I do also recognize that this may be profoundly difficult for some people that were involved in January 8th."
News 4 spoke with shoppers who believe the event is part of the healing process, "well I think it's actually like, hop on the horse and ride it again. I mean you get kicked, don't stop. Don't let one loony toon keep you from living," said Jeri Anderson who lives in Congressional District 8.
Brad Minton, another shopper, will be at Saturday's event, "so we just hope that this time we have a little better security, they know what they're looking hopefully and hopefully it we can keep from having that reoccur."
Barber's spokesman, Mark Kimble said as a matter of course their office does not discuss security measures.
Pam Simon said she will feel safe attending the Congress on Your Corner and is looking forward to the event, "and for many it will be an exciting new start in wanting to share their views with the new member of Congress."