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Congressman Mike Levin Holds Town Hall at SJHHS

On Sunday, March 16, Congressman Mike Levin, who represents the 49th district of California that includes SJHHS, held a town hall to allow his constituents to share their voices. Find out what people were saying.

Elliott Ruvalcaba, Staff Writer • March 21, 2025

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

Congressman Levin Takes the Stage

In the school’s theater, Congressman Mike Levin, representative of California’s 49th congressional district, begins a town hall with excitement. The theater was filled with constituents ready to make their voices heard by their representative.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

Our Voices Matter

Susan Dixon, President of the California Retired Teachers Association, speaks during Mike Levin’s town hall about how constituents can make their voices heard. During his town hall, the congressman invited several constituents to speak on many issues including social security, medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ issues, and more.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

What Will Veterans Do?

Wendy Cochran, a constituent from Vista and proud Army wife, questioned how Levin would stand up to politicians who were planning to cut off benefits for veterans who had faced severe situations such as the medical issues her husband has dealt with as a result of his service. Levin noted that while it will be harder due to the Democratic party being in the minority, he and his colleagues have been successful in pushing back what was considered to be more egregious and dangerous legislation.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

A Veteran Relays His Experience

In response to a question from a question from Julie Carlton, a veteran and constituent of Levin’s, concerning the how people like her will make it with the cuts on veteran benefits, Kolin Williams, chair of the Saddleback College VETS program and disabled veteran, noted the importance of veterans working together to advocate for each other in the political sphere. Throughout the town hall, Williams proposed several ways for veterans to make their voices heard.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

Concerned Citizen Questions

San Juan Capistrano resident Karen Fisher questions what her and other people can do if they feel that the Trump administration continues to exercise an overreach in power. Levin commented that while there should be a degree of regulation and stability once these issues reach the Supreme Court, it is not set and stone and it is important to be prepared.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

An Expert Shares His Concerns

Doctor Karl Steinberg, another constituent invited to speak by Levin, responds to a fellow constituent’s question concerning medical issues and programs. Steinberg is a medical director for nursing homes and hospice care facilities and spoke largely about how cuts could possibly end up closing nursing homes all over the country.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

Making Her Voice Heard

During a sudden moment, Solana Beach resident Nicole Gambino stood up and said to Levin that the nation’s financial system is broken, how those of younger generations such as herself have been robbed with false promises, and entreated the congressman to consider younger voices who worry about their futures as the nation’s political and economic climates remain unstable. She later supposed that Levin has received large sums from political action committees and questioned whether he truly stood with the people or alongside billionaires.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

A Shared Anger

Following a passionate statement from a constituent of her fears for the future her children will face, Levin emphasizes that he is just as angry about the current state of the nation as she and other constituents are. Towards the end of the town hall, Levin once again clarified how necessary it was to prevent further problems now so that they do not fester and grow in the years to come.

(Elliott Ruvalcaba)

A Solemn Yet Hopeful Goodbye

As the questions come to a powerful close with Levin taking a clear stance on how he will move forward to protect his constituents, he returns to the podium to make his closing remarks for the night. He ended on a hopeful note, one that underlined the importance of creating a better nation for future generations including his own children.

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About the Contributor

Elliott Ruvalcaba, Staff Writer

Elliott Ruvalcaba is a San Juan Hills High School senior and first-time member of The Express staff this year. He joined The Express to further his writing skills and engage deeper with his connection to the community on campus, hoping to write about a wide array of topics. Elliott greatly enjoys studying history and literature, hoping to study both at a greater level in college. He likes listening to a broad range of music and is serving as the president of the Alternative Music Club this year. Outside of school, he enjoys reading and film, some of his favorite books are Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and a couple of his favorite films are Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru and Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

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