THAT’S DEBATABLE:

Why did you or did not attend President Obama’s town hall meeting?

I was working St. Patrick’s week at Skosh Monahan’s, our busiest time of the year. The town hall was the day after, and we were not informed until Monday, the day before St. Pat’s that tickets were set aside. On such notice, it was impossible to change plans. I gave my tickets to a very good friend.

Would I have attended under other circumstances? Probably not, but I never had a chance to contemplate that decision.

Gary Monahan

Costa Mesa city councilman

I am glad the president chose Costa Mesa for his town hall meeting.

However, I did not attend because I am extremely frustrated with his reckless borrow-and-spend policies. He is growing the federal government in an unprecedented manner.

Making citizens more dependent on the federal government is not the answer. I also do not want local government to become more dependent on handouts from Washington. Local and state government should not have to approach the Obama administration, hat in hand, begging for scraps. The bulk of our tax dollars ought to stay in California. Families and small businesses need to be empowered for our economy to improve and for us to be able to reinvest in our community.

We must limit the size of our federal government. Obama does not agree.

Allan Mansoor

Costa Mesa mayor

I think the Pilot editors’ characterization that the president was snubbed because I did not chose to attend the town hall meeting last week is a bit harsh.

There was absolutely no communication to me that any Costa Mesa City Council members would have an opportunity to engage the president in any meaningful conversation about our city’s economic challenges. It would have just been us listening to how he is growing our government and borrowing more than any president in our history, and those long-term effects will be bad for our country.

If I thought my attendance at this gathering would be advantageous for our city, I would have attended.

Wendy Leece

Costa Mesa city councilwoman

I sent interested Costa Mesa residents as my envoys, as I assumed that the mayor and member Foley would be attending. We are constantly admonished not to have more than two council members in any non-noticed meeting to avoid Brown-Act violations.

If it was the president’s intent to meet with the council, that point was not communicated to me. Regarding Pilot criticisms, it would be presumptuous to think we would have priority over the hundreds of other local elected officials to have had any meaningful discussion with Obama.

I did not go to see the “Terminator” when he visited Costa Mesa, and missed the Obamanator. Neither “celebrity moment” gave any real opportunity to further our city’s position. If I am informed of a real opportunity to move Costa Mesa forward, I’ll consider exercising it. This event did not meet that requirement.

Eric Bever

Costa Mesa city councilman

I was honored that the president chose to come to Costa Mesa and that my family and many of our citizens were able to meet him.

Meeting Obama made a lasting impression on my two school-age boys about the importance of the office and the value of civic participation. My father, who is staying with us due to some health issues, was particularly thrilled to have had the chance to meet a sitting president, especially one who was elected under such extraordinary times for our country. The energy in the building from the crowd was intoxicating. People of all parties experienced a moment in history, and many people were inspired to keep pushing on.

Katrina Foley

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman