Pasadena Star-News, CA
July 8 2005

Schiff goes to market

Assemblyman opens sidewalk’ office at South Pasadena venue

By Michael Alexander, Correspondent

SOUTH PASADENA — Visitors to the South Pasadena Farmers Market on
Thursday had more to choose from than produce and snacks. Behind
fresh fruit and kettle corn was a booth covered in pamphlets with
such names as “Explore Your Public Lands” and “Medicare and You.”
Shaking hands alongside was U.S. Representative Adam Schiff,
D-Pasadena, offering an open ear and constituent service as part of
his “sidewalk” office hours.
He held similar events in Glendale and Pasadena this week.

One man asked about veterans’ health benefits and was referred to a
staffer, while a woman who had moved to Pasadena recently asked about
how to get involved with animal rights issues. Some were surprised to
find Schiff in attendance, while others had sought him out.

Photographer Jacob Demirdjian was one of the latter, presenting
Schiff with a signed piece of his artwork, a photo of a damaged tree,
in thanks for his sponsorship of a House resolution recognizing the
Armenian genocide.

“It’s important for me because you represented my people,” he said.

Schiff called these appearances, which he has been making for about
two months, a success. He said half of the people who spoke to him
had no prior knowledge of his attendance.

“My favorite reaction,” he said, “was a man who asked, What are you
doing? This isn’t an election year.’ ”

Schiff said constituents had lately voiced concerns on the war in
Iraq, the resignation of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
and a range of social services.

Haig Kartounian, a district representative for Schiff, said the
appearances were part of a more general focus on constituent service.
“The stuff that came in today, we work on today,” he said.

Schiff said that he had received only positive responses about the
events. “With this and the Farmers Market, people are getting a
twofer,” he said.