Rep. Adam Gray’s staff mobile office hours turn into makeshift town hall
At the King-Kennedy Memorial Center in west Modesto, a sign that read “Mobile District Hours today” was propped up against a door leading into the community room, where tables had been set up. Facing those tables was a desk with a laptop and forms along with signage indicating where to go to receive in-person constituent services.
About 14 community members scattered themselves around the room to express concerns.
Mobile office hours are an opportunity for constituents to leverage their representatives’ office to help grease the wheels of government processes or troubleshoot concerns. On Wednesday morning, however, it operated more like a communal conversation and sounding-board session.
The office hours were scheduled between 10 a.m. and noon. But more than an hour later, Tammy Brecht Dunbar, a staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Adam Gray, who represents District 13, still was collecting questions and comments from the group.
Among the biggest concerns brought up by constituents were immigration and ICE operations in California.
Vivian Lopez, from west Modesto, said people she’s talked with feel unsafe due to a recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed the Trump administration to deport immigrants to countries other than their own.
“I’m concerned because United States citizens can get caught up in all of that,” she said.
Linda Scheller, a retired teacher, said she came to the King-Kennedy center to share concerns about increased ICE activity, which caused fear among some of her former students, even if they are U.S. citizens, due to the color of their skin or because they speak with an accent.
“They don’t feel safe,” she said. “They’re not safe – frankly, none of us are safe if we permit this administration to act in unconstitutional ways to usurp power.”
Scheller also was concerned about increased budgetary spending to support immigration enforcement efforts under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a budget bill of more than 1,000 pages that is working its way through Congress.
One constituent encouraged the representative, through his staff, to present a bill for comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a pathway to citizenship for children and farmworkers.
Dunbar hadn’t planned to give a presentation. In previous iterations of the office hours, only one or two people would show up during the two-hour window, seeking help on personal federal issues.
At the end of last month, Rachel Delgado, a volunteer at the Grayson United Community Center where the office hours were held, was the only one to take part. She was seeking assistance with Social Security.
About the experience she said, “I’m hoping [Dunbar] can be the one to really help me out.”
Gray said in a statement that the mobile office hours are an opportunity for people across the Valley to get help with things like veterans benefits, tax returns, expedited passport requests and Social Security. “We are bringing our mobile office to towns and communities in every corner of our district,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, the conversation continued around Social Security, but at a much grander scale – focusing on potential cuts to the program as a whole.
One constituent asked if there was anything being done about the consolidation of power by the Trump administration. “For one person to have this much power to disrupt the whole system, the United States – it just amazes me this could happen to us.”
Dunbar impressed upon the attendees that she couldn’t speak for Gray but that she and another staff member in attendance would write down these issues and take them to him.
Gray’s staff confirmed that the congressman is currently in Washington, D.C.
Lopez said she was a little disappointed that the representative was not there himself, but she was grateful that he had shown up at community events previously and that his staff were available to take in concerns. “I know some people are a little disappointed not seeing him in the community, but hopefully he will come out,” she said.
Office moving from Turlock to Merced this summer
Gray plans to move into a new office in Merced in mid- to late July. His current office in Turlock was inherited from his predecessor, former House Rep. John Duarte.
Christine Serrano said she showed up to talk about the future of children’s education and programs that could be funded. “I’m looking for things that children should be having in 2025 that shouldn’t take an arm, a leg and two feet,” she said.
Another constituent wanted to talk about the impact of inheritance tax on low-income communities, specifically those in “sandwich generations” taking care of elderly parents and smaller children. Those inheritors of property may not be in a position to pay the tax.
There was a discussion about the increase in incidents of AI fraud targeting seniors, and constituents shared personal experience and tips on how to combat it.
One constituent who works in Modesto but lives in Merced said she was focused on solutions to environmental issues, including valley fever, a fungal infection caused by spores in soil.
Several people mentioned having voted for Gray and wanted to ensure he is taking action at the federal level on issues that concern them.
Dunbar encouraged people to make sure their concerns are being recorded and that they provide their contact information so staff could follow up.
“Anyone who would like to set up a meeting should call or email my office,” Gray said in his statement to The Bee. “We’re always available to help with federal agencies or answer questions.”
Adam Gray’s office is currently located at 90 S. First St. Turlock, CA. The phone number for constituent services is 209-226-6880 and staff can be reached by email through a form on their website.
This story was originally published June 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
