A veterans forum Friday organized by Orange County U.S. Rep. Dave Min, a Democrat, quickly turned into a gripe session about the sky-high cost of living.
At the forum, held at Irvine Valley College, several dozen veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces spoke of difficulties getting SNAP benefits, delays in receiving their monthly educational aid and the near impossibility of finding affordable housing in one of the most expensive markets in the country.
The event was organized by Min, who represents the 47th Congressional district, including Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, to gather veteran feedback on the government shutdown and other issues. Min took questions for more than an hour from student veterans and college staff, many of them veterans as well. Min wondered aloud whether some of the concerns stemmed from cuts to federal funding and personnel under President Donald Trump, compounded by the shutdown…