By Dan Perez

Unemployment has pushed Patricia McNamara to the brink.

“I’m at the end of my rope, financially and mentally. My unemployment just ran out and I can’t find work. I’m here to roll up my sleeves and get some answers,” said the former Philadelphia city employee.

McNamara was among Bucks County residents who expressed their frustration, anger and hope at the current job market in the area during a roundtable discussion Wednesday at the Lower Bucks Senior Activity Center in Bristol.

Members of local organizations such as the Bucks County Central Labor Council, Philadelphia Unemployment Project and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 269 showed up to discuss the lack of jobs in the area and solutions to create work.

“We need to figure out why our representatives and elected officials aren’t tackling this problem with urgency,” said Robin Stelly, an organizer for the grassroots advocacy group Penn Action. “These types of discussions spark dialogue with residents about how to take action and get our elected officials to create jobs.”

According to the United States Department of Labor, as of June, unemployment in Bucks County was at 7.4 percent.

The moderator of the discussion, Mary Dunn, president of the Bucks County Central Labor Council, said this is the first time the council has held a roundtable discussion about job creation.

Said Dunn, “we are trying to reach out to Congressman Fitzpatrick about this issue. We would like to talk to him about his involvement in setting up a job creation program so the unemployed can get back to work sooner.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-8, had been invited to the roundtable but did not attend.

“At the time of the round table, Congressman Fitzpatrick was actually meeting with small business owners discussing job creation,’’ said Fitzpatrick communications director Darren Smith late Wednesday night. “The congressman’s door is always open as he continues to work to create an atmosphere where small businesses can create jobs and get America back to work.’’

McNamara has been unemployed for two years. She has looked for work during this time and hasn’t found anything, so she invested $1,500 of her savings in a job counselor, she said.

“As an American citizen I am fighting for my right to a job,” said McNamara, “I can’t fix my car, buy a new mattress or any of the other things I’ve been planning on doing because money is so tight right now. I don’t think our government is doing enough about this problem.”

Optimism rose around the table when Stelly discussed plans to take a trip to Fitzpatrick’s office in Middletown on Aug. 18 with those present at Wednesday’s discussion.

“We want to ask him about the possibility of a program that creates work, puts money in our pockets and back in the local economy,” Stelly said.

Stelly’s organization is no stranger to protesting Fitzpatrick’s policies. On July 17, Penn Action held a public meeting at Pennswood Village in Middletown to protest his April vote to reduce spending on Medicare and Medicaid.