>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE HEAR FROM DEMOCRATIC STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES ABOUT THIS YEAR'S SESSION AND A RECENT INVESTMENT IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

CLINT HICKMAN SUCCEEDS BILL GATES AND HE CALLED FOR FEWER ELECTION LAWSUITS AND MORE CONVERSATION ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE ELECTION PROCESS USING, QUOTE, A SHARED SET OF FACTS AND ADDED, INSTEAD OF USING TO A GUY THAT SELLS PILLOWS, LET BRING PEOPLE WHO RUN ELECTIONS TO THE TABLE.

>>> ANOTHER BAD DAY FOR AIRLINE TRAVELERS, COMPUTER OUTAGES AND THIS RESULTED IN A SHUTDOWN OF DEPARTURES NATIONWIDE STARTING AT 5:30 THIS MORNING AND IT INVOLVED SAFETY INFORMATION ACCORDING TO PETE BUTTIGIEG.

>> THIS IS THE STANDARDIZED UNIFORM WAY FOR GETTING IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGES OUT TO AIRPORTS, AIRCRAFT AND AIRLINES AND SOMEWHERE OVERNIGHT, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH I R RREGULARITIES THAT REGARDED A BIGGER SYSTEM'S ISSUE.

AND THIS MORNING AT 7:00, THERE WERE PROBLEMS VALIDATING THAT THE MESSAGES WERE GOING OUT AND FOR SAFETY REASONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AIRCRAFT THAT TOOK OFF WAS DOING SO, THEY IMPLEMENTED A GROUNDING.

>> Ted: THERE WERE 20 FLIGHTS CANCELED AND THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS NO INFORMATION OF FOUL PLAY INVOLVED AND BUTTIGIEG ADDED, QUOTE, WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO RULE THAT OUT.

>>> THIS YEAR'S STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN THIS WEEK IN THE ALCOHOL AND CAPITOL AND WE HEARD FROM PRIORITIES AND TONIGHT, IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN AND WE WELCOME RAQUEL TERAN AND ANDRES CANO AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE AND WELCOME BACK TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AND HEAR?

>> WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT ON HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND WHAT WE LAID OUT ON MONDAY PRESENTING OUR PLINTBLUEPRINT ON ONE IS ENSURING THAT WE'RE FULLY FUNDING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, THAT WE'RE FIGHTING OR EQUITY FOR ALL AND, OF COURSE, THAT WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE ARE MOVING THE ECONOMY OF ARIZONA FORWARD.

>> Ted: AGAIN, FROM THE HOUSE SIDE, THOUGHTS, IDEAS, PLANS AND DOES ANYTHING DIFFER THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> IT'S A NEW DAY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR US TO HAVE A GOVERNOR BREAKING THE REPUBLICAN TRIEFFECTTA AT THE LEGISLATURE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS AND I DON'T ANY ANY OF THE IDEAS ARE DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT IDEAS.

THEY'RE ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF ALL PEOPLE IN ARIZONA.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE INVESTING OUR SCHOOLS AND ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOCUS ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF WATER CONSERVATION THAT WILL PROTECT OUR KIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO OUR MESSAGE, I THINK, AS WELL AS GOVERNOR HOBBS, WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND OPENING OUR ARMS TO THAT COLLABORATION AND THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO SHOW PEOPLE IN ARIZONA WE CAN GET TO WORK.

>> Ted: I NOTICED YOU'RE WEARING RED, RED FOR ED.

THE SPENDING CAP, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> TOP PRIORITY AND SO, WE'VE ALLOCATED A LOT OF DOLLARS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN ORDER FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS, WE NEED TO OVERRIDE THE AGGREGATE EXPENDITURE LIMIT.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE FIRST THING WE TACKLE IN THE SENATE AND IN THE HOUSE IS OVERRIDING THE AGGREGATE EXPENDITURE LIMIT SO ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF SCHOOLS WILL SHUT DOWN AND THAT'S A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US.

AND, OF COURSE, US AS DEMOCRATS AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR,, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PAYING OUR TEACHERS MORE THAN A LIVING WAIVE WAIVE WAGE AND THAT OUR SCHOOLS DON'T CRUMBLE AND THAT WE HAVE ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN AND THAT WE HAVE COUNSELORS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AND AMBITIOUS AGENDA WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

BUT WE OWE IT TO THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: WE'LL HAVE TOM HORN ON TOMORROW AND HE WANTS POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA IN.

>> THERE'S A CRISIS IN THE SCHOOLS AND ONE IS MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND WE NEED TO REFRAME THE DEBATE OF WHAT'S NEEDED IF OUR SCHOOLS.

WE HEARD FROM HIM AT THE INAUGURATION THAT HE WANTS TO GET BACK TO OLD STYLE DISCIPLINE AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WE KNOW WHAT WORKS TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

>> Ted: REPRESENTATIVE, LET'S GET BACK TO THE SPENDING CAP AND REPUBLICANS WANT, THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THIS RUSHED AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN'T RUSH.

>> I WAS HAPPY TO SECOND SPEAKER TOMLIN'S NOMINATION TO BE THE INCOMING AND HOUSE SPEAKER AND I DID THAT BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER SHOWED US THAT PEOPLE IN ARIZONA WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER.

THE BUSINESS LEADERS I'M WORKING TO IN OUR DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT $1.3 BILLION THAT WOULD BE CUT IN WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE AGGREGATE LIMIT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROCESS NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO VET WOULD IT WOULD MEAN TO HAVE SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN NOT BEAND NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR CLASSROOMS.

WE NEED TO CERTAINLY FIGURE OUT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE HOLDING OUR KIDS HOSTAGE AND THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING.

>> Ted: ESA, THE VOUCHER SYSTEM AND THE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO FUND THE SCHOOLS THAT WORK BEST FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL KIDS AND THEY KNOW BEST WHICH SCHOOLS WORK BEST.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO TALKING ABOUT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT OUR K12 SCHOOLS.

FOR ARIZONA TEACHERS TO BE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND TO BE 44th 44th IN THE NATION WITH SPENDING AND THIS IS TO BE LOOKED AT TO GIVE A FREE EXPANSION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, TED, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ALREADY, THE FOLKS WHO REPUBLICANS SAY WOULD TEND TO BENEFIT FROM VOUCHERS ARE HIGH INCOME EARNERS WHO ARE GETTING A LARGE SHARE OF THIS AND THAT'S NOT A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE THING.

IF WE WANT TO BANKRUPT OUR STATE, WE CAN CONTINUE DOWN OUR STATE, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: ONE LAST THING, THE REPUBLICANS SAY IT ENCOURAGES COMPETITION AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AGAIN, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I THINK THAT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, THERE IS NO CHOICE.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A FULLY FUNDED EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR KIDS AND LET'S REMIND EVERYBODY THAT MOST OF THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA GO TO EITHER A PUBLIC TRADITIONAL SCHOOL OR A CHARTER SCHOOL.

SO WE NEED TO ENSURE THESE SCHOOLS ARE FULLY FUNDED.

>> Ted: INFLATION IN THE PHOENIX AREA IS NUMBER ONE AS FAR AS METRO ERAS AND WHAT DO DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEE DONE AT THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING AND I ALWAYS SHARE WITH FOLKS THAT THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, THE MEDIAN INTEREST IN MY DISTRICT IS 29,000 TO $32,000 DEPENDING ON WHAT STUDY YOU HEAR AND THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE ECONOMY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND BEFORE THAT EVEN.

WE COME BACK TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN THE REALITIES THAT ARIZONA, THAT PEOPLE IN ARIZONA ARE THINKING ABOUT.

IF WE ADDRESS OUR HOUSING CRISIS, IF WE ADDRESS FULLY FUNDING EDUCATION AND EVEN OUR WATER CRISIS, THEY ALL INTERTWINE WITH OUR ECONOMY AND THEY HAVE SOLUTIONS AND WE'LL WORK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD COALITION TO MOVE THOSE ISSUES FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN, INDEED, ADVANCE THE ECONOMY.

>> Ted: TAX CUTS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK, REPRESENTATIVE, WILL THAT PUT MORE MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS AND EASE INFLATION CONCERNS?

>> WITH THE DUCEY TAX CUTS THAT I VOTED AGAINST OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN MY TIME IN OFFICE, I DID THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LARGER ALLOCATION OF WHO THESE TAX CUTS BENEFIT, IT IS OWN THOSE AT THE TOP.

THE AVERAGE INCOME EARNER IN ARIZONA PROBABLY GOT ABOUT A TANK OF GAS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WITH THESE TAX CUTS.

I FEEL LIKE LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GREATER INVESTMENT AT THIS POINT.

THIS MORNING AT THE LEGISLATURE, WE DISCUSSED REDUCING THE CORPORATE INCOME TAXES FOR CORPORATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THIS IS A $600 MILLION PROPOSAL THAT WILL PROHIBIT TO INVEST IN THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU WANT HEALTHCARE AND TO EXPAND INVESTMENT IN SCHOOLS AND HOUSING AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT BY FURTHER REDUCING TAXES, WHETHER IT'S ON THE INDIVIDUAL SIDE OR ON THE CORPORATE SIDE, TED.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE SENATE, THIS HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE, BUT IF IT MAKES IT TO THE SENATE, TAX CUTS IN GENERAL, WHERE DO DEMOCRATS STAND ON?

>> WE ARE, AGAIN, FOR THE WEALTHY IN A NUTSHELL AND WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL ARGUE THAT IT WILL PUT MORE MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKET, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, TOWNS AND CITIES FOR THE SAME PEOPLE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING WILL BE AFFECTED.

BUT TO YOUR QUESTION EARLIER, HOW DO WE ENSURE THESE TAX CUTS BENEFIT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST?

AND THESE ARE NOT SOLUTIONS THAT PROVIDE A RELIEF FOR FOLKS.

>> Ted: THE BUDGET, THE RAINY DAY FUND, HOW MUCH DO YOU KEEP IN THERE?

>> HERE IS THE BEAUTY ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

WE WILL BE AT THE TABLE AS DEMOCRATS.

TED, YOU'VE SEEN DEMOCRATS AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

WE GIVE OUR LIST OUR PRIORITIES AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN A PART OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE.

GOVERNOR HOBBS AND THE EXECUTIVES AND US BEING AT THE TABLE IS A GAME CHANGER AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ON THE TABLE.

>> JUST TO ADD, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT INFLATION IS NOT JUST AN ARIZONA ISSUE BUT A GLOBAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH AND CORPORATE PROFITS ARE SKYROCKETING.

SO WE DO WANT TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO PEOPLE IN ARIZONA.

BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO US TO TALK ABOUT THESE TAX CUTS IF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA CAN'T PAY FOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE OR THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR MORTGAGE, RIGHT.

AND THIS PROPOSED TAX CUT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IN SUCH A WAY WHERE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ALSO PROVIDE A CORE SERVICE.

I WON'T ALLOW THE THE CITY LEGISLATURE TO CUT TAXES ON THE STATE LEVEL AND PASS THE COSTS ONTO LOCAL HAVE DISCUSSIONS JURISDICTIONS.

IF THEY WANT TO CUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARKS AND REC AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, LET THEM HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

DEMOCRATS WILL NOT DO THAT.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, CONVERSATIONS WILL ABOUND.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FISCAL DISCIPLINE WITH WHAT COULD BE A LOOMING RECESSION?

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

>> WHAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COUNCIL IS TELLING US WE HAVE ONE-TIME AVAILABLE DOLLARS, BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO FURTHER THESE DUCEY ERA TAX CUTS, WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS WE NEED.

LOOK WEB, WE HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND TACKLE PRICE GOUGERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID NO TO ALL OF THESE GOOD POLICY PROPOSALS AND THAT'S ON THEM, NOT ON US.

>> Ted: IF YOU ARE AT THE TABLE AND YOU WILL BE -- >> WE WILL BE.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: IT'S BEEN AWHILE.

>> IT'S BEEN AWHILE, YES.

TED YOU'RE >> Ted: HOW DO YOU BALANCE DISCIPLINE WITH WHAT COULD BE A ROUGH, ECONOMIC YEAR.

>> THIS IS THE THING, WE'RE IN A SPACE WHERE WE HAVE TO BUILD A COALITION.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT BUILDING A COALITION WITH OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND THE GOVERNOR.

>> Ted: DO YOU THINK WATER IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD HELP BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A COALITION THAT COULD SPREAD OUT TO OTHER AREAS?

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE HERE.

>> I WAS DISAPPOINTED YESTERDAY THAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WERE NOT AS CLEAR, THAT THERE'S WILLINGNESS OF MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND DEMOCRATS TO COME TOGETHER AND SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO, AT THE END OF THE DAY WILL BE CUT FIRST FROM ACCESSING WATER ARE THE PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS IT.

AT THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT A REPORT THAT THERE IS NO WATER -- POTENTIALLY NO WATER SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST VALLEY.

AND THAT IS ALARMING.

THIS NEEDS TO BE TACKLED NOT.

>> Ted: THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT, WHICH THAT REPORT WAS ABOUT AND PUMPING WATER HERE, DOES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND UPDATED AND CHANGED?

>> WELL, TED, WHEN THE GROUNDWATER MARKET ACT WAS MANAGEMENT ACT WAS 1980 AND I'M INSPIRED BY THE PROPOSAL WE APPROVE ED THIS LAST YEAR.

THE REALITY IS THAT DESALINATION AND THE PROPOSALS THAT GOVERNOR DUCEY PROPOSED.

WE'RE READING THE SAME HEADLINES THAT ALL PEOPLE IN ARIZONA ARE READING ABOUT RISING TEMPERATURES AND DROUGHT.

WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IS HOW WE'LL DISCUSS WATER CONSERVATION, SHOVEL-READY PRODUCTS IN DRIP IRRIGATION.

IT MAKES NO SENSE TO DO AWAY WITH OLD PRACTICES THAT USE A LOT OF WATER AND DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN READY TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR HOBBS IN THE LEGISLATURE ON THIS ISSUE AND WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.

CONSERVATIVE STATES LIKE FLORIDA KNOW HOW MUCH WATER IS COMING AND HOW MUCH WATER IS COMING OUT.

>> Ted: I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

YOU TALKED ABOUT WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS ON WATER ISSUES AND THAT COULD LEAD TO OTHER AREAS.

CAN YOU WORK WITH REPUBLICANS?

>> WE BELIEVE SO, YES.

THERE'S NO WAY WE MOVE WITHOUT THE REPUBLICANS AND WITHOUT DEMOCRATS.

WE HAVE EVEN THE POWER OF THE VETO AND IT FORCES US TO PARTNER AND MOVE THE ISSUES THAT ARE GROUNDED AND THE REALITIES OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: LAST NIGHT SPEAKER TOMA SAID IT FELT LIKE A DNC AND HEARING PARTISAN DIVIDES AND CAN YOU GET PASSED THAT?

>> IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AT THIS POINT.

I HAVE LISTENED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF DIFFICULT POLICY CONVERSATIONS AND THE FORMAL GOVERNORS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I DIDN'T WALK OUT OF THE CHAMBER.

HALF OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS DID THIS PAST MONDAY.

IT'S NOT ONLY DISRESPECTFUL, BUT IT'S A BREAK OF RESPECT AND DECOREDECORUM FOR GOVERNOR HOBBS AND IF IT CONTINUES ANTICS, IT WILL BE PEOPLE IN ARIZONA PAYING ATTENTION.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UP NEXT, HOW A NEW INVESTMENT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING ART'S COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

LAST YEAR'S STATE BUDGET INCLUDING $5,000 TO ARTS AND CULTURES AND WE WELCOME JACKY ALLING AND PATRICK McWHORTER, THE CEO FOR THE ARTS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND JACK, $5 MILLION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS.

WHAT WAS THE FOCUS AND WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS AND TARGETS.

>> SURE.

SO THE ARTS, ARIZONA ART'S COMMISSION, 56-YEAR-OLD STATE AGENCY AND WHAT WE DO IS WE DISSEMINATE STATE FUNDS AND ALSO SOME FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND SOME OTHER SOURCES IN GRANTS AND PROGRAM SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE TO ART'S ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND SPECIFIC ART'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT SPAN ACROSS THE AGE RANGE FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS, FOR ELDERS AND THAT SUPPORTS FESTIVALS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND CREATIVE CAPACITY PROGRAMS FOR COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: PATRICK, 323 GRANTS TO ARIZONA ART'S GROUPS AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE CAN DIVE IN HERE AND CREATIVE CAPACITY GRANTS AND WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, MUCH OF THE FUNDING THAT COMMISSION PROVIDES IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS ARIZONA, IT PROVIDES THE CORE SUPPORT COMMUNITIES NEED TO KEEP IT GOING.

THE CREATIVE CAPACITY GRANTS FOR 229 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS ARIZONA, THAT HELPS TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN IN COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL ACROSS ARIZONA.

>> Ted: ANOTHER ONE FOR FESTIVAL GRANTS AND THIS IS SELF-EXPLANATORY.

>> WHAT'S IMPRESSIVE ON COMMISSION OF THE ARTS, IT SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT REACHING PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

JUST TO GIVE ONE CAPITAL, EXAMPLE, THERE WAS DANCE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE IN EARLY STAGE OF PARKINSONS.

WE OFTENTIMES THINK OF THE ARTS AS SOMETHING YOU VISIT ON THE WEEKEND AND OF COURSE, THAT'S A GREAT WAY OF SEEING THE ARTS, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT THE ARTS ARE DOING TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY POST PANDEMIC, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

ARTS ARE HELPING THERE AND MANY, THE COMMISSION IS SUPPORTING, MEETING THE FAST NEEDS.

>> Ted: A COUPLE MORE CATEGORIES BECAUSE IT HELPS ME FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS ARE GOING.

LARGE ARTS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS?

>> THAT'S A SPECIFIC PROGRAM AND MANY OF THE THINGS INTERACT WITH ART'S ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THE GRANTS AND THEY'RE VERY SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS, PROGRAMS LIKE THE PARKINSON'S WORK OR KEEPING ELDER FOLKS CONNECTED AND A LOT OF ISOLATION WITH ELDERS AND REALLY, HELPING THEM TO EXPAND THEIR EDUCATIONAL REPERTOIRE AND THEIR SENSE OF CONNECTEDNESS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Ted: OF COURSE, FOR OLDER FOLKS YES, AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND LOTS OF GRANTS THERE, I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> MANY ART'S ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR THEIR SOLE MISSION FOR COMMUNITY ARTS, FOCUSED ON YOUTH.

BUT WE DO GIVE GRANTS THAT PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE ART'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BUT ARTISTS CAN COME IN AND DO MASTER CLASSES OR RESIDENCIES OR SCHOOLS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, ARTISTS DO PROGRAMS THERE.

>> Ted: LET'S SAY I'M A PAINTER AND I NEED HELP, DOES IT ADDRESS THAT?

>> YES.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND, YOU KNOW, IN MANY WAYS WHAT WE FOCUS ON -- I'M WITH ARIZONA ACCIDENTS FOR THE ARTS AND WE GENERATE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ARTS, WHICH IS ABOUT $11 BILLION A YEAR AND A $5 BILLION PAYROLL AND 90,000 EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO, WHEN WE THINK OF ARTISTS, THESE ARE WORKING PROFESSIONALS.

THESE ARE WORKING MEMBERS OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF HIGH.

THEY SUPPORT TOURISM AND SO ALL OF THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS ARE REALLY AS MUCH ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, FORRISM TOURISM AND THE REST.

>> THE THING ABOUT ARTISTS, ALSO, WE HAVE ANTIDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S A HUGE NEED OUT THERE.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS GRANTS AND WE HAD DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS THIS YEAR THAN PRE-EPIDEMIC.

PRE-PANDEMIC.

WE WANT TO GROW IT TO MATCH THAT TREMENDOUS NEED.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, BRINGS A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS AND PRIDE.

>> MUCH OF ARTS AND CULTURE IS ABOUT PLACE-MAKING AND TAKING PRIDE IF OUR COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF THAT PRIDE COMES FROM WHAT WE OFFER IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

I TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S A LOCAL ISSUE AND WE KNOW THAT MAYORS AND COUNCILS AND CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS ARIZONA REALLY THRIVE BECAUSE OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: WE CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE COMMISSION AND BRAND NEW HERE AND THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMISSION WAS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE STATE, THAT IT WAS MARICOPA COUNTY CENTRIC.

>> BIG PART OF THE GRANTS IS ACROSS ARIZONA AND WE WANT TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION'S OFFICE AND TRY TO DEVELOP A STRONG RELATIONSHIP TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW THESE COMMISSIONERS GET APPOINTED GOING FORWARD.

>> Ted: AND BOARD MEMBERS, THE IDEA IS GET A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM MARICOPA COUNTY IF YOU CAN.

>> IT'S GREAT BUT IT DOESN'T REFLECT OUR ENTIRE STATE AND WE WANT TO WORK TO HAVE ALL OF THE IMPORTANT VOICES AT THE TABLE.

>> Ted: JACKY ALLING AND PATRICK McWHORTER, GOOD CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!