>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE LOOKS AT THE LATEST FOR AN EDUCATION FUNDING CAP.

DETERMINING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN THE VALLEY AND HOW A LAWMAKER MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

THIS IS NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE CDC ANNOUNCED ENCOURAGING NEW RESEARCH INTO COVID-19 BOOSTERS.

THE LATEST BOOSTERS OFFER SUBSTANTIAL CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST THE VIRUS INCLUDING THE RAPIDLY SPREADING XBB 1.5 VARIENT AND THE UPDATED BOOSTERS CUT THE RISK OF GETTING SICK FROM HALF AND CDC RESEARCH IS ONE OF THE FIRST LOOKS AT HOW THE BOOSTERS ARE WORKING AS THE VIRUS HAS EVOLVED.

>>> A POLITICAL NOTE, CONGRESSMAN RUBIN GALLEGO APPEARED TO APPEAR WHY HE'S RUNNING FOR SENATOR AND KYRSTEN SINEMA'S SEAT NEXT YEAR.

>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING UNSCRIPTED AND WE HARDLY SEE HER IN ARIZONA AND SHE HAS CUT OFF EVERYBODY, UNLESS YOU'RE A BIG DONOR.

WHAT MATTERS, SHE DOESN'T ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, TALK TO PEOPLE IN ARIZONA ANYMORE.

>> Ted: SINEMA SINCE LEFT THE PARTY AND HAS BECOME AN INDEPENDENT AND THAT HAS THE INTEREST OF REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE.

>> SENATOR SINEMA HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE UNITED STATES' SENATE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE DID WAS TO SAVE THE INSTITUTION ITSELF BY PROTECTING THE FILIBUSTER.

SHE'S ALSO BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE SENATE.

AS TO WHETHER OR NOT SHE CHOOSES TO RUN, IT'S HER DECISION AND I THINK IT IS A BIG DILEMMA FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SUPPORT HER OR TO SUPPORT SOMEBODY RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

>> Ted: SINEMA HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE IF SHE PLANS TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

>>> IT'S WEDNESDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN WHICH WE HEAR FROM STATE LAWMAKERS ON THE GOINGS-ON AT THE CAPITOL.

IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN AND MITZI EPSTIEN AND GONYONEZ.

LET'S START WITH THE EDUCATION FUNDING CAP.

I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE LIFTED AND WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WE HEARD WE'LL DO THIS AND LET'S DO IT, THEN, AND STOP THE WORRY AND WAIT AND LET'S LIFT THE SPENDING CAP.

AS YOU KNOW, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE TOGETHER DID A BUDGET THAT PUT THE MONEY IN THE BANK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THIS CAP WON'T LET THE SCHOOLS IN THE DOOR.

AND WE NEED TO OPEN THE DOORS SO THEY CAN SPEND MONEY ALLOCATED.

>> Ted: IS THE DOOR OPENING IN THE HOUSE AT ALL.

>> THE DEMOCRATSALL?

>> THE SPENDING LIMIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1980 AND 42, 43 YEARS AGO AND THE CAP THAT IT CREATES IN TEMS OF EDUCATIONAL SPENDING NO LONGER EXISTS.

THE COST TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED AND DEMOCRATS ARE COMMITTED TO LIFTING THAT CAP.

THERE IS LEGISLATION TO LIFT IT OUTRIGHT AND YET TO GET A HEARING.

>> Ted: IS IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE COMPLEX EDUCATION FUNDING SYSTEM AND TO MAKE SURE THE INVESTMENTS ARE WISE AND EFFECTIVE?

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK IN THAT DIRECTION?

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT ARIZONA'S FUNDING SYSTEM AND FUNDING FORMULA, WHICH I'VE TAUGHT 20 YEARS OR SO IS QUITE EFFICIENT AND ECONOMISTS FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW VERY EFFICIENT IS IT GIVING MONEY WHERE IT IS NEEDED.

SO LET'S LOOK AT IT, BUT LET'S FIRST LIFT THE CAP, JUST LIFT THE CAP.

>> Ted: ARE THE TWO INVOLVED AT ALL ARE YOU JUST SAYING DO CAP AND CONSIDER OTHER THINGS LATER?

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE NEED TO LIFT THE CAP BECAUSE ONCE MARCH 1st 1st COME, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WON'T BE ABLE TO UTILIZE 17% OF THE CURRENT BUDGET.

CAN YOU IMAGINE MAKING DECISIONS FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THE FUNDS?

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT REPRESENTATIVE COOK HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPPORTED THAT AND SAID, LOOK, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND GETTING RID OF THE CAP AND THAT HAS YET TO GET A HEARING.

>> Ted: I WANT TALK ABOUT TAX REFORM AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THIS AT THE LEGISLATURE AND SB1063 AND 1184 AND WHY NOT ELIMINATE THESE KINDS OF TAXES?

>> THE RENTER'S TAX, IT IS REGRESSIVE AND WE SHOULD HELP CONSUMERS TO HAVE MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AND THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH IS.

WE HAVE THE RENNER'S REBATE AND MONEY IN THE RENNER'S RENTER'S POCKET AND IT WOULD ELIMINATE CITIES TO HAVE A RENT TAX.

WE TAKE AWAY THAT AND THE ABILITY OF THE CITIES TO FUND POLICE AND FIRE AND DO THE HOUSING HELP THAT HELPS PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

SO THE REPUBLICAN WAY IS DOUBLING DOWN ON REGRESSIVITY AND RENTERS WILL NOT CUT THE RENT AND THE CITIES DON'T GET THE REVENUE.

BUT OUR DEMOCRATIC APPROACH IS CALL THE RENTER'S REBATE, MONEY STRAIGHT TO THE REBATE.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD TAX?

>> THE FOOD TAX WOULD NOT APPLY TO PHOENIX, WOULD NOT AGUY TO APPLY TUCSON.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THE FOOD TAX, GOING AFTER SMALL TOWNS AND CITIES.

WE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR OF GLOBE WHO SAID IF THAT WERE TO BE ELIMINATED, GLOBE WOULD HAVE TO ELIMINATE THREE TIMES OVER TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE, TO COPE KEEP LIBRARIES OVER AND ELIMINATING THE FOOD TAX ISN'T IT.

>> Ted: SHARED FUNDING TAXES BROUGHT IN $300 MILLION DIDN'T THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE LOST IN THE RENT AND THE FOOD TAXES WERE TAKEN AWAY AND BASICALLY, IT'S A PUSH AND CITIES AND TOWNS WILL LOSE THIS MONEY, THEY GOT ALL THIS MONEY BECAUSE OF THEIR TAX CUTS AND HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> LOCAL CONTROL AND SO WE'VE HEARD FROM LOCAL LEADERS WHO SAY, LOOK, IF YOU DO THIS, YOU'LL JEOPARDIZE THE ABILITY TO HAVE CITIES AND TOWNS RUN.

I TRUST WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND ADDITIONALLY, THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FISCAL NOTE FOR EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THE FISCAL NOTE ON THE FOOD TAX HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.

>> Ted: WHEN REPUBLICANS CALL THIS A SENSATIONALIZED NARRATIVE, YOU SAY?

>> OUR CITIES ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND OUR HOUSING CRISIS IS INCREDIBLY DIRE RIGHT NOW AND THE CITIES ARE THE PLACE TO ADDRESS IT.

SO TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THEM IS THE WRONG APPROACH.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT PROPOSED RULES CHANGES IN THE HOUSE AND HOLY SMOKES, THAT GOT HEATED AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WELL, THE VOTERS IN ARIZONA SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE THEY WANT BIPARTISANSHIP AND YESTERDAY, THE MAJORITY PARTY ROLLED OUT RULES FOR THIS SESSION AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE NEW RULES ESSENTIALLY GIVE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AMPLE POWER TO DICTATE, TO SUE THE GOVERNOR.

NO LONGER CAN PEOPLE INTRODUCE MEASURES WITHOUT THE SPEAKER'S APPROVAL AS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

SO ELIMINATING THIS HISTORICALLY WOULD RESULT IN NOT HAVING MAID ECMEDICAID EXPANSION.

LASTLY, NOW DEBATE ON THE FLOOR HAS BEEN LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES PER MEASURE.

WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF COMPLEX MEASURES AND IDEAS AND THE IDEA OF LIMITING DEBATE TO 30 MINUTES IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

>> Ted: SAME THING HAPPENING IN THE SENATE?

>> SAME THING IN THE SENATE AND RULES SHOULD NOT BE KING MAKERS AND A ONE-TWO PUNCH WHERE THE SENATE PRESIDENT OR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CAN BRING A LAWSUIT AND IF THE BODY DOESN'T LIKE THAT, IF THE SENATORS OR THE REPRESENTATIVES DON'T LIKE IT, THEY CANNOT CHANGE THAT LEADER.

THEY CANNOT CHANGE THAT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE OTHER RULE.

RULE.

>> Ted: REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING RULES HAVE BEEN USED AS A WEAPON AND RULES NEED TO BE TIGHTENED.

>> THE RULES ARE THERE SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE HEARD, SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE HEARD AND WE AS REPRESENTATIVES CAN BE HEARD BECAUSE WE EACH REPRESENT 240,000 PEOPLE.

>> Ted: AGAIN, WHEN REPUBLICANS SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE MAJORITY, WE GET TO GET AND CHANGE THE RULES, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NO, THEY DON'T HAVE A POINT.

RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN SAY TO HAVE A MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND THE MAJORITY IS, WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WHO HAS SAID, LOOK, I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON REAL SOLUTIONS.

IF THE APPROACH FROM THE GET-GO IS TO LIMIT DEBATE, LIMIT TRANSPARENCY AND THAT ESSENTIALLY HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL RULING BOTH CHAMBERS, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH TO START OFF WITH.

>> Ted: REGARDING THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN THE HOUSE, WE'RE HEARING A PROPOSAL THAT A SECRETARY OF STATE CAN NO LONGER BE IN CHARGE OF AN ELECTION IN WHICH HE OR SHE IS ON THE BALLOT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S IRONIC AND I THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT WE HAVE HAD SECRETARY OF STATES RUN FOR OTHER SEATS AND THAT'S NEVER A QUESTION.

WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE SECRETARY OF STATE DURING AN ELECTION AND THE FIRST THING INTRODUCED IN AN ELECTION COMMITTEE IS TO REMOVE THEM.

THAT'S NOT IRONIC BUT AN ATTACK.

>> Ted: YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SOMEONE IN CHARGE WHO IS PART OF AN ELECTION.

>> MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES PASSED BILLS THAT TOOK LOTS OF POWER AWAY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE IT WAS A DEMOCRAT.

THE LAW SAYS WE'RE TAKING THESE POWERS AWAY UNTIL THERE'S NOT A DEMOCRAT IN THAT OFFICE ANYMORE.

LET'S STOP THE PARTISAN PLAYS AND GET DOWN TO GETTING THE WORK DONE RIGHT.

>> Ted: THEY SAY IT IMPROVES VOTER CONFIDENCE AND AGAIN, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> THE POINT COULD BE MADE IF THEY WERE TAKING THIS IDEA OUT TO SOUTH OF THE BORDERS STAKEHOLDERS AND INTO A COMMITTEE THAT BARELY HAS ANY TIME TO WORK IT THROUGH AND THEN TO THE FLOOR, WHERE THEY'LL LIMIT THE TIME TO 30 MINUTES, COME ON!

LET'S BRING THE PEOPLE IN AND HAVE A ROBUST DEBATE.

>> Ted: DID I SEE A DEMOCRATIC VOTE WHEN IT PASSED?

>> THERE WAS ONE ON THAT COMMITTEE TODAY, BUT THE LARGER POINT IS THIS.

FOR TOO LONG, WE'VE HEARD ELECTION DENIERS ALL OF A SUDDEN COME TO THE FLOOR TO GOVERN IN THAT MANNER.

MUDUNTIL THEY CLAIM VOTES IN ARIZONA ARE ACCURATE AND SECURE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS A CAMPAIGN TURNED INTO LEGISLATION AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE CAPITOL SHOULD WORK.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT YESTERDAY'S EFFORT TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING UNSHELTERED IN THE VALLEY.

RECENT FEDERAL DATA SHOWS THE PHOENIX AREA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HOMELESS RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY CONDUCTED A ONE-DAY COUNT OF THOSE LIVING UNSHELTERED AND IT'S AN ANNUAL POINT IN TIME COUNT AND HERE TO TELL US MORE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE YOU RESTED US FROM YESTERDAY?

>> GETTING THERE.

>> Ted: GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF THIS POINT IN TIME COUNT AND HOW IT WORKS AND HOW THE PROCESS GOES.

>> IT'S A REQUIREMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE DO THIS IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND WE WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY, ACROSS THE REGION TO COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME OUT AND WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND WE TAKE THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF MARICOPA AND DIVIDE IT INTO A GOOD SYSTEM AND THE VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE TRAINING AT THE CITY LEVEL.

WE SEND PEOPLE OUT TO INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND ASK THEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

>> Ted: HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS YESTERDAY?

>> OVER 900 YESTERDAY, WHICH IS REMARKABLE AND THE YEAR PRIOR, OVER 500.

SO WE'RE SEEING A REAL INCREASE IN INTEREST IN THIS WORK IN VOLUNTEERING.

>> Ted: TAKE US TO A PARK AND YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER AND YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS OBVIOUSLY LIVING UNSHELTERED, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND YOU'RE SEEING IT AND WHAT HAPPENS?

>> SO OUR VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS ARE IN PAIRS AND THEY APPROACH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEY'LL ASK THE INDIVIDUAL IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.

THE QUESTIONS ARE DICTATED BY HUD AND WE GATHER THAT THROUGH AN APP AND WE ASK THEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN HOMELESS AND ARE THEY HOMELESS DUE TO COVID AND THEIR GENDER AND RACE, AGE, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEN WE COME BACK TO THE OFFICE AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, WE PROCESS THE DATA AND COME OUT WITH A REPORT TO GIVE MORE DETAIL OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE SAYS, I DON'T WANT TO TALK?

FIRST OF ALL, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> SO I WOULD SAY JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN GOING OUT, THAT HAPPENS 20% OF THE TIME AND IT'S DIFFICULT.

WE GO OUT AT 5:00 A.M. AND MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL SLEEPING AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED AND THE VOLUNTEERS DON'T WANT TO BOTHER THE INDIVIDUALS.

WE COUNT THOSE AS OBSERVATIONS AND THERE'S A SEPARATE MECHANISM JUST FROM WHAT YOU CAN OBSERVE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL, EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

>> Ted: THESE FOLKS MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A SHELTER ON THESE COLDEST OF DAYS AND ARE THEY NOW CONSIDERED NOT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IF THEY FOUND A PLACE TO SLEEP?

>> WE DO IT IN JANUARY AND THEY GIVES US A SPECIFIC TIMELINE AND WE LOOK AT THE SHELTER DATA FOR THAT ONE DAY VERSUS THE UNSHELTERED OUTSIDE COUNT DATA AND WE COMPARE THOSE.

SO WE'RE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTY VERSUS THE INDIVIDUALS INTERACTED WITH.

>> Ted: AND SO THE CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNT, HOW AND ACCURATE IS THIS THING?

THAT'S TRICKY BECAUSE THEY GET UP AND GO TO BREAKFAST AND ONE BREAKFAST PROVIDED AROUND TOWN FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

SO WE HAVE OUR TEAMS SET UP IN A SPECIFIC WAY TO GATHER INFORMATION TO TRY TO PREVENT DUPLICATION AND WE ASK THE VOLUNTEERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THIS CENSUS?

SO WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND IT IS VERY MUCH A ONE-DAY POINT IN TIME VIEWPOINT OF HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND NOT ALL ENCOMPASSING DATA.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DATA?

>> THE DATA, AS I MENTIONED, IT COMES BACK TO OUR OFFICE AND TRY TO ELIMINATE THE DUPLICATIONS AND WE PUBLISH A REPORT IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR AND PREVIOUS YEARS.

>> Ted: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT HAPPENS BUT IN TERMS OF CHANGING THINGS AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE?

IS THIS USED IN TERMS OF FINDING MORE SHELTER, CITY SERVICES?

>> IT IS.

SO THIS DATA ULTIMATELY GOES UP TO CONGRESS AND THEY'LL DECIDE THE FUNDING THAT WILL COME TO MARICOPA COUNTY AND OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING REMARKABLE INCREASES TO DETERMINE FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT FEDERAL FUNDING GOES TO IMMEDIATE SHELTER, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND TO HELP INDIVIDUALS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AGAIN.

>> Ted: WHERE ARE THE NUMBERS IN PHOENIX AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCREASING?

>> WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS AND YOUR PREVIOUS GUESTS SPOKE TO THIS, WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING FOR MINIMUM WAGE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN IN MOST COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE VALLEY AND PEOPLE ARE DOUBLING UP AND FINDING HOUSING IS DIFFICULT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE FEELING THAT ACROSS ALL MARKETS.

>> Ted: CURRENT RESOURCES, WHAT IS OUT THERE AND WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW?

>> WELL, WHAT I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THIS COULD BE ANY OF US.

AND I THINK THE REAL SILVER LINING, WE HAD REAL PEOPLE WHO GOT TO SEE HOW FOLKS ARE LIVING AND THEY GOT TO SPEAK WITH FOLKS AND HEAR THEIR STORIES AND I THINK AND HOPE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD COME BACK AND REALLY RALLY AROUND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCEING HOMELESSNESS AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

>> Ted: THE POINT AND TIME COUNTS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Ted: A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT TRAFFIC NOISE AND A LAWMAKER STEPPED IN TO HELP AND THE RESULTS SHOULD MAKE THINGS QUIETER FOR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

JOINING US NOW IS HOA PRESIDENT OF LUNA AZUL AND PAUL BOYER AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: I'LL START WITH YOU AND GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION, WHAT A LUNA AZUL?

>> THIS IS A HOME COMMUNITY BASED IN NORTH PHOENIX FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Ted: AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE IT'S LOCATED IN NORTH PHOENIX?

>> CLOSE TO THE 101 AND LOCATED ON 16th, SO WE SIT RIGHT ON THE 101.

>> Ted: YOU SIT RIGHT ON IT AND HOW LOUD IS THAT TRAFFIC?

>> IT'S EXTREMELY LOUD AND WE CAN'T OPEN OUR WINDOWS AT NIGHT TO GET THE ARIZONA FRESH AIR IN AND DURING THE DAY, WORKING INSIDE, WE HEAR THE TRAFFIC FROM THE 101.

>> Ted: PAUL, HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS?

>> I HAD A RESIDENT WHO REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, THIS IS A PROBLEM AND WOULD YOU COME OUT AND HEAR IT FOR YOURSELF AND I DID.

OH, MY GOODNESS, IF WE HAD EXPERIENCED THAT, NONE OF US WOULD LIVE WITH IT.

>> Ted: ADOT EXPANDED IT.

>> IT'S A CALIFORNIA STYLE FRIDAYFREEWAY AND THE 101 WASN'T THERE AND NOW, THEY'RE HAVING THIS CALIFORNIA STYLE EXPANSION AND THERE'S AN INCLINE AND THE NOISE FROM THE INCLINE AND YOU CAN LOOK DOWN INTO THE BACKYARDS OF THE RESIDENT'S HOMES.

>> Ted: MY GOODNESS.

THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE AND WHY COULDN'T THEY GET THIS DONE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE AND EVERYONE IS CLAMORING TO GET THERE AND THE STATE BUDGET, THERE'S 400 LINE ITEMS AND LAST YEAR WAS AROUND 16.8 BILLION AND THIS WAS IN THE GRAND SCHEME BUT FINDING A CHAMPION, I WON'T VOTE YES UNLESS I GET THIS PROJECT THROUGH AND NOBODY EVER DID THAT BEFORE.

>> Ted: WYNNE TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG THE COMMUNITY PUSHED FOR THIS WALL.

>> THE COMMUNITY PUSHED FOR IT FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE WE WENT TO THE ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAID, LOOK, WE NEED THIS WALL AND PAUL BOYER CHAMPIONED IT BEHIND US AND A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WENT AND CHAMPIONED THE WALL TO GET IT DONE.

>> Ted: WHAT WERE THE RESPONSES?

I SAW WHERE ADOT STUDIES SHOWED IT WAS WELL WITHIN LIMITS.

IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WAS WELL WITHIN YOUR LIMITS.

GO AHEAD.

>> CORRECT.

THE ADOT CAME OUT AND DID A SOUND STUDY AND THEY CAME BACK TO ME PERSONALLY AND SAID, WELL, IT'S WELL WITHIN THE LIMITS, WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO?

AND I SAID, NO, IT'S NOT.

SO I GOT BEHIND WHAT PAUL WAS DOING AND CHAMPIONED THE WALL TO BE DONE.

>> Ted: AND PAUL, THE BILL PASSED AND WAS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS?

>> THIS WAS OPPOSITION, BUT LIKE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN.

SO AT ONE OF MY SMALL GROUP MEETINGS, THERE'S GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BUDGET ITEMS AND THERE'S A LINE ITEM FOR A SOUND BARRIER AT THE 101 AND 67th AVENUE AND SHOULD IT HAVE SAID 16th STREET?

OH, NO, THAT'S CORRECT AND YOUR WALL DIDN'T GET IN.

AND SO, THEY ACTUALLY PUT IN THE STATE BUDGET NOBODY RUN A BILL AT 67th AVENUE.

THEY WANTED A SOUND BALL AT 67 PROCEEDING AVENUE67th AVENUE AND I SAID I'M NOT SUPPORTING THIS UNLESS IT GETS IN.

>> Ted: DID THEY THINK THEY WOULDN'T NOTICE THAT THE SOUND WALL WASN'T THERE.

I DON'T GET THIS.

>> I THINK SOME PERCEIVED ME I WASN'T A TEAM PLAYER AND WANTED TO PUNISH ME.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHING WYNNE AND RESIDENTS.

>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF TIME TABLE AS FAR AS GETTING THIS CONINSTRUCTED?

CONSTRUCTED?

>> CONSTRUCTION SHOULD TAKE NINE MONTHS.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

>> I LOVE IT WHEN IT COMES THROUGH AND I WILL LOVE IT WHEN I SEE CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS BY MY HOUSE.

I FEEL LIKE IT WILL DAMPEN THE NOISE COMING OFF THE 101 BECAUSE IT IMPACTS MY SLEEP.

IT IMPACTS MY DAILY LIFE.

SO I LOVE IT TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL HELP DAMPEN THE NOISE A LITTLE.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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