[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A CLOSER LOOK AT ALLEGED RACIAL BIAS IN THE NFL'S HIRING PRACTICES, "CRONKITE NEWS," CULTURAL TOURISM WAS HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC, HOW TRIBES PLAN TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO NATIVE COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A SUPERIOR JUDGE TODAY REJECTED CALLS FOR MEDIAL RECALL ON THE PROP 208 TAX.

THEY CLAIM THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T MOVE ON RAISING A PENNING SCHOOL SPENDING CAP UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE.

THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT PROP 208 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CURRENT BUDGETS.

SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS FACE A 15% CUT IN FUNDING IF THAT CAP REMAINS.

THE JUDGE SAID, QUOTE, I WILL GET THE DECISION OUT WHEN I GET IT OUT.

>>> GOVERNOR DUCEY ORDERED FLAGS AT HALF MASS TODAY IN HONOR OF MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROSA MROZ AFTER BEING HIT WHILE CROSSING A STREET.

JUDGE MROZ WAS APPOINTED BY JANET NAPOLITANO.

>>> OPTIMISTIC COVID REPORT TODAY.

IT'S A MONDAY.

AND MONDAYS OFTEN SHOW A LAG IN REPORTING, BUT EVEN SO THERE WERE MORE THAN 4400 NEW CASES TODAY.

A CONSIDERABLE DROP FROM JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

THERE WERE NO NEW FATALITIES ON RECORD.

ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY DEATH RATE IS STILL HIGH.

IT RANKS 9TH IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN, AND ICU-BED AVAILABILITY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

149 ICU BEDS NOW AVAILABLE STATEWIDE.

THAT'S THE BEST SHOWING FOR ICU'S SINCE LATE OCTOBER.

>>> FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RICK ROMLEY SAYS THAT SHE IS CONCERNED THAT CURRENT COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL HAS LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF HER STAFF, AND THAT MORALE IN THE OFFICE IS BOTTOMING OUT.

ROMLEY TOLD THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" THAT SOME ON ADEL'S STAFF THINK SHE IS, QUOTE, IN OVER HER HEAD.

ADEL SAYS OCCASIONS ARE CONJECTURE.

>>> FRONTIER AND SPIRIT AIRLINES ANNOUNCED A $6 BILLION MERGER TODAY.

THE MOVE WILL PUSH THE NEW LOW-FAIR AIRLINE PAST ALASKA AIR AND JET BLUE TO BECOME THE FIFTH LARGEST DOMESTIC AIR CARRIER.

>>> A LAWSUIT FILED BY FORMER NFL HEAD COACH BRIAN FLORES ALLEGES RACIAL BIAS IN THE NFL'S HIRING PRACTICES.

HE IS SUING THE LEAGUE FOR DISCRIMINATION, AFTER HE WAS FIRED AND THEN PASSED IN BY TWO OTHER TEAMS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAWSUIT WITH KENNETH SHROPSHIRE, CEO OF ASU'S GLOBAL SPORT INSTITUTE.

KENNETH SHROPSHIRE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

BRIAN FLORES, SUES THE NFL FOR RACIAL BIAS.

IN GENERAL, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, I'M SURPRISED.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THERE WAS SUCH AN ACTION, BUT THE TIMING OF IT, AND THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT IT.

SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE PRIME OF HIS CAREER, ON THE HEELS OF COLIN KAEPERNICK BEING BLACKLISTED, AND HERE IS BRIAN FLORES FROM THE SAME LEAGUE.

I'M SURE HE HAS 20, 30 YEARS CONTEMPLATED OF FUTURE EMPLOYMENT.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT HAPPENED, BUT IT HAPPENED MUCH SOONER THAN I THOUGHT, AND I'M HAPPY WITH THE PLAINTIFF.

>> COULD TIME CHANGES WHERE BRIAN FLORES WOULD GET A JOB SOONER THAN LATER.

>> THE HIRING IS CYCLE IS OVER, SO IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT.

WOULD YOU HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS SUED YOU PERSONALLY.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> THE OWNERS, THE FRANCHISES, AND HE DID INDICATE HE COULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST ALL 32, BUT NAMED 29 ON THE COMPLAINT.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT THAT IN THIS ROUND HE'LL GET HIRED, BUT MORE SURPRISING THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN SPORTS.

>> YEAH, NO KIDDING.

LEGAL EXPERTS SEE THIS SUIT AS A LONG SHOT.

THEY YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT RACE WAS A SPECIFIC FACTOR IN NOT GETTING JOBS AND BEING FIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> WELL, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

AND IF, IN FACT, THE CASE DOESN'T GET THROWN OUT, AND THERE IS A MOTION BEING FILED IN EARLY MARCH, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF ACTION THE COURT TAKES ON THAT.

IF HE IS ABLE TO GO FORWARD, THEN THE DISCOVERY PROCESS TAKES PLACE.

AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE ON THE COVER THERE.

ESPECIALLY THE ONE MAJOR VIOLATION IS THE ONE ASSERTED AGAINST THE NEW YORK GIANTS.

THE IDEA THEY HAD CONTEMPLATED IN ADVANCE WHO THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE, AND THE INTERVIEW WITH FLORES WAS A SUBSEQUENT SHAM.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM HIRE HIM, BUT THERE ARE SOME DAMAGES THERE, AND EVEN IF IT'S JUST -- AND I SAY JUST -- EMOTIONAL DISTRESS FOR KNOWING THAT WAS THE KIND OF PROCESS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.

I THINK THE DOLPHINS ACTION OF -- THE IDEA OF BEING PAID TO THROW GAMES, AND THAT SORT OF THING, THERE IS SOMETHING BAD THERE IN TERMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, AND THE IDEA OF THE DENVER INTERVIEW, AND WHETHER OR NOT JOHN ELWAY WAS HUNG OVER WHEN HE INTERVIEWED HIM, AGAIN, THAT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING THING TO EXPLORE, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF EVIDENCE THERE IS TO THE CONTRARY, AND IT'S TOUGH TO MAKE YOUR CASE ONE BASED ON STATISTICS AND DATA, YOU REALLY NEED THAT SMOKING GUN OF RACIST ACTION.

>> THE NFL, 70% OF PLAYERS ARE BLACK.

THERE IS ONLY ONE BLACK HEAD COACH.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE INTERVIEW.

IT IS PROBABLY OBVIOUS, IT WAS A SHAM INTERVIEW, AND YET THE RULES SAY THE TEAMS HAVE TO INTERVIEW AT LEAST ONE MINORITY CANDIDATE FOR HEAD COACHING POSITIONS.

IS THE ROONEY RULE -- IS IT IS A GOOD THING?

IS IT PAST ITS TIME?

WAS IT EVER A GOOD THING?

>> YEAH, IT IS KIND OF A -- A -- ' A -- ECCLESIASTIC THING.

IT CERTAINLY GOT US TO A PLACE WHERE CONSISTENTLY THERE WERE 3.5 -- I THINK IS THE AVERAGE WE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST -- ALMOST 20 YEARS WITH THE RULE.

SO THERE IS VAST IMPROVEMENT GOING BACK TO WHEN THERE WERE ONE, AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO ONE AGAIN, SO CLEARLY SOMETHING IS WRONG.

AND RELIANCE COMPLETELY ON THAT RULE IS CERTAINLY NOT THE PATH TO TAKE.

AND WITH THE HIRE IN MIAMI, AND THE DRAFT PICK BEING OWED TO THE GIANTS IN THE LEAGUE, HAVING A BUY RACIAL HEAD COACH, WHEN IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT GOES TO THE HEART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE RULE.

THE FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING MORE JOBS, MAKING MORE JOBS, BE AWARDED TO AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, AND -- IN MANY CASES THAT WOULD BE MEN WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED THE GAME, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF DENOMINATOR THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

BUT KEN, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

BECAUSE AS A SPORTS FAN, I KNOW MOST OF THE OWNERS -- THE GUY FROM THE DOLPHINS WHO WANTS TO PAY TO LOSE FOOTBALL GAMES, EVEN HE WAS DOING THAT BECAUSE HE WANTED A BETTER DRAFT PICK.

THESE GUYS WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO WIN.

AND ARE THEY JUST NOT COMFORTABLE HIRING A BLACK MAN?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS.

IT HAS BEEN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AFTER THE HIRE, WHY DID YOU HIRE THIS GUY IN HE REMINDED ME OF MYSELF OR OF MY SON.

AND ONE OWNER SAID CHOOSING A COACH IS A VERY PERSONAL THING.

IT IS LIKE CHOOSING A WIFE.

AND SO THAT KIND OF INTIMACY THAT MOSTLY MEN USE IN MAKING THIS DECISION, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BILLIONAIRE MEN WHO HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF INTERRACIAL ACTIVITY, OTHER THAN THE MEN PLAYING FOR THEIR TEAM, AND YOU ARE TURNING OVER A 3, $4 BILLION BUSINESS.

>> YEAH.

AND LAST QUESTION HERE, KEN, IT MAKES YOU WONDER, DO THESE GUYS -- ARE THEY -- ARE THEY REALLY THAT FOCUSED ON WINNING?

OR IS IT A BUSINESS AND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN, MAYBE KIND OF, SORT OF?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> IN FOOTBALL, THEY DO WANT TO WIN.

I THINK YOU SAID THE RIGHT THING, THE IDEA OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WITH THE DOLPHINS, IF HE WAS LOOKING TO LOSE, HE WAS ALSO LOOKING TO GET TO THE POINT TO WHERE HE IS WINNING.

SO THESE MEN WANT TO WIN, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR HEADS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT A BLACK MAN CAN LEAD THEM TO THAT TYPE OF VICTORY, AND THAT IS THE PLACE WE HAVEN'T REALLY PIERCED YET TO UNDERSTAND WHY THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND WHY RACE IN AN AN CONSCIOUS OR CONSCIOUS WAY IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU, KENNETH SHROPSHIRE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE.

>>> ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY HAS SERVED AS PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.

THE INSTITUTE CONDUCTS INTERVIEWS AND ASSEMBLES FOCUS GROUPS TO BETTER EVALUATE TRENDS, AND PRACTICES.

DIRECTOR OF THE MORRISON INSTITUTE IS ANDREA WHITSETT.

ANDREA, GOOD TO SEE YOU LIVE.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE, TED.

>> THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE THE ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY.

>> WE CONDUCT RIGOROUS RESEARCH ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES >> AND THIS IS NON-PARTISAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT?

>> IT'S TREMENDOUS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK OF HOW CONSISTENT OUR VISION HAS REMAINED THE SAME OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS, AND THE VALUE OF BEING NON-PARTISAN RIGHT NOW IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, AND I THINK IT IS REFRESHING TO PEOPLE.

AND IN OUR FIELD, PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT DATA MOVES AT THE SPEED OF TRUST, AND I SAY THAT INFORMATION ALSO MOVES AT THE SPEED OF TRUST, AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE A CREDIBLE SOURCE THEY CAN TURN TO.

>> YEAH, I LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MORRISON HAS COVERED OVER THE YEARS, WATER, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, THE BIGGIES.

>> HUGE.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT DO NOT GO AWAY, RIGHT?

AND YOU THINK ABOUT HOW CONSISTENT WE HAVE BEEN IN ADDING VALUE TO THOSE ISSUES.

AND WE ELEVATE THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE, AND WE HAVE A WATER BLUEPRINT, WHICH IS AN INTERACTIVE TOOL, THAT PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU ARE NOVICE TO WATER ISSUES, OR MORE EXPERIENCED, YOU CAN BETTER USE IT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE.

>> YEAH, IT DOES A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING PRETTY COMPLEX ISSUES.

WHEN IT COMES TO CONDUCTING RESEARCH, DATA AND THE NUMBERS, VERY IMPORTANT AS MAR AS THE MORRIS INSTITUTE IS CONCERNED.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHICH ISSUE GETS WHICH KIND OF RESEARCH?

>> CERTAINLY.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH FACULTY ACROSS ALL KINDS OF DISCIPLINES.

RECENTLY WE WERE ASKED BY THE CITY OF MESA TO DO SOME COMMUNITY SURVEY RESEARCH ON POLICING ISSUES, SO IN THAT CASE IT WAS A TELEPHONE SURVEY, AND IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WORK WHERE IT WAS REALLY TARGETED TO HELPING THEIR CITY COUNCIL MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON HOW TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES, AND WE FOUND MESA RESIDENTS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ISSUES LIKE BODY CAMERAS, AND SO THEY APPROVED FUNDING FOR THAT.

>> AND YOU SAY IT SAVES TIME, MONEY, AND HEADACHES LATER ON.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS TRUE.

PART OF OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS EASIER, BECAUSE THEY ARE GROUNDED IN RESEARCH, AND IT REALLY IS GOOD PRACTICE.

>> IS IT HARD TO KEEP PARTISANSHIP FROM KEEPING THROUGH?

>> I WOULD SAY REMARKABLY NO.

AND I THINK THE REASON IS WITH 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND REPUTATION-BUILDING IN THE STATE, WE TEND TO FIND PEOPLE APPLYING ARE APPLYING TO PART OF THE -- INSTITUTE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THAT METHOD, STATISTIC ANALYSIS, AND AN INVITING CRITICAL REVIEW.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THE MORRISON INSTITUTE GOT STARTED.

>> SURE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY, AND I PEOPLE WILL VISIT OUR WEBSITE, BECAUSE YOU CAN ACCESS A PUBLICATION WE PUT OUT.

RICHARD AND ELAINE MORRISON DECIDED TO HOST A RETREAT IN THE MOUNTAINS.

AND THEY INVITED A GROUP OF YOUNG REPUBLICAN MOVERS AND SHAKERS TO SIT DOWN AND REFLECT ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE STATE, AND COME UP WITH WAYS THAT THEY MIGHT MAKE ARIZONA MORE PROSPEROUS, AND SO ONE IDEA THAT EMERGED WAS THIS THOUGHT TO CREATE A NON-PARTISAN THINK TANK, AND REMARKABLY, JUST A YEAR LATER, THANKS TO A GIFT FROM JUNE AND MARVIN MORRISON, RICHARD'S PARENTS, THE INSTITUTE WAS UP AND RUNNING HERE AT ASU.

>> AND I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL FOR ASU TO UNDERTAKE SUCH A PROJECT AT THE TIME.

>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY SMART, BECAUSE I THINK THEY REALIZED IT NEEDED TO BE STATEWIDE, AND THEY DECIDED TO PLACE IT IN THE STATE CAPITOL, AND I THINK THEY WERE REALLY WISE THAT ASU COULD GIVE IT THE STRUCTURE, SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO FACULTY EXPERTISE THAT WOULD ENSURE ITS LONGEVITY.

>> HAS THE MISSION CHANGES MUCH OVER THE YEARS?

>> REMARKABLY NO.

LIKE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR SHIFT IN THIS DIGITAL ERA, AND THAT MAKES OUR WORK MORE ACCESSIBLE.

BACK IN THE DAY -- EVEN WHEN I CAME TO THE INSTITUTE, WE WOULD HAVE THESE MAILING PARTIES AND STUFF ENVELOPES, AND NOW WE HAVE INTERACTIVE TOOLS AND STORY MAPS, AND PEOPLE CAN COME INTO OUR CONFERENCES ON ZOOM NOW.

OUR AUDIENCE FOR STATE OF OUR STATE HAS GROWN BECAUSE WE HAVE MOVED TO A VERTICAL FORMAT.

>> THE NEXT 40 YEARS, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN TRUE TO THAT NORTH STAR AROUND NON-PARTISANSHIP AND THE RIGOR AND CREDIBILITY WE HAVE EARNED.

I THINK COMING UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WATER, AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND COMING OUT SOON, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, AND SUBSTANCE USE, WHICH IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.

>> YES.

ANDREA WHITSETT, ASU'S MORRISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MORRISON FOR 40 YEARS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED.

>>> CIRCLE THE CITY PROVIDES HEALTHCARE TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

THE ORGANIZE HAS SET UP A QUARANTINE HOTEL FOR COVID PATIENTS, THAT HAS BEEN FILLING UP DUE TO THE RECENT OMICRON SURGE.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM MARTY HAMES, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR CIRCLE THE CITY.

MARTY HAMES, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH BASICS HERE.

WHAT IS CIRCLE THE CITY?

>> IT'S THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

SO WE PROVIDE CARE ALL OVER MARICOPA COUNTY THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SERVICES.

>> AND THOUSANDS, I WOULD IMAGINE, HUH?

>> LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED CARE TO 8,000 PEOPLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> MY GOODNESS.

OKAY.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS QUARANTINE HOTEL AND HOW IT HAS BEEN EFFECTED BY COVID.

THIS IS A HOTEL FOR FOLKS WITH COVID, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST STARTED, CIRCLE THE CITY WAS LOOKING AT WAYS WHERE WE CAN SAFELY QUARANTINE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING FOR THEIR TEST RESULTS.

WE TRIED TENTS THAT WAS DIFFICULT DURING THE ARIZONA SUMMERS, SO WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO LEASE A VACANT HOTEL IN MAY OF 2020.

WE STARTED OUT IN A SMALL HOTEL AND STARTED TO QUARANTINE PATIENTS IN THIS HOTEL, AND WE COULD GO DAILY -- WE WERE ON-SITE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THREE MEALS A DAY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

AS THOSE NUMBERS STARTED TO INCREASE, THEN WE HAD TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT HOTEL.

>> THESE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE MEDICAL RESPITE CENTERS.

>> THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

WE ALSO OFFER WALK-IN CARE, AND RESPITE CARE IS A UNIQUE PROCESS.

IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL, BUT TOO SICK TO BE ON THE STREET.

THEY GET A BED, DAILY MEDICAL CARE.

THREE MEALS A DAY, 24-HOUR NURSING SUPPORT.

AND THEY ARE THERE ANYWHERE FROM A WEEK UP TO A YEAR, AND WHILE THEY ARE THERE, WE WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER AND HOPEFULLY CONNECT THEM TO HOUSING, SO WHEN THEY GET READY TO DISCHARGE FROM RESPITE, THEY WILL BE OKAY.

>> BY DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THINGS WERE GETTING PRETTY DICEY, WEREN'T THEY?

>> YEAH, WE MOVED TO A LARGER HOTEL, AND WHEN THE NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP, WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO A SMALLER HOTEL, AND AROUND MID-NOVEMBER, THE NUMBERS STARTED TO CLIMB UP AGAIN.

SO THE COUNTY SECURED A LARGER HOTEL, WHICH IS NEAR I-17 AND NORTHERN.

IT HAS THE CAPACITY FOR ABOUT 150 PEOPLE.

WE MOVED OUR ENTIRE OPERATION INTO THAT HOTEL, AND WE WERE AT ABOUT 25 PATIENTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HIT 125 PATIENTS.

SO GETTING A LITTLE NERVEROUS, BECAUSE WE'RE NEARING CAPACITY.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY THAT WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN NUMBERS AT THE HOTEL, SO AS OF TODAY WE ARE AT 30 PATIENTS AT THE HOTEL, AND THAT IS SUCH GOOD NEWS FOR US.

FOR A WHILE WE WERE SEEING THOSE NUMBERS HOVER AROUND 100.

BUT TODAY IT IS A SIGNIFICANT DROP.

>> GOING TO STAY IN THAT HOTEL, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS AROUND THE COUNTY?

>> THAT IS COVID, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THE COUNTY HAS AGREED TO LEASE THIS HOTEL UNTIL JUNE.

THAT IS THE PLAN.

>> AT THE HOTEL, ARE THESE SERIOUS CASES?

ARE THESE OMICRON CASES?

BECAUSE SOMETIMES OMICRON ISN'T AS SERIOUS AS THE PREVIOUS VARIANT.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND THE PATIENTS WHO ARE IN THE HOTEL, THAT'S WHY THE NURSING STAFF, AND MEDICAL STAFF IS ROUTINELY CHECKS EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN EVERY SINGLE ROOM, DOING TEMPERATURE CHECKS, SYMPTOM CHECKS, AND THE REST, AND WE HAVE MEDICAL STAFF THAT DOES AN OFFICIAL ROUNDING ON THE PATIENTS EVERY DAY TO CHART HOW THEY ARE DOING, IF THERE IS A DECLINE IN THEIR CONDITION, WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THEM DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL.

>> INTERESTING.

WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE PATIENTS?

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

>> UH-HUH.

CIRCLE -- WE'RE FORTUNATE IN PHOENIX.

AND I BRAG ABOUT CIRCLE THE CITY IN THAT WAY.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE WERE ALREADY SO CONNECTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND WE HAVE LOCAL MEDICAL OUTREACH THAT WORKS IN THE EAST VALLEY, THE WEST VALLEY, NORTH, AND SOUTH.

AND WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STATIONED IN HOSPITALS, SO WE WERE GETTING PATIENTS SENT TO US FROM HOSPITALS, SO WE'RE TESTING POSITIVE THERE.

THEY WERE COMING FROM OUR MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, FROM SHELTERS HERE IN PHOENIX AS WELL AS MARICOPA COUNTY, SO PATIENTS WERE COMING TO US FROM ALL OVER MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> BUT THE LAST POINT HERE, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

>> YES.

YES.

AT LONG LAST.

>> AT LONG LAST.

>> AND ONE -- ONE OF OUR VISIONS WHAT WE DO IS WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND CIRCLE THE CITY, WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE IN MARICOPA COUNTY FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW, AND WHETHER IT BE THE PANDEMIC WITH COVID, OR ANY OTHER HEALTH CRISIS THAT COMES OUR WAY, IT'S OUR JOB TO RISE TO MEET THAT NEED, AND HELP GET THAT CARE TO THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS FACING HOMELESSNESS.

>> WHO KNEW WE WOULD NEED A QUARENTINE HOTEL FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IT IS FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF CRONKITE NEWS, A LOCAL GOLFER IS SET TO TEE IT UP THIS WEEK AT THE WM PHOENIX OPEN.