[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON "ARIZONA HORIZON": THE FUTURE OF CONVENTIONS POST-PANDEMIC.

ON ON CRONKITE NEWS: WE'LL TAKE YOU TO A PUBLIC MEMORIAL TO HONOR MORE 16-THOUSAND ARIZONA LIVES LOST TO COVID-19, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: THE LEGACY OF BLACK WOMEN IN POLITICS.

>>> WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES, IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS TODAY INVOLVING TWO ARIZONA LAWS THAT COULD IMPACT THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

IT COULD RESTRICT WHO COULD PICK UP AND DELIVER BALLOTS.

DEMOCRATS CHALLENGED THE LAWS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH DEFENDED THEM CALLING THEM COMMON SENSE ELECTION INTEGRITY LAWS.

THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT WILL MAKE A DECISION LATER THIS YEAR.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE.

>>> ARIZONA'S COVID-19 DEATH TOLL HAS SURPASSED 18,000, BUT WE ARE SEEING THE LOWEST DAILY INCREASE IN CASES IN SIX MONTHS.

OUR TOTAL IS NOW AT NEARLY 819,000.

GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY RECEIVED HIS VACCINE TODAY.

HE GOT HIS SHOT FROM DR. CARA CHRIST AT STATE FARM STADIUM.

HE SAID, QUOTE, IT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK ABOUT 200 EVENTS AT THE PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER, SYMPHONY HALL AND ORPHEUM THEATRE HAVE BEEN CANCELED OR POSTPONED.

THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 50 CONVENTIONS LAST YEAR, AND NEARLY 30 THIS YEAR.

THE CANCELLATIONS REPRESENT MORE THAN 256,000 ATTENDEES, AND 326,000 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS.

PHOENIX ESTIMATES THE LOSS HAS COST MILLIONS IN FUNDING.

EARLIER I SPOKE WITH JERRY HARPER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER AND VENUES AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CONVENTIONS.

JERRY, YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CANCELLATIONS OF CONVENTIONS DUE TO COVID.

>> YES.

THE ONES THAT HAVE COME BACK ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE REBOOKED FOR LATER THIS YEAR OR FUTURE YEARS.

SO IF WE LOOK AT 2020, OF THE 52 CANCELLATIONS WE HAD, 22 HAVE REBOOKED, SO THAT IS ENCOURAGING, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS DESIGNATION.

>> THOSE 52 CANCELLATIONS ARE STRICTLY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, RIGHT?

>> YES, I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE LARGE CONVENTIONS.

THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF OUR BUSINESS.

>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY BOOKING FOR FUTURE CONVENTIONS, RIGHT?

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THE SALES TEAM -- ONCE COVID HIT AND WE STARTED WORKING WITH OUR PLANNERS, WE WERE ALSO WORKING TO CONTINUE BOOKING FOR FUTURE BUSINESS, SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VISITED PHOENIX SALES TEAM AND OUR HOTEL PARTNERS, WE WERE REALLY BUSY, SO WE BOOKED AND ACTUALLY SET A RECORD FOR SETTING CONVENTIONS FOR FUTURE YEARS.

IF YOU ADD THE REBOOKS IN WITH THE NEW BUSINESS, THAT BROUGHT OUR TOTAL TO 91 CONVENTIONS FOR FUTURE YEARS, WHICH IS A RECORD, AND REPRESENTS OVER 367,000 CONVENTION ATTENDEES, SO WORKING ON THAT AS WELL AS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO BRING BACK GROUPS THAT WANTED TO BOOK FOR FUTURE YEARS, BECAUSE THEY BOOKED FOR THE TIME THEY WANTED TO MEET, SO IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A FUTURE YEAR, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE NORMAL DATE.

IT WAS ALSO A DATE THAT WAS STILL AVAILABLE, SO SOME GROUPS HAD TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO AK COME DATED.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF INTEREST?

>> THE HYBRID EVENTS WAS THE FIRST CONVERSATION WE STARTED TO HAVE.

BECAUSE A HYBRID EVENT WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY PLANNED FOR THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, SO THERE ARE NEW THINGS THEY NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION LIKE WIFI, CAMERAS, A STUDIO IN SOME INSTANCES.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE THAT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION, AND THEN THE MEETING PLANNERS ALSO HAVE TO GAUGE THE INTEREST OF THEIR ATTENDEES.

DO THEY FEEL SAFE TRAVELING?

AND IN THEY DON'T, THEY HAVE TO BUILD IN THE HYBRID EVENTS, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM DESTINATIONS WHERE MAYBE THERE IS A BAN ON BUSINESS TRAVEL, SO THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, AND THEN EARLY ON THERE WAS THE TALK OF NEEDING TO QUARANTINE IF YOU TRAVEL TO CERTAIN STATES.

SO THAT'S WHAT CAUSED FOR SOME OF THESE GROUPS THAT WERE LOOKING TO MEET MAYBE CLOSER IN 21 OR 22 OF MEETING TO COORDINATE, AND THEN THEY ACCOMMODATE AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE HYBRID OPTION.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE GREAT RECESSION?

>> YEAH, CERTAINLY.

THE GREAT RECESSION WAS AN ECONOMIC CHALLENGE.

THEIR BUDGETS WERE SLASHED OR PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THE DISPOSABLE THAT THEY WOULD NEED, AND THAT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO RECOVER.

ARIZONA WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST INDUSTRIES HIT BY THE GREAT RECESSION, AND ALSO ONE OF THE SLOWEST TO RECOVER FROM IT.

SO THE DIFFERENCE IS THE PANDEMIC IS NOT AS MUCH OF A FINANCIAL ROADBLOCK FOR GROUPS, MORE SO JUST THE SAFETY ISSUE.

SO HERE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER WE'RE TAKING OUR EMPLOYEES SAFETY INTO CONSIDERATION, AND GROUPS ARE DOING THE SAME THING FOR THEIR ATTENDEES.

SO NOW AS OPPOSED TO WAITING UNTIL THEY ARE IN A BETTER POSITION FINANCIALLY TO MEET, THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE EVENT TO MOVE FORWARD SAFELY, AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THAT WORK AS FAR AS GETTING OUR CERTIFICATION, WHICH SPEAKS TO OUR LEVEL OF CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF GROUPS ARE LOOKING FOR TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR SAFETY TOP OF MIND.

>> AND I KNOW THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS THE FIRST VENUE TO GET THAT ACCOMMODATION.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.

>>> UP NEXT HOW THE ECONOMY IS GROWING DESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

>>> A NEW REPORT BY ADP RESEARCH INSTITUTE FINDS ONE IN SIX WORKERS WITH GIG WORKERS, MEANING THEY ARE PAID AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR SHORT-TERM PLEASE WORKING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.

THAT MEANS THEY ARE NOT WORKING FULL-TIME OR GETTING BENEFITS.

CHARLES JACKSON IS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP USA TALKED TO US ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GIG WORKERS.

CHARLES A STUDY FOUND THAT GIG WORKERS HAS GROWN, AND THE COMPANY THAT HANDLES PAYMENTS FOR GIG WORKERS FOUND THAT NEARLY 80% OF WORKERS EXPECT TO DO THE SAME OR MORE GIG WORK THIS YEAR.

DO THOSE NUMBERS SURPRISE YOU?

>> NOT AT ALL.

WE'RE FINDING THAT MORE AND MORE OF OUR POPULATION ARE LOOKING TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR INCOME.

>> THE ADP RESEARCH INSTITUTE ALSO PORTRAYS TWO WORLDS OF GIG WORKERS, ONE IS OLDER, AND ABLE TOE CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, AND THE OTHER WORLD IS YOUNGER, LESS EDUCATED, AND THEY TEND TO TAKE ON ON-CALL OR CONDITIONAL GIG WORK.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT?

>> I THINK IT PROVIDES A LOT OF VARIETY.

THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD 20 OR 30 WORLDS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD REALIZE THAT NOW WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM TO DO THINGS THAT WE WISH.

SO THAT'S WHY WE SEE SOME OLDER PEOPLE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPOKE SPOKE -- SPECTRUM, THE YOUNGER POPULATION WHAT IS LOOKING TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND MAY NOT HAVE THE DESIRE FOR THE 9:00 TO 5:00 JOB.

>> WE KNOW THERE ARE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND SKILLED WORKERS, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK BUSINESSES SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE GOING TO THE BIG WORKER ROUTE?

>> THAT IS A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER.

IT JUST SEEMS AS IF FROM AN EMPLOYER STANDPOINT THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

NOW THE WAYS EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING AT IT, THEY ARE HIRE SOMEBODY ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS, AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEY ARE EASILY REPLACE THEM WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> A STUDY SHOWS THAT A LOT OF COMPANIES DON'T CONSIDER THE PERFORMANCES OR THE SKILL SETS -- THEY ARE KIND OF BUDGETED IN A WEIRD SORT OF WAY.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE MOUSE TRAP, AND I THINK COMPANIES ARE VERY CLOSE TO ADAPT AND CHANGE TO SOCIETAL CHANGES, AND WHETHER IT IS A TOP-DOWN APPROACH, OR BOT UM-UP APPROACH, IT WILL BE EASIER IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD SAID THAT IT WANTED TO CLASSIFY A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE AS EMPLOYEES, AND WE EXPECT THAT TO COME UP AT SOME POINT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?

>> WELL, THIS CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER I SOLD REAL ESTATE.

AND IN THE '70S, THE QUESTION WAS ARE WE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR PLEASE?

AND NOW WE ARE STILL HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

IT'S THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THEIR SCHEDULE FROM THEIR STANDPOINT.

>> WE CERTAINLY KNOW THE FLEXIBILITY ARGUMENT.

I CAN SET MY OWN WORK, AND THEN THE FLIP ARGUMENT IS COMPANIES DON'T HAVE TO PAY INSURANCE AND THAT KIND OF THING?

>> YES, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES INTO PLAY.

YOU NEED TO SET YOUR FINANCES IN TERMS OF YOUR PAYROLL TAXES.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE AND RETIREMENT.

AND, AGAIN, THIS TYPE OF WORK IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

SO THOSE WHO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY WILL TAKE THOSE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SET FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE END OF TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEES IN YOUR OPINION?

>> NO, I THINK WE WILL STILL HAVE THE HOURLY EMPLOYEE.

WHAT I READ IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE THEIR INCOME ON 1099S CONTINUES TO IN INCRIESIN INCRIES -- INCREASE, AND THEY WILL USE THAT TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.

BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE THE EMPLOYEE THAT PROVIDES TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST ACT IN OFFICE WAS TO BRING THE U.S. BACK INTO THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.

TO LEARN MORE, TED SIMONS SPOKE TO PETER SCHLOSSER, OF ASU'S JULIE ANN WRIGLE GLOBAL FUTURES LAB.

>>> PETER THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THE PRESIDENT HAS ANNOUNCED CLIMATE CHANGE HAS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YES, I DO.

IN A WAY WE ACTUALLY SEE THE EXPRESSION OF THIS THREAT, WHICH IS A GLOBAL THREAT, BUT WE SEE IT LOCALLY.

WE HAVE WILDFIRES AND DROUGHT HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE RECORD HEAT AND RECORD DEATHS RELATED TO HEAT.

SO WE ARE SEEING THIS PLAY OUT IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> AND THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO DECARBONIZE THE U.S. POWER SECTOR BY 2035.

CAN IT BE DONE?

SHOULD IT BE DONE?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE.

IT HAS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT DOING IT, THEN THE PLANET WILL KEEP HEATING UP INTO A PLACE WHERE EXPERTS SAY WE WOULD GET INTO DANGEROUS INTERFERENCE WITH THE CLIMATE SYSTEM.

>> ALWAYS HE WANTS A 60-DAY PAUSE ON NEW DRILLING PERMITS.

HE WANTS CONSTRUCTION OF THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE DELAYED.

WILL THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> THEY ARE PART OF CHANGING THE ENERGY SYSTEM, GOING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL, STOP DRILLING FOR OIL AND GAS, AND EXPLORING THAT.

SO THAT'S ALL PART OF THAT TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO RENEWABLE, MAINLY, SOLAR AND WIND.

>> PART OF THAT TRANSITION, ARE WE READY TO GO, BECAUSE CRITICS ARE SAYING -- THEY CALLED IT AN ASSAULT ON JOBS.

WILL THERE BE GREEN JOBS TO TAKE OVER?

>> THERE WILL BE NEW INDUSTRIES THAT BRING JOBS ALONG.

THERE WILL BE TRILLION DOLLARS INDUSTRIES IN THE BUILD-UP OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGIES, AND NEW ENERGIES, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKING CAR DONE DIOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

>> YEAH, THAT IS ANOTHER GOAL THAT THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED.

I CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORDS.

WHAT IS THE REAL IMPACT THERE?

>> THE REAL IMPACT IS THAT IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE NATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO -- YOU KNOW, MEET TARGETS TO CUT EMISSIONS AND MAKE MEASURES TO DECREASE THE GAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

IF MAJOR ECONOMIES SUCH AS THE U.S. ARE PULLING OUT OF THAT, IT PUTS IN DANGER THAT THE NATIONS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH THAT GOAL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC AS FAR AS ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IS CONCERNED.

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE HAVE THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO FIGURE OUT TO GET THERE.

I'M LESS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS OF THE DECISION-MAKERS TO TAKE THAT ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PETER SCHLOSSER, OF ASU'S JULIE ANN WRIGLE GLOBAL FUTURES LAB, THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP, ON CRONKITE NEWS THE GLENDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANS TO CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: THE LEGACY OF BLACK WOMEN IN POLITICS.

♪♪ >> I HOPE YOU ARE APPRECIATING "ARIZONA HORIZON" TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECA