>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OPENS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, MORE VALLEY HOSPITALS RAISE THE ALARM.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A CLOSER LOOK AT WORLD WARI AND WORLDWARII NATIVE CODE TALKERS.

IT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION, THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.

I'M TEDSIMONS.

THE U.S. JUSTICE ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S OPENING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND STATES THAT THE PATTERN AND PRACTICE INVESTIGATION WILL FOCUS ON POTENTIAL USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE, POTENTIALLY DISCRIMINATORY POLICING PRACTICES, AND POTENTIAL RETALIATION AGAINST PROTESTORS.

THE PROBE WILL ALSO LOOKING AT RESPONSES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>>> IN A STATEMENT PHOENIX MAYOR FOCUSED MORE ON THE DODGE ALSO ANNOUNCING-- DOJ A REVIEW OF POLICE POLICIES, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISION.

THEY STAND READY TO SUPPORT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

A DIFFERENT TONE FROM PHOENIX DESCRIBES MAYOR WHO STATED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY IS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS UNFIT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND FURTHER VALID DATES THE VIOLENCE AND MISTRUST THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING.

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON TODAY ACE ANNOUNCEMENT IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> MORE ARIZONA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE EXPECTED TO ENACT MASK MAN DATES AFTER A COURT LATE YESTERDAY DECLINED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER.

A DISTRICT TEACHER CLAIMED THAT THE DISTRICT'S POLICY BROKE A NEW STATE LAW THAT BANS MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS, BUT THE JUDGE DECLINED THE RESTRAINING ORDER SINCE THE LAW DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER A.

JUDGE DID SET A COURT DATE FOR NEXT WEEK FOR MORE EVIDENCE.

>>> SEVEN ARIZONA SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW REQUIRE REQUIREMENTS-- MASKS ON CAMPUS.

>>> A PRIVATE SCHOOL WILL REQUIRE MASKS AND PROOF OF VACCINATIONS WHEN CLASS BEGINS.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE NOW-- NOT REALLY SUBJECT TO THE NEW LAW ON MASK MANDATES.

POLICY CONTRADICTS THE LAW THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY GOVERNOR DUCEY.

BROPHY IS THE PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT THE GOVERNOR'S CHILDREN ATTENDED.

>>> UMALL OF WHICH MAKES MORE ENOUGH PULL AFTER OF WHICH MAKES FOR MUCH CONFUSION.

THE WHITEHOUSE SAID THAT IT WAS WORKING ON A UNIFIED MESSAGE REGARDING MASKS, KIDS, AND SCHOOLS.

THAT SAID, THE BASICS HAVEN'T CHANGED.

>> WHEN YOU WEAR MASKS, WHEN YOU PROVIDE DISTANCING, WHEN YOU TESTING REGULARLY, AND WHEN YOU'RE QUARANTINING, YOU CAN FUNCTION IN A SCHOOL.

SO WE'RE EXPECTING OUR EDUCATION LEADERS AND EDUCATORS TO FOLLOW THE PRACTICES THAT WORKED LAST YEAR AND WE EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO BE IN CLASS EVERY DAY.

>>> THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR NOW LITS SEVEN U.S. WESTERN STATES ENTIRELY IN DROUGHT.

MONTANA IS THE LATEST, JOINING CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, OREGON, TOASTS, AND NORTHDAKOTA.

ARIZONA IS NOT CONSIDERED ENTIRELY IN DROUGHT DUE TO RECENT RAINS.

COLORADO SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT, TOO.

THOUGH THEY'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE DROUGHT'S LENGTH AND SOUTHEAST THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

ARIZONA INCLUDED.

>>> AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ENSURE THAT HALF OF THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE U.S. BY 2030 HAVE ZERO EMISSIONS.

THE MOVE HAS THE SUPPORT OF MAJOR AUTOMAKERS.

THOUGH NOT ALL CARMAKERS ARE BEHIND THE PUSH.

BIDEN'S ORDER REVERSES THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ROLLBACK, WHICH THE WHITEHOUSE SAYS WILL SAVE CONSUMERS 200BILLION GALLONS OF GAS.

>>> ALSO WE MENTIONED, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKE GARLAND TODAY ANNOUNCED-- MERRICK GARLAND ANNOUNCED A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON THE CITY OF PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS OPENING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE INVESTIGATION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT ENGAGES IN A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OR FELD LAW.

-- FEDERAL LAW.

>> FOR MORE ON THE INVESTIGATION, WE SPOKE WITH HUMAN RELATIONS MEMBER.

ALSO ON THE POLICE CHIEF'S COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.

JEREMY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BIG NEWS HERE REGARD-- WERE YOU SURPRISED BY IN ANNOUNCEMENT-- THIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TED.

I WAS TAKEN COMPLETELY OFF GUARD WHEN I SAW THIS POP UP THIS MORNING.

I HAD LITTLE NOTICE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT CHIEF WILLIAMS CONVEYED, THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF NOTICE THAT THIS WAS COMING.

BUT I THINK THAT IT ALSO MAKES SENSE.

WE SAW PULLBACK WITH THE JUDGMENT UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR ACTIVITIES WORKING AROUND-- GROUND LEVEL WITH CITIES THAT WERE EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH POLICING AND NOW THAT WE ARE INTO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE SEEING A REVIVAL OF THOSE EXTIONZ AND-- EXAMINATIONS.

AND CITY OF PHOENIX HAS HAD A ROCKY HISTORY IN THE PEAK DECADE, DECK-- PAST DECADE, DECADE AND A HALF, WITH THE LEVEL OF POLICING AND RESTINGS.

IT'S A MIXED BAG.

I THINK WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT'S TAKEN SOME VERY REAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LONG HISTORY THAT IS SYSTEMIC IN POLICING NOT JUST HERE IN PHOENIX AND IN ARIZONA, BUT NATIONWIDE.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED HERE, THEY'RE NOT DISSIMILAR FROM THINGS WE'VE SEEN IN OATH CITIES, BUT IN-- OTHER CITIES, BUT IN OTHER CITIES WHERE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INTERVENTION HAS PRODUCED POSITIVE RESULTS.

>> WE DID MENTION-- WE SHOULD MENTION THEY'LL HAVE A REVIEW OF POLICE POLICY AND TRAINING.

BUT THE INVESTIGATION LOOKS AT ALL USE OF FORCE BY PHOENIX P.D.

INCLUDING EXIVE FORCE, PO-- EXCESSIVE FORCE, POTENTIALLY DISCRIMINATORY AND RETALLIAER TO THINGS.

I GUESS YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S-- YOU'RE NOT TOO MUCH SURPRISED BY THE TIMES.

WERE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S HAPPENING NOW, NOT TOO MUCH.

BUT THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK WE KNOW THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, PHOENIX POLICE LED THE COUNTRY IN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUSLY A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT LOOKING AT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING ISSUES, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WERE GREAT DISTINCTIONS BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO EXPRESS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOME CRITICAL ISSUES THAT GO BEHIND CORE MISSING.

HOW THE CITY IS ADDRESSING ISSUES AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE RESPONSE TO MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS.

HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND THE IMPACT OF POLICING ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION ON POLICING.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT-- YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF IN SOME WAYS A LONG WAYS COMING.

WE'VE SEEN THE CITY GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF ITERATIONS OF THE CITIZEN TASK FORCE GROUPS, EXPLORATORY BODIES, RECOMMENDING BODIES.

WE'VE HAD OUTSIDE INTICKETS-- ENTITIES.

BUT NOTHING THAT REALLY CARRIES THE FORCE AND WEIGHT OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE TO DO THE MOST IMOAR POSSIBLE EXAMINATION-- THOROUGH POSSIBLE EXAMINATION AND THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT.

IS THIS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYING WE RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, WE RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND TRYING TO DO.

BUT YOU NEED SOME HELP?

>> YES, I THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

AS CHIEF WILLIAMS EXPRESSED IN HER PRESS CONFERENCE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS FEET DOES-- PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES VERY WELL BUT THERE ARE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THE SO-CALLED DOLLAR STORE INCIDENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAVE REALLY SHAKEN THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS CITY LEADERSHIP AND SO HAVING AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY THAT I THINK HAS INTEGRITY AND THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE TRUSTED, BOTH BY THE POLICE LEADERSHIP AND THE RANK AND FILE OFFICERS, AND THE COMMUNITY, WHO HAVE-- FREQUENTLY AS A PAIR OF GROUPS FOUND A COMMON POINT OF TRUST AROUND AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY WHOSE RECOMMEND NATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE-- RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE, THIS MAY FIGHT-- FINALLY BE THE SOLUTION TO THAT.

>> THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S CRITICAL.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OFFICERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ARE AT THEIR SAFEST WHEN THERE IS MUTUAL TRUST, WHEN EVERYBODY HAS EACH OTHER'S BACK.

AND I THINK THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT LEVEL OF TRUST IS IF THERE'S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS FROM BOTH SIDES.

AND I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION BY THE COMMUNITY IN PAST DISCUSSIONS, IN PAST RECOMMENDING BODIES.

BUT NOTHING QUITE TO THIS LEVEL OR WITH THIS WEIGHT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME REREAL, VERY MEANINGFUL CHANGE THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS REVIEW.

>> AND LAST QUESTION, IS THAT THE MESSAGE HERE, THAT CHANGE HAS TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK-- COMMUNITY CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE THERE IS A NEED TO GO IN SOME DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

EVEN POLICE LEADERSHIP AS ACKNOWLEDGED-- HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE BETTER.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A MINUTE TOO AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRUCTURE OF HOW THINGS WORK HERE IN PHOENIX, BECAUSE OF HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED.

OUR CHIEF OF POLICE DOES NOT REPORT TO THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX.

OUR CHIEF REPORTS TO THE PHOENIX CITY MANAGER, WHO'S A CITY EMPLOYEE, NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND BECAUSE OF OUR CHARTER STRUCTURE, THAT CREATES A BARRIER BETWEEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE HEADS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.

AND THE REAL WAY AROUND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP HAS A DIRECT VOICE IN THE PROCESS.

>> JEREMY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND UP NEXT, THREE ARIZONA EDUCATION GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO FORM A NEW EDUCATION ORGANIZATION.

>>> COLLEGE SUCCESS ARIZONA AND EXPECT MORE ARIZONA HAVE TEAMED UP TO CREATE A NEW EDUCATION GROUP.

IT'S CALLED EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

AND IT'S DESIGNED TO ADVANCEGESTION ISSUES IN THE STATE-- VEGAS ISSUES IN THE STATE.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O., RICH NICKEL.

RICH, CONGRATULATIONS ON EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

NEW GROUP.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AND WHY THIS-- THREE PRETTY SPECIFIC, DISTINCT, AND WELL-KNOWN EDUCATION GROUPS GOT TOGETHER AS ONE.

>> FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND JUST EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT KIND OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT.

TODAY, AUGUST 5th, WE FINISHED REALLY WHAT'S BEEN ALMOST AN 18-MONTH PROCESS THAT WAS GENERATED THROUGH JUST BROOD COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SOME FUNDING SUPPORT TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD BRING THESE THREE EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER THAT WERE DOING GREAT THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

COLLEGE SUCCESS ARIZONA, EXPECT MORE ARIZONA, AND ACHIEVE 60 AZ TOGETHER TO REALLY JUST CREATE A MORE UNIFIED AND COORDINATED APPROACH AND TO POOL ALL OF THAT TALENT.

AND NOW PUT THAT TALENT TO WORK ACROSS THE ENTIRE EDUCATION CONTINUUM.

ON BEHALF OF THE STATE, IT'S FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THAT CONTINUUM.

AND I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE REASON TO DO THIS AND PROBABLY THE UPSIDE IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY COORDINATE ACTIVITIES AMONG OURSELVES FOR SURE, BUT ALSO I THINK AMONG THOSE WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN EDUCATION.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE, TO TRY TO PROVIDE THIS VOICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HAD IT, AND ALSO TO HELP PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOLUTIONS THAT REACH ACROSS THAT CONTINUUM.

SO WE'RE JUST SUPER EXCITED AND EAGER TO GET EDUCATION FOR ARIZONA DOING THE REAL WORK.

>> HOW MUCH DISCUSSION DID YOU HAVE WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY TOOK QUITE A WHILE TO DO THIS.

WE MADE THE OFFICIAL TRANSITION ON FEBRUARY 1st.

AND THEN WE REALLY SET THIS PROCESS INTO PLACE OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

WE WENT OUT AND WE TALKED TO LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A COMMUNITY LEADERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF 35 LEADERS.

WE TALKED TO ALL THE BOARDS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE STATE.

AND HERE'S WHAT WE HEARD THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY PROCESS.

NUMBER ONE, THERE WAS A HUNGER TO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE WE HAVE TRIED TO-- TRIED TO CREATE HERE, THAT COULD BE THE VOICE, YOU KNOW-- FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T THOUGHT THEY HAD THE VOICE THAT THEY DESERVED IN EDUCATION.

AND AN ORGANIZATION THAT COULD BE BOLD AND TAKE COURAGEOUS ACTIONS AND ALSO YOU KNOW, COLLECT THESE COURAGEOUS CHAMPIONS AROUND THE STATE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE MOVE EDUCATION FORWARD, HOW WE REACH THE ATTAINMENT GOAL, AND HOW WE-- ATTAINMENT GOAL-- ATTAINMENT GOAL.

SO A RUNGER OR-- A HUNGER FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS.

AND PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO HAVE A TRUE PLAN AROUND WHAT WE WANT EDUCATION TO LOOK LIKE, WHAT INVESTMENTS WE WANT TO MAKE INGESTION.

AND WHAT-- EDUCATION.

AND WHAT GOALS WE WANT TO HIT.

SO THAT'S ALSO SOME INTERESTING FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT TODAY AS WE LAUNCHED.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE GAPS IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

THAT'S A BIGGIE AS FAR AS THE NEW GROUP IS CONCERNED.

>> YEAH.

IT REALLY IS.

AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ENOUGH.

WE'RE GETTING WHAT I THINK IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TONIGHT PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY FOR ME AND ALSO THE STATE TO KIND OF REIMAGE WHAT AN ORGANIZATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE WHO'S GOING TO APPROACH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING REALLY THROUGH THIS LENS OF CLOSING THESE GAPS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SPEAKS OF KIND OF THE EDUCATION EQUITY THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS ALL OVER THE STATE REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE, WHAT THEIR INCOME SITUATION IS, THEY ALL NEED CERTAIN SUPPORTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME STUDENTS THAT HAVEN'T MADE STARTED AT THE SAME PLACE AS OTHERS MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO FOR US TO CLOSE THIS-- YOU KNOW, THESE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHO THOSE STUDENTS ARE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU KNOW, THESE ARE STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITY OF COLOR, STUDENTS WHO MAY BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

AND AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, HOW CAN WE OFFER ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH PROGRAMMING, THROUGH POLICY, THROUGH MESSAGING AND NOMENCLATURE AND ENGAGEMENT TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS SUCCEED AT SIMILAR RATES AS THEIR PEERS.

IF WE DON'T, THE ALGEBRA SAYS WE CAN'T REACH IT.

SO IT'S A FOCUS OF OURS TO CONCENTRATE ON THAT GAP.

>> RICH, CONGRATULATIONS.

EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

WE'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM YOU AS THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AS THE EDUCATION PROCESS CONTINUES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> A NEW BOOK TITLED "EMPOWERED, LATINOS TRANSFORMING ARIZONA POLITICS," ARGUES THAT ARIZONA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS MORE INCLUSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE THAN EVER.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION WITH LISA WHO CO-AUTHORED THE BOOK.

>> PROFESSOR, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE SHOW.

YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK.

>> I DO.

>> ABOUT EMPOWERED LATINOS.

AND I'VE HEARD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS THE NEXT PHASE OF LATINO-- KIND OF LATINO MOVEMENT IN THE UNITEDSTATES.

GIVE ME THE CONTEXT FOR THAT.

>> SURE.

I-- THESIS OF THIS WEEK IS THAT THERE'S BEEN VARIOUS PHASES OF LATINO POLITICS.

I LIKE TO SAY FIRST STARTING AFTER THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO WHEN THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS WHEN PROMISED BY THE TREATY.

SO THE FIRST PHASE WOULD BE AFTER THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION, WE'RE TRANSNATIONAL NOTION OF LATINO POLITICS.

NATIONAL NATIONALS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS OF MEXICO.

I WOULD SAY OLES REALLY NEXT BIG-- SAY THE NEXT BIG PIVOTAL PHASE IS AFTER WORLDWARII WHERE WE SAW THE BEGINNING OF MORE MEXICAN-AMERICANS THAT WENT TO COLLEGE AS A RESULT OF G.I.

BILL.

WE SAW NATURALIZATIONS GOING UP FOR THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED IN WORLDWARII.

WE SAW THE CREATION OF SCHOLARS AND THE FIRST TIME ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WERE MEXICAN-AMERICAN.

OBVIOUSLY THE NEXT BIG PHASE WOULD BE THE VERY IMPORTANT CHICANO MOVEMENT THAT I WOULD SAY WENT TO THE 1960s TO THE LATE 1970s.

AFTER THAT, WE SAW MORE-- THIS IS TYPICAL WHEN YOU HAVE GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION.

YOU START TO SEE THE MOVEMENT INTO MORE TRADITIONAL POLITICS.

SO I WOULD SAY THE NEXT PHASE IN THE '80s AND '90s WHICH WAS MORE PLEESHTED-- ELECTED OFFICIALS AND VOTER REGISTRATION.

YOU SAW THE GROWTH OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MALDOF, NATIONAL COUNCIL.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE LAST TWO RENAISSANCE, BIG MOVEMENTS IN LATINO POLITICS.

AND MY SORT OF IDEA IS THAT BECAUSE OF ANTI-IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT ACTORS, IT SERVES TO AL GANNIZE THE LATINO POPULATION.

SO YOU START TO SEE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING THESE PRETTY DRACONIAN LAWS AND IT SETS UP ACTUALLY ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP POLITICIZE AND ORGANIZE AND GALVANIZE LATINOS.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO SOME OF THOSE AREAS IN DETAIL.

BUT FIRST, THE BOOK IS CHOCK-FUL OF INFORMATION.

IT'S-- IT'S AMAZING.

INCLUDING INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE LATINO POPULATION HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> YEAH.

MORE THAN 90, 95% ARE U.S. BORN.

THE IDEA IS THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE OF LATINO DESCENT ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS OR NOT U.S. CITIZENS.

THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE OVERALL, OVERWHELMINGLY ARE U.S. BORN.

>> AND OVERWHELMINGLY MEXICAN DESCENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, SO YOU HEARD THAT IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIATION ELECTION-- PRESIDENTIALIAL ELECTION, THAT TRUMP GOT SOME OF THE LATINO VOTES.

LIKE IN FLORIDA THIS WAS CUBAN OR VENEZUELANS, BUT HERE IN ARIZONA, PREDOMINANTLY OVERWHELMINGLY OF MEXICAN ORIGIN.

WE WERE PRETTY DISTINCT HERE IN ARIZONA, UNLIKE OTHER LATINO STATES.

>> WHEN I THINK WHAT YOU WERE GETTING AT IS THAT IN ARIZONA, THE MEXICAN VOTE WENT LARGELY DEMOCRATIC.

BUT YOU HAVE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS IN SOUTH TEXAS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE SURPRISING GAINS THERE AMONG THE LATINO POPULATION.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT.

ONE IS THAT-- ONE IS THERE'S THE EVANGELICAL VOTE.

THAT SORT OF WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN, SAY, MEXICAN-AMERICANS THAT AREN'T EVANGELICAL.

AND CERTAIN PARTS OF TEXAS, TRUMP WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE SORT OF WORKING MAN, THIS SORT OF MIDDLE CLASS VOTER THAT HE WAS ABLE TO-- I DON'T KNOW, MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND BECAME VERY POPULAR.

BUT AGAIN OVERWHELMINGLY, YOU KNOW, 60-- ALMOST 70% OF ALL LATINOS WENT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> Reporter: AND YOU'VE-- >> AND YOU'VE MENTIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE LATINO POPULATION HERE IN ARIZONA, THE GROWTH, WHICH AT SOME POINT WILL BE ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER AGE GROUPS, MAJORITY MINORITY?

ARIZONA WILL BE.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK IN THIS LAST ELECTION, THE THING THAT WE WANT TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IS THAT MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

AND THIS IS WHAT REALLY PLAYED OUT IN THIS LAST ELECTION.

AND MOST LATINOS LIVE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

SO IT WAS A REALLY PIVOTAL TIME FOR LATINO POLITICS IN ARIZONA, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAD THESE FIRST-TIME PLAYERS.

AND I WANTED TO ADD, OTHER PLAYERS THAT MAY BE IMMIGRANT THAT CANNOT VOTE BUT WERE VERY MUCH PART OF THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.

SO WE HAD KIDS THAT-- I SAY KIDS.

THESE REMARKABLE, SOME STUDENTS, SOME DACA-- >> AND I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE POINTS YOU MAKE AND YOU QUOTE OLD TEAM THE OLD-TIMERS THAT THAT'S THE FUTURE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEN YOU ALSO END THE BOOK WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH RANDY PEREZ, WHO HEADS UP ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, A YOUNG MAN FROM WISCONSIN.

DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH.

BUT HE TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE'S STILL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND NEEDS TO BE ACCEPTED IN THAT FASHION.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE BOOK IS TALKING ABOUT THIS NEW AMERICAN ELECTORATE.

WHO ARE THESE NEW PLAYERS.

AND RANDY TALKS ABOUT, YEAH, HE ISN'T-- HE DOESN'T SPEAK SPEECH.

-- SPANISH.

I THINK MOM IS NOT-- MOM OR DAD, I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE, BUT HE TALKS ABOUT THAT-- THAT IT HAS CHANGED.

THIS EVOLUTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO BE A LATINO.

AND THAT WHAT LATINO POLITICS MEANS IN GENERAL.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT, IS THAT LATINO POLITICS IS NOT JUST VOTING, NOT JUST OARKTED OFFICIALS-- ELECTED OFFICIALth, NOT JUST PEOPLE LATINO THAT ARE VOTING.

IT'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE EVOLVING.

IT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE YOU SEE IN THE LAST ELECTION TRULY WHAT IS DEMOCRACY, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST VOTING.

IT'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT BEAUTIFUL PLAYERS THAT PLAY INTO THIS BOOK.

>> PROFESSOR, AS I TOLD YOU, THERE IS SO MUCH IN YOUR BOOK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

SO A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.

>> YOU'RE VERY KIND, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU!

>> BYE-BYE.

>> BYE-BYE.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TEDSIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.