[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HOW WELL IS THE STATE HANDLING THE COVID PANDEMIC?

WE'LL ASK DR. FORMER U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL RICHARD CARMONA.

AND ON CRONKITE NEWS HOW ONE LOCAL RESTAURANT OVERCAME THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY RESTAURANTS ARE FACING IN RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN TODAY TOLD THE HEAD OF CYBER-NINJAS TO TURN OVER ALL COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THE SENATE'S REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS.

ARIZONA REPUBLICAN AND A GROUP CALLED AMERICAN OVERSIGHT BOTH FILED SUIT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RECORDS >>> THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPOINTED A NEW SEAT TO REPLACE TONY NAVARETTE.

TEHRAN'S APPOINTMENT MEANS THERE IS NOW AN EMPTY SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA IS ONE OF TWO SENATE DEMOCRATIC HOLDOUTS ON THE PRESIDENT'S PASSIVE SPENDING BILL.

SINEMA'S VOTE IS NEEDED TO PASS THE LEGISLATION, BUT SHE HAS SAID SHE WILL NOT SUPPORT A BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL THAT COST THAT MUCH.

>>> SIMONE BILES AND THREE OTHER GYMNASTED TODAY TODAY SAYING THE FBI FAILED TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE DR. NASSAR.

>> TO BE CLEAR -- SORRY .

.

.

>> TAKE YOUR TIME.

>> TO BE CLEAR, I BLAME DR. NASSAR, AND I ALSO BLAME AN ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT ENABLED AND PERPETRATED HIS ABUSE.

USA GYMNASTICS AND THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE KNEW I WAS ABUSED BY THEIR OFFICIAL TEAM DOCTOR, LONG BEFORE I MADE IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

>> AND MCKAYLA MARONEY TESTIFIED ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

TODAY I ASK YOU ALL TO HEAR MY VOICE.

I ASK YOU, PLEASE, DO ALL THAT IS IN YOUR POWER TO ENSURE THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR IGNORING MY INITIAL REPORT, FOR LYING ABOUT MY INITIAL REPORT, AND FOR COVERING UP FOR A CHILD MOLESTER.

>> A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FOUND THIS THAT FBI INDEED FAILED TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATION ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

>>> THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AT THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER WENT DOWN LAST MONTH, BUT NOT BUT MUCH.

THERE WERE 208,000 ENCOUNTERED IN AUGUST, DOWN FROM 212,000 THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

>>> AND A BIG WIN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM WHO DEFEATED YESTERDAY'S RECALL ATTEMPT BY A 2-1 MARGIN.

NEWSOM, A DEMOCRAT WAS SEEN AS SUCCESSFULLY TAGGING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, AS QUOTE, PEDALLING DEADLY CONSPIRACY THEORIES REGARDING COVID MASKS AND VACCINES.

>>> TODAY ARIZONA HAS REPORTED MORE THAN 1 MILLION CASES OF COVID-19 WITH MORE THAN 19,000 DEATHS ON RECORD.

GOVERNOR DUCEY APPOINTED RICHARD CARMONA AS A SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR TO ASSIST WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE SPOKE WITH DR. CARMONA EARLIER TODAY.

DR. CARMONA GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

YOU ARE SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR.

REGARDING COVID, SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU ADVISEINGADVISING?

>> I'M WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COVID HEALTH CHALLENGES.

SO IT'S COVID HEALTH-RELATED STRATEGIES.

>> BUT SOME OF THE ADVICE YOU CAN GIVING THE GOVERNOR CONSTITUTES WHAT?

>> THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD IS WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO EXTINGUISH THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS DISEASE, THIS COVID, AND WE ALL AGREE WE MUST IMPROVE OUR VACCINATION RATES AND WE JUST BE ABLE TO EXPRESS WITH CERTAINTY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO HELP TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ADJACENCIES THERE, SPEAKING WITH HOSPITALS, COMMUNITIES, EMS SYSTEMS, SO TRY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE AS FAR AS INCREASING VACCINATION RATE AND INCREASING PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS.

>> ARE YOU ADVISING FOR OR AGAINST VACCINE MANDATES?

>> I'M STAYING AWAY FROM MANDATES.

I'M REALLY HAPPY YOU MENTIONED THE WORLD MANDATE.

I TOLD THE GOVERNOR, WE HAVE BEEN BATTLING THIS POLITICAL-CHARGED WORD MANDATE FOR TOO LONG.

WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE TO INSPIRE THEM, TO URGE THEM TO GET VACCINATED , MASK WHERE APPROPRIATE, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS AGREED, SO I WAS HAPPY TO JOIN HIM TO TRY TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, SO WE CAN EXTINGUISH THIS TRANSMISSIBILITY AND START TO RETURN TO WHATEVER OUR NEW NORMAL WILL BE.

>> HOW DO YOU GET VACCINATION RATES UP IF THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED BY NOW?

HAS THE MESSAGE NOT BEEN CLEAR?

WE'RE SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF TUCSON, THEIR WORKERS ARE EMPLOYING MUCH HIGHER RATES IN VACCINATION AS SOON AS THE CITY MANDATED IT.

>> AS YOU KNOW, MANDATES ARE A CHALLENGING DIVISIVE WORD TODAY.

IT DEMONSTRATES THE DIVISION WITHIN OUR NATION, AND STATE WHEN WE WORD THAT WORD.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AIRLINES ARE REQUIRING THAT YOU SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION.

BUT IN THE STATE, THE LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT.

MY DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR IS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE.

AND ALSO WORKING WITH INFLUENCER INFLUENCERS AROUND THE STATE, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND UNIVERSITY ATHLETES.

BECAUSE VACCINE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT HEALTH, IT IS ABOUT ECONOMIC HEALTH AS WELL, THE BEST WAY TO STOP THE DEATH, AND HAVE OUR ECONOMY CONTINUE TO GROW IS TO GET EVERYBODY VACCINATED.

WE WANT OUR SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES OPEN.

GET VACCINATED AND INCORPORATE THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION STRATEGIES SNCHLD THE GOVERNOR AND I AGREE ON THAT.

AND I'M STAYING AWAY FROM THE POLITICAL, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T BRING ANY VALUE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE REPRESENT.

>> WHY DID THIS BECOME POLITICAL?

>> WELL, THERE ARE FEW THINGS THAT AREN'T POLITICAL THESE DAYS, BUT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A CHALLENGE OF BEING A DEMOCRACY, THE PERILS OF A DEMOCRACY, AND THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF SOCIETY, IT IS MY JOB TO TRY TO CONVINCE THEM THAT IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST THAT WE COME TOGETHER AS A SINGLE FORCE AGAINST THIS INVISIBLE THREAT, AND EXTINGUISH IT BY TAKING THE VACCINATION AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION STRATEGIES, OTHERWISE THIS VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE, AND WE'LL GET NEW VARIANTS.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, DOCTOR, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS STATE HAS HANDLED THIS SO FAR?

CERTAINLY WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER ALONG THE LINE, TRUE?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, I WORKED WITH THE PRESIDENT TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST UNIVERSITY INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM.

WE HAVE HAD VERY LOW TRANSMISSIBILITY OF DISEASE.

WE MAN AGED TO KEEP ATHLETICS GOING.

OUR CLASSES ARE OPEN, SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT, BUT, AGAIN, THE STATE IS VERY DECIDED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED FOR WHATEVER BAD INFORMATION -- IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE, IT'S CONTRARY TO SCIENCE, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO CONVINCE THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS?

>> THE STRATEGY WE'RE ROLLING OUT NOW IS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, THROUGH PSA'S AND MEETING WITH SYSTEMS, THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, THE REGULAR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND PUT MORE PEOPLE OUT OF WORK.

ARIZONA IS GROWING PRETTY FAST, BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE, SO THAT VACCINE IS OUR TICKET TO OUR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE, LIKE ALLOWING BUSINESSES TO STAY OPEN, AND OUR SCHOOLS TO STAY OPEN.

>> LAST QUESTION, DR. CARMONA, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW FRUSTRATED HEALTH OFFICIALS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE?

SCHOOLS OFFICIALS WANT TO SEE MASKS.

AND HEALTH OFFICIALS WANT TO SEE MASKS.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> YES.

LIKE I SAID.

WHETHER IT'S POLITICAL OR BAD INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD PART OF THE STATE THAT IS NOT COMPLYING; THAT IT IS NOT FEELING IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET A VACCINE, AND USE THESE PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME, AND RATHER THAN GET INVOLVED IN PROTRACTED POLITICAL DEBATES, AS A SURGEON GENERAL, AS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY, MY JOB IS TO STAY FOCUSED AND GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE, AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> DR. CARMONA THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH, PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, ARIZONA CITIES ARE SEEING A SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS.

>>> ARIZONA MUNICIPALITIES ARE FACING A SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MATT GIORDANO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AZ POST, THE ARIZONA PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD, THE ARIZONA PEACE OFFICERS STANDS AND TRAINING BOARD.

MATT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT KIND OF SHORTAGES ARE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE SEEING?

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS.

I HAVE CONNECTIVITY TO SHERIFFS, CHIEFS, AND DIRECTORS ALL OVER THE STATE THAT HIRE POLICE OFFICERS, AND RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT ARE AT THE FORFRONT OF ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND THERE'S NOT ONE SPECIFIC REASON WHY.

I THINK YOU CAN POINT TO A GOOD JOB MARKET.

YOU CAN POINT TO PEOPLE GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT CLIMATE FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

FROM 27 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED, THE SENTIMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY ISN'T THE SAME AS WHEN I STARTED.

AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL YOUNG MEN AND WOMAN WHO SAY, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND BE ON THE NEWS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS DIFFERENTIALS.

>> IT HITS EVERY AREA.

SOME OF YOUR RURAL AREAS HAVE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TIME, BECAUSE THEIR POOL OF APPLICANTS IS SMALLER.

OFTENTIMES MEN AND WOMEN DON'T WANT TO RELOCATE OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER, AND THEY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

>> THERE IS ALSO RETIREMENT GOING ON HERE.

OF THOSE THREE FACTORS, WHICH DO YOU THINK IS PLAYING THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE?

>> I WOULD SAY RETIREMENT MORE SO THAN RETENTION.

YOU STILL DON'T SEE -- WE ARE SEEING IT MORE SO THAN EVER, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE LEAVING AND GOING INTO A DIFFERENT CAREER FIELD.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF RETIREMENTS.

IN ARIZONA -- OR UNDER THE OLD RULES, YOU COULD RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO GO BACK 20 YEARS AND IT WAS A HIRING BOOM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND NOW SENTIMENT, IT'S A VERY TOUGH PROFESSION TO GET INTO NOW AND REMAIN IN.

AND AGAIN, ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE FACTORS, BUT I WOULD SAY RETIREMENT RIGHT NOW IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR US.

WE KEEP A RUNNING TOTAL OF APPOINTMENTS OF NEW OFFICERS BEING HIRED AS WELL AS PEOPLE BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR AGENCIES.

WE HAVE SEEN 200 MORE OFFICERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION THAN WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE INTO THE PROFESSION, AND WE WANT THOSE NUMBERS REVERSED.

MOST AGENCIES ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> WHAT KIND OF OPTIONS OUT THERE?

ARE POLICE DEPARTMENTS REACHING OUT TO WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO TRY TO FILL SOME OF THESE VACANCIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND FROM MY HISTORY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU AND THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHEN I WAS HOSTING EVENTS, THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS HEARD, YOU AREN'T NOT HIRING PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK MOST AGENCIES ARE MAKING PUSHES INROADS TO ADDRESS THAT.

THERE ARE BARRIERS AND CONCERNS, SO THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO IDEAS.

AND LAST YEAR, WE REDID ALL OF OUR RULES REGARDING PREEMPLOYMENT DRUG USE, AND PEOPLE ALWAYS ARGUE WITH ME, YOU ARE LOWERING THE STANDARDS.

AND MY ARGUE.

IS NO, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE MEETING THE STANDARDS OF WHAT A COMMUNITY WANTS IN A POLICE OFFICER.

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE USE OF MARIJUANA.

AND THAT WAS INHIBITING MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME BACK TO ARIZONA NOW, AND WANT TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS, AND OUR RULES DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THAT.

SO WE CHANGED THE RULES NOW, THAT WE CHANGED THE WAY WE LOOK AT PREEMPLOYMENT DRUG USE AS IT RELATES TO MARIJUANA.

BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING OUT ON A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD EXPERIENCED WITH MARIJUANA IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AND DIDN'T MEET OUR MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH IS A SHAME.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED FOR IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES.

>> AND YET, THERE STILL IS THIS SHORTAGE.

SO MATT, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE COMMUNITY.

I WILL TELL YOU THE MEN AND WOMEN PATROLLING YOUR COMMUNITIES ARE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND THEY WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB THEY CAN.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL OF SERVICE, WHEN YOU ARE ON THE CALL YOU ARE ON NOW, AND YOU HAVE 25 OTHER CALLS ON HOLD.

THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN BEING IN UNIFORM, LISTENING TO YOUR RADIO, UNDERSTANDING THAT CALLS ARE GOING UNANSWERED OR BEING DELAYED BECAUSE YOU ARE ON ANOTHER CALL AND YOUR MAN POWER IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO COVER ALL OF THOSE CALLS.

SO I WOULDN'T POINT TO ANY ONE SPECIFIC AREA THAT WE'RE FALLING SHORT, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE A BETTER LEVEL OF SERVICE BY HAVING MORE PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND.

>> AND REAL QUICKLY, HAS THE NATURE OF POLICING CHANGED?

>> OH, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

27 YEARS AGO, I WAS GIVEN A VERY TOUGH JOB AS A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN BECOMES A PEACE OFFICER, AND I WAS ASKED TO DO A LOT.

AND FAST FORWARD, THE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE NOW ARE ASKED TO DO SO MUCH MORE.

WHETHER IT'S TO BE A DE FACTO COUNSELOR, OR PROVIDE LIFE GUIDANCE, WE'RE TASKING THEM WITH SO MUCH MORE.

IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING PROFESSION.

>> MATT GIORDANO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>>> ACCORDING TO THE FBI REPORTS OF HATE CRIMES IN ARIZONA ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS IN NEARLY TWO DECADES.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH CARLOS GALINDO-ELVIRA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS AT CHICANOS POR LA CAUSA, ABOUT THE SURGE IN HATE CRIMES.

>> CARLOS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THE SUBJECT TODAY IS HATE CRIMES.

THE MOST RECENT REPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS COME OUT.

GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

TOUGH SUBJECT TO TALK ABOUT, HATE CRIMES, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN INFORMED COMMUNITY, AND THE HIGHLIGHT IS THE HIGHEST INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES IN 12 YEARS, WITH MOST CRIMES IMPACTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS ALSO A HEIGHTENED LEVEL AGAINST LATINOS, AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY, AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

>> AND THIS IS TRUE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND FOR ARIZONA.

>> YES.

>> AND FOR ARIZONA THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES REPORTED SINCE 2001?

>> IT IS QUITE THE SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THERE'S MORE HATEFUL RHETORIC, OF COURSE THERE WAS AN AWARENESS BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH BLACK LIVES MATTERS MOVEMENT, YOU SEE IT WAS RIPE FOR HATE CRIMES TO INCREASE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS OKAY, BECAUSE ONE HATE CRIME IS ONE TOO MANY.

>> AND ARIZONA BARES ONE OF THE SAD DISTINCTIONSING OF BEING ONE OF THE FIRST KILLING OF A SIKH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IT CAN LEAD TO ONE OF THE MOST FORTUNATE SITUATIONS, NOT ONLY FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF ARIZONA, BECAUSE IT IS A STRIKE AGAINST OUR STATE IN TERMS OF NOT BEING -- ACCEPTING OF THIS TYPE OF RELIGION, OR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PRACTICE IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IN THE REPORTS THAT WHILE THERE HAS BEEN WIDE-SPREAD DISCUSSION OF HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS, THE NUMBERS IN ARIZONA DIDN'T REFLECT THAT KIND OF INCREASE?

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

WE ARE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS CONTINUALLY SPOKEN UP AGAINST HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT WAS UNFAIR AND UNCALLED FOR.

THEY ARE VALUABLED MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED AS SUCH.

>> THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES OF REPORTING AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS SUP -- REPORT, AND THIS YEAR THERE WAS A DECREASE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ONLY 82 OUT OF 125 REPORTS, AND LAST YEAR IT WAS ONLY 91.

SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT DROP.

IT COULD BE A TRAINING ISSUE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE BEST PICTURE POSSIBLE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND STATE TO KNOW THE FACTS ON THE GROUND ABOUT HATE CRIMES, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO COMBAT HATE CRIMES IN ARIZONA AND NATIONWIDE.

>> THERE ARE STEPS THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO REPORT AS REQUIRED?

>> WE NEED TO EMPLOY COALITIONS OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE, TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS TO DO THE REPORTING, AND IF THERE IS A TRAINING ISSUE, THEN POINT THAT OUT, AND ASK FOR THEM TO SEEK OUT THAT ASSISTANCE AND THAT APPROPRIATION, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING -- A BASELINE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH HATE CRIMES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T THINK WE COVERED SPECIFICALLY WAS THE NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

NATIONALLY IT IS OVER 7700?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THEY SEEM LIKE SMALL NUMBERS WHEN YOU THINK, MAYBE, IN TERMS OF THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS, BUT, AGAIN, ONE HATE CRIME IS ONE HATE CRIME TOO MANY, AND WE HAVE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT HATE CRIMES ARE MESSAGE CRIMES.

IT'S NOT JUST THE VICTIM THAT IS VICTIMIZED, IT IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT IS VICTIMIZED.

AND THEY GET THE MESSAGE WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE.

YOU ARE NOT ACCEPTED HERE.

>> IS THERE CONCERN THAT WITH THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OR COMMEMORATION WOULD BE BETTER DESCRIPTION OF 9/11, AND THE RECENT EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN THAT WE MAY SEE A RESURGENCE OF HATE CRIMES RELATED TO THAT PART OF THE WORLD?

>> I CAN'T DIRECTLY SPEAK TO THAT.

I CAN SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE FOR ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT A WHOLE COMMUNITY IS NOT GUILTY OF THE CRIMES OF ONE OR OF A DOZEN, AND 9/11 WAS A HORRIFIC MOMENT IN OUR AMERICAN HISTORY, A TRAGIC MOMENT, BUT WE CANNOT LIE BLAME ON ALL MUSLIMS FOR THAT TERRORIST ACTIVITY.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO FORM COALITIONS, ALLIANCES, FRIENDSHIPS WITH OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO ACHIEVE A KINDER SOCIETY, WHERE HATE IS NOT ACCEPTED OR TOLERATED.

>> CARLOS GALINDO-ELVIRA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS AT CHICANOS POR LA CAUSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE LATER ON COURT CHALLENGES REGARDING THE REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION BALLOTS.

♪♪