FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION  AND THE NEEPER NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMMING FUND FOR KNME-TV.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, GEARING UP FOR A RETURN TO THE SESSION BY  DIVING DEEP INTO BUDGET PROPOSALS THAT WOULD  SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST STATE SPENDING.

Rasmussen: FAITH IS A KIND OF WAY OF SAYING YES TO LIFE,  IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING.

Gene: A LOOK INSIDE A  UNIQUE MINDSET MESHING FAITH AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE  POSITIVES THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE AWAY.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

A WARNING FROM HOSPITAL  SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE AS THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE  OMICRON VARIANT SPREADS.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL  EXPLORES HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND.

PLUS A NEW BUDGET PLAN IS ON THE TABLE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SOME IDEAS BUT SO TO HER COLLEAGUES IN  THE LEGISLATURE.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL BREAK DOWN WHAT YOU NEED KNOW  AND WE ARE TALKING WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP ABOUT WHAT  LAWMAKERS WANT TO SEE COME OUT OF THE 2022 SESSION.

HERE IS CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND AND SENATE PRESIDENT  PRO TEM MIMI STEWART.

Gwyneth: SENATOR STEWART,  PROPOSALS FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR BOTH WANT TO  INCREASE SPENDING ON EDUCATION BY ABOUT 400 MILLION-DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, IN A STATE WHERE OUR REVENUE GOES UP AND DOWN SO  MUCH, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT AND SAFE TO MAKE THIS BIG BUMP  NOW?

Stewart: WELL, GWYNETH,  FIRST ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HUGE STAFFING PROBLEM NOW IN OUR  PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE ARE DOWN   OVER 1000 TEACHERS THIS YEAR.

SO, THINK ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM  SUBSTITUTES BEING IN CLASSROOMS.

SO, WE HAVE GOT TO INCREASE PAY FOR TEACHERS.

EVERY STATE AROUND US IS DOING THE SAME THING.

SO, EVERY TIME WE THINK WE ARE BEING COMPETITIVE, THEY BEAT  US ON THAT.

SO, IT IS A BOLD PROJECT FROM  THE GOVERNOR TO INCREASE THESE THREE TIERS.

WE HAVE TIER 1 FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS AND TIER 2 FOR KIND  OF WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND SIX YEARS OR SO AND YOU DON'T  HAVE YOUR MASTERS YET, AND THEN YOUR THIRD TIER FOR  MASTERS OR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION.

CURRENTLY, THOSE MINIMUMS ARE AT 40,000, 50,000 AND 60,000  AND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS TO MOVE THEM UP $10,000.

SO, WE HAVE GOT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS.

YOU KNOW, GWYNETH, WE ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH  STATE EMPLOYEES.

WE JUST DON'T PAY ENOUGH.

WE HAVE LOOKED FOR A BROADBAND ENGINEER TO KICK US OFF FOR  OUR NEW BROADBAND FUNDING THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FROM THE STATE AND WE CAN'T HIRE  ANYBODY BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY ENOUGH.

OUR PAY BAND IS 75,000 FOR A BROADBAND ENGINEER.

THAT IS PATHETIC.

SO, WE ARE ON A MISSION TO  INCREASE OUR SALARIES STATE-WIDE AND TO PUT MONEY  INTO EDUCATION SO WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT QUALIFIED TEACHER IN  EVERY CLASSROOM AND THAT TAKES FUNDING AND, YES, WE HAVE THIS  CYCLE OF THE OIL AND GAS FUNDING BUT WE STILL HAVE TO  DO IT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY GOOD  RESERVES SO THAT IF WE GO THROUGH A DOWNTURN, WHICH WE  WILL, THAT IS THE NATURE OF THAT FUNDING,   WE'LL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK, BUT RIGHT NOW  WHILE WE HAVE THIS MONEY, WE HAVE GOT TO INVEST IN OUR  EDUCATORS.

Gwyneth: HOW IS THE MONEY  SPLIT UP?

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?

I MEAN THERE IS MONEY IN THERE FOR EARLY EDUCATION, AM I  RIGHT?

Stewart: YES.

SO, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL AND ALSO OUR PROPOSAL IS TO DO  A 7% ACROSS THE BOARD PAY INCREASE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES  AND EDUCATORS.

EVERYONE IN THE EDUCATION  COMMUNITY.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT IS THE  THREE-TIER LICENSURE.

SO 7% FOR ALL STATE WORKERS  AND EDUCATORS IS ABOUT $300 MILLION AND ON TOP OF  THAT IS THEN THE TIER MOVEMENTS SO THE 400 MILLION  IS JUST FOR PARTLY THOSE SALARIES, BUT WE HAVE ALSO  INCREASED FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS CALLED THE TRIBAL  REMEDY WHERE OUR TRIBES WANT MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR  EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT  OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.

WE ARE INCREASING THE AMOUNT WE HAVE FOR TEACHER LOAN  REPAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND OUR GROW-YOUR-OWN PROGRAM  WHICH TRIES TO FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS TEACHERS AND MORE  HISPANIC TEACHERS.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB  OF HAVING OUR TEACHERS REFLECT OUR STUDENTS.

STUDENTS DO BETTER WHEN THEY ARE TAUGHT BY SOMEONE WHO THEY  RECOGNIZE.

AND SO WE ARE REALLY ON A PUSH  TO TRY TO DO THAT.

IT IS A HUGE BUMP.

IT IS OVER A 12% INCREASE IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT KIND OF INCREASE IN ANY OF MY 28 YEARS  THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE.

Gwyneth: SO THIS SESSION IS  MOSTLY ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT THERE ARE A FEW OTHER TOPICS.

WE HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THAT?

Stewart: THE GOVERNOR ALSO IS PROPOSING HER CLEAN FIELD  STANDARD BILL AGAIN.

I AM CARRYING THAT FOR HER.

THAT PROPOSES TO LOWER THE CARBON INTENSITY OF OUR  TRANSPORTATION FUEL, LOWERING THAT OVER 2018 STANDARDS BY  20% BY 2030 AND 30% BY 2040.

THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO PUTTING  ON OR GIVING A MESSAGE TO AN ELECTION BILL THAT WILL JUST  ENSURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS WORK WELL.

WE CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT STUFF DURING COVID BY HAVING  PEOPLE -- GIVING PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO MAIL IN BALLOTS.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PROCESS IS GOOD, GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE  TO JUST BE ON A PERMANENT ABSENTEE BALLOT LIST SO YOU  DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REQUEST IT.

IT ALWAYS COMES TO YOUR HOME.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION  WORKS WELL.

THERE IS SOME OTHER THINGS  THAT SHE IS PROPOSING AROUND CRIME AND OUR NEW STATE REP,  PAMELYA HERNDON, HAS A GREAT BILL ON BEHALF OF BENNY  HARGROVE WHO WAS THE 13-YEAR-OLD WASHINGTON MIDDLE  SCHOOL STUDENT THAT WAS KILLED SO THAT IS A SAFE STORAGE  BILL.

HOPEFULLY WE WON'T DO TOO MANY  THINGS BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO  LIST.

WE HAVE SOME MUCH MONEY.

WE  ARE PUTTING MONEY IN ROADS AND INTO BROADBAND.

INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE HUGE MONEY GOING INTO  ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE MORE OUTDOOR  RECREATION, TO PROMOTE MORE ABILITY OF CITIES AND COUNTIES  AROUND THE STATE TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR RECREATION.

Gwyneth: THANK YOU FOR THIS QUICK PREVIEW AND WE ARE GOING  TO FOLLOW UP ON A BUNCH OF THESE TOPICS DURING THIS  SESSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Stewart: THANK YOU GWYNETH.

Gene:   WELCOME TO EVERYONE ON OUR PANEL THIS WEEK.

STARTING WITH MICHAEL BIRD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE  AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

OR FRIEND TOM GARRITY OF THE GARRITY PUBLIC RELATIONS  GROUP.

AND MARTHA BURK, POLITICAL  PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE,  THE SAVVY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO POLITICS, POWER AND THE CHANGE  WE NEED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

NOW, BUDGET TALK HAS MOVED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AHEAD OF  THE START OF THE SESSION AND IT SEEMS BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND  LEGISLATURE HAS SIMILAR PRIORITIES.

PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND  PUBLIC SAFETY ARE ALL IN FOR A BOOST, IF EITHER OF THESE  PLANS PASS.

AND WRAPPED UP IN ALMOST ALL  ITEMS ARE PAY RAISES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

WHETHER IT  BE TEACHERS, POLICE, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS.

LET'S START THERE.

GIVEN THE STRESSES OF THE  PANDEMIC, MICHAEL, IS IT ABOUT TIME TO GIVE THESE FOLKS SOME  EXTRA COMPENSATION?

Michael: HOW FAR BACK DO YOU WANT TO GO?

IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THIS LACK OF INVESTMENT.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP TO GET TO  PAR.

THAT IS RIGHT.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF THERE, MICHAEL.

Michael: WHEN I LOOK AT IT FROM ANY LENS HERE IN NEW  MEXICO, BE IT EDUCATION, BE IT PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH,  WHICH I AM FAMILIAR WITH, NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT NATIONALLY,  THERE HAS NOT BEEN THE KIND OF INVESTMENT.

WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS  VIABLE BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT INVESTMENT.

WE, IN FACT, DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS  NATION AND COVID-19 HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT.

WE ALSO LACK EQUITY IN TERMS OF FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,  BE THEY NATIVE, BE THEY HISPANIC, MEXICAN-AMERICAN OR  AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO HAS BEEN  BEARING THE BURDEN OF THIS VIRUS AND IT IS OUR  COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT RISK.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NORMAL.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABNORMAL  FOR US AND THIS HAS JUST HIGHLIGHTED THAT AND NOW OTHER  PEOPLE, OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE SOME  OF THE PAIN THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HISTORICALLY FOR  QUITE SOME TIME.

SO, IF YOU DO NOT INVEST IN  INFRASTRUCTURE AND DO NOT INVEST IN YOUR PEOPLE THIS IS  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T.

IT'S HIGH TIME WE INVEST.

Gene: MARTHA, SPEAKING OF INVESTMENT, LOOK AT EDUCATION  AND THESE PROPOSALS.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE  LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE CALLED FOR NEARLY FOUR BILLION  DOLLAR BOOST TO PUBLIC ED AND NEARLY ONE BILLION TOWARDS  HIGHER ED.

BIG CHUNK OF THE MONEY FOR  PUBLIC ED, WOULD GO TO TEACHER PAY INCREASES AS WE HAVE ALL  HEARD ABOUT IN THE NEWS HERE, THE IDEA BEING THIS WOULD  ATTRACT AND RETAIN EDUCATORS.

IS THAT A VIABLE PLAN GOING  IN?

Martha: I THINK THAT IT IS  SORT OF VIABLE, GENE.

WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING FORWARD  IS THEY WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH TEXAS, WHICH THEY WILL  BE, BECAUSE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS NOT MEETING  THIS YEAR.

SO THEIR SALARIES RIGHT NOW  ARE IN THE 44, 45,000 RANGE AND THE PROPOSAL IS FOR 50.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOU TO CROSS  THE BORDER, UPROOT YOUR LIFE AND COME UP TO NEW MEXICO.

FOR ME, I WOULD, BECAUSE TEXAS IS MY NATIVE STATE BUT THERE  IS A LOT NOT TO LIKE.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO TALK A  LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT TEACHER PAY RAISE AND MY LENS  IS A GENDER LENS.

MOST OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATOR IN  THE STATE AND NATIONALLY ARE WOMEN.

WOMEN DO NOT MAKE THE MONEY MEN MAKE IN MOST FIELDS.

THEY PROBABLY DO IN EDUCATION BUT IT IS STILL VERY LOW.

SO IF WE CAN RAISE WOMEN UP, WE CAN RAISE FAMILIES UP.

AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THE  EDUCATION SALARIES AND MINIMUM WAGE.

WE HAVE THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE STATE WORKERS MINIMUM TO  $15 AN HOUR.

THAT IS THE STATE IS NO  EXCEPTION, THE MAJORITY OF MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS ARE  FEMALE, ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE  MORE THING IN THE BUDGET WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS  THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

WHY?

BECAUSE HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE HAD TO STAY HOME DURING COVID,  QUIT A JOB BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHILD CARE.

THERE IS NO EARLY CHILDHOOD ED.

Edmund: AND IF WE HAVE THAT WOMEN COULD GO BACK TO WORK  AND NATURALLY IT HELPS THE KIDS.

IT GIVES THEM A HEAD START.

THERE IS A REASON THAT PROGRAM  IS NAMED HEAD START.

IT IS A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

THE COMPETING PROPOSALS, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE THAT IN  THE PARK.

Gene: THEY REALLY AREN'T,  AND THE TEACHER PAY THING, TOM, THE LFC WANTS 51,000 TO  START, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, 50,000.

IT IS NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BUT INTERESTING POINTS THERE  FROM MARTHA, WE HAVE GOT OVER 1000 TEACHER VACANCIES  STATE-WIDE.

IT HAS TO BE PARTLY MONEY,  DOESN'T IT?

Tom: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE SEEN THE BIG QUIT OR RESIGNATION TAKE HOLD IN THE  PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

REALLY INCREASING SALARIES, AND I WOULD SAY THAT 7% IS  NICE, BUT IT IS NOT QUITE ENOUGH, MAYBE 10% FOR  TEACHERS, 7% FOR ALL OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR NEEDS TO ACTUALLY GET UP TO  SPEED WITH TRYING TO MAKE JOBS MORE COMPETITIVE FROM A  FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.

YES, THEY HAVE THE GREAT RETIREMENT  PROGRAMS AND SUCH BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,  REALLY HITTING THE TEACHER PAY RAISES AT THIS POINT AND PAY  RAISES FOR ALL EDUCATORS IS A GOOD FIRST STEP.

THE OTHER THING THAT I LIKE THAT I AM SEEING IS WHAT I AM  SEEING IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARENA AND JUST BY  QUICK DISCLOSURE, MY FIRM DOES  WORK IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARENA, AND SO WITH  THAT SAID, MY THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN, BUT WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE  TO SAY IS A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE LOCAL ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND SO I THINK THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO  SEE THE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO ATTRACT OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES  BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY TO REALLY SUPPORT THOSE COMPANIES  WHO ARE ALREADY HERE, TO HELP THEM GROW, MAYBE HELP THEM  JUST GET ONE MORE JOB TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE  FUNDING TO HIRE ONE MORE PERSON AT A COMPETITIVE WAGE,  I THINK THAT COULD DO A LOT TO REALLY INCREASE NEW MEXICO'S  COMPETITIVENESS.

Gene: MICHAEL, ANOTHER  ISSUE, OF COURSE, CRIME IS BIG ON THE DOCKET FOR EVERYBODY  STARTING HERE ON THE 18TH.

HOWEVER, SAME ISSUE.

IS IT A MONEY PROBLEM?

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND TO  ATTRACT MORE FOLKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENTS  FOR COPS ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

IS IT JUST A MONEY ISSUE OR IS  SOMETHING ELSE AFOOT HERE?

Michael: I WANT TO PICK UP  ON MARTHA'S GENDER POINT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

AND ONE IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE  WOMEN, BE IT NURSES OR IN MANY OF THE OTHER FIELDS AND MORE  AND MORE WOMEN DOCTORS, SO THAT IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE  THERE IS A REAL NEED TO EMPHASIZE AND FOCUS ON WOMEN  AND SUPPORTING THEM IN WHATEVER WAYS WE CAN.

IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IT IS PRETTY CLEAR, I THINK, THAT WE  DO NEED MORE -- TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY  AND POLICE AND THAT ARENA, BUT, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE  THING IS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE CAUSES FOR THE  CRIME AND THOSE REALLY ARE MORE UPSTREAM THAN DOWNSTREAM  IN TERMS OF WHAT IS REALLY DRIVING THE CRIME RATE AND AT  LEAST IN MY UNDERSTANDING A BIG PART OF IT IS DRUGS AND  POVERTY AND FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE EDUCATION AND A MEANS TO  MAKE A LIVING.

AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THE  FAMILY OF ORIGIN IN MY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU EITHER  HAVE FUNCTION -- YOU HAVE FUNCTIONAL -- YOU HAVE  FUNCTIONAL FAMILIES THAT PRODUCE THEN FUNCTIONAL  CHILDREN WHO CAN READ, WRITE  AND SEEKING EMPLOYED AND WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE VERSUS THOSE  FAMILIES THAT HAVE IMPACTED IN A NEGATIVE AND ADVERSE WAY  THAT LEADS THEM ON A COURSE THAT IS, IN FACT, I THINK,  MORE TEND TO ABUSE DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND THEN ENGAGE IN  CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

I THINK THAT IS A PIECE OF IT,  BUT YOU HAVE TO EMPHASIZE MORE IN THE WAY OF PREVENTION AND  MORE IN LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES  AND COMMUNITIES.

Gene: MARTHA, ANY TIME YOU  SEE BIG SPENDING NUMBERS LIKE YOU SEE HERE, YOU EXPECT SOME  BACKLASH FROM CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP.

THAT IS THE CASE WITH THESE TWO DEMOCRATIC BUDGET  PROPOSALS.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES  TOWNSEND, YOU PROBABLY READ IN THE JOURNAL, SAID HE WOULD  LIKE TO SEE THE SURPLUS USED FOR MORE TAX BREAKS FOR  SENIORS AND VETERANS INSTEAD OF SPENDING.

IS THERE A LEGITIMATE CONCERN HERE OF THE PROPOSAL OF A  BILLION DOLLAR GENERAL FUNDING INCREASE IS TOO MUCH, TOO  FAST?

Martha: NO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THE MONEY IS THERE, GENE,  AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN CONSERVATIVES SAY TAX BREAKS  TO ME, A RED FLAG GOES UP.

I THINK (INAUDIBLE) VETERANS  IS THE CONCERN.

I THINK IT IS THE CORPORATIONS AND THE VERY  WEALTHY ALREADY.

THAT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN THE  POSITION.

IT IS PROBABLY AT THE CORE OF  THE, LET'S FRONT IT WITH THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS, BUT  REALLY WE NEED TAX BREAKS FOR THE CORPORATIONS.

I DO WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY ON THE POLICE OR THE POLICE  OFFICER RAISES, I DID LOOK UP WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF  COMPETING WITH OUR BORDER STATES AND WE ARE PRETTY FAR  BEHIND.

WE ARE 34TH IN THE NATIONALLY.

COLORADO TO OUR NORTH IS EIGHTH IN SALARIES.

THEY HAVE  NOT QUITE DOUBLE A QUARTER MORE THAN WE DO BUT   TEXAS IS AHEAD OF US, ARIZONA.

ONLY  ONE NOT IS OKLAHOMA AND THAT IS THAT LITTLE BITTY BORDER AT  THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE.

SO WE ARE BEHIND OUR NEIGHBORS  AND I THINK WE COULD LOSE SOME GOOD OFFICERS IF WE DON'T DO  SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

Gene: I APPRECIATE YOU  SAYING THAT.

THAT IS HAPPENING.

Tom: ON SOME PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION, YES, WE DEFINITELY  NEED TO SUPPLY MORE SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS  AS FAR AS FROM THE FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE AND I REALLY  APPRECIATE WHAT MICHAEL WAS SHARING ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH.

MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THAT.

THE THIRD ELEMENT THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE FUNDED THAT THE  LAST TWO GOVERNORS HAVE NOT FUNDED APPROPRIATELY IS THE  COURTS AND JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO  COMPLETE THE SYSTEM AND WITHOUT FUNDING THE COURTS AND  JUSTICE, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS PROVIDING PAY RAISES, WHICH IS  A GOOD AND NEEDED THING, BUT IT IS NOT COMPLETING THE CYCLE  IN FIXING THE ISSUES.

Gene: LAWMAKERS WILL HEAR  THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES FOR THE BUDGET AND THE REST OF  2022 DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS KICKING OFF A  SESSION ON TUESDAY.

YOU CAN CATCH A LIVE STREAM OF  HER SPEECH ON THE NMPBS WEBSITE OR ON AIR NEXT  WEDNESDAY AT 4:00 P.M.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, I CAUGHT UP  WITH FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALONZO  BALDONADO WHO RECENTLY STEPPED DOWN AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE  IN OFFICE.

WE TALKED ABOUT HIS  PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORK AHEAD FOR HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES  INCLUDING ON THE ONGOING CRIME EPIDEMIC.

IN YOUR VIEW, NOW THAT YOU ARE OUT OF IT, WHERE HAVE WE GONE  WRONG ON CRIME HERE FROM A LEGISLATIVE POINT OF VIEW?

OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T GET IN PEOPLES' HOMES AND CREATE  STABLE FAMILIES BUT AS A LEGISLATOR HAVE WE MISSED  SOMETHING HERE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING CRIME?

Baldonado: I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB FOCUSING ON  THAT BUNCH OF CRIMINALS THAT ARE OUT THERE CAUSING THE MOST  HAVOC, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE A CORE GROUP OF  PEOPLE OUT THERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

THE POLICING AGENCIES THEY KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE,  THEY RUN ACROSS THEM ON THE STREETS AND KNOW THE  REPUTATIONS AND HEAR THINGS.

ONE THING HAS FRUSTRATED ME IS  BAIL REFORM.

WE DID ALL THAT CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT AND IN MY ESTIMATION THE SUPREME COURT SOLD A BAG  OF GOODS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND -- THEY DID AN END  AROUND AND DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH IT.

WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS LETTING FOLKS OUT OF A HOLDING  SITUATION, WHETHER THEY ARE AWAITING TRIAL OR WHATEVER IT  MAY BE, OBVIOUSLY THE PERSON WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD THAT  GETS BUSTED FOR SHOPLIFTING A BAG OF WHEAT FLOUR, WHATEVER  IT MAY BE, WE GET THAT, BUT THE GUY WITH THE LONG WRAP  SHEET AND IS BEING ACCUSED OF A RAPE OR MURDER, THAT  INDIVIDUAL PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE OUT ON THE STREET, GUYS.

AND WE GO TO THE SITUATION.

WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THE NEWS.

WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE A VALENCIA COUNTY, ONE MAN THAT  GREW UP IN VALENCIA COUNTY WAS MURDERED BY SOMEONE WHO WAS  OUT ON PRETRIAL RELEASE ON AN ANKLE MONITOR.

AND THIS WAS BIG NEWS AND DA TORREZ AND EVERYBODY WAS  TALKING ABOUT IT.

WELL, HOW FOOLISH ARE WE TO  THINK THAT AN INDIVIDUAL ON AN ANKLE BRACELET, WE ARE NOT  MONITORING THEM.

THERE IS NOT A SWAT TEAM  SITTING IN A ROOM WAITING FOR THE ALARM TO GO OFF.

OH, THIS GUY BROKE HIS PERIMETER, WE ARE GOING TO GET  HIM.

THAT IS NOT HOW THAT WORKS.

BASICALLY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS IF SOMEBODY WENT OUT OF  THEIR DESIGNATED AREAS, THE PAROLE OFFICERS, WHOMEVER IS  MONITORING, IN THE MORNING GETS A REPORT THAT SAYS JOE  SCHMO WAS BEING NAUGHTY LAST NIGHT.

THE CRIME HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED IF HE WAS OUT TO DO  A CRIME.

IT IS TOO LATE.

THE ANKLE BRACELET MONITOR WORKS FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS  SERVED THEIR TIME AND HAS GONE INTO A PAROLE SITUATION WHERE  THEY GET TO GO TO WORK, VISIT MOM, WHEREVER, AND THEY ARE  TRYING TO REACCLIMATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOSE.

BUT THE PRETRIAL, THEY ARE  BEING ACCUSED OF SOMETHING.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE WHAT  WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUS.

I KNOW THAT THE OTHER SIDE OF  THE AISLE WILL PROBABLY TRY TO PROPOSE A LOT OF GUN CONTROL  TYPE SOLUTIONS TO CRIME IN ALBUQUERQUE AND AT THE END OF  THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN A CRIMINAL GETS THEIR HANDS ON A  FIREARM OR WEAPON THAT IS DEADLY IN NATURE, 99% OF THE  TIME THAT IS COMING THROUGH SOME ILLEGAL MEANS NOT COMING  THROUGH SOMEONE WHO WENT DOWN TO SPORTSMAN'S AND PURCHASED A  FIREARM TO GO SPORTING WITH THEIR KIDS OR WHATEVER IT MAY  BE.

WE NEED TO STOP ATTACKING THE  PART OF THE POPULATION THAT IS DOING IT RIGHT AND START  FOCUSING ON THOSE PEOPLE WE KNOW ARE COMMITTING SERIOUS  CRIMES AND CREATING HAVOC FOR OUR POPULATIONS.

Gene: IS IT A MONEY ISSUE IN YOUR VIEW, REPRESENTATIVE?

I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE IS COMMITTING A LOT OF  RESOURCES FINANCIALLY TO THIS EFFORT.

IS THAT PART OF THE ISSUE HERE?

Baldonado: PART OF THE ISSUE IS WE CAN THROW AS MUCH  MONEY -- SAY WE WANT TO HIRE 500 MORE APD OFFICERS.

WE NEED TO QUIT DEMORALIZING THEM AND DEMONIZING THEM AND  TELLING THEM THEY ARE DOING WRONG.

I KNOW A LOT OF FRIENDS OF MINE THAT HAVE BEEN APD THAT  ARE AT THE SHORT END OF THEIR CAREER AND HAVE STEPPED OUT  EARLIER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD.

THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE  FOR RETIREMENT, AND THEY ARE, I AM DONE.

I AM NOT GOING TO SUBJECT MYSELF TO THE LIABILITY.

WE HAD HOUSE BILL 4 LAST YEAR, QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, I AM  SORRY.

SO, YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER DOING THEIR JOB,  TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT, TRYING TO PROTECT CITIZENS OR  PROPERTY OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, AND SOMETHING GOES AWRY  AND THEY HAVE TO USE FORCE, USE DEADLY FORCE, LET'S STOP  DEMONIZING THESE PEOPLE AND LET THEM COME TO WORK AND KNOW  WE ARE BEHIND THEM.

OBVIOUSLY, THE ONE OFF  SITUATION, THERE IS BAD REAL ESTATE BROKERS, THERE IS BAD  IN EVERY INDUSTRY.

AND SO THERE IS SOME COPS  RUNNING AROUND THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY  CAN, BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS, NOT THE  ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, NOT THE ONE APPLE SPOILING THE WHOLE  BUNCH.

Gene: WHEN I MENTIONED  MONEY IS FLOATING AROUND, THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT NOT  SPECIFICALLY, THIS WILL COME OUT AS TIME GOES ON, BUT MONEY  FOR FAMILIES, MONEY FOR LACK OF BETTER TERM HELP CREATE  MORE COHESIVE SOLID FAMILY STRUCTURES WHICH NO ONE WOULD  DISAGREE WITH IS THE START OF EVERYTHING.

IT STARTS THERE AND THAT IS DECIDEDLY LEFTY IDEA.

DO YOU  THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY REPUBLICANS ON YOUR SIDE OF  THE AISLE WITH REPUBLICANS MIGHT COME A STEP TOWARDS THAT  IN THINKING ABOUT MONIES GOING TOWARDS THINGS THAT STABILIZE  FAMILIES AND SUCH.

Baldonado: I THINK IF YOU  PRESENT THAT IN A WAY SO THE REPUBLICANS OR CONSERVATIVE,  FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE INDIVIDUAL, WHERE YOU HAVE A  GOOD PLAN HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND HOW IT EXACTLY IS  DELIVERED, YOU TAKE OUT A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS OUT.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE PERMANENT LAND GRANT FUND  WHICH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY  TRIED TO PASS THAT FOR ALL THE YEARS I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND  ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IT WAS STOPPED.

IT FINALLY PASSED THIS YEAR.

JOHN ARTHUR SMITH IN THE  SENATE HELPED TO BE THAT BACKSTOP SO YOU HAVE THAT  EXTRA MONEY.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR  REPUBLICANS IN THAT WASN'T THAT WE WERE TRYING TO HELP  CHILDREN, IT WAS MORE LIKE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAND THIS  MONEY OVER TO, YOU KNOW, X, Y, Z NONPROFITS, WHOEVER IS OUT  THERE, AND IT IS LIKE WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IS LIKE 8.3 BILLION,  I THINK, IS A BILLION MORE THAN WE SPENT LAST YEAR AND  TWO BILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE SPENT UNDER GOVERNOR MARTINEZ'  ADMINISTRATION.

ARE WE REALLY MAKING A  DIFFERENCE WITH IT AND TIME TELLS ON THAT, BUT PEOPLE  WITHIN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY SOMETIMES WILL TELL YOU, IT IS  NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY, IT IS ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER IT AND  WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THAT MONEY.

Gene: YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH FORMER  REPRESENTATIVE BALDONADO ON OUR WEBSITE,  NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG.

ALSO, WE SHOULD MENTION THE  VALENCIA COUNTY COMMISSION NAMED BRIAN BACA AS  MR. BALDONADO'S ROUNDHOUSE REPLACEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK,  A LOS LUNAS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BACA WILL  SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF MR. BALDONADO'S TERM AND CAN  RUN FOR THE SEAT IN THIS YEAR'S NOVEMBER ELECTION.

COVID REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN AROUND THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

WE TOLD YOU LAST WEEK THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THE  NEW VARIANT IS THREE TIMES MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN DELTA.

IT HAS A LOWER HOSPITALIZATION RATE BUT WITH SO MANY MORE  PEOPLE EXPECTED TO CATCH IT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,  HOSPITALS ARE FEELING THE IMPACT.

NEW MEXICO'S TWO LARGEST HEALTH SYSTEMS HELD A JOINT  BRIEFING EARLIER THIS WEEK TO LAY OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY  EXPECT THE OMICRON SURGE TO IMPACT THEIR STAFF IN THE NEXT  COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THOSE HEALTHCARE LEADERS ARE  WARNING, THIS SURGE WILL IMPACT EMERGENCY ROOM WAIT  TIMES AND THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE WITH MINOR TO MODERATE  ISSUES TO CALL A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE HEADING TO  THE ER.

NOW, HOW DISHEARTENS IS IT TO  HEAR THESE WARNINGS YET AGAIN?

Michael: WELL, I THINK  ANYBODY WHO IS AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF VIRUSES KNOWS THIS  IS A LONG-TERM -- THIS IS NOT -- THERE IS NO QUICK FIX  AND ANY OPPORTUNITY WE MIGHT HAVE HAD TO MINIMIZE THE  IMPACT OF COVID-19, THAT TIME PASSED A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK  WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY HAD WE REALLY  EMPHASIZED VACCINATIONS EARLY ON AND MADE A REAL EFFORT TO  ENSURE THAT DID TAKE PLACE.

BUT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE AT  RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS A LONG-TERM -- VIRUSES ARE  OUT THERE.

WE HAVE ALTERED THE  ENVIRONMENT IN SO MANY WAYS THAT IS IMPACTING THE INCREASE  OF VIRUSES AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION FROM ACROSS THE  GLOBE.

THAT IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO  THIS POINT, AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IN NEW MEXICO WE HAD  THE HIGHEST NOVEMBER NUMBER OF DEATHS WERE 4,246 CASES AND  THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER 2020.

THAT WAS HIGH OF 3,675.

SO,  WE HAVE HAD THAT MANY DEATHS AND I THINK THE OTHER THING  THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED IS THAT THERE ARE  TWO POPULATIONS THAT ARE REALLY IMPACTED THAT IS  REFLECTED IN THIS DEATH RATE.

THAT IS SENIORS AND PEOPLE  WITH CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, OR UNDERLYING  CONDITIONS.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO REFRAME AND WATCH  OUR LANGUAGE SOMETIMES BECAUSE  TO ME WHAT UNDERLYING CONDITIONS MEANS TO ME IS  PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ETHNIC -- COME FROM  ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS THE UNDERLYING  CONDITION AND POVERTY IS AN UNDERLYING CONDITION.

IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE CONDITION ITSELF BEING  DIABETIC, OVERWEIGHT.

WHAT REALLY UNDERLIES THOSE -- WHAT  ARE THE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OFTENTIMES  LEAD PEOPLE TO THOSE CONDITIONS?

AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

THE ENVIRONMENT; WHAT IS GOING  ON, WHAT SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DO WE HAVE TO  PROMOTE HEALTH VERSUS ILLNESS.

Gene: IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT  DAILY CASE COUNT UPDATES YOU HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT  SPIKE IN THE RECENT WEEKS FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS.

SOME OF THE 24-HOUR PERIOD REPORTING 3,000 NEW CASES.

SUPER HIGH NUMBERS, MICHAEL MENTIONED IT AS WELL.

HERE IS MY QUESTION, IS IT TIME TO REFRAME WHAT THEY  ACTUALLY MEAN IN TERMS OF IMPACT BECAUSE THAT IS SORT OF  A QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

Tom: ON THE HOLIDAYS, IN  GENERAL, IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT.

YOU NEED TO BE  ABLE TO CONNECT SAFELY AND IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

WHEN  YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, AND, YES, THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY  QUITE PHENOMENAL, BUT 92% OF THE FATALITIES THAT MICHAEL  HAD REFERENCED ARE UNVACCINATED.

THEY ALSO MAKE UP 60% OF THE OVERALL MEDICAL CASES.

AND 83% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE LARGER  QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO START TO SURFACE AS ALL THE  HOSPITALS START TO GRAPPLE -- THEY ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT  RIGHT NOW -- IS SHOULD THERE -- SHOULD CARE BE  ALTERED BASED ON VACCINATION STATUS?

YOU KNOW.

AS AN APPROACH TO PROVIDING  CARE TO PATIENTS, SHOULD WE START SEEING TRIAGE START TO  COME UP?

WHERE, YOU KNOW CARE SHOULD BE  TRIAGED TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE OF  SURVIVAL.

I HOPE THE ANSWER TO ALL THOSE  QUESTIONS IS NO, LET'S JUST KEEP TREATING WHICH I KNOW ALL  THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WANT TO DO, BUT IF  THE EMERGENCY ROOMS KEEP GETTING POUNDED LIKE THEY ARE  GETTING POUNDED RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT  QUESTIONS WHICH COULD BE ASKED HERE VERY SOON.

Gene: THE PRESBYTERIAN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DR.  JASON MITCHELL, TOLD ME THAT VERY POINT, GUYS IT IS  VACCINATIONS AT THIS POINT.

IT IS NOT ABOUT MUCH ELSE  AFTER THAT.

MARTHA, HERE IS A QUESTION FOR  YOU.

I KNOW YOU WERE IN SANTA FE  BUT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE GOT BACKLASH AFTER IT  ANNOUNCED HERE IT WAS CONSIDERING A VACCINE MANDATE  FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

MAYOR KELLER SINCE CLARIFIED A  LITTLE BIT SAYING THOSE WORKERS EITHER NEED TO BE  VACCINATED OR TEST FOR THE VIRUS EACH WEEK.

SO CRITICS OF A REQUIREMENT SAY IT COULD FORCE WORKERS TO  LEAVE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED CITY SERVICES.

IS THAT A LEGIT CONCERN?

Martha: THEY ARE GOING TO  HAVE TO LEAVE IF THEY GET COVID.

I AGREE WITH MICHAEL ABOUT THERE IS A VARIETY OF  UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

RIGHT NOW UNDERLYING  CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PANDEMIC  IS NON-VACCINATION.

AND WE NEED TO JUST SAY THAT  AND SAY IT OUT LOUD AND BARRY RAMOS DID SAY TO THE MEDIA  LAST WEEK, DR. RAMOS VERY WELL RESPECTED, HE JUST PUT IT  RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS, ON THE BACKS OF UNVACCINATED.

THEY ARE COUNTING ON THE REST OF US WHO ARE VACCINATED TO  KEEP THEM SAFE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRIAGE,  MAYBE THAT OUGHT TO GO INTO THE MIX.

I AM A PRETTY MUCH A HARD LINER ON THIS.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE HUSBAND NOT ONLY IS AN ANTI-VACCER, HE  SAYS COVID DOES NOT EXIST.

AND A PROFESSIONAL THAT OUGHT  TO KNOW BETTER.

BUT, HERE IS A PROPOSITION, SEE WHAT YOU  THINK OF THIS.

MAYBE ONE WAY TO CUT DOWN ON  THE NUMBER AND TOM IS RIGHT, 90% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND  DEATHS, CLOSE TO 90, ARE NOW THE UNVACCINATED.

MAYBE THE  INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD START SAYING, IF YOU'RE NOT  VACCINATED, WE ARE NOT COVERING YOU IF YOU HAVE TO GO  TO THE HOSPITAL.

THAT WOULD CHANGE BEHAVIOR  RIGHT QUICK.

Gene: INTERESTING POINTS  THERE.

MICHAEL, THIS VARIANT IS SO  FAST SPREADING, PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED MORE OFTEN.

IT IS HARD FOR INDIVIDUALS TO FIND TESTS.

HAVE YOU HAD TO NAVIGATE THIS OR ANYBODY YOU KNOW?

CVS AND WALGREEN'S HAVE APPOINTMENTS BOOKED MORE THAN  A WEEK OUT AND IF YOU GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  WEBSITE FOR NEW MEXICO, BOY, IT IS AWFULLY TOUGH TO FIND  IT.

ARE YOU HEARING THE SAME  THING?

Michael: I AM HEARING FROM  SOME OF MY FRIENDS NATIONALLY LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DC A  FRIEND WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19 AND HE CAN'T GET TO A TEST.

I MEAN, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY  THAT ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE.

THE TESTS ARE NOT AS READILY AVAILABLE AS THEY SHOULD BE,  AS THEY NEED TO BE.

BUT I WANT TO PICK UP ON ONE  QUICK POINT, BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT IS, WHEN  OUR SYSTEMS -- WHEN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND  PROVIDERS AND HOSPITALS ARE PUSHED TO THE BRINK AND THOSE  SYSTEMS POTENTIALLY COULD COLLAPSE, THEN I THINK WE NEED  TO REALLY THINK ABOUT GOING BACK TO MARTHA'S POINT ABOUT  AND TOM'S POINT ABOUT TRIAGING, BECAUSE IF THIS  CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THERE MAY BE  A NEED TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE POINTS THAT THEY MADE, THAT WE  CANNOT RISK THE WHOLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COLLAPSING  BECAUSE, IN FACT, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO GET  VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JUST PUTTING THEMSELVES AT  RISK, THEY ARE PUTTING EVERYONE AT RISK.

AND THEY ARE THREATENING THE COLLAPSE OF OUR HEALTHCARE  SYSTEM POTENTIALLY.

Gene: TOM, SANTA FE PUBLIC  SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO GO BACK TEMPORARILY TO ALL  VIRTUAL LEARNING IN HOPES OF GETTING A GRASP ON ALL THIS.

SHOULD OTHER SYSTEMS BE  FOLLOWING SUIT AT THIS POINT?

Tom: BASED ON WHAT THE  VACCINATION STATUS IS BUT ALSO WHAT INFECTION RATES ARE, I  THINK, SCHOOLS NEED TO ADDRESS IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

I THINK THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS  RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AT PLAY ON  THE TIME YOU NEED TO QUARANTINE SO THE PED HAS  MOVED IT FROM 10 DAYS TO FIVE DAYS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

I THINK THAT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF NUANCE  I AM GLAD WE GOT IT IN THERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR  THOUGHTS ON THAT ISSUE.

I KNOW WE ALL WISH WE COULD  AVOID IT BUT THE REALITY IS IT IS HERE TO STAY AND WE NEED TO  DO WHAT WE CAN TO EASE THE BURDEN ON OUR HEALTHCARE  WORKERS, AMONG OTHERS.

Rasmussen: FAITH TRADITIONS  HAVE ARISEN ACTUALLY IN THE FACE OF THIS DISASTER AND HAVE  CONTINUED TO ADDRESS DISASTER, JUST AS A FAMILY HAS TO COME  TOGETHER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO, BUT JUST AS THEY HAVE TO  COME TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY IN THE FAMILY, SO  FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE DONE THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER  AGAIN.

Gene:   16 STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR A STUDY TO  ANALYZE PROS AND CONS OF A PUBLICLY OWNED ELECT POWER  UTILITY.

THESE LEGISLATORS DON'T JUST WANT INFORMATION ON A STATE  RUN UTILITY BUT ALSO SMALLER ONES RUN BY OTHER  MUNICIPALITIES.

LET'S BRING IN PANELISTS ON  THIS ONE.

FIRST OFF, IS THIS SOMETHING  WE SHOULD EVEN CONSIDER AS A STATE, EVEN IF YOU THINK THIS  IS A BAD IDEA, IS THERE ANY HARM IN CONDUCTING A STUDY  LIKE THIS?

Martha: NO, THERE IS NO  HARM AT ALL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE STUDY  COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL, GENE.

I WAS STRUCK -- I KNOW NONE OF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER  VIETNAM BUT I AM.

THE ARGUMENT IS OVER WHETHER  THE PRC IS THE RIGHT ENTITY TO CONDUCT SUCH A STUDY.

I FIND ARGUING OVER THE SHAPE OF THE TABLE, IT IS A VIETNAM  -- Gene: I APPRECIATE THE  ANALOGY.

I HOPE PEOPLE DID PICK UP ON  THAT.

THAT IS PRETTY BRILLIANT.

Martha: I DO THINK, YEAH, WE NEED A STUDY.

I WAS  LOOKING AT STATISTICS.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER  ASSOCIATION TELLS ME THAT HOMES THAT ARE ON PUBLIC  UTILITIES, AND, BY THE WAY, TWO OF OUR INVESTOR-OWNED  UTILITIES MEAN FOR PROFIT -- HAVE THAT WORD PUBLIC IN THEIR  NAME WHICH IS A BIT DISINGENUOUS.

BUT TRULY PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITIES AND RATE PAYORS ARE  PAYING ON AVERAGE 12% LESS FOR THEIR POWER THAN FOR INVESTOR  OWNED.

THAT IS A PRETTY BIG CHUNK.

THE TRULY PUBLICLY OWNED ARE OUT -- HAVE POWER OUTAGES HALF  AS OFTEN AS THE INVESTOR OWNED.

SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER.

THERE ARE OVER 2,000 ENTITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE  PUBLIC UTILITIES.

THERE IS ONLY ONE STATE WHERE  THE WHOLE STATE IS PUBLIC AND THAT IS NEBRASKA AND THEY HAVE  A CONSIDERABLY LOWER POPULATION THAN NEW MEXICO BUT  IT IS STILL SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

NOW, WHETHER THE PRC IS THE CORRECT ENTITY, I DON'T KNOW,  BUT JUST MY LITTLE TINY BIT OF RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE  TELLS ME THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME MONEY PUT  FORWARD FOR A STUDY REGARDLESS OF WHO DOES IT.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

MICHAEL, FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY  CLEAR ON THAT IN THE PRC.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME, THE  MONEY, THE STAFF OR ANYTHING TO DO THIS.

Martha: NOT US.

Gene: INTERESTING, THOUGH,  I AM CURIOUS HOW DOES NEW MEXICO'S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY  PLAYS INTO THIS.

WOULD SMALLER COMMUNITIES BE  BETTER OFF IN CONTROL GIVEN HOW DIFFERENT THE NEEDS OF  EACH OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PHYSICALLY?

Michael: IT WAS REFERENCED THAT THE PICURIS PUEBLO, WHICH  IS ONE OF THE PUEBLOS IN A RURAL NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AREA  OF THE STATE, WENT SOLAR AND I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,  THAT REALLY -- I APPLAUD THEM, CONGRATULATE THEM FOR DOING  THAT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES SMALLER COMMUNITIES ARE  IGNORED AND IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY SELLING POWER BACK TO THE POWER GROUP  IN TAOS AND SO I JUST THINK ANYTHING THAT ENHANCES A  COMMUNITY, BE IT A TRIBAL COMMUNITY OR ANY COMMUNITY,  THE MORE CONTROL THEY HAVE OF THEIR RESOURCES AND THEIR  ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN PEOPLE IN THE  COMMUNITY IS A PLUS.

IT IS NOT A DISADVANTAGE.

IT REALLY IS AN ADVANTAGE JUST IN THE SAME WAY PEOPLE CAN  SOURCE THEIR OWN FOOD AND THERE IS A LONG CULTURAL  HISTORY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, PUEBLO PEOPLE AND HISPANIC  PEOPLE GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, THEIR OWN CROPS, AND THEY ARE  HEALTHIER, THEY ARE BETTER FOR YOU, LESS EXPENSIVE AND THERE  IS REALLY -- IT RESTORES THAT CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND THE  COMMUNITY AND THERE IS CULTURAL VALUE IN THAT.

SO, ANYTHING THAT ENHANCES, I THINK, THE COMMUNITY'S CONTROL  OVER THEIR OWN FUTURE AND WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SUSTAIN  THAT COMMUNITY, I THINK IT IS JUST THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO  GO.

Gene: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU  THINK ABOUT IT, A LOT OF FORCES ARE COMING TO BEAR  HERE.

INTERESTING, AS I READ ABOUT  IT, THE ADVANCEMENT OF RENEWABLES, THIS QUESTION  ABOUT CORPORATE CONTROL, ELECTRICITY RATE HIKES ARE A  BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE, AS MARTHA POINTED OUT, THAT A LOT OF  PLACES ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING SUIT.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NUMBER OF STATES I AM SEEING HERE, MASS,  NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, THEY ARE EITHER STUDYING OR INTENDING  TO STUDY THIS VERY THING.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE AIR  HERE.

PEOPLE WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE  CONTROL.

Tom: PEOPLE WANT MORE  ACCOUNTABILITY IS WHAT THE MESSAGE IS, THAT I AM HEARING.

AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS REALLY KIND OF THE REASON WHY I AM  NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF HAVING A PUBLICLY OR A  GOVERNMENT RUN ELECTRIC UTILITY.

EXHIBIT A IN MY CASE, SO TO SPEAK, WOULD BE THE  ALBUQUERQUE-BERNALILLO COUNTY WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY.

IT IS A GOVERNMENT RUN AUTHORITY THAT IS A UTILITY  RATHER THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE  PUBLIC THAT IT SERVES.

THE UTILITY AUTHORITY, FOR  EXAMPLE, IS MADE UP -- ITS GOVERNING BOARD IS MADE UP OF  CITY COUNCILORS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SOMEBODY  APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.

THOSE PEOPLE KEEP ROTATING  OFF.

IF I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CITY COUNCILOR, STATE  REPRESENTATIVE OR MAYOR, I CAN GO AHEAD AND PASS THEIR VOTE  AGAINST THAT PARTICULAR PERSON OR FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT IF I  HAVE ISSUES WITH HOW THE WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY IS GOING,  THERE IS NO DIRECT MEANS FOR ME TO REALLY LEVERAGE MY  VOICE, MY VOTE.

AND THAT, I THINK, IS A HUGE  LESSON FOR THE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE GOING TO GO INTO THIS AND  SUPPORT POTENTIALLY A PRC REVIEW OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

SO, THAT IS THE BIGGEST RED FLAG I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS JUST  THAT LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

Gene: INTERESTING POINT  THERE.

Martha: TOM, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

PRC DOES ALREADY REGULATE CO-OPS WHICH ARE A LITTLE BIT  DIFFERENT THAN FLATLY PUBLICLY OWNED.

Gene: ELECTRIC CO-OPS.

Martha: THANK YOU, GENE.

THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE PRC OR ANOTHER ENTITY TO REGULATE  THE PUBLICLY-OWNED UTILITIES IF WE HAVE THEM.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR PEOPLE THAT  ROTATE OFF AND ON.

IT CAN AN ENTITY JUST LIKE THE  PRC IS NOW.

Gene: DOES IT MAKE A  DIFFERENCE TO YOU THAT STARTING IN VERY SHORT ORDER  PRC IS GOING TO BE AN APPOINTED BODY NOT AN ELECTED  BODY?

DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Martha: YES, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL  WHETHER IT IS APPOINTED OR ELECTED.

I THINK APPOINTED CAN BE VERY POLITICAL, WITHOUT QUESTION.

WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE ENTITIES THAT WE  KNOW ABOUT NATIONALLY, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED,  ARE FUNCTIONING AND WHAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT THEY HAVE.

Tom: THERE IS THE WHOLE LEW WALLACE PERSPECTIVE THAT  BASICALLY -- I AM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT QUOTE BUT  BASICALLY WHAT WORKS IN OTHER  STATES IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO WORK HERE.

AND I THINK THAT THE WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY IS A GREAT  EXAMPLE.

I HOPE THAT THIS DISCUSSION  FIXES THAT ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE AND PROVIDES A  FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER UTILITIES WHETHER THEY BE ELECTRIC, GAS  OR WATER.

Gene: INTERESTING POINT  THERE.

Martha: WE NEED TO LOOK AT  COMPARABILITY.

CALIFORNIA HAS A QUITE A  NUMBER OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.

CALIFORNIA COULD SWALLOW NEW  MEXICO 30 TIMES.

SO, WE HAVE TO FIND SOME  COMPARABLES AND SEE WHAT IS THERE AND I THINK THAT SHOULD  BE PART OF THE STUDY THAT PRC SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY  TO DO ANYWAY.

Gene: THANKS TO OUR LINE  PANELISTS AS ALWAYS.

THIS WEEK, REALLY APPRECIATE  YOU GUYS.

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT  YOU THINK ABOUT ANY TOPICS THE LINE COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK,  TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

HERE IS LAURA PASKUS WITH A  LOOK AT A NUANCE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE  CHANGE.

Laura: I AM LAURA PASKUS  AND LIKE MANY OF YOU I THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE  CHANGE ON OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I TOO FEEL GRIEF WHEN I SEE OUR RIVERS DRY OR OUR  FORESTS BURN.

ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE OF OUR LAND, I SPOKE  WITH LARRY RASMUSSEN, PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT UNION  THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND FAITH AND  FAITH AND MOURNING.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE  SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND CULTURAL ISSUES AROUND CLIMATE  CHANGE.

I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU  TODAY ABOUT WHERE FAITH FITS INTO CLIMATE ACTIVISM.

Rasmussen: SOMEONE HAS SAID THAT FAITH IS A CITADEL  PERCHED AT THE EDGE OF DESPAIR.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE CASE WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN REALLY  ROUGH PLACES, WHETHER IT IS JUST FOR THEMSELVES PERSONALLY  OR IN THEIR FAMILY OR IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR WHETHER IT IS A  WHOLE NATION, EVEN A PLANET.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK FAITH IS  A KIND OF WAY OF SAYING YES TO LIFE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING.

I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

FAITH IS KIND OF A CREST IN THINGS WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN  THAT THEY ARE YET POSSIBLE.

Laura: IN YOUR 2013 BOOK  WHICH I REALIZE WE ARE IN 2022 NOW, BUT YOU WROTE IN THIS  BOOK THAT AS THE WORLD HAS CHANGED WE MUST LEARN TO SING  A NEW SONG IN A STRANGE LAND.

Rasmussen: YEAH.

Laura: WHAT IS THIS STRANGE LAND AND HOW DO WE SING A NEW  SONG?

Rasmussen: YEAH, WITH  DIFFICULTY.

THE STRANGE LAND IS THAT WE  HAVE CHANGED THE PLANET.

AND WHAT IS NOT IN THAT BOOK,  EXCEPT TO BE MENTIONED AT THE VERY OUTSET, IS THAT WE HAVE  ACTUALLY MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT GEOLOGICAL EPOCH.

I THINK IT IS MASSIVE THAT WE HAVE GONE FROM THE HOLOCENE,  WHICH RELIED ON A BALANCED CLIMATE, INTO THE ANTHROPOCENE  EPOCH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MANAGE AND  ADAPT CIVILIZATION, IF IT SURVIVES UNDER CONDITIONS OF  CLIMATE VOLATILITY RATHER THAN STABILITY AND CLIMATE  UNFRIENDLINESS RATHER THAN FRIENDLINESS.

SO, LEARNING TO SING A STRANGE -- A NEW SONG IN A  STRANGE LAND, THEN, REQUIRES CERTAINLY CREATIVITY,  ADAPTABILITY, RESILIENCE AND PROBABLY SHEER GRIT AND IT IS  GOING TO BE IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING ON A SCALE WE HAVE  NOT SEEN AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS.

Laura: YOU SHARED WITH ME A LETTER THAT YOU WROTE TO YOUR  GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT THIS COMING TREND TRANSITION AND  YOU WROTE, IF THE TUMULTUOUS WORLD HASN'T STOPPED BEING  BEAUTIFUL NEITHER HAS LOVE STOPPED BEING LOVE.

IN THIS WORLD OF HUGE UNCERTAINTY AND TRANSITION,  WHAT DOES LOVE, WHAT DOES BEAUTY MATTER?

Rasmussen: A LOT.

I DON'T THINK WE FIND OUR WAY  EXCEPT THROUGH THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE  NURTURED BY LOVE AMID THIS CHANGING AND CHANGED PLANET,  FIND OUR WAY WITHOUT A SENSE OF WONDER, WITHOUT A SENSE OF  BEING ON A JOURNEY WHICH IS MUCH GREATER THAN OUR LITTLE  SLICE OF TIME.

Laura: AS AN ENVIRONMENT  REPORTER I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE CONTACT ME TALKING ABOUT OR  WRITING ABOUT THEIR ANXIETY AND THEIR DEPRESSION AND THEIR  GRIEF AS THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR RIVER DRY, OUR SNOW  PACKLESS MOUNTAINS, OUR MOUNTAINS AFTER A FIRE.

ARE THERE LESSONS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO HELP US DEAL WITH  THESE LOSSES?

Rasmussen: THERE ARE.

WHETHER AND HOW MUCH WE DRAW UPON THEM WILL VARY A LOT FROM  CONGREGATION TO CONGREGATION.

IN PART BECAUSE WE HAVE,  ESPECIALLY WHITE FOLK, HAVE SO BENEFITED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL  REVOLUTION AND WHAT IT BROUGHT THAT WE HARDLY EVEN NOTICED  THAT BURNING FOSSIL FUELS WAS DESTROYING THE KIND OF PLANET  THAT WAS YIELDING THESE BENEFITS.

SO IT IS HARDER FOR WHITE FOLK TO KNOW THE TRADITIONS OF  LAMENT, TO THE TRADITIONS OF LIVING WITH AND THROUGH A  APOCALYPSE, TO KNOW THE TRADITIONS OF HAVING TO SING A  NEW SONG IN A STRANGE LAND.

SO, I AM TRYING TO SAY, NOT  EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE WILL BE TAPPING INTO THESE, BUT NOW  ECO LAMENT IS A REALITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS AND  SECULAR PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE TRADITIONS OF ECO LAMENT.

FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE ARISEN ACTUALLY IN THE FACE OF  DISASTER AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ADDRESS DISASTER.

JUST AS A FAMILY HAS TO COME TOGETHER, THEY DON'T ALWAYS  DO, BUT JUST AS THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF  TRAGEDY IN THE FAMILY, SO FAITH TRADITIONS HAVE DONE  THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY  AND DESPAIR AND REASONS FOR LAMENT AND ANXIETY ABOUT THE  FUTURE.

SO I THINK YOU TAKE OLD  EXPERIENCES, TEXTS, COMMUNITIES THAT IT IS  COUNTERINTUITIVE THAT IN A NO ANALOGUE WORLD YOU WOULD BE  LOOKING FOR ANCIENT WISDOM BUT ANYTHING -- ANY HUMAN  COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A MILLENNIA, LIKE  FAITH COMMUNITIES HAVE, HAS ACCUMULATED A LOT OF WISDOM  AND NEEDS TO BE REVISED, NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED, SOMETHING NEW  NEEDS TO BE CREATED, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, BUT THE RESOURCES  ARE THERE, THE EXPERIENCES ARE THERE.

Laura: YOU ALSO WRITE IN YOUR 2013 BOOK, OR YOU ASK,  WHERE DO WE TURN WHEN WE DISCOVER THAT THE RELIGION WE  HAVE LIVED BY SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGICAL ERA  EMERGED, ETERNAL AND EXPONENTIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IS  AN ILLUSION, DOGMA MASQUERADING AS COMMON SENSE  AND KEPT ALIVE BY WILLPOWER AND  LITTLE ELSE.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WILLS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT WHITE SUPREMACY  HAS PLAYED IN FAITH AND IN CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND WHERE THOSE INTERSECT AND HOW WE PULL THEM APART FOR A  DIFFERENT WORLD.

Rasmussen: YEAH.

WELL, LET ME START WITH THE LATTER POINT.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A RESULT OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT AROSE  OUT OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THAT WENT  GLOBAL BY WAY OF CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION.

GIVEN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, THE FORM THAT THAT  TOOK, WAS ONE WHICH NOW HAS BROUGHT US TO PLANET SYSTEM  CHANGE, CHANGING THE SYSTEMS, PLANETARY SYSTEMS THEMSELVES,  AND IT IS WE WHO ARE WHITE WHO ARE MOST DEEPLY EMERSED IN  WHAT WE BENEFITED FROM THAT.

ONE THING THAT IS HAPPENING IN  THEOLOGY IS A KIND OF DECOLONIZATION OF THEOLOGY  THAT HAS BEEN WHITE AND IN A UNIVERSAL VOICE.

SO YOU GET BLACK THEOLOGY.

YOU GET FEMINIST THEOLOGY.

YOU GET LATINA THEOLOGY, WOMANIST THEOLOGY OUT OF THE  AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

YOU GET QUEER THEOLOGY AND  THAT KIND OF DECOLONIZATION HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE  POWER OF WHITE INSTITUTIONS IN FORGING THE MODERN WORLD.

SO UNDOING WHITE PRIVILEGE, UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY IS  ESSENTIAL TO MAKING THE TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE   LIFE ON OTHER TERMS THAN THAT.

AND THAT IS MASSIVE.

Laura: WELL, THANK YOU,  LARRY, FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

Rasmussen: YES,   THANK YOU.

Gene: I WANT TO THANK  RECENTLY RETIRED REPRESENTATIVE ALONZO  BALDONADO FOR THE TIME SPENT THIS WEEK WITH ME IN OUR  WEEKLY FACEBOOK LIVE SERIES EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON,  PLEASE DO JOIN US.

IT WAS INTERESTING AND I SAY  WORTH ITS WATCH FOR CLOSE WATCHERS OF THE LOCAL  POLITICAL SCENE BECAUSE I THINK HE OFFERED SOME KEY  THEMES AND ISSUES IN THAT INTERESTING WAY THE RECENTLY  RETIRED OFTEN DO.

IT IS INTERESTING.

ANOTHER SEGMENT OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS THE GROWTH OF  THE LOS LUNAS AREA.

AS REPRESENTATIVE BALDONADO  AND I DISCUSSED, THE AREA FINDS ITSELF IN AN  ADVANTAGEOUS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION SUDDENLY, WITH A  COMMUTE TO ALBUQUERQUE ARGUABLY FASTER THAN COMING  DOWN THE HILL FROM RIO RANCHO.

WITH A FEW MORE ENTRIES OF  MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL IN THE LOS LUNAS AREA, FOLKS  WON'T EVEN NEED TO COME TO ALBUQUERQUE TO WORK.

NOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING FOR ALBUQUERQUE, FOR THE  SAME REASONS THE GROWTH IN RIO RANCHO HAS BEEN, BECAUSE WE  CAN NOW START TO CONSIDER THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA AS A  MUCH WIDER FOOTPRINT.

THIS HAS CONSEQUENCES MOSTLY  GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND APPROACH  AND WHAT WE COLLECTIVELY OFFER TO THE WORLD.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED, WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.