>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> LOU: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, U.S. ATTORNEY ALEXANDER UBALLEZ SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON THE PROCESS BEHIND THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DWI UNIT.

>> JEFF: SHOULD FOLKS HERE EXPECT SOME PUBLIC CLOSURE IN THIS CASE REGARDLESS OF ITS OUTCOME?

>> UBALLEZ: FOLKS SHOULD EXPECT PUBLIC CLOSURE.

>> LOU: AND A GROUP OF BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS WALKS US THROUGH THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH IN OUR STATE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO.

IT'S BEEN A LONG AND BUSY YEAR HERE AT NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THIS WEEK, WE WANTED TO RETURN TO SOME OF OUR FAVORITE STORIES FROM 2024.

IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES, YOU'LL HEAR FROM A ROUNDTABLE OF ALBUQUERQUE'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK LEADERS AS THEY LOOK BACK AT THE STATE'S EARLY DAY OF CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, A HOLIDAY NEW MEXICANS HAVE RECOGNIZED FOR DECADES.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF TODAY'S SHOW, CORRESPONDENT ANDY LYMAN SITS DOWN WITH DOCUMENTARIAN DOUG FINE ABOUT HIS AWARD-WINNING FILM 'AMERICAN HEMP FARMER', AND ITS MESSAGE THAT LARGE-SCALE HEMP PRODUCTION COULD HELP COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT FIRST, A 2024 HEADLINE THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING INTO THE NEW YEAR, THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED CORRUPTION AT THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DWI UNIT.

THE ALLEGED SCHEME SAW ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS WORKING ILLEGALLY WITH AT LEAST ONE LOCAL ATTORNEY AND HIS PARALEGAL TO MAKE DWI CASES GO AWAY.

THE INVESTIGATION CRASHED INTO PUBLIC VIEW ON JANUARY 18th.

THAT'S WHEN FBI AGENTS RAIDED THE HOMES AND OFFICES OF THAT ATTORNEY AND HIS PARALEGAL AND EXECUTED MORE SEARCH WARRANTS AT THE HOMES OF SOME OF THOSE COPS.

AS WE TAPE THIS IN MID-DECEMBER, NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.

BUT, SEVEN APD OFFICERS HAVE RESIGNED INSTEAD OF SUBMITTING TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS INTERVIEWS.

A COMMANDER HAS ALSO BEEN FIRED, AND TWO OTHER OFFICERS REMAIN ON LEAVE PENDING INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.

NOW TO A SEGMENT WE FIRST AIRED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR'S INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION, U.S. ATTORNEY ALEXANDER UBALLEZ.

JEFF ASKS UBALLEZ ABOUT THE PROCESS AROUND THIS TYPE OF INVESTIGATION AND WHY HE DECIDED TO TAKE THE UNUSUAL STEP OF CONFIRMING THE INVESTIGATION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> JEFF: ALEX, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY AND WELCOME BACK TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> UBALLEZ: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> JEFF: I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A PHRASE THAT I HAVE HEARD ENTIRELY TOO MANY TIMES IN THE COURSE OF DOING JOURNALISM FOR 20 YEARS.

THE PHRASE IS, WE CAN NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY THE EXISTENCE OF AN INVESTIGATION.

SO THAT IS SORT OF THE DEFAULT SETTING FOR THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WHY IS THAT?

>> UBALLEZ: THERE IS A NUMBER OF EQUITIES THAT WE PROTECT, YOU KNOW, IN JUSTICE.

WE ARE ENTRUSTED AS PROSECUTORS BUT ESPECIALLY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROSECUTORS WITH THIS HUGE POWER, RIGHT?

EVEN TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEING ACCUSED OR SOMEBODY IS BEING ACCUSED OF A CRIME, RIGHT, HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THEIR LIFE, ON THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM.

SO, IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BALANCE A NUMBER OF THINGS WHEN WE APPROACH ANY CASE, RIGHT.

SO THE ANSWER YOU HAVE RECEIVED, YOU HAVE DOUBTLESS RECEIVED IN YEARS OF SPEAKING WITH US ABOUT EITHER INVESTIGATIONS YOU EXPECT ARE ONGOING OR CASES EVEN THAT MIGHT BE PENDING, YET WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANYTHING ON IT UNTIL IT IS SENTENCED.

WE PROTECT A NUMBER OF EQUITIES HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THE FIRST, OF COURSE, IS A PERSON'S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL.

RIGHT.

SO, IF WE START GETTING OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS WE HAVEN'T PROVEN IN COURT THEN THAT PERSON'S JURY POOL IS HEARING THESE THINGS, AND THAT ONLY MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO PICK THE JURY IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PERSON TO HAVE A FAIR JURY, RIGHT, SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO HEAR THE FACTS FOR THE FIRST TIME, FROM THE PARTIES, IN A SITUATION WHERE A JUDGE IS OVERSEEING AND DETERMINING WHAT IS LEGAL TO COME IN AND WHAT IS WAS NOT.

WE WANT UNTAINTED JURIES.

THE SECOND PART IS PEOPLES' RIGHT TO PRIVACY, RIGHT.

SO IF YOU ARE A TARGET OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, I AM NOT GOING TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR JOB, YOUR MARRIAGE, IT COULD AFFECT YOUR FRIENDS.

AND SO THIS IS A THING THAT IF RELEASED PUBLICLY, HAS A HUGE AND DELETERIOUS IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE AS A DEFENDANT.

YOU BALANCE THESE AGAINST A COUPLE OTHER INTERESTS INCLUDING OUR RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, OUR INTERESTS, OUR JOB WHICH IS CHARGED WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC IN SECURING THEIR SAFETY AGAINST WHATEVER CRIME OR ALLEGATION IT IS.

FINALLY, THERE IS THE INTERESTS THAT YOU PROTECT HERE, WHICH IS THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, TO KNOW BROADLY WHAT THEIR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING, KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING THE JOB AND NOT ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND KNOW THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.

AND SO WE HAVE THE FOUR AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT IN EVERY SINGLE CASE.

THE CLEAREST LINE THAT WE FOUND TO DRAW HERE IS THE ONE OF INDICTMENTS, RIGHT.

WHEN WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A GRAND JURY OR WE HAVE TAKEN A COMPLAINT TO A JUDGE AND THAT PERSON OR THAT GRAND JURY HAS SAID, WE ARE FINDING BY PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THESE OFFENSES HAPPENED, THAT STOP GAP HAS BEEN CROSSED IN THE SYSTEM AND THEREFORE WE ARE FORMALLY ACCUSING PEOPLE.

WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN ADVANCE OF THIS CHARGING DECISION VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE DO IN ADVANCE OF CHARGES BEING BROUGHT AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE IMPACT IT HAS ON PEOPLES' LIVES.

BUT EVEN THEN YOU'LL SEE, IN OUR PRESS RELEASES AND IN OUR DISCUSSION AND ANSWERING OF QUESTIONS EVEN AFTER CHARGING, WE KEEP VERY CLOSELY TO JUST THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SAID IN COURT AND ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY THINGS IN COURT AND ON THE RECORD, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, WE ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THE VERACITY OF THOSE STATEMENTS IN FRONT OF A JUDGE.

THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID TO BE TRUE ABOUT STATEMENTS IN PUBLIC FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND POLITICIANS, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT CAN BE SAID TO BE TRUE WHEN WE ARE OFFERING TESTIMONY IN COURTS.

WE ARE OFFERING EVIDENCE IN COURTS, WHEN A COURT HAS DEEMED IT ADMISSIBLE.

SO FOR THAT REASON, EVEN THEN AFTER WE CHARGED SOMEBODY, WE ARE STILL VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT COMMENTING ON A CASE UNTIL FINALLY WE HAVE CONVICTED, WE HAVE SENTENCED.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE GIVE THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND WE DO INTERVIEWS AND THAT IS WHEN THE PUBLIC GETS TO KNOW A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAN FROM THE INITIAL INDICTMENT OR COMPLAINT.

>> JEFF: I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.

I THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEXT TIME I RECEIVE THAT RESPONSE FROM YOUR OFFICE, I WILL BE A TINY BIT LESS IRRITATED.

DOES THAT POLICY -- DOES THAT PRESENT ANY CHALLENGES FOR YOU AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR?

>> UBALLEZ: SURE, IT DOES.

SO THERE IS -- WE ARE BALANCING THESE THINGS, RIGHT.

SO THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO PROTECT THE PERSON'S RIGHT TO A JURY, WE WANT TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY DOESN'T ERASE THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEY NEED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, THAT THEY CAN TRUST THAT WE ARE DOING IT, THAT IT WILL COME TO A JUST RESULT AND SO IT IS A CONSTANT BALANCE.

>> JEFF: GOT YOU.

SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT BY ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHERS, YOU DECIDED TO GO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ROUTE.

YOU WROTE LETTERS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND TO THE POLICE CHIEF IN WHICH YOU DID CONFIRM THE EXISTENCE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES ON WHAT LED YOU TO MAKE THAT DECISION, WHAT SORT OF FACTORS WENT INTO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF DETOURING FROM THE USUAL POLICY?

>> UBALLEZ: ANY POLICY, OUR POLICY ON DISCUSSING CASES HAS EXCEPTIONS.

THIS IS HOW LAWYERS OPERATE WITHIN THE REALM OF EXCEPTIONS AND SO THERE IS A COUPLE THAT APPLY TO US WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH CASES OF THIS AMOUNT OF INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC OR INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN ANY GIVEN DISTRICT OR THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN MAIN JUSTICE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND EXCEPTIONS.

SO THEY CAN LOOK AT A CASE OR AN INVESTIGATION AND SAY, THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD CONFIRM THAT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOING THEIR JOB HERE, OR THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD RELEASE INFORMATION THAT HAS TO DO WITH PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO, IN A CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE PEOPLE SEE A BUNCH OF FOLKS WEARING FBI IN BRIGHT YELLOW ON THE BACK OF THEIR JACKETS GO INTO A HOUSE, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR WHY OR WHEN OR HOW, THERE IS OFTEN A PUBLIC INTEREST IN KNOWING THIS IS ACTUALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED TO DO THIS AND THIS IS PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING AND WE CAN TRUST THAT THERE IS A PROCESS HERE AND NOT JUST ROGUE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT JACKETS AT SPIRIT.

SO, WHEN WE DISCUSS CASES AND THIS ONE WITH THE INVESTIGATION YOU ARE REFERRING TO, WE CONFIRMED EARLY ON FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AS WE WERE ASKED BY THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE FELT THAT IT MET THAT REQUIREMENT.

IT MET THAT NEED, WHICH IS PEOPLE ARE SEEING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY HAPPEN AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO FOR US THAT SMALL BIT OF CONFIRMATION ALLOWS US TO TELL THE PUBLIC, DON'T WORRY, THIS IS AUTHORIZED.

WE PUT THOUGHT INTO IT AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

>> JEFF: SORT OF AN AUTHENTICITY STAND, IF YOU WILL.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A WORD THAT YOU USED IN THOSE TWO LETTERS I JUST REFERENCED TO THE DA AND THE CHIEF.

YOU NODDED TOWARD THE TENSION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDABLE DESIRE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THE SECRECY NEEDS THAT YOU JUST SORT OF DESCRIBED.

LET'S PULL OUT A LITTLE BIT FROM THIS INVESTIGATION AND TALK BROADLY HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE TWO PRINCIPLES?

WHAT GOES INTO THAT?

>> UBALLEZ: A LOT GOES INTO IT.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR JOB IS A CAREFUL BALANCE OF THE VARIOUS NEEDS THAT WE PROTECT.

IT IS REALLY UNIQUE BEING ESPECIALLY A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR OR BEING A PROSECUTOR.

AMONG ALL LAWYERS, OUR JOB IS VERY DIFFERENT.

IT IS DISTINCT IN THAT MOST LAWYERS, THEY TAKE A CASE OR CLIENT AND THAT IS AN INTEREST THAT THEY REPRESENT.

THEY ARE BEING HIRED TO EXERCISE THAT PERSON'S INTEREST AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL OTHERS.

THAT IS NEVER OURS.

IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF OUR CLIENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THAT IS THE UNITED STATES.

RIGHT.

FOR US WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN WE WALK INTO A COURTROOM, THE EQUITIES THAT WE PROTECT ARE NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S AS OFTEN THE COURTS LIKE TO REFER TO US.

EQUITIES INCLUDES NOT JUST THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE JURORS THEMSELVES, THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF, HIS ATTORNEY, THE JUDGE, ALL OF THEIR INTERESTS AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE BALANCED TOGETHER.

SO, AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WE DEAL DAILY WITH THE BALANCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT INTERESTS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE VERSUS WHAT IS BEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF THE TARGET OR DEFENDANT AS WELL?

RIGHT?

BECAUSE UNTIL A PERSON IS ACCUSED PUBLICLY, THE PERSON IS CONSIDERED INNOCENT.

RIGHT.

THEY SHOULD WALK FREE FROM ANY PUBLIC ASPERSIONS OF WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE.

SO WHEN WE DO OUR JOB, WE TRY VERY, VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THAT PROTECTION, NOT JUST OF THE PUBLIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS BUT OF THE DEFENDANT'S TOO, AND THEIR INTERESTS IN PRIVACY, THEIR INTEREST IN WALKING FREE, UNTIL A GRAND JURY OR A JUDGE HAS SAID THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO SAY YOU DID THIS THING.

>> JEFF: OF COURSE, THE INNOCENCE PRESUMPTION STILL ATTACHES AT THAT POINT EVEN AFTER INDICTMENT.

>> UBALLEZ: ABSOLUTELY.

>> JEFF: SO, IT HAS BEEN SEVEN WEEKS NOW SINCE WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, SINCE YOU ALL KICKED SOME DOORS IN AND EXECUTED SOME SEARCH WARRANTS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR YOU SAY WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION AT THIS STAGE IN THE PROCEEDINGS?

WHAT IS THE FULL EXTENT OF WHAT YOU CAN SAY?

>> UBALLEZ: WELL, JEFF, I CAN'T CONFIRM OR DENY -- WE OBVIOUSLY CONFIRMED THE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY.

WE HAVE CONFIRMED LOCATIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA INQUIRIES WHERE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION OCCURRED.

AND FROM THE LETTERS THAT WE ISSUED TO BOTH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION BUT WERE NOT READ INTO ITS FULL EXTENT.

RIGHT.

THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE PROTECTING AN ONGOING HIGH LEVEL INVESTIGATION, THERE ARE OFTEN PARTNERS WE WORK WITH BUT WE DON'T SHARE EVERYTHING WITH.

SO, AS YOU IDENTIFIED, WE ARE GOING TO LET THEM KNOW AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THEM TO FULFILL THEIR OWN DUTIES.

SO, IN THE LETTER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT EVERY PROSECUTOR HAS A RESPONSIBILITY, A CONSTITUTIONAL ONE, UNDER BRADY AND GIGLEO, TO PROTECT THE PROCESS BY IDENTIFYING CERTAIN WHAT WE CALL GIGOLO CONDUCT.

WHEN WE RUN UP AGAINST THESE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, WE SHARE WHAT JUSTICE DEMANDS.

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT WE KEEP AS MUCH IN HOUSE AS WE CAN, UNTIL WE ARE READY TO LEVEL AN INDICTMENT.

>> JEFF: FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT GIGLEO MATERIAL IS, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY TALKING ABOUT INFORMATION THAT COULD IMPACT A WITNESS' CREDIBILITY IN COURT, RIGHT?

>> UBALLEZ: THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE IS A BROADER CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION CALLED BRADY SO EXCULPATORY INFORMATION, A SUBSET OF WHAT BRADY -- THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR BRADY IS OBVIOUSLY IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS THE PERSON WE ARE THINKING DID SOMETHING DID NOT DO IT, THEN WE HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT EVIDENCE.

A SUBSET OF THAT IS GIGLEO, AS YOU IDENTIFIED, WHICH IS IF WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED TO CROSS-EXAMINE, TO IMPUGN THE CREDIBILITY OF ONE OF OUR WITNESSES, WE SHOULD DISCLOSE THAT TOO.

SO, WHEN WE RUN UP INTO THESE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR PROTECTIONS, AGAIN, WE PROTECT THE DEFENDANT TOO.

SO, THAT IS WHERE WE WORK WITH THE DA.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE SORT OF WORKING IN A SIMILAR BUT ALTERNATE TRACK WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

THE LETTERS SHOW THAT WHILE THEY WERE AWARE OF INVESTIGATIONS, THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FULL SCOPE.

>> JEFF: MY LAST QUESTION IS THIS.

SHOULD FOLKS HERE EXPECT SOME PUBLIC CLOSURE IN THIS CASE REGARDLESS OF ITS OUTCOME?

>> UBALLEZ: FOLKS SHOULD EXPECT PUBLIC CLOSURE.

>> JEFF: ALEX, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHAT.

>> UBALLEZ: THANK YOU.

>> FINE: IT'S A REMARKABLE FEELING, AND WHETHER IT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL OR REALLY TRULY NUTRITIVE, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING MORE NUTRIENT-DENSE FOOD.

WHEN YOU LOVE THE PLANT AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THEM OR IN MY CASE PLAYING BAD SAXOPHONE AT THEM, I THINK IT DOES ACTUALLY RESULT IN HAPPIER PLANTS.

BECAUSE I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO HAVE AN EXTREMELY GREEN THUMB, YET THESE PLANTS KEEP COMING UP AND GIVING MY FAMILY FOOD.

>> LOU: ANDY LYMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH NEW MEXICAN HEMP FARMER AND FILMMAKER DOUG FINE IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

AND YOU CAN WATCH JEFF'S ENTIRE 27-MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH U.S. ATTORNEY ALEXANDER UBALLEZ RIGHT NOW ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE INTERVIEWS FROM THIS PAST YEAR.

THIS SUMMER, I SAT DOWN WITH SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LOCAL BLACK ELDERS AND LEADERS TO DISCUSS JUNETEENTH.

THE NEWLY RECOGNIZED FEDERAL HOLIDAY COMMEMORATES THE DAY SLAVERY ENDED IN TEXAS AS WELL AS ITS ROOTS IN NEW MEXICO HISTORY.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT, WE HEAR FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE CHAMPIONED JUNETEENTH EVENTS IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR DECADES.

INCLUDING THE FIRST CELEBRATION IN THE 1970s.

>> LOU: I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY THIS ESTEEMED PANEL OF FORMALLY RECOGNIZED LIVING LEGENDS, IN SOME CASES, IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MR. JOE POWDRELL, MS. RITA POWDRELL, REV.

DR. CHARLES BECKNELL, SR., AND PROFESSOR MARSHA K. HARDEMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> HARDEMAN: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> BECKNELL: IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> LOU: JUNETEENTH IS A CELEBRATION OF COURSE OF FREEDOM, EMANCIPATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 1865.

STARTING WITH YOU MR. POWDRELL, WHAT DOES EMANCIPATION MEAN FOR BLACK AMERICA THEN 160 YEARS AGO AND TODAY?

>> JOE: WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL YOU ASK.

I THINK IT MEANT A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, ACTUALLY.

A CHANGE FROM A PREVIOUS PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE.

I THINK THE TRANSITION IS FROM BONDAGE, ENSLAVEMENT -- TO ME LIBERTY IS THE WORD.

THAT'S THE ONE I THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT EMANCIPATION.

BEING THE BRIDGE TO LIBERTY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IT.

>> LOU: OKAY.

I GUESS BUILDING ON THAT, WHAT DOES JUNETEENTH MEAN TO YOU, NOW, IN 2024?

AND I'LL THROW THAT QUESTION AROUND TO EVERYONE, BUT STARTING WITH YOU.

>> JOE: EVERY YEAR THAT I CELEBRATE -- I'VE BEEN CONSCIOUSLY CELEBRATING SINCE JUNE 19, 1956.

THERE'S A GROWTH THAT MY MIND, MY BODY, MY SOUL TAKES PLACE.

JUNETEENTH IS AN EXERCISE TO ME.

I GET A CHANCE TO GROW INTO MY CONSCIOUSNESS.

AND I'VE FELT THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING THROUGH BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH IT.

IT'S GROWTH AND UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE CHALLENGE OF IT ALL.

>> LOU: MS. POWDRELL, HOW ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DOES JUNETEENTH MEAN TO YOU?

>> RITA: JUNETEENTH TO ME MEANS HISTORY.

IT MEANS A HISTORY THAT WE SHOULD KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE.

YOU KNOW, IT MEANS A HISTORY THAT NOT ONLY IMPACTED US AS A PEOPLE, IT IMPACTED THIS NATION.

AND IT IMPACTED THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, SO JUNETEENTH AND THE LEGISLATION OF JUNETEENTH, THE WHOLE WORLD WAS LOOKING AT IT.

IT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD.

I'M JUST HOPEFUL THAT THE CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH TAKES US BACK TO A CELEBRATION OF HISTORY AND GIVES US A TRUER SENSE OF THE AMBIGUITY THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNTRY AROUND ISSUES THAT JUNETEENTH BRINGS OUT.

>> LOU: REV.

DR. BECKNELL.

>> BECKNELL: I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN HOBBS, NEW MEXICO, AS A YOUNG BOY I REMEMBER US CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A BIG GATHERING OF PEOPLE AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND HAD BARBECUE AND ALL OF THAT.

WE CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH.

BUT WHEN I REALIZED WHAT JUNETEENTH REALLY MEANT, YOU CANNOT HAVE JUNETEENTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT SLAVERY.

SLAVERY DROVE US TO JUNETEENTH.

THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION THAT FREED THE SLAVES, BUT IT FREED THE SLAVES ONLY IN THOSE STATES THAT WERE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

WHEN LINCOLN SIGNED THAT, IT OPENED UP AN AVENUE AND A CONSCIOUSNESS OF PEOPLE THAT FREEDOM MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

JUNETEENTH TO ME MEANS THAT WE GOT SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

IT MEANS THAT WE STILL GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE FACING IN JUNETEENTH, THE FURNITURE RIGHT NOW HAS JUST BEEN REARRANGED.

WE'RE STILL FACING A LOT OF THOSE SAME ISSUES.

JUNETEENTH DIDN'T END SLAVERY BECAUSE ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO FREE THE SLAVES THAT WERE NOT IN REBELLION AGAINST -- THOSE STATES THAT WERE NOT IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

BUT JUNETEENTH SIGNIFIED AN END TO SLAVERY AS AN INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WHAT IT MEANS TO ME IS WE NEED ANOTHER MOVEMENT.

WE CAN CELEBRATE BECAUSE IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN OUR HISTORY, BUT WE CANNOT BE HAPPY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NOTHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

>> LOU: PROFESSOR HARDEMAN.

>> HARDEMAN: I LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT MAYBE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE -- I'M THE ULTIMATE OPTIMIST HERE, I GUESS.

JUNETEENTH FOR ME IS ALL THE HISTORY, A REFLECTION OF OUR CHALLENGE TO CONTINUE WITH SOCIAL STRUGGLES, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO ME IT WAS A COMING TOGETHER OF COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I REVELED IN THE MOST.

MY DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO, THOUGHT FROM CELEBRATIONS THAT WE BEGAN TO PARTICIPATE IN FROM THE TIME I CAME TO NEW MEXICO WITH JOE AND HIS FAMILY, THEY THOUGHT JUNETEENTH WAS A BIGGER DEAL THAN THE 4TH OF JULY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID TOGETHER.

THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO IT.

THEY WERE EAGER.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM THE MIDWEST, FROM INDIANA AND LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WE DID NOT CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE '50S AND THE '60S.

SO TO COME HERE IN THE '70S AND TO BE INTRODUCED TO THAT WAS JUST LIKE WOW.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO ME.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE STILL AHEAD OF US, IT'S A REMINDER THAT OUR WORK ISN'T DONE.

BUT IT'S A TIME THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR SURVIVAL, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE THRIVING OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S HAD TO OVERCOME THE ODDS.

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, AFTER GENERATION, AFTER GENERATION.

SINCE WE HIT NORTH AMERICA.

SO, IT'S A VICTORY TIME.

>> LOU: MS. POWDRELL, WHAT ROLE HAVE WOMEN PLAYED IN DEVELOPING THESE CELEBRATIONS, SPECIFICALLY HERE IN NEW MEXICO?

AND HOW HAS THAT HELPED FOSTER A WIDER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK CULTURE IN NEW MEXICO?

>> RITA: WHAT ROLE DID WOMEN PLAY?

>> LOU: YEAH, HAVE THEY BEEN A DRIVING FORCE, IN PARTICULAR?

HAS THIS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY?

OR HAVE WOMEN INDIVIDUALLY -- NOT AS PEOPLE, BUT AS A GROUP, PUSHED THIS IN ANY WAY IN PARTICULAR?

>> RITA: I MEAN WHEN JOE STARTED DOING SOME OF THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS I KNOW WOMEN WERE A CRUCIAL PART OF PULLING THINGS TOGETHER AND ORGANIZING.

SO MRS. MERRITT WAS ONE OF THE -- WELL, IT'S KIND OF LIKE MARSHA SAID, IT'S COMMUNITY.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT JUNETEENTH, FOR US AS A PEOPLE, WHEN I LOOK AT JUNETEENTH, I REALLY DON'T SEPARATE THE MEN AND THE WOMEN.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK IT'S A JOINT -- SOMETHING THAT WAS A JOINT EFFORT THAT WE DID TOGETHER AND THAT WE SHARED TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY GAVE WHAT THEY WOULD GIVE TO THE EVENT.

WHATEVER SKILLS YOU BRING AND ORGANIZING AND GETTING FOOD -- WHATEVER SKILL.

WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

I THINK I AGREE WITH MARSHA.

IT'S A REAL COMMUNITY.

I WOULD JUST HATE TO SAY THE WOMEN DID THIS AND THE MEN DID THAT.

NO, WE DID IT TOGETHER.

>> HARDEMAN: WE PICKED UP THE BATON.

IT REALLY IS A TEAM EFFORT.

AS JOE TAUGHT US HOW TO CELEBRATE, I THINK THAT'S, AT THE MINIMUM TO MAKE A CONSCIOUSNESS.

I THINK I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

WE MOVED FROM -- OKAY, HELP ME, JOE.

YOU USED TO SAY FROM YOUR PARENT'S BACKYARD TO -- WHAT WAS IN BETWEEN BEFORE WE GOT TO ROOSEVELT PARK?

>> JOE: A NUMBER OF OTHER PARKS.

>> HARDEMAN: OKAY, SO PARK, PARK, PARK.

AND THEN WE BEGAN TO CELEBRATE ON THE PLAZA.

CATHY MCGILL AND I DID THE ORGANIZING DOWN ON THE PLAZA.

AND WE OUTGREW, PRAISE GOD, THE CIVIC PLAZA AND MOVED TO THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

AS WE SAW THAT COMMUNITY GROW, WE INCLUDED THE DIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.

THERE WERE RED PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE, BROWN PEOPLE, WHITE PEOPLE, YOU NAME EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO ENJOY THE CELEBRATION, AND WHO GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THEM ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

SO, A GOOD PASSING OF THE BATON FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TEAM TO SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO PICKED UP AND TOOK ON FROM THERE.

LET ME TELL YOU -- WELL I CAN'T SAY THAT.

I ALMOST SAID THE WOMEN DID AN AWFUL LOT OF COOKING IN THE BOOTHS, BUT WE HAD THE BROTHERS COOKING TOO.

>> LOU: REVEREND, I KNOW YOU HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

HOW HAS THE CHURCH SPECIFICALLY PLAYED A ROLE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF BLACK CULTURE, HERE IN NEW MEXICO IN PARTICULAR?

>> BECKNELL: WELL THE CHURCH HAS BEEN THE ESSENCE OF THE SPREAD OF BLACK CULTURE BECAUSE THE CHURCH IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE ONLY INSTITUTION, IN TERMS OF MY GROWING UP IN THE SEGREGATED ENVIRONMENT, WE WENT TO THE CHURCH FOR EVERYTHING.

IT WAS THE ORIGINAL SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY.

SO, THE CULTURE -- LIKE MARSHA WAS SAYING PEOPLE COME AND THEY GATHER, MEN AND WOMEN.

WE BRED THE CULTURE, AND THE CULTURE SPREAD.

JUNETEENTH WAS ORIGINALLY A TEXAS HOLIDAY.

NOW, WHEN TEXANS STARTED MOVING TO INDIANA -- >> HARDEMAN: MIGRATION, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BECKNELL: -- TO CALIFORNIA, TO NEW YORK.

THEY TOOK THE CULTURE WITH THEM.

>> HARDEMAN: THAT WAS CALLED THE SCATTERING.

>> BECKNELL: YEAH.

SO YOU HAD THESE BLACK PEOPLE IN A PARK FROM TEXAS CELEBRATING.

AND PEOPLE SAID WHAT ARE YOU GUYS CELEBRATING.

I WANT TO GET IN ON IT.

>> HARDEMAN: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BECKNELL: AND IT JUST GREW AND GREW TO THE POINT THAT IT JUST BECAME A CULTURAL EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> JOE: IF I MIGHT ADD, IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE BRIEF, I THINK MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH JUNETEENTH -- I'M THE SON OF A SHARECROPPER AND HIS WIFE.

WE WORKED IN THE COTTON FIELDS.

MY DAD TOLD ME THAT YOU WILL BE OUT HERE IN THE FIELD UNLESS IT RAINS OR LIGHTNING.

ON THE 19TH OF JUNE, 1956, HE SAID SHE DON'T HAVE TO WORK TODAY.

I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON, IN MY OWN LANGUAGE AT THE TIME.

HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE 19TH OF JUNE.

HAD A LITTLE PARK CALLED SILVER FALLS.

AND WE DIDN'T WORK THAT DAY.

AND WHAT AMAZED ME WAS HOW WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO TELL THE PEOPLE THAT MY DAD WORKED FOR, NO WORKING TODAY.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT LIBERTY, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE THAT WE PUT ON OURSELVES IN THE CELEBRATION OF THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

AND IT WAS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE THING.

CHURCH IS THE CENTER OF IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE CENTER OF JUNETEENTH.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL TIED.

WOMEN, WOMEN HAD THEIR ROLES.

MEN HAD THEIR ROLES.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE DID DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE KEY THING IS THAT PEOPLE FELT A SENSE OWNERSHIP.

GOD THE BLESS CHILD WHO'S GOT HIS OWN.

I GOT FROM THAT AS AN 8-YEAR-OLD KID, WE OWN THIS THING.

OWNERSHIP WAS REALLY -- THAT STRUCK ME, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK THAT DAY.

IT WAS HOT.

BUT THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL.

IT CONNECTED EVERY ASPECT OF THE COMMUNITY.

EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T GO TO CHURCH RESPECTED THE FACT THAT THAT'S MAINSTREAM.

>> HARDEMAN: CAN I TAG ON TO THAT?

>> LOU: BRIEFLY, PLEASE.

>> HARDEMAN: WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HIS DAD SAYING HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK TODAY.

IN THAT DAY AND THAT TIME, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DAY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE TO WORK WAS HUMONGOUS.

>> LOU: I WANT TO THANK JOE AND RITA POWDRELL FOR SHARING THEIR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE WITH US.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF MY CONVERSATION ON JUNETEENTH IN NEW MEXICO, REVERENT BECKNELL AND PROFESSOR HARDEMAN ARE JOINED BY MR. RON WALLACE, PUBLISHER OF PERSPECTIVE MAGAZINE, HIGHLIGHTING BLACK ISSUES SINCE 1984.

AND TIM GREEN IV, CULTURAL CHANGE LEADER AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

IN THIS SEGMENT THAT ALSO AIRED IN JUNE, I ASK ABOUT MEDIA COVERAGE OF JUNETEENTH AND HOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS EVOLVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

TIM, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN INTEGRAL IN ORGANIZING THIS GROUP, INCLUDING MR. AND MRS. POWDRELL WHO WE'LL WELCOME BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE.

SO MANY INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, HOW DID THIS COALITION FORM?

>> GREEN: WELL, I'M PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR JUNETEENTH 2024 THIS YEAR.

AND I WAS WORKING WITH COUNCILOR ROGERS LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT AND THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF JUNETEENTH.

SO, SHE INVITED ME IN TO START WORKING WITH THE GROUP, THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

AND I REALLY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AND FOR ME, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT OUR ELDERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROUGHT JUNETEENTH TO THE CITY.

SO, I STARTED TO SPEAK WITH NICHOLE ABOUT WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST TO CREATE A PANEL IN THE EVENING THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY, WHAT IT MEANS TODAY AND WHAT IT SHOULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF PASSING THAT BATON THAT MS. HARDEMAN TALKED ABOUT.

SO, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT FORMED.

JOE AND RITA HAVE BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS, ALONG WITH DR. CHARLES BECKNELL, SR. AND I HAVE JUST BEEN BLESSED TO BE AROUND RON WALLACE AND BEING IN THE COMPANY OF MARSHA HARDEMAN.

>> HARDEMAN: YOU'RE SO SWEET.

>> GREEN: I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PANEL.

AND IT HAS A DIVERSE GROUP OF VOICES.

THEY'RE ALL ACADEMICIANS, HISTORIANS, SCHOLARS.

FOR ME, THIS WAS JUST KIND OF A DREAM COME TRUE, AND A WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP, JUST LIKE JOE POWDRELL SAID, OF A CELEBRATION THAT IS ABOUT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.

THE ESSENCE OF AMERICA.

>> LOU: UNDERSTOOD.

MR. WALLACE, YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN BLACK CULTURAL EVENTS FOR YEARS, FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, COVERING THEM.

FOR A NEW MEXICAN AUDIENCE THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN AWARE OF THE PREVALENCE OF BLACK CULTURE HERE IN OUR STATE, HOW HAS MEDIA COVERAGE OF JUNETEENTH AND OTHER MAJOR ISSUES AND EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY HELPED SOLIDIFY THE IDENTITY OF BLACK NEW MEXICANS?

>> WALLACE: I THINK JUNETEENTH MEANT A LOT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOOD, GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

BUT THE MAIN THING THAT I FELT THAT PEOPLE WALKED AWAY WITH WAS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP.

A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF WHO THEY ARE AND A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP THAT THEY BELONG.

AND A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NOT HAVE A VOICE IN ANYTHING.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WHERE THE PUBLICATIONS CAME IN.

>> LOU: OKAY.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE COVERAGE OF THESE EVENTS?

AND DID YOU SEE THE INFLUENCE OF YOUR COVERAGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE OF THEM, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AWARE OF BLACK CULTURE?

>> WALLACE: OH, YEAH.

IT TOOK OFF.

WHEN MARSHA STARTED WITH THE CHRONICLE, AND SHE GOT THIS MAJOR GOOD JOB WITH THE CITY, AND SO I SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO BECAUSE I WAS LIKE HER TECHNICAL PERSON.

SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

I THOUGHT -- >> HARDEMAN: YOU DO IT, RON.

>> WALLACE: YEAH.

SO I THOUGHT I'LL CREATE THE PERSPECTIVE AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

SO THE CHRONICLE WENT AWAY, BUT THE PERSPECTIVE CAME IN AND STARTED FROM THERE.

>> LOU: UNDERSTOOD.

THIS NEXT QUESTION I'LL DIRECT TO YOU FIRST, REV.

DR. CHARLES BECKNELL.

AND THEN YOU, PROFESSOR HARDEMAN.

STARTING WITH YOU, REVEREND, HOW HAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY EVOLVED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CELEBRATION, BRINGING IN PEOPLE LIKE TIM, BUT BOTH FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL ALSO THE WIDER GROUP OF COMMUNITY ELDERS LIKE WE HAVE GATHERED TODAY?

>> BECKNELL: WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, BUT WHEN JOE POWDRELL TALKED ABOUT OWNERSHIP, AND THE CITY GOT INVOLVED AND STARTED PUTTING MONEY INTO IT, I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

BECAUSE THE OWNERSHIP SEEMED TO BE SHIFTED TO OH, WE NEED MONEY TO PUT THIS ON.

WHEN WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AT ONE TIME IT AND JUST HAD A BIG CELEBRATION IN THE PARK.

IT GOT COMMERCIALIZED.

THIS IS WHY I'M SO DISTURBED BY THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF JUNETEENTH.

WE NEED TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE CELEBRATION.

AND WHEN OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, IN TERMS OF MONEY, WE DEPEND ON MONEY TO HAVE A JUNETEENTH, I DON'T WANT NO PARTS OF THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST ME.

I'M NOT BEING -- WHATEVER.

IT'S JUST A CONCERN ON MY PART.

>> LOU: I UNDERSTAND.

PROFESSOR, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE CITY'S INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT AND FACILITATING THIS EVENT AND HOW THAT'S EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

>> HARDEMAN: SO, LET ME TRY TO GO BACK.

WHEN JOE TALKED ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE CELEBRATIONS FROM BACKYARD TO PARK, TO PARK, TO PARK AND WHEN THE CITY STARTED THE DOWNTOWN SUMMERFESTS IN THE LATE '80S -- I WANT TO SAY -- I'M HAVING TO REMEMBER.

THERE WAS SOME MONEY THAT WAS INFUSED.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH DR. BECKNELL THAT IT CREATED SOME ISSUES ABOUT WHO COULD, WHO COULDN'T, REGULATORY GUIDELINES BECAUSE IT WAS A CITY EVENT.

WE MOVED FROM CIVIC PLAZA TO THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS FOR EXACTLY THAT REASON.

SO WHEN CATHY MCGILL AND I ORGANIZED, WE FIGURED OKAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START -- THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD, SAYING WE HAVE TO CHARGE SOMETHING TO PAY, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL, AND HOOKUPS FOR THE BANDS AND THE STANDS.

WE HAD A GOSPEL STAGE THAT WENT ALL DAY LONG STARTING AT SUNRISE UNTIL THAT NIGHT.

WE HAD A SECULAR STAGE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO DO THEIR OTHER STUFF.

NO BAD WORDS.

IT'S ALL FAMILY STUFF.

BUT, IT WAS STILL OUR OWN.

AND BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT MEANT WE COULD INCORPORATE NEW BUSINESSES.

WE COULD INCORPORATE OUR OWN NONPROFITS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION.

OUR CHURCHES COULD COME AND DO THEIR OWN THING.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MONEY -- IT'S HARD TO DO THINGS WITHOUT MONEY.

BECAUSE EVEN AT ROOSEVELT PARK I CAN JOE CONTRACTING WITH CLARENCE SMITH AND HIS DAD, THAT'S HISTORY, TO DO THE ELECTRICAL.

EVEN AROUND ROOSEVELT PARK BECAUSE WE NEEDED MICROPHONES, OR THE BANDS NEEDED SOUND.

SO, TO CREATE A BALANCE THAT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY OUR CONTROL WITH OVERLY REGULATED THINGS IS A CHALLENGE.

IS IT IMPORTANT?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILL TELL THE STORY.

TELL THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH.

SHARE THE CELEBRATIONS.

THAT'S WHY THE NEWSPAPERS, WE THOUGHT WERE SO IMPORTANT.

RON IS LAUGHING ABOUT BEING MY TECHNICAL PERSON.

HE USED TO DO ALL THE COMPUTING.

THIS IS BEFORE WE WERE REAL FAMILIAR WITH COMPUTERS.

BUT THE LAUNCH OF THE CHRONICLE -- THE CORNISH RUSSWURM CHRONICLE.

NAMED FOR THE FOUNDERS OF THE BLACK PRESS, SAMUEL CORNISH AND JOHN B. RUSSWURM.

THE MASTHEAD SAID WE WISH TO PLEAD OUR OWN CAUSE.

TOO LONG HAVE OTHERS SPOKEN FOR US.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO TELL OUR OWN GOOD NEWS STORIES THAT NEVER GET TOLD IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

THAT'S STILL THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY.

WHEN I -- THAT'S WHEN I BECAME THE CONVENTION CENTER DIRECTOR AND RON BEGAN, HE TOLD THE STORIES THAT WERE MISSING.

WE TOLD STORIES OF OUTSTANDING ACADEMICIANS AND BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES THAT WERE DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT NOBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE HEARD OF.

AND THAT'S STILL THE SAME PROBLEM, BACK TO DR. BECKNELL'S POINT.

THE ISSUES, I SAY OFTEN, WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

IT'S THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE'RE STILL GRAPPLING WITH.

DON'T LET JUNETEENTH DOWN.

>> LOU: NOW, WITH ALL OF THIS HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU BRING UP, DO YOU FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY AS -- A TERM THAT YOU FLINCHED AT EARLIER IN OUR PRE-CONVERSATION, AS A COMMUNITY ELDER, TO PASS ON THAT KNOWLEDGE, BUT TO ALSO LEAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND THESE COLLABORATIONS?

>> HARDEMAN: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BRIEFLY AND I'M GOING TO PASS THAT BATON TO TIM.

WHY AM I STILL TEACHING AT AGE 101?

BECAUSE THE INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO PASS ALONG.

I BELIEVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE THE HISTORY OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE STRENGTHS OF OUR PEOPLE WHO KEEP ON THRIVING AND NOT JUST SURVIVING ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

JUNETEENTH JUST HAPPENS TO BE A CULMINATING TIME THAT EVERYBODY ELSE CAN BE A PART OF IT.

HOPEFULLY, AS I TELL MY STUDENTS, WHAT YOU LEARN NOW YOU NEED TO GO AND TEACH SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING NOW, TIM?

>> GREEN: WELL, I THINK IT BRINGS US TO JUNETEENTH 2024 WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL OPENING CEREMONY.

WHERE WE'RE INVITING EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, ELDERS, ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW MEXICO, TO COME OUT AND WE'LL WALK TOGETHER IN AN ACT OF EMBODIMENT.

AND THE YOUTH ARE GOING TO CHALK OUT ON THE GROUND WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO THEM.

WE'VE PUT OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'LL GATHER THOSE RESPONSES AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE YOUTH CHALK IT OUT.

AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11:00.

AND AT 1:30 WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SESSION CALLED YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK.

WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'LL HAVE A POEM.

THERE WILL BE A MENTIMETER, WHICH WILL BE A Q&A BETWEEN THE AUDIENCE.

>> HARDEMAN: YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE MENTIMETER FOR SOME OF US -- >> GREEN: ABSOLUTELY.

THE MENTIMETER IS JUST A Q&A AND IT'S A WAY PEOPLE CAN INTERACT USING THEIR PHONE, THEIR DIGITAL PADS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT WILL BE AROUND THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.

IT WILL BE ABOUT 15 TO 20 QUESTIONS.

WE DID IT LAST YEAR.

IT WAS A GREAT HIT.

EVERYBODY LOVED IT.

AND THEN IN THE EVENING, AT 5:00 TO 5:30, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS PANEL HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF JUNETEENTH.

>> LOU: UNDERSTOOD.

WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU FEEL, TIM, AS A YOUNGER PERSON TO BLEND THESE GENERATIONS TOGETHER?

>> GREEN: I THINK THERE'S A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLACK EDUCATIONAL HERITAGE AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO QUICKLY GO BACK TO WHAT DR. CHARLES BECKNELL, SR.

SPOKE TO.

I THINK IT'S A FINE BALANCE, JUST LIKE YOU SAID.

RIGHT, BECAUSE JUNETEENTH HAS BECOME A FEDERAL NATIONAL-RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY, WHICH IT HAS ALWAYS HAS NEEDED TO BE.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO WALK THAT FINE LINE OF MAINTAINING CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP.

TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET WATERED DOWN THROUGH COMMERCIALIZATION OR GETTING WHITEWASHED ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL SENTIMENT AND MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY IS.

FOR ME, I THINK BEING A BLACK NEW MEXICAN WHO HAS BEEN RAISED HERE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW UNIQUE WE ARE WITHIN THE COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THESE TRADITIONS, WE MAINTAIN OUR CULTURE, AND WE LEARN THE LESSONS FROM OUR ELDERS SO THAT WAY MOVING FORWARD WE CAN TEACH OUR CHILDREN.

WE'RE LIVING IN A CONTEXT NOW WHERE OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE IS BEING BANNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?

AND THERE'S ANTI-BLACKNESS.

THERE'S LOTS OF RACISM THAT IS STILL GOING ON.

ANTI-VOTING LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PASSED.

WE CANNOT SEPARATE THESE ISSUES FROM THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH AND THE TRUE ESSENCE AND MEANING.

FOR ME, IF WE DON'T BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN OUR ELDERS AND OUR YOUTH, THERE'S GOING TO BE A REAL PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHO WE ARE AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE COME FROM.

>> HARDEMAN: THAT'S GOOD.

>> LOU: UNDERSTOOD.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL SIX OF OUR GUESTS WHO JOINED US TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH IN NEW MEXICO.

THERE'S ONE FINAL SEGMENT OF OUR CONVERSATION WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REAIR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS YOUTUBE PAGE.

IN HIS DOCUMENTARY 'AMERICAN HEMP FARMER,' DOUG FINE FILMS THE MOMENT HIS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO FARM RECEIVES A FEDERAL PERMIT TO GROW AND HARVEST HEMP.

IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THE LONGTIME HEMP ENTHUSIAST.

FOR YEARS, FINE HAS SPREAD THE GOOD WORD ABOUT HEMP, THAT IT'S A SUPERFOOD, IT PROVIDES CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND IT CAN EVEN BE USED TO PRINT PHYSICAL MATERIALS WITH A 3D PRINTER.

IN THIS INTERVIEW THAT WE FIRST AIRED IN JUNE, CORRESPONDENT ANDY LYMAN SITS DOWN WITH FINE TO DISCUSS HIS AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY AND HOW NEW MEXICO IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BENEFIT HEMP FARMERS.

>> ANDY: DOUG FINE, THANKS FOR COMING AND SITTING DOWN WITH ME TODAY.

>> FINE: SO GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU, ANDY.

>> ANDY: ONE OF THE OVERARCHING THEMES IN YOUR FILM SEEMS TO BE THAT HEMP CAN BE ONE OF THE BIG ANSWERS TO COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE THANKS TO ITS WIDE VARIETY OF USES, BUT ALSO THAT IT GROWS FAST AND PLENTIFUL.

SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE USES OF THE PLANT, AND HOW CAN IT SAVE HUMANITY FROM CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> FINE: FIRST AND FOREMOST, HEMP'S ROOTS ARE UNUSUALLY LONG FOR AN ANNUAL.

WHEN YOU HARVEST A HEMP PLANT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU HAVE THESE BRANCHING OUT ROOT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS AERATING THE SOIL.

AND IT'S REALLY CRUCIAL FOR CREATING A LIVING SPACE FOR BENEFICIAL MICROBES.

WHEN YOU HAVE BENEFICIAL MICROBES, YOU HAVE THRIVING PLANTS.

AND THE PLANTS DO THEIR JOB OF SEQUESTERING CARBON.

THEY BREATHE IT THE WAY WE BREATHE OXYGEN.

SO, WE CAN QUANTIFY IT.

AND I'VE SEEN IT IN THE FIELD.

AND THIS IS IN THE FILM.

THERE'S A WILDFIRE RANGING OUTSIDE OF THE HEMP FIELDS.

IT'S 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE, MORE THAN 100 DEGREES.

YOU GO OUT INTO THE HEMP FIELD, AND THE AIR IS CLEAR AND COOLER.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD SAY THE ROOTS, BUT ALSO THE APPLICATION THAT I LOVE GROWING FOR MY OWN FAMILY'S FOOD SECURITY IS SEED AND THE HEMP SEED.

YOU CAN GET IT AT ANY GROCERY STORE.

AND IT'S A GENUINE SUPERFOOD.

VERY HIGH -- 30-PLUS PERCENT PROTEIN.

AND PLENTIFUL AND BENEFICIAL MINERALS LIKE SELENIUM AND MAGNESIUM.

SO IN THOSE TWO WAYS, FOOD SECURITY AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION, IT'S PART OF AN ENTOURAGE OF PLANTS, BUT ISSUE A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL PLANT FOR HUMANITY'S FUTURE.

>> ANDY: SO, A LOT OF THE FILM TAKES PLACE AT YOUR FUNKY BUTTE RANCH IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.

AND THEN TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM, WE SEE YOU AND YOUR WIFE GET YOUR STATE HEMP LICENSE.

I COULD SORT OF FEEL THE EMOTION THAT WAS HAPPENING.

WHAT WAS RIDING ON THAT PERMIT TO GET THE PERMIT?

>> FINE: IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

NO OTHER SUPERFOOD, NO OTHER CROP THAT YOU GROW BESIDES CANNABIS HEMP REQUIRES ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO COME AND INSPECT YOUR CROP, ISSUE YOU A PERMIT FOR A CROP.

IT'S A WEIRD SYSTEM.

I WISH THAT THE LEGACY OF THE RIDICULOUS WAR ON CANNABIS WERE OVER SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET PERMITS AT ALL.

HAVING SAID THAT, NEW MEXICO HAS SINCE THE MOMENT THAT NEW MEXICO DEVELOPED A HEMP PROGRAM ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, HAD ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

TOP -- WITHIN THE TOP COUPLE OF HEMP PROGRAMS.

VERY FARMER-FRIENDLY IN THE WAY THAT THE INSPECTIONS WERE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THC LEVELS, THE PSYCHOACTIVE LEVELS, ARE WITHIN CURRENT HEMP DEFINITIONS.

IT IS A BIG MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE OFFICIAL AND YOU GET YOUR PERMIT AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THIS SWEAT, LIKE, OFF YOUR BROW MOMENT WHEN YOU PASS THE THC TEST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.

THEN, YOU KNOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY HARVEST THE CROP.

I'M REALLY BIG ON TAKING THE BURDEN OFF THE FARMERS.

ALL THAT STUFF I THINK WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF IT WENT AWAY AND WE JUST LET FARMERS GROW THEIR CROPS.

>> ANDY: LATER ON IN THE FILM THERE'S ANOTHER SCENE WHERE YOU VISIT THIS 3D PRINTING OPERATION.

WHERE THEY'RE USING HEMP MATERIAL TO MAKE WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE SORT OF A PLASTIC TYPE OF MATERIAL.

IT MIGHT TAKE SOME VIEWERS SOME TIME TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND IT, BUT MY BRAIN FIRST WENT TO MAYBE CHEECH AND CHONG ARE ON TO SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE MOVIE "UP IN SMOKE," THEY'RE DRIVING AROUND THIS BIG TRUCK MADE OF CANNABIS.

MAYBE THEY SAW THE FUTURE.

I DON'T KNOW.

NOW WE KNOW THAT IT'S POSSIBLE, WHY AREN'T WE SEEING MORE WIDESPREAD PRODUCTION OF HEMP IN THAT WAY?

>> FINE: FIRST OF ALL, IN CASE IT HELPS VIEWERS, I RARELY TRAVEL WITHOUT THE HEMP-PRINTED GOAT.

THIS IS 3D PRINTED U.S.

GROWN HEMP, GOOD BY THE PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH, COMPOSTABLE.

IT CAN BE MADE IN ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF STRENGTHS OF PLASTIC.

SO YOU DON'T NEED THOSE PETROL CHEMICALS.

IF WE REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR SUPPLY CHAIN AS CUSTOMERS, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO, I HOPE, REACH CRITICAL MASS.

TMI ALERT, EVEN MY PANTS AND UNDERWEAR ARE MADE FROM HEMP, THIS RENEWABLE AND EASY GROW CROP.

SO, AS FOR WHY IS IT NOT MORE IMPLEMENTED, IT'S ABOUT CRITICAL MASS AND CHICKEN AND EGG.

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ACREAGE HAS TO BE GROWN IN ORDER TO HAVE ENOUGH FEEDSTOCK TO FEED EXPENSIVE PROCESSING MACHINERY.

AND REALLY JUST EDUCATING CUSTOMERS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO A BOX STORE AND BUY PESTICIDE-SOAKED IMPORTED COTTON.

OR YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AND SEEK OUT CLOTHING OR FOOD OF ALL KINDS, NOT EVEN JUST HEMP, THAT'S MADE OR GROWN BY LOCAL FARMERS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU MIGHT BE PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE GOING IN, BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THE WHOLE SAYING PAY THE FARMER NOW RATHER THAN THE DOCTOR LATER IS SOMETHING WE REALLY LIVE BY.

IT'S ABOUT INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES DECIDING THEY'RE GOING TO WORK REGENERATIVE MATERIALS AND FOOD INTO THEIR BUDGET.

>> ANDY: YOU ALSO WENT AND VISITED GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FAMOUS MOUNT VERNON ESTATE AND SAW, I BELIEVE, THE FIRST HEMP CROP THERE IN CENTURIES, I THINK IS WHAT YOU MENTIONED IN THE FILM.

IT SEEMS TO BE SORT OF A BIG TURNING POINT FOR HEMP MANUFACTURING, HEMP GROWTH, THAT IT'S COMING BACK TO THIS PLACE THAT WAS FAMOUSLY -- THAT FAMOUSLY GREW HEMP THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN THERE IN TERMS OF HOW INTEGRAL HEMP WAS FOR OUR FIRST PRESIDENT?

>> FINE: IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

I FEEL SO LUCKY THAT THE LONGTIME MANAGER OF THE ESTATE, DEAN NORTON, HAD READ ONE OF MY HEMP BOOKS AND INVITED ME JUST TO BE PART OF THIS HARVEST NOT KNOWING I WAS MAKING A FILM.

WE GOT INTO COLONIAL CLOTHES AND HARVESTED WITH SUPER SHARP COLONIAL ERA SCYTHES.

THEY'RE REALLY SHARP.

I STILL HAVE A SCAR FROM HARVESTING NOT CAREFULLY ENOUGH.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HEMP IN HIS JOURNALS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS UNDENIABLE.

BUT AS FAR AS WHAT I LEARNED MOST IT WAS YET ANOTHER USE OF HEMP I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

PEOPLE THINK OF SOME OF THE MORE COMMON USES FOR HEMP, EVEN THAT WE DISCUSSED, FOOD AND CLOTHING.

GEORGE WASHINGTON MADE MOST OF HIS MONEY THROUGH HIS FISHING FLEET IN THE POTOMAC RIVER AND HIS NETS WERE MADE FROM HEMP.

THE BOATS THAT WERE USED IN THE FISHING WERE CAULKED WITH HEMP SEED OIL.

SO, HEMP WAS VITAL FOR HIM CONCRETELY IN MAKING A LIVING.

YEAH, THIS WAS THE FIRST -- WE DOCUMENTED IN THE FILM THE FIRST HEMP HARVEST AT MOUNT VERNON SINCE 1799.

IT WAS AN AWESOME, AWESOME EXPERIENCE TO BE PART OF.

>> ANDY: I'VE BEEN COVERING CANNABIS LEGALIZATION HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

WHAT I'M HEARING THESE DAYS THERE'S SOME RUMBLINGS OF HOW IS NEW MEXICO GOING TO PUT ITSELF ON THE MAP WHEN INTERSTATE COMMERCE BECOMES A THING.

I FEEL LIKE CBD AND HEMP IS ALREADY THERE, CONSIDERING IT'S ON A DIFFERENT LEGAL STANDARD.

AND I FEEL LIKE CBD AND HEMP PRODUCTS ARE SORT OF UBIQUITOUS IN STORES THESE DAYS.

BUT NOT MUCH OF IT IS LOCAL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, HOW CAN LOCAL HEMP FARMERS SORT OF GET A LEG UP, GET THEIR PRODUCTS ON TO SHELVES SO THAT ONE WE GO TO THE LOCAL BOUTIQUE STORE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE WE KNOW IT'S GROWN LOCALLY?

>> FINE: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE FIRST MODEL THAT COMES TO MIND IS HATCH GREEN CHILE HAS DONE SUCH A REMARKABLE JOB.

DESERVEDLY, IT'S AWESOME, WE LOVE IT.

MARKETING ITSELF WORLDWIDE.

AND THAT IS ABOUT LOCAL FARMERS GROWING IN A PLACE.

USING THAT MODEL, NEW MEXICO -- AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT AND COVERED IN THIS FILM HEMP AND CANNABIS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHAT WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO IS THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT.

THE LOCAL GROWN KIND OF REAL GENUINE SPIRIT PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPER FRIENDLY.

WE HAVE RED OR GREEN SAUCE IN OUR NEW MEXICO RESTAURANTS.

TAKING THAT MENTALITY IN IS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR CANNABIS AND HEMP FARMERS, VERSUS WHAT ARE KNOWN AS MSOS, MULTI-STATE OPERATIONS.

IT'S FINE, I'M GRATEFUL FOR CANNABIS HEMP RETURNING IN ALL OF ITS FORMS, BUT JUST AS I SHOP AT A FARMERS MARKET OR FOOD CO-OP RATHER THAN A BOX STORE FOR MY VEGETABLES, THAT'S HOW I HOPE VISITORS TO THE STATE AND EVEN FOLKS WITHIN THE STATE WHO ARE SHOPPING FOR M-CANNABIS WILL SEEK OUT THOSE LOCALLY PRODUCED, IDEALLY ORGANIC, BUT CERTAINLY REGENERATIVELY LOCAL HEMP PRODUCTS.

I WANT TO SHOUT OUT HIGH LONESOME FARMS OUT OF SILVER CITY.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH HEMP AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS.

AND YOU KNOW SINCE I LIVE IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, UP HERE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO I'M SURE THERE'S A TON OF FARM TO PRODUCT.

I URGE FOLKS TO JUST LOOK FOR, AS YOU SAID, THOSE FARM TO SHELF, FARM TO PRODUCT HEMP AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS EVEN WHEN THERE IS COMPETITION.

AND LOOK FOR MORE THAN JUST THAT IMMEDIATE PRICE TAG.

LOOK FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED.

JUST LIKE YOU WOULD FOR HATCH CHILE.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR GREEN CHILE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> ANDY: SO SOMETIMES WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BE, SORT OF, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS IN SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL FARMS, RIGHT?

>> FINE: MAYBE SO, TOO.

BUT I MEAN IF YOU'RE TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO A FARMER'S MARKET FOR HEMP OR OTHER PRODUCTS, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT EVEN PAYING THAT MUCH MORE.

WE MAKE IT OUR TOURISM TO GO AND SHOP FOR FOOD IN A PLACE.

YOU KNOW, LOCAL FOOD IN A PLACE.

>> ANDY: AS I WAS WATCHING THIS, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT YOU SEEM TO BE HAVING A LOT OF FUN DOING THIS.

NOT JUST MAKING THE FILM, BUT GROWING HEMP AND SUPPORTING YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THIS.

YOU'RE DOING CARTWHEELS IN THE FILM.

YOU'RE DANCING.

YOU'RE WEARING COSTUMES.

YOU PLAY THE SAXOPHONE.

I THINK YOU CALL IT TOOTING THE SAXOPHONE FOR YOUR PLANTS.

HOW EASY IS IT FOR, SAY, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE NEW MEXICO PBS CORRESPONDENT TO DITCH EVERYTHING AND GO START A HEMP FARM?

>> FINE: I WOULD SAY THAT YOU'RE RIGHT THAT FUN IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE BRAND.

WE FINES, MY FAMILY AND I, LOVE OUR LIFE.

BEING OUTSIDE WITH POLLINATORS IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM.

AND FOCUSING ON FAMILY TO BEGIN WITH, WE HOMESCHOOL OUR KID.

I ADVISED IT TO FOLKS AS A WAY TO LIVE A REALLY HAPPY LIFE.

AS FOR WHAT ANYBODY CAN DO -- EVERY ACRE OF REGENERATIVELY CULTIVATED HEMP SEQUESTERS TONS OF CARBON.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A ROOFTOP SPACE IN A CITY OR JUST A PATCH THAT YOU CAN DRIP IRRIGATE AND PLANT HEMP ON -- OF COURSE AT THIS STAGE YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT EVEN FOR A HOME SUBSISTENCE CROP.

BUT HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS, BUT HOPEFULLY THOSE TYPE OF THINGS ARE GOING AWAY.

EVERYBODY CAN ACTUALLY PLAY A CONCRETE ROLE.

AND YOUR OWN FOOD WILL BE HEALTHIER.

COMING BACK TO THE FAMILY, AND COMING BACK TO HOME, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE IN THE END I FEEL WHEN WE HAVE THESE JARS AND JARS OF HEMP SEED THAT WE CAN PUT INTO OUR YOGURT THAT COMES FROM OUR GOATS, CUTTING THE CARBON MILES OUT OF IT, WE'RE NOT FULLY FOOD INDEPENDENT BY ANY STRETCH.

WE TAKE TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK A LOT.

BUT IT'S A REMARKABLE FEELING.

WHETHER IT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL OR REALLY, TRULY NUTRITIVE WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING MORE NUTRIENT-DENSE FOOD.

WHEN YOU LOVE THE PLANT AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THEM, OR IN MY CASE PLAYING BAD SAXOPHONE AT THEM, I THINK IT DOES ACTUALLY RESULT IN HAPPIER PLANTS.

I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO HAVE AN EXTREMELY GREEN THUMB, YET THESE PLANTS KEEP COMING UP AND GIVING MY FAMILY FOOD.

I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL AT THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL, THE "AMERICAN HEMP FARMER" FILM PREMIERED AND WON THIS AWARD AND I GOT CALLED ON TO THE STAGE AND GOT THIS NAMBE AWARD AND I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.

I THANKED, BESIDES OBVIOUS FAMILY-- MICROBES.

THE MICROBES, AND THE SUN, AND THE PLANTS BECAUSE THEY'RE PROVIDING LIFE FOR MY FAMILY.

>> ANDY: YOU REFERENCED YOURSELF AS A MIDWIFE, I THINK IN THAT, RIGHT?

JUST TO SORT OF FACILITATE IT.

SO, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE FILM?

AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND IT RIGHT NOW?

>> FINE: IT'S A FUN JOURNEY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS STAGE AFTER PRINT JOURNALISM, RADIO JOURNALISM, AND BOOK AUTHORING TO MOVE INTO FILM AND HAVE THIS IMMEDIATE -- WITH THE FIRST FILM, FIRST PREMIER TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF JUSTIFICATION.

I'M SO GRATEFUL, ALWAYS WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL FOR ACCEPTING THIS FILM BECAUSE YOU START TO GET RETURN CALLS.

SO, NOW I'M IN THIS FUN HONEYMOON PHASE OF A LEARNING PROCESS OF HOW YOU MARKET A FILM.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, TELEVISION AND FILM MARKETS ARE EVOLVING EXTREMELY RAPIDLY.

OUR HOPE IS THAT THERE'S PBS WATCHERS AT NETFLIX WHO WANT TO PICK UP THIS FILM.

WE REALLY WANT TO GET THIS MESSAGE OF HAVING FUN WHILE SEQUESTERING CARBON AND LIVING A REGENERATIVE LIFE OUT BECAUSE I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE GRANDIOSE.

IT'S A POTENTIAL HOPE FOR HUMANITY.

IF EVERYBODY IS THINKING ABOUT LOCAL FOOD AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE INDUSTRIAL PIPELINE PRODUCTS, MAYBE HUMANITY ACTUALLY HAS A CHANCE OF THRIVING POST-PETROLEUM.

>> ANDY: OKAY.

WELL, GREAT.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND TALKING WITH ME TODAY.

>> FINE: GREAT QUESTIONS.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

>> ANDY: THANKS.

>> LOU: THANKS TO ANDY LYMAN AND DOUG FINE.

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.