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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL TAKE A DETAILED LOOK AT NEW MARICOPA COUNTY BUDGET, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE NEW INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN FOUNTAIN HILLS.

THOSE STORIES NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

FED CHAIR JEROME POWELL APPEARED BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE AND SAID THAT THE CENTRAL BANK IS INCREASINGLY CONFIDENT THAT INFLATION IS RETURNING TO A 2% TARGET RATE.

>> INCOMING DATA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR DID NOT SUPPORT SUCH GREATER CONFIDENCE.

THE MOST RECENT INFLATION READINGS HAVE SHOWN MODEST FURTHER PROGRESS, AND MORE GOOD DATA WOULD STRENGTHEN OUR CONFIDENCE THAT INFLATION IS MOVING SUSTAINABLY TOWARD 2%.

TED: POWELL ADDED IF PRICE INCREASES CONTINUE TO SLOW, THE FED WOULD LIKELY DELIVER AN INTEREST RATE CUT WHICH ANALYSTS SAY COULD COME AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER.

>>> MILLIONS OF RESIDENTS IN TEXAS WITHOUT POWER AFTER TROPICAL STORM BERYL BATTERED THE HOUSTON AREA WITH HIGH WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAINS.

THE STORM KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE IN TEXAS WITH ANOTHER DEATH REPORTED IN LOUISIANA.

FLOODWATERS ARE STARTING TO RECEDE IN THE AREA, NO TIME LINE OF RESTORING ELECTRICITY AND FORECASTERS ARE FORECASTING HOT WEATHER IN THE COMES DAYS.

>>> THE EVACUATION OF CAMPERS AT BEAR CANYON LAKE AND NOEL LAKE, THE FIRE IS 0% CONTAINED AND POSSIBLY GOING TO IMPACT PAYSON ALONG WITH CHRISTOPHER CREEK, YOUNG, FOREST LAKES AND HEBER OVERGAARD.

HIGHWAY 260 COULD BE IMPACTED BY SMOKE FROM THE FIRE.

>>> TOMORROW IS NATIONAL KITTEN DAY.

THAT'S RIGHT, THERE IS SUCH A THING AND TOMORROW IS IT.

SOMEONE SET ASIDE JULY 10 TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS FLUFFY AND ADORABLE AND PROMOTING ADOPTION FOSTERING OF KITTENS AND VOLUNTEERING AT A KITTEN RESCUE.

ALSO A WAY FOR US TO END OUR HEADLINES WITH, WELL, KITTENS.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY'S NEW BUDGET IS A DONE DEAL.

$3.8 BILLION SPENDING PLAN COVERS A VARIETY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS WHILE CUTTING OVERALL SPENDING AND PROPERTY TAXES.

JOINING US IS THOMAS GALVIN, VICE CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

TED: HOW MUCH CUT FROM THE LAST BUDGET?

>> $500 MILLION.

THE BUDGET WAS $4.3 BILLION.

WE CUT 11% THIS YEAR, 3% LAST YEAR.

WHEN I GO AROUND COUNTY TALKING TO PEOPLE HOW WE'RE GUTTING, PEOPLE CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

YOU NEVER HEAR OF THAT.

GOVERNMENT AND BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS INCREASING.

BECAUSE OF OUR GOOD FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE POLICIES, FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF PROPERTY TAX CUTS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT WAY ON SPENDING WE HAVE A BUDGET CUT BY 11%.

TED: WHEN SOMETHING GETS CUT, SOMETHING GETS CUT.

WHAT GOT CUT HERE?

>> SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY OVERALL.

50 DIFFERENT BUSINESS LINES OF MARICOPA COUNTY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED SINCE THE PANDEMIC, COUNTIES ARE A WATCH RATE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MARICOPA COUNTY CONSIDERED THAT TO BE ONE-TIME SPENDING AND MADE SURE THAT WAS NOT BUDGETED FOR ONGOING MONEYS, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN COUNTIES AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY DIDN'T PLAN FOR THAT.

WE'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE.

WE'RE ROLLING OFF THE ONE-TIME SPENDING AND REDUCING THE PENSION OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS AND SWORN DEPUTIES AND 100% FULLY FUNDED FOR PENSION DEBT.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO PENSION DEBT IN A SECOND.

ZERO DEBT WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY BUDGET.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NO OBLIGATION DEBT, WE'RE THE LARGEST TO MAKE THE CLAIM.

>> THE FUNDS HELPED A LOT AND WERE PUT INTO PLAY.

IS THAT THE DEAL?

HAVE THEY ALL BEEN SPENT?

ALL THAT MONEY BEEN SPENT, ALL THOSE DOLLARS?

WHERE DID IT GO?

YOU TALK ABOUT ONE-TIME SPENDING, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ONE TIME IS OVER?

>> YEAH, THE MONEY'S BEEN ALLOCATED, MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN SPENT.

WE WANTED TO DO IT FOR PROGRAMS OF THE COUNTY WE CONSIDER ONE-TIME SPENDING FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE OR DO IT IN A TARGETED WAY TO HELP PEOPLE AROUND MARICOPA COUNTY.

WE FOCUSED ON HELPING SENIOR CITIZENS, DISABLED VETERANS AND HELPING PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING, HOUSING CHALLENGES AND BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE MADE SURE THAT WE KNEW THAT THE MONEY WAS GOING RUN OUT AT SOME POINT, SO WE'RE REDUCING THE BUDGET, WE'RE PLANNING RESPONSIBLY.

TED: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AS FAR AS BUDGETS IN THE COMES YEARS?

>> WE'RE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WITH THE BUDGET OF $3.8 BILLION, WE'RE TAXING MARICOPA COUNTY RESIDENTS A $257 MILLION BELOW OUR LEVEE, IF YOU HAD A DIFFERENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COME IN TOMORROW, THEY COULD RAISE TAXES LEGALLY BY $257 MILLION.

THAT'S PART OF THE PROPERTY TAX CUT RATE PLAN TO DEAL WITH INFLATION IN THE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BUDGETING CONSERVATIVELY, WITH A SMALL C, TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY DOES NOT DO WHAT IS SIMPLE, DON'T SPEND MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE.

TED: AS FAR AS WHAT YOU HAVE, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE BUDGET GOES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THESE SORTS OF THING, EXPLAIN PLEASE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

15 COUNTIES IN ARIZONA, WHETHER YOU ARE LARGE LIKE MARICOPA COUNTY OR SMALL COUNTY LIKE GREENLEE OR LA PAZ, WE HAVE THE SAME ROLE AND JURISDICTION AND THE BULK OF THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE'RE REDUCING THE OVERALL BUDGET, WE'RE INVESTING IN WHAT COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL NEEDS AND SHERIFF RUSS SKINNER NEEDS AND THEY NEED THE RESOURCES TO DEBOY THE ASSETS TO FIGHT CRIME TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROSECUTING AND CATCHING THE BAD GUYS.

THIS IS MONEY WE'RE GIVING DRONE TECHNOLOGY, BODY-WORN CAMERAS TO SWORN DEPUTIES AND HIRING MORE PROSECUTORS IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

TED: WHAT ABOUT BUDGETING FOR PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SPEND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD, FAIR, HONEST ELECTIONS.

WE ARE, TED, IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW ELECTION BUILDING.

WE NEED IT.

IT'S VERY NECESSARY TO DO IT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027, IN TIME FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BUT FOR THIS ELECTION, WE HAVE RENOVATED OUR CURRENT ELECTION BUILDING TO, A, ULTIMATELY SPEED UP HOW VOTES ARE COUNTED BUT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN FIT IN THERE, WE HAVE HIRED MORE TEMPORARY WORKERS, PERMANENT WORKERS AND ALLOCATED SPACE FOR COUNTING OF VOTES.

TED: I DID SEE $29 MILLION GOING TO VOTES?

HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COUNTY ELECTIONS, DO YOU RECALL OFFHAND?

>> I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT NUMBER.

YOU GOT TO SPEND IT THE RIGHT WAY AND DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

TED: IS IT THE RIGHT WAY CONSIDERING THE COUNTY REPEATEDLY TELLS US THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.

IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, WHAT DO WE NEED $29 MILLION FOR THIS?

>> WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD, NOT LOOK BACK.

THERE IS PROCESS TO IMPROVE THE ELECTION SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE FRUSTRATED WITH IS STATE LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO COUNT BALLOTS FASTER.

WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR PROCEDURES AND FOLLOW THE LAW, TO MAKE SURE THE BALLOTS GET COUNTED FASTER.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A 65% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS REPORTED OVER THE FIRST 48 HOURS.

TED: INTERESTING.

AS FAR AS HEAT RELIEF, SEEING A LOT OF THAT AS FAR AS BUDGETING AND MUNICIPALITIES.

WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> A ROBUST SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS WHERE MARICOPA COUNTY NEEDS TO WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH THE CITIES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CITIES IN MY DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY MESA.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOME PARKS, IN RVs, THEY ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES AND GOD FORBID DEATHS.

WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX, MESA, WHAT HAVE YOU TO MAKE SURE THE HEAT RELIEF CENTERS ARE DEPLOYED BUT IMPORTANT TO COORDINATE WITH THEM SO WE ARE NOT STEPPING ON EACH OTHER'S TOES.

TWO WEEKS AGO I VISITED A HEAT RELIEF CENTER IN MESA, WE PROVIDED WATER BOWLS AND DOG SHOES BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HAVE DOGS.

TED: WANT TO GET BACK TO PENSION LIABILITIES FOR RETIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES.

ARE YOU PAYING IT DOWN AT LOWER RATES?

HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> INCREASING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION BECAUSE MARICOPA COUNTY IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE, WE'RE ABLE TO GO FROM 88% FUNDED TO 100% FUNDED.

MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT YOU SEE, EVEN IN ARIZONA ARE 20 OR 30% FUNDED.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT.

BY MAKING SURE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE IN PAYING THE PENSION DEBT OBLIGATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, IT SAVES MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

TED: OKAY, LAST QUESTION HERE, THIS HAS ALL WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL AS FAR AS THE BOTTOM LINE, UNANIMOUS.

ALL THE SUPERVISORS AGREED HERE, LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A DOWNTURN?

>> YES, YES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, IT'S INCUMBENT ON ME AND OUR FIVE COLLEAGUES, WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE PESSIMISTIC SCENARIOS, OPTIMISTIC SCENARIOS AND REASONABLE SCENARIOS.

THEY RUN A $1.7 BILLION DEFICIT AFTER THINKING THEY HAD A SURPLUS.

WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH IN RESERVES, PAY FOR OBLIGATIONS AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T SPEND MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE WHICH PROVIDED THE ABILITY TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

TED: OKAY, CUTTING THE PROPERTY TAX FOR FOUR YEARS AND CUTTING THE BUDGET AS WELL.

THAT'S YOUR HEADLINE, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT IS OUR HEADLINE.

WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

THE ECONOMIST JIM ROUNDS SAID WE'RE THE MOST FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTRY.

TED: THOMAS GALVIN, MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH THE WHAT NOTES, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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TED: ACCORDING TO THE W.H.O.

AND CDC, LONELINESS AND SOCIALIZING ARE DOWN IN THE U.S. ONE FOURTH OF ADULTS, 65 AND OLDER ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE AT MUCH HIGHER RISK OF DEATH, STROKE AND HEART FAILURE.

I SPOKE WITH A GERIATRITION ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> LONELINESS AND ISOLATION IN OLDER ADULTS LINKED TO SERIOUS STUFF HERE.

IS THIS SURPRISING TO YOU?

>> NOT TO ME AS A GERIATRITION, I TALK TO PATIENTS ALSO ABOUT HEALTH IMPACTS OF LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION.

THEY DON'T THINK OF BEING LONELY OR ISOLATED IN THE SAGE AS HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING OR OBESITY OR DRINKING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL.

IT MAY HAVE JUST AS MUCH IN MAGNITUDE OF RISK IN ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE THINGS.

TED: WE'RE TALKING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PROBLEMS HERE.

LONELINESS AND ISOLATION, PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THE MENTAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT THERE ARE PHYSICAL.

THE RISK OF DEMENTIA AND THESE THINGS?

STROKE?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A HEALING POWER TO BEING AROUND PEOPLE, ABOUT ENJOYING AND HAVING MEANING IN LIFE.

OUR REASON TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AS ONE OF MY PATIENTS PUT IT, AND OUR CONNECTION TO OTHERS REALLY PROVIDES THAT, INCLUDING HEALTH BENEFITS.

IF YOU'RE CONNECTED TO SOMEBODY, YOU GET OUT OF BED, GET OUT OF HOUSE, START WALKING.

THERE'S A LOT OF HEALTH RISKS THAT AREN'T TOO FAR-FETCHED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAVE IMPACT ON PHYSICAL HEALTH.

TED: DEFINE LONELINESS AND ISOLATION?

>> TWO SEPARATE CONSTRAKTS HERE.

I TELL PATIENTS IF YOU ARE ALONE, YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN FEELING ALONE, IT'S VERY COMMON.

ABOUT 40% OF OLDER INDIVIDUALS FEEL LONELINESS, SO YOU CAN BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND FEEL LONELY IF YOU ARE NOT CONNECTING, ET CETERA.

LONELINESS MEANS A LOT TO THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.

AND PEOPLE COULD BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED BUT NOT FEEL LONELY AT ALL, AND ABOUT 25% OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT HEALTH BENEFITS LIKE FOLKS EXPERIENCING FLOODING OR HUGE SNOWFALLS, IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THAT, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO CALL ON SO CAN YOU BE SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND HAVE HEALTH RISKS AND SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND SOCIALLY CONNECTED ONLINE, BUT FEEL VERY LONELY.

TED: RECENT STUDY.

MORE THAN A THIRD AGED 45+ FEEL LONELY.

NEARLY A QUARTER, 65+ FEEL ISOLATED, AND AGAIN THE REASONS?

LIVING ALONE, LOSS OF FAMILY, THE OLDER YOU GET, THE LOSS OF FRIENDS, IT ALL ADS UP, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

YOU HAVE TO REINVENT YOURSELF, WHEN YOU ARE YOUNGER, YOU GO AWAY TO COLLEGE, YOU GO TO A NEW SCHOOL OR JOB, WE LEARN TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS PEOPLE GET OLDER, THEY THINK, OH, I'M OLDER, WHAT'S THE POINT?

AND I'M A GERIATRITION, WHEN PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE OLDER, I THINK OF THEM AS YOUNG.

TED: YEAH, AVERAGE AGE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> 50% INCREASE IN DEMENTIA.

29% INCREASE IN HEART DISEASE.

35% INCREASE IN STROKE.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BODY HERE?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> IMPACTS OF CHRONIC STRESSORS.

ALSO MAYBE IT'S SIMPLE THINGS LIKE GETTING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, YOU CAN'T DRIVE ANYMORE, IS SOMEONE TAKING YOU TO GET BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED?

CHOLESTEROL CHECKED?

THESE ARE CORRELATIONAL SORT OF RISKS, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HYPOTHESIZED.

ACCESS TO CARE ALONG WITH THE IMPACTS OF CHRONIC STRESS OF FEELING LONELY.

TED: IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE AND WE HAVE STUDIES TELLING US IT'S AROUND.

>> I THINK SO, WHEN YOU LOOK CULTURALLY ACROSS THE GLOBE, SOCIETIES THAT HAVE SOCIAL CONNECTIVENESS AS A BIG PART OF THE FABRIC, OLDER INDIVIDUALS HAVE ROLES IN FAMILIES AND EXTENDED FAMILIES AND THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE, TEND TO BE THE SOCIETIES THAT ARE THE LONGEST LIVED, NO SURPRISE.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AS WE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE MUCH MORE OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY, IT'S ME AND MYSELF, AND WE VALUE PRIVACY TOO MUCH FOR OUR GOOD HEALTH.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQ, I'M SEEING HERE, HIGHER RISK, HUH?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAVE PATIENTS WHO ARE LGBTQ WHO MAY BE FORCED TO SOCIAL ISOLATE THEMSELVES OR AFRAID TO MOVE INTO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES OR NURSING HOMES OR OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY MAY GET MORE CONNECTION.

FOLKS AFRAID TO MOVE INTO CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES OR INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT FOR THEM.

TED: AS FAR AS HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, HEALTH CARE INTERVENTIONS, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THIS?

>> YEAH.

FIRST TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR, SOMETIMES PEOPLE FEELING LONELY ARE DEPRESSED OR ANXIOUS, AND WE HAVE MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS FOR THOSE THINGS AND SOMETIMES OVERUSE THE ATTEMPT TOS WHEN WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED SOCIALLY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO START WITH.

THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS TO DO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS PEOPLE ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED IS HEARING.

IF YOU CAN'T HEAR, YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE BUT NOT ENGAGED BECAUSE IT'S OVERWHELMING OR CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

HEARING AIDS ARE HELPFUL.

INCLUDING A RECENT STUDY THAT SHOWED MORTALITY BENEFIT FROM HEARING AID USERS.

THAT IS A SIMPLE THING I'M ADDRESSING IS HEARING AND GETTING THAT TAKEN CARE OF AND LOOKED AT, AND THEN, TALKING TO PEOPLE, ENCOURAGING THEM TO REINVENT THEMSELVES, TO GO AND GET INVOLVED IN SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS OR CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, ENCOURAGING THEM, IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, TOO.

NOT JUST A IT'S NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS KIND OF THING.

TED: DR. AMIT SHAH, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO LIKE BEING ALONE, YOU RUN INTO THAT, RIGHT?

>> IF YOU ARE GOING FOR A COLONOSCOPY, YOU STILL NEED TO MAKE A FRIEND.

TED: BETTER FIND A FRIEND OUT THERE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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TED: THE NEW INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER IS BEING BUILT IN FOUNTAIN HILLS.

THE 23,000-SQUARE-FOOT CENTER WILL HOUSE AN OBSERVATORY, PLANETARIUM AND STAR-BASED THEATERS AND AUDITORIUMS.

JEFF ESPOSITO IS HERE.

GIVE US A BETTER DEFINITION OF THE DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER.

>> TALK ABOUT THE MISSION AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

FOUR THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

EDUCATION.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE S.T.E.M.

EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.

WE WANT TO INSPIRE THEM TO LIKE THE SCIENCES, TO MAYBE CHOOSE THE SCIENCES AS A CAREER.

SECONDLY, WE WANT TO BE A RESEARCH FACILITY, SO IN THE METRO AREA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE LARGEST TELESCOPE IN THE PHOENIX METRO AREA, AND IT'S GOING TO BE RESEARCH READY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FULL-TIME ASTRONOMER ON STAFF, SO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT.

OUR THIRD THING IS DARK SKY PRESERVATION.

SO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE DARK SKIES RELATE TO HUMAN HEALTH, TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO BE A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: DARK SKIES RELATING TO HUMAN HEALTH.

TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE, SO WE LIVE ON THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF NIGHTTIME AND DAYTIME, RIGHT?

AND RIGHT NOW WE DO A LOT OF THINGS WITH OUR PHONES AND TELEVISION AND WE GET THAT ALL SCREWED UP AND, SO SOME PEOPLE RESPOND NEGATIVELY TO THAT.

ACTUALLY THE AMA AND THE NIH HAVE ALSO COME OUT WITH STUDIES THAT SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO WATCH YOUR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO THINGS LIKE, OBESITY, STRESS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

TED: THIS IS BEING BUILT IN FOUNTAIN HILLS.

WHY FOUNTAIN HILLS?

>> WELL, FOUNTAIN HILLS IS A DESIGNATED DARK SKY COMMUNITY.

WE LIKE TO SAY IT'S A DARK SKY OASIS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN AND GOT THE DESIGNATION IN 2018, AND IT ALLOWS US THEN TO SEE THE MILKY WAY AT NIGHT ON CERTAIN NIGHTS.

WE CAN SEE IT OUT THERE THOUGH WE'RE CLOSE TO THE METRO AREA.

THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO PUT IT THERE.

TED: FOUNTAIN HILLS HAS MOUNTAINS ON ALL SIDES, DOES IT NOT?

>> PRETTY MUCH.

WE'RE PROTECTED.

WE HAVE NATURAL AREAS TO THE EAST AND TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE NORTH, AND THEN TO THE WEST WE HAVE THE McDOWELLS THAT SHIELD US FROM THE REST OF PHOENIX.

TED: NICE SHIELD THERE.

AS FAR AS THE NIGHT SKY EXPERIENCE EXHIBIT HALL.

YOU GOT THEATERS, AUDITORIUMS, LECTURE HALLS.

THIS IS AS MUCH AN EXPERIENCE JUST TO LOOK AT STARS, BUT TO LEARN ABOUT STARS?

>> YES, EDUCATION IS REALLY OUR NUMBER ONE FOCUS, YOU KNOW?

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT STARS.

SO IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE NIGHT SKY EXPERIENCE.

SO WHEN WE WALK INTO THAT SCIENCE EXHIBIT CENTER, YOU'RE GOING TO WALK IN AND BE TREATED TO WHAT THE SKY LOOKED LIKE EVERYWHERE AND HOW THE NIGHT SKY IS SHRINKING ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE OF LIGHT POLLUTION AND SO ON, AND JUST HUMAN KIND EXPANDING.

TED: AND AGAIN, A NONPROFIT, THIS IS ALL NONPROFIT AND S.T.E.M.

BASED.

>> AND S.T.E.M.

BASED.

TED: THE NONPROFIT ASPECT, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT IN THIS LIKE DISNEY, I GUESS, IN ORDER TO MAKE A BIG DOLLAR.

WE'RE FOCUSING ON, AGAIN, ON THE SCIENCES.

TED: PHILANTHROPIC FOLKS INVOLVED HERE?

>> AS MANY AS WE CAN ENTERTAIN, YES.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT, SO ALL OF OUR FUNDING IS COMING FROM DONATIONS AND WHEREVER WE CAN GET IT AND WE'RE BUSY DOING THAT TODAY.

>> I KNOW YOU'RE INVOLVED VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT AND THE PRAGMATIC ASPECT OF GETTING THIS DONE.

AS FAR AS THE SCIENCES, DO YOU HAVE SCIENTISTS?

DO YOU HAVE ASTRONOMERS?

WHO'S ON BOARD WITH THIS?

>> OKAY, RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING IS IN A DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE.

WE'VE HAD VERY SERIOUS TALKS, DETAILED TALKS WITH ASU, ACTUALLY, WITH THE SCHOOL OF EARTH AND SPACE EXPLORATION AND THE SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO, WE'VE KIND OF COME TO SOME AGREEMENTS ABOUT THINGS WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO.

RIGHT NOW ASU DOES NOT HAVE AN ASTRONOMY COURSE, SO WITH OUR OBSERVATORY, RESERVE GRADE TELESCOPE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM.

TED: AND EXPECT THIS TO OPEN NEXT YEAR?

>> WE'RE HOPING FOR THE FALL OF 2025.

TED: FALL.

OKAY, FOR THOSE IN FOUNTAIN HILLS WHERE, EXACTLY IS THIS LOCATED?

>> IN FOUNTAIN HILLS?

OR WHERE IS FOUNTAIN HILLS LOCATED?

TED: WHERE IN FOUNTAIN HILLS.

>> WE HAVE A CENTRAL LOCATION, A LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND A PLOT OF LAND THERE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT RIGHT, THERE PART OF CENTENNIAL PLAZA.

TED: FOUNTAIN HILLS HAS GROWN UP OVER THE YEARS.

JEFF ESPOSITO, THANKS FOR SHARING THE STORY.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.

TED: YOU BET.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.