>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTAIN ECONOMIC ISSUES TO OLDER MOTORS.

AND A STUDY FINDS THAT CHILD CARE ISSUES ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND HAVE A LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

>>> AND WE'LL LOOK AT A POTENTIAL NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT, THE GREAT BEND OF THE GILA RIVER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

BACKPAGE.COM FOUNDER MICHAEL LACEY WAS SENTENCED TODAY TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND FINEED $3 MILLION FOR A SINGLE MONEY LAUNDERING ACCOUNT IN THE CASE INVOLVING ALLEGATIONS THAT HE USED THE SITE TO PROMOTE AND PROFIT FROM PROSTITUTION.

HE STILL FACES 30 OTHER PROSTITUTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES.

TWO HE OTHER BACKPAGE EXECUTIVES, CFO JOHN AND EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT SCOTT SPEAR WERE EACH SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS PRISON.

AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAD $500 MILLION IN PROSTITUTION-RELATED REVENUE BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT SHUT IT DOWN IN 2018.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY TEMPORARILY BLOCKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATE STRIKES' LATEST EFFORTS TO WIPE OUT STUDENT DEATH.

THE PLAN WAS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S INCREMENTAL APPROACH AFTER THE HIGH COURT SHOT DOWN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAST YEAR.

MILLIONS OF BORROWERS WHO OWE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ENROLLED IN A NEW PLAN AND THE BORROWERS ARE IN LIMBO.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAY SOON START A KEY IMMIGRATION PROGRAM THAT WOULD LET MIGRANTS OF CERTAIN NATIONALITIES APPLY TO LEGALLY MIGRATE TO THE U.S.

IT GIVES CUBANS, HAITIANS, VENEZUELANS A LEGAL PATH INTO THE COUNTRY PROVIDE THEY HAD HAVE A SPONSOR IN THE U.S.

THE PROGRAM WAS PAUSED THIS SUMMER OVER FRAUD CONCERNS.

THE NEW VERSION OF THE PROGRAM WAS REPORTED TO INCLUDE ENHANCED INVESTIGATING PROCEDURES AND IMPROVE OVERSIGHT ON SPONSOR APPLICATIONS.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE WAS VOICE HIS CONCERNS FOR ELECTION WORKERS AND ELECTION PROCESS AFTER A MYRIAD OF FALSE STATEMENTS DONALD TRUMP, WHO CONTINUES TO CLAIM, WITHOUT EVIDENCE, THAT ELECTIONS IN AMERICA ARE RIDDLED WITH FRAUD.

>> IT IS TERRIBLE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR ELECTORATE, THE INTIMIDATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BASED ON THESE LIES, THE FACT THAT ELECTIONS OFFICIALS ARE BEING THREATENED, WHICH REALLY AN ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

WE JUST SAW ANOTHER INDICTMENT COMING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT JUSTICE AND THE FBI ON A CASE THAT INVOLVES BOTH COLORADO AND ARIZONA.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT SOMEBODY ADMITS TO THAT LOSS, WHICH HAS CAUSED SO MUCH DISHARMONY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE CASE THAT HE'S REFERRING TO INVOLVES A COLORADO MAN ARRESTED FIVE DAYS AGO FOR MAKING ONLINE THREATS AGAINST ELECTION OFFICIALS, JUDGES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN COLORADO AND ARIZONA.

>>> AND U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL TODAY ISSUED AN ADVISORY THAT NAMED PATIENTS STRESS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

THE ADVISORY CITED A STUDY LAST YEAR BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND FOUND THAT 33% OF PARENTS REPORTED HIGH LESS OF STRESS IN THE PAST MONTH COMPARED TO 20% OF OTHER ADULTS.

THE STRAIN IS EVEN GREATER ON PARENTS CARING FOR THEIR OWN PARENTS OR OTHER LOVED ONES.

THE ADVISORY CALLS FOR A SHIFT IN POLICY AND CULTURAL NORMS AND INCLUDES RECOGNIZING THE TIME SPENT PARENTING IS EQUAL TO TIME SPENT AT A PAYING JOB.

>>> OLDER ARIZONANS ARE AN IMPORTANT VOTING BLOCK IN THE STATE.

A RECENT SURVEY BY AARP LOOKED AT ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO SENIOR EXPERTS WHO THAT WOULD LIKELY DRIVE THESE VOTERS TO POLLS.

JOINING US NOW IS ASU ECONOMIST DENNIS HOFFMAN TO GO OVER SOME OF THESE NUMBERS.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> THERE'S A 50 PLUS AARP, 50 PLUS POPULATION.

THE FIRST ONE, PERSONAL FINANCIAL SITUATION, 62% ARE WORRIED, 22% ARE VERY WORRIED.

ARE THOSE CONCERNS -- ARE THOSE WORRIES VALID CONSIDERING THE CANDIDATES, CONSIDERING THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND WHERE WE MIGHT BE HEADED?

>> WELL, THE WORRIES ARE VALID IF THEY'RE IN THE MINDS OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THIS PARTICULAR SURVEY.

HERE'S WHERE THEY MIGHT BE COMING FROM.

YOU KNOW, INFLATION IN IS TAKEN ITS TOLL.

GOODS AND SERVICES COST MORE THAN THEY DID FOUR AND FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WE CAN GET INTO THAT.

I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY REASONABLE REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T SAVED AS MUCH FOR RETIREMENT AS THEY HAD HOPED, THAT THEY'RE CAUGHT TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS, WORRYING ABOUT THEIR KIDS OR THEIR 20-SOMETHINGs, AND THEIR OWN PARENTS WHO ARE 70 AND 80-SOMETHINGs, AND THEN YOU GOT A WHOLE DIFFERENT RASK WORRIES FROM THE OLDER CROWD LIKE MYSELF, 70S AND 80s.

>> WELL, AS FAR AS DRIVING, THOUGH, YOU OLDER FOLKS, TO THE POLLS, YOU MENTIONED CONCERNS ABOUT INVASION.

WHAT SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT INFLATION IN THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY THEY GO TO THE POLLS?

>> WELL, INFLATION IN -- AND YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY DEVELOPED COUNTRY.

EVERY DEVELOPED COUNTRY'S EXPERIENCE WITH INFLATION IN, TED, IS THE SAME.

WE HAVE LOW INFLATION IN IN 17, 18, AND 19.

WE HAD IT WORLDWIDE.

WE HADLE INFLATION IN IN 2022 EVERYWHERE.

AND EVERYWHERE IT IS NOW IS STARTING TO RUN ITS COURSE.

SO THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING UP.

SO I WOULD DESCRIBE THE INFLATION IN CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THE PANDEMIC CAUSED IT.

THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR A NUMBER OF FOLKS.

MR. TRUMP MIGHT ARGUE THAT HE WAS VOTED OUT BECAUSE OF COVID.

COVID, COVID, COVID.

I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO BLAME A PRESIDENT FOR A ONE-OFF PANDEMIC, AND THE DEVASTATION THAT IT BROUGHT, BUT IT'S ALSO PERHAPS UNFAIR TO BLAME THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FOR INFLATION IN AS IF THEY COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> SOME OTHER INFLATIONARY CONCERNS, THE COST OF HOUSING, 65%.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> REALLY IMPORTANT, 33% -- AGAIN, THAT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

DO THEY KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR ONCE THEY GET THERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

BECAUSE WHAT WE NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS LOWER INTEREST RATES.

WE NEED TO PUT A -- YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW HOPEFULLY THE PRICE OF HOUSING HAS TO STOP GOING UP SO FAST.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS IF WE BUILD MORE HOMES.

THE ROOT OF THE HOUSING ISSUE IS TOO MUCH MONEY CHASING TOO FEW HOUSES, AND THAT'S GOTTA BREAK.

>> PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AND OTHER COST ITEMS HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> 62%, VERY IMPORTANT, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO 30%, BUT WE JUST HAD RECENTLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCING NEGOTIATED PRICES, PRESCRIPTION COSTS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO START IMMEDIATELY, IT STARTS IN A WHILE, ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF DRUGS AND EXPANDS LATER.

THAT GETS MAILED OFF IN THE BALLOTS.

>> CERTAINLY GONNA GET SOME.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE -- DEPENDING ON DIABETES MEDICINE OR SOME OF THESE MEDICINES THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETED FOR SOME RELIEF, IF THEY BELIEVE ONE CANDIDATE, ONE PARTY IS GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB AT THIS THAN THE OTHER, THEN CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO GET THEM MOVING.

>> SAME THING WITH THE AARP SURVEY REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY.

67% -- OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOTTA BE -- IF YOU'RE OVER THE AGE OF 50, YOU'RE LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AT SOUTH SIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT IS THE STATE OF SOCIAL SECURITY?

>> WELL, IT'S FIXABLE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY FIXABLE.

AND THE EASIEST FIX IS YOU RAISE THE CAP ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THE CAP FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT EARN LESS THAN, SAY, $170 TO $180,000.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAP IS BECAUSE YOU NEVER REACH IT.

BUT IF YOU EARN OVER $170,000 APPROXIMATELY, YOU DON'T PAY INTO SOCIAL SECURITY.

AND SO IF YOU RAISE THAT CAP, MORE AND MORE HIGH INCOME PEOPLE WILL PAY IN, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FUND SOCIAL SECURITY.

INTERESTINGLY, AND PART OF THE DEBATE OVER THIS, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WANTS TO CUT TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THERE'S A TAX ON A PORTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE CAN GET INTO THE HISTORY OF THAT.

IT'S A BIT COMPLICATED.

BUT IRONICALLY, THE PROCEEDS FOR THAT CAP, MOST OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY, GOES BACK TO FUND THE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, INDEED, AND MEDICARE IS THE SAME THING HERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AND SAVING MONEY WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

YOU'RE SAVING MONEY, YOU'RE SAVING MEDICARE.

AND MEDICARE IS A CONCERN IMPORTANT TO 74% OF VOTERS, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO 39%.

WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE... >> I THINK THAT THE CANDIDATES DIFFER, TED.

MAYBE AT THE ROOT OF IT IS FUNDING.

WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE THAT SAYS SHE WILL RAISE TAX.

SHE'S TRYING TO LIMIT THE TAX HIKES ON A HANDFUL OF WELL TO DO FOLKS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT EFFECTIVELY SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE TAXES ANYWHERE EXCEPT MAYBE ON CHINA THROUGH TARIFFS.

>> RIGHT.

BUT THAT WILL JUST COST MORE HERE.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A TAX ON CONSUMERS HERE.

BUT THE -- YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S ONE CANDIDATE THAT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, BE THE CHILD CARE CREDITS, BE THE DOWNPAYMENTS ON HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND SO IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOLVENCY OF SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS, MAYBE YOU COME OUT AND THEY'LL PICK THAT PARTICULAR CANDIDATE.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT HERE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST ISSUE DRIVING THE OVER-50 CROWD TO THE POLLS THIS NOVEMBER?

ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING?

>> I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES OUTSIDE OF ECONOMICS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

FIRST OF ALL, THEY WILL SHOW UP AT THE POLLS.

ELDERLY PEOPLE VOTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZ ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THIS YEAR.

WE WILL SEE.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE PROBABLY IS STABILITY OF THE ECONOMY, PREDICTABILITY OF THE ECONOMY.

DO I FEEL SAFE AND SECURE WITH MY NEST EGG.

WILL SOCIAL SECURITY BE THERE FOR ME.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ECONOMICALLY, THAT I I THINK WILL BE ON THE MINDS OF SENIORS.

>> VERY GOOD.

DENNIS HOFFMAN, GOOD CONVERSATION.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> GREAT, TED.

>>> A NEW STUDY FROM FIRST THING'S FIRST SHOWS A LACK OF ADEQUATE CHILD CARE IN ARIZONA COST THE STATE $4.7 BILLION ANNUALLY.

IN LOST EARNINGS, PRODUCTIVITY AND REVENUE.

TO LEARN MORE WE WELCOME THE CEO OF FIRST THING'S FIRST, MELINDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

DEFINE ADEQUATE CHILD CARE.

WHAT'S MISSING HERE?

>> WELL, YOU JUST HAD AN ECONOMIST ON.

THERE'S A SUPPLY ISSUE.

THERE'S LESS CHILD CARE SLOTS OR SPACES IN CHILD CARE CENTERS IN ARIZONA THAN THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO NEED CARE, AND THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THE COST OF CARE HAS SKYROCKETED.

>> AND THE COST OF CARE PROBABLY HAS SKYROCKETED BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH.

ARE PEOPLE JUST NOT GOING INTO THE FIELD OR IS THE GROWTH JUST SO STRONG?

>> IT'S BOTH.

SO CHILD CARE AS A CAREER PATH IS A CHALLENGING ONE.

WE SEE THAT THE PAY FOR CHILD CAREWORKERS IS NATIONALLY AROUND $14 AN HOUR.

THAT'S NOT A LIVEABLE WAGE.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT YOU NEED TO EARN BETWEEN $22 AND $25 AN HOUR IN ORDER TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE.

AND SO IT'S NOT AN ATTRACTIVE CAREER PATH.

THEREFORE, EMPLOYEE RETENTION FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IS A CHALLENGE, AND THEN THE COST FOR PARENTS, WORKING PARENTS, WHO NEED CHILD CARE, HAS CONTINUED TO RISE.

>> WE JUST HAD A HEADLINE ABOUT PARENTAL STRESS FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL SAID IT'S LITERALLY AN ADVISORY ON THAT.

EMPLOYEES WHOSE A BUSINESS DOLLARS A YEAR FROM EMPLOYEE ABSENCES DUE TO CHILD CARE, A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

SIMPLY CAN'T MAKE IT TO WORK, IT ADDS UP, DOESN'T?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES, AND IT'S IMPACTING ARIZONA'S ECONOMY AND ALSO IT'S IMPACTING FAMILIES.

THEIR JOB SEARCH COST ON LOST WAGES IS ADDING UP TO ABOUT $3 BILLION A YEAR.

AND WE NO THAT IT ALSO IMPACTED THE STATE REVENUE WITH THE STATE BUDGET FOR TAX PROCEEDS BEING ABOUT $725 MILLION IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THOSE PARENTS TO WORK.

>> YEAH, $725, LOCAL, FEDERAL, AND STATE TAX REVENUE JUST GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK AS OPPOSED TO MISSING TIME, BEING LATE FOR WORK AND NOT DOING THE BEST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON WORK BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL IN THERE.

>> SO WITH THAT IN MIND, BEFORE WE GET TO SOLUTIONS, I WANTED TO KNOW THE IMPACT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ALONG, WE TALK ABOUT PARENTAL STRESS AND THE WHOLE 9 YARDS HERE.

YOU'VE GOT KIDS, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE KIDS.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE PATIENTS WHO WANT ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE HIGH-QUALITY CARE, AND WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE BRAIN DEVELOPS THE MOST IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE.

SO ALL OF THOSE SKILLS LIKE CRITICAL THINKING, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE BEGINNINGS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING.

HOW TO WAIT YOUR TURN, SIT IN A CHAIR.

SHARE, COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PEERS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS DEVELOP BIRTH TO 5.

AND SO THAT ALSO SETS YOU UP FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.

IF YOU HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE HIGHER THIRD-GRADE READING SCORES, HIGHER MATH SCORES, IN EIGHTH GRADE, 11% HIGHER CHANCE OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND A HIGHER CHANCE OF SOME POST SECONDARY ATTAINMENT.

>> WE ALWAYS THOUGH HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF WORKING ADULTS WITH CHILDREN, FINDING CHILD CARE, FINDING THE TIME, ALL OF IT, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE?

>> IT'S GETTING WORSE, AND I THINK THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED FOR EMPLOYERS AND FOR FAMILIES THE NEED FOR CHILD CARE, AND WE'RE REALLY NOW TALKING ABOUT IT AS AN ISSUE CONNECTED TO WORKFORCE AND THE ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON PARENTS AND ON EMPLOYERS, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TURNOVER AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION, BUT 30% OF EMPLOYEES HAVE LEFT A JOB BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE ISSUES, AND THAT COST EMPLOYERS LOTS OF MONEY AND JOB SEARCH COSTS, REPLACEMENT COSTS, AND IT'S A SPIRAL.

>> YEAH.

OKAY, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS HERE.

I KNOW INVESTING IN CHILD CARE IS A BIGGIE FOR YOU.

HOW?

HOW WOULD IT WORK?

WHAT'S THE PROCESS?

>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MECHANISMS FOR INVESTING IN CHILD CARE.

THERE'S THREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS, HEAD START FOR FAMILIES, WHO ARE FROM 0 TO 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

THERE'S CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS SECURITY.

THAT'S FOR FAMILIES AT 100% TO 165% AT THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

THERE'S FIRST THING'S FIRST SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 165% TO 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

THEN HAVE YOU ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE BEYOND THAT, WHICH NOT NECESSARILY CAN AFFORD CHILD CARE, BUT THOSE PROGRAMS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON FUNDING AND THOSE FUNDS OBVIOUSLY LIMITED.

>> SO WHAT KIND OF FUNDING, WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT?

HOW REALISTIC -- HOW FAR CAN YOU GO ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS CONSIDERING THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, CONSIDERING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT.

WE'LL DO ALL THAT WE CAN FOR THOSE THREE PROGRAMS TO FULLY FUND THEM AND ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, WITH STATE GOVERNMENT, WITH EMPLOYERS, WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH, LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE SO THAT WE CAN CREATE SOLUTIONS OWN THE GROUND IN COMMUNITIES TO FALL FOR SPECIFIC EMPLOYER NEEDS.

IN ARIZONA, LOTS OF OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE SHIFT WORK.

HOW DO YOU SOLVE FOR CHILD CARE IN A SECOND SHIFT OR THIRD SHIFT SCENARIO.

SO WE'LL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPLOYERS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR PARTICULAR POPULATION.

>> AND IS THERE AN APPETITE FOR THIS?

ARE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS?

>> I THINK THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

I'M HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT DID GET ITS FIRST INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR IN 15 YEARS.

WE WANTED $100 MILLION.

WE GOT $12 MILLION.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT, ALTHOUGH, THERE'S NOW A WAITING LIST WITH DES, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

BUT I THINK BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS RAISING IN THE MINDS OF EMPLOYERS, ECONOMISTS, AND THE STATE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE ATTENTION WE NEED, AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP AT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, MELINN DA.

THE FIRST THING'S FIRST CEO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IN 1906, A FLASH FLOOD FILLED THE GROUND-LEVEL VESTIBULE WITH WATER AND MUD FORCING THE RESCUE OF THE PRISONERS BY BOAT AND THE JAIL'S CLOSURE.

TODAY IT'S DRY, AND VISITORS ARE WELCOME TO TAKE AN EERIE STEP DOWN AND BACK INTO ARIZONA HISTORY.

THERE'S A MOVEMENT TO GET THE DESIGNATION ASSIGNED TO THE GREAT BEND GILA, WHERE THE GILA RIVER INDEED BENDS SOUTH INTO THE REST OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT IS MIKE QUICKLY, ARIZONA DIRECTOR UNDER WILDERNESS SOCIETY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

GREAT STORY ON THIS.

BUT WHERE -- I'M GUESSING A BEND IN THE GILA IS NEAR GILA BEND?

>> ARE YOU CORRECT.

IT SITS ROUGHLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES SOUTHWEST OF THE VALLEY.

SO IT'S VERY ACCESSIBLE.

AND IT'S JUST THIS GORGEOUS LANDSCAPE OF SONORAN DESERT, WHICH I KNOW I CAN REALLY GET INTO THE ECOLOGY AND WILDLIFE THERE, BUT WHAT DREW ME TO THE STORY INITIALLY WAS THE RICH HISTORY THAT IS IN THAT AREA.

>> THE HISTORY, AND I WANT TO TO GET TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY NATURAL HISTORY BUT HUMAN HISTORY AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE, DO YOU SEE RIP ELSE, DO YOU SEE A RIVER, DO YOU SEE A STREAM?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE TIME OF YEAR.

WHEN THE WATER DOES FLOW, CAN YOU WATER IN THE GILA RIVER.

BUT GENERALLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT TRADITIONAL DESERT LANDSCAPE.

A LITTLE SPARSE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF RAIN BUT YOU'VE GOT OCOTILLO CACTUS, BROAD, WIDE OPEN SPANSES AND ABOUT 150 FOOT CLIFF-LIKE FEATURE RIGHT ALONG THE RIVER SOUTH BETWEEN BUCKEYE AND GILA BEND.

AND THAT IS RICH WITH PETREGLIS OTHER -- PETREGLIFFS.

>> YEAH, MY GOODNESS, IT'S CROWDED.

LIKE EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WAS WRITING ON THESE ROCKS.

ARE THERE TRIBUTARIES INVOLVED HERE AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WASHES THAT WHEN IT RAINS IN THE UPLANDS LIKE BY WOLFY'S PEAK OR CLANTON HILLS, THOSE WASH ALSO CARRY THE WATER OUT TO THE GILA AND ULTIMATELY THE GILA FLOWS INTO THE COLORADO.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PUSH TO MAKE THIS A NATIONAL MONUMENT.

WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN, AND WHY IS A NATIONAL MONUMENT A IDEA FOR THIS AREA.

>> SPEAKING AS AN ARIZONA NATIVE, LIKE THIS AREA, THE HISTORY GOES BACK 11,000 YEARS, AND WE HAD HOLE COM THERE AND SOME OTHER ANCIENT VISIONNIST PEOPLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE PETRAGLIFFS BUT ALSO SIGNS OF CIRCLE WHERE IS MAYBE THEY HAD TALKS OR CEREMONIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

TO PROTECT THIS AREA WITH NATIONAL MONUMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'D PROTECT IT FROM ENCROACHMENT FROM THE CITY BUSINESS INTERESTS, ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

WE WOULD PROTECT THE WILDLIFE THERE, AS WELL, WHICH IS -- >> AND BASICALLY MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T OVERUSE THE LAND IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I THOUGHT -- YOU MENTION IT CAN BE -- AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.

ARE THERE CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR WHEN IT'S JUST COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DRY?

>> YES.

JUNE IS A ROUGH TIME OF YEAR IN THAT LANDSCAPE.

AT THE MOMENT ALL OF THE HAND THERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 370,000 ACRES BETWEEN INTERSTATE 8 AND 10 WEST OF BUCKEYE AND GILA BEND, THAT'S ALL FEDERAL LAND THAT'S ENTRUSTED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.

AND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDEDLY MULTI-USE MISSION, THEY DO MINING, GRAZING, CONSERVATION.

A NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION WOULD HIGHLIGHT FOR THEM THAT THE BEST USE OF THIS PARTICULAR LANDSCAPE IS CONSERVATION.

>> WAS GOING TO SAY -- ARE THERE THREATS RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE ARE.

THE THREATS ARE MOSTLY VANDALISM, PARTICULARLY FOR THE HISTORICAL SITES.

WHETHER THAT'S INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL, THE DAMAGE IS STILL DONE.

AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S A RISK THAT INCREASING AS THE WEST VALLEY CONTINUES TO GROW IN THAT DIRECTION.

MORE PEOPLE, MORE USE, MORE IRRESPONSIBLE USE COMES ALONG WITH THAT.

>> AND AGAIN, BEFORE THE DAMS, THE GILA IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL ALONG THERE, A RAGING RIVER, WASN'T IT.

>> YEAH.

AND A TRAVELER WHO SPOKE TO ME IN MY STORE SAID THE RIVER FLOWED, THERE WAS FISHING.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL.

IT'S LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AREA LANDSCAPE THAN WE EXPECT HERE IN THE SONORA.

>> AND THAT BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.

HOW DO TRIBAL LEADERS FEEL ABOUT THIS EFFORT?

>> DOING THE BEST -- IT'S SOMETHING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL THERE.

THIS IS THEIR LAND REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT PUSHED ON TO RESERVATIONS.

THESE ARE STILL SACRED SITES FOR THEM THAT HOLD A LOT OF VALUE.

THE PEOPLE OF THE RESERVATION STILL GO OUT AND PERFORM ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITY.

>> AND MICHAEL, QUICKLY, WHAT IS THE PROCESS NOW?

HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU.

>> WELL, LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BUT NOT MUCH IS MOVING IN CONGRESS.

WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN COMES BACK TO ARIZONA TO CONTINUE HIS CONSERVATION LEGACY.

HE WAS HERE LAST AUGUST TO CREATE A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT.

WE'RE HOPING HE COMES BACK AND USES HIS AUTHORITY UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES ACT TO CREATE A NATIONAL MONUMENT.

>> AND WHERE CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION.

>> IF YOU'RE HERE NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT, ARIZONA WILDERNESS BREWING COMPANY IS RELEASING A COMMEMORATIVE GRAPE AND WE'LL HAVE A PARTY FROM 5:00 TO 8:00 AND WILL HAVE INFORMATION.

PEOPLE CAN STOP BY.

>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

SOUNDS LIKE A NICE PARTY.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA, TOO.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.