♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE RECENTLY PASSED TRUMP BUDGET COULD MEAN SIGNIFICANT HITS TO ENERGY PROJECTS IN ARIZONA.

>>> AN UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WAS METROCENTER MALL.

>>> AND WE'LL MEET THE LOCAL ARTIST WHO PAINTED A 23-STORY MURAL ON A DOWNTOWN PHOENIX HIGH-RISE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

WILDFIRE UPDATE.

THE DRAGON BRAVO FIRE NEAR THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON CONTAINMENT DROPPED TO 13% TODAY, HALF OF WHAT CONTAINMENT WAS YESTERDAY.

DRY WEATHER AND GUSTY WINDS PUSHED THE FIRE TO 45,000 ACRES WITH MORE THAN 1,000 FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE.

"THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" REPORTS FLAMES ARE FOUR MILES FROM THE KAIBAB LODGE AND RIM COUNTRY STORE.

THE SAME FIRE DESTROYED THE GRAND CANYON LODGE AT THE NORTH RIM EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>>> ARIZONA JOINING 19 OTHER STATES IN SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO OBTAIN PERSONAL DATA FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, S.N.A.P.

TO GATHER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND HOME ADDRESSES FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT USE FOOD STAMPS.

THE SUIT CLAIMS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S MOVE VIOLATES STATE AND FEDERAL PRIVACY LAWS.

>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY INDEFINITELY BLOCKED PROVISION IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICY BILL THAT WITHHOLDS MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

THE ORDER EXTENDS TEMPORARY BLOCK THAT THE SAME JUDGE IMPOSED EARLY THIS MONTH.

THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE POLICY TARGETING PLANNED PARENTHOOD LIKELY VIOLATES PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND COULD AMOUNT TO LEGISLATIVE PUNISHMENT.

>>> AND A BIG WEEK FOR ECONOMIC NEWS WITH REPORTS DUE ON GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, CONSUMER PRICES AND CONSUMER SPENDING, AND THE JOB MARKET.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO MEET ON WEDNESDAY TO SET INTEREST RATES AMID PRESSURE, OFTEN PERSONAL IN NATURE, TO LOWER RATES FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FRIDAY IS THE TRADE DEAL FOR THE U.S. OR ELSE FACE SHARPLY INCREASED TARIFFS.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECONCILIATION BUDGET CALLS FOR THE PHASING OUT OF TAX INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

THE IMPACT OF THE CUTS COULD BE CONSIDERABLE FOR ARIZONA'S RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND FOR MORE WE WELCOME STEVE ZYLSTRA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA TECH COUNCIL.

BEEN AWHILE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED.

TED: YOU BETCHA.

HOW MUCH OF A PHASEOUT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND WHAT IS BEING TARGETED?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ALMOST A COMPLETE PHASEOUT.

START WITH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PIECES OF LEGISLATION IN U.S. HISTORY, AND CERTAINLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

$369 BILLION DESIGNED TO CREATE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING JOBS, ADDRESS OUR ENERGY NEEDS, LOWER POLLUTION, ALL THESE GRANDIOSE PLANS FOR THIS ACT, AND THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, AS IT'S CALLED, ESSENTIALLY GUTS MOST OF THAT, AND LET'S START WITH ROOFTOP SOLAR.

ONE OF THE INCENTIVES WAS CREDITS.

IF YOU GOT CLEAN ENERGY PUT ON YOUR HOME, ANOTHER WAS, IF YOU CREATED A MORE EFFICIENT ENERGY ENVIRONMENT IN YOUR HOME.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THERE WAS $7500 CREDIT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE, $4,000 IF IT WAS USED ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

MASSIVE PROJECTS ON THE UTILITY SCALE FOR BOTH SOLAR AND WIND TO ADDRESS OUR ENERGY NEEDS.

WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE DEMAND RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA FOR ENERGY AS A RESULT OF ALL THE MASSIVE GROWTH WE'RE SEEING HERE IN ARIZONA, AND MUCH OF THAT IS LOOKING TO BE CUT.

TED: OKAY, THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO CUT THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE'RE OVERBUDGET.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS CUT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT REASONS HAVE YOU HEARD, THOUGH, FOR THESE INCENTIVES.

RENEWABLE TAX INCENTIVES.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

WHY IS THAT BEING CUT?

>> THIS PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE IN CLEAN ENERGY OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

YOU'VE HEARD THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TALK ABOUT DRILL, BABY, DRILL.

HE'S FOCUSED ON THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, AND NOT ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL FACING AS A NATION.

WE SEE IT VERY VIVIDLY HERE IN ARIZONA, WITH THE HIGHER AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THAT WE'RE SEEING EVERY YEAR.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT THE IMPACT THAT THE IRA HAD BEFORE, BEFORE THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, WAS ENORMOUS, $13.2 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS IN ARIZONA, CREATING 19,000 JOBS.

THERE ARE 130 PROJECTS THAT WERE EITHER ANNOUNCED, STARTED OR COMPLETED IN THE CLEAN ENERGY SPACE.

I SAW IN JUNE THAT SOME DATA CAME OUT THAT SUGGESTED THAT IF ALL OF THESE CUTS IN THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ARE PUT IN PLACE THAT, THAT HAS A $58 BILLION/69,000 JOB IMPACT ON ARIZONA.

TED: ON ARIZONA ALONE?

>> ARIZONA ALONE.

TED: THESE PROJECTS ARE STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS.

>> STOPPED THEM.

SOME OF THEM, IN THIS YEAR, LIKE THE CREDITS FOR USE OF CLEAN ENERGY AT HOME.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ENDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THEN THE REST ARE PHASED OUT IN 2026 AND 2027.

TED: THINGS ARE STAGGERED ALONG THE WAY.

>> STAGGERED SOMEWHAT.

TED: FOR THOSE WHO SAY AND THE ARGUMENT CAN BE MADE IS THAT THESE INCENTIVES AREN'T NEEDED, THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY, IF IT IS THE THING OF THE FUTURE, THE BEST THING OUT THERE, SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAND ON ITS OWN.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT THE OTHER INDUSTRY, THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, HAS ALL KINDS OF SUBSIDIES.

IT'S BEEN SUBSIDIZED FOREVER AS ARE MANY INDUSTRIES, AND THE UNITED STATES HAS A HISTORY OF, WHEN YOU HAVE A POLICY OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS TO CLEAN UP OUR AIR, WHICH IS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKES AN INVESTMENT IN THAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

UNTIL IT CAN, AS YOU SUGGEST, STAND ON ITS OWN.

TED: WAS THE IRA A PROPELLER, AN ACCELERANT, TO WHERE THE INDUSTRY CAN BETTER STAND ON ITS OWN NOW?

>> IT WAS A MASSIVE ACCELERANT.

AS YOU HEARD, THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN ARIZONA.

ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

TED: THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO GET HIT, THE INDUSTRIES, THE ENTIRE SECTOR, IS THERE PREPARATION, ARE PEOPLE WORKING TO HANDLE THE PHASEOUTS?

>> PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.

LG IS BUILDING A BATTERY FACILITY HERE IN QUEEN CREEK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

LUCID MOTORS IS BUILDING ANOTHER FACTORY IN CASA GRANDE.

HERITAGE RECYCLING IS BUILDING A LITHIUM-ION RECYCLING FACILITY IN ELOY.

PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BUY AS MANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING A $7500 CREDIT.

IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO AFFECT THE DEMAND IN ALL OF THESE INDUSTRIES.

I HEARD ONE UTILITY SAY THAT THE IMPACT ON THEM WOULD BE ALMOST $400 MILLION THAT WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED BUILDING SOLAR FACILITIES AND SO ON, TO PRODUCE THE POWER THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED IN ARIZONA.

TED: THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT US THAT MENTIONED, WILL THEY CONTINUE?

WILL THEY BE PUT ON PAUSE?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I THINK EACH THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT'S GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.

IF THERE'S LOWER DEMAND, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON WORKFORCE, AND IT REALLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN BECAUSE THIS JUST HAPPENED, OF COURSE AND, OF COURSE, THERE HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE THAT IT COULD HAPPEN.

SO I'M ASSUMING THEY DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THIS LONG-TERM.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S ALSO -- CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARILY SET IN STONE ON A LOT OF THINGS FROM TARIFFS ON DOWN.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY TEETER-TOTTER THE OTHER WAY?

>> WELL, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

I THINK ALL OF US HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE EFFECT THAT NOT HAVING THESE KIND OF INCENTIVES WILL HAVE ON OUR ECONOMY AND ON OUR ENVIRONMENT IS GOING TO BE PROFOUND.

TED: THAT'S WHAT'S NEXT -- I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AND THE COUNCIL?

WHAT'S NEXT IS GETTING THE WORD OUT.

>> WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE, WE'LL DISCUSS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO TURNING THINGS AROUND.

WE'VE BEEN BUSY EDUCATING THEM.

THERE ARE MANY ON BOARD WITH THIS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

TED: STEVE ZYLSTRA, ARIZONA TECH COUNCIL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THIS SUMMER MARKS FIVE YEARS SINCE THE CLOSING OF METROCENTER, A MAJOR LOCAL SHOPPING MALL AND GATHERING PLACE.

THE MALL MAY BE GONE, BUT THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF PLANS FOR DEVELOPING THE SITE.

JOINING US CAN PHOENIX VICE MAYOR ANN O'BRIEN, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO ARIZONA RECENTLY.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT METROCENTER IS.

WHERE WAS METROCENTER AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> BETWEEN PEORIA AND DUNLAP AVENUES ON I-17.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IT WAS BUILT IN THE 70s AND THE CROWN JEWEL, ONE OF THE LARGEST SHOPPING CENTERS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

TED: PEOPLE BORN AND PHOENIX, THAT SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE, INCLUDING THE VICE MAYOR OF PHOENIX, HAVE MEMORIES OF METROCENTER.

>> I GREW UP IN THE MALL, WORKED IN THE MALL, SPENT LOTS OF MONEY IN THE MALL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

WHY DID IT CLOSE?

>> AS WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SHOPPING CENTERS HAVE CLOSED DOWN DUE TO ONLINE SHOPPING AND JUST THE BUSYNESS OF FOLKS.

FIVE YEARS AGO IT SHUT DOWN, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BUY THE PROPERTY AND RENOVATE IT, BRING IT BACK TO AUSTERITY OF CROWN JEWEL.

TED: WE'RE SEEING WHAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW OF THE METROCENTER.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE?

>> THE DEMSLIGZ COMPLETE.

WHAT IS LEFT IS WALMART, A SELF-STORAGE AND THE OLD SEARS BUILDING, AND SO THAT STARTED LAST NOVEMBER.

IT'S ALL DOWN NOW.

IT TOOK AWHILE DUE TO THE ASBESTOS THAT WAS IN THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN THE 70s.

TED: INTERESTING.

>> AND THEY WERE DOING A LOT TO SAVE WHAT THEY COULD AND RECYCLE WHAT THEY COULD.

YOU COULD SEE THE PILES OF STEEL AND WHAT NOT.

TED: WALMART WILL SURVIVE US ALL.

>> PRETTY SURE IT WILL.

TED: WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

I'M HEARING ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN, MAYBE A TRANSIT-ORIENTED URBAN VILLAGE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THE FOLKS CONCORDE WILSHIRE REMAIMED IT METROPOLITAN, IT WILL BE A COMBINATION OF HOUSING AND RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.

THERE WILL BE AMENITIES THERE.

AN AMPHITHEATER, A DOG PARK, A PLACE FOR MARKETS AND, YEAH, A LOT OF GREAT -- HERE CAN YOU SEE RETAIL SHOPPING THAT WILL OCCUR, RESTAURANTS WITH OUTDOOR AND INDOOR SEATING.

A LARGE PARKING GARAGE AS WELL, BUT THAT PARKING GARAGE WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT PHOENICIANS KNOW BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE AMENITIES ON TOP OF IT.

TED: EXPLAIN.

>> PICKLEBALL COURTS, A RESTAURANT, EVENT SPACE.

TED: ON TOP OF THE PARKING GARAGE?

>> ON TOP OF THE PARKING GARAGE.

TED: THAT'S USING SPACE WISELY.

>> IT IS.

IT'S ABOUT 68 ACRES AND BEST TO UTILIZE IT AS BEST WE CAN.

THE ZELDA WILLIAMS TRANSIT CENTER IS HERE, SO YOU CAN LIGHT RAIL TO DOWNTOWN OR SOUTH PHOENIX.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT SEEMS AS THOUGH CALLED A TRANSIT HUB, AND LIGHT RAIL IS PART OF THAT.

IS LIGHT RAIL THE IMPETUS FOR THEM.

HOW IMPORTANT IS LIGHT RAIL TO THE PROJECT?

>> PRETTY IMPORTANT.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRANSIT HUB RELATIVE TO OUR BUS SYSTEM.

SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I USED TO RIDE THE BUS TO AND FROM THE MALL TO SHOP AND HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS.

TED: YOU MENTIONED HOUSING.

HOW AFFORDABLE IS THIS?

WHAT KIND OF HOUSING?

CONDOS?

TOWNHOUSES?

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES?

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> TOWNHOUSES, MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND A VARIETY OF PRICING, AND THEY WILL BE MIXED IN AMONGST EACH OTHER.

I THINK WHAT PHOENICIANS ARE USED TO IS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HOMES BUILT OUT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THIS WILL BE ALL INTERSPERSED.

TED: REAL ESTATE.

TALK ABOUT FOR SALE, FOR RENT, LITTLE BOTH?

>> BOTH.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BUY AND YOU'LL HAVE OPTIONS FOR RENTING.

HOPEFULLY WILL APPEAL TO FOLKS WHO ARE FIREFIGHTERS, NURSES, TEACHERS AS WELL AS FOLKS WHO ARE JUST LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO LOCK AND LEAVE.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, WHO'S THE TARGET HERE?

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

THESE FAKE PEOPLE?

WHO ARE THEY?

>> A WIDE VARIETY OF US.

PEOPLE LIKE ME, READY TO HAVE LESS RESPONSIBILITY AROUND THE HOUSE AND TRAVEL MORE.

OUR TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.

FOLKS WHO NEED TO BUY A FIRST HOME.

WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH FIRST HOME BUYERS AND PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

TED: HOW MUCH OF THE OLD METROCENTER DESIGN WILL REMAIN?

WILL PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND THOSE WHO GREW UP AT METRO GO, I REMEMBER THIS.

OR ARE THEY COMPLETELY LOST THE MINUTE THEY WALK INTO THE AREA?

>> THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING ABOUT METROCENTER WAS THE LOOP.

THE LOOP THAT WE ALL CRUISED IF YOU WERE FROM HERE AND WERE A TEENAGER DURING THAT TIME FRAME -- I'M SORRY, DAD.

THAT WILL REMAIN, AND IT WILL HAVE RETAIL AND IT IS VIBRANT TODAY WITH MANY RESTAURANTS.

WHERE THE MALL ITSELF WAS, THAT WILL LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE OPENNESS AND THE OUTDOOR SEATING AND THE HOUSING.

TED: OKAY, SO THERE'S NO, LIKE, DESIGN HOMAGE TO THE OLD METROCENTER?

>> THEY HAVE TAKEN ARCHITECTURE SCIENCE, BUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

TED: SO WHAT'S BEEN THE COMMUNITY REACTION?

ARE THERE FOLKS SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY METROCENTER?

>> NO, I THINK FOLKS ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS COME.

THE MALL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SO LONG AND HAD ISSUES PRIOR TO CLOSING SO THE COMMUNITY HAS EMBRACED THIS CHANGE.

IT'S ALREADY IMPACTING CHANGES AROUND IT TO THE SOUTH OF THE MALL.

WHAT WAS A RETAIL CENTER AND LARGE PARKING LOT HAS BECOME MORE HOUSING, SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS FOR US.

SOME COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IMPACTS TO THE AREA.

TED: TIME LINE FOR COMPLETION, AND WHAT DO I MEAN BY COMPLETION?

PHASED IN?

THE WHOLE THING AT ONE POINT?

>> I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE PHASED IN.

NOW THAT THEY'VE TAKEN IT ALL DOWN, WE HAVE A SPAGHETTI OF MESS, THE STRUCTURE BELOW THE PARKING LOT.

I THINK WE'LL SEE VERTICAL BUILDING LATE 26 OR 27.

TED: HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

>> YES, WE HAVE WAYS TO GO.

TED: ALL RIGHT, VICE MAYOR ANN O'BRIEN, ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THIS?

>> I'M EXCITED.

I WAS SAD TO SEE IT COME DOWN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS NECESSARY.

I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CROWN JEWEL AGAIN OF PHOENIX.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

.

TED: LEILA PARNIAN IS A LOCAL ARTIST WHO PAINTED A MASSIVE MURAL ON AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

IT IS IF NOT THE TALLEST MURAL IN THE STATE.

WE WELCOME LEILA PARNIAN TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT, BY THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

TED: EVERYONE PROBABLY TALKS ABOUT IT, HOW MANY PEOPLE SAY JOB WELL DONE?

>> I HAVE PEOPLE SAYING IT.

TOOK 21 YEARS TO BECOME AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

TED: WHAT IS IT LIKE?

ARTISTS CAN SEE THEIR ART ON A WALL OR IN AN EXHIBITION, YOU SEE YOURS ON A 23-STORY BUILDING.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> I WAS THERE THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS MESMERIZED.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT.

TED: NOT ONLY THAT, THAT'S KIND OF YOU.

THOSE ARE YOUR EYES?

>> MY EYES AND EYEBROWS, YEAH.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I INTENTIONALLY DID THAT.

MY STORY IS UNIQUE AND WANTED TO INSPIRE OTHER ARTISTS TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS.

TED: PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WAIT, I'VE SEEN THAT.

WHERE EXACTLY IS THAT LOCATED?

>> FIRST AVENUE AND McKINLEY, ON THE SIA BUILDING.

TED: OKAY, HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH PAINTING A MURAL ON AN APARTMENT BUILDING 23 STORIES HIGH?

>> ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, A GENTLEMAN NAMED MITCH SAID THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO MEET WITH THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING, SO I MET WITH HIM FIVE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE INTERVIEWING ME TO BE THE ARTIST FOR MURALS INSIDE THE BUILDING, AND AT THAT TIME, I'D ONLY PAINTED MURALS FOR ONE YEAR.

BEEN AN ARTIST FOR OVER 20 YEARS BUT MURALS STARTED IN 2018.

SO THIS IS 2019, AND THEY'RE LIKE WHAT'S YOUR DREAM AS A MURALIST?

MY DREAM IS TO HANG OFF THE SIDE OF A HIGH-RISE AND PAINT A MURAL.

THEY BOTH LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID WHO SAYS THAT AND THEY MADE IT HAPPEN, OZ MADE IT HAPPEN.

TED: WE SEE YOU HANGING OFF THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING PAINTING.

WHEN THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY WANTED, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS.

>> NO, I WANTED IT.

TED: YOU WANTED IT.

>> I WANTED IT.

TED: AND YOU KNEW YOU COULD DO IT?

>> I SAY YES, AND FIGURE IT OUT LATER.

TED: DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED IT TO DEPICT?

>> NOT AT THE TIME.

HE WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

EVERYONE WANTS THE DESERT SCAPES AND THE SUNSETS AND THE CACTUS.

HE SAYS I WANT SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX AND BOLD AND VIBRANT AND A BEACON OF HOPE FOR CREATIVE AND JUST ABLE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.

TED: OKAY, SO.

THAT'S GREAT, BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN IT'S 23 STORIES HIGH?

DO YOU BLOCK IT OUT?

DO YOU TRACE?

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> A LOT OF TIMES FOR MURALS I'LL USE A PROJECTOR, AND A LOT USE A GRID SYSTEM OR DOODLE METHOD, BUT I FREE HANDED THIS WITH ARCHITECTURAL 12-INCH SCALE.

TED: YOU DID IT MINIATURE FIRST AND BROADCAST IT.

>> I MADE A SMALL RENDERING AND WENT BASED ON THAT, IF THE EYE ON MY PAPER IS 12 INCHES, I HAD TO BLOW IT UP ON SCALE TO USING A LITTLE ARCHITECTURAL SCALE AND A RULER.

TED: BASICALLY NO GRID INVOLVED?

>> NO.

TED: PEOPLE MUST BE -- OTHER ARTISTS MUST BE SAYING HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO THIS?

NOW WE KNOW.

>> THAT'S HOW I DID IT.

TED: WHEN YOU WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IT, DID YOU STOP AND SAY WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO IT.

>> I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, I LOVED THE CHALLENGE.

I WANT TO DO MORE.

I WANT TO DO BIGGER ONES.

TED: DO YOU?

>> I REALLY DO.

TED: YOU ARE NOT ALONE, DESCRIBE THE HELP THAT YOU GOT.

>> I HIRED TWO PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS DANNY AND SEAN, THEY CAME ON.

DANNY WAS WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME, SEAN ABOUT HALF OF THE PROJECT, AND THEY TRUSTED ME AND HELPED ME BRING MY VISION TO LIFE.

TED: YEAH, WHEN IT CAME TO LIFE, IS THIS WHAT YOU ENVISIONED?

HAS TO BE BECAUSE YOU MADE THE MINIATURE, CORRECT?

>> YES, I HAD FIVE YEARS TO THINK ABOUT THIS, SO YEAH.

TED: YEAH.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WERE THEY ENCOURAGING?

WERE THEY SAYING YOU'RE NUTS?

>> EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY BUT NATURAL LEILA WAY, THIS IS WHAT I DO.

TED: HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 2019 WHEN I WAS APPROACHED, 2025 WAS COMPLETE.

TED: FROM THE FIRST DROP OF PAINT TO LAST DROP.

>> TWO MONTHS.

TED: THAT'S ALL IT TOOK?

>> WE'RE FAST.

TED: THERE WAS A LOT OF PLANNING INVOLVED.

>> YEAH, A LOT.

TED: IS THERE A LOT OF PLANNING INVOLVED IN MURAL PAINTING?

>> IN GENERAL, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WHO HIRE MURALISTS UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH PLANNING IS INVOLVED AND RENDERINGS AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THE PREP WORK.

THE PREP ON THE MURAL TOOK A LONG TIME TO PREP THE BALCONIES AND THE MIDDLE WINDOWS AND THE SIDE PANEL.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE MIDDLE WINDOWS, NOT THE FACT IT'S 23 STORIES HIGH.

WAIT A MINUTE, THAT WOMAN'S FACE IS BISECTED.

>> THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I COULD DO AS A MURAL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO TALL SKINNY PANELS WITH A WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE AND BALCONIES ON EITHER SIDE, NOT JUST A RECTANGULAR EASY, WE WERE ON A SWING STAGE, IT WAS A PROJECT.

TED: WERE THERE RESIDENTS IN THE PLACE?

>> NOT YET.

THEY'RE STARTING LEASING ACTUALLY NOW.

TED: MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A RAGING SUCCESS, WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE PIPELINE, SOME THINGS I CAN'T SHARE, FROM EPOXY PROJECTS TO OTHER MURALS.

I ALSO DEEJAY SO I'M PLANNING TO DEEJAY AND PAINT LIVE AT THE SAME TIME.

TED: I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.

>> I HAVE TRICKS UP MY SLEEVE.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THE STORY, I'VE SEEN THAT BUT NEVER REALLY SEEN IT, NOW WE HAVE.

FIRST AVENUE AND?

>> McKINLEY.

TED: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.