FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO InFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

AND THE NEEPER NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMMING FUND FOR KNME-TV.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO InFOCUS, A POTENTIAL RECKONING IN THE FILM INDUSTRY AS BELOW-THE-LINE UNION MEMBERS MOVE TOWARDS A POTENTIAL STRIKE.

Jessica: SEEING BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD, HOW WE CAN GET THERE, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN DEMAND TO MAKE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE JUST AS GOOD AS THE FOLKS UP ABOVE.

Gene: AND OUR LINE OPINION PANEL LOOKS AT HOW STAFFING SHORTAGES AND ANOTHER COVID SURGE ARE CAUSING STILL MORE PRESSURE ON FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

NEW MEXICO InFOCUS STARTS NOW.

Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS HEADLINE NEWS IN NEW MEXICO.

THIS WEEK, WE DIG DEEPER INTO THE CLAIMS ABOUT PRETRIAL JAIL DETENTION AND RELEASE AS THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS PROPOSE A CHANGE THAT COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE TO REMAIN FREE WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL.

'OUR LAND' RETURNS WITH THE EFFORT TO SHOW YOUNG MEN OF COLOR HOW THEY CAN EXPLORE OUR STATE'S NATURAL WONDERS WITH THE HELP OF PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS.

WE START IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

JUST AS CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR SHARE THEIR MOST RECENT CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING NUMBERS, AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT STATE ELECTION REGULATORS ARE ONCE AGAIN REVIEWING THOSE DISCLOSURES.

HERE'S THE LINE.

Gene: IF YOU'RE TRACKING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NOW, MORE THAN A YEAR OUT, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE ONE OF US, AND YOU KNOW THAT AT THIS STAGE REALLY THE ONLY THING OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL JOB APPROVAL POLL THAT WE CAN USE TO GAUGE COMPETITIVENESS IS FUNDRAISING.

EACH REPORTING DEADLINE IS A MILESTONE THAT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS FOR DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.

OUR LINE OPINION PANEL IS HERE TO HELP GAUGE PROGRESS.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, MERRITT ALLEN, OWNER OF VOX OPTIMA PUBLIC RELATIONS.

A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND LINE REGULAR, DIANE SNYDER RETURNS.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AND ATTORNEY AND LINE REGULAR SOPHIE MARTIN IS BACK FOR A TURN, AS WELL.

NOW, BACK TO MY MILESTONE ANALOGY, GUYS.

FOR THE GOVERNOR, SHE’S RACING TO BURY REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISING AND MAKE HER VICTORY SEEM INEVITABLE.

FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, THE MILESTONE IS A CHANCE TO CLAIM THE COVETED 'FRONTRUNNER' MANTLE.

MERRITT, GOT TO GO WITH YOU ON THIS.

WHICH OF THOSE THINGS MEAN MORE TO YOU AT THIS POINT, DOUGH IN THE BANK OR THAT FRONTRUNNER STATUS?

Merritt: OH, ABSOLUTELY THE FRONTRUNNER STATUS, AND OF COURSE MY GOOD FRIEND, STATE REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA DOW IS KIND OF WIPING THE FLOOR WITH THE OTHER GOP CANDIDATES, EVEN CONSIDERING SHE PUT THE FUNDS SHE HAD IN HER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ACCOUNT INTO HER GOVERNOR ACCOUNT, SHE RAISED OVER $300,000.

AND SHE'S GOT NEARLY HALF A MILLION, $440,000, IN HER CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

WHAT'S NOTABLE -- Gene: CAN I ASK, MERRITT, IN CONTEXT, IS THAT A LOT THIS TIME AROUND?

Merritt: YES.

Gene: IS IT, FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T FUNDRAISE?

Merritt: HER AVERAGE DONATION IS $111.

SO THIS ISN'T THE BIG PAC MONEY, THIS ISN'T THE BIG LOBBYIST CORPORATE MONEY, SHE'S RAISING MONEY IN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY.

SO THAT IS AN INDICTOR THAT SHE'S ON THE ROAD, SHE'S WORKING HARD, SHE'S SHAKING HANDS, SHE'S EVERYWHERE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DATA TO BE GLEANED FROM THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS TO THE REST OF THE FIELD.

IF YOU WEREN'T TAKING HER SERIOUSLY BEFORE, CERTAINLY YOU'RE TAKING HER SERIOUSLY NOW.

SHE'S GOT MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH MONEY THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE, AND I SEE NO SIGN OF HER LETTING UP.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO SNOWBALL FROM HERE.

SO, YEAH, I THINK IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

Gene: LET ME ASK SOPHIE THIS.

MS. DOW, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS, TOO -- BUT MS. DOW AND HER CAMPAIGN, COMPARING HER $440,000 TO SUSANA MARTINEZ'S FIRST RUN AND HOW SHE HAULED IN MONEY THAT FIRST TIME AROUND, IS THAT AN APT ANALOGY HERE IN 2021?

Sophie: I THINK IT CAN BE, AND I THINK, AS WELL, AS WE'RE TALKING, I THINK, WELL, REBECCA DOW HAS GOOD NAME RECOGNITION I THINK AMONGST ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS WHO ARE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION, BUT PERHAPS LESS, YOU KNOW, STATEWIDE REPUTATION THAN CERTAINLY THE CURRENT GOVERNOR DOES.

BUT SUSANA MARTINEZ KIND OF CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, TOO, AGAIN WITH NAME RECOGNITION AMONGST REPUBLICANS ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

BUT COMPARED TO WHO SHE RAN AGAINST, SHE WASN'T AS WELL KNOWN.

SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER REBECCA DOW CAN SORT OF BOOTSTRAP UP INTO THAT LARGER, YOU KNOW, MORE BROAD -- WIDESPREAD, I SHOULD SAY, NAME RECOGNITION STATEWIDE.

Gene: SURE, MAKES SENSE.

Sophie: THE MONEY WILL CERTAINLY HELP HER WITH THAT.

Gene: NO QUESTION THERE.

SENATOR, IS THERE A SENSE AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT THERE'S ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD?

AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE MORE THAN A YEAR OUT FROM THE ELECTION AND MORE THAN HALF A YEAR FROM THE PRIMARY.

ARE WE MAKING TOO MUCH OF THIS RIGHT NOW?

OR SOMETIMES FOLKS LIKE MS. DOW TALKING ABOUT MONEY EARLY, IT MEANS SOMETHING?

Sen. Snyder: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, EARLY MONEY MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE THAN ANYTHING, AND I THINK THE THING THAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME IS I HAD HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES, IS I'M SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MORE REBECCA HAS RAISED.

AND IF YOU TAKE OUT HER LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN MONEY THAT SHE TRANSFERRED IN -- WHICH IS LEGAL, FOLKS -- SHE IS STILL OUTRAISED THE OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A REAL CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE SOME CHANGE GOING ON IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BECAUSE AS MERRITT SAID -- I BELIEVE IT WAS MERRITT -- SHE'S RAISING MONEY IN PLACES LIKE RIO ARRIBA COUNTY THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY THINK A CONSERVATIVE FROM T OR C, OR SO DOWN THERE, WOULD BE GETTING CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO YES, I THINK THE THING THAT I THINK SHE HAS GOING FOR HER, OF COURSE, THAT NONE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE IS THE FACT THAT SO MANY LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS GIVE HER THE ABSOLUTE CREDIT FOR US HAVING THE ETHICS COMMISSION, BECAUSE SHE DID SOME FANCY FOOTWORK -- ALL LEGAL, FOLKS -- BECAUSE SHE KNEW HER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THAT BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE OF THE SESSION, AND OVER THE MAJOR OBJECTIONS OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

Merritt: AND ALSO, INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING, THE SAME THING.

SHE CAN GET STUFF DONE.

Sen. Snyder: I'M SORRY, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT, IS THE REDISTRICTING.

THANK YOU.

Gene: LET ME THROW ANOTHER NAME OUT THERE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS THE REBECCA DOW SHOW, THAT'S FOR SURE.

Merritt: YEAH, WE CAN.

Gene: WELL, NOT REALLY.

SOPHIE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

RUMORS ABOUT MARK RONCHETTI GETTING BACK IN.

IS THAT A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF TIME AND VACUUM AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING?

Sophie: I WAS REALLY WANTING MY NEXT COMMENT TO BE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO THROW IT IN, WHAT A SEA CHANGE I THINK THERE IS IN THAT WE REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT FEMALE GOVERNORS, FEMALE FRONTRUNNERS FOR GOVERNOR.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL NOT JUST IN OUR STATE, BUT I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR OUR NATION IN A WAY, TO BE LIKE, LOOK AT THESE POWERFUL WOMEN RUNNING FOR THESE POSITIONS.

SO MARK RONCHETTI, I MEAN, PERSONALLY, DON'T MESS UP MY NARRATIVE.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS HE BUILT SOME-SOMETHING WITH HIS LAST GO, AND SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE DIDN'T CAME BACK.

Gene: IT WAS A STATEWIDE RUN.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT AS IF HE WAS DOING SOMETHING OFF HIS COUCH, IT WAS A LEGIT STATEWIDE.

Sophie: I THOUGHT THAT HIS -- YES, TO YOUR POINT, I THINK IT WAS A LEGIT RUN.

I WOULD BE REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT POLLING LOOKS LIKE BEHIND HIM GIVEN, YOU KNOW, HOW IT PLAYED OUT LAST TIME.

WHETHER HE'S LIKELY TO PICK UP ANY ADDITIONAL VOTES THIS TIME IS SORT OF UP IN THE AIR FOR ME.

Gene: MERRITT, WHAT'S YOUR, REAL QUICK, YOUR SENSE OF THE RONCHETTI THING?

TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT?

UNTIL WE SEE SOMETHING CONCRETE, WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT?

IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT CAN'T BE HELPED.

Merritt: I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT.

HE'LL OBVIOUSLY GO WITH JAY McCLUSKEY AGAIN, SO IT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR'S RACE SINCE McCLUSKEY IS BUSY RUNNING MANNY GONZALES'S CAMPAIGN.

AND RONCHETTI, I THINK COMING WITHIN FIVE POINTS OF BEN RAY LUJAN, THAT WAS A VERY RESPECTABLE RACE WHERE HE WAS NOT FAVORED AT ALL, AND WHAT HE PULLED OFF IS VERY HARD TO DO.

HE HAD TO GO HARD RIGHT IN THE PRIMARY, AND THEN HE PULLED CENTER VERY CREDIBLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S REBECCA DOW'S STRATEGY.

SO I THINK THAT WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE UP THE RACE.

HE RAISED MONEY, AND THEN HAS PROVED THAT HE CAN PIVOT TO THE CENTER AND PICK UP VOTES.

SO YES, I THINK THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.

Gene: LET ME BRING OUR GOVERNOR BACK IN.

I THINK WE ALL EXPECTED A HEALTHY TOTAL FROM THE GOVERNOR, WHO HAS READY ACCESS TO WASHINGTON FUNDRAISING STREAMS, ETC., ETC.

SENATOR, ANYTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THIS?

I MEAN, TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION IN THE BANK, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.

Sen. Snyder: I THINK AT THIS POINT, THAT'S PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.

MAYBE A LITTLE ABOVE THE AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK SHE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING IN MONEY.

I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME WHAT I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE BIG INFLUENCE, THE BIG PEOPLE, THE BIG PACS GOING IN AND GIVING, AND IN JUST AS AN INTERESTING POINT FOR ME TO SEE, HAS SHE HAD -- BECAUSE SHE'S HAD A LITTLE DROP IN THE POLLS IN SOME AREAS.

SO IS THAT FORCING HER TO GO OUT OF STATE TO RAISE THE BIG BUCKS, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS RIGHT NOW THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH LOCAL.

VERY FEW HAVE THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED.

SO I THINK OUR GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE GREAT MONEY.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RACE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE SO EXCITING, AND I QUITE TRULY -- DON'T GET ME WRONG, BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FRIENDS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE ANOTHER WOMAN VERSUS WOMAN CANDIDATE RACE, JUST BECAUSE I THINK AS MERRITT OR SOPHIE SAID, IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW, AND I LIKE SEEING MORE WOMEN RUNNING.

NOW, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN WE HAVE BOTH A WOMAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND A WOMAN LT.

GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.

SO WE STILL HAVE A GOAL TO REACH HERE.

Gene: REAL QUICK, GUYS, I WANT TO GET, SOPHIE, STARTING WITH YOU, TO KIND OF A SIGNIFICANT THING HERE.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ONCE AGAIN STARTED AUDITING FINANCE REPORTS.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN IT BEGAN A FEW YEARS BACK.

I SEE THE SENATOR REACTING.

SHE KNOWS WHAT THAT WAS LIKE BACK THEN.

BUT IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW.

SHOULD WE BE DEMANDING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT HERE?

IS THE TIME NOT RIPE FOR THIS?

I ALSO SEE WE'VE GOT SOME ELECTED FOLKS LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY TO AUGMENT STAFF IN THE COMMITTEES THAT ARE OVERLOOKING THESE THINGS.

Sophie: IT FEELS LIKE THE WORK OF THIS GROUP IS STILL KIND OF GETTING OFF THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES BEFORE, AND SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, ADDITIONAL STAFFING.

THEY ACTUALLY LOST SOME STAFF EARLIER.

SO I THINK EVEN TO MEET THE GOALS THAT ARE SET FOR THEM NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY NEED MORE STAFFING AND MORE FUNDS.

BUT THEY HAVE AN AMBITIOUS -- Gene: AND A MILLION PLUS BUDGET THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO DO IT.

Sophie: RIGHT, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THEIR WORK.

SO I MEAN, I THINK IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE.

IF THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION, IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE THAT THEY WOULD NEED MORE RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

NOW, THERE IS SOME DEBATE ABOUT THE MERITS OF THAT WORK, AND I GUESS I WILL LEAVE THAT TO MERRITT OR DIANE IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT FURTHER.

Gene: REGRETTABLY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME ON THAT ONE.

BUT WE'LL PICK UP ON THAT AS TIME GOES ALONG.

GOOD TOSS THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT, CAMPAIGNS CERTAINLY AREN’T DONE FUNDRAISING, SO WE’LL BE REVISITING BOTH TOTALS AND ENFORCEMENT AS WE GET CLOSER TO NEXT YEAR’S ELECTION.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE LINE AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES WITH A DISCUSSION ON HEALTH CARE STAFFING LEVELS AGAIN THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS COVID-19 CASES BOG DOWN NEW MEXICO HOSPITALS.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER INDUSTRY AT A CROSSROADS WITH ITS WORKFORCE.

THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES, THE SO-CALLED ‘BELOW THE LINE’ WORKERS ON MOVIES AND TV PROGRAMS, HAS VOTED WITH 98% APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE BEGINNING MONDAY, THIS COMING OCTOBER 18TH.

IT'S POTENTIALLY A VERY BIG DEAL HERE IN NEW MEXICO AS NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN IATSE AND THE PRODUCERS GROUP STALLED AND ARE NOW UP AGAINST THAT DEADLINE.

I SAT DOWN VIA FACEBOOK WITH VARIETY MAGAZINE SENIOR MEDIA REPORTER GENE MADDAUS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE UNION IS AFTER.

WE STARTED WITH THE LINE FROM THE PRODUCERS.

Maddaus: SO THEIR ARGUMENT WOULD BE, LOOK GUYS, NUMBER ONE, OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS EXTREMELY IN FLUX.

LIKE, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY ON STREAMING AS WE MADE WITH THE TRADITIONAL THEATER MODEL.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO HAD TO SPEND ALL THIS MONEY JUST TO GET BACK UP INTO BUSINESS.

LIKE ALL THIS MONEY ON COVID PROTOCOLS, IT'S LIKE 10%, 15% OF THE BUDGET NOW GOES TOWARDS ALL THESE COVID PROTECTIONS.

SO THEIR ARGUMENT -- AND YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ARGUMENT YOU'D EXPECT THEM TO MAKE, BUT IT'S THEIR ARGUMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HURTING, WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE SUPER GENEROUS THIS TIME AROUND.

Gene: REFERRING BACK TO THE IATSE HEAD, MR. LOEB, AND WHAT COMES NEXT, YOU MADE AN INTERESTING POINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIECE THAT IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD TO BE FIRED UP ABOUT A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE, AND AS A MEMBER OF TWO UNIONS, ONE OF WHICH DID COME TO A STRIKE POINT, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER DEAL WHEN YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL STRIKE VOTE AND ACTUALLY HITTING THE BRAKES.

Maddaus: OH, YEAH.

Gene: AND AGAIN, NO PREDICTIONS HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.

BUT IN YOUR SENSE OF IT, DOES THE MEMBERSHIP, THE UNION MEMBERSHIP, HAVE A FULL GRASP OF WHAT IT REALLY WOULD MEAN TO STRIKE FULLY HERE?

Maddaus: IT'S HARD TO -- I MEAN, ONE THING THAT YOU COULD SAY ABOUT IT IS, THEY DID JUST HAVE A SHUTDOWN FOR COVID A YEAR AGO, AND SO EVERYBODY WAS OUT OF WORK.

YOU KNOW, THROWN OUT OF WORK WITH NO WARNING IN MARCH OF 2020, AND THEY FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

RIGHT?

SO THERE MIGHT BE A FEELING OF LIKE, WELL, I'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, WITHOUT WORK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW THAT GOES, IT DOESN'T SCARE ME THE WAY IT MIGHT OTHERWISE.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE ON STRIKE, YOU DON'T GET UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND WHEN YOU'RE THROWN OUT OF WORK FOR COVID AND THEY HAVE ALL THESE SPECIAL PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR GIG WORKERS, AND PLUSSED UP UNEMPLOYMENT, I MEAN, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

I STILL THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE SORT OF NOT EXPECTING A STRIKE NECESSARILY, EVEN WITH THIS VOTE.

I THINK THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO GET THEM BACK TO THE TABLE AND WE'LL FIND A DEAL, AND LIKE THE ISSUES AREN'T SO FUNDAMENTAL THAT THERE ISN'T SOME MIDDLE GROUND THAT CAN BE FOUND.

BUT YEAH, AS YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE OUT OF WORK, IT'S THREE WEEKS, IT'S FOUR WEEKS.

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IF ONE SIDE IS GETTING SOMETHING AND THE OTHER SIDE IS NOT, AND YOU COULD START TO PLAY ONE OFF THE OTHER A LITTLE BIT, IT COULD GET A LITTLE BUMPY.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF UNITY.

OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY IS FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT VOTE, AND THEY SHOULD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL, AS I SAID, WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY ON STRIKE.

Gene: VERY MUCH SO.

I REMEMBER WE GOT 50 BUCKS A WEEK IN STRIKE PAY, AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S THE INTERESTING PART ABOUT THESE KIND OF THINGS.

IT IS A RISK, ISN'T IT?

I MEAN, IT'S A GAME OF CHICKEN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Maddaus: YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S THE ONLY LEVERAGE THEY HAVE, RIGHT?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE IN A UNION?

YOU CAN GO ON STRIKE.

THAT'S YOUR POWER.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE MADE THE POINT THAT LIKE, NO, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE NEVER EVEN DONE A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE BEFORE, MUCH LESS A STRIKE.

YOU KNOW, IATSE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 128 YEARS AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD A NATIONWIDE STRIKE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SHUTTING DOWN ALL THE FILM AND TV PRODUCTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT'S A BIG STEP.

Gene: NOW, THAT'S THE NATIONAL SCENE.

HERE IN NEW MEXICO, IATSE LOCAL 480 REPRESENTS THOSE BELOW-THE-LINE FILM WORKERS, AND ACTUALLY SURPASSED THE NATIONAL UNION STRIKE APPROVAL NUMBERS WITH A 99% AUTHORIZATION FOR A STRIKE, WHICH AT LAST CHECK WOULD START THIS COMING MONDAY, THE 18th.

I ALSO TALKED TO FILM AND TV WORKERS VIA FACEBOOK, WHERE YOU CAN CATCH THE ENTIRETY OF BOTH THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND HEAR FROM LOCAL UNION LEADERS.

WE PICK UP THE CONVERSATION WITH SOME SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT UNION MEMBERS SAY ARE UNTENABLE WORKING CONDITIONS.

Gene: LET'S START WITH WORKPLACE COMPLAINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE'LL GET INTO DETAIL LATER, BUT IN YOUR GENERAL SENSE, WHAT'S BEEN THE SENSE OF THE LOCAL 480 FOLKS HERE ABOUT HOW THE TREATMENT HAS GONE ON FILM SETS OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS.

ARE WE IN THE SAME SORT OF BOAT OTHER STATES ARE, OR IS IT WORSE HERE?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF IT?

Jessica: I'D SAY THAT FOR SURE THE INDUSTRY HERE IS A MICROCOSM OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.

AND IN A STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO, WHERE THE AGREEMENT IN QUESTION THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW, TO MAKE CHANGES ON NOW -- IN NEW MEXICO SPECIFICALLY, CREW IN MOST CASES CAN BE TREATED AS LOCAL HIRES NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE WITHIN THE STATE.

SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS IN NEW MEXICO THAT MAY BE LIVING TWO HOURS OR SO FROM WHERE THEY'RE REPORTING TO AND FROM WORK.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, REST PERIODS ARE A BIG DEAL.

THE TIME IN BETWEEN WHEN THEY WRAP FROM WORK AND WHEN THEY'RE EXPECTED TO REPORT TO WORK IS A BIG CONCERN.

A LOT OF CALLS THAT I GET, FRANKLY THERE'S A LOT OF DISMAY OVER THE FACT THAT ESSENTIALLY IF YOU'RE TRAVELING TWO HOURS TO AND FROM WORK, WITH A TEN-HOUR REST PERIOD, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU SIX HOURS TO YOURSELF, RIGHT, AND THEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE WEEKEND REST PERIOD IS ANOTHER BIG POINT OF CONTENTION THAT WE DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF WORKPLACE CONCERNS AND SCHEDULING, AS IT KIND OF PERTAINS TO THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

Gene: YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, BUT FOR ANYBODY WATCHING THAT DOESN'T KNOW, WE HAD A TRAGEDY HERE REGARDING LONGMIRE.

WE HAD SOMEONE WITH LONG HOURS MAKING A LONG DRIVE AND FALLING ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL.

SHAUN, IT'S A VERY REAL THING OUT THERE.

I HEAR ABOUT THIS FROM FILM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT JESSICA JUST MENTIONED.

EVEN FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO SANTA FE, AN HOUR IS A LONG TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN YOU'RE EXHAUSTED.

HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS, AS WELL, IN YOUR WORK WITH FILM SHOOTS HERE?

Shaun: DEFINITELY.

IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

IT'S PRETTY COMMON THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET OFF, YOU KNOW, AT 5:00 A.M. ON A SATURDAY MORNING, AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT MAKES IT DANGEROUS IS WE SHOOT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

YOU COULD BE OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE DANGEROUS.

YOU'RE ON SWITCHBACK ROADS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EXHAUSTED.

YOU'VE WORKED POSSIBLY UP TO 70 HOURS THAT WEEK AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE USING ALL YOUR FACULTIES JUST TO GET HOME.

LOADS OF PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND JUST SHOWN UP FOR WORK ON MONDAY MORNING, AND IT'S LUCKY.

IT'S LUCKY A LOT OF TIMES.

AND, YEAH, THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT AGAINST.

Gene: JESSICA, I'M CURIOUS AGAIN.

SO MANY ISSUE AREAS YOU DEAL WITH ON FILM SETS.

THE LEVEL OF OPTIMISM YOU'RE FEELING FROM FOLKS, THAT THERE'S LITERALLY A BETTER DAY COMING -- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ARTISTS, YOU WANT TO DO STUFF, YOU WANT TO MAKE THINGS, YOU WANT TO CREATE STUFF.

YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO RISK YOUR LIVES TO DO IT.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU'RE FEELING LIKE, HEY, WE COULD BE TURNING A CORNER HERE, SOMETHING GOOD COULD BE COMING FOR ALL OF US.

Jessica: ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY, I DO GET THAT SENTIMENT OUT THERE, AND I THINK THAT FOLKS ARE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INFORMED, BECOME EMPOWERED, AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS THAT THE PRODUCTION COMPANY IS OBLIGED TO GIVE THEM, AND UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS THAT THE PRODUCTION COMPANY WILL GO.

THEY WILL PUSH THE LIMITS OF ANYTHING THAT'S MINIMALLY OBLIGED.

AND I THINK AFTER YEARS OF SEEING THEM ESSENTIALLY IGNORE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE NEEDS WHILE THEY REAP THE BENEFITS, SPECIFICALLY NEW MEDIA PRODUCERS, I FEEL MAKING HAND OVER FIST, I THINK THAT NOW THERE'S A SENSE IN THE MEMBERSHIP, AND I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY HAS COME ABOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC, WHERE EVERYBODY IS REEVALUATING THEIR PLACE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND SEEING, YES, SEEING BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD, HOW WE CAN GET THERE, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN DEMAND TO MAKE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE JUST AS GOOD AS THE FOLKS UP ABOVE.

Gene: EXHAUSTED, DISCOURAGED, FRUSTRATED.

THAT'S HOW DR. DAVID SCRASE, NEW MEXICO'S ACTING HEALTH SECRETARY, DESCRIBES MORAL AMONG NEW MEXICO'S HOSPITAL STAFF.

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF, THEY'VE BEEN SLOGGING THROUGH THE MIRE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

HOSPITAL ICU'S ARE STILL ALMOST AT CAPACITY FOR WHAT DR. SCRASE NOW CALLS A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS.

IN FACT, SOPHIE, IN RECENT NEWS BRIEFINGS, HE POINTED TO BURNOUT AS A KEY REASON FOR MEDICAL STAFF QUITTING, NOT VACCINE MANDATES BY THEIR EMPLOYERS OR THE STATE.

INTERESTING DEBATE HERE.

DOES THAT SEEM LEGIT TO YOU COMING FROM DR. SCRASE?

Sophie: IT SEEMS PURE LEGIT TO ME.

YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THAT MEDICAL WORKERS AND HEALTH WORKERS WERE BURNING OUT BEFORE, BEFORE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS, WERE LEAVING THE PROFESSION OR SHIFTING TO OTHER OPTIONS BEFORE VACCINE MANDATES, AND I MEAN, I HAVE TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SYMPATHY.

I'M BURNED OUT AND I'M NOT WATCHING PEOPLE STRUGGLE FOR THEIR LIVES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

AND THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO DO THAT, EVEN WITH ALL OF THEIR EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING, IT BREAKS MY HEART.

SO SURPRISED THAT THERE'S THIS CRISIS?

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A CRISIS.

13,000 OPEN POSITIONS IN NEW MEXICO'S HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Gene: THAT'S VERY TELLING.

IT'S A TELLING NUMBER, ISN'T IT?

Sophie: ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

AND I DON'T -- I SEE THE VACCINE MANDATES, YEAH, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE OBJECTING TO THEM IN THE HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, SOME HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS BUT I AGREE WITH DR. SCRASE, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON OUR HOSPITALS AND HOPEFULLY SAVE THE LIVES OF NEW MEXICANS.

Gene: HEY, MERRITT, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WE'VE HEARD WARNINGS ABOUT HEALTH CARE WORKERS LEAVING LIKE SOPHIE MENTIONED IN DROVES, AND WHILE SOME PEOPLE HAVE QUIT INSTEAD OF GETTING VACCINATED, NEW MEXICO'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SAYS THAT NUMBER IS JUST A HANDFUL.

IS BURNOUT THE BIGGER CONCERN HERE, OR ARE YOU ON THE SIDE THAT IT ACTUALLY IS THE VACCINES THAT ARE DRIVING SOME OF THESE RESIGNATIONS?

Merritt: THE VACCINE MANDATE, THAT DECISION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN LIGHTLY BY ANY OF THE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS OPERATING HEALTH CARE ACTIVITIES.

THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, A RISK MANAGEMENT DECISION MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE POPULATION THEY'RE SERVING.

I'M SURE THAT WAS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY.

SO NO, I'M NOT PUTTING THAT ON THE VACCINE MANDATE.

NEW MEXICO'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WAS IN CRISIS WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND WE KNOW THIS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR RURAL AREAS.

I MEAN, IN MY HOME TOWN, THE COUNTY HOSPITAL THERE IS REALLY FUNCTIONING AS A PLACE TO DELIVER A BABY, HAVE A BROKEN BONE SET, AND OTHERWISE BE TRIAGED BEFORE BEING SENT TO A HOSPITAL IN TUCSON, EL PASO, OR ALBUQUERQUE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.

AND THAT WAS IN MANY WAYS THE CASE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT WAS ONLY GOING TO TAKE ONE MAJOR EVENT TO TIP THE SCALE INTO A FREE FALL, AND WE'RE IN THAT.

AND IT'S HARD, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WATCH THAT FREE FALL, AND WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING IT AND OUR LOVED ONES ARE EXPERIENCING IT.

Gene: SENATOR, PART OF THE PROBLEM, THE POLITICS OF BEING VACCINATED, WHICH REPUBLICAN STALWARTS FROM MITCH McCONNELL, I'LL REMIND YOU, TO PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS IT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

KIND OF GOT BURIED IN THE NOISE BACK THEN, BUT THEY DID SAY THIS.

IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT JAMPACKED HOSPITALS ARE SOMETHING WE'RE WILLING TO LIVE WITH AS A SOCIETY.

AM I SEEING THIS WRONG?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

Sen. Snyder: NO, I THINK YOU SEE SMALLER GROUPS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING AGAINST HAVING IT.

I THINK THAT THE TOP LEADERSHIP IN MOST CASES OF REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, AND SO THEIR MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME GROUPS, SOME PEOPLE, THAT THEIR RIGHT IS TO PROTEST AGAINST IT.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH WORKERS.

IF THEY ARE PROTESTING AGAINST IT, MAYBE THEY KNOW MORE THAN I KNOW, OR DR. SCRASE -- CERTAINLY DR. SCRASE KNOWS -- BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPOSING THEMSELVES, SOME OF THEM, NOT ALL, DAILY.

AND I DON'T KNOW AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DATA ON WHETHER THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE SAYING, NO, I WON'T GET A VACCINE, WHETHER THEY ARE THE ONES DEALING WITH THE COVID PATIENTS.

THEY MAY NOT BE.

THEY MAY BE DELIVERING BABIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INCREASED RISK OF EXPOSURE IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATION, BUT IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO DON'T GET IT.

IF THEY ARE WORKING WITH PATIENTS WHO DO, OR EVEN THE ELDERLY, WHETHER THEY MIGHT BRING SOMETHING IN WITH THEM, WHICH IS THE OTHER SITUATION, BUT THAT THE END RESULT MAY BE THAT THEY END UP TAKING THE DISEASE HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I REALIZE I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAMILY, I JUST WORRY ABOUT IT AS AN OVERRIDING ISSUE, NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

FOR ME, IT ISN'T.

Gene: GOTCHA.

SOPHIE, INTERESTINGLY, NEWS BROKE THIS WEEK, DRUG COMPANY MERCK HAS AN ANTIVIRAL PILL TO TREAT COVID, LIKE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES.

PEOPLE HAVE TO GET COVID BEFORE IT HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO DO THEM ANY GOOD.

Sophie: YOU CAN'T HAVE THE PILL UNTIL YOU'VE GOT THE DISEASE.

YOU CAN'T START TAKING IT PROPHYLACTICALLY NOW.

Gene: BUT YOU KNOW HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

YOU DO KNOW HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

THOUGH, IN THAT A PILL FORM VERSUS A SHOT IS A VERY DIFFERENT DEAL FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.

IS THIS A WAY AROUND THE VACCINATION ISSUE, POSSIBLY?

Sophie: WELL, I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL PERCEIVE IT AS SUCH, AND I FEEL LIKE I DO NEED TO SORT OF MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN REPORTINGS, AS WELL, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A COVID VACCINE PATCH.

SO DERMAL DELIVERY.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT TERM, BUT, YOU KNOW, SLAP ON THE PATCH.

BUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL USE THE MERCK DRUG AS JUSTIFICATION, PERHAPS, FOR NOT GETTING THE VACCINE.

IT'S VERY MUCH AFTER THE FACT, AND WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT COVID, BECAUSE THERE IS GOOD RESEARCH ON THIS, IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE AND SPREAD COVID -- REMEMBER, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

YOU CAN HAVE AND SPREAD COVID BEFORE YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, OR YOU CAN COVID WITH NO SYMPTOMS AND STILL SPREAD IT.

AND SO THIS IS VERY MUCH AFTER THE HORSES HAVE LEFT THE BARN, THIS PILL.

YEAH, YOU MIGHT START TREATMENT WITH THE PILL, BUT YOU COULD STILL HAVE ALREADY SPREAD COVID TO OTHERS IN ADVANCE OF THAT TREATMENT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME.

Gene: LET ME SWING TO MERRITT HERE ON THAT SAME QUESTION.

AGAIN, I'M ON THIS HUMAN BEHAVIOR THING WHEN IT COMES TO PILL FORM VERSUS SHOTS.

I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THAT.

Merritt: I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, TO ME -- I MEAN, I'M A SHOT PERSON.

I GET MY FLU SHOT.

I WAS IN THE MILITARY, SO I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AN OPTION ON SHOTS.

I GOT A BUNCH OF SHOTS.

SOME OF THEM WERE DECIDEDLY -- Sophie: AND YOU SURVIVED THEM!

Merritt: RIGHT.

YELLOW FEVER, I DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE, BUT YOU GOT TO GET IT, AND YOU DON'T GET AN OPTION.

AND AS A PRIVATE EMPLOYER AND A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACTOR, I DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE.

I JUST GOT THE MODIFICATION TO MY LARGEST CONTRACT THAT QUOTES THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND FOR MY EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE WORKING UNDER THIS CONTRACT, THEY HAVE TO BE VACCINATED.

SO I GUESS THE PILL IS A NICE IDEA.

Gene: HOW DID YOUR EMPLOYEES TAKE THAT, BY THE WAY?

I'M CURIOUS.

Merritt: WE SIMPLY EXPLAINED THAT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS COMING, AND THIS WAS THE DEADLINE, AND EVERYONE NEEDED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION BY X DATE, AND SO FAR IT'S NOT BECOME AN ISSUE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE TRUST EVERYBODY WILL HANDLE IT WITH THE SAME PROFESSIONALISM THEY HANDLED EVERYTHING, AND PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

IT'S NOT COME UP, BECAUSE TO DIANE'S POINT, IT'S A PERSONAL DECISION AND IT'S BEEN MADE A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, NOT BY MY CHOICE, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHOICE, AND I THINK IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THESE HOSPITALS WHO HAVE DONE RISK ASSESSMENTS AND THEY'VE DETERMINED, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT THEIR BEST RISK IS FOR ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED, AND THEN IT BECOMES A MATTER OF CHOICE.

AND SO WHETHER PEOPLE ARE HOLDING OUT BECAUSE THEY THINK A PILL WILL SOMEHOW CURE THEM OF COVID, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL -- Gene: THAT'S THE OTHER DANGER, RIGHT.

Merritt: IT'S STILL EXPERIMENTAL.

SO IF INGESTING A PILL AS OPPOSED TO GETTING A SHOT IS SOMEHOW MORE PALATABLE TO YOU, WELL, GOOD ON YOU.

THAT'S FINE.

I STILL THINK I'M A SHOT PERSON.

I THINK PREVENTIVE CARE IS THE WAY TO GO, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY, DON'T BE A JERK ABOUT IT.

IF YOUR FRIEND DOESN'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED, DON'T BE ABUSIVE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE VACCINATED AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE VACCINATED, DON'T BE ABUSIVE.

DON'T BE UNPLEASANT ABOUT IT.

Gene: HEY, SPEAKING OF JAMPACKED, THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR OUR LINE OPINION PANEL THIS WEEK SINCE WE HAVE A VERY FULL SHOW.

YOU CAN CATCH OUR 'ONE MORE THING' DISCUSSION ON FACEBOOK, AS YOU CAN EVERY WEEK, BY GOING TO THE NEW MEXICO InFOCUS FACEBOOK PAGE.

STILL AHEAD, 'OUR LAND' AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.

LENTE: I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON WITH RECOGNIZING ALL OF OR MUSTING, MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE TODAY.

YOU'RE NOT FORGOTTEN.

WE WILL FIND YOU AND WE LOVE YOU AND THAT WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK HOME SOME DAY.

Gene: WE ALL LOVE TO GET OUTSIDE, TO HIT THE HIKING TRAILS AND DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT MAKES US HAPPY.

BUT FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS IT IS SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT TO REACH MOST HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS, EVEN PARKS AND WILDLIFE REFUGES HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, THERE ARE EVEN MORE CHALLENGES TO FEELING SAFE AND COMFORTABLE OUTSIDE.

OUR LAND IS BACK THIS WEEK AND LAURA PASKUS HEADS OUT WITH TOGETHER FOR BROTHERS WHICH WORKS ON ISSUES LIKE TRANSIT EQUITY AND RAISING YOUNG MEN OF COLOR TO LEAD IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND IN THIS CASE LEAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OUT TO THE TRAILS.

Laura: DURING THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE FLOCKED TO PUBLIC LANDS, PLACES LIKE PARKS AND HIKING TRAILS, SO MANY OF US WANTED TO BE OUTSIDE WHERE IT FELT SAFE, TO HIKE, BIKE, BE ALONE, OR BE WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Ramirez: THERE IS SO MUCH NATIONAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW ABOUT OVER USAGE OF PARKS DURING COVID-19 BUT IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT OVER USAGE BY WHO.

LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PARKS AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO LIMIT PEOPLES' ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SPACES.

Laura: FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS, THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH NATIONAL PARKS, STATE PARKS, OR MOST OF THE STATE'S HIKING TRAILS.

TOGETHER FOR BROTHERS HAS ONE PROJECT THAT HELPS YOUNG MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALBUQUERQUE LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND WESTGATE MAKE IT TO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SANDIAS AND BOSQUE OF THE RIO GRANDE.

Ramirez: WHEN WE WERE OUT IN THE BOSQUE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER WHEN WE ORGANIZED OUR FIRST HIKE, 90% OF THE YOUTH ORGANIZERS HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE BOSQUE.

THESE ARE FOLKS WHO LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES IN ALBUQUERQUE.

Grubbs: I AM USED TO CONCRETE.

FROM WHERE I AM FROM WHEN I LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINS AND I HEAR ABOUT THE BOSQUE AND STUFF, THEY JUST SOUND LIKE FAR AWAY PLACES, SIMILAR TO LIKE THE GRAND CANYON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A PLACE THAT I COULDN'T GET TO.

I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET TO.

Laura: OVER THE SUMMER THE YOUNG MEN STARTED TAKING CITY BUSES TO THE FOOTHILLS AND THE RIVER AND SHOOTING VIDEOS TO SHOW OTHER FAMILIES HOW TO DO IT TOO.

YOU WANT YOUR FRONT TIRE TO BE THE ONE THAT GETS THIS ON IT.

YOU CAN PUT IT IN THIS ONE, EITHER ONE.

Ramirez: ONE OF THE THINGS TODAY, WHEN WE WERE THINKING OF DOING A HIKE, WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT FIRST HIKING TO THE PETROGLYPHS AND REALIZED THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T GOOD PUBLIC TRANSIT TO MOST OF THE PUBLIC SITES OF THE PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT.

Laura: THIS IS SO COMMON.

VALLE DEL ORO IN THE SOUTH VALLEY IS THE FIRST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WITH A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPONENT TO ITS MISSION AND YET THERE IS NO BUS LINE.

PUBLIC ACCESS, SOMETHING MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED, IS JUST NOT UNIVERSAL.

Villezcas: MOST OF US EITHER NEED A VEHICLE OR NEED OUR PARENTS TO TAKE US SOMEWHERE AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RIDING THE BUS SO IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO GET PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT.

Ramirez: WAY TOO HARD.

LET ME TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.

Laura: YOUNG MEN OF COLOR DON'T ALWAYS KNOW IF PUBLIC SPACES ARE SAFE FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES OR WHAT CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE THERE.

Ramirez: LOW INCOME FAMILIES ARE OFTEN TOLD THAT GOING TO THE OUTDOORS IS A PRIVILEGE OR A LUXURY AND THE REALITY IS EARLIER TODAY WE ASKED YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR TO SAY WHAT DID THE OUTDOORS DO FOR YOU.

MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, TIME WITH MY FAMILY NOT CONNECTED TO TECHNOLOGY.

AND WHEN I THINK OF WHO NEEDS THAT THE MOST IT IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN THE MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS A NICE VIEW, I LIKE IT.

Laura: RAMIREZ SAYS THAT YOUNG MEN OF COLOR FROM THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO PUBLIC LANDS.

LIKE, THEY DON'T DESERVE THAT ACCESS.

SO MANY JUST ACCEPT.

FOR HIS PART, GRUBBS HAS LOVED GETTING OUTSIDE AND HE HAS ADVICE FOR OTHER MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Grubbs: THESE ARE PLACES FOR EVERYBODY.

IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD GO THERE, GO THERE.

TRY IT OUT AND YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY IT.

Laura: FOR OUR LAND AND NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, I AM LAURA PASKUS.

Grubs: IN 2016, NEW MEXICO VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT PROPOSED TO GIVE JUDGES THE POWER TO JAIL PEOPLE ACCUSED BUT NOT CONVICTED OF CRIME AND ALSO TO REINFORCE OR RETAIN THE RIGHTS OF NON-DANGEROUS DEFENDANTS WHO AREN'T A FLIGHT RISK TO BE FREE WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL.

IN THE YEARS SINCE, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEBATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RULES CREATED TO ADMINISTER THOSE PRINCIPLES.

YOU HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN IT ON THE NEWS AND IN THE PAPER, PROSECUTORS AND POLICE BEMOANING THE RELEASE OF PEOPLE WHO REOFFEND AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND COURT SYSTEM SAYING THE NEW SYSTEM, WHILE NOT PERFECTS, IS LARGELY WORKING AND VITALLY IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

OUR GUEST IS ARTIE PEPIN.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS.

ARTIE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

Pepin: MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

Grubs: MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A TOUGH ON CRIME ISSUE.

SOMETHING AKIN TO DETACHED JUDGES HEELING TOO CLOSELY TO SOME CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE.

IT JUST DOESN'T APPLY TO REAL LIFE.

WHAT UNDERPINS YOUR VIEW?

Pepin: WELL, THE COURTS DON'T REALLY HAVE A VIEW ON WHETHER WE SHOULD BE TOUGH ON CRIME.

WE ADMINISTER THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION BUT I THINK ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES THAT COURTS ARE DEDICATED TO IS FAIRNESS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WITHOUT FAVORING ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT HAS THE WAYS IN WHICH THE PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM ARREST TO CONVICTION AND WE HAVE A STRONG CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE THAT SAYS WE PUNISH PEOPLE, PUT THEM IN JAIL OR PRISON, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CONVICTED.

THE PRETRIAL CONTEXT, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IT SHOULD BE AN UNUSUAL, DIFFICULT THING TO PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL BEFORE THEY GET CONVICTED AND THAT IS THE SYSTEM WE HAVE AND THAT IS THE ONE THAT WE THINK IS WORKING.

OF COURSE, WE CAN IMPROVE ON IT AND I AM SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT WAYS WE MIGHT IMPROVE ON IT BUT WE ARE MUCH BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE VOTERS WISELY ADOPTED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN 2016.

Grubs: WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT THIS APPLIES TO.

YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON IT, BUT LET'S DEFINE THAT.

Pepin: SO, MOST OF THE DATA WE HAVE ON BERNALILLO COUNTY, ANYWAY, ARE FELONS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR FELONIES.

THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT 20,000 FELONY ARRESTS SINCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS PUT IN PLACE.

ABOUT 10,000 OF THOSE CASES HAD RESOLVED BY EARLY 2020 SO THAT IS WHAT THE STUDY YOU MENTIONED LOOKS AT THOSE 10,000 CASES.

Grubs: HOW IS THE COURT HANDLING THIS RIGHT NOW?

WHAT SYSTEM ARE THEY USING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS DANGEROUS, WHO ISN'T, WHO CAN GO FREE AND WHO SHOULD STAY IN JAIL?

Pepin: FOCUSING ON BERNALILLO COUNTY, YOU HAVE A PRETRIAL DEPARTMENT, DIVISION OVER AT SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT, YOUR DISTRICT COURT HERE, AND WHEN A JUDGE RELEASES SOMEONE PRETRIAL -- WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALMOST EVERYBODY, MOST PEOPLE ARE RELEASED -- OF THOSE 10,000 PEOPLE ARE ALL RELEASED, THE COURT SETS CONDITIONS ON THEIR RELEASE, AND THAT IS FROM TELLING YOU YOUR COURT DATE AND TELLING YOU TO COME BACK NEXT MONTH, TWO MONTHS, WHENEVER YOUR NEXT COURT DATE IS, AND OTHERWISE LEAVING YOU ALONE TO HAVING YOU CONTACT PRETRIAL SERVICES, MAYBE DO DRUG TESTING, CONTACTING YOUR EMPLOYER MAKING SURE YOU'RE GOING TO WORK, ALL THE WAY UP TO ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR ANKLE MONITORING THAT IS USED AND THEN WHEN THE PROSECUTOR BRINGS A MOTION FOR DETENTION, THE JUDGE CAN GRANT THAT MOTION AND THEN YOU'RE IN DETENTION.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED AND THEY'LL HAVE A TRIAL OR PLEAD GUILTY OR THE CASE WILL BE DISMISSED EVENTUALLY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE CHARGING AND THE RESOLUTION.

WHETHER THAT RESOLUTION IS THE CASE IS DISMISSED AND NOTHING HAPPENS OR THEY ARE ACQUITTED OR CONVICTED AND THEN THEY GET SENTENCED TO JAIL OR PRISON.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT IN BETWEEN PERIOD.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE I THINK THAT THE CONSTITUTION PRESUMES THOSE PEOPLE ARE INNOCENT BUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT GIVES EXCEPTION FOR THE COURT TO KEEP SOME PEOPLE IN JAIL.

I THINK IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE COURT CAN'T DO THAT ON ITS OWN.

THE ONLY TIME THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS THE COURT TO PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL BEFORE THEY GO TO TRIAL OR THEIR CASE IS RESOLVED IS IF THE PROSECUTOR MOVES, ASKS, FOR THE PERSON TO BE DETAINED AND THEN SHOWS THAT REALLY NOTHING SHORT OF PUTTING THEM IN JAIL BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED WILL PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT IS A DIFFICULT STANDARD BUT THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND IT ENFORCES THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE.

2000 TIMES SINCE 2017, IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, THE COURTS HAVE AGREED WITH THE MOTION BY THE PROSECUTOR AND KEPT THOSE PEOPLE IN JAIL BEFORE THEIR CASE WAS RESOLVED.

Grubs: BERNALILLO COUNTY IS WHERE A LOT OF THIS TAKES PLACE, SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.

FOLKS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU BROUGHT UP THE WORD PRESUMED.

AS WE READ PAPERS AND WATCH NIGHTLY NEWS, WE HEAR THIS PHRASE REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION, SOMETHING THAT RAUL TORREZ, THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, HAS BROUGHT OUT, SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HAS BROUGHT UP.

IT IS NOT PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE.

IT IS PRESUMPTION THAT THE CRIME OF WHICH YOU'RE ACCUSED IS SO SERIOUS THAT AUTOMATICALLY YOU'RE KEPT IN JAIL UNLESS YOU CAN REBUT THAT OR YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU'RE NO DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY.

IS PART OF THE PROBLEM THE COURT FACES IN TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A SENSIBLE SOLUTION, LOOK THESE FOLKS ARE DANGEROUS, MURDER IS A SERIOUS CRIME, CHILD ABUSE IS A SERIOUS CRIME.

YOU WOULDN'T DEBATE ANY OF THAT, BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ACCUSED OF THIS MEANS YOU NEED TO STAY IN JAIL UNTIL WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS.

Pepin: THE COURTS DON'T TAKE A POSITION ON PRESUMPTIONS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE WILL DETERMINE.

THEY PASS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR SIGNS, OBVIOUSLY THE COURTS APPLY THE LAW, THE LAW THAT THE COURTS ARE GIVEN.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND THE SUPREME COURT HAS APPOINTED COMMISSIONS OVER THE YEARS, HAS GATHERED PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE LOOKED AT DATA IT SHOWS US THIS, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WE DO TO MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER.

REGARDING PRESUMPTIONS, ALL THAT THE COURTS ASK OF ANY CHANGE THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED OR OF ANY CHANGE SUGGESTED BY ANYBODY IN THE WHOLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SUGGEST PRACTICES THAT EVIDENCE SHOWS WILL RESULT IN THE KIND OF OUTCOME WE WANT TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE TO CHANGE A SYSTEM IF IT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK BETTER.

WE HAVE AN EVIDENCE-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM THAT DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO ARE LOWER RISK AND THOSE WHO ARE HIGHER RISK BUT THESE ARE ONLY RISKS AND JUDGES ARE FACED WITH BEING REQUIRED TO RELEASE EVERYBODY UNDER SOME KIND OF CONDITION UNLESS THERE IS A MOTION AND THEN DECIDING IN THOSE MOTIONS IF THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE ESSENTIALLY PUNISHED BEFORE THEY ARE CONVICTED BY BEING HELD IN JAIL.

THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED IN THOSE CASES WHERE THERE IS FAILURE.

THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR A MURDER, ARMED ROBBERY, TERRIBLE CRIMES AND THEY WERE ON RELEASE AND IF THE JUDGE HAD A DETENTION MOTION THEY COULD HAVE GRANTED IT.

SO, WHILE I DON'T SAY THE NUMBERS ARE GOOD, I THINK IT IS A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO START TO TRY TO GET THE NUMBERS LOWER.

IF WE HAD 10,000 PEOPLE AND 5,000 OF THEM HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR A NEW CRIME IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING SYSTEM TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAN HAVING 4.7% OF THE 10,000, 475, AND AS WE NARROW IT DOWN TO THE ONES ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER.

SO, IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM BEFORE THEY COMMIT AN OFFENSE, GREAT.

YOU KNOW, THE ONES THERE IS NOT A DETENTION MOTION ON, THE JUDGES CAN'T KEEP THEM IN JAIL.

THEY CAN PUT THEM ON ANKLE MONITOR AND HAVE THEM MONITORED AND WE HAVE RECENTLY MADE CHANGES IN HOW WE DO THAT TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECTS.

WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE THAT WILL HELP THE SYSTEM DO A BETTER JOB RESPECTING THE FACT THAT 99.9% OF THE PEOPLE THE COURTS DID RELEASE DIDN'T GET ARRESTED FOR A VIOLENT FELONY.

IN THE WORLD OF PREDICTING HUMAN BEHAVIOR, THAT IS NOT TERRIBLE.

THAT IS PRETTY GOOD.

IT IS HARD.

IT IS VERY HARD TO BE ACCURATE 100% OF THE TIME.

WE WOULD LOVE TO GET THE NUMBER TO ZERO.

THAT IS OUR GOAL.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY AND CHANGE THE SYSTEM TO GET CLOSER TO THE GOAL.

Grubs: I FEEL LIKE THE MOST USEFUL NUMBER THERE TO TALK ABOUT WOULD BE THAT 475, THE PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES.

THAT IS SORT OF WHAT MAKES THE HEADLINE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

Pepin: SURE.

I APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE LOOK CLOSELY AT THE STUDY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 475 PEOPLE.

I ALREADY MENTIONED 13 OF THEM ARE ARRESTED FOR A FIRST DEGREE FELONY.

PEOPLE PROBABLY KNOW FIRST DEGREE FELONY GOES TO JAIL FOR 18 YEARS OR LIFE, DEPENDING ON THE CRIME.

SECOND DEGREE FELONY, 9 YEARS, THIRD DEGREE, 6 YEARS, FOURTH DEGREE, 18 MONTHS.

THERE ARE MISDEMEANORS UP TO 364 DAYS IN JAIL AND PETTY MISDEMEANORS, 180 DAYS.

AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AROUND 87% OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT ARRESTED FOR A VIOLENT OFFENSE WERE IN THE FOURTH DEGREE FELONY, LOWEST LEVEL OF FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR OR PETTY MISDEMEANOR CATEGORY.

THE ARRESTS WERE FOR LOW LEVEL FELONIES, SO THAT CAN'T INVOLVE CRIMES IN WHICH PEOPLE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY, OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T INVOLVE MURDER AND KIDNAPPING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, SO THERE WERE ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THAN 60 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR FIRST OR SECOND DEGREE VIOLENT OFFENSES.

I ALSO SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WE DEFINE VIOLENT OFFENSES BY AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN CREATING THAT LIST OF CRIMES THAT WE QUALIFY AS VIOLENT AND SOME ARE MORE VIOLENT OR RISKIER THAN OTHERS.

THAT IS WHY THE LEGISLATURE GRADES THEM AS FIRST DEGREE, SECOND, THIRD.

SO, WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO MISTAKE THE IDEA THAT I AM HAPPY THAT THE MAJORITY -- THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE 475 WERE ARRESTED FOR FOURTH DEGREE FELONY, MISDEMEANOR OR PETTY MISDEMEANOR, BUT THAT IS BETTER THAN AND LESS RISKY TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAN THOSE ARRESTED FOR FIRST DEGREE OR SECOND DEGREE FELONIES.

Grubs: JUST IF WE COULD TAKE A FINAL MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AHEAD FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, THE GOVERNOR HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AS I SAID, REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION CHANGE TO WHAT IS GOING ON.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE COURTS HAVE LOOKED AT THEY WOULD FAVOR, ANY ADJUSTMENTS, CHANGES, THINGS LIKE THAT?

Pepin: AS I SAID, THE COURTS HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM AS WE LEARN WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

AS I SAID BEFORE, WE SUPPORT WHATEVER EVIDENCE SHOWS WORKS TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER.

AND TO IDENTIFY THOSE PEOPLE WHO PRESENT A GREATER RISK.

WE THINK, WELL WE KNOW, BECAUSE WE JUST GOT A STUDY OF 10,000 CASES, THAT VALIDATED THE INSTRUMENT WE USE.

WE KNOW WE HAVE AN INSTRUMENT THAT HELPS US NARROW DOWN INTO THOSE PEOPLE THAT PRESENT LOWER RISK AND HIGHER RISK.

AND WE BELIEVE JUDGES HAVE THE TOOLS TO MITIGATE, TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T DETAINED.

WE DON'T REQUIRE LEGISLATION TO ADOPT OVERNIGHT ACTIVE MONITORING OF PEOPLE ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

SO WE ARE DOING THAT.

IT WILL START VERY SOON.

PEOPLE ARE HIRED AND BEING TRAINED.

I KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND GOVERNOR BOTH COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF PRESUMPTIONS.

I THINK I SAID BEFORE, IF THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SHOW THEY CAN HELP US IDENTIFY DANGEROUS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GREAT, I AM SURE THE LEGISLATURE WILL LOOK TO EVIDENCE AND TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THE COURTS WILL APPLY THE LAW WE ARE GIVEN FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

Grubs: ARTIE PEPIN, DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL ASK YOU TO STICK AROUND AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS ONLINE IF YOU WOULD.

Gene: THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY ABOUT OUR CHANGING CALENDARS INCLUDING AT THE RECENT BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE MAYORAL FORUM THAT INCLUDES SHIFT FROM COLUMBUS DAY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

ON MONDAY, FOLKS GATHERED IN OLD TOWN AND CIVIC PLAZA TO HONOR THE HOLIDAY AND PAY TRIBUTE TO ONGOING MISSING AND MURDERED WOMEN'S CRISIS.

NOT TO MENTION RECENTLY UNCOVERED TRAGEDIES OF MASS GRAVES AT LOCATIONS OF FORMER INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS.

THE MESSAGE WAS THE SAME AT BOTH EVENTS BUT THE APPROACH WAS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.

(PEOPLE CHANTING).

LENTE: THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US FOR CELEBRATING WITH US THE THIRD ANNUAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

(APPLAUSE.)

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON WITH RECOGNIZING ALL OF OUR MISSING, MURDERED, INDIGENOUS RELATIVES THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE.

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

WE WILL FIND YOU.

AND WE LOVE YOU AND WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK HOME SOME DAY.

WE RECOGNIZE THOSE LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN BY THE ATROCITY THAT TOOK PLACE IN BOARDING SCHOOLS, ALL THOSE YOUNG AND INNOCENT NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMELAND TO A DIFFERENT PLACE IN THIS WORLD, NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS COMING TO THEM, EXPECTED TO LIVE A DIFFERENT LIFE AND TO THOSE WHO DID NOT COME HOME, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE LOVE YOU, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.

TRUJILLO: THIS CRISIS HAS ITS ROOTS IN RACISM AND IT IS PERPETUATED BY INDIFFERENCE AND SILENCE.

THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON EACH ONE OF US TO END THIS HISTORIC VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WHICH HAS DEVASTATED US FOR FAR TOO LONG.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WARRIORS ON THE FRONT LINE, LIKE YOU MS. KING, WHO CONTINUE TO CREATE FAITH AND USE YOUR VOICE SO THAT NO ONE FORGETS.

I PRAY FOR YOUR CONTINUED STRENGTH AND WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE HEARD AND YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THE FIGHT.

Governor: TODAY WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT NEW MEXICO'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND INDEED WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE LOSSES THAT THEY HAVE ENDURED.

Pecos: ELDERS TEACH US PROPHETICALLY THAT THERE WOULD COME A TIME IN OUR LIFE JOURNEY THAT OTHER PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WOULD COME UPON OUR PATHS IN OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY.

BUT THE ELDERS TEACH US THAT HOW WE RESPOND TO THE THREATS OF ALL OF THE GIFTS OF THE CREATION WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF OUR LOVE FOR THOSE GIFTS.

LENTE: WE ARE A RESILIENT PEOPLE.

WE ARE A RESILIENT POPULATION AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR ANCESTORS THAT WE ARE STILL HERE IN 2021 AND WE OWE A DEBT TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US THAT CRIED, SWEAT, BLED, GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF DEATH TO ENSURE I WOULD HAVE A SHOT AT BEING ABLE TO CREATE DAYS LIKE THIS.

Gene: THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING IN OUR DAILY NEWS LIVES, IT IS EASY TO FORGET ABOUT THOSE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CELEBRATIONS FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK.

OUTSIDE NEW MEXICO, ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING BITS WAS SEEING THE U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DEB HAALAND RUNNING AND FINISHING THE BOSTON MARATHON.

A RACE TRADITIONALLY RUN ON COLUMBUS DAY, MONDAY.

WHAT WAS ALSO NOTABLE WAS THE CONTRAST FROM A YEAR AGO LOCALLY WHEN PROTESTORS PULLED DOWN THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT FOLLOWED BY WEEKS OF TENSION AND HEARTACHE.

A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR AND WHAT TRANSPIRED ON CIVIC PLAZA THIS WEEK AND IN SANTA FE WASN'T REMOTELY CLOSE TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.

THERE IS A PLACE FOR PUBLIC PROTEST BUT THIS FELT LIKE A BUILDING OF AWARENESS, NOT THROUGH PULLING DOWN, BUT FROM BUILDING UP.

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