>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, MELANIE  STANSBURY IS HEADED TO CONGRESS AFTER THE CD1 SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Stansbury: YOU SHOWED UP  AND YOU SHOWED THAT DEMOCRACY MATTERS.

THAT SCIENCE MATTERS.

AND THAT WE BELIEVE IN OUR  PEOPLE AND OUR FUTURE.

>> Gene: THE OUTGOING PHOTO  EDITOR FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SHARED IMAGES FROM THE  PAST 35 YEARS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE HAVE A FASCINATING CONVERSATION WITH DEAN HANSON,  WHO SPENT PARTS OF FIVE DECADES TAKING PHOTOS FOR THE STATE'S  BIGGEST NEWSPAPER.

WE'LL ASK ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE'S  NEW HOME FOR LIFE MARKETING CAMPAIGN WHICH LOOKS TO ATTRACT  REMOTE WORKERS AND FORMER BURQUENOS BACK TO A CITY ALREADY  FACING A HOUSING CRUNCH.

OPINION PANEL WEIGHS IN ON NEW  MEXICO'S VACCINATION RATES AND ITS BRAND NEW SWEEPSTAKES FOR  THOSE WHO GET A SHOT.

WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT  ALBUQUERQUE'S PROBLEMATIC HOMICIDE RATE BUT WE BEGIN WITH  A CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL ELECTION THAT MIGHT DEFINE ALBUQUERQUE  FOR YEARS TO COME.

AN OPEN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, A  POLARIZED ELECTORATE, A NEW PRESIDENT AND A RAZOR THIN  MARGIN IN BOTH HOUSES OF GOVERNMENT.

THE SPECIAL  ELECTION FOR NEW MEXICO'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COULD  HAVE BEEN A NAIL BITER BUT ENDED UP AS A BLOWOUT AS STATE  REPRESENTATIVE MELANIE STANSBURY HIT THE 60% MARK IN HER FIRST  RACE FOR THE U.S. HOUSE.

LINE OPINION PANELISTS HERE TO  TALK SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT VICTORY.

FORMER STATE HOUSE MINORITY WHIP AND LINE REGULAR DANIEL FOLEY IS  BACK.

OWNER AND FOUNDER OF VOX OPTIMA  PUBLIC RELATIONS MERRITT ALLEN AS DOES FORMER STATE SENATOR AND  PROGRESSIVE STRATEGIST ERIC GRIEGO.

DANIEL, MAYBE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY SURPRISED SOME PEOPLE  BUT DID THE RACE EVER, AT ANY POINT IN YOUR MIND, EVER FEEL  CLOSE?

>> Dan: NO.

LOOK, THAT DISTRICT MAJORITY OF THAT DISTRICT THAT MAKES UP THAT  HOUSE DISTRICT WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE ALMOST  OVERWHELMINGLY THAT SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE WAS ALMOST ALL  REPUBLICANS.

TODAY YOU HAVE BILL REHM.

ONE REPUBLICAN THAT LIVES OVER THERE.

CLEARLY DEMOGRAPHICS SHIFTED DRAMATICALLY.

WHICH DOESN'T SURPRISE US IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WHAT DOES SURPRISE ME IS THE LACK OF EFFORT FROM THE  REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE ONLY RACE THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE  STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND A RACE THAT HAD HUGE CONSEQUENCES  NATIONALLY SO, DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE?

I CAN TELL IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP WITH YOUR FULL TEAM YOU  DEFINITELY HAVE NO CHANCE.

IF YOU SHOWED UP WITH A TEAM  READY TO COMPETE, YOU MAY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN NEW MEXICO IS THAT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS  ENERGIZED, FIRED UP, THEY GOT THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

I AM NOT SURE WHY BECAUSE THEY GOT ERIC GRIEGO IN THE PARTY,  BUT APPARENTLY THAT IS ENOUGH TO GET THEM EXCITED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEEMS TO BE STEVE PEARCE  ALL THE TIME 24/7.

THERE IS WORD ON THE STREET HE  IS ALREADY TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THEY SEEM TO HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TRYING  TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE A FREEDOM MEETING IN AMARILLO THAN  PREPARING FOR AN OPEN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THE REASON THAT IS IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU THINK  THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE SEAT OR NOT, IS THAT  DATA IS A EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES IN THE  FUTURE.

RIGHT.

AS YOU'RE SEEING ALL THIS STUFF GOING WHEN YOU GO KNOCK ON  SOMEBODY'S DOOR AND KNOCK ON SOMEBODY'S DOOR TO TAKE ON ONE  OF THOSE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES YOU KNOCK ON MERRITT ALLEN'S  DOOR AND SAY, MERRITT, YOU SHOULD RUN, MARK MOORES RAN  AHEAD OF THE CURVE, AHEAD OF TRUMP.

HE DID THIS, HE DID THAT.

HE HAS ALL THIS INFORMATION FOR  YOUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, YOU SHOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

NOW YOU SIT DOWN AND SAY, MERRITT, YOU SHOULD RUN AND WE  JUST HAD A RACE THAT WE GOT SHELLACKED EVEN WORSE THAN IN  THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

YOU HAVE REALLY PREVENTED  YOURSELF FROM RECRUITING CANDIDATES.

I THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS THE INEFFECTIVENESS AND THE COMPLETE  LACK OF REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AT THIS  TIME.

I MEAN IT IS CLEAR THAT THE  STEVE PEARCE MARKETING MACHINE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE  SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT.

HE GUARANTEED A WIN FOR TRUMP IN  NEW MEXICO.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE LOST SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAD THIS OPEN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

WE LOST WORSE THAN WE LOST WHEN WE HAD A LESS NAME REPUBLICAN  CANDIDATE AT THE TIME.

YOU LOOK AT MARK MOORES, IN THE  ALBUQUERQUE AREA, HE AT LEAST HAD SOME NAME RECOGNITION.

>> Gene: LET ME JUMP IN.

YOU MENTIONED MARK MOORES.

I WANT TO PICK UP THAT WITH MERRITT.

THE CANDIDATE HAS TO BE DISCUSSED, MERRITT, OF COURSE.

HE HAS TAKEN SOME FLACK FROM MORE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS  OUT THERE FOR BEING NOT CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH.

I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE ARGUMENT IS BUT THIS IS A LONG  TIME REPUBLICAN STALWART.

HE HAD NAME RECOGNITION.

HE HAS  BEEN AROUND.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN YOUR VIEW,  MERRITT?

>> Merritt: I THINK THE BIGGEST  PROBLEM IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICANS, THEY  HAVE GOTTEN TOO CLOSE TO LAUREN BOEBERT AND TOO FROM LIZ CHENEY  AND THEY ARE RUNNING ON ONE SCRIPT.

A YVETTE HARRELL SCRIPT WILL NOT PAN OUT IN ALBUQUERQUE.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT SCRIPT HAS BEEN A FAILURE IN ALBUQUERQUE  THE LAST THREE ELECTION CYCLES WHICH IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY  REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MARK MOORES KNOWS THIS DISTRICT AND THE FIRST ADS THAT CAME OUT  WITH THE UNM FOOTBALL TEAM AND THEY WERE FUNNY, IT WAS HIS  PERSONALITY AND TALKED ABOUT HIS RECORD, THAT WILL PLAY IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

WHAT IS CLEAR IS NEW MEXICO GOP  HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON NORTH OF SOCORRO AND AS SOON AS  THE PROFESSIONALS TOOK OVER AND WE SAW THE MORE PROFESSIONAL ADS  AND IT WAS ANGRY, IT WAS BITTERNESS, DIVISIVE AND  ALBUQUERQUE STAYED HOME OR THEY VOTED FOR STANSBURY WHO, TO ME,  PERFECTLY NICE, FORGETTABLE CANDIDATE.

I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF HER ADS  AND DIDN'T PUT ANY MONEY IN IT OBVIOUSLY.

AND THE SCRIPT THAT SO MANY HOUSE REPUBLICANS USE DOESN'T  WORK IN ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Gene: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

DAN BRUSHED UP AGAINST THIS AS WELL.

WHERE WAS THE NRCC.

IT WAS THE ONLY RACE GOING ON.

I MEAN I GOT POLITICO UP ON MY SCREEN HERE, BIG SCREAMING  HEADLINES, DEMS BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER NEW MEXICO  BLOWOUT.

THIS WAS A HIGHLY WATCHED  ELECTION.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE FOLKS AT  THE NATIONAL LEVEL COULDN'T CARE LESS FOR THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF  IT.

>> Merritt: FUND RAISING, NO,  MORE THAN TWO TO ONE, 1.3 MILLION TO 595 000.

YEAH, THE NATIONAL MONEY POURED IN ON THE D SIDE NOT ON THE R  SIDE.

NRCC ARE FOCUSED ON THEIR  INCUMBENTS.

THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY OBSESSED  WITH RETAKING THE HOUSE BUT NOT IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: WE ARE FAIRLY CHEAP MARKET ON TOP OF IT.

I TALKED WITH JOE MONAHAN ON WEDNESDAY ON A FACEBOOK LIVE  ABOUT HOW MUCH ROOM MS. STANSBURY WILL HAVE TO  MANEUVER WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY.

WHAT I MEAN IS PROGRESSIVES LOVE THE BONA FIDES, THIS TIME AROUND  AND HOW SHE GOT IN OFFICE, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE TRICKIER WHEN  SHE GETS A TERM OR TWO OF EXPERIENCE.

ANY CERTAIN DEMANDS THAT CAN'T BE AVOIDED FOR PROGRESSIVES  HERE?

IS SHE BEHOLDING TO  PROGRESSIVES?

HOW DOES SHE MOVE GOING INTO THE  GENERAL AT THIS POINT?

>> Eric: SHE HAS A PRETTY SOLID  RECORD -- SHE HAS A GOOD SOLID PROGRESSIVE RECORD.

SHE IS A CLIMATE CHANGE EXPERT, DEDICATED HER CAREER TO.

ON MOST ISSUES, PAID SICK LEAVE, MINIMUM WAGE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF  THE BREAD AND BUTTER PROGRESSIVE ISSUES, SHE HAS BEEN GREAT, BUT  SHE ALSO MADE SOME OVERTURES DURING THE CAMPAIGN TO WORK  ACROSS THE AISLE AND CERTAINLY WITH FOCUSING ON THINGS LIKE  INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WERE MUCH MORE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ISSUES  THAT CAN'T STRICTLY SAY THEY ARE PROGRESSIVE ISSUES.

I WANT TO PICK UP SOMETHING THAT MERRITT SAID.

IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME THAT WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER COMPETING  RACES, ONE THING WHEN THE CAMPAIGN FOR EITHER PARTY HAVE A  LOT OF RACES AND PICK AND CHOOSE WHERE THEY PUT RESOURCES.

THIS WAS THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.

NOBODY THOUGHT -- NOBODY WHO  FOLLOWS POLITICS IN THIS AREA THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE  MARK MOORES WOULD WIN.

I DIDN'T THINK IT.

THE QUESTION HOW BIG WAS THE WIN  GOING TO BE.

I WAS SHOCKED.

THE BIGGEST WIN, LOOKING AT THE PAST CYCLES, A BIGGER ONE THAN  BIDEN HAD, WAY BIGGER THAN DEB HAALAND WHO WAS VERY POPULAR.

SO, I HAVE A SORT OF A DIFFERENT TAKE.

I THINK IT WAS MESSAGING AND MAYBE IT WAS MERRITT WAS  ALLUDING TO, I THINK IT WAS REPUDIATION OF THIS WHOLE ONE  TRICK PONY, LIKE THIS ALL CRIME, ALL ANTI-IMMIGRANT ALL THE TIME  MESSAGE THAT MARK MOORES BOUGHT INTO.

I THINK IT -- IN A DISTRICT LIKE THIS, IT TURNED OFF A LOT OF  VOTERS AND IT IS A SIGNAL TO UPCOMING RACES, MAYOR'S RACE AND  NEXT STATE-WIDE RACE, GOING ALL IN ON THIS, YOU KNOW, FEAR, ALL  FEAR, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RACE BAITING AROUND IMMIGRATION  ISSUES, SANCTUARY CITIES.

A LOT OF ANTI-SORT OF ACTIVIST,  JUST A LOT OF -- RADICAL IT IS A GOOD TALKING POINT FROM THE GOP  PLAYBOOK NATIONALLY, BUT JUST DIDN'T JIBE WITH REALITY.

AND I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A REAL PROBLEM IN THE,  UPCOMING RACES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN EVERYTHING, IF CRIME  AND IMMIGRATION IS YOUR ONLY TOOL AND THE HAMMER IS THE ONLY  TOOL AND EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A NAIL, THAT IS WHAT MOORES DID,  THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE LEGISLATORS RUNNING IN  SWING DISTRICTS WHO LOST.

THEY RAN ON THE SAME MESSAGE.

I THINK I HOPE THERE IS A LESSON THERE FOR THEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF  THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN IT.

>> Gene: DAN, PICK UP THE  SENATOR.

WE HAVE MOORES AND RONCHETTI,  BOTH NOW NOT PUNCHING THROUGH USING THE SAME PLAYBOOK.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE  REPUBLICANS SAY OR DO OR PROPOSE TO WIN VOTES?

>> Dan: A MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME.

ERIC THROWS OUT THE GREAT PLATITUDES ABOUT -- AND I LOVE  BEING ON THE SHOW WITH ERIC ABOUT THE PLAY BOOKS AND ALL  THAT STUFF.

LOOK, NOTHING WORKS IF YOU DON'T  BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR IT.

IF YOU DON'T LAY THE FOUNDATION,  LOOK, YOU KNOW, TELLING SOMEONE THEY ARE FOR SANCTUARY CITIES  AND AGAINST IT, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE LAYING THE  FOUNDATION TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY INTO THAT STUFF.

AND THE REASON  THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS NOT  INVOLVED IN THIS CASE IS BECAUSE THE STATE PARTY IS NOT INVOLVED  IN THIS RACE.

IT IS A TOP DOWN APPROACH,  RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE LOOKING IN WASHINGTON  TO BE INVOLVED IN A RACE AND THEIR OWN STATE PARTY IS NOT  PUTTING RESOURCES IN THE RACE, WHY ARE YOU PUTTING RESOURCES IN  THE RACE?

I THINK ALL THESE THINGS, I AM  NOT SURE IF IT IS REPUDIATION OF CONSERVATISM AND REPUBLICANS,  LIKE ERIC, IS SINGING FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH TOPS, WHICH HE  SHOULD BE, BECAUSE HE'S WINNING RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT IT IS, IT IS  REPUDIATION OF THE WAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS BEING RUN  AND THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GEARED TOWARD ELECTING  STEVE PEARCE FOR THE NEXT RUN AND YOU'RE SEEING ALL THESE  BODIES LAYING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE  NOT COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BUILD THE  PARTY.

AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE FALLING  DOWN.

DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE BUILDING A  PARTY AND REPUBLICANS ARE BUILDING A ONE-MAN SHOW.

>> Gene: IF YOU'RE STILL JONESING FOR POLITICS, WE HAVE  ALL MY POST ELECTION CHAT WITH JOE MONAHAN ON THE NEW MEXICO  IN FOCUS FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> Jaramillo:   IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US AND OUR PARTNERS IN  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO WORK WITH,   YOU KNOW, OUR DEVELOPERS, TO ENSURE THAT  THERE IS HOUSING AVAILABLE AS WE RECRUIT THE WORKFORCE TO  ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Gene:   DEAN HANSON CAME TO NEW MEXICO IN 1986 READY TO DOCUMENT  NEWS FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

OVER THE NEXT 35 YEARS, HE SAW HISTORY THROUGH HIS LENS AND, OF  COURSE, EVERYONE WHO PICKED UP A PAPER SAW HISTORY THAT WAY TOO.

LAST WEEK, NOW PHOTO EDITOR AT THE JOURNAL CALLED IT A CAREER.

HE SAT DOWN WITH SENIOR PRODUCER MATT GRUBS TO SHARE SOME OF HIS  FAVORITE IMAGES.

>> Matt: DEAN HANSON, THANKS  SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

SO, MID 80'S, 1986, RIGHT?

>> Hanson: UH-HUH.

>> Matt: AND YOU'RE LOOKING  FOR A NEW JOB AND YOU'RE IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA.

WHAT ABOUT THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL BROUGHT YOU HERE?

>> Hanson: I WAS AWARE OF THE WORK THAT THE ALBUQUERQUE  JOURNAL DID BACK IN FORT WAYNE INDIANA.

I ATTENDED A PHOTO JOURNALISM WORKSHOP IN MISSOURI AND I MET A  COUPLE OF GUYS FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

IT SEEMED LIKE A REAL DIFFERENT WORLD.

I AM ORIGINALLY FROM FARM COUNTRY, FORT WAYNE, MINNESOTA,  GRAND FORKS.

AND I THOUGHT IF I AM EVER GOING  TO MAKE A REAL CHANGE IN MY LIFE, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO  DO IT.

I HAD NEVER BEEN TO NEW MEXICO.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANYBODY.

BUT, I THOUGHT, THIS SOUNDS LIKE  A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENT CHANGE IN MY  LIFE.

>> Matt: BOY, DID IT TURN OUT  THAT WAY.

>> Hanson:   WHO KNOWS HOW YOU HOW IT HAPPENED.

YOU SHOW UP FOR WORK ONE DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS 35 YEARS  LATER AND IT WAS WHERE DID THAT GO?

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

>> Matt: IT IS ONE OF THOSE  THINGS THAT I THINK IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY DO YOU  DO THIS?

WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS WHEN  THE INDUSTRY IS SHRINK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Hanson: IT IS SO FUNNY, I HAVE SEEN SO MANY CHANGES OVER  THE YEARS.

WHEN I WAS A KID I STARTED OUT  SHOOTING PICTURES WITH A POLAROID CAMERA CALLED A  POLAROID SWINGER AND YOU PULL OUT THE LITTLE PHOTOS AND LOOK  AT THEM.

WELL, THAT IS PRETTY COOL.

I EVENTUALLY GOT A REAL CAMERA THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, SHOOTING  120 ROLL FILM, 35-MILLIMETER, COLOR SLIDE, COLOR NEGATIVE  DIGITAL, SCANNING.

IT HAS CHANGED A LOT.

I DON'T SEE IT CHANGING AS MUCH FROM HERE ON OUT.

>> Matt: SURE.

THAT SWITCH FROM FILM TO DIGITAL  WAS MASSIVE.

WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH  TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE IMAGES, SOME NOTABLE IMAGES,  ONES THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH.

IF YOU WOULD INDULGE US WE'LL GO  THROUGH THEM.

JOHNNY TAPIA, I MEAN, I DON'T  KNOW THAT THERE IS A MORE ICONIC NEW MEXICAN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

TELL US ABOUT THIS ONE.

>> Hanson: YOU KNOW, HE HAD A  LOT OF TROUBLE BUT TO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS HIM OR KNEW OF HIM HE  WAS A GREAT GUY.

I HAPPENED TO GO DOWN TO RUIDOSO AT ONE TIME.

HE HAS HIS OWN GYM DOWN THERE.

EVERY TIME HE WOULD SEE ME, HE  WOULD GIVE ME A HUG AND CALL ME BROTHER.

I AM LIKE, JOHNNY, REALLY, I AM JUST A CAMERA GUY.

NO, IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

SO, HE WAS A REALLY GOOD SOUL.

>> Matt: YOU KNOW,   THERE IS NO ONE IN THAT BUSINESS, I AM SURE,  WITHOUT EGO BUT THAT ALSO GETS FOISTED UPON YOU.

YOU GET NICKNAMES AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR MURAL AT  YOUR OWN GYM.

>> Hanson: YES, I THINK I AM  GOING TO DO THAT AT HOME.

>> Matt: THIS NEXT ONE, THIS WAS  ACTUALLY NOT IN NEW MEXICO, RIGHT?

>> Hanson: THIS WAS IN DENVER.

I WANT TO SAY 1993.

WHEN POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND CAME TO, I BELIEVE IT WAS, THE  WORLD YOUTH DAY.

IT WAS A SERIES OF MEETINGS FOR  CATHOLIC YOUTH IN DENVER.

OF COURSE, IT WAS QUITE A DEAL  WAITING IN THE POURING RAIN TO SEE WHO WAS GOING TO SHOW FIRST.

APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROTOCOL, ONE LANDS, ONE HIDES ONE GETS  OFF THE PLANE AND THE OTHER COMES OUT.

BUT THE YOUTH WERE SO ENTHUSIASTIC THEY WOULDN'T STOP  APPLAUDING AND THAT IS WHEN THE PRESIDENT TURNED AND APPLAUDED  HIM TOO.

>> Matt: THAT IS GREAT, CLEARLY  TOUCHED BY IT.

I KNOW THOSE KINDS OF EVENTS ARE  SO ORDERED AND SO FORMAL THAT IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO GET THE  FEEL OF THE EVENT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST SORT OF IN THIS LITTLE PEN.

WERE YOU ABLE TO SORT OF -- >> Hanson: WHEN YOU WAIT SO LONG  AND IT RAINS, THEN KIND OF ALL BETS ARE OFF BECAUSE WELL MAYBE  WE WILL GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

IT IS THE VARIABLES THAT MAKE IT  INTERESTING.

>> Matt: SURE.

THIS NEXT ONE, THIS IS GARY CARRUTHERS, RIGHT?

>> Hanson: YES, GARY CARRUTHERS MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE 80'S.

HE AND HIS WIFE WERE TAKING A TOUR OF NEW MEXICO IN HIS  CLASSIC MUSTANG IN ORDER TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN THE STATE AND  UP AT CORONADO MONUMENT HE GOT TO TRY ON THE CONQUISTADOR'S  OUTFIT.

>> Matt: WE WERE LAUGHING WHEN  WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, IT IS SORT OF DUKAKIS IN THE TANK  ALMOST.

>> Hanson:   HE IS ALWAYS SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER, A VERY NICE GUY  AND HE WAS UP FOR ANYTHING PHOTO WISE, MAYBE NOT AS CAUTIOUS AS  PEOPLE ARE TODAY.

>> Matt: ABSOLUTELY.

THIS NEXT ONE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

SO, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MUST HAVE BEEN HERE IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Hanson: YES.

I THINK THIS WAS READ TO ME DAY AND THE GOVERNOR WAS READING  GREEN EGGS AND HAM TO THESE STUDENTS.

AND IT MADE SUCH A NICE PICTURE.

SHE HAD HER HAT ON TOO BUT SHE  SET IT ON THE FLOOR AND TOOK IT OFF WHEN SHE SAW THE CAMERA.

I THOUGHT, WELL, I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU WITH YOUR HAT ON BUT  THEY MAKE DECISIONS.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HER AND GARY JOHNSON, GARY  CARRUTHERS.

>> Matt: SURE.

I RECALL WHEN JOHN CAREY CAME THROUGH HERE BILL RICHARDSON  TOOK HIM THROUGH ONE OF THE TOURISTY WESTERN SHOPS AND  SOMEONE WAS TELLING ME A STORY ABOUT HE GRABBED A HAT, A COWBOY  HAT, AND STARTED TO PUT IT ON AND THEN THOUGHT BETTER OF IT  AND SET IT DOWN.

>> Hanson: THEY CALCULATE  EVERYTHING.

>> Matt: DOESN'T MATTER THE  PARTY THAT'S FOR SURE.

THERE ARE SOMBER ONES IN HERE.

THIS IS OKLAHOMA CITY.

BACK IN THE DAY, YOU KNOW,  NEWSPAPERS, ESPECIALLY THE LANGUAGES BECAUSE THEY HAD  ACCESS TO A PLANE OF THEIR OWN, THEY WOULD GO EVERY WHERE,  RIGHT?

>> Hanson: RIGHT.

IT WAS A REAL INTERESTING WHEN YOU WOULD GET A PHONE CALL AND  SAY, YOU GOT TO HEAD TO CUTTER AVIATION RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE  GETTING THE JET FUELED UP.

AND YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHAT IT WAS  BECAUSE IF IT WAS BIG WE WERE GOING TO GO.

OKLAHOMA CITY PEOPLE THERE WERE CONCERNED THAT THEIR CITY WOULD  GET A BAD REPUTATION BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED THERE.

I WAS PRETTY ASTONISHED.

I HEARD A RADIO STATION CALL OUT  FOR KNEE PADS, ELBOW PADS, GLOVES FOR THE RESCUE WORKERS  AND WENT TO THIS LOT AND THIS MOUNTAIN OF EQUIPMENT JUST  APPEARED.

AND I SHARED THAT STORY AND SAID, DO YOU REALLY THINK US  TELLING THIS STORY IS GOING TO HURT THE REPUTATION OF YOUR  CITY?

>> Matt: ABSOLUTELY.

SURE.

SO, HERE THEY ARE CLEARING  FLOORS YOU SAID AND THEY WOULD HANG THAT FLAG OUT ONCE THERE  WAS NO ONE LEFT ON IT.

>> Matt: HERE IS A NOTE AND  EVENT THAT I DIDN'T CLUE INTO UNTIL YOU WALKED ME THROUGH THIS  PICTURE.

THIS WAS SOME TIME AFTER.

>> Hanson: THIS WAS IN THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA IN NEW  ORLEANS.

AND THE ONLY TELLTALE THING IS  THAT OILY LINE ON THE BUILDING.

THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE  REHABBING, I GUESS IT WAS A DAY CARE CENTER.

AND THEY WERE  TAKING A BREAK AND SOMETHING ABOUT THAT LINE TOLD ME, YOU  KNOW, IT WAS KIND OF ICONIC OF HOW DEEP THE WATER HAD BEEN  THERE.

>> Matt: SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU NOTICE IS YOU HAVE AN  EYE FOR REGULAR PEOPLE AND THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

YOU'RE LAUGHING BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE THIS FENCE IS IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Hanson: THIS IS PROBABLE WHY  IT IS THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED FENCE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

ALL THE STAFFERS HAVE DONE IT.

I HAVE DONE IT WITH HOMELESS  PEOPLE PUSHING SHOPPING CARTS, PEOPLE ON BICYCLES.

PEOPLE WALKING BY WITH UMBRELLAS IN THE RAIN.

I JUST LOVE THIS FENCE.

THE SIMPLICITY OF IT JUST CATCHES  YOUR EYE ALL THE TIME.

>> Matt: GREAT STUFF.

THIS ONE, OF COURSE, THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Hanson: ACTUALLY THIS IS A GROUP OF CLOWNS WAITING FOR  MAYBE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE TO BEGIN IN RIO RANCHO.

YEARS AGO.

I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT  LOVES CLOWNS BUT I JUST THINK THEY ARE SO COOL.

>> Matt: THAT IS GREAT.

THIS MOMENT OF REGULARITY WITH THEM  IS A LOT OF FUN.

THIS ONE, OF COURSE, JUST THE  JUXTAPOSITION OF VOTING A COUPLE DAYS AFTER HALLOWEEN.

>> Hanson: THE RIO RANCHO CIVIC CENTER AUDITORIUM, THEY HAD A  HAUNTED HOUSE IN THERE THE WEEK BEFORE BUT LEFT THE PAINTING ON  THE WALL AND I SAW A PICTURE THERE.

YOU MOVE IT AROUND AND GET THE ARROW IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> Matt: EXACTLY.

THIS ONE I LOVE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> Hanson: THE THING IS, I SAW  HIM EVERYDAY, EVERY SCHOOL DAY.

HE WAS A CROSSING GUARD AND HE  WOULD STAND THERE AND JAM OUT TO HIS OWN MUSIC.

THE CROSSING SIGN BOTHERED ME A  LITTLE.

I SHOULD HAVE CROPPED THAT OUT  AND THEN I THOUGHT, NO, THAT TELLS THE WHOLE STORY OF WHY HE  IS THERE.

>> Matt: SURE.

IT IS FANTASTIC, DEFINITELY.

SOME OF THESE ARE JUST REALLY  TERRIFIC.

THIS ONE, OF COURSE, THIS IS A  GREAT STORY BEHIND THIS.

>> Hanson: SO, NO, I PULLED INTO  THE TACO BELL AND SAW THE GUY PAINTING AND I SAW HIM COME DOWN  TWO WINDOWS OVER AND I SAW, OH, I MISSED THE PICTURE AND THEN HE  MOVED THE LADDER TO THE NEXT WINDOW AND DID THAT ONE, MOVED  IT.

BY THEN I AM OUT REALIZING MY CHEESY POTATO BURRITO CAN  WAIT AND THEN I SHOT THIS PICTURE.

TO SEE IT COME TOGETHER WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM COMING DOWN, OH,  HE IS FINISHED, I MISSED IT.

AND MOVED IT TO THE NEXT WINDOW,  OH, OKAY, I'LL TAKE THIS.

>> Matt: THAT IS A HAPPY MOMENT  FOR SURE.

HE MUST HAVE LOVED THAT.

>> Hanson: YES.

>> Matt: THIS ONE OF COURSE  ESPECIALLY NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO A YEAR WITHOUT SHOOTING  CELEBRITIES OR SOME SORT OF  MOVIE STARS.

>> Hanson: THIS WAS RHEA SEEHORN  AND BOB ODENKIRK SHOOTING BETTER CALL SAUL.

I DON'T THINK WHAT COMES ACROSS ON THEIR TV SHOW IS HOW MUCH  THESE TWO ENJOY WORKING TOGETHER.

THEY GENUINELY HAVE A CHEMISTRY AND WORK OFF EACH OTHER.

>> Matt: THIS IS AFTER A SCENE.

>> Hanson: YEAH, THE CAMERA  ISN'T ROLLING.

>> Matt: IT IS TERRIFIC.

WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME I WANT TO GET TO -- I'LL GO THROUGH  SOME OF THESE.

WE'LL TAKE SOME TIME AND DO A  WEB EXTRA, BUT SOME OF YOUR COURT SHOTS, OBVIOUSLY, HERE  WITH NIGEL BENNER, HERE WITH A VICTIM, BUT THIS SHOT.

THIS IS ONE THAT REALLY GETS ME AS BEING --  >> Hanson: WE HAVE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES IN THE COURT WHEN A  YOUNG OFFENDER IS ACCUSED OF A SERIOUS CRIME AND THE PAIN IN  HIS MOTHER'S FACE.

WE DON'T KNOW THE BACK STORY BUT  THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE IS HOW MUCH THIS  HURTS THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, OF THE ACCUSED, NOT JUST THE  VICTIM'S FAMILY.

>> Matt: YOU SEE THAT IN A  COURTROOM A LOT.

IT IS A FAIRLY STERILE  ENVIRONMENT BUT THERE IS EMOTION TO BE FOUND CERTAINLY.

>> Hanson: THERE IS.

>> Matt: MAN, WELL, DEAN, THANK  YOU SO MUCH.

AS I SAID, WE'LL TAKE EXTRA TIME  AND PUT THOSE ONLINE FOR FOLKS AND GET THROUGH THE REST OF  THESE.

>> Hanson: THANK YOU   FOR HAVING ME.

ENJOYED TALKING WITH YOU, MATT.

>> Gene: ACCORDING TO THE STATE  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEARLY 66% OF NEW MEXICANS HAVE HAD THEIR  FIRST COVID-19 VACCINE SHOT.

ALMOST 56% ARE FULLY VACCINATED  AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT IS WELCOME NEWS, AS NEW  CASE COUNTS AND PANDEMIC DEATHS CONTINUE TO DWINDLE, BUT EXPERTS  WARN THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.

THEY WANT THE STATE TO HIT 70%  AND SOON.

TO THAT END, THE GOVERNOR  ANNOUNCED A SWEEPSTAKE WITH ONE MILLION BUCKS SPLIT AMONG  FOUR PEOPLE EACH WEEK FOR FIVE WEEKS AND GET THIS A FIVE  MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIZE SOMETIME IN AUGUST.

ERIC, DID YOU SIGN UP, THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION.

>> Eric: I DID, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

I GOT VACCINATED EARLY AND MY WIFE AND I EVEN MY SON WHO IS  12, WE ALL GOT IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT SIGN UP.

I WILL SAY COMPARED TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER STATES ARE  DOING, MY FATHER-IN-LAW SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE GOOD TO  GET SOME OF THESE FOLKS WHO ARE ANTI-VACCINE OR ANTI-GOVERNMENT,  YOU KNOW, OFFER THEM A FIREARM.

GUESS WHAT, THAT IS WHAT WEST  VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES ARE DOING, BECAUSE THAT IS THE  TARGET AUDIENCE THEY HAVE TO GO AFTER FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T TRUST  THE GOVERNMENT.

AT LEAST WE ARE NOT OFFERING  THAT.

WE ARE OFFERING HUNTING  LICENSES, FISHING LICENSES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

LOOK, I MEAN IT IS TROUBLE ON ONE HAND BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT  OF FOLKS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS AT ALL TO THE  VACCINE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SO MUCH TO GET PEOPLE.

NEW MEXICANS -- I HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE  TO BE WILLING TO BE VACCINATED AND THAT WE ARE -- I THINK WE'LL  GET THE 60% AND WE MOVED TO TURQUOISE AND EVERY COUNTY IN  THE STATE HAS LIFTED RESTRICTION.

WHATEVER IT TAKES  TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, FIVE MILLION  BUCKS MIGHT BE EXCESSIVE TO FOLKS.

I HAVE NEVER WON A LOTTERY IN MY LIFE SO NOT HOLDING MY BREATH  BUT I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET FOLKS WHO JUST FOR  WHATEVER REASON DON'T BUY THE SCIENCE, DON'T TRUST THE HEALTH  DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, TO GET OFF THE DIME, YOU KNOW, AS MY FRIEND  DAN WOULD SAY, USING MARKET BASED SOLUTIONS TO GET PEOPLE TO  DO THINGS, MAYBE IT WORKS IN THIS CASE.

>> Gene: THAT IS WELL PUT.

MERRITT, I GOT TO ASK WHAT DO  YOU MAKE OF THIS TACTIC.

CALIFORNIA HAD THIS ENORMOUS  POOL, DID SORT OF THE SAME THING, A MILLION AND A HALF,  115 MILLION POOL TO PULL FROM BUT TALK ABOUT FEDERAL MONEY,  FOLKS WHO PAID INTO THIS, OLD LADIES IN IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE,  FLORIDA.

IS THIS JUST FREE MONEY TO HAND  AROUND?

>> Merritt: LIKE IT IS NOT EVEN  COOL FOR REPUBLICANS TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ANYMORE  BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MAYBE THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH FEDERAL  MONEY IN THE STATE AT THIS POINT WHERE, LIKE, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW  WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

SO, HEY, LET'S HAVE A  SWEEPSTAKES.

COME ON.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

OF COURSE, LIKE, DON'T EVEN  CONSULT THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE CRAZY, LET'S NOT  EVEN DO THAT, BUT YEAH I SIGNED UP FOR SURE.

>> Eric: OHIO DID IT, ALL THE STATES, THE IDEA PIONEER TO ALL  REPUBLICAN STATES.

>> Merritt: I DON'T EVEN CARE.

IT IS NOT EVEN A MARKET-BASED IDEA.

WE HAVE GOT SO MUCH MONEY WE CAN'T GET IT DISBURSED FAST  ENOUGH, WE ARE HANDING IT TO PEOPLE TO NOT GO BACK TO WORK,  WE CAN'T EVEN ALLOCATE IT FAST ENOUGH SO -- IT IS KIND OF MIND  BOGGLING AND WE ARE DOING OKAY WITH VACCINE RATES.

I GUESS IT IS BEST BETTER THAN SETTING IT ON FIRE BUT AS A  NATION, WE ARE GOING TO BE IN INFLATION FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS  AS WE ARE GOING INTO AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, I DON'T  EVEN WANT TO GET STARTED.

I AM PLEASED WITH VACCINATION  RATES.

I AM REALLY PLEASED THAT DESPITE  RATES GOING UP AND I GUESS WE ARE JUST THROWING OUT THE  SCIENCE AND WE'RE ALL IN TURQUOISE NOW.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

I HOPE PEOPLE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY  AND CONTINUE GETTING BOOSTERS.

VACCINE IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS A BIT MUCH.

>> Dan: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE ONE THING I AM APPALLED  ABOUT THAT I HAVE HEARD ALL DAY TODAY THAT JUST SHOCKS ME, I AM  JUST ABSOLUTELY JUST TEARS AT MY INNER FIBER IS WHEN ERIC GRIEGO  SAYS HE NEVER WON A LOTTERY.

I MET ERIC'S WIFE AND THAT MAN  DID WIN A LOTTERY, HE WON A BIG LOTTERY.

ERIC YOU WON THE BIGGEST LOTTERY OF ALL, BUDDY, JUST TELLING YOU.

>> Eric: NICELY DONE.

I'LL MAKE SURE MY WIFE WATCHES.

SHE NEVER WATCHES IT BUT I'LL SAY YOU GOT A SHOUT OUT ON THE  LINE.

SHE'LL DEFINITELY TUNE IN.

>> Gene: I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU DANIEL.

STATE SENATOR  REPUBLICANS, OF COURSE, WERE POUNCING ALL OVER THIS SAYING --  I GOT A QUOTE HERE.

USURPED LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO  REHABILITATE HER IMAGE WHEN SHE TOOK ALL THAT FEDERAL DOUGH.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT HERE?

SHE IS EVERYWHERE ON TELEVISION  NOW AND YOU THINK SHE WAS RUNNING FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD  VERSUS AN OFFICE AT SOME POINT.

>> Dan: WHAT GOVERNOR HASN'T.

IT ISN'T LIKE THIS IS NEWS.

EVERY GOVERNOR GETS, I MEAN,  LOOK I GOT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THE MOST -- I DON'T KNOW  ABOUT YOU GUYS MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE IS EVERY TIME I DRIVE  AROUND THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO THERE IS THESE BIG ORANGE SIGNS  THAT SAYS, THANK YOU GOVERNOR SO AND SO, WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR IS,  FOR BUILDING OUR ROADS AND THANK YOU, THIS IS ANOTHER INVESTMENT  PROJECT.

REMEMBER WE HAD GOVERNOR  RICHARDSON'S INVESTMENT PROJECT.

THANK YOU GOVERNOR SUSANA  MARTINEZ FOR BUILDING THIS ROAD.

LAST TIME I CHECKED, NOT ONE OF  THESE PEOPLE PUT A PENNY INTO BUILDING THAT ROAD.

IT IS THE TAXPAYERS WHO BUILT THE ROAD.

SO TO QUOTE GENE'S FAVORITE MOVIE, BLAZING SADDLES, THERE IS  GAMBLING IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT?

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

THE BUDGET THE GOVERNOR GETS IS PRETTY TIGHT.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A DECENT AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY MONEY  AND FOR YEARS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY --  >> Gene: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TON OF MONEY HERE, MAN, A LOT OF  MONEY.

>> Dan: LET ME FINISH, GENE.

THE DISCRETIONARY PORTION ALSO COMES FROM ANY MONEY INCURRED  FROM THE FEDS OUTSIDE OF THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.

THERE IS A LOT OF THAT NOT IN THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS A LOT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ON  THINGS THEY NEED.

IN THE PAST YOU DIDN'T SEE THE  WINDFALL OF MONEY COMING IN THAT YOU SEE NOW.

SO, YOU MAY SEE SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION TAKEN TO TIGHTEN UP THAT  KIND OF ABILITY THAT SAYS, HEY LISTEN, HERE IS THE BUDGET.

IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FEDERAL DOLLARS, ANY EXTRA YOU DO WHAT  YOU WANT.

THAT WAS PENNIES FROM HEAVEN IN  THE PAST, BUT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE TRUCKLOADS OF MONEY THAT IS  COMING IN.

>> Gene: THAT IS DISCUSSED A LOT  AS WE GO ALONG.

ERIC, I GOT TO FOLLOW UP ON  SOMETHING DAN MENTIONED.

THERE IS A TENDENCY THAT WE TEND  TO THINK THOSE WHO AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED AT THIS POINT  ARE DOING SO ON PURPOSE, MEANING A POLITICAL STATEMENT, YOU KNOW.

IS THERE A SEGMENT -- I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG,  BUT IS THERE A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT EITHER DOESN'T  WANT TO BOTHER, DOESN'T TRUST VACCINES REGARDLESS OF THE  POLITICS AND HOW DOES A LOTTERY OVERTURN ALL OF THAT PREVIOUS  THINKING?

THAT IS THE   PART THAT IS SO CONFUSING TO ME.

IS THIS THE WAY TO DO IT?

>> Eric: THERE SEEMS TO BE  GROUPS -- FOLKS THAT JUST PHILOSOPHICALLY, IDEOLOGICALLY  THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

AND THEN WE HAVE FRIENDS LIKE  THIS, YOU KNOW, WHO SAY, I AM GOING TO WAIT, I AM STILL NOT  CONVINCED YET AND THERE IS FOLKS WHO HONESTLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO GET ANYBODY WHO WANTS  IT, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS RURAL AREAS WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER  JOB, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, AND SO ON, BUT THERE IS A GROUP OF  FOLKS AND THEY ARE NOT SUPER POLITICAL.

JUST LIKE THERE IS THIS RETICENCE ABOUT IT AND I THINK  SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE MOVED BY THIS.

I THINK I WOULD RATHER SEE THE MONEY GOING INTO OTHER THINGS  TOO, BUT AT THIS POINT, LIKE, I THINK THAT THE THINKING IS, YOU  KNOW, PROMOTION ASIDE, THE THINKING IS WE HAVE GOT TO GET  TO A RATE WHERE WE CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL AND YOU ARE SEEING  GOVERNORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SAYING LIKE WHATEVER WE CAN DO.

I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF BETTER WAYS TO SPEND FIVE MILLION  DOLLARS FRANKLY, BUT IF IT IS WORKING IN OHIO AND IN WEST  VIRGINIA AND SOME OTHER STATES AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING  PEOPLE OFF THE DIME, THEN I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY IF  PEOPLE ARE TRYING IT.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> Gene: SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS GO ROUND.

WE WILL BE WATCHING WHEN THE STATE STARTS ANNOUNCING  WINNERS.

>> Merritt:   NO ONE HAS TRIED TO FIX THE CULTURE OF LAW  ENFORCEMENT HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOSTILITIES  TO THE DOJ REFORMS, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ARE  SPENDING ON IT AND STILL LITTLE BEING DONE, THE  OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN A FRESH APPROACH FROM A  DIFFERENT CITY -- >> Gene: MAYOR TIM KELLER'S  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS UPPING ITS  INVESTMENT IN THE CITY'S ABQ HOME FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN.

IT TARGETS FORMER BURQUENOS AND REMOTE WORKERS AND URGES  THEM TO MOVE TO ALBUQUERQUE.

THE CITY SAYS RESPONSE TO THE  PROGRAM HAS BEEN ROBUST, BUT EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY  LIVE HERE, FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME IS A COMPETITIVE  BUSINESS.

PRODUCER MATT GRUBS SPOKE WITH  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SYNTHIA JARAMILLO ABOUT HOW  SHE MEASURES SUCCESS AND HOW THE CITY HOPES TO BRING PEOPLE  TO ALBUQUERQUE WITHOUT CROWDING OUT EXISTING  RESIDENTS.

>> Matt: SYNTHIA JARAMILLO  THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO JOIN US.

I WANTED TO START WITH WHO YOU'RE TARGETING HOME FOR LIFE  TO?

YOU SAID WHEN YOU SORT OF  REVEALED THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT  PEOPLE WHO USED TO LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND PEOPLE WHO CAN  WORK REMOTELY.

WHAT IS THE THINKING BEHIND  THOSE FOLKS?

>> Jaramillo:   SURE, CERTAINLY.

HAPPY TO JUMP IN AND TALK ABOUT  GOALS AND TARGETS.

SO WE RECEIVED VERY PROMISING  EARLY DATA FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE  EXPANDED OUR ALBUQUERQUE HOME FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN FROM FOUR TO  11 TARGET CITIES.

THE CAMPAIGN IS NOW ALSO  TARGETING SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER, PHOENIX, DALLAS, SEATTLE, NEW  YORK, BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS SHOW INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT  ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGES FOR ADVERTISING METRICS.

SO, IN JUST SIX WEEKS, THE CAMPAIGN DIGITAL ADS RECEIVED  ALMOST 34 MILLION IMPRESSIONS AND HAVE RESULTED IN NEARLY  100,000 VISITORS TO THE ALBUQUERQUE HOME FOR LIFE  WEBSITE.

SO, THE TWO TARGET AUDIENCES ARE  THE REMOTE WORKER WHO CAN REALLY WORK FROM ANYWHERE ACROSS THE  GLOBE, FRANKLY, AND ALSO THOSE BOOMERANGERS, THOSE THAT HAVE  LEFT, MAYBE GRADUATED FROM NEW MEXICO STATE OR THE UNIVERSITY  OF NEW MEXICO OR TECH AND THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE ALBUQUERQUE.

AND SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ENGAGE THOSE THAT LIVED HERE, WE ARE  LOOKING FOR THEM TO MOVE HOME.

>> Matt: OKAY.

YOU MENTIONED THAT EARLY SUCCESS SORT OF GETTING EYEBALLS ON THE  CAMPAIGN.

WHAT ARE THE METRICS YOU LOOK  TOWARD NOW AS THE PROGRAM GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE MATURE IN TERMS  OF ACTUALLY GETTING PEOPLE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE BUT  MAYBE MOVING HERE?

>> Jaramillo: ONE THING --  SOME OF THE TOTAL IMPRESSIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION JUST  VERY BRIEFLY, SINCE THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED, TOTAL MORE  THAN 27 MILLION.

SO THESE STRONG EARLY METRICS  AND MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM INTEL, NETFLIX, O'RYAN, AMAZON,  AMONG OTHERS, REALLY INDICATES THAT ARE EFFORTS TO BRING JOBS  AND WORKERS TO BRING THE WORKFORCE TO ALBUQUERQUE ARE  REALLY STARTING, YOU KNOW, THIS DECADE ON A FAR STRONGER PATH  FOR GROWTH THAN LAST.

SOME OF OUR FUTURE PLANS  INCLUDE -- SO THIS SUMMER WE ARE EXPANDING OUR REACH TO A NUMBER  OF FILM FESTIVALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NEXT ONE BEING THE SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND  AS THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES AND GROSS WE WILL ANALYZE THE DATA  AND MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS ABOUT NEXT STEPS, YOU KNOW, AS  FAR AS INCREASING THE CAMPAIGN'S IMPACT IN CERTAIN CITIES, YOU  KNOW.

BACKING OFF IN SOME MARKETS WILL  HAPPEN OR EXPANDING TO A NEW SET OF GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND  REALLY -- SO WE WILL ANALYZE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR  PARTNERS OVER AT ESPARZA, WE WILL LOOK AT DATA AND IF WE NEED  TO PIVOT, AGAIN BACKING OFF IN SOME MARKETS OR EXPANDING TO A  NEW SET GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.

>> Matt: WHO WILL KEEP TRACK OF  WHO IS ACTUALLY MOVING HERE?

>> Jaramillo: THAT IS A GOOD  QUESTION.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THIS IS,  YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SAY IN MANY OF US IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,  REALLY REFER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS BEING A REALLY  LONG GAME.

SO, WHEN IT COMES TO MEASURING  THE SUCCESS OF THIS CAMPAIGN, I MEAN, WE WILL SEE SUCCESSES IN  THE NEAR YEAR, BUT ALSO REALLY THE GOAL IS TOTAL SUCCESS  HAPPENS OVER TIME.

AND WILL HAPPEN PROBABLY OVER  THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> Matt: OKAY.

SO, YOU'LL SEE SORT OF THE DEMAND FOR CITY SERVICES, REAL  ESTATE MARKET THAT SORT OF THING?

>> Jaramillo: ABSOLUTELY, OUR REAL ESTATE PARTNERS,  ASSOCIATIONS, PARTNERS OVER AT ALBUQUERQUE ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT, AGAIN, SOME OF THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATIONS,  AND, AGAIN, OUR REALTOR PARTNERS WILL BE VERY CRITICAL  IN MEASURING THE SUCCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Matt: OBVIOUSLY THE HOUSING MARKET IS A BIG DEAL.

ANYONE WHO IS SHOPPING FOR A HOME RIGHT NOW IN ALBUQUERQUE IS  HAVING A TOUGH TIME.

THEY ARE PAYING, ACCORDING TO  THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, ALMOST EVERYONE IS PAYING ASKING  PRICE, QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE WHICH IS AN ISSUE.

THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE ROSE 20% YEAR OVER YEAR IN APRIL.

THERE IS A QUESTION, I THINK, THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED ABOUT, IS  IT WISE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THAT MARKET WHEN WE CLEARLY  DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING STOCK?

>> Jaramillo: FROM AN ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE AND BACK TO THE RECRUITMENT AND  EXPANSION OF COMPANIES LIKE RECRUITMENT OF AMAZON AND  NETFLIX AND EXPANSION OF SEVERAL SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND  MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR  ROLE NOT ONLY IN MY DEPARTMENT BUT THE OTHER ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND STATE,  IT IS OUR ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A ROBUST  WORKFORCE AND THAT PIPELINE, YOU KNOW, HAS -- OUR EFFORTS  ARE TO BRING JOBS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE  ALSO SKILLING UP WORKERS WHO LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND  THROUGHOUT THE STATE BUT ALSO RECRUITING WORKFORCE IN ORDER TO  MAINTAIN THOSE COMPANIES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

AND BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, I MEAN, IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON  US AND OUR PARTNERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO WORK WITH, YOU  KNOW, OUR DEVELOPERS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE IS  HOUSING AVAILABLE AS WE RECRUIT THE WORKFORCE TO ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Matt: SURE.

TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU TRACK  THAT, ARE YOU ABLE TO -- I GUESS YOU HAVE A FEEL FOR HOW SOON THE  HOUSING MARKET WILL BEGIN TO EASE?

I KNOW THERE ARE A BUNCH OF FACTORS AT PLAY THERE AND YOU  MENTIONED THAT SUCCESS FOR YOU WILL PLAY OUT OVER THE COURSE OF  MAYBE A DECADE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS HOUSING  MARKET SUSTAINING ITSELF FOR A DECADE.

EVERY ONE WILL JUST SELL EVENTUALLY BUT HOW DOES THAT  DYNAMIC PLAY OUT?

>> Jaramillo: GREAT QUESTION.

AS WE MOVE INTO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN,   THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL EVALUATE AND  AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN BACK TO, YOU KNOW, AS THE  POPULATION BEGINS TO GROW IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WE CONTINUE TO  RECRUIT WORKFORCE TO THE CITY AND TO THE STATE, WE'LL HAVE TO  PIVOT AND WE'LL HAVE TO INCLUDE HOUSING AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC  INITIATIVES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO I CAN'T SAY HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS  BUT DEFINITELY WILL BE A PART OF PHASE 2 IN THE CAMPAIGN AND  HAPPY TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SHARE MORE AS THAT STRATEGY IS  BEING WORKED ON AND BUILT OUT.

>> Matt: WHAT DO YOU HOPE THESE  FOLKS DO, ESPECIALLY THE TELECOMMUTERS?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY DO ONCE THEY ARE IN ALBUQUERQUE?

SAY YOU GET A SUCCESSFUL PERSON.

WHAT SORT OF BEST CASE SCENARIO  FOR YOU FOR THE PERSON WHO MOVES HERE.

WHAT DO THEY BRING TO THE CITY?

>> Jaramillo: GREAT QUESTION.

SO, WE DO KNOW THAT ALBUQUERQUE IS POISED TO REALLY MEET THIS  CURRENT MOMENT, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO MANY OF OR STRENGTHS.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE GREAT OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW, FOUR  SEASONS, WONDERFUL TEMPERATE CLIMATE, 300 PLUS DAYS OF  SUNSHINE, YOU KNOW, ALBUQUERQUE IS A DREAM FOR OUTDOOR  ENTHUSIASTS AND THE CITY IS HOME TO AN ARRAY OF RECREATIONAL  OPTIONS FROM HIKING, GOLFING, SKIING.

AND SO TRULY, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, WE WANT THAT REMOTE  WORKER TO NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE ALBUQUERQUE HOME BUT WE  WANT THEM TO BRING, YOU KNOW -- THAT REMOTE WORKER THAT BRINGS A  JOB WITH THEM TO ALBUQUERQUE.

I MEAN, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR  THEM TO SPEND MONEY IN OUR CITY AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO GROSS  RECEIPTS TAXES AND TO FREQUENT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND MAYBE  A REMOTE WORKER WILL TEMPORARILY RESIDE IN ONE OF OUR HOTELS AND  THEN EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO MOVE HERE PERMANENTLY.

SO, THE GOAL ALWAYS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS TO BRING OUTSIDE  MONEY INTO THE CITY AND STATE SO THE SAME GOAL, YOU KNOW, THE  GOAL REMAINS WITH THE REMOTE WORKER, FOR THEM TO BRING THEIR  WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR MONEY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND  OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND WE WANT THEM TO AGAIN SPEND MONEY IN OUR  LOCAL RESTAURANTS, FREQUENT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND AGAIN  ULTIMATELY MAKE ALBUQUERQUE THEIR HOME FOR LIFE.

SOME REMOTE WORKERS THEY'LL BRING THEIR JOB WITH THEM, THEIR  REMOTE WORK, BUT THEY MAY FIND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WITH A  COMPANY THAT MAYBE WE HAVE RECENTLY RECRUITED TO  ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Matt: OKAY.

IF WE COULD JUST TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE HERE AND THINK MORE  BROADLY.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE CONSTRAINTS IN  TERMS OF THINGS LIKE WATER.

I LOOK AT THE VISTA BEHIND YOU  AND THE WESTSIDE OBVIOUSLY HAS ROOM TO GROW BUT THE EAST SIDE  IS SORT OF SMACK UP AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS.

IS THERE A WAY TO THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT  DOESN'T INVOLVE NECESSARILY GROWING POPULATION?

I KNOW THAT IS CERTAINLY THE TRADITIONAL WAY TO DO IT.

BUT, IS THERE A WAY TO FIND THAT  OUTSIDE MONEY THAT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY RELY ON BRINGING  MORE PEOPLE?

>> Jaramillo: SURE, CERTAINLY,  ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE SO MANY NOT ONLY TECH  STARTUPS BUT CREATIVE STARTUPS IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND  THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND IN ADDITION TO RECRUITING NEW  BUSINESSES AND RECRUITING WORKFORCE TO THE CITY, WE WANT  TO RECRUIT INVESTMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE LAUNCH THIS  CAMPAIGN THE GOAL IS ALSO TO CATCH THE EYE OF THE INVESTOR  WHO IS LOOKING TO INVEST IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, MOST INNOVATIVE  STARTUP.

SO, THAT IS ANOTHER WAY.

IS TO SEEK INVESTMENT OUTSIDE THE CITY AND STATE.

IF WE CAN FIND OUTSIDE INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT LOCALLY  HOME GROWN TECH AND CREATIVE STARTUPS, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS ANOTHER WAY TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT  NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, RECRUITING NEW WORKFORCE OR NEW  PEOPLE TO MOVE TO THE CITY.

>> Matt: SURE.

SYNTHIA JARAMILLO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING UP WITH YOU  A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING BUT  THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> Jaramillo: THANK YOU VERY  MUCH.

>> Gene: 2021 IS ALREADY A  RECORD YEAR FOR MURDERS IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WE ARE NOT EVEN  HALFWAY THROUGH.

THIS PAST WEEKEND THERE WERE TWO  KILLINGS IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS AND THE SECOND DEATH BROUGHT THE  TOTAL SO FAR TO 50.

THAT IS TWICE AS MANY MURDERS AT  THIS POINT LAST YEAR.

POLICE CHIEF SAYS MANY CITIES  ARE SEEING SIMILAR RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME INCLUDING PORTLAND  WHERE A NEW STUDY BY THE MAJOR CITY CHIEFS FOUND THE HOMICIDE  RATE JUMPED MORE THAN 1100% THIS YEAR.

THE STUDY FOUND OUR HOMICIDE RATE UP 75% BUT AGAIN THAT WAS  BEFORE THIS WEEKEND'S VIOLENT OUTBURST.

DAN, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT  VIOLENCE IN ALBUQUERQUE HERE ON THE SHOW AND OTHER PLACES, YET  THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING AS A CITY?

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

>> Dan: WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH  TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, GENE.

I MEAN IT IS A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE PROBLEM  WITH GETTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN THIS  STATE.

THEY ALL SEEM TO BE GETTING  DUMPED IN ALBUQUERQUE AND THIS IS THE PLACE IT COMES WHEN FOLKS  GET RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A KEY PLACE TO  DROP THEM OFF WITH NO REAL OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPES TO GO  FORWARD.

ALL OF THIS, AND WE ARE  UNVEILING A TASKFORCE TO GO AFTER DRAG RACERS IN THE  STREETS.

LOOK, YOU KNOW, DRAG RACING IN  THE STREETS IS A BAD DEAL BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TO GET  SERIOUS -- >> Gene: LET ME ASK YOU THIS  DAN.

VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM  SPOKESPERSON, I PARTICULARLY WANT YOUR OPINION HERE, SAYS  LESS THAN .1% OF THE POPULATION IS BEHIND THE MAJORITY OF THE  VIOLENT CRIMES HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WOULDN'T THAT SAY THIS WOULD BE EASY TO GET YOUR ARMS AROUND IF  YOU KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE DOWN TO LESS THAN 1%.

>> Dan: I MEAN, IT DEPENDS -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THE  STATISTICS.

DEPENDS ON WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO  THAT, RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY IT IS ALL  ONE ETHNIC GROUP OR ALL ONE GENDER, IT BECOMES REALLY  DIFFICULT SITUATION TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE  CONTINUED FAILED POLICIES IN ALBUQUERQUE, RIGHT.

WE LOOKED AT WHAT THEY DID WITH THE MINIS.

THEY WERE GOING TO  SHUT DOWN THE ONE GAS STATION AND LET THEM SELL THREE BLOCKS  AWAY.

WE SEEM TO HAVE A VERY REACTIVE  RESPONSE TO CRIME IN THIS CITY AND NOT A VERY PROACTIVE  RESPONSE AND I AM NOT SAYING THIS TO BE A PLATITUDE.

I THINK IF ANYTHING CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS PARTY  LINES, IT IS REALIZING THAT THERE IS A CRIME PROBLEM WE HAVE  TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION THAT INCLUDES NOT  ONLY INCARCERATION BUT REHABILITATION.

THE ANSWER CAN'T BE LOCK EVERYBODY UP.

THE ANSWER IS HOW DO YOU GET THE REAL BAD GUYS OFF THE STREETS  AND HOW DO YOU GET THE NON-BAD GUYS BACK TO BEING PRODUCTIVE  MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

IT IS ALWAYS AN EITHER/OR  CONVERSATION NOT ONLY IN NEW MEXICO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT LOCKING PEOPLE UP OR ALL ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE  OUT AND WE HAVE TO GET OFF THAT MARK.

>> Gene: SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING DEFUND THE POLICE AND OTHER  EFFORTS ARE HAMPERING POLICE EFFORTS OUT THERE.

IS THIS A TROJAN HORSE, OR RED HERRING, BETTER WAY TO SAY IT.

WHAT IS THE TRUE FEELING OUT THERE WITH THIS KIND OF THING.

>> Eric: AGAIN, THAT IS CONVENIENT SORT OF TALKING POINT  FROM FOLKS WHO WANT TO KIND OF EXPLOIT THAT WITH A POLITICAL  MESSAGE.

THE RESEARCH ON THIS IS  WELL-KNOWN.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PREDICTORS OF  HOMICIDE RATES WHICH IS WHAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IS HOW  MANY GUNS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

HOW LIBERAL IS YOUR  GUN POLICY?

IT IS NOT THE OPPOSITE.

SOME OF THE FOLKS ON THE RIGHT WHO REALLY ARE INCLUDING SHERIFF  GONZALES, A BIG FIRST AMENDMENT -- SECOND AMENDMENT  CITY -- WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS TO OWN GUNS.

AND EVEN IF YOU LISTEN TO FOLKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW,  THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO MUCH  PROBLEM, ASSUMING EVERYBODY IS ARMED AND SO YOU HAVE MORE GUNS,  MORE POLICE GET SHOT, YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE SHOOTING EACH OTHER  AND KILLING EACH OTHER, HIGHER LETHAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATES.

SO, WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS OR BAD HOMBRES  AND ALL THIS, THE TRUTH IS THE VERY FOLKS WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT  BEING TOUGH ON CRIME ARE, I THINK, LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR  THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE  COUNTRY.

I AGREE WITH DAN, DRUG ISSUES, THERE IS A BIG ADDICTION PROBLEM  IN THIS COMMUNITY LIKE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHICH  IS ANOTHER PART OF THIS, RIGHT, AND THEN ALL OF THE UNDERLYING  ISSUES.

NOBODY IS PRO CRIME.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE QUESTION IS, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE  UPCOMING MAYOR'S RACE AND PLAY OUT IN 2022 ELECTIONS IS, IF  THIS MESSAGE WE HEARD FROM MARK MOORES AND REPUBLICANS ALL CRIME  ALL THE TIME, WE HAVE TO LOCK THEM UP LOCK THEM UP, WE DON'T  CAMERAS.

WE DON'T NEED BODY CAMERAS.

WE HAVE TO LOCK EVERYBODY UP.

TO DAN'S EARLIER POINT, THAT IS  NOT A GOOD STRATEGY.

I MEAN WE HAVE SERIOUS SYSTEMIC  ISSUES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND ADDRESS.

INCLUDING THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES, LACK OF MENTAL  HEALTH SERVICES AND DRUG TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN ADDRESS.

I FREE STRONGLY WE HAVE TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE  PROLIFERATION OF GUNS HERE AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE IN LAW  ENFORCEMENT WHO KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, SHERIFF GONZALES AMONG  THEM, THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES SAYING, LOOK, PEOPLE AREN'T SAFE  BECAUSE THERE IS THIS PROLIFERATION OF GUNS AND  PEOPLE -- MOST OF THESE CRIMES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, THEY  ARE NOT DYING FROM BEATINGS, FROM STABBING, THEY ARE DYING  FROM THE GUN INJURIES, RIGHT.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

MERRITT, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE COME UP FROM BOTH THESE  FELLOWS AND RESOURCES HAVE BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME IN  NEW MEXICO.

COMING OUT OF 14 MONTHS OF  ISOLATION FROM COVID-19, ARE WE READY TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS?

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO,  THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO DO, THIS NEW VIOLENCE INTERVENTION  PROGRAM THAT WAS REFERENCED A SECOND AGO, IS IT A LITTLE BIT  UNDER?

ARE WE IN THE SWEET SPOT HERE,  MAKING PROGRESS?

WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL TAKE ON IT?

>> Merritt: FIRST OF ALL, THE STATISTIC SOME CITIES THEIR  HOMICIDE RATE HAS GONE UP 1100% OURS HAS ONLY GONE UP 75%.

OUR HOMICIDE RATE WAS ALREADY HIGH.

THE THING THAT NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED ACROSS  ADMINISTRATIONS, DOJ REFORMS, NO ONE HAS REALLY TRIED TO FIX THE  CULTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOSTILITY TO  THE DOJ REFORMS, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ARE SPENDING ON IT  AND VERY LITTLE BEING DONE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN A FRESH  APPROACH FROM A DIFFERENT CITY THAT HAS DONE MUCH TO RESOLVE  ITS VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES, AND INSTEAD WE HIRED WITHIN OUR OWN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SYSTEM ISSUES OF PROSECUTING VIOLENT CRIME IN  THE DA OFFICE WHETHER IT WAS BRANDENBURG OR TORRES, WE HAVE A  CULTURAL PROBLEM WITH MANAGING CRIME AND NO ONE SEEMS WILLING  TO ADDRESS THAT HEAD ON.

WE KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS  WITH THE SAME PEOPLE AND SAME MANAGEMENT.

UNTIL WE TAKE THAT ON AND THAT IS THE MAYOR, THE POLICE UNION,  CHIEF OF POLICE, EMBRACING DOJ REFORM, THAT IS COMPETENT  PROSECUTION, POLICE OFFICERS SHOWING UP TO HEARINGS TO AVOID  DISMISSAL OF CHARGES.

THAT IS HUGE.

AND I THINK WHAT WE JUST SAW IN THE MURDER ACQUITTAL WHEN WE  CAN'T PROSECUTE ADEQUATELY OR COMPETENTLY, BUT WE HAVE A DA  WHO STILL THINKS HE CAN RUN FOR AG, WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM.

I AND ADDING TO PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS, POVERTY, A POOR  EDUCATION SYSTEM, DROPOUTS, UNEMPLOYMENT, ALL OF THIS ADDS  UP TO WHERE WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT OF AN INTOLERABLE HOMICIDE  RATE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR  YEARS ON THIS SHOW BUT NO ONE IN THE CITY SEEMS TO BE ADDRESSING  THE PROBLEM.

>> Gene: FRIGHTENING RATE FROM  WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

OUT OF TIME.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONGOING TOPIC WE'LL REVISIT BEFORE LONG.

THANKS TO ALL PANELISTS.

A FEW FINAL THOUGHT IN A MOMENT.

ABQ HOME FOR LIFE IDEA IS INTERESTING.

AND TIMELY.

NOTE THE RECENT REPORTING ON A  DROPPING OF BIRTH RATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NEW MEXICO  INCLUDED.

AND THE CENSUS REVELATION THAT  VERY FEW FOLKS MOVED INTO OUR STATE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

ALL THIS MAKES THE NEED TO BE IN FRONT OF PEOPLES FACES IN PLACES  WHERE FOLKS ARE LOOKING TO LEAVE, MAKES IT CRITICAL.

WE HAVE LOST A GOOD NUMBER OF YOUNGER NEW MEXICANS OVER THAT  SAME DECADE AND, FRANKLY, WE NEED TO REPLENISH THAT AGE  GROUP.

IF I DO HAVE A RUB WITH THE  EFFORT, IT IS WHO ABQ HOME FOR LIFE HAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT AS  RECENT MOVE-INS ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THEY ARE PRIMARILY WHITE AND NOTABLY FROM LOS ANGELES.

IN FACT, THE VIDEO LOOKS LIKE IT IS FOR LA EYES AND WALLETS.

THAT FEELS LIKE TOO SMALL OF A POOL IN MY GUT.

WE HAVE RECENT TRANSPLANTS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT WOULD MAKE  FOR A MUCH RICHER, MORE DYNAMIC PITCH, SOMETHING BEYOND LESS  TRAFFIC AND CHEAPER HOUSES, WHICH ARE CLICHE LIFESTYLE DATA  POINTS.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE AT OUR  DISPOSAL HERE THAN COMMUTE TIMES AND MEDIAN PRICES BECAUSE PEOPLE  ON THE MOVE CURRENTLY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE THAN THAT.

THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING.

THEY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE ALONG THE WAY.

SO, IF IT IS INARGUABLE SEARCH FOR TALENT IS A GLOBAL ONE, THEN  SO TOO SHOULD BE OUR PITCH, SOMETHING WITH IMPLIED GLOBAL  APPEAL THAT OPENLY AND PROUDLY STATES EVERYONE IS WELCOME, SO  COME BE A PART OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU CAN THRIVE HERE BEING  EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND  FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.