>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS 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 IN FOCUS, LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE IN THE SPECIAL  ELECTIONS TO REPLACE DEB HAALAND TALKS ABOUT WHAT HE  BRINGS TO THE RACE.

>> Manning: I LOOKED AT, OKAY,  WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET SOMETHING DONE, WHILE STILL  STAYING TRUE TO MY COUNTRY.

>> Gene: PLUS OUR LAND RETURNS  AS OFFICIALS BRACE FOR THE  RETURN OF A PESKY PROBLEM AT NEW MEXICO LAKES THIS SUMMER.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

IT IS THE SECOND FRIDAY OF THE  MONTH, SO OUR LAND IS BACK.

LAURA PASKUS HAS A LOOK AT  TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS IN SOME POPULAR NEW MEXICO RESERVOIRS.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL DEBATES THE PERILS OF POTENTIAL  EVICTION CRISIS AS HOUSE PRICES ARE SOARING DESPITE  RELATIVELY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS AND A FRAGILE PANDEMIC  ECONOMY.

THE GROUP ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE  RETURN OF A JOB SEARCH REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE  RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT.

BUT WE BEGIN BY LOOKING  EASTWARD.

HERE IS THE LINE.

THE OLD SAYING IS ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL BUT APPARENTLY NOT  WHEN IT COMES TO THIS WEEKEND'S NEW MEXICO  REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION.

REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN STEVE  PEARCE ANNOUNCED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE EVENT DUBBED  OPERATION FREEDOM WOULD BE MOVED TO AMARILLO, TEXAS  BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO THE  COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE  DECISION AND WHAT MESSAGE IT SENDS IS OUR WEEKLY LINE  OPINION PANEL.

WE WELCOME BACK TO THE ZOOM  ROOM, LINE REGULAR AND ATTORNEY LAURA SANCHEZ.

ALSO DAN FOLEY, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP, AND WE WELCOME  BACK OUR SPECIAL GUEST, POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGIST,  ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR MARTHA BURK.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

TEXAS HAS LIFTED THE MASK MANDATE AND  PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

HERE IN NEW MEXICO ARE STILL  LIMITED TO 150 PEOPLE.

CHAIRMAN PEARCE SAYS MORE THAN  300 PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED TO ATTEND THIS WEEKEND'S GOP  CONVENTION.

HE SAYS IT WAS A PRAGMATIC  DECISION BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT DANIEL, CAN YOU REALLY CALL IT  ANYTHING ELSE BUT A SYMBOLIC DEFIANT MOVE HERE?

>> Dan: THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT FROM PEARCE'S  PERSPECTIVE.

THIS IS A GUY WHO BARELY GOT  REELECTED CHAIRMAN AGAINST SOME RATHER ODD COMPETITION.

I MEAN, HE BEAT A RADIO TALK SHOW HOST WHO WAS A DEMOCRAT,  AND A LIBERTARIAN.

IT TOOK, YOU KNOW, GOING OFF  THE ZOOM MEETINGS AND GOING BACK TO A SPECIAL RECOUNT.

I THINK THIS IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A  CONVENTION THAT HAS THE PEOPLE YOU WANT THERE.

IF YOU'RE NOT -- YOU ARE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO BE A  DIE HARD WANT TO GO AT THIS REPUBLICAN.

IF YOU HAD IT IN ALBUQUERQUE, YOU KNOW, THE GUY WHO YOU BEAT  BY TWO VOTES IN THE THIRD RECOUNT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS  MIGHT SHOW UP AT THE STATE CONVENTION AND HAVE SOME  ISSUES.

I DOUBT THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING  TO GET IN A CAR AND DRIVE FIVE HOURS TO GO TO AMARILLO AND IT  IS JUST, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS DEFIANT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, I  THINK IT SENDS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG MESSAGE, YOU KNOW, ON  MULTIPLE LEVELS.

LOOK, IF YOU'RE REALLY THAT  COMFORTABLE AND YOU THINK THINGS ARE REALLY THAT WRONG,  GO AHEAD AN HAVE IT SOMEWHERE IN A COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO THAT  NEEDS THE HELP.

RIGHT?

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED AT OLD TOWN OVER THE WEEKEND, RIGHT?

I AM NOT ADVOCATING IT BUT THE RESTAURANT THAT THEY CALLED ON  AND SAID OH THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, THE POLICE  SHOWED UP AND THE PEOPLE MET THEM.

POLICE WERE LIKE FORGET IT, WE'RE OUT.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DO.

IT ENDED PEACEFULLY.

IT WAS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE SAYING WE ARE NOT DOING THIS  ANYMORE.

IF YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT NEW  MEXICANS AND FOCUSED ON HELPING NEW MEXICO, I ASSURE  YOU THERE IS PLACES IN CATRON COUNTY, PLACES IN SAN MIGUEL  COUNTY, THERE IS PLACES IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES AROUND NEW  MEXICO WHO, THEIR POLICE, THEIR INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE  100% SUPPORTIVE AND THE ONE HOTEL OR THE ONE LITTLE  CONVENTION CENTER OR THE ONE BIG CHURCH IN TOWN, IT DOESN'T  MATTER, YOU KNOW, THE ONE RESTAURANT THAT DAY, YOU COULD  MAKE THEIR YEAR BY CATERING SANDWICHES AND DRINKS AND FOOD  TO AN ORGANIZATION.

BUT INSTEAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT  IS ABOUT YOU AND NOT ABOUT DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR  CONSTITUENTS YOU HEAD TO AMARILLO AND TRY TO MAKE A  STATEMENT.

IT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY  REPUBLICANS -- AS A REPUBLICAN IN NEW MEXICO, WE'RE  CONSTANTLY IN A PERMANENT MAJORITY, WE HAVE SEEN THE  ENEMY AND THE ENEMY IS US.

>> Gene: MARTHA, PICK UP ON  THAT.

IT IS HARD TO ARGUE TAKE ON  THE STREET FROM DAN.

AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICAL  MATTERS AND HELPING PEOPLE, IF THIS IS YOUR THING.

DO YOU THINK IT IS CAN BE PULLED OFF IN NEW MEXICO IF  FOLKS REALLY WANTED TO DO THIS?

>> Martha: I DON'T KNOW WHY DAN WOULD BE AGAINST THEM  GOING TO THE GARDEN SPOT OF TEXAS.

BUT, ACTUALLY, I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, GENE, IS HE  WANTED TO TAKE A SHOT AT THE GOVERNOR AND HE DID THAT  BECAUSE HE HASN'T RULED OUT RUNNING AGAIN.

I THINK HE IS GOING -- IF HE DOES RUN AGAIN HE WILL BE SEEN  AS A RETREAD, SO IT PROBABLY WON'T DO HIM ANY GOOD.

I AGREE WITH DAN.

LIGHTNING STRIKES.

BECAUSE I THINK IT  IS A SLAP IN THE FACE OF NEW MEXICO REPUBLICANS BECAUSE  THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO DRIVE TO AMARILLO AND THERE IS  NO REALLY GOOD WAY TO GET THERE.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS THE EXCUSE PEARCE GAVE, HE EITHER  LIED OUTRIGHT OR HE DOESN'T KNOW THE NEW MEXICO  RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE HE SAID THE LUMINARIES WOULDN'T COME  FROM OUT OF STATE, IF YOU COUNT JORDAN AS LUMINARY IN  ANYTHING BUT THE KOOK CAUCUS.

BECAUSE, THEY MIGHT GET STUCK  HERE.

WELL, WE HAVE NOT HAD  QUARANTINE SINCE LAST DECEMBER.

SO HE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER OR HE JUST THOUGHT THIS SOUNDED GOOD  AND I THINK HE IS SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AND REALLY  INSULTING A LOT OF HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS IN THE STATE.

>> Gene: INTERESTING POINT.

WE ARE TALKING KRISTI NOEM,  GOVERNOR OF SOUTH DAKOTA, AND JIM JORDAN YOU DON'T NEED A  VISA.

KRISTI NOEM CAME, WAS IT GOING  TO BE STATE TROOPERS AT THE BORDER TO RUN HER OUT?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT EXCUSE?

>> Laura: HE IS REACHING WHEN HE MADE THAT COMMENT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HATE THAT THIS IS PANDEMIC AND  VACCINATION AND EVERYTHING HAS TURNED INTO A PARTISAN ISSUE.

THESE ARE NOT PARTISAN ISSUES.

THESE ARE HEALTH ISSUES ABOUT  PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

I UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE  DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK BUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T -- THERE ARE  A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WELL WHO DON'T WANT TO GET  VACCINATED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY,  A LOT OF FEAR.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN YOU  HAVE AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND INVITE PEOPLE TO BE THERE IN  PERSON YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO CREATE  A SUPER SPREADER EVENT.

THAT THEN CAN BE BROUGHT BACK  TO THESE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND IN SOME OF THESE LOCAL  COMMUNITIES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AREAS, FOR WHATEVER  REASON, WHERE FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED, NOT EVEN  PROTECTED AGAINST THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE TRUMP RALLY THAT WAS  HELD IN OKLAHOMA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I AM GOING TO FORGET HIS NAME.

>> HERMAN CANE.

>> Gene: HERMAN CANE.

>> Laura: I COULD PICTURE HIM  BUT COULDN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME AT THAT MOMENT.

HERMAN CANE, WE ALL THINK, OR I BELIEVE THAT HE CONTRACTED  IT DURING THAT SUPER SPREADER EVENT, AS DID OTHERS.

AND  THEN HE DIED.

IT IS TERRIBLE TO EVEN  CONSIDER HAVING AN EVENT LIKE THAT WHEN WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN  OVER THE LAST YEAR USED TO DOING THINGS ON ZOOM, WE ARE  ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS, PEOPLE OF ALL GENERATIONS ARE ABLE TO  MANEUVER A ZOOM CONFERENCE AND WHATNOT AND GET BUSINESS DONE  WITHOUT NEEDING TO TRAVEL FIVE HOURS TO ANOTHER STATE AND PUT  YOURSELVES AND YOUR LOVED ONES IN JEOPARDY.

>> Gene: DANIEL, BUSINESS HAS TO BE DONE WHETHER IT IS HERE  OR IN TEXAS AND YOU KNOW THE CHAIRMAN IS THROWING OUT  POSITIVE WORDS THERE ABOUT WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE,  ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARDS AND DOWN  TICKETS, PARTICULARLY.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, DID THAT RING HOLLOW IN ANY WAY GIVEN THESE  CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT OF STATE?

DOES THAT MAKE ANY KIND OF DIFFERENCE?

>> Dan: NO, I THINK, LOOK, PEARCE IS EVERYTHING THAT IS  WRONG WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, RIGHT?

THE LAST THING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS IS MORE RICH WHITE  GUYS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY ARE FROM DALLAS, TEXAS.

NOT SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF THE CITIZENS OF  THE STATE AND EVERY CHANCE THAT HE HAS GOTTEN TO PUT  HIMSELF OUT THERE, WHETHER IT IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR,  RUNNING FOR CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY, IT HAS BEEN AN  EMBARRASSMENT, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, HIS KEEPING THE  FIGHT, KEEPING THE PEOPLE HIRED THAT WENT AFTER SUSANA  MARTINEZ, CONSTANT ATTACKS ON REPUBLICANS THAT DON'T SIDE  WITH HIM OR AGREE WITH HIM.

I MEAN, LOOK, THE LAST  ELECTION CYCLE WAS A COMPLETE DISASTER FROM, YOU KNOW, THE  STATE PARTY.

IT WAS NONEXISTENT, EVERYTHING  FROM THE TOP OF THE TICKET DOWN WE TOOK A BATH.

AND I MEAN IF I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY AND HAD THE SAME  OUTCOME, BY THE WAY, WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD, GUARANTEEING  A TRUMP VICTORY IN NEW MEXICO.

HE GUARANTEED A TRUMP VICTORY IN NEW MEXICO AND THE  PRESIDENT TOOK A SHELLACKING IN NEW MEXICO.

SO, I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS HAS TURNED INTO THE  STEVE SHOW AND THAT IS WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT, ABOUT  HIM AND HIS ORGANIZATION.

IT HAS NOT BEEN ABOUT RESULTS  BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SINCE HE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN.

WE HAVE BEEN MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ABOUT EVERY  METRIC THERE IS AS A PARTY IN NEW MEXICO.

AS LONG AS PEARCE AND HIS GUYS ARE RUNNING THE SHOW, YOU  KNOW, I THINK BRIAN EGOLF, AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, SHOULD BE  SENDING CHECKS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO KEEP STEVE PEARCE AS  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY.

>> Gene: THAT IS ALL THE TIME  WE HAVE FOR THAT TOPIC.

WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE LINE  OPINION PANEL WE'LL DISCUSS CHANGES TO THE STATE'S  UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY.

>> Mueller: IF YOU SEE THAT  TYPE OF FORMATION OR FILM ON THE WATER, AVOID IT, AVOID  CONTACT WITH IT, DON'T LET YOU YOUR PET SWIM IN IT.

KEEP YOUR KIDS OUT OF IT AND TELL PARK RANGERS SO WE CAN  KIND OF GET AN UNDERSTANDING IF IT IS A NEW AREA, WHAT WE  NEED TO KEY INTO.

>> Gene:   THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR NEW MEXICO'S FIRST  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS UNDER WAY.

EXPANDED EARLY VOTING BEGINS MAY 15 AND ELECTION DAY IS  JUNE 1.

LAST WEEK WE SPOKE TO MELANIE  STANSBURY AND MARK MOORES.

THIS WEEK WE SPEAK TO THE  OTHER MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATE, AND THAT IS LIBERTARIAN CHRIS  MANNING.

HE IS A MILITARY VETERAN WHO  HAS FOUND HIMSELF DRAWN TO PUBLIC POLICY SINCE LEAVING  THE SERVICE.

NMIF PRODUCER MATT GRUBS SPOKE  WITH HIM VIA ZOOM THIS WEEK.

>> Matt: CHRIS MANNING, THANKS  SO MUCH FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO JOIN US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Manning: THANKS MATT, I  APPRECIATE THE OFFER.

>> Matt: LET'S START WITH  LIBERTARIANS.

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO HAVE A  LIBERTARIAN IN CONGRESS?

>> Manning: FIRST OFF, IT  WOULD BE HISTORIC?

NO LIBERTARIAN HAS EVER WON  RUNNING AS A LIBERTARIAN BUT, TWO, WHAT IT ALSO MEANS IS AN  EFFORT AND ABILITY TO CREATE REAL BIPARTISANSHIP AND  TRI-PARTISANSHIP BECAUSE LIBERTARIANS HAVE SO MUCH  CROSS-OVER IDEOLOGICALLY WITH THE TWO MAIN PARTIES AND IT IS  VERY EASY, THEN, FOR ME TO WORK WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE  AISLE AND TO DO THAT REALISTICALLY.

>> Matt: IN WASHINGTON, AS YOU KNOW, IT IS A PRETTY  CONTENTIOUS ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW, HOW WOULD YOU SORT OF  WORK TO INGRATIATE YOURSELF WITH LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES  AND WOULDN'T ALIGNING WITH ONE ON ONE ISSUE AND ANOTHER ON  ANOTHER ISSUE PUT YOU AT SOMEWHAT OF A DISADVANTAGE?

>> Manning: I DON'T THINK SO.

OBVIOUSLY DURING THE CAMPAIGN  THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CANDIDATES TO TAKE SHOTS  AT EACH OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN  THE TWO DEBATES I WAS INVITED TO.

THEY ALWAYS HAVE A CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THAT IS  ALWAYS TO GET THE CANDIDATES TO GO AFTER EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE SEEN I CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY, NOT TO  TAKE THAT BAIT AND INSTEAD I MAINTAIN A POSITIVE FOCUS.

YOU WON'T HEAR ME DRAGGING MY OPPONENTS.

SO TAKING THAT  MENTALITY TO WASHINGTON D.C.

ALLOWS ME TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT WASHINGTON IS.

IT IS ABOUT TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND IT IS ABOUT  YOUR INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND YOUR  RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE.

WE USED TO HAVE THAT IDEAL,  YOU KNOW.

AS A REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR JOB  WAS TO GO AND CREATE THAT BIPARTISANSHIP.

AND I THINK PARTICULARLY THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE TO SHOW  VETERANS IN PARTICULAR ARE THE MOST BIPARTISAN AND  TRI-PARTISAN REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.

AGAIN, I HAVE THAT GOING FOR ME AND SO, I THINK, BY SIMPLY  BEING TRUE TO MYSELF AND MAINTAINING THAT  CHARACTERISTIC IN DC IS GOING TO GO A LOT FURTHER THAN  HAVING DISAGREEMENTS ON CERTAIN POLICY ISSUES WITH ONE  SIDE AND THE OTHER.

>> Matt: WOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO  CAUCUS WITH EITHER PARTY OR WOULD YOU KIND OF LEAVE IT TO,  AS YOU SAID, THAT INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION?

>> Manning: I THINK INTERPERSONAL.

I THINK IF I WERE TO GO AND CAUCUS WITH ONE PARTY OR THE  OTHER I THINK THAT KIND OF RUINS MY IMAGE AS BEING  INDEPENDENT.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT I WANT TO  PROJECT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CAUCUSES  THAT AREN'T ALIGNED ALONG PARTY LINES THAT WOULD BE  BENEFICIAL AND ONE OF THEM IS PROBLEM SOLVING.

IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO MY CAMPAIGN, I AM VERY MUCH A  SOLUTIONS ORIENTED PERSON.

I LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY  TO GET SOMETHING DONE WHILE STILL STAYING TRUE TO MY  PRINCIPLES.

THAT IS A CAUCUS I WOULD BE  INTERESTED IN.

>> Matt: YOU MAKE A BIG DEAL  IN NEW MEXICO ESPECIALLY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ABOUT  BEING SORT OF FROM HERE.

YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THAT, THOUGH, BECAUSE AS IS  ALLOWED YOU LIVE IN FARMINGTON, OUTSIDE OF THE  DISTRICT.

I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHY DON'T YOU LIVE  IN THE DISTRICT AND IF YOU DID REPRESENT IT, WOULD YOU PLAN  ON MOVING TO IT?

>> Manning: I LIVED IN  ALBUQUERQUE AS A CHILD AND I GREW UP IN K THROUGH 3, THIRD  GRADE, IN ALBUQUERQUE, WENT TO APACHE ELEMENTARY AND LIKE  MANY PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN NEW MEXICO, THE CRIME AND POOR  EDUCATION IN ALBUQUERQUE WAS A DRIVER OF WHY WE LEFT.

MY MOM WAS TERRIFIED OF ME GOING TO JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH  SCHOOL IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SO, WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY  PRESENTED TO GO HOME AND LIVE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFER  NEIGHBORHOOD TO RAISE ME, MY PARENTS TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING THAT  DECISION AND I THINK CENSUS DATA SHOWS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE  ACTUALLY LEAVING THE STATE, NOT JUST MOVING TO DIFFERENT  PARTS OF THE STATE, LIKE MY FAMILY DID.

UNTIL WE CHANGE OUR EDUCATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN  ALBUQUERQUE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE WAY THINGS ARE IN THE  FUTURE.

I THINK HAVING A DEGREE IN  SECONDARY EDUCATION AND MINOR IN HISTORY, I HAVE A VIEW OF  HOW TO CHANGE EDUCATION THAT I DON'T THINK MY COMPETITORS  HAVE.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A NATIONAL  RACE, YOU HAVE FEDERAL OFFICE AND YOU DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT  OF EDUCATION POLICY, EDUCATION IS SOMETHING I FOCUS  A LOT ON.

I UNDERSTAND THAT RELATIONSHIP  BETWEEN EDUCATION AND CRIME.

I BRING IT UP OFTEN THAT UNTIL  YOU CHANGE THE EDUCATION, YOU CAN'T REALLY CHANGE THE CRIME.

>> Matt: OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE A FEELING OF  WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF  RESIDENCE HERE IF YOU DID WIN?

>> Manning: I DON'T KNOW.

I LITERALLY JUST BOUGHT MY HOUSE.

I AM A FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER, SIGNED THE CLOSING DOCUMENT  THE DAY AFTER I FILED TO RUN SO THE IDEA OF DOING THAT ALL  OVER AGAIN IS KIND OF DAUNTING.

BUT I ALSO THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY  AND, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE FEW BRIGHT GLIMMERS OF COVID-19 IS  THAT IT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE AND STILL BE A GOOD  REPRESENTATIVE.

FOR RIGHT NOW, CLASSIC  EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW YOU AND I ARE HAVING A VIDEO CONFERENCE  AND IT IS A GOOD CONNECTION.

IT IS NOT LIKE IT WAS 10 YEARS  AGO.

AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS  YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS IN DC THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.

SO, IS MY ADDRESS WHERE WHEN I AM HOME A COUPLE WEEKS OUT OF  THE YEAR GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN   I HAVE A PHILOSOPHY OF BEING VERY OPEN  AND THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHERE I HAVE BEEN HOSTING LIVE EVENTS  AND DOING A LOT OF ONLINE STUFF, WHICH ANYONE IN THE  DISTRICT CAN THEN ATTEND, ANYONE IN THE DISTRICT, AND I  THINK THAT MAKES ME A LOT MORE AVAILABLE TO THE VOTERS.

I AM GOING TO TAKE THAT MENTALITY TO DC, NOT JUST  CAMPAIGNING.

WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE  THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO CONTINUE TO HOST TOWN HALLS  WHERE YOU HAVE 1000 PEOPLE ATTEND RATHER THAN 50 IN  PERSON.

I AM GOING TO TAKE THE  BENEFITS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND APPLY THEM.

>> Matt: LET'S GET INTO SOME POLICY STUFF.

YOU MENTIONED EDUCATION.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE IS NOT A  WHOLE LOT THAT YOU DO ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL TO IMPACT WHAT  IS HAPPENING IN CLASSROOMS NECESSARILY.

I AM CURIOUS GOING INTO HIGHER EDUCATION, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS  NEW MEXICO DOING RIGHT AND PERHAPS WRONG AND IN HOW IT  HANDLES HIGHER EDUCATION, TRADE SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL  SCHOOLS, THAT SORT OF THING?

>> Manning: I THINK OVER THE  LAST SEVERAL YEARS, MAYBE MORE THAN A DECADE, THERE HAS BEEN  TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON A COLLEGE DEGREE AND YOU'RE ONLY ABILITY  TO REALLY PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE WHEN, YOU KNOW,  WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ONLY 25% OF NEW MEXICANS HAVE A  COLLEGE DEGREE.

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THE 75%  OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT DEGREE?

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP THEM?

I AM A BIG PROPONENT OF TEACHING KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL  TAKING THE NORDIC MODEL OF EDUCATION AND YOU HAVE THIS  KIND OF BIFURCATION OF THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO GO TO  COLLEGE AND THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO DO TRADE SKILLS.

I AM A VERY BIG ADVOCATE OF BRINGING BACK TRADE SKILLS  THAT WE USED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW.

YOU WANT TO BE A MECHANIC, LET'S TEACH YOU TO BE A  MECHANIC.

YOU WANT TO BE A  COSMETOLOGIST, LET'S TEACH YOU TO GET A BARBER'S LICENSE  WHILE YOU ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THE DAY YOU GRADUATE YOU HAVE A MARKETABLE SKILL WHICH PAYS  WELL ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE.

THAT DOES A LOT TO REDUCE  POVERTY IN NEW MEXICO.

WHAT HAPPENS, IF YOU FOCUS ON  THAT AND WE GET SOME SORT OF CERTIFICATE, TRAINING, IT  HELPS THE ECONOMY BUT IT HELPS YOU THE INDIVIDUAL A LOT MORE.

AND SO MY FOCUS IS MORE ON THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T  GO TO COLLEGE.

I THINK THERE IS ALREADY  ENOUGH MESSAGES FOR THOSE WHO DO.

I WANT TO SEE A TRANSITION.

ANOTHER AREA THAT I HAVE  TALKED ABOUT IS THE FAME PROGRAM.

IN KENTUCKY, THEY IMPLEMENTED THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN THE  COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

IT IS A MIX BETWEEN YOUR, IN  ESSENCE, GETTING A FIVE SEMESTER DEGREE ASSOCIATES  DEGREE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WORKING IN A MANUFACTURING  COMPANY.

SO THE COMPANY IS KIND OF HELPING PAY THE COST  AND YOU GET ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

YOU GET PAID.

SO YOU'RE GETTING PAID TO GO  TO SCHOOL AND THEN AT THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, THE AVERAGE  FAME GRADUATE IS MAKING $59,000 A YEAR.

FIVE YEARS OUT THEY ARE MAKING $98,000.

I AM LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE SIX FIGURE INCOME  THAT DON'T REQUIRE -- >> Matt:   YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AS  BEING MAYBE THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR YOU.

ONLY ABOUT 4% OF NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW IS ON AN INDIVIDUAL  PLAN, WHICH YOU'RE A PROPONENT OF.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD ENCOURAGE THE U.S. TO MOVE  AWAY FROM THEIR EMPLOYER SPONSORED MODEL ON TO AN  INDIVIDUAL PLAN OR MODEL?

>> Manning: I THINK YOU TAKE  THE AFFORDABLE CARE EXACT AS EXAMPLE AND WHAT WAS IT BASED  ON IT?

IT WAS BASED ON THE SWISS  HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

THE SWISS HAVE 100% INDIVIDUAL HEALTH  INSURANCE PLAN.

SO, YOU MAKE THAT  PHILOSOPHICAL, OKAY, WE IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF THE SWISS  ISSUES WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE  THAT FINAL TRANSITION TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORKABLE AND  MOVE TO AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN.

NEXT THING I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT  IS WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, AS SO MANY PEOPLE DID DURING THE  PANDEMIC, WHAT DID YOU ALSO LOSE?

YOU LOSE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE, RIGHT?

WHAT IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE JOBS OR YOU WANT TO TAKE SIX  MONTHS OFF.

YOU DON'T DO IT.

SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T DO IT  BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE.

THE SECOND THING WE HAVE TO MAKE IT OUR PLAN AND REALLY  THIS IS WHERE CONGRESS HAS TO STEP UP, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE  LAWS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE AND FOR ME YOU HAVE TO MANAGE  ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES WE HAVE OVER THE SWISS AND THAT IS A  HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN  INDIVIDUAL HEALTHCARE PLAN, DIRECT PRIMARY CARE AND HEALTH  SAVINGS ACCOUNTS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM, COMPLETELY  WORKABLE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THREE OF  THOSE AND REALLY IT IS JUST A LAW IN CONGRESS WHICH PREVENTS  YOU FROM HAVING A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH ANY  POLICY.

THAT IS ALL IT IS, SIMPLY  CONGRESS WROTE A LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A HEALTH  SAVINGS ACCOUNT IF YOU HAVE A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN.

WHY?

WHAT IS THE POINT IN LIMITING  THAT?

WHAT IS THE POINT IN LIMITING  YOUR ABILITY TO PAY FOR FUTURE FINANCIAL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES?

I DON'T SEE THE LOGIC IN IT.

SO, I THINK IF YOU CAN PITCH  THAT, YOU SHOW HOW THE INDIVIDUALIZATION AND THESE  HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ALLOWS YOU AS A FAMILY TO MAKE  DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT COVERAGES DO YOU NEED?

YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR COVERAGE AT ANY TIME, LIKE YOU  DO WITH YOUR CAR INSURANCE.

I WANT TO MAKE INSURANCE A LOT  MORE PERSONAL AND I THINK IT IS OUT THERE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AND IF YOU CAN PITCH THAT AND  YOU SHOW PEOPLE THE ADVANTAGES OF PRIMARY CARE WHERE YOU  AVOID INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND GET SO MUCH BETTER CARE, WHEN  PEOPLE SEE THE STUDY ON IT AND THE REALITIES OF PEOPLE WHO  HAVE MADE THAT SWITCH, I THINK IT WILL BE A SLOW PROCESS AND  SOMETHING I HAVE TO FIGHT OBVIOUSLY THE INSURANCE  COMPANIES.

THEY DON'T WANT IT.

AND THE LOBBYISTS.

THEY DON'T WANT IT AND YOU  HAVE TO FIGHT THE UNIONS AND CORPORATIONS WHO LIKE WHAT  THEY HAVE GOT GOING RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A TOUGH FIGHT BUT THAT  IS WHY I ADDRESS THE PEOPLE.

>> Matt: CAN YOU EXPLAIN  DIRECT PRIMARY CARE IN JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS?

I WANT TO GET TO OTHER STUFF TOO BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE  ARE CLEAR ON THAT.

>> Manning: DIRECT PRIMARY  CARE IS YOU AVOID USING YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE TO HAVE  ACCESS TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

YOU PAY A LOW MONTHLY FEE BETWEEN 30 AND $75 FOR  INDIVIDUAL, $150 A MONTH FOR A FAMILY, AND YOU GET UNLIMITED  ACCESS TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

IT ALLOWS FOR TEXT CARE, HOME CARE.

SO MANY DIRECT PRIMARY PHYSICIANS MAKE HOUSE CALLS  AND YOU GET ON AVERAGE 40-MINUTE SESSION WHEN  ACTUALLY GO IN.

90% OF THEM OFFER SAME DAY OR  NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS.

SO, IT IS SOMETHING I AM GOING  TO TALK ABOUT IN MY FIRST FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT.

FOLLOW MY CAMPAIGN AND WE'LL HAVE THAT NEXT WEEK.

>> Matt: LET'S MOVE TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SORT OF.

YOU SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN IF I AM CORRECT.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO  ANNOUNCE THEY'LL BE WITHDRAWING COMPLETELY FROM  AFGHANISTAN THIS FALL?

>> Manning: I THINK IT IS A  GOOD POLICY AND I SUPPORT IT.

IT IS SOMETHING I THINK ALMOST  A DECADE LATE.

OBVIOUSLY, LIBERTARIANS ARE  VERY MUCH AGAINST FOREIGN WARS.

I AM NO STRANGER.

I HAVE BEEN THERE AND THE  MISSION HAS BEEN OVER SINCE AT LEAST IN MY EYES SINCE OSAMA  BIN LADEN WAS KILLED.

THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY LEFT AFTER THAT FOR US TO DO.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD A NATION BUILDING IN ONE OF THE  POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHICH HONESTLY THE AFGHAN  PEOPLE HAVEN'T DECIDED THEY WANT TO BE A NATION.

UNTIL THE AFGHAN PEOPLE DECIDE THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT, THERE  IS NOTHING U.S. CAN DO TO FORCE THAT, BUT ALSO OUR  LEAVING AND A LOT OF CRITICISM, OH, IT WILL  EMBOLDEN THE TALIBAN.

SO MUCH OF THE TALIBAN  ENLISTMENT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY FOREIGN, AS  THEY SEE IT, FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN THEIR NATION.

AND SO WHEN THAT IS REMOVED, THAT DRIES UP A LOT OF THEIR  RECRUITMENT.

NOW WHAT THE TALIBAN IS GOING  TO TELL THE PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO FIGHT OTHER AFGHAN PEOPLE NOW?

AND THAT IS NOT NEARLY AS NEEDY A SALE FOR THEM.

I THINK A LOT OF THE WORRY ABOUT LEAVING AFGHANISTAN IS  OVERBLOWN.

>> Matt: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF  PRESIDENT TRUMP?

HE HAD AN AMERICA FIRST STATED  POLICY AND SAID THAT HE WANTED TO GET US OUT OF ENDLESS WARS.

DIDN'T GET US OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE TO TAKE FROM HIS POLICY?

>> Manning: ABOUT THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY THAT HE DID  REALLY WELL WAS HE DIDN'T START ANY NEW WARS AND THE  FIRST PRESIDENT ALMOST IN MY LIFETIME WHO DIDN'T DO THAT.

AND I THINK THAT HONESTLY HE RECOGNIZED THAT THESE FOREIGN  WARS WEREN'T IN AMERICA'S INTEREST.

BEING IN IRAQ IS NOT IN OUR INTEREST.

BEING IN SYRIA, KEEPING THAT CIVIL WAR GOING, IS NOT IN OUR  INTEREST, BEING IN SOMALIA IS NOT IN OUR INTEREST.

I THINK AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS AND THE DOZENS OF COUNTRIES  THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IN AND SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN  IN, I THINK IT IS TIME TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE DOING MORE  HARM TO NATIONAL SECURITY BY KEEPING SUCH A LARGE FOOTPRINT  SO THIN AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS NEED TO BRING ALL THE  TROOPS HOME AND ALLOW THE MILITARY TIME TO RECOVER, TO  REBUILD ITSELF, BECAUSE JUST EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE COMBAT  LOSSES OF MEN AND MATERIAL, A CONSTANT WORK DUTY WEARS OUT  MATERIALS.

PLANES WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO  LAST FOR 30 YEARS ARE ONLY LASTING 10 BECAUSE WE PUT SO  MANY FLIGHT HOURS ON THEM.

AND THOSE ARE BIG STRUCTURAL  CHANGES.

>> Matt: I CAN THINK OF A  COUPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULDN'T BE WILD ABOUT THAT  PLAN, THOUGH.

>> Manning: NO.

AND THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE  WERE WARNED ABOUT ISN'T EITHER.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE MILITARY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR  YEARS TO DO A BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IN THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION,  CONGRESS PASSED AN AMENDMENT IN THERE SAYING, WE ARE GOING  TO APPROVE THE MONEY BUT WE ARE FORBIDDING THE MILITARY  FROM DOING A STUDY ON BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE.

AND THE MILITARY SAYING THEY HAVE ABOUT 21% EXCESS  CAPACITY.

AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE  AREAS WHERE WE ALLOWED CORPORATIONS AND THE IDEA THAT  THE MILITARY IS AN EMPLOYMENT FACTORY WHICH WE HAVE TO STOP.

RIGHT?

THE POINT OF THE MILITARY IS  NOT TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED.

THE POINT OF THE MILITARY IS  TO KEEP THE NATION SAFE.

AND, THAT IS WHY YOU GET SUCH  A FIGHT IN CONGRESS ABOUT BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURES  BECAUSE IT CAN AFFECT THEIR DISTRICT.

AND MAYBE IT IS THEIR BASE THAT THE MILITARY SAYS, WELL,  WE DON'T NEED THIS.

SO YOU HAVE JOB LOSS.

BUT, AGAIN, IF WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT NATIONAL SECURITY,  WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT ASPECTS.

THAT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE  MILITARY.

THEY ARE NOT AN EMPLOYMENT  FACTORY.

>> Matt: THREE MINUTES LEFT.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE OR BERNALILLO  COUNTY COMMISSION.

BUT, THERE IS AN AGREEMENT  RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND APD OVER  POLICING PRACTICES.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE  DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SHOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO EXIT THAT  AGREEMENT?

>> Manning: THERE WAS A STUDY  THAT CAME OUT THAT SHOWED WHEN THE DOJ COMES INTO THESE  CITIES, AND GETS INTO THESE AGREEMENTS WITH THE POLICE  DEPARTMENT, YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

I DON'T SEE THESE HAVE ACTUALLY BENEFITED ANY OF THE  POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO THOSE AGREEMENTS  WITH THE DOJ.

AS FAR AS WHAT WE SHOULD DO AT THE FEDERAL  LEVEL, I AM AN ADVOCATE OF DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS AND  POSSESSION AND USE OF IT.

NEW MEXICO RECENTLY LEGALIZED  MARIJUANA BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS THE AREA I LIKE TO  HIGHLIGHT, LEGALIZATION AND DECRIMINALIZATION.

LET'S SAY YOU'RE DRIVING IN YOUR CAR, AND YOU HAVE TWO  POUNDS OF TOBACCO IN YOUR VEHICLE, POLICE PULL YOU OVER  FOR SPEEDING.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH  THE TOBACCO?

NOTHING, THEY LET YOU GO BECAUSE THERE IS  NOTHING CRIMINAL ABOUT CARRYING TOBACCO.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE FOUR OUNCES OF MARIJUANA?

NOW YOU'RE A  CRIMINAL BECAUSE YOU'RE OVER THE TWO-OUNCE LIMIT.

PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AS LONG AS THERE IS INCENTIVE FOR  THE POLICE TO PUT YOU IN JAIL OR THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT YOU  IN JAIL FOR SOMETHING WHERE THERE IS NO HARM DONE, I AM  GOING TO BE OPPOSED TO THAT.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT  PORTUGAL AND THEIR DECRIMINALIZATION USE OF ALL  DRUGS IN 1999 AND THE SUCCESS THEY HAD IN REDUCING CRIME AND  REDUCING DRUG OVERDOSES.

WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT  ISN'T THAT SCARY AND IT IS ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL, IT IS A  LOT EASIER SALE.

WE ARE THERE ON MARIJUANA.

HARD SELL IS ALL THE OTHER DRUGS AND HOW MUCH THAT WOULD  TAKE TO DECRIMINALIZE.

>> Matt: ONE MORE MINUTE AND  TALK ABOUT GUNS.

IF YOU CAN.

I KNOW THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DEVOTE TO THE TOPIC.

DOES AMERICA HAVE A GUN PROBLEM?

>> Manning: GUNS ARE AN EASY SCAPEGOAT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE  TOOL WE USE.

I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT,  YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I HAVE A GUN AND NOBODY GETS  HARMED.

I AM NOT GOING TO CREATE A  CRIME WITH A GUN BECAUSE OF WHO I AM AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

WE HAVE TO REALIZE IT IS REALLY A SOCIETAL PROBLEM.

AND IT IS REALLY EASY TO SAY, OH, WELL,THE WE NEED TO JUST  BAN GUNS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD.

YOU DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE  CRIME.

UNTIL WE DO THAT AND RECOGNIZE  THAT IT IS THE PERSON WHO IS HOLDING THE GUN THAT WE HAVE  TO CHANGE, NOT THE LAW ON GUN POSSESSION, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT  ARGUMENT AND PEOPLE MAKE THAT REALIZATION, I THINK WE CAN  MOVE FORWARD AND IMPROVE OUR GUN CRIME IN NEW MEXICO AND  AMERICA.

>> Matt: CHRIS MANNING, THANK  YOU FOR TAKING PART OF YOUR DAY TO CHAT WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Gene: NEW MEXICANS  COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE ONCE AGAIN  REQUIRED TO PROVE THEY ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WORK.

THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DID AWAY WITH THE  REQUIREMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL,  BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT LOOKING  FOR JOBS THAT DIDN'T EXIST.

BUT, NOW THAT MORE BUSINESSES  ARE ABLE TO BE OPEN AND EXPAND, THEORETICALLY JOB  SEEKERS HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

REQUIREMENT IS TWO WORK SEARCH EFFORTS PER WEEK IN ORDER TO  STAY ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS.

WE KNEW THOSE REQUIREMENTS  WOULD COME BACK AT SOME POINT.

DO YOU THINK RIGHT NOW IS THE  RIGHT TIME?

>> Laura: YOU KNOW, I THINK IT  IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE WITH  PLACES THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

THEY ARE OPEN, THERE IS COUNTIES THAT ARE NOW IN  TURQUOISE BUT THE BUSINESSES STILL ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE  THEY CAN'T FIND WORKERS.

THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR OUR  ECONOMY.

IT IS FUNNY, I JUST TOLD DAN I  HAVE BEEN SPENDING A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME GOING TO THE  SOUTHEAST PART OF THE STATE, GOING TO ROSWELL.

I HAPPENED TO GO THERE AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE IN  TURQUOISE AND THE REST OF US WERE IN YELLOW.

I WENT TO A RESTAURANT AND THEY HAD LIKE A TWO-HOUR WAIT  AND THEY ARE HAVING INDOOR DINING.

I SAID WHY ARE YOU GUYS AT TWO HOURS?

WELL, WE ARE ONLY AT 25% CAPACITY.

YOU GUYS ARE TURQUOISE, HOW CAN YOU BE AT 25%  THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH  EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SERVERS AND COULDN'T HIRE  ENOUGH PEOPLE AND THAT IS NOT JUST IN ROSWELL THAT IS  HAPPENING.

THAT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE  STATE.

IT IS HAPPENING IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT RIGHT  NOW AND IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE LOOKING, THEY ARE  MORE LIKELY TO FIND A JOB.

THERE IS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES  RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO GET GOOD WORKERS.

IT MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE DEMONSTRATE THEY ARE  ACTUALLY LOOKING.

>> Gene: IT DOESN'T SEEM  OVERLY BURDENSOME.

THIS IS THE USUAL ROUTE FOR  ANY EMPLOYMENT YOU HAVE TO BE SEARCHING A COUPLE OF TIMES A  WEEK.

DOES THAT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF  GETTING EMPLOYERS TO GET THE HELP?

WHAT LAURA WAS GETTING AT, BASICALLY.

>> Dan: I THINK THIS HIGHLIGHTS A MUCH BIGGER  SYSTEMIC PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO, RIGHT, THAT WE HAVE  PEOPLE WHO CAN GET A $400 MONTH KICKER FROM THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO BE  UNEMPLOYED THAN IT DOES TO GO TO WORK.

I THINK THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A SYSTEMIC  PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW IT IS INTERESTING  BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE BUSINESSES PAY MORE  PER HOUR AND DO ALL THIS OTHER STUFF TO GET A QUOTE, UNQUOTE  LIVING WAGE BUT YET WE ARE GIVING FOLKS BY ANY STANDARD A  NON-LIVING WAGE AND THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT THEN GO BACK  TO WORK.

IT IS A PROBLEM.

INTERESTING SCENARIO.

I WAS WATCHING A SHOW THE  OTHER DAY AND THEY ARE SAYING IT IS A CONUNDRUM BECAUSE WE  HAVE THIS HIGH LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT YET THIS HUGE GAP  OF INDIVIDUALS READY TO WORK.

SO, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A  BALANCE THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN, RIGHT?

NORMALLY WE HAVE BIG DEMAND IN WORKERS.

WE HAVE NOT ENOUGH WORKERS OR TOO MANY WORKERS AND NOT  ENOUGH JOBS.

BUT NOW IN NEW MEXICO AND  ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE IS MORE JOBS AND PEOPLE DON'T  WANT TO TAKE THEM.

I THINK IT IS A WAKE-UP CALL,  YOU KNOW, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE  PASSING LEGISLATION THAT PUTS THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN A  BIGGER PICKLE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HIRE PEOPLE AND GET  PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK.

IT IS JUST A DISASTER OF EPIC  PROPORTION.

>> Gene: MARTHA, I'M THINKING  BACK TO A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WOULD BE MANAGING SMALL  BUSINESSES FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT OWNING BUT MANAGING.

THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GAME OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO LOOK FOR  WORK.

BASICALLY WALK IN AND SAY, ARE YOU GUYS HIRING?

YOU GET TO THE "O" IN NO AND THEY WERE ALREADY OUT THE  DOOR.

THEY WERE GONE BASICALLY  BECAUSE THEY WERE FULFILLING THAT REQUIREMENT.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS A BIT OF AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN  THAT YOU HAVE ALL THESE FOLKS WALKING IN FOR REQUIREMENTS  BUT NOT SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING THE JOB BECAUSE AS DAN AND  LAURA ARE SAYING MONEY IS TOO YOUR RESISTIBLE FOR THEM RIGHT  NOW.

>> Martha: WHY IS THE MONEY  TOO IRRESISTIBLE?

MINIMUM WAGE IS $7.25 AN HOUR.

I HAVE TO SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY HERE AND MAJORITY  THAT ARE OUT OF WORK RIGHT NOW ARE SERVICE WORKERS AND  MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE FEMALE.

IT IS ALL PART AND PARCEL OF A  LACK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT.

YOU'RE A SINGLE MOTHER MAYBE  OR MAYBE YOU'RE A MARRIED MOTHER BUT YOU'RE MAKING LESS  MONEY THAN THE HUSBAND IN THE HOUSEHOLD IF YOU'RE MARRIED  AND IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE MAKING PITIFUL MONEY.

YOU HAVE NO CHILD CARE.

HALF THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT OPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW PEOPLE  TO GO TO WORK FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THERE IS NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULD AND BY THE WAY I DID  THE MATH, AND ONCE AGAIN, IF THE MINIMUM WAGE HAD KEPT UP  WITH INFLATION SINCE THE LAST MINIMUM WAS PASSED IN 1980'S,  YOU KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE TODAY?

$44 AN HOUR.

SO, LET'S NOT BLAME THE  SO-CALLED LAZY WORKERS.

JUST NOT SHOOT FROM THE HIP ON  THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT COME INTO  THIS AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THE  IMPLICATION IS THAT THEY WOULD RATHER BE ON WELFARE   THAN BE WORKING.

LET ME TELL YOU WHO IS ON WELFARE.

THE CORPORATIONS BECAUSE THE MINIMUM WAGE IS A CORPORATE  SUBSIDY.

THE TWO HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGE  EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE WALMART AND  MCDONALDS AND THEY ARE ALSO THE TWO HIGHEST COMPANIES WITH  WORKERS ON MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMPS.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WELFARE, LET'S TALK ABOUT  CORPORATE WELFARE TOO.

>> Gene: HAD TO GET THAT IN  THERE.

LAURA, BENEFITS IN LOW PAYING  JOB, STUDY BY JP MORGAN CHASE FOUND LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT IS  ACTUALLY TRUE THAT FOLKS ARE MAKING THAT KIND OF DECISION.

ANECDOTALLY ON THE STREET, IT IS HARD TO GET AROUND THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DO THINK THERE IS  SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR ANECDOTAL ISSUE.

IT BECOMES A BIT OF AN ECHO CHAMBER.

I DO WANT TO CLARIFY I NEVER SAID PEOPLE ON WELFARE -- YOU  KNOW -- I NEVER USED THE TERM WELFARE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR.

I DO THINK THERE ARE LOT OF  SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW MEXICO THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF RESTAURANTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND PEOPLE.

AND, FOLKS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT COULD BE A CHILD  CARE ISSUE, THERE IS A LOT OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE  IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL  DECISIONS AREN'T THEY?

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GETTING  LUMPED LIKE THERE IS SOME KIND OF GROUP THOUGHT.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES.

>> Laura: RIGHT.

AND SOMETIMES IT IS A COUNTY-BY-COUNTY ISSUE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN JOBS IN DIFFERENT PLACES BUT I THINK  THAT I CERTAINLY SEE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF  FOR-HIRE SIGNS THESE DAYS AND IT IS SURPRISING BECAUSE SINCE  I HAVE LIVED IN NEW MEXICO I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MANY OPEN  POSITIONS AND PEOPLE DESPERATE TO FIND SOMEBODY.

HAVING A REQUIREMENT LIKE THIS MAKES SENSE.

I REMEMBER GOING BACK FOR AS LONG AS YOU MENTIONED, GENE,  MANAGING BUSINESSES, BUT I REMEMBER BEING A KID AND MY  MOM MAD BEEN ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND SHE WAS ON SEASONAL WORK  DOWN AT CHILE PLANT IN DEMING.

SHE HAD TO GO AND DO THE  UNEMPLOYMENT THING AND LOOK FOR A JOB.

SHE WAS A SINGLE MOM AND HAD CHILD CARE ISSUES AND ALL THAT  STUFF AND IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING TO FIND A JOB.

YOU DID HAVE TO GO OUT AND POUND THE PAVEMENT AND TRY TO  FIND A JOB OF SOME SORT.

THAT WAS BACK WHEN THERE  WEREN'T A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, I THINK WE ARE PAINTING WITH A VERY BROAD BRUSH BUT I  THINK THE STATE HAS TO DO WHAT  IT CAN AT THIS POINT AND I THINK THAT MARTHA HAS A POINT.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE NEW MEXICO HAS A HIGHER MINIMUM  WAGE THAN FED'S, INCREASED TO 10.50 IN 2021.

THAT AFFECTS SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AND THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT ALSO NEEDS TO CATCH UP TO THAT.

WE ARE ALL JUST WAITING FOR CONGRESS TO ACT TO MAKE IT  MORE OF A LIVABLE WAGE.

I DO THINK THERE ARE SYSTEMIC  PROBLEMS WITH NOT JUST OUR STATE BUT THE FEDERAL SYSTEM  IN GENERAL.

>> Gene: AND THIS IS WHAT YOU  ARE ALL DESCRIBING IS PART OF THE TREMORS OF THIS AFTER  SHOCK WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH WITH PANDEMIC.

MARTHA, ONE MORE POINT.

>> Martha: IT WAS IN THE LAST  BAIL OUT BILL THAT BIDEN PROPOSED.

THE REPUBLICANS KICKED IT OUT BEFORE IT COULD PASS, SO WE  KNOW WHO IS AGAINST MINIMUM WAGE RIGHT NOW.

>> Gene: WE ARE ALL OUT OF TIME ON THAT TOPIC, FOR THIS  WEEK AT LEAST.

NEXT UP, EVICTIONS AND HOUSING  SHORTAGES ACROSS OUR STATE.

>> Martha:   WOMEN ARE EVICTED AT ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF  MEN.

DISPROPORTIONATELY ON WOMEN OF  COLOR AND THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR NEW MEXICO BECAUSE THEY  COMPARED LATINX WOMEN WITH LATINX MEN AND THE SAME THING  HOLDS.

WOMEN, AGAIN, SOMETIMES THEY  HAVE THE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND SO FORTH, BUT IT ALL GOES  BACK TO THE MINIMUM WAGE, MAYBE THEY CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH  TO PAY THE RENT.

>> Laura: I AM LAURA PASKUS.

TWO YEARS AGO THE OUR LAND CREW CAME OUT HERE TO COCHITI  LAKE AND ABIQUIU LAKE TO LEARN ABOUT BLUE GREEN ALGAE.

WELL, WE ARE BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE KNOW AS  TEMPERATURES KEEP RISING AND LAKE LEVELS KEEP DROPPING,  THAT BLUE GREEN ALGAE IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM AGAIN THIS  YEAR.

AND THESE BLOOMS WILL LOOK A  LOT LIKE THEY DID IN 2019 WHEN WE LEARNED WHY THEY ARE  HAPPENING AND WHAT SORTS OF PROBLEMS THEY CAN CAUSE.

ON  AUGUST 13 AS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN ALBUQUERQUE  CLIMBED ABOVE NORMAL TO 94 DEGREE, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF  ENGINEERS CLOSED ABIQUIU LAKE TO SWIMMING AND OTHER  RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

NINE DAYS LATER IT CLOSED COCHITI  LAKE.

>> Bixby: CYANOBACTERIA OR  WHAT WE KNOW THEM AS BLUE GREEN ALGAE, TECHNICALLY THEY  ARE NOT ALGAE.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY A BACTERIA  THAT CAN PHOTOSYNTHESIZE, SO THEY CAN HARVEST LIGHT FROM  THE SUN LIKE PLANTS AND TREES AND GRASSES AND SHRUBS.

THEY LIVE IN THE WATER.

GENERALLY THEY ARE  MICROSCOPIC, SO, YOU CAN SEE THEM ON A HEAD OF A PIN.

AND, NATURALLY, IN LAKES AND RIVERS AND STREAMS AND PONDS,  AS PART OF THE GREEN PART OF THE FOOD WEB, SO, CHECK IT  OUT.

ALL OF THIS IS THIS  CYANOBACTERIA THAT IS BLOOMING.

>> Laura: BECKY BIXBY IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF  NEW MEXICO BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

SHE IS ALSO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR  OF THE WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM AND SHE STUDIES ALGAE FOR A  LIVING.

LOW WATER LEVELS, HIGH  TEMPERATURES AND LONG SUNNY DAYS, OF WHICH NEW MEXICO HAS  HAD PLENTY OF THIS YEAR, ALL HELP TRIGGER THESE BLOOMS.

RUN OFF FROM FARM FIELDS AND RANCH LANDS AND UPSTREAM  POLLUTION ARE FACTORS TOO.

A COMBINATION OF THESE CAN  CAUSE CERTAIN SPECIES OF CYANOBACTERIA TO GROW AND  QUICKLY MULTIPLY.

THEIR CELLS FORM THESE BLOOMS  IN SLOW-MOVING WATERS LIKE LAKES AND PONDS.

THEN THE BLOOMS CAN CREATE TOXINS.

JOHN MUELLER IS OPERATIONS PROJECT MANAGER AT ABIQUIU  LAKE WHICH IS ON THE CHAMA RIVER.

>> Mueller: MOST ALGAE ARE NOT HARMFUL BUT WHAT WE SEE UP  HERE AND TESTED WITH HIGHER TOXICITY LEVELS IS A LIME  GREEN KIND OF PEA SOUP COLOR.

IF YOU SEE THAT TYPE OF  FORMATION OR FILM ON THE WATER, AVOID IT, AVOID CONTACT  WITH IT, DON'T LET YOUR PET SWIM IN IT.

KEEP YOUR KIDS OUT OF IT AND COME TO A PARK RANGER SO WE  CAN KIND OF GET AN UNDERSTANDING IF THIS IS A NEW  AREA, WHAT WE NEED TO KEY INTO.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST IF YOU SEE THAT, STAY OUT OF  THE WATER.

>> Laura: TOUCHING THE ALGAE  CAN LEAVE RASHES OR BLISTERS ON YOUR SKIN.

SWALLOWING IT CAN CAUSE STOMACH PROBLEMS, BREATHING  DROPLETS LIKE WHEN WATER SKIING OR SWIMMING CAN ALSO  LEAVE A HAY FEVER LIKE SYMPTOM.

THE TOXINS CAN EVEN CAUSE LIVER OR NEUROLOGICAL  PROBLEMS.

FOR DOGS WHO GULP LOTS OF WATER WHEN THEY SWIM  OR LICK THE ALGAE OFF THEIR COATS, EXPOSURES CAN BE FATAL.

NOT ONLY THAT WHEN THE BLOOMS DIE OFF AND DECAY, THEY USE UP  THE OXYGEN IN THE WATER, SOMETIMES TRIGGERING FISH  KILL.

MUELLER AND STATE HEALTH  OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WHO  HAVE GOTTEN SICK.

AND MUELLER SAYS THEY ARE  MONITORING WATER IN THE LAKE AND BELOW THE DAM WHERE THERE  AREN'T ANY SIGNS OF THE ALGAE.

>> Mueller: WE DO NOT WANT TO  NEGATIVELY AFFECT PEOPLE COMING UP AND RECREATING AND  ENJOYING THE RESOURCE.

WE ARE TRYING TO STRIKE A  BALANCE OF A GOOD RESPONSE PLAN, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, TO  EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO, IF NECESSARY, PARTIAL  CLOSURES.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO A FULL  CLOSURE BECAUSE THAT DOES HAVE IMPACT.

BUT OUR MAIN GOAL AND  FOCUS IS TO KEEP VISITORS AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Laura: ABOVE ABIQUI LAKE, WATER IN THE CHAMA RIVER IS  NUTRIENT RICH WITH HIGH LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS.

BECAUSE THE RIVER MOVES RELATIVELY FAST, THE BLOOMS  AREN'T A PROBLEM THERE BUT THAT WATER ENDS UP IN THE  LAKE.

KRISTOPHER BARRIOS IS WITH THE NEW MEXICO  ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT WHICH REGULATES POLLUTION IN THESE  HIGH NUTRIENT LEVELS.

>> Barrios: THIS CAN COME FROM  PLANT SOURCES LIKE WASTEWATER TREATMENTS PLANTS AND A LARGE  PORTION COMES FROM RUNOFF FROM STORM EVENTS, AGRICULTURE  RUNOFF FROM GRAZE LAND AND IRRIGATION WATER.

>> Laura: IT IS NOT REALISTIC TO KILL OFF THE BACTERIA IN  LAKES AND RESERVOIRS ESPECIALLY NOT ACROSS BIG  AREAS.

AND THE TREATMENTS THEMSELVES  COULD KILL FISH AND HARM THE ECOSYSTEM.

INSTEAD THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUTRIENTS GETTING INTO THE  RIVER.

THAT INCLUDES WORKING WITH THE  AG AND LIVESTOCK COMMUNITIES TO STOP SO MUCH NITROGEN AND  PHOSPHOROUS FROM FERTILIZERS AND WASTE FROM GETTING INTO  STREAMS AND RIVERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THESE BLOOMS ARE A PROBLEM IN THE MIDWEST, IN THE SOUTH EVEN  SOMETIMES IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING  AT COCHITI AND ABIQUIU THIS YEAR IS NEW.

AS THE CLIMATE WARMS AND LAKES AND RESERVOIRS KEEP DROPPING,  WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE BLOOMS IN NEW MEXICO.

THAT MEANS FACING THE CHALLENGES ISN'T JUST ABOUT  CLOSING LAKES HERE AND THERE OR GETTING THROUGH THIS  SUMMER.

THE BLOOMS ARE POINTING US TOWARDS BIGGER ISSUES IN OUR  STATE WHEN IT COMES TO WATER SUPPLIES, RISING TEMPERATURES  AND WATER MANAGEMENT.

>> Bixby: IN SOME WAYS, IT IS  INTERESTING BECAUSE IT BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT  INTERESTS TOGETHER, A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.

PEOPLE WHO ARE MANAGING THE RESERVOIRS, PEOPLE WHO ARE  MANAGING DRINKING WATER, PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE  HEALTH.

AND SO PULLING PEOPLE TOGETHER  TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS REALLY EXCITING IN A STATE  WITH A LOT OF RESERVOIRS AND WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE  RESERVOIRS FOR VARIOUS THINGS.

>> Laura: EVEN UP IN NORTHERN  NEW MEXICO WITH RELATIVELY COOL SUMMERS, THIS WON'T BE  THE LAST TIME NEW MEXICANS SEE THESE BLOOMS IN LAKES.

BIXBY SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE MONITORING THE WATER  AND COLLECTING DATA ON THE BLOOMS AND WHY THEY ARE  HAPPENING.

SHE ALSO SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT ALL THE AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS STAY AT THE TABLE  TO THINK ABOUT A STATE-WIDE PLAN SO WE KNOW HOW TO RESPOND  TO BLOOMS AND ESPECIALLY STOP THEM BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.

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

>> Gene: IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE MARKET FOR A PLACE TO  LIVE, THIS IS A FRUSTRATING TIME FOR YOU NO DOUBT.

WHETHER BUYING OR RENTING, HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO  RISE.

IT MIGHT BE ABOUT TO GET WORSE  FOR THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS.

BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL  GOVERNMENTS HAVE HAD MORATORIUMS ON EVICTIONS  DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT THOSE MAY SOON BE EXPIRING.

IS THERE A WAY TO AVOID A WAVE OF EVICTIONS THAT MIGHT BE  CRESTING AND JUST READY TO BREAK AS WE MERGE FROM THE  PANDEMIC ECONOMIC TROUGH?

>> Martha: GENE, I DON'T THINK  THE WAVE IS GOING TO CREST IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THERE ARE  SOME LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR SOME OF THE TENANTS.

THE FEDERAL MORATORIUM DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL THE END OF  JUNE.

WE DON'T HAVE AN EXPIRATION  DATE FOR STATE MORATORIUMS AND SOME ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE  FEDERAL BUT THE EVICTION PROBLEM IS HERE.

THE REAL ESTATE PROBLEM AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT IS  ALSO HERE.

ONCE AGAIN, TO JUST BE A  BROKEN RECORD, THIS IS FALLING ON WOMEN MORE SO THAN MEN.

A RECENT STUDY CAME OUT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES  IN WASHINGTON.

I JUST READ IT YESTERDAY THAT  WOMEN ARE EVICTED AT ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF MEN.

DISPROPORTIONATELY ON WOMEN OF COLOR AND THAT IS IMPORTANT  FOR NEW MEXICO BECAUSE THEY COMPARED LATINX WOMEN WITH  LATINX MEN AND THE SAME THING HOLDS.

WOMEN AGAIN SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF  AND SO FORTH, ALL GOES BACK TO THAT MINIMUM WAGE.

MAYBE THEY CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH TO PAY THE RENT SO IT IS GOING  TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM.

I WISH I COULD SIT HERE AND  SAY, BOY HERE IS THE SOLUTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE RIGHT  NOW, COUNTRY WIDE.

>> Gene: THE NUMBERS ARE  SCARY, LAURA.

50 TO 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE  BRINK OF EVICTION STATE-WIDE WE ARE SEEING HERE FROM FOLKS  WHO ARE TRACKING THESE THINGS, NEW MEXICO CENTER FOR LAW AND  POVERTY, THAT IS THEIR RECENT DATA.

YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF FOLKS NEED TO GET ON BOARD WITH SOME  KIND OF PLAN TO STAY NOW BECAUSE THERE IS JUST NOT A  LOT OF BACKSTOPPING.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH BACKSTOPPING  TO HELP THESE FOLKS WHO ARE IN NEED FOR SOME RENTAL HELP OR  ASSISTANCE?

>> Laura: IT IS VERY HARD TO  UNPACK THAT, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS INTERESTING  WE HAVE, IN GENERAL, JUST A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN  THE STATE EVEN WHEN NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

AND IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE HOUSING AND URBAN  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THERE ARE SEVERAL HOUSING  AUTHORITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO THAT DEAL WITH  SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS AS WELL AS PROVIDING PUBLIC  HOUSING LARGELY TO PEOPLE WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA IN TERMS  OF ECONOMIC LEVEL OR THEY ARE DISABLED OR ON SOME OTHER  PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SO THAT IS A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION  THAT ACTUALLY TO SOME EXTENT, I WOULDN'T SAY THE PROBLEMS IS  ADDRESSED, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A HOMELESS ISSUE, BUT A LOT OF  THOSE FOLKS ARE THANKFULLY ALREADY COVERED UNDER THE  HOUSING AUTHORITY ISSUES.

THIS IS LARGELY -- THIS  EVICTION ISSUE IS REALLY AFFECTING THE WORKING POOR.

SO, FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A LOT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE  OUT THERE, MAYBE ARE NOT DISABLED IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES  WHERE THERE WOULD BE OTHER FEDERAL PUBLIC AND STATE  ASSISTANCE, BUT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN EITHER UNEMPLOYED OR  UNDER-EMPLOYED AND THEY ARE BEING IMPACTED IN PARTICULAR  BY THIS PANDEMIC.

SO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT  OF FAMILIES.

I DO AGREE WITH MARTHA IT  PROBABLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND  WOMEN.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR SOCIETY, WE  HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN THAT ARE SINGLE MOTHERS AND SO WE ARE  TALKING ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.

THERE  ARE SOME PROGRAMS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTED TO  ESTABLISH THAT THE STATE IS WORKING ON TRYING TO MOVE  FORWARD AND MOVE OUT TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND, FOR EXAMPLE,  FOLKS CAN GO TO THE NEW MEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY WEBSITE AND  THERE IS SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS THERE.

THERE IS ALSO SOME THAT I THINK SOME OF THE LOCAL TV  STATIONS HAD LINKS TO AS WELL, KRQE.

THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR  RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUT IT IS TRYING TO GET FOLKS WHO ARE IN  THAT VULNERABLE POPULATION CONNECTED WITH RESOURCES AND  THAT IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY THING.

YOU MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE INTERNET  ACCESS AND AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.

THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUS  ON LOW INCOME ADVOCACY.

THEY CAN BE IMPORTANT, SOCIAL  WORKERS, OTHERS, THIS IS REALLY A COMMUNITY PROBLEM WE  NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> Gene: RENTHELPNM.ORG.

I AM GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

LET ME TALK ABOUT LANDLORDS  FOR A SECOND.

THEY HAVE NEEDS AND RIGHTS.

HOW DO YOU TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT?

THE PERCEPTION IS THEY ARE THE ONES WITH ALL THE DOUGH, BUT  IT CAN'T BE ON THEM TO PROVIDE FREE HOUSING FOREVER.

I HATE TO BE SO HARSH ABOUT THIS, BUT YOU HAVE OTHER  THINGS THAT COST THEM MONEY AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT SO IT COMES OUT FAIRLY FOR BOTH THE  LANDLORD AND TENANT WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH MONEY RIGHT  NOW?

>> Dan: THERE IS A COUPLE  THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

I AM SURE I AM -- PEOPLE ARE  GOING TO COME OFF THE ROPES ON ME.

A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE IS THERE WAS HELP PROVIDED  TO LANDLORDS DURING THE COVID-19 SITUATION, RIGHT?

THEY WERE GIVEN MONEY.

THERE WAS EXTRA MONEY GIVEN TO  TENANTS THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A MATTER OF PRIORITIES TO SOME EXTENT,  RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE  SURE YOU'RE PAYING YOUR MORTGAGE OR RENT.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING FOOD ON THE TABLE, GAS AND ELECTRIC  AND THAT KIND STUFF.

I HAVE A HARD TIME FROM BOTH  SIDES, I HAVE A HARD TIME HAVING SYMPATHY FOR BOTH  SIDES.

LANDLORDS WERE GIVEN SOME  ABATEMENT AND THEY WERE GIVEN MORE.

IF THEY SHOW THEY GAVE ABATEMENT TO THEIR TENANTS,  THEN THERE WAS ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO  THEM.

BUT, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE KEY IS, AT SOME POINT EITHER  WE ALL KEEP PAYING THIS OR EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO  FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK OUT.

I THINK TO SOME EXTENT THE GOVERNMENT LOOKED AT BOTH  SIDES OF THIS AND SAID, LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE EXTRA  BENEFITS TO FOLKS THAT NEED THEM AND EXTRA BENEFITS TO THE  LANDLORDS AND HOPEFULLY BETWEEN THE TWO THINGS IT WILL  WORK OUT BUT AS WE KNOW IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK OUT THAT  WAY.

SOMEBODY ALWAYS FEELS THEY ARE  BEING WRONGED, THEY ARE BEING SLIGHTED.

AT SOME POINT IT IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS, SIGNIFICANT  PROBLEM.

THE ONE THING THAT I THINK IS  GOING TO UNFAIRLY, OR NOT UNFAIRLY, I JUST THINK IT IS  THE WAY IT IS GOING TO BE, IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE FOLKS  THAT GET EVICTED, THE HOUSING MARKET RIGHT NOW AND APARTMENT  MARKET IS OUT OF CONTROL IN NEW MEXICO.

IT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

I MEAN WE ARE LITERALLY  BORDERING ON A NEW YORK STYLE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING  BOOTED BECAUSE THEY AGREED TO $900 A MONTH AND NOW YOU GET  $2800 A MONTH TO RENT THAT APARTMENT.

SO, PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN USING THESE RESOURCES WISELY TO KEEP  THEMSELVES UP.

LANDLORDS ARE NOT GOING TO MISS THE  OPPORTUNITY TO BOOT PEOPLE AND TRY TO FIND FOLKS WILLING TO  PAY MORE IN RENT.

>> Gene: THAT HAS TO BE THE  LAST WORD.

HAVE TO DO IT FOR NOW.

THANKS TO ALL PANELISTS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, HOWEVER.

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES WITH YOU  ALL.

I AM BACK IN A MOMENT WITH A  FEW FINAL THOUGHTS.

YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED HOW  MUCH MORE LITTER IS BLOWING AROUND THE FREEWAYS RIGHT NOW.

NEWS STORIES, SOCIAL MEDIA RANTS, UNDENIABLE.

OPEN YOUR  EYES.

WHICH IS WHY SEEING THE 1990'S  TOSS NO MAS PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOW MAKING A  COMEBACK, IT MAKES SENSE, BUT A BETTER QUESTION MIGHT BE  WHY?

WHY DO WE NEED A CONSTANT  REMINDER TO NOT TRASH OUR AMAZING COMMUNITIES?

THERE IS A TELLING SCENE ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO LITTERING IN  THE OLD AMC TELEVISION SERIES MAD MEN, WHEN THE DRAPER  FAMILY FINISHES A CITY PARK PICNIC BY STANDING UP, SHAKING  ALL THE TRASH OFF THE BLANK, IN ONE FELL SWOOP AND THEN  JUST LEAVING.

THAT WAS COMMON IN THE 60'S,  THE SETTING FOR THAT SHOW, PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A  CITY WORKER NOT FAR BEHIND TO PICK IT ALL UP.

REMEMBER THE DON'T BE A LITTERBUG TV CAMPAIGN BACK  THEN IN RESPONSE.

BECAUSE EVERY LITTER BIT HURTS WAS THE  TAG LINE.

KIND OF THE SAME NOW WHEN YOU  CONSIDER WE HAVEN'T USED PRISONERS ON FREEWAY CLEAN-UP  DETAILS SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE.

BACK TO SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW MANY VIDEOS HAVE YOU SEEN OF TRUCK  BEDS AND TRAILERS ON THE FREEWAY, NO TARPS, NOTHING TO  TIE ANYTHING DOWN, STUFF BLOWING OUT OF THESE THINGS.

IT IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR.

HAVING A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY  SHOULDN'T COME DOWN TO SLOGANS AND PRISONERS AT THE SIDES OF  THE ROAD.

KEEP IT IN THE VEHICLE,  PLEASE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US  AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.