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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES OPTIONS TO BREAK THE IMPASSE ON A COLORADO RIVER WATER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE NEW CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>>> AND LIFE SAVING PUSH FOR THE MINORITY COMMUNITY TO BECOME ORGAN DONORS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECENTLY PROPOSED A LIST OF OPTIONS TO BREAK THE IMPASSE ON THE FUTURE OF COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT.

A DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR ARIZONA AND SIX OTHER COLORADO RIVER-USING STATES TO REACH A WATER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

JOINING US NOW SARAH PORTER DIRECTOR OF ASU'S KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY.

THIS LIST OF OPTIONS, IS THIS A HERE'S FIVE THINGS WE COULD DO, PICK ONE?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, ANY NEW -- SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE RULES FOR OPERATING THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM, A SERIES OF RESERVOIRS UPSTREAM OF LAKE POWELL AND THEN LAKE POWELL AND LAKE MEAD AND WATER DELIVERED OUT OF THAT, AND ANY CHANGE IN HOW THAT SYSTEM IS OPERATED REQUIRES REVIEW UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, AND SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT THE FEDS RELEASED WAS A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF HOW A SERIES OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WOULD WORK, AND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

THEY MODELED OUT FIVE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, OR ONE WAS NO ACTION, BUT FOUR DIFFERENT PROPOSALS FOR MANAGING THIS MASSIVE SYSTEM, AND THEIR IDEA WAS THESE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AS MODELED WOULD HAVE THE COMPONENTS OF A FUTURE AGREEMENT AMONG THE SEVEN COLORADO RIVER-SHARING STATES, AND AS DISCUSSED BEFORE, THE STATES ARE AT AN IMPASSE IN TERMS OF AGREEING HOW TO OPERATE THE BIG SYSTEM AND WHO SHOULD TAKE WHAT CUTS?

THE HOPE OF THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION IS THAT COMPONENTS OF THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS COULD BE PUT TOGETHER TO COME UP -- TO FORM AN AGREEMENT THAT KEPT THE NIPA PROCESS GOING.

TED: IT'S NOT PICK ONE OF THESE, IT'S MIX AND MATCH, SHARE WHAT YOU LIKE, LEAVE THE REST, THAT KIND OF THING?

>> TO SOME EXTENT THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, AND TO SOME EXTENT IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO TURN THE HEAT UP A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE NEGOTIATORS TO SAY, LOOK, THIS IS HOW THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WOULD WORK OUT SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD COMPROMISE ON THIS AND NEGOTIATE HARDER ON THAT, AND LET'S GET IT GONE.

TED: TALK ABOUT TURNING UP THE HEAT ON NEGOTIATORS, A MEETING OF THE SEVEN STATES IN SALT LAKE CITY, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING, TRYING TO FIND AGREEMENT.

SOUNDS LIKE NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR SO LONG, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE?

>> YOU KNOW I SAY NEVER SAY NEVER.

WE COULD WAKE UP AND READ THAT THEY HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT, BUT THEY'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR YEARS, AND ALL OF THE IDEAS THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY COME UP WITH HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AND DISCUSSED, DISCUSSED TO DEATH.

THERE JUST IS AN IMPASSE BETWEEN THE UPPER BASIN AND THE LOWER BASIN AT THIS POINT.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE IMPASSE.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE STICKING POINTS?

>> THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT IS RELATING THE UPPER BASIN'S REFUSAL TO SHARE IN CUTS.

THEY'RE INSISTENT THAT ALL OF THE CUTS SHOULD FALL ON THE LOWER BASIN, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.

THE UPPER BASIN IS COLORADO, NEW MEXICO AND WYOMING.

THEY'RE SAYING WE USE FAR BELOW OUR 7.5-MILLION-ACRE FEET APPORTIONMENT EVERY YEAR.

SINCE OUR USE IS SO LOW, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE CUTS, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT'S ALL TO YOU, LOWER BASIN STATES.

THE LOWER BASIN IS POINTING OUT THE LOWER BASIN HAS REDUCED WATER USE SIGNIFICANTLY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY OFFERED TO TAKE A SIGNIFICANT FIRST PORTION OF THE CUTS AND SAID THE UPPER BASIN SHOULD BE SHARING IN THE -- IN ADDITIONAL CUTS ON TOP OF THAT FIRST LARGE PORTION OF CUTS, BUT IT'S NOT THAT -- THAT NOT BEING ACCEPTED BY THE UPPER BASIN.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY FOR THE UPPER BASIN STATES, ARE THEY SIMPLY NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE?

>> THEY ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, BUT NOT ABOUT THAT.

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT, WE COULD GET TO AGREEMENT ON THOSE, BUT ARE MORE TECHNICAL ISSUES HOW THE RESERVOIRS ARE MANAGED ESPECIALLY LAKE POWELL AND LAKE MEAD, THAT THERE ARE DISAGREEMENTS OVER.

IT REALLY IS A BIG IMPASSE ABOUT THE PERCEPTION, THE DIFFERENCE IN PERCEPTIONS OF THE UPPER BASIN AND LOW ARE BASIN RELATED TO THE UPPER BASIN'S OBLIGATION TO DELIVER WATER TO THE LOWER BASIN, AND THEY'RE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE TO SHARE IN CUTS BECAUSE OUR OBLIGATION TO DELIVER WATER IS -- WE DON'T FEEL THREATENED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO DEMAND WE SEND WATER TO YOU.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, THE FIVE OPTIONS, THESE AREN'T IN AND OF THEMSELVES SOLUTIONS, BUT COULD BE ASPECTS OF THEM.

ONE OF THEM IS SUPPLY DRIVEN, AND SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S A NEW IDEA BASED ON THE TWO, THREE YEARS OF NATURAL FLOWS?

HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> YEAH, THIS IS A WAY OF MANAGING THE RESERVOIRS THAT HASN'T BEEN TRIED YET.

IT IS CREATIVE.

DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES PUT FORTH THIS OPTION IN JUNE AND SAID WHY DON'T WE TRY THIS?

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS MOSTLY LOOKED AT RESERVOIR LEVELS, AND A SUPPLY DRIVEN OPTION WOULD LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE AVERAGE FLOWS IN THE RIVER, NATURAL FLOWS, OVER SOME PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN IT WOULD BASE WATER AVAILABILITY OR CUTS ON FLOWS, LIKE REAL FLOWS, INSTEAD OF HOW MUCH WATER IS SITTING IN THE RESERVOIRS.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE ADJUSTABLE RATE.

IS THAT THE KIND OF THING THAT GOES OVER VERY WELL?

>> IT WOULD NEED TO BE CAREFULLY THOUGHT THROUGH AND MODELLED OUT.

THE ISSUE IS, AGAIN, THE UPPER BASIN HAS SAID WE LOVE THE SUPPLY DRIVEN OPTION BUT NOT IF IT INVOLVES OUR USING LESS WATER.

TED: YEAH.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT SALT LAKE CITY, THE RECENT MEETING, NOT MUCH ACCOMPLISHED THERE.

ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP SHORTLY, TRUE?

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR ACTUALLY REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNORS OF THE SEVEN STATES JOIN THEIR PRINCIPALS IN A MEETING.

AT BIG COLORADO RIVER WATER USERS CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER, THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED THAT THERE HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT.

HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S TIME SCHEDULES.

THEY COULDN'T GET THE GOVERNORS TOGETHER WITH THE NEGOTIATORS, BUT HE ASKED THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO TRY AGAIN.

I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT, THE NEGOTIATORS HAVE JUST TRIED EVERYTHING THEY CAN COME UP WITH AND SO POSSIBLY GETTING THE GOVERNORS TOGETHER, COULD CHANGE, COULD ALTER STATES' UNWILLINGNESS OR WILLINGNESS TO ENTER CERTAIN COMPROMISES, THAT'S THE HOPE.

TED: AS FAR AS THE AGREEMENT IS CONCERNED, THE TIMETABLE FOR THIS, WHAT IS THE DEADLINE, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SHOOT PAST THE DEADLINE?

CAN YOU SHOOT -- IS THAT WHEN THE COURTS OR INTERIOR DEPARTMENT GETS INVOLVED?

>> SO ALL OF THAT.

TED: YEAH?

>> THERE IS ARIZONA STATEHOOD-DAY DEADLINE.

OTHER PEOPLE CALL IT FEBRUARY 14, FOR THE STATES TO COME TO AGREEMENT.

IF THEY DON'T, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED, IT'S BY OCTOBER OF 2026, WHEN THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS TO KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND THERE'S SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE, IF THERE'S AN AGREEMENT IN THE LEAD-UP TO OCTOBER 2026, INCLUDING ARIZONA'S LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE A CHANGE.

IN MANY INSTANCES WE NEED CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR CHANGES, THERE'S A LOT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS A CHOICE OF JUST GOING -- FALLING BACK ON THE OLD OPERATING GUIDELINES WHICH ARE IN PLACE, THEY'RE FROM THE 70s, AND JUST DELIVER WATER ACCORDING TO PRIORITY, UNTIL THE RESERVOIRS CRASH, OR TAKING UNILATERAL ACTION OUTSIDE OF CONSENSUS OF THE STATE, AND I THINK IN THE CASE OF ACTION OUTSIDE OF CONSENSUS, HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.

TED: UH-HUH.

>> AND IF THE AMOUNT WATER THAT THE LOWER BASIN BELIEVES THE UPPER BASIN IS OBLIGATED TO DELIVER ISN'T DELIVERED, THEN THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF LEGAL ACTION BY THE LOWER BASIN STATES TO REQUIRE, SOMEHOW COMPEL THE UPPER BASIN TO DELIVER THAT WATER.

TED: HOLY SMOKES, SARAH PORTER, KYL CENTER FOR WATER POLICY.

WE KEEP WAITING FOR GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN HERE.

MAYBE THEY WILL HAPPEN SHORTLY.

>> THEY MIGHT OR THERE MAY BE A MOVE TO THE LEGAL FORUM, AND THERE CAN STILL BE AN AGREEMENT.

WE'VE SEEN STATES SETTLE THESE KINDS OF DISPUTES, EVEN WHEN THEY'VE GOTTEN INTO LITIGATION.

WE'RE NOT WITHOUT HOPE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SARAH.

WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS A NEW LEADER WITH A FAMILIAR NAME.

SHE IS KATE BROPHY McGEE, AND SHE'S A THIRD GENERATION ARIZONAN WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN BOTH THE ARIZONA HOUSE AND SENATE.

WE WELCOME NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIR KATE BROPHY McGEE TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.

TED: YES.

OKAY, THOUGHTS ON TAKING OVER THE CHAIR?

YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ANOTHER STEP TO KEEPING COHESION AND STABILITY FOR THE COUNTY.

IT IS SOMETHING I'M VERY, VERY HONORED TO DO, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR, A BIG YEAR.

TED: IT IS A BIG YEAR, WHAT ARE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHAIR?

>> WELL, THE CHAIR IS SPOKESPERSON ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

THE CHAIR SETS THE AGENDA.

WORKS WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER.

WORKS ON VARIOUS ISSUES COMING TO THE BOARD AND WORKS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL, WHO ARE NOT A PART OF THE BOARD.

THE COUNTY HAS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AS I SAID, I AM SO HONORED TO DO THAT.

TED: YOU ALSO MENTION IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG YEAR, IT SURE IS, BECAUSE OF ELECTIONS.

SUCH A BIG STORY.

IS THE COUNTY READY FOR ELECTIONS, PRIMARY AND GENERAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT STATE STATUTES SPLIT RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE RECORDER AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IT IS A SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED SPLIT, BUT BASICALLY THE RECORDER HANDLES VOTER REGISTRATION, EARLY BALLOTS, AND THEN THE BOARD IS IN CHARGE OF TABULATING, ALSO PREPARING THE BALLOTS AND SENDING THEM OUT.

SO IT'S A BIFURCATED PROCESS, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN MAKE PEACE WITH THE RECORDER WHO SUED US EARLY ON, THEN I THINK WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO EXCELLENT OUTCOMES.

I WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT I HAVE BEEN IN OR PART OF 17 DIFFERENT ELECTIONS, SO I'VE WATCHED THE PROCESS FOR YEARS.

TED: THERE WAS A -- WAS THERE NOT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW CONDUCTED LAST YEAR?

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

WE CONDUCTED AN AUDIT, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WRAPPING UP AN AUDIT BOTH OF THE ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT AND THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND ELECTIONS PROCEDURES, AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO PUT THAT ON A PUBLIC AGENDA SOON AND REALLY REVIEW DEEPLY ANY CHANGES OR RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MAKE AND, OF COURSE IMPLEMENT THEM.

TED: CRITICS SAY THAT RESIDENTS AREN'T CONFIDENT IN HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT'S CRITICAL OF THAT CONFIDENCE IS THE COUNTY RECORDER, AND THERE HAS BEEN FRICTION THERE.

WHERE DOES THAT RELATIONSHIP STAND RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MEND FENCES?

>> IN MY SPEECH AS THE INCOMING CHAIR, I EXTENDED AN OLIVE BRANCH TO RECORDER HEAP.

THE MESSAGE I HAVE GOTTEN THE ENTIRE PAST YEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AND FROM OTHER CONSTITUENTS IS FIX THE PROBLEM.

WE WANT A GOOD ELECTION.

SO IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PERSONALITIES OR OFFICES.

IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER FOR A GOOD OUTCOME ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ELECTED US TO OFFICE.

I FULLY EXPECT WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK OUT, AS WE HAVE WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION THIS PAST YEAR AND MAIL-IN BALLOT, COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONS, WE WILL COME TO A CONCLUSION.

TED: YOU MENTION SPECIAL ELECTION, THERE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY TAX THAT IS OF -- I THINK YOU MENTIONED ONE IF NOT YOUR TOP PRIORITY, CORRECT?

>> IT IS MY TOP PRIORITY.

AS A RENEWAL OF A ONE-FIFTH OF A CENT SALES TAX AFTER 20 YEARS, WE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CONTINUATION, THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUING THAT TAX BY WONDERFUL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHO CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD ASK FOR THAT EXTENSION IT.

FUNDS BASIC MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHER FUNCTIONS, BOTH OF ADULT PROBATION, JUVENILE CORRECTIONS AND UP TO 99.4% ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

TED: HOW DO YOU GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING, AND DON'T LET IT GET LOST?

>> WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE VOTED TO ASK THE VOTERS TO EXTEND THE TAX.

MY VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING AS CHAIR.

WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY, CITIES AND TOWNS, WHO ACCESS OUR JAIL SERVICES, WHO ACCESS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ARE VERY INTERESTED AND PARTNER WITH US TO GET THIS EXTENSION PASSED.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THEY FOUND FASCINATING.

YOU SAY YOUR JUDGMENT VERSUS PUBLIC OPINION AND WOULD BE BETRAYAL TO SACRIFICE YOUR JUDGMENT TO OPINION.

I'VE ASKED THIS IN DEBATES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON.

WILL YOU GO TO WASHINGTON TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT, OR WILL YOU GO WASHINGTON TO DO WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS THINK IS RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK IT'S WRONG?

THAT'S A CONUNDRUM FOR A POLITICIAN, ISN'T IT?

>> NOT REALLY.

GOVERNOR HULL, WHEN SHE HELPED ME GET APPOINTED TO THE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD, GAVE ME THOSE WORDS.

I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THEM.

AFTER 25, 26 YEARS IN OFFICE, I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT CONSTITUENTS ELECT ME TO GO INTO THAT OFFICE, DO MY HOMEWORK, DO MY DEEP DIVE, AND MAKE MY BEST DECISION AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT.

IT'S NOT THE POPULAR SOUND BITE.

IT'S NOT THE -- WHAT THE LOUDEST PERSON IN THE ROOM WANTS.

IT HAS TO BE RIGHT.

AND IT HAS TO FIT IN.

OVER THE COURSE OF TEN YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I GAINED A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE SAME ISSUES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JUST DIFFERENT CLOTHES.

YOU KNOW WHERE TO LAND ON IT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND I FEEL THAT IS THE SAME BEING A COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

TED: NOW THE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT, AND GOOD LUCK THIS YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK ON IF YOU WILL COME ON.

WE CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: DIGNITY HEALTH ST.

JOSEPHS NOR THE AN THORACIC INSTITUTE IS PUSHING FOR HISPANICS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES TO BECOME ORGAN DONORS TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN DONATIONS AND NEED IN MINORITY POPULATIONS.

GABRIEL QUIROZ IS HERE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> I'M THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT COORDINATOR, HAVING A TRANSPLANT CAN SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

TED: DIVERSIFYING THE ORGAN POOL, HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS THAT?

>> SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT OF THE OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE IS A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THAT, THAT IS MINORITY, AND WITH THAT SAID, TRANSPLANT CAN BE DONE, BLOOD TYPE MATCHING BETWEEN ANYBODY, AND IT CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANT.

HOWEVER SCIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT GENETIC MATCHING OR A GENETIC MATCH CAN INCREASE THAT LONGEVITY OF A TRANSPLANTED ORGAN.

TED: HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY WITH THE NUMBERS AS THEY ARE NOW?

>> CONTINUING TO GROW, ABSOLUTELY.

TED: IMPACT OF BETTER DIVERSITY, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> WE LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE IT'S HIGHLY POPULATION OF DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO KIDNEY PAIL, AND YOU ARE SEE IT MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY SPECIFICALLY DIABETES BUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART DISEASE AND THE FACT THAT 60% OF PEOPLE ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST COME FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

IS IT THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING PEOPLE TO DONATE, OR IS IT DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO DONATE THAT MATCH UP?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, BUT I THINK MORE SO GETTING THE PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THE EDUCATION OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN HELP THEIR LOVED ONES.

TED: THE IMPACT OF THINGS LIKE GENETICS ON KIDNEY DISEASE, WE'LL START WITH KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS, HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO ALL THIS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HIGHER PERCENTAGE MINORITY NEED TRANSPLANTS, SO CAN THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF MINORITIES STILL DONATE?

TED: YES.

>> PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION AND PUT THEY WANT TO BE A DONOR ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND THAT'S BECOMING A DONOR AT THE TIME OF PASSING, WHENEVER THEIR TIME COMES.

A DECEASED DONOR CAN SAVE UP TO EIGHT LIVES, WHETHER THAT JUST BE THROUGH EYE AND TISSUE DONATION OR MAJOR ORGAN DONATION.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT EYE AND TISSUE DONATION BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> I DON'T SPECIALIZE IN THAT AREA BUT EYE AND TISSUE DONATION CAN ABSOLUTELY HELP IN CERTAIN DISEASE PROCESS THAT AFFECT THOSE ORGANS AS WELL.

TED: AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL, MORE LIKELY TO NEED, LESS LIKELY TO DONATE, TRUE?

>> PART OF THAT IS TRUE.

PART OF THAT IS GETTING EDUCATION OUT THERE.

BEING ABLE TO HELP YOUR LOVED ONES, BEING ABLE TO OFFER THE GIFT OF POTENTIAL LIFE, PART OF BEING A DONOR IS BEING HEALTHY YOURSELF, FROM A LIVING DONOR STANDPOINT WHERE, A LIVE PERSON WANTS TO GIVE THEIR KIDNEY TO THEIR LOVED ONE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO AT THE NORTON THORACIC INSTITUTE AT ST.

JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, WORK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DONATE THE ORGAN AND STATISTICALLY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE HIGHER RISK OF KIDNEY FAILURE IN LIFE.

TED: WHAT ABOUT GENERAL DISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL SYSTEM.

IS THAT PLAYING A PART IN ALL THIS?

>> THAT'S PLAYING A PART IN THE WORLD IN GENERAL.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IN THAT IS PROVIDING THE EDUCATION AND BEING ABLE TO BE THERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO HELP THEM MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

TED: WHAT ABOUT MONEY?

DONATIONS CAN BE EXPENSIVE ALL THE WAY AROUND HERE.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR?

>> WE DEFINITELY EDUCATE THERE IS NO FINANCIAL GAIN FOR DONATING, BUT INSURANCES ARE INVOLVED AND MOST RECIPIENT INSURANCES DO COVER THE DONATION PROCESS FOR THE LIVING DONOR.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY BUT THE LIVING DONOR WOULD HAVE TO MISS WORK, THERE IS RECOVERY TIME?

>> YEP.

WE LOOK AT OPTIONS IF THERE IS EMPLOYMENT, THE FMLA PROGRAMS, THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP ALLOW FINANCING FOR TRAVEL AND LODGING FOR LIVING DONATIONS, THERE ARE RESOURCES WE CAN TALK THROUGH WITH THE LIVING DONOR CANDIDATES.

TED: ARE THERE CULTURAL ISSUES TO GET PAST, RELIGIOUS ISSUES TO GET PAST?

>> MOST RELIGIONS DO NOT HAVE ISSUE WITH DONATION OF ORGANS, I WOULD ADVISE THEM TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

CULTURALLY THERE ISN'T MUCH I COME INTO.

I COME FROM A LARGE HISPANIC FAMILY.

ONE, I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP ANY PART OF ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY.

TWO, I HAVE A HARD TIME ASKING LOVE ONES TO HELP ME.

I PREFER TO WAIT ON A LIST THAN HAVE SOMEBODY HELP ME, THAT'S WHERE THE EDUCATION FROM A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL COMES IN PLAY, AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION FOR THEM.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A FAMILY TO ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: YEAH.

GABRIEL QUIROZ, DIGNITY HEALTH NORTON THORACIC CENTER.

LOT OF WORDS THERE.

HOPE THINGS IMPROVE, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.