♪ .

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL WILL JOIN US IN STUDIO.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, AN "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" REPORT ON THE GROWING HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE VALLEY.

>>> AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THE CHILDPLAY THEATER CAMP US IN TEMPE IS WORKING TO RECOVER FROM STORM DAMAGES.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL JOINS US EACH MONTH TO ADDRESS ISSUES SHE AND HER OFFICE ARE FOCUSED ON.

TONIGHT WE'LL TOUCH ON A LAW INTENTED TO PROHIBIT THE HINDERING OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND ANOTHER STATE LAW THAT WEAPONS SEIZED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC.

WE WELCOME MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU.

TED: I KNOW THIS IS IN LITIGATION, THERE'S ONLY CERTAINLY THINGS CAN YOU SAY ABOUT IT.

THIS ANTI-SLAP LAW THAT YOU GOT PROBLEMS WITH.

CAN YOU TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, YOUR PROBLEMS AND WHAT THIS CASE IS ALL ABOUT?

>> SURE, BASICALLY THIS SURROUNDS THE INCIDENTS WHERE THERE WERE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS AT ASU, AND SOME OF THEM ARE BEING PROSECUTED, SO THEY HAVE INVOKED THIS LAW.

OUR CONCERN WITH THE LAW IS IT'S UNIQUE TO PROSECUTORS IN THIS STATE.

IT'S NOT APPLIED TO OTHER -- IN OTHER STATES TO PROSECUTORS, AND OUR CONCERN, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AS IT'S PORTRAYED.

IT'S ABOUT A SEPARATION OF POWERS ISSUE WHERE YOU HAVE THE JUDICIARY DELVING INTO THE MIND-SET, MOTIVATIONS, ET CETERA OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WHICH IS THE PROSECUTOR.

TED: SO THE JUDGES CAN SAY THAT THE CASE IS DISMISSED OVER YOUR OBJECTIONS, OVER YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR PLANS?

>> IF THEY CAN LOOK AT IT AND DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS POLITICAL MOTIVATION, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN AREA THAT OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN IN THE PAST WITH THE PROTEST CASES FROM 2020, AND THAT WAS A SITUATION WHERE I AS A PROSECUTOR, BEFORE I WAS COUNTY ATTORNEY, ACTUALLY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THOSE CASES WERE BEING HANDLED.

SO TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS BEING DONE FOR POLITICAL MOTIVATION IS NOT TRUE.

TED: AND THE VIOLATION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, FIRST AMENDMENT?

>> THE FIRST -- WE FULLY SUPPORT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO PROTEST LEGALLY WITHIN ARIZONA, AND I HAVE REAFFIRMED THAT MESSAGE DIFFERENT TIMES THROUGHOUT MY TENURE AS COUNTY ATTORNEY.

TED: AGAIN, I KNOW YOU CAN'T RESPOND TOO MUCH TO WHAT THE TEMPE JUSTICE COURT SAID WHICH WAS THAT THE CHARGE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY MOTIVATE BY A WISH TO SUPPRESS OR RETALIATE.

THAT IS WHAT THE LAW IS ALL ABOUT, TO KEEP PROSECUTION FROM HAPPENING TO THOSE WHO ARE PROTESTING IN THE WAY THAT MAYBE THE PROSECUTION DOESN'T LIKE IT.

MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU?

>> NOT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

AS A PROSECUTOR, I ABHOR WHEN OTHER PROSECUTORS SAY I'M GOING TO GUARANTEE THIS RESULT OR TARGET THIS PERSON.

I DON'T DO THAT AS A PROSECUTOR.

I CALL BALLS AND I CALL STRIKES AS A PROSECUTOR.

I FILE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR.

I FILE AGAINST THEM THEY MAYBE DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

TED: LAST QUESTION ON THIS, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TESTIFY.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

TED: SEEMS UNUSUAL, A PROSECUTOR, A COUNTY ATTORNEY TESTIFYING?

>> FIRST IN THE NATION IS MY UNDERSTANDING IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.

TED: DO I HAVE A TIMETABLE FOR THIS?

>> WE ARE IN FRONT OF A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, AND THE NEXT HEARING HE'S GOING TO HOLD IS NOT THIS FRIDAY BUT NEXT FRIDAY, THE NOVEMBER 7.

TED: THINGS ARE HAPPENING THERE.

>> UH-HUH.

TED: ANOTHER STATE LAW YOU'RE CONCERNED WITH IS THAT 2013, IT'S BEEN THAT LONG NOW.

A STATE LAW, A BAN ON STROIING WEAPONS USED IN CRIMES SEIZED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

NOT ONLY A BAN ON DESTROYING THEM, BUT MUST BE RESOLD TO THE PUBLIC.

TALK TO ME WHY YOU THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED?

>> I'M VERY PRO 2nd AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THERE'S A SPECIFIC SITUATION THAT'S COME UP THAT PROBABLY WAS NEVER CONSIDERED WHEN IT WAS PASSED IN 2013, THAT IS THE CASE OF OFFICER ERFLE.

HE WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, HE WAS SHOT.

THIS GUN WAS SEIZED IN THAT INVESTIGATION, AND JULIE ERFLE, HIS WIDOW SAID, I DON'T WANT THE GUN THAT KILLED MY HUSBAND BACK OUT IN THE PUBLIC, SOLD IN THE PUBLIC.

SO IN THIS SITUATION, I OFFERED MY SERVICES AS COUNTY ATTORNEY TO HER TO SAY I'LL STAND BESIDE YOU TO GET AN EXCEPTION WRITTEN INTO THE LAW.

TED: THE CLAIM WOULD BE WHAT?

>> IF A GUN IS USED TO MURDER SOMEONE OR POSSIBLY HARM SOMEONE, IF THEY'RE SHOT WITH IT, THAT THAT WOULD BE AN EXCEPTION, IF THE VICTIM OR NEXT OF KIN WANTED THAT GUN DESTROYED.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE VICTIM'S BILL OF RIGHTS PROVISION PLAYED HERE?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, I THINK THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY.

I MEAN, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A LOVED ONE KILLED BY A GUN AND THAT GUN BEING SOLD.

THAT'S A TRAVESTY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION OFFICER ERFLE WAS SHOT IN 2007, AND JULIE ERFLE HAS BEEN OUT THERE TIME AND TIME AGAIN CAMPAIGNING FOR VARIOUS GUN CONTROL ISSUES.

IS THIS THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE GOING TO GO STRONG ON?

>> ON THIS PARTICULAR EXCEPTION, YES.

I SUPPORT HER NOT WANTING THE GUN THAT KILLED HER HUSBAND SOLD OUT IN THE PUBLIC.

THAT GUN SHOULD BE DESTROYED.

TED: IS THERE A WAY -- DELINEATE MURDER?

DELINEATE -- >> POSSIBLY MURDER, WE'RE TALKING TO THE LEGISLATURE WHETHER WE CARVE OUT EXCEPTION FOR SIMPLY MURDER, POSSIBLY IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS INJURED BY THE GUN, MAKING IT A VICTIM'S RIGHTS ISSUE.

THIS WOULDN'T BE FOR AND GUN SEIZED AS A RESULT OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU GO.

UPDATE ON THE PRESTON LORD CASE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AS FAR AS PROSECUTION, AS FAR AS TRIALS ARE CONCERNED, AS FAR AS THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED BECAUSE OF THE PRESTON LORD CASE, AND PROSECUTION THEREOF?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, WE INDICTED SEVEN INDIVIDUALS FOR THE DEATH OF PRESTON LORD, ONE OF THEM HAS PLED OUT.

THE OTHER SIX ARE PENDING TRIAL.

THAT TRIAL IS AT LEAST TENTATIVELY SET FOR JANUARY.

THAT MAY GET CONTINUED, BUT PRESTON LORD'S LAW, WHICH TARGETS PEOPLE WHO GANG UP ON AN INDIVIDUAL.

THREE OR MORE PEOPLE TARGET AN INDIVIDUAL FOR A BEATING, THAT IS CALLED ANTI-SWARMING LEGISLATION, IT MAKES IT A FELONY.

WE HAVE NOW CHARGED AT LEAST FOUR CASES OF THAT, EVER SINCE THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, AND THAT WAS ONLY SEPTEMBER 26.

SO WE'RE NOT EVEN -- WE'RE GUST ABOUT A MONTH INTO THAT, AND WE HAVE FOUR CASES WE CHARGEED.

>> YOU CHARGED THESE FOUR CASES.

IF THAT LAW WERE NOT INTO EFFECT, WOULD THESE BE MISDEMEANORS?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE?

>> POSSIBLE COULD BE OTHER FELONIES INVOLVED.

THERE WAS ONE IN MESA INVOLVING ADULT DEFENDANTS, AND THE PROSECUTOR SAID THAT HAD THIS LAW NOT EXISTED, THAT CASE WOULD HAVE GONE TO CITY COURT FOR MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTION.

AS I SAID AT THE TIME, WE WERE GOING FOR THE LAW, THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS BEHAVIOR.

OBVIOUSLY PRESTON DIED.

TED: AS FOR THE HALF DOZEN PEOPLE ON THE TRIAL FOR THE MURDER, AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED BEFOREHAND AND SINCE, YOU MENTIONED ONE PLED OUT.

BUT EVERYTHING SO FAR, IS IT GOING THE WAY YOU EXPECTED?

IS IT GOING THE WAY THAT MEETS YOUR SATISFACTION?

>> YES, WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A LENGTHY PROCESS.

AS YOU RECALL, WE TOOK AWHILE TO PUT THE CASE TOGETHER.

THE INVESTIGATION AND JUST THE PROSECUTORS BEFORE WE FILED CHARGES.

THIS IS COMPLEX.

WHENEVER HAVE YOU SEVEN DEFENDANTS.

WHENEVER HAVE YOU MULTIPLE WITNESSES.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IT COOPERATE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW, HAVE YOU VIDEO, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWHILE.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING ME IT'S TAKING THIS LONG.

TED: LAST QUESTION ON THAT.

THE COOPERATION FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GILBERT AND EAST VALLEY, ARE YOU SEEING WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE?

HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THIS WAS A WEEK HOMICIDE, AND, OF COURSE, THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON THE INVESTIGATION, BUT GILBERT TOO, WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM, TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING SITUATIONS INVOLVING JUVENILES, AND THEY'VE BEEN RECEPTIVE AND OPEN TO THAT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I GREW UP HERE AND TO THINK OF GILBERT AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T FEELING SAFE, THAT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE TO ME.

TED: ARE YOU HEARING THAT PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFE?

ARE THE GILBERT GOONS STILL A THING OUT THERE?

>> I THINK THERE'S STILL GANG-TYPE BEHAVIOR OUT THERE.

BY GANG-TYPE, I MEAN GROUPS OF JUVENILES ENGAGED IN BAD BEHAVIOR.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW WE'RE AWARE OF IT, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE POLICE TO ADDRESS IT, BUT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW WE'RE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND IF THEIR KID IS INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, IT WOULD BE BEST TO INTERVENE AS PARENTS BEFORE THE LAW HAS INTERVENE.

>> RACHEL MITCHELL, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" INVESTIGATION LOOKS AT THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN PHOENIX TWO YEARS AFTER THE CITY'S CLOSING OF A DOWNTOWN HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT KNOWN AS THE ZONE.

JOINING US IS REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM REPORTER HELEN RUMMEL AND FROM AZCENTRAL.COM CATHERINE REAGOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

TED: HELEN, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

EXPLAIN THE PROJECT.

WHY WAS IT TAKEN ON?

WHAT WAS THE THINKING ARE ABOUT HAND?

>> WE STARTED THE PROJECT AWHILE AGO, SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO PUBLICATION WE STARTED PLANNING WHAT WE WANTED TO LOOK AT, HOW HAS HOMELESSNESS PROGRESSED IN PHOENIX AND THE SURROUNDING SUBURBS SINCE THE ZONE WAS CLEARED OUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT MEANT ACROSS THE BOARD.

HOMELESSNESS TAKES MANY DIFFERENT FORMS IN THE CITY AND AFFECTS PEOPLE BOTH IN THE STREET, WHO ARE LIVING IN CARS, SHELTERS, AND THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN HOME AROUND THEM, AND SO WE JUST STARTED FROM THERE, AND THEN CONTINUED.

TED: IT SOUNDS LIKE, CATHERINE, A THIRD OF THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE ZONE ARE STILL UNHOUSEED?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

IT'S REALLY, AND YOU KNOW, THE THING IS -- THIS IS THE PART I PLAYED IN IT, I COVERED THIS FOR A WHILE.

THE APATHY ABOUT THE PROBLEM IS JUST -- IT SHOCKS ME.

IT BREAKS MY HEART, AND HOUSING EXPERTS, THE FORMER HEAD OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THEY SEE IT, THEY FEEL IT, YOU KNOW.

TED: WHY DO THEY THINK THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE IS SHIFTING?

>> WE TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT AND TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I THINK PEOPLE GET A LITTLE -- I DON'T KNOW, BURNED OUT, PLENTY OF OTHER PROBLEMS ON THEIR MIND.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO ADDRESS IT THAT WE DID, BUT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DOWNTOWN OFTEN, THEY'RE LIKE, WE WORK IN DOWNTOWN, I LIVE IN CENTRAL PHOENIX.

IT'S EVERYWHERE AND IT'S WORSE.

TED: HELEN, DID YOU GET A FEELING FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM, THAT THERE'S A BIT OF EXHAUSTION GOING ON?

>> I THINK WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES AND I FOUND WAS THAT THERE MAYBE IS A SENSE THAT THERE AREN'T EASY SOLUTIONS AND WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT EASY, SIMPLE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE HOPELESS, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE.

AS PHOENIX HAS CONTINUED TO SEE THE GROWING POPULATION OF HOMELESSNESS, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SEE A WAY FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN, LIKE CATHERINE SAID, MORE PEOPLE ARE FACING THIS ISSUE HEAD-ON, EVEN WHEN THEY WEREN'T IN YEARS PAST.

TED: WHY THE INCREASE?

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> SEVERAL REASONS CAN EXPLAIN THAT.

PARTIALLY DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING INCREASES, RENT PRICES HAVE INCREASED ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WE SAW THIS PAST YEAR MORE THAN A THOUSAND SHELTER BEDS WERE LOST DUE TO THE LOSS OF COVID FUNDING THAT WE SAW OVER JUST SINCE THE PANDEMIC, AND SO THOSE THINGS COMBINED WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HOMELESSNESS.

TED: AND THINGS LIKE, FROM YOUR STORY, ILLNESS, BEING ABANDONED BY FAMILY MEMBERS, THESE THINGS PLAY A FACTOR AS WELL?

>> YES, ANOTHER TRAGIC POINT IS THE GROWTH IN SENIOR HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT, AND WE ALSO SEE IT BECAUSE I COVER HOUSING, I NOTICE A HUGE DROP IN HOME PRICES IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IN CENTRAL PHOENIX, AND I WENT AND TALKED TO A BUNCH OF THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THE ZONE HAS SPREAD OUT.

PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO GO, AND THERE AREN'T SHELTERS, AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOW SYMPATHETIC AND THEY WANT TO HELP, BUT THERE'S ALSO SAFETY ISSUES, WHEN IT'S COLD AND THEY'RE BUILDING FIRES, SO THE FACT THAT IT'S IMPACTING HOME VALUES.

TED: WHO ARE -- CATHERINE MENTIONED, WE'RE SEEING OLDER FOLKS, DO THOSE IN THE PARKS, THOSE IN THE STREETS AND THE ALLEYS DO THEY HAVE A SIMILAR STORY?

OR IS EVERY STORY -- WE'D LIKE TO THINK EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS DIFFERENT, BUT ARE THERE SIMILARITIES HERE?

>> YEAH, YOU RAISE A GREAT POINT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENCES AND MY COLLEAGUES AND I TRIED VERY HARD TO LAY OUT WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE ACROSS GROUPS OF PEOPLE, VERY DIFFERENT IN EACH PERSON HAS AN INDIVIDUAL STORY, BUT SOME OF THE TRENDS WE'RE SEEING IS AN UPTICK PARTICULARLY OF YOUNGER ADULTS WHO ARE BECOMING HOMELESS, LIKE CATHERINE MENTIONED.

OLDER ADULTS ARE HOMELESS AT A MUCH FASTER RATE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE SENIORS, WHO HAVE NEVER FACED HOUSING INSECURITY BEFORE, FACING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER THE AGE OF 65 IS A PARTICULAR TREND WE'VE NOTICED.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, SOCIAL SECURITY HASN'T KEPT UP WITH RENT INCREASES.

AND SO YOU SEE THESE PEOPLE, THEIR COST OF LIVING, THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND I SEE THEM ON THE CORNER ASKING FOR MONEY, AND I MET AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN OUT THERE.

SHE GOES I CAN'T PAY MY RENT.

MONEY ISN'T COMING.

WHERE DO THEY GET HELP?

TED: GOOD QUESTION.

WHERE DO THEY GET HELP?

IS THERE TEMPORARY HOUSING?

WE'VE DONE SO MANY SHOWS WITH SO MANY NONPROFITS AND CITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS, THEY PROVIDE BEDS, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING.

IT'S OUT THERE.

IS THERE NOT ENOUGH?

ARE THEY NOT USED?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> A LOT HAVE WAITING LISTS, EXTENSIVE WAITING LISTS.

TED: SO THEY ARE BEING USED?

>> YEAH.

YOU'LL TALK TO PEOPLE AND WE HAVE STORIES, I'VE BEEN WAITING THREE MONTHS TO GET SOMEWHERE, AND SOMEBODY ELSE WITH CHILDREN, WE NEED A PLACE FOR CHILDREN, I'VE BEEN WAITING SIX MONTHS, AND THEY'RE ON THE STREETS, AND REALLY GREAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD ON THIS AND WE FELT LIKE MAYBE BECAUSE THE COUNT WAS DOWN THE YEAR BEFORE AND PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS IS GETTING BETTER, THIS IS GETTING BETTER, BUT IT'S NOT.

TED: THE IMPACT OF URBAN CAMPING LAWS, SEVERITY OF THOSE.

THEY'VE INCREASED, PART OF THAT SHIFTING PUBLIC ATTITUDE.

THE URBAN CAMPING LAWS, HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE NUMBERS AND WHAT YOU SAW AND HEARD?

>> SO WHAT WE WERE HEARING FROM FOLKS IS THERE IS MORE ENFORCEMENT PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA THAT WAS A SUBJECT OF THE ZONE LAWSUIT FROM YEARS PAST WHERE, FOLKS ARE -- THEY ARE BEING CRIMINALIZED IN SOME CASES, AND THEY ARE RECEIVING TICKETS FOR SLEEPING IN CERTAIN AREAS AND FOR BLOCKING SIDEWALKS, AND SO THAT CAN MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FIND SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT SOME OF THESE ENFORCEMENTS ARE COMING DOWN ON THEM.

CITY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN PHOENIX AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OFFER WITH SERVICES FIRST AS OPPOSED TO TO POLICING THEM IN A MORE AGGRESSIVE MANNER, BUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM FOLKS, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS STOPPING THEM FROM FACING REPERCUSSIONS FOR SLEEPING OUTSIDE.

TED: WE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO LEFT.

WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MITIGATION EFFORTS?

>> THAT'S TOUGH.

SORRY.

TED: NO, GO AHEAD.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS HOUSING FIRST POLICY, WHEN WE TALK TO EXPERTS, HOUSING FIRST POLICIES ARE SHOWN TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND OFTENTIMES THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO APPROACH THE ISSUE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE ARE OFFERED HOUSING AND NO OTHER SERVICES.

THEY GET SUPPORT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS WHILE ALSO GETTING THE HOUSING, BUT ALSO SEEING THAT FEDERAL POLICY IS MOVING AWAY FROM HOUSING FIRST POLICIES WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING TRENDS WE NOTICED, GOING FORWARD, THAT IS NOT SEEING THE SAME SUPPORT IT WAS BEFORE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOSING STEAM AT CITY HALLS?

>> A BIT.

PEOPLE HAVE THE PERCEPTION LIKE THE SECTION 8 HOUSING OF THE 60S AND 70s AND IT'S NOT.

YOU GET A VOUCHER AND SOME OF THESE COMPLEXES ARE SO NICE, AND REALLY GREAT, AND IT'S GETTING PEOPLE IN HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD.

ALL RIGHT CATHERINE REAGOR AND HELEN RUMMEL, CONGRATULATIONS, GREAT PROJECT, GREAT INVESTIGATIVE WORK THERE.

THANKS FOR SHARING.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE CHILDPLAY THEATER CAMPUS IS WORKING TO RECOVER FROM STORM DAMAGES AFTER THE RECENT MICROBURST THAT HIT TEMPE.

THE THEATERS OFFICES AND REHEARSAL SPACES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THAT THE THEATER HAD TO STOP OPERATIONS.

STEVE MARTIN JOINS US WITH MORE ON THIS.

YOU DID HAVE TO STOP FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT BACK AND OPERATIONAL NOW?

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

WE LOST ELECTRICITY, WE LOST ALL THE POWER TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS, SO ONCE WE GOT THAT ALL BACK UP AGAIN AND RUNNING, IT WAS FINE.

IT WAS REALLY A PORTION, A WING OF OUR CAMPUS THAT GOT DAMAGED.

TED: TALK TO US ABOUT CHILDSPLAY, WHO ARE YOU?

>> WE'VE BEEN AROUND 50 YEARS, WE'RE A PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY THAT CHOOSES TO PERFORM FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, YOUNG AUDIENCES.

WE'VE PRODUCED ABOUT FIVE OR SIX SHOWS A YEAR, WE PERFORM AT THE HERBERGER THEATER CENTER, BUT TAKE SHOWS OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS AND WE DO MORE THAN 100 PERFORMANCES A YEAR IN SCHOOLS AROUND THE VALLEY AND THE STATE.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE A HUGE EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND INCLUDED IN THAT IS OUR CAMPUS, AND OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM, AND THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT HAD TO BE SUSPENDED AND MOVED BECAUSE OF THE STORM.

TED: TALK TO US ABOUT THE DAMAGE.

HOW MUCH DAMAGE?

WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE?

>> BECAUSE WE'D HAD SEVERAL STORMS IN THE VALLEY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE EXPERIENCED A LITTLE ROOF DAMAGE THE WEEK PRIOR TO, SO WE HAD ROOFERS UP ON THE ROOF REPAIRING THAT LITTLE DAMAGE WHEN THIS STORM HIT, AND IT JUST RIPPED OFF THE REST OF THE ROOF, POURED DOWN RAIN INTO OUR CLASSROOMS.

THE CEILINGS FELL.

THE FLOORS GOT FLOODED.

WE HAVE A SPRUNG FLOOR, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, AND THAT WHOLE FLOOR GOT DESTROYED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.

MEN'S ROOM IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, ALL BECAUSE OF WATER DAMAGE.

TED: NOW ARE YOU ABLE TO USE WHATEVER WAS DONE IN THE PART OF THE BUILDING, CAN YOU DO THAT IN OTHER LOCATIONS?

ARE PEOPLE ALLOWING YOU TO DO IT IN OTHER LOCATION SAYS IN.

>> THE TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN GENEROUS AND ALLOWED US TO RENT CLASSROOM SPACE FROM THEM ON SATURDAYS.

THAT'S WHEN WE OFFER OUR CLASSES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

THE DAMAGE IS JUST TERRIBLE.

OKAY, OBVIOUSLY SURROUNDING AREA, TREES, VEHICLES, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> YES, IT WAS A DEVASTATING STORM.

I HAVE TO SAY.

I'VE BEEN A MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR A LONG TIME, MICROBURSTS ARE NOT IN THE GUIDEBOOK.

NO.

TED: AND IT HAPPENED AND THEY'RE OVER AND YOU GO WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED.

>> WE DO NOW.

TED: NO INJURIES?

>> NO INJURIES.

THE ROOFERS ESCAPED UNSCATHED.

TED: THIS COMES, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, A LOSS OF FUNDING AS WELL?

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> RIGHT, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE ARTS, PERIOD, IN THE VALLEY, MANY, MANY INSTITUTIONS THAT DO SUPPORT THE ARTS ON A REGULAR BASIS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WITHHOLDING THEIR FUNDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE FULL IMPACT OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUTS TO SOCIAL SERVICE AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND SO A LOT OF THE FUNDS THAT WE WERE COUNTING ON HAVE BEEN WITHHELD BY THOSE FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT, BUT IT DOES AFFECT US AND OUR ABILITY TO DO OUR WORK.

TED: THESE ARE N.E.A.

GRANTS?

>> NO JUST GRANTS FROM LOCAL FOUNDATIONS.

THEN WE GOT A LETTER SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS MONEY.

TED: IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF THAT PARTICULAR MONEY BEING REALLOCATEED?

>> NO.

WE APPEALED THE DECISION AND THE APPEAL WAS NOT HONORED, SO WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS THIS YEAR.

TED: SO ALL TOLD, HOW MUCH OF A FINANCIAL HIT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

>> I HAVE TO SAY POST-PANDEMIC, THE RECOVERY FOR PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN VERY SLOW.

PUBLIC AUDIENCES HAVE BEEN SLOW TO COME BACK.

I HAVE TO SAY, WE DEPEND A LOT ON SCHOOL PARTICIPATION.

THEY HAVE COME BACK IN DROVES.

WE SELL OUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL PERFORMANCES.

SEVEN PERFORMANCES A WEEK FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND SELL THEM OUT.

700 SEATS A PERFORMANCE.

IT'S HUGE FOR US.

BUT CAN'T BALANCE OUR BUDGET ON $15 TICKETS TO SCHOOL GROUPS.

WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US BE ABLE TO PERFORM AND PRESENT HIGH-QUALITY WORK TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT'S NEXT FOR CHILDSPLAY?

>> WE'RE IN REHEARSAL FOR RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER.

THAT'S OUR CHRISTMAS SHOW.

WE GO UP IN TWO WEEKS, WE START PERFORMING BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND FROM SCHOOLS.

I HAVE TO SAY, IN THIS WORLD OF CHAOS THAT WE'RE ALL KIND OF LIVING IN, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SIT DOWN IN THE THEATER, WITH SUCH A GREAT STORY, WITH SUCH A GREAT MESSAGE AND EXPERIENCE THE JUSTIFY THE HOLIDAYS, SO WE INVITE PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE BEST WAY CAN YOU HELP US.

COME TO THE THEATER, BUY A TICKET.

ENJOY THE SHOW.

IT'S REALLY QUITE STUNNING AND BEAUTIFUL.

TED: I MEAN CHILDSPLAY FOR A CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION, THAT'S HARD TO BEAT.

>> THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR OF THE SHOW.

THE COMMUNITY EMBRACED IT GREATLY.

YES.

TED: BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FACILITIES THERE, WON'T TAKE AS NEAR AS QUICKLY AS YOU WANT IT TO TAKE.

IT WILL BE THERE AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.