>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, SECRETARY OF STATE, ADRIAN FONTES TALKS ABOUT THE SUBPOENAS FROM THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL AND TALKING ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ASYLUM BEFORE APPLYING FOR ASIDE ELEMENT ANDFOR ASYLUM.THEY ALSO ARGUED THE RULES WERE SIMILAR TO A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICY THAT WAS BLOCKED IN 2019 BY THE SAME JUDGE.

THE BIDEN POLICY WAS IMPLEMENTED IN MAY AT AT THE LIFTING OF TITLE 42.

>>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS ANOTHER NEW MEMBER, BETTY VILLEGAS APPOINTED BY THE PIMA BOARD.

A HOUSING AND COMMUNITY OFFICIAL IN FEWSON WILL SERVE OUT THE REST OF THE TERM AND THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THAT A LEGISLATIVE SEAT HAS CHANGED HANDS.

THEY WILL HEAD OFF A STRIKE OF MORE THAN 325,000 OF THE COMPANY'S WORKERS AND THEY CALLED A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT A, QUOTE, WIN-WIN AND THEY DEMANDED THE BEST CONTRACT IN THE HISTORY OF UPS AND GOT IT.

THE REACTION FROM UPS WORKERS?

>> SHOCKED, BUT EXCITED.

FOR THE SIMPLE FACT OF TALKING ABOUT STRIKE, EMOTIONS AND TENSIONS ARE HIGH AND THIS IS A START.

I MEAN, THE LANGUAGE IS THERE, BUT IF EVERYTHING THEY SAID IS TRUE, WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> Ted: THE MOVE HEADS OFF A STRIKE THAT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE U.S. ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY ECOMMERCE.

UPS HANDLES A QUARTER OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF PACKAGES SHIPPED IN A DAY IN THE U.S. EVERY DAY.

>>> CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE U.S.

SHOT UP LAST MONTH AND HIT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN TWO YEARS.

IT WAS HIGHER THAN ECONOMIST EXPECTED AND SHOWS AMERICANS ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FUTURE WITH ALL AGE GROUPS AND A BROAD RANGE REPORTING CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY.

SPEAKING OF CONFIDENCE, STOCK MARKET WITH THE DOW CLOSING WITH GAINS.

NOT MUCH WITH THE DOW CLOSING 26 POINTS HIGHER AND THE DOW'S WINNING STREAK IN YEARS AND COULD BE ENDING SOON AND THE DOW WILL RAISE INTEREST RATES AND THAT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT ON THE MARKET.

>> Ted: ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE A FOCUS FOR THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

A NUMBER OF ARIZONA OFFICIALS AND OFFICES HAVE BEEN ISSUED SUBPOENAS INCLUDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE, ADRIAN FONTES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: JACK SMITH AND WHAT AS RECENTLY AS MAY?

>> THE SPECIAL COUNSEL ISSUED TWO SUBPOENAED AND ONE CAME LATE LAST YEAR AT THE END OF SECRETARY HOBB'S TERM AND THEN IN MAY AND SUBPOENAED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE BUT THIS TIME FROM AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND SOME LAWYERS WHO WERE REPRESENTING THE OFFICE AT THE TIME.

THEY'VE COMPLIED WITH THOSE SUBPOENAS.

WE'VE GOT OTHER RECORDS THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT AFTER REDACTION AND A LOT OF THAT IS STILL FORTHCOMING.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> A BINGO CARD OF CRIME AND TAKE YOUR PICK OF THE NONSENSE AFTER 2020 AND THE BIG PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE MESS THE BIG LIE CREATED AND SO MUCH LITIGATION AND NOW, SO MANY CRIMINAL PROBES AND INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE OF THE TOM FOOLERY NONSENSE, LIES AND FRAUD, INCLUDING THE FOLKS YOU MENTIONED.

WE'VE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH IT NOW AND I COULDN'T EXACTLY TELL YOU WHICH INVESTIGATION THIS PERTAINED TO, BUT IT WAS INFORMATION BUILT FROM DISCOVERY IN OTHER CASES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT TRIAL.

THIS MAY HAVE PRESENTED DEPOSITIONS OF WITNESSES AND THIS WASN'T MADE PUBLIC, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Ted: BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THEY COMPLIED AND ATTORNEYS, THEY'VE COMPLIED AS WELL.

>> THE SEPTEMBER SUBPOENAS, WE COMPLIED UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION AND CAME TO FORMER SECRETARY HOBBS AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE REST OF IT OUT AND WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AS FAR AS THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS CONCERNED.

FOUND.

>> Ted: HAVE YOU MET WITH INVESTIGATORS?

>> I HAVE MET WITH INVESTIGATORS, YEAH.

I CAN'T SAY I'VE MET WITH INVESTIGATORS AS TO JANUARY 6th.

A LOT OF TIMES, THOSE FOLKS WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

BUT THEY WILL ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU KNEW, WHEN YOU KNEW IT AND WHO ASKED YOU TO DO WHAT.

AND TRULY, IN MY CASE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE THAN IN THE CASE OF A LOT OF OTHER OFFICIALS WHO WERE RUNNING ELECTIONS AT THE TIME.

>> Ted: DID IT DEAL WITH THE 2020 VOTE AND JANUARY -- CAN YOU TELL IT WHAT IT DEALT WITH?

>> I CAN TELL YOU BUT I'M NOT GOING TO?

I DON'T WANT TO MUCK UP THE SYSTEM FOR FOLKS THAT ARE BUILDING THE CASES.

THAT WOULDN'T BE WISE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BAD GUYS GET PUT AWAY.

FOLKS COMMIT CRIMES AND THEY WERE ALLEGED AND PROSECUTED AND FAR BE IT FROM ME TO BE A FLY IN THE OINTMENT.

PUT THE BAD GUYS AND HAVING REGULAR POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS INSTEAD OF TAKING EVERYTHING SO PERSONALLY BECAUSE ONE GUY LOST AN ELECTION.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION ON THIS, FBI, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND EITHER/OR.

>> YOU BET.

>> Ted: MAYBE, HUH?

>> LOOK, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, WE'RE IN TOTAL COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN ARIZONA TO MAKE SURE JUSTICE IS MET AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Ted: THE DEMOCRATS HAVE COMPLAINED OVER THIS NO LABEL'S PARTY AND THEY'RE SAYING TO SUSPEND THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE NO LABEL'S PARTY.

>> TRUE.

>> Ted: THIS PARTY THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND IS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, THE COMPLAINT, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT?

>> AGAINST MY OFFICE AND THE CERTIFICATION THAT WE ISSUED WHICH I WILL DEFEND BECAUSE WE FOLLOWED THE RULES AND BECAUSE THAT'S ONGOING, THE LITIGATION, THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT CASE SPECIFICALLY.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THIS, I HAVE ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO ENGAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS ALONG THE WAY AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE CHATTED WITH THE NO-LABELS PEOPLE AND THE FORWARD-PARTY PEOPLE AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO ENGAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OUTSIDE OF THE POLITICAL BACK AND FORTH.

MY JOB AS THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER IS TO PROMOTE THE ENDS OF DEMOCRACY WITHIN THE LAW.

IF ONE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES, EVEN MY OWN, DISAGREES, THEY HAVE THE COURTS AS A REMEDY.

>> Ted: NOT DIVULGING YOUR OWNER AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?

THERE'S IS COUPLE OF THINGS IN THAT COMPLAINT AND SOME STUFF THAT CONCERNS ME IS GENERALLY SPEAKING, A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND WHY PROP 211 IS GOOD AND TRANSPARENCYTRANSPARENCY IS A BIG DEAL AND ANOTHER REASON WHY WE WERE BACKING THE BALLOTS BILL THAT HAS LIFE LEFT IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT'S STILL ALIVE.

BUT THE GENERAL THEME IS, MORE DISCLOSURE IS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY AND SUNSHINE IS A GREAT DISINFECTANT AND IF THERE ARE PARTISANS THAT DISAGREE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARTY THEY'RE WITH, WE'LL HAVE OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE DISCUSSION IS FORTCOMING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS INVOLVES YOU, BUT WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE SAUDI WATER THING?

>> GO OUT THERE AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND ISSUE -- GET AN INJUNCTION AND DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, FIGURE IT OUT.

ARIZONA WATER DESERVES TO BE USED BY ARIZONA CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS.

AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE SHIPPED OVERSEAS AT ZERO COSTS.

THAT WAS THE FAULT OF THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION AND ONE OF OUR SCARCE RESOURCES AND ASININE TO GET IN THE DEAL IN THE FIRST PLACE AND I'M GLAD THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES IS MOVING AGAINST THIS AND I HOPE THE GOVERNOR PUTS THE EFFORT BEHIND THIS.

I WOULD BE OUT THERE TURNING THE SPIGOTS OFF MYSELF.

>> Ted: I ALWAYS ASK WHERE PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS ONLY THINGS THAT DON'T INVOLVE THAT PARTICULAR JOB, AND WHY BOTHER?

YOU'RE ADAMANT ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> IT HAS TO WITH ME AS A CITIZEN AS ARIZONA AND GIVEN AWAY.

THE SAUDI IS NOT A FRIEND OF FREEDOM AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND SO FOR US TO BE SUPPORTING THEM AND THEIR CATTLE OR HORSE RACING OR WHATEVER THAT IS GOING TO, I SEE THAT AS A BIG DEAL.

WE HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE AND CLIMATE CONCERNS AND WE HAVE A HEATWAVE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND WHY ARE WE GIVING AWAY THE WATER.

YOU HAVE TO ASK THE PRIOR GOVERNOR AND I'M HOPEFUL AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION GETTING US OUT OF IT.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE WHO SAY STAY IN YOUR LANE SECRETARY OF STATE, YOU SAY?

>> IT IS MY LANE.

IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITHOUT WATER, WE DON'T HAVE ARIZONA.

>> Ted: YOU'VE BEEN VOCAL AND USED THE TERM, MAGAFASCIAS.

SOME ARE SAYING GOOD FOR YOU AND SOME ARE SAYING, THAT'S NOT NECESSARY AND IT'S VOLATILE LANGUAGE AND DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING.

>> HERE IS WHAT DOESN'T HELP WHEN PEOPLE TAKE FIREARMS TO THE CAPITOL OF THE UNITED STATES AND TRY TO OVERTHROW OR CONSTITUTIONAL PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE BEING CALLED A FASCIAS, DOESN'T ACTING LIKE A FASCIAS.

WHEN YOU TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SOMEONE AND THEY GET UPSET, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT NEED TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

YOU KNOW, SO IF FOLKS WANT TO BE A PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER AND BE REASONABLE AND RATIONAL ABOUT SHIFTING AND CHANGES, LEAVE THE POLITICS OUTSIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS.

YOU'RE NOT A FASCIAS.

YOU MIGHT BE MAGA BUT IT APPLIES TO THE FASCISTS IN THE MOVEMENT.

>> Ted: IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT YOU SAY IT'S NOT NAME-TELLING AND TRUTH-TELLING, BUT JUST THE LANGUAGE ITSELF DOESN'T HELP MATTERS.

NOWHOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> IF YOU'RE TOO SENSITIVE TO LISTEN TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WAY YOU ARE ACTING, THEN YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE ACTING.

TRUTH IS JUST THE TRUTH AND I CAN'T HELP IT IF THEY'RE HYPERSENSITIVE ABOUT THIS LABEL.

IS IT UN-AMERICAN FOR FOLKS TO ACT THIS WAY AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HYPERSENSITIVE.

THEY BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THEY BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TRUTH OF THAT LABEL WHICH IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

YOU WON'T HEAR ME CALLING SOMEBODY SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY ARE.

IN THIS CASE, WE'VE SEEN THE WHAT THEY ACT AND THE WAY THAT THEY DESPISE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND TRY TO DIVIDE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN INSERT THE AUTHORITARIAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE'RE AT A CRISIS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THREATENING ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WE HAVE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER THREAT AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE GENTELE.

THEY'RE EVADING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.

IN THEY'RE PROUD OF FASCIST, DON'T TRY TO LABEL IT LIKE THAT.

>> Ted: THE THREATS TO WORKERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS.

FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOOG ENOUGH DOING ENOUGH TO CRACK DOWN AND HOLD THOSE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE?

>> IT'S UP TO THE LAWMAKER AND REQUIRELEGISLATURE DO MORE.

WE DID SEE CERTIFIED ELECTION OFFICIALS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE THEIR ADDRESSES SEALED FROM PUBLIC RECORD.

THAT'S A GOOD START.

BUT THE HARASSMENT HASN'T GOTTEN THERE AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE HIGHER PENALTIES AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO WORK ON, ISSUE THINK, ARE STILL TOI THINK, ARE IN THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING OK. >> Ted: BUT IS THE SYSTEM DOING OK?

BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM RECORDERS ON DOWN AND LEAVING AND JUMPING SHIP HERE AND THAT HAS TO CONCERN YOU.

>> IT SHOULD CONCERN EVERYBODY WHO BELIEVES IN THE PROCESS AND ORDERLY GOVERNMENT AND INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF THIS REPUBLIC.

WE'RE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO DESTROY OUR SYSTEMS.

NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN ONE PERSON'S POLITICAL LOSS.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AND UNTIL WE SPEAK TO THE TRUTH OF IT, UNTIL WE SPEAK FORCEFULLY TO THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD WIN AND LOSE WITH CLASS AND DISTINCTION -- LOOK, I LOST IN 2020 TO STEVEN RICHER AND WE WORK WELL TOGETHER.

WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY DO THAT?

IF YOUR CANDIDATE DOESN'T WIN, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS WRONG BUT BECAUSE THE VOTERS DISAGREE.

WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT AND MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT ONE?

WE CAN'T BE SPOILED BRATS ALL OF THE TIME AND WE HAVE TO BE ADULTS.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH DID THIS INFORMATION PLAY INTO THIS?

>> IT HAS A REAL HUMAN IMPACT.

YOU MENTIONED THESE ELECTION WORKERS AND 12 OUT 15 ARIZONA COUNTIES HAVE LOST THE SENIOR ELECTION OFFICIAL IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THAT LOST OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWLEDGE ANDLOSSOF EXPERIENCE COULD HAVE AN INFECTION THAT'S WHY THEY PICK AT THE OFFICIALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT REGULAR ELECTIONS OR HAVE A REGULAR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS WHY I USE THE TRUTH-TELLING WORDS I USE BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU AND I MANY SWORE TO GIVE OUR LIVES TO PROTECT.

>> Ted: AGAIN, SHOULD THERE BE MORE OF AN EFFORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ON CRACKING DOWN ON THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE WHO ARE DOING WRONG THINGS?

>> WE RUN UP AGAINST THE PROBLEM WHEN THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COLLIDE AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IF AND WHEN WE DECIDE TO REGULATE THESE THINGS.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN'T YELL "FIRE" IN A CROWDED MOVIE THEATER.

THERE ARE TIME, PLACE AND MANNER, LIMITATIONS THAT CAN BE PUT ON.

WE'VE WORKED WITH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, STATE OFFICIALS, LOCAL POLICE AND ALL THE WAY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR STRONGER LAW ENFORCEMENT REACTIONS THAT FOLKS ARE FEELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Ted: ADRIAN FONTES, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> NEXT TIME WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOCCER.

>> Ted: OH, NO WE WON'T.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.

>> THERE'S LISTENING SESSIONS AND OTHER SURVEYS FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES AND EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME TOMAS LEON, PRESIDENT OF QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND DOUG THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED BLUE ZONES.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> BLUE ZONES, IT'S BASED ON LONGEVITY OF THE LONGEST LIVED CULTURES IN THE WORLD.

WHAT THE BLUE ZONE'S ORGANIZATION, THE FOUNDER IDENTIFIED WERE COMMONALITIES THAT FOCUSED ON THE WAY OF LIVING, HEALTHY EATING, SOCIALLY CONNECTING, LIVING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE AND HOW YOU MOVE NATURALLY IN THE COMMUNITY, IN YOUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT THAT IS MAKING A HEALTHIER CHOICE THE EASIEST CHOICE.

>> Ted: AND PROOF THAT IT INCREASING LONGEVITY.

>> A GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE CHANGING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, HAVING HAVING THAT ZIP CODE EFFECT AND BLUE ZONE IMPLEMENTED THAT MODEL ACROSS 70 PLUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Ted: THE COMMUNITY IS KEY HERE AS FAR AS GETTING THE INFORMATION AND IMPLEMENTING CHANGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY IN THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS, OUR STUDENTS LEARN TO HELP PEOPLE BE HEALTHIER AND THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH BLUE ZONES AND TOMAS, THEY CAN LEARN IN THE FIELD.

THEY CAN LEARN ON THE JOB AND LEARN AND LISTEN.

AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, YOU CAN'T TEACH NULL LISTENUNTILYOU LISTEN AND LISTEN UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND.

>> Ted: WHERE THIS PULSE REPORT COMES IN.

>> I WAS TOLD THERE WERE THREE AND I'M SURE THERE WERE MANY MORE AND 15 OF OUR FACULTY WORK TOGETHER WITH TOMAS AND HIS CREW TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DEVELOP THE SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS SO WE KNEW THAT IT WAS HIGH QUALITY IF YOU WANT, A COLLABORATION.

>> WHAT WE DID, WE PARTNERED WITH BLUE ZONES AND MANY OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CONDUCT A STRUCTURED ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF WELL-BEING IN GREATER SOUTH PHOENIX AREA WHERE THERE'S LIFE EXPECTANCY AND THE DISPARITY GAP IS 14 YEARS AND THEN THREE MORE YEARS OF LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC EFFECT FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES AND WE CONDUCTED THAT ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY THE STRENGTHS, NEEDS AND GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE.

WE WANTED TO SHARE THOSE ASSESSMENT RESULTS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SO WE PARTNERED WITH THE ASU COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS TO STRUCTURE THOSE LISTENING SESSIONS TO GET FEEDBACK ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO THE RESIDENTS.

>> Ted: WHAT FEEDBACK DID YOU GET?

>> WELL, WE GOT FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES AROUND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ALSO A CONCERN THAT CAME UP WAS THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND ARE THEY WORKING TOGETHER?

THE RESIDENTS SPOKE TO US AND SAID, LOOK, WE WANT YOU WALL TO BE WORKING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, WORKING AND COLLABORATING.

>> Ted: DID IT COME FROM THE SESSIONS?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE CAME IN AND ACTUALLY, NO, BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY COALITIONS FOR MANY YEARS.

SO I KNOW THAT THEY WORK IN SILOS, IF YOU WILL, AND SPECIFIC TOPICS.

BLUE ZONES IS A VERY HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH AND I'M SURE THERE WERE GROUPS WORKING ON PEDESTRIAN INJURY AND GROUPS ON DRUG ABUSE AND JOB THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THE INTERESTS.

>> Ted: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GET THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT GOING OR IS IT DIFFICULT?

>> COME ON.

[ Laughter ] YOU >> OF COURSE IT'S DIFFICULT BUT YOU FIND THE COMMON ELEMENT THAT EVERYBODY CAN BUY INTO, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY.

>> Ted: WHEN THEY BUY INTO IT, YOU LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND AND YOU HAVE IT AND THERE IT IS ON PAPER AND HOW DO YOU GET CHANGE OUT OF ALL OF THAT?

>> THAT'S THE FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THEY WANTED US TO FACILITATE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND CREATING THAT BLUEPRINT PLAN FOR CHANGE AND COORDINATING THAT EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT WILL TAKE BRINGING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS TO INFORM IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT MODEL.

AND SO, BUILDING THAT TRUST BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED AND THERE'S BEEN DISINVESTMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND A LOT OF HISTORICAL, SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND POLICY ISSUES LEADING TO A LOT OF DISPARITIES AND INEQUALITIES AND WE'RE DEALING WIT STRESS ISSUES AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AT TIMES TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US AND THE PARTNERSHIP.

>> Ted: DEBORAH, LAST YES, QUESTION, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> THE STUDENTS WANT TO DO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OUR FACULTY WANT TO BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE TEACH AND SO, THEY WANT TO BE ON THE GROUND TO HELP PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHIER.

WE'LL BRING ALL OF OUR KNOWLEDGE TO TOMAS AND EQUALITY HEALTH AND LEARN WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT ARE THE BEST APPROACHES TO MAKING CHANGE.

>> Ted: GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THIS AND DEBORAH HOLITZER AND TOMAS LEON, WE THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!