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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, A FINAL LOOK AT THE  LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDING A RUNDOWN OF IMPORTANT  ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS.

>> Carver: I THINK PART OF  WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT  SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DEALT WITH SOON.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH NOW.

>> Gene: PLUS THE STATE OF THEATER AND LOCAL ACTING AS WE  TENTATIVELY POKE OUR HEADS OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

LAST WEEK MARKED THE LAST DAY  THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SIGN BILLS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HER FINAL STROKES OF THE PEN, AS WELL AS  ROUNDING UP ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES AND LOOKING AHEAD, YES,  ALREADY TO NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL DIP OR TOE INTO THE  SPECIAL ELECTION FOR FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE RACES BEING WATCHED CLOSELY FROM WASHINGTON D.C.  WE BEGIN NOW WITH A RETURN TO SCHOOL THAT IS ALSO SEEN THE  RETURN OF COVID-19.

HERE IS THE LINE.

WELL, WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING, AS ALBUQUERQUE CLOSED EL  DORADO HIGH SCHOOL FOLLOWING A SERIES OF RAPID RESPONSE VISITS  FOR COVID-19 POSITIVE TESTS.

APS SPOKESWOMAN MONICA ARMENTA  SAID WHAT APPARENTLY MANY PEOPLE ARE THINKING, WE EXPECTED THIS.

SCHOOL HAS BEEN IN SESSION IN PERSON FOR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS  AND ALREADY SCHOOLS SHIFTED TO REMOTE LEARNING AS CASES POP UP.

IS IT A BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLUNDER OR EXPECTED PROBLEM TO BE  MANAGED?

LINE OPINION PANEL HAS A FEW IDEAS.

JOINING US AT OUR VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE IS A WELCOME GUEST,  FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO BLACK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL,  CATHRYN MCGILL.

ATTORNEY AND LINE REGULAR, LAURA SANCHEZ IS  BACK AFTER A BUSY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ANOTHER LINE REGULAR, PRINCIPAL OF THE GARRITY GROUP, TOM  GARRITY IS WITH US AS WELL.

APS SAID THERE NO WAY TO AVOID  COVID-19 CASES IN A RETURN TO SCHOOL.

INDEED SCHOOLS FROM  SOCORRO TO RIO RANCHO AND BEYOND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO EASE OFF  IN-PERSON LEARNING, TOMORROW.

DOES THIS FEEL LIKE AT ALL  SURPRISING OR LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WAS THIS TO BE  EXPECTED?

>> Tom:   THIS IS FIRST TIME ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN NEW MEXICO  HAS REALLY KIND OF RAMPED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO SOME DEGREE I AM WILLING TO CUT THEM  A LOT OF SLACK AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME  EXPECTATION THAT JUST AS WE SAW SOME COUNTIES SLIP FROM GREEN TO  YELLOW AS FAR AS THE COUNTY RANKINGS, THAT THERE WASN'T  GOING TO BE A PERFECT SCIENCE.

THAT JUST BECAUSE SCHOOLS OPEN  UP THAT NOBODY IS GOING TO CATCH COVID OR TEST POSITIVE FOR IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT IS TO BE EXPECTED.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN VERY SPORADIC AS FAR  AS JUST AROUND THE STATE.

THERE IS NOT ONE CONCENTRATION  IN ANY ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR AREA OF NEW MEXICO SO, I THINK  THEY ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN AND I'M NOT ALL THAT SURPRISED  THAT JUST AS THEY RAMP UP, SOME SCHOOLS JUST BECAUSE OF THINGS  OUT OF THEIR CONTROL HAD TO GO BACK TO REMOTE LEARNING.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

CATHERINE, WE GOT TO SAY THIS,  THERE ARE EQUITY QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE RAISED.

WE KNOW COVID-19 HAS HIT LOW INCOME AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES  MUCH HARDER.

IS IT BOUND TO HIT SCHOOLS IN  THOSE COMMUNITIES THE SAME WAY?

SHOULD WE JUST DEAL WITH THAT AT  A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL?

>> Cathryn: WE NEEDED TO DEAL  WITH IT PRIOR TO COVID AND DEFINITELY NEED TO DEAL WITH  IT NOW AS SOME OF THOSE DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES ARE  EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE TOM SAID I  HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF GRACE TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE  DOING, I HOPE, THE BEST THEY CAN BUT IT IS REALLY TOUGH  SITUATION.

KIDS DO NEED CONSISTENCY  ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE BEHIND IN ANYTHING AND SO I SAY FOR ME,  LIKE WHAT I KEEP SAYING IS, HOW CAN WE BE SUPPORTIVE?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO  ENSURE THE CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL AND ALSO HOPING THAT  WE WILL HAVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY SO  WHEN THINGS HAPPEN LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CORRECT IMMEDIATELY  AND HAVE SOME ON-THE-SPOT RECOVERY WITH THE KIDS AT THE  CENTER.

>> Gene: CATHY, DO YOU FEEL LIKE  THEY HAD A PLAN GOING IN THAT THEY ARE EXECUTING ON NOW.

DO YOU FEEL THEY HAVE A HANDLE ON IT?

>> Cathryn: WE WERE HEARING THAT SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO  BE BACK IN SESSION SO WE GOT USED TO THAT AND, WAIT, WHAT,  YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GOING TO GO BACK TO SESSION AND IT  HAPPENED REALLY QUICKLY AND SO, I THINK THEY -- I AM  HOPING THEY DID THE BEST THEY COULD BUT I DIDN'T REALLY SEE  A GREAT TACTICAL PLAN, TEACHERS NOT ALL IMMUNIZED  BEFORE THEY WENT BACK, THEY ARE AT 70% NOW, BUT PERHAPS  THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE.

IT DID NOT SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

>> Gene: LAURA, I HAVE TO SAY  PERSONALLY I WAS IN FAVOR OF KIDS GETTING BACK IN THE  CLASSROOM AFTER I WAS OPPOSED TO THEM GETTING IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT IS CLEAR MOST STUDENTS BENEFIT NOT JUST FROM IN-PERSON  LEARNING BUT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT IS THERE A POINT WHERE WE  SAY, OKAY, WE ARE JUST NOT READY TO BATTLE THIS DISEASE IN  SCHOOLS?

THIS IS THE WRONG PLACE TO HAVE  THIS SORT OF EXPERIMENT KIND OF PLAY OUT AND AS CATHY MENTIONS,  IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF ALL THE TEACHERS WERE VACCINATED  BEFOREHAND?

I AM CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHT ON  THAT?

>> Laura: I THINK, YOU KNOW,  JUST SORT OF A PERSONAL LEVEL, I AM ON A BOARD RIGHT NOW ON THE  GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE SOUTH VALLEY ACADEMY WHICH IS A  CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE SOUTH VALLEY AND HIGH PROPORTION OF  HISPANIC STUDENTS, THERE IS A LOT OF INCOME DISPARITY IN THE  SOUTH VALLEY SO WE HAVE SOME VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT ARE  PART OF OUR SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT GOING  BACK AND THE BOARD MEETINGS THAT WE HAD, WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF  TEACHERS EXPRESSING THEIR FRUSTRATION ABOUT THIS DECISION.

OF COURSE, IT WASN'T THE SCHOOL BOARD'S DECISION.

IT WAS THE STATE'S, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF JUST FRUSTRATION AMONG  THEM.

MANY OF THEM FELT THAT IT WAS  TOO SOON TO GO BACK AND ESPECIALLY AT THE VERY END OF A  SCHOOL YEAR WITH SO LITTLE TIME LEFT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THEY  FELT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO GO BACK AND PLAN  DURING THE SUMMER, GO BACK IN THE FALL.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HAVE TO GIVE PROPS TO THE  SCHOOLS, TO THE TEACHERS, FACULTY AND PARENTS ALSO TO HAVE  FAITH IN THE SYSTEM AND SEND STUDENTS BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE  NOT ABLE, MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS, UNLESS THEY ARE OVER  16, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINATED AND A LOT OF TEACHERS  STILL, MANY OF THEM, HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE  NOT.

SO IT IS JUST A VERY FRUSTRATING  TIME RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF ANXIETY FOR FOLKS BUT I  THINK THAT HOPEFULLY THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR  ADMINISTRATION FOR THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER LEADERS,  TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING AND WHAT  PARENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR INTERACTIONS RIGHT NOW AS WE TRY  THIS SORT OF EXPERIMENT.

AND THINK IT IS GOOD THAT WE SEE  SITUATIONS LIKE EL DORADO WHERE THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY DECIDING TO  SHUT IT DOWN AFTER THEY SEE EVIDENCE OF CASES.

I THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD  ALL BE PREPARED TO DO AS WE SEE -- IF WE SEE OUTBREAKS IN  OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> Gene: I GOT TO GET PARENTS IN  HERE AND IMPACT ON THEM.

ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS INTO NOT  HAVING KIDS AT HOME.

IT HAS TO BE A BLOW TO  PRODUCTIVITY, IF YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME, THERE IS A LOT OF  THINGS TO FIGURE OUT GETTING YOUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL FOR  FIVE WEEKS AND BACK IN HOME AFTER THAT AND TWO WEEKS IN SOME  CASES.

IT IS EASY TO LOOK BACK BUT,  AGAIN, I HAVE TO ASK FROM A PARENT'S POINT OF VIEW WAS THIS  THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

>> Tom: ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A LOT OF FAMILY UNITS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY UNITS  THAT PARENTS ARE REALLY GOOD PARENTS, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD  FRIENDS TO THEIR KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD, BEING  AN EMPLOYEE, AND ADDING IN BEING A TEACHER OR OVERSEEING THAT  TEACHING PROCESS AT HOME PLACES A LOT OF STRESS ON PARENTS  BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO ONE MORE THING.

SO, I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MONTH OR TWO WEEKS,  WHATEVER THAT SPAN IS, I THINK THAT IT PROVIDES THAT REPRIEVE  FOR THE FAMILY UNITS, FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN BASICALLY  TAKING ON ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ROLES TO BASICALLY GET A  BREATHER AND GO, LET'S GET BACK TO NORMAL FOR A FEW WEEKS,  COLLECT OUR THOUGHTS AND THEN HIT THE SUMMER AND HOPEFULLY  REGAIN SOME NORMALCY.

I ALSO THINK WHAT THIS TIME  PERIOD HAS SHOWN US IS JUST AS THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO ARE  REALLY GOOD FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTORS WITH THE CLASSROOM,  THERE ARE SOME TEACHERS WHO ARE MUCH BETTER ON ZOOM OR IN A  VIRTUAL NATURE AND A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT WAY AS WELL.

MAYBE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE OFF SEASON OR  DURING THE SUMMER IS A CHANCE FOR SCHOOLS TO REALLY PAIR UP  THE TEACHERS WHO ARE GOOD IN A VIRTUAL SETTING AND GET THOSE  TEACHERS PAIRED UP WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE GOOD IN A VIRTUAL  SETTING BECAUSE THE HYBRID NATURE RIGHT NOW OF WHAT WE ARE  SEEING IS REALLY -- IT A CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS -- WHO  FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, HAVE  TO ATTEND CLASSES VIRTUALLY.

>> Gene: I CAN IMAGINE THAT.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND THEN GET  POLITICAL IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS RACE  WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> Rubio: SO I THINK WE WENT  IN WITH A LOT OF GOOD MOMENTUM BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE  LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION IS STILL RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE  WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES AROUND RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AS  WELL AS CLIMATE JUSTICE.

>> Gene:   THE RACE IS ON.

VOTERS IN NEW MEXICO FIRST  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WILL DECIDE JUNE 1 WHO SHOULD REPLACE  DEB HAALAND THE FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, WHO IS NOW  SECRETARY OF INTERIOR, AS YOU KNOW.

THE STATE HASN'T BEEN HELD BY A REPUBLICAN IN A  DECADE-AND-A-HALF SINCE HEATHER WILSON LEFT.

THE GOP THINKS IT HAS THEIR MAN IN MARK MOORES, A LONG TIME  STATE SENATOR AND FORMER STAFFER FOR LT.

GOVERNOR WALTER BRADLEY.

DEMOCRATS PICKED MELANIE STANDSBURY IN A RUNOFF ELECTION.

THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND FORMER WASHINGTON D.C. COMMITTEE  STAFFER NOSED OUT STATE SENATOR ANTOINETTE SEDILLO LOPEZ.

OTHER NOTABLE NAMES ARE INDEPENDENT AND FORMER LAND  COMMISSIONER AUBREY DUNN AND LIBERTARIAN CHRIS MANNING.

WE'RE ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF MORE VOICES BUT, LAURA, YOU HAVE TO  THINK MR. MANNING AND ESPECIALLY MR. DUNN ARE NO HELP TO  MR. MOORES.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FIELD SHAPING  UP WITH OTHER NAMES IN THERE?

>> Laura: IT IS INTERESTING AN  RACE.

AUBREY DUNN HAS RUN A FEW TIMES,  NOT AS A REPUBLICAN, AS LIKE A LIBERTARIAN AND HE HAS STRONG  REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, I THINK, IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE.

SO, IT DEFINITELY IS NO HELP TO SENATOR MOORES.

BUT I THINK THAT THE DISTRICT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN TRENDING  SINCE HEATHER WILSON DEMOCRAT SO I THINK THE DEMOCRAT HAS THE  EDGE BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS AN UNUSUAL YEAR AS ALWAYS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENING AND IT IS A  VERY SHORT RUN IN TERMS OF THE CAMPAIGN TIME SO WE ARE TALKING  ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS, A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS, AS  OPPOSED TO ALL THE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE USUALLY LEADING INTO A  CYCLE LIKE THIS.

I EXPECT AND NOT SURPRISED THAT  WE ARE ALREADY SEEING A LOT OF ADS OUT THERE.

NOT SURPRISED THEY ARE ALREADY NEGATIVE.

IT IS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I THINK TRADITIONALLY YOU SEE  FOLKS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FIRST BEFORE THEY GO NEGATIVE BUT I  THINK IN THIS CASE, GIVEN THE SHORT TIMELINE, WE ARE ALREADY  SEEING THE NEGATIVE ADS OUT THERE BUT ALSO SOME FACT  CHECKING IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THERE IS ALLEGATIONS ABOUT FROM  MR. MOOORES' CAMPAIGN ABOUT STANDSBURY'S ALLEGED LACK OF  SUPPORT FOR SENIORS AND SOCIAL SECURITY THAT THEY ARE PUSHING  BACK ON, FOR SURE.

SO, ANYWAY, I THINK IT IS GOING  TO END UP BEING AS ALWAYS WITH NEW MEXICO IT IS AN INTERESTING  CAMPAIGN BUT I THINK IT WILL DEFINITELY BE DIFFICULT FOR  MR. MOORES GIVEN AUBREY DUNN AND  OTHERS IN THE RACE.

>> Gene: I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR  OPINION ON THAT AS WELL.

MR. MOORES CERTAINLY HAS NAME  RECOGNITION.

HE IS KNOWN QUITE WELL WITHIN  THE PARTY.

HE IS ON THE CONSERVATIVE END OF  IT.

WOULD THAT BODE WELL FOR HIM IN  THIS GO GROUND?

>> Tom: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BASE  AND IT IS ONE THING THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD A HARD TIME  ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS FAR AS  GETTING THAT VOTE OUT.

IT DOESN'T HELP THAT AUBREY DUNN  IS IN THERE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS WHO BASICALLY,  YOU KNOW, WILL HELP TO SPLIT THAT VOTE INCLUDING SOME  LIBERTARIANS, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE EARLY ADS THAT I HAVE  SEEN WITH CHRIS MANNING, WHO IS A LIBERTARIAN, HAS BEEN FOCUSING  MORE ON PULLING THAT DEMOCRATIC VOTE, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS, I  THINK, ARE REALLY SOLIDIFIED WITH MELANIE STANSBURY AND IT IS  HER ELECTION RIGHT NOW TO LOSE.

>> Gene: CATHY I WANT TO GO BACK  TO HOW MS. STANSBURY GOT THE SEAT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

RUSS CONTRERAS POINTED OUT THAT MS. HAALAND'S ELECTION WAS A BIG  DEAL FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND GEORGEEN LOUIS AND  DIDN'T POLL WELL AMONG THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WHICH SELECTED  THE CANDIDATES, AND, THOUGH ANTOINETTE SEDILLO LOPEZ WON THE  FIRST ROUND SHE LOST RUNOFF.

YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATION IS A  TRICKY WORD RIGHT NOW FOR THIS CYCLE.

I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR SENSE OF HOW THIS WENT AND HOW  REPRESENTATION KIND OF CAME OUT THE OTHER END OF THE PROCESS.

>> Cathryn: WELL, I MEAN, I HARKEN BACK TO THE FACT I WISH  WE COULD HAVE HAD A PRIMARY SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN  OPPORTUNITY, ALL THE VOTERS, TO WEIGH IN ON WHO THE FINAL  CANDIDATE WAS.

THEIR PROCESS WAS SOMEWHAT  CONTENTIOUS AND PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO  IS REALLY GOING TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW  THAT TREND OF HAVING A PERSON OF COLOR IN THE SEAT TO TAKE OVER  AFTER DEB HAALAND.

I GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT I  AM LOOKING FOR IS THE PERSON WHO GOES BEYOND THAT DIVERSITY,  EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO HUMANISM.

SO THAT MY INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED WHETHER I AM IN THE  ROOM OR NOT.

WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT ARE  THE POLICIES, WHAT ARE THE POSITIONS OF THE PERSON THAT IS  GOING TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE A  REPRESENTATIVE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH IS WHY ONE OF THE  ORGANIZATIONS THAT I WORK WITH IS DOING A CANDIDATE FORUM.

EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME, WE WANT TO  HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES AND NOT HAVE THEM TAKE THAT VOTE FOR  GRANTED.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM TO SAY  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO.

WE INVITED EVERYONE.

EVERYONE SAID THEY WOULD BE THERE, ACTUALLY.

MR. MOORES  SAID HE WOULD BE THERE.

THEY ACCEPTED AND THEN WITHDREW.

SO WE WON'T GET TO HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT THOSE POSITIONS BUT  WE ARE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AND THE  COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, WHILE IMPORTANT, IS NOT THE MOST  IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

>> Gene: LET'S CIRCLE BACK ON  THE WORD YOU USED, HUMANISM.

I LIKE THE WAY YOU USED THAT IN  A SENSE.

COULD YOU KIND OF EXPAND ON THAT  A LITTLE BIT?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THAT SORT OF  EXPRESSES THAT IDEA OF HUMANISM FROM A CANDIDATE.

>> Cathryn: I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE TO EDUCATE YOU  ABOUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THE THING THAT SHOULD BE  DONE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE.

AND IT IS 2021.

IT IS REALLY TIME OUT FOR US TO  HAVE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE  RIGHT WAY AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> Gene: THAT MAKES SENSE.

HEY, LAURA, I GOT A QUESTION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MS. STANSBURY.

SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ALBUQUERQUE, BUT SHE IS NOT THE  KNOWN QUANTITY THAT DEB HAALAND WAS.

LET'S NOT FORGET WAS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND A  DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, AS YOU KNOW.

I AM BACK ON THE IDEA WHERE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WAS COMING  FROM.

YOU GOT SEDILLO LOPEZ AND  SUDDENLY SHE DROPPED WAY DOWN HERE IN THE RUNOFF.

FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS NOT A THREAD.

FOLKS COULDN'T MAKE SENSE OF IT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.

WHAT WON IT FOR MS. STANSBURY IN YOUR VIEW WITH CENTRAL  COMMITTEE?

>> Laura: CENTRAL COMMITTEE IS  DEFINITELY THE ULTIMATE INSIDER BASEBALL, THAT ENTIRE PROCESS,  AND I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, BUT IT  DEFINITELY IS A LOT OF VERY STAUNCH DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE WHO  ARE ACTIVISTS IN TERMS OF THE PARTY AND I REALLY THINK THAT  MELANIE STANSBURY HAS A LOT OF ENERGY.

SHE IS YOUNG.

SHE IS ENERGETIC.

SHE IS ARTICULATE AND I THINK PEOPLE SAW IN HER SOMEBODY THAT  THEY WANTED TO SEE REPRESENTING THEM IN WASHINGTON.

SHE WAS A COMMITTEE STAFFER.

SHE HAS A GOOD BACKGROUND IN  NATURAL RESOURCES WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF HERE IN NEW MEXICO AND  WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE A VOICE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE NEED  TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

AND THEN HER TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN, WHILE  BRIEF, I THINK IT HAS BEEN IMPACTFUL.

SHE HAS DEFINITELY HAD SOME GOOD BILLS THAT SHE REPRESENTED OR  THAT SHE SPONSORED, FOR EXAMPLE, SHE WAS -- IN MY LINE OF WORK, I  WORK OBVIOUSLY IN THE UTILITY SECTOR, BUT SHE WORKED ON A GRID  MODERNIZATION BILL WHICH IS REALLY BIG IN TERMS OF MAKING  SURE THAT NEW MEXICO GOES INTO THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF ITS GRID  RELIABILITY, ITS RESILIENCE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT  TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO USE SMART METERS AND INTEGRATE INTO  THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THAT IS SOMETHING SHE SPEARHEADED.

I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS LOOKING FOR THAT  ENERGY AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WHEN ALL WAS  SAID AND DONE.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT  WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WATCHED THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THIS  TIME IT WAS ALL VIRTUAL, SO IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE  FOLKS LIKE ANTOINETTE SEDILLO LOPEZ, WHEN SHE WOULD CHAIR A  COMMITTEE.

SHE WAS VICE CHAIR BUT SOMETIMES  SHE WOULD CHAIR THE SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.

AND  THEN MELANIE, WHO WAS VICE CHAIR ALSO, SHE WOULD CHAIR SOMETIMES  AND YOU HAD GEORGEEN LOUIS, WHO WAS ALSO CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE  AND THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT STYLES.

AND I THINK THAT REALLY TRANSLATED WELL FOR MELANIE AND  SHE ENDED UP -- I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURPRISED SHE TOOK IT.

I THINK SHE IS A VERY ARTICULATE, VERY ENERGETIC  PERSON.

>> Gene: LAURA, REAL QUICK, IN  10 SECONDS, AGAIN THIS PROCESS QUESTION.

CATHY MADE A GOOD POINT.

VOTERS DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO GET  THEIR CUT OR THEIR SAY IN A PRIMARY.

IS THIS A FAIR WAY TO GO TO PICK  SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT?

>> Laura: IT IS SUCH INSIDER  BASEBALL.

THE THING IS BOTH PARTIES HAVE  THIS PROCESS.

IT IS IN STATE LAW.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BAKED FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THE PARTY CREATED.

ALL OF US WOULD PREFER TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY.

OUTCOME MIGHT  HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE MONEY  RAISED AND SPENT AND A LONGER PROCESS.

IT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS AND UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES TO  CHANGE THE STATE LAW SO THAT THE VOTERS HAVE MORE OF A SAY, YOU  KNOW, THEY WILL HAVE A SAY IN THE ELECTION COMING UP BUT WHO  THE CANDIDATE WAS FOR EACH PARTY, NOT SO MUCH.

>> Gene: WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT.

ONE MORE LEGISLATIVE TURN WITH  THE LINE.

AHEAD WE ARE FOCUSING ON  IN-PERSON THEATER EXPERIENCES.

THE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES HAVE  BEEN AT A STANDSTILL IN NEW MEXICO FOR MONTHS AS PUBLIC  HEALTH ORDERS FORCED VENUES LIKE ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATER AND  POPEJOY TO HALT IN-PERSON LIVE PERFORMANCES.

WE MIGHT BE SEEING A GLIMMER OF LIGHT THAT CAN BE SEEN AT THE  END OF THE TUNNEL BUT THESE PROLONGED CLOSURES HAVE  THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT AND LOCAL ACTORS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT LIES  AHEAD FOR THE INDUSTRY.

NMIF BRYCE DIX SAT DOWN WITH LITTLE THEATER EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR HENRY AVERY AND ACTOR HASANI OLUJIMI TO TALK ABOUT THE  CONCERNS AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO KEEP THEATER ALIVE IN THE  MEANTIME.

>> Dix: HENRY AND HASANI,  THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TODAY.

HENRY, ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATER HASN'T HAD A LIVE SHOW  SINCE LAST MARCH WHICH IS A LONG TIME.

CAN YOU GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF HOW THE ABSENCE OF THESE LIVE  PERFORMANCES HAS AFFECTED YOUR THEATER'S INCOME AND ITS STAFF?

>> Avery: WE ARE PROUD TO SAY OVER 85% OF OUR OPERATIONAL  INCOME IS FROM OUR PRODUCTIONS.

SO, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY INCOME FROM THE PRODUCTIONS FOR A YEAR  SO THAT HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT, BUT, FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE GOT  SOME OF THE PPP MONEY, WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SAVINGS.

WE HAVE DONE SOME BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY LUCRATIVE, ONLINE  SHOWS, WE HAVE BEEN PRODUCING ONLINE, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN A  HUGE SOURCE OF INCOME BUT IT IS KEEPING OUR NAME OUT THERE, BUT,  PRIMARILY WE HAVE HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM  OUR PATRONS, OUR FOLLOWERS, PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KEEP THIS 91  YEAR OLD THEATER ALIVE.

SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE  SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> Dix: AND YOU MENTIONED THAT  YOU GUYS ARE DOING VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE AND I CAN ASSUME  THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GETTING THE BILLS PAID AS MUCH AS YOU  WOULD HOPE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ASKING FOR  DONATIONS BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES THE  THEATER HAS BEEN EXPLORING TO HELP FOR THE BILLS?

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?

>> Avery: WE DID TWO BENEFITS,  TWO ONLINE SHOW STOPPER SHOWS WHERE WE DID QUITE WELL.

THEY WERE FREE SHOWS BUT WE WERE ASKING FOR DONATIONS AND  SUPPORT.

WE GOT IT FROM ALL OVER THE  COUNTRY.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I DID AN  INTERVIEW FOR ONE OF THE STATIONS HERE THAT WENT ALL OVER  THE COUNTRY.

WE WERE GETTING DONATIONS FROM  PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS AND ALL OVER.

SO, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF EXCITING THAT PEOPLE DO  APPRECIATE WHAT THIS THEATER HAS ACHIEVED IN 91 YEARS AND ARE  REALLY DETERMINED THAT WE ARE GOING TO STAY AFLOAT.

>> Dix: IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR VIEWERS TO POINT OUT THE  ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATER IS LARGELY COMMUNITY BASED WHICH  MEANS THE MAJORITY OF ACTORS ARE MAINLY VOLUNTEERS, RIGHT,  NOT PAID AND THERE IS A VERY SMALL STAFF OF PAID  PROFESSIONALS; RIGHT?

>> Avery: ALL OF THE  PERFORMERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

JUST A SMALL PORTION OF THE STAFF AND THE DESIGN TEAMS AND  PEOPLE LIKE THAT GET A SMALL STIPEND BUT PERFORMERS ARE ALL  VOLUNTEERS.

>> Dix: YOU MENTIONED YOU HAD  LUCK WITH DONATIONS COMING IN.

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS THAT BEEN;  PRETTY SUCCESSFUL?

>> Avery: QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

AS I SAID PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY TO KEEP US AFLOAT SO  THAT WE CAN BE HERE WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER AND WE CAN  GET BACK TO DOING WHAT WE DO WELL.

WHICH IS THE LIVE PERFORMANCES.

SO, WE HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE.

WE ARE CREATIVE PEOPLE IN  THEATER SO WE FOUND WAYS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND  THE PPP MONEY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET, WE ARE STILL HERE.

WE ARE READY TO GO WHEN WE ARE ALLOWED TO REOPEN.

>> Dix: GREAT.

HASANI, IS AS AN ACTOR YOURSELF,  ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATER'S STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON  MUST BE A LITTLE ALARMING TO YOU, TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF ANY THEATER IN ALBUQUERQUE BE A  HARD HIT FOR THE ACTING COMMUNITY HERE LIKE YOU?

>> Olujimi: IT WOULD BE VERY DEVASTATING.

I KIND OF SET UP IN BED THE OTHER NIGHT THINKING ABOUT THIS  AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE GOVERNMENT  SUPPORT, BUT I LIKE ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATER AND OTHER  THEATERS IN THIS TOWN, IT WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL FOR US AS  ACTORS TO SEE THEM CLOSE BECAUSE WE ARE FAMILY.

WE MIGHT PULL EACH OTHERS HAIR OUT AND ROLL OUR EYES BUT AT THE  END OF THE DAY, IT IS ABOUT THE JOY OF GETTING THE WORK DONE AND  PRESENTING A SHOW THAT TAKES THE AUDIENCE ON A JOURNEY OUTSIDE OF  THEIR ORDINARY DAY LIVES.

AND FOR US TO NOT BE ABLE TO  TELL THAT STORY AND TO SEE ONE OF OUR ICONS SUCH AS ALT CLOSE,  OH MY GOSH, THAT WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING.

I WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO KNIT SWEATERS AND SELL THEM ON THE  STREET BEFORE ALT CLOSES DOWN.

>> Dix: HENRY HAVE YOU HEARD  ANYTHING ELSE FROM OTHER  COMMUNITY BASED THEATERS HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE?

ARE OTHER PEOPLE STRUGGLING?

>> Olujimi: EVERYBODY IS  STRUGGLING.

SOME OF THEM UNFORTUNATELY HAVE  HAD TO CLOSE ALTOGETHER.

THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WILL NOT REOPEN  AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WHICH WE REALLY HATE, BECAUSE AS HASANI  SAYS, WE ARE A BIG FAMILY AND EVERYBODY WORKS AT ALL THE  THEATERS SO WE ARE CLOSELY RELATED.

SO WE WOULD REALLY BE SAD TO SEE SOME OF THEM GO BY THE WAY SIDE.

OTHERS ARE STRUGGLING.

SOME OF THEM ARE ON HIATUS, SO THEY CAN  REOPEN.

WE HAVE PROBABLY THE LARGEST  STAFF SINCE WE ARE THE LARGEST THEATER, A 500 SEAT THEATER.

SO WE HAVE HAD TO LAY OFF STAFF AND HAD TO CUT BACK ON SALARIES  BUT WE KEPT AS MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER AS WE CAN, AND THE PPP  MONEY HAS HELPED US KEEP OUR STAFF.

BUT, TO TRY TO REASSEMBLE A WHOLE TEAM LIKE WE HAVE, IF WE  HAVE TO LAY EVERYBODY OFF AND LET EVERYBODY GO THEIR OWN WAY,  THAT WOULD BE REALLY HARMFUL TO THE FUTURE OF THE THEATER.

>> Dix: THIS COULD BE A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU, BUT  I WANT TO START WITH YOU HENRY, DO YOU THINK THE  CONCERN IS MORE AROUND THE HERE AND NOW ECONOMICS OF  THESE CLOSURES OR DO YOU THINK THIS IS MORE OF A LONG-TERM  PROBLEM THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE THEATER COMMUNITY POST  PANDEMIC?

>> Avery: WE KNOW IT IS NEVER  GOING TO BE THE SAME AGAIN.

WE HAVE TO DEVELOP SOME KIND OF  HYBRID COMBINATION OF THE FUTURE.

WE HOPE TO GET BACK TO LIVE PERFORMANCES BUT EVEN WHEN WE  DO, WE KNOW WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE LIMITED AUDIENCE, THAT WE  ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR PERFORMERS SO BEING ABLE TO DO A  BIG CAST SHOW WITH LOTS OF CREW AND CAST AND SINGING AND DANCING  WE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IMMEDIATELY, JUST FOR  SAFETY REASONS, FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHATEVER IT IS GOING TO BE, WE WILL DO IT  AND WE'LL DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY BUT WE ARE ALL  REALISTIC AND KNOW IT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THE  SAME, NOT RIGHT AWAY.

IT MAY EVOLVE BACK TO WHERE WE  ARE NOW OR WHERE WE WERE, BUT, IT IS A GOOD THING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW LIFE SHOULDN'T BE STAGNANT.

IT SHOULD CHANGE.

SO WE ARE EXCITED THE FACT THERE  MAY BE NEW POSSIBILITIES AND THINGS WE HAVE GOTTEN COMPLACENT  ABOUT AND WE'LL RETHINK THEM AND GROW FROM THEM AND WE WILL MAKE  IT EVEN BETTER.

>> Dix: WHAT ABOUT YOU HASANI,  WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> Olujimi: I AM WITH HENRY.

WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO START AT A LIMITED REQUIREMENT  AND THEN LESS DISTANCE, LESS DISTANCE.

I MISS EVERYONE BUT THIS IS  SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT AS  WELL AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BUT, THE SMALLER THE CAST IS,  SIGN ME UP, YOU KNOW.

>> Dix: YOU TOLD ME BEFORE  THIS THAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ACTING THEY  HAVE TO GO TO OTHER PLACES TO DO SO TO MAKE MONEY TO SUPPORT  THEMSELVES?

WHY IS THAT, WHAT IS YOUR  EXPERIENCE WITH THAT?

>> Olujimi: WELL, HERE, WE DO  A LOT OF COMMUNITY THEATER BUT IF YOU WANT TO HIT BROADWAY OR  OTHER MAJOR OUTLETS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROBABLY GO FURTHER  OUT AND SEEK THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT, ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT  COMMUNITY THEATER IS, AS I SAY, IT SAVED MY LIFE.

A LOT OF -- BROADWAY HAS SAID THIS MORNING ON MSNBC THAT IT IS  SMALL LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATERS THAT IS THE CATALYST THAT HELPS  THE BROADER SPAN EVEN FOR BROADWAY AND THEATER.

IT IS COMMUNITY THEATER THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN.

AND SO, THEY NEED US AND WE NEED THEM.

>> Dix: AND HENRY, SO, IF THERE IS NOT MANY  OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTORS TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT FOR ACTING  HERE, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP OUR TALENT HERE AND RETAIN OUR  TALENT HERE?

>> Avery: A LOT OF THE TALENT,  YOU KNOW, DOES GET TRAINED HERE AND THEN MOVES ON.

THAT IS WHAT WE SERVE THAT PURPOSE TO GIVING OPPORTUNITIES  AND TRAINING.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK  WITH PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS AND MUSICAL  DIRECTORS.

SO THE LOCAL PEOPLE GET A LOT OF  TRAINING BEFORE THEY WOULD GO OFF TO PURSUE ADVANCED CAREERS  IN THEATER OR EDUCATION.

BUT WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE  CAN MAKE A LIVING IN ALBUQUERQUE IN THE ARTS FOR SOME OF THE  DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS AND TEACHERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN  THE DESIGN FIELD, WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PAY THEM MONEY IN  ALBUQUERQUE AND THAT IS REALLY GREAT.

I MEAN, I WISH THAT THERE WAS A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD INCLUDE  THE ACTORS IN THAT, BUT THE WHOLE PREMISE OF COMMUNITY  THEATER IS BASED ON THE VOLUNTEER PERFORMERS.

AND THAT IS PART OF OUR CHARTER, BUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE  OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THESE PEOPLE  AND TO TRAIN THEM AND MAKE A LIVING, THAT IS VERY EXCITING TO  BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.

>> Dix: OF COURSE, ALBUQUERQUE  HAS A LARGE COMMUNITY THEATER BASE.

I THINK IT IS AROUND 50 COMMUNITY THEATERS ARE LOCATED  AROUND THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA.

THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.

>> Olujimi: I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WE HAD MORE COMMUNITY  THEATER PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTED PEOPLE AND A LOT  OF TALENT HERE TO PLAY WITH.

>> Dix: WE JUST HAVE AROUND 30  SECONDS LEFT.

HENRY, JUST SEND US OFF, CAN YOU  TELL US THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL THEATER AND VENUES  HERE UNTIL LIVE PERFORMANCES COME UP AGAIN?

>> Avery: WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE ONLINE PRESENTATION.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER  LOOKING AT THE SCREEN ALL DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO  DO THAT AND MAYBE THEY ARE JUST NOT QUITE AS INTERESTED IN  WATCHING A SHOW, A PLAY, BUT THAT IS HOW YOU CAN KEEP GOING  IS WATCH THESE SHOWS, SUPPORT THE THEATERS, BE AWARE OF WHAT  THEY ARE DOING, AND MAKING THE CONTRIBUTIONS, YOU KNOW, TO THE  THEATER.

AND AS I SAID, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN  VERY GENEROUS.

I CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE  COMMUNITY.

WE CAN ALWAYS GROW AND USE MORE  BUT TO THIS DATE, THEY HAVE KEPT US GOING, A YEAR INTO THIS, AND  WE PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, NINE MONTHS, PROBABLY,  BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO START GETTING BACK TO EARNING MONEY,  SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED THEIR SUPPORT AND BLESSINGS AND  WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Dix: HENRY AND HASANI,  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO US.

IT WAS A PLEASURE.

>> Gene:   IN THE PAST WEEK, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN  GRISHAM PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON BOTH 2021 REGULAR  AND SPECIAL SESSIONS.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE MEASURE  LEGALIZING CANNABIS AND EXPUNGING CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS  FOR CERTAIN CANNABIS RELATED CRIMES.

SHE ALSO SIGNED THE BUDGET AND WE'LL START WITH HER VETOES.

THE MOST NOTABLE OF WHICH WAS MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS  WORTH OF SPENDING EARMARKED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING COMING INTO THE  STATE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE DIDN'T  NECESSARILY OPPOSE THE WAY THE MONEY WAS BEING SPENT.

THE FEDERAL MONEY WON'T DISAPPEAR WITH THE LINE ITEM  VETO BUT SHE SAID IT IS NOT THE LEGISLATOR'S MONEY TO SPEND.

AND, LAURA, SHE SAYS SHE HAS A COURT DECISION TO BACK HER UP ON  THIS.

I AM CURIOUS YOUR OPINION ON HER  POSITION ON THIS.

>> Laura: WELL, I THINK IT  SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I AM NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY -- AT  LEAST FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE LEGISLATURE AND DO SO  REGULARLY ANTICIPATED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE HER POSITION,  BUT I DO THINK THAT SHE HAS A POINT.

THE LEGISLATURE KIND OF TOOK THAT FEDERAL FUNDING TO MEAN  THAT THEY HAD SOME SAY IN WHAT COULD BE SPENT AND SHE REALLY  FELT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES,  THEY REALLY HAVE NOT MADE IT A LEGISLATIVE DECISION.

THERE HAS  BEEN SORT OF A DIRECTIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO  GOVERNORS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF EACH STATE TO DO CERTAIN  THINGS.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT  SHE PROBABLY IS RIGHT IN TERMS OF HER POSITION.

BUT, AGAIN, SURPRISING SOMEWHAT.

>> Gene: IS IT A PRINCIPLE  THING?

IS SHE GIVING UP, YOU KNOW, A  CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY POWER HERE, YOU KNOW, BY DOING  THIS?

>> Laura: NO.

I DON'T  NECESSARILY THINK SHE IS.

SHE IS STILL THE HEAD OF THE  STATE AND STILL HAS A LOT OF INPUT AND SAY IN TERMS OF WHAT  GETS DONE FROM -- IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH COVID-19 RELIEF AND  I AM NOT SURE THAT IT DOES SORT OF ERODE ANYTHING FOR HER.

I THINK IT KIND OF EXACERBATES THE RELATIONSHIP THOUGH BETWEEN  THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN SOME  ADMINISTRATIONS, IS VERY TENSE AND OTHERS THEY HAVE A VERY, YOU  KNOW, VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

AND I THINK IT EBBS AND FLOWS, AND CERTAINLY FOR HER, THIS IS  AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> Gene: CATHY, THE GOVERNOR  ALSO VETOED A BILL THAT REQUIRED POLICE TO BE TRAINED ANNUALLY IN  DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES.

WOULD HAVE CHANGED COMPOSITION  OF OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR POLICE AND LICENSING.

NOW THIS PAST LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT  IT HERE ABOUT POLICE REFORM WITH YOU AS WELL, HAVING MAYBE MISSED  ITS MOMENT.

DID THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTION TO THE LICENSING PART  OF THIS -- SHE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE HOW.

IS THAT THROWING OUT THE BABY WHAT THE BATH WATER HERE?

>> Cathryn: I WAS CONFUSED BY IT BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT  SHE IS SAYING IS THAT THE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS REALLY  IMPORTANT.

AND SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS IT WILL BE  REINTRODUCED IN NEXT SESSION AND IT WILL GET PASSED.

THEN IF THEY CAN COME TO AGREEMENT ON HAVING CIVILIAN  OVERSIGHT, I KNOW THAT IS A TREND AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SAY  WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE SOME CIVILIANS LOOKING AT POLICE  MISCONDUCT SO THAT WE CAN GET ON THE OTHER SIDE AND REALLY HAVE  SOME ACTUAL NEW BEHAVIORS COME OUT OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT  HAVE BEEN SO MILITARIZED OVER THE PAST DECADES.

SO I AM SURPRISED THAT SHE DIDN'T ALLOW IT TO GO THROUGH  AND DIDN'T SAY, BUT WE STILL NEED TO HAVE MORE CIVILIAN  OVERSIGHT.

>> Gene: AND JUST FIX IT.

TOM, ONE THING THAT MIGHT STICK AROUND, ZOOM ACCESS TO   COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

SPEAKER EGOLF LIKES THE IDEA.

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE COMMITTEE  ROOM, YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ALL OF, YOU CAN TELL WHICH  VOICES GET HEARD, WHICH DON'T, AND THERE IS A HUMAN THING GOING  ON.

IT'S HARDER ON ZOOM, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITH EMAIL CONTENT, I  GOT TO THINK TOO.

ARE WE TRADING ACCESSIBILITY FOR  ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> Tom: GREAT QUESTION.

THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY, ANYBODY CAN LOOK  IN, BUT IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY THERE WANTING TO PROVIDE FEED BACK ON  SOME LEGISLATION, THERE IS NOT ANY REAL CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE  COMMITTEES AS FAR AS WHICH -- WHAT THEIR RULES ARE.

UNLESS YOU SIGN UP FOR SOME COMMITTEES, THE EVENING BEFORE A  BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO  HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS IN THE  LEGISLATURE BACK WHEN WE ALL WOULD MEET IN PERSON, YOU WOULD  GO IN AND ANYBODY IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR  HAND, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SO THERE WAS A CHANCE FOR THAT.

THERE WERE SOME GOOD THINGS ALONG THE LINES OF USING ZOOM  AND DOING SOME GRASS ROOTS POLLING, SOME OF THE FEATURES  WITHIN THAT VIRTUAL MEETING APP AND I THINK THAT IS GOOD, BUT,  AS FAR AS PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CONSISTENT INTERNET ACCESS.

THEY DON'T ALL HAVE, YOU KNOW, MICROPHONES AND STAND-ALONE  CAMERAS TO REALLY HELP TO COMMUNICATE.

AND AS A RESULT, THEIR MESSAGE GETS LOST IN THE LACK OF  TECHNOLOGY.

>> Gene: COULD YOU PICK UP ON  THAT.

>> Laura: SO, I MEAN, I HAVE  WORKED THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS FOR YEARS NOW AND THIS WAS  DEFINITELY A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

AND I  WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT TOM IS SAYING, I MEAN, YES, ON THE ONE  HAND YOU WERE ABLE TO -- IT WAS A LITTLE MORE CONVENIENT IN  TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO LOG ON AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING TO SANTA FE,  DEALING WITH PARKING, DEALING WITH LIKE JUST LOGISTICS OF IT  ALL, NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE OF STAYING UP THERE AND ALL  THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LACK OF  INTERACTION, BECAUSE IT WAS SO -- IT WAS PASSIVE FOR  LEGISLATORS.

THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO  RESPOND TO PEOPLES' REQUESTS IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE ENJOYED FOR YEARS, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH  MY REPRESENTATIVES, WITH MY SENATORS AND MY LOCAL REP.  AND THIS YEAR I LIVE IN A NEW LOCATION SO I HAVE A NEW  SENATOR, NEWLY ELECTED SENATOR AND I COULD NOT GET HIM TO  RETURN MY EMAILS.

I COULDN'T GET HIM TO RESPOND TO ME AND I HEARD THAT FROM A LOT  OF FOLKS THAT THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO MESSAGES, TO  EMAILS, TO TEXT, AS OPPOSED TO WHEN YOU'RE THERE PHYSICALLY IT  IS HARD FOR THEM TO IGNORE YOU IF YOU'RE IN THEIR FACE.

THAT MAKES IT VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ANYBODY WHO IS USED TO BEING  ABLE TO HAVE AND DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH FOLKS.

THE OTHER VERY STRANGE THING ABOUT THE SESSION IS THERE WERE  A LOT OF NEW LEGISLATORS, A LOT OF NEW SENATORS,  REPRESENTATIVES.

THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME.

THEY DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE IN  THE PAST IN TERMS OF BEING RESPONSIVE TO CONSTITUENTS.

FOR THEM, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THEIR NORM.

FOR THEM, THIS IS WHAT THEY THINK IS REPRESENTING AS OPPOSED  TO OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS, THEY UNDERSTAND  WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR OFFICE AND SOMEONE  IS CATCHING YOU BETWEEN COMMITTEES, TALKING TO YOU ABOUT  AN ISSUE.

SO IT IS VERY -- I AM CONCERNED  ABOUT SOME OF THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT IF WE CONTINUE TO DO  IT THROUGH ZOOM.

>> Gene: MR. EGOLF SAYS 6100  INDIVIDUALS HAVE LOGGED ON TO HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS VIA  ZOOM, LIKE 6100.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT HERE?

THAT IS LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Cathryn: THAT IS A LOT OF  PEOPLE AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED AND TALK ABOUT WHO  ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS, WHO HAVE ACCESS FOR  ALL THESE YEARS AND MAYBE WE NEED NEW NORMATIVE BEHAVIORS  ABOUT HOW WE DO THINGS AND BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS  BEEN SO LOW TECH, THEY DIDN'T TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO HOW TO  DO IT REALLY WELL, I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF PEOPLE  INTERACTING.

I THINK HAVING THE ZOOM SESSIONS  IS A GOOD THING AND IT DID OPEN IT UP TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE  NEVER BEEN IN ONE OF THOSE ROOMS.

I THINK IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELDS.

I HOPE IT CONTINUES AND I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE DOES A BETTER  JOB AND THAT WE ALSO HOLD OUR REPRESENTATIVES ACCOUNTABLE TO  SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET TO  NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS OR CALLS.

>> Gene: EXACTLY RIGHT.

SHORT ON TIME.

THAT DOES IT FOR THE LINE.

WE'RE NOT DONE LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS.

AMONG  ISSUES NEW MEXICO LEGISLATORS NEEDED TO TACKLE THIS YEAR WERE  CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT.

MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING YOUTH  ACTIVISTS SAY LEGISLATORS AREN'T ACTING QUICKLY ENOUGH ON THE  ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT THEM MOST OF ALL.

CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS SPOKE WITH A LEGISLATOR ABOUT WHAT IS  LEFT UNDONE.

WE'LL HEAR THAT IN A FEW MINUTES  BUT WE BEGIN WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARTEMISIO ROMERO Y  CARVER WITH YUCCA OR YOUTH UNITED FOR CLIMATE CRISIS  ACTION.

>> Laura: THANK YOU FOR JOINING  ME TODAY.

YOU'RE TRACKING ENVIRONMENT  BILLS THIS SESSION.

WHAT PASSED THAT YOU ARE HAPPY  ABOUT THIS YEAR?

>> Carver: SOME OF THAT WE  WERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS WE ARE GLAD ABOUT IN TERMS OF  ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, THE BILLS THAT CROSSED THE FINISH  LINE WERE, LIKE, SB84, COMMUNITY SOLAR, WHICH IS A  BILL THAT INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY OF SOLAR ENERGY  ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

AND SOMETHING YUCCA HAS BEEN CALLING FOR ABOUT THE TWO YEARS  WE HAVE EXISTED.

IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE  THAT PASS.

ALSO SENATE BILL 112 OR SB 112,  SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY ACT AND SB 8A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AIR AND  QUALITY REGULATIONS AND HOUSE BILL 51 ENVIRONMENTAL DATA WERE  KIND OF LIKE OUR BILLS.

WE DON'T CLAIM ANY LEADERSHIP BUT  GLAD TO SEE THOSE PASS.

>> Laura: WHAT ABOUT BILLS THAT  DID NOT PASS THIS YEAR THAT YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT AND WHY  DO YOU THINK SOME OF THOSE DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE  SESSION THIS YEAR?

>> Carver: WE SAW A LOT OF  IMPORTANT LEGISLATION GO UNSCHEDULED OR KILLED IN  COMMITTEE AND BASICALLY SAW THAT OIL AND GAS UTILITY LOBBY  HAD INTERESTS PRIORITIZED OVER NEW MEXICANS, PROPOSALS THAT  WOULD HAVE REINED IN EXTRACTION OR SHIFTED OUR  ENERGY SYSTEM IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS WERE ALL KILLED INCLUDING  SJR 3, ENVIRONMENT RIGHTS, OR THE GREEN AMENDMENT.

SB84, LOCAL CHOICE ENERGY.

SB86 USE FOR OIL AND GAS  OPERATIONS, WATER REGULATIONS, [INAUDIBLE] REGULATIONS ONCE I  AM DONE I'LL TALK TO YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT.

SB149, PROHIBIT FRACKING LICENSES.

HB50, PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR CERTAIN STATUTES AND HB9.

SO, THOSE ARE ALL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE STARTED TO DO THE  WORK TO CURB CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND  TACKLE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL FIELDS ON THE  PLANET AND WE HAVE A REGULATORY OBLIGATION TO THE REST OF THE  PLANET.

THOSE BILLS WERE ALL KIND OF  UNCEREMONIOUSLY KILLED OR NEVER READ IN COMMITTEE DESPITE BEING  FILED OFTEN FAR AHEAD OF OTHER BILLS THAT WERE READ, RIGHT?

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE GREEN AMENDMENT THAT ARRIVED AT THE  JUDICIARY VERY EARLY IN THE SESSION AND WAS NEVER HEARD  WHILE IN THAT COMMITTEE.

>> Laura: MANY YOUTH ACTIVISTS,  INCLUDING WITH YUCCA, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND YET  LAWMAKERS, THE PUBLIC, WE'RE TAKING ACTION OR NOT TAKING  ACTION ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR GENERATION MOST OF ALL.

WHAT DO YOU WISH THAT LAWMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDERSTOOD  ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND URGENCY OF NEW MEXICANS ACTING ON  CLIMATE CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Carver: SO ONE THING THAT I  WILL SAY IN TERMS OF THAT AGE GAP, I AM 18.

I CAN VOTE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO  WORK WITH ME WHO KNOW MORE THAN ME, WHO ARE VERY INTELLIGENT WHO  ARE 16 AND 17 WHO KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUES, CAN'T VOTE.

THE REMEDY THAT WE ACTUALLY SUPPORTED IN COALITION THE 16  VOTE BILL, IT WAS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE, BUT THAT WOULD  ALLOWED 16 YEAR OLDS AND 17 YEAR OLDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN STATE  ELECTIONS, RIGHT?

THAT IS THE MOST IMMEDIATE SOLUTION.

IF YOU WANT TO RESPECT OUR INTERESTS, GIVE US A CHANCE TO  REPRESENT THEM IN ELECTORAL PROCESS.

LAST TIME WE CHANGED THE ELECTION AGE, RIGHT, NATIONALLY,  WAS IN LIGHT OF VIETNAM WAR.

PEOPLE WERE DRAFTED WHO COULDN'T  VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DRAFTING THEM INTO THE MILITARY.

THAT CONTRADICTION NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED, AT THE SAME TIME,  RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS WHO EXPERIENCED THE  SINGLE WORST DAMAGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, UNABLE TO VOTE ON PEOPLE  CHOOSING WHETHER OR NOT TO SHORTEN THEIR LIFESPANS.

THAT  IS AN INCREDIBLE CONTRADICTION THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

IT UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T RESOLVED IN SESSION AND WILL BE BACK NEXT  TIME TO MAKE SURE IT IS.

ASIDE FROM THAT, ASIDE FROM THE  VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION OF LET US VOTE, WHAT PEOPLE, I THINK, NEED  TO UNDERSTAND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THE SCALE OF THE CRISIS IS VERY  LARGE.

AND I THINK THERE WERE  DEFINITELY BE ELDERS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO UNDERSTAND IT, BUT  EVEN WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN MYSELF, IT IS EVEN  LARGER FOR THEM.

I AM SCARED   THAT I MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE PAST 50.

RIGHT?

THERE IS PEOPLE 10 YEARS YOUNGER  THAN ME SCARED THEY NEVER WILL LIVE PAST 40.

THE FEAR BECOMES DEEPER AND DEEPER AS YOU GET YOUNGER  BECAUSE YOUR LIFE SPAN GETS SHORTER AND SHORTER.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN  BE DEALT WITH SOON, IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DEALT  WITH NOW.

RIGHT?

WE ARE NOT -- WE DO NOT NEED -- WE TALK ABOUT GOALS IN THE  FUTURE.

WE TALK ABOUT CARBON NEUTRALITY  BY 2050.

AND THERE WERE BILLS EVEN IN THE  SESSION THAT SOUGHT TO DO THAT AND THOSE ARE GOOD VALUABLE  THINGS BUT I ALSO THINK THAT BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THESE  THINGS IN THE BIG TIMELINE, IT BECOMES EASY TO COMPREHEND  CLIMATE CHANGE AS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND SOMETHING  THAT WILL COST.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

IT IS HAPPENING.

IT IS ALREADY COSTING LIVES AND  ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BY THE TIME I FINISH SAYING THIS  SENTENCE.

>> Laura: I KNOW THAT IS EARLY  TO BE TALKING ABOUT NEXT SESSION BUT WHAT DO YOU HOPE LAWMAKERS  START WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S SESSION.

>> Carver: I REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE 16 AND 17 VOTE BILL.

I THINK WE GAINED SOME TRACTION THIS YEAR.

I THINK ALSO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IS WAYS THAT  UNDEMOCRATICALLY A LOT OF BILLS ARE KILLED IN COMMITTEE, RIGHT?

YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN JUDICIARY.

YOU HAVE LITERALLY  HUNDREDS OF BILLS IN COMMITTEE.

THE GREEN AMENDMENT, ON OF OUR  PRIMARY PRIORITY BILLS ARRIVED TO JUDICIARY EARLY IN THE  SESSION.

IT WASN'T HEARD.

RIGHT?

THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE  SESSION THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY FAVORITISM PLAYED AND AT THE  SAME TIME THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE RECEIVED SOME OF THE  MOST OIL AND GAS MONEY OF ANY IN THE STATE.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS COINCIDENTAL.

IT FEELS TOO LINEAR THAT A SERIES OF EVENTS TO BE  COINCIDENTAL THAT THE PLACE WHERE SO MANY ENVIRONMENTAL  BILLS AND GOOD BILLS ARE STOP GAPPED IS ALSO THE COMMITTEE  MOST CONTROLLED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

AND SO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMOCRACY.

THAT HAS  NOTHING TO DO WITH VOTES OR REPRESENTATION.

AND IT IS HOLDING BACK OR DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL PROCESS IN  NEW MEXICO.

AND WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BY  LAWMAKERS AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE LAWMAKING SYSTEM TO CHANGE  THAT.

ON ANOTHER LEVEL, I THINK WHAT  NEEDS TO HAPPEN, WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN THIS SESSION, AND WHAT  NEEDS EVEN MORE TO HAPPEN NEXT SESSION IS STRONG REGULATION OF  OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

MAKE SURE THAT RADIOACTIVE WASTE  ISN'T BEING CONSIDERED WATER IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND MAKE  SURE THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE THAT REDUCE THE  AMOUNT OF CARBON EMISSIONS OUT OF THE PERMIAN BASIN IN THE NEXT  10 TO 15 YEARS.

THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW  IF THE HUMAN SPECIES IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

AND THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS AN OBLIGATION NOT JUST TO  CITIZENS BUT TO THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE TO NOT CONTINUE TO BE SUCH  A MASSIVE PART OF THE GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS.

>> Laura: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK  THAT YOU DO.

>> Carver: I AM GLAD I COULD  JOIN TO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND  THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

>> Gene: OUR CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE NOW WITH A LOOK AT HOW  LAWMAKERS GET ENVIRONMENTAL WORK DONE IN THE NEXT SESSION, WHICH  FOCUSES MOSTLY ON THE BUDGET.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA  RUBIO SAYS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE ENVIRONMENT INTERSECT NOT  JUST WITH EACH BUT WITH THE BUDGET AND THE STATE'S FINANCIAL  WELL-BEING.

>> Laura: REPRESENTATIVE RUBIO,  WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH  ME TO TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATES THAT PASSED AND  DIDN'T PASS THIS SESSION.

I AM CURIOUS TO START OFF, WHAT  ARE THE MOST ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS IN YOUR MIND THAT DID PASS THIS  YEAR?

>> Rubio: I THINK THAT THERE  WAS A NUMBER OF BILLS BUT I WAS ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED  ABOUT SENATE BILL 112 WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR  YESTERDAY.

AND IT CREATED A SUSTAINABLE  ECONOMIC ECONOMY TASK FORCE.

AND, THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION,  WHILE JUST ON THE SURFACE IS JUST TALKING ABOUT A TASK FORCE,  IT IS REALLY -- THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS INSIDE THE  BILL WHICH CODIFIES A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY THAT WAS  CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND THE DEPARTMENT OF  WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AS WELL AS CREATING AN ADVISORY COUNCIL  THAT CENTERS FRONT LINE WORKERS.

SO, FOR ME, I BELIEVE THAT WE  GET TO REACHING CLIMATES -- WE GET TO ADDRESS CLIMATE ISSUES  MUCH QUICKER WHEN WE CENTER THEM ON ECONOMIC -- THROUGH AN  ECONOMIC LENS AND HOW IT IMPACTS WORKERS.

I BELIEVE SENATE BILL 112 STARTS TO DO THAT  >> Laura: ANY OTHERS THAT YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT THIS SESSION?

>> Rubio: I KNOW SHE SIGNED THE SOLAR BILL YESTERDAY, THE  COMMUNITY SOLAR BILL.

THERE IS QUITE A NUMBER THAT  WERE SIGNED YESTERDAY RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A COHORT OF US LEGISLATORS GETTING  TOGETHER THIS WEEK TO START ALREADY WORKING ON NEXT SESSION  AND MAKING SURE THAT CLIMATE IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR BUDGET  LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEXT YEAR.

>> Laura: ANY OTHER BILLS THAT  DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE SESSION THIS YEAR THAT YOU ARE  ALREADY TALKING ABOUT BRINGING BACK NEXT SESSION?

>> Rubio: I THINK SO.

I MEAN FOR ME I WANTED THIS LAST  SESSION TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

THAT WAS REALLY THE PURPOSE OF  MY GOAL AND FOR ME TRANSFORMATIONAL MEANING, YOU  KNOW, COVID-19 I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE UNVEILED A LOT OF  INEQUITIES HERE IN THE STATE, INEQUITIES THAT I THINK MYSELF  AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS  THROUGH OUR ORGANIZING WORK AROUND THE STATE.

AND, SO, I THINK WE WENT IN WITH A LOT OF REALLY GOOD MOMENTUM  BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION IS STILL  RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES AROUND RACIAL  AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AS WELL AS CLIMATE JUSTICE.

SO, I THINK THAT FOR THOSE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE, WE ARE  DETERMINED.

I STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH  FUNDAMENTALLY HOW OUR LEGISLATURE DOESN'T GET TO DO AS  MUCH WORK DURING THE YEAR, AS I THINK WE SHOULD.

AND SO, MY HOPE IS THAT WITH WHATEVER EFFORTS WE CAN MAKE  BETWEEN NOW AND JULY WHEN THE BUDGET TALKS START TO REALLY  PICK UP, THAT WE CAN MAKE A LOT OF THIS CLIMATE AND  ENVIRONMENTAL WORK A PRIORITY.

>> Laura: SINCE YOU WERE FIRST  ELECTED, SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, YOU  HAVE BEEN AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON BOTH OF THOSE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE TWO  ISSUES AND WHY THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR NEW MEXICANS.

>> Rubio: SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION BECAUSE  I THINK THAT WE AS A STATE HAVE MISSED THE MARK IN A LOT  OF WAYS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, BECAUSE MANY OF THESE  MOVEMENTS, AS IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, WERE VERY SILOED.

AND I THINK I WAS JUST HAVING THIS CONVERSATION EARLIER WITH  SOMEONE AROUND THE OUTDOOR EQUITY FUND WHICH PASSED THE  LEGISLATURE BACK IN 2019 AND WAS A PART OF THE CREATION OF  THE DIVISION OF OUTDOOR RECREATION THAT THERE WAS SO  MUCH MOBILIZATION AROUND THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SO  MUCH OF THAT MOMENTUM CARRIED ON AND SO YOU HAD -- WE HAD  ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THIS PAST YEAR WORKING JUST AS FIERCELY  AS EVER ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO  MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE WORKING ON OTHER ISSUES  LIKE PAID SICK LEAVE OR ANYTHING RELATED TO EARLY  CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO I THINK IT IS SOME  EXCITING AND REALLY EXCITING FOR ME BEING A LEGISLATOR IN THE  COURSE OF LAST FOUR YEARS THAT SO MUCH OF MY WORK THAT I HAVE  BEEN DOING AS AN ORGANIZER HAS NOW REALLY SORT OF INFILTRATED  INTO THE LEGISLATURE AND HAS REALLY CREATED THIS  INTERSECTIONALITY THAT I THINK EVEN LEGISLATORS STARTING TO  REALIZE.

>> Laura: YOU MENTIONED NEXT  YEAR'S SESSION IS FOCUSED ON THE BUDGET.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE, OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, HOW DO ALL THESE  ISSUES TIE INTO THE BUDGET?

AND WHAT LEGISLATION MIGHT WE  LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR?

>> Rubio: THAT IS REALLY THE  QUESTION THAT A LOT OF US ARE  GOING TO BE NAVIGATING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW  MONTHS BECAUSE AS MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS KNOW, OIL AND GAS IS  PREDOMINATELY PART OF THE REVENUES THAT COME INTO OUR  STATE AND SO THERE ARE MANY OF US WORKING ON IDEAS AROUND  ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR  STATE.

AND I KNOW THAT WE JUST PASSED  THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

WE HAVE AN OUTDOOR ECONOMY REALLY STARTING TO PICK UP AND I  THINK FOR MANY OTHERS, I THINK THAT IS WHY THIS SENATE BILL 112  WAS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR US TO REIMAGINE A  COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE STATE SO THAT WE  CAN THINK ABOUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, I THINK THAT IS ALSO GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE MOVING INTO  THE SESSION NEXT YEAR THAT IT DEPENDS ON WHERE OIL AND GAS  REVENUES ARE BETWEEN NOW AND JULY AND THEN AGAIN IN DECEMBER,  AND THEN AGAIN IN JANUARY, WHEN WE START UP AGAIN, BECAUSE WE  HAVE SORT OF PERPETUATED THIS CYCLE OF DEPENDENCE ON THIS  INDUSTRY.

AND WHILE IT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD  TO OUR STATE, IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T ALLOW US TO PLAN AHEAD.

SO, MY HOPE IS THAT AS WE BEGIN TO DEVELOP AND REALLY DIVERSIFY  OUR ECONOMY, THAT WE SORT OF PUSH BACK ON THIS NARRATIVE THAT  WHILE WE MIGHT BE, IN TERMS OF ECONOMICS, NOT AS -- NOT HAVE AS  MANY RESOURCES AS OTHER STATES, THAT WE ACTUALLY CAN BUILD A NEW  VISION FOR NEW MEXICO AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITHOUT RELYING  SO HEAVILY ON ONE INDUSTRY AND LETTING FRONTLINE WORKERS AND  COMMUNITIES REALLY CREATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT  IMAGINATION AND FOR THOSE IDEAS.

SO FOR THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR, IT  WILL CERTAINLY BE INTERESTING AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE  TO BE STRATEGIC ON HOW WE PRIORITIZE CLIMATE WHILE STILL  NAVIGATING THAT INCOME SOURCE.

>> Laura: THANKS FOR JOINING ME  ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR  STATE.

>> Rubio:   THANK YOU.

>> Gene: RETIREMENT, FAMILY,  LIFE-STYLE, JOBS.

THOSE ARE THE TOP FOUR REASONS  TO MOVE TO NEW MEXICO FOUND IN THE UNITED VAN LINES 2020  NATIONAL MOVERS SURVEY, ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF INBOUND MOVES TO  OUTBOUND MOVES FOR EACH STATE.

NOW, OUR RESULTS SHOW 30% OF  THOSE WHO MOVED HERE IN 2020 CHECKED OFF RETIREMENT.

JUST LOOK OUT THE WINDOW ANY RANDOM DAY, YOU KNOW WHY.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE.

NUMBERS REFLECT IT WAS OVER 50%  OF THOSE WHO MOVED IN 2020 ABOVE THE AGE OF 65.

YOU KNOW WHO DIDN'T MOVE HERE IN 2020?

PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 44.

ONLY 12%.

IN THAT SWEET SPOT AGE GROUP EVERY CITY IS FIGHTING FOR, THAT  35 TO 44 AGE GROUP, SHOWS JUST 9% MOVED HERE COMPARED TO 18%  LEAVING NEW MEXICO IN 2020.

THAT 35 TO 44 AGE GROUP IS THAT  LIFE AND CAREER WINDOW WHEN A LOT OF US STEP OUT TO INVEST IN  BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES, PEOPLE ARE CLIMBING TO THEIR PEAK  EARNING YEARS BY ENTERING THE C SUITE AT WORK, THEY CHURN THE  HOUSING MARKET, ALL THE REST.

WE ARE NOT GETTING OUR SHARE AND  THAT IS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

LOOK, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG  WITH RETIRING HERE BUT WE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO SEE THESE 2020  NUMBERS AS A PANDEMIC DRIVEN FLUKE.

WITH 35% OF US LEAVING BECAUSE OF EMPLOYMENT, IT IS NOT AN AGE  THING, IT IS A JOBS THING.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.