>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS  LIKE YOU.

>> Jeff: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, A REMOVED CAP DRAWS QUESTIONS AND OUTRAGE.

THE STATE'S INDIAN AFFAIRS  SECRETARY EXPLORES WHETHER A 2021 STATE LAW SHOULD PROTECT INDIGENOUS GRADUATES WHO WANT TO WALK WITH TRIBAL REGALIA.

>> Monette: AS A NATIVE PERSON MYSELF, FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS A LITTLE -- IT WAS SCARY, HEARTBREAKING.

>> Jeff: AND FIGHTING FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

OUR LAND'S LAURA PASKUS SPEAKS WITH THE WIDOW OF  SMOKEJUMPER TIM HART ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WILDLAND  FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FACE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK, I'M EXECUTIVE PRODUCER  JEFF PROCTOR.

ASK AROUND FOR A MOUNT  RUSHMORE OF ALBUQUERQUE ICONS AND DON SCHRADER'S  NAME PROBABLY MAKES MOST LISTS.

AS ANDY LYMAN PUT IT IN HIS APRIL PROFILE OF DON FOR THE  PAPER, QUOTE, "ANYONE LIVING IN ALBUQUERQUE WHO DOESN'T  AT LEAST RECOGNIZE DON SCHRADER, EITHER HASN'T BEEN  AROUND LONG ENOUGH OR ISN'T PAYING ATTENTION," CLOSED  QUOTE.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF  TODAY'S SHOW ANDY SITS DOWN FOR A ONE-ON-ONE WITH DON.

A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION THEY'VE BEEN  HAVING THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

THEY DISCUSS DON'S THOUGHTS  ON HIS OWN MORTALITY, WHY HE FORGIVES THE PERSON WHO  STRUCK HIM IN A HIT-AND-RUN LAST SUMMER AND THE HOPES  FOR THE FUTURE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

LATER IN TODAY'S SHOW, LAURA PASKUS SPEAKS WITH MICHELLE  HART ABOUT HER HUSBAND TIM, A SMOKEJUMPER WHO DIED WHILE  RESPONDING TO A 2021 FOREST FIRE IN HIDALGO COUNTY.

LAURA ASKS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE DANGEROUS JOB AND HOW  THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED SINCE TIM'S DEATH.

THAT INTERVIEW IS COMING UP IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, AND  WE'LL WARN YOU NOW, LAURA AND MICHELLE TALKED ABOUT  SOME HARD TRUTHS WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR  FAMILY MEMBERS FACE.

INCLUDING SUICIDE AND  ALCOHOL ABUSE RATES THAT FAR OUTPACE THE NATIONAL  AVERAGES.

BUT FIRST, WE EXPLORE A  CONTROVERSY AT A GRADUATION CEREMONY CELEBRATING THE  CLASS OF 2024 AT FARMINGTON HIGH.

IT WAS A CAP AND GOWN DAY THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF  NATIONAL MEDIA AFTER SCHOOL OFFICIALS FORCIBLY REMOVED  THE TRIBAL REGALIA OF ONE LAKOTA STUDENT AS THE  CEREMONY BEGAN.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS VIDEO  PROVIDED BY THE STUDENT'S FAMILY, TWO FACULTY MEMBERS  APPROACH GRADUATE GENESIS WHITE BULL.

ONE OF THEM TAKES THE PERSONALIZED GRADUATION CAP  ADORNED WITH BEADS AND AN EAGLE FEATHER BEFORE  REPLACING IT WITH A GENERIC ONE.

THE VIDEO EXPLODED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

OUTRAGE HIT FARMINGTON HIGH IN WAVES AS GOVERNOR LUJAN  GRISHAM SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE ACTION AND THE NAVAJO  NATION COUNCIL CALLED IT QUOTE, "BELITTLING,  HUMILIATING, AND DEMEANING TO THE STUDENT AND HER  FAMILY," END QUOTE.

THIS WEEK, SOURCE NEW MEXICO  EDITOR SHAUN GRISWOLD SITS WITH SECRETARY JOSETT  MONETTE TO DISCUSS HER REACTION TO THAT VIRAL  VIDEO, THE SACRED SIGNIFICANCE OF THE  STUDENT'S HAT, AND WHAT THE STATE'S INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS FROM OCCURRING.

>> Shaun: HI, SECRETARY JOSETT MONETTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

BROADLY SPEAKING, WHAT WAS  YOUR REACTION UPON HEARING THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE  FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION?

AND WHEN YOU SAW THE VIDEO, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

>> Monette: MY INITIAL REACTION, QUITE HONESTLY,  WAS TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED.

TO TRY TO SEE WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND TO NOT JUMP TO  A CONCLUSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS SOMETHING  LIKE AN ILL INTENT OR A BAD RESPONSE.

THAT WAS MY FIRST INITIAL REACTION WAS TO THINK OKAY  WHAT HAPPENED.

WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO  THOUGH, FINALLY, WHEN I REALLY DID GET A CHANCE TO  WATCH THE FULL VIDEO, AS A NATIVE PERSON MYSELF, FOR ME  PERSONALLY, IT WAS A LITTLE -- IT WAS SCARY,  HEARTBREAKING, KIND OF.

TO SEE SOMEBODY -- TO ME I  THINK THE BIG THING FOR ME WAS TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO  MAYBE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EAGLE  FEATHER AND TO JUST GRAB IT AND HOLD IT THE WAY IT WAS  BEING HELD WAS KIND OF CONCERNING.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE  SCHOOL'S PERSPECTIVE WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

BUT I THINK, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS WHERE THAT IDEA OF  CONVERSATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN  DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND PARTNERS AND LOCAL  COMMUNITIES REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL BECAUSE  IT'S NOT OKAY TO JUST GRAB AN EAGLE FEATHER LIKE THAT,  AND TO TAKE IT OFF OF SOMEBODY.

SO THAT WAS A LITTLE HEARTBREAKING FOR ME, PERSONALLY.

>> Shaun: AND YOU HAVE AN  EAGLE FEATHER HERE.

YOU HAVE YOUR ITEM HERE.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THIS IS AND TELL US ABOUT THE  SIGNIFICANCE.

>> Monette: I DO.

THIS IS MY BEADED GRADUATION CAP.

IT STILL HAS MY EAGLE FEATHER ATTACHED TO IT,  QUITE HONESTLY.

>> Shaun: THIS IS SOMETHING  SIMILAR TO WHAT GENESIS WHITE BULL WAS WEARING AT  FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL'S GRADUATION, RIGHT?

>> Monette: CORRECT.

SHE HAD A REALLY BEAUTIFUL  BEADED CAP WITH A PLUME, AN EAGLE FEATHER PLUME.

THIS IS THE FULL EAGLE FEATHER.

I WORE THIS TO MY LAW SCHOOL GRADUATION FROM UNM SCHOOL  OF LAW.

EAGLE FEATHERS, OF COURSE,  ARE SUPER SIGNIFICANT TO INDIAN PEOPLE.

FOR US, AND I BELIEVE GENESIS'S MOTHER BRENDA  MENTIONED THAT WHEN THEY TOUCHED HER PLUME, IT WAS  HARMING A YOUNG WARRIOR.

AND THE WAY WE LOOK AT OUR  EAGLE FEATHERS IS THESE ARE OUR WARRIORS.

YOU DON'T LET YOUR EAGLE FEATHER TOUCH THE GROUND.

YOU DON'T LET IT FALL TO THE GROUND.

IF IT DOES, THAT SIGNIFIES THERE'S A FALLEN WARRIOR AND  YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO A CEREMONY IN ORDER TO DO IT.

GETTING AN EAGLE FEATHER IS AN HONORING.

THIS IS THE ONLY EAGLE FEATHER I HAVE.

I GOT IT WHEN I GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS A  MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

IT WAS A WAY TO HONOR ME AND  HONOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS I DID.

THE BEADED CAPS, THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN  BE DIFFERENT REASONS.

SOMETIMES IT'S A WAY FOR ME  TO SHOW WHO I AM.

THIS IS WHO I AM.

I'M A NATIVE PERSON, AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I'M A  NATIVE PERSON.

IT'S THE WAY WE ADORN  OURSELVES TO RECOGNIZE -- BEADWORK IS SOMETHING THAT  INDIAN COUNTRY HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS, FOR  GENERATIONS.

AND THERE CAN BE SEVERAL  MEANINGS.

SOMETIMES THE DESIGNS CAN  HAVE SPECIFIC MEANINGS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, TO THE  TRIBE OR NATION THAT PERSON IS FROM.

MINE HAS LITTLE FEATHERS IN IT.

YOU CAN ALSO, TRADITIONALLY, WHEN YOU'RE DOING BEADWORK,  YOU WOULD BE SAYING PRAYERS FOR PEOPLE.

THERE WOULD BE PRAYERS INCORPORATED.

THIS ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, A CAP THAT'S JUST OH, HERE,  THIS LOOKS PRETTY.

IT'S ACTUALLY A CAP THAT IS  REALLY SHOWING THERE'S PRAYERS THAT HAVE GONE INTO  IT.

WE'RE HONORING YOU.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WEAR THIS.

WE'RE RECOGNIZING YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

SO HAVING A BEADED CAP WITH A PLUME OR AN EAGLE FEATHER  ATTACHED TO IT IS ALL SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT  REALLY SHOWS THAT THIS FAMILY HAS RECOGNIZED THIS  INDIVIDUAL AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY  HAVE MADE.

>> Shaun: YEAH, THAT'S A  VERY SIGNIFICANT PART TO MENTION, HERE.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE CONFUSION IN THIS AND EVEN  THE CONVERSATION THAT'S GOTTEN LOST IS THAT SHE  DECORATED HER CAP.

IT WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE  POLICY BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT IT'S NOT A DECORATION.

IT'S NOT AN ADORNMENT, AN  AESTHETIC.

AND HER MOM AND GENESIS SAID  AS MUCH IN A SIMILAR WAY AS YOU DESCRIBED.

THEY'RE FROM A DIFFERENT NATION.

THEY'RE FROM STANDING ROCK, LAKOTA STANDING ROCK, EXCUSE  ME.

AND THE PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO  ARE ALSO DIFFERENT.

AND YOU'RE ALSO FROM A  DIFFERENT TRIBAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL, TOO, CORRECT?

BUT SOME OF THIS STUFF ALL CONNECTS IN A WAY.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN GENESIS'S CASE REGARDLESS OF  HOW THE VIEWPOINTS OF IT'S A DECORATION OR NOT, THEY  DON'T VIEW IT THAT WAY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.

THEY CARRY IT WITH A SERIOUSNESS AS YOU DO WITH  YOURS, AS YOU DESCRIBED.

NOW THERE'S A LAW IN NEW  MEXICO THAT WAS DESIGNED IN ORDER TO PROTECT STUDENTS TO  PRACTICE THEIR CULTURAL BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS.

AND TO PREVENT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ENACTING ANY  POLICIES THAT WOULD HARM THOSE STUDENTS' CULTURAL  PRACTICES AND BELIEFS.

IT'S SIMILAR TO FEDERAL  CROWN ACT LEGISLATION AND ROOTED IN THAT.

ARIZONA HAS A SIMILAR LAW PASSED AS WELL.

BUT THAT ONE WAS ACTUALLY ROOTED SPECIFICALLY FOR  INDIGENOUS STUDENTS, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ENROLLED  MEMBERS OF NATIVE-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND HAS LANGUAGE  SPECIFIC TO THAT.

WHEREAS, NEW MEXICO'S IS A  LITTLE BIT BROAD, EXCUSE ME.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT  MORE ABOUT NEW MEXICO'S VERSION OF THE LAW AND SOME  OF THE ISSUES ABOUT WHY IT IS BROAD AND WHY THAT HAS  BECOME AN ISSUE REGARDING THIS STUFF WITH GENESIS  WHITE BULL?

>> Monette: SURE.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERRING TO SENATE BILL 80.

SENATE BILL 80 WAS PASSED.

>> Shaun: THAT WAS PASSED IN  2021.

>> Monette: YES.

IT WAS PASSED IN 2021.

WHEN I REVIEWED SENATE BILL  80, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT IT AND I THINK -- AND WE'VE  DISCUSSED IT IN OUR OFFICE INTERNALLY, TOO.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE COULD BE SOME PROTECTION, PERHAPS,  FOR STUDENTS IN THIS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO IT.

I WATCHED ONE OF THE NEWS OUTLETS -- SENATOR POPE, WHO  IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE BILLS, DID STATE THIS  TYPE OF INCIDENT WAS ONE OF THE THOUGHTS THEY WERE  HOPING, OR ONE OF THE TYPES OF INCIDENTS THEY WERE HOPED  TO PREVENT IN PASSING THIS LEGISLATION.

BUT THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE COULD BE --  THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY, I GUESS, TO STILL DETERMINE  WHETHER OR NOT THIS LAW IS REALLY THE MOST APPLICABLE,  HERE.

YOU MENTIONED ARIZONA'S LAW,  UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THAT.

BUT BASED ON WHAT YOU  STATED, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO WHAT THEY  WERE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

SENATE BILL 80 AND WHAT I'VE  READ ISN'T THAT SPECIFIC, BUT IT DOES TALK ABOUT  HEADDRESSES AND IT DOES TALK ABOUT HAIR AND HAIRSTYLES,  AND CULTURAL THINGS THAT STUDENTS COULD WEAR AND THEY  SHOULDN'T BE DISCIPLINED FOR IT, AND SUCH.

HERE, OUR GOVERNOR HAS STATED THIS INCIDENT DOESN'T  REFLECT NEW MEXICO'S COMMITMENT TO OUR DIVERSITY  IN OUR STATE.

AND THAT SHE HOPES THE  SCHOOL DISTRICT LOOKS AT THAT.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS SENATE BILL 80, IT DOESN'T SOUND  LIKE IT'S MAYBE WRITTEN THE SAME AS ARIZONA'S.

LIKE I SAID, I HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ  THAT, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Shaun: THAT'S OKAY.

I GUESS ALSO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO NEW  MEXICO'S VERSION OF THE LAW, IS THERE AN AVENUE NOW THAT  SINCE THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED VERSION WITH  SENATE BILL 80, DOES THAT NEED TO BE AMENDED TO ADD  MORE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TO HELP PREVENT ISSUES FROM  THIS?

BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, IT IS  STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO  MAKE THE POLICY.

THE GOVERNOR CANNOT GO INTO  FARMINGTON AND SAY THIS IS NOT ALLOWED.

AND IT'S UNCLEAR IF SENATE BILL 80 WOULD ALLOW THE  GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR ADMINISTRATION TO DO SO.

BUT IS THERE ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE  LEGISLATIVE SIDE TO AMEND SENATE BILL 80 TO BE MORE  SPECIFIC?

>> Monette: IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S POSSIBLE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AMENDMENT.

WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, AS I STATED AT LEAST FROM SENATOR  POPE'S PERSPECTIVE THIS WAS MAYBE SHOULD HAVE BEEN  PROTECTED, BUT CLEARLY THERE'S BEEN AN AMBIGUITY OR  MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THAT APPLIES IN THIS  SITUATION.

SO, I THINK IF THERE'S AN  OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CLEAN  UP THAT AMBIGUITY, THEN THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE.

THAT MIGHT BE A STEP.

OR IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY  WANT TO DRAFT A WHOLE NEW LEGISLATION THAT'S MORE  SPECIFIC.

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THERE  ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND THINGS TO LOOK AT, POTENTIALLY.

BUT I CAN'T SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT IN MY OFFICE RIGHT  NOW WORKING ON DRAFTING ANYTHING.

I THINK IF THERE'S -- IF CONSTITUENTS AND THE  LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IN  PARTICULAR, TELLS US THIS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK  NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEN I THINK AT OUR OFFICE WE'RE OF  COURSE INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO THAT AND HELPING IN ANY  WAY WE CAN.

>> SHAUN: OKAY, GREAT.

AND THAT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT IAD IS INTERESTED  AND WORKING ON THIS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME PEOPLE  NEARBY THAT WORK WITH IAD YOU KNOW OF.

NAVAJO NATION FIRST LADY JASMINE BLACKWATER-NYGREN,  FOR INSTANCE WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST  LEADERS, NOT ELECTED, BUT ONE OF THE FIRST LEADERS TO  DISCUSS THE ISSUE IN FARMINGTON.

AND ONE OF HER ORIGINAL POSTS KIND OF MADE THIS  THING GO REALLY VIRAL.

SHE'S BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT  IT, SPOKEN TO THE FAMILY, BUT WAS ALSO ACTIVE AS A  LAWMAKER IN ARIZONA WHEN THEY PASSED THEIR VERSION OF  A LAW THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THINGS LIKE THIS  FROM HAPPENING.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO  WANT TO ASK ABOUT THIS IS THAT THERE'S A QUOTE WHEN  SPEAKING WITH BLACKWATER-NYGREN  OFF-CAMERA.

SHE SAYS, IN ARIZONA WE WERE  VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING.

VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE WERE TRYING TO COVER IN THE ACT  ITSELF.

AND THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE  LAW THEY PASSED.

AND IT WAS VERY DELINEATED,  LIKE YOU HAD TO BE ENROLLED OR ELIGIBLE TO BE ENROLLED  IN A TRIBE.

THERE'S THAT VERY CLEAR  DISTINCTION.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE PARALLELED  IN THE ARIZONA LAW.

WE WANTED THIS VERY SPECIFIC  LANGUAGE IN THE BILL VERSUS THE BILL IN NEW MEXICO,  WHICH IS VERY BROAD.

DO YOU HAVE ANY REACTION TO  THAT COMMENT FROM THE FIRST LADY, AND ALSO ANYTHING THAT  COULD DO TO HELP WORK WITH HER TO HELP POTENTIALLY MAKE  NEW MEXICO'S LAW BETTER?

>> Monette: I THINK SHE'S  CLEARLY GOT SOME EXPERIENCE IN WORKING ON THAT  LEGISLATION.

I THINK AT IAD WE WOULD BE  HAPPY TO HEAR HER PERSPECTIVE AND HEAR SOME OF  WHAT THEY WORKED THROUGH AND THE DISCUSSIONS THEY HAD ON  THE ARIZONA SIDE.

I THINK IF THERE'S WAYS TO  IMPROVE, WE'RE HAPPY TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE.

LIKE I SAID, AS OUR GOVERNOR STATED, OUR GOVERNOR  RECOGNIZES THIS IS NOT NEW MEXICO'S COMMITMENT TO THE  DIVERSITY AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE.

SO, WE CAN LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A PUSH OR IF  CONSTITUENTS AND TRIBAL NATIONS AND INDIAN PEOPLE IN  NEW MEXICO ARE SAYING MAYBE WE WANT TO SEE A CHANGE,  THEN I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW WE  CAN DO BETTER.

>> Shaun: I THINK THAT'S  WHERE WE'RE ALL WONDERING AT THIS MOMENT, TOO.

THE DYNAMIC OF THE BORDER TOWN SITUATION HERE, AS  WELL.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN  OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE WORKING TO DO BETTER ON.

AND HOW WE BUILD BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE  TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND THE BORDER COMMUNITIES LIKE  FARMINGTON THAT ARE SURROUNDING THEM.

CAN YOU DISCUSS ABOUT WHAT IT IS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE  IN YOUR ROLE AS IAD TO HELP DO BETTER IN BUILDING THOSE  RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST  BETWEEN THE BORDER TOWN AND THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THAT  EXIST AROUND THEM?

>> Monette: FARMINGTON  MADE -- FARMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MADE A COUPLE  STATEMENTS WHERE THEY APOLOGIZED FOR THE ACTIONS  TAKEN, AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS DONE.

IN MY VIEW, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT STEP.

I'M GLAD THAT THEY DID THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO  ACKNOWLEDGE, HEY, WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER HERE, OR WE  MADE A MISTAKE.

OKAY, WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND I THINK -- I CAN'T REMEMBER RIGHT OFF THE TOP  OF MY HEAD EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID, BUT I BELIEVE THEY  SAID, WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE  CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT FOR LOCAL  COMMUNITIES AND FOR GOVERNMENTS, TRIBAL  GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENTS TO REALLY KIND  OF SIT DOWN AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

SO, IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO WE HAVE THE STATE  TRIBAL COLLABORATION ACT.

IT REALLY APPLIES TO STATE  AGENCIES AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND HAVING CLEAR  COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE  STATE AGENCIES AND THE TRIBES, AND SUCH.

BUT I THINK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ALSO HAVE  THOSE COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS, IN  PARTICULAR WITH THE NATIONS, PUEBLOS AND TRIBES THAT  SURROUND THEM.

BUT WITH INDIAN PEOPLE IN  GENERAL, AND SAY HOW DO WE DO BETTER.

I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THESE  PARTIES TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT DO WE NEED  TO DO BEST TO LOOK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF NEW MEXICO AND  OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR DIVERSITY AND OUR PEOPLE IN  NEW MEXICO, AND HOW DO WE BEST SERVE OUR  PEOPLE.

>> Shaun: IT'S GRADUATION  SEASON STILL.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO THEM.

WE'RE ALL SEEING DIFFERENT GRADUATIONS.

AND IN FACT, THERE'S SOME GRADUATIONS WHERE THE  CULTURAL EXPRESSION IS CELEBRATED, ENCOURAGED.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY GRADUATIONS LIKE THAT, AND  CAN YOU DESCRIBE SORT OF WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU SEE  CULTURAL EXPRESSION?

NOT JUST NATIVE, NATIVE AND  NON-NATIVE.

>> Monette: YEAH.

I ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE  NAVAJO PREP SCHOOL GRADUATION IN FARMINGTON  LAST WEEKEND.

AND IT WAS GORGEOUS.

IT WAS A GREAT -- THE ENTIRE GRADUATION CEREMONY WAS  GORGEOUS, IN GENERAL.

BUT A LOT OF THE STUDENTS  HAD ON THEIR TRADITIONAL REGALIA.

A LOT OF THEIR HATS WERE ADORNED WITH BEADWORK OR  VARIOUS OTHER THINGS.

IT WAS GORGEOUS.

IT WAS GREAT.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.

PERSONALLY, MY SON IS GRADUATING ON FRIDAY,  TOMORROW.

TOMORROW MORNING.

>> Shaun: LAST WEEK.

>> Monette: TOMORROW, FRIDAY.

>> Shaun:  FRIDAY, YEAH.

>> Monette: SO HE'S  GRADUATING ON FRIDAY FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

AND THERE'S A POLICY TO NOT  DO ANYTHING TO HATS.

WHEN MY OLDEST DAUGHTER  GRADUATED -- MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GRADUATED DURING  COVID.

SO SHE DIDN'T GET A  GRADUATION.

WE HAD REACHED OUT TO THE  SCHOOL SYSTEM TO SEE IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BEAD THE  CAP.

WE WENT THROUGH A COUPLE  CHANNELS AND I THINK I STILL HAVE THE EMAIL FROM ONE OF  THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO HAD SAID WE THINK THAT WILL BE  OKAY.

BUT FOR MY SON WHO IS  GRADUATING TOMORROW, I ASKED HIM DO YOU WANT ME TO BEAD  YOUR CAP.

WE CAN TRY IT.

BUT HIS RESPONSE WAS NO, I DON'T WANT TO GET IN  TROUBLE.

I DON'T WANT TO PUSH THE  ENVELOPE.

>> Shaun: DID HE WATCH THE  VIDEO OF GENESIS WHITE BULL?

>> Monette: YOU KNOW WHAT, I  DON'T KNOW, ACTUALLY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS I DIDN'T -- I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SIT DOWN  WITH MY KIDS TO LOOK AT IT.

>> Shaun: WHEN HE TELLS YOU  HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE FOR EXPRESSING HIS  CULTURAL IDENTITY OR EXPRESSING HIS CULTURE, WHAT  ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> Monette: I THINK THIS  THING IS -- MY SON DOESN'T WANT TO STAND OUT IN ANY  KIND OF WAY.

I THINK IF IT WERE SOMETHING  THAT FOR SURE LOTS OF OTHER NATIVE STUDENTS OR OTHER  STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH  THEIR CAPS, HE WOULD DO THAT.

BUT I THINK, OF COURSE, BEING A STUDENT -- I THINK  PERSONALLY, TOO, BEING A STUDENT OUT OF 300 STUDENTS  AND BEING THE ONLY ONE WOULD BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING  TOO.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF HIS  PERSPECTIVE.

SO, THAT'S FINE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE -- THAT'S FINE.

>> Shaun: DIFFERENT VIBES, TOO, WITH GRADUATIONS THAT  ARE VERY UNIFORMED, RIGHT?

>> Monette: RIGHT.

LIKE I SAID, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WAS LIKE I WANT A  BEADED CAP.

SO WE ASKED AND WE TRIED TO  SEE IF WE COULD DO THAT.

MY SON IS KIND OF LIKE NO,  THAT'S OKAY.

I DON'T WANT TO STAND OUT.

>> Shaun: AND THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS NATIVE PEOPLE  ARE HAVING WITH ALL THEIR GRADUATES RIGHT NOW, AND  WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

I REALLY DO THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PUSH THIS  CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE STATE'S RESPONSE  WILL BE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH US.

>> Monette: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Shaun: YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Schrader: I LOVE TO LIVE  SIMPLY, AND I WANT TO DIE SIMPLY.

I'VE BUILT MY OWN COFFIN OUT OF HALF-INCH PLYWOOD, SIX  YEARS AGO, FOR ABOUT 60 BUCKS.

AND TO ME IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CRIME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN  THIS COUNTRY SPEND MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON  FUNERALS WHEN MILLIONS OF DESPERATELY  POOR CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD SLEEP ON THE GROUND HUNGRY.

>> Laura: ON MAY 24th, THREE  YEARS AGO, A CAMPFIRE BLEW UP ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO  BORDER IN HIDALGO COUNTY.

IT WAS BURNING ON THE  DIAMOND A RANCH, PRIVATE LAND, AND THE RUGGED ANIMAS  MOUNTAINS.

FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES,  PEOPLE LET FIRES BURN THERE, BUT IN 2021 THE STRATEGY WAS  FOR FULL SUPPRESSION.

MORE THAN TWO SEASONS HAD  PASSED WITHOUT MONSOON RAINS.

IT WAS HOT AND IT WAS WINDY.

WITH THE CLOSEST ENGINE  SEVEN HOURS AWAY, SMOKEJUMPERS WERE ORDERED TO  THE FIRE, EVEN THOUGH ONE CAPTAIN WARNED WE DON'T JUMP  THE BOOTHEEL.

IT'S A PILE OF ROCKS, AND  THERE ARE WEIRD WINDS COMING OFF THE ANIMAS MOUNTAINS.

WE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE LAST TIME WE JUMPED THIS.

SO, NEW MEXICO'S BOOTHEEL DOESN'T HAVE MANY ROADS.

SECURITY IS AN ISSUE AND COMMUNICATION IS SPOTTY FOR  CELL PHONES AND EMERGENCY RADIOS.

AND EVEN EN ROUTE TO THE FIRE, CREWS COULDN'T USE  THEIR SATELLITE PHONES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE NEW  SIM CARDS.

ONE OF THE EIGHT  SMOKEJUMPERS SENT TO THE FIRE WAS TIM HART.

A SIX-YEAR VETERAN OF THE WEST YELLOWSTONE JUMP BASE.

AS HOT WINDS RADIATED OFF THE SUN-BAKED DESERT FLOOR,  TIM WAS THE SIXTH JUMPER OUT OF THE PLANE.

ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, HIS CANOPY SPED UP,  AND ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE JUMPERS, CAME OUT OF THE AIR  SUPERFAST.

LIKE HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN A  BURBLE.

TIM LANDED ON THE SIDE OF A  DRAINAGE AND ROCKS THE SIZE OF GARBAGE PAILS, ACCORDING  TO THE ACCIDENT REPORT.

HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN HIS  FELLOW JUMPERS RAN TO HIM AND IT WAS MORE THAN TWO  HOURS UNTIL HE ARRIVED BY AIR AMBULANCE AT THE  HOSPITAL IN EL PASO, WHERE HE DIED FROM HIS  INJURIES NINE DAYS LATER.

NOW, APPROACHING THE THIRD  ANNIVERSARY OF TIM'S DEATH, I SPOKE WITH HIS WIFE  MICHELLE HART.

WE TALKED ABOUT TIM AND  ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS AND  THEIR FAMILIES FACE.

MICHELLE HART, THANK YOU SO  MUCH FOR BEING WITH ME TODAY.

>> Hart: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, LAURA.

>> Laura: SO, I WANTED TO START WITH JUST WHO WAS TIM  HART?

WHO WAS HE TO YOU, TO HIS  FAMILY?

>> Hart: TIM WAS MY HUSBAND.

WE WERE MARRIED IN 2019, AND HAD A WONDERFUL YEAR AND A  HALF OF MARRIAGE TOGETHER BEFORE HIS ACCIDENT.

YOU KNOW, I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION A LOT ABOUT WHO HE  WAS AS A PERSON.

I HONESTLY REALLY STRUGGLE  TO DEFINE THAT BECAUSE, LIKE, ANY PERSON I THINK  SITTING IN MY SHOES IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ENCAPSULATE  WHO A PERSON IS IN A FEW WORDS.

AS MUCH AS I COULD TRY, HE WAS AN AMAZING MAN.

HE LOVED HIS JOB.

BEING A FIREFIGHTER, IT WAS  AN ENTIRE CAREER.

HE PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT.

HE WAS EXTREMELY SMART.

HE HAD A MASTER'S DEGREE.

HE WAS EXTREMELY EDUCATED.

BUT HIS PASSION FOR HIS JOB  REALLY DROVE A LOT OF WHAT HE DID.

HE WAS REALLY FUNNY.

HE LOVED A GOOD PRACTICAL  JOKE.

HE LOVED HALLOWEEN, AND  DRESSING UP FOR THEME PARTIES AND THINGS LIKE  THAT.

HE DIDN'T TAKE LIFE  SERIOUSLY, EXCEPT FOR IN HIS JOB.

BUT HE ADDED SO MUCH COLOR TO MY LIFE AND HIS FRIEND'S  LIVES.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS, YOU  KNOW?

THE THINGS, AGAIN, THAT ARE  REALLY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE, BUT JUST EVERY DAY  WITH HIM WAS A NEW JOURNEY.

HE JUST MADE ME LAUGH ALL  THE TIME.

AND HE WAS QUIET UNTIL YOU  GOT TO KNOW HIM, BUT THEN HE HAD A LOT TO  SAY.

HE'S AN ENIGMA OF A PERSON.

AGAIN, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY SAY  THIS ABOUT SOMEONE WHO THEY LOVED TOO.

BUT THERE'S JUST NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM IN THE WORLD.

AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ONE OF HIM.

AND IT IS A HUGE LOSS TO MYSELF, HIS FRIENDS, HIS  FAMILY, TO HIS CO-WORKERS, THAT HE'S NO LONGER HERE TO  BRING THAT JOY AND THAT COLOR TO OUR LIVES.

>> Laura: YEAH.

WELL, THANKS FOR TALKING  ABOUT HIM THAT WAY.

IT'S NICE TO FEEL LIKE WE  CAN KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF WHO HE WAS.

WHILE TIM WAS A WINDLAND FIREFIGHTER AND SMOKEJUMPER,  I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT CHALLENGES  HE FACED, HIS COLLEAGUES FACED, AND THAT THE FAMILY  MEMBERS OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS FACE WHEN  THEY'RE DEPLOYED OR WHEN THEY COME HOME EVEN?

>> Hart: THAT IS A REALLY HEAVY QUESTION.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT LIST.

WITH MY EXPERIENCE WITH TIM, AND I STILL HAVE A LOT OF  FRIENDS THAT ARE IN FIRE AS WELL, SO THESE PROBLEMS  CONTINUE FOR THEM, I KNOW.

BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT  WAS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME HAVING MY PARTNER BE GONE  FOR SIX, SEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR GONE ON ASSIGNMENT.

NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THEM SOMETIMES FOR WEEKS ON  END.

CONSTANTLY LIVING IN FEAR  THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY  THAT FEAR BECAME A REALITY FOR ME AND FOR THE PEOPLE  WHO LOVED HIM.

BUT THAT'S A REALITY ALSO  THAT A LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES FACE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THERE ARE DEATHS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THE MENTAL STRESS FOR THE FIREFIGHTER COMING HOME IN  THE OFFSEASON.

GOING FROM AN  ADRENALINE-FUELED SUMMER SEASON WATCHING CLOSE CALLS  HAPPEN, DESTRUCTION, HAVOC.

AND THEN TRYING TO COME BACK  IN THE OFFSEASON AND BE BASICALLY LAID OFF.

NOT HAVING A LOT TO DO.

TRYING TO RECALIBRATE  THEMSELVES INTO HOME LIFE AND RESET WITH THEIR  FAMILIES.

THAT WAS REALLY TOUGH FOR  TIM AND I, BOTH WHEN HE WOULD LEAVE, GETTING USED TO  THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT TOGETHER, BUT THEN ALSO HIM  COMING HOME.

YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO TAKING  CARE OF THE HOUSE AND MAKING SURE THINGS ARE DONE AND NOW  THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON THERE.

SO IT'S A RECALIBRATION BACK INTO NORMAL LIFE.

I MEAN, THE MENTAL HEALTH IS A REALLY BIG PIECE OF THAT.

THAT I THINK IS REALLY NOT TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR SITUATION, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE  HAD, YOU KNOW, CLOSE FRIENDS THAT HAVE DIED FROM SUICIDE  IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST A REALLY BIG  STRESSOR FOR THEM.

YOU ALSO HAVE MEDICAL  CONDITIONS.

YOU KNOW, TIM WENT THROUGH  WORKERS' COMP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH DIFFERENT INJURIES HE  SUSTAINED, AND NAVIGATING THAT PROCESS AND  REHABILITATING YOURSELF.

HE HAD AN ATV ROLLOVER ON A  FIRE WHERE HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

HE HAD A SHOULDER INJURY.

THE YEAR BEFORE HIS  ACCIDENT, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS AT HIS BASE IN  WEST YELLOWSTONE THAT HAD SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING  INJURIES FROM THEIR JOB.

JUST THE PHYSICAL TOLL, NOT  TO MENTION LONG-TERM.

LIKE YOU WORRY ABOUT THE  SMOKE INHALATION AND CARCINOGENS, AND I THINK  THERE'S JUST SO MUCH STRESS AROUND ALL OF THAT.

AND I HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED ON THE FINANCIAL PIECE.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND FOR US, I WORKED AS WELL.

SO THAT WASN'T AS BIG OF A STRESSOR FOR US.

AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, MY JOB HELPED US  AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES  THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

IT CAN CREATE AN ENORMOUS  STRESS FINANCIALLY, AND A LOT OF CONCERN THERE, TOO.

I KNOW I'M JUST KIND OF TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE  THINGS, BUT WHEN YOU ASK THAT QUESTION THERE'S JUST  SO MUCH THAT GOES INTO THAT ANSWER.

IT'S NOT ONE THING.

IT'S MULTIPLE THINGS THAT,  YOU KNOW, THE SPOUSES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE  PEOPLE IN THESE JOBS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AND WORRY ABOUT  FOR THEIR PARTNERS AND FOR THEMSELVES.

AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT GRASSROOTS WILDLAND  FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF SERVING  PARTNERS.

AND ONE OF THE STATISTICS I  FIND REALLY INTERESTING THAT THEY SAID IS THAT AROUND 50%  OF THEIR RESPONDENTS SAID THEY HAVE CONSIDERED LEAVING  THEIR PARTNER BECAUSE OF THE STRESS OF THE JOB.

I MEAN, THAT IS A MASSIVE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY  ARE ASKING THEMSELVES THIS IS THE LIFE I WANT TO HAVE,  AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THEN FOR THOSE PEOPLE -- THE  FIREFIGHTERS GOING OUT THERE WORRYING ALSO ABOUT THEIR  RELATIONSHIP.

>> Laura: YEAH, THAT SAME  SURVEY FROM GRASSROOTS WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS, THAT  2021 SURVEY, I MEAN THE NUMBERS ARE CRAZY.

77% SURVEYED EXPERIENCED A NEAR-MISS THAT COULD HAVE  KILLED THEM.

57% REPORTED BINGE DRINKING  IN THE PAST MONTH.

THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THE  NATIONAL AVERAGE.

78% HAVE MENTAL HEALTH  ISSUES DIRECTLY CAUSED OR WORSENED BY THEIR WORK.

AND 23% SCREENED TESTED POSITIVE FOR PTSD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE NUMBERS RESONATE WITH YOU AND THE  PEOPLE YOU KNOW.

>> Hart: ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S WEIRD JUST TO SEE THEM ON PAPER BECAUSE IT FEELS  OBVIOUS, BUT ALSO TERRIFYING WHEN YOU SEE THAT REALLY IS  THE WAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO  LIVE THROUGH ALL OF THE TIME.

>> Laura: YEAH.

WE CAN NOT TALK ABOUT THIS  IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, BUT TIM DIED IN 2021, BUT YOU  HAVE CONTINUED TO STILL SEE BILLS POP UP.

THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, AS I UNDERSTAND, PAYS THOSE  BILLS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT  LIKE FOR YOU THREE YEARS LATER TO STILL SEE THESE  COME IN THE MAIL TO YOU?

>> Hart: YEAH, THE ENTIRE  PROCESS IS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC.

I THINK, NAIVELY, I THOUGHT THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC PART  OF IT WOULD WRAP UP PRETTY QUICKLY.

BUT IT DIDN'T.

IT DRUG OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE FOREST SERVICE'S FAULT.

I MEAN, THEY WERE A WONDERFUL PARTNER IN HELPING  ME MAKE SURE THAT THINGS WERE GETTING PAID AND  HELPING ME AS MUCH AS THEY COULD.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A DEATH OF A FEDERAL  EMPLOYEE, IT JUST EXTENDS THE -- THE BUREAUCRACY  EXTENDS INTO MULTIPLE OTHER AGENCIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT JUST TAKES A REALLY LONG  TIME TO CLOSE OUT.

AND IT WAS REALLY HARD, YOU  KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS I FELT WERE UNNECESSARY, AND  AGAIN IT'S ALL PART OF THE BUREAUCRACY, BUT FOR  INSTANCE HIS LIFE INSURANCE.

LIKE I WAS GETTING LETTERS  FROM A DIFFERENT AGENCY ASKING ME TO SUBMIT RECORDS  AND ARTICLES AND MEDICAL RECORDS ABOUT HIS DEATH,  SO THAT THEY COULD PROVE THAT IT WAS A WORK ACCIDENT.

EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN QUALIFIED AS THAT.

JUST A LOT OF THAT FELT REALLY UNNECESSARY TO ME.

AND IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC TO BE ASKED TO SEND OVER THE  CORONER'S REPORT AND HAVE TO PULL ALL OF THAT INFORMATION  TOGETHER MYSELF.

AND THEN, YEAH, THE BILLS  AND AGAIN NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S FAULT AT ALL,  BUT THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE STAYED.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT I WAS GETTING  MEDICAL BILLS FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS.

IN FACT, I THINK, A MONTH AGO I GOT ANOTHER OVERDUE  BILL FROM THE HOSPITAL.

YOU KNOW, SINCE THEN MY  CASEWORKER HAS RETIRED FROM THE FOREST SERVICE.

SO, HONESTLY, I JUST SIT IT ON MY DESK AND I'M LIKE WELL  I GUESS THEY CAN TRY TO TAKE ME TO COLLECTIONS BECAUSE  TIM DOESN'T HAVE ANY CREDIT, OR IT DOESN'T MATTER  ANYMORE.

SO, I'LL JUST LET IT SIT  THERE, BUT IT IS TRAUMATIC TO COME AND SEE THAT A BILL  FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH LIKE A BRAIN SCAN OR  NEUROLOGIST.

AND JUST PUTTING MYSELF BACK  IN THAT POSITION OF BEING DOWN THERE WITH HIM AND  GOING THROUGH THAT IS TRAUMATIC.

AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

EVERY TIME I OPEN THE  MAILBOX THERE'S A FEAR THAT I'M GOING TO SEE SOMETHING  ELSE IN THERE THAT'S GOING TO KIND OF BRING ME BACK.

SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST NEVER CAN GET AWAY  FROM.

AND THAT IS THE HARD PART.

AGAIN, I THINK THE FOREST SERVICE DOES THE BEST JOB  THEY CAN.

I JUST THINK THE PROCESS  ITSELF IS -- DOES NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR THE PEOPLE LEFT  BEHIND.

>> Laura: YEAH.

IN 2021, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES DID  INTRODUCE THE TIM HART WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER  CLASSIFICATION AND PAY PARITY ACT.

WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT?

>> Hart: WELL IT IS STILL  SITTING THERE ON THE BOOKS.

IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED THE  LAST FEW YEARS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT BILL I  THINK REALLY ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT FIREFIGHTERS  REALLY WANT TO SEE.

IT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM  MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TO PAY PARITY TO RETIREMENT  EDUCATION, ALL OF THAT.

IT'S KIND OF A WISH LIST OF  EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

WE WANT TO SEE ALL OF THOSE  THINGS COMING TO FRUITION.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AFTER THE  INITIAL INTRODUCTION OF THAT IS A LOT MORE VISIBILITY ON  THESE ISSUES.

AND SO I THINK WHAT THIS HAS  DONE, EVEN IT HAS NOT PASSED, AND AGAIN WE WOULD  STILL VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE IT PASS, BUT IT HAS BROUGHT  TO LIGHT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES INTO D.C. AND INTO  OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS' HANDS.

AND WHAT IT'S ALLOWED TOO IS FOR THEM TO COME IN AND TAKE  BITE-SIZE PIECES OUT OF IT AND REPACKAGE THEM INTO WAYS  THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY LIKE TO SEE OR TAKE ONE PIECE OUT  HERE AND ONE PIECE OUT HERE AND PUTTING IT IN A  DIFFERENT BILL OVER HERE.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A LOT  OF WHAT WAS IN TIM'S ACT IS COMING TO FRUITION.

THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE PHYSICAL HEALTH PIECE WITH  PRESUMPTIVE CARE.

WE'RE SEEING -- WE SAW THE  INCENTIVES THAT WERE PASSED.

THE $20,000 INCREASES THAT  WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE PERMANENT THROUGH THE TWO  BILLS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION ACT,  AND THERE'S A RETIREMENT FAIRNESS ACT THAT'S ALSO  COMING OUT ON TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES BEING ABLE TO BUY  INTO THEIR RETIREMENT FROM THEIR TEMPORARY YEARS OF  SERVICE.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS,  THOSE IDEAS ORIGINATED IN TIM'S ACT.

SO, ALTHOUGH IT AS A WHOLE PACKAGE HAS NOT BEEN  PROMULGATED, WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ON  CERTAIN PIECES OF THOSE MOVING FORWARD IN THEIR OWN  WAYS.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO  DO, BUT THE WHEELS OF THE  LEGISLATURE GRIND SLOWLY.

AND IT'S A FIGHT THAT THERE  ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

I DEFINITELY SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, TIM IS CONTINUING TO  MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH BRINGING THAT LEVEL OF  AWARENESS AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE PEOPLE -- OTHER  PEOPLE SEE THESE AS GOOD IDEAS THEY CAN CARRY  FORWARD, AND REALLY MAKE LASTING CHANGES FOR PEOPLE.

>> Laura: YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR  THAT IT IS SORT OF -- PARTS ARE COMING OUT IN DIFFERENT  WAYS.

ALL OF US ACROSS THE NATION  RELY ON WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS, BUT I FEEL  LIKE WE OFTEN DON'T SEE THEM.

LIKE, MAYBE WE SEE THEM COME IN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE PUT THE SIGNS UP AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT  DON'T SEE THEM AS INDIVIDUALS OR PEOPLE WITH  FAMILIES.

WHAT DO YOU WISH EVERYONE  KNEW AND MAYBE COULD DO BETTER FOR OUR WILDLAND  FIREFIGHTERS?

>> Hart: I THINK IT'S A  REALLY GOOD POINT THAT THEY'RE HIDDEN FIGURES.

THEY'RE THE HIDDEN HEROES OF OUR COUNTRY.

THEY DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.

THEY ARE THE MOST SELFLESS  PEOPLE.

I THINK THE THING THAT I  WOULD WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR ABOUT AND TO KNOW AND  UNDERSTAND IS THE STRUGGLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEY  HAVE.

AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T TALK  ABOUT THEM.

THEY DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT  THEM.

SO I THINK IT'S UP TO THE  PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR SERVICES, TO BE THE  ONES TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR THEM.

TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

THIS WORKFORCE IS NOT UNLIKE THE MILITARY.

THEY'RE DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY, THEY DIE FOR OUR  COUNTRY, THEY GIVE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR LOVED ONES, THEY  SUFFER FOR IT.

AND IT IS IMPERATIVE AND  IT'S UPON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO BE GRATEFUL FOR  THAT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND ASK FOR REFORM.

ASK FOR THEM TO BE TREATED LIKE WE DO OUR MILITARY  SERVICE MEMBERS.

LIKE WE DO TO OUR EMERGENCY  RESPONDERS.

AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE  PROTECTED AND THAT THEY ARE GIVEN THE BENEFITS AND  ABILITY TO RECUPERATE FROM BEING IN THESE TRAUMATIC  EVENTS.

AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO  THIS FOR THEIR ENTIRE CAREER, AGAIN AND AGAIN.

I JUST THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO EDUCATE OURSELVES  BETTER AND ASK QUESTIONS TO THEM.

LIKE WHAT IS THIS LIKE FOR YOU, AND CERTAINLY IF YOU  KNOW A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER, PLEASE ASK THEM HOW THEY'RE  DOING, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR TIME  OFF.

BECAUSE I GUARANTEE THAT  THEY HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT,  AND THEY REALLY -- I'M SURE THEY COULD USE SOMEBODY TO  TALK TO.

SO, I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO  HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> Laura: YEAH.

WELL, MICHELLE, I'M REALLY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

AND I APPRECIATE WHAT TIM DID,  AND ALL OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU TALKING  WITH US AND BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE YOU  CARE ABOUT.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Hart: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA.

>> Laura: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE COVERED THE  CHALLENGES WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS FACE, OR THE SOLUTIONS THEY SEEK.

VISIT NMPBS.ORG/OURLAND TO SEE THAT PAST COVERAGE.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO LAURA  PASKUS AND MICHELLE HART FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

LAST MAY, DON SCHRADER WAS STRUCK BY A CAR.

AN INCIDENT THAT BROUGHT LOTS OF LOCAL HEADLINES, AND  PERHAPS REMINDED SOME FOLKS THAT DON IS STILL VERY MUCH  AROUND.

THE DRIVER WAS NEVER FOUND,  AND DON HAS BEEN RECOVERING FOR ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR  NOW.

ALTHOUGH MOST DAYS HE CAN  STILL BE FOUND SHIRTLESS, WALKING THE STREETS OF  ALBUQUERQUE WITH HIS CART OF ESSENTIALS, HE HAS OPENED UP  TO THE IDEA OF AN OCCASIONAL CAR RIDE.

AN OPTION THE 78-YEAR-OLD OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE NEVER  CONSIDERED.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF CHANGE  FOR DON, AND THE PAPER'S ANDY LYMAN HAS BEEN WORKING  ON DOCUMENTING IT.

IN APRIL, ANDY PUBLISHED A  PROFILE OF DON AS HE CONSIDERS DEATH, ONE OF  LIFE'S ONLY GUARANTEES.

NOW, THIS WEEK, ANDY SITS  DOWN WITH DON TO LOOK AHEAD AT ALBUQUERQUE'S FUTURE AND  HIS HOPES FOR A CITY HE HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH.

>> Andy: DON, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SPEAKING WITH ME TODAY.

>> Schrader: I'M GLAD TO BE  HERE, ANDY.

>> Andy: YOU AND I HAVE  SPOKEN AT LENGTH OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT  YOUR LIFE AND SOME OF YOUR STORIES.

I THINK VIEWERS CAN GO READ A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT --  THE STORY I WROTE IN THE PAPER --  >> Schrader: EXCELLENT STORY.

>> Andy: AND FIND YOUR PUBLIC ACCESS SHOW.

TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO NARROW THE FOCUS A LITTLE  BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

MAYBE IF WE CAN THINK OF THIS AS A TIME CAPSULE FOR  FOLKS TO COME BACK AND VIEW SOME YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO ZERO IN A LITTLE BIT ON  YOUR -- HOW YOUR PERSPECTIVE MIGHT HAVE CHANGED AS YOU  CONTEMPLATE THE END OF LIFE.

>> Schrader: WELL, BECAUSE  OF THE HIT-AND-RUN ONE YEAR AGO, I'M EVEN MORE AWARE OF  HOW OUR LIVES CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT.

AND THAT TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED TO ANYONE ON  EARTH.

WHETHER YOU'RE 7 YEARS OLD,  27, 97, OR 78, WHICH I AM.

SIX YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER, I  BOUGHT A PLOT AT THE SAN JOSE DE ARMIJO CEMETERY ON  THE WEST SIDE.

A BEAUTIFUL DIRT CEMETERY.

I SAY, WHY WASTE WATER IN A DESERT ON DEAD BODIES?

ALSO, SAN JOSE DE ARMIJO, THE GRAVES ARE MUCH CHEAPER  THAN THE BIG GRASS CEMETERIES.

NO VAULT, NO LINER REQUIRED AS THEY REQUIRE.

I LOVE TO LIVE SIMPLY, AND I WANT TO DIE SIMPLY.

I'VE BUILT MY OWN COFFIN OUT OF HALF-INCH PLYWOOD SIX  YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT 60 BUCKS.

AND TO ME IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CRIME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN  THIS COUNTRY SPEND MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON  FUNERALS, COFFINS, FLOWERS, WHEN MILLIONS OF DESPERATELY  POOR CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD SLEEP ON THE GROUND  HUNGRY, SICK.

IT'S EVIL TO WASTE MONEY LIKE THAT.

>> Andy: SOMETHING YOU AND I  HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, DON, IS YOUR SHIFT IN VIEWS  ON WHAT -- I THINK YOU TOLD ME BEFORE YOU USED TO WANT A  BIG FUNERAL, RIGHT?

>> Schrader: YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> Andy: WHAT SHIFTED IN THAT?

>> Schrader: WELL, I STARTED  TO SEE I WON'T BE THERE TO ENJOY IT.

SO, WHY A BIG FUNERAL?

ALTHOUGH, I REALIZE THAT THE  FUNERAL IS FOR THE LIVING.

BUT I LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE AT  SO MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS GREET ME WARMLY WITH HUGS  AND ON THE STREET AND HONKS AND SMILES, AND SOMETIMES A  SEXY YELL.

BUT I WON'T BE THERE TO  ENJOY IT.

SO, I PREFER   WHILE I'M LIVING.

SO, YEAH.

>> Andy: YOU MENTIONED,  EARLIER THE HIT-AND-RUN.

SOME FOLKS MIGHT ALREADY  KNOW YOU WERE HIT BY A CAR LAST MAY.

JUST ABOUT EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, AT THIS POINT.

>> Schrader: YUP.

>> Andy: THE DRIVER FLED THE  SCENE.

STILL DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

BUT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW YOU'RE RECOVERING, HOW  THE LAST CAREER OF RECOVERY HAS GONE FOR YOU AND HOW  YOU'RE FEELING THESE DAYS?

>> Schrader: WELL, I'M SO  GLAD TO BE ALIVE.

MANY VICTIMS OF HIT-AND-RUN  ARE KILLED ON THE SPOT.

AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE ABLE  TO WALK AS WELL AS I DO.

AND TO DANCE.

TWO SUNDAYS, RECENTLY, I  DANCED AT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

NOT QUITE AS FREELY AS I  USED TO, BUT I DANCED.

SO, I JUST HOPE THAT WHOEVER  IT WAS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE PERSON WAS ON METH, OR  DRUNK, OR COMING FROM A VICIOUS FAMILY FIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE PERSON THOUGHT I WAS HOMELESS  BECAUSE OF MY CART THAT I PULL, AND HE SAID OH, HERE'S  A LOSER, OR SHE.

HE OR SHE, I DON'T KNOW THE  DRIVER.

MAN OR WOMAN.

OR TARGET ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I STAND FOR, AND HAVE STOOD  FOR DECADES.

AS FAR AS BEING OPENLY GAY  AND ANTI-WAR IN THIS WAR-ADDICTED CITY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST HOPE THAT WHOEVER IT  WAS SOMEDAY CHANGES TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

>> Andy: PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN  RECOVERING?

ARE YOU STILL MOVING AROUND  A LOT?

>> Schrader: OH, YES.

YES, YES.

MANY DAYS, I WALK MILES TO  GO WHERE I WANT TO GO.

BEFORE THE HIT-AND-RUN, I  HAD RIDDEN IN NO CAR FOR 22 YEARS.

AND SINCE THE HIT-AND-RUN, SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY  IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, I  HAVE ACCEPTED RIDES IN CARS.

BUT I MOSTLY WALK AND TAKE  THE CITY BUS.

AND PULL MY CART THAT HAS  EXTRA CLOTHES OR FOOD.

LIKE YESTERDAY AT EL SUPER,  I BOUGHT OVER 20 POUNDS OF APPLES.

I LOVE APPLES.

I'M A RAW-FOODS VEGAN.

I EAT NO MEAT, NO DAIRY, NO JUNK FOOD, NO BOOZE, NO  PROCESSED FOODS.

NO, NONE OF THAT.

SOME LESSONS FROM THE HIT-AND-RUN, ONE IS FOR ME  NEVER -- AND FOR ANYBODY, NEVER TO CROSS A BUSY -- I  MEAN THE STREET WASN'T BUSY EXCEPT FOR I SAW THIS DRIVER  COMING FAST WAY UP YONDER.

BUT NEVER TO TAKE A CHANCE  ON CROSSING A STREET.

I WAS FOOLISH.

AND I REGRET IT, OF COURSE.

SECONDLY, TO FORGIVE.

TO FORGIVE THE DRIVER, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHO IT  WAS.

AND TO FORGIVE MYSELF FOR  FOOLISHLY CROSSING.

AND THIRDLY, I'M SO GLAD  THAT I PURSUED HEALTH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE.

AND THAT HAS HELPED ME MAKE A GOOD RECOVERY.

I'M NOT BACK TO WHAT I WAS.

PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE.

BUT MAYBE 80%-85%.

>> Andy: AND YOU'RE WALKING  WITHOUT A WALKER, NOW.

>> Schrader: OH, YES.

I DO CARRY A CANE WITH ME, JUST IN CASE OF ALMOST  FALLING.

I DID FALL SOME WEEKS AGO,  AND FIVE MEN STOPPED.

ONE MAN WHO HAD HIS CAR TOOK  ME HOME IN THE CAR.

SO, YEAH.

AND TO ANYONE WATCHING TODAY, I LOVE PERSONAL  QUESTIONS.

I TREASURE HEART-TO-HEART  CONVERSATIONS.

AND IF YOU SEE ME, WHEREVER  IN TOWN, AND YOU WANT TO TALK WITH ME, AND YOU HAVE  THE TIME, PLEASE DO.

>> Andy: GIVEN YOUR  RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING AND YOUR SHUNNING RELIGION,  WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT FORGIVENESS TO FORGIVE THE  DRIVER THAT HIT YOU OR ANYBODY IN YOUR LIFE?

WHERE DO YOU FIND THE POWER TO FORGIVE?

>> Schrader: WELL, THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I'M SO TOTALLY CONVINCED  THAT APART FROM THE MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE  TAUGHT ME, WHO HAVE LOVED ME, WHO HAVE INSPIRED ME,  AND PUT IN THE CRUCIBLE OF PRESSURES AND UPBRINGINGS  THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE, WHETHER IT BE A DONALD TRUMP  OR ADOLPH HITLER, I COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME.

I COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME.

THE SAME EVIL.

I'M SO CONVINCED OF THAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, HITLER HAD A  TERRIBLE CHILDHOOD.

HIS FATHER WAS EXTREMELY  ABUSIVE.

AND THEN WHEN CROWDS  SWALLOWED HIS RACIST LIES AND HIS HATEFUL RHETORIC,  THAT JUST FANNED THE FLAMES OF HIS RAGE AND HIS  INSANITY.

AND THE SAME, TO SOME  DEGREE, WITH TRUMP.

AS I UNDERSTAND IN HIS EARLY  CHILDHOOD, HIS MOTHER WAS NOT THERE.

I BELIEVE SHE HAD SOME KIND OF SICKNESS.

SO HIS FATHER JUST PUMPED INTO HIM WORSHIP MONEY,  WORSHIP POWER.

DO WHATEVER YOU CAN GET AWAY  WITH, NO MATTER WHO YOU SCREW OVER.

NOW, SADLY, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY  SWALLOW HIS -- I JUST READ THE OTHER DAY, HE SPOKE OVER  30,000 LIES DURING HIS FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE.

WHEN MANY EVANGELICALS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE FAN THE  FLAMES OF HIS EVIL RANTINGS, IT JUST MAKES IT WORSE.

>> Andy: SORT OF TO WRAP THINGS UP, YOU'VE BEEN IN  THIS CITY FOR -- >> Schrader: 54 YEARS AGO,  NEXT MONTH.

>> Andy: OKAY, SO YOU'VE  SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE CITY.

YOU'VE WALKED THESE STREETS MANY TIMES.

>> Schrader: YUP.

>> Andy: YOU'VE SEEN,  OBVIOUSLY, ISSUES WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, VIOLENCE  AGAINST -- IN THE HANDS OF APD.

YOU'VE SEEN PLENTY OF ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS.

>> Schrader: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Andy: WHAT IS DON  SCHRADER'S PRAYER FOR THE CITY TO CHANGE TO BE BETTER?

>> Schrader: NUMBER ONE, I DAMN SANDIA WEAPONS LAB AND  KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE.

WHERE DAILY, FOR DECADES,  MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AT SANDIA WEAPONS LAB, HIGHLY  EDUCATED PEOPLE SPEND THEIR BRAINS AND THEIR TIME, THEIR  CAREERS, PREPARING MASS MURDER FOR MILLIONS ALL OVER  THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, GANDHI SAID --  WHEN GANDHI WAS ASKED WHAT WORRIED HIM THE MOST, HE  REPLIED THE HARDNESS OF HEART OF THE EDUCATED.

AND SO TRUE.

SO TRUE.

AND SO, I WISH THAT ALBUQUERQUE WOULD BE KNOWN  NOT FOR THE AUSCHWITZ IN THE MAKING ON THE SOUTHEAST  SIDE.

SANDIA WEAPONS LAB.

BUT FOR PEACE.

AND STANDING AGAINST WAR.

I HAVE PAID NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX FOR 45 YEARS.

I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS GOVERNMENT TO MURDER  MILLIONS AS IT'S DONE IN MANY, MANY NATIONS UNDER  BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTS.

I WANT ALSO THE HOMELESS PEOPLE TO HAVE -- IF THEY  WANT A SIMPLE, SMALL PLACE TO LIVE AND WILL TAKE CARE  OF IT, TO HAVE A PLACE.

IT'S A CRIME AGAINST  HUMANITY, NOT JUST SAYING ALBUQUERQUE, BUT ACROSS THE  COUNTRY, THAT BILLIONS ARE SPENT ON WAR PREPARATIONS.

BILLIONS SENT TO ISRAEL TO MASS MURDER TENS OF  THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY  TO HELP THE HOMELESS.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST INSANITY.

AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE ALBUQUERQUE TO BE KNOWN FOR  SOBER LIVING.

NEW MEXICO HAS THE HIGHEST  RATE OF DEATHS FROM BOOZE OF ALL 50 STATES.

TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND I CALLED UPON COMMUNITY  LEADERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, TO TAKE A PUBLIC -- TO MAKE  A PUBLIC PROMISE -- PLEDGE TO DRINK NO BOOZE THE REST  OF THEIR LIVES.

I DRINK NO BOOZE.

NONE.

ZERO.

DEAR FRIENDS OF MINE WHOSE LIVES WERE DEVASTATED BY  BOOZE, AND CUT SHORT -- ONE OF MY CLOSEST -- WELL MY  CLOSEST FRIEND NOW, HIS 42-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS JUST  A WRECK FROM BOOZE.

AND EMOTIONAL ILLNESS.

I'VE SEEN IT, OH, IT'S JUST AWFUL.

AND I WANT ALBUQUERQUE TO BE  SEEN AS A PLACE WHERE IMMIGRANTS REMAIN WELCOME,  DESPITE SOME ACTION FROM CITY COUNCILORS.

AND WHERE THEY REALLY ARE APPRECIATED AS SISTERS AND  BROTHERS, MANY OF THEM FLEEING HORRENDOUS  CONDITIONS IN COUNTRIES WHERE THE UNITED STATES HAS  BEEN A VILLAIN.

AND SO THOSE ARE --  >> Andy: OKAY.

>> Schrader: SOME OF MY DEEP  DESIRES.

>> Andy: WELL, DON, THANK  YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT TALK.

I KNOW YOU AND I WILL KEEP THESE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON  THE PHONE AND I'LL COME SEE YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GAIN SOME NEW FOLLOWERS WHEN  YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND THEY'LL COME ASK  YOU SOME PERSONAL QUESTIONS.

>> Schrader: YEAH, PLEASE  SPEAK TO ME IF YOU WANT TO.

>> Andy: THANK YOU SO MUCH  FOR COMING IN.

>> Schrader: THANK YOU,  ANDY, AND THIS STATION.

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR  WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU   NEXT WEEK.

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