New Mexico In Focus
Earth Day’s NM Roots; BernCo Transparency Mess
Season 17 Episode 43 | 53m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
Our Land's Laura Paskus discusses the first Earth Day.
This week, Our Land's Laura Paskus sits down with Arturo Sandoval, one of the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, to discuss the event and how it has since changed. Executive Producer Jeff Proctor talks to Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, about new allegations of state transparency law violations against Bernalillo County commissioners.
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New Mexico In Focus is a local public television program presented by NMPBS
New Mexico In Focus
Earth Day’s NM Roots; BernCo Transparency Mess
Season 17 Episode 43 | 53m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
This week, Our Land's Laura Paskus sits down with Arturo Sandoval, one of the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, to discuss the event and how it has since changed. Executive Producer Jeff Proctor talks to Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, about new allegations of state transparency law violations against Bernalillo County commissioners.
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>> Jeff: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, SEEDS OF CHANGE.
NEW MEXICO LEGEND ARTURO SANDOVAL TELLS US ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF EARTH DAY AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM SINCE 1970.
>> Sandoval: JUST TO GET US GOING AND THAT IS WHAT EARTH DAY DID, AND I THINK THAT IS STILL THE LARGEST SINGLE PROTEST EVENT IN U.S. HISTORY, 20 MILLION PEOPLE AT OVER 10,000 SITES.
>> Jeff: AND WE BREAK DOWN NEW ALLEGATIONS OF STATE TRANSPARENCY LAW VIOLATIONS AGAINST BERNALILLO COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.
I AM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR.
THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT BERNALILLO COUNTY MANAGER MIGHT SOON BE IN JEOPARDY.
LAST WEEK THE NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT ASKED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE QUESTION AT THE CENTER OF THE NONPROFIT'S REQUEST, DID THREE OF THE COUNTY'S FIVE COMMISSIONERS COME UP WITH A PLAN TO HIRE THE NEXT COUNTY MANAGER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN AN ILLEGAL ROLLING QUORUM.
IN THE SECOND HALF OF TODAY'S SHOW, I SIT DOWN WITH NM FOG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELANIE MAJORS TO TALK ABOUT WHY PUBLIC BUSINESS SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONDUCTED WITH THE DOOR OPEN.
BUT FIRST LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK TO A MOMENT IN 1970 WHEN NEW MEXICO'S ARTURO SANDOVAL WAS RECRUITED TO HELP ORGANIZE THE NATION'S FIRST EARTH DAY, A MASSIVE MOMENT THAT HELPED INCITE CONGRESSIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTION.
IN A WIDE RANGING CONVERSATION WITH OUR LAND'S LAURA PASKUS SANDOVAL TALKS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, THE EARLY DAYS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, HOW ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION HAS BEEN THWARTED OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES AND HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE CENTER OF SOUTHWEST CULTURE AND TWO OF ITS CURRENT PROJECTS, STORY WRITERS AND SEMBRANDO SALUD.
>> Laura: ARTURO SANDOVAL, WELCOME AND THANK YOU.
>> Sandoval: THANK YOU.
IT IS REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU LAURA AND LONG TIME NO SEE BUT YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> Laura: I AM GLAD FOR ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS OVER COFFEE OVER THE YEARS NOW WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
>> Sandoval: WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
>> LAURA: SO WE ARE GOING TO GO WAY BACK.
YOU GREW UP IN ESPANOLA AND YOU WERE WORKING AND LIVING HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE IN 1970 WHEN DENNIS HAYES CALLED YOU AND ASKED YOU TO HELP ORGANIZE THE NATION'S FIRST EARTH DAY.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WHAT WAS THAT CALL LIKE?
>> Sandoval: I WAS ATTENDING UNM, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1965, SO I HAD ATTENDED UNM FOR A YEAR.
I THINK MY FRESHMAN, MAYBE MY FIRST TWO YEARS, AND THEN MY MOM DIED AND THAT TOOK A LOT OF WIND OUT OF MY SAILS.
I TOOK A YEAR OFF AND BECAME A VISTA VOLUNTEER IN GUADALUPE COUNTY FOR ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.
I CAME BACK TO UNM IN THE FALL OF '68.
SO I WAS AT UNM AND HAD HELPED ORGANIZE THE UNITED NEW MEXICO AMERICAN STUDENTS AT UNM BEGINNING IN FALL OF '68 AND I WAS VERY ACTIVE THERE AND WAS VERY ACTIVE ON CAMPUS.
AND I GOT A CALL OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY FROM ANDY GARLING.
HE WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF EARTH DAY AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO ORGANIZE THE WESTERN U.S. AND THEY HAD A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES OUT OF THE WEST COAST, UCLA OR USC, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THEM.
THEY HEARD ABOUT ME THROUGH ONE OF THE UNM PROFESSORS AT UNM WHO SAID, HE IS A REAL CRACKER JACK.
HE SAID SOMETHING GOOD AND SO THEY CALLED ME.
THEY INTERVIEWED ME FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EARTH DAY WAS BUT WE HAD THAT LONG CONVERSATION, MAYBE AN HOUR ON THE PHONE.
THEN, THEY WENT OFF TO TALK AMONG THEMSELVES.
THEN THEY CALLED ME BACK AND DID ANOTHER HOUR, MAYBE TWO HOURS ON THE PHONE.
AND THEN, FINALLY WE AGREED.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WORTH DOING.
SO, LITERALLY WITHIN THREE DAYS I WAS ON A PLANE TO DC TO START ORGANIZING EARTH DAY.
THAT IS HOW I GOT INVOLVED.
>> Laura: YEAH.
>> Sandoval: TWO PHONE CALLS.
>> Laura: WHEN WE USED TO TALK ON THE PHONE WITH EACH OTHER.
>> Sandoval: THAT IS RIGHT.
WE HAD LAND LINES.
>> Laura: SO NOW MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY LATER, DO YOU THINK THAT THE MOVEMENT WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK, WENT ASTRAY, LIKE WHERE ARE WE TODAY?
>> Sandoval: I THINK IT WAS A FANTASTIC MOVEMENT.
BACK IN THE LATE 60'S AND 70'S, YOU KNOW, THE BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE CHICANO CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE INDIGENOUS CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS WERE ALL FLOURISHING AND THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY, DIRECT ACTION BY PEOPLE.
WE COULD ORGANIZE AND PROTEST.
AND ACTUALLY GET RESULTS AND CHANGE THINGS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
SO EARTH DAY HAD THAT KIND OF IMPACT BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS UNDERLYING UNEASE, I THINK, IN THE COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS ANY WAY FOR THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR UNEASE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND EARTH DAY, I THINK, PROVIDED THE SPARK.
IT WAS READY TO EXPLODE BUT THERE NEEDED TO BE A SPARK JUST TO GET IT GOING.
AND THAT IS WHAT EARTH DAY DID AND I THINK THAT IS STILL THE LARGEST SINGLE PROTEST EVENT IN U.S. HISTORY.
IT WAS 20 MILLION PEOPLE AT OVER 10,000 SITES.
IT JUST BLEW UP WAY BEYOND WHAT WE HAD HOPED TO DO AND IT HAD A BIG IMPACT.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE CLEAN AIR ACT OUT OF IT.
WE GOT THE CLEAN WATER ACT OUT OF IT.
PRESIDENT NIXON, OF ALL PEOPLE, CREATED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
WE GOT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
AND IN THE PERIOD OF THE 70'S IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EARTH DAY, IN THAT DECADE, DECADE-AND-A-HALF FOLLOWING EARTH DAY CONGRESS ENACTED OVER 50 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS.
IT LOOKED TO US, AT THAT TIME, ME AND THE OTHER ORGANIZERS, THAT WE HAD MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WAS GOING TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE.
FOR A SHORT PERIOD IT WAS.
AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WE RAN INTO AN ENEMY THAT WAS MUCH BETTER ORGANIZED THAN US, MUCH MORE DISCIPLINED AND THAT WAS UNFETTERED CAPITALISM.
THE CAPITALISTS ARE VERY DISCIPLINED IN THEIR APPROACH AND POLITICAL STRATEGIES THEY ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT IT AND THEY HAVE ENORMOUS RESOURCES.
AND WHAT THEY PROCEEDED TO DO AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS THEY HAVE COMPLETELY SUBORNED THE LEGISLATIVE, THE JUDICIAL AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THE PROBLEM THAT CAN ARISE WITH CAPITALISM AND THAT WE ARE FACING TODAY IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS THAT IF CAPITALISM IS UNFETTERED, IF THERE IS NO BALANCE, IF THERE IS NO CONTROL TO TRY TO REIN IN THE EXCESSES, THEN WE END UP WITH WHAT WE HAVE TODAY WHICH IS REALLY SERIOUS CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTRY.
SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SUBORNED BY CAPITALISM AND UNFETTERED CAPITALISM WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR HUMANS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS.
SAME THING WITH CONGRESS.
WE READ ALL THE TIME, TWO WEEKS AGO IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, THEY WROTE A PIECE ABOUT HOW NOT JUST HERE IN THE U.S.
BUT GLOBALLY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WANT GUN CONTROL.
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT SOME CONTROL HERE.
WE ARE KILLING EACH OTHER LIKE IT IS GOING OUT OF STYLE, BUT DESPITE THE FACT THERE IS HUGE SUPPORT FOR IT AMONG THE POPULOUS WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANY MEANINGFUL GUN CONTROL LAWS PASSED.
WHY?
BECAUSE THE CAPITALISTS HAVE COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEMS, ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE AS LOCAL PEOPLE, AS COMMON PEOPLE, RELY ON TO CHECK, TO REIN IN THE EXCESSES OF CAPITALISM.
THOSE BALANCES ARE GONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, FOR THE MOST PART.
I AM PROBABLY PAINTING IT A LITTLE MORE DIRE THAN IT ACTUALLY IS, BUT IT IS NOT GOOD.
WE ARE IN SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
SO, BACK WHEN WE WERE 22 YEAR OLDS OR 20 YEAR OLDS DOING EARTH DAY, WE STILL THOUGHT THAT WE COULD WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND THAT ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS REFORM IT, GET GOOD PEOPLE IN, ELECT THEM TO CONGRESS, THEY'LL HAVE GOOD VALUES AND REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT DID WORK, I THINK, THROUGH THE 1970'S TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, NOT COMPLETELY BUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, AND THE 80'S, BUT THEN SINCE THEN WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY AND ALMOST COMPLETE EROSION OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THAT IS WHY WE WENT OFF THE TRACKS AND WE ARE TOTALLY OFF THE TRACKS TODAY.
>> Laura: IN THE EARLY 2000'S, I INTERVIEWED RUSSELL TRAIN WHO WAS AN EARLY EPA ADMINISTRATOR AND I ASKED HIM, DO YOU THINK THAT ANY OF THESE LAWS COULD BE PASSED TODAY?
HE SAID, NO, BECAUSE AS SOON AS -- THE LOBBYISTS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT MOMENT AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THE LOBBYISTS ARE LINED UP MAKING SURE THAT THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.
SO, I MEAN, YOU'RE EXPERIENCE, YOUR ANALYSIS IS DIRE BUT I THINK IT IS COMPLETELY SPOT ON.
>> Sandoval: CAPITALISTS ARE VERY SMART.
NOW IF YOU LOOK AT, I MEAN, THERE IS 139 COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR'S EARTH DAY AND THAT IS PROBABLY 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE BUT DESPITE THAT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, THE MAJOR POLLUTERS, WHOEVER THEY ARE, EXON, YOU COULD GO ON ALL DAY NAMING THEM, THEY JUST OVER EARTH DAY.
SO, THEY SAY, THEY ARE GREEN.
THEY CLAIM TO BE VERY ECO FRIENDLY AND THEY RUN ADS SAYING HOW FRIENDLY THEY ARE, HOW ECO FRIENDLY, AND THEY HAVE THEIR STAFF IN CHEVRON T-SHIRTS OUT PLANTING TREES.
BUT THEY ARE JUST SHOWING -- WHILE THEY ARE DOING THIS 98% OF THE TIME THEY ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE PLANET WITH EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND WHATEVER ELSE.
SO, THEY ARE VERY SMART IN HOW THEY CO-OP.
CAPITALISM IS GREAT AT CO-OPTING ANY THREAT TO ITS EXISTENCE.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT.
YES, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE JUST PICKING UP TRASH, OTHERS MIGHT BE DOING SOMETHING MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, BUT DESPITE THAT, WE ARE STILL NOT MAKING HEADWAY TO CHANGE THE EXCESSES OF CAPITALISM AROUND THE GLOBE.
>> Laura: I AM GOING TO SHIFT GEARS AND WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS CONVERSATION, BUT LOCALLY, HERE IN NEW MEXICO, OVER THE DECADES YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK, CIVIL RIGHTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE, CULTURE, WE COULD DO AN ENTIRE SERIES ON THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE DECADES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TWO OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS AT THE CENTER OF SOUTHWEST CULTURE WHICH YOU FOUNDED RELATED TO GARDENING AND BIKE RIDING.
IF YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS AND WHY THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT.
>> Sandoval: LET ME START WITH OUR BIKE RIDING PROGRAM.
THAT WAS AN IDEA.
I HAD A YOUNG MAN WHO KEPT COMING TO ME WITH IDEAS FOR WANTING TO DO SOMETHING ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS AND CHICANO KIDS, STARTING HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HE SAW THAT THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TENDED TO JUST WAREHOUSE THE KIDS.
SO THEY WERE HAVING LONG DAYS WAITING FOR THEIR PARENTS TO PICK THEM UP AT 5 OR 5:30, AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT OF 2:30 OR 3.
HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF SAYING, WHAT IF WE GET THEM ACTIVE, LET'S GET THEM ON BICYCLES, TEACH THEM HOW TO REPAIR BIKES AND HOW TO BUILD BIKES AND BUILD A CURRICULUM THAT IS REALLY SORT OF STEAM BASED, BUT IT IS THROUGH A COMPLETELY CULTURAL LENS.
IT IS INDIGENOUS VIEWPOINT, IT IS THE MEXICANOS AND CHICANO VIEWPOINT OF SCIENCE AND MATH AND ALL OF THAT.
SO, WE TEACH THEM HOW TO RIDE BIKES, TEACH THEM HOW TO REPAIR BIKES, BUILD BIKES.
THEN WE TAKE THEM OUT FOR RIDES IN THE BOSQUE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WE HAVE CURANDEROS WAITING FOR THEM TO TALK ABOUT MEDICINAL HERBS AND THEIR USES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE CENTURIES.
AND THEN WE HAVE SCIENTISTS THAT COME DOWN AND MEET THEM IN THE BOSQUE AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE HYDROLOGY AND THE DRAINAGE OF THE RIO GRANDE BASIN AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT IS HYDROLOGY.
AND THEN WE HAVE GREAT ARTISTS THAT DO FOUND ART.
THEY GO IN AND DO ART PIECES WITH NATURAL MATERIALS THAT ARE IN THE BOSQUE, BEAUTIFUL, AND WE TAKE PICTURES OF THOSE AND THEN THE KIDS COME BACK AND WRITE THAT UP.
THEY WRITE UP WHAT DID THEY LEARN.
WHAT DID THEY LIKE ABOUT WHAT THEY LEARNED.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THEY INVITE THEIR PARENTS AND THE PARENTS GO OUT AND THE KIDS, EACH TEACH THEIR PARENTS SOMETHING THEY LEARNED.
SO, SOME KIDS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE HERBS.
THEY'LL TALK TO THEIR PARENTS ABOUT IT AND THEN WHEN THE PROGRAM IS OVER, EACH CHILD AND EACH PARENT GETS A FREE BIKE FROM OUR PROGRAM.
IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND ANOTHER PART OF THAT STORY WRITERS PROGRAM IS, WE CALL IT ABUELITAS.
IT'S FOR MEXICAN WOMEN AND THEIR DAUGHTERS, BECAUSE GLOBALLY WE KNOW THAT MOST BICYCLING THAT IS DONE OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. IS DONE BY MOSTLY MEN WHO USE THE BIKES TO GO TO WORK, ET CETERA.
AND WOMEN TEND TO BE HOMEBOUND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET AROUND.
SO, WE ARE TEACHING MEXICANOS IMMIGRANTS HOW TO RIDE BIKES AND WE TEACH THEM BIKE SAFETY.
WE DO THE SAME THING WITH THEM AND AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM THEY TAKE THEIR OWN BIKE HOME AND WE HOPE THEY DON'T RUN INTO ANY LIGHT POSTS.
THAT IS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS SO JOYFUL.
IT'S GREAT FOR THE KIDS AND WE JUST LOVE THE IMPACT IT IS HAVING ON OUR FAMILIES.
ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM IS YOUR BACKYARD GARDENING PROGRAM WHICH IS CALLED SEMBRANDO SALUD.
SO THIS, YEAR WE'LL HAVE 3200 PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE PARTICIPATING IN BACKYARD GARDENS.
THE IDEA WAS, ONE OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION PROGRAMS IS WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE RURAL ECONOMIES AND RECREATE LOCAL ECONOMIES THAT HAVE SORT OF ATROPHIED INTO TRANSFER ECONOMIES.
THERE IS NOTHING REALLY GOING ON TO CREATE ANY KIND OF INCOME OR WEALTH FOR PEOPLE.
SO THE LONG RESULT OF THAT IS THOSE COMMUNITIES DIE AND THESE ARE LAND-BASED TRADITIONAL AND THE PUEBLOS HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT ALSO.
SO, WE HAD SOME FARMERS SELLING AT FARMERS MARKET.
I NOTICED WHEN I WENT THAT IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE.
IF YOU BUY LOCALLY ORGANIC IT IS NOT SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT LIKE AGRIBUSINESS IS, SO IT GETS SUBSIDIZED TO A HUGE EXTENT SO THAT IS WHY IT IS CHEAPER FOR US TO BUY THOSE VEGETABLES THAN IT IS LOCALLY GROWN.
I NOTICED THAT NONE OF OUR PEOPLE WERE BUYING AT FARMERS MARKETS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE PRICE BARRIER.
IT OCCURRED TO ME WHY DON'T WE JUST ELIMINATE THE MIDDLEMAN AND GO STRAIGHT TO GROWING OUR OWN.
WE HAVE 3200 PEOPLE THIS YEAR WILL BE GROWING ORGANIC VEGETABLES.
WE PROVIDE THE SEEDS.
WE PROVIDE THE DRIP SYSTEM.
WE PROVIDE SOIL ENHANCERS TO GET THEM STARTED.
WE TEACH THEM HOW TO PLANT, WHAT COMPANION PLANTING IS.
WE TEACH THEM HOW TO COMPOST AND HOW TO HARVEST SEED BEFORE THEY EAT EVERYTHING BEFORE IT GOES TO SEED.
AND IT IS JUST GREAT RESULTS BECAUSE IT GETS KIDS AWAY FROM ALWAYS BEING ON THE I-PAD AND DAD GETS OFF FROM WATCHING THE TV OR WHATEVER AND THE FAMILY STARTS REBUILDING THEIR BOND.
IT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE, BUT THEY ARE EATING HEALTHY AND SAVING MONEY ON THE FOOD BUDGET.
WE ARE TRACKING THIS.
WE ARE DOING EVALUATIONS OF THIS TO SEE WHAT ARE THOSE SAVINGS AND THEY ARE BECOMING VERY SIGNIFICANT.
WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS.
>> Laura: I LOVE BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAID, THEY ARE JOYFUL WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE LIKE BIG HUGE ISSUES.
IT IS NICE TO REMEMBER THAT ON THE GROUND, ON WHEELS, IN OUR GARDENS, JOYFULNESS IS A PART OF ALL OF THIS WORK.
>> Sandoval: THE POINT OF THE WORK WE DO AT THE CENTER ISN'T JUST THE PROGRAM, TO DO THESE PROGRAMS.
BUT THERE IS REAL VALUES BEHIND IT AND THAT IS, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO BECOME AS SELF SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, SO WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD SMALL SILOS OF COMPLETE CIRCLES, SMALL ECONOMIC CIRCLES THAT ARE SELF SUSTAINING SO THAT IF ANOTHER PANDEMIC COMES.
WHEN THE FIRST ONE HIT, PEOPLE WENT TO THE STORES AND THERE WERE SHORTAGES FOR A WHILE, BEANS AND RICE WERE GONE, CERTAINLY TOILET PAPER COULDN'T BE FOUND.
SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE THE CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD AND THEN OUT OF HAVING LEARNED ON HOW TO DO THAT AND WORK COLLECTIVELY TO DO THAT, HOW CAN THEY THEN THEY TAKE ON THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE DEFINITE CHANGES?
HOW DO THEY IMPACT THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO SAY, WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR ROADS PAVED IN 40 YEARS, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
WE'RE TRYING TO EMPOWER OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR HOPE IS THAT WE KEEP BUILDING THESE SMALL LITTLE DROPS THAT EVENTUALLY BECOME A LITTLE STREAM AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY BECOME A RIVER.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON IS QUALIFIED, THAT THE PERSON HAS THE BACKGROUND, THE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS JOB BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HIRING PROCESS IS FAIR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, MAYBE PEOPLE OF COLOR, MAYBE DIFFERENT GENDERS, ET CETERA, THAT EVERYONE IS GIVEN AN EQUAL FOOTING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A JOB WHEN THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO COMPLETE AND DO WELL IN.
>> Laura: FOR DECADES YOU HAVE BEEN SOMEONE WHO HAS TALKED ABOUT DECOLONIZATION AND EDUCATION.
I HAVE SEEN YOU QUOTED ABOUT THE PROCESS OF DECOLONIZING, UNDERSTANDING HOW COLONIZATION WORKS AND ALSO HOW IT DEHUMANIZES THE COLONIZER.
WHY IS DECOLONIZATION AND EDUCATION AROUND DECOLONIZATION SO CRITICAL TO UNDERSTANDING CAPITALISM AND ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES?
>> Sandoval: THOSE ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER.
THE TERRIBLE THING ABOUT COLONIZATION IS THAT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN EVEN THEIR MINORITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BRITISH WERE A VAST MINORITY IN INDIA BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO RULE IT BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS OF COLONIZATION WHERE THEY DEHUMANIZED THE PERSONS WHOSE COUNTRY THEY TAKE OVER AND WHOSE RESOURCES THEY STEAL FOR THEIR OWN USES.
AND THEN OVER TIME, THEY TEACH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE COLONIZED, THAT THEY HAVE CONQUERED, THAT THEY ARE SECOND RATE, THEY ARE INFERIOR AND ALL THE TOOLS THEY HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL, MEDIA, EVERYTHING IS USED TO KEEP HAMMERING THE IDEA TO THE COLONIZED PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SUBHUMAN, YOU ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
YOU'RE POOR BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN FAILING.
IT IS YOUR FAULT.
I AM WEALTHY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
IF I MADE IT, WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE IT.
AND THEY TROT OUT EXAMPLES EVERY SO OFTEN OF A BROWN FACE THAT HAS MADE A MILLION AND IS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE.
AND THE PHRASE WE USE IN AMERICA OVER AND OVER IS ONLY IN AMERICA.
AND THEY TROT OUT IMMIGRANTS, OH, YEAH, ONLY IN AMERICA.
THAT IS NOT TRUE.
THERE IS PEOPLE GOING FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH ALL OVER THE GLOBE IN EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY IN EVERY ECONOMY, BUT IT IS PART OF THE MYTH AND LIE OF COLONIZATION, THAT AMERICA IS THE SHINING LIGHT ON THE HILL AND THAT ONLY THAT WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE.
AND THE REALITY IS, THE U.S., SINCE THE END WORLD WAR II HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDERING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MILLION PEOPLE IN PROXY WARS AND INDIRECT INTERVENTIONS.
NEED I SAY, GAZA AND ISRAEL TODAY.
WE CAN GO ON ALL DAY.
HAITI.
FOR YEARS AND YEARS, EVERY TIME WE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HAITI, WE WOULD SEND IN THE TROOPS AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING BECAUSE OF THIS CONTINUED INTERVENTION.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE BORDER, WHICH IS REALLY A HOT TOPIC BUT WHY ARE ALL THESE CENTRAL AMERICANS TRYING TO GET TO THE U.S.?
BECAUSE WE INVENTED GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY.
THE U.S., THE MONROE DOCTRINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 1800'S WHERE WE TOLD EUROPE, THIS IS OUR AREA TO EXPLOIT.
IF WE DIDN'T LIKE THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT IN, LET'S SAY, GUATEMALA, WE USED GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY, LITERALLY.
WE SENT IN WAR SHIPS TO OVERTHROW FREELY-ELECTED GOVERNMENTS.
WE DID IT AS RECENTLY AS CHILE WITH ALLENDE.
WE JUST GAVE THE OKAY TO PINOCHET AND THE MILITARY.
WE SENT IN THE CIA AND WE JUST LITERALLY BOMBED THEM AND WE KILLED THEM.
THAT WAS ALL HENRY KISSINGER, THAT WAS THE U.S. WE JUST KEEP DOING IT.
SO, THEN WE ACT SHOCKED, WHY DON'T THEY JUST STAY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY?
BECAUSE WE HAVE STOLEN EVERYTHING FROM THEM, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE HERE.
WE HAVE THEIR WEALTH.
SO IT IS COMPLICATED.
I AM MAKING IT MORE SIMPLE THAN IT IS, BUT THAT IS THE GENERAL TREND.
>> Laura: YEAH.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.
YOU HAVE A POSTCAPITALIST POSTMODERATE VISION FOR SOCIETY ESPECIALLY FOR INDIGENOUS AND MEXICANOS TACANO PEOPLE AND WORKING PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO.
AND YOU HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS IDEA OF BACK TO THE FUTURE.
WILL YOU TALK ABOUT THIS VISION?
>> Sandoval: YES, BECAUSE FUTURE SOCIOLOGISTS ARE JUST STARTING TO WRITE ABOUT PREFIGURATIVE MODELS FOR A POSTCAPITALIST ECONOMY.
FOR ME IT MEANS -- IN NEW MEXICO IT MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES GOING BACK TO THE FUTURE.
THAT IS, ALL OF OUR PUEBLO AND COMMUNITIES STILL EXIST AND ALWAYS EXISTED AND LIVED IN COMMUNAL MODELS.
THEY HAD KIVAS.
THEY HAD CLANS.
THEY HAD KINSHIP AND STILL HAVE THAT.
SO, THEY WERE ACCUSTOM, AS A WAY OF OPERATING IN THE WORLD AND WITH EACH OTHER, TO DO IT AS A COMMUNAL EXERCISE ALWAYS.
AND THE LAND-BASED CHICANO COMMUNITIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAD ACEQUIAS, WHICH ARE COMMUNAL MODELS, LAND GRANTS WERE COMMUNAL MODELS.
AND THOSE WERE ECONOMIC MODELS NOT JUST SOCIAL MODELS.
BUT RELIGION, ECONOMY, SOCIAL LIFE, ALL OF OUR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, IN BOTH OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO AND OUR LAND-BASED CHICANO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT 400 YEARS WERE COMMUNAL MODELS.
THAT IS HOW WE LIVED.
AND WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE OF THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM AND THE EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AND MY ACHIEVEMENT, MY SUCCESS AT YOUR FAILURE, AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO, WHAT WE PREACH IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MODELS AND IN OUR WORK EVERYDAY IS LET'S JUST GO BACK TO THE FUTURE.
SO, WE FORMED CO-OPS.
WE TRY TO GET THEM TO INCORPORATE AS CO-OPS WHICH THE CAPITAL SYSTEM STILL PERMITS.
THEY ARE COMMUNAL MODELS OF OWNING.
THEY ARE MEANS OF PRODUCTION SO WE GET THEM, SO WE DON'T CALL THEM CLANS OR KINSHIP, BUT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE VERY FAMILIAR AND HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN HOW TO WORK COOPERATIVELY.
SO, WE ARE NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE IMPACTS OF COLONIZATION HAVE CREATED HUGE DESTRUCTION.
WE HAVE INTERNALIZED COLONIZATION.
SO, PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THEY ARE WORTHY OF SUCCESS.
I MEAN, WE MEDICATE OURSELVES.
WE HAVE A HUGE ALCOHOL, FENTANYL, HEROIN PROBLEM ALL OVER RURAL NEW MEXICO IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND IT IS WIPING THEM OUT.
IT IS HOLLOWING OUT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT.
>> Laura: SO, THIS IS LIKE A CONVERSATION THAT I FEEL LIKE WE ALL WANT TO HAVE OR MANY OF US WANT TO HAVE AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO.
I THOUGHT YOU AND I COULD HAVE IT.
I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US STRUGGLE WITH IS DIVISIVENESS AND DISINFORMATION.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER'S DIFFERENCES WHILE ALSO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND SEWING LOVE AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM MOVEMENTS AGAINST SYSTEMS LIKE CAPITALISM THAT HARM PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT?
>> Sandoval: I WISH THERE WAS ONE SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT.
THERE ISN'T.
CAPITALISM IS A VERY COMPLEX THING AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND ADAPTING TO MEET THREATS TO ITS EXISTENCE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
THERE IS NO ONE SILVER BULLET.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY FANTASTIC COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLES ALL ACTIVELY WORKING WITHIN THE EXISTING POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THEY ARE HAVING IMPACT.
HERE IN NEW MEXICO, I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF GROUPS WORKING TO CHANGE ISSUES AND I THINK THEY HAVE CHANGED THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THERE IS YOUNGER, MORE PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE NOW IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE OVERALL WE ARE GETTING BETTER LEGISLATION THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.
THAT IS HELPING POORER COMMUNITIES AND MORE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO DO THE ONGOING WORK EVERYDAY LIKE, YEAH, VOTING, BLAH, BLAH, I DON'T THINK SO.
WE CAN GET CYNICAL.
IT'S EASY TO GET CYNICAL.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT BUT WE CAN ALSO DO OUR OWN THINGS.
WE HAVE TO START CREATING OUR OWN SYSTEMS THAT ARE MAYBE SMALL SCALE BUT THAT CAN GROW OVER TIME, THAT WE OWN, THAT WE CONTROL, THAT BENEFIT US DIRECTLY AND FORCE US TO BECOME SMARTER, MORE ADEPT AND MORE AGILE IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE WORLD.
I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING OUT AS A YOUNG ACTIVIST WHERE I HATED WHITE PEOPLE OR I THOUGHT I DID.
I WENT THROUGH ABOUT A YEAR WHERE I TOLD ALL MY WHITE FRIENDS, DON'T CALL ME, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE DEVILS AND I'LL RUN THEM OVER IF I SEE THEM OUT ON THE STREET.
OF COURSE, I DIDN'T.
BUT I DID GO THROUGH A PERIOD WHERE I FELT HATRED IN MY HEART.
AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MYSELF.
I DECIDED THAT IS NOT A GOOD PATH.
AND REALLY THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO SUCCEED IS TO -- WE HAVE TO WORK ON OURSELVES, UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS INTERNAL COLONIZATION ISSUES, WORK THEM OUT.
IT IS NOT EASY TO FACE OURSELVES AND BE HONEST ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT OUR FAILINGS MIGHT BE AND HOW WE BECOME BETTER.
THEN IT IS REAL HARD TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO OPEN YOURSELF TO OTHERS.
AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, NOW I TRY TO FOLLOW WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, WHICH IS, IN HIS FAMOUS SPEECH, WE SHOULD JUDGE EACH OTHER BY THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.
THAT IS THE MANTRA WE USE AT THE CENTER.
I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR, SHAPE, I DON'T CARE WHO, I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF DOG YOU HAVE.
REALLY, ARE YOU A PERSON OF GOOD SOUL AND GOOD HEART?
IF YOU ARE, I AM WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU AND I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I THINK THAT IS THE PATH FOR US TO FIND THE HUMANITY IN EACH OTHER AND TRY TO NURTURE THAT, RESPECTING BOUNDARIES, YOU KNOW, BUT STILL BEING OPEN TO OTHERS.
THE REASON THERE IS SO MUCH HATRED, I THINK, IN THE WORLD IS WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT.
INSTEAD OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THESE LITTLE CREATURES ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SMALL PLANET SPINNING THROUGH SPACE AND WE ARE EARTHLINGS.
AND I CALL ALL MY EARTH DAY BUDDIES EARTHLINGS WHEN I WROTE THEM OR CALL THEM, I SAY HELLO EARTHLINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL WE ARE.
WE ARE ALL -- THERE IS REALLY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND WE SHOULD SEPARATE THE CULTURAL UNIQUENESS OF EACH OTHER BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE ON THIS SHIP TOGETHER.
IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT, WE ARE ALL GOING UNDER TOGETHER.
>> Laura: ARTURO, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU OVER THE YEARS AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR NEW MEXICO AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TODAY.
>> Sandoval: THANKS, SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN FUN AND LET'S DO IT AGAIN SOME TIME.
THANKS LAURA.
>> Jeff: THANKS AGAIN TO ARTURO AND LAURA FOR THAT INTERVIEW.
IN 2016 THE PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA PAID 30 MILLION-DOLLARS FOR 60,000 ACRES OF THEIR OWN ANCESTRAL LAND, LANDS THAT HAD BEEN PRIVATIZED AND THEN GRAZED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
NOW, THEY ARE USING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND WESTERN SCIENCE TO PROTECT TAMAYA KWI KEE NEE PUU FOR TRADITIONAL USES.
ALONG THE WAY THE PUEBLO IS PROTECTING CULTURAL HERITAGE, RESTORING GRASSLAND AND SPRINGS, REMOVING FENCE LINES, AND STUDYING AND HELPING SPECIES LIKE MOUNTAIN LIONS, ELK, DEER, PRONG HORN AND MORE.
IN AN OUR LAND SPECIAL AIRING ON NMPBS ON APRIL 25, LAURA VISITS TAMAYA KWI KEE NEE PUU.
HERE IS A SAMPLE OF THAT PIECE.
>> Laura: IN AN OUR LAND SPECIAL, WE VISIT TAMAYA KWI KEE NEE PU, LANDS THE PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA BOUGHT BACK.
NOW THEY ARE RESTORING THOSE LANDS, PROTECTING WILDLIFE AND SUSTAINING THE PUEBLO'S FUTURE.
THIS PLACE CONNECTS ME TO THE PAST.
GROWING UP YOU HEAR ALL THESE STORIES OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, BUT LIKE KIND OF SEEING IT PHYSICALLY, KIND OF, IT PUTS A BIGGER IMPACT.
IT IS KIND OF EYE OPENING FOR ME, KIND OF JUST LIKE REINFORCES THAT WANTING TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU COME FROM.
>> THE ENTIRE HISTORY DATING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS IS REPRESENTED OUT HERE.
>> IN CONTRAST TO ARCHEOLOGISTS MOSTLY DOING RESEARCH AND EXCAVATION, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE IS REALLY MORE ABOUT PRESERVATION, STEWARDSHIP OF CULTURAL SITES AND PROTECTING THEM.
>> IT IS TELLING OUR STORY FROM THE BEGINNING BUT THEN IT ALSO ADDING IN, YOU KNOW, THE PRESENT.
OUR STORIES ARE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AS THE YEARS GO BY.
>> IT'S SMALL.
I DON'T EVEN FIT IN THERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE HEARTHS WHERE THEY BUILT THE FIRE, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF IMAGINE ALL THE THINGS THEY DID BACK THEN, JUST LIVING.
IT IS JUST REALLY COOL KIND OF TO TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME.
>> THERE IS A PLACE I GREW UP, JUST SEEMED LIKE IT IS PRETTY MUCH NIGHT AND DAY, BECAUSE BEFORE EVERYONE WAS COMING AND, LIKE, DUMPING THEIR TRASH OR ATV'S, DIRT BIKES AROUND HERE.
AND NOW THERE IS GRASS WHERE YOU DON'T SEE GRASS.
YOU CAN SEE DEER AND ELK AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN DEER AND ELK OUT HERE UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> Jeff: THAT OUR LAND SPECIAL WILL RUN APRIL 25TH AT 7:00 P.M. ON NMPBS.
LAST WEEK, NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT ASKED THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, RAUL TORREZ, SAYS THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED THE COMPLAINT AND HAS BEEN ASSIGNED FOR REVIEW.
THE REQUEST FOLLOWS A TURBULENT WEEK FOR BERNALILLO COUNTY.
DURING THE COMMISSION'S PUBLIC MEETING ON APRIL 9, COMMISSION CHAIR BARBARA BACA INTRODUCED A HIRING COMMITTEE TO SEARCH FOR THE NEXT COUNTY MANAGER, A ROLE SOON TO BE VACANT THIS SUMMER.
COMMISSIONERS WALT BENSON AND STEVEN MICHAEL QUEZADA SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE MEASURE, SAYING A SEARCH COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE AN APPOINTED MEMBER FROM EACH COMMISSIONER.
FRUSTRATED, COMMISSIONER QUEZADA LEFT THE MEETING EARLY, BEFORE THAT MATTER AND THE COUNTY'S 350 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET CAME UP FOR A VOTE.
DAYS LATER NM FOG ASKED THE AG TO INVESTIGATE AFTER RECEIVING CALLS THAT COMMISSIONERS USED AN ILLEGAL ROLLING QUORUM.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
SO IN MY INTERVIEW WITH FOG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELANIE MAJORS WE START WITH SOME DEFINITIONS.
MELANIE, I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH ME ABOUT GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.
I FIGURE THIS WILL BE A TELEVISED EXTENSION OF A CONVERSATION YOU AND I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE HAD FOR TOO MANY YEARS.
SO LET'S START HERE.
WHY IS FOG CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION HAS DECIDED TO CHOOSE ITS NEXT COUNTY MANAGER.
>> Major: YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FOG IS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT IS OUR MISSION AND OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE, TO EDUCATE AND TO LITIGATE ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW AND THAT EXTENDS TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING THROUGH ITS PUBLIC MEETING AND THROUGH ITS PUBLIC RECORD.
>> Jeff: LET'S DIG DEEPER.
I HAVE READ THAT THIS PHRASE, AND YOU AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT FOR VIEWERS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THIS PROCESS IS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT IS CALLED A ROLLING QUORUM.
MELANIE, WHAT IS A ROLLING QUORUM AND WHY DID THE LEGISLATURE MAKE IT ILLEGAL?
>> Major: ROLLING QUORUM IS DEFINED AS A QUORUM OF A PUBLIC BODY THAT MEETS OUTSIDE OF THE ACTUAL BOARD ROOM.
MAYBE THEY HAVE A TELEPHONE TREE.
MAYBE THEY MEET IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT.
BUT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THREE MEMBERS OF A FIVE-MEMBER BOARD DISCUSS THEIR BUSINESS IN TELEPHONE CALLS WHERE ONE PERSON WILL CALL AND GET BUY-IN AND THEN THEY CALL A SECOND AND THEN THEY CALL A THIRD, THAT IS CALLED A ROLLING QUORUM BECAUSE THEY HAVE LITERALLY MADE ALL THE DECISIONS AND MADE ALL THE DISCUSSION PRIVATE.
AND THE PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO BE A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.
>> Jeff: IS IT THAT SORT OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT HAD THE LEGISLATURE CRAFTING LANGUAGE AROUND ROLLING QUORUMS INTO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT?
IS THAT SORT OF THE HEART OF WHY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THESE BOARDS AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO?
>> Major: I THINK THAT IS THE WHOLE BASES OF NOT ONLY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT BUT THE OPEN RECORDS ACT, INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS, IS THAT IT IS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW.
THE PUBLIC PAYS FOR THESE SERVICES.
THEY PAY SALARIES.
THEY PAY FOR THE OPERATIONS.
THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT ITS GOVERNMENT IS DOING AND TO BE OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT IS THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF DEMOCRACY.
>> Jeff: GOT YOU.
BEFORE WE GET TO FOG'S COMPLAINT, I WANT TO ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE.
BERNALILLO COUNTY MANAGER OVERSEES THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF NEARLY 350 MILLION-DOLLARS, ONE OF THE 30 LARGEST COUNTY JAILS IN THE NATION AND THE ONLY GOVERNMENT-RUN MEDICALLY STAFFED DRUG DETOX FACILITY IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH DOPE ON THE STREETS TO STUN A TEAM OF VELOCIRAPTORS.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC BE IN THE LOOP WHEN THIS PERSON IS CHOSEN?
>> Major: SO WE HAVE TO ASK THE OTHER QUESTION.
WHY DON'T YOU WANT THE PUBLIC IN THE LOOP WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS KIND OF AN APPOINTMENT?
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON IS QUALIFIED, THAT THE PERSON HAS THE BACKGROUND, THE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS JOB, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HIRING PROCESS IS FAIR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO, MAYBE PEOPLE OF COLOR, MAYBE DIFFERENT GENDERS, ET CETERA, THAT EVERYONE IS GIVEN AN EQUAL FOOTING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A JOB WHEN THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO COMPLETE AND DO WELL IN.
>> Jeff: OKAY.
I APPRECIATE YOU ADDING THAT LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COMPLAINT THAT FOG HAS FILED WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU ALL ALLEGING AND WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE TO BACK UP YOUR CLAIM SO FAR?
>> Major: WE CAME INTO THE OFFICE LAST WEDNESDAY AND ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT FOG OFFERS IS A FREE HOTLINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN CALL WITH CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT IS WORKING, WHETHER IT IS A MEETING, WHETHER IT IS RECORDS, WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM FIND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
WHEN WE CAME IN LAST WEDNESDAY, THE HOT LINE STARTED RINGING OFF THE HOOK.
PEOPLE WERE CALLING AND ALLEGING THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MISCONDUCT DONE BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION.
WE CHECKED THE SOURCES THAT WE HAD, WE LOOKED INTO WHAT WE THINK IS A ROLLING QUORUM.
WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT SOME EVIDENCE FROM A NEWS RELEASE THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PRIOR TO THE MEETING LAST WEEK.
AND AT THAT POINT WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEIGH IN AND SEE IF THIS IS, IN FACT, A ROLLING QUORUM OR IF THIS IS JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE DISGRUNTLED MAKING NOISE.
>> Jeff: GOT YOU.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU HOPING TO LEARN BEYOND WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IN PUBLISHED NEWS ACCOUNTS AND OTHER SOURCES THAT YOU HAVE GOT, AND WHAT HAVE YOU ALL DONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS HAS WORKED.
>> Major: WE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR A SERIES OF EMAILS.
WE FILED A FORMAL INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR EMAILS BETWEEN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME.
AND WE ASKED THAT THE EMAILS IF THEY CONTAINED CERTAIN KEY WORDS THAT THOSE EMAILS BE PROVIDED TO US.
>> Jeff: I WILL BE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COMES BACK FROM YOUR IPRA REQUEST, MELONIE.
WHAT DOES FOG HOPE FOR IN TERMS OF PROCESS AND RESOLUTION FROM HERE.
>> Major: WE HOPE THIS IS A PROCESS WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LOOKS AT ALL THE EVIDENCE, NOT ONLY THE EVIDENCE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO FIND, BUT EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN ALSO FIND.
WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT IT.
AND WE HOPE THAT THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION, IF THEY ARE FOUND TO HAVE HAD A ROLLING FORUM, WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DETERMINATION AND REMEDY THE SITUATION.
>> Jeff: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I HAVE PERCEIVED AS A BIT OF A FLAW IN THE SYSTEM OR A GHOST IN THE MACHINE HERE, IF YOU WILL.
LET'S JUST SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THE AG LOOKS INTO THIS, DETERMINES THERE WAS AN ILLEGAL ROLLING QUORUM AND ADMONISHES THE BERNALILLO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN A FINDINGS LETTER.
UNFORTUNATELY THOSE ARE NOT FINDINGS.
THEY DON'T FORCE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
WHAT WOULD THE NEXT STEP BE IF YOU GOT A DETERMINATION LIKE THAT?
WHAT DOES FOG DO NEXT?
>> Major: THE NEXT STEP IS ALWAYS TO LOOK AT ALL THE EVIDENCE AND THEN IF NEED BE TO BE FILE IN COURT.
THAT IS THE FINAL STEP IN THE REMEDY PROCESS.
THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR THAT, FOR THE ENFORCEMENT IN THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
WHETHER FOG WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ON THAT, WOULD HAVE TO BE DETERMINED BUT THAT IS A FINAL STEP THAT CAN BE MADE.
>> Jeff: GOT YOU.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, IN FOG'S EXPERIENCE, HAVE POSITIVE FINDINGS LETTERS THAT ARRIVE AT THE SAME DETERMINATION THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS, IN THE PAST HAVE THOSE MADE GOOD PIECES OF EVIDENCE IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO FILE IN COURT?
>> Major: I ACTUALLY CAN'T ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GONE BACK THROUGH THE RECORDS TO SEE HOW MANY LAWSUITS WE HAVE FILED CONCERNING OPEN MEETINGS.
I DO KNOW JUST RECENTLY, WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN BY THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO BOARD OF REGENTS AND WE HAD ASKED THAT THEY LOOK INTO WHAT WE FELT WAS ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN IN A CLOSED MEETING.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION, AGREED WITH WHAT WE HAD THOUGHT HAD OCCURRED AND SENT A LETTER TO THE REGENTS AT EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY TELLING THEM THAT THE ACTIONS THEY HAD TAKEN WERE NOT LEGAL AS THEY WERE NOT DONE IN PUBLIC.
AND DIRECTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO MEET AGAIN AND TAKE UP THE ITEMS ON A NEW AGENDA IN A NEW MEETING.
>> Jeff: THAT IS A FABULOUS RESULT AND A BIT OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE SHOW.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT.
ONE THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS TIMELINES, MELANIE.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE ONE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT CLOCK HAS SPED UP A LITTLE BIT UNDER ATTORNEY GENERAL TORREZ.
THAT COULD GET A LITTLE BIT STICKY HERE.
THE CURRENT COUNTY MANAGER IS LEAVING AT THE END OF JUNE.
OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD WOULD LIKE THE NEW PERSON IN BEFORE THEN.
I WONDER, HAVE YOU HAD ANY INDICATION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, ABOUT TIMELINES HERE?
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY MIGHT PRIORITIZE.
>> Major: HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS WILL BE RESOLVED.
WE DO KNOW SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL BALDERAS HAD A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ABOUT AN ISSUE IN AN OPEN MEETING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO REGENTS, HE REACHED OUT VERY QUICKLY, DID HIS INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINED THEY HAD ACTED OUTSIDE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, DISCUSS IT IN PUBLIC, ET CETERA.
WE KNOW ON THE ISSUE WITH EASTERN NEW MEXICO, THAT MEETING WAS HELD IN JANUARY.
WE SUBMITTED THAT REQUEST SOON AFTER THAT MEETING WAS HELD AND WE HEARD ABOUT THAT REQUEST AT THE FIRST OF APRIL.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME REASONING FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT A LITTLE QUICKER.
WE DON'T KNOW.
>> Jeff: LET'S HOPE FOR A SPEEDY RESOLUTION ON THIS ONE PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POSITION AS I LAID OUT BEFORE.
MELANIE, I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH A LITTLE PLUG FOR THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
ITS TWIN TRANSPARENCY LAW, WHICH YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THE INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, TENDS TO GET ALL THE HEADLINES, THE FLOWERS, THE LITIGATION, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE JUST AS MUCH ABOUT THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AS WE DO INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS?
>> Major: WELL, AGAIN, JEFF, THESE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WERE ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN 1978, THEY ARE NOT NEW.
THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
AND THEY ARE AROUND BECAUSE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
IF PEOPLE CAN ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING AND KNOW WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AND CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT THEIR COMMISSION IS DOING, WHAT THEIR CITY COUNCIL IS DOING, WHAT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING, IT GOES A LONG WAY TO FOSTER TRUST IN NOT ONLY THE PROCESS BUT TRUST IN DEMOCRACY.
IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> Jeff: MELANIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CHAT AND WE'LL BE KEEPING OUR EYES ON HOW ALL THIS PLAYS OUT GOING FORWARD.
THANKS FOR COMING.
>> Major: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING FOG AS A GUEST TODAY.
>> Jeff: HAPPY TO DO IT.
THANKS AGAIN TO MELANIE FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
NOW, COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR BARBARA BACA DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW.
IN AN EMAIL, BACA DECLINED TO COMMENT ON FOG'S COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE HASN'T SEEN IT BUT ADDS, QUOTE, I ASSURE YOU THAT THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS.
END QUOTE.
LET'S CHANGE GEARS TO END THE SHOW.
THIS FALL THE RIO GRANDE CORRIDOR WILL BE PLANTED WITH THOUSANDS OF MILKWEED PLANTS, THANKS IN PART TO STUDENTS FROM SANDIA HIGH SCHOOL WHO SET ASIDE THEIR TEXTBOOKS FOR POTS OF SOIL AND SEEDS.
THE RIVER OF MONARCHS PROJECT IS MEANT TO HELP RESTORE THE RIO GRANDE HABITAT AND MAKE THE LAND MORE HOSPITABLE FOR THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY.
[MUSIC PLAYING] >> WE ARE GOING TO PLANT IN THE GREENHOUSE AND YOU'LL SEE THESE PLANTS HERE IN THE GREENHOUSE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
SO THEY WILL GET PLANTED NEXT FALL, AND THAT WILL GIVE THEM LOTS OF TIMES TO GROW AND GET NICE ROOTS SO WE CAN PUT THEM OUT IN THE FIELD.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS CAN HEAD INTO THE GREENHOUSE.
IS ANYONE EXCITED ABOUT MIXING SOIL AND GETTING REALLY DIRTY?
>> I GOT SO MESSY TODAY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DIRT BUT IT WAS FUN, VERY FUN.
>> I LOVE MONARCHS.
I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THEM FOREVER.
AND WE ARE HELPING THE MONARCHS BECAUSE THERE IS LOTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN NEW MEXICO THAT ARE INTERFERING WITH THE MILKWEED TO GROW.
>> THE MONARCHS, CATERPILLARS CAN ONLY EAT OFF THE MILKWEED.
SO, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE PLANT THIS MILKWEED OUT THERE IN AREAS WHERE THE BUTTERFLIES WILL BE MIGRATING FROM THE U.S. TO MEXICO.
>> WE NEED TO GET TWO SPECIES OF MILKWEED PLANTED THAT ARE NATIVE TO NEW MEXICO BY THE RIVER.
THAT WAY THE MONARCHS CAN LAY EGGS AND CATERPILLARS CAN HATCH AND FEED OFF OF THEM.
>> I SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CREATURE THAT IS POLLINATING DIFFERENT PLANTS AND REALLY HELPING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK ALL SPECIES ARE CRUCIAL TO KEEP THE ECOSYSTEM RUNNING BECAUSE IF ONE OF THOSE SPECIES FALLS DOWN, IT IS A CHAIN REACTION.
AND SO SPECIES AFTER SPECIES, PLANT OR ANIMAL, IS GOING TO GET AFFECTED.
>> EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED SOMEHOW IN SOME WAY.
>> IN 2024, THEY ARE GOING TO PLANT IT BY THE BOSQUE AND, YEAH, WE ARE JUST GOING TO WAIT FOR THE PLANTS TO GROW IN THE GREENHOUSE.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR ENVIRONMENT ISN'T THE BEST, SO PLANTING IN GENERAL IS REALLY GOOD ESPECIALLY HAVING LIKE A COMMUNITY LIKE A SCHOOL COME TOGETHER AND PLANT.
IT GETS THE JOB DONE FASTER.
>> WHEN WE WENT OUT TODAY TO PLANT MILKWEEDS, WE HAD SEVERAL STATIONS WHERE STUDENTS WERE SPLIT UP INTO DIFFERENT GROUPS.
THE FIRST GROUP WAS PREPARING THE SOIL TO GET IT READY FOR THE SEEDS.
THEY GOT A WHEELBARROW FULL, THEY WENT TO THE NEXT GROUP AND WHAT THAT GROUP IS DOING WAS TAKING THE SEED TRAYS THAT HAVE 98 POTS EACH, AND WE WERE FILLING THOSE WITH SOILS, WE WERE TAMPING THEM DOWN TO GET THE AIR POCKETS OUT AND TOPPING THEM OFF.
WHEN THAT WAS FINISHED, WE WENT TO THE THIRD AND LAST STATION IS WHERE WE BROUGHT THEM PHYSICALLY INTO THE GREENHOUSE AND THEN THE STUDENTS WERE TAKING TWO OR THREE MILKWEED SEEDS EACH AND PUTTING THEM INTO THE POTS VERY CAREFULLY.
>> SO, IF YOU'RE DOING SEEDLINGS, YOU CAN DO THEM LIKE THIS, PUT THEM ALTOGETHER.
WE DON'T WANT ANYMORE THAN ABOUT AN INCH OF SPACE BETWEEN THE TOP -- THE TOP OF THE POT AND THE TOP OF THE SOIL AND THEN JUST COVER THEM UP.
>> SO, THAT IS AN ENTIRE TRAY, THANK YOU.
>> THAT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND THEN, OF COURSE, WATERING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.
>> THIS IS ALL NEW TO THEM.
I AM SURE MOST OF THEM HAVE NOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS WHATSOEVER.
SO I THINK WE JUST KIND OF SHOW THEM IT IS JUST DIRT.
YOU DO HAVE TO DO THINGS RIGHT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF A LITTLE BIT FALLS OUT, IT IS OKAY.
IF ONE SEED FALLS, IT IS OKAY.
IT IS NOT SO SERIOUS THAT THEY CAN'T CRACK A SMILE OR SOMETHING, LIKE WE ARE STILL -- IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT.
WE ARE STILL PLANTING THOUSANDS OF MILKWEED.
THERE IS NO DIVORCE BETWEEN HAVING THEM ENJOYING IT AND DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
>> ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO KIND OF OPEN THEIR EYES TO THIS, HOW AMAZING A PLACE NEW MEXICO IS, LIKE ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING, WE HAVE SO MANY BIOMES THAT MEET RIGHT HERE.
ALBUQUERQUE IS ON ONE OF FIVE RICH VALLEYS IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE MORE VOLCANOS THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE.
IT IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE.
SO, OUR NATURAL AREA OUT HERE IS NOTHING BUT NATIVE SPECIES AND MONARCHS ARE ONE OF THOSE AND MILKWEEDS ARE ONE OF THOSE.
BY PROTECTING AND RESTORING SOME OF THE HABITAT FOR MILKWEED, WE ARE ALSO INADVERTENTLY PROTECTING IT FOR MANY OTHER SPECIES AND SO I THINK MAYBE THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPACT HABITAT IS CRUCIAL.
A LOT OF VACANT LOTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A HANDFUL OF TUMBLEWEEDS, GOAT HEADS, RAGWEEDS, INVASIVE SPECIES.
AND, SO, IF WE ARE OUT THERE ACTIVELY PLANTING SOME OF THE NATIVE SPECIES IT GETS THEM A QUICK HOLD AND GET THEM ESTABLISHED AND NATIVES BEGET NATIVES BEGET NATIVES.
AND MILKWEEDS ARE GOING TO HELP THE GOLDENRODS COME IN AND THE GRAMA GRASS.
IT IS KIND OF LIKE A SNOWBALL EFFECT, HOPEFULLY, RIGHT.
ONE NATIVE SPECIES PROTECTING THAT ONE, PROTECTS THIS ONE, BECAUSE THAT IS BACK, THE THIRD ONE COMES IN AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THE PROJECT KIND OF BLOSSOM AND GROW.
FOR ME, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS I LIKE TEACHING THE THEORY OF BIOLOGY, STUFF FROM THE BOOK, BUT, INSTEAD OF JUST LECTURING ON THE STEPS OF MITOSIS OR THE IMPORTANCE OF KEYSTONE SPECIES, I CAN GO OUT AND SAY, HERE KIDS, LET'S GO OUT AND WORK WITH THIS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THIS.
>> NOT ONLY PLANTING THE SEED BUT SEEING THE SEED READY TO WAKE UP, WAKING THE SEED UP, PLANTING THE SEED AND TAKING CARE OF THESE PLANTS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, UNTIL THEY ARE MATURE ENOUGH AND LARGE ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES IN THE WILD.
WE GET TO GO OUT TO THE WILD.
WE GET TO PLANT THESE IN THESE COMPROMISED, RIGHT NOW, ECOSYSTEMS AND WATCH HOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS GOING TO HELP RESTORE THESE HABITATS.
BY DOING SO IT IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A RESOURCE FOR MONARCHS AND MAYBE OTHER SPECIES.
AND MY STUDENTS GET TO BE ONE OF THE STEPS IN THE MANY STEPS IT TAKES TO KIND OF BRING THE NATIVE NEW MEXICO ECOSYSTEM BACK TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
I SAY, HERE KIDS, HERE IS HOW WE HELP AND HERE IS HOW IT IS GOING TO MAKE POSITIVE IMPACTS AND THIS IS HOW YOU'RE GETTING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN AND, SO, I THINK THAT IS -- OBVIOUSLY HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE ON THAT FOR STUDENTS.
I THINK THAT IS GREAT.
>> Jeff: THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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