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>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, NEW CONGRESSWOMAN MELANIE  STANSBURY ON THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HER WIN, AND  WHAT IS AHEAD FOR POLICY.

>> Stansbury: WHEN YOU LOOK AT  WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH DROUGHT ACROSS THE WEST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE, IT IS THE NEXT BIG MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE  WEST.

>> Gene: SPEAKING OF CLIMATE  CHANGE, IS IT TOO LATE TO BEAT THE HEAT?

THE LINE OPINION PANEL TAKES IT ON.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE HOPE YOU'RE COOL AND SAFE  THIS WEEK.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE  HEATWAVE AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT TOO.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL ALSO LOOKS AT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF  THE CANNABIS LEGALIZATION DATE COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF  WEEKS, AS WELL AS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE YEAR SINCE  PROTESTS ERUPTED OVER STATUES AND MONUMENTS THAT HONOR NEW  MEXICO'S CONTROVERSIAL COLONIAL PAST.

AFTER TESTIFYING AT CONGRESS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PFAS  POLLUTION, NEW MEXICO  ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY TALKS TO LAURA PASKUS WHO ALSO SPOKE  WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE, ABOUT WHY THERE IS STILL NO CLEANUP  YEARS AFTER THE MILITARY DISCLOSED TOXIC CHEMICALS  BENEATH SEVERAL INSTALLATIONS.

BEFORE I GET STARTED, A  REMINDER YOU CAN CATCH ANY SEGMENT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED  BY WATCHING ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS HOME PAGE, BY  SEARCHING OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

NOW HERE IS THE LINE.

SCORCHING TEMPS, POOR AIR QUALITY AN OUTBREAK OF  WILDFIRES.

NEW MEXICO IS AN ABSOLUTE  TINDERBOX AFTER DAYS OF RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES AND  PRESCIOUS LITTLE PRECIPITATION.

METEOROLOGISTS WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAY  THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE UNUSUAL.

IT'S ANOTHER NEW NORMAL, AS THEY SAY AND THE IMPACTS OF  CLIMATE CHANGE THAT COULD COME WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

HERE TO OFFER THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ARE THIS WEEKS  VIRTUAL LINE OPINION PANEL.

THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME THAT  THEY PUT INTO RESEARCHING THESE TOPICS.

FORMER SENATOR DEDE FELDMAN JOINS US FROM THE WILDS OF  RURAL NEW MEXICO WHERE INTERNET CONNECTIONS AREN'T  ALWAYS THE MOST RELIABLE OR SPEEDY.

ALSO JOINED BY INEZ RUSSELL GOMEZ, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR  AT THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN AND WELCOME BACK RADIO HOST TJ  TROUT FROM KKOB RADIO.

WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THE  STRAIN ON OUR UTILITIES AND ALREADY DIRE WATER SUPPLIES  AND IT IS ONLY JUNE.

IF THIS IS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT  FROM HERE ON OUT, DEDE, WHAT SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT IN  TERMS OF STAYING SAFE AND ESPECIALLY CHANGING BEHAVIORS.

>> Dede: WELL, THIS IS A PROLONGED DROUGHT.

IT IS NOT A CRISIS THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR WATER CONSUMPTION, FOR ONE, IN TERMS  OF WATER CONSERVATION.

BECAUSE THIS YEAR FOR THE  FIRST TIME FARMERS ARE ACTUALLY BEING ASKED NOT TO  FARM BECAUSE OF THE VERY POOR SNOW MELT OFF.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE PAST  COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT IS NOT JUST THE HEAT AND  DRYNESS NOW.

IT WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD  VERY POOR SNOW PACK.

WHEN IT MELTED, IT MELTED  EARLY, TOO EARLY FOR THE FARMERS TO USE IT AND NOW WE  ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE HAS TO BE CHOICES MADE BETWEEN  MUNICIPAL USAGE, EVEN DRINKING WATER AND WATER TO GROW OUR  CROPS.

SO, THAT IS ONE.

I THINK CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL  WITH WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.

BUT, THE REAL WATER USER IN OUR STATE IS AGRICULTURE.

AND FOR YEARS NOW WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO  WATER CONSERVATIVE IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE RATHER THAN FLOOD  IRRIGATION ON CROPS THAT ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN FOOD FOR  HUMANS.

I THINK WE DO NEED -- WE ARE  WORKING ON IT, BUT AS FAR AS CITIES GO, I THINK SANTA FE IS  PRETTY GOOD AS WELL.

ALBUQUERQUE IS GOOD, BUT WE  COULD GET BETTER.

>> Gene: TJ, A QUESTION FOR  YOU.

JULY 4 IS COMING UP QUICK AND  THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY MADE MENTION OF FIREWORKS.

WE DO THIS EVERY SUMMER SEASON.

NO DOUBT.

SHOULD THE GOVERNOR HAVE THAT  POWER ON A STATE-WIDE BASIS OR SHOULD LAWMAKERS STEP UP.

FORGET PERSONAL FIREWORKS SALES ALTOGETHER?

WHAT IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION?

>> TJ: SOLUTION IS DETERMINED  PRETTY MUCH BY WHO IS IN POLITICAL POWER, YOU KNOW,  BECAUSE WHOEVER IS IN POLITICAL POWER MAKES THOSE  DECISIONS AND SAYS YES IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION.

YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK IN TERMS OF COMMON SENSE.

I MEAN AS DEDE JUST SAID, WE ARE HAVING AN HISTORIC DROUGHT  ON OUR HANDS AND WE ARE  WORRIED ABOUT AGRICULTURAL CROPS, ELEPHANT BUTTE NOT  HAVING ANY WATER IN IT.

LOOK AT LAKE MEAD RIGHT NOW.

MY GOD, WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE?

IT IS CRAZY.

SO, TO YOUR QUESTION,  SHOULDN'T -- COMMON SENSE SHOULD PLAY A HUGE FACTOR WITH  THIS.

IF WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY  RAIN, IF WE ARE GETTING RECORD-SETTING TEMPERATURES,  IF ANYTHING CAN START A BRUSH FIRE -- IF A BACKFIRE FROM A  CAR CAN START A BRUSH FIRE, SOMEONE THROWING OUT A  CIGARETTE OUT OF -- THIS REALLY BUGS ME.

PEOPLE THROW CIGARETTES OUT OF MOVING CARS.

IF THAT STARTS A FIRE, WELL, YES, FIREWORKS ARE GOING TO  START FIRES.

SO, YOU WOULD THINK THE  GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION AND  SAY, LOOK, THIS IS VERY COMMON SENSE.

YOU'RE PUTTING THINGS ON FIRE, BLOWING THEM UP IN THE SKY AND  THEY LAND SOMEWHERE.

YES, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE  FIREWORKS.

I MEAN IT JUST MAKES SENSE.

>> Gene: INTERESTING YOU MENTION THAT.

>> TJ: I LOVE FIREWORKS.

>> Gene: WE ALL LOVE THEM,  ABSOLUTELY, BUT, INEZ, IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, I AM  WONDERING MUNICIPALITIES MIGHT BE VULNERABLE IF THEY DON'T  BAN THEM?

MEANING, IF THERE IS A  PROVEABLE FIRE SOMEWHERE THAT COSTS PROPERTY AND LIVES AND  THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FIREWORKS BAN, HOW DOES THAT  SQUARE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY VERSUS LETTING PEOPLE HAVE  THEIR FUN.

>> TJ: THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE  BEEN GOING THROUGH NOW FOR AN ENTIRE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FIREWORKS DEAL.

WE ARE  TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING SELFISH AND NOT THINKING OF  THE GREATER GOOD.

THEY ARE THINKING OF  THEMSELVES AND A MOMENTS PLEASURE OR FINALLY DIGGING  THEIR HEELS IN ON AN ISSUE.

>> Gene: IT IS A LOT OF MONEY  FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT SELL THESE FIREWORKS.

THIS IS THEIR ONE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ALL WRAPPED INTO ONE.

INEZ, THERE ARE WILDFIRES AS WE KNOW BURNING ALL OVER.

THERE WAS A BOSQUE FIRE IN LOS LUNAS RECENTLY AND FORECASTERS  SAY THIS COULD BE AN EXTREMELY ROUGH SUMMER FROM THE GILA TO  SANTA FE.

INEZ, WHAT ELSE CAN THE STATE  BE DOING FROM A PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO KEEP THESE FIRES  DOWN TO A DULL ROAR?

>> Inez: THE STATE HAS VERY  LITTLE IT CAN DO BECAUSE THE FIREWORKS LOBBY HAS CRIPPLED  BILLS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE GOVERNOR THE POWER TO BAN  FIREWORKS.

THAT IS WHY HER EXECUTIVE  ORDERS SUGGESTED MUNICIPALITIES TRY TO DO IT.

IT TURNS OUT OF BECAUSE THE ORDER CAME OUT AROUND JUNE 15  YOU CAN ONLY BAN 20 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A HOLIDAY.

AND IT IS TOO LATE IF YOU HAVEN'T BANNED THEM ALREADY.

THERE IS VERY LITTLE YOU CAN DO.

YOU BAN THE SALE AND YOU BAN THE USE AND THEN YOU TRY TO GO  AROUND AND CATCH THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY GOT FIREWORKS WHO  ORDERED THEM ONLINE OR WHATEVER THEY DO.

THERE WAS A BILL, I THINK, BY MCQUEEN IN 2019 THAT WOULD  HAVE GIVEN THE GOVERNOR -- HE WOULD GIVEN THE FIRE MARSHAL  THAT POWER.

LET'S SAY YOU DON'T LIKE THE  GOVERNOR.

YOU WANT IT AT A DIFFERENT  LEVEL.

THE FIRE MARSHAL WITH  APPROPRIATE DATA COULD HAVE ISSUED A BAN.

AND IT SEEMS WHAT TJ SAYS IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

COMMON SENSE.

WE ARE BURNING UP.

WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT WORSE AND IT JUST TAKES ONE SPARK.

>> Dede: I TRIED TO DO THIS IN 2011 IN THE WAKE OF LOS  CONCHAS FIRE AND IT IS REALLY THE LEGISLATURE TO BLAME THAT  WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BAN THE SALE OF FIREWORKS STATE-WIDE  DURING A TIME OF EXTREME DROUGHT.

AS YOU SAID, INEZ, THE FIRE MARSHAL IS READY TO STEP IN  HERE AND REGULATE THIS, BUT IT IS A SMALL SPECIAL INTEREST  THAT IS ABLE TO BLOCK THIS IN THE SENATE IN PARTICULAR AND,  YOU KNOW, COMMON SENSE, I JOINED WITH SUSANA MARTINEZ.

THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY THINGS SUSANA MARTINEZ AND I AGREED  ON BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THEM.

AND WE WERE AN ABJECT FAILURE  IN THE PROSPECT OF JUST TWO OR THREE SMALL BUSINESSES IN  ROSWELL AND FARMINGTON WHO WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE ONE OF  THE COMMITTEES AND BLOCK IT.

>> Inez: GEORGIA JUST DID  THIS.

THEY HAD FIREWORKS THAT WERE  ILLEGAL AND LEGALIZING -- PART OF THE LEGALIZATION WAS THAT  THE GOVERNOR, USING A DROUGHT INDEX, NOT A SUBJECTIVE  DECISION, THERE IS AN ACTUAL INDEX HE LOOKS AT AND WHEN IT  GETS TO X HE CAN SAY, YES, WE SHOULD BAN THEM.

SO, IF A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AGREES TO  BAN FIREWORKS, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD  NOT BE A PART THAT WE COULD DO HERE RATHER THAN PUT PEOPLES  LIVES AT RISK AND PROPERTY.

>> TJ: IT IS US.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS BUT EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR  FIREWORKS.

>> Inez: IF PEOPLE WERE  SENSIBLE, WE WOULDN'T NEED LAWS.

>> TJ: GETTING AROUND THE LAW AND BUYING THEM EARLY.

THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY WAS BACK IN ALBUQUERQUE FROM  MOVING BACK, AND I THINK IT WAS A BAN THAT YEAR, AND AT  LEAST IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, DRIVING DOWN MONTGOMERY IT WAS  LIKE INCOMING.

THE ENTIRE SKY WAS LIT UP,  EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LIT UP.

HOW DO YOU FIGHT THAT?

I HAD ALBUQUERQUE FIRE AND  RESCUE OUT A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THAT AND, YOU KNOW,  THEY ARE ALMOST DOE IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND I FEEL SORRY  FOR THEM.

HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THE LAW?

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE WITH  FIREWORKS.

>> Gene: THERE ARE PEOPLE  BLOWING OFF FIREWORKS NOW GETTING READY FOR FOURTH OF  JULY.

>> Inez: ANOTHER THING IS  TAXES.

>> Gene: THAT IS A TRIED AND  TRUE WAY.

NEW SUBJECT.

HAVE YOU FOUND CREATIVE WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT THIS WEEK?

IF SO, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM.

SHOOT US A LINE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM AND WE'LL  SHARE THEM WITH THE REST OF OUR AUDIENCE.

SPEAKING OF HEAT, THERE WAS PLENTY OF THE POLITICAL KIND  AS NEW MEXICANS IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DECIDED  WHO SHOULD REPLACE DEB HAALAND.

DEMOCRAT MELANIE STANSBURY WON THE CONTEST EASILY AND WAS  SWORN INTO OFFICE ON MONDAY.

I HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP  WITH HER AFTER THE ELECTION TO TALK ABOUT ITS SIGNIFICANCE  AND WHAT HER BIGGEST TASKS ARE IN WASHINGTON.

HERE IS A BIT OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Gene: HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SPEAKER PELOSI  SINCE THE WIN?

>> Stansbury: SHE CALLED ON  ELECTION NIGHT AND GAVE US A CONGRATULATORY CALL AND ALSO  THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CALLED US THE NEXT  DAY AS WELL, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK THAT THIS RACE WAS WATCHED CLOSELY ALL  OVER THE COUNTRY.

ESPECIALLY BY LEADERSHIP IN  THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS.

BECAUSE THIS RACE WAS, I  THINK, VERY MUCH A BELL WEATHER FOR THE NATIONAL  POLITICAL NARRATIVE, HOW IT WAS GOING TO AFFECT THE 2022  ELECTIONS AND ALSO BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT RACE FOR NEW  MEXICO AND BECAUSE THIS SEAT WAS, OF COURSE, TO REPLACE OUR  AMAZING SECRETARY, DEB HAALAND.

AND SO MANY ACROSS  THE COUNTRY WERE WATCHING CLOSELY INCLUDING THE SPEAKER.

>> Gene: IT IS AMAZING YOU MENTION ABOUT THE NATIONAL  FOCUS.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH FACEBOOK  AND LOOK AT ALL THE HEADLINES, IT IS LIKE FOR TWO DAYS YOUR  NAME ALMOST DOMINATED ALL POLITICAL TALK.

IT WAS AMAZING.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

TALK ABOUT BELL WEATHER.

DID YOU REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE  WERE WATCHING THIS RACE THIS CLOSELY?

>> Stansbury: THE THING THAT ACTUALLY HIT ME WAS WE GOT A  REQUEST FOR ME TO COME ON TO THE BBC AND WE WERE LITERALLY  THE INTERNATIONAL BBC HEADLINES THE NEXT DAY OR TWO  DAYS AFTER.

THAT SURPRISED ME THAT PEOPLE  ACROSS THE WORLD WERE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN THIS RACE  BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR IT.

I RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM NEW ZEALAND AND ENGLAND AND ALL  OVER THE PLACE.

THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME BUT I  THINK IT BECAME CLEAR, ESPECIALLY, I WOULD SAY ABOUT  A MONTH OUT IN THIS RACE THAT ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TEXAS  ELECTIONS HAPPENED, THAT THIS WAS THE NEXT BIG NATIONAL RACE  THAT EVERYONE WAS WATCHING.

THAT IS WHEN REALLY, YOU KNOW,  THE WASHINGTON POST AND NEW YORK TIMES AND ALL THIS  NATIONAL MEDIA STARTED FOLLOWING THE RACE.

SO, I WASN'T SO MUCH SURPRISED BUT I THINK THE DEGREE OF WIN  WE HAD AND MARGIN SHOCKED PEOPLE.

IT DIDN'T SHOCK US BECAUSE WE WERE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY  TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT, I THINK THAT IT REALLY SENT A STRONG MESSAGE AND  PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO SORT OUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR  THE PARTY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR NEW MEXICO.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE ALL THE COVERAGE OF THE  RACE.

>> Gene: INTERESTING FOR SURE.

I CAN'T SAY I HAVE KNOWN ANY CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER THAT  EVERY WENT INTO OFFICE WITHOUT ONE BURNING THING THAT REALLY  BURNED IN THEM THAT THEY WANTED TO GET AFTER.

IT MAY NOT EVEN HAVE BEEN STUFF ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,  BUT I THINK IT IS FOR YOU, WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

DO YOU HAVE ONE THING YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO WASHINGTON WITH  A GOAL THAT YOU WANT TO SEE ELEVATED, SOME ISSUE OR  SOMETHING.

>> Stansbury: WATER AND  CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE THING I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT AND  SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE WORKING ON.

I FORMERLY WORKED AS A SENATE STAFFER IN THE SENATE ENERGY  COMMITTEE WHERE I WORKED ON WATER POLICY AT THE NATIONAL  LEVEL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS  HAPPENING WITH THE DROUGHT ACROSS THE WEST AND CLIMATE  CHANGE, IT IS THE NEXT BIG MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE WEST AND I  AM EXCITED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO HELP BRING SOME  NEW IDEAS AROUND WATER POLICY AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR  COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY.

THERE IS STILL COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE  DRINKING WATER THAT NEED WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS LIKE  THAT.

THAT IS MY PASSION PROJECT,  BUT I THINK IN THE SHORT TERM OUR JOB IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK  HELPING THE COUNTRY AND NEW MEXICO GET BACK ON ITS FEET  AFTER THE PANDEMIC, GETTING,  YOU KNOW, THE RELIEF AND RECOVERY PACKAGES PASSED, AN  INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THAT IS MY IMMEDIATE WORK AHEAD AND REALLY HELPING TO  BRING AND DELIVER DOLLARS BACK HOME TO NEW MEXICO.

SO WE'RE IN THE EXCITING PHASE OF STARTING TO GET OUR OFFICE  SET UP AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE REALLY HOPING TO DO IS  HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE IN HELPING TO GET FEDERAL  RESOURCES HOME.

>> Gene: INFRASTRUCTURE, I  APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU FINISHED THAT THOUGHT.

LET ME STITCH IT TO WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

THIS IS BIG IN THE NEWS RIGHT NOW ON CAPITOL HILL WITH  PRESIDENT BIDEN NOT HAVING SOME SUCCESS WITH SOME GOP  MEMBERS NOW, KIND OF GOING IT WITH A DIFFERENT GROUP OF  BIPARTISAN FOLKS.

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR EYE FIXED ON  ANYTHING INFRASTRUCTURE WISE FOR THIS DISTRICT THAT YOU  WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IF WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL  THAT DOES PASS?

>> Stansbury: THE THREE BIG  THINGS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY CRITICAL AND THIS CAME FROM  CONSTITUENTS AND STATE AND LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT  OFFICIALS, IS NUMBER ONE IS BROADBAND.

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, I THINK, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT  HAVING BROADBAND ACCESS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE JUST REALLY  REVEALED THAT RURAL AREAS, TRIBAL AREAS ABSOLUTELY NEED  BROADBAND AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS RESOURCES AND  THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES HAVE RESOURCES FOR BROADBAND,  BUT WE NEED DESPERATELY TO BRING THAT MONEY HOME SO WE  CAN GET IT IN THE GROUND.

THE SECOND IS DRINKING WATER  INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT IS  IN CD1 IS THE TOHAJIILEE CHAPTER OF THE NAVAJO NATION  AND REALLY SEVERE DRINKING WATER CHALLENGES IN THAT  COMMUNITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO IN OTHER  CHAPTERS IN NAVAJO NATION AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY  NEED DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THE THIRD REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE, WHICH I AM VERY EXCITED  ABOUT IN THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN IN THE BIDEN  INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE IS ALL OF THE MONEY FOR THE GRID AND  RENEWABLE ENERGY.

AND, YOU KNOW, NEW MEXICO IS  REALLY ON THE PRECIPICE OF THE CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION.

WE PASSED THE GRID MODERNIZATION BILL LAST YEAR,  PASSED THE ENERGY TRANSITION ACT IN 2019.

SO WE ARE LIKE POISED TO REALLY DO BIG THINGS IN THE  CLEAN ENERGY SPACE BUT WE NEED  THAT EXTRA SUPPORT AND INCENTIVES TO BUILD OUT THAT  SECTOR.

THOSE ARE THE THREE PIECES I  THINK ARE REALLY CRITICAL.

>> Gene: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT  OUR LONG TRADITION OF OUR HOUSE MEMBERS WORKING VERY  CLOSELY WITH OUR SENATE MEMBERS, AS A BLOCK, AS A  COALITION IN NEW MEXICO, TO BRING THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS  HOME, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SENATORS HEINRICH AND  LUJAN?

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GET  YOUR HEADS TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO  DO IN THE FUTURE?

>> Stansbury: WE HAVEN'T HAD  THE OPPORTUNITY YET TO DO POLICY PLANNING TOGETHER BUT  SENATORS HEINRICH AND LUJAN WERE SUPPORTIVE IN OUR  CAMPAIGN AND I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH  SENATOR HEINRICH LAST WEEK AND START TO KIND OF MAP OUT OUR  COLLABORATION AND ALSO HAVE BEEN TALKING TO CONGRESSWOMAN  LEGER-FERNANDEZ WHO HAS BEEN JUST A HUGE ROLE IN HELPING  SUPPORT ME AS I AM GETTING STARTED AND CONGRESSWOMAN  HARRELL WILL ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE SWEARING IN NEXT  WEEK.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO  TALK YET, BUT NEW MEXICO I THINK IS REALLY FORTUNATE THAT  WE HAVE A VERY TIGHT CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT  WORKS CLOSELY TOGETHER AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE  OFFICIALS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEADERSHIP IN THE  LEGISLATURE.

SO, I AM EXCITED.

WE GOT SOME BIG IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO.

>> Gene: THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME.

WE KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING FAST AND HOT TODAY SO WE'LL LET YOU  GOT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME AND ONCE AGAIN,  CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Stansbury: THANK YOU FOR  HAVING ME ON.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE WITH  YOU TODAY.

>> Sec.

Kenney:   WE CAN'T WAIT SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT AS  MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS POSSIBLE AND  WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP THEM ACT EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT SURE  THEY ARE READY.

>> Gene:   RECREATIONAL CANNABIS BECOMES LEGAL IN NEW MEXICO IN  JUST UNDER TWO WEEKS.

IT IS A BRAVE NEW WORLD AS THE  STATE BEGINS THE UNIQUE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW  INDUSTRY.

ALREADY THERE ARE CONCERNS  ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR LAWMAKERS WHO WILL  CONTINUE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THAT INDUSTRY.

NAMELY WE RECENTLY LEARNED OF ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE  CANNABIS LEGALIZATION ACT, KATIE DUHIGG, WILL BE STARTING  UP A FULL SERVICE CANNABIS LAW FIRM.

MS. DUHIGG SAYS SHE WASN'T THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY  WHEN SHE SPONSORED THE BILL AND THAT SHE WILL DISCLOSE ANY  POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THIS AREA MOVING  FORWARD, BUT, TJ, ARE THESE SITUATIONS INEVITABLE ACROSS  MANY SECTORS AS LONG AS WE CLING TO A CITIZEN  LEGISLATURE?

>> TJ: ARE YOU ASKING THE  DUDE THAT SMOKES A LOT OF WEED, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE  DOING?

>> Gene: YES, I AM.

>> TJ: YOU'RE PICKING ON ME.

LISTEN, WELL, YEAH, THIS IS  THE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE POLITICIANS FOR.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS.

AND EVEN IF THERE IS A HINT OF  CORRUPTION, GUESS WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS PROPOSED OR NOT --  >> Gene: ARE WE HEAVY HANDED HERE WITH THE CORRUPTION WORD?

I AM NOT QUITE SURE.

>> TJ: ANYWAY, AS FAR AS  CANNABIS GOES, OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, RIGHT,  SHOULD THERE BE A TIME LIMIT ON LEGISLATORS IN NEW MEXICO,  OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, PROFITING FROM A LAW  THAT THEY WORKED ON, A CANNABIS LAW, FOR INSTANCE, OR  ANY OTHER NEW LAW FOR THAT MATTER.

SHOULD THE  LEGISLATORS BE ALLOWED TO PROFIT ON THAT IMMEDIATELY?

OR SHOULD THERE BE A YEAR WAIT, TWO YEARS WAIT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Gene: KICKBACK TO THE  SENATOR.

WE DID HAVE STUART ENGLE  PROPOSED AND PASSED THAT LAWMAKERS, BANNING LAWMAKERS  FROM APPLYING FOR A LICENSE UNTIL 2026.

DOES THAT DO ANYTHING, MS. FELDMAN?

THERE IS LOTS OF WAYS TO GET IN THE BUSINESS IF YOU WANT TO  WITHOUT BEING A LICENSE HOLDER, IF YOU GET MY DRIFT  HERE.

>> Dede: JUST LET ME ADDRESS  TJ'S COMMENT AND THAT IS, THERE IS A LAW THAT PROHIBITS  LAWMAKERS FROM PROFITING FROM A BILL THAT THEY PASS.

IT IS IN THE GOVERNMENTAL CONDUCT ACT BUT THE BIGGER  QUESTION IS THE SMELL TEST, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WERE  REFERRING TO.

AND THE FACT THAT IF IT  DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT, PEOPLE LOSE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

AND OUR SYSTEM HERE WHERE WE HAVE A CITIZENS LEGISLATURE,  THAT CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS JUST BAKED INTO THE SYSTEM.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS CANNABIS OR WHETHER IT IS OIL  AND GAS OR WHETHER IT IS INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE.

SO MANY OF THE LEGISLATORS ARE IN THOSE FIELDS.

AND, IT IS ACCEPTED THAT THEY WILL VOTE ON THOSE ISSUES WHEN  IT DOES NOT PROFIT THEM PERSONALLY.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY UPHOLD THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ON THE HONOR SYSTEM.

NOW WE HAVE AN ETHICS COMMISSION.

I THINK NOW IS THE TIME THAT THE ETHICS COMMISSION NEEDS TO  WEIGH IN ON ALL OF THIS AND WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT TO ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO BE PAID SO THIS DOESN'T  KEEP COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

AND THE LEGISLATORS CAN'T LEGISLATE THAT THEMSELVES.

THAT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST RIGHT THERE.

THERE HAS TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND  THE ETHICS COMMISSION IS POSITIONED TO FIGURE OUT THE  X, Y AND Z OF THAT MATTER.

>> Gene: JUST A POINT OF FACT  FOR INEZ RUSSELL GOMEZ.

YOU KNOW THIS.

SENATOR CANDELARIA AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, BRIAN EGOLF,  BOTH HAVE REPRESENTED MEDICAL CANNABIS FOLKS AND MADE  CONFLICTS KNOWN OR SAT OUT VOTES, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

THAT SITS WELL FOR SOME FOLKS BUT ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH  SENATOR FELDMAN THAT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING BEYOND JUST AN  HONOR SYSTEM HERE?

>> Inez: OUR POSITION IS THAT  WE SHOULD PAY CITIZEN LEGISLATORS OR WE SHOULD PAY  LEGISLATORS SO THAT THEY ARE COMPENSATED FAIRLY AND  CONFLICTS AREN'T AS OBVIOUS AND FREQUENT, BUT BEYOND THAT,  IF YOU HAVE A LEGISLATURE WHERE YOU ARE BASICALLY  WORKING OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET AND YOU GET PAID ONLY A PER  DIEM AND MILEAGE, IT REALLY LIMITS WHO CAN BE IN THE  LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND STARTING A  FAMILY AND YOU CAN'T TAKE TIME OFF WORK BUT YOU'RE BRILLIANT  AND HAVE POLICY IDEAS, WOULDN'T THAT BE A GREAT  PERSON TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT PERHAPS THEY  CAN'T AFFORD IT?

SO YOU END UP HAVING A  LEGISLATURE FULL OF RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES, INSURANCE,  REAL ESTATE, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND EVEN SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO  WORK LANL AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND THERE IS  CONFLICTS.

CANNABIS ONE IS SO OBVIOUS AND  NEW, BUT THERE IS A MILLION CONFLICTS EVERYDAY AND I DON'T  KNOW THAT MONEY AND A SALARY WILL PROTECT THEM FROM  EVERYTHING IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE  OUT, IS IT GOING TO BE A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE, HYBRID  LEGISLATURE?

BUT PEOPLE SHOULD BE  COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK AND RIGHT NOW OUR NEW MEXICO  LEGISLATURE IS NOT COMPENSATED.

WE START FROM THAT AND THEN WE CAN WORK OUT HOW TO ELIMINATE  MORE CONFLICTS.

>> Gene: THE IDEA, TJ, OF  PAYING OUR LEGISLATORS IS NOT  NEW, CERTAINLY, IN FACT IT COMES UP EVERY YEAR IN THE  ROUNDHOUSE, BUT I AM CURIOUS IF THESE REVELATIONS ABOUT  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY  MIGHT END UP BEING A TIPPING POINT HERE, BECAUSE AGAIN THE  SMELL TEST, AS SENATOR FELDMAN MENTIONED, MAY NOT SIT TOO  WELL WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC.

>> TJ: YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM  WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SO MANY OTHER ISSUES -- GENE, I  DON'T EVEN THINK IT IS JUST CANNABIS.

I THINK IF YOU DIG DEEPER INTO THIS, IT IS PRETTY MUCH  EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.

>> Gene: WE HAVE TEACHERS IN  THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE VOTING ON TEACHER RAISES AND SCHOOL  BUDGET.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST?

MAYBE.

>> TJ: YOU KNOW, WE NEED  FULL -- I GUESS WE NEED FULL DISCLOSURE.

IF YOU'RE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE YOU NEED TO LET  PEOPLE KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING OR VOTING ON A BILL  WHERE YOUR INTEREST LIES.

YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE THAT  KNOWLEDGE KNOWN BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN WORKING ON WHATEVER  YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON.

LET PEOPLE KNOW AHEAD TIME.

LOOK, I AM INVOLVED IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, I AM GOING  TO WORK ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE,   SHOULD I OR SHOULD I NOT?

JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW.

I MEAN DON'T TRY TO HIDE IT OR  DON'T EVEN -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY YOU'RE HIDING IT ON  PURPOSE.

JUST EVEN THE ILLUSION THAT YOU ARE HIDING  IT IS BAD.

>> Gene: SENATOR, WE HAVE A  MINUTE HERE.

CURIOUS, FLIP THIS AROUND A LITTLE BIT, WHAT  IS HONESTLY THE MATTER WITH MS. DUHIGG GETTING INTO THE  PRIVATE SECTOR AND TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK?

IS IT THAT BAD THAT SHE SHOULD BE DISALLOWED FROM GETTING  INTO THE INDUSTRY COMPLETELY?

>> Dede: NO.

BUT I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT INEZ WAS TALKING ABOUT.

HERE YOU HAVE THREE YOUNG LAWYERS, RIGHT?

KATIE DUHIGG, JACOB CANDELARIA AND BRIAN EGOLF.

THEY ARE OUT TO MAKE A LIVING, IN ADDITION TO BEING  LEGISLATORS.

SO, IT IS NATURAL THAT THESE  CONFLICTS ARE GOING TO COME YOU.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS DIFFERENT WHEN YOU ALREADY  HAVE A CLIENT AND YOU ALREADY, YOU KNOW, ARE WORKING IN AN  INDUSTRY AND THEN YOU'RE ASKED TO VOTE ON IT.

RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, CHANGING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN  AFTER THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS ENDED.

THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN ALREADY HAVING A CONFLICT GOING IN.

SO IT HAS GOT TO BE CHANGED.

DISCLOSURE IS NOW REQUIRED BUT  IT IS NOT REALLY ENFORCED FULLY BY THE SECRETARY OF  STATE.

IT NEEDS TO BE.

IT NEEDS TO BE MUCH FULLER AND EVEN THE PERCEPTION, HERE IS  WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PERCEPTION IS WHAT IS  IMPORTANT HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY,  ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO HOLD THEMSELVES TO A HIGHER  STANDARD.

IT IS NOT FAIR BUT COMES WITH  THE TERRITORY, TOO.

>> Gene:   THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ON THIS  TOPIC.

THERE IS STILL PLENTY MORE TO  TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

THIS WEEK, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH CITY LEADERS ABOUT  THEIR STRUGGLE TO COME UP WITH PLANNING AND ZONING RULES AND  REGULATIONS FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

YOU CAN SEE THAT FULL CONVERSATION ON OUR FACEBOOK  PAGE AT NM IN FOCUS.

>> Dede: FOR EVERY TIME  SOMEBODY TRIES TO BRING UP SOME OF THIS NEW RESEARCH,  THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STOMP IT DOWN.

PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT WANT TO FORBID CRITICAL RACE THEORY  FROM EVEN BEING TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS.

IT IS A REAL STICKY WICKET AND IT IS NOT GOING AWAY ANY TIME  SOON.

>> Gene:   THIS MONTH NEW MEXICO'S TOP ENVIRONMENT  OFFICIAL TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS TO ASK FOR FEDERAL  HELP WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING THE CLEAN-UP OF  TOXIC PFAS CHEMICALS FROM CANNON AND HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE  BASES.

MEANWHILE, THE AIR FORCE HAS  ANNOUNCED A PILOT PROJECT TO TEST WATER TREATMENT OPTIONS  THAT WILL BE ONLINE IN 2023.

THIS WEEK CORRESPONDENT LAURA  PASKUS CHECKS IN WITH AIR FORCE OFFICIAL CHRISTOPHER  GIERKE AND ALSO NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY JAMES  KENNEY FOR THE LATEST FROM THE FRONT LINES OF NEW MEXICO'S  GROUNDWATER WAR.

>> Laura: WELCOME CHRIS  GIERKE.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THE AIR FORCE ANNOUNCED A 16.6 MILLION  DOLLAR CONTRACT TO AECOM AND BRICE FOR A PILOT PROJECT AT  CANNON AIR FORCE BASE.

THERE WILL BE A WATER  TREATMENT SYSTEM INSTALLED AT THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF  THE BASE TO TREAT PFOA AND PFAS.

IT WILL TEST THREE DIFFERENT PUMP AND TREAT METHODS.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO LEARN FROM THIS PROJECT?

>> Gierke: THE DATA THAT IT IS GOING TO HELP PROVIDE US IS,  ONE, IT WILL SHOW US CAPTURE ZONES.

HOW CLOSE, HOW FAR APART DO THESE EXTRACTION WELLS NEED TO  BE PUT.

ALSO, IN THIS PROCESS, THEY  ARE GOING TO BE PULLING SAMPLES SO THEY'LL DO A  TREATABILITY STUDY.

THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT  EITHER GRANULATED ACTIVE CARBON, ION EXCHANGE OR A  COMBINATION OF THE TWO TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE BEST  METHODS FOR TREATING PFAS, PFOA.

SO THERE WILL BE THAT  STUDY PORTION OF IT AND THEN ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, THEN  THEY'LL GO INTO THE DESIGN AND ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE  PILOT STUDY THAT WILL GET PUT IN AND THROUGHOUT THE  OPERATION OF THE PILOT STUDY THAT DATA, THE SAMPLES WILL BE  TAKEN AND IT WILL HELP INFORM EECA.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PROCESS, THEN WE'LL TAKE THE  INFORMATION FROM THE EECA AND IF IT DOES INFORM US THAT A  FULL SCALE PUMP AND TREAT SYSTEM WOULD BE THE MOST  VIABLE OPTION FOR TREATING THE AQUIFER HERE AT CANNON AIR  FORCE BASE, THEN THIS SYSTEM, THE PILOT STUDY THAT WE  CREATED, IS DONE IN A WAY WHERE IT IS FLEXIBLE AND MADE  TO BE EXPANDED UPON SO THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND EXPAND THE  SYSTEM QUITE EASILY TO GO TO FULL SCALE PUMP AND TREAT  SYSTEM ON THE BASE.

>> Laura: WHAT KIND OF  TIMELINE ARE WE LOOKING AT JUST FOR THE PILOT PROJECT  WHEN THE SYSTEM WILL BE BUILT AND WHEN WATER WILL START  BEING PUMPED?

>> Gierke: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ACTUALLY THIS IS GOING TO BE A  FAST PROJECT.

WE HAVE ALREADY HAD ON THE  SECOND -- SO WE WERE AWARDED THE CONTRACT OR WE AWARDED THE  CONTRACT ON MAY 27 AND WE HAD OUR FIRST SITE VISIT FROM THE  CONTRACTOR ON JUNE 2 FOLLOWED UP SHORTLY WITH JUNE 8.

WE HAD OUR ACTUAL KICKOFF MEETING WITH THE CONTRACTORS  HERE AT THE BASE TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL SITE VISITS AND  PLANNING.

SO, WITH THAT, THEY WILL  ACTUALLY BE OUT ON THE BASE ON THE 14TH TO START PULLING THE  SAMPLES TO DO THAT TREATABILITY STUDY.

SO, WE ARE GOING TO ROLL RIGHT INTO THAT TREATABILITY STUDY  AND DESIGN PHASE VERY QUICKLY, WITH TENTATIVE PLANS FOR  CONSTRUCTION TO START AROUND EARLY NEXT YEAR.

WITH THAT, IT WILL BE ABOUT -- THESE ARE TENTATIVE RIGHT NOW,  BUT ABOUT A ONE-YEAR CONSTRUCTION TIME FRAME AND  THEN THAT WILL BE WHEN THE OPERATION WILL BEGIN AND WE  START COLLECTING ACTUAL SAMPLES AND DATA FROM THAT.

SO, YES, THE PUMPING AND TREATING PORTION OF THAT WILL  COMMENCE THEN, SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT EARLY 2023 FOR THE  ACTUAL OPERATION TO START.

>> Laura: IT SAYS IT CAN PUMP  600 GALLONS A MINUTE TO REMOVE PFAS AND PFOA.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT WATER ONCE IT HAS BEEN TREATED FOR  THOSE TWO SPECIFIC TYPES OF POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND  THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PFAS AND PFOA THAT IS TAKEN OUT OF  THE WATER?

>> Gierke: THE TREATED WATER  WILL BE REINJECTED BACK INTO THE AQUIFER.

WE'LL TAKE IT OUT, TREAT IT AND REPLENISH IT BACK INTO THE  AQUIFER.

AS FAR AS THE DISPOSAL OF USED FILTRATION EQUIPMENT THAT WILL  DEPEND WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS DOWN THE  ROAD BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING.

SO AS NEW GUIDELINES COME OUT THAT WILL AFFECT HOW WE HANDLE  WASTE GENERATED AT THAT TIME.

SO, WHATEVER THE CURRENT  REGULATIONS ARE IS WHAT THE AIR FORCE WILL STRICTLY  FOLLOW.

>> Laura: IF YOU FIND OUT THIS  PUMP AND TREAT SYSTEM WORKS OR ONE OF THESE PARTICULAR  SYSTEMS WORKS BETTER THAN OTHERS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT  CAN TIE INTO THE LARGER WATER SYSTEM, TIE INTO THE CITY OF  CLOVIS' WATER SYSTEM?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE  HERE?

>>   Gierke: WE ARE RIGHT NOW JUST LOOKING AT THE CURRENT  PILOT STUDY WITH EECA SO WE CAN GET INTERIM ACTION.

WITH THIS INTERIM ACTION IT IS LOOKING, FOR THE MOST PART, TO  MITIGATE ANY FURTHER OFF BASE MIGRATION OF PFAS PFOA.

SO  THOSE FURTHER INTERACTIONS WITH POTENTIALS OF CLOVIS I  CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

>> Laura: WE HAVE TALKED IN  THE PAST ABOUT A REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION CONTRACT AWARDED  I THINK LAST SUMMER IN AUGUST 2020.

CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS, IF THAT WORK  HAS STARTED AND WHAT THAT REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION IS AND  HOW IT TIES INTO THIS PILOT PROJECT?

>> Gierke: ABSOLUTELY.

WITH THE REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION,  LAST TIME WE TALKED WAS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS  OF DEVELOPING THAT WORK PLAN AND THAT WILL HAVE TO GO OUT  FOR A 30-DAY REGULATORY REVIEW.

WE'LL GET THAT BACK AND INCORPORATE THOSE COMMENTS  INTO IT AND THEN WE CAN FINALIZE THAT AND GO COMMENCE  FIELD WORK.

RIGHT NOW THE FIELD WORK WAS  SLATED TO START IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING TO GET THAT REGULATORY  30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD GOING NOW.

SO WE ARE AHEAD OF THE CURVE, SO IT JUST DEPENDS HOW MANY  COMMENTS WE GET AND WHAT IT TAKES TO INCORPORATE THOSE  INTO THE WORK PLAN AND THEN FINALIZE IT.

ONCE WE GET THAT FINALIZED, WE CAN ACTUALLY START WORK AS  SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE BEEN CLOSELY WORKING  WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE ONCE WE HAVE THAT  FINALIZES WE CAN START WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND THE FIRST STAGE THAT WE ARE PLANNING WILL BE  COLLECTING OFF-BASE GROUND WATER SAMPLES AND SOIL SAMPLES  FROM THE LOCAL OUTSIDE AREA TO HELP START DELINEATING THAT  PFOS, PFOA IMPACT OFF BASE.

>> Laura: THERE IS A LONG LEAD  TIME BETWEEN THE AWARDING OF THAT CONTRACT AND THE  DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORK PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE  FIELD WORK.

THE PILOT PROJECT CONTRACT  SEEMS TO COME TOGETHER MORE QUICKLY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THAT IS AND HOW THAT HAPPENS.

>> Gierke: IT IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS.

WITH THE RI, IT WAS GOING THROUGH OUR NORMAL MECHANISMS  FOR ACQUISITION.

WITH THE WORK PLAN IT IS A LOT  MORE IN-DEPTH AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS OTHER ONE WITH  THE EECA UNDER A PILOT STUDY, THERE WILL BE A WORK PLAN BUT  THEY HAVE SOME UP FRONT WORK THAT IS ALREADY DONE FOR THE  SAMPLING PORTIONS OF THE WORK PLAN, SO THEY CAN DO THEIR  BENCH SCALE TESTING AND STUDIES AND ANALYSIS.

AS THAT IS GOING, THEY WILL BE DEVELOPING THEIR WORK PLAN IN  TANDEM WHEREAS WITH REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION THERE IS NO WORK  THAT COULD BE DONE UP FRONT.

THIS WORK PLAN NEEDS TO BE  FULLY DEVELOPED AND FINALIZED AND VETTED.

WE ARE PUSHING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE  SHOOTING TO BE OUT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> Laura: ALL RIGHT, CHRIS, THANK SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME  ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING  THE CONVERSATION.

>> Gierke: THANK YOU FOR  HAVING ME.

>> Laura: SECRETARY KENNEY,  WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> Sec.

Kenney: PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> Laura: THE AIR FORCE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PILOT  PROJECT THEY ARE GETTING READY TO CONTRACT.

IT IS A WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT, HOW DOES  THIS PILOT PROJECT TIE IN WITH CLEAN-UP PLANS AT CANNON AIR  FORCE BASE?

>> Sec.

Kenney: THAT IS A  GREAT QUESTION.

THE PILOT PROJECT THAT I  UNDERSTAND CANNON IS UNDERTAKING IS A SYSTEM THAT  WILL PREVENT PFAS CONTAMINATED WASTEWATER GROUNDWATER FROM  MIGRATING OFF BASE.

IN TERMS OF A LARGER  DELINEATION AND CLEANUP OF THE AREA THE AIR FORCE HASN'T BEEN  IN CONTACT WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

HOWEVER THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT IS  LEADING AN EFFORT THERE.

>> Laura: THE INITIAL TESTING  THAT WAS DONE THAT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS CONTAMINATION  FROM PFAS AT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE AND HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE  BASE, SEEMS LIKE THOSE TESTS WERE DONE BACK IN 2017, FOUR  YEARS AGO.

WHAT DO WE KNOW RIGHT NOW  ABOUT WHERE THESE PLUMES HAVE MIGRATED OR MOVED?

>> Sec.

Kenney: GREAT QUESTION.

THE TIME FRAME BY WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO MOTIVATE THE  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THERE IS  THAT EFFORT, AND THEN THERE IS THE EFFORT THAT THE STATE OF  NEW MEXICO IS INDEPENDENTLY TAKING.

SO, WE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, MAYBE UP THROUGH THE RECENT  ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE  MIGRATION AT CANNON.

BUT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO  HAS GONE BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE, SOUGHT  APPROPRIATIONS AND HAS BEGUN A STUDY IN THE AREA TO BOTH  UNDERSTAND AND TO KNOW WHERE THE PLUME IS AND THEN TO  FIGURE OUT WAYS TO CLEAN IT UP.

WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS.

>> Laura: IT IS FAIR TO SAY  THAT THE AIR FORCE AND STATE OF NEW MEXICO ARE NOT  NECESSARILY COOPERATING ON THIS CLEANUP.

CAN YOU CHARACTERIZE THE RELATIONSHIP THE AIR FORCE AND  STATE HAVE HAD SINCE REGULATORS WERE NOTIFIED IN  2018 ABOUT THIS CONTAMINATION?

>> Sec.

Kenney: I THINK WHEN  YOU LOOK BACK AT THE PATH WE  TOOK IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO HOLD THE DEFENSE  DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE, WE DIDN'T SET OUT TO LITIGATE.

WE WANTED ACTION QUICKLY.

WHEN THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE OR  THAT WASN'T ON THE TABLE, THAT IS WHEN WE LITIGATED BECAUSE,  IN REALITY, LITIGATION, BASED ON THE TIME FRAMES THAT WERE  PROPOSED TO US, SEEMED LIKE THE SHORTEST PATH FORWARD.

THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE HAD WITH OUR BASES IS ACTUALLY  QUITE POSITIVE.

SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN  CONTRIBUTE A LOT TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND WE VALUE  THAT OBVIOUSLY.

IT IS THE NOTION THAT WE WILL  SOMEHOW WAIT TO PROTECT NEW MEXICANS, WAIT TO PROTECT OUR  ECONOMY, THAT IS THE PART THAT WE HAVE TO BE INTOLERANT ABOUT  AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE IN A LAWSUIT.

>> Laura: AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FILED A  LAWSUIT AGAINST NEW MEXICO WHEN REGULATORS TRIED TO  COMPEL THE MILITARY TO CLEAN UP.

RECENTLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FILED SAYING  THAT THIS LAWSUIT, THAT THE STATE HAD ACTED ARBITRARILY  AND CAPRICIOUSLY.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT  LAWSUIT RIGHT NOW?

>> Sec.

Kenney: IT MIGHT BE  HELPFUL, AS YOU POINT OUT, TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE  FIRST LAWSUIT WAS SUING THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO PREVENT  PFAS CLEANUP AT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE.

THAT LAWSUIT IS CONTINUING TO MOVE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

WE STAND FIRMLY BY WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION THAT PFAS IS A  HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, A HAZARDOUS WASTE.

FOR THE REASONS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IT CAN AFFECT PEOPLES'  PUBLIC HEALTH.

THEREFORE, WE ARE GOING TO  CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT GETS CLEANED UP.

I WOULD HOPE THAT UNDER THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION  UNDER ALL THE MOVEMENT BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  AGENCY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK OF PFAS, THAT MESSAGE GETS TO  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF  JUSTICE AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT NEW MEXICANS SHOULD NOT  HAVE TO BE FIGHTING TO CLEAN UP CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER  AND THEY ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS ISSUE.

>> Laura: YOU RECENTLY TESTIFIED BEFORE A COMMITTEE  IN CONGRESS ASKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP  STATES LIKE NEW MEXICO.

WHAT DO WE NEED?

WHAT DO STATES NEED FROM, SAY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  AGENCY?

>> Sec.

Kenney: THAT IS A  GREAT QUESTION AND ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS VERY EAGER TO  TESTIFY BEFORE THAT FULL COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE  ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS WAS TO LAY OUT OUR NEEDS AND  OUR NEEDS ARE, ONE, TO HAVE PFAS TREATED AS THE TOXIC  CHEMICAL IT IS.

MOLECULES OF PFAS DON'T  UNDERSTAND WHETHER THEY ARE LABELED AS A HAZARDOUS  SUBSTANCE OR NOT.

THAT IS US PUTTING THAT ON  THEM.

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO  TACKLE PFAS.

AND THAT IS WHAT I WAS  SUGGESTING TO CONGRESS THAT WE LIST PFAS AS A HAZARDOUS WASTE  UNDER FEDERAL LAW AS INTENDED BY CONGRESS, AND WE DO THAT  IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE HAVE A WAY TO MANAGE PFAS FROM THE  TIME IT COMES INTO THE STATE TO THE TIME IT IS DISPOSED OF  AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

IT IS MANAGED IN THAT WAY.

SO WE ARE NOT JUST FINDING IT HAPHAZARDLY AND HAVING TO DEAL  WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS THAT WAY.

WE ALSO NEED A DRINKING WATER STANDARD.

AS YOU KNOW, AND MANY VIEWERS PROBABLY KNOW, THERE IS NO  NATIONAL DRINKING WATER STANDARD FOR PFAS.

STATES ARE TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SETTING THOSE AND WHEN  WE MOVE FORWARD TO ADDRESS -- WE AS STATES MOVE FORWARD TO  ADDRESS PFAS AS A HAZARDOUS WASTE OR POLLUTANT IN DRINKING  WATER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS IN OUR WAY AND SUES US.

THAT IS OUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN NEW MEXICO SO IN ONE WAY WE  ARE BEING INNOVATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL IN SOLVING THE  PROBLEMS IN COMMUNITIES AND THEN ROADBLOCKED BY THE FEDS.

WE NEED FEDERAL LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES.

>> Laura: EPA HAS SAID THAT PFAS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE  BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WHEN I REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW  WITH THEIR EXPERT TO TALK ABOUT PFAS, PLANS TO REGULATE,  STUDIES FOR A GREATER NUMBER OF THE SUBSTANCES, THEY HAVE  TOLD ME THAT IT IS PREMATURE TO GRANT AN INTERVIEW AND TALK  ABOUT ANY OF THIS.

DO YOU THINK THAT PFAS IS A  PRIORITY FOR THE EPA UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

>> Sec.

Kenney: I DO.

I THINK IT IS A PRIORITY.

I THINK THAT IN ANY TRANSITION, ESPECIALLY THE  LAST TRANSITION FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO THE BIDEN  ADMINISTRATION, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK TO  BE DONE, NOT ONLY TO STOP THE TRAIN THAT WAS MOVING DOWN THE  TRACKS BUT REVERSE COURSE.

AND I THINK SORTING OUT SOME  OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MOVE  FORWARD COMPREHENSIVELY IS WHAT IS GOING ON NOW.

I AM OPTIMISTIC, BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FEDS,  THEY ARE GOING TO LEAN IN HEAVY, BUT LEANING IN HEAVY  VERSUS LEANING IN NOW ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

EVERYDAY WE THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY  PFAS IN NEW MEXICO FROM PROPERTY VALUES TO, YOU KNOW,  THEIR HEALTH.

WE CAN'T WAIT, SO WE WILL  CONTINUE TO PUT AS MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BIDEN  ADMINISTRATION AS POSSIBLE AND CONTINUE TO HELP THEM ACT EVEN  IF THEY ARE NOT SURE THEY ARE READY.

>> Laura: SECRETARY KENNEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING  ME ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> Sec.

Kenney: IT'S BEEN A  PLEASURE.

>> Gene: IT HAS BEEN A YEAR  SINCE THE PROTEST AT LA JORNADA SCULPTURE IN DOWNTOWN  ALBUQUERQUE TURNED VIOLENT.

THE COUNTER-PROTESTORS SHOT A  MAN.

THE PUBLIC AND POLITICIANS  ALIKE CRITICIZE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE FOR THEIR HANDLING OF  THE SITUATION.

THE CITY REMOVED THE STATUE OF  CONQUISTADOR DON JUAN ONATE FROM THE INSTALLATION.

THE CITY HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT STATUTES  THAT COVER CULTURALLY SENSITIVE ISSUES AND HISTORIES  BUT SO FAR NO RESOLUTION.

AND ACCORDING TO ALBUQUERQUE  CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CYNTHIA BORREGO, THE TOPIC WON'T BE  ADDRESSED AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

THIS ISN'T JUST AN ALBUQUERQUE ISSUE, THOUGH.

SANTA FE IS DEALING WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION SURROUNDING  THE CONTROVERSIAL OBELISK ON THE PLAZA WHICH WAS TOPPLED BY  PROTESTORS LAST OCTOBER.

THE REMAINS OF THAT MONUMENT, IT  SEEMS, ROUTINELY VANDALIZED AS LEADERS CONTINUE TO DEBATE ITS  FUTURE.

INEZ, IS THAT EVEN MORE  PROBABLE WITH EACH DAY THAT PASSES WITHOUT A DECISION BY  THE CITY?

WHAT HAS BEEN THE DELAY HERE?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> Inez: THE DELAY -- A  POSITIVE WAY TO LOOK AT IT, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING  POSSIBLE TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE  THAT WHATEVER DECISION COMES UP AS A RESULT IS A COLLECTIVE  DECISION OF THE CITY.

THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME.

THEY CALL IT THE CHART PROCESS WHICH IS GOING TO BE A  COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WHERE THEY DISCUSS REALLY NOT JUST  THE OBELISK BUT HOW THE HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO IS  PRESENTED IN A PUBLIC WAY IN SANTA FE.

WHETHER THERE ARE TOO MANY MONUMENTS TO SOLDIERS, VERSUS,  YOU KNOW, WOMEN OR FARMERS OR HISPANICS VERSUS ANGLOS,  VERSUS INDIANS.

JUST ARE WE TELLING OUR WHOLE  STORY?

THAT TAKES A WHILE AND HAVE  SAID EDITORIAL IN THE PAPER, I THINK THAT IT HAS TAKEN TOO  LONG.

IN THE OBELISK, IN PARTICULAR,  WE HAVE SAID -- WE SAID IN OCTOBER, IT IS GOING TO BE AN  EYE SORE.

IT IS GOING TO BE A WOUND.

DO SOMETHING IN THE SHORT TERM TO BEAUTIFY IT.

MY LAST SUGGESTION WAS JUST PUT A BUNCH OF FLOWERS OVER  THE BOX AND CALL IT A GARDEN.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR  WHATEVER REASON AND THE LATEST TWIST A FEW DAYS AGO, UNION  PROTECTIVA, WHICH IS A SEVERE CRITIC OF MAYOR ALAN WEBBER,  DESPITE IT BEING A NONPARTISAN FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION, HAS  FILED A LAWSUIT SAYING THAT HIS CALL TO REMOVE THE OBELISK  EMBOLDENED PROTESTERS AND THEY WERE TEARING IT DOWN BASICALLY  AT HIS COMMAND AND THAT VIOLATES CERTAIN LAWS THAT  PROTECT THE PLAZA BECAUSE IT IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

THAT JUST HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT  TAKES US.

THEIR SOLUTION IS TO FORGET  THE CONVERSATION, FORGET ANYONE ELSE IN THE CITY,  EXCEPT FOR THEM.

THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REBUILD  IT AS IT WAS BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS DISHONORS THE VETERANS TO  WHOM IT WAS DEDICATED, IT HONORS OUR HISPANIC ANCESTORS,  AND I HAVE TO LOOK, I MIGHT EVEN HAVE ONE THAT FOUGHT IN  THE BATTLE AT VALVERDE AND THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE AND THEY WANT  IT BACK, PERIOD, AND THAT IS IT.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT IN SANTA FE RIGHT NOW.

NO DECISION ON WHAT TO DO BUT A LAWSUIT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A  DECISION HAPPEN.

>> Gene: INTERESTING POINTS.

TJ, ALBUQUERQUE CITY LEADERS ARE TRYING TO GATHER  INFORMATION AND PUBLIC INPUT SO FAR, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T  HEARD MUCH.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS WHAT IS  GOING ON?

HAS A DECISION BEEN MADE THAT  THEY ARE NOT TIPPING THEIR HAND ON?

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO AT THE MUSEUM WHERE THIS  WHOLE CONTROVERSY TOOK PLACE.

>> TJ: A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NO.

1, I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID RIGHT  NOW TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT WHAT DECISION  TO MAKE AND THEY REALIZE ANY DECISION THAT THEY MAKE IS  GOING TO GET GRIEF FROM WHICHEVER SIDE DOESN'T AGREE  WITH IT.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE HOT BUTTON  ISSUES, I THINK, OH, GOD WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON  THIS, YES YOU DO.

AND EVENTUALLY YOU WILL.

JUST, GENE, AN OVERALL LOOK AT THIS WHOLE THING.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH A PERIOD OBVIOUSLY OF SOCIAL RECKONING,  A PERIOD OF JUST INTROSPECTION ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND I DON'T  HAVE SOLUTIONS.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

I AM OBSERVING ALL THIS AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING  TO GO.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON, WHO IS THE  UNM HISTORY PROFESSOR, I HAVE HIM ON THE SHOW EVERY ONCE IN  A WHILE.

WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION  ABOUT ONATE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

I WAS READING THE  HISTORY OF IT AND I GO, PAUL, I MEAN HE WAS A BAD DUDE.

HE KIND OF CHUCKLED.

HE GOES, TJ, YOU HAVE TO  REALIZE BACK THEN, THEY WERE ALL BAD DUDES, ALL OF THEM  WERE BAD DUDES.

HE MAKES A POINT.

A VALID POINT.

ALL OF OUR FOREFATHERS HAD  SKELETONS IN THEIR CLOSETS.

NOBODY WAS A PERFECT  INDIVIDUAL.

I THINK THE YOUNGER PEOPLE  NEED TO REALIZE THAT THIS AIN'T A PERFECT WORLD.

NEVER WAS, AND NEVER WILL BE A PERFECT WORLD.

THEY HAVE GOT TO GET USED TO IT.

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES.

TIMES CHANGE, PEOPLE GET  ENLIGHTENED.

PEOPLE EVOLVE AND SO THIS IS  SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN DONE LOOKING AT YET BUT WE  WILL COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION ON THIS.

WE HAVEN'T COME UP WITH IT YET.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH PAIN BEFORE WE GET OUT  THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.

>> Gene: SENATOR, HAVE TO SAY  WE ALL WITNESSED A YEAR AGO THE DANGERS OF LETTING THESE  ISSUES FESTER EVEN IF WE CAN'T GET AN ANSWER OR SOLUTION IN  THE NEAR FUTURE, ARE CITIES DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES  DOING ENOUGH TO KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING ON THE  UNDERLYING ISSUES?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND, PANDEMIC  OR NO PANDEMIC, HOW THE DIALOGUE JUST FELL SO FALLOW  IN BOTH SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE ON THESE ISSUES.

YOU THINK THIS WOULD BE A VERY HOT TOPIC EVERY WEEK, EVERYDAY  SINCE IT HAPPENED.

>> Dede: IT IS A HOT TOPIC AND  SOCIAL RECKONING CANNOT BE DONE ON A SCHEDULE BUT A  DECISION HAS TO BE MADE.

I WAS READING ABOUT THE  ALBUQUERQUE PROCESS WHICH IS CALLED, RACE HISTORY AND  HEALING PROJECT.

THEY HAD 10 FACILITATORS.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS.

BUT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED.

SO, THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD AND IT IS NOW  UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL, BUCK STOPS THERE.

THE MAYOR HAS ORGANIZED THE PROCESS, BUT THE COUNCIL  DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT FOR A COUPLE OF MORE MONTHS  AND THE DELAY IS AT THEIR OWN RISK BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY CAN  SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN SANTA FE WHEN THERE WAS A DELAY.

BUT, I JUST WANT TO MENTION, TJ, THERE IS A NEW BOOK OUT  NOW CALLED FORGET THE ALAMO.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE  HEARD OF IT OR NOT.

WE WERE ALWAYS TO REMEMBER THE  ALAMO AND DAVY CROCKETT AND JOHN WAYNE AND JIM BOWIE AND  ALL THAT STUFF.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT A LOT  OF THAT WAS A MYTH AND THESE WERE SLAVE OWNERS AND IT WAS  THE MEXICANS WHO WERE OBJECTING TO SLAVERY, THAT  THEY WERE DEFENDING, SO IT IS AN ENTIRELY NEW TAKE ON THAT.

BUT FOR EVERY TIME THAT SOMEBODY TRIES TO BRING UP  SOME OF THIS NEW RESEARCH, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO  STOMP IT DOWN.

PEOPLE THAT WANT TO FORBID  CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM EVEN BEING TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO, IT IS A REAL STICKY WICKET AND IT IS NOT GOING AWAY ANY  TIME SOON.

>> Gene: INEZ, COINCIDENTALLY  THERE ARE MAYORAL ELECTIONS COMING UP IN A FEW MONTHS IN  BOTH ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT PLAY INTO  THE LACK OF ACTION ON THESE CONTROVERSIAL SYMBOLS, WOULD  YOU SAY?

>> Inez:   I AM NOT SURE IT'S A DRIVING FORCE IN SANTA FE ONLY  BECAUSE WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED AND THE MAYOR -- DID I  GO?

>> Gene: YOU'RE GOOD.

GO AHEAD.

>> Inez: WHEN THE MAYOR  STEPPED UP AND SAID THESE STATUES SHOULD GO BECAUSE HE  SPECIFICALLY SINGLED OUT DON DIEGO DEVARGAS IN CATHEDRAL  PARK AND THE OBELISK, AND THE OBELISK WAS CONSIDERED  OFFENSIVE BY MANY NATIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT REFERRED TO  THE SAVAGE INDIANS WHO HAD FOUGHT IN THE INDIAN WARS.

HE DELAYED THAT SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK HE  IS A THOUGHTFUL PERSON WHO PERHAPS ISN'T RECOGNIZING THAT  AT THIS MOMENT WE NEED TO ACT AND I THINK WHAT THE PROBLEM  IS, THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THINK WE HAVE TO DECIDE FOR ALL  TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE FOR ALL TIME.

YOU HAVE TO DO A FEW THINGS TO SOOTHE HURT FEELINGS AND THEN  GET GOING AND SHOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DECIDING SOON.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T EVEN NAMED A FACILITATOR, AND I  HATE THAT WORD, TO HELP MOVE THIS CHART PROCESS ALONG.

WE CAN'T EVEN PICK A PERSON TO  GET FOLKS IN A ROOM.

THAT IS HOW BAD WE ARE RIGHT  NOW.

>> Gene: DIALOGUE, DIALOGUE.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY TOPICS WE DISCUSSED  THIS WEEK.

DO THAT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL  MEDIA CHANNELS, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, TWITTER AND  INSTAGRAM.

JUST SEARCH FOR NM IN FOCUS.

SOME 300 ALL TIME HIGHS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE SET THIS  WEEK.

HARD TO FATHOM WITH TRIPLE  DIGIT HIGHS FROM MONTANA TO ALBUQUERQUE AND NO END IN  SIGHT.

THE EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT WE ARE UNDER CREATES A  FEEDBACK OF HEAT AND MAKES THE DROUGHT WORSE BUT HERE IS ALSO  WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL POINTS  OUT THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, OUT REGION ACCOUNTED  FOR 30% OF THE MANUFACTURING GROWTH.

WHILE WE HAVEN'T SEEN A HUGE SHARE OF THOSE 100,000 JOBS  THAT WERE CREATED, TRENDS INDICATE THE REGION REMAINS A  PRIME CHOICE FOR MANUFACTURERS.

ALL THIS FIERCE ACTIVITY UNDER SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS   OR WORSE.

NOW THIS PUTS NEW MEXICO IN A TOUGH SPOT.

DO WE CHASE THE MANUFACTURING BOOM OR DO WE PASS DUE TO  WATER CONCERNS.

I DON'T ENVY POLICY MAKERS BUT  THE TIME FOR THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSIONS LONG-TERM  DROUGHT STRATEGY IS NOW.

FRANKLY, WE SHOULD ALREADY  HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S TIME FOR LAWMAKERS TO FULLY FUND THAT WORK AND TAKE  THE HEAT TO HEART.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US  AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.