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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, LEGAL  CANNABIS IS ALMOST HERE.

BUT PLANNING FOR THE NEW  INDUSTRY IS CATCHING FIRE.

>> Stewart: THESE ARE THINGS  THAT WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THESE OTHER STATES, THEY  ACTUALLY HAD MORE TIME TO PREPARE THAN WE DO.

>> Gene: BRACING FOR A FULL REOPENING IN NEW MEXICO AFTER  A LONG PERIOD OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL  BE BUSY ONES HERE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT WITH  LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS AND A FULL REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY,  BOTH DAYS AWAY.

WE'LL TAKE UP BOTH ISSUES WITH  LINE OPINION PANEL.

THE PANELISTS WILL ALSO BREAK  DOWN THE LATEST RANKS FOR CHILD WELL-BEING WHICH, AS  USUAL, IS LARGELY A MIXED BAG.

ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT,  LAURA PASKUS, ALSO TALKS ABOUT NEW EFFORTS TO REGULATE THE  OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO.

AND WE LEARN ABOUT A CREATIVE NEW WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL  UNIQUE THINGS THAT MAKE NEW MEXICO SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO  CALL HOME MANY.

UP FIRST, THE LINE TALKS COVID-19 REOPENING.

WE FINALLY HIT THE 60% MARK THIS WEEK FOR FULLY VACCINATED  NEW MEXICANS SAVING FACE FOR GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM'S  CHOICE FOR HER PLAN TO REOPEN NEW MEXICO ON JULY 1.

THAT  MEANS NO MORE OCCUPANCY OR PUBLIC GATHERING RESTRICTIONS  AND, OF COURSE, ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED WILL  STILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

THOSE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE IN SOME FORM OR  FASHION SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

THAT IS 15 MONTHS AGO.

HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT IT ALL MEANS IN THIS WEEKS VIRTUAL  LINE OPINION PANEL, WE WILL START WITH LINE REGULAR AND  UNM LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR SERGE MARTINEZ, WELCOME BACK.

WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONSULTANT,  ED PEREA AND ROUNDING OUT OUR ZOOM GROUP THIS WEEK IS  GIOVANNA ROSSI, PRESIDENT OF COLLECTIVE ACTION STRATEGIES.

WELCOME BACK, GIOVANNA.

WE WERE JUST SHY OF THAT 60%  VACCINATION THRESHOLD WHEN THE GOVERNOR ACTED, SERGE.

HERE IS MY QUESTION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE  GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO BASICALLY SAY, CLOSE ENOUGH,  OR SHOULD WE HAVE PUT THIS OFF A WEEK OR TWO TO REALLY JUST  GET THERE.

>> Serge: I THINK THERE IS  NOTHING MAGICAL ABOUT 60%.

IT WAS SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY.

WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE.

FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, PUSHING  THIS OFF ANY FURTHER WOULD BE POLITICALLY ILL ADVISED AND  UNTENABLE.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW  HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE IT MIGHT MAKE IN MOST PEOPLES'  DAY-TO-DAY LIVES SINCE THEY WERE OPEN NOW, BUT I THINK  PUSHING IT OFF FURTHER -- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT LASTED AS  LONG AS IT DID, FRANKLY.

TO SAY WE ARE 6/10 OF A  PERCENTAGE POINT OFF, SO WE ARE PUSHING THIS OFF, THERE  WOULD BE RIOTING IN THE STREETS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> Gene: PEOPLE WERE READY TO GO, NO DOUBT ON THAT.

ED PEREA, INTERESTINGLY, NEW MEXICO HAD ONE OF THE  EARLIEST, MOST RESTRICTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS, AS YOU  KNOW, IN THE COUNTRY.

OUR VACCINATION ROLLOUT, ONE  OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE COUNTRY, AS YOU KNOW.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK FOR DOWN THE LINE HERE?

SHOULD WE KEEP THE PUSH?

SHOULD WE LET NATURE TAKE ITS  COURSE.

HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE THIS FROM  THIS POINT FORWARD?

>> Edmund: WE HAVE TO TAKE  THIS VIRUS SERIOUSLY AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE.

I BELIEVE ENTITIES HAVE TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY.

WE SEE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING SOMETHING OF THIS  SORT SERIOUSLY.

WE KNOW THERE ARE VARIANTS OUT THERE.

THERE  IS THE DELTA VARIANT.

NEW INFECTIONS I THINK UNITED  KINGDOM 90% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE INFLICTED BY THIS DELTA  VARIANT AND IT IS 20% HERE IN THE U.S.  WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VIRUS IS GOING TO DO YET.

IT PROBABLY BEST SERVES OUR SOCIETY IF WE ERR TO THE SIDE  OF CAUTION.

LET'S NOT BE TOO QUICK TO GET BACK TO WHATEVER  THAT NORMAL IS.

I HAVE HEARD THE TERM NEW  NORMAL USED AND I AM STILL NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.

I THINK THERE IS MORE TO COME.

I THINK WE REALLY OUGHT TO  CONTINUE TO APPROACH THIS CAUTIOUSLY.

THIS VIRUS IS DANGEROUS AS IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE.

LET'S TAKE OUR TIME TO BE PRUDENT WITH ALL DECISIONS  WHETHER PERSONALLY OR AS A SOCIETY AS TO HOW WE APPROACH  AND MOVE FORWARD MERE.

>> Gene: I WANT TO CONTINUE  WITH WHAT WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO HERE.

IT IS EASY TO LOOK BACK CERTAINLY AT ANYTHING IN LIFE,  BUT WAS THE GOVERNOR ON TRACK HERE?

THERE IS A BALANCE HERE BETWEEN OPENING BUSINESSES,  GETTING THE ECONOMY GOING AND KEEPING US SAFE, CERTAINLY.

DID SHE WAIT TOO LONG?

SHOULD WE HAVE WAITED FOR THAT 60%  THRESHOLD.

WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON  THIS?

>> Giovanna: I THINK THE  GOVERNOR HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT MANAGING THIS WHOLE THING.

IT IS A TOUGH DECISION.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.

PEOPLE  ARE REALLY READY FOR IT TO BE OVER.

NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE  CRITICISM ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT, I THINK SHE DID A GREAT  JOB, YOU KNOW, SETTING A GOAL, LIKE, SERGE SAID, 60% IS A  LITTLE BIT ARBITRARY.

IT IS A GREAT NUMBER TO GO FOR.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO HAVE A GOAL AND TO SHOW, YOU  KNOW, REAL COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK TO GET THERE.

WHICH SHE DID AND THE STATE DID.

FOR ME AS A PARENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, IT IS A LITTLE BIT  OF A DIFFERENT FEELING FOR ME.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, THE OPENING  UP DOESN'T MEAN, FOR ME, WHAT IT MEANS FOR OTHER PEOPLE  PROBABLY.

I HAVE ONE CHILD WHO IS  COMPLETELY VACCINATED 12 YEAR OLD, AND ONE WHO IS NINE AND  IS NOT VACCINATED AT ALL.

WITH THE DELTA VARIANT  PREDICTED TO BE THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT BY AUGUST  HERE, THAT IS PRETTY SCARY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I AM LIKE,  FINE, GREAT, LET'S OPEN UP JULY 1, HOWEVER I WILL STILL  BE WEARING A MASK WITH MY DAUGHTER   AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT SCHOOL STILL.

LIKE SCHOOL IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN BACK UP IN AUGUST AND  LIKE I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD MUCH OF ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THERE IS A WHOLE BIG CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO  HAPPEN THERE.

>> Gene: I WOULD AGREE WITH  THAT.

INTERESTINGLY THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS.

HOW WILL BUSINESSES KNOW IF SOMEONE IS VACCINATED OR NOT  THAT REQUIRES THEM TO WEAR A MASK WALKING IN THE DOOR?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> Serge: OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT,  YOU CAN EITHER BE VACCINATED OR JUST LIE ABOUT IT AND NO  ONE KNOWS.

A LOT OF FOLKS IT WON'T CHANGE  THEIR LIVES OR BEHAVIOR, RIGHT?

LIKE GIOVANNA WHO IS VERY CONCERNED WILL CONTINUE TO  TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN ANYWAY.

SAYING WE ARE OPEN DOESN'T MEAN, OKAY, NO ONE TAKES  PRECAUTIONS AND WEARS MASKS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE  CONCERNED WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS  OR SHOULD.

>> Gene: SERGE, GIOVANNA JUST  BROUGHT UP UNM AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS STILL SOME QUESTION  ABOUT WHETHER STUDENTS AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON CAMPUS HAS  TO BE VACCINATED AND PROVE IT TO COME BACK ON CAMPUS.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

NOT ASKING TO SPEAK FOR THE  UNIVERSITY OR THE LAW SCHOOL.

DON'T WORRY THERE BUT WHAT IS  YOUR PERSONAL SENSE OF IT?

>> Serge: I PERSONALLY THINK  IT WOULD BE A GOOD RULE TO REQUIRE ANYBODY WHO CAN BE  VACCINATED TO BE VACCINATED TO BE PART -- TO TAKE CLASSES AND  TO BE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY.

PROVING THAT, I MEAN, IT WOULD  BE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD TO FORGE THAT, BASED ON THE  LITTLE HOMEMADE PIECE OF PAPER I GOT WHEN I GOT MY VACCINES,  BUT I THINK SENDING THAT MESSAGE THAT THIS IS A  PRIORITY FOR US AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN YOUR  PERSONAL LIFE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF OUR SYSTEM AND  PART OF THIS, YOU NEED TO SHOW CONCERN NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF  BUT FOR THE REST OF US.

IT IS PERFECTLY VALID AND  SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUSHED HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> Gene: NOT JUST FOR THE UNIVERSITY BUT FOR ANY OTHER  BUSINESS THAT IS LOOKING TO EITHER LET PEOPLE IN OR NOT  BASED ON THEIR VACCINATION, IS THIS A LEGAL ASK?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GETTING AT HERE?

YOU CAN ASK BUT DOES IT STAND UP LEGALLY IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T  WANT TO COMPLY, BASICALLY.

>> Edmund: PEOPLE HAVE  OPTIONS.

BUSINESSES   HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHAT RULES ARE AS LONG AS THEY  DON'T VIOLATE CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS DOES A PERSON HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE  WHETHER THEY WEAR A MASK OR NOT.

I THINK THE COURTS HAVE RULED ON THAT ALREADY, SO, NOW, WE  ARE OPENING UP FULLY ON JULY 1.

BUSINESSES WILL STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPTIONS TO WHAT  POLICIES THEY WILL USE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.

IF SOMEONE CHOOSES NOT TO AGREE WITH THE POLICY, THEY  DON'T HAVE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE BUSINESS.

IT IS DEFINITELY WITHIN THE BUSINESS' RIGHT.

>> Gene: BOUNCE BACK TO SERGE, THAT IS A PRIVATELY-HELD  COMPANY IS ONE THING, A PUBLIC INSTITUTION IS ANOTHER WHOLE  MATTER.

DOES THIS STAND UP LEGALLY FOR  A PUBLIC INSTITUTION LIKE UNM?

>> Serge: WE'LL FIND OUT IN A  LOT OF CHALLENGES BUT MY KIDS GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND ARE  REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED TO ATTEND THAT SCHOOL.

SO, I MEAN, IT IS NOT ONE-TO-ONE BUT THE IDEA IS NOT  ALTOGETHER UNPRECEDENTED.

>> Gene: BACK TO WHAT YOU  MENTIONED ABOUT YOUR KIDS.

YOU TOUCHED ON SOMETHING THAT  IS VERY RELATABLE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WATCHING THIS SHOW AND  ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ALL OVER OUR STATE.

FOR EXAMPLE, ROOSEVELT COUNTY IS ONLY 30% VACCINATED, IF YOU  WOULD THINK ABOUT IT.

ABOUT OPENING.

NOT ALL PLACES ARE BERNALILLO COUNTY OR SANTA FE OR ANYPLACE  ELSE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL COUNTIES WHERE  VACCINATION RATE IS STILL VERY LOW.

DOES THIS CONCERN YOU AS A PARENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU  CANNOT SILO YOUR CHILDREN ONCE THEY ARE IN A SCHOOL  ENVIRONMENT.

>> Giovanna: ABSOLUTELY IT IS  A CONCERN AND SOME COUNTIES ARE DOING WELL.

80% IN SOME COUNTIES AND THEN WE HAVE VERY LOW RATES IN  OTHER COUNTIES.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A REAL FOCUS  HERE FOR SCHOOLS FOR OPENING BACK UP AND, YOU KNOW,  BERNALILLO COUNTY WHERE I LIVE, YOU KNOW, I AM PLANNING  FOR MY DAUGHTER TO ATTEND SCHOOL LIKE SHE DID AT THE END  OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH A MASK AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT, YEAH, SOME OF THE COUNTIES WITH LOWER  VACCINATION RATES, IT IS A REAL CONCERN AND I AM  HOPING -- I HAVEN'T HEARD WITH THE PLANS ARE -- BUT I AM  HOPING THERE ARE SOME DISCUSSIONS AND PLANNING GOING  ON FOR HOW THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I JUST DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, THAT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS,  PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS BEEN NO.

1 PRIORITY FOR THE  GOVERNOR, WHICH IS GREAT.

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR  BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES HAVE ALSO BEEN A CONCERN AND A  FOCUS WHICH IS GREAT AND I THINK CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SORT  OF LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION FOR THE MOST  PART.

SO, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE  THAT CHANGE.

>> Gene: THAT IS ALL THE TIME  WE HAVE THIS WEEK FOR COVID.

UP NEXT, THE COUNTDOWN IS ALSO  IN FULL EFFECT FOR LEGALIZED CANNABIS IN NEW MEXICO AND  THERE ARE A TON OF DECISIONS THAT GO INTO THE JUNE 29  DEADLINE.

>> Stewart: I AM ALSO TRYING  TO BRING THINGS TO THE TABLE THAT YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY  GOING TO SEE UNLESS YOU'RE ON EVERY SINGLE PLATFORM  MONITORING IT DAY AND NIGHT.

>> Gene:   RECREATIONAL USE CANNABIS WILL, IN FACT, BE  LEGAL IN THE STATE IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

ALTHOUGH SALES ARE STILL MONTHS AWAY, ALBUQUERQUE SENT  A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE INDUSTRY LAST WEEK AFTER THE  CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON A SLEW OF PLANNING AND ZONING ISSUES.

THAT MESSAGE, WE ARE WELCOMING THE INDUSTRY WITH OPEN ARMS.

RESTRICTIONS ON NEW BUSINESSES ARE FAIRLY MINIMAL ALTHOUGH  QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN SINCE THE STATE HAS YET TO ISSUE ANY  FINAL RULES OR PROCEDURES.

ED PEREA CANNABIS BUSINESSES  WILL APPARENTLY BE ABLE TO SET UP SHOP ON MAIN STREET  CORRIDORS LIKE NOB HILL, CENTRAL AND NO RESTRICTIONS  NEAR CHURCHES.

ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW  ACCOMMODATING THE CITY, OR SPECIFICALLY CITY COUNCIL, ARE  YOU SURPRISED HOW ACCOMMODATING THE CITY IS  BEING SO FAR.

>> Edmund: IT IS A VERY  LIBERAL APPROACH TO IT.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS  WANTING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS RELATIVELY QUICKLY  FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THIS BILL THERE IS A LOT OF  EXCITEMENT BEHIND IT.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE  NEED TO MOVE JUST A LITTLE SLOWER ON THIS, WHERE THERE IS  A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE  AND BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY IT.

WE KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL PRETTY MUCH HAS OPENED THE  DOORS, AS YOU MENTIONED.

THEY OPENED THE DOORS AND  SAID, HEY, LET THIS THING HAPPEN.

I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THOSE  CITIZENS WHO MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY IT, WHETHER IT IS THE  RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER AREAS, EVEN  BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE SENSITIVE TO HAVING A CANNABIS  OUTLET NEAR THEM.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS INTERESTING  BUT ON THIS ISSUE I THINK WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HOW WE  APPROACH IT JUST TO AVOID ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH  OUR LIBERAL APPROACH SO FAR TO THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL PROBABLY NEEDS TO HEAR A  LITTLE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CONCERNS  FROM MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Gene: INTERESTING POINTS  THERE.

GIOVANNA, THE ONLY REAL  RESTRICTION IS THEY CANNOT BE -- MY FAULT.

ONE CANNABIS  BUSINESS CANNOT BE WITHIN 600 FEET OF EACH OTHER UNLESS  ONE OF THE BUSINESSES APPLIES FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SITUATION IS INTERESTING.

THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERESTING FOOTBALL IN  ALBUQUERQUE, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

I AM DYING TO SEE  HOW THAT PLAYS OUT WHEN SOMEONE, IN FACT, DOES APPLY  FOR ONE OF THOSE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR  HEARTBURN AS A MOM OF SCHOOL AGE KIDS ABOUT CANNABIS SHOPS  NEAR SCHOOLS OR YOUR AREA?

DOES THAT CONCERN YOU AT ALL.

>> Giovanna: I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT  THIS WHAT COMES TO MIND IS REGULATIONS AROUND LIQUOR  ESTABLISHMENTS AND BARS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE  TRIED TO MIRROR THOSE BUT LIKE CERTAINLY I DON'T WANT A BAR  NEXT TO MY KIDS SCHOOL, NO.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SO, MAYBE  NOT HAVING A CANNABIS STORE NEXT TO THE SCHOOL.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT OF THE -- I THINK WHAT I WOULD  LIKE TO SEE IS FOR THE REGULATIONS TO REALLY REFLECT  THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION WHICH WAS REALLY TO OPEN UP  THE ECONOMY AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO, I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LARGE  INDUSTRIES COMING IN AND TAKING OVER.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS  AND MICRO BUSINESSES SO THAT WE TRULY CAN HAVE ECONOMIC  PROSPERITY FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEW  MEXICO.

>> Gene: SERGE, INTERESTINGLY,  GIOVANNA JUST TEED IT UP BEAUTIFULLY.

THE COUNCIL WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOCIAL EQUITY  ISSUES.

SPONSORS OF THE CANNABIS  REGULATION ACT TALKED ABOUT THEM ALL ALONG, SPECIFICALLY  THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MICRO BUSINESSES, AS GIOVANNA  JUST MENTIONED, HAVE EXEMPTIONS FROM JUST ABOUT ALL  THOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

PRUDENT POLICY, AN OVER-REACH, A GOOD PLACE TO START?

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

>> Serge: I THINK IT IS  PRUDENT POLICY, AND AS GIOVANNA SAID, IT IS  CONSISTENT WITH THE IDEA BEHIND THE LEGISLATION WHICH  IS TO BOOST OUR ECONOMY AND ALSO NOT EXCLUDE NEW MEXICANS  WHO DON'T HAVE TONS OF CAPITAL FROM THIS INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

SO I THINK THAT IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE USE OF  THIS.

I GET CONCERNED WHEN I HEAR  ZONING EVER BECAUSE IT IS USUALLY CODE FOR SECRET RACISM  OR OFTEN CAN BE, RIGHT?

RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION   IN PLAIN SIGHT.

I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL, I AGREE, THEY ACTED VERY  QUICKLY.

THIS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN  BETTER FOR MORE DISCUSSION BUT THE PROPOSALS HERE WERE OVERLY  RESTRICTIVE BUT OUT OF CONCERNS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE  SAID WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ALL BUSINESSES IN THE SAME LOW  INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONCENTRATE THEM IN CLUSTERS  THAT ALL THE THINGS GET PUT INTO AROUND TOWN.

I GET THAT.

THIS IS A REALLY CHALLENGING  AND INTERESTING QUESTION AND ALBUQUERQUE IS THE FIRST TO  WEIGH IN BUT WE'LL SEE THIS PLAY OUT HUNDREDS OF TIMES  ACROSS THE STATE AND NOW IN PLACES WHERE IT IS AS POPULAR  AS IT IS HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND I SUSPECTS THERE WILL BE  MANY, MANY CHALLENGES AND WE'LL FIND THINGS ARE MUCH  MORE BRUTAL THAN THE ONES WE HAVE SEEN HERE.

>> Giovanna: CAN I ASK.

I WOULD JUST SAY JUST TO  UNDERSCORE THAT COMMENT SERGE AND TO SAY THAT I WOULD LOVE  TO SEE A REAL COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF CITY COUNCIL AND  OTHER LAW MAKING BODIES TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF PROPOSALS THAT  INCLUDES AN EQUITY LENS, THAT INCLUDES AN ECONOMIC  PROSPERITY LENS AND HEALTH AND SAFETY LENS.

YEARS AGO STRAIGHT OUT OF GRADUATE SCHOOL I WAS A POLICY  ANALYST FOR THE LUPZ COMMITTEE, LAND USE PLANNING  AND ZONING COMMITTEE, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE  HAD SOME TOOLS LIKE THAT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THIS  IS WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS IN TERMS OF EQUITY.

THIS IS WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY  AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE  SCHOOLS REALLY BEING APPLIED.

>> Gene: THAT MIGHT COME.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

WE DO IT HERE SOMETIMES THOSE  THINGS FOLLOW AFTER WE PUT THINGS IN PROCESS.

ED, THE CITY COUNCIL REJECTED NEARLY ALL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED  BY THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

AS SERGE JUST MENTIONED, WANTED TO KEEP CANNABIS  BUSINESSES OFF THOSE MAIN STREET CORRIDORS AND THE  ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY WERE RESPONDING TO PUBLIC SURVEY  THEY CONDUCTED BUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE MEETING SEEMED  TO RUN COMPLETELY COUNTER TO THAT SURVEY.

WAS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH HERE?

HOW CAN ONE BODY HAVE IT AND THE OTHER BODY JUST COMPLETELY  JUST NOT BE THERE?

>> Edmund: YOU ARE LOOKING AT  TWO DIFFERENT METHODS OF OBTAINING INFORMATION.

COMMENT COMMENTS AND SURVEY, AND HOW RELIABLE WERE THOSE.

WHO WERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAKING THE PUBLIC COMMENT?

THOSE WHO ARE SELF INTERESTED AND WHO DID YOU SURVEY?

WAS IT A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY AND REALLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD  STAND UP AS FAR AS VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY.

WHENEVER WE TALK SURVEYS AND PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU HAVE TO  TAKE THOSE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT AND TAKE A STEP BACK AND  LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

I AM NOT SURE IF  ADMINISTRATION DID THIS BUT MAYBE THE ADMINISTRATION  SHOULD COMMISSION A BROAD-BASED ASSESSMENT,  ANALYSIS AND SURVEY BY SOME PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS THAT  CAN DO THAT TYPE OF WORK WHO HAVE MARGIN OF ERRORS OF 2 TO  3% AND THAT WAY I THINK YOU GET A BETTER MEASUREMENT.

BUT  SURVEYS ARE DONE ALL THE TIME.

I GET THOSE IN MY EMAIL ALL  TIME THAT WANT YOU TO ANSWER.

WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE  BEING ASKED.

AND IT IS INTERESTING AND TO  GIOVANNA'S POINT, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE WORK, A  LITTLE MORE ANALYSIS AS FAR AS DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE  HERE AND THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS HARD TO MOVE  ONCE PUT INTO PLACE.

I KNOW WE CAN VISIT IT AS  PROBLEMS ARISE BUT LET'S FIX IT BEFORE WE GET THESE  POLICIES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE, IT MIGHT SAVE A WHOLE  LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

>> Gene: RLD SUPERINTENDENT TRUJILLO SENT A LETTER TO THE  MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND TELLING CITIES AND MUNIS TO GET GOING  HERE.

WE GOT TO GET THIS THING  MOVING.

WE HAVE ONE MORE ISSUE FOR THE  LINE OPINION PANEL TO TACKLE THIS WEEK.

THAT IS CHILD WELLBEING IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT UP NEXT, WE CONTINUE THE CANNABIS CONVERSATION.

IT IS ALSO AN INTERESTING AND UNSURE TIME FOR LAW  ENFORCEMENT.

THE GROWING FORWARD POD CAST  TEAM IS GATHERING INTERVIEWS RIGHT NOW FOR SEASON THREE OF  THE POD CAST AND RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE  QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WITH DONA ANA COUNTY SHERIFF, KIM  STEWART.

>> Andy: SHERIFF, CANNABIS  POSSESSION AND USE WILL OFFICIALLY BE LEGAL ON JUNE 29  AND HOME CULTIVATION WILL ALSO BE LEGAL, BUT OF COURSE  SANCTIONED SALES WON'T START UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR YOUR OFFICE MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT  KIND OF PRIORITIES ARE YOU PUTTING ON THINGS LIKE ELICIT  SALES OR PURCHASES?

>> Stewart: WELL, THANK YOU  FOR INVITING ME TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

YOU KNOW, I DID SOME RESEARCH REGARDING OTHER STATES ONCE  THEY BEGAN THE PROCESS TO LEGALIZE OR TO   BEGIN TO PREPARE FOR LEGALIZATION.

AND I REALIZED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ITSELF HAS TO MAKE  SOME EARLY ON DECISIONS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, AT THIS  POINT, WE WOULD PROBABLY STOP ALL OF THE CASES INVOLVING  SMALL AMOUNTS, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE AN AMOUNT RIGHT NOW  THAT IS, I BELIEVE, UNDER AN OUNCE.

IT IS A CIVIL PENALTY, CORRECT.

BUT, PROBABLY UNLESS IT WAS A SIZEABLE AMOUNT OF CANNABIS  FOR SOME REASON WE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH, WE WOULD NOT DO  THOSE PROSECUTIONS.

WE WOULD CERTAINLY SEIZE THE  CANNABIS AS A FOUND PROPERTY FOR DESTRUCTION BUT YOU HAVE  TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT CASES MADE NOW OBVIOUSLY  THE DA WILL NOT PROSECUTE AND THEY WILL COME UP LARGELY  AFTER JUNE.

SO, YOU BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING IS  TELLING MY UNIFORMS AND OUR NARCOTICS OFFICERS TO START  PUTTING OUT OF YOUR MIND DEVELOPING PROBABLE CAUSE OFF  OF ODOR, RIGHT.

THAT IS A GO-TO WE HAVE HAD  FOR SO LONG.

YOU HAVE TO START A PROCESS OF  THINKING DIFFERENTLY.

THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE GET  TO DRUGGED DRIVING WE CAN'T MAKE ROADSIDE DECISIONS ABOUT  USE OF CANNABIS AND IMPAIRMENT SO WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO USE  WHAT ARE CALLED DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS MORE.

AND WE ARE GETTING THAT OUT TO OUR UNIFORMS NOW TO BEGIN TO  THINK DIFFERENTLY.

JUNE 29 IS NOT VERY FAR AWAY.

SO, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THESE  OTHER STATES, THEY ACTUALLY HAD MORE TIME TO PREPARE THAN  WE DO.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A  CHANGE IN HOW WE HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS FOR DECADES.

CERTAINLY BEFORE MY TIME.

>> Megan: CAN I GET QUICK  FOLLOW-UP ABOUT THE IMPAIRMENT ISSUE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR OFFICERS WILL  BE DOING AROUND THAT?

HOW THAT IS GOING TO WORK.

I KNOW THERE IS ONGOING CONCERN BY PEOPLE AND I AM  CURIOUS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Stewart: THERE ARE  COMPANIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE A ROADSIDE  TEST FOR CANNABIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT REALLY IS TESTED  ENOUGH OR IS RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR US TO INVEST IN THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A WHOLE INDUSTRY OUT THERE THAT  WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A  BREATHALYZER, RIGHT?

INTOXILYZER AT THE ROADSIDE.

SO, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY A LOT MORE ON OBJECTIVE  SYMPTOMS AND, AGAIN, YOU CAN'T USE ODOR.

YOU COULD SAY, RED EYES OR SORT OF A FLAT AFFECT OR VERY  DIMINISHED ENERGY OR THAT TYPE OF THING.

WELL, AGAIN, THAT ALSO COULD REFLECT ALCOHOL INTOXICATION.

IN FACT, IT CLOSELY MIRRORS THAT.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE A LEVEL OF AGGRESSION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE  WITH ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT BUT YOU CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE  OBJECTIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY.

SO, I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED,  I READ WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES, IS THEY FOCUS ON  ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT.

>> Megan: EVEN THOSE IN USE OF  CANNABIS WILL SOON BE LEGAL, SMOKING IN PUBLIC WILL STILL  BE ILLEGAL ALONG WITH UNAUTHORIZED SALES AND THERE  ARE SOME PENALTIES FOR THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE NEW LAW.

SO, WHAT KIND OF GUIDANCE ARE YOU GIVING OFFICERS IN TERMS  OF ENFORCEMENT OF THINGS LIKE GIVING OR SELLING CANNABIS TO  A MINOR OR USING IT IN PUBLIC?

>> Stewart: I THINK WHERE WE  ARE GOING TO GET THE CALLS, THIS IS JUST AGAIN FROM WHAT I  ANECDOTALLY HAVE SEEN, IS FROM THE SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE CALLING US SAYING, JOHNNY OR  JANE HAS SHOWN UP TODAY AND THEY ARE WREAKING WITH ODOR OF  CANNABIS, OKAY?

JOHNNY OR JANE HAS SAID, WELL,  MY PARENTS GROW IT AND MY PARENTS USE IT AND I AM  WREAKING OF IT BECAUSE I COME OUT OF THAT HOUSEHOLD.

OKAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO  DECIDE, THEN, WHERE DO WE GET INVOLVED WITH LOOKING INTO THE  WELFARE OF A CHILD, RIGHT?

DO WE TAKE THAT KIND OF THING  SERIOUSLY?

SHOULD WE?

THERE IS REALLY NO GUIDANCE ABOUT THAT, SO, I HAVE TOLD MY  PEOPLE, LET'S GET READY FOR BEING CALLED FROM THE SCHOOL.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE GOING OUT ON I SMELL, YOU KNOW,  PLANTS IN MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD.

NOT GOING OUT ON THAT, BECAUSE  THEORETICALLY THAT SCENARIO IS THE ISSUE.

THEY SAY THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF ENFORCEMENT.

OKAY SO SOME OF  THAT IS GOING HAVE TO FALL INTO THEIR LAP.

AND SO, THERE ARE GOING TO BE -- WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE  IN THOSE SENSES WHAT WE DO, BUT I AM NOT GOING ON BIG ROW  HOUSES AND COUNTING THE NUMBER OF PLANTS AND CHECKING TO SEE  THAT THEIR LICENSE MATCHES WHAT IS IN THE GROW HOUSE.

NOT DOING THAT.

NOT DOING THAT.

>> Sec.

Kenney: WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN AIR INSPECTORS FOR THE  WHOLE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT IS A  VIOLATION OF AIR QUALITY PERMIT OR RULE, NOT JUST OIL  AND GAS SO WE HAVE TO BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT HOW WE  PROCEED.

>> Gene: THERE ARE MANY WAYS  TO GET THE NEWS THESE DAYS.

FOR SOME FOLKS SOCIAL MEDIA IS  NEAR THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

THAT IS WHAT A FORMER  ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTER IS COUNTING ON.

MARIE C. BACA HAS COME UP WITH A NEW APPROACH TO DELIVERING  INTERESTING AND UNIQUE TIDBITS FROM FACEBOOK, TWITTER,  INSTAGRAM AND OTHER PLATFORMS DELIVERED TO YOUR IN-BOX.

SHE RECENTLY JOINED CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND  TO TALK ABOUT THE CHILE STREET NEWSLETTER AND WHY SHE THINKS  IT WOULD BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE.

>> Gwyneth: MARIE C. BACA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING  WITH US TODAY.

>> Baca: HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Gwyneth: YOU CREATED A NEWSLETTER CALLED CHILE  STREET.

WHAT IS IT AND WHY DID YOU  START WRITING IT?

>> Baca: IT IS A FREE EMAIL  NEWSLETTER.

YOU CAN SIGN UP AT  CHILESTREET.COM AND WHAT IT DOES, IT IS A COLLECTION OF  THE MOST INTERESTING STORIES FROM ACROSS NEW MEXICO SOCIAL  MEDIA, ACROSS PLATFORMS, SO FACEBOOK, TICK TOCK, TWITTER,  EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> Gwyneth: I TAKE IT DURING  THE PANDEMIC YOU STARTED SPENDING A LOT OF TIME LOOKING  AT YOUR PHONE.

>> Baca: YEAH.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ITS ORIGINS.

I STARTED IT BACK IN 2018 AND ONLY GOT OUT A FEW ISSUES.

BACK THEN IT WAS MORE OF A NEWS ROUNDUP.

MAYBE YOU WOULD SEE A COUPLE STORIES HERE AND THERE THAT I  FELT LIKE SHOULD BE MORE AMPLIFIED BUT ONCE THE  PANDEMIC HIT AND I FOUND MYSELF NEEDING A BREAK FROM  HOME SCHOOLING MY TWO LOVEY CHILDREN, I DECIDED TO BRING  IT BACK AND QUICKLY FOUND THAT THE STORIES THAT I WAS SEEING  ACROSS NEW MEXICO SOCIAL MEDIA WERE THE ONES THAT WERE REALLY  GETTING A STRONG RESPONSE FROM MY READERS.

>> Gwyneth: HOW DO YOU SEE CHILE STREET FITTING IN THE  NEWS ECOSYSTEM FOR YOUR READERS?

>> Baca: I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AMAZING NEWS  ORGANIZATIONS AND AMAZING JOURNALISTS IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANYONE COVERING SOCIAL MEDIA ITSELF  AS A BEAT.

IT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT  IS NOT DONE VERY OFTEN NATIONALLY.

EVEN LARGE ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR IT BUT IT  IS BECOMING MORE COMMON.

SO I SEE THIS AS BE SOMETHING  THAT CAN NOT ONLY AMPLIFY EXISTING NEWS COVERAGE BUT IS  REALLY GOING TO FIND NEW STORIES AND COLLECT  INTERESTING IDEAS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE VISITING  NEWS WEBSITES OR READING NEWSPAPERS BUT THEY ARE ON  SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY NEW MEXICANS.

>> Gwyneth: I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK YOU'RE  KNOCKING JOURNALISM OR MAINSTREAM MEDIA BECAUSE YOU  WROTE FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL AND THE WASHINGTON  POST.

I MEAN YOU ARE -- YOU HAVE  BEEN MAINSTREAM MEDIA BUT YOU ARE LOOKING --  >> Baca: I SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE  COMPLIMENTARY TO EXISTING MEDIA.

THE TRUTH IS THAT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRYING TO DO  THE BEST THEY CAN WITH REALLY LIMITED RESOURCES AND HAVE,  YOU KNOW, AMAZING PEOPLE EMPLOYED.

I MEAN, MOST OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE NEW MEXICO  JOURNALISTS RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK.

I ALSO WANT TO FIND SOME WAYS TO BRING NEW READERS INTO THIS  ECOSYSTEM AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT IS THROUGH  SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Gwyneth: LOTS OF NEWS  ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING WITH NEWSLETTERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.

SOME AREN'T EVEN EXPERIMENTING.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB FOR A LONG TIME.

NEW YORK TIMES CROSS WORD AND COOKING NEWSLETTER, FOR  EXAMPLE, THEY ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES NEWSLETTERS THAT YOU  READ?

>> Baca: HAD TALKED BEFORE  ABOUT THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSS WORD MUZZLE.

BUT I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF  NEWSLETTERS.

I AM FOCUSING ON TECH  NEWSLETTERS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE  I AM INTERESTED IN SCALING CHILE STREET AND BRINGING IT  TO EVEN MORE READERS, SO I READ SOME REALLY WELL-KNOWN  ONES LIKE MORNING BREW AND THE HUSTLE AND THE SKIM.

I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THERE IS ANOTHER NEW MEXICO BASED  NEWSLETTER THAT IS REALLY GREAT BY KELSEY ATHERTON AND  ELLIE MAY ATHERTON CALLED WAR OF FUTURE PAST AND IT'S ALL  ABOUT MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS AMAZING.

I TRY TO READ A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE IS A LOT OF LESSONS TO BE GLEANED FROM THE ONES THAT  DO IT WELL.

>> Gwyneth: WHAT ARE THOSE?

WHAT MAKES A NEWSLETTER NOT JUST SUCCESSFUL MONETARILY BUT  FUN TO READ OR INTERESTING OR WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE  EMAILS THAT YOU READ IN THE MORNING AMONG THE PILE YOU  DELETE?

>> Baca: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE  THE SAME WAY.

YOU WAKE UP AND YOUR IN-BOX IS  FULL OF THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO READ SO HOW DO YOU  CREATE SOMETHING THAT YOU DO WANT TO READ.

I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF PERSONALITY, YOU KNOW.

YOU WANT TO READ AN E-MAIL FROM YOUR BEST FRIENDS BUT  MAYBE NOT FROM A BUSINESS THAT YOU UTILIZED ONCE, OR  SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I AM ALSO TRYING TO BRING  THINGS TO THE TABLE THAT YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO  SEE ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET UNLESS YOU'RE ON EVERY SINGLE  PLATFORM MONITORING IT DAY AND NIGHT.

SO I THINK PEOPLE -- WE TALK A LOT ABOUT DOOM SCROLLING AND  THEN JUST BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF BAD NEWS THAT  CAN BE OUT THERE.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF MIXING UP  THE MORE IMPORTANT, SOLEMN STORIES WITH THINGS THAT ARE  INTERESTING OR FUN OR WEIRD AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS JUST A  GREAT MIX OF THAT IN ITSELF.

SO I WANT THIS NEWSLETTER TO  BE REFLECTIVE OF THAT.

>> Gwyneth: CAN YOU GIVE ME AN  EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA  AND PUT IN THE NEWSLETTER?

IT IS YOUNG STILL, THE  NEWSLETTER, BUT GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES.

>> Baca: YEAH, SO IT WILL BE EVERYTHING FROM A NEW MEXICO  POLITICIAN SPELLING CHILE WITH AN "I" INSTEAD OF AN "E" AND  THEN THE RESPONSE THAT IS GETTING ON THE INTERNET.

ALSO ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAS A COUPLE OF ISSUES AGO A NEW  MEXICO BASED TWITTER USER MADE A JOKE ABOUT WANTING TO GO  LICK THE SIDEWALK AFTER SHE HAD HER VACCINATION.

AND THEN A NATIONAL OUTLET PICKED UP THIS STORY, WROTE  THIS LARGER PIECE ABOUT PEOPLE TWEETING WEIRD THINGS ABOUT  WANTING TO LICK THINGS ONCE THEY ARE VACCINATED.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SILLY STORY BUT IT IS  INTERESTING TO READ THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE  OR READ IN A DIFFERENT OUTLET.

>> Gwyneth: WHEN YOU'RE OUT  THERE LOOKING AT WHAT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING WITH  THEIR NEWSLETTERS AND WHAT FOLKS ARE DOING, IT CAN BE  HARD TO MIX NEWS AND WHAT IS POPULAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND  WHAT IS POPULAR IN NEWSLETTERS.

I WAS WATCHING THE WASHINGTON POST TRYING TO REACH YOUNG  PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE ON TICK TOCK AND STARTED DOING SOME  NEWSY TICK TOCKS, REALLY BRIEF, BUT MAYBE WITH A LITTLE  DANCING AND THEY WERE JUST SAVAGED BY GROWNUPS SAYING  THIS IS BENEATH YOU, WASHINGTON POST.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK  ABOUT THAT?

>> Baca: WE HAVE TO BE REALLY  CAREFUL ABOUT HOLDING OUR NOSE WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF ESPECIALLY  YOUNGER PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO ARE  CONSUMING THEIR NEWS THAT WAY.

I MEAN QUITE FRANKLY THAT IS  ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS I CONSUME MY NEWS THESE DAYS AND SO WE  HAVE TO, AS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, FIND READERS,  FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT SO  I THINK THE POST HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF DOING THAT.

AND I THINK OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE REALLY GOING  TO FIND THAT IT IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THEIR BUSINESS MODEL  AND READER ENGAGEMENT TO BE MORE ONLINE WHEN IT COMES TO  SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Gwyneth: IN AN IDEAL WORLD,  WHERE DO YOU SEE CHILE STREET GOING?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

>> Baca: MY DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION  THAT I CAN USE TO EMPLOY NEW MEXICO JOURNALISTS, BRING IN  NEW PEOPLE TO THE FOLD, SO I WOULD STILL LOVE TO DO THAT.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE SMALL BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE  FACT WE ARE GROWING QUICKLY AND HAVE A REALLY HIGH OPEN  RATE FOR EMAILS, MEANING PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY RECEIVING  THIS IN THEIR IN-BOX BUT OPENING IT, READING IT,  CLICKING ON THE LINKS SO THAT HAS SOME REALLY GOOD PROSPECTS  FOR OUR BUSINESS MODEL.

>> Gwyneth: MARIE C. BACA,  THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> Baca: MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> Gene: NEW MEXICO APPEARS TO BE MAKING SOME PROGRESS WHEN  IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF ITS YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE  RESIDENTS.

THE LATEST KIDS COUNT REPORT FROM THE ANNIE E.  CASEY FOUNDATION RANKS NEW MEXICO 49TH IN THE NATION ON  MORE THAN A DOZEN KEY INDICATORS OF CHILD WELLBEING.

THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM DEAD LAST TWO YEARS AGO, AND,  GIOVANNA, THE REPORT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACTS  OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE FROM 2019.

WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

IS THIS A GOOD SIGN OR JUST  FOOLS GOLD HERE?

>> Giovanna: WELL, YOU KNOW,  IT IS HARD TO REALLY CELEBRATE BEING 49TH IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WE DO KEEP SWAPPING AROUND 49TH AND 50TH PLACE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE HARD WORK THAT VOICES FOR CHILDREN HAVE  BEEN DOING AND OTHER ADVOCATES TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT  LIKE, WE ARE MAKING SOME SMALL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON WHAT ARE WE MEASURING AND WHERE IS  THE SUPPORT COMING FROM?

THE INDICATORS FALL INTO FOUR  CATEGORIES, EDUCATION, HEALTH, ECONOMICS AND FAMILY AND THAT  IS GOOD BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE ONLY  FROM THE STATE.

SO THERE IS JUST A LOT GOING  ON HERE AND I THINK THAT THE CATEGORY OF EQUITY IS NOT  INCLUDED ANYWHERE.

I KNOW ADVOCATES INCLUDING  VOICES FOR CHILDREN ARE DOING AMAZING EQUITY WORK, HOWEVER,  ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION AND THEIR WHOLE NATIONAL RUBRIC  FOR MEASURING EVERYBODY.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY DO THAT YET, I  DON'T THINK.

SO THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING  TO LOOK AT.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK, YOU  KNOW, DIG DOWN INTO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

WHAT ARE WE MEASURING?

AND TO REALLY SAY THAT THERE  HAVE BEEN GREAT THINGS THAT THE STATE HAS INVESTED IN AND  WE SHOULD ALSO BE ACTING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO  INVEST.

IT IS NOT JUST THE STATE THAT  NEEDS TO BE DOING THIS.

I THINK IT IS NOT A HUGE CAUSE  FOR CELEBRATION.

BUT IT IS GOOD TO DIG DOWN AND  SEE WHAT ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> Gene: ED PEREA, I WANT TO NOTE AGAIN IMPROVEMENTS ARE  TRICKY TO TALK ABOUT.

WE TALK ABOUT 2019, AND 2020  NUMBERS HAVEN'T REALLY COME IN.

BUT THE NOTED IMPROVEMENTS IN NEW MEXICO ARE THINGS LIKE  PERCENTAGE OF KIDS LIVING IN POVERTY, TEENAGE PREGNANCY  RATES AND PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

ALL THOSE THINGS WERE IMPROVING BUT HOW MUCH OF A  DIFFERENCE IS THERE REALLY BETWEEN A RANKING OF 49TH AND  50TH AND 51ST?

WHEN CAN YOU CELEBRATE  SOMETHING HERE?

>> Edmund: WE TAKE ALL  IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN GET IN WHATEVER CATEGORY THEY ARE  FOR, FOR WHATEVER THE REASONS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE  CHILDREN WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE WE SEE EXPANSION OF  MEDICAID THAT BROUGHT THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.

I THINK WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO  IMPROVE.

HOWEVER, FOR AS LONG AS I CAN  REMEMBER WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN 49TH OR 50TH AND BACK AND  FORTH.

THE QUESTION HAS TO BE WHY,  WHY, WHY, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION DO OUR NUMBERS NOT  CHANGE.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY  NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED FURTHER.

WE HAVE HEARD THE OLD SAYING,  THANK GOODNESS FOR MISSISSIPPI OTHERWISE WE WOULD ALWAYS BE  LAST.

AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATE AS WE  MENTIONED BEFORE, 49TH DOESN'T MAKE US FEEL GOOD AS A  COMMUNITY.

>> Gene: WHAT WOULD FEEL LIKE  PROGRESS TO YOU PERSONALLY?

IS THERE A NUMBER WHERE YOU  WOULD SAY, WE ARE ON TRACK HERE?

45TH, 40TH?

38TH?

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER?

>> Edmund: UNFORTUNATELY YOU  HAVE YOUR FINITE NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 50 AND EVERY ONE IS  ZERO SUM GAIN.

IF YOU GAIN, SOMEONE ELSE  LOSES.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT NATIONALLY,  YOU WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE TO GO DOWN IN THEIR RANKINGS.

YOU ONLY WANT YOUR RANKINGS TO IMPROVE.

I THINK WE NEED TO SET RANKING ASIDE AND LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE  DOING RIGHT AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WHEREVER WE ARE AND TO  SET OUR GOALS AND FOCUS ON ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS ONE STEP  AT A TIME.

WE HAVE FOUR CATEGORICAL AREAS  WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENT.

THEIR ARE PROBABLY REASONS FOR  IT.

WE NEED TO FIND OTHER AREAS  AND HAVE A LASER FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE,  WHETHER IT IS RESOURCES OR WHETHER IT IS PHILOSOPHY.

BUT 49TH, 50TH, 48TH, 47TH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY PERSONAL  OPINION SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AS  WELL.

>> Gene: YOU'RE THE EDUCATOR  HERE, CERTAINLY.

WE HAVE SEEN FLUCTUATION  BETWEEN THESE BOTTOM THREE SPOTS.

DOES IT SHOW WE ARE NOT THINKING BIG ENOUGH ABOUT OUR  KIDS, AS ED WAS GETTING AT?

IT CAN'T BE ABOUT JUST  THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM.

WHAT ELSE ARE WE MISSING HERE FROM AN EDUCATOR'S POINT OF  VIEW.

>> Serge: I THINK THESE  NUMBERS ARE -- THEY DON'T TELL US MUCH, RIGHT?

THEY ARE RANKINGS.

(INAUDIBLE) YOU ASKED THE  QUESTION WHETHER PHILOSOPHY WAS AN IMPORTANT METRIC AND I  THINK THE ANSWER IS YES, STATE-WIDE.

WE HAVE HAD -- ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR, CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT TO ASK THE PERMANENT FUND FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD  EDUCATION.

THAT IS A REAL SHIFT OR IT  SHOULD BE SHIFT IN HOW WE APPROACH THIS IN NEW MEXICO  THE IN PHILOSOPHY.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE YAZZI  MARTINEZ LAWSUIT, YOU KNOW.

THE STATE IS STILL FIGHTING  THAT AND PUSHING BACK AND INSTEAD OF SAYING, YES, WE  TOTALLY WILL EMBRACE THIS OBLIGATION.

THERE IS A REAL, I THINK, PHILOSOPHICALLY WE SHOULD SAY,  WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS AND DO  EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD WELLBEING AT THE  FRONT END RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL WE GET ANOTHER REPORT.

AND THEN IF WE ARE DOING THAT, WHO CARES WHAT THE NUMBER IS.

LIKE WE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO ROOT FOR ANY OTHER STATES TO  GO BELOW US.

I WANT US ALL TO BE TIED FOR  NO.

1, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK NEW MEXICO SHOULD  BE DOING MORE OF WHAT IT CAN DO AND WE ARE TRENDING IN THAT  DIRECTION A LITTLE BIT.

THIS SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> Giovanna: I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THAT, SERGE, AND JUST  SAY THERE WAS A GREAT REPORTING BY ELISA GUZMAN AT  FIRST LIGHT NEW MEXICO.

SHE DID A NICE STORY ABOUT  THIS AND REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE INEQUITIES AND WHEN WE  LOOK AT THE YAZI MARTINEZ LAWSUIT AND THE FOCUS ON AT  RISK KIDS, I LOVE HOW ELISA DEAL AN ATTORNEY WITH NEW  MEXICO CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY TALKS ABOUT THAT  POPULATION SAYING IT IS NEW MEXICO IS A TRULY DIVERSE AND  GIFTED STUDENT POPULATION AND IF WE CENTER THEM AND THEIR  DIVERSE AND CULTURAL GIFTS, I THINK WE HAVE A DIFFERENT  APPROACH AND SO IT IS A MATTER OF, LIKE, WHAT ARE WE  CENTERING IN THE CONVERSATION AND DEFINITELY TAKING A LOOK  AT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU FINISHED THAT UP.

WHO IS OUT THERE WITH THE BIG IDEAS?

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

IT IS A DIFFICULTY AND I WANT TO STAY ON THIS RIGHT HERE AT  NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

RAISING CHILDREN BETTER IS JUST ONE OF NEW MEXICO'S MANY  CHALLENGES.

WE HAVE HEAT WAVES LIKE RIGHT  NOW, FIRE THREATS, HIGH O-ZONE LEVELS AND DROPPING RIVER  LEVELS.

THERE IS NO QUESTION NEW MEXICO IS EXPERIENCING  IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM TOLD  STATE AGENCIES TO FOCUS ON CUTTING GREEN HOUSE GAS  EMISSIONS.

IT IS ONE OF THE TOPICS LAURA PASKUS HAD ON HER  MIND WHEN SHE SPOKE WITH NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY  JAMES KENNEY FOR OUR GROUND WATER WAR SERIES.

THEY TALK ABOUT HIS AGENCY'S EFFORTS INCLUDING ON A RULE  DESIGNED TO CUT LOCAL POLLUTANTS AND GREEN HOUSE  GASES FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

>> Laura: WELCOME SECRETARY KENNEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME  ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> Sec.

Kenney: THANK YOU FOR  HAVING ME.

>> Laura: AS WE ARE TAPING  THIS IN MID JUNE, NEW MEXICO IS EXPERIENCING CRAZY HEAT.

THERE IS WILDFIRES.

WE ARE WATCHING RESERVOIRS AND  RIVERS DROP.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE.

AND YOU CAN FEEL IT TODAY.

AS PART OF GOVERNOR MICHELLE  LUJAN GRISHAM'S EFFORTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE, SHE DIRECTED  NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHER  AGENCIES TO WORK ON CUTTING GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND  TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT EFFORTS ON  CUTTING EMISSIONS FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

WHAT ARE SORT OF THE MOST ROBUST PIECES OF THAT FOR THE  ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT?

>> Sec.

Kenney: NEW MEXICO  ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT IS FOCUSING ON ISSUING RULES THAT  WOULD LIMIT EMISSIONS FROM OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS.

THOSE WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT LOCAL AIR QUALITY BUT THEY  ALSO ADDRESS CLIMATE IMPACTS AS WELL.

WE HOPE TO TAKE THOSE RULES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT  BOARD, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE LAST STOP BEFORE THEY ARE  ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

THE OTHER THING WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE  GETTING OUT INTO THE FIELD USING, WHETHER IT IS PEOPLE OR  TECHNOLOGY, TO ENSURE THAT OIL AND GAS OPERATORS ARE  COMPLYING WITH EXISTING PERMITS AND WE ARE SEEING  WIDESPREAD NONCOMPLIANCE WHICH TELLS US THOSE RULES ARE  REALLY ESSENTIAL.

>> Laura: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE  INSPECTOR'S PART FIRST.

WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN  COMPLIANCE, KIND OF WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON THE GROUND  AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EITHER FOR THE CLIMATE OR LOCAL  COMMUNITIES?

>> Sec.

Kenney: WHEN AN OIL  AND GAS OPERATION IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE, IT COULD BE A  NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SO NOT ALL SORT OF VIOLATIONS   ARE EQUAL.

BUT WHAT WE'LL TEND TO SEE AND WHAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED  ABOUT ARE THOSE THAT REALLY RELEASE EMISSIONS INTO THE  AIR.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT IMPACT  FRONT LINE COMMUNITIES AND ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR AIR  QUALITY.

SO THOSE ARE THE ONES WE  CONSIDER THE MOST GRAVE AND WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE ON THE  GROUND IS YOU CAN SOMETIMES HEAR IT.

YOU CAN SOMETIMES SMELL IT.

YOU CAN SOMETIMES SEE STUCK  EQUIPMENT OR BROKEN PIPES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT OFTENTIMES YOU NEED THESE INFRARED CAMERAS THAT HELP YOU  ACTUALLY VISUALIZE IT.

IT MAKES INVISIBLE PLUME  VISIBLE AND THOSE ARE REALLY HELPFUL IN OUR COMPLIANCE  EFFORTS.

>> Laura: SO THERE IS 10'S OF  THOUSANDS OF WELLS IN NEW MEXICO.

HOW DOES ANYBODY KEEP UP WITH  ALL OF THOSE?

>> Sec.

Kenney: YEAH, AGAIN,  TWO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION IS, ONE, BASED ON OUR  RESOURCES WE CAN'T, SO WE MAKE BEST -- WE PRIORITIZE WHEN WE  SEE A PROBLEM.

AS I SAID THOSE THAT ARE CAUSING ACTUAL  EMISSIONS PROBLEMS ARE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND TRY TO TACKLE  THOSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN AIR  INSPECTORS AND ONE ATTORNEY FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF NEW  MEXICO TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT IS A VIOLATION OF AIR QUALITY  PERMIT OR RULE, NOT JUST OIL AND GAS, SO WE HAVE TO BE  JUDICIOUS ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED.

WE HAVE RELIED ALSO ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  AGENCY TO HELP US WITH NOT ONLY COLLECTING EVIDENCE BUT  THEN ALSO HELPING WITH THE LITIGATION COMPONENTS OF IT.

PROVIDED A COMPANY DOESN'T WANT TO SETTLE.

THAT IS ONE AREA THAT WE FOCUS ON AND THE OTHER IS TO ENSURE  THAT WE USE AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY AS POSSIBLE AND THAT HELPS US  SAVE THE HUMAN CAPITAL COMPONENT.

SO SOMETHING LIKE A FLY OVER IN A HELICOPTER OR A PLANE  WHERE WE CAN COVER HUGE AMOUNTS OF TERRITORY IN AN  AFTERNOON, THAT IS ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH WE DO OUR COMPLIANCE  INSPECTIONS.

>> Laura: ON THE O-ZONE RULE,  AM I CORRECT BY CUTTING THESE EMISSIONS, YOU'RE CUTTING  THESE SORTS OF GREEN HOUSE GASES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR  CLIMATE AND THEN THESE LOCALIZED POLLUTANTS, IT IS  CUTTING BOTH OF THOSE.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

IS IT MANDATING THAT OIL AND GAS OPERATORS MAKE CERTAIN  TYPES OF CHANGES?

>> Sec.

Kenney: SO, OUR TWO  YEAR PROCESS THAT GOT US TO THIS POINT OF BEING  COLLABORATIVE WITH BOTH INDUSTRY AND NGO'S AND THE  PUBLIC ALLOWED US TO COME UP WITH A RULE THAT HAS A LOT FOR  EVERYBODY, IF YOU WILL, AND THE PROPOSED RULE, RULE WE ARE  TAKING FOR ADOPTION, FOCUSES ON SORT OF THE BIGGER EMITTERS  AS WELL AS SMALLER EMITTERS AND GIVES A FOUNDATIONAL BASIS  THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO -- AGAIN, THIS IS A PROPOSAL.

EVERYBODY HAS TO COMPLY WITH LEAK DETECTION AND REPAIRS  REQUIREMENTS, INSURE THEIR EQUIPMENT IS NOT LEAKING AND  CAUSING PROBLEMS.

THERE WILL BE SOME, BASED ON THE EMISSIONS THAT A  PARTICULAR WELL SITE COULD EMIT, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS,  THEN, TO ADD ON CONTROLS AND TO MAINTAIN THOSE CONTROLS.

IT IS NOT SET IT AND FORGET IT.

SO, WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY IN  WHICH WE COULD GAIN EMISSION REDUCTIONS IN THE RULE.

SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT FOR EVERYBODY IN THE RULE, IF YOU  WILL.

>> Laura: I HAVE HEARD  INDUSTRY OFTEN COMPLAINS THEY ARE OVERREGULATED IN NEW  MEXICO, PARTICULARLY IN THINKING ABOUT THE PERMIAN  BASIN IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

IS THERE A DANGER IF NEW  MEXICO ENACTS REGULATIONS LIKE THIS THAT OPERATORS COULD JUST  MOVE OVER THE BORDER TO TEXAS OR --  >> Sec.

Kenney: LAURA, AGAIN, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

THE WAY WE HANDLE THAT IS, ONE, I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT  WITH THE TCQ, TEXAS EQUIVALENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT.

AND WE ARE WORKING ON SOME COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO  ENSURE THAT WE ARE EQUALLY HOLDING THE INDUSTRY  ACCOUNTABLE ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT, THE BIGGER POINT HERE TO  MAKE IS THAT AIR QUALITY IS REGULATED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL  ON A BASIN.

AND NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS SHARE  THAT BASIN.

SO AS AIR QUALITY CONTINUES TO  DIMINISH, WHICH IT IS AND HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE  FEDS WILL COME IN AND RATCHET EVERYBODY DOWN.

SO, THINKING ABOUT MOVING FROM NEW MEXICO TO TEXAS DOESN'T  SOLVE THE AIR PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN OUR TWO STATES.

IT ONLY WOULD AGGRAVATE IT IF SOMEBODY MOVED THERE BECAUSE  THERE ARE LESS CONTROLS OR LESS ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK MOST COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO ARE PROUD TO BE  IN NEW MEXICO AND THEY WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THE STATE AND THEY  ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE THEY LIVE HERE AND THEIR INVESTORS  ARE FOCUSED ON CLIMATE AS WELL.

IN A LOT OF WAYS, YOU COULD THINK WHERE SOME PEOPLE  CRITICIZE WE ARE PUSHING INDUSTRY OUT, THEIR INVESTMENT  IS VALUED EVEN MORE SO BY THEIR REDUCTIONS HERE.

>> Laura: IF ENACTED AND PROMULGATED HOW LONG -- WHAT  KIND OF A TIMELINE ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR THIS RULE IN  TERMS OF ACTUALLY ON THE GROUNDS CHANGES AND TIGHTENING  UP OF THOSE EMISSIONS?

>> Sec.

Kenney: IF THE RULE  WERE ADOPTED AT THE SEPTEMBER HEARING AND MOVED FORWARD FROM  THERE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE RULES BEING EFFECTIVE IN  SEPTEMBER -- I AM SORRY -- IN THE SPRING OF THE FOLLOWING  YEAR AND THAT MEANS THAT ALMOST INSTANTLY INDUSTRY  WOULD HAVE TO BEGIN PERFORMING LEAK DETECTION AND REPAIR.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO QUANTIFY THEIR EMISSIONS AND THEY WOULD  HAVE TO -- THOSE CHANGES WOULD INSTANTLY START HELPING  OUR AIR QUALITY.

SO, HOPEFULLY IN THE SPRING OF  NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE ON TARGET.

>> Laura: SO, I AM CURIOUS IF THIS IS ALL FAST ENOUGH IN  TERMS OF WHAT SCIENTISTS TELL US WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF  STOPPING GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, TRANSFORMING AWAY  FROM FOSSIL FUEL ECONOMY.

I REALIZE THIS RULE IS ONE  PART OF THAT BUT ARE WE MOVING FAST ENOUGH AS A STATE, AS A  SOCIETY, AS A SPECIES?

>> Sec.

Kenney: I THINK WE  COULD ALWAYS MOVE A LOT FASTER IN FOCUSING ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

IN MANY WAYS WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS  ADMINISTRATION WITH THE BACKDROP OF THE UNEXPECTED  GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAPPENING AS WELL, BUT THAT DOESN'T -- WE  NEVER STOPPED WORKING ON OUR CLIMATE EFFORTS WHICH IS A  POINT OF PRIDE FOR BOTH MY COLLEAGUE, SARAH COTTRELL  PROPST AND MYSELF AS THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE CLIMATE  CHANGE TASKFORCE.

AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A  WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT EFFORT SO IT'S NOT JUST TWO PEOPLE  WORKING ON IT.

IT IS EVERY AGENCY.

BUT THAT SAID, WE NEED AS MUCH GRASS ROOTS AS WE DO, YOU  KNOW, STATE-WIDE AND FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.

THAT'S WHY WE KICKED OFF A NUMBER OF THINGS THIS SUMMER  TO BRING MORE COMMUNITIES INTO THE FOLD TO GET THOSE BETTER  IDEAS AND KEEP THEM FLOWING FORWARD.

>> Laura: SECRETARY KENNEY, THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> Sec.

Kenney: THANK YOU.

>> Gene: IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T  CAUGHT THEM, I RECENTLY INTERVIEWED NEWLY ELECTED  CONGRESSWOMAN MELANIE STANSBURY AND HER SUCCESSOR IN  THE STATE HOUSE PAMELYA HERNDON.

TWO RECENT EXAMPLES  OF OUR WEDNESDAY NOON FACEBOOK LIVE SEGMENT ON OUR NEW MEXICO  IN FOCUS PAGE.

I CAME AWAY WITH A SIMILAR  TAKE AWAY FROM BOTH.

I THINK WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE  PEOPLE WHO ENTER POLITICS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS TO TRULY  SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE.

THOSE CANDIDATES ARE BEING SEEMINGLY USHERED QUICKLY TO  THE FRONT.

BOTH MS. STANSBURY AND HERNDON SHARE IN SUCH AN  ASCENSION AND ONE CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT THE FUTURE  MIGHT HOLD FOR BOTH.

HOWEVER, IT IS ONE THING TO  WIN A SEAT, OF COURSE, BUT IT ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER TO  DEFEND ONE.

VOTING RECORDS BEING WHAT THEY  ARE, OF COURSE, AND FALL OF 2022 IS NOT TERRIBLY FAR OFF  IN POLITICAL TERMS.

UNTIL THEN, THERE IS NO END TO  PROBLEMS TO SOLVE BOTH IN CONGRESS AND AT THE  ROUNDHOUSE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US  AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.