COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF A TRADE WAR WITH CHINA ON STORE SHELVES IN THE U.S... ALSO TONIGHT, EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A NEWER, SAFER AND MORE RECYCLABLE FORM OF PLASTIC... AND, A NEW MURAL PROJECT IS IN THE WORKS FOR A DOWNTOWN APS SUBSTATION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES TODAY JOINED 19 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN YET ANOTHER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINSTRATION.

THIS TIME IT'S AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESTRUCTURING OF THE U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT THE RESTRUCTURING HAS DESTROYED LIFE-SAVING PROGRAMS, WITH MAYES ADDING THAT, QUOTE, "NO ADMINISTRATION HAS THE RIGHT TO UNILATERALLY DESTROY PROGRAMS THAT MILLIONS OF ARIZONANS AND AMERICANS RELY ON."

THIS SUIT FOLLOWS A PREVIOUS LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER CUTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS.

OTHER HEADLINES: THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TODAY SAID THAT IT WILL PAY $1,000 TO ANY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT WHO VOLUNTARILY LEAVES THE COUNTRY.

THE MONEY WILL BE PAID TO THOSE WHO VERIFY THAT THEY'VE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY.

DHS SAYS THAT MIGRANTS WHO SELF-DEPORT MAY BE ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE U.S.

LEGALLY IN THE FUTURE.

AND, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH TODAY ORDERED THE PENTAGON TO CUT THE NUMBER OF 4- STAR GENERALS AND ADMIRALS BY 20%.

THE ORDER ALSO CALLS FOR A 20% CUT OF GENERAL OFFICERS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND A 10% CUT GENERAL AND FLAG OFFICERS ACROSS THE MILITARY.

HEGSETH SAYS THAT THE CUTS ARE INTENTED TO REMOVE REDUNDANT FORCE STRUCTURE AND STREAMLINE LEADERSHIP.

HEGSETH HAS ARGUED THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY SENIOR GENERALS IN THE MILLITARY.

CEO'S AND OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS ARE WARNING THAT THE ONGOING TARIFF WAR BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA COULD LEAD TO SHORTAGES ON SHELVES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME HITENDRA CHATURVEDI, FROM ASU'S DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY-CHAIN MANAGEMENT.

YOU'RE OUR GO-TO GUY FOR THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THE IDEA OF RETAIL SHORTAGES DUE TO THE TARIFF WAR WITH CHINA.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WE ARE NOT SEEING IT NOW, BUT WAIT FOR THE SUMMER.

THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL, AND POTENTIALLY INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, SO THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT END UP BUYING THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SIX MONTHS EARLY.

>> WOW.

I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S ALREADY A DROP IN MANUFACTURING ORDERS FROM CHINA, TRUE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE NUMBER OF SHIPS COMING IN TO THE POVERTY L.A. AND LONG BEACH HAS DROPPED BY 35%.

IT'S NOT ONLY THAT, THE DROP IN SHIPMENT, THE NUMBER OF PRODUCTS IN A CONTAIN CONTAIN HAS ALSO DROPPED BY 20, 25%.

SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF SHIPS COMING IN THAT ARE REDUCED BUT THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT COMING IN THAT HAS REDUCED.

>> WHAT ABOUT BOOKINGS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> SAME THING.

OVER THE SUMMER, ARE YOU GOING TO SEE MONTH OVER MONTH DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SHIPS COMING TO PORT.

>> AND THAT'S BASICALLY LONG BOCH, L.A., THAT AREA?

>> LONG BEACH, L.A., SEATTLE.

THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IS IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT.

IS IF YOU SEE A NUMBER OF SHIPS, A NUMBER OF CONTAINERS REDUCING, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO TRUCKS AND RAIL AND WAREHOUSING AND RETAIL.

SO THERE ARE OVER 10 MILLION -- CLOSE TO 10 MILLION PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO JOBS OR THE TRUCKERS IF THERE'S NO STUFF TO MOVE?

>> SO I'VE READ THAT THE -- THE QUOTE WAS A SCREECHING HALT OF OCEAN FREIGHT ORDERS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

SO SUPPLY CHAIN, THE WAY THIS THING WORKS IS TO ORDER FOR THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL OR EVEN HOLIDAY SEASON, APRIL HAS BEEN THE LEAD TIME TO GET PRODUCTS ON TO THE SHELF, SO THE LEAD TIME IS SIX MONTHS.

IF ORDERS DON'T GET PLACED, IT'S GOING TO BE A DOMINO EFFECT.

>> WHAT ITEMS DO YOU THINK WILL GET HIT FIRST.

>> TARGET, AMAZON, WALMART, ALL OF THE PRODUCTS THAT YOU BUY YOU'LL SEE PRICE INCREASES.

>> LOWER PRICED ITEMS MORE THAN HIGHER PRICED ITEMS?

>> A LOT OF HIGHER PRICED ITEMS, A LOT OF YOUR APPLIANCES, EVERYTHING THAT YOU USE IN YOUR KITCHEN, REFRIGERATORS, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PRICE INCREASES THERE.

>> YEAH.

TOYS, OBVIOUSLY, TOYS IS MAKING HEADLINES NOW BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE DON'T NEED SO MANY TOYS.

TELL THAT TO A KID.

SHOES, LOW COST APPAREL.

BUDGET HOME GOODS.

WATCH OUT.

>> YOUR L.E.D.ES, YOUR GAMES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS AVAILABLE.

>> SO FOR THE WALMARTs, THE IKEAS, THE AMAZON, THE HOME DEPOTS, THESE KINDS OF PLACES, I MEAN, ARE WE GOING TO SEE COVID LEVEL SHORTAGES ON SHELVES?

>> I HOPE NOT.

I HOPE THATLE OH OATH NOT STATUS QUO.

THE PROBLEM IS SUPPLY CHAINS HURT THE MOST WHEN THERE'S UNCERTAINTY.

PEOPLE PIT AND DO NOTHING.

THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> IS THERE FRONT-LOADING OF INVENTORY RIGHT NOW GOING ON?

>> THERE IS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, BUT SHIPS THAT ARE ON THE OCEAN, THEY WILL NOT GET HIT BY TARIFFS UNTIL THEY LAND AT THE IMPORT POINT, IS WHERE TARIFFS ARE APPLIED.

SO SHIPS ON THE OCEAN ARE NOT SAFE.

>> SHIPS ON THE OCEAN ARE NOT SAFE.

THE TARIFFS ARE APPLIED, UNLESS THEY'RE NOT.

THE IDEA OF THE COME AND GO TARIFF, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

AT WHAT POINT DO THESE COUNTRIES -- CHINA, IN PARTICULAR, JUST SAY WE'RE LOOKING SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> THEY ARE ALREADY DOING IT.

SEE THE THING IS THAT THINKING OF SUPPLY CHAIN AS A SPORTS CAR WITH NOW ON/NOW OFF IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SUPPLY CHAINS ARE LIKE BIG HUGE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

THEY NEED TIME TO TURN.

AND IF YOU KEEP ON TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, LEFT AND RIGHT, LEFT AND RIGHT, THAT SHIP IS NOT MOVING.

IT'S GOING TO STAY THE COURSE.

IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS TO -- STICKING WITH CHINA HERE, THAT'S KIND OF THE BIG DOG HERE.

WHAT IF THEY DO START LOOKING ELSEWHERE?

WHAT HAPPENS TO PRODUCTS HERE?

>> THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO LOOK OUTSIDE.

U.S. IS ONLY NOW -- U.S. ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 7% OFF OF THEIR MANUFACTURING EXPERTS.

USED TO BE CLOSE TO 20%.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN DECREASING IT FOR THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS DRAMATICALLY.

>> THAT WAS PRETARIFF THEN.

>> YEAH.

SO 7% IS NOT TOO RISKY.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT BAD.

BUT THEY'RE ALREADY REACHING OUT TO MANY COUNTRIES.

THE MOMENT THEY MITIGATE THIS RISK, OUR 2 BY 4, WHICH IS TARIFF, WE LOSE A LOT OF ITS POWER.

>> THE ARGUMENT FOR TARIFFS, THE ARGUMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MESSING WITH US, IT'S NOT A FAIR DEAL, THAT THEY'RE CHARGING MORE FOR OUR STUFF THAN WE'RE CHARGING FOR THEIR STUFF, AND MANUFACTURING NEEDS TO RETURN TO THE U.S. BECAUSE ALL OF THESE TOYS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT YOUR HOME DEPOTS AND WALMARTS AND EYE KEY WAS, THEY'RE MADE ACROSS THE SEA, THEY SHOULD BE MADE HERE.

THEY USED TO BE MADE HERE.

IS THERE VALIDITY IN THAT ARGUMENT?

>> IF YOU BRING TOYS AND APPAREL AND SHOES TO BE MANUFACTURED HERE, OUR PRICE ALSO GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

SO WHAT MOST OF THE MANUFACTURERS WILL DO, THEY WILL AUTOMATE IT.

SO IF THE IDEA IS TO BRING JOBS BACK, BY BRINGING IN LOW COST AND LOW VALUE MANUFACTURING ITEMS, I THINK THERE IS A FLAW IN THAT LOGIC.

>> BUT WHY DOES THE ADMINISTRATION HINGE ITSELF AND LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE TRADE SECRETARY, ALL OF THESE FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT THIS WILL WORK, JUST BE PARENT.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT -- GLOBALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORICALLY BLANKET TARIFFS HAVE NEVER WORKED.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT A COUNTRY LIKE INDIA IN WHICH THEY PUT A BLANKET TARIFF ON MANY OF THE PRODUCTS COMING IN, THEY AUTO TARIFFS ARE AS HIGH AS 250%.

THE CAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED LOCALLY CALLED AMBASSADOR, THE 1950s MODEL IS STILL BEING MANUFACTURED.

SO THAT WAS NEVER COMPETITIVE.

IT HAS NEVER -- IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY, LESSON FROM HISTORY WILL PROVE TO YOU THAT TARGETED TARIFFS WORK BETTER THAN A BLANKET TARIFF.

>> THE LAST QUESTION, WHAT ABOUT THE THREAT OF TARIFFS?

>> THE THREAT OF TARIFFS FROM US OR FROM CHINA?

>> FROM US.

WHAT ABOUT -- AND YOU'RE SAYING TARIFFS DON'T WORK.

OKAY.

WHAT ABOUT THE THREAT OF TARIFFS?

>> THE THREAT OF TARIFFS, YOU CANNOT GIVE THREAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN OR ELSE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO CALL WOLF.

SO IF YOU HAVE TO -- WITH WE HAVE TO BE VERY FOCUSED WITH OUR TARIFFS.

WE HAVE TO BE BEHIND THE SCENES NEGOTIATING ON CERTAIN KEY ITEMS, AND THAT'S WHERE TARIFFS WORK WONDERS HITENDRA, ONE OF OUR GURUS WE GO TO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ASU RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO CREATE A PLANT-BASED PLASTIC THAT WOULD BE SAFER FOR PUBLIC USE AND ALSO EASIER TO RECYCLE.

CURRENTLY ONLY 14% OF PLASTIC IS RECYCLED, AND SOME CONTAIN HARMFUL CHEMICALS TO HUMANS.

JOINING US NOW IS MATT GREEN.

HE'S WITH ASU'S SCHOOL FOR ENGINEERING OF MATTER, TRANSPORT AND ENERGY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS FOCUSES ON SOMETHING CALLED BPA.

I THINK WE'VE ALL KIND OF HEARD IT BUT WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.

>> BP IS A SMALL MOLECULE THAT ACRONYM -- IT'S A COMMON PRECURSOR USED TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT WE WOULD USE AND PUT ON THE SHELVES.

>> IS IT STILL BEING USED FOR THOSE PRODUCTS?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S BEEN PHASED OUT.

WE'VE FOUND SOME ALTERNATIVES, AND SOME COMPANIES HAVE SOME THINGS READY TO GO, AND THE ISSUE IS THAT IT COULD DISRUPT SOME OF THE HORMONE FUNCTIONS IN SMALL CHILDREN AND BASICALLY AN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTER.

>> HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS STUFF?

>> WELL, THE CONCERN WAS DEVELOPMENTAL.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS A QUICK EFFECT BUT LONG-TERM EXPOSURE COULD CAUSE DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES.

>> HEART DISEASE, CANCER, INFERTILITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE LISTED HERE.

SO THE BPA, SO -- HOW DO I KNOW IF SOMETHING HAS BPA, OR DO I KNOW?

>> SO A LOT OF THE COMMON PLASTICS THAT HAVE BPA AS A COMPONENT ARE NOW LABELED AS BPA FREE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IN LABELING.

AND THERE FOR A WHILE IT BECAME A BIG MARKETING PLOY TO BE ABLE TO SAY OUR MATERIALS ARE FREE OF BPA.

>> YEAH.

PROVIDED THEY ARE FREE OF BPA.

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE DEVELOPING A PLANT-BASED PLASTIC, THAT IS -- LEAVES BPA WAY BEHIND.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> THE IDEA WAS, I WAS VISITING THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE AND TALKING WITH COLLEAGUES THERE, AND THEY DEVELOPED THIS PROCESS TO CONVERT LITTMAN, WHICH IS A BYPRODUCT OF PAPER MAKING AND THE WHOLE WOOD PROCESSING, YOU KNOW, THAT INDUSTRY, AND IT CAN TAKE THE MATERIALS AND MAKE A WHOLE DIVERSITY, A WHOLE ARRAY OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICALS FROM THOSE PI PRODUCTS FROM THOSE WASTE MATERIALS.

>> HOW IS THAT DONE?

>> YOU'D HAVE TO TALK TO THEM.

IT'S NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AND, YEAH, THE BEAUTY OF IT, RIGHT, NATURAL MATERIALS ARE VERY COMPLEX, AND SO WHEN YOU BEGIN BREAKING THESE DOWN INTO SMALL MOLECULES UNTIL THEY'RE COMPONENT, IT'D BE LIKE SMASHING A LEGO CAPSULE.

YOU CAN PICK UP ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PIECES.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT CAN DO YOU WITH ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS?

ONE OF THEM WE FOUND LOOKED AN AWFUL LOT LIKE BPA ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT IT HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITIES THAT NATURE PROVIDES.

AND THROUGH SOME INVESTIGATION WE FOUND THAT THAT ACTUALLY PREVENTS THAT BAD ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION PROPERTY THAT THIS EXHIBITS.

SO TURNED OUT TO BE SAFER.

>> SO BASICALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOOD WASTE, WOOD WASTE IS NOW PLASTIC.

>>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT KIND OF PLASTIC?

IS IT TOUGH AS PLASTIC WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH SNEER.

>> SO WHAT WE MADE WAS A CLASS OF MATERIAL CALLED POLY CELLS, THEY'RE USED IN UNDER-LAYMENTS OF MEMBRANES THAT PURIFY WATER.

SO THEY'RE USED FOR SOME REALLY TOUGH ENVIRONMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THIS REPLACEMENT AND MAKE SOME OF THOSE SAME MEMBRANE-FORMING MATERIALS.

>> IT FEELS LIKE PLASTICS ARE FOREVER.

IS THIS FOREVER?

>> WELL, SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE DESIGN THESE TO BE SAFER, TO ALSO BE RECYCLABLE, AND SO THE WHOLE PLASTIC INDUSTRY NOW IS REALLY KIND OF RETHINKING WHAT WE WANT OUR LEGACY TO BE.

AND SO THERE'S SO MANY CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND ALSO SUSTAINABILITY.

>> IS IT THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN BE PRODUCED ON A MASS SCALE IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

SO THE PAPER INDUSTRY, RIGHT, THE WOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY IS QUITE LARGE.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE WHEN IT'S RECYCLED, DOES IT BECOME THAT WOOD WASTE AGAIN OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> IT WOULD BECOME SOMETHING ELSE.

SO IN THE PROCESS OF GOING FROM WOOD WASTE TO THIS MEMBRANE THAT YOU USE TO TREAT WATER, WE DO AN AWFUL LOT OF -- THERE ARE QUITE A FEW STEPS INVOLVED IN THAT, IN TERMS OF WE GET THESE SMALL MOLECULES AND CAN TURN THOSE BACK INTO POLYMERS WHICH ARE THESE LONG, LONG MOLECULAR CHAINS.

>> INTERESTING.

AND YOU MENTION WATER ALLOT.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL HERE, ISN'T IT.

>> SURE IS.

WE THINK ABOUT IT.

WE WORRY ABOUT IT.

IT'S PART OF OUR DNA HERE.

>> AND IN TERMS OF THIS PLASTIC, THIS NEW KIND OF PLASTIC, IT IMPROVES WATER.

YOU KIND OF REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER BUT I NEED CLARIFICATION ON THAT?

>> SOME OF THOSE FUNCTIONAL HANDLE THAT NATURE PROVIDES, THAT PUTS ON TO THIS MOLECULE FOR US, ACTUALLY MAKE IT SO THAT WE CAN PURIFY MORE WATER.

WE CAN PUSH MORE WATER THROUGH, AND SO IT'S A PROPERTY CALLED HYDRO FELICITY, AND IT ALLOWS US TO PURIFY WATER, MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT MATTER AND HIGHER VOLUME OF WATER.

>> AND ALL KINDS OF PURIFICATION.

EVERYTHING FROM MUNICIPAL AREAS TO, WHAT, WHAT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD?

>> YEAH.

THESE MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY DO WELL AT REMOVING THINGS LIKE BACTERIA AND OTHER LARGE IMPURITIES IN WATER STREAMS.

>> AND WITH THAT, I READ THAT THEY COULD BE USED IN MEDICAL DEVICES LIKE DIALYSIS MACHINES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THESE POLY CELLS ARE ALSO COMMONLY USED FOR DOING THAT.

>> SO THE BOTTOMLINE IS YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING HERE REPLACING PLASTICS AND SEEMS LIKE IT'S ON THE GO.

IS THIS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW?

ARE THESE PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT?

IF NOT, WHEN?

>> SO WE'VE PATENTED THIS, AND WE'RE NOW WORKING ON TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT TECHNOLOGY AND SCALE IT UP.

>> SO THAT'S ON THE MOVE.

I GOTTA ASK YOU, BECAUSE IT'S AN OBVIOUS QUESTION HERE.

THE GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS AND FUNDING AND RESEARCH, IS THAT AFFECTING YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

IN MANY WAYS, LARGELY THE UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST IN MY FIELD SPECIFICALLY IS NOT KNOWING WHAT'S COMING.

WE KNOW WE'RE DAYS AWAY FROM INKING CONTRACTS ON NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL ON HOLD.

AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL COME BACK, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW WHAT NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

SO IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT CAME ROW, WE'RE WIDENING OUR APERTURE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AT BEING AT THE TOP OF INNOVATION HERE AT ASU AND GETTING CREATIVE IN HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO RESEARCH AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT FOR OUR GLORY.

WE'RE OUT HERE TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND US.

>> NEW AVENUES IF YOU HAVE TO.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING STUFF, THANKS FOR SHARING.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> A NEW MURAL PROJECT IS UNDERWAY AT AN APS SUBSTATION SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

THE PROJECT IS TITLED, LA FLOR DEL PUEBLO, WHICH IS THE NAME OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN THE AREA.

JIM COVARRUBIAS IS A LOCAL ARTIST AND CURATOR.

HE'S HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT "LA FLOR DEL PUEBLO."

GOOD SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> WELL, IT'S AN EXCITING CONCEPT, THE IDEA OF HAVING SUCH A HUGE PUBLIC MURAL, THAT DEPICTS BASICALLY THE HISTORY OF THAT AREA.

>> AND THE AREA IS... >> GRANT PARK.

>> WITH THIRD AVENUE, LINCOLN TO GRANT.

>> SEVENTH AVENUE, SEVENTH STREET, LIKE RAILROAD TRACKS... >> SOUTH OF BASKETBALL ARENA.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THIS AREA, THERE'S A SUBSTATION, AND THERE'S GONNA BE A MURAL ON THERE, HOW DID THIS ALL HAPPEN?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, APS HAS BEEN VERY KIND ABOUT SHARING IDEAS WITH ART.

THEY DID IT ON ROOSEVELT AND SEVENTH STREET THERE.

AND THEY ARE GIVING THE COMMUNITY A GIFT, BASICALLY.

THEY WANTED TO DO THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THEY HIRED ARTISTS FOR THE ROOSEVELT PROJECT, WHO WERE REALLY GREAT, WHO DID THEIR OWN THING.

BUT HERE THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE AREA AND HAVE THE ARTIST RESPOND TO THAT.

SO OUR JOB HAS BEEN RIGHT NOW DOING NARRATIVES ON LIKE 47 DIFFERENT A GOREICAL TOPICS.

>> AND IF THE PAINT SOMETHING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU ON THE BIG EASEL THERE, THAT KIND OF LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF THE AREA, DOES IT NOT?

>> IT IS, YEAH.

THIS IS MARY CORDOVA AND LISTEN DA ABRILL.

THERE'S A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HER, LINDA ABRILL.

AND THEY WERE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY WAS GIVING DANCE CLASSES AND ALL KINDS OF SPORTS ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY WERE BRINGING SOME CULTURAL IDEAS TOO, SO THIS IS A MEXICAN DANCE TROOP THAT WAS TRYING TO PRESERVE SOME OF THAT CULTURE FROM THE HOMELAND FOR THESE PEOPLE.

>> BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE WAS AN ART SCENE DOWN THERE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ART SCENE.

>> VERY MUCH.

AND IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM WAS THERE ON SEVENTH AND MOJAVE.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO GO DOWN CENTRAL TO THE RIVERSIDE BALLROOM AND GO TO CONCERTS.

AND SO THEY WERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHO WAS THERE, BUT THAT WAS LIKE A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SUPPORTED A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT PHOENIX WAS DOING.

>> AND NOW THE IDEA TO REMEMBER THAT AND RECALL THAT AND CELEBRATE THAT BY WAY OF A SUBSTATION.

>> OUR FIRST JOB WAS TO BE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> ACTUALLY THEY CAME UP WITH WITH THE TITLE, AND AS WE MET WITH THEM, WE REALIZED THEY HAD THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR OWN HISTORY, AND THOSE DETAILS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO AN ARTIST, AND THEY CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A RECOLLECTION OF THEIR GRANDPARENTS DOING SOMETHING.

BUT IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY THAT THAT'S WHERE APS WANTED US TO START.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE MURAL THEMES WERE CONCERNED, WHO DECIDES THAT THIS PERSON'S MEMORY, THIS PERSON'S IDEA, THIS ARTIST'S IDEA IS BETTER THAN THAT ONE OR NOT BETTER BUT DESERVES TO BE THERE DIDN'T.

>> MY CODETECTOR AND COCURATOR AND MYSELF ARE BASICALLY THE OVERALL CURATORS.

WE'VE INVOLVED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY, WHO ARE ARTISTS, TO COME IN AS A JUROR, TO LOOK AT IDEAS AND SAY, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THIS IDEA.

NOW, HERE'S THE BEAUTY.

WE GIVE THAT NARRATIVE AND THOSE IDEAS TO THE ARTISTS, AND THEN THE ARTISTS CAN CREATE THE ITEM TO THEIR OWN STYLE.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE EXCITING PART.

>> YOU COULD GET SURPRISES OUT THERE.

>> WE HAVE 100 ARTISTS SIGNED UP RIGHT NOW.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH.

IF THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION AND SAY I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS OR LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, THEY CAN CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE.

I THINK AN ARTIST CAN GAIN A LOT JUST BY SEEING THE PROCESS HAPPEN.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A FLORAL RIGHT THERE.

WILL THAT BE SOMEWHERE ON THE SUBSTATION?

THAT PARTICULAR IMAGE?

>> WELL, IT'LL BE ON OUR ADVERTISING, YEAH.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THERE'S DETAILS IN THERE, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS I SNEAK IN ON MINE.

>> VERY NICE.

YOU KNOW, HOW DID -- HOW BIG IS THE SUBSTATION?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT SIX CITY BLOCKS.

SO WE HAVE ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF IT WHICH IS FACE GRANT PARK IS WHERE WE'RE DOING THESE REALLY BEAUTIFUL ANGLE PARKINGS, AND WE'RE DOING ALL OF THE A GORE CAN IN THERE.

SO BASICALLYth DESTINATION PARK FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ART, AND THEY CAN STROLL ALONG THERE, SEE THESE NARRATIVES, COME TO OUR POLLENATING GUARDEN THIS ON THE WEST SIDE AND LONG LINCOLN WE REALIZE THAT'S BASICALLY TRAFFIC FOR MOST PEOPLE.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DOING A AIR RATED WALL THAT YOU WILL SEE ONE THAT WILL BE 3 OR 4 SECONDS AND WILL BE COMPLETE.

IT'S EXCITING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND CRUISE, AND WE REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CAR CLUBS WILL BE PARKING ALONG THE ANGLE PARKING.

GREAT PLACE FOR A SELFIE.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

YEAH.

YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME ACTION DOWN THERE FOR PEOPLE LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE IMAGES CHANGING AS THEY'RE DRIVING BY.

MY GOODNESS.

>> WE'VE SEEN THE SUCCESS ON THE MURALS.

THE MURALS ARE SORT OF A NEW SUCCESSFUL PHENOMENON FOR ARTIST.

THE LAST 20 YEARS IT'S BEEN BLOSSOMING ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, REALLY.

>> WELL, JIM, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ALL ABOUT IT.

NOW, WHEN DOES THE FIRST PAINT BRUSH HIT THE WALL?

>> THIS FALL WE'RE MEETING WITH THE HEARTISTS AND STARTING THE WHOLE PROCESS -- WE'RE MEETING WITH THE ART ITSELFS AND STARTING THE WHOLE PROCESS.

AND BY THE WAY, IT'LL BE LIKE PAINTING ON GLASS.

>> YEAH, COOL.

>>> YEAH WE GOTTA GO.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.