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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, LOOKING AHEAD IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MAYOR TIM KELLER LAYS OUT HIS PRIORITIES FOR THE REST OF HIS SECOND TERM AND BEYOND.

>> Keller: I M TALKING ABOUT GROUNDBREAKINGS NOW IN THE STATE OF THE CITY, BUT IF WE RE LOOKING AT COMPLETIONS, WE RE LOOKING AT LIKE 2026, 2027.

THAT S DRIVING ME TO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO STICK AROUND FOR THAT.

>> Gene: PLUS, WE CHECK IN WITH THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT ABOUT HOW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS HOLDING UP IN A MUCH WETTER YEAR.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

>> Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE SET OUR SIGHTS BACK ON ALBUQUERQUE THIS WEEK AS WE ROUND OUT THE IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR TIM KELLER THAT YOU LL ONLY SEE HERE ON NMPBS.

LAST WEEK WE SHOWED YOU THE MAYOR S PLANS TO BOLSTER PUBLIC SAFETY AND GROW AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK ACROSS THE CITY.

WE ALSO CHALLENGED HIM ON THE CITY S APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS AS A PENDING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY ALLEGES CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS WHEN CLEARING CORONADO PARK LAST SUMMER.

NOW, THIS WEEK WE ZERO-IN ON SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE MAYOR IS TOUTING SOME BIG PROJECTS: THE RAIL TRAIL, EXPANSION OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET FIBER, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW SOCCER STADIUM.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME LINGERING CONCERNS ABOUT THE MONEY USED TO PROP UP ANOTHER SPORTS ARENA OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

HERE S NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DIVIZIO.

>> Lou: NOW, MOVING ON TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ECONOMY, SATURDAY YOU TALKED ABOUT HIGH-SPEED FIBER, MAKING THAT AVAILABLE FOR EVERY CITY IN THE HOME.

WHAT'S THE TIME-LINE ON THAT, AND WILL EVERYONE IN THE CITY BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT ONCE IT IS AVAILABLE?

>> Keller: YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY FLEW UNDER THE RADAR, I THINK, WHEN IT CAME OUT AND WE ANNOUNCED IT, AND I CAN'T EXACTLY REMEMBER.

THERE WAS SOME REASON FOR IT.

IT WASN'T COVID, BUT IT WAS SORT OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S EXCITING.

BASICALLY, THERE'S A REGIONAL COMPANY WHO DOES AFFORDABLE HIGH-SPEED, AND THEY'RE LAYING THEIR OWN FIBER, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FIGHT WITH FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH THE LARGER GIANT MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

SO THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO LAYING THEIR OWN FIBER TO EVERY BUSINESS AND HOME IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND THEY'RE ALSO -- THEIR WHOLE PROGRAM IS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF TIME.

I THINK IT'S A FIVE-YEAR ROLL-OUT.

WE CAN GET YOU SOME MORE DETAILS ON THAT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT IT WILL EFFECTIVELY END THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HERE.

AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL YEARS AWAY, BUT I SAW THEM DIGGING.

I MEAN, THEY'RE REAL.

THEY'RE ADDING FIBER.

SO AS LONG AS THAT COMPANY KEEPS GOING -- WE GAVE THEM THE FRANCHISE RIGHTS AND THE LICENSING TO DO IT.

THAT'S SORT OF THE CITY'S ROLE IN THE EASEMENTS AND SO FORTH.

AND SO NOW IT IS IN THEIR HANDS TO SORT OF FINISH THE JOB, BUT AS LONG AS THEY DO, IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING THING FOR OUR CITY THAT WE'VE LONG WANTED.

>> Lou: YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE, THE RAIL TRAIL.

THE CITY SECURED $40 MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT.

IS THAT ENOUGH TO GET IT DONE, AND DO YOU HAVE A TIME-LINE ON THIS PROJECT, TOO?

>> Keller: SO WE'RE HOPING TO BREAK GROUND ON THIS PROJECT THIS SUMMER, AS WELL, AND IT'S JUST SUCH AN EXCITING IDEA.

SO IT'S THIS PARKWAY, PEDESTRIAN PARKWAY, THAT CONNECTS THE RAIL YARDS ALONG DOWNTOWN AND THEN IT CURVES ALL THE WAY TO OLD TOWN.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE, TO CONNECT LIKE OUR TWO SORT OF BIGGEST TOURISM DESTINATIONS AND SORT OF THE HEARTS OF OUR CITY, OLD AND NEW.

AND THE IDEA IS, OF COURSE, IT'S ALONG A RAILROAD TRACK, WHICH IS WHY IT'S CALLED THE RAIL TRAIL.

BUT THAT PROJECT BASICALLY, ROUGHLY, HAS EIGHT PHASES.

WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR FOUR, AND TWO OF THE PHASES ARE GOING TO START THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S TO SORT OF ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

BUT THE WHOLE THING IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM RUN.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO START IT, AND AGAIN, GETTING HALF OF THIS DONE IS ALSO AN INCREDIBLE THING FOR OUR CITY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT -- THIS IDEA, BY THE WAY, IS ALSO LIKE 30 YEARS OLD, I THINK.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROPOSALS ON THIS.

AND NO ONE COULD REALLY SORT OF PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR US EARLIER IN THIS YEAR, WE GOT SOME FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNOR, WE GOT SOME FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL DELEGATION AND FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THEN WE ALSO WORKED OUT SOME EASEMENT AND RAIL ISSUES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S READY TO GO.

>> Lou: NOW, ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE WATER AUTHORITY HAS PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE AIR FORCE FOR ITS CONTAMINATION, FOR THE DECADES LONG LEAK AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE.

THE CITY HAS BEEN SILENT AT LEAST PUBLICLY ON THAT ISSUE.

ARE THERE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT, AND DOES THE CITY CONSIDER THAT CLEAN-UP A PRIORITY?

>> Keller: WELL, IT IS ALL THROUGH -- THE CITY MEMBERS ARE HALF THE WATER AUTHORITY.

SO IN THIS SITUATION, WE JUST WORK THROUGH THE WATER AUTHORITY, AND THAT'S A JOINT BOARD OF CITY AND COUNTY.

SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WATER AUTHORITY AND THE CITY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO FOR THE CITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WORKED ON THIS BACK AS A STATE SENATOR, AND NOTHING IS ADEQUATE UNTIL THE PLUME IS DRY.

SO I KNOW IT'S BEEN THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS WITH DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS OUT THERE, BUT I THINK THE WATER AUTHORITY, AT LEAST, HAS BEEN A STEWARD OF THIS PROJECT.

THE STATE ALSO HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE AREA WE COULD MAYBE USE A RE-INVIGORATION OF WHAT THE STATE PROTECTION DID.

IRONICALLY, IT WAS THE LAST ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS VERY FIRM ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE AIR FORCE, AND THEY HAVE MUCH STRONGER TOOLS THAN THE WATER AUTHORITY.

THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO SORT OF RESUSCITATE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AS WELL.

>> Lou: NOW, I WANT TO SHIFT QUICKLY TO SPORTS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA AND STADIUMS.

THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND THAT ALBUQUERQUE'S PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT USED TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO PAY FOR THE GLADIATOR STADIUM PROJECT IN RIO RANCHO.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CITIZENS HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE ABOUT THEIR MONEY GOING TOWARDS AN ATTRACTION OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS?

>> Keller: WELL, TWO THINGS.

FIRST, IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO GO TO RIO RANCHO, AND IT'S ACTUALLY MOVING BACK.

SO WHAT HAPPENED, REMEMBER, TINGLEY WAS BEING USED FOR SHOTS AND VACCINES, SO THE TEAM MOVED TO RIO RANCHO.

AND SO THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.

NO ONE EVER WANTED IT TO GO OUT THERE.

ALSO, WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK, SO I THINK THIS ISSUE ACTUALLY GOES AWAY PRETTY QUICK.

I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THAT OPINION THAT YOU REFERENCED WAS REPEATEDLY BY LAWYERS FOUND NOT TO BE ILLEGAL.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE THING, TOO.

YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE ABOUT WHERE IT IS, I AGREE WITH, BUT WE SUPPORT OUR SPORTS TEAMS.

I MEAN, I GET CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING FOR NETS AT THE ISOTOPES, THE UNITED HAS ALL SORTS OF FUNDING TO CONVERT THE BASEBALL TO SOCCER, SO THE CITY SUPPORTS OUR SPORTS TEAMS AND OUR VENUES A LOT, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

WE DO NEED TO DO IT IN ALBUQUERQUE, SO I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT IT WAS JUST A FUNCTION OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Lou: YOU MENTIONED THAT STATEMENT BEING REFUTED BY LEGAL OPINIONS.

THAT WAS YOUR REPRESENTATION, THE CITY'S REPRESENTATION THAT DISAGREED WITH THAT, WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

AND ACCORDING TO KRQE REPORTING, THE AG HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH?

HAVE YOU HAD TO COOPERATE WITH THAT INVESTIGATION AT ALL?

>> Keller: YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED AT ALL, BUT I'M FULLY CONFIDENT IN THE LEGAL OPINION, AND EVEN IF IT IS, THESE KIND OF ISSUES WITH CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS -- I MEAN, THIS IS ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT FOR NONPROFITS.

WE DO WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES ALL THE TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HELP WITH WHATEVER, BUT I KNOW YOU NEED TO BE A LAWYER TO GIVE A LEGAL OPINION, AND SO I TRUST LAWYERS ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Lou: WHEN WILL THAT TURF BE MOVING BACK?

YOU SAID IT'S HAPPENING.

>> Keller: I THINK IT'S SCHEDULED TO MOVE THIS SUMMER AFTER THEIR SEASON, AND THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENTS THAT THEY WERE ALREADY TIED INTO.

AND AGAIN, IT'LL GO TO TINGLEY, WHICH ISN'T THE CITY, EITHER.

THAT'S THE STATE, ACTUALLY.

AND SO TINGLEY CAN USE IT FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT IF THERE'S SOME OTHER PURPOSE OR WHATEVER, THEN IT BECOMES TINGLEY'S ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SUPPORT OUR TEAMS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GIVING THE NETTING BACK AT THE ISOTOPES, OR CHANGING THE FUNDING THAT WE GIVE THE UNITED TO TAKE THE MOUND OFF THE FIELD, AND THESE ARE ALL SORT OF PART OF WHAT PARKS AND REC DOES.

SO I THINK IN GENERAL THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

>> Lou: YOU MENTIONED NM UNITED.

THAT STADIUM BOND PROPOSAL OBVIOUSLY FAILED BACK WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, AND WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT MAYBE GOING TO BALLOON FIESTA PARK.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT AND WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

>> Keller: THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING ONE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE VOTE WAS THE VOTE, SO WE RESPECT THAT.

AND SO I THINK WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I SET SOME CRITERIA.

I SAID, LOOK, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A STADIUM, THEN IT'S GOING TO HONOR WHAT THE VOTERS SAID.

SO NUMBER ONE IS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY INVESTOR IN THE STADIUM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CITY STADIUM.

THE VOTERS DIDN'T WANT THAT.

ALSO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN.

I WANTED IT THERE, BUT I UNDERSTAND VOTERS DIDN'T.

AND SO WE SAID IT NEEDS TO BE IN AN EXISTING PLACE WHERE THERE'S EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE PARKING AND ACCESS, SO IT DOESN'T CREATE ALL THESE BURDENS ON THE CITY, RIGHT, TO BUILD OUT AROUND IT.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE CRITERIA, REALLY THE BALLOON FIESTA INTERESTINGLY FITS IN A REALLY GOOD WAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS AMAZING FACILITY THAT'S RARELY USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY DO IT -- THERE'S A POCKET THAT YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN INTO BALLOON FIESTA, THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD GO, MEANING THAT IT'S RIGHT UNDER THE POWER LINES.

SO IT ALSO WON'T AFFECT BALLOONING.

MY FIRST ANSWER -- PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHAT ABOUT BALLOONS?

AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHEN YOU PUT IT UNDER POWER LINES THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THAT, THE BALLOONS ALREADY KNOW THEY CAN'T GO THERE.

SO IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH BALLOON FIESTA.

AND SO NOW THE BALL REALLY IS IN THE TEAM'S COURT.

WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO DO THE SORT OF UNDER THE GROUND IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH WE NEED TO DO ANYWAY.

ELECTRICITY, SEWER, WATER, WE'VE NEEDED ALL THAT OUT THERE, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO FIX THE PARKING.

AND THEN THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BUILD THE STADIUM.

AND WE'LL HAVE AN M.O.U.

AND STUFF TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SHARE WITH BALLOON FIESTA.

SO REALLY, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT ANYWAY WHETHER THERE'S A STADIUM OR NOT.

AND IF THE TEAM CAN DELIVER ON THE FINANCING AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR A STADIUM, HOPEFULLY BY THE END THE YEAR WE'LL HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORK.

>> Gene: WELCOME TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW, WE'RE JOINED IN STUDIO BY UNM LAW PROFESSOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE NON-PROFIT AMPARO.

THAT WOULD BE SERGE MARTINEZ.

TOM GROVER IS HERE.

HE'S AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SERGEANT.

AND ACROSS THE TABLE, WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE LAN SENA AGAIN, POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY AND A FORMER ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

SINCE THEIR FIRST SEASON IN 2018, NEW MEXICO UNITED HAS CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF SOCCER LOVERS AND SPORTS FANS ACROSS THE STATE, CERTAINLY.

THAT FERVOR HAS IT LIMITS, HOWEVER.

IN 2021, VOTERS REJECTED A BOND THAT WOULD HAVE FUNDED A NEW SOCCER STADIUM FOR THE TEAM AND DELIVERED A MAJOR BLOW TO AN ECONOMIC INITIATIVE THAT MR. KELLER WAS PUSHING.

IN OUR RECENT DISCUSSION WITH THE MAYOR, HE SAID PLANS FOR A NEW STADIUM ARE SHIFTING TO BALLOON FIESTA PARK AND THE CITY WOULD NOT, NOT, BE THE MAJORITY INVESTOR IN THAT STADIUM.

NOW, SERGE, LET ME START WITH YOU.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UP TO THE SOCCER CLUB.

ALL THIS TO ASK, SHOULD THE MAYOR GET HIS HOPES UP ON A NEW STADIUM FUNDED BY UNITED?

WOULD THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT BE WORTH THE POTENTIAL HEADACHES OF INTERRUPTING BALLOON FIESTA PARK?

I MEAN, THERE'S SOME JOKING ABOUT HIGH-POWERED LINES THERE THAT THE BALLOON PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WHAT'S YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THIS?

SHOULD THE MAYOR BE THE FACE OF THIS, IS PROBABLY MY INSIDE QUESTION HERE?

>> Serge: I MEAN, LOOK, I'M A BIG FAN.

SOMOS UNIDOS.

BUT I THINK STADIUMS ARE ALMOST NEVER A GOOD DEAL ECONOMICALLY FOR THE CITY THAT THEY'RE IN, ESPECIALLY IF THE CITY ENDS UP PAYING FOR IT.

THERE'S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT GENERATING INCOME AND WHATNOT, BUT THAT'S MONEY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WOULD JUST HAVE SPENT ON SOMETHING ELSE.

PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE FLOCKING FROM OUT OF STATE TO WATCH UNITED GAMES, ALTHOUGH MUCH AS I WISH THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK ANY SORT OF SITUATION THAT HAS THE CITY INVESTING HEAVILY IN A STADIUM THAT'S GOING TO BE USED NOT THAT OVEN, NOT THAT REGULARLY, AND IS NOT GOING TO BRING THE BENEFITS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY TOUTED, IS A MISTAKE.

LIKE, MORE POWER TO UNITED.

BUILD A STADIUM, THAT'S GREAT.

BUILD IT YOURSELF AND DON'T MAKE THE CITY PAY FOR IT.

>> Gene: TOM, INTERESTINGLY THE PLAY ALL ALONG HAS BEEN THE RETAIL ATTACHED TO IT.

CERTAINLY THE DEVELOPERS WANT TO GET IN ON THAT AND KIND OF MAKE SOME MONEY OUTSIDE THE 17 HOME GAMES A YEAR, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO REALLY DO MUCH FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE.

BUT I ASK AGAIN, IS THE MAYOR TOO MUCH IN FRONT OF THIS ISSUE AS THE FACE OF IT?

I MEAN, WE THINK BACK TO THE TIME HE STOOD ON THAT PICKUP TRUCK BED ANNOUNCING THIS WHOLE KICKOFF.

DIDN'T WORK OUT.

IS HE STUCK WITH THIS NOW?

IS THIS HIS FOLLY?

>> Tom: YEAH, IT'S A TROPHY PROJECT THAT HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK ON AND SAY, I BROUGHT THIS SOCCER STADIUM TO ALBUQUERQUE, AND AS SERGE SAID, MOST OF THE TIME IT SITS THERE EMPTY.

I MEAN, THE REALITY IS, IF YOU APPROACHED THE HOUSING ISSUE WITH SUCH A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MOMENTUM THAT HE'S PUTTING INTO THE SOCCER STADIUM, MAYBE HE'D HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE REFLECTIVE OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT RATHER THAN AN EMPTY STADIUM.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

COUNCILOR, ONE OF THE CITY'S NEXT BIG PROJECTS, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE RAIL TRAIL.

IT CAME UP A LOT, CERTAINLY, DURING THE SPEECH.

A 7-MILE LOOP, IN CASE FOLKS DON'T KNOW, THAT WOULD CONNECT NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS.

MR. KELLER SAYS THE CITY HAS SECURED FUNDING FOR FOUR OF THE EIGHT PHASES -- THERE'S A LOT OF PHASES HERE -- WITH WORK BEGINNING THIS YEAR.

THIS IDEA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

I'M CURIOUS, IS THE MAYOR AGAIN PUTTING TOO MUCH INTO THIS AS A FIX FOR OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE?

>> Lan: WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER SHINY THING TO GO AFTER.

I THINK A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE MIXED REACTIONS TO IT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY WANTS, AND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE FACING SO MANY OF THESE ISSUES OF ACCESS TO HOUSING, ACCESS TO FOOD AND MORE THINGS RELATING TO EDUCATION, THEN I THINK IT'S KIND OF A MIXED ISSUE.

IS THIS THAT THING THAT COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR, OR, YOU KNOW, AS THE STADIUM ISSUE, TOO, WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, THE TOP CONCERN THAT SO MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE VOICING WAS LIKE, LOOK, WE'RE FACING SO MANY OF THESE ISSUES, LET'S THINK AND REINVEST INTO THESE AREAS.

LET'S INVEST INTO OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND THINGS THAT CAN REALLY HELP OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE, WHETHER IT'S ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

SO WE HAVE MUCH OF THE WEST SIDE THAT, AGAIN, LACKS SO MUCH OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURES, ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

I THINK BOLSTERING A LOT OF THAT IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR.

>> Gene: ONE MORE RAIL TRAIL HERE.

IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOME HOPE THAT THE RAIL TRAIL COULD PUT THE CITY IN MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THE BOSQUE AND THE RIO GRANDE.

IS THAT A REASONABLE GOAL IF THIS PROJECT GOES THROUGH?

>> Serge: I HAVE TO SAY, I'M NOT FAIRLY SURE THAT I CAN SPEAK CONFIDENTLY ON THAT.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY IF MORE PEOPLE ARE SPENDING TIME ON THE TRAIL AND GOING THROUGH THE BOSQUE DOWN BY THE RIVER, THAT WOULD -- I MEAN, I THINK IT IS CRIMINAL HOW LITTLE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THAT RIVER RIGHT HERE AND THE BOSQUE, AS A COMMUNITY.

EVERY TIME I'M DOWN THERE, I'M LIKE, WHY AREN'T THERE -- I'M DELIGHTED THAT THERE'S NOT MORE CROWDS, BUT I'M WONDERING WHY THERE'S NOT MORE CROWDS DOWN THERE.

SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD DO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND I THINK THIS INITIATIVE SOUNDS COOL, BUT A QUESTION I THINK OF ALSO IS, HOW DOES THIS FIT WITH THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ARE FACING THE CITY.

>> Gene: AND ALL THOSE PHASES, TOO.

EIGHT PHASES IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

AND HE CLEARLY MADE THE POINT, AFTER HE'S GONE, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PICK THAT UP.

TOM, ANOTHER STADIUM HAS BEEN IN THE HEADLINES AFTER THE CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND ALBUQUERQUE'S PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT USED TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THE GLADIATOR STADIUM AND TURF PROJECT IN RIO RANCHO.

AND WHEN OUR GUY, LOU, ASKED MR. KELLER, MR. KELLER BLAMED THE PANDEMIC SAYING TINGLEY COLISEUM BECAME A VACCINE FACILITY AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, THAT'S WHY THAT HAPPENED.

ANY SENSE OF ANY WRONGDOING HERE?

HIS ANSWER MADE SOME SENSE.

THERE WAS A MOVE OUT OF TINGLEY, THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY UP THERE, IT'S NOT PERMANENT, BUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT IT.

>> Tom: I THINK THE MAYOR MISREPRESENTED THE FACTS.

I MEAN, THE GLADIATORS' LAST GAME AT TINGLEY WAS IN 2019 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THE APPROPRIATIONS WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2021.

SO HIS REPRESENTATION THAT THIS WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PANDEMIC IS NOT ACCURATE AT ALL.

>> Gene: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE CITY'S LAWYERS SAYING THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAD NO RIGHT TO ISSUE A REPORT, SAYING THEY LACKED THE LEGAL CREDENTIALS TO GIVE AN OPINION ON THE MATTER?

>> Tom: I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY PHOBIC TO ANY TRANSPARENCY, WHETHER IT'S INTERNAL REVIEW OR EXTERNAL REVIEW.

AND FOR THEM TO ATTACK THEIR OWN IG, AND SOMEONE WHO IS INCREDIBLY WELL QUALIFIED, IS A DISSERVICE TO THE IG.

>> Gene: THAT ONE TOOK ME BY SURPRISE, AS WELL.

TOM, KICK US OFF ON THIS ONE, AND I WANT TO GET OPINIONS FROM THE ENTIRE TABLE ON THIS.

THE MAYOR MENTIONED THE CITY HAS A CONTRACT -- WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, IN QUOTES -- TO EXPAND HIGH-SPEED FIBER TO EVERY HOME IN ALBUQUERQUE.

I'M JUST GOING TO BREATHE THAT IN FOR A SECOND.

HIGH-SPEED FIBER TO EVERY HOME IN ALBUQUERQUE.

YOU'RE TALKING A HALF MILLION A MILE TO DRAG FIBER SOMEWHERE.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT PROPOSAL?

>> Tom: I THINK IT'S AN OVERREACH AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM VARIOUS CITY COUNCILORS AND VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS OVER AT LEAST THE LAST TEN YEARS.

WE'RE PROBABLY IN A BETTER POSITION TO ENJOY SOMETHING FROM STARLINK WITH ELON MUSK'S COMPANY RATHER THAN REALIZING FIBEROPTICS LOCALLY.

>> Gene: HOPEFULLY BETTER CONNECTIONS THAN THAT DeSANTIS THING THEY TRIED YESTERDAY.

THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

YOUR EX-DISTRICT, A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS COULD USE HIGH-SPEED FIBER TO THE HOME.

MAYBE NOT A BAD IDEA FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY.

>> Lan: RIGHT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S THE WEST SIDE, AND MUCH OF THE WEST SIDE AND JUST THE GROWTH AND HOW MUCH IT'S EXPANDED.

THE FASTEST RATE I CAN GET AT MY HOME ON THE WEST SIDE IS 44 MEGABYTES PER -- >> Gene: OUCH.

>> Lan: YEAH, WHICH I'M SURE FOLKS WILL BE REACHING OUT AND GIVING ME SOME QUOTES.

BUT THAT'S THE FASTEST I CAN ACCESS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC, IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE INEQUITIES OF ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE INFORMATION.

SO I THINK THAT THE NEED HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THROUGH OUR STATE AND AS A NATION, AND ACTUALLY GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS TO BUILD OUT SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE NEED IS THERE AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND NOT JUST CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY, SUCH AS CENTRAL AND DOWNTOWN, RIGHT.

AND SO I THINK FOR SURROUNDING AREAS AND COMMUNITIES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY MYSELF.

BUT IT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, SEEN.

>> Gene: SERGE, IT'S LIKE THE EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPER OF ALBUQUERQUE, THIS IDEA OF GETTING CONNECTIVITY TO EVERY HOME, BUT NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST, WHAT THE MONTHLY FEE IS GOING TO BE, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A BREAK FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

I MEAN, NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THESE DETAILS.

IN YOUR GUT, IS THIS THING VIABLE, DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> Serge: WELL, IT SOUNDS CHALLENGING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT.

I WILL SAY, IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE HAD A MORE DENSELY FOCUSED CITY.

BUT I WILL ALSO SAY, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT -- YOU KNOW, FIBEROPTICS MAY NOT BE THE ANSWER, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK OF CONNECTIVITY LIKE PLUMBING, LIKE ELECTRICITY.

IT'S NO LONGER THIS SORT OF ADD ON OR LUXURY.

>> Gene: WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, SOMEONE IN THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO RUN IT IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT WAY.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A PROFIT THE OTHER WAY.

>> Serge: RIGHT.

SO THAT MAY BE THE ANSWER, SOME SORT OF VISIONARY APPROACH TO IT THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE, LET'S HOPE THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN SOLVE THIS ONCE AGAIN.

BUT I DO THINK -- I MEAN, I APPLAUD THE CONTINUED RECOGNITION AND DESIRE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER OPTIONAL TO PARTICIPATE IN AMERICA AND IN GLOBAL SOCIETY.

>> Gene: THIS IS NOT   A NEW IDEA.

WE MAY RECALL THEN CITY COUNCILOR ERIC GRIEGO WANTED TO HAVE WIRELESS TO EVERY HOME IN THE CITY AND HAD A COMPANY LINED UP.

THEY SAID THEY COULD DO IT, BUT THEN THEY FIGURED OUT THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

IT'S VERY HARD TO GET CONNECTIVITY AROUND HERE.

IT'S NOT AN EASY THING.

IT'S NOT A BAD GOAL, BUT SHOULD OUR EXPECTATIONS BE JUST RECONFIGURED HERE PERHAPS?

>> Tom: I THINK THEY NEED TO, YEAH, MODIFY THE EXPECTATIONS AND TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING IN INSTALLMENTS, YOU KNOW, AND FOCUSING ON THOSE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE IN MOST NEED VERSUS THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS OR THE FAR NORTHWEST OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Gene: THAT'S ALWAYS HOW IT GOES, IT ROLLS OUT FOR THOSE FOLKS FIRST BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD IT, AND YOU BUILD UP THAT INCOME AND THEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT FOLKS.

HOW YOU FLIP THAT IS A DIFFICULTY.

THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH.

WHAT A GREAT PANEL.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT THE TABLE IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FOR ONE FINAL DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR KELLER.

>> Keller: PEOPLE CAN LIKE ME OR NOT LIKE ME, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IN THIS TOWN, THE MAYOR IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING.

LIKE, FROM THE WEATHER TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, YOU NAME IT.

SO THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ELECT A MAYOR AND WE GET TO CHOOSE THE MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SETUP.

AND ALSO, LOOK AT, LIKE, REFORM.

IN THAT SITUATION, THE POLICE CHIEF WOULD REPORT TO EITHER A COMMITTEE OR AN UNELECTED LEADER, AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU COULD DO THINGS LIKE ACTUALLY WORK ON REFORM.

>> Gene: LAST YEAR, WE HAD THE HEAD OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT IN THE STUDIO WHEN THE RIVER WAS ABOUT TO DRY AND FARMERS WERE FACING SHORTAGES.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION RIGHT NOW ON THE RIO GRANDE.

OUR LAND'S LAURA PASKUS TALKS WITH JASON CASUGA ABOUT WHAT FARMERS CAN EXPECT THIS SUMMER, HOW THE VALLEY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS HOLDING UP, AND HOW A CHANGING CLIMATE MAKES DRY YEARS AND WET YEARS ALIKE MORE CHALLENGING.

>> Laura: JASON CASUGA, THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> Casuga: I'M HAPPY TO BE   HERE, LAURA, THANK YOU.

>> Laura: SO WE WERE HERE ALMOST EXACTLY THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

THERE WERE FARMERS FACING SHORTAGES, WE WERE LOOKING AT AN IMPENDING DRY RIVER.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION THIS YEAR?

>> Casuga: WELL, LAURA, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES.

I THINK ANYBODY IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY AND IN ALBUQUERQUE CAN TAKE A STROLL TO THE RIVER AND JUST SEE THAT WE'RE, IN MANY INSTANCES, BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

IT'S JUST -- I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE CRAZY PATTERNS THAT WE SEE,   ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER.

BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, LAST YEAR WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW DRY IT WAS GOING TO BE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ALBUQUERQUE DRYING, SECTIONS OF THE RIVER, AND THAT HAPPENED, AND NOW I THINK WE HAVE AN OUTLOOK WHERE LARGE SECTIONS OF THE RIVER WON'T DRY THIS YEAR, CERTAINLY NOT ALBUQUERQUE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES IN VALENCIA COUNTY, WE'RE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO KEEP SPOIL BANK LEVEES FROM BREACHING.

SO IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT WATER YEAR FROM 2022.

>> Laura: SO ARE WE AT THE END OF SNOW MELT, KIND OF?

>> Casuga: OH, NO.

WHAT WE CAN SEE IS THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT WATER IN THE RIVER AND OVERBANKING UP UNTIL PROBABLY EARLY JULY.

I EXPECT MOST OF JUNE, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO SEE THOSE CONDITIONS.

AND EVEN WHEN WE GET INTO EARLY JULY, THE MRGC WILL STILL HAVE ITS SUPPLEMENTAL WATER FROM THE SAN JUAN-CHAMA WATER PROJECT.

SO I REALLY DO EXPECT FARMERS WILL HAVE A LOT MORE SURETY ON WHAT THE SEASON WILL LOOK LIKE.

OBVIOUSLY IF WE GET INTO JULY AND AUGUST AND IT DOESN'T START RAINING, THERE CAN BE SOME BACK-END PRESSURE, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF WATER TO GET THROUGH THE SEASON.

AND THERE MAY BE SOME SCARCITY TOWARDS THE END, BUT IF IT RAINS, WE'LL PROBABLY BE FLUSH WITH WATER MOST OF THE YEAR.

>> Laura: SO THE NRCS, WHICH PUTS OUT THEIR FORECAST, THEY MENTIONED THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT RIGHT NOW, BUT LOW INITIAL STORAGE COMBINED WITH PREDICTIONS FOR A HOT SUMMER COULD MAKE FOR A DIFFICULT END OF SEASON FOR FARMERS WHO MAY END UP MOSTLY DEPENDENT ON MONSOONAL PRECIPITATION.

WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT RECOMMEND FOR FARMERS WHO ARE, LIKE, FLUSH WITH WATER NOW AND MAYBE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LATE IN THE SEASON?

>> Casuga: WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS -- I'LL OFTEN GET QUESTIONS.

"JASON" -- THEY'LL ASK ME A CRYSTAL BALL QUESTION -- "WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE?"

AND I REALLY TRY TO STAY OUT OF TELLING FARMERS HOW TO FARM.

IN SOME INSTANCES, I HAVE SOME FARMERS THAT GET FRUSTRATED WHEN I SHARE WEATHER DATA, BECAUSE THAT CAN BE A PESSIMISTIC VIEW, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW HOW IT WILL TURN OUT.

BUT WHAT I THINK THAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, WE SHOW IT AT EVERY BOARD MEETING.

HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S COMING OUT FOR WEATHER FORECAST, A PROBABILITY OF PRESENTATION, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

AND THEN WE ALWAYS END ON WHAT WATER WE HAVE, AND THE DISTRICT WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ROUTE IT EFFICIENTLY TO MEET ALL OF THE MISSIONS THAT WE HAVE, AND IRRIGATION BEING A PROMINENT ONE OF THOSE MISSIONS.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL WE CAN REALISTICALLY TELL FARMERS.

RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAD MORE STORAGE, I THINK WE COULD PROVIDE MORE RELIABILITY AND PROJECT MORE.

BUT THE ONLY STORAGE THAT WE   ARE GOING TO HAVE IS OUR SUPPLEMENTAL WATER THAT WE   GET FROM THE SAN JUAN-CHAMA WATER PROJECT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, I THINK, AROUND 20,500-ACRE FEET, SO THAT'S NOT AN INCONSEQUENTIAL AMOUNT.

SO I THINK THERE'S REASON TO HOPE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO, WITH THAT STORAGE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT LATE SEASON GAP.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S WHETHER THE MONSOONS WILL SHOW UP, IT'S JUST TO WHAT DEGREE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME RAIN LIKELY, IT'S JUST ARE WE GOING TO GET IT LIKE WE SAW IT LAST YEAR, WHICH WE HAD SIGNIFICANT RAIN.

SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, AND IN MANY INSTANCES I PROBABLY GET MYSELF INTO TROUBLE WHEN I TRY TO OVERPREDICT IT.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE GENERAL TACT I USE WHEN I TALK TO THE FARMING COMMUNITY.

>> Laura: RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THE RIVER IS FULL, THE DITCHES ARE FULL, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, LOTS OF FIELDS ARE FULL, BUT PEOPLE SEE WATER FLOWING PAST SOMETIMES AND THINK, THAT WATER IS GOING TO TEXAS AND IT SHOULD STAY HERE.

CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN WE SEE WATER GOING PAST?

>> Casuga: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING.

SO NEW MEXICO IS PART OF A WATER SHARING AGREEMENT WITH COLORADO, TEXAS, AND NEW MEXICO, OBVIOUSLY NEW MEXICO BEING IN THE MIDDLE, COLORADO IS ABOVE US, TEXAS IS BELOW US.

AND THAT AGREEMENT WAS LONG BEFORE OUR TIME, BUT IT OUTLINED THE PARAMETERS BY WHICH USERS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE WOULD RECOGNIZE HISTORICAL USE AND THEN SHARE WATER.

AND SO THE WATER THAT WE SEE GOING BY US IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT SHOULD BE GETTING, AND HOPEFULLY GETTING TO ELEPHANT BUTTE TO BE COUNTED TOWARDS NEW MEXICO'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMPACT.

IT'S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES FOR ME TO HEAR, I THINK, MIDDLE VALLEY CONSTITUENTS TALK ABOUT, NO, MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T COMPLY WITH THE COMPACT, OR NO, THIS MAKES US ANGRY, BECAUSE WE AS NEW MEXICANS BENEFIT FROM COLORADO WHO STRICTLY ENFORCES WATER USE UP THERE.

SO THAT COMPACT WATER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO COME INTO NEW MEXICO COMES OUT OF COLORADO AND COMES TO NEW MEXICO, SO WE AS NEW MEXICANS BENEFIT FROM A STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE COMPACT.

AND I THINK IT'S RIGHT, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE NEAR AS MUCH WATER AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IF THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, FOR US TO THEN CONSIDER THE AGREEMENTS THAT OUR STATE MADE IN ENSURING WATER GOES DOWN AND MEETS NEW MEXICO'S COMPACT REQUIREMENTS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, MANY FOLKS SAY, HEY, THIS IS TEXAS.

BUT THE MIDDLE VALLEY'S REQUIREMENT FOR THE COMPACT IS ELEPHANT BUTTE.

DOES SOME OF THAT WATER GO TO TEXAS?

ABSOLUTELY, IT DOES.

BUT THE FIRST USERS OF WATER THAT COMES OUT OF ELEPHANT BUTTE ARE NEW MEXICANS.

IT'S DONA ANA COUNTY, IT'S HATCH, IT'S THAT MESILLA AREA.

AND DOES A PORTION OF THAT WATER HAVE TO MAKE IT TO TEXAS?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THERE ARE NEW MEXICANS DOWNSTREAM OF ELEPHANT BUTTE AND NORTH OF THE TEXAS-NEW MEXICO STATE LINE THAT RELY ON THAT WATER, AS WELL.

AND WE AS THE MIDDLE VALLEY IN NEW MEXICO, I THINK THE HIGHEST ORDER OF WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I CAN USE AND THAT THE STATE CAN USE COMES WITH BEING IN COMPACT COMPLIANCE, AND THAT'S THE ABILITY TO STORE WATER IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE MEETING OUR OBLIGATION TO THE COMPACT AND SUPPLYING WATER TO DOWNSTREAM NEW MEXICANS AND TEXAS, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US WATER MANAGERS FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE WE CAN STORE WATER IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WHEN WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPACT.

AND SO I RECOGNIZE THAT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT IT IS THE AGREEMENT AND THE LAW OF THE LAND, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTANDS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE COMPACT CAN HURT US IF WE DON'T COMPLY.

BUT THEN ALSO, THE DEGREE THAT THE COMPACT HELPS US WHEN WE DO TO BE ABLE TO STORE WATER.

>> Laura: HOW, WITH THESE HIGH FLOWS AND THE DITCHES FULL, THE CANALS FULL, HOW IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDING UP IN THE DISTRICT?

>> Casuga: SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ANOTHER GROWING CONCERN AND COMPLICATED CONVERSATION.

THE DISTRICT, WE'RE COMING UP ON OUR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

WE'RE IN THE STAGES RIGHT NOW OF PREPPING A CELEBRATION OF THE 100 YEARS OF THE CONSERVANCY ACT BEING PASSED, AND THEN LOOKING AT GETTING TOGETHER AND HONORING THE 100 YEARS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS EXISTED IN 2025.

SO THE CONSERVANCY ACT WAS PASSED IN 1923, THE DISTRICT CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN '25.

SO A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS OLD.

SOME OF THAT IS APPROACHING 100 YEARS OLD, AND SOME OF IT IS APPROACHING 50 YEARS OLD BECAUSE IT WAS REHABILITATED.

I ACTUALLY -- AND I PUT THIS IN A PAPER THAT WE PUBLISHED.

I THINK THE DIFFICULTY WITH WATER HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND, AND NEW MEXICO HAS FACED THAT.

IT'S NOTHING NEW.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE COLORADO RIVER NOW AND LOOKING AT THE SOUTHWEST, BUT NEW MEXICO HAS ALWAYS DEALT WITH A FLASHY WATER SYSTEM, RIGHT.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GETTING OLDER.

EVEN WHENEVER I TRY, AND EVEN WHEN THE DISTRICT HAS TRIED TO PUSH LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER THROUGH SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S BREAKING.

WE SEE THAT EVIDENCED BY THE CORRALES SIPHON.

WE, AS A COMMUNITY -- THIS USED TO HISTORICALLY BE AGRICULTURAL LAND, BUT NOW WE HAVE URBANIZING COMMUNITIES IN AND WITH, AND THAT COMES WITH ROADWAYS AND ROADWAY CROSSINGS.

IN VALENCIA COUNTY ALONE, I THINK WE'VE HAD FIVE PIECES OF ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NOT EVEN THE MRGCD'S TO MAINTAIN, IT'S OTHER ENTITIES, BUT THOSE HAVE COLLAPSED, WHICH THEN WE HAVE TO TURN OUR CANALS DOWN SO THEY CAN BE FIXED, AND THAT HURTS WATER DELIVERY.

SO INFRASTRUCTURE IS A HUGE CONVERSATION AND THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN MRGC RIGHT-OF-WAY TO INVEST IN THAT, TOO, BECAUSE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST LIKE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, IS BECOMING A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR US.

>> Laura: SO SCIENTISTS FOR A LONG TIME TALKED ABOUT, IN OUR WARMING WORLD WE ALSO SEE EXTREMES, AND SO WE WILL HAVE A VERY LONG DRY SPELL, FOR INSTANCE, AND THEN CAN SEE EARLY QUICK RUNOFF OF SNOW MELT, OR BIG STORMS IN THE SUMMER.

AS THE DISTRICT AGES, BUT AS WE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT'S COMING, ARE THERE WAYS THAT THE DISTRICT IS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF AT SCALE CHANGES TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THAT WARMING WORLD AND THOSE EXTREMES?

>> Casuga: YEAH, AND THAT IS, I THINK, ANOTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION, BECAUSE HOW DO WE GET OUR WATER?

THIS SYSTEM WAS HISTORICALLY BUILT ON MAXIMIZING WATER THAT IS PRODUCED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THEN FLOWS DOWN AND HITS THE RIVER, AND TO A DEGREE, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT WAY, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GET MORE AMOUNT OF OUR WATER FROM RAIN EVENTS.

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, AND I KNOW THE PUBLIC IS, ABOUT THE WAY NEW MEXICO GETS RAIN EVENTS, IT'S NOT THE SEATTLE KIND OF RAIN EVENT WHERE IT JUST KIND OF COMES IN AND HANGS OUT AND KIND OF GRADUALLY GIVES IT TO YOU, AND YOU JUST END UP WITH QUITE A BIT OF WATER BY THE END OF YEAR.

NO, NEW MEXICO COMES IN AND WE GET THESE STORM EVENTS THAT WILL LAST 45 MINUTES AND DROP THREE AND A HALF INCHES, AND YOU EITHER HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THAT AND ROUTE IT TO THE RIVER, OR YOU GET FLOODED BY IT.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

OBVIOUSLY NOT AS MUCH IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, BECAUSE BERNALILLO COUNTY HAS INVESTED IN FLOOD CONTROL.

YOU HAVE AN AMAFCA HERE, AND IN A PORTION OF SANDOVAL COUNTY YOU HAVE SSCAFCA, WHICH ARE THE ARROYO FLOOD CONTROL AUTHORITIES.

SO WE DO A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPPING WITH THOSE ENTITIES, AND I THINK IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, THE DISTRICT IS HAVING TO EXPLORE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEING DAMAGED BY THESE STORMS.

AND THERE'S A QUESTION OUT THERE, AND I THINK A LEGAL QUESTION IS BEING ASKED BY THE WAY IN WHICH THE DISTRICT IS LITIGATED RIGHT NOW, IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MEANT FOR THESE MONSOONAL RAIN EVENTS AND SHOULD IT BE.

AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, AND I THINK I CAN SEE IT FROM BOTH SIDES.

BUT ONE OF THE CORE MISSIONS OF THE DISTRICT IS TO MOVE IRRIGATION WATER, AND SO I THINK THE BEST ROUTE FORWARD IS THERE ARE ENTITIES THAT COME IN AND WE PARTNER WITH THEM TO CREATE FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES, AND THEN THE DISTRICT BECOMES THE WAY IN WHICH THOSE FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES ARE DRAINED.

AND I THINK YOU SEE A MODEL OF THAT IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY ALREADY, AGAIN, IN BOTH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO COUNTY, AMAFCA AND SSCAFCA.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, I THINK OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND EVEN OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST MORE IN THOSE AND MAXIMIZE EVERY DROP THAT WE GET, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD A WATER SEASON WHERE WE SEE THE RIVER LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY THE LENGTH OF TIME THIS HAS LASTED.

I THINK IN '19, WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD SNOW YEAR, BUT IT CAME DOWN SO FAST.

I'VE BEEN STRUCK BY THE COOLNESS OF OUR SPRING AND HOW LONG THE WATER IS LASTING.

ONE, IT'S BEEN REALLY ENJOYABLE, BUT TWO, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN ALL THOSE AREAS, BOTH ON MRGC INFRASTRUCTURE AND STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET MOISTURE AND WHEN WE GET WATER, I THINK WE NEED TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO MANAGE IT THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE ENOUGH WATER, BUT IN SOME INSTANCES THAT STILL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH WATER AND USERS MAY GO WITHOUT OR HAVE TO USE LESS.

>> Laura: WELL, THANK YOU, JASON.

I SURE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.

>> Casuga: AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

>> Gene: THANK YOU, LAURA.

THIS COMING MONDAY, ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A PLAN THAT WOULD GIVE VOTERS A CHANCE TO LIMIT MAYORAL AUTHORITY, SHIFTING POWER TO A COUNCIL-APPOINTED CITY MANAGER.

NOW, IF PASSED BY COUNCIL, VOTERS WOULD MAKE THE CHOICE THIS FALL.

IN THE FINAL EXCERPT FROM OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR KELLER, LOU DIVIZIO ASKS IF THE PLAN MAKES SENSE IN A CITY LIKE ALBUQUERQUE, AND IF THE MAYOR WILL RUN FOR A THIRD TERM.

>> Lou: I WANT TO MOVE ON TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNCIL.

TWO CITY COUNCILORS RECENTLY PROPOSED A RESTRUCTURING OF SORTS AT THE TOP OF THE CITY THAT IF PASSED WOULD HAVE VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO WEAKEN THE MAYOR'S POWER, SHIFT MANY OF YOUR DUTIES TO A CITY-APPOINTED MANAGER, OR A COUNCIL-APPOINTED MANAGER.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO VOTERS WHO WOULD MAYBE HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS IN THE FALL?

THEY HAVEN'T VOTED TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT YET, BUT WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN YOUR MIND?

>> Keller: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY TWO.

NUMBER ONE IS, YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO PEOPLE CAN LIKE ME OR NOT LIKE ME, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IN THIS TOWN, THE MAYOR IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING.

LIKE, FROM THE WEATHER TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, YOU NAME IT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ELECT THE MAYOR AND WE GET TO CHOOSE THE MAYOR.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT SETUP.

AND ALSO, LOOK AT, LIKE, REFORM.

IN THAT SITUATION, THE POLICE CHIEF WOULD REPORT TO EITHER A COMMITTEE OR AN UNELECTED LEADER.

AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU COULD DO THINGS LIKE ACTUALLY WORK ON REFORM.

SO LOOK, THE TRADE-OFF IS REALLY, DO YOU WANT GOVERNMENT BY COMMITTEE AND AN UNELECTED MANAGER?

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S A WAY TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION.

IT'S NOT A WAY TO DRIVE INNOVATION.

I WILL SAY THIS.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE.

I WILL AGREE TO THAT POINT.

BUT I WOULD TRADE INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP IN A SECOND FOR, LIKE, STABILITY.

AND SO I ALSO THINK IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, CHECKS AND BALANCES, TO ME THERE'S SOMETHING DEMOCRATIC ABOUT BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.

LIKE, THIS IS AMERICA, AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

IF YOU GET RID OF A BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, I MEAN, YOU REALLY HAVE A COMMITTEE OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHOLDEN TO JUST A REGION OF THE CITY, RIGHT, JUST A SLICE OF THE CITY.

NO ONE IS LOOKING AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, AND THAT REALLY WORRIES ME BECAUSE PEOPLE GET PROVINCIAL.

THEY WANT BLANK IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT KIND OF THING.

WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY?

IN THAT WORLD, THE ANSWER IS NO ONE OTHER THAN AN UNELECTED CITY MANAGER.

>> Lou: YOU'RE ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH YOUR SECOND TERM AS MAYOR.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES AS YOU FINISH OUT THE REST OF THIS TERM?

>> Keller: SO THE FIRST ONE IS TO FINISH OUT THIS SPECTRUM OF SERVICES THAT ARE RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING.

SO ACS IS PART OF THAT TRANSPORTING, THE GATEWAY IS PART OF PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, INCREASING THE HOUSING STOCK IS SORT OF ON THE OTHER END.

THE SECOND THING IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO WE DO HAVE TO GET -- FUNDAMENTALLY, WE NEED TO FEEL SAFE.

I THINK ONE CHALLENGE IS PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, AND THAT'S THE HARDEST PART, ACTUALLY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO GET OUR STATISTICS AND CRIME NUMBERS IN A WAY THAT SORT OF ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'RE SAFER.

SO THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AT APD WITH THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AROUND TECHNOLOGY AND CIVILIANIZATION, BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT HOMICIDE.

WE QUADRUPLED, I THINK, THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDE DETECTIVES, AND NOW -- YOU KNOW, WE USED TO CATCH -- IF YOU SHOT SOMEONE IN ALBUQUERQUE, IT USED TO BE YOU HAD A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF BEING ARRESTED.

THAT'S TERRIBLE.

NOW IT'S LIKE 92.

IF YOU SHOOT SOMEONE IN THIS TOWN, WE WILL CATCH YOU.

SO THAT SENDS A TREMENDOUS MESSAGE ABOUT JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ACTUALLY HAVING A CHANCE AND FUNCTIONING IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SO THAT'S THE SECOND PRIORITY.

THE THIRD IS REALLY AROUND BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN WAYS THAT ARE GENERATIONALLY DEFINING, WHETHER IT'S NEW COMMUNITY CENTERS -- I THINK WE ADDED FOUR NEW OR REFURBISHED COMMUNITY CENTERS, ALL IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.

A NEW LIBRARY IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.

WE'VE ADDED THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS IN HISTORICALLY IGNORED COMMUNITIES THAT LITERALLY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE LIGHTING.

WE'VE REPAVED ALL THE ROADS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO LIFT UP THE PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT NEED IT MOST.

IT'S REALLY AN EQUITY DRIVEN APPROACH TO BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE THIRD PIECE.

BUT PART OF THAT IS THE RAIL TRAIL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HOPEFULLY WILL UNITE US ALL AND CONNECT US ALL FROM ACROSS ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND SOME OF OUR OLDER, MORE CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND ALSO BE GOOD FOR THINGS LIKE TOURISM AND SO FORTH.

SO THOSE ARE, I'D SAY, THE TOP THREE CATEGORIES GOING FORWARD.

>> Lou: ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM OF MAYOR TO HELP SEE THOSE THINGS THROUGH?

>> Keller: YOU KNOW, THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT A SECRET.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE THINGS, TOO, WE'RE LOOKING   AT COMPLETION.

I'M TALKING ABOUT GROUNDBREAKINGS NOW IN THE STATE OF THE CITY, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT COMPLETION, WE'RE LOOKING AT 2026, 2027.

AND SO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S DRIVING ME TO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO BE HERE TO STICK AROUND FOR THAT, AND EVEN GETTING OUT OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

>> Lou: MAYOR KELLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE ON NEW MEXICO In FOCUS.

>> Keller: YOU GOT IT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Gene: WELCOME BACK TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

WE WRAPPED UP OUR INTERVIEW SERIES WITH MAYOR KELLER WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION: ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM?

HIS RESPONSE: "THAT S CERTAINLY WHAT I M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW."

SHOULD WE BE READING THAT AS A FIRM YES, COUNCILOR, AND DOES THAT COLOR THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AS MORE OF A CAMPAIGN SPEECH VERSUS A STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH?

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> Lan: I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE REAL FOCUS WAS, YOU KNOW, THE PROMISE OF US, THE STORIES OF US, AND HIGHLIGHTING INDIVIDUAL STORIES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY AND A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, WE REALLY TRY TO AMPLIFY PEOPLE'S STORIES TO ACTUALLY GET POLICY CHANGED.

SO THIS PIVOT TO REALLY MORE NARRATIVES OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOW POLICY IMPACTS PEOPLE IS INTERESTING, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL, I THINK, EARLY TO SAY THAT HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING.

WE HAVE AN ELECTION BEFORE US WHERE A THIRD OF THE COUNCIL IS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INTERESTING DYNAMICS FOR THIS NOVEMBER IN THE NEXT COMING ELECTION.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S KIND OF OUR FOCUS AT THE CENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY IS REALLY THINKING THROUGH AND GETTING OUT THE VOTE.

>> Gene: TOM, STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESSES, WE ALL KNOW THIS, THEY'RE MODELED AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL STATE OF THE UNION AND SPEECHES, WE'VE GOT THE STATE OF THE STATE BY OUR GOVERNOR.

THOSE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW, BY THEIR CONSTITUTION.

STATE OF THE CITY EVENTS, IT COST SOME MONEY, WHEN YOU WATCHED IT.

AGAIN, SAME QUESTION TO THE COUNCILOR, WAS THAT MORE OF A CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF, OR WAS THIS REALLY A STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LEAN INTO?

>> Tom: IT WAS A FESTIVAL.

I MEAN, HE MARKETED IT AS A FESTIVAL, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY A PLATFORM FROM WHICH HE CAN LAUNCH HIS NEXT CAMPAIGN.

AND AS SO MANY OTHER MAYORS BEFORE HIM HAVE FOUND OUT, BECOMING THE MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE IS GENERALLY THE LAST OFFICE YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD.

SO UNLESS HE FINDS SOME OPPORTUNITY IN D.C., HE HAS NO OTHER OPTIONS BUT TO PURSUE BEING MAYOR.

AND WHETHER THAT WAS HIS "INFORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT" AT THE STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH, OR THE PANDEMIC BOOK THAT HE HAD THE CITY, THROUGH HIS ONE ALBUQUERQUE FUND, LEVERAGE OUT, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR HE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

HE HAS NO OTHER OPTIONS.

>> Gene: SERGE, MR. KELLER FRAMED THE ARGUMENT FOR AND AGAINST A STRONG MAYOR IN ALBUQUERQUE.

GIVING UP FREEDOM FOR INNOVATION, LEADERSHIP FOR STABILITY, AND I'M GOING BACK TO THIS IDEA THAT COUNCIL IS DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN EARLY JUNE, WHETHER TO GET IT TO THE VOTERS.

I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR TAKEAWAY ON HOW THE MAYOR REACTED TO THIS IDEA OF THE WEAK MAYOR PROPOSAL.

WAS HE ON THE MONEY HERE?

I MEAN, HE MADE SOME GOOD POINTS.

>> Serge: I THINK HE'S OVERSTATING THE STABILITY THAT WE MIGHT EXPECT FROM ANY SORT OF GROUP OF POLITICIANS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO ELECTIONS AND VOTERS AND WHATNOT.

BUT I MEAN, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, HIS RESPONSE IS ONE THAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM ANY MAYOR, BECAUSE THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE PUSHING THIS CAN SORT OF COMPOSE IT ANY WAY THEY WANT AND FRAME IT, BUT LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT IS.

THIS IS A BID FOR MORE POWER FOR THE COUNCIL, TO SIDELINE THE MAYOR.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE MAYOR, SO LET'S TRY TO OVERHAUL THE ENTIRE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF ALBUQUERQUE SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S -- IS WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> Gene: THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL DOES NOT LIKE THIS PARTICULAR MAYOR, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS ON THE TABLE NOW, YOU'RE THINKING?

>> Serge: THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

THAT'S MY TAKE ON THIS.

AND I MEAN, THAT IS NO WAY TO RUN A CITY, RIGHT, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE STRUCTURE OUR CITY.

BUT SETTING THAT ASIDE, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, YOU KNOW, HOW SHOULD THIS BE STRUCTURED.

THERE IS NOT AN INHERENT LAW OF NATURE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG MAYOR AND A CITY COUNCIL.

I PERSONALLY WOULD -- I'D HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS, BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, THE TIMING, TO ME -- IT'S NOT OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE NEED TO DO X, Y AND Z, BUT IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT LIKE THIS MAYOR, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS RESPONSE TO THAT.

>> Gene: THAT'S INTERESTING I'LL HAVE TO ASK OUR CITY COUNCILOR HERE AT THE TABLE.

I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR VIEW ON THIS.

ARE THERE PROS AND CONS THAT IMMEDIATELY JUMP OUT TO YOU?

BECAUSE THE MAYOR MADE AN INTERESTING POINT TO ME.

AN ELECTED MAYOR IS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

PEOPLE VOTE FOR THAT PERSON.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> Lan: I THINK IT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY AND HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD FORMER ELECTEDS WHO FELT THAT THEY WERE ONLY BEHOLDEN TO THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT TO WHETHER IT'S THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OR TO EVEN THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY JUST FELT THAT IT WAS THE CONSTITUTION THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING.

SO WE'VE SEEN ADVERSE EVENTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT THE CUSP OF ALBUQUERQUE REALLY WANTING TO SEE A CHANGE AND MORE REPRESENTATION.

WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL WAS FORMED BACK IN '74, THAT WAS BEFORE MY EXISTENCE, THAT WAS BEFORE EVEN MY MOTHER ARRIVED HERE IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE WERE MORE OF A COMMISSION, RIGHT, AND WE CHANGED TO A CITY COUNCIL.

AND EVEN THEN, THE POPULATION PER COUNCIL DISTRICT WAS ONLY 30,000.

NOW IT'S LIKE 66,000.

IT'S CLEAR AND EVIDENT THAT WE NEED AT LEAST TWO MORE CITY COUNCIL SEATS ACTUALLY ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE BETTER REPRESENTATION FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Gene: YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE OF MAP, CERTAINLY.

IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR DISTRICT OR TWO THAT COULD DOWNSIZE A LITTLE BIT TO ACCOMMODATE THIS?

>> Lan: WELL, THROUGH OUR WORK, WE'VE BEEN REALLY LOOKING AT A MORE EQUITABLE LENS TO HAVE A REAL REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY ON COUNCIL, TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ACTUALLY REPRESENTED ON COUNCIL.

I THINK BY THE TIME WE REDISTRICT AGAIN IN TEN YEARS, THINGS WILL CHANGE.

SO TO SAY THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN BOUNDARIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NOW, IT WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN TEN YEARS AND THREE CENSUSES.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

TOM, MR. KELLER SAID HIS THREE PRIORITIES FOR THE REST OF HIS TERM ARE HOUSING AND THE HOMELESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND AS THE MAYOR LOOKS AHEAD IN PURSUIT OF A THIRD TERM, ARE THOSE THINGS HE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON, OR ARE THERE OTHER ISSUES, IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN, THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE TALKING ABOUT AS OPPOSED TO THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT MAY NOT LOOK SO GREAT.

>> Tom: I MEAN, I THINK THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY THE PRIMARY ISSUES AND THE PRIMARY CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING THE CITY AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

BUT PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE AT THE TOP OF IT, BECAUSE UNLESS THAT'S MAINTAINED AND BROUGHT INTO A REALITY, ALL THE OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING NO PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I THINK THE MAYOR'S POSTURE ON, YOU KNOW, CRIME TRENDS GOING DOWN, EVEN INCREMENTALLY, IS COMPLETELY FICTITIOUS.

I MEAN, THE DATA IS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT.

AND THEY CAN PRODUCE WHATEVER GRAPHS THEY HAVE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VALID DATA WHEN YOU REALLY START PEELING IT APART.

AND IF ANYONE DOUBTS THAT, JUST TAKE A DRIVE FROM SAN MATEO UP TO LOUISIANA ON CENTRAL ON ANY EVENING, AND IT'S JUST TRAGIC WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Gene: YES,   IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

LET'S ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT, GUYS, AND CONSIDER MR. KELLER'S TIME AS MAYOR IN THE LARGER FRAME.

ACTUALLY, I'M LOOKING FOR A BIT OF A REPORT CARD OR LETTER GRADE, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.

BUT SERGE, LET ME START WITH YOU.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TO LOOK BACK ON, OF COURSE, AND NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS THE MAYOR HAS ANNOUNCED ON OUR AIR THAT HE IS, IN FACT, RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM.

YOU CAN PARSE IT FIRST TERM, SECOND TERM, WHATEVER WAY YOU'D LIKE IT.

HAS HE EARNED A THIRD TERM?

>> Serge: THAT IS A BIG ASK OF ME RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, FRANKLY, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN TERM LIMITS.

AND YOU MAY SAY IN THIS CASE, WELL, THE PANDEMIC, MAYBE WE GET A DO-OVER.

BUT I'M NOT SURE I'M WILLING TO GO THERE.

AND I THINK IT'S TRUE THAT A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN NEED TO PERCOLATE OVER TIME, AND THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO BE HERE WHEN CERTAIN THINGS, YOU KNOW, ARE FINISHED OR GIVE FRUIT.

BUT I THINK TERM LIMITS ARE POPULAR FOR A REASON, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FRESH IDEAS AND PEOPLE, THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T GET TOO ENTRENCHED, TOO MUCH POWER, TOO MUCH IDENTIFICATION AS, I AM THE GOVERNMENT, AND WHATNOT.

>> Gene: WE'VE HAD THAT ISSUE IN NEW MEXICO A BUNCH.

>> Serge: YEAH, RIGHT.

AND SO I WOULD PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, SHOULD WE HAVE ANYBODY HAVING A THIRD TERM.

AND I RESPECT POLITICIANS WHO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'VE HAD MY TWO TERMS, MY EIGHT YEARS, AND I'M READY, I WANT TO BOW OUT.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR ANYONE, YOU KNOW, THIS MAYOR OR ANY OTHER MAYOR TO GO TO A THIRD TERM.

>> Gene: INTERESTING POINT THERE.

I'M CURIOUS, COUNCILOR, A THIRD TERM, IS IT VIABLE FOR THE CITY?

HAS HE EARNED A THIRD TERM, AS OPPOSED TO JUST RESTINGS ON HIS LAURELS, SO TO SPEAK?

>> Lan: WELL, I THINK THAT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE FACE -- AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS RUN FOR HIS SECOND TERM, THIS IS A THIRD TERM NOW.

SO WE CAN'T JUST SAY, WELL, THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES THAT HE WAS COMING INTO, WHETHER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE A.R.T.

PROJECT, OR COMING INTO THE CONSENT DECREE.

NOW HE SHOULD BE A VETERAN AT POLICYMAKING AND THE 30,000-FOOT VIEW OF HOW WE ACTUALLY APPLY LEGISLATION.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME IS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT BUILDING BACK, YOU KNOW, IN A MORE EQUITABLE VIEW AND COMMITTING TO OUR DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES.

THAT PART WAS INTERESTING TO ME IN RESPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT BE UNDER HIS PURVIEW.

THAT'S THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEY'RE THE APPROPRIATIONS AND THE PURSE OF THE CITY AND THEY APPROPRIATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT I THINK THAT HE HAS MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, AND WHETHER IT WAS FACING SOME OF THE HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENTS AND CREATING A REALLY THRIVING DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND ACTUALLY HOLDING AND BRINGING IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO POLICYMAKING AND HAVING A SAY-SO IN IT.

>> Gene: HOW MUCH SHOULD WE COUNT THAT?

THAT'S A FAIRLY MAJOR TURN OF EVENTS FOR CITY GOVERNMENT.

HOW SHOULD WE ACCOMMODATE THAT, OR REWARD THAT?

IS THAT A BIG DEAL FOR THE CITY THAT FOLKS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULL EXTENT OF IT, CREATING THAT DEPARTMENT?

>> Lan: I BELIEVE SO.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR ME AND MY COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR ASIAN AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER, NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAD BEEN HISTORICALLY IGNORED.

AND I THINK THAT WE STILL NEED TO REFLECT AND LOOK AT MORE OF SOME OF THESE GAPS.

AGAIN, WE WOULD NOT EXIST AS NONPROFITS IF GOVERNMENT DID THEIR JOBS AND PROVIDED EQUITABLE ACCESS.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ISSUES TO ADDRESS.

WHETHER HE HAS DONE AND COMMITTED TO ALL OF HIS PROMISES, WHETHER IT'S THE FIRST OR THE SECOND TERM, IS I THINK ARGUABLE, BUT I THINK THAT A LOT OF THIS TAKES TIME.

I AM ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT AGREEABLE TO SERGE, AS WELL, WHERE WE NEED SOME INNOVATION AND SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED NEW FOLKS.

SO THAT PART, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL ON THE FENCE WITH.

>> Gene: FAIR ENOUGH.

I CAN'T LET YOU GET OUT OF HERE, TOM, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THIS IDEA OF USING CIVILIANS.

THE MAYOR LEANED ON THAT PRETTY GOOD IN HIS SPEECH AND ALSO HERE WITH OUR LOU DiVIZIO, AS WELL.

IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S A BIT OF A LIT FUSE HERE, MEANING, IF THINGS DON'T PROGRESS BETTER USING THIS CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER CORP, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE MAYOR AND HIS IDEAS?

AS AN EX-APD SERGEANT, HOW DOES THAT HIT YOU?

>> Tom: IT VALIDATED AND ECHOED WHAT HIS POSTURE HAS BEEN FROM DAY ONE, WHICH IS IN THEIR OWN CORRESPONDENCES BETWEEN EACH OTHER, THE MAYOR AND THE FORMER CAO, THEY WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT REIMAGINING POLICING.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEM, THE CIVILIANIZATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUTOMATIZATION OF POLICING WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC CAMERAS, AND THEY'RE PLAYING AROUND WITH THE IDEA OF -- >> Gene: HE SAID TECH IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE, THE MAYOR.

>> Tom: AND AT THE BOTTOM LINE, POLICING IS ALWAYS ABOUT GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS, AND SUPPRESSING THE CHAOS SO PEOPLE CAN GO ABOUT AND ENJOY THEIR LIFE, RIGHT.

ARE THERE PLACES FOR CIVILIANS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS?

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY, POLICE SHOULD BE DOING POLICING THINGS, THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS.

CAN TECH SUPPORT OFFICERS WORK?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I MEAN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE RED LIGHT CAMERA ISSUES AND THE CIVILIAN FINES BEFORE.

AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO INSTALL SECURITY SYSTEMS TO MONITOR THE CAMERAS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING VANDALIZED BY PEOPLE, THERE'S NO OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THOSE VANDALISM CALLS, THAT SORT OF SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

AND THEN REAL QUICK, AS FAR AS THE MAYOR'S THIRD TERM, I THINK IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

ARE WE BETTER TODAY THAN WE WERE BEFORE, WHEN HE STARTED, AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS, WE ARE NOT BETTER TODAY AND HE DOES NOT DESERVE A THIRD TERM.

>> Gene: REPORT CARD GRADE FOR THE MAYOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Tom: D-MINUS.

>> Gene: HEY, IT'S TOUGH BEING MAYOR IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS GOES.

WE WERE JOKING A LITTLE BIT OFF AIR, IF THIS WEAK MAYOR PROPOSAL PASSES SOMEHOW, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES WHO EITHER WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OR RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL?

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.

THANKS AGAIN TO THIS WONDERFUL PANEL, AS ALWAYS, FOR THIS WEEK, AND FOR LAST WEEK, AS WELL.

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THE LINE COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

AND CATCH ANY EPISODE YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED ON THE P APP, YOUR ROKU OR SMART TV.

>> Gene: WHAT DID HE MISS SPECIFICALLY, IN YOUR VIEW, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED TO HEAR, BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT ADDRESSED BY THE MAYOR?

>> Lewis: WELL, LOOK, WE ALL WANT CONCRETE ACTIONS, WE ALL WANT TO SEE, CERTAINLY, THESE POLICIES BEING EXECUTED THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE US SAFE AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET THIS LAST YEAR THAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED, HE'S ALREADY PROPOSED A LESS THAN -- YOU KNOW, FEWER OFFICERS THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S CITY COUNCIL HAS CONTINUED TO FUND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF OF OUR CITY BY THE TUNE OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS OF MONEY, MORE MONEY THAN OUR CITY HAS EVER HAD BEFORE, AND YET WE'RE STILL A DANGEROUS CITY WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF RESULTS.

AND SO THE MAYOR MENTIONED WHAT HE CALLED SOME CONCRETE ACTIONS.

HE TALKED ABOUT GUN CRIME, ENFORCING GUN CRIME DOWNTOWN.

WE SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING THIS.

THAT'S NOT A NEW IDEA.

HE TALKED ABOUT LARGE ENCAMPMENTS, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SMALL ENCAMPMENTS AND JUST THE GENERAL, YOU KNOW, SAFETY OF OUR STREETS AND OUR BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE'S HOMES.

AND IN THAT REGARD, I DON'T THINK WE'RE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO SOLVING OUR HOMELESS ISSUE, OR REALLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE IN THAT REGARD.

AND THIS MAYOR HAS HAD SO MUCH TIME TO DO THAT AND ALL THE MONEY THAT HE'S NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY RESULTS.

>> Gene: I WANT TO THANK MAYOR KELLER FOR SPENDING A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME WITH MY COLLEAGUE, LOU DiVIZIO, AND TO COUNCILOR DAN LEWIS FOR HIS TAKE ON FACEBOOK LIVE THIS WEEK, AS WELL AS THAT WONDERFUL PANEL TO CONSIDER IT ALL.

NOW, WE LEARNED A BIT MORE OVER THESE LAST TWO WEEKS.

THE MAYOR OFFICIALLY PLANS TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE WEAK MAYOR IDEA LURKS IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE HAVE A VOTE ON THIS IN COUNCIL IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

THESE ARE MOST INTERESTING TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FAIR CITY.

YEARS AGO, THEN MAYOR MARTY CHAVEZ LIKED TO USE THE PHRASE, ALBUQUERQUE IS GROWING UP.

I CAN T HELP BUT WONDER IF WE ARE POISED FOR A GENERATIONAL GROWTH SPURT OF SOME SORT.

IT FEELS LIKE IT.

AS COUNCILOR DAVIS PUT IT, WE ARE READY FOR RESULTS HERE AND NOTHING ELSE.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ITSELF.

HOW ARE WE TO INTERNALIZE THE MESSAGE?

TWO WEEKS LATER, CAN YOU RECALL THE MAIN THEMES?

THE PROMISES, OUTSIDE OF INTERNET TO EVERY HOME?

I DOUBT IT.

PERSONALLY, THE WHOLE APPROACH BY THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM WAS A BIT OVER THE TOP ON SHOW BUSINESS AND A BIT WOEFULLY SHORT ON NEW IDEAS.

A PRETTY DECENT CAMPAIGN OPENER, BUT TO A BUSINESS OWNER FRUSTRATED WITH BREAK-INS, A MOM IN FEAR OF THE SAFETY OF HER CHILDREN, THE HEAD OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION RUN OVER WITH CRIME, THEY NEEDED A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THEY HEARD.

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

WE LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.

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