>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION  AND THE NEEPER NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMMING FUND FOR KNME-TV.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, THE PRESIDENT'S COVID SUPPLY CHAIN  CHIEF IS A FORMER NEW MEXICAN TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC  EQUITABLY.

>> Manning: NOT JUST PUSHING  EVERYTHING INTO MAJOR URBAN AREAS, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET  EVERYWHERE.

>> Gene: PLUS THE RETURN OF  OUR LAND AS WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF GROUNDWATER  POLLUTION NEAR NEW MEXICO MILITARY BASES.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

THIS MONTH'S OUR LAND EPISODE  TAKES US TO A DAIRY OUTSIDE OF CLOVIS IMPACTED BY POLLUTANTS  FROM CANNON AIR FORCE BASE.

IT IS PART OF THE GROUNDWATER  WAR PROJECT.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE  STATE'S NEW FOUND CONFIDENCE IN GETTING KIDS INTO THE  CLASSROOM FULL-TIME BY EARLY APRIL AND ASK THE OPINION  PANEL ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EVERYONE  INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE DAY-TO-DAY IMPACTS ON PARENTS,  STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

OUR CREW ALSO WEIGHS IN ON THE  TWO-MAN TEAM THAT WILL LEAD ALBUQUERQUE BELEAGUERED POLICE  FORCE AND A NEW EFFORT TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR A  STATE-WIDE BROADBAND BUILD OUT.

HERE IS THE LINE.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN  GRISHAM AND EDUCATION SECRETARY RYAN STEWART ARE  STICKING TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL PLEDGE THE GOVERNOR MADE IN  THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LAST MONTH.

JOINING TO US TALK ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN AND THE WEEK'S  OTHER HEADLINES IS OUR LINE OPINION PANEL, LINE REGULAR  AND UNM LAW PROFESSOR, SERGE MARTINEZ IS BACK.

ANOTHER REGULAR, AND FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP DANIEL  FOLEY RETURNS FOR ANOTHER GO, AND HAPPY TO HAVE AS OUR GUEST  THIS WEEK, FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DIANE DENISH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AS WELL.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CALLING  FOR FULL RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR A WHILE.

WE'LL ONLY HAVE FIVE OR SIX WEEKS OF SCHOOL IN THE CURRENT  SCHOOL YEAR.

IS THAT BETTER THAN NOTHING,  DANIEL, OR IS THIS JUST, I DON'T KNOW, TOO LATE TO MAKE A  BIG DIFFERENCE, IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Dan: DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE  TALKING TO.

IT'S TOO LATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL  SENIORS.

AND IT IS JUST THE PANDEMIC,  THE WAY THINGS ARE.

I MEAN, TELLING SOME HIGH  SCHOOL SENIOR CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE GOING TO GET A MONTH OF  HIGH SCHOOL TO DO ALL THE HOME COMING AND PROM AND ALL THOSE  MAGICAL MOMENTS THAT EVERY ONE OF US REMEMBER ABOUT OUR HIGH  SCHOOL SENIOR YEAR, IT IS TOO LATE.

IF YOU'RE IN FIFTH GRADE, IT IS NOT TOO LATE.

SO, BUT, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT IS AN INDICTMENT ON ANY  INDIVIDUAL.

THAT IS JUST THE SYSTEM THE  WAY IT IS, RIGHT?

I GET IT.

IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH YEAR, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, AND THESE  KIDS HAVE NOT GOTTEN A FAIR SHAKE FROM THIS AND SO YOU  KNOW I THINK GETTING THEM BACK AT ANY POINT IS GOING TO BE --  GETTING THEM ANY SENSE OF NORMALCY IS GOING TO HELP.

I MEAN WE CANNOT IGNORE, YOU KNOW, THE SUICIDE RATE AND  OTHER ISSUES AMONG THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THIS TIME.

I THINK ANY RESEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY AND I THINK SCHOOLS  ARE WORKING REALLY HARD, DILIGENTLY.

THE GOVERNOR IS, THE LEGISLATURE IS, SCHOOL BOARDS  ARE, TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH OF THIS REALITY BACK TO KIDS AS  THEY POSSIBLY CAN WHILE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

ONE NEGATIVE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT TO ME THE FRUSTRATION  THAT I WATCH FROM THE OUTSIDE IF I WAS A PARENT WITH A KID  IN HIGH SCHOOL OR LOWER, THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE AN  INCONSISTENCY.

RIGHT?

IT IS WE HAVE GOT TO WEAR A MASK, WE DON'T GOT TO WEAR A  MASK, GOT TO BE 6 FEET APART, GOT TO GET 12 FEET APART, GOT  TO GET A SHOT, CAN'T GET A SHOT.

ONCE YOU HAVE IT, YOU'RE GOOD FOR THREE MONTHS, NOT  CONTAGIOUS.

THERE IS THIS PROCESS  EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS THAT  I DO THINK THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE TURNED TO  TO SAY, FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, I THINK THAT AT SOME LEVELS THEY  DROPPED THE BALL FOR US IN HINDSIGHT BUT HINDSIGHT IS  ALWAYS 2020.

>> Gene: IT IS A DIFFICULTY.

THIS THING WAS SO FAST MOVING, NO DOUBT.

HOW MUCH OF WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS GOING ON THIS IS BEING  DRIVEN BY WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS REALLY SORT  OF LAID OUT THERE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR GOALS.

IS THE GOVERNOR JUST LINING UP  WITH THE FEDERAL GOALS HERE?

>> Diane: I THINK THAT SHE IS  TRYING TO COMPLY WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S  DIRECTIVE OF GETTING KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

I AGREE WITH DAN, I THINK SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN  NOTHING, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER TEENAGE KIDS WHO REALLY NEED  THAT SOCIAL CONTACT.

HAVING A GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS  GOING TO GRADUATE IN MAY, I THINK GOING BACK TO SCHOOL FOR  HER IN OKLAHOMA IN FEBRUARY WAS A BIG DEAL.

I WILL SAY, ONE THING OUR GOVERNOR HAS DONE RIGHT ABOUT  THIS IS THEY HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND FORTH.

MANY STATES OPENED, HAD TO CLOSE, OPENED, HAD TO CLOSE  WHILE THE PANDEMIC -- AND NOW THAT THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY ON  THE DOWNTURN, THERE IS VACCINATIONS COMING IN GREAT  NUMBERS.

NEW MEXICO LEADS THE  VACCINATION RATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER AS A GOOD TIME TO  REOPEN SCHOOLS.

I DO THINK THERE IS A  WILLINGNESS TO COMPLY AND  FOLLOW THE NATIONAL DIRECTIVE.

>> Gene: SERGE, THE LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR MENTIONED THE WORD VACCINATION.

WE GOT TO GO THERE.

THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE  RETURN, SO TO SPEAK, FOR TEACHERS.

BOY, SHELBY PEREA AND COLLEEN HEILD IN THE JOURNAL NOTED  THAT NEW MEXICO ISN'T GETTING EXTRA DOSES IN.

CAN WE POSSIBLY GET ALL TEACHERS VACCINATED BY  APRIL 5?

IS THIS POSSIBLE?

>> Serge: I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG TASK AND ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN  PRIORITIZED A WHILE BACK.

I HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE  MESSAGING AS WELL AS SORT OF THE POLICIES SOME  INCONSISTENCIES.

WE WANT TO GET KIDS BACK TO  SCHOOL BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PRIORITIZE THE TEACHERS.

NOT ONLY SENDING MIXED MESSAGES BUT MAKING IT HARDER  TO ACCOMPLISH THIS REALLY IMPORTANT GOAL OF GETTING  STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, EVERYONE COMFORTABLE WITH  GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL  NUMBERS.

I KNOW THAT THE VACCINE  ROLLOUT HAS BEEN PROCEEDING AT PACE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL  MAKE -- GIVE EVERYONE THE COMFORT THEY NEED TO GET OPEN  BY APRIL 5.

I AM IMPRESSED WITH WHAT NEW  MEXICO HAS DONE THUS FAR.

>> Gene: SHOULD WE HAVE SLID  UP THE VACCINATION FOR THE TEACHERS IN THE CALENDAR?

TWO WEEKS WOULD HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU THINK  ABOUT IT.

>> Serge: I THINK IF THE GOAL  HAS BEEN AND WE HAD OUR EYES ON GETTING FOLKS BACK INTO  SCHOOL AND I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED  IN THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND HAD A CONSISTENT MESSAGE AND  POLICY ABOUT THAT.

>> Gene: JUST A REMINDER,  GOVERNOR MENTIONED THIS IN THE STATE OF THE STATE IN JANUARY.

IT WASN'T AS IF IT WAS JUST THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, BUT,  DANIEL, I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHT ON THIS, TOO, A  LOT OF THIS DEPENDS ON WHERE FAMILIES DECIDE TO FALL ON  THIS.

MEANING, YOU KNOW, THERE  REMAINS THE FULLY REMOTE OPTION AND FOR A LOT OF  FAMILIES THEY ARE NOT TRUSTING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OUT  THERE.

IF A LARGE NUMBER OF FAMILIES  DECIDE TO STAY REMOTE, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE EQUATION?

>> Dan: IT IS AN INTERESTING SCENARIO.

IN MY REAL LIFE WE WORK WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SOME  PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND IT HAS BEEN BOTH CHALLENGING AND AN  OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?

I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH  ONE OF MY PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT WE REPRESENT IN ALBUQUERQUE  WHO WAS SAYING THEIR STUDENT POPULATION HAS BOOMED AND  BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY MASTER THIS REMOTE  LEARNING.

AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS DON'T  WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL AND  THEY ARE THINKING THIS IS A MODEL THEY CAN NOW REPLICATE  AROUND NEW MEXICO WITHOUT HAVING TO BUILD A BUILDING.

IF YOU WANT TO GET AN EDUCATION FROM ONE OF THESE  SCHOOLS, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO SANDIA PREP OR ALBUQUERQUE  ACADEMY AND YOU LIVE IN ROSWELL, YOU KNOW, THIS REMOTE  LEARNING HAS REALLY ENHANCED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

SO, IT ALWAYS -- THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE KNOWING  WHICH KIDS ARE COMING ON WHAT DAY AND HOW THEY DO IT.

I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT WE'RE FOREVER GOING TO BE IN A  HYBRID MODEL ESPECIALLY WITH OLDER KIDS GOING FORWARD WHICH  ISN'T REALLY ODD, RIGHT?

I REMEMBER TALKING TO MY  PARENTS AND MY PARENTS FROM THE TIME THEY WERE --  OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE BOTH PASSED AWAY AND WOULD BE IN THEIR  80'S TODAY, BUT MY DAD AND MOM USED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR  SOPHOMORE YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ONLY WENT TO SCHOOL UNTIL  NOON AND THEN THEY WERE DONE AT NOON AND THEY HAD A JOB  BECAUSE YOU HAD TO GET A JOB AND YOU HAD TO HELP YOUR  FAMILY.

AND AT THE TIME MY MOM WENT TO  SCHOOL THERE WERE 11,000 KIDS IN HER CLASS, LITERALLY,  BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL IN BROOKLYN.

SO YOU HAD FOUR DIFFERENT -- KIDS WENT FROM 6 TO 10 AND 11  TO 3 AND 3 TO 7 AND THEY DID ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T THINK OUR COUNTRY WAS THAT BAD.

I THINK IT IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE CONVERSATION  THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- I THINK WE HAVE BEEN FAILING IN THIS  COUNTRY WHICH IS NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO COLLEGE AND  VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT IN THE  WORKFORCE.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME  OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESSES TO RISE OUT OF THIS TO BE  HELPFUL, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THERE  HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HOME  SCHOOL, RIGHT, AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEIZE  ON THIS OPPORTUNITY AND GET RESOURCES WHICH I DON'T THINK  IS A BAD THING.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE I  TALKED TO WHO HAVE SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF MY KID IS FIT TO  GO BACK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN HOURS A DAY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WE MAXIMIZE THIS MOVING  FORWARD.

>> Gene: AND I'LL THROW BACK  IN YOUR PREVIOUS FLAP OF THE BALANCE HOW WE KEEP KIDS  MENTALLY STABLE, WITH SOCIAL INTERACTION, ALL THAT KIND OF  THING TOO.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I  MENTIONED STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, OF COURSE, BUT  ANOTHER ANGLE OF THAT FROM THE GOVERNOR WAS ON VACCINATIONS  IS THAT TEACHERS, THE UNION SPECIFICALLY, WERE ON BOARD AT  THAT TIME AND THAT THINGS WERE PLOWING FORWARD.

IN FACT, SANTA FE HAS AGREEMENT IN PLACE THAT  TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK UNTIL THEY ARE VACCINATED.

I FIND THIS SORT OF INTERESTING.

I AM INTERESTED IN WHERE YOU ARE AT WITH UNIONS.

WHERE SHOULD TEACHERS BE ON THIS RIGHT NOW?

>> Diane: THAT IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA SAID AT ONE POINT,  HE SAID THAT IF YOU'RE WAITING UNTIL 100% OF TEACHERS ARE  VACCINATED, THEN WE ARE NEVER GOING TO OPEN UP BECAUSE THERE  IS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF TEACHERS WHO ARE  NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED AND A CERTAIN  SEGMENT WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE VACCINATED.

I DON'T THINK THE UNION CAN SATISFY ALL THOSE INTERESTS.

I THINK GOING BACK ON APRIL 5 IS GOING TO BE A TEST FOR  TEACHERS AND A DIFFICULT ONE OF WHETHER THEY CAN DO A  COMBINED HYBRID, IN-PERSON LEARNING.

IF YOU READ SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THAT,  IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT MODEL IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COMBINE  THAT IN ONE CLASSROOM OR ONE SUBJECT MATTER.

IT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER.

AND PAYING THE ATTENTION TO  KIDS THAT ARE THERE IN PERSON AND KIDS THAT ARE ON THEIR  ZOOM LINK, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH BUT I THINK  FRANKLY I THINK THE UNIONS HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATING ON THIS  AND GET READY FOR IT.

I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE EARLIER  MODEL OF EDUCATING REALLY MUCH EARLIER, VACCINATING EDUCATORS  EARLIER, THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS VACCINATED SO EVEN IF THEY  WERE GETTING THEIR VACCINATIONS WAY BACK AT THE  BEGINNING, PARENTS WEREN'T BEING VACCINATED, GRANDPARENTS  WEREN'T BEING VACCINATED, VIRUS WAS STILL OUT THERE AND  AS YOU LEARN WHEN YOU GET VACCINATED, LIKE I HAVE BEEN,  THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET IT.

IT MEANS YOU MAY NOT DIE FROM IT AND YOU ARE MAYBE NOT GOING  TO BE HOSPITALIZED BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING  TO GET THE VIRUS.

>> Dan: INTERESTING THING IS,  I AM HEARING TALK OF PEOPLE DRIVING TO AMARILLO TO GET THE  SHOT.

>> Gene: FROM NEW MEXICO, THAT  IS RIGHT.

>> Dan: THERE   IS NO LIST.

>> Gene: IT IS EVERYONE 65 OR  OLDER IN TEXAS.

>> Dan: IN TEXAS THEY HAVE AN  ABUNDANCE OF SHOTS.

>> Diane: I HAVE EXPERIENCE  WITH THAT.

SOMEONE WENT AND THEY ASKED WHY AND THE  AMARILLO PEOPLE SAID, WE WERE FORCED TO OPEN IT UP BECAUSE  WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN TEXAS WHO ARE WILLING TO GET  THE VACCINE.

SO, THEY WERE GOING TO WASTE  THEIR DOSES, SO THEY HAVE INVITED PEOPLE FROM ALL  SURROUNDING STATES AND THEIR PARKING LOTS APPARENTLY ARE  FULL OF NEW MEXICO LICENSE PLATES.

>> Gene: WOW.

>> Diane: NO AGE LIMIT OR --  >> Gene: THE SCHOOLS SAGA CONTINUES.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR NOW WITH THIS GROUP.

BACK IN A FEW MINUTES, THOUGH, TO TAKE ABOUT BROADBAND  SERVICE AND WHETHER A NEW COHESIVE PLAN IS AHEAD ON THAT  ISSUE FOR NEW MEXICO.

>> Schaap:   I NEED YOU TO COME HERE AND CHECK MY WATER AND  CHECK MY MILK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THAT MILK SUPPLY  CONTAMINATE WHAT GOES TO THE PUBLIC.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE IT WAS AT.

THEY CAME OUT AND DID A TEST AND THEY SAID, WELL, IF THIS  COMES POSITIVE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START DUMPING  YOUR MILK AND YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR GRADE A PERMIT.

I SAID I UNDERSTAND.

I JUST NEED TO KNOW.

>> Gene: TIM MANNING IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NATIONAL  COVID SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATOR.

THAT MEANS HE IS PART OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND IN CHARGE  OF GETTING VITAL PPE SUPPLIES TO ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THAT CAN BE ESPECIALLY TRICKY IN A PLACE LIKE NEW MEXICO,  SOMETHING MR. MANNING KNOWS WELL SINCE HE LED THE STATE  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY  MANAGEMENT UNDER THEN GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON.

PRODUCER MATT GRUBS SPOKE TO MR. MANNING RECENTLY ABOUT THE  CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND HOW HIS TIME IN NEW  MEXICO INFORMED HIS WORK.

>> Matt: TIM MANNING, THANKS  SO MUCH FOR TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO  CHAT WITH US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT IS REALLY MY FIRST QUESTION.

WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION CONTACTED YOU, WHAT WERE THEY  ASKING YOU TO DO?

>> Manning: MATT, WHEN I  STARTED TALKING TO FOLKS IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION  THROUGH THE FALL AND COMING UP IN TRANSITION, YOU KNOW, IT  WAS CLEAR, I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS CLEAR ALL  THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN THAT HE HAVE SAW A NEED FOR A CLOSER  COORDINATION, INTEGRATION OF THE COVID RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW, PULLING THE GOVERNMENT TOGETHER, AND  HAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSUME ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN  SUPPORTING THE STATES AND COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE  COUNTRY IN PROVIDING THE ASSISTANCE NECESSARY AND, IN  PARTICULAR, THE ROLL HE ASKED ME TO FILL AS SUPPLY  COORDINATOR REALLY COMES OUT OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE  EARLY PARTS OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN STATES WERE HAVING TO BID  AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR CRITICAL SUPPLIES AND TESTING  AND PPE.

AND THEN AS WE CAME THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES  AND RAMP UP OF MANUFACTURING OF VACCINES AND DISTRIBUTION,  THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR -- SAW A NEED AND CALLED FOR  SOMEBODY TO COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS ALL ACROSS THE  GOVERNMENT AND GET -- WORK WITH STATES AMONG THE STATES  AND COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS MATERIAL,  WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, PPE, THERAPEUTICS, TESTING,  DIAGNOSTICS, VACCINES, SUPPORT FOR VACCINES, HAS WHAT THEY  NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT AND THAT WE BUILD THE CAPACITY IN  AMERICA, BUILDING ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING CAPACITY HERE SO  WE NEVER FIND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION AGAIN.

>> Matt: A LOT OF NOW BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF  LOOKING FORWARD AS WELL.

>> Manning: DEFINITELY.

>> Matt: YOU ARE PART OF A TEAM THERE.

WHO ELSE IS ON THE TEAM AND HOW DO YOU GUYS COORDINATE  WITH EACH OTHER?

>> Manning: THE WHITE HOUSE  COVID RESPONSE TEAM.

THERE IS QUITE A FEW OF US  WORKING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

ALTHOUGH, OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

MOST OF US ARE STILL DISTRIBUTED WORKING SAFELY  FROM HOME AND KEEPING THE STATE OF THE WORKPLACE SITE.

JEFF ZIENTS IS THE COVID COORDINATOR WORKING DIRECTLY  FOR THE PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF THE  OTHER KEY COORDINATOR POSITIONS ALONG WITH THE  SUPPLY COORDINATOR.

MY COLLEAGUES CAROLE JOHNSON  TESTING COORDINATOR, BECHARA CHOUCAI AS VACCINE COORDINATOR  POLICY COORDINATOR, AND DR. NUNEZ-SMITH AS THE EQUITY  COORDINATOR.

YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANT THING  IS EVERYTHING WE DO IS GROUNDED IN EQUITY AND MAKING  SURE THAT WE ACCOUNT FOR AND TAKE CARE OF ALL AMERICANS.

IT IS A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, SOME OF THE MOST  BRILLIANT PUBLIC HEALTH AND CRISIS RESPONSE PEOPLE I HAVE  EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH.

IT'S AND HONOR AND PLEASURE TO  WORK WITH THEM ALL EVERYDAY.

>> Matt: I CAN SEE THE  ATTRACTIVENESS OF THAT JOB FOR YOU.

WHEN YOU WALKED IN ON DAY ONE, WHAT WAS THE SITUATION LIKE  AND WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT HOW YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO  IMPROVE ON THAT?

>> Manning: WELL, YOU KNOW,   AS IS OFTEN SAID, CREDIT WHERE  CREDIT IS DUE.

THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK  ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY AND RESPONSE  COMMUNITY ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING JUST COUNTLESS HOURS, YOU KNOW,  VERY LITTLE SLEEP TO TRY TO PROTECT AMERICANS BUT WHEN WE  GOT HERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF EFFORT IN THE  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN VACCINES BUT THERE WAS NO  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR TURNING THOSE VACCINES INTO  VACCINATIONS.

THERE WAS POCKETS OF STRONG  WORK ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT BUT NO REAL STRONG CENTRALIZED  COORDINATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUCH LESS, YOU  KNOW, A PLAN TO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND  COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS WRITE A STRATEGY, ACTUALLY  WRITE A PLAN, AND THE PRESIDENT UNVEILED THAT ON  THURSDAY AFTER HIS INAUGURATION, THE FIRST DAY  AFTER INAUGURATION.

AND THAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY  DEALING WITH PROVIDING KIND OF THE FUNDAMENTAL SUPPORT IN ALL  OF THOSE KEY AREAS, TESTING, DIAGNOSTICS, TO MAKE SURE WE  UNDERSTAND WHERE THE DISEASE IS, WHAT IS THE PROGRESS, HOW  IS IT AFFECTING PEOPLE AND NOW IMPORTANTLY, WHERE VARIANTS  ARE POPPING UP, MUTATIONS IN THE VIRUS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP  TRACK OF WHERE THERE IS INCREASING SEVERITY OR  QUICKENING SPREAD.

AND, GETTING PPE DEVELOPED,  GETTING NEW PPE MANUFACTURED WHERE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TO  BEGIN WITH AND GETTING IT OUT TO FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

AND PROBABLY MOST CRITICALLY RIGHT NOW IS THE VACCINATION  EFFORTS.

EVERYTHING YOU'RE SEEING NOW,  COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTERS, BRINGING FEMA TO THE TABLE TO  BUILD THESE LARGE FEDERALLY-RUN,  FEDERALLY-SUPPORTED VACCINATION EFFORTS ALL ACROSS  THE COUNTRY.

NONE OF THAT WAS HERE WHEN WE  GOT HERE.

THIS IS ALL WORK WE HAVE DONE  WITH THE SORT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND FEMA AND  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND HEALTH AND HUMAN  SERVICES, VA, EVERYBODY COMING TO THE TABLE TO HELP.

>> Matt: IT HAS BEEN A DOZEN YEARS OR SO SINCE YOU WORKED  IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

BUT YOU DON'T FORGET THE  WIDE-OPEN SPACES AND UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT IT FOR SURE.

WHAT DOES A STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO PRESENT TO YOU IN TERMS  OF SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES AND HOW IS THAT ECHOED MAYBE  ACROSS THE WEST?

>> Manning: THE SUPPLY CHAIN  CHALLENGES IN A RESPONSE LIKE THIS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY  COMPLICATED KIND OF EVERYWHERE.

EVERYWHERE POSES ITS OWN CHALLENGES.

NEW MEXICO IS UNIQUE IN BEING THE FIFTH LARGEST STATE BUT  35TH IN POPULATION, YOU KNOW.

THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY GREAT  STRONG CLOSE KNIT BUT VERY RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH LARGE  DISTANCES BETWEEN THEM.

THERE IS A LOT OF THE WORK WE  HAVE BEEN DOING IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THAT  SUPPORT EQUITABLY AND THAT MEANS NOT JUST PUSHING  EVERYTHING INTO MAJOR URBAN AREAS, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET  EVERYWHERE AND THAT WE CAN GET VACCINES, FOR EXAMPLE, INTO  PLACES THAT PEOPLE GO FOR THEIR CARE AND GO FOR  VACCINATIONS WHICH IS WHY WE ARE FOCUSED ON DOING LOT OF  SUPPORT THROUGH LARGE COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTERS  ALSO FOCUSED ON PUSHING THROUGH FEDERALLY QUALIFIED  HEALTH CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND FEDERAL  PARTNERSHIPS WITH PHARMACIES SO WE CAN BRING THE VACCINE TO  MORE DISTANT RURAL COMMUNITIES.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND LINES OF  COMMUNICATION IN VACCINE OPERATION IS THAT ONE OF THE  MAJOR VACCINES RIGHT NOW, THE PFIZER VACCINE, GREAT VACCINE,  VERY EFFECTIVE, BUT VERY CHALLENGING LOGISTICALLY.

IT REQUIRES STORAGE AT MINUS 80 DEGREES.

SO, THE COLD CHAIN, WE CALL IT, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT  GETTING IT TO FAR MORE REMOTE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF  DEFENSE STATISTICS AGENCY AND LOTS OF GREAT STATISTICIANS AT  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS THROUGH  THE OPERATION TO BRING THAT SUPPORT EVERYWHERE.

WE ARE DOING GREAT WORK WITH THE NAVAJO NATION, YOU KNOW.

YOU MENTIONED, MATT, NEW MEXICO IS CLOSE TO MY HEART  AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING -- JUST  THE TIME LINE THAT IT TAKES TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO THE  OTHER.

SO, WE ARE TAKING GREAT PAINS  TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, INTO  AMERICA'S HEARTLAND.

>> Matt: SURE.

SPEAKING OF THE NAVAJO NATION, DR. FAUCI SPOKE WITH US  RECENTLY AND TALKED A BIT ABOUT THE STRIDES THAT THE  NATIVE COMMUNITIES HAVE MADE IN DELIVERING THE VACCINE IN  NEW MEXICO AT RATES THAT EXCEED THE REST OF THE  POPULATION.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SAME KIND OF  SUCCESS IN YOUR PART OF THIS PUZZLE, OR IS THERE STILL WORK  TO BE DONE THERE?

>> Manning: I WOULD SAY WE ARE  SEEING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE PLACES, YOU KNOW, AREAS WHERE  WE HAVE TO DO MORE WORK AND WATCHING VERY, VERY CLOSELY.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF DATA SCIENTISTS LOOKING AT EVERYDAY  WE SEE HOW MANY VACCINATIONS HAPPENED, WHERE DID THEY  HAPPEN?

AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO PUT  MORE RESOURCES?

WHAT COMMUNITIES COULD USE MORE  SUPPORT?

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY NEW  MEXICO IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF A LOT OF REALLY GREAT  PRACTICES THAT WE CAN TAKE AND USE IN OTHER PLACES.

WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING PROGRESS.

WE ARE JUST IN THE AGE GROUP OF 70 AND OVER, RIGHT ABOUT  60% OF THE POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED NOW, COMING ON 50%  FOR PEOPLE 60 AND OLDER.

THERE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT  PROGRESS.

THAT SAID,   WE MADE A TRAGIC MILESTONE LAST WEEK, RIGHT AT  HALF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVING PASSED AWAY FROM THIS DISEASE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF  WORK LEFT TO DO AND WE'LL KEEP AT IT UNTIL WE GET EVERYBODY  WHO NEEDS SUPPORT.

>> Matt: SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN POLITICS THAT YOU KNOW, IS YOU NEVER  KNOW WHO YOU'LL MEET DOWN THE ROAD.

OUR GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, WAS A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS IN THE  CABINET FOR THEN GOVERNOR RICHARDSON.

HAVE YOU TWO HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK AT ALL ABOUT NEW  MEXICO'S SITUATION?

>> Manning: WE HAVE NOT HAD A  CHANCE TO CATCH UP PERSONALLY YET, BUT I HAVE WORKED VERY  CLOSELY WITH MATT GARCIA, HER CHIEF OF STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF  HER CABINET AND BIANCA ORTIZ WERTHEIM IS IN MY OLD  POSITION.

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF  OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HER TEAM ALL ACROSS NEW  MEXICO AND HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE DAYS -- JUST SO HAPPENS  WE KEEP MISSING IN THE MEETINGS.

I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH HER YET,  HOPEFULLY ONE OF THE DAYS WE WILL.

>> Matt: YOU SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE NEXT  TIME BECAUSE AS WE KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A NEXT  TIME, PARTICULARLY WITH THINGS LIKE VIRUSES.

AS YOU LOOK AT THAT SITUATION, IS IT TOO SOON TO START  PLANNING, TO START FIGURING OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO  PRODUCE PPE IN THE U.S. WHERE COMPANIES CAN MAKE A PROFIT OR  THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO THAT?

>> Manning: IT IS NEVER TOO  EARLY TO START PLANNING FOR  THAT KIND OF THING.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY  WORKING ON THAT.

THAT IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR  US.

SO, WE ARE FOCUSED ON  RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC TODAY AND THAT MEANS GETTING  CRITICAL MATERIAL INTO THE HANDS OF THE RESPONDERS RIGHT  NOW.

AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT IN  A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CLEAR,  ALL ALONG, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD  DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING CAPACITY IN THESE KEY CRITICAL  AREAS, THAT WE TREAT PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, PANDEMIC  PREPAREDNESS LIKE WE DO NATIONAL SECURITY PREPAREDNESS  AND BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL BASE FOR PANDEMIC RESPONSE THE WAY  WE BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL BASE AROUND NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE HAVE LOST MORE AMERICANS THAN MANY WARS COMBINED  THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND THERE IS NO MORE STARK  REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO PUT ALL OUR NATIONAL EFFORTS  AROUND BUILDING AND SUSTAINING THIS CAPACITY.

SO WE ARE ABSOLUTELY -- WHEN YOU HEAR A LOT OF REFERENCES  TO THE USE OF THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, WHAT THAT  OFTEN MEANS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT MEANS BUILDING NEW  INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY, BUILDING IT IN A WAY THAT IS  SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG-TERM SO WE NEVER FIND OURSELVES IN  THE SITUATION WE DID LAST SPRING, THAT WE HAVE THE KEY  COMMODITIES, KEY EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL, EVERYTHING FROM PPE  TO VACCINE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA  AND READY TO RESPOND WHATEVER MAY COME.

>> Matt: TIM MANNING, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Manning: THANK YOU.

>> Gene: IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, GOVERNOR LUJAN  GRISHAM CHALLENGED LAWMAKERS TO SPEND FULLY HALF OF THEIR  CAPITAL OUTLAY ON BROADBAND EXPANSION.

SHE CALLED IT, QUOTE, THE MOST URGENTLY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE  INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE AS A STATE.

THE SENATE AND HOUSE HAVE EACH PASSED A BILL TO CREATE A  STATE OFFICE FOR BROADBAND ACCESS AND EXPANSION.

NOTING THERE IS NO STATE-WIDE PLAN FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION  AND SAYING THAT MEANS NEW MEXICO IS DOING SOMETHING IT  RARELY DOES, LEAVE FEDERAL MATCHING DOLLARS ON THE TABLE.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THIS ISSUE FOR A  LONG TIME.

WHY HAS THIS BEEN SUCH A TOUGH  NUT TO CRACK?

JUST MONEY OR SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES MONEY?

>> Diane: WELL, I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE COST OF  INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT IS NOT SOMETIMES AS SEXY AS  SOME OF THE POLICY ISSUES.

I WILL SAY IT HAS BEEN ABOUT  NINE TO 10 YEARS COMING TO WHAT THEY HAVE JUST PASSED IN  THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS TO FINALLY PUT IT IN THE OFFICE  OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HAVE A COMPLETE DIVISION THAT  CAN TAKE ALL THE SIX FUNCTIONS, EFFICIENCY,  GOVERNANCE AND GETTING TO -- THE REAL SUCCESSES WILL BE  MORE ACCESS TO FEDERAL DOLLARS AND RURAL NEW MEXICO FINDING  OUT WHERE WE DON'T NEED FCC STANDARDS AND WHAT WE LEARNED  IN THE PANDEMIC IS THAT PEOPLE CAN WORK ANYWHERE.

THEY CAN'T WORK ANYWHERE IF THEY DON'T HAVE CONNECTIVITY  SO I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN HILLSBORO, NEW MEXICO  PEOPLE TRYING TO COME THERE AND BUY HOUSES THAT TEACH  CLASSES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THEY JUST CAN'T DO IT  BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONNECTIVITY TO MAKE SURE THEY  CAN DO THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO, BUT WANT TO WORK REMOTELY  IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY.

SO SENATOR MICHAEL PADILLA HAS BEEN REALLY WORKING THIS ISSUE  FOR THE LAST SIX OR EIGHT YEARS AND FINALLY I THINK THIS  IS A REAL SUCCESSFUL BILL CREATING OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WAS  SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THEM ALL TO, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE MONEY  TO THE BROADBAND EFFORT.

>> Gene: IT IS A BIG ASK.

>> Diane: THERE IS LOTS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING IN AND  WE CAN MATCH SOME OF THOSE AND IT IS A STEP FORWARD IN  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FRANKLY.

>> Gene: SERGE, SENATOR  PADILLA IS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

HE SAYS THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE A BLUEPRINT FOR BROADBAND AS  IT STANDS NOW.

I WOULD PERSONALLY TAKE ISSUE  FOR THAT.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT  OF BLUEPRINTS OUT THERE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS BUT WE ARE HERE  NOW.

WE ARE NOT SURE HOW MUCH MONEY  AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MENTIONED IS GOING TO COME OUT  OF THE SESSION, BUT WE DO KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE 10'S OF  MILLIONS, AND MAYBE EVEN NINE FIGURES.

HOW SHOULD WE START?

>> Serge: WELL, THAT IS A  GREAT QUESTION, GENE.

>> Gene: TOUGH ONE.

WHO WINS EARLY?

IT IS DIFFICULT.

>> Serge: THE START IS TO FOCUS ON, SAY, LOOK, WE ARE  STARTING NOW TO RECOGNIZE THAT BROADBAND IS NOT JUST A LUXURY  AND DE-COMMODIFYING IT, TREATING IT AS A UTILITY,  SOMETHING ESSENTIAL TO NOT THIS IDEA OF WORK, BUT HEALTH,  EDUCATION, ACCESS, POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, ALL OF THESE  THINGS.

SO I THINK THE PLACE TO START  IS TO OBVIOUSLY FOCUS ON THE PLACES THAT HAVE NO  CONNECTIVITY, THAT HAVE NO ACCESS AND THEY ARE LOSING OUT  AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, JUST LAST  WEEK JEMEZ PUEBLO TURNED ON ITS BROADBAND ACCESS   THAT IT OWNS.

IT ITS TRIBALLY OWNED WITH OTHERS, RIGHT.

LOOKING AT THOSE MODELS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT BROADBAND  IS NOT GOING TO BE -- INCENTIVIZING THE MARKET HAS  NOT WORKED.

THE MARKET HAS FAILED A LOT OF  FOLKS IN NEW MEXICO.

LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REALLY  APPROACH THAT NOT AGAIN AS A COMMODITY OR LOOK AT SOME SORT  OF MARKET SOLUTION, BUT SAY HOW DO WE IMMEDIATELY ROLL  THIS OUT TO THE PLACES THAT NEED IT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND  TO THE STANDARDS THAT NOT JUST WHAT FCC SAYS, BUT WHAT WE  THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE STANDARD THAT ALLOWS YOU  TO GO TO SCHOOL NOW AND IN A FEW YEARS AND LOOK DOWN THE  ROAD AS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO AS A STATE.

I APPLAUD THAT BUT THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME WE HAVE  HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW CRUCIAL THIS IS.

I AM EXCITED THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND WE ARE STARTING  TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THIS AS A STATE.

>> Dan: DANIEL, CLIFF PIRTLE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN  ABOUT THE IDEA OF YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE TO HANDLE  SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IN A LOT OF STATES IS HANDLED BY  THE PRIVATE SIDE, HONESTLY, THROUGH INVESTMENT.

DO YOU SHARE THAT CONCERN THAT WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER OFFICE  IN PERSONNEL AND SALARY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WITH  IT?

>> Dan: YOU LOVE TO GET ME TO  BE THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT, GENE.

I AM WITH YOU.

I GOT IT.

I AM NOT SURE THAT THERE IS  NOT A FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT THAT CAN HANDLE THIS TODAY IF  THEY WANT TO HANDLE IT BUT I THINK WE ARE MISSING THE REAL  DISCUSSION, RIGHT?

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LACK  OF DESIRE TO WANT TO HAVE BROADBAND IN NEW MEXICO.

I THINK, ONE, THERE IS A LACK OF FINANCES, TWO, IT IS AN  UNBELIEVABLE COST.

SINCE I WAS IN THE  LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL ABOUT RUNNING CABLE.

THEN IT ALL BECAME ABOUT FUNNING FIBEROPTICS AND THEN  ABOUT GETTING THE G, G1, G2, 3.

NOW WE'RE UP TO G5.

5G SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST -- NOW YOU HAVE -- SO, I MEAN AT SOME  POINT, I AM WITH YOU, GENE, WE HAVE HAD BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT WE  CAN DO.

THE PROBLEM IS, UNLIKE OTHER  STATES, RHODE ISLAND, NEW YORK, EVEN CALIFORNIA, TEXAS  TO SOME EXTENT, WHEN YOU LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT HILLSBORO, DRILLING TWO MILES  OF CABLE TO GET IT LAID IN THAT COMMUNITY IS NOT CHEAP.

IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

>> Gene: A HALF A MILLION A  MILE.

>> Dan: YOU TALK ABOUT HOW DO  WE WIRE NEW MEXICO AND ON THE FLIP SIDE I SPENT A LOT OF  TIME IN MY MOTOR HOME AND A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT  GETTING INTERNET IN MOTOR HOMES.

YOU GOT ELON MUSK WORKING WITH SATELLITE THAT IS WORKING TO  GIVE SATELLITE BROADBAND ACCESS, $135 A MONTH RIGHT  NOW.

IT IS NOT OUT COMPLETELY.

IT IS ABOUT $400 TO GET THE  EQUIPMENT, 135 A MONTH.

AS LONG AS YOU GOT A STRAIGHT  SHOT TO THE SKY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET 5G QUALITY  INTERNET SERVICE ANYWHERE.

SO, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS  THAT HAS BEEN AROUND IN NEW MEXICO IN THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN,  YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE DECIDED TO JUMP ON BOARD FOR  SOMETHING, WE ARE ON THE TAIL END OF IT, RIGHT?

YOU WANT TO GO RUN A BUNCH OF CABLE AND THEN IT IS WIRELESS.

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT SPACE PORT, WE  TALKED ABOUT RAIL RUNNER, WE SHOULD BE AT THE FRONT END OF  THE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU GET SOMETHING  ON THE FRONT END THAT KIND OF WORKS IN RURAL NEW MEXICO, IT  IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS  TO TELL THESE FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO DIG UP ALL THE  MOUNTAINS, ALL THE ROADS AND RUN THESE CABLES AND FIVE  YEARS AFTER WE DO ALL THIS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN  OPTION ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CABLES DON'T HANDLE THE ACTUAL  SERVICE.

>> Gene: THAT   IS A LEGIT CONCERN.

TECHNOLOGY MOVES ON.

>> Dan: I THINK THERE IS A  SOLUTION TO.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE  SATELLITE.

>> Gene: YOU WOULDN'T BE ALONE  ON THAT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, OUR  DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PUT A PRICE FOR AN  ENTIRE BROADBAND ROLLOUT STATE-WIDE OF TWO TO FIVE  BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT WAS A LOT OF STICKER  SHOCK.

LFC REACTED PRETTY STRONGLY.

DO WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS  THE PRICE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY?

IF WE WANT TO PLAY GLOBALLY WE HAVE TO PONY UP BIG TO MAKE  THIS HAPPEN.

WHO HAS TO SELL THIS IDEA?

HOW DO WE DO THIS TWO TO FIVE BILLION.

>> Diane: IT IS A MATTER OF CHANGE OF THINKING.

THE CULTURE ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ROADS AND  HIGHWAYS AND TRAINS AND BUSES AND MAYBE EVEN BUILDINGS BUT  BROADBAND IS BECOMING A PART OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF  LIFE AND SO WE DO NEED TO CHANGE THAT THINKING.

BUT IF THERE IS EVER A TIME TO DO IT AND TO DO WHAT THIS BILL  IS DOING TO BRING TOGETHER -- IT HAS BEEN VERY SPREAD OUT.

THERE ARE MANY AGENCIES INVOLVED AND THIS WILL BE A  CHANCE FOR THOSE TO COME TOGETHER UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.

IF THERE IS EVER A TIME TO DO IT, IT IS NOW WHEN WE GET THE  FEDERAL MONEYS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND  MAKE SOME OF THOSE FIRST INVESTMENTS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN VERY SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES REALLY  IS SOMEWHAT DEPENDENT ON THAT.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO THRIVE OR  IF THEY ARE JUST GOING TO BE OLDER COMMUNITIES WHERE  THINGS -- WHERE THE POPULATION DIES OUT AND THEY GO AWAY AND  CLOSE THE POST OFFICE AND THEY ARE DONE.

SO, I THINK THAT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON A BROADER SCALE  OUTSIDE OF THE MOST POPULATED AREAS, IT IS A REAL CRITICAL  ELEMENT AND I HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE FUTURE  CONTINUES BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO BE JUST UNDER THIS  ADMINISTRATION OR EVEN MAYBE THE NEXT ONE.

>> Gene: I WANT TO SUPPORT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S THOUGHT  ON THAT.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT,  GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE IS A HUGE PUSH RIGHT NOW  TO GET BROADBAND IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MENTIONED LIKE SMALLER NEW MEXICO  COMMUNITIES BECAUSE FOLKS WANT TO WORK REMOTELY.

THERE ARE FOLKS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY LOOKING FOR SOME PLACE  TO GO SMALLER BUT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

WE HAVE TO GET AFTER THIS.

THAT WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR  BROADBAND.

THOUGH, WITHOUT QUESTION, IT  WILL COME UP HERE AGAIN.

UP NEXT, LAURA PASKUS AND OUR  LAND.

>> Laura: IN 2018 ART SCHAAP  LEARNED THAT THE WATER IN HIS HOME AND HIS DAIRY NEXT TO  CANNON AIR FORCE BASE WAS POLLUTED.

TOXIC CHEMICALS USED IN FIRE FIGHTING FOAMS AT THE BASE HAD  SEEPED INTO THE GROUNDWATER AND THE WATER HE AND HIS  FAMILY DRINK, THE WATER HIS MILK COWS DRINK.

TOXIC CHEMICALS OR PFAS OR POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

THIS MONTH ON OUR LAND, SCHAAP TELLS HIS STORY ABOUT FINDING  OUT WATER WAS CONTAMINATED, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS  BUSINESS AND WHAT HE HOPES HAPPENS BEFORE THE TOXIC  POLLUTION SPREADS FURTHER.

>> Schaap: MY GRANDFATHER GAVE  ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A HERD OF COWS.

AND I MILKED THOSE ANIMALS AND I WAS EVENTUALLY GROWING AND  THEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THIS LAND HERE IN CLOVIS  IN 1992.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE 33 YEARS  GOING ON 34 THIS SUMMER.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLACE.

I THOUGHT THE LOCATION WAS PERFECT.

WE HAD GOOD GROUNDWATER HERE AND WAS ABLE -- GOOD SOILS TO  GROW FEED FOR THE ANIMALS.

IT HAS BEEN A GOOD RUN.

THEN WHAT IS NICE, TOO, BEING NEXT TO THE AIR FORCE BASE,  YOU GET TO WATCH THE AIR SHOWS AND YOU GOT A SHOW EVERYDAY.

THEM GUYS WITH THE PLANES, THE F16'S, F111'S, THE OSPREYS, WE  HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS LAND HERE.

THEY WOULD PRACTICE PUTTING OUT FIRES.

THEY HAVE A FLAME THEY PUT OUT A FIRE OR THEY HAVE MOCK  WRECKS AND THEN THEY WOULD PUT IT OUT.

AND SO, I MEAN, THEY WOULD DO THAT QUITE A BIT.

AND THAT IS WHEN ALL THE STORY KIND OF BEGINS WITH THE PFAS.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT PFAS AND PFOA WAS.

WE HAD NO IDEA.

TO THIS DAY I COULDN'T TELL  YOU HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT.

I WOULD JUST SCRAMBLE IT ALL  UP.

WE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS IN OUR  WATER UNTIL THEY CAME AND THEY APPROACHED US AND SAID, HEY,  WE NEED TO CHECK YOUR WATER.

WE ARE LIKE -- I THINK THEY  CAME TWICE.

THE FIRST TIME WE TOLD THEM,  NO, WE DON'T WANT YOU ON THE PROPERTY.

THEN THE SECOND TIME WE SAID, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

AND, SO WHEN WE GOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR PFAS, WE WERE  LIKE KIND OF SHOCKED.

AND SO WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE'S  HOME THAT WE HAVE DOWN THE ROAD, THEY CHECKED THERE AND  OUR HOUSE.

THEN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS POSITIVE, I ASKED THEM, I  SAID, DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD CHECK THE DAIRY?

WE HAVE EMPLOYEES ON THE DAIRY TOO.

THEY SAID, YES THAT IS TRUE, WE'LL CHECK THAT WATER TOO.

THAT IS WHY THEY CHECKED THE DAIRY'S WATER AND THEN WHEN IT  WAS POSITIVE AND THE HOUSES WERE POSITIVE, THEN THAT IS  WHEN THEY STARTED GIVING US BOTTLED WATER.

THEY GAVE US BOTTLED WATER FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

I WENT OUT AND WENT AHEAD AND PUT MY OWN FILTERS IN.

WE FOUND OUT WHAT WE WERE DRINKING WAS POISONOUS TO OUR  BODIES AND IT COULD AFFECT YOUR KIDNEYS.

IT AFFECTS YOUR BLOOD.

IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD, AND,  SO, WE WERE CONCERNED AND SO ME AND MY WIFE WE WENT AHEAD  AND GOT OR BLOOD TESTED AND WE WERE POSITIVE.

OF COURSE, MINE WAS HIGHER THAN HERS BECAUSE I AM AN OLD  FARM BOY.

I JUST DRANK WELL WATER.

>> WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS IN MY WATER, I CALLED NEW MEXICO  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

I ASKED THEM, I SAID, I NEED  YOU TO COME HERE AND CHECK MY WATER AND CHECK MY MILK  BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THAT MILK SUPPLY CONTAMINATE  WHAT GOES TO THE PUBLIC.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE IT WAS  AT.

SO THEY CAME OUT, DID A TEST.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, IF THIS COMES POSITIVE YOU KNOW YOU'RE  GOING TO HAVE TO START DUMPING YOUR MILK AND YOU'RE GOING TO  LOSE YOUR GRADE A PERMIT.

I SAID I UNDERSTAND, I NEED TO  KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO BE HELD LIABLE  IF THIS GETS INTO THE FOOD SUPPLY.

SO, THEY CHECKED IT AND IT WAS  POSITIVE AND WE STARTED DUMPING THE MILK.

THEN I APPLIED FOR HELP WITH THE USDA AND THEY HAD A  PROGRAM WHERE THEY COULD HELP ME PAY FOR THE DUMPING OF THE  MILK.

WE DID THAT FOR TWO YEARS AND  IT IS SLOWLY COMING OUT OF THE ANIMALS AND OUT OF THE MILK  BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS I HAVE, IT IS IN THE  ANIMALS.

SO, THERE IS PACKING PLANTS  AND BEEF OPERATIONS THAT DON'T WANT THIS IN THEIR MEAT.

AND I EVEN CONTACTED THE PEOPLE WHO BUY DEAD ANIMALS  AND THEY DIDN'T WANT THEM IN THEIR RECIPES EITHER.

AND THEY MAKE DOG FOOD.

SO, RIGHT NOW, MY BIGGEST  ISSUE IS GETTING RID OF THE ANIMALS.

I HAVE GOT 4,000 HEAD HERE, OVER 1000 HEAD THAT HAVE DIED  FROM OLD AGE.

I AM WORKING WITH THE USDA TO  COME UP WITH A PLAN TO ERADICATE THE ANIMALS.

WE HAVE ASKED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.

THEY HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY  DON'T WANT TO IMPLEMENT IT.

WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEM TO  FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THESE ANIMALS.

LOCAL COUNTY GUYS AND CITY FOLKS, THEY GOT THEIR HANDS  TIED BECAUSE CANNON AIR FORCE BASE IS VERY BIG FOR OUR  COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE HUGE.

THEY BRING A LOT OF FOLKS HERE.

A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THE COUNTY AND THE  CITY ARE WORRIED THAT CANNON AIR FORCE BASE COULD LEAVE IF  THEY PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THEM.

THE COUNTY AND CITY SUPPOSEDLY SAY THAT THE AIR FORCE IS NOT  COMMUNICATING WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THE LAWSUIT.

THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A LAWSUIT WITH THEM, THEY CAN'T  TALK TO US.

BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE  AIR FORCE AND DOD WOULD ACTUALLY SAY, OKAY, LET'S JUST  SIT DOWN AND MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM, LET'S FIX THIS  PROBLEM.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

THEY KNOW THEY ARE GUILTY SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX IT?

HOW CAN THE CITIES HELP, THE COUNTY HELP, HOW CAN WE WORK  TOGETHER TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED.

BECAUSE KICKING THIS PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD IS JUST GOING TO  MAKE THE PFAS GO FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND POLLUTE MORE  WATER.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AT FAULT  BUT THEY ARE AT FAULT.

THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE IN THE  AREA THAT PFAS COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE GROUND.

I HAVE SOME OF THE BEST WATER IN THE GROUNDS HERE.

I HAVE ONE OF THE MAIN WATER CHANNELS THAT COMES THROUGH  HERE AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT FARM.

BUT NOW THEY RUINED IT.

NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN A  COMMUNITY THAT HAS POLLUTED WATER.

THERE IS OTHER FARMS DOWN THE PLUME.

THERE IS OTHER BIG BUSINESSES.

ONE OF THE LARGEST CHEESE PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES IS  DOWN THE PLUME.

YOU HAVE GOT THE COMMUNITY'S  WATER SUPPLY DOWN THE PLUME.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMUNITY  PORTALES' WATER SUPPLY DOWN THE PLUME.

I MEAN IT JUST DOESN'T END.

BUT WE NEED TO STOP IT HERE.

BEFORE IT GETS THERE.

SO PEOPLE ARE NOT AFFECTED.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM AND HAVE A  RESOLUTION ON WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THIS IS  RIDICULOUS.

BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE AIR  FORCE AND DOD HAS BEEN PUSHING BACK ON THIS WHOLE SITUATION  BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AT FAULT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO CAUSE?

YOU KNOW.

YOU WORK HARD, YOU TRY TO EAT  GOOD AND THEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING  THIS WATER FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS, REALLY?

THAT WAS DEVASTATING TO KNOW THAT, TO FIND THAT OUT.

OUR KIDS GREW UP ON THAT WATER.

IT HAS JUST BEEN HARD ON ME AND MY WIFE AND WATCHING WHAT  WE HAVE DONE ALL THESE YEARS AND WHAT WE WORKED FOR, YOU  KNOW, BECAUSE A FARMER NORMALLY THIS IS OUR 401 K, SO  YOU WORK HARD AND YOU EXPECT A RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT AND  WHEN YOUR INVESTMENT BECOMES; WORTH ZERO, IT AFFECTS YOU.

I DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH THE AIR FORCE, DOD AND  COMMUNITY AND WORK TOGETHER.

I MEAN, IF I HAVE TO GIVE UP  SOME OF MY LAND TO DO THIS, I'LL DO THAT.

BUT THE WAY IT IS GOING NOW WE ARE NOT MAKING NO PROGRESS.

IT HAS TO COME FROM WASHINGTON D.C.

THIS HAS TO BE FIXED FROM THERE TO HERE.

AND SO, I BELIEVE AND I PRAY THAT THEY WILL FINALLY SEE  WHAT THEY CAUSED HERE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, TAKE  RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT IS ALL I AM ASKING.

YOU NEED TO CLEAN THIS.

YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS  PROBLEM.

YOU RUINED THIS LAND, NOW THIS LAND NEEDS TO BE YOURS.

I JUST WANT TO START OVER, YOU KNOW.

I HAVE GOT FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, LOVE THEM DEARLY, YOU KNOW,  NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MY KIDS, I LOVE MY KIDS, I  LOVE MY GRAND BABIES AND I JUST WANT -- I WAS HOPING TO  PASS THIS ONTO MY FAMILY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF GENERATIONS  BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE NO MORE SO I WANT TO  START NEW, START FRESH AND MOVE ON.

JUST GET IT BEHIND US.

>> Gene:   THE NEW BOSS IS THE SAME AS THE OLD BOSS FOR  ALBUQUERQUE POLICE.

MAYOR TIM KELLER NAMED HAROLD  MEDINA AS HIS PICK TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT.

MR. MEDINA IS A LONG TIME APD POLICE PERSON HAND, HAS BEEN  INTERIM CHIEF SINCE MIKE GEIER'S ACRIMONIOUS DEPARTURE  LAST FALL.

NOW ALONGSIDE MR. MEDINA,  THOUGH IS SYLVESTER STANLEY, ALSO A LONG TIME LOCAL LAW  ENFORCEMENT VETERAN TAKING THE POST OF SUPERINTENDENT OF  POLICE REFORM.

NOW THAT JOB INCLUDES RUNNING  DEPARTMENT'S ACADEMY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS  HANDLING COMPLIANCE WITH THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE  SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT, REACHED WITH  DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, AS  YOU RECALL.

SERGE, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF  THIS APPROACH?

IT WASN'T WHAT THE MAYOR SAID  HE WAS LOOKING TO DO, BUT HERE WE ARE.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF IT?

>> Serge: I AM OF MULTIPLE  DIFFERENT MINDS.

I APPLAUD TRYING TO BE  INNOVATIVE, TAKING A NEW APPROACH, SAYING, LOOK WE ARE  GOING TO BIFURCATE THE JOB AND FOCUS ON -- HAVE SOMEONE WHOSE  WHOLE JOB IS TO FOCUS ON REFORM, CONSENT DECREE, WHILE  SOMEONE ELSE FOCUSES ON MORE OF THE ACTUAL POLICING.

AS YOU SAID, THE NEW CHIEF IS THE SAME AS OLD CHIEF.

THIS DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO ME TO REPRESENT A REAL CLEAN  BREAK IF THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING FOR, YOU KNOW,  INNOVATION COMBINED WITH STODGY TRADITIONALISM AND  PREDICTABILITY OF SAYING, YEP, WE HAD A NATIONWIDE SEARCH AND  TURNS OUT WE ENDED UP WITH THE PERSON WHO IS ALREADY SITTING  HERE.

NOTHING AGAINST CHIEF MEDINA  BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO REPRESENT A REAL EFFORT TO DO  THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TOLD WERE GOING TO HAPPEN.

AGAIN, I AM OPTIMISTIC AT THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH.

I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING -- ARE THERE TWO  BOSSES?

ARE THERE TWO -- YOU KNOW IF SOMEONE DOESN'T LIKE  ONE THING, DO YOU GO TO THE OTHER PERSON?

>> Gene: THAT IS EXCELLENT POINT.

LET ME SPIN IT TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

INTERESTINGLY, WHAT SERGE IS TALKING ABOUT IS YOU ARE  LITERALLY SETTING UP A GOOD COP, BAD COP SCENARIO INSIDE  THE DEPARTMENT BY DOING IT THIS WAY.

IS THERE POTENTIAL TROUBLE DOWN THE ROAD WITH THIS SETUP.

>> Diane: I SHARE THE OPTIMISM FOR THIS DIVISION OF LABOR AS  LONG AS IT IS VERY CLEAR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT, AND I  THINK THAT IS REALLY THE IMPORTANT PART FOR BOTH THE  DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR.

THERE IS SO MANY INHERENT  SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AND BOTH IN THE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO IN THE  DRUGS AND GANGS VIOLENCE THAT IS OCCURRING IN ALBUQUERQUE  AND HAVING SOMEONE LASER FOCUSED ON THE CRIME PART IS  REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND  HAVING SOMEONE WHO CAN DEAL WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE  AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND SEPARATE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT  I THINK, AS SERGE SAID, IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH COMBINED  WITH SOME TRADITION.

>> Gene: IT IS GREAT ON PAPER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CULTURES BEING WHAT THEY ARE, AT SOME POINT,  SOMEONE HAS TO WALK DOWN THE HALL TO MR. MEDINA'S OFFICE  AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO TALK HERE BECAUSE WE  REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR USE OF FORCE FROM X  SITUATION LAST MONTH.

THEN IT GETS TRICKY.

WHO ACTUALLY IS IN CHARGE AT THAT POINT?

>> Diane: I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS THE DIVISION OF LABOR AND  DIVISION OF WHO HAS AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT.

AND THAT HAS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE RANK AND  FILE.

THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT.

I KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BUT THE OTHER WAY  HAS NOT WORKED.

>> Gene: UH-HUH.

>> Diane: WE ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS WITHIN THE  DEPARTMENT SO I DO THINK THAT TRYING THIS INNOVATION IS A  POSITIVE STEP FOR THE CITY.

>> Gene: DANIEL, I AM  INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL.

AS LONG AS ISSUES ARE CLEARLY DEFINED WHO DOES WHAT, WHERE,  WHO HAS AUTHORITY, CAN THIS WORK?

IS THIS THE BETTER WAY TO GO?

>> Dan: I THINK IT CAN WORK.

I THINK BASED ON WHAT YOU GUYS SAID, IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK,  YOU ONE GUY FIGHTING CRIME AND ONE GUY RUNNING INTERNAL  AFFAIRS, THAT AIN'T GOING TO WORK.

IT IS JUST NOT GOING TO WORK.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY,  YOU KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CLEAR DIVISIONS.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO FIGHT CRIME  AND TELL THEM THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACADEMY  AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ANSWERING FOR WHAT HAPPENS,  YOU ARE GOING TO PUT THAT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LAP WHO IS NOT  OUT ON THE STREET DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERYDAY.

SO, I MEAN AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU SAID WHO IS ULTIMATELY  RESPONSIBLE.

THE MAYOR.

THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE.

THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS.

THE MAYOR COULD HAVE 25 ASSISTANTS RUNNING THE POLICE  DEPARTMENT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE IS  THE ONE THAT HAS TO ANSWER TO THE OUTCOME OF IT.

I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT MIGHT WORK JUST FINE.

>> Diane: THAT   IS WHAT SAID, DAN.

YOU SAID IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK.

>> Dan: I DIDN'T SAY IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK.

I SAID IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH SITUATION.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THIS WHOLE IDEA WE HAVE TO GO OUT  OF STATE TO HIRE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME IS NOT NECESSARILY A  GREAT IDEA.

IF YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM THAT  WE HAVE HAD FOR OBVIOUSLY MULTIPLE MAYORS, YOU CAN'T SAY  THIS IS A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT PROBLEM.

TO SAY WE HAVE GONE OUT BUNCHES OF TIMES TO HIRE  SOMEONE, THE FIRST THING TO DO IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN YOUR  HOUSE IS YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT KNOWS YOUR HOUSE.

THERE IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION HIRING FOLKS  LOCALLY THAN IT IS TO BRING PEOPLE IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND  SAY WE GIVE THEM A YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO   FIGURE EACH OTHER OUT.

I AM OPTIMISTIC.

WE GOT NO CHOICE.

WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR BACK EVERYTHING IS UP FROM HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, SOME CHANGE HAS TO BE BETTER FOR ALBUQUERQUE.

I AM JUST GLAD I LIVE IN RIO RANCHO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH CRIMES AND COMING ACROSS THE  RIVER TO SEE A FOOTBALL GAME IS ONLY A FURTHER DISTANCE FOR  CRIMINALS TO COME ACROSS THE RIVER AND WRECK HAVOC SO WE  ARE HAPPY IN RIO RANCHO.

>> Diane: I WANT TO SAY  SOMETHING ABOUT THE LINE OF AUTHORITY.

THOSE TWO PEOPLE, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND CHIEF, THEY  HAVE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN TALK TO THE MAYOR, NOT  ANYBODY, NOT BELOW THE MAYOR.

THERE IS NOBODY INTERCEPTING  AND TRANSLATING.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DIRECT  LINE TO THE MAYOR.

>> Gene: IS THAT NOT THE CAO?

THAT IS HOW THE LADDER WORKS.

>> Diane: I THINK AS DAN SAID  IT IS THE MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Dan: WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH RJ REMEMBER.

WHEN HE BROUGHT DARREN WHITE IN TO BE THE HEAD OF ALL OF  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HE WAS EQUAL  WITH THE CAO AND THEN YOU HAD CHIEFS.

IT JUST BECAME A WHO CAN RUN TO THE MAYOR TO GET A DECISION  FIRST.

RIGHT.

IT HAS TO BE A CLEAR DELINEATION.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE -- I DON'T THINK THAT WILL  EVER BE MADE PUBLIC, BUT YOU'LL KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE  BASED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING, RIGHT?

IF YOU START SEEING SERIOUS REFORM, THEN YOU KNOW THE  SUPERINTENDENT IS MAKING DECISIONS.

>> Gene: I HAVE GOT TO GET SOMETHING IN.

SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.

JUST GOT A MINUTE HERE FOR  SERGE.

LET'S NOT FORGET, MR. MEDINA  WAS INVOLVED IN AT LEAST TWO HIGH PROFILE SHOOTINGS GUYS,  INCLUDING THE DEATH OF KENNETH ELLIS, III, IN 2010.

NO IRONY HERE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE SHOOTINGS  THAT GOT THE DOJ HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND NOW THE MAN IS OUR CHIEF OF POLICE.

THINGS HAPPEN.

SERGE, IS THERE SOMETHING HERE  THAT SAYS, WELL, IS OUR CHIEF  FULLY ABLE TO BE OUTSIDE OF ALL THIS AND SEE THIS CLEARLY  ENOUGH?

CONSIDERING HIS BACKGROUND IN  SOME OF THESE THINGS?

>> Serge: I DO HAVE SOME  CONCERNS ABOUT THE BAGGAGE THAT COMES ALONG WITH THIS AND  SHOOTINGS THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN OR WHERE HE WAS THE RANKING  OFFICER ON THE SCENE AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN ALL THE THINGS  THAT WE ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO PUT THAT BEHIND US.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE TO TURN THAT CORNER  WHEN WE HAVE THE SAME LITERALLY THE SAME PERSON  SITTING IN THE CHIEF'S OFFICE.

>> Gene: SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE  ACLU AND A BUNCH OF FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT A GO.

IT MAY NOT BE THEIR FIRST CHOICE TO DO IT THIS WAY BUT  THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE IT A GO.

WE ARE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK,  GUYS.

HAVE TO LEAVE THAT THERE.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS THIS WEEK.

I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH A FEW LAST WORDS.

THE VERY FIRST SEGMENT OF COVERAGE ON CORONAVIRUS WAS  EARLY MARCH LAST YEAR, WHEN MY COLLEAGUE, MATT GRUBS SAT DOWN  WITH AN OFFICIAL FROM THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO  GET SOME CLARITY ON ALL THIS.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE IT, BUT  THERE WERE NO CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE AT THAT TIME.

THE MESSAGE FROM SANTA FE WAS, QUOTE, THIS IS NO TIME TO  PANIC.

WE SORT OF DID PANIC IF TOILET  PAPER AND HAND SANITIZER WAS THE METRIC.

AT THAT POINT THE MAIN GOAL WAS SURFACES AND WASHING  HANDS, AS YOU RECALL.

THE MASK ASK WAS MANY WEEKS  DOWN THE ROAD FROM THAT INTERVIEW AS WAS THE NEAR FULL  LOCKDOWN INCLUDING FOR SCHOOLS.

NOW, FOR MOST US I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT WAS EVEN  IMAGINABLE LAST MARCH BUT IT DID HAPPEN.

BUT RIGHT NOW I AM GRATEFUL WE ARE HERE IN THIS PLACE WITH  VACCINES GETTING INTO ARMS, SCHOOLS ABOUT TO OPEN AND LIFE  SOMEWHAT OPERATING AGAIN.

A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK,  IN FOCUS.

>>   FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE NEEPER NATURAL HISTORY  PROGRAMMING FUND FOR KNME-TV.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.