FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene:   THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO In FOCUS, NEW  DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS AT THE  ROUNDHOUSE.

Casey: WHEN OUR VOICES  ARE ABSENT FROM THE PROCESS, THERE'S A HUGE RISK OF  DILUTING THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTING POWER.

Gene: AND A QUICK, EASY AND TASTY RECIPE FROM AN  INDIGENOUS BAKER, PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

NEW MEXICO In FOCUS STARTS  NOW.

Gene:   THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

REDISTRICTING TALKS HAVE  CREATED A CONTENTIOUS LAST FEW DAYS IN SANTA FE.

WE'LL EXPLAIN THE DISAPPROVAL FROM NATIVE  AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS  THOSE CONCERNS.

PLUS, OUR LINE OPINION  PANELISTS EXAMINE THE OTHER MAJOR LEGISLATIVE  ASSIGNMENT, DIVVYING UP FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF  MONEY AND THE IMPACT THE SYNTHETIC DRUG FENTANYL IS  HAVING ON CRIME AROUND THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE LINE.

Gene: JOINING US THIS  WEEK, FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE SENATOR AND AUTHOR,  DEDE FELDMAN.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY  ATTORNEY AND LINE REGULAR, LAURA SANCHEZ.

AND LINE REGULAR, MERRITT ALLEN, OF VOX OPTIMA PUBLIC  RELATIONS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH  US TODAY.

LAWMAKERS ARE IN THE MIDST  OF THIS PROCESS AS WE TAPE THIS SHOW.

BEARING THAT IN MIND, THERE ARE STILL SOME MAJOR  STICKING POINTS AT PLAY.

AT THE TOP OF THE LIST,  NATIVE AMERICAN REPRESENTATION.

INDIGENOUS LEADERS WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THAT  INDEPENDENT PROCESS THAT PRECEDED THIS SPECIAL  LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT IT SEEMS THAT INPUT HAS LARGELY  BEEN IGNORED AT LEAST IN TERMS OF REDRAWING STATE  SENATE DISTRICT.

TRIBAL LEADERS EXPRESSED  THEIR DISAPPROVAL IN A LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE  SENATE, AND NOW THE QUESTION IS, WILL THEY LISTEN?

DEDE FELDMAN, FIRST QUESTION RIGHT THERE TO YOU, ARE THEY  GOING TO LISTEN?

Sen. Feldman: IT LOOKS  TO ME FROM WATCHING THE SENATE SESSION LAST NIGHT,  WHICH WAS CUT SHORT BY A CALL OF THE SENATE --  Gene: MEANING WEDNESDAY NIGHT; SORRY ABOUT THAT.

Sen. Feldman: -- THAT THE SENATOR WHO INTRODUCED  THE ORIGINAL REDISTRICTING PLAN, SENATOR LINDA LOPEZ,  HAS ACTUALLY NOW GOT A SUBSTITUTE BILL THAT WILL  ACCOMMODATE THE NATIVE AMERICAN CONSENSUS, WHICH  WAS WORKED ON FOR MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST AN  IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO GET 23 SOVEREIGN NATIONS SPREAD OUT  ALL OVER THE STATE TO COME UP WITH AN AGREEMENT ON HOW  THESE DISTRICT LINES SHOULD BE DRAWN.

THEY FINALLY DID, BUT IT WAS SUBSTITUTED IN THE RULES  COMMITTEE BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, WHO WAS  TRYING TO AVOID A PAIRING OF TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS, AND  THAT BILL, HER SUBSTITUTE, PASSED THE SENATE JUDICIARY  COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHEN THE NATIVE AMERICAN DELEGATION  WALKED OUT AND SAID THEY HADN'T BEEN CONSULTED, AS IS  REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, BY THE WAY.

SO NOW, THOUGH, I THINK AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF  NEGOTIATIONS, THE NATIVE AMERICAN CONSENSUS HAS BEEN  HONORED AND WAS ABOUT TO BE INTRODUCED THERE WHEN A CALL  OF THE SENATE PREVENTED IT.

Gene: TELL THE FOLKS, BY  THE WAY, WHAT THE CALL OF THE SENATE IS.

WE GET A LOT OF FOLKS WHO MOVE INTO THE AREA THAT  DON'T KNOW ALL OF OUR LITTLE --  Sen. Feldman: YES.

A CALL OF THE SENATE IS A  PROCEDURAL MOVE THAT IS USUALLY USED BY THE  MINORITY, ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE USED BY ANYONE REALLY, IF  THEY GET SEVEN OTHER SENATORS TO AGREE WITH THEM,  THAT REQUIRES EVERYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN EXCUSED TO BE  PRESENT IN THE CHAMBERS AND VOTING DURING A CALL OF THE  SENATE.

IT USED TO BE USED QUITE A  BIT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN USED THAT MUCH.

IT WAS CALLED FOR BY SENATOR CRAIG BRANDT FROM RIO RANCHO  WHO RECOGNIZED THAT THE PAIRING WOULD, IN THE  SUBSTITUTE BILL, CONTINUE IN FORCE BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT  THE PREVIOUS JUDICIARY SUBSTITUTE WAS TRYING TO  UNDUE.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S BACK TO  SQUARE ONE, REALLY, AND I THINK THIS AFTERNOON WHEN  IT'S ON THE FLOOR, YOU CAN EXPECT A VERY HEATED DEBATE  ABOUT HOW SENATORS DON'T RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AND, YOU  KNOW -- Gene: THAT'S WHERE THE  TROUBLE STARTS.

Sen. Feldman: -- AND HOW  THEY'RE STABBING ONE ANOTHER IN THE BACK, AND THEIR WORDS  ARE NO GOOD, ETC.

REDISTRICTING BRINGS OUT THE  WORST IN MOST LEGISLATORS, I THINK.

Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND BY THE TIME WE AIR  FRIDAY NIGHT, WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED ON  FRIDAY EVEN, STILL, BEYOND THURSDAY NIGHT.

MERRITT, ANOTHER STICKING POINT, RURAL REPRESENTATION,  CERTAINLY.

THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP -- LET  ME KIND OF FLIP TO ANOTHER STICKING POINT HERE.

THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT PASSED THE STATE HOUSE WOULD  SPLIT CHUNKS OF ALBUQUERQUE INTO EACH OF THE THREE  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, BEGGING THE  QUESTION, WILL ANY OF THESE THREE REPRESENTATIVES  PRIORITIZE RURAL ISSUES WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR VOTERS  LIVE IN THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE?

I MEAN, THAT'S A TRICKY BALANCING ACT, IT SEEMS TO  ME.

HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO WORK  OUT?

Merritt: WELL, I THINK  IT UNLIKELY THAT THAT MAP WILL EVER SEE THE LIGHT OF  DAY, BECAUSE MAKE NO MISTAKE, THERE WILL BE  LAWSUITS.

IT WAS A BAD MAP.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE, MY FIRM WAS  RETAINED TO DO PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE  CRC.

AND THE MAP THAT PASSED WAS  AN EVEN MORE MANGLED VERSION OF THE PEOPLE'S MAP.

THE PEOPLE'S MAP WAS DEVELOPED BY A PARTISAN  GROUP, THE CENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY, AND WAS DESIGNED TO  GET RID OF CONGRESSWOMAN HERRELL, AND BECAUSE MANY  PEOPLE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THAT MAP AT A LAS CRUCES  PUBLIC MEETING, THE CRC FELT COMPELLED TO SUBMIT IT FOR  CONSIDERATION.

NOT WITH AN ENDORSEMENT, BUT  BECAUSE PART OF THE CHARTER OF THE CRC WAS TO TAKE  PUBLIC INPUT, AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT.

AND CERTAINLY SENATOR CERVANTES, A DEMOCRAT FROM  LAS CRUCES, WAS A PROPONENT OF THAT MAP.

IT'S AN INANE MAP.

ONE PERSON WHO DID EXPRESS  CONCERN ABOUT THE MAP WAS THE CD-3 CONGRESSWOMAN LEGER  FERNANDEZ, WHO PERHAPS THOUGHT CLOVIS, PORTALES AND  HOBBS MIGHT NOT BE REAL PERCEPTIVE TO HER BRAND OF  POLITICS.

AND THEN THE DEMOCRATIC  CAUCUS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO GERRYMANDER IN OPEN  SESSION AND DID IT IN SECRET CAUCUS, AND MADE A FEW  ADJUSTMENTS THAT RESULTED IN SPLITTING ROSWELL INTO THREE  DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY INANE.

AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY  PLATFORM CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING  FREE FROM ANY LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION, AND THEN YOU  LOOK AT THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT IS  BEING PUT FORWARD IN CONGRESS BY CONGRESSIONAL  DEMOCRATS, IT SHOWS THAT THOSE IDEALS ARE CERTAINLY  NOT SHARED BY THE NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, AT LEAST  WHILE ONE ELECTED REPUBLICAN REMAINS IN OFFICE.

IT'S A BETRAYAL OF THE VOTERS OF NEW MEXICO.

VOTERS SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY THEIR POPULATION AND  COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST, AND THIS JUST SHOWS THAT  LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO WANT TO PICK THEIR VOTERS TO STAY  IN OFFICE AND STAY IN POWER.

Gene: LAURA SANCHEZ, IS  THERE A LEGIT ARGUMENT FOR SPLITTING ALBUQUERQUE INTO  THREE CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICTS?

Laura: REALLY?

NOT A LOADED QUESTION AT ALL, HUH, GENE.

Gene: OH, NO.

Laura: LOOK, IT MAKES ME  THINK OF WAY BACK WHEN I WAS A BABY, BABY, BABY.

I WAS VERY YOUNG IN POLITICS, VERY IDEALISTIC,  AND JUST THOUGHT THE BEST OF EVERYBODY BACK THEN.

NOW I'M JUST MUCH MORE CYNICAL AND OLDER.

BUT I WORKED FOR A CONGRESSMAN IN ARIZONA, AND  HE WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN THAT ARIZONA HAD  AT THE TIME.

LONG-TIME CONGRESSMAN.

AND HE REPRESENTED BOTH SOUTH TUCSON AND SOUTH  PHOENIX, SOMEHOW.

AND IT WAS LIKE, OF COURSE  HE'S THE ONLY DEMOCRAT, BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE  HOOD IN TUCSON AND THE HOOD IN PHOENIX.

SO THERE HAD BEEN A GERRYMANDERING OF THE  DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

HE ALSO HAD ALL THE WAY OUT  TO YUMA AND BASICALLY MUCH OF THE COUNTY OF PIMA COUNTY  IN ARIZONA, WHICH IS A HUGE AREA, AND VERY, VERY  DIFFERENT ISSUES IN ALL OF THAT.

AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, HOW DO YOU POSSIBLY CAMPAIGN IN A  DISTRICT LIKE THIS?

Gene: IS IT POSSIBLE FOR  A RURAL LEGISLATOR COMING OUT OF A RURAL PART OF ONE  OF THESE NEW DISTRICTS TO COME UP TO ALBUQUERQUE,  STOMP, BE A GREAT CAMPAIGNER, AND ACTUALLY  PULL SOMETHING OFF?

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

Laura: LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE SOME AMAZING -- I'M  GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING  RURAL LEGISLATORS.

I LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, I  LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE, I LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA, BUT I  AM A RURAL GIRL AT HEART.

I'M FROM DEMING.

SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AMAZING PEOPLE WHO  REALLY CONNECT WITH THE FABRIC OF REAL PEOPLE THAT  CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE  FROM.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE  ARE ISSUES IN ALBUQUERQUE IN THE SOUTH VALLEY, IN THE  NORTH VALLEY, IN THE HEIGHTS, THAT ARE VERY  DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS OF NEW MEXICO.

AND WHEN WE START TO SPLIT UP PLACES LIKE ROSWELL,  WHICH ALSO HAS ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, NORTH VERSUS SOUTH,  EAST VERSUS WEST KIND OF ISSUES GOING ON WITHIN THE  CITY OF ROSWELL, WHEN WE START TO SPLIT THOSE UP,  YOU'RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE RIDICULOUSNESS THAT IS  OUR REDISTRICTING PROCESS, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT AN  ARBITRARY LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE WHERE NEIGHBORS ARE  NOW SPLIT INTO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, AND YOU'RE NOT  ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND LOBBY ON THE SAME ISSUE OR  BRING ATTENTION TO THE SAME ISSUE, BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE  GOT DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES WITH  DIFFERENT CONCERNS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE  APPEALING TO WHERE MOST OF THE VOTES ARE DURING A  CAMPAIGN, DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON, RIGHT.

THAT'S THE SAYING, 50 PLUS ONE.

WHEREVER MOST OF THE VOTES ARE, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE  GOING TO GO, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND BOTH DEDE --  I'M SORRY, SENATOR.

BOTH SENATOR FELDMAN AND  MERRITT -- Gene: LET ME JUMP IN A  QUICK SEC HERE AND LET ME GET TO DEDE HERE, BECAUSE  WE'RE GETTING JUST A LITTLE SHORT ON TIME.

DEDE, INTERESTINGLY WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, IN  THIS.

SHE COULD END UP, OBVIOUSLY,  KICKING ALL THESE THINGS BACK AND VETO THE FINAL  MAPS, AND THAT COULD MEAN INVOLVING THE COURTS AGAIN,  DRAWING OUT THIS PROCESS FURTHER.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?

AND IS THE DECISION BY THE GOVERNOR MORE POLITICALLY  DANGEROUS THAN THE OTHER IF SHE GOES ONE WAY OR THE  OTHER?

Sen. Feldman:   WELL, I THINK THAT SHE HAS ONLY A  LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME TO VETO THIS, BECAUSE SHE HAS  TO VETO -- IT'S ALREADY BEEN SENT UP TO HER.

THIS IS THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND  IT'S ALREADY BEEN SENT UP TO HER MAYBE TWO OR THREE DAYS  AGO, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO VETO IT BEFORE THE SESSION  ADJOURNS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT SHE WILL VETO THIS.

I DO WANT TO TAKE AN EXCEPTION TO A FEW THINGS  THAT WERE SAID EARLIER, AND THAT WAS THAT THE  CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS PATTERNED VERY CLOSELY ON  ONE OF THE MAPS THAT THE CITIZEN REDISTRICTING  COMMISSION FORWARDED.

Merritt: BUT DID NOT  ENDORSE.

Sen. Feldman: THE IDEA  THAT IT DID NOT ENDORSE IT  DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ENDORSE  ANY MAP.

IT SENT UP THREE MAPS FOR  EACH OF THE DISTRICTS, OR FOR EACH OF THE POSITIONS:  THE CONGRESS, THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE.

SO THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAPS.

AND IF IT DIDN'T ENDORSE IT,  IT WOULD NOT HAVE SENT IT UP.

SO YES, THERE WAS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GREAT SIN.

SECONDLY, LOOK AT THE DISTRICTS AS THEY EXIST NOW.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD DISTRICT IN THE NORTH, THAT  ALREADY INCLUDES CLOVIS.

THAT ALREADY IS AN  URBAN/RURAL DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES FARMINGTON AND  GALLUP AND SANTA FE.

AND SO THERE IS A MIXTURE  THERE.

IT CAN BE DONE.

IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THE QUESTION.

AND TO LAURA'S POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND IN  THE NORTH VALLEY, AS SHE ALLUDED TO, A LOT OF THE  PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN THE VALLEY AREA OF ALBUQUERQUE,  WHERE DID THEIR PARENTS COME FROM?

WHERE DID THEIR FAMILIES COME FROM?

THEY CAME FROM NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, OR THEY CAME FROM  TORREON, OR THEY CAME FROM THE CUBA AREA, AS MY  NEXTDOOR NEIGHBORS DID.

SO I THINK THERE IS SOME  VALIDITY TO THE IDEA THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEGIN TO  BREACH THIS RURAL/URBAN GAP THAT WE SEE IS SO SERIOUSLY  AFFECTING OUR POLITICS, AS WELL AS LOCALLY.

Gene: I HEAR YOU.

GOT TO RUN ON THIS ONE.

I APOLOGIZE, DEDE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR  PERSPECTIVES ON THIS.

NOW, LET'S GET A DIFFERENT  VIEWPOINT.

CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND  SPOKE WITH TWO OUTSIDE VOICES HOPING TO HAVE AN  IMPACT ON THE FINAL OUTCOME.

Gwyneth: MY GUESTS TODAY  ARE CASEY DOUMA, WHO IS CO-CHAIR OF THE ALL PUEBLO  COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, AND  KATHLEEN BURKE WITH FAIR DISTRICTS NEW MEXICO.

CASEY, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

NATIVE AMERICANS IN NEW MEXICO HAVE FACED A LONG  HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE VOTING PROCESS, AS WE  ALL KNOW.

IN DECADES PAST, LAWMAKERS  REDRAWING DISTRICTS HAVE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL VOTING  RIGHTS ACT REPEATEDLY BY NOT GIVING NATIVE VOTERS FAIR  REPRESENTATION.

THIS YEAR, YOU WORKED FOR  MONTHS WITH A BROAD COALITION OF PUEBLOS AND  TRIBES TO COME UP WITH A SET OF MAPS THAT YOU BELIEVED  WOULD FINALLY BE FAIR.

HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT NOW  THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PASSING MAPS AND SENDING THEM TO THE  GOVERNOR?

Casey: THANK YOU FOR  THIS CONVERSATION.

THE WORK OF THE PUEBLOS,  TRIBES AND NATIONS THROUGHOUT THESE PAST EIGHT  MONTHS HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THE HOUSE MAP, WITH THE ADOPTION  OF THE TRIBAL CONSENSUS MAP INTO THE LARGER STATEWIDE  MAP, AS WELL AS THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP WHERE THE  BOUNDARIES AS IDENTIFIED, ESPECIALLY ON THE WESTERN  PART OF THE STATE, WERE RESPECTED THROUGHOUT EACH  ITERATION OF THE FINAL VERSIONS OF THE  CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

AND SO WE'VE SEEN A HUGE  AMOUNT OF DEFERENCE GIVEN TO THE CONSENSUS MAPS THAT HAVE  BEEN ADOPTED BY THE TRIBES.

AND SO WE ARE STUCK AT THIS  IMPASSE WITH THE SENATE MAP.

I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT  OF DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT'S BEEN TAKEN, WHEREAS THE  FORMULA FROM TEN YEARS AGO ADOPTED BY THE COURT THROUGH  LITIGATION WAS TO START WITH THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AS  IDENTIFIED IN THE TRIBAL CONSENSUS MAPS AND THEN WORK  OUT TOWARDS THE REST OF THE STATE.

Gwyneth: SO YOU'RE SAYING START UP NEAR  FARMINGTON, NEAR THE NAVAJO NATION, OUT WHERE THERE'S A  LOT OF INDIAN COUNTRY, AND KIND OF WORK ON THAT FIRST,  BECAUSE IF YOU START IN THE MIDDLE, YOU END UP SQUEEZING  OUT THERE?

Casey: THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THAT APPROACH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE STATE KIND  OF DICED UP IN QUADRANTS -- WE KIND OF USE THIS TERM,  THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT.

THAT'S TYPICALLY THE TRIBAL  CONSENSUS MAP AREA.

SO THE STRATEGY FROM TEN  YEARS AGO IN LITIGATION WAS TO START WITH THE NORTHWEST  QUADRANT, THE TRIBAL CONSENSUS MAPS, AND THEN  BUILD OUT.

SO WE'VE SEEN THAT APPROACH  TAKEN WITH THE HOUSE MAP, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT  WE WOULD HOPE THE SENATE WOULD DO.

I THINK THEY STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

I THINK THEY STARTED WITH THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AS A  FRAMEWORK AND STARTED TO WORK INWARD, AND I THINK  THAT'S WHERE WE SAW A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM TRIBAL  NATIONS.

Gwyneth: LET ME COME  BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND, BECAUSE KATHLEEN, I WANT TO  ASK YOU, ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT'S PART OF YOUR  COALITION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT, AND  THIS WEEK THEY SENT A STERN LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE  ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, AS IN YOU'RE NOT DOING IT.

SO BIG PICTURE WISE, IS THIS REDISTRICTING PROCESS MORE  TRANSPARENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST?

Kathleen: I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS MORE TRANSPARENT,  AND THAT HAS HAPPENED NOT BY CHANCE BUT ON DEMAND.

THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO,  50,000 PLUS PEOPLE WATCHING THIS PROCESS VERY CLOSELY,  GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS -- FAIR DISTRICTS NEW MEXICO  NOW HAS 40 ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING OUR WORK.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT MORE EYES ON THE PROCESS.

AND ALSO, ALONG WITH THAT, DEMANDS COMING FROM THE  PUBLIC TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WE WANT YOU TO PROVIDE THIS,  WE WANT YOU TO DO IT THIS WAY, WE WANT YOU TO HEAR  THIS AND HEAR THESE VOICES.

SO YES, FROM THAT RESPECT,  YES, MUCH BETTER.

WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

THERE IS STILL A LOT GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

CAUCUS MEETINGS, PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH INDIVIDUAL  LEGISLATORS AND LEADERSHIP.

THAT'S ALL STILL HAPPENING.

AND BY THE WAY, THE FAIR DISTRICTS NEW MEXICO, WHERE  I'M THE PROJECT COORDINATOR, AS WELL AS THE LEAGUE OF  WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW MEXICO, HAVE REQUESTED THAT ALL  DECISIONS ABOUT WHY ORIGINAL CRC MAPS WERE CHANGED BE  BROUGHT FORTH TO THE PUBLIC, THAT ALL OF THAT BE MADE  PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

WELL, WE GOT AN INTERESTING  RESPONSE ON THAT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WHICH WAS, WELL,  FILE AN IPRA REPORT.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THESE  THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR THEM THROUGH THE  OFFICIAL CHANNELS, WHICH WE WILL DO.

SOME OF IT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GATHER THAT WAY.

WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING THAT FIGHT.

THANKS, GWYNETH.

Gwyneth: YES, THAT'S  KIND OF A HARD NO, IS WHAT YOU GOT.

Kathleen: PRETTY MUCH.

Gwyneth: YES.

WE KNOW HOW RESPONSIVE THEY ARE TO IPRA, WHICH IS NOT  VERY, RIGHT.

SO CASEY, LET'S GO BACK TO  THE SENATE MAP.

THIS REDISTRICTING TRAIN  STARTED OFF AT FULL STEAM AND THE WHEELS JUST GROUND  TO A HALT WHEN A NEW MAP APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE WITH  SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, AND AS YOU WERE SAYING  EARLIER, THEY STARTED FROM, YOU KNOW, INDIAN COUNTRY IN  THE NORTHWEST AND KIND OF MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE, AND  THAT'S WHERE THEY ENDED UP WITH SOME TROUBLE.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE WHERE WE ARE NOW THURSDAY MORNING,  CASEY?

Casey: THE ISSUE IS, YOU  HAVE, ON THE ONE HAND, MAPS THAT WERE CREATED THAT   HAVE RESPECT FOR TRIBAL  SELF-DETERMINATION, THAT REFLECT THE NEED TO PROTECT  VOTING RIGHTS, AND IT'S CONFLICTING WITH THIS NEED  TO PROTECT INCUMBENTS.

THAT IS THE ISSUE.

THE SOURCE OF WHY EVERYTHING STALLED IS TO MAINTAIN THIS  UNSPOKEN AGREEMENT, OR THIS AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE  PARTIES TO PROTECT INCUMBENTS.

SO NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT, OF  PUSHBACK, BECAUSE THE MAPS CREATED WITH THE INPUT OF  THE SOVEREIGN NATIONS COUNTERACT THAT APPROACH TO  PROTECTING INCUMBENCY.

Gwyneth: AND IT'S NOT  JUST RANDOM INCUMBENTS.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT  THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER, RIGHT?

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

Casey: THAT'S RIGHT,  IT'S A BIG DEAL.

Gwyneth: THEY'RE WAGING  A FIGHT FOR ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE SENATE,  RIGHT?

Casey: YES.

Gwyneth: AND KATHLEEN, YOU TOLD ME YESTERDAY THEY  ARE BUDDY-MANDERING.

Kathleen: YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S A BIG CATCHPHRASE THE PAST FEW  DAYS HERE FOR THOSE OF US WORKING IN REDISTRICTING,  BECAUSE THEY'VE BROUGHT IT TO FRUITION, THEY BEING THE  SENATE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ON THE  WATCH FOR THIS BUDDY-MANDERING TO HAPPEN,  WHICH IS WHEN BOTH PARTIES COLLUDE, ESSENTIALLY, AND  THEY START MAKING AGREEMENTS TO KEEP THEIR FOLKS IN THE  SEATS, RIGHT, TO KEEP THE INCUMBENTS IN AS PART OF THE  NEW REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

SO THEN WHAT THE MAPS START  TO REFLECT IS THE WILL OF THE SEATED OR THE SITTING  LEGISLATORS AS OPPOSED TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE,  RIGHT.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN  INCUMBENTS ARE PROTECTED VIA GERRYMANDERING, OR EXCUSE  ME, VIA BUDDY-MANDERING, OR WHATEVER FORM OF  GERRYMANDERING, IF INCUMBENTS ARE PROTECTED,  ONE OF THE LONG-TERM DANGERS OF THAT IS THAT IT'S HARDER  FOR NEW CANDIDATES TO GET IN THE RACE BECAUSE THE  DISTRICTS ARE BEING DRAWN, ESSENTIALLY TAILOR MADE TO  THE INCUMBENT.

SO IT'S MUCH HARDER TO GET  FRESH FACES, FRESH PEOPLE, FRESH IDEAS INTO THE  LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ROLLOVER OF, YOU KNOW,  SESSION TO SESSION TO SESSION, YEAR TO YEAR TO  YEAR, OF SIMILAR PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR IDEAS AND SIMILAR  GOALS.

ANYWAY, YEAH, THAT'S  BUDDY-MANDERING.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS  GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN SENATE DISTRICTS 29 AND 30.

GREG BACA IS PAIRED WITH JOSHUA SANCHEZ DOWN IN THAT  REGION, ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT MAP.

NOW, THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS I SPEAK.

AS WE'RE HERE TOGETHER SPEAKING TODAY, ALL OF THIS  MIGHT BE CHANGING IN BACK ROOMS.

BUT THEN IT GOT EVEN MORE INTERESTING, BECAUSE AN  OPPONENT TO GREG BACA FROM 2020 POPS IN AND SAYS, OH,  BUT WAIT, THEY'RE DRAWING ME OUT OF GREG BACA'S DISTRICT  IN ORDER THAT HE CANNOT REALLY PUT THE CHALLENGE ON  BACA AGAIN IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION, AND MY  UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS GUY WHO IS CRYING FOUL --  AND HE'S RIGHT -- PAUL BACA, IF INDEED THEY HAVE DRAWN  HIM OUT, APPARENTLY HE LOST BY ONLY 2% THE LAST TIME HE  CHALLENGED GREG BACA.

Gwyneth: THAT SOUNDS  KIND OF SALACIOUS, BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU TALK TO  OLD-TIMERS, THIS IS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.

THIS IS THE WAY IT HAS WORKED WITH ALL PARTIES IN  THE PAST, BECAUSE THIS IS A POLITICAL PROCESS, YOU KNOW.

CASEY DOUMA, YOUR GROUP, ALL OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, THE  NEGOTIATING SESSIONS, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID, FAIR  DISTRICTS, ALL THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT YOU'VE DONE, THE  CITIZENS REDISTRICTING  COMMITTEE, ALL THE MEETINGS THEY HAD ALL OVER THE STATE,  ALL OF THAT IS WELL AND GOOD, BUT WHEN THESE PLANS  GET TO THE LEGISLATURE, THEN IT'S POLITICS, AND POLITICS  MEANS IN ORDER TO PASS A PLAN -- BECAUSE BIG PICTURE  WISE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL, RIGHT.

THE DEMOCRATS RUN THE LEGISLATURE, THEY HAVE THE  GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SAYING  FOR YEARS, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KILL US.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER  REPUBLICANS OVER THE STATE.

AND THEY'RE STILL SAYING  THAT, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE SAYING  LAST NIGHT, IN NOT EXACTLY THOSE WORDS, WHEN THEY KIND  OF SHUT DOWN THE PROCEEDINGS.

SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH BUDDY-MANDERING IS, IN  EFFECT, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE LEGISLATURE SORT OF  WORKS, IN THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO COMPROMISE, THE  DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO COMPROMISE WITH REPUBLICANS.

AND SO ONE OF THE WEIRD THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING NOW  IS THAT THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET  REPUBLICANS ON BOARD AND TRYING TO BE COLLEGIAL, AND  THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO HELP OUT THE SENATE MINORITY  LEADER WHO IS FROM THE OTHER PARTY SO THAT THEY'LL VOTE  FOR THE PLAN, I MEAN, AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE GOES  OUT THE WINDOW.

Casey: ABSOLUTELY.

Gwyneth: YES, I WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS ONE LITTLE DISTRICT, RIGHT,  THESE THREE LITTLE PARTS OF ESSENTIALLY VALENCIA COUNTY,  HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

Casey: IT IS VERY  IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING  ASPECTS OF THIS WHOLE DEBACLE, IS THAT AT THE  EXPENSE OF TRIBAL NATIONS AND THE INPUT THAT THEY  PROVIDED FOR EIGHT MONTHS, THAT THIS BUDDY-MANDERING  WOULD BASICALLY PRIORITIZE PROTECTING INCUMBENTS OVER  THE WISHES OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

AND I THINK AS YOU SAW IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS A  NO-BRAINER IN THE HOUSE WHERE YOU ADOPT THE TRIBAL  CONSENSUS MAP AND YOU CELEBRATE THAT BECAUSE OF  THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND THE HEAVY LIFTING.

AND TO APPRECIATE THE TRIBAL CONSENSUS MAP IS TO ALSO  APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT WAS DONE TO GET TO A  CONSENSUS.

IT WAS NOT EASY.

IT WAS A LOT OF MONTHS OF WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL  TRIBAL NATIONS, INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENTS, THEIR COUNCILS,  THEIR PEOPLE, TO ARRIVE AT  THESE MAPS WHERE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST WERE IDENTIFIED,  THEY WERE TALKED ABOUT, THEY WERE DISCUSSED.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE OPPORTUNITY  TO ELECT CANDIDATES OF CHOICE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO ALL THAT THOUGHT PROCESS WENT INTO DEVELOPING THE  TRIBAL CONSENSUS MAPS.

Gwyneth: AND TO BE  CLEAR, CASEY, THIS IS NOT HOW THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE  PAST.

Casey: CORRECT.

Gwyneth: I MEAN, THIS IS, AM I RIGHT, A HUGE  INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION FROM NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND  A HUGE INCREASE IN THE INFLUENCE THAT NATIVE VOTERS  HAVE IN NEW MEXICO.

Casey: AND IS VERY -- I  THINK WHAT A LOT OF TRIBAL LEADERSHIP HAS SEEN IS THAT  WHEN OUR VOICES ARE ABSENT FROM THE PROCESS, THERE IS A  HUGE RISK OF DILUTING THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTING  POWER.

SO TRIBAL LEADERS FELT THAT  IT WAS IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS TO ENGAGE IN THE  PROCESS.

THE CITIZENS REDISTRICTING  COMMITTEE WAS IN THE PROCESS, BUT WE ENGAGED IN  IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AND THE CRC WORKED VERY CLOSELY TO  HEAR THE VOICES OF TRIBAL LEADERSHIP AND TRIBAL  NATIONS.

SO WHAT CAME OUT OF THE CRC,  THE PUEBLO GOVERNMENTS, THE TRIBAL NATIONS, FELT VERY  CONFIDENT THAT THEY WERE HEARD.

SO WHEN WE GET TO THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, IT IS A  CHALLENGE, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT THAT SAME LEVEL OF  APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, AS WELL AS  THE SAME LEVEL OF APPRECIATION FOR TRIBAL  SELF-DETERMINATION, WHERE THE CONTRADICTORY MESSAGE  FROM THE SENATE IS, WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT MANY TIMES IN HISTORY, AND  IT HASN'T WORKED WELL FOR NATIVE PEOPLE.

SO THAT IS WHY IT'S SO FRUSTRATING.

Gwyneth: OR IS IT, WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR US IN  THE SENATE?

Casey: YES, YES.

I THINK THAT'S THE PRIORITY OF WHO THEY'RE LOOKING OUT  FOR.

AND SO THE MESSAGE THAT IS  COMING TO MANY NATIVE PEOPLE IS ONE THAT RESONATES  THROUGHOUT HISTORY WITH FEDERAL INDIAN POLICY OF THE  VERY PATERNALISM THAT'S BUILT INTO BASICALLY  SUBJECTING TRIBES TO THE WILL OF WHO IS IN POWER.

AND SO THE PUSHBACK FROM TRIBAL NATIONS IS BECAUSE  WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK  THERE.

Gwyneth: WELL, KATHLEEN,  THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CASEY DOUMA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US  TODAY.

Kathleen: THANK YOU,  GWYNETH.

Casey: THANK YOU,  GWYNETH.

GENE: THE OTHER AGENDA  ITEM FOR LEGISLATORS DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION IS  DECIDING HOW TO SPEND MORE THAN A BILLION IN FEDERAL  COVID RELIEF FUNDING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS AND  PROJECTS THAT NEED SOME FINANCIAL HELP.

IN YOUR EYES, SENATOR FELDMAN, WHAT SHOULD THE  PRIORITY BE FOR LAWMAKERS WITH THIS KIND OF MONEY?

Sen. Feldman: WELL, THEY WERE ASKED TO DO AN AWFUL  LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO, I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH.

WHAT IS THE PRIORITY HERE?

IS IT ACTUALLY A CRISIS,  ADDRESSING CRISES OR IS IT PRODUCING SOMETHING THAT IS  RATHER TRANSFORMATIONAL?

AND LONG OVERLOOKED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE, I THINK, OPTED FOR SOME CRISIS  THINGS, SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS, BROADBAND, ROADS,  BUT I THINK, I, FOR ONE, AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THEY DID  NOT FOCUS MORE ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND PREVENTION RATHER THAN BUILDING A NEW HOSPITAL.

THERE IS, IN THIS BUDGET HERE, FUNDS FOR A HOSPITAL  IN VALENCIA COUNTY.

WE NEED HOSPITALS, DON'T GET  ME WRONG.

I HEAR MERRITT WHEN SHE  TALKS ABOUT GILA REGIONAL AND HOW STRAPPED THEY ARE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A HOSPITAL IS DIFFERENT THAN HAVING A  PROGRAM AND A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC  DISEASES, THE DISPARITIES THAT HAVE MADE THE PANDEMIC  SO MUCH WORSE IN NEW MEXICO THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN  BASED ON OUR POPULATION.

SO THAT IS ONE OF MY  REGRETS.

Gene:   LAURA, BRINGING THESE TWO STORIES TOGETHER.

PART OF THE DEBATE IN THE ROUNDHOUSE OVER SPENDING OF  THESE COVID-19 RELIEF DOLLARS CENTERS AROUND A  POTENTIAL NEW HOSPITAL THAT DEDE MENTIONED IN VALENCIA  COUNTY AND PASSED BY 65 TO 1 VOTE.

INTERESTING POINT THERE.

VOTERS SAY IT IS LONG  OVERDUE AND DETRACTORS SAY THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE,  ABOUT 100,000, IN THE COUNTY, IF I AM NOT  MISTAKEN.

IS THIS A WORTHY EFFORT FOR  THE MONEY, 50 MILLION?

Laura: SO IT IS HARD TO  SAY WHETHER THAT IS WORTHY OF 50 MILLION.

I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY ON PAR WITH THE COSTS OF OTHER  SIMILAR FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, I AM A BIG  PROPONENT OF MAKING SURE YOU MATCH SORT OF THE SOURCE OF  YOUR FUNDING AND THE DURATION OF YOUR FUNDING  WITH YOUR EXPENDITURES, RIGHT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO USE SHORT-TERM FUNDING FOR A  LONG-TERM EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO  FUND CONTINUOUSLY.

THESE ARE SHORT-TERM DOLLARS  SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, SENATOR FELDMAN HIT  THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN SHE SAID, SHE IS  DISAPPOINTED AND WE ALL SHOOK OUR HEADS YES WHEN SHE  SAID SHE IS DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING  FOR HEALTHCARE.

THERE IS SO MUCH NEED OUT  THERE RIGHT NOW.

A FACILITY IS IMPORTANT,  YES.

BUT THAT IS PROBABLY  SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD PUT INTO THE REGULAR COURSE  OF FUNDING AS YOU GO, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE CONTINUOUS  NEED.

THERE IS AN EDUCATIONAL  COMPONENT TO THAT.

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS  STAFFED.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO  HAVE IT STAFFED.

THE.

THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF  THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

BUT YOU ALSO NEED A LOT OF  SHORT-TERM SPENDING TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS PANDEMIC  UNDER CONTROL.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN  DISBURSED, I THINK ACROSS OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

THAT IS ONE AREA THEY COULD DEFINITELY HAVE PRIORITIZED  BETTER.

I DO THINK THERE PROBABLY WAS PRESSURE TO GET  SOMETHING DONE IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY AND GETTING  PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

SO, INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALWAYS  AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU DO END UP  SPENDING SHORT-TERM DOLLARS OR IN THE SHORT TERM YOU'RE  SPENDING MONEY AND THERE IS CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND THERE  IS A BUMP TO THE ECONOMY THAT WAY.

I JUST THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DISCUSSION  ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT CRISIS THAT WE ARE  STILL IN.

THERE IS TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO  THINK THAT WE ARE SORT OF OUT IN THE CLEAR AND I DON'T  THINK WE ARE.

Gene: WELL SAID THERE.

AND MERRITT FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

666 PEOPLE ARE  HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19, SIGNIFICANT SPIKE OVER THE  LAST MONTH AND A HALF HERE.

NOW THE STATE REPORTS ITS  FIRST CASE OF THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE OMICRON  VARIANT THAT IS HERE NOW.

IS THIS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE  CHANGE THEIR HOLIDAY PLANS OR JUST HOW WE DO OUR  REGULAR THING?

WHAT IS THE UPSHOT HERE IN  YOUR VIEW?

Merritt: I AM CONCERNED  ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK AGREEING WITH  BOTH MY FELLOW PANELISTS, PUBLIC HEALTH HAS TO BE A  CONCERN AND I THINK OUR SCHOOLS,   GREATER MEASURES IN OUR SCHOOLS.

I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED TO LEARN -- I HAVE TWO CLOSE  RELATIVES WHO WORK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE DO NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT  OR SUFFICIENT DAILY CLEANING IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

I GREW UP WHEN THE SCHOOLS WERE MOPPED EVERYDAY.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

TEACHERS HAVE A BROOM AND A DUST PAN AND THEY ARE  EXPECTED TO DO THEM THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE THE  WIPES THAT THEY BRING FROM HOME.

THAT IS NOT OKAY.

ALSO, ENSURING THAT SCHOOLS  ARE KEPT TO THE PROPER TEMPERATURE.

I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO WORKS AT APS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SHE  IS CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT CIRCUITS, PLUGGING IN SPACE  HEATERS TRYING TO KEEP HER CLASSROOM AT 68 DEGREES.

THAT IS NOT OKAY FOR LITTLE KIDS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT JUST SOME BASIC  THINGS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN HEALTHY BECAUSE THEY GET  SICK AND THEY BRING IT HOME, THEY REDUCE OUR IMMUNE  SYSTEMS.

THERE IS SO MANY PUBLIC  HEALTH CONCERNS AS WE GEAR UP FOR OMICRON WHICH APPEARS  TO BE MILDER, MORE VACCINE RESISTANT, MAYBE THE VIRUS  IS WORKING ITSELF INTO A COMMON COLD.

THINGS POINT TO THE FACT THAT CORONA VIRUS IS GOING  TO BE LIKE THE FLU, GOING TO GO FROM PANDEMIC TO EPIDEMIC  AND IT IS GOING TO BE WITH US.

WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT AND GOING BACK TO  THE HOSPITAL, BUILDING A HOSPITAL IS GREAT.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO STAFF IT?

THAT IS WHY THE ICU'S ARE CLOSED AT GILA REGIONAL  BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF FOR IT.

OUR NURSING PROGRAMS IN NEW MEXICO ARE WAIT LISTED  BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

SO WHERE -- WE HAVE SEEN ARTICLES WHERE WE ARE  RELYING ON TRAVELING NURSES.

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO STAFF  A NEW HOSPITAL?

Gene: THAT IS A  LEGITIMATE POINT, LOTS TO THINK ABOUT THERE.

DEDE, YOU KNOW, I AM SURE THE FOLKS UP THERE, YOUR OLD  COLLEAGUES WHO SAY, LOOK, IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO  EVERYTHING.

WE CAN DO ALL THE ABOVE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO JUST ONE THING AND THEN THE NEXT  THING AND THEN THE NEXT THING.

THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY OUT THERE, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE  THEY ARE DOUBLING UP.

YOU HAVE GOT THE NATIONAL  INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD MONEY.

AND STATE SENATE VOTED TO  SPEND HALF A BILLION ON A BOND INFRASTRUCTURE.

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?

YOU JUST HAVE GOT TO TAKE IT ALL ON AT ONCE?

Sen. Feldman: I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO BROADBAND,  FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE  THE CAPABILITY OF PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE, YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK THAT THE DEPARTMENT, THE IT  DEPARTMENT, CAME AND SAID WE CAN'T HANDLE ALL THIS MONEY.

THEY SAID THAT TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND SO  THERE WAS A CUTBACK THERE.

BUT, IT IS INTERESTING  BECAUSE THIS MONEY THAT IS BEING APPROPRIATED WILL  LARGELY BE ADMINISTERED BY STATE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT,  OF COURSE, WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE LAWSUIT BETWEEN THE  LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.

THE LEGISLATURE WANTED THE POWER TO APPROPRIATE THIS  AND, OKAY, NOW THEY GOT POWER TO APPROPRIATE THIS  AND IT IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY THE GOVERNOR'S  SECRETARIES THAT ARE FIGURING OUT WHERE THE  RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD WITH THESE FUNDS.

NOW, FORTUNATELY, THERE IS STILL TIME AND THERE IS  STILL THE BULK OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY TO APPROPRIATE  AND THAT WILL BE DONE DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

I THINK THERE IS OVER 700 MILLION-DOLLARS THAT THE  LEGISLATURE STILL HAS TO APPROPRIATE.

THAT WILL HAPPEN LATER.

Gene: REAL QUICK, GOT  ABOUT JUST UNDER A MINUTE.

YOUR SENSE OF WHERE DEDE  LEFT OFF AND HOW THINGS LOOK IN THE LEGISLATURE GOING  FORWARD.

WITH THIS KIND OF MONEY ON THE TABLE, PEOPLE MAKE  INTERESTING DECISIONS.

Laura: RIGHT.

WE HAVE GOT THIS CURRENT SPECIAL SESSION THAT I AM  SURE EVERYBODY IS TIRED OF ALREADY GIVEN PERSONAL NEED  TO GET THE HOLIDAYS ROLLING AND ALL THAT STUFF.

AFTER THE BREAK ONCE THEY COME BACK FOR THE REGULAR  SESSION, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO  REALLY SORT OF CLEAR THEIR MINDS OF WHERE THEY HAVE  BEEN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE GOING  FORWARD.

THAT IS A TIME TO CONSIDER  THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA.

THERE HAS BEEN THIS  UNFORTUNATE FIGHT BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR  BUT THE GOVERNOR IS IN CHARGE, THIS IS A SPECIAL  SESSION, OR I AM SORRY, THIS IS A REGULAR BUDGET SESSION.

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE A CALL SO THEY REALLY HAVE AN  OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE WITH REGARD  TO WHAT IS ON THAT AGENDA AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO  MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE SORT OF CLEAR THEIR MINDS AND HAVE A  CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH FAMILY, COME BACK REFRESHED  AND READY TO DO THE PEOPLES' WORK.

Gene: COVID-19 WILL REMAIN A TOP ISSUE HEADING  INTO 2022.

FIND OUT WHERE IT RANKS IN  THE COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP 10 STORIES OF 2021 DURING OUR  END OF YEAR SHOWS AS WE ROUND OUT DECEMBER HERE ON  NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

Howdy: I MET THIS ELDER AFTER I MADE LIKE THIS  COMMUNITY MEAL AND SHE KNEW THIS ABOUT ME AND SHE KNEW  THAT, YOU KNOW, IN A WAY THAT LIKE I AM A THIRD  GENERATION HEALER.

I AM NOT A DOCTOR.

SHE IS LIKE, FOOD IS MEDICINE AND, YOU KNOW, IF  YOU FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THEN YOU SHOULD GO FOR  IT.

Gene:   WELCOMING THE LINE OPINION PANEL BACK FOR ONE  FINAL DISCUSSION THIS WEEK AND IT IS A TOUGH ONE.

IMPACT OF FENTANYL ON CRIME IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO  AND CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE.

WE HAVE COVERED THESE ISSUES  HERE ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS INCLUDING AN INTERVIEW LAST  WEEK WITH AUTHOR AND FORMER LA TIMES REPORTER SAM  QUINONES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GROWING.

THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL PUBLISHED A POWERFUL THREE  PART SERIES ON THE ISSUE JUST THIS WEEK.

GIVE IT A READ IF YOU HAVE THE TIME.

IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

DEA SAYS IT SAW A 900%  INCREASE IN SEIZURES OF THE DRUG THIS PAST YEAR,  SURPASSING HEROIN AS THE NUMBER WON DRUG DRIVING  CRIME IN ALBUQUERQUE.

THERE IS SO MANY LAYERS TO  THIS, FROM THE MANUFACTURING OF THE DRUG TO DISTRIBUTION  TO THE ACTUAL JOB USE.

LET ME START WITH LAURA.

LAURA IS THERE A NEW WAY STATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT  CAN TACKLE THIS PROBLEM?

IT SEEMS AT THIS POINT THE  CURRENT TACTICS ARE NOT WORKING OR AS EFFECTIVE AS  WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.

Laura: I READ IT, AS I AM  SURE MANY OF YOU DID, THE STORIES IN THE JOURNAL AND I  MEAN IT REALLY REFLECTS A LEVEL OF HOPELESSNESS THAT I  WAS NOT FULLY AWARE OF AMONG FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, I THINK IT JUST SIGNALS THAT PEOPLE ARE  LOOKING FOR ESCAPE AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY THE  ESCAPE IS DRUGS.

AND THEN ADD TO THAT THESE  DRUGS ARE OFTEN LACED WITH OTHER THINGS OR THEY ARE  MUCH MORE POTENT THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY FIND IN THIS  KIND OF DRUG.

IT IS REALLY A CRISIS  SITUATION.

I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY  RECENTLY TO LISTEN IN ON SOME LEADERSHIP ALBUQUERQUE  WHICH I AM DOING RIGHT NOW.

WE JUST DID A CRIME AND  PUBLIC SAFETY DAY AND HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE  DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AS WELL AS OTHER  PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTY AND CITY ARE DOING.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO WORK ON ADDRESSING THE  ISSUE OF PROVIDING MORE COMMUNITY POLICING TYPE OF  MODEL, MORE WORKING WITH NONPROFITS AND OTHER LOCAL  AGENCIES TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHERE THERE IS  GAPS BETWEEN -- YOU DON'T -- PEOPLE HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM  YOU DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY INCARCERATE  THEM, HOWEVER THAT FUELS A LOT OF PROPERTY CRIME SO  THERE IS A CYCLE THERE THAT CERTAINLY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS  FAMILIAR WITH, COURT SYSTEM IS FAMILIAR WITH AND I THINK  WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADD MORE RESOURCES TO THOSE  TRYING TO FILL THE GAPS BETWEEN THOSE TWO SO WE ARE  ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS BUT I KNOW THERE IS VERY  INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WORKING ON IT AND A NEED FOR MORE  FUNDING.

THAT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA  WHERE SOME OF THE SURPLUS IF WE HAVE THAT COMING UP IN  THE NEXT SESSION, COULD SEEK TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS  PROBLEM.

Gene: INTERESTING LAST  POINT THERE.

ONE STEP THE DEA, FOLLOWING  LAURA'S POINT THERE, ONE STEP DEA HAS TAKEN IS  CREATING OPERATION ENGAGE WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT  TAKES A DEEPER DIVE INTO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AS LAURA  MENTIONED, REACHING OUT TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT,  SCHOOLS, FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS EVEN MEDICAL  PROFESSIONALS.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE  TYPES PROGRAMS AND CAN THEY BE EXPANDED BEYOND JUST  MONEY?

WE NEED PEOPLE POWER TO RUN  THESE THINGS TOO.

Merritt: ABSOLUTELY.

ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN IS THE PAST FOUR DECADES OF  ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DRUG CRIMES HAS ONLY RESULTED IN  US BEING THE DEMOCRACY WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF  OUR POPULATION INCARCERATED BUT IT HAS NOT STOPPED  DEMAND FOR DRUGS IN OR POPULATION.

SO, ZERO TOLERANCE, TOUGH ON CRIME APPROACH IS NOT -- AND  PARTICULARLY IN ALBUQUERQUE -- IS NOT REDUCING VIOLENT  CRIME OR PROPERTY CRIME AND NOT REDUCING DRUG USE.

SO, WHILE AS A CONSERVATIVE I DON'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT  MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE  NEED TO SPEND BECAUSE TO LAURA'S POINT AND TO YOUR  POINT, THIS HAS SO MANY LAYERS.

THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE CHRONIC HOPELESSNESS AND IF  YOU DRIVE DOWN I-40 AND YOU SEE ALL THE ENCAMPMENTS.

I MENTIONED ONE MORE THING, JUST STANDING, SPENDING A  SATURDAY NIGHT OUTSIDE THE PRESBYTERIAN DOWNTOWN ER,  YOU SEE THE EFFECTS OF ADDICTION.

YOU SEE ADDICTS IN NEED AND PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

ONE OF THE POINTS THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL  MENTIONED IS THE ESTIMATE THAT 25% OF OUR HOMICIDES  ARE FENTANYL RELATED.

THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM  AND THE SCARY THING, OF COURSE, IT IS NOT LIKE OTHER  DRUGS.

IT IS EASY TO CONCEAL, EASY  TO MANUFACTURE.

IT IS ALL CHEMICAL.

SO THERE IS NO RAW MATERIAL THAT HAS TO BE GROWN.

THERE IS NO DEPENDENCY.

IT IS ALL MANUFACTURED.

SO, WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS  RESOURCES AND DIRECT RESOURCES AND DIRECT  RESOURCES QUICKLY INTO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS,  AT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AT  TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TRY  AND GET SOME SORT OF, JUST FROM A TREATMENT, FROM A  STOPPING THE FLOW OF DRUGS, TO GREATER COMMUNITY  POLICING BECAUSE ALBUQUERQUE IS BECOMING A SCARY AND  HOPELESS PLACE TO BE.

Gene: IT IS A DIFFICULTY  AND SENATOR WHEN YOU REALIZE WE ARE CLOSE TO THE BORDER.

IT IS A BIG FACTOR.

THE DEA AND OTHER LAW  ENFORCEMENT POINTS TO BIG CARTELS AS ONE OF THE MAIN  CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PROBLEM HERE IN OUR STATE.

IT IS NOT AN EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER BUT HOW CAN NEW  MEXICO COLLABORATE WITH THE FEDS AND OTHERS AND MAYBE BY  EXTENSION, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT, TO GET A HANDLE  ON THIS?

Sen. Feldman: THIS IS SO  NEW AND IT REALLY COMMANDS NOT JUST MONEY AND  COLLABORATION WITH MEXICO BUT THIS IS A NEW CLASS OF  DRUG USERS THAT ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE LIKE  NONPROFESSIONALS.

THEY ARE RANK AMATEURS AND  YET THEY ARE DEALING THESE LITTLE BLUE PILLS THAT ARE  LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HEROIN, DO NOT -- THEIR EFFECTS ARE  NOT STOPPED BY NARCAN AND THE TRADITIONAL WEAPONS THAT  HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST OVERDOSES AND SO YOU'RE  GETTING A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF OVERDOSES AMONG YOUNGER  PEOPLE AND IT REQUIRES THE KIND OF PERSON LIKE JENNIFER  BURKE, SHE STARTED SERENITY MESA.

SHE CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE EARLY ON WHEN HER SON WAS  STILL ALIVE AND TALKED ABOUT THE DANGER OF OPIOIDS AND  THIS IS OPIOID OR OPIOID CUT WITH FENTANYL AND HER  APPROACH IS VERY ONE ON ONE PERSONAL APPROACH TO EACH OF  THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE.

I MEAN, THIS HOPELESSNESS IS TWO OUT OF FIVE OF THESE  PILLS COULD BE DEADLY.

Gene: LAURA, PICKING UP  ON DEDE'S POINT, DR. BRANDON WARRICK, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR  WITH EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT UNM HOSPITAL, HARD QUOTE, HE  SAID A RECENT TROUBLING TREND AT UNMH IS FENTANYL  OVERDOSES IN CHILDREN.

BEFORE 2020 HAD ONLY TREATED  TWO BUT THAT NUMBER HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED,  SOME WITH SIGNIFICANT BRAIN DAMAGE.

NO ONE HAS DIED, BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TALK WITH KIDS ABOUT  DRUG LITERACY.

IS THERE SOMETHING HERE WE  NEED TO CHANGE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T GO BACK  TO JUST SAY NO.

THAT IS JUST NOT GOING TO  WORK BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED TO KIDS ABOUT  THIS LITTLE BLUE PILL AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.

Laura: YOU REACHED BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD WITH JUST  SAY NO.

NANCY REAGAN STUFF.

THAT WAS A WHOLE -- I THINK A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS  MAYBE NOW WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS.

YES, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE EDUCATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO -- EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE ON  THE TABLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST EDUCATING CHILDREN  ABOUT DRUG LITERACY BUT IT IS ALSO, I MEAN, IT IS  EDUCATING PARENTS.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT  ARE THE PARENTS DOING, WHY ARE THEY BEING SO  IRRESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF THEIR  CHILDREN.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THAT  FAMILY UNIT TO PROTECT THOSE CHILDREN.

THIS IS A BIGGER ISSUE.

WE HEAR ALL KINDS OF NEWS  STORIES ALL THE TIME ABOUT KIDS BEING IN DANGER IN  THEIR OWN HOME.

THAT IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION  WE HAVE COME TO.

I THINK DRUG LITERACY  ABSOLUTELY SHOULD OCCUR, HOW THAT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW.

BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.

YOU DON'T WANT TO -- YOU WANT TO EDUCATE BUT AT THE  SAME TIME YOU DON'T WANT TO SORT OF ADVERTISE WHAT IS  OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE  CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED THROUGH SNAP CHAT, MEDIA,  AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

Gene: THAT IS A TOUGH  THING TO GO UP AGAINST AND TAKES A LOT OF PARENTAL WORK  TO GET ON TOP OF THIS.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR LINE  PANEL AS ALWAYS THIS WEEK.

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

THE HOLIDAYS JUST AREN'T THE  SAME WITHOUT GREAT FAMILY TRADITIONS AND MANY TIMES  THOSE TRADITIONS ARE CENTERED AROUND FOOD.

THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A NAVAJO BAKER LIZ HOWDY,  WHO RUNS HOWDY CAKES HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SHE TALKS WITH CORRESPONDENT ANTONIO GONZALES ABOUT HOW  BAKING FEEDS HER PASSION AND HOW HER CULTURE FUELS HER  INSPIRATION.

Howdy: WHAT I LIKE TO DO  AT HOWDY CAKES IS DO SMALL WEEKEND SALES ON AFFORDABLE  CAKES THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE.

BECAUSE CAKE IS A BIG  COMMITMENT, SO LIKE IF YOU'RE CRAVING CAKE, YOU  DON'T WANT TO GET LIKE ONE OF THOSE BIG GROCERY STORE  THINGS.

JUST A LITTLE SNACKY GUY.

I LIKE TO CUT IT SYMMETRICALLY.

THEN I ALSO DO A LOT OF CUSTOM CAKES WHICH HAS BEEN  SUPER DUPER FUN WHERE, YOU KNOW, LAKE A LOT OF MY  CLIENTS GIVE ME FREE RANGE TO KIND OF DO -- PUT MY OWN  TWIST AND STYLE ON THINGS.

Antonia: WHERE DOES YOUR  CREATIVITY COME FROM WHEN IT COMES TO DRAWING FROM YOUR  INDIGENOUS CULTURE?

Howdy: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE  ARE JUST SUPER CREATIVE ON THEIR OWN.

JUST SO LIKE STRAIGHT UP CUISINE AND THEN LIKE  JEWELRY MAKING, BASKET WEAVING, WOODWORKING,  PAINTING, DANCING AND IT IS JUST BEING ABLE TO TAP INTO  YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD IN A UNIQUE WAY THAT I THINK  I SEE AND REALLY APPRECIATED FROM MY CULTURE.

Antonia: CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MAYBE ABOUT THE  ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE  INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO COOKING, BAKING AND TURNING  IT INTO A PROFESSION?

Howdy: I FEEL LIKE YOU  JUST CAN'T BE AFRAID OF MAKING SOME MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU LOVE AND IF, YOU KNOW, YOU  FEED PEOPLE AND THEY TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS  REALLY GOOD, IT GIVES YOU GREAT FEEDBACK, LIKE, YOU  KNOW, THEN THAT IS KIND OF WHAT FUELS IT.

I HAVE -- MY GRANDPA IS A DOCTOR.

MY DAD IS A DOCTOR AND I MET THIS OLDER, YOU KNOW, AFTER  I MADE LIKE THIS COMMUNITY MEAL, SHE KNEW THIS ABOUT  ME, AND TOLD ME THAT IN A WAY THAT, LIKE, I AM A THIRD  GENERATION HEALER, EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT A DOCTOR.

SHE SAID YOUR FOOD IS MEDICINE AND IF YOU FEEL  THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THEN YOU SHOULD JUST GO FOR IT.

HERE WE GO, WE ARE GETTING A NICE MELTY TEXTURE   BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW  IS WE ARE GOING TO ADD OUR PEPPERMINT FLAVOR, BECAUSE  WHITE CHOCOLATE IS WHERE IT IS AT.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL WHEN IT IS INCORPORATED WHEN YOU  CAN'T SEE THOSE OILY PEPPER OR EXTRACT WAVES IN IT.

Antonia: IT IS HOLIDAY SEASON AND A LOT OF PEOPLE  DEFINITELY INDULGE DURING THE HOLIDAYS BUT WHERE DID  YOU FIND THAT BALANCE?

Howdy: I PRIDE MYSELF IN  DOING -- BEING ABLE TO OFFER GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN  OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREDIABETIC,  THEY CAN'T HAVE LIKE SUPER SUGAR FUELED DIETS, AND JUST  BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE FREELY BETWEEN ALL THESE  RESTRICTIONS I THINK HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

TO JUST NOT OFFER UP LIKE ALL THIS SUGAR, BUT THEN  ALSO, LIKE, IT HAS GOT TO TASTE GOOD AND SOMETIMES  SELF CARE LIKE INDULGING YOUR SWEET TOOTH.

I LOVE PEPPERMINT SO MUCH.

GO AHEAD AND SPRINKLE AND  MAKE IT THE PEPPERMINT BARK WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.

SOME SNOWFLAKES AND I AM GOING TO COME IN CLOSE WITH  THESE GUYS.

THIS LOOKS GREAT.

IT IS SO PRETTY.

I LOVE IT WHEN DESERTS LOOK CUTE.

IT SOMEHOW MAKES IT TASTE BETTER.

Antonia: WHAT ARE THE COMMENTS OR RESPONSES YOU  GET, EITHER YOU HAVE COMMISSIONED FOR SOMEONE OR  EVEN JUST POSTING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PICTURES, WHAT  ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSES AND INPUT THAT YOU GET?

Howdy: THERE IS A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK BUT I  THINK WITH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DECORATORS AND ARTISTS IN  GENERAL, THERE IS ALWAYS THIS FEELING OF, LIKE, LIKE  YOU ARE YOUR HARSHEST CRITIC, BUT, YOU KNOW IT IS  MY FAVORITE THING TO PRESENT SOMEONE WITH THEIR  COMMISSION AND JUST HAVE THEIR FACE LIGHT UP AND BE  BLOWN AWAY BY WHATEVER EXPECTATIONS THEY HAD AND I  REALLY LIKE SURPASSING THEM.

Gene:   I WANT TO TAKE A QUICK SECOND TO CIRCLE BACK  IN OUR DISCUSSION ON FENTANYL USE IN NEW MEXICO  AND HOW WE ALL SUFFER WITH RESULTS.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ THAT THREE PART  SERIES IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, PLEASE DO.

IT IS WELL WORTH IT.

IT IS EASY FOR US TO TURN  OUR HEADS AWAY FROM THE SITUATION BUT WE HAVE TO GET  OUR SHOULDERS SQUARE TO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE SO FAR THE  BEST WE DO IS POINT FINGERS AT USERS OR BLAME THE  SYSTEM, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.

BECAUSE NO ONE GROWS UP WANTING TO SUFFER THE  MISERIES OF ADDICTION.

WE NEED MORE RESOURCES AS WE  DISCUSSED, A NEWER ERA OF DRUG LITERACY, AS WE  DISCUSSED.

WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE  ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GET AFTER IT WITH PURPOSE, ENERGY AND  A WILL TO MAKE OUR STATE AND CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK,  IN FOCUS.