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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, WE BEGIN OUR LOOK AT WHAT THE BIDEN CLIMATE PLAN MEANS FOR NEW MEXICO.

>> Peach: WE NEED TO GET OFF OIL AND GAS REVENUE AND WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW.

AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS CHANGING THE TAXES.

>> Gene: PLUS THE FIRST LADY OF THE NAVAJO NATION TALKS ABOUT MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

COVID-19 CONTINUES TO CIRCUMSCRIBE BOUNDARIES OF LIFE IN 2021.

AT THE ROUNDHOUSE A POSITIVE CASE AMONG HOUSE REPUBLICANS RILED AN ALREADY RANCOROUS ENVIRONMENT AND VACCINE SHORTAGES HAVE REINED IN AMBITIOUS PLANS TO REOPEN SCHOOLS IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE.

THE LINE WILL TAKE UP BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES AS WELL AS A GRIM OUTLOOK FOR IRRIGATION SEASON IN THE RIO GRANDE.

WE HAVE A GREAT SET OF REVIEWS IN ADDITION TO THE CLIMATE PLAN AND MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

WE'LL ALSO FOCUS ON ETHICS OF DELIVERING VACCINES IN A STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO.

WE START WITH THE LINE AND CAUTIOUS STEPS TOWARDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THERE IS HARDLY ANYONE WHO IS ARGUING KIDS LEARN BETTER ONLINE AND SO NEW MEXICO IS ANXIOUS TO GET KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT PROMISED WITHIN 100 DAYS AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO LET STUDENTS RETURN AS EARLY AS THIS COMING MONDAY.

CAN IT BE DONE?

MORE IMPORTANTLY, CAN IT BE DONE SAFELY?

HERE TO PARSE THAT ISSUE IS OUR LINE OPINION PANEL.

WE WELCOME BACK ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANALYST, ED PEREA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, ED.

AND LINE REGULARS TOM GARRITY AND SOPHIE MARTIN JOIN US THIS WEEK AS WELL.

ED, STARTING WITH YOU, ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MET THIS WEEK.

DECIDED TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS WHILE TRYING TO CONVINCE THE STATE THAT TO STILL ALLOW ATHLETES TO COMPETE WHILE VIRTUAL LEARNING GOES ON LONGER.

HERE IS MY QUESTION.

THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT DO THEY HAVE THE DATA THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION?

>> Ed: THERE IS A LOT OF DATA OUT THERE AND YOU'RE HEARING BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK TO, THERE IS A GROUP THAT REALLY WANTS TO GET THE SCHOOLS OPENED UP AND FOR THOSE SCHOOLS, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE GROUPS, PARENTS AND OTHERWISE, WHO ARE REALLY SUPPORTING OPENING UP SCHOOLS TO SOME DEGREE, I THINK THEY REVIEW THE DATA AS POSITIVE ON THEIR BEHALF.

SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE COME OUT 1100 OR SO TESTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

PROBABLY .04% ACTUALLY CAME BACK POSITIVE.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TESTED WITHIN APS, THEY ARE JUST NOT SEEING THE PROBLEM THERE.

AND ALSO NATIONALLY WE ARE SEEING FROM THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING, MAYBE IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF AN ISSUE OF A PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS TO REOPEN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS TO SOME DEGREE.

THAT IS THE ARGUMENT ON ONE SIDE THE ARGUMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS CLEARLY TEACHERS ARE SAYING, HOLD ON HERE, WHEN YOU BRING STUDENTS IN TOGETHER EVEN WITH SAFETY PRACTICES, WE ARE STILL AT RISK.

YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES ARE AT RISK, WE COME TO CAMPUS AND WE GO HOME AND MAY EXPOSE OTHERS TO THE VIRUS.

THERE IS THE CONCERN ON BOTH SIDES.

THE SHORT OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU STAND DEPENDS WHICH SIDE OF THE TABLE YOU'RE SITTING ON.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THE APS ARGUMENT.

>> Gene: I REALLY LIKE THE WAY YOU PUT THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, WHEN I SAY -- I AM NOT TRYING TO BE CUTE HERE -- VACCINATIONS IS OBVIOUSLY THE WORD OF THE DAY HERE FOR TEACHERS.

SHOULD ALL TEACHERS BE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE TO HAVE COMFORT FOR PARENTS AND EVERYBODY ELSE?

>> Sophie: THERE IS AN IMPORTANT BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE STRUCK THERE.

IT MAKES ME THINK OF ACTUALLY, THERE IS AN INTERESTING PIECE IN THE NEW MEXICAN ABOUT WHAT SANTA FE PREP, WHICH ADMITTEDLY PROBABLY HAS MORE RESOURCES THAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE A SYSTEM THAT SEEMS PRETTY RATIONAL BUT PART OF WHAT IS GOING ON THERE IS THEIR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TEACHERS VACCINATED IN ADVANCE OF REOPENING AND I THINK THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS SOMETHING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, EDUCATION WEEKLY HAS HAD A SERIES RUNNING EARLIER THIS WEEK, EARLIER THIS MONTH, BUT IT IS STILL THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME OUT IS THAT NOT EVERY CHILD DOES POORLY WITH REMOTE LEARNING, THAT A NUMBER OF CHILDREN ACTUALLY DO BETTER AND HAVE SAID MY GRADES ARE IMPROVING, MY FOCUS HAS IMPROVED.

I AM NOT WASTING TIME IN THE WAY I MIGHT AT SCHOOL.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A MOTIVATED CHILD.

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOOD AT THAT TOO.

CERTAINLY IT IS NOT TRUE FOR EVERYONE BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE TO GIVE NEW MEXICO CREDIT FOR IS THAT UNLIKE WHAT I HEAR SOME OTHER STATES, IT WASN'T THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, EXECUTIVE MANDATING, YOU WILL OPEN.

IT IS, ALL RIGHT SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, PUT YOUR PLANS TOGETHER.

AND SOME SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN NEW MEXICO, LAS VEGAS, I THINK, IS SAYING, YEAH, NOT FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN NOW.

DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PLANS AND IT IS NOT JUST SORT OF WAVE A WAND AND WE ARE OPEN.

THERE IS A LOT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE A PARTICULAR DISTRICT CAN OPEN.

GOING BACK TO VACCINES, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE COMFORT LEVEL AND SAFETY OF THE EDUCATORS.

NOT JUST EDUCATORS BUT THE BUS DRIVERS, THE JANITORS, EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN THAT SYSTEM.

WE FORGET SOMETIMES, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND OURSELVES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS BUT THEY ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO GOES IN TO WORK TO MAKE THE SCHOOLS HAPPEN.

>> Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

TOM, WHEN I READ THE JOURNAL ARTICLE, SOME OF THE CRITERIA.

COUNTIES THAT ARE RED, LIKE APS JUST MENTIONED, 25% OF IN-PERSON STAFF WILL HAVE TO BE TESTED WEEKLY.

SCHOOLS YELLOW AND GREEN COUNTIES, WHICH CURRENTLY IS HARDING AND UNION, 12.5 OF THE STAFF WOULD BE TESTED EACH WEEK.

THE PROBLEM IS THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING TO 10% ON THE TESTING AT THIS POINT.

CAN WE REALLY RAMP UP WHERE WE NEED TO BE READY TO GO WITH THIS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> Tom: I THINK IN SOME AREAS YOU CAN, BUT IN LARGE PART, WHAT WE SAW WITH THE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION IN THE STATE OF THE STATE WAS SHE OPENED UP THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE.

AS FAR AS SAYING, GREAT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP SCHOOLS AND REALLY KIND OF SHIFTED THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SCHOOLS WHO ARE GOING, OH, HEY, HOW ARE WE HIT TESTING?

HOW DOES RED, YELLOW GREEN IMPACT US.

WHERE DO WE FIND 1200 SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, AS FAR AS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF ITEMS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE SURPRISED WITH BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME WITH RESPECT TO GETTING RAMPED UP AND BACK UP AND RUNNING, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SOME TIME BUT THAT RUNWAY WAS BASICALLY TAKEN AWAY WITH THAT FEBRUARY 8 OPPORTUNITY.

IT WASN'T A MANDATE, JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS AND WHAT IS REALLY GOING TO TEST, THOUGH, IS THE ABILITY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COMMUNICATE NOT JUST WITH THEIR TEACHERS BUT WITH THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE IS ALL OF A SUDDEN EXPECTATION THAT THE NORMAL OF REMOTE LEARNING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS BIG OR SMALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT NARRATIVE RIGHT NOW.

OR THEY WILL HAVE THE MOB RULE TAKE OVER AND SET THE NARRATIVE FOR THEM.

>> Gene: I TELL YOU, WHAT, YOU HIT A HOME RUN THERE.

I AGREE 100%.

SOPHIE, WE ARE TOP THREE IN THE COUNTRY FOR TESTING RIGHT NOW.

YAY, NEW MEXICO.

DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

WE ARE DOING OKAY, COMPARED TO MOST.

>> Sophie: WE ARE DOING OKAY ON TESTING AND REALLY WELL, MORE THAN OKAY, ON TESTING AND WELL ON VACCINATION RATES.

THIS STATE HAS BEEN OUT FRONT IN MOST AREAS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC BUT BEING NO.

3, BEING UP THERE, DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED.

WHY IS TESTING IMPORTANT?

IT HELPS TO GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IS AFFECTED.

EPIDEMIOLOGISTS CAN EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT FROM THE SMALLER SAMPLE SIZE TO HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE IT, WHAT THE SPREAD IS IN THE STATE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, TESTING IS ESSENTIAL IN OTHER WAYS.

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS THAT OPEN THAT IF FOUR KIDS IN YOUR CLASSROOM, FOUR KIDS AT YOUR SCHOOL?

I AM ADMITTING I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT IS.

>> Gene: I BET IT IS SCHOOLS.

>> Sophie: THERE IS A THRESHOLD AT WHICH EVERYONE GOES HOME.

IF THERE IS NOT TESTING, YOU DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THAT YOU HAVE MET THAT THRESHOLD.

THAT LEAVES EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL LESS SAFE.

>> Gene: HEY, ED, WE HAVE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE HERE.

I WANT YOU TO PICK UP ON THAT AS WELL.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLEDGE, DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR IS THAT INAUGURATION DAY TALK?

>> Ed: PLEDGE FOR WHAT, GENE?

>> Gene: TO HAVE EVERYONE BACK IN SCHOOL IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> Ed: WELL, I GUESS, GENE, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE TOO QUICKLY BUT WE WANT TO MOVE STEADILY.

I THINK THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CONCERNS OUT HERE.

WITH REGARD TO THE LAST QUESTION AS FAR AS WHERE WE RANK ON TESTING, JUST LOOK BACK TO A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE SPIKING AND HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

I THINK THE TESTING PROVIDES US DATA FROM WHICH TO MAKE SOME OF OUR DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE TOO QUICKLY.

I KNOW THERE IS THIS PUSH TO IT BUT I FEEL WE DON'T WANT TO JUMP TOO FAR AHEAD, WE WANT TO MOVE WHEN WE ARE READY.

I LIKE THE PLEDGE.

I THINK THE PLEDGE ISN'T A PROMISE BUT SETS A GOAL FOR US.

I THINK THE PLEDGE IS FINE.

LET'S MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE DATA AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AT.

>> Gene: HAVE TO WRAP IT UP THERE.

THIS GROUP IS BACK TO TALK ABOUT COVID-19 AT THE ROUNDHOUSE AND THE CONTENTIOUS ROAD AHEAD FOR LAWMAKERS.

>> Peach: DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS OFF AND ON BEEN A STRATEGY IN NEW MEXICO FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

IT HASN'T OCCURRED TO THE EXTENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE.

>> Gene: NEW MEXICO'S MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND RELATIVES TASK FORCE RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT OUT OUTLINING ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM CREATED A TASK FORCE IN 2019 TO CHART A PATH TO ADDRESSING THE CRISIS.

THE GROUP'S 64-PAGE REPORT SHOWS A NEED FOR DATA COLLECTION, RESOURCES, IMPROVED REPORTING OF CASES AND A NUMBER AREAS OF NEED INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONTINUE TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CASES IN THE STATE.

NEW MEXICO'S 19 PUEBLOS, APACHE TRIBES AND NAVAJO NATION ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

CORRESPONDENT ANTONIO GONZALES TALKS WITH THE FIRST LADY OF THE NAVAJO NATION ABOUT HER WORK ON THE TAX FORCE AND WHAT MEMBERS NEED FROM THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.

>> Antonia: JOINING US NOW IS THE FIRST LADY OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> Nez: YES.

MY NAME IS PHEFELIA NEZ.

(SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE.)

I AM THE FIRST LADY OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

TO MY NAVAJO RELATIVES.

>> Antonia: I WANTED TO SHARE OR HAVE YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VERY IMPORTANT SERIOUS WORK OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

IT IS A TOUGH TOPIC FOR THE NAVAJO NATION, FAMILIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO TALK ABOUT BUT IT IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR WORK YOU'RE DOING ON TASK FORCES BOTH IN NEW MEXICO AND IN ARIZONA?

>> Inez: FOR NEW MEXICO I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A TASK FORCE.

AND WAS APPOINTED OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AND WE ENDED TASK FORCE FOR THE FIRST YEAR NOVEMBER OF 2020.

SO IT WENT 2019 TO 2020 AND FOR THE NAVAJO NATION, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY AND SECOND LADY, A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS HAVE REVOLVED AROUND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON MMIW AND AS WELL AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING BECAUSE THERE IS A CONNECTION THERE DEFINITELY.

BUT IT IS NOT ONE AND THE SAME AND THEN FOR THE ARIZONA HUMAN -- THE OTHER ONE WE REACH OUT TO IS STATE ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ADVISORY COUNCIL.

AND THEN NEW MEXICO HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE.

SO, IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF EFFORTS OF PARTNERING WITH THEM TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON.

>> Antonia: THE TASK FORCE HERE IN NEW MEXICO RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND ALSO NEW MEXICO STATE LAWMAKERS.

WHAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY THAT THE TASK FORCE FOUND THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO?

>> Nez: IT WOULD BE DATA COLLECTION.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NUMEROUS TRIBES AND PUEBLOS IN NEW MEXICO AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE TRIBES AND PUEBLOS WE HAVE OUR OWN TRIBAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LAWS.

SO AS A SOVEREIGN NATION, IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ALMOST INTERNALLY BUT THEN, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO KEEP SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO SO IT WOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND ALSO WITH THE FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.

>> Antonia: AND HOW DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT LOOKING AT JURISDICTIONS PLAY?

BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TRIBES IN NEW MEXICO, THE NAVAJO NATION, APACHE TRIBES AND THE PUEBLO COMMUNITIES ARE ALL SOVEREIGN NATIONS, LIKE YOU SAID WITH DIFFERENT LAWS, LANGUAGE, CULTURE, HISTORY.

THEN, WORKING NOT ONLY JUST LOCALLY ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, SO, HOW IS WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHY IS THAT KEY IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE?

>> Nez: A LOT OF IT STARTS WITH REPORTING.

AND THE SECOND STEP IN THAT IS THE ACTUAL CLASSIFICATION AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT DATA BASES, THEY DON'T ALL COLLECT THE SAME TYPES OF INFORMATION AND THE OTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR IS ACCESSIBILITY.

WHO GETS ACCESS TO THESE DATA COLLECTION CENTERS AND HOW ARE THEY UTILIZED?

THAT HAS REALLY BEEN THE TOP TWO FINDINGS, I THINK, FROM THE REPORT ITSELF.

SO, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERING, WE CAN'T FORCE ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR, YOU KNOW, ACROSS, EVEN FROM BORDER TOWNS LIKE, NAVAJO NATION, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIKE STRONGER ARM ANY BORDER TOWN OR ANY COUNTY OR ANY STATE COURT SYSTEM OR PD TO GIVE US INFORMATION SO IT REALLY HAS TO BE DONE IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND THAT HAS BEEN -- I THINK THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GREATEST BARRIER, MAYBE.

>> Antonia: PART OF THE TASK FORCE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES IS A LACK OF RESOURCES, WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO LOOK, STUDY, CREATE A DATA BASE AND JUST KEEP THE MOVEMENT OF MMIW AND OTHER MISSING PERSONS GOING?

>> Nez: THE TRENDS OF THE DATA BASE, I THINK FOR THE TRIBES OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS, THEY HAVE MEMBERSHIPS OR THEY ARE EITHER MARRIED OR HAVE CHILDREN IN OTHER TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

SO, WHEN YOU HAVE TWO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T SHARE THE SAME TYPE DATA BASE, IT IS REALLY HARD TO EVEN CONNECT IN THOSE WAYS, SO, MAYBE THAT IS WHERE THAT SHARED -- THOSE SHARED AGREEMENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO EACH OTHER'S RECORDING DATA BASES, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THE OTHER ONE THAT WE SEE FIRST HAND, I GUESS, ON TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IS JUST THE RELUCTANCE TO EVEN REPORT CERTAIN THINGS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT WOULD JUST BE THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR EDUCATION, I THINK, WITH THE PUEBLOS ON HOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATES ON EACH TRIBAL SYSTEM AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS OPERATE OFF THE NATION, IF THINGS OCCUR, IF THERE IS INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR OFF THE NATION, YOU'RE LOOKING AT EITHER WORKING WITH A CITY, COUNTY OR STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHEN THE FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS GETS INVOLVED THAT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT LAYER OF ITEMS.

SO EVERY CASE IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE SAME AND THAT IS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION THAT SETS IN PLACE AND WHERE A LOT OF DISTRUST HAPPENS BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE DEFINITELY A GREAT AMOUNT OF EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THAT.

>> Antonia: WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS?

WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU HEARING FROM FAMILIES?

AND WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT JUST OLDER WOMEN.

THE NAVAJO NATION VERY UNFORTUNATELY LOST ASHLYNN MIKE WHICH WAS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AND THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER HER AND IT WAS SUCH A HARD TIME ON NOT ONLY THE NAVAJO NATION, BUT OTHER TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RELATING TO THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES, SO, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FAMILIES?

>> Nez: FOR FAMILIES, IT IS JUST A LOT OF SUPPORT SERVICES, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT REALLY IS WHAT IS NEEDED DURING THE TIME WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURS AND THEN THERE IS ALSO NEED FOR SERVICES FOR RETURNING SURVIVORS.

SO FAMILIES DO NEED SUPPORT WHEN A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY RETURNS HOME AND THAT IS USUALLY SOMETIMES THAT IS LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION BUT WE DEFINITELY HEAR FROM FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Antonia: CAN YOU SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THE NAVAJO NATION, IN PARTICULAR, IS DOING ON MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

>> Nez: THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS.

YOU SEE A LOT MORE ON THAT END.

IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN TERMS OF, I GUESS, REPORTING, BUT, OF COURSE, FOR ANYBODY TO REPORT, THEY NEED TO BE -- TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS OCCUR.

SO, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING, MAYBE THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE REPORTING BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE REALLY SEEING AND WITNESSING HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

>> Antonia: IS THERE ANY RESOURCE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REACH OUT TO OR LOOK TO IF THEY ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE?

>> Inez: WE WILL BE POSTING RESOURCE LINKS ON OUR NEW WEBSITE FOR THE OFFICE OF FIRST AND SECOND LADY.

THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES -- WE WILL DEFINITELY BE MAKING THAT KNOWN.

DURING THE VIRTUAL EVENT WE'LL HAVE A WEBSITE AND THEY'LL ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

>> Antonia: FIRST LADE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND HARD ISSUE THAT MANY FAMILIES AND TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE NAVAJO NATION ARE WORKING ON.

>> Nez: THANK YOU.

>> Gene: IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE WEEK AT ROUND HOUSE IN SANTA FE.

JUST BEFORE LAST WEEK'S EPISODE AIRED, WE LEARNED A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE GROUP OF 25 CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS HAS BEEN THE MOST CRITICAL OF BOTH THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND NOW THE LARGELY ONLINE NATURE OF THE SESSION ITSELF.

THAT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH DEMOCRATIC SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BRIAN EGOLF, WHO ACCUSED HOUSE REPUBLICANS WITH BEING RECKLESS WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

THEY SUED.

WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR A SUPREME COURT OPINION ON THE HOUSE RULES, POSSIBLY NEXT WEEK.

HERE WE ARE NOT EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION.

SOPHIE, PERHAPS THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT THE SESSION THIS WEEK, THEY HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY CIVIL, YOU KNOW.

MR. EGOLF EASED UP ON THE THREE PEOPLE IN THE CHAMBER RULE AND ABOUT HALF REPUBLICANS SHOWED UP IN PERSON.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS WHOLE DUST UP?

IS THIS LIKE, YOU CAN'T TELL US WHAT TO DO SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO DO WHAT IS NOT RIGHT?

>> Sophie: SOME OF THIS IS POSTURING.

SOME OF IT IS SORT OF VIRTUE SIGNALING ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT, WHAT NEITHER PARTY REALLY HAS CONTROL OVER, LET'S FACE IT, IS THE PANDEMIC ITSELF.

JUST LIKE WE HAVE SEEN FOR ALL OF US, FOR THE LAST BASICALLY YEAR, OF DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC, ADDING PANDEMIC ON TOP OF EVERYTHING YOU ALREADY HAVE TO DO, IN THIS CASE, IN A 6-DAY SESSION, IT WAS JUST BOUND TO ADD EXTRA CONFLICTS, EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHEST POUNDING, ET CETERA.

I THINK FRANKLY, THE MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS, I THINK THAT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND NEW MEXICO ELECTORATE, WE WANT TO SEE ACTION.

WE WANT TO SEE WORK HAPPENING AND THIS KIND OF SQUABBLING IS MORE THAN UNFORTUNATE.

IT IS A DISTRACTION FROM THE WORK THAT REALLY NEEDS TO GET DONE AND I WILL SAY THAT WORK IS GETTING DONE.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME IMPORTANT BILLS FILED.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET PASSED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, THAT THEY COULDN'T GET PAST GOVERNOR MARTINEZ AND GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS SAID SHE WILL SIGN.

SO, I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME MORE PROGRESS ON SOME OF THOSE BILLS EARLY ON.

ALREADY SEEING PROGRESS, BUT THE BIG WORK, THE COVID-19 RESPONSE, ET CETERA, THAT IS, I THINK, GOING TO BE A BIG FOCUS OF WHAT THE ELECTORATE WANTS TO SEE HAPPEN AND THAT HAS GOT TO GET ROLLING.

>> Gene: GOOD POINTS.

INTERESTINGLY, WE ARE JUST UNDER 2,000 CORONAVIRUS TESTS CONDUCTED AT THE ROUND HOUSE AND THEY BEGAN ON SITE TESTING ON JANUARY 15.

AS WE KNOW NOW, AS OF REPORTING DATE, THEY HAVE HAD FIVE POSITIVE TEST RESULTS OR 0.4%.

DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU?

DOES THAT SAY TO YOU REPUBLICANS ARE IN FACT TAKING CARE BECAUSE IF THEY WEREN'T, WE WOULD HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE CASES THAN THIS.

I'LL REMIND FOLKS OUR AVERAGE STATE-WIDE IS 7% VERSUS 0.4% WE SEE IN THE ROUND HOUSE.

>> Ed: GENE THIS IS A NEW ENVIRONMENT AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THEY CAN BE THE STARTING POINT.

IF WE RECALL BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THIS VIRUS BACK IN MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, LOCALLY, NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW ANYONE WHO HAD CONTRACTED THE VIRUS.

AS TIME WENT ON, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE KNEW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE VIRUS.

WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY TESTS, SO MANY PEOPLE, THE 0.4% THAT YOU MENTIONED HAVE COME BACK POSITIVE.

WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND LOOK AT THAT IN A POSITIVE WAY BUT NOT TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED AND LOOSEN UP ON THE PRECAUTIONS THAT WE ALL NEED TO TALK.

MY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT WE TAKE SOME COMFORT WITH THE POSITIVITY RATE LOW AND THEN WE MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BY NOT TAKING THE NECESSARY STEMS, THAT IS GOING TO KEEP THAT NUMBERS LOW AS INITIAL RESULTS.

>> Sophie: LEGISLATORS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE TESTED AND IF WE ARE NOT TESTING, WE ARE NOT REALLY ABLE TO GET ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS IN PARTICULAR HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE TESTING PROGRAM AND SO, WHEN WE SAY.04, TWO THINGS, THIS IS BY AND LARGE A WHITE COLLAR GROUP THAT, NOT EXCLUSIVELY, BUT IN GENERAL LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFF WOULD BE EXPECTED TO REFLECT THE TRANSMISSION RATES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, STAY HOME, ET CETERA, AS OPPOSED TO OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS WHO ARE REALLY AT GREATER RISK.

WE SEE PEOPLE OF COLOR AT GREATER RISK FOR UNDER REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AT GREATER RISK FOR COVID-19 INFECTION.

BUT I HAVE TO POINT OUT, THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

LEGISLATORS CAN CHOOSE TO OPT OUT OF BEING TESTED.

AS WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

I AM NOT SURE THAT FIGURE MEANS THAT MUCH.

>> Gene: I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> Ed: JUST VERY QUICKLY, YEAH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ONE PERSON TESTING POSITIVE CAN INFECT, IT IS ENORMOUS AND EXPONENTIAL.

CAUTION, CAUTION, CAUTION.

DON'T TAKE COMFORT IN THE LOW NUMBERS RIGHT.

>> Gene: YOU GUYS ARE DESCRIBING QUITE WELL WHERE BRIAN EGOLF IS COMING FROM.

THERE IS NO END OF FRUSTRATION FOR THIS MAN AND SOMETIMES THE COMMENTS HE HAS MADE ABOUT THIS SORT OF GET AT THAT, BUT, TOM, LET ME ASK YOU, THIS IS ALSO INTERESTING.

IT CAME OUT LAST WEEK THAT DURING THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE SESSION, THERE WAS A POSITIVE CASE THERE.

AND NOBODY KNEW IT.

AND THE GIVEN RESTRICTIONS FOR WHO CAN BE IN THE CAPITOL, SHOULD A POSITIVE TEST HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED RIGHT AWAY?

>> Tom: IN THIS AGE TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY KEY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE MORE TRANSPARENCY THAT IS OUT THERE, THE BETTER.

SO, YES, IS THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT.

LONGER ANSWER IS THAT I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AT THE ROUNDHOUSE HAS BEEN SO FAR A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH.

NOW, I AM NOT SAYING THE DEMOCRATS ARE RIGHT AND REPUBLICANS ARE WRONG.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT OF GREAT POINTS THEY RAISED BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

THEY JUST DIDN'T RAISE THEM THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

SO, OF THOSE POINTS AS FAR AS GOING REMOTE, DOES THAT REALLY PROVIDE RESIDENTS IN THE RURAL PART OF THE STATE WHO TEND TO BE MORE RIGHT LEANING THAN LEFT, HAVE TRUE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS, AS FAR AS, JUST YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO SANTA FE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SANTA FE CONVENTION CENTER?

I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO OPEN UP THE CONVENTION CENTER TO MAKE EVERYTHING A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE?

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS KIND OF TAKING THAT CHILL PILL AND IS KIND OF SAYING, OKAY, GREAT, WE HAVE ALL MADE OUR POINTS, NOW MAYBE WE CAN FOCUS ON LEGISLATION.

MY HOPE IS THAT PROGRAMS THAT THERE WILL BE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSISTENCY IN THE RULE MAKING BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

BECAUSE I THINK HAVING THE CONSISTENT RULES AS FAR AS THE RULES THAT BIND THE SENATE ARE THE SAME RULES THAT BIND THE HOUSE WILL HELP TO KIND OF CALM THE OVERALL KIND OF SENSE OF ANXIETY THAT TENDS TO MAKE THE HEADLINES.

>> Gene: ED, A LITTLE UNDER A MINUTE, A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THEIR CHANCES, HONESTLY?

THIS IDEA THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO NOT PHYSICALLY BE IN SANTA FE.

IS THAT A WINNER?

>> Ed: IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE THE COURTS RECENTLY, IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CASES, AND I AM SURE THE COURT WILL FOLLOW IT HERE IS THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS CREATED UNIQUE SITUATIONS WHERE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

I THINK THE ISSUE IS ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS IN THE LEGISLATURE, BOTH LEGISLATORS AND STAFF, THAT THE COURT WILL LIKELY UPHOLD ANY ISSUE RELATING TO ADJUSTMENTS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Gene: WE HAVE TO HOLD THAT CONVERSATION THERE.

IN A SIMILAR VEIN AND MOST ESPECIALLY WITH A SHORTAGE, FIGURING OUT WHO GETS A SHOT AND WHO NEEDS TO WAIT IS CRITICAL.

DOING THAT JOB EQUITABLY CAN BE ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING.

NEW MEXICO HAS ALREADY MADE SOME EMBARRASSING GAFFS AS IT ROLLED OUT ITS VACCINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE READ.

FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF MEDICAL WORKERS JUMPED THE LINE EARLY ON.

IT IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION AS TO HOW THOROUGHLY YOUR CLAIMS OF CO-MORBIDITY -- YOU KNOW THE WORD I AM TRYING TO SAY -- ARE BEING CHECKED.

RECENTLY MEGAN KAMERICK SAT DOWN VIRTUALLY WITH A GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AND BIOETHICIST TERESA BLANKMEYER BURKE, TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

>> Megan: TERESA, THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE MAY NOT BE AS EQUITABLE AND EFFICACIOUS AS BIOETHICISTS WOULD HAVE HOPED.

AS YOU SEE IT, IS THE VACCINE BEING DISTRIBUTED ETHICALLY AND EQUALLY?

ARE THERE ANY GROUPS YOU WISH HAD PRIORITIES OVER OTHERS?

Burke: OH, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THAT THE PRIORITIES THAT THE CDC HAS PUT TOGETHER ARE ETHICAL PRIORITIES.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

SO ONE QUESTION IS, OF COURSE, WE ALL WANT TO REDUCE DEATHS AND SERIOUS DISEASE.

THE OTHER ONE IS WE WANT SOCIETY TO KEEP FUNCTIONING, BUT THE BIG CONCERN FOR MANY PEOPLE IS HOW DO WE REDUCE THE BURDEN THAT COVID HAS ON POPULATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING MORE STRESSED BY COVID.

AND SO ONE THOUGHT IS HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THESE POPULATIONS?

THESE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO ARE OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, THEY ARE POOR, MAY LIVE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSES, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD AND OTHER THINGS.

SO, THESE COMMUNITIES ALSO OFTEN DON'T HAVE THE HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED.

SO WHERE ARE THE VACCINE SITES?

HOW DO WE GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THESE POPULATIONS AND ARE THEY ACCESSIBLE?

THESE ARE BIG PRIORITIES FOR NEW MEXICO.

>> Megan: LET'S SAY YOU HAD FULL CONTROL OF WHO GOT THE VACCINE AND WHEN, HOW WOULD YOU MAKE THE VACCINATION EFFORTS FAIRER FOR ALL?

>> Burke: THAT IS SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

OF COURSE, IT IS NOT JUST UP TO ME AND EVEN IF I WERE TOLD I COULD MAKE THE DECISION MYSELF, I WOULD ASK AND INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE POPULATION WHO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISREGARDED BUT ONE THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DO IS TO CONSIDER WHERE ARE THESE SITES LOCATED, BUT MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THAT, WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE?

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THE VACCINES IN PARTICULAR AREAS, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT HARD.

VACCINE LOCATIONS THAT ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE NOT JUST IN TERMS OF ARE THEY ON A BUS LINE, DO PEOPLE HAVE CARS SO THEY CAN GET THERE, BUT ALSO WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

IS THERE SIGNAGE FOR DEAF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEECH READ BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS.

DO WE HAVE ENTRANCES AND EXITS WITH RAMPS, RATHER THAN STAIRS.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE SITES.

I WAS JUST NOTIFIED OF THE THIS YESTERDAY.

DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GET ON SITE SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TO ANTICIPATE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN CONSIDERED NOT JUST HERE IN NEW MEXICO, I THINK NEW MEXICO IS DOING PRETTY GOOD JOB BUT NATIONALLY.

>> Megan: WE TAKE IT YOU HAVE A COPY OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NATIONAL COVID RESPONSE.

IS THERE ANYTHING PROMISING IN THE PLAN OR SURPRISING?

>> Burke: I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT DOES TAKE SPECIFIC NOTE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHAT WE CALL UNDER THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX CATEGORY.

I MEAN, EVERYONE CAN BE ASSIGNED CERTAIN KINDS OF VULNERABILITY DEPENDING WHERE THEY LIVE, WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AND SO FORTH.

AND THE BIDEN PLAN HAS DONE -- HAS A PARTICULAR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POPULATIONS THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED ARE NOT BEING OVERLOOKED.

THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AS THE BIOETHICIST ONE OF THINGS I LOOK AT ARE VALUES AND HOW ARE THE VALUES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE REPRESENTED IN SUCH DOCUMENT.

HOW DO THESE GET MANIFESTED IN THE CHOICES AND PRIORITIES AND WHOSE LIVES AND WELL BEING ARE PRIORITIZED WHEN THERE IS SO MANY COMPETING INTERESTS, WHETHER IT IS ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, AND, OF COURSE, HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

>> Megan: YOU FEEL LIKE THE DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THAT?

>> Burke: SO, IT IS 200 PAGES LONG PLUS AND I READ THROUGH IT VERY QUICKLY A FEW NIGHTS AGO.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY FLAGS, SO, I AM ENCOURAGED AND HOPEFUL.

I WILL LATER THIS WEEK BE GOING THROUGH IT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO VARIOUS PEOPLE ABOUT MY THOUGHTS ON THIS AND, IN PARTICULAR, SINCE I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH DISABILITY COMMUNITIES, WE'LL LOOK FOR HOW THIS SUPPORTS AND PROVIDES ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Megan: LET'S COMPARE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW MEXICO VERSUS OTHER STATES.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE MODELING OR ANYTHING WE SHOULD BE AVOIDING?

>> Burke: ACTUALLY I THINK NEW MEXICO IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I AM MOST FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN DC AND MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE I SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH THAT COMMUNITY.

ONE THING THAT NEW MEXICO HAS DONE DIFFERENTLY THAN A LOT OF STATES IS IN THE MOST RECENT VACCINE ALLOCATION PLAN, WHICH IS DATED JANUARY 22, NEW MEXICO ACTUALLY MAKES SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND OF QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

AND I ASKED AROUND BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THIS MIGHT BE A TOPIC THAT WOULD COME UP AND I ASKED COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GOT SOME INPUT ALSO FROM INTERNATIONAL BIOETHICIST CALLING AND WHAT THEY SAID IS THIS IS VERY MUCH AN HONOR SYSTEM IN MOST LOCATIONS.

WHETHER THAT WILL CHANGE REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BECAUSE THESE VACCINE ALLOCATION PLANS ARE SHIFTING AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

BUT, I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT IN NEW MEXICO THERE IS GOING TO BE VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN ALSO THAT PEOPLE WITH QUALIFYING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO VERIFY MEDICALLY WHAT THEIR CONDITIONS ARE.

OF COURSE, THIS IS TRICKY BECAUSE IT GETS INTO ISSUES OF MEDICAL PRIVACY.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

>> Megan: THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE LINE JUMPING THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

THERE IS SHARING OF EVENTS CODES MEANT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE REGISTRATION PORTAL AND COUPLED WITH THAT THE SYSTEM DOES RELY ON PEOPLE TO BE TRUTHFUL.

DO YOU THINK THESE SAFEGUARDS -- I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT.

DO YOU THINK WE HAVE THEM HERE BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY UNIVERSAL RIGHT NOW AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Burke: NOT AT THIS POINT.

SO I AGAIN ASKED A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS IN STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST, WEST COAST AND MIDWEST AND EVERYTHING THAT I RECEIVED SAID, SO FAR IT IS HONOR SYSTEM.

NOW, LINE JUMPING, I THINK, NO MATTER WHAT THE CONTEXT IS, WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHO DO THAT.

PART OF THE FREE RIDER PROBLEM, IF YOU WILL, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE?

IF SO, THEN WE REALLY SHOULD FIX IT.

IS IT A ONCE-IN-A-WHILE THING?

IF IT IS A ONCE-IN-A-WHILE IS THIS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO ALLOCATE OUR VERY LIMITED RESOURCES IN PUBLIC HEALTH?

>> Megan: RIGHT.

Burke: IT IS A MATTER HOW DO WE DISTRIBUTE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY AND THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> Megan: VERIFYING ALSO TAKES RESOURCES AND TIME AND -- >> Burke: YEAH AND IT TAKES IT AWAY FROM THE WORK THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WORKERS AND THOSE ARE WHO ARE IN SUPPORTIVE CONTACT ARE DOING.

>> Megan: SO THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS AIMING TO VACCINATE PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE CHRONIC CONDITION IN THE STATE.

THAT INCLUDES CONDITIONS THAT COULD BE HARD TO VERIFY, LIKE SMOKING OR YOUR BMI, YOUR BODY MASS INDEX.

SHOULD WE BE PUTTING PEOPLE WHO, SAY, SMOKE AS ONE OF THOSE CONDITIONS AHEAD OF SOMEONE WHO HAS A SERIOUS CRIPPLING NEUROLOGIC DISORDER?

>> Burke: SO, I AM NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR.

I AM A BIOETHICIST, SO I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHICH MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE MORE RISKY.

CDC HAS DONE THAT AND ACIP, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR VACCINATION PRACTICES, AND THE CDC HAS LOOKED AT THESE CONDITIONS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS LIST IS SHIFTING AS WE GET MORE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION.

THAT IS A QUESTION FOR THE SCIENTISTS BUT THE QUESTION YOU JUST ASKED ME IS WHEN YOU HAVE CONDITIONS THAT ARE HARD TO VERIFY, HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD WE BE GIVING PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THEIR SELF REPORT?

AND I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE -- IT IS TRICKY.

I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF BALANCING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF OUR RESOURCES.

DO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THIS?

AGAIN, IF WE FIND THAT IT IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, WHERE SOMEHOW WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD OTHER SAFEGUARDS.

I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND MY PREVIOUS DRAFT COPY OF THE VACCINE ALLOCATION PLAN, BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH EXPLORING TO SEE IF THERE WAS VERIFICATION LANGUAGE THAT WAS DIFFERENT ON EARLIER DRAFTS OF THIS PARTICULAR PLAN.

AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT VERIFICATION IN THE MOST RECENT CDC WEBSITE ABOUT VACCINES.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T THERE BUT I LOOKED FOR IT AND I COULDN'T FIND IT SO PERHAPS THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE THAT COMES UP LATER.

>> Megan: AS THEY RESPOND TO IMPERFECTIONS IN THE SYSTEM.

WELL TERESA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US ABOUT THIS.

>> Burke: ABSOLUTELY MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> Gene: CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR NEW MEXICO BUT SO IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON CLIMATE CHANGE MIGHT AFFECT THE STATE.

CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS SPOKE WITH NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST, JIM PEACH, ABOUT THE PAUSE ON NEW OIL AND GAS LEASES ON SOME FEDERAL LAND AND THE STATE'S NEED TO DIVERSIFY AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

>> Laura: WELCOME JIM PEACH.

LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DIFFERENT PROVISIONS IN THIS ORDER BUT TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PAUSE ON NEW OIL AND GAS LEASES ON SOME FEDERAL LAND.

WILL THIS AFFECT NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM, IN THE LONG-TERM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Peach: IT IS A COMPLICATED ANSWER BUT I'LL BE QUICK ABOUT IT.

THE PORTION OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT IS SECTION 208 THAT THE MORATORIUM ON NEW LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND.

THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ORDER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, ACTING SECRETARY, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER, THIS PARTICULAR ORDER DOES NOT ADDRESS PERMITS.

IT DOES NOT RESTRICT PERMITS.

97% OF THE FEDERAL LAND THAT IS WORTH LEASING HAS ALREADY BEEN LEASED AND SO THIS PARTICULAR ORDER WON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN EFFECT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ORDER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WHICH PUT A 60-DAY MORATORIUM ON NEW PERMITS AND THAT IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ORDER OVERRIDES THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR'S ORDER BUT THERE MAY BE CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

AND, SO, I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN THE SHORT RUN.

IN THE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD HERE.

>> Laura: THESE ARE INTERESTING TIMES TO SAY THE LEAST.

WE HAVE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, CLIMATE CHANGE, POLITICAL CHANGE, ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

CAN NEW MEXICO ALSO HANDLE TRYING TO DIVERSIFY ITS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND MOVE AWAY FROM OIL AND GAS DEPENDENCE, MAYBE, AND IF SO, WHY SHOULD THE STATE BE THINKING ABOUT DOING THAT?

>> Peach: THE STATE DEPENDS FOR 35 OR 40% OF ITS TOTAL REVENUE ON OIL AND GAS.

AND THAT IS JUST A TERRIBLE KIND OF SITUATION TO BE IN.

BECAUSE, OIL AND GAS PRICES BOUNCE AROUND A LOT.

THEY HAVE.

THE LEGISLATURE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH PEOPLE IN SANTA FE HAVE KNOWN THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT FOUR DECADES.

AND HAVE NOT DONE MUCH ABOUT IT.

DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS OFF AND ON BEEN A STRATEGY IN NEW MEXICO FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

IT HASN'T OCCURRED TO THE EXTENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE.

IT IS -- WE ARE NOT GOING TO DIVERSIFY IN THE SHORT RUN.

WE NEED TO GET OFF OF OIL AND GAS REVENUE AND WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS CHANGING THE TAX SYSTEM.

>> Laura: WHENEVER THESE CONVERSATIONS START HAPPENING ABOUT WHETHER IT IS REGULATION ON THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY OR THE FEDERAL PAUSES, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE OBSTACLES, FIRST OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY FOR THE STATE DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY.

I AM CURIOUS, THOUGH, IF YOU SEE OPPORTUNITY IN ALL OF THIS HAPPENING?

>> Peach: OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO GUIDE FUTURE REGULATIONS ON THIS.

THE DELAWARE BASIN, A PORTION OF THE PERMIAN THAT IS IN NEW MEXICO IS THE HOTTEST SHALE PLAY IN THE WORLD.

AND, THE OIL COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO ABANDON THAT.

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

WE HAVE GOT STATE LAND, PRIVATE LAND AND FEDERAL LAND ALL MIXED UP TOGETHER.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A CHECKER BOARD.

I CALL IT A PLATE OF SPAGHETTI.

IT IS A REAL MESS AND SO THE OIL COMPANIES DO FACE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN GETTING PERMITS, NOT JUST TO DRILL BUT FOR PIPELINES AND THE LIKE.

NEW MEXICO HAS DONE PRETTY WELL ON THIS.

NEW MEXICO OIL PRODUCTION HAS JUST SKY ROCKETED OVER THE LAST 10 OR 12 YEARS.

IN 2008 NEW MEXICO PRODUCED 62 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL.

ABOUT HALF OF ITS PREVIOUS PEAK.

LAST YEAR -- WELL, IN 2019, WE PRODUCED 330 MILLION BARRELS.

FINAL FIGURES FOR 2020 ARE NOT IN YET BUT WE.

WELL HAVE EXCEEDED THAT A LITTLE BIT IN 2020.

THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, FOR OPPORTUNITIES, THERE IS STILL LOTS OF OIL IN THE GROUND THERE.

AND EVEN FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN'T SHIFT FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO WIND AND SOLAR INSTANTLY.

A LOT OF THAT OIL IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THE GROUND AND SO THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY IN NEW MEXICO FOR THAT.

THE STATE LAND OFFICE IS DOING THEIR BEST ON STATE LANDS TO TRY TO DIVERSIFY THE MIX OF REVENUES.

THEY ARE SIGNING LEASES ON WIND AND SOLAR AND THE LIKE BUT IT IS A HARD KIND OF THING.

>> Laura: 20 OR 30 OR 50 YEARS OUT, GIVEN CLIMATE CHANGE, CHANGES IN SORT OF CONSUMER HABITS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, WILL THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY STILL BE A ROBUST INDUSTRY, AN INDUSTRY THAT WILL BOOST THE STATE'S ECONOMY?

>> Peach: MY BEST GUESS IS THAT A GENERATION FROM NOW IT WILL BE A MUCH SMALLER PORTION OF THE NEW MEXICO ECONOMY, A MUCH SMALLER PORTION OF THE ENERGY MIX.

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS COMING.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT IS HERE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE FIVE OR 10 YEARS BEFORE THERE ARE ENOUGH ON THE ROAD TO MAKE A DENT IN GASOLINE DEMAND AND CERTAINLY FOR A LONG TIME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DEMAND FOR JET FUEL.

IT IS JUST HARD TO MAKE A SOLAR POWERED AIRPLANE AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE EXPERIMENTING IN EUROPE, AIR BUS IS EXPERIMENTING WITH POSSIBLY HYDROGEN CELLS FOR AIRPLANES AND A LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN BUT THE OIL IS GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

MY GUESS IS THAT EITHER NOW OR FAIRLY SOON, WE REALLY WILL HAVE REACHED THE PEAK DEMAND FOR OIL.

>> Laura: ALL RIGHT.

JIM PEACH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Peach: YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

ANY TIME LAURA.

>> Gene: THIS IS A LA NINA YEAR AND RECENT STORMS NOTWITHSTANDING THAT IS USUALLY NOT A GOOD SITUATION FOR NEW MEXICO.

SNOW PACK IS LIKELY TO BE DOWN, MEANING LESS WATER FLOWING THIS SPRING INTO RESERVOIRS AND FIELDS.

THAT IS ON TOP OF AN AVERAGE SNOW SEASON LAST YEAR WHEN THE RIO GRANDE DRIED FOR LONG STRETCHES DURING THE SUMMER AND EVEN INTO THE FALL.

OUR LAURA PASKUS HAS BEEN COVERING IT AS YOU KNOW ALONG WITH OTHER JOURNALISTS AROUND THE STATE.

ALREADY LAURA IS REPORTING IRRIGATORS BELOW ELEPHANT BUTTE ARE BRACING FOR A ZERO ALLOTMENT YEAR.

WITH THAT REPORT IN FRONT OF THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION, STATE WATER OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING THAT FARMERS NOT PLANT CROPS THIS YEAR UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.

YOU MAY THINK THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE BUT, YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.

TOM, EVEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD A HEALTHY SNOW PACK.

THE RIVER DRIED.

IT SEEMS THINGS ARE CHANGING QUICKLY.

ARE WE PREPARED?

>> Tom: YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FARMERS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, SPECIFICALLY SOUTH OF ELEPHANT BUTTE, AND THERE ARE THOSE FARMERS WHO RELY ON SURFACE WATER AND THEN THOSE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO WELL WATER.

THOSE WITH ACCESS TO THE WELL WATER OBVIOUSLY WILL FAIR BETTER BUT IT IS GOING TO BE COMING IN A TIERED APPROACH.

WHERE ARE THE PRIORITIES?

AS FAR AS IT IS GOING TO BE AGRICULTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

I HAVE NOTICED THAT STATE ENGINEER, JOHN DE ANTONIO HAS NOT BEEN VERY VOCAL LATELY, BUT IT IS NOT HIS STYLE, I SHOULD SAY.

TO REALLY KIND OF START, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ON WHAT HE VIEWS AS PRIORITIES IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS, I THINK THERE WILL COME A TIME, WHETHER IT IS THE GOVERNOR OR THE STATE ENGINEER OR THE LEGISLATURE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO START PICKING OR IDENTIFYING, ANYWAY, WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE WATER BATTLE AND THAT CAN BE DONE BY IDENTIFYING WHERE THOSE PRIORITIES ARE.

>> Gene: SOPHIE, PICK UP ON THAT.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

YOU COULD SEE IT COMING WHERE FOLKS SAY YOU CAN PLANT, YOU CAN'T.

TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CORRIDOR, NOT STATE-WIDE.

WE ARE TALKING RIGHT BY THE RIVER.

>> Sophie: THAT IS RIGHT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TO YOUR STATEMENT AND IT IS TRUE, FARMERS ARE NOW BEING TOLD IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT PLANTING DON'T PLANT, LET YOUR FIELDS LIE FALLOW.

WE TEND TO THINK OF FARMS AS SOMEWHAT MONOLITHIC BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FARMS IN NEW MEXICO THAT ARE NOT SORT OF DAY IN DAY OUT, THIS IS HOW FARMERS AND WORKERS SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

THERE ARE SOME FARMS WHERE IT MORE OF AN OPTION, LET'S SAY, TO LET THE FIELDS LIE FALLOW.

THAT MESSAGE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO THAT GROUP, WHICH, TO TOM'S POINT, IS LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO WELL WATER.

BUT, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE -- ONCE AGAIN, WHAT ARE THE MORE WATER INTENSIVE CROPS, WHAT ARE OUR LESS WATER INTENSIVE CROPS.

WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT ALFALFA, FOR INSTANCE, IS JUST SO WATER INTENSIVE, SORT OF TERRIFY TO THINK OF GIANT ALFALFA FIELDS RUNNING IN A YEAR LIKE THIS.

THE STATE IS, YOU KNOW, WATER IS A PUBLIC RESOURCE, AS MUCH AS WE TEND TO TALK ABOUT WATER RIGHTS IN PARTICULAR THE LEGAL STRUCTURE THAT GIVES PARTICULAR FARMERS ACCESS, PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES ACCESS, WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT THIS TIME WAS COMING.

AND I THINK THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE NOT FULLY ADDRESSED WHAT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> Gene: ED PEREA, WHEN I LOOK AT THE ACTIVITY IN THE ROUNDHOUSE, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF BILLS ON SOLAR ENERGY, PRESCRIBED FIRE, STATE-WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS, ALL KINDS OF BILLS, BUT DURING THE MARTINEZ ADMINISTRATION THERE WAS ALMOST NO BILL DROPPED BECAUSE THEY KNEW IF IT GOT TO HER DESK, IT WOULD GO NOWHERE.

HAVE WE PUT OURSELVES BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH THIS OVER THE PAST DECADE?

>> Ed: I THINK WE HAVE.

THERE ARE TODAY THINKERS AND TOMORROW THINKING.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WERE TODAY THINKERS AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT TOMORROW AND WE MISSED A FEW YEARS.

I THINK THIS IS A CRISIS IF YOU FOLLOW AND YOU BELIEVE THE SCIENCE, THERE IS CLEAR EMPIRICAL DATE THAT SUGGEST WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN OUR HANDS AND IT IS NOT GOING TO GET BETTER WITHOUT AGGRESSIVE STEPS.

WE ARE A FEW STEPS BEHIND AGAIN DEPENDING WHERE YOU STAND ON THIS, SOME PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THE RIO GRANDE WITH A COUPLE OF INCHES OF WATER AND THEY'LL THINK, THAT IS FINE, BUT IF YOU'RE A FARMER, AS WAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO RETHINK HOW WE ARE USING OR WATER.

WATER IS A COMMODITY AND WE REALLY NEED TO START TREATING IT THAT WAY.

SOME ARE TAKING IT FOR GRANTED.

YOU TURN ON THE FAUCET.

YOU GET YOUR GLASS OF WATER.

YOU DON'T THINK MUCH MORE ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

>> Gene: HAVE YOU BEEN DOWN TO THE FARM AND RANCH MUSEUM, RECENTLY, CRUCES.

LAST TIME I WAS THERE, THERE WAS AN INTERESTING DISPLAY ABOUT HOW NATIVE AMERICANS USE TINY BITS OF WATER TO GROW LOTS AND LOTS OF CROPS.

IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING DISPLAY.

I GOT TO WONDER IF WE ARE FACING A SITUATION WHERE THIS IS AN INNOVATION MOMENT.

MEANING WE CAN REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK ABOUT HOW WE USE WATER, HOW WE IRRIGATE, AND REALLY GET IT DOWN TO THE GRAM OF WATER, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARE USING IT.

IS THIS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, A POSSIBILITY?

>> Tom: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL SPECIFIC OPTIONS WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SITUATION AS CRITICAL AS WATER.

PICKING UP WHAT SOPHIE WAS SAYING ABOUT ALFALFA, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, UP IN SANTA FE RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE BILLS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY WILL GET PASSED THIS SESSION HAS TO DO WITH LEGALIZING OF MARIJUANA.

CANNABIS AND ALFALFA ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER USE.

IN FACT, THEY ARE ON THE SAME TYPE OF CROP ROTATION.

SO IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN CANNABIS IS LEGALIZED IN NEW MEXICO, FOR WATER USE WHAT DOES THAT DO?

>> Gene: THAT CAME UP WHEN HEMP WAS RISING.

EVERYBODY SAID WHAT ABOUT THE WATER?

AND EVERYBODY KIND OF TURNED THEIR HEADS.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME THIS WEEK.

THANKS ALWAYS TO OUR PANELISTS.

I AM BACK IN A MOMENT WITH A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS.

A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT RECENTLY SINCE IT HAS BEEN SO UNSEASONABLY WARM.

THE HEAT HASN'T BEEN ON FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS AT CASA DE GRANT.

IT IS BARELY INTO FEBRUARY.

COUNT ME IN WITH THOSE CONCERNED WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH OUR OWN EYES RIGHT NOW.

IT IS TOO WARM.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

WHEN NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS ADVISE OUR FARMERS NOT TO BOTHER PLANTING, AS WAS THE DOUBLE TAKE HEADLINE YOU HEARD EARLIER THIS WEEK, THEN I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NO LONGER AN ABSTRACT THREAT FOR NEW MEXICO.

THAT IS WHY I WAS INTERESTED IN THE OTHER HEADLINE THIS WEEK THAT CAUGHT MY EYE THAT GENERAL MOTORS PLANS TO HAVE ITS ENTIRE FLEET OF VEHICLES RUNNING ON ELECTRIC POWER BY 2035.

IT IS AGGRESSIVE WITHOUT QUESTION, REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS FOLLOW SUIT, CERTAINLY, BUT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP.

WE ARE IN A VULNERABLE POSITION HERE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE OF THIS AREA IS GROUND ZERO FOR DROUGHT.

AND I HAVE ALREADY SEEN TOO MANY STORIES ABOUT SO-CALLED CLIMATE REFUGEES LEAVING THE AREA IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT IS COMING.

A PRESIDENTIAL PLAN IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED, WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.