♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING SHUT DOWN IS NO MORE.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR PBS.

AND THE MAYOR OF SCOTTSDALE LOOKS AT A MASSIVE NEW HEADQUARTERS.

WE'LL HEAR WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, I'M TED SIMONS.

THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING VOTED TO DISCONTINUE OPERATIONS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE MOVE FOLLOWS PASSAGE OF THE 2025 BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHAT DOES THE LAW OF CPB MEAN TO PBS STATIONS IN GENERAL AND ARIZONA PBS IN PARTICULAR?

JOINING US NOW SCOTT WOELFEL OF ARIZONA PBS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> HI, TED.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACT?

>> IT ESTABLISHED PBC AS WE CALL IT FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING APPROPRIATION FROM CONGRESS AND PASSING IT ONTO STATIONS, MEMBER STATIONS FOR TELEVISION AND RADIO AND FUNDING ALSO PARTIALLY PROGRAMMING ITSELF WITH PBS AND OTHER PRODUCERS.

>> Ted: SO BASICALLY A CONDUIT, TAKING THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY AND DISTRIBUTING IT.

>> YES, IT WAS NOT PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS AN INDEPENDENT CORPORATION AND WAS 100% RELIED ON FUNDING FROM CONGRESS, WHICH IS WHY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

PBC -- CPB VOTED TO LEAVE EARLY.

>> THEY WERE FACING THE ALTERNATIVE HAVING TO FUND RAISE TO KEEP ANY OPERATIONS GOING SO THEY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AP DISSOLVE.

>> Ted: IS THERE ANY IMPACT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> NOT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

WE FELT THE IMPACT LAST YEAR.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN JULY IS WHEN THAT MONEY WAS RESCINDED AND WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUR PAYMENT, WHICH IS AROUND 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS FROM CPB IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER AND SO THAT DID NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR AND OF COURSE, WE KNEW THAT IN JULY THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THAT IN MIND SINCE.

>> Ted: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH THAT IN MIND?

HOW CAN THAT FUNDING BE REPLACED?

.

EVERYBODY THAT WATCHES HORIZON KNOWS THAT WE'VE MADE APPEALS TO DONORS AND STEPPED UP.

WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN NEW DONORS AND EXISTING DONORS, HOW MUCH THEY'RE GIVING AND MAJOR DONORS STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY AS WELL.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT OTHER PBS STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HOW ARE THEY HANDLING THIS?

>> IT'S A MIX.

I TALK TO A LOT OF OTHER GENERAL MANAGERS A LOT AND EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THIS SURGE OF DONATIONS FROM THEIR EXISTING DONOR BASE, BUT A LOT OF THE SMALLER STATIONS WERE REALLY RELYING ON CPB.

HERE WE GOT 13% OF OUR BUDGET CAME FROM CPB.

SMALLER STATIONS, NOT EVEN PBS OR NPR STATIONS THEY MIGHT BE 50 OR 60%.

NORTHERN ARIZONA AND TRIBAL STATIONS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> Ted: INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, HOW DOES THAT WORK IN THESE SITUATIONS?

>> THE MONEY WE GOT FROM CPB THE COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT THE NAME OF THE MONEY THAT WE GOT, THAT WAS THE MONEY THAT WE USED AND WE HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR AND AUDITED AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO WE NOW, ARIZONA PBC, POWERS AROUND THE STATE COMES IN SUPPORT OF THAT COMES FROM THE FUNDS RAISED LOCALLIMENT THERE COULD BE EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR MAINTENANCE AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, BUT NO MECHANISM FOR THAT TO BE FUNDED NOW.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO ASK, HOW WOULD THAT BE MONEY BE DISTRIBUTED AND WHO WOULD DO THE DISTRIBUTED.

>> IT'S TALKED ABOUT MAYBE FEMA IS THE SOURCE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT CLEAR HOW MONEY, EVEN IF IT'S APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, THEY DON'T ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH.

>> Ted: I WAS THINKING EVEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COULD BE INVOLVED.

>> WE USED TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THAT WAS LOST LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WE'VE HAD TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT OUR SUMMER CAMPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY OTHER MONEY COMING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS ARIZONA PBS AND OUR BRAND AND STATIONS, BUT STATIONS IN GENERAL, MAYBE EVEN IN THE WEST, WE CAN KEEP IT REGIONAL HERE, IS THERE ANY SENSE OF COLLABORATION OR IS IT WILD, WILD WEST OUT THERE?

>> NO, I THINK THAT STATIONS EVERYWHERE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO COLLABORATE, HOW WE SHARE CONTENT, MAYBE SHARING CONTENT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, PBS HAS BEEN SET UP FOR A LONG TIME WHERE THERE ARE MAJOR PRODUCING STATIONS PROVIING CONTENT AND MASTERPIECE AND NOVA AND MAYBE WE COULD STEP IN AND HELP FILL THE VOID WITH WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS A POOL OF MONEY GENERATED, A POOL OF MONEY GENERATED AND THEN DISTRIBUTED, I DON'T KNOW IN A QUASI CPB FASHION, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> NOT FROM THE STATIONS THEMSELVES?

NOT YET ANYWAY, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON CALLED THE BRIDGE FUND THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, PUBLIC MEDIA COMPANY THAT WORKS WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC STATIONS.

THERE'S ABOUT $500,000, I SHOULD SAY, NO, IT'S MORE THAN THAT, I'M MISSING HOW MUCH THE AMOUNT IS IN MY HEAD, BUT IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT AND AIMED AT LOCAL STATIONS THAT ARE SMALLER AND A LOT OF THEM RADIO STATIONS IN AREAS THAT ARE JUST NOT-- DON'T HAVE THE COMMUNITY LIKE WE HAVE HERE THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, BOTTOM LINE.

WHERE DOES ARIZONA PBS STAND RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY SINCE CPB IS ADIOS?

>> WE'LL CONTINUE, WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE HELP, OBVIOUSLY.

WE LOST 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS THIS LAST FALL, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT AGAIN NEXT FALL WHEN WE NORMALLY WOULD GET IT AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL DO THAT?

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT WOELFEL GENERAL MANAGER OF PBS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOUGHT FOR A RADICAL IDEA.

ORDINARY AMERICANS WANT TO WORK.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BE PATRIOTIC ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.

>> EVERYONE'S CONVINCED THAT VIRTUE IS THE CAUSE IN HELPING THEM WIN.

♪♪ I'M TED SIMONS, JOIN ARIZONA HORIZON FOR A ONE HOUR SPECIAL AS GOVERNOR HOBBS KICKS OFF THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE'LL HEAR THE SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THEN HAVE ANALYSIS WITH LOCAL CONSULTANTS MONDAY JANUARY 12TH AT 5 P.M.

AND AGAIN AT 10 P.M.

ON ARIZONA PBS AND STREAMING LIVE AT AZ PBS.ORG.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE RECENTLY APPROVED A COMPROMISE PLAN WITH EXXON ALLOWING THE TASER MAKER TO BUILD APARTMENTS NEAR HADEN ROAD AND 101 FOLLOWING MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS INCLUDING THE STATE PASSING A LAW THAT PROTECTED AXON'S INTEREST.

AND LISA BOROWSKY IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE IT STANDS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITHOUT YOU BEING HERE.

IT'S BEEN A BIG STORY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

LET'S START WITH BASICS.

WHAT IS AXON?

>> AXON IS A CORPORATION, OBVIOUSLY, A VERY LARGE CORPORATION THAT WAS STARTED HERE IN ARIZONA.

ITS FOUNDER, RICK SMITH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS A CHAPARRAL GRAD.

SO SCOTTSDALE, GREAT STORY, GREAT SUCCESS.

>> Ted: THERE YOU GO.

>> AND THEY MANUFACTURED TAZE INSTRUMENTS AND THEY'RE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, I THINK.

>> Ted: NOW THE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AXON'S PLANS FOR THIS BIG CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS EXPANSION, AGAIN, AM I RIGHT?

HADEN ROAD, 101 THAT AREA?

>> IT'S ACTUALLY AXON WAY, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STREET, SO-- >> THERE YOU GO.

THE COMPROMISE PLAN WAS A COMPROMISE BECAUSE?

>> BECAUSE, WELL, LET'S BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

AS YOU KNOW, YOU SAID IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON IN MY LIFE SPAN AS MAYOR FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR SO I INHERITED THIS APPROVED PROJECT FROM THE PREDECESSOR COUNCIL.

SO, WE WALKED IN, THE NEW COUNCIL WALKED INTO THIS UPROAR, RIGHT?

AND IT IS BY FAR THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DECISION THAT SCOTTSDALE, I THINK, HAS EVER SEEN.

AT LEAST ON, AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL POLITICS.

AND SO, THE REFERENDUM DID MOVE FORWARD.

THEY OBTAINED 27,000 SIGNATURES AND AS A RESULT, THEY HAD A RIGHT, IT WAS IN FACT GOING TO BE REFERRED TO THE VOTERS FOR A VOTE.

>> Ted: YES.

>> SO THAT'S WHERE I STEP IN.

THEY HAD ALREADY OBTAINED THE SIGNATURES.

THEY WERE DEFAULTING TO AN ELECTION THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER, THIS NOVEMBER, 2026, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE TWO YEARS AFTER THEY CERTIFIED THE REFERENDUM.

AND YOU REMEMBER THE SAME TYPE OF THING HAPPENED IN GLENDALE AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD AN ELECTION MUCH SOONER.

SO WAITING TWO YEARS DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE OUR FRIEND.

>> Ted: BECAUSE.

>> BECAUSE AXON WENT AROUND US WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY WEREN'T GETTING FAR WITH THE NEW COUNCIL, I'M ON THE RECORD AS BEING COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO THE OVER 1900 UNITS, WELL, 1900 APARTMENT UNITS THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.

THAT WAS PART OF MY REASON FOR RUNNING, TO KEEP, SCOTTSDALE SPECIAL AND KEEP OUR CHARACTER.

>> Ted: SO AXON GOES BY THE STATE AND STATE LAW GOES AHEAD AND PUTS A LITTLE BIT OF A THUMB PRINT ON IT.

>> A THUMB PRINT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THEY COMPLETELY SILENCED OUR ABILITY ESSENTIALLY TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO PROJECTS LIKE THAT AND IT ESSENTIALLY NULLIFIED THE REFERENDUM.

>> Ted: SO THE REFERENDUM NULLIFIES, BUT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR COMPROMISE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE 1900 APARTMENT UNITS INITIALLY IN THE PLAN, THAT WAS CUT DOWN TO WHAT, 1200, SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THE APARTMENTS-- NO, 600 APARTMENTS.

>> Ted: 600.

>> IN THE END, YES.

SO I HAD BEEN WORKING BETWEEN TAZE AND AXON BECAUSE AS A COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS THROUGHOUT MY YEARS.

I RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH BOTH SIDES AND FINDING OUT WHERE IS YOUR BOTTOM LINE.

SO I DID THAT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND I KNEW WHERE TAZE STOOD.

I KNEW WHERE AXON STOOD AND I BELIEVED I COULD GET TO A MIDDLE GROUND AND IN FACT, I DID GET THEM TO A MIDDLE GROUND SO LONG STORY SHORT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WE HAD A NEGOTIATED DEAL THAT BOTH SIDES WERE ON BOARD WITH, AS OF THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE TUESDAY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE THE VOTE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

AT THE LAST MINUTE OVER THAT WEEKEND IT BLEW UP OVER DETAILS INVOLVING THE 600 CONDOMINIUMS, OKAY?

SO, IT WAS 600 APARTMENTS THAT WE ARRIVED AT.

>> Ted: YES.

>> AND 600.

>> Ted: THAT'S THE 1200 I MENTIONED.

>> 1200.

>> Ted: OKAY.

>> AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THIS DEAL ARE TRYING TO BELITTLE THAT DISTINCTION, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE TAZE WAS OKAY WITH AS MANY CONDOMINIUMS THAT AXON COULD BUILD.

THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THE APARTMENTS.

AND I PERSONALLY PREFER RESIDENTIAL THAT IS FOR PURCHASE, CONDOMINIUMS, PEOPLE HAVE A STAKE, THEY'RE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S LONG-TERM.

THEY'RE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, PURSUANT TO AN ASSOCIATION AND KEPT NICER, ET CETERA.

>> Ted: AND WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT TAZE WAS THE GROUP THAT WAS OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT AND FILED A SUIT NOW AGAINST THE CITY FOR THIS COMPROMISED PLAN.

>> AND I SHOULD SAY TAZERS AND I THINK I SAID TAZE, THAT'S-- >> AND THEY SAID THEY FILED BECAUSE THE NEGOTIATION WASN'T RIGHT AND THE SAME GROUP FILED AGAINST THE STATE.

IF THEY WIN ON THAT THEN YOUR DEAL IS KAPUT?

>> THAT'S A VERY COMPLICATED LEGAL ANALYSIS, SO LET ME JUST-- >> DO THEY HAVE A POINT IN THEIR OPPOSITION?

>> ON THEIR CONSTITUTIONALITY CHALLENGE, POTENTIALLY THEY HAVE A POINT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT.

THAT'S THEIR LAWSUIT.

WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT INTO IT AND THEN THEY FILED OF COURSE THE SECOND LAWSUIT CHALLENGING OUR ABILITY TO ENTER INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION VERSUS A LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT COULD ALSO BE REFERRED TO THE VOTERS.

OKAY, THAT'S THE ISSUE.

>> Ted: INDEED.

WHY WAS THIS KNOW THE GONE THROUGH?

WHY WAS THERE NOT A ZONING ISSUE, THE ZONING PROCESS TO THE EXTENT TO WHERE IT COULD BE CHALLENGED AND IT COULD BE QUESTIONED?

I THINK AS YOU MENTIONED THAT'S PART OF THE LAWSUIT.

>> THE MLU AMENDS THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ESSENTIALLY.

>> Ted: YES.

>> WHY WASN'T IT?

BECAUSE IT QUALIFIES AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.

THEY DIDN'T GO, HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESS.

WE TOOK THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND WENT AHEAD AND AMENDED THAT AND THAT'S THE MOU THAT WE DID.

THAT RESULTED IN THE SETTLEMENT.

>> Ted: WELL, THE SETTLEMENT HAS DIVIDED THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THIS.

YOU'VE LIVED THIS.

HOW MUCH HAS THIS DIVIDED THE CITY?

>> SO, I'M NOT REALLY SURE BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT'S BEING REPRESENTED BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND BY SOMEONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL.

SO, KEEP IN MIND, AGAIN, I SHOULD MAKE THIS POINT VERY, VERY CLEAR.

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I PROPOSED THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER AND APPROVE AN EARLIER ELECTION, OKAY?

HAD WE HAD AN EARLIER ELECTION, SAY IN APRIL OF 2025, EVEN NOVEMBER OF 2025, WE WOULD HAVE-- WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A GREAT POSITION BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WAS GOING-- RECONVENING NOW, RIGHT, GOING BACK IN SESSION AND AXON HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS TO FIX THE HOLES IN THE LEGISLATION THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE LEGAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THE STATE FOR THE CONTRACT AND TAZE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE ISSUES.

THEY WERE FIXING THOSE ISSUES.

IN MY ESTIMATION THAT WAS A HIGH RISK LAWSUIT LOOKING AT SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYERS.

AND THERE WERE CANDIDATES THAT WERE VOCAL IN THIS ISSUE.

IT'S MY IMPRESSION AND MANY OTHERS, THAT THEY WANTED TO KEEP THIS ISSUE HOT SO IT WOULD BE A NOVEMBER 2026 CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE -- WHAT KILLED THE ENTIRE, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE ELECTION, THE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

THEY WERE DEPRIVED OF THAT THREE SEPARATE TIMES AND WE WOULD HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.

>> Ted: OKAY, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

REAL QUICK, BECAUSE OF THAT YOU AGREE TO THE COMPROMISE.

WERE YOU THE DECIDING VOTE ON THE COMPROMISE PLAN.

>> ALL THINGS, VERY MUCH.

I HELD THE LINE, ABOUT TO BE 750 AND 750 CONDOS AND APARTMENTS, I WASN'T GOING FOR THAT.

I WANTED BOTH PARTIES TO COME IN AND AGREE.

LET ME CLOSE ON THIS POINT.

TAZE WAS HUNG UP ON, THEY WANTED TO CRAFT THE DECLARATION TERMS FOR THE CONDOS AND YOU KNOW, IF THAT WAS -- THAT WAS JUST UNACCEPTABLE FOR AXON.

>> Ted: IT'S COMPLICATED FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T LIVE IN SCOTTSDALE.

IT'S YOUR LIFE AND OBVIOUSLY THE LIFE OF A LOT OF FOLKS IN THERE THAT HAVE HAD THIS GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WE'LL SEE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS NEXT.

AND WHO KNOWS.

LISA BOROWSKY, MAYOR OF SCOTTSDALE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ A MONUMENT TO AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN ARIZONA HISTORY.

SKELETON CANYON WHERE THEY SURRENDERED TO GENERAL NELSON MYLES.

WITH THE SURRENDER CONFLICT ENDED.

GERONIMO AND FOLLOWERS AND THE ENTIRE TRIBE EVEN APACHE SCOUTS THE ARMY HAD TO TRACK HIM DOWN DEPORTED TO FLORIDA.

GERONIMO GAINED NOTORIETY IN PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND IN TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S INAUGURAL PARADE YET HE AND HIS PEOPLE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR BELOVED ARIZONA HOMELAND.

ONLY IN 1986 DID THE GOVERNOR AND STATE OFFICIALLY WELCOME BACK THE TRIBE TO ARIZONA AFTER 100 YEARS OF EXILE.

>> WE'RE HEARING FROM ADVOCATES OF VARIOUS ISSUES THIS WEEK TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS UPCOMING SESSION.

WE'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESS INTERESTS, PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES AND EDUCATION LEADERS.

TONIGHT THE FOCUS IS THE ENVIRONMENT.

SANDY BAHR FROM THE SIERRA CLUB AND VANIA GUEVARA FROM CHISPA ARIZONA.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: SANDY, START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS.

DO THESE IDEAS EVER PAN OUT?

DO YOU EVER GET THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY, SANDY, WE'RE GOING WITH YOU FULL BORE?

>> I DON'T THINK NEVER SAY FULL BORE.

BUT SOME THINGS ARE ADOPTED AND SOMETIMES QUIETLY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CASE FOR DOING THEM.

HAS OUR WATER SITUATION IMPROVED?

NO, IT IS OUR GROUND WATER IS BEING DEPLETED THROUGHOUT ARIZONA.

WE'VE GOT SHORTAGES ON THE COLORADO RIVER.

WE NEED A LEGISLATURE TO STEP UP AND DO ITS JOB.

HAVE THEY ADDRESSED OUR CLEAN ENERGY NEEDS AND AFFORDABILITY?

NO, THEY HAVE NOT.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN DO TO HOLD UTILITIES ACCOUNTABLE, EVEN THOUGH THE CORPORATION COMMISSION DOES A LOT.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN DO TO PROVIDE PEOPLE GREATER ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY AND TO HELP US ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH IS BOTH AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT, A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT AND THEN, ALSO, AN ECONOMIC THREAT.

>> Ted: VANIA, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

ESPECIALLY AT A TIME THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SQUEAKIER, A TIGHT BUDGET THIS GO-ROUND.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'VE GOT REVENUE COMING?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE.

>> THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND IDEAS WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD, GOOD SOLUTIONS TO HELP COMBAT ISSUES WITH ENERGY, PRICES GOING UP.

IF THOSE GET HEARD, BUT IT'S NOT BEING HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS, WE'VE SEEN UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF OUR LEGISLATOR LISTEN TO UTILITY COMPANIES OVER THE INTERESTS OF EVERYDAY ARIZONIANS.

MY HOPE IS THAT OUR LEGISLATORS CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS WHO PROPOSE AMAZING LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND WE HOPE THEY GET A SHOT AND JUST HEARD.

>> Ted: THAT TIGHT BUDGET, SANDY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS FAR AS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE GET DONE?

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER REALLY FUNDED ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS PROPERLY, BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO THINGS LIKE WATER QUALITY PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE UNDERFUNDED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND FINALLY STARTED TO GET FUNDING AFTER AN AUDIT SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WASN'T DOING ITS JOB.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE HERITAGE FUND, THE STATE PARK HERITAGE FUND WHICH BACK IN 2010 THEY TOOK THE DOLLARS, THEY HAVE NEVER FUNDED IT FULLY SINCE 2010 AND SO, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN SOME MONEY AND SO, IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE LESS FUNDING FOR THAT, FEWER STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS, AND IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, THESE ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, THE BIG CORPORATIONS ARE BASICALLY RUNNING THINGS AND THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

THERE'S A LOT LESS ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Ted: AND AS FAR AS THE CHISPA MEMBERS THAT YOU SEE AND DEAL WITH THAT, IS THERE OVERARCHING KIND OF THING LIKE THE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COMMUNITIES HAS TO BE BIG FOR YOU.

>> YES, OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL HAVING TO WALK THROUGH THE HEAT AND RELYING ON HEAT MITIGATION EFFORTS AND IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THIS UPCOMING YEAR AS EVERY YEAR WE SEE TEMPERATURES RISING.

>> Ted: AND ARIZONA WATER, AS SANDY REFERRED THERE.

RECLAMATION, AND WHERE DOES IT STAND?

>> THE MORE THEY DEFUND PROGRAMS, THE LESS WE HAVE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT MEANS YOU HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT AGES AND THEN IT COSTS A LOT MORE WHEN YOU NEED TO INVEST IN IT, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WANT TO MENTION IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T DONE WHAT IT SHOULD ON WATER SO THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN ACTION AND USED HER AUTHORITY TO DO ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREAS AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEP UP AND FILE LITIGATION RELATIVE TO SOME OF THESE BIG PUMPERS ON GROUND WATER.

>> Ted: ON GROUND WATER, YEAH, BUT WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATION DO WHEN IT COMES TO COLORADO RIVER WATER?

THAT'S OUT OF THEIR HANDS, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROLE IN THAT.

THE UPPER BASIN AND LOWER BASIN STATES HAVE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND THEY'LL HAVE A ROLE IN IT, BUT I THINK WHAT THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS NOT JUST HOW WE'RE GOING TO DIVVY UP THE RIVER, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP ADDRESS THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM, WHICH IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE, AND ACTING LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE DOESN'T EXIST IS NOT AN ANSWER.

>> RIGHT.

>> Ted: PUBLIC LANDS, PROTECTING AND ENHANCING PUBLIC LANDS, BIG FOR YOU?

>> EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US.

SANDY MENTIONED THE HERITAGE FUND AND WE HOPE TO EVERY YEAR RESTORE THE $10 MILLION VOTERS APPROVED TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN THEM.

IT'S A HOT TOPIC AND WE'RE DEFINITELY ON THE DEFENSE FOR THAT ONE FOR SURE.

>> Ted: I WASSING GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

EVERY YEAR IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF DEFENSE PLAYED HERE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU EXPECT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE READY.

WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE AND HOPEFULLY BILLS HEARD, BUT, YEAH, WE'RE FULLY ANTICIPATING.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU THINK, SANDY.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF DEFUNDS AND STOPPING BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING IS IMPORTANT, BUT I WOULD SAY THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION RELATIVE TO DATA CENTERS.

EVERYONE SEES THE IMPACT THAT THEY'RE HAVING AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THERE AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR SOME UTILITY ACCOUNTABILITY, PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE, BUT PERHAPS SOME.

>> Ted: ALL RIGHT.

SANDY BAHR, VANIA GUEVARA THR BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >> SUPPORT FOR ARIZONA PBS COMES FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU AND FROM: