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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, REMOVED FROM COMMITTEES, REACTION FROM THE LINE OPINION PANEL AS SENATOR DANIEL IVEY-SOTO RESIGNS FROM A KEY LEADERSHIP POSITION.

AND... >> Yazzie: I THINK WHEN I'LL BE SATISFIED IS WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE THRIVING AND WHEN OUR NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN AND THE FOUR GROUP CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND ARE EXCELLING.

>> Gene: THE LEAD PLAINTIFF IN THE YAZZIE MARTINEZ LAWSUIT VOICES HER FRUSTRATION AS NEW EDUCATION FUNDING COMES UP FOR A VOTE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK, I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AUDREY TRUJILLO IS REMOVING AN OFFER FROM HER CAMPAIGN FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A FREE GUN IF YOU DONATE $100 OR MORE IN A RAFFLE.

IN JUST OVER 20 MINUTES I'LL ASK THE PANEL IF IT WILL CAUSE HER ANY LONG-TERM DAMAGE AS POLLING ALREADY SHOWS AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

AN INFLUENTIAL BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED VOTING BLOCK IS RALLYING AHEAD OF THE ELECTION.

IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES I SPEAK WITH FOUR LEADERS IN NEW MEXICO'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO GET OUT THE VOTE.

IN SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW, WE HEAR FROM WILHELMINA YAZZIE, THE LEAD PLAINTIFF IN THE YAZZIE MARTINEZ LAWSUIT.

SHE EXPLAINS WHY SHE THINKS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1 IS A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS SHE HELPED SET.

AND THE LINE OPINION PANEL REACTS TO NEWS THAT FUNDING BENCHMARKS MADE IN RESPONSE TO THAT LAWSUIT HAVE BEEN MET.

BUT, FIRST, ANOTHER BREAKING DEVELOPMENT IN THE SCANDAL SURROUNDING SENATOR DANIEL IVEY-SOTO.

LET'S GET STRAIGHT TO THE LINE.

WELCOME TO THE LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

THIS WEEK WE ARE HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY ALGERNON D'AMMASSA.

HE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE AND ENTERPRISE REPORTER AT THE LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS.

ATTORNEY SOPHIE MARTIN JOINS US AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE FORMER STATE REP JUSTINE FOX-YOUNG WITH US AS WELL.

THANK ALL FOR BEING HERE.

FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW WE START WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST SENATOR DANIEL IVEY-SOTO.

BREAKING AS WE TAPE THIS, SENATOR RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE, AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM THE FINANCE AUTHORITY INTERIM COMMITTEE OVER THE WEEKEND.

DEMOCRATIC SENATE LEADERSHIP HAD PLANNED TO MEET TO DISCUSS HIS REMOVAL LATER ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK, BUT MR. IVEY-SOTO MADE THE DECISION FOR HIM.

WHAT CHANGED?

LET ME START WITH ALGERNON HERE.

HE HAD BEEN PRETTY DEFIANT ON THIS IDEA OF DUE PROCESS.

WHAT CHANGED HERE IN YOUR VIEW?

IT IS HARD TO GUESS CERTAINLY.

WE WEREN'T IN THE ROOM.

ANY GUESSES ON WHAT YOU THINK MAY HAVE HAPPENED?

>> Algernon: WHAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE WAS THE SANTA FE REPORTER GETTING ITS HAND ON AN INVESTIGATION REPORT THAT SHOWED THAT TWO OF THE THREE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIATED, WHEREAS THE SENATOR HAD BEEN MAKING STATEMENTS IMPLYING THERE WERE NO ADVERSE FINDINGS AND ESSENTIALLY IMPLYING THAT HE HAD BEEN EXONERATED, WHEN THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

AND SO, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE WAY LEAKS HAVE BEEN PLAYING OUT IN A PROCESS THAT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUNLIGHT.

LEAKS BECOME VERY POWERFUL AND THEY CAN BE WEAPONIZED IN VARIOUS WAYS.

AND YOU HAVE ALSO THIS PLOTLINE ABOUT THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, MIMI STEWART BASICALLY THREATENING TO LEAK THE REPORT IF -- LEAK DOCUMENTATION IF THE SENATOR DID NOT YIELD SOME OF HIS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

SO, LOTS OF ACCUSATIONS BACK AND FORTH BUT, HEY, WHY -- ONE WAY TO SORT OF DE-WEAPONIZE AND DEMILITARIZE LEAKS IS TO REVISE OUR PROCESSES SO THAT THEY ARE STILL FAIR AND ACCOUNTABLE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THINGS OPERATING IN SECRET.

>> Gene: INTERESTINGLY, THAT OP ED BY MR. IVEY-SOTO IN THE JOURNAL A WEEK OR SO AGO CLAIMING HIS INNOCENCE REALLY TOOK THIS TO A WHOLE OTHER PLACE.

I AM CURIOUS LOOKING BACK AT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, BUT THEN ALSO STITCH IT TO WHAT WE HEARD TODAY, WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE HE WAS IN CORNER AND DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS.

>> Sophie: I ASSUME THAT ON THURSDAY, HE BASICALLY DID A HEAD COUNT AND REALIZED HE WASN'T GOING TO PREVAIL HERE.

YOU KNOW.

I THINK THAT WHILE -- SO LET ME SAY I AM A LAWYER BUT I ALSO WORK IN COMMUNICATIONS AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS AND ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES IN MOMENTS LIKE WHAT IVEY-SOTO WAS CONFRONTED WITH IS, YOU WANT TO CLEAR YOUR NAME, YOU WANT TO GET YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY OUT, YOU WANT TO SPIN BUT IT SEEMED CLEAR TO ME THAT HE WROTE THAT OP ED OR HIS TEAM WROTE THAT OP ED, HOWEVER IT WORKS IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS -- THAT THEY WERE SAFE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WERE SAYING, THAT THEY WERE PROTECTED.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, WHEN, FOR INSTANCE, AN ACCUSER CAN'T TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF A GAG TYPE SITUATION AND THE ACCUSED CAN KIND OF GO OUT THERE WITH FEELING SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY WON'T BE REBUTTED PUBLICLY.

YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY, TO ALGERNON'S POINT, THIS COULD HAVE, I SUPPOSE, GONE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY IF THE LEAK HADN'T HAPPENED OR AT LEAST TAKEN QUITE A BIT LONGER FOR THE REST OF THE INFORMATION TO COME OUT.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK RIGHT NOW THE COMMENTARY ABOUT, LIKE, LOOK, YOU CAN'T REALLY LOOK AT THE DEADLOCKED PANEL GIVEN THE FINDINGS THAT WERE ISSUED, YOU CAN'T LOOK A DEADLOCKED PANEL AND SAY, OH, EXONERATED.

AND TO THAT END ONE OF THE IMPERFECTIONS OF OUR LEGAL PROCESS AND THE PROCESS THAT WE SEE HERE IS THAT WE HAVE THE PRESUMPTION, OF COURSE, IN OUR CRIMINAL COURTS OF INNOCENCE, NOT THE SAME PRESUMPTION NECESSARILY IN OTHER AREAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, A DEADLOCK, A MISTRIAL, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT IS NOT EXONERATION.

AND THAT IS HOW IVEY-SOTO TRIED TO SPIN THIS AND SO NOW HE HAS GOT TWO PROBLEMS.

HE HAS GOT THE UNDERLYING CLAIMS BUT THEN HE ALSO HAS, I THINK, GOT TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE OF WHETHER HE CAN BE TRUSTED IN HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND POTENTIALLY HIS PRIVATE STATEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.

THAT KIND OF SPIN OFTEN COMES BACK TO BITE THE PERSON WHO TRIES IT.

>> Gene: REPRESENTATIVE POINT.

REPRESENTATIVE FOX-YOUNG, I GOT A COAT FROM MR. IVEY-SOTO, QUOTE, FROM A LETTER BY THE WAY HE HAS SUBMITTED WITH HIS RESIGNATION.

I KNOW I HAVE MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT BEING A SERVANT LEADER AND I COMMIT MYSELF TO IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA.

THE PROBLEMS WE FACE ARE TOO GREAT AND WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER.

MY QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

THE FULL SENATE AND THE FULL DEAL WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE HIM WITH A 2/3 VOTE IN A 42 MEMBER SENATE.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT OR IS THERE ENOUGH MEA CULPA HERE THAT HE CAN JUST KIND OF MOVE ON AND JUST MAYBE IMPROVE HIMSELF AND KEEP GOING.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

>> Justine: WELL, MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO SIT HERE AND READ THE TEA LEAVES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT SHOWS YOU HOW SCREWED UP THIS PROCESS IS AND HOW MURKY IT HAS BEEN.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A LEGISLATURE THAT IS POLICING ITSELF.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CREATED THIS STAR CHAMBER/WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT IT IS VERY PROBLEMATIC, YOU KNOW.

THERE IS NO PREDICTABILITY FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ACCUSED AND THE PUBLIC.

I MEAN, WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE?

YOU KNOW, MIMI STEWART HAS TAKEN THE HELM, SENATOR STEWART MEETING OUT PUNISHMENT NOW.

IT IS A BANANA REPUBLIC SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK FROM A PR PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS, SENATOR IVEY-SOTO HAS DONE ENOUGH TO CALM THINGS DOWN FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT I COULD CRITIQUE HIS HANDLING OF THE SITUATION ALL DAY.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY BUNGLED BUT AS ALGERNON SAID, THE PROCESS IS SO FLAWED, I HOPE WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS, IS SOME MORE PREDICTABILITY AND SOME REFORM OF HOW THIS WORKS.

IT SHOULDN'T BE DONE IN SUCH AN OPAQUE WAY AND I MEAN THAT IS THE WHOLE PROBLEM, RIGHT, WITH ME TOO MOVEMENT.

WE TRYING TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ARRIVE AT THE TRUTH.

WE CAN ARRIVE AT A JUST SOLUTION WITHOUT GETTING TO CANCEL CULTURE, WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE VITREAL AND LITIGATING THESE THINGS IN THE PRESS.

EVERYTHING WENT WRONG HERE.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM BUT THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> Gene: ON THAT POINT, THE IDEA OF FOUR PEOPLE VOTING ON SOMEONE'S POLITICAL FUTURE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY VOTE AND NOW DANIEL ELY THIS WEEK, REPRESENTATIVE ELY THIS WEEK SAID, LOOK, WE NEED A FIFTH MEMBER HERE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THESE HARASSMENT ISSUES, WHO IS NOT AN ELECTED PERSON, TO BREAK TIES.

IS THE PUBLIC GOING TO BE ACCEPTING OF PEOPLE VOTING ON PEOPLES' FUTURE AND NOT KNOWING HOW THEY VOTED IN THESE THINGS?

SOMETHING ALMOST BANANA REPUBLIC WHICH WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> Algernon: YEAH.

IT ADDRESSES PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM NOT SURE IT GOES FAR ENOUGH AND I DON'T THINK -- I THINK THAT IN THE SESSION, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT STATUTORY CHANGES ON HOW THIS WORKS, BUT WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT DUE PROCESS.

WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE AND THESE ARE CONCEPTS WE UNDERSTAND AS PART OF AN OPEN PROCEEDING, CIVIL TRIALS, CRIMINAL TRIALS IN WHICH THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT JUDGE.

AND EVIDENCE THAT IS PRESENTED GENERALLY IN PUBLIC SETTINGS AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF PROCESS.

YOU HAVE SENATORS VOTING ABOUT COLLEAGUES AND, OF COURSE, THESE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIPS AND THEIR OWN PRESSURES.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE A SENATOR WHO CROSSES WAYS WITH SOMEONE LIKE SENATOR IVEY-SOTO.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE LOBBYISTS AND PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIS BEHAVIOR WHO HAVE VERY IMPORTANT MATTERS COMING BEFORE HIS COMMITTEES AS WELL AS THE SENATE AS WHOLE AND SO, REALLY, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, A FIFTH VOTE, WHAT THAT ADDRESSES IS THE PROBLEM OF A TIE AND YOU INTRODUCE SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THAT BODY, WHO IS AN ATTORNEY, HAS SOME PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE AREA.

CERTAINLY THERE IS IMPROVEMENT THERE BUT I THINK IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

>> Gene: SOPHIE, REAL QUICK, I GOT TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD ON THIS.

THIS IS NOT A DIFFICULT PREDICTION.

LET'S SAY HE DOES STAY AND EVERY WOMAN UP THERE, JUST BASICALLY SHUTS HIM OUT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING HERE?

THEY JUST DON'T DEAL WITH HIM AT ALL.

WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO HIM TO STAY IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE, IF HE SKATES THROUGH, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT HE'LL FIND NEXT SESSION.

>> Sophie: I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, GENE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING THIS TO YOU OF YOU, BUT I THINK THAT IS NAIVE.

BECAUSE TO THE EXTENT THAT HE RETAINS ANY FORM OF POWER IN THE SYSTEM, THE FIRST TIME HE IS A DETERMINATIVE VOTE ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE GOT TO TURN, THESE -- THE CONSTITUENTS, THE LOBBYISTS WILL NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO WORK WITH HIM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE BOILER ROOM THAT IS THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE WE CAN'T OSTRACIZE A PARTICULAR MEMBER FOREVER.

I GOT TO SAY OF THE PROCESS AS A WHOLE, IT IS UNFORTUNATE -- I HAVE BEEN THINKING IT AS A STRESS TEST OF THIS SYSTEM HAS HAPPENED AT THIS TIME AND HAS GONE SO BADLY.

THE STRESS TEST IS GOING TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

I HOPE AS ALGERNON SAID, I HOPE THERE ARE MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE SYSTEM, REFORMS MADE BECAUSE IT IS VERY APPARENT THAT IS NEEDED.

>> Gene: THANKS TO THE LINE OPINION PANEL ON THAT ONE.

WE'LL MEET BACK HERE AT THE VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT SECRETARY OF STATE RACE AND CAMPAIGN VIOLATION STIRRING HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

>> THE YAZZIE MARTINEZ SCHOOL SUIT.

I STARTED THE CASE WHEN MY OLDEST SON WAS IN THIRD GRADE.

NOW HE IS IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE.

AND WE WON THE CASE ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS A BIG STEP TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, GET OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BACK ON TRACK TO GET OFF OF THAT 50TH IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CHANGES YET.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CHANGES YET.

>> Gene: LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER 8, A RELATIVELY OVERLOOKED VOTING DEMOGRAPHIC IS GETTING A BIG PUSH SOME TO MAKE THEMSELVES HEARD.

NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE IS PARTNERING WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN NONPARTISAN GROUPS TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE BLACK PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I SPOKE WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THAT GROUP AND TWO MORE KEY FIGURES IN NEW MEXICO'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO SEE WHY THEIR VOICES COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE ON ELECTION DAY.

START WITH MASON GRAHAM, NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE.

MASON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU ONE AT A TIME AS WE GO ALONG.

MASON, WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THE NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE TO START THIS PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

WHAT WAS GOING ON OUT THERE THAT MADE THE GROUP DECIDE THAT THIS EFFORT WAS WORTH HAVING?

>> Mason: WELL, THANK YOU GENE FOR HAVING US AND THIS WAS AN EFFORT BROUGHT TO US BY DR. HAROLD BAILEY FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE BRANCH OF THE NAACP.

AS ONE OF THE ONLY BLACK LED VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE STATE, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING OUT THE MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE ELECTION IS COMING UP, YOU KNOW, THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO BE A PIVOTAL ELECTION AS WE ALL KNOW.

WE HAVE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT THIS LAST ELECTION SEASON AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND GET OUT THE VOTE.

>> Gene: AND THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED DR. HAROLD BAILEY.

DOC, ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

IMPORTANCE OF HAVING NAACP IN THIS EFFORT, TALK TO US ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>> Bailey: THE ORGANIZATION IT IS ALWAYS, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, HAS ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED AS FAR AS GETTING BLACK PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A CONCERTED EFFORT OF A LOT OF GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG ADULTS GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

DR. BECKNELL CONTACTED ME INITIALLY WITH THIS IDEA TO FORMULATE A COALITION STATE-WIDE.

HE CAME UP WITH THE NUMBERS AND I CONTACTED MS. CATHY MCGILL OF NEW MEXICO BLACK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND THAT IS WHY I RAN INTO MR. GRAHAM SO IT IS A NICE COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> Gene: WITHOUT SAYING, WHICH BRINGS US TO DR. BECKNELL.

APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US.

I KNOW YOU'RE VERY BUSY, REVEREND BECKNELL, DR. CHARLES BECKNELL, SR., FROM THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

LET'S GET TO WHAT DR. BAILEY MENTIONED, REVEREND, THE IMPETUS TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHAT WAS THE BIG DRIVER FOR YOU TO START THIS PROCESS?

>> Becknell: WELL, THE BIG PROJECT FOR ME WAS I HAVE LIVED IN NEW MEXICO ALL MY LIFE.

AND I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN POLITICIANS WOULD COME INTO OUR SEGREGATED COMMUNITY IN HOBBS AND THEY WOULD PASS OUT THEIR LITERATURE, THEY WOULD HAVE BARBECUES AND WATERMELON AND BEER AND STUFF, AND THEN THEY WOULD DISAPPEAR.

BUT IT TOLD ME ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A BLACK VOTE IN NEW MEXICO.

NOW, I PUT TOGETHER SOME NUMBERS AND WE ARE A SLEEPING GIANT.

LET ME JUST TELL YOU ABOUT THIS.

THE NUMBERS IN LAS CRUCES, WE CAN TURN 300 VOTES, CLOVIS, 500, BELEN, 300.

GALLUP, 200.

ALL ACROSS.

SEE, IN A LOCAL ELECTION, WE MAY NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THEY MAY LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SAY, OH, YOU ARE ONLY 5% SO YOU CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT A STATE-WIDE ELECTION AND ALL OF THESE NUMBERS FROM THESE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, WE CAN COME UP WITH ABOUT 10,000 VOTES CONSERVATIVELY.

TELL ME THAT WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN ELECTION.

THEY TEND TO FORGET ABOUT US AND WE NEED TO STAND TALL BECAUSE 10,000 VOTES GIVES US DIGNITY IN THIS STATE.

>> Gene: THERE CAN BE A DEMONSTRABLE POINT AT SOME POINT THAT SOMEBODY EITHER WON OR LOST DIRECTLY FROM THE BLACK VOTE, THE WHOLE THING IS GOING TO CHANGE.

IT WOULD BE LIKE A DOMINO FALLING OVER.

THE REST WILL FOLLOW.

SORRY, TO MAKE YOU SIT A LITTLE BIT THERE.

RODNEY BOWE FROM THE BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME FOR SURE.

ALL THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN ON THE GROUND THOUGH.

THERE IS ORGANIZATION.

THERE IS OUTREACH.

THERE IS GETTING THINGS GOING.

I AM CURIOUS HOW THE COLLABORATIVE IS REACHING OUT TO PLACES.

IT IS A BIG OLE STATE, HOBBS AND SILVER.

HOW IS THAT WORKING ON THE GROUND AND WHAT IS THE PLAN?

>> Bowe: WE HAVE AN UNTAPPED POWER IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND IT IS THE BLACK VOTE AND WE HAVE FOOT SHOULDERS LIKE MASON GRAHAM WHO IS REALLY REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING ENTITIES AROUND THE BLACK VOTE, PULLING IN OUR ALLIES, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING THE GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE TO TIE IN AND MAKE SURE AND A BIG THANKS TO DR. HAROLD BAILEY AND DR. CHARLES BECKNELL FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER, BUT WE HAVE TO PULL IN NOT ONLY BLACKS IN THIS EFFORT, BUT WE HAVE TO PULL IN OUR ALLIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BLACK VOICE IS HEARD.

AND SO, AGAIN, WITH FOOT SOLDIERS LIKE MASON GRAHAM PULLING IN DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALL TALKING AND COLLABORATING TOGETHER, WE HAVE AN UNTAPPED POWER SOURCE IN THE BLACK VOTE.

>> Gene: MASON, THAT BRINGS US TO THE OPEN LETTER THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS SENT OUT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

WHO IT IS FOR AND THEN ALSO RODNEY JUST MENTIONED THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE COME ON BOARD AS WELL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COVER THOSE FOLKS TOO, BUT STARTING WITH THE LETTER, WHAT IS IT ABOUT AND WHO IS IT FOR?

>> Mason: SO, OUR OPEN LETTER IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ABOUT 20 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALL FOCUSED ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

AND THE LETTER IS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUTH VOTERS AND OUR PERSON OF COLOR VOTERS.

IN THAT LETTER WE IDENTIFY SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT ARE FACING VOTERS RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HUGE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN THAT HAS CONTINUED SINCE THE 2020 ELECTION, EVEN AS EARLY AS THE 2016 ELECTION, THAT HAS CREATED A LOT OF APATHY WITHIN NOT JUST THE BLACK COMMUNITY BUT IN THE YOUTH VOTERS AS WELL.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THESE ELECTIONS THINKING THAT THEIR VOTE MIGHT NOT COUNT.

WITH SOME OF THE POLICY CHANGES WE HAVE SEEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CENTERED AROUND SOME OF THESE BIG ISSUES, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE, WE WANT TO MAKE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE AS A VOTER TO THOSE TYPE OF ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED.

IN THIS OPEN LETTER WE ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK CLOSELY WITH, THAT ALSO HAVE A SHARED INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET OUT TO VOTE AND THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU, IF YOU DO OR DO NOT GO OUT TO VOTE.

>> Gene: DR. BAILEY, WE HAVE COVERED ON NEW MEXICO PBS ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES OVER THE YEARS THAT AFFECT, OF COURSE, THE BLACK COMMUNITY, ALL OF US IN NEW MEXICO, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I'LL START WITH HEALTHCARE.

THE REASON I BRING UP AN ISSUE AREA, IS THE ORGANIZATION GOING TO BE MAKING ASKS OF POLITICIANS IN CERTAIN ISSUE AREAS LIKE HEALTHCARE TO GET A FEEL FOR WHERE THEY ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN AS WELL?

>> Bailey: YES, MOST CERTAINLY, THAT IS HIGH ON THE LIST JUST LIKE EDUCATION.

WE WANT TO PULL ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AND JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT BROTHER BOWE SAID, IS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO REGISTER YOUNG BLACK VOTERS AND YOUNG BLACK VOTERS, WE WANT TO HAVE A COALITION OF WOMEN, LATINOS, YOU KNOW, NATIVE AMERICANS, ALL TYPES OF GROUPS BECAUSE OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK.

WHITE SUPREMACISTS IDEOLOGICAL IS INFILTRATING OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THESE EFFORTS WITH PROPORTIONATE FORCE.

>> Gene: PICK UP ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

IT IS -- 10,000 IS A BIG NUMBER IN NEW MEXICO.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET THIS ACROSS TO PEOPLE BASICALLY, THAT THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS, YOU KNOW?

>> Bowe: ONE OF THE THINGS WITH NEW MEXICO COLLABORATIVE, WE ARE A NONPARTISAN GROUP BRINGING IN, AGAIN, GROUPS THAT ARE REALLY LOOKING TO INFLUENCE AND MOVE THE BLACK VOTE.

MY CO-CHAIR IS MARJORIE GERMAIN AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ALONG WITH MASON TO REALLY NOT LOOK AT THE POLITICIANS PER SE BUT LOOK AT THE ISSUES AT HAND.

HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT IMPACTS US ALL IN THIS STATE.

WE HAVE DRAMATIC MARGINALIZATION IN THE HEALTHCARE IN THE STATE FOR BLACKS, AND, SO, THAT IS ONE ISSUE.

ALSO THE EDUCATION, WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION IN EDUCATING THOSE IN OUR OWN BACK YARD, OUR YOUTH AS WELL AS THOSE RETURNING CITIZENS COMING FROM THE INCARCERATED POPULATIONS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PATHWAY TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS HERE IN NEW MEXICO FOR OUR YOUNG BLACK YOUTH.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WE ARE LOOKING AT AND ADDRESSES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT YOU VALUE YOUR VOTE, YOU GET OUT AND VOTE AND IF YOU CAN, VOTE EARLY BECAUSE YOUR VOTE IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO DR. HAROLD BAILEY, CHARLES BECKNELL SR., RODNEY BOWE AND MASON GRAHAM.

YOU CAN WATCH THAT FULL CONVERSATION ONLINE RIGHT NOW ON THE NEW MEXICO INFOCUS FACEBOOK PAGE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

WITH ELECTION DAY ON THE BRAIN, THE NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE IS MAKING HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AUDREY TRUJILLO RECENTLY REMOVED AN ONLINE CAMPAIGN FLYER THAT OFFERED A CHANCE TO WIN A FIREARM IN RETURN FOR A 100-DOLLAR DONATION TO THE CAMPAIGN.

THE OFFER VIOLATED THE STATE BAN ON RAFFLES TO RAISE MONEY FOR ANY CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

WAS THIS AN INNOCENT MISTAKE OR MORE CALCULATED MANEUVER TO GENERATE PUBLICITY OR HOW DID READ YOU THIS?

BECAUSE, I WOULD BET THAT MOST ANY CANDIDATE HAS BEEN BRIEFED THAT YOU CANNOT DO RAFFLES IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

INNOCENT MISTAKE?

>> Justine: MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I DON'T THINK SHE INTENDED TO RUN A CAMPAIGN AFOUL OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS BUT I THINK IT IS EMBLEMATIC OF HER CAMPAIGN AND WHERE SHE COMES FROM AND THE TYPE OF CANDIDATE SHE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF BLUSTER AND RIDING THIS WAVE OF TRUMP -- THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM TRUMP.

SO, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PHILOSOPHY THERE.

SHE IS NOT A TECHNOCRAT.

SHE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW TO REFORM THE OFFICE.

SHE IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT I WOULD HOPE A SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE FOCUSED ON AND ASSEMBLING A TEAM.

IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO THINK IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL -- >> Gene: SHE TOOK IT DOWN PRETTY QUICK.

SHE HAD A QUOTE IN THE PAPER, MAYBE EVEN YOURS, SAYING, LOOK, THIS WAS A MISTAKE.

THE SECOND I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, WE TOOK IT DOWN.

FAIR ENOUGH.

GOT TO GIVE HER SOME PROPS ON THAT, FOR SURE.

BUT, AGAIN, HOW DID IT GET THERE IN FIRST PLACE?

IT IS AN EASY VIOLATION TO AVOID, SO TO SPEAK.

RIGHT.

I MEAN THIS IS THE KIND OF MISTAKE THAT REFLECTS POORLY ON A CANDIDATE SINCE THESE ARE EXACTLY THE KIND OF RULES THAT A SECRETARY OF STATE NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF AND IN SOME CASES TO ENFORCE.

SO FILING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING LATE, ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GRIEVOUS SIN IS ALSO AN INDICATION OF, THESE ARE THE RULES THAT YOU HAVE TO ENFORCE.

SO, IT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK.

I DON'T THINK THAT IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING FOR HER, IT IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND JUST AS REP FOX-YOUNG SAID, SHE TOOK IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND SAID, OH, SEEMED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ERROR AND SAY WE WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES.

>> Justine: I AM NOT A REP ANYMORE.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.

>> Algernon: SORRY, FORMER REP. >> Gene: LOVE THAT.

THAT IS VERY FUNNY.

INTERESTING, WE HAVE TO GET TO THIS AS TO THE ACTUAL POSITIONS OF BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES.

THEY COULDN'T BE MORE OPPOSITE, OBVIOUSLY.

MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER SPENT HER TENURE WORKING TO EXPAND VOTER ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE, GOING TO NATIONAL TELEVISION A LOT, BUT MS. TRUJILLO WANTS TO ALLEVIATE VOTING MACHINES, MAIL IN BALLOTS AND EARLY VOTING.

FAIRLY DRASTIC CHANGES.

ARE VOTERS READY FOR THAT KIND OF THING?

>> Sophie: THEY ARE DRASTIC CHANGES AND ALSO THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE POPULAR WITH NEW MEXICO'S VOTERS.

YOU KNOW.

UNTIL THEY BECAME POLITICIZED THROUGH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THEN THROUGH THE HIS STOP THE STEAL CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW VOTERS FROM BOTH PARTIES USING ALL OF THESE POLICIES TO EXPAND THEIR OWN ACCESS TO THE POLLS AND SO, I THINK, YOU HAVE PAINTED IT CORRECTLY.

THESE ARE TWO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED APPROACHES TO VOTING AND VOTING RIGHTS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, IT IS ALWAYS TELLING, RIGHT, WHEN A CAMPAIGN INVOLVES, YOU KNOW -- AN ELECTION INVOLVES A STRONG INCUMBENT AND THEN A PRETTY WEAK CHALLENGER WHO DIDN'T HAVE PRIMARY -- DIDN'T HAVE A HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE PRIMARY.

IT DOES SORT OF SEEM LIKE, ESPECIALLY FOR A STATE-WIDE OFFICE, THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS PARTICULARLY WINNABLE.

AND THAT THIS PERSON IS OUT THERE TO MAKE HER POINTS.

I AM SURE SHE WOULD LIKE TO BE ELECTED BUT I JUST DON'T SEE THIS MESSAGE OR THIS PERSON BEING SUCCESSFUL IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: ALGERNON AND JUSTINE I WANT YOU TO GET IN ON THIS.

I SHOULD MENTION THE POLLING FROM THE AUGUST 28 JOURNAL POLL SHOWS MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER HOLDS MORE THAN A 10 POINT LEAD IN THE RACE, 46 TO 35 PERCENT OVER MS. TRUJILLO.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY STATE WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING.

THERE IS AT LEAST, BY MY COUNT, 10 TO A DOZEN STATES, AND THE WASHINGTON POST HAS BEEN REPORTING ON THESE, WHERE REPUBLICAN NOMINEES ARE JUST FLAT OUT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE 2020 ELECTION AND THAT IS PROBABLY MUCH OF THE ENTIRE PLATFORM AT THIS TIME.

IS THAT GOING TO WORK IN NEW MEXICO, I GUESS, IS THE BOTTOM QUESTION.

>> Algernon: I DON'T SEE IT WORKING.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LARGE ENOUGH COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULT.

WE DO HAVE A VERY SMALL DETERMINED AND VOCAL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO QUESTION THESE ISSUES AND, YEAH, AUDREY TRUJILLO, AS A CANDIDATE, SPEAKS FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

IN CAMPAIGN INTERVIEWS WITH MEDIA, SHE'LL SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, RIGHT?

THAT SHE IS RUNNING TO CHASE DOWN ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND RESOLVE DOUBTS.

NOW IS YOU LOOK AT THE BODY OF INTERVIEWS SHE HAS GIVEN TO CONSERVATIVE HOSTS ON THE SORT OF POD CASTS AND SHOWS THAT ARE BROADCAST ON RUMBLE AND PLATFORMS LIKE THAT, SHE TAKES A MUCH HARDER LINE.

SHE HAS REFERRED TO THE ELECTION AS A COUP.

ALTHOUGH, WHEN I ASKED HER DIRECTLY, SHE SAID, NO, JOE BIDEN IS THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

IT IS JUST THAT THE PROCESS WAS MESSED UP.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MESSAGES FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCES HAPPENING HERE.

AUDREY TRUJILLO RAN UNOPPOSED IN THAT PRIMARY AND IN TERMS OF FUND RAISING, IN TERMS OF POLLING, IN TERMS OF JUST HAVING A VERY VISIBLE PRESENCE AROUND THE STATE, I THINK THE INCUMBENT IS IN A PRETTY DOMINANT POSITION AT THE MOMENT.

JUSTINE, I GOT TO ASK YOU, THIS IDEA OF DISTRUST.

LET'S NOT JUST STEP OVER THIS.

THAT IS A SERIOUS THING.

NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY BUT IN OUR STATE AS WELL.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET PAST THAT AND GET CANDIDATES BACK ON SOLVING PROBLEMS?

>> Justine: IT IS A SERIOUS THING AND TO SOME EXTENT IT IS ROOTED IN REAL POLICY DECISIONS, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HAPPENED IN THE LAST -- UNDER THE LAST FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IS THAT BALLOTS, JUST PLAIN BALLOTS WERE SENT OUT.

IN A LOT OF PLACES THERE WASN'T A BALLOT REQUEST FORM AND THEN A BALLOT.

WHETHER YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD POLICY OR NOT, WHETHER THINK IT IS A PROBLEM FOR BALLOT INTEGRITY OR NOT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT REASONABLE POLICYMAKERS SHOULD BE DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, AND THINGS OF THAT ILK.

AND IF MS. TRUJILLO IS CONCERNED ABOUT BALLOT INTEGRITY AND ABOUT WHETHER THERE WERE ISSUES IN THE LAST ELECTION, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND HOW IT WORKED AND WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES BUT SHE IS NOT DOING THAT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THAT.

THIS PROBLEM OF DISTRUST IS VERY AMORPHOUS AND WE ARE NOT GETTING AT THE POLICY DECISIONS, STATUTORY CHANGES, THE WORK OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET BACK.

WE NEED CANDIDATES WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE WORK.

>> Gene: A COUPLE MINUTES HERE, START WITH THIS ONE, SOPHIE.

WE HAVE A FLIER, A MAILER FROM THE NEW MEXICO GOP THAT SHOWS AN ALTERED IMAGE OF DARKENED HANDS CUTTING A WHITE CHILD'S HAIR.

THERE IS A REASON I BRING UP RACE HERE.

IN THE FLYER, IT SAYS, DO YOU WANT A SEX OFFENDER CUTTING YOUR CHILD'S HAIR?

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW MEXICO IS SAYING, NO, IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE, JUST SORT OF SOME PORTENT.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> Sophie: IT IS A DESIGN CHOICE, YEAH.

NO, NO.

HAVING LOOKED AT THE IMAGE, YEAH, THERE WAS A DESIGN CHOICE.

IT WAS A CHOICE THAT THEY MADE AND IF THEY ARE SO TONE DEAF AS TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IS EFFECTIVE BUT NOT A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THEY ARE PUTTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, THEN THERE ARE SOME ISSUES BEYOND THE QUESTION OF RACISM.

BUT, NO, I THINK THAT THIS IS A MISTAKE THAT KEEPS GETTING MADE AND IF WE ARE NOT LEARNING FROM WHAT HAPPENS EACH TIME OR PERHAPS WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT ON THE INSIDE THERE, BUT PERHAPS THEY ARE LEARNING IS DEFECTIVE IS ALSO DEEPLY CYNICAL AND I THINK UNACCEPTABLE.

>> Gene: JUSTINE, OFF LIMITS, FAIR GAME?

HOUSE REPUBLICAN MONTOYA FROM FARMINGTON SAYS THE IMAGES, QUOTE, WERE DARKENED TO MAKE THE FLIERS GLOOMY.

DID THEY JUST MISS IT STYLE WISE OR WAS THERE SOMETHING MORE NEFARIOUS GOING ON HERE?

>> Justine: I THINK IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I GUESS I AGREE WITH SOPHIE THAT IT WAS INTENTIONAL, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS SET UP TO HAVE VOTERS -- HAVE PEOPLE RECALL THESE, YOU KNOW, BRING FORWARD THESE RACIST TENDENCIES.

I GUESS, I MEAN, IT IS NEFARIOUS.

I AM GLAD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF AIR TIME AND EXPOSURE.

I DON'T THINK THE RESPONSES FROM THE PARTY ARE PLAUSIBLE OR PARTICULARLY WELL DONE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT IS NOT IN THE SHADOWS AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT REALLY BRINGS FORTH A LOT OF EMOTION FOR PEOPLE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

THE PREVIOUSLY SEEN REVEREND CHARLES BECKNELL, SR. WAS QUOTED IN THIS ARTICLE SAYING, QUOTE, IT IS TIME WE PUT AN END TO THIS KIND OF CRAP.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.

INTERESTING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT DISCUSS.

WE WILL BE TRACKING THAT RACE AND MANY OTHERS IN THE COMING WEEKS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION.

THERE IS ANOTHER MAJOR ITEM ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 8, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1.

NOW IF PASSED IT WOULD PULL A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF MONEY FROM THE PERMANENT LAND GRANT FUND FOR EDUCATION.

IT HAS GAINED SOME CRITICISM FROM THOSE WHO THINK OTHER RECENT INVESTMENTS ARE ENOUGH FOR NOW, BUT RECENT POLLING FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SHOWS A LARGE MAJORITY OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.

WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM EDUCATORS AND PARENTS THIS WEEK, SO, SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DIVIZIO SAT DOWN WITH A TEACHER, A CHILD EDUCATION ADVOCATE AND A PARENT WHO BROUGHT TO LIGHT SEVERE SHORTCOMINGS IN OUR STATE'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

>> Lou: JOINING ME TODAY ARE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

FIRST, AMBER WALLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE ALSO HAVE ORIANDI MELLAS, A TEACHER AT UNM CHILDREN'S CAMPUS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AND WILHELMINA YAZZIE PARENT AND PLAINTIFF IN THE HISTORIC YAZZIE MARTINEZ LAWSUIT.

THAT LAWSUIT PUT OUT ON THE RECORD THAT MINORITY STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY NATIVE AMERICAN AND NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING THE SAME EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AS THEIR PEERS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

MS. WALLIN, YOU'RE A BIG PART OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

HOW WOULD THIS MONEY HELP YOU DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU SEE EVERYDAY?

>> Wallin: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES IN OUR STATE ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, BIG CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, THINGS LIKE CHILDHOOD FOOD INSECURITY, POVERTY AMONG WORKING PARENTS.

WE KNOW COVID MADE THAT WORSE FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND MOTHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN.

BUT, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE ALSO SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME CHANGES IN PUBLIC POLICY THAT HAVE LAID A REALLY FERTILE GROUND FOR WHAT THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT COULD DO FOR NEW MEXICO.

AND WHAT IT COULD DO IS IT REALLY GIVES VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DIRECT HAND IN SAYING, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE PRIORITIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD SPACE SOME OF THAT FUNDING COULD BE USED TO RAISE TEACHER WAGES, TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THOSE WORKFORCE, THAT WORKFORCE IS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FOR OUR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR ECONOMY.

IT COULD GO TOWARD MAKING SOME RECENT INCREDIBLE EXPANSIONS IN CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PERMANENT FOR OUR STATE AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE COULD GO TOWARDS SUPPORTING TEACHERS SALARIES BETTER ATTRACTING AND KEEPING PEOPLE IN THAT WORKFORCE, BETTER RESOURCE IN OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TEACHERS HAVING SET UP GO FUND ME TO BUY CONSTRUCTION PAPER AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND TO REALLY -- AND THIS IS SOMETHING MS. YAZZIE CAN SPEAK TO WELL BUT WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES IN OUR STATE OFTENTIMES FACE BIG CHALLENGES AND THAT WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, THINGS LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR SCHOOLS, SCHOOL NURSES, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, ENSURING WE ARE PROVIDING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY REPRESENTATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

THESE ARE ALL KEY FOR SUCCESS.

>> Lou: MS. MELLAS, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE HERE, WORKING WITH CHILDREN EVERYDAY.

HOW COULD YOU SEE THAT MONEY BEING APPLIED IN SOME OF THE WAYS THAT MS. WALLIN JUST MENTIONED DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE ACTUAL CHILDREN IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

>> Mellas: SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO SAY THAT I DISAGREE IS THAT EVERY FUND OR EVERY MONEY OR AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN TO EARLY EDUCATION HAS PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL OBSTACLES BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS IN THE TEACHERS' POCKETS, ME BEING ONE OF THEM.

YOU HAVE THIS GROUP OF MONEY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS SPECIFIC THINGS OR TOWARDS SPECIFIC PEOPLE OR TO A SPECIFIC PLAN AND IT IS LIKE A LADDER.

IT GOES FROM THE STATE TO THE SCHOOL FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE ADMINS AND THEN THE TEACHERS ARE THE LAST TO EITHER SEE OR HEAR ABOUT THAT MONEY.

IT DOESN'T USUALLY END UP IN THE TEACHERS' POCKETS, NOWHERE IN SALARY OR NOWHERE INSIDE THE CLASSROOM THAT CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT THE EDUCATION OR THE ENVIRONMENT OF THOSE CHILDREN.

SO, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS DISCUSSION, WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING THERE EVALUATING WHAT THIS MONEY SHOULD GO INTO BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IT IS REALLY NOT GOING INTO WHAT WE REALLY WANT WHICH IS TEACHER SALARIES AND INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ASK SOMEONE HOW TO INVEST THE MONEY AND WHERE TO PUT IT, I THINK IT SHOULD COME FROM THE TEACHER INSIDE THAT CLASSROOM.

>> Lou: MS. YAZZIE, A FEW MONTHS AGO THE STATE RELEASED ITS DRAFT PLAN TO ADDRESS THE LAWSUIT THAT YOU WERE A PART OF.

FIRST, DO YOU THINK THAT PLAN GOES FAR ENOUGH TO BRIDGE THE GAP THAT YOU EXPOSED AND, SECOND, HOW WOULD THE EXTRA MONEY THAT IS ON THE BALLOT HELP IN THAT EFFORT ALSO?

>> Yazzie: IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE PLAN, YOU KNOW, BUT WE CAN'T INVEST -- THERE IS A PLAN BUT WE NEED TO ALSO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN TO START WORKING AND TO START HELPING OUR CHILDREN.

SO, WITH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1, AND THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR OUR CHILDREN, THAT WILL HELP US IN A GREAT AMOUNT WITH WHAT WE WERE FIGHTING FOR FOR OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE YAZZIE MARTINEZ LAWSUIT.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS FOUR GROUPS IN OUR LAWSUIT.

THERE IS NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN, THERE IS OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY AND CHILDREN THAT COME FROM LOW INCOME.

THOSE ARE THE FOUR BASIC OR THE FOUR GROUPS THAT WE REPRESENT IN THE SCHOOL SUIT.

OVERALL, WITH THIS FUNDING, IT WILL REALLY HELP OUR CHILDREN -- WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN IN A WAY THAT WE PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.

AND I AM VERY FIRM WITH THAT BECAUSE AS A DINE NAVAJO MOTHER, MY MOTHER WAS AN EDUCATOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME, TOO, SO I KIND OF HAVE THAT HISTORY AND KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT EXPERIENCE.

SO, WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST PREPARING OUR CHILDREN, JUST TO THRIVE AND TO LEARN, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE BASIC AND MOST IMPORTANT FOR THIS FUNDING IS JUST TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN.

>> Lou: WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST.

A LEGISLATIVE BRIEF THAT WAS RELEASED RECENTLY THAT SHOWED THAT THE STATE HAS REACHED A FUNDING BENCHMARK THAT WAS SET IN THE LAWSUIT.

BUT NOW THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE MONEY BUT ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH HOW THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT, THE SPECIFIC WAYS THAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT?

LIKE YOU SAY, MONEY IS GOOD BUT IT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED IN A SPECIFIC WAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE DIRECTION FROM THE STATE ON THAT?

>> Yazzie: YOU USE THE TERM SATISFIED.

I THINK WHEN I WILL BE SATISFIED IS WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE THRIVING AND NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN AND FOUR GROUP CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND ARE EXCELLING.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS A PARENT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM YET.

THERE IS NO CHANGES SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING.

FUNDING IS THE MAIN ISSUE.

WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW.

WE HAVE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION, ONE, TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN, TO GET THAT FUNDING OUT, TO USE THAT FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE.

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START TO USE IT TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW.

THAT IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY AND, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THE FUTURE THAT THEY ARE THRIVING AND LEARNING AND GIVEN WHAT THEY ARE NEEDED.

>> Lou: SOME OPPONENTS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT POINT TO THE FACT THAT OIL AND GAS REVENUE IS BOOMING RIGHT NOW AND THAT MEANS THAT BECAUSE IT IS A PERCENTAGE BASE RIGHT NOW IT IS 5% OF THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND THAT WOULD COME OUT, THAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS ALSO INCREASING.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT CONCERN, THAT THE MONEY IS ALREADY RISING AND NOW THERE IS A CHANCE TO BRING IN MORE?

>> Wallin: I THINK THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE STATE IS IN A REALLY STRONG PHYSICAL POSITION RIGHT NOW BUT THAT IS LARGELY BASED ON TEMPORARY SOURCES SO WE KNOW THAT PART OF THAT IS FROM FEDERAL COVID RELIEF, WHICH WE KNOW IS OBVIOUSLY TIME LIMITED.

AND AS YOU SAID, LOU, PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE IN THAT BOOM POINT OF OIL AND GAS CYCLE BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, WHEN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IS DOING WELL, SO, TOO OUR STATE REVENUES.

WHEN THE INDUSTRY INEVITABLY, A FEW YEARS LATER, GOES BUST, SO DO REVENUES.

AND WE SEE HARM IN THE STATE BUDGET, MEANWHILE WE HAVE SEEN THE STATE'S LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND OR PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND GO FROM TEN BILLION IN 2009 WHEN NEW MEXICO VOICES FIRST STARTED WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, TO NOW ALMOST 26 BILLION, CLIMBING STEADILY OVER THE YEARS.

SO, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT NOW IS REALLY HOW DO WE DIVERSIFY REVENUE THAT GOES TO THESE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS?

>> Lou: ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS SO I'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE.

STARTING WITH YOU MS. YAZZIE.

AS A STATE, NEW MEXICO IS UNFORTUNATELY NEAR THE BOTTOM OF EVERY NATIONAL EDUCATION METRIC.

STARTING FUNDAMENTALLY, IF WE WERE TO GET MORE FUNDING WHAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO TURN THAT AROUND?

>> Yazzie: FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE OUR CHILDREN A PRIORITY.

THAT IS THE FIRST STEP.

ESPECIALLY NOW WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THAT IS, I THINK, THE BEGINNING OF WHERE THEY START LEARNING AND WHERE WE START TO PREPARE THEM SO THAT IS WHERE THESE PROGRAMS ARE VERY CRUCIAL AND THE FUNDING AND EVERYTHING.

SO FROM THIS YAZZIE MARTINEZ SCHOOL SUIT, I STARTED THE CASE WHEN MY OLDEST SON WAS IN THIRD GRADE AND NOW HE IS IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND WE WON THE CASE ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO.

AND THAT WAS A BIG STEP TO TRY TO GET OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BACK ON TRACK TO GET OFF OF THAT 50TH IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CHANGES YET.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CHANGES YET AND, AGAIN, LIKE THE TEACHERS, THAT IS ANOTHER THING, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTED ENOUGH AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

THEY ARE NOT GIVEN ALL THE SUPPORT THEY ARE NEEDED.

THEY ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH ESPECIALLY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE IN THE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS OF OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES WITH THIS AT THAT STAGE, PRE K, KINDERGARTEN, YOU KNOW, AND MY TRADITIONAL ASPECT WE HOLD OUR CHILDREN VERY SACRED.

THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES WITH THAT.

IT IS OUR PRIORITY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SET THEM IN THE PATH OF WHAT WE CALL, IN MY LANGUAGE [NAVAJO SPOKEN].

SO, THANK YOU.

>> Lou: OF COURSE, THANK YOU.

FUNDAMENTALLY, BEYOND MONEY, WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF EDUCATION AND HOW WE TREAT OUR CHILDREN?

>> Mellas: I THINK WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO FIRST ACCEPT IS THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ARE TEACHERS AND THEY DO, LIKE SHE SAID, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY CHILD'S LIFE, DEVELOPMENTALLY.

AND THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN THAT CREDIT, THEY NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED, THEY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS ANY OTHER TEACHERS IN OTHER GRADE LEVELS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, INFANT TEACHERS OR TODDLER TEACHERS, THEY ARE WORKING JUST AS HARD, DOING AS MUCH RESEARCH AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING THOSE SKILLS TO BENEFIT THOSE IN FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH GRADE.

IT IS FUNDING SALARIES AND FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT THESE CHILDREN CAN START FROM AN EARLY AGE ALL THE WAY TO GRADUATION AND COLLEGE.

>> Lou: LIKE YOU SAID, FUNCTIONAL CHANGES THAT WILL HELP PULL US AS A STATE OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF EDUCATION.

>> Wallin: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN BE DOING RIGHT NOW IS PUTTING OUR KIDS FIRST IN EVERY PUBLIC POLICY DECISION THAT WE MAKE.

YOU KNOW, I AM A DATA PERSON.

THERE IS MOUNTAINS OF RESEARCH ABOUT HOW CRITICAL THOSE EARLY YEARS ARE, MOUNTAINS OF RESEARCH ABOUT THE TIES BETWEEN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND HOW IMPORTANT THE TEACHERS ARE FOR SETTING KIDS ON A PATH TO SUCCESS, TO IMPROVING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, PARENTS DON'T NEED A STACK OF RESEARCH PAPERS TO TELL YOU WHAT HAVING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY AND RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND EDUCATION REALLY MEANS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES DON'T NEED CONTROL GROUPS AND THEY DON'T NEED DECADES OF RESEARCH TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN THEIR WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION, THEY THEMSELVES ARE MORE RELIABLE EMPLOYEES.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY COMMON SENSE POLICY BUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO.

1 ON NOVEMBER 8 REALLY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD IN SOME TRANSFORMATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY AS WELL, BECAUSE IF WE ARE GIVING ALL OF OUR KIDS IN THE STATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THRIVE, WE ARE ALSO DOING THAT FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR WORKFORCE, FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR OUR STATE FOR SO MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Lou: AMBER WALLIN, ORIANDI MELLAS, WILHELMINA YAZZIE, THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

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

WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP RIGHT WHERE OUR LAST SEGMENT LEFT OFF TALKING ABOUT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN OUR STATE.

A RECENT LEGISLATIVE BRIEF SHOWS THE STATE HAS REACHED THE FUNDING BENCHMARKS SET IN THE YAZZIE MARTINEZ RULING.

SECURING THAT MONEY WAS STEP 1 OF THE RESPONSE TO THAT LAWSUIT AND NOW YEARS LATER WE HAVE IT, BUT IS THERE ENOUGH DIRECTION, SOPHIE MARTIN, FOR HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE USED?

MEANING IS THERE ENOUGH CLARITY ON THE FRONT END OF THIS.

WE REALLY SEEM TO PUT THE MONEY IN THE POT FIRST AND FIGURE THAT BIT OUT LATER.

>> Sophie: I LOVE THAT YOU POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THERE IS A CERTAIN CART HORSE KIND OF -- DID I SAY THAT IN AN EARLIER SEGMENT, TOO?

MAYBE I DID ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS ENCOURAGING, I THINK, TO SEE THAT WE HAVE NOT JUST MET BUT HAVE EXCEEDED THE ALLOCATION REQUIREMENT SET IN THE LAWSUIT, YOU KNOW, IT IS -- BUT THE DETAILS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY CHALLENGING AND THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY THAT IS ALLOWED WITHIN THE ORDER AND SO IT IS HARD, I THINK, TODAY TO PREDICT -- WELL, LET ME PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I AM PRETTY MUCH SURE THAT I CAN PREDICT THAT WE WON'T, A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, BE, LIKE, OH, THANK GOODNESS, PROBLEM COMPLETELY SOLVED, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS.

IT IS NOT A ONE-TIME FIX AND THE PROBLEMS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ARE DEEPLY ENTRENCHED AND GO BEYOND JUST THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>> Gene: A GOOD POINT AND GOOD REMINDER FOR THIS WHOLE THING.

ALGERNON, MS. YAZZIE MENTIONED THE FRUSTRATION SHE HAS HAD OVER THE TIME IT HAS TAKEN FOR CHANGES SHE FOUGHT FOR.

WHEN SHE STARTED THE LAWSUIT, FOR EXAMPLE, HER ELDEST SON WAS IN THIRD GRADE AND NOW HE IS IN COLLEGE.

THAT UNDERSCORES HOW DEDICATED SHE HAS BEEN TO MAKING CHANGES FOR THE GREATER GOOD, FOR SURE.

HOW LONG IS TOO LONG?

ARE WE LETTING DOWN AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS THESE GROWNUPS TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?

>> Algernon: WHAT COMES TO MIND IS WHEN YOU'RE STEERING A SHIP, EVEN WHEN YOU NEED TO CHANGE COURSE AND YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO HEAD, IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND IT CAN BE MEASURED IN YEARS TO RIGHT THE COURSE.

ADD TO THAT THAT I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT AS A SOCIETY WE DO HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT DIRECTION WE WANT TO HEAD INTO.

AND I THINK THAT WE AS PARENTS AND VOTERS, AS TAXPAYERS AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO REPORT ON EDUCATION, REALLY NEED TO KEEP ASKING THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT EDUCATION TO PRODUCE?

WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST, PRIORITIZING OUR CHILDREN, PREPARING THEM, BUT FOR WHAT?

DO WE THINK OF EDUCATION AS SIMPLY MAKING THEM SORT OF ECONOMICALLY FIT OR IS THERE MORE TO HOW WE WANT PEOPLE TO GROW UP AND BECOME THE KIND OF ADULTS THAT OUR SOCIETY NEEDS TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND THAT IS HARD.

AND WE DEPEND SO MUCH ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR SUCH AN ARRAY OF SERVICES, HOW DO WE REVERSE THESE METRICS THAT ARE SO DISMAL?

WHAT DO WE THINK OF THE METRICS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

WHAT DO WE WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO DO?

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED QUESTION AND ANY COURSE CORRECTION TAKES A GENERATION.

>> Gene: THAT IS FAIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE THERE.

JUSTINE, INTERESTING, THE WINDS BEHIND THIS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL POLL ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1, 69% OF THE PUBLIC IS IN FAVOR.

THAT HAS GOT TO MEAN SOMETHING.

>> Justine: IT DOES BUT LIKE ANYTHING IF YOU TOLD THEM THE SCHOOLS HAVE CARRIED FORWARD HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH BALANCES AND YOU TOLD THEM THAT THEY GOT 1.5 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND YOU TOLD THEM WE HAVE ADDRESSED TEACHER SALARIES AND ADDRESSED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND WE HAVE REALLY ADDRESSED THE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN ADDRESS BY THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM, MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT VIEW, BUT WE DON'T TELL THEM THAT.

WE SAY, AS ALGERNON SAYS, THIS IS FOR THE KIDS.

THIS IS HOW THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX STARTED IN NEW MEXICO.

ONE CENT FOR THE KIDS.

WHO IS GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE KIDS?

NOBODY.

BUT, I THINK WHAT ALGERNON IS SAYING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO ASK SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS AND MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE LOCAL.

MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AT PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES.

YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE DATA THEY ARE GETTING BACK FROM SOME OF THE PILOT PROGRAMS.

THIS IS A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME.

BUT... WE COULD RAISE CASH BALANCES 10 TIMES OVER AND NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.

>> Gene: SOPHIE, FOR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT JUSTINE IS MENTIONING HERE, THE ANNUAL FUND FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS HAS GONE FROM 179 MILLION TO 579 MILLION IN A 10 YEAR PERIOD.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TRUST FUND HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 2020 AND IT IS LOADED WITH MONEY.

YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED MORE MONEY THROUGH CA1?

>> Justine: MEANWHILE IS THERE ONE MORE COUNSELOR OR SOCIAL WORKER ON THE GROUND AT ZUNI?

THERE ARE TANGIBLE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND ARE THEY BEING DONE?

AND THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE SAYS THEY ARE.

>> Sophie: SOMETHING THAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS THIS, YOU KNOW, THESE PROGRAMS ARE NEW.

TO HAVE SEEN THAT INCREASE IN FUNDING OVER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS -- FIRST OF ALL, IT IS STUNNING AND I THINK MANY WOULD AGREE IT IS STUNNING THAT IT TOOK US SO LONG TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BUT IT IS ALSO A REMINDER THAT AS BOTH ALGERNON AND JUSTINE HAVE SAID, IT IS NOT JUST LIKE YOU TURN ON A SPIGOT AND IT HAPPENS.

THERE HAS TO BE PLANNING, JUSTINE SAID, THERE HAS TO BE RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, SO IT IS DIFFICULT AT THIS MOMENT TO SAY WHETHER THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE, WHETHER -- I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHETHER WE NEED MORE FUNDS.

PERHAPS FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD TAKE THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION FROM 5% TO 6.25%.

SO THERE IS A 1.25% CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE DISTRIBUTION.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT SMALL BIT MAY ALSO SORT OF FEEL LIKE, AH, THAT IS NOTHING.

BUT IT IS -- STILL I AM GOING TO REPEAT IT IS MIND BLOWING THAT IT HAS BEEN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

AT THIS POINT I AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY, THOUGH, WE DON'T NEED THIS EXTRA MONEY OR WE DO.

IT IS TOO COMPLEX TO JUST SORT OF, AS HAS BEEN SAID, LIKE JUST VOTE FOR THE CHILDREN, LIKE, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT?

>> Gene: EXACTLY RIGHT.

ALGERNON, I HAVE GOT ONE MINUTE HERE BUT I GOT TO ASK YOU IN THAT MINUTE, WE HEARD ORIANDI MELLAS, TEACHER AT UNM CHILDREN'S CAMPUS, WANTS TEACHERS TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY SOPHIE IS TALKING ABOUT IS DISTRIBUTED.

SHOULD THE STATE CREATE A PANEL OF TEACHERS WHO HAVE SOME SORT OF LEVEL OF AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES TO ALLOCATIONS?

SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE.

>> Algernon: WELL, IF WE CAN'T LET TEACHERS RUN THE SCHOOL OUTRIGHT, IT SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT, WOULDN'T IT?

BUT, YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS EXPRESS DOWN HERE.

WE HAVE THE SECOND AND FOURTH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THIS IS SOMETHING EDUCATORS RAISE ALL THE TIME IS THAT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US GOES UP AND DOWN BUT WE OFTEN FIND OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE AND DON'T GET TO REALLY MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS ABOUT HOW IT IS ALLOCATED.

>> Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO OUR LINE PANELISTS AS ALWAYS.

HEY, BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS, AND THEY WERE GOOD ONES, THAT WE COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES AND CATCH EPISODES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR ROKU OR SMART TV.

>> Laura: HI, I AM LAURA PASKUS, SENIOR PRODUCER OF OUR LAND.

YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR FIELD SEGMENTS AND STUDIO INTERVIEWS BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSON PLANS WE DEVELOPED.

THESE ARE BASED AROUND TOPICS WE COVER RIGHT HERE ON NEW MEXICO PBS.

TOPICS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, WILDLIFE, FIRE, EVEN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS.

THESE LESSON PLANS, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON THE PBS LEARNING MEDIA SITE, MEET NATIONAL AND STATE STANDARDS, SO, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD VIDEOS, STUDENT HANDOUTS, FIND ADDITIONAL DATA AND EXPLORE ALL SORTS OF LESSON PLANS.

THESE ARE LESSON PLANS AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES THAT HELP CONNECT NEW MEXICO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM.

FIND OUT MORE ONLINE.

>> Gene: MUCH THANKS TO THE MEN FOR THE NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE FOR THEIR TIME WITH ME THIS WEEK FOR OUR MIDWEEK FACEBOOK LIVE CONVERSATION.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT AND TIMELY EFFORT AS REVEREND BECKNELL MENTIONED, SMALL NUMBERS ACTING IN UNISON CAN GET RESULTS AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO STATE-WIDE COULD USE SOME RESULTS, PARTICULARLY ON THE ISSUE AREAS MENTIONED IN THE INTERVIEW, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

NOW, AT THIS POINT, THE COMMUNITY IS WITHIN ITS ELECTORAL RIGHTS TO START MAKING SOME DEMANDS OF OUR ELECTED FOLKS ON THESE ISSUES BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR OUTCOMES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION, WE CANNOT EXPECT BETTER RESULTS FROM INDIFFERENT POLICYMAKERS.

AS I MENTIONED TO THE GROUP, THE TIME MAY BE RIGHT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO EITHER MAKE OR BREAK A CANDIDATE TO GET SOME MOVEMENT ON THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE VOTING DAY, THAT IS HONESTLY THE ONLY CARD WE HAVE LEFT TO PLAY.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.

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