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

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, PERSPECTIVES  ON AFGHANISTAN AS THE STATE READIES REFUGEES ESCAPING THE  TALIBAN.

Akbar: THEY WILL NOT OBEY  BY THEIR OWN WORDS.

THEY DO NOT STICK TO THEIR OWN  WORDS.

Gene:   AND A REVEALING LOOK AT THE STATES CONTINUING  EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE YAZZI MARTINEZ EDUCATION LAWSUIT.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

THAT LOOK AT THE YAZZI  MARTINEZ RESPONSE COMES IN THE FORM OF A DRAFT DOCUMENT THAT  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED ON THIS WEEK.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL OFFER THOUGHTS A BIT LATER.

ALSO TALK TO WHAT IS AHEAD FOR WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AS  FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT EXPIRES.

WE BEGIN WITH SOMETHING THAT  BROKE LATE LAST WEEK.

NEW MEXICO IS LOOKING AT A  MASSIVE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

HERE IS THE LINE.

WELL, ECONOMIC FORECASTS  HARDLY GET SUNNIER THAN A 1.4 BILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS  PREDICTED FOR THE NEXT STATE BUDGET.

NOW COMING OFF THE PANDEMIC RECESSION IT IS NOT THE KIND  OF RAPID REBOUND WE ARE USED TO IN NEW MEXICO.

HERE TO TALK THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS IS OUR LINE  OPINION PANEL.

WE WELCOME A NEW FACE TO OR VIRTUAL GROUP THIS WEEK, IT IS  REBECCA LATHAM.

FORMER HEAD OF THE NEW MEXICO  TOURISM DEPARTMENT UNDER GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ.

SHE IS CURRENTLY CEO OF GIRL SCOUTS OF NEW MEXICO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, REBECCA.

ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERT EDMUND PEREA IS WITH US  THIS WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS, ED.

AND ONE OF OUR LINE REGULARS, ATTORNEY SOPHIE MARTIN RETURNS  AS WELL.

SOPHIE, I'LL START WITH YOU.

ECONOMISTS SAY, YES, THIS IS OIL AND GAS REVENUE THEY ARE  PROJECTING BUT ALSO WE ARE SEEING MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL  CONSUMER SPENDING.

VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

SIMPLE QUESTION.

ARE EITHER OF THOSE THINGS  SUSTAINABLE?

Sophie: WELL, THE QUESTION  OF OIL AND GAS, WHETHER THAT IS SUSTAINABLE IN NEW MEXICO,  WE HAVE SEEN THOSE FLUCTUATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

YOU KNOW OUR ATTEMPTS TO PROGNOSTICATE OVER THAT HAVE  SELDOM GONE WELL, BUT 40 SOMETHING PERCENT OF OUR  REVENUES EACH YEAR IS WHAT WE USUALLY SEE WITH OIL AND GAS  AND SO I GUESS LUCKY FOR US THIS TIME.

I FRANKLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT BUT I  AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS BASED ON TAX  REVENUE AND CONSUMER SPENDING HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SHOW ABOUT  SOME CHANGES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN THOSE AREAS BUT,  REALLY, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE  IT DOES SOUND LIKE A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM FEDERAL  REVENUES THAT OUR LOCALS ARE SPENDING HERE AND THOSE MIGHT  NOT CONTINUE.

WE'LL SEE AS COVID CONTINUES  WHETHER THAT MONEY CONTINUES.

Gene: REBECCA, OIL PRICES  THEY ARE ALL INHERENTLY, AS SOPHIE MENTIONED, UNSTABLE  SOURCES OF INCOME.

THEY GO UP, THEY GO DOWN.

BUT HERE IS THE QUESTION.

ARE THERE FUNDAMENTAL  QUESTIONS TO THE NEW MEXICO ECONOMY THAT WE MIGHT BE  MISSING HERE?

Latham: OVERALL.

LET ME SAY I AM STOKED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT THERE  IS MORE MONEY IN THE FUTURE.

IT IS LIKE FINDING MONEY IN  YOUR POCKET THAT YOU FORGOT WAS THERE.

NEW UNEXPECTED MONEY IS GREAT.

Gene: THIS IS LIKE A  100-DOLLAR BILL IN YOUR POCKET.

Latham: LIKE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT.

ARE WE GOING TO INVEST IT OR ARE WE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE  CASINO.

LIKE, WHAT IS THE PLAN HERE?

THAT IS WHERE I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT HESITANT.

I AM  HESITANT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AND I AM ALSO MAKING THIS  PHASE WITH EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO IS TAKING CREDIT  FOR IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY NUMEROUS ELECTED  OFFICIALS COME OUT AND SAY, LIKE, HECK YEAH, WE HAVE  1.4 BILLION EXTRA DOLLARS AS A RESULT OF SOUND FISCAL POLICY.

BUT, DOES IT SOUND LIKE, SOUND FISCAL POLICY TO INVEST  $100,000 TO RECRUIT ONE NEW STATE POLICE OFFICER, BECAUSE  THAT IS WHAT THE PROPOSAL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT TOGETHER,  HER PROPOSAL TO INVEST 100 MILLION-DOLLARS TO HIRE  1000 NEW OFFICERS IS WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.

AND WE ARE, INDEED, IN A CRIME CRISIS BUT WE NEED MORE LAW  ENFORCEMENT -- THROWING THAT KIND OF MONEY AROUND WITH  1.4 BILLION IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE THAT IS  CAUSING OUR CURRENT OFFICERS TO RETIRE OR JUST WALK AWAY  ENTIRELY.

NOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES  DOWN TO -- Gene: I DO WANT TO COME  BACK AND HANDLE THAT SEPARATELY, THE LAW  ENFORCEMENT SIDE.

THAT IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE YOUR TIME ON THAT TOO.

LET ME GET TO ED HERE REAL QUICK.

I WANT TO POINT OUT, ED, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE MONEY SKIMMED  OFF THE TOP, SO TO SPEAK, ESTIMATED 1 1/2 BILLION INTO  THE RAINY DAY FUND.

SO, WHAT IS THE MOST PRUDENT  APPROACH HERE?

SPEND IT ALL ON ONE-TIME  PROJECTS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE OR MAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAM  CHANGES, PAY RAISES.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS, AS  REBECCA WAS HINTING AT, THAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS MONEY.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY IN YOUR VIEW?

Edmund: WHENEVER I HEARD, AS I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER  AGAIN WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN THE  STATE IS FLUSH WITH CASH.

IT RAISES A LOT OF RED FLAGS.

WHENEVER YOU SEE THIS ABUNDANCE OF NEW MONEY THERE  IS ALWAYS THIS TENDENCY TO GO OUT AND MAYBE ENJOY IT A  LITTLE MORE THAN YOU SHOULD.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST  IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS FLUSH  OF FUNDS IS WE NEED SOME OVERSIGHT.

YOU KNOW.

WHATEVER THE ORGANIZATION IS  WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT HOW THIS MONEY  IS SPENT AND NOT TREAT THIS MONEY AS EXTRA MONEY TO DO A  LOT OF FUN STUFF.

YOU KNOW, EXORBITANT PAY  RAISES OR THINGS OF THAT SORT.

WE NEED TO KEEP A LID ON  CERTAIN THINGS.

I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A  PRIORITY AND PRIORITIES NEED TO BE THOSE THINGS THAT MAYBE  WE HAVE OVERLOOKED IN THE PAST OR THOSE THAT HAVE MUCH  GREATER NEED SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE REAL ISSUES WITH THE ROADS IN NEW MEXICO AND WE  NEED TO PUT CERTAIN THINGS ON TOP OF THE LIST AND BE VERY  CAREFUL WITH RECURING EXPENSES.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS, ADDRESS AS MANY ONE-TIME  EXPENSES AS WE CAN OFF THE TOP AND THEN MAYBE START TO LOOK A  LITTLE MORE AT SOME OF THE RECURING EXPENSES.

WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE AS ALREADY HAS BEEN  MENTIONED BY SOPHIE AND REBECCA, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ITS  UPS AND DOWNS AND WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY AWARE OF THAT.

NOT SPEND LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO USE A TERM LIKE A DRUNKEN  SAILOR.

Gene:   LET ME ASK YOU THIS, SOPHIE, WIDEN THE LENS A  LITTLE BIT.

IS IT REALLY THE STATE'S JOB  TO ADDRESS CRIME ISSUES IN WHAT BASICALLY SEEMS TO BE  ALBUQUERQUE?

Sophie: YOU KNOW, THIS  GOVERNOR HAS MADE EFFORTS IN THAT DIRECTION BY UTILIZING  THE STATE POLICE, SO, I MEAN, TO BE CLEAR I DON'T THINK THAT  REBECCA WAS UNCLEAR IN THIS, BUT SHE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT  PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT BEEFING UP THE STATE POLICE AND USING  SOME OF THAT RESOURCE, THAT OPPORTUNITY, TO HELP OUT IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

I THINK, THOUGH, THAT IT IS AN  INTERESTING TIME FOR US BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A REALLY  HORRIBLE YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

I THINK THE STATE EMPLOYEES, WE  WANT TO TRY TO KEEP STATE EMPLOYEES WORKING AND  TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE NOT BEEN GREAT ABOUT GIVING RAISES FOR  PUBLIC SERVANTS.

I PERSONALLY SORT OF AS A RULE  OF THUMB, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MONEY SPENT IN THE STATE BY  FOLKS WHO ARE THEN GOING TO TURN AROUND AND SPEND IT WITH  SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO TURN IT AROUND AND SPEND IT IN THE  STATE.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS  CAN BE LIKE THAT WHERE WE SEE THE BENEFIT OF THE WORK AND  ALSO SEE THE BENEFIT OF THE MONEY CIRCULATING WITHIN OUR  ECONOMY AND MY HOPE, AGAIN, JUST AS A RULE OF THUMB, THAT  THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THIS GOVERNMENT.

Gene: PRIORITIES, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE.

I GO BACK TO ONE OF YOUR ORIGINAL POINTS REBECCA.

THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME ISSUES HERE.

YOU TOOK NOTE, GOVERNOR'S PLAN FOR 100 MILLION OF THE SURPLUS  TO GO TOWARDS THAT AND MENTIONED A SECOND AGO WHEN  YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT IS A  DROP IN THE BUCKET.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FOR  A NUMBER?

YOU HAVE A BACK OF THE  ENVELOPE NUMBER PERSONALLY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE  SPENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE?

Latham: I THINK WE NEED TO  ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT ARE PLAGUING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN  OUR STATE BEFORE WE START TO JUST SAY, LIKE, LET'S THROW  MORE MONEY AT IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD BE HARD  PRESSED TO FIND ANOTHER NEW MEXICAN WHO SUPPORTS LAW  ENFORCEMENT AS MUCH AS I DO.

I LOVE AND APPRECIATE EVERY  ONE OF OUR OFFICERS SO MUCH BUT WHAT WE SEE AT THE  ALBUQUERQUE LEVEL.

WE HAVE SEEN A MAYOR WHO HAS  TOLD US OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LIKE, WE ARE GOING TO HIRE  MORE POLICE.

WE ARE GOING TO HIRE MORE  POLICE.

WE ARE BUDGETED FOR MORE  POLICE.

WE WERE BUDGETED FOR MORE  POLICE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO A  GROSS RECEIPTS TAX INCREASE, TO HIRE MORE POLICE.

WE ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO HIRE MORE POLICE.

CLEARLY MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN THOSE FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN  FULLY EXPENDED ON MORE POLICE, WHERE DO THEY GO?

THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY DON'T GO WHERE THEY WERE  ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO GO TO HIRE MORE POLICE.

TO ME IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

WE KEEP DOING THE SAME THING AND WE ARE GOING TO FIX  THE CRIME CRISIS.

I FULLY SUPPORT OUR STATE  POLICE.

I SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE OUR  GOVERNOR TAKING SOME BOLD STEPS TO SAY, LIKE, SHE WANTS  TO OVERHAUL THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO.

THAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE CAN RELY ON MORE POLICE TO FIX  THE PROBLEM.

WHEN I DID THAT MAC, YOU KNOW,  100,000 INVESTMENT FOR EACH OFFICER, IT IS NOT JUST LIKE  THAT IS JUST NOT SALARIES, I KNOW, BUT THAT IS AN INSANE  AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, YOU  KNOW, BEFORE THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF  WORK TO DO.

Gene: LET ME BRING YOU IN  ON THIS ONE.

IT IS INTERESTING WE HAVE HAD  THAT CONVERSATION HERE AT THE TABLE SO TO SPEAK BEFORE.

BUT, BAIL REFORM IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A  CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I AM GUESS IN THE CONTEXT OF  THIS, WITH ALL THIS MONEY, IS THIS MONEY ENOUGH TO KICK  FORWARD ALL THE THINGS THAT REBECCA AND SOPHIE HAVE BEEN  TALKING ABOUT HERE?

IT IS A MULTI-PRONGED PROBLEM.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT  THE LACK OF MONEY ON THE DEFENSE SIDE OF THE ISSUE.

FOLKS HAVE BEEN SCREAMING FOR MONEY ON THAT SIDE OF THE DEAL  HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

SO, WHAT IS THE DEAL HERE WITH  BAIL REFORM?

DO WE NEED TO GET AFTER THAT  FIRST BEFORE WE CAN GET AFTER ALL THESE OTHER CRIME PROBLEMS  AS WELL?

Edmund: I THINK THERE ARE  MULTIPLE PARTS TO THIS ENTIRE ISSUE.

BAIL REFORM IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.

THERE WAS THIS IDEA AND THIS GOAL FOR PASSING THIS BAIL  REFORM AND NOW IT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED.

I THINK WE ARE REALIZING IT IS NOT PERFECT AND THERE IS  THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

I THINK SOME MODIFICATIONS NEED TO BE MADE.

THAT BEING SAID, I AM NOT SO SURE BASED UPON THE DATA THAT  I HAVE SEEN, IS THAT THIS BAIL REFORM, THIS CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT RECENTLY PASSED IS REALLY THE PROBLEM.

WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE CRIME CRISIS, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY  THE PROBLEM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE POINTING OUT AS  THIS BILL REFORM AS THE PROBLEM.

BUT IF YOU TALK TO OTHERS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND YOU LOOK AT  THE NUMBERS, THIS BILL REFORM ISN'T A MAJOR CAUSAL FACTOR TO  THE CRIME THAT WE HAVE BUT THAT DOESN'T SAY WE CAN'T  ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER.

REBECCA AND SOPHIE ARE RIGHT ON THE POINT WHEN IT COMES TO  HOW WE SPEND MONEY AND WE CAN'T THROW MONEY AT PROBLEMS  AND MY CONCERN ALWAYS IS, LET'S PUT A MILLION OUT THERE  FOR 1000 MORE OFFICERS AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THAT.

AS REBECCA MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CAREER  ATTRACTIVE.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS, WE  DON'T HAVE AS MANY INDIVIDUALS AS WE USED TO WANTING TO BE  POLICE OFFICERS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MONEY IS THE  ANSWER.

Gene: THAT IS A POINT.

SOPHIE, REAL QUICK.

I AM SUPER CURIOUS,  POLITICALLY THE NEXT SESSION IS GOING TO BE THE GOVERNOR'S  LAST BIG WHACK OF POLICY GOING INTO THE REELECTION.

IS IT GOING TO BE ALL CRIME AND CRIME STUFF?

I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT WE SHOULD  EXPECT?

Sophie: TAKING A STEP BACK  AND SPEAKING FROM MORE -- SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE  UPCOMING ELECTIONS, RIGHT, CRIME HAS NOT TRADITIONALLY  BEEN THE TOPIC THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE SOUGHT TO RUN UNDER.

IT IS SEEN AS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ACHILLES HEEL.

TO THE EXTENT THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO ME CAN TRY TO ADDRESS  THE ACHILLES HEEL, GREAT, BUT MY SUSPICION IS HER STRONGER  CASE IS FOR PROGRAMS THAT HELP TO LIFT UP NEW MEXICANS AS  OPPOSED TO -- I DON'T THINK SHE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO  IGNORE IT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE SHE WOULD BUT  I THINK SHE WANTS TO PIVOT TO SOMETHING MORE POSITIVE AND  THIS MONEY MAYBE GIVES HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

Gene: WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

WE WILL BE BACK IN A FEW  MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE END OF THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT  BOOSTS.

Tam Le: UNDERSTANDING WHERE  THE COUNTRY WAS AND WHERE IT IS NOW AND ACTUALLY  UNDERSTANDING THAT, IT COULD BE GOING BACK TO WHAT IT WAS  AND LOSING ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FEARING  NOW.

Gene: AS AFGHAN REFUGEES  BEGIN TO ARRIVE IN NEW MEXICO, THERE ARE A HOST OF  ORGANIZATIONS READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

OF COURSE, MILITARY BASES LIKE HOLLOMAN AND FORT BLISS ARE  THE FIRST STOP BUT THERE ARE AID GROUPS BOTH FAITH BASED  AND NOT AND ALSO A GROWING AFGHAN COMMUNITY.

CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING MY FACEBOOK  LIVE SESSIONS RIGHT NOW.

I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH TWO  PEOPLE LOOKING TO CONNECT INCOMING FAMILIES WITH  SERVICES RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

WE WELCOME JEFF HALL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS MANAGER  FOR LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES.

APPRECIATE HIS TIME.

AND MULA AKBAR.

HE IS THE OWNER OF CAFE  ISTANBUL, ONE OF THE BETTER RESTAURANTS IN ALBUQUERQUE,  I'LL JUST SAY, BUT ALSO A REFUGEE FROM AFGHANISTAN  HIMSELF.

WE'LL TALK TO HIM IN A LITTLE  BIT.

TALK TO YOU, JEFF, REAL QUICK.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW,  BASICALLY, THE FEEDBACK WE ARE GETTING.

HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK?

WHEN AN AFGHAN REFUGEE COMES  HERE, WHAT DOES LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES THEN DO TO GET  FOLKS SETTLED HERE IN NEW MEXICO?

HALL: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO WE HAVE BEEN RESETTLING REFUGEES AT LEAST HERE IN  ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO AT LARGE SINCE 2012.

AND KIND OF HOW THAT LOOKS LIKE IS WHENEVER THEY COME  HERE, WE GREET THEM AT THE AIRPORT AND THEN WE ARE  BASICALLY ASSISTING THEM WITH ALL OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS FROM  THAT POINT ON.

THAT IS HOUSING,  TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, LINKING THEM WITH DIFFERENT  COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE  THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN.

AND ULTIMATELY HELP GUIDE THEM TOWARDS SELF SUFFICIENCY AND  WHATEVER THAT MEANS FOR THEIR SITUATION.

Gene: JEFF, WHAT DO MOST FOLKS COME WITH AS A REFUGEE?

IS IT COMPLETELY EMPTY HANDED?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT FOLKS  COME WITH IN YOUR EXPERIENCE?

Hall: FOR THE MOST PART  THEY COME WITH VERY LITTLE, IF ANYTHING.

REFUGEES ARE COMING SOMETIMES WITH BAGS OF CLOTHES, THINGS  THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM TO THE AIRPORT.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE, IF ANYTHING AT  ALL, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO  BRING WITH THEM.

Gene: I AM WONDERING IF  MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE PART OF THE GAME HERE BECAUSE  AS AKBAR MENTIONED, THIS IS A TRAUMATIC TIME.

YOU CAN'T PLOP SOMEONE IN THE U.S. AND EXPECT IT TO ALL WORK  OUT.

ARE THERE SERVICES IN THAT  REGARD?

Hall: YES, AND THANK YOU  FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS, THE  SERVICES WE TRY TO PROVIDE TO CLIENTS AS THEY COME HERE  BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HAVING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN A HEALTHY  PLACE LEADS TO THAT SELF SUFFICIENCY AND THAT ABILITY  TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER IN WHATEVER COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE  IN.

WE DO WORK WITH COMMUNITY  PARTNERS AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO  DO SO.

I DEFINITELY FEEL A SENSE OF  PRIDE TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT IS SO  WELCOMING.

Gene: WHAT IS YOUR HEART  RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN AFGHANISTAN?

Akbar: REALLY, IT SUNK MY HEART WHEN I HEARD IT THIS  MORNING.

I HEARD IT THROUGH A FRIENDS,  LONG BEFORE THE MEDIA KNEW ABOUT IT.

A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS IN THE SITUATION WHERE A NUMBER OF  OTHER AFGHANS WHO HONORABLY SERVED WITH THE U.S.  INSTITUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE CALLED ME THIS MORNING.

HE WAS IN THE VICINITY AND TRYING TO FIND OUT IF HE CAN  GET ONTO THE BASE, SO, LUCKILY HE WAS FURTHER AWAY FROM  THE BLAST, BUT HE'S THE ONE THAT CALLED ME AND SAID, HEY,  MAN, THERE IS A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION HERE.

HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW THE CASUALTIES BUT IT IS GOING TO  BE IN THE 10'S, IF NOT THOUSANDS, BECAUSE OF THIS  HUGE CROWD OF PEOPLE.

WHEN I HEARD IT MY HEART, MY  LEGS, MY HANDS ARE LIKE START SHAKING, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH  CAN THESE PEOPLE ENDURE ON A DAILY BASIS, ON AN HOURLY  BASES.

EXTREMELY SAD.

EXTREMELY HEART BROKEN.

Gene: DO YOU FEEL AMERICANS  UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT THE TALIBAN IS?

DO YOU FEEL WE KNOW DEEPLY OVER HERE OR IS THERE  SOMETHING MISSING IN OUR UNDERSTANDING AS FAR AS YOU  ARE CONCERNED?

Akbar: IF I   CAN BE FRANK WITH YOU, SIR, I WORK FOR OUR  GOVERNMENT FOR 10 YEARS AS A DIPLOMATE, TRAVELED BACK AND  FORTH TO AFGHANISTAN, AND I WORKED FOR THE U.S. EMBASSY.

THAT 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT I KNOW AND KNOWING, YOU  KNOW, I STILL HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND  OTHERS, I TELL THEM ALL ALONG, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT THEY  DO NOT OBEY BY THEIR OWN WORD.

THEY DO NOT STICK TO THEIR OWN  WORDS.

THEY WILL TELL YOU AT THE  MOMENT BASED ON WHAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO GET THE  ATTENTION OF THE AMERICANS.

ESPECIALLY AMERICAN OFFICIALS.

AND I HAVE TOLD A NUMBER OF TIMES, MANY OCCASIONS, SAY,  LOOK, THEY JUST GIVING YOU LITERALLY SOME HOT AIR AND  NOTHING TO BE TRUSTED.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT  TRUSTWORTHY.

Gene: SO WHEN A  SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TRUST US, SHOULD  WE?

Akbar: NOT, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE EARLY 90'S.

YOU GO BACK IN THEIR HISTORY.

THEY MADE 1000 -- MORE THAN  THAT -- DIFFERENT PROMISES TO THE AFGHAN PEOPLE AND YET THE  VERY NEXT HOUR THEY WENT BACK AND LITERALLY DESTROYED THAT  PROMISE.

SO, JUST PUT THE WOOL, THE  CLOTHING OF A SHEEP, DOES NOT MAKE THEM A SHEEP.

NO MATTER HOW THEY LOOK.

THAT IS SAD REALITY OF THE  SITUATION AND WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES.

OUR AMERICAN POLITICIANS, THEY ARE NOT NAIVE BUT I DON'T KNOW  WHAT IS BEHIND IT.

THEY KNEW BETTER THAN THIS.

Gene: IS IT YOUR VIEW THAT IN ORDER TO FIX WHAT WE HAVE  GOT NOW, DO YOU THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK IN WITH  COALITION FORCES AND HAVE A FIGHT ON OUR HANDS TO GET ALL  THE AFGHANS WE NEED TO GET OUT WHO HAVE HELPED THE U.S. OVER  TIME?

Akbar: YOU KNOW, HONESTLY,  THIS IS FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, SIR, KNOWING WHAT  I KNOW, WORKED IN THAT COUNTRY, KNOWING THE CULTURE  AND KNOWING THESE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR  OVER A BETTER PART OF TWO DECADES.

I THINK THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.

THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN AGAIN MAKING THAT  ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SACRIFICE BY THE WESTERN GOVERNMENT, LED  BY THE UNITED STATES TO GO BACK AND CLEAN THIS UP.

WILL THAT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS GOING TO BE DEPENDING ON OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE  POLITICIANS.

Gene: HOW BIG IS THE AFGHAN  COMMUNITY HERE?

I AM CURIOUS.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN GROW OVER YOUR TIME HERE?

Akbar: IT HAS GROWN.

BACK IN THE MID 90'S, WE WERE  ABOUT 52, MAYBE 70 FAMILIES.

NOW, I WANT TO SAY CLOSE TO  400 FAMILIES OR MORE.

IT HAS DEFINITELY GROWN QUITE  A BIT.

Gene:   WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

I MEAN, BESIDES THE OBVIOUS NEED TO GET OUT OF  AFGHANISTAN.

WHY ALBUQUERQUE?

WHY ARE WE SO ATTRACTIVE?

Akbar: I THINK A NUMBER OF  ISSUES.

I THINK, NO.

1, PEOPLE WHEN  THEY COME IN AND THEY KNEW SOMEONE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF  THE COUNTRY, THEY TEND TO GATHER AROUND THOSE  INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE, NO.

1, YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE.

YOU KNOW THE WAYS AROUND.

THEY CAN CALL UPON YOU AND  SAY, HEY, HOW DO I DO THIS, HOW DO I DO THAT.

THAT MAKES THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

NO.

2, IN CERTAIN WAYS, ALBUQUERQUE RESEMBLES CERTAIN  PARTS OF AFGHANISTAN.

NOT KABUL, BECAUSE KABUL IS A  MUCH HIGHER ELEVATION BUT OTHER PARTS OF AFGHANISTAN,  LIKE THE SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN IS VERY FLAT DESERT, HOT,  NORTH PART OF THE NORTH IS LIKE THAT.

SO, SOME FEELS LIKE THIS IS MORE LIKE HOME.

OTHERS FEEL LIKE BEING CLOSE TO SOMEONE THEY KNOW THEY  TRUST, MAKES THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

AND OTHER TIMES THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT SIMPLY DON'T  HAVE ROOM.

YOU KNOW, WHOEVER CAN BE ABLE  TO WELCOME THESE FOLKS AND PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO SO.

OUR STATE LEADERSHIP HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELCOMING.

FOR THAT WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL.

Gene: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING PERSONALLY  AT THE SHOP?

ARE YOU DOING VOLUNTEER STUFF  AT CAFE ISTANBUL?

I AM CURIOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING  IN YOUR STORE.

HAS IT BECOME A CENTERPIECE  FOR FOLKS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS?

Akbar: I HAVEN'T.

I HAVEN'T DONE YET BUT I HAVE  BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT, TO SET UP AND TALK TO THE  COMMUNITY, AFGHAN COMMUNITY HERE, AND MAYBE SET UP A PLACE  WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND TALK ABOUT, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW,  COME AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, LUTHERAN SERVICES  OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO  ACCESS TO THOSE SO WE CAN REFER TO THEM OR SAY, HERE IS  A NUMBER, OR HERE IS ADDRESS SO FOLKS -- IN ADDITION TO  THAT, FIND A WAY TO ASK MY COMMUNITY AND OTHERS HERE,  SAY, HEY, WE ARE ACCEPTING DONATIONS AT MAYBE FURNITURE  FOR THE HOUSE OR COOK WARE FOR THE KITCHEN THAT KIND OF  STUFF.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT  THAT.

BUT I HAVEN'T STARTED IT.

I THINK WE MAY START THAT HOPEFULLY IN THE VERY NEAR  FUTURE.

Gene: I HAVE GOT A LAST  QUESTION FOR YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE RUNNING A  BUSINESS THERE.

YOU HAVE GOT TO GET BACK TO  IT.

I CAN'T HELP BUT BE EXCITED  FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES AND HAVING  AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN BUILDING TOWARDS  DOING IN ALL THESE PAST FEW YEARS BEFORE THESE TALIBAN  FOLKS ARE GOING TO COME IN AND RUIN EVERYTHING.

I AM CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO WOMEN, AFGHAN WOMEN, WHO ARE HERE IN  THE STATES OR HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, I SHOULD SAY,  ABOUT THAT?

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IS A  BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY.

Akbar: CERTAINLY.

WE HAD A SMALL RALLY.

THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY HAD A  SMALL RALLY THIS PAST SATURDAY AT THE CIVIC PLAZA.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF YOUNG WOMEN AND THEY EXPRESSED THEIR  THOUGHTS.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE  OPTIMISTIC, HOPEFULLY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO  CAN GET OUT AND FOR THOSE YOUNG WOMEN, THEY CAN, NOW,  ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, ACHIEVE WHO THEY WANTED TO BE.

RATHER THAN BEING FORCED TO STAY HOME, BE A HOUSEWIFE OR,  YOU KNOW, SOME MEANINGLESS JOB OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL FOR  THOSE FOLKS, THE YOUNG LADIES THAT ARE COMING AND HOPEFULLY,  WHO KNOWS, MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD THEY CAN GO BACK AND  CONTRIBUTE BACK TO THE AFGHAN SOCIETY AS WELL.

SO, WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC  ABOUT THAT.

Gene: I LOVE THAT.

THAT IS A GREAT FINAL NOTE.

MULA AKBAR, OWNER OF CAFE  ISTANBUL, AFGHAN REFUGEE WHO HAS BEEN HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE  FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR  TIME.

Edmund:   WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A  DECADE.

I REMEMBER HAVING  CONVERSATIONS CLOSE TO A DECADE AGO ABOUT HOW WE ARE  GOING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

WE ARE LOOKING POST LAWSUIT,  SAY, WELL, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE STUDENTS WHO NEED THE HELP,  MANY OF THEM ARE PROBABLY 18, 20 YEARS OLD.

WE JUST MISSED THE BOAT AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO HELP  THOSE WHO ARE UP AND COMING.

Gene: THIS WEEKEND WILL BE  ANYTHING BUT A HOLIDAY FOR THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS AS  PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COME TO AN END ON SATURDAY.

THOSE HIT HARDEST WILL BE THE SELF-EMPLOYED, CONTRACT  WORKERS AND SO-CALLED GIG EMPLOYEES.

DESPITE ENCOURAGING BUDGET NEWS, NEW MEXICO IS STILL  AMONG THE WORST STATES WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE STATE HAS GAINED BACK JUST 44% OF ITS PRE-PANDEMIC JOBS.

MANY OF WHICH ARE IN THOSE GROUPS I JUST MENTIONED.

THAT LOSS IS ABOUT 300 DOLLARS A WEEK.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION?

WILL PEOPLE GET OFF THE  SIDELINES, SO TO SPEAK, AND FILL THOSE VACANCIES QUICKLY  OR ARE WE HEADED FOR A CRASH OF SOME SORT?

Edmund: WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT THIS.

THERE ARE REALLY TWO TYPES OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE STILL  RECEIVING BENEFITS.

THIS IS JUST ANECDOTAL  INFORMATION.

I READ STORIES ABOUT THOSE  INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN A VERY DIFFICULT  POSITION ONCE THIS BENEFIT ENDS.

THEY WILL STRUGGLE, AS YOU MENTIONED, SELF-EMPLOYED, ARE  ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

BUT, AGAIN, ANECDOTALLY, WE  HEAR THE STORIES OUT THERE ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T  WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK OR ARE HESITANT BECAUSE THEY MAKE  MORE MONEY WITH THESE BENEFITS.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO DIVIDE UP WHEN THESE BENEFITS END, I  THINK, MAYBE IT WILL FORCE A FEW MORE PEOPLE INTO MANY OF  THESE JOB OPENINGS THAT EXIST OUT THERE.

SO, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK CLOSER AT THOSE WHO FALL INTO  THESE EXCEPTIONAL CATEGORIES.

THOSE WHO ARE MAKING EVERY  EFFORT THEY CAN TO WORK BUT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MAKING  IT DIFFICULT.

I TEND TO THINK THAT IS THE  MINORITY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REALLY AFFECTED BY IT.

BUT, OF COURSE, WE WOULD NEED MORE STATISTICAL DATA TO FIND  OUT EXACTLY WHERE THESE PEOPLE STAND.

I AM SURE IF YOU TALK TO THE WORKERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE  BEEN OUT SINCE THE ECONOMY HAS OPENED UP, THEY ARE PROBABLY  ELATED TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE HELP.

I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PRESSURED WORKING A LOT OF  OVERTIME AND THEY PROBABLY CAN USE A LITTLE HELP TOO.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO HELP THE ECONOMY.

THERE ARE BUSINESSES WHO ARE ONLY OPEN PART-TIME BECAUSE  THEY DON'T HAVE THE WORKERS.

SO BRINGING MORE WORKERS INTO  THIS WORKFORCE WITH ALL THE AVAILABLE JOBS, I THINK, IS  REALLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE ECONOMY.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

REBECCA, THE NARRATIVE HAS  BEEN THAT IF YOU REMOVE BENEFITS, MORE PEOPLE WILL GET  JOBS.

BUT DATA FROM THE FINANCIAL  DEPARTMENT AND OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES, PAYROLL COMPANIES  THAT I HAVE SEEN, SHOW THAT ANY INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT IS  SMALL AND IT DOESN'T COUNTERACT LACK OF SPENDING  THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FEDERAL BOOST GOES AWAY.

LOW INCOME PEOPLE SPEND LESS AND THEY ARE ONLY MARGINALLY  MORE LIKELY TO GET A JOB IF WE THINK ABOUT IT.

THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR US WHEN YOU ADD ALL THOSE THINGS  TOGETHER.

Latham: NO, IF YOU ARE  LOOKING AT, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, THE NEW MONEY, A LOT  OF THAT NEW MONEY IS COMING AS A RESULT OF THE EXPANSION OF  THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

SO IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO  NEW MEXICO THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR OWN AND  GENERATE MORE TAX REVENUE THAT GOES INTO THE BOTTOM LINE.

AS FAR AS DO WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT OR WHAT THE RIGHT  ANSWER IS, I AM WITH ED, I HAVE HAD TO RELY ON EMPLOYMENT  BEFORE AS HAS MY HUSBAND, AND TO FEEL ANYTHING OTHER THAN  COMPLETE SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY, GENUINELY  LOOKING FOR WORK, IT IS JUST WRONG BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE  PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO AREN'T EVEN TRYING AND THERE ARE  JOBS, GOOD JOBS, THAT CAN'T BE FILLED DESPITE HOW MANY PEOPLE  ARE LOOKING FOR WORK.

YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED WITH US.

WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES FOR A FULL-TIME JOB  WITH ROOM AND BOARD ASKED IF THEY COULD ACCEPT THE JOB IN  SEPTEMBER WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RAN OUT.

THIS WAS IN JUNE.

WE DO KNOW IT IS REAL.

I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE TO MAKE A GENERALIZATION THAT EVERYONE  IS NOT LOOKING, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THEY ARE LOOKING.

THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.

Gene: SOPHIE, DO THINK  THERE IS NATURALLY GOING TO BE SOME HEARTBURN AMONG PEOPLE  WHO HAVE HAD A ROUGH GO OF IT DURING COVID BUT HAVE BEEN  ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITHOUT UNEMPLOYMENT?

I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS, UBER DRIVERS, FOR  EXAMPLE.

JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION  JUST THE OTHER NIGHT.

IS THAT LIKELY OR MAYBE A  REASONABLE DYNAMIC, DO YOU THINK?

Sophie: I THINK IT IS A TOUGH DYNAMIC RIGHT NOW.

YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AND WHO ARE ELECTING  POTENTIALLY TO WORK JOBS THAT WOULD GIVE THEM LESS THAN  UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK  IS NOTABLE IS REALLY, I MEAN IT IS A LOCAL CONVERSATION BUT  ALSO A NATIONWIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE VALUE OF WORK AND  WHAT WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES AND I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING  LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE DATA HERE IN NEW MEXICO SHOWS  THAT STATE-WIDE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR JOBS THAT OFFER MORE THAN  $60,000 A YEAR INCREASED 13.6% SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR,  BUT EMPLOYMENT IN JOBS MAKING LESS THAN $27,000 DECREASED.

SO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE NOT NECESSARILY APPLES TO  APPLES BUT I MEAN I THINK WHEN YOU THINK OF THE 27,000 DOLLAR  A YEAR JOB THE DIFFICULTY THAT SOME BUSINESSES ARE HAVING IN  FILLING THOSE JOBS, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT COSTS MONEY TO  WORK.

IF YOU'RE A PARENT, CHILD CARE  COSTS MONEY.

TRANSPORTATION COSTS MONEY.

YOU MAY HAVE UNIFORM COSTS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS YOU KNOW,  WE ARE SORT OF GETTING AWAY WITH NOT FACTORS -- BUSINESSES  WERE GETTING AWAY WITH NOT FACTORING THAT INTO THEIR  EMPLOYMENT OFFERS, AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WERE GOING TO PAY.

WE SEE LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WAGES RISING BECAUSE OF THIS  PRESSURE TO FILL THOSE LOWER PAID JOBS.

Gene: IS THAT HAPPENING HERE, SOPHIE, IN YOUR VIEW,  ANECDOTALLY OR OTHERWISE?

Sophie: IN MY UNDERSTANDING  IT IS HAPPENING HERE.

I MEAN, PRESBYTERIAN, I THINK,  IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE HOSPITAL HAS RAISED ITS  MINIMUM WAGE ACROSS THE STATE TO $15 AND I WANT TO SAY SANTA  FE IS $17 OR $20.

I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY OFF  THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THOSE  PRESSURES.

WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR  A WHILE NOW IS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MAKING  MINIMUM WAGE, LET'S SAY AT WALMART, THEY ARE ACCESSING  SOCIAL SERVICES.

THEY ARE ACCESSING SNAP  BENEFITS, OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND SO WE ARE PAYING,  AS THE ELECTORATE, I SHOULD SAY, AS A COUNTRY AND STATE,  WE ARE PAYING FOR THOSE LOW WAGE JOBS AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT  IS COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS ANYWAY.

EMPLOYERS ARE SCREAMING ABOUT, THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US.

WE ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.

BUT THIS MAY JUST BE REALITY NOW.

YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE.

Gene: THE LACK OF CHILD  CARE AMONG THE LOWER PAID PROFESSIONS THAT SOPHIE JUST  MENTIONED.

I SHOULD MENTION AS WELL YOUR  POINT ABOUT THE 27G OR UNDER.

IT IS 22,000 A YEAR IF YOU  MAKE MINIMUM WAGE FOR A FULL YEAR, IT IS $22,000.

Sophie: THAT IS RIGHT.

Gene: ALL RIGHT.

HAS THIS BEEN AN ISSUE GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE  WORKFORCE, THIS IDEA OF CHILD CARE?

ARE THESE POSITIONS LIKELY TO GET FILLED?

DOES THAT MATTER FOR SERVERS, RETAIL WORKERS WHO MIGHT HAVE  TO LEAN ON FAMILY FOR CHILD CARE?

SEE WHAT I AM SAYING?

IT IS VERY COMPLICATED.

IF ONE PIECE OF THIS IS NOT WORKING, THE WHOLE THING SORT  OF UNRAVELS IF YOU'RE A SINGLE PARENT.

Edmund: ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS AN ISSUE FOR MANY AND IN  MY BUSINESS, I PRACTICE FAMILY LAW, AND I DEAL WITH A LOT OF  FAMILIES OR FAMILY RELATED ISSUES AND CHILD CARE ISSUES.

I CAN SEE FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT FOR MANY OUT THERE, MEN  AND WOMEN, WHO ARE PRIMARY CARETAKERS OF THEIR CHILDREN,  THIS IS AN ISSUE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE A SINGLE PARENT OR IF YOU'RE NOT A SINGLE PARENT  AND YOU ARE CO-PARENTING AND BOTH TRYING TO WORK TO RAISE  CHILDREN AND CHILD CARE IS AN ISSUE IF YOU BOTH WORK THE  SAME SCHEDULE.

OFTEN, YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU  KNOW, IN NEW MEXICO YOU THINK EVERYONE IS SURROUNDED BY  FAMILY BUT YOU OFTEN DON'T HAVE THAT.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE NOTHING TO RELY ON BUT CHILD CARE AND IF  WE ARE SLOW IN MOVING BACK TO OPENING UP THE DOORS OF MANY  OF THESE CHILD CARE FACILITIES, FAMILIES, PARENTS,  SINGLE OR OTHERWISE, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO IT IS A REALITY I THINK THAT REQUIRES A CLOSER LOOK TO  SEE WHAT EFFECT THAT IS HAVING AND WHAT OPTIONS MIGHT BE  AVAILABLE.

Gene: THIS IS YET ANOTHER  ISSUE WE'LL TRACK IN COMING WEEKS AS WE START TO SEE  UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS COMING IN.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH PERSPECTIVES ON AFGHAN  RESETTLEMENT.

FOR MANY IN THE SOUTHEAST  ASIAN COMMUNITY WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS  REMINISCENT OF THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM VIETNAM.

SENIOR PRODUCER MATT GRUBS SPOKE WITH TAM LE, SOFTWARE  DEVELOPER AND RESEARCHER IN NEW MEXICO AND WHO ARRIVED IN  THE U.S. AS A CHILD WHEN HIS FAMILY LEFT VIETNAM, ABOUT THE  PARALLELS HE SEES, WHAT IT IS LIKE TO EMIGRATE FROM HOME  WHEN IT IS RISKY TO DO SO AND HOW HE TALKS ABOUT THE  EXPERIENCE WITH HIS KIDS.

Matt: TAM LE, THANK YOU SO  MUCH FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES,  TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN AFGHANISTAN AND WHAT IS  AHEAD FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS COMING TO THE U.S.

YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS COMING TO THE U.S. FROM VIETNAM AND YOU  SAID THAT IS IN THE EARLY 80'S?

Tam Le: YES.

Matt: WHEN DID YOU LEAVE?

WHY DID YOU LEAVE AND WHAT WAS THAT JOURNEY LIKE?

YOU WERE JUST A LITTLE KID OBVIOUSLY BUT WHAT DO YOU  RECALL?

Tam Le: SO A LOT OF WHAT I  AM RECALLING IS THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES AND STORIES THAT  COME FROM MY MOTHER ACTUALLY.

SO, BACK IN, YOU KNOW, EARLY  80'S, I WAS A YOUNG CHILD AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, TO ESCAPE  KIND OF THE POLITICAL AND KIND OF RELIGIOUS KIND OF ISSUES  THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, MY FAMILY DECIDED TO  IMMIGRATE AND DO THAT THROUGH BASICALLY ESCAPING ON BOATS.

SO, WE SPLIT UP THE FAMILY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BETTER  CHANCE OF ACTUALLY MAKING IT.

SO, MY MOM, MYSELF AND MY  OLDER BROTHER LEFT ON A BOAT AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A  LOT OF DIFFICULTIES THERE.

BUT WE EVENTUALLY MADE IT AND  WERE BROUGHT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

THE OTHER HALF OF MY FAMILY WAS THEN SPLIT UP AND MY DAD,  MY OTHER BROTHER AND MY SISTER ATTEMPTED THE SAME ESCAPE AND  BASICALLY WERE CAPTURED AND RETURNED BACK TO VIETNAM.

AT THAT POINT THEY WERE IMPRISONED FOR A WHILE AFTER  THAT.

SO, OUR FAMILY WAS SEPARATED  FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO, THEN, COME OVER TO  THE U.S. Matt: THERE IS PROBABLY A  TENDENCY OF A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SEE THESE PICTURES FROM AFAR  AND ASSUME IF YOU CAN JUST GET TO THE AIRPORT OR GET ON A  BOAT, THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY AND  EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE A GREAT STORY TO TELL.

THAT IS CLEARLY NOT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BEING SEPARATED FROM HALF YOUR FAMILY FOR A DECADE SOUNDS GUT  WRENCHING.

IT HAD TO BE -- I CAN'T EVEN  IMAGINE SETTING OFF ON THAT SORT OF JOURNEY TO BEGIN WITH.

WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

Tam Le: THE STORIES I HEAR  FROM MY MOM IS BASICALLY IT IS LAWLESS.

THERE IS NO RULE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS YOU'RE  ATTEMPTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

BASICALLY THERE IS A LOT OF STORIES, PIRATES, A LOT OF  LAWLESSNESS, OUT THERE, BASICALLY.

LOOTING AND A LOT OF VIOLENCE ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE  ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS.

SO, A LOT OF ANGUISH, OF  COURSE, WITHOUT FOOD, WITHOUT WATER, TRYING TO ACTUALLY --  BUT THAT ISN'T QUITE WHAT IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T THINK OF THAT AT THE TIME.

YOU'RE BASICALLY THINKING FOR THE FUTURE OF MY CHILDREN, FOR  THE FUTURE OF MYSELF, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE BECAUSE  WHEN YOU'RE SEEING HOW LIFE WAS, YOU KNOW, WITH A  DIFFERENT RULE AND SO AT THE TIME THEY WEREN'T THINKING  ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF NECESSITIES.

IT WAS JUST GETTING OUT AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET OUT  AT THAT POINT.

Matt: SO, THERE IS AN  INTERVENING PERIOD OF FIVE OR SIX YEARS WHERE YOU ARE  LIVING, I WOULD IMAGINE, A FAIRLY UNCOMFORTABLE EXISTENCE  IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY.

WHAT ARE THE FAMILY STORIES  YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT TIME?

Tam Le: YEAH.

BASICALLY AFTER KIND OF THE TAKEOVER, THERE WAS A  REORGANIZATION, RIGHT?

THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING  TO THEN TAKE OVER LOTS OF THE PROPERTY.

SO, MY FAMILY WASN'T, YOU KNOW, WAS A LITTLE BIT WELL  OFF.

WE WERE NOT LIKE EXTREMELY  IMPOVERISHED.

WE DID HAVE HOMES AND THINGS  LIKE THAT.

AT THAT POINT THE PROPERTY WAS  TAKEN OVER BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND NEW OWNERSHIP  THERE AND SO A LOT OF THE FAMILIES LOST THEIR PROPERTY,  LOST THEIR HOMES, HAVE BEEN RELOCATED TO OTHER AREAS AND  BASICALLY HAVE TO START OVER, EVEN WITHIN THE OLD COUNTRY.

Matt: YOU SPENT SOME TIME IN THAILAND FOR A WHILE BEFORE  EVENTUALLY MAKING YOUR WAY TO THE U.S.  TELL ME ABOUT THAT PART OF THE JOURNEY, IF YOU WOULD.

Tam Le: OUR BOAT WAS PICKED UP BY A U.S.

NAVAL SHIP AND  THEN THEY WOULD TRY TO FIND A LOCATION FOR US AS REFUGEES.

AND THEN WE WERE SENT TO A NEARBY COUNTRY OF THAILAND.

THERE, WE WOULD HAVE A REFUGEE CAMP IN WHICH WE WOULD LIVE,  YOU KNOW, ON THE SHORES AT A CAMP.

AND LIVING OFF THE BOAT, WHATEVER FISH WAS THERE.

SO, JUST MINIMUM BUT YOU HAVE A DECENT LIFE THERE.

Matt: YOU CAME TO THE U.S.

BUT HOW LONG WAS THAT WHOLE  JOURNEY?

Tam Le: I BELIEVE WE WERE  IN THAILAND ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO BEFORE A FAMILY WOULD  ACCEPT AND WORK WITH US AND THEN AT THAT POINT WE WOULD  THEN BE SENT TO THE U.S. AND HAVE KIND OF A PARTNERING  FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO HELP US KIND OF START OFF IN THE U.S.  Matt: I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF CULTURE SHOCK THAT IS.

TO GO FROM YOUR HOME, WHICH IS TOTALLY FAMILIAR, TO LIVING ON  A BEACH IN A CAMP AND THEN TO THE U.S. WITH EVERYTHING THAT  COMES ALONG WITH MOVING TO THE U.S.

IN THE 80'S, I AM SURE.

Tam Le: YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

BASICALLY, IT IS NOT LIKE WE ARE COMING OVER HERE WITH  LUGGAGE AND OUR BELONGINGS.

IT IS WHATEVER IS ON OUR BACK  AND WHATEVER WE COULD BRING AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,  BASICALLY NOTHING.

COMING OVER HERE WITH MY MOM  AND MY OLDER BROTHER, WHICH IS PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS  OLDER THAN MYSELF, 5, 6 AND 3, AND WITH MY MOM COMING OVER IT  IS BASICALLY HER STARTING OVER FROM SCRATCH WITH BASICALLY  NOTHING.

Matt: WE HEAR ABOUT THINGS  LIKE BASEBALL AND APPLE PIE BUT IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, THE  IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE, LEAVING EVERYTHING AND COMING  OVER HERE WITH NOTHING IS THE DEFINITIVE AMERICAN  EXPERIENCE, IT SOUNDS LIKE?

Tam Le: ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE COMING OVER,  BASICALLY THEY COME OVER FOR A BETTER LIFE AND WHAT THEY  STARTED OUT WITH OVER THERE, NOT HAVING MUCH IN THE FIRST  PLACE BUT THEN IT IS HOPES OF HAVING MORE AND BEING ABLE TO,  YOU KNOW, PROVIDE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THINGS LIKE THAT,  THE HOPE IS TO COME OVER HERE TO BE ABLE TO START THAT AND A  LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OVER NOW, IS EXACTLY  THAT, RIGHT?

THEY BASICALLY ARE COMING OVER  HERE IN THE HOPES OF SOMEONE THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM AND, YOU  KNOW, JUST TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM, TO BE ABLE TO START  SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, HERE.

Matt: CERTAINLY.

YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SEEING IMAGES OF HELICOPTERS  AND PLANES IN KABUL AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND IT HAS A DIRECT  PARALLEL TO THE SCENES YOUR MOTHER DESCRIBED TO YOU WITH  SAIGON IN 1975.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR, YOU KNOW  FROM OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT SEEING THIS SORT OF  THING?

Tam Le: IT PROVIDES A LOT  OF EMOTIONS, RIGHT?

SUCH PARALLELS.

UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPE OF CHANGES OR WHAT  TYPE OF THINGS THAT WOULD BE COMING BACK TO THE COUNTRY  THAT IT HAS A LONG TIME BEEN AWAY FROM FOR ANOTHER  POLITICAL POWER TO TAKE OVER AND TO KIND OF SET EVERYTHING  BACK FROM WHERE IT IS NOW IS HEART WRENCHING.

IT IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULT THINGS TO BE ABLE TO  EXPERIENCE.

UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE  COUNTRY WAS, WHERE IT IS NOW AND THEN ACTUALLY  UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COULD BE GOING BACK TO WHAT IT WAS AND  LOSING ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT IS TRAGIC.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FEARING  NOW AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND  EXPERIENCE AGAIN.

Matt: IF YOU DON'T COME  FROM THAT FAMILY IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE FEAR AND  CONFUSION AND CHAOS THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR KIDS AS  THEY ARE SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON?

Tam Le: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I TALK WITH MY SON QUITE A BIT  ON THE PARALLELS AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND WHY PEOPLE  ARE LEAVING, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHY ARE THEY  LEAVING.

IT LOOKS FINE IF THEY JUST  ACCEPT IT.

THERE IS LOTS OF CHANGES THAT  IS GOING ABOUT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE  EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, HOW THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN  RULED AND HOW THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN RUN AND UNDERSTAND SOME  OF WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE.

SO, TO BE A LITTLE BIT OPEN  MINDED IT IS GOOD FOR THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS  EXPERIENCES OVER THERE THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE AND THERE  IS GOOD REASON FOR THEM TO HAVE TO REALLY TRY TO ATTEMPT  THIS.

THESE ARE NOT SAFE METHODS OF  TRYING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BUT AT THE MOMENT ALL THEY ARE  THINKING ABOUT IS THE FUTURE AND HOW TO BETTER THEIR  FUTURE.

Matt: BEFORE WE GO, HAVE  YOU BEEN BACK TO VIETNAM AND IF SO WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

Tam Le: ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE BEEN BACK SEVERAL TIMES  TO VISIT FAMILY.

I HAVE LOTS OF AUNTS AND  UNCLES OVER THERE, SO, I HAVE BEEN BACK MAYBE THREE YEARS  OUT OF 30 SOME YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE.

MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK THERE AND VISITING FAMILY AND  THINGS LIKE THAT FOR NEW YEAR'S.

THE EXPERIENCE IS KIND OF OVERWHELMING TO GO FROM THE  U.S. AND YOU'RE GOING BACK TO VIETNAM AND SEEING KIND OF THE  HARDSHIPS AND LIVING SITUATIONS OVER THERE.

THERE IS DEFINITELY LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY HERE, IF YOU WORK  HARD THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AND OVER THERE THE  OPPORTUNITY IS NOT QUITE THERE.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO RISE ABOVE AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING  MORE FOR YOURSELF THERE.

Matt: SURE.

WELL, TAM LE, THANK YOU, I REALLY ENJOYED THIS AND I  APPRECIATE YOU OPENING UP.

Tam Le: ABSOLUTELY.

Gene: THE COVID PANDEMIC IS STILL WREAKING HAVOC ON NEW  MEXICO SCHOOLS AND THOSE LINGERING CHALLENGES COME  DURING A TIME WHEN THE STATE IS STILL STRUGGLING TO  INCREASE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL  STUDENTS.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RECENTLY  GOT A HOLD OF A DRAFT PLAN BY OUTGOING EDUCATION SECRETARY  RYAN STUART TO ADDRESS THOSE INEQUALITIES.

WHICH WERE AT THE CENTER OF INFAMOUS YAZZI MARTINEZ  LAWSUIT.

THAT REPORT, WHICH WAS OVER  100 PAGES IS SHORT OF SPECIFIC IDEAS, ASSIGNMENTS OR  PROGRAMS.

IN FACT, IT SEEMS TO FALL  SHORT OF MANY RECOMMENDATIONS OF JUDGE MATTHEW WILSON IN  TERMS ESPECIALLY OF BROADBAND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE STATE'S  MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

REBECCA, SEVERAL YEARS INTO  THIS SHOULD WE BE FURTHER ALONG IN SOLVING THESE  INEQUALITIES OR HAS COVID THROWN ALL OF THAT OUT THE  WINDOW OR SHOULD WE STILL BE CHUGGING ALONG HERE DESPITE  COVID?

Latham: I AM A LITTLE  DISCONCERTED, DISCOURAGED, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BETTER  PLAN OF ACTION.

BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO  ACKNOWLEDGE AND BE SYMPATHETIC TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE, NO ONE, AT THAT TIME, COULD HAVE SEEN  WHAT 2020 AND 2021 HAD IN STORE FOR STUDENTS AND  EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU  KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT THE COURT HAD  ASKED SPECIFICALLY BE ADDRESSED BY THE PUBLIC  EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE OTHER THING THAT IS MISSING IS  ANY MENTION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW,  THERE ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NEW MEXICO THAT ARE PROVIDING  TRULY EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC OUTCOME FOR THE POPULATIONS  NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR  LEADERSHIP LOOK INTO THE BEST PRACTICES AT CHARTER SCHOOLS  AND THEN TRANSFERRING THEM TO THE BROADER EDUCATION  COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE GOT CASE AFTER CASE,  SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE STUDENT GROUPS, THAT IF WE  WOULD JUST ACKNOWLEDGE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT THE ENEMY,  MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO LEARN TO BENEFIT STUDENTS.

IT IS SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING INTO.

Gene: THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT YOU MAKE  THERE, REBECCA.

I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT  THE CHARTER SCHOOLS NOT BEING SORT OF HIGHLIGHTED THERE,  EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EXCELLENCE TO BE SHOWN.

I HAVE GOT TO THINK IF YOU'RE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,  YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BE HIGHLIGHTING CHARTER SCHOOLS  SUCCESS, BUT WE CAN ALL GET THERE.

SOPHIE, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN IS JUST A DRAFT.

SHOULD WE GET ALL WORKED UP ABOUT THIS AS JUST A DRAFT OR  SHOULD WE BE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AT THIS  POINT ON ALL THESE ISSUES?

Sophie: THERE IS SOME  CONCERN THAT IT ISN'T FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

I THINK STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEREK LENTE, WHO REPRESENTS A  NUMBER OF NATIVE AMERICAN CONSTITUENTS AND HAS BEEN AN  ADVOCATE FOR THAT COMMUNITY, SAYS, LOOK, WE ONLY HAVE SO  MUCH TIME TO REVIEW WHEN THIS IS NOT A DRAFT, WHEN YOU'RE  READY TO ACTUALLY SHOW IT TO US.

AND WE NEED THAT TIME IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GIVE EFFECTIVE  FEEDBACK IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I DON'T THINK HE IS WRONG ABOUT THAT, THAT EVEN AT 100  PAGES OF DRAFT, LET'S ASSUME IT GETS BIGGER,   FOLKS NEED TIME TO READ, DIGEST, REFLECT  AND RESPOND AND THERE IS NOT A LOT OF THAT, SO, ONE THING  THAT I THINK IS NOTABLE HERE THIS WAS NOT, FROM WHAT I  UNDERSTOOD, AN OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT TO  CONSTITUENCIES SO WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT EVERYTHING  WILL BE.

Gene: ONE OF THE SPECIFIC  RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS NEW PLAN INCLUDES INCREASE IN PAY  FOR TEACHERS WHO HAVE SECONDARY SPANISH OR NATIVE  AMERICAN CERTIFICATIONS.

THAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF  ATTRACTING TEACHERS IN HARD TO FILL POSITIONS BUT TEACHER  RECRUITMENT SEEMS TO BE THIS MONUMENTAL HURDLE IN GENERAL  IN NEW MEXICO.

IS IT TIME FOR MORE RADICAL  THINKING ON THIS FRONT THAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE JUST  DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

IT CAN'T BE ABOUT MONEY.

SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO BE KIND  OF INTRODUCED HERE.

Edmund: AGAIN, IT IS ALL  ABOUT APPEALING THE TEACHING PROFESSION TO AS MANY PEOPLE  AS POSSIBLE.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE  WAS SOMETHING ABOUT BEING A TEACHER THAT REALLY ATTRACTS A  LOT OF PROMISING PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST THAT LIKE WE HAVE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF  LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I AM NOT SURE REALLY WHAT THE  REASONS ARE.

WITH REGARD TO THIS PLAN, FULL  DISCLOSURE HERE, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE LATINO EDUCATION  TASKFORCE WHICH WAS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE MARTINEZ SIDE  OF THE LAWSUIT.

SO THERE IS PROBABLY A LITTLE  BIT OF FRUSTRATION GOING ON.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS  FOR OVER A DECADE.

I REMEMBER HAVING  CONVERSATIONS CLOSE TO A DECADE AGO ABOUT HOW WE ARE  GOING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

WE ARE JUST LOOKING POST  LAWSUIT AND SAY, WELL, JUST GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF  TIME.

WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE WHO  NEED THE HELP, THOSE STUDENTS THAT NEED THE HELP, MANY OF  THEM ARE PROBABLY 18, 20 YEARS OLD.

THEY JUST MISSED THE BOAT AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO HELP OUT  THOSE WHO ARE UP AND COMING.

ANY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

YOU MENTIONED TEACHER PAY AND TEACHER INCENTIVE.

I WON'T KNOCK ANYTHING THAT BRINGS IN THOSE PROMISING  INDIVIDUALS AND HELPS THOSE OUT WHO ARE REALLY  CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOLUTION OF MAKING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM  BETTER.

Gene: REBECCA, THE IDEA OF  BROADBAND IN THIS, IN THE YAZZI MARTINEZ LAWSUIT.

JUDGE WILSON, YOU KNOW, SET A STANDARD FOR HIGH SPEED  INTERNET FOR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT  HAS ITS OWN STANDARD WHICH IS EXACTLY LESS THAN THAT.

IS THERE STILL A MAJOR DISCONNECT ON THE ISSUE AND  IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTIVITY?

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT  THIS.

ED, MENTIONED 10 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR 10 YEARS.

Latham: AT LEAST.

MAJOR DISCONNECT, ESPECIALLY  WHEN THESE GUIDELINES ARE PUT IN PLACE.

THE THING WITH WHAT THE JUDGE SAID, THAT IS WHAT I EXPECT TO  SEE, AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAYING LIKE WHAT WE  DO IS ALREADY ENOUGH.

THAT WAS ALL PRE-PANDEMIC AND  THAT WAS WHEN, LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TWO-WAY  VIDEO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS COULD  BE, NOT TO MENTION, THERE IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF THESE  STUDENTS AGAIN SPECIFICALLY, STUDENT GROUPS, THAT IT  WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING  ENOUGH TO GET INTERNET TO THOSE STUDENTS AND BROADBAND  HOT SPOTS, WIFI CAN'T STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU DON'T  GET CELL SERVICE OUT THERE.

SO, LIKE IT IS KIND OF LIKE,  WE PUT THESE BENCHMARKS IN PLACE, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE  TO DO BETTER FOR THESE STUDENTS, AND IT IS NOT JUST  ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

OUR ENTIRE STATE, OUR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE NEED TO  RALLY AROUND THESE PARTICULAR STUDENT GROUPS AND DO BETTER  FOR THEM IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHAT WE ARE DOING,  THAT WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT AND HOW WE ARE GETTING THEM BETTER  FOOD.

ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND  BROADBAND AND ALL OF THE THINGS.

IT IS JUST A BIG ISSUE.

WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE MORE  RESPONSIBILITY IN HELPING.

Gene: SOPHIE, JUST A COUPLE  OF POINTS HERE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TRIED TO GET  THE YAZZI MARTINEZ CASE THROWN OUT AS WE RECALL BUT THE JUDGE  RULED THE STATE HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH YET.

FORMER GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ HAD VOWED TO APPEAL  THAT INITIAL RULING BEFORE GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN  GRISHAM REVERSED THE COURSE AFTER WINNING 2018.

IS THAT LAWSUIT STILL DOING ITS JOB IN TERMS OF FORCING  THE STATE TO ADDRESS EDUCATION INEQUALITIES, ESPECIALLY  CONSIDERING WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE NEEDLE MOVE IN THREE  YEARS, HONESTLY?

Sophie: I THINK AS LONG AS  THE RULING STANDS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR,  WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE AT THAT TIME, AT LEAST HAS SOME SORT  OF OBLIGATION.

THERE IS SOME LEGAL OBLIGATION  TO ADDRESS IT.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, YOU  KNOW, IT IS ONE THING TO SAY, YEAH, WE AGREE WITH THAT IN  PRINCIPLE AND TO WHAT REBECCA WAS SAYING, IT IS ANOTHER  THING ENTIRELY TO ACTUALLY DO IT.

SORT OF CIRCLING BACK TO OUR EARLIER CONVERSATION, HOW BIG  A CHUNK OF THAT 1.4 BILLION WOULD REALLY, YOU KNOW,  AGGRESSIVELY WORK TOWARD SATISFYING THIS OBLIGATION.

HOW BIG A CHUNK WOULD IT TAKE OF THAT MONEY?

I DON'T KNOW BUT I HOPE THAT WILL BE PART OF THE  CONVERSATION.

Gene: IT IS ALMOST  TAILORMADE FOR A ONE-TIME EXPENSE HIT.

WHY CAN'T WE RALLY AROUND THE IDEA OF THE BROADBAND AND SAY,  BY A DATE CERTAIN, WE ARE GOING TO BE AT X?

WHY IS THAT SO HARD?

Edmund: IT SHOULDN'T BE.

IT SEEMS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT WHAT IT  REQUIRES IS LEADERSHIP AND TO TAKE THIS ISSUE,   SOMEONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE THIS  ISSUE BY THE HORNS.

Gene: SOMEONE, PLEASE.

THAT IS ALL WE ARE ASKING.

Edmund: MAKE IT HAPPEN  BECAUSE IT IS DOABLE.

IT TAKES SOMEONE TO BE THAT  DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Gene: WE ARE ALL ASKING.

THAT IS A WRAP ON OUR LINE  OPINION PANEL THIS WEEK.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR  RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS AND BE SURE TO ENGAGE WITH US ON ANY  TOPICS WE TACKLED THIS WEEK ON THE LINE BY REACHING OUT ON  FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM OR TWITTER.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT OUT TO EXPO NEW MEXICO,  BETTER KNOWN AS THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS, THIS PAST SUNDAY  FOR THE BIG ROUTE 66 CAR SHOW AND WHILE THE CARS WERE COOL  AND THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE LOOKING GOOD FROM ALL THE  RAIN, THE BIG TALK OF THE DAY WAS THE UPCOMING STATE FAIR  AND WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

NAMELY UNVACCINATED KIDS LOOKING TO SHOW THEIR  LIVESTOCK.

THEY'LL BE IN ROSWELL AND SOME  HAVE EVEN TAKEN UP THE OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR'S OFFER TO  SHOW THERE.

THERE IS SOME SADNESS ABOUT  HOW THE FAIR WOULD FEEL WITHOUT THESE KIDS AND THE  LIVESTOCK IN THE BARN, AND HERE IS A THOUGHT, THOUGH,  WHAT IF THE ROSWELL VERSION IS A HIT?

WHAT IF OUR RURAL FRIENDS DECIDE IT ISN'T WORTH TIME AND  EXPENSE TO TRAILER ALL THE WAY TO ALBUQUERQUE IF THEY CAN  SELL THEIR ANIMALS CLOSE TO HOME.

SUNDAY WAS A REMINDER FOR ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US  CITY TYPES TO JUST SEE THESE KIDS AND THEIR LIVESTOCK AND  TO SEE HOW MANY IN THE STATE EARN A LIVING THIS WAY.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED.

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