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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, HOW THE WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES POSITIONED THEM TO COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Lesansee: WE UNDERSTAND AND KNOW MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS HOLISTIC BUT ALSO INTERGENERATIONAL.

>> Gene: A DEEP FUNDING CUT FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE BOSQUE THAT DOES DOUBLE DUTY WHEN IT COMES TO SCIENCE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BOSQUE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAM, AN EFFORT THAT BRINGS STUDENTS TO THE RIO GRANDE BUT ALSO HAS DELIVERED IMPORTANT DATA.

LAURA PASKUS DIGS IN A LITTLE LATER.

OUR LINE OPINION PANEL HAS ASSEMBLED TO TALK ABOUT THE STUNNING OVERPAYMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AS THE STATE STRUGGLES TO RESPOND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT A NEW STUDY THAT SAYS NEW MEXICO AND ITS TAXPAYERS WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CLEAN-UP COSTS WHEN AND IF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY GOES BUST.

WE BEGIN WITH A SPACE SHOT THAT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME IN COMING.

NEW MEXICO IS OFFICIALLY NO LONGER JUST THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT.

LAST WEEKEND WE BECAME ONLY THE THIRD STATE TO SUCCESSFULLY SEND HUMANS INTO SPACE.

AS VIRGIN GALACTIC SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE VSS UNITY INTO SUB-ORBIT.

IN MANY WAYS IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF MORE THAN A DECADE OF EFFORTS TO PUT OUR STATE ON THE INTERSTELLAR MAP.

IT HAS ALSO COST MORE THAN 200 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

GOT TO GET THAT IN.

THE QUESTION REMAINS WILL THAT INVESTMENT PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN.

HERE TO HELP US DEBATE THAT QUESTION IS THIS WEEKS LINE ZOOM PANEL.

WE WELCOME BACK TOM GARRITY OF THE GARRITY GROUP AND ALSO WITH US THIS WEEK IS DIANE SNYDER, A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND SERGE MARTINEZ OF THE UNM LAW SCHOOL.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

GUYS NEW MEXICO'S PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGIN GALACTIC STARTED WITH HANDSHAKE BETWEEN SIR RICHARD BRANSON AND FORMER GOVERNOR RICHARDSON AND NOW INCLUDES SPACEPORT, VIRGIN GALACTIC'S HOME BASE AND MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT THIS INDUSTRY.

MY QUESTION TO YOU, STARTING WITH TOM IS THIS.

DOES THIS WEEKEND'S SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH VALIDATE GOVERNOR RICHARDSON'S DECISION AND QUIET THE CRITICS?

>> Tom: YES AND NO AND NO.

IT ALL DEPENDS WHICH SIDE OF THE APPLE YOU WANT TO BITE FROM.

I THINK THE VICTORY LAP FOR FORMER GOVERNOR RICHARDSON AND SIR RICHARD BRANSON IS WELL DESERVED.

>> Gene: FOR THE LAUNCH, THEY WERE BOTH THERE.

>> Tom: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THEY DEFINITELY DESERVE A VICTORY LAP.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES, THE RUNWAY BEING REPLACED, NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES.

BUT, ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN CLEANED UP AND I THINK THAT IT IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY BUT AS WE CAN SEE WITH AMAZON AND AS WELL AS WITH TESLA, ALL HAVING THEIR OWN KIND OF PERSPECTIVES AS WELL.

IT WAS AN INVESTMENT THAT I THINK POSITIONED NEW MEXICO WELL IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE.

>> Gene: I HAVE GOT TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION.

YOU HAVE BEEN TRACKING THIS FOR A LONG TIME FROM YOUR ELECTED DAYS UNTIL NOW.

IS GOVERNOR RICHARDSON VALIDATED HERE?

ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK FINALLY?

>> Diane: I AM LIKE TOM, YES AND NO.

I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE SENATE WHEN WE VOTED FOR THIS, I BELIEVE, 15 YEARS AGO AND I WAS ONE OF THE FEW, VERY FEW -- TOM MIGHT BE ABLE TO REMEMBER EXACTLY -- BUT ONE OF THE VERY, VERY FEW REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED FOR IT.

I MEAN IT WAS RICHARDSON'S FOLEY, ALL THESE HORRIBLE THINGS BEING SAID AND I COULD SEE THE VISION THAT MR. BRANSON HAD.

YOU LOOK AT NEW MEXICO, AND YOU THINK OF OUR HISTORY AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND, YOU KNOW, THE NUCLEAR BOMB IS NOT SPACE BUT WE HAVE DONE SO MANY INNOVATIVE THINGS HERE.

AND WE HAVE GOT THIS WIDE OPEN LAND OUT THERE TO HAVE A SPACEPORT.

TO ME IT WAS A NATURAL THING.

I TALKED ABOUT ON THE FLOOR THAT DAY, TALKED ABOUT SALLY RIDE AND CHRISTA MCAULIFFE.

I COULD SEE HOW MANY OF US WERE NEVER TRAINED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO, I KNOW SOME, THAT CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN THAT HISTORY AND BEING A PART OF IT.

AND LITTLE GIRLS I SEE LONGING TO BE IN SPACE.

WELL, MAYBE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ENTREPRENEURS INSTEAD AND DEVELOP AND PAY THEIR $250,000 BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT UNIQUE TO US.

YES, WE ARE JUST THE THIRD STATE BUT I SEE US BECOMING THE LEADER IN IT IN COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT AND THINK I HAVE READ SOME PLACE THAT MR. BRANSON THINKS -- NOW HE MAY HAVE JUST BEEN SAYING THAT TO GOVERNOR RICHARDSON -- BUT I THINK HE SEES THAT BECAUSE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED, THE WIDE OPEN SPACES, ENTREPRENEURIAL BELIEF AND ALTITUDES WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, OUR LABS.

I THINK NEW MEXICO COULD EASILY EXPAND OUR ROLE OF BEING LEADING SCIENTISTS AND LEADING THE COUNTRY, MAYBE EVEN THE UNIVERSE BECAUSE OF GOING INTO SPACE, YOU KNOW.

>> Gene: I LIKE YOUR WORLD VIEW.

>> Diane: WE CAN BECOME THAT LEADER.

WE CAN BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

>> Gene: I THINK YOUR QUITE RIGHT THERE.

SERGE, VIRGIN EXPECTED TO LAUNCH TWO MORE FLIGHTS THIS SUMMER BUT I GOT TO IMAGINE THAT UNTIL THERE IS A PAYING CUSTOMER, SENATOR JUST MENTIONED THE QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, BY THE WAY, FOR THE PRIVILEGE.

THE BIG TURNING POINT IS WHEN PAYING CUSTOMERS GET INTO SPACE.

WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS ALL NOISE UNTIL THAT HAPPENS?

>> Serge: ABSOLUTELY, IT IS SUPER, SUPER COOL AND EXCITING AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THAT SPACESHIP AS WELL.

>> Gene: YOU WOULD.

>> Serge: I'LL BE THE FIRST IN LINE.

>> Gene: YOU'LL BE SECOND BEHIND SENATOR SNYDER, ACTUALLY.

>> Serge: BUT I DO THINK WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM THIS BEING, YOU KNOW -- THE VICTORY LAP IS A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE, I THINK.

CERTAINLY THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS TO BE EXCITED BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE THIS ENDLESS STREAM OF PEOPLE WILLING, ABLE AND WILLING TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY.

I HOPE SO.

SOUNDS GREAT.

>> Diane: BUT THERE ARE ALREADY A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO BE ON IT.

NOT JUST THE LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS.

IT IS ACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR DEPOSITS DOWN TO GO ON THIS RIDE.

>> Gene: TOM, IS THERE A TIME WHEN REGULAR NEW MEXICANS MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> Tom: I GUESS THAT IS REALLY UP TO VIRGIN GALACTIC BUT I THINK THAT THE PRICING RIGHT NOW IS -- YOU KNOW, THE PRICING THAT IS PROPOSED OR AT LEAST WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING AND THEN THERE IS PRICING, YOU KNOW, ONCE EVERYTHING IS UP AND RUNNING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT JEFF BEZOS' OPERATION AND THEIR PROPOSED PRICES, 250,000 IS A BARGAIN COMPARED TO THE OTHER PRICES TO GO UP INTO SUB-ORBIT AND SUCH.

SO, HOPEFULLY NEW MEXICANS WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN RAISED IN A TIME OF THE APOLLO SPACE PROGRAM AND WATCHING NEIL ARMSTRONG TAKE THAT FIRST STEP ON THE MOON, WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THIS IS SOMETHING POSSIBLE AND NOW NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF THREE STATES TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A HUMAN INTO SPACE.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT TIME FOR A VICTORY LAP, SERGE.

>> Gene: THERE IS 170 EMPLOYEES ON THE GROUND ALREADY.

IT IS NOT AS IF THIS IS LIKE A PIPE DREAM.

THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE, THEY ARE PAYING TAXES.

THEY ARE PAYING FOR GROCERIES AND EVERYTHING AND BUYING CARS.

IS THAT A SIGN TO YOU THAT YOU THIS THING IS REALLY MOVING FORWARD?

>> Diane: YES.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT IT STARTED JUST 15 YEARS AGO FROM A BLANK DESERT FIELD.

I MEAN THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

THERE WERE NO STORES, NO RESTAURANTS, NO PEOPLE, NO TERMINAL.

I MEAN, NOTHING WAS THERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE SPACE COMPETITIONS, I BELIEVE, HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE DONE SOME SPACE THINGS AT THE SPACEPORT.

WE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT BRINGING OUR KIDS INTO MESA, MATH SCIENCE AND THINGS.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE INTO GOING INTO SPACE AND BEING EDUCATED IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE.

AND I AM SERIOUS.

WHEN YOU THINK IN TERMS OF 170 JOBS WHEN IT STARTED JUST 15 YEARS AGO AS A BLANK DESERT FIELD.

I THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND I THINK PUN INTENDED, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

>> Gene: I LOVE IT.

SERGE, I HAVE GOT TO BRING THIS UP.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS OVER THE YEARS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY WITH THESE FOLKS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

SPACEPORT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

CONTRACTS, LARGELY HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW BECAUSE OF PROPRIETARY CONCERNS DESPITE THE FACT THAT TAXPAYERS FINANCE THE SPACEPORT CONSTRUCTION.

THIS IS INFORMATION DISCLOSED PUBLICLY ELSEWHERE.

IS THIS GOING TO COME BACK TO HAUNT US.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THE TRANSPARENCY ISSUE AND HOW THEY APPROACHED IT.

>> Serge: GENE, I HAVE TO CONFESS, I AM NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR HISTORY.

>> Gene: NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

>> Serge: GENERALLY TRANSPARENCY IS, I THINK, IT IS AN UNALLOYED GOOD AND ANYTHING THAT ENDS UP BEING WITH A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR PROBLEMS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS NECESSARILY ANYTHING SHADY BUT THAT IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT IS NEVER A GOOD THING.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

ONE LAST QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS DOWN THERE TOO.

DON'T FORGET THEY FIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN HICKS WHO HAD BEEN THERE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, FROM THE BEGINNING, I BELIEVE.

DOES THAT GIVE YOU ANY PAUSE AT ALL.

IS THERE A LEADERSHIP VACUUM, VOID AT THE TOP OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE HERE?

>> Tom: THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS REALLY KIND IDENTIFIED WHAT THE ISSUES WERE, THEY MADE THE CHANGES THAT WERE NECESSARY AND I THINK THAT FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THEY ARE DEFINITELY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT VIRGIN GALACTIC AND SPACEPORT AMERICA ARE JUST ONE PART OF THE AEROSPACE DIRECTED ENERGY PICTURE IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 60 DIFFERENT SOLID FIRMS LIKE BOEING, ALSO SUPPORT BY AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY, SANDIA LABS.

AND, SO, NEW MEXICO IS VERY WELL POSITIONED HERE AND YOU KNOW THE SPACEPORT OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW, IS THE FOCAL POINT OF ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS.

>> Gene: THAT WILL DO IT FOR NOW ON THIS TOPIC.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL DIVE INTO NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT OVERPAYMENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS WEEK'S HISTORIC LAUNCH AT SPACEPORT AMERICA ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND SIGN UP TO BE PART OF THE FOCUS ON NEW MEXICO GROUP.

>> Dyson: THE SKY IS NOT FALLING IF WE HAVE TO SET SOME DATA SETS ASIDE FOR A YEAR.

WE ARE ACTUALLY APPROACHING CLOSER TO 25 YEARS OF DATA WITH A LOT OF THESE DATA SETS AND THE CONTINUITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THESE DATA SETS SO SPECIAL.

>> Gene: THE PANDEMIC PARTNERS OF ISOLATION STRESS AND COVID-19 FATIGUE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON MENTAL WELL-BEING.

IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, MANY OF US HAVE FELT IT OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND EXPERTS ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH, ENGAGE IN SELF CARE AND CHECK IN ON OTHERS.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS TRUE FOR ALL OF US AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THAT FACE CULTURALLY UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

THAT HASN'T GONE UNNOTICED AT THE NEW MEXICO INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE STATE AGENCY HAS PARTNERED WITH A SUICIDE PREVENTION GROUP.

HERE IS CORRESPONDENT ANTONIA GONZALES WITH MORE.

>> Antonia: ELDRED, ALYSIA AND TERESA, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> Lesansee: THANK FOR HAVING US.

>> Antonia: AND TERESA, HONORING NATIVE LIFE AND INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN HOSTS VIRTUAL TRAININGS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> Gomez: WE HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOT AND APPRECIATE COLLABORATION WITH NEW MEXICO INDIAN AFFAIRS.

WE KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED AMERICAN INDIANS AND OUR TRIBAL NATIONS.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE TRAINING THAT IS NECESSARY AND PUTTING OUT MESSAGES TO HELP OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC BUT WE DO HEAR OF ABOUT A LOT OF INCREASED ANXIETY, INCREASED DEPRESSION, SOME SPIKES IN SUICIDE RATES THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS MANY OF THOSE ISSUES.

>> Antonia: ELDRED, ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT?

>> Lesansee: FROM A PERSONAL SENSE AND PROFESSIONAL SENSE, WE FEEL THIS ASPECT OF COMMUNITY, THIS ASPECT OF REALLY COMING TOGETHER AS TRIBAL PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT REALLY HAS KEPT A LOT US IN ISOLATION, LED TO INCREASES IN WHAT TERESA MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

AND REALLY FROM TRIBAL PERSPECTIVE, TRIBAL LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THE NEED FOR MORE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON AND OFF TRIBAL RESERVATIONS.

SO THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IS SO HAPPY TO COLLABORATE WITH NOT ONLY ON NATIVE LIFE BUT ALSO OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED INDIGENOUS YOUTH COUNCIL.

>> Antonia: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THOSE A LITTLE BIT?

IN RURAL AREAS THERE IS LACK OF INTERNET SERVICE, THERE IS ALSO ACCESS OR LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

THERE IS EVEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ITSELF.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES?

>> Lesansee: ONE WAS LIMITED ACCESS TO BRAND BAND.

WHEN THE WORLD WAS CLOSING DOWN AND NEW MEXICO WAS CLOSING, A LOT OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, EVERYTHING WAS MOVING TOWARDS TELEHEALTH AND A LOT OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, SOME OF THE MOST RURAL, DID NOT HAVE THOSE CAPACITIES, CAPABILITIES, EVEN TO TODAY.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO HELP WITH THAT.

BUT THAT IS REALLY WHAT HAPPENED AND EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC ITSELF, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES HAD VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS PSYCHIATRISTS ET CETERA.

REALLY TO FOCUS ON THAT COMMUNITY INPUT, TO FIGURE OUT MANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES ADDITIONALLY TO THOSE BRAND BAND CHALLENGES, YOU HAVE STIGMA WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND IN GENERAL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND TRYING TO JUST DE-STIGMATIZE THE WHOLE NOTION THAT YOU CAN ASK FOR HELP.

>> Antonia: ALYSIA, WITH THE YOUTH COUNCIL, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE WAS THE NEED TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THE YOUTH COUNCIL SEES THIS AS A BIG NEED.

>> Coriz: IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH TRIBAL YOUTH IN NEW MEXICO, WE SAW THE PRIORITY TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS.

WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CLOSURE OF THINGS ACROSS THE STATE AND AS WELL AS WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE LIKE ABSENCE OF CEREMONY HAS ALSO BEEN A DAMPER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ALTHOUGH WE STILL MAINTAIN OUR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS TO PRACTICE AND SO WE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON YOUTH, PRIMARILY, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH, AS ELDRED MENTIONED, THE MOVE TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF EDUCATION.

AND SO, SEEING HOW OUR YOUTH HAVE BEEN MOVED ONLINE AND YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAVE HAD OR EXPRESSED WAS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY WHEN STAYING AT HOME, TAKING CARE OF OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS OR EVEN YOUNGER SIBLINGS AND OTHER RELATIVES AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDED THAT SPACE FOR SUPPORT FOR THEM.

TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE RESOURCES TO LOOK TO.

ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, WE FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT SPIRIT OF RESILIENCY AND COMMUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND SO THAT IS WHY WE BANDED TOGETHER AS THE YOUTH COUNCIL WITH THE NEW MEXICO STATE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO HELP CREATE SPACES FOR THAT.

>> Antonia: TERESA, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STIGMA SURROUNDING TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

THEY ARE TOUGH TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT OR IF IT IS ANY KIND OF TABOO.

MISTRUST, MAYBE, AT EVEN GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP.

EXPAND HOW CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TOPICS LIKE THIS ARE ADDRESSED THROUGH HONORING NATIVE LIFE.

>> Gomez: THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION.

HONORING NATIVE LIFE WAS BORN OUT OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVELY CREATED CLEARINGHOUSE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN SUICIDE PREVENTION AND THAT WAS ENACTED IN 2011 AND IT WAS REALLY AN EFFORT FROM THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE THAT CAME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SUICIDE CLUSTERS IN SEVERAL TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

AND IT REALLY WAS CREATED WITH THE INTENT TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY RELEVANT, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS.

SOON AFTER THE LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED, THE FOUNDING GROUP CAME TOGETHER AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE NAME, SUICIDE PREVENTION CLEARINGHOUSE, AND THAT IS HOW HONORING NATIVE LIFE WAS BORN OUT OF THAT, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE SUICIDE THAT WE WOULD FOCUS ON SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS AND AT THE SAME TIME ENSURE THAT WE WERE ENGAGING IN SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

>> Antonia: SO, HOW CAN PEOPLE APPROACH TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND BEING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE?

IF IT IS FOR THEM PERSONALLY OR FOR MAYBE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS?

>> Gomez: I THINK SOCIETY IN GENERAL NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER OR MAYBE SOMEBODY HAS A BROKEN LEG.

WE TEND TO LEAN IN TO ATTENDING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS' NEEDS, BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS IS JUST LIKE A PHYSICAL ILLNESS.

IT IS A BRAIN DISORDER IN SOME CASES AND IT IS A NUMBER OF THINGS BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SAME WAY.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT BY NOT TALKING ABOUT IT AND IN A LOT OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THE ISSUE IS TABOO BUT EVEN IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, IT IS STILL OCCURRING.

WE STILL SEE HIGH RATES OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND WE KNOW FOR AMERICAN INDIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SUICIDE IS -- IT IS EXACERBATING.

SO WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH AND IT IS NOT SEPARATE FROM OUR WHOLE BEING.

>> Antonia: ELDRED, ALYSIA TALKED ABOUT YOUTH AND HOW THE PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING YOUTH.

ELDERS ARE ALSO REALLY A KEY PART OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

HOW ARE TRIBES AND HOW IS THIS INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HELPING ENSURE THAT ELDERS ARE ALSO BEING TAKEN CARE OF?

>> Lesansee: GREAT QUESTION.

WITH INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WE ARE LEADING ONE WEEK OUT OF THE STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND SO EVERY WEEK THERE IS A THEME AND THIS WEEK IS ELDERS AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

JUST NOT ELDERS IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES BUT ELDERS ACROSS OUR STATE TO HONOR THEIR RESILIENCE AS WELL AS THEIR LEADERSHIP.

NEW MEXICO INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WE UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS HOLISTIC BUT INTERGENERATIONAL.

SO THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH OUR YOUTH IT CONNECTS AND HOPEFULLY IS A CATALYST TO TACKLE COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND FAMILIARIZE THE COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES SO WITH THAT WE ALSO PARTNER WITH OUR STATE AGENCY ON AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES CONTINUALLY TO OUR ELDERS AND MOST RESPECTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Antonia: WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES IS THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT LOOKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO?

>> Lesansee: GREAT QUESTION.

SO, FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WE ARE ROOTED IN COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE HOW PIVOTAL OUR POSITION IS AS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE STATE'S OVERALL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ECOSYSTEM.

ONE OF THE ARMS WE DO HAVE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS TO WORK WITH NATIVE AMERICAN SUBCOMMITTEE, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER ALL DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITHIN NEW MEXICO, ALL TRIBAL NATIONS, AND THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE DO PROVIDE NOT ONLY FOR COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO TO GET THE FEEDBACK AND SOME OF THE IDEAS WE HAVE ON THE FOREFRONT IN ADDITION TO THIS YOUTH WELLNESS SUMMIT ARE TO LOOK AT BROADBAND CAPABILITIES, HOW TO BETTER THAT.

HOW TO BOLSTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS WITHIN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, AND THE RESOURCES IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE LINES OR MENTAL HEALTH HELP LINES, SUCH AS WARM LINES OR HOT LINES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS WELL, JUST GETTING OUT MATERIALS.

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE PARTNERED WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN THEIR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION WITH ARTIST RICARDO CATE FROM TEWA PUEBLO AND WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH COVID-19 COLORING BOOK AND FROM THERE IT WAS REALLY TO HELP THE YOUTH BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ALL THE WAY FROM PARENTS TO GRANDPARENTS AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ARE FACING AT THIS TIME.

>> Antonia: ALYSIA, THE YOUTH -- THERE IS A TRIBAL YOUTH WELLNESS SUMMIT IN JUNE.

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON FOR HEALING AND RESPONDING TO COVID-19.

AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS SUCH A KEY IMPORTANT PART OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

>> Coriz: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS INTEGRAL TO THE FOCUS OF THIS YOUTH WELLNESS SUMMIT.

WE FEEL THAT HEALTH AS TERESA EXPLAINED IS MULTI-LEVEL.

IT ENCOMPASSES PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.

SO, WITHIN THAT, IT CONTAINS ALL OF THESE.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF BEING HOLISTIC AND WITHIN THAT IT IS COLLABORATING WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT RESOURCES AMONG THE STATE ESPECIALLY UTILIZING THE HONORING NATIVE LIFE PLATFORM AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND ALSO MAINTAINING THAT CULTURAL RESPECT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Antonia: TERESA, WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO OR HOW CAN THEY FIND INFORMATION?

WHAT DO THEY DO IF THEY THINK THEY ARE IN NEED OF SOME RESOURCES?

>> Gomez: THERE IS QUITE A FEW ACCESS -- CRISIS AND ACCESS LINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, TEXT LINES, CRISIS TEXT LINES, AND I JUST HEARD OF A NEW INITIATIVE COMING OUT OF NORTHWEST PORTLAND AREA INDIAN HEALTH BOARD WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN TRY TEXT 741741 AND WITHIN THAT TEXT WRITE THE WORD NATIVE, AND THEN CAN BE CONNECTED WITH SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH TRIBAL NATIONS AND RESPONDING TO THOSE CRISES, BUT THERE IS QUITE A FEW TEXT LINES AND PHONE LINES THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL TO GET HELP, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN CRISIS OR JUST NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.

>> Antonia: WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY ON NEW MEXICO PBS, ELDRED, TERESA AND ALYSIA.

>> Gene: THINGS APPEAR TO BE GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE STATE'S WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT.

THE FORMER SECRETARY BILL MCCAMLEY STEPPED DOWN SUDDENLY IN APRIL.

AND IN PART BECAUSE OF HARASSMENT HE FACED PERSONALLY FROM FOLKS FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESSING OF THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE ISSUED A REPORT THAT FOUND THE STATE MAY HAVE OVERPAID ON UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS TO THE TUNE OF 250 MILLION-DOLLARS.

HALF OF THAT ACCORDING TO THE LFC MIGHT IN FACT BE FRAUDULENT.

NOW, SENATOR SNYDER, THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY MUCH LOWER, BUT EITHER WAY, THIS HAS TURNED INTO A FINANCIAL MESS FOR THE STATE, NO DOUBT.

GIVEN THE UNPRECEDENTED NATURE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IS IT ANY SURPRISE THAT THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS?

LET'S START THERE.

WERE YOU SHOCKED WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THE STORY?

>> Diane: WELL, THAT LEVEL OF MONEY ALWAYS IS SHOCKING TO ME BUT THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS, NO.

I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT IS UNIQUE TO NEW MEXICO.

I HAVEN'T DONE ANY STUDY OR RESEARCH ON OTHER STATES BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF -- I BELIEVE IT WAS RAPID CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE SHORT STAFFED, YOU HAVE TO FIND STAFF TO HIRE TO HANDLE THINGS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS GOING FROM 14,000 UP TO 200,000 PHONE CALLS.

>> Gene: THE NUMBER WENT FROM 7500 A MONTH TO 75,000 A DAY.

75,000 CALLS A DAY.

THAT IS AMAZING.

WHO COULD HANDLE THAT?

>> Diane: NOBODY CAN.

CERTAINLY, NOBODY EVER DREAMED WE WOULD HAVE TO.

SO, WE ARE ALSO FACING THE FACT THAT WE WERE LOANED MONEY TO COVER SOME OF OUR INITIAL EXPENSES.

SO, THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE AND I DON'T KNOW WHO FIGURES OR WRITES THE STUDIES FOR THE GOVERNOR.

THE THING IS WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM.

AND WE STILL HAVE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO, I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

I AM JUST WAITING TO SEE REALLY AND TRULY HOW SEVERE A PROBLEM IT IS BECAUSE THE MONEY HAS TO BE FOUND SOME PLACE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

AND I WANT TO ASK SERGE WHO JUST MADE AN INTERESTING POINT ON THE LEVEL OF MONEY IN THAT LOAN.

THE LFC HAS A CONCERN OF THE 278 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SHORE UP THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND.

THE STATE RECEIVED 1.75 BILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUND.

IT APPEARS AT LEAST SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL GO BACK TO PAYING THAT LOAN, I JUST MENTIONED.

BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU GET THIS BACK UNDER CONTROL FROM HERE, TOM GARRITY.

GIVEN WE HAVE INTERIM SECRETARY IN RICKY SERNA, WHO HAS BEEN AROUND, DOING THE BEST HE CAN BUT HOLY SMOKES HE HAS AN UPHILL CLIMB HERE.

>> Tom: YEAH.

MOST DEFINITELY, THERE WAS A LOT OF FRAUD WHICH I THINK IS THE MAIN CULPRIT FOR THE MAJOR OVERPAYMENTS.

THERE IS ALSO FRAUD WITH THE PPP PROGRAM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE SURPRISE -- YOU KNOW -- WE SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED BUT MAYBE SURPRISED WITH JUST HOW MASSIVE THIS ISSUE IS.

I HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE FRAUD ISSUE BECAUSE BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, MY IDENTITY WAS STOLEN AND IT WAS USED TO ACTUALLY LEVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR SOMEONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK THAT BOTH FROM THE EMPLOYER SIDE AS WELL AS EMPLOYEE SIDE KNOWING THAT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IS JUST SIMPLY OVERLOADED.

THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY PROVIDES TO ANYONE KNOWING I AM NOT ALONE NOW WAS REALLY SOMETHING ELSE.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED BUT, WOW, IT TOOK ABOUT SIX, SEVEN MONTHS TO GET IT ALL KIND OF PUT INTO PLACE, SO, HOPEFULLY, NEW MEXICANS WILL GET ANSWERS TO NOT JUST WHAT IS NEXT FOR EMPLOYERS AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS FUND GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT SHORTFALL OR WILL WE BE PROVIDED GRACE.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THIS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS HOW DID THE FRAUD OCCUR.

>> Gene: THAT IS A GOOD POINT THERE.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SIX TO SEVEN DAYS.

OH, MAN, SERGE, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PRETTY QUIET ON THIS ISSUE.

SHE ISSUED SOME STATEMENTS BUT SO FAR SHE HAS NOT DONE IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW THAT I HAVE SEEN.

DOES SHE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC TO ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS?

WE ARE TALKING A CLASSIC BUCK STOPS HERE KIND OF MOMENT.

>> Serge: I THINK NOT ONLY IS IT A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF SAY, YEAH, THE BUCK STOPS HERE, I HONESTLY THIS -- I MEAN THIS LFC REPORT SEEMS A BIT OF A HIT JOB.

I THINK DWS DID THIS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING THROUGH A NONZERO AMOUNT OF FRAUD, BUT IF YOU DO THE MATH, IF I HAVE DONE IT CORRECTLY, IT IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 3 OR 4% OF THIS MONEY IN A PANDEMIC WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF NEW CLAIMS COMING IN, WHEN THE PRIMARY THING WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT NEW MEXICANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT WE ARE DOING THE MATH, MAKING THE CALCULUS RIGHT OF SAYING ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT, THE BARRIERS TO GETTING THIS SO INSURMOUNTABLE WE UNDER-SERVE THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO OR ARE WE GOING TO SAY, LET'S GET THIS MONEY OUT AND IS THERE AN ACCEPTABLE -- I DON'T WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS BUT TO ME IS 3% SLIPPAGE, RIGHT, IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF MISALLOCATION OR MISAPPROPRIATION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS WHO WERE SERVED BY THIS.

TO ME THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS IS, SURE LET'S LOOK AT AND FIGURE IT OUT, BUT WE HAVE SEEN HERE AND ALL OVER THE PLACE, RIGHT, IN HOUSING, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WAS GETTING RENT TO PEOPLE AND THEN THE DOCUMENTATION, GETTING ALL THE RIGHT PIECES OF PAPER TO EVERYBODY, AND LESS MONEY IS GOING OUT THE DOOR.

I THINK DWS MADE THE RIGHT CALL ON THIS AND I SUPPORT THAT.

I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT TO SAY, YES, THIS HAPPENED AND THIS IS WHY AND WE HAVE PRIORITIZED NEW MEXICANS OVER TRYING TO -- >> Gene: I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY.

I HEAR YOUR POINT LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT SENATOR IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE GOT 8.2% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY WORK TO BE DONE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE IS LOOKING FOR A JOB.

BY THE WAY, WE TIED WITH NEW YORK FOR THIRD HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY, FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE.

IS THAT GOING TO EXACERBATE THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH FRAUDULENT CLAIMS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

>> Diane: I DON'T THINK THE FACT THAT NEW YORK AND NEW MEXICO ARE TIED IS GOING TO EXACERBATE IT.

I THINK THE FACT THAT NEW MEXICANS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED SEE THESE MILLIONS, EVEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING INTO OUR STATE AND THEY CAN'T GET A PHONE CALL ANSWERED, THEY CAN'T GET AN EMAIL ANSWERED.

THEY CAN'T GET ANY RESPONSE ABOUT THEIR CLAIM.

I WENT IN AND LOOKED AT ALL THESE THINGS.

THERE IS SOME QUESTIONS THAT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE ASKING THIS OR THEY ARE ASKING THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THEY WILL FIND, AND MAYBE I AM BEING NAIVE I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THEY'LL FIND SOME OF THE FRAUD IS BECAUSE PEOPLE SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ANSWER TO CHOOSE.

THEY DIDN'T FIT IN EITHER BOX COMPLETELY.

SO, I THINK WE'LL FIND SOME OF THAT.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN THING IS, AND WE HAVE NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS, IS THAT SOME PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO ARE ACTUALLY EARNING MORE THROUGH THE UNEMPLOYMENT THAN THEY WERE AS AN EMPLOYEE.

WELL, I TRIED TO THINK OF WHAT CATEGORIES THAT WOULD BE AND HERE AGAIN IT COULD BE WRONG, BUT I CAN ONLY THINK OF LIKE THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND WHEN YOU HAVE, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THERE IS A LOWER WAGE PAID FOR WAIT STAFF, FOR INSTANCE, AND THEY DEPEND ON THEIR TIPS.

WELL, IN THE EVALUATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DO THEY LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY PAID HOURLY THAT LOWER RATE OR DO THEY -- A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW HAVE FINISHED OUT THEIR FIRST ROUND.

>> Gene: LET ME DO THIS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR POINT.

I WANT TO ASK TOM TO WRAP IT UP UNDER A MINUTE HERE.

DOVETAILING OFF WHAT THE SENATOR IS DESCRIBING, TOM, I AM CURIOUS ABOUT PERCEPTION AND HOW THIS GENERALLY WORKS IN CITIZENRY, AND OUR TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, TRUST IN HOW WE DO OUR BUSINESS.

WHAT IS THE PERCEPTION BOUNCE HERE FROM THE STORY?

>> Tom: THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE REINFORCING A NEGATIVE TRUST IN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

SO, THESE TYPES OF MISSTEPS BY GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REBUILD IT VERY QUICKLY UNLESS THEY INCREASE REALLY THE FRONT LINE PERSONNEL AND COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION MARK RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRYING AND CALL THE 800 NUMBER OR THE TOLL FREE NUMBER OF THE CALL CENTER AND THEY JUST SAY THAT THEY GET A MESSAGE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL LINES ARE BUSY.

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE CALLED IT.

WHAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO GET ON THAT CALL WAITING LIST.

TO BE PLACED ON HOLD, EVEN IF IT IS A REALLY LONG TIME BUT THERE IS A LOT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE ITEMS THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO AND IMPLEMENT TO REALLY REBUILD OR AT LEAST KIND OF BALANCE OUT THAT TRUST SO THEY CAN START TO BUILD IT BACK UP AGAIN.

>> Gene: INTERESTING POINT AND THAT HAS TO COME WITH A NEW HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD A PIO FOR OVER A YEAR.

THE WHOLE THING, THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY JUST REVAMP THE WHOLE DEAL.

THANKS TO THE ENTIRE PANEL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RESEARCH AND DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

WE ARE BACK IN A BIT WITH MORE DEBATE.

THIS TIME AROUND TAXPAYERS POTENTIALLY FOOTING THE BILL FOR CLEANING UP AFTER THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

SINCE THE 1990'S THE BOSQUE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICO STUDENTS TO THE RIO GRANDE EACH YEAR.

ONCE THEY ARE IN THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, THEY COLLECT DATA ON EVERYTHING FROM HOW COTTONWOOD FORESTS ARE DOING TO HOW DEEP OR SHALLOW GROUND WATER LEVELS ARE.

ALL THAT DATA ISN'T JUST A SCIENCE LESSON, IT IS USED BY FEDERAL SCIENTISTS AND OTHER RESEARCHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RIO GRANDE AND HOW IT IS CHANGING.

THAT PROGRAM'S FUNDING IS NOW IN JEOPARDY.

CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS TALKS WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GREG DYSON.

>> Laura: GREG DYSON, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THE BOSQUE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAM IS A 20-YEAR OLD PROGRAM.

STUDENTS COLLECT DATA FROM THE RIO GRANDE, EVERYTHING FROM GROUNDWATER LEVELS TO LEAF LITTER.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO ARE THESE STUDENTS AND WHO ARE THE SCIENTISTS WHO RELY UPON THIS DATA?

>> Dyson: HI LAURA.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THE STUDENTS ARE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, ACTUALLY.

I MEAN THE MAJORITY ARE FROM BERNALILLO COUNTY.

WE DO A LOT WITH ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE ARE BASED AT BOSQUE SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL RIGHT ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.

AND, WE TAKE KINDERGARTENERS THROUGH 12TH GRADERS OUT TO THE BOSQUE AND THEY COLLECT SCIENTIFIC DATA.

WE TRAIN FROM THE DEPTH OF GROUND WATER TO LITTER FALL TO THE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS.

AND ALL TYPES OF AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT BODIES USE THE DATA.

IT RANGES FROM U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BERNALILLO COUNTY, CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, VALENCIA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, THE RIO GRANDE, MRGCD, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

SO, THAT IS JUST A PARTIAL LIST.

ALL TYPES OF FOLKS USE OUR DATA FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE.

>> Laura: IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE FUNDING FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

THE BULK OF YOUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS CHANGING.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY THAT IS HAPPENING?

>> Dyson: YEAH.

WE HAVE HAD A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN FUNDING PRETTY GENEROUSLY OVER THE YEARS.

AND IT IS THROUGH -- THERE IS LOTS OF ACRONYMS IN THIS BUSINESS.

IT IS MRGESCP, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE ENDANGERS SPECIES COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CUT DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET WAS BEING CUT DRAMATICALLY.

SO THEY ARE MAKING CUTS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THIS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM IS REALLY FEELING IT AND WE GET OUR FUNDING THROUGH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ABOUT 2/3 OF OUR BUDGET.

AND WE ARE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THAT, SO, THE LAST -- WITH THE NEXT FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 2/3 CUT IN OUR BUDGETS.

>> Laura: WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE ON STUDENTS, MONITORING, ON DATA THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO COLLECT?

>> Dyson: WE HAVE LOTS OF FEELERS OUT FOR GETTING FUNDING BACK FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND FROM GOVERNMENT BODIES.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN MAKE UP AT LEAST A BIG PART OF THAT, BUT WE ARE ALSO DOING A WORST CASE SCENARIO PLANNING.

WE HAVE 33 ACTIVE SITES ALONG THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE AND WE WOULD GO DOWN TO 10 IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO.

INSTEAD OF REACHING 10,000 STUDENTS A YEAR, WE WOULD BE MORE LIKE 1000 OR 2,000 AT MOST.

SO IT IS A PRETTY MAJOR CUT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT REPLACING STAFF THAT LEAVE.

WE ARE KIND OF GEARING UP FOR WORST CASE SCENARIO BUT HOPEFUL FOR THE BEST.

>> Laura: THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME, THE LAST YEAR, NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAS BROUGHT ACROSS THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, BUT ALSO THE RIO GRANDE.

YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE, DROUGHT, CHANGES TO THE RIVER AND THE BOSQUE.

WHAT DOES THIS LOSS MEAN FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

>> Dyson: YEAH.

I MEAN THE SADDEST IMPACT IS WITH THE STUDENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK IN THE FIELD WITH THEM COME THE FALL SEMESTER.

AND, WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT BACK DRAMATICALLY.

THE DATA IS -- IT IS SAD TO LOSE A YEAR OF DATA FOR THOSE SITES WE HAVE TO DROP.

WE WOULDN'T DROP THEM.

WE WOULD SET THEM ASIDE UNTIL FUNDING CAME BACK UP.

WE WOULDN'T CLOSE THEM PERMANENTLY.

BUT I THINK THE REAL IMPACT IS WITH THE STUDENTS.

IT IS GETTING OUT IN THE FIELD AND LEARNING TO BE A YOUNG SCIENTIST IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

WE DON'T MERELY DO FIELD TRIPS.

WE TAKE STUDENTS OUT AND SHOW THEM HOW TO COLLECT SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND DATA AND THE NUMBERS OF EXAMPLES OF STUDENTS WHO GO ON TO, SAY, YOU KNOW, THE UNM BIOLOGY PROGRAM, I MEAN, IT IS REALLY JUST EXCITING TO SEE STUDENTS KIND OF THINK, WOW, I CAN BE A SCIENTIST.

>> Laura: WE DID A SHOW IN 2017 WHERE WE WENT OUT WITH STUDENTS AND STAFFERS AND HAD A GREAT TIME AND REALLY SAW THAT FIRST HAND OF THE STUDENTS' EXCITEMENT BUT ALSO I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS OVER THE YEARS HOW THEY USE THE DATE AND CERTAINLY AS THE RIO GRANDE IS CHANGING TO HAVE THIS DATA SET REALLY SEEMS PRETTY CRITICAL.

SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE MISS OUT ON MONITORING SITES, IF THERE IS TIME GAPS IN SOME OF THIS MONITORING?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE?

>> Dyson: I MEAN YOU CAN -- ONE OF THE DATA SETS THAT I ENJOY TALKING ABOUT IS OUR DEPTH TO GROUNDWATER.

SO, EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE COTTONWOODS ALONG THE BOSQUE.

COTTONWOODS GENERALLY WILL ONLY -- THEIR ROOTS GO DOWN ABOUT THREE METERS IN ORDER TO FIND WATER.

AND HAVING THAT, LOSING A YEAR OF DATA ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE GROUNDWATER LEVEL IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE COTTONWOODS IN THE BOSQUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS LONG-TERM DATA SETS SO THE SKY IS NOT FALLING IF WE HAVE TO SET SOME DATA SETS ASIDE FOR A YEAR.

YET THE CONTINUITY -- WE ARE ACTUALLY APPROACHING CLOSER TO 25 YEARS OF DATA WITH A LOT OF THESE DATA SETS AND THE CONTINUITY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THESE DATA SETS SO SPECIAL.

>> Laura: IT SEEMS LIKE BAD TIMING ALL AROUND GIVEN THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ON THE RIO GRANDE.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO AT THIS POINT?

>> Dyson: WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS REACHING OUT TO PARTNERS.

WE HAVE INFORMED ALL OF OUR PARTNERS OF OUR FUNDING SITUATION AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.

WE HAVE JUST MOVED THAT SUPPORT TO TURN INTO ACTUAL FUNDING.

OF COURSE, ANYONE CAN DONATE TO THEM ANY TIME.

I THINK IT IS ALSO GREAT TO LET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS KNOW HOW MUCH BEMP MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT HAS THE BIGGEST IMPACT OF ANYTHING.

>> Laura: THANK SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Dyson: THANK YOU, LAURA.

>> Gene: WE HAVE TALKED A LOT THIS WEEK ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS BURDEN IN NEW MEXICO WHETHER IT BE SPACEPORT AMERICA OR OVERPAYMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND THE LAST TOPIC ALSO FOLLOWS THAT THEME, THIS TIME WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING UP ABANDONED OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE, SHOULD A COMPANY GO BELLY UP.

A NEW STUDY COMMISSIONED BY STATE LAND OFFICE FINDS TAXPAYERS COULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR MORE THAN EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS.

IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE BUT COMES DOWN TO STEPS COMPANIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO SET ASIDE MONEY FOR CLEAN-UP SHOULD THEY GO BANKRUPT.

THAT IS PART OF GETTING A DRILLING PERMIT BUT IN THE WAKE OF THIS NEW REPORT, LAND COMMISSIONER, STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARDS SAYS THOSE ASSURANCES ONLY REALLY COVER THE PLUGGING OF WELLS NOT ALL THE OTHER REMEDIATION THAT GOES INTO SHUTTING DOWN ABANDONED WELL SITES.

ARE YOU SURPRISED WE ARE JUST REALIZING THIS AS A STATE.

THAT IS EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS IS A PRETTY GOOD SURPRISE.

>> Serge: IT IS A BIT SURPRISING TO THINK -- FOLKS DIDN'T ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL COSTS WERE GOING TO BE AND POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE.

IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME HOW RECENTLY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REVISITED AND BOND PRICES WERE SET DECADES AND DECADES AGO.

FAILURE TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION, LET ALONE THE COST OF PLUGGING NEW WELLS, DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL REMEDIATION.

THIS IS A SLOW MOVING DEVELOPMENT BUT ONE THAT -- I DON'T KNOW AGAIN HOW RECENTLY THIS WAS LOOKED AT.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS FAIRLY PREDICTABLE THESE COSTS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CLEAN-UP.

>> Gene: ACCORDING TO THE STUDY, THE FINANCIAL ASSURANCE PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES CURRENTLY IN OPERATION WILL ONLY COVER ABOUT 200,000,000 OF THE TOTAL REMEDIATION COSTS.

THAT IS A BIG GAP FROM EIGHT BILLION.

WHAT DOES YOUR POLITICAL INSTINCT HOW YOU WOULD FIX?

>> Diane: FIRST OF ALL, TO BE VERY POLITICAL, I HAVE TO ALWAYS WHEN YOU ARE EVALUATING WHETHER YOU BELIEVE A REPORT OR NOT, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LOOK AT IS WHO PAID FOR IT.

AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE LAND COMMISSIONER WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY, EVEN BACK THROUGH HER CAMPAIGN, NOT BEEN A GREAT FRIEND OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

SO IT MAKES ME A LITTLE SUSPECT.

THAT IS MY POLITICAL VIEWPOINT.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT IS ANOTHER THING.

I GUESS THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT SAYS, WHY DO WE SUDDENLY THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE BANKRUPT COMPANIES?

I MEAN, YES, COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED IT SOME.

BUT, THE BIGGEST THING IS, I THINK, THE FACT THAT EVERYONE IS PRETENDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET TO SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY AT THE LEVEL OF WHICH REVENUES PRODUCED BY OIL AND GAS IN, SAY, THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMMITMENTS TO BE ALL SOLAR BY THAT TIME.

I THINK THAT IS THE UNREALISTIC PART.

IF WE REALLY -- IF THAT WAS PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE TO DO, THEN, YES, WE WOULD HAVE COMPANIES GO BANKRUPT, A LOT OF COMPANIES OVER THE NEXT 15 OR 20 YEARS, BUT I DON'T SEE US GOING AWAY FROM OIL AND GAS THAT QUICKLY.

I THINK THAT IT TAKES LONGER TO PRODUCE THE JOBS AND THE ENERGY BECAUSE WHO HAS THE LINES, AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN AWARE, TO TRANSMIT THE ENERGY ITSELF.

THE POWER LINES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE GRIDS.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THIS THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT.

I JUST DON'T SEE THAT MANY COMPANIES GOING BANKRUPT IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SO I THINK EIGHT BILLION IS AN AWFULLY BIG NUMBER.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

TOM, PART OF THE ISSUE IS THE STATE BONDING REQUIREMENTS.

THEY ARE TINY RELATIVE TO ALL THESE COSTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT OIL AND GAS BRINGS TO THE STATE.

THE SENATOR MENTIONED IT BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER AND THESE COSTS ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO RECOUP.

BONDING WAS LAST UPDATED DECADES AGO AS SENATOR MENTIONED AS WELL.

ARE LAWMAKERS TOO EAGER TO LISTEN TO INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS, IN YOUR VIEW?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> Tom: BOY, THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER TOPIC RIGHT THERE.

THERE IS A NEED AND I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICAL PLAY AND SUCH.

ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT MEDIA REPORTS THERE HAVE BEEN 277 WELLS THAT HAVE BEEN CAPPED AND THAT IS WHAT THE BONDS ARE BEING SET ASIDE FOR IS CLEAN-UP OF THOSE PARTICULAR CAPPED WELLS.

WITH THE NARRATIVE REALLY FOCUSING ON FOSSIL FUELS NOT BEING REALLY A TRANSITION FROM THERE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE THINGS RECENTLY IN A COURT IN DENMARK AS WELL AS A FORTUNE 500 OIL AND GAS COMPANY HAVING ENVIRONMENTALISTS AS A PART OF THEIR BOARDS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A SHIFT IN THAT GENERAL AREA WHICH COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL WELLS BEING CAPPED.

ON ONE HAND, THE LAND COMMISSIONER IS SMART TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL COSTS TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO COVERED.

ON THE OTHER, I THINK SINCE WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD FROM INDUSTRY IN ANY OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE THAT I SAW, THAT THE INDUSTRY PROBABLY IS SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS GOING, WAIT A SECOND, IS THIS AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS?

I THINK THAT THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE AND HAVE A LOT MORE INPUT FROM THE INDUSTRY, BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD START TO THE CONVERSATION AND ONE PARTICULAR REMEDY AS THE COMMISSIONER HAS IDENTIFIED IS TO INCREASE THE BONDING RATES, WHICH ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, FROM 25,000 PER WELL TO 150,000 A WELL.

THAT IS A LOT OF CASH.

>> Gene: HER QUOTE IS, WE NEED TO RIGHT SIZE OUR BONDING REQUIREMENTS AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ON ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS ON STATE LAND.

THAT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR.

SERGE, HOW DID THE GOVERNOR'S PUSH TOWARD RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES AFFECT THIS DISCOVERY?

I WANT TO FOLLOW UP OBVIOUSLY WHERE THE SENATOR WAS AT A LITTLE BIT AGO BUT IS THIS IMPACTFUL WHERE THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO GO?

SHE HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS, IN THIS FINANCIAL SITUATION.

>> Serge: I THINK SO.

YOU SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING DEPENDENT ON THE PRICE OF THE COMMODITY, WHICH THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

IT IS NOT QUITE AS FRAGILE AS IT LOOKED A YEAR AGO, THERE IS STILL LOTS OF POTENTIAL FOR THE COSTS OF DEVELOPING AND OPERATING THESE WELLS TO BE MORE THAN THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF DOING SO RELATIVELY SOON, RELATIVELY QUICKLY, RELATIVELY EASY EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS PUSH TOWARDS RENEWABLE.

WITH THAT IN MIND IT IS ABSOLUTELY A FACTOR.

I AGREE WITH SENATOR SNYDER THIS IS NOT A CRISIS THAT WE NEED TO RUSH OUT AND FIX RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT.

IT IS NOT ALL FALLING APART BUT THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR THAT AND SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AND, YEAH, IT IS ACCELERATING BECAUSE OF THIS PUSH.

I IMAGINE THAT IT IS GOING TO ACCELERATE BASED ON THE PUSH TOWARDS RENEWABLE.

>> Gene: WE ARE PINCHED ON TIME BUT I WANT TO GET THIS IN.

THERE WAS A HOUSE MEMORIAL THIS PAST SESSION -- MY FAULT, THE 2020 SESSION -- THAT CALLED FOR REVIEW OF ALL ENERGY BONDS BUT IT NEVER MADE IT ANYWHERE.

DID LAWMAKERS MISS THE MOMENT THERE?

>> Diane: I THINK AT THE TIME MEMORIALS, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE NO EFFECT IN LAW.

THEY MEAN NOTHING AS IN THE FACT THAT USUALLY IF YOU PASS ONE, THEY'LL DO A STUDY OF SOMETHING AND IT COULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE BEEN A TIME CRUNCH.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT REASON BUT I DON'T SEE IT BEING -- ALL IT CALLED FOR WAS A STUDY.

I JUST DON'T SEE THAT THERE WAS ANY GREAT POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO KILLING A MEMORIAL.

>> Gene: TOM, REAL QUICK ON THAT LAST THOUGHT.

MEMORIAL IS A MEMORIAL AS SENATOR MENTIONED.

ARE WE GOING TO GET SERIOUS HERE AND TAKE THAT STEP PAST MEMORIALS INTO SOMETHING MORE CONCRETE?

>> Tom: ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE BUDGET.

SO, UNTIL THE LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR REALLY COME TOGETHER TO SAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE THE POTENTIAL LOST REVENUE FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THOSE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD, THEN ALL, I THINK, WE ARE GOING TO SEE ARE MEMORIALS THAT GET TABLED.

>> Gene: THERE YOU GO.

THERE WILL BE PUBLIC MEETINGS COMING UP TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU WHEN WE HAVE IT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR LINE PANELISTS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM BACK IN JUST A SECOND WITH FINAL THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK.

WE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND TONIGHT, THREE COMPLICATED ISSUES THAT NEED CONTEXT IN A NUANCE DISCUSSION TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE PARTICULARLY MY COLLEAGUE ANTONIO GONZALES AND HER NOTING THE NEW MEXICO INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR WORK ON SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SHOW, MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND IT IS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES NEEDED IN A DIVERSE POPULATION.

ONE SIZE OF MENTAL HEALTH HELP AND ADVICE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

WE ALL HAVE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH BURDENS TO CARRY AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTEXT AND NUANCE NEEDED TO MEET THAT BURDEN IS EXACTLY WHERE TO START.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US, FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.