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AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO In FOCUS, COUNTING DOWN OUR TOP STORIES OF THE  YEAR THAT WAS.

THIS WEEK, IT'S NUMBER 10  THROUGH 6.

Dan: I FEEL LIKE THE  ROUNDHOUSE, IT JUST FEELS LIKE A DIFFERENT PLACE  WITHOUT SORT OF THAT KIND OF  BIG, DOMINANT PERSONALITY.

Gene: PLUS, LOCAL  ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER TO HELP ALLEVIATE FOOD  INSECURITY IN SOME VERY CREATIVE WAYS.

NEW MEXICO In FOCUS STARTS  NOW.

Gene:   THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

THIS IS A TIME OF REFLECTION  AND EVALUATION FOR MANY OF US AS WE GET READY TO EMBARK  ON A BRAND NEW YEAR, AND WE HERE AT NEW MEXICO In  FOCUS ALWAYS ENJOY LOOKING BACK AT THE STORIES THAT  DEFINE THE PREVIOUS 365 DAYS.

WE'LL BEGIN OUR COUNTDOWN OF THOSE TOP TEN STORIES OF  2021 WITH A SPECIAL LINE OPINION PANEL OF WORKING  JOURNALISTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY WORK HARD EACH AND EVERY DAY TO BRING YOU  IMPORTANT NEWS AND INFORMATION, AND WE  APPRECIATE THEM SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US THIS WEEK  AND NEXT.

Gene: HERE WITH US  VIRTUALLY, OF COURSE, WE START WITH JULIE ANN GRIMM,  EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE  SANTA FE REPORTER.

WE ALSO WELCOME BACK DAN  McKAY FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL'S CAPITOL BUREAU.

ALSO WITH US IS JESSICA ONSUREZ, NEWS DIRECTOR AT  THE CARLSBAD CURRENT ARGUS.

AND WE WELCOME TO THE  VIRTUAL TABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ALGERNON D’AMMASSA OF  THE LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS.

THANK YOU, ALGERNON, FOR  JOINING US.

COMING IN AT NUMBER 10,  GUYS, ON OUR NON-SCIENTIFIC LIST, NEW MEXICO FOUND  ITSELF AT THE CENTER OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD IN 2021,  BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

AN INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING INTO A SHOOTING ON  THE SET OF THE FILM "RUST" NEAR SANTA FE INVOLVING  ACTOR AND PRODUCER ALEC BALDWIN.

MR. BALDWIN IS NOW CLAIMING HE DIDN'T EVEN PULL THE  TRIGGER WHEN THE GUN WENT OFF KILLING CINEMATOGRAPHER  HALYNA HUTCHINS.

AND JULIE ANN, THIS HAPPENED  AT THE FAMED BONANZA RANCH NEAR SANTA FE, A PLACE OF  SOME PRIDE AROUND HERE.

HAS THIS TAKEN SOME OF THE  SHINE OFF THIS INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A BEACON OF  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER THINGS FOR THE LAST  DECADE FOR US?

Julie Ann: I THINK THE  APPETITE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS FOR VIOLENCE IN FILM AND  TELEVISION IS NOT DIMINISHED BY THIS TRAGEDY THAT  HAPPENED IN SANTA FE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS STORY WAS REALLY INTERESTING  FOR THE LOCAL PRESS, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A HOLLYWOOD  STORY THAT HAPPENED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, VERSUS LIKE A  NEW MEXICO STORY THAT HAS A REAL SENSE OF PLACE HERE.

IT'S LIKE ALL THE CAST OF CHARACTERS, IF YOU WILL, THE  DECISION-MAKERS, MANY OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO SUBSEQUENTLY  GET INVOLVED, ARE REALLY CENTERED IN LOS ANGELES.

SO YOU'RE SEEING THE L.A. TIMES DO A LOT OF REALLY  GOOD JOURNALISM AROUND THIS TOPIC, ALONG WITH LOTS OF  OTHER NATIONAL MEDIA.

Gene: LOTS AND LOTS AND  LOTS, ABSOLUTELY.

DAN McKAY, INTERESTINGLY,  LOTS OF TALK ABOUT CORNERS ALLEGEDLY BEING CUT ON THE  SET, YOU KNOW, AND THE ROLE THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED IN THE  TRAGEDY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE,  BUT DOES THIS STICK TO NEW MEXICO FILM WORKERS  THEMSELVES?

DO WE GET A BAD REPUTATION  ONCE THE DUST HAS SETTLED ON ALL OF THIS?

Dan: WELL, THAT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

I DO THINK THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY INCREASED DEBATE  THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF FILM WORKERS.

WORKERS IN GENERAL, BUT ALSO THE CONDITIONS ON FILM SETS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD A RECENT HEARING ON FILM INCENTIVES  AND THE TAX PROGRAM, AND THE SHOOTING DID NOT COME UP,  WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, THAT IT WAS A  TOPIC THAT EITHER BY COINCIDENCE OR BY AGREEMENT  DIDN'T SURFACE IN THIS MAJOR HEARING OVER THE EXPENDITURE  OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

Gene: INTERESTING.

JESSICA, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S  INTERESTING, THE TIMING.

THIS ALL CAME ABOUT ON THE  HEELS OF A HISTORIC VOTE BY IATSE UNIONS TO AUTHORIZE A  STRIKE IN PART OVER WORK CONDITIONS.

THAT STRIKE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AVERTED, AS WE ALL  KNOW, BUT DOES THIS RAISE RED FLAGS ABOUT HOW MUCH THE  FILM INDUSTRY HAS ITS OWN HOUSE IN ORDER?

Jessica: DEFINITELY.

I THINK A LOT OF THE BIG  QUESTIONS PRIOR TO TALK OF A STRIKE WAS NOT ONLY THE  SAFETY OF THE WORKERS, BUT REALLY WORKING CONDITIONS  ALL AROUND.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY DID  END UP NOT STRIKING AND THEY ENDED UP SIGNING AN  AGREEMENT THAT ADDRESSES SOME OF THESE KIND OF  THINGS, LIKE RAISES AND PENSIONS AND HEALTH CARE,  BUT ALSO MAYBE SPEAKING TO WHAT HAPPENED ON THE "RUST"  FILM SET, THINGS LIKE GETTING ENOUGH REST TIME IN  BETWEEN SHIFTS FOR THE WORKERS WHO ARE ON THESE  FILM SETS.

SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT  THEY'RE FOCUSING MORE ON SAFETY OF THESE WORKERS WHO  ARE ALWAYS BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE YOU SEE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, BUT  THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAMERA.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THEY'RE FOCUSING ON SAFETY  THERE.

Gene: YEAH.

ALGERNON, I'M CURIOUS, LAS CRUCES HAS ITS SHARE OF FILM  ACTIVITY.

HAS THIS BEEN AN ISSUE IN  THE LAS CRUCES AREA, IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO?

Algernon: I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A SIMILAR  CONVERSATION IN LAS CRUCES THAT YOU DO ACROSS THE  INDUSTRY, AS FAR AS SAFETY AND PAY.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW TO DEVELOP  THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ATTRACT MORE PRODUCTION WORK  AND GENERATE MORE EMPLOYMENT.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LANDING A JOB AND EARNING  MONEY, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE YOU'RE  WORKING AS WELL AS SAFETY AND THE FEELING YOU HAVE  WHEN YOU GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SAFETY DOES TAKE TIME, AND IN THE FILM INDUSTRY TIME  REALLY IS MONEY.

THE CLICHÉ HOLDS TRUE.

AND SO THE CONCESSIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ASSURE  FIREARMS SAFETY AND OTHER WEAPONS AND OTHER FIREWORKS,  EXPLOSIVES AND THINGS THAT WE DO ON SETS IS JUST  CRUCIALLY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, AND IT'S GOING  TO COST THE INDUSTRY MONEY.

Gene: YOU KNOW, JULIE  ANN, THERE WAS A LOT OF SPECULATION, AND AGAIN, I  MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, ABOUT THE GUN BEING USED FOR  TARGET PRACTICE ON THE SET FOR BOTTLES AND CANS AND  THAT KIND OF THING.

IT'S A PERIOD GUN, OF  COURSE.

AND I'VE GOT TO WONDER HOW  THIS AFFECTS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE  BUSINESS IN SANTA FE.

AGAIN, I'M KIND OF ASKING  THE SAME QUESTION, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT I'M JUST  REALLY CURIOUS.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE TALKED  ABOUT IN SANTA FE, IT SEEMS TO ME, ABOUT MAYBE  SELF-POLICING A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON FILM SETS TO AVOID  THESE THINGS.

Julie Ann: WELL, THE GUN  THAT WAS USED WAS A COLT .45 REVOLVER.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WEST ARE REALLY  FAMILIAR WITH THAT WEAPON.

IT'S A WEAPON THAT'S  DEPICTED ON TELEVISION AND IN FILM A LOT.

IT'S A WEAPON THAT REQUIRES THE HAMMER TO BE DRAWN BACK  BEFORE THE BULLET CAN BE DISCHARGED, AND THE BULLET  IS ONLY DISCHARGED WHEN SOMEONE TOUCHES THE TRIGGER.

AND CONTRARY TO, YOU KNOW, THE NARRATIVE THAT ALEC  BALDWIN GAVE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, SOMETHING ELSE  HAPPENED.

I THINK THE INVESTIGATION IS  SLOW TO THE EYES OF -- AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE KIND OF  USED TO CSI SOLVING THINGS ON TELEVISION IN 60 MINUTES.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

Julie Ann: THIS INCIDENT  HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 21st IN SANTA FE, AND THE  SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF IS IN CHARGE OF THE  INVESTIGATION.

THEY HAVE SENT BALLISTICS TO  THE FBI.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF THOSE ARE  BACK OR NOT, BUT THEY WOULD APPEAR TO NOT BE.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE IN SANTA FE WAS REALLY  PRESSURED, I THINK, BY THAT ABC SPECIAL INTO GIVING A  STATEMENT IN WHICH SHE REALLY SAID NOTHING ABOUT  THE CHARGES.

YOU KNOW, CHARGES HAVEN'T  BEEN FILED YET.

CHARGES STILL COULD BE  FILED.

YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T SAY  THIS -- MARY CARMACK-ALTWIES IS HER NAME -- BUT ALEC  BALDWIN HAS GONE ON TELEVISION NOT ONLY SAYING  HE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER, BUT ALSO SAYING THAT HE'S  PRETTY CONFIDENT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE CHARGED, AND I'M  NOT SURE THAT THAT CONFIDENCE IS WELL PLACED.

I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED  BETWEEN, SAY, TWO LOCAL FILMMAKERS WHO WERE SHOOTING  IN THEIR BACKYARD, IF ONE OF THEM WOULDN'T BE SITTING IN  JAIL RIGHT NOW.

Gene: THAT'S AN  INTERESTING POINT.

I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF THAT  ANGLE.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

DAN, LET'S FINISH WITH THIS.

YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS  EARLIER, I APPRECIATE IT, AND I WANT TO BRING IT BACK,  ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE BY THE STATE TO PROTECT FILM  WORKERS HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF A  MOVEMENT YOU'RE HEARING ASKING FOR LEGISLATION?

Dan: I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT LEGISLATION  AT THIS POINT.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE  ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY THE  OCCUPATIONAL WORKPLACE SAFETY AGENCIES WITHIN THE  STATE, SO I DO THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

AS I SAID, I AM INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THE SHOOTING --  YOU KNOW, WHAT ROLE IT PLAYS IN THIS SORT OF BROADER  POLITICAL DEBATE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE FILM INDUSTRY  IN NEW MEXICO AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE  ECONOMY.

Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

HEY, MOVING NOW TO OUR NINTH BIGGEST STORY OF 2021,  SHERYL WILLIAMS STAPLETON WAS A ROUNDHOUSE FIXTURE FOR  MORE THAN TWO DECADES, BUT THAT ALL CAME TO AN ABRUPT  END AFTER AN EARLY MORNING RAID AND SUBSEQUENT  INDICTMENT ON CHARGES SHE EMBEZZLED MONEY AT HER JOB  AT ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MS. WILLIAMS STAPLETON HAS CONTINUED TO CLAIM HER  INNOCENCE, BUT SHE DID RESIGN HER SEAT IN THE STATE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUST DAYS AFTER THAT RAID.

DAN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT STICKS OUT TO YOU FROM  NEW MEXICO'S LATEST POLITICAL SCANDAL?

Dan: WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS  THAT SHERYL WILLIAMS STAPLETON MAY NOT HAVE HAD  QUITE AS HIGH A PROFILE AS, SAY, A GOVERNOR OR A HOUSE  SPEAKER, BUT SHE WAS THE NUMBER TWO PERSON IN THE  HOUSE.

SHE HAS KIND OF A REALLY  DOMINANT PERSONALITY.

I MEAN, SHE'S JUST ONE OF  THOSE PEOPLE WHO WHEN SHE SPEAKS IN A DEBATE, IT'S  JUST VERY FORCEFUL AND KIND OF EVERYBODY PAYS ATTENTION,  AND SHE WAS NOT SHY ABOUT CONFRONTING PEOPLE WITHIN  HER OWN PARTY MUCH LESS PEOPLE IN THE OTHER PARTY.

SO I FEEL LIKE THE ROUNDHOUSE JUST FEELS LIKE A  DIFFERENT PLACE WITHOUT SORT OF THAT KIND OF BIG,  DOMINANT PERSONALITY.

Gene: ALGERNON, WE'VE  DONE A LOT IN RECENT YEARS TO TRY AND CUT DOWN ON THESE  TYPES OF SCANDALS, INCLUDING CREATING THE STATE'S FIRST  INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION.

BUT WHAT ARE WE STILL MISSING HERE THAT ALLOWED  THIS TO APPARENTLY HAPPEN?

Algernon: WELL, I'M NOT  REALLY SURE, AND THAT'S THE THING, IS THAT AN ETHICS  COMMISSION RESPONDS TO THINGS AND ESTABLISHES THE  LINE OF PLAY AND INTERPRETS, BUT THOSE ARE REACTIVE  FEATURES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT AN ETHICS  COMMISSION CAN BE LOOKED TO AS A WAY TO PREVENT THINGS  FROM HAPPENING.

THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW DO  YOU RESPOND WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, WHETHER IT'S  ACCIDENTAL OR PREMEDITATED.

Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

JESSICA, ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NOT EXACTLY  AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU, BUT I WANTED TO TELL YOU  THAT THEY RECENTLY APPROVED NEW PROCUREMENT PROCESSES  AFTER THE SCANDAL.

APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T HAVE  AN OFFICIAL PROCUREMENT POLICY IN PLACE BEFORE,  ESPECIALLY AROUND SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACTS, WHICH  AROUND THESE PARTS IS A REAL DIFFICULTY, SOLE-SOURCE.

APS DID ALERT AUTHORITIES TO THESE ALLEGATIONS, BUT  SHOULD THEY HAVE DONE MORE TO PROTECT AGAINST IT IN THE  FIRST PLACE?

Jessica: SO DEFINITELY I  THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT  THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH IS FOCUSED ON IS POLICIES  AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE  WAYS TO CATCH THIS, AND TO APS'S CREDIT, THEY DID HAVE  AN EMPLOYEE WHO SAW SOMETHING FUNNY, SPOKE UP,  AND ACTUALLY DID THE RIGHT THING, WHICH LED TO ALL OF  THIS.

NOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING,  SHOULD THEY DO MORE, DEFINITELY.

THOSE ARE PUBLIC DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS, I THINK, IS THAT WE  SHOULD BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION.

NOT JUST THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT  THOSE OF US IN THE PUBLIC WHO SEE THESE CONTRACTS GO  INTO PLACE AND THESE CONTRACTS AWARDED, WE SHOULD  BE PAYING ATTENTION.

Gene: INTERESTING.

ALGERNON, DOES THIS SCANDAL PUSH US AT ALL AWAY FROM A  CITIZEN LEGISLATURE?

THE REASON I ASK THAT, HAS  THE TIME COME TO MAKE THESE PAID JOBS, OR DO YOU  MOMENTUM INCREASING TOWARDS THAT IDEA?

Algernon: I DON'T KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS  NECESSARILY TURNS THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE IDEA OF A  CITIZEN LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH SUSPICION  ABOUT A PROFESSIONAL POLITICAL CLASS, WE MIGHT  SAY, AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO  CORRUPTION.

I THINK WHEREVER THERE'S  OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS, POWER, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO  POCKETS WHERE CORRUPTION CAN TAKE PLACE.

AND I THINK THAT MAYBE THE IDEA ISN'T THAT WE SHOULD BE  MOVING TOWARDS A CORRUPTION-FREE WORLD,  ALTHOUGH WE CAN CERTAINLY MINIMIZE IT, BUT REALLY HAVE  A WORLD WHERE WE RESPOND CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO  CORRUPTION WHETHER THE LEGISLATORS ARE CITIZENS OR  NOT.

I DO THINK, HOWEVER, THAT  THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE US FROM HAVING THE CONVERSATION WE  NEED TO HAVE ABOUT A LEGISLATIVE BODY WHERE  PEOPLE ARE PART-TIME AND UNPAID EXCEPT FOR PER DIEMS,  AND HOW THAT MAY PRESS PEOPLE TO DIRECTIONS THAT  MIGHT INCLUDE CORRUPTION OR AT LEAST THE APPEARANCE OF  THAT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT  REALLY PUSHES US IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER, BUT IT  SHOWS ONE MORE REASON THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT  CONVERSATION AND CONSIDER THE MERITS OF A WELL-PAID,  WELL-MONITORED LEGISLATIVE BODY.

Gene: I WILL ALLOW YOU ALL TO KIND OF TAKE A CUT AT  THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE IT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.

I GET THIS FEEDBACK ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CITIZEN  LEGISLATURE.

JULIE ANN, SAME QUESTION.

DOES THIS MOVE US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT PART-TIME,  PAID, UNPAID PEOPLE, OR IS THERE SOMETHING MORE TO COME  OUT OF THIS?

Julie Ann: I DON'T  REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE BIG TAKE-AWAY FROM THIS  PARTICULAR INCIDENT.

YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON WAS  EMPLOYED BY APS IN A PRETTY GOOD JOB AND HAD A GOOD  SALARY, ALSO HAD A BUSINESS THAT WAS APPARENTLY  OPERATING AND RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL, A RESTAURANT IN  ALBUQUERQUE.

SO I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN MAKE  THE ARGUMENT THAT POVERTY DROVE SOMEONE TO CORRUPTION.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE WAY THAT ALGERNON FRAMED IT  ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK SOMEONE WHO IS  RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS, WATCHING EVERY EXPENDITURE,  EVERY PENNY WE SPEND ON RECORDS REQUEST, IT IS  REALLY HARD TO CONCEIVE OF SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO MAKE  THIS SORT OF GETAWAY WITH A MILLION DOLLARS OF PUBLIC  MONEY.

WE JUST GOT A PRESS RELEASE  THIS WEEK ABOUT SOMEONE FROM SANDIA LABS WHO GOT  PROSECUTED FOR SPENDING $136,000 ON A LAB CREDIT  CARD FOR PERSONAL PURCHASES.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO  COMPREHEND HOW THAT SCALE OF FRAUD AND CORRUPTION CAN  OCCUR IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

I'M PRETTY BAFFLED BY IT.

Gene: INTERESTING  POINTS.

GLAD YOU GOT THAT IN.

DAN, SAME QUESTION AGAIN.

ARE YOU HEARING ANY SCUTTLE  EVEN AMONG THE LEGISLATORS THAT PERHAPS THIS SITUATION  MOVED THEM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT PART-TIME VERSUS  FULL-TIME?

Dan: PEOPLE HAVE BEEN  PRETTY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THIS  PUBLICLY.

I DO THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT IN THE  LEGISLATURE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW LOOKING FOR WAYS  TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A SALARY.

RIGHT NOW THEY DO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS AND  PER DIEM, BUT THEY DON'T DRAW A SPECIFIC SALARY, AND  THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE OVER PROVIDING A SALARY SO A  BROADER SELECTION OF PEOPLE COULD RUN.

SO IT COULD BE THAT THE SHERYL WILLIAMS STAPLETON  INDICTMENT SURFACES IN THAT DEBATE AND IS USED AS A TOOL  TO PUSH SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN  KICKING AROUND.

BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW,  IT'S BEEN A TOPIC PEOPLE SHY AWAY FROM SPEAKING ABOUT  PUBLICLY.

Gene: THAT'S A POINT  THERE.

JESSICA, THE SAME.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE WHERE YOU'RE SITTING THAT PERHAPS  THIS IS PUSHING CITIZENS OR EVEN LEGISLATORS DOWN YOUR  WAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?

Jessica: YOU KNOW, I  THINK I WOULD ECHO WHAT JULIE ANN SAID ON ALL THOSE  FRONTS, MAYBE DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND SAY THAT,  WELL, IT'S NOT PUSHING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK NEED TO HAPPEN THAT  TALK ABOUT REALLY THE ENTRENCHMENT OF POWER IN  SANTA FE, RIGHT.

THIS WAS PRETTY SHOCKING  BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LEGISLATOR WHO IS  WELL-KNOWN, LOVED, HAD PRETTY EXTENSIVE POWER  WITHIN THE RANKS THERE, AND HOW COULD SOMEONE NOT NOTICE  WHAT WAS HAPPENING, IS THE BIG QUESTION.

Gene: THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT THERE.

ALGERNON, INTERESTING, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE'VE  HAD TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT DEAL WITH  REDISTRICTING, CANNABIS, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

IS IT ABOUT MONEY?

WE SEEM TO HAVE PLENTY OF  MONEY, SO IT REALLY CAN'T BE THAT.

Algernon: IT'S NOT ENTIRELY ABOUT MONEY, BUT I  MEAN, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S REVENUE COMING INTO STATE  COFFERS DOES NOT NECESSARILY FEEL TO THE CITIZEN THAT  THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND SUCCEED.

AND I MEAN, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CANNABIS, I THINK  CANNABIS IS SORT OF THIS WIDE -- IT OPENS THIS WIDE  OPEN SPACE WHERE PEOPLE IMAGINE THAT THEY WILL HAVE  AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTERPRISE, AS LONG AS THEY  ALSO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE COSTS UPFRONT OF ENTERING  THAT MARKETPLACE TEND TO BE HIGHER THAN PEOPLE EXPECT  WHEN THEY'RE JUST GETTING IN.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

AND DOWN YOUR WAY, HEMP, AS  WELL.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE  PROPOSITION TO GET INTO.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE  ON THOSE TOPICS.

STILL AHEAD THIS WEEK, OUR  SIXTH AND SEVENTH TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR.

PLUS, NECESSITY BREEDS INNOVATION WHEN IT COMES TO  EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ENOUGH TO EAT  HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

Ari: WE, I THINK,  PROBABLY ALL OF US IN FOOD SECURITY WORK, HAVE TO TRY  REALLY HARD TO DE-STIGMATIZE THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS AS  CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AS POSSIBLE, AS WARM AND  WELCOMING AS POSSIBLE, AS STIGMA-ASIDE AS POSSIBLE.

Gene: WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE NOW AS WE CONTINUE  COUNTING DOWN THE TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR.

COMING IN AT NUMBER 8 ON OUR NONSCIENTIFIC LIST IS THE  LOCAL IMPACTS OF TEXAS' HISTORIC ABORTION BAN.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RECENTLY UPHELD THAT LAW  WHICH EFFECTIVELY RESTRICTS ABORTIONS AFTER ABOUT SIX  WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION.

THE JUSTICES DID SAY THAT  LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THAT LAW CAN CONTINUE.

ALGERNON, THERE'S NO WAY NEW MEXICO WON'T FEEL THE  IMPACTS OF THAT LAW AS WOMEN FLOCK TO THE LAND OF  ENCHANTMENT FOR SERVICE, BUT HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THAT  LONG-TERM?

Algernon: WELL, IT'S NOT  AS THOUGH WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CENTERS IN NEW MEXICO  TO ACCOMMODATE THAT NEED, AND SO ALTHOUGH NEW MEXICO  DID TAKE THE STEP PREEMPTIVELY OF REPEALING A  STATUTORY ABORTION BAN IN OUR STATE, IF PEOPLE ARE  COMING TO NEW MEXICO FROM TEXAS FOR SERVICES, YOU  MIGHT SEE WAIT TIMES AND YOU MIGHT SEE A PROBLEM, AN  OBSTACLE TO OTHER WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AS  WELL.

Gene: JESSICA, DOWN IN  YOUR PART OF THE WORLD, OF COURSE, WHERE YOU ARE,  PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAYS THERE ARE 55,000 ABORTIONS  IN TEXAS ANNUALLY, AND NEW MEXICANS CAN'T POSSIBLY  ABSORB THAT KIND OF NUMBER.

I MEAN, ARE YOU SEEING  THINGS ALREADY?

WHAT'S YOUR REPORTING  TELLING YOU?

Jessica: LET ME JUST  START BY SAYING THAT THE RESOURCES IN NEW MEXICO ARE  NOT VERY HUGE FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE FOR WOMEN, RIGHT.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, THEY  DON'T EXIST HERE AT ALL, REALLY.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT SERVICES OFFERED IN URBAN AREAS LIKE  ALBUQUERQUE AND BERNALILLO COUNTY, SO THE IMPACT WOULD  FURTHER BE SEEN IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO THAN THIS PART OF  THE STATE.

BUT WE ARE CLOSER TO TEXAS,  SO WE HEAR A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND A LOT OF  THE CONCERNS, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T THINK  WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE  HAVE ON HAND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO, AS YOU SAID, ABSORB  THAT NEED.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S  MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THAT CONVERSATION,  ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THOSE SERVICES, OR BEGIN TO  OFFER MORE EXPANSIVE ONES.

Gene: JULIE ANN, I HAVE  A TOUGH QUESTION, AND OTHERS MAY WANT TO GET IN ON THIS,  TOO.

IS THE REVERSAL OF ROE V.  WADE ALMOST INEVITABLE AT THIS POINT, AS SOME PEOPLE  HAVE SUGGESTED -- NOT ME -- CONSIDERING THE CURRENT  MAKE-UP OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, AND WHAT WOULD THE  IMPACTS BE ON NEW MEXICO?

Julie Ann: I MEAN, I'M  NOT A SUPREME COURT SCHOLAR.

I WOULD SAY AS A WOMAN IN  NEW MEXICO, AN AMERICAN WOMAN, A WOMAN OF THE PLANET  EARTH, THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN REPRODUCTIVE  FREEDOM AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ALGERNON BROUGHT  UP, THE NEW MEXICO STATUTORY BAN THAT WAS ON THE BOOKS,  WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR ADVOCATES WHO  WERE CONCERNED THAT THE FEDERAL LAW MIGHT MAKE NEW  MEXICO'S LAW ACTUALLY A FACTOR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WORKED FOR A LONG TIME TO  GET THAT REPEALED, AND THERE WERE SOME CHANGES IN THE  MAKE-UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, PARTICULARLY THE  SENATE, THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE DURING THIS PAST  LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT IS  UNCONTESTABLY TRUE THAT NEW MEXICO'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM  IS BELEAGUERED ON ALL FRONTS.

THAT INCLUDES HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN, THAT INCLUDES  ABORTION SERVICES, AND THAT INCLUDES BIRTH CONTROL  ACCESS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS LIKE JESSICA POINTED  OUT.

BUT EVEN IN SANTA FE, EVEN  BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THERE WERE WOMEN WHO HAD TO TRAVEL  FROM SANTA FE TO ALBUQUERQUE TO GET THESE SERVICES, AND  SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WITH ALL THE WOMEN THAT ARE  COMING FROM TEXAS -- AND THIS IS NOT AN IF SCENARIO,  THIS IS A WHEN, THIS IS A HAPPENING RIGHT NOW  SCENARIO.

IN ORDER FOR WOMEN TO GET THOSE SERVICES, THEY HAVE TO  CROSS THE STATE LINES, AND OUR STATE LINE IS THE LINE  THAT THEY'RE CROSSING.

Gene: DAN, SAME  QUESTION, ROE V. WADE, AND MAYBE SOME THINGS, I'M  INTERESTED, THAT YOU MIGHT BE HEARING ABOUT.

SOME FOLKS WHO ARE VERY AGAINST ROE V. WADE ARE, OF  COURSE, SEEING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT'S YOUR REPORTING TELLING YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING  IN SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE?

Dan: NEW MEXICO DOES NOT  HAVE VERY STRICT ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

SERVICES ARE LIMITED BY OTHER FACTORS.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE BROADER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM  HERE KIND OF BEING OVERWHELMED.

BUT IT CERTAINLY LOOKS IMPORTANT THAT THAT CRIMINAL  STATUTE WAS REPEALED GIVEN THE POTENTIAL CHANGES AT THE  FEDERAL LEVEL.

THAT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE A  REAL PRACTICAL IMPACT.

IT WASN'T JUST A THEORETICAL  DEBATE.

AS JULIE ANN MENTIONED, IT  HAS ALREADY CHANGED THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, AN INITIAL PUSH TO REPEAL THAT CRIMINAL  ABORTION STATUTE FAILED, AND A BUNCH OF LEGISLATORS, THEY  LOST THEIR RE-ELECTION BIDS.

SO IT'S ALREADY CHANGED THE  LEGISLATURE, ITSELF.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS, IN  PARTICULAR, HAVE STILL PUSHED FOR MORE STRINGENT  ABORTION RESTRICTIONS, AND THEY'RE JUST HEAVILY  OUTNUMBERED.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE ANY OF  THAT ADVANCING UNLESS THERE'S SOME SORT OF  CATACLYSMIC EVENT IN LOCAL POLITICS THAT CHANGES THE  NUMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Gene: ALGERNON, OF  COURSE IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO IT'S A LITTLE MORE  CONSERVATIVE IN GENERAL TERMS ON THESE THINGS, BUT  IN LAS CRUCES WHERE YOU ARE MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY  APPLICABLE.

YOU'RE, OF COURSE, A COLLEGE  TOWN.

BUT I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU'RE  SENSING FROM FOLKS IN YOUR PART OF THE STATE ON THE  IDEA OF ABORTIONS, JUST PERIOD.

IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO OPEN AN ABORTION CLINIC IN LAS  CRUCES, COULD THEY HAVE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT, OR WOULD  IT OPEN UP A REAL HORNET'S NEST?

Algernon: WELL, I MEAN, THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE  SOME PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THERE WOULD ALSO BE A LOT OF  SUPPORT FOR A FACILITY THAT WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES AT A  TIME WHEN THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PROVIDES.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABORTING PREGNANCIES, IT'S  ALSO BIRTH CONTROL AND OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AS  WELL AS COUNSELING AND REFERRALS TO FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE  REASONS THAT WOMEN SEEK ABORTIONS, IS BECAUSE OF  THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR OTHER  CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO I MEAN, THERE WOULD  CERTAINLY BE OPPOSITION.

THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE  PEOPLE WAVING SIGNS.

THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE A  LOT OF DIALOGUE AND COMMENT ABOUT THAT.

BUT AT LEAST IN THE LAS CRUCES AREA, THE DONA ANA  COUNTY AREA WHERE WE ARE BORDERING TEXAS, I THINK  THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.

THE LIMITS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE INFRASTRUCTURAL,  FINANCIAL, AND ALSO JUST THE LACK OF PROVIDERS IN  GENERAL; PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND OTHER MEDICAL  PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE.

ESPECIALLY AS LONG AS THE  COVID-19 EMERGENCY PERSISTS.

Gene: YES, IT'S A  DIFFICULTY FOR PROVIDERS TO GET INTO THAT, YOU KNOW,  INTO THE MEDICAL WORLD.

I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING  THAT OUT.

JESSICA, WE'LL FINISH WITH  YOU.

COULD AN ABORTION CLINIC BE  OPENED IN CARLSBAD AND NOT BE AN AMAZING CONTROVERSY TO  HELP ABSORB SOME OF THESE THINGS?

Jessica: WELL, LET ME SHARE JUST A STORY THAT WE  REPORTED ON EARLIER IN THIS CONTROVERSY.

THERE WAS A LOCAL DOCTOR, A WOMEN'S DOCTOR, WHO WAS  PROVIDING JUST ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO SEEK ABORTIONS, AND  SHE WAS EFFECTIVELY MARCHED TO THE BORDER OF THE COUNTY  WITH A THANK YOU, BUT NO THANK YOU.

SO WE ARE IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE PART OF THE  STATE, AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT PLAY A MAJOR  FACTOR IN WHETHER THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES ARE OFFERED  HERE.

NOW, I WILL ADD TO THAT BY  SAYING THAT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS GIVEN  A LOT OF PEOPLE ROOM TO SPEAK UP.

SO THOSE WHO NORMALLY WOULD STAY QUIET ABOUT THEIR  SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES HERE ARE  SPEAKING UP.

WE SAW A LOT OF WOMEN'S  MARCHS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO FOLLOWING TEXAS'S  ABORTION BILL, AND WE SAW THAT IN CARLSBAD AS MUCH AS  WE DID IN OTHER RURAL COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING US.

SO I THINK THAT WHILE WE MIGHT NOT EMBRACE IT, THAT  THERE ARE DEFINITELY THOSE VOICES OUT THERE WHO ARE  GETTING LOUDER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO VOICE THEIR OPINION  ON THIS.

Gene: NEW MEXICO'S OWN  DEB HAALAND COMES IN AT NUMBER 7 ON OUR LIST AFTER  BECOMING THE FIRST EVER NATIVE AMERICAN CABINET  SECRETARY.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN  APPOINTED HER AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE  INTERIOR, AND JESSICA, STAYING WITH YOU, SHE HAS  REALLY WASTED NO TIME IN SHOWING THE IMPACT A NATIVE  VOICE CAN HAVE ON FEDERAL POLICY.

Jessica: THAT IS CORRECT.

SO WE SAW HER DO SOME PRETTY STRONG MOVES IN HER FIRST  MONTHS IN OFFICE.

CHACO CANYON, THE  PROTECTIONS LAID ON TOP OF THAT HISTORIC SITE.

IT'S A 20-YEAR MORATORIUM ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION.

A LOT OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SECRETARY, A  LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT ELSE SHE WILL DO  JUST AS A WOMAN OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND A  WOMAN IN THE CABINET.

Gene: JULIE ANN, PLACE  NAMES GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND IT'S VERY  INTERESTING THE POWER OF A NAME.

I'M CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SECRETARY'S ATTACK, HER  APPROACH, AND WHAT SHE WANTS TO GO AFTER WITH THIS  POSITION.

Julie Ann: I THINK ONE  OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST PROUD OF DEB ABOUT  IS HER ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF VOICES THAT PERHAPS HAVE NOT  BEEN AMPLIFIED TO THE DEGREE.

AND THERE'S NO PERHAPS ABOUT IT, IT'S THAT SHE IS AN  ADVOCATE FOR VOICES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AMPLIFIED TO  THE DEGREE THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND SHE PROMISED TO BE FIERCE FOR ALL NEW MEXICANS,  AND IN FACT, FOR ALL AMERICANS, AND I THINK THAT  HER SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICALLY CORRECT  LANGUAGE, THIS IS ABOUT MORAL IDENTIFICATION, THIS  IS A SERIOUS MATTER, IT'S NOT OKAY TO USE THESE SLURS  THAT REFER TO, YOU KNOW, THE FEMALE ANATOMY AND OTHER  THINGS.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF DEB, AND  I THINK A LOT OF NEW MEXICANS ARE PROUD.

I JUST AGREE, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE SHE'S GOING  TO DO, IN ADDITION TO LIKE RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON.

Gene: I FORGOT ABOUT THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE WAS TERRIFIC ON THAT.

HEY, DAN, BOARDING SCHOOLS  IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE GOING ACROSS NORTH AMERICA,  MEANING THE U.S. AND CANADA, BUT RIGHT HERE IN  ALBUQUERQUE AND AROUND NEW MEXICO, AS WELL.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE SHE'S THE PERFECT CABINET SECRETARY AT  THE PERFECT TIME.

THE TIMING COULD NOT BE  BETTER TO PUSH THESE ISSUES FORWARD.

Dan: YES, IT'S CERTAINLY INTERESTING TO HAVE SUCH A  PROMINENT NEW MEXICAN PLAYING A ROLE IN ALL OF  THESE SORT OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEBATES.

YOU KNOW, SHE REALLY HAS EMERGED AS AN IMPORTANT  POLITICAL VOICE IN NEW MEXICO, AND VOICE FOR  COMMUNITIES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T THINK  ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT HER ELECTION JUST TO CONGRESS,  NOT TO MENTION HER APPOINTMENT AS A CABINET  SECRETARY, I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW,  THEY'RE JUST IN TEARS SEEING SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM,  SPEAKS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, HAS ASCENDED TO THAT LEVEL,  AND SHE'S REALLY BECOME AN IMPORTANT VOICE ON ALL KINDS  OF ISSUES JUST BEYOND THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

Gene: HEY, ALGERNON, WHAT KIND OF BUMP DO WE GET  HERE IN NEW MEXICO WITH THIS APPOINTMENT?

COULD SHE HAVE PERHAPS DONE MORE, AS DAN MENTIONED, AS A  MEMBER OF THE U.S. HOUSE, OR ARE WE BETTER OFF AS A STATE  WITH THIS POSITION?

Algernon: I THINK IT IS  A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM NEW MEXICO  WHERE WE ARE SUCH A DIVERSE STATE AND WE HAVE SO MANY,  YOU KNOW, NATIVE PEOPLES HERE, TO HAVE SOMEONE IN  THIS POSITION.

THE INTERIOR IS A CABINET  POSITION THAT ARGUABLY HAS A LOT OF POWER AND INFLUENCE  RELATIVE TO OTHER CABINET POSITIONS.

YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO NOT ONLY HAS THE BACKGROUND SHE  HAS AS A NATIVE AMERICAN, BUT ALSO THIS WORKING CLASS  BACKGROUND.

THIS IS A MOM WHO HAS  STRUGGLED WITH STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS AND TRYING TO MAKE  ENDS MEET, AND THEN SHE'S ELEVATED TO THIS POSITION OF  POWER.

SO I THINK THE  REPRESENTATION OF HER ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AS WELL  AS HER ETHNIC BACKGROUND REALLY MATTERS, AND ALSO  FRANKLY, THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING AROUND NAMES AND  LANGUAGE GENERALLY, AND TELLING OUR HISTORY,  MATTERS.

IT'S NOT JUST SYMBOLIC.

I INTERVIEWED AT ONE POINT A NATIVE AMERICAN LEADER FROM  NEW MEXICO'S ARENAS VALLEY, AND HE SAID SOMETHING REALLY  INTERESTING.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WE  HAVE LANDMARKS NAMED AFTER CONFEDERATE HEROES.

WE HAVE BAYLOR CANYON AND OTHER NAMES THAT ARE KIND OF  REPUGNANT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STEEPED IN THIS HISTORY.

AND HE SAID THAT HE THINKS THAT AMERICANS GENERALLY MAY  HAVE FORGOTTEN THE POWER OF LANGUAGE, AND WHAT IS  BROUGHT INTO BEING BY THE WAY WE NAME THINGS AND THE  WAY WE CONSTRUCT OUR STORIES.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A REALLY UNIQUE  CONTRIBUTION THAT A NEW MEXICO CITIZEN CAN MAKE.

SO THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT ANYTHING IN OUR  POCKETBOOK, BUT I THINK MORALLY AND HISTORICALLY, I  THINK IT REALLY PUTS US IN A PROMINENT PLACE TO HELP  IMPROVE THE COUNTRY.

Gene: WELL SAID,  ALGERNON.

I LOVE THAT.

JESSICA, IN YOUR PART OF THE WORLD, OIL AND GAS IS  OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A POTENTIAL POINT OF CONFLICT  WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN THERE?

IS SHE PERSONA NON GRATA AT  THIS POINT?

ARE PEOPLE JUST SORT OF  WAITING TO SEE?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF IT?

Jessica: I THINK YOU PUT  IT PERFECTLY, PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE.

NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH HER APPOINTMENT TO THIS  ADMINISTRATION, AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS BEEN  VERY UPFRONT ABOUT THEIR MOVE TOWARD RENEWABLES AND  AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, THAT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT  SHE WILL BE BRINGING THAT MESSAGE STRONGLY ACROSS THE  U.S., AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE PERMIAN BASIN, OUR OIL  AND GAS PRODUCING REGION HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WAIT AND SEE, BECAUSE THERE  ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT, HOW DO YOU HONOR WHAT'S BEST FOR  THE NATION IN TERMS OF ECONOMY AND GROWTH WHILE  ALSO PUSHING THESE -- WHILE ALSO ASKING THE NATION TO  ACCEPT THIS MOVE TOWARD A NEW GREEN ENERGY, NEW  CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS  ALL AROUND.

SO WE ARE JUST KIND OF  BIDING OUR TIME AND HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE AN  EQUITABLE PATH FORWARD FOR BOTH THE INDUSTRY AND FOR  THE NATION.

Gene: JULIE ANN, NEW  MEXICANS FACED A RARE SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE  MS. HAALAND IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

DEMOCRAT MELANIE STANSBURY OF COURSE WON THAT RACE  HANDILY OVER REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER MARK MOORES.

DOES THAT ELECTION SOLIDIFY THE DEMOCRATS HOLD OVER THAT  SEAT IN THE NEXT YEAR  CRUCIAL MID-TERM ELECTIONS?

Julie Ann: I MEAN, WILL  REDISTRICTING PLAY A ROLE IN THAT, TO ASK A QUESTION BACK  TO YOU?

I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO  TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING A LITTLE BIT LATER.

BUT REALLY, I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN -- IT  LOOKS LIKE, ANYWAY, IF ALL THIS GETS SIGNED BY THE  GOVERNOR, WE'LL BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANY THAT  WE'VE SEEN IN NEW MEXICO IN RECENT HISTORY.

I DO THINK THAT SIMILARLY TO THE EXERCISE THAT ALGERNON  JUST PARTICIPATED IN OF, ARE WE BETTER WITH DEB HAALAND  AS THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR VERSUS A MEMBER OF  CONGRESS, I THINK YOU CAN HAVE THAT SAME CONVERSATION  OF LIKE, ARE WE BETTER WITH MELANIE STANSBURY IN  CONGRESS VERSUS BEING AT THE ROUNDHOUSE.

I THINK WE LOST A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR WATER AND  SOMEBODY WHO COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY A RISING LEADER FOR  STATE DEMS GOING TO WASHINGTON.

SO I THINK THAT'S A CONSIDERATION ALSO WORTH A  FEW MINUTES.

Gene: DAN, I GOT TO GET  YOU IN ON THIS ONE.

POLITICAL SHIFTING GROUND IS  PRETTY COMMON, OF COURSE, BUT CD-1 HAS BEEN A  TRADITIONALLY VERY SAFE DEMOCRAT SEAT.

EVEN WITH REPUBLICANS BEING ELECTED IN THAT DISTRICT,  THEY WERE SORT OF NOT SO HARD CORE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF  THIS DISTRICT?

I COULDN'T IMAGINE IT  FLIPPING RED AT ANY POINT.

BUT IN OUR POLITICS RIGHT  NOW, YOU NEVER KNOW.

Dan: ONE OF THE  INTERESTING THINGS IS, THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT  HAS BEEN AN ALBUQUERQUE-BASED DISTRICT,  AND IF THE REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL HOLDS, IT WILL NOW  INCLUDE A LOT OF RURAL COUNTIES.

NOT JUST THE EAST MOUNTAINS, BUT STRETCH ALL THE WAY DOWN  TOWARDS THE SOUTH EAST, ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE INTO THE  OIL PATCH.

SO THAT WILL GIVE STANSBURY,  OR WHOEVER IS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT, KIND OF A BROADER  CONSTITUENCY MAYBE.

IT MAY NOT BE QUITE SO  ALBUQUERQUE FOCUSED.

THERE MAY BE SOME MORE  DEBATE ABOUT AGRICULTURAL ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO SAY ABOUT THE  POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THESE  MAPS GET SIGNED INTO LAW AND WHO EMERGES TO CHALLENGE  HER, BUT I THINK SHE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE SOME  DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES TO ANSWER TO.

Gene: THAT'S ALL TIME WE HAVE FOR NOW.

WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE LINE, IT'S OUR SIXTH BIGGEST  STORY OF 2021.

Gene: FOOD INSECURITY IS  A YEAR-LONG PROBLEM HERE IN NEW MEXICO, BUT WE'RE ALL  EVEN MORE AWARE OF THE NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF  GIVING.

ACCORDING TO RECENT DATA  FROM FEEDING AMERICA, ONE IN SEVEN NEW MEXICANS ARE GOING  HUNGRY.

AND FOR KIDS, IT'S EVEN  WORSE AT ONE IN FIVE.

THAT'S WHY SEVERAL  ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION TO  FILL IN THOSE GAPS.

I RECENTLY HAD A CHANCE TO  SIT DOWN WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RIO  GRANDE FOOD PROJECT, FOOD IS FREE ALBUQUERQUE, AND THE  ALBUQUERQUE FREE FRIDGE TO LEARN MORE AND HOW YOU CAN  GET INVOLVED.

Gene: ARI, AS EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR FOR THE RIO GRANDE FOOD PROJECT, CAN WE TALK  ABOUT TERMS HERE FOR A QUICK SECOND JUST TO GET US GOING?

WHAT EXACTLY IS FOOD INSECURITY WHEN YOU HEAR  ABOUT IT?

A LOT OF FOLKS HEAR THIS  TERM, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF WE ALL UNDERSTAND FULLY  THE RAMIFICATIONS OF IT.

Ari: SURE.

SO FOOD INSECURITY IS OFTEN KIND OF INTERCHANGED, IN  JUST CHATTING ABOUT THE ISSUE, WITH HUNGER, AND THEY  REALLY ARE DIFFERENT.

SO FOOD SECURITY IS DEFINED  AS LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN ACCESS TO FOOD.

IT'S MOST PREVALENT AMONG FAMILIES OF COLOR AND THOSE  LIVING IN FOOD DESERTS OR POVERTY.

FOOD DESERTS ACTUALLY MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF NEW  MEXICO AND ALBUQUERQUE.

IT'S KIND OF LITTLE KNOWN.

AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IT'S AN AREA WHERE THE  RESIDENTS LIVE EITHER A MILE OR MORE FROM THE NEAREST  GROCERY STORE.

THAT'S TRUE IN AN URBAN  AREA.

OR IN A RURAL AREA, A FOOD  DESERT IS LIVING MORE THAN TEN MILES AWAY FROM A  GROCERY STORE.

SO THAT'S THE ACCESS ISSUE.

SO FOOD INSECURITY REALLY IS ABOUT JUST NOT HAVING  REGULAR DEPENDABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS  FOOD.

Gene: ACCORDING TO DATA,  I WANT TO TURN THIS TO ERIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FOOD  IS FREE ALBUQUERQUE, ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO  ARE GOING HUNGRY.

EVEN WORSE, ONE IN FIVE  CHILDREN.

IT JUST HURTS YOUR SOUL TO  HEAR THAT.

HOW DOES THIS EFFORT FILL  THAT GAP?

Erin: SO WE'RE A  GLEANING ORGANIZATION.

WE GO OUT AND WE HARVEST  BACKYARD FRUIT TREES, PRIVATE ORCHARDS, AND WE  ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL FARMERS TO HARVEST THEIR EXCESS, AND  THEN WE TAKE THAT AND WE GET THAT DISTRIBUTED OUT TO  OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INTO THEIR DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS.

WE BELIEVE THAT FRESH FOOD IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND  EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IT, AND WE'VE FOUND A  LITTLE NATION OF FOOD SYSTEMS GROWING RIGHT HERE  IN OUR BACKYARDS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE AND UTILIZE  TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

Gene: WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW YOUR BUSINESS CLASSIFIES THESE  THINGS.

IS IT TONNAGE?

HOW DO YOU MEASURE HOW MUCH FOOD YOU'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING  OUT THERE?

Erin:   SO WE WEIGH ALL OF OUR HARVESTS, AND WE SORT IT  BY HUMAN EDIBLE, ANIMAL, COMPOST, AND THAT'S HOW WE  DETERMINE IT.

SO THIS YEAR, WE DID JUST  OVER 27,000 POUNDS OF HUMAN EDIBLE FOOD THAT WE SHARED  WITH THE COMMUNITY.

Gene: WOW, THAT'S  AMAZING.

AND SOMEHOW THIS FOOD HAS TO  GET TO PEOPLE, SO LET ME REINTRODUCE ASHLEY  RAMMELSBERG, WHO IS ALSO ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES  RIGHT HERE AT NEW MEXICO PBS.

WE LOVE HAVING ASHLEY WITH US.

AND JUAN SUAREZ, YOU BOTH CREATED ALBUQUERQUE FREE  FRIDGE.

ASHLEY, TAKE THIS ONE FIRST.

OBVIOUSLY WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS THERE'S STEPS TO  GETTING FOOD IN PEOPLE'S FRIDGES.

WHERE DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION STEP INTO THIS PROCESS?

Ashley: SO WE'RE A MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATION THAT  STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FOOD  INSECURITY IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WE'RE AT 606 BROADWAY, WHICH  IS IN THE SOUTH BROADWAY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE HAVE A  FREE FRIDGE THAT'S OPEN 24/7.

IT'S OUTSIDE OF JUAN'S BUSINESS HERE.

AND IT'S AVAILABLE SO ANYONE CAN DROP OFF FOOD INTO THE  FRIDGE, AND ANYONE CAN TAKE FOOD FROM THE FRIDGE.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO A SMALL PART IN THIS COMMUNITY  TO HELP PEOPLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

Gene: JUAN, I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH FOOD GOES IN AND  HOW MUCH FOOD GOES OUT.

THIS IS A FASCINATING DEAL.

Juan: WELL, FOR US, IT'S A LITTLE TRICKIER TO KEEP  TRACK OF IT AS WE'RE REALLY NOT TRYING TO POLICE THE  FRIDGE, ITSELF, BUT WE'RE DOING WEEKLY GROCERY RUNS  WITH VOLUNTEERS, AND A LOT OF IT IS COMMUNITY-BASED.

ANYONE CAN PREPARE MEALS IN THEIR KITCHEN, PROPERLY  LABELED AND DATED, AND IT GOES IN THE FRIDGE.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING THE FRIDGE  STOCKED.

WE PUT FOOD IN, AND THE FOOD  IS GONE WITHIN HOURS MOST OF THE TIME, ALL WITHIN THE  COMMUNITY.

Gene: HOW LONG HAS THE  FRIDGE BEEN OPERATING?

ASHLEY, IF YOU MENTIONED IT,  I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT.

MY FAULT.

Ashley: THE FRIDGE  OPENED IN AUGUST.

SO EARLY AUGUST WE OPENED.

AND YEAH, WE SHOP.

WE USUALLY SPEND ABOUT $500  A WEEK ON FOOD.

SO WE COLLECT DONATIONS FROM  THE COMMUNITY, MONETARY DONATIONS.

AND THEN PEOPLE ALSO BRING FOOD.

PEOPLE MAKE SANDWICHES FOR THE FRIDGE, PEOPLE DROP OFF  FOOD FOR THE FRIDGE ALL THE TIME.

Gene: THAT'S SO FASCINATING.

MIGHT THIS BE THE FIRST ONE, ASHLEY, OF SOME MORE TO COME  AROUND THE CITY?

Ashley: THAT'S THE GOAL,  YEAH.

AS YOU MENTIONED, WE BOTH  HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS, SO THIS IS OUR PASSION PROJECT.

THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A NETWORK OF FREE FRIDGES, AND  WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON BUILDING THE VOLUNTEER BASE  TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

Gene: ARI HERRING, LET  ME BOUNCE BACK TO YOU FOR SORT OF A BROAD QUESTION  HERE.

I MENTIONED THOSE STATS A  LITTLE BIT AGO, AND YOU MENTIONED, OF COURSE, THIS  PRIMARILY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHERS.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT SINGLE WOMEN, PARTICULARLY SINGLE  WOMEN WHO ARE MOMS, AND WHERE THEY FIT INTO THE FOOD  INSECURITY PICTURE.

Ari: THAT'S A REALLY  IMPORTANT QUESTION.

THE RIO GRANDE FOOD PROJECT,  WE'RE A FOOD PANTRY ON THE WEST SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE,  AND WE'RE ALSO AN URBAN GARDEN AND A COMMUNITY HUB.

IN THE EIGHTIES, WE STARTED AS A FOOD PANTRY, AND WE  QUICKLY EVOLVED TO -- YOU KNOW, WE REALIZED THAT WE'RE  A FOCAL POINT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WE HAVE TO  HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES BEYOND FOOD TO REALLY  ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH  MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE SEE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE,  CERTAINLY INCLUDING SINGLE MOMS.

EACH WEEK WE CARRY OUT OUTDOOR DRIVE-THROUGH  DISTRIBUTIONS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN INDOOR FOOD  PANTRY, AND DURING THAT VISIT BY HOUSEHOLDS, WE DO  OUR VERY BEST TO CHAT WITH PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT  THE SITUATION IS, WHAT THEY'RE FACING BEYOND FOOD  ISSUES, HOW WE MIGHT ADDRESS THOSE.

SO ON-SITE, WE'RE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE ENROLL IN REALLY  IMPORTANT PROGRAMS LIKE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION  ASSISTANCE, OR SNAP.

IT'S PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS  FOOD STAMPS.

AND TANF, WHICH IS TEMPORARY  ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.

SINGLE MOMS ARE A GOOD PORTION OF THE CLIENTS THAT  WE SERVE, AND ALSO GRANDPARENTS RAISING  GRANDKIDS.

THIS IS FAR MORE COMMON THAN  I EVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN PRIOR TO DOING THIS WORK.

AT LEAST IN NEW MEXICO, IT'S A REALLY COMMON HOUSEHOLD  DYNAMIC THAT ACTUALLY THE MOTHER OR FATHER MAY NOT BE  IN THE PICTURE AND THE GRANDPARENTS ARE RAISING THE  KIDS, AND THEY MIGHT BE LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY  ONLY AND THEN HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TWO OR  THREE CHILDREN, AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH  SITUATION.

SINGLE MOMS WHO ARE WORKING  ONE OR TWO JOBS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE REALLY OFTEN.

SAME WITH SINGLE DADS.

THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IS  A SCENARIO THAT WE BUMP INTO AS WELL.

SO THE FAMILIES KIND OF COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

THE PANDEMIC REALLY EXACERBATED IT.

ANY ISSUE THAT WAS SORT OF A DISPARITY PRIOR TO COVID-19,  OR SOME SORT OF REAL, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS IMPOVERISHMENT  IN OUR COMMUNITY PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC JUST CAME TO  THE FOREFRONT AND BECAME SO MUCH MORE OBVIOUS AT A PLACE  LIKE THE FOOD PROJECT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK  WE NEED TO BE REALLY COGNIZANT OF IN SHAPING  PROGRAMMING MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK PROBABLY ALL OF US  IN FOOD SECURITY WORK HAVE TO TRY REALLY HARD TO  DE-STIGMATIZE THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT  EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS AS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AS  POSSIBLE, AS WARM AND WELCOMING AS POSSIBLE, AS  STIGMA-ASIDE AS POSSIBLE.

WE TRY TO KEEP THAT  THRESHOLD REALLY, REALLY LOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE  FACING SO MANY CHALLENGES.

THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO  IS MAKE IT AN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT SITUATION TO  ACCESS THAT FOOD.

Gene: THIS IS SUCH A  REMINDER, GUYS, TALKING TO ALL OF YOU, HOW THE SIMPLE  POWER OF A MEAL FUNCTIONS IN OUR WORLD AS A HUMAN BEING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM IN LIFE,  IF YOU CANNOT GET A DECENT MEAL IN YOUR STOMACH DAILY,  I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS, YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE  ABLE TO KIND OF KEEP GOING ON ALL CYLINDERS.

AND I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR DOING THIS.

THIS IS REALLY VERY HEARTWARMING.

Gene: WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE.

WE'VE REACHED NUMBER 6 ON OUR COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP  STORIES OF 2021.

NEW MEXICO'S LOOMING HOUSING  CRISIS, WHETHER IT BE THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE  HOUSING, SOARING RENTAL RATES, OR THE RASH OF  EVICTIONS DESPITE SO-CALLED MORATORIUMS RELATED TO THE  COVID PANDEMIC, NEW MEXICO IS REACHING A BREAKING  POINT.

JESSICA, WE SPENT TIME WITH  YOU BEFORE THE PANDEMIC LOOKING AT THE SITUATION IN  THE PERMIAN BASIN, YOU MIGHT RECALL, WITH ALL THOSE  TRANSIENT OIL AND GAS WORKERS.

WE TALKED TO ONE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY MOVED TO ROSWELL  AND COMMUTES TO CARLSBAD BECAUSE OF THE HIGH HOUSING  PRICES THERE.

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE  WE WERE WITH YOU BACK THEN?

Jessica: NO.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NO STRANGER TO HOUSING CRISIS HERE, AND  YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S LINKED TO OUR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY,  AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS, MAYBE  IMPERFECTLY.

WE HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE  ACTIVELY RECRUITING DEVELOPERS TO THE AREA.

MAYBE THEY FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON BUILDING HOTELS  AND TEMPORARY HOUSING.

BUT WE HAVE ALSO STARTED TO  TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE DO RECRUITING FOR DEVELOPMENT  OF SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS AND THINGS LIKE TOWNHOUSES,  NONTRADITIONAL TYPES OF HOUSING THAT YOU WOULDN'T  SEE IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO.

Gene: INTERESTING.

JULIE ANN, I'VE GOT TO BUMP  THIS UP TO YOU, OF COURSE.

ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE SOME  AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WHY ISN'T IT A BIGGER PRIORITY,  JULIE ANN?

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING  SANTA FE HAS STRUGGLED WITH A LOT, AND THERE HAS BEEN  ANNOUNCEMENTS OF SOME GROUNDBREAKING ON SOME  PROPERTIES TO DEAL WITH THIS.

BUT WHY IS IT SUCH A STRUGGLE IN SANTA FE  TRADITIONALLY?

Julie Ann: IT'S ABOUT  MONEY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE  HOUSING CRISIS IS FELT ACUTELY HERE, AND THERE'S A  BIG GAP BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS,  CLASSICALLY.

I PULLED A COUPLE STATISTICS  FOR YOU IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS QUESTION, AND I THINK  THAT THESE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

IN THE THIRD QUARTER HOUSING REPORT THAT'S PUT OUT BY THE  SANTA FE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, THE MEDIAN SINGLE  FAMILY HOME PRICE IN SANTA FE IS $591,000.

Gene: WOW.

Julie Ann: AND IF YOU  LIVE IN A CONDO OR A TOWNHOUSE, YOUR MEDIAN IS  STILL COMING IN AT $352,000.

I JUST TALKED TO SOME  FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL WHO LIVE IN READING,  PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE THEY OWN A HOUSE ON A CITY STREET  THAT COST THEM $58,000.

SO YOU CAN REALLY, YOU KNOW,  THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW THE PRICE OF HOUSING IN SANTA FE  COMPARES TO OTHER PARTS OF NEW MEXICO, BUT REALLY OTHER  PARTS OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK YOU SEE THE  GOVERNMENT HERE IN FITS AND STARTS TRYING TO DEAL WITH  THIS WITH VARIOUS KINDS OF REGULATIONS.

WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE IN THE  CITY THAT REQUIRES DEVELOPERS TO DEDICATE A  CERTAIN PORTION OF HOMES THAT THEY BUILD TO BE SOLD  TO A CERTAIN INCOME-QUALIFIED BRACKET OF  HOMEOWNERS AT A CERTAIN PRICE, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN  ENOUGH TO REALLY CHANGE THE PICTURE.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF MULTI-FAMILY COMPLEX  CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING FOR REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN THE  LAST FEW YEARS.

THERE WAS A BIG PERIOD OF  TIME WHEN THERE WERE NO NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN  SANTA FE, AND THE AVERAGE RENTS HERE ARE MORE THAN A  THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH.

YOU'VE ALSO SEEN ACTIVITY ON  THE VERY OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM WHERE YOU'RE  TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO SOLVE THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE  AND TRYING TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE  NO HOUSING.

AND YOU'VE SEEN THE CITY AND  THE COUNTY BOTH PURCHASE HOTELS AND RENOVATE THEM  INTO HOUSING.

BUT THOSE KINDS OF SOLUTIONS  REALLY TAKE A LONG TIME TO ATTACK WHAT IS BECOMING AN  INCREASINGLY BIG PROBLEM.

Gene: WOW.

ALMOST $600,000, THAT'S SCARY.

WHO COULD AFFORD THAT?

IT'S AMAZING.

HEY, DAN, WE'VE TALKED A LOT THIS YEAR ABOUT THE EVICTION  PROBLEM.

SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO HAS  DONE SOME GREAT REPORTING ON HOW EVICTIONS ARE STILL  HAPPENING DESPITE THOSE COVID-RELATED MORATORIUMS.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING HERE ON THIS FRONT?

IT SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE AND ELEGANT, BUT IT'S VERY  BUMPY.

Dan: YEAH, IT'S  DIFFICULT.

THERE'S KIND OF A  COMPLICATED NETWORK OF LAWS DEALING WITH HOUSING AND  EVICTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEN THERE ARE  ALSO THE WAYS JUST THAT PEOPLE BEHAVE.

MANY LANDLORDS DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT SECTION 8 TENANTS  JUST FOR THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, THEIR OWN PHILOSOPHY.

THEY DON'T WANT THOSE KINDS OF TENANTS, OR THEY'RE  AFRAID THAT THEIR OTHER TENANTS WILL BE MAD THAT  THEY RENTED TO SOMEONE WHO GETS A LITTLE HELP.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO KIND OF LEGISLATE A SOLUTION TO  THIS.

YOU ALSO END UP WITH KIND OF  A NOT-IN-MY-BACKYARD DYNAMIC WHERE EFFORTS TO BUILD MORE  HOUSING OR BUILD HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING OFTEN  RUN INTO OPPOSITION FROM NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS RESPOND TO.

IT REALLY IS A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE FOR NEW MEXICO.

Gene: ALGERNON, LINE REGULAR SERGE MARTINEZ -- WE  LOVE HAVING HIM ON -- DOES A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA AND  TALKS ABOUT HOW QUICK THE EVICTION PROCESS IS.

AND I'M CURIOUS, IN YOUR VIEW -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR  LAS CRUCES AND HOW THE EVICTION DEAL WORKS DOWN  THERE.

BUT PERHAPS WE CAN FIND SOME  WAY TO SLOW THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT?

BECAUSE FOLKS ARE BEING BUMPED OUT INTO THE STREET  FAIRLY REGULARLY AT THIS POINT.

Algernon: WELL, YES.

AND SO THIS POINTS TO THE  NEED FOR ADEQUATE LEGAL SERVICES, AND EVEN JUST  GENERAL PROCEDURAL KNOWLEDGE.

I WAS JUST SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THE MIDST  OF A DISPUTE, NOT INVOLVING EVICTION, BUT INVOLVING  PROPERTY AND TITLE TO HIS PROPERTY, AND BASICALLY IT  WAS JUST AT THIS LEVEL OF, I CAN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY AND  I CANNOT MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF WHAT I NEED TO DO  PROCEDURALLY TO ADVOCATE FOR MY INTERESTS AND MY LEGAL  RIGHTS.

AND IT'S A CIRCUMSTANCE  WHERE YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ALREADY ARE  CONTENDING WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, WITH LOSS  OF EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO THAT, PERHAPS THEY WERE SICK  FOR A LONG TIME AND ARE STILL SICK.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE THIS LEGAL HURDLE OF  HOW TO HOLD ONTO YOUR HOUSING, WHICH IF YOU LOSE  IT IMMEDIATELY EXACERBATES ALL OF YOUR OTHER PROBLEMS.

Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

Algernon: HEALTH,  PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC.

AND SO REALLY, I THINK THAT  THE PROBLEM JUST COMPOUNDS ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT  NEW MEXICO IS FACING, WHICH WE HAD PREPANDEMIC AND HAVE  BEEN MAGNIFIED IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

JESSICA, THE STATE DID, AS  YOU KNOW, GET A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY TO OFFER  HOUSING AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT AS TRADITION  HERE, WE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THOSE FUNDS  DISTRIBUTED.

HOW DO WE STREAMLINE  PROGRAMS LIKE THESE?

Jessica: SO I THINK  MAYBE THE BIG THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT QUESTION IS  THAT WE ALL VIEW HOUSING AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

THERE IS THIS ABSOLUTE NEED FOR IT FOR SHELTER, AND WE  WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE  ENTITLED TO SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO HELP ENSURE THAT  YOU HAVE HOUSING, YOU GET ACCESS TO IT.

AS FAR AS STREAMLINING GOES, I THINK THIS WAS AN  UNPRECEDENTED THING FOR US.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT, IN MY  OPINION, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN GETTING IT  DONE SMARTLY AND QUICKLY AND WELL.

SO IT'S ALL A LEARNING PROCESS FOR US.

I THINK MAYBE THE BIGGER QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE MAKE  SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED ARE ACTUALLY  UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AND CAN ADVOCATE  FOR THEMSELVES, AND ARE ABLE TO SPEAK UP AND SAY, HEY, I  KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND I KNOW THAT YOU  HAVE THESE FUNDS, I AM SPEAKING UP BECAUSE I WANT  ACCESS TO THEM.

SO BEGINNING TO ADVOCATE FOR  THEMSELVES RATHER THAN WAITING FOR IT TO TRICKLE  DOWN FROM THE TOP.

Gene: JULIE ANN, WE ALSO  HEAR A LOT OF CALLS NOW FOR A RETURN TO RENT CONTROL  MEASURES.

IT'S AMAZING.

FOR THOSE OF A CERTAIN VINTAGE, RENT CONTROL BACK  IN THE SEVENTIES WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL, AND THEN IT WAS  GONE.

IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD  BE LOOKING AT AGAIN, AND DOES IT HAVE A CHANCE IN  SANTA FE?

Julie Ann: I THINK  THERE'S BEEN A CONTINGENT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THINKS  THAT MIGHT BE A SOLUTION TO CONSIDER.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THE WAY THAT DAN FRAMED KIND OF  THE DECISIONS THAT LANDLORDS ARE MAKING AROUND WHICH  TENANTS TO ACCEPT OR NOT, AND THERE'S REALLY THE  SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN BE CHOOSY AND THEY CAN MAKE  DECISIONS THAT, TO JESSICA'S POINT, TOO, ARE  DISCRIMINATORY, AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO  ASSERT CHALLENGES TO THAT.

PEOPLE CAN'T TELL YOU THEY  WON'T RENT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHILDREN.

THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

IT'S AGAINST FEDERAL LAW.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF  CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THAT THAT ARE REALLY -- THIS IS A  PRIVATE SECTOR SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WHO OWN  PROPERTY HAVE CONTROL AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE PEOPLE  WHO ARE RENTING ARE AT THEIR MERCY.

AND I THINK, TOO, THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON PEOPLE WHO  HAVE STABLE HOUSING AND WHO DO UNDERSTAND THE LAW TO  ALSO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH RENTING TO SOMEONE WHO GETS  A SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHER.

THAT SYSTEM IS IN PLACE IN  ORDER TO GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, AND  WE RECOGNIZE AS A SOCIETY THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE ALL THE WAY TO ACTUALLY LET THEM  USE THOSE VOUCHERS TO FIND HOMES, AND I THINK THAT IF  MORE PEOPLE WERE VOCAL ABOUT THAT AND FEWER PEOPLE WERE  WORRIED ABOUT THE NOT-IN-MY-BACKYARD  PERSPECTIVE, MAYBE WE COULD GET SOMEWHERE ON THIS.

Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE  FOR THIS WEEK, BUT WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH OUR TOP  FIVE STORIES OF 2021.

Gene: 2021 HAS HAD ITS  FAIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES AS THE FIRST PART OF OUR  COUNTDOWN ILLUSTRATES, BUT IF THERE IS ONE THING THE  COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS DONE, IT'S LAID BARE SOME OF THESE  ISSUES AND INEQUITIES NEW MEXICO HAS STRUGGLED WITH  FOR GENERATIONS.

HOW WE CHOOSE TO DEAL WITH  THEM AS A STATE WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO  SOLVING THESE SERIOUS SOCIETAL CONCERNS, AND  THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO START THAN 2022.

WE'RE COMMITTING TO HAVING THESE IMPORTANT  CONVERSATIONS AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN US ON THAT  JOURNEY.

YOU CAN START RIGHT NOW BY  ENGAGING WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS:  TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

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

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

FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE  MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.