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

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, REFLECTIONS ON  PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT IN 2022 AND BEYOND.

Nieto: MY LIFE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

THE LIVES OF MY GENERATION AND GENERATIONS TO COME ARE WORTH  FIGHTING FOR.

Gene: BREAKING DOWN THE TOP  FIVE STORIES OF 2021 WITH A SPECIAL LINE OPINION PANEL.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OF  HER SOURCES FOR THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND  HOW TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING ITS IMPACTS.

WE'LL SPRINKLE VIDEO ESSAYS INTO THIS LAST SHOW OF 2021 BUT  FIRST, WE TACKLE THE TOP FIVE STORIES OF THE YEAR THAT WAS.

HERE IS THE LINE WITH MORE.

JOINING US AGAIN THIS WEEK OVER ZOOM, THE WORKING JOURNALISTS  FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THESE FOLKS WORK TIRELESSLY  EVERYDAY TO PROVIDE YOU THE NEWS AND WE THANK THEM FOR TAKING  TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY DAY TO HELP US REFLECT ON ANOTHER  HISTORIC YEAR.

FIRST UP FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE  JOURNAL CAPITOL BUREAU, WE WELCOME BACK DAN MCKAY.

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

WE WELCOME BACK ALGERNON  D'AMMASSA FROM THE LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS.

ROUNDING OUT OUR  VIRTUAL ROUND TABLE IS OUR FRIEND JULIE ANN GRIMM, EDITOR  AND PUBLISHER OF THE SANTA FE REPORTER.

NO.

5 STORY OF 2021 IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS AS WE RECORD  THE SEGMENT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ONCE A  DECADE EXERCISE IN REDISTRICTING.

NEW MEXICO LAWMAKERS CHANGED THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THIS YEAR  TO TRY TO TAKE POLITICKING OUT OF THE EQUATION.

DAN, DO YOU THINK IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL GIVEN HOW THE SPECIAL  SESSION PLAYED OUT SO FAR AS WE ARE TAPING THIS?

Dan: I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THE WHOLE SESSION IS TO SORT OF SEE HOW MUCH OF THE  REDISTRICTING PRINCIPLES THAT CAME -- THE CONCEPTS THAT CAME  OUT OF THE CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE WHICH WAS A PANEL THAT  COULD NOT CONSIDER PARTISAN DATA.

AND ALSO DEEMPHASIZE PUBLIC, OR EXCUSE ME, INCUMBENT ADDRESSES  IN ITS WORK, HOW MUCH OF THEIR WORK ENDS UP SURVIVING THE  SESSION AND THAT IS ONE OF THE DEBATES THAT IS PLAYING OUT  RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAS BEEN KIND OF A  DEADLOCK ON THE SENATE SIDE FOR SOME LEGISLATIVE SEATS WITH  NATIVE AMERICAN, PUEBLO GOVERNORS, TRIBAL GOVERNMENT  REPRESENTATIVES, AT ODDS WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD PROTECT SOME  INCUMBENTS AND SHORE UP A FEW FOLKS POLITICAL SUPPORT IN THEIR  DISTRICTS.

SO, I THINK THE ANSWER IS TO BE  DETERMINED.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

ALGERNON,  REPRESENTATION IS A BIG ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING.

CRITIC OF THE NEW CRC POINT TO A LACK OF RURAL AND NATIVE  AMERICAN REPRESENTATION.

BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE  CARRIED THROUGH DURING LEGISLATIVE DEBATE SO FAR.

SO, DID THE PROCESS OVERCOME THOSE CONCERNS OR NOT?

D'Ammassa: YEAH, I MEAN, THERE IS A STILL A LOT TO LEARN  ABOUT THAT AND THERE IS DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS TO BE  HAD.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OUR  CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL LEGISLATIVE  DISTRICTS.

THERE IS A VERY INTERESTING  SHAPE EMERGING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO, WHICH FOR A LONG  TIME HAS ENCOMPASSED JUST THE BOTTOM SQUARE OF SOUTHERN NEW  MEXICO AND A LITTLE BIT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY, I THINK IT  BECOMES VERY INTERESTING, THAT DISTRICT PRESENTS A LOT OF  CHALLENGES FOR A CANDIDATE TO APPEAL NOT ONLY TO VARIOUS  ETHNOGRAPHIES AND INCLUDING  NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO SOMEBODY WHO CAN SPEAK TO  PEOPLE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS OIL  AND GAS PRODUCTION SECTOR OF THE SOUTHEAST, AND BASED ON WHAT THE  DISTRICTS MIGHT END UP LOOKING LIKE, A LOT MORE VOTERS FROM  AROUND THE ALBUQUERQUE METRO REGION.

I THINK THAT FOR ANY CANDIDATE OF EITHER OF OUR DOMINANT  PARTIES, THAT PRESENTS SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND AS FAR AS  THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE HOW  THAT STARTS TO LOOK.

Gene: JESSICA, THE ORIGINAL  BILL TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE COMMISSION  THE ABILITY TO SELECT THE FINAL MAPS.

SOME LAWMAKERS SAID THAT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND LAWMAKERS  HAD TO HAVE A SAY TO BE ABLE TO AMEND PROPOSALS, BUT ISN'T THAT  THE WAY TO TRULY TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THIS ONCE IN A DECADE  PROCESS?

Onsurez: I WOULD AGREE WITH  YOU AND SAY YES.

THAT IS TRULY THE ONLY WAY TO  TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THIS PROCESS.

BUT THEY DID HAVE A POINT, THIS IS A PROCESS WRITTEN INTO OUR  CONSTITUTION AS BELONGING TO OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THEY ARE UNDERTAKING THAT WORK NOW AND I THINK THAT JUST TO  ECHO WHAT DAN SAID, WE ARE SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE  SPECIAL SESSION.

WE INTRODUCED SOME OF THOSE  POLITICAL ISSUES RIGHT BACK INTO THE PROCESS, SO ALL THE GOOD  WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE COMMITTEE BEFOREHAND MIGHT JUST  BE LOST IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SANTA FE.

Gene: JULIE ANN, AS WE MENTIONED, LAWMAKERS ARE STILL  HASHING THIS OUT AT THE TIME OF THIS TAPING AND THERE IS ALWAYS  A CHANCE THE FINAL MAPS GET VETOED BY GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM  OR THERE IS A COURT CHALLENGE.

AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, HOW  DO YOU THINK REDISTRICTING WILL IMPACT NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERM  ELECTIONS?

Julie Ann: YOU ASKED ME THE  SAME QUESTION FOR LAST WEEK'S SHOW THAT WE TAPED JUST A FEW  MINUTES AGO.

I'LL KIND OF REPEAT WHAT I SAID,  WHICH IS LIKE DAN MENTIONED, THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE WASN'T  SUPPOSED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PARTISAN INFORMATION BUT WE SEE  THAT THESE MAPS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE ROUNDHOUSE HAVE BEEN  CHANGED IN SOME CASES SIGNIFICANTLY, IN SOME CASES IN  KIND OF MORE MINOR WAYS, BUT SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT  ARE BEING MADE HAVE TO DO WITH PERFORMANCE IN THE FUTURE  ELECTION.

SO, ONE OF THE INTERESTING  THINGS FOR SANTA FE, IT HAS TO DO WITH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT  3, WHICH AS ALGERNON POINTED OUT IS THE COMPANION, IT WAS THE  NORTHERN BLOCK OF THE STATE, BUT NOW THE MAPS HEADED TO THE  GOVERNOR FOR SIGNATURES, THEY DIVIDE THE STATE ON THE SORT OF  BIAS LINE.

AND SO YOU HAVE GOT SANTA FE AND RIO ARRIBA COUNTY  ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SAME CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS PART  OF THE CITY OF HOBBS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND  A CANDIDATE WHO CAN GATHER VOTES FROM BOTH OF THOSE PARTS OF THE  STATE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, COULD REALLY INTRODUCE AN INTERESTING,  YOU KNOW, KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN.

I THINK THAT, TOO, YOU HEARD DISCUSSION WHEN PARTICULARLY  FOLKS FROM THE SOUTHERN -- FROM CD2 WERE SAYING, YOU CAN'T PUT  US INTO CD3.

KNOW, THAT IS JUST CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH SAYING, ARE WE  GOING TO HAVE AN OIL MAN REPRESENTING US?

SO, I THINK IT IS REALLY THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO DETERMINE  THAT.

Gene: YOU SET UP MY NEXT  QUESTION TO DAN BEAUTIFULLY.

YOUR NEWSPAPER, THE ALBUQUERQUE  JOURNAL HAD A VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING EDITORIAL ABOUT THIS  REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND YOUR PAPER IS ADVOCATING FOR THE  GOVERNOR TO IN FACT NOT ACCEPT THESE MAPS BECAUSE AS JULIE ANN  MENTIONED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THE MORE URBAN BASED  CANDIDATES JUST WON'T HAVE A FEEL FOR THE RURAL PARTS OF  THEIR STATE.

AND THAT THE POWER WILL SLOWLY  OVER TIME GO RIGHT BACK TO THE URBAN CENTERS.

I REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK OUT THE EDITORIAL BUT DO  PICK UP WHERE YOUR FOLKS WERE COMING FROM AND HOW THIS PROCESS  MIGHT TURN NEXT.

Dan: I SHOULD FIRST SAY, I AM  NOT INVOLVED IN THE OPINION SIDE OF THE NEWSPAPER BUT THERE IS  DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL WHERE YOU COULD HAVE AN ALBUQUERQUE  CONGRESS PERSON REPRESENTING  SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND HOBBS AND LAS CRUCES.

YOU COULD, IF SOMEBODY EMERGED OUT OF RIO RANCHO, YOU COULD  HAVE CANDIDATES -- YOU COULD HAVE ALL THREE CONGRESS PEOPLE  CONCENTRATED IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE.

YOU COULD END UP WITH MAYBE  THERE IS A STRONG CANDIDATE FROM LEA COUNTY IN THE OIL PATCH AND  IN A PRESIDENTIAL MIDTERM ELECTION, WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE  EXPECTED TO MAKE GAINS IN CONGRESS, PERHAPS YOU END UP  WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH AN OIL EXECUTIVE REPRESENTING SANTA FE.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING POTENTIAL DYNAMICS  AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE ALL THREE SEATS, IF THIS STANDS,  WILL BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

RATHER THAN HAVING TWO STATE  DEMOCRATIC SEATS AND A RELATIVELY SAFE REPUBLICAN SEAT,  YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP WITH MORE COMPETITIVE RACES ALL  AROUND.

Gene: REAL QUICK, CD3, WHAT  HAS BEEN THE SCUTTLE DOWN THERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT MAP PROPOSED  NOW, IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT DISTRICT THAN WE HAVE BEEN USED  TO FOREVER.

Onsurez: YEAH, I THINK TO  ECHO AGAIN, WE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS IDEA OF A  MORE COMPETITIVE RACE, RIGHT.

ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING THAT  DIVERSITY COME TO THIS PART OF OUR REGION BUT I THINK PROBABLY  THE LARGER CONVERSATION IS, IN REALITY, HOW BASED IN REALITY IS  IT TO THINK WE WILL HAVE A PERSON FROM SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO  REPRESENTED OR BE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US IN THAT SEAT?

I THINK WE SEE IT AS A POWER MOVE, A WAY TO DILUTE A  CONSERVATIVE PORTION OF THE STATE AND I THINK A LOT OF  PEOPLE HERE WILL TELL YOU THEY ARE TRULY CONCERNED THEY WILL  END UP BEING IGNORED BY WHOEVER IS DULY ELECTED, IF THEY COME  FROM A MORE METRO AREA.

Gene: GOOD STUFF THERE.

WE'LL STAY WITH THE LEGISLATURE FOR OUR NO.

4 STORY OF 2021.

IT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING AND TOOK A SPECIAL SESSION BUT STATE  LAWMAKERS DID LEGALIZE RECREATIONALLY USE CANNABIS THIS  YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN A FRANTIC RACE TO  GET THE INDUSTRY UP AND RUNNING BY NEXT YEAR.

JULIE ANN, WERE YOU SURPRISED IT GOT DONE IN 2021?

JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION.

Julie Ann: NO, I EXPECTED IT  TO HAPPEN THE SESSION BEFORE AND KIND OF LOST A BET ON THAT ONE.

BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS HIGH TIME, AS PEOPLE SAY, FOR NEW  MEXICO TO DO THIS ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS  HAVE DONE AND THE POSITION WE HAVE IN THE INDUSTRY WITH OUR  LONG STANDING MEDICAL PROGRAMS.

I THINK WHAT IS REALLY CRAZY,  THOUGH, RIGHT NOW IS WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE LOCAL LEVEL AS  THESE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TAKE WHAT LITTLE CONTROL THE STATE  HAS LEFT FOR THEM AND THEY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT ZONING.

WE HAVE GOT NEW NEWS OUT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY THAT THEY  DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SMOKE CANNABIS OUTSIDE.

YOU MAY REMEMBER MY BEING INCREDULOUS ON THIS PROGRAM  PREVIOUSLY WHEN SANTA FE COUNTY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO  GROW CANNABIS OUTSIDE.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE LOCAL  LAWMAKERS, YOU KNOW, THINK THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHING BY, LIKE,  SENDING EVERYTHING INSIDE ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE NEW  MEXICO WHERE PEOPLE SO VALUE BEING OUTSIDE.

BUT YOU KNOW, SANTA FE COUNTY DID THE SAME THING WITH RESPECT  TO THE CONSUMPTION AREAS THAT BERNALILLO COUNTY DID, WHICH IS,  IF YOU ARE A RETAILER YOU WANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENJOY YOUR  PRODUCT, YOU HAVE TO BUILD A ROOM AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT  UNDER A ROOF.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL REALLY  PERSIST OVER TIME BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE REALLY SEEING THIS  PATCHWORK.

Gene: ALGERNON, ARE WE  RUSHING THINGS IN TERMS OF THE ROLLOUT.

LICENSES ARE TAKING A  WHILE TO BE ISSUED AND TIME IS RUNNING SHORT FOR MANUFACTURERS  THAT HAVE PLANTS IN THE GROUND AND PRODUCING FLOWERS AND SOME  WILL HAVE PRODUCT ON THE SHELVES BY NEXT SPRING.

D'Ammassa: YEAH, I THINK THAT IS THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THE  LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE PUT THE THINGS ON A VERY TIGHT TIME  CLOCK AS FAR AS HAVING A RULE MAKING PROCESS THAT REALLY  ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND I THINK, HONESTLY, AS HAS BEEN  ACKNOWLEDGED FROM SANTA FE AND THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY, WE'LL  HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATION AND HAVE TO GO BACK  TO THE RULE MAKING AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS REALITY SETS IN.

ALSO, JUST CONDITIONS WILL BE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF  THE STATE.

JULIE ANN TALKS ABOUT HOW SOME  LOCAL BODIES SAY WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE GROWING CANNABIS  OUTDOORS.

WELL, IN DONA ANA COUNTY AND  LUNA COUNTY, GROWING IT OUTDOORS IS NOT EVEN REALLY A PRACTICAL  OPTION BECAUSE OF THE WINDS THAT WE HAVE DOWN HERE.

SO THAT FORCES PRODUCTION INTO GREEN HOUSES AND STRUCTURES THAT  HAVE TO BE BUILT AND THEY HAVE TO BE SECURED AND MAINTAINED.

I THINK THERE IS JUST A LOT OF UNKNOWNS.

SO, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE TO WORK REALLY FAST TO GET  EVERYTHING IN PLACE, GET SEEDS INTO THE GROUND AND GET THINGS  READY BY THE STATUTORY DEADLINE SO THAT THE MARKETPLACE OPENS  WITH OPTIONS, INEVITABLY WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND MAKE  ADJUSTMENTS.

Gene: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

EVEN LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES ARE SAYING THAT IS A POSSIBILITY IN  REALTIME.

JESSICA STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF  CONCERN THAT THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL NEW  MEXICANS, MEANING, WHAT IS THE SENSE OF EXCITEMENT LEVEL IN  SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO?

CAN FOLKS AFFORD TO GET INTO THE  GAME, ALGERNON POINTED OUT.

Onsurez: YOU WOULD BE  SURPRISED.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE  TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TRY AND BETTER  UNDERSTAND THE RULES, TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO GET IN  THE GAME, AS YOU SAY.

BUT, I ALSO THINK THERE IS STILL  A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, RIGHT?

WE ARE TALKING TO A DEVELOPMENT GROUP HERE IN EDDY COUNTY  EARLIER AND THEY GO IN AND THEY BUILD THESE METAL BUILDINGS AND  THEY SAID THEY ARE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THEM AND ASK  WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE FOR ME.

WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF INQUIRIES BEING MADE NOT ONLY ON  PRACTICALITY OF FACILITIES BUT ALSO SEEING A LOT OF OUR REALLY  SMALL, WHAT WE CALL, SECURITY GROUPS IN THIS REGION, GET A LOT  OF INQUIRIES TOO, LIKE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO SECURE A  FACILITY IF WE DECIDE TO GO INTO  THIS BUSINESS.

Gene: INTERESTING.

I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.

DAN MCKAY WHAT IS THE BUMP HERE FOR NEW MEXICO AS A STATE?

AS THE STATE'S AGRICULTURAL CENTER, ARE PEOPLE SEEING LOTS  OF OPPORTUNITY ON THE HORIZON?

Dan: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS  GOING TO BE NECESSARILY A HUGE REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE STATE SO  MUCH IN TERMS OF ACTUAL REVENUE, SO MUCH AS IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO  DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY AND ADD SOME DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL  OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS THE OTHER  PANELISTS HAVE TOUCHED ON, THERE IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE IN  ACCESS AND, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY HAVE THE START-UP  MONEY, THE CAPITAL TO ENTER THE BUSINESS, I THINK IS STILL A  QUESTION.

Gene: JULIE ANN, I HAVE GOT  TO ASK YOU, SOMETIME DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS DID WE, IN FACT,  ALMOST MISS A WINDOW ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE COULD HAVE  POTENTIALLY PUMPED IN FOR TAX REVENUE HERE.

ARIZONA LEGALIZED, OF COURSE, DENVER, COLORADO, BEAT US BY  YEARS.

BUT TEXAS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT  IS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

LOOKING AT THE REGIONAL MAP,  WHERE DOES NEW MEXICO SIT IN YOUR MIND?

Julie Ann: WELL, TEXANS REALLY SEEM HAPPY TO SEND PEOPLE  OVER THE BORDER TO NEW MEXICO FOR WHATEVER IT IS THEY DON'T  WANT TO DEAL WITH IN THEIR STATE.

MY FAMILY IS FROM TEXAS AND I HAVE GOT NO PROBLEMS REALLY WITH  TEXANS BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE SOME CROSSING THE  BORDER TOURISM, CANNABIS TOURISM, CONSUMER PURCHASES  GOING ON.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE  TODAY, WHO ARE DRIVING THROUGH NEW MEXICO UP TO COLORADO FROM  TEXAS TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF PURCHASES AND SO, YOU KNOW, ALL  THE ECONOMIC FORECASTS WERE USED DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND  THAT COUPLE WHEN THEY WERE DEBATING THIS, THEY ALLOCATED  SOME OF THE PORTION OF REVENUE THAT WE COULD EXPECT AS A STATE  TO BE COMING FROM THE TOURISM IDEA.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE COME TO NEW MEXICO, AGAIN, FOR A VARIETY OF  REASONS AND I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ADVOCACY GROUP  THAT SAYS LET'S BRING NEW PEOPLE HERE FOR CANNABIS.

I THINK, THOUGH, ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, NEW  MEXICANS ARE USING CANNABIS.

NEW MEXICANS BUY A LOT OF  ALCOHOL.

AND NEW MEXICANS ARE GOING TO  BUY A LOT OF CANNABIS.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY  DISPUTE ABOUT THAT.

IN SO MUCH AS THEY ARE GOING TO  BE CANNABIS FOR NEW MEXICANS TO PURCHASE, GIVING WHAT SOME OF  THE OTHER PANELISTS TOUCHED ON, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR  OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF RLD, THAT THEY FULLY EXPECT THERE TO  BE A SUPPLY SHORTAGE AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO  AND I THINK, AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS  TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR TAXING AUTHORITY, TRY TO PUT THE  CANNABIS REVENUE THAT IS NEW, GROSS RECEIPTS TAX REVENUE TO  SPECIFIC PURPOSES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, SO, WE'LL SEE WHAT  HAPPENS.

Gene: DAN, I GOT TO ASK YOU,  IS THERE ANY, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC REVENUE PROJECTIONS, I REMEMBER  JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WAS LIKE 200 MILLION, 250 AND SUDDENLY  HALF THAT AND NOW IT IS LIKE 50 MILLION.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET A SIGNIFICANT BOUNCE?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE IDEA OF LEGALIZED MARIJUANA?

Dan: I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

THESE REVENUE FORECASTS REALLY  HAVE BOUNCED AROUND A LOT AND AS YOU MENTIONED I FEEL LIKE THE  EARLY ESTIMATES WERE MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN THE MORE RECENT  ESTIMATES.

SEEMS LIKE THEY KEEP COMING  DOWN, AND IT COULD JUST BE THAT ECONOMISTS ARE TRYING TO BE  CONSERVATIVE OR IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION YOU ASKED  EARLIER ABOUT, DID WE MISS THE BOAT AND NOW SO MANY OTHER  PLACES HAVE LEGALIZED THAT WE WON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF THE  MARKET.

THERE IS A LOT TO BE DETERMINED  ABOUT THIS AND WE'LL SEE.

WE TALKED EARLIER, LOCAL  POLICYMAKERS ARE ADDING RESTRICTIONS THAT MAY MAKE THE  INDUSTRY A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO THRIVE.

Gene: AS ALGERNON MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL REVISIT ALL OF  THIS DOWN THE ROAD.

WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED WITH  OUR COUNT DOWN OF THE TOP FIVE STORIES OF 2021.

BUT BEFORE WE LEARN WHAT NO.

3 IS, LET'S PAUSE FOR THOUGHTS ON  CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACTS HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

WE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS TO GET PERSONAL  REFLECTIONS AS WE HEAD INTO A NEW YEAR.

FIRST UP, ECOLOGIST AND UNM PROFESSOR, MATTHEW HURTEAU.

WE'LL HEAR FROM HIM.

Hurteau: I AM MATTHEW  HURTEAU, A PROFESSOR IN THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UNIVERSITY  OF NEW MEXICO.

AS AN ECOLOGIST I CAN SHARE WITH  YOU A VARIETY OF FACTS.

ABOUT HOW CLIMATE CHANGE HAS  CAUSED THE FIRE SEASON LENGTH TO DOUBLE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS IN  THE SOUTHWEST.

OR THAT THE AREA BURNED BY TREE  KILLING WILDFIRES INCREASED DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE  BEEN EXCLUDING FIRE FROM OUR LANDSCAPES.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT DOES A GOOD JOB CAPTURING HOW I FEEL  ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN THE SOUTHWEST.

INSTEAD, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST TWO FIRE SEASONS WHICH  HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY TOUGH FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.

LAST YEAR A LANDSCAPE THAT I WORKED IN FOR 19 YEARS BURNED IN  THE CREEK FIRE IN CALIFORNIA.

WHEN I DROVE INTO WHAT WAS A  FOREST OF LARGE BEAUTIFUL TREES THIS SUMMER ON MY WAY TO COLLECT  DATA, I FELT LIKE A FAILURE.

AND I FELT A GREAT SENSE OF  LOSS.

THE LOSS COMES FROM THE FACT  THAT I LOVE HANGING OUT IN OLD FORESTS AND I LOVE BIG TREES.

THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THE CREEK FIRE LANDSCAPE WON'T OFF HAVE  AGAIN OVER MY LIFETIME, IF AT ALL.

A SENSE OF FAILURE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE IN THE FOREST  AND FIRE SCIENCE RESEARCH COMMUNITY KNOW HOW TO PREVENT  THIS FROM HAPPENING.

WE HAVE DECADES OF RESEARCH,  THAT DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT KIND OF FIRE IN  THESE ECOSYSTEMS.

HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE BEEN  PRETTY LUCKY THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT THAT LUCK WON'T LAST.

AS TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO CLIMB, THE ATMOSPHERE ACTS LIKE  A GIANT SPONGE SUCKING MOISTURE OUT OF THE FOREST.

IF ANYONE WHO EVER BUILT A CAMPFIRE KNOWS, DRY WOOD BURNS  FAR EASIER THAN WET WOOD.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS COMPOUNDING  THE FACT THAT BY EXCLUDING FIRE FROM OUR FORESTS FOR OVER 100  YEARS, THERE IS WAY MORE FUEL TO BURN THAN THERE SHOULD BE.

WHILE WE IN NEW MEXICO NEED TO DO OUR PART TO SLOW HOW QUICKLY  THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A LARGER  PROBLEM THAN WE CAN SOLVE LOCALLY.

WHAT WE CAN CHANGE LOCALLY IS THE EFFECT THAT CLIMATE CHANGE  AND WILDFIRES HAVE ON FORESTS.

WE CAN RESTORE THE RIGHT KIND   OF FIRE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUT  OUT FIRES AND THOSE THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT BIG HOT FIRES WILL  CORRECT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE CREATED.

NEITHER ARE CORRECT.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY WE  SPEND, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO STOP ALL WILDFIRES, ESPECIALLY  THE ONES THAT BURN UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS.

BUT FIRE IS BOTH A THREAT AND THE ANSWER.

PRESCRIBED BURNING AND MANAGING LIGHTNING CAUSED FIRES ARE THE  TWO PRIMARY TOOLS WE HAVE FOR CHANGING RISKS WE FACE FROM  LARGE FAST MOVING WILDFIRE.

BY BRINGING BACK THE RIGHT KIND  OF FIRE, WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FOREST AND JUST LIKE  IN A CAMPFIRE, LESS FUEL MEANS LESS EXTREME WILDFIRES.

AS NEW MEXICANS, WE CAN SUPPORT LAND MANAGERS IN THEIR EFFORTS  TO RESTORE THE FIRE OUR FOREST NEEDS BY BEING TOLERANT OF SMOKE  FROM PRESCRIBED BURNS AND BY TELLING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WE  NEED TO FUND FIRE MANAGEMENT AND NOT JUST FIRE SUPPRESSION.

THE RESEARCH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE IN THE FOREST IS CLEAR.

IT IS UP TO US TO ACT.

Gene:   THANK YOU TO MATTHEW FOR THOSE THOUGHTS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE CLIMATE CHANGE TAKES THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

BACK TO THE LINE AND OUR COUNTDOWN TO THE TOP FIVE  STORIES OF THE YEAR.

COMING IN NO.

3 IS,  COINCIDENTALLY ENOUGH, CLIMATE CHANGE, THE IMPACT HERE IN NEW  MEXICO.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS KEEP ROLLING  ON.

WE HAVE THE RIO GRANDE DRYING IN  PARTS OF ALBUQUERQUE THIS SUMMER.

FIRE OFFICIALS ARE BRACING FOR A TERRIBLE WILDFIRE SEASON NEXT  YEAR.

JULIE ANN EXPERTS TELL US THERE  IS ALREADY PERMANENT CHANGE IN NEW MEXICO DUE TO RISING  TEMPERATURES, BUT IS DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE STILL A BIG  ENOUGH PRIORITY FOR POLICYMAKERS IN THE STATE?

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

Julie Ann: I WOULD SAY THE  POLICYMAKERS IN THE STATE COULD NEVER SPEND TOO MUCH TIME  DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO NEW  MEXICO'S WATER SUPPLIES, WHICH WE KNOW HAVE NOT BEEN REALLY,  YOU KNOW, MANAGED AND REGULATED IN A WAY THAT IS EQUITABLE FOR  EVERYONE.

WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE WITH USE  OF COLORADO RIVER WATER, LITIGATIONS WITH TEXAS.

I THINK THAT THE MORE OUR LOCAL POLICYMAKERS CAN SPEND ON IT,  THE BETTER.

Gene: LAWMAKERS ARE PICKING  UP A LOT OF BILLS LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON THIS.

EVERYTHING FROM A TASKFORCE TO STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY JOB  MARKET TO THE GOVERNOR'S LANDMARK ENERGY TRANSITION ACT,  BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE STILL HUGELY RELYING ON FOSSIL  FUELS.

Dan: THAT CERTAINLY -- THIS TENSION THAT HAS ARISEN IN SANTA  FE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IS  ALMOST LIKE THE CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR THE STATE, I MEAN PEOPLE IN  THE SOUTHEAST, I THINK, FEEL LIKE THEY PROVIDE ALL THE  REVENUE AND PEOPLE UP NORTH SPEND ALL THE MONEY.

AND THERE IS DEFINITELY THIS TENSION OVER, YOU KNOW,  TRANSITIONS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, WHILE ALSO TRYING TO SUPPORT THE  INDUSTRY THAT IS PROVIDING SO MUCH OF THE STATE BUDGET.

THERE ARE ALSO COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE IS DOING  ENOUGH, THE STATE ENGINEER.

THE CHIEF WATER OFFICIAL  RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE WOULD STEP DOWN AND PART OF HIS COMPLAINT  HAD TO DO WITH A LACK OF RESOURCES FOR WHAT HE SEES AS  WATER PRIORITIES IN THE STATE.

Gene: JESSICA, DAN SET IT UP  WELL ABOUT YOUR PART OF THE WORLDS.

HOW HAS THE CLIMATE CHANGE CONVERSATION CHANGED IN YOUR  REGION?

Onsurez: DAN SAID IT REALLY  WELL WHEN HE SAID THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE MAKE THE MONEY DOWN HERE  AND SANTA FE SPENDS IT.

THAT IS THE PERVADING FEELING.

NOW I THINK THAT PART OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T TALK  ENOUGH ABOUT HOW THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY ITSELF IS DOING WORK TO  ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE STATE AND IN THE  PERMIAN BASIN.

REAL CONVERSATION DOWN HERE IS  TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND ACTUALLY  FACILITIES PUT IN PLACE THAT WILL HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR  IMPACTS ON NEW MEXICO SKIES, NEW MEXICO'S WATER AND WHEN IT COMES  TO POLLUTION ACROSS THE BOARD.

Gene: YOU KNOW, HOW DOES NEW  MEXICO GO ABOUT THREADING THIS NEEDLE, THIS CLASSIC PROBLEM  BETWEEN FEEDING THE STATE COFFERS WITH OIL AND GAS MONEY  WHILE TRYING TO CURB GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND OTHER THINGS  THAT MAKE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPORTANT?

D'Ammassa: I THINK THE REAL DIFFICULT PART OF THIS  CONVERSATION IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A KIND OF A  TRANSITION PERIOD WHERE WE CAN DIVERSIFY REVENUE STREAMS AS  WELL AS HOW WE ARE GETTING ENERGY INTO OUR GRID.

AND THAT MIGHT MEAN ADJUSTMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AND I  THINK WE ARE TALKING A GENERATION OR TWO IN TERMS OF  NOT ONLY THE REVENUE PICTURE BUT ALSO JUST WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS  ARE AS FAR AS THE ENERGY THAT ALLOWS US TO LIVE THE KIND OF  DAILY LIFE THAT WE LIKE TO LIVE.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY POINT  TO SCARCITY OR A KIND OF CATASTROPHIC SCARCITY OF ENERGY,  BUT I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ADJUSTMENTS TO WHAT  WE SEE, HOW MUCH WE DRIVE, HOW WE GET THAT POWER AND HOW WE PAY  FOR IT, AS WELL AS HOW THE STATE GENERATES THE REVENUE IT NEEDS  TO DO SCHOOLING, MEDICAL SERVICES AND ALL OF THINGS THAT  STATE FUNDING SUPPORTS.

Gene: JULIE ANN, CAN I GET  YOU TO PEEL BACK TO THE TEXAS SITUATION AGAIN FOR A QUICK  SECOND.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T  REALIZE HOW HUGE THIS IS FOR US, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS  FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ABOUT WHAT WE OWE THE STATE, WHAT WE DON'T  OWE THE STATE AND THERE HAS BEEN ACCUSATIONS NEW MEXICO HAS NOT  FOUGHT HARD ENOUGH SO FAR IN THIS ISSUE.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS TEXAS SITUATION?

Julie Ann: I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES.

I THINK THAT DAN BROUGHT UP THE STATE ENGINEER IS STEPPING DOWN  AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THIS STATE ENGINEER HAS BEEN TASKED  WITH COOPERATING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO,  YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THIS MASSIVE LITIGATION THAT IS IN THE UNITED  STATES SUPREME COURT AND IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO THIS IDEA  OF WHAT DO UPSTREAM USERS OWE DOWNSTREAM USERS.

AND, SO, THIS ARGUMENT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS NEW MEXICO DONE  ENOUGH TO SEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WATER TO TEXAS OR ARE WE JUST  SORT OF A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH  WATER FROM THE UPSTREAM HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF NUANCE IN THE  SUPREME COURT CASE AND ONE OF THE ISSUES HAS TO DO WITH  PUMPING OF GROUNDWATER ADJACENT TO, YOU KNOW, THE RIO GRANDE AND  THE PECOS RIVER IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.

AND WHETHER THOSE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED BY THE STATE  ENGINEER HAD SUCH ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE RIVER AND ON THE  DOWNSTREAM DELIVERIES THAT, IN FACT, NEW MEXICO IS RESPONSIBLE  FOR THAT.

SO, THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE  ISSUES THAT ARE BEING LITIGATED AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE  ONLY BIG WATER CASE.

THERE WAS A BIG STUDY THAT WAS  RELEASED THIS WEEK ABOUT USERS OF COLORADO RIVER AND THE  UPSTREAM USERS ARE SHAFTING THE DOWNSTREAM USERS AND THAT IS THE  STORY ACROSS THE WEST.

Gene: DAN, POLITICALLY, WHAT  IS THE BOUNCE HERE?

IT HAS BEEN AN OLD JOKE FOREVER.

YOU GO TO WAR HERE IN THE WEST OVER WATER AND MAYBE ONE OTHER  THING.

BUT WE HAVE PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE A VERY DEFINITE PROBLEM THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF  MONEY OUT OF YOUR WALLET IF WE LET THIS SORT OF GET OUT OF  CONTROL.

LET ME GO BACK TO THE QUESTION I  ASKED JULIE ANN, THIS IDEA THAT NEW MEXICO HAS NOT FOUGHT HARD  ENOUGH HERE.

I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THAT FRONT?

Dan: THERE ARE SOME PROMINENT LEGISLATORS WHO REALLY FEEL LIKE  THE STATE HAS NOT DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB PROTECTING ITS  INTERESTS IN COURT.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO  SAY WHETHER THAT IS A VALID CLAIM OR NOT, BUT THERE IS  DEFINITELY SOME NERVOUSNESS AMONG THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THE  OUTCOME OF THESE CASES AND HOW WELL NEW MEXICO HAS DONE  ADVOCATING FOR NEW MEXICANS.

Gene: IS IT A RESOURCE ISSUE?

DO WE NEED TO THROW MORE MONEY AT IT?

WHAT IS THE MISSING PIECE THAT YOU'RE HEARING?

Dan: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

RESOURCES ARE NOT GOING TO BE A  GOOD EXCUSE FOR THE LEGISLATURE GOING FORWARD GIVEN THE VOLUME  OF MONEY THAT IS POURING INTO THE STATE FROM VARIOUS STIMULUS  PACKAGES, FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND THE OIL INDUSTRY IS ALSO  REALLY POURING IN SOME MONEY, BUT, YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LESS INCLINED TO GIVE THE  STATE A BREAK WHEN IT COMES TO LACK OF RESOURCES.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

UP TO OUR SECOND BIGGEST STORY  OF 2021, EDUCATION IN A PANDEMIC.

SCHOOLS DID REOPEN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING THIS YEAR, OF COURSE,  BUT ENROLLMENT IS DOWN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF HICCUPS WITH MARKED  REQUIREMENTS, COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AND LEARNING LOSS.

IT IS NOT A UNIQUE SITUATION TO NEW MEXICO, CERTAINLY, BUT IN  HINDSIGHT, DID WE DO THE RIGHT THING BY REOPENING SCHOOLS IN  APRIL?

Julie Ann:   I THINK THE NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO SAID THERE  CHILDREN WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED WITH EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL  OUTCOMES WERE REALLY WHAT DROVE THAT DECISION.

I THINK, AGAIN, LIKE IT IS ALWAYS THE STORY, THE KIDS WHO  COME FROM PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE SLOW AND LOW INTERNET AND THEY  HAVE LITTLE OR NO TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THEM,  THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT SUFFERED THE MOST FROM THE REMOTE ONLY  LEARNING AND SO I THINK THAT MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT SENDING  EVERYONE BACK TO SCHOOL TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP WORKING ON  EQUITY FOR EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.

WE SAW THE LSD REPORTED IN THE FALL THAT NEW MEXICO STUDENTS  LOST BETWEEN 6 -- I AM SORRY, 10 AND 60 DAYS OF EDUCATION BECAUSE  OF THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE  INTERNET FROM HOME OR HAVING THREE KIDS TRYING TO USE THE  SAME CONNECTION AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW.

THERE WITH WERE A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES FOR EVERY FAMILY.

THAT IS A BIG GAP TO OVERCOME AND ANALYSTS FOR THE LEGISLATURE  SAID THAT FOR MANY STUDENTS, FOR THE STUDENTS THAT LOST THE MOST  DAYS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT TAKES LIKE SIX YEARS FOR THEM TO CATCH  UP ON THAT LOST TIME.

SO, THINK ABOUT HOW THAT AFFECTS  YOUR THIRD GRADER WHO IN NEW MEXICO IS ALREADY HISTORICALLY  INCLINED TO BE BEHIND, RIGHT?

SO, OUR STUDENTS AT ELEMENTARY  SCHOOL PRE-PANDEMIC, 37% OF THEM WERE LEARNING AT GRADE LEVEL.

POST PANDEMIC, THAT NUMBER DROPPED TO 31%.

I WOULD ARGUE BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SHAMEFUL.

Gene: INTERESTING POINTS.

JESSICA A COMMON THEME IN A LOT  OF OUR STORIES THIS YEAR FORCES THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE AND THAT  IS DEFINITELY BEEN TRUE WITH SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BOARDS  REACTED TO THE MASK MANDATES.

WHAT DID WE NEED TO DO WITH THE  STATE TO GET MORE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I AM GOING TO PUT YOU ON  THE WALL HERE, IN YOUR PART OF THE STATE.

I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN DOWN SOUTH A LOT THIS PAST SUMMER FOR VARIOUS  REASONS.

OH, MAN THE MASK THING WAS SUCH  A HOT POINT DOWN THERE.

Onsurez: YEAH, WE HAVE THIS  HUGE AVERSION TO WEARING MASKS BECAUSE WE ARE TOLD TO WEAR  MASKS APPARENTLY.

BUT I THINK THAT IN OUR SCHOOL  DISTRICT YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT TO  PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR CHILDREN BUT THEY WANT TO  SEE THAT DECISION COME FROM LOCALS.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS YOU HEAR THEM  SAY, THE LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT SAYS, HEY, WE ARE NOT THE MASK  POLICE BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU KINDLY TO DO THIS.

IF NOT, YOU HAVE ANOTHER OPTION, TAKE YOUR CHILD TO REMOTE  LEARNING WHICH THEY STILL OFFER.

I THINK PART OF THE BIGGEST  PROBLEM FOR US IS SAYING WE WANT TO SEE THAT CONTROL BACK IN THE  HANDS OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LOCAL  SUPERINTENDENTS, WE WANT PARENTS TO HAVE MORE OF AN INPUT.

AS JULIE ANN SAID, THERE WAS PARENTS THAT SAID, HEY, THIS  ADVERSELY AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN.

WE WANT TO SEE THEM  BACK IN THE CLASS.

IF YOU ASK PARENTS NOW WHETHER  THEY REGRET MOVING CHILD FROM REMOTE BACK INTO IN-CLASS  LEARNING, THEY'LL SAY, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Gene: ALGERNON, STUDENTS NOW 5 TO 11 CAN NOW BE VACCINATED.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE GAME IN OUR STATE?

ARE PARENTS HEARING THIS AND NUMBERS POINTING OUT THEY ARE  TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS HERE?

D'Ammassa: INITIALLY THERE  WAS A PRETTY BIG JUMP.

IT EXCEEDED THE STATE DEPARTMENT  OF HEALTH'S EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS PARENTS WANTING TO GET THEIR  KIDS SOME PROTECTION AGAINST COVID-19 AND THE MORE WARM  BODIES THAT ARE VACCINATED THE MORE OF A KIND OF A FIREWALL WE  HAVE AS FAR AS SLOWING DOWN THE SPREAD AND THE MUTATION OF THE  VIRUS.

THE NUMBERS INDICATE THAT HAS  SLOWED DOWN SOME BUT THERE IS STILL A PRETTY STRONG  PARTICIPATION IN THAT.

I THINK, AS JESSICA WAS POINTING  OUT, I THINK PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED TO MAKE CERTAIN  DECISIONS BUT THEY MAY BE LESS MOTIVATED WHEN IT IS A DIRECTIVE  AND WHEN THEY ARE TOLD TO DO IT.

AND THERE IS A TRICKY BALANCE  THERE.

BECAUSE, THERE WILL OF COURSE BE  PEOPLE WHO DECIDE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT  ARGUABLY HAS A BROAD IMPACTS ON OUR ABILITIES TO RESTORE SOME OF  WHAT WE USED TO CONSIDER NORMAL.

Gene: DAN, INTERESTING POINT  THERE.

BECAUSE, COLLEGES AND  UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING UNM RIGHT HERE HAVE ISSUED VACCINE  MANDATES FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AFTER SOME BACK AND  FORTH IN GETTING PUBLIC INPUT.

WAS THAT A PRUDENT COURSE OF  ACTION IN HINDSIGHT?

Dan: IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME  TO ANSWER THAT OR OFFER OPINION ON THAT.

I DO THINK THAT IT SEEMS LIKE BASED ON ALL THE EVIDENCE WE  HAVE THAT VACCINES ARE THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL TO SLOW THE SPREAD  OF THE DISEASE, TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM -- REDUCE SEVERITY OF THE  DISEASE WHEN PEOPLE DO GET IT.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A RESPONSE  TO THAT, THAT BASICALLY, THE VACCINE CERTAINLY, BASED ON THE  EVIDENCE WE HAVE, THEY SEEM TO BE EFFECTIVE AND THE BEST WEAPON  WE HAVE.

Gene:   JULIE ANN, BOOSTERS.

UNM IS MANDATING THOSE AS WELL.

OTHERS ARE AS WELL.

IS THIS GOING TO BE ANOTHER  FLASH POINT HERE?

Julie Ann: I THINK THE STATE  HAS GIVEN SOME CONFLICTING MESSAGING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE  GOING TO CONSIDER FULL INOCULATION.

IS IT GOING TO BE TWO PLUS BOOSTER FOR ALL AGE GROUPS AND,  YOU KNOW, ARE DIFFERENT AGENCIES GOING TO ADOPT DIFFERENT, YOU  KNOW, DEFINITIONS OF FULL INOCULATION?

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IN SANTA FE, WE ARE AT 99% VACCINATION AMONG ADULTS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW -- AVERSION TO THE VACCINE  AND THE PEOPLE WHO ABSOLUTELY WON'T GET IT WHO WON'T CONSIDER  THE BOOSTERS, IT IS REALLY NOT AS MUCH OF A FACTOR IN OUR  COMMUNITY I THINK AS IT IS IN MANY OTHER PLACES.

Gene: SAME FOR 5 TO 11.

SANTA FE IS DOING WELL THERE AS  WELL?

Julie Ann: WE ARE.

I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I AM NOT SURE WE DON'T HAVE A COUNTY BY COUNTY BREAKDOWN YET  FOR KIDS, RIGHT.

Gene: IT IS EARLY.

JESSICA, I GOT TO SAY THE QUESTION NOW IS HOW WE MOVE  FORWARD AND TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THE LEARNING LOSS THAT WE  MENTIONED EARLIER OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT JULIE ANN  MENTIONED.

WHAT SHOULD EDUCATORS AND  POLICYMAKERS BE THINKING ABOUT AT THIS POINT?

Onsurez: LET ME JUST SAY THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF  CHALLENGES TO ACTUALLY GETTING US TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET  CAUGHT UP.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF TEACHERS  OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN PLACES  WHERE THERE SHOULD BE FULL-TIME TEACHERS.

WE HAVE LACK OF RESOURCES.

WE HAVE MISSING KIDS.

IF YOU EVER WATCH THE NEWS, YOU KNOW THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO  DISAPPEARED OUT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE NEED TO FIND AND  MAKE SURE ARE SAFE AND CAN COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I THINK IN THE FUTURE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY KIND OF  BUTTON DOWN AND PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE DATA THAT WE  ARE GETTING, WHERE ARE OUR CHILDREN LACKING IN TERMS OF  LEARNING.

WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN AT THE  BOTTOM OF EDUCATION AS A STATE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS  REALISTICALLY EXPECTING US TO CATCH UP OVERNIGHT OR GET BACK  TO WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

I THINK MOST OF US ARE GOING TO  BE PRETTY HAPPY IF WE CAN KEEP KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM, MOVING  FORWARD AND LEARNING.

Gene: I AM CURIOUS WHAT YOU  HEARD IN THE ROUNDHOUSE ABOUT THE IDEA OF EXTENDED SCHOOL  YEARS.

ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT THAT UP  THERE?

Dan: YEAH, THAT HAS BEEN A  HUGE ISSUE.

THE NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE  ANALYSTS WHO EVALUATE EDUCATION POLICY HAVE BASICALLY REPEATEDLY  TOLD THE LEGISLATURE THAT TIME ON TASK, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING  LEARNING HOURS, THAT THOSE ARE POWERFUL TOOLS FOR HELPING  PEOPLE CATCH UP AND THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT DO THAT.

DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN GETTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE.

TEACHERS ARE EXHAUSTED, THEY DON'T WANT TO ADD AN EXTRA FIVE  YEARS TO THE SCHOOL YEAR OR FIVE WEEKS TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT IT ON THE GROUND BUT  IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATORS HAVE SOME TOOLS THEY  ARE CONSIDERING, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY  COULD TRY SOMETHING MANDATORY, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE  STATE IS HOW TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Gene: NEXT UP ON THE LINE, THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN  WAITING FOR, THE TOP STORY OF 2021.

RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, SOME MORE SHOTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND  ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN NEW MEXICO.

OUR NEXT SPECIAL GUEST IS VALERIE RANGEL, AUTHOR AND  PROFESSOR OF EARTH SCIENCE AT SANTA FE UNIVERSITY OF ART AND  DESIGN.

Rangle: I AM VALERIE RANGLE,  AUTHOR OF THE 2019 BOOK, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN NEW  MEXICO COUNTING COUP.

AS WE APPROACH OUR SECOND YEAR  WITHIN THE PANDEMIC, WE CANNOT FORGET ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL  AND PUBLIC HEALTH INEQUALITY.

SYSTEMIC ISSUES OF INEQUALITY  HAVE EXISTED LONG BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC.

SYSTEMIC ISSUES OF EQUALITY THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE THROUGH THE  PANDEMIC.

ISSUES THAT WE MUST ALL WORK TO  CHANGE.

THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH  CRISIS THAT WAS EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS THE LACK  OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

RECENTLY, THE NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEZ REPORTED  THAT 40% OF RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THE NAVAJO NATION DO NOT  HAVE RUNNING WATER OR SANITATION.

MANY ALSO LACK ELECTRICITY.

PLACES LIKE THE JICARILLA APACHE  NATIONS HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT THE PIPES CONTAIN LEAD WHICH  CONTAMINATES THE WATER AND POSES SEVERE HEALTH RISKS TO INFANTS,  PREGNANT WOMEN AND ELDERLY.

DURING THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD OF  THE PANDEMIC, RESIDENTS COULDN'T TRAVEL TO BORDER TOWNS TO HAUL  BACK DRINKING WATER.

THE TRIBE WAS ALSO DENIED FEMA  ASSISTANCE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS BECAUSE THEIR WATER ISSUES PREDATE COVID-19.

SO, THEIR PROBLEMS WEREN'T CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY.

IN THE COMMUNITY OF TOHAJIILEE,  LESS THAN AN HOURS DRIVE FROM THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY, WELLS  WERE DRY MOST OF THE YEAR.

AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE NEED  WATER PUMPED FROM ANOTHER SOURCE.

ALL OF THESE CRISES OVERLAP WITH COVID-19.

MCKINLEY AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES REPORTED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF  COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS IN THE STATE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE MANY RURAL TOWNS IN THESE  COUNTIES THAT LACK RUNNING WATER.

THEY ARE ALSO WITHIN A FOOD DESERT WITH FEW HEALTH CARE  FACILITIES.

THESE CRISES ALSO OVERLAP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION.

MCKINLEY AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THE  60-YEAR LEGACY OF URANIUM CONTAMINATION IN WESTERN NEW  MEXICO WHICH HAS MADE WELLS TOXIC.

FOR DECADES, THE NAVAJO NATION AND ITS PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED  DISPROPORTIONATELY.

MANY NAVAJO URANIUM WORKERS AND  THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BECOME ILL AND MANY HAVE DIED  FROM DISEASES ASSOCIATED BOTH WITH URANIUM WORK ITSELF AND  LIVING IN URANIUM MINES, MILLS AND WASTE DUMPS.

AND THE LARGEST URANIUM WASTE TAILING SPILL OCCURRED ON  JULY 16, 1979 NEAR NAVAJO COMMUNITY OF CHURCH ROCK.

A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO STUDY FOUND THAT OVER ONE  QUARTER OF OVER 700 NAVAJO NATIONS THAT WERE TESTED HAD  HIGH CONCENTRATION OF URANIUM IN THEIR BODY.

OTHERS LIKE THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, THE UTE  MOUNTAIN UTE COMMUNITY OF THE WHITE MESA IN SOUTHEASTERN UTAH  AND THE HAVASUPAI TRIBE IN THE GRAND CANYON ALSO FACE THREATS  POSED BY URANIUM OPERATIONS.

IN THE COMING YEARS, I HOPE THAT RESIDENTS OF NEW MEXICO WORK TO  MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATURE PASSES A GREEN AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES  THE STATE TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND  FUTURE POLICIES AND PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND INCLUDES ACCESS TO WATER AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE THE STATE AND TRIBAL LEADERS TO CREATE A  COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS URANIUM CONTAMINATIONS INSTEAD  OF PIECEMEAL INADEQUATE CLEAN-UP, AND STOP ACCEPTING THE  MOST HAZARDOUS WASTE AND TOXIC INDUSTRY.

THIS A MOMENT IN TIME WE CAN BUILD BACK BETTER   TOGETHER.

Gene: NO SURPRISE BUT  COVID-19 TOPS THE LIST AGAIN THIS YEAR AS THE BIGGEST STORY  IN 2021.

IN PARTICULAR, WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE STATE'S RESPONSE  TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC FROM PUBLIC HEALTH MANDATES TO  VACCINATION ROLLOUT.

START THERE, ALGERNON, NEW MEXICO  CONTINUES TO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE  COUNTRY AND YET RECENT SPIKE IN CASES HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORST.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT DISCONNECT?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

D'Ammassa: WELL, WHAT HEALTH  OFFICIALS ARE SAYING IS THAT BECAUSE NEW MEXICO HAD SO MANY  PEOPLE VACCINATED EARLY AS SOON AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE THERE  WAS THIS PUSH TO DISTRIBUTE VACCINE THROUGHOUT THE STATE,  INCLUDING THE HARD TO GET TO CORNERS, NOW WE ARE SEEING  WANING IMMUNITY AS THE VIRUS SPREADS AND MUTATES AND IMMUNITY  WANES AND YOU HAVE THIS PROLONGED SPIKE IN CASES, AND  THIS IS NOT JUST A NEW MEXICAN PROBLEM BUT HAS BEEN A NATIONAL  PROBLEM AS THE VIRUS HAS MOVED AROUND AND SO THAT THE RACE IS  ON TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SLOW THAT SPREAD DOWN SO THAT  VACCINES CAN GET AHEAD OF IT, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE HAVING THIS  ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE HAVING ABOUT HOW WE ALL -- WHAT IS  EXPECTED OF ALL OF US AS INDIVIDUALS DURING A PUBLIC  HEALTH EMERGENCY.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

JULIE ANN, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM RECENTLY EXTENDED  THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE THROUGH JANUARY 7.

ARE THOSE MASK MANDATES STILL HAVING AN IMPACT OR ARE PEOPLE  JUST DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO  AT THIS POINT?

Julie Ann: IN SANTA FE I  THINK PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY COMPLIANT IN PUBLIC SPACES  INCLUDING OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TO ONE  ANOTHER.

I WAS JUST LOOKING AT SOME  PHOTOS FROM INDIAN MARKET OVER THE SUMMER AND SEEING PEOPLE IN  THEIR KIND OF VARYING DEGREES OF FEELING LIKE IT IS IMPORTANT TO  WEAR A MASK OUTSIDE.

BUT I THINK IF YOU GO INTO ANY  SANTA FE BUSINESS, WHETHER IT IS A COFFEE SHOP OR RESTAURANT OR  BOOK STORE OR THE TARGET, EVERYONE IS COMPLYING WITH THE  LAW.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF ARGUING  ABOUT IT.

BUT, THERE AGAIN, I KNOW WE ARE  IN SOMEWHAT OF A BUBBLE HERE AND THAT IS NOT EVEN THE CASE WHEN I  GO TO VISIT TIJERAS AND EDGEWOOD AND THOSE AREAS, PEOPLE DON'T  FEEL THE SAME ABOUT IT AND THEY ARE NOT AS WILLING TO COMPLY  WITH THE STATE LAW.

Gene: ARE YOU HAVING AN ISSUE  STILL IN SANTA FE WITH FOLKS VISITING?

I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON TEXAS HERE.

THERE WAS A TIME WHERE A LOT OF TEXAS WERE COMING TO RED RIVER,  SANTA FE, A LOT OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO PLACES AND NOT HAVING IT  WITH THE MASK MANDATES WITH THE GOVERNOR.

IS THAT STILL HAPPENING?

Julie Ann: IF YOU'RE WALKING  INTO A BUSINESS IN SANTA FE, YOU'RE ASKED TO WEAR A MASK AND  THERE IS VERY FEW PEOPLE TRYING TO BUCK THAT.

IF YOU'RE OUT ON THE SIDEWALK, DOWNTOWN, YOU ARE STILL VERY  CLOSE TO PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT IS OKAY TO JUST, YOU KNOW,  RIP IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE STICKING  POINT AND AGAIN THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO WEAR A MASK WHEN  YOU'RE OUTSIDE.

AND SO THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE I  THINK THE MOST CONFLICTS BUT THE TOURISTS, VISITORS, NO MATTER  WHERE THEY ARE FROM, WHEN YOU WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR AND THERE  IS A SIGN THAT SAYS PLEASE PUT ON YOUR MASK, I REALLY DON'T  THINK YOU CAN ARGUE WITH THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR  BUSINESS THERE.

Gene: DAN MCKAY, SEVEN  HOSPITALS ARE SO OVERWHELMED WITH CASES THAT THEY HAVE MOVED  TO CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

HOW BAD WOULD IT HAVE TO GET, DO YOU THINK, FOR THE GOVERNOR TO  GO BACK TO EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS LIKE WE SAW IN THE  EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC?

Dan: WELL, SHE HAS MADE IT  PRETTY CLEAR, AND HER STAFF, THEY HAVE ALL  MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR, THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO CAPACITY  LIMITS ON BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW.

HOW MANY TOOLS THEY HAVE AT  THEIR DISPOSAL, YOU KNOW, IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN WHILE NOT  RESTRICTING BUSINESSES AGAIN.

THE MASK MANDATE HAS BEEN A  POINT OF CONTROVERSY.

I THINK, SHE HAS DEFINITELY  FACED SOME POLITICAL CRITICISM ON THAT POINT BUT THEY HAVE  NOT -- THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT SIGNALED AT ALL IT IS  INTERESTING IN MOVING SCHOOLS BACK TO REMOTE LEARNING OR  IMPOSING BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THERE  IS ANYTHING THAT CHANGES THAT.

Gene: ALGERNON, I WANT TO  BRING BACK THIS URBAN RURAL DIVIDE QUESTION AS NOWHERE THERE  HAS BEEN MORE CLEAR THAN MASK AND VACCINATION MANDATES.

WAS THERE SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER LEADERS COULD HAVE  DONE DIFFERENTLY TO TRY TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC BACK WHEN WHILE  ALSO MAKING RURAL COMMUNITIES PART OF THE SOLUTION AND GETTING  BUY-IN?

I THINK REALLY, I DON'T KNOW  THAT -- I THINK THE DIVIDE BETWEEN HOW RURAL COMMUNITIES  AND URBAN COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND THE OPTIONS CAN BE  OVERSTATED, BASED ON JUST SOME OF THE STEREOTYPES THAT WE HOLD.

I THINK THAT FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES, REALLY, IT WAS JUST  A MATTER OF HAVING ACCESS.

HOWEVER PEOPLE FELT ABOUT  VACCINES, HOWEVER PEOPLE FELT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE  REMAINS JUST ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES WHEN NEEDED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT EVEN IS A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE IN SOME  RURAL COMMUNITIES WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LAS CRUCES  THAT NEED TO TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE FOR SOME KIND OF  HEALTHCARE, YOU KNOW, THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ISOLATED TO A  COMMUNITY OR A PARTICULAR TYPE OF COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE REALLY SHARED ACROSS THE STATE.

LIKEWISE, WITH SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN  US IS JUST THE EXTENT TO WHICH SCHOOLS ARE DEPENDED UPON TO  DELIVER A NUMBER OF SERVICES AND SECURITY FOR OUR CHILDREN ACROSS  THE STATE, RURAL AND URBAN, AND SO I THINK THIS IS ONE ISSUE  WHERE I THINK THAT LINE WE DRAW BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN SORT OF  CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR PROBLEMS, I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE  BROAD THAN THAT, AND REALLY WHAT IS RELEVANT THERE IS JUST THE  DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND TO SERVICES.

Gene: JESSICA, ONE OF THE MORE INFAMOUS, IF YOU WANT TO  USE THAT WORD, MASK MANDATES OR MANDATES, I SHOULD SAY, WAS  REGARDING THE STATE FAIR FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS PAST YEAR.

INTERESTING REACTION.

OF COURSE, WE HAD THE ALT STATE  FAIR FOR THE 4H KIDS IN ROSWELL WHICH SEEMED TO BE A BIG HIT AND  MY CONCERN IS THAT BECOMES PERMANENT NOW THAT FOLKS HAVE  SEEN THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO DO THESE THINGS.

I'M CURIOUS WITH THE STATE FAIR PARTICULARLY WHAT WERE YOU  HEARING BACK THEN.

I WAS HEARING SOME REALLY HARD  STUFF.

A LOT OF FOLKS TOOK THIS AS A  PERSONAL AFFRONT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND PERSONALLY HURT BY  THIS.

Onsurez: WELL, YOU ARE  TALKING ABOUT A BELOVED STATE TRADITION, RIGHT, SO PEOPLE ARE  GOING TO HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT IT EITHER WAY TO  BEGIN WITH, BUT, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, WE VIEWED WHAT HAPPENED,  THAT SEPARATION, HOLDING OUR OWN MINI STATE FAIR DOWN SOUTH AS A  SUCCESS AND MAYBE PART OF THAT WAS AT THE VERY BEGINNING THERE  WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWED AND NOT BE  ALLOWED IN TERMS OF BEING A PARTICIPANT AT THE STATE FAIR,  RIGHT, WHAT WERE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ACCOMPANIED  HAVING OUR CHILDREN GO OUT AND SHOW THEIR ANIMAL AT THE STATE  FAIR.

WE TEND TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS  OF WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE NORMAL THINGS THAT ALGERNON  MENTIONED BEFORE IN A NORMAL MANNER AND GIVE THOSE  EXPERIENCES TO OUR KIDS AND TO OUR FAMILIES AND BRING THEM BACK  TO OUR STATE.

I THINK THAT IF THE STATE  PERSISTS IN MASK MANDATES AND VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS, YOU'RE  GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE TURN TO ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS OR  FINDING NOT NECESSARILY WAYS AROUND IT BUT WAYS THEY CAN  CONTINUE TO ENGAGE AND DO THOSE ACTIVITIES WITHOUT THE NEED OR  THE BLESSING OF THE STATE.

Gene: THAT IS A TOUGH CALL  DOWN THERE.

IT IS AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN  YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DO THINGS THAT IS NOT POPULAR.

Onsurez: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, SUPER ENCOURAGING TO SEE,  THOUGH, HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATED BUT ON THEIR OWN  TOOK UP THIS VACCINATION AND MASK USE THEMSELVES.

Gene: LOVE THAT.

DAN MCKAY, THE GOVERNOR RACE IS  HEATING UP FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

WITH GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM OF COURSE SEEKING  REELECTION.

BUT KRQE WEATHERMAN MARK  RONCHETTI JUMPING INTO THE FRAY AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE COVID PANDEMIC AND GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE  PLAYING INTO THE RACE.

Dan: I THINK IT WILL BE A  HUGE ISSUE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT TOUCHES  EVERY SINGLE NEW MEXICAN AND THESE POLICY CHOICES AREN'T EASY  ONES TO MAKE AND YOU ARE EVEN SEEING -- IT IS NOT LIKE  DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS HAVE ALL RESPONDED THE SAME WAY.

THERE IS DEBATE WITHIN EVERY STATE OVER HOW TO HANDLE VACCINE  MANDATES AND MASK MANDATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS BEEN ON THE AGGRESSIVE SIDE WHEN IT  COMES TO REQUIRING MASKS AND VACCINES, SO, YES, I DO THINK IT  WILL BE A HUGE ISSUE AND KIND OF THE BROADER POLITICAL  ENVIRONMENT MAY FAVOR REPUBLICANS GIVEN THAT THERE IS  A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT IS ALWAYS KIND OF A  NATIONAL CLIMATE THAT AFFECTS LOCAL RACES, YOU KNOW.

WHETHER THAT WILL MAKE THE RACE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN LAST TIME  WE DON'T KNOW, BUT COVID ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BE A TOP ISSUE.

Gene: WHAT WAS YOUR TOP STORY OF 2021?

HEAD TO ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS TO LET US KNOW.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBE.

BEFORE WE WRAP UP THIS WEEK'S SHOW WE WANT TO BRING YOU A  VOICE OF THE FUTURE AND HER THOUGHTS ON ADDRESSING CLIMATE  CHANGE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

SHE IS A UNM SUSTAINABILITY  STUDY STUDENT AND TOOK PART IN A RECENT PROTEST ON CAMPUS  DEMANDING UNM FOUNDATION TO DIVEST IT INTERESTS IN FOSSIL  FUEL INDUSTRIES.

Nieto: MY NAME IS SOPHIA  JENKINS NIETO.

I AM 21 YEARS OLD.

I AM IN MY FOURTH YEAR OF UNDERGRAD AT UNM.

I STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES AND  AM ALSO PART OF THE STUDENT STEERING COMMITTEE FOR UNM  LEADERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AND FORESIGHT ALSO CALLED UNM  LEAF.

WE ARE A GROUP OF STUDENTS,  STAFF, FACULTY, RETIREES AND UNM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TRYING TO PUSH  UNM TO USE THEIR POWER AS A RESEARCH 1 INSTITUTION AND  FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY OF OUR STATE TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHEN UNM (INAUDIBLE) ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE --  BECOMING A CARBON AND WASTE FREE CAMPUS AND ENCOURAGING THE UNM  FOUNDATION TO DIVEST THEIR ENDOWMENT FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND  REINVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY.

I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF CLIMATE  CHANGE MY ENTIRE LIFE, EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND MY WHOLE LIFE  RESOLVES AROUND THIS.

IN CLASS I LEARN ABOUT THE SCIENCE AND  POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THROUGH MY WORK WITH LEAF, I TRY  TO GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO ME.

TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY IS  CLIMATE CHANGE A REAL THREAT THAT WILL DESTROY OUR FUTURES  BUT IT IS ALREADY DISPLACING PEOPLE AND DESTROYING  ENVIRONMENTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

I AM TOLD BY ADULTS THAT I AM SO YOUNG, I HAVE MY WHOLE LIFE  AHEAD OF ME, THAT I HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

FOR PEOPLE MY AGE THAT FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN, BECAUSE OF THE THREAT  CLIMATE DISASTERS POSE TO OUR LIVELIHOODS.

I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR PLANET BUT I ALSO WANT TO  SEE MY 30'S AND MAYBE HAVE KIDS SOME DAY.

SO THAT I CAN SEE THE WORLD AND HAVE IT NOT BE ON FIRE.

THIS SEEMS SIMPLE TO ME.

I AM FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE.

MY LIFE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

THE LIVES OF MY GENERATION AND  GENERATIONS TO COME ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

OUR PLANET IS WORTH FIGHTING  FOR.

Gene: THANKS AGAIN FOR  JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED AND THANKS  FOR STICKING WITH US THROUGH ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TIME WE CAN WELCOME ALL GUESTS  AND LINE PANELISTS BACK INTO THE STUDIO, BUT THAT, OF COURSE,  WILL BE DICTATED BY COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR BEARING WITH OUR VIRTUAL SOLUTION.

IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO OUR BROADCASTS WOULD  RELY ON TELECONFERENCING S TECHNOLOGY LIKE ZOOM AND WEBEX  BUT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THOSE TOOLS THAT HELP US CONTINUE TO  HAVE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS OF THE DAY.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND NEXT  YEAR, IN FOCUS.

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