New Mexico in Focus; 1203; UNM Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, UNM ATHLETICS DIRECTOR EDDIE NUNEZ TAKES ON SOME BIG ISSUES IN COLLEGE SPORTS. >> WE ARE ONE ALBUQUERQUE, WE ARE ONE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND THAT IS HOW WE BUILD THE TRUST BACK, HOW THEY SEE IT AND BEING TRANSPARENT AND HONEST. >> AND THE LINE LOOKS AT ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT UPDATES. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. LATER IN THE HOUR, THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL EXAMINE THE RESULTS OF STANDARDIZED PARCC TEST SCORES IN NEW MEXICO. THEY ALSO DEBATE WHETHER THE GUARDIANSHIP REFORMS THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS MONTH WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PROTECTION FOR INCAPACITATED PERSONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES WE COVER THIS WEEK OR ANY OTHER ISSUES ON YOUR MIND, GET IN TOUCH WITH

US HERE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG AND ALSO CONNECT WITH STAFF ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. JUST SEARCH FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. NOW, LET'S GO TO THE LINE. >> NEW MEXICO SENATE BILL 19 TOOK EFFECT ON THE FIRST OF THIS MONTH. NOW THAT BILL IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF INCAPACITATED PERSONS UNDER THE COURT ORDERED GUARDIANSHIP OR CONSERVATORSHIP. THE REFORMS CALL FOR STRICTER REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT TO REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY, THERE IS THAT WORD, AND BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE IS THAT WORD, OVER THE NEW MEXICO GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM THAT WAS RECENTLY SHAKEN BY SCANDAL. THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE REFORMS, WHICH CALL FOR HIRING AUDITORS TO MAKE RANDOM COMPLIANCE AUDITS OF CONTRACT GUARDIANS. THAT MONEY WILL ALSO PAY STAFF TO EXAMINE ABOUT 20,000 COURT FILES TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY UNDER THAT

GUARDIANSHIP. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THESE REFORMS AND OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS, THIS WEEKS LINE OPINION PANELISTS, FORMER STATE SENATOR, DEDE -- DIANE SNYDER IS WITH US. JAFFREY CANDELARIA OWNER OF KONNECTION NOW LLC, AND HOST OF THE JEFFREY CANDELARIA SHOW ON 770 KKOB AND HARRY VAN BUREN, PROFESSOR AT UNM ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND FORMER STATE SENATOR DEDE FELDMAN IS WITH US. >> DIANE, LET ME START WITH YOU. A LOT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, WE WERE ALL HORRIFIED WHEN THESE THINGS BROKE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, I AM NOT KIDDING, THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE STATE IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT YOU HAVE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU DON'T HAVE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE, IN THE CONTROL OF OTHERS, SOMETHING NEEDED TO BREAK. IS THIS ENOUGH FOR YOU, HAVE WE SOLVED THIS? >> NO WE HAVEN'T SOLVED IT AT ALL. I AM THRILLED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. BILL 19 WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND I'M DELIGHTED THE STATE AUDITOR AND COURTS HAVE FORMED A PARTNERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO DO THE AUDIT. WE JOKE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ALL THOSE THINGS NOWADAYS BECAUSE THEY ARE OVER USED BUT THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME IS THAT THE FAMILIES WERE EXCLUDED. NOW, THE HEARINGS WILL BE OPEN. SO THAT INTERESTED PARTIES CAN HEAR. I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL WE HAD ALL THE SCANDAL THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD CORPORATIONS THAT ACTED AS GUARDIANS. THAT WAS, I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT SCARY TO ME. AND I THINK IN TERMS OF PEOPLE I KNOW, MYSELF INCLUDED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN SOME DAY, SHOULD I NEED ONE, SO, I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE STEPS THEY ARE TAKING BUT I THINK THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP. >> HARRY, WOULD YOU AGREE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GO? >> A LOT MORE, TOO, SO, FIRST WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL FOR KEEPING ON THE CASE, STORY AFTER STORY, AND REALLY DRIVING THE PUBLIC POLICY IN THIS AREA, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT NEW MEXICO COMPARED TO OTHER STATES, WE DON'T HAVE

STANDARDS OR LICENSURE RELATED TO GUARDIANSHIP OR CONSERVATORSHIP. SO THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IS A GOOD START BUT IT IS ONLY GOING TO FUND A LOT OF REVIEWS OF STATE FILES, OR STATE FUNDED FILES. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE FOLKS THAT AREN'T STATE FUNDED? SO I REALLY THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MUCH MORE WORK IN TERMS OF CERTIFICATION. OPENNESS IS REALLY GOOD BUT I WOULD WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY COME BACK TO LEGISLATURE AND SAY, HERE IS WHAT WE FOUND AND HERE IS WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO AMP IT UP, BECAUSE I WOULD AGREE WITH DIANE, FIRST STEP, INADEQUATE BY ITSELF, WE NEED TO DO MORE. >> YOUR BACK OF THE ENVELOPE ASSESSMENT, MILLION FOR THE LEGISLATURE, 300,000 IS THAT ENOUGH IN YOUR GUT, BACK OF THE ENVELOPE, NOW THAT WE KNOW THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM OR AS HARRY MENTIONED DOES THE LEGISLATURE HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY? >> YES, THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO COME YOU WITH MORE MONEY. THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM. THERE IS A BACKLOG AND WE

HEARD ABOUT IT WHEN WE WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE 10 YEARS AGO THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY WARDS OF THE COURT THERE WERE OUT THERE, HOW MANY INCAPACITATED PEOPLE, THEY COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GUARDIANS. AND, WE HAD AN EXPERT COME IN FROM TEXAS WHERE THEY WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT UNTIL THIS JOURNAL STORY HIT IT WAS NEVER A HIGH PRIORITY AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE HANDS OF THE COURTS AND THE COURT APPOINTED GUARDIANS. WE HEARD ABOUT IT MOST WITH PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RATHER THAN SENIORS BUT WITH THE STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BLAIR DARNELL, THE SENIOR ASPECT OF IT CAME TO LIGHT AND PEOPLE STARTED FOCUSING ON THAT. THIS IS A BABY STEP, THIS IS WHAT THE NEW MEXICO

LEGISLATURE DOES BEST, CREATE A STUDY COMMISSION AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO GATHER THE INFORMATION, DO AN AUDIT, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NO PENALTIES, NO NEW PENALTIES, NOTHING REALLY HEAVY HANDED BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL REPORT BACK. A MILLION, YOU KNOW -- >> FOR 20,000 FILES. >> THAT IS RIGHT. BACK IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. INTERESTING THIS WAS NEWS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE. NOT JUST THE SHENANIGANS OF IT, BUT NO ONE EVER THINKS ABOUT THIS. WHAT HAPPENS TO FOLKS? >> I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS SALIENT TO ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS NINE, MY MOTHER DIED AND I WENT THROUGH A COURT -- TRAUMATIC COURT SITUATION SUCH THAT THIS CUSTODY AND GUARDIANSHIP WAS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTED MY LIFE AT THAT TIME AND WHILE MY GRANDPARENTS DID THE BEST THEY COULD TO PROVIDE GUARDIANSHIP AND

CONSERVATORSHIP I NEVER KNEW UNTIL THIS MOMENT HOW MUCH REVENUE MY MOTHER PROVIDED AFTER SHE DIED. SO, WHAT I AM ENCOURAGED ABOUT IS THE REPORTING THAT HAS TO GO ON, ANNUAL REPORTS. IN SOME CASES THESE REPORTS AND REPORTING HAS TO BE HELD FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS WHICH TALKS TO PATTERNS OF STEWARDSHIP WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE RANDOM AUDITING THAT WILL TAKE PLACE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE CORPORATIONS THAT HOLD STEWARDSHIP FOR MANY FOLKS INCAPACITATED. SO I AM EXTREMELY ENCOURAGED. I THINK THE OVER-ARCHING POINT FOR ME IT PUTS CONSERVATORS AND GUARDIANS ON NOTICE THEY ARE SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM ENCOURAGED EXTRAORDINARILY BUT I COME FROM A MORE VISCERAL PERSPECTIVE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> DEDE SAID THERE HAS TO BE A PENALTY PHASE, TOO. >> THEY DO HAVE TO PAY A BOND. THAT IS A GOOD THING, BUT FOR THE FUTURE, ONCE THEY DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE HAS TO BE A PENALTY FOR NOT DOING IT. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, DIANE,

OUR AUDITOR WAYNE JOHNSON MADE AN INTERESTING POINT THAT THIS COVERED STATE FUNDED SITUATIONS BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE OUT THERE THAT AREN'T STATE FUNDED. ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE SAME KIND OF SCRUTINY? THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM HERE. >> THERE ARE TWO THINGS. ONE IS, I THINK, IT WILL OPEN UP AND MAKE AWARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING THOSE CONSERVATORSHIPS THEY ARE BEING NOTICED AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME TRAINING, SOME LICENSURE, OR SOME KIND OF SOMETHING, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER AT THE LEGISLATURE VERY WELL, OH, THEY ARE NOT A PROBLEM, THEY ARE ALL ATTORNEYS, THEY ARE GOOD GUYS, THERE CAN'T BE A PROBLEM. WELL, THE JOURNAL SHOWED US HOW BIG A PROBLEM WE HAVE. >> 4.8 MILLION EMBEZZLED. >> SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A FIRST STEP AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT THEY TOOK IT AND I REALLY RESPECT SENATOR -- HIS NAME JUST WENT -- SMITH AND DAYMON

ELY, REPRESENTATIVE ELY, WERE TAKING THE LEAD IN GETTING THIS GOING AND IN THE COURTS. >> THERE WAS A BIT OF A GOOD GOVERNMENT STORY HERE. THERE IS SOME COOPERATION HERE, JUDY NAKAMURA, VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, WE ARE GOING TO FIX THIS. >> IT GIVES SOME -- >> IT DOES AND WHILE I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT THE FACT THERE IS INTERAGENCY COOPERATION ACROSS DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IT IS A POSITIVE STEP. WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS IS THAT THE JOURNAL KEEPS FOCUSING ON THIS ISSUE, THAT THE LEGISLATURE KEEPS FOCUSING ON IT, BECAUSE ONLY THROUGH THAT AND THROUGH THESE AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER ARE WE REALLY GOING TO MAKE PROGRESS. >> YOU MENTIONED WAYNE JOHNSON, INTERESTING QUOTE, A CRITICAL OUR AUDITOR. INTERESTING QUOTE HERE, CRITICAL SAFEGUARDS FOR PEOPLE RELYING ON STRANGERS TO MANAGE LIFE SAVINGS AND EXPEND IT ON THEIR BEHALF. STRANGER, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND THEIR HEALTH, IT IS MADNESS.

>> CORPORATE GUARDIANSHIP, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, IN SOME CASES SOME OF THE ACCREDITATION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN PLACE AS IT DOES IN OTHER STATES. WHAT I AM ENCOURAGED ABOUT IS EXTENDED FAMILIES FOR THE PART OF THE COURT HEARING, BECAUSE WHEN I WENT THROUGH THIS TRAUMATIC PROCESS AT 9, IT WAS ALMOST A SEQUESTRATION AND IN THOSE CASES ABSOLUTE EXPLOITATION CAN BEGIN TO HAPPEN BECAUSE EXTENDED INTERESTED PARTIES AREN'T PART OF THAT PROCESS. I AM EXCITED ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE OPEN FORUM AT HEARINGS. I THINK THAT MAKES AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE. >> TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, HARRY SAID, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE CERTIFIED, WELL, NOT ONLY THAT, THERE MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A REGISTRY OF WHO THEY WERE BECAUSE IF THEY KNEW WHO THEY WERE, YOU KNOW -- >> WHAT ABOUT THE SITUATION

WHERE YOU HAVE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE RELYING ON FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FOR THESE KINDS -- THESE GUARDIANSHIP, IN QUOTES. THIS HAPPENS IN OUR HOMES. WE LIKE TO ROMANTICIZE. OLD DAYS YOU TAKE IN A RELATIVE AND EVERYTHING ALLEGEDLY WORKED OUT GREAT. IT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT GREAT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IT IS A TRICKY ONE. HOW DO YOU GET THE GOVERNMENT INTO PEOPLES' HOMES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. THAT GETS TRICKY. >> I DON'T KNOW. NOW, BECAUSE MY 92 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS WITH ME AND SHE IS SLIGHT DEMENTIA OCCASIONALLY, SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, SHE IS VERY VIABLE, SHE GETS AROUND, SHE DOES WHATEVER. SO, I DON'T -- I HELP HER MANAGE BUT I DON'T HAVE CONTROL, TOTAL CONTROL, OVER HER LIFE. BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T NEED IT, BUT WHAT ABOUT IF THE TIME SHOULD CONME OR IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE FAMILIES DO, WHAT IF I DIDN'T LOVE MY

MOTHER DEARLY, WHAT IF I DIDN'T WANT HER CARE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN GET THE GOVERNMENT INTO HOMES TO FIND OUT. THAT IS A VERY TRICKY SLOPE. >> IT IS. IT IS A TRICKY THING BUT I THINK THE SAME BASIC PRINCIPLES APPLY EVEN IN THE CASE OF FAMILY MEMBERS. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WAYS YOU DO REPORTING DIFFERENTLY. THE OTHER THING, PICKING UP ON SOMETHING THAT DIANE POINTED OUT, THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA AND HAS POINTED OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN THESE VERY RESTRICTED CONSERVATOR RELATIONSHIPS OR GUARDIAN RELATIONSHIPS WHERE A LESS RESTRICTIVE MEANS OF WORKING WITH THEM AND SAFEGUARDING THEIR INTERESTS REALLY WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. SO, I THINK HERE IS AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE. IT IS NOT JUST AN EITHER OR SORT OF THING. PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS A

LOVED ONE INVOLVED. >> YOU HAVE TO, IT SEEMS TO ME. THIS WHOLE SETUP WAS RIPE FOR THE SITUATION WE ENDED UP WITH BEFORE THE JOURNAL POPPED IT. IT IS SO EASY TO LOOK BACK AND SAY THE THINGS WE HAD IN PLACE, THE SECRECY, IT WAS RIPE FOR ABUSE, ALMOST AS IF YOU WERE DARING PEOPLE TO TAKE MONEY FROM THESE PEOPLE. >> REMEMBER THE FOLKS THEMSELVES -- I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD VICTIMS BUT SUBJECTS OF EXPLOITATION, THEY THEMSELVES ARE INCAPACITATED. THEY HAD NO NECESSARY PLATFORM OR VOICE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR SITUATIONS AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION INSIDE THE WORD GUARDIANSHIP, I BELIEVE CONSERVATORS ARE MORE INVOLVED WITH FINANCIAL AND GUARDIANS HAVE MORE SAY REGARDING AUTHORITY OVER HEALTH. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HEALTH? EVEN THOSE DYNAMICS INSIDE THE WORD OF GUARDIANSHIP ARE IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE. >> ARE THEY GETTING TO SEE THEIR DOCTORS THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND MEDICATIONS. >> IT DOES BRING INTO FOCUS

THE QUESTION THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TO WHAT DEGREE SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE IN A FAMILY? JUST THE CONCEPT OF A GOVERNMENT GUARDIAN FOR SOMEONE WHO IS INCAPACITATED DOES IMPLY A PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO DO THAT WHEN HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE AT ISSUE, AND THE SAME REMEDIES THAT WE APPLY TO OTHER ABUSES SHOULD BE APPLIED HERE. TRANSPARENCY BEING THE FIRST STEP. >> TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION MAY DO THE REVERSE AND CAUSE FOLKS TO BE DISCOURAGED FROM TAKING ON THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE TRULY WELL INTENDED. >> IF I AM A FAMILY MEMBER AND I'M TAKING ON THIS INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE RELATIONSHIP, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SOMEBODY FOR HELP. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> NOW WHEN WE COME BACK,

WE'LL LOOK AT REACTIONS TO THE 2018 PARCC TEST SCORE RESULTS. THINK, OF EDUCATION WITH MORE INNOVATION FROM ENTERPRISING TEACHERS AND THAT CAN HAPPEN >> WE NOW KNOW THE UNM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EDDIE NUNEZ HAS PLANNED TO SHORE UP THE BUDGET THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE LOBOS FOR OVER A DECADE. WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORD SURFACED MR. NUNEZ AND PRESIDENT GARNETT STOKES ARE RECOMMENDING THE END OF UNM MEN'S SOCCER ALONG WITH WOMEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL AND MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SKI TEAMS. THERE ARE OTHER CUTBACKS PROPOSED INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS. ON THURSDAY MORNING, REGENTS WEIGHED IN ON THE RECOMMENDATION. WATCH THE MEETING ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT NMINFOCUS.

THE LINE PANELISTS GAVE THEIR INITIAL TAKE AS WELL. FOLLOW THIS STORY FOR SURE. EARLIER THIS WEEK WE WERE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH EDDIE NUNEZ TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT FACTORS WENT INTO HIS DECISION SUCH AS TITLE IX. HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE TIME OF THAT TAPING BUT HE AND CORRESPONDENT KHALIL EKULONA DID GET INTO A LOT OF COMPLICATED DETAILS. >> I AM HERE WITH ATHLETIC DIRECTER EDDIE NUNEZ. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> MY PLEASURE. >> WHY ARE HAVING ATHLETICS IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF A SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY LIKE UNM? >> FOR ANY UNIVERSITY AND ESPECIALLY FOR UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO IT SHOWS THAT CAMARADERIE, IT SHOWS THE BACK OF THE HOUSE HOW GOOD WE DO THINGS. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY IT IS THE FRONT PORCH TO THE UNIVERSITY. EVEN IF IT IS THE FRONT, SIDE, WHATEVER PORCH YOU WANT TO MAKE IT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN ATHLETICS TO BE

A BRAND AMBASSADOR TO THE INSTITUTION AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CHALLENGE THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUS. THAT BALANCE BETWEEN ATHLETICS GREAT JOB DOING SO. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS STUDENT ATHLETES ACADEMICALLY, SO, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ATHLETICS AS A BIG PART OF THE INSTITUTION IS CRITICAL I THINK FOR THE SUCCESS OF BOTH THE INSTITUTION AS WELL AS ATHLETICS. >> SPEAKING OF THAT COMBINATION OF SUCCESS FOR THE INSTITUTION AND ATHLETICS, AS WE KNOW NINE OUT OF THE PAST 11 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN IN BUDGET DEFICIT AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HEALTHY. YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE JOB LESS THAN ONE YEAR. WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE JOB, DID YOU UNDERSTAND THINGS WERE THIS BAD. >> I HAVE HAD THAT QUESTION ASKED MANY TIMES. I UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES THAT EXISTED. OF COURSE, I HAD SEEN SOME OF THE ITEMS PUBLICLY KNOWN AT THE TIME THAT WE HAD BUDGET ISSUES, WE HAD SOME AUDITS GOING ON.

DID I KNOW THE COMPLEXITIES OF WHAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH, NO, AND I DON'T THINK ANY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR COMING INTO AN INSTITUTION KNOWS FULLY THAT. BUT IT HAS BEEN GOOD IN SOME RESPECTS BECAUSE IT HAS GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT SIZE AND DO CERTAIN THINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND TAKE CARE OF NOW LIKE THE AUDITS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO FORWARD AND ADDRESS EVERY ITEM IN THAT AUDIT AND WORKING ALONG WITH STATE AUDITORS, WITH OUR OWN INTERNAL AUDITORS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, AGAIN, TO PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IT HAS GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORN AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S GET THIS SHIP RIGHT. >> YOU COME INTO A SITUATION THAT YOU INHERIT AND YOU PRESCRIBE THE CORRECTIVE CHANGES SO WE CAN GENERALLY BE HEALTHY. >> THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS. EMPHASIS WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WAS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OUR SPORTS, EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND SAYING, HOW CAN WE DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY AND

BETTER? CAN WE REDUCE COSTS? THAT NARRATIVE CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS WITH TITLE IX COMING ALONG BUT THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I ARTICULATED CONCERNS OR AT LEAST HEAR WHAT EVERY GROUP -- WHAT SUPPORT GROUP FOR EACH TEAM HAD, WHAT QUESTIONS THEY HAVE HAD, AND MAYBE I HAVEN'T TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, PURPOSEFULLY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE AVAILABLE TO DECIDE BETWEEN. AS I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, COACHES, ARE RESPECTED BECAUSE I HAVE A REAL CONCERN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE TREATED WITH UTMOST RESPECT DURING THE PROCESS. I DIDN'T WANT THINGS GETTING OUT TO THEM WE WERE DOING X, Y AND Z WHEN THE REALITY IS I HADN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT AND HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE. >> THE MOUNTAIN WEST AVERAGE IS 18 TEAMS. UNM HAS 22.

THERE IS TALK OUT THERE, POSSIBLY, OF CUTTING SOME TEAMS. I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION YOU'RE IN WITH TITLE IX WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO GET TO PRETTY SOON, IT IS GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CUT A WOMEN'S PROGRAM. YET, IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO CUT THE MEN'S PROGRAM. IF A TEAM IS TO RECEIVE THE CHOPPING BLOCK, GET CUT, WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE AND HOW WOULD YOU GO TO THE PUBLIC OUTREACH? THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING UPSET WITH ANY PROGRAMS BEING CUT. THE NONCOMPETITIVE SPORTS, NON-FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL SPORTS ARE THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ACADEMICALLY AND PERFORMANCE WISE FOR THE UNIVERSITY. >> AGAIN, THAT IS A VERY TOUGH DISCUSSION. WHEN WE MOVED FORWARD WITH TITLE IX, THERES WAS MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BE PRESENTED, NOT JUST CUTTING SPORTS OR ELIMINATING SPORTS. I CHOOSE NOT TO REALLY USE FORMER STATE ATHLETE AND IMPACT DOES TO THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IF WE DECIDE TO GO

IN THIS DIRECTION. AS WE HAVE DONE THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE LOOKED AT EVERY SCENARIO POSSIBLE FROM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ATHLETICALLY, ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACADEMICALLY, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE INSTITUTION, ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS YOU CAN PUT ON THE TABLE, AND EVERY ONE HAS POSITIVE AND NEGATIVES TO EACH ONE. THE ONE THING I CAN TAKE FROM THE MAJORITY OF MY ASSESSMENT, WE DO GREAT THINGS ATHLETICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY EACH ONE OF OUR TEAMS HAS HAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER IN THEIR CAREERS. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS CHALLENGE SO DIFFICULT. BECAUSE WHEN THE INSTITUTION MAKES A DECISION IF IT IS THROUGH ROSTER MANAGEMENT, IF IT IS THROUGH REMOVAL OF SCHOLARSHIPS, IF IT IS ELIMINATING SPORTS, THAT IS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE ARE SENDING THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A POINT WE ARE HOUSING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF

TEAMS MIGHT NOT BE WHAT IS THE BEST INTEREST FOR UNM. WE UNDERSTAND THOSE AVERAGES, MOUNTAIN WEST IS 18, NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 19, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AS FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION. WHAT ARE THE FLAGSHIP INSTITUTIONS DOING? HOW ARE THEIR DEPARTMENTS DEVELOPING. YOU LOOK AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, THEY HAVE 20 PROGRAMS. 200 MILLION MORE THAN WE DO IN BUDGET. DO YOU LOOK AT -- SO THOSE ARE REAL FACTS, THOSE ARE REAL INFORMATION. WE MIGHT HAVE TOO MANY SPORTS BUT THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE WE DO ALL THIS DUE DILIGENCE NOW BEFORE WE HAVE TO COME TO THAT CONCLUSION. THE PROCESS ULTIMATELY WILL BE GETTING INSIGHTS FROM THE COACHES, LETTING THEM HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ME, ME ASKING CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF THEM, BUT, AS FAR AS KEEPING THEM THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION POTENTIALLY THAT

ELIMINATING THE SPORT MIGHT BE PART OF THAT END RESULT. I HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL FOR THEM, I HAVE TO RESPECT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND RESPECT THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERY ONE ELSE THAT IS INVOLVED. MY APPROACH TO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN, I AM GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN POSSIBLY DO TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT CUTTING A SPORT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A DIFFICULT TASK. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. IN DOING RESEARCH, I LOOKED AT COACH BOB DAVIE'S CONTRACT. IT SHOWS HE HAD A BEHAVIORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ADHERE TO, BUT NOT AN ACADEMIC ONE. DO OTHER ATHLETIC HEAD COACHES HAVE SIMILAR CONTRACTS? SIMILAR CLAUSES IN THEIR CONTRACT. >> I CAN TELL YOU IS EVERY COACH IS DIFFERENT. THOSE CONTRACTS WERE IN PLACE PRIOR TO ME. I WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON OUR CONTRACTS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS -- IT HAS ALREADY STARTED. AGAIN LOOKING AT OUR PEERS. EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY IS DOING THE CONTRACTS

DIFFERENTLY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT CLAUSES. WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR INSTITUTION, OUR LEGAL GROUP TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE INSTITUTION, NOT JUST THE LEGALITY SIDE OF CLAUSES BETWEEN ACADEMICS AND THIS, OR MORE TURPITUDES OR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE. THE REALITY IS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT OUR STATE AND KEEP IN MIND THAT MYSELF, AS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS, WHAT AM I DOING TO MAKE SURE I PUT OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT IN POSITION TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN SUCCESSFUL, REMAIN RIGHT SIZE. PART OF THE CONTRACT REVIEWS THAT WE ARE DOING IS LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE. RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, I AM DEALING WITH CONTRACTS THAT WERE IN PLACE AND A LOT OF IT IS JUST BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. IT IS NOT A NEGATIVE. IT IS NOT SHOT AT PREVIOUS TO ME. THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS DOING IT, BECAUSE IT IS SUCCESSFUL AND IT WORKS AND YOU KEEP

GOING. >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION BUT WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER AND BENEFICIAL IN PR SENSE, AND THINKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY DO COACHES COME TO DIRECT STUDENT ATHLETES AND LEAD THEM, THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THEM, STUDENT ATHLETES. WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD NOT TO JUST TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR ATHLETIC SUCCESS BUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND MAKE THAT TIED INTO THE CONTRACT? >> AGAIN, I GO BACK AND MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE ARTICULATED BETTER. EVERY COACH IS BEING REVIEWED ON ACADEMIC PROGRESS IN THE IF THERE IS ANY ITEMS, CONTRACT OR NOT, THAT IS EVERYDAY, ON TOP OF AND MAKING SURE EVERY STUDENT ATHLETE IS ACHIEVING THE OPPORTUNITY SUCCESSFULLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE PERCEIVE -- TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT CAN BE DONE AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT TO SAY IF OUR KIDS AREN'T ACHIEVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT, WE CAN HAVE WHATEVER THAT ULTIMATE DECISION IS, BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE OVER 3.2 GPA FOR ALL OUR STUDENT

ATHLETES. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL AT A 2.5 AND YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL, YOU COMPARE TO ONE OF OUR SPORTS AND A 3.2, IT IS A LOT DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS WITH THAT. >> YOU HAVE PRACTICES AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND PRACTICES AND SOME OF THE DEMANDS. YOU HAVE TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. >> DIFFERENT TIMES AND PRACTICES WITH SOME OF THE DEMANDS, I UNDERSTAND. >> YOU HAVE TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES BUT YOU CAN'T. IN THE CONTRACT THAT YOU SIGN NEW COACHES WITH, WILL YOU ENSURE THERE IS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ELEMENT IN THERE THAT THE COACH MUST MEET IT. >> I AM GOING TO LOOK AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR INSTITUTION. THERE IS A LOT OF PIECES TO THE PUZZLE BUT THAT IS PART OF IT. THAT IS WORKING WITH THE LEGAL GROUP, MAKING SURE WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE CHANGES THAT WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE BUT EVERY COACH WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ACADEMICALLY. I CAN ATTEST TO THAT JUST LIKE I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OTHER THINGS. ACADEMICALLY THAT IS ONE OF

THE MAIN COMPONENTS IN HOW I LOOK AT ALL THE COACHES AND THAT THEY ARE HELPING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES GRADUATE AND ACHIEVE LIFE AFTER UNM. YES, YOU WANT TO WIN AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE, BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE READY TO HEAD OUT IN THE REAL WORLD, WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO, AND WE PUT THEM IN A POSITION THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEY CAN ALWAYS REPRESENT UNM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> TITLE IX WE MENTIONED IT BEFORE. EVERYBODY IN TOWN IN THE STATE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE. TITLE IX, WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS 100 MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEN THAN FOR WOMEN ATHLETES AT UNM. NOW, IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT GET IN COMPLIANCE, WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES THAT THE SCHOOL CAN FACE. >> TITLE 19 IS FEDERAL MANDATE. IT IS NOT AN INSTITUTION RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT FIGURING OUT NUMBERS. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENT ATHLETES, MALE OR FEMALE. THERE IS CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE OPPOSITE US, WHERE

THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE MORE MALES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FEMALE HEAVY WITH ENROLLMENT, NUMBERS IN PERSPECTIVE TO THE INSTITUTION. WE ARE IN A POSITION LIKE MANY, WHERE WE HAVE MORE FEMALES AT OUR INSTITUTION WHERE WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT FOR OUR FEMALES. THAT'S IN THE PAST AND RIGHT NOW WITH OUR REVIEW, OUR FINDING WAS WE HAD 140 OR SO MORE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MALE SIDE THAN IN THE FEMALE SIDE. THERE IS DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN ATTAIN TITLE IX. THROUGH ROSTER MANAGEMENT, PROPORTIONALITY. THAT IS THE FIRST TEST WHERE YOU DO ROSTER MANAGEMENT, YOU CAN REDUCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND DEAL DIRECTLY WITH ELIMINATING SPORTS, MEN AND WOMEN BECAUSE IF YOU CANNOT SUPPORT YOUR FEMALE TEAMS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, YOU PICK IT UP AND PUT IT AT THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT IS NECESSARY AS PER -- OR YOU REDUCE THAT SPORT, SO IT

CAN BE A FEMALE SPORT. SO, THOSE ARE THE COMPLEXITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN TITLE IX. THERE IS OTHER PRONGS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. WE WOULDN'T MEET ANY OF THE COULD WE FIND A WAY, YEAH, BUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TWO PRONGS, ARE ADDING MORE FEMALE SPORTS, AND ALREADY WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPORTS, HIGH NUMBER. SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND SAY WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATION POINTS. WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATION POINTS WHEN YOU HAVE 22 SPORTS DO WE ADD ANOTHER FEMALE SPORT? OUR BUDGET LINE IS SHOWING US WE CANNOT SUPPORT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AT THE LEVEL WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE SUPPORTED AT. IF WE ARE NOT DOING OUR PART AS A UNIVERSITY TO GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND OUR COACHES HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENTIAL. WE HAVE TO, AGAIN, LOOK AT OURSELVES AND SAY IS ADDING MORE SPORTS, KEEPING 22 SPORTS, THAT IS PART OF THE

DISCUSSION THAT I AM HAVING INTERNALLY WITH MY STAFF MEMBERS AND CONSULTANTS SAYING THIS IS MY CHALLENGE. DO WE DO THIS? IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THIS INSTITUTION? THAT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION SO IT IS NOT AS EASY AS SAYING I AM GOING TO FIND 145 PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE, YES, I CAN REDUCE OUR MEN DOWN BUT I ALSO HAVE TO INFUSE -- ADD MORE FEMALES WHICH RAISES THE COST. >> DO YOU SEE THIS AS A POSSIBLE -- ALL THESE ISSUES SEEM TO BE CONNECTED AND POSSIBLY WITH INCREASING BOOSTER ACTIVITY, A PUBLIC OUTREACH MESSAGE TO INTRODUCE OR ENHANCE FEMALE SPORTS. >> THIS IS NOT SOLELY DRIVEN BY FINANCES. AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS CAN WE JUST PUSH MORE MONEY IN IT? THAT DOESN'T HELP BECAUSE WE HAVE A TWO MILLION DOLLAR HOLE

RIGHT NOW, A 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. PART OF THIS WILL HELP SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT BUT THE REALITY IS EVEN IF I KEEP ALL SPORTS, THE FACT REMAINS, I HAVE TO INFUSE THIS MONEY IN THIS HOLE AND WE HAVE TO GET IT BACK JUST TO EVEN AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS, WELL, WITH IS PART OF WHY I WANTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS, OUR BUDGET HAS REMAINED, FOR THE MOST PART, AT A LEVEL FOR THE LAST FIVE OR PLUS YEARS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS INFLATION HAS CONTINUED TO GO UP AND THINGS FROM TRAVEL, TO INSURANCES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AS EVERYTHING ELSE HAS INCREASED, OUR BUDGET HAS REMAINED HERE. THAT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND WHERE OUR BUDGETS ARE, OUR COACHES HAVE FUND RAISED FOR THAT DIFFERENTIAL. SO, WHEN WE SAY HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING OUR KIDS JUST TO SAY TO KEEP EVERYTHING AT STATUS QUO IS A CHALLENGE. IS IT POSSIBLE? SURE, BUT IT BETTER BE RECURRING MONEY, BECAUSE IF IT IS JUST MORE TIME, WE'LL BE

BACK IN A YEAR FROM NOW. THAT'S WHAT WE CANNOT DO. WE CANNOT PUT OUR INSTITUTION, OUR FANS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN A POSITION WHERE WE SAY, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS CANVAS FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO. IT IS IMPERATIVE WE DO DUE DILIGENCE NOW AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THIS IS A FEDERAL MANDATE. THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENS, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES YOUR ISSUES, THE POTENTIAL IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHT IN HERE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTITUTIONS THAT I KNOW FIRSTHAND, I HAVE HAD OCR COME IN, OFFICE OF HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, COME INTO THEIR INSTITUTION AND DO A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND THAT AGAIN GOES BACK TO ARE WE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE NOW INSTEAD OF ALLOWING A FEDERAL GROUP TO COME IN AND SAY, OKAY, NOW YOU HAVE DO IT A CERTAIN WAY. >> AND IDENTIFY PROBLEMS -- >> POSSIBLY COULD DO EVEN MORE IN THE LONG RUN. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME

AND BRIEFLY, I AM GOING TO LET YOU KNOW, GREAT CONVERSATION. FIVE YEARS, WHERE IS UNM'S ATHLETIC PROGRAM? >> IF I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FROM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TO LEAD UNM UNTIL THOSE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MY HOPE IS THAT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE MANAGED THIS AND WE HAVE SHOWCASED OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH BUT WE HAVE ALSO PUT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES IN A POSITION AND WHATEVER SPORTS WE HAVE, IF IT MEANS WE HAVE 22, OR 24, THAT THOSE SPORTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, EVERY CHANCE TO NOT JUST PARTICIPANTS. I DON'T PARTICIPANTS AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF OUR FANS WANT TO BE PARTICIPANTS. WE WANT A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE MINDSET THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT. WE ARE REPRESENTING THIS INSTITUTION AND THIS WONDERFUL

STATE THAT I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF. IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS, UNM WILL BE IN A POSITION TO TRULY BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE FUTURE. >> THAT WAS AND EDDIE NUNEZ IN ADVANCE OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS TO KILL FOUR PROGRAMS AT UNM INCLUDING SKIING AND MENS SOCCER. WATCH THAT FULL VERSION ONLINE AT NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE LINE'S REACTION ONLINE THERE, TOO. RESULTS OF THE 2018 PARCC TEST ARE IN. STATE-WIDE BOTH ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ART AND MATH SCORES HAVE GONE UP WITH MATH INCREASING 1.9 POINTS AND LANGUAGE ARTS UP 2.5 POINTS FROM LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS ON THEIR OWN, ONLY ABOUT 21.6% OF STUDENTS, ABOUT TWO OUT OF 10, ARE PROFICIENT IN MATH AND 31.1N%, 3 OUT OF 10, ARE PROFICIENT IN READING. THOSE NUMBERS SEEM TO REFLECT POORLY ON THE EDUCATION IN OUR STATE, ALTHOUGH GOVERNOR MARTINEZ PRAISED THOSE GAINS THAT WERE MADE, HARRY, AND

PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SECRETARY SAID THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAY THE COURSE. ARE YOU IMPRESSED? >> I AM NOT PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BECAUSE EVEN IN THE BEST DISTRICTS THAT PERFORMED WELL ON PARCC LIKE FARMINGTON AND RIO RANCHO, FOUR OF 10 THOSE CATEGORIES. THINGS GOING ON. THERE IS SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCORES? THERE IS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARCC NATIONWIDE, ONLY FOUR STATES ARE USING THE FULL PARCC. WE ARE ONE OF THEM. NEW JERSEY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ABOUT TO DROP OUT. I THINK IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE STATE'S DATA WITHIN ITSELF AS OPPOSED TO MAKING COMPARISONS WITH OTHER STATES. IF YOU DID THE SAME SORT OF EXERCISE WITH ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE, YOU CAN GET VARIOUS SORTS OF SIMILAR RESULTS. THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE TEST SCORES IN ISOLATION FROM ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO WE ARE ECONOMICALLY A POOR STATE AND SO YOU HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WHICH YOU HAVE GOT TO THINK ABOUT EDUCATION NOT JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL, BUT ALSO FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STAND. >> IS THAT POSSIBLE IN THE WORLD OF PARCC TESTING? >> IN THE WORLD OF PARCC TEST IN AND OF ITSELF, VIEW THAT AS A PANACEA, IT IS NOT. IF YOU ARE BROADENING THE CONVERSATION ON EDUCATION AND TAKING IN ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING THAT, WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE COMING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY. WE ARE NO. 1 IN THE COUNTRY FOR KIDS THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE IN A GIVEN YEAR. >> TEST SCORES ARE ONE THING PERCENTAGES OF IMPROVEMENTS, WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT. WHEN THEY ARE COMING BACK FROM AS FAR BACK AS WE ARE, TEST SCORES ARE ONE THING, PERCENTAGES OF IMPROVEMENT WE GIVE THE CREDIT FOR THAT, BUT WHEN YOU ARE COMING FROM AS FAR BACK AS WE ARE, IS THIS

AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR YOU? THESE REFORMS, CAN THEY EVEN BE CLASSIFIED AS REFORMS, CAN THEY BE CLASSIFIED AS REFORMS? >> I THINK THE PARCC TEST HAS HELD US BACK BECAUSE THIS IS SO MUCH FOCUS ON IT. WE ARE LOSING THE FOCUS ON WHAT HARRY HAD SAID, OUR ABILITY TO DEVELOP ECONOMICALLY. OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING US BACK. THIS IS WHY KIDS ARE LEAVING THIS STATE. THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB AND WHY COMPANIES ARE NOT COMING IN. SO WE NEED A BROADER VIEW, I THINK, OF EDUCATION WITH MORE INNOVATION FROM ENTERPRISING TEACHERS AND THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THERE WAS ONE CRITIC, TONY MONFILETTO WHO HAS CREATED A NUMBER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ALBUQUERQUE AND THEY DON'T DO PARTICULARLY WELL ON THE PARCC TEST BUT THEY ARE SPEAKING TO PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, IN THE BUILDING TRADES AND THIS IS -- HIS QUOTE WAS, RATHER THAN

BETTING ON INNOVATION, WE HAVE DOUBLED DOWN ON BUREAUCRACY. I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE SYSTEM OF TESTING HAS DONE, IT HASN'T SERVED US WELL AND I AM HEARTENED TO SEE THAT BOTH GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> ISN'T THAT INTERESTING, YOU WOULD THINK THE PEARCE PEOPLE OR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE TALKING TO THE PEARCE PEOPLE TO SAY FOLLOW-UP ON OUR IDEA ABOUT EDUCATION, STAY THE COURSE, RIGHT. JEFFREY, INTERESTING AS WELL BUT NOT ALL DISTRICTS MADE IMPROVEMENTS. HARRY MENTIONED SOME, BUT KIND OF SKEWED THE STATEWIDE RESULTS. ALBUQUERQUE DIDN'T DO ALL THAT MUCH BETTER, SANTA FE DIDN'T DO ALL THAT MUCH BETTER. IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THESE BIGGER DISTRICTS OR IS IT JUST THE PARCC SYSTEM IN THE OVERALL? >> OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME MODEST GAINS IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. THAT IS A FUNCTION OF THE YOU CAN APPLY METHODOLOGY TO TO IT AND COME OUT WITH WHATEVER OUTCOME YOU MAY WISH

TO DERIVE DEPENDING ON YOUR POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE OR DYNAMICS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE ASKING COLLECTIVELY THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. TO ME, WHAT METHODOLOGY, WHETHER IT IS PARCC OR A MOR3E TRADITIONAL MODEL IS GOING TO PROVIDE OUTCOMES THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL THINKING, ENLIGHTENED THOUGHT, OFFENSIVE SELF AUTONOMY. WHEN A PERSON HAS A SENSE OF AUTONOMY, CURIOUS THINKING, CRITICAL THOUGHT THAT PERSON TENDS TO BE MORE MOTIVATED. IN A STATE WHERE HALF OUR POPULATION IS SITTING AT HOME EATING DONUTS, I HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO SUBSIDIZE THEM, I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE A BIT MORE MOTIVATED. >> IS THAT TEACHABLE THOUGH? >> THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SAY MOTIVATION IS CORRELATED TO YOUR SENSE OF SELF CONCEPT WHICH IS RELATED TO YOUR SENSE OF INFINITE POSSIBILITY, YOUR SENSE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND EXPLORING THE WORLD. I THINK. THAT IS THE HEIGHTH AND THE VERY PARAGON OF WHAT EDUCATION SHOULD BE PROVIDING NOTWITHSTANDING HOW WE ARGUE

ABOUT METHODOLOGY. >> GOOD STUFF. I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING HARRY SAID, THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF FOUR STATES STILL DOING WHOLE CLOTH, WHOLE HOG PARCC. SOME ARE DOING PARTIAL, SOME HAVE JUST GOTTEN -- IN FACT, IN 2010, IT WAS UP TO 20 SOME ODD STATES. IT HAS BEEN A PRECIPITOUS DROP SO IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHAT IS IT ABOUT PARCC WE ARE CLINGING ONTO, AND, AS JEFFREY AND OTHERS SAID, THERE IS A BETTER WAY HERE. IF OTHER STATES LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO DO IT, MAYBE WE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT HERE. >> ONE IS, IT IS ALWAYS WISE KIND OF ALSO SAYS TO ME THE BEING SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS, WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITHIN THE PARCC SYSTEM THAT MAKES THEIR STUDENTS IMPROVE AND WHY CAN SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE NOT LEARN FROM THAT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A MORE COHESIVE ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL

DISTRICTS TO LEARN BEST PRACTICES. THE OTHER THING IS, MAYBE WE SHOULD GO TO ANOTHER SYSTEM. BUT, WE HAVE ONE TEACHER SAY, AND I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHERS, PLEASE, WE JUST GOT THIS LEARNED, WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, WE KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH CREATIVITY AND DO IT WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT ON US AGAIN. I THINK THAT IF IT IS BAD THEN IT SHOULD BE CHANGED BUT ALL I HAVE HEARD OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS IS EVERYBODY ARGUING BETWEEN THE UNION, TEACHERS AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT IS INCLUDING BEFORE SUSANA BECAME GOVERNOR. I AM JUST GOING, WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM. FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED TO ADMIT WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM. THE STATEMENT THAT THE PARCC SAYS THERE ARE TOO MANY STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT COLLEGE OR CAREER READY, WELL, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD IF THAT

STATEMENT WASN'T TRUE WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL THESE REMEDIAL CLASSES IN OUR UNIVERSITIES. >> APPRECIATE THAT. >> WELL, IT IS TRICKY HARRY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- DIANE MAKES A GOOD POINT. WHAT ARE WE CREATING WITH THESE STUDENTS? THEY LAND AT YOUR DOORSTEP AT SOME POINT AT UNM. IF YOU'RE NOT SELF MOTIVATED, NOT ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT JEFFREY TALKED ABOUT, IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO TEACH ALL THAT. >> IT REALLY ISN'T. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THAT EDUCATORS CAN DO. THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE FOCUSING ON SUCH NARROW MEASUREMENTS BECAUSE IF THERE IS A NUMBER BEHIND IT, IT MUST BE TRUE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THERE MAY WELL BE INCREASES IN READING SCORES. I AM NOT PICKING UP AN INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF WRITING BASED ON THE ESSAYS I AM SEEING FROM FRESHMEN EVERY OTHER YEAR. THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN DO AND OTHER THINGS IT CAN'T AND SOME

THINGS THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN'T MAKE UP FOR AT ALL. I WOULD AGREE WITH JEFFREY THAT THINGS PERSEVERANCE AND GRIT AND RESILIENCE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BUT I COME BACK TO THE POINT THAT I MADE BEFORE, IF YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY'S SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THEY ARE HUNGRY OR THEY HAVE A REALLY PROBLEMATIC HOME LIFE, THAT IS NOT TERRIBLY REALISTIC TO EXPECT THEM TO HAVE ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. >> I DISAGREE. I CAME FROM A PLACE SUCH THAT MY MOTHER WAS A HEROIN ADDICT WHEN I WAS EIGHT, CAME FROM SOUTH BROADWAY, MY GRANDPARENTS HAD AN 8TH GRADE EDUCATION, BUT THEY WERE ENGAGED IN MY EDUCATION. THEY DEMANDED, THEY EXPECTED THAT MY BROTHER AND I GO TO COLLEGE, SO THEY SET EXPECTATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION EITHER BUT EDUCATION IS TO ME A COMMUNAL PROCESS AND REQUIRES THE ENGAGEMENT OF PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY. IF WE JUST LEAVE IT ON TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

THEMSELVES, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. YOU HAVE TO SET EXPECTATIONS -- >> ESPECIALLY THOSE TEACHERS THAT WE USE A STICK ON IF THEY DON'T COME UP TO SNUFF ON. >> THAT IS THE INDUSTRIAL MODEL OF EDUCATION AND I THINK IT IS FAILING US. I THINK WHAT JEFFREY IS ALLUDING TO AND CERTAIN WHAT I, AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IS ALLUDING TO, IS PART OF THE ART OF TEACHING IS FIGURING OUT THOSE PROJECTS THAT CAN ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS, GETTING THEM OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT MAKE THEM LOVE LEARNING, MAKE THEM CURIOUS, AND THEN FINALLY MAYBE THEY WILL -- WE ARE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS THAT DON'T ARRIVE ON YOUR DOORSTEP. >> THAT IS RIGHT. >> THOSE PEOPLE HAVE DRAWN AN INTELLECTUAL BLANK AND CERTAINLY, PREPARING FOR TESTS MAKES THEM HATE EDUCATION. >> THAT IS RIGHT. >> TO PICK UP ON YOUR POINT ABOUT INDUSTRIALIZATION OF EDUCATION, IF YOU FOCUS ON NUMBERS AND METRICS IN A VERY NARROW SENSE, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH TEACHERS, WE ARE

TREATING THEM AS COGS IN THE MACHINE AS OPPOSED TO REAL PROFESSIONALS. >> IN JUST A MOMENT WE WILL LOOK AT MONEY TRICKLING IN TO PAY FOR THE ART PROJECT ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS IS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ONLINE TO GET UPDATES ON UPCOMING SHOWS AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOP NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK. THEN TUNE IN BECAUSE WE MAY SHARE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE LINE. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE. KNOWING THE CITY WILL GET AT LEASE 14 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY HELPS TO EASE THE PAIN CAUSED BY THE PROBLEMS GETTING RAPID TRANSIT UP AND RUNNING BUT WHETHER THAT OTHER PROMISED 75 MILLION WILL MATERIALIZE IS ANOTHER STORY. MAYOR KELLER SAYS THE CITY WILL LIKELY LEARN SOME TIME CAN COUNT ON THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY, BUT ALBUQUERQUE OFFICIALS HAVE TO PREPARE FOR EITHER SCENARIO. THE CITY SPENT 130 MILLION ON THIS THING AND 14 MILLION IS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES

RELATED TO ROAD WORK ON CENTRAL SO WE ARE GRATEFUL AND THAT IS FINE BUT WE'RE STILL AT THIS PLACE WITH THE 75 MILLION. I AM GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT MAYOR KELLER'S APPROACH, HIS TONE. HE CAME OUT EARLY, PUT A BIG STICK ON THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, TALKED ABOUT IT WAS A BIT OF A LEMON, WAS HIS QUOTE, THAT HE NOW OWNS. THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TONE. HE DOES OWN THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW, DOESN'T HE? >> I THINK THE CITY SPENT UPWARDS OF 80 MILLION ON INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS THERE. ASPECTS. THREE PHASES. THERE IS THE THEORY, THE VISION WHICH WASN'T SOLD VERY WELL TO THE COMMUNITY. WHICH I THINK ULTIMATELY ESTABLISHED A ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC MIND AND WHAT IS HAPPENING. SECOND PHASE IS IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN CLUMSY. THE BATTERIES APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE THE LIFE THAT WE THOUGHT, THE BUSES HAD SOME HEIGHT ISSUES AND CONFIGURATION ISSUES.

IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN CLUMSY AT BEST. THE THIRD PART IS GOING TO BE THE EXECUTION. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS YET BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN EXECUTED. SO WE STARTED OUT WITH AN ADVERSARIAL BASED ON REALLY NOT SELLING OR PROMULGATING A VISION OF WHAT TRANSIT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT CORRIDOR AND THEN TO CLOSE IT, IMPLEMENTATION HASN'T HELPED, BUT FOSTERS THIS ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP AND THE LACK OF FUNDING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE EXECUTION BUT WE ARE COMMITTED, TO YOUR QUESTION. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THESE BUSES ARE COMING. WE HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT. THAT DOESN'T EVEN TALK TO, APPARENTLY THERE IS ANOTHER NORTH TO SOUTH LINK WHICH I THINK WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE, TAKING PEOPLE TO THE AIRPORT WOULD HAVE MADE THE MOST SENSE AT THE BEGINNING BUT I THINK WE'RE HERE WITH A COMMITTED ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP AND HOPEFULLY THE EXECUTION -- >> COMMITTED ADVERSARIAL. >> HOPEFULLY THE EXECUTION WILL BE THE REMEDY TO ALL OF

THOSE. >> THAT IS RIGHT. AFTER ALL THIS IS SAID AND DONE, WE HAVE GOT THESE 14 WEEK DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAM BUSES COMING UP REAL QUICK AND BUSES FINALLY GOING UP AND DOWN THE EMPTY CENTER LANE, BUT THEN WE GOT THIS OTHER THING WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE FINED $80 FOR ENCROACHING ON THIS BUS THING. I LIKE TO FIND THE GENIUS THAT DECIDED 80 DOLLARS IS AN APPROPRIATE FINE. ALL THESE THINGS ARE PILING ON. >> PILING ON. I THINK THAT OUR MAYOR TIM KELLER HAS BEEN REMARKABLY RESTRAINED WITH WHAT HE HAS EXECUTION IS HIS NOW AND A LOT OF IT WAS ILL CONCEIVED. IT WAS NOT SOLD AND ALBUQUERQUE HAS NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY TO TRANSIT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND SO WE NEEDED TO BEND OVER

BACKWARDS TO SELL IT AND THAT WASN'T DONE, SO, HE IS BEING VERY RESPONSIBLE. HE IS BEING VERY RESPONSIBLE, VERY POSITIVE. I THINK THAT IS HIS STYLE, TAKING IT STRAIGHT ON AND TRYING TO MAKE IT THE BEST HE CAN. >> THAT IS RIGHT. >> IT IS NOT EASY. >> HARRY INTERESTINGLY, I WOULD READ QUOTE FROM THE MAYOR, THE PROJECT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD. IT DOESN'T DO ANYONE GOOD TO HAVE IT UNFINISHED EVEN IF WE DIDN'T LIKE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT IS LEADERSHIP TO ME. THIS IS WHAT IS UP FOLKS, WE NEED TO PRESS ON. >> IT WOULD BE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO GO BACK TO THE BERRY ADMINISTRATION AND SAY, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WAS BADLY DONE BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE THE COSTS THAT HAVE TO BE PAID. WE HAVE THE SYSTEM IS ON THE TABLE. HE ALSO HAD A QUOTE ABOUT TRUING UP THE BOOKS FOR NEXT YEAR AND SOMETIMES LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT SAYING, WE ARE GOING

TO BITE THE BULLET, WE HAVE A BAD SET OF FACTS AND ISSUES IN FRONT OF US AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT. THAT IS REALLY ALL WE CAN DO. >> DIANE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH THE BUS COMPANY, GAVE THEM A NEW DEADLINE, THREW OUT, YOU KNOW, I AM THINKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT FORM OF POWER OTHER THAN ELECTRIC TO FILL THE GAP. THAT MUST HAVE WOKEN THEM UP, I AM SURE, YOU KNOW. BUT I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR THIS OTHER THING TOO. THEY DIDN'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OF THE 14 MILLION. THEY HAD THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT THEY HAD THEIR STAND UP, BUT IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE SHOOTING CONFETTI OUT OF CANYONS. THEY WERE REALLY PRETTY STEADY. >> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, BECAUSE WE ALL READ THE HEADLINES FIRST AND THEN THE ARTICLE. I AM GOING 14 MILLION AND MAYBE 75 MORE MILLION, THEN I I AM GOING, OH, SO WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT THAT MONEY. SO WHAT IF WE DON'T GET THE 75 MILLION? WHERE DO WE FIND THE NEXT 75 MILLION TO PAY THE CITY BACK? WELL, I WOULDN'T BE SHOOTING OFF THE CONFETTI AND FIREWORKS

EITHER BECAUSE IT IS REIMBURSEMENT. I THINK PUTTING THE DEMANDS ON THE COMPANY ITSELF, THE SUPPLIER, AND MANUFACTURER, COME ON, YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT BATTERIES ONLY HAVE A HALF LIFE OF WHAT THEY COMMITTED TO DOING. SO, NOW WE ARE HAVING TO PUT IN ALL THOSE -- >> THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE CHARGES. >> BECAUSE THEY WERE COMMANDED TO. >> THOUGH WERE DEMANDED TO. >> WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL DELAY. OUR SYSTEM SHOULD ALREADY BE WORKING AND I AM GOING, OKAY, SO THEY ARE GOING TO DO THIS 14 WEEK TRAINING. WHO IS GOING TO BE DRIVING THE OTHER BUSES WHILE THESE GUYS ARE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE THESE. THE WHOLE THING IS JUST SUCH A MESS IN MY MIND. I LIVED IN SEVERAL TOWNS -- I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. MASS TRANSIT IS A WAY OF LIFE. BUT I COMMUTED INTO MANHATTAN

FROM CONNECTICUT AND I RODE THE TRAIN EVERYDAY. YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THESE THINGS BUT THE ONE THING I READ SOMEPLACE THAT STRUCK ME WAS, YES, ONCE WE FINALLY DO -- BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE MAYOR KELLER WILL MAKE IT WORK SOMEHOW -- ONCE WE GET IT WORKING, WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE HISTORY AND THE CHARM AND ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS OF THE CENTRAL AREA? DO WE LOSE THAT HISTORY, THAT CHARM? OR IS THIS GOING TO MAKE ACCESS TO IT BETTER? >> SOME ARGUE DIANE THAT LOSING OF CHARM IS HAPPENING NOW AND HAS HAPPENED. >> YEAH, EXACTLY. >> HOW DO WE GET IT BACK? I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT. I AM A BIG HISTORIAN. I WANT THINGS TO BE SAVED. I WANT US TO ENJOY OUR CULTURE

AND OUR HISTORY AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. >> LET ME BRING HARRY INTO THIS GREAT CONVERSATION. IS THERE A WAY TO DO BOTH? >> YEAH. >> BUT WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS COMING ON LINE VASTLY BIGGER IN SCALE THAN WHAT WE ARE USED TO HERE AND A LOT OF FOLKS MIGHT ARGUE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED IS BIGGER SCALE AND A BIGGER PLAY. CAN THOSE TWO THINGS COEXIST? >> THEY HAVE TO, BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH ART IS IT WAS THOUGHT UP IN ISOLATION FROM OTHER TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE CITY. SO IT IS ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR AND ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING GET TO THAT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT HAS TO BE A BOTH ANSWER THING. WE HAVE TO CAPITALIZE ON THE STRENGTH OF THE CITY WHICH DOES HAVE A UNIQUE CULTURE THAT YOU DON'T FIND IN OTHER PLACES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A REAL VISION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND TO GO TO A POINT JEFFREY MADE EARLIER, THERE HAS TO BE MUCH BETTER INVOLVEMENT AND BUY IN THAN THERE WAS WITH ART BECAUSE YOU CLEARLY DIDN'T SEE THAT WITH ART AMONG RETAILERS AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

ANYTHING WE DO IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE DONE A LOT BETTER. >> ON THAT POINT THAT HARRY BROUGHT ABOUT YOUR POINT, DID THE ADMINISTRATION BLOW IT, THE PREVIOUS ONE, BY NOT UNVEILING A MUCH BIGGER CITY-WIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. HERE IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS FOR THIS CITY. INSTEAD OF MAKING IT ALL ABOUT THIS NINE MILE STRETCH GOING EAST TO WEST, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? >> I DO KNOW THIS. I THINK IF YOU'RE MAYOR BERRY EIGHT YEARS AGO SITTING ON THE DESK ON THE 11TH FLOOR AND SOME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PERSON SAYS, HEY, WE ARE ABOUT TO GIVE YOU 120 MILLION, I MEAN YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT TRANSIT AS IT IS NOW, WHERE IT IS GOING INTO THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THESE ARE ELECTRIC BUSES. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL THE BLAME ON HIM. THERE WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ALL THE DYNAMICS, ENGAGING THE POPULATION, TO YOUR POINT, INTEGRATING MAYBE BUSINESSES, A LOT MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT TO A POINT MADE EARLIER, IF THE CITY IS NOT REIMBURSED, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT HAPPEN AND THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS ME. THE OTHER THING IS THE VALUE PROPOSITION, IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, RELIABILITY AND FREQUENCY. SO FAR, NONE OF THOSE HAVE HAPPENED -- >> AND IT IS 100% RELIABLE. >> HOPEFULLY IN THE EXECUTION PHASE, THEIR VALUE PROPOSITION OF FREQUENCY AND RELIABILITY WILL MANIFEST. >> I AM JUST MAD BECAUSE I HAVE TO STOP RIDING MY BIKE DOWN THE EMPTY ART LANE. >> THANK YOU ALL. GOOD STUFF ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. >> I AM GENE GRANT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK INFOCUS. INFOCUS IS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION