New Mexico in Focus; 1014; Vision Makers Education and MALDEF

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV, THE KNME-TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY NEW MEXICO PBS FOR A PRESENTATION OF VISION MAKER MEDIA WITH MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, WHY EDUCATION IS A KEY ISSUE FOR SOME NATIVE VOTERS. >> THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT ONE PERSON THAT HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT YOU AND THAT ONE PERSON THAT TAUGHT YOU, TEACHES YOU HISTORY, TEACHES YOU LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. >> AND HEAD OF MALDEF JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE GROWING LATINO COMMUNITY ACROSS THE U.S. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION OF

THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK. LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO ADDRESS A BUDGET DEFICIT AND CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY IN SOME CASES. THE LINE WILL DISCUSS THE SPECIAL SESSION IN A MOMENT. LATER THIS HOUR, WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT UNM PRESIDENT, BOB FRANK, WILL NOT SEEK A SECOND TERM AND WILL ALSO WE'LL TALK ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CONTROVERSY IN A HISTORIC AREA OF ALBUQUERQUE. LET'S GO NOW TO THE LINE. >> AS OF OUR TAPING ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK, YESTERDAY OF COURSE, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ HELD A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN SANTA FE BUT HAD NOT YET ISSUED A PROCLAMATION FOR A SESSION. AGAIN, THIS IS AS OF OUR TAPING RIGHT NOW. ISSUES TO THE LIST FOR LAWMAKERS TO ADDRESS, SUCH AS REINSTATING THE DEATH PENALTY IN SOME CASES. NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS SHOULD FOCUS ON IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION? WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HELP GET THE STATE BUDGET BACK ON TRACK. GET IN TOUCH WITH US HERE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP; DEDE FELDMAN FORMER

STATE SENATOR; LAURA SANCHEZ-RIVET, AN ATTORNEY WITH CUDDY & MCCARTHY, LLP; AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANICE ARNOLD JONES. >> JANICE, A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES HERE. WE DON'T KNOW AS WE ARE SITTING HERE TAPING THIS. OF COURSE, IT IS FRIDAY NIGHT NOW, AIRING, AND THIS HAS STARTED AT NOON EARLIER TODAY. AS WE SIT HERE, LET'S GET THE GENERAL LAY OF THE LAND HERE. WE HAVE STUFF ON THE TABLE LET'S START WITH THE DEATH PENALTY AND THE GOVERNOR WANTING IT AS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? >> I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD THROW THAT OUT THERE ALTHOUGH, DAN FOLEY WAS RIGHT MONTHS AGO. HE SAID THIS WOULD BE ON THE TABLE BUT TO LOOK AT A DEATH PENALTY BILL THAT IS GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT IS WELL WORDED, WELL CRAFTED, IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME DISCUSSION. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE DA'S ARE SAYING PLEASE COME DO THIS, WHERE ARE THEY? LIKE THE THREE STRIKES LAW, IF IT IS POORLY WORDED, IT MAY BE USELESS. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, IT SHOULD BE USEFUL, SHOULD NOT BE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, A LAWYER PROTECTION ACT.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT HAD TURNED INTO. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION, WITH VERY LITTLE PAYOUT. >> DEDE PICK UP ON THAT. THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCUSSION ABOUT COSTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEATH PENALTY BESIDES THE ACT ITSELF. >> YEAH. AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME WHEN WE REALLY SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, I THINK. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE DEATH PENALTY COSTS FOUR TIMES AS MUCH AS AN ORDINARY CRIMINAL CASE. WE HAVE MORE EXONEREES HERE IN NEW MEXICO THAN MOSTLY EVERY OTHER STATE, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE VAGOS MOTORCYCLE GANG BACK IN THE 1980'S. SOME OF THE VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER THAT. AND YOU KNOW IT IS JUST SUCH A RED HERRING. WE TOOK 10 YEARS BASICALLY, WE TOOK 10 YEARS TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT MORAL, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, FISCAL ISSUE IN THE

NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE FROM 1999 UNTIL 2009 WHEN IT WAS PASSED. >> TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY. >> TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY AND TO THINK WE COULD DEAL WITH IT IN A COUPLE OF DAYS IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS SESSION IS GOING TO COST 54,000 A DAY ANYWAY. AND, TO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS THROWING THIS IN TO THE MIX, IT IS CLEARLY POLITICAL AND IT HAS BEEN DEFEATED, I THINK, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES ALREADY IN THE RECENT YEARS, SO, THE OUTCOME PROBABLY WON'T BE ANY IS THE GOVERNOR HAS ANGLED IT SO THAT THOSE VOTES CAN BE USED ON POLITICAL PAMPHLETS. >> LITERALLY THE NEXT DAY,

JUST PRINT THEM OUT AND SEND THEM OUT. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE BLOWN UP BETWEEN NOON AND 1:00 AS WE TAPE THIS MIDDAY BUT THE IDEA THAT WHERE CAN DEMOCRATS GO WITH THIS? IF THEY WANT TO GET TO THE MONEY ISSUES INVOLVED HERE, HOW DO YOU GET AROUND A DEATH PENALTY, THE CALL THAT IS NOT A CALL. HOW DO YOU GET AROUND THAT? DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS, THE PR? HOW DO YOU MANEUVER AROUND >> I THINK IT IS BOTH. I AGREE IT IS A POLITICAL ISSUE, A WEDGE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN THROWN IN AT THE LAST MINUTE TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE ON RECORD WHAT THEIR VOTES ARE. IT CUTS BOTH WAYS. THIS IS AN ISSUE STUDIED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR 10 YEARS. IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I WAS ACTUALLY PARTICULARLY STRUCK BY DENNIS' COMMENTS ABOUT HOW IT IS A MORAL ISSUE AND SOMETHING PEOPLE SHOULD DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND HE WAS ACTUALLY CALLING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH

IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT THEY COULD TAKE, BUT IT IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, GIVEN THAT IT WAS 60 DAY SESSION IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IN FRONT OF MULTIPLE COMMITTEES WITH MULTIPLE CONSTITUENCIES ATTENDING. >> ALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT WENT ON. >> AND DRAFTING OF LANGUAGE AHEAD OF TIME. IT IS NOT THE SORT OF THING YOU THROW INTO A SPECIAL SESSION. THAT IS CLEARLY A POLITICAL STUNT THAT COULD GO WRONG. I THINK AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD STEADY, CERTAINLY THE SENATE DEMOCRATS IN TERMS OF PUSHING BACK ON THAT AND TRYING TO FOCUS ON WHAT THE SPECIAL SESSION IS ABOUT WHICH IS THE HUGE DEFICIT WE HAVE AND I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THERE IS THIS DISTRACTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND THREE STRIKES LAW AND ALL THE CRIMINAL REFORM ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO THE FOCUS OF THE BUDGET WHICH IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT NEEDS -- THEY SHOULD REALLY TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO SIT THERE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE SOLUTION SHOULD BE. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T PRACTICE IN CRIMINAL LAW. I AM GLAD THAT I DON'T. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO. IT IS TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT, BUT I DON'T AND SO I DON'T -- I AM NOT OFFENDED BY WHAT YOU SAID. I UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT. >> MAN OF THE MOMENT, HIS MOMENT, YOU CALLED IT, OLD NEW

MEXICO PBS, DAN FOLEY CALLED IT FOUR WEEKS AGO, SPECIAL SESSION AND THE DEATH PENALTY. WHY WERE YOU SO SURE? HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS THE CARD THROWN ON THE TABLE. >> THERE IS MULTIPLE THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, WITH THE AMOUNT HAVE HAD, HEINOUS CRIMES WE HAVE HAD WITH BABY BRIANA'S MOTHER GETTING OUT OF JAIL THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT THIS IS A TOPIC THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH; NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, AND THE MASSES USUALLY DON'T RESPOND IN A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS, RIGHT? THE MASSES USUALLY WANT BLOOD. SO I THINK LEADING UP TO REALIZING IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH OF A PUSH FROM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, PEOPLE CALLING IN, STUFF LIKE THAT, LEGISLATORS HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HEARING FROM FOLKS TO SAY, WE WANT THIS. >> IS THIS A SITUATION, VOICE WINS. THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS THAT

WANT TO SEE ACTION WHENEVER THERE IS EMOTIONAL MOMENT BUT THERE IS OTHERS OUT THERE THAT SAY, LET'S JUST STAY STEADY HERE. HOW COME THOSE VOICES DON'T GET HEARD? >> I THINK THEY GET HEARD. TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T THINK THE DEATH PENALTY, WHEN IT WAS REPEALED AND ATTEMPTS WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I DON'T THINK IT IS -- I THINK THERE IS MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO SEE THE DEATH PENALTY REINSTATED THAN OPPOSED TO IT. >> DO YOU? >> ESPECIALLY IN NEW MEXICO. WE HAVE BEEN VERY -- WE HAVE HAD ONE PERSON VICTIM OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN -- >> ONE PERSON KILLED. >> HE COMMITTED UNBELIEVABLE -- >> HE COMMITTED A HEINOUS ACT AGAINST A YOUNG GIRL. AT SOME POINT THIS IS THE KIND OF CONVERSATION -- >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ, EVEN WHEN SHE WAS DA, SHE DID NOT CALL FOR THE DEATH PENALTY WHEN SHE WAS DA FOR HER COUNTY. >> NOT EVEN FOR BABY BRIANA. >> SOMETHING SEEMS ODD HERE. >> THERE IS A POLITICAL STUNT IN SANTA FE?

I MEAN -- >> I AGREE WITH DAN, THE ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED RECENTLY WITH CHILDREN ARE HEINOUS, TERRIBLE AND KILLINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS LIKE THE ONE IN HATCH IS AWFUL. SO, OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE -- I THINK PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE USING THAT AS A REASON AS JUSTIFICATION FOR PUSHING THIS FORWARD, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT GOING TO APPLY TO ANY OF THOSE EVEN IF IT IS REINSTATED. IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM AND JUST AS MANY PEOPLE I THINK THAT ARE CONCERNED, UPSET ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS, THE DEATH PENALTY IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT, THERE IS ALSO PEOPLE UPSET WHY WASN'T CYFD FOLLOWING UP ON THE VICTORIA MARTENS ISSUE. YOU GO BACK TO OMARIO VARELA AND REPORTS TO CYFD. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT IS LACK OF FUNDING, PROCESS ISSUE, WHATEVER IT IS, BUT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING WHERE KIDS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. >> AM I GOING TO GET ANY TIME ON THIS, GENE, OR DO I JUST GET -- IT IS OKAY. >> I GET TWO SENTENCES OUT AND

THEN WE STOP. SO, I MEAN, I THINK -- >> DON'T STOP. >> I WAS BEING GRACIOUS. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS A POLITICAL ISSUE. WE'RE SITTING HERE LISTENING TO FOLKS AT THE TABLE AND ACROSS THE STATE TRYING TO BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR THE FISCAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE IN AND THE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSE FOR TWO YEARS. DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR TIME IMMEMORIAL. THE BUDGET STARTS AND FINISHES IN THE LEGISLATURE. THE GOVERNOR GETS THE BUDGET. I MEAN, SO, WE CAN'T TALK POLITICS ON ONE SIDE AND SAY THE EVIL GOVERNOR IS RUNNING POLITICS WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, AND, BY THE WAY, IT IS ALL HER FAULT FOR THE BUDGET WHERE IT IS. I THINK WHEN WE DO MEET FOR THESE SESSIONS, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND I THINK AS SOMEONE WHO IS AGAINST DOING AWAY WITH THE DEATH PENALTY WITH WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING IN THE STATE, THERE IS A LIST OF PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE ADDING TO THAT LIST. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT BUDGET. AGAIN, WE ARE AT A BIT OF A LOSS HERE SINCE THE SESSION

STARTED BEFORE WE HAD A CHANCE TO REACT TO IT. WE'LL FOLLOW-UP NEXT WEEK WITH A LOT OF REACTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE HAVE MONEY ISSUES HERE. HAVE YOU HEARD A PLAN FROM ANYONE? >> IT IS DISTRESSING BECAUSE CIRCLING BACK TO THE DEATH PENALTY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COURTS TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS, DA'S, CORRECTIONS? >> UNDERFUNDED, RIGHT. >> YOU KNOW -- >> JUDICIARY. >> SO MAKING ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUTS IS VERY EASY AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE GOVERNOR STEPPED UP AND SAID TO THE AGENCY SHE CONTROLS, YOU WILL CUT 5% AND DO IT RIGHT NOW. AND SHE MADE A CALL THAT ALL OTHER ELECTED AGENCIES DO THE SAME. SHE DOESN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THOSE BUT TO MAKE CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD MAY ACTUALLY NOT HELP US AND WE MAY NEED TO ACTUALLY SET SOME PRIORITIES AND THAT ALSO MEANS THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE WILL NOT BE FUNDED. THAT IS HOW DIFFICULT THIS SESSION IS AND DAN WAS THERE WHEN -- UNDER RICHARDSON, WE

WERE A BILLION DOLLARS DOWN AND WE HAD TO CUT AND IT WAS PAINFUL BUT WE HAVE NEVER RECOVERED FROM THAT. NOW WHAT? >> YOU KNOW, IN 2009, WHICH WAS THE BIG YEAR THAT WE HAD TO MAKE UP THAT DEFICIT, WE HAD THE CALVARY COMING IN FROM WASHINGTON WITH THE TARP FUND, THE ARA FUND. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT HERE. AND, SO, THE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE DEEP. I HAVE HEARD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, ALTHOUGH THIS SESSION IS UNLIKE OTHERS, BECAUSE TALKS HAVE BROKEN DOWN. THERE IS NO PLAN. THERE WAS NO PLAN PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR FOR THIS AND THE LEGISLATURE IS IN A RESPONSIVE MODE. BUT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT AND ONE IS SEIZING SOME FUNDS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE IN CONTROL OF RIGHT NOW. 125 MILLION AND PUTTING THAT INTO THE RESERVES.

WE HAVE ALREADY RAIDED THE RESERVES, BY THE WAY. IT IS A GIVEN THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING AWAY WITH THE TOBACCO FUND. AND I HAVE HEARD ALSO FURTHER 70% CUTS TO HIGHER ED AND FURTHER 5% CUT TO THE COURTS. SO, I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE TALKED TO. I WOULD LOOK FOR -- GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, IS BLAMING THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE FOR HOLDING THESE THINGS UP, JUST ANOTHER PART OF THIS POLITICAL DANCE, BUT I WOULD LOOK TO THE SENATE AND FOR THE SENATE TO COME UP WITH A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION TO THIS THAT MIGHT INVOLVE CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLES AS WELL AS SOME CUTS. >> LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, CAN RAISING TAXES HAVE ANY PRAYER JUST AS A TALKING POINT DURING THE SPECIAL, OR, IF NOT, DOES IT SET UP SOMETHING FOR THE REGULAR SESSION COMING UP? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY THIS LAP.

>> YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY THINK IT WILL BE A POINT OF DISCUSSION. WHETHER IT HAS ANY LIFE IS A WHOLE OTHER QUESTION. IT IS A POLITICAL YEAR AND THAT IS THE REALITY. EVERYBODY IS UP FOR REELECTION AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE ONE THAT RAISES TAXES GOING INTO REELECTION, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A TOUGH REELECTION. THAT IS CERTAINLY A FACTOR FOR THEM. IN ALL REALITY THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO GO INTO REELECTION WITH. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE. WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT I AM NOT -- RAIDING EVERY SINGLE FUND OUT OF THERE, SHORT OF THE PERMANENT FUND, IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH. SO THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK AND WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUT PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, SO, IT IS VERY -- THERE IS VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AND THEY HAVE TO BE REALISTIC. >> DAN, WE HAVE FURTHER NEWS ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE AT THE TABLE, OIL AND GAS PRICES ARE POISED TO HAVE ANOTHER HIT HERE SOON, TO HAVE ANOTHER DIP, MORE PROBLEMS. I ASK YOU THE SAME IDEA, CANNOT THE IDEA OF REVENUE

ENHANCEMENT GET ON THE TABLE AT SOME POINT? >> THEY CAN. I MEAN, I THINK THAT EVEN THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE SAID, LOOK, EVEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS SAID, LOOK, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO TAX INCREASES IN THE RIGHT PLACES, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ADEQUATE TAX CUTS -- WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SPENDING CUTS TO GO ALONG WITH THOSE. I THINK THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING, THOUGH, AND SENATOR FELDMAN POINTS IT OUT WELL IS THAT THE CHICKEN IS COMING HOME TO ROOST. WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON WASHINGTON D.C. TO BAIL US OUT AND RELYING ON OIL AND GAS TO BAIL US OUT. WE HAVE ASKED, SINCE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT COULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TRUTH IN FORECASTING. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN NEW MEXICO. WE SET THE PRICE OF OIL AND GAS AT WHATEVER WE WANT, SO THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. REGARDLESS WHETHER IT IS DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE, THEY COME UP WITH A BUDGET AND HERE IS WHAT OIL AND GAS WILL BE AND AWAY WE GO. IN THE PAST, TARP MONEY, TOBACCO SETTLEMENT MONEY, MONEY FROM SENATOR DOMENICI AND BINGAMAN WOULD COME IN IN THE PAST, AND THOSE DAYS ARE GONE. IT IS NOT HAPPENING AND AT THE

SAME TIME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TO STEP UP AND I THINK TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IS GROWTH OF MEDICAID. WHEN SHE EXPANDED MEDICAID AND THOSE DOLLARS KEEP GETTING CUT COMING FROM THE FED'S, THAT IS A BIGGER BURDEN AND WE LEARNED THROUGH THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION, ONCE YOU PASS AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T CUT IT. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL LOOK AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK THAT UNM PRESIDENT BOB FRANK WILL NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM. >> THIS WEEK WE START A NEW SERIES, VOTING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS SERIES WAS PRODUCED WITH VISION MAKER MEDIA AND WE ARE IMPORTANT TO NATIVE VOTERS IN 2016. IN THE COMING WEEKS WE'LL EXAMINE THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN VOTING WITH ISSUES PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, LIKE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE. ANTONIA GONZALES IS OUR CORRESPONDENT FOR THE SERIES. SHE IS WITH ME NOW. SHE IS ANCHOR AND PRODUCER OF NATIONAL NATIVE NEWS, NATIONAL NEWSCAST PRODUCED HERE IN NEW MEXICO. >> WELCOME. >> THANK YOU.

>> MY FIRST QUESTION, OUR FIRST STORY TODAY FOCUSES ON EDUCATION. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR NATIVE AMERICANS. >> EDUCATION IS AN ISSUE THAT IS KEY FOR TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN NEW MEXICO. A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE IT AS AN AVENUE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BETTER THEIR LIVES AND NOT ONLY TRADITIONAL WESTERN TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN VALUES AND CULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. SO THE SEGMENT IN THE SERIES REALLY LOOKS AT A YOUNG VOTER AND WHO IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND WE FOLLOW HIM AND SEE WHY IT IS -- WHY HE THINKS EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. >> THAT SOUNDS EXCITING, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT. >> PRESIDENT OBAMA CREATED AN INITIATIVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO TO SUPPORT YOUNG NATIVE AMERICANS AND THAT IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF TRACTION. >> GENERATION INDIGENOUS IS AN INITIATIVE TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS WEEK, THE WHITE HOUSE JUST HOSTED ITS FINAL, IN THE

LAST 8, OF THE TRIBAL NATIONS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C., WHERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE 567 FEDERALLY-RECOGNIZED TRIBES WERE INVITED BUT ALSO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LEADERS AND LEARNING HOW TO BETTER THEIR SKILLS IN LEADERSHIP. SO THEY GOT A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH TRIBAL LEADERS, FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, SO, THIS INITIATIVE THAT WAS CREATED IS HELPING NATIVE YOUTH ACROSS THE COUNTY INCLUDING HERE IN NEW MEXICO. >> THAT EVENT WAS EXCITING WITH THE PRESIDENT. IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MAYBE THERE IS A THOUGHT OUT THERE, THERE IS A MOMENTUM TO CAPTURE WITH THIS PRESIDENT, AND THAT THE TIME IS NOW FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALLY GET THINGS ESTABLISHED BEFORE WE HAVE A CHANGE IN PRESIDENCY. IS THAT RIGHT IN YOUR VIEW? >> WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM TRIBAL LEADERS AND PEOPLE IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS THAT PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION, AND THEY THINK, YOU'LL SEE IN OUR SERIES, SOME

OF THE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE TRIBAL ISSUES. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN OUR SERIES COMING UP, THAT IT REFLECTS VOTING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. >> ABSOLUTELY. INTERESTING, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, WHAT IS UNIQUE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WHEN IT COMES TO NATIVE EDUCATION? WE HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS, OF COURSE, HAVING A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF NATIVE AMERICANS HERE IN OUR STATE. IT'S NOT AS IF NATIVE AMERICANS ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION HERE IN THE STATE. HOWEVER, SOMETHING IS NOT QUITE CLICKING CERTAINLY AND THIS IS PART OF THE ENDEAVOR TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. WHAT IS IT ABOUT NEW MEXICO THAT MAKES EDUCATION UNIQUE HERE? >> TRIBES HERE, YOU HAVE BOTH RESERVATION AND OFF THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN URBAN AREAS AND HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALBUQUERQUE HAS A NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ACADEMY AND SOMETHING UNIQUE YOU SEE IN OUR EDUCATION SEGMENT IS NEW MEXICO IS HOME TO THE SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL AND IT IS MORE

THAN 125 YEARS OLD AND TODAY IT IS TOUTED AS A LEADER IN INDIAN EDUCATION, HAS HIGH GRADUATION RATES AND ON TOP OF THAT, MICHELLE OBAMA, THE FIRST LADY, CAME LAST YEAR AND GAVE THE COMMENCEMENT TO THE GRADUATING SENIORS. AND, ALSO, PART OF GENERATION INDIGENOUS WAS HAVING HER THERE AND TALKING TO THE SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE OR SECONDARY SCHOOL, TRADE SCHOOLS, AND ON TOP OF THAT, IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS. >> INTERESTING. GLAD SHE WAS HERE. NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU FOUND. THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD. [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] >> GREETINGS TO EVERYONE OUT THERE. MY NAME PACHECO, TRANSLATES TO RAINBOW. I AM FROM SANTA DOMINGO PUEBLO AND I AM AN INDIGENOUS TEACHER. [SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] >> EDUCATION IS AN ISSUE MANY NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS IN NEW

MEXICO HAVE ON THEIR MINDS AS WEEKS WIND DOWN TO NOVEMBER U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. >> IT IS A HOPI SONG, JUST OVER AND OVER SAYS THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LIFE IS FILLED WITH GRATITUDE, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, LET'S GRAB IT WITH THANKS AND APPRECIATION. LOVE AND COURTESY AND RESPECT. >> UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND TEACH FOR AMERICA GRADUATE, WANTS TO MAKE STRIDES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. VERSED IN A NUMBER OF LANGUAGES, HE SEES EDUCATION ADVANCING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. >> LANGUAGE IS WHAT GIVES YOU YOUR IDENTITY. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT ONE PERSON THAT HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TAUGHT YOU, TEACHES YOU HISTORY, TEACHES YOU LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. LIKE CULTURE CAME TO ME THROUGH AGRICULTURE, THROUGH PLANTING SEEDS, WATERMELON. NONNATIVE TEACHER MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING THE CONNECTION, NATIVE AMERICAN TEACHERS ARE SHAZAM AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE

POSSIBILITY OF REBUILDING OUR NATIVE NATION IS THROUGH THE CORE OF EDUCATION. >> AT THE NEARBY SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL, THE CORE VALUES COMMUNITY AND REPRESENTING TRIBAL NATIONS IS SHOWN THROUGH TRADITION AND CULTURE. >> TRIBES FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTHWEST AND TRIBES FROM NEW MEXICO. >> PUT YOUR VOTE IN. >> FALL 2016 CENTERED ON VALUE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ELECTION THEME. >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THESE TWO CHARACTERS ARE COMING IN WITH SO MUCH DRAMA, YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS ACTUALLY -- I WONDER, IS THIS A HOAX? WHERE IS THE REAL CANDIDATE? >> HOPEFULLY, I WILL WIN THIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. >> HE IS NOT GOING TO WIN THIS. >> WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE, I HOPE THAT THE TRUTH IS THAT IT HELPS US MOVE FORWARD BUT THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING NOW THAT IT SEEMS ALMOST HOPELESS

IN A SENSE. >> THE SCHOOL FOUNDED MORE THAN 125 YEARS AGO IS TOUTED TODAY AS A LEADER IN INDIAN EDUCATION, WITH AN AVERAGE 98% GRADUATION RATE. ON THIS DAY, A MOCK DEBATE HIGHLIGHTED HOW LEADERS CAN AFFECT THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. >> THERE IS PAIN IN CHANGE AND THERE IS PAIN IN NOT CHANGING SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, WHAT YOU ARE HEARING, THEN CHANGE IT. >> I THINK IT IS VERY OTHERS AND ALSO MYSELF TO HAVE A VOICE AS A NATIVE AMERICAN. >> WE HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO (INAUDIBLE) 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, WHO WANTS TO BUILD A WALL, TO TALKS ABOUT (INAUDIBLE). THAT IS NOT WHO WE ARE. >> STUDENTS RESEARCHED 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND SHARED ASPECTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS' PLATFORMS WHICH INCLUDED IMMIGRATION, HEALTHCARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

PEOPLE DON'T TAKE US SERIOUSLY TO BE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO GO OUT AND LEARN THE LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY AND THEY THINK THEY CAN JUST STEP OVER US, SAY -- OH, THEY ARE INDIANS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT LAW IS OR WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO KIND OF THING, SO, IF PEOPLE DO UNDERSTAND THAT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET AN EDUCATION AND LEARN HOW TO WRITE AND SPEAK WELL, THEN IT CAN, IN RETURN, HELP NATIVE COUNTRIES ALL OVER AMERICA. >> WE WILL MAKE AMERICA STRONG. WE WILL MAKE AMERICA PROUD AGAIN, AND WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. >> THE YOUNG PEOPLE TOOK A VOTING PLEDGE TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF ISSUES FACING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PEOPLE AND ENGAGE IN FUTURE ELECTIONS AND PROMOTE VOTING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AMERICANS TO BE THE INVISIBLE VOTE AND I WANT TO BE AN

ADVOCATE BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE AND PUT THEIRSELVES OUT THERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> STUDENTS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW DECISIONS WILL IMPACT FUTURE GENERATIONS. >> WHAT I DO STRONGLY SUPPORT IS THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA. >> IF WE DON'T GET INVOLVED AS JUST GIVING UP EVERYTHING THAT OUR ANCESTORS AND ELDERS FOUGHT FOR THIS WHOLE ENTIRE TIME THE MINUTE THAT COLUMBUS STEPPED FOOT ON NORTH AMERICA. >> THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY, WILL AFFECT THE COUNTRY IN THE LONG RUN. >> THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND MAKING A PATH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND GENERATIONS TO COME IS PASSED ON FROM FAMILIES, TRIBAL LEADERS AND ELDERS JUST AS ART IS ALSO PASSED ON. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CANDIDATES COME IN AND TARGET THE YOUTH. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE

PROMISSORY ADVOCATES FOR TUITION FREE SCHOOLS. MY VOTE FOR THE FUTURE IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM HAVE CORE CURRICULUM THAT IS HONORING THE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT NOT FOR ONE HOUR BLOCKS, LIKE, FOUR HOUR BLOCKS. >> THIS IS ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> WE WANT TO ROCK THE VOTE, YOU KNOW, GET NATIVE AMERICANS TO VOTE BUT NATIONS LIKE MY OWN, WE DON'T ADVOCATE FOR VOTING. IT IS NOT PART OF OUR TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS. >> BUT THERE IS HOPE ON RESERVATIONS THAT MAYBE THE NEXT PERSON THAT GETS INTO OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO FULFILL WHAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE DONE BEFORE HIM. >> ONE SMALL STEP FOR MANKIND IS ONE HUGE STEP FOR THE INDIGENOUS RACE TO INCLUDE NONNATIVES BECAUSE THEIR BLOOD IS RED TOO.

>> WELCOME BACK. WE LEARNED THIS WEEK UNM PRESIDENT BOB FRANK WILL NOT SEEK A SECOND TERM. INSTEAD THE JOURNAL REPORTS HE WILL BECOME DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND HEALTH AND EDUCATION WITHIN THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER AFTER HIS CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS NEXT YEAR. TIMES ARE TOUGH AT UNM, CERTAINLY, WITH A HIRING FREEZE AND POTENTIAL LOOMING BUDGET CUTS. PBS'S LICENSE, BUT THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT HAVE ANY ROLE IN OUR EDITORIAL PROCESS FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. DANIEL, I GOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW. >> WHO IS RUNNING? WHO IS RUNNING? YOU SAID HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM. >> NOT YOU. THE MEDIA. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS AN ELECTED POSITION. PRESIDENT TO SERVE FIVE YEARS OR LESS AT UNM, SIX. THAT IS AMAZING. CAN YOU HAVE STABILITY AT YOUR STATE'S PREMIER UNIVERSITY HAVING THAT KIND OF TURNOVER? >> NEW MEXICO STATE MAY TAKE UMBRAGE WITH THAT. >> THEY WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, IT IS CLEAR THERE IS A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS WITH BEING

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO. ONE IS YOU'RE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. PRESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO STATE ISN'T ALWAYS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU'RE IN A POLITICAL TUG OF WAR. THIS IS THE EPICENTER OF POLITICS. YOU HAVE GOT DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, PROGRESSIVES, CONSERVATIVES, YOU NAME IT, PULLING AT THIS PLACE. BOB FRANKS IS A GOOD MAN. I MET HIM MANY TIMES, I THINK THAT BOB FRANKS IN MY OPINION, HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM IN A COUPLE YEARS, I THINK BOB FRANKS CAME BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO BEING A HOME BOY, THINKING I AM GOING TO HELP MAKE THIS BETTER. I THINK HE REALIZED WHAT A QUAGMIRE UNM IS AND HE IS FRUSTRATED. I THINK HE'S UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT COMMON SENSE ISN'T SO COMMON ANYMORE. I THINK THAT HE IS LOOKING AT THE INTERNAL BATTLES THAT ARE GOING ON FROM DAVID HARRIS BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING SPENT AND JUST WALKING AWAY FROM THE INTERVIEW, TO THE FIGHT WITH THE HEALTH SCIENCE DIVISION SAYING, WE ARE GOING TO BE OUR OWN, TO THE REGENTS NOT GETTING PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING BECAUSE UNM HAS KIND OF BECOME ITS OWN POLITICAL JUGGERNAUT, WHETHER IT IS JAMIE COOK SIDING WITH GOVERNOR MARTINEZ OR REPUBLICANS THAT ARE ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS SIDING WITH BILL RICHARDSON, IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS BECOME ITS OWN BLACK HOLE THAT IS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF THE STATE. >> PICK UP ON THAT. THE LAST BIT DAN JUST MENTIONED. IT IS A BIT OF A QUAGMIRE OVER THERE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING PIECES. >> IT IS AN OPAQUE QUAGMIRE. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. AND I HAVE BEEN DIGESTING IT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE DAILY PAPER ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT AND MOVED ON. HE ALWAYS WANTED TO START A PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL AT THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER.

AND THEN I GOT TO THE LAST PARAGRAPH IN THE ARTICLE AND IT SAID, PART OF THE EXIT AGREEMENT IS THAT THE REGENTS AND FRANK SAID THEY WOULD NOT SPEAK ILL OF ONE ANOTHER. SO, WHAT IS GOING ON? I THINK THAT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS A REAL SPLIT BETWEEN THE REGENTS AND THE PRESIDENT AND THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR FUTURE REVOLVING DOORS. >> I CAN IMAGINE. >> LET'S GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE NEW JOB; SAME SALARY. >> ONE OF THE THINGS DEDE AND DAN HIT IT RIGHT, THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER HAS BECOME ITS OWN THING AND THE NUMBER OF HAVE BEEN PLACED THERE AT VERY HIGH SALARIES WITH NO JOB DESCRIPTION, IS REMARKABLE. IF YOU GO TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, WAYNE JOHNSON WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 90

MILLION SITTING THERE AND WE HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IT. THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY BUT THE PEOPLE OF BERNALILLO COUNTY ARE PAYING FOR THAT. I THINK ALL OF THIS SOUNDS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND IT DOES SOUND TO ME LIKE -- I AM WITH DAN, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO BOB FRANK, HOME TOWN GUY, BUT I THINK HE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT PERHAPS HE KNEW SOMETHING AND IN ORDER TO STAY QUIET HE GOES OVER TO THIS PLACE WHERE HE GETS SIX MONTHS OFF BEFORE HE BEGINS WORK. >> I FORGOT ABOUT THAT, THE SIX MONTHS. >> LAURA SANCHEZ RIVET, INTERESTINGLY, MOST PRESIDENTS GO ON TO TEACH IN THEIR FIELDS OF EXPERTISE, IF THEY HAVE CONTINUING AT UNM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AND AT A SALARY COMMISERATE WITH THAT DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I MEAN? TO JANICE'S POINT, THE 350, NO ONE IS SURE WHAT THE JOB IS, BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN FLUSHED OUT. >> THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON. THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT

HAVE THAT POSITION WITH NO JOB DESCRIPTION AND YOU WOULD LOVE THE SALARY. >> WHAT DOES THIS DO TO CAMPUS WIDE THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE THINGS? DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? DOES THIS START A PRECEDENT THAT COULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR THE UNIVERSITY GOING DOWN THE ROAD? >> I THINK IT IS VERY PROBLEMATIC, NOT JUST DOWN THE ROAD FOR THEM, TO BE DOING AND THEY KNOW THE CUTS ARE COMING. THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS ON CAMPUS WITH VARIOUS GROUPS ABOUT THE FACT THEY NEED TO CUT SOMEWHERE. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THE SALARIES WILL GO DOWN, WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, LAYOFFS, REDUCTION IN FORCE, WHICH A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW AROUND THE STATE. INTERESTINGLY, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH NEITHER SIDE SPEAKING ILL OF EACH OTHER, AS AN ATTORNEY, AND I DO SOME EMPLOYMENT WORK IN EDUCATION, THAT IS A STANDARD. ANY TIME YOU HAVE A SEPARATION AGREEMENT, THAT IS STANDARD AND I DO A LOT OF EXECUTIVE SEPARATIONS AND PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT IS STANDARD. I DON'T READ ANYTHING INTO THAT.

I COULD SEE SOMEBODY WOULD SAY, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING. YOU INCLUDE THAT REGARDLESS, ANY TIME YOU SEPARATE. >> ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE STICKING AROUND THERE. >> RIGHT. YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT AND BOTH SIDES HAVE AN INTEREST IN INCLUDING THAT CLAUSE IN THE LANGUAGE BUT THIS IS THE ULTIMATE GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR A PRESIDENT OF A UNIVERSITY. YOU SEE GOLDEN PARACHUTES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALL THE TIME, BUT TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY THAT IS UNDER A LOT OF SCRUTINY, A LOT OF PRESSURE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, IT DOES -- I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE UNIVERSITY. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WHAT DO YOU MAKE -- WE DON'T KNOW IF THE MAN IS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE JOB, BUT WE'LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE IT WASN'T PUT OUT THERE. >> WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT IS THE JOB? FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS NO CENTER FOR HEALTH INNOVATION. THAT IS YET TO BE CREATED. SO, I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE IS THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE JOB. >> DR. FRANK IS A NICE MAN. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT CAME ABOUT DR. FRANK

AFTER DR. SCHMIDLEY, HE WAS VERY FOCUSED ON LEGISLATORS, GETTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, HE WAS A VERY GREGARIOUS PERSON. HE HAD A REALLY GOOD PERSONALITY. DR. FRANK IN SOME OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM EARLY ON, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT -- I DON'T THINK I AM SPEAKING OUT OF SCHOOL, TALKING ABOUT STUFF OUT IN RIO RANCHO AND THE GIST OF THE CONVERSATION LIKE WE GOT TO CALL THIS LEGISLATOR. WHY ARE WE GOING TO CALL THESE PEOPLE? WHY AM I CALLING THESE GUYS? I DON'T THINK IT WAS, I AM BETTER THAN THEM. IT WAS A, I THINK HE FELT WHEN HE TOOK THE JOB THE RIGHT THING WOULD WIN. I DON'T THINK HE FELT POLITICS WAS GOING TO BE THE ULTIMATE DECIDER. >> HAVING NOT GONE TO SCHOOL -- I DID NOT GO TO SCHOOL HERE AT ALL, FOR ANY OF MY DEGREES, BUT OTHER UNIVERSITIES IN OTHER STATES ARE THAT WAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL A LEGISLATOR WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS OR PRESS FLASH AND GO TO EVERY SINGLE RECEPTION AND HERE IT IS DIFFERENT. YOU DO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THAT. >> THE THING ABOUT LOSING DR. FRANK AT THIS POINT IS I WANT

A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO TRULY TAKE CARE OF THIS UNIVERSITY, LIKE GARY CARRUTHERS DOES FOR NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY. I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS IT TO BE BETTER. >> DID YOU FEEL HE WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK. >> I DID. I ACTUALLY DID. AND THERE WERE CALLS EARLY ON HE WAS ARROGANT AND LEGISLATURE DIDN'T LIKE HIM. YOU KNOW, BUT, I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING THE JOB, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PICKY LITTLE THINGS THAT WERE BOTHERING ME WAS MAKING SURE THERE WERE ENOUGH LABS FOR THE REQUIRED COURSES, YOU KNOW. AS A PARENT THAT REALLY TICKED ME OFF. IT IS NOT 100% BUT IT IS BETTER. >> HAVING A MAYFIELD GUY THAT CAN RUN THE UNIVERSITY, NEW MEXICO HIGH SCHOOL GRAD, WENT TO SCHOOL, UNDERSTOOD THE LANDSCAPE -- >> IT SEEMED PERFECT ON PAPER. THAT IS THE POINT I WAS GETTING AT, DEDE. HOW DO YOU LET A GUY LIKE THIS WRIGGLE AWAY? IT SEEMS TO ME IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO, YOU FIND A WAY TO WORK IT OUT. >> WELL, YOU KNOW -- I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE SCRUTINY SHOULD BE ON THE REGENTS RIGHT NOW, RATHER THAN THE PRESIDENT.

UNIVERSITY SEEMS TO BE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. GRADUATION RATES ARE UP, REMEDIATION IS IMPROVING FOR OUR POORLY PREPARED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND THEY ARE PLAYING IN THE INNOVATION GAME, WHICH THEY WEREN'T DOING BEFORE. SO, THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS, BUT, THE REGENTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING KIND OF GETS BACK TO THE REGENTS HERE. >> THEY ARE ALL POWERFUL AT THE UNIVERSITY. DON'T MAKE ANY BONES ABOUT IT. IT AIN'T THE LEGISLATURE. THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THOSE FOLKS AND THEY LITERALLY RUN THE UNIVERSITY AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME INTERESTING APPOINTMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO. THERE HAS BEEN INTERESTING FOLKS THAT HAVE MADE IT THROUGH MULTIPLE GOVERNORS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS NOW ALMOST 12 YEARS. AND AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE GOT TO REALIZE THAT, IN MY OPINION, IF YOU'RE ON SOMETHING LIKE A BOARD OF REGENTS, PRETTY SOON YOU START THINKING YOU'RE THE BOARD OF REGENTS. >> WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL DISCUSS A CONTROVERSY OVER A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

BOUNDARY BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD. >> THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP IN THE U.S. IS LATINOS. WE HAVE HEARD WHAT THAT MEANS FOR POLITICS. THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASING NUMBER OF LATINO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MALDEF, MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, HAS A CASE IN NEW MEXICO THAT CLAIMS THE STATE FAILED TO PROVIDE YOUNG HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS WITH THE EDUCATION THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION REQUIRES. THE HEAD OF MALDEF RECENTLY STOPPED BY THE STUDIO AND SAT DOWN WITH SARAH GUSTAVUS TO TALK ABOUT THAT LAWSUIT AND THE IMPACT OF LATINOS ON POLITICS AND LIFE IN AMERICA. >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> YOU'RE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR MALDEF, MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND. ORGANIZATION STARTED 50 YEARS AGO, NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE COUNTRY, A LOT MORE YOUNG NOW, MORE LATINOS AND STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AND MORE VOTERS IN

ELECTION YEARS LIKE THIS. WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TODAY VERSUS WHEN YOU STARTED IN 1968? >> WELL, IN 1968, YOU COULD ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. AS REGIONAL, CONCENTRATED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES, FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA, WITH YORK CITY AND SOUTH FLORIDA. WHEREAS TODAY, THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS A NATIONAL MINORITY GROUP. WE ARE THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY AND HAVE BEEN FOR A DECADE AND WE ARE REPRESENTED IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS IN EVERY REGION, IN VIRTUALLY EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT DOES MEAN MORE AND MORE POLICY ISSUES, NATIONALLY, WILL CENTER ON LATINO COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN PUBLIC EDUCATION TODAY, ONE IN EVERY FOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS NATIONWIDE IS LATINO AND THAT IS A MEASURE NOT ONLY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION ISSUES, NATIONALLY, TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT A MEASURE OF WHAT EXPECTATIONS WILL BE OF LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE FUTURE WHEN THOSE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE IN THE WORKFORCE, EXPECTED TO BE LEADING, NOT

JUST IN THE WORKFORCE, BUT IN VOTING AND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY. >> LATINO COMMUNITY IS VERY DIVERSE IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW. >> IT IS. ALTHOUGH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION IS STILL MEXICAN AMERICAN, WE NOW HAVE SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATION FROM THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES, STILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT POPULATION THAT IS PUERTO RICAN AND CUBAN AMERICAN AND INCREASINGLY, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS FROM SOUTH AMERICA. >> HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE ALSO HAVE LOTS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE CONNECTIONS BACK TO GENERATIONS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. >> ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GROWN, WE HAVE BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINNING AND FOR MANY FOLKS THEY CAN FAIRLY SAY THAT THEIR FAMILY DIDN'T CROSS THE BORDER, THE BORDER CROSSED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE IN NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA OR CALIFORNIA, THEIR FAMILIES WERE, BEFORE IT WAS PART OF THE U.S. >> DO YOU SEE ANY IDENTITY PLAYING OUT IN HOW PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION. TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A CASE HERE IN NEW MEXICO. MALDEF HAS FILED A LAWSUIT LOOKING AT DISPARITIES IN OUTCOMES FOR LATINO, NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS.

WHY IS THE CASE SO BROAD, NOT JUST LATINO STUDENTS. >> BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND IF YOU'RE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT JUST THE LATINO KID IS HAVING THEIR NEEDS ADDRESSED BUT THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR PEERS, COLLEAGUES ARE HAVING THEIR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS ON EVERYONE IN THAT CLASSROOM. THAT MARTINEZ CASE IS REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO ENSURE NEW MEXICO IS INVESTING IN ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE WAY FOR EVERY STUDENT, TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF EVERY STUDENT. AND, FURTHERMORE, FOR THE STATE MONITORING HOW THOSE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED AND SPENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO ENSURE WE SEE REAL OUTCOMES CHANGING FOR PARTICULARLY THOSE GROUPS LIKE THE ONES YOU MENTIONED THAT FOR DECADES HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION GAPS AND THOSE GAPS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED NOT ONLY FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY BUT FOR EVERY CHILD SO THAT WE CAN EXPECT, THEN, EACH CHILD TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AS ADULTS TO THE GREATEST OF THEIR POTENTIAL. >> WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED FOR YOUR CASE?

>> WE ARE IN PROCESS OF GATHERING EVIDENCE. THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT THUS FAR IS THAT THE TRIAL COURT HAS CONCLUDED, WHICH WAS NOT A FORGONE CONCLUSION, THAT THE NEW MEXICO STATE CONSTITUTION DOES INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO AN EQUITABLE AND ADEQUATE EDUCATION. EDUCATION IS A RIGHT IN THE NEW MEXICO STATE CONSTITUTION WHICH HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED FIRST. LAWYERS AND THOSE WE WORK WITH, TO GATHER EVIDENCE FROM EXPERTS, TALKING TO EXPERTS FROM BOTH SIDES AND GATHERING EVIDENCE FROM PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND NEEDS BEING ENFORCED BY THIS EFFORT IS THAT EDUCATION IS NOT IMPROVING SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH AND THERE ARE INEQUITIES IN HOW RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED WITHIN THE STATE THAT PARTICULARLY AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES YOU MENTIONED AS WELL AS SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO WE ADDED AS A FOCUS AFTER THE CASE WAS FILED BECAUSE WE WERE FINDING SO MANY ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO

THAT POPULATION. >> AS WE TALKED ABOUT JUST A MINUTE AGO, NEW MEXICO HAS A LOT OF FAMILIES, A LOT OF HISPANIC AND LATINO FAMILIES. 48% OF OUR STATE DOES IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC OR LATINO. HOW DOES THIS CASE COMPARE TO OTHER CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE A CASE ON AN EDUCATION ISSUE IN AN AREA WHERE LATINOS ARE A MUCH SMALLER PORTION OF THE POPULATION? DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING AT ALL? >> I THINK WHERE WE HAVE DONE THESE CASES THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SIGNIFICANT LATINO POPULATIONS. NO STATE MATCHES NEW MEXICO WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT. HIGHEST PORTION OF LATINOS IN THE POPULATION. IN ALL CASES WE ARE LOOKING WHERE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LATINO STUDENTS AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE TEND TO BE MORE CHILDREN, YOUNGER PEOPLE, AND UNDER AGE ON AVERAGE THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES, EVEN IF THE TOTAL POPULATION NUMBER IS NOT YET AT A PARTICULAR HIGH LEVEL, THERE STILL MAY BE HIGHER REPRESENTATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE TO ADDRESS ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE IN AN ELECTION YEAR. A FEW YEARS AGO, SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN KEY PARTS OF THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT. YOU WORK ON LATINO VOTING ISSUES AS WELL. WHAT DOES THAT DECISION MEAN FOR THE 2016 ELECTION? >> IT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME MONITORING AND THE SAME INTERVENTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN IN PAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. WHAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN IN SHELBY COUNTY WAS THE COVERAGE FORMULA FOR PRE-CLEARANCE OBLIGATION AND THAT REQUIRED JURISDICTIONS WITH A HISTORY OF LOW PARTICIPATION BY MINORITY VOTERS AND A HISTORY OF TAKING STEPS THAT DETERRED AND PREVENTED, IN SOME CASES, MINORITIES FROM VOTING, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PRECLEAR ANY ELECTORAL CHANGE AND ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO EVALUATE THE CHANGE FOR WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONALLY DISCRIMINATORY OR HAD THE EFFECT OF GOING BACKWARDS WITH RESPECT TO MINORITY VOTING RIGHTS. NOW NO ONE IS SUBJECT TO PRECLEARANCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT MEANS WE DON'T GET ADVANCE

NOTICE OF CHANGES INCLUDING THINGS AS SEEMINGLY MUNDANE, BUT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO TURNOUT, WE WON'T GET THE SAME ADVANCED NOTICE OF THOSE CHANGES IN JURISDICTIONS. WE WON'T HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EVALUATING THOSE CHANGES AND INTERVENING TO PREVENT THEM. THERE IS A DANGER THAT IN COVER JURISDICTION AND IN JURISDICTIONS THAT WERE NOT COVERED THAT WE WILL SEE CHANGES NOT SUBJECT TO CHALLENGE PRIOR TO THEIR BEING IN EFFECT AND THAT COULD AFFECT -- >> WHERE VOTING PLACES ARE? >> EXACTLY. >> WE HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT VOTER ID. IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU'RE LOOKING AT? >> YES. VOTER ID IN COVERED JURISDICTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO PRECLEARANCE. INDEED, IN THE NEIGHBORING STATE OF TEXAS, IT ALREADY HAD BEEN REVIEWED UNDER THE PRECLEARANCE STANDARD AND REJECTED. BUT, THAT WENT OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE SHELBY COUNTY DECISION AND HAD TO BE RELITIGATED AS IT HAS BEEN UNDER A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND TOOK LOTS OF RESOURCES. ULTIMATELY DEFINED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH VOTER ID IN THAT

STATE, SO VOTER ID, RESTRICTIONS ON VOTER REGISTRATION, ON THOSE REGISTERING AND THOSE SEEKING TO REGISTER PEOPLE, RESTRICTIONS ON EARLY VOTING LIMITING THE AVAILABILITY OF TIME TO VOTE PRIOR TO ELECTION, THOSE CHANGES ARE OF CONCERN, EVEN BEYOND THEIR DIRECT IMPACT, THEY HAVE THE EFFECT OF ATTEMPTING AND SOMETIMES SUCCEEDING IN DETERRING PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE. >> SPECIFICALLY ON VOTER ID, A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE WANTING THE VOTING SYSTEM ELECTIONS TO BE SECURE, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT VOTING WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. HOW DOES MALDEF RESPOND TO THAT? THAT THE FRAUD, ALLEGATIONS OF VOTING FRAUD. THERE IS NOTHING TO SUPPORT ANY ALLEGATIONS OF SIGNIFICANT VOTER FRAUD IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY HAVE TRIED AND NO ONE HAS EVER PRODUCED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT VOTER FRAUD ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. OKAY? SO, WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A NONEXISTING PROBLEM

AND PUTTING IN PLACE MEASURES THAT WOULD DETER PARTICIPATION AND IN SOME CASES PREVENT PARTICIPATION EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ATTACKING SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST. >> WHAT IS NEXT? YOU'RE ALSO WORKING ON LAWSUITS INVOLVING DEFERRED ACTION. WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE ON THE SHOW IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. SAME FOR THE LEGAL ACTION? >> THE LEGAL ACTION, U.S. VERSUS TEXAS, WHICH SUPREME COURT DEADLOCKED 4 TO 4 IN JUNE, CONTINUES, AND, IN FACT, WHAT IS PENDING WITH THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IS PETITION FOR REHEARING ASKING THEM TO REHEAR THE CASE ONCE THERE IS THE NEXT JUSTICE IN PLACE TO AVOID THE 4-4 VOTE. THEY HAVEN'T DECIDED. EARLIEST THEY MIGHT DECIDE IS END OF THIS MONTH. WE ARE HOPING THEY ALLOW THE CASE TO BE REHEARD WITH NINE JUSTICES AND WE BELIEVE THAT CASE WHERE WE REPRESENT, AS MALDEF, THE INTERVENORS, THREE TEXAS MOTHERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DAPA ONCE IT IS IMPLEMENTED, WE BELIEVE THAT

WITH NINE JUSTICES, THE NATIONWIDE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION WILL BE LIFTED AND THOSE INITIATIVES, DEFERRED ACTIONS OF PARENTS OF AMERICANS AND EXPANSION WILL MOVE FORWARD AND THAT IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS WHO IS ELECTED PRESIDENT BECAUSE IT THEN RESOLVES THE LEGAL QUESTION, ANY LEGAL QUESTION THAT MAY SURROUND A PRESIDENT'S USE OF THEIR PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION TO TARGET ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES AND ENSURE THOSE WHO ARE NOT PRIORITY ENFORCEMENT TARGETS HAVE PROTECTION FROM THE DAILY FEAR OF BEING PUT IN DETENTION OR REMOVAL. AND THAT IS OFTEN A FEAR, AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, THAT EXTENDS TO THEIR CHILDREN. OFTEN U.S. CITIZEN CHILDREN WHO GO TO SCHOOL AND ARE EXPECTED TO PERFORM IN SCHOOL WITH THE POSSIBILITY IN THEIR HEAD THAT THEY COULD RETURN HOME FROM SCHOOL AND HAVE A PARENT OR BOTH PARENTS NOT BE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN DETENTION OR REMOVAL. >> DOES THE FUTURE LOOK HOPEFUL? >> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

I AM VERY HOPEFUL AS THE LATINO COMMUNITY BECOMES MORE AND MORE PROMINENT ON POLICY ISSUES, I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE INTERESTS OF THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY, WOULD BEGIN TO PREVAIL AND I BELIEVE THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY'S LONG HISTORY OF CONTRIBUTION IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING MILITARY, INCLUDING PUBLIC ELECTED SERVICE, INCLUDING NONPROFIT SERVICE, IS A VERY, VERY POSITIVE SIGN FOR OUR COUNTRY. >> THANKS FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US THIS WEEK. >> WE ARE BACK AT THE TABLE FOR THE LAST TOPIC THIS WEEK WITH OUR LINE PANELISTS. THERE HAS BEEN CONTROVERSY RECENTLY IN THE BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD. THE RELATIVELY NEW SILVER PLATINUM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN DOWNTOWN AREA ABSORBED, GET THIS, ABSORBED THE BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BECAUSE THAT NA MISSED A DEADLINE TO FILE PAPERWORK TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD. LET ME START WITH LAURA ON THIS ONE. FREE PRESS REPORTED ON THIS. STRONG EMOTIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE FEELING LIKE DAN JUST SAID, THIS IS A HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A DEADLINE TO FILE A PAGE-AND-A-HALF BASIC INFORMATION, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, CONTACT NUMBERS. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND SOMEHOW THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THIS OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WERE ABLE TO WALK INTO THE CITY AND SAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OVER A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN IN ALBUQUERQUE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. AND EVERYONE SEEMS OKAY WITH IT. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN LAURA SANCHEZ RIVET? >> I THINK THAT WHOEVER DEALS AT CITY WAS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. I THINK IT WAS INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INQUIRY ABOUT WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS, WHERE BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS. I THINK IT IS A REAL PROBLEM TO HAVE ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COME IN AND SORT OF ANNEX AN EXISTING AREA. >> ANNEX IS A GOOD WORD. UH-HUH. >> I MEAN THAT JUST SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW THERE IS A HISTORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THERE, A CLEAR AREA THAT IT REPRESENTS, A REGION, I MEAN, I THINK THAT

IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. YOU KNOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT IN DETAIL, BUT SOUNDS LIKE THIS SILVER PLATINUM ASSOCIATION DID THEIR PART BY THE BOOK BUT I THINK THAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPRESENT AN AREA THAT THEY DON'T LIVE IN. THEY DON'T LIVE THERE. >> THAT IS RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS? THERE IS ALL KINDS OF LEGAL PROBLEMS, MORE PROBLEMS. >> I HAVE TO DISCLOSE I CHAIR THE DISTRICT 7 COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. THIS IS LIKE HERDING CATS BUT COMMUNICATION TOOL. AND SO LAURA HIT ON THE FIRST ISSUE. OUR OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATION HAS BEEN ALL BUT DECIMATED. AT PLANNING, NOT PARTICULARLY RESPONSIVE. THERE IS NOBODY THERE. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TRIED TO MOVE IT OVER TO CITY COUNCIL BUT, ACTUALLY, THERE IS NOBODY THERE AT THE MOMENT. BUT, I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING SAT ON THIS FROM THE TIME I CAME BACK IN '94 TO TODAY, A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS COME AND

GO AND THE CITY HAS SAID, WELL, WE'LL REACH OUT BEFORE WE GRANT IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH SILVER PLATINUM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IT IS INCREDIBLY LARGE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND WHERE WAS THE OUTREACH? THERE WAS NO ONE TO REACH OUT. DID THEY DO IT BY THE BOOK? YES, THEY DID. DID BARELAS DROP THE BALL? >> YES, THAT HAPPENED BUT THIS IS A COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION TOOL AND LET ME GIVE YOU MY BEST EXAMPLE. WHEN I WAS RUNNING COACHES FOR AYSO, THERE WERE PROBLEMS USING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. WE USED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PROCESS TO COMMUNICATE AND I WOULD GO TO MY COACH AND SAY, TELL YOUR PARENTS TO PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, PARK ON THE PARK SIDE, NOT IN FRONT OF PEOPLES' HOUSES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE IT. THAT IS THE VALUE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. NOW THAT WE HAVE THINGS LIKE A ABANDONED HOUSES, DO WE NEED ZONING TO INTERCEDE?

WE DO. THEY ARE REALLY A PROBLEM. >> PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE. THE FELLOW THAT IS HEAD OF THE SILVER NEIGHBORHOOD THING, HE IS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ONLY PARTS OF THE BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD BACK TO THE NEW BARELAS GROUP, NOT INCLUDING THE RAIL YARDS AND THE ZOO. >> YEAH. >> THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME. SOMEONE COULD LOOK A REPORTER IN THE EYE, AND SAY, I WILL GIVE SOME OF IT BACK BUT I WILL KEEP THE TWO MOST -- >> THERE WAS A SMALL MINDED MEGALOMANIA, THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF A LOT OF I AM. [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> I AM A FAN OF GRASS ROOTS DEMOCRACY BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND I THINK THIS IS A CASE IN POINT.

I THINK THEY PICKED THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD TO MESS WITH, TOO. BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN REVITALIZING THE RAIL YARDS. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE LONGEST HISTORY OF URBAN REDEVELOPMENT UP AND DOWN FOURTH STREET, WHICH STARTED IN THE 1980'S WITH A BAND OF DEDICATED ACTIVISTS, SOME OF WHOSE SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS STILL LIVE IN THAT AREA. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS LARGER GROUP COULD HAVE CONSTITUTED ITSELF AS A COALITION UNDER WHICH SOME OF THE SMALLER -- >> THERE IS A COALITION THAT ALREADY EXISTS THERE. I KEEP WONDERING, WHERE WAS THE CITY? THEY SIMPLY ADVOCATED AND MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT, THE CITY DOESN'T PARTICULARLY CARE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS BUT THEY SERVE A PURPOSE AND ONE IS TO COMMUNICATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN CRIME IS MOVING. >> HERE IS WHAT I FIND INTERESTING. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE NOT WEALTHY PAYING GIGS. PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE DOING IT

FOR THE GOODNESS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO ANNEX SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T WANT TO WORK WITH YOU? IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A RECIPE RECIPE FOR DISASTER FOR THOSE PEOPLE, IT COULD BRING DOWN YOUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THE SILVER BACK HOME, WHATEVER, THE PLATINUM GROUP, PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY MEMBERS THAT ARE ACTIVE WORKING AS THE BARELAS GROUP IS NOW GOING TO HAVE ANGRY WORKERS. YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH THIS ORGANIZATION -- TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS SILVER PLATINUM PEOPLE STEP FORWARD AND SAY, WE TRIED TO HELP. APPARENTLY WE MISSED THE MARK. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASY AND LET'S PARTNER. >> GO TO LAURA. THAT TO ME IS THE CONVERSATION. SILVER GUY COULD HAVE GONE AND SAY, HEY LOOK, I KNOW YOU THINK IT LAPSED. IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS GET UP TO SPEED FOR OUR NEEDS AS WELL. LET'S WORK TOGETHER. WE THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T WORKING TOGETHER BEFORE, WAIT UNTIL BARELAS GETS THEIR -- >> IT WILL BE A MESS.

GOING TO KEEP FOLLOWING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, GOOD STUFF. APPRECIATE IT. >> I AM GENE GRANT, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. IN OCTOBER WE WILL FEATURE MORE 2016 ELECTIONS COVERAGE INCLUDING INTERVIEWS AND CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES, SECRETARY OF STATE AND NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT. NOW, WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU WANT TO ASK THE CANDIDATES? GO TO NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG, SEND US A MESSAGE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS. AND AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS. >> THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY

NEW MEXICO PBS FOR A PRESENTATION OF VISION MAKER MEDIA WITH MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. >> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, AND THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV, THE KNME-TV ENDOWMENT