New Mexico in Focus; 1038; PPD: Roundhouse report - close of session; Humans of New Mexico; Corrales Immigration Vote

>> 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 WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE HUMANS OF NEW MEXICO. >> I THINK THAT IS MORE OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS, THE STORIES OF NEW MEXICO, RIGHT, AND LIKE WHO THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO ARE, REALLY. >> AND WE GO TO THE ROUNDHOUSE TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE WORKINGS OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT. NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. LATER THIS HOUR WE'LL DISCUSS A VOTE TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' VETO A BILL AFFECTING TEACHERS' SICK LEAVE. A FEDERAL JUDGE HALTED TRUMPS NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER ON IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES THIS WEEK. AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND

COURTS CONTINUE TO WRANGLE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PLANNED ACTIONS, MANY COMMUNITIES ARE DEBATING THEIR STANCE ON IMMIGRATION. IN THE VILLAGE OF CORRALES, NORTH OF ALBUQUERQUE, COUNCILORS CONSIDERED A RESOLUTION THIS WEEK THAT WOULD HAVE DECLARED THE VILLAGE TO BE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FRIENDLY. OUR PRODUCER SARAH GUSTAVUS TO CORRALES TO HEAR MULTIPLE ANGLES IN THE DEBATE. >> IT IS A MAGIC VILLAGE BECAUSE IT HAS STILL MAINTAINED ITS RURAL ATMOSPHERE. I MEAN YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW HOURS, YOU ARE PROBABLY MORE RELAXED NOW THAN WHEN YOU GOT IN, AND THAT IS CORRALES. YOU CAN SEE THE BEAUTIFUL TREES, YOU SEE THE FARM LAND, BUT YOU ALSO SEE MOM, POP SHOPS, RIGHT HERE BY THE BEAUTIFUL SANDIA AND SO THAT REALLY IS WHAT CORRALES IS. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO PRESERVE AND, YEAH, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO SAY THEY DRIVE

THROUGH CORRALES ON THE WAY TO WORK BECAUSE AFTER THEY DRIVE THROUGH, THEY ARE SO RELAXED, MORE RELAXED. OR WHEN THEY COME BACK FROM WORK THEY LIKE TO COME THROUGH HERE, SO THERE IS A NICE ENERGY HERE. >> WE HAVE AN IMMIGRANT HISTORY HERE. I MEAN MY FAMILY CAME HERE 400 YEARS AGO. MY NINTH GRADE GRANDFATHER FOUNDED CORRALES AND THERE WERE ALREADY NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLES HERE. AND, THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BECAME MEXICAN NATION, THEN THOSE PEOPLE, AND THEN AFTER THE FRONTIER DAYS WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SO THAT IS OUR CULTURE. WE ARE NOT A MONOLITHIC CULTURE. AND SO WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND CELEBRATE IT. >> WORKERS ARE HARDER TO FIND. I HAVE ALWAYS USED MEXICAN WORKERS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD WORKING PEOPLE, VERY HONEST AND LOYAL AND IT IS HARD FOR ME TO REPLACE THEM WITH

AMERICANS BECAUSE AMERICANS HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORK ETHIC. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO MY "YOU PICK" EVENT IN MY FARM AND TELL ME, YOU SHOULD HIRE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, AND I TELL THEM, BRING THEM OVER. AND THEY'LL BE GONE BY LUNCH TIME. NOW I AM NOT TRYING TO PUT DOWN AMERICAN KIDS BUT THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT WORK ETHIC. AND I NEED HARD WORKERS. >> I ALWAYS START THEM AT $9 AN HOUR. AND THEY GO UP FROM THERE. AND I AM WILLING TO PAY ANYBODY THAT WORKS HARD BUT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON PEOPLE. >> THERE WAS A GROUP OF CITIZENS HERE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, SHALL WE SAY, THE NEW ENERGY BECAUSE OF OUR NEW ADMINISTRATION AND SOME THINGS THAT THEY FELT WERE UNFAIR TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS IN GENERAL AND SOME OF THE DEMONIZING OF THE IMMIGRANTS SO THEY FORMED A GROUP AND THEIR INTENT WAS TO HAVE A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE US IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY CITY.

THE OTHER DAY I WAS IN THE GYM SPEAKING TO A LOCAL AND THE GENTLEMAN CAME UP AND SAID, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE IS A NEW MASTER NOW IN THE COUNTRY AND YOU NEED TO GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. SO, YEAH, I THINK SOME OF THAT UGLINESS IS CREEPING IN, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE USING THE RED HERRING, WELL, THEY BROKE THE LAW. WE NEED TO GO ADHERE TO THE RULE OF LAW AND PROBABLY IS A RED HERRING FOR SAYING WE DON'T WANT BROWN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. >> I CAME OUT TONIGHT BECAUSE I WAS DISTURBED BY THE RESOLUTION. I MYSELF AM AN IMMIGRANT. I HAVE BEEN A REFUGEE TOO. AND HAD THE WORD IMMIGRANT TO BE USED FOR BOTH GROUPS FOR BOTH LEGAL STATUS IMMIGRANTS OR FOR NONLEGAL STATUS IMMIGRANTS DISTURBED ME.

WHAT THE RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS TO DO, I BELIEVE, IS TAKE A NATIONAL DEBATE AND MAKE IT A VILLAGE POLITICAL ISSUE. I THINK CERTAINLY YOU CAN TALK AND DEBATE THE ASPECTS OF IMMIGRATION POLICY ABOUT HOW TO TREAT NONLEGAL STATUS IMMIGRANTS BUT TO DO THAT HERE IN CORRALES, I THINK, IS THE WRONG THING TO DO. >> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ME. I AM AN IMMIGRANT. I AM A NATURALIZED CITIZENS BUT WITH THE ATMOSPHERE THAT IS IN THE COUNTRY NOW, I FEEL EXTREMELY VULNERABLE AND I WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED IN MY OWN COMMUNITY AND I FEEL THAT MY COMMUNITY OWES ME THE COURTESY OF BEING PROTECTIVE OF ALL OF ITS CITIZENS NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM. >> THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT IMMIGRATION BUT PUTTING A STICK IN THE EYE OF THE ELECTED PRESIDENT.

>> IF THE GOVERNING BODY WANTS TO MAKE CORRALES A FRIENDLY CITY, WHY NOT WITH DISABLED VETERANS LIKE ME? >> THE ORDINANCE WHEN I READ IT AND REVIEWED IT FELT LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE VILLAGE RESIDENTS WHO BLENDED TOGETHER CULTURALLY WITH A PURPOSE TO BENEFIT EACH OTHER. >> I AM A NATIVE NEW MEXICAN. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS. MY ANCESTORS ARRIVED IN NEW MEXICO BEFORE THERE WAS AN ELLIS ISLAND. I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR VILLAGE AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. >> IF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL APPROVES THIS RESOLUTION IT IS GOING TO FOSTER ANIMOSITY IN THE COMMUNITY. >> RESOLUTION 17-009 IS WRONG. I DON'T THINK IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE VILLAGE OF CORRALES. >> I DO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. THIS RESOLUTION IS A GESTURE. IT IS A STATEMENT THAT OUR HOMES ARE IMPORTANT SAFE PLACES FOR US. >> ALL OF US PRETTY MUCH,

EXCEPT FOR THE ONE LADY THAT TALKED EARLIER, SO I AM TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THIS RESOLUTION. >> ONE CAN DO A MEMORIAL AND ONE CANNOT SEVERELY TASK THE VILLAGE BUDGET OR MAKE LAW VIA A RESOLUTION. >> I THINK A RESOLUTION, AS OPPOSED TO ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS I THINK THE SENSE OF ALL OF US IF WE ARE LIVING IN PEACE AND HARMONY, THE CONSEQUENCES OF A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS JUST CREATES A GREATER DIVIDE. >> THANK YOU. WITH THAT WE'LL HAVE A VOTE. [COUNCILORS NAMES CALLED FOR VOTE] >> NO. >> NO. >> NO. >> YES. >> NO. >> NO. >> ALL RIGHT, RESOLUTION 17-009 IS DEFEATED. [APPLAUSE] >> NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT, I KNOW THAT THIS GROUP WILL CONTINUE WORKING. IF IT DOESN'T PASS TONIGHT, IN FACT, WE HAVE MADE AN AGREEMENT WE ARE GOING TO

CONTINUE TO WORK TO HELP IMMIGRANTS, EDUCATE IMMIGRANTS, WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO, IT IS A GOOD THING. >> WELCOME TO THE LINE, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ VETOED MANY BILLS THIS LAST WEEK OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE NUMBER IS LIKELY TO KEEP RISING BY THE TIME THIS EPISODE OF NEW MEXICO AIRS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT A BILL GOVERNOR VETOED LAST WEEK IS CAUSING A STIR AT THE ROUNDHOUSE. HOUSE BILL 241, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED A TEACHER TO TAKE UP THEIR FULL 10 DAYS OF SICK LEAVE WITH NO JOB EVALUATION PENALTY. THAT WAS APPROVED OVERWHELMINGLY BY BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE BUT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ VETOED IT SAYING SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO PRE-2012 ABSENTEEISM LEVELS. LET'S TALK ABOUT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS BILL AND OTHERS. I AM JOINED BY MERRITT ALLEN, VOX OPTIMA, LLC; FORMER NEW MEXICO HOUSE MINORITY WHIP DAN FOLEY IS HERE. MARSHA GARCIA FROM STRATEGIES 360 IS WITH US AND SOPHIE MARTIN, EDITOR AND ATTORNEY AND SHE IS EDITOR OF DUKECITYFIX.COM.

>> MERRITT, THIS WEEK SENATE VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE SICK LEAVE BILL. THIS MARKS THE FIRST EITHER THE HOUSE OR SENATE HAS VOTED TO OVERRIDE A VETO BY THE GOVERNOR. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? IS THIS A SIGNIFICANT FLARE IN THE SKY WE SHOULD ALL PAY ATTENTION TO? >> MY FIRST REACTION WAS, WOW, CAN A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH GET ANY WORSE? THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY NOT AT THIS POINT. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY CLOSE WITH HER OWN CAUCUS IN EITHER CHAMBER. IT IS JUST SIMPLY A TOPIC OF INTEREST. A LINE ITEM VETO WAS VOTED IN I THINK IN THE RICHARDSON ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THAT, ALSO, I THINK THERE IS A POINT THAT THE GOVERNOR THINKS, I DON'T NEED YOU. >> INTERESTING. DAN ACROSS TO YOU, THE OPTICS OF THIS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS OF VOTES, I SAID OVERWHELMING. I MEAN OVERWHELMING. NO ONE OPPOSED TO THIS.

WE HAD A GOOD VIGOROUS DISCUSSION. I AM ASSUMING THIS WOULD MEAN THIS IS THE RULE OF THE PEOPLE. AND THE GOVERNOR I AM NOT QUITE SURE IF SHE IS HEARING THE RULE OF THE PEOPLE OR DO I HAVE THAT WRONG? >> I THINK, YES, LEGISLATORS WERE HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS POTENTIALLY BUT TO ME THIS NOW COMES INTO A POLICY STANCE. THE GOVERNOR HAS A POLICY. THEY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE HER POLICY THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE THE POLICY. SO I THINK IT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS. I THINK IT IS -- CLEARLY IT IS NOT JUST A LAW. SHE HAS, THROUGH ACTION BY HER SECRETARY, HAS IMPLEMENTED THIS PROSPECT TO EVALUATE TEACHERS. THIS IS A COMPONENT OF IT. THE LEGISLATURE SAID WE DON'T LIKE YOUR POLICY. SHE HAS SAID, I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY POLICY. I WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR, I MAKE POLICY. >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE THREE DAYS VERSUS 10 DAYS ON THE TEACHER LEAVE THING? WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF THAT BILL. >> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A COUPLE THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I AM SURE WE ARE GOING TO GET -- FAR BE IT FROM ME TO BE THE CONTROVERSIAL GUY AT THE TABLE. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THE TEACHERS DO. IT IS 185 DAYS A YEAR. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE ARE TOP 30 IN FUNDING OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE ARE 49TH IN THE OUTCOMES. I THINK IF A TEACHER TAKES A SICK DAY, IF A TEACHER TAKES VACATION TIME THEY HAVE GOT, I GET IT. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE SICK. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH TEACHERS THAT GO OUT AND DO THINGS, TAKE TIME OFF USING SICK DAYS. I THINK AT SOME POINT THERE HAS TO BE A COMPROMISE. I DON'T THINK THE EVALUATION PROCESS THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IN PLACE IS 100% AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD COME UP WITH ONE, BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN SOME CASES BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THIS. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT IS INTERESTING IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO POINT OUT, I GOT ELECTED -- WHEN I WAS ELECTED IN 1998, I CAME IN ON THE GROUP OF REPUBLICANS THAT RAN

AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS THAT OVERRODE GARY JOHNSON'S VETO. IT WAS A HOUSECLEANING. THEY OVERRODE THE VETO. >> 2003 BUDGET. >> '98. >> RIGHT. >> I WOULD ARGUE THAT GARY WAS PROBABLY HAD A HIGHER APPROVAL RATING AND WASN'T THIS FAR INTO THE ADMINISTRATION. >> LET ME GET THESE GUYS IN. >> MARSHA, INTERESTINGLY, THE IDEA THAT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER OR TEACHING YOUNG KIDS, WHERE THERE IS SICKNESS ALL THE TIME, LITERALLY SURROUNDED BY IT, THE IDEA YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO GO INTO WORK WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND GET OTHERS SICK OR BEING ABLE TO SAFELY STAY HOME AND RECOVER, THIS SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY SIMPLE ARGUMENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ARE. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'LL HAVE A TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM WITH 22 KIDS. DEALING WITH 22 DIFFERENT ILLNESSES AND KIDS GET TO GO HOME FOR 24 HOURS AFTER THEY

HAVE A FEVER. THE TEACHER STILL HAS TO GO TO SCHOOL. AND YOU THINK ABOUT TEACHERS THAT HAVE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS A SECOND GRADE TEACHER IN RIO RANCHO, AND SHE HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED DAUGHTER. AND HER DAUGHTER GOT SICK, HER HUSBAND WAS ON TRAVEL FOR WORK AND IF SHE STAYS HOME ONE DAY, EVEN IF IT IS A SICK DAY THAT SHE IS TAKING, AND GRANTED LET'S KEEP IN MIND ALL THE TEACHERS IN THIS CONTRACT, THEY HAVE 10 VACATION DAYS ALLOTTED TO THEM. IF SHE WAS TO TAKE THAT ONE DAY AND STAY HOME WITH HER DAUGHTER, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOCKED A POINT THAT GOES INTO HER EVALUATION. SO, SHE WENT TO WORK. SHE WENT TO TEACH AND THE ENTIRE TIME SHE IS THINKING ABOUT HER DAUGHTER IS HOME ALONE SICK. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. >> THE CONTRACT ELEMENT IS A HUGE ONE. WHAT IT SEEMS TO ME WE ARE SEEING IN THE POLICY AND WE ARE ALSO HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR IS ESSENTIALLY, YES, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT WITH OUR TEACHERS THAT SAYS THEY CAN HAVE UP TO 10 DAYS OF

SICK LEAVE BUT WE PUT IN PLACE A POLICY THAT MAKES IT EFFECTIVELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT TIME. AND I THINK THAT ELEMENT IS PART OF WHAT HAS REALLY RESONATED WITH NEW MEXICANS, THIS IDEA THAT OUR GOVERNMENT, AND WE PERHAPS EXPECT LESS FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY, BUT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD YIELD SO UNFAIRLY ON A CONTRACT. DOES IT IN FACT CONTRADICT THE CONTRACT? IS IT ESSENTIALLY BREAKING THAT CONTRACT? THAT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED AND I HAVEN'T SEEN A LAWSUIT AROUND THAT BUT UNFAIRNESS IS THERE AND ISSUE OF WE NEGOTIATED THROUGH THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT I FOUND FASCINATING IS WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, WHEN SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS VETO THAT SHE DID, SHE SAYS, WE SEE THAT THE OUTCOME WHEN TEACHERS TAKE MORE THAN THEIR 10 DAYS THAT THE OUTCOMES GET WORSE. SHE IS NOT SAYING WHEN WE SEE THEY TAKE MORE THAN THREE DAYS, THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING AT MORE THAN 10 DAYS.

WHY ARE WE HOLDING OUR TEACHERS AT THREE WHEN WE COULD HOLD THEM AT THE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT AND ONCE YOU EXCEED YOUR CONTRACT PERHAPS THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS THEN. I SUSPECT THOSE ARE BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT BUT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ HASN'T SHOWN OR EVEN LET'S SAY DISCUSSED -- I AM NOT SURE SHE HAS SHOWN EVIDENCE AT THIS POINT BUT HASN'T DISCUSSED EVIDENCE THAT THREE DAYS A MAGIC NUMBER. SHE HAS EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO GO TO FIE BUT THE TRUTH IS THE STATE NEGOTIATED 10 AND I FEEL THEY SHOULD HOLD TO THAT. >> MARSHA, WE HAD A QUOTE FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THE PAY ACTIONS OF A BITTER SENATE. REGARDING THIS VETO. ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTED THAT. THAT THEY WERE ACCEPTING THE GOVERNOR RESISTED SIGNING OFF ON THE BIG TAX PACKAGE, NOW, IF THIS WERE A VENGE THING, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY IN YOUR MIND? >> I THINK THIS IS A TALKING POINT. HER VETO IS SO MISGUIDED THAT A SENATOR FROM HER OWN PARTY

LED THIS. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PARTY POLITICS. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT STANDING ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SENATOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND I THINK THAT THE SENATE SUPPORTING THAT NOW ALL EYES ARE ON THE HOUSE. I THINK WHAT WE SEE IS SENATE IS READY TO START MAKING CHANGES TO ENSURE THAT NEW MEXICAN TEACHERS, STUDENTS FAMILIES ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND TEACHERS HAVE THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN TEACH AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT A SICK CHILD AT HOME OR GOING IN WITH 100-DEGREE FEVER. BUT, THEN, AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE HOUSE DOES AND IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE ALREADY HAD THE MINORITY LEADER, REPRESENTATIVE GENTRY, SAYING HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THE OVERRIDE. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? ARE THEY SAYING THEY STAND WITH GOVERNOR MARTINEZ? THEY STAND WITH PARTY POLITICS? THEY DON'T STAND WITH TEACHERS OR STUDENTS AND DON'T STAND WITH NEW MEXICAN FAMILIES. >> INTERESTING POINT. >> DAN, I'LL GET TO YOU AND MERRITT AS WELL. THAT WAS THE SENATOR FROM RIO RANCHO THAT LED THAT CHARGE, 34-7 ON THE VOTE.

WHAT ARE WE GLEANING FROM THE SENATE ON THAT VETO? >> IT HAPPENS, NOT THE OVERRIDE HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT IF YOU CATCH EITHER HOUSE AT THE RIGHT TIME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN PLAY ON THE EMOTION, THE THING THAT GOVERNOR HAS TO BE CAREFUL OF IS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE ELECTION SEASON, IS THAT THE BOOGIE MAN WAS MICHAEL SANCHEZ. THE BOOGIE MAN THAT PREVENTED EVERYTHING FROM HAPPENING IN NEW MEXICO WAS MICHAEL SANCHEZ. SHE SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED MICHAEL SANCHEZ. NOW WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE SENATE. AT SOME POINT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START SAYING, WELL, MAYBE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP DISAPPEARING AREN'T THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT -- YOU KNOW -- IT IS NOT AS HYPER CRITICAL OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE IN POLITICS. SHE HAS A POLICY STANCE AND THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT ITS WILL ON HER POLICY. AND SO I THINK WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS GOES. I WOULD BET YOU DONUTS TO ANYBODY SITTING AROUND THE

TABLE, IT DOESN'T GET THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THEN I THINK THE QUESTION BECOMES TO BRANT, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? >> HE ALREADY SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HE HAS DONE. HE HAS BEEN QUOTED SAYING, I DON'T THINK SHE IS GOING TO SIGN ANY OF MY BILLS ANY TIME SOON. HE THINKS RETRIBUTION WILL BE SWIFT AND CERTAIN. >> WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL LOOK AT SOME UNUSUAL ACTION CONCERNING ANOTHER BILL AT THE ROUNDHOUSE. >> YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION. WE ARE AT NMINFOCUS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND FIND EPISODES AND WEB EXTRAS AT WEBSITE, NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG. >> IT IS THE FINAL WEEK OF THIS YEAR'S 60-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MANY BILLS ALREADY FAILED BUT A FEW STILL HAVE SOME TIME TO MAKE IT THROUGH BOTH HOUSES AND ON TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. THIS WEEK, FOR THE PEOPLE, POWER AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT, CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND WENT TO THE ROUNDHOUSE TO LEARN ABOUT A BILL THAT PASSED

SENATE BUT WAS CALLED BACK BY THE SPONSOR. THIS LEGISLATION RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT ETHICS OVERSIGHT, AND THE INFORMATION LAWMAKERS NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THEY CONSIDER EACH YEAR. >> YOU HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON A KERFUFFLE OF HEARINGS AROUND TOWN. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER A LEASE DEAL. WHAT IS THIS STORY ABOUT? >> IT HAS TO DO WITH WHEN THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT FIRST TAKES CHILDREN INTO CUSTODY TO GO INTO FOSTER CARE. ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THEY MIGHT LAND IS AT A 10 STORY OFFICE BUILDING ON SAN MATEO. AND, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SAYING, THIS BUILDING IS NOT SET UP TO HANDLE A STREAM OF CHILDREN, SOMETIMES MORE THAN 80 A MONTH. THEY WOULD LIKE A BETTER FACILITY BUT PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO GET A DIFFERENT FACILITY, WHETHER TO BUY OR LEASE, HAVEN'T WORKED OUT. AND NOW THE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THE BEST OPTION IS JUST TO EXTEND THE LEASE BEYOND WHAT THEY CAN DO ORDINARILY UNDER THE STATE RULES.

AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SENATOR NEVILLE BROUGHT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO CARVE OUT ONE SECTION OF THE STATE RULE FOR PROCUREMENT AND LET THE DEPARTMENT EXTEND ITS LEASE FOR ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS AND THEN UP TO 10 YEARS BEYOND THAT. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IF THIS IS AN OFFICE BUILDING THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR TAKING IN CHILDREN, WHY WOULD EXTENDING THE LEASE BE A GOOD IDEA? >> SO THE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID THAT THE LANDLORD WAS OFFERING TO UNDERTAKE UPGRADES ACROSS THE FACILITY AS WELL AS BUILD A NEW 20,000 SQUARE FOOT CENTER ON THE SAME SITE IF THEY COULD EXTEND THEIR LEASE. SO, THEY SAID THAT WITH OVERALL COSTS TO THE STATE REMAINING FLAT OR MAYBE DROPPING, THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD DEAL. >> WHAT IS SO STRANGE ABOUT THAT? >> IT IS UNUSUAL TO SEE A BILL THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATES AN EXCEPTION TO THE STATE RULES FOR PROCUREMENT FOR JUST ONE REAL ESTATE DEAL.

IN FACT, A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WERE ASKING ABOUT THAT. WHY DO WE NEED A BILL TO DO THIS, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT, IF IT IS REALLY AN EMERGENCY, COULD WAIVE THIS RULE AND FIND OTHER OPTIONS. WHY MAKE A WHOLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND ASK THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE. >> THERE WERE ISSUES ABOUT CAMPAIGN DONATIONS; RIGHT? >> THAT IS RIGHT. IT CAME UP IN COMMITTEE. THERE WERE SENATORS WHO ASKED, EXPRESSLY, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE THE OWNERS? WHAT CONNECTION DO THEY HAVE TO PEOPLE IN STATE GOVERNMENT. THE BILL SPONSORS UNDER STEVEN NEVILLE SAID THAT THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO HADN'T MADE ANY SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, DIDN'T HAVE ANY BIG CONNECTIONS TO PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT. IT TURNED OUT LATER THAT THEY DID. THEY HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN 26,000 COMBINED TO THE GOVERNOR AND HER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AND THAT DIRECTLY CONTRADICTED WHAT NEVILLE SAID ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. SO, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION, HE WENT TO THE SENATE AND TOLD EVERYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, HE MISLED

THEM, THAT HE HAD GIVEN THEM INACCURATE INFORMATION AND HE WITHDRAW HIS OWN BILL TO KILL IT. HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH SOMETHING THAT HE HAD MISLEAD PEOPLE ON. >> THE QUESTION REALLY IS WAS THIS AN INNOCENT MISTAKE OR WAS THERE SOME EFFORT TO PULL A FAST ONE? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SENATORS ARE ASKING. I THINK THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO THOSE STILL ABOUT WHY IS THIS EVEN A BILL AND HOW MUCH DID THE CONTRIBUTORS STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THIS. HOW MUCH CONTACT HAVE THEY HAD WITH STATE OFFICIALS, WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS BILL. >> YOU REPORTED THAT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ APPROACHED SENATOR PETER WIRTH, NEW MAJORITY LEADER HERE, AND HE HAD OPPOSED THIS LEASE DEAL. SHE ENCOURAGED HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. THAT IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL. >> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT A LOT OF SENATORS SAID.

OR AT LEAST A FEW. THERE WERE 10 WHO VOTED AGAINST IN THE FIRST TIME AROUND WHO SAID THAT IT JUST SEEMED FISHY, IT SEEMED LIKE A SWEET HEART DEAL, WAS ANOTHER TERM USED A LOT, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE ABOUT WHY THIS WAS A BILL IN THE FIRST PLACE. WOULD THIS BE GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS AND REALLY WHO STOOD TO BENEFIT. >> IT LOOKS FISHY. >> YEAH. I THINK IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK. THERE ARE SENATORS WHO WOULD SAY THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS UNUSUAL. IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE THIS KIND OF INTEREST IN A BILL LIKE THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, SENATOR WIRTH IS MAJORITY LEADER. HE WAS AT THE MEETING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS STILL ABOUT WHAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S INTEREST IN THIS, WHY WAS THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT OF INTEREST TO HER, HER OFFICE SAYS IT IS BECAUSE CYFD HAS NEEDED A NEW SPACE; THAT SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE RUNNING INTO BEING ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHILDREN THEY HAVE.

>> SENATOR, THIS WEEK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS LEASE BILL FOR THE CYFD BUILDING. YOU CARRIED THE BILL. WHAT HAPPENED HERE? >> WELL, I WAS APPROACHED TO DO SOME KIND OF LEGISLATION TO HELP CYFD EXTEND A LEASE ON A CURRENT FACILITY THAT THEY ARE RENTING. THE LEGISLATION WAS -- I REQUESTED LEGISLATION BE DRAFTED. I DISCUSSED IT WITH THE PARTIES INVOLVED, SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES, JACOBSON, SECRETARY OF CYFD. THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND FACILITIES TO HOUSE THE KIDS THEY TAKE IN ON, YOU KNOW, FOR FOSTER CARE AND SO FORTH. THEY HAVE TRIED A NUMBER OF THINGS, TRIED TO PURCHASE SOMETHING. THAT FELL THROUGH. THEY GOT A PROCESS GOING TO DO SOME REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, THEY DID THE RFP'S. THOSE CAME IN DOUBLING THEIR RENT. THE CURRENT LANDOWNERS CAME TO

THEM AND SAID WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE CURRENT FACILITIES IF YOU RENEW YOUR LEASE AT THE CURRENT RATE AND WE'LL ADD AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 SQUARE FEET. SO, THAT IS THE PARAMETERS THAT I WAS GIVEN WHENEVER THEY ASKED ME TO CARRY THE LEGISLATION. SO, IN HINDSIGHT, IT STILL SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLY GOOD DEAL BECAUSE WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE BUDGET. WE ARE PAYING THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT, GETTING MORE SPACE AND GETTING THE BUILDING REMODELED AND UPGRADED, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE NECESSARY TO TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF DEALING WITH THE KIDS WERE GOING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. THAT WAS THE GOAL TO SECRETARY JACOBSON WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH. >> THE PROBLEM AROSE THEN WHEN THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOLD LAWMAKERS, THERE WERE NO POLITICAL CONNECTIONS HERE, NO POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? >> WELL, THE FIRST THING I ASKED THE SECRETARIES WAS MAKE SURE, CONFIRM THAT IF THERE ARE ANY POLITICAL INVOLVEMENTS WE HAVE THOSE UP FRONT. CERTAINLY, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO SEARCH RECORDS AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE PARTIES WERE, BUT THEY WENT

AND DID A SEARCH THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SITE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT, IN THEIR MIND, THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS A CONCERN OR ISSUE. THEY WERE ALL MINOR DONAT TO SLL CDITE LSE CANDIDAT TER THAT TURNT IT IN I STARTEDO ED ABOUT TEASWE S FOL SD U TT DBL HI SHOULD PEOPLE BE WORRIED THAT MONEY INFLUENCED THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S DECISION TO PURSUE

THIS? >> WELL, IN THIS CASE, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT THIS IS A LONG STANDING LEASE. THESE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN LEASED FOR SOMETHING LIKE 20 YEARS, WHICH IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD BEEN OCCUPYING THESE FACILITIES FOR 20 YEARS. THERE HAD BEEN CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP THROUGH THAT TIME, BUT THE CURRENT LEASE WAS GOING TO BE EXTENDED AT THE CURRENT RATE, SO THERE WAS -- ACTUALLY SOME ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE WAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED, SO THERE WERE NOT ANY GREAT BENEFITS TO ANYBODY THAT WERE GOING TO COME ABOUT TO RENEW THIS LEASE. >> IT WAS PAINFUL AND EMBARRASSING FOR YOU. >> IT CERTAINLY WAS. >> IS THERE ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? >> IT'S A MATTER OF DUE

DILIGENCE. I CARRY AGENCY BILLS EVERY -- I GET SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS, I GET RFD, RLD, I AM SORRY, AND VARIOUS AGENCIES ASKED ME FROM TIME TO TIME TO CARRY LEGISLATION. YOU RELY TOTALLY ON THOSE PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THERE IS NO WAY IN A 30 OR 60 DAY SESSION THAT LEGISLATORS CAN DO THE RESEARCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE ROCK IS TURNED OVER AND YOU DO THAT. YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE PEOPLE. WE CARRY THEM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AGENCIES AND AGAIN WE RELY ON THEM TO BRING US THE FACTS. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT THIS BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS AN ERROR THAT IT COST US POSSIBLY THE LEASE AND PROBABLY THE BIG LOSERS HERE ARE THE KIDS. THAT IS THE REAL BOTTOM LINE. SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, THEY ARE GOING TO BE DELAYED A MINIMUM OF A COUPLE OF YEARS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. >> THERE IS AN ETHICS COMMISSION BILL THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING THAT IS ON ITS WAY TO THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW. IF THAT ETHICS COMMISSION WERE

ALREADY IN PLACE TODAY, AND SOMEONE MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS LEASE BILL, SAYING THERE HAD BEEN SOMETHING PAY TO PLAY, SAY, IN THERE, WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? >> ETHICS COMMISSION WOULD BE ABLE TO INITIATE, INVESTIGATE AND ADJUDICATE CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THEM. AS A COMPLAINT WOULD BE FILED WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW IT, DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY MERIT TO IT AND IF THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, WHICH IS A GOOD LEGAL STANDARD TO HAVE, THEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD BE PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENT. >> SO, THEY COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LISTENED TO THIS AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN HONEST MISTAKE OR THEY COULD SAY, ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE WRONGDOING HERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO PROCEED WITH THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN WHAT WE DID IS MADE SURE THAT WE PUT LANGUAGE IN THERE TO ADDRESS FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS. SO ONES THAT COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED WOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED. BUT THEY WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC. AND SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING

THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN SOME OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AT THIS POINT. BUT, WITH A CASE THAT WOULD HAVE MERIT, THEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATORY PROCESS. THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD HAD COMPLILIN TM AND THEBEBLAR THROH ATROSSNDA A H >> BUT THIHISS THING, TH'TY THI Y'RWOIN WHERE ARE THEY. >> WE HAD SENATE BILL 96 SPONSORED BY PETER WIRTH AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVEN YEARS. IT IS A CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE BILL. AND WHAT THAT WILL ALLOW IS MORE TRANSPARENCY TO ALL OF OUR CANDIDATE REPORTS, OUR PAC REPORTS. IT DEFINES AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN LONG OVERDUE WITH NOT HAVING THAT DEFINITION IN OUR STATUTE. AND MOST IMPORTANT AFTER CITIZENS UNITED IN 2010 THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE CURRENTLY IN OUR STATUTE AND THIS FIXES THAT. >> YOU HAVE ALSO A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITY

OF LAWMAKERS TO LEAVE OFFICE ONE DAY AND START LOBBYING THEIR COLLEAGUES THE NEXT. >> YES. SO THAT WAS A COOLING OFF PERIOD THAT WE ASKED THAT LEGISLATORS ONCE THEY LEFT OFFICE, EITHER BY CHOICE OR BY VOTE, WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A COOLING OFF PERIOD. THAT WOULD BE ONE YEAR BEFORE THEY LOBBIED THE LEGISLATIVE BODY IN WHICH THEY SERVED. >> THESE THREE BILLS, ETHICS COMMISSION, CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE AND REVOLVING DOOR, THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR YEARS, I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN UP HERE HOW LONG AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM AS CLOSE AS THEY ARE NOW TO FRUITION. >> THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE HISTORY THIS SESSION. I MEAN, GETTING THE DISCLOSURE BILL TO THE HOUSE FLOOR THE OTHER DAY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AND IT PASSED THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY FOUR TIMES BEFORE BUT WE ALWAYS RAN OUT OF TIME WHEN IT HIT THE HOUSE. SO, GETTING THAT THROUGH, GETTING THE ETHICS COMMISSION AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OUT OF RULES COMMITTEE HAS NEVER BEEN DONE AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER 38 YEARS. >> WHY IS THAT?

>> WHAT CHANGED WITH THAT IS REALLY THAT WE HAD A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP. SENATOR PETER WIRTH HAS COME IN. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE CAME IN AND HE HAS BEEN THE ONE CARRYING THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BILL. AND, I'LL BE HONEST, OUR STATUTE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE IS COMPLEX AND IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT STATUTORY CHANGES. >> SO, IF ALL THREE OF THESE THINGS PASS, HOW WILL THINGS BE DIFFERENT IN THIS BUILDING IN THE FUTURE? >> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY IN BOTH CHAMBERS, WHO ARE COMFORTABLE LETTING THE SUNLIGHT COME INTO THIS BUILDING LETTING THE PUBLIC SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY SEE THE PUBLIC TRUST HAS BEEN ERODED SO MUCH OVER TIME AND IT IS TIME TO REBUILD THAT TRUST. SO, I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE LOT OF LIGHT. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE, JUST HEARD FROM CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND ABOUT THE UNUSUAL STEP THE SENATE TOOK TO RECALL A BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND SENT ON TO THE HOUSE. SENATE 430 THAT WOULD HAVE WAIVED A 20 YEAR TIME LIMIT ON

THE STATE'S LEASE OF TWO BUILDINGS HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE BEFORE REVELATIONS OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOVERNOR MARTINEZ BY THE PROPERTY'S OWNERS WHICH CAUSED THE BILL TO BE PULLED. WHETHER OR NOT THE BILL WAS AN ATTEMPT AT PAY TO PLAY POLITICS OR AN HONEST MISTAKE, BASED ON INITIALLY INCOMPLETE INFORMATION, THE DAMAGE TO TRUST HAS BEEN DONE. DANIEL LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT CHANGES -- DO THIS BACKWARD. WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IT SEEMED EASY TO KIND OF SUSS IT OUT BUT SOMETHING GOT MISSED HERE. WHAT HAPPENED? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOT MISSED. ITS' EASY TO FIND OUT WHO DONATES. IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT WAS DONATED. IF IT IS ABC COMPANY AND YOU DIDN'T LOOK UP WHO OWNED THE COMPANY'S NAMES AND MADE CONTRIBUTIONS PERSONALLY IT COULD BE MISSED. IF YOU LOOKED THEM UP BY NAME AND DIDN'T LIST THE COMPANY

THEY OWNED, THEY MADE IT UNDER THE COMPANY. AND IT IS HARD ON REAL STATE DEALS HARD TO TRACK A LOT OF THIS STUFF DOWN BECAUSE LOTS OF TIMES TRE I50'S THAT POW. THIS ISN C ATS S N ES THE BIGGER CAT, YOUNOS T ME IS A PAY TO PLA D WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS THAT IT HAS. STATE HAS ZERO DOLLARS. IT IS GOING TO TAKE 10'S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY AND YOU FOUND A LANDLORD THAT SAID, I AM WILLING TO PUT THE MONEY IN, I AM WILLING TO FRONT THE MILLIONS THAT IT TAKES TO REMODEL AND GIVE YOU THE SPACE YOU NEED, I NEED TO KNOW I CAN RECAP MY INVESTMENT. I WANT YOU TO SIGN A LEASE. I THINK WHO IS GOING TO LOSE IN THE END IS THE KIDS. THEY ARE STILL STUCK IN THE SAME FACILITY ON A DANGEROUS STREET CORNER WITHOUT THE NEEDED FACILITIES TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 20,000 WORTH OF DONATIONS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS WHOLE HULLABALOO, REPORTERS LOVE TO MAKE IT, OH, I THINK THE GOVERNOR GOT 20,000 AND THIS IS WHAT SHE DID. I THINK IF THEY HAD MORE TO DO WITH CYFD -- I FIND IT INTERESTING THERE WASN'T THIS SCRUTINY WHEN WE GOT THE PIT RULES PASSED IN NEW MEXICO AND GOVERNOR'S LARGEST DONOR WAS ABLE TO BE THE ONLY GUY THAT COULD ACCEPT THE WASTE, THE

TALAPIA BILL THAT WENT THROUGH THAT THE GOVERNOR'S LARGEST DONOR WAS GOING TO GET MONEY OUT OF THAT STUFF. WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING, IT WAS UNDER THE RADAR, BUT THIS JUMPS OUT AND I THINK IF YOU WANT TO POINT OUT CORRUPTION, I THINK THERE IS FAR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU LOOK TO FIND IT THAN SAYING THIS IS THE WAY. >> SOMETHING ABOUT BUILDINGS, MERRITT ALLEN IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. SOMETHING ABOUT PHYSICAL BUILDINGS THAT MAKES PEOPLE DO CRAZY THINGS. WHAT DAN JUST LAID OUT SEEMS REASONABLE. RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE NEED THESE FACILITIES, WE NEED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN HERE. WHAT WENT WRONG? IS IT JUST APPEARANCES? >> I THINK THE SENATE HAS FINALLY HEARD BACK FROM SOME OF ITS CONSTITUENTS HOW NEW MEXICANS FEELS ABOUT ETHICS AND REFORM. I THINK THE ONLY REASON WE ARE GETTING THE ETHICS BILL POSSIBLY PASSED THIS SESSION IS BECAUSE OF SOME OUTRAGE ON THE PART OF NEW MEXICAN CITIZENS EVEN IF IT IS SOMEWHAT TOOTHLESS IN ITS

AMENDED STATE. SO, I DO FEEL THAT IN SOME WAYS THIS IS KNEE JERK REACTION BECAUSE THE SENATE FEELS VULNERABLE AND EXPOSED WITH REGARD TO MANAGING ETHICS, BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF SMALL POTATOES AND CERTAINLY IT IS SURPRISING TO ME BECAUSE EXCEPTIONS TO PROCUREMENT RULES GET PUT IN LEGISLATION ALL THE TIME EVEN FOR SITTING LEGISLATORS TO GET CONTRACTS TO THEMSELVES. THAT HAS HAPPENED IN SILVER CITY AND PERSONS ELECTED ARE STILL SITTING. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER, SO -- >> WAS IT MORE OF A PROBLEM OF THE HOW VERSUS THE WHAT? IS THAT THE PROBLEM? HOW IT WAS DONE VERSUS THE GOAL. >> THE FACT THEY SAID, WAS THERE -- I THINK HAD SOMEONE SAID, YEAH, THEY GAVE THEM MONEY; GAVE MONEY TO THE PAC, BUT HERE IS THE MERITS OF THE STORY, I THINK IT WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE THE TEETH TO LATCH ON. >> ALSO THE CONTEXT OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND SENATE RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK IS IT

GETTING MORE TENSE, NO, IT CAN'T. >> BEYOND THAT, IF I MAY, REMEMBER, WE ARE HAVING A NATIONAL CONVERSATION AND HAVE REALLY SINCE LATE DECEMBER ABOUT ETHICS, ABOUT PAY TO PLAY, ABOUT ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKING PERSONAL BENEFIT FROM THEIR OFFICES AND THAT IS ALL THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. SO, IT'S NOT JUST A CONVERSATION THAT IS HAPPENING ABOUT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN NEW MEXICO. THERE IS ALSO THIS HEIGHTENED AWARENESS AND WE ARE SEEING REPERCUSSIONS IN TERMS OF CABINET LEVEL POSITIONS ON THE NATIONAL SCALE AND SO, EVEN IF -- I TEND TO AGREE WITH DAN THAT THIS WAS A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY AND WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH. EVEN WITH THAT CONTEXT, MY SENSE IS THAT OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ARE JUST VERY AWARE OF THE DAMAGE THAT COULD BE DONE TO THEIR CAREERS, THE DAMAGE THAT COULD BE DONE IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITIES TO KEEP THEIR OFFICES, IF THEY AREN'T MORE CAREFUL. NOW, WILL THIS PASS? AND WILL WE SEE THIS AS THE USUAL? WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH

THE ETHICS LEGISLATION. I WISH IT WAS STRONGER BUT NOT GOING TO LET THE PURPOSE BE THE ENEMY -- [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> CLOSE ENOUGH, AS THEY SAY. SENATOR STEVE NEVILLE, OF COURSE, WE SOMEHOW AVOIDED TALKING ABOUT HIM AND THE INTERVIEW WE WATCHED WITH GWYNETH, IT SEEMED CLEAR HE WAS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. HE JUST WASN'T GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWERS. THERE IS SOMETHING HINKEY IN THE SYSTEM HERE THAT, BACK TO DAN'S POINT, YOU CAN LOOK UP CERTAIN THINGS VERY EASILY IN THIS WORLD. YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THIS. I AM CURIOUS WHERE YOU COME DOWN. >> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SENATOR DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AND IF THE SPONSOR OF A BILL HAS GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE THEY ARE SAYING SOMETHING MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT SO I AM GOING TO PULL IT, THAT IS VERY TELLING. WE ARE LOOKING AT A SENATOR FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OWN PARTY SO THAT IS TWICE IN ONE WEEK, I THINK. EVEN THOUGH THAT IT IS EASY TO

LOOK UP DIFFERENT DONATIONS AND DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND NAMES, IF YOU'RE NOT USED TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, THE CURRENT WEBSITE, THE INTERFACE, IT IS TRICKY. FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ON IT, HALF OF IT SAYS YOU NEED A LOG IN ID AND OTHER HALF SAYS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PUBLIC RECORD AND IT IS LIKE, WAIT, AM I LOOKING FOR PUBLIC RECORDS? I DON'T KNOW. WE DO NEED TO CLEAN THAT UP. AND LIKE SENATOR SAID, THEY DON'T EXPECT TO NOT BE GIVEN THE RIGHT INFORMATION ESPECIALLY FROM CABINET LEVEL MANAGEMENT OR CABINET LEVEL PERSONNEL. SO -- >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE STAFF. [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> IT'S YOU AND A VOLUNTEER OR PART-TIME PERSON, AND THEY SAY, WHY DON'T YOU CARRY THIS BILL? YOU ASSUME WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE AT FACE VALUE, THAT IF YOU COME TO ME WITH A BILL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PHIL GRIEGO STUFF, THESE ARE THINGS YOU VETTED PRIOR TO CUTTING THE DEAL WHICH IS WHY I BELIEVE -- IT IS GOING TO

SOUND CRAZY TO SAY THIS -- WHICH IS WHY, I BELIEVE, THERE IS NO FIRE WITH THE SMOKE BECAUSE I THINK THIS BECAME TOO OBVIOUS TOO QUICK. IF SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER SOMEONE'S EYES IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. I THINK IT WAS A COMEDY OF ERRORS, AN EXAMPLE OF THE SECRETARY SAYING I AM TASKING SOMEONE RUNNING A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO AND AWAY WE GO, AND THE POOR SENATOR IS LEFT STANDING -- THERE WAS NUMEROUS TIMES -- YOU WILL APPRECIATE THIS -- I WOULD INTRODUCE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION. AND YOU WOULD SIGN YOUR NAME DROP IT, YOU GET TO THE FIRST COMMITTEE, AND THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE LIKE THIS PERSON THAT ACTUALLY READ IT, AND WOULD GO, PAGE 38, IT SAYS THIS. YOU LOOK AT THE GUY WHO DRAFTED IT AND SAY, DOES IT REALLY SAY THAT? I DIDN'T KNOW IT SAID THAT, SORRY, OKAY. >> TO WHAT SOPHIE SAID, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL DEBATE, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THAT IS DO MAINSTREAM MEDIA MATTER AND THE REACTION OF THE SENATE IS VERY MUCH, NO ONE WANTS LARRY BARKER OR CHRIS RAMIREZ IN THEIR OFFICE. SO IT POINTS VERY MUCH TO THE

RELEVANCE OF MEDIA IN THIS STATE AND THAT IS PERHAPS A BRIGHT SPOT. >> I THINK GWYNETH IS CLIMBING UP ON THAT LIST. WHEN IS SHE COMING TO TALK TO ME? >> ONE THING I WANT TO ADD IN REGARDS TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF BEING ABLE TO CHECK CAMPAIGN FINANCE DONATIONS, I AM EXCITED THAT SECRETARY TOULOUSE-OLIVER IS THERE. I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR HER IS TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC ACTUALLY HAS ABILITY TO USE THIS IN A PROPER, EASY WAY SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE TO LOOK UP PUBLIC INFORMATION. >> ON THIS SITUATION, MARSHA, IS BETTER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION? IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? PICKING UP ON MERRITT'S POINT, NOT QUITE CHASTENED BUT WE HAVE A BODY NOW THAT IS AWARE, THAT THE PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING HERE. WAS THAT THE IDEA HERE, JUST BE BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. >> THAT SHOULD BE THE APPROACH FOR EVERYTHING. AFTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CABINET SECRETARY THAT WAS ARRESTED.

WE HAVE A SENATOR THAT HAD TO STEP DOWN DURING THE MIDDLE OF A SESSION, YOU KNOW. WHY NOT BE BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. WHY NOT ENSURE THAT NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. IF IT WAS ANYTHING DIFFERENT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> WE HAD A FORMER GOVERNOR INVESTIGATED FOR PAY TO PLAY, THIS STUFF HAS NOT GONE UNSCATHED. WHATEVER HAPPENS. WHEN I WAS IN LEADERSHIP WE MEET WITH ALL THE FRESHMAN COMBINED, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND REPEAT TO THEM IN THE HOUSE, NO MATTER WHAT BILL YOU DROP, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, BEFORE YOU DO ANY OF IT, JUST THINK, WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR MOM AND DAD TO READ ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE JOURNAL. CLEARLY THAT HAS GONE UNHEEDED BY A LOT OF FOLKS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING MYSELF, BUT IT HAS GONE UNHEEDED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS AND THAT IS JUST THE WAY TO LOOK AT IT, IF I INTRODUCE THIS, IF I CAN GO HOME -- MY RULE IS IF I INTRODUCE THIS BILL, CAN I EXPLAIN IT IN 10 SECONDS OR. LESS. IF I CAN'T, IT IS PROBABLY NOT FOR MERE. >> ISN'T IT ALSO INDICATIVE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE

SHORT MONEY? THE STATE HAS CLEARLY NEEDS WITH CYFD, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO WRITE CHECKS AND BUILD BUILDINGS. >> PART OF IT WAS INTERESTING FOR ME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SORT OF CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD WITH THE BILL, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE FELT THIS, I REMEMBER HEARING CYFD REALLY CAN'T USE THIS BUILDING ANYMORE. WE NEED TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE AND THEN THE NEXT WE HEAR ABOUT THE BUILDING, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS STEPPED IN AND MONIQUE JACOBSON HAS STEPPED IN TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE STAY IN THE BUILDING. AT FIRST THE STORY PLAYED IN THIS KIND OF LIKE, WAIT, DOESN'T CYFD WANT TO GET OUT OF THERE? WHY ARE WE PUSHING TO STAY? NOW IT IS A LITTLE BIT CLEARER BUT, I THINK, YES, WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE SHORT TERM AND IN SOME CASES COUNTER INTUITIVE DECISIONS ABOUT STATE MONEY BECAUSE WE CAN'T INVEST WITH CURRENT REVENUE STREAMS. WE CAN'T GO FURTHER. I WANT TO SAY TO THE EARLIER DISCUSSION, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS SORT OF RUNNING THROUGH

THE INTERNET NOW IS, DANCE LIKE YOUR MICROWAVE IS WATCHING. THIS IDEA THAT TRANSPARENCY FOR BETTER OR WORSE, ISN'T JUST FOR LEGISLATORS. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT IN OUR OWN LIVES. >> THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. >> AS WE HEARD THIS HOUR POLITICS AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL IS TENSE RIGHT NOW. HOW ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW? GET IN TOUCH WITH US HERE BY VISITING NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER. HUMANS OF NEW MEXICO PROJECT IS TELLING STORIES OF PEOPLE SHAPING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. OUR PRODUCER SARAH GUSTAVUS RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE INTERVIEWING EVERYDAY NEW MEXICANS AND HOW THEY ARE SHARING STORIES AND INSIGHTS ONLINE AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. >> I AM JOINED THIS WEEK BY SRADHA PATEL. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> THANKS FOR HAVING US. >> GEORGE WEISS-ELLIOTT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE A UNM STUDENT, UNM GRADUATE. YOU ARE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE COLLECTIVE HUMANS OF NEW MEXICO. GEORGIA, START WITH YOU, WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS PROJECT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WHAT DREW ME MOST TO

THE PROJECT IS CONNECTION TO TRYING TO FIND A CONNECTION WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. AND SO I WAS FEELING LIKE I WANT TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO GROW WITH A COMMUNITY AND THERE IS DEFINITELY COMMUNITIES HERE AND GETTING TO KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> YEAH. I HAD ALWAYS BEEN -- I AM ACTUALLY FROM CALIFORNIA AND SO COMING TO NEW MEXICO I AM FASCINATED WITH HOW MUCH CULTURE THERE IS AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THERE ARE AND JUST LIKE HOW INTERCONNECTED THEY ARE. SO I FOUND THE PROJECT AND SAW THERE WAS A FELLOWSHIP AVAILABLE. I WAS LIKE WHY NOT APPLY. >> WHAT DID YOU DO IN YOUR FELLOWSHIP. >> WHAT I DID MAINLY IS TRANSCRIPTION SO THAT WAS JUST KIND OF GOING OVER WHAT THE AUDIO OF AN INTERVIEW AND KIND OF GETTING A WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT WAS SAID DURING THE INTERVIEW AND THEN KIND OF PULLING SNIPPETS FOR FACEBOOK PAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> THERE IS PICTURES, THERE IS STORIES FROM PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE? HOW DO FOLKS GET THEIR STORY AND PHOTO INTO THE PROJECT? >> WELL, FIRST OFF, WE JUST KIND OF SET UP A DATE FOR INTERVIEW AND THEN FROM THERE WE KIND OF -- WE'LL HAVE A PHOTO SHOOT AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW OR WE'LL TRY TO SET UP ONE IF IT IS NOT REALLY A GOOD LOCATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT REALLY INCAPSULATES THE PERSON'S PERSONALITY INTO THE PICTURE AS WELL AS TIE IT INTO WHAT THE INTERVIEW IS ABOUT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE REALLY JUST TRY TO EXPLORE THE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE IN NEW MEXICO. >> HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT YOU GUYS? >> SO, ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS IS FACEBOOK AND WE'LL FIND SOMEONE TO INTERVIEW, INTERVIEW THEM AND ALL THEIR FRIENDS ARE LIKE, WOW, YOU KNOW, SO IT IS SORT OF LIKE OUR MINI COMMUNITIES AND WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THAT WAY AND THAT IS OFTEN HOW WE FIND INTERVIEWS. WE INTERVIEW ONE PERSON AND MY UNCLE BACK IN CANONES, YOU NEED TO TALK TO HIM.

HE KNOWS A LOT. HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS. SO THAT IS OFTEN HOW, YOU KNOW, YOU FIND CONNECTIONS OR THROUGH ARTISTS. WE LOOK TO FEATURE ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP BUILD A SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH WHO WE INTERVIEW. SO IT IS OFTEN LINKED THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE AND WE DO TRY, YOU KNOW, WE DO SORT OF HAVE GUIDELINES AS TO WHO WE DO AND DO NOT INTERVIEW. OFTEN WE TRY TO FEATURE PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T NORMALLY BE FEATURED IN THE NEWS OR WE TRY THE CREATE A COUNTER STORY TO NEWS ITEMS THAT ARE OFTEN NEGATIVE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. SO, WE FEATURE LOCAL PEOPLE, EVERYDAY PEOPLE, AND FOR THAT REASON WE ALSO WON'T FEATURE NECESSARILY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED NUMEROUS TIMES OR, YOU KNOW, VERY AFFLUENT PEOPLE. WE TRY NOT TO INTERVIEW POLITICIANS OR MOVIE STARS AND THAT WAY, WE SORT OF SHIFT AWAY FROM THAT AND FOCUS ON WHO NEW MEXICO IS AND SHOW A PICTURE OF NEW MEXICO OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR IN 2017. IT SEEMS SO DIVISIVE NATIONALLY AND WE GET SOME OF THAT HERE IN NEW MEXICO TOO. PEOPLE JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEY ARE DISAGREEING WITH FOLKS OVER POLITICS. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR PROJECT FITTING INTO THAT IN 2017? >> I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT FOR THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING A RASH OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND CERTAIN THINGS AND THIS TARGETS SPECIFIC PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEXT TO US, THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT HAVE HELPED BUILD THIS CITY AND THIS STATE. AND I THINK ESPECIALLY NEW MEXICO, WITH OUR RICH HISTORY AND HISTORY OF COLONIZATION, HISTORY OF SECOND COLONIZATION HISTORY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT WE REALLY REMEMBER ABOUT THE STATE AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE GENERATIONS BEFORE NEW MEXICO WAS A STATE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THEM IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY ARE WE CREATING -- PUTTING A FACE ON OUR NEIGHBOR AND SAYING LOOK AT THIS PERSON, THEY ARE GREAT AND WE ALL WANT TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE

AND WE CREATE A COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO SAYING, LIKE, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT NEW MEXICO? BECAUSE, NEW MEXICO IS UNIQUE IN THAT WAY. >> YEAH, I THINK I REALLY -- THE PROJECT EXPLORES THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO AND LIKE GEORGIA WAS SAYING, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS SO WE HAVE THIS INTERCONNECTIVITY BUT AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE LOSE HAVING THE NEIGHBOR IN THE SENSE OF GOING NEXT DOOR, HEY, CAN I BORROW A CUP OF SUGAR. RIGHT? THIS IS OPENING UP THAT FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, HEY, I SAW YOU ON HUMANS OF NEW MEXICO, YOU CAN OPEN UP THAT CONVERSATION AND GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, GET TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY THAT WAY. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR STORIES THAT REALLY STRUCK YOU AS BEING SIGNIFICANT OR ONES THAT YOU ARE EXCITED TO TELL

FOLKS ABOUT? >> MY FAVORITE ONE WAS HONESTLY -- I DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND THIS INTERVIEW BUT IT WAS THE VAN OVERTON, JR. OR SENIOR? >> WE HAVE HIS STORY UP ON THE PAGE AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A MONTH AGO OR SOMETHING BUT HIS STORY WAS JUST VERY -- HE RECOGNIZES A LOT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPACTFUL AND HOW HE PRESENTED IT AND HE WAS WEARING THIS SHIRT THAT SAID HUG DEALER AND HE WAS A VERY OPEN -- IT WAS A VERY OPEN PIECE ON HIM AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES. >> I THINK I HAVE GONE ON A FEW AND I HAVE TRANSCRIBED QUITE A FEW THAT I HAVEN'T GONE ON AND THEY ALL IMPRESS ME. IT IS AMAZING BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND I THINK CERTAINLY WE ARE NOT EXPECTING TO BE LIKE AMAZED AT EVERY INTERVIEW. AND NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE WISDOM SOMEONE SHARES OR JUST, YOU KNOW, WOW, THIS IS IN NEW MEXICO AND PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS THING IN NEW MEXICO AND ONE OF THE FIRST INTERVIEWS I WENT ON THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS WE INTERVIEWED TIERRA HUDSON AND SHE IS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN MORIARTY.

SHE WAS, AT THE TIME, SHE HAS GRADUATED. SHE IS NOW GOING TO UNM AND WE INTERVIEWED HER AND THE MULTI-RACIAL FEMALE IN THIS SMALL COMMUNITY OF NEW MEXICO. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR HER STORY OF HOW SHE -- HER GOALS AND SEEING THIS SPIRIT WAS SO GREAT AND THAT IS DEFINITELY CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. >> WHAT IS THE RESPONSE RECEIVED SO FAR. >> POSITIVE. >> NO ONE SAID, THIS IS KIND OF NAIVE, THIS IS, YOU KNOW -- >> WE HAVE HAD A FEW, MOSTLY FACEBOOK, I AM TALKING ABOUT FACEBOOK WHERE ANYONE CAN COMMENT AND STAY IN THEIR BUBBLE STILL, BUT WE HAVE HAD A FEW COMMENTS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T AS ENCOURAGING, BUT THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY TAKEN ROOT IN THE PROJECT TOO, AND SO IF SOMEONE COMMENTS ON AN INTERVIEW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF A LESS THAN POSITIVE COMMENT, THE COMMUNITY IS OFTEN THERE TO SUPPORT THAT,

TO SUPPORT THE PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED AND SAY, MAN, LIKE, THIS ACTUALLY IS A GREAT PROJECT AND THEY ARE DOING THIS. AND NO ONE HAS REALLY TARGETED THE PROJECT SPECIFICALLY. ANY TIME WE GO SOMEWHERE AND TELL PEOPLE, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, THIS IS GREAT AND WE NEED THIS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS ORIGINATED? WAS THIS INFLUEN A PROJECT LIKE HUMANS OF NEW YORK THAT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN ON FACEBOOK. >> IT IS ALONG THE SAME CONCEPT BUT THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS WE ARE FOCUSED ON THESE PEOPLE. IT IS NOT SOME RANDOM STRANGER THAT GIVES YOU ONLY A LITTLE BURB. YOU MAY GET AAR. YAYET STEE. THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A WEEKLY FEATURE OF A PERSON AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR STORY IS HEARD. I THINK THAT IS MORE OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS. IT IS LIKE STORIES OF NEW MEXICO, RIGHT? WHO THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO ARE, REALLY. AND LIKE WHAT THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE, WHAT THE DIFFERENT INTERACTIONS ARE. WHAT THE COMMUNITY FACES, WHETHER THAT BE GROWTH FROM

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND TO LIKE BEING IN THE CITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH SAY A YEAR FROM NOW. >> PERSONALLY I REALLY JUST WANT THIS PROJECT TO JUST KEEP ONGOING, LIKE, IT IS A REALLY GREAT COLLECTIVE, THE AMOUNT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS INVOLVED IS JUST REMARKABLE. I MEAN, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PUT NEW MEXICO KIND OF ON A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING WHO THE STATE IS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, RIGHT? AND I JUST REALLY WANT IT JUST TO KEEP GOING AND GET THESE STORIES OUT THERE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE HEARD AND STORIES NOT FORGOTTEN. >> ARE YOU TAKING IN NEW COLLECTIVE MEMBERS? >> ALWAYS. I THINK ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT IS TO INCREASE CAPACITY. RIGHT NOW THE PROJECT IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER BASED

WHICH MEANS THAT WHILE WE HAVE MAYBE SOME MONEY FROM GRANTS, MOST OF THAT MONEY GOES TOWARDS EQUIPMENT OR GOES TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION TO PECOS OR TO THE SOUTH. SO, MOST OF THAT IS SPENT ON THAT. WE DON'T PAY OURSELVES. SO RIGHT NOW IT IS ALL VOLUNTEER BASED. THAT MEANS INTERVIEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AUDIO, TRANSCRIPTIONS ARE ALL VOLUNTEER. SO, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED THERE IS A LINK ON THE WEBSITE THAT SAYS GET INVOLVED AND YOU CAN VOLUNTEER TO DO TRANSCRIPTIONS. YOU MAY BE A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU MAY BE AN AUDIO, YOU KNOW, SOUND ENGINEER AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR LITTLE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE, SO WE DEFINITELY, GIVE US YOUR INFORMATION, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED BUT, ALWAYS. >> THANK YOU BOTH. AND WE WILL PUT A LINK TO YOUR WEBSITE ON OUR WEBSITE, NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG AND GLAD TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> I AM GENE GRANT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. THERE IS MORE ONLINE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG INCLUDING OUR CONVERSATION THIS WEEK ABOUT THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY HERE IN NEW MEXICO. >> I THINK THAT YOU KNOW WE ARE IN AN INTERESTING PLACE. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ECONOMIES THAT GO FROM BEING BEHIND TO LEAPING AHEAD, IT TAKES VISION AND IT TAKES MONEY. AT THIS POINT, DO WE HAVE THE VISION? POTENTIALLY, YES. TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PLANNING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WHAT WE DON'T SEE IS A WILLINGNESS TO COMMIT THE MONEY TO MAKE A GREAT LEAP FORWARD. GREAT LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTMENT IN OUR PEOPLE. THERE ARE COMMUNITIES, THERE ARE CITIES AND STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS, COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS, BUT NEW MEXICO DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE TAKING THOSE LESSONS TO HEART AT THIS POINT. >> THAT IS RIGHT. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK INFOCUS. >>