New Mexico in Focus; 1108; Excerpt from NMPBS-New Mexico Bar Association Mayoral Forum

FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, THE LINE DEBATES A PROPOSED SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO VOTERS IN ALBUQUERQUE. >> ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY WE HEAR A LOT FROM BUSINESS PEOPLE, HEY, WE ARE CREATING JOBS, SO DON'T PUT THESE ADDITIONAL MANDATES ON US THAT MAKE IT HARDER. >> AND THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT UNM'S FINANCES. NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. VOTING DAY TO ELECT ALBUQUERQUE'S NEXT MAYOR IS OCTOBER 3. LATER THIS HOUR, WE'LL SHOW YOU A PORTION OF A MAYORAL FORUM CO-SPONSORED BY NEW MEXICO PBS AND THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL WEIGH IN ON HOW THAT RACE IS SHAPING UP. BUT, FIRST, LET'S GO TO THE LINE ON ANOTHER TOPIC IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK. >> ON MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, ALBUQUERQUE ATTORNEY PAT ROGERS FILED AN EMERGENCY

MOTION TO NEW MEXICO'S SUPREME COURT ASKING THEY ACT TO REMOVE A PROPOSED SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE FROM THE OCTOBER 3 BALLOT. OPPONENTS OF THE HEALTHY WORKFORCE ORDINANCE, THAT IS ITS NAME, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ACCRUE PAID SICK LEAVE CALLED THE MEASURE EXTREME AND, QUOTE, A JOB KILLER. THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE SAY WORKERS WILL NO LONG HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF A SICK CHILD OR A PAYCHECK. AND IT WOULD ENCOURAGE WAGE EARNERS TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK AND NOT SPREAD THEIR GERMS. HERE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ARE THIS WEEKS PANELISTS. JOINED BY RACHEL SAMS, EDITOR OF ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESS FIRST; DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP; FORMER STATE SENATOR ERIC GRIEGO AND VIKI HARRISON FROM COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO. >> RACHEL, START US OFF HERE. ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- LET ME START WITH THIS SPECIFICALLY. ANECDOTAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THIS. I AM CURIOUS, YOU MIGHT BE A FUNNEL POINT THERE AT YOUR

PAPER. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM BUSINESS OWNERS. IT IS NOT STARTING TO RISE. IT SIMMERED ALL SUMMER, NOW IT IS GETTING REAL. BUSINESSES ARE GETTING IN THE GAME. WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF IT. >> PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE LARGER BUSINESS TRADE GROUPS ASSOCIATIONS HERE IN TOWN LINING UP AGAINST THE ORDINANCE. >> OFFICIALLY LINING UP AGAINST IT. >> YEAH, THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS REALLY SPEAKING OUT STRONGLY AGAINST IT PUSHING SOME OF THE LEGISLATION OR THE LAWSUIT AGAINST IT. AND THEN, ON THE SIDE OF BUSINESSES SPEAKING OUT FOR IT, YOU SEE MORE OF THAT FROM INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, NEXUS BREWERY, DONUT MART, THOSE TYPE OF COMPANIES. >> IS THERE A COMMON THREAD FROM THOSE OPPOSED? IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC PART OF IT THAT GETS THEM. >> THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. COST IS A BIG ONE BUT THERE IS JUST THAT SENSE AMONG BUSINESS PEOPLE, THEY DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY. WE HEAR A LOT FROM BUSINESS PEOPLE, HEY, WE ARE CREATING JOBS, DON'T PUT ADDITIONAL MANDATES ON US THAT MAKE IT HARDER.

>> MAKES SENSE. ISSUE, OF COURSE, FOR THE WORKER, AGAIN, I SAY BUBBLING UNDER. THIS HAS BEEN BUBBLING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME SICK LEAVE AND NOT HAVE TO PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR EMPLOYER, SEEMS FAIRLY SIMPLE ON THE SURFACE BUT IT IS COMPLICATED. TALK ABOUT THIS FROM THE WORKERS SIDE. >> FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF WORKING COALITION AND WORK CLOSELY. YOU KNOW. I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED FRANKLY AT SOME OF THE MESSAGES COMING OUT FROM SOME OF THE BIGGER BUSINESS GROUPS THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF DRACONIAN THING. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN HOUR PER 30 HOURS, AND NO MORE THAN 40 HOURS A YEAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. NO MORE THAN 56 HOURS A YEAR, SO, BASICALLY. >> FOR BIGGER BUSINESSES. >> OVER 40 EMPLOYEES. WE ARE SAYING, DO YOU THINK THAT ANY BUSINESS, SMALL OR LARGE, SHOULD GIVE EMPLOYEES ONE HOUR OFF, YOU KNOW, TO BASICALLY, FOR 30 HOUSE, TO TAKE CARE OF AN ELDERLY PARENT

WHO MAYBE NEEDS CARE, A SICK KID AT SCHOOL. IT INCLUDES SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO, IT IS THE SAME OLD STORY IN THESE TIRED TALKING POINTS THAT WE HEARD WHEN I CO-SPONSORED THE SMOKING BAN IN ALBUQUERQUE, THAT IT WAS GOING TO LEAD TO MASS EXODUS IN THE ECONOMY AS WE KNOW IT, IT WAS GOING TO BE DESTROYED. SAME THING WE HEARD ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, NONE OF WHICH CAME TO FRUITION. IT'S THIS OLD TALKING POINT IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE, NOT PEOPLE WHO WORK SHIFTS, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, BUT THOSE WHO ARE REALLY IN THE TOUGHEST SORT OF EMPLOYMENT SITUATION, WHO ARE LIKE MOST OF US, THEY CAN'T TAKE AN HOUR OFF TO TAKE CARE OF A KID. FRANKLY, MOST OF THE FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE TRADE ASSOCIATION AREN'T IN THE SITUATIONS THAT WORKERS ARE IN WHO IF THEY TAKE AN HOUR OFF AND THEY ARE A SHIFT WORKER, IT AFFECTS THEIR EMPLOYMENT. I WOULD HOPE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD SAY, THIS IS NOT DRACONIAN. THIS IS A BASIC THING. DO WE VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES? DO WE VALUE OUR HELP IN THIS

COMMUNITY AND OUR KIDS AND ELDERS WHO ARE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF HAVING AN EMPLOYEE SAY, WELL, YEAH, I CAN PICK THEM UP BECAUSE HE IS SICK AND I DON'T HAVE TO LOSE MY JOB OR TAKE CARE OF MY ELDER PARENT. >> DANIEL, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, WELL, ACTUALLY BOTH SIDES, STATE DISTRICT JUDGE REJECTED THIS IDEA LAST FRIDAY AND NOW IT IS GOING UP TO THE SUPREME COURT. YOU ANTICIPATE ANY RELIEF FROM THE SUPREMES OTHER -- YOU THINK THEY WILL BE MAKING THE SAME KIND OF DECISION. BEFORE, YOU KNOW THIS, THE EVER SEEN IS NEW MEXICO STATE SUPREME COURT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOU WILL HAVE THIS PROGRESSIVE ISSUE BEING OUT THERE AND THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING IN THE SUPREME COURT WILL STEP IN AND SAY, OKAY, WE ARE LISTENING TO ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, I APPRECIATE WHAT ERIC HAD TO SAY AND I THINK IT SOUNDS GREAT WHEN YOU WRAP IT ALL UP IN THE SOUND BYTES. FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE GOT THE FEDERAL FAMILY EMERGENCY LEAVE ACT THAT APPLIES TO A LOT OF

THESE BUSINESS FOLKS. NOT SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO SAYING, LET'S GIVE SOMEONE AN HOUR OFF. I DON'T KNOW ANY BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE GOT A SICK RELATIVE, SICK FAMILY MEMBER, SICK FAMILY. WHAT THEY DO SAY, WE HAVE TO REPLACE YOU WITH SOMEBODY ELSE TO WORK THAT SHIFT. THESE BUSINESSES HAVE TO GO ON. ESPECIALLY THESE TYPES OF BUSINESS. BUT I THINK THE PART THAT MY GOOD FRIEND ERIC IS KIND OF GLAZING OVER IS THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, YOU FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE EMPLOYER HAS TO PAY FOR YOUR LAWYER AND WE GOT THE HEARING PROCESS AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT IT GOES THROUGH. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO HELPING WORKERS, NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO MAKING SURE WORKERS HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN AN ENVIRONMENT TO FLOURISH. I DON'T THINK ANY BUSINESS WOULD SUCCEED WITH ANGRY WORKERS, ESPECIALLY THE SERVICE INDUSTRY. WE HAVE ALL GONE TO A RESTAURANT OR BAR BEFORE AND WE HAVE HAD A VERY ANGRY WORKER THAT WORKS FOR US. IT IS NOT A GOOD DEAL. A LOT OF ENTITIES ALREADY DO THIS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE KIND OF UNDER THE RADAR, WE ARE GOING

TO SAY THESE NICE COUPLE THINGS, BUT IT IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT SAYING, LOOK WE MAKE SURE LAWYERS ARE GETTING PAID, MAKE SURE WE CAN TIE BUSINESSES UP IN LAWSUITS AND TRY TO FORCE POLICY DOWN PEOPLES' THROATS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN ERIC SAYS THINGS LIKE, WE HAD THESE OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE THE SKY WAS FALLING, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY SAYING THAT THE SMOKING ORDINANCE WAS GOING TO DRIVE PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN. PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING A CHOICE AND NOT RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE A DECISION. HE SAID THE MINIMUM WAGE HASN'T AFFECTED ANYTHING. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE STUDIES SAY. LOOK AT SANTA FE AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND THEIR STUDY. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME UP. >> I WANT TO MENTION A REFERENCE. ON THE SMOKING BAN THAT WAS A CENTRAL TALKING POINT OF THE SAME FOLKS FROM THE RESTAURANTS SAYING VERY SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS WAS GOING TO KILL THE ALBUQUERQUE ECONOMY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO GO TO THE PUEBLO AND COUNTY. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. MINIMUM WAGE ACTUALLY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY STUDIES NATIONALLY, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY TO DO THIS, HAVE SAID IT HAS ZERO EFFECT.

THERE IS PROBABLY ONE STUDY THAT IS KIND OF LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, 1 OUT OF 100, THAT SAID THERE IS AN EFFECT ON EMPLOYMENT. IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN DEMAND. IF YOU BELIEVE IN DEMAND SIDE DRIVEN ECONOMICS, AS MANY OF US DO, THAT PEOPLE HAVING THE ABILITY TO BUY THINGS. IN THE CASE OF SICK LEAVE, IF EMPLOYERS REALLY WANT TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR WORKERS, WE ARE TALKING ONE HOUR OF SICK LEAVE PER 30 HOURS OF WORK, THAT IS NOT DRACONIAN AT ALL. THAT LAST POINT -- >> THINK ABOUT ALL THE LAWYER STUFF. >> THIS IS NOT PUSHED BY LAWYERS BUT PUSHED BY GROUPS REPRESENTING WORKERS AND THAT PROCESS, ALL IT SAYS, IF YOU FIRE SOMEBODY WHO JUST TOOK SOME OF THAT SICK LEAVE, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SORT OF QUESTION IT BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY SADLY -- >> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT 90 DAY RULE. VIKI, THE SO-CALLED HOME RULE IS THE SECOND PART OF THE SUIT IN COURT. MEANING, YOU KNOW, ALBUQUERQUE BEING ON ITS OWN, ITS OWN MUNICIPALITY, CAN DO THESE KIND OF THINGS BUT THE OPPONENTS SAY, NO, IN FACT,

YOU CAN'T AS A MUNICIPALITY. WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ON THAT ONE, THE HOME RULE THING? IS THAT GOING TO FIND TRACTION? PART OF THE ARGUMENT FOR ME IS THE IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE NEVER HAVE A VOICE. FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DO BALLOT MEASURES IN THE CITY, THAT IS RIDICULOUS. WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. WHY WOULD WE SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF YOU REALLY THOUGHT THAT, WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE SOMETHING BEFORE NOW. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO COME RIGHT -- I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS IN ALBUQUERQUE. I MEAN THEY TRIED TO PUT IT THROUGH THE COUNCIL AND COLLECTED SIGNATURES. THAT IS THE CORE OF DEMOCRACY, AND WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YEAH, IT IS MESSY, BUT IF THE PEOPLE NEVER GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD EXCEPT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE TO REPRESENT THEM, THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THIS EXPERIMENT IN AMERICA. IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE WE HAVE

TO -- WE DON'T HAVE IT STATE-WIDE, WHICH IS GOOD AND BAD IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE MONEY THAT FLOWS INTO STATE-WIDE BALLOT MEASURES, BUT TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS WHO FOLLOWED THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY CHARTER TO A TEE, CAN'T HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT IS JUST RIDICULOUS. >> THAT IS PROBABLY MORE INTERESTING TO ME, THAT BIT, THAN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS OTHER BIT. NOW RACHEL THE OTHER BIT WHICH IS INTERESTING, IS THE IDEA ERIC MENTIONED THE 90 DAY WINDOW THERE, BUT THE OTHER PART IS THAT THIS ALSO APPLIES NOT JUST TO PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME FOLKS BUT TEMP WORKERS AS WELL. SOME OF THE EMPLOYERS I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE A REAL ISSUE WITH THAT, THAT SOMEHOW THIS EXTENDS TO TEMP WORKERS THAT SOMEHOW, IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO EARN THEIR WAY INTO THE COMPANY, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEN YOU GET THE GOOD STUFF LIKE SICK LEAVE. ARE YOU HEARING THINGS ABOUT THAT AS WELL, THE TEMP SIDE OF THINGS AS BEING A POTENTIAL STICKING POINT FOR THEM? >> THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HEAR ABOUT AND BEYOND JUST THE GENERAL PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEBATE, THE LAWYER ISSUE AND THAT ISSUE

ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT. >> AND THE 90 DAY THING, I'LL GET TO ERIC IN A SECOND BUT THE IDEA THAT AN EMPLOYEE COULD COME BACK AROUND AND SAY, WELL IN THE 90 DAYS AFTER I TOOK THIS SICK LEAVE, SOMETHING HAPPENED. AND MY WORRY IS, IS IT POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WHERE AN EMPLOYEE WANTING TO JACK UP THE FORMER EMPLOYER COULD SAY, I GOT FIRED FOR THIS OTHER THING, BUT REALLY IT WAS ABOUT THIS SICK THING AND THEY HAVE TO FIGHT IT OUT IN COURT. >> THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING THEY ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT. NOW SUPPORTERS OF THE ORDINANCE SAY THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS IN THERE TO MAKE THAT UNLIKELY. CERTAINLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS KEEPING EMPLOYERS UP AT NIGHT. >> IT COSTS MONEY, ERIC, TO DO THESE THINGS IF YOU HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF IN COURT, IS THAT FAIR TO THE EMPLOYER THAT MAY HAVE A PROBLEM 90 DAYS DOWN THE ROAD. >> NOT IF THEY ARE ACTING RESPONSIBLY. >> WHO WOULD DETERMINE THAT; THE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR? WOULD IT BE THE COURTS? >> IF YOU FIRE SOMEBODY WHO TOOK THIS BENEFIT WHICH AGAIN

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 401K HERE IN TERMS OF THE TEMP EMPLOYEES. THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS FEDERAL LAW DOESN'T COVER A LOT OF THESE FOLKS AND THE WAY, SADLY, MANY EMPLOYERS GET AROUND THOSE REQUIREMENTS IS THEY HIRE FOLKS AS TEMPS. THERE IS THIS BOOM IN TEMP AGENCIES. SO THE WAY YOU GET AROUND A LOT OF THESE LAWS, SADLY, AND I WISH IT WAS AN EXCEPTION, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY STANDARD PRACTICE AMONG COMPANIES, INCLUDING IN ALBUQUERQUE, YOU USE THESE MUCH MORE TENUOUS EMPLOYMENT SITUATIONS, WITHOUT BENEFITS, WITHOUT RETIREMENT, WITHOUT SOMETHING AS BASIC AS SICK LEAVE. I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 401K OR PAID LEAVE TO GO DO EVEN PTA STUFF. WE ARE TALKING IF YOU NEED SICK LEAVE. SO, ALL IT SAYS, I HOPE PEOPLE READ THE ORDINANCE. SADLY, THESE SAME GROUPS THAT FOUGHT AGAINST ACTUALLY HAVING THE ORDINANCE PRINTED IN A LEGIBLE FONT OR SUMMARY SO PEOPLE CAN READ IT. GO AND READ THE ORDINANCE. WHAT THAT SECTION SAYS, IF YOU

FIRE SOMEBODY AND IT IS PROVEN THAT YOU DID THAT BECAUSE THEY TOOK SICK LEAVE, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE LIABILITY THERE. IF YOU DIDN'T AND IT IS ERRONEOUS, LIKE ANY OTHER FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS, THERE IS A PROCESS, BUT WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT ARBITER OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENS. I THINK IT IS A RED HERRING. THIS WHOLE ISSUE -- >> WHO PAYS FOR THE LAWYER WHEN THEY FILE A CLAIM? THE BUSINESS DOES. THESE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ALL THIS STUFF. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GROUND SWELL OF GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ACORN THAT HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING INVOLVED IN PARTISAN POLITIC POLITICS, A LONG HISTORY OF BEING INVOLVED WITH FALSELY REGISTERING PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN NEW MEXICO, THROWING AWAY VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS THAT ARE ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER, IT IS INTERESTING WHEN YOU HEAR ERIC SAY THIS IS A GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT FOR THE WORKERS, THIS IS REALLY A POLITICAL MOVE. WHICH IS FINE. IT'S A POLITICAL MOVE BY AN ORGANIZATION WITH AN AGENDA AND I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT. >> ACORN IS NOT PART OF THE LANDSCAPE ANYMORE, ARE THEY? >> YES, THOSE GUYS -- I MEAN, CHANGE YOUR NAME, SAME

ORGANIZATION, DO THE SAME THING, ALL PART OF THE SAME GROUP OF FABRIC OF PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY, IT IS NOT ABOUT SICK LEAVE, ONE HOUR. IT IS ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET AN AGENDA THROUGH WHERE YOU JUST BEAT DOWN THE BUSINESSES, FORCE THEM TO PAY FOR PEOPLE. ERIC IS RIGHT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FILE A COMPLAINT AND ACCORDING TO THIS ORDINANCE YOU FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE BUSINESS HAS TO DEFEND ITSELF AND HAS TO PAY TO DEFEND YOU AS WELL. >> THE IDEA OF THE PEOPLE HAVING A SAY IN THIS, SEEMS VERY SIMPLE ON ITS SURFACE. YOU TOUCHED ON IT A MINUTE AGO. ARE THERE NOT CERTAIN THINGS BETTER LEFT TO ANOTHER DEVICE BESIDES PEOPLE WEIGHING IN ON HOW A BUSINESS DOES ITS BUSINESS, SO TO SPEAK? >> ABSOLUTELY. BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE HAD MANY YEARS TO DO THAT AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS THEN CHANGE THE CITY CHARTER. WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THE RUMORS FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THIS, IS THAT WE

SHOULD EXPECT FROM THEM COMING UP A BALLOT MEASURE TO GET RID OF BALLOT MEASURES. I AM GOING TO HAVE FUN WITH THAT ONE IF THEY DO THAT. I JUST WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON DAN BECAUSE -- >> SURPRISE. >> I KNOW. BACK IN 1985 IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE, I WAS A PROUD CANVASSERS FOR ACORN. THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD AROUND THIS COUNTRY. THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT TRIED TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN THINGS AND JUST LIKE ANYTHING, WHETHER IT IS LEGISLATORS OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BAD APPLES, BUT THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD. I KNOW, I PERSONALLY WORKED ON CLEANING UP TOXIC DUMPS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND GETTING RACE LAWS PASSED. >> WE KNOW THAT THEY LITERALLY THREW AWAY HUNDREDS OF REPUBLICAN BALLOTS AND TRIED TO STIFLE THE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS. [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> ACORN. WE HAVE TO LEAVE ACORN. WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT HERE AT THE LINE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE CONCERNS OVER ACCREDITATION AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS IS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ONLINE TO GET UPDATES ON UPCOMING SHOWS AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOP NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK. THEN, TUNE IN BECAUSE WE MAY SHARE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE LINE. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE. LAST WEEK, HLC, WHICH STANDS FOR HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION, SENT UNM'S ACTING PRESIDENT, ABDALLAH, AN UNSETTLING LETTER THAT PUTS THE SCHOOL'S ACCREDITATION IN HLC SAID IT WAS AWARE OF NEW MEXICO AUDITOR, TIM KELLER'S, INVESTIGATION INTO THE OVERSIGHT OF UNM'S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, AN INVESTIGATION THAT HAS EXPANDED TO THE SCHOOL'S OVERALL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. NOW, THE COMMISSIONER REQUESTED A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCERNS THAT LED TO THE INVESTIGATION, AND WHAT UNM IS DOING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEADLINE FOR DELIVERY OF THE REPORT IS SEPTEMBER 14. ERIC, UNM HAS BEEN ACCREDITED THROUGH HLC FROM LIKE 1922. THE LAST ONE WAS 2009,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ANYWAY, IS THERE REALLY A CHANCE HERE AN ENTIRE UNIVERSITY COULD LOSE ACCREDITATION? I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. DO THINK IT SPEAKS TO A LARGER PROBLEM THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS HAD FOR RECENT HISTORY, LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CERTAIN MAJOR ELEMENTS; IN THIS CASE, THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT. WE ALL LOVE THE LOBOS BUT I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A MUCH TIGHTER GRIP ON THE FINANCES THERE, BECAUSE OF PRESSURE AND SO ON THAN THERE IS IN THE REST OF THE UNIVERSITY. I THINK WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER MANAGEMENT ESPECIALLY UNDER LEADERSHIP ABDALLAH'S LEADERSHIP, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE FINE, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A REAL WAKE UP CALL FOR HOW MUCH -- HOW HANDS OFF WE HAVE BEEN IN THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE AUDITOR BECAUSE THIS IS A TOUGH THING TO DO RIGHT. WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CRITICIZING THE LOBOS AND HE REALLY TOOK A COURAGEOUS STAND AND SOME FOLKS TOLD HIM NOT TO DO IT. AND HE HAS GOTTEN BEAT UP OVER IT, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

THAT WE CALL IT LIKE WE SEE IT AND I THINK THERE IS SOME REAL REFORM NEEDED IN THAT PART OF THE UNIVERSITY. >> RACHEL, OUTSIDE OF ATHLETICS, THERE HAS BEEN OTHER SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE LOST ACCREDITATION OVER THE YEARS. SOMETIMES FOR A CYCLE AND IT COMES BACK. IT SEEMS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY IS ON TOP OF THIS. I MENTIONED INTERIM PRESIDENT ABDALLAH IS SENDING A LETTER SAYING, WE ARE ON IT, WE'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN A TIMELY MANNER, BUT, HOWEVER, TO ERIC'S POINT, THE ATHLETIC THING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN INTERNALLY FOR THE ACCREDITATION PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU GUYS ARE GOOD NOW. YOU KNOW, ONE HAS TO COME BEFORE THE OTHER. >> I GUESS WHAT THEY ARE HOW MUCH, IF ANY, RIPPLE EFFECT THERE IS TO THE REST OF THE UNIVERSITY BEYOND ATHLETICS. AND BY ASKING FOR THE DOCUMENTS, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THAT TO FEEL IT OUT WOULD BE MY GUESS. >> ANY PROBLEMS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? WORST CASE HERE. YOU HAVE GOT THE STATE FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY.

IF IT EVER LOST ACCREDITATION, THE RIPPLE EFFECT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE IN THE COMMUNITY HERE. IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY, ACTUALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO MUCH OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY AROUND IT IS CENTERED AROUND UNM. IT WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. >> I THINK OF THE NEW BUILDING GOING UP DOWNTOWN AND ALL THE INVESTMENTS GOING ON, THIS IS THE LAST THING THEY NEED RIGHT NOW. HERE WE ARE, WHAT DO WE DO HERE? >> THE ONE GROUP THAT KEEPS MECHANISM BY THE MEDIA IS THE BOARD OF REGENTS. THAT IS WHERE THE BUCK STOPS. IT DOESN'T STOP AT THE PRESIDENT. IT DOESN'T EVEN STOP WITH THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. THOSE GUYS ALL REPORT TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN NOTABLY QUIET AND ABSENT, YOU KNOW. TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM OVER ALL THE YEARS, I AM NOT SURE I BUY THAT. SEEMS TO BE THE GO TO ANSWER, YOU FIGURED IT OUT, IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR 100 YEARS. I DON'T BUY THAT. I THINK IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO. THERE HAS BEEN A SENSE OF ARROGANCE WHEN IT COMES TO

ATHLETICS, FIRING OF COACHES, PAYING UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR COACHES, HIRING COACHES, VERY LITTLE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE CONSTANT PUSH BACK THAT WE ARE NOT FILLING ENOUGH SEATS, NOT PAYING FOR STUFF, NOT DOING THINGS, BUT IT IS NOT OUR FAULT, IT IS FAULT. THE INVESTMENT IN THE PIT THAT IT TURNS AROUND, WE REDO THE PIT, HAVE LUXURY BOXES AND NOW WE CAN NEVER HOST AN NCAA TOURNAMENT BECAUSE THE COURT ISN'T BIG ENOUGH. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT IF YOU WERE RUNNING A PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS, THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR WOULD COME DOWN TO THE MAN IN CHARGE AND SAY, WE HAVE TO QUESTION YOUR LEADERSHIP. UNM'S BOARD OF REGENTS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE, THEY ARE THE GUYS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU OVERPAY A COACH THAT YOU HAVE LET GO AND BOARD OF REGENTS DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT? HOW DO YOU HAVE SUITES OUT THERE THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS DOESN'T KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES NOT PAYING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS BOARDS OF REGENTS, I THINK BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT FIRING COACHES AND PRESIDENTS

AND HIRING NEW PRESIDENTS, I THINK SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE IT STARTS AT THE TOP. >> GOOD POINT. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> TOUCH ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD. THE BUCK HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE AND THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY, WE ARE ON IT, AWARE OF IT. THAT IS INTERESTING THEY ARE SO QUIET FROM THE REGENTS END OF THE HALL. >> IT IS AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF QUESTIONS WE HEAR ALL THE TIME, WHETHER IT IS THE SO, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHY ARE WE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS? DAN TALKED ABOUT THE SKY BOXES AND THINGS THAT AREN'T GETTING PAID, THOSE WERE SOME OF THE LAMEST EXCUSES I HAVE READ ABOUT WHY SOMEBODY WASN'T PAYING THEIR BILLS. COME ON. >> THEY PUBLISHED NAMES THAT COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND SAY WE PAID IT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? >> THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AND LET'S BE HONEST, EVERYTHING STARTED GOING DOWNHILL WHEN WE RENAMED THE PIT. I MEAN SERIOUSLY WE RENAMED IT AFTER A PIZZA COMPANY AND I'M

SURPRISED THAT THE COOLEST THING WE HAVE EVER HAD IN ALBUQUERQUE, THE PIT, IS, I MEAN, TO DAN'S POINT, IT IS NOT A REGULATION SIZE COURT ANY MORE. I JUST THINK I AM GLAD THAT THE AUDITOR IS DOING WHAT HE IS DOING HERE. I MEAN WE HAVE SEEN THE AUDITOR DOING THAT IN CITIES AND TOWNS AND WITH UNIVERSITIES AND IT IS IMPORTANT. I MEAN IT IS LIKE WITH OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY MONEY THAT IS JUST SITTING ON SOMEBODY'S BOOKS OUT THERE. WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY POOR STATE. WE NEED OUR RESOURCES AND NOTHING OFFENDS US MORE THAN TO SEE SOMEBODY MISUSING THOSE RESOURCE. AND I WAS PLEASED WITH THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> HE IS IN A TOUGH SPOT. I MEAN IF YOU TELL SOMEONE WE ARE GIVING YOU ALL THIS ACCOUNTABILITY WITH ZERO AUTHORITY BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'LL BE GONE EVENTUALLY. WE HAVEN'T LAID OUT THE PLAN FOR FINDING A NEW PRESIDENT. WE KIND OF AND BY THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO HIRE A NEW PRESIDENT AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BEFORE WE BRING IN THE NEW PRESIDENT WHICH IS THE

CRAZIEST THING ANYBODY EVER HEARD OF. AND, AGAIN, THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE DIRECTING ALL OF THIS, BOARD OF REGENTS, ARE SITTING THERE TWIDDLING THEIR THUMBS. >> WHAT ARE THEIR SALARIES? WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S SALARY? WHAT IS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S SALARY? >> THE BOARD OF REGENTS DON'T GET PAID. THEY GET BENEFITS THAT ARE UNBELIEVABLE; SIDE LINE PASSES AND FLY TO EVERYTHING. IT IS A SHAME AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS TAKING STATE AUDITOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE APPOINTED THESE FOLKS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE SEEMS TO BE VERY LITTLE EVEN COMING OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYING SAYING, YOU GUYS THAT I APPOINTED, I AM HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX IT. >> I AM GLAD YOU PUT THAT WORD IN THERE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. ERIC GRIEGO, YOUR SENSE OF PILING ON HERE? PILING ON THE UNIVERSITY? I UNDERSTAND MR. KELLER'S IDEA TO LOOK INTO THIS AND HAVE MR. BALDERAS LOOKING INTO THIS AS WELL. IS THAT PILING ON A LITTLE BIT? SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE BACKED OFF AND LITTLE BIT AND LET THE UNIVERSITY FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL SPORTS TEAM, SO THE LOBOS ARE OUR TEAM, THAT IS OUR MASCOT AND THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY IS SORT OF EXCITED ABOUT AND LOYAL TO AND SO ON. HOWEVER, MY EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE ESPECIALLY FOR RURAL LEGISLATORS, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP FOLKS, THEY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN PILING ON AND SORT OF POINTING OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS AT UNM. >> IT'S A THING. >> YEAH. GRANTED THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ISSUES WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BUT IT IS ALSO SORT OF CULTURAL ISSUE WE HAVE WHERE THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE, YOU KNOW. SAME ISSUE WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LEGISLATURE, OUTSIDE OF THAT ALBUQUERQUE, THERE IS THAT BIG INSTITUTION GETTING ALL THIS MONEY AND MISMANAGED AND RUNNING WILD AND OCCASIONALLY WE HEAR THE L WORD, LIBERAL, WITH ACADEMICS, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I HOPE IT DOESN'T FEED INTO THIS ANTI-ACADEMIC THING GOING ON. I WILL SAY ONE IMPORTANT THING AND -- >> THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING?

>> YEAH. WELL, ONE VERY IMPORTANT POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS WHEN THE GOVERNOR REALLY USED HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDS AS A NEGOTIATING CHIP, I THINK THAT SENT A REALLY CHILLING EFFECT INTO A LOT OF THIS ROLE AS TO HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, FLAGSHIP BEING PRIMARY AMONG THEM, AND A LOT OF FOLKS, IT AFFECTED MORALE, ABILITY, GRANTS, SO, I THINK I DO WORRY THAT THIS SORT OF BUYING INTO THAT NARRATIVE WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. >> TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT TO SOME EXTENT, PART OF -- PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO, PART OF THAT HIGHER EDUCATION CONVERSATION STEMS FROM THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION. HEY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WE GOT TO FIND MONEY TO OPERATE K THROUGH 12, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND YOU GUYS ARE PAYING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS, YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW WHO IS PAYING BACK THE SUITE MONEY, OH, BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU FLOATED THE BOND YOU SAID THE SEATS WOULD PAY THE DEBT ON IT. I MEAN THE GOVERNOR, TO HER

CREDIT, HAS SAID THIS HIGHER EDUCATION CONVERSATION ESPECIALLY IN ALBUQUERQUE, WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. >> AT THE SAME TIME, AS YOU JUST SAID, SHE IS THE ONE THAT APPOINTED THE REGENTS. THE BUCK IS GOING TO KEEP GOING ON UP AND TO ERIC'S POINT, TO COMPLETELY LINE ITEM HIGHER EDUCATION, THAT IS NOT NEGOTIATING. >> WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? >> I CALL IT UGLY AND VINDICTIVE. >> AND IRRESPONSIBLE. >> YOU CAN'T DO THAT. I MEAN, THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. YOU NEGOTIATE, YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO WERE LIVID ABOUT THAT. >> OF COURSE, THEY WERE LIVID BUT AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE THE POWER OF THE PEN TO SAY THESE NEGOTIATIONS AREN'T WORKING AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE IT. EVERY GOVERNOR HAS TO DONE IT, FOR YEARS. GOVERNOR RICHARDSON, GOVERNOR ANAYA. [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> THE GOVERNOR HAS NEVER SAID BASICALLY WE ARE GOING TO GUT OUR HIGHER EDUCATION AND HAD RESEARCH GRANTS LEAVING.

IN THIS CASE, NOW, YOU KNOW, WE -- UNM HAS TAKEN A HIT BUT ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE TAKEN A HIT. TALK TO FACULTY MEMBERS OR GRANTING INSTITUTIONS, JUST THIS THREAT AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM A GOVERNOR ON TO HIGHER ED HAS SENT -- TALK ABOUT A NATIONAL IMPACT, IT HAS REALLY, REALLY BEEN, YOU KNOW, IT HAS AFFECTED -- >> I HAVE TO WRAP IT HERE BUT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL THIS ACCREDITATION AFFECTS THINGS LIKE GRANTS AND PEOPLE RETIRING, NOT RETIRING, STUDENTS COMING IN OR NOT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? >> IT ALL HAS AN EFFECT. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LATEST NEWS FROM THIS YEARS CANDIDATES FOR THE MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE, BUT FIRST, NEW MEXICO PBS AND THE CRIMINAL SECTION OF THE NEW MEXICO BAR ASSOCIATION HELD A FORUM FOR THE CANDIDATES. THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT AND THEY ADDRESSED MANY ANGLES ON CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY. LET'S HEAR PART OF THAT FORUM

NOW. >> VERY GOOD. SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU MS. WHEELER-DEICHSEL AND THEN WE'LL SWING BACK DOWN TO THE END AND HEAD DOWN THE LINE FROM THERE. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE TERRIBLE STATISTICS, THE BIGGEST ONE, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAVE SEEN IS ALBUQUERQUE LEADS THE NATION IN CAR THEFTS PER CAPITA. SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE QUESTION ABOUT CRIME, SOMETHING YOU ALL MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT. WHAT UNIQUELY IS THE CRIME PROBLEM IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN NOW? >> WELL, IT IS A COMBINATION OF TWO THINGS, JEFF. BUT, OF COURSE, THEY RELATE VERY CLOSELY TO ONE ANOTHER. IT IS DRUG ADDICTION, DRUG ABUSE, COUPLED WITH POVERTY. IN OUR CITY. SO, THAT MAKES US SOMEWHAT UNIQUE BUT NOT PARTICULARLY UNIQUE AND POVERTY ISN'T NECESSARILY A FACTOR IN EVERY DRUG ADDICTION SITUATION.

SO, ARE WE ASKING FOR SOLUTIONS? >> THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT QUESTION. >> IS THAT IT? SHOULD I CONTINUE? >> PLEASE CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU THINK THE PROBLEM IS. >> WELL, I AM DESCRIBING THAT. I DO KNOW THAT DATA SUGGESTS THAT 92% OF ALL OUR POLICE CALLS RIGHT NOW CONCERN EITHER CRISES RELATED TO DRUG ISSUES, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOUND THEMSELVES TO BE UNHOUSED, ALL AND A COMBINATION OF THOSE THINGS, AND AS A CITY WE HAVE TO MAKE A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH. THERE ARE NO SIMPLE ANSWERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SUGGEST, THOUGH, ARE MOBILE UNITS THAT ARE DISPATCHED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, POSSIBLY UP TO 12, THAT ARE LIKE RV'S THAT ARE STAFFED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN TRIAGE FOLKS RIGHT ON THE STREET AND THEN TRANSFER THEM TO THE MENTAL HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL

HEALTH CAMPUS THAT WE DON'T HAVE PRESENTLY. I AM SUGGESTING SOMETHING LIKE THE TUCSON ARIZONA MODEL. >> THANK YOU. >> MS. GARCIA HOLMES. >> YOU KNOW, IT IS A LOT OF ISSUES AND I HAVE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT. NO. 1, I AM GOING TO SAY THERE IS A LACK OF OFFICERS. APD IS SUFFERING FROM LACK OF POLICE OFFICERS AND MAN POWER TO INVESTIGATE CASES. THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED GOOD CASES OVER THE YEARS AND SUBMITTED THOSE CASES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HOWEVER, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE PERFECT STORM. MANAGEMENT ORDER THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE CASES. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT OCCUR WHEN YOU CAN'T PROSECUTE CASES. THEN, NOW, THERE WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT THEN AFFECTED HOW INDIVIDUALS WERE RELEASED FROM JAIL. SO, NOW, WE HAVE THIS REVOLVING DOOR BECAUSE FELONS ARE RELEASED ON THEIR OWN

RECOGNIZANCE AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET OUT ON THE STREETS. AND WE ALL SEEN THE YOUNG MAN'S FACE ON TV WHERE HE SMILES WHEN GOT OUT ON OR AND GOT RELEASED WITH NO BONDS. WE'RE DEALING WITH A TOUGH SYSTEM THAT NEEDS CHANGES AND IT NEEDS CHANGING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND CHANGING AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND WE NEED MORE MAN POWER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS? >> THE CITY IS DEFINED BY CRIME BECAUSE NOBODY GOES TO JAIL IN THE CITY. AND, THEY DON'T STAY THERE VERY LONG. REFORMS BY THE COURT AND DECISIONS OF THE NEW MEXICO, YOU KNOW, SUPREME COURT, THEY OVER SHADOW THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION, WHEN YOU LET 2,000 PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS, CRIME IS GOING UP IN THE CITY. REPEAT HABITUAL OFFENDERS STEALING MOST OF THE CARS AND BREAKING INTO MOST OF THE BUSINESSES AND HOMES, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MAYOR WHO WILL CALL IT WHAT IT IS, NOT PASSING THE BLAME. IT IS SIMPLY SAYING, WE HAVE TO -- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE KIND OF DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO ACCOUNTABILITY

AND THE FACT IS, DECISIONS THAT HAVE MADE BEEN HAVE LED NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT ON THE STREETS, QUICKLY AFTER SEEING A JUDGE. AND WHEN THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCES. WE DO NEED A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS FULLY STAFFED AND IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE IN OUR BUDGETS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT MEANS INCREASING OFFICER PAY, GIVING THEM A COMPETITIVE WAGE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE MAKING MORE ARRESTS AND DO COMMUNITY POLICING THAT IS INTELLIGENT AND SMART. WE KNOW WHERE CRIME IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MOST AREAS OF THE CITY SO IT TAKES A STRONG, YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPECTED AND TRUSTED THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY TRUST, AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM, JUSTICE SYSTEM. I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING AND TALKING TO, YOU KNOW, THE CRIMINAL SECTION OF THE NEW MEXICO BAR, BECAUSE WE NEED THEIR INSIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHALLENGES ALL OF US THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> MR. PEDROTTY? >> THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE HYDE SHOOTING. WHEN WE CHOSE TO RESPOND MORE SERVICES FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ESCALATED OUR POLICE FORCE. WE DIDN'T LOOK TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE. WE LOOKED TO PROTECT OURSELVES, ONLY UNDERSTANDING POPULATION IN THE ENTIRE CITY. THIS MOVED ON, THIS CREATED A CULTURE OF AGGRESSION AND NOW WE END UP IN A DOJ MANDATE WHICH IN SO MANY WAYS TELLS US WAYS TO FIX THESE ISSUES AND WE'RE STILL OBSTINATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. OF COURSE, WE HAVE A POLICE SHORTAGE. ONLY AFTER DECISIONS WERE MADE THAT MADE PEOPLE WANT TO LEAVE. AFTER A CULTURE THAT FELT OPPRESSIVE EVEN WITHIN THE POLICE UNIT. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE SOCIAL ISSUES. THEY ARE WAYS WE HAVE NEGLECTED VERY VULNERABLE AND IMPORTANT COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY. AND THE FACT WE AREN'T MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO TRY TO ENGAGE ALL THAT TOGETHER, TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES WITHIN OUR OWN CONTEXT, AND HOLISTICALLY APPROACH THESE SITUATIONS, MEANS CRIME MAY NOT CHANGE IN OUR CITY UNLESS WE HAVE REAL ALTERNATIVES FOR HOW TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS THROUGH SERVICES OTHER THAN OUR POLICE FORCE,

NOT ASKING THEM TO BE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ANYMORE, WE MIGHT NOT GET THERE. >> MR. KELLER. >> I THINK ACTUALLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME GREAT PIECES RAISED ON THIS. FOR ME THE CHALLENGE IS WE ARE AWARE OF THIS AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. ADDICTION AND IT IS ABOUT GANGS AND IT IS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RESOURCES IN THE COURTS AND DA AND ABOUT HOW OUR CITY GUTTED THE AUTO THEFT DEPARTMENT, THE UNIT THAT ACTUALLY WENT AFTER THESE. SO, THESE ARE ALL REAL THINGS BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO GOING FORWARD, BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT A MAYOR CAN DO. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO GO FIGHT FOR MONEY AT THE LEGISLATURE FOR COURTS AND THE DA. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO GO TALK TO JUDGES AND THE DA ABOUT WHAT WE DO ABOUT REVOLVING DOOR CRIMINALS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MAYOR HAS TO KNOW WHAT THE

MAYOR CAN DO ON THEIR OWN AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. FOR ME, IT IS ABOUT HOLDING EVEN THE PURCHASERS OF STOLEN CARS ACCOUNTABLE AND ABOUT ACTUALLY GETTING TREATMENT DELIVERED NOW THROUGH BUILDING A TREATMENT FACILITY IN OUR CITY. >> MR. COLON. >> VISIBILITY ENFORCEMENT AND EXECUTION, THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT. WE HAVE CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, YES, DRIVEN BY OPIOID ADDICTION, DRIVEN BY GANG VIOLENCE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES AND YES, OF COURSE, THE UNDERLYING OVERALL ISSUE IS POVERTY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE CRIMINAL LAW SECTION OF THE STATE BAR, THEY'LL TELL YOU THERE IS NO MORE PROSECUTION, NO LONGER DWI ARRESTS. I WANT TO BELIEVE PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE UBER AND LIFT IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE ZERO VISIBILITY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE PROPER STAFFING FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE NO. 1 CONCERN HAS TO BE NOT JUST BUDGETING FOR THE PROPER NUMBER OF OFFICERS, WHICH IT SURPRISES PEOPLE TO

LEARN WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT REPRESENTS STAFFING OF 1000 OFFICERS IN THE STREETS AND COMMUNITY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE 150 OFFICERS SHORT BECAUSE WE ENJOYED WHAT THEY CALL VACANCY SAVINGS. WHAT I SAY IS WE CAN'T ENJOY VACANCY SAVINGS BECAUSE IT IS COSTING MORE ON THE BACK END FOR CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> SOME OF YOU SCRATCHED A LITTLE BIT AT WHAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL OR MOST OF YOU HAVE RELEASED PLANS ON YOUR WEBSITES AND HAD NEWS CONFERENCES ABOUT HOW YOU WILL ADDRESS THE CRIME PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE TWO THINGS, START WITH YOU MR. COLON, WHAT ARE THE TWO THINGS SPECIFICALLY AS THE MAYOR YOU CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, NOT WHAT DO THE COURTS NEED TO DO, THE JUDGES, WHAT DOES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEED TO DO. AS THE MAYOR, WHAT ARE THE TOP TWO THINGS YOU CAN DO STARTING ON YOUR FIRST DAY IN OFFICE TO >> THE FIRST THING IS REBUILD TRUST. THE TRUST IS BROKEN BETWEEN

THE LEADERSHIP IN APD AND ADMINISTRATION AND RANK AND FILE OFFICERS, THE WOMEN AND MEN THAT PATROL OUR STREETS. SECONDLY, TRUST IS BROKEN BETWEEN APD AND CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO TRUE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING SO FOR ME IT IS ABOUT SENDING SIGNALS AND MESSAGES AND ROLLING UP MY SLEEVES AND SAYING, YES, WE'LL HAVE A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE AND SHE OR HE WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR. WE ARE GOING TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND BE ENGAGED IN THE ISSUE. NO LONGER WILL ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENTS TURN ON THE TV TO FIND A DIFFERENT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER EVERY EVENING. THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM THE CHIEF. THEY NEED TO KNOW WE ARE STAFFING OUR SUBSTATIONS IN BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE A TRUE COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL POLICES. ONE, RESTAFF APPROPRIATELY, NEW LEADERSHIP WITH STAFFING AND GET BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT IS HOW YOU ADDRESS ISSUES OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH BRIAN AT ALL. FIRST THING WE'LL DO IS FIND A

REPLACEMENT FOR OUR POLICE CHIEF DOING A NATIONAL SEARCH BUT WE CERTAINLY WON'T NEGLECT TO LOOK AT QUALIFIED TALENT LOCALLY. THEN STARTING WITH THAT, AGAIN, OUR COMMAND STAFF, COMPLETE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO A TEE AND EXCEEDING ITS BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST ALSO ADDRESS THE MANY -- THE MANY ISSUES RELATING TO POVERTY, DRUG ADDICTION, LACK OF EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY AND THOSE ARE VERY, VERY COMPLICATED THINGS. I TOO WILL ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AS I ALWAYS HAVE DONE AND GET OUT THERE AND LEAD FROM THE FRONT AND I COMPLETELY BELIEVE THAT OUR CHIEF AND OUR MAYOR WILL SHOW UP TO THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST IN THE COMMUNITY. THEIR FACES WILL APPEAR AN TV AND THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. >> FOLLOW-UP, I GUESS. TWO THINGS.

I AGREE WITH BRIAN ON THIS, I THINK WE NEED NEW MANAGEMENT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NEW LEADERSHIP, DEFINITELY THAT IS SOMETHING THE MAYOR HAS CONTROL OVER, BUT THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO DO WITH THAT, IS WE HAVE TO GET THE POLITICS OUT OF POLICING, YOU KNOW. WE TEND TO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THINGS AND THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICS INVOLVED IN POLICING AND WE DO THEIR JOB. THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND INVESTIGATE CASES. THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ARRESTS, AND BASICALLY DO THEIR JOB. AND IT ALL REFLECTS BACK ON THE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP THEY'LL MAKE GOOD POLICY AND YOU'LL HAVE GOOD OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET DOING THEIR JOB, NOT VIOLATING THAT GOOD POLICY. THE OTHER THING, WE NEED PROPER STAFFING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS; BOTTOM LINE. >> TWO THINGS.

>> OUR POLICE NEED GOOD LEADERSHIP. SPEAKING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THEY CAN TRUST, ALL HAVE THEIR BACKS, WE'LL ENSURE THAT ARE WELL LED, WELL PAID AND WELL TRAINED, BUT IT STARTS BY ENSURING THAT THEY ARE WELL PAID. WE'RE LOSING OFFICERS TO OTHER BY ENSURING THEY HAVE A COMPETITIVE WAGE AND THAT MEANS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. I VOTED AGAINST THREE BUDGETS, TWO MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PUT A PRIORITY ON PUBLIC SAFETY. ON DAY ONE I'LL PROPOSE A 15 MILLION IN BUDGET THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WAGES, FOR SALARIES AND WE'LL BE COMPETITIVE. WE WON'T HAVE TO RETURN TO WORK BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE. WE WILL HAVE OFFICERS RETURNING TO WORK IF WE PAY THEM 90% OF THE PERA. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PERA. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE RAIDING THEIR PERA AND OFFICERS THAT ARE LEAVING

THOSE AGENCIES AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO AGGRESSIVELY ATTRACT LATERAL EXPERIENCED PEOPLE TO THIS DEPARTMENT. >> MAKE SURE WELL LED, WELL PAID, WELL TRAINED, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP. AND ENSURE WE PAY THEM WELL TO GET THEM HERE. WE'LL GET 1200 OFFICERS. IT WON'T BE A QUESTION HOW MANY WE NEED, BUT HOW FAST CAN WE GET THOSE OFFICERS. >> THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, OBVIOUSLY, IS GET A NEW POLICE CHIEF. CLEAR THE HOUSE IN THE COMMAND STAFF, REALLY CHANGE THE CULTURE IN THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT AWAY. WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS IN THE TOOL BOX TO FINISH THE DOJ MANDATE BY GETTING AN APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER. THIS ALLOWS FOR BETTER OVERSIGHT AND IT MAKES IT SO SERVICE SUPPORT AND MAKING SURE NO POLICE CHIEF CAN BE OBSTINATE TOWARDS CHANGES AND ALSO ENSURES THAT THAT PERSON DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME END GAME AS THE NEW POLICE CHIEF OR INTERIM CHIEF PROTECTING THAT MORALE AND THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE DOUBLE DOWN ON THE SERVICE SIDE SUPPORT MODEL AND FIGURE

OUT HOW TO USE EXISTING HEALTHCARE MODELS LIKE PROJECT ECHO AND RENOVATE IT. IDEAS FROM ALBUQUERQUE AND FOR ALBUQUERQUE AND RENOVATE IT FOR CITY SIDE SERVICES, SAYING WE ARE GOING TO GET THOSE 800 OFFICERS, 400 AND SOME ODD ON THE GROUND BEAT OFFICERS IN THE COMMUNITY STAFFED FOR COMMUNITY POLICING MODELS. WE ARE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS THAT ACADEMY CHANGE, FOR THE DEESCALATING; MORE BEING A PARAPROFESSIONAL AND RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> I THINK A LOT ARE GOOD IDEAS. I THINK, IT IS IMPORTANT, THOUGH, WE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT I AM HEARING COSTS MONEY AND THE MAYOR HAS GOT TO KNOW ACTUALLY HOW TO PAY FOR THIS AND THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO ON DAY 1 IS DOING THINGS WE CAN PAY FOR RIGHT AWAY. FIRST, WE NEED MORE OFFICERS EVERY OFFICER IN MY DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO TAKE CALLS IN THE STREET, FROM THE CHIEF ALL THE WAY DOWN. THAT PUTS 100 MORE FOLKS ON THE STREET. WE NEED A NEW CHIEF AND SO FORTH BUT IF YOU GET THE DOJ OUT OF THERE, WE CAN USE LEGAL FEES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE SPENDING ON LEGAL FEES TO

HIRE MORE COPS. WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO FORMER OFFICERS THAT ARE IN RIO RANCHO, LOS LUNAS, SAY, COME BACK AND HELP YOUR CITY. BECAUSE, NOW THERE IS A MAYOR IN CHARGE WHO WOULD BE FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO PROMOTION, FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO DISCIPLINE AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHIEF THAT BELIEVES IN COMMUNITY POLICING. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET MORE PEACE OFFICERS ON THE STREET AND RESTORE TRUST. >> WATCH THE FULL ALBUQUERQUE MAYORAL FORUM ONLINE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG. WELCOME BACK. EIGHT CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR MAYOR THIS YEAR AND BIG CRIME IS THE DEFINING ISSUE FOR CANDIDATES, CERTAINLY, AND ALL THE FORUMS THAT I READ ABOUT AND HEARD ABOUT, CRIME IS THE NO. 1 THING. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANY OF THESE MAYOR'S SO FAR THAT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE THEY ARE ON TOP OF THE CRIME ISSUE? HAS SOMETHING JUMPED OUT AND SAID THIS PERSON IS ON IT. THIS IS THE WAY WE SHOULD GO. >> HEARD A FEW GOOD THINGS AROUND CRIME. THEY HAVE TO ADDRESS CRIME.

THAT IS WHAT THE MEDIA EVERY SINGLE DAY IS CRIME. SOMEBODY ELSE HAS BEEN SHOT. SOMEBODY'S CAR HAS BEEN STOLEN. SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SAW THE PICTURE OF THE WOMAN AND HER GUN OUT IN THE DRIVEWAY. I AM LIKE, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL. THIS IS NEW MEXICO. THEY ARE GOING TO ROLL UP TO THE WRONG DRIVEWAY. SO, I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF THESE CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT THIS. THAT HAS BEEN THE NO. 1 THING THEY HAVE ADDRESSED. THE THINGS THAT HAVE STOOD OUT TO ME ARE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT OBVIOUSLY CHANGING THE CULTURE OF OUR POLICE FORCE AND HAVING MORE COMMUNITY POLICING AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS. I MEAN, WHEN I WAS A KID, WE KNEW THE POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY WERE ON BICYCLES, AND WE MET THEM AND THEY CAME TO OUR CHURCHES AND OUR SCHOOLS. IT WASN'T JUST SOME STRANGER WITH A BADGE THAT YOU WERE A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT. IT WAS PART OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THAT HAS BEEN REALLY SEEING MORE OF A FOCUS ON BRINGING IT BACK TO THE

COMMUNITY AND HAVING MORE INPUT, AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT CRIME ALL DAY LONG BUT IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR OTHER FAVORITE TOPIC, THE ECONOMY, AGAIN WE TALK ABOUT ADDICTION OR CRIME, WELL, PEOPLE HAVE NO MONEY. ONCE AGAIN, 80% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE BORN ON MEDICAID. WE ARE DYING ON THE VINE, SO, IF WE DON'T FIX THE ECONOMY WE CAN DO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO ON CRIME AND IT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> RACHEL, INTERESTING, LET'S GET RIGHT TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN MUSING ABOUT, THIS IDEA THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE LOOKING AT PERHAPS THE LAST RACE WITH PUBLIC FINANCING IN THE SETUP THAT IT IS NOW. TIM KELLER HAS OUTSIDE GROUP WORKING FOR HIM RAISING MONEY TO HELP HIM BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE MORE MONEY. BUT ISN'T A RISK? IF YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE PUBLIC MONEY, SHOULDN'T THAT BE IT? HAVEN'T YOU SAID, THIS IS MY

VALUE SYSTEM. I THINK I CAN WIN ON THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT THEN OOPS, MAYBE I CAN'T. >> WHAT IS YOUR SENSE? THIS RACE IS INTERESTING. THE JOURNAL REPORTING THAT COLON AHD OUT RAISED ALL THE FIELD PRETTY MUCH AND THEN YOU HAVE KELLER, THE ONLY CANDIDATE TAKING PUBLIC FINANCING, AND PEOPLE POINT OUT, WELL, THERE IS THIS COMMITTEE ALSO RAISING MONEY FOR HIM. AND AS REPORTED, THAT APPEARS TO BE ALLOWABLE IF THE CANDIDATE AND COMMITTEE ARE COORDINATING, WHICH BOTH SIDES SAY THEY ARE NOT. >> YOUR SENSE OF THIS MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE. THIS IS NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL NOT AGAINST THE LAW OR ANYTHING OUT THERE, BUT IT GIVES SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE PROBLEM. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS IDEA? >> LET ME SAY, THIS IS MY PERFECT. I SPONSORED IT IN 2005, VOTERS PASSED IT WITH 69% OF THE VOTE. THE DIFFERENCE WAS THERE WAS A MATCHING COMPONENT THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY AN ARIZONA

DECISION. THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK IT DOWN. A DOLLAR A VOTER, IF YOU DO THIS, BY THE WAY, FIRST TIME IT RAN ALL THREE MAYOR'S, MARTY CHAVEZ, RJ BERRY ALL RAN USING IT. WHEN EVERYBODY BUYS INTO THE SYSTEM AND IT IS VIABLE SYSTEM, THEN IT WORKS. ONCE YOU STRUCK DOWN THAT MATCHING FUND AND ONCE WE TRIED TO FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH IT, WHICH WE TRIED TO DO, A BIPARTISAN SET OF COUNCILORS SAID, LOOK, A DOLLAR A VOTER IS NOT ENOUGH FOR A MAYOR'S RACE TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH FOLKS LIKE BRIAN COLON WHO IS RAISING UNGODLY AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM FOLKS WHO FRANKLY HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY. WE COULD HAVE FIXED THIS AND NO NEED FOR THE MFC'S, AT ALL. ANYBODY COULD HAVE RUN COMPETITIVELY AND ANY FOLKS COULD HAVE RUN PUBLIC FINANCE. WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER, AND THIS IS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DECIDED, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. WE WANT TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, REALLY SORT OF STIMIED THOSE THAT WHO DECIDED TO USE IT,

AND IN THIS CASE TIM KELLER IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO SAID REGARDLESS OF THE RISK, REGARDLESS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. I WISH THERE WAS NOT AN MFC THAT HAD TO DO IT BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE TOP THREE REPUBLICANS ALL CONTRIBUTING OR RAISING OVER HALF A MILLION AND THE OTHER DEMOCRAT IN THE RAISE, 81 DONORS. 81 OF HIS DONORS ARE LOOKING AT THAT REPORT TODAY HAVE GIVEN A MAX OUT AT 5,000. MORE THAN HALF OF HIS MONEY HAS COME FROM ESSENTIALLY 80 REALLY WEALTHY AND BY THE WAY, THEY ARE ALL FOLKS WHO ARE RELATED TO A VERY SMALL SET OF INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES ALL OF WHOM HAVE BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. DO YOU WANT THAT SYSTEM OR THIS FLAWED SYSTEM. VIKI AND I AGREE, WE HAVE TO FIX IT. IT IS NOT WORKING. WE TRIED TO FIX IT LAST NOVEMBER AND WE NEED TO FIX IT BUT TO SORT OF JUST GET RID OF IT, SAY, KELLER IS USING IT, HE'S CRAZY, OR TO SAY, UNILATERALLY, JUST HOPE FOR

THE BEST WHEN FOLKS LIKE BRIAN COLON ARE RAISING, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS, IT LOOKS LIKE. >> SO MUCH OF THIS, DAN FOLEY, IS TO REVISIT THE SITUATION WITH A MATCH AND SO FOLKS COME OUT WITH LIKE 600 GRAND PLUS, TO BE COMPETITIVE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS A RACE, BECAUSE EACH TIME YOU GO UP WITH THE PUBLIC FINANCE STUFF SOMEONE IS ALWAYS AHEAD OF YOU. >> I KNOW IT IS NO SURPRISE TO YOU GUYS, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF I KNOW IT IS A SURPRISE. HERE IS THE DEAL, YOU KNOW, IF BRIAN COLON IS RAISING A MILLION FROM 81 PEOPLE, IT IS TIM KELLER'S JOB TO TELL THEM. IT IS NOT THE TAXPAYER'S JOB TO SAY, LET ME GIVE YOU MORE MONEY SO YOU CAN COMPETE. WHEN ERIC TALKS ABOUT HE'S GETTING MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY, THE UNIONS ARE CONTRIBUTED 40,000 PLUS. THEY DON'T HAVE BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY, OR, GUESS WHAT, OA, PEOPLE PUSHING SICK LEAVE DEAL, THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING MONEY TO HELP GET TIM KELLER ELECTED. IT IS ONE THING WHEN YOU SAY HEY LISTEN, ERIC AND I WERE

CLASSMATES 10 YEARS AGO, AND HE STARTED THIS DEAL TO HELP ME AND I APPRECIATE IT, BUT I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM, ANOTHER THING TO SAY MY FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS DOING SOMETHING AND THERE IS NO COORDINATION. IF ANYBODY BELIEVES, THE PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE, THAT IF SUSANA MARTINEZ DID THIS AND JAY MCCLUSKEY WHEN AN RAN THAT ORGANIZATION, HE WOULD SAY THAT IS A CLEAN SEPARATED BREAK, THAT IS NOT TRUE. THIS IS CLEARLY THE PERSON WHO IS RUNNING AROUND TALKING ABOUT UTILIZING THE SYSTEM, ABUSING THE SYSTEM AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THIS AND SO WE ARE SEEING THIS NOT ONLY WITH THE MAYOR'S RACE, WE'RE SEEING THIS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL RACE WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T SIGN THE FORMS, DIDN'T PAY THE $5 WITH BENAVIDEZ AND THAT IS GOING BEFORE THE ETHICS BOARD, I BELIEVE, THIS WEEK. SO, I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT THIS CONSTANT EXAMPLE OF THE FOLKS SAYING, HEY, WE NEED THIS PUBLIC FINANCING YET THE GUYS THAT ARE ADVOCATING THE PUBLIC FINANCING, NOT ERIC, NOT ACCUSING ERIC, BUT LIKE BENAVIDEZ SAYING, HEY, WE ARE

ALL ABOUT PUBLIC FINANCES, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT AREN'T FOLLOWING THE RULE. >> THAT IS NOT TRUE. >> MFC'S ARE TOTALLY LEGAL AND TIM KELLER HAS NO CONTROL -- >> OF COURSE NOT BUT YOU WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE IF JAY MCCLUSKEY DID THIS WITH SUSANA MARTINEZ. >> ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD. >> YOU WOULD NOT BE. [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> THE COURT SAID THEY CAN DO IT, THE COURT SAID THEY COULD DO IT. >> THEY CAN'T COORDINATE. WHEN YOUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER, PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN YOUR CAMPAIGN, THAT ARE INTRICATELY TIED TO YOU GO OUT AND RAISE THAT MONEY AND THAT IS COMING OVERWHELMINGLY FROM UNION ORGANIZATIONS, TIM KELLER -- [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> THIS IS A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING. EVERYBODY KEEPS TALKING ABOUT THEY CAN'T COORDINATE YET WE HAVEN'T FIXED THAT IN THE LAW YET. THE WORD COORDINATE IS NOT EVEN IN THE ALBUQUERQUE LAW; THE STATE LAW. PEOPLE SAY THEY CAN'T COORDINATE AND I AM LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR OWN CIRCUIT SAID THAT SOMEBODY COULD BE COORDINATED AND UNCOORDINATED AT THE SAME TIME. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS PUT THEIR MONEY IN TWO SEPARATE

BANK ACCOUNTS, STILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO I THINK IT IS VERY DISINGENUOUS WHEN EVERYBODY FROM THE CHAMBER TO OLE HAS SUPPORTED PUBLIC FINANCING IN ALBUQUERQUE. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY -- I MEAN, REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN IT FOREVER. IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE MFC, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE BACK IN 2013, ONE GUY CREATED AN MFC TO TAKE OUT IKE BENTON BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE ROUND-ABOUTS. HE SPENT OVER 100,000 IN A CITY COUNCIL RACE TO HELP A REPUBLICAN CITY COUNCILOR. WE HAVE HAD OTHER ONES THAT HAVE BENEFITED. BUT AS ERIC SAID, ONCE WE HAVE CITIZENS UNITED IN 2010 FOLLOWED UP BY ARIZONA FREE ENTERPRISE IN 2011, WHICH SAID PUBLIC FINANCING IS TOTALLY CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT THE MATCHING ISN'T. EITHER WE FIX THE OR EVEN IF WE FIX IT, EVEN IF WE FIX IT, WE ARE STILL GOING TO SEE MFC'S BECAUSE THE COURTS, PARTICULARLY THE TENTH CIRCUIT, ARE NOT GOING TO GET

RID OF IT. >> SO PAT ROGERS, WE MENTIONED HIM, SAME GUY LOOKING FOR THE GHOST OF VOTER FRAUD. HE'S THE LAWYER ON THAT. HE'S THE LAWYER ON THE COMPLAINT AGAINST TIM KELLER. HE'S THE LAWYER ON THE COMPLAINT AGAINST BENAVIDEZ AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS YOU HAVE THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO DISCREDIT THIS SYSTEM. THE QUESTION IS WHY IS IT THAT THIS REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC FINANCING. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOME OF THESE CORPORATE INTERESTS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE CONTRACTS, MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS AND WANT TO KEEP THEM FOR THE CITY, AND A UNION, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE NOT GETTING CONTRACTS. THEY ARE NOT GETTING MULTI MILLION CONTRACTS. >> GOT TO WRAP IT THERE. WE SHALL CONTINUE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. GOOD LIVELY STUFF ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE WAS BIG NEWS THIS WEEK. SOME NEW MEXICANS TRAVELED OUT OF STATE TO VIEW THE FULL ECLIPSE BUT WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE PARTIAL ECLIPSE RIGHT HERE BEHIND OUR STUDIO. >> I AM GENE GRANT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK INFOCUS. >> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND