New Mexico in Focus; 1043; Creating New Opportunities for Native American Students

- Transcript
>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS 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 FOCUS, WE LOOK AT LOCAL EFFORTS TO BETTER SUPPORT NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AND ENSURE THEY FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. >> IF WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH STUDENTS AND WE CAN SHOW THEM, AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, THEY ARE ADEPT TO EXPECT SUCCESS. >> AND THE LINE LOOKS AT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' RECENT VETOES. NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> I AM GENE GRANT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. THE LINE IS READY TO TALK ABOUT TOP STORIES IN THE NEWS, BUT WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND? WHAT STORIES NATIONAL OR LOCAL CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION? GET IN TOUCH WITH US HERE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. LET'S GO NOW TO THE LINE.
>> LOTS OF FOLKS ARE TALKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT ATHLETIC CUTS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND AT UNM. UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY, THEY ARE CUTTING UNM SKI TEAM. COACHES AND STUDENT ATHLETES SAY THEY WEREN'T WARNED IN TIME TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS LIKE TRANSFERRING OR APPLYING FOR OTHER JOBS. APS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CUT COMPETITIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. THIS IS ALL IN CONTEXT OF FUNDING CUTS IN RECENT YEARS FROM THE STATE FOR SCHOOLS AND GOVERNOR MARTINEZ VETOED ALL FUNDING FOR HIGHER ED IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND DETAILS THAT BUDGETS FOR SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES BUT WE WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW NEW MEXICANS ARE TAKING IN THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS. OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS, ARE READY TO JUMP IN. I AM JOINED AT THE TABLE BY FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANICE ARNOLD-JONES, HARRY VAN BUREN, PROFESSOR AT UNM'S ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT. LAURA SANCHEZ-RIVET IS ONE OF OUR REGULARS, AND ATTORNEY AT CUDDY & MCCARTHY, LLP AND ANOTHER REGULAR, SOPHIE MARTIN, ATTORNEY AND EDITOR OF DUKECITYFIX.COM. >> JANICE, DIFFICULT TO BE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR RIGHT NOW. SANTA FE SCHOOLS ARE CONSIDERING CONSOLIDATING SCHOOLS. THAT HAS THE CITY IN ROIL. SPORTS IS THE ISSUE HERE. IN THE CHESS BOARD PLAY OF ALL THIS, WHERE DO WE SIT NOW THAT THIS IS PUT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CITY IS LIT UP ON THIS ONE RIGHT NOW. WAS THIS THE RIGHT TACTIC FOR APS? >> IT IS CERTAINLY AN EFFECTIVE ONE. IT IS NOT A NEW ONE BY ANY STRETCH. COME BACK TO NEW MEXICO, THIS IS MAYBE THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME THEY HAVE DONE THIS, BUT, IT IS EFFECTIVE. ARE YOU SPUN UP? YES YOU ARE. IS THE COMMUNITY UPSET, YES THEY ARE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL, BUT THEY HAVE VOLLEYBALL, TRACK AND BASKETBALL, SMALL PROGRAMS. THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS, BUT IS THIS POLITICAL? YES. IS THERE A PROBLEM? YES? >> GOT YOU. IS THIS THE WAY TO FIX THAT PROBLEM? >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS APS IS DEALING
WITH NOW IS ALL THE CRITICISM AND EVERYBODY UP IN ARMS, IT IS A PLAN RIGHT NOW. THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE PARENTS WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THOSE AGE RANGES, BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING DOING. AND THEY HAVE EMPHASIZED THIS IS REALLY A PLAN RIGHT NOW. GIVEN THAT THEY ARE FACING, YOU KNOW, NEEDING TO MAKE DECISIONS IN CASE THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDING THAT COMES THROUGH. AND I THINK IN THAT WAY THEY ARE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE, NOT UNLIKE WHAT A LOT OF OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE ARE DOING. MY FIRM REPRESENTS A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO WE ARE -- NOT APS -- BUT WE'RE AWARE OF THE TYPE OF BUDGET PROBLEMS THEY ARE FACING AND THIS IS OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT AROUND THE STATE. WHAT IS TROUBLING HERE AND IT IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IS THEY ARE USING IT TO SCARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE, BUT IT IS NOT UNLIKE WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING BY SCARING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSITIES WILL NOT HAVE ANY FUNDING EITHER. TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND YOU CONSIDER THIS IS LIKE A VERY TWISTED ARMS RACE WE ARE HAVING, WHERE EVERYBODY IS SORT OF USING WHATEVER
POLITICAL TOOLS THEY CAN TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE AND IT IS REALLY JUST DRIVING UP A LOT OF ANXIETY AMONG FOLKS. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS TO CUT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA. YOU KNOW. FOR ME IT WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE GROWING UP IN RURAL NEW MEXICO. THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD POSSIBLY AFFORD A CLUB SPORT. I DON'T THINK WE HAD THEM AVAILABLE, SO TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SKILLS AT THAT AGE THAT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT LATER IN LIFE WAS CRUCIAL. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE A SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> GOOD POINT. I LIKE THAT USE OF THE WORD TWISTED ARMS RACE, I LIKE THAT. CONTINUE ON MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. IS THIS A SIDE OF THE BOTTOM? IS THIS A SIGN WE HAVE HIT A BOTTOM IN THIS ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PROTAGONISTS, SO TO SPEAK. WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? >> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK TO JANICE' POINT, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF ARGUMENT THE BOTTOM WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THINGS LIKE AP, IT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE --
>> THAT HAS BEEN WHISPERED. >> I KNOW BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SAYING LET'S AVOID CUTS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES. I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT IS BEING PUT OUT THERE IS DELIBERATELY SHOCKING BUT IS SHOCKING. >> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL CUTS? IS THAT A PLACE SHE SHOULD BE COMMENTING? >> I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGES RIGHT NOW, SHE HAS REQUIRED CUTS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN DECREASES IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR CORE STATE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION BEING OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THEM. AND SHE HAS DEMANDED CUT, CUT, CUT, WILL NOT ALLOW ANY NEW FUNDING TO COME IN, AND SO, TO SAY, OH, BUT NOT THIS ONE, I THINK LOOKS QUITE DISINGENUOUS IN THAT CONTEXT. >> PICK UP ON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUFF BUT WE HAVE THE SKI TEAM
AT UNM. INTERESTING THE FEEDBACK I WITNESSED ON FACEBOOK. ONE SIDE SAYING LOOK, WE HAVE THE SKI TEAM, MOST SKI TEAMS ARE BASED BACK EAST WHERE THERE IS SNOW. WHAT ARE WE DOING? OTHER SIDE SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, HONESTLY, WE HAVE A SKI TEAM THAT WINS THINGS, THEY DO WELL, THEY GET A GPA THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF. HOW WOULD WE, THE VULNERABLE ONES, WHERE WE ARE NOT THE ISSUE, SO TO SPEAK. IT IS A TOUGH ONE ON CAMPUS I AM SURE. >> THIS IS REALLY FOLLOWING UP ON TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH COACH NEIL AND THE BASKETBALL TEAM. IT REALLY SEEMS TO ME THIS IS FUNDING THE BUYOUT IS TO JUST LINE ITEM THE SKI TEAM AND FUND THE BUYOUT THAT WAY. IN MY EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A BUNCH OF SKI TEAM FOLKS IN MY CLASSES, THEY ARE SOME OF THE BEST STUDENTS I HAVE EVER HAD. AND THE DANGER IN FOCUSING JUST ON REVENUE SPORTS, IF WE JUST FOCUS ON FOOTBALL AND
BASKETBALL, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN IT IS NOT ABOUT COLLEGE ATHLETICS, IT IS ABOUT SEMI PRO ATHLETICS IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING AND THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE. THE SKI TEAM, WHICH HAS WON OUR ONLY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, STRIKES ME IS THE WRONG PLACE TO CUT. >> WHAT ABOUT TIMING? I AM HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO THE ISSUE FOLKS HAVE A RIGHT TO COMPLAIN, IF YOU MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TRANSFER SCHOOLS, IF THIS IS YOUR THING, IF YOU HAVE BEEN SKIING SINCE YOU WERE FOUR YEARS OLD AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SKI ON A MAJOR COLLEGE SKI TEAM, YOU CAN'T JUST HANG THESE PEOPLE OUT TO DRY AND NOT LET THEM TRANSFER SOMEWHERE. I GOT A FUNNY FEELING, THEY ARE GOING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT. >> THE PROBLEM IS, AS YOU POINT OUT, THERE IS REALLY NO INVOLVEMENT. SO THE SKI TEAM FOUND OUT ABOUT THE DECISION THAT IT ALREADY HAD BEEN MADE DURING A MEETING AND IT IS TOO LATE FOR THEM TO TRANSFER. THINK ABOUT THE COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES, IN THE HEAD COACH'S CASE, SO IT IS REALLY A FAILURE OF INVOLVING PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED. >> THE COACH IS OUT IN JUNE. THAT IS IT. >> THE UNIVERSITY SAID, WE ARE GOING TO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE THEY ARE FULL RIDE
SCHOLARSHIPS. THERE ISN'T A SINGLE FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP. THAT WAS SAD. HARRY, WHO HAS TAUGHT THEM MANAGEMENT OVER THERE? >> GIVE ME A CALL, I WOULD BE GLAD TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH A QUESTION I ASKED SOPHIE. WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR GETTING INTO A FIGHT WITH APS. >> PERHAPS MY EAR IS BECOMING DEAF TO SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENTS. I THOUGHT IT WAS DISINGENUOUS AND LATE AND AGAIN IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW VERSUS A BUDGET THAT IS COMING UP, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO BRING UP ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. AND, SO, IF THIS HAPPENS, IF THEY HAVE TO MAKE THIS CHOICE, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU, THAT I THINK IF THE SCHOOLS ARE WILLING, THE COMMUNITY WILL BACK THEM UP. THERE ARE 17 TRACK PROGRAMS SERVING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ALBUQUERQUE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN, APS HAS
NOT WELCOMED THE COMMUNITY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT AYDL, THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO USE SCHOOL GYMS, HARDLY ABLE TO USE THAT NOW. SO, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD STAND UP AND HELP DO THIS INCLUDING THOSE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT. THERE ARE LOTS OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE. IS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? NO, IT IS NOT BUT AS I AM MAKING SOME -- I WAS AT HIGHLAND YESTERDAY AND THEY HAVE THE POOREST GRADUATION RATE, I THINK, IN THE STATE, AND I JUST WANT TO CHALLENGE APS, THE CASINGS ARE COMING OFF THE WINDOWS. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE DEPRESSED STUDENTS OF THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY DEPRESSED, MAKE THEM BE IN A BUILDING THAT IS SUBSTANDARD. I WAS SO SAD. >> AS SOMEONE WHO WENT TO A FALLING APART HIGH SCHOOL, I CAN'T BEGIN TO AGREE WITH YOU MORE. INTERESTING, LAURA, WHEN YOU THINK GOING BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS HERE, THE IDEA THAT WE KNOW SPORTS HELPS LEARNING. WE KNOW THESE ACTIVITIES, NOT SPORTS, BUT ACTIVITIES, THEY REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO A STUDENT'S WELL BEING, YOUR
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. IS THIS WHERE WE START, THE SHOCK VALUE, PEOPLE KNOW THIS. IF YOU TAKE IT AWAY, IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. >> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW IT AND IT DOES HIT YOU IN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR HEART, YOUR STOMACH, WHEREVER YOU WANT TO PICK, BUT IT HITS HOME. AND WE'RE SO -- WE LOVE SPORTS. THERE ARE SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE THAT ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEIR LOCAL SPORTS, A LOT OF RURAL AREAS THAT IS THE PRIDE OF THE TOWN, AND SO I THINK IT HITS VERY HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AGREE WITH YOU, I DO THINK NOT JUST ACTIVITIES BUT SPORTS, ALSO, I MEAN IT IS A WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE ISOLATED, WHO DEVELOP A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS, TO BECOME MORE INTEGRATED AND TO HAVE A SENSE OF PLACE. AND DEVELOP SKILLS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP THEM. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE IF I HADN'T DONE THE VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL AND TENNIS AND ALL THE STUFF I DID GROWING UP IN A VERY SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY WHERE THERE
WEREN'T A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. >> WHERE ARE THEY GOING FOR THOSE THING. IT COMES DOWN TO THE SCHOOL. >> IT IS WORTH IT TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT JUST SPORTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. NOISES HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT FURTHER CUTS TO ARTS PROGRAMS, FURTHER CUTS TO MUSIC, THESE ARE ALSO PROGRAMS LIKE SPORTS THAT HELP STUDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED. I HAVE GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THEATER AFTER SCHOOL. I HAVE GOT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO BE IN THE BAND I HAVE GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL. SO, I DO SEE CONVERSATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEE THAT IT WAY, WHO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON ACADEMICS. IT SEEMS TO ME OFTEN THOSE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SAY AND SO LET'S CUT TEACHER SALARIES, LET'S CUT ADMINISTRATION. >> ON THAT NOTE, HARRY, ARE SCHOOLS POTENTIALLY BEING TRANSPARENT ENOUGH ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT TO CUT AND HOW THEY CAN CUT? DO WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THESE PLACES TO SAY, OKAY, THAT IS A
LOGICAL PLACE TO CUT. >> WELL, WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS SANTA FE WHERE THERE ARE PROTESTS AGAINST THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BEING CUT. WE SAW THAT IN THE STATEMENT YESTERDAY. THERE IS A BROADER ISSUE RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS PUBLIC HAS TO BE ENGAGED AS WELL. THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATION RATES IN THE LOW SINGLE DIGITS. SO, YOU CAN HARDLY BE THE PUBLIC AND SAY, WE WANT TRANSPARENCY, WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND THEN DON'T SHOW UP WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS. >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT. WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE LINE WE'LL TALK ABOUT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' VETOES. YOU'RE BOUND TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THAT YOU DEFEND YOUR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS A LEG TO STAND ON AXING THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
>>NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR PEERS TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATION. BUT THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE HELPING TURN AROUND THAT TREND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO. NATIVE LANGUAGE COURSES, MENTORS, AND BRINGING CULTURE INTO THE CLASSROOM ARE JUST A FEW WAYS EDUCATORS ARE ENGAGING WITH NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS. OUR CORRESPONDENT ANTONIA GONZALES SAT DOWN RECENTLY WITH SOME LOCAL LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING AND HOW THEY ARE USING RESOURCES FROM TRIBES, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF NATIVE STUDENTS. THIS SEGMENT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH KOAHNIC BROADCAST CORPORATION, A NATIVE-OWNED MEDIA COMPANY THAT PRODUCES NATIVE AMERICA CALLING AND NATIONAL NATIVE NEWS.>> >> I AM JOINED HERE TODAY BY THREE GUESTS, DEREK LENTE, NEW MEXICO STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND JUAN REY ABEITA, ISLETA PUEBLO AND TRIBAL COUNCILMEMBER AND GLENABAH MARTINEZ WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. >> THANKS FOR HAVING US. >> GLENABAH, WHAT DOES NATIVE STUDENTS SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU? >> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT IS INTERESTING, I JUST FINISHED A LECTURE TALKING ABOUT THAT. NATIVE STUDENT SUCCESS TO ME MEANS THAT NATIVE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CORE WHETHER THEY ARE ONE OF THE 23 NATIONS IN NEW MEXICO OR ELSEWHERE. BUT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE CORE VALUES, THEY CAN SPEAK AND UNDERSTAND THEIR LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE, THAT THEY ARE FULL PARTICIPANTS IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AT HOME AND UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO COMMUNITY. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS ACQUIRED THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PURSUE IN TERMS OF A PROFESSION OR A VOCATION OF SOME SORT. TO ME, IT IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING NAVIGATING THE DIFFERENT SKILL SETS AND FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE. >> WHAT ABOUT YOU, JUAN REY? >> NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL
SUCCESS, I AGREE WITH WHAT A LOT OF WHAT MS. MARTINEZ HAS SAID AND TO GO -- I LIKE TO SEE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO GO OUT, FIND TOOLS IN THE WORLD AND THEN COME BACK HOME AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPLY THOSE TOOLS. NOT HOW WE WOULD IN AMERICAN SOCIETY BUT HOW DO WE APPLY THESE TOOLS AND ADOPT THEM TO WHO WE ARE AS NATIVE AMERICANS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GROW OUR OWN TOOLS, OR ADAPT THEM OR MAKE HYBRIDS, BUT TO CREATE WHAT WE NEED WITH OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS WHICH IS TRIBAL LEADERS AND WE NEED THEM TO BE WARRIORS, BUT WE NEED THEM TO BE WARRIORS NOW WITH EDUCATION. WE NEED WARRIORS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS. WE NEED THESE FUTURE LEADERS TO COME BACK HOME AND TO REALLY EMBOLDEN OUR SOVEREIGNTY ON THE NATIONS AND THAT IS WHERE I SEE NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS VISION. >> AS A TRIBAL LEADER YOURSELF
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR IMPACT IN THAT. >> AS A TRIBAL LEADER, I TRY TO BE THE HARDEST THING THERE IS FOR ME WHICH IS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE TAKE EVERYDAY AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, EVERYDAY AS A LESSON TO LEARN FROM AND TRY TO PROMOTE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU ARE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT EVERYONE IS NOT PERFECT AND THAT THEY CAN MAKE MISTAKES. AND IT IS NOT ABOUT MAKING A MISTAKE BUT HOW YOU GET BACK UP AND CARRY YOURSELF AND HOW YOU LEARN FROM THOSE MISTAKES. SO, I THINK THE TRIBAL LEADER, IT IS VERY HARD TO BE A POLITIC AND I DON'T LIKE THE WORD POLITIC. BECAUSE POLITICS, THEY JUST TALK ABOUT MONEY AND TRIBAL LEADERS, THEY TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND PROBLEM SOLVING. THAT IS WHERE I AM HEADED AND THAT IS HOW I TRY TO MAKE MY CHANGE IS IDEOLOGICALLY, BUT MAYBE SPREADING THE MESSAGE THAT WILL CHANGE PEOPLES' HEARTS TO MAKE THEM WANT TO DO BETTER IN COMMUNITIES. >> WE HAVE A POLITICAL PERSON WITH US AS WELL.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO YOU? AND YOUR ROLE AS A POLITICIAN, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO YOU TO HAVE NATIVE STUDENT SUCCESS? >> I DON'T KNOW IF I LIKE THE WORD POLITICIAN EITHER. I DON'T THINK I AM A POLITICIAN. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD AND IN OUR INSTANCES IN NEW MEXICO IT TAKES TRIBES TO RAISE A CHILD AND IN MY WORLD STUDENT SUCCESS, DOES INCORPORATE THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE. IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY AT HOME, IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE AROUND THE COMMUNITY, EXTENDED FAMILY, TRIBAL LEADERS, ONCE YOU GET OUT OF THAT REALM, AND YOU LOOK TO SCHOOLS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, THEN YOU MOVE UP THE CHAIN TO POLICYMAKERS AND IN THE HOPES THAT THEY ARE ALLOCATING THE FUNDS APPROPRIATELY, THAT THEY ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THEIR NATIVE STUDENTS IN HOPES THAT THEY'LL
SUCCEED. AND IF ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN COME TOGETHER, SUCCESS IS, THEN, LAID OUT FOR THE NATIVE KIDS AND IT IS UPON THEM, THEN, TO JUST TAKE ALL THOSE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEM AND HOPEFULLY FOLLOW A PATH AND BECOME SUCCESSFUL. >> DO YOU SEE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEW MEXICO MEETING THAT NEED? >> THERE IS SOME. THERE ARE SOME. THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT STEP UP TO THE PLATE, THAT ARE MAKING THOSE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS, THOSE SMALL CHANGES IN PRIORITIES IN HOW THEY SPEND MONEY AND UTILIZE FUNDING THEY RECEIVE FEDERALLY OR THROUGH THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT, LIKE I SAID, FUNDS THAT ARE BEING APPROPRIATED TO WHETHER IT BE CULTURALLY COMPETENT OR CULTURALLY RELEVANT EXPERIENCES, LIKE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS OR LIKE OTHER EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE IN REGARDS TO HOW A NATIVE STUDENT WILL SUCCEED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER EXAMPLES DOWN THE WAY, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, NATIVE STUDENTS STILL STAGGER FAR BEHIND OTHER ETHNICITIES IN REGARDS TO SUCCESS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ARENA. >> GLENABAH, YOUR RESEARCH, LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO EVEN LOOKING AT THESE STATISTICS ABOUT NATIVE STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, COMPARED TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS, WHAT DO YOU SEE NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAMMING OR POLICY? >> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, THERE ARE TWO ARTICLES RELATED TO NEW MEXICO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSMENT THEY USE, WE ASKED A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENTS. ARE THEY TRULY TESTING WHAT STUDENTS KNOW. AND THE OTHER CONCERN ABOUT IT IS THE FACT THAT I WONDER ABOUT WHAT A STUDENT HAS -- THE COMPROMISE THAT TAKES PLACE FOR A STUDENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL USING WESTERN CONSTRUCTION OF ASSESSMENT. OFTENTIMES YOU'LL HAVE TEST ITEMS, VERBAL TEST ITEMS, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN THE SAT OR ACT EXAM, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, WHICH MAY WELL BE COMPLIMENTARY OF WHAT THAT NATIVE STUDENT MAY KNOW AS A NATIVE PERSON WHO COMES FROM TAOS PUEBLO, BUT MAYBE THAT PARTICULAR CONCEPT RUNS CONTRARY TO HOW THEY EXPERIENCE IT AS A NATIVE PERSON, GROWING UP AT TAOS PUEBLO. SO, MY CONCERN IS ABOUT ASSESSMENT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE, I THINK, WE HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS. WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE WORKING HARD AT 23 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS AT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM NATIONAL DOWN TO LOCAL LEVELS AS WELL AS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT I AM LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH USING VETO POWER OVER SOME KEY HELPED OUR NATIVE STUDENTS IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING. SO, WHEN I THINK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, I THINK ABOUT CURRICULUM, WHOSE
INTERESTS ARE SERVED WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE. I THINK ABOUT POLICY AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE POLICIES IN THE SCHOOL ALL THE WAY FROM EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATION TO SCHOOL ATTIRE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT DAILY LIVING EXPERIENCES OF BEING A NATIVE STUDENT TO ASSESSMENT AND WHAT COUNTS AS ASSESSMENT AND WHAT ARE PEOPLE LOOKING AT. I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A CURRENT STATE OF HIGH STAKES TESTING AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE THINGS THAT -- PROGRAMS LIKE NATIVE LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AT THE NATIVE LANGUAGE CENTER AT UNM, SOME OF THAT MAY BECOME MARGINALIZED IN THE INTEREST OF TRYING TO GET STUDENTS TO DO WELL ON THE PARCC OR SBA OR ANY OF THE OTHER ASSESSMENTS THEY USE IN THE DISTRICTS. >> GLENABAH HAD MENTIONED A BILL WHICH WAS YOUR BILL. >> WAS THAT YOUR BILL? >> GO AHEAD AND JUST TELL US ABOUT THAT. >> HOUSE BILL 44 WAS A BILL THAT I WORKED ON WITH SOME OF MY COUNTERPARTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, BUT ONE
THAT I SPONSORED ALONE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I WAS THAT NATIVE STUDENT THAT WENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT SAW THINGS AND EXPERIENCED THINGS THAT ARE STILL GOING ON TODAY IN REGARDS TO HOW NATIVE STUDENTS ACHIEVE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUMS. SO, HOUSE BILL 44'S INTENT WAS TO SIMPLY BRING TOGETHER A METHOD AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, SYSTEMATIC WAY TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN GOALS TO NATIVE STUDENTS SUCCEED. UTILIZE THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE 23 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED AS HISTORICALLY HAVING NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS, HOW THEY CAN UTILIZE FEDERAL FUNDING DIFFERENTLY. NOT NECESSARILY REQUESTING NEW FUNDING, BUT HOW THEY CAN PRIORITIZE HOW THEY UTILIZE THAT FUNDING FOR WHETHER IT BE CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAMS LIKE LANGUAGE OR OTHER PLACES TO WHERE NATIVE STUDENTS ARE
LACKING FAR BEHIND OTHER ETHNICITIES LIKE MATH, SCIENCE, READING, TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN ESCAPE BEING THAT LOW TOTEM STATISTIC AND MOVE THEIR WAY UP. SO, THE MEASURE BEHIND HOUSE BILL 44 WAS SIMPLY TO UTILIZE THAT FEDERAL FUNDING DIFFERENTLY. UNFORTUNATELY, TWO WEEKS AGO IT WAS VETOED BY OUR GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ, TO WHICH SHE IDENTIFIED MY LEGISLATION AS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE DID NOT SEE THE GOAL AND THE RELEVANCY THAT MY COUNTERPARTS IN THE LEGISLATURE ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, FOUND A LEGITIMACY AND FOUND IT RELEVANT THAT THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO WHICH IN THE HOUSE IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND IN THE SENATE THERE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE VOTES IN THE OPPOSITION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD A STRONG SHOWING OF
SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN THE STATE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE I CAN RUN THAT AGAIN BUT BELIEVE ME WE ARE GOING TO PUSH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS, NATIVE STUDENTS, WILL SUCCEED. >> PIGGY BACK ON THAT ONE, JUAN REY, MAKING SURE NATIVE STUDENTS SUCCEED EVEN IF THE FUNNELING OR PROGRAM ISN'T THERE. HOW IMPORTANT IS COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU SEE THAT PLAYING INTO NATIVE SUCCESS. >> IT IS CORE OF THE CORE. REPRESENTATIVE LENTE HIT ON THE CORE AND ALSO MS. MARTINEZ CORE. WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT CORE HAS BEEN DETERIORATING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL MODEL OF THAT CORE AND YOU KNOW YOUR LEVELS OF SUPPORT, THAT RIPPLE OUT, SUPPOSED TO BE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL TO SOMETIMES THE
FAMILY MEMBER TO THE LARGER FAMILY, TO YOUR CLAN, TO YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN EVENTUALLY RIPPLES OUT TO THE LEGISLATURE POSITIONS AND HOW MAKE LAWS TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY. WHAT I AM SEEING IN MY COMMUNITY, WHAT I AM SEEING A LOT OF PLACES, IS THAT CORE IS NO LONGER THERE AND SOMETIMES AN INDIVIDUAL'S FIRST LINE OF SUPPORT IS SOMETIMES THE ORGANIZATION, SOMETIMES IN INDIAN EDUCATION. THE FIRST LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR SOME PEOPLE IS SOMETIMES GOING TO TRIBAL COUNCIL RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PIECES IN BETWEEN AND ACTUALLY MAKING A STRUCTURE THAT WORKS. SO, IF THE CORE IS NOT THERE AND PEOPLE ARE BYPASSING THE CORE, THEN WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS OUT OF WHACK. THAT IS WHAT I AM SEEING ESPECIALLY IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO MY OWN TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND WHAT I SEE.
BUT I THINK TO RESTORE THAT MODEL AND TO BE MORE DEPENDENT ON THAT MODEL INCORPORATES TEACHING CORE VALUES IN YOUR FAMILY, INCORPORATES TALKING WITH YOUR ELDERS AND YOUR FAMILY TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY, KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, KNOW THE REASONS WHY YOU DO THINGS, REACHING OUT TO YOUR PROGRAMS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS AT ISLETA PUEBLO THAT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SOMETIMES TO EVEN REACH INTO THOSE PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASONS ARE. SOMETIMES BUSY WITH THEIR OWN LIFE. SOMETIMES EVERYONE IS WORKING 9 TO 5 TO EARN A PAYCHECK AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE TIED TO THE ECONOMY, BUT COMING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A TRIBAL LEADER AND SOMEONE THAT WANTS SOMETHING GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY, MONEY IS NOT SOLVING ANY PROBLEM ANYWHERE. IT ALL STARTS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AT THE CENTER OF THAT CORE, WHAT IS IN THEIR HEART, WHAT IS THEIR CORE VALUES, AND AMPLIFYING THOSE TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO STAND FIRM TOGETHER, TO BUILD A
COMMUNITY AND TO REPAIR OURSELVES. MONEY IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TOOK AWAY OUR RIGHTS A LONG TIME AGO AND WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING 500 YEARS TO STILL GET THEM BACK. THAT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AND WE CAN LOOK BACK 500 YEARS AND SAY IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK. AS A TRIBAL LEADER, THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS REPAIR THE CORE AND THEN WE START FIXING OUR COMMUNITIES. >> GLENABAH, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD LISTENING TO WHAT JUAN REY HAS TO SAY. AS AN EDUCATOR, SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED IN THE FIELD FOR A LONG TIME, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR NATIVE STUDENTS TO INSPIRE, EMPOWER THEM AND GET THEM TO CROSS THE GRADUATION LINE? >> WELL, I THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK AND I THINK THAT WE COULD ASK IT AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. THERE MAY BE SOME STUDENTS WHO NEED THAT FAMILY SUPPORT, OR THERE MAY BE SOME STUDENTS WHO NEED MOTIVATION FROM TEACHERS, FOR SOME STUDENTS IT IS PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS OR
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH THEIR EXPERIENCES. FOR SOME STUDENTS IT IS ABOUT SETTING GOALS POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, THAT INSPIRE THEM TO DO THINGS. FOR SOME PEOPLE IT IS THIS TRUE LOVE, COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE ANSWERING THE QUESTION, WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT WILL BE MY CONTRIBUTION TO MY COMMUNITY? YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF EXTRINSIC AND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION. IT MAY BE CULTURAL OR IT MAY BE ECONOMIC FOR SOME STUDENTS, ABOUT MAKING MONEY. SOME IT MAY BE POLITICAL. THEY WANT SOME KIND OF POWER AT SOME POINT. IT MAY BE CULTURAL. THERE IS ALL KINDS OF REASONS BUT, YOU KNOW, I TEACH NATIVE STUDIES AT FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS NATIVE YOUTH WHO ARE INCARCERATED AT YDDC AND I ALWAYS THINK TO MYSELF, WELL, WHERE IS ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE GOING? AND I SAY TO MYSELF, WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED, WHEN THESE STUDENTS ARE RELEASED INTO THE PUBLIC, I WANT THEM TO FEEL EMPOWERED AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT IN SPITE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR CHILDHOOD TO GET THEM TO THAT FACILITY,
THAT THEY CAN LEAVE THAT FACILITY AND THEY CAN FEEL EMPOWERED AND PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE, BECAUSE IF YOU FEEL PROUD ABOUT YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE HIGH SELF ESTEEM, YOU'RE GOING TO DO GOOD THINGS AND SOMETIMES THAT SELF ESTEEM IS BUILT CULTURALLY. IN TAOS, WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATE AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU SEE THEM AND THEY ARE PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO AND THEY CARRY THAT PRIDE WITH THEM TO SCHOOL. SO, I THINK, LIKE I SAID, INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT IS KIND OF LIKE A VENN DIAGRAM, THERE IS THINGS THAT OVERLAP AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC. >> YOUR THOUGHTS ON INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING? >> ALLOWING THEM TO GROW UP AND BE WHO THEY ARE AND ENSURING THEY ARE PROUD OF WHERE THEY COME FROM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GO BACK TO A STATEMENT THAT MY DAD TAUGHT ME, YOU'RE BORN AN INDIAN, YOU'LL DIE AN INDIAN. WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THOSE TWO POINTS IN YOUR LIFE IS INCUMBENT UPON HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE, AND WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL AS WE SIT AROUND THE
TABLE, OUR FOREFATHER'S, ANCESTORS, MY GRANDFATHER AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, TWO GENERATIONS AGO, WERE THE ONES TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMELAND, THEIR HAIR WAS CHOPPED AND THEY WERE TAUGHT NOT TO SPEAK THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE BECAUSE IT WAS WRONG. AND HERE WE ARE TRYING TO BECOME REACCUSTOMED TO THE WESTERN WAY OF EDUCATION, AND SOME OF US HAVE TAKEN A ROLE TO WHERE WE HAD TO FIND OUR WAY IN DOING SO. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE, LIKE COUNCILMAN STATED, THAT IF WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE THAT WE CAN SHOW THERE ARE IDENTIFIED PEOPLE AND PLACES AND EXPERIENCES THAT FOLKS HAVE IN THIS STATE THAT, YES, THEY WENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, YES, THEY WENT TO COLLEGE, YES, THEY WENT ON TO DO OTHER THINGS IN THEIR LIVES THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT. IF THEY CAN HAVE THAT EXAMPLE AND SEE THAT, THEN OUR CHILDREN CAN SAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, IF I COME FROM A
BROKEN HOME, IF I HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT STATISTICALLY I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO SUCCEED, THE FACT IS THAT EVERYBODY IS CAPABLE OF SUCCESS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY, SOCIAL STATUS, FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE STUDENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY HAS A VALUE THAT THEY HAVE A VALUE AND THEY ARE WORTH SOMETHING AND THAT IT TAKES THOSE CHANCE ENCOUNTERS, WHETHER IT BE ON THE RESERVATION, ON THE TRIBAL LANDS OR THEIR TEACHERS AT SCHOOL OR ADMINISTRATOR OR SOMEONE THEY MEET ALONG THE WAY TO GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT. AND IF WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND WE CAN SHOW THEM AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE, THEY'LL BE MORE ADEPT TO EXPECT SUCCESS. >> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS JUAN REY? >> I WOULD NEED A QUESTION. >> ADDING TO JUST INSPIRING, EMPOWERING NATIVE STUDENTS TO
GRADUATE. >> EMPOWER AND INSPIRING THEM. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE STUDENTS AND TO ALL THE YOUTH OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, I AM LOOKING FOR FUTURE LEADERS. I AM LOOKING FOR FUTURE PEOPLE TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY, TO EMBODY WHAT IT IS AND BRING THOSE TOOLS BACK TO WHO WE ARE AS NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THAT IS WHO I AM LOOKING FOR. IF YOU WANT TO BE A WARRIOR IN YOUR COMMUNITY, A LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE THE WORLD, I AM LOOKING FOR YOU. I AM ASKING YOU TO START DOING IT. START MAKING THE SMALLEST CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE AND ADD THOSE CHANGES AND ADD THEM UP OVER A YEAR, ADD THEM UP OVER 10 YEARS, OVER A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND THOSE SMALL INCREMENTS ARE GOING TO ADD UP TO SOMETHING GREAT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREAT. SO, I AM LOOKING FOR YOU TO BE
GREAT AND FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND BE A LEADER AND BE EDUCATED AND TO CARRY ON THE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS AND LANGUAGE. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE. LAST WEEK DURING A CLOSED DOOR MEETING, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NEW MEXICO STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED TO SUE GOVERNOR MARTINEZ OVER KEY PARTS OF THE BUDGET THAT SHE VETOED WHICH INCLUDED FUNDS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOR LEGISLATURE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THEY ALSO DECIDED TO FILE A LAWSUIT OVER 10 BILLS SAYING LAURA, THE CHESS MATCH, WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE, CONTINUING CHESS MATCH BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE, WHERE DO WE SIT NOW WITH THIS MOVE? WITH THIS LAWSUIT, DOES THIS EFFECTIVELY PUT THE GOVERNOR ON HER OWN HERE WITH THIS OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS ACTIONABLE, IS WHAT I AM ASKING. CAN YOU ACTUALLY REALLY SUE SOMEONE OVER THIS AND GAIN SOMETHING? >> WELL, I MEAN, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. ONE THAT I AM STILL TRYING TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW THAT
LAWSUIT -- I UNDERSTAND THE VETO ABOUT NOT HAVING GIVEN THE PROPER MESSAGE AND I THINK THIS ONE -- >> THERE MIGHT BE GROUNDS THERE? >> I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM ON IT. I UNDERSTAND -- IT COMES DOWN TO INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND LANGUAGE IN THERE, SO IT IS AN INTERPRETATION ISSUE. ON THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND, LIKE IT APPEARS TO ME SHE WAS ARBITRARY. THERE IS A WAY FOR HER TO LINE ITEM VETO, WHICH SHE CHOSE TO EXERCISE IN ONE CONTEXT, BUT ON ANOTHER BUDGET BILL SHE VETOED IT ALL TOGETHER AND NOT LINE ITEM. IN THAT SENSE WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO CHALLENGING GOVERNMENT ACTION, ONE OF THE BASES FOR THAT IS WHETHER IT IS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS. I CAN SEE IT FROM THAT ARGUMENT, THERE IS ARBITRARINESS TO IT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE. I THINK THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY AS EXECUTIVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. YOU KNOW, IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN -- WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME, FROM A LAWYER STANDPOINT
AND JUST SOMEBODY WHO ENJOYS GOVERNMENT, IS JUST THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT BEING EMBROILED IN THIS ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PARSE IT OUT. THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH OF THAT THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATION, CUTTING TO FUNDING OF THE COURTS, PROBLEMS AMONG ALL THREE OF THE BRANCHES. YOU SEE THIS COMING TO A HEAD AGAIN. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS EXERCISING -- THEY ARE LOOKING AT ANY POTENTIAL LEVER THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE IT IS A STALEMATE AND CAUSING TREMENDOUS ANXIETY ACROSS THE STATE AND THIS IS ONE WAY THEY ARE REALLY, I THINK, EMPOWERING THEIR ATTORNEYS AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO DO SOMETHING ON THE LEGISLATURE'S BEHALF. AND, FRANKLY, THE LEGISLATURE IS ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE NOT ANY LESS THAN THE EXECUTIVE IS AND IT SHOWS ALL THREE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE US FORWARD. >> GOOD POINT. HARRY, THIS IDEA THAT -- BACK UP. ANOTHER QUESTION. THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE GOVERNOR IN TAOS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
SHE ACTUALLY STOOD IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND SPOKE WITH THEM, BUT KEPT MAKING THE POINT THAT WHAT SHE WAS DOING, THE REASON SHE DID WHAT SHE DID WAS BECAUSE WHAT WAS SENT TO HER WAS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT ARGUMENT? >> THE PROBLEM IS WHERE IS HER PLAN TO COME BACK AND DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE? IT SEEMS THAT HER DEFINITION OF COMPROMISE IS, I TOLD YOU CUT SO THEREFORE, YOU DIDN'T COMPROMISE WITH ME. THAT STRIKES ME AS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE GOT ALL THESE ISSUES RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, CONCERN IN UNIVERSITIES, UNIVERSITIES HAVE LOST ABOUT A THIRD OF THEIR FUNDING IN INFLATION ADJUSTED TERMS SINCE 2008 AND YOU CAN ONLY CUT SO LONG BEFORE YOU START TO HIT MUSCLE AS OPPOSED TO OTHER THINGS. IN MY DEPARTMENT WE ARE LOSING OUT OF OUR 10 TENURED FACULTY, TWO ARE GOING TO OTHER SCHOOLS. YOU CAN'T REALLY DO THAT, SO -- >> PRETTY BIG PERCENTAGE. >> FOR ONE YEAR. AND THEN EVERY YEAR WE SORT OF ANTICIPATE SIMILAR SORTS OF
THINGS HAPPENING. SO THE PROBLEM IS, THE GOVERNOR IS REALLY PUTTING UP A SMOKE SCREEN BY POINTING THAT OUT AS OPPOSED TO COMING TO THE TABLE AND REALLY ENGAGING IN GENUINE DIALOGUE AND COMPROMISE. >> WHAT HAPPENS, HARRY, IF, LET'S SAY GARY CARRUTHERS, PRESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY SAYS, PUTS A NUMBER ON THE TABLE. STUDENTS, FROM PHD DOWN TO UNDERGRAD, HERE IS YOUR NEW TUITION, IF THIS HAPPENS. EVERYTHING GOES WHOA. IS THAT WHERE WE ARE AT NOW, A STARK REALITY OF WHAT IT COSTS OUT OF YOUR POCKET. >> I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. THE LEVEL OF STATE FUNDING IS STILL VERY HIGH HERE RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES. NEW MEXICO HIGHER EDUCATION IS A REALLY GOOD DEAL AS COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES WHERE, ILLINOIS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IT IS PUSHING 20,000 A YEAR. HERE, BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO ACCESS FOR FOLKS IN AN ECONOMICALLY POOR STATE, WE WORKED HARD TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE AND FLIP SIDE IS THAT THE STATE HAS TO COME AND PROVIDE FUNDING AND YOU CAN'T
CUT AND CUT AND CUT AND THEN EXPECT FACULTY MEMBERS NOT TO GET RAISES AND PAY INCREASE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AND UTILITY COSTS GOING UP WITHOUT SOMETHING HAVING TO GIVE. >> GOOD POINT THERE. APPRECIATE THAT. >> SOPHIE, SIGNATURES HAPPENING AMONG DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN IF ENOUGH SIGNATURES DID COME ABOUT. >> IF WE HAD ENOUGH SIGNATURES -- >> APPLYING ENOUGH REPUBLICANS JOINING. >> WE DON'T NEED THAT MANY REPUBLICANS TO SIGN. REPUBLICANS TO SIGN UP FOR THAT. EXTRAORDINARY SESSION AS OPPOSED TO A SPECIAL SESSION, IS ONE IN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF SETS THE AGENDA, MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHAT WILL BE HEARD AND WHAT WON'T. YOU KNOW, THERE IS THIS HORRIBLE GAME OF GAMESMANSHIP. DO WE THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THAT EXTRAORDINARY SESSION? >> THEN, WHAT, AS THEY SAY? >> RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT,
GOING BECOME TO THE UNIVERSITY ISSUE, OUR STATE UNIVERSITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT BUDGETS AND AT THIS POINT, BUDGETS OF ZERO? I AM NOT SURE. >> DUE MAY 1, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND, YOU KNOW, INCREASE IN TUITION ALSO INCREASES OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP. UNLESS THAT CHANGES, LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP IS ON A PERCENTAGE OF TUITION BASIS SO SUDDENLY WE HAVE THAT COMING BACK TO US AS WELL. SO, THERE ARE TOOLS THAT STUDENTS MIGHT USE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR DEGREES, BUT IF THE PART THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY GETS SO MUCH HIGHER, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU START THINKING THAT OUT OF STATE TUITION IN TEXAS OR COLORADO OR ARIZONA OR ANY OF THOSE STATES ISN'T SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU'RE PAYING HERE. >> THAT IS GOOD POINT. AT ONE POINT JANICE, DOES THE RHETORIC HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND DOES THAT, IN FACT, RADIATE BACK TO THE GOVERNOR? I AM CURIOUS IF SHE REALIZES THE AMOUNT OF DOUBT SHE HAS
PUT OUT THERE ACROSS THE LAND, SAY, LIKE YOU'RE ONE OF HARRY'S STUDENTS, FACULTY MEMBERS, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN LIFE. IF THERE IS DOUBT, THAT DOES NOT HELP US AT ALL. >> I AGREE AND PART OF THE DISCUSSION ACROSS THE BOARD IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SO, WHAT IS HAPPENING, REALLY, IT IS AFFECTING THE PLANNING. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PLAN, BUT DOES IT AFFECT THE BUDGET TODAY? NO. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT IS OPERATING THROUGH JUNE 30. IT DOES AFFECT NEXT YEAR AND REPORTS THAT WE ARE PUTTING BUT, I LOOK AT THIS WHOLE QUESTION AND I AM SAD THAT THE COUNCIL SERVICE MET IN PRIVATE BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A LEGISLATOR IN THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT BE PUBLIC, BECAUSE, IF YOU'RE A LEGISLATOR, YOU ARE BOUND TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THAT YOU DEFEND YOUR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS A LEG TO STAND ON AXING THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH, BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE STILL OPERATING -- THERE IS MONEY UNTIL JUNE 30, BUT I WILL CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, SHE ACTUALLY ACCEPTED PART OF THE BUDGET. SHE VETOED ALL THE TAXES, BUT CAN YOU MAKE, BASED ON WHAT SHE SAID, I WANT A BUDGET BY THE CONSTITUTION, THEN WHY DIDN'T SHE CARVE OUT THINGS THAT ACTUALLY COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU INTO BALANCE. SO THIS IS REALLY A VERY MUCH THROWING THE GLOVE ON THE TABLE, I WANT TO FIGHT. >> DOESN'T THAT MEAN THAT SHE HAS, IF SHE DID THAT, SHE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CUTTING THINGS THAT NEW MEXICANS CARE ABOUT. AND SHE SEEMS SUFFICIENTLY, IN MY MIND, SHE IS SUFFICIENTLY TONE DEAF. THAT HAS TO BE A PRETTY TERRIFYING THOUGHT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK SHE KNOWS WHAT NEW MEXICANS CARE ABOUT. >> IS SHE ALONE HERE, LAURA? JUMPING ON EMAIL BETWEEN ALL OF US, THAT PRESS CONFERENCE AT TAOS AT THAT PODIUM WAS SO AWKWARD, SHE WAS SO ALONE. YOU HAD PEOPLE HECKLING HER, NOT 10 FEET FROM HER FACE.
IT WAS AMAZING. >> I FOUND THAT VERY INTERESTING WHEN I WAS WATCHING. AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS STAFFED POLITICAL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SPENT MORE TIME THAT I CARE TO ADMIT ASSISTING A PERSON WHO IS IN PUBLIC LIGHT, I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT NONE OF HER STAFF -- OR IT DIDN'T APPEAR DID ANYTHING TO COME AND ADDRESS THE HECKLING AND THERE IS WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT. SHE WAS VERY MUCH ALONE THERE AND THE WIND AND IT WAS SUCH A MESS. IF ANYBODY HASN'T SEEN IT, GO ON FACEBOOK, YOU CAN FIND IT FROM TAOS. IN ANY EVENT, SHE IS STANDING ALONE AND THAT PARTICULAR CLIP WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE HOW SHE IS STANDING ALONE AND SHE HAS GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CRITICIZING HER AND IF WE SORT OF GO BACK TO THE 2010 RACE AND EVERYTHING SHE TALKED ABOUT, SHE WANTED TO IMPROVE EDUCATION. I MEAN, WOW, HOW ABOUT REALLY TAKING US A STEP BACK BY SAYING, I AM GOING TO CUT UNIVERSITY SPENDING ALTOGETHER, NO MONEY FOR THAT, NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THEY WILL HAVE TO CUT THINGS
LIKE SPORTS AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW. WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE UNIVERSITY BUDGETS ARE DUE MAY 1. SCHOOL BUDGETS ARE DUE MID APRIL. THEY HAVE GOTTEN AN EXTENSION BECAUSE OF THIS SO THERE IS A HUGE -- IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I THINK THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS GOING TO BE HER LEGACY, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH ANXIETY AROUND THE STATE ABOUT IT. >> IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU NEGOTIATE AS A PROSECUTOR, BUT AS THE DAYS GO BY, I SEE LESS AND LESS OF THE ABILITY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO NEGOTIATE. SHE HAS NO CHIPS LEFT. HAVE I MISSED SOMETHING HERE? >> WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SESSION, IN FACT, HAPPENS AND LEGISLATORS SAY, OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO CALL YOUR BLUFF AND STICKING WHERE WE ARE, WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR GO FROM THERE? THAT IS YOUR POINT. JUST, IT IS INTERESTING. >> WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE FOR HIGHER ED? SOME THOUGHT HAS TO GET ACROSS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PRIORITIES IN LIFE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> IF WE ARE BEHIND THE 8 BALL TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP, YOU CAN'T MUCK WITH EDUCATION. HOW DO YOU GET THAT ACROSS TO THE ADMINISTRATORS, OUR
GOVERNOR, I GUESS? >> I THINK IT IS A REALLY TOUGH THING TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE THERE IS AN IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE HERE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION BUT ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE. AND, FOR THOSE OF US IN HIGHER EDUCATION, WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITIES, WHICH WE THINK THEY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO SAY WE EXPECT YOU TO DO BETTER AND BETTER THINGS WITH LESS AND LESS MONEY AND YOU FIGURE IT OUT. AT SOME POINT IT IS JUST NOT GOING TO WORK. >> STAY WITH YOU FOR ANOTHER THING, JUST KIND OF HIT US. THE IDEA -- YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT FOLKS LEAVING. THE CYCLE OF RECRUITING, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO RECRUIT SOMEONE, AS THEY SAY, IN BUSINESS THE COST OF ACQUISITION, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT IS TIME IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING. YOU CAN'T REPLACE PEOPLE IN 30 DAYS. >> NO. WELL, WE ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY DEPARTMENT AT ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT THINKING ABOUT RECRUITING FOR NEXT SEPTEMBER.
SO THE CYCLE STARTS NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO RECRUIT AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING WHICH IS CALLED THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CYCLE THAT CAN GO 14, 15 MONTHS. SO, YOU LIMP ALONG DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY DOESN'T GET TALKED ABOUT IS WHEN YOU BRING A NEW FACULTY MEMBER ON BOARD, THAT FACULTY MEMBER HAS TO FOCUS ON GETTING TENURE AND BUILDING A RESEARCH RECORD, SO THEY ARE LESS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THINGS LIKE CURRICULUM AND OTHER SORTS OF ACTIVITIES. IF YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE UNIVERSITY, A REALLY GOOD WAY TO HOLLOW IT OUT IS TO HAVE THIS CONSTANT CYCLE OF FOLKS WHO ARE LEAVING. >> THAT HURTS. THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. WHEN WE RETURN TO THE LINE, WE'LL LOOK AT THE EFFECT OF A WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL TO CUT FUNDING TO THE NATION'S LONG-DISTANCE RAIL SYSTEM. >> REACH OUT TO US ANY TIME ON CONVERSATION. WE ARE AT NMINFOCUS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND FIND
EPISODES AND WEB EXTRAS AT >> AND WE ARE BACK AT THE LINE TABLE FOR OUR FINAL TOPIC THIS WEEK. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO TRAVELERS IF AMTRAK'S ROUTE THROUGH ALBUQUERQUE IS ELIMINATED? PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD CUT MONEY FOR ALL 15 OF AMTRAK'S LONG-DISTANCE RAIL ROUTES. THAT INCLUDES OURS TO LOS ANGELES, SOUTHWEST CHIEF. THIS WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL VIA TRAIN TO THE NATION'S MID SECTION, ERADICATING THE CONCEPT OF A NATIONAL RAIL SYSTEM. THAT IS QUOTE. I LOVE THAT QUOTE. WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A REAL BUZZ SAW HERE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. >> NOT JUST IN ALBUQUERQUE. REMEMBER, THIS TRAIN TRAVELS THROUGH THE STATE SO IT IS RATON, TOO, OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. AND, THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT REALLY RELY ON THAT TRANSIT. THIS IS WHILE NOT A DONE DEAL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL BUDGETS AND AS WE KNOW IT HAS
TO MAKE IT THROUGH CONGRESS, I THINK IT IS WORTH GETTING WORKED UP ABOUT AND ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT SAME SET OF PROPOSALS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP INCLUDES CUTTING MONDAY TO ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE WHICH ALSO HITS LARGE PARTS OF THIS STATE, AND TO FEMA. I THINK ABOUT OUR PROPENSITY FOR WILDFIRE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THESE ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL SERVICES HERE IN NEW MEXICO THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE AND THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. >> HARRY, INTERESTINGLY, MAKE FUN OF CONGRESS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS BUT THERE IS A STRAIN HERE IN OUR CONGRESS THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS THAT DO NOT WANT TO FUND ANYTHING THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE FROM GOING FROM POINT A TO POINT B. >> WHERE DO WE COME IN AS A PUBLIC? THIS IS MY BIG FRUSTRATION WITH AMTRAK, THAT WE DON'T RAISE OUR VOICES AND LET THESE FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS IS A PART OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM HERE. >> THAT IS RIGHT AND GIVEN THE SHEER NUMBER OF RURAL PEOPLE SERVED BY AMTRAK BUT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED CUT SMALL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE
STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE BROADER PROBLEM, I THINK, IS THAT WE ARE NOT DEMANDING QUALITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE GET IN OTHER COUNTRIES. I OFTEN VISIT MY SON IN GERMANY AND THE QUALITY OF TRAIN SERVICE THERE AND QUALITY OF ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE PUTS US TO SHAME AND THE BIG ISSUE FOR ME IS NOT JUST AMTRAK. AS IMPORTANT AS THAT IS, WE DON'T DEMAND THE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU NEED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY. >> THINK ABOUT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL IDEAS THAT WERE TURNED DOWN IN FLORIDA, TURNED DOWN IN WISCONSIN, RIGHT? FEDERAL MONEY AND WITH OBAMA THE CONGRESS APPROVED IT. >> THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T LEAVE TO THE MARKET. SOME THINGS YOU NEED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR. >> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT. PICK UP ON THAT. IS THIS NOT A PUBLIC OBLIGATION THAT WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS. >> ABSOLUTELY IT IS A PUBLIC OBLIGATION AND IT IS REALLY GOING TO AFFECT POOR PEOPLE QUITE A LOT AND RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE. SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WELL AWARE THAT ALBUQUERQUE HAS THE
AMTRAK ROUTE THAT GOES THROUGH HERE, BUT THERE IS ONE THAT TOWN AND I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAD VERY LITTLE MONEY AND HAD A SUMMER JOB, I SAVED ENOUGH MONEY NOT TO AFFORD A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT BUT A TICKET FROM -- I CAUGHT LITTLE RIDE TO ALBUQUERQUE WITH A FRIEND AT UNM, BUT I RODE THE TRAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THAT WAS THE FURTHEST EAST I HAD EVER BEEN PAST HOBBS. I RODE IT EAST TO CHICAGO AND THEN TO BOSTON. THAT IS HOW I GOT TO SCHOOL THE FIRST TIME. WHEN WE HAD THE WINTER PROBLEMS IN 2011 AND MY MOM'S HOUSE FLOODED AND HER PIPES BROKE, I PUT HER ON A TRAIN IN DEMING TO GO STAY WITH MY SISTER IN CALIFORNIA. THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER MEANS IN MANY CASES. THIS IS AFFORDABLE TO THEM AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIALLY ISOLATING A LOT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE OPTIONS. NOT EVERYBODY CAN GET INTO A CAR AND DRIVE ACROSS COUNTRY OR AFFORD A PLANE TICKET. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
FUNDAMENTALLY RUBS CERTAINLY ME THE WRONG WAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WEST THE WRONG WAY BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A GUY WHO CLEARLY HAS MEANS TO TRAVEL IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY AND IS ISOLATED IN MANHATTAN. SO, JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING THE WAY THAT THE WEST AND WAY A LOT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES FUNCTION, I MEAN, CUTTING THIS IS JUST NONSENSE. >> WE ARE TALKING, JANICE, BEFORE WE STARTED TAPING, I TAKE SOUTHWEST CHIEF TO LA, TWICE A YEAR SOMETIMES. IT IS INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE A GENERAL JUDGMENT, I AM GOING TO SAY A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I WITNESS ON THE TRAIN ARE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOUTHWEST.COM WEBSITE FOR THE BEST DEALS. I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH A BROAD BRUSH HERE BUT THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THAT FOLKS CAN RELY ON A VERY SPECIFIC PRICE WHEN IT COMES TO AMTRAK, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU HAVE TO GET TO LA IN 24 HOURS FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WITH A PARENT, IT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME PRICE AS IT WAS LAST WEEK AND THE MONTH BEFORE.
YOU CAN RELY ON THAT. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH AN AIRLINE, THE DAY BEFORE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WHAT ARE POOR PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO IF THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY HERE? THAT IS A DIFFICULTY. >> I HEAR YOU. SO, LET ME GIVE THE OTHER SIDE. THAT IS REALLY GOOD, BUT, WHAT IF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADMINISTERING SAYING WE ARE SUBSIDIZING THIS TO SUCH EXTENT, YOUR FARE, WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE IF WE KEEP DOING THAT, SO EVERYBODY LOSES IT. WHAT I SEE FOR THE WESTERN U.S., ESPECIALLY FOR NEW MEXICO IS REGIONAL TRANSIT PICK UP THE LOAD BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE AMTRAK GOING THROUGH THE STATE WITH VERY FEW STOPS, DOES IT SERVE THE COMMUNITIES LIKE SANTA ROSA OR FARMINGTON, WHERE THE CHAPTER HOUSES ARE KIND OF FAR FLUNG? AND THEY REALLY NEED TRANSPORTATION. SO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND LITERALLY BACK IN TO THE TECHNOLOGY HERE AND SO, WHILE I THINK THIS IS ALL VERY ROMANTIC AND I LOVED RIDING THE SUPER CHIEF WHEN I
FIRST MOVED OUT IN 1963. MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE YARD MASTER AT THE ST. JOSEPH/SANTA FE, ATCHISON TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAIL YARD. WE COULD GO TO KANSAS CITY AND UP TO ST. JOE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT UNLESS YOU GO TO CHICAGO. SO, NOW WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO TRADE TIME AND MONEY AND CAN YOU AFFORD THE TIME? >> WHEN YOU SAY TECHNOLOGY COULD PICK UP SOME OF THE FREIGHT, IN WHAT SENSE? >> ABSOLUTELY, SO, ONE IS, THE COST OF THE LONG-DISTANCE RIDE RAIL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE EXCEPT FOR CARGO AND ONLY OVER 200 MILES. FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR PEOPLE, YOU NEED MORE FREQUENT STOPS BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE IT PAY WITH MORE FREQUENT STOPS AND SO, IF WE LET IT GO AND SAID, OKAY, IF WE HAVE MORE REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICTS, TAKE THAT MONEY AND MAKE A MORE EFFICIENT BUS SYSTEM. OUR BUSES ARE DWINDLING AS WELL, BUT WE ARE KIND OF AT A CRUCIBLE OF TECHNOLOGY.
IF YOU LOOK AT EASTERN EUROPE, IN PARTICULAR, IN THE 60'S THEY DIDN'T HAVE LAND LINES, THEY NEVER HAD LAND LINES, THEY WENT DIRECTLY TO CELL TELEPHONE. THAT IS SORT OF WHAT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN HERE. >> ARE YOU SAYING, ALSO, THAT UNLESS AMTRAK IS ABLE TO PAY FOR ITSELF, CLEAN, WITHOUT -- TICKET PRICES, ALL THAT KIND THING, THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE? >> I AM SAYING THAT WHILE IT IS REALLY NICE TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, AND I AM GOING TO BRING OUR OWN RAIL RUNNER IN, AND I'LL REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A BALLOON PAYMENT COMING UP THAT IS SUBSTANTIAL. THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE -- WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MORE LOCALIZED TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM. AND IF SPOKE -- IF WE LET GO SOME OF THE LONG DISTANCE AND PUT THAT MONEY IN THE REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICTS, MIGHT WE CREATE GREATER CONNECTORS WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. SO, IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR. IT IS A CHOICE OF OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM? >> I HEAR THE POINTS. THAT IS INTERESTING FOR THE FUTURE TO THINK ABOUT FOR SURE. I GO BACK LAURA SANCHEZ-RIVET. SOMETHING I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE FRUSTRATION THAT US AS PUBLIC TENDS TO BE QUIET ABOUT AMTRAK EXCEPT WHEN IT IS ABOUT TO BE KILLED, THEN WE ALL RISE UP AND SAY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. YOU CAN'T BLAME CONGRESS FOR DOING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IF THEY DON'T HEAR FROM US. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOUR STORY ABOUT WHAT YOU MENTIONED BUT YOUR MOM. >> THAT IS TRUE. I AM NOT CALLING MY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ABOUT IT BUT HAPPY TO MENTION IT TO THEM AND HOPE THEY WATCH THIS. I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BEING IN TUNE WITH WHAT IS NEEDED AND DESIRED IN DISTRICTS AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT, A PRESIDENT VERY MUCH DETACHED FROM, I THINK, A LOT OF AMERICANS, WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ARE. SO, I THINK THAT IS ONE ISSUE. I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, THE LEGISLATURE, THE CONGRESS WILL ACTUALLY REFLECT WHAT IS WANTED OUT HERE, WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, AND I DO THINK
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE FOR NOW TO BE SUBSIDIZED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FUNCTION OTHERWISE. I THINK THAT JANICE'S SUGGESTION OF REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICTS ARE INTERESTING AND COULD WORK VERY WELL. TO ME IT REMINDS ME OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I KNOW ENERGY WELL AND I UNDERSTAND TRANSMISSION AND WE DON'T HAVE REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATIONS HERE THE WAY YOU DO IN OTHER PARTS OF COUNTRY. THERE ARE SOME NATURAL CHALLENGES TO THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DENSITY TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES. BUT, I THINK, AS WE DEVELOP, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, BUT TO DO JUST A CUT THE WAY HE HAS, IN HIS PRIORITIES, THROWS A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO A DIFFICULT SPOT. >> WE NEED TO FINISH BUT WORKING UNDERNEATH THIS IS THIS IDEA OF NOT LIKING TRANSPORTATION, ALSO FITS ART, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THERE IS A MIND SET OUT THERE BUT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK. APOLOGIZE. I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG POINT READY TO GO THERE.
GOOD STUFF ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. I AM GENE GRANT, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IN
- Series
- New Mexico in Focus
- Episode Number
- 1043
- Producing Organization
- KNME-TV (Television station : Albuquerque, N.M.)
- Contributing Organization
- New Mexico PBS (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip-fe9a4626ede
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip-fe9a4626ede).
- Description
- Episode Description
- This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Antonia Gonzales looks at how individuals and programs are helping to reduce the dropout rate for Native American students across the country, including right here in New Mexico. She sat down recently with some local leaders to talk about what's working and how they are using resources from tribes, the state, and federal government to better meet the needs of Native students. This segment is a partnership with Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a native-owned media company that produces Native America Calling and National Native News. And Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists debate several top stories in the news, including the decision by Albuquerque Public Schools to cut middle school sports programs, the Legislative Council’s plans to sue Governor Martinez to block her vetoes, and what will happen to travelers if Amtrak’s route through Albuquerque is cut by the Trump administration. Host: Gene Grant. Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales. Studio Guests: Juan Rey Abeita (Isleta Pueblo), Isleta Pueblo Tribal Councilman; Derrick J. Lente (Sandia Pueblo), NM State Representative-District 65; Glenabah Martinez (Taos Pueblo/Diné), associate professor, Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies Program, UNM College of Education. Line Panelists: Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative; Sophie Martin, attorney and editor of DukeCityFix.com; Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP; Harry Van Buren, professor in UNM Anderson School of Management.
- Broadcast Date
- 2017-04-21
- Asset type
- Episode
- Genres
- Talk Show
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Duration
- 00:57:48.966
- Credits
-
-
Guest: Abeita, Juan Rey
Guest: Martinez, Glenabah
Guest: Lente, Derrick J.
Host: Grant, Gene
Panelist: Arnold-Jones, Janice
Panelist: van Buren, Harry
Panelist: Sanchez-Rivét, Laura
Panelist: Martin, Sophie
Producer: Gustavus, Sarah
Producing Organization: KNME-TV (Television station : Albuquerque, N.M.)
Reporter: Gonzales, Antonia
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
KNME
Identifier: cpb-aacip-d82f597bdd4 (Filename)
Format: XDCAM
Generation: Master: caption
Duration: 00:57:47
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
- Citations
- Chicago: “New Mexico in Focus; 1043; Creating New Opportunities for Native American Students,” 2017-04-21, New Mexico PBS, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed July 10, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-fe9a4626ede.
- MLA: “New Mexico in Focus; 1043; Creating New Opportunities for Native American Students.” 2017-04-21. New Mexico PBS, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. July 10, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-fe9a4626ede>.
- APA: New Mexico in Focus; 1043; Creating New Opportunities for Native American Students. Boston, MA: New Mexico PBS, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-fe9a4626ede