>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE NEEPER NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMMING FUND FOR KNME-TV.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, A WILD MONSOON SEASON PROVIDES A GLIMPSE INTO A WARMER NEW MEXICO AS NEW CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH SURFACES.

>> Porter: IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE FACING A BIT OF A MOVING TARGET BECAUSE WE ARE FACING SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT FACED BEFORE.

>> Gene: PLUS SHINING A LIGHT ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY DURING VIRGIN GALACTIC'S RECENT HISTORIC LAUNCH.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST GENE GRANT.

WE HAVE A JAM PACKED SHOW FOR YOU THIS WEEK.

ALONG WITH THAT CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION IN THIS MONTH'S OUR LAND, WE HAVE UPDATES ON THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY WHICH IS STARTING TO COME TOGETHER.

THE LINE PANEL DISCUSSES ANOTHER CABINET SHAKE UP FOR GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM AND THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CRISIS LOOMING FOR VULNERABLE NEW MEXICANS.

BUT UP FIRST, IT IS THE LATEST RESURGENCE OF COVID-19, THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE LINE PANEL DISCUSSES THE DEBATE OVER HOW SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD RESPOND TO THE EXPONENTIAL SPREAD.

BUT UP FIRST, INSIGHTS AND A PLEA FROM HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS FOR MORE VACCINATIONS.

>> Sandoval: THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TODAY TO GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT MESSAGE IS THAT VACCINES ARE SAFE, THEY ARE EFFECTIVE AND WE CAN PREVENT AN INCREASED NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM COVID-19.

THERE IS STILL TIME.

WE CAN STILL GET VACCINATED.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY THAT IS NOT VACCINATED TO GO OUT AND TALK WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR FIND A LOCATION THAT CAN GIVE YOU A SHOT.

>> Gonzales: EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT COVID-19 IS NOW REALLY A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED.

IN NEW MEXICO 93% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-19 ARE IN THE UNVACCINATED.

IN PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL STATE-WIDE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A DOUBLING OF CASES EVERY WEEK.

>> McKee: EVERY PATIENT THAT IS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19 IS TAKING UP THE SPOT OF ANOTHER PATIENT WITH STROKE, CANCER OR ANOTHER ILLNESS THAT NEEDS CARE.

AT UNM HOSPITAL WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF COVID-19 PATIENTS AND WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING UP WITH DEFERRED CARE WITH TRAUMA CARE AND WITH STROKE CARE.

AND OUR HOSPITAL HAS BEEN VERY FULL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

THIS TIME AROUND, WE ARE NOT STARTING AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY BUT WE ARE ALSO STARTING AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A VERY EFFECTIVE WEAPON AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT LESS THAN .01% OF FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED THIS TIME AROUND.

>> Culbreath: HERE AT TRICORE WE ARE SEEING INCREASING POSITIVITY RATE FOR COVID-19.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING INCREASED NUMBER OF TESTS BEING PERFORMED.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SYMPTOMS ARE GOING TO BE TESTED SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO REASSURE EVERYONE THAT THE TESTS THAT ARE PERFORMED AT TRICORE ARE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY DETECT THE DELTA VARIANT AND THERE IS NO CROSS REACTIVITY WITH OTHER VIRUSES THAT WOULD CAUSE ANY OTHER FALSE POSITIVE RESULTS.

THE TESTS THAT WE ARE PERFORMING HERE ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE, THEY ARE HIGHLY SPECIFIC AND THEY ARE OUR BEST WAY TO KNOW WHO MAY HAVE THE VIRUS AND OUR BEST WAY TO KNOW WHO NEEDS TO BE ISOLATED UNTIL THEY ARE NO LONGER INFECTIOUS TO OTHERS.

>> Gonzales: WHEN WE FIRST STARTED SEEING PATIENTS 16 MONTHS AGO THERE WAS A SPREAD BUT IT TENDED TO BE PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, JUST BECAUSE IT WAS HARDER FOR THEM TO COMPENSATE FOR REACTING TO THE INFECTION ITSELF.

SO, A LITTLE BIT OLDER, A LITTLE BIT SICKER WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

AND NOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED AND SO THAT DEMOGRAPHIC TENDS TO BE YOUNGER PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS, BECAUSE MAYBE THERE IS A SENSE THEY ARE INVISIBLE AND COVID-19 WON'T GET THEM BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET THEM ALREADY.

>> McKee: I THINK WHAT THE LATEST SURGE HAS SHOWN IS IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED AND IF YOU ALLOW THE VIRUS TO SPREAD IT WILL MUTATE AND IF WE CONTINUE TO STAY UNVACCINATED WE ARE FACED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS MUTANT IN THE FUTURE.

SO, THE LONGER WE STAY UNVACCINATED THE MORE OPPORTUNITY WE ARE GIVING THE VIRUS TO MUTATE AGAIN.

AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER MUTANTS ON THE HORIZON WE HAVE STARTED TO STUDY.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK'S LINE OPINION PANEL PICKS UP THE CONVERSATION FROM THERE.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THEY PUT INTO EACH WEEK RESEARCHING TOPICS AND SHARING THEIR INSIGHTS.

BACK WITH US IS LINE REGULAR SERGE MARTINEZ, PROFESSOR IN THE UNM LAW SCHOOL.

ALSO LINE REGULAR AND FORMER STATE SENATOR DIANE SNYDER, ALWAYS GLAD TO HAVE YOU INTO OUR ZOOM DISCUSSION.

AND WELCOME BACK MERRITT ALLEN OF VOX OPTIMA, PR.

VACCINATION PLEAS FROM THOSE HOSPITAL OFFICIALS WAS PRETTY STARK THIS WEEK, BUT DO YOU THINK THEIR STORIES AND STATISTICS AND EVERYTHING THEY WERE SAYING IS HITTING HOME ANY MORE THAN EARLIER VACCINATION MESSAGES?

IS THIS BETTER?

>> Merritt: IT MUST.

IT ABSOLUTELY MUST.

THIS IS VITAL.

THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTED THIS MORNING THAT PATIENTS FROM ROSWELL, COVID-19 PATIENTS FROM ROSWELL ARE TRANSPORTED TO ALBUQUERQUE BECAUSE THOSE BEDS ARE FULL.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL.

WE ARE SEEING, AGAIN, PATIENTS WITH OTHER CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION ARE HAVING TO WAIT IN THE ER FOR A BED TO OPEN UP.

AND I AM SICK AT HEART BECAUSE PEOPLE IN MY OWN PARTY FOR CHEAP POLITICAL -- BASICALLY WHAT THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE CHEAP POLITICAL CAPITAL AND AN EASY WIN IN A PRIMARY ARE GOING TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT PEOPLE NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.

THIS VACCINE IS NOT GOING TO BE MADE MANDATORY BY THE GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT.

NO VACCINE HAS BEEN.

WHAT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS CHOOSE TO DO, WHAT A STATE EMPLOYER CHOOSES TO DO IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUT ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN CHOOSE NOT TO BE VACCINATED.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN STARK REPORTS FROM THESE DOCTORS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING NATIONWIDE, WHAT WE HAVE JUST SEEN FROM ROSWELL HAVING TO SEE PATIENTS, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, YOU'RE AT RISK FROM THE DELTA VARIANT.

YOU'RE TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS AND THAT IS YOUR CHOICE, BUT WHEN POLITICIANS AND WHEN POLITICAL INFLUENCERS DECIDE, FOR SOME SORT OF POLITICAL STUNT, TO GET A CROWD RESPONSE, TO GET A DONATION, FOR WHATEVER POLITICAL REASON, THAT IT IS HELPFUL OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO SUPPORT MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE, I WANT YOU TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF AND LOOK AT THESE HOSPITALS STATISTICS AND DECIDE IF IT IS WORTH IT.

>> Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

SERGE, SCHOOLS -- DIANE, LET'S GO TO YOU ON THIS ONE.

SCHOOLS ARE NOW IN SESSION.

EVERYONE IS WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE HOW THIS GOES.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A SMATTERING OF CASES.

SANTA FE REPORTING IN.

PROBABLY BECAUSE YOUNGER STUDENTS, OF COURSE, STILL AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE STILL SEEING SOME PUSH BACK FROM LAWMAKERS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO MASK MANDATES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE LONG PLAY?

>> Diane: I THINK IN THE LONG PLAY THIS ENDS UP BEING DISASTROUS FOR NEW MEXICANS.

I WAS LISTENING AND MAYBE IT WAS ON THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION FOR US, OR I READ THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN TUBERCULOSIS AND THE SITUATION AND THE CONTAGIOUSNESS AND VACCINE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE -- ALSO THE DISTANCE.

BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, FROM OUR HISTORY THAT TAOS AND MANY AREAS, THEY DEVELOPED TUBERCULOSIS CENTERS BECAUSE THAT ALTITUDE WAS SO MUCH BETTER FOR THE PATIENT.

SO WE HAVE A HISTORY THAT WE CAN DRAW ON HERE.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS MOST PEOPLE, UNLESS THEY HAD SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY OBJECTING TO HAVING A VACCINE AND, OH, I WAS READING, IT IS THE SAME OBJECTIONS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN THERE.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MIGHT DO.

YOU KNOW.

THOSE ARE ALL THE SAME THINGS AND I WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER TUBERCULOSIS BUT I REMEMBER GETTING THE SMALLPOX SHOT.

I STILL HAVE MY LITTLE SCAR ON MY SHOULDER FROM SMALL POX AND I LOOK AT IT AND GO, OKAY, FOLKS IT IS A NATURAL REACTION, I GUESS, TO OPPOSE IT.

BUT TO GET INTO THE DEBATE OF WHETHER IT IS MY RIGHT AS A PARENT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY CHILD, THAT IS TRUE.

HOWEVER, AS MERRITT SAID, YOU ARE ALSO ASSUMING THE RESPONSIBILITY WHAT THE DECISION YOU MAKE FOR YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO BE A DECISION THAT IMPACTS THEIR CLASSMATE.

AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS I HAVE READ SO MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

I HAVE LOOKED AT AND LISTENED TO THE NEWS AND I LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM, SO I GET A DIVERSE OPINION BUT I THINK MOST OF US DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHO TO BELIEVE.

WHAT IS REALLY TRUE AND WHAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> Gene: THAT GOES BACK TO MERRITT'S POINT ABOUT DISINFORMATION AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON.

LET ME SWING TO SERGE.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PUT ITSELF IN THE CENTER OF THIS STORM RECOMMENDING SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS, AND ACTUALLY SUSPENDING THE FLOYD SCHOOL BOARD FOR BUCKING THOSE GUIDELINES.

LET ME ASK YOU STRAIGHT UP, WOULD IT BE BETTER AT THIS POINT TO GO BACK TO A PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR?

HER AUTHORITY HAS BEEN UPHELD BY REPEATED CHALLENGES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHOULD WE JUST GO THERE AGAIN?

>> Serge: I DON'T KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING.

I TRAVELED TO SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO DURING THE PENDENCY OF THAT ORDER AND I DIDN'T NOTICE IT MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO CHOOSE NOT TO DO THIS ARE GOING TO CHOOSE NOT TO DO THIS.

AND SO THE SOURCE OF AUTHORITY IS, I THINK, IS PROBABLY STRONGER COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY, BUT FOLKS WHO ARE BREWING FOR A FIGHT ARE GOING TO FIGHT NO MATTER WHAT THIS IS.

AND I THINK IT IS JUST INEVITABLE THIS IS GOING TO KEEP COMING TO A HEAD AS LONG AS, AS MY CO-PANELISTS HAVE SAID, AS LONG AS THERE IS DISINFORMATION AND FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN TO IT OR THINK IT'S A POINT WORTH FIGHTING OVER AND TAKING A STAND.

>> Gene: MERRITT, I WAS INTERESTED IN DR. MCKEE FROM UNM, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE POINTED OUT THE LONGER WE LET A VIRUS SPREAD AROUND THE HIGHER CHANCE FOR MUTATIONS.

ISN'T THAT CONVINCING RIGHT THERE?

IS THAT NOT ENOUGH?

>> Merritt: THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACT OF IT.

SO, I CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

I THINK ASKING PEOPLE TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR ASK THEM TO, THEN, TAKE A PRECAUTION, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Gene: CALIFORNIA HAS GONE THERE, MASSACHUSETTS HAS GONE THERE.

A LOT OF STATES HAVE GONE THERE.

>> Merritt: I DON'T KNOW.

WE WENT INTO FIRST GRADE AND I WAS SWITCHING FROM PUBLIC TO PAROCHIAL SCHOOL AND I HAD A CARD THAT HAD MY SHOTS ON IT AND REPUBLICAN PARENTS DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS WAS SOME SORT OF GOVERNMENT TAKING AWAY THEIR FREEDOM.

THIS WAS SHOWING MY KID IS NOT GOING TO INFECT OTHER KIDS SO NO PRECAUTIONS HAVE TO BE TAKEN.

THAT IS WHAT THAT WAS.

CAN PARENTS CHOOSE NOT TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN?

YES.

I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

I AGREE THAT STATE MANDATE FOR SCHOOL BOARDS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE RECEIVED WELL AND PARENTS WILL STILL NOT DO IT.

SO, I THINK THAT IS A HARD CASE BUT I THINK OFFERING AN EASIER WAY FORWARD FOR PARENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO DEMONSTRATE MY CHILDREN ARE VACCINATED, I AM VACCINATED, THAT IS SIMPLY WHAT A SHOT CARD IS.

THAT IS WHAT I HAD GROWING UP.

THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT EVERYONE HERE HAD GROWING UP STARTING SCHOOL IS HERE IS MY VACCINATION RECORD.

IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL.

IT IS NOT INVASION INTO PRIVACY, NOT IMPINGING ON FREEDOM, JUST SIMPLY MAKING A PROCESS EASIER.

>> Gene: SENATOR, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

YOU WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT, THE IDEA OF A VACCINE PASSPORT, ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Diane: AGREE WITH WHAT MERRITT SAID.

IT REALLY IS AND MAYBE IT IS WE OLDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE THINGS.

YOU TOOK YOUR SHOT CARD TO GET INTO SCHOOL AND IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL, JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND I AM AS MUCH A BELIEVER AS ANYONE IN THE INDEPENDENCE OF HAVING MY OWN THOUGHTS AND VALUES BUT I HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHERS IN MAKING MY DECISION.

>> Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

BY THE WAY, WE STILL HAVE TO SHOW IMMUNIZATION RECORDS TO GET INTO SCHOOL.

IT IS STILL GOING ON.

I HAVE TO WRAP IT UP THERE.

WATCH THE FULL STATUS UPDATE WITH HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

STILL AHEAD, WE'LL EXPLORE THE LATEST ROUND OF MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE GOVERNOR, MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM'S ADMINISTRATION.

ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE OF OUR LAND, WE CHECK IN WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES DANIEL PORTER ABOUT NEW MEXICO'S DROUGHT AND THIS YEAR'S MONSOON SEASON.

HE ALSO TALKS WITH LAURA PASKUS ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHY WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE'S WATER CHALLENGES WE CAN'T JUST HANG OUR HAT ON HOPING FOR A BETTER SNOW PACK OR BETTER MONSOON NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER.

>> Laura: WELCOME, THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> Porter: GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Laura: WHEN IT COMES TO ALLEVIATING DROUGHT, HOW MUCH DO THE MONSOONS HELP VERSUS HOW MUCH DOES OUR SNOW PACK HELP?

>> Porter: FOR THE WINTER SEASON, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SNOW PACK.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT ARE PILING UP IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN.

AS YOU GET INTO THE SPRING MONTHS THAT EVENTUALLY SLOWLY MELT AND WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM AND STREAMS AND RIVERS.

THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU FACE DURING THE MONSOON SEASON, WHILE THE PRECIPITATION IS CERTAINLY WELCOME, A LOT OF TIMES IT CAN BE SPOTTY IN NATURE.

YOU HAVE THE HAVE'S AND HAVE NOT'S AND THAT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH PRECIPITATION DURING THE MONSOON SEASON TO HELP THE DROUGHT SITUATION, SO, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS PERSISTENT LIGHT TO MODERATE PRECIPITATION.

YOU REALLY GET THAT DURING THE WINTER SEASON AND IMPACTS A LARGER AREA OF THE STATE VERSUS IN THE MONSOON SEASON IT CAN BE PRETTY SPOTTY AT TIMES.

>> Laura: HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST, WE ARE ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION TO WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE EL NINO OR LA NINA.

CAN YOU SORT OF JUST GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THOSE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS MEAN FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND MAYBE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, NEXT SIX MONTHS.

>> Porter: SO, EL NINO IS AND LA NINA, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PACIFIC, THE SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES THERE.

A DEVIATION IN WHAT WE CONSIDER NORMAL FOR THAT REGION.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE WHAT WE CALL ENSO-NEUTRAL.

TEMPERATURES IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PACIFIC ARE NEAR NORMAL.

WHAT THAT DOES, IT CHANGES THE WEATHER PATTERNS ACROSS THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

IT IS REALLY A PHENOMENA THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO DURING THE WINTER AND SPRING MONTHS BECAUSE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECT CORRELATION WITH WEATHER PATTERNS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AMERICA.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS NOT A DIRECT CORRELATION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR THE MONSOON SEASON.

IF YOU AN EL NINO PATTERN GOING ON IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC, YOU DO HAVE BETTER CHANCES FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES TO DEVELOP.

WATERS ARE WARMER ACROSS THAT AREA AND IF YOU GET THE RIGHT UPPER LEVEL PATTERN ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST, THAT COULD TUG SOME OF THAT MOISTURE MORE TOWARD THE DESERT SOUTHWEST.

SO, THAT COULD BE ONE SMALL CORRELATION WE SEE WITH EL NINO DURING THE MONSOON SEASON BUT ACROSS THE WINTER AND SPRING MONTHS, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS EL NINO ACROSS OUR REGION BECAUSE THAT TUGS THE STORM TRACK FURTHER TOWARDS THE SOUTH AND INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST.

AS YOU HAVE MORE STORMS MOVE THROUGH THE REGION YOU HAVE GREATER CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION AND SO THAT TILTS YOUR ODDS MORE IN FAVOR OF MORE OF A NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL SEASON.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW FOR THIS UPCOMING 2021, 2022 WINTER SEASON IS NUMERICAL MODELS HAVE COME INTO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT THAT WE MIGHT BE FACED WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF LA NINA CONDITIONS.

AND WE USUALLY, FOR NEW MEXICO, THE STORM TRACK IS TOO FAR NORTH AND THAT REDUCES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STORMS TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION.

WE GENERALLY, IN THAT PATTERN, WE SEE BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY STORMS WON'T COME THROUGH THE REGION AND THEY WON'T BE IMPACTFUL TO NEW MEXICO, WE STILL GET SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORMS THAT MOVE THROUGH THE REGION DURING THAT TIME AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE SCENARIOS BUT THE FREQUENCY OF THOSE EVENTS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE FEWER THAN WHEN WE ARE IN NEUTRAL OR EL NINO.

JUST KIND OF AN INTERESTING STAT THAT I KIND OF LOOKED AT BEFORE WE CAME ON THE SHOW HERE IS WHEN WE DO A DOUBLE DIP INTO LA NINA, WE HAD A LA NINA AND COME OUT OF IT AND IT IS FORECAST TO GO BACK INTO LA NINA, THOSE ARE HISTORICAL TERRIBLE SEASONS FOR NEW MEXICO.

WE ARE USUALLY BELOW NORMAL IN THE PRECIPITATION DEPARTMENT SO WE KIND OF NEED TO KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE LA NINA THAT IS FORECAST TO OCCUR IN COMING MONTHS IN THE FALL AND WINTER SEASON ISN'T GOING TO BE AS SEVERE AS IN THE PAST.

>> Laura: SO, RIGHT NOW LOOKING AROUND THE STATE, LIKE MUCH OF THE STATE IS IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

WE ARE SEEING OUR RIVERS LOW AND DRYING, OUR RESERVOIRS ARE LOW.

WE SHOULD NOT BE THINKING LIKE, OH, LET'S JUST KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR A GOOD SNOW PACK AND NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE OKAY?

>> Porter: ABSOLUTELY.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO HANG OUR HAT A LITTLE BIT ON THIS MONSOON SEASON AND HOPE WE GET QUITE A BIT OF PRECIPITATION DURING THIS SEASON AND CAPTURE SOME OF THAT WATER THAT WE ARE RECEIVING DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

BUT, AS WE GO INTO THE WINTER AND INTO THE SPRING MONTHS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT NOT SEE AS MUCH SNOW PACK IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND THAT WILL CERTAINLY TRANSLATE TO A CHALLENGING SPRING FOR 2022 BECAUSE IT COULD INTENSIFY THE DROUGHT SITUATION.

THE FUELS ACROSS THE REGION WILL CONTINUE TO DRY OUT AND THEN ONCE WE GET THE WESTERLIES THAT WE ARE ALL SO FAMILIAR WITH IN NEW MEXICO, WHEN THE WINDS REALLY START TO PICK UP AND HUMIDITIES DROP OFF, AND WE HAVE ALREADY GOT DROUGHT, THAT IS A RECIPE FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR AND THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL MONITOR CLOSELY NEXT SPRING.

>> Laura: ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT OUR CHANGING CLIMATE IS WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE A RISE IN TEMPERATURES.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRECIPITATION, HOWEVER, OR THE FUTURE OF THE MONSOON SEASON, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE CHANGES INTO THE FUTURE?

>> Porter: THE NORTHERN AMERICAN MONSOON IS ALREADY A COMPLICATED AND NOT FULLY WELL UNDERSTOOD SYSTEM.

THAT IMPACTS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.

NOW YOU ADD CLIMATE CHANGE INTO THE EQUATION, WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING, THAT KIND OF TAKES THINGS OUT OF BALANCE A LITTLE BIT.

SO IT BECOMES EVEN MORE CHALLENGING TO PREDICT WHAT FUTURE MONSOON SEASONS ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST MAY BE FACED WITH.

AS YOU HAVE A WARMING CLIMATE, TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM, THE DROUGHTS CONTINUE TO BECOME MORE SEVERE, THE AIR OF THE REGION BECOMES MUCH MORE ARID.

THERE IS SOME MODELING THAT SUGGESTS THAT AS WELL AS THE TEMPERATURES WARM, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE WATER VAPOR TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

WHEN YOU DO GET A STORM THAT DOES IMPACT YOUR REGION, YOU GET THE RIGHT WEATHER PATTERN TO SET UP ACROSS YOUR REGION, IT COULD BE MORE INTENSE IN NATURE, BECAUSE THERE IS MORE WATER VAPOR AVAILABLE FOR STORMS TO WORK WITH IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

IT IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.

WHEN YOU ADD THE SEVERE DROUGHTS THAT DO DEVELOP BUT THEN WIND, YOU DO HAVE STORM SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH AND THEY COULD BE HEAVY RAINFALL PRODUCERS.

YOU'RE FACED WITH DROUGHT AND ALSO THE FLASH FLOOD RISKS THAT COME WITH HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS.

>> Laura: THESE STORMS THAT WE SAW LIKE IN DONA ANA COUNTY OR THAT CAUSED FLOODING IN BELEN OR CARLSBAD, ARE THESE CONSIDERED EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS OR HOW DID THEY FIT INTO THAT NARRATIVE?

>> Porter: FOR THE MONSOON SEASON WE ALWAYS FACE THE RISK FOR FLASH FLOODING AND IT IS ALWAYS AMPLIFIED AS WELL WHEN YOU HAVE WILDFIRE BURN SCARS, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO, THOSE CHALLENGES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD.

WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PINPOINT SPECIFIC EVENTS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT IS RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE RISK FOR THOSE HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS MOVING FORWARD, THE FREQUENCY OF THOSE ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO INCREASE AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A WARMING CLIMATE.

>> Laura: ONE OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE SHOW BEFORE IS HOW OUR WARMING CLIMATE KIND OF SETS US UP TO NOT ALWAYS HAVE A SENSE OF NORMAL, THAT THERE CAN BE DRY PERIODS, THERE CAN BE VERY WET PERIODS AND CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE.

I AM CURIOUS IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN ANTICIPATE WHAT OUR WEATHER PATTERNS WILL BE LIKE AS WE HAVE A CHANGING CLIMATE.

>> Porter: THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND ONE THAT MANY OF US MAY NOT NECESSARILY KNOW THE ANSWERS TO BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT NUMERICAL MODELS NOW AND WE SEE THE PATTERNS THAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON BUT THEN MAYBE THEY DON'T PAN OUT.

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE POOR MODEL PERFORMANCE OR IS IT BECAUSE OF A CHANGING CLIMATE ACROSS THE REGION?

IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE IT IS A BIT OF A MOVING TARGET A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE ARE FACING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT FACED WITH BEFORE IN MOST RECENT YEARS, DECADES AND CENTURIES.

>> Laura: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> Porter: YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.

>> Gene: IT WAS A MONTH AGO THIS WEEK THAT RICHARD BRANSON AND VIRGIN GALACTIC MADE A HISTORIC FLIGHT LAUNCHING FROM SPACE PORT AMERICA IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.

MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE WATCHED VIRGIN'S LIVE STREAM BUT THERE WERE PLENTY OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS THERE COVERING THE STORY AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS KEVIN ROBINSON-AVILA OF THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL DOCUMENTED THIS WEEK, ACCESS FOR LOCAL MEDIA WAS LESS THAN IDEAL.

CORRESPONDENT MEGAN KAMERICK CAUGHT UP WITH HIM THIS WEEK ON ZOOM TO TALK ABOUT WHY THAT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS SO DISCOURAGING.

>> Megan: KEVIN, YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING SPACEPORT AMERICA AND VIRGIN GALACTIC FOR YEARS.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS PROBABLY SEE THIS AS BILLIONAIRES PLAYING AT BEING ASTRONAUTS AND SELLING SEATS TO RICH PEOPLE.

WHY IS IT MORE THAN THAT?

>> Avila: WELL, THE VISIBLE PART OF WHAT VIRGIN GALACTIC IS DOING IS WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS SEEING AND FOLLOWING IS TO A LARGE EXTENT THAT.

THAT THEY ARE FLYING WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD AT THIS POINT TICKETS OF $450,000 A SEAT TO START INTO SPACE OR PROMISE THEY WILL START DOING THAT NEXT YEAR AND ACTUALLY BUILD UP SPACEPORTS IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD TO DO IT ALL OVER.

AND THAT REALLY, I MEAN, UNLESS 30, 40 YEARS, 20 YEARS THE PRICE COMES DOWN TO OPEN IT UP TO MORE PEOPLE AT A PRICE MORE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, IT REALLY IS AN EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS MODEL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ELITE, WHO CAN AFFORD IT, HAVE THE INCOME.

BUT THAT IS THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF WHAT VIRGIN GALACTIC IS DOING.

THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CREATED OTHER BUSINESSES THAT CONTRIBUTE NOT JUST TO -- WELL, CONTRIBUTE TO CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SOCIETY AND HUMANITY IN SPACE.

ONE BUSINESS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO FLY USING THE SAME TECHNOLOGY, ROCKETS PART OF THE WAY TO SPACE THAT CARRY SATELLITES AND THEN SHOOT THEM INTO SPACE THE WAY THEY DO PASSENGERS ON THE OTHER ADVENTURE BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE.

AT A MUCH CHEAPER PRICE TO GET THOSE SATELLITES UP THERE AND SATELLITES ARE CRITICAL FOR EVERYTHING FOR SOCIETY.

>> Megan: WHY IS THIS INDUSTRY IMPORTANT FOR NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY?

>> Avila: EVEN THE ADVENTURE PART OF IT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD IT IS A HUGE IMPACT ON NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY.

THERE IS ALREADY NEARLY 250 PEOPLE WORKING REGULARLY AT SPACEPORT WITH A HUGE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY DOWN THERE AND MOSS ADAMS ACCOUNTING FIRM STUDY OF WHAT THEY COULD EXPECT ONCE VIRGIN GALACTIC STARTS OPERATING REGULARLY IS ONE BILLION IN CUMULATIVE IMPACT IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO JUST BY 2025.

APART FROM THAT, YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE BUILT UP THROUGH THE TOURISM THAT IT BRINGS, THE FLIGHT OF BRANSON BROUGHT SOME 500 OR 700 PEOPLE INTO LAS CRUCES AND TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES AS WELL.

AND WHEN THEY ARE FLYING THREE TIMES A WEEK THAT BECOMES A REGULAR PHENOMENON WITH A GREAT DEAL OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> Megan: ALL THAT BEING SAID, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY COVERING RICHARD BRANSON'S FLIGHT TO SPACE LAST MONTH.

OFFICIALS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO DO YOUR JOB.

HOW?

>> Avila: WELL, VIRGIN GALACTIC BASICALLY LIVE STREAMED THE ENTIRE THING ON YOUTUBE REALTIME WEB COVERAGE OF WHAT IT WAS DOING, BUT THAT WAS ALL VIRGIN GALACTIC COMPANY COVERING ITS OWN EVENT AND STREAMING THAT LIVE TO THE WORLD.

THEY INVITED JOURNALISTS FROM ALL OVER, INCLUDING ME.

PEOPLE CAME FROM EUROPE AND ASIA AND EVERY PLACE ELSE, BUT WHEN WE GOT TO THE SPACEPORT, THEY HERDED US ALL INTO A SPECIAL EVENT AREA TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE 500 OR SO GUESTS THAT WERE THERE TO VIEW THE WHOLE THING AND BE A PART OF THE HISTORIC EVENT.

AND WHAT WAS INCREDIBLY SURPRISING IS, THEY KEPT THE PRESS FROM LEAVING THAT AREA TO INTERVIEW ANYBODY.

WE ARE DOWN THERE TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE, BRING THE THING TO LIFE, THROUGH WHAT WE WRITE AND WHAT WE PHOTOGRAPH, TALK TO THE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND AND COULDN'T DO ANY IT.

BECAUSE, SECURITY GUARDS KEPT US FROM LEAVING OUR SPECIAL DESIGNATED AREA.

AND WHEN WE TRIED TO, THEY HERDED US BACK.

THEY WOULDN'T LET US.

>> Megan: LET'S BE CLEAR.

THIS IS NOT YOU AS A JOURNALIST WHINING THAT YOU COULDN'T GET THE STORY YOU WANTED.

WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED THERE IS VERY CLEARLY A COORDINATED EFFORT TO CONTROL ACCESS ON THIS STORY?

>> Avila: AS VIRGIN GALACTIC PORTRAYS IT TO THE WORLD, THEY ARE TRYING TO DEMOCRATIZE SPACE.

IT HAS BEEN LIMITED TO WHAT, I THINK THE NUMBER IS -- I FORGET WHAT THE NUMBER OF ASTRONAUTS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY FLOWN ON GOVERNMENT FLIGHTS FROM THE U.S. AND ELSEWHERE TO SPACE, IT OPENS UP TO HUMANITY, YOUR EVERY-DAY PERSON TO GO UP TO SPACE, AND MAKE SPACE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN SHARE IN AND BE A PART OF.

DEMOCRATIZING IN THAT SENSE.

WE ALREADY KNOW THE BUSINESS MODEL LIMITS HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT AS WE STARTED OUT DISCUSSING, BUT AT LEAST FOR THE WORLD TO SHARE IN WAYS THAT ARE DIRECT IN THE EXPERIENCE THROUGH PEOPLE LIKE ME, THROUGH MEDIA, THROUGH REPORTERS, THROUGH PEOPLE COVERING IT, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF DEMOCRATIZATION TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE IS WHAT MAKES IT WHAT VIRGIN GALACTIC WANTS IT TO BE.

IF THEY LIMIT THAT, RESTRICT IT AND NOT ALLOW THAT INDEPENDENT COVERAGE OF IT, THEN ALL YOU'RE GETTING ARE COMPANY IMAGES AND SOUND BYTES AND ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SHOW AND PRESENT TO THE WORLD.

AND THAT BECOMES A PROMOTIONAL TOOL.

THAT IS NOT REPORTING ON WHAT IS GOING ON.

THAT IS NOT WHAT REPORTERS DO.

>> Megan: KEVIN ROBINSON-AVILA FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> Avila: THANK YOU FOR INTERVIEWING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Gene: THE REVOLVING DOOR APPARENTLY KEEPS SPINNING IN GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM'S CABINET.

RECENTLY SHE ANNOUNCED NEW LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.

NOW COMES WORD CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES SECRETARY BRIAN BLAYLOCK IS STEPPING DOWN THIS MONTH.

MR. BLAYLOCK, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, HAS FACED CRITICISM FOR SPEARHEADING THE USE OF TEMPORARY MESSAGING SERVICE CALLED SIGNAL TO CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS.

MR. BLAYLOCK SAYS HE IS LEAVING TO FOLLOW HIS WIFE IN A NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR HER IN CALIFORNIA.

THE BIGGER QUESTION IS, IS THIS JUST NORMAL TURNOVER FOR HIGH STRESS JOBS DURING A DIFFICULT TIME OR, SENATOR, SHOULD WE BE WORRIED THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON HERE WITH ALL THIS TURNOVER?

>> Diane: I WOULD BE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TURNOVER, WHAT I CONSIDER HIGH TURNOVER, IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

IN CYFD IT HAS BEEN A REVOLVING DOOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

I STARTED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN JANUARY OF 2001.

IT WAS AN ISSUE THEN.

WE WENT THROUGH -- THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE REGARDLESS OF WHICH PARTY WAS IN THE EXECUTIVE CONTROL.

SO, I DON'T THINK WE CAN SAY THAT IT IS ANY MORE -- I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND COUNT THE NUMBERS BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS ANY HIGHER THAN IT WAS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT CYFD IS DOING.

I DO THINK THAT -- LEAVING TO SUPPORT YOUR SPOUSE SOUNDS A LITTLE TO ME AND SO DOES PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH WE HEAR FREQUENTLY, BUT JUST AS BARBARA VIGIL, THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW OR MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED IN THE ARTICLE, WAS A FORMER CHILDREN'S COURT JUDGE.

SO, SHE HAS A LOT OF -- FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS OR SO.

SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR CARE AND HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THOSE.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN, AND THIS IS JUST ME, WITH HER IN PLACE, I THINK SHE IS OUTSTANDING AND AS AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER JUDGE SHE REMINDS ME MUCH OF THE SOLOMON KIND OF SITUATION IS SHE FITS THAT IMAGE TO ME.

WE SHOULD GET AN OUTSIDE ENTITY, SOME PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES, TO COME IN AND EVALUATE THIS DEPARTMENT.

NOW WE HAVE HAD THIS DEPARTMENT AND THAT DEPARTMENT AND PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG, I THINK DAVID ABBEY AND LFC AND HIS STAFF ARE EXCELLENT AT DOING EVALUATIONS BUT I THINK WE NEED SOMEONE WITH NO CONNECTIONS TO NEW MEXICO COME IN AND DO THE EVALUATION.

WE HAVE TRIED SEPARATING THE ENTITIES, WE HAVE TRIED CREATING A NEW DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE CHANGED SECRETARIES AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO.

>> Gene: NOT A BAD IDEA.

MERRITT, THE STATE NOW FACES A WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT FROM TWO FORMER EMPLOYS WHO CLAIM THEY WERE FIRED FOR BRINGING COMPLAINT TO SIGNAL THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT SIGNAL TO LIGHT AS COVERED BY SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO IN A SERIES OF REPORTS BY THE WAY.

IS A FRESH START, THE BEST THING FOR CYFD GIVEN THAT CLOUD OF SCANDAL.

>> Merritt: YEAH, I MEAN, YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS ALMOST -- IT HAS TO BE BLOWN UP AND STARTED OVER.

I FEEL LIKE FOR ANY GUBINATORIAL AT THIS POINT, FOR 2022 YOU COULD IGNORE ANY OTHER ISSUE AND SAY, I PLEDGE I WILL MAKE CYFD A FUNCTIONAL, EFFECTIVE AGENCY AND THAT COULD WIN THE ELECTION.

IT COULD BE A SINGLE ISSUE CAMPAIGN.

I THINK TO DIANE'S POINT, ONE THING ABOUT BRINGING JUSTICE VIGIL IN, YOU KNOW, OTHER STATES, CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES HAVE HAD TO GO UNDER FEDERAL RECEIVERSHIP AND CERTAINLY JUSTICE VIGIL WOULD KNOW HOW TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION AND ADMINISTER THAT.

THAT MAY BE THE ONLY WAY FORWARD AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY -- >> Gene: THAT IS A FASCINATING IDEA.

I HAD NOT HEARD THAT PROPOSED BEFORE.

THAT IS INTERESTING.

>> Merritt: I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION SEES CYFD AS A LIABILITY TO NOT BE MANAGED EFFECTIVELY BUT TO BE KEPT OUT OF THE NEWS.

>> Gene: GOT YOU.

>> Merritt: THERE IS DAMAGE CONTROL ONLY AND UNTIL WE HAVE A GOVERNOR REALLY WILLING TO MAKE CYFD FUNCTION FOR THE WELFARE OF NEW MEXICO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, PERHAPS TO DIANE'S POINT, OUTSIDE OVERSIGHT IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.

>> Gene: PROFESSOR, I GOT A QUESTION HERE.

WE ALSO KNOW WHO WILL BE LEADING CYFD, SENATOR MENTIONED, IN THE SHORT TERM WILL BE INTERIM, BUT THE NEWLY RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BARBARA VIGIL WILL TAKE THE HELM.

AS WE JUST HEARD JUSTICE VIGIL' EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA AS THE HEAD OF A FORMER STATE CHILDREN'S COURT AS MERRITT MENTIONED.

DO YOU THINK SHE IS A GOOD FIT HERE.

WHAT MERRITT IS PROPOSING IS SOMEONE TO COME IN AND BASICALLY CLEAN HOUSE.

I MEAN, SHE HAS GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE BUT IS THIS THE PERSON TO CLEAN HOUSE, SO TO SPEAK IN?

>> Serge: JUSTICE VIGIL IS INCREDIBLY RESPECTED AMONG THE BAR AND FOLKS WHO INTERACT WITH HER.

THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS VAST EXPERIENCE IN NOT JUST BEING AN ATTORNEY AND BEING A JUDGE BUT IN SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF RUNNING THE STATE'S -- THE COURTS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, SERVING AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

THERE IS NOT A HINT OF SCANDAL ABOUT HER.

SHE IS, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE A SOLID HEAD OF THIS AGENCY.

I THINK SHE'S MORE THAN UP TO THE TASK.

I CERTAINLY DON'T ENVY HER.

I MEAN, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN ANY STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE IN CHARGE OF CYFD, RIGHT.

AS MERRITT WAS SAYING, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO STAY OUT OF THE NEWS.

WELL, THAT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT BECAUSE WHEN CYFD MAKES THE NEWS WHEN THINGS GO CATASTROPHICALLY WRONG.

FINDING THAT LINE OF DOING WHAT THE AGENCY DOES OF PROTECTING CHILDREN, WHILE ALSO TRYING TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND ALSO DO IT EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH THE BUDGETARY AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRAINTS, THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLY CHALLENGING TASK.

I THINK JUSTICE VIGIL IS A FANTASTIC CHOICE FOR IT BUT LIKE I SAID I DON'T ENVY HER.

>> Gene: A 100 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AT CYFD.

100 MILLION.

AND THEY ARE ASKED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

I HAVE GOT TO WONDER IF THEY ARE ASKED TO DO TOO MANY THINGS.

>> Merritt: I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR.

I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY -- I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY FAIR.

THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

THERE ARE PAY ISSUES.

I KNOW IN 2016, STARTING SALARY FOR A CHILD ADVOCATE WAS $15 AN HOUR AND THAT WAS FOR A DEGREED CHILD ADVOCATE.

>> Gene: THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> Merritt: THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH MIDDLE MANAGEMENT BEING SOMEWHAT ENTRENCHED AND RISK ADVERSE, SO, YEAH, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS ISSUE.

SECRETARY BLAYLOCK CAME IN WITH A COMPLETELY NEW APPROACH WHICH WAS KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND SO THAT WAS A CHANGE OF CULTURE FROM WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN.

I THINK YOU DON'T CHANGE A CULTURE WITH A COMPLETELY NEW MINDSET OVERNIGHT.

SO, THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOSTER PARENTS, SO OFTEN CHILDREN GO OUT OF STATE AND THE CHILD ADVOCATES WHO HAVE OFTEN DOUBLED THE CASE LOAD THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO, ALSO SO THERE IS SUPPOSED TO VISIT EVERY CHILD IN THEIR DOSSIER ONCE A MONTH AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE.

SO -- >> Gene: MY OLD BOSS HEATHER WILSON WHEN SHE WAS HEAD OF CYFD UNDER GARY JOHNSON SHE HAD A HECK OF A TIME TRYING TO MAKE AN INCH WORTH OF CHANGE.

IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THAT DISCUSSION.

UP NEXT, THE LOOMING THREAT OF EVICTIONS AND UTILITY SHUTOFFS.

RIGHT NOW WE TURN TO NEW MEXICO'S CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

THE STATE WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PRODUCTION LICENSES IN A FEW WEEKS BUT RULES ARE BEING FINALIZED AND THE CANNABIS REGULATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS JUST APPOINTED.

THE GROWING FORWARD POD CAST TEAM RECENTLY SPOKE TO REGULATION AND LICENSING SUPERINTENDENT LINDA TRUJILLO ABOUT HOW ALL OF THAT IS SHAPING UP AS WE SPEED AHEAD TO LEGAL SALES BY APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.

>> Andy: THANKS FOR JOINING US AGAIN SUPERINTENDENT.

>> Trujillo: HI ANDY, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ON HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, MEGAN.

>> Megan: SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS HELD TWO PUBLIC RULE MAKING HEARINGS AND MADE CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED RULES FOR CANNABIS GROWERS AND THERE IS A STATUTORY DEADLINE TO START ACCEPTING CANNABIS LICENSE APPLICATIONS BY SEPTEMBER 1.

WHICH IS DEPENDENT ON FINALIZED RULES.

SO, HOW IS RLD DOING IN TERMS OF MEETING THAT DEADLINE?

>> Trujillo: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND WE ARE GOING TO SLIDE UNDER JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE DIVIDING UP AND CONQUERING HOW WE LOOK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, ADD THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN, MAKE CHANGES TO THE RULES, WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO FILE THE LAST BUNCH OF RULES BUT IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER IT WHAT IS CALLED LEGALLY A LOGICAL OUTGROWTH OF ANY CHANGES.

THIS TIME THERE IS NOT THOSE KIND OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE COMMENT THAT WAS RAISED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AS IN COMMENTS WAS TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONAL LICENSE FROM THREE MONTHS TO A YEAR AND SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS TO EXTEND IT TO SIX MONTHS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY IN WRITING TO EXTEND IT FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.

AND, REMEMBER, NOW WE ARE HAVING OR FIRST CANNABIS REGULATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SO WHEN I SAY PROPOSED, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THEM AND THEY'LL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE DRAFTS THAT WE MADE BASED UPON OUR RESEARCH AND THEN WHATEVER CHANGES WE HAVE MADE BASED UPON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THEY'LL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SO OUR HOPE IS THAT THEY'LL GIVE US A THUMBS UP FOR, IF NOT ALL, THE MAJORITY OF THE RULES THAT WE NEED TO FILE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

>> Andy: I NOTICED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THE CANNABIS REGULATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WERE NOT OR I DIDN'T SEE THEM LISTED AS APPLICANTS.

NAMELY, PUEBLO OF SAN ILDEFONSO GOVERNOR PERRY MARTINEZ, AND MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT NATHAN PAOLINELLI.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME POSITIONS LIKE REPRESENTATIVES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION THAT HAD TO BE APPOINTED BY THOSE CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE WOULD BE APPOINTED MEMBERS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T APPLY IN THAT INITIAL APPLICATION PROCESS?

>> Trujillo: ABSOLUTELY ANDY.

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION TOO.

WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE CANNABIS REGULATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD POTENTIALLY GET SOME APPLICANTS.

WE WEREN'T SURE WE WOULD GET ENOUGH APPLICANTS.

WE GOT A LOT OF APPLICANTS IN THE LONG RUN BUT WE ALSO TALKED TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OUTSIDE OF THAT APPLICATION PROCESS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE HAVING VOICES THAT WERE HEARD AND A COUPLE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE COMMUNICATED WITH IS GIVING THE TRIBES, PUEBLOS AND RESERVATIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT AND SO THAT WAS LIKE IN ADDITION.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON IS MAYBE NOT EVEN PUT THAT POSITION ON AS LOOKING FOR APPLICANTS.

BUT WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO GO EVEN ABOVE THAT SO WE PUT IT ON THE LIST LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR THAT POSITION BUT WE ALSO TALKED TO OUTSIDE INTERESTED PARTIES.

AND THE NAME THAT ULTIMATELY WAS CHOSEN WAS A RECOMMENDATION, I BELIEVE, FROM PICURIS PUEBLO, I BELIEVE, WAS THE ONE THAT RECOMMENDED IT.

IT WAS A VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATION.

AND SO, AFTER TALKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT WAS HOW THAT DECISION WAS MADE.

IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW -- APPOINTING PEOPLE WAS NOT LIMITED TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO APPLY FOR IT.

THAT WAS JUST ONE WAY THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

>> Andy: CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ADOPTED ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND NOW OFFICIALS WITH CHAVES COUNTY WHICH INCLUDES ROSWELL ARE CONSIDERING RESTRICTIONS THAT MIGHT INCLUDE HOURS OF OPERATION AND NO SALES ON SUNDAY, AND IN ADDITION THERE WAS TALKS IN SANTA FE COUNTY OF LIMITING PERSONAL GROWTH TO INDOOR ONLY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE RLD'S JURISDICTION ENDS WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL CONTROL ISSUES.

>> Trujillo: WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THOSE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

TO THE EXTENT THAT A LOCAL JURISDICTION CAN DETERMINE TIME, PLACE AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS, THAT IS COMPLETELY WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.

AND ORIGINALLY WE THOUGHT THAT THE LOCATION TO SCHOOLS AND DAY CARE WAS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.

WE GOT LEGAL COUNSEL THAT IT WAS NOT.

IT IS LIMITED TO THE LOCAL JURISDICTION AND SO THAT WILL NOT BE IN OUR ULTIMATELY ADOPTED RULES.

ANY REFERENCE TO LOCATION IS GOING TO BE LIMITED TO THE LOCAL JURISDICTION.

NOW WHETHER IT FALLS WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF WHAT THE STATUTE ALLOWS A LOCAL JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COURTS, BUT IT IS NOT WITHIN OUR POWER TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF RESTRICTIONS OR TO ENFORCE IT.

>> Andy: THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> Trujillo: I ALWAYS ENJOY TALKING TO YOU GUYS AND I LOVE THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AND THE COMMENTS THAT I HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC REALLY DO HELP FORM THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE ARE GOING AND HOW WE LOOK AT LICENSING AND HOW WE LOOK AT REGULATION.

IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

SO, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME ON AGAIN.

>> Andy: THANK YOU.

>> Gene: SEASON 3 OF GROWING FORWARD, A COLLABORATION WITH NEW MEXICO POLITICAL REPORT IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR POD CASTS, CHECK IT OUT.

TIME TO WRAP THINGS UP THIS WEEK WITH OUR LINE OPINION PANEL WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A MAJOR FINANCIAL CRISIS IS LOOMING IN NEW MEXICO.

THE STATE'S EVICTION MORATORIUM IS STILL IN PLACE BUT AS SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO RECENTLY REPORTED, THAT HASN'T STOPPED SOME LANDLORDS FROM FILING THOUSANDS OF EVICTION NOTICES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THIS WEEK MARKED CUT OFF FOR MORATORIUM ON UTILITY SHUTOFFS FOR NEW MEXICANS BEHIND ON PAYMENTS.

THERE ARE RELIEF PROGRAMS OUT THERE BUT, SERGE, AS YOU KNOW FROM YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA, IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH AND I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU, HOW ARE THESE EVICTIONS EVEN HAPPENING WHEN THERE IS A MORATORIUM IN PLACE?

IS THIS ILLEGAL?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> Serge: THERE ARE A LOT OF EVICTIONS HAPPENING, MOST OF THEM ARE LANDLORDS WHO HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE STAY IMPOSED BY THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT OR THE CDC MORATORIUM ONLY APPLIES TO A LIMITED SUBSET OF EVICTIONS AND THOSE ARE FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF IN, PEOPLE HAVE FIGURED OUT THERE IS LOTS OF WAYS TO REMOVE TENANTS.

BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE STAY, RIGHT, WHAT WE SEE IS EVICTIONS HAPPENING EVEN WHEN WE ARE GIVING LIP SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC POLICY GOAL OF KEEPING PEOPLE FROM MOVING AROUND DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEING DISLOCATED FROM THEIR HOMES.

SO, IT IS NOT A LOOP HOLE.

IT IS FUNCTIONING EXACTLY AS PLANNED AND ANTICIPATED AS MANY OF US SAID WOULD HAPPEN.

IT IS HAPPENING.

THE STAY IS NOT THE COMPLETE BLANKET PROTECTION THAT A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE TO THINK IT IS.

>> Gene: IS IT TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT LIFTING MORATORIUMS?

ARE WE PUTTING OFF THE INEVITABLE WITHOUT DEALING WITH UNDERLYING ISSUES AT STAKE HERE?

>> Merritt: YOU KNOW, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT AREN'T TALKING TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE ONE THING I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IS RENTHELPNM.ORG WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SITE.

I AM READING THE BANNER RIGHT NOW.

AS OF AUGUST 12, 2021 WE ISSUED 10,237 AWARDS TOTALING 26,797,000 DOLLARS.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD WEBSITE THAT THE STATE OFFERS, OFFERING FEDERAL GRANTS FOR PEOPLE NEEDING HELP WITH RENT AND UTILITIES AND THERE IS A WHOLE SITE FOR LANDLORDS SO THAT THEY CAN STEER THEIR TENANTS THAT WAY TO GET GRANTS, TO GET PAID.

IT ALSO IS SHOWING THAT THE STATE UNDERSTANDS LANDLORDS NEED THIS TOO TO KEEP LANDLORDS FROM GOING UNDER.

THERE ARE SOME KIND OF ROBUST PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO KIND OF KEEP THIS GOING BECAUSE LANDLORDS CAN'T GO WITHOUT RENT FOREVER, EITHER.

PARTICULARLY IN ALBUQUERQUE, WHERE OUR HOUSING MARKET SINGLE HOME MARKET IS KIND OF SKY ROCKETING WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE A HOUSING EQUALITY PROBLEM IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE ALREADY.

I THINK IT IS A DIFFICULT PROGRAM TO KEEP AN EYE ON BECAUSE WE HAVE FEDERAL TAX FLOODING IN.

WE HAVE JUST GOTTEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED THIS WEEK, WELL, BY THE SENATE.

IT HAS TO GO TO THE HOUSE, GET THROUGH THE HOUSE.

THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES, KIND OF POINTING TO OUR FIRST SEGMENT, SEGMENT THIS WEEK, SO I THINK THERE IS HELP OUT THERE.

I THINK TO SAY IT IS TOO EARLY, I CAN'T AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

AT SOME POINT WE HAVE GOT TO ATTEMPT TO GO BACK TO MORALITY -- MORALITY?

WELL, THAT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TOO, NORMALITY.

NORMALITY AND MORALITY, I AM FOR BOTH.

SO, YEAH, I AM NOT READY TO SAY IT IS TOO SOON.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE HAVE USED, WHAT, 27,000 OF 170 MILLION OF FEDERAL AID.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE -- >> Gene: WE HAVE SPENT JUST OVER 20 MILLION OUT OF 284 MILLION AVAILABLE.

THAT MONEY IS GOING AWAY, SENATOR, AT THE END OF THE SEPTEMBER UNLESS WE START SPENDING A WHOLE LOT MORE.

MERRITT MENTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PRETTY DECENT WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE TO GET HELP.

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE, FIRST OF ALL?

THAT IS THE BIGGEST PART TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THIS MONEY.

>> Diane: ONE QUICK OBVIOUS ANSWER IS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING OUR MEDIA EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, TELEVISION TO CABLE TO NEWSPAPERS, WHATEVER, COULD RUN LIKE A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

I THINK THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT IS IMPACTING ALL OF THE PUBLIC NOT JUST THE RENTERS.

ONE OF THE COMMENTS AND STUFF THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT IS THAT OF SOME OF THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT TO THE APPLICANT, THE RENTER, HAS NOT BEEN GETTING TO THE OWNER OF THE FACILITY.

SO, IT IS BEING SPENT FOR OTHER THINGS.

I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM OR NOT A PROBLEM BUT THERE IS ENOUGH OF THAT ISSUE AND PERCEPTION THAT OUR OWNERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THE MONIES WILL GET TO THEM EVENTUALLY.

YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD APPLY.

ALL WE CAN DO IS KEEP POUNDING ON IT.

TO DO IT.

AND THEN HOPE THAT IT GETS WHERE IT SUPPOSED TO GO.

>> Gene: LET ME GET SERGE IN HERE.

JUNE REPORT FROM LFC, I HAVE TO SAY AGAIN IF NEW MEXICO DOES NOT SPEND 1/3 OF 284 MILLION BY END OF SEPTEMBER WE COULD USE MILLIONS OF BADLY NEEDED AID.

TOUCH ON EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HEARD.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT?

>> Serge: I AM HEARING THE SAME THING.

I TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY, YOU KNOW, EVERYDAY AS MUCH AS I CAN TO WHOEVER WILL TALK TO ME.

I AM CONSTANTLY SURPRISED WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE.

THE WEBSITE IS PRETTY GOOD, IT IS PRETTY FUNCTIONAL, EASY TO DO.

THERE IS A WAITING PERIOD OF A FEW WEEKS THAT IS SLOWING SOME OF THIS DOWN.

THERE IS ALSO A SPOT FOR LANDLORDS TO APPLY FOR THIS, FOR LANDLORDS TO SAY -- WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE -- INDIVIDUAL TENANTS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS MONEY BEING AVAILABLE.

LANDLORDS KNOW ABOUT THIS MONEY.

>> Gene: LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING ELSE IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

91% OF EVICTED RENTERS IN ALBUQUERQUE DID NOT HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

THE RESEARCH SHOWS.

HOW DO WE FIX THAT?

HOW DO WE GET RENTERS BETTER REPRESENTATION IN THESE SITUATIONS?

>> Serge: YOU KNOW, I MEAN THERE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE USED FUNDS TO PAY FOR LAWYERS FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS FACING EVICTION AND THEY HAVE SEEN OUTCOMES TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING EVICTED.

THE EVICTION COURTS ARE DESIGNED WITH THE IDEA OF BEING ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE LAWYERS.

IN FACT, IT IS BEWILDERING AND OVERWHELMING IN A LOT OF CASES, BUT THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS.

ONE IS MORE MONEY FOR LAWYERS, RIGHT, BUT THAT IS A BIT SELF SERVING.

THE OTHER IS REDUCE NUMBER OF FOLKS FACING EVICTION BY ENCOURAGING, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, LOOK, AS A LANDLORD IF YOU WANT TO EVICT SOMEBODY FOR NOT PAYING THIS, FIRST TALK TO THE RENT HELP PEOPLE AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET THAT MONEY.

IF THERE IS A REASON YOU CAN'T GET PAID, RIGHT, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

SLOWING THINGS DOWN TO ALLOW FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO GET THAT MONEY WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN COURT WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO LAWYERS.

SO, YOU CAN COME AT IT FROM EITHER WAY, BUT IT IS TRUE, IT IS A REAL ISSUE, RIGHT.

AS A LAWYER I BELIEVE EVERYBODY DESERVES TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINED IN THE LAW AND WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE OVERWHELMED BY THE COURTS.

>> Gene: AS YOU MADE THE POINT MANY TIMES HERE PROFESSOR, THESE FOLKS ARE GOING OUT THE DOOR WITH EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD WHICH MAKES THEIR LIFE VERY DIFFICULT DOWN THE ROAD.

THAT IS A WRAP FOR THIS WEEK'S LINE PANEL.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS, BE SURE TO KEEP UP WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THIS WEEK ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK IN DEPTH WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT, LAURA PASKUS, ON THE NEW REPORT FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEY ARE FAIRLY STARTLING RESULTS AND AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN OUR LAND WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

IN THE REPORT I WAS PARTICULARLY STRUCK AT WHAT THE UPCOMING CENTURY MIGHT PROTEND FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE AND PROJECTIONS OF EARLY ONSET SPRING SNOW MELT AND CHANGES TO STREAM FLOW IN LOW ELEVATION MOUNTAIN CATCHMENTS.

THE SCARIEST Y BIT OUT OF ALL THIS IS THERE IS JUST GOING TO BE LESS SNOW.

THIS WILL POSE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD FOR OUR STATE WHICH THE REPORT ALSO TOUCHES ON.

WE ARE TALKING THREATS TO ENERGY PRODUCTION, ECOSYSTEMS INTEGRITY, AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY PRODUCTION, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND ECO TOURISM.

ON THAT LAST NOTE, THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR SKI INDUSTRY ALONE.

NOW, WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE, EACH OF US AS INDIVIDUALS, LET THE EXTREME END OF CLIMATE CHANGE PREDICTIONS PARALYZE US OR ALLOW IT TO MOTIVATE US TO TAKE INDIVIDUAL ACTION IF FOR NO OTHER REASON OUTSIDE OF FAMILY FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.