>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY  VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, COUNT DOWN TO THE PRIMARY.

CANDIDATES SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM THE PACK.

WHO COULD FARE BEST IN THE GENERAL ELECTRICS.

AND... >> Leslie: IT IS ALL ABOUT  BRINGING CLOSURE TO THESE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THESE  INDIVIDUALS.

>> Gene: MISSING AND MURDERED  INDIGENOUS INVESTIGATIONS, THE ROLE THE FBI PLAY IN THESE  CASES AND WHAT A NAVAJO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR SAYS  NEEDS TO CHANGE.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS JUST  AROUND THE CORNER.

IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES THE  LINE OPINION PANELISTS BREAK DOWN THE BIGGEST RACES AND  GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE AVALANCHE OF ATTACK ADS AIMED  AT SWING VOTERS.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE  SHOW, THE PANEL DISCUSSES THE RECENT AGREEMENT ALLOWING  LEGAL CANNABIS SALES ON TWO PUEBLOS IN NEW MEXICO AND WHAT  THAT COULD MEAN FOR OTHER TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT, OF COURSE, THE SPOTLIGHT REMAINS ON THE WILDFIRES  BURNING ACROSS THE STATE.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PEOPLE LIVING  IN THE NORTH VALLEY WERE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES FOR A  SHORT TIME AS A FIRE IN THE BOSQUE THREATENED THE AREA.

THAT IS AS THE LARGEST FIRE IN NEW MEXICO'S HISTORY, THE  HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON FIRE BURNS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF  THE STATE.

WE'LL EXPLORE THE FOREST  SERVICE' DECISION TO PAUSE PRESCRIBED BURNS AND A NEW  EFFORT FROM LOS ALAMOS LABS TO MAKE THEM SAFER.

IN THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST, THE BLACK FIRE NOW BURNED MORE  THAN 160,000 ACRES WITH MORE THAN 700 FIREFIGHTERS ON THE  GROUND WORKING TO CONTAIN IT.

IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHAT THE  U.S. FOREST SERVICE SAYS IS BEING DONE.

FIRST, HOW THESE FIRES ARE BEING HANDLED IN WASHINGTON.

U.S.

SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH SITS DOWN WITH ENVIRONMENT  REPORTER LAURA PASKUS TO EXPLAIN THE POTENTIAL  SOLUTIONS HE IS PUSHING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> Laura: HI, SENATOR HEINRICH.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> Heinrich: IT IS A PLEASURE.

>> Laura: SO YOU ARE BACK IN DC RIGHT NOW BUT YOU WERE OUT  IN NEW MEXICO VISITING THE FIRES.

WE ARE ALL SEEING AND ALSO STUNNED BY MUCH OF THE  DESTRUCTION.

I AM CURIOUS IF ANYTHING IN  PARTICULAR SURPRISED YOU ON THE VARIOUS FIRES YOU WERE  VISITING.

>> Heinrich: LOOKING AT THE  RUN THAT THE FIRE MADE WEST OF LAS VEGAS, WHICH ACTUALLY  HAPPENED AT NIGHT WHEN THESE PONDEROSA FIRES USUALLY LAY  DOWN AND GET ON THE FOREST FLOOR AND SEEING THAT MADE  THAT BIG RUN AT NIGHT, THAT IS JUST SCARY.

WE ARE JUST SEEING FIRE BEHAVIOR AND I HAVE BEEN  AROUND A LOT OF FIRES AND THIS IS A LOT OF NEW BEHAVIOR AND I  THINK WE SHOULD ALL -- WE JUST HAVE TO REASSESS EVERYTHING  BASED ON HOW MUCH THINGS ARE CHANGING.

>> Laura: I AM CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT  HERMIT'S PEAK CALF CANYON IF WE KNOW ANYMORE ABOUT HOW THAT  FIRE GOT OUT OF CONTROL.

>> Heinrich: NO, AND I THINK  THAT THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE -- I AM GOING TO LET THE  INVESTIGATION MOVE FORWARD AND COME UP WITH A CONCLUSION BUT  I THINK WE HAVE ALL SEEN THAT ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, OUR  SPRING IS DIFFERENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AND I  THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WINDOWS OF WHEN IT IS  APPROPRIATE TO USE PRESCRIBED FIRE ON THE LANDSCAPE.

AND IN TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF CRUNCHING THAT  DATA AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT PLACES, I THINK WE ARE  PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO BURN IN THE SPRING,  AT LEAST IN CERTAIN WINDOWS, AND SEE THAT SHIFT TO TIMES  WHERE HISTORICALLY NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, WE COULDN'T DO  PRESCRIBED FIRE ON THE LANDSCAPE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T  GET IT TO BURN, RIGHT?

NOW, IT CAN.

SO, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DO  A DEEP DIVE ON ALL OF OUR FOREST MANAGEMENT AND TRY TO  UPDATE THINGS TO WHAT IS GOING TO BE MOST PRODUCTIVE FOR OUR  RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR FORESTS GOING INTO THE FUTURE AND NOT  MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING SO  QUICKLY.

>> Laura: YOU AND OTHERS SENT  A LETTER EARLIER THIS MONTH TO THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, AG  DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT ABOUT  YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

WHAT WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?

>> Heinrich: MY CONCERN WAS  THAT THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE WOULD HAVE NORMALLY SORT OF  COINCIDED WITH THEM COMING OUT WITH A RULE AS TO HOW MUCH  PEOPLE IN THIS PROFESSIONAL CLASS SHOULD BE PAID AT WHAT  LEVEL AND THAT WOULD HAVE SORT OF COINCIDED WITH THE  BEGINNING OF FIRE SEASON BUT OUR FIRE SEASON STARTED MONTHS  EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN  THE FIELD RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THEM THAT  WE ARE GRATEFUL, THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THEIR  PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL WELLBEING IN A WAY THAT HASN'T  BEEN FULLY APPRECIATED IN RECENT YEARS AND THAT WE ARE  GOING TO MAKE THESE CHANGES AND SEND THAT SIGNAL RIGHT IN  THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW SO THEY  FEEL THE GRATITUDE THAT I KNOW I AND MANY OTHER RESIDENTS OF  NEW MEXICO FEEL.

>> Laura: WE HAVE COVERED THIS  ISSUE OF THE WORKFORCE BUT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN I  READ YOUR LETTER WHICH SAID LAST YEAR FIRE OFFICIALS WERE  UNABLE TO FILL AN UNPRECEDENTED 1800 INTERAGENCY  REQUESTS FOR WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING CREWS AND MORE THAN  1900 REQUESTS FOR FIRE ENGINES.

THE LETTER GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE SHORTAGES IN THE  WEST HEADING INTO THIS FIRE SEASON WITH OFFICIALS  ESTIMATING STAFFING WILL BE BELOW 75% IN SOME REGIONS.

ARE WE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT IN THE WEST AND IN NEW MEXICO  RIGHT NOW, DO YOU THINK?

>> Heinrich: WE ARE NOT SEEING  IT IN NEW MEXICO ONLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE THE WHOLE  GAME, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE, I BELIEVE, THE  CURRENT NUMBER IS SOMETHING LIKE 3,000 PEOPLE ON THE  NORTHERN FIRE COMPLEX.

THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE FOLKS  WHO ARE DOWN ON THE BLACK FIRE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER FIRES.

SO, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE BENEFITING, AS HARD AS WHAT WE  ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IS, WE REALLY ARE BENEFITING  FROM HAVING FIREFIGHTERS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION,  HAVING PROTECTION ASSETS.

WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 60% OF  ALL THE STRUCTURE PROTECTION ASSETS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE BIG PUMPING STATIONARY TANKS THAT HOLD WATER, THE  HOSES, ALL OF THAT STUFF, IT IS IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW.

SO, BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS WE ARE JUST AT THE FRONT END OF  THIS, RIGHT?

FIRE SEASON, EVEN ONCE THE  MONSOONS COME, IT IS GOING TO ROLE INTO OTHER STATES.

WE'LL SEE THE CALIFORNIA FIRE SEASON, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST  FIRE SEASON.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS FROM A PERSONNEL POINT OF  VIEW AND REALLY START SIGNALING AND FOLLOWING  THROUGH WITH IT THAT WE VALUE THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE  DOING HEROIC WORK AND WE NEED TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL SORT  OF CADRE AND NOT THINK OF THIS QUITE IN THE SAME WAY ANYMORE.

REALLY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE -- THESE ARE  GOING TO BE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT INFORM ALL OF  THE DECISIONS WE ARE MAKING INSIDE A PARTICULAR NATIONAL  FOREST OR OTHER PUBLIC LAND.

>> Gene: WE'LL GET BACK TO THE  RESPONSE TO WILDFIRES IN A LITTLE OVER 10 MINUTES BUT  FIRST WE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE PRIMARY ELECTION NOW JUST A  WEEK-AND-A-HALF AWAY.

LET'S START BY WELCOMING THE  LINE OPINION PANELISTS THIS WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU SERGE MARTINEZ BACK WITH US.

HE IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNM LAW SCHOOL.

WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY TWO OTHER PANELISTS, INEZ RUSSELL  GOMEZ, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR AT THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN  AND DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE REPRESENTATIVE  AND MINORITY WHIP, I MIGHT ADD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED.

CANDIDATES ARE STILL GETTING THEIR LAST SHOTS IN BEFORE  ELECTION DAY.

THE BIGGEST RACES WE ARE  FOLLOWING ARE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR  GOVERNOR AND THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR ATTORNEY  GENERAL.

ATTACK ADS HAVE RATCHETED UP  IN BOTH RACES BUT THE GOP GOVERNOR'S RACE HAS BEEN  ESPECIALLY TARGETED WITH FORMER WEATHERMAN MARK  RONCHETTI AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA DOW  JOISTING OVER WHO IS MOST LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

DANIEL FOLEY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IS THIS A SMART STRATEGY FOR THE LONG HAUL FOR THESE  CANDIDATES?

>> Dan: NO, NOT AT ALL.

YOU HAVE GOT TO RUN IN THE GENERAL.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

YOU HAVE GOT TO GET TO A PRIMARY, BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO  GET TO A PRIMARY IN THE WAY YOU CAN STILL TACK BACK TO THE  MIDDLE AND GET ELECTED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I THINK THIS IS NOT A GREAT  TACTIC WHEN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION THE PRESIDENT DID NOT  WIN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT  CONVERSATION IF DONALD TRUMP HAD EASILY WON NEW MEXICO AND  YOU WERE LIKE, LISTEN, IN THE GENERAL, HE BEAT BIDEN AND ALL  THIS STUFF.

BUT THE STATE IS NOT MOVING IN  THAT DIRECTION.

RUNNING AS FAR AS TO THE RIGHT  AS YOU CAN -- YOU ARE SEEING THIS ON BOTH SIDES.

YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN THE AG'S RACE WITH THE DEMOCRAT  CANDIDATES.

LET'S BECOME AS PROGRESSIVE AS  WE CAN TO WIN THE PRIMARY AND FIGURE OUT SOME WAY THE NEXT  DAY TO MOVE BACK TO THE MIDDLE.

I THINK IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IT DESTINES YOU FOR  FAILURE COME THE GENERAL ELECTION TIME.

>> Gene: INEZ, INTERESTINGLY, MS. DOW CALLED MR. RONCHETTI A  NEVER TRUMPER.

DOES THAT WORK ANYMORE AT THIS  POINT?

>> Inez: IT MIGHT IN THE  PRIMARY IF HE DIDN'T HAVE SO MUCH NAME RECOGNITION.

THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THE PEOPLE RUNNING AGAINST  RONCHETTI IS THAT EVERY ONE KNEW WHO HE WAS BECAUSE THEY  HAD SEEN THE WEATHER FOR YEARS AND HE HAD A DECENT RUN FOR  SENATE.

NO ONE WAS LOOKING AT WHETHER  YOU WERE A TRUMP SUPPORTER OR NOT A TRUMP SUPPORTER.

YOU WERE LOOKING TO SEE, I THINK, WHO WOULD BE THE MOST  STRONG AGAINST MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE NOMINATING  SOMEONE TO RUN AGAINST THE CURRENT INCUMBENT AND I THINK  REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO GO WITH THE NAME THEY KNOW.

AND I ALSO THINK THE MORE YOU FOCUS ON TRUMP IS THE MORE YOU  LOOK BACKWARD.

ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT THE  FUTURE.

THEY ARE NOT ABOUT  RELITIGATING THE PAST.

>> Gene: IT CAN ONLY CARRY YOU  SO FAR.

I WANT YOU TO GET IN ON THE  NEXT ONE.

SERGE, I'LL START WITH YOU.

RECENT POLLING FROM KOB SHOWS MR. RONCHETTI FARING THE BEST  OUT OF ALL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN WHAT INEZ JUST  MENTIONED, A HEAD-TO-HEAD RACE WITH GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM.

POLLS SHOW THE GOVERNOR WITH A FOUR POINT LEAD ON  MR. RONCHETTI.

JAY BLOCK HAD SECOND BEST SHOT  ACCORDING TO THE POLL.

NOW, ARE VOTERS GOING TO TAKE  THAT INTO ACCOUNT OR SIMPLY WHO THEY IDENTIFY WITH MOST AT  THIS POINT?

>> Serge: MY TAKE ON IT IS THE  PRIMARY IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE PERSON  WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO PREVAIL IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BASED ON WHAT I AM SEEING, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME  SUGGESTION, I GUESS, RONCHETTI HAS DECIDED TO LOOK PAST THE  PRIMARIES BECAUSE HE IS FEELING SO CONFIDENT, BUT THAT  IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED, BUT SEEMS LIKE A LOT  OF ECHO CHAMBERING.

I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE  VOTER IS GOING -- I DON'T KNOW HOW STRATEGIC THE VOTING  APPROACH IS IN ANY PRIMARY.

LOOKING AROUND THE COUNTRY,  SEEING HOW, AS I WAS SAYING, THERE IS THIS RACE TO THE  OUTSIDE.

A RACE AWAY FROM THE MIDDLE A  LOT OF TIME IN PRIMARIES BUT IT IS DESTRUCTIVE AND PROBABLY  STRATEGICALLY DEBATABLE, NO, NOT DEBATABLE, JUST UNSOUND.

>> Gene: DAN, I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR OPINION ON THIS.

IN THE POLLING MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM STACKED AGAINST  REBECCA DOW, 48% VERSUS 36% FOR MS. DOW.

I AM CURIOUS IN  THE OVERALL WHERE YOU SEE REBECCA DOW RIGHT NOW.

HAS SOMETHING NOT CAUGHT ON WITH THE PRIMARY VOTERS WITH  HER?

HONESTLY, I THOUGHT SHE WOULD  BE A LITTLE TIGHTER TO MR. RONCHETTI AT THIS POINT.

I AM CURIOUS YOUR SENSE OF IT.

>> Dan: GENE, LET ME START OFF  BY SAYING, I DONATED TO GREG ZANETTI.

I GAVE GREG ZANETTI  SOME MONEY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL  KNOW MY CHOICE IN THE RACE IS GREG ZANETTI.

I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT REBECCA DOW NOW IS HAVING IS A  PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS TO -- WE SEE IT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL  LEVEL WITH SENATORIAL GUYS, PEOPLE FROM THE SENATE THAT  RUN.

YOU THINK BECAUSE YOU'RE A  U.S.

SENATOR, YOU HAVE ALL THIS NAME RECOGNITION BUT ONCE  YOU LEAVE YOUR STATE, NO ONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.

REBECCA HAS GREAT NAME RECOGNITION IN HER DISTRICT  BUT GETTING OUTSIDE OF YOUR DISTRICT AND THINKING THAT  PEOPLE IN THE OPPOSITE END OF THE STATE KNOW WHAT A STATE  REPRESENTATIVE IS DOING, I CAN TELL YOU AS SOMEONE WHO WAS IN  LEGISLATURE AND PROBABLY GOT AS MUCH IF NOT MORE PRESS THAN  ANY LEGISLATOR IN LIVING HISTORY, NOT NECESSARILY  ALWAYS GOOD, YOU WOULD STILL GO PLACES AND PEOPLE HAD NO  IDEA WHO YOU ARE.

OVERWHELMINGLY HAD NO IDEA WHO  YOU ARE.

SO, I THINK, AS INEZ POINTED  OUT, YOU HAVE A GUY ON TV THAT HALF OR THREE-QUARTERS OF THE  STATE SAW EVERY NIGHT.

IT IS A NAME.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, WHETHER YOU THINK HE'LL BE A  GOOD GOVERNOR, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMING FROM -- YOU KNOW, I AM  SURPRISED -- WHAT I AM SURPRISED AT IN THIS IS THAT  GREG ZANETTI'S NAME RECOGNITION ISN'T HIGHER.

HE DID RUN FOR OFFICE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO AND FOR A LONG  TIME HE HAD THAT FINANCIAL SHOW ON KKOB RADIO STATION.

THAT DOES AMPLIFY AND LARRY AHRENS THOUGHT THAT WOULD  PROPEL HIM IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT REBECCA ISN'T DOING AS WELL AS  MARK RONCHETTI.

IF YOU TAKE A MARK RONCHETTI  OUT OF RACE AND EVERYBODY AS IS, I WOULD SUSPECT REBECCA  DOW WOULD HAVE THOSE HIGHER NUMBERS, BUT I THINK IT IS  JUST TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THAT NAME RECOGNITION AND  GETTING THAT MONEY UP FRONT TO DO SO.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLY EXPENSIVE TO TRY TO GET NAME RECOGNITION  STATE-WIDE IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: YOU MAKE A GOOD  POINT, DAN.

ONE MORE POINT BEFORE I GO TO  INEZ.

IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO,  MS. DOW, TO CLOSE THE GAP AT THIS POINT OR HAS SHE SWUNG  HER BEST PUNCHES AT THIS POINT?

>> Dan: I THINK RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE THINGS IS ONCE EARLY  VOTING IS STARTED, YOU KNOW, THE TIME FOR ELECTIONS IS SO  COMPRESSED NOW, WITH EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS,  PEOPLE HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND.

THERE IS SO MUCH NATIONAL STUFF GOING ON RIGHT NOW, I AM  NOT SURE THERE HAS BEEN A COMPELLING ARGUMENT OR COULD  BE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO TRUMP NATIONAL NEWS THAT IS  GOING ON TO GET PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY  ESPECIALLY WHEN I THINK ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT MOST  PEOPLE THINK MICHELLE IS GOING TO GET REELECTED IN THE  GENERAL ELECTION ANYWAY.

>> Gene: DAN KIND OF PUT A  GOOD RIBBON ON THAT.

LET ME GO TO THE AG'S RACE IF  I CAN WITH YOU.

DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERAL'S  RACE IS THE OTHER BIG ONE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT.

STATE AUDITOR BRIAN COLON IS LEADING THE PRIMARY BATTLE  OVER CURRENT DA RAUL TORREZ BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF  BUZZ AROUND THAT BECAUSE MR. COLON HAS RECEIVED  SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER CASH FROM  OUT-OF-STATE LAW FIRMS AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME GOOD  REPORTING ON THAT.

ARE WE FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON  THE MONEY IN THIS RACE AND NOT THE POLICY PERSPECTIVES OF  EACH CANDIDATE AT THIS POINT?

>> Inez: I WOULDN'T THINK SO,  ONLY BECAUSE THEIR POLICY PERSPECTIVES ARE PRETTY  SIMILAR.

I WOULDN'T THINK THERE IS A  WHOLE LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN THEM.

MONEY CAN DIRECT HOW YOU DO THINGS AND I THINK THAT IS  TOTALLY A LEGITIMATE POINT.

WE ENDORSED COLON BUT WE SAID,  YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR WHERE YOU GOT YOUR MONEY  AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND IT AND WHO YOU ARE GOING  TO GIVE CONTRACTS TO.

BECAUSE, THE THING WE DID LIKE  ABOUT RAUL TORREZ WAS THAT HE SEES THE OFFICE -- HE WANTS A  MORE VIGOROUS STAFFING OF THE OFFICE SO THAT THE AG'S  OFFICE, YOU KNOW, TRAINS THE BEST AND SMARTEST LAWYERS,  DOES SOME OF THE PROSECUTION AND SOME OF THE LITIGATION  ITSELF AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARILY A BAD MODEL.

WITH COLON YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAD A MORE EXPANSIVE VIEW  OF ALL THE THINGS THAT OFFICE COULD DO AND I THINK, THOUGH,  YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHO IS GIVING MONEY AND WHO IS  SUPPORTING, THAT THAT IS JUST HUGE.

>> Gene: IT REALLY IS, ISN'T IT?

SERGE, CRIME OF COURSE OVERRIDES THE DA'S RACE LIKE A  CLOUD.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

MR. TORREZ IS PAINTING HIMSELF AS LAW AND ORDER CANDIDATE.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS A TRACK RECORD THAT WE COULD LOOK AT  BUT WE OFTEN HEAR THESE TYPES OF LABELS IN GOP RACES.

IT IS INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

IS IT GOING TO WORK IN THIS  CASE?

>> Serge:   TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THAT IS RIGHT, DAN WAS  SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT AG'S WERE TRYING TO MOVE TO THE  LEFT.

I STRONGLY DISAGREE.

IT IS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS  POSSIBLE, AT LEAST ON CRIME, AND I GUESS I FEEL LIKE THERE  IS, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE TRYING TO -- I THINK YOU GET A DOLLAR  FOR EVERY TIME YOU SAY CATCH AND RELEASE AND IT IS  CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING AND FRUSTRATING, I  THINK, TO SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO THINKS AG HAS ACTUALLY OTHER  THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE JOB, RIGHT, AND SHOULD  FOCUS ON ALL THE LAWS IN NEW MEXICO AND NOT JUST THIS ONE  ASPECT OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

BUT, I MEAN, I GUESS IT MUST  BE WORKING BECAUSE THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT IN THE  COMMUNITY TALKING AND FOLKS ARE RESPONDING.

I CAN'T WATCH THE DEBATES, JUST THE SAME THING AGAIN AND  AGAIN AND AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS  TURNING ANYONE OFF BUT LIKE I WAS SAYING, THERE IS NOT A  WHOLE LOT OF ROOM BETWEEN THEM ANYWAY.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE POINT IS.

IT IS MUCH OF A MUCHNESS.

>> Gene: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Dan: I THINK -- >> Gene: HOLD ON.

SORRY ABOUT THAT DANIEL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR  THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING PRIMARY.

WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL THE RACES LEADING UP TO THE  ELECTION AND REMEMBER, AS DAN MENTIONED EARLY, VOTING IS  UNDERWAY.

PRODUCER LOU DIVISIO SPOKE  WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER ABOUT THAT AND  THE OTHER CHANGES FOR VOTERS DURING A NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS  FACEBOOK LIVE ON WEDNESDAY.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR  FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

>> Leslie: WHEN YOU TELL  SOMEBODY YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO TELL PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO BE BACK  AND INTERVIEW PEOPLE OR COME BACK AND LOOK INTO THIS, YOU  HAVE TO DO IT.

>> Gene: THE BLACK FIRE  IGNITED IN THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST ON MAY 13 AND HAS GROWN  INTO THE THIRD LARGEST WILDFIRE IN HISTORY.

ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS GOT AHOLD OF U.S.  FOREST SERVICE FIRE BEHAVIOR ANALYST, ARTHUR GONZALES, TO  TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS FUELING THE GIANT FIRE RIGHT  NOW.

>> Laura: WHY IS THIS FIRE  GROWING SO FAST?

>> Gonzales: I GUESS I WOULD  SAY THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT FIRE BEHAVIOR, EVERYTHING THAT WE  ARE LOOKING AT IS FUEL, WEATHER AND TOPOGRAPHY.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE 13TH AND THE DAY OF THE 14TH AND FOR  SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING, ALL THREE OF THOSE ELEMENTS WERE  IN ALIGNMENT AND ALL THREE OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE KIND OF AT  THE EXTREME END.

WITH FUEL, NO SURPRISE SAYING  SOUTHWEST HAS BEEN IN A PRETTY BAD DROUGHT, SO WE ARE DEALING  WITH A LOT OF DROUGHT STRESSED FUEL AND ONE OF THE THINGS  THAT COMPLICATED THIS AREA HERE IS LAST SUMMER WE HAD  FANTASTIC MONSOONAL MOISTURE SO WE GREW A LOT OF GRASS.

SO IN BETWEEN ALL THOSE DROUGHT STRESSED FUELS, WE HAD  A LOT OF GRASS TO CARRY THE FIRE.

THE OTHER THING FOR TOPOGRAPHY IN THE GILA AND THE ALDO  LEOPOLD WILDERNESS IT IS ABOUT AS COMPLEX A TOPOGRAPHY AS  YOU'LL FIND IN THE SOUTHWEST.

>> Laura: IN TERMS OF  TOPOGRAPHY BUT ALSO THE FUELS, WHAT IS THE FIRE BURNING  THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

I KNOW IT IS BIG.

>> Gonzales: YEAH, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE, YOU  KNOW, GRASS AND BRUSH AND SOME OAK TREES AND AS YOU CLIMB UP  IN ELEVATION, TRANSITION FROM PINE, JUNIPER AND THEN ALL THE  WAY UP INTO MIXED CONIFER, PONDEROSA PINE AND A LITTLE  BIT OF ASPEN AT THE VERY CREST OF THE DIVIDE THERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PLAN, WE KIND OF START TO LOSE  PERSPECTIVE OF HOW BIG THIS IS.

THIS IS LOOKING OVER FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER AND LOOKING  UP I THINK THAT IS SOUTH PALOMAS CREEK AND THIS IS  LOOKING DOWN FROM THE HERMOSA COUNTRY 6,000 FEET, 6100 FEET  UP TOWARDS REED MOUNTAIN, THAT IS JUST AT 10,000 FEET.

SO, YOU CAN SEE THE TRANSITION FROM THE FUEL DOWN IN THAT LOW  GRASS, JUNIPER, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP, PINE.

THAT IS LOOKING INTO THE SILVER FIRE, 2013, BUT THAT IS  JUST RUGGED COUNTRY.

THAT IS TOUGH HIKING JUST --  THAT IS A COUPLE DAYS HIKING JUST TO GET UP TO THE TOP LET  ALONE MANAGER FIRE ACROSS THERE.

JUST A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS FIRE IS BURNING IN AND  HOW RUGGED THE COUNTRY IS.

>> Laura: YOU MENTIONED THE  SILVER FIRE.

I AM ALSO CURIOUS IF THE FIRE  IS BURNING THROUGH AREAS -- YOU KNOW, THE GILA NATIONAL  FOREST HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH RESPECT TO FIRE AND  TREATMENT.

SO, I AM CURIOUS HOW THE FIRE IS ACTING IN BURN SCARS OR  PRESCRIBED OR TREATED AREA VERSUS, MAYBE, AREAS THAT  HAVEN'T SEEN FIRE IN A WHILE?

>> Gonzales: YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, GILA NATIONAL FOREST, ONE OF THE LEADERS IN  THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WITH THE USE OF FIRE PRESCRIBED FIRE,  NATURAL FIRE, BUT UNDER CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, YOU  KNOW, IT IS STILL GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THOSE UNITS,  THOSE AREAS.

THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SLOW  FIRE, BRING FIRE TO THE GROUND, JUST REDUCE THAT  UNNATURAL HIGH SEVERITY TYPE FIRE.

SO WE NEVER EXPECTED THOSE THINGS TO STOP THIS FIRE BUT  WHAT IT DID GIVE US IS AN ADDITIONAL TIME AND SPACE TO  MAKE SOME OF THE DECISIONS.

SO, WHAT I HAVE GOT UP HERE  LAURA IS ENERGY RELEASE COMPONENT CHART.

TO SUMMARIZE, WHAT IS THIS, IT IS A SEASONAL INDICATOR OF THE  AMOUNT OF ENERGY AVAILABLE AT THE FLAMING FRONT OF A FIRE.

THIS IS FROM THE BEAVER HEAD.

IT IS JUST ABOVE THE FIRE FROM  2000, 2021.

THE KEY THING HERE IS THAT RED  LINE IS THE HIGHEST INDICES THAT HAS BEEN RECORDED SINCE  2000.

THE GRAY IS THE AVERAGE LINE AND EVERYBODY IN THE SOUTHWEST  KIND OF UNDERSTANDS THAT PEAK THERE.

THAT IS JUST BEFORE MONSOONS AND THEN WE DROP OFF.

THAT BLACK LINE IS TRACKING 2022.

SO WE WERE SETTING ALL-TIME HIGHS.

THIS IS CONDITIONS THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE AND  IT IS DEFINITELY A MONTH, MONTH-AND-A-HALF AHEAD.

HERE IS A SLIDE, LAURA, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS A GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE.

IN THE LOWER LEFT-HAND CORNER YOU HAVE A RED OUTLINE THAT IS  THE FIRE PERIMETER ON MAY 21, I BELIEVE, THERE, OR MAY 15,  SORRY.

AND THAT LOWER ONE, YOU CAN  SEE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN THERE IS A YELLOW LINE  CALLED THE SOUTH 2019.

THAT WAS A WILDFIRE THAT  HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO AND AS THIS FIRE WAS GROWING AND  RAPIDLY PUSHING UPHILL TOWARDS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, YOU  CAN SEE WHERE THIS FIRE ACTUALLY HAD TO SPLIT AND GO  AROUND THAT.

SO, THAT PREVIOUS FOOTPRINT  THERE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN HOW FAST THIS  FIRE MOVED UP AND JUST ABOVE THAT, YOU SEE THE TOP FELLOW,  THAT IS THE ROUND FIRE OF 2017.

YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE MOVING AROUND THAT.

LIKE SAY, THEY EVENTUALLY MOVED THROUGH THERE.

BUT WHAT IT DID, IS IT SLOWED THAT FIRE DOWN.

IT BROUGHT IT DOWN TO THE GROUND, VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR  FIREFIGHTERS.

IT GAVE THEM MORE TIME AND  SPACE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND GET SOME LINE PREPPED OUT  AHEAD OF THAT.

IT REALLY SLOWED IT DOWN AND  THEN I AM GOING TO FLIP OVER ANOTHER PHOTO HERE REAL QUICK,  A PHOTO OF WHEN THAT MOVED THROUGH THAT ROUND FIRE THAT I  JUST TALKED ABOUT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE THAT  HAS MOVED THROUGH, IT IS NOW MOVING OFF INTO THE  BACKGROUND, MOVING ACROSS THERE, BUT THE KEY THING IS  THIS FIRE HAS ALREADY MOVED THROUGH HERE AND YOU CAN STILL  SEE A LOT OF STANDING TREES AND GREEN CANOPY.

THAT IS WHAT THE INTENT OF THOSE FUEL TREATMENTS HAVE  BEEN ABLE TO DO.

SO IT REDUCES THE SEVERITY OF  THESE FIRES AND REALLY HELPS OUT AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE  PROGRESS AROUND THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS FIRE, ON THAT  RIGHT-HAND CORNER, YOU CAN SEE A SEPARATE RED POLYGON.

THAT IS FIRING OPERATIONS.

THAT IS THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE  DOING THAT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS FIRE TO TRY TO BOX IT IN.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO SOME PRESCRIBED FIRE UNITS.

THE AREA 74 PRESCRIBED FIRE UNIT THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST  CONDUCTED IN 2018 AND THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALREADY  SEEING A DIFFERENCE IN FIRE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO HOLD THE  FIRE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO BRING THE  FIRE TO THE GROUND.

SO, SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN  PREVIOUS TREATMENTS AND HOW THIS FIRE IS BURNING,  COMPLETELY EXPECTED TO BURN THROUGH BUT IT BRINGS IT DOWN  TO A LOWER SEVERITY.

>> Gene: THE U.S. FOREST  SERVICE HAS PUT A HALT ON ALL PRESCRIBED BURNS FOR THE NEXT  90 DAYS.

IT COMES AS THE LARGEST FIRE  IN THE COUNTRY AND NEW MEXICO HISTORY HITS AT MORE THAN  300,000 ACRES BURNED AND LESS THAN 50% CONTAINMENT.

THAT FIRE STARTED AS A PRESCRIBED BURN AND CRITICISM  HAS BEEN BUILDING SINCE.

LET'S BRING OUR LINE OPINION  PANELISTS BACK IN.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS  DECISION, DANIEL?

IS IT THE RIGHT ONE FOR THE RIGHT  REASONS OR IS THIS DAMAGE CONTROL FOR THE FOREST  SERVICE?

>> Dan: IT IS CLEARLY DAMAGE  CONTROL BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT GETTING TO THE  RIGHT POINT.

I MEAN WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND  IN NEW MEXICO THINKS THAT MARCH, APRIL OR MAY IS A GREAT  TIME TO START LIGHTING FIRES IN THIS STATE?

I MEAN, WE SPEND THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR WHERE  ARIZONA BLOWS TO TEXAS AND ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS  OF THE YEAR WHERE TEXAS BLOWS BACK TO ARIZONA.

AND, TO GO OUT THERE AND START A PRESCRIBED BURN, I DO THINK  IT IS HIGHLIGHTING A GREATER PROBLEM AND THAT IS EFFECTIVE  FOREST MANAGEMENT IN OUR STATE THAT WE ARE SORELY LACKING AND  WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT HEAD TO ANY  TRIBAL LANDS IN NEW MEXICO AND LOOK AT THEM.

SPECIFICALLY  YOU GO TO RUIDOSO AND YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE A LINE WHERE  MESCALERO ENDS AND THE NATIONAL FOREST STARTS.

AND THIS ANSWER TO EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT BEING ONLY  PRESCRIBED BURNS IS GOING TO KEEP GIVING US WHAT WE ARE  GIVING US.

THIS IS A   PROCESS THAT TAKES YEAR ROUND WORK.

IT TAKES CUTTING, IT TAKES REPLANTING.

IT TAKES PUTTING IN FIRE LINES, NOT WAITING UNTIL THE  WINDIEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO SAY, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO GO  OUT THERE, WE ARE GOING TO CUT A FIRE BREAK AND LIGHT A FIRE  AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE, I  COULD BE WRONG, BUT I FEEL LIKE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A FIRE  IN THIS STATE THAT IS STARTED BY A PRESCRIBED BURN SOMEWHERE  IN NEW MEXICO.

YOU THINK THEY WOULD BE THE  MOST EQUIPPED TO REALIZE THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO DO  IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IF WE  DON'T EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE FOREST UP FRONT, THIS IS WHAT  YOU GET.

>> Gene: I HAVE TO TIP MY HAT  TO YOU DAN.

YOU HAVE BEEN VERY STRONG ON  THIS.

FOR A DECADE PLUS, YOU HAVE  BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE, JUST WHAT YOU DESCRIBE  THERE HAD.

I HAVE TO NOTE THAT.

INEZ, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THEY SAY THE FOREST  SERVICE CONDUCTS AN AVERAGE OF 4500 PRESCRIBED BURNS  ANNUALLY, TREATING MORE THAN A MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL  FOREST LAND AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR THE HEALTH OF THE  FOREST.

SO, IT IS NOT AS IF EVERYTHING  THEY DO GETS OUT OF CONTROL BUT, YOU KNOW, IS THAT GOOD  ENOUGH?

>> Inez: IT IS ONE OF THOSE  SITUATIONS WHERE ONE BAD MISTAKE COLORS EVERYTHING ELSE  YOU DO.

AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES  HAVE BURNED, PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND, YOU KNOW, THE  PART OF THE STATE THAT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IS THE MOST  BEAUTIFUL, I MEAN THAT IS MY HOME THAT BURNED, MY FOLKS  LIVED IN THE VALLEY FOR 30 YEARS AND I AM FROM LAS VEGAS  AND I WATCHED THE FIRE COME AND THINKING MY GRANDMA'S  GRAVE IS GOING TO BURN UP AND I'LL NEVER KNOW WHERE   SHE IS AGAIN.

I HAD RELATIVES EVACUATE AND I HAD FRIENDS EVACUATE AND I  LOOKED AT IT JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- LIKE DAN  SAID, WHAT A STUPID MISTAKE AND WHAT A WELL INTENTIONED  MISTAKE BECAUSE HAVING GROWN UP THERE, I HAVE SEEN THE  FOREST BECOME OVERGROWN AND THEY DO NEED TO BE MANAGED  BETTER AND I THINK IF THERE IS ANY SILVER LINING IN THIS, I  BELIEVE THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME RETURN TO LOW LEVEL  LOGGING AND WOOD REMOVAL IN OUR FORESTS WHICH WILL GIVE  PEOPLE IN VILLAGES LIKE MORA AND SAPELLO, ALL OF THOSE  PLACES, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE  HAD LOST, YOU KNOW, IN LIEU OF ALL THE LAWSUITS OVER THE OWL,  ET CETERA.

SO, I THINK THAT YOU'RE NOT  GOING TO HAVE BIG TREES TAKEN DOWN BUT I DO THINK THERE IS  GOING TO BE A RECOGNITION THAT SOME OF THE OLD WAYS OF  MANAGING FORESTS WERE NOT BAD.

>> Gene: SERGE, U.S. FOREST  SERVICE CHIEF SAYS THEY NEED TO INCREASE ITS FUELS  TREATMENTS.

WHICH INCLUDES USING  PRESCRIBED BURNS BY UP TO FOUR TIMES CURRENT LEVELS IN THE  WEST.

DOES THAT SEEM FEASIBLE GIVING  STAFFING, RESOURCES, SHORTAGES WE SEE NOW OR DO YOU NEED TO  HEAR SOMETHING TO BACKSTOP THAT PLAN TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE  MORE COMFORT ABOUT THAT?

>> Serge: ABSOLUTELY I WANT  SOMEBODY BACK STOPPING THAT TO GIVE ME MORE COMFORT.

IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS, YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO,  WHAT WE JUST DID WHICH IS SET UP THE LARGEST FIRE IN NEW  MEXICO, BUT, YOU KNOW, MORE.

THAT IS NOT REALLY COMFORTING.

I MEAN, I DON'T DOUBT THAT THERE ARE EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL  FOLKS AT THE FOREST SERVICE AND GREAT IDEAS AND WAYS TO  MANAGE AND PREDICT AND WHATEVER AND MORE PEOPLE, MORE  RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD START.

BUT, CERTAINLY NOT A BAD THING TO THROW INTO THE MIX BUT  SAYING -- UNLESS I HEAR WE HAVE SOME GREAT FRESH IDEAS  AND A COMMITMENT AND ARE LEARNING FROM ALL THE OTHER  FOLKS AROUND THIS, AS DAN WAS SAYING, I MEAN I AM NOT  CONVINCED THAT DOING THE SAME THING TIMES THREE OR FOUR IS  REALLY THE ANSWER.

>> Gene: IT IS A BIT OF A  CLUNK, ISN'T IT, WITHOUT SOME MORE INFORMATION?

DANIEL, RECENT STUDIES SHOW WILDFIRE RISKS FOR NEW MEXICO  AND THE ENTIRE WESTERN UNITED STATES ARE ONLY GOING TO  INCREASE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

WE ALL KNOW THIS.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A MAJOR REASON WHY.

KIND OF ODD BALANCE QUESTION, BUT SHOULD THE GOVERNOR  ACCELERATE ANY OF HER LONG-TERM EMISSIONS GOALS,  GIVEN HOW DIRE THE SITUATION SEEMS RIGHT NOW?

>> Dan: YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO ASK ME THAT QUESTION?

NO.

I MEAN, NOT AT ALL.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE DOING IS GOING TO OUR TRIBAL  BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEW MEXICO THAT EFFECTIVELY MANAGE  THE FOREST AND SAY WE WANT TO EMBRACE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND  WE WANT TO BRING YOU INTO THE FORESTS THAT ARE OUT THERE  THAT ARE STATE FORESTS AND YOU TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO  MAKE YOUR TRIBAL LANDS FLOURISH DURING ALL THESE  TIMES.

AND CLEARLY THE PLANS WE KEEP TRYING TO IMPLEMENT, THE  FOREST SERVICE KEEPS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT PALES IN COMPARISON  TO THEM.

WE DON'T NEED GRANTS, WE DON'T  NEED BIG STUDIES.

WE JUST NEED TO GO TO THE  PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS EFFECTIVELY FOR 1000 YEARS AND  SAY, LISTEN GUYS, YOU GUYS DO AN UNBELIEVABLY GOOD JOB AT  THIS, CAN YOU HELP THE REST OF US?

I THINK THEY WOULD JUMP AT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BRIDGES,  AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT WOULD GET OUR FORESTS UNDER  THE MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND CONSERVATION  WHILE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND UNDERSTAND IT  IS NOT AN EITHER OR, OR ZERO SUM EQUATION, THAT YOU CAN  HAVE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE FOREST WHILE MAINTAINING SAFE  GROWTHS IN THE FOREST AND GIVING THAT ACCESS TO PEOPLE  THAT HAS WORKED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

WE HAVE THE ANSWERS.

THEY ARE RIGHT HERE IN NEW  MEXICO AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD DO IS FOCUS HOW DO WE  EMBRACE THEIR TACTICS AND BRINGING THEM INTO DOING THE  RIGHT THINGS FOR US LIKE THEY HAVE DONE FOR THEMSELVES ON  TRIBAL LAND.

>> Gene: YOU MENTIONED SOME  YEARS AGO IT COULD BE A HECK OF A JOBS PROGRAM AS WELL.

KEEP THAT MIND.

INEZ, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE  MELANIE STANSBURY INTRODUCED TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION  INTENDED TO ADDRESS WATER, THE RIO GRANDE WATER SECURITY ACT  AND THE WATER DATA ACT.

IT WON'T HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON  FIRES WE ARE SEEING NOW BUT HAVING A BETTER HANDLE ON THE  DROUGHT HAS TO BE A POSITIVE MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AM I CORRECT ON THAT?

>> Inez: YOU ARE RIGHT AND  TAKING CARE OF THE RIVER AND OUR WATERSHED IS GOING TO HELP  KEEP THE FOLIAGE.

I MEAN IN SANTA FE, THEY  PLANTED TREES ALONG THE SANTA FE RIVER BECAUSE THEY ARE  TRYING TO RESTORE THE WATERSHED BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE  A HEALTHY WATERSHED YOU KEEP YOUR STREAM SUPPLY FLOWING AND  EVERYTHING WORKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO BE FOCUSING ON THE HEALTH OF THE  RIVER.

IF IT IS DRIED UP, WE ARE  GOING TO ALL BE SUFFERING.

>> Gene: INEZ, IT INTERESTING,  THE POLITICS BEING WHAT THEY ARE AND THE SEVERITY OF THE  PROBLEM THAT YVETTE HERRELL, REPUBLICAN, WAS A CO-SPONSOR  ON THIS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

IT IS VERY INTERESTING, ISN'T  IT?

>> Inez: I THINK IT IS -- I  THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR ELECTED DELEGATION TO  CONGRESS TO WORK TOGETHER.

I GREW UP IN THE DAYS OF  SENATOR PETE AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THEY ALWAYS COOPERATED AND  MANUAL LUJAN WAS THE CONGRESSIONAL GUY FROM  ALBUQUERQUE AND THEN STEVE SCHIFF, ET CETERA, AND  EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER.

SO I THINK IF WE CAN GET PAST,  WE HAVE TO HATE THE OTHER SIDE, AND PEOPLE CAN WORK ON  WHAT IS GOOD FOR NEW MEXICO, NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO BE  BETTER OFF.

>> Gene: WELL SAID.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT DISCUSS.

IT IS ONE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE REVISIT AS NEW  MEXICO REMAINS THE EPIC CENTER OF WILDFIRE ACTIVITY HERE IN  THE U.S. WE'LL BE BACK IN ABOUT 15  MINUTES FOR ONE FINAL TOPIC FOR OUR LINE OPINION PANEL.

LEGAL CANNABIS RIGHTS FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS USING NAVAJO  LANGUAGE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO UNSOLVED HOMICIDES AND MISSING  PERSON CASES ON THE NAVAJO NATION.

60 SECOND RADIO ADS HAVE AIRED ACROSS NAVAJO LAND SEEKING  INFORMATION ON A COLD CASE OFFERING A REWARD AND GIVING  OUT A TOLL FREE TIP PHONE NUMBER.

IN 2020 FIELD OFFICES HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND PHOENIX ISSUED  POSTERS IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE AND LATER STARTED INCLUDING  AUDIO CLIPS WITH THEM.

NMIF CORRESPONDENT ANTONIO  GONZALES SITS DOWN WITH TWO OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO ASK HOW  THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND TO UNDERSTAND  SOME OF THE OTHER OBSTACLES WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATING  CRIMES ON TRIBAL LAND.

>> Antonia: SPECIAL AGENT  BUJANDA AND CAPTAIN LESLIE, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO  IN FOCUS.

SPECIAL AGENT, WHY DON'T YOU  LET US KNOW, AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS  INITIATIVE USING THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE CAME ABOUT.

>> Bujanda: WELL, THE INITIATIVE WAS REALLY TO TRY  TO REACH THE COMMUNITIES A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WE HAVE  DONE IN THE PAST.

WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON  TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNICATION OUT THERE IN A  FORM THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO, WE ARE GREAT ABOUT TALKING  AND PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER AND PUTTING MESSAGES OUT AS AN  ORGANIZATION BUT WE KNEW WE WERE MISSING THE ONE PIECE  WHICH IS WE WEREN'T WRITING IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE AND WE  WEREN'T COMMUNICATING IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE.

SO OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WAS TO DO JUST THAT, WAS TO BE ABLE TO  FOCUS WHAT WE HAD ALREADY DONE WHICH WE HAD ALREADY DONE A  GOOD JOB FOR OVER 100 YEARS AND MAKING POSTERS THAT WERE  IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE AND THEN TAKING IT A STEP FORWARD.

BECAUSE WE REALIZED IN THIS PROCESS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T  READ THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE BUT THEY SPEAK IT.

THEY SPEAK IT VERY WELL SO THEN IT WAS PURPOSEFUL FOR US  TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE AS WELL  THROUGH BROADCASTS AND PRIMARILY THROUGH RADIO.

>> Antonia: AND CAPTAIN LESLIE, WE KNOW THAT THE  NAVAJO LANGUAGE WAS USED, IT IS WELL-KNOWN, FOR ITS USE IN  WORLD WAR II WITH THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS AS AN UNBREAKABLE  CODE AND HOW DIFFICULT AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME  CHALLENGES TRYING TO GET SOME INFORMATION OR EVEN WORDS FOR  THE FBI USE.

>> Leslie: IT IS A UNIQUE  LANGUAGE.

WE SIT THERE AND WE DISCUSSED  THAT THE NAVAJO NATION IS 25,000 SQUARE MILES SO YOU  HAVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN  DIFFERENT PARTS OF LOCATIONS.

THERE IS SLANG NAVAJO AND I  USED TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO MY GRANDMOTHERS, ONE IS  FROM ARIZONA AND ONE IS IN ARIZONA AND THERE IS DIFFERENT  MEANINGS TO CERTAIN THINGS AND THEY WOULD CHUCKLE AND  START -- LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT DOES THIS  WORD MEAN OVER THERE, THIS MEANS THIS AND THAT AND IT IS  PRETTY UNIQUE AND THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE IS UNIQUE IN ITSELF  AND ALSO IN WRITING BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY HARD TO WRITE AS  WELL.

>> Bujanda: YES, WE KIND OF  STAYED WITH THE EXPERTS AND HAVE THEM KIND OF HELP US OUT  AND WE USED PEOPLE THAT WERE NAVAJO TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS  FOR US.

FBI IS GETTING BETTER,  BECOMING MORE DIVERSE BUT FAR FROM BEING THERE, SO WE RELY  ON OUR PARTNERSHIP.

>> Antonia: THE ADS ARE BOTH  ON THE RADIO AND POSTERS AND THERE WAS AN AUDIO  ANNOUNCEMENT THAT LATER WENT ON WITH THE POSTERS.

HAVE THE ADS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GATHERING ANY INFORMATION?

>> Bujanda: FORTUNATELY NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT IT  DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO STOP.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.

I THINK THE NEXT LEVEL WHAT WE  ARE TRYING TO GET AT IS BE MORE AT THE EVENTS.

SO, IT IS ONE THING TO BE ABLE TO PUT A MESSAGE OUT THERE  WHETHER IT IS ON A POSTER OR AD ON THE RADIO BUT I THINK  THERE IS STILL THAT PIECE AND IT IS VERY UNIQUE.

LIKE IN MY BACKGROUND AND BEING OF MEXICAN DESCENT AND  LIKE EVERYONE SAYS, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS IN PERSON.

SO THAT WILL BE THE NEXT LEVEL, BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE  THAT MESSAGES NOT ONLY THROUGH THE POSTERS AND ADS WE HAVE  DONE BUT NOW GOING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE  COMMUNITY AT EVENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MESSAGE THE SAME  THEME AND BE ABLE TO PUT A FACE TO IT, RIGHT, BUILD SOME  TRUST SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO  THE FBI AND PROVIDING US ANY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US  FIND ANY OF THESE MISSING INDIVIDUALS AND SOME OF THESE  MURDER INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR WAY TOO  LONG.

>> Antonia: YOU BRING UP A  GOOD POINT.

CAPTAIN LESLIE, WE KNOW IN  NATIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE IS A MISTRUST OF  LAW ENFORCEMENT OFTEN.

SO, HOW IS NAVAJO NATION LAW  ENFORCEMENT AND FBI WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO BUILD TRUST  WITH NAVAJO PEOPLE?

>> Leslie: IT GOES BACK TO LAW  ENFORCEMENT ACADEMIES, IN MY PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN YOU TELL SOMEBODY YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, YOU  HAVE TO DO IT.

THAT IS WHERE TRUST BEGINS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY YOU'RE GOING TO BE  BACK AND INTERVIEW PEOPLE OR COME BACK AND LOOK INTO THIS,  YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

THEY'LL REMEMBER THAT AND IF  YOU DON'T DO IT, THEN, THE TRUSS STARTS, OKAY, THEY ARE  JUST COMING IN AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LIVE UP TO WHAT  THEY ARE SAYING.

SO, WHEN YOU START BUILDING THAT RAPPORT AND THAT TRUST  WITH THE PEOPLE, IT STARTS COMING TOGETHER AND THE NAVAJO  PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY, THEY ARE REALLY QUIET  BUT THEY LISTEN.

THEY LEARN.

THEY ARE OBSERVANT AND WHEN YOU START TALKING TO THEM, YOU  KNOW, BEING RESPECTFUL IS NO.

1.

THAT IS WHERE THEIR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY CLASSES COME IN  FOR THE FBI AGENTS ASSIGNED TO THE REGION, THAT COMES IN VERY  HANDY, AND WE GO OUT THERE AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, TAG TEAM,  INTERVIEWS AND WORK THAT WAY.

AND BUILD THAT TRUST WITH  GRANDMA AND GRANDPA OR EVEN THE ELDERLY, THE AUNTIES AND  UNCLES.

THAT IS A BIG MOMENTUM  BUILDER.

IT IS WHAT GETS THE CASE  HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Antonia: HOW IS THE FBI  BUILDING TRUST WITH NOT ONLY NAVAJO PEOPLE BUT THERE IS A  LOT OF DIFFERENT PUEBLO COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO AS  WELL AND APACHE NATIONS.

>> Bujanda: SO WE ARE DOING  THAT THE SAME IN ALL DIFFERENT  AREAS, IT IS SAME THING.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PUT THE  WRONG PERSON IN FRONT OF THESE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE  LEARNED OVER THE YEARS, THAT JUST DOESN'T BUILD TRUST, LIKE  THE CAPTAIN SAID.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS  PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE SO THEY GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE ACROSS  AND IF WE HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WELL, THEN, NOT  ONLY JUST THE FBI BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL,  PARTNERING TOGETHER IS A HUGE THING.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO THERE AND GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE  BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BUILD ON THE TRUST AND  ULTIMATELY GET ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET  ACCOMPLISHED WHICH IS BRING RESULTS.

AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT THROUGH JUST TRYING TO GET IN  THERE AND FORCE PEOPLE TO GIVE US INFORMATION THAT DON'T  NECESSARILY HAVE TRUST FOR US.

>> Antonia: AND CAPTAIN  LESLIE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO LAW  ENFORCEMENT ISSUES ON THE NAVAJO NATION AND OTHER TRIBES  ACROSS THE COUNTRY, JURISDICTION ISSUES, I MEAN,  WE CAN GO DOWN A LIST OF HOW MANY JUST CHALLENGES AND BEING  A SOVEREIGN NATION, AS WELL.

SO, HOW IMPORTANT IS THE FBI  WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATING THESE CASES?

>> Bujanda: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THEY ARE A BIG HELPFUL RESOURCE, RESOURCES THAT WE  DON'T HAVE ON THE RESERVATION, EMPLOYEES ON THE RESERVATION  OR ANY RESERVATION.

THE RESOURCES THAT THEY  SUPPLY, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION BACKGROUND  SEARCHES AND EVERYTHING THAT INVOLVES AN INVESTIGATION, YOU  KNOW, WE START OFF WITH A MISSING PERSON AND YOU START  WORKING FROM THERE BACKWARDS TO WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE  PERSON WAS SEEN, HOW DO WE KNOW WHERE THIS PERSON HAS  LIVED.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT  MOVE ON AND OFF THE RESERVATION, THEY DON'T JUST  LIVE IN ONE AREA.

I HAVE HAD PEOPLE OFF THE NOW  RESERVATION, I WORK IN DISTRICT 3, WHICH IS THE  CROWNPOINT AGENCY, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN PERSON,  TO RUN A SEARCH A BACKGROUND WITH THEM WITH THE FBI  ASSISTANCE, WE'LL FIND THEY MOVED CONTINUOUSLY IN THE CITY  OF ALBUQUERQUE, GRANTS, THE HOUSING COMMUNITIES AROUND AND  OFF THE RESERVATION.

AND THEY DON'T LIVE THERE FOR  TOO LONG.

THEY MOVE AND IT WOULDN'T BE  ODD WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND NEXT, BOOM, NOW THEY ARE  LIVING IN PHOENIX.

SO, OKAY, WE HAVE TO SEND  PEOPLE DOWN THERE AND START DOING INTERVIEWS AROUND THAT  AREA AS WELL.

IT COMES IN HANDY, THE  RESOURCE.

>> Antonia: ANYTHING TO ADD TO  THAT?

>> Bujanda: THAT IS EXACTLY  IT.

I MEAN WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE  EACH OTHER'S RESOURCES.

THERE IS SOME DIFFERENT THINGS  WE ARE LOOKING AT FROM THE FBI PIECE AND IT IS IN OUR NAME,  WE INVESTIGATE THINGS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE TROUBLING  THINGS WE HAVE HAD IN PAST YEARS IS HOW DOES THE FBI,  PRIMARILY, FOCUS ON THE INVESTIGATION, DEAL WITH THE  MISSING PIECE.

RIGHT?

RIGHTFULLY SO, A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT WHY AREN'T WE  DOING MORE ON THE MISSING PIECE OF THIS BIG INITIATIVE.

IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE  CAN PUT OR HANDS AROUND IT.

AS OF RECENT, THIS OFFICE HAS  TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO GET THESE THRESHOLDS IN PLACE  SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE MISSING PIECE AND TRY TO HELP OUR  PARTNERS TO LOCATE THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE YOU DON'T  KNOW REALLY AT THE END WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.

THESE MIGHT BE TRULY MISSING INDIVIDUALS.

THEY MIGHT LEAD  TO AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE WE FIND OUT FACTS ABOUT SOMETHING  AS TO HOW THAT HAPPENED, WHY THEY ARE MISSING, WAS IT FOUL  PLAY?

THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO  THERE IS A PIECE THAT WE CAN PUT OUR ARMS AROUND BUT  HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, THIS WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT  SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'LL HAVE KIND OF A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE  TO WORK WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO REALLY  START PUTTING OUR PIECES AND ALL OUR TOOLS IN TO PLAY TO  HELP ON THE MISSING AND NOT JUST THE MURDERED INDIGENOUS  PIECE.

>> Antonia: THE STATE OF NEW  MEXICO IS ONE STATE THAT DOES HAVE AN INITIATIVE ALREADY TO  ADDRESS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSON CASES.

THE NAVAJO NATION WORKING WITH BOTH NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA AND  UTAH AND EVEN IN COLORADO, HOW DO YOU SEE WORK TO BECOME MORE  EFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO MISSING AND MURDERED  INDIGENOUS NAVAJO PEOPLE.

>> Bujanda: IT IS REALLY  PUTTING THE WORD OUT TO THE PUBLIC, WHAT IT REALLY  ENTAILS, AND WHEN I SAY WE HAVE WORKED CASES WHERE PEOPLE  WILL SAY, THEY ARE MISSING, AND YOU'LL HAVE -- WHEN I  HEARD THE TERM, IS IT A LEGITIMATE MISSING PERSON, I  KIND OF SCRATCHED MY HEAD, AND I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT, OKAY, WHAT THEY MEAN IS, HAS  THE PERSON REALLY GONE MISSING OR NOBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED  TO THEM OR DID THIS PERSON JUST DISAPPEAR AND DOESN'T  WANT ANYBODY TO BOTHER THEM.

>> Antonia: IF THE PUBLIC DOES  HAVE INFORMATION ON THE HOMICIDE CASES OR COLD CASES,  WHERE DO THEY GO OR WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> Bujanda: THEY CAN ALWAYS CALL THE FBI, 1-800CALLTHEFBI  OR TIPS.FBI.GOV.

THAT INFORMATION WILL GET  FUNNELED.

IF IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO  PASS ON TO THE NAVAJO NATION, NAVAJO PD, WE'LL DO THAT.

IF IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO FOLLOW-UP ON, THAT WAS  MENTIONED.

THE ONE GOOD PIECE IS PEOPLE  DO SOMETIMES WANDER OFF THE RESERVATION AND MOVE ON TO  DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND PART  OF THE PLATFORM WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD IS SO THAT WE MAKE  THAT CONNECTIONS SO THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO THOSE  INDIVIDUALS AND CLOSE THE CONNECTION.

IT MIGHT BE, JUST LIKE IT WAS EXPLAINED, THAT THESE  INDIVIDUALS WANTED TO LEAVE.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY  WANTED TO LEAVE.

SO IN THEIR MIND, THEY ARE NOT  MISSING.

THEY CHOSE TO, BUT IF WE MAKE  THAT CONNECTION AND THEN WE UPDATE OUR RECORDS, FOR THE  NEXT TIME THAT INQUIRY COMES AGAIN WHETHER FROM THE FAMILY  OR SOMEONE ELSE, WE CAN SEE WHEN THEY REACH OUT TO ANY LAW  ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, WHEN THEY QUERY, THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL IS  NOT MISSING.

THIS INDIVIDUAL IS CHOOSING TO  START A NEW LIFE SOMEWHERE ELSE OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY  BE OR THERE IS A CONTACT THAT CAN BE GIVEN OUT TO SAY YOU  CAN REACH THE PERSON AT THIS NUMBER SO, THEREFORE THEY HAVE  THAT CLOSURE FOR WHATEVER THAT CASE MAY BE.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHERS THAT START OFF AS A MISSING  PERSON AND THEY SUCCUMB TO THE ELEMENTS OR AN ACTUAL  INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THERE WAS FOUL PLAY AND THAT IS  SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE  ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE ON THE RESERVATION OR OFF THE  RESERVATION, WHATEVER PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT MAY BE.

>> Antonia: WHAT CAN THE PUBLIC DO ON THE NAVAJO NATION  IF THEY HAVE SOME INFORMATION?

>> Bujanda: THEY CAN CALL THE  POLICE DEPARTMENT, PHONE NUMBERS ARE LISTED, EACH  POLICE DISTRICT HAS THEIR OWN PHONE NUMBER.

THEY CAN CALL THERE AND EVEN IF IT IS A MISSING PERSON OFF  THE RESERVATION, THEY CAN CALL US AND WE'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH  THE LOCAL AGENCY WHERE THAT PERSON ACTUALLY ORIGINATED  FROM OR THE REPORT ORIGINATED FROM.

SO WE DO WORK TOGETHER WITH A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT ARE OFF  THE RESERVATION.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR THE  BETTER IN MY PERSPECTIVE FROM WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO NOW,  YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TAKES EVERYTHING.

WE TRY TO TAKE EVERYTHING SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT IS  SOMEBODY'S LOVED ONE.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEIR  MEDICAL OR EVEN THEIR -- IF THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO BE  FOUND OR IF THEY ARE ALCOHOLICS, WHATEVER IT IS,  YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT IS SOMEBODY THAT YOU GUYS  LOVE AND THAT IS THE WAY I WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

>> Antonia: WHEN IT COMES TO THIS INITIATIVE AND THE NAVAJO  LANGUAGE, WHAT IS NEXT?

>> Bujanda: WHAT IS NEXT, IS  KIND OF THAT PLATFORM THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

SO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE LOCAL TRIBAL PARTNERS,  TO INCLUDE BIA, TO PULL EVERYONE'S RECORDS SO EVERYONE  HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE LANES.

BUILDING THESE DATA BASES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GONE  MISSING OR THESE UNSOLVED MURDER INVESTIGATIONS AND  EVERYTHING IS DONE DIFFERENTLY.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF HOW WE CATEGORIZE AND SELECT  DATA SO WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE ALL THAT DATA AND MAKE IT  STREAMLINED SO THAT A SEARCH WILL GIVE YOU SOME RESULTS AND  THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE HAD IN THAT INFORMATION.

SO WE  ARE CLEANING UP THAT DATA AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO OFFER IT  UP.

WE ARE STARTING WITH THE STATE  OF NEW MEXICO.

THIS IS WHERE -- THIS IS OUR  HOME.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE START  HERE.

WE HAVE A GOOD TEST BED HERE  TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE DATA LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE AND  FOLLOWING UP ON THE LEADS THROUGH THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS  TO TRY AND FIND AND LOCATE THESE INDIVIDUALS.

IT IS ALL ABOUT BRINGING CLOSURE TO THE PEOPLE THAT  CARE ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THESE ARE LOVED ONE, PEOPLE  THEY CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THEIR  LIVES AND WE WANT TO BE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY  CAN.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULDN'T GO TO LAW  ENFORCEMENT FOR WHATEVER THE REASON MIGHT BE OR THEIR  RESERVATION MIGHT BE BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO DO THE RIGHT  THING.

AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOME BAD  APPLES IN THERE, BUT WE WANT TO OVERCOME THAT.

I THINK I WOULD SPEAK FOR BOTH US, THERE IS MORE GOOD THAN  THERE IS EVER BAD NOW AND WE ARE ALL ON THE RIGHT PATH TO  DO THE RIGHT THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY AND IF WE CONTINUE  ON THIS WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR NOT ONLY THE  STATE, BUT FOR ALL OF US TOGETHER, IS NOW WE HAVE A  GOOD STARTING POINT.

>> Gene: WELCOME BACK ONE  FINAL TIME TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS THIS WEEK.

NEW MEXICO LEGALIZES RECREATIONAL CANNABIS SALES  ACROSS THE STATE ON APRIL FIRST, AS YOU RECALL, BUT  THERE WERE STILL SEVERAL ROADBLOCKS IN PLACE.

PARTICULARLY FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS.

LATE LAST WEEK, TWO NEW MEXICO TRIBES, POJOAQUE AND PICURIS  PUEBLOS, SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH STATE OFFICIALS  RECOGNIZING THE TRIBE'S AUTHORITY TO COLLECT TAXES ON  SALES OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS.

NOW THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR  CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO BE PRODUCED AND SOLD IN THE  PUEBLO'S WHILE BEING TAXED BY THE TRIBE MUCH LIKE CIGARETTES  AND GASOLINE ARE SOLD AND TAXED NOW.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS STEP IN RECOGNIZING TRIBAL RIGHTS TO  CANNABIS?

INEZ, I'LL START WITH YOU ON  THAT.

>> Inez: THE FACT THEY CAN  ACTUALLY LEGALLY SELL APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO THIS  AGREEMENT IS HUGE BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW STILL HAS CANNABIS  HAS ILLEGAL.

AND I HAVE BEEN WONDERING HOW  ANY PUEBLO OR INDIAN TRIBE COULD ACCESS THIS ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT TOOL WHEN IT IS A FEDERAL CRIME.

IF THE AGREEMENT WORKS AS DETAILED IN THE ARTICLES AND  DESCRIPTIONS, IT MEANS ONE MORE WAY THAT TRIBES CAN MAKE  MONEY.

NOW GIVEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS A  PROBLEM AND AN ISSUE ACROSS NEW MEXICO, NOT JUST INDIAN  COUNTRY, IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW  MANY TRIBES ACTUALLY WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE THERE IS STILL  THE IDEA OF MARIJUANA, REEFER MADNESS, KIND OF THING.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT AT PUEBLOS, OBVIOUSLY  IT IS ILLEGAL, BUT THERE IS JUST LIKE A REAL PREJUDICE  AGAINST IT.

I AM GOING TO BE CURIOUS TO  SEE HOW THEY USE THAT AND WHETHER THEY MAYBE PRODUCE IT  FOR SALE OUTSIDE AND KEEP THE MONEY MORE THAN ACTUALLY  SELLING IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE PUEBLOS ARE REALLY SMALL.

SO, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A FEW THOUSAND CUSTOMERS AT EACH  PLACE.

I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THEY ARE  GOING TO GO THERE OR TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ALLEGATION AS A  PRODUCER.

>> Gene: THAT IS AN EXCELLENT  POINT AND WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES.

PICURIS HAD ISSUES TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CANNABIS  INDUSTRY AS RECENTLY AS THE FALL OF 2021.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS RAIDED A HOUSEHOLD GARDEN, YOU MIGHT  REMEMBER THAT.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS DESTROYED A  MEDICAL GROW OPERATION.

SERGE, DOES THIS AGREEMENT  HELP RECTIFY SOME OF THE RESENTMENT THAT MIGHT HAVE  CAUSED?

>> Serge: I DON'T KNOW IF IT  RECTIFIES RESENTMENT BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS AGREEMENT  THAT PICURIS AND POJOAQUE HAVE WITH THE STATE ARE THESE  ARRANGEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO SORT OF TELL THE FEDS TO BACK  UP, TO SAY, TO SORT OF BRING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE TRIBAL  LANDS CLOSER TO THE PART OF CANNABIS PRODUCTION AND  REGULATIONS THAT THE FEDS HAVE SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET  INVOLVED IN, RIGHT?

SO, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR  THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THIS EFFECTIVE STAY AWAY FROM US  TOOL, BUT THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS, RIGHT, BECAUSE  TRIBAL CANNABIS RIGHTS ARE IN A BIT OF A LEGAL GRAY AREA AND  HAVE BEEN CONTESTED AND THE FEDS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

IT DEPENDS WHO IS THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN YOUR AREA OR WHO  IS CALLING WHATEVER SHOTS.

SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO  PROVIDE SOME SECURITY, SOME PREDICTABILITY TO THIS.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

>> Gene: DANIEL, LEADERS BOTH POJOAQUE AND PICURIS PUEBLOS  SAY THEY ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS  INDUSTRY.

THE BIG ONE HANGING OUT IS THE  NAVAJO NATION.

INEZ' PAPER AND OTHERS HAVE DONE STELLAR  REPORTING ON THE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE  WITH ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN THERE.

MIGHT THAT BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO SOME OF THESE  AGREEMENTS FOR OTHER TRIBES TO MAKE SIMILAR AGREEMENTS IN THE  NEAR FUTURE?

>> Dan: THE AGREEMENTS WOULD  HELP CURB SOME OF THAT PROBLEM, RIGHT, BECAUSE IF  YOU'RE NOT REGULATED ON THE TRIBES AND PUEBLOS, I THINK  THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE THAN ANYBODY IS  GIVING IT ATTENTION TODAY BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS GOING  TO BE GROUND ZERO FOR THE FEDS DISCUSSION ABOUT STATES RIGHTS  VERSUS TRIBAL RIGHTS, VERSUS SOVEREIGNTY.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE ENTERED INTO THE  COMPACTS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS WITH TRIBAL ENTITIES.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THE  TRIBAL ENTITIES, RIGHT WRONG OR INDIFFERENT, STILL ANSWER  TO THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

FEDS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT ON BOARD FOR  THIS, SO FAR.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK  THEY ARE GOING TO BE JOHNNY COME LATELY TO THIS.

YOU CANNOT MAKE A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT TO CRIMINALIZE THE  USE OF MARIJUANA IN NEW MEXICO WHEN WE LEGITIMATELY USE DRUGS  THAT ARE 10 TIMES WORSE, PRESCRIBE THEM EVERYDAY,  ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I THINK THAT THIS  COULD BECOME ONE OF THOSE LANDMARK DECISIONS THAT YOU  MAY SEE IN NOT TOO LONG OF A TIME BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT  WHERE THE STATE AND THE TRIBES PARTNER AGAINST THE FEDS,  MAYBE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, MAYBE AFTER THE NEXT  PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, YOU NEVER KNOW.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT SEEM TO  BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FIGHTING WEED RIGHT   NOW IN THE COUNTRY.

AS YOU SAID, IT JUST TAKES A PROSECUTOR.

YOU GET SOMEONE AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN NEW MEXICO THAT  SAYS, I AM GOING TO FIGHT THIS OR YOU GET SOMEBODY AT THE  HEAD OF THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS OR THE FBI, BECAUSE,  REMEMBER ANY CRIMES THAT ARE ON TRIBAL LAND, THE FBI DOES  THAT, AND THIS COULD BE ESCALATING QUICKLY THAT SAYS,  LISTEN, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO DRAW THE LINE AND I  THINK HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATE'S RIGHTS, TRIBAL  SOVEREIGNTY AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S OVERREACH AND  OVERUSE OF FORCE AND POWER ON TRIBAL LAND.

AND THIS COULD BECOME A REAL DECISION-MAKING CASE, I THINK,  GOING FORWARD.

I THINK THEY NEED THE  OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK IF I WAS TO GATHER,  PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THERE  WILL OBVIOUSLY BE SOME RETAIL FACILITIES ON TRIBAL LAND BUT  I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM IN THE GROWING BUSINESS  MUCH MORE THAN THEY ARE IN THE SALES BUSINESS, MEANING THEY  ARE GOING TO BE HUGE HUMBOLDT COUNTY TYPE ENTITIES THAT CAN  DISTRIBUTE THIS STUFF THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO.

THEY HAVE THE NO.

1 THING THAT IS NEEDED THAT THEY'LL NEVER  RUN OUT OF.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER.

WATER.

>> Gene: INEZ, PICK UP ON  THAT.

SOME GOOD POINTS THERE.

>> Inez: I THINK BOTH SERGE AND DAN MAKE GREAT POINTS  ABOUT THE IDEA OF WHETHER THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO STAND  SCRUTINY FROM THE FEDS.

YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL, WHEN YOU  GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED AT PICURIS WITH THE RAID ON THE  GUY THAT WAS GROWING POT IN HIS YARD, SOMEONE DECIDED THAT  WAS A GOOD IDEA AND THERE WILL BE A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MAKING  A NAME FOR HIMSELF OR BELIEVING THAT THE FEDERAL  WILL IS SUPREME WHO IS GOING TO SAY, I DON'T BELIEVE THESE  AGREEMENTS STAND UP.

I MEAN, THE CLEAR WAY OUT OF  IT IS FOR CONGRESS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND THEN WE DON'T  HAVE DO FUSS OVER THIS AND PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP INDUSTRIES  AND BUSINESS AS THEY SEE FIT AND, SOME DAY, SOMEONE IS  GOING TO FIGURE OUT THAT WOULD WORK AND THEY ARE GOING THE  PASS THAT LAW AND ALL OF THIS PATCH WORK OF THINGS WILL GO  AWAY.

>> Gene: DAN MAKES A GOOD  POINT, THOUGH, IT TAKES SOMETHING TO PUSH THAT  FORWARD.

AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE IT.

HE MADE A GOOD CASE FOR THAT.

THANKS AGAIN TO THE LINE PANEL  AS ALWAYS THIS WEEK.

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT  YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THE LINE OPINION PANEL  COVERED ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.