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

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, RED RIVER RESPONDS.

MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN EXPLAINS HOW HER TOWN IS RECOVERING AFTER A DEADLY MASS SHOOTING, AND LAYS OUT PLANS TO KEEP EVENTS SAFE MOVING FORWARD.

>> Calhoun: WE DO EVENTS SO WELL THAT I KNOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT ATTRACTED THE GANG MOTORCYCLES, AND ALL OF THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED.

>> Gene: AND, LAURA PASKUS TAKES US TO THE SAN ANTONIO OXBOW WHERE THIS YEAR'S WET SPRING IS BRINGING GOOD NEWS TO ONE OF ALBUQUERQUE'S MOST UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

>> Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

AN FBI AGENT IS WARNING OF POSSIBLE BIKER GANG RETALIATION AFTER THE DEADLY SHOOTING AT LAST MONTH'S RED RIVER MOTORCYCLE RALLY.

NOW, THREE PEOPLE DIED AND FIVE MORE WERE HURT, MARKING THE STATE'S SECOND MASS SHOOTING IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

IN ABOUT 13 MINUTES, I ASK RED RIVER MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN HOW HER TOWN HAS REACTED, AND WHAT COMES NEXT FOR FUTURE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKENDS IN THE AREA.

THEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW EXECUTIVE PRODUCER HERE AT NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

I ASK JEFF PROCTOR ABOUT HIS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AS AN EDITOR AND REPORTER IN OUR STATE, AND WE TALK ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR THE SHOW'S FUTURE.

BUT FIRST, AN UPDATE IN THE CASE OF A FAILED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE NOW FACING FEDERAL CHARGES OF ELECTION INTERFERENCE AFTER PROSECUTORS SAY HE ORGANIZED A SERIES OF DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS TARGETING DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS.

LET'S GET TO THE LINE.

>> Gene: WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

WE'RE JOINED IN STUDIO THIS WEEK BY DAN MCKAY, A STAFF WRITER AT THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

ACROSS THE TABLE IS ERIC GRIEGO.

HE'S A DEMOCRATIC FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE SENATOR.

NOW WORKS AS A POLICY ADVISER FOR MAYOR TIM KELLER.

AND WELCOME TO JOEL MEYERS, AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO THE TABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

NOW, WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH AN UPDATE IN THE SOLOMON PEÑA CASE.

POLICE ARRESTED THE FORMER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND PARTY OFFICIAL IN JANUARY, ACCUSING HIM OF ORCHESTRATING A SERIES OF SHOOTINGS AT THE HOMES OF FOUR DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS FOLLOWING HIS ELECTION LOSS IN NOVEMBER.

NOW, FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCED CHARGES LAST WEEK AGAINST MR. PEÑA AND TWO OF HIS ALLEGED ACCOMPLICES.

THOSE CHARGES INCLUDE CONSPIRACY, INTERFERENCE WITH FEDERALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITIES, FENTANYL POSSESSION, AND THREE COUNTS OF USING A FIREARM IN A VIOLENT CRIME.

NOW, IF CONVICTED, MR. PEÑA FACES A MINIMUM OF 60 YEARS IN PRISON, AND JOEL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS FIRST.

DOES THE WEIGHT OF THAT MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE SEEM APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT HE'S ACCUSED OF DOING, IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Joel: IT'S HIGH, BECAUSE 60 YEARS FEDERALLY MEANS 60 YEARS.

AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO DIMINISH THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT OCCURRED, AND LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THE COURSE OF THIS, BUT 60 YEARS IS A REAL, REAL LONG TIME.

AND YOU SEE SOME OTHER THINGS, AND WHAT I THINK IT POINTS OUT MOSTLY IS A VERY DISPARATE SITUATION BETWEEN THE STATE SYSTEM AND THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.

>> Gene: AH, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT.

ACTUALLY, LET ME START HERE.

PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD, THE DIFFERENCE, THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDERAL CHARGES AND STATE CHARGES HERE.

>> Joel: WELL, THE MANDATORY MINIMUM IS THE FIRST ONE, AS YOU POINTED OUT.

A 60-YEAR MANDATORY MINIMUM REALLY MEANS A 60-YEAR MANDATORY MINIMUM, OF WHICH YOU HAVE TO SERVE AT LEAST 85% OF THAT TIME.

I DON'T DO AS MUCH STATE PRACTICE, BUT I KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE SIMILAR MANDATORY MINIMUMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

HE WOULDN'T BE SERVING NEARLY AS MUCH TIME.

AND I THINK THE CREDIT FOR GOOD TIME IS CALCULATED MUCH DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE.

>> Gene: GOTCHA.

I APPRECIATE THAT LITTLE BIT OF NUANCE THERE.

ERIC, IS THERE POSSIBLY A NARRATIVE GOING ON HERE THAT OUR STATE SYSTEM IS PERHAPS TOO SOFT OR TOO WEAK COMPARED TO WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM JOEL ABOUT MANDATORY MINIMUMS AND THINGS FOR THE FEDERAL SIDE OF THINGS?

IT'S A PERCEPTION OF OUR JUDGES AND STUFF.

IS IT ACCURATE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Eric: WELL, NORMALLY I DON'T BUY INTO THAT NARRATIVE.

I HAVE TO SAY IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, EVEN IN A DEMOCRATIC STATE WHICH HAS THE FIFTH HIGHEST RATE OF GUN CRIME IN THE COUNTRY, THE RELUCTANCE IN BOTH PARTIES TO DO ANYTHING REALLY SUBSTANTIAL AROUND GUN VIOLENCE.

BUT ALSO, I DO SEE THIS LINKAGE WITH OUR DEMOCRACY, RIGHT, AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS AROUND AN ELECTION.

AGAIN, TYPICALLY I WOULD SAY THAT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT HARSH TO ME.

I HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY ABOUT USING THE FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR CRIMES, INCLUDING SOME OF THE OTHER SORT OF INITIATIVES IN ALBUQUERQUE AROUND ATF AND SO ON.

IN THIS CASE, WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND SORT OF AN ORCHESTRATED SORT OF HIT JOB, ESSENTIALLY -- I HAPPEN TO KNOW A LOT OF THESE FOLKS.

THEY'RE COLLEAGUES.

WHEN GUN VIOLENCE SPILLS OVER INTO ELECTIONS AND TARGETING CANDIDATES FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE THAT MOST OF THESE FOLKS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH, THE ELECTION, THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE ROOM WHEN STUFF WAS CERTIFIED -- AND ONE OF THEM IS A FRIEND AND I SAW THE ACTUAL BULLET HOLES.

IT'S JUST, TO ME, IT'S BEYOND THE PALE.

I'M NOT A LOCK 'EM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, WE HAVE TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE.

AND I DO THINK WE HAVE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO GUN OWNERS THAT THIS ISN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KNOCKING OFF LIQUOR STORES.

THIS IS REALLY -- THE LETHALITY, THE POTENTIAL LETHALITY IN THIS CASE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY BAD FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> Gene: I FORGOT TO ASK YOU, PLEASE LET THE FOLKS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: SO I, FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS -- FULL DISCLOSURE, I'VE BEEN ADVISING THE MAYOR ON POLICY WORK AND A FEW ISSUES IN THE CITY ON THE MAYOR'S TEAM.

I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF TODAY.

AND MOREOVER, I'M ONLY THERE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS, AND SO I'LL BE LIBERATED.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE I'LL BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR A YEAR, HOPEFULLY NOT WORRYING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

PART OF THE REASON WE WON'T BE HERE.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE KELLER ADMINISTRATION.

>> Gene: APPRECIATE THAT, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE GOT A SITUATION HERE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHERE THE CASE GOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY, DAN, AS YOU KNOW FROM THE START.

GIVEN THE ATTENTION, I'M WONDERING IF THESE INCIDENTS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A LOOK SINCE THE JANUARY 6th SITUATION.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

IS THERE A CONNECTION HERE WE CAN SEE OR FEEL?

>> Dan: I THINK SO.

THIS CASE HAS CERTAINLY HAD AN IMPACT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME PUSH TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO KEEP THEIR ADDRESSES CONFIDENTIAL.

THIS BUILDS ON SORT OF THIS ONGOING CONCERN.

YOU KNOW, OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER IN NEW MEXICO, ACTUALLY WENT INTO HIDING AFTER THE LAST ELECTION AROUND THE JANUARY 6th TIME DUE TO THREATS.

SO YES, THERE'S TREMENDOUS CONCERN OVER HOW THIS IMPACTS POLICYMAKERS AND INTIMIDATION AND DISRUPTION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF GUN CRIMES AND VIOLENCE, THOSE ARE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS TO SOLVE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE CERTAINLY IS DEBATING INTENSELY.

>> Gene: CAN I ASK A FAVOR OF YOU?

IN OUR SETUP, ERIC HAS REMINDED ME, A LOT OF FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW HEINOUS THIS STUFF WAS IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS CRIME.

JUST A QUICK RECAP.

THE FOUR DEMOCRATS THAT WERE TARGETED, WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

WHAT WAS MR. PEÑA CHARGED WITH HERE AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING?

JUST IN A QUICK RECAP, IF YOU WOULD.

>> Dan: WELL, DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS THAT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEBODY, BUT DIDN'T.

SO THESE ARE PRETTY TERRIFYING CRIMES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEYOND JUST CALLING SOMEONE AND MAKING A THREAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GOVERNOR, IT'S HAPPENED TO GOVERNOR CANDIDATES REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

IN THIS CASE, THOUGH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE, AND NOT JUST AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, THERE WAS STUFF FALLING OFF THE CEILING ON TO ONE OF THE VICTIM'S CHILD IN THE BEDROOM.

I MEAN, IT WAS JUST VERY CLOSE.

JOEL, LET ME GET BACK TO SOMETHING.

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

ARE THERE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FEDERALIZING WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN STATE CRIMES?

THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF AGITA, TO USE A LITTLE NEW YORK WORD WITH YOU THERE, ABOUT THIS.

IS THAT OVERBLOWN?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

>> Joel: I THINK IT'S A TOUGH POSITION THAT BOTH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE IN, PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY HERE.

THERE'S BEEN TREMENDOUS OVERLAP BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE CRIMES FOR DECADES NOW, AND NOW I THINK IT'S THE EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS THAT ARE CHOOSING TO USE WHATEVER RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO I DON'T BEGRUDGE THEM ON THAT.

I DO THINK THERE IS MORE OF A FEDERALIZED CREEP INTO WHAT WOULD BE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.

I DON'T NECESSARILY LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR ONE, THE PEÑA ONE, AS CONFINED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK IT GOES FUNDAMENTALLY TO VOTING AND ELECTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS STRUCK BY IN ERIC'S COMMENTS ARE, THINK ABOUT THE TONE AT THE TOP HERE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST THE SANCTITY OF ELECTIONS, DOES IT COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BE IT IN NEW MEXICO OR ELSEWHERE, WHEN WE STILL HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO IS PEDDLING A NOTION OF ELECTION FRAUD TAKING PLACE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN IT'S BEEN DEBUNKED BY EVEN HIS CLOSEST MEMBERS.

PEOPLE SEE THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE READING IN THE PAPERS STILL.

>> Eric: WELL, AND THIS GUY WAS INSPIRED BY IT, APPARENTLY.

I MEAN, HE WAS REGURGITATING SOME OF THAT STUFF.

I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE THING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUNS AND DEMOCRACY HERE, AND I CAN'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, IN ADDITION TO THIS SORT OF REALLY EGREGIOUS, DANGEROUS, OVER-THE-TOP BEHAVIOR, WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.

AND I THINK THE GUN ISSUE IS REALLY DEMONSTRATING THE FLAWS IN OUR ABILITY TO PASS MEANINGFUL POLICIES THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ABOUT ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT'S NOT ABOUT MOTORCYCLE GANGS -- I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT -- THIS IS NOT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, THIS IS ABOUT GUNS.

YOU KNOW, JAMES CARVILLE HAD THE FAMOUS LINE, "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID."

IT'S THE GUNS, STUPID.

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IN ALL OF THESE THINGS IS NOT ELECTIONS, IT'S NOT MOTORCYCLE GANGS, IT'S NOT MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO EASILY GET FIREARMS REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, REGARDLESS OF WHAT STATE THEY LIVED IN, AND IT'S EASIER IN SOME STATES THAN OTHERS.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM AND WE HAVE TO STOP COMING UP WITH ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE GUNS.

IT'S ABOUT THE GUNS, STUPID.

>> Gene: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> Joel: ERIC, JUST THINK ABOUT FOR A SECOND, THOUGH, LIKE THE TENSION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S A BIG TENSION BETWEEN FREEDOM AND SECURITY, AND THAT'S, I THINK, WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING, AND THE GUNS ARE THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND I KNOW WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES SOON.

>> Gene: JOEL, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, AND I WANT DAN TO PICK UP ON IT, AS WELL, AND THAT IS THE MAYOR, DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, ANNOUNCED THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE A GUN-FREE ZONE.

THIS MOVE WOULD ESSENTIALLY SEND GUN-RELATED CRIMES IN THAT AREA TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

ANY PROBLEMS THERE AS YOU SEE IT JUST IN ITS GENERAL IDEA?

NOT SO MUCH THE DETAILS, BUT YOUR SENSE OF THAT.

>> Joel: I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT FIRST STARTING WITH HELLER IN 2008, BRUEN LAST YEAR, AS FAR AS THIS KIND OF INDIVIDUALIZED RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, RIGHT, THAT FOR SOME REASON TOOK OUR NATION OVER 200 YEARS TO RECOGNIZE.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS SO SACROSANCT.

AND WE'RE SEEING MANY, MANY CHALLENGES AT THE APPELLATE COURT LEVEL, BOTH FEDERALLY AND STATE, FOR ANY LEGISLATION THAT INFRINGES UPON THIS NOTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, AND THAT IT MUST BE GROUNDED IN SOME HISTORICAL PRECEDENT.

JUST TWO DAYS AGO, OUT OF AN EN BANC OPINION, WHICH MEANS THE ENTIRE THIRD CIRCUIT, INVALIDATED A 922(G) PROHIBITION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD A NONVIOLENT WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FELONY OFFENSE, AND SAID THAT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THERE'S NO HISTORICAL PRECEDENT TO DISPOSSESSING NONVIOLENT FELONS WITH GUNS.

I THINK THAT IS A WATERSHED DECISION WHICH WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AS IT HAS CREATED A GENUINE CIRCUIT SPLIT.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF SIMILAR ISSUES BEFORE OUR CIRCUIT, IN THE TENTH CIRCUIT.

SO THAT'S A LONG WAY OF ME SAYING THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT REGARDLESS OF THE WISDOM BEHIND MR. KELLER'S DECISION, THAT THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE CHALLENGES TO THAT NOTION OF, CAN YOU RESTRICT SOMEBODY'S GUN RIGHTS IN A PARTICULAR AREA, AND IF IT'S GROUNDED BASED ON SOME TYPE OF FORMAL, HISTORICAL PROHIBITION.

AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T STATE THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE GROUNDING KIND OF OUR MODERN DAY VIEW ON WHAT PEOPLE IN THE 1700s THOUGHT AS RELATED TO ONE PARTICULAR NEW INDIVIDUAL RIGHT.

I THINK IF WE DID THAT, THERE WOULD BE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T BE VOTING, IF WE BASED IT ON SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

I BELIEVE SLAVERY WAS STILL AROUND IN THE 1700s, AS WELL.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Joel: SO I FIND IT, YOU KNOW, REALLY DISINGENUOUS THAT WE'RE GROUNDING -- AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, IT'S THE GUN, STUPID.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> Gene: WE'LL PICK THAT UP.

IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO ASK THE RED RIVER MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN HOW HER CITY IS MOVING FORWARD AFTER LAST MONTH'S DEADLY SHOOTING, AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE AT THE DESK WITH OUR PANEL FOR REACTION TO THAT INTERVIEW.

>> Jeff: I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE.

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S IN NEW MEXICO ON PURPOSE.

I LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE BY CHOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND JOURNALISM ULTIMATELY, TO ME, FELT LIKE THE WAY THAT I ENTER THE WORLD AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE.

I CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK INFORMATION, AND AN HONEST BROKER OF INFORMATION.

>> Gene: THE TOWN OF RED RIVER IS WORKING TO RECOVER AFTER A MASS SHOOTING THAT LEFT THREE PEOPLE DEAD, FIVE OTHERS INJURED, AND LED TO THE LIKELY END OF ONE OF THE TOWN'S SIGNATURE EVENTS.

IT'S LEFT A LOT FOR RED RIVER MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN TO MANAGE.

I CAUGHT UP WITH HER EARLIER THIS WEEK TO ASK ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE FUTURE OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN RED RIVER.

>> Gene: MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN OF RED RIVER, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPENDING A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH NEW MEXICO PBS AND NEW MEXICO In FOCUS.

VERY FIRST QUESTION, HOW IS THE COMMUNITY REACTING NOW THAT WE'RE A FEW DAYS PAST?

WHAT'S THE GENERAL TONE AND TENOR OF RED RIVER RIGHT NOW?

>> Calhoun: EVERYBODY IS BEGINNING TO RECOVER.

THEY'RE VERY RELIEVED AT THE STANCE THAT THE TOWN HAS TAKEN TO NOT DO ANYTHING TO CONTINUE THIS RALLY OR TO ENCOURAGE IT.

I JUST CAME FROM A MEETING 30 MINUTES AGO WITH A GROUP OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE WORKING ON -- OR PUTTING TOGETHER IDEAS AS TO HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT THE EVENT CAN LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR.

>> Gene: NOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THIS, THERE IS NO MOTORCYCLE RALLY PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> Calhoun: THAT'S CORRECT.

AND OF COURSE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T JUST FLIP A SWITCH AND IT'S GONE.

SO WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW YEARS TO PHASE THIS OUT.

>> Gene: RIGHT.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOW THEY APPROACHED THIS SITUATION.

HAD YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PREVIOUS TO THE RALLY, AND MAYBE PERHAPS SOME KIND OF WARNING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT A BUNCH OF THESE MOTORCYCLE GUYS WERE COMING WITH BAD INTENT?

WAS THAT A CONVERSATION BEFOREHAND?

>> Calhoun: WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE'S THAT PROSPECT OF THAT HAPPENING.

AND SO THIS YEAR, WHAT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IS, WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST BRIEFING WITH STATE POLICE AND ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CHATTER.

AND THEY'RE WATCHING CONSTANTLY FOR THE INTEL TO SEE HOW MANY WE CAN EXPECT.

AND AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT, WE WERE EXPECTING MAYBE 50 TO 100 THAT WOULD BE SHOWING UP OF THE BANDIDOS.

AND THEN AS THE DAY PROGRESSED AND WE GOT MORE AND MORE INTEL, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE MORE.

BUT WE DIDN'T EXPECT 3000 HERE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

>> Gene: WHAT WAS THE -- >> Calhoun: WE WERE PREPARED, BUT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING IT.

>> Gene: I CAN IMAGINE.

WAS THERE ANY -- IN YOUR RESEARCH AND TALKING TO YOUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, WAS THERE TROUBLE ANTICIPATED THAT DAY?

HAD YOU BEEN -- ANYBODY HAVE A SENSE OF IT, THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT DAY?

>> Calhoun: I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY JUST FELT THAT THERE WAS A SENSE THAT SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHEN THEY HAD THE GATHERING OF 500 IN QUESTA, WHICH IS 12 MILES WEST OF US, AND THEY BEGAN TO COME UP, AND WE HEARD OF MORE AND MORE COMING IN, WE BEGAN TO GET A LITTLE CONCERNED.

BUT MY MARSHAL HAD A MEETING WITH THEIR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:15 AND WAS ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, AND 45 MINUTES LATER IS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

SO IT WAS PREMEDICATED.

THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THEY KEPT IT VERY QUIET.

>> Gene: INTERESTINGLY, LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO, JUST ANNOUNCED IT'S CANCELING ITS 18th ANNUAL ROUGHRIDER MOTORCYCLE RALLY IN JULY.

BELEN HAS DECIDED TO CANCEL ITS MOTORCYCLE RALLY.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANY OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THIS IN NEW MEXICO?

>> Calhoun: I BRIEFLY SPOKE TO BELEN ABOUT THEIRS.

I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO ANYBODY IN LAS VEGAS.

>> Gene: WHAT WAS THE SENSE OF THE CONVERSATION WITH THE FOLKS IN BELEN?

WERE THEY CONCERNED?

WHAT WERE THE QUESTIONS YOU WERE BEING ASKED BY THE BELEN FOLKS?

>> Calhoun: THEY WERE DEFINITELY CONCERNED.

THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING MOVING FORWARD TO PREVENT IT FROM COMING BACK, AND JUST KIND OF WANTING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, HOW WE RESPONDED, HOW PREPARED WE WERE, AND TALKING ABOUT THE RETRIBUTION, WHICH WE SAW THE FBI OFFICER TALK ABOUT YESTERDAY.

AND NONE OF US, NONE OF US WANT TO SET OUR COMMUNITIES UP FOR SOME KIND OF INCIDENT LIKE THIS WHERE THEY'RE IN DANGER.

>> Gene: NOW, THE PLAN IS, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU'RE GOING TO HONOR VETERANS NEXT YEAR.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> Calhoun: WE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING IN MUSIC, SOME KIND OF FOOD COMPETITION, ALL KINDS OF IDEAS.

YOU KNOW, WE DO EVENTS SO WELL THAT I KNOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING.

BUT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT ATTRACTED THE GANG MOTORCYCLES, AND ALL OF THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED.

YOU KNOW, THE VENDORS THAT ARE SELLING THE LEATHER, THE TATTOO PARLORS, THE PATCHES, NONE OF THAT WILL BE ALLOWED.

>> Gene: NO COLORS?

OKAY, I HEAR YOUR POINT THERE, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG BONE OF CONTENTION.

>> Calhoun: AND THEN THEIR COLORS, THAT'S REALLY A BIG DEAL, BECAUSE AS A TOWN, WE CAN'T BAN COLORS.

THAT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

AND SO THE WAY WE HAVE TO COME AT IT IS, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO THEM TO COME HERE.

YOU KNOW, ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANY KIND OF MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS, ZERO TOLERANCE FOR PARKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET LIKE THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE.

SO THAT'S THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING.

>> Gene: MAYOR CALHOUN, BIT OF A WILD CARD QUESTION HERE, BUT IF THERE WAS EVER A SYSTEM WHERE YOU COULD SCREEN FOR GUNS AND HAVE NO GUNS IN THE FACILITY, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO HOSTING A MOTORCYCLE EVENT AT THAT POINT?

>> Calhoun: THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY SMART.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET AROUND ALL OF THE LAWS ANY WAY THEY CAN.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO RESPECT PEOPLE AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, BUT OUR JOB IS JUST TO TRY AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

>> Gene: THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO CARRY OR TO PROTECT ONE'S SELF, SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, OF COURSE.

EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT IS TRICKY, I REALIZE THAT'S A VERY TRICKY QUESTION, BECAUSE AGAIN, WHO WOULD SHOW UP IF YOU HAD THAT.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE SHOWING UP WITH FIREARMS.

IS THERE A WAY TO DO THESE THINGS WITHOUT FIREARMS, JUST IN YOUR -- NOT JUST YOUR EVENT, BUT JUST YOUR PERSONAL OPINION?

WHERE DO GUNS FIT INTO THIS WHOLE THING, AND IS THERE A WAY TO ELIMINATE THEM FROM THIS KIND OF A SITUATION?

>> Calhoun: WELL, THAT FALLS ON THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND OUR PARS DEFINITELY BAN WEAPONS.

AND THEY DO BODY SEARCHES AND THEY TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET.

THIS WAS NOT IN A BUSINESS, THIS WAS THE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET.

SO I THINK WE HANDLED IT THE BEST WE COULD.

WE PREPARED FOR THE SITUATION.

WE HAD 36 STATE POLICE HERE.

WE HAD OUR FOUR OFFICERS.

WE HAD SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES FROM MORA COUNTY AND TAOS COUNTY.

WE HAD EMT AND EMS ON STANDBY.

WE RESPONDED WITHIN 30 SECONDS.

SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER THEY HAD THE GUNS OR NOT, THIS WAS A PLANNED CRIMINAL GANG SHOOTING.

>> Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO RED RIVER MAYOR LINDA CALHOUN FOR SPEAKING WITH US, AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

AS MAYOR CALHOUN TOLD US, THERE'S SERIOUS TALK OF ENDING THE RED RIVER MEMORIAL DAY MOTORCYCLE RALLY AFTER 41 YEARS.

OFFICIALS IN LAS VEGAS, AND NOW BELEN, HAVE ANNOUNCED -- WELL, LAS VEGAS ANNOUNCED THEIR ROUGHRIDER MOTORCYCLE RALLY IS JULY IN CANCELED, AND BELEN CANCELED THEIRS, AS WELL.

IS THAT THE RIGHT CALL, DAN?

SHOULD OTHER LOCAL LEADERS CONSIDER CANCELING FUTURE EVENTS LIKE THIS?

I MEAN, IT'S A PERSONAL OPINION QUESTION, BUT GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEWS, IF YOU'RE A MAYOR, WHY WOULD YOU HAVE A MOTORCYCLE RALLY IN YOUR TOWN RIGHT NOW?

>> Dan: YEAH.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S MY ROLE TO GIVE ADVICE TO MAYORS ABOUT WHAT SORTS OF EVENTS THEY SHOULD RUN, BUT IT IS PRETTY SAD THAT IT COMES TO THIS GIVEN THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THESE EVENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT CARRYING WEAPONS, NOT GETTING INTO TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, WHO ENJOY NEW MEXICO SCENERY AND THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF IT.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE IT COME TO AN END, IF THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Gene: RIGHT.

ERIC, THERE'S A LOT OF LOCAL FOLKS UP THERE WHO HAVE BEEN QUOTED IN THE PAPERS AS SAYING THIS WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT.

TAOS COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF JERRY HOGREFE, IF I'M SAYING THAT NAME CORRECTLY: "SOME OF YOU UP HERE MAY HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS STILL WORKING ON THIS RALLY, IT'S LIKE SITTING ON AN OPEN POWDER KEG WITH A LIT CIGARETTE."

THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUOTE, ISN'T IT?

>> Eric: WELL, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE THING.

MOTORCYCLE RALLIES HAVE HAPPENED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY FOR 40, 50 YEARS PLUS.

THERE'S NOTHING UNIQUE TO THEM.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RESEARCH THAT SAID THERE'S A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN MOTORCYCLE GANGS AND ACTIVE GUN VIOLENCE.

YOU MAY NOT LIKE THAT THEY ARE ROWDY AND THERE'S PROBABLY SOME FIGHTING GOING ON.

AGAIN, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE MAYOR'S RESPONSE BECAUSE SHE WAS ASKED, SORT OF DIRECTLY, IS THIS ABOUT THE RALLY, IS THIS ABOUT BANDIDOS, IS THIS ABOUT ALCOHOL, OR IS THIS ABOUT GUNS?

THE ONE THING THAT CAUSED THE SHOOTINGS WAS THE GUNS.

I MEAN, THERE WAS ALCOHOL INVOLVED AND BAD BLOOD.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN BAD BLOOD AMONG MOTORCYCLE GANGS TIME IMMEMORIAL.

LIKE, THEY FIGHT IT OUT, MAYBE THERE'S SOME KNIVES INVOLVED.

BUT THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE, AND ACTUAL LETHAL RESULTS -- AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT MOTORCYCLE GANGS, IT'S NOT ABOUT BEEFS BETWEEN CERTAIN GROUPS, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE COUNTLESS RALLIES THAT HAPPEN, IT'S NOT ABOUT MOTORCYCLES, IT'S ABOUT THE GUNS.

AND EVEN IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE A MAYOR'S HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH, SHE COULDN'T MUSTER, GIVEN THE POLITICS IN THAT PART OF THE STATE, SHE COULDN'T MUSTER THE WILL TO SAY, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT THE GUN STUFF.

IT WAS, NO, AND THE DENIAL THAT WE HEAR FROM SO MANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS.

WELL, IT'S GOT TO BE MENTAL HEALTH, MAYBE IT'S THE GANGS, MAYBE IT'S THE DRUGS, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, BOTTOM LINE IS, PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SHOT IF THERE WEREN'T GUNS INVOLVED.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

JOEL, I'M CURIOUS FROM YOUR END OF THE WORLD HOW YOU SEE THINGS LIKE THIS, MEANING LET'S ASSUME EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO THE MOTORCYCLE RALLY, OR A GOOD PERCENTAGE, HAS A GUN FOR PROTECTION.

DO YOU SEE THAT DIFFERENTLY AS OPPOSED TO LIKE A PRIVATE CITIZEN TRYING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?

BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE HERE.

BUT THE SELF-DEFENSE PEOPLE SHOT PEOPLE IN SELF-DEFENSE.

SO TO ERIC'S POINT, IF EVERYBODY HAS A GUN, HOW DO WE MANAGE THIS KIND OF THING, FROM YOUR END OF THE WORLD?

>> Joel: I DON'T THINK YOU DO.

I MEAN, I AGREE WITH EXACTLY WHAT ERIC IS SAYING.

IT'S THE GUN, STUPID.

NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND A MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBER, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY'RE PROBABLY PRIVATE CITIZENS, AS WELL.

SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION WITH PEOPLE, AND I THINK IF WE'VE GIVEN OUT THIS VERY BROAD SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD STOP IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SOMEWHAT CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHEN THE MAYOR WAS SAYING THAT, WELL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE OFFICIAL RALLY, SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO END FOR SOME TIME, EITHER, THAT PEOPLE WILL STILL GO.

I MEAN, THERE'S THE RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND THEY'LL GO, AND THAT CREATES I THINK SOME TYPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DILEMMA.

THEY SAY THEY FACED A DILEMMA HERE WHEN THEY HAD, IT SEEMED TO ME, THEY HAD AT LEAST SOME ADVANCE WARNING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO SHOW UP THERE, AND THAT PERHAPS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE WAS NOT COMMENSURATE TO THAT.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL RALLY?

>> Gene: YOU CAN'T PUT POLICE AT THE BORDER AND TURN THEM AWAY.

>> Joel: OF COURSE NOT.

BUT WHAT'S THE PRESENCE GOING TO BE LIKE THERE.

AND I ALSO FEEL FOR THE OTHER LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS OF RED RIVER AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS HAS.

>> Gene: LET'S GET TO THAT.

DAN, INTERESTINGLY RED RIVER MARKED THE SECOND MASS SHOOTING IN OUR STATE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, AS YOU KNOW, AND THE TAOS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE -- WHERE DID THE BREAKDOWN COME?

I READ SOMETHING, THEY HAD 35 OFFICERS STANDING BY, BUT THEY ALSO KNEW THERE WERE HUNDREDS, IF NOT IN THE THOUSANDS OF THESE BANDIDOS HEADED OUR WAY FROM TEXAS.

HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TOLD US THIS.

IN YOUR SENSE OF IT, THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENT -- MAYBE IT WAS EVERYBODY AVAILABLE, WHO KNOWS?

BUT SOMETHING DIDN'T QUITE MATCH UP HERE.

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

>> Dan: ONE PROBLEM THAT KIND OF POPS UP THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS COORDINATION AMONG THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES, AND YOU HAVE TENSIONS SOMETIMES BETWEEN SHERIFFS AND CITIES.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS SOME DISPUTE THAT ALSO INVOLVED MONEY.

YOU KNOW, WERE THE SHERIFFS GOING TO BE PAID OVERTIME, THIS KIND OF THING.

SO THESE ARE TRICKY THINGS THAT GO ACROSS JURISDICTIONAL LINES.

I WILL SAY THAT THE ONE THING THAT COMES UP IN THE LEGISLATURE REPEATEDLY IS, THEY DO HEAR ABOUT THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF POLICE OFFICERS RATHER THAN LONGER SENTENCES.

YOU BROUGHT UP MANDATORY MINIMUMS EARLIER.

SO IN TERMS OF THE POLICY EXPERTS WHO TESTIFY BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, THEY TEND TO EMPHASIZE THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF POLICE OFFICERS, THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS, RATHER THAN LONGER SENTENCES.

THE ANSWER TO THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION OR WHAT HAPPENED IN FARMINGTON, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EASY POLICY SOLUTION WOULD BE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

THAT'S A FAIR WAY TO FINISH THAT THOUGHT, BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

ERIC, PICK UP ON DAN'S POINT HERE, BECAUSE THIS HAS COME UP A LOT.

WHAT WOULD A PROPER POLICE PRESENCE LOOK LIKE IN SOMETHING WHEN YOU'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF BANDIDOS COMING, YOU'VE GOT OTHER MOTORCYCLE GROUPS COMING, YOU'VE GOT LIMITED INTEL, LET'S JUST ASSUME.

DOES IT MEAN EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE STATE POLICE FORCE NEEDS TO BE THERE?

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> Eric: YOU KNOW, NOT TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE GET INTO THESE ALTERNATIVE SORT OF EXPLANATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE A HUGE SHOW OF FORCE.

REMEMBER, POLICE ARE ARMED, TOO, AND POLICE ARE HUMAN.

AND THERE'S ALSO, I THINK, DECENT ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE THAT WHEN THERE'S A -- YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN MADE EVEN IN OUR DOWNTOWN, THERE'S THIS SORT OF FEEL OF TENSION BECAUSE OF A POLICE PRESENCE.

THAT HAS SORT OF HAD A REACTIVE, YEAH, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND LOTS OF ARMED PEOPLE IN THAT EQUATION, AND IT ALMOST BECOMES INEVITABLE THAT SOMEBODY -- SOMETIMES IT'S A COP HAVING TO SHOOT SOMEBODY, WHICH HAPPENS A LOT IN OUR CITY AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO I'M JUST NOT CONVINCED.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE CONTINUALLY GRASPING AT ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS, ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND THE ANSWER IS, LOOK, WE COULD HAVE HAD THE NATIONAL GUARD THERE AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME SHOOTINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL ARMED.

NOW, WE'VE DECIDED AS A SOCIETY WE WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE WANT OUR MILITARY, WHICH GOES BACK TO A CONSTITUTIONAL SORT OF QUESTION.

LIKELY PEOPLE DISAGREE ON WHAT THE INTENT WAS.

I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE COMPLETELY MISREAD THAT, AND NOT BY ACCIDENT.

I THINK IT'S BEEN AN ORCHESTRATED EFFORT OVER MANY, MANY DECADES BY AN INDUSTRY THAT BENEFITS FROM THIS, AND FRANKLY A BROKEN POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS IT TO HAPPEN.

BUT THE POINT IS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MORE COPS, BETTER COPS, MORE UNIFORM COPS, NECESSARILY WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME HERE, AS IT HASN'T IN FARMINGTON, AS IT HASN'T ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S ARMED, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REACT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR ON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR RECORD IS, BECAUSE WE'VE JUST DECIDED TO ALLOW ANYONE, PRETTY MUCH ANYONE IN MOST STATES TO HAVE A WEAPON.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

JOEL, REAL QUICK, DOES THE FBI PLAY A ROLE IN ASSISTING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THESE THINGS?

IS THERE ANYTHING SHARED TRADITIONALLY?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> Joel: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF TASK FORCES.

ONE OF THE SENIOR AGENTS WHO HAD TESTIFIED AT THE HEARING UP IN TAOS IS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THIS.

I'VE WORKED WITH HIM FOR MANY YEARS.

SO THEY DO HAVE A VERY BIG SUPPORT ROLE, PARTICULARLY HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

I KNOW THEY HAVE A VIOLENT GANG TASK FORCE THAT'S VERY, VERY ACTIVE, BOTH IN STATE COURT AS WELL AS IN FEDERAL COURT.

SO THEY DO PLAY THIS KIND OF OVERALL CARETAKING AND COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK THEY DO A VERY ADMIRAL JOB DOING SO.

>> Gene: DAN, YOU TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION GIVEN ALL THAT WE'VE HAD AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT DID OR DID NOT PASS, PARTICULARLY LAST YEAR -- OR THIS PAST SESSION, I SHOULD SAY, AND THE SESSION BEFORE THAT.

ARE WE GOOSED INTO ANOTHER FRAME OF MIND HERE WITH ALL THESE INCIDENTS?

DOES RED RIVER CONTRIBUTE TO THIS IDEA THAT WE MAY PERHAPS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUNS A LITTLE MORE VIGOROUSLY HERE?

>> Dan: IT COULD.

IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS WILL BE THIS NEXT SESSION, BUT TO ERIC'S POINT, THE LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN -- YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN SORT OF ENGAGED IN THIS CONFLICT OVER FIREARMS AND TRYING TO BALANCE WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO BY THE LAW, WHAT IS FEASIBLE POLITICALLY.

IN TERMS OF PROPOSALS THAT I THINK WE'LL HEAR WILL BE PROPOSALS TO RESTRICT AR-15 STYLE FIREARMS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'LL GET THROUGH.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE DEFINING WHAT IS AN ASSAULT WEAPON.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT TOWARDS A WAITING PERIOD, LIKE A 14-DAY WAITING PERIOD, WHICH IS INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THE BACKGROUND CHECKS GET COMPLETED.

THERE'S THE POTENTIAL OF AN AGE, RAISING THE AGE LIMIT TO 21 FOR CERTAIN FIREARMS.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PROPOSALS WE'LL PROBABLY SEE, BUT THE LEGISLATURE CAN BE HARD TO PREDICT.

THEY ARGUE ABOUT THE SAME THING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND THEN ONE YEAR IT HAPPENS.

SO IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE PART OF THE DEBATE.

>> Gene: JOEL, IN TEN SECONDS OR LESS, IS IT AR-15s OR HANDGUNS, THE PROBLEM?

MEANING, IS IT THE BIGGER WEAPONS OR THE SMALLER WEAPONS THAT'S THE BIGGER PROBLEM?

>> Joel: I THINK THEY'RE BOTH A PROBLEM, BUT I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF BULLETS YOU CAN SHOOT WITH A BIGGER GUN, WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE.

SO FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO DETERMINE THAT.

BUT OVERALL, THERE ARE 300 MILLION OR SO GUNS, MORE THAN THAT, IN THIS COUNTRY EVEN WITH A 14-DAY WAITING BAN.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?

AND UNTIL WE HAVE A REAL RECKONING WITH THIS, WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FIREARMS, THESE ARE ALL JUST GOING TO BE SIMILARLY ONE-DAY NEWS STORIES.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

WE'LL BE BACK ONE MORE TIME FOR A FINAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RESURRECTION OF AN ORGANIZED CRIME COMMISSION AND WHETHER IT HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> Laura: THIS SPRING, THE RIO GRANDE IS RIPPING ALONG, FLUSH WITH SNOWMELT AND BOOSTED BY SPRING RAINS.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR ECOSYSTEMS ALONG THE RIVER THAT HAVE BEEN GASPING FOR WATER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

ONE OF THOSE PLACES RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE IS THE SAN ANTONIO OXBOW, A SPECIAL PLACE ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIO GRANDE THAT HASN'T FLOODED IN A FEW YEARS.

RECENTLY, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO'S WES NOE TOOK US THERE TO EXPLAIN ITS HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE.

>> Noe: SO WE'RE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE JUST ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER FROM THE RIO GRANDE NATURE CENTER.

WE ARE HERE AT THE SAN ANTONIO OXBOW WETLANDS, STANDING ON THE OVERLOOK BLUFF, AND IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

WITH THE OXBOW WETLANDS, THE NATURE CENTER, AND THE CANDELARIA FARMS, IT CREATES THIS NATURE COMPLEX THAT'S PART OF A GREATER KIND OF NATURE COMPLEXES HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS.

SO AS THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE PROJECT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND THE RIVER WAS CHANNELIZED HERE AT THIS LOCATION, THE RIVER ACTUALLY SHIFTED WEST AND CAUSED A LOT OF EROSION ON THE BLUFF THAT WE'RE STANDING ON.

BECAUSE OF THAT EROSION, THEY INSTALLED THE JETTY-JACKS.

THEY WERE USED TO SLOW DOWN THE RIVER, AND IN A SIMILAR WAY AS THE OXBOW WAS FORMED, THE JETTY-JACKS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE SLOWED DOWN THE RIVER ALLOWING THE SEDIMENT TO FALL OUT, THUS RAISING THE RIVER BED AND SHIFTING THE CHANNEL BACK TO THE MAIN COURSE THAT WE SEE IT TODAY.

IT'S THE LAST REMAINING MARSH WETLAND HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND NOT ONLY IS IT THE LAST REMAINING MARSH WETLAND, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BIG.

AND SO THAT CREATES THIS UNIQUE HABITAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR AQUATIC VEGETATION THAT'S SPECIFIC TO WETLANDS, MICRO AND MACRO INVERTEBRATES LIVING IN THE WATER AND LIVING ON THE LAND, TURTLES, LIZARDS, YOUR MAMMALS, AND ESPECIALLY BIRDS.

PARTICULARLY MIGRATORY BIRDS ARE ATTRACTED TO WETLANDS.

BUT I'VE GOT TO SAY, THE COOLEST THING IS BEING HERE AT ESPECIALLY HOURS LIKE THIS, IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT, BECAUSE THE AMBIANCE IS JUST SO MUCH DIFFERENT, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHEN YOU GET TO SEE ALL THIS NATURE.

¶¶ >> Noe: SO IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, IN 2021 AND IN 2022, THE RIVER DRIED, AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE OXBOW ALSO DRIED.

BUT WE'VE BEEN SEEING REALLY, REALLY HIGH FLOWS THIS YEAR, AND NOW THE OXBOW WETLAND IS WET.

AND OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WHEN IT WAS DRY, THERE WAS SOME SPORADIC WETNESS AS SEDIMENT PLUGS WERE REMOVED AND BEAVERS WERE MANAGED, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SEE THE WETLAND IS AS WET AS IT IS BECAUSE THE RIVERS ARE SO FULL.

AND IT REALLY JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THERE IS CONNECTIVITY IN OUR SURFACE WATER AND IN OUR GROUNDWATER, TOO.

>> Gene: NEW MEXICO In FOCUS IS GOING THROUGH A LEADERSHIP CHANGE.

NOW, YOU'VE SEEN JEFF PROCTOR ON OUR AIR FOR YEARS, AND HE SPENT DECADES REPORTING IN OUR STATE.

NOW HE'S TAKING ON A NEW ROLE AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER HERE AT NMPBS.

THIS WEEK, I SAT DOWN WITH JEFF TO REVISIT SOME OF HIS PAST WORK AND TO LAY OUT HIS VISION FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS MOVING FORWARD.

>> Gene: JEFF PROCTOR, NEW EXECUTIVE PRODUCER HERE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT NEW MEXICO PBS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US FOR A FEW MINUTES.

I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU, WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE.

LET'S START WITH THIS, YOUR BACKGROUND.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AS A JOURNALIST?

>> Jeff: I MOVED HERE IN AUGUST OF 2002, OSTENSIBLY TO FINISH A JOURNALISM DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.

I WENT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AFTER I GOT HERE AT THE DAILY LOBO, WHICH WAS MY FIRST NEWSPAPER JOB.

I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MONTHS, AND MY NEXT STOP WAS THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

SO I'VE BEEN DOING JOURNALISM HERE IN NEW MEXICO NOW FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

>> Gene: TALK ABOUT THE JOURNAL EXPERIENCE.

YOU DID A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS THERE.

I WAS A BIG FAN OF YOURS, CERTAINLY.

WHAT WERE THE BEATS THAT YOU STARTED WITH AT THE JOURNAL AND WHERE DID IT EVOLVE FROM THERE?

>> Jeff: I STARTED AS AN INTERN, ACTUALLY, AND SO I WAS SORT OF A NIGHT-SIDE INTERN.

I WOULD COME IN AND WORK THAT SORT OF WEIRD GRAVEYARD SHIFT.

AND THEN THE STARS JUST KIND OF LINED UP AFTER I'D BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AS AN INTERN.

ONE REPORTER WENT PART-TIME, ANOTHER RETIRED, AND THEY NEEDED A NIGHT POLICE REPORTER.

SO THAT WAS MY FIRST BEAT AT THE JOURNAL.

AS EVERYBODY WHO'S WATCHING RIGHT NOW KNOWS, THINGS GET DIFFERENT AND A LITTLE WEIRDER IN ALBUQUERQUE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

SO THAT WAS MY FIRST GIG, RIGHT, WAS THE POLICE BEAT AT NIGHT.

AND I WENT ON FROM THERE TO -- WE USED TO HAVE ZONED EDITIONS AT THE JOURNAL, RIGHT.

THERE WAS A WEST SIDE JOURNAL, A RIO GRANDE JOURNAL.

SO I DID A BUNCH OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY REPORTING OVER ON THE WEST SIDE, AND THEN SORT OF MOVED BACK INTO WHAT ULTIMATELY ENDED UP BEING SORT OF MY NICHE, WHICH WAS REPORTING ON THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LEGAL SYSTEMS.

>> Gene: GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

THAT'S WHERE YOU DID SOME OF YOUR MOST STELLAR WORK, I WILL SAY SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU.

BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS WITH THE AUDIENCE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES THAT YOU WORKED ON AT LENGTH THAT TURNED INTO SOME THINGS THAT YOU WERE PROUD OF, ACTUALLY, AT THE JOURNAL?

>> Jeff: CERTAINLY MY REPORTING ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENDED UP KIND OF PROBABLY BEING MY SIGNATURE STORY, ALTHOUGH IT'S HARD TO CALL IT ONE STORY, RIGHT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF FACETS, A LOT OF INS AND OUTS, A LOT OF YEARS THAT THE CRIME RATE WAS UP AND DOWN.

BUT AT SOME POINT AROUND 2009 OR SO, I THINK I JUST KIND OF DECIDED THAT THE POLICE WERE THE STORY.

WE LED THE NATION IN POLICE SHOOTINGS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, SO I STARTED TO REALLY DIG INTO UNCONSTITUTIONAL USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AND SPENT KIND OF THREE AND A HALF OR FOUR YEARS, MY LAST AT THE PAPER, REPORTING ON THAT, ULTIMATELY PRECIPITATING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION OF APD.

SO THAT WAS THE STORY THAT I THINK I PROBABLY CARED THE MOST ABOUT AND FELT THE MOST SORT OF SENSE OF PROVIDING A PUBLIC SERVICE DURING MY TIME AT THE PAPER.

>> Gene: TAKE US POST JOURNAL, SOME OF YOUR OTHER WORK BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEW MEXICO PBS.

WHERE DID YOU GO AFTER THE JOURNAL?

>> Jeff: I LEFT THE PAPER WITH A MORTGAGE, NO MONEY IN THE BANK, AND NO JOB, JUST BECAUSE THINGS WEREN'T WORKING OUT FOR ME THERE ANYMORE.

SO MY PLAN WAS TO FREELANCE AT THAT POINT, BUT REALLY QUICKLY I ENDED UP GOING TO WORK AS AN INVESTIGATIONS PRODUCER AND REPORTER AT KRQE, CHANNEL 13, WITH A REALLY GREAT TEAM THAT INCLUDED KATIE KIM AND KIM HOLLAND AND MATT GRUBS.

SO I DID THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THAT WAS A REALLY, REALLY EYE-OPENING AND DIFFERENT AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.

I HADN'T DONE ANY TELEVISION PRIOR TO THAT.

SO AFTER MY TWO YEARS THERE, I WENT TO NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH, THE DIGITAL NONPROFIT INVESTIGATIVE SITE RUN BY MARJORIE CHILDRESS AND TRIP JENNINGS, AND WENT TO WORK THERE, AGAIN REALLY EXPLORING IN A MUCH MORE DEEP FASHION THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM HERE IN THE STATE.

I STARTED REPORTING ON FEDERAL COURTS, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND REALLY KIND OF WHATEVER I WANTED, AND FEEL LIKE I DID PROBABLY MY BEST WRITTEN WORK OF MY CAREER THERE.

AND THEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I WAS PULLING DOUBLE DUTY AT NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH AND ALSO AT THE SANTA FE REPORTER.

SO MY LAST POST, BEFORE COMING HERE, WAS AS THE NEWS EDITOR AT THE REPORTER.

>> Gene: YOU LIKE TO WORK.

YOU JUST LIKE TO WORK, I CAN TELL.

>> Jeff: I DO, AND I MAKE THIS JOKE ALL THE TIME, GENE.

I LIKE TO CALL MYSELF A LITTLE BIT OF THE FORREST GUMP OF NEW MEXICO JOURNALISM.

I'VE KIND OF WORKED PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE.

>> Gene: I LIKE IT.

THAT BRINGS US TO RIGHT IN THIS STUDIO, RIGHT HERE, AND THAT TABLE RIGHT OVER THERE, NEW MEXICO In FOCUS OF COURSE.

YOU ARE OVERRIDING ALL THE THINGS HERE AT NEW MEXICO PBS WHEN IT COMES TO CONTENT, AND I'M CURIOUS YOUR VISION FOR THIS TYPE OF TELEVISION.

YOU'VE WORKED IN COMMERCIAL TELEVISION, OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT, YOU SEE WHAT WE DO HERE.

I'M CURIOUS THE DIFFERENCES YOU'RE GLEANING AND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORD WITH NEW MEXICO PBS.

>> Jeff: SO I'M A LITTLE BIT PBS ADJACENT, ANYWAY.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAD DONE SOME CONTRACT CORRESPONDENT WORK HERE DURING MY TIME AT NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH, IN PARTICULAR, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LOVE ABOUT IT IS THE EXTENDED FORMAT.

WE GET TO OFFER SOMETHING HERE THAT COMMERCIAL TELEVISION REALLY DOESN'T, TO HAVE POLICYMAKERS AND ELECTED AND APPOINTED LEADERS SIT DOWN AND REALLY GET UNDER THE HOOD ON ISSUES.

I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE INTERVIEW OUR LOU DiVIZIO DID LAST WEEK WITH THE MAYOR.

THEY TALKED FOR 50 MINUTES, AND WE GOT TO SHOW VIEWERS ALMOST ALL OF THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT IT, AND IT'S BAKED RIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACT OF 1967, THERE'S A MANDATE HERE TO EXPERIMENT AND TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS, TRY DIFFERENT FORMATS, AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF I SCREW SOMETHING UP AND IT FAILS, JUST DON'T TRY IT AGAIN.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THE IDEA OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

I LIKE THAT DEEPER, LONGER FORM CONVERSATION AND THAT ABILITY TO REALLY TRY TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY GET ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> Gene: IT'S INTERESTING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VIEWERS, ISN'T IT?

IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A COMMERCIAL DEAL.

I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS, WHEN FOLKS WRITE A CHECK, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GET IN YOUR FACE AND TELL YOU ANYTHING, AND PEOPLE DO.

YOU HEAR FROM VIEWERS ALL THE TIME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BACK AND FORTH, ISN'T IT?

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

>> Jeff: IT IS.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH AN AUDIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT MY WHOLE CAREER, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF SORT OF DISCREET RELATIONSHIPS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF AUDIENCES.

I DON'T HAVE A GREAT SENSE YET FOR WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FOR ME HERE, BUT I DO HOPE THAT PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO DO HERE IS TO HAVE THESE KIND OF HIGHER ORDERED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE DAY, AND THEN OF COURSE AS TIME GOES FORWARD, TOO, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO PRODUCE SOME ORIGINAL JOURNALISM.

THAT'S SORT OF WHERE I COME FROM.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING HERE WITH LAURA PASKUS, AND WE INTEND TO DO SOME OF THAT OURSELVES, AS WELL.

>> Gene: WHAT MAKES NEW MEXICO SO FASCINATING TO YOU AS A JOURNALIST?

IT'S A NEVER-ENDING POOL OF STORIES, CERTAINLY, BUT YOU CAN SAY THAT ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT NEW MEXICO THAT TURNS YOU ON SO MUCH TO BE A JOURNALIST?

>> Jeff: NEW MEXICO IS A PLACE THAT TO ME HAS ALWAYS WOKEN UP WITH AN ENTIRELY UNWARRANTED SENSE OF OPTIMISM, AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT HERE.

I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE.

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S IN NEW MEXICO ON PURPOSE.

I LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE BY CHOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND JOURNALISM ULTIMATELY, TO ME, FELT LIKE THE WAY THAT I ENTER THE WORLD AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE.

AND I CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK INFORMATION, AN HONEST BROKER OF INFORMATION.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENT.

I'M SOMEBODY WHO WROTE ABOUT THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND THERE'S BEEN AN AWFUL LOT TO WRITE ABOUT AND TO PRODUCE STORIES ABOUT, TOO.

>> Gene: IT REALLY CAN BE INTERESTING THAT WAY, CAN'T IT?

IT'S FASCINATING.

WHAT SHOULD NEW MEXICO In FOCUS VIEWERS EXPECT?

YOU ANSWERED THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WANT YOU TO EXPAND ON THIS.

WHAT SHOULD VIEWERS EXPECT WITH YOU AT THE HELM?

WHAT'S THE FEEL, THE TONE, THE IDEA?

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA FROM JEFF GOING FORWARD?

>> Jeff: WE'VE GOT TWO, REALLY.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY THE BIG IDEA FOR ME.

I HOPE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT BUY-IN WITH THE OTHER FOLKS WHO WORK HERE.

I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THE MARKET CORNERED ON HOW TO PRESENT NEWS, CERTAINLY NOT IN A PUBLIC BROADCASTING FASHION.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS LONGER THAN ME.

BUT MY THOUGHT IS, IN PARTICULAR WITH NEW MEXICO In FOCUS, I REALLY WANT TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND REALLY HAVE FOLKS COME IN HERE WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR CITY AND OUR STATE, AS OPPOSED TO JUST FOLKS WHO SORT OF HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THE NEWS.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT, I'M INTERESTED IN PERIODICALLY TO TRY TO DO THEMED VERSIONS OF THIS SHOW.

WE'VE TRIED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW.

WE DID ONE ON ABORTION RIGHTS AND ACCESS.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF EPISODES THAT WERE BUILT AROUND LOU'S INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR.

AND WE DID ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS SORT OF FOCUSED ON THE END OF TITLE 42 AND IMMIGRATION MORE BROADLY.

SO WHEN WE HAVE TIME AND WE CAN SORT OF GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE OF DEADLINE ONCE IN A WHILE, WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO MAKE HOUR-LONG DEEP DIVES.

>> Gene: THE MONSTER OF DEADLINES, IT NEVER STOPS, NO MATTER WHAT FORMAT.

YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH RADIO, TV, NEWSPAPERS, AND NOW HERE AT NEW MEXICO PBS.

WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU, JEFF.

I'VE KNOWN YOU A WHILE, TOO, AND I THINK YOUR WORK IS FANTASTIC AND WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

I CAN FEEL THE CHANGE ALREADY.

SO KEEP WATCHING FOLKS, HE'S GOT SOMETHING FIGURED OUT.

>> Jeff: THANKS, GENE.

>> Gene: THANKS, JEFF.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Gene: WELCOME BACK TO OUR LINE OPINION PANEL FOR ONE LAST SEGMENT.

WITH VIOLENT CRIME BURNING UP THE HEADLINES, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAM IS LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS FOR HER RESPONSE TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOW, FIRST CREATED IN THE EARLY 1970s, THE GOVERNOR'S ORGANIZED CRIME PREVENTION COMMISSION WILL FOCUS ON DRUG CARTELS AND OTHER GROUPS DRIVING THE CRIME RATE HERE LOCALLY.

DAN, YOU WROTE A TERRIFIC ARTICLE FOR THE JOURNAL SUMMING UP THE DETAILS OF THIS NEW COMMISSION.

IT'S A LIST OF FAMILIAR NAMES.

D.A.s, A FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT, U.S.

MARSHALS AND OTHERS.

WE WERE TALKING AT THE TABLE A FEW WEEKS BACK ABOUT NEW MEXICO'S LEADERS IMPULSE TO CREATE ANOTHER COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE EVERY TIME THERE'S A BIG ISSUE HERE, BUT WE HAVE ONE.

WHAT'S THE DEAL?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF HOW THE ADMINISTRATION VIEWS THIS AS POTENTIALLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST CRIME HERE IN THE STATE?

>> Dan: WELL, THIS COMMISSION COULD BE A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST A TASK FORCE OR A BLUE RIBBON PANEL.

IT DOES HAVE SOME -- IT'S BEEN IN STATUTE FOR DECADES.

IT HAS SOME SUBPOENA POWER.

IT HAS SOME SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.

AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THE MESSAGING, SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY WHAT THE PANEL IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO, WHETHER IT IS INTENDED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO SAY WHETHER THAT KIND OF THING IS EFFECTIVE OR NOT, BUT I THINK IT KIND OF REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW IT DEVELOPS.

AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE SAM BREGMAN, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO HIS POSITION BY THE GOVERNOR, I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WHETHER THIS THING SUCCEEDS OR NOT.

>> Gene: HE'S HEADING THE COMMISSION, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT, MR. BREGMAN?

>> Dan: I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SPECIFICALLY IS THE CHAIRMAN, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO DO AND THAT HE THINKS CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

>> Gene: INTERESTING.

I'M CURIOUS, SENATOR, DID THIS EVER COME UP IN YOUR TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE TO REBOOT THIS COMMISSION?

>> Eric: I DON'T REMEMBER IT.

I DON'T REMEMBER IT, AND MAYBE GIVEN WHERE CRIME HAS BEEN MORE RECENTLY -- I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY HAD SOME CHALLENGES BACK THEN.

>> Gene: WHY NOW?

>> Eric: WELL, I MEAN, THE CRIME RATES.

I THINK THAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF IT.

BUT I DO THINK THERE'S BEEN AN HONEST RECOGNITION THAT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, JUDICIAL, AND SORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, FRONTLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE HAS TO BE KIND OF BETTER COORDINATION.

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN AN INITIATIVE THAT HAPPENED HERE AROUND JUST GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

WHAT I NOTICED IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS YOU DID HAVE D.A.s AND EVEN PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND EVEN ADVOCATES TRYING TO, LIKE, COME TO SOME COMMON GROUND ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE CRIME PROBLEMS.

IT'S TYPICALLY BEEN AROUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DRUGS.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF, SADLY, CONSENSUS AROUND GUN POLICY.

I WISH WE DID.

BUT I THINK THERE'S THIS FEELING THAT -- YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FINGER POINTING.

YOU KNOW, THE JUDGES ARE TOO LENIENT AND LETTING THESE GUYS OUT.

WE DIDN'T GET ANY TRACTION AROUND THE SORT OF PRETRIAL DETENTION LEGISLATION AGAIN, WHEREVER FOLKS WERE AT ON THAT.

SO I DO THINK THERE IS THIS LACK OF COORDINATION, SOMETIMES TURFINESS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A SINCERE EFFORT -- I HOPE IT'S SINCERE -- TO GET BETTER COORDINATION IN TERMS OF WHICH TOOLS AND WHICH PARTS OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WE NEED TO SORT OF BETTER COORDINATE AND SORT OF ROW IN THE SAME DIRECTION IF WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE CRIMES.

CERTAINLY THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC, BUT ALSO THE GUN EPIDEMIC.

>> Gene: JOEL, INTERESTINGLY, SPEAKING ABOUT TOOLS THAT ERIC JUST MENTIONED, THIS COMMISSION HAS SUBPOENA POWER AND THE ABILITY TO INITIATE INVESTIGATIONS.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN USUAL COMMISSIONS AND SUCH.

DOES THAT GIVE YOU A LITTLE HOPE FOR THIS, OR IS THAT A TOOL?

>> Joel: WELL, I'M AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST, AND I ADMIRE THE GOVERNOR FOR RESURRECTING THIS COMMISSION.

I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR SOME OF THE MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION.

I'VE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF THEM FOR MANY YEARS.

PARTICULARLY THE U.S.

MARSHAL I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR.

AND I ENJOY THE FACT THAT THERE IS A COORDINATED EFFORT, SUBPOENA POWER.

I MEAN, THE LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE FEDERAL AGENCIES ALREADY HAD SUBPOENA POWER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT TRULY ADDS TO IT.

>> Gene: NOW, LET ME STOP YOU THERE.

DO WE HAVE A POTENTIALLY CROSSING OF -- DOES SOMEONE NEED TO STAY IN THEIR LANE HERE WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATIONS?

WHO WINS OUT?

IS IT THIS COMMISSION, THE FEDS?

>> Joel: I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PROBLEM THAT WE COULD HAVE, THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THE AGENCIES ARE FIGHTING TO BRING THESE NECESSARY PROSECUTIONS AND COORDINATED EFFORT.

SO IF THAT'S THE RESULT OF THIS, THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHO, WHETHER IT'S THE LOCALS OR THE FEDS WHO TAKE IT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PROBLEM TO HAVE, BECAUSE AT LEAST WE'VE MET OR COME CLOSE TO MEETING OUR OBJECTIVE HERE.

>> Dan: IF I CAN JUMP IN ON WHAT JOEL SAID, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE COMMISSION RAN INTO A PROBLEM 40-50 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE RAISING.

THERE WAS SOME TENSION BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THIS COMMISSION.

RAUL TORREZ, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THIS YEAR, WAS PRESENT AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE, SO MAYBE THAT WON'T BE AN ISSUE, BUT YOU MAY HAVE HIT ON SOMETHING THAT MAY BE A CHALLENGE.

>> Gene: BUT DAN, HE'S NOT ON THE COMMISSION.

IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT, FOR RAUL TORREZ TO NOT BE THERE?

>> Dan: YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

HE WAS PRESENT AT THE COMMISSION -- OR AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT HE SEEMS WILLING TO ASSIST AND TO HELP AND CARRY IT OUT, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

HOPEFULLY THESE COORDINATIONS -- >> Gene: HE'S GOT A LOT ON HIS PLATE AS THEY SAY, TOO, EXACTLY RIGHT.

ERIC, LET ME CONTINUE WITH MR. BREGMAN HERE.

HE SAYS THE COMMISSION WILL BE A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEETINGS, AND IF THIS GROUP GETS TRANSPARENCY-PHOBIC AS WE TEND TO DO SOMETIMES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DOES IT HAVE TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT?

DO WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERY MINUTE?

OR DO THEY NEED SOME SPACE TO DO THEIR THING IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SUBPOENA POWER AND ALL THIS OTHER KIND OF STUFF?

>> Eric: WELL, OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SORT OF METRO CRIME INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS VERY SIMILAR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WAS THERE WERE THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WERE USEFUL AND I THINK PRODUCTIVE, AND THEN THERE WERE A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONVERSATIONS THAT MAYBE HAPPENED IN A WAY THAT COULD PASS LEGAL MUSTER, IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND SO ON.

PART OF THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THOSE.

I'M NOT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I'M NOT IN THE JUDICIARY, BUT WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM COLLEAGUES IS SOMETIMES WE ASSUME THAT PROSECUTORS AND FRONTLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHERS ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER A LOT MORE THAN THEY ARE, NOT TO MENTION SORT OF THE OTHER SIDE.

YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

LIKE, THERE IS THIS NEED FOR A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND I MEAN, LET'S BE HONEST, A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN OFF-LINE, AS THEY PROBABLY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE REALLY -- THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE -- THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY.

I'M ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, BUT I THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT, AND THERE'S ALSO A PLACE FOR SORT OF HOW DO WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF A CASE OR A PARTICULAR ISSUE WE'RE FACING.

>> Gene: JOEL, REAL QUICK, I WANT TO BOUNCE BACK TO YOU, AND I WANT TO GET TO DAN, AS WELL.

HOW DOES THIS COMMISSION POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE MAYOR'S PLAN ABOUT USING FEDERAL LAWSUITS -- NOT LAWSUITS, BUT FEDERAL STATUTES REGARDING GUNS AND VIOLENCE IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE?

ANY CROSS THERE POTENTIALLY YOU COULD SEE IN YOUR MIND'S EYE?

>> Joel: IT'S HARD TO SAY.

I GUESS IF IT'S FOCUSED ON THIS ORGANIZED CRIMINAL EFFORT, THEN I DO THINK YOU WOULD SEE SOME OVERLAP, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE GUN PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY, I THINK THAT WE HAVE HERE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY IS MORE OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT, AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE THAT CROSSOVER.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE FEDS WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THIS COMMISSION, AS I THINK IT SHOULD.

BUT I'M JUST STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT, HEY, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.

WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING BACK HERE AND NOT MAKING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

I WISH THEM LUCK DOING IT.

IT'S AN "A" FOR EFFORT AT THIS POINT.

>> Gene: EXACTLY RIGHT.

DAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION, ITSELF.

DOES THE MAKEUP INFORM HOW IT MIGHT ACT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE KIND OF THINGS?

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM, A LOT OF GUNG-HO, EVERYBODY WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE, CERTAINLY.

BUT THEY ALL HAVE BACKGROUNDS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, ALL THESE INDIVIDUAL FOLKS.

ANY SENSE OF THE COLLECTIVE GROUP, HOW THEY MIGHT ACT HERE?

>> Dan: NO, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, SAM BREGMAN, MY IMPRESSION IS HE'S A VERY STRONG PERSONALITY.

I THINK THAT HE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A BIG VOICE IN THIS COMMISSION, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE U.S.

MARSHAL, THERE'S A POLICE CHIEF FROM KIND OF A SMALLER COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE GOT SOME DIFFERENT VOICES HERE, YOU KNOW, BIG CITY AND RURAL, FEDERAL AND STATE, SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT COMES TOGETHER.

>> Gene: WE'LL SEE WHO DRIVES IT.

>> Eric: I JUST WANT TO ADD A QUICK THING.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT REALISTICALLY.

ONE IS, MANY OF THESE POSITIONS ARE ELECTED POSITIONS, SO I THINK SOME OF THESE FOLKS MAY HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT, NOT TO SUGGEST WHAT SAM IS UP TO.

>> Gene: I'M HEARING YOU.

>> Eric: THE OTHER THING IS, THERE ARE SERIOUS RESOURCE QUESTIONS HERE.

AND THIS ISN'T A LACK OF WILL TO TRY TO COOPERATE, BUT WE LEARNED IN TRYING TO DO SOME OF THE FUNDING PIECES OF THIS IN THE LAST SESSION THAT DESPITE OUR GENUINE EFFORT TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE, AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE REALLY KIND OF -- THERE'S A BIG BATTLE FOR RESOURCES.

WE WANTED TO CHASE MORE WARRANTS, AND WE HAD TO REALLY WORK WITH THE REST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO CARVE UP THIS OVERTIME PAY TO CHASE THE WARRANTS.

AND IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING, BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED -- EVERYBODY COULD USE MORE RESOURCES, RIGHT.

THE COURTS, THE D.A., THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS, CERTAINLY FRONTLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS AS -- I MEAN, THERE'S THE PICTURE OF COORDINATING, WORKING TOGETHER, STANDING TOGETHER, AND THEN THERE'S LIKE WHO'S GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO DO THEIR JOB.

>> Gene: I WONDER IF THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A DE FACTO ADVOCACY GROUP, IF THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO GO BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, HEY, IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FATTEN EVERYBODY UP HERE.

>> Eric: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> Gene: EXACTLY RIGHT.

I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN TO THIS LINE PANEL.

TERRIFIC STUFF THIS WEEK.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THESE FOLKS COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

AND CATCH ANY EPISODE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ON THE PBS APP, YOUR ROKU OR SMART T.V.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.

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