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>> WE'RE ON THE CLOCK FOR A MINUTE TO EXPLORE A HANDFUL OF
NOTABLE HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK.
FIRST UP, NEW MEXICO'S SPACEPORT AMERICA IS SLATED TO
BE THE SUBJECT OF A REALITY SHOW. NBC WANTS TO CREATE A
SERIES CALLED SPACE RACE, KIND OF LIKE A SURVIVOR OF SPACE,
WHERE REAL PEOPLE VIE FOR A FREE SPOT ON ONE OF THE
FLIGHTS, WHICH GO FOR LIKE TO $200 GRAND A POP.
ROB YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR REPORT, REVENUE FROM THESE
THINGS HOWEVER IS NOT HEADED TO NEW MEXICO.
>> WELL, NOT HEADED TO NEW MEXICO TAXPAYERS.
IT IS PLOWED BACK INTO THE SPACEPORT.
THAT WAS A QUESTION I HAD, HEY GREAT, LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE A
SUCCESSFUL REALITY SHOW, DOES THAT MEAN TAXPAYERS ARE GOING
TO GET SOME MONEY BACK? NO, THEY'LL GET 25,000 TO
75,000 PER LAUNCH BUT THAT GUESS TO THE SPACEPORT
AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT.
>> COULDN'T HURT; A REALITY SHOW, KIND OF FUN.
YOU KNOW. PUT NEW MEXICO ON THE MAP, I
LIKE IT. >> YES, IT REALLY IS A REALITY
SHOW. UNREALITY AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.
WE HAVE SPENT FROM THE LEGISLATURE HOW MUCH?
208 MILLION SO THAT WAS CAPITAL OUTLAY, LARGELY, SO,
THAT IS NOT EVER GOING TO BE REPAID.
[MULTIPLE VOICES] >> YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> I DON'T SEE US GETTING ANY KIND OF MEASURABLE RETURN FROM
IT. IT MIGHT BE A CURIOSITY, MAYBE
THEY PICK SOME NICE PANORAMIC SHOTS OF THE TERRAIN AROUND
THE SPACEPORT AND PEOPLE SAY I MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THAT PLACE
OUT. >> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO
BE SPACE WORTHY? >> YOU TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY,
I MEAN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS AND I FASHIONED MY
STATEMENT, MY RESPONSE IS, OH, GREAT, WHAT AMERICA NEEDS IS
ANOTHER REALITY SHOW. WE JUST HAD BREAKING BAD END
AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH SPACEPORT REALITY SHOW?
>> CANON TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, ANNOUNCED THEY ARE OPENING A
FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE EMPLOYING 150
PEOPLE. THEY WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL
SUPPORT FOR FOLKS WHO OWN THE COMPANY'S CAMERAS, PRINTERS
AND OTHERS DEVICES. THIS IS CANNON'S FIRST
EXPANSION OUTSIDE ITS VIRGINIA HEADQUARTERS.
I THINK THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AND THEY CITED ALBUQUERQUE'S
CLIMATE WITH MINIMUM WEATHER DISRUPTIONS AND THE BILINGUAL
WORKFORCE, AND ALSO ACTIVE FILM SCENE.
THAT IS AMAZING TO ME. ROB, START WITH YOU.
IS THIS A GOT GET? SOME FOLKS ARE ANXIOUS BECAUSE
IT IS CALL CENTER TYPE STUFF, THIS IS REALITY OF WHAT IS
GOING ON. >> I HAVE BEEN HESITANT ABOUT
GIVE-AWAYS. THE QUESTION I HAVE GOT IN THE
STORY WAS, ARE THERE ANY CLAW BACK POSITIONS?
WE HAD THE INCIDENT WITH HP, WHERE THEY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO
EXPECTATIONS AFTER GETTING MONEY.
>> DIDN'T MEET THE NUMBER. >> ON THE OTHER HAND, 600,000
FROM THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY COMBINED, 150 JOBS
AVERAGE OF $35,000, I DID THE MATH, THAT IS
5.25 MILLION-DOLLARS. FROM A 600,000 DOLLAR
INVESTMENT. SO, EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT CRAZY
ABOUT THOSE SORT OF THINGS IN GENERAL --
>> YOUR THOUGHT. >> I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SUCH A
CLUTTERED MENU OF 110 DIFFERENT TAX INCENTIVES, YOU
KNOW, SKILLED JOBS, TAX CREDIT, AND JUST, YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THEM CONFLICT. AND WE HAVE NO ACCOUNTING FOR
WHETHER THEY ARE WORKING. NOW, THE LEGISLATURE TWICE
PASSED A TAX EXPENDITURE BUDGET WHICH WOULD BEGIN TO
GIVE US SOME IDEA OF WHETHER WE ARE GETTING A RETURN ON OUR
INVESTMENT AND IT WAS VETOED TWICE.
>> BOY, HOLD YOU GUYS THERE, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
MY FAULT. SPEAKING OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, HOWEVER, ONE OF THE STATES MOST PROMINENT
POLICY THINK TANKS THINKS WE NEED MORE COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH. THINK NEW MEXICO RELEASED ITS
BLUEPRINT FOR DIVERSIFYING NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY.
IT INCLUDES IN-STATE TUITION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
SPECIALIZING IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND
MATH. AND I AM GOING TO START,
RACHEL, WITH YOU ON THIS ONE. YOU KNOW, I WAS READING THIS
REPORT OVER THE WEEKEND, CAME IN ON FRIDAY AND SOMETHING
INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THIS IDEA OF INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY A LOT
OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN NEW MEXICO NOW.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOOKS.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT REPORT?
>> I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT THEY
PUT FORTH AND MORE THAN THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY
ENCOURAGING. THE BROAD AIM OF THEIR REPORT
IS TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY, GROW JOBS INTERNALLY THAT ARE
NOT RELYING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IT IS GREAT TO
SEE SOMEONE PUT A PLAN ON THE TABLE WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS FOR
THAT. WE DON'T TALK NEARLY ENOUGH
ABOUT THAT IN ALBUQUERQUE. >> INCLUDING TAXES, BY THE
WAY. >> I WON'T NAME NAMES OF A WAY
TO PAY NO TAXES HERE. >> WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES FOR NEW MEXICO IS
DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY, THIS IS NO QUESTION.
BUT I THINK IT IS ALSO ABOUT MANAGING EXPECTATIONS.
THIS IS A DECADES LONG KIND OF PROCESS, WHICH IS ABOUT ALSO
EDUCATION, FRANKLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YOU HEAR PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT THIS, EDUCATED WORKFORCE, THAT
IS WHAT YOU'RE COMPETING WITH, THAT IS A BIG DEAL HERE IN NEW
MEXICO. >> ROB, PICK UP ON THAT.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THIS, WAS, I APPLAUDE
THINK NEW MEXICO PEOPLE, THINKING OF SOMETHING NEW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SURVIVABILITY WOULD BE, FOR
EXAMPLE, I LIKE THE IDEA OF IN-STATE TUITION FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BUT I CAN ANTICIPATE THE PUSH BACK
FROM THE LEGISLATURE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, HOW COME A
KID FROM LAS CRUCES, HOW DOES A KID FROM OUTSIDE LAS CRUCES
FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY OR DIFFERENT COUNTRY
IS GETTING THE SAME BREAK AS IN-STATE STUDENT.
IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. >> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
WE'LL PICK IT UP AFTER THE SHOW.
FEDERAL FURLOUGHS MORE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY SEEK TO
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BUT THEY MAY HAVE TROUBLE ACCESSING
THEM. THE STATE AGENCY IN CHARGE OF
ISSUING THESE BENEFITS SAW TELEPHONE WAIT TIMES FOR
APPLICANTS DOUBLED IN 2013, DESPITE EXPENSIVE COMPUTER
SYSTEM AND ALSO TOOK LONGER TO PROCESS CLAIMS ACCORDING TO A
TO LEGISLATIVE REPORT. START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE,
AGAIN, THE AGENCY IS TRYING TO RECRUIT SPANISH SPEAKERS TO
SPEED UP THE PROCESS, BUT I AM ASKING, DOES THIS ALL SOUND
LIKE SOMEONE IS IN CONTROL HERE?
SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL QUITE TOGETHER HERE.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE? >> NO, THIS IS A TERRIBLE
SITUATION. WE HAVE SPENT 46 MILLION ON A
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE INCREASED
RATHER THAN DECREASED. I MEAN, IT TAKES LONGER NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS
PICTURE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SYSTEM,
REEVALUATION OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN NEW MEXICO.
>> DON'T WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY YEAR, ROB, WHENEVER IT
IS AN ISSUE. >> YEAH.
>> EVER NOTICE THAT, STATE-WIDE IT IS AN ISSUE
NEVER SEEMS TO GET -- >> EXACTLY.
>> YEAH, I AM WITH SENATOR FELDMAN.
PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. SPENT 46 TO 48 MILLION, YOU
EXPECT WAIT TIME TO GO DOWN AND THEY HAVE GONE UP 36
MINUTES. >> HOLD YOU.
SHORT ON TIME. NEW SUBJECT.
SUDDEN ABOUT FACE, NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT, BEN SHELLEY,
ANNOUNCED THERE WOULD BE AN END TO WILD HORSE ROUNDUPS FOR
SALE TO MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS AFTER A MEETING WITH GOVERNOR
RICHARDSON WHO FORMED A FOUNDATION WITH ROBERT REDFORD
TO STOP HORSE SLAUGHTER. AND WE START WITH YOU.
IS THIS A SIGNIFICANT GAME CHANGER IN THE IDEA OF HORSE
SLAUGHTER IN NEW MEXICO? DOES THIS MOVE THE BALL
SOMEHOW? >> I THINK IT DOES.
I THINK THIS IS ALSO A LESSON IN, YOU KNOW, GETTING A
NATIONAL NARRATIVE OUT THERE. YOU HAVE GOT THE GOVERNOR
RICHARDSON AND YOU GOT ROBERT REDFORD.
REDFORD IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME, RICHARDSON I'M NOT SO SURE
ABOUT, NATIONALLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LITTLE
PRESSURE COMING TO BEAR ON THE ISSUE.
SO, GAME CHANGER, PROBABLY, BUT, I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT
AND SEE. >> A LOT OF FIXES YET TO COME,
RACHEL, ON NAVAJO LAND FOR THIS BUT THIS IS A START SOME
FOLKS FEEL. DOES THIS CHANGE THE DYNAMICS
MARKEDLY IF YOU'RE PRO HORSE SLAUGHTER?
AS YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU GO, WHOA WAIT A MINUTE, THINS
IS A MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION THERE.
>> IT ILLUSTRATES WHAT A CHALLENGING ISSUE THIS IS TO
GET AN OPPOSITE MESSAGE OUT FROM THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS
A STORY TO BE TOLD BY SUPPORTERS AND THEY ARE
TELLING IT POWERFULLY. IT IS HARD TO GET THE OPPOSITE
MESSAGE OUT THERE AND THIS ILLUSTRATES THAT.
>> WE'RE IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT NOW, ROB.
THE NEW YORK TIMES COVERAGE ON THIS, EVERYTHING.
>> I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS AND I GET A TON OF EMAILS FROM
READERS ALMOST ALL OF THEM AGAINST THE HORSE SLAUGHTER
PLANT, BUT THE HARD HEADED RESPONSE IS IN ESSENCE THERE
IS BETWEEN 25,000 AND 75,000 WILD HORSES, FERAL HORSES, ON
NAVAJO LAND. SO, I HOPE THEY ARE ABLE TO
WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT OR A SOLUTION TO THIS, BUT, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY TIME SENSITIVE WITH THAT BIG A
NUMBER. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. SENATOR GOOD TO SEE YOU.
TRIP, GOOD TO SEE, ROB. RIGHT ON.
>> THANK YOU. >> AS ALWAYS, ALL OF US HERE
AT "NEW MEXICO INFOCUS" APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED.
CATCH UP WITH US ANY TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY SEARCHING "NEW
MEXICO INFOCUS" AND FIND ARCHIVED INTERVIEWS AND BONUS
MATERIAL FROM THE SHOWS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND AT
NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG. I AM GENE GRANT, WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK INFOCUS. >>