Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> Coming up next on "Arizona
Horizon," a new report finds
major workplace safety
violations in the fighting of
the Yarnell Hill fire.
ASU announces the design plans
for its new downtown law school.
And we'll hear about
record-breaking federal funding
for rural housing in Arizona.
Those stories next on "Arizona
Horizon."
>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
possible by contributions from
the friends of Eight, members of
your Arizona PBS station.
Thank you.
>> Good evening and welcome to
"Arizona Horizon."
I'm Ted Simons.
The Arizona Division of the
Occupational Health and Safety
Administration released its
report today on the Yarnell Hill
fire, which killed 19
firefighters.
Here to talk about it is Jim
cross from KTAR Radio.
He has covered every major
wildfire for many, many years,
and now, you are covering a
report on this particular tragic
fire.
What did the state investigation
look at, and what did the state
investigation find?
>> The report back in late
September, that did not assign
blame, this is a totally
different report, this one did
assign blame, and they leveled
the blame on the state Division
of Forestry, and they found in
their words, almost everything
went sideways before the
firefighters were killed.
And they said the ball was
dropped, and they questioned not
pulling the firefighters out of
that canyon when the situation
was futile, or out of that area
when the situation was futile,
they questioned not, not
reacting to that thunderstorm
that shifted the fire around
and, and turned it towards them
fast enough, and they said that
the key personnel were not in
key places at key times ahead of
that fire, and it was a very
damning report.
$559,000 fine, and amounts to
$29,000 per firefighter lost.
>> And this is the Occupational
Safety and Health Division of
Arizona, submitting a report to,
to the Industrial Commission.
So, a lot of state agencies
involved, but as far as the
investigation is concerned, who
was involved?
Did they have an outside bunch
of folks look at this from the
outside?
>> They are a team, and they had
some wildfire experts, one of
them was a smoke jumper, that
looked at this, and again, they
found the state, at least in
part, responsible.
It took the industrial
commissioners a second to
unanimously approve this on a
4-0 vote and, and the fine was
forwarded.
The state has not issued a
reaction, the state forestry,
and they wanted to review the
report before they got into
that.
>> It sounds like a $70,000 in
willful violation, $14,000 in
other violations, and the state
could be looking at $25,000 some
odd per firefighter death.
With that money going to, to
survivors estates and etc.,
correct?
>> Correct.
And we did get a chance to speak
with one of the firefighters'
wives, and his wife was there
today.
She has not made up her mind, or
declined to say whether she
would file a lawsuit in
connection with his death.
She said nothing as far as money
figures will bring her husband
back.
She did tell me that she hopes
that this fine is enough of a
sting for the state forestry
division to make the changes
needed to prevent this from
happening again.
She also told me that she
thought that the state has not
taken ownership of this since
the beginning.
She's very angry still.
It has been months.
She was there today, with some
other family members there, too.
>> Let's look at the particulars
here, conditions exceeded
expectations of fire managers.
That sounds as though they
exceeded expectations, yet the
first report suggests that this
was an act of God, that no one
could have expected this
thunderstorm to pop up and turn
winds around.
>> The investigator from OSHA
pointed out today that they
knew, they had been contacted by
the Southwest Coordination
Center about two weeks before
the fire, and in effect, were
told to be ready for anything
and everything.
This could be an explosive
fire --
>> Interesting, interesting.
>> And you remember this fire
started after, what, the
three-day run of 120-degree
weather here in the valley,
humidity up there was probably
2%, at best.
And this is an area that hadn't
burned in 40 years.
So these conditions were as
explosive as you can possibly
imagine.
>> And another point here,
managers failed to recognize
their tactics could not succeed.
That is one of those managerial
things where you saw X and Y
working, and yet you were not
going on to Z, you were sticking
with X and Y.
>> The thing that we are
concerned about, there was a
safety officer who arrived on
the fire eight hours later for
whatever reason.
And the Saturday before, before
the fire, killed the
firefighters on Sunday and, and
the focus of the report today
was, was the key personnel
weren't there when they needed
to be.
And, or they arrived late and,
and this probably is part of the
other major factor here,
guidelines from the Forest
Division were not followed in
their own activity up there.
>> Yes.
>> And also, a strategy failed
after, after the fire jumped the
line, played for a life
threatening event, it sounds
like they were not happy with
the way they attacked the fire
in the first place.
>> From the report today, it did
not appear that they were happy
with anything.
They hit them with three
citations, and one of them
willfully and, and, and that's a
big fine.
>> So, we have got that initial
report, ok.
Now, we have got this one, as
you mentioned, much more
damning, so a lot more in the
way of blame.
What do we take from all of this
and what are we learning from
this?
>> Hopefully, that this never
happens again.
That, that, for whatever reason,
this happened, an active nature,
call it what you want, and OSHA
feels differently, and the
thunderstorm played a huge role
in this.
It turned the fire around on a
dime, and it raced back to those
firefighters, and they were
pinned, and there was nothing
that they could have done.
The wind was blowing 75 or
80 miles per hour, and that was
a fire bowl in there, and it's
impossible to climb out of there
with any speed.
Hopefully, what we'll glean from
the reports, once, you know,
they are put together, is that
this will never happen again.
>> And you mentioned the
Forestry Division, no one
talking there.
>> No.
I am sure that they will
eventually.
>> But again, what do we take
from it and what do the
firefighters, you know the
firefighters, you worked with
them and you've been around
them for years.
And what are they taking from
this?
>> I think that the firefighters
feel like possibly the state
forestry is being unfairly
blamed.
And, and there is other
firefighters I have spoken with
that feel like this could change
the way that fires are fought
forever.
It could alter that, for better
or worse.
And, and --
>> In what ways do you think?
>> In the way that they attack
them, possibly.
And there is, you know, we're
still a long ways from that
happening.
There is some firefighters that
believe that, that you, that
since they said in this report
that they thought the state put
property over life, that it may,
and again, this is nothing
carved in stone, that it may
shift to ok, we're going to take
care of lives, and not worry
about, about these homes, even
though the firefighters, that's
the opposite of how firefighters
think.
They go in, and when others are
running away, and so, that
remains to be seen, but what
comes out of this -- it will be
interesting to see once, once,
you know, in a few months from
now how the reports are put
together, and what does shake
out of it.
>> All right, Jim, good stuff
and great reporting.
Thanks for joining us.
>> Thanks.
Always a pleasure.
>>> ASU announces design plans
for the university's new law
college in downtown Phoenix.
Joining us now to talk about the
facility is Douglas Sylvester,
Dean of ASU, the Sandra Day
O'Connor College of Law.
I am excited because they have a
new building here.
Good to have you here.
>> Good to be back.
>> So is this the final design
unveiled today?
>> No, we're getting close.
And, and so we have got some,
some further steps to go through
with the city, and some further
design choices to make with our
architect but we're getting
close, the building will look
something similar to this.
>> Ok, and let's take a look at
the design drawings here.
And where exactly where this be
located?
>> Yeah, so it's right on the
corner of, of 1st and Taylor,
and so, right kitty corner from
the Cronkite School, one block
north of Van Buren and one block
east of Central.
>> And as far as the financing
is concerned, is that a done
deal?
Or do we have a ways to go?
>> The building will get built
but we have fundraising to do
and, and we have got to prove to
the Board of Regents that we
can, we can make all of the
economics work, that this
building will get done.
>> And how much is it going to
take to make this viable?
>> The building is $129 million
project, and it's an overall
part of a $200 million
investment in the college, and
the downtown campus and, and,
and we need to do some, some
small amount of fundraising, but
most of that is already in place
or going to be in place soon.
We feel confident.
>> And you mentioned this will
get built --
>> It is.
>> When will it get started?
>> It will break ground in June,
confidently in June, and is
going to open its doors in fall
of 2016.
>> It's a beautiful structure
there by the design drawing,
that looks very, very nice and,
and completed when?
Summer, summer --
>> Summer of 2016, we're opening
up for the fall semester of
>> Why move the school from
Tempe to downtown Phoenix?
>> So, the idea is something
bigger than law school.
So the building is the Arizona
Center for Law and Society.
And the law school will be a
piece of that.
So one thing is engaging the
political, legal and, and
business communities on the
importance of law in every day
life.
And, so we think that sometimes,
out in Tempe, that, that the
importance of law and lawyers
and law school can get lost, so
we wanted to bring this back to
the city, and the core and, and
being downtown makes that
available.
It also offers amazing
opportunities for our students
to get reengaged with month
Internal Revenue Service and
gets them closer to clinic
opportunities, and lastly, we're
a public law school.
We have always been incredibly
engaged.
Our students donate 100,000
hours of pro bono legal
services, an $11 million
economic benefit, and that's
located in Tempe, so we think
that we can do more good here
downtown.
>> I was going to say that civic
outreach would increase if the
building in the facility were
down here.
>> Absolutely.
>> Will there be a presence in
Tempe?
>> No, actually not.
>> No.
>> The law school is moving
downtown, the current buildings
will be re-purposed, I don't
think that ASU is in a position
to knock them down, so, it will
get other use.
>> And we talked about this
before on this program.
The public law firm employing
graduates of the law college,
that will be included, as well.
>> That's going to be included,
and that's going to open the
doors before we move downtown.
We have hired an incredibly
distinguished lawyer, Marty
harper, to be the CEO of that
firm, and he's going to be
opening the doors in the next
two months, and we'll have a
location, and it's going to be
the world's first nonprofit
fully privately financed
teaching law firm that will
employ our graduates, and in the
course of two or three years,
engaging and helping every day
Arizonans in their legal matters
and teaching these graduates.
>> And to move downtown would
help, help --
>> Yes, absolutely.
A big piece of the new building,
so it will be a public service
law firm in a lot of ways.
>> Did the success of the
Cronkite School, the success of
the nursing school downtown, did
that A, influence the decision,
and B, does that show the law
college the way on how to
procedure?
>> I think it did not hurt to
know that you can move downtown
and be successful.
There had been a lot of talk
about moving the law school
downtown for a long time.
And I think that a lot of the,
the faculty, probably didn't
think it was a great idea when
we would have been the only ones
down here to join our large
community of educators and
students and to see the way that
downtown phoenix has grown.
It has always been a good fit
but we wanted to be part of the
campus and that's here.
>> Has there been pushback from
faculty?
>> I think there would have been
if they did not have a large
campus.
And overall, we have had
enthusiastic faculty support,
our students are disappointed
that most of them won't get to
the new building.
Once we build it, you will be
there more as alumni than you
were a student.
So something --
>> We are hoping to have lots of
reasons to come back.
>> That's one way to put it.
>> Right.
>> Student housing, is that a
concern down here?
It's already a concern but now
you have got this law college.
>> So first, the students are
older.
And so, they tend not to, to
live in dorms.
They tend to be looking for
their own housing and, and there
is a lot of private housing
that's gone up around here, and
as we get closer, we're going to
look pretty hard at trying to
lease space instead of decide
for our out of state students,
and local students who want to
move downtown but we want them
to live as close to the core as
we can to, again, sort of really
enrich the entire campus.
>> So the regents has to
approve.
>> There is a meeting in June,
and we will have to go in front
of them and prove that we can
afford this and get it done, and
we will, and we'll break ground
right after that.
>> And financing still needs to
be completed as you mentioned, a
number of times here, and but
again, what do we look for?
What kind of schedule is that
on?
>> Sure, so the financing is
close, to get more background,
we have gone in front of the
board of regents and they have
given us authority to move
forward, that's why we've been
able to hire architects and
construction companies and, and
with the great designs, so, we
have gone really far down the
road, we just have to prove that
everything that we said to get
this kind of green light, is
already still in place and, and
at the moment, we're confident
that it will be.
>> Ok.
>> I think it's going to happen.
>> So we're looking at maybe
breaking ground if the board of
regents give their ok, and
looking at the summer of 2016
for new neighbors in downtown
Phoenix?
>> We'll be working with you
more.
>> Congratulations, and good
luck, and we look to be speaking
about this more with you in the
future.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
>> We'll talk to you again.
>>> Federal funding for rural
housing and development in
Arizona hit a record
$474 million for the last fiscal
year, that brought Arizona's
five-year total to over
$2 billion.
And here to talk about all of
this is Alan Stephens, state
director of USDA world
development in Arizona.
It's good to have you here.
>> Good to be here, thank you.
>> So we have 474 some odd
million in investment in housing
and development funding, what
exactly are we talking about
here?
>> What we're talking about is
more than 3,200 loans to
individuals through guaranteeing
a bank's loan, or, or a direct
loan, either for, for the
purchase of a house, renovation,
or serious housing affairs, in
rural communities, so we're just
talking about rural Arizona.
And it's a stimulus for economic
development in those
communities, and housing is
booming all over the state
again, as you know, in terms of
not so much construction but
housing and families are looking
again, thinking that they can
afford loans now.
>> How hard is it for some of
these folks to get access to
capital?
>> Well, it's very hard, and our
program is designed for, for the
larger program, our guarantee
program is designed for moderate
income individuals in rural
communities, and who, who could
not afford a loan in another
case, they don't have to have a
down payment, there is no title
insurance, and the rates are
affordable.
And so, it's, it's affordable
for real estate agents to work
with these families and get them
into the loans.
>> How much regulation is going
on because when people hear, you
know, we heard that in the past
and things got a little
sideways.
>> We had to have a ratio of
debt versus income that shows
that they can repay the loan,
this is not a gift program.
It's a loan, so they have to
repay it.
And we have a very low, low,
relatively low default on, on
something 170,000 loans we made
across the country this year,
our, our default is less than
fha.
>> Wow, and impact on these
rural communities, what are you
seeing?
>> It's huge and, and, and
whenever we have a situation
like we did with the shutdown,
we have a lot of calls and
inquiries from the real estate
community, which is a great
indicator that, that, you know,
the practice am is needed, and
when we just get behind in terms
of the processing, when we get
just inundated with
applications, we get calls, and
I talked a few months ago with
the head of the real estate
association in the state, and it
was inquiring about where we
were.
>> Wow, all right, and that is
an indication, isn't it, that
things are important, what you
are doing and, and not just
housing, now, for tribes, school
districts, and towns, and such,
talk to us about development.
Money for development.
>> Well, we have money for, for
water and wastewater, for
instance.
We're just concluding a large
grant and loan program with the
Navajo tribal utility authority
to renovate a wastewater system
that serves 15,000 people, in
three chapters, on the Navajo
nation, window rock, and we have
got another six projects in
line, and behind that, for
funding, and all throughout the
reservation, and that's going to
have an immense impact to clean
up the systems that, that had
the epa violations, or expansion
for communities, so, that, that
the people who have the adequate
water system in the past, can
get it.
>> And other things, food banks
and colleges and these places --
>> We funded a number of food
banks this year, for instance,
the Yuma food bank, we funded
an $80,000 grant to help them
finish a roof.
It's a very large food bank and
serves a lot of people.
And the same thing, a similar
situation and, and Ajo.
>> And we just talked about the
previous, previously the Yarnell
hill fire investigation.
And, and the helipad?
>> We financed the grant for a
helipad with the fire
department.
It hasn't been finally concluded
but it will be a need in the
community.
And then also, we amortized a
loan to make it more affordable
given the fact that they have
less users.
>> And we talked about the
impact to the smaller and rural
communities, the impact on the
economy in Arizona overall.
>> Well, Arizona is a state
that, that has a lot of
diversity in terms of the
community.
And, and we're the tends poorest
state, the report came out the
other day, and a lot of that,
unfortunately, is in rural
communities.
Where there is less economic
opportunity.
Our agency is about trying to
transform that, that challenge
into an opportunity.
And, and in terms of the utility
systems, economic development,
and business development, and we
also have, have a set of
business programs to help
businesses grow and prosper in
rural communities.
>> I was going to ask, the usda
rural development in Arizona, I
think a lot of folks don't know
this exists.
Talk to us about the agency, and
what you do and, and how long
I've been doing it.
>> Well, we've been doing it
for, well, since the rea days,
the rural electric
administration, and morphed into
the utility service, and we have
the housing component which we
talked about, which is a big
part of what we do in Arizona,
and the rural business programs,
but together, what we call the
rural development, and what we
do is work in rural communities
to help provide economic
opportunity, again, utility
service, business service,
community development.
But we work with the communities
and identify what they need.
>> And record-setting, what are
you seeing?
>> Well, I think we'll have
equally a good year, we're
beginning, the secretary is
really adamant in the department
of agriculture to push the
resources in the communities
that are most economically
challenged.
And so, that's what we're doing,
reaching out to a lot of
reservation communities, and
border communities.
>> And quickly, Congress is
working on a new farm bill,
concerns there?
>> Well, we're concerned that
they get it done.
And it has the authorization
section for a lot of rural
development programs, and a lot
of energy programs, which, which
are in great demand in this part
of the country.
>> And I'll keep an eye on that.
Thank you very much for joining
us.
>> Thank you very much.
>>> And Thursday, on "Arizona
Horizon" we'll hear from a
children's advocacy group about
the ongoing problems with child
protective services, and a new
director of the Arizona opera
talks about his vision for the
organization.
on the
next "Arizona Horizon."
That is it for now.
I'm Ted Simons, and thank you
very much for joining us.
You have a great evening.
>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
possible by contributions from
the friends of Eight, members of
your Arizona PBS station.
Thank you.
>> I am Jason Meyers along with
Deborah, and Deb, there is
really not a program like
"Arizona Horizon" anywhere in
the Arizona media scene.
>> No, there is not.
And to be able to see these
in-depth interviews like this,
like the ones that Ted Simons
delivers to you every single
time on "Arizona Horizon,"
that's not something that you
are going to get on any other
program.
>> It's true, what I love about
"Arizona Horizon," is, is the
people that, that Ted has on,
he's really got his finger on
the pulse of Arizona politics,
and issues, and from the
Governor to the sheriff to, to
all the local figures here in
Arizona.
Even some of the figures that
are not as well known.
>> That's right, and during the
challenging times like we face
now, a show like horizon tackles
the issues important to all of
us, so, call one of the numbers
on the screen, right now, to
show your support.
Because tonight, we have a new
and exciting way for you to
support the station.
Right now, we want to encourage
you to become a sustaining
monthly donor to eight.
Becoming a sustaining monthly
donor is simple.
Just try it.
>> That's right, a sustaining
monthly donation is one that
once you set it up, you
determine the amount of the
monthly donation, let's just say
it's $5 a month, and it's
deducted every month from your
credit card or debit card or
your checking account.
>> That's all that there is to
it, each month, automatically,
that amount is deducted from the
account, which allows you to, to
sit back and enjoy all of the
great programs you love here on
eight.
It's an ongoing contribution
that will continue until you
tell us to stop, or perhaps, you
will want to increase your
contribution, whatever may be
the case, that's what we ask you
to do.
>> The programs like "Arizona
Horizon," all the children's
programming you have come to
love, sustaining monthly donors,
are a safe and easy way to
support eight, and as an extra
incentive, when you become a
sustaining monthly donor at $5 a
month, we'll send you this
wonderful "Arizona Horizon"
cobalt mug, as our way of saying
thank you.
>> And of course, we also
welcome one-time contributions,
and tonight, when you make a
one-time contribution of $75,
we'll send you the mug with our
thanks, as well.
Whatever method you choose,
please support this local public
affairs' program, and the
station that brings it to you
five days a week.
>> It's really simple, just call
the number on the screen right
now, and remember, the local
programs you count on really do
count on you.
Thank you.
>> Eight delivers all Arizonans
every day, free access to
quality content.
As the last locally owned media
service in Arizona, eight
delivers on our mission to
educate children and provide
quality programming to Arizonans
of all ages and walks of life.
Arizona PBS is not a business.
This is a locally owned media
service, and supported by
individual contributions.
85% of eight's direct operating
revenue comes from you, the
Arizona community, the money we
raise stays right here in
Arizona with this station.
Eight depends on you, just as
much as you depend on it.
From Yuma to the Grand Canyon,
and Show Low Phoenix and all
places in between.
This is the last media service
that truly belongs to you.
You live in Arizona.
Isn't it time you became a
financial supporter of your
local public television station?
Help eight deliver more of the
best in the year to come.
Thank you.
>> For more than 25 years,
"Arizona Horizon" has been an
integral part of our daily
broadcast schedule.
And thanks to eight and "Arizona
Horizon," you and I have had
complete coverage of all the big
stories affecting Arizona.
>> It's true, just in the last
few months, "Arizona Horizon"
has brought you election
coverage.
Both sides, political debates,
state and local budget issues,
and dialogue, when it comes to
education and health care.
Basically, "Arizona Horizon"
covers it all, consumer affairs,
political analysis, and the
environment, and health and
business.
>> "Arizona Horizon" has
consistently provided
unprecedented, insightful public
affairs' programming.
That's why we want you to call
us right now.
We know that you value this
program and, and that's why you
are watching.
But we need more than your
viewership.
We need your donations.
>> We do, and as you could see
on the screen right now, eight
relies on your support now more
than ever.
More than 85% of eight's direct
operating revenue comes from the
Arizona community.
People just like you and me.
So please, go to your phone and
call one of the numbers on the
screen.
Become an eight supporter, right
now.
>> Great friendships click
instantly.
Just go to azPBS.org/gift and
begin or renew your eight
membership on our secure
website.
You can join online, there,
choose a thank you gift from a
wide selection of eight
programs, and special offers or
member benefits.
Get all the details about the
gifts you are interested in, and
select your favorite, and make
your contribution, that's all
that there is to it.
Your friendship with eight
clicks instantly, and then enjoy
your gift and another year of
fantastic programs you make
possible here on eight.
>> We're about ready to wrap
things up and take you to
another great program here on
eight.
>> And for those of you who have
called in your support for
"Arizona Horizon," a big thank
you.
You really do make a difference.
>> If you have not already
called, it's never too late,
just call or go online right
now.
Right now, another great program
you make possible here on eight
is about to begin.
This is your public television
station, eight.
>> You can send your
contributions to the are,
through the mail, rush your
check to friends of Eight, 555
north central Avenue, suite 500,
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004.
Your contributions to support
eight is administered by eight's
membership department and
deposited with the Arizona State
University foundation for a new
American University.
>> Eight would like to thank
ufus thai kitchen for their
support of public television in
Arizona.
>> When you want to be more
informed, eight delivers news
and analysis with multiple
perspectives.
Thanks to financial support from
you and --
>> The Tempe festival of the
arts, December 6-8 in downtown
teach, more than 400 artists
from throughout North America,
live music and wine and beer
tasting, festival food and
street entertainment in downtown
Tempe, schedules and details at
Tempefestivalofthearts.com.
>> 8, H.D., an eight life, an
eight world.
This is Arizona PBS.
Supported by viewers like you.
Thank you.
>> Programs on eight are
sponsored by a gift from the
estate of Barbara west, for more
information on how to include
your estate plan call
>> Support for eight comes from
viewers like you, and from --
>> Friendship village Tempe, a
retirement community for over 30
years.
Offers independent living with
residency option, lifelong
learning classes, as well as
continuing care.
Information at
friendshipvillageaz.com.
Diane greeble, serving investors
since 1890, supports quality