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20:30:21:17 >>> Coming up next on "Arizona 20:30:24:09 Horizon," not everyone is
20:30:25:14 pleased with plans to expand 20:30:26:22 light rail in Phoenix.
20:30:28:00 We'll look at the U.S. 20:30:29:01 chamber of commerce
20:30:30:01 assessment of Arizona 20:30:31:03 education.
20:30:32:04 And we'll hear about a 20:30:33:06 collaboration between two
20:30:34:11 art groups in Scottsdale. 20:30:35:12 That's all next on "Arizona
20:30:36:12 Horizon". 20:30:37:27 >>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
20:30:41:24 possible by contributions from 20:30:43:12 the friends of eight, members
20:30:44:25 of your Arizona PBS station. 20:30:46:15 Thank you.
20:30:49:09 >>> Good evening and welcome 20:30:50:20 to "Arizona Horizon."
20:30:51:25 I'm Ted Simons. 20:30:52:28 Phoenix is thinking of asking
20:30:54:02 residents to extend the 20:30:55:11 city's transportation sales
20:30:56:15 tax to help fund an expansion 20:30:58:10 of public transit, including
20:30:59:28 an additional 22 miles of 20:31:01:12 light rail.
20:31:02:20 We've heard from the mayor 20:31:03:25 and others who support the
20:31:05:12 plan, tonight we hear an 20:31:07:20 opposing voice, Becky Fenger,
20:31:08:20 chair of the group no tax 20:31:09:19 for more tracks.
20:31:10:14 Good to have you here. 20:31:11:29 Welcome to "Horizon."
20:31:13:13 >> Great to be here, Ted. 20:31:14:29 >> Plans to triple light rail
20:31:16:10 in Phoenix, why not? 20:31:17:21 >> Oh, my, I fail to see how
20:31:19:24 it's a wise decision in any way 20:31:22:23 to spend billions of dollars to
20:31:25:19 buy yourself more pollution and 20:31:29:01 congestion.
20:31:29:13 See, I got into this almost 20 20:31:31:23 years ago because I am a firm
20:31:33:20 believer in keeping sound 20:31:36:00 science and public policy
20:31:39:23 formation. 20:31:40:03 This whole thing on light rail
20:31:41:26 was sold as cleaning our air. 20:31:44:09 You'll get clean air.
20:31:45:17 And what we discovered when we 20:31:48:15 went in to the bowels of the
20:31:52:12 environmental impact statement 20:31:53:25 reports, is that actually it
20:31:56:25 will give us more pollution and 20:31:59:03 congestion.
20:31:59:16 That is specifically pollution 20:32:01:27 in the air, carbon monoxide,
20:32:06:24 carbon monoxide�-- 20:32:07:11 >> Right.
20:32:08:21 >> And�-- 20:32:10:00 >> How does it�-- if it keeps
20:32:14:02 cars off of the road. 20:32:15:06 >> No it doesn't, it takes
20:32:17:07 about one car in 1,000 off of 20:32:19:24 the road.
20:32:20:27 Anyhow, what it does is take 20:32:22:24 all of these lanes of traffic
20:32:24:10 of roads and takes them away 20:32:26:03 for the light rail.
20:32:27:00 It usually takes about three 20:32:28:21 lanes to use for light rail.
20:32:30:03 All of that traffic that would 20:32:32:10 be moving down the road now is
20:32:34:21 stopped because it gets 20:32:38:18 right-of-way, you can't make
20:32:41:09 left turns in many places and 20:32:46:12 cars are backed up and they're
20:32:48:29 idling. 20:32:49:13 The very fact they said it will
20:32:50:25 clean the air when, indeed, 20:32:53:07 although the number is small,
20:32:56:04 indeed it will increase air 20:32:57:16 pollution and the congestion.
20:32:58:23 >> So, you have air pollution 20:33:00:13 concerns and we have to look
20:33:03:01 those studies up ourselves as 20:33:04:27 well�--
20:33:05:06 >> No, you don't. 20:33:06:25 I have the page number.
20:33:08:27 Boy, are we loaded for bear. 20:33:13:06 >> Has light rail in Phoenix
20:33:15:23 thus far been a bad thing? 20:33:18:22 >> Well, I certainly think so.
20:33:21:15 No city in which it is built do 20:33:23:18 they get by without huge
20:33:25:17 deficits. 20:33:25:27 The average operating deficit
20:33:29:00 of the 23 or so cities that had 20:33:32:14 it was the average, $200
20:33:35:18 million a year. 20:33:36:15 You will have constant
20:33:41:09 maintenance and one thing that 20:33:43:10 is always�-- not always, but
20:33:46:07 quite often overlooked when 20:33:48:06 you're talking about cost
20:33:50:24 benefits is they don't factor 20:33:52:24 in maintenance and operations.
20:33:54:06 For instance, Portland, their 20:33:57:09 light rail is now 24 years old.
20:33:59:19 And light rail supposedly is 20:34:02:10 supposed to last about 30
20:34:03:14 years. 20:34:04:03 It's already crumbling.
20:34:05:21 So, time flies. 20:34:08:20 By the time you want to do
20:34:10:19 extensions, you are going to be 20:34:12:06 rebuilding, and it's double as
20:34:14:19 expensive to repair light rail 20:34:16:27 that has been laid and is
20:34:20:09 crumbling. 20:34:21:00 >> Those who support light
20:34:22:04 rail, $7 billion, give or 20:34:24:23 take�-- $7 billion existing
20:34:28:09 line already, downtown has�-- 20:34:31:24 and development in midtown has
20:34:33:12 been helped by light rail. 20:34:35:23 Are they wrong?
20:34:36:25 >> Well, you're wrong if you 20:34:38:01 are talking about who has it
20:34:40:16 benefited. 20:34:41:04 Has it benefited a lot?
20:34:43:04 It has benefited those lucky 20:34:45:10 few for which this plan to tax
20:34:49:02 all of the people in Maricopa 20:34:52:03 County, if you are�-- or all
of 20:34:55:26 the people in Phoenix for the
20:34:57:03 half of a percent, one half of 20:34:58:17 one percent that ride light
20:35:00:17 rail. 20:35:01:01 And the very lucky developers,
20:35:03:00 those who own real estate along 20:35:05:27 the planned lines or on planned
20:35:08:28 lines, if they have real 20:35:10:13 estate, the bankers love the
20:35:13:03 bondings, and rock products 20:35:15:08 love building it.
20:35:16:15 There is a few that make out on 20:35:17:25 it, but the average person is
20:35:19:29 subsidizing it so heavily, and, 20:35:21:17 remember this, right now 99% of
20:35:24:24 the travel is done in 20:35:26:15 automobiles.
20:35:27:05 Cars and trucks. 20:35:29:09 If we build all of the
20:35:31:13 extensions that the�-- that 20:35:35:22 they're talking about building,
20:35:37:16 we will have with light rail, 20:35:39:14 buses and everything together,
20:35:41:11 only one percent of the 20:35:43:10 population riding on light
20:35:45:16 rail. 20:35:46:02 And if you take�-- I mean on
20:35:48:08 transit, and if you take light 20:35:50:01 rail only, it is one half of
20:35:52:17 one percent. 20:35:53:09 I had to correct�-- you
20:35:55:13 mentioned it wrong that people 20:35:57:08 who gave those numbers to the
20:35:59:08 city of Phoenix, did not equip 20:36:02:16 themselves well.
20:36:03:16 >> Well, but again�-- 20:36:04:26 >> When they gave that two to
20:36:07:00 four percent. 20:36:07:18 If we had four percent of
20:36:09:08 people riding light rail, that 20:36:11:14 is one half of one percent.
20:36:13:03 That is off by a factor of 20:36:14:18 eight.
20:36:15:02 Eight, Ted�-- 20:36:16:14 >> I got you.
20:36:17:07 I got the numbers there. 20:36:18:21 I think what the supporters
20:36:19:27 will say and what the mayor has 20:36:21:07 said on the show and a council
20:36:25:19 member as well, yes, you have 20:36:26:29 all of that, but that is
20:36:28:26 secondary to moving Phoenix 20:36:30:09 forward, making Phoenix a
20:36:31:26 greater city, giving of the 20:36:34:04 infrastructure a chance to
20:36:36:02 build around light rail�-- 20:36:37:22 rider ship already at 20/20
20:36:40:10 levels they say. 20:36:41:02 When the ridership improves,
20:36:43:15 increases, you're ready, set, 20:36:45:16 go.
20:36:46:00 >> If you double ridership, 20:36:47:25 it's still only going to be one
20:36:50:15 percent of people riding 20:36:53:18 transit or riding light rail,
20:36:55:05 if you double the numbers. 20:36:57:02 So, that's like saying that I
20:36:58:16 have one boyfriend and now I 20:37:00:29 double the man I'm dating in my
20:37:04:04 life and I have two boyfriends. 20:37:07:02 You are talking with such a
20:37:10:08 pittance, yet they get for 20:37:12:13 transportation, they get like
20:37:13:27 16% of the budget. 20:37:16:06 I'm willing to give them one
20:37:17:20 percent of the transit tax, 20:37:21:12 since that's all that will ride
20:37:23:20 it. 20:37:23:28 Do you follow me�--
20:37:24:25 >> I do�-- 20:37:25:15 >> Where is the morality of
20:37:27:21 taxing people, maybe a single 20:37:29:08 mother, so that an attorney who
20:37:32:01 can make $400,000 a year gets 20:37:35:23 subsidized most of his trip to
20:37:37:02 come down central and�-- 20:37:39:14 >> That gets into the user tax
20:37:41:11 argument. 20:37:41:21 We can get to that a little
20:37:42:29 bit. 20:37:43:07 We only have a minute left
20:37:45:18 here. 20:37:45:27 I want to go back to what I
20:37:48:04 talked about originally, with 20:37:49:01 all of the development along
20:37:50:15 light rail as we see it now, 20:37:52:07 would Phoenix be better off if
20:37:54:00 light rail had never been 20:37:55:05 built?
20:37:56:05 >> Oh, absolutely. 20:37:58:13 They would be better off
20:38:00:19 pollution and congestion and 20:38:02:12 then it's your opportunity
20:38:04:15 costs. 20:38:04:28 You have to prioritize.
20:38:09:28 Wonderful column where he says, 20:38:11:09 look, when you have a limited
20:38:12:29 amount of money, priorities 20:38:15:20 ties what you want.
20:38:16:16 You are well aware the 20:38:20:21 infrastructure is crumbling,
20:38:22:10 our roads�-- what do people 20:38:23:21 care about most, potholes in
20:38:25:19 roads and getting where they 20:38:26:22 want to go.
20:38:28:04 >> I think�-- supposed to 20:38:30:19 address that�--
20:38:31:21 >> No, it won't. 20:38:33:01 Light rail always sucks
20:38:34:24 everything away and what they 20:38:36:12 end up doing people happily
20:38:38:13 riding buses which can move and 20:38:39:24 are portable, can follow
20:38:42:10 transportation shifts, then 20:38:44:02 money is sucked from the buses
20:38:46:29 and in fact they sued 20:38:48:25 successfully in California
20:38:49:29 because light rail gobbles it 20:38:51:25 all up.
20:38:52:24 >> We have to let you go here 20:38:54:23 we're running out of time.
20:38:56:05 >> I'll be back. 20:38:57:00 >> In Scottsdale, you are
20:38:58:10 involved in efforts from 20:38:59:15 keeping light rail from
20:39:00:12 happening in Scottsdale. 20:39:01:15 You're against this.
20:39:02:06 Would you support any light 20:39:03:19 rail anywhere?
20:39:05:25 >> No, light rail has shown to 20:39:07:16 be a�-- in all 23 cities where
20:39:11:01 it is has decreased the quality 20:39:12:24 of life in everyone of them and
20:39:14:20 I have the papers to show that. 20:39:16:24 >> Thank you, Becky, for
20:39:19:03 joining us. 20:39:19:22 >> Oh, fun, Ted, fun.
20:39:30:26 \M\M 20:40:21:08 >>> The U.S. chamber of
20:40:22:07 commerce foundation center 20:40:23:11 for education and work force
20:40:24:19 has a new report out that 20:40:25:24 looks at the country's K-12
20:40:26:28 education systems and 20:40:28:01 identifies leaders and
20:40:30:29 laggards among the 50 states. 20:40:32:01 Here to discuss the rather
20:40:33:18 sobering results for Arizona, 20:40:34:22 is pearl Chang Esau,
20:40:35:20 president and CEO of expect 20:40:36:18 more Arizona.
20:40:38:06 Education group. 20:40:38:23 We have had you on before.
20:40:40:10 Good to see you again. 20:40:41:20 >> Great to see you.
20:40:43:00 >> U.S. chamber of commerce 20:40:44:19 with this report overall it
20:40:46:06 didn't look that good for 20:40:47:05 Arizona.
20:40:48:02 What's going on here? 20:40:49:13 >> It's certainly concerning
20:40:50:11 that our overall academic 20:40:52:10 achievement score was a D and
20:40:53:16 also a D for achievement from 20:40:55:00 low-income students in our
20:40:57:04 state. 20:40:57:20 And, you know, when we look at
20:41:00:04 cause and�-- readiness, we 20:41:02:07 didn't score so high and that
20:41:03:24 is a concern. 20:41:04:29 The Arizona commerce authority
20:41:06:27 shared recently almost 90% of 20:41:08:29 Arizona's high growth jobs, the
20:41:10:20 kinds of jobs that we want in 20:41:11:27 our state are going to require
20:41:13:14 more education after high 20:41:14:24 school.
20:41:15:06 High school is no longer the 20:41:16:20 finish line, and what the
20:41:17:29 scores reflect is that our 20:41:20:07 students are graduating high
20:41:21:17 school unprepared for the next 20:41:22:27 step.
20:41:23:15 >> Indeed the academic 20:41:24:25 achievement was a D.
20:41:25:27 Only 28% of 4th and eighth 20:41:28:15 graders above proficient and
20:41:30:23 you mentioned low income and 20:41:33:05 minority students.
20:41:34:26 Parental options, chamber of 20:41:37:07 commerce gives an A�-- why
20:41:40:06 aren't they transmitting and 20:41:41:29 transforming and making a
20:41:42:23 better academic achievement 20:41:45:01 result?
20:41:45:21 >> Yeah, it's a great question. 20:41:47:21 Always with these reports there
20:41:48:28 is so much of the story that 20:41:51:13 you need to understand between
20:41:52:20 the lines. 20:41:53:24 Letter grades certainly don't
20:41:55:20 say it all. 20:41:56:15 On the achievement side of
20:41:57:19 things, even though we received 20:41:59:18 a D, good news is that Arizona
20:42:01:09 has made a lot of progress and 20:42:03:18 in fact received high marks for
20:42:05:02 the amount of progress we have 20:42:06:26 made since 2007.
20:42:09:01 There are students across the 20:42:10:18 state receiving a wonderful
20:42:12:07 education. 20:42:12:19 We have had nationally ranking
20:42:14:19 high schools just, you know, 20:42:16:12 mentioned recently all over the
20:42:18:03 news. 20:42:18:20 It isn't that there aren't any
20:42:20:06 good things on. 20:42:21:19 There are a lot of great things
20:42:25:15 going on. 20:42:26:00 When you look at a couple of
20:42:28:16 indicators you mentioned, they 20:42:29:26 are illustrative of some of the
20:42:31:22 important steps we need to 20:42:32:23 take.
20:42:33:13 We had a B on return on 20:42:36:01 investment.
20:42:37:03 Generally speaking we're pretty 20:42:39:07 efficient.
20:42:39:24 If we fund education, we are 20:42:42:00 likely to see outcomes.
20:42:44:02 I think that is a big part of 20:42:46:00 the equation.
20:42:47:00 We're one of the lowest 20:42:49:06 per-pupil funded states in the
20:42:51:21 country. 20:42:52:20 Dramatically cut funding for
20:42:54:05 education since 2008. 20:42:55:23 We are in the middle of a court
20:42:57:05 battle now trying to get some 20:42:58:09 of the inflation funding back
20:42:59:17 and we still haven't gotten 20:43:01:23 back to 2008 levels, pre
20:43:07:06 recession. 20:43:07:18 We need to help voters
20:43:10:02 understand why education is so 20:43:11:14 important to their quality of
20:43:12:11 life even if they don't have 20:43:14:13 kids in the school system.
20:43:18:01 >> 21st century�-- you 20:43:22:03 mentioned the fact the
20:43:23:13 inflation adjusted, that will 20:43:24:27 be addressed by the
20:43:26:20 legislature, no doubt, unless 20:43:27:25 the courts continue to make
20:43:28:25 that decision. 20:43:29:19 But, again, lawmakers in
20:43:31:01 Arizona for the most part, 20:43:33:02 elected lawmakers at the
20:43:35:20 legislature, fighting this, 20:43:37:06 governor fighting this as part
20:43:38:18 of Arizona's fiscal concerns. 20:43:40:18 How do you transform, again,
20:43:42:01 those concerns into getting 20:43:43:28 just getting up to a C from the
20:43:47:05 chamber of commerce regarding 20:43:48:24 academic achievement?
20:43:49:25 >> Yeah, well, like I 20:43:51:09 mentioned, I think so much of
20:43:52:18 it is about building voter 20:43:54:08 will.
20:43:54:20 Only a small percentage of 20:43:56:11 Arizonans are parents with
20:43:57:19 school-aged children. 20:44:00:24 A lot about educating voters
20:44:02:13 about why the quality of 20:44:04:05 education system in their
20:44:05:09 community is vitally important 20:44:06:14 to their economy but also their
20:44:08:17 local property values, crime 20:44:10:05 rates.
20:44:10:18 There are reasons why everybody 20:44:11:16 has to support education and
20:44:13:21 has a role to play. 20:44:14:24 >> Is that the nature of the
20:44:16:00 beast though? 20:44:16:20 Because so many people here
20:44:18:03 have retired or so many people 20:44:20:07 here don't have children or
20:44:22:02 paid what they thought was 20:44:23:21 their taxes and their dues to
20:44:25:11 school systems back east or in 20:44:26:21 the midwest, that seems to be
a 20:44:28:16 common theme over the years.
20:44:29:27 How do you break through that? 20:44:33:05 >> We have to break through.
20:44:34:03 It has to be our top priority. 20:44:36:02 We are worried about the
20:44:37:24 economy. 20:44:38:08 We're worried about jobs.
20:44:39:17 We're worried about crime 20:44:40:22 rates.
20:44:41:03 These are all issues that turn 20:44:42:28 on the quality of our education
20:44:44:19 system. 20:44:44:29 That's why you see so many
20:44:46:10 business community leaders now 20:44:47:27 stepping up.
20:44:48:13 You have seen business leaders 20:44:50:08 engaging and supporting
20:44:51:11 education, and it is because it 20:44:52:15 is a work force issue.
20:44:53:29 People have to make that 20:44:55:02 critical connection that this
20:44:55:26 is about making sure that 20:44:57:22 Arizona has a strong economy.
20:44:59:15 >> And as far as teachers are 20:45:01:00 concerned, and technology,
20:45:03:02 data, it seems like this was 20:45:05:11 all floating around the sea
20:45:06:18 level. 20:45:06:28 That can be better as well.
20:45:08:11 >> Yes, it can be better. 20:45:09:15 And I think�-- I'm going to
20:45:10:27 hone in on the teacher issue. 20:45:12:29 Arguably nothing more important
20:45:14:03 than a high-quality teacher for 20:45:15:27 your child's education and we
20:45:17:20 received a C in terms of our 20:45:19:18 teacher practices.
20:45:20:22 I think that is a much bigger 20:45:22:23 issue.
20:45:23:02 We have to think about the big 20:45:24:15 picture of how we create a
20:45:27:09 climate in Arizona where we can 20:45:29:21 attract and retain the very
20:45:30:25 best teachers from across the 20:45:32:15 country.
20:45:32:28 >> How do you do that? 20:45:34:00 >> When we are starting with
20:45:35:06 some of the lowest starting 20:45:36:29 salaries of any state in the
20:45:38:03 country, that's tough. 20:45:38:29 And it is not just about
20:45:40:29 salaries, it is about teacher 20:45:42:27 autonomy, about whether we
20:45:44:05 treat our teachers with respect 20:45:45:29 and how they feel about being
a 20:45:48:13 part of the profession.
20:45:50:16 That's a big part of it. 20:45:52:04 >> It is also about finding a
20:45:53:20 standard, education and 20:45:55:06 achievement standard and
20:45:56:25 sticking to it. 20:45:58:12 Common core does seem to be the
20:46:00:06 standard of the day. 20:46:01:08 I know teachers and the concept
20:46:02:21 of changing to common core to 20:46:05:00 something tells�-- makes them
20:46:06:06 want to run down the street 20:46:08:03 screaming.
20:46:08:13 We have to find something and 20:46:09:21 stick to it.
20:46:10:14 >> Yes, we really do. 20:46:11:18 We are going to be our own
20:46:14:20 worse enemy if we continue to 20:46:16:27 change things.
20:46:17:16 We adopted higher standards. 20:46:19:14 Many schools have been able to
20:46:21:15 build a college and career 20:46:23:12 culture around the�-- higher
20:46:25:23 expectations for all kids. 20:46:26:23 They have invested so much into
20:46:28:12 this. 20:46:28:23 We have to stick with it.
20:46:29:26 We can make improvements and 20:46:31:06 make it better, but we can't go
20:46:33:00 back. 20:46:33:18 >> Indeed.
20:46:33:28 When the chamber of commerce is 20:46:35:23 involved, fiscal responsibility
20:46:37:03 is always important to the 20:46:38:07 business community.
20:46:39:04 Arizona gets a B as far as 20:46:41:09 fiscal responsibility, pensions
20:46:43:21 being funded and these sorts of 20:46:45:09 things.
20:46:46:02 I'm kind of repeating myself 20:46:47:22 here.
20:46:48:06 I'm a lawmaker. 20:46:49:10 You come to me with this
20:46:51:00 report. 20:46:51:09 What do you tell me?
20:46:52:18 What are you trying to convince 20:46:54:06 me to do?
20:46:55:03 >> I would point to the 20:46:56:16 indicators that show that we
20:46:58:14 spend our money well. 20:46:59:15 We did well with return on
20:47:01:00 investment. 20:47:01:12 We did well�-- we are
20:47:03:03 efficient. 20:47:03:15 We are a good investment and
20:47:05:03 that's what I would say to our 20:47:06:10 state lawmakers is that you
20:47:07:27 should invest more in education 20:47:09:06 because clearly, you know, we
20:47:10:25 are able to produce an outcome 20:47:13:16 and return on the investment.
20:47:15:15 >> Anything in the report 20:47:16:16 surprise you?
20:47:17:04 >> Not a surprise necessarily, 20:47:18:28 but I think one of the most
20:47:20:10 important things to call out 20:47:21:10 was that we didn't get a great
20:47:22:20 grade on, you know, our state 20:47:25:17 assessment being a realistic
20:47:27:10 measurement of whether our kids 20:47:28:17 were on track to be successful
20:47:30:03 after high school. 20:47:31:05 And I think that is really
20:47:32:17 important to note because the 20:47:33:27 state�-- the good news the
20:47:35:09 state has taken very important 20:47:37:01 steps to change the assessment
20:47:39:04 and we're going to be rolling 20:47:40:14 out a new assessment in schools
20:47:41:26 this year. 20:47:42:20 >> And that post secondary work
20:47:44:09 force readiness, that D, that's 20:47:47:03 glaring and something that has
20:47:48:00 to change. 20:47:48:22 >> Right.
20:47:49:09 A compilation of all of the 20:47:51:03 factors coming together.
20:47:52:03 About graduating high schoolers 20:47:53:29 ready for college and career
20:47:57:18 training and we know that is 20:47:58:28 necessary for the jobs of today
20:48:00:13 and tomorrow. 20:48:01:10 >> Thank you for being here.
20:48:02:23 >> Thank you. 20:49:12:07 >>> Tonight's edition of
20:49:13:10 "Arizona artbeat" looks at 20:49:14:06 an arts collaboration in
20:49:15:04 Scottsdale. 20:49:16:04 The Scottsdale center for
20:49:17:03 the performing arts and the 20:49:18:05 Scottsdale international
20:49:19:11 film festival are teaming up 20:49:20:20 to share resources and offer
20:49:22:24 expanded film programs. 20:49:24:07 Scottsdale international
20:49:25:11 film festival founder and 20:49:26:24 executive director Amy
20:49:27:25 Ettinger is here to talk 20:49:28:26 about the new collaboration.
20:49:30:02 Welcome to "Arizona Horizon." 20:49:31:16 >> Thank you.
20:49:32:03 >> This must be pretty 20:49:33:15 exciting.
20:49:33:26 Talk to us about this. 20:49:35:14 >> It's thrilling.
20:49:36:15 I'm ecstatic about it. 20:49:40:24 I think the Scottsdale center
20:49:42:05 for the arts�-- I have been 20:49:43:20 working and nurturing the
20:49:45:03 Scottsdale film festival for 14 20:49:47:12 years.
20:49:48:05 Infrastructure and getting it 20:49:49:21 tweaked to the point where I
20:49:50:28 felt like we had this 20:49:52:09 well-oiled machine is
20:49:56:23 culminated, and I thought, you 20:49:58:07 know, now is the time to
20:49:59:18 approach the center for the 20:50:00:21 arts and cultural council and
20:50:02:06 ask them if they would like to 20:50:03:23 partner.
20:50:04:02 We had worked together 20:50:06:12 informally on a project here
20:50:07:18 and there over the years, and 20:50:09:11 they were very receptive to the
20:50:12:12 idea. 20:50:12:25 >> How does that partnership
20:50:14:10 help you? 20:50:15:00 >> Well, I've been working sort
20:50:17:03 of with a team of 130 20:50:19:12 volunteers over the years, and
20:50:21:04 that's good, but volunteers 20:50:23:02 are, you know�-- have a
20:50:34:17 resource base, people who are 20:50:36:24 tasked to do things, PR,
20:50:39:05 fundraising, run a box office. 20:50:40:25 There will be people, not just
20:50:42:08 myself and volunteers now, but 20:50:43:22 people who are actually paid to
20:50:45:24 do those things and they do 20:50:46:22 them well.
20:50:47:11 >> And this will give you an 20:50:48:09 opportunity to grow the
20:50:49:21 festival, in what ways? 20:50:51:20 >> Scottsdale deserves to have
20:50:53:00 a very high-profile film 20:50:56:03 festival, and this is to a
20:50:57:24 degree within the 20:51:00:28 marketplace�-- I would like
to 20:51:02:15 see it expand beyond the realm
20:51:04:26 of the city proper. 20:51:06:03 Film makers outside of the
20:51:08:02 market, international and 20:51:09:21 global areas know the name
20:51:11:16 Scottsdale. 20:51:11:27 I would like to get more star
20:51:13:07 power here. 20:51:13:24 I would like to see more people
20:51:15:06 from outside of the market come 20:51:16:23 as a destination event.
20:51:18:06 It started out as a little 20:51:19:24 local homegrown thing for
20:51:21:18 people to do in their back 20:51:22:24 yard, but I think the city and
20:51:24:22 festival deserve to grow. 20:51:26:10 >> Festival starts October 9th
20:51:27:14 this year. 20:51:28:08 >> Correct.
20:51:28:23 >> Five-day festival. 20:51:30:04 >> Yes.
20:51:31:02 >> Partnership started next 20:51:32:20 year?
20:51:33:06 >> The partnership starts 20:51:34:17 January 1st.
20:51:35:11 We are holding our opening 20:51:36:23 night at the center for the
20:51:37:27 arts, Thursday, October 9th. 20:51:40:04 All day the 9th.
20:51:41:13 And then the opening night film 20:51:44:05 is also there.
20:51:45:20 That's one whole day of 20:51:47:20 programming at the center for
20:51:48:21 the arts and then�-- 20:51:50:18 >> When it comes to�-- you
20:51:57:12 CURATE the festivals, what 20:51:59:20 makes an international film
20:52:01:09 that you think fits in 20:52:02:28 Scottsdale?
20:52:03:12 >> That's an excellent 20:52:04:05 question.
20:52:04:13 It is not so much about whether 20:52:06:03 or not it fits in Scottsdale,
20:52:09:12 it's looking for a balance, and 20:52:11:00 always has been between
20:52:13:14 ethnicities, religions, genres. 20:52:16:17 I want somebody to sit there
20:52:17:21 and say I would like to travel 20:52:20:15 to that place.
20:52:21:01 It took me a long time to break 20:52:23:09 outside of the bounds of a
20:52:26:26 smaller film�-- I finally 20:52:30:27 started to bookend the festival
20:52:32:17 with Hollywood studio releases 20:52:34:05 to bring in new audiences
20:52:35:14 because it was a way to lure 20:52:36:19 them there to see the smaller
20:52:38:10 films. 20:52:38:23 >> Yeah.
20:52:39:07 >> That's what I'm always 20:52:40:11 looking for.
20:52:40:24 With a five-day festival and 20:52:42:17 50, 55 films, and 70
20:52:46:01 screenings, you can't do 20:52:47:02 everything but I certainly try.
20:52:48:17 >> Are there films you look at 20:52:50:01 and you go�-- they're just
20:52:52:00 going to love this one and it 20:52:53:13 bombs.
20:52:53:25 And there are films, I guess we 20:52:56:01 will put it on there and it
20:52:57:12 explodes. 20:52:57:24 Can you gauge audiences that
20:53:00:17 well�-- 20:53:00:29 >> No, I think I've at least
20:53:03:04 the audience that comes to this 20:53:05:05 festival, I think I have them
20:53:06:25 pegged pretty well and I 20:53:08:27 usually know what is going to
20:53:10:06 do very well and I usually try 20:53:11:14 not to put in anything that I
20:53:13:02 think is going to bomb. 20:53:14:21 There is always a film that
20:53:16:17 underperforms, but I know that 20:53:17:21 I put it in there mostly
20:53:19:13 because if five, 10 people see 20:53:22:01 it, it will be rewarding to me
20:53:24:02 that somebody will have seen 20:53:25:08 something new and kind of eye
20:53:27:00 opening. 20:53:27:12 But for the most part, what I'm
20:53:29:16 trying to do is to keep the 20:53:31:07 people coming back.
20:53:32:15 So, I think to serve up a lot 20:53:38:20 of films that are accessible to
20:53:41:02 different core groups of 20:53:42:12 people.
20:53:44:02 Blocks programming, for 20:53:45:08 instance.
20:53:46:03 >> Basically, it is not�-- and 20:53:48:02 you don't want to run the same
20:53:49:09 kind of film over and over and 20:53:50:25 over again.
20:53:51:21 >> No, not at all. 20:53:53:19 >> Harkens theater still
20:53:54:22 working with them? 20:53:55:18 >> Yes
20:53:55:25 >> And that will continue after 20:53:57:18 the collaboration?
20:53:58:16 >> Yes, it will, they can't do 20:53:59:25 it without the harkens theater
20:54:01:18 because they only have one 20:54:02:25 screen over at the center for
20:54:05:11 performing arts right now and 20:54:06:09 we hope to change that.
20:54:07:09 I hope to do a film series that 20:54:09:11 will ask throughout the course
20:54:10:13 of the year at the center for 20:54:11:20 the arts, too.
20:54:12:15 That is part of the plan. 20:54:14:00 >> For a year-round event,
20:54:16:06 changes for you and the 20:54:17:20 festival, what happens, more
20:54:19:07 programming? 20:54:20:09 More festivals, what is going
20:54:22:09 to happen? 20:54:22:25 >> I have been doing a
20:54:23:29 discovery film series for them 20:54:25:16 the last several seasons.
20:54:27:15 That's sort of like a seedling 20:54:31:09 for what I would like to see
20:54:32:21 happen, which would be to have 20:54:33:28 a series of films that run all
20:54:36:21 year long that are maybe 20:54:39:00 retrospective.
20:54:39:21 Maybe�-- CSI, that is what they 20:54:50:04 call themselves at ASU, center
20:54:52:25 for science and imagination, 20:54:55:02 working on something that has
20:54:56:14 to do with Frankenstein. 20:54:58:18 Frankenstein 100-year
20:54:59:29 celebration is coming up. 20:55:00:26 That is the sort of thing I
20:55:02:18 think people can look forward 20:55:04:04 to is us tapping into the
20:55:06:06 popular culture�-- for an 20:55:09:24 ongoing period of time plus
20:55:11:14 center for the arts celebrates 20:55:12:26 its 40th anniversary next year.
20:55:16:05 We should do something around 20:55:17:06 that.
20:55:17:17 And it will be our 15th�-- 20:55:18:28 >> Congratulations on this.
20:55:19:27 Good luck. 20:55:20:12 We look forward to seeing the
20:55:21:27 Scottsdale film festival 20:55:24:01 expanding.
20:55:24:18 >> Thank you. 20:55:25:28 Scottsdalefilmfestival.com.
20:55:28:00 >> Very good, thank you. 20:55:30:25 >>> Thursday on "Arizona
20:55:31:24 Horizon," a debate on 20:55:32:22 proposition 304, which calls
20:55:33:21 for state lawmakers to 20:55:34:21 receive a pay raise.
20:55:35:20 And we'll visit with a 20:55:36:17 couple of local chefs to
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20:55:39:12 That's Thursday evening at 20:55:40:10 5:30 and 11:00, after the
20:55:41:06 "Roosevelts," on "Arizona 20:55:42:09 Horizon."
20:55:42:28 That is it for now. 20:55:44:15 I'm Ted Simons.
20:55:45:11 Thank you so much for joining 20:55:46:15 us.
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