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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON", MESA MAYOR JOHN GILES JOINS US TO DISCUSS A BALLOT MEASURE THAT CALLS FOR AN EXTENSION OF MARICOPA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION TAX.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT EFFORTS TO HELP CLOSE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER GAP FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS.

>>> AND A LOOK AT ARIZONA'S BOOMING BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MAJOR STORY OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST.

IRAN TODAY FIRED AT LEAST 180 BALLISTIC MISSILES INTO ISRAEL AS THE REGIONWIDE CONFLICT GROWS.

ATTACK INCLUDED SEVERAL WAVES OF MISSILES AIMED AT A VARIETY OF TARGETS.

MOST OF THE MISSILES INTERCEPTED BY ISRAEL BUT SEVERAL HIT INSIDE THE COUNTRY INCLUDING EXPLOSION NEAR THE HEADQUARTERS OF ISRAEL'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF THE IRANIAN ATTACK -- >> OUR INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS THAT ISRAEL, WITH DIRECT ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ITS PARTNERS, WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEAT THIS ATTACK.

THIS WAS A BRAZEN, UNACCEPTABLE ATTACK BY IRAN, AND EVERY NATION IN THE WORLD MUST JOIN US IN CONDEMNING IT.

TED: THE ASSAULT RAISES THE LIKELIHOOD OF DIRECT WAR BETWEEN TWO OF THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD THIS TO SAY REGARDING AN ISRAELI RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK.

>> AN ACTIVE DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THE DATA STRAIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND OUR COUNTERPARTS.

AND THE REST REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH HIM TODAY.

>> I HAVE SPOKEN TO ALL HIS PEOPLE, AND I'LL BE TALKING TO HIM, AND THE MESSAGE ON WHAT WE NEED TO CONCLEED IS NUDED.

TED: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID IRAN MADE A, QUOTE, BIG MISTAKE AND WILL, QUOTE, PAY FOR IT.

>>> CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT OF MEXICO.

SHEINBAUM INHERITS A NUMBER OF CONCERNS INCLUDING A SLUGGISH ECONOMY, RISING DEBT AND THE HURRICANE BATTERED RESORT CITY OF ACAPULCO.

>>> ONE MORE HEADLINE, JIMMY CARTER'S 100th BIRTHDAY, THE LONGEST LIVING PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH PRESIDENT CARTER IN 2015 WHEN HE MADE A VISIT TO THE VALLEY.

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK BACK AT OUR CONVERSATION.

TED: DID YOU ENJOY BEING PRESIDENT?

>> I DID, YES.

THERE WERE TRYING TIMES, AND OVERWHELMING AND JOYOUS AND CHALLENGING AND UNPREDICTABLE AND ADVENTUROUS TIMES HAVE BEEN SINCE I LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF WHAT WE DO.

WE GO INTO INDIVIDUAL VILLAGES, ASSESS THEIR PROBLEMS IN HEALTH CARE AND THEN WE ACTUALLY ADMINISTER MEDICINES IF IT'S NEEDED OR TEACH THEM HOW TO RESOLVE AN ANCIENT PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE SUFFERED FOR 20,000 YEARS, THAT'S GRATIFYING TO US.

TED: YOU MENTIONED THESE ARE THE BEST -- AND AT THE END OF THE BOOK YOU WRITE, THE LIFE YOU HAVE NOW IS THE BEST OF ALL, AND YOU HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT, AND PEOPLE REFER TO YOU AS THE BEST FORMER PRESIDENT WE'VE EVER HAD.

IS THAT A LITTLE BITTERSWEET TO HEAR?

>> TO MY WIFE IT IS.

[LAUGHTER] >> I DID THE BEST I COULD.

WE TOLD THE TRUTHS, KEPT THE LAW, AND KEPT THE PEACE, AND I SAY WE PROTECTED HUMAN RIGHTS.

WE DID THE BEST WE COULD.

TED: JIMMY CARTER, 100 YEARS OLD AND COUNTING.

>>> PROP 479 IS A MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD CONTINUE THE EXISTING HALF CENT COUNTY SALES TAX THAT FUNDS TRANSPORTATION.

THE TAX WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1985, UP FOR RENEWAL AGAIN, AND JOINING US IS MESA MAYOR JOHN GILES.

WE INVITED THOSE OPPOSED TO THE MEASURE FOR DEBATE BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION.

IT'S ALL YOU, AND I WILL HAVE YOU EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

FIRST EXPLAIN PROP 479 AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> CONTINUES THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX, IT'S NOT A TAX INCREASE, KEEPING THE TAX IN PLACE WE'VE HAD FOR 40 YEARS, THIS IS HOW WE PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

PAYS FOR SURFACE STREETS, BUSES, ALL OF THAT IS PRIMARILY FINANCED BY THE REGIONAL COUNTYWIDE HALF-CENT SALES TAX.

>> IS IT PAYING FOR BUSES AND STREETS AND RAILS, IS THIS DISCUSSION THE SAME AS LAST GO-AROUND?

>> ABOUT 40% GOES TO FREEWAYS.

THAT'S THE PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION MECHANISM THAT'S FINANCED BUT IT ALSO IS TRANSIT.

THAT BEING BUSES, DIAL A RIDE.

THERE IS NO MONEY IN THIS FOR EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL.

THE TRANSIT PORTION OF IT IS LIMITED TO BUSES, AND THE 20 SOME ODD PERCENT IS OUR STREETS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL, THERE IS STILL MONEY IN THERE FOR LIGHT RAIL?

>> THERE IS SOME OPERATION INCLUDED IN THAT, MOST OF THAT COMES FROM THE CITIES.

PHOENIX, TEMPE, MESA CONTRIBUTE FROM GENERAL FUND FOR THE OPERATION OF THE LIGHT RAIL, AND BECAUSE LIGHT RAIL IS A LOT OF IT COMES FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IF THERE IS AN EXTENSION, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE HOPEFUL IN MESA TO CONNECT TO THE TEMPE STREET CAR, BUT THAT WON'T BE FUNDED THROUGH 479 MONEY.

IT PROBABLY WOULD COME FROM MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

TED: FOR THOSE WHO SAY -- AND WE'LL START WITH BUSES, AND THEY LOOK AROUND AND SEE EMPTY BUSES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY'RE SAYING WHAT DO WE NEED SO MANY EMPTY BUSES FOR?

LET'S CUT BACK ON THAT, DO SOMETHING TAXWISE TO KEEP RESIDENTS FROM PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING USED.

>> IT IS BEING USED.

PEOPLE RELY ON BUSES TO GET TO AND FROM WORK.

PEOPLE IN KITCHENS AND HOSPITALS AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.

THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY THAT UTILIZE THIS AND DON'T OWN CARS.

THIS WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BLOW TO OUR ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY TO THE SERVICE INDUSTRY IN MARICOPA COUNTY IF WE GAVE THOSE -- TOOK AWAY THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

TED: FOR BUSES AND LIGHT RAIL, CRITICS SAY WHY ARE RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT USE THESE HAVE NO INTENTION OF USING THESE AND NEVER WILL USE THESE, WHY ARE THEY PAYING A TAX FOR THEM?

>> THE SAME COULD BE SAID OF STREETS AND FREEWAYS.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE USE.

SO JUST LIKE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT PAYING FOR STREETS IN GLENDALE THAT I NEVER USE, OR FREEWAYS TO DISNEYLAND THAT I NEVER USE, THIS IS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT'S PART OF THE ECONOMY.

AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT USING IT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE NOT BENEFITTING FROM IT.

TED: SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST 479 HAVE BEEN HEARD BEFORE.

A LOT BEFORE AND A LONG WAY BACK.

THEY SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, THERE'S MISNOMERS IN THERE.

PEOPLE WILL SAY I DON'T LIKE THE LIGHT RAIL SO I'M NOT VOTING FOR THIS.

THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL IN THIS PROPOSITION.

PEOPLE WILL SAY YOU'RE INCREASING MY TAXES.

NO, THIS IS THE SAME HALF CENT THAT PAID FOR EVERYTHING TRANSPORTATION RELATED IN MARICOPA COUNTY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

DO YOU WANT TO STOP FUNDING TRANSPORTATION THAT THE POINT?

TED: THE PROPOSITION INCLUDES ROAD DIETS, THE IDEA OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS.

THERE ARE VOTES OPPOSED TO THIS, THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A ROAD DIET.

>> THERE WAS NEVER A ROAD DIET IN THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT BECAME PROPOSITION 479.

THAT IS A TAG PHRASE THAT CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATORS SNUCK IN TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T GOING TO SHRINK THE NUMBER OF LANES ON CITY STREETS.

WE WERE HAPPY TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER IN THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO BEGIN WITH.

TED: NO PLAN TO SHRINK OR NARROW STREETS ANYWHERE?

>> NO.

THE WAY WE CAME UP WITH THE PLAN, LITERALLY THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, CITIES CAME TO MAG, MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, PRIORITIZING WHAT WE HAD TO FUND THERE.

WAS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT THE TRANSPORTATION IS SUCH A COMPELLING NEED, WE NEED MORE THAN A HALF CENT, GIVE US THREE QUARTERS CENT OR A FULL CENT.

THE REGION SAID WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SAY THIS IS A TAX INCREASE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT PLANS AND KEEP IT AT A HALF CENT.

>> I THINK IN THE PAMPHLET, THE OPPOSITION MENTIONS ROAD DIETS AND LIMITING LANES AND DELETING ROADS.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S BOGUS?

>> THE LEGISLATURE SAID THOU SHALT NOT, IT WAS NEVER AN IDEA TO BEGIN WITH.

TED: THE IDEA OF CHANGING MASS TRANSIT, THERE ARE SOME WHO ARGUED THEN AND NOW, MASS TRANSIT MAY NOT BE AMENABLE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

WE ARE NOT LIKE OTHER METROPOLITAN CITIES, PHOENIX IS SPREAD OUT AND THE WEATHER MAKES IT DIFFICULT WAITING FOR A TRAIN.

>> WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE WITH REGARD TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE.

WE NEED BUS SHELTERS WITH SHADE AND NEED TO RESPOND.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EVERY SUMMER THAT DIE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF EXTREME HEAT, SO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR AND WE NEED THIS TAX SO WE CAN HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW FOR THAT.

THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DO AWAY WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT.

AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO DENY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO WORK.

ANSWER IS WE NEED TO FUND TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATELY, INCLUDING BUS SHELTERS.

TED: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE OPPONENTS GET POINTS ACROSS, IN THIS TIME OF ECONOMY, THE INFLATION, IT'S ROUGH SLEDDING FOR SOME, PRICES ARE UP, NOT THE TIME, GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DISCONTINUE THE TAX, YOU SAY?

>> THAT WOULD TANK OUR ECONOMY.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THIS INVESTMENT IS MEASURED IN THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

THIS IS A TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT, BUT REALLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT.

THIS IS GOING TO SHORTEN COMMUTE TIMES.

THIS IS GOING TO CREATE 30,000 JOBS, AND AGAIN, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT -- I CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO THINK WOULD I HAVE THE JOB I HAVE NOW OR WOULD I BE AS PROSPEROUS AS I AM NOW, WOULD THE REGION BE AS PROSPEROUS AS IT IS NOW IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE?

THE ANSWER IS A CLEAR NO.

TED: MAYOR GILES, MAYOR OF MESA, WISH WE HAD A DEBATE HERE, I TRIED.

>> THANK YOU.

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TED: AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE FOR OUR HOUR LONG SPECIAL ON OCTOBER 8, USE THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN TO SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THIS AZ VOTES SPECIAL FOCUSES ON TWO OF THE BIGGEST PROPOSITIONS ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT.

IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON, TUNE IN RIGHT HERE ON OCTOBER 8 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> ELECTION INFORMATION BEING TRANSLATED INTO SPECIFIC LANGUAGES IF THE LANGUAGES ARE SHARED BY RESIDENTS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH WELL.

THAT TRANSLATION CAN BE A PROBLEM AND CONCERN OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

JEN FIFIELD WROTE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ELECTION ISSUE ON TRIBAL LANDS, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: PRETTY MUCH WHAT SECTION 203 SAYS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, IF YOU HAVE A LARGE COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH WELL, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A WAY FOR THE BALLOTS.

>> HOW SERIOUS IS THIS FOR THE NAVAJO NATION.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 7,000 RESIDENTS WHO DON'T SPEAK OR WRITE ENGLISH WELL, THEY ARE NOT COMPLETELY LITERATE ENGLISH.

THEY ARE MOSTLY REFERRED TO AS ELDERS AND NEED A WAY TO LISTEN TO THEIR BALLOT.

TED: WE'LL GET TO THE LISTENING ASPECT, THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ARE THERE.

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, PUT IT THAT WAY?

>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IN A WAY THAT ANYONE SELLS ABLE TO.

YOU HAVE TO GET ENOUGH INFORMATION TO FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR BALLOT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.

TED: THE IMPACT IN THE NAVAJO NATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S HISTORICALLY AN ORAL HISTORY BY WAY OF LANGUAGE, NOT NECESSARILY WRITING STUFF DOWN, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT, THAT MAKES IT EXTREMELY CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY JUST BECAUSE TRANSLATING FROM ENGLISH TO NAVAJO IS DIFFICULT TO BEGIN WITH BUT YOU ARE TRYING TO TRANSLATE THE COMPLICATED ELECTION TERMS.

TED: THE PLAN IS TO DO WHAT?

>> THE PLAN IS TO CREATE A TRANSLATION WHERE OLDER NAVAJO RESIDENTS WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BALLOT.

I WENT TO A MEETING WHERE THE STATE AND THE COUNTY CAME TOGETHER WITH A TRANSLATOR TO FIGURE IT OUT.

TED: DOESN'T IT INCLUDE AUDIO -- WILL THE TRANSLATORS BE STANDING BY WITH AUDIO MESSAGE?

HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK?

>> TYPICALLY, YOU PROVIDE AN AUDIO RECORDING, AN ACCESSIBLE AUDIO DEVICE WHERE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T READ THE BALLOT ARE ABLE TO USE, IT HAS A NAVAJO OPTION, THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE POLL WORKERS THERE WHO CAN HELP TRANSLATE.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, AS FAR AS THE POLL WORKERS THAT ARE THERE, HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN?

IS IT TRANSLATED CORRECTLY?

>> ESPECIALLY THE AUDIO RECORDING, IS CONFUSING AND LONG, SO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT IT HASN'T BEEN COMMUNICATED WELL TO THE VOTERS, AND YOU GET DIFFERENT COUNTIES HIRING DIFFERENT POLL WORKERS, ARE THEY CERTIFIED TO SPEAK BOTH LANGUAGES?

THAT KIND OF THING.

I THINK IT'S A VERY NONTRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR VERY KEY VOTING GROUP IN ARIZONA.

TED: NONTRANSPARENT.

AS A CLOSED MEETING, YOU HAD TROUBLE GETTING INFORMATION, DIDN'T YOU?

>> YEAH, THEY INVITED ME TO THE MEETING, WHEN WE ARRIVED, IT WAS A CLOSED MEETING WITH OFFICIALS, THEY TOLD US TO LEAVE.

WE GOT BACK IN AFTER A WHILE.

THAT GOES TO SHOW HOW SENSITIVE THE TOPIC IS AND HOW THERE IS CONFLICT IN THE PAST.

>> AS FAR AS CONFLICT IN THE PAST, DOES THAT INCLUDE PEOPLE NOT CORRECTLY TRANS-- HONESTLY, YOU COULD DO ANYTHING, YEA VOTE COULD BE A NAY VOTE, I DON'T THINK IT GOES THAT FAR, BUT IT?

COULD.

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE ABORTION THAT IS CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TO NAVAJO RESIDENTS.

IF YOU GET A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TRANSLATION AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MEASURE IS SAYING AT ALL, THIS MORNING I RAN THE TRANSLATION BY SOMEONE WHO SAYS THAT SOUNDS MORE LIKE A MISCARRIAGE THAN ABORTION.

THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS WITH NOT PROVIDING PROPER TRANSLATION.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S THE SEX TRAFFICKING.

ONE THAT MENTIONS SEX TRAFFICKING, AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE HAD TROUBLE WITH THAT BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SAY RAPE, SHE DOESN'T THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

TED: INTERESTING.

A 2018 LAWSUIT YOU WROTE ABOUT SAYING THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRANSLATORS OUT THERE.

HOW IS THAT SETTLED?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?

>> YEAH, IN 2018, AFTER THE 2018 ELECTION, THEY SAID YOU NEED TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO PROVIDE PEOPLE MORE INFORMATION IN NAVAJO.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TRANSLATING MORE AND SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE FULL YES AND NO EXPLANATION, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A PROPOSITION AND WHAT THAT MEANS.

I DIDN'T SEE THAT AT THE MEETING AND NOT SURE IF THEY ARE PROVIDED THAT.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, WILL THINGS APPRECIABLY IMPROVE THIS GO-AROUND?

>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SAYS THEY HAVE IMPROVED AND COUNTIES ARE TRYING THE BEST THEY CAN TO GET PROPER TRANSLATION.

CRITICS SAY IT'S NOT WORKING YET.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTE IN ARIZONA IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS A GROUP IN 2020 THAT SHOWED UP MORE THAN IT TYPICALLY DOES AND THEN BIDEN WON.

IF YOU GET A HIGH TURNOUT FROM THEM, IT COULD HELP.

TED: AND LAST QUESTION, IN DOING THE STORY, A COMPREHENSIVE STORY AND VERY WELL DONE, WHAT SURPRISED YOU?

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM DOING THIS?

>> HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO NAVAJO.

FOR ABORTION, YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT AN ABORTION IS.

IT ALMOST DEFINES THE ENGLISH WORD WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ABORTION, AND THAT MAKES IT EXTREMELY COMPLICATED.

TED: AND UNCOMFORTABLE FOR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERS.

>> TO EXPLAIN ABORTION IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ANYONE.

TED: THANK YOU FOR SHARING, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: BIOSCIENCE IS BOOMING IN THE PHOENIX AREA, THE VALLEY IS OUTPACING THE NATION IN BIOSCIENCE AND LIFE SCIENCE WITH SOME OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES OF ANY MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.

FOR MORE ON THE IMPACT, WE WELCOME CHRIS CAMACHO, GREATER PHOENIX ECONOMIC COUNCIL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> LIKEWISE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BIOSCIENCE SECTOR, WHAT MAKES UP THAT SECTOR?

>> TRADITIONALLY, BASIC RESEARCH THAT HAPPENS IN UNIVERSITIES TO TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH THAT HAPPENS WITH DOCS AND OTHER SCIENTISTS.

ABOUT DISCOVERING NEW GENE THERAPIES, THERAPEUTICS, BETTER PATIENT CARE ABOUT, SUPPORTING PATIENT CARE.

TED: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, HOSPITALS, THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> WE'RE SITTING IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX AND UP THE ROAD YOU HAVE THE PHOENIX BIOSCIENCE CORE, 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE IS GOING TO BE BUILT WITH THE CENTER FOR MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY BUT IT'S ABOUT DETECTION OF DISEASE AND NATURALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE OF DISEASE PREVENTION.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THE FOCUS IN THE PAST HAD BEEN CANCER, IS THAT STILL A FOCUS?

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE'S A FOCUS ON CANCER, AND HEARD A NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS SAY THE ROAD TO SOLVING CANCER COULD HAPPEN THROUGH PHOENIX.

I THINK ALSO RIGHT UP THE ROAD WITH BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE AND THE TREMENDOUS WORK THEY'RE DOING AROUND THE NEUROSCIENCES, IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE NATIONALLY YOU'RE SENDING MOM AND DAD OR DEALING WITH AN INFLICTION THAT YOU HAVE YOURSELF, COMING TO PHOENIX FOR THAT NEUROSCIENCE CARE.

TED: I THINK THAT THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX LIKES TO USE THAT ROAD TO CANCER COMES THROUGH PHOENIX.

THAT IDEA, ARE THERE ANOTHER OO SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE GENERAL BUT IN BIOSCIENCE, THERE'S A LOT OF TARGETED THINGS, IS THAT STILL THE WAY IT IS?

>> I GO BACK TO EARLY 2000S.

FLYNN FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED A BIOSCIENCE ROAD MAP.

THE STATE MADE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN T-GENIN OUR REGION.

NOW WITH CAMMI AND MAYO CLINIC, THIS IS ABOUT PATIENT CARE BUT SOLVING AND IDENTIFYING DRUGS EARLIER AND IDENTIFYING PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO MAKE US HEALTHIER AS A SOCIETY, BUT ULTIMATELY THE DRUGS, THE THERAPIES, WE DON'T WANT TO BE JUST AN IMPORTER, WE WANT TO BE THE MARKET THAT CREATES THE NOVEL DRUGS AND NOVEL THERAPIES TO SUPPORT OUR OWN PATIENTS IN THE VALLEY.

TED: AND THE INFORMATION FROM KEEPING THE PATIENTS FROM GETTING WORSE OR CONTACTING THE DISEASE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT ECONOMICS EARLIER, VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE NATION.

WE'RE A PLACE, LAST TIME I WAS HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEMICONDUCTORS, NOW BIOLOGICS, MEDICAL DEVICES, WE'RE A TOP FOUR MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES FOR BIOSCIENCE AND LIFE SCIENCES.

TED: IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN BIOSCIENCE AND SEMICONDUCTORS?

>> THE LINKAGE IS WITH THE CHIPS ALBEIT WITH TSMC IN PHOENIX OR INTEL, THEY GO INTO MANY OF THE MEDDEVICES THAT PATIENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TODAY.

DEX COMADVANCED A MAJOR MANUFACTURING CENTER IN THE VALLEY AROUND GLUCOSE, THERE'S A NEXUS BETWEEN THE CHIPS AND THE MEDICAL DEVICES ON PATIENTS IN METRO PHOENIX.

TED: WE TALKED ABOUT THE GROWTH AND DONE SO MANY STORIES ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" REGARDING BIOSCIENCE AND THE GROWTH.

WAS THERE A TURNING POINT, A LIGHTBULB AH-HAH MOMENT, THAT'S DABBLING TO A REAL PLAYER?

>> IF YOU THINK OF THE MAINSTAYS, MAYO CLINIC, BANNER HEALTH, DIGNITY AND OTHERS.

WE'RE SEEING INSTITUTE AND VENTURE CAPITAL PLACED IN HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES AND THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED.

YOU HAVE MAYO AND ASU LAUNCHING A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN NORTH PHOENIX.

120 ACRES OF NEW BIOMEDICAL LAB SPACE IS GOING TO BE BUILT IN NORTH PHOENIX.

IT'S RADICALLY CHANGED OUR IDENTITY.

TED: THE IDEA OF TAXING THIS?

>> HEAVY INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

WILL BE A PLACE THAT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN NOVEL IDEAS.

THE WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER UP AT THE PHOENIX MEDICAL CORRIDOR, THE FORMER PARK CENTRAL MALL.

THINK OF PHOENIX IN THE 1970, 80, THE MALLS ARE REHABBED TO BE CENTERS OF BIOSCIENCE DISCOVERY.

AROUND CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY AND BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE, WE HAVE 27 COMPANIES LAUNCHED THAT ARE SUPPORTING DRUG DISCOVERABLE DEVICES.

TED: YOU MENTIONED VENTURE CAPITAL, WHERE DOES PHOENIX RATE IN TERMS OF VENTURE CAPITAL AND GETTING MONEY IN HERE.

>> YOU THINK OF NEW YORK, SILICON VALLEY, BOSTON, SAN DIEGO, THOSE ARE THE FOUR LARGEST HUBS THAT COLLECT A LOT OF THE VENTURE CAPITAL.

WE'VE SEEN DRAMATIC CHANGE IN OUR POSITION.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A 60% CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT ACROSS SOFTWARE AND HEALTH CARE SCIENCES ALONE.

I ANTICIPATE FURTHER LEVELS OF INVESTMENT COMING THIS DIRECTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

TED: LAST QUESTION, EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT GROWTH, EVERY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT ANYTHING INCREASING IN THE VALLEY, THE CONCERN IS WATER.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO SUSTAIN THIS KIND OF GROWTH IN THIS KIND OF INDUSTRY?

>> WE COULD SPEND 45 MORE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT WATER IN THE STATE.

THE CHALLENGE YOU HAVE, THE NATIONAL PRESS LOVES TO COVER THE COLORADO RIVER, THAT'S A THIRD OF OUR WATER ALLOCATION.

WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF ARIZONA'S WATER SINCE INSCEPTION OF THE STATE.

TODAY WE'RE USING 1957 WATER CONSUMPTION LEVELS.

MANY RECYCLE 95% OF WATER, INTEL USES NO WATER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM CLEANING THE WATER AND REPLACING WETLANDS.

THOSE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES WITH CITIES AND THE STATE LEAD US TO A VERY STRONG FUTURE ON WATER AND CONTINUE TO BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT WATER USE GOING FORWARD.

TED: VERY GOOD, CHRIS CAMACHO ON THE BOOMING BIOSCIENCE SECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.