♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING FOR JIMMY CARTER.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S LEGACY FROM AN ARIZONA PERSPECTIVE.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT EDUCATION LEADERS WANT TO SEE FROM STATE LAWMAKERS IN THE UPCOMING SESSION?

>>> AND FINDINGS FROM A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION INTO ARIZONA'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

FIVE MOSTLY UNCONTAINED MAJOR WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO BURN IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA, AT LAST REPORT THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE FATALITIES, THOUGH THE NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE.

NEARLY 30,000 ACRES HAVE BURNED.

EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IMPACTING 200,000 RESIDENTS AND THOUSANDS OF THOSE EVACUATED RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE HOMES TO RETURN TO.

A 6:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M.

CURFEW IN EFFECT FOR THE MOST DAMAGED AREAS.

STRONG GUSTS ARE A THREAT AND SPOT FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

THE LATEST ON THE EATON FIRE WHICH DEVASTATED ALTADENA AND THREATENS NEARBY PASADENA.

>> THE EATON FIRE IS ESTIMATED TO BE 10,600 ACRES AND GROWTH HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY STOPPED, AND WE HAVE ZERO PERCENT CONTAINMENT.

WE HAVE OVER 879 FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL ASSIGNED AND MUTUAL AID RESOURCES CONTINUE TO ARRIVE TO ASSIST WITH THIS FIRE FIGHT.

TED: AN EVEN BIGGER FIRE, THE PALISADES FIRE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED 5,000 STRUCTURES, BURNING 17,000 ACRES AND ON ITS OWN ONE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES.

ECONOMIC LOSS ESTIMATED AT $50 BILLION WITH INITIAL INSURANCE LOSSES AT $8 BILLION, TWICE THAT OF THE MAUI FIRES IN 2023.

>>> AND TODAY'S OTHER BIG STORY, THE NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING FOR FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, LAID TO REST IN NATIVE PLAINS, GEORGIA, A PRIVATE FUNERAL FOLLOWED BY STATE LAWMAKERS, DIGNITARIES AND ALL FIVE LIVING U.S. PRESIDENTS.

>> JIMMY CARTER DID JUSTLY, LOVED MERCILY, WALKED HUMBLY.

MAY GOD BLESS A GREAT AMERICAN, A DEAR FRIEND AND A GOOD MAN.

MAY HE BE RAISED UP ON EAGLE'S WINGS BURIED ON THE BREATH OF DAWN, MAKE IT SHINE LIKE THE SUN AND HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.

GOD BLESS YOU, JIMMY CARTER.

TED: CARTER WAS BURIED NEXT TO WIFE ROSALYNN WHO DIED IN 2023.

A NIECE OF THE CARTERS SAID IT, QUOTE, GIVES ME A GOOD FEELING KNOWING THEY'RE TOGETHER.

>>> AND ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING, WE LOOK AT JIMMY CARTER'S LEGACY HERE IN ARIZONA.

JOINING US FOR THAT IS FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL TERRY GODDARD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

TED: DO YOU HAVE MUCH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT ALL WITH JIMMY CARTER?

>> I WAS IN A POSITION TO OBSERVE AND SOMETIMES OPPOSE THINGS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER WAS DOING.

I DID HAVE ONE MEMORABLE OCCASION, I WAS VISITING ATLANTA MAYOR ANDREW YOUNG, AND HE SAID WE WANT TO SEE THE PRESIDENT, MEANING CARTER.

I SAID, OF COURSE, I'D LOVE TO MEET HIM.

WE WENT OUT TO A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SITE AND I'M LOOKING AROUND AND DON'T SEE SECRET SERVICE OR BIG LIMOS OR ANYTHING, AND SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, HE'S UP THERE.

AND THERE'S AN ELDER GENTLEMAN ON THE ROOF WITH A HAMMER, BUSILY AT WORK, AND MAYOR YOUNG SAID THIS IS TERRY GODDARD FROM ARIZONA, AND JIMMY SAID.

HI, TERRY, AND WAVED HIS HAMMER AND THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE, BUT IT WAS INDICATIVE OF WHAT HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF HIS POST PRESIDENCY DOING.

HE MADE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE FOR GOOD AND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HE AND ROSALYNN, I UNDERSTAND, ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN 4447 BUILDINGS FOR HABITAT.

TED: CARTER'S LEGACY HERE IN ARIZONA, COMPLICATED.

>> COMPLICATED, YES, IT IS.

TED: TELL ME ABOUT IT.

>> STARTS WITH A LOCAL HERO, MO UDALL RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AT THE SAME TIME AS JIMMY CARTER.

MO CAME IN SECOND TO CARTER, SOMETIMES BY AN EYELASH, THEY DID CALL HIM SECONDHAND MO, BUT HE -- WE WISH IT HAD A DIFFERENT RESULT, I THINK, FOR ARIZONA, BUT ALL HE HAS TO SAY IN HIS GREAT BOOK, TOO FUNNY TO BE PRESIDENT, IS ADMIRATION FOR CARTER, FOR SOMEBODY WHO WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING, AND ALTHOUGH HIS OPPONENT, HE RESPECTED HIM A GREAT DEAL.

TED: DID HE FOCUS MUCH ON ARIZONA DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL RUN, FIRST PRESIDENTIAL RUN, OBVIOUSLY THE UDALL SITUATION.

>> UDALL COMPLICATED IT.

TED: YEAH, BUT SOUNDED LIKE THEY GOT TOGETHER AFTERWARDS, AS YOU DID IN THOSE DAYS AND CAMPAIGNED TOGETHER.

>> THEY DID, AFTER THE NOMINATION AND JIMMY CAME TO ARIZONA TO HELP MO WITH HIS DEBTS FROM THE CAMPAIGN.

THAT WAS A GRACIOUS MOVE AND I KNOW IT WAS APPRECIATED BY THE UDALL FOLK.

AND MANY UDALL STAFFERS ENDED UP IN THE ADMINISTRATION WITH CARTER.

TED: FORMER SENATOR DeCONCINI, JIMMY CARTED WANTED TO DEFUND IT.

>> YES, HE DID.

HE WENT AFTER 18 WATER PROJECTS.

AND C.A.P.

WAS ONE OF IT, AT THE BEGINNING OF FUNDING CYCLE, 1976-77.

PROVEN IN 68 BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THE WHEELS MOVING.

CARTER IN A TOUGH TIME ECONOMICALLY, INFLATION WAS OUT OF CONTROL AS WE PAINFULLY REMEMBER, SO HE HAD THE BIG PROJECTS WE THOUGHT WE COULDN'T AFFORD, HE HAD C.A.P.

ON THE LIST AND THE ARIZONA DELEGATION, JOHN McCAIN, BARRY GOLDWATER, THEY CAME UNGLUED AND PERSUADED HIM OF THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS AND CAME BACK IT WAS FULLY FUNDED.

TED: DO YOU THINK HE SAW, JIMMY CARTER EVER SAW THE IMPORTANCE AT LEAST THE IMPACT OF WHAT C.A.P.

MEANT TO THE STATE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, I DON'T HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS.

HE'S A FARMER FROM GEORGIA WHO KNOWS THE LAND, KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO GROW PEANUTS OR PROBABLY COTTON, BUT I DON'T THINK HE UNDERSTOOD THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO THE ARID WEST.

THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T GET.

THE C.A.P.

IS PIVOTAL TO OUR ECONOMY IN ARIZONA.

I DON'T THINK HE GOT THAT BUT SO MANY THINGS HE DID GET.

HE HELPED TO FUND THE I-10 FREEWAY, THE LARGEST SECTION OF THE COUNTRY THAT WASN'T FINISHED, RIGHT THROUGH PHOENIX.

I HAD THE DISTINCTION OF TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM GOING THROUGH PHOENIX BUT THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION PUSHED IT THROUGH.

THE OTHER THING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR IS HIS SECRETARY OF INTERIORS CECIL ANDRES, IF THEY WERE GOING TO GET WATER FROM THE ARIZONA PROJECT, THEY HAD TO PASS A GROUND WATER CODE SO THE WATER DIDN'T COME IN AND WE CONTINUED TO DO THE DEVASTATION OF OUR GROUND WATER SUPPLIES.

THE 1980 BILL WAS A DIRECT TRIBUTE OR CONCESSION TO PRESIDENT CARTER.

TED: AND GROUND WATER IS STILL IN THE NEWS.

>> ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, AND THE ONLY REGRET I HAVE AND I THINK MANY DO IS IT WASN'T STATEWIDE.

IT JUST APPLIED TO THE METROPOLITAN AREAS.

TED: SENATOR DeCONCINI HAD ISSUES WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT OVER THE PANAMA CANAL.

>> THINGS GO IN CIRCLES.

YES, HE DID, HE HAD THE DeCONCINI RESERVATION, DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT CARTER LOST ARIZONA BY 16 POINTS.

I KNOW DENNIS DeCONCINI WAS NO POLITICAL FOOL, AND SAID HE'S GOT TO MAKE DISTANCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

HE DID IT WITH THE PANAMA CANAL.

HE WAS BRILLIANT AND RIGHT.

HE SAID IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY, WE COULD BRING TROOPS INTO PANAMA IF WE HAD TO, SO ULTIMATELY IT PASSED CARTER PUSHING IT VERY HARD, AND IT BELONGS TO PANAMA.

TED: A LOT OF MANEUVERING GOING AGAINST IT BUT GOING FOR IT AS FAR AS THE RATIFICATION IS CONCERNED.

HOW DO YOU -- CHECK THAT.

HOW WOULD YOU WANT JIMMY CARTER TO BE REMEMBERED?

>> WELL, I THINK THE TRIBUTES THAT WE HEARD TODAY IN WASHINGTON WERE EXTRAORDINARY.

THE ONE THEY WAS ABLE TO HEAR ON THE CAR RADIO WAS THE STATEMENTS OF FORMER PRESIDENT FORD, WHO THEY RAN AGAINST EACH OTHER, THEY HAD EVERY REASON TO BE BITTER.

WHEN THEY WENT TO AND FROM THE FUNERAL FROM ANWAR SADAT, THEY BECAME FAST FRIENDS AND FRIENDS FOR THE REST OF FORD'S LIFE, AND THEY MADE AN AGREEMENT THEY WOULD DO THE EULOGIES, WHOEVER DIED FIRST, THEY WOULD COME AND PAY TRIBUTE AT THAT APPOINTMENT.

FORD OBVIOUSLY DID, SO HIS SON STEVE READ THE REMARKS, AND THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARY.

THEY WERE ABOUT SOMEBODY WE SHOULD REMEMBER VERY FONDLY, EXTRAORDINARY MAN OF FAITH AND OF PRINCIPLE AND WHO DID IN THE WORDS OF ANOTHER SON READING HIS FATHER'S WORDS RICH MONDALE, TED MONDALE SAID TO TELL THE TRUTH, FOLLOW THE LAW AND PROMOTE PEACE.

TED: LAST QUESTION, COULD A JIMMY CARTER SURVIVE IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE?

>> I SINCERELY DOUBT IT.

HE, IF ANYTHING, WAS A BIT NAIVE FOR POLITICS.

HE WAS A BRILLIANT MAN, HE SAW WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NEED FOR RENEWABLE SOURCES AND LED THE BAND THERE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE STANDARDS THAT FRITZ MONDALE SPOKE ABOUT APPLIES TODAY.

I WISH IT DID.

CARTER IS A MEMORY OF A WHAT A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT CAN DO AND DO IN POST-SERVICE PERIOD WHERE, FOR 44 YEARS, BY MY VISION, HE WAS THE GREATEST FORMER PRESIDENT WE'VE EVER HAD.

TED: TERRY GODDARD, FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL, GOOD CONVERSATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S A PLEASURE.

.

TED: THIS WEEK WE'RE HEARING FROM ADVOCATES OF VARIOUS ISSUES ON WHAT THEY HOPE TO SEE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

WE'VE HEARD FROM ADVOCATES OF CHILDREN'S ISSUES, BUSINESS CONCERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS.

TONIGHT THE FOCUS IS ON EDUCATION, WE WELCOME MARISOL GARCIA PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TED: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> FUNDING, FUNDING, FUNDING.

TED: ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY?

>> MORE SO IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING QUALITY EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM AND STABILITY FOR THE STUDENTS.

TED: PROP 123 EXPIRES IN JUNE, EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS, WHY IT'S EXPIRING IN JUNE AND WHY SOMETHING HAS TO GET DONE WITH THAT?

>> THIS IS TEN YEAR VOTER INITIATIVE THAT PASSED THAT ALLOWED US TO EXPAND MONEY FROM THE LAND TRUST TO GO INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE PASSED IT TEN YEARS AGO AFTER A LAWSUIT WAS FILED, AND IT WAS DONE SO VERY, VERY SMALL, BARELY PASSED BUT TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.

TED: TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN OR PASS IT, EXTEND IT?

>> IT HAS TO GO TO A BALLOT.

IT'S GOING TO END IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, 2025.

WE FEEL A BIG URGENCY FOR THIS, FOR THE MAIN VANE THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FUNDING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL, IT LENDS INSTABILITY TO STUDENTS, A WORKFORCE THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SALARY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE OR WHAT SCHOOLS ARE OPEN NEXT YEAR.

TED: I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS AND LEGISLATURE WANT TO KNOW A LOT IF NOT ALL OF THE MONEY GO TO TEACHERS.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> IANG LOT OF IT SHOULD GO TO TEACHERS, BUT OTHER FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE BUILDINGS, NEEDS THAT THE BUILDINGS HAVE, EVERY DISTRICT'S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

SALARIES LOOK DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE.

WE NEED STABILITY HOW THE DISTRICTS WANT TO USE IT.

TED: IF IT COMES DOWN TO ALL TEACHERS OR WE PUSH IT OVER, WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> THE THING IS A MAZE, WHAT OTHER THINGS WE ASK FOR, IT'S THE SAUSAGE MAKING WE TALK ABOUT.

TED: DO YOU THINK MORE MONEY SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE STATE LAND TRUST, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO BUMP IT UP TO 8, 9%.

>> WE DID RESEARCH THAT LOOKED AT THE DATA, WE COULD GO HIGHER AND IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE LONG RUN.

WE KEEP WAITING FOR THE RAINY DAYS TO HAPPEN.

WE HAVE EMPTY CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE STATE.

2,000 AT A TIME.

OUR KIDS GET THIS SHOT ONE TIME, AND WE'RE MISSING IT.

TED: STATE TREASURER SAYS THE WITHDRAWAL WOULD BE DANGEROUS AND UNSUSTAINABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT ECONOMIC REPORTS THAT SHOWED US IT WOULD HAVE VERY LITTLE MINIMUM HIT AFTER TEN YEARS.

TED: YEAH, ESAs, DO YOU EXPECT ANYTHING AT ALL IN TERMS OF GUARDRAILS, EXTRA ATTENTION, ANYTHING?

>> MY HOPE IS THAT IS A HUGE CONVERSATION WE PUSH THE MAJORITY TO HAVE BECAUSE ANY PARENT, VOTER, BUSINESS OWNER KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ON ANY TAXPAYER INVESTMENT, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NONE.

WE SAW SEVERAL STATES VOTE DOWN VOUCHER PROGRAMS FOR THAT SOLE REASON, IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY GOING TO FAMILIES HAS ACCOUNTABILITY.

TED: WHEN YOU MENTION THAT TO LAWMAKERS OR FOLKS AROUND THE CAPITOL WHO DON'T SEE THINGS QUITE THE SAME WAY AS YOU DO, HOW DO THEY RESPOND?

>> THEY LAUGH IT OFF.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN INABILITY TO REALLY LISTEN TO THE VOTERS AND LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS AND MORE OF AN EAR TO FOLKS WHO WANT BROAD POLICIES, NATIONAL POLICIES.

THIS IS IMPACTING KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE IS LESS MONEY THAT CAN BE INVESTED IN SCHOOLS.

TED: THE GROWING SKILLS GAP.

WE HAD BUSINESS CONCERNS TOUCHED ON THERE AND OTHER FOLKS TOUCHED ON IT AS WELL, AND SHE GOT ASU WE FOUND OUT THE BIG NEW RESEARCH FACILITY, SEMICONDUCTOR AND MICROCHIP AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY CAME TO ARIZONA BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET QUALIFIED WORKERS, AND YET I'M HEARING FROM BUSINESSES, WE CAN'T FIND THE -- HOW DO YOU CLOSE THE SKILLS GAP?

>> SOMEONE WHO HAD 32 KIDS SIX TIMES A DAY, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH THE GOALS THAT THE STUDENTS NEED.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE NEED MORE ADULTS ON THE SITES.

WE NEED MORE ADULTS, SMALLER CLASS SIZES.

NEED TO MAKE SURE KIDS GET WHAT THEY NEED AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.

TED: REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE SAY THEY WANT TO FUND STUDENTS NOT SYSTEMS.

RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

STUDENTS GO THROUGH SYSTEMS, SYSTEMS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND I CONSIDER MYSELF 8th GRADE TEACHER PART OF THAT SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTED IN.

TED: GOES BACK TO PAYING TEACHERS AS OPPOSED TO BUREAUCRACY.

>> TEACHERS.

WE AGREE, WE WANT THE FUNDING TO GO TO TEACHER SALARIES AND WANT THEM TO GO TO NURSE'S SALARIES AND COUNSELOR SALARIES AND CAFETERIA SALARIES, WE DO NOT WORK IN SILENCE, WE WORK TOGETHER.

TED: CONGRESSMEN MENTIONED WOKE POLITICS, RADICAL, TRANSGENDER, IDEOLOGY.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT, A SLIGHT POINT ABOUT TAKING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF MY CLASSROOM.

I WOULD LOVE IT, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

HOWEVER, LOOK AT VERY FIRST BILL THAT'S GOING TO BE HEARD AT FIRST MEETING OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IS TO ARM TEACHERS.

THAT IS NOT HOW WE BRING SAFETY INTO OUR SCHOOLS.

WHEN I GREET THE 32 EIGHTH GRADERS IN THE MORNING WHO HAVE POSSIBLY NOT HAD FOOD THE NIGHT BEFORE AND I NEED TO GET THEM FOCUSED TO TEACH THEM ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE A WEAPON IN MY SCHOOL.

TED: OVER THE YEARS, HAVE YOU SEEN -- OBVIOUSLY, AS FAR AS EDUCATION CONCERNS ARE TALKED ABOUT HERE, HAVE YOU SEEN A MOVEMENT, A SHIFT TO MORE UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IDEA IS COMING FROM?

OR WITH ESAs IN PARTICULAR, DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE GULF IS WIDENING?

>> WE HAVEN'T LOST A LOT OF STUDENTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO THE SAME PARENTS THAT ALWAYS HAD THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE USING THE ESA VOUCHERS.

SAME FAMILIES THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

SECONDARILY, WE HAVE SUCH HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY AND STANDARDS FROM THE MOMENT I OPEN MY DOOR, WE'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERYTHING WE DO.

I DON'T HAVE TIME, THE INFERENCE OF INDOCTRINATION OR QUOTE, UNQUOTE WOKE, YOU CAN ASK IF THEY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY TEACHING KIDS HOW TO MULTIPIE.

TED: DO YOU PLAN TO SPEND MORE TIME PLAYING OFFENSE OR DEFENSE?

>> IT'S A BALANCE.

WE NOW HAVE A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT IS NOT TOO FOND OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS EITHER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OFFENSE, BUT BY ORGANIZING AND WORKING WITH PARENTS THAT WE FOUGHT BACK THE MEASURES, A GOVERNOR VETOED THEM BUT WE'RE GOING TO BRING REAL STORIES.

WE HAVE REAL ISSUES THEY'RE CONFRONTING.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

TED: MARISOL GARCIA, ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

.

TED: A FIVE-YEAR INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT ARIZONA'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

MARY JO PITZL OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM IS COVERING THE STORY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT EXACTLY DID THE D.O.J.

LOOK AT?

>> THEY LOOKED AT THE TREATMENT OF PARENTS -- DISABLED PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE OR ARE NOT DISABLED.

THE FOCUS WAS ON HOW THE PARENTS WERE TREATED AS THEY IMPACT WITH THE SYSTEM.

DCS HAS THE AUTHORITY TO, IF NECESSARY, INTERVENE IN FAMILY RELATIONS.

THEY CAN REMOVE CHILDREN FROM HARMFUL OR ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND THIS BECOMES, IT'S CHALLENGING TO DO THAT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THEY HAVE HEARING ISSUES, SOME COGNITIVE ISSUES, IT BECOMES VERY COMPLICATED AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOUND THAT COUPLE OF CASES THAT THEY DECIDED THAT PARENTS' CIVIL RIGHTS WERE NOT BEING RESPECTED.

TED: WHAT LED TO THE INVESTIGATION?

>> COMPLAINTS.

TED: NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS PILED UP AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> SOME OF THE PARENTS PICKED UP THE PHONE AND WENT ONLINE AND FILED A COMPLAINT DIRECTLY WITH THE FEDS.

TED: REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION ISSUES, TRANSLATORS FOR FOLKS WHO NEED SIGN LANGUAGE, THIS SORT OF THING?

>> YEAH, THEY GAVE SUGGESTIONS HOW THE SITUATIONS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED FROM SAMPLES, THEY HAD A WOMAN WHO WAS GIVEN -- THEY WERE GOING REMOVE HER CHILD, SHE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE SHE WAS DEAF, AND HANDED HER A PIECE OF PAPER THAT EXPLAINED IT, AND IT'S UNCLEAR IF SHE WAS VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO READ.

SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY TOOK HER CHILD.

TED: MY GOODNESS, PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, KIDS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AS WELL.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE THE INNOCENT VICTIMS IN ALL THIS.

TED: DID I READ AS WELL MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES, SOME WERE CALLED CRAZY AND PSYCHO BY THE WORKERS THERE, IS THAT TRUE?

>> APPARENTLY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY, I HAVEN'T HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A CULTURE THING.

UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW TO SPEAK PROPERLY ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND NOT DEROGATORY TERMS.

TED: WHAT DOES THE D.O.J.

WANT TO SEE?

>> THEY SAID WE WANT AN ANSWER IN TWO WEEKS, AND IF YOU DON'T WORK WITH US, WE MAY HAVE TO SUE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY GOT BACK TO THEM AND SAID, LOOK, WE DON'T AGREE WITH YOUR FINDINGS BUT WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE FEDS TO FIGURE THINGS OUT AND ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

SO THEY'RE STARTING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE.

THE FEDS WANT THEM TO APPOINT AN ADA, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT LIAISON, THEY DID THAT IN 2023.

I EXPECT PROBABLY A LONG PERIOD OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN D.C. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY.

TED: IF THEY HAVE THE LIAISON AND HAD IT FOR A WHILE, WHY WAS THIS -- WAS THAT IN REACTION TO SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THEY WERE HEARING?

>> PERHAPS, I DON'T KNOW THE ORIGIN OF IT, AND I'M ALSO UNCLEAR IF ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTED ON CAME TO THIS STATE LEVEL APPOINTEE.

TED: INTERESTING, INTERESTING.

TIMING OF ALL OF THIS AT THE END OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THAT?

>> I THINK THEY WANTED TO GET THIS OUT THE DOOR, MAYBE FOR FEAR THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT, AND MAY NOT SEE IT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE.

TED: SO WHAT'S NEXT IN ALL THIS?

>> THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND I SUSPECT SOME INTERNAL REFRESHING OF TRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

COMING AT A TOUGH TIME, THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT DIRECTOR AND TRYING TO DIG OUT FROM THE BIG TECHNOLOGICAL COMPUTER ISSUE THAT'S REALLY HELD UP A LOT OF CHILDREN'S CASES.

IT'S KEPT FAMILIES IN LIMBO.

TED: THE REUNIFICATION ISSUES AND THE ADOPTION DOCUMENTATION ISSUES, THEY REALLY ARE -- SEEMS LIKE THAT PARTICULAR PART OF GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS FIGHTING IT.

>> IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

FROM HAVING COVERED IT FOR A WHILE.

YOU REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING -- DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMNED IF YOU DON'T, IN MANY CASES, BUT IT'S GOT TO GET STRAIGHTENED OUT.

WE'LL SEE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY GET A PERMANENT DIRECTOR AS OPPOSED TO A TEMPORARY ONE.

TED: ARE THEY GOING TO GET A PERMANENT DIRECTOR?

>> WE'LL SEE WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS AND HOBBS HAS NOT PRESENTED A NOMINEE YET THROUGH THE SENATE, BUT THE SENATE IS DOING A HARD VET OF ALL THESE CANDIDATES.

SO TUNE IN.

THIS WILL HAPPEN IN JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY.

TED: WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOMORROW ON THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JUST THE PROCESS OF THE GOVERNOR ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO GET HER NOMINEES THROUGH, BUT THIS IS A BIGGIE AND IMPORTANT.

>> IT IS, AND THE AGENCY DOES NEED STABILITY.

THEY'VE GOT ALL THE ISSUES TO DEAL WITH, AND JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK THEY DO WITH FAMILIES TO KEEP ENDS TOGETHER OR TO SEPARATE THE CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS, SUPPOSEDLY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, THE REUNIFICATION ISSUES, MARY JO PITZL, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.