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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

MILLIONS OF STUDENTS WHO RELY ON FEDERAL AID TO ATTEND COLLEGE FACE UNCERTAINTY AS PLANS TO DISBAND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAKES SHAPE.

>>> A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BILL THAT CRITICS SAY WOULD NOT MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

>>> AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES BLACK CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

GOVERNOR HOBBS ESTABLISHED A NEW TASK FORCE CHARGED WITH FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL CARTELS ALONG THE STATE'S SOUTHERN BORDER.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED YESTERDAY CREATES WHAT IS CALLED OPERATION DESERT GUARDIAN WHICH THE GOVERNOR SAYS WILL DISMANTLE CARTEL SUPPLY CHAINS AND OPERATING NETWORKS WITH A GOAL OF STOPPING DRUG SMUGGLING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

TASK FORCE IS SEEN AS A WAY TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

>>> ON CAPITOL HILL, ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY ASKED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S NOMINEE FOR DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY A SIMPLE QUESTION AS A NOMINEE FOR THE NUMBER TWO SPOT IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ANSWER.

>> MR. FEINBERG, DID RUSSIA INVADE UKRAINE?

>> WELL, UM, GOING TO MY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS STATEMENT A SECOND AGO, I'LL JUST SAY THIS: THE, UM, THEY MOVED TANKS AND TROOPS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS ACROSS THE UKRAINIAN BORDER.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE QUESTION.

>> YEAH, WELL, HERE'S -- >> IF I WOULD ASK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE IF RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN, I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD KNOW THE ANSWER.

>> I GOTCHA.

THERE'S A TENSE NEGOTIATION GOING ON NOW, IMPORTANT FOR AMERICAN INTERESTS.

>> MR. FEINBERG, WE'VE GOT TO LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD HERE.

THINGS HAPPEN AND IT'S OBVIOUS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, AND I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS TO EUROPE RIGHT NOW THAT WE JUST BLEW UP AN ALLIANCE, FOR US NOT TO SAY AN OBVIOUS FACT IS -- IT DOESN'T HELP A NEGOTIATION.

TED: FEINBERG IS THE LATEST MEMBER OR NOMINEE OF THE TRANSPORTATION TO DODGE RUSSIA'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR INVADING UKRAINE.

>>> ECONOMIC NOTE, U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS DOWN AGAIN.

THREE STRAIGHT MONTHLY DECLINES FOR THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX.

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES INDEX INCREASED.

A NEW WELLS FARGO SURVEYS SHOWS THAT ROUGHLY 75% OF ADULTS AND TEENS SAY THEY PLAN TO CUT DOWN ON SPENDING DUE TO ECONOMIC WORRIES.

>>> ONE MORE HEADLINE, DIANA TAURASI ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT FROM THE WNBA.

THE LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME CAREER SCORING LEADER, SPENDING ALL OF HER 20 SEASONS WITH THE MERCURY.

SHE LED THE LOCAL FRANCHISE TO THREE WNBA TITLES AND SIX OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS WITH TEAM USA.

LEAVES AS ARGUABLY THE GREATEST WNBA PLAYER EVER AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ATHLETE TO PLAY FOR AN ARIZONA PRO FRANCHISE.

>>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO DISBAND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COULD AFFECT FINANCIAL AID FOR MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS.

FAFSA OR FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID HELPS STUDENTS APPLYING FOR FEDERAL AID.

JOINING US IS RICH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF FAFSA.

>> THE FAFSA WAS CREATED DECADES AGO NOW TO CONSOLIDATE A MESSY SYSTEM OF APPLYING FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

AND THAT UNLOCKS FINANCIAL AID IN STATES AND UNIVERSITIES, IT'S THE FREE PART OF THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND ALSO IT'S THE ONLY APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID AVAILABLE TODAY.

WITHOUT THAT APPLICATION, STUDENTS LITERALLY CAN'T APPLY FOR PELL GRANTS, WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY BACK.

CAN'T APPLY FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS, AND WORK STUDY.

FURTHER THAN THAT, IT OPENS DOORS TO INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE MOST OF THE FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION OR FAMILY IS.

THE FAFSA IS LITERALLY THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE MONEY NEED FOR ALMOST EVERYBODY TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CERTAINLY HERE IN ARIZONA.

TED: HOW IS FAFSA RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?

>> ONE OF THE BIG ROLES.

THERE'S FOUR MAIN BUCKETS OF THINGS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES, INCLUDING FUNDING SOME K-12 MONEY HERE IN ARIZONA.

BEING A WATCHDOG AS FAR AS HOW SCHOOLS ARE SPENDING FUNDS AND KIND OF HOW THEY'RE ACTING, BUT REALLY BIG PART OF THAT IS BY HANDLING THIS GIANT FINANCIAL PORTFOLIO OF STUDENT LOANS AND OTHER MONEY THAT'S TIED TO THE FAFSA.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT CALLED FSA, FEDERAL STUDENT AID, AND THE FAFSA IS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE MONEY AND GETTING THE MONEY FOR YOUR STUDENT.

TED: IF FAFSA -- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GOES AWAY, FAFSA PRETTY MUCH GOES AWAY.

CAN THE STATES TAKE OVER?

CAN PRIVATE LENDERS TAKE OVER?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> COMPLICATED QUESTION, I'LL TRY TO HANDLE IT AS EASILY AS I CAN.

PRIVATE VENDORS ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THE FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THOSE, SO THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS BUILT ON THIS IDEA THAT PEOPLE WILL GET THEIR EDUCATION, PAY BACK THE LOAN, BUT IT'S NOT A COMMERCIAL OR CONSUMER PRIVATE LOAN TYPE.

SO PRIVATE LENDING COULD INCREASE.

ALSO THE STATES COULD STEP IN WITH STRONG FINANCIAL AID SYSTEMS.

IN OUR STATE, WE HAVEN'T REALLY INVESTED HISTORICALLY IN DIRECTLY HELPING STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES LIKE A LOT OF OTHER STATES DO, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

I DON'T THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE PUBLIC WILL IS REALLY IN PLACE IN OUR STATE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON -- IT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY HERE IN ARIZONA, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR.

COME INTO OUR STATE, TO OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THROUGH THIS FAFSA.

TED: COULD FAFSA BE MOVED TO ANOTHER AGENCY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> SO SHUTTING DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE A BIG TASK, IF IT HAPPENS.

THE BETTER -- THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS TODAY AND HAS, MIGHT BECOME FUNCTIONS THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES THEN WOULD TAKE HOLD OF.

THE FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAM COULD BE ONE OF THOSE OR IT COULD BE HANDLED BY PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, A BANK, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT FOLKS THAT ARE COMPLETING THAT FAFSA TODAY.

TED: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MESS THAT FAFSA WAS DESIGNED TO CLEAN UP AND STREAMLINE, ET CETERA.

DOES IT REVERT BACK TO NATURE IF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GOES AWAY AND ADIOS FAFSA?

>> AS FAR AS FAFSA IS CONCERNED, THAT'S HEAVY SPECULATION.

I WILL SAY THIS, WITHOUT AN ALTERNATIVE IN PLACE, IT WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC DISASTER FOR STUDENTS IN ARIZONA.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES, BOTH AT THE K-12 LEVEL AND THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL OVERLINE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GENERALLY BECAUSE OF PRIORITIZATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.

SO TODAY, WE'RE IN THE TOP FIVE STATES IN OUR RELIANCE ON NET FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING AT THE K-12 LEVEL AND BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T INVESTED IN STUDENT AID PROGRAMS.

WE ALSO FORCED OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO RELY ON THAT FEDERAL MONEY OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACCESSED THROUGH THE FAFSA.

SO HERE IN ARIZONA, UNLESS THERE ARE GREAT PLANS IN PLACE, EVEN IF JUST DISRUPTIONS HAPPEN, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC SITUATION, A MESS, FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HERE.

TED: AND A BRAVE NEW WORLD FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE FUNDING FROM.

LAST QUESTION, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WOULD IMPACT STUDENTS.

HOW DOES IT IMPACT UNIVERSITIES, ARIZONA UNIVERSITIES IN GENERAL?

>> PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN ARIZONA ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT UPON FEDERAL STUDENT MONEY, TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S SAFE TO SAY, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS WELL OVER A BILLION-DOLLAR PORTFOLIO FEDERAL MONEY COMING INTO THE UNIVERSITY EACH YEAR.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO SHUT DOWN.

BUT WITHOUT THAT, THEY WOULD NOT OPERATE AT THE SAME CAPACITY THEY DO TODAY, AND ALSO, THE STUDENTS FROM ARIZONA ATTENDING STATE UNIVERSITIES TODAY WOULD NOT BE AS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO ENROLL IN THE SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSITIES.

TED: BIG STUFF THERE.

RICH NICKEL FROM EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS.

.

TED: A NUMBER OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BILLS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

CRITICS MAINTAIN IT WILL DO ANYTHING BUT MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

AMONG THE CRITICS, MARY CROZIER OF THE HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE AFFORDABILITY HOUSING BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHY?

>> THE TWO SPECIFIC ONES, THE ARIZONA STARTER HOME BILLS, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CREATING AFFORDABILITY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT.

IF THEY GET PASSED, IT WILL MAKE AFFORDABILITY WORSE.

MORE DIFFICULT.

SO LET'S REFLECT ON WHY -- WHY ARE WE WHERE WE ARE TODAY?

BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC, PRIVATE EQUITY GROUPS AND INVESTORS WENT ON A SHOPPING SPREE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND PURCHASED AS MANY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AS POSSIBLE.

STATISTICS SAY ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR HOMES FOR SALE WERE PERFORMED BY INVESTORS.

WHAT THAT DID IN THE HOT MARKET OF ARIZONA WAS DRIVE HOUSING PRICES UP 54% FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND INCREASED RENT OVER 47% INCREASE.

SO ARIZONA WAS ONE OF THE MOST AFFECTED BY THOSE INVESTOR PROGRAMS.

IN MARICOPA COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ONE INVESTOR THAT OWNS OVER 10,000 HOMES.

SO BOTH OF THESE ARIZONA STARTER HOME BILLS DON'T HAVE ANY PROVISIONS AT ALL FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY OR STARTER HOMES.

TED: THEY DON'T, BUT THEY DO LIMIT ZONING REGULATIONS WITH THE IDEA OF DRIVING DOWN THE COST OF HOME BUILDING TO GET MORE HOMES CONSTRUCTED.

YOU BUYING THAT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU BUILD, IT'S GOING TO COST SOMEBODY MONEY, AND IF AN INVESTOR BUYS ALL OF THEM, THAT DRIVES THE PRICES OF HOUSES UP.

SO AND OTHER AREAS, I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS, WHEN THEY SAY IF YOU BUILD MORE HOMES, THE PRICE WILL GO DOWN.

THE URBAN INSTITUTE JUST RELEASED A STUDY SAYING THAT IS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE, AND DEPENDS ON THE MARKET, BUT WE HAVE 200 TO 300 PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERY DAY.

TO CREATE A HOUSING GLUT WILL TAKE A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF ALLOWING ADDITIONAL HOMES ON LARGE PROPERTIES?

>> RIGHT NOW, SOMEONE CAN CERTAINLY APPLY FOR THAT.

THERE ARE PROCESSES IN PLACE WHERE YOU CAN APPLY TO REZONE A PARCEL AND WORK LOCAL ZONING.

MINUTE YOU TAKE LOCAL ZONING OVERSIGHT AWAY CREATES PROBLEMS AND IS ACTUALLY DANGEROUS.

>> THE OVERSIGHT ISSUES SEEMS TO BE AT PLAY HERE BECAUSE THERE'S LIMITING REGULATIONS ON FENCES AND DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL, AESTHETIC REGULATIONS.

THE STARTER HOMES ACCESS, GET RID OF THAT, ALLOW THE HOMES DOING BUILT, GET MORE HOUSES, GET THE PRICES DOWN, AND YOU'RE SAYING NOT NECESSARILY.

>> NOTHING IN THE BILL STATES THAT AT ALL.

IT'S THE CLASSIC THE FOX WATCHING THE HEN HOUSE.

OF COURSE DEVELOPERS AND OUT-OF-STATE INVESTORS WOULD LOVE TO REMOVE LOCAL ZONING CONTROL IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, THAT'S AN INVESTOR'S DREAM, BUT A HOMEBUYER'S NIGHTMARE.

TED: HOME OWNER'S NIGHTMARE TOO?

>> CERTAINLY.

TED: THERE'S BILLS THAT -- FOR LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE -- CALLED YES, IN GOD'S BACKYARD.

TALK ABOUT CONSTRUCTING HOMES ON CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION PROPERTIES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT ONE?

>> THE CHURCHES HAVE THE ABILITY -- MOST CHURCHES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ZONED RESIDENTIAL FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THEY CAN CURRENTLY DO THAT.

THE YES, IN GOD'S BACKYARD, TO ME, IS NOT WRITTEN WELL ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ANY BILL THAT TAKES AWAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

LOCAL ZONING OVERSIGHT AND SILENCE IN NEIGHBORHOODS IS SUPPORT.

TED: THE IDEA THAT THERE'S NO REZONING, NO PUBLIC HEARING, THAT PRETTY MUCH SHOOTS IT DOWN FOR YOU?

>> WELL, THE PERCENTAGE IN THE BILL FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING IS RELATIVELY LOW, SO IT'S NOT A BILL THAT REALLY ADDRESSES LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN MY OPINION.

TED: BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AT THE LEGISLATURE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND?

>> SOMEWHAT.

LOTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDMENTS.

TED: AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER BILLS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT, BUT SEEMS LIKE STREAMLINING THE REGULATION PROCESS IS A BIG ONE HERE.

IS THERE A WAY TO CUT IT IN HALF, TO STREAMLINE WITHOUT LOSING LOCAL CONTROL?

>> WELL, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, TED, WE ARE PRO-DEVELOPMENT, REASONABLE, RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.

WE WORK WELL WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND GO THROUGH THE CHANNELS THAT EXIST WITH OUR LOCAL ZONING IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX, AND THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SMOOTH FOR US, IT'S BEEN SMOOTH FOR THE DEVELOPERS, IT'S -- AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WOULDN'T WELCOME A FABULOUS PROJECT IN THEIR BACKYARD.

THE PROBLEM IS REMOVING ALL THOSE OVERSIGHTS, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WERE BUILT IN THE LATE 1800s, WE HAVE NARROW STREETS, PUTTING MORE DENSITY WOULD BE VERY CUMBERSOME AND DIFFICULT FOR WHAT WE HAVE ORIGINALLY PLOTTED THERE.

TED: LAST QUESTION HERE, IF ANY OF THIS LEGISLATION, STARTER HOMES IN PARTICULAR, BUT ANY OF THIS LEGISLATION REQUIRED LOW -- STARTER HOMES THAT WERE ACTUALLY STARTER HOMES, HOMES AFFORDABLE FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS, TIERS, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, WOULD YOU BE MORE AMENABLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT NONE OF THE BILLS, YES, IN GOD'S BACKYARD HAVE A SMALL PROVISION BUT THE OTHERS DON'T.

IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE INVESTORS FROM DOING WHAT THEY DID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TED: SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND REGULATIONS YOU WANT TO SEE THOSE IN PLACE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE?

>> AND LOW HANGING FRUIT, THE INVESTORS HAVE THE RIGHT INTENTIONS BUT GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

FOR EXAMPLE, INCLUSIONARY SPENDING.

OUR STATE IS ONE OF SIX STATES THAT PREVENTS INCLUSIONARY SPENDING, IF A DEVELOPER BUILDS 100 APARTMENTS AND COULD MAKE TEN AFFORDABLE, WE DON'T ALLOW THAT IN OUR STATEMENT WE CREATED LEGISLATION THAT KNEECAPS AFFORDABILITY.

THAT'S A SIMPLE ONE THAT COULD BE REVERSED THROUGH LEGISLATURE.

IN MARICOPA COUNTY THEY BUILT 50,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS, IF 10% WERE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR LOW-INCOME HOUSING, THAT WOULD BE 5,000 MORE UNITS THAN WE HAVE TODAY.

SO THERE'S SIMPLE SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD REALLY ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THESE BILLS LINE THE POCKETS OF A FEW AT THE EXPENSE OF MANY.

TED: MARY CROZIER, CENTRAL PHOENIX HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

TED: PHOENIX IS HOSTING ITS FIRST BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK.

EVENT CELEBRATES LOCAL BLACK AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

WE WELCOME DR. NEIL LESTER, FOUNDER OF PROJECT HUMANITIES AND ERICA, FOUNDER OF CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: ERICA, GIVE ME A GOOD DEFINITION HERE, THIS SAY WEEK LONG EVENT THAT CELEBRATES AUTHORS?

READERS?

EVERYONE, RIGHT?

>> VERONICA CHAPMAN FOUNDED THIS IN 2022, IT HAS BEEN ON MY RADAR AS LOCAL CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND DECIDED THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE.

A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK CHILDREN AND OF THOSE THAT ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE SEEING THEMSELVES IN OUR BOOKS AND ALSO THAT MEDIA THAT ALSO REPRESENTS BLACK CHILDREN.

TED: AND DR. LESTER, SOME OF THE SCHEDULED EVENTS THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE WEEK?

>> YES.

WE DID OUR KICKOFF ON SUNDAY, AND THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A MEET-AND-GREET THE AUTHORS.

THERE ARE ABOUT TEN AUTHORS LOCAL WHO ARE WRITING FOR AND ABOUT YOUNG BLACK CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND WE'VE GOT BOOK READINGS GOING ON AT ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS GOING ON THIS WEEK, AND ON SUNDAY, THERE WILL BE THE CULMINATION FROM 12:00 TO 4:00, A LOT OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES, GAMES, GIVEAWAYS AND THE OFFICE ENGAGING WITH VARIOUS AUDIENCES.

TED: VERY GOOD.

TALK ABOUT CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CHILDREN'S BOOK?

.

>> A GOOD CHILDREN'S BOOK IS ONE IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN SEE THEMSELVES.

THEY CAN DREAM.

THEY CAN THINK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE IS WHAT THEY CAN BE, WHAT THEY ARE?

THEIR FAMILIES.

THINGS THEY CAN READ TOGETHER AND SEPARATELY.

A GOOD CHILDREN'S BOOK IS ANYTHING THAT ENGAGES A CHILD IN READING.

TED: SHOWS A CHALLENGE AND THE CHILD FACING A CHALLENGE, THERE'S GOT TO BE A STORY THERE, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND REPRESENTS A MULTITUDE OF THESE BOOKS, THEY REPRESENT A MULTITUDE OF NARRATIVES, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE NOTION OF THE CHALLENGE, BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT GOOD STORIES CAN BE.

GOOD STORIES ARE NOT ALWAYS CHALLENGES.

I THINK THEY CAN BE CELEBRATIONS.

TED: STORIED ART, YOU HAVE THE HEROES AND ALL OF THAT.

THE CHILDREN'S BOOK, ARE THEY THE SAME THING OR DIFFERENT?

>> MY GOSH, I THINK IT'S HARDER TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK BECAUSE WE UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THE STORIES AND THE ADULTS ARE WRITING THE STORIES, NOT CHILDREN.

WE HAVE THE ADULT POLITICS THERE THAT TELL US ABOUT ALL KINDS OF LESSONS, WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD.

AND I WOULD SAY, WHICH IS WHAT TONI MORRISON SAID AS A TEACHER OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND ADULT LITERATURE, THE MORE SPECIFIC IT IS, THE MORE GENERAL IT CAN BECOME.

THOUGH THEY CAN BE ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN, THEY'RE ABOUT CHILDREN AND THE HUMAN CONNECTION, THE AUDIENCE IS NOT JUST FOR BUT CAN YOU REACH OUT TO CHILDREN GENERALLY.

TED: AND STORIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING STORIES.

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND EVEN AS AN AUTHOR, SHARING MY DAUGHTER'S STORY OF HER LIFE WITH HER BIRTHMARK, AND AGAIN, THAT REPRESENTS A SMALL PORTION OF THE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE, BUT I THINK, AGAIN, CREATING THOSE WINDOWS AND MIRRORS FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND NOT JUST BLACK STUDENTS BUT OTHER STUDENTS SO THEY CAN SEE AND HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN IS OFTEN PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA OF BLACK CHILDREN AND BLACK PEOPLE.

>> ESPECIALLY NOW.

ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN THERE'S A KIND OF URGENCY.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN URGENCY AND NEED, BUT THE BOOKS ARE BEING BAND, NOT BECAUSE OF THE STORIES ARE ABOUT, BUT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE STORIES TO BE ABOUT.

TED: DO YOU APPROACH THAT KIND OF THING IN A CHILDREN'S BOOK OR LET THAT KIND OF THING BE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE?

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THAT KIND OF THING?

TED: WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

>> ANYTHING ABOUT RACE, VALIDATION ABOUT ONE'S GENDER IDENTITY, CLASS IDENTITY, ANYTHING THAT VALIDATES PEOPLE IN TERMS OF WHO THEY ARE, IT'S THREATENING TO SOME FOLKS, AND THESE ARE THE BOOKS THAT VALIDATE AND SUPPLEMENT THE THINGS TAKEN OUT OF LIBRARIES BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING BANNED, THEY ARE NOT BEING IN CLASSROOMS AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO SAY THE STORIES WILL NOT BE ERASED AND THE VOICES NOT SILENCED.

TED: THIS IS A WAY TO CELEBRATE LIBRARIES, PLACES WHERE THE STORIES CAN BE FOUND, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN PHOENIX, I STARTED WITH ABOUT TEN LISTED LOCAL AUTHORS AND MY LIST IS UP TO 25 LOCAL BLACK AUTHORS.

TED: REALLY?

>> WE ARE HERE, WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THE AUTHORS AND THEIR WORK, AND WANT TO HAVE THE COMMUNITIES SEE THESE AUTHORS AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT EXPOSURE AND WHEN STUDENT SEES THEMSELVES AND CONNECT TO THE CONTENT, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN READING, AND WE HAVE A READING ISSUE IN THE STATE WITH 26% AND 25% FOURTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS PROFICIENT IN READING.

THAT'S ABYSMAL AND UNACCEPTABLE BUT THESE CAN HELP BOOST THE SCORES AS WELL.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A GRAPHIC TO LEARN ABOUT BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THIS, THERE YOU GO.

12:00 TO 4:00, GRASSROOTS BOOKSTORE.

>> NOURISHMENT FOR THE SOUL AND THE MIND.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, AND BEST OF LUCK AND GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.