♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL JOINS US FOR A NUMBER OF HIGH PROFILE ISSUES.

TONIGHT, A LOOK AT MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD, THOMAS GALVIN AS THE FIRST YEAR AS CHAIR.

AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION.

MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL JOINS US EACH MONTH TO ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVING HER OFFICE AND TONIGHT, OUR DISCUSSION INCLUDES A RECENT LAW ENFORCEMENT SWEEP TO CRACK DOWN ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ANOTHER ROAD RAGE INCIDENT IN THE VALLEY.

JOINING US NOW, IT IS MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A HAPPY HOLIDAY.

>> Ted: HANGING IN THERE.

AND THE INCIDENT A MAN WAS SHOT AND DIED THE NEXT DAY, A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT.

A VEHICLE STOPS, HE WALKS UP TO THE OTHER VEHICLE AND INSTEAD THAT OTHER VEHICLE, A WOMAN SHOOTS HIM.

HOW DO YOU PARSE THAT OUT?

>> IT'S SIMILAR TO THE THE CASE IN TEMPE.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE OBJECTIVE REASONABLENESS OF WHAT SHE DID, HOW IS HE APPROACHING THE CAR.

AT THE ARMED, WHAT DOES SHE THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO DO?

IT'S A VERY FACT SPECIFIC KIND OF ANALYSIS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, IT'S SO PREVENTIBLE.

YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ANGER IS FLARING AND GETS WORSE MAYBE THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UPTIGHT AND NOW YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS DEAD.

YOU HAVE A FAMILY WHO HAS LOST A LOVED ONE OVER NOTHING.

>> Ted: BUT IN THIS CASE, I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE SELF-DEFENSE ISSUES AND I THINK SHE SAYS SHE WAS IN REASONABLE AND IMMINENT FEAR, I THINK IS A FACTOR.

SHE STOPPED HER VEHICLE AND HE GETS OUT SHE SEES HIM COMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT DO, I MIGHT START MY VEHICLE UP AND GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE.

DOES THAT PLAY INTO IT, HER ACTIONS THERE?

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE JURY WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

NOW, TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE NOT MADE A REVIEWING DECISION ON THIS.

WE JUST GOT THIS RECENTLY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK A JURY WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS WHAT OTHER STEPS COULD SHE HAVE TAKEN.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY, THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE RETREAT.

WHAT IT REQUIRES IS BEING IN IMMINENT FEAR FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE AND A REASONABLENESS.

SO, IT'S AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF DO OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT WHAT YOU DID WAS REASONABLE.

>> Ted: AND THAT'S PRETTY TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT, ISN'T IT?

>> IT CAN BE TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT.

IN ANY SITUATION THERE ARE SOME CAMERAS THAT GIVE US A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT 27TH AVENUE HERE, A SWEEP REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARRESTED THERE, MOSTLY MISDEMEANORS, I BELIEVE, FOR PROSTITUTION.

CRITICS ARE SAYING, YOU ARREST SOMEONE FROM PROSTITUTION ON A MISDEMEANOR, THEY'RE BACK OUT THERE AND THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GO AWAY.

IF IT'S A HUMAN TRAFFICKING SWEEP, YOU'VE GOT TO GET THOSE DEALING IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, NOT NECESSARILY THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE A BIT OF A POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO KIND OF APPROACH IT FROM A BROAD STROKE.

YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER ALL SEGMENTS OF IT.

AND THAT WAS JUST ONE SEGMENT THAT WE WERE APPROACHING, AND ONE THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT IS OUR LAW IN ARIZONA ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION TO SAY THAT THEY WERE TRAFFICKED AND THAT IS IS DEFENSE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO, THEY HAVE THAT THAT THEY CAN PLEAD IN COURT, BUT WE HAVE TO ATTACK ALL ASPECTS OF THIS PROBLEM TO CLEAN UP 27TH AVENUE BECAUSE IT IS A MESS.

>> Ted: SO, BUT DO YOU THINK THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY, AT LEAST IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE OR THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE IS TO GO AHEAD AND PICK UP PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS, OR A, VICTIMS THEMSELVES OR BACK OUT THERE WHEN RELEASED?

>> WE CAN USE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION TO LEAD TO OTHER ARRESTS AS WELL, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER EVERY SEGMENT OF IT.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

EFFORT TO CLEAN UP 27TH AVENUE.

WE'RE ALSO GOING AFTER THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE SOLICITING PROSTITUTION ACTS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING AFTER THE TRAFFICKERS OR PIMPS AS MOST PEOPLE CALL THEM, BECAUSE 27TH AVENUE HAS BECOME SUCH A, YOU KNOW, EPICENTER.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED THE CUSTOMERS, THE BUYERS, AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL ARGUE AND YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT, AGAIN, THAT FOCUS ON THEM, IT'S NOT THE TRAFFICKERS, AT LEAST THE BUYERS, AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO MIGHT BE VICTIMS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU JUST FOCUS ON THEM AND DON'T FOCUS ON GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, YOU DEPRIVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM GIVING THEM SERVICES.

WE HAVE RECOVERED JUVENILE PROSTITUTES, SO, IF YOU IGNORE THAT ASPECT OF IT, THEN YOU'RE BY PASSING EFFORTS THAT YOU COULD MAKE TOWARDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM.

>> Ted: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF GRAND CANYON'S POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS.

HOW UNUSUAL IS IT, OR IS IT UNUSUAL FOR A UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN EFFORT LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL AT ALL WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY TO WORK WITH THE CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

WE'RE THE PROSECUTORS FOR THE INCORPORATED AREAS, WE WORK WITH THE DPS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT AFFECTS THEIR CAMPUS, IT'S 35TH AVENUE AND I-17 AND BEYOND.

YOU HAVE COLLEGE KIDS HAVING TO GO BACK AND FORTH ACROSS 27TH AVENUE WHEN YOU HAVE PROSTITUTION, DRUG DEALING, ASSAULTS, AND ALL SORTS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

>> Ted: BUT IN TERMS OF PROCEDURE THOUGH, WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN THIS KIND OF-- IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, A RESPONSE TO AN INCIDENT, IN THIS KIND OF A SWEEP ACTIVITY, NOT UNUSUAL?

>> NOT UNUSUAL AND KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE WORKING WITH A MULTITUDE OF POLICE AGENCIES.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS INVOLVED.

DPS AND PHOENIX P.D.

AS WELL.

>> Ted: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS ROD ELMANSOUR, THE PLEA DEAL WOULD BE UP TO 29 YEARS IN PRISON HERE AND THEN GO TO NEW YORK FACING CHARGES THERE.

FOR A GUY, TWO COUNTS OF WHAT, ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.

19 TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON?

>> WELL, KEEP IN MIND IN ARIZONA WE HAVE TRUTH IN SENTENCING, THESE ARE ACTUAL YEARS OR 85% OF THAT TIME.

BUT, YEAH, WE DO OFFER PLEA OFFERS IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES, IF WE DIDN'T, THE COURT SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN WITHIN A MONTH.

BUT THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SHOWN NO REMORSE, HAS SHOWN, AND I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THIS IS AN ONGOING CASE, BUT HAS SAID HE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE SET FOR TRIAL.

>> Ted: HE SAID HE DID WANT TO TAKE SOMETHING AND THEN BACKTRACKED ON IT, DIDN'T HE?

>> LAST I HEARD THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING.

>> Ted: YEAH.

>> AND WE WERE SET FOR TRIAL.

>> Ted: AND THIS, AGAIN, IS -- CHARGES FOR MURDER.

I THINK IF HE GOES TO TRIAL AND IS CONVICTED, AGAIN, HE'S 150 YEARS IN PRISON.

>> THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND-- >> SEXUAL ASSAULT, YEAH.

>> THE ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT, YES.

>> Ted: AND AGAIN, AS FAR AS PLEA DEALS, EXTRADITION, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE EXTRADITION ISSUE AND ALL THAT.

FOR THOSE WHO SAY THESE PLEA DEALS ARE NOT TOUGH ENOUGH ON CRIME, YOU SAY WHAT?

IT HAS TO BE DONE?

>> IT HAS TO BE DONE.

IT'S A REALITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IT HAPPENS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE REALITY IS, MY OFFICE GETS 45,000 CRIMINALS A YEAR AND WE FILE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AND IF WE DON'T OFFER PLEA OFFERS, WE'RE GOING TO TRIAL, THEN LIKE I SAID, WITHIN A MONTH THE COURT SYSTEM CRASHES.

SO WE HAVE TO OFFER PLEA OFFERS.

I DON'T THINK THIS WAS OUT OF LINE WHAT WE WERE DOING AND IT WAS CERTAINLY DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH TALKING TO THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES AS WELL, BUT IT IS A HARSH REALITY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

>> Ted: TALKING TO THE VICTIMS IS A FACTOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, THE PROBATE AND THE NEW STATUTES HERE, THE PROBATION, AND GETTING PEOPLE NOT GOING BACK TO PRISON AND BEING REWARDED FOR IT?

>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE EMPHASIS LOOKED AT RECIDIVISM.

HOW MANY REOFFEND AFTER PROBATION AND SHIFTED TO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE KEEP ON PROBATION AND NOT PUT IN PRISON.

WHAT THAT DID WAS CREATED A BACKLASH PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT LISTENING TO PROBATION OFFICERS AND NOT OBEYING THE TERMS AND NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.

WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE'RE SEEING THESE PEOPLE REOFFEND.

>> Ted: YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGES THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO LOOKING AT THE SUCCESSFULNESS, AS MEASURED BY RECIDIVISM RATES.

>> Ted: NOT NECESSARILY THE RECIDIVISM RATES BEING INCENTIVE FOR FINANCIAL GAIN FOR THE COUNTY?

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT SHOULDN'T BE A FINANCIAL GAME FOR THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP PEOPLE ON PROBATION WHEN THEY'RE COMPLETELY DISREGARDING ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

>> Ted: DO YOU THINK THOSE CHANGES ARE COMING?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME CHANGES CONNELLING.

>> Ted: ALL RIGHT.

RACHEL MITCHELL, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT HERE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE OF THE BEST.

>> MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR THOMAS GALVIN WAS OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS THE CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT THE START OF YEAR.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT HIS FIRST YEAR.

HERE IS THOMAS GALVIN, COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I SHOULD MENTION IT'S YOUR FIRST YEAR AND LAST YEAR UNTIL IT ROLLS OVER.

IT'S A ONE YEAR AS CHAIRMAN.

>> WE DO IT ON A ROLLING BASIS.

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS SUPERVISOR, WITH NEW COLLEAGUES AND OUTLINED 21 ITEMS IN THE SPEECH IN JANUARY AND WE WERE ABLE TO TICK THEM OFF AND GOT THEM DONE.

A GREAT YEAR FOR ACCOMPLISHES.

>> Ted: WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST HITS AND WHAT WERE THE CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES?

>> WE PUT IN SEVEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC, ELECTIONS, GOOD GOVERNMENT, AND ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

OBVIOUSLY ON THE TOUGHER SIDE OF THINGS, WE HAD A LAWSUIT FROM THE COUNTY RECORDER, BUT ON THE OTHER ISSUES WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT.

WE CUT THE OVERALL TAX RATE FIVE YEARS IN A ROW.

WE OPENED UP AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND JUST LAST WEEK, WE JUST COMPLETELY REVISED OUR ZONING ORDINANCE WHICH IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION.

>> Ted: THE BUDGET HAS NO GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE THE LARGEST JURISDICTION IN AMERICA WITHOUT DEBT.

>> Ted: SOME PEOPLE WILL ASK WHAT IS GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU HAVE NO GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT?

>> WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, PLENTY IN CASH RESERVES IN CASE OF ECONOMIC DOWN TURN AND THE ONLY TIME WE TAKE ON DEBT IS WHEN WE HAVE TO BECAUSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAME -- LIMITATIONS IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED THE CHALLENGES AND AMONG THEM ELECTIONS.

CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.

DO YOU THINK IT HAS BEEN INCREASED OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE HEADED FOR ANOTHER ROUGH AND TUMBLE SEASON?

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

I THINK THAT VOTERS SHOW THEIR FAITH IN ELECTIONS BY COMING OUT TO VOTE AND ARIZONA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TURNOUT RATES.

MY PROBLEM IS WITH CANDIDATES WHO DON'T ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THOSE ELECTIONS OR SURROGATES WHO TRY TO UNDERMINE THE FAITH IN ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE MILLIONS THAT VOTE AND I THINK THEY WILL AT ELECTIONS.

>> Ted: AND THE COUNTY RECORDER, A CHALLENGE HERE, BASICALLY SAID THAT PERSONAL INFORMATION WOULD GET OUT, THAT'S NOT GOOD.

THE TIMING WAS NOT GOOD, AND ALL KIND OF CHAOS.

COURTS DIDN'T QUITE GO FOR IT, BUT STILL, DOES HE HAVE A POINT IN SAYING THAT PEOPLE JUST AREN'T CONFIDENT IN ELECTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> NO, I DISAGREE WITH IT.

>> Ted: YOU DISAGREE.

I DISAGREE WITH JUSTIN, I DISAGREE WITH HIS PHILOSOPHY AND HE CONSISTENTLY THROWS HIS EMPLOYEES IN THE RECORDERS OFFICE UNDER THE BUS.

I BELIEVE IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR REPUBLIC NOT JUST ARIZONA, BUT ALL 50 STATES.

AS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, DESPITE ELECTIONS, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS RECORD TO BE PROUD OF ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS.

THE SECOND LARGEST BUDGET IN THE STATE AND WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS YEAR.

>> Ted: BACK WITH THE RECORDER, A BIG TOPIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

HE SAYS HE'S BEEN MARGINALIZED AS YOU WELL KNOW, AND THAT THE OUTGOING RECORDER AND THE BOARD TRIED TO MAKE IT SO HE COULDN'T DO HIS JOB, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY THAT HE SHOULD HAVE.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> NO,'S BEEN ABLE TO DO HIS JOB.

WE'VE PROVIDED HIM A VERY GOOD BUDGET BACK IN JUNE AND HE HAS THE EMPLOYEES THAT EVERY SINGLE PREVIOUS RECORDER HAS.

HE'S DOING HIS JOB ON A DAILY BASIS AND IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS WHETHER HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB OR NOT.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT IS CONCERNED AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, WE'VE GOT GPO, ALL SORTS OF CITIES WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHERE DOES THE COUNTY FIT IN ON ALL OF THAT?

>> WE'RE THE HUB OF A SPOKE OF A REGION MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

IF MARICOPA COUNTY, WE WOULD BE THE 25TH STATE IN AMERICA.

WE'RE A BOOM FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEN I WAS SUPERVISOR, I WAS SHOCKED WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND WE OPENED ONE UNDER MY CHAIRMANSHIP.

AND OUR DIRECTOR NOW IS CORDNATING WITH THE TOWNS AND CITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT TO MAKE SURE THAT COMPANIES THAT HAVE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE ISSUES OR CONCERNS, ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEM ADDRESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: AND THE PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO, THEY'RE THINKING, IT'S JUST GROWING SO FAST, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THERE.

I THINK WHAT THE CONCERN IS, IS IT SMART ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

JUST BUILDING, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED OUT IN CHANDLER REGARDING DATA SYSTEM OUT THERE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, LET'S BE CAREFUL.

>> I TAKE ISSUE OF POSTS LIKE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC WHO SAID ALL DATA CENTERS ARE BAD.

CHANDLER SAID IT WASN'T REASONABLE OR APPROPRIATE FOR THIS LOCATION, BUT ALSO WEEK MARICOPA APPROVED A DATA CENTER PROJECT OUT IN THE WEST VALLEY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WEIGH IT.

WE CALL THE BALLS AND STRIKES AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE PROJECT, BUT IT'S ALSO A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE, AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS FIGHTING WITH CHINA ON THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT TRIMMING THE SAILS OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TED.

WE'VE GOT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND MARICOPA COUNTY IS ABLE TO BALANCE THE FACTORS.

>> Ted: SMART ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOT JUST WILD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO.

WHO IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT CHAIR, DO YOU KNOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TUNE IN AT 9:30, MUST-SEE TV.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE BOARD AT MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, DEVELOPMENT, TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS, WE LAUNCHED A NONPROFIT FOR ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES.

ALL OF THOSE WE'LL KEEP DOING.

I'M PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES, ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

>> Ted: AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CHAIR FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, A NEW PBS NEWS POLL SHOWS AMERICANS GIVE PRESIDENT TRUMP LOW MARKS FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT MICROPLASTICS ARE BECOMING MORE HAZARDOUS DUE TO THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING.

RESEARCH ALSO FINDS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE, IN TURN, IS BEING IMPACTED BY MICROPLASTICS.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH?

WE ASKED PIERRE HERCKES FROM ASU SCHOOL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: YOU BET.

ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE MICROPLASTICS?

>> MICROPLASTICS ARE SMALL FRAGMENTS OF PLASTICS WHICH YOU HAVE A BIG PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT DEGRADES, IT GETS SMALLER AND SMALLER.

SO TYPICALLY MICROPLASTICS ARE SMALLER THAN ABOUT 5 MILLIMETERS IN SIZE.

>> Ted: IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SEEN IN THE AIR OR HOW SMALL ARE WE TALKING?

>> BIGGER MICROPLASTICS YOU DEFINITELY CAN SEE.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE THEM ON THE SOIL.

YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE AIR WHEN YOU SEE THEM IN THE LIGHT, AND THEN, BUT THEN THEY CAN GO SMALLER AND SMALLER, TWO TO SIZES THAT WE DON'T SEE ANYMORE.

>> Ted: AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> THAT'S NOT GOOD BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT CAN POTENTIALLY HARM.

>> Ted: THE STUDY, THIS NEW STUDY, EXTREME WEATHER IS MAKING ALL OF THIS WORSE?

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> SO IT HAS TWO ASPECTS TO IT.

ONE ASPECT IS THAT IF IT GETS WARMER, AND IF WE GET MORE STORMS, THE PLASTICS BREAK DOWN EASIER.

SO AS IT GETS WARMER, THE PLASTICS, LARGER PIECES OF PLASTIC, THEY BREAK DOWN FASTER AND SMALLER AND SMALLER PLASTICS AND THE SMALLER PLASTICS ARE MORE EASY TO BE TRANSPORTED AND IT'S MORE EASY FOR THEM TO GET IN OUR FOOD CHAIN.

SO THAT'S ONE STRONG ASPECT FOR THAT.

>> Ted: SO TEMPERATURES, HUMIDITY, SUNLIGHT, ALL OF THIS STUFF CAN MAKE A MICROPLASTIC EVEN SMALLER?

>> YEAH, IT WILL HAVE BREAK DOWN FURTHER.

IT'S LIKE PEOPLE LIVE IN ARIZONA, YOU LEAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR BACK YARD THAT YOU FORGET ABOUT IT IN PLASTIC, IT BECOMES BRITTLE AND THAT IS THROUGH THE HEAT AND THROUGH RADIATION, IT WILL BREAK WHEN YOU TOUCH IT.

NOW, IF YOU HAVE A STORM OR SOMETHING, YOU CAN MECHANICALLY BREAK IT INTO SMALLER PIECES AND PEEN EVEN THE PLASTICS YOU SEE IN THE OCEAN WHEN THE WATER GETS WARMER, IT HELPS TO BREAK THE PLASTICS UP.

>> Ted: AND YOU MENTIONED ARIZONA.

WE HAVE DUST STORMS HERE AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WHEN THE PLASTICS, WHEN THEY'RE THAT SMALL, IF A DUST STORM OR JUST A WIND STORM HAPPENS, THESE THINGS ARE FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE, AREN'T THEY?

>> YEAH, SO THE STORMS, WHETHER THEY ARE ON THE SURFACE, THEY BLOW THEM UP, THEY'RE GETTING AIRBORN AND THEY CAN BE REDISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND SO STORMS CAN EASILY DO THAT AND SO THE MORE STORMS, THE MORE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS WE'RE GETTING.

>> Ted: AND THE STUFF THAT'S IN THE SOIL, THINGS LIKE WILDFIRES, DO WILDFIRES SPREAD THIS STUFF AROUND?

>> THIS CAN ALSO BE BECAUSE IN WILDFIRES, WHAT YOU'RE GO ETH -- GETTING, YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF UPDRAFT AND YOU HAVE SOIL AND COMPONENTS, THAT CAN BE NATURAL SOIL, BUT IT DID ALSO BE PLASTICS LIFTED IN THE AIR AND TRANSPORTED OVER LONGER DISTANCES.

>> Ted: SO EXTREME WEATHER IS MAKING THE SITUATION WITH MICROPLASTICS EVEN MORE CONCERNING, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE RESEARCH THAT MICROPLASTICS ARE MAKING EXTREME WEATHER MORE CONCERNING.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> THERE ARE POTENTIAL FEEDBACK ON THAT BECAUSE AS YOU'VE GOT THE PLASTICS UP, THE PLASTICS UP IN THE AIR, THEY CAN INTERACT WITH THE LIGHT AND SO THEY CAN IMPACT ALSO OUR CLIMATE.

THEY FOUND PLASTICS IN CLOUDS, AND SO THE PLASTICS CAN MAYBE CREATE NEW CLOUD DROPLETS WHICH WILL IMPACT CLIMATE IN TURN OR JUST THE PLASTICS UP IN THE AIR.

IF YOU HAVE THE PLASTICS, THEY CAN ABSORB THE LIGHT AND THEN WARM UP THE AIR.

IF YOU HAVE BRIGHT PLASTICS, THEY CAN SCATTERED THE LIGHT BACK TO SPACE AND THEN LIKE THIS HAVE A COOLING EFFECT.

SO ANY PARTICLES THAT GO UP IN THE AIR LIKE THIS CAN, IN TURN, IMPACT ALSO THE CLIMATE.

>> Ted: WOW.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, PLASTICS CAN ALSO CARRY THINGS LIKE CHEMICALS, LIKE PESTICIDES?

>> YES, OF THE PLASTICS, ONE OF THE TOXIC ASPECTS, THEY HAVE ADDITIVES TO THAT AND SOMETIMES PESTICIDES OR PLASTICIZERS, WHEN IT'S WARMER, THEY CAN LEACH OUT MORE EASILY, AND THEY CAN MAKE VIRUSES OR BACTERIA HAVE A LONGER LIFETIME IN THE AREA BECAUSE THEY SURVIVE BETTER ON THE PLASTIC PARTICLES THAN THEY WOULD BE ON THEIR OWN.

>> Ted: AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARIZONA, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE IN TERMS OF THE OCEANS, IN TERMS OF THE WATER, THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, THERE'S A LOT OF THESE THINGS OUT AND A LOT OF RECENT STUDIES SHOWED THAT A LOT OF WHAT WE PUT OUT IN THE OCEAN, THE PLASTICS, NOW THEY ARE BREAKING DOWN AND THEN IN BIG HURRICANES, TYPHOONS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING BACK TO US, BECAUSE OVER THE OCEAN THEY BECOME AIRBORNE AND THEN COME BACK WITH THE CLOUDS AND THEN DEPOSITED BY THE RAIN BACK ON LAND.

DURING THE SANDS, THE STORMS, BRING THE PLASTICS BACK TO US.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION RELATIVELY QUICKLY HERE NOW.

WE'VE GOT THE RESEARCH.

WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS?

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

>> WE'RE COMMITTED WITH THE THINGS ALREADY OUT.

THEY HAVE VERY FIRST THING WOULD BE REALLY WATCHING FOR MISMANAGED PLASTICS AND MINIMIZE OUR USE FOR PLASTICS, BUT MISMANAGEMENT OF WASTE.

SO IF YOU DON'T THROW WASTE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE ALSO NEED TO WATCH THAT OUR OTHERS WIND UP IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> Ted: IT'S INTERESTING INFORMATION, THANKS FOR SHARING.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ ♪♪