.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REGARDING ARIZONA'S 100-YEAR GROUND WATER SUPPLY.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW REPORT, A THIRD OF ARIZONA ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

>>> THE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE TURNED 50 YEARS OLD, A LOOK AT ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF FILM AND VIDEO SHOOTS ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY JAILS ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN POSSIBLE DRUG OVERDOSES.

ACCORDING TO THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" WHICH REPORTS THAT OVERDOSES ARE IN A PACE 2 1/2 TIMES HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

ESPECIALLY BAD AT ESTRELLA JAIL, A WOMEN'S FACILITY.

THERE WERE 12 DRUG OVERDOSES IN SEVEN DAYS INCLUDING A FATALITY.

REPUBLIC REPORTS THAT SHERIFF JERRY SHERIDAN IS WORKING ON EQUIPMENT TO BETTER SCREEN THOSE ENTERING THE JAILS.

THIS FOLLOWS THE SHERIFF ANNOUNCING THAT EMPLOYEES WOULD NO LONGER BE SCANNED OR HAVE PROPERTY SEARCHED WHEN ENTERING A COUNTY JAIL.

>>> TODAY MARKS THREE YEARS SINCE RUSSIA'S FULL SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE.

EUROPEAN LEADERS ARRIVED IN KYIV TO SHOW REPORT FOR THE EMBATTLED COUNTRY.

THE NEW LEADER OF GERMANY WAS HERE AND ASKED ABOUT CONCERNS OR THE U.S. INCREASINGLY ABANDONING UKRAINE IN FAVOR OF RUSSIA.

>> Translator: I AM QUITE CONCERNED WHAT WE HEAR FROM WASHINGTON, I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT WE HEARD WERE THE LAST WORDS.

I HEAR DIFFERENT VOICES FROM THE CONGRESS.

MANY AMERICANS SEE THE VIEW OF THEIR GOVERNMENT CRITICALLY, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE A COMMON ATTITUDE ON THE EUROPEAN SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC ON THE TOPICS THAT NEED TO BE TACKLED.

TED: FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON WAS NOT IN UKRAINE TODAY.

HE WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR OFFICIAL VISIT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE MEETING DESCRIBED BY BOTH SIDES AS CORDIAL AND PRODUCTIVE CHOSE MACRON CORRECTED RECENT TRUMP FALSEHOODS SAYING IT WAS, QUOTE, REAL MONEY, AND THE AGGRESSOR IS RUSSIA.

TRUMPS IS TRYING TO CLAIM UKRAINE IS THE AGGRESSOR.

>>> A CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN FORCES FROM UKRAINE.

THE U.S.

INSTEAD SIMPLY CALLED FOR END TO THE CONFLICT WITH NO MENTION OF RUSSIA OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR.

THAT RESOLUTION PASSED THE U.N. COUNT IS.

ONE MORE HEADLINE -- SINGER ROBERTA FLACK HAS DIED AT 88.

A GRAMMY AWARD WINNER AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ARTISTS OF THE 70s.

BEST KNOWN FOR KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH THIS SONG, AND THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW YOUR FACE, AS WELL AS COLLABORATION WITH DONNY HATHAWAY IN WHERE IS THE LOVE?

FLACK HAD BEEN IN DECLINING HEALTH INCLUDING RECENT DIAGNOSIS OF ALS WHICH KEPT HER FROM PERFORMING.

ROBERTA FLACK, DEAD AT 88.

>>> THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA.

THE CLAIM THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S GROUND WATER REGULATIONS ON HOME DEVELOPMENTS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

JOINING US IS JON RICHES, VICE PRESIDENT FOR LITIGATION AT THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE.

OF NOTE, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE ON THURSDAY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

TED: WHY DID YOU FILE THE LAWSUIT?

>> THE MAIN REASON, WHAT ADWR DID IS REPRESENT THE POWER GRAB.

HALTED NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION IN SOME OF THE FASTEST GROWING AND AFFORDABLE PARTS OF THE VALLEY INCLUDING BUCKEYE AND QUEEN CREEK, AND THE WAY THEY DID IT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.

WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE MADE, THEY SHOULD BE MADE BY ELECTED LAWMAKERS NOT BUREAUCRATS SITTING IN OFFICE.

TED: I KNOW THAT'S THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE BUT ALSO AT PLAY IS SOMETHING CALLED UNMET DEMAND.

WHAT IS UNMET DEMAND?

>> SURE, IF A DEVELOPER OR HOME BUILDER WANTS TO CREATE NEW HOUSING.

THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE 100 YEARS OF ASSURED WATER SUPPLY, AND ALWAYS DONE THAT HISTORICALLY AND CAN DO IT NOW, AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS IS THEY HAVE TO SHOW SUFFICIENT WATER FOR THE USE OF THE HOME BUILDING.

IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT WATER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, THE CERTIFICATE OUGHT TO BE GRANTED.

ADWR IMPOSED A NEW RULE THAT SAYS THAT ESSENTIALLY TURNS THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT ON ITS HEAD AND SAYS THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT USE, WE LOOK AT THE AMA WIDE, THE AREA MANAGEMENT WIDE, IF THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT WATER IN THAT AREA, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT OR UNMET DEMAND.

TED: THE ENTIRE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA, NOT JUST WHAT'S UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEING BUILT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: ARE THERE FIVE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN ARIZONA?

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

TED: APPLIES TO ALL FIVE?

>> THIS RECENT RULE APPLIES TO MARICOPA COUNTY.

TED: JUST MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> YES.

TED: OKAY.

SO BASICALLY THE HOME BUILDERS WOULD SAY WHAT THE APPROVAL IS OKAY IF THE WATER IS AVAILABLE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU AND I ARE IN THE SAME ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA AND I WANT TO BUILD HERE, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THE REST OF THE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA IS GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WATER IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE SAYING AS IT STANDS THE LAW ALLOWS THAT?

>> NOT WHAT THE BUILDERS ARE SAYING, IT'S WHAT STATE LAW SAYS.

THERE HAS TO BE SUFFICIENT WATER FOR THE HOMES THAT ARE BUILT.

TED: IS THIS A RESPONSE, YOU MENTIONED MARICOPA COUNTY.

PINAL COUNTY, IS THIS IN RESPONSE FOR WHAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE?

>> UNRELATED IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF PHOENIX AND THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA, AND SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE ONES.

WHAT HAPPENED IN PINAL COUNTY DID NOT HALT ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS WHERE WE CRITICALLY NEED HOUSING, WE HAVE IMMENSE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING AND THIS IS KEEPING SUPPLY OF HOUSING OFF THE MARKET THAT OUGHT TO BE ON THE MARKET.

TED: IF IT IS A MODEL, BASICALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES SAYS THE GROUND WATER DEFICIENCY WAS TOO LARGE AND IT WAS TOO WIDESPREAD TO ALLOW CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MODEL, WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT.

TED: PLEASE.

>> THE REAL FIRST PROBLEM IS HOW THIS WAS DONE.

IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A DECISION IN THIS STATE THAT HALTS ALL NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED IT MOST, THAT DECISION HAS TO BE MADE BY OUR ELECTED LAWMAKERS.

NOT BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER RESOURCES.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF THAT DECISION IS GOING TO BE MADE, IT HAS TO BE AUTHORIZED BY LAW.

THE ADWR FAILED IN BOTH OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

IT JUST MADE THE RULE WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN.

DIDN'T GO THROUGH RULE MAKING.

DIDN'T ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND DIDN'T FOLLOW STATE LAW WHICH SAYS IT'S AT THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED USE.

NOTHING IN STATE LAW AUTHORIZES WHAT ADWR DID HERE.

TED: DATES BACK TO 2017 AND GOVERNOR DUCEY WHERE, THE WHOLE IDEA GOT STARTED AND WHERE IT PROGRESSED.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NOT WITH RESPECT TO WHAT THEY DID HERE, RIGHT?

WHAT THEY DID HERE, THE RULE THAT IS AT ISSUE HERE APPLIES TO MARICOPA COUNTY AND THAT IS WHAT IS HALTED DEVELOPMENT AND HOME BUILDING WHERE WE NEED IT MOST.

TED: SO THE CLAIM IS, IT WAS IMPOSED WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, THAT IS THE CRUX AND THE BOTTOM LINE HERE?

>> YEAH, IT'S A STEP WORSE THAN THAT.

IT WAS IMPOSED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE RULE MAKING, SO THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COME AND THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT.

THEY DID IT WITHOUT THAT AND WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION.

TED: TALK ABOUT CRITICISM, THOSE THAT SAY YOU'RE PROTECTING THE HOME BUILDERS AND THE GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT PROTECTS HOME OWNERS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THE GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT PROTECTS ALL OF US, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS ALLOWS FOR A COMPROMISE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND NEW HOMES BEING BROUGHT TO MARKET AND CONSERVATION RESOURCES.

WHAT'S SO ALARMING WHAT ADWR DID HERE IS IF CONSERVATION OF WATER WAS THE ACTUAL ROLE, THIS IS THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS OTHER WATER USES, SAY A CHIP FACTORY OR COMMERCIAL USE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET ASSURED WATER SUPPLY, AND CAN PUMP WITHOUT HESITATION.

IF CONSERVATION OF WATER SOURCES, AND AGAIN, SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE MODEL, IF THAT IS THEIR GOAL, THIS IS THE WRONG WAY TO ACHIEVE IT.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT CURRENT HOME OWNERS FROM DEVELOPMENTS WHERE, IT'S FURTHER AFIELD, THEY DON'T KNOW IT'S BUILT AND EFFECTIVELY AFFECTING GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT IN THAT AREA.

AGAIN, IS THERE SOMETHING TO THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT AT ALL.

THE MODEL IS DEFICIENT IN SO MANY WAYS.

THEY PLACE WELLS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA, THE DEPARTMENT PLACED WELLS ON THE MOUNTAIN AND AREAS WHERE THEY WERE LIKELY TO CAUSE A DEFICIENCY IN THOSE AREAS, SO THERE IS PLENTY OF GROUND WATER ACROSS THE ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA.

AGAIN, ADWR AND US AND THE HOME BUILDERS CAN DEBATE ALL THEY LONG WHAT THE RIGHT POLICY IS BUT NOT FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO DECIDE.

IT'S FOR ELECTED LAWMAKERS TO DECIDE, AND THIS OVERREACH CAN'T BE TOLERATED.

IF THE DEPARTMENT CAN DO IT HERE, IT CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.

TED: OKAY, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOUR YEARS, DATING BACK TO THE DUCEY ADMINISTRATION, THEY WOULD SUGGEST WHY WASN'T THIS LAWSUIT FILED BACK THEN?

>> BECAUSE IT'S CHALLENGING ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OVERREACHES THAT HALTED HOME BUILDING WHERE WE NEED IT MOST.

IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE COMING INTO ARIZONA RIGHT NOW LOOKING FOR HOMES.

IMAGINE ALL THE MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE HOUSING IS BEING BUILT, AND THE DEPARTMENT SHUT DOWN THE LOCATIONS WHERE HOUSING IS BEING BUILT MOST IN THIS STATE.

THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARY PROBLEM AND EXTRAORDINARY OVERREACH.

TED: YOU SAID IF THEY WANTED TO CONSERVE, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WANT TO DO, STOP HOME BUILDING IN ARIZONA AND MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> HARD TO SAY.

THIS APPEARS TO BE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WHICH IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HARD TO SAY.

IF THEY WANTED TO DO THIS RIGHT, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH RULE MAKING AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT AND THEY GOT TO FOLLOW STATE LAW.

IF THEY REALLY WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT, GO THE LEGISLATURE AND TO ELECTED LAWMAKERS AND GET POLICIES IN PLACE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL ARIZONANS INCLUDING THOSE TRYING TO BUY A HOME.

TED: JON RICHES, GOLDWATER INSTITUTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: THE HELIOS FOUNDATION RELEASED A NEW REPORT THAT SHOWS ALMOST A THIRD OF ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE MISSING 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT IS TOO HIGH FOR ARIZONA TO REACH EDUCATION GOALS, AND FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME PAUL PERRAULT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF IMPACT AND LEARNING AT HELIOS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THE REPORT IS CALLED STILL MISSING TOO MUCH SCHOOL, FOCUS ON GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

WHY ARE KIDS MISSING TOO MUCH SCHOOL?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

WE'RE FIVE YEARS OUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED AND SEE A THIRD OF KIDS MISSING, 18 OR MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL, HOW WE DEFINE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: TWO TIMES AS HIGH AS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, THAT WHAT I'M READING HERE?

>> TWO TIMES AS HIGH.

PRIOR TO 2020, WE WERE 10 TO 14%, PRIOR WE WERE IN THE 30th PERCENTIL AND IN THE 20s NOW.

TAKING TOO MUCH TIME TO GET DOWN TO BEFORE THAT.

TED: HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS THE PANDEMIC?

>> STUDENTS GOT OUT OF THE HABIT OF GOING TO SCHOOL.

TWO, PEOPLE WERE GIVEN DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT SCHOOL, AND THREE, SEEING SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES HAPPENING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS NOT HAVING ENOUGH TRANSPORTATION OR STUDENTS HAVING TO HELP OUT IN FAMILIES, BE SOME OF THE ISSUES STUDENTS ARE MISSING SCHOOL.

TED: I'M OF THE AGE IF YOU WEREN'T GOING TO SCHOOL, YOU WERE OUT DOING SOMETHING, PROBABLY DOING NO GOOD.

YOU WEREN'T HOME AND PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE.

THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE AT SCHOOL.

HAS THAT CHANGEED?

>> WHAT'S CHANGED IS WE'VE GOT IN THE HABIT OF STUDENTS NOT BEING IN SCHOOL AND HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX THAT WITH ONLINE MODULES OR ONLINE SCHOOL, AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A LACK OF HAVING THAT KNOWLEDGE.

WE'RE ALL BUSY TODAY.

SO THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IS HAVING PARENTS AND FAMILIES GET EARLIER INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE KID MISSES THREE OR FOUR DAYS OF SCHOOL, GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO PARENTS SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SOMETIMES THAT'S A SURPRISE, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE ABSENCES HAPPEN.

TED: ARE THE KIDS STAYING HOME, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND NOT GOING, ARE THEY STILL GETTING SOME EDUCATION?

ARE THEY STILL DOING SOMETHING?

>> A NUMBER OF KIDS ARE STILL FINISHING SCHOOL.

WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING -- THIS REPORT LOOKED AT FIRST THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, AND STILL GOING TO SCHOOL.

MISSING A LOT OF CURRICULUM WORK, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY IDENTIFIED IS THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING.

THOSE KIDS THAT MISS A LOT OF SCHOOL IN MATH, STRUGGLING IN LANGUAGE ARTS AND SAW THE NAPE RESULTS COME OUT.

WE SAW NAPE DROP.

WE'RE SEEING THE CORRELATIONS OF STUDENTS MISSING SCHOOL AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ACADEMICALLY WITH STUDENTIS.

>> WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, IT'S BOLD, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS BOLD.

WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WITH NAPE.

WE SAW A SIX-POINT DROP IN SOME OF THE SUBJECTS, THOSE ARE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN DROPS WE CAN'T AFFORD IN ARIZONA.

TED: YOU'RE LOOKING AT GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

THE IMPACT ON HIGH SCHOOL, POST-SECONDARY LEARNING, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE FLOWING NOW.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN WE SAW THAT IT REALLY STARTING TO SPIKE, MANY OF THE STUDENTS ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY JUST GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL OR GETTING INTO COLLEGE.

SO WHAT WE SAW THERE IS TRENDS IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM HAPPENING IN THE EARLY GRADES OR K-8, THEY CONTINUE TO GROW IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE SEE MORE KIDS THAT ARE DISENGAGED OR DROPPING OUT, NOT GRADUATING AND SAW GRADUATION RATES GO DOWN, ULTIMATELY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT IF WE DON'T HAVE MORE INTERVENTION SUPPORTS TO GET KIDS READY FOR CAREER OR COLLEGE, AND WE WANT THEM READY FOR BOTH.

THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS.

TED: IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, I IMAGINE, FOR THE KIDS WHO AREN'T MISSING SO MUCH SCHOOL.

IT'S A SCHOOL CULTURE, JUST WHAT GOES ON AT THE SCHOOL.

THAT HAS TO BE AFFECTED AS WELL WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS SHOWING UP?

>> SCHOOL CULTURE AND NOT HAVING FRIENDS THERE OR CLASSMATES.

THINK ABOUT THE TEACHER AS WELL.

A TEACHER THAT HAS A THIRD OF CLASS MISSING SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO ADJUST THE ASSIGNMENTS, CURRICULUM, ADJUST FOR STUDENTS TO INTERVENE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THAT DOES IMPACT, A, THE TEACHER'S ABILITY TO GIVE STRONG INSTRUCTION AND THE CLASSROOM AROUND IT.

TED: EARLIER YOU MENTIONED UNRELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES AND THESE THINGS.

HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR ARE THOSE?

>> CAN'T REALLY MEASURE THAT WITH A PERCENTAGE, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW, OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM.

IT CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, NOW WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WORK WITH READON AND THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM TASK FORCE, TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE GROUP CAUSE SOLUTIONS.

WHY IS IT HAPPENING?

NOT ONE SINGLE REASON ACROSS BUT WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES.

TED: HOW DOES ARIZONA RANK IN THIS KIND OF A STUDY?

>> CURRENTLY LOOKING AT 2022 AND 2023, WE'RE RANKED FIFTH IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

LOTS OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

TED: SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS, THAT'S THE IDEA, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HERE?

>> LOOKING FOR SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD SAY IS USING THE DATA FIRST.

SCHOOLS ARE EQUIPPED TO LOOK AT DATA, REACH OUT TO PARENTS AND BUILD THE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT'S A KEY FACTOR TO KIDDING THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

TED: PAUL PERRAULT, GOOD INFORMATION AND GOOD TO WORK ON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE CITY OF PHOENIX FILM OFFICE RECENTLY CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF ATTRACTING AND RETAINING MOVIE AND TV SHOOTS TO THE VALLEY.

THOSE PROJECTS ALONG WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHOTO SHOOTS MAKE FOR AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

PHIL BRADSTOCK IS FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX FILM OFFICE AND JOINS US.

PHIL FROM FILM.

GOT ME GOING THERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU DO?

>> PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUT FOR THE FEATURE FILM SECTION AND FOR FILM IN GENERAL.

BASICALLY, ONCE A PROJECT IS FUNDED AND READY TO START SHOOTING, WE JUMP INTO THE PICTURE, AND WHEN THEY YELL WRAP THE LAST DAY AND GOES INTO POST PRODUCTION, THAT IS OUR END POINT.

TED: HOW DO YOU FACILITATE THINGS?

>> E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS ABOUT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS AND WORK WITH THE PRODUCERS AND LOCATION MANAGERS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT AREA MAY BE THE BEST FIT, AND IF THEY SELECT IT, WE HELP OUT WITH STAFF THAT'S NEEDED, ROAD CLOSURES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

TED: WHERE TO STAY?

WHAT TO EAT?

WHAT TO DO?

>> FOR THE MOST PART.

WE TRY AND DRIVE THEM THERE, GENERALLY WHERE THEY'RE FILMING IS WHERE THEY'RE STAYING AND EATING.

TED: WHERE DO THEY FILM THE MOST?

TAKE THE VIDEOS, PHOTOGRAPHS, THE COMMERCIALS?

WHAT'S THE HOT SPOT?

>> DOWNTOWN PHOENIX IS VERY HOT.

THE ARCADIA RESIDENTIAL AREA IS VERY HOT, LOOKS LIKE ANYWHERE USA AND SOUTH MOUNTAIN, SAN JUAN ROAD AND PAPAGO PARK.

THOSE ARE THE FOUR, IF YOU WILL, TOP LOCATIONS FOR FILMING.

>> IF I WANT TO DO A FILM AND GO TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN, PAPAGO PARK, DO I HAVE TO GO AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

IT'S OPEN -- CAN YOU GET THERE ANY TIME YOU NEED TO, WE HAVE PEOPLE SHOW UP AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, WHICH PEOPLE HAVE, WE WILL HAVE A PARK RANGER TO OPEN FOR YOU.

NO COST TO THE CITY.

WE JUST HAVE CERTAIN DAYS THEY CAN'T BE OUT THERE ON WEDNESDAY, HAS TO DO WITH STAFFING ON OUR END.

TED: INTERESTING.

ECONOMIC IMPACT.

I'VE GOT HERE $17 MILLION, HUH?

>> OUR LATEST REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN 2024 IS $29 MILLION.

TED: GOING UP HERE.

HOW IS THAT CALCULATEED?

>> WE SURVEY THE PRODUCTION COMPANIES AFTER THEY FILM AND SURVEY TO PRODUCTION COMPANIES THAT ARE LOCAL, AND ASK THEM TO SELF-REPORT TWICE A YEAR.

FROM THAT, WE GET THE DATA ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY SPENT, LOCAL CREW THEY HIRE, TALENT THEY HIRE, HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, ET CETERA.

TED: WOW.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE AND MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION, SO MUCH INFORMATION FLYING AROUND.

SEEMS LIKE WE USED TO HAVE A LOT OF FEATURE FILMS SHOT IN THE VALLEY, IN ARIZONA, IN THE VALLEY.

SEEMS LIKE FEWER OF THEM HAPPENING.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

WE HAD A FILM INCENTIVE FROM 2006 TO 2010 AND BROUGHT IN THE KINGDOM, EVERYTHING MUST GO, TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT, AND AFTER THE INCENTIVES ENDED OUR INDUSTRY SHIFTED TOWARDS COMMERCIALS.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STRONGEST RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE NEW FILM INCENTIVE THAT JUST STARTED, RELEASED IN 2023 WHEN ALL THE HOLLYWOOD STRIKES WERE GOING ON.

ONLY BEEN USED A COUPLE TIMES AND LOW-BUDGET INDEPENDENT FEATURES, BUT COMMERCIALS WHERE WE SEE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY.

TED: I WANT TO LOOK AT FILMS HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: UNSTOPPABLE, ANTHONY ROBLES, BIOPIC, TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.

>> REACHED OUT IN 2022, THE LOCATION MANAGER AND SAID WE NEED TO FILM A SHOT ON PIESTEWA PEAK.

OKAY.

WHAT IS THIS?

IT'S A FEATURE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE?

ABOUT 70.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD LOGISTICS PEOPLE TO HAVE 70 PEOPLE WITH EQUIPMENT.

I SAID WHEN?

THEY SAID JULY.

I SAID THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

I SAID GO TO SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND HAVE THE CAMERAS LOOKING DOWN AND SHOOT THAT AS PIESTEWA AND ENDED UP SHOOTING AT KIWANIS TRAILHEAD AND THE SIGNAGE SAYS PIESTEWA BUT IT'S KIWANIS TRAILHEAD AND DROVE STAKE BEDS TO FILM THE LAST PART COMING OUT.

TED: AND JENNIFER LOPEZ WAS IN THE FILM?

>> SHE WAS NOT HERE, THEY FILMED THE REST IN LOS ANGELES.

TED: A LOT OF IT WAS SHOT IN ARIZONA OR ARCADIA, SOMEWHERE IN SCOTTSDALE.

THIS IS THE WILL FERRELL THING.

EVERYTHING MUST GO.

>> YES.

THIS PARTICULAR MOVIE, WHEN I GOT THE SCRIPT, IT WAS ABOUT DALLAS AND THE TEXAS RANGERS.

THEY NEEDED A DALLAS McMANSION, THEY CALLED IT.

TED: YES.

>> WE SAID WE DON'T HAVE THAT ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OUT HERE.

IF YOU WERE TO SWITCH DALLAS FOR PHOENIX, YOU COULD SHOOT ANYTHING AND IT WOULD MAKE TOTAL SENSE.

THEY ENDED UP COMING OUT HERE, THEY SHOT IN ARCADIA, THE THEME OF THE SCRIPT ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR FRONT YARD, IT WORKED OUT WELL AND ALL THE RESIDENTS ON THE STREET WERE COMPENSATED AND WORKED OUT WELL TO HAVE THE MOVIE HERE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU DO?

ARCADIA, FOLKS LIKE THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.

THEY HAVE A NICE PLACE GOING THERE.

HOW DO YOU PUT UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> ADVANCED LOCATION MANAGER KNOCKING ON EVERYBODY'S DOOR KEEPING THEM INVOLVED.

WE HAVE PHOENIX PD OUT THERE, AND DEAL WITH THE TRASH COLLECTION IS COMING, LIGHTS AND FILMING LATE AT NIGHT.

BUT WE WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THE PRODUCTION COMPANY AND IT WORKS OUT.

TED: YEAH, IT WOULD BE NEAT TO HAVE IT.

AFTER A WHILE, IT MIGHT GET HOLD.

TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT WITH TOPHER GRACE.

>> IT WAS A 1980s MOVIE.

THEY NEEDED A VIDEO STORE, IF YOU REMEMBER SUNCOAST VIDEO, AND METROCENTER WAS UP AND RUNNING, THERE WAS A SUNCOAST VIDEO THERE.

THEY TOOK OUT ALL THE DVDs AND PUT VHSs IN.

IT HAD TO DO WITH A BIG METAL BALL ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, TOPHER'S CHARACTER IS SUPPOSEDLY IN IT AND JUMPS OVER THE WALL INTO THE POOL.

IF YOU JUMP THE BALL INTO THE POOL AND IT CRACKS THE POOL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

WE BUY THEM A NEW POOL.

TED: THAT'S HOLLYWOOD FOR YOU.

TRANSFORMERS, THE LAST NIGHT, MARK WAHLBERG AND ANTHONY HOPKINS SHOT OUT HERE?

>> THE END OF THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT ALL THE TRANSFORMERS WENT TO SLEEP AND THE JUNKYARD NEEDED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE DEER VALLEY AIR PARK WHICH IS MORE CLASSIC CARS, IT WAS CHEAP TO MOVE THINGS AROUND WITH A FORKLIFT AND SHOOT THE OPENINGS OF THE MOVIE THERE.

TED: AND THOSE ARE THE FILMS, COMMERCIALS AND VIDEO SHOOTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL KINDS OF BUSINESS.

SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE ON THE UPTICK.

>> THEY DEFINITELY ARE.

WE'RE DOING WELL.

TED: APPRECIATE IT, PHIL BRADSTOCK CITY OF PHOENIX FILM OFFICE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TED: YOU BETCHA.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.