♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL SPEAK WITH CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI ON PROPOSALS TO CUT MEDICAID AND THE U.S. HANDLING OF DEPORTATION.

>>> LOCAL CHEFS TEAM UP TO KEEP FINE DINING ALIVE DURING SUMMER SLOWDOWN.

>>> AND A LOOK AT NEW ART POPPING UP AROUND DOWNTOWN MESA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

FIRST YEAR ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI RECENTLY TRAVELED TO EL SALVADOR ON THE BEHALF OF THE MISTAKENLY DEPORTED KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND MORE ON CAPITOL HILL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

COUPLE THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE TRIP TO EL SALVADOR, A LOT OF BUDGET TALK ON CAPITOL HILL RIGHT NOW INCLUDING THE GOP BUDGET PLAN, 880 BILLION CUT OVER THE NEXT DECADE, MEDICAID AND THE ACA, A BIG PART OF THE PLANS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD?

>> FIRST OF ALL, TED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SINCE I'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS, FROM THE JUMP THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN AROUND THE BUDGET BECAUSE FROM THE GET-GO REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR CONTINUING RESOLUTION IN THE BUDGET FRAMEWORK WHICH AS YOU STATED DIRECTS THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO CUT $880 BILLION.

REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO TELL YOU AND LIE THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT MEDICAID IS BEING CUT AND WE ARE FEARMONGERING BUT EVERY EXPERT AND THE CBO AND THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN COMMERCE, THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE THAT LOOKS AT THE NUMBERS MADE CLEAR, THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE THOSE CUTS WITHOUT GOING AFTER MEDICAID.

IN MY DISTRICT, APPROXIMATELY 330,000 PEOPLE RELY ON MEDICAID, SO THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL.

THAT COMMITTEE MARKUP IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

NOW, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO WATCH IS THAT SEVERAL MODERATE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT VOTE TO CUT MEDICAID, SO THE BATTLE IS ONGOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY WILL END UP JO INDEED, AS YOU MENTIONED, AS WE SPEAK, THEY'RE WORKING ON THIS THING, THE DRAFT PLAN, REGARDING THESE CUTS.

THERE'S SOME TALK, THOUGH, THAT THIS DRAFT PLAN IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS ON CAPITOL HILL WANTED TO SEE.

THERE IS ALREADY MODERATION.

THERE IS ALREADY A COMPROMISE.

IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?

>> I SEE THIS BUDGET AS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE, NOT ONLY DOES IT DIRECT CUTS IN MEDICAID.

I WAS IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MARKUP LAST WEEK WHERE WE SAW THE MOST ANTI-ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION IN DECADES IN THE COUNTRY WITH SIGNIFICANT ROLLBACKS TO CLIMATE PROGRESS.

GIVING AWAY LAND TAX BREAKS TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

WE LOOK AT BASIC PROGRAMS LIKE S.N.A.P.

AND FOOD ASSISTANCE AND HEADSTART, ALL OF THE BUDGET CUTS ARE BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO BILLIONAIRES LIKE ELON MUSK AND THE ULTRARICH IN THE COUNTRY.

I HAVE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUDGET.

TED: THERE ARE THOSE AMONG THE REPUBLICANS THAT SAY YES, THE CONCERNS ARE THERE, BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PUT PEOPLE IN OFFICE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE VOTED FOR.

THEY DIDN'T VOTE FOR CHAOS AND RECKLESSNESS AND IRRESPONSIBILITY AND CORRUPTION.

THEY VOTED FOR SOMEONE TO BRING CHANGE AND SHAKE THINGS UP AND MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER, THEY ARE SEEING RECKLESS TARIFFS THAT MAKE COSTS GO UP.

CORRUPTION FROM A PRESIDENT ABOUT TO ACCEPT A $400 MILLION PLANE FROM A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND CONGRESS NOT WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION EVER BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SCARED OF RETALIATION FROM DONALD TRUMP AND ELON MUSK, THEY ARE WILLING TO GO TO EXTREME LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CRAZY TAX CUTS THAT I DON'T DESERVE.

TED: ONE LAST ASPECT ON MEDICAID IN ARIZONA, THERE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE A WORK PLAN FOR POOR, CHILDLESS ADULTS, THEY HAVE TO PROVE THEY ARE WORKING 80 HOUR ACE MONTH TO QUALIFY.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE SEEING OR A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF FEARMONGERING AROUND MEDICAID.

REPUBLICANS TRY TO SAY PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

WE KNOW 93% OF THOSE ON MEDICAID ARE ALREADY WORKING.

THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT BE PART OF THAT 93% ARE THOSE WITHIN OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY WHO I HAVE ENGAGED WITH IN ARIZONA THROUGH THE ARIZONA DISABILITY COALITION.

SO ONCE AGAIN, FROM REPUBLICANS WE SEE A LOT OF LIES AND MISINFORMATION THAT IS BEING SPREAD.

TED: RECENT TRIP TO EL SALVADOR ON BEHALF OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA, WHY DID YOU NEED TO BE THERE?

>> SO TO ME, IT IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING ESPECIALLY AS SOMEONE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF PARENTS WHO FLED AN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE CO-EQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT IS WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF DUE PROCESS FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THIS CASE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT OF THIS COUNTRY, THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND, VOTED 9-0 THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WRONGFULLY DEPORTED HIM AND MUST FACILITATE HIS RETURN HOME.

WE KNOW THIS ADMINISTRATION'S TACTIC IS TO FLOOD THE ZONE, DONALD TRUMP ALWAYS WANTS TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION, HE'S DEFLECTING FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AND THE FACT HE IS DEFYING THE SUPREME COURT.

MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO WENT FELT EXTREMELY DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE ADMINISTRATION.

TED: SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE FLOOD, THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THEY DEPORTED AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT GANG MEMBER, BROUGHT UP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACCUSATIONS, HERE'S A QUOTE FROM REPUBLICANS.

FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF SELF DORIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND ACCUSED GANGBANGER AND WIFE BEATER.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I AM FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF DUE PROCESS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY.

FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE WE, AS AMERICANS, DO NOT LOSE WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY UNIQUE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND WHAT MAKES US ACTUALLY A FREE AND FAIR COUNTRY.

THIS WAS NOT JUST ABOUT KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA, ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR OWN COURTS PROHIBITED HIS DEPORTATION FROM THIS COUNTRY SO DONALD TRUMP IS BREAKING THE LAW, AND AGAIN, THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THAT, IF WE NO LONGER A COUNTRY WHERE WE EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO ABIDE BY A SUPREME COURT DECISION, HOW DO WE EXPECT TO HAVE RIGHTS OR FREEDOM MOVING FORWARD?

TED: OBVIOUSLY, THE ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUSING ON THE MAN AND THE ACCUSATIONS AND THE STATUS, AND YOU ARE FOCUSING ON DUE PROCESS.

SOME WOULD SAY THAT IS A LINE OF DECLINEIATION THAT -- THAT MAKES THE TWO PARTIES RIGHT NOW, AND YOUR PREDECESSOR, SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO, HE IS BASICALLY MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF SAYING IF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS HELP AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORKING CLASS AND MIDDLE CLASS, AND THESE SORTS OF FOLKS.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE NEW, YOUNG, FRESH VOICES COME UP IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND BE EMPOWERED TO MAKE CHANGE.

WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS IN OUR PARTY EMERGE RIGHT NOW, AND EVERYONE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN OCASIO-CORTEZ TO NEW MEMBERS OF MY CLASS FROM DAVE MINH TO LORA FRIEDMAN, THERE ARE SO MANY MEMBERS OF MY CLASS, I'M THE CLASS PRESIDENT OF THE FRESHMAN DEMOCRATS.

THERE ARE 47 OF US COMING IN AND WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONDING TO DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION SO WE CAN WIN THE ELECTION AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WE GET THINGS DONE.

TED: GETTING THINGS DONE IS ONE THING, THE AGE FOR PEOPLE MAKING THE CALL FOR THE MESSAGE, HOW DO YOU GET THOSE SWING VOTERS BACK?

THEY LEFT THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LAST ELECTION IN A BIG WAY.

THERE'S SOME TALK AND POLLS SHOW THEY'RE COMING BACK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, BUT HOW DO YOU GET THE VOTERS BACK?

>> TO ME, I THINK WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE WE ARE BATTLING CORRUPTION AT EVERY TURN, THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR ABOUT REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THAT'S EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN PARTY.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN THE MOST VOCAL ON IS THE ISSUE OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRADING STOCKS.

I THINK I'M A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION TO BAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM TRADING STOCKS BECAUSE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT LARGE RIGHTLY FEEL THAT THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST THEM AND THE MOST POWERFUL IN THIS COUNTRY CONTINUE TO BENEFIT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO SHOW WE ARE THE PARTY OF CHANGE.

WE'RE THE PARTY THAT WANTS TO LOWER COSTS AND MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR PEOPLE AND MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM POSSIBLE.

I THINK, TED, IT'S IMPORTANT WE ARE COMMUNICATING IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES.

HISTORICALLY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TOO SCRIPTED, TRYING A LITTLE TOO HARD TO SAY THE RIGHT THING EXACTLY, IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

NO.

WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE EVERYWHERE, WHERE WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

TED: INTERESTING.

BEFORE YOU GO, I GOT TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS IDEA OF CHANGING THE PERSIAN GULF, THE NAME OF THE PERSIAN GULF TO GULF OF ARABIA.

YOU HAVE TIES TO THAT PART OF THE WORLD HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS.

DONALD TRUMP NEEDS TO STOP FOCUSING ON CHANGING THE NAMES OF BODIES OF WATER.

THE PERSIAN GULF HAS BEEN CALLED THE PERSIAN GULF FOR LITERALLY CENTURIES, RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY INTERNATIONAL BODIES.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE TYPES OF FAVORS THAT DONALD TRUMP IS TAKING TO SAUDI ARABIA, TO QATAR, THE MOST NOTABLE THING THAT AMERICANS SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IS THIS INSANE CORRUPTION WITH THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT HE'S GOING TO ACCEPT A $400 MILLION LUXURY BOEING 747, NOT ONLY TO USE AS AIR FORCE ONE WHILE HE'S IN OFFICE, BUT TO USE PERSONALLY WHEN HE'S OUT OF OFFICE.

THIS IS CRAZY.

IF ANY DEMOCRAT HAD EVER DONE THIS, EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE LOSING THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL SAY THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING THIS OUT AND RIGHTLY SO BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S SHOWING THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE EVER SEEN.

TED: WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT, AND GOOD TO YOU HAVE ON WHEN WE DID.

CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

BYE.

.

TED: SUMMERS IN ARIZONA ARE NOTORIOUSLY SLOW FOR THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

THIS YEAR THE DEVOUR SUMMER CHEFS SERIES LOOKS TO KEEP FINE DINING ALIVE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE WELCOME CHEF JUSTIN BECKETT AND KIMBER LANNING OF LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: CHEF, DEVOUR SUMMER CHEF SERIES.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> A LOT OF FUN TO START OUT.

THE CHEFS GOT TOGETHER AND SAID HOW DO WE RALLY THE TROOPS?

HOW DO WE HAVE FUN IN THE SUMMER?

ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND ENJOY A GREAT MEAL, AND MORE SO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND THE OTHER CHEFS' RESTAURANT.

TED: HOW MANY CHEFS ARE INVOLVED?

>> FIVE CHEFS.

AND EACH ONE OF THE CHEFS HOST A DINNER AND GET A BUDDY CHEF WITH THEM.

I'M COOKING WITH STEVEN JONES AND I'LL BE GOING TO VIRTUE AND COOKING WITH GEOAND HIS RESTAURANT.

TED: AND ONCE A MONTH?

>> YEP, ON MONDAYS, AND FOR ME, THE MOST EXCITING PART IS I LOVE PLAYING WITH FOOD IN THE KITCHEN WITH OTHER CHEFS.

THAT'S THE GREAT PART AND HAVING AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE WITH THE GUESTS AND HAVING PEOPLE SHOW UP AND ENJOY A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

TED: KIMBER, HOW DID THE IDEA GET STARTED FOR THIS?

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

>> ABOUT 18 YEARS AGO, THERE'S A FOOD ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT THAT PLACED PHOENIX 49th ON A LIST OF CULINARY DESTINATIONS, YOU KNOW?

AND I WASN'T HAVING THAT.

AND I REMEMBER AT THE TIME, THERE WERE SEVERAL CHEFS AND WE WERE SO OFFENDED BY THIS RATING THAT WE GOT, THAT WE FORMED THE DEVOUR PHOENIX RESTAURANT COALITION, AND FROM THAT, WE STARTED THE DEVOUR CULINARY CLASSIC, WHICH IS 18 YEARS STRONG AT THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN ONCE A YEAR, AND PARTNERED WITH OTHER CHEFS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS, AND ONE IS THE SEVEN CHEFS SERIES.

THE SEVEN CHEFS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A MEAL AT THE JAMES BEARD HOUSE.

JAMES BEARD BEING ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED CULINARY CRITICS, I GUESS, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THAT GREW INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS CREATING UNIQUE EXPERIENCES WITH CHEFS.

I WOULD SAY THE CULINARY SCENE IN ARIZONA IS REMARKABLE, AND WHILE WE'RE FOCUSED ON PHOENIX, THERE'S WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

TED: SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A WHILE.

SEEMED AS THOUGH PEOPLE DISCOVERED PHOENIX AND ARIZONA A FEW YEARS AGO, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE, ALWAYS HAD PRETTY GOOD STUFF.

>> REMARKABLE, ACTUALLY.

WE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF FANTASTIC CHEFS THAT WON NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, AND CURRENTLY HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE FIVE CHEFS, THEY HAVE SUCH A CAMARADERIE, AND ANYBODY COMING OUT TO ANY ONE OF THESE DINNERS IS GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

TED: JEFF, TALK ABOUT THE SUMMER AND WHAT THE SUMMER MEANS TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO OTHER INDUSTRIES.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO TRAFFIC.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MY HEALTH.

SUMMER IS DIFFERENT IN ARIZONA.

HOW DIFFERENT FOR RESTAURANTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT'S HOTTER.

PEOPLE GENERALLY EAT LESS WHEN IT'S HOT.

THEY WANT TO EAT LIGHTER.

BUT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR US IS WE HAVE LESS VOLUME.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT GREAT WAYS OF EXCITING PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM INTO THE RESTAURANTS.

HENCE A SERIES OR EVENT LIKE THIS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TREAT DAYS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO I LIGHT THE FIRE AS EARLY, CREATE HEAT IN THE RESTAURANT?

YOU THINK ABOUT THE MECHANICAL THINGS AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WANT.

WE CHANGE OUR MENUS TO BE MORE LIGHT FOOD OR HAVE ITEMS THAT HAVE MORE WATER CONTENT SO THEY REFRESH YOU, SO GENERALLY THINKING ABOUT STAYING COOL.

TED: YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE SURE PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE KNOWN FOR X AND DON'T WANT TO LOSE X AND AND YOU ARE BUSY SERVING Y.

>> WE HAVE A JOKE WE SERVE MORE HOT SOUP IN THE SUMMER THAN THE WINTER, WHICH IS FUNNY TO SAY.

WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE WHAT WE DO BEST AND WHAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR, BUT WANT TO KEEP IN MIND, WE ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME IN IN THE SLOW TIME OF THE YEAR.

TED: WE TALK ABOUT THE SLOWDOWN FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN THE VALLEY AND CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE.

HOW IMPORTANT TO THE ARIZONA ECONOMY?

>> OH, LAST YEAR 2024, THEY ESTIMATED $55 BILLION IMPACT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAS ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY, AND I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF, WHEN WE STARTED LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA IN 2003.

THERE WERE TWO RESTAURANTS FOR ONE LOCALLY OWNED AND TODAY THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

I THINK THAT IS REFLECTING THE GROWTH IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND THE TASTE OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE THAT WANT A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE.

>> ARE YOU SEEING MORE COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESTAURANTS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WISH WE HAD MORE COLLABORATION AROUND.

SOURCING DIFFERENT FOOD.

WE'RE COLLABORATING FOR THAT AND WORKING WITH FARMS HERE REGIONALLY AND DURING THIS TIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESTAURANTS WORK TOGETHER TO SOURCE THINGS LIKE PAPER PRODUCTS AND TO GO MATERIALS THAT WE MAY SEE INCREASE IN PRICING.

TED: ON THE SUMMER CHEF SERIES, IS THERE A FOCUS ON LOCAL INGREDIENTS?

>> ALWAYS.

THAT'S ALWAYS OUR FIRST QUESTION IS WHO'S GROWING HAVE?

DO YOU HAVE A PURVEYOR DOING SOMETHING AWESOME WITH THIS?

I ALREADY SEND STEVEN JONES A TEXT AND SAID WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?

HOW DO WE WANT TO THEME THIS?

WE THINK ABOUT CREATING EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE THEY CAN'T GET ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.

FOR ME, WHATEVER IT IS LEVELING IT UP.

CALLING THE LOCAL FARMERS, PURVEYORS AND SAYING WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT'S SPECIAL?

WHAT ARE YOU NOT PUTTING ON A LIST?

WHAT CAN WE GRAB AND FEATURE AND SHOW OFF.

TED: KIMBER, YOU REFERENCED THIS, TARIFFS, THREAT OF TARIFFS, CONCERNS?

THEY COME, THEY GO, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

HOW ARE THEY IMPACTING YOU?

>> DEFINITELY SEEING INCREASING IN PRICING, AND I THINK THE THING THAT I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THINKING IS I WOULD LIKE STABILITY WITH IT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PATH FORWARD.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN THING IS WE WANT TO ALWAYS TREAT THE GUEST WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE CASH FLOW GOING OUT FOR EXPENSES HAS TO BE MADE UP SOMEWHERE, BUT WE WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.

TED: YEAH, REAL QUICKLY, KIMBER WHERE, DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THE SUMMER SERIES?

>> DEVOUR PHOENIX.COM, ONE TICKET AND YOU GET ALL FIVE DINNERS.

HOWEVER, YOU CAN GO IN WITH FRIENDS, IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER, YOU CAN GIVE A TICKET AS AWARD FOR A GREAT EMPLOYEE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOU, YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO BUY FIVE.

ONE FOR EACH DINNER.

TED: AND ONE FOR EACH MONTH, FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

.

TED: THE CITY OF MESA IS EXPANDING ART FOOTPRINT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH NEW INSTALLATIONS AT CITY HALL, THE MESA ARTS CENTER AND THE IDEA MUSEUM.

NICK WILLIS IS CHAIR OF MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ADVISORY BOARD.

HE'S HERE TO TELL US MORE.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

TED: WHAT WAS THE DECISION BEHIND PUSHING FOR MORE PUBLIC ART?

>> SURE, SO ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY PART OF WHAT MAKES MESA UNIQUE.

20 YEARS AGO WHEN WE BUILT THE MESA ARTS CENTER, THAT STARTED THE REVITALIZATION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

FOR THE 10th ANNIVERSARY, THEY BUILT A GIANT MURAL AND FOR THE 20th AIR FORCE THEY PUSHED FOR ANOTHER MURAL.

TED: WE'LL GET TO THE INSTALLATIONS IN A SECOND.

WHO DECIDES WHAT GOES WHERE?

>> SURE, ORIGINALLY THERE WAS A PUBLIC ARTS PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAD.

SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION IT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED.

WE DECIDED TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND SAID LET'S CONSIDER MORE PUBLIC ART IN THE CITY.

CHRIS BRADY WAS VERY RECEPTIVE TO THAT, AND SAID LET'S GET MORE ART HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, HE SAID WE NEED TO MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL AND RECEPTIVE TO THE POPLUSION.

TED: THIS IS CALLED STRATA, ONE OF TWO NEW MURALS AT CITY HALL.

IS THAT STRATA RIGHT THERE?

>> THIS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE MESA ARTS CENTER.

STRATA REFERRING TO THE GEOLOGICAL LINES LIKE IN A CANNON, IT GOES THROUGH A SPIRAL.

THE PANELS HAVE REALTIME ANALYSIS OF AIR QUALITY, WINDS AND THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE CITY.

TED: THOSE ARE L.E.D.

'S, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

TED: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

THE ARTIST IS ADRIAN YU?

A LOCAL ARTIST?

>> HE WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH ASU.

TED: THIS IS INSIDE CITY HALL.

CARBON, FIRE, COMPOSITE AND STEEL.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

LOOK AT THAT THING.

>> THIS IS 2 1/2, 3 STORIES TALL.

THIS GREETS YOU AS YOU ENTER CITY HALL.

THE TWO PARTS ARE REACHING OUT TO EACH OTHER SYMBOLIZING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MERGING TOGETHER IN CITY HALL.

TED: AND THE ARTIST IS WILL CLIFF?

>> YES.

WE HAD A PANEL AND INTERVIEWED, AND HE WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD PROVIDE THE PIECE BEST FOR US.

TED: LET'S KEEP IT HERE AT THE IDEA MUSEUM THERE IS PINWHEELS, AND I GUESS THOSE ARE PINWHEELS, AREN'T THEY?

>> IT'S ACCURATE.

THE IDEA MUSEUM IS ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS TOGETHER.

THE PINWHEELS ENGAGE YOU AS YOU WALK UP TOGETHER.

TED: THEY ENGAGE YOU, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN SPIN THE PINWHEEL.

>> IN THE BOTTOM THERE'S A LITTLE WHEEL.

TED: IS THAT HOW THEY DO THAT?

>> YEAH.

TED: IT'S LITTLE HANDS CAN MANAGE THAT, LITTLE HANDS, LITTLE ARMS?

>> THEY CAN.

TED: THEY CAN.

BIG OLD CHAIR RIGHT THERE AS WELL?

>> THE PINK COUCH IS FAMOUS, IT MOVED AROUND IN DOWNTOWN MESA BUT NOW IT'S PERMANENTLY THERE.

TED: IT LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT?

>> YES.

TED: WHERE IS IT LOCATED?

>> IN MESA AROUND MacDONALD AND MAIN.

>> I THINK I KNOW WHERE IT IS.

I WASN'T QUITE HERE.

ANOTHER ONE ON THE IDEA MUSEUM, THIS IS LIGHT AND COLOR, AND THAT IS GORGEOUS.

>> THE IDEA MUSEUM HAS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, THIS USED TO BE AT BASHAS', THE SIGN WOULD BE AT THE TOP, NOW IT'S TRANSFORMED AND PUT THE BEAUTIFUL MURAL LEADING UP TO THE NEW LOGO.

TED: THIS IS CALLED LIGHT AND COLOR.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHAT IS THE THEME HERE?

WHAT'S THE POINT?

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO GET ACROSS BESIDE BEING BEAUTIFUL?

>> THE POINT IS GOING TO A NEW PLACE CAN BE SCARY FOR CHILDREN, IT CAN BE DISENGAGING TO GO TO MUSEUMS, THIS IMMEDIATELY CAPTURES THE EYE.

NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE MORE ATTRACTED BUT WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

TED: THE ARTIST IS KILLEN MANEY, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF WORK TO GET THAT DONE.

YEAH.

THE LAST ONE IS A FAMOUS PERSON, SHEPARD FERRY.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THIS IS AND WHO SHEPARD FERRY IS.

>> PROBABLY THE MOST RENOWNED STREET ARTIST OF OUR TIME.

HE'S DONE MURALS NATIONALLY, INTERNATIONALLY, AND THIS IS THE FIRST MURAL IN ARIZONA.

HE DID AN EXHIBITION AT MESA ARTS CENTER AND WAS SO STRUCK BY THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN HE DECIDED TO DO THE MURAL WITH US, IT'S ABOUT A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HUMANS AND OUR CLIMATE AND JUSTICE ELEMENTS HE'S KNOWN FOR.

TED: DIDN'T HE DO THE OBAMA HOPE POSTER?

THAT WAS HIM, WASN'T IT?

>> YES, HE ALSO OWNS THE OBEY BRAND.

TED: WOW.

THIS AGAIN, FOR THOSE -- PUBLIC ART, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED PUBLIC ART.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

>> SURE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MESA.

GROWING UP, YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR HOMETOWN.

THINGS LIKE PUBLIC ART GAVE ME A SENSE OF PLACE WITHIN THE CITY AND MADE ME PROUD OF WHERE I LIVE.

IT DOES THAT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY, SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE ACTION, AND THIS INSPIRES US TO HAVE THE BRAVE CONVERSATIONS, NOT JUST IN ONE CULTURE BUT CROSS CULTURALLY, TOO.

AND FINALLY THINGS LIKE THIS BRING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO CRUCIAL AREAS LIKE DOWNTOWN MESA.

WHEN YOU ARE CHECKING OUT SHEPARD FERRY'S MUSEUM, YOU WILL SEE BE NILE HAS A NEW MARQUEE, THERE'S A GREAT PIZZA AT GOAT AND RAM, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT BENEFIT AND THE VISITOR ECONOMY THRIVES WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC ART.

TED: THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN MESA, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE.

EVER SINCE THE LIGHT RAIL FINISHED, THERE IS A PUSH FOR MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.

TED: NICK WILLIS, LOTS OF GOOD STUFF IN MESA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> YEAH, COME VISIT.

TED: SOUNDS GOOD.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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