♪♪ >> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A DISCUSSION ON POLICE REFORM IN LIGHT OF THE KILLING OF TYRE NICHOLS AND THE AND A PROGRAM TO RETROFIT HOMES FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIGH SIMONS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE TODAY RAISED INTEREST RATES AGAIN.

>> THEY RAISED OUR INTEREST RATE BY 25 BASIS POINTS AND WE CONTINUE TO ANTICIPATE THAT ONGOING INTEREST RATES WILL MAINTAIN POLICY THAT IS SUFFICIENTLILY RESTRICTIVE TO RETURN INFLATION TO 2% OVER TIME.

>> Ted: IT'S THE FED'S EIGHTH STRAIGHT INCREASE AND THE SMALLEST SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR, SLOWING THE RATE HIKES AS THINK FIGHT INFLATION.

>> INFLATION DATA RECEIVED OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS SHOW A WELCOMED REDUCTION OVER THE INCREASES AND WHILE NEAR ENCOURAGING, WE WILL NEED MORE EVIDENCE TO BE CONFIDENT THAT INFLATION IS ON A SUSTAINED DOWNWAR PATH.

>> Ted: ECONOMISTS FIGURE THE INCREASE WILL DEEPEN THE ECONOMIC MIT FOR TO BORROW EVEN HIGHER WITH THE HOUSING MARKET HARDEST HIT AND MOST DO NOT THINK THIS COULD TRIGGER A RECESSION, BUT THE CONCERN IS STILL THERE.

>>> AND THE FAMILY OF TYRE NICHOLS JOINED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DIGNITARIES INCLUDING KAMALA HARRIS TO REMEMBER NICHLOS IN MEMPHIS.

HE WAS BEATEN BY MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICERS AND A RECURRING THEME WAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION ADDRESSING POLICE REFORM.

>> WE DEMAND THAT CONGRESS PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.

JOE BIDEN WILL SIGN IT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> AND WE SHOULD NOT DELAY AND WE WILL NOT BE DENIED.

IT IS NONNEGOTIABLE.

>> SOME OF US ARE GOING TO FIGHT UNTIL WE MAKE THIS LEGISLATION HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT WE WON'T STOP UNTIL WE HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AND CHANGE THIS SYSTEM.

>> Ted: THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY SAID THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL MEET WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS TOMORROW TO HAVE, QUOTE, A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT POLICE REFORM.

>>> THE DINGE DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW PEACE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

JOINING US NOW IS SERGEANT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES AND ALSO WITH US IS FORMER ARIZONA HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, REGINALD BOLDING AND SERGEANT, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> IT'S NOT ONLY JUST THE LACK OF TRAINING, BUT IT'S A LACK OF RESPECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOOK AT TUYERE TUYERE TUYERE TUYERE THIS CASE.

WE NEED TRAINING TO PAY FOR THE OFFICERS AND THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND LEADERSHIP THAT HOLDS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

IF YOU STOP BAD BEHAVIOR, IT DOESN'T DWINDING UNTIL AN OUT OF CONTROL SPOT AND A LOT OF TIMES THINGS ARE BLOWN OVER AND NOT TAKING A LOOK AT THE BAD BEHAVIOR OR THE SMALL INCIDENTS THAT ARE LOOKED AT AND GIVEN DISCIPLINE FOR OR FIRED FOR.

SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> Ted: AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THIS VIDEO, BUT WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THIS VIDEO AND EVEN HEARD ABOUT THE VIDEO, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> SO I PERSONALLY DIDN'T WATCH THE VIDEO.

>> Ted: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE VIDEO?

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THE VIDEO AND THAT WAS AN ACTIVE CHOICE.

THERE'S A DR. BY THE NAME OF JASON NICKELS WHO TALKED ABOUT BLACK FOLKS HAVING PTSD WATCHING THESE IMAGES OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND A PHENOMENON CALLED "LINKED FAKE SYNDROME" AND YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES IN THE EYES OF THOSE BEING TAKEN.

SO FOR ME, I'VE CHOSEN NOT TO PROTECT MY OWN MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND THERE IS A MAJOR NAME OF SOME YOUNG OFTEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO LOSES HIS LIFE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE'VE ALLOWED THIS CONVERSATION TO TURN INTO A PARTISAN CONVERSATION AND THE CONVERSATION TO TURN THAT REFORM MEANS ANTI-AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR ANTIPOLICE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE A PARTISAN CONVERSATION.

IT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHO WHO KNOW OR LOVE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GET ACTIVATED AND IGNITED TO CREATE CHANGE.

>> Ted: SERGEANT, HAVE YOU SEEN THE VIDEO?

>> I HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO.

>> Ted: WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?

>> I HAVE.

I SAW THE FOOTAGE IF ADDITION TO THE VIDEO FROM THE DOME.

AND IT WAS A TALE OF TWO DIFFERENT STORIES.

SO YOU CAN WATCH THE CAMERA FOOTAGE AND IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE FOOTAGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOUR CAMERA FALLS OFF AND WE CAN HEAR THE AUDIO AND ANOTHER PERSON IS WALKING AWAY AND THEY'RE BEATING HIM AND IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE HE'S FIGHTING HIM.

THE DOME CAMERA GIVES OFF COMPETE STORY AND CAPTURES THE LIES.

>> Ted: THE DOME CAMERA, I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO AND, AGAIN, THE POLICE CAMERA, LOTS OF MOVEMENT, NOISE AND INTERACTION.

BOY, THAT DOME CAMERA TELLS THE WHOLE STORY.

FROM A POLICE PERSPECTIVE, I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM MEMBERS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING?

>> DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN IN MEMPHIS AND IT AFFECTS US ALL BECAUSE WE'RE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO YES, YOU COULD SAY, HEY, MY DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DO THIS, BUT IT IMPACTS US ALL AND WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES AND HOW DO WE BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT?

SO IT'S ABLE TO SEE THAT AND SEE THE DISAPPOINTMENT THAT SOMEONE WOULD NOT VALUE HUMAN LIFE AND EVEN HELP HIM AFTERWARDS.

>> Ted: THE AFTERWARDS PART WAS ALMOST AS BAD.

WE WON'T GO THERE.

HOW DO YOU BETTER THIS AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

EVERYONE AGREES THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE IT?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE NOT ONLY REACTIVE REACTIVE PROPOSES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S SLEEPING WHILE BLACK BY BREONNA TAYLOR OR YOU PULL UP AND HAVE YOUR LIFE LOST AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO BE HAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A VIDEO TO IGNITE.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE HAS TO BE REAL CONSEQUENCES, TRUE CONSEQUENCES WHEN THERE IS A LOSS OF LIFE.

IF THAT MEANS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, AND THESE ARE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

>> Ted: QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS IN.

>> IF YOU'RE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, YOU CAN'T BE HELD PERSONALLY LIABLE AND YOU SEE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LAWSUITS DIRECTED AT THE CITY OR DIRECTED AT STATES.

BUT THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER MANY TIMES, MOST TIMES, ALL OF THE TIME, THEY'RE NOT TAKING THE FINANCIAL CLAIM AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S AREAS AROUND THAT -- IF YOU CAN PROVE THEY INTENTIONALLY BROKE THE LAW AND THAT BLANKETNESS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Ted: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GET RID OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE WRONG ONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BEING WRONG.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING OUT THERE AND THEY'RE GOING OFF THE FACTS THAT THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM.

AND SOMETIMES, THOSE FACTS -- LIKE PEOPLE ARE GIVING US THE STORY AND WE'RE NOT THERE.

WE COME ON THE SCENE AND SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, SO WE'RE RELY ON THE PEOPLE TO GIVES US THE INFORMATION AND WE GO OFF OF THAT INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES IT CAN TURN OUT THAT INFORMATION WAS WRONG.

IT'S HARD TO SAY A BLANKET, DO AWAY WITH STUFF, BUT HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.

>> Ted: THE MILITARIZATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A PROBLEM JUST IN GENERAL.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS AN ISSUE HERE?

DO THESE POLICE OFFICERS NEED MORE BASIC ARMY TRAINING IF THEY'LL HAVE THESE WEAPONS AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN THIS MANNER AND DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

IS IT A RESPONSE TO SO MANY GUNS ON THE STREETS THESE DAYS?

>> POLICE HAVE AMPED UP THEIR GAME BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE FACING ON THE STREET.

YOU HAVE A VEST AND NOW WE'RE FACING WEAPONS THAT ARE HIGHER GRADE THAN WHAT WE HAVE AND CARRY.

LIKE I CARRY A .9-MILLIMETER AND I'M FACING A LOT MORE GUNS ON THE STREET.

SO SOME OF THE STUFF IS FOR A S.W.A.T.

TEAM AND THEY'RE FACING BIGGER GUNS THAN JUST A HANDGUN.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED WHEN THEY'RE FACING THAT.

THERE'S DIFFERENT TIMES THAT MILITARIZATION TACTICS AND YOU LOOK AT FERGUSON AND WHY ARE WE DOING THAT AND THERE ARE TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN DEPLOY ED THIS DEPLOYED THAT I DISAGREE WITH.

>> Ted: IS THAT A HOOK WE CAN HANG ONTO HERE?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR, IT'S NOT OFTEN, YOU KNOW, HANDGUN VERSUS HANDGUN OR MANY TIMES WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WEAPONS THAT ARE BEING USED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNARMED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, LOSING THEIR LIVES.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING, I THINK THERE IS TRAINING WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE, BUT I DON'T THINK THE SOLUTION IS TO CONTINUOUSLY SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT AND GEAR BECAUSE PART OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE VALUING OF, AGAIN, HUMAN LIFE, YOU KNOW, DIRECT CONNECTIONS.

WHEN YOU'RE ENTERING A COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE, A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND FOR MANY COMMUNITIES AND MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THEIR FIRST INFECTION, PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS FROM THAT POSITION OF AUTHORITY AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

>> Ted: IT SEEMS IT'S IF PROGRESS AND LET'S HOPE WE DON'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

THANK YOU BOTH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN WHICH WE HEAR FROM STATE LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND THIS WEEK IT'S THE REPUBLICAN'S TURN AND JOIN US USJOINING US IS OUR PRO-TEM AND LOTS GOING ON AND WE'LL START WITH THE BUDGET AND ANYONE AROUND, THE BUDGET IN JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY MAKES NO SENSE TO ANYONE AND WHY ARE YOU PUSHING THIS BUDGET THROUGH AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD BUGS BUNNY CARTOON, CHRISTMAS IN JULY.

IT IS AN IDEA THAT WAS BORN SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS A PROTRACTED DEBATE OVER HOW TO COME TO A BUDGET RESOLUTION THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND ACT IN A WAY THAT JUST SIX MONTHS AGO WAS BIPARTISAN TO HAVE THAT BASELINE STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO ENSURE TEACHERS ARE PAID, STATE TROOPERS, ET CETERA, CORRECTION'S OFFICERS.

DID THAT TODAY AND, OBVIOUSLY, NOT AS BIPARTISAN AS WE HAD HOPED OR SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT WE ARE STILL HOPEFUL IN THE HOUSE THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: WHY NOT PUSH FOR BIPARTISANSHIP AND WHY NOT GET INPUT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY'VE HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND MANY OF THE PRIORITIES LISTED IN HER BUDGET ARE IN HER BASELINE BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS TO CONTINUE, AS WELL.

AND FRANKLY, LAST YEAR, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THERE ARE FIVE NO VOTES IN THE SENATE ON THE BASELINE OF, ESSENTIALLY, THIS SENATE.

THERE'S $1.8 BILLION THAT IS OUT THERE AND THAT WILL BE THE BOX THAT IS USED FOR ONE-TIME DOLLARS AND I HAVE TO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD BE OUR INTENTION, BECAUSE IT IS, TO GO AHEAD AND NEGOTIATE THAT 1.8 BILLION ON, OBVIOUSLY, OUR PRIORITIES AND THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES AND THE HOUSE'S PRIORITIES, AS WELL.

>> Ted: YET, CRITICS AND DEMOCRATS SAYING WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS A BIT OF A STUNT, THEY'RE CALLING IT.

BECAUSE NOW IF SHE DOESN'T NEGOTIATE, YOU'VE GOT THE BILL AND YOU'VE PASSED THIS STUFF.

IF SHE DOESN'T AGREE TO IT, SHE'S THE ONE WHO WILL SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER AND DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

THE STATE CONSTITUTION IS VERY CLEAR, WE BELIEVE, THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE EXISTS FOR ONE REASON AND THAT IS TO PASS A BUDGET THAT ULTIMATELY IS ENACTED, OF COURSE.

OUR HOPE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SEE THINGS IN A WAY THAT WE DO AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF ARGUMENT LEFT IN NEGOTIATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND PLENTY OF LONG NIGHTS LEFT FOR ALL OF US WHERE YOU'LL INTERVIEW ME IN A FEW MONTHS AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT 1.8 REMAINING IS SPENT IN A WAY THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE WANT.

>> Ted: WHEN THEY SAY POLITICAL GAMES, YOU SAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS IS A TRUE ENDEAVOR AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL AS THOUGH -- IT WILL BE BUSINESS ON JULY 1st, THE SAME WAY ON JUNE 30th THE SAME WAY STATE EMPLOYEES GO.

>> Ted: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MARCH 1st AS FAR AS THE EDUCATION AND FUNDING AND WHY ISN'T THIS THING TAKEN CARE OF?

>> WELL, SENATOR BENNET IS A COMMITTEE CHAIR, INTRODUCED THE BILL TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW FOR THE AEL TO BE RAISED AND LOOK FOR ACTION ON THAT AND IT HAS BEEN FIRST READ IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE JUST PASSED A MEASURE AND I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST EVENING IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND WE'LL SEE SOME ACTION AND I BELIEVE COMING UP IS POTENTIALLY AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK ON THAT.

AS FAR AS THE AEL IS CONCERNED.

WE MADE A COMMITMENT FROM DAY ONE THAT WE -- FRANKLY, WE WANTED A SPECIAL SESSION UNTIL GOVERNOR DUCEY AND ASKED FOR IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

SO WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED FROM DAY ONE TO GET THIS DONE AND DO IT IN A TRANSPARENT WAY IN WHICH THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> Ted: I'M HEARING DEMOCRATS SCREAMING WHERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS FAR AS THE BUDGET IS CONCERNED?

>> LOOK, WE HAD AN APPROPRIATION'S COMMITTEE YESTERDAY IN THE SENATE AND HEARD CRICKETS AND NO AMENDMENTS FROM OUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES.

WE FEEL LIKE WE HAD SOMETHING THAT JUST ONCE AGAIN SIX MONTHS AGO WAS HAILED AND EVEN BY THEN SECRETARY OF STATE HOBBS AS BEING A SYMBOL OF THE BIPARTISANSHIP THAT CAN EXIST.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE TO KNOW DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND DIFFERENT CONTEXT AND WE'LL LEAVE THAT.

SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AND IF WE'RE HEARING ABOUT CUTTING MARICOPA COUNTY INTO FOUR COUNTIES AND WHY?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOMENTS I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT I WOULD NOT LIVE IN ANY OF THEM.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: I UNDERSTAND AND THAT MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HEAR IT IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR.

I KNOW SENATOR HOFFMAN AND THE SENATE HAS THAT BILL AND I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CONSERVATIVE REASON IS FOR THAT DEBATE, BUT HAVING SAT THROUGH IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO OFFER AN ACCURATE OPINION ON THAT.

>> Ted: DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU THAT IN THE ANALS OF SMALL CONSERVATISM, FOUR MORE SUPERVISORS, THIS AND THAT, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SMALL GOVERNMENT.

>> IT'S A SMALL HILL TO SOUND LIKE SMALL GOVERNMENT.

HOWEVER, I KNOW AS AN ARIZONA NATIVE, THIS CONVERSATION HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, TO THE LATE 80'S AS FAR AS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ.

SO THIS HAS EXISTED AND NOTHING NEW AND I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT OUT AGAIN.

>> Ted: WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT AND I-10, EXPANDING I-10 AND ARE STATE FUNDS NEEDED?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIZED A LOT OF GREEN TRANSPORTATION THINGS IN MAKING IT A PROCESS.

I HAVE A BILL, $360 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS THAT PASSED TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ENSURING THAT ROAD IS EXPANDING.

>> Ted: IS THE GOVERNOR'S OK OFFICE WITH THAT?

>> I ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON OPENING DAY AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD GET BACK TO ME AND YET TO HEAR BACK.

>> Ted: SENATE PRESIDENT, PRO-TEM, THANK YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: A NEW HOME MODIFICATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO RETROFIT HOMES TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS THE LATEST EFFORT FROM A 360, AN ORGANIZATION TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

FOR MORE ON THE HOME MODIFICATION PROGRAM, WE WELCOME A VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF ABILITY 360.

>> ABILITY 360 IS A NONPROFIT WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE BOARD, PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE TO EMPOWER FOLKS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE CHOICES AND OPTIONS IN THEIR LIVES AND WE'RE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Ted: WE'VE BEEN DOWN THERE AND SEEN THE FACILITIES AND A FANTASTIC OPERATION THERE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT RETROFITTING HOMES AND WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW GRANT THROUGH HUD, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THIS ASSISTS WITH MODIFYING HOMES WITH PEOPLE OVER 62 AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, INCOME ELIGIBLE AND WE'RE PRIMARILY TARGETING FOLKS IN PINAL AND SIX COMMUNITIES IN MARICOPA TO REALLY PREVENT FALLS AND FALL PREVENTIONS ON THIS.

AS WE GET OLDER, YOU KNOW, FALLS HAPPEN IN THE HOME AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS, TO MAKE IT SAFER, MORE INDEPENDENT AND REDUCE THOSE FALLS.

>> Ted: WE'RE TALKING GRIP BARS, WHEELCHAIR RAMPS.

>> WIDENING DOORS LIKE YOU SAID AND SOMEONE CAN WHEEL INTO A BATHROOM, HIGH RISE TOILETS AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHES BEING MOVED TO REALLY INCREASE INDEPENDENCE.

>> Ted: WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM?

>> ANYBODY IN PINAL, GILA, SIX IN MARICOPA AND FOLKS NEED TO BE IN 62 AND OLDER AND IT'S MODERATE INCOME AND THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS AND WE HAVE MODEST CAP ON THE PROGRAMS AND WE REALLY GO IN, DO THE ASSESSMENTS AND MAKE SURE THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS MEANINGFUL AND WE CAN GET THE MOST OUT BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.

>> Ted: HERE IS MY HOME AND NOT UP TO WHAT I NEED IT TO BE AND CAN YOU HELP?

>> RIGHT.

WE HAVE CERTIFIED FOLKS, PROGRAM COORDINATORS WHO WOULD GO OUT AND PHYSICALLY DO ASSESSMENTS AND SUCH AND TALK TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

YOU KNOW, FOR GRAB BARS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PLACE THEM EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

IF IT'S A HORIZONAL OR AN L-SHAPED BAR.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW IN OUR OWN HOME, MY WIFE AND I PUT IN GRAB BARS AND WE DON'T NEED THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT DOWN THE LINE, WE MIGHT REALLY NEED THEM AND BE SAFER AROUND THE BAND ROOM AREA.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE WHO EVEN APPLY, WHAT COST IS INVOLVED HERE, TO THEM?

>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY PART.

NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUALS AT ALL.

>> Ted: REALLY?

>> WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THEM AND JUST CONTACTING US AND WE'LL SET UP A TIME TO COME OUT AND DO THE ASSESSMENT AND THEN WE DO WORK WITH LICENSE AND BONDED AND INSURED VETTED CONTRACTORS TO DO THE WORK AND WE'RE NOT JUST GETTING SOMEBODY WITH A SHINGLE OUTSIDE THEIR DOOR.

>> Ted: AND LABOR, MATERIALS AND NO CONTRIBUTIONS AT ALL?

>> NO, ZERO, NADA, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, RIGHT?

>> TED IT SURE DOES.

OBVIOUSLY, THE KEY FACTORS.

>> KEY FACTOR, RIGHT.

SO WE ARE READY TO TAKE IT ON AND THESE SMALLER PROJECTS DON'T TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND WE CAN DO THE ASSESSMENT AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND GET IT DONE QUICKLY.

>> HOW WOULD SOMEONE APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

>> THE BEST WAY DO IT IS EITHER CONTACT US ONLINE, ABILITY360.ORG OR CALL OR MAIN NUMBER MAYBE ON THE SCREEN AND IT'S (602)256-2245.

>> ONE MORE TIME (602)256-2245.

>> Ted: YOU MAKE THE CALL, YOU APPLY, YOU GET ACCEPTED AND THEY START WORKING AND HOW LONG WILL THEY BE AT YOUR HOUSE?

>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY.

WE CAN GET IN AND OUT IN A SHORT ORDER.

NOBODY IS RELOCATED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> Ted: HOW LONG HAS THIS PROGRAM BEEN AROUND?

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK LIKE THIS FOR 32 YEARS.

>> Ted: HOLY SMOKES!

>> RIGHT!

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT ACROSS THE VALLEY WITH DIFFERENT CITIES AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY OF THE HOMES AND NEEDING MORE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

>> Ted: LIKE LAST YEAR, HOW MANY HOMES WERE RETROFITTED?

>> LAST YEAR, 128 HOMES AND WE WERE AT ABOUT $1.1 MILLION WORTH OF WORK.

>> Ted: FANTASTIC!

LAST QUESTION, THE REACTION FROM MEAN GET THE WORK DONE?

>> IT'S GREAT.

WE HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO HIS BATHROOM WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE, HIS SHOWER, AND AHEAD TO GO INTO HIS BACKYARD WITH A GARDEN HOSE AND TAKE A SHOWER AND NOW HE CAN BATHE IN DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS PROGRAM AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE GREAT WORK AND MAY IT CONTINUE.

DARRYL CHRISTIAN FROM ABILITY 360.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW AND I'M TED SIMONS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

♪♪