♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO JOINS US IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S MITIGATION EFFORTS.

>>> AND AN ORGANIZATION TEACHES SENIORS TO AVOID FINANCIAL SCAMS.

>>> AND ASU TEACHERS TEAM UP WITH A LOCAL FOOD BANK TO TRACK FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TODAY ASKED A FEDERAL COURT TO BLOCK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM USING THE NATIONAL GUARD AND U.S. MARINES TO ASSIST WITH IMMIGRATION RAIDS IN LOS ANGELES, SAYING IT WOULD ONLY HEIGHTEN TENSIONS.

THERE WAS RELATIVE CALM IN L.A. TODAY WITH FEW REPORTS OF VIOLENCE AMID CONTINUING IMMIGRATION PROTESTS.

THE CITY'S MAYOR IS NOT EXPECTING TROUBLE TODAY.

>> AS OF NOW, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED WORDS OF RAIDS.

I THINK YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS NOT NOTIFIED WHEN I.C.E.

GOES TO A WORKPLACE, AND WHAT WE RELY ON FRANKLY IS REPORTING FROM THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE FORMED THE RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK, THAT IS USUALLY HOW WE HEAR ABOUT A RAID TAKING PLACE.

>> THE RECENT RAIDS ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT CALLING OUT CALIFORNIA'S NATIONAL GUARD WILL COST $134 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON.

WORTH THE COST, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE SITUATION HAD I NOT SENT THEM IN.

HORRIBLE.

YOU'D BE REPORTING ON A LOT OF DEATH AND A LOT OF DESTRUCTION THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

>> "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" REPORTS THAT PRO IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO WARN OF POSSIBLE IMMIGRATION RAIDS IN PHOENIX, SIMILAR TO L.A.

THE ONLINE WARNING SUGGESTS THAT THE RAIDS COULD BEGIN SOMETIME THIS WEEK PERHAPS AS EARLY AS TODAY ACCORDING TO THE PRO-IMMIGRATION GROUP PUENTE ARIZONA.

THERE ARE NO SUCH REPORTS IN THE PHOENIX AREA.

>>> THE INTERNATIONAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WILL FALL TO 2.3% THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE WORLD BANK, DOWN FROM 2.7% PROJECTED IN JANUARY.

RESEARCHERS SAY INCREASED TARIFFS ARE THE MAIN FACTOR AND WHILE THE WORLD BANK ISN'T PREDICTING A GLOBAL RECESSION FROM THE TARIFFS, IT DOES SAY IF POSSIBLE, GLOBAL GROWTH COULD FALL TO A LEVEL NOT SEEN SINCE THE 1960s.

>>> IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES ARE IN PLACE FIRMLY FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, INCREASED CONCERNS OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES AND DEATHS IN THE VALLEY.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX IS WORKING ON WAYS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

JARED: -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES, AND WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT PHOENIX IS PREPARED SHOULD IMMIGRATION RAIDS HIT THE PHOENIX AREA?

>> THANK YOU, TED, WE ARE FOLLOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES AND OTHER U.S. CITIES VERY CLOSELY.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO I.C.E.

TO ASK WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE WE CAN KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFER IF WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ARE PREPARED.

THEY HAVE NOT INFORMED US OF ANY WORKPLACE RAIDS, BUT WE REMAIN STEEPLY CONCENTRATED ON MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY CAN BE SAFE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES WASN'T EXPECTING I.C.E.

TO GIVE FOREWARNING.

ARE YOU EXPECTING THAT?

>> WE HAVE ASKED FOR IT.

THEY RECENTLY DID AN OPERATION IN PHOENIX THAT WAS RELATED TO MONEY LAUNDERING AND TRANSPORTER AND DID INFORM US OF THAT AHEAD OF TIME, BUT WE ARE AWARE THAT IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE WE WILL NOT GET INFORMATION AHEAD.

>> IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD COME WHEN POLICE LEADERSHIP IS IN A BIT OF A STATE OF FLUX.

WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS POLICE CHIEF, INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND THE READINESS THERE?

>> WE HAVE CHIEF DENNIS ORENDER, OUR INTERIM CHIEF, BUT A VERY FAMILIAR NAME TO PEOPLE IN PHOENIX.

HE'S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES.

HE WAS OUR NUMBER TWO FOR QUITE AWHILE, AND IS VERY FAMILIAR.

HE HAS BEEN IN POSITIONS WHERE HE HAS WORKED ON FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES VERY SUCCESSFULLY IN THE PAST, AND HE IS TALKING WITH ALL OF THE OTHER MAJOR CITY CHIEFS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE.

WE DO EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR THE FULL-TIME POLICE CHIEF QUITE SHORTLY.

>> OKAY, AND AGAIN, KEEPING TABS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, SOMETHING HAPPENING IN NASHVILLE AS WELL.

AS FAR AS LOS ANGELES IS CONCERNED, KEEPING TABS WHAT'S GOING ON THERE TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT SHOULD IT HAPPEN HERE?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE REPORTS IT COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK?

>> WE ARE PREPARED FOR IT, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WILL EXPRESS THEIR STRONG FRUSTRATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN TRYING TO WORK WITH ORGANIZERS SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VERY STRONGLY HELD FEELINGS IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE FIRST AMENDMENT BUT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

WE HAVE HAD MANY, MANY PROTESTS OF THE TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE ATTENTION THEY NEEDED AND GONE HOME SAFELY.

>> SO THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP THERE BETWEEN SOME OF THE GROUPS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

>> THERE IS, YES.

>> THERE IS.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE ASKED YOU TO BEGIN WITH, A LONG TIME AGO TO TALK ABOUT HEAT MITIGATION.

LET'S GET TO THAT AS WE WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN LOS ANGELES AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN HERE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE HEAT IS HERE.

SURPRISE.

IT'S JUNE.

HEAT MITIGATION EFFORTS IN PHOENIX.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING?

>> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE AS HOT AS LAST SUMMER AND I MAYBE GOT OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT SO WHEN THIS WEEK'S TEMPERATURES ARRIVED, IT WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT.

WE PLAN YEARAROUND FOR PHOENIX SUMMER HEAT.

WE HAVE A PERMANENT OFFICE THAT DOES THE WORK AS WELL AS THE TEAM WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX.

SOME THINGS THAT ARE NEW, 24 HOUR FACILITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOWNTOWN ON JACKSON STREET THAT HAS A GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS, A DOG RUN.

WE HAVE NOW LIBRARIES OPEN LATER, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL BENEFIT, TO THOSE OF US, LIKE I'M A PARENT MYSELF, AND I WANT TO CHECK OUT A LIBRARY BOOK LATER IN THE DAY.

WE'RE BETTER COORDINATED WITH UTILITY, SO IF YOU LOSE POWER AT HOME, WE CAN SHARE WHERE THE CITY OF PHOENIX COOLING CENTERS ARE OPEN.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE NEW RELIEF STATION AT JACKSON STREET JUST SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN.

DOES THAT REPLACE THE ONE AT BURTON BARR LIBRARY?

>> IT DOES.

>> IT DOES.

THAT ONE IS GONE AT BURTON BARR?

>> THIS IS FOCUSED MORE ON HEAT COMPLETELY.

IT WAS ONCE A SCHOOL SITE.

THERE'S DIFFERENT ROOMS SO WE CAN HAVE A SPACE FOR YOUNG KIDS WHERE THEY CAN HAVE FUN THINGS TO DO, AND IN A MORE COLORFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY HOPE THEY'LL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.

IF YOU HAVE A POWER OUTAGE AT HOME, THAT CAN BE STRESSFUL AND SCARY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO, AND THEN, AGAIN, WE HEARD THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO WEREN'T WILLING TO ACCEPT SERVICES IF THEIR PETS COULDN'T GO, DOGS WE HEARD.

THERE'S A PLACE WITH A DOG RUN THAT IS MORE PURPOSE BUILT AROUND THIS ISSUE, SO WE HOPE IT TAKES THE FEEDBACK AND GIVES US A CHANCE TO GET PEOPLE IN A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.

WE TRY TO LEARN EVERY SUMMER AND GET NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR THIS AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.

WE'VE HELPED MAYORS IN UNITED KINGDOM WHEN THEY HAVE HEATWAVES BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENS TO US EVERY SUMMER.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, 20% OF HEAT-RELATED DEATHS IN MARICOPA COUNTY WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING IN MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOMES, MAYBE RVs.

I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> SO I DON'T REMEMBER DOING THIS, IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON A MOBILE HOME, YOU MIGHT FEEL IT IS MUCH HOTTER THAN IF YOU PUT IT ON A HOUSE.

AND PARTICULARLY THE OLDER ONES HAVE CHALLENGES KEEPING COOLED, SO THEY CAN BE INEFFICIENT AND EXPENSIVE TO COOL, AND THAT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS HELPING US TRY TO FIND THE BEST, MOST COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO NEW PROGRAMS WHERE WE CAN CHECK ON THOSE WHO ARE MORE VULNERABLE.

COOL COLLARS IS ONE.

SO WE TRY TO BE AS INTENTIONAL AS POSSIBLE ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE IN THE SUMMER HEAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WHO INSIST ON HIKING IN DESERT TRAILS IN THE CITY.

LOT OF TRAILS, LOT OF WAYS TO GET OUT THERE, BUT NOT THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

WHAT -- CAN YOU CLOSE -- WILL THE CITY CLOSE TRAILS ON CERTAIN DAYS?

>> WE HAVE A SUMMER HEAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS TRIGGERED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEAT WARNINGS AND PARTICULARLY OUR MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS.

WE WILL CLOSE DOWN.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HIKE YEARAROUND IN PHOENIX, BUT THE TRAILS WHERE OUR FIREFIGHTERS REALLY STRUGGLE, WE DO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE, BASED ON HOW HARD IT IS TO GET FOLKS IN AND OUT.

WE'VE HAD FIREFIGHTERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER THESE RESCUES.

THEY'RE VERY STRENUOUS AND STRESSFUL FOR FIREFIGHTERS, SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE TRY TO BALANCE THE NEED TO ENJOY OUR WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENT WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

>> THINGS HAVE IMPROVED OR INCREASED, EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED.

EVERY YEAR YOU LEARN MORE, AND IT GETS HOTTER EVERY YEAR?

>> THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE LAST YEAR.

113 DAYS ABOVE 100.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO MORE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND REMIND PEOPLE, WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE HAD SPECTACULAR ATHLETES WHO WERE STILL OVERCOME BY THE SUMMER HEAT, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE HEALTHY DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD BE OUT HIKING, AND ALSO IF SOMEONE GETS AN INJURY, IT CAN BE MUCH MORE SEVERE AND AGGRAVATED BY THE SUMMER HEAT.

AND TRYING TO WORK WITH HOTELS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU SEE TOURISTS TO EDUCATE THEM AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

BEFORE YOU GO.

YOU ARE SAYING PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD LOOK TO PHOENIX FOR HEAT-MITIGATION IDEAS.

WHAT DO YOU SHOW THEM?

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SOMBRA, WE DO HEAT-RELATED ART IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURES IN THE PARKS THAT PROVIDE SHADE BUT ARE GORGEOUS ART.

THAT WON A SIGNIFICANT AWARD FROM MY PEERS AMONG CITIES FOR TAKING A PROBLEM AND COMING UP WITH SOMETHING THAT BEAUTIFIES THE CITY.

>> IT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA, WE DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO SHOWCASE IT TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> LOVE IT.

>> WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM THE CITY COMING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND THEY ARE REMARKABLE.

>> GORGEOUS.

>> THEY DO HEAT STUDIES THAT SHOW HOW MUCH COOLTER IS BENEATH THE STRUCTURES AND AROUND THE STRUCTURES.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> SOME ARE GREAT COMPANIES WITH LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE PROBLEM IN PHOENIX AND ARE GOING TO HELP THE WHOLE WORLD.

>> GOOD NEWS.

MAYBE GET A BIT OF A BREAK FROM THE HEAT AND KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES, AND GOOD TO HEAR PREPARATIONS ARE THERE SHOULD IT HAPPEN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

.

TED: FINANCIAL SCAMS TARGETING SENIORS ARE ON THE RISE.

A GROUP CALLED ROSE OR RESOURCES OUTREACH TO SAFEGUARD THE ELDERLY IS WORKING TO EDUCATE SENIORS HOW TO BE SCAMMED.

JOINING US IS BRIAN WATSON COMMUNITY SPECIALIST FOR ROSE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF ROSE.

SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED?

.

>> WE'RE IN THE PREVENTION BUSINESS.

WE NEED PEOPLE NOT TO FALL FOR SCAMS IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND EVERY AGE GROUP GETS SCAMMED BUT FOCUS IS ON OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE 60+.

TED: ARE WE SEEING MORE OF THE SCAMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.

4.8 BILLION REPORTED, AND THAT WAS UP FROM 3.4 BILLION YEAR BEFORE, AND WE KNOW THOSE NUMBERS ARE DEFINITELY NOT REPORTED BECAUSE CRIME IS UNDERREPORTED NATIONWIDE.

TED: HOW IS TECHNOLOGY IMPACTING ALL THIS?

ONLINE, SOCIAL, FACEBOOK, THESE SORTS OF THINGS?

>> NOWADAYS, EVERYTHING WE DO HAS TO HAVE A PASSWORD, A USER NAME.

EVERY PROGRAM YOU USE, YOU CAN'T JUST WRITE CHECKS ANYMORE.

IT'S A PERFECT STORM WHERE WE HAVE AN AGING GENERATION, WE HAVE SENIORS WHO ARE FORCED INTO TECHNOLOGY THEY DIDN'T GROW UP WITH, SO IT'S VERY EASY FOR SCAMMERS TO GET ACCESS TO OUR SENIORS.

TED: WHAT ABOUT CRYPTOCURRENCY?

IS THAT USED MORE IN SCAMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BIGGEST TREND WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS SCAMMERS SENDING PEOPLE TO CRYPTO ATMs, FEED CASH INTO A CRYPTO ATM THINKING THEY'RE INVESTING OR PAYING OFF A FINE, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

TED: SOUNDS TERRIBLE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING UP AND READING UP ON THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE CUSTOMER SUPPORT FRAUD, WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, IS LIKE FAR AND AWAY THE -- I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> RIGHT.

SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER AND THINK I'LL JUST CALL AMAZON OR GOOGLE, AND WHEN YOU GO ONLINE AND USE A SEARCH ENGINE, YOU END UP CALLING A SCAMMER, AND THEY GET AHOLD OF YOUR COMPUTER, THEY DO REMOTE ACCESS WHERE THEY GET CONTROL OF YOUR COMPUTER, WHEN THEY HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR COMPUTER, THEY CAN TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.

TED: MORE FOLKS ARE ON THE COMPUTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: ROMANCE SCAMS.

THAT'S STILL A BIG DEAL.

STILL A BIG DEAL FOR THE ELDERLY.

>> IT IS, PEOPLE WANT TO BE LOVED, THEY WANT ATTENTION, AND ROMANCE SCAMS HAVE MORPHED INTO PIG BUTCHERING, IT IS A ROMANCE SCAM WHERE THE SCAMMERS CONVINCE THEIR VICTIMS TO INVEST IN CRYPTOCURRENCY.

I MET PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST -- I MET A LADY WHO LOST $700,000 TO A PIG BUTCHERING SCHEME IN ARIZONA.

SHE'S A VERY SMART LADY.

GOING UP AGAINST SOMEONE WHO IS FAR MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN SHE IS.

TED: WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP THIS WOMAN?

ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY AND SENIORS OUT THERE, APPARENTLY WAITING FOR THE SCAMMERS TO FIND THEM.

WHAT ARE THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR?

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE?

>> YOU NEED TO BE LIKE A SLOTH.

MY FRIEND AMY AT AARP SAID A PRESENTATION WITH ME SAID MOVE SLOW, DON'T CLICK ON ANYTHING.

GET A SECOND OPINION.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A PHONEA FRIEND.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, SLEEP ON IT, TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF.

TALK TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND SO YOU DON'T RUSH INTO ANYTHING.

THE SCAMMERS WANT YOU TO MAKE A BAD DECISION.

TED: I NOTICE AS WELL, THE IDEA OF WATCHING YOUR EMOTIONS, THAT'S A BIG FACTOR?

>> RIGHT, THE SCAMMERS CALL, PHONE, E-MAIL AND GIVE A COMPELLING REASON TO ACT.

YOUR GRANDCHILD IS IN JAIL, BANK ACCOUNT IS FROZEN.

OR YOU WON THE PUBLISHER'S CLEARING HOUSE SWEEPSTAKES.

THEY WANT YOU TO MAKE A BAD DECISION, EMOTIONS BE ELEVATED.

TAKE A BREAK, GO FOR A WALK, TAKE A BREAK SO YOU DON'T MAKE A BAD DECISION.

TED: ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS INTERESTING, USE A GEL INK PEN WHEN WRITING CHECKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WOULD THINK NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE WRITING CHECKS AS THEY USED TO.

YOU CAN PUT A CHECK IN NAIL POLISH REMOVER AND THE ACETONE WILL TAKE THE INK OFF AND IT CAN BE USED.

IF YOU GET A GEL INK PEN IT'S PROTECTED.

TED: IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

>> IF YOU MAIL A CHECK, PUT IT TO THE POST OFFICE AND PUT IT INSIDE THE POST OFFICE SO SOMEONE CAN'T GET INTO THE BLUE MAILBOX.

TED: I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET A GEL INK PEN?

>> ANY STORE.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES, IF A GOVERNMENT OFFICE UNEXPECTEDLY CONTACTS YOU, ANTENNAS UP, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU CALLED SOCIAL SECURITY OR THE IRS AND THEY PICKED UP ON THE FIRST RING?

IT NEVER HAPPENS.

THEY'RE NOT CALLING YOU.

ALL THE AGENCIES SEND A LETTER IN THE MAIL.

TED: LAST QUESTION, LAST TIME WE TALKED WAS MANY YEARS AGO, YOU WERE WITH THE IRS FOR 28 YEARS.

HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU DEAL WITH ALL THIS?

>> MY FAVORITE PART OF BEING IRS SPECIAL AGENT IS BEING A PIO AND WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT SCAMS.

IT WAS EASY TRANSITION GOING FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO NONPROFIT WORLD.

MY PASSION IS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEIR LIFE SAVINGS TAKEN FROM THEM.

TED: WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE?

>> ROSE ADVOCACY IS OUR WEBSITE, AND WE HAVE AN E-MAIL THAT GOES OUT WITH THE LATEST SCAMS AND YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

TED: BRIAN WATSON, GOOD STUFF.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: ASU RESEARCHERS HAVE CREATED A DASHBOARD TO TRACK FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TEAMED UP WITH ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED.

WE HAVE THE CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER AT ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

TED: MARCO, DEFINE FOOD INSECURITY.

>> SIMPLY PUT, NOT KNOWING WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL COMES FROM.

IN ARIZONA, SINCE THE PANDEMIC, SEEN THAT ON THE RISE, FROM 11% UP TO 14%.

ONE IN SEVEN CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE.

IF YOU PICTURE A CLASSROOM, SIX KIDS DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL COMES FROM.

TED: AARON, TEAMING UP, AS FAR AS DATABASE AND DASHBOARD IS CONCERNED, HOW DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION?

HOW DID YOU COMPILE ALL THIS STUFF?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE AWESOME TEAM OF GRADUATE STUDENTS BEHIND THE SCENES AND DOING THE NITTY-GRITTY WORK WITH THAT.

WE WORK WITH MARCOS' TEAM TO GET FOOD INSECURITY DATA AND COMPILE A CENSUS DATA, OVERLAY THAT ON TOP.

ANYTHING THEY NEED, WE'RE ABLE TO FULL FROM A DATABASE AND PUT IT IN THE DASHBOARD.

TED: DO YOU ANALYZE GRAPHICS, THESE THINGS, HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> WE COLLECT CENSUS DATA, DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, AGE, ETHNICITY, INCOME, IF YOU ARE A FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLD.

WE ANALYZE TRENDS WITH STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

TED: WHEN YOU SEE THE INFORMATION, MARCOS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

WE HAVE INFORMATION AT THE SURFACE LEVEL, PRIOR TO THE PROJECT, WHICH TOLD US WHERE FOOD INSECURITY WAS HEAVIEST IN ARIZONA.

THIS HELPS US DIG INTO LAYERS, FIND INTERSECTIONS OF HOW DIFFERENT BARRIERS WE ALL KNOW THE FOOD INSECURITY IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, SO WHERE DO DIFFERENT BARRIERS INTERSECT AND WHERE DO WE AS A FOOD BANK MITIGATE THE BARRIERS.

>> AND OPTIMIZE RESOURCES.

>> OPTIMIZE RESOURCES, ALL OF THAT.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

IT WAS INTERESTING, AARON, AN OVERLAY OF DATA ON TRIBAL LANDS WITH VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.

AND THAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET TO FOOD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF WE THINK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY, THE FOOD BANK I DON'T THINK WAS NECESSARILY THINKING OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP AT THE TIME, BUT WITH ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK, THEY HAVE THE ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS WELL.

WHAT ABOUT VEHICLE OWNERSHIP IN THE RURAL AREA WHERE THERE IS FEW GROCERY STORES.

PERHAPS LOOK AT THAT, AND WE SEE A VERY CLEAR PATTERN.

TED: WERE YOU SURPRISED AT ANY OF THE PATTERNS YOU SAW, MARCOS, OR DID IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> SOLIDIFIED WHAT WE KNEW ALREADY.

IT'S HELPING US TRACK TRENDS, SO ARE THINGS GETTING BETTER?

WORSE?

THAT'S AN INTERESTING -- WITH AN AUTO OWNERSHIP IS INTERESTING INTERSECTION, IN TRIBAL LANDS ON THE NAVAJO NATION, WE HAVE HIGH FOOD INSECURITY, AS I MENTIONED, FOR THE STATE IT'S 14%, ON TRIBAL LANDS, 21%.

AMONG CHILDREN IT'S 30%.

ONE IN THREE CHILDREN.

THE INTERSECTIONS HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDS.

THEY HELP US -- HOW DO WE BETTER MODEL OUR DISTRIBUTION WITH HOME DELIVERY, WITH MOBILE DISTRIBUTIONS, THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES IN THE AREAS.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, HOW FREQUENTLY DO YOU DO THE RESEARCH?

DATA COLLECTED?

>> THE DATA COMES OUT YEARLY AND THE FOOD BANK WORKS WITH US AND GIVES US THE DATA.

CENSUS DATA COMES OUT YEARLY, SO WE ARE ALWAYS ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND ON THE MOST RECENT TRENDS.

TED: AND THIS IS UP AND OPERATIONAL?

>> SO THIS IS INTERNAL TO ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK BECAUSE WE USE THEIR INTERNAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE SCREENSHOTS AND STUFF THAT IS AVAILABLE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN LOOK AT.

TED: WILL ST. MARY'S TAKE OVER THE OPERATION?

>> THAT'S THE GOAL.

THE GOAL IS TO WORK WITH AARON AND HIS TEAM TOE TRANSITION THE YEARLY UPDATES TO OUR TEAM.

TED: AND I IMAGINE BETTER INFO WOULD MEAN BETTER MESSAGING?

I GUESS MARCOS, I SHOULD ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.

THIS REALLY HELPS GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS, DOES IT NOT?

>> IT DOES.

WHAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THE ST. MARY'S IS A BRIDGE, WE'RE THE PREMIER FOOD INSECURITY FOOD BANK IN ARIZONA.

IT'S A BRIDGE FOR SOME PEOPLE.

THEY EITHER HAVE AN UNEXPECTED BILL, UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EXPENSE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND NEED HELP UNTIL NEXT MONTH OR THE NEXT PAYCHECK.

TED: AND AS FAR AS THE DATA COLLECTION IS CONCERNED, SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A BEST PRACTICE MODEL FOR OTHER AREAS?

>> I THINK SO DEFINITELY.

AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IS IMPORTANT TOO, FOR UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE NATION, WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE OF THAT.

TED: ARE THERE WAYS TO RAMP UP WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE?

>> YEAH, WE EXPLORE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL, NOT JUST ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK BUT EXPLORING WAYS, HOW CAN WE TRAIN THE FOOD BANK EMPLOYEES WITH OTHER FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE TO USE THE DATA TO INFORM THEIR DECISIONS.

TED: VERY GOOD, AARON FLORES, MARCOS GUCIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.