
Community Bridges Inc., Superintendent Horne, Author Richard Grant
Season 2024 Episode 179 | 23m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
Community Bridges Inc. resources for unhoused, Superintendent Tom Horne, Richard Grant new book
Community Bridges Inc. assists unhoused populations with the goals of offering outreach to them and next steps of moving them into shelter with best outcome ultimately being permanent housing. Superintendent Horne on education funds. In A Race to the Bottom of Crazy, Richard Grant mixes memoir, research, and reporting to understand what makes Arizona such a confounding and irresistible place.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Community Bridges Inc., Superintendent Horne, Author Richard Grant
Season 2024 Episode 179 | 23m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
Community Bridges Inc. assists unhoused populations with the goals of offering outreach to them and next steps of moving them into shelter with best outcome ultimately being permanent housing. Superintendent Horne on education funds. In A Race to the Bottom of Crazy, Richard Grant mixes memoir, research, and reporting to understand what makes Arizona such a confounding and irresistible place.
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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL TALK TO STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM HORNE ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING IN ARIZONA.
>>> ALSO HOW COMMUNITY BRIDGES INCORPORATED IS HELPING THE VALLEY'S UNHOUSED POPULATION.
THOSE STORIES AND MORE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
.
TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN TONIGHT FOR TED SIMONS.
MORE DETAILS ARE EMERGING IN THE SHOOTING THAT LEFT FOUR DEAD.
TWO STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS AND NINE INJURED AT APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL IN WINDER, GEORGIA, YESTERDAY.
THE SHOOTER IS COLT GRAY, TRIED AS AN ADULT.
GRAY APPARENTLY TRIED TO GO TO AN ALGEBRA CLASS BUT THEY TURNED HIM AWAY.
THE FIRST SHOT CAME 35 MINUTES AFTER GRAY ENTERED THE FIRST CLASSROOM.
HE WAS CONFRONTED BY A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AND SURRENDERED.
IN MAY OF 2023 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TALKED TO COLT GRAY AND HIS FATHER BUT THEY COULD NOT LINK THE POST TO GRAY.
GRAY'S FATHER SAID HIS SON DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HIS GUNS.
THIS STUDENT SAT NEXT TO GRAY IN CLASS.
>> IF HE DID SPEAK, IT WAS ONE-WORD ANSWERS, SHORT ANSWERS, BUT QUIET FOR THE MOST PART.
>> NOT MANY ACTIONS OUT OF TODAY'S HEARING IN DONALD TRUMP'S ELECTION SUBVERSION CASE, SUPREME COURTS RULE THEY HAVE IMMUNITY.
TRUMP'S LAWYER ABOUT THE CASE INTERSECTS WITH THE 2024 ELECTION.
THE JUDGE PROMISED TO LAY OUT A SCHEDULE SOON.
PROSECUTORS WANT TO FILE A NEW OPENING BRIEF TO SHOW THE CHARGES COMPLY WITH THE NEW RULING ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY BUT TRUMP'S LAWYERS ARGUED AGAINST THAT AND SOUGHT A LONGER SCHEDULE.
>>> COUPLE OF ARIZONA LAWMAKERS HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK THAT PROHIBITS TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRL SPORTS.
TO DEFEND THE LAW FROM A SUIT OF TWO TRANSGENDER GIRLS.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DENIED A REQUEST FROM TOMA AND PETERSON, THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO REVIEW E-MAILS IN THE CASE.
>>> FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, PHOENIX BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE MOST 110-DEGREE DAYS DURING A SUMMER.
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR HIT 110 AT 12:20 HITTING 56 DAYS AT OR ABOVE 110.
THE RECORD OF 55 DAYS WAS SET LAST YEAR.
>>> TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS POSSIBLY HEADING BACK TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
JOINING US TO DISCUSS A WAIVER IS SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION MR. TOM HORNE, WELCOME BACK, GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> STEVE, YOU USED TO INTERVIEW ME ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
>> YES, I DID.
LET'S GET TO THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF $29 MILLION THAT WAS HEADING BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT MAY IN FACT NOT BE?
>> I ASKED FOR THE INTERVIEW TO CLEAR UP FALSE STATEMENTS MADE BY REPORTERS IN A PRIOR PROGRAM.
FIRST OF ALL, WE CANNOT SPEND MONEY UNLESS PROPERLY ALLOCATED UNDER FEDERAL RULES.
THE DEADLINE TO ALLOCATE IS JULY 1, 2022, WHEN OUR PREDECESSOR WAS IN OFFICE.
THEY MISSED THE DEADLINE.
THAT BOUND THE SITUATION, IT WASN'T A MATTER OF -- ON THE PROGRAM THEY WERE SAYING IT'S HE SAID/SHE SAID OR FINGER-POINTING, THAT WAS THE DEADLINE, IT WAS MISSED BY PREDECESSOR AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM.
THE OTHER THING, AND I WROTE THIS DOWN, IT WAS SO RIDICULOUS.
THESE REPORTERS WERE SAYING THAT THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT KNOW THEY COULD APPLY FOR A WAIVER UNTIL WE WROTE ABOUT IT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENT NOTICES TO 15 STATES, THAT THEY WERE OPENING IT UP.
SO THEY DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF AN ARTICLE IN ARIZONA, THEY WERE BREAKING THEIR ARMS PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
>> WOULD THE WAIVER ALLOW THE MONEY TO BE RECOVERED WHETHER IT'S THE PREDECESSOR'S FAULT OR NOT?
>> YES, AND WE SUBMITTED THIS ALREADY.
>> I WAS READING IN THE HEADLINES A MOMENT AGO, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA WITH THE SCHOOL SHOOTING, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO -- I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE TO ELIMINATE THEM ENTIRELY, ARE THERE THINGS TO LIMIT THESE THINGS?
>> I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE ON THAT.
URGING THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, POLICEMEN LOCATED IN THE SCHOOLS, WE PAY FOR IT, AND EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SCHOOL THAT'S ASKED FOR IT, WE'VE GIVEN IT TO THEM.
THE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE IT, IT'S THEIR OWN FAULT.
MY NIGHTMARE IS SOMEBODY WILL GO IN AND KILL 20 PEOPLE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES, IT COULD HAPPEN HERE.
PARENTS WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THAT.
IF THE PARENTS FIND OUT THEY COULD HAVE HAD A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, AND DIDN'T DO IT, YOU WILL IMAGINE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING.
>> THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE RATIO OF HAVING ENOUGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN ADDITION TO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS?
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND MORE?
>> I WOULD LIKE THE OVERALL SCHOOL SAFETY FUNDING WHICH INCLUDES COUNSELORS AND POLICEMEN TO BE INCREASED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALL THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS THAT HAD GOTTEN GRANTS BEFORE AND ABLE TO MEET EVERY REQUEST THAT WE GOT FROM THE SCHOOL FOR A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
>> THE BIG PICTURE AS WE MENTIONED A COUPLE MINUTES AGO.
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN OFFICE.
YOU WERE SUPERINTENDENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO FOR FIRST TWO TERMS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE DRAMATICALLY THINGS OR THINGS THAT HAVE NOT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW ARIZONA SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RUN AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE RUN?
>> THE PEOPLE THAT PRECEDED ME THIS TIME, TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE MAIN ISSUE, WHICH WOULD BE ACADEMICS, AND THEY FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING RATHER THAN ACADEMICS AND I MADE THAT MY ISSUE.
I WANTED TO GET THE FOCUS BACK ON ACADEMICS.
IN THE YEAR WHERE ALL THE FOUR OFFICERS ABOVE ME -- SENATORS, GOVERNORS, SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL -- WAS SWEPT BY THE DEMOCRATS.
THOSE PEOPLE SWITCHED AND VOTED FOR ME FOR SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE THAT HAD RESONANCE FOR THEM.
THEY WANTED THEIR STUDENTS TO LEARN ACADEMICS IN THE SCHOOLS AND NOT THE NONSENSE IN THERE.
WE HAVE SOLUTIONS TEAMS THAT GO OUT AND HELP THE SCHOOLS, WE HAVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING BECAUSE LEADERSHIP MEANS EVERYTHING IN THIS, WE HAVE DATA ANALYSIS TO HELP THE SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE 15 INITIATIVES, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WANT ME TO DO 15.
>> YOU COULD NAME A COUPLE THAT HAVE MADE PROGRESS.
ARE THERE A COUPLE THAT MADE PROGRESS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?
>> WE GET THE NATIONAL SCORES IN JANUARY, ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW WE DID THERE.
>> THERE IS A BACK-AND-FORTH AS FAR AS TESTING GOES IN ARIZONA AND IMPROVEMENT, WE'VE SEEN THAT AS WELL, ARE THERE CERTAIN THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AS FAR AS TESTING IN THE STATE?
>> YES, I'M TRYING TO RADICALLY CHANGE IT, WHEN I WAS LAST IN OFFICE, WE HAD A LONGER TEST, ABLE TO GIVE A LOT OF INFORMATION, TENS OF SUBCATEGORIES OF INFORMATION TO THE TEACHERS.
SINCE I WAS GONE, THEY SHORTENED IT, THEY GAVE THREE CATEGORIES THAT WERE USELESS.
TRYING TO GET IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS SO WE CAN HELP THE SCHOOLS KNOW THE TEACHERS THAT ARE THE STUDENTS NEXT YEAR'S TEACHERS KNOW WHAT WEAKNESSES THEY SHOULD WORK ON AND LAST YEAR'S TEACHERS IF THEY HAVE A STANDARD THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL ON, THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO TEACH IT.
I'M TRYING TO DO A LOT TO CHANGE THE TESTING TO HELP THE SCHOOLS DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY.
>> YOU'D LIKE TO SEE CELL PHONES POTENTIALLY BANNED IN CLASSROOMS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I ASKED YOUR VIEWERS TO IMAGINE YOU ARE TRYING TO TEACH A CLASS AND THE KIDS ARE SCROLLING ON CELL PHONES.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IN YOU CAN'T TEACH THAT WAY, THE KIDS CAN'T LEARN THAT WAY.
AND A LOT OF THEM GET BULLIED AT THE SAME TIME, THEY OUGHT TO HAVE THE SCHOOL HOURS FREE FROM THAT.
I HAD A BILL TO BAN IT AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT, THAT WAS AN IRRATIONAL AND IRRESPONSIBLE VEETO.
I WOULD ASK THE VIEWERS TO WRITE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ASK NOT TO VETO IT LAST YEAR.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE, TRAGIC SHOOTING IN GEORGIA, IN AN EMERGENCY, MAYBE HAVING THEM IS A GOOD IDEA?
>> THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON THEM, THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS, AND THE RULES ARE IF YOU HAVE A SCHOOL LOCKDOWN, THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS TAKE AWAY THE CELL PHONES, IF THEY'RE ON THE CELL PHONES THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO INSTRUCTION SXKDZ USE UP BANDWIDTH NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THAT'S THE WRONG THING.
WE DON'T WANT STUDENTS ON CELL PHONES IN AN EMERGENCY.
>> TOM HORNE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
.
>>> COMMUNITY BRIDGES TEAMS SEARCH FOR THOSE IN NEED AND OPERATE EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> HATE TO ASK THE MOST BASIC QUESTION, YOU CAN GIVE US MORE DETAILS WHAT COMMUNITY BRIDGES INC.
DOES?
>> COMMUNITY BRIDGES IS DESIGNED TO -- MY DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH THE UNSHELTERED FOLKS, WE'RE OUT IN THE STREETS, DOING OUTREACH, WE'RE CONNECTING THEM TO PCPs TO DOCTORS, TO ANY KIND OF COUNSELING AND GROUPS.
EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS SO WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT THEM TO, AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS OUTREACH TO SHELTER TO HOUSING.
>> SO OBVIOUSLY INCREDIBLY CHALLENGE, IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MANY YEARS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SOME WAYS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
ARE THERE GOOD STORIES WHERE YOU HAVE SEEN PROGRESS IN THOSE HELPING RUN HOUSE?
>> THE GOOD STORIES COME ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
IT'S ABOUT WHEN YOU GET THAT WIN WITH SOMEBODY AND THEY GET IT AND WANT HELP AND THEY GO TO TREATMENT, OR YOU'RE WALKING THEM THROUGH THEIR APARTMENT WITH THEIR KEYS AND IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THEY HAD THEIR OWN PLACE TO LIVE.
THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT GET YOU RIGHT HERE.
>> ARE THERE CERTAIN TECHNIQUE US THAT NOTICE THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN USING THAT REALLY HAS MADE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE IN THE MOST SUCCESS STORIES?
>> COMMUNITY BRIDGES IS A PEER-BASED ORGANIZATION, A LOT OF THE PEERS THAT WORKED THERE WERE IN RECOVERY.
WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HOMELESS, TO GO THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
WHEN SPEAKING TO A CLIENT IT'S ABOUT BUILDING THAT RAPPORT WITH THEM.
WHEN THEY SAY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, WE DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
MAYBE NOT IN THE MOMENT, BUT SOMETHING WE CAN RELATE.
WE'RE ABLE TO USE OUR EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.
>> I WOULD THINK TRUST IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT WORD THERE?
>> IT IS.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, THEY DON'T WANT HELP BUT WE KEEP COMING BACK, AND MAYBE ON THE TENTH TIME WE'RE COMING BACK AND THEY'RE LIKE HEY, YOU CARE ABOUT ME, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
>> THAT SHARED EXPERIENCE MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THAT, DOES THAT MAKE IT LESS DIFFICULT TO GAIN THE TRUST?
>> IT DOES, IT DOES.
WE CAN USE OUR OWN EXPERIENCES TO GET DEEP WITH THAT CLIENT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I, TOO, ONCE LIVED LIKE THIS, AND THIS IS HOW I CHANGED MY LIFE AROUND.
>> SO IS THIS OUTREACH IN ONE DIRECTION, OR DOES AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.
DOES IT WORK BOTH WAYS?
>> IT DOES, IT DOES WORK BOTH WAYS, AND WE GET OUTREACH CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE HAVE MANY OUTREACH TEAMS AND SOME ARE FOCUSED ON CERTAIN AREAS, SOMEWHERE FOCUSED ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SOME ARE FOCUSED ON THE SHELTERS.
HEAT RELIEF SITES, WE HAVE A LOT OF TEAMS DOING GREAT THINGS.
>> YOU MENTIONED HEAT RELIEF.
DOES THE EFFORT, THE NEED FOR IT BECOME DRAMATIC OVER -- THE INTRO, I READ HOW MANY OVER 110-DEGREE DAYS WE HAD THIS SUMMER.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED?
HOW DOES IT MAKE IT CHALLENGING IN A SUMMER LIKE THIS?
>> THE HEAT RELIEF DOES PROVIDE COOLING RELIEF.
THEY CAN COME IN, CHARGE THEIR CELL PHONES, THEY CAN GET WATER, TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HEAT AND GO ON ABOUT THEIR DAY, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE THEM WITH A SPOT TO COME IN AND FIND THAT HEAT RELIEF, THE COOLING STATIONS.
>> THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE VALLEY, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY, REALLY ESPECIALLY CHALLENGE.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT COMMUNITY BRIDGES IS TRYING TO DO?
>> IT IS HARD BECAUSE THAT'S TYPICALLY THE MOVE ON STRATEGY FOR FOLKS IN SHELTER AND FOLKS THAT HAVE A RAPID REHOUSING VOUCHER AND WITH THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT THERE, IT DOES MAKE IT CHALLENGING TO FIND THAT MOVE ON STRATEGY FOR THEM.
TED: LESS THAN A MINUTE, HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PLEDGE A BIG PART HERE?
>> I'VE BEEN WITH COMMUNITY BRIDGES SINCE 2012.
IT'S WHERE I GREW UP, THEY GAVE ME A CHANCE AND I'M GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO WORK FOR THEM AND HELP INDIVIDUALS MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SOMEBODY DID FOR ME.
>> THANKS FOR THE GREAT WORK AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
.
>>> AUTHOR RICHARD GRANT OUT WITH A NEW BOOK ABOUT OUR STATE THAT'S A MIX OF MEMOIR, RESEARCH AND REPORTING AND A QUESTION OF WHAT MAKES ARIZONA SO UNIQUE.
DISPATCHES FROM ARIZONA AND WELCOME AUTHOR RICHARD GRANT VIA ZOOM.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS, STEVE.
>> I WAS SHOCKED HOW MANY GREAT THINGS YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT MISSISSIPPI.
WHAT MADE YOU MOVE FROM MISSISSIPPI WITH ALL THE GREAT NEIGHBORLY FOLKS AND COME BACK TO TUCSON?
>> I MOVED FROM LONDON, ENGLAND TO TUCSON TO MISSISSIPPI FOR NINE YEARS AND BACK TO TUCSON.
I GUESS ULTIMATELY, WE LOVE MISSISSIPPI, BUT THE SOCIAL CONFORMITY WAS A BIT TOO MUCH FOR US.
WE WERE RAISING A DAUGHTER AND HER PARAMETERS SEEMED WIDENER ARIZONA THAN THEY WERE IN MISSISSIPPI, SO WE CAME HOME.
MY WIFE IS FROM TUCSON.
>> WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
EVERYONE WENT THROUGH CRAZINESS WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, BUT TO MOVE BACK TO A NEW OLD PLACE, YOU HAD LIVED IN TUCSON BUT TO MOVE DURING THAT TIME, HOW TOUGH WAS THAT ON YOUR FAMILY?
ON YOUR DAUGHTER?
>> MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST FOUR, TURNING FIVE.
SHE JUST TOOK THINGS IN STRIDE PRETTY WELL BACK THEN, BUT THE THING I REMEMBER, ALSO, THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE TUCSON WERE ON FIRE THAT SUMMER AND IT WAS THE HOTTEST, DRIEST SUM OR RECORD AND WE COULDN'T FIND A HOUSE TO LIVE IN, WE WERE MOVING FROM ONE TEMPORARY RENTAL TO ANOTHER, WITH THE COVID ON TOP OF THAT.
IT WAS A BRUTAL REINTRODUCTION, WASN'T MUCH OF A WELCOME HOME.
>> YOU WRITE SO MUCH ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE JOURNALISM YOU PRACTICE AROUND THE WORLD AND SOME OF IT WAS RISK TAKING AS I TALK TO YOU HERE IN A SUIT IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED STUDIO.
YOU WERE DEALING WITH CARTELS, ET CETERA.
WHAT CHANGED FOR YOU AS A JOURNALIST, NOT JUST BEING A FAMILY MAN BUT BEING SOMEONE WHO IS NO LONGER IN YOUR 20s AND 30s AND BEING OLDER?
DID YOU FEEL LIKE THESE WERE RISKS NOT WORTH TAKING ANYMORE?
GIVE US INSIGHT ON THAT?
>> IT'S A SIMPLE ANSWER BECAUSE I BECAME A FATHER IN MY MID 40s, AND MY MAIN JOB WAS THEREFORE TO STAY ALIVE, AND TAKING FOOLISH RISKS IN PLACES LIKE MEXICO AND HAITI AND AFRICA WHERE I TRAVELED A LOT WERE OFF THE MENU, AND I THINK FATHERHOOD ALSO REWIRES YOU A LITTLE BIT, AND THE URGE TO TAKE RISKS IN FARAWAY PLACES DIMINISHED.
>> NOW THE URGE IS GONE OR THE PRACTICALITY IS GONE.
DOING THE JOURNALISM YOU WERE DOING, YOU WERE DOING AMAZING STORIES AND MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU STIMULATION YOU WERE BREAKING STORIES MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING?
>> YEAH, IT'S VERY STIMULATING TO BE TERRIFIED IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I AM MOVING FORWARD, MOVING OUT OF THAT PHASE OF MY LIFE.
>> SO THE TITLE IS SOMEWHAT OBVIOUS, BUT HAVE TO ASK YOU, RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF CRAZY, WAS THAT YOUR IDEA, THE PUBLISHER'S IDEA?
IT HITS TO THE BONE.
>> IT WAS MY IDEA.
I KIND OF HEARD A REPUBLICAN TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIS PARTY, AND HE USED A VERY SIMILAR PHRASE, IT WAS A RACE TO THE BOTTOM, AND I THOUGHT WHAT'S AT RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF IN THIS STATE?
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STATE, I WANTED TO GET THAT ACROSS BUT COULD BE A TWISTED, INSANE STATE, AND I WANTED TO GET THAT ACROSS, TOO.
>> DID YOU SENSE THAT WHEN YOU MOVED BACK?
HAVING BEEN THERE WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNGER MAN, HAVE THE POLITICS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FOR YOU?
TUCSON A LITTLE MORE LEFT OF CENTER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE.
>> THE LATINO VOTE CAME UP, THE NATIVE VOTE CAME UP, BUT SEEMS LIKE MODERATE REPUBLICANS ARE WHAT TURNED ARIZONA INTO A SWING STATE.
>> SO HAVING READ THE BOOK, I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT HOW MUCH DID YOU WANT IT TO BE ABOUT THE POLITICS, AND HOW BCH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL YOU'D EXPERIENCE.
THERE ARE INTERWEAVING CHAPTERS YOU GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPORTING YOU DID AND THE DANGER ZONES AND BRING US BACK TO TUCSON AND THE RELATIVELY PRESENT DAY?
>> YES, I WANTED TO GIVE IT ALL.
THINK OF THIS AS THE CLOSEST THING I WAS GOING TO WRITE AS A MEMOIR.
I THINK OF IT AS AN ARIZONA-CENTRIC MEMOIR OF MY LIFE.
I SPENT MORE OF MY LIFE IN ARIZONA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE BUT TOUCHED UPON TRAVELS IN LONDON AND MEXICO AND DID REPORTING IN ARIZONA.
I HAD AN EAR SPLITTING EXPERIENCE AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST MACHINE GUN SHOOT UP BY WIKI UP THERE, AND OUT WITH THE BORDER PATROL AND WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE BORDER HAD CHANGED.
AND IT'S A MIX OF MEMOIR AND REPORTAGE WITH HISTORY THROWN IN THERE.
AND MY GOAL IS TO HELP YOU KEEP TURNING THE PAGE.
HOPE IT WAS ENTERTAINING.
>> IT WAS.
THE MOST SIMPLE QUESTION I HAVE, ARE YOU AND FAMILY HAPPY YOU ARE BACK IN TUCSON?
>> WE ARE, WE ARE DOING GOOD.
>> RICHARD GRANT, AUTHOR OF RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF CRAZY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANKS, STEVE.
>> THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."
I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
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