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STEVE: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP JOINS US AMID DISPUTE WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>>> ALSO HOW THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD AFFECT THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS?

WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH THE NEW CEO OF DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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STEVE: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP ARE NO CLOSER TO RESOLVING ONGOING LEGAL BATTLE WHO CONTROLS EARLY VOTING AND THE ELECTIONS.

A JUDGE HAS UNTIL APRIL 20 TO DECIDE THE CASE.

FOR HIS TAKE, WE WELCOME IN MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

STEVE: LET'S GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?

>> THIS DISPUTE BEGAN BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE WHEN THE OUTGOING RECORDER AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT TRANSFERRED A GREAT DEAL OF THE RECORDER'S OFFICE STAFF, BUDGET AND ELECTION DUTIES OVER TO THE CONTROL OF THE BOARD.

THIS TOOK EFFECT JUST WEEKS BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE.

SO WE CAME IN WITH THIS, INTO THIS DISPUTE AT THAT TIME, AND FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN ESSENTIALLY IN A CONFLICT TO TRY TO GET THOSE OFFICES, THOSE DUTIES RETURNED TO OUR OFFICE, AND FUNDAMENTALLY IT COMES DOWN TO A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE LAW, MY POSITION AND THE COURT IS THAT THE LAW SAYS WHAT IT MEANS, THE BOARD'S POSITION HAS BEEN IT GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE LAW OF ARIZONA MEANS WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION ISSUES.

STEVE: KATE BROPHY McGEE, THE CHAIR, WAS ON THE PROGRAM LAST WEEK, AND SHE MADE THIS REMARK ABOUT YOU.

>> WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT'S POLITICAL POSTURING ON MR.

HEAP'S PART.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE FOCUSED AS A BOARD ON CONDUCTING ELECTIONS WHICH VOTERS CAN PARTICIPATE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AND FEEL VERY CONFIDENT OF THE OUTCOMES.

STEVE: WE HAVE TWO PARTS TO THAT QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU FIRST OF ALL, POLITICAL POSTURING.

THOSE ARE STRONG WORDS.

>> I WOULD RESPOND THAT FOLLOWING THE LAW IS NOT POLITICAL POSTURING.

CERTAIN DUTIES AND ELECTIONS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE, WE EXPECT TO BE ALLOWED TO DO THOSE WITHOUT THE INTERFERENCE OF THE BOARD.

STEVE: ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID WHICH IS ON THE SURFACE, A LEGAL BATTLE THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR YOUR OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEHIND THE SCENES ARE WORKING HARD TO DO THEIR JOB TO MAKE SURE ELECTIONS ARE SET EVEN AT THE TOP THERE IS FIGHTING GOING ON.

IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN THERE'S A DISPUTE LIKE THIS, TO HAVE THE OFFICES SAY, WE KNOW WHAT OUR JOB IS, LET'S GET TO WORK.

WHEN THINGS ARE SETTLED THEN THINGS RUN SMOOTHLY?

>> I THINK SO, AND I THINK BOTH SIDES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE COOPERATION BETWEEN BOTH OUR PARTS.

EVEN IF THE RECORDER'S DUTIES ARE RETURNED TO HIS OFFICE, STILL WE NEED TO COOPERATE.

THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS BECOME THE DAY OF ELECTIONS, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER IF WE HAVE A SMOOTH ELECTION PROCESS.

STEVE: I FOUND THIS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT YESTERDAY, WHICH MAY AFFECT LEGAL OUTCOMES.

SUPERIOR COURT BLAMED GAMESMANSHIP ON THE PART OF THE BOARD REGARDING SUBPOENAS YOU GAVE TO THEM, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT RULING TO YOU?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT.

THE BOARD, SINCE THE 18th, THE BOARD HAS TAKEN A CONCILIATORY TURN.

THEY PUBLICLY STATED EARLY VOTING NEEDS TO RETURN.

I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THOSE, BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT JUST THREE WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE SUBPOENAING AND THREATENING MY STAFF, AND THEY WERE BRINGING ME INTO TESTIFY UNDER THE THREAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO REMOVE ME FROM OFFICE.

SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COURT RESOUNDINGLY REJECTED THAT ATTEMPT TO USE THOSE TACTICS TO TRY TO INTERFERE IN THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDING THAT'S ONGOING, WE EXPECT A RULING SOON.

STEVE: LET'S GET TO THE CORE OF PART OF THE DISPUTE IN ADDITION TO THE BIGGER PLAN.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR EARLY VOTING AND EXPANDING VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS.

THERE WAS A STATEMENT BY THAT BY SUPERVISOR LESKO AND BROPHY McGEE AND DISAGREEMENT ON THAT TOO?

>> EARLY VOTING IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO HAVE A ROBUST SYSTEM, THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS EXPECT, AND I INTEND TO KEEP THAT GOING.

NOW WHERE THE SOURCE OF THE CONFLICT IS NOW WHILE THE BOARD HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT UNDER THE LAW, IT IS THE RECORDER'S STATUTORY DUTY DO THAT.

SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT TRANSFERRED BUDGET, STAFF OR THINGS NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BUT MY TEAM HAS DOVE INTO BUILDING UP THE SYSTEM, AND WE WANT TO INCREASE.

WE'VE -- FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, WE SEEM TO USE THE SAME EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, CYCLE AFTER CYCLE AND SEEMS TO BE DRIVEN BY CONVENIENCE FOR THE ELECTION OFFICIALS THAN WHAT ACTUALLY SERVES THE VOTERS ACROSS THE VALLEY.

WE'RE WORKING NOW TO HAVE NEW EARLY VOTING SITES THAT HAVE NOT HAD EARLY VOTING IN PRIOR ELECTIONS.

>> WAS THAT A CASE MORE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS WERE LEFT OUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A PARTISAN DIVISION.

IT WAS MORE JUST A LOOK AT THE MAP AND WE HAD CERTAIN CITIES LIKE TEMPE THAT HAD A POPULATION OF 180,000, BUT FOUR TO SIX VOTING LOCATIONS WITHIN EIGHT MILES, BUT THEN A DISTRICT LIKE MESA WHICH HAS HALF A MILLION PEOPLE, AND ONLY ONE VOTING LOCATION.

SO WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THE SITES THAT THE BOARD HAD CHOSEN INITIALLY REALLY WERE SUFFICIENT, SO WE'RE WORKING TO PUT SITES IN LOCATIONS THAT HAVEN'T HAD THEM, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT NECESSARILY BLUE AREAS.

WE'RE MOVING TO PUT ONE IN SOUTH PHOENIX, AHWATUKEE, IN LAVEEN, THAT HAVE NOT HAD VOTING LOCATIONS IN THE PAST.

I THINK WE WANT TO GIVE VOTERS ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN PERSON IF THAT'S HOW THEY CHOOSE TO VOTE.

STEVE: EARLIER IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LAWMAKERS MOVED TO PUSH UP ARIZONA'S PRIMARY INTO JULY AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.

DOES THAT MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR YOUR OFFICE AS THIS DISPUTE GOES ON, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRIMARY IS READY TO GO BECAUSE YOU LOST A FEW WEEKS THERE?

>> IT DOES MOVE UP A LOT OF THE DEADLINES WE HAVE TO GET THINGS INTO EFFECT.

IT ALSO, IN TERMS OF FINDING EARLY VOTING, IF WE HAVE A SITE THAT HAS DONE IT NOW, GIVE A NEW SCHEDULE MAYBE THEY'VE NEVER USED BEFORE.

SO IT DOES GIVE CHALLENGES, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO FIND WORKING SITES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

STEVE: A MINUTE OR SO LEFT.

GO AS LONG AS YOU WANT ON THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND NOT NECESSARILY PRIVY TO WHAT THE COUNTY RECORDER'S DEALINGS ARE WITH THE SUPERVISORS, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO VOTE AND WHETHER THE ELECTION IS GOING TO GO SMOOTHLY, SAFELY WITHOUT QUOTE, UNQUOTE SHENANIGANS.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I'M VERY CONFIDENT.

MY TEAM IS WORKING INCREDIBLY DILIGENTLY TO NOT JUST HAVE EFFECTIVE PLAN FOR EARLY VOTING BUT WE EXPAND IT AND ALLOW MORE PEOPLE THAT OPTION.

WITH OR WITHOUT THE BOARD'S SUPPORT, WE'LL DELIVER THAT FOR THE VOTERS.

>> FINALLY, MIGHT FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF NEVER PREDICT WHAT JUDGES ARE GOING TO DO.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT SOMETHING BEFORE APRIL 20 CAN GET DONE?

>> I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT I BELIEVE THE BOARD BELIEVES THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN A MUCH MORE CONCILIATORY TONE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SAYING HEY, WE RECOGNIZE THINGS, YOU NEED TO GO BACK IT THE RECORDER.

WE'RE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE COURT'S RULING.

STEVE: MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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STEVE: SUPPLY CHAINS HAVE BEEN UNDER STRESS SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND NOW MORE SO BECAUSE OF THE WAR WITH IRAN.

HERE TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT THAT IS HITENDRA CHATURVEDI OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH YOU HERE.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR?

IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS AS FAR AS SUPPLY CHAINS GO, I IMAGINE WE'RE SEEING EFFECTS.

>> THE BIGGEST 800-POUND GORILLA IS THE PRICE OF OIL, THAT'S AT $70 AND NOW FLIRTING WITH ABOUT $120 FEW DAYS AGO.

THAT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE BECAUSE IF YOU CALCULATE BACK EVEN AT $100.

OUR PRICE OF GAS AT THE PUMP, THAT WAS AT ABOUT $3.30 IS TOUCHING ABOUT $4.15 AND $4.50.

EVERYTHING WE BUY GETS TRANSPORTED ON TRUCKS THAT USE DIESEL.

ABOUT 10% OF THAT COST IS FUEL COST.

IF YOU DO ROUGH CALCULATIONS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT INFLATION NUMBER THAT CAN GO FROM 2.4 ALL THE WAY TO 3.5.

STEVE: THIS MAY NOT BE IN YOUR EXACT AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING DID OIL PRICES AND GAS PRICES HAVE TO GO UP SO FAST TO RESPOND TO THIS?

I THINK PEOPLE WERE THINKING SHOULD WE SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE OPTIMISTIC HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

AS FAR AS THE PRICES AFFECTED, HOW MUCH DOES THAT BODE ILL FOR US GOING FORWARD?

>> WHAT THE MARKET IS PRICING IN IS WHETHER THE WAR IS GOING TO BE PROLONGED OR NOT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS.

EVEN THE KIDS KNOW THE SPELLING OF HORMUZ NOW.

20% OF THE WORLD'S SUPPLY, HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF FUEL GOES THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AND WE DON'T GET A LOT OF THAT.

MOST OF IT GOES TO ASIA, BUT WE BUY A LOT OF STUFF FROM ASIA.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DATA CENTERS, THE DATA CENTERS, CHIPS ARE BY NVIDIA BUT THE MEMORY COMES FROM SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH CAROLINA PURCHASES OIL FROM THE GULF, AND THEY'RE HAVING AN ENERGY CRISIS.

THAT SUPPLY WILL GET CONSTRAINED.

25% OF THE STOCK MARKET DRIVEN BY A.I.

COMPANIES, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE?

STEVE: NOT GOOD THINGS.

WE KNOW THAT.

WHAT PRODUCTS, SPECIFIC PRODUCTS, THINK BACK TO COVID-19, THEY SAW EMPTY SHELVES.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THAT, OR IF NOT EMPTY SHELVES, HOW MUCH MORE ARE THE PRICES GOING UP FOR EVERYDAY GOODS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE A SHORTAGE OF GOODS, I THINK THE PRICE WILL GO UP.

COMBINE THAT WITH -- I BELIEVE THAT EVEN IF THE WAR STOPPED TOMORROW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TWO TO THREE MONTHS FOR THIS THING TO STABILIZE.

SO THE PRICE, PEOPLE WHO PAID HIGH PRICE FOR OIL, THEY'RE GOING TO PASS IT ONTO THE CONSUMERS, SO WITH CERTAIN FORECASTS SAYING THAT -- HERE'S THE WORST CASE SITUATION.

IF THE STRAIT -- IF THE WAR KEEPS ON GOING AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS SHUT DOWN FOR SIX MONTHS, WE COULD BE TOUCHING $150 BARREL.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT PRICE SINCE THE 1970s.

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN, AND OUR INFLATION, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CAN GO AS HIGH AS 5.5 TO 6%.

STEVE: HOW COULD THIS IMPACT GENERAL ENERGY PRICES, NOT JUST WHEN IT COMES TO GAS, BUT, OF COURSE, HERE IN THE DESERT OTHERS WE LIKE TO USE OUR AIR CONDITIONING, ALREADY 100 DEGREES NEXT WEEK.

HOW WILL IT AFFECT LIKE THAT, WHETHER IT'S UTILITY COMPANIES OR WHAT NOT?

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR OWN ENERGY, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T PLAY WITH THE MARKET.

IF THE MARKET, THE PRICE GOES UP, WE HAVE TO BUY.

HEATING WILL GET IMPACTED.

OUR GROCERIES WILL GET IMPACTED.

FURNITURE WILL GET IMPACTED.

FERTILIZER IS ALREADY 25 TO 30% HIGHER FOR PRODUCTS.

OTHER ANGLE PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AT, IF YOU LOOK AT CURRENCIES OF EASTERN ASIAN COUNTRIES, THEY'RE GOING DOWN AGAINST OUR DOLLAR, WHICH MEANS WE CAN BUY MORE, BUT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BUY OUR PRODUCTS, SO OUR EXPORTERS ARE GETTING A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

ONE, THE FERTILIZER PRICES ARE GOING UP AND THE DOLLAR IS BECOMING STRONGER, CAUSING EXPORTS TO BE IMPACTED.

THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS WE CANNOT PROLONG THIS WAR, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS BECOMING MORE OF A GUERRILLA WARFARE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

STEVE: YEAH, WE KNOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON TARIFFS WAS A CONTROVERSIAL ONE.

HOW MUCH DID THAT AFFECT THE SUPPLY CHAIN?

AND HOW MUCH CAN THE COMBINATION OF THE WAR WITH IRAN AND TARIFFS AFFECT OUR ECONOMY OVERALL?

>> A LOT OF STUDIES HAVE COME OUT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 90% OF THE TARIFF WAS PASSED ONTO THE CONSUMER.

EVEN THE GOVERNMENT IS TELLING THAT A LOT OF THOSE PRICE INCREASES ARE PASSED ONTO THE CONSUMER.

SO YES, WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACT OF THE TARIFF, AND I'VE BEEN SEEING IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT TARIFFS ARE JUST ANOTHER FORM OF TAX.

NOW WITH THIS OIL IMPACT AND SUMMER COME WHERE THE PRICE OF GASOLINE ACTUALLY INCREASES, BECAUSE IN ARIZONA, WE PUT AN ADDITIVE IN OUR FUEL SO IT DOESN'T EVAPORATE TOO MUCH.

THAT'S ABOUT 20 CENTS TO A DOLLAR MORE.

COMBINE THAT WITH THIS TYPE OF A PRICE INCREASE, BUCKLE UP.

STEVE: AND FINALLY, ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE OVERLY CYNICAL, HARD NOT TO BE OR PESSIMISTIC.

IN A POSITION LIKE THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST JOBS.

MIDDLE CLASS IS DISAPPEARING.

HOW MUCH MORE OF A BURDEN IS THIS ON THE CONSUMER?

>> THAT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT, AGAIN, GIVEN THE TIMING, WE MAY NOT ESCALATE IT TOO MUCH.

WE MAY TRY TO PULL BACK, BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THE DOMNOSE FALL ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY OF THEM THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN FALL YET, SO THE IMPACT -- WE'LL WAIT AND SEE, EVEN IF WE WERE TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS INCURSION OR WAR TOMORROW.

STEVE: OKAY, HITENDRA, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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STEVE: FOR NEARLY 87 YEARS, THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN HAS CONSERVED ARIZONA'S DESERT ENVIRONMENT, ON-SITE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MORE.

THEY SELECTED A NEW LEADER AS CEO.

JOINING US IS CHRIS KLINE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THE QUESTION, IS YOU HAD DONE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, SUCCEEDED IN THE MEDIA REALM.

WHY TAKE ON THIS ICON?

>> BECAUSE IT'S THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN, AND IT'S A PLACE THAT SO MANY OF US HAVE GROWN UP COMING TO.

I REMEMBER COMING HERE AS A KID.

I REMEMBER BUILDING MEMORIES HERE, AND I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE HAD WEDDINGS THERE, LUMINARIAS, IT'S A PLACE YOU COME TO ESCAPE THE WORLD AND JUST EXPERIENCE NATURE, AND HOW DO YOU NOT WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THAT?

STEVE: SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE, THOUGH NOT AROUND THE CORNER, BUT CLOSE TO A CENTURY MARK FOR THE DBG.

YOU ARE PLANNING WAY IN ADVANCE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

>> WE TURN 139.

OUR SECOND CENTURY STARTS IN 2040.

WE TODAY ARE STARTING BUILDING OUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF WHERE DO WE WANT THIS GARDEN TO BE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE 15 YEARS FROM NOW AND CALLING THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE 2040 COMPASS, HOW DO WE DOUBLE DOWN ON COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

HOW DO WE CREATE MORE EVENTS?

HOW DO WE ELEVATE THE DESERT PLANT DISPLAYS UNDER THE BELIEF AND GUIDE THAT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PLACES ON EARTH WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BEST OF THE DESERT.

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE GARDEN IS AND WHILE WE ALREADY DO IT WELL, THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IT IS.

A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT EVEN MORE SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

ARE YOU EMBRACING THE IDEA OF SAYING THIS IS SUCH A UNIQUE PLACE, LET'S DO OUR BEST TEACHING PEOPLE WHAT LIVES IN THE DESERT IS NOW AND WHAT IT COULD BE IN THE FUTURE?

>> YES, ONE OF THE BIG SECRETS IS WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DOZEN RESEARCHERS THAT WORK IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT IS OFF THE BEATEN PATH FROM THE MAIN TRAILS AND WORKING ON THINGS THAT CAN HELP MAKE THE DESERT MORE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM.

HEAT MITIGATION, WATER RESILIENCE, THE ECOSYSTEM AND ALL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS WE DEAL WITH MORE HEAT ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

STEVE: WHEN IT FEELS LIKE A PERFECT PLACE TO DO THAT, DO YOU THINK ALL THESE THINGS CAN COALESCE, THEY MAKE THE SCIENCE AND THE RESEARCHERS LITTLE MORE PREVALENT FOR FOLKS.

>> THE GREAT THING IS THEY ALREADY WORK TOGETHER.

WE HAVEN'T TOLD THE STORY AS LOUDLY AS WE NEED TO.

YOU WILL SEE US IN THE WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO PARTNER MORE WITH CITIES, PARTNER MORE WITH NONPROFITS AND PARTNER MORE WITH THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL TO INCUBATE SOLUTIONS WHETHER IT'S A SHADE CANOPY OR CONCRETE MITIGATION OR EVEN WAYS TO WATER YOUR PLANTS SO THEY GROW DEEPER ROOTS, DON'T BLOW DOWN IN A MONSOON STORM, PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO LIVE IN INCREASINGLY HOT CLIMATE.

>> YOU ARE TAKING THE JOB AS CEO SERIOUSLY.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S THE JOB, RIGHT?

STEVE: SO, IT'S GOING TO BE UNSEASONABLY HOT NEXT WEEK.

MOST OF US LOVE MARCH HERE, USUALLY 75, 80 DEGREES.

GOING TO BE OVER 100.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE THE GARDEN FOR THAT?

>> THE REASON ALL OF US LIVE THERE, AND IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE TO THINK HARD NOT ONLY ABOUT WATERING BUT ACCESSIBILITY.

WE'RE WORRIED PEOPLE ARE IN THE SUN AT 2:00 AND 3:00 AND NOT REALIZE IT'S SUMMERTIME FEELING AS OPPOSED TO SPRING FEELING.

YOU WILL SEE US EXPANDING HOURS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS TRYING TO MAKE THE GARDEN MORE ACCESSIBLE AS THE SUN COMES UP AND STAYING OPEN NOTABLY LATER TO MAKE SURE THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND THAT'S HOW I THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE, IS THE ESCAPE FROM THE HEAT.

NONE OF US WANT TO BE INSIDE OUR HOUSES ALL DAY EVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT WEEK, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GET OUTSIDE, DO IT EARLY MORNING OR LATE NIGHT.

STEVE: SO GETTING CLOSE TO THE END HERE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION OF THE DBG.

HOW DO THEY GET DAILCHAHULY TO GO THERE.

WHAT IS THE DBG WHEN IT COMES TO BOTANICAL GARDENS ACROSS THE WORLD?

>> WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY, WE ARE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE TOP BOTANICAL GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE TYPE OF BOTANICAL GARDEN WE ARE DOESN'T EXIST IN A LOT OF PLACES.

THERE ARE VERY FEW PLACES ON EARTH CAN YOU SEE DESERT CACTI.

STEVE: CHRIS KLINE, DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

STEVE: THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

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