♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER.

JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD.

CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO PART TWO OF THE METROFOCUS FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

NOW, TODAY WE HAD A LOT OF TOPICS WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO DISCUSS BUT OF COURSE WE HAVE MAJOR BREAKING NEWS OUT OF ALL BENY AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND THAT OF COURSE WAS THE RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE IN 14 DAYS OF GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADIEU, WITH THIS BEING SUCH A HUGE BOMBSHELL FOR NEW YORK STATE, I WOULD LIKE TO REINTRODUCE OUR PANEL BACK WITH US TO DISCUSS THIS MAJOR STORY.

WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE INVESTIGATIVE OUTLET CITY ELEMENTS.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, JENNA.

>> WE HAVE A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AN ATTORNEY.

WE WILL BE USING YOUR ATTORNEY KNOWLEDGE A LOT TODAY.

AND WE'RE JOINED BY A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND SENIOR SCHOLAR.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN.

>> FIRST WE HAVE TO STATE WITH THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY.

AND YOU HAD WRITTEN A BOOK AT THE LEGACY AT LEAST OF MARIO CUOMO.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SOON TO BE EX-GOVERNOR CUOMO?

>> WELL, LOOK, FOR THE BETTER START OF 20 YEARS NOW GOING BACK TO WHEN HIS FATHER BECAME GOVERNOR, NEW YORK HAS BEEN GOVERNED BY A QUO MOW.

SO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A POLITICAL FAMILY LEGACY, A POLITICAL DYNASTY, IT IS A TURNING OF THE PAGE OUT OF POWER.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, IF I COULD TAKE MY POLITICS HAT OFF AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CUOMO AS A HUMAN BEING AND FOR THOSE WHO -- VICTIMS WHO CAME FORWARD AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, IT IS A VERY POWERFUL MOMENT, ONE THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO REFLECT UPON ACS CITIZENS AS FELLOW NEW YORKERS AND TO JUST, YOU KNOW, EXAMINE THE MOMENT FOR WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS A MOMENT OF TREMENDOUS HUMAN FAILING, HOPEFULLY A STEP FORWARD TO HUMAN REDEMPTION.

A VICTORY FOR ADVOCATES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, WHO HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED AND WHO HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND FOR THE WOMEN THEMSELVES.

BUT ALSO A MOMENT HOPEFULLY WHERE OUR POLITICAL CULTURE AND CLIMATE CAN CHANGE TO A BETTER PLACE WHERE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT JUST TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND TREATED SERIOUSLY, BUT THAT THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND THAT THAT PROCESS HAS CONSEQUENCES.

BUT, AGAIN, THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF THIS CAN'T BE LOST.

THE GOVERNOR HAS CHILDREN.

HE'S GOT PEOPLE HE HAS TO GO HOME TO TO LOOK IN THE EYE AND SHARE WHO HE IS.

AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS AN ACT ULTIMATELY OF CONSCIOUS, ONE THAT SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE THINGS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICAL POWER AS MUCH AS JUST YOU AND I LOVE TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT POWER IN POLITICS.

THERE IS SOMETHING MORE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE.

IF WE CAN LEAVE TODAY LEARNING THAT, APPRECIATING THAT, THEN I THINK WE'RE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT.

>> JC, YOUR THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> I DON'T THINK HE HAD A CHOICE.

I THINK HE HAD TO GO.

THE VOTES WEREN'T THERE TO PROTECT HIM.

AND ANY MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY OR THE SENATE THAT SUPPORTED HIM WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PRIMARY IN JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.

SO THERE WAS NO CHOICE HERE.

THIS WAS NOT A HEROIC ACT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, TAKING POT SHOTS AT THE VERY END BY DISAGREEING WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES, BLAMING POLITICS, BLAMING THE LACK OF DUE PROCESS, THESE ARE CHEAP SHOTS.

THE MAN HAD NO OPTIONS.

I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT HE WENT OUT THERE TRYING TO WASH HIS HANDS LIKE HE WERE PONTUIS PILOT.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THERE WERE MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT HIS GOVERNORSHIP THAT DEMONSTRATED POLITICAL AND PERSONAL FAILINGS, FROM THE BUFFALO BILLIONS TO THE DISINFORMATION ON THE 15,000 DEAD IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF COVID AND HIDING NUMBERS EVEN THOUGH ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES FOUND THAT INFORMATION TO DISSOLVING THE COMMISSION THAT WAS LOOKING INTO HIS OWN OBSTRUCTIONS AND ILL LEGALITIES.

I THINK THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED.

TODAY HE SAW NO OPTION.

THERE WAS NO ONE SUPPORTING HIM, SO HE DOES NOT GET ANY MEDAL FOR HEROISM TODAY.

>> AND WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS?

>> IT WAS A PRETTY REMARKABLE PRESS CONFERENCE.

I MEAN, AS I THINK MY CO-PANELIST SAID, IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME THAN THIS.

HIS BACK IS UP AGAINST THE WALL.

IMPEACHMENT WAS COMING.

BUT I WAS STRUCK BY IT BECAUSE HE STRUCK A DEFIANT TONE AND DIGGING HIS HEELS IN.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT IT TODAY.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS ALSO INTERESTING BECAUSE IT IS PRECEDING BY 45 MINUTES OF HIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY BASICALLY SLAMMING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TISH JAMES AND THE INVESTIGATION SHE RELEASED LAST WEEK THAT OUTLINED THESE 11 ALLEGATIONS FROM 11 DIFFERENT WOMEN AND BASICALLY TRYING TO DISCREDIT THAT REPORT TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT HIMSELF WAS COPING TO CERTAIN BEHAVIORS AND SORT OF REPEATING TO WHAT HE'S ADMITTED TO SO FAR.

SOME OF IT NEW, THOUGH.

THE ALLEGATIONS FROM THE STATE TROOPER, FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST TIME HE ADDRESSED THAT WAS TODAY.

BUT HE DID STOP SHORT OF ADMITTING TO THE MOST EGREGIOUS, SPECIFICALLY THE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

AND, YEAH, I MEAN, HE -- IT WAS A REALLY REMARKABLE KIND OF OUTGOING SPEECH.

>> WELL, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO, BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT SORT OF LONG PREAMBLE OR 45 MINUTE DISCUSSION DEFENSE, I GUESS, FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL ATTORNEY.

AND I'M WONDERING, JC, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, WAS THERE ANY LEGAL VALUE TO THAT?

BECAUSE WITH HIS RESIGNING, YES, THAT MIGHT STOP A TRIAL IN THE SENATE, BUT IF I UNDERSTAND, THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY THE GOVERNOR COULD BE FACING ACTUAL CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> WHENEVER YOU SEE AN ATTORNEY COME OUT IN PUBLIC AND MAKE A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT, IT'S FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, IT IS THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION THAT THEY'RE FOCUSSING ON.

IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, THE RULES OF EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK IN DON'T APPLY.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY WHATEVER WE HAVE TO SAY AND ANYTHING IS ADMISSIBLE.

IT IS NOT THE CASE IN COURT.

SECOND, IT ALSO GIVES ANY POTENTIAL PROSECUTION AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT THE DEFENSE COULD BE.

AND THE HOPES OF ANY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS TO PREVENT A PROSECUTION.

SO A PROSECUTOR WATCHING, HEARING THIS DEFENSE, IF THE PROSECUTION THINKS THAT DEFENSE THAT IS ABOUT TO BE USED RISES TO THE LEVEL IN WHICH A PERSON MAY BE ACQUITTED, THEY MAY THINK TWICE BEFORE PRESENTING CHARGES TO A GRAND JURY.

>> INTERESTING.

PROFESSOR, I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON -- BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE LEGACY OF SOMEONE WHO HAD EVERY INTENTION OF SUCCEEDING WHERE HIS FATHER FAILED IN THAT FOURTH GOVERNOR TERM.

>> INDEED.

BUT THAT IS NOT TO BE.

AND, AGAIN, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE AND CERTAINLY IN POLITICS THAN WINNING.

THE LEGACY OF ANDREW CUOMO, AND JC IS 100% RIGHT ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE POLITICAL HIMSELF TRY OF ANDREW CUOMO.

THE NEW ORLEANS COMMISSION WHEN HE WAS RUNNING HIS FATHER'S MAYOR CAMPAIGN, RUMORS THAT HE HAD SAID SOME INCENDIARY AND HATEFUL THINGS ABOUT THE FORMER MAYOR'S SEXUALITY, FOR THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT.

SO SCANDAL, ETHICAL CROSSING OF LINES FOR ANDREW CUOMO HAS BEEN PART OF HIS LEGACY.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT NOW HOPEFULLY THERE IS A MOMENT.

DEFIANCE, LEGAL MANEUVERING NOTWITHSTANDING.

PERHAPS FOR HIS OWN GOOD AND FOR THE LEGACY, THERE IS A MOMENT HERE OF REFLECTION.

AND I HOPE, I COULD ONLY HOPE OF REDEMPTION.

I DON'T KNOW THE INNER WORKINGS OF ANDREW CUOMO'S MIND OR HEART ON THIS MATTER.

AND I AM SORT OF PREDISPOSED TO AGREE WITH JC THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT POLITICAL MANEUVERING AND THE MACHINATIONS INVOLVED IN NOT FURTHER DAMAGES YOURSELF LEGALLY.

BUT I WANT TO HOPE AND LEAVE THAT ANY OF US AND CERTAINLY POLITICAL LEADERS FROM ALEXANDER HAMILTON TO JEFFERSON, FRANKLY TO DR. KING WHO FACED SHORTCOMINGS WITH REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL SEXUAL LIFE CAN BE REDEEMED AND FIND A WAY FORWARD.

IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY'RE JUST HUMAN BEINGS.

HAVING SAID THAT, THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK DESERVE BETTER.

REDEMPTION CAN BE DONE IN PRIVATE.

THE PEOPLE DON'T NEED REDEMPTION DONE ON THEIR DIME.

AND I THINK RESIGNATION WAS ULTIMATELY THE PROPER THING TO DO, WHETHER OR NOT IT BENEFITTED HIM LEGALLY OR NOT.

HE CERTAINLY HAD A LIMITED ARRAY OF CHOICES.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK DESERVE A GOVERNOR WHO HAS HER HAND, IN THIS CASE, ON THE TILL, WHO IS FULLY ENGAGED IN THE NECESSITY OF RESOLVING THE MYRIAD ISSUES FACING THE STATE AND OUR COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET A FULLY ENGAGED GOVERNOR, AND THAT MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE FOCUS WILL BE GOING FORWARD AS THE 14 DAYS WANES AND ANDREW CUOMO IS NO LONGER GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

>> JUST FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SUBTLE MACHINATIONS OF STATE AND CITY GOVERNMENT, WOULD BE EAGER FOR THIS STORY TO FADE FROM THE HEADLINES.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS EVEN A POSSIBILITY?

OR ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THESE VARIOUS, I GUESS, CHART -- ACCUSATIONS BEING MADE AGAINST GOVERNOR CUOMO.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THIS STORY ISN'T FADING ANY TIME SOON.

FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

WE KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGAL -- POTENTIAL LEGAL IMPLICATIONS AT HAND HERE.

WE HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT THE WESTCHESTER DA'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE ALBANY COUNTY IF I'M REMEMBERING THE JURISDICTIONS CORRECTLY, DA OFFICE BOTH HAD INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE TISH JAMES REPORT.

THE GOVERNOR'S ATTORNEYS SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP FIGHTING ACCUSATIONS IN THAT REPORT AND TRYING TO DISCREDIT THAT.

THAT SEEMED LIKE A BIG PART OF IT AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO -- SHE HAD A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON MAKING SURE THE GOVERNOR'S SIDE OF THINGS GETS HEARD.

THEY WERE REALLY TRYING THEIR BEST, I THINK, TO PAINT HIM AS THE ONE BEING UNFAIRLY TREATED HERE, WHICH IS REMARKABLE.

FOR THE NEXT 14 DAYS, I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT SPECIFIC TIME LINE AS WELL.

SO THAT HE COULD BE WORKING ON THAT TRANSITION TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS STORY IS GOING ANYWHERE ANY TIME SOON WITHIN THAT TWO-WEEK TIME SPAN.

THERE IS ALSO VARIOUS OTHER INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON HERE INTO THE NURSING HOME DEATH SCANDAL.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING INTO THAT.

SO, YEAH, I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST THAT WE HEAR OF THE CUOMO DISCUSSION AND THE VARIOUS SCANDALS.

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF THE STATEMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL ATTORNEY DID MAKE AND THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF ELUDED TO, JC, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS AN ATTORNEY, THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH OF A PILE-ON, THAT THIS HAD BEEN TRIED AND CONVICTED IN THE COURT OF OPINION.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR AT ONE POINT JUST BLAMED TWITTER.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ON THIS SHOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT GIVING IN TO MOB MENTALITY.

AND IS THAT SOMETHING AT ALL THAT YOU SEE COMING INTO PLAY WITH THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A THIN LINE BETWEEN MOB MENTALITY AND JUST THE FACTS PILING ON TOP OF THEMSELVES.

MOB MENTALITY WOULD BE A GROUP OF PROGRESSIVES THAT DON'T LIKE THE MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND THEY GET TOGETHER AND PILE ON HIM ON TWITTER.

I HAVE SEEN THAT BEFORE.

BUT THIS IS JUST FACT AFTER FACT AFTER FACT COMING IN FROM A BIPARTISAN BASIS, FROM ALL PARTIES, FROM ALL ANGLES, FROM BOTH HOUSES, FROM NATIONAL FIGURES TO STATE FIGURES.

SO I THINK THE DEFENSE OF THERE BEING A PILE-ON IS VERY, VERY WEAK.

>> ARE YOU STILL WITH US, JC?

JC, ARE YOU STILL WITH US?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE I GOT KICKED OFF.

CAN WE SEE ME?

>> YES.

WE CAN STILL SEE YOU.

WE CAN STILL HEAR YOU.

>> I WAS JUST TEXTING YOU.

AND, SO -- >> IT HAPPENS.

IT HAPPENS.

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SEE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE ME.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE JUST USING A PILE-ON AS A LEGAL RATIONAL IS NOT THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN WHEN SOME ATTORNEYS WANT TO SEE THE CHANGE IN VENUE BECAUSE A JURY HAS BEEN TAINTED.

THAT'S A FAR, FAR CALL FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A POLITICAL REALITY WHERE WE'RE IN A NEW AGE, AND THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

AND TISH JAMES DID AN INCREDIBLE REPORT, AND IT WAS A BIPARTISAN, NONPARTISAN REPORT, AND THERE IS JUST A LOT OF IT.

SO IF THERE IS A PILE-ON, IT IS A PILE-ON THAT THE GOVERNOR CREATED FOR HIMSELF.

>> WOW, OKAY.

THEN GOING FORWARD, OF COURSE, THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE -- THE GOVERNOR MADE SURE TO MENTION ALL OF THE POSITIVES, AT LEAST AS HE HAS SEEN IT THAT HAVE HAPPENED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND ALSO PRAISED NEW YORKERS FOR THE WAY THAT WE HAVE HANDLED CHALLENGES LIKE THE PANDEMIC AND A DIFFERENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

I DO WANT TO FOCUS BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS STILL VERY REAL AND STILL VERY INTENSE AND IS STILL HAVING A BIG IMPACT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW DELTA VARIANT IS THAT WE START TO SEE SPREAD OF THAT.

SO, PROFESSOR, I WANT TO GO TO YOU AND SAY FOR -- I GUESS WITH -- I'M NOT QUITE SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK.

BUT WHEN SHE DOES STEP IN, HOW MUCH DOES SHE NEED TO -- DOES SHE NEED TO MAKE THAT HER ABSOLUTELY TOP PRIORITY, IS GETTING SOME SORT OF HANDLE, SOME SORT OF STAKE, SOMETHING, IN REGARDS TO HOW WE ADDRESS THE CONTINUED COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY, JENNA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I HAVE SOME PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHOM IS A PHYSICIAN.

SHE WORKS IN HARLEM, LIVES IN HARLEM.

AND SHE WAS NOT SOMEONE TO APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR'S -- OUTGOING GOVERNOR'S BEHAVIOR BY ANY STRETCH.

BUT SHE WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT A TRANSITION TO A NEW GOVERNOR WOULD SOMEHOW HURT THE POSSIBLE RESPONSE AND POLICY FOOTING WITH RESPECT TO COVID IN NEW YORK.

THIS IS A REAL CONCERN.

NOT SOMEONE WHO IS NECESSARILY A LOVER OF ANDREW CUOMO, BUT CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE TRANSITION WOULD LEAD BECAUSE HE HAD DONE SOME VERY GOOD THINGS CONCERNING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE INCOMING GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT JOE BIDEN -- THERE IS A GREAT TEMPTATION FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, DEMOCRATS IN PARTICULAR, CERTAINLY, TO HAVE BIDEN CAST HIS GAZE AT THE FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT PUNISHMENT OR PENALTIES SHOULD BE ARRANGED AND HOW SHOULD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION.

AND BIDEN, I THINK WISELY, AT LEAST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PRACTICAL POLITICS AND POLICY DECIDED, I NEED TO FOCUS ON THE PANDEMIC.

I CAN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID.

I THINK THERE WILL BE THAT TEMPTATION AS WELL TO COME AND BE ON THE PAPER AND ON TELEVISION COMMENTING ABOUT ANDREW CUOMO AND HIS LEGACY AND WHAT SHOULD THE STATE'S FOOTING BE REGARDING HIS PAST PRACTICES.

I THINK HIS GAZE WILL BE ON COVID AND DIRECTED THERE.

THAT WILL HAVE TO BE HER FOCUS WITHOUT QUESTION BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO LANGUISH IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, THEN THE ECONOMY OF NEW YORK AND THE HEALTH OF ITS CITIZENS IS ALL UP FOR GRABS, AND NOBODY WANTS TO CONTINUE ALONG THESE LINES AS WE HAVE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

GOD SPEED TO THE INCOMING GOVERNOR AND HER FOCUS ON COVID.

100%.

>> OF COURSE, WE ARE SEEING NEW YORK STRUGGLE WITH ITS REOPENING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH COVID AND THE SPREADING VARIANT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WILL THIS HURT TOURISM, WHICH IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY, IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES COMING BACK AND FULLY REOPENING.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

A LOT OF BUSINESSES HAVE SEEN PUSHBACK FROM EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE SAYING, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK.

HOW MUCH, I GUESS, DOES THAT BECOME THE TOP ISSUE CONSIDERING NEW YORK AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED NUMEROUS TIMES, IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR NEW YORK STATE?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

I THINK WE'RE AT A REALLY CRITICAL JUNCTURE OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS THIS SENSE UP TO A MONTH AGO THAT WE WERE COMING INTO THE WOODS WITH VACCINATION AVAILABLE AND THE RATES OF VACCINATION STEADILY GOING UP.

AND NOW WE'RE SEEING, AS YOU SAID, THE DELTA VARIANT INCREASING CASE NUMBERS OVERALL.

WHILE NEW YORK'S NUMBERS ARE STILL RELATIVELY LOW COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE OBVIOUSLY AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT IS ALARMING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS RISE AGAIN.

AND WE WILL HAVE SCHOOL BEGINNING IN A MONTH, IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A POTENTIAL GAME CHANGER.

I THINK THERE IS JUST A LOT OF UNKNOWNS THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK OUT IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK THE OPTIMISM THAT A LOT OF FOLKS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDED HAD HAD, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN JUNE AND JULY IS FEELING A LITTLE TEMPERED NOW, A LOT MORE TEMPERED, RATHER.

AND IT IS HARD TO SAY HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO.

TO SAY THERE IS A PERFECT STORM OF THINGS GOING ON WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH CUOMO HERE, YOU KNOW, MAYOR BILL de BLASIO WAS FOCUSSED ON THE POLICIES IN TERMS AT THE CITY LEVEL AND TRYING TO SET POLICY PRACTICES IN PLACE FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE HEAD GOVERNMENT IN ALBANY, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> OF COURSE.

AND, JC, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS REOPENING IS A BIG PART OF THE CITY GETTING BACK ON ITS FEET.

AND THERE IS ALREADY QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VACCINES FOR WHAT AGE OF KIDS AND MASKS IN ALL THE SCHOOLS OR NOT MASKS IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.

HOW WILL WE BE SURE THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANOTHER SHUTDOWN IF THERE IS A SUPER SPREADER EVENT OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AMONG STUDENTS, GOD FORBID, OF COURSE.

BUT YOUR TAKE ON THE WAY THAT THE NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS REOPENING IS BEING HANDLED THUS FAR?

>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE AN ISSUE.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WILL BE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOLS WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO REOPEN.

WE STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT IN THE CITY WHERE WE'RE KIND OF GOING AT IT VERY BLINDLY AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU MENTIONED.

BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE UNVACCINATED.

I KNOW THAT IN NEW YORK WE FOCUS ON THOSE RED STATES AND THEIR CRAZY POLICIES ABOUT NO MASK MANDATES.

AND WE'RE IN AWE AT HOW MANY HOSPITALIZATIONS WE'RE SEEING IN MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, FLORIDA AND THE LIKE.

BUT RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, AND IT'S VERY ALARMING, CONSIDERING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE BLACK AND LATINO COMING INTO OUR NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND COMING INTO FAMILIES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, HISTORICAL AND THE LIKE, MAY BE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE VACCINE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THEY GET EDUCATED ABOUT THE VACCINE.

NO, IT IS NOT THE TUS KEY GEE EXPERIMENT WHERE PEOPLE WERE KEPT FROM MEDICATION.

IN PUERTO RICO, THIS IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION.

SO WE DO HAVE A BAD HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO FORCING VACCINES ON OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITY HAS TO UNDERSTAND OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT GOOD.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR NUMBERS AND NOT HURT OUR BUSINESS IN THE CITY SINCE A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> DO YOU SEE SOME SORT OF A, YOU KNOW, MANDATE, EITHER CITY-WIDE OR STATE-WIDE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

AS IT IS, YOU NEED TO KNOW PROOF OF VACCINATION TO GET INTO A LOT OF PLACES IN THE CITY.

COULD THAT BE A HARDENED LINE THAT ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES, NO REASONS?

>> I DO, JENNA.

AND I THINK IRONICALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF TOTALITARIAN STATE, COMPELLING YOU TO TAKE SHOTS AND TEACHING YOU AND TELLING YOU HOW TO LIVE AND FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, THOSE FEARS WILL ACTUALLY PRODUCE NOT THAT KIND OF SOCIETY BUT MORE HARSH AND STRICT RULES FROM THE STATE ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE DONE.

YES, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A MOVIE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION.

IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A RESTAURANT OR A BAR OR A CLUB, YES, PROOF OF VACCINATION.

WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT CLEARLY AND ARE ADOPTING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE MODEL WE'RE SEEING IN FRANCE AND OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE AND AROUND THE WORLD.

YEAH, YOU WANT TO GET YOUR HAIRCUT?

WHERE IS YOUR ID.

SHOW ME YOUR VERIFICATION.

THAT IS HAPPENING NOT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS DECIDED TO BECOME TOTALITARIAN.

IT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED ABOUT VACCINATION AND ITS EFFICACY.

THEY HAVE A KIND OF BLANKET FEAR OF GOVERNMENT AND OFTENTIMES ILLLOGICAL, HOWEVER LOGICAL IT MAY BE IN CERTAIN CASES, ILL LOGICAL IN THIS INSTANCE, HARMFUL IN THIS INSTANCE.

YES, I DO THINK WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THAT KIND OF TWO COUNTRIES, TWO NATIONS, TWO NEW YORKS, IF YOU WILL.

ONE WHERE WE HAVE A VACCINATED POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO HAVE INCREASING ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND ENTERTAINMENT AND GOODS AND ANOTHER UNVACCINATED POPULATION THAT WILL DO WITHOUT UNLESS THEY CHANGE THEIR GROUND.

AND THAT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

I DON'T WANT MY KIDS IN A SETTING WHERE I DON'T -- WE'RE LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM AND WHO HAS GOT THE SHOT AND WHO DOESN'T.

BEING IN THE MOVIE THEATER, WHO'S GOT THE SHOT AND WHO DOESN'T?

HEY BUDDY.

I DON'T KNOW YOU.

THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE'RE PRODUCING, AT LEAST AMONG THOSE UNVACCINATED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

BUT WITH ABOUT A MINUTE HALF LEFT, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SEE UNFOLDING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE YET.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE REACTING TO TODAY'S NEWS.

A LOT OF STARTING OUT AGAIN WHAT THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS WHILE THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE AS HE DEPARTS.

IF THERE IS ANY LAST-MINUTE MESSAGING THAT HE WILL BE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

YEAH.

I THINK IT WILL BE ABOUT TRANSITIONING TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TAKING OVER AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS IN A SEAMLESS WAY AS POSSIBLE AND TO KIND OF STABILIZE THINGS IN ALBANY AND THAT WILL REALLY BE, I THINK, HER FIRST TASK IN ADDITION TO HANDLING THE COVID-19 BUT ALSO REMAINING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE BACK INTO A SECURE AND STABLE, STEADY HANDS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO CHAOTIC IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

>> OF COURSE.

AND SO MANY ISSUES THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT HAVE SORT OF BEEN PUT ON HOLD.

WE WILL SEE HOW THIS WEEK SHAKES OUT, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK MY PANEL.

I KNOW WE PLANNED ON COMING BACK AND DISCUSSING OTHER THINGS.

BUT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SO GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU TO JC, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, COLLEGE PROFESSOR, ATTORNEY AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND A BIG THANK YOU TO PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND SENIOR SCHOLAR AT THE SCHOOL'S INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

AND THIS WAS A LOT TO DIGEST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER.

JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD.

CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.