♪ >>> 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 "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

KATHY HOCHUL MADE HISTORY TODAY WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE SWORN IN.

THE DEMOCRAT REPLACES ANDREW CUOMO WHO LEAVES IN DISGRACE AFTER A BOMBSHELL SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION, A REPORT HE CONTINUED TO ATTACK ON HIS FINAL DAY IN CHARGE.

AS FOR HOCHUL'S FIRST 24 HOURS IN OFFICE, SHE INHERITS A STATE FACING CHALLENGES ON MULTIPLE FRONTS, FROM THE PANDEMIC TO RENT RELIEF AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE HENRI STORM SYSTEM.

WHAT WILL THIS POWER SHAKE UP MEAN?

AND WILL GOVERNOR CUOMO ACTUALLY LEAVE POLITICS FOR GOOD?

FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT TODAY'S HISTORIC LOOKS, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK DAN CLARK, THE HOST OF WMHT.

>> HAPPY TO BE CLEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NOW, I SHOULD SAY THAT WE ARE TAPING THIS INTERVIEW PRIOR TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S EXPECTED PRESS CONFERENCE FOR NEW YORKERS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT SHE'S BEEN SAYING, BASICALLY LEADING UP TO TODAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK HER PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE NOW THAT SHE'S TAKEN OVER THE JOB?

>> SO HER FIRST PRIORITY IS OF COURSE THE DELTA VARIANT IN NEW YORK STATE.

WE HAVE SEEN POSITIVITY RATES GO SKY HERE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO MEET WITH HEALTH EXPERTS TO KIND OF DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO CURB THE VARIANT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

OF COURSE SHE'S OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT VACCINATION.

SHE WANTS TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AND AREAS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO GET THE VACCINE.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE ON HER PLATE RIGHT NOW.

NUMBER TWO IS SHE SAID TODAY, ON TUESDAY, THAT SHE WANTS TO CLEAN UP STATE GOVERNMENT.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES SURROUNDING FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO.

SHE'S SAYING ONE OF HER PRIORITIES IS TO REESTABLISH THAT TRUST.

HOW SHE IS GOING TO DO THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WE KNOW THERE IS A BIG ETHICS PROBLEM HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

THERE NEVER SEEMS TO BE A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR IT.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES ABOUT THAT.

NUMBER THREE IS CRIME.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW KATHY HOCHUL IS GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.

SHE'S A DELIBERATIVE PERSON.

SHE LISTENS.

SO WE SHOULD EXPECT HER TO SIT DOWN WITH PROSECUTORS IN THE DAYS COMING FORWARD, AS WELL AS PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT ISSUE, LIKE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES TO MAKE SURE SHE CREATES A STRATEGY THAT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S REALLY NUMBER ONE ON HER PLATE RIGHT NOW.

SHE WILL HAVE MORE ISSUES WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPENS UP IN JANUARY.

BUT SHE WILL WORK ON BUILDING HER CABINET.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL BE SURROUNDING HER IN GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE SHE WILL KEEP COMMISSIONERS OF CERTAIN AGENCIES, BUT SHE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME INTERNAL TURNOVER.

>> AND TURNOVER, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S, I GUESS, INTERNAL CIRCLE, THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF, DID SHE POINT OUT ANY CRITERIA FOR WHAT SHE WOULD BE CONSIDERING WHEN DETERMINING WHO GOES AND WHO STAYS?

>> SO THE CRITERIA IS BASICALLY IF SOMEBODY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT REPORT THAT THE AG PUT OUT, IF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN DISCREDITING THE WOMEN ACCUSING THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THEY'RE MOST LIKELY OUT THE DOOR.

THERE WILL OF COURSE BE SOME HOLDOVERS FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION OF PEOPLE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AND HOCHUL BELIEVES SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED.

THE CRITERIA, SHE ALSO WANTS A BUILD A DIVERSE TEAM IN TERMS OF GENDER, ETHNICITY AND RACE.

WE SAW EVEN TODAY THAT HER IMMEDIATE STAFF IS MUCH MORE DIVERSE THAN FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO'S STAFF WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY WHITE AND PREDOMINANTLY MALE.

WE SAW TODAY HOCHUL'S STAFF SURROUNDING HER ARE MUCH MOREDY VEER -- DIVERSE.

>> OF COURSE.

NOW SPEAKING OF DIVERSITY, FOR THE LONGEST TIME WHEN IT CAME TO THE RUNNING OF NEW YORK STATE, THE CODIFYING OF LEGISLATION INTO LAW, IT WAS DONE BY SO-CALLED THREE MEN IN A WOMEN, WHICH I GUESS WASN'T SO-CALLED BECAUSE THAT WAS LITERALLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT NOW WE HAVE GOVERNOR HOCHUL, SPEAKER HAASY AND ANDREA STEWART COUSINS WHO WAS SERVING AT INTERIM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS WE HAD DISCUSSED BEFORE.

MY QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE TWO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS?

>> IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN FORMER ANDREW CUOMO.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

SHE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANDRES STEWART COUSINS BECAUSE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHE USED TO STAND IN ON THE SENATE WHEN CONTROVERSIAL BILLS WERE VOTED ON.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW CLOSE SHE AND HASTY ARE.

WE ASSUME THAT HE'S MUCH MORE WILLING TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL THAN CUOMO.

HE HAS GOTTEN VERY INTENSE PHONE CALLS FROM THE FORMER GOVERNOR.

WE SHOULD EXPECT A SMOOTHER WORKING PERIOD FOR ALL THREE OF THEM TOGETHER.

WHEN I STARTED COVERING ALBANY SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, IT WAS ALWAYS THREE MEN IN A WOMEN.

NOW WE HAVE TWO WOMEN AND ONE MAN IN A ROOM AND TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE BLACK.

IT IS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT ERA HERE IN ALBANY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY APPROACH THE ISSUES.

FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS REALLY STRONG ARMED APPROACH TO POLITICS.

HE WOULD SAY, YOU GIVE ME THIS.

I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.

OR HE'LL SAY, I'VE GOT THIS DIRT ON YOU, SO YOU WILL DO THIS FOR ME.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT TYPE OF PERSON.

THERE IS A HONEYMOON PERIOD.

WE'LL SEE WHEN YOU COME AROUND TO BUDGET TIME WHERE ISSUES GET REALLY HIGH STAKES HERE, WHETHER THERE WILL BE A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NOW GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

FOR NOW IT APPEARS TO BE SMOOTH SAILING.

>> OF COURSE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

OLD HABITS SEEM TO DIE HARD IN ALBANY.

BUT SPEAKING OF CANTANKEROUS RELATIONSHIPS, WE BECAME ACCUSTOMED TO OUR MAYOR ESSENTIALLY BEING AT SOME LEVEL OF ALL-OUT OR COLD WAR WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO.

SO DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN MAYOR DEBLAZ YOU AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND ANY SENSE OF WHAT THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL LOOK LIKE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MAYOR de BLASIO WILL BE LEAVING OFFICE IN NOVEMBER.

EXCUSE ME, AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> IT COULD BE GOVERNOR de BLASIO.

WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS HOSTILE AT BEST.

THE TWO WERE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ONE UP EACH OTHER.

I DON'T THINK HE NECESSARILY HAD THAT AT A PRIORITY.

WE SAW LAST WEEK HE LEFT WITH PEOPLE AT A DINER AND WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC CONTENT OF THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT WE DO KNOW SHE MEANT TO WORK WITH BILL de BLASIO GOING FORWARD INSTEAD OF BEING A CONTRADICTION TO HIM.

WE ALSO KNOW SHE HAS SPOKING TO LIKELY INCOMING MAYOR ERIC ADAMS ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

SHE PLANS TO WORK TOGETHER ON ERIC ADAMS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES FACING NEW YORK CITY, INCLUDING THE CRIME PROBLEM, INCLUDING BOOSTING THE ECONOMY AND MAKING IT ONCE AGAIN A DESTINATION NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE BUT FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT.

AS YOU KNOW, TOURISM IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVER IN NEW YORK CITY AND WE DON'T SEE THESE LEVELS COMING BACK.

NOW, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> OF COURSE.

DO WE KNOW AT ALL WHERE WHAT SHE PLANS ON DOING IN REGARDS TO WOMEN?

I KNOW I MENTIONED THAT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WILL BE A BIG PRIORITY FOR THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

BUT DO WE KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS ON ANY SORT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE PARTICULARLY, THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE, BUT PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

>> IT IS A VERY BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

NEXT TUESDAY, THE STATE'S EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRES, MEANING MANY, MANY TENANTS WILL BE LEFT OPEN TO EVICTION.

THE COURTS WILL BE PACKED WITH CASES IF IT EXPIRES.

THERE ARE RUMBLES THE LEGISLATURE MAY COME BACK TO EXTEND IT.

VERY UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT.

THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T KNOWN FOR MAKING LAST-MINUTE DECISIONS.

BUT AS FAR AS KATHY HOCHUL, WE KNOW A KEY PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE EMERGENCY RENTAL PROGRAM.

NOT A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THAT PROGRAM.

SHE'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WHEN SHE COMES INTO OFFICE, SHE'LL OVERSEE THAT AND THE AGENCY.

SHE HASN'T SAID EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT MONEY OUT FASTER AND MAYBE FUTURE FORMS OF RELIEF.

BUT WE DO KNOW SHE'S REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR TENANTS RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW MANY, MANY NEW YORKERS DO RENT THEIR HOMES.

MORE THAN HALF DO.

THIS IS A KEY PRIORITY FOR HER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

THEY MAY COME BACK NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> I WANT TO PUT IT BACK TO THE FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO.

HE DID GIVE A FAREWELL SPEECH YESTERDAY AND TOOK TIME TO ATTACK THE INVESTIGATION THAT CONTRIBUTED TO HIS DOWN FALL.

CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK RECAP OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ON HIS WAY OUT FROM OFFICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO HE TOOK HIS FINAL WORDS TO NEW YORKERS COMING OUT OF OFFICE TO ONCE AGAIN ATTACK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT.

THIS IS THE REPORT RELEASED IN EARLY AUGUST THAT FOUND 11 WOMEN'S CLAIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR CREDIBLE.

ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, HE SAID THE REPORT IS A SHAM.

THAT IT WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED TO KICK HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

NOW, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT.

THEY SAID THAT TISH JAMES WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, SO SHE WANTED HIM OUT OF THE WAY.

WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE FOR THAT.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS NOT SAID SHE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR, EVEN THOUGH WE SUSPECT SHE HAS HIGHER AMBITIOUSES.

BUT THIS WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IT IS NOT LIKE THE AG SAID I'M GOING TO DO THIS REGARDLESS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE AG DO THE REPORT.

NOW HE'S SWITCHING BACK BECAUSE HE DOESN'T LIKE WHAT THE REPORT SAID ABOUT HIM.

ON THE WAY OUT IN THAT FINAL SPEECH, HE ONCE AGAIN TO SAY THE REPORT WAS POLITICAL.

IT WAS ENGINEERED TO DAMAGE HIS CREDIBILITY AND KICK HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO NEXT THOUGH.

SHE'S GOING TO REPEATEDLY CONTACT THEM AND TRY TO GET THEM TO CONNECT ANY INACCURACIES AS SHE SEES THEM.

WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW YET.

>> AND WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THE STATUS OF THE ASSEMBLY'S INVESTIGATION AND WHEN WE MIGHT SEE A REPORT RELEASED?

>> SO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAID LAST WEEK THERE IS NO FIRM DEADLINE FOR THE REPORT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ARE REVIEWING THESE SEVERAL THOUSAND PIECES OF EVIDENCE IN THAT INVESTIGATION.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK.

IT COULD BE SEVERAL WEEKS.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY COME UP AT THE END OF THAT.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE EVIDENCE AND THEN ACTUALLY WITH THE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE HANDLING IT COMPILE THIS REPORT TO SEE IF ANY OF THE COMMENTS BY GOVERNOR CUOMO COULD BE REFERRED TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTORS, WHETHER MISCONDUCT WOULD BE MERITED IMPEACHMENT OR IS IMPEACHMENT NO LONGER A POSSIBILITY ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTORNEYS.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE AND WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.

THE URGENCY IS LOST HERE BECAUSE GOVERNOR CUOMO IS OUT OF OFFICE.

SO IT WON'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON HIM BUT IT COULD LEAD TO MORE LEGISLATION IN RESPONSE TO HIM.

>> OKAY.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, DAN.

WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA FOR ALBANY OR WHAT WILL YOU BE LOOKING TO FOLLOW, MARCHLY ON NEW YORK NOW.

>> I KNOW IT IS ONLY AUGUST, BUT LEGISLATURES START THE SESSION EARLY.

RIGHT NOW I'M STARTING TO LOOK AT LAWMAKERS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF BILLS THEY WANT TO INTRODUCE AND LAWS THEY WANT TO CREATE NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LISTEN, I WANT TO THANK DAN CLARK, OF COURSE, THE MANAGING EDITOR AND HOST OF WMHT'S "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GIVING US MUCH NEEDED INSIGHT ON ALBANY AND OUR NEW GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

♪ >>> THE WAY NEW YORK LOOKS, SOMETHING US RESIDENTS USUALLY TAKE FOR GRANTED AND THAT TOURISTS FLOCK TO SEE WAS VERY CLOSE TO LOOKING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ON SO MANY OCCASIONS IN OUR HISTORY.

IMAGINE A SKYLINE THAT INCLUDED A GIANT SUSPENSION BRIDGE CUTTING THROUGH THE TIP OF MANHATTAN STRETCHING PAST GOVERNOR'S ISLAND ALL THE WAY TO RED HOOK BROOKLYN.

OR A FLOATING AIRPORT ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER?

HOW ABOUT A GIGANTIC DOME TO PROVIDE GOOD CLIMATE CONTROL.

THEY WERE ALL PROJECTS PLANNED FOR NEW YORK CITY THAT NEVER MADE IT PAST THE DRAWING BOARD.

NOW NEARLY 150 PLANS RENDERINGS AND MODELS OF SOME OF THE BOLDEST AND MOST FARFETCHED URBAN DESIGN IDEAS ARE BEING SHOWCASED IN A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE QUEEN'S MUSEUM TITLED "NEVER BUILT NEW YORK" BASED ON THE BOOK BY THE SAME NAME.

THE AUTHORS JOIN ME NOW.

GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

SO IN KCOMBING THROUGH THESE IDEAS, WHAT WAS THE WHACKIEST YOU SAW?

HAS TO BE THE FLOATING AIRPORT.

THE AIRPORT IN THE HUDSON RIVER BECAUSE ITS SCALE IS UNTHINKABLE.

IT IS SOMETHING LIKE 48 BLOCKS LONG.

IT WOULD HAVE CONSUMED HALF THE HUDSON RIVER AND PROBABLY HALF OF THAT WEST SIDE OF HAHN MATTEN.

AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT EVER HAVING BEEN BUILT.

>> IMAGINE THE SOUND OF AIRPLANES FLYING OVER YOU RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

I MEAN, ON ONE HAND YOU THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR CAPTAIN SULLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT DOES SEEM RIDICULOUS.

IS THERE ONE THAT STUCK OUT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT CONSIDERED WHACKY, DESTRUCTIVE, WHICH IS THE LOWER MANHATTAN EXPRESSWAY, WHICH WOULD HAVE GONE BASICALLY ALONG BROOM STREET FROM THE HOLLAND TUNNEL ALL THE WAY TO THE WILLIAMSBERG BRIDGE AND THE MANHATTAN BRIDGES AND IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN OUT A LOT OF SOHO AND THE LOWER EAST SIDE.

>> THAT'S SOME GOOD REAL ESTATE.

>> WASN'T CONSIDERED AS GOOD BACK THEN AND THE IDEA WASN'T CONSIDERED FARFETCHED AT ALL.

IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HAPPENING.

PROBABLY ONE VOTE AWAY FROM HAPPENING.

>> WOW.

>> SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT ONE DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> WELL, GOING THROUGH SOME OF THESE IDEAS, THERE WAS ONE THAT STUCK OUT TO ME AS MAYBE NOT A FARFETCHED IDEA, BUT MAYBE AN IDEA THAT COULD HAVE COME TO PASS, AND THAT WAS FROM 1920 A GENTLEMAN NAMED DANIEL LAWRENCE TURNER WHO WAS WITH THE TRANSIT CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION SUBWAY PLAN, AND HE WAS PROPOSING A TUNNEL THAT WENT FROM BROOKLYN TO STATEN ISLAND.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, HE HAD A VERY, VERY AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR MANHATTAN.

BACK IN 1920, THE PLACE WAS WAY TOO CONGESTED, AND HE REALIZED THEY HAD TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT QUICKLY, AND HE PROPOSED THAT SUBWAY CONNECTION FROM STATEN ISLAND TO BROOKLYN, BUT HE ALSO PROPOSED ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY, INCLUDING IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP ABOUT SIX TIMES AS MANY OR EVEN MORE AS MANY CROSS TOWN SUBWAYS IN MANHATTAN, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS A PROBLEM NOW.

>> THE BUREAUS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRISSCROSSED WITH A LOT MORE.

HE BASICALLY SAID, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

>> I JUST HAVE TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT QUOTE HE SAID IN HERE.

IN ORDER TO KEEP PACE WITH THE ENORMOUS TRAFFIC GROWTH, THE CITY MUST BUILD MORE TRANSIT FACILITIES, THEN MORE AGAIN AND STILL MORE AGAIN AND MUST KEEP DOING THIS CONTINUALLY.

>> EXACTLY.

YEAH, HE WAS -- >> TO ME, THAT'S IT.

>> HE WAS RIGHT ON.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT A LOT OF TRANSIT SCHEMES THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE CITY.

THERE WAS A PLAN IN THE 1860 FOR A NEWMATIC SYSTEM.

>> MUCH LIKE ELON MUSK'S HYPER LOOP TODAY.

YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED ON A CURTAIN OF AIR FROM ONE STATION TO THE NEXT.

THERE WERE OTHER ONES IN 1870.

ELEVATED ONES IN 1870.

THERE WERE PLANS TO TAKE ALL TRANSIT IN MANHATTAN AND TURN IT INTO A MINIATURE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO MOVE ALL GOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

YOU WOULD NEVER SEE A TRUCK ON THE SURFACE ROADS IN MANHATTAN.

THAT WAS PROPOSED BEFORE WORLD WAR I.

>> OKAY.

AGAIN, THESE ALL SOUND LIKE REALLY PRACTICAL IDEAS NOW.

WAS IT JUST FUNDING AND MONEY THAT KILLED A LOT OF THESE IDEAS?

>> THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

ALTHOUGH THE REASONS ARE THE SAME ALL THROUGH HISTORY.

MONEY IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE.

THEY RUN OUT OF FUNDING.

BUT POLITICS IS WHAT KILLED THAT SUBNY I MENTIONED.

THAT DOES IT A LOT.

BASICALLY THE TRANSIT COMMISSION THAT TURNER WORKED FOR BECAME THE STATE COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY WERE SICK OF THE SHENANIGANS OF TOWN HALL, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

AND THEY WANTED TO CENTRALIZE EVERYTHING, BUT THAT HELD EVERYTHING UP, AND THEN IT BECAME NEVER BUILT.

>> AND ALSO AN IDEA CAN BE WELL AHEAD OF ITS TIME AND STILL NEVER BE REALIZED BECAUSE NO ONE WILL COME TO ACCEPT THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

FLAT-OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THE GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS GIVING.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CO-CURE RATING THIS EXHIBIT.

I THINK IT WILL BE EXCITING AND THIS IS A GREAT COMPANION BOOK THAT GOES WITH IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> FILM MAKER HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING NEW YORK CITY IN HIS WAY FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

THE 88-YEAR-OLD AND FORMER FILM PROFESSOR HAS LOVED NEW YORK EVER SINCE HE AND HIS FAMILY CAME HERE IN 1936 TO ESCAPE NAZI GERMANY AND HIS DOCUMENTARIES ARE A TRIBUTE TO THE LANDSCAPE, THE PEOPLE AND THE RHYTHMS OF HIS ADOPTED CITY.

FOR HIS NEWEST FILM WHICH HAD ITS PREMIER HERE IN LINCOLN CENTER, HE TURNED TO A TROVE OF 16 MILLIMETER BLACK AND WHITE FOOTAGE HE AND A COLLEAGUE SHOT 60 YEARS AGO.

LIKE MANY OF HIS PREVIOUS FILMS, IT IS A MEDITATION OF CITY LIFE SET TO THE SOUNDS OF JAZZ MUSIC DURING A SEEMINGLY GENTLER TIME GONE BY.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT FREE TIME AND ABOUT HIS LIFE AND CAREER IS FILM MAKER MANFRED.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, RAFAEL.

>> AS I SAID, YOU SHOT THIS FULL M 60 YEARS AGO.

FIRST OF ALL, WHY DID YOU SHOOT THIS FILM?

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL INTENTION WITH IT?

>> WELL, WALTER WAS MY PARTNER AT THE TIME AND I WERE SHOOTING A LARGE SCRIPTED FILM CALLED "DREAM OF THE CITY."

AND ITS MAIN THEME HAD TO DO WITH THE WAY THE GLASS BOXES WERE TAKING OVER THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN, MIDTOWN PART OF IT.

>> IT WAS A BIG GLASS SKYSCRAPER.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, I CALL THEM BOXES.

AND IT HAD SCENES OF THE WRECKING OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS IN FAVOR OF THE NEWER ONES.

AND, WELL, WE DIDN'T GET TO EDIT THAT FILM BUT WE SHOT A GREAT DEAL OF MATERIAL.

WE SHOT OVER 30 HOURS WORTH WITH A BLACK AND WHITE 100 FOOT ROLLS.

ANYWAY, SO SINCE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO EDIT IT TOGETHER, I ASKED PERMISSION FROM HIM TO MAKE MY OWN FILMS OUT OF MATERIAL AND HE COULD MAKE HIS OWN FILMS SO THAT SOON AFTER I MADE A HALF HOUR FILM CALLED "CLAW," WHICH WAS ABOUT THAT SUBJECT.

>> BUT NOW YOU REVIVE IT AND MAKE A WHOLE FILM UNDER THAT FOOTAGE.

WHY NOW?

>> RIGHT.

THAT WAS ONLY A HALF HOUR, AND THAT IS AN HOUR.

WELL, WHY NOW?

I MADE A FILM LAST YEAR WHICH I ACTUALLY CALLED "DREAM OF A CITY," WHICH WAS ALSO AT THE FILM FESTIVAL.

AND THAT -- YOU KNOW, I -- I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE THE SAME KIND OF FILM TWICE IN A ROW.

SO IN BETWEEN I MADE A TALKING HEADS FILM, YOU KNOW, AN INTERVIEW FILM CALLED "MIDDLE CLASS MONEY HONEY" ALL ABOUT PEOPLE'S RELATIONSHIP TO MONEY.

I THOUGHT, OKAY, I WILL GO BACK TO THIS MATERIAL AND SEE WHAT'S LEFT.

AND, SO, THAT BECAME FREE TIME.

>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN SHOOTING THIS FILM -- I MEAN THIS CITY FOR DECADES.

PROBABLY NO ONE KNOWS BETTER HOW IT HAS CHANGED.

HOW DO YOU THINK IT HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER AND FOR THE WORSE?

>> WELL, FOR THE BETTER THE AIR QUALITY IS BETTER.

THERE ARE TREES EVERYWHERE.

THERE WEREN'T -- THERE IS NOT A TREE IN THIS FILM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND NOW, I MEAN, I LIVE ON BROADWAY, AND THE MALL IS FILLED AS LUSH, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY KNOW IT IS SUMMERTIME WHEN IT IS SUMMERTIME.

AND, SO, THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY IMPROVED.

WHAT'S GOTTEN WORSE IS THE TRAFFIC.

OH, MY GOD.

YOU KNOW, ON ANY DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY THINGS ARE BLOCKED UP.

AND THE FACT, WHICH THE FUILM DEMONSTRATES, THAT KIDS DON'T PLAY ON THE STREET ANYMORE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE CELL PHONE.

I THINK THE KIDS GO UP TO THEIR HOUSES AFTER SCHOOL AND DON'T GO DOWN TO PLAY THE WAY WE USED TO.

>> SO, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IGNITED THIS LOVE AFFAIR BETWEEN YOU AND THIS CITY?

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THIS KIND OF LIKE THE PREMIER SUBJECT OF YOUR FILM?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOVE/HATE AFFAIR ACTUALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR PROTEST AGAINST THOSE GLASS BOXES WAS A BAD PART IN THE CITY.

AND IT'S HAPPENING NOW IN BROOKLYN, AND IT'S HAPPENING ON 57th STREET IN MANHATTAN, YOU KNOW.

THESE VERY TALL STRUCTURES VYING WITH THE EMPIRE STATE, YOU KNOW, AND CASTING SHADOWS ON THE PARK.

SO THAT -- THAT'S THE HATE PART OF NEW YORK.

I REALLY DEPLORE IT AS I GO DOWN THE AVENUE.

>> SO WE HAVE ABOUT 10, 15 SECONDS LEFT.

ARE YOU STUL GOING OUT ON THE STREETS SHOOTING?

>> NO.

MY LAST FILM WAS "CANNERS" WHERE I WENT OUT ON THE STREET WHICH I INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHO COLLECTED CANS AND BOTTLES FOR A NICKEL.

>> WELL, AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WHEN I CAME TO NEW YORK CITY, I ALMOST GOT YOU AS A PROFESSOR.

NOW I WISH I DID.

I MADE THE WRONG DECISION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US.

>>> "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.