♪ >>> 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 JACK FORD.

COVID-1 HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED ALL.

BUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S WHY THE CITY CREATED A TASK FORCE TO ENSURE THAT THESE COMMUNITIES WERE PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND NOT LEFT BEHIND BY THE CITY'S RECOVERY INITIATIVES.

NOW OVER A YEAR AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE TASK FORCE HAS RELEASED A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING THE ACTIONS TO HELP NEW YORKERS MOST IN NEED DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

JOINING US IS THE FIRST LADY OF NEW YORK CITY WHO IS ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE ON RACIAL INCLUSION.

MADAM FIRST LADY, WELCOME.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BACK HERE.

>> IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE TASK FORCE.

WHY WAS IT FELT THAT RATHER THAN RELYING ON EXISTING AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS IT WAS NECESSARY TO CREATE A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES?

>> WELL, FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU HOW WE BEGAN.

WE BEGAN IN APRIL OF 2020 VERY SOON AFTER THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, DECLARED THIS A MASSIVE EMERGENCY.

AND WE NOTED THAT THE DEATH RATE IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES WAS 2-1.

MORE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WERE DYING COMPARED TO WHITE OR ASIAN PEOPLE AND WE SAID, THIS IS -- THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

IT WAS CLEARLY A CRISIS THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY.

AND WE HAVE A DEPUTY MAYOR PHILLIP THOMPSON, DEPUTY MAYOR MEL LIVE HARTZOY AND MYSELF, WE ARE ALL CO-CHAIRS, GOT TOGETHER AND WE WERE GOING TO PULL TOGETHER A TASK FORCE OF PEOPLE FROM MORE THAN 60 AGENCIES, PRIMARILY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ACTUALLY HAVE LIVED IN OR WORKED IN OR MAYBE THEY'RE BORN IN THESE SAME COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO DO RIGHT AWAY IS TO ACTUALLY TALK WITH PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE EXPRESSION NOTHING FOR US WITHOUT US?

WELL, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF MANY COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED FOR SO MANY YEARS, BUT HAVEN'T HAD A VOICE IN THE PROCESS.

>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

CAN I ASK YOU?

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE ARE TASK FORCES IN THE GOVERNMENT WORLD OR CORPORATE WORLD WHERE THEY'RE KIND OF THERE BUT THEY'RE NOT TRULY ACTING AS ACTIVELY AS YOU'D LIKE.

THIS ONE DID.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN WHEN YOU SPOKE WITH THESE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEIR PRIMARY CONCERNS WERE?

>> WELL, WE LEARNED THAT THEY HAD A GREAT FEAR AND MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT.

WE LEARNED THAT THEIR PRIORITIES WERE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME PRIORITIES AS HAD BEEN EXECUTED BY THE AGENCIES IN GOVERNMENT.

AND, SO, IT REALLY MEANT REDIRECTING RESOURCES, GETTING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

AGAIN, REDIRECTING RESOURCES, CHANGING POLICIES, CHANGING PRIORITIES SO THAT THESE COMMUNITIES, AND THERE ARE 33 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE TARGETING, BY THE WAY REPRESENTING HALF THE POPULATION IN NEW YORK CITY WHO WEREN'T GETTING WHAT THEY NEED.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE LEVEL OF DISTRUST OR THE LEVEL OF BELIEF OF INEFFICIENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT WAS EXPRESSED TO YOU?

>> NO, I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I MEAN, THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT WERE SET DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES AGO.

THEY'RE A REFLECTION OF RACISM, OF, YOU KNOW, THE STORIES OF -- THE NARRATIVE OF THE TALE OF TWO CITIES THAT WE'VE HEARD FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND TO ACTUALLY UNTANGLE AND TO FIX THAT, IT DOES -- IT TAKES A LOT.

IT TAKES A LOT.

IT'S -- AND I THINK THAT THE TASK FORCE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE TASK FORCE, WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

GETTING -- AGAIN, THE TASK FORCE IS PRIMARILY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

NOT COMPLETELY BUT PRIMARILY PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE ARE ROUGHLY 100 OF US.

MANY OF US DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER OR DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER BEFORE THE TASK FORCE CAME TOGETHER.

SO IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIOR LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS, LONG-STANDING CHALLENGES AND GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, THEN, ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE TASK FORCE TOOK.

AND THESE WERE ACTIONS THAT FOCUSSED ON THESE LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS.

I WILL START WITH ONE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THAT'S THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WHAT WAS THE TASK FORCE ABLE TO DO?

WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES WAS THE TASK FORCE ABLE TO PUT INTO PLACE THAT YOU'RE HOPEFUL WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE ISSUES?

>> WELL, WHAT THAT INITIAL SURVEY SHOWED US WAS THAT MENTAL HEALTH WAS THE NUMBER ONE HEALTH ISSUE THAT THE COMMUNITIES WANTED MORE -- THEY WANTED MORE SERVICES.

THEY WANTED MORE PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY WANTED MORE ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH.

I LOVE THE STATEMENT THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE MADE, IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES JUST LIKE PEOPLE HAVE FITNESS CLASSES.

YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES A WEEK.

>> THAT'S A FASCINATING IDEA.

BUT IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

>> YES, OF COURSE IT DOES.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO THE GYM TO WORK OUT SO YOU CAN PREVENT PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD, WHY NOT HAVE PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH SCENARIOS BUT AGAIN SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR SPOKEN ABOUT OFTEN.

>> NO, NO.

SO WE IMMEDIATELY REDIRECTED.

WE HAD BEEN CONDUCTING MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CLASSES ALL AROUND THE CITY.

WE REDIRECTED ALL THOSE COUNSELORS, THOSE TRAINERS TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER COPING AND CRISIS RELIEF, TRAINING PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH CLERGY, TRAINING THEM, GIVING THEM SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO -- PEOPLE TRUST THEM.

THEY ARE FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THEY DON'T ALL NECESSARILY HAVE THE SKILLS OR THE RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR -- THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO WE -- THE TASK WAS TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF BUT ALSO CONTINUE WITH LONG-TERM RELIEF AS WELL.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS.

ONE CLEARLY HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING PROBLEMS.

WHAT HAS THE TASK FORCE BEEN ABLE TO DO?

>> WELL, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

AND WE KNOW THAT ONCE PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS, THEN THERE IS A HOST OF PROBLEMS THAT RESULT FROM THAT DISLOCATION.

YOU DON'T HAVE A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE.

AND IT'S QUITE TRAUMATIC FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

SO WE HAVE A TENANT-LANDLORD MEDIATION PROCESS PROVIDING RENT RELIEF.

OUR NUMBER ONE MISSION IS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES SO THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE ALL THE OTHER SERVICES, SO THEY CAN STAY HEALTHY AND BE FED AND BE ABLE TO WORK.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT.

WE DON'T HAVE A BASE OF OPERATION, A HOME.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

AS YOU SAID, THERE IS SO MANY CASCADING PROBLEMS THAT ARISE ONCE YOU HAVE THOSE DIFFICULTIES OF NOT HAVING A HOME TO LIVE IN.

ONE OF THEM CLEARLY IS FOOD INSECURITY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TASK FORCE AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

>> YES.

FOOD INSECURITY HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM AND WE HAVE -- THERE IS NO ONE ANSWER TO THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE WAS LAUNCH A RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM, AND THAT ACTUALLY HAS HAD -- HAD MULTIPLE IMPACTS BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE EMPLOYING PEOPLE BY GIVING THESE RESTAURANTS WHICH WERE IN DANGER OF GOING UNDER FUNDS THROUGH THE MAYOR'S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK CITY, AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM FUNDS TO STAY AFLOAT AND ALSO TO EMPLOY DISPLACED RESTAURANT WORKERS.

AND THEN IN RETURN, THEY'RE PROVIDING FOOD FOR FREE, RIGHT, PROVIDING MEALS TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S A WIN-WIN-WIN, RIGHT?

THE BUSINESS STAYS ALIVE.

WORKERS GET EMPLOYMENT AND SHORT-TERM SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT AND ALSO COMMUNITY BENEFITS BY BEING ABLE TO GET FREE MEALS.

WE ALSO HAVE FOOD PANTRIES.

WE HAVE A GRAB AND GO PROGRAM.

WE HAVE -- GOODNESS.

WELL, I'M FORGETTING THE NAME OF IT.

>> I KNOW.

BUT LOOKING AT THE REPORT, THERE ARE MANY OF THEM.

>> THERE ARE.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

AND, SO, THROUGH THE SNAP PROGRAM, WE'RE ADDING LIKE A DOLLAR FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IN THAT AREA ON FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE ENCOURAGED AND ABLE TO BY HEALTHY FOODS.

>> WILL THERE BE A MECHANISM -- WE TALKED IN THE INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE TASK FORCE WANTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, CERTAINLY DURING THE PERIOD OF THE PANDEMIC BUT ALSO AFTERWARD.

SO IS THERE -- IS IT ANTICIPATED THAT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS YOU MENTION, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY, THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE EVEN AFTER, HOPEFULLY, THIS PANDEMIC HAS DISAPPEARED AND HAS BECOME JUST A PAINFUL MEMORY?

>> YES.

NO, THE TASK FORCE IS PERMANENT.

THE MAYOR SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT MAKES THE TASK FORCE PERMANENT THROUGH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION AND HOPEFULLY THEREAFTER.

AND THE GOAL IS TO REALLY REDIRECT THE WAY AGENCIES WORK.

MAKE EQUITY THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

SO, NOW, EACH ONE OF THE AGENCIES WE'RE WORKING WITH, AND I THINK THERE IS 67 OF THEM, NOW HAVE A CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER.

AND THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTRACTS ARE ACTUALLY GOING INTO THESE COMMUNITIES SO THAT MINORITY, WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES CAN ACTUALLY GET MORE ESTABLISHED AND SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW, RIGHT?

THAT'S ONE FEATURE THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR SURE.

AND THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVEN'T -- WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY, EXCEPT FOR MONEY THAT'S BEEN RAISED FOR RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION AND OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS, AGENCIES ARE USING THEIR PRE-EXISTING BUDGETS.

SO IT IS NOT ABOUT EXTRA MONEY, ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THIS IS ABOUT USING THE MONEY THEY ALREADY HAVE AND JUST MAKING EQUITY A PRIORITY.

LIKE WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE HUGE AGENCIES AND WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING EQUITY A PRIORITY.

IT SEEMS ALSO TO ME IN SPEAKING WITH YOU, ONCE AGAIN, A REMINDER WE'RE SPEAKING WITH ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE ON RACIAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY.

IT SEEMS ALSO, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF THIS ENTIRE ENDEAVOR HAS BEEN, AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, LISTENING.

>> YES.

>> DEVELOPING TRUST.

CAN WE CONTINUE?

CLEARLY A PANDEMIC HAS FORCED US TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING BEFORE.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CRISIS TO MOVE US FORWARD.

BUT ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THIS NOTION OF LISTENING AND BUILDING TRUST CAN CONTINUE?

>> YES.

AS LONG AS THE TASK FORCE IS IN EXISTENCE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T NAME OUR FANTASTIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHERMAN WHO HAS WORKED FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

YES, PEOPLE TRUST PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND LISTEN TO THEM.

YES, THAT CAN CONTINUE.

PEOPLE TRUST THEIR CLERGY MEMBERS, THE COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR DECADES.

AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE THAT WAY OF WORKING, THE GOOD WORK CAN CONTINUE.

>> YEAH.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER AREAS I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT THE TASK FORCE HAD FOCUSSED ON.

WHAT I THINK WAS FASCINATING FOR A LOT OF REASONS, AND THAT WAS EXPANDED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, BROADBAND ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES.

I SUSPECT IF YOU GRAB TEN PEOPLE ON THE STREET IN NEW YORK CITY AND ASK THEM ABOUT THAT, THE ANSWER FOR MOST OF THEM WILL BE, SURE, EVERYBODY IN NEW YORK HAS ACCESS.

WE'RE IN NEW YORK CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN ARGUE WE'RE THE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPITAL OF THE NATION AND MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD.

IT IS A GOOD ARGUMENT TO MAKE FOR NEW YORK CITY, CERTAINLY.

>> BUT IS THAT SO?

AND WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT TO EXPAND THAT ACCESS FOR SO MANY COMMUNITIES?

>> WELL, CAN YOU IMAGINE NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET?

WHAT -- WHAT COULDN'T YOU DO?

COULD YOUR CHILDREN DO SCHOOL WORK AT HOME?

COULD THEY DO REMOTE SCHOOLING?

NO.

COULD YOU APPLY FOR A JOB WHERE YOU HAD TO SUBMIT AN ONLINE RESUME?

NO.

CAN YOU ZOOM WITH YOUR COWORKERS?

NO.

THERE IS SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU MUST HAVE ONLINE ACCESS FOR THAT I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE GOING A DAY WITHOUT MY PHONE.

SO WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD INTERNET ACCESS, WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS THEIR CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

IT SEVERELY LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE AND TO, YOU KNOW, GET THINGS DONE.

IT'S SEVERELY LIMITING.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BEGAN WORK ON.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING WORK ON IT PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE HAD TO DO IT ON STEROIDS.

NOT ONLY WAS IT SUCCESSFUL, BUT IT WAS ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO LIVE FULL LIVES.

THINK ABOUT GETTING HEALTH CARE ONLINE.

THERE IS SO MANY AREAS WHERE WE RELY ON INTERNET ACCESS TO JUST DO OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.

>> AS YOU SAID, IT'S FRIGHTENING TO IMAGINE IF YOU HAD A DAY, JUST A DAY, OR EVEN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

A COUPLE DAYS AGO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I COULDN'T GET ON TO MY COMPUTER.

I HAD AN INTERVIEW COMING UP THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO DO A COUPLE OTHER THINGS AND PANIC SET IN.

IMAGINE PEOPLE WHOSE ENTIRE LIVES DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO THIS.

AGAIN, HAVE YOU -- SATISFIED IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS?

>> OH, YES.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE.

WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE TASK FORCE CONTINUE THIS WORK.

AGAIN, A LOT OF -- YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT WAS LAID DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES AGO, AND THERE ARE WAYS OF DOING THINGS THAT LEAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T CONTINUE.

KEEPING EQUITY FRONT AND CENTER IS REALLY -- IT'S NOT A ONE OFF.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE -- IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT THAT WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED OVERNIGHT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW -- HOW WE DO BUSINESS.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE LISTENING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT -- YOU KNOW, WHAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THEM AND TO UNRAVEL AND REFOCUS AND REDIRECT RESOURCES WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

IT IS NOT ABOUT -- IT'S ABOUT ADDRESSING HISTORIC INJUSTICES, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE JOB THAT GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> YOU MENTIONED BUSINESS.

LET ME ASK YOU BUSINESS IN A DIFFERENT SENSE.

AND THAT IS SMALL BUSINESS.

ESPECIALLY SMALL BUSINESSES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OR RUN BY MEMBERS, PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND WE SAW THE EARLY STAGES OF THE PANDEMIC, THE SHOTS OF NEW YORK CITY LOOKING LIKE -- IN SOME WAYS A GHOST TOWN AND BUSINESSES BEING SHUT UP AND SHUTTERED AND PEOPLE SAYING, WILL THEY EVER COME BACK?

WHAT HAS THE TASK FORCE BEEN ABLE TO DO TO BUTTRESS OR PROVIDE SMALL SUPPORT TO EITHER KEEP THEM FUNCTIONING OR GET THEM BACK UP RUNNING?

>> WELL, THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH LOANS, WITH EXPERTISE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS A LONG TIME WHO CAN ADVISE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE CHANGES SO THAT THEIR BUSINESSES ARE MORE VIABLE, MORE EFFICIENT, CAN REACH MORE PEOPLE, WHATEVER THE NEED IS.

AND WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE CONTRACTS INTO THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS OF GETTING A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED.

SO WE HAVE THESE CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE MAKING SURE THAT -- THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THEM.

WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO US.

REACHING OUT TO THEM TO SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN DO THIS.

THIS IS HOW YOU QUALIFY FOR A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.

THESE STEPS, THESE DIFFERENT MEASURES CAN KEEP BUSINESSES AFLOAT AND CERTAINLY HELP THEM THRIVE IF -- IF WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

>> A COUPLE OF OTHER AREAS I WANT TO JUMP INTO, BUT JUST TO REV UP THIS CONVERSATION, THIS GOES BACK TO SOMETHING I ASKED BEFORE.

OFTENTIMES WE DO FIND THAT WE ARE PROMPTED BY MOMENTS OF CRISIS.

THE CHANGE OFTEN COMES FROM MOMENTS OF CRISIS, BUT ALSO OFTENTIMES WE CAN FIND THAT ONCE THE CRISIS PASSES, OUR FOCUS SOMETIMES CHANGES AND PERHAPS IT LOSES SOME OF ITS PRECISION.

HOW DO WE -- SO IF SOMEONE SAYS TO YOU, ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF BEING A CO-CHAIR OF A TASK AND RELYING ON DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE, BUT HOW CAN WE AS PRIVATE CITIZENS, HOW CAN WE HELP?

IS IT THAT WE CAN DO SO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCLUSION AND EQUITY IT DOESN'T BECOME JUST SORT OF SLOGAN, IT BECOMES A REALITY.

>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED IT.

I THINK EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS EFFORT TO BRING ABOUT MORE INCLUSION AND EQUITY.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, RIGHT?

LOOK AT WHAT POWER YOU HAVE.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU SIT.

DO YOU HAVE THE POWER TO HIRE PEOPLE?

HOW DO YOU BRING IN MORE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE IN YOUR NETWORK BUT ARE QUALIFIED, OF COURSE, TO DO THE WORK IN YOUR OFFICE OR IN YOUR INSTITUTION?

NOW, FIND NEW WAYS TO EXPAND YOUR OWN NETWORK AND SOCIALLY AS WELL.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEM.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUDIES SHOW THAT WHEN YOU BRING IN NEW PERSPECTIVES, YOUR BUSINESS PROSPERS.

YOUR VIEW OF LIFE CHANGES IN A GOOD WAY.

THINK ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.

SOCIALLY, PROFESSIONALLY AND THEN, OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DONATE TO GOOD CAUSES, LOOK FOR THOSE THAT ARE RUN, HEADED UP BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THOSE INSTITUTIONS COULD REALLY -- WHO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HIRE, USUALLY HIRE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND SERVE MORE COMMUNITIES WITH COLOR, IF YOU DONATE TO THOSE TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS, THEN YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING EVEN FARTHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DEED IS.

INSTITUTIONS EVEN, YOU KNOW, PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE HEADED OF PEOPLE OF COLOR JUST DON'T GET THE SAME KIND OF SUPPORT.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE CHANGES, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AS IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE.

BEFORE I LOSE YOU HERE, LET ME ASK YOU, GIVEN WHAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE UP IN ALBANY AND THE TURMOIL WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO.

WE HAVE HEARD MANY OFFICIALS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS COMING OUT.

THE MAYOR HAS BEEN FORTH WRIGHT AS TO WHAT HE THINKS IS HAPPENING HERE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS TO HOW THIS SITUATION SHOULD NOW BE RESOLVED WITH GOVERNOR CUOMO.

>> SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

>> WELL, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WILL THAT HAPPEN?

WILL LEGISLATURE STEP IN?

BUT OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING -- THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD IN SOME DIRECTION AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, IF I CAN.

GOT ABOUT TWO MINUTES OR SO.

BUT BOTH YOU AND THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN SO DEEPLY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR SO, SO LONG.

NOT JUST FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, BUT FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT.

TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, THIS MAYORTY WILL BE OVER.

HAVE YOU GIVEN THOUGHT OR ARE YOU WILLING TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEPS MIGHT BE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE, BUT I DO HOPE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A FULFILLING LIFE.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT I'M DOING IN SOME FORM OR FASHION AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL BE LOOKING TO DO.

>> HOW WOULD YOU -- IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD AND IN TERMS OF USING THIS AS A SPRING BOARD MOVING FORWARD, TO BACK UP ON THIS QUESTION, PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN SAID -- I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT BEING A MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS THE TOUGHEST JOB YOU CAN HAVE.

I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL QUESTION THAT, BUT WE'VE HEARD THAT OFTEN.

AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS EIGHT YEARS AND YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED, WHY ARE YOU BETTER SUITED NOW EVEN AFTER THE TURMOIL TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO PRODUCTIVE THINGS WITH YOUR LIFE?

>> ARE YOU ASKING IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING OVER THE YEARS?

>> YEAH.

I GUESS THAT'S PROBABLY A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, THINGS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED MAYBE THAT YOU DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT YOU ARE SAYING NOW, OKAY, I'M READY TO GO NOW.

I'M ASKING YOU THIS QUESTION WITH ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

>> NO.

THIS EXPERIENCE IS LIKE GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL TEN TIMES AND THEN DOING A RESIDENCY OR SOMETHING.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, ONE WHICH I WOULD DO ALL OVER AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY EVEN BETTER IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH.

I HAVE MET SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

AND I -- THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

I'M GLAD THERE ARE TERM LIMITS.

I THINK TERM LIMITS ARE IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I CAN SAY -- >> I WILL BE BRINGING A WEALTH OF -- >> AND WE -- AND CERTAINLY THE RESIDENTS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND YOUR DEEP INVESTMENT IN THIS.

>> OH, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

YOU BE WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

>>> "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.