>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS."

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS THERE'S BEEN HOPE THAT DESPITE THE BITTER GRIDLOCK IN WASHINGTON, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS COULD AT LEAST COME TOGETHER ON ONE THING -- INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT HOPE HASN'T REALLY MATERIALIZED.

BUT WITH THE ARRIVE AFL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY CAN FINALLY SEE BIG PICKET ITEMS LIKE THE GATEWAY PROJECT AND THE GREEN LIGHT.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE GATEWAY PROJECT?

WHAT IS THE OTHER TRI-STATE'S BIG FRAN STRUCTURE NEEDS AND MORE BROADLY, HOW WILL THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS SHAKE UP THE DYNAMICS IN WASHINGTON TO OUR REGION'S BENEFIT?

JOINING US NOW WITH HIS TAKE ON ALL OF THIS IS OUR "METROFOCUS" CONTRIBUTOR AND AUTHOR OF "LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND DISRUPTION IN AN AGE OF COVID-19 AND BEYOND."

HOW DO YOU LIKE THE WAY I READ THAT?

>> I LOVE THE WAY YOU READ THAT.

>> I THINK OUR VIEWERS NOW UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I NEED A TELEPROMPTER.

BY THE WAY, LET'S START.

W. BIG KA HOON YASHGS THE GATEWAY PROJECT.

WHAT IS THE HECK IS THE GATEWAY PROJECT?

>> IN PREPARATION FOR THIS IMPORTANT METROFOCUS SEGMENT, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION OF IT.

YOU READY?

>> THE GATEWAY PROJECT IS MULTIBILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR THAT COULD EXPAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE BUSIEST STRETCH OF PASSENGER RAIL LINE IN THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN NEWARK AND NEW YORK.

THE CENTERPIECE IS, OF COURSE, A NEW TUNNEL UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER.

IN ADDITION TO FIXING THE DECREPIT FOLLOWING PART INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IN NEW YORK CITY FROM NEW JERSEY THROUGH THE HOLLAND TUNNEL.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THE GATEWAY TUNNEL IS HUGE.

AND IF IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, NOT ONLY IS IT A BIG ECONOMIC PROBLEM FOR NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, CONGESTION PROBLEM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> I MEAN THE ONE TUNNEL THAT EXIST THERE'S RIGHT NOW WAS DAMAGED AFTER SANDY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND I MEAN IF THAT THING CLOSES DOWN IT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE BURDEN.

>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, HELP ME OUT, THERE WAS A GATEWAY PROJECT CALLED THE ARC PROJECT.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD AGREED TO PAY HALF OF.

BUT WHETHER CHRISTIE CAME INTO OFF THE, HE SAID, NO.

AND HE JUST -- WELL, HE DECIDED TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER HIM.

WHY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAID NAH.

BUT HE SAID, LISTEN THIS IS A BAD DEAL.

AFTER A LOT OF MONEY WAS ALREADY SPENT, REMEMBER, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATES OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

AND AMTRAK, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND EXCUSE ME, MURPHY, GOVERNOR CHRISTIE SAID I DON'T LIKE THIS DEAL.

HE PULLS OUT THAT ALL OF A STUD ENTHE FEDERAL FUNDING IS DEAD BECAUSE THE NEW JERSEY IS NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO THEIRS.

NEW YORK'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO THEIRS.

SO THE ARC TUNNEL GOES AWAY 10, 11 YEARS LATER.

IT'S THE GATEWAY AND HOPE AND A PRAYER WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> WELL, IS IT A HOPE AND PRAYER?

OR IS IT -- ARE THE QUESTION REALLY WHEN RATHER THAN IF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SCHUMER, BIG SUPPORTER OF IT.

HE'S NOW RUNNING THE SENATE.

AND YOU HAVE BIDEN WHO IS NOT ONLY A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, HE'S A FRIEND OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO LINE UP, RIGHT?

>> I WAS ON A RIDE TO AMTRAK AND GOING TO WASHINGTON A WHILE BACK.

I WALKED BY AND I SAW JOE BIDEN BACK IN THE DAY WHETHER HE WAS IN THE SENATE.

I SAID HELLO TO HIM.

INTRODUCED MYSELF.

I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

SO THAT BEING SAID, IT REMUNDED ME HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THAT'S AMTRAK JO, JOE AMTRAK.

I MEAN, THAT GUY WENT FROM WASHINGTON TO DELAWARE TO HIS HOME EVERY NIGHT WHEN HE WAS IN THE SENATE.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE DELAYS.

HE UNDERSTANDS HOW MANY TIMES YOU'RE SITTING ON THAT TRAIN OR WORSE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

AND THE BIG DEAD VOICE COMES ON WITH THE BAD AUDIO.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

SO THIS ISN'T JUST A POLICY QUESTION FOR JOE BIDEN.

HE GETS IT ON A PERSONAL HUMAN LEVEL.

I BELIEVE HE IS COMMITTED.

THE QUESTION IS HOW THE HECK ARE THEY FROM THIS?

WAS IT A CARBON TAX?

IS IT WITH A NEW FEDERAL GAS TAX?

YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THE COVID-19 DISTRIBUTION PLAN.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM.

EVERYONE CAN BE FOR IT INCLUDING SCHUMER, MENENDEZ IN NEW JERSEY, BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY AGAIN, MY MEMORY IS FAC FAULTY.

I THINK THIS IS TRUE.

HE WAS A BIG INFRASTRUCTURE GUY.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, HE WAS SPECIFICALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE GATEWAY PROJECT.

BUT SOMEHOW IN THE COURSE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, HE NOT ONLY TURNED AGAINST IT, HE TURNED AGAINST IT STRONGLY.

WHY?

>> IN FACT, THAT VERY WELL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE TIME WAS PREPARED TO SHUT DOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER THE QUESTION OF FUNDING THE GATEWAY TUNNEL.

IN FACT, EVEN THOUGH HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK, HE SAID I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT SUPPORT AFTER HE SAID HE WOCHLT HE THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIBLE DEAL.

READY TO SHUT DOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT I BELIEVE, MY POLITICAL ANALYSIS SAYS THIS.

HE DIDN'T WIN IN NEW JERSEY.

HE DIDN'T WIN IN NEW YORK.

WHY DO I WANT TO HELP A BLUE STATE OR BLUE STATES?

THAT'S FWHOOT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS THE LARGEST STRIP, RIGHT, OF ROADWAY AND MASS TRANSIT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THIS IS A U.S. ISSUE.

THIS SAY WORLDWIDE ISSUE.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY A DOMESTIC NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ISSUE.

AND THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO STEP UP.

HE NEEDS TO CREATE A LARGER DEFICIT AND LARGER DEBT AND SOME REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO OPPOSE I HAD, RAF.

THIS IS -- IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN NOW, I BELIEVE IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE BIG IN NEW JERSEY THAT NEED TO HAPPEN?

>> I MENTIONED NEW JERSEY TRANSIT BEFORE.

LISTEN.

MORE MONEY -- INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT A SEXY WORD.

IT IS ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS ABOUT FIXING THE TRANSIT, THE RAILWAY, FIXING UP PENN STATION.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT THE PORT AUTHORITY IS DOING AT THE BUS STATION AND ON 42nd STREET IN EIGHTH AVENUE.

NOTHING FUN OR SEXY.

YOU DON'T DEAL WITH IT, FORGET ABOUT CRACKS AND PULLING APART.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S A RISK TO PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND DESTROYS THE ECONOMY.

SO A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND REGIONAL LEVEL BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NEW BRONX CONGRESS MEMBER WHO IS A REGULAR AT "METROFOCUS."

>> I'VE SEEN HIM ON THE SHOW.

>> HE SAID ON THE SHOW RECENTLY, LIKE, THERE IS MORE DEMOCRATS THINKING EXPANDING THE IDEA OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND MORE AND MORE DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING AS FRAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THE CONGRESSMAN IS ACTUALLY AHEAD OF THE THINKING HERE.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT BUT NOT A HIGH PRIORITY.

ELECTRIC CARS, THEY TALK ABOUT IT BUT NOT A HIGH PRIORITY.

HOUSING IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR CARS THAT DON'T EMIT THE KIND OF TOCHLXIN THAT'S GET INT THE AIR, IMPORTANT.

NEVER CALLED INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE.

BUT IF YOU EXPAND IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS HARD TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IT.

>> PETE BUTTIGIEG IS GOING TO BE THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WHAUSHGS IS THE THINKING AMONG THE LEADERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THAT?

ARE THEY PLEASED WITH THAT.

>> AS WE'RE DOING THIS, YOU ACTUALLY SENT OUT SOMETHING THIS MORNING AND OUR TEAM DID AS WELL.

U.S.

SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ WHO SITS ON A VERY IMPORTANT SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION ACTUALLY JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION THAT YOU AND I BRED THIS MORNING WITH BUTTIGIEG.

HE PRESSED HIM HARD ON THE GATEWAY.

HE PRESSED HIM HARD ON THE PROJECTS.

MAYOR PETE AS THEY CALL HIM, THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IS GOING TO DO WHAT PRESIDENT JOE TELLS HIM TO DO.

BECAUSE BUTTIGIEG IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND POWER AT THE DOT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IT'S GOING TO BE WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTS IT IN THE BUDGET.

LISTEN, BIDEN CAN TALK A GOOD GAME ON THIS.

INTELLI UNLESS HE PUTS IT IN MARCH AND APRIL, PETE BUTTIGIEG IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE CALL ON THIS IT WILL BE JOE BIDEN.

>> WITH THE CONGRESS AND THE HANDS OF THE DEMOCRATS, WITH THE SENATE AND LEADERSHIP BEING A NEW YORKER, SCHUMER, WHAT IS THE THINKING IF YOU KNOW ABOUT NEW YORK OR TELL ME ABOUT NEW JERSEY FOR SURE OF HOW THAT'S -- OF WHAT THE LEADERS HERE LOCALLY THINK THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DIE NAM BICK WHAT CAN BE DONE?

AT LEAST FOR NEXT COUPLE YEARS?

>> BOTH STATES, AS YOU WELL KNOW, AND THE TEAM AT "METROFOCUS," BOTH STATES ARE BROKE.

THEY'RE BURSTED IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

FORGET ABOUT DEFICIT SPENDING.

WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU ARE KIDDING ME?

GOVERNOR MURPHY GOT $10 BILLION HE WAS ABLE TO BORROW BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

CAN YOU ONLY DO THAT SO MANY TIMES.

YOU KEEP LOOKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR MORE MONEY?

LOOK, THE BIDEN STIMULUS PACKAGE, THE SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS HUGE.

THE QUESTION IS, RAF, YOU KNOW THE FILIBUSTER RULE.

I WON'T GO INTO THE WEEDS HERE.

BUT UNLESS THE DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY CALL THE QUESTION AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU ON THIS, YOU DON'T NEED 60 VOTES WHICH IS THE SUPER MAJORITY, YOU ONLY NEED 51.

IF THEY DO THAT THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED RECONCILIATION IN THE WEEDS, BUT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY IF YOU DON'T GET TEN REPUBLICANS TO COME WITH YOU TO GET THAT FEDERAL FUNDING TO STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

THE REPUBLICANS WILL SAY ONLY NEED 51 AND NOT 60.

IT HAS TO DO WITH TEN OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND ENOUGH REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

>> YOU'RE A LEADERSHIP EXPERT.

YOU ARE CONCERNED AT ALL THAT THE TWO GOVERNORS OF OUR REGION MAY BEGIN TO DEPEND TOO MUCH ON THE NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO GET WHAT THEY NEED DONE DONE.

>> I UNDERSTAND HAVING GOVERNOR MURPHY AND GOVERNOR CUOMO DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY, POLITICALLY, IDEOLOGY, THEY WEREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND THEY COULDN'T GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE.

EARLY ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID HELP WITH SOME PPE AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

I HAVE TO SAY THIS YOU CAN'T LOOK AT JOE BIDEN AS THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO FIX ALL YOUR PROBLEMS BECAUSE HE'S THE PRESIDENT.

BECAUSE THERE IS A FISCAL ISSUE.

THERE IS THE CHALLENGE OF COVID-19.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER PRIORITIES.

IT'S A BIG NATION.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IF JOE BIDEN DOESN'T FIND WAYS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER STATES THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM, AND MORE MODERATE STATES THAT HE WON BY JUST A LITTLE BIT, NOT BLUE STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, HE IS GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

CUOMO AND MURPHY HAVE TO STEP BACK AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY BIG NATION.

JOE BIDEN HAS AN IMPOSSIBLE JOB TO MAKE THEM HAPPY.

>> YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC?

WE TALK ABOUT IF IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> YOU MEAN THE GATEWAY?

>> YEAH IN, 15 SECONDS.

>> YES.

WHETHER IT'S DEFICIT SPENDING, A FEDERAL GAS TAX, A CARBON TAX, THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS THING DONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET IT DONE.

>> THANK YOU, RAF AND THE TEAM FROM "METROFOCUS."

>> THREE, TWO, ONE.

>> THAT WAS MIGHTY BRIDGE BEING DEMONTHLY USHED BACK IN JANUARY, BUILD IN 1955, THE THREE MILE LONG CONSTRUCT THAT CROSSES THE HUDSON WAS DESIGNED TO LAST ONLY 50 YEARS.

BUT INSTEAD LASTED MORE THAN 60.

NOW REPLACED BY THE MARIO M. CUOMO, THE STRUCTURE AND PLAN TO REPLACE IT HAS BEEN HALLMARKED AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT AND BUDGET EFFECTIVE ON RECORD.

IN THE DOCUMENTARY, REBUILDING HISTORY, THREE MILES ACROSS THE HUDSON, MEET THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS NEW STRUCTURE A REALITY.

>> EVERYTHING HAS A LIFE EXPECTANCY TO IT, WHETHER IT'S A BRIDGE, TUNNEL, ROADWAY.

>> I GO OVER BRIDGE ONCE, TWICE A WEEK.

THE BRIDGE IS 50 YEARS OLD DO.

I TAKE MY LIFE IN MY OWN HANDS?

>> SOMETIMES, YES.

>> IF ANYTHING WERE TO FAIL, IT WOULD BE DISASTER.

>> WE KNEW THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR US.

WE KNEW THAT IT HAD TO BE BUILT AND WE KNEW WE HAD THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE KNOW HOW TO BUILD A BRIDGE.

>> WE HAVE THE BEST WORKFORCE IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS NO DOUBT.

>> WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE WANTED TO BE PART OF HISTORY.

>> THE MOST SPECTACULAR PROJECT OF THE THROUGHWAY IS THIS SECTION.

>> WE BUILT IT ALL.

YOU WERE BUILDING IT.

YOU WERE THERE.

AND IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, HOLY MOLY.

>> WE HAVE 150 PEOPLE WORKING ON THE SITE HERE.

>> THIS IS A BRIDGE THAT SYMBOLIZE WHAT'S WAS AND WHAT CAN BE.

EN THAT IS A BRIDGE FROM YESTERDAY TO TOMORROW.

>> JOINING US NOW IS KEVIN McCABE, THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF REBUILDING HISTORY.

KEVIN, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FIRST OF ALL, A MOVIE ABOUT A BRIDGE.

HOW DID THIS EVEN COME TO BE?

>> A MOVIE ABOUT A BRIDGE.

WHAT WE DO, WE WORK FOR THE CONTRACTOR TRUST WHICH IS A MARKETING ADVOCACY GROUP FOR UNION CARPENTERS AND CONTRACTORS WLACHL WHAT WE DO IS WORK TO PROMOTE AND MARKET THE VIRTUES OF WHAT OUR MEMBERS DO.

AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE'LL DO A THREE MINUTE VUDIDEO TO SPEAK TO.

THAT THREE YEARS AGO, WE EMBARKED UPON THIS WE SAW IT AS A THREE MINUTE VIDEO AND THEN SOMETHING LONGER.

AND WORK AND OUR PRODUCTION CREW, WE SAW WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- YOU CAN'T RESHOOT HISTORY.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

YOU SEIZE THAT MOMENT.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEIZE THE MOMENT.

IN WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

TLAEN IS A FILM DOCUMENTARY WHICH IS RECOGNIZED IN SEVERAL FILM FESTIVALS.

>> SO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

YOU KNOW, WHO IS THE STAR OF THIS FILM?

IS IT THE BRIDGE, NEW BRIDGE, THE PEOPLE?

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.

ACTUALLY, THE STORY IS TOLD IN A ON PARALLEL TRACKS.

THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE WHETHER ORIGINALLY BUILT.

AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT IT WENT THROUGH TO BE REBUILT.

AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ALL THE STAKE HOLD AERS AND DECISIO MAKERS AND WHAT WE DID CORRESPONDINGLY IS WE ALSO TOLD THE STORY OF REBUILDING THE BRIDGE THROUGH THE EYES OF THOSE WHO WERE ACTUALLY WORKING ON IT.

THE SKILL TRAITS PEOPLE.

THIS IS A LEGACY PROJECT.

ONE OF ONLY TWO ENTITIES TO HAVE 24 HOUR ACCESS TO THIS BRIDGE.

AND ONCE AGAIN, AGAIN, YOU WANT TO TAKE AND WE FOLLOWED FOUR AND WE WORK SUNRISE TO SUNSET.

THE REASON IS THE IMPACT OF THIS BRIDGE.

THIS BRIDGE IS A PROFOUND IMPACT.

IT WAS 1955 TO NOW.

IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE.

ALSO, IT'S MAGNITUDE ON THE REGION'S ECONOMY OF BRIDGING TOGETHER BETWEEN WEST CHESTER AND ROCKLAND COUNTY WLACHLT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE THIS MOMENT TO HAVE THE MEMBERS WORKING ON THAT BRIDGE TELL THEIR STORY.

ALSO HOW THEY FELT IN THE PRIDE THEY CARRIED WITH THEM.

AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD ON THEIR DAILY LIVES.

>> WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE FROM THIS FILM?

>> I THINK IT IS THE PRIDE FOR THE MEMBERS WHO WENT IN DAY IN DANE OUT.

WE DRIVE UNDER A BRIDGE THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WE'RE THINKING, OKAY, 20 MINUTES LATE.

THEY'RE CREATING A 22nd CENTURY MASTERPIECE.

AND IN THE DOCUMENTARY, WE ALSO GO BACK, WE FOUND TWO MEMBERS WHO WORKED ON THE ORIGINAL BRIDGE.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH, GOING BACK TO THE EARLY 1950s.

>> THEY'RE NOT STILL WORKING ON THE NEW BRIDGE.

>> NO.

BY THE WAY, I THINK THEY CO.

THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

BACK IN THE EARLY 50s, SAFETY WASN'T THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.

IT WAS GETTING IT DONE.

>> OF COURSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS FILM.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

AND IT'S, AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, YOU EITHER CAPTURE HISTORY OR YOU MISS HISTORY.

SO -- >> YEAH, I THINK WE CAPTURED IT.

IT CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE EXCITED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REBUILDING HISTORY, THREE MILES ACROSS THE HUDSON, VISIT US ON METROFOCUS.ORG.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

BLOWN UP IS A FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY WHICH PROFILES THE WOMEN WHO RUN AND WHO COME BEFORE THE QUEEN'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING INTERVENTION COURT.

THE FIRST PROBLEM SOLVING COURT IN THE COUNTRY ATTEMPTING TO REDRESS THE WAY WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS ARE ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION ARE SHUFFLED THROUGH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WITH UNPARALLEL ACCESS TO THE COURT, THE FILM CAPTURES WHAT IT IS TRULY LIKE FOR THE DEFENDANTS OVERWHELMINGLY UNDOCUMENTED ASIAN IMMIGRANTS AND AMERICAN WOMEN OF COLOR TO GO THROUGH THE COMPLEX CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

HERE'S A LOOK.

>> THIS CHARGE IS A DEPORTABLE OFFENSE.

HE HAD IDs AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

I CAN'T SAY THAT EVERY WOMAN THAT COMES THROUGH THE COURT IS GOING TO GET THE EXACT HELP THEY NEED.

>> I HAVE A BOYFRIEND.

>> WAIT, WHAT?

>> WE ARE GOING TO GRANT AN EARLY CEILING.

>> YEA.

>> IT'S CALLED BLOWING UP WHETHER YOU LEAVE A PIMP.

SO I BLEW UP.

AND I WENT HOME.

>> JOINING US NOW IS THE DIRECTOR OF "BLOWN UP."

STEPHANIE, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> RIGHT FROM THE START, YOU TAKE US INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT WITHOUT NAIRATION, WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

WE'RE THERE WITH PEOPLE FROM -- THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

I WAS WONDERING IF THAT IS INTENTIONAL.

IF YOU WANT TO GET US TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE WOMEN WERE ABOUT TO FACE.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS COURTROOM, THE FIRST TIME THAT I OBSERVED IT AT WORK, I ALSO FELT THAT WAY.

>> IT IS PLACE THAT IS A BUREAUCRATIC PLACE AND AUDIENCES.

A FEELING OF WHAT THAT MUST FEEL LIKE TO COME INTO A PLACE LIKE THIS.

>> I EXPECTED THE STEREOTYPES, RIGHT?

THE JADED JUDGE, THE JADED PROSECUTOR, THE OVERWORKED PUBLIC DEFENDANT, TRYING TO COP A PLEA.

INSTEAD, YOU FIND A JUDGE AND A PROSECUTOR TREATING THE DEFENDANTS AS HUMAN BEINGS IN DISTRESS, RATHER THAN CRIMINALS.

YOU SEE THE LAWYERS TREATING THEM LIKE FAMILY.

WHAT KIND OF COURT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A PROBLEM SOLVING COURT.

IT'S THE FIRST COURT OF ITS KIND IN OUR NATION.

IT IS TRYING TO CHANGE THE WAY WOMEN WHO ARE PROSECUTES -- ARRESTED FOR PROSTITUTION ARE PROSECUTED.

I WAS TRACATTRACTED TO THIS SPA BECAUSE OF THE DEEP HUE MMANITY THAT AT THE CORE OF THIS CONSTITUTION.

WE HAVE THAT VOUNLDING US.

BUT I THINK AT THE CORE OF EACH OF THE INSTITUTIONS THERE ARE PEOPLE RUNNING THEM.

AND THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE RUN.

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF PLACE.

>> HOW DID YOU GET THE 5:00 SNES TO THE COURT AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WOULD ASSUME WOULD NOT WANT TO BE FILMED?

>> SO MAKING A FILM LIKE THIS, AS CAN YOU IMAGINE, THIS IS VERY CHALLENGING.

WE WANT TO BE IN THIS FILM.

NO ONE WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FILM.

SO IT TOOK US ABOUT TEN MONTHS OF OBSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE IN THE COURT BEFORE WE WERE EVEN ALLOWED TO BRING THE CAMERAS INTO THE SPACE.

AND THEN ONCE CAMERAS WERE BROUGHT IN, IT WASN'T LIKE WE WERE GIVEN CARTE BLANCHE TO FILM ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE WANTED TO.

EVERY MORNING BEFORE WE FILMED, I MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO EVERYONE LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE AND LETTING THEM KNOW THEY HAD A CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.

AND MOST PEOPLE SAID NO.

SO FOR US, A GOOD DAY OUT OF 90 CASES WAS ONE OR TWO WOMEN SAYING, YES.

>> WE'RE DEALING WITH A SUBJECT MATTER THAT IS EXTREMELY STEREO TYPED AND MISREPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA.

THERE ARE WORDS THAT ARE THROWN ON THESE WOMEN AND THEY'RE SCARED AND FEARFUL OF THE REPRECUSHIONS OF THE WORDS.

>> ALL THESE WOMEN, THE WOMEN THAT RUN THE COURT AND WORK IN THE COURT, THEY WORK TOGETHER VERY WELL.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE FILM TO HELP THE DEFENDANT.

BUT I GET THE SENSE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE AT ONE TIME YOU SEE EE LUZA TALKING TO CANDY.

BASICALLY TELLING CANDY, LISTEN, IF YOU GET BACK TO THE LIFE, JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO IT IN A WAY THAT YOU WON'T GET ARRESTED.

NO JUDGEMENT HERE.

I CAN'T SEE THE JUDGE SAYING THAT OR SOME OF THE PROSECUTORS SAYING THAT.

AM I GETTING THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WHEN I WAS FILMING THAT, WAYS ALSO SHOCKED SHE WAS SAYING.

THAT I WAS LIKE, WOW, I WONDER HOW EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO FEEL ABOUT THIS.

EVERYONE IS DOING THE BEST JOB THEY CAN GIVEN THEIR ROLE IN THE SYSTEM.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO MATTER WHAT THE DILEMMA IS OR HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THESE WOMEN AND GIRLS, THEIR BOTTOM LINE, SHARED GOAL, IS TO HELP THE WOMEN IN ANY WAY THEY K. >> NEAR THE END OF THE FILM, IT'S A DISTURBING SCENE.

YOU SEE ICE AGENTS ENTER THE COURT IN ORDER TO ARREST THESE WOMEN TO LATER DEPORT THEM.

HOW CAN THIS COURT CONTINUE TO SURVIVE OR TO EXIST AS A SAFE SPACE FOR THESE WOMEN WHEN THEY CAN'T PROTECT THE WOMEN FROM ICE AGENTS THAT WANT TO TAKE THEM AND DEPORT THEM?

>> YEAH.

THAT MOMENT IN THE FILMING PROCESS IS REALLY SCARY AND CHALLENGING.

AND YOU REALLY FEEL THE FRAGILITY OF THE SMALL ECOSYSTEM THAT THEY CREATED AND THE SMALL CORNER OF NEW YORK.

>> THE COURT IS STILL THERE.

>> THE COURT STILL EXISTS.

AND THE WOMEN ARE STILL BEING ARRESTED ICE STILL EXISTS AND TRUMP IS STILL IN POWER.

ALL THESE WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE COURT CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO DO THEIR BEST.

GIVEN THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT'S MAKE THIS CHALLENGE ARE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> STEPHANIE, IT'S AN AMAZING FILM.

WONDERFUL FILM.

WOMEN ARE COMING TO SEE IT BUT NOT THAT MANY MEN.

I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A WOMAN'S FILM.

IT'S A FILM FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR INFORMATION ON HOW CAN YOU WATCH "BLOWN UP," VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT METROFOCUS.ORG.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY --