>>> TONIGHT ON THE FRONT-PAGE FORECAST, AN ASIAN AMERICAN WOMAN IS BRUTALLY MURDERED.

WAS IT A HATE CRIME OR FOUL PLAY?

AND MAYOR ADAMS TELLS ALBANY TO GET TOUGH ON BAIL.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

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

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT-PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

IN A LOOK AT THE HEADLINES, ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE DEMANDING ACTION FROM THE CITY AFTER AN ASIAN WOMAN WAS STABBED TO DEATH INSIDE HER CHINATOWN APARTMENT.

NOW, POLICE ARE SAYING THAT THE VICTIM'S ALLEGED KILLER FOLLOWED HER HOME EARLY SUNDAY AND THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING, INCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS A HATE CRIME.

THE HORRIFYING STABBING UNFOLDED AHEAD OF MAYOR ADAMS' VISIT TO ALBANY TODAY, WHERE HE WILL BE PUSHING FOR TOUGHER BAIL LAWS.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE KEEPING TABS ON THIS WEEK'S STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE'S NOMINATING CONVENTION WHERE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HILLARY CLINTON IS REPORTEDLY SET TO SPEAK.

COULD SHE BE LAYING THE GROUND WOESHG FOR A 2024 RUN?

FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE STORIES AND THEIR TAKE ON WHAT ELSE COULD DRIVE THE NEWS THIS WEEK, LET'S WELCOME TONIGHT'S PANEL OF TRISTATE EXPERTS.

FIRST, WE WELCOME BACK ELLE JOY WILLIAMS, A POLITICAL ANALYST WHO'S WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN NEW YORK POLITICS.

SHE HOSTS THE SUNDAY CIVICS PODCAST.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> RETURNING AGAIN IS OUR VERY FAVORITE GUEST, J.C., A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND ELLE BEYOND ALISSA.

>> SO ROUND OUT OUR ROUND TABLE, WE WELCOME BACK ALISSA KATZ, DEPUTY EDITOR AT THE CITY, THE NONPROFIT NEWS WEBSITE, WHOSE REPORTING YOU CAN FIND AT TH THECITY.NYC.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON AGAIN.

>> VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO START WITH THE VERY SERIOUS, VERY SOMBER TOPIC OF THIS CHINATOWN STABBING.

AND SO, AS WE KNOW, THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

CAN YOU TAKE VIEWERS WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY THROUGH WHAT AT LEAST WE KNOW THUS FAR?

>> YEAH.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT A YOUNG WOMAN WHO LIVED IN CHINATOWN WAS COMING BACK EARLY IN THE MORNING, I THINK AFTER A NIGHT OUT, HAD EMERGED FROM THE SUBWAY AT GRAND STREET, AND HAD, AS BEST AS ANYONE CAN TELL, BEEN FOLLOWED HOME AT SOME POINT BY A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD BEEN KNOWN AS SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BE AROUND ROOSEVELT PARK, A PARK ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE WHERE MANY H HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LIVING AND HANGING OUT, AND THAT HE ENTERED HER BUILDING AND THEN ENTERED HER APARTMENT AND THEN BARRICADED THE APARTMENT AND PROCEEDED TO STAB HER TO DEATH.

AND BECAUSE HE HAD BARRICADED THE APARTMENT, POLICE COULD NOT GET IN FOR OVER AN HOUR TO INTERVENE AT ALL.

AND SHE'D BEEN STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES.

POLICE WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD -- AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING TO HELP MAKE THIS A KIND OF VERY PROMINENT SITUATION IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CONTEXT -- YOU KNOW, THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF MOSTLY MISDEMEANOR ARRESTS FOR INCIDENTS IN THE SUBWAY, SOMEBODY WHO SORT OF AT THE ATH THE CENTER OF A LOT OF THESE DEBATES RIGHT NOW OVER HOW DO WE AS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HAD NOTHING IN HIS RECORD, ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND HE'S NOW UNDER ARREST.

>> SO, ELLE JOY, I WANT YOUR TAKE ABOUT -- THE POLICE ARE STILL OF COURSE DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A HATE CRIME, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE SEEN HORRIFIC VIOLENCE ENACTED AGAINST THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY.

SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW DOES THIS ON EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE SEEN HAPPENED IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, HOW DOES THIS ADD TO THE ANXIETY OF A COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH.

FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE MY EXTREME CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY WHO IS DEALING WITH THIS HORRIFIC TRAGEDY.

AND WITH ANY COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WE'VE ALSO SEEN ATTACKS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AS WELL AS CONTINUED GUN VIOLENCE AND OTHER THINGS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND VIOLENCE OVERALL, AND SO FOR THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE JUSTICE IN THESE INSTANCES AND JUSTICE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES ARE PROSECUTED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES.

BUT I THINK ALSO FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH THE NARRATIVE THAT WE SOMEHOW -- BAIL REFORM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES AND USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF CONTINUE THAT NARRATIVE THAT WE NEED TO SOMEHOW ROLL BACK AND IN SOME CASES SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE GET RID OF THESE ISSUES -- GET RID OF THE REFORM WE'VE MADE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE OVERALL, AND THERE'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.

IT'S A REDUCTIVE ISSUE BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THESE CASES ARE USED TO FURTHER STIGMATIZE, ONE, THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND GRAPPLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND IN REALITY, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS, YOU KNOW, ARE OFTEN THE VICTIMS OF CRIMES THEMSELVES, RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF ISSUES, ONE, MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING THESE CRIMES ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE, BUT ALSO NOT USE IT AS AN EXCUSE, STOKING ON PEOPLE'S FEAR AND ANXIETY TO GO BACK TO AN INSTANCE WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED SIMPLY ON HEAVY-HANDED POLICING AND INCARCERATION.

>> J.C., I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN NUMEROUS TIMES AND GIVEN US YOUR THOUGHTS, BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR CRIME, HOW DOES THIS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE FIT INTO A LARGER NARRATIVE THAT THE CITY IS DEALING WITH?

>> MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, YET ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN THE CITY AT THE HANDS OF A PERSON WHO HAS A LONG RAP SHEET OF ESCALATING VIOLENCE AND ARRESTS.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE LOOK AT RAP SHEETS AND A PERSON'S RECORD AND SEE MISDEMEANOR LS.

TOO OFTEN, AS WE'VE SEEN IN OUR CITY, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO DOWNGRADE CHARGES IN ORDER TO GET A PLEA.

WE HAVE THREE 3 OUT OF EVERY 5 GUN CHARGES IN OUR CITY FOR GUN POSSESSIONS OF AN ILLEGAL FIREARM ARE DOWNGRADED FROM FELONY TO MISDEMEANOR JUST TO GET A CONVICTION.

SO, LET'S NOT LOOK AT MISDEMEANORS AS A REASON WHY SOMEONE IS COMMITTING SERIOUS CRIMES.

WE SEE THIS EXACT PERSON, SEEN THEM GET ARRESTED IN TIMES IN THE PAST AND THEY HAVE BEEN ESCALATING IN SEVERITY.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WHEN YOU HEAR NEW YORKERS SAY THEY'LL REFORM, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGER ISSUE.

IT'S THE IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED IN ALBANY.

WE HAVE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE IN OUR HISTORY OF BLACK AND LATINOS BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S A FACT.

BUT TO FIX THAT, WE HAVE TO REALLY ACT LIKE SURGEONS AND BE VERY -- WE HAVE TO HAVE PRECISION.

AND WE DID IT.

WE OVERCOMPENSATED.

WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE AGE, KNOWING FULL WELL GANG MEMBERS 14 TO 18 ARE TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITY, WE'LL RAISE THE AGE FROM 16 TO 18 FOR CULPA CULPABILITY.

WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT DANGEROUSNESS MATTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOU ARREST SOMEONE WHO'S TERRORIZING A COMMUNITY, AND IF YOU ARREST THAT INDIVIDUAL, YOU'LL RERELEASE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TERRORIZE THE SAME FOLK YOU THINK YOU'RE REPRESENTING IN ALBANY.

QUITE FRANKLY, YOU SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED JUDGES TO DETERMINE THE DANGEROUSNESS OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE NOT BEING HONEST.

WE'RE LETTING FOLKS OUT INTO OUR STREETS THAT ARE COMPLETELY TERRORIZING PEOPLE.

WE KNOW THAT BAIL REFORM IS AN ISSUE.

WE KNOW THAT RAISE IS AGE IS AN ISSUE.

WE ALSO KNOW A LOT OF THE DISCOVERY LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN REFORMED, RIGHT, HAVE BEEN OVERCOMPENSATED.

WE'RE ALLOWING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO GET DETAILED WITNESS INFORMATION THAT CHILLS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SO THAT WITNESSES ARE AFRAID TO COME OUT AND SPEAK AND HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE BY PUTTING BAD GUYS AWAY.

WHEN YOU HEAR BAIL REFORM, IT'S NOT JUST BAIL REFORM.

IF YOU'RE TAKING THIS AS THE ISSUE, YOU'RE MISGUIDED.

THIS IS NOT WHY TO DEBATE BAIL REFORM.

THIS IS A REASON TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTALLY ILL IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF.

THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'RE NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND THE CRIMES THEY'RE COMMITTING AGAINST PEOPLE AND OUR STREETS.

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WITH PRIORS AND WHY ARE THEY OUT?

THAT'S A FAIR AND HONEST CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> YEAH.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT WE DON'T IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM NOW HAVE A PATHWAY THAT IS GOING TO REALLY GET SOMEONE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS TO HELP IN A RELIABLE WAY.

WE DO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS.

WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION IS REALLY BROKEN.

IT'S CENTERED NOW AROUND, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS AND INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING CRISES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT HELP.

BUT I THINK THIS EXACTLY WHAT MAY BE GOING ON HERE AND THERE'S NOT WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ACCUSED MAN'S OWN HISTORY BESIDES HIS CRIMINAL CHARGES AND CONVICTIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE REALLY -- ONCE AGAIN, AND THIS KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, RIGHT, AND WE HAVE BASICALLY COURTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY ORGANIZED THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN AND LAWS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY THAT CLEARLY ARE JUST NOT ADDRESSING THE NEED.

I THINK A KEY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE HOW TO GET, YOU KNOW, AG AGAIN, WE'LL SEE HOW IT PERTAINS HERE, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM THE INCIDENT WITH MICHELLE, PUSHED TO THE SUBWAY TRACKS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CLEARLY, CLEARLY A FAILURE OF, YOU KNOW, GETTING HELP TO PEOPLE KNOWN TO THE SYSTEM.

AND THE QUESTION IS HOW TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT, LIKE, COERCIVE BEYOND THE POINT WHICH THE LAW OR SOCIETY WOULD TOLERATE IT BUT IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT IS ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS ARE GETTING TREATMENT.

IT'S CLEARLY NOT HAPPENING TO THE DEGREE IT NEEDS TO RIGHT NOW.

>> JENNA, IF I CAN JUST ADHERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS ALSO RELATED, YOU KNOW, AS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIME AND POTENTIAL CRIME IN SUBWAYS, RIGHT, AND FOR A NUMBER PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THOSE ISSUES, POVERTY AND LACK OF HEALTH CARE, ARE IN THE SUBWAY TO BEGIN WITH, RIGHT?

AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE TEAMS IN PLACE THAT IS NOT JUST IN POLICING AND A LAW ENFORCEMENT STAND POINT BUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PROPER HOUSING, PROPER CRISIS INTERVENTION TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE KICKED OUT OF, YOU KNOW, SHELTERS OR ANY OTHER INSTANCE DURING THE DAY OR NOT FEEL SAFE IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS, THAT THEY HAVE REDIRECTED AND PLACES THAT CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THAT WAY.

I THINK ALSO IN TERMS OF AS J.C. WAS MENTIONING IN TERMS OF RAISING THE AGE OR OTHERS, LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT EVEN IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING CASES IF A YOUNG PERSON COMMITS ACTS AND IT NOT BEING CHARGED AS AN ADULT AND IN JUVENILE COURT, THEY'RE STILL HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER ISSUES OR WHATEVER POTENTIAL CRIMES THEY HAVE ENGAGED IN.

RIGHT?

BUT, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO ALISSA'S POINT WHERE LOOKING I THINK FROM ALL OF OUR POINTS, RIGHT, LOOKING WITH PRECISION, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND NOT JUST DO A BLANKET RESPONSE THAT IS FOCUSED SIMPLY ON THINKING THATINCARCERATE OUR WAY OUT OF THESE ISSUES.

IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THE UNITED STATES SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY CRIME OR ISSUES AT ALL BECAUSE WE INCARCERATE AT A LARGER RATE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ACROSS THE WORLD.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT LET THE FEAR AND ANXIETY BE USED AS A TOOL TO SORT OF GO BACK TO A SYSTEM THAT WE ALREADY KNOW AND HAVE DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT DOES NOT WORK.

>> I'M SORRY, JENNA.

THIS IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN OUR STREETS WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL ROAMING OUR STREETS, THE STATE HOSPITALS DON'T TELL THE CITY WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED, THE CITY DOESN'T TELL THE NEIGHBORS WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED AND WHERE THEY LIVE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

WITH CHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MEDICATION, FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES?

HOW MANY NEWS STORIES DO WE SEE EVERY DAY OF SOMEONE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL, WITHOUT MEDICATION OR A GUARDIAN, WITHOUT ANYBODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM COMMITTING ATROCITIES AGAINST INNOCENT NEW YORKERS.

WHY THAT'S HAPPENING, FOLKS WANT TO STUDY AN ISSUE.

>> THERE'S NO NEED TO STUDY.

WE KNOW THE ISSUES.

>> GET THEM OFF THE STREETS.

>> WE CAN'T -- BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO PROTECT -- THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS AS WELL.

>> NO, NO, NO.

THEY'RE HURTING PEOPLE, ELLE JOY.

>> SO WE DON'T OVERTALK TOO MUCH -- >> THEY'RE KILLING PEOPLE, YET WE WANT TO NOT STIGMATIZE THEM.

WHO CARES?

GET THEM OFF OUR STREETS.

WE CANNOT ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED IN OUR TRAINS, OUR HOMES, GOING TO THE BODEGA, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GO SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS.

WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT IT?

NOTHING.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE STUDYING AN ISSUE, GOING TO ROOT CAUSES, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE SEEING TERRORS IN OUR SUBWAYS.

>> LET ME PIVOT THIS VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT MAYOR ADAMS IS HEADED TO NEW YORK TO TALK ABOUT BECAME REFORM WITH THE GOVERNOR.

SHOULD HE WILL ALSO PERHAPS SAFD K KAF ADVOCATING FOR WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT THE CITY IS EXPERIENCING?

FIRST OF ALL, ALISSA, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS TRIP TO ALBANY?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN,ED A SAMS GOING TO ALBANY SPECIFICALLY TO TALK TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND I THINK TO THE GOVERNOR AS WELL ABOUT THIS WHOLE MENU OF ISSUES THAT J.C.

LAID OUT A FEW MINUTES AGO.

YOU HAVE A WHOLE SET OF REFORMS PASSED IN 2019 THAT INCLUDED BAIL REFORM SUCH THAT A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE NOT BAIL ELIGIBLE AT ALL WHILE NEW YORK JUDGES STILL CANNOT ORDER AN INDIVIDUAL HELD IF THE JUDGE CONSIDERS THEM A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE TO RELEASE THEM IF THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE OF THESE OFFENSES.

ALSO, THE DISCOVERY REFORMS AND SO ON.

EVERYTHING THAT J.C.

MENTIONED BEFORE.

ADAMS MADE CLEAR HE WANTS NOT A FULL ROLLBACK BUT A RE-EXAMINATION, A KIND OF T TAITAI TAILORED IMPROVEMENT TO ALL OF THESE MEASURES AND OTHER THINGS SUCH AS ENSURING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE -- YOU KNOW, HE'S MENTIONED THAT THE COURTS RIGHT NOW ARE CLOGGED AND ONE REASON THEY ARE IS BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE SOCIALLY DISTANCING RULES OF SIX FEET IN A TRIAL ROOM, SO YOU CAN'T HAVE A TRIAL OR HAVE TO SPREAD IT ACROSS TWO COURTS.

IT'S TAKING ON THE FULML MENU O THOSE ISSUES.

AND TO BE HONEST, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE IS ANYWHERE ON THAT AGENDA.

BUT JENNA, I THINK IT'S EXACTLY SOMETHING THAT ADAMS NEEDS TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT BACK IN I THINK IT WAS 1989 WHEN KENDRA WEBDALE WAS PUSHED INTO A SUBWAY BY A SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL MAN WHO HAD GONE UNTREATED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SITUATION THAT HAPPENED WITH MICHELLE.

THERE WAS KENDRA'S LAW WHERE THE STATE HAS, YOU KNOW, ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING AN INDIVIDUAL FOR A HEARING AND SAY, WELL, WE CONSIDER THEM A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND THE COURT IS GOING TO ORDER TREATMENT.

THAT POWER EXISTS.

AND I THINK ONE KEY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, ONE, HOW IS ADAMS GOING TO USE THAT POWER, AND, TWO, ARE THERE OTHER TOOLS THAT THE STATE CAN IMPLEMENT NOW THAT ARE ABLE TO -- AGAIN, WITHOUT BEING SO EXCESSIVELY COERCIVE THAT IT VIOLATES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BUT THAT THE STATE IS REALLY CONSIDERING THE FULL SET OF TOOLS IT CAN USE AND ENSURING AS WELL THAT OUR PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AND THE REST OF OUR SYSTEM, WHICH THE STATE HAS DOWNSIZED VERY SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HAVE CAPACITY TO ENSURE PEOPLE OF THAT HELP.

>> SO, THEN, I BRING THIS BACK, THE ISSUE OF -- FIRST OF ALL, DOES THIS NEED TO BE AN EITHER/OR?

IS ONE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER?

CAN BOTH BE ADDRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY?

J.C., BACK TO YOU.

MENTAL HEALTH AND OF COURSE ADDRESSING THE RISE IN CRIME AND THE BAIL ISSUES THAT THE MAYOR IS IN ALBANY TO SPEAK ABOUT.

>> I THINK THE MAYOR IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS AND GOING TO ALBANY TO SPEAK TO ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MENTALLY ILL.

THERE IS NO JUSTICE.

THEY'RE NOT CONVICTED, THEY WON'T BE SET TO PRISON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS.

YOU NEED MENS REA TO BE CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

IF YOU'RE MENTALLY ILL, THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

THESE PEOPLE COMMITTING THESE HORRENDOUS ACTS, THE VICTIMS NEVER GET JUSTICE FOR IT.

THEN WE HAVE THE ISSUE OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

WE'RE BEING A LITTLE TOO NAIVE RAISING THE AGE WHEN GANGBANGERS ARE 12 TO 14.

KNOWING YOU'LL GET A DOWNGRADED CHARGE, YOU WON'T SEE THE LIGHT OF JUSTICE BECAUSE OF RAISED AGE.

THEN YOU'LL HAVE A JUDGE WHO CAN'T ANALYZE HOW DANGEROUS YOU ARE TO THE COMMUNITY YOU WERE TERRORIZING.

THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

THERE HAS BEEN SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THIS IS OVERREACH, OVERCOMPENSATION, AND THE HUBRIS IN ALBANY HAS TO STOP.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.

WE MADE A MISTAKE.

TALK ABOUT HOW TO FIX IT AND MAKE SURE WE END RACISM IN OUR COURT SYSTEM.

>> ELLE JOY?

>> I JUST WANT TO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, JUSTICE ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT PUTTING SOMEBODY IN PRISON.

JUSTICE IS ALSO ENSURING THAT PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE UPHELD.

JUSTICE THE MAKING SURE WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HARM, DANGER, AND HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS GRAPPLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

A RANGE OF THINGS HAS TO BE DONE, AND AS ALISSA, IN TERMS OF A BROKEN SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN DIVESTED FOR A NUMBER OF DECADES IN TERMS OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM OVERALL AND ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE A HOTLINE.

IT'S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE PLACE WHERE IS YOU'RE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO WALK IN FREELY AND OF THEIR OWN ACCORD.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A PLACE FOR THAT AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THAT.

BUT AS J.C. IS MENTIONING, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, EXPERIENCING SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP HERE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

>> OF COURSE.

WE ARE GOING TO PUT A PIN IN THIS, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES.

I WANT TO PIVOT, HOWEVER, TO THE DEMOCRATIC -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THIS TITLE CORRECT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING -- THE DEMOCRATS ARE HAVING A NOMINATING CONVENTION, AND THEY'RE EXPECTING FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HILLARY CLINTON TO SPEAK.

NOW, GIVEN THE FACT THAT BY ALL CASUALTIES FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DEFINITELY PLANNING ON RUNNING IN 2024, DO YOU THINK SHE MIGHT BE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A REMATCH BETWEEN THESE TWO?

AND CAN THE COUNTRY TAKE IT?

ALISSA, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I PERSONALLY, I DON'T HAVE EITHER THE POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO PANELISTS HAVE, BUT MY GUT IS NO, SHE WON'T RUN AGAIN.

I THINK SHE RECOGNIZES THAT THAT MOMENT HAS COME AND GONE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEW YORK CONTEXT THAT HER PRESENCE AT THE NOMINATING CONVENTION JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, SIGNALS -- YOU KNOW, SHE'S A FIGURE WHO'S STILL -- CERTAINLY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, FLAG CARRIERS, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PARTY, SHE'S A HERO AND AN ICON AND HER PRESENCE WILL BE WELCOMED.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS SIGNALS ANYTHING FOR 2024.

>> J.C., WHAT DO THE TEA LEAVES TELL YOU?

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM MAKING PREDICTIONS EVEN THOUGH I'M WRONG EVERY TIME.

I'M 0 FOR 1,000.

BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S RUNNING.

I THINK SHE'S A BIG NAME AND WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF WHAT ALISSA JUST SAID.

I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

I DO THINK SHE'S GOING TO PROBABLY GO AND GIVE A LOT OF ACCOLADES TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL, AND I CAN SEE HER MAKING AN INCREDIBLE ENDORSEMENT AT THIS EVENT.

AND I CAN SEE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS BEING VERY CONCERNED AS PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS MAKES A RUN IN THIS PRIMARY.

I CONTINUE TO SAY HERE ON METHME "METROFOCUS," I THINK HE'LL SHOCK PEOPLE.

I THINK THE ENERGY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STUDENTS I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME EVERY DAY, IT SEEMS TO BE WITH PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE WILLIAMS' AGENDA.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS CONVENTION GOES WITH A POTENTIAL PRIMARY DOWN THE PIKE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELLE JOY, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

>> I THINK PEOPLE NEED SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT, SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS NARRATIVE HERE BECAUSE I THINK REALLY WHAT FORMER SECRETARY CLINTON IS GOING TO DO IS THIS IS PART OF A NARRATIVE AS J.C.

MENTIONED TO BOLSTER GOVERNOR HOCHUL IN A CONVENTION, AND YOU WANT HER TO COME OUT WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL PRAISE AND A GREAT THAT IF I WAS ON THAT TEAM I WOULD TAKE ON THAT CONVENTION AND CRISSCROSS THE STATE TO SIGNIFY TO PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN A BUDGET SEASON THAT YOU ARE GOVERNING AND YOU ARE HANDLING YOUR POLITIC CORRECTLY.

I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT IS.

>> WE HAVE A FEW MOMENTS LEFT SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE ROUNDTABLE, WHAT ARE THE STORIES YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

ALISSA, WHAT ARE THE NARRATIVES YOU'LL BE FOLLOWING THIS WEEK?

>> MY TEAM IS DEFINITELY CONTINUING TO FOLLOW WHAT MAYOR ERIC ADAMS DOES NEXT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S NOW KIND OF LAID THE TABLE FOR A NUMBER OF HIS TOP PRIORITIES, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY GOT THE GOVERNMENT TO RUN AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR HIS APPOINTMENTS, WHAT HE'S DOING WITH THE POWERS HE HAS IN GOVERNMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, HE'S FACED A NUMBER OF ETHICS CHALLENGES AROUND SOME OF HIS APPOINTMENTS, WHO HE'S POINTING, HOW HE'S APPOINTING THEM.

YEAH, WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD OF HOW HE'S OPERATING THE CITY.

>> OKAY.

J.C., VERY QUICKLY.

>> I THINK LOCALLY WE'LL BE WATCHING SOME SUCCESSES FOR MAYOR ALLEGED AMBDAMS COMING BA ALBANY WITH BILL REFORM AND THE LIKE.

NATIONALLY, REMEMBER WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH UKRAINE, HOW PRESIDENT BIDEN HANDLES THAT IS GOING TO SPELL WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FALL FOR DEMOCRATS.

>>> ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

>> I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO ELECTION DAY TOMORROW AND THE 60th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE 72nd ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.

THEN THERE'S ONE ALSO COMING UP IN THE 43rd, SO REMINDING PEOPLE TO CHECK VOTE.NYC AND SEE IF YOU LIVE IN THAT AREA IF YOU HAVE TO HEAD TO POLLS TOMORROW.

>> ABOVE ALL, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US IT IS ELECTION DAY TOMORROW.

I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR ROUNDTABLE PANEL OF EXPERTS.

ELLE JOY WILLIAMS, J.C. POLANCO AND E V ALISSA KATZ.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON OUR FRONT-PAGE FORECAST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, AND BY -- ♪