>>> TONIGHT -- ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST, AFTER A VIOLENT WEEKEND ON THE TRACKS, NEW YORK RUNS OUT ITS PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN.

AND WHAT COULD THAT MEAN FOR US BACK HOME?

"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 THIS WEEK'S LOOK AHEAD AT THE MAJOR HEADLINES, NEW YORK ROLLS OUT ITS PLAN TO COMBAT CRIME ON THE SUBWAYS AFTER ANOTHER TROUBLING WEEKEND ON THE TRACKS.

AT LEAST EIGHT MORE VIOLENT INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED IN STATIONS AND ON TRAINS JUST WEEKS AFTER THE SHOVING DEATH OF MICHELLE GO IG NOTED PROTESTS OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE.

WILL THE NEW SAFETY PLAN AND ITS FOCUS ON STOPPING PEOPLE FROM SHELTERING IN THE SYSTEM LEAD TO A SAFER RIDE?

WE'LL DISCUSS.

>>> ALSO, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS ALSO WARNING NEW YORKERS TO BE AWARE OF CYBERATTACKS ON THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS AMID ESCALATING CONFLICT IN UKRAINE.

WHAT ELSE COULD RUSSIA'S LATEST MOVE RECOGNIZING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE TWO REBEL-HELD AREAS MEAN FOR PEACE AND LIFE BACK HERE AT HOME?

>>> FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE STORIES AS WELL ON THEIR TAKE ON WHAT ELSE COULD DRIVE THE NEWS THIS WEEK, LET'S WELCOME TONIGHT'S ROUND TAINL OF EXPERTS.

FIRST WE'RE WELCOME LAILA AMARU.

SHE'S A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL STRATEGIST, IRAQ VETERAN AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY COUNCIL'S BLACK, LATINA AND ASIAN CAUCUS.

LILA, WELCOME TACK TO "METROFOCUS."

.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK CHRIS COIF, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

CHRIS, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE SHOW.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

AND.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME NICOLE DeLINOUS.

NICOLE IS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE, THINK TANK AND EDITOR FOR THE CITY JOURNAL AND "NEW YORK POST" COLUMNIST.

NICOLE, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> LET'S START OFF WITH THE SUBWAY SAFETY PLAN.

ACTUALLY, NICOLE, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU AND GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT AT LEAST THE PLAN IS HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING AFRAID ON THE SUBWAY, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE MTA SURVEYS IS MOST PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT IMAGINING IT.

WE HAVE A SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME SPIKE ON THE SUBWAY.

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD 105 FELONIES ON THE SUBWAY.

BACK IN JANUARY 2019 WE HAD 65 VIOLENT SUBWAYS.

SO WE SEE EVEN AS RIDERSHIP IS LOW, WITH ONLY ABOUT 55% TO 60% OF PRE-COVID NORMAL, NOT ONLY IS THE PER CAPITA RISK OF VIOLENT CRIME HIGHER, BUT EVEN JUST THE RAW NUMBERS OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARE HIGHER AND THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOT AN ABERRATION IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY THAT THIS HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY TRUE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

SO WHAT DOES THE ADAMS AND HOCHUL SUBWAY SAFETY PLAN DO?

WE SAW THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR ANNOUNCE THIS PLAN LAST FRIDAY, BUT THEY ALSO ANNOUNCED A VERY SIMILAR PLAN A MONTH BEFORE, VERY FEW CHANGES OVER THE PAST FIVE WEEKS SINCE THE FIRST PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER REMINDER THAT IT DIDN'T REALLY WORK FOR THE FIRST MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

SO WHAT IS THE PLAN?

MORE CIVILIAN AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH TEAMS TO INTERACT WITH HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING AND LOITERING IN THE SUBWAY, AND HAVING CIVILIAN RESPONSES TO 911 CALLS FOR DISTRESS RATHER THAN HAVING THE POLICE RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS AS THE FIRST RESORT.

AND THE MAYOR ALSO SAID HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE SMOKING IN THE SUBWAY, HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE JUMPING OFFICER TURNSTILES, THAT THAT BEHAVIOR WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED.

IT'S A PERFECTLY SOUND PLAN, BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW WELL DO THEY EXECUTE IT?

AND WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT HELP IN THE SUBWAY, WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

IN THE PAST THESE OUTREACH TEAMS HAVE JUST MOVED ON AND LEFT THE PERSON THERE TO THEIR OWN DEVICES.

NEITHER THE MAYOR NOR THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT PERSON WITH ALL OF THE BELONGINGS, ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS ON THE SUBWAY JUST SAYS NO, I DON'T WANT ANY HELP AND CONTINUES GOING ON WITH THE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR.

>> OF COURSE.

CHRIS, I WANT TO BRING YOU INTO THE CONVERSATION AND I DO WANT TO ALSO SHARE WITH VIEWERS WE MIGHT LOSE CHRIS AT THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE HE DOES HAVE A HARD OUT, HOWEVER, CHRIS, I WANT TO POSE THIS TO YOU AND SAY IN LIGHT OF THE CRIMES WE'RE SEEING AND ALSO WHO THEY SEEM TO BE FREQUENTLY PERPETRATED AGAINST, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE PLAN ROLLED OUT AND DOES IF REALLY CORRECT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES?

>> THE UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE ENORMOUS.

AND IT REALLY BEGAN WITH THE BLASSIO'S ADMINISTRATION WHERE HE GOT RID OF THE HOMELESS UNIT IN THE NYPD, CAME UP WITH TEAMS TO ADDRESS THESE KIND OF ISSUES AND I THINK WE STILL DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED PROPERLY.

I THINK COVID-19 HAS PUT ENORMOUS STRESS ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK AND I THINK THE VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING ON THE SUBWAY IS THE RESULT OF THE STRESS ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL FOR US.

NORMAL PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME.

IMAGINE IF YOU'RE HOMELESS AND CAN'T GET MONEY OR SERVICES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK THE PLAN CAN'T JUST BE COPS THROWING PEOPLE OUT ON THE STATION BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE INHUMANE BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE PLAN IS AN ENFORCEMENT OF WHAT'S ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, PEOPLE TAKING UP THE SUBWAY CARS AS A BEDROOM.

WE BEGIN SEEING THAT AS A NORM.

I SAW ENORMOUS BAGS OF STUFF AND PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SUBWAY.

IT WASN'T HUMAN FOR ANYBODY, INCLUDING THE HOMELESS PERSON WE SAW.

ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, I'LL TELL YOU, IS LIVING IN FEAR.

THEY AVOID THE SUBWAY WHEN THEY CAN, TAKE IT ONLY WHEN WE HAVE TO.

SO WE ARE AT A DIFFICULT POINT IN OUR CITY, AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WELCOME THE PLAN BUT WE HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH RESOURCES ARE DEVOTED TO WHEN PEOPLE ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE SUBWAYS, THEY SHOULD HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

>> NA'ILAH, THIS IS AGAIN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR NEW YORK.

AS CHRIS DID LAY OUT, THE EXISTENCE OF THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED WITHIN THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

BUT I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS PLAN AND DO YOU SEE IT AS BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE BEING ASSAULTED ON THE SUBWAYS?

AND DOES SOMETHING LARGER NEED TO BE DONE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MY TAKE ON THE PLAN IS THAT IT FALLS SIGNIFICANTLY SHORT IN WHAT IT'S TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

ESSENTIALLY REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THE END OF LIFE DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS PART OF THE SITUATION OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW PLAY OUT.

AND ALSO THE CHALLENGE OF RECOGNIZING THAT ENFORCING LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS NOW DOES NOT ADDRESS GENERATIONS OF FAILED GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND LACK OF AN ADEQUATE SOCIAL SAFETY NET TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

AND I WOULD ALSO ADD ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES WITH ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS BY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CRACKDOWN ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, IT CAN LEAD TO CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH OISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS.

AND THE ENFORCEMENT LEAVES THEM REALLY WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BUT JAIL, WHICH AGAIN CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE.

THIS IS THE UNFORTUNATE SYSTEM WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGAIN FAILED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE SOCIAL SAFETY NET, WHICH LEADS US, BE AGAIN, INTO THIS REALLY UNFORTUNATE CYCLE WE ARE SEEING HERE PLAY OUT.

AGAIN, UNFORTUNATE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, WHILE IT MAY PHYSICALLY CLEAR OUT THE CITY PHYSICALLY, THE QUOTE/UNQUOTE ISSUES, IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES, WHICH AGAIN IS THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT AND PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW NEW YORKERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.

>> OF COURSE.

NICOLE, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU AND JUST GET -- JUST FROM FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, CAN YOU SUMMARIZE FOR US THE NUMBERS OR PERHAPS THE FREQUENCY IN WHICH A LOT OF THESE ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY?

>> SURE.

I THINK CHRIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT ALTHOUGH THIS CRIME IS BROAD, WE HAVE GROUPS OF EVERY ETHNIC AND UNDER BACKGROUND WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF VIOLENT CRIME IN THE SUBWAY, THAT ASIAN AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF ASIAN BACKGROUND CERTAINLY HAVE PARTICULAR REASON TO BE FEARFUL.

I MEAN, IF WE LOOK AT NOT JUST MICHELLE GOUGH SUBWAY MURDER ON JANUARY 15th, BUT ALSO THE CHRISTINA YUNA LEE MURDER, THAT MURDER DID NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE SUBWAY, IT TOOK PLACE IN HER OWN HOME IN CHINATOWN.

NOT CLEAR WHETHER SHE WAS TARGETED FOR HER ETHNICITY, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO CONSIDER IT AS A REAL POSSIBILITY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERSON WHO IS ACCUSED OF KILLING CHRISTINA YUNA LEE, ASSAMEN NASH, HE WAS ACCUSED LAST FALL IN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE SUPPOSEDLY LOW-LEVEL SUBWAY CRIMES.

SO LAST SEPTEMBER HE WAS ALLEGEDLY VANDALIZING METRO CARD MACHINES REPEATEDLY.

THE PURPOSE OF DOING THAT IS SO NOBODY ELSE COULD BUY A METRO CARD AT THE MACHINE SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO BUY A SWIPE FROM HIM, HE WOULD LET THE PERSON INTO THE SUBWAY.

WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, HE ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED THAT PERSON IN THE HEAD SO HARD THAT THAT PERSON REQUIRED STITCHES TO HIS HEAD.

NOW, OF COURSE, MR. NASH MAY BE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE -- WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE CITY IS NOT A LACK OF RESOURCES OR ATTENTION.

HE WAS ARRESTED MULTIPLE TIMES LAST YEAR.

HE WAS PUT ON SUPERVISED RELEASE, IN OTHER WORDS, NOT KEPT IN JAIL BECAUSE THE CITY WAS SUPPOSED TO SUPERVISE HIM ON THIS RELEASE.

SO THE CITY HAD MULTIPLE TIMES TO INTERACT WITH THIS PERSON TO DO A MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION OF THIS PERSON, TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS GETTING THE CARE AND SERVICES THAT HE NEEDED.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHY THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS HOMELESS, LIKE MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE, AND THE PERSON ACCUSED OF KILLING TWO PEOPLE ON THE SUBWAYS A YEAR AGO LAST FEBRUARY, HE'S HOMELESS NOT BECAUSE OF A LACKING OF HOUSING OR JOBS, HE HAD A HOME IN NEW JERSEY.

HE WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY IN THAT HOME BECAUSE OF SEVERE, SEVERE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

SO THE ISSUE HERE IS THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS NOT GOING TO GIVE EVERY PERSON WHO SHOWS UP IN THE SUBWAY AND PRESENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR A HOENL.

IT IS STOPPING THE BEHAVIOR, NUMBER ONE.

THE CITY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND MAKING SURE, YES, THE PERSON IS GETTING THE HELP AND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE TO DO THAT.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, BEFORE THAT de BLASIO ADMINISTRATION, IN SUPERVISING THIS INDIVIDUAL FAILED.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW THOSE SPECIFIC POINTS OF FAILURES BEFORE WE CAN SAY WE NEED TO INVEST MORE MONEY IN THE SYSTEM.

>> CHRIS, I WANT TO -- I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE, BUT I REALLY WANT TO GET YOUR LEGAL EXPLANATION OR AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY CRIMES LIKE THESE AREN'T IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED TO BE HATE CRIMES.

I'M SURE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS FEELS LIKE OBVIOUS HATE CRIME.

>> YOU KNOW, HATE CRIMES ARE A RECENT INVENTION IN STATE LAW FOR ABOUT FOUR DECADES, AND THEY REQUIRE SOMEONE BE SELECTED AND THE CRIME COMMITTED BECAUSE OF THAT PERSON'S RACE, COLOR OR PROHIBITED IDENTITY, THE STATE OF MIND.

SO THE LAW HAS DEVELOPED, PROSECUTION HAS DEVELOPED, OKAY, FIRST THERE MUST BE A CRIME, AND THAT PERSON MUST HAVE BEEN SELECTED BECAUSE OF THAT CRIME.

AND PRIMARILY IN OUR COUNTRY THOSE HAVE BEEN ANTI-BLACK AND ANTI-SEMITIC CRIME.

SO WE UNDERSTAND THE NARRATIVES AND SYMBOLS AND ACTIONS THAT GO AROUND IT.

THE NOOSE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, PARTICULAR HISTORICAL SYMBOLISM.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AS AMERICANS.

ANTI-SEMITISM, DESECRATION OF THE SYNAGOGUE, SWASTIKAS, THOSE KIND OF LIKE SPEAK TO IT.

IN THE PAST YEAR SINCE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, WHAT I HAVE SEEN FOR ASIANS IS THERE ISN'T THAT NARRATIVE AND OFTEN THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT NEED TO BE SAID.

PEOPLE PERCEIVE ASIANS TO BE CARRYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH, TO BE EASY TARGETS, NOT TO FIGHT BACK.

FOR ASIAN WOMEN THERE'S A SEXUALIZATION OF THEM WITHIN THE CULTURE THAT PERCEIVES THEM TO BE AVAILABLE OR SHOULD BE, AND IF NOT THERE CAN BE ENORMOUS VIOLENCE THAT COMES OTTUT OF IT.

WE SAW THAT IN ATLANTA.

SO WE DON'T SEE TRADITIONAL DEFINITIONS OF THE HATE CRIME AS WE UNDERSTAND IT BUT I THINK WHAT WE SEE SLOWLY IS THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO ASIANS.

THERE'S AN ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT TO IT BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THE WAY WE TRADITIONALLY UNDERSTOOD HATE CRIMES TO BE, IF I THINK OF OUR ASSESSMENT AT THIS POINT.

>> OF COURSE.

NA'ILAH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR TAKE BECAUSE AS WE WERE HEARING NICOLE SORT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT AT LEAST THE PROPOSALS ARE AND WHAT AT LEAST WE KNOW ABOUT THE CRIMES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY CRITICIZED THINGS AS LACK -- AND WE JUST LOST CHRIS, HE HAD TO GO.

BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRITICIZING THIS AS WHACK-A-MOLE AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING UNLESS WE ADDRESS HOLISTICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.

SO YOUR TAKE?

>> I THINK SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE RECENT FIGHTS OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE LONG, DEEP ROOTS IN AMERICA.

DESPITE THE HATE TEXT I WOULD ARGUE IT'S ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE POLITICAL RHETORIC -- RHETORIC SURROUNDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THAT BEGINS WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT HAD GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INTRODUCE RACIST TERMS SUCH AS CHINA VIRUS AND THE WUHAN FLU, WHICH LED TO INCREASED ATTACK ON OUR ASIAN NEIGHBORS HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

AN UNFORTUNATE FACT WAS PRIOR TO 2019 THERE WERE ONLY 3 ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS, BUT AFTER, YOU KNOW, THIS RHETORIC WENT AROUND, THERE WAS A 900% INCREASE OF ATTACKS AGAINST ASIANS IN 2020.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE USED THAT LEAD TO THE REALITY THAT HATE SPEECH LEADS TO HATE CRIME AND RECOGNIZING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE, AGAIN, THAT RECOGNITION OF THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT NEW IN AMERICA AND, AGAIN, JUST RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT THAT THE TERMS THAT WE USE HAS AN IMPACT THAT COULD LEAD TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> AGAIN, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH AS IT DEVELOPS, NOT ONLY THE WAY THAT THE CITY ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS CRIME ON AND AROUND THE SUBWAYS BUT HOW THE CITY CONTINUES TO ADDRESS ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

>>> BUT I WANT TO PIVOT NOW TO UKRAINE.

I THINK -- ACTUALLY, NO, I SHOULDN'T SAY FOR A LOT OF NEW YORKERS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW YORKERS FROM RUSSIA AND FROM UKRAINE, SO THIS PROBABLY FEELS VERY CLOSE TO HOME FOR THEM.

BUT IT MIGHT SURPRISE PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS COME OUT AND SAID THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CYBERATTACKS.

SO, NICOLE, IN A WORLD THAT'S JUST ALMOST STRICTLY DIGITAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CYBERATTACKS BUT CERTAINLY THERE'S A HEIGHTENED RISK WHEN YOU HAVE SANCTIONS BEING PUT ON RUSSIA AND THEN RUSSIA MOST LIKELY RETALIATING AGAINST THAT IN SOME UNPREDICTABLE FASHION THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE THE RULES ARE JUST THE SAME, JUST THE HEIGHTENED ATTENTION TO IT.

DON'T OPEN EMAILS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE SENDER.

DON'T OPEN ATTACHMENTS WHEN YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING THE ATTACHMENTS.

BE CAREFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETENDING TO BE PEOPLE YOU KNOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA TRYING TO GET YOU TO MAKE REMARKS TO THEM AND SO FORTH.

I THINK THAT WILL PERSIST IN BEING HEIGHTENED IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

>> NA'ILAH, IS THAT -- FIRST OF ALL, I DO THINK THAT DIGITAL SECURITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE AWARE OF VIGILANT ABOUT.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID, AGAIN, THIS COULD BE A WAY FOR AMERICAN ADVERSARIES TO FURTHER EXACERBATE TENSIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE COUNTRY.

DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES PLACE CONSIDERING THAT THIS SEEMS TO RIGHT NOW BE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY A POSSIBILITY, RIGHT.

PARTICULARLY HERE HOMES IN NEW YORK, WHEN IT COMES TO CYBER THREAT, OUR OWN NEW YORK CITY LAW DEPARTMENT HAD THEIR ENTIRE SYSTEM HACKED LAST SUMMER AS WELL AS I BELIEVE THE MTA.

SO I THINK PARTICULARLY WITH THIS MOST RECENT CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE HERE AT HOME AGAIN IS BECAUSE U.S. AND NEW YORK HAS BEEN TARGETED BY CYBER THREATS BEFORE.

IT COULD ALSO HAVE A NEW FOCUS ON ATTACKING POTENTIAL POWER GRIDS, RIGHT?

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO TEXAS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AGAIN HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, OUR OWN LAW DEPARTMENT WAS TARGETED AND ATTACKED LAST YEAR.

HOSPITALS COULD POTENTIALLY BE TARGETS.

SO AGAIN, WITH THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS THAT BIDEN HAS PROMISED, I THINK THAT AMERICA AND NEW YORK IN PARTICULAR SHOULD UNFORTUNATELY BE PREPARED FOR AN IMMINENT CYBERATTACK IF THOSE SANCTIONS ARE IN FACT IMPOSED.

>> TO BOTH OF YOU I DO WANT TO ASK, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE ARE SO MANY NEW YORKERS WHO ARE EITHER -- HAVE EMIGRATED DIRECTLY FROM UKRAINE OR RUSSIA OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO STILL LIVE THERE.

I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH SHOULD AMERICANS -- SHOULD AMERICANS BE GIVING PERHAPS MORE OF THEIR ATTENTION AND MORE OF THEIR CONCERN?

BECAUSE IT CAN FEEL, BECAUSE IT'S PRACTICALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE, SO VERY FAR AWAY.

NICOLE, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO RIGHT NOW.

IT IS PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE IF THIS IS NOT THE TOP OF PEOPLE'S LIST IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR KIDS' SCHOOLS STAY OPEN SO THEY CAN GET BACK TO WORK AND TRYING TO ACCUSTOM THEMSELVES TO GETTING BACK AND RECALIBRATING THE RISK OF EVERYDAY LIFE WITH COVID.

BUT CERTAINLY AS WE LEARNED IN THE PAST, THANKS TO NOT ONLY EXTERNAL EVENTS BUT TO OUR RESPONSES TO EXTERNAL EVENTS, THINGS THAT HAPPENED FAR AWAY TEND NOT TO STAY FAR AWAY.

>> NA'ILAH, SAME QUESTION TO YOU, SHOULD WE BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO NATIONS?

>> I THINK THAT WE SHOULD.

AND I THINK THE MOST DIRECT IMPACT, IF ANYTHING, ASIDE FROM THE CYBERATTACKS IS THE POTENTIAL RETALIATION FOR A CREATED ENERGY COST, WHICH PEOPLE WILL DEFINITELY BE FEELING IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS AS RUSSIA HOLDS A LOT OF CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THE ARGUMENT WE HERE IN NEW YORK SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION, AGAIN, TO RECOGNIZE NEW YORK AS A STATE IS WE ARE A LEADER IN SOME KEY INDUSTRIES SUCH AS FINANCE, ENERGY, THE TRANSPORTATION SECTORS, WHICH DOES MAKE NEW YORK AN ATTRACTIVE TARGET IF RUSSIA SHOULD HAVE AN INTEREST, AGAIN, IN NINE OF RETALIATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE TIME BUT TODAY WE DO, SO I WANT TO GET TAKES FROM BOTH OF YOU ON THE STORIES THAT YOU'LL BE WATCHING THIS WEEK AS THEY DEVELOP AND WHAT AT LEAST IS GRABBING YOUR ATTENTION THE MOST.

SO, NICOLE, I'LL START WITH YOU, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY A STORY LINE YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING TO SEE HOW IT DEVELOPS THIS WEEK?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO REALLY SEE HOW ADAMS' SUBWAY PLAN WORKS IN PRACTICE.

THE PLAN WAS OFFICIALLY PUT INTO PLACE YESTERDAY.

I THINK NEW YORKERS WANT TO SEE FAST RESULTS FROM THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH NEARLY TWO MONTHS OF A CONTINUATION OF THE CRIME SITUATION FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT MURDER STATISTICS THROUGH FEBRUARY 10th, MURDERS ARE ACTUALLY UP SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR.

NOW, OF COURSE, A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE MURDER RATE WOULD NOT BE A CONCERN EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT SINCE 2019 THE 52% INCREASE IN THE MURDER NUMBERS THAT WE SEE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE SINGLE BIGGEST INCREASE OVER TWO YEARS THAT THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE DAYS OF MUCH HIGHER CRIME, WE'VE NEVER SEEN A YEAR-TO-YEAR INCREASE LIKE THIS.

SO THE IMMEDIATE HOPES OF THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, THAT HE COULD SHOW A QUICK, CLEAR, DECISIVE TURNAROUND IN THESE NUMBERS.

THE LONGER THE NUMBERS PERSIST IN STAYING HIGHER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR, HE QUICKLY LOSES CONTROL OF THAT NARRATIVE.

SO LOOKING AT THE VIOLENT CRIME SITUATION BOTH UNDERGROUND AND ABOVE GROUND -- ABOVE GROUND GOING TO BE VERY -- A BIG SIGN OF WHAT ADAMS' FIRST 100-DAY NARRATIVE LOOKS LIKE IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY.

>> NOW THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT IS THE STORY LINE YOU WILL BE WATCHING AS IT DEVELOPS THIS WEEK?

>> SO I AM PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET DANCE.

YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR CAME OUT WITH HIS BUDGET SOME TIME LAST WEEK AND SO IT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WATCHING HOW THE COUNCIL RESPONDS, PARTICULARLY AS THE MAYOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE'S INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, MAKING ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUTS IN A LOT OF KEY AGENCIES.

INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE COUNCIL WILL RESPOND IN TERMS OF WHERE THE BUDGET WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND HOW THAT WILL IMPACT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR FELLOW NEW YORKERS.

AND THE OTHER THING I AM PAYING ATTENTION TO IS THE KERFUFFLE BETWEEN THE PRESS AND THE MAYOR, THE MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION.

AND JUST KEEP EGING AN EYE HOW MAYOR CHOOSES TO MANAGE HIS SITUATION WITH THE PRESS.

IT'S NO SECRET THERE'S ALWAYS TENSION BETWEEN THE NEW YORK PRESS CORPS AND NEW YORK CITY MAYORS, INCLUDING FORMER MAYOR BILL de BLASIO, BUT JUST REALLY INTERESTED IN WATCHING HOW ERIC ADAMS MOVES FORWARD IN WALKING THAT TIGHTROPE OF MANAGING THE PRESS.

>> WELL, OF COURSE, THAT ALREADY HAS PROVEN TO BE AN INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP.

NICOLE, GOING BACK TO YOU QUICKLY THOUGH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CRIME RATE IS HOW MUCH DO YOU SEE THE -- I KNOW THAT A LOT OF POLITICIANS KEEP SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO START MOVING PAST THE PANDEMIC, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE CASE IN PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES.

THE VIRUS IS CONTINUING TO CIRCULATE, ET CETERA.

HOW MUCH DO YOU SEE COVID-19 AFFECTING THOSE CRIME NUMBERS OR DO YOU THINK THEY'RE AFFECTING THEM AT ALL?

>> I THINK WHAT AFFECTED -- HOW COVID AFFECTED THE CRIME NUMBERS IS NOT WHAT MIGHT BE THE INTUITIVE THINKING THAT PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEY LOST THEIR INCOME AND THEY WERE FORCED FOR ECONOMIC REASONS TO GO OUT AND COMMIT CRIMES, TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DISCONNECTED TO SOCIETY, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL WORLD, THE PULLBACK OF THE CITY'S SOCIAL WORK EFFORTS, THE PULLBACK IN SUPERVISION, THE PULLBACK IN POLICING LAST YEAR, THIS ALLOWED THIS ACTIVITY TO TAKE HOLD AND THEN TO START TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE ONE SHOOTING, ONE SHOOTING BEE GETS ANOTHER SHOOTING AND BEGETS ANOTHER SHOOTING BECAUSE WE HAVE MULTIPLE RETALIATORY SHOOTINGS IF POLICE ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE AN ARREST AFTER THAT FIRST SHOOTING AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT THE SHOOTING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NICOLE, I'M SO SORRY.

I HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF 250I78 QUICKLY.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY GUESTS, CHRIS COIF WHO HAD TO LEAVE US, MEMBER OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, NA'ILAH AMARU, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND FORMER DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY'S COUNCIL ON BLACK LATINO AND ASIAN CAUCUS.

OUR NEWEST ROUNDTABLE MEMBER, SENIOR FELLOW AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, NEW YORK THINK TANK AND CONTRIBUTING EDITOR FOR THE JOURNAL AND "NEW YORK POST" COLUMNIST.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON TODAY'S ROUD TABLE.

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

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

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