>>> 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 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 OUR "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

WE BEGIN THIS SNOWY MONDAY WITH OUR WEEKLY LOOK AHEAD AT LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE TRI-STATE.

TONIGHT, AS A MASSIVE SNOWSTORM PUMMELS THE REGION, WE ASK IF WE'RE BETTER TO HANDLE THESE EVENTS.

WE'LL EXAMINE THE RADICAL DISPARITIES REPORTED IN NEW YORK CITY'S ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE AND ASSESS THE FALLOUT FROM THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION'S SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERCOUNTING CORONAVIRUS-RELATED DEATHS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.

AND WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE LATEST COVID-19 RESCUE PLAN, AS PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE GOP ATTEMPT NEGOTIATING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SO, LET'S GET STARTED.

BACK WITH ME TONIGHT, WE HAVE PROFESSOR SALADIN AMBAR, A SENIOR SCHOLAR AT THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.

PROFESSOR AMBAR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE JOINED BY LAURA NAHMIAS.

WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND OF COURSE, OUR FRIEND OF THE SHOW, FREQUENT ROUNDTABLE GUEST, WE HAVE J.C. POLANCO.

A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, ATTORNEY, CUNY FACULTY MEMBER AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

J.C., WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> WELL, EVERYONE, LET'S GET STARTED AND JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF EVERYONE'S WINDOW IN THE ENTIRE EASTERN SEA BOARD AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, THIS MASSIVE SNOWSTORM.

NOW, THIS IS HAPPENING ON TOP OF A PANDEMIC, ON TOP OF A FINANCIAL CRISIS, ON TOP OF IT SEEMS AS IF EVERY CRISIS, THE SNOW IS FALLING.

J.C., I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND JUST ASK, DO YOU THINK THAT THE CITY IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO HANDLE AN ADDITIONAL WEATHER-RELATED CRISIS LIKE THIS, OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER STRAIN ON TOP OF MULTIPLE STRAINS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A STRAIN ON TOP OF MULTIPLE STRAINS AND I THINK WE'RE BETTER PREPARED THATHAN EVER BEFORE.

FOR A YEAR NOW, A LOT OF US ARE WORKING FROM HOME.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE ABLE TO HAVE ADAPTED TO ZOOM, HAVE ADAPTED TO OTHER METHODS OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE TEAM AND ARE WORKING FROM HOME MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EMPLOY YEARERS HAVE NOW ADAPTED THIS NEW WAY OF WORKING.

SO, A LOT OF US ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE OKAY.

THE LAST THING WE NEEDED, HOWEVER, WAS ANY STRAIN, AT ALL, BUT WE HAVE TO ADMIT, THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF US ARE HOME TODAY AND EMPLOYERS HAVE ADAPTED MEANS THAT THE CITY WILL BE BETTER PREPARED FOR CLEANING UP THE SNOW, BECAUSE THE ROADWAYS ARE LESS CON GGESTED AND SO ARE OUR SUBWAYS AND BUSES.

I REALLY DO FEEL REALLY CONCERNED FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO WORK FROM HOME AND HAVE TO GO INTO THE OFFICE AND GO INTO THE HOSPITALS.

OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE THERE.

MANY TIMES OUR LOW WAGE EMPLOYEES.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY GET AROUND THE CITY THIS MORNING.

>> I'M SORRY, WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY?

>> NO.

>> OH, OKAY, PROFESSOR, I WANTED TO SORT OF BUILD ON THAT WITH YOU, BECAUSE, TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME ON ZOOM, WE HAVE NOW, I THINK, COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THAT IS A BIT OF A PRIVILEGE AND THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, AS J.C. JUST MENTIONED, WHO JUST DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.

BUT WE'VE ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE MARGINS AND THE PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS PUSHED THEM EVEN FURTHER.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS TWO DAYS OF SNOW AND POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES COMING TO THE REGION?

>> WELL, I THINK J.C.

LAID OUT, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES BUT ALSO THE BENEFITS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN THE NEW YORK METRO REGION.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT ANY ADDITIONAL DAY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET VACCINE, ANY ADDITIONAL DAY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO RETURN TO SOME DEGREE OF NORMALITY IS A REAL STRUGGLE.

AND AS YOU SUGGEST, YOU KNOW, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS BEARING THE BRUNT OF THESE TYPES OF EPISODES, FROM MANY NEW YORKERS WHO ARE OF HIGH INCOME OR ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME.

THIS WILL BE A PLEASANT SNOW DAY, PERHAPS.

BUT FOR MANY OTHER NEW YORKERS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL STRUGGLE AND, AGAIN, EVERY DAY OR TWO ADDS, I THINK THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMIND OURSELVES, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL OF THE VIRUS AND THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS AND ALL OF THE REST, WHICH WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY FOR OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL IS TRULY DAMAGING AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE WARY OF IGNORING THAT TO OUR PERIL AND PARTICULAR THE PERIL OF YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR CHILDREN, WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE BEEN HOME FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR NOW.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE SHOULD BRING TO THE FORE.

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

AND WITH SO MANY SCHOOLS DEALING WITH, OF COURSE, VIRTUAL LEARNING AND THIS SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT FIT AND YET IT MIGHT BE EXACERBATING THE STRAINS THAT SO MANY OF US HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNDER.

I WANT TO TURN TO THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE SEEN AND LAURA, I JUST WANTED TO GET YOU TO WEIGH IN ON HOW ON EARTH DID SOMETHING THAT STARTED OUT AT LEAST WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING GOOD TURN INTO ANOTHER CASE OF THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK?

>> THERE'S TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS HAVE HAPPENED THAT I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, WHICH IS AT LEAST IN THE STATES THAT ARE REPORTING DATA AND IN NEW YORK CITY, WE SAW NUMBERS RELEASED YESTERDAY THAT SUGGEST, WITH AN ASTERISK, THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED AT RATES MUCH HIGHER THAN BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY, 40% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN NEW YORK CITY OR GOTTEN THE FIRST DOSE DECLINED TO REPORT THEIR RACE OR ETHNICITY, SO, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS DATA.

BUT THE DISPARITIES HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY SEVERAL THINGS.

ONE, THERE WAS NO PLANNING ON THE FRONT END, NO FEDERAL FUNDING FOR OR HELP TO STATES OR CITIES TO PLAN ON THE FRONT END FOR A DISTRIBUTION SETUP FOR THE VACCINE, THAT WAS VACCINATION SITES, MANY OF THEM IN COMMUNITIES.

THERE WAS NO -- YOU HAVE SEEN ANY AD SPENDING, BIG PSAs ON TELEVISION?

POSTERS?

BILLBOARDS?

SUBWAY ADS?

URGING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HESITATE ABOUT TAKING THE VACCINE TO TAKE IT?

AND THINK BACK TO MARCH AND APRIL WHEN THERE WAS WALL TO WALL MESSAGING ABOUT MASK WEARING AND THEN EVEN IN THE SUMMER WHEN WE SAW A LOT OF MESSAGING ABOUT GETTING TESTED, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF REAL PUBLIC HEALTH AD CAMPAIGN GET OFF THE GROUND YET TO URGE BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE WHO ARE TYPICALLY MORE HESITANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE TO GO AHEAD AND GET VACCINATED, TO CONVINCE THEM THAT IT'S SAFE.

AND THEN THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PLAN AND WE DIDN'T SET UP AN ALTERNATE PLAN FOR SETTING UP NEW VACCINATION SITES IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WOULD BE PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, WE ARE RUNNING OUR VACCINATION CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE EXISTING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND RELYING HEAVILY ON HOSPITALS, A LOT OF WHICH ARE IN RICH, WHITE COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY'RE HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN MANHATTAN.

THERE ARE VERY FEW HOSPITALS PER PERSON IN OUTER BOROUGHS.

AND THE EXISTING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IS WEIGHED TOWARDS THE HAVES AND NOT THE HAVE NOTS.

AND THAT'S A FAILURE OF PLANNING THAT IS JUST COLOSSAL.

AND ALL THE MORE TRAGIC FOR THE FACT THAT IT WAS SO FORESEEABLE.

>> SO THEN, J.C., WHO, AT LEAST, IN YOUR OPINION, NEEDS TO STEP UP AND GET THEIR ARMS AROUND THIS PLAN, TO MAKE THE PLAN TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS ROLLOUT?

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF FINGER POINTING, AT LEAST, FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> WELL, ELECTED OFFICIALS LOVE FINGER POINTING.

SO, THERE'S NOTHING MORE RELIEVING THAN SOMEONE TELLING YOU IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

POLITICS LOVE WHEN PEOPLE TELL THEM IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, SO, THEY MAKE UP BOARDS TO MAKE UP DECISIONS, WE KNOW THAT.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THE VACCINE ISSUE IS ONE IN WHICH WE REALLY HAVE A SHORTAGE IN WHICH NOT ALL OF US CAN GET IT, ONLY A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE CAN GET IT, YOU HAVE TO EITHER BE A PERSON THAT IS OF THE AGE OR IN THE FIELD THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO GET IT.

SO, WE DON'T HAVE WIDESPREAD VACCINE AVAILABILITY TO REALLY DO SOMETHING OF THE THINGS -- I THINK LAURA IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, TO DO TO GET THE VACCINE INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE.

COULD YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID LAUNCH A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN BUT HAVE SUCH A SHORTAGE WITH VACCINES?

IT WILL BE COMPLETELY CHAOTIC IN OUR STREETS.

AND BECAUSE RACISM IS REAL AND BECAUSE THE ISSUES OF RACIAL DISPARITY ARE VERY REAL TO ME AND TO MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS, I'M ALWAYS VERY CONCERNED WITH SOME OF THESE REPORTS EARLY ON.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH SAMPLE SIZE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF THE DISTEARTY HAS BEEN ONE THAT WAS BECAUSE OF INEFFICIENCY OR SOMETHING THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY TARGETING OUR COMMUNITIES, SO, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, I RECENTLY SAW A TWEET BY COUNCILMAN BORELLI IN STATEN ISLAND WHO HAS A PREDOMINANT LLY WHITE DISTRIC IN THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL AND HE SAID, WHAT ARE MY CONSTITUENTS TO DO WHEN THERE ARE NO VACCINE SITES OUT HERE AND STATEN ISLAND HAS A TERRIBLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, DO I TELL MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE IT'S PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, NOT TO SEEK PLACES TO GET VACCINES IF THEY'RE IN BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES?

AND I THIS I NK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

SO BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINESS, THE LOW SAMPLE SIZE AND SOME OF THE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WHITE AREAS OF OUR CITIES DON'T HAVE ANY VACCINE AVAILABLE, I'D BE CAUTIOUS TO MAKE THIS A RACIAL ISSUE JUST YET.

LET'S WAIT TO GET A BIGGER SAMPLE SIZE AND HAVE SOME TIME DEVELOP.

AND WE COULD FIND OUT ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE.

>> PROFESSOR, AMBAR, HOW DO YOU SEE THE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

>> I THINK J.C. IS BEING A LITTLE GENEROUS.

I THINK WE HAVE A 400-YEAR SAMPLE SIZE IN WHICH BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE GET THE BOTTOM OR SHORT END OF THE STICK IN THESE ISSUES.

YOU NEVER HEAR AN ISSUE WHERE BLACKS AND LATINOS IN NEW YORK SOMEHOW GOT THE BETTER DEAL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SANITATION, OR IN A SNOWSTORM REMOVAL, SOMEHOW BENEFITS THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO ME, THIS IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT IS ONE THAT THE COUNTRY'S BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE ITS INCEPTION, FRANKLY, BUT TO PUT MORE OF A FINE POINT ON IT, IN REGARD TO THE VACCINE IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S EFFECTED MINORITY COMMUNITIES, THE POOR, THE INDIGENOUS, THIS IS SOMETHING, AS LAURA SUGGESTED, WE COULD HAVE SEEN COMING.

IT'S BEEN BUILT INTO THE COUNTRY'S DNA.

UNTIL WE'RE WILLING TO ADDRESS, STRAIGHT OUT, THAT RACE MATTERS AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN OUR POLICY DECISIONS, INSTEAD OF IMAGINING IT IN A WAY THAT WE'RE ALL JUST AMERICANS AND SOMEHOW RACE DOESN'T MATTER, UNTIL WE'RE WILLING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE HISTORIC AND PRECEPT REALITY OF RACISM AND STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY, WE'LL BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS INDEFINITELY.

THE TRACK RECORD IS PRETTY CLEAR.

EVEN IN THE MOST LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE CITIES SUCH AS NEW YORK, THESE DISPARITIES PLAY OUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I KNOW UNTIL, AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE IT FOR WHAT IT IS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE DEALING WITH THIS, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> JUST WANTED TO ADD, PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT COMPROMISES SPEED.

AND IN PART BECAUSE OF THE MISTAKES THAT WE HAVE MADE EARLY ON IN NOT SETTING UP A VACCINE ROLLOUT CAMPAIGN, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE SOMETIMES SEEING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES PITTING SPEED, DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE, AND EQUITY AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND IDEALITY, THE TWO THINGS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE ONE AT THE ALTAR OF THE OTHER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ZERO SUM GAME.

EVENTUALLY, EVERYONE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE OFFERED AND A MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS NEED TO GET IT.

SO, WE DON'T WANT TO SLOW ANYTHING DOWN.

THIS IS A VERY HARD THING TO DO SINCE WE DIDN'T PLAN AHEAD.

WE ARE BUILDING THE SHIP WHILE WE ARE SAILING IT.

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT METAPHOR FOR WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, I'M JUST -- I'M STILL WONDERING, WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEAD SURGEON?

WHO COMES IN AND AT LEAST GIVES US GUIDANCE?

IS THIS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY?

IS THIS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY?

IS IT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARER ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE AND PERHAPS MOBILIZING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PEOPLE?

J.C.?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY HERE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE WORKING IN PERFECT SYNERGY IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE.

AND I'M VERY MUCH IN TUNE WITH WHAT PROFESSOR AMBAR MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER REGARDING THE LONG HISTORY OF BLACK AND LATINOS BEING ON THE SHORT END OF THESE VACCINATIONS.

I'VE MADE THAT CLEAR IN PREVIOUS EPISODES OF "METROFOCUS."

BUT I THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VACCINE ROLLOUT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEED EVERYONE TO PLAY THEIR ROLE.

YOU CANNOT WIN A FOOTBALL GAME WITHOUT THE QUARTERBACK, THE RUNNING BACK AND YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE WORKING ON THE SAME PLAY.

SO, THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL DO OUR PART, INCLUDING YOUR VIEWERS, BY WEARING MASKS, WASHING THEIR HANDS AND MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCE.

THIS IS AN ALL-OUT EFFORT BY ALL OF US AND AGAIN, BLAMING JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THIS WILL, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT BE FRUITFUL.

>> WELL, I'M SORRY, DID ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADD IN ON THAT?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY, JENNA, WE LIVE IN AN EXECUTIVE ORDERED SOCIETY.

THE MAYOR, THE GOVERNOR, THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, ARE THE ONES WHERE THE BUCK HAS TO STOP AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT'S THE MAYOR, THE STATE LEVEL, THAT'S THE GOVERNOR.

WE NEED LEADERS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO IN THE PAST.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, LIKE PRESIDENT KENNEDY AFTER THE BAY OF PIGS, YOU ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY WHETHER THINGS WORK OUT OR THEY DON'T.

AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO, YES, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY, POWERS IN DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT YOU WERE HIRED TO DO THE JOB AS THE EXECUTIVE AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO, LET'S START WITH THAT FIRST.

PEOPLE NEED TO OWN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING ELECTED TO AN EXECUTIVE OFFICE WHETHER IT'S AT THE MAYORAL LEVEL OR AT THE STATE LEVEL AND CERTAINLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> LAURA, ANY CLOSING THOUGHTS?

>> THERE'S A PIECE THAT RAN TODAY IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THAT WILL BE VERY INSTRUCTIVE FOR YOUR VIEWERS.

THERE'S BEEN A WAVE OF RESIGNATIONS OF SENIOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS, IN THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CONCERNED ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE MANEUVERS THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IN RECENT MONTHS THAT WERE, ACCORDING TO THEIR ACCOUNTS, NOT LED BY THE SCIENCE, INCLUDING HIS TRANSITION FROM A COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT VACCINATION CAMPAIGN, TO ONE RUN BY THE HOSPITALS, SORT OF AN 11th HOUR CHANGE AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT FRUSTRATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, NOT JUST IN NEW YORK CITY, ABOUT THAT CHANGE AND THE KIND OF DISRUPTION THAT IT MAY HAVE CAUSED IN THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND THAT IS A BIG STORY TODAY AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT OVER THE WEEK.

>> WELL, LAURA, YOU BRING UP AN EXCELLENT POINT, BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT TO PIVOT TO THE CRITICISM THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOW FACING ABOUT HOW THE COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES WHO SUCCUMBED TO COVID-19 WAS COUNTED AND ACCOUNTED FOR.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT CRITICISM FOR PERHAPS UNDERCOUNTING THOSE NUMBERS AND MAKING IT NOT SEEM AS BAD AS IT ACTUALLY WAS.

LAURA, I GUESS -- HOW DO YOU SEE THE WAY THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO HAS HANDLED THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE COVID CRISIS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT HE WAS VERY MUCH SORT OF A BIT OF A LEADER, LET'S SAY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRISIS.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THE EARLY CRITICISM OVER HIS HANDLING OF HOW NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WERE TREATED WAS BASED ON THIS LATE MARCH HEALTH DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE THAT ORDERED ALL NURSING HOMES TO ACCEPT RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD A COVID DIAGNOSIS, NOT TO TEST THEM AND TO ACCEPT THEM FROM HOSPITALS.

AT THE TIME, THE GUIDANCE WAS REASONABLE.

IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE.

THE INTENTION WAS, THE FEAR THAT PEOPLE WOULD OVERWHELM THE HOSPITALS AND THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD RECOVERED FROM COVID WERE ELDERLY AND HAD COME FROM NURSING HOMES, COULD BE SENT TO NURSING HOMES BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR THERE TO CON HAVE ALESS, IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR THIS OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PATIENTS, THE WAVE THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING, SO, THERE'S BEEN CRITERI CRITERIA SIMILAR OF THAT GUIDANCE, THE SUGGESTION IT MAY HAVE INTRODUCED COVID TO SOME NURSING HOMES WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.

I DON'T ASSUME BAD FAITH IN ISSUING IT.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG ULTIMATELY, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MALINTENTIONED.

WE KNEW SO LITTLE ABOUT THE VIRUS AT THAT TIME.

BUT WHAT'S BEEN REALLY PROBLEMATIC IS, THE COVERUP IS WORSE THAN THE CRIME.

IT'S TAKEN MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS FOR THE STATE TO RELEASE THIS IMPORTANT NUMBER, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY AN UNDERCOUNT, IT'S THE WAY THAT THEY WERE DECIDING TO PRESENT THE NUMBERS.

THEY SHOWED THE DEATHS ONLY OF THOSE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHO DIED WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF THEIR NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED CARE FACILITY AND NOT THE DEATHS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIED THERE.

AND THAT'S A FUNDAMENTALLY MISLEADING NUMBER, BECAUSE AS WE SAW LAST WEEK, WHEN YOU ADD IN THOSE FIGURES AND THEY FINALLY RELEASED THEM AFTER MANY MONTHS OF STONEWALLING, THE NUMBER OF NURSING HOME DEATHS IS JUST SO MUCH HIGHER AND IT'S NOT TO SAY WHO'S FAULT EACH ONE OF THOSE GUESTS IS, THERE'S NO REASON TO PRESENT A TRUE AND ACCURATE NUMBER OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHO DIED AND WHAT PERCENTAGE THEY ARE OF THE STATE'S OVERALL DEATHS.

THERE'S NO PRIDE OR HUMILIATION IN ANY OF IT, IT'S ALL AWFUL AND A TRAGEDY, BUT THERE'S SIMPLY NO REASON NOT TO TELL THE PUBLIC THE TRUTH.

>> PROFESSOR, AS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, I'M WONDERING, HOW DOES A STORY NARRATIVE LIKE THIS -- WHAT DO YOU SEE IT DOING TO THE PUBLIC TRUST OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS?

BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR, AS YOU AND J.C. HAVE BOTH POINTED OUT, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHEN IT COMES TO, HOW DO WE BEST MOVE FORWARD IN DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS AND THE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

>> WELL, I THINK, JENNA, IT CONFIRMS THE WORST INTINGTS THAT MANY IN THE PUBLIC HAVE ABOUT THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS THAT POLITICIANS, WHEN THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T SUPPORT THEIR ACTIONS, WILL HIDE IT, BE SILENT ABOUT IT, OBFUSCATE AND WHEN IT DOES BENEFIT THEM, THEY'LL REVEAL IT.

AND IF, IN FACT, AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE AND RELEASED A REPORT AND OTHER FINDINGS MAY WELL BECOME AVAILABLE, IF, IN FACT, THE GOVERNOR HAS HIDDEN OR ON FUSS KATED THE FACTS ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF DEATHS CONNECTED TO NURSING HOMES, THEN IT IS A REAL, GENUINE, HORRIFIC BREACH OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.

I'VE BEEN AS COMPLIMENTARY ON THE GOVERNOR'S COMMUNICATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID.

HE PROVIDED A GREAT DEAL OF EMOTIONAL RELIEF TO MANY NEW YORKERS WHO WERE LOOKING FOR A VOICE.

THERE WAS NONE FORTHCOMING FROM THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, SO GOVERNOR CUOMO, I THINK, JUST FROM A COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT, DID A FORMIDABLE JOB IN AT LEAST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS WAS SERIOUS AND PRESENT.

I THINK NEW YORKERS, AT THE TIME, CERTAINLY LAUDED HIM, MANY IN THE COUNTRY DID.

BUT IF THIS IS, IN FACT, THE REALITY, THEN IT REALLY IS A SCANDAL OF THE FIRST ORDER AND I THINK SUGGESTS THE WORST, AGAIN, CONFIRMS THE WORST INSTINCTS ABOUT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME MORE INFORMATION, BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME POSITIVES, FOLLOWED THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, NO ADDITIONAL DEATHS CONFIRMED FROM THESE ACTIONS, NOT AN UNDERCOUNT, PER SE, BUT A SPECIFIC KIND OF UNDERCOUNT, IF THOSE FACTS ARE CONFIRMED, YOU KNOW, IT IS A GRIEVOUS AND TERRIBLE ACT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR IF IT CAN BE TRACED DIRECTLY TO HIM.

AND DISAPPOINTING BEYOND RECOGNITION.

>> OF COURSE.

J.C., I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME OF THE LAST THOUGHTS HERE, BUT I WANT TO TURN THE SUB JEBLGT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

THERE IS -- THERE WAS AT LEAST THE INTENT ON THE PART OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DELIVER A MASSIVE STIMULUS PACKAGE FOR THE COUNTRY, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING JUST FINANCIALLY, FOR BUSINESSES, ET CETERA, AND, OF COURSE, AND ALSO FOR HELP IN DELIVERING THE VACCINE AND THERE NOW SEEMS TO BE, WELL, NOT SEEMS TO BE, THERE IS DEFINITELY NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BECAUSE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MASSIVE PRICE TAG AND THAT THEY WANT TO SCALE IT BACK AND PERHAPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO STIMULUS CHECKS, DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE TARGETED.

AGAIN, I KEEP CIRCLING BACK TO THIS ISSUE OF PUBLIC TRUST.

THERE WAS A LOT OF, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, A HOPE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THIS UNIFIER AND GET SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS DONE THAT PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEEDED AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WASHINGTON GO BACK TO BEING WASHINGTON.

SO, WITH ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT, I'D LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO HAS HAD SEVERAL DECADES IN THE SENATE, HE KNOWS HOW THIS FUNCTIONS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET 100% OF YOU ASK.

BUT HE'S GOING TO GET SOME THINGS DONE.

AND I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE PUT FORTH A PLAN THAT'S A LITTLE LESS MONEY THAN THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED FOR, EXTENDS UNEMPLOYMENT $300 A WEEK UNTIL JUNE, DOESN'T EXACTLY GIVE THEM ALL OF THE MONEY THAT HE'S ASKING FOR TO OPEN UP SCHOOLS ON TIME, PROVIDE STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING, MAKE SURE THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS MORE SUCCESSFUL, SO, I THINK THAT THE NEGOTIATION IS GOING TO BE SUCCESS.

.

I THINK THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET EVERYTHING WE WANT IN NEW YORK, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.

AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH SO MANY SENATORS.

IF I MAY, REAL QUICK, I THINK THAT WHAT WE SAW LAST WEEK, TO DOVE TAIL ON WHAT PROFESSOR ANBAR AND LAURA SAID, FIRST, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HIRE LAURA NOW, BECAUSE SHE'S A PERFECT P.R.

STRATEGIST.

I THINK WE SAW A STAR BORN LAST WEEK WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES.

SHE'S BEEN A STAR FOR A LONG TIME, I RAN AGAINST HER IN '17 IN A GREAT CAMPAIGN, BUT WHAT WE SAW WITH SOMEONE THAT WAS ABLE TO COME AGAINST SOMEONE IN HER OWN PARTY, IN HER OWN LEADERSHIP, TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT GIVES YOU GRAVITAS ST STATEWIDE.

I THINK THE SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES RIGHT NOW.

SHE MAY BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE UNITED STATES, FUTURE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

SHE'S GETTING A LOT OF PRAISE.

INDEPENDENT VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE RESPECT HER FOR HOW SHE CAME AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND NOW HOLDING THE GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABLE.

SO, WE MAY HAVE SEEN A SUPERSTAR BORN LAST WEEK WITH THIS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AS TO THE DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES.

>> OF COURSE, LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS WITH POLITICS, TIME WILL TELL ON THAT ONE.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF MY GUESSES, PROFESSOR ANBAR, LAURA, J.C., THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKLY ROUNDTABLE AND OF COURSE GIVING US DEEPER INSIGHT TO THE ISSUES THAT WE'LL BE FACING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JENNA.

"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 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