>>> OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC.

A SPECIAL REPORT ON HOW THE STATE AND CITY ARE TACKLING A DEADLY CRISIS KILLING 16 NEW YORKERS EVERY DAY.

WHY OFFICIALS ARE NOW EMBRACING HARM REDUCTION AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SAVE LIVES.

WE GO INSIDE THE ICONIC CHELSEA HOTEL WHO REFUSED TO MOVE OUT EVEN AFTER IT BECOME AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

"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, D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

BY NEARLY EVERY MEASURE, THE OVERDOSE CRISIS CONTINUES TO WORK.

IN NEW YORK STATE 16 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY OF AN OVERDOSE.

THAT'S ONE PERSON EVERY THREE HOURS.

JUST FIVE YEARS AGO IT WAS ONE PERSON EVERY EIGHT HOURS.

NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN TO FUND AND PROMOTE HARM REDUCTION AS PART OF THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO COMBAT WHAT HAS BECOME A RELENTLESS AND TRAGIC SITUATION.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO PUSHING BACK AGAINST THIS BRUTAL EPIDEMIC, THIS CHANGE HAS RELEASED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND OPENED UP AN ENTIRELY NEW SET OF RESPONSE TACTICS, FROM THE WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF THE OVERDOSE DRUG MA LOCKS OWN TO THE EXPANSION OF NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU A SERIES OF STORIES ON HOW NEW YORK IS CHANGING THE WAY IT DOES THINGS IN AND AROUND THE CITY TO SAVE LIVES.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER HAS OUR STORY TODAY.

>> THE NUMBER ONE MESSAGE WE ALWAYS GIVE IS NEVER USE ALONE.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE HARM REDUCTION STRATEGY.

IF THEY HEAR NOTHING ELSE, NEVER USE ALONE.

WHEN YOU USE ALONE THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO RESPOND IN CASE YOU OVERDOSE.

>> FOR A NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYEE TO BE SPEAKING THIS FREELY AND OPENLY ABOUT HOW INDIVIDUALS SHOULD APPROACH THEIR DRUG USE IS A TESTAMENT TO A CHANGING TIDE.

FOR MARY BREWSTER, NEW YORK'S NEWLY APPOINTED ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR HARM REDUCTION, SUCH A FRANK AND HONEST CONVERSATION IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> WE KNOW PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS USE DRUGS.

IF WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO USE DRUGS, HOW DO WE GET THEM TO USE DRUGS AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE AND RECOGNIZING THAT EVERY SINGLE LIFE HAS VALUE AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE THAT LIFE.

>> Reporter: AS PART OF HER POSITION, THE VERY FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN NEW YORK, BREWSTER WILL SPEND MUCH OF THE NEXT YEAR VISITING REHABILITATION CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE, HELPING FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE WITH THEIR NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION, FENTANYL TESTING AND NEEDLE EXCHANGE EFFORTS.

TODAY SHE'S MEETING WITH TWIN COUNTY RECOVERY SERVICES IN HUDSON, NEW YORK.

>> MAKING SURE ALL THE MOMS HAVE NALOXONE AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR KIDS THEY KNOW ARE USING OPIOIDS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE, LET ME KNOW SO I CAN BE READY WITH NALOXONE IN CASE.

>> Reporter: HARM REDUCTION PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN HIV INFECTIONS AMONG INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS.

ACTIVISTS LAUNCHED CLEAN NEEDLE CAMPAIGNS.

IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE AIDS FOUNDATION CREATED A MASCOT, BLEACH MAN.

>> CLEANING IS EASY.

>> Reporter: WHILE HARM REDUCTION HAS BEEN USED FOR DECADES, THE TERM HAS NEVER BEEN USED AS PART OF ANY FEDERAL RESPONSE.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INCLUDED THE TERM HARM REDUCTION IN LAST YEAR'S FEDERAL BUDGET.

THE INCLUSION COMES AS RESEARCH CONTINUES TO POINT TO THE EFFICACY OF THE APPROACH.

NEARLY 30 YEARS OF RESEARCH SHOW THAT USERS OF SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS OR SSPs ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ENTER DRUG TREATMENT AND ABOUT THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THOSE WHO DON'T USE SSPs.

>> HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION USE THE TERM "HARM REDUCTION?"

>> IT WAS HUGE.

IT WAS HUGE.

FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO, ONE, SAY THE WORD AND THEN TO FUND IT.

>> Reporter: AS PART OF THE $42.5 BILLION BUDGET FOR THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL AGENCIES, THE BUDGET EARMARKED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NALL LAX OWN AND DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

>> THOSE STILL STRUGGLING, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I SEE YOU.

>> WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REALLY HELP KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE.

>> Reporter: DR. CUNNINGHAM WAS APPOINTED COMMISSIONER OF NEW YORK'S ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS OASIS BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL IN JANUARY.

>> WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THINGS ARE IN WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

>> WE'RE IN THE WORST OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC ON RECORD.

IN NEW YORK STATE 16 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY OF OVERDOSE.

THIS IS INVOLVING MOTHERS, FATHERS, CHILDREN, AUNTS, UNCLES, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS.

THERE'S NO PLACE THIS DOESN'T TOUCH.

I THINK THERE'S NO FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL THAT THIS DOESN'T TOUCH.

>> Reporter: WHILE CUNNINGHAM HAS BEEN WORKING IN ADDICTION SERVICES FOR DECADES, SHE SAYS THE OFFICIAL ADOPTION OF HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES IS SUBSTANTIAL.

>> THERE'S A TON OF EVIDENCE, DECADES OF EVIDENCE ACROSS THE WORLD THAT SHOWS THAT HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS ARE REALLY EFFECTIVE.

THIS IS ALSO USING A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.

THIS IS A MEDICAL CONDITION.

WE NEED SCIENCE TO HELP GUIDE OUR WORK.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MORALITY AND WEAKNESS OR STRENGTH.

IT'S ABOUT A MEDICAL CONDITION.

SO WE NEED TO APPROACH IT IN THAT WAY.

>> WHAT'S A GREATER CHALLENGE, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY OF USERS OR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY OF NON-USERS AS IT RELATES TO UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING HARM REDUCTION AS A POLICY?

>> WE ALL GREW UP HEARING THE SAME MESSAGES IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO DOCTORS, LAYPEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.

THOSE MESSAGES WERE JUST SAY NO, AND THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DRUGS WHICH, FRANKLY, ARE HARMFUL.

SO I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF UNLEARNING WHAT THOSE EARLIER MESSAGES CONVEYED.

>> I GOT THIS TATTOO BEFORE I GOT THE JOB, BUT I LITERALLY HAVE A TATTOO THAT SAYS ANY POSITIVE CHANGE, IT'S MY HARM REDUCTION TATTOO.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE, HOW DO THINGS LOOK TO YOU?

>> IN FIVE YEARS IN NEW YORK CITY WE'VE GOT FROM ONE PERSON DYING EVERY EIGHT HOURS TO EVERY THREE HOURS.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO RECOGNIZE HARM REDUCTION IS LEGITIMATE AND TO ACTUALLY PUT MONEY INTO OUR FIELD.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT AND HOPEFUL.

I HAVE TO BE HOPEFUL.

IF I'M NOT HOPEFUL, WHAT'S IT ALL FOR?

WE HAVE TO THINK WE CAN MAKE CHANGE.

>> ON DECEMBER 16th, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE LAUNCHING A HARM REDUCTION RESEARCH NETWORK.

THE $36 MILLION NETWORK WILL FUND NINE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND CREATE ONE COORDINATING CENTER.

THE NETWORK WILL BE THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR "METROFOCUS," I'M CHRISTOPHER BOOKER.

>> WHILE THE TIDE MAY BE CHANGING IN THE WAY NEW YORK IS RESPONDING TO THE OVERDOSE CRISIS, FOR THOSE WHO SPENT DECADES ON THE FRONT LINES, THERE IS A LONG WAY BETWEEN POLICY AND THE STREET.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER HAS MORE ON THAT STORY AS PART OF OUR ON GOING SERIES.

>> Reporter: TODAY IN FAR ROCKAWAY QUEENS, JOHN McCAIN ANY SIMMONS STARTED WITH HANDOUT Z AT McDONALD'S.

HER FRIEND WAITED OUTSIDE WHILE SHE DISTRIBUTED NALOXONE AND FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

WE WERE ASKED NOT TO FILM INSIDE.

>> THESE ARE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THOSE?

>> Reporter: SIMMONS IS AN ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY HAS A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE MANAGER WHO ALLOWS HER TO CONNECT WITH THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY WHO GATHER IN AND AROUND THE RESTAURANT FOR PRIVACY.

McDONALD'S IS THE FIRST STOP.

NEXT IS A NEARBY PARK.

>> IF SOMEONE IS OVERDOSING, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE IN THE PARK THAT'S OVERDOSING -- >> HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT WORK?

>> PRETTY MUCH THREE DECADES IF YOU INCLUDE HIV PREVENTION.

I STARTED WORKING IN OPIOID PREVENTION ABOUT 2013 I THINK.

>> Reporter: TAKING WHAT YOU KNEW FROM YOUR HIV/AIDS WORK INTO THIS WORLD, HOW DIFFERENT IS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK I STARTED WORKING IN OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION BECAUSE I STARTED TO RECOGNIZE THE SENSE THAT OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS WERE SURGING, VERY SIMILAR TO THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.

WE REALIZED A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO DIE.

>> I DON'T TAKE DRUGS.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU STILL MAY BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE SEEING SOMEONE -- >> YEAH.

WE SEE EVERYBODY.

>> HARM REDUCTION IS ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, JUST TREATING SOMEONE DECENTLY LIKE YOU WOULD ANYBODY ELSE IS THE KIND OF INTERVENTION.

OFTEN A SIMPLE ENGAGEMENT, I THINK JUST OFFERING SOMEBODY A TOOL THAT CAN HELP SAVE THEIR LIFE IS REALLY EFFECTIVE.

>> FOR KEYLESS, THIS APPROACH WAS BORN FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE.

HE'S BEEN IN RECOVERY SINCE 1991.

>> HARM REDUCTION IS NOT A SIMPLE -- HOW CAN I SAY -- A SIMPLE THING TO EXPLAIN TO INDIVIDUALS.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HARM REDUCTION.

HARM REDUCTION IS, YOU WANT ME TO STOP USING.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO.

I JUST WANT YOU TO USE SAFER.

SAFER IS A WAY OF SAYING YOU'RE REDUCING YOUR HARM.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING LIKE HARM REDUCTION WHEN YOU WERE USING?

>> NO, NO.

OTHER THAN THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF IT IN MY FAMILY TAKING ME INTO A CHURCH AND LET THEM PRAY OVER ME, THAT WAS HARM REDUCTION AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED.

GET THE DEVIL OUT OF YOU SO TO SPEAK.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE?

>> HEROIN WAS MY DRUG OF CHOICE.

ALTHOUGH I WASN'T ASHAMED TO SAY I USED WHATEVER DRUGS CAME MY WAY.

BUT IF WE TALK ABOUT DRUGS OF CHOICE, IT WAS HEROIN.

>> WHEN YOU WERE USING FENTANYL WAS NOT ON THE SCENE, WAS IT?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS.

IT WAS ALWAYS STRAIGHT UP HEROIN.

>> WOULD YOU WANT TO CARRY THIS?

>> NO.

>> YEAH.

WHY NOT?

>> I'D CARRY IT.

>> Reporter: AS KEYLESS POINTS OUT, HIS EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF THE HIV/AIDS CRISIS ILLUSTRATE HOW EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF A KNOWN RISK LIKE INFECTION OR A POTENTIALLY DEADLY OVERDOSE, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO REACH USERS.

>> THEY STARTED TO GIVE IT A NAME, HIV.

HOW DO YOU GET HIV?

WELL, WE'RE GETTING IT MAINLY THROUGH INJECTION DRUG USE, AND WE REALLY DIDN'T CARE.

WE USED.

TODAY IS THE SAME SITUATION.

THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY USE, KNOWING THAT THERE IS -- FENTANYL MAY BE IN THE MIX OF THE PRODUCT THEY'RE BUYING.

THEY'RE STILL USING.

>> WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THINGS THEN?

>> WELL, WE THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO IMPROVE THE MESSAGE AND A WAY TO DELIVER THAT INFORMATION WITH ENOUGH INFORMATION AND ENOUGH FORCE TO MAKE THEM REALIZE THE DANGER THAT'S INVOLVED RIGHT NOW.

DANGERS THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE BACK THEN, BUT DANGERS NOW.

>> DOES THE FACT THAT NEW YORK NOW HAS AN OFFICE DEDICATED TO HARM REDUCTION, DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR WORK?

DOES IT HELP YOUR WORK?

>> WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROCESS.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A REALLY LONG TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE.

>> Reporter: WHILE SIMMONS SAYS SHE APPLAUSE THE BROADER APPROACH OF HARM REDUCTION, SHE SAYS THEY RISK OF BEING PUSHED ASIDE AS HARM REDUCTION BECOMES PART OF THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

FOR "METROFOCUS," I'M CHRISTOPHER BOOKER.

>> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP, PLEASE CALL THE NEW YORK HELP LINE ANY TIME AT 877-8-HOPE-NY.

YOU CAN TEXT 467369 OR VISIT THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WEBSITE AT OASAS.NY.GOV.

>>> THE CHELSEA HOTEL HAS ONE BEEN ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S CULTURAL HUBSMENT FOR YEARS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, WRITERS AND OTHERS LIVED, WORKED AND SOCIALIZED THERE.

HOWEVER, IN 2011 THE CHELSEA HOTEL CLOSED ITS DOORS TO GUESTS AND BEGAN A MORE THAN TEN-YEAR-LONG RENOVATION PROCESS THAT FORCED MANY TENANTS OUT.

SOME, HOWEVER, STAYED BEHIND, CHOOSING TO LIVE AMONGST THE CONSTRUCTION RATHER THAN LEAVE THE RICH CULTURAL LEGACY OF THE CHELSEA BEHIND.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY MARTIN SCORSESE TITLED "DREAMING WALLS: INSIDE THE CHELSEA HOTEL" TELLS THE STORY OF THOSE HOLDOUTS WHO REFUSED TO MOVE AND THE HOTEL'S STOIED PASS.

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> THE CHELSEA RIGHT NOW IS A KIND OF -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD SAY.

HOLDOUTS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, HARD TO IMAGINE, WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.

THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY ANY STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE, BUT EACH HAVE THEIR REASON FOR WANTING TO STAY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO REALLY ARE THE REMNANTS OF ANOTHER TIME IN NEW YORK WHEN MANHATTAN WAS A BOHEMIAN AND AVANT GARD CENTER OF ACTIVITY, WHEN THE ART WORLD WAS REALLY LIVELY AND VIBRANT AND JUICY AND ART WAS BEING MADE HERE IN MANHATTAN.

NOW I THINK THAT TIME IS GONE.

>> JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THIS FASCINATING NEW DOCUMENTARY WHICH IS OUT NOW IN THEATERS AND ON STREAMING SERVICES IS MAYA DUVERDIER AND SKYE FERRANTE.

MAYA IS THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE FILM AND SKYE IS AN ARTIST AND FORMER RESIDENT OF THE CHELSEA HOTEL.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND JUST ASK, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS HOTEL THAT DREW YOU, ITS STORY AND THE IDEA OF MAKING A FILM?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD THIS HOTEL IN MIND FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS WHEN I OFFERED HER THE BOOK WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.

I CAN SAY AS YOUNG ARTISTS, YOUNG WOMEN WE GREW UP WITH THIS MYTHOLOGY IN MIND.

BUT I GUESS CHANCE LED US TO THE REAL CHELSEA.

FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE IN NEW YORK AND SHE WAS SHOWING HER LAST FEATURE FILM IN TRIBECA, AND THE CINEMA WAS IN THE SAME STREET AS THE HOTEL.

SO WE JUST BUMPED INTO THE HOTEL.

WE RECOGNIZED IT, OF COURSE.

WHEN WE SAW THERE WAS SCAFFOLDING, WE WERE VERY CURIOUS, SO WE DECIDED TO ENTER AS I GUESS EVERY TOURIST WOULD HAVE DONE.

OUR CHANCE WAS THAT, INSTEAD OF BEING KICKED OUT BY THE PERSON, WOMAN, CHOREOGRAPHER, SHE STARTED TO TALK TO US, AND WE GOT ON WELL WITH EACH OTHER.

THEN WE INVITED HER TO SEE AMELIA'S MOVIE.

SHE INVITED US BACK IN HER ROOM.

THAT WAS THE REAL ENTRANCE IN THE CHELSEA.

THEN WE UNDERSTOOD THE WHOLE SITUATION, THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THE WORK AND THE WHOLE STORY THAT YOU KNOW.

>> ONE FOLLOWUP QUESTION.

I'M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE TITLES THAT ARTISTS CHOOSE FOR THEIR WORK.

TELL ME ABOUT "DREAMING WALLS."

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHEN WE ENTERED FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE SAW THE ACTUAL WALLS TOTALLY DECREPIT AND THE HOTEL WAS LIKE A BODY AMEND LIVE, ALMOST BREATHING.

WE HAD VERY STRONG IMAGE OF WALLS BEING -- BREATHING, BEING LIVING, MAYBE DREAMING OR SO AND REALLY FULL OF ALL THE DREAMS, THE ARTISTS' DREAMS AND THE UTOPIAS THAT WERE CREATED IN THIS PLACE.

WE HAD IN MIND THAT THIS PLACE WAS A KIND OF PROTECTING INSIDE THESE WALLS, ALL THESE CREATIONS AND DREAMS.

>> OKAY.

WELL, SKYE, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR HISTORY WITH THE HOTEL.

WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH IT?

>> WELL, TO BEGIN, I'M NOT A TENANT OR A HOLDOUT, AS THEY REFERRED TO BY THE DIRECTORS.

I'M AN ARTIST PASSING THROUGH.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RESIDING THERE FOR A FEW YEARS, ALMOST TWO YEARS.

BUT THE CHELSEA STILL FASCINATES ME.

I'M GLAD I HAD MY CHELSEA PERIOD AND I LEFT BECAUSE I CAN LOOK BACK ON IT WITH A DIFFERENT SENSIBILITY.

AS AN ARTIST, AS A SCULPTOR, I TEND TO SCULPT PEOPLE THAT INTEREST ME.

I'M A STORY JUNKIE, SO I WRITE ABOUT THE PEOPLE I SCULPT AND I FOUND THE CHELSEA HOTEL TO BE A STORY MAGNET.

I NOTICED A STRANGE PHENOMENON AFTER ABOUT THREE MONTHS LIVING IN MY ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, AND THEN LATER I LIVED ON THE SIXTH FLOOR.

THE MODELS THAT WOULD COME TO SIT FOR ME AS WELL AS GUESTS OR THE OCCASIONAL CLIENT THAT WOULD SIT FOR A PORTRAIT, THEY WERE ARRIVING WITH A PRE WRITTEN SCRIPT IN THEIR HEAD, ARRIVING ALMOST IN COSTUME, SOMETIMES IN COSTUME BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LEAVE A STORY IN THE CHELSEA HOTEL.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT FIRST.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE ODD THAT THERE'S A PERFORMATIVE ELEMENT TO THEIR ARRIVAL.

THEN AS I UNDERSTOOD, THEY'RE COMING FOR THE HOTEL AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THAN FOR ME.

I BEGAN PERFORMING MYSELF, PERFORMING THE MAKING OF ART, AND I WOULD CREATE AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE PORTRAITS THERE WITH THE CLIENT AND COOK FOR THEM.

IT JUST BECAME MORE OF A PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THE CHELSEA BECAME THE STAGE.

IT WAS LIKE MARSHA McCLURE, THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE.

THE CHELSEA WAS THE CANVAS.

IT WAS DIRECTING.

I THINK HAD I STAYED, THOUGH THAT WASN'T REALLY AN OPTION, HAD I STAYED, I WOULD BECOME PART OF THE FURNITURE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE RESIDENTS THERE THAT STAY THERE A LONG TIME IN MY OPINION.

I THINK THE GHOSTS OF THE LIVING, IT'S LIKE THE PICTURE FRAME THAT OUTSHINES THE PAINTING IN IT.

CHELSEA HAS AN EGO OF ITS OWN.

IT IS A STORY MAGNET, AND THAT REALLY DREW ME TO THE PLACE.

I PRODUCED OVER 200 PORTRAITS, SCULPTURES WHILE I WAS THERE, WROTE TWO BOOKS.

FOR THE RECORD, THERE WERE NO GHOSTS, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF MICE.

I MUST HAVE -- EVERY SINGLE TRAP I PUT OUT ENDED UP WITH A MOUSE AT ONE POINT BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.

AT ONE POINT MY MODELS WOULD TYPICALLY POSING NUDE WERE QUITE COLD.

THERE WAS NO HEAT.

WE HAD LOTS OF SPACE HEATERS AROUND TO KEEP THEM WARM.

AS IT HAPPENS, I OFTEN WORK WITH NUDES BECAUSE NAKED PEOPLE TALK AND THEY TELL THE STORIES AND I WRITE THEM DOWN.

AGAIN, SCULPTURE TO WRITING, AND THE HOTEL WAS JUST INCITING IT ALL IN.

>> THAT'S ALL SO FASCINATING BECAUSE THE WAY YOU TALK ABOUT IT, YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHELSEA AS HAVING ITS OWN PERSONHOOD.

I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF CREATIVES THAT A SPACE, A PHYSICAL OBJECT, PERHAPS SOMETHING THE REST OF US MIGHT WALK PAST, CAN HOLD ENERGY FROM PAST EXPERIENCES.

I'M WONDERING, IS THAT THE CASE?

THAT'S WHAT IT'S SOUNDING LIKE, THAT THE CHELSEA WAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT HAS ITS OWN EGO: I THINK WE IMBUE IT WITH THAT ENERGY.

ANYONE THAT PASSES THE CHELSEA, WE COME WITH OUR OWN NOSTALGIA AND SENSE IN IT.

PEOPLE THAT SEE THE FILM, IF THEY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE CHELSEA, THEY MAY HAVE SOME CRITICISMS.

OH, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE MUSICIANS THAT LIVED THERE.

THEY'RE COMPETING WITH THE MYTHOLOGY THEY ALREADY HAVE.

PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN IT THINK, WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

I SAW AT THE THEATER THE 6:40 SHOW, IT WAS FULL AND PEOPLE APPLAUDED.

I KNOW MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE CHELSEA.

I WAS TALKING TO THEM.

THIS WAS JUST A NEW STORY FOR THEM, AND I REALLY CAN'T SPEAK MUCH ABOUT MY CURRENT SITUATION BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE -- I'M REALLY JUST THE ARTIST PASSING THROUGH.

MAYA MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> MAYA, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CHELSEA AS A CHARACTER MORE THAN JUST A BACKDROP, BUT A LIVING, BREATHING ENTITY THAT WAS A BIG PART OF YOUR FILM.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THE CHELSEA IS A BIG MYTH.

I HAVE TO SAY THE FEELING YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ENTER IS NOT A MYTH.

THERE IS THIS VERY STRONG ENERGY THAT CAN SOMETIMES ALSO FILL A LITTLE BIT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IN ENGLISH, BUT YOU CAN'T BREATHE ANYMORE.

I THINK AT THE BEGINNING WE WANTED TO STAY THE MORE WE COULD IN THE CHELSEA.

WE TRIED ALSO TO LIVE IN NEW YORK, TO BE CLOSE TO THE PLACE.

IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT AT THEnd I THINK IT WAS EVEN BETTER TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH, TO ALSO HAVE THE KIND OF DISTANCE OF WHAT WE WERE SEEING AND LIVING BECAUSE I GUESS THIS PLACE IS -- AT THE SAME TIME IT'S A PLACE THAT GIVES YOU STRENGTH, BUT I THINK IT ALSO CAN -- A LITTLE BIT CAN -- IT'S A GOOD VISIT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S TOO MUCH AND YOU CAN LOSE YOURSELF IN A WAY MAYBE.

>> I KNOW YOU BOTH DON'T NECESSARILY -- AND THE FILM DOESN'T NECESSARILY ADDRESS THE -- I GUESS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, BUT I DO JUST WONDER, THERE'S SO MUCH TALK IN NEW YORK ESPECIALLY AS NEW DEVELOPERS COME IN.

A LOT OF NEW YORKERS SEE THE CITY PHYSICALLY CHANGING, NOT JUST WITH CONSTRUCTION BUT ALSO WITH NO POPULATION CHANGES.

THAT'S WHAT NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

I DO WONDER WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AT LEAST FOR THE CHELSEA HOTEL GOING FORWARD.

MAYA, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK FOR THE CHELSEA, UNFORTUNATELY, I GUESS, IT'S KIND OF OVER NOW OR IT'S JUST CONTINUED IN A NEW CYCLE.

I DON'T FEEL CLOSE TO THIS CYCLE.

SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF -- I JUST WOULD LIKE THAT THE PEOPLE NEVER FORGET WHAT THE CHELSEA HAS BEEN, WHO WERE THE PEOPLE, THE FAMOUS PEOPLE, BUT THE LESS FAMOUS PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

I JUST HOPE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS PHILOSOPHY AND THIS ART OF LIVING THAT THE CHELSEA HAS PERMITTED.

WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK CALLED "GENTRIFICATION OF THE MIND."

IT TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ERASE A POPULATION, A COMMUNITY, JUST BY STOPPING TALKING ABOUT IT AND JUST BY PUTTING ANOTHER COMMUNITY ON IT THAT WILL JUST ERASE.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM, IS JUST TO FORGET THE PEOPLE.

I KNOW THAT THINGS CHANGE AND THE CHELSEA HAS HAD A LOT OF OTHER CYCLES.

THE CHELSEA IS -- WILL LIVE FOREVER IN A WAY.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO USED TO LIVE ARE NOT HERE FOREVER.

I JUST HOPE WE REMEMBER WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE WORLD AND THE ART WORLD.

>> WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I WANT TO THANK MY GUESTS, MAYA DUVERDIER AND SUPERINTENDENT.

MY WRA IS THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE FILM AND SKYE IS AN ARTIST WHO WAS PASSING THROUGH AND GOT A CHANCE TODAY AT THE HISTORIC CHELSEA HOW TELL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> METRO FOCUS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILL MAN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND