>>> 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 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, MAYOR ERIC ADAMS FACING MOUNTING PRESSURE ON HIS CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO MAKE NEW YORK CITY SAFER, THIS AFTER A POLICE OFFICER WAS SHOT AND KILLED AND ANOTHER CRITICALLY INJURED DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE CALL IN HARLEM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE FALLEN OFFICER, THE SHOOTING INVESTIGATION AND THE CITY'S RESPONSE.

MEANWHILE, MANHATTAN'S LEADING ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY WANT THE MPA MTA TO PUT IN FLAT-FORM BARRIERS AFTER A MAN WAS SHOT AND ANOTHER MAN INJURED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER BEING PUSHED ON THE TRACK IN LOWER MANHATTAN.

WE'RE ALSO MONITORING THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF THREE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING GEORGE FLOYD'S CIVIL RIGHTS AS DEREK CHAUVIN PINNED FLOYD'S NECK TO THE GROUND.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING AS THE TRIAL BEGINS.

FOR THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON THESE STORIES AND WHAT ELSE DRIVES THE NEWS LET'S WELCOME OUR TRISTATE EXPERTS.

FIST WE WELCOME BACK DR. CHRISTINA GREER.

DR. GREER IS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

SHE'S A PORTHAM UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND CO-HOST OF THE FAQ-NYC PODCAST.

DR. GREER, WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JENNA.

>> WE'RE ALSO WELCOMING BACK J.K. POLANCO, FAMILIAR FACE.

J.C., COMMENTATOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND NOW TEACHES AT SUNY BM CLXT C. SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> IT'S BEEN MAIN BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE TO THE ROUNDTABLE AND THAT IS ELLIS HENNIGAN.

ELLIS IS A "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING PULITZER PRIZE WINNING WINNING COLUMNIST AND WRITES FOR MARKETWATCH.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU GUYS.

>> ELLIS, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

IF YOU CAN RECAP FOR US WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO FRIDAY NIGHT'S TRAGIC SHOOTING.

>> WELL, IT'S A TERRIBLE CRIME.

IT'S JUST THE KIND OF THING POLICE OFFICERS WORRY ABOUT AND ALL OF US SHOULD.

IT CAME IN AS A ROUTINE-SOUNDING DOMESTIC DISPUTE, WOMAN IN HARLEM CALLS 911.

SHE'S A RETIRED CORRECTIONS OFFICER SAYING THAT SHE'S IN SOME SORT OF DISPUTE WHERE HER SON IN THE APARTMENT.

THREE YOUNG COPS SHOW UP AT THE SCENE.

ONE BEGINS TALKING TO THE MOM.

THE OTHER TWO TRY TO SUMMON THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS ACTUALLY 47 YEARS OLD.

AS THEY GO BACK TOWARDS THE BEDROOM WITHOUT WARNING, HE OPENS FIRE, KILLING ONE OFFICER AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDING ANOTHER AND NOW THE CITY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AND WHETHER CRIME IS TRULY FLYING OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN.

>> J.C., I WANT TO BRING YOU 234 BECAUSE THESE TALKS HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME IN NEW YORK, AND USUALLY THE WINTERTIME, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, IS SOMETHING OF A REPRIEVE, WHERE CRIME RATES SEEM TO GO DOWN.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU THAT WE'RE STILL SEEING SO MUCH VIOLENT CRIME, EVEN IN THE COLDEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR?

>> MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE OFFICERS WHO WERE INJURED AND OFFICER WHO LOST HIS LIFE, OFFICER RIVERA.

THIS IS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR THE CITY AND FOR HIS FAMILY.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY AVOIDED.

THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD A LONG RAP SHEET, HAD COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES IN THE PAST, YET HE WAS ALLOWED TO JUST GO IN AND LIVE AMONG US.

WE DON'T KNOW YET IF HE HAS ANY MENTAL ILLNESS.

THIS WILL COME OUT, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE INVESTIGATE WHAT'S GOING ON BUT WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN OUR CITY WHERE GUN CRIMES CONTINUE TO BE REDUCED AT THE PROSECUTORIAL LEVEL.

IN 2003, 2-3 DRUG CRIMES WERE REDUCED TO ATTEMPTED POSSESSION.

THIS SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO CRIMINALS.

WE CONTINUE TO SAY THERE'S A GUN ISSUE, VIOLENCE ISSUE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THERE'S A CRIMINAL ISSUE.

CRIMINALS ARE GETTING THEIR HANDS ON GUNS AND PROSECUTORS DOWNGRADING THESE CHARGES, CREATING HAVOC IN THE COMMUNITY.

PROSECUTORS WILL SAY CRIME ISN'T THAT BAD, IT'S ACTUALLY LESSENING IN OUR CITY.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS CRIME IS ESCALATING IN THE SAME PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE I GREW UP IN AND WHERE MANY KIDS WHO LOOK LIKE ME GREW UP IN AND CURRENTLY LIVE IN.

THESE CRIMINALS ARE WRECKING HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IF WE CONTINUE TO USE THIS CRIME DATA IN TELLING US THE ENTIRE CITY IS DOING BETTER, IT'S NOT TELLING YOU THE FULL PICTURE.

CRIMES IN HARLEM AND SOUTH BRONX CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

IT'S TIME FOR PROSECUTORS TO SOMEPLACE DOWNGRADING POSSESSIONS TO ATTEMPTED POSSESSIONS AND SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE TO CRIMINALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUE TO TERRORIZE OUR KIDS.

>> DR. GREER, HOW DO YOU VIEW TAKING IN THE FULL PICTURE OF INCIDENTS LIKE THIS TRAGIC SHOOTING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT IN HARLEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THE PROSECUTOR WHO WANTED TO READ THE LETTER OF THE CLIENTS OF THE NYPD TO MAKE HIS COMMUNITY BETTER.

I THINK J.C. HAS A POINT THAT SO MUCH OF THE VIOLENT CRIME WE'RE SEEING IS TARGETING PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A COMPLICATED CONVERSATION MAYOR ADAMS IS TRYING TO HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SHORT-TERM CONVERSATION AND LONG-MATERIAL CONVERSATION.

ONE, DEALING WITH THE TRAGEDIES AND CRISES AT HAND.

WE HAD FOUR POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND/OR KILLED SINCE MAYOR ADAMS WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE.

BUT ALSO A LONGER-TERM CONVERSATION.

J.C.

TALKED ABOUT SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN HARLEMS AND SOUTH BRONX AND PARTS OF BROOKLYN BUT WHERE ARE THE RESOURCES FOR SO MANY OF THESE KIDS?

WHERE ARE THE FUNDING FOR THEIR SCHOOLS?

STABILIZED HOMES AND HOUSING.

WE KNOW THERE'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT AFFECT SO MANY INDIVIDUALS, SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DUE TO LEAD POISONING, ASTHMA, ALL TYPES OF MEDICAL ISSUES THAT PUT STRAINS ON FAMILIES FINANCIALLY.

THERE'S A LONGER CONVERSATION I THINK MAYOR ADAMS WANTS TO HAVE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP SOME OF THESE CHILDREN BEFORE THEY GET THEIR HANDS ON GUNS, BEFORE THEY ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR HAVE TO GO TO RIKERS OR WORSE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT CREATED IN THE PAST THREE WEON ERIC ADAMS' WATCH BUT IT IS A CRISIS HE'S GOING TO TRY TO SOLVE AS THE 110th MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

>> MAYOR ADAMS HAS SAID -- AND WE UNDERSTAND HE SHOULD BE DELIVERING SOME SORT OF REMARKS IN REGARDS TO A PLAN HE HAS TO ADDRESS THIS.

ELLIS, FROM WHAT YOU HEARD FROM MAYOR ADAMS, DO YOU HAVE -- IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT DIRECTION HE MIGHT TAKE?

THIS IS A CHALLENGING NEEDLE TO THREAD.

>> GUN VIOLENCE, THAT'S THE FOCUS.

HIS PLAN IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE EFFORTS TO TIGHTEN UP THE GUN LAWS IN THE CITY, TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE RELATIVELY TIGHT LAWS IN NEW YORK OF MANY GUNS THAT COME FROM OTHER STATES, INCLUDING THIS CASE, APPARENTLY, A GUN THAT WAS STOLEN IN BALTIMORE MANY YEARS AGO.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IN THESE DISCUSSIONS IS JUMPING BACK INTO OUR TRADITIONAL REFORMS.

WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER DEBATE ABOUT JAIL REFORM.

BUT THIS HAD NOTHING 20 DO WITH BAIL REFORM.

THIS WAS A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN NOT ON PAROLE AND NO RELATIONSHIP IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HE DID HAVE A GUN, STOLEN GUN BROUGHT IN FROM ANOTHER STATE.

BUT AS WE TRY TO BALANCE THE HUGELY COMPLEX ISSUES OF LETTING THE COPS DO THEIR JOBS, MAKING SURE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY PIECE ARE NOT THAT OF AN OCCUPYING ARMY AND TRY TO FIND SOME BALANCE OF COMMUNITY POLICING THAT WILL BOTH KEEP US SAFE AND NOT ALIENATE THE CITIZENS FROM THE COPS, THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATION'S GOT TO GO.

>> J.C., I KNOW THIS IS -- AGAIN, AS WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY -- I KNOW MAYOR ADAMS HAS SORT OF PRESENTED THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING BACK PLAIN-CLOTHED OFFICERS AND THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH POLICING ALONE?

>> POLICING IS A MAJOR PART OF THIS.

AS FAR AS GUN LAWS, WE HAVE SO MANY GUN LAWS ALREADY.

WE HAVE GUN LAWS ON THE BOOK THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THAT SALE FROM BALTIMORE.

WE HAVE LAWS RIGHT NOW THAT PROHIBIT GUNS BEING IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE ILLEGALLY TO BE CARRIED IN FRONT OF SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE TONS OF LAWS.

GANG MEMBERS DON'T CARE ABOUT LAW.

WE CARE ABOUT LAWS.

LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS CARE ABOUT LAWS.

THOSE GANG BANGERS AND CRIMINALS WHO COMMIT THESE CRIMES AND TERRORIZE OUR FAMILIES DON'T CARE ABOUT ANOTHER ROUNDTABLE, BLUE RIBBON STUDY, SOCIOLOGICAL ARTICLES COMING OUT AND FOR US TO STUDY THIS UNTIL WE'RE BLUE IN THE FACE.

THEY'RE KILLING OUR KIDS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND MOMS AND DADS AND IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO STOP THIS IDEA THAT THE ONLY THING WE NEED TO DO IS PUT MORE LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR ME AS AN ATTORNEY TO GET A GUN IN NEW YORK CITY?

I HAVE TO APPLY, GO TO AN INTERVIEW, WAIT AND FINALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND THEN GET A SECOND INTERVIEW BEFORE I EVEN SEE THE LIGHT OF A FOR A GUN.

HOW MANY MORE LAWS CAN WE PUT IN THE BOOKS TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE?

TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE MAYOR WON THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE MAYOR WON BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING BACK THIS UNIT THAT REMOVED THOUSANDS OF GUNS FROM OUR STREETS.

BUT CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, WE'RE IGNORING THE FACT THESE CRIMINALS COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT LAWS AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

DO WE KNOW TODAY IN NEW YORK CITY WE SPEND MORE MONEY THAN FOR ANY OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR JURISDICTION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?

DO YOU KNOW WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE AND MEDICARE AND SECTION 8 THAN ANYWHERE ELSE?

NONE OF THIS MATTERS.

THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE A CULTURAL ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY I GREW UP IN AND WE DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS IT OR STUDY IT.

TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, WE CONTINUE TO LOSE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE NEED POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE TOUGH ON CRIMES AND WE'RE THANKFUL MAYOR ADAM U.S. GOT ELECTED.

I'M HOPEFUL HE WILL NOT PLAY THESE GAMES LET'S STOP POLICING, DEFUND POLICING, LET'S REMOVE AND GET VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS.

WE HAVE THOSE.

NOTHING IS CHANGING.

OUR KMUN'2"S ARE IN SHAMBLES.

AND WE REALLY ARE HAPPY MAYOR ADAMS IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> DR. GREER, THERE ARE STILL AT THE SAME TIME WHILE J.C. MAKES A LOT OF EXCELLENT POINTS, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE PHRASE TOUGH ON CRIME IS ALMOST TRIGGERING.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT AT LEAST WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT MAYOR ADAMS MIGHT BE TRYING TO DO HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYONE -- THE FULL IDEAS AS TO WHAT ERIC ADAMS IS GOING TO DO.

I FIND ERIC ADAMS QUITE AN INTERESTING POLITICIAN IN THE SENSE HE SPEAKS IN MULTIPLE FREQUENCIES SO MANY NEW YORKERS CAN HEAR WHAT THEY WANT/NEED TO HEAR.

ON ONE HAND HE WILL TALK ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER ON IN ANOTHER HANDED TALK ABOUT BE BLACK-ON-BLACK CRIME IN THE SAME BREADTH.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A TRAGIC DEATH AND LOSS OF A POLICE OFFICER, THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF A NEW YORK CITY CITIZEN WHO DIED.

A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE IT OFTENTIMES ENDS IN THE DEATH OF THE PERSON WHO MADE THAT PHONE CALL.

THIS IS THE CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING.

WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT, ERIC ADAMS BROUGHT UP THE CONVERSATION OF THE IRON PIPELINE ON I-95, AND HE CAMPAIGNED ON NOT JUST BEING TOUGH ON CRIME BUT USING THE LATE DESMOND TUTU QUOTE, INSTEAD OF PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER WHEN THEY'RE DROWNING, FIGURE OUT WHERE ON THE WATERFALL THEY'RE FALLING IN.

SO I THINK HE WANTS TO HAVE A IS CONFERRING ABOUT WHERE DO WE BEGIN IN A HOLISTIC SENSE TO GET COMMUNITIES THE SUPPORT THEY NEED?

I DON'T KNOW IT'S NECESSARILY JUST SITTING ON A COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE BUT I DO THINK SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE DOES HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND QUITE HONESTLY WHO HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND BY DEEP AND SIGNIFICANT WAYS I WOULD ARGUE FROM de BLASIO TO BLOOMBERG TO EVEN GIULIANI.

THIS WILL BE A SPECIFIC SET OF CONVERSATIONS WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD.

LUCKILY, I HAVE A LOT OF CRITIQUE FOR MAYOR ADAMS BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A CONVERSATION HE'S WILLING TO HAVE.

I WOULD, LIKE ELLIS' THOUGHTS ON I'M NOT A FAN OF MAYORS GIVING CLUELESS PRESS CONFERENCES WITHOUT GIVING JOURNALISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

I DO THINK WE HAVE A VERY SOLID PRESS CORE IN NEW YORK CITY THAT WANTS TO PUSH MAYOR ADAMS ON JUST SOME OF THE POINTS J.C. HAS MADE, HOW IS THIS GOING TO GET DONE?

THAT IS A CONCERN I HAVE THAT ERIC ADAMS IS PRESENTING IDEAS TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK AND NOT NECESSARILY GETTING THE PUSHBACK FROM JOURNALISTS DURING QUESTIONING.

>> ELLIS, AS YOUR TAKE AS AN JOURNALIST, IS THIS PERHAPS AN INDICATION OF CHALLENGING OR PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR FROM MAYOR ADAMS?

>> LISTEN, HE'S A REALLY INTERESTING POLITICIAN.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES HE HAS IS FLEXIBILITY.

HE'S PRESENTED HIMSELF IN A NUANCED AND COMPLEX WAY.

HE'S NOT A CLEAR PROGRESSIVE OR CLEAR REACTIONARY.

HE'S A GUY WHO CAN SAY A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, HE WAS A LIEUTENANT ON THE TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HE WAS RUNNING THE GUARDIANS ASSOCIATION.

HE WAS QUITE A REBEL ROUSER.

QUIETLY AS A REPORTER, QUITE A GOOD SOURCE, I MUST SAY.

THE IDEA BACK THEN THIS WOULD BE THE FUTURE MAYOR OF NEW YORK WOULD SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT HE'S GOTTEN HERE THROUGH A MODERN AND COMPLICATED WAY THAT DOES GIVE HIM SOME FLEXIBILITY.

HE CAN BE TOUGH ON CRIME BUT ALSO TALK LANGUAGE OF COMMUNITY POLICING AND TRYING TO FIND SOME SKIEPD OF WAY TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

THIS ISN'T THE ALL GO BE A BEAT COP AND ISN'T JUST THROW UP YOUR HANDS AND NOT GIVE A DARN ABOUT IT.

LET'S WATCH.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE ANSWER YET.

>> J.C., I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING HOW WE CAN BLUE PANEL STUDY OUR WAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION BECAUSE WHAT WE DO KNOW, AT LEAST, IS MAYOR ADAMS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAVE BOTH REQUESTED THE FEDS COME IN AND STEP IN AND HELP ROUND UP MORE OF THE STOLEN GUNS IN THE CITY.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A RESPONSE PERHAPS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL SEEING HOW SOME OF THESE GUNS ARE COMING IN FROM OTHER STATES?

>> THE ISSUE, AND I WANT TO REITERATE, 2-3 GUN CRIMES -- 2-3 ILLEGAL GUNS IN OUR STREETS THAT WERE ACTUALLY HAVING A CRIMINAL GET ARRESTED FOR HAVING THEM IN THEIR POSSESSION WERE DOWNGRADED FROM POSSESSION TO ATTEMPTED POSSESSION.

THAT ALLOWS THEM TO NOT GET AN ACTUAL HEARING AND BE RELEASED BACK TO OUR STREETS.

THIS WAS DONE AT A TIME IN OUR CITY WHERE FOLKS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NO HISTORICAL REFERENCE POINTS, AS I WAS GROWING UP IN THE BRONX, THEY GET ELECTED TO OFFICE AND ARE PUSHING IN THESE UTOPIAN IDEAS AND TRY TO MAKE LAWS WHERE EVERYBODY HOLDS HANDS AND SINGS KUMBAYA AND ALLOWS CRIMINAL GANG MEMBERS TO GO BACK ON THE STREETS AND WRECK HAVOC IN THE SAME COMMUNITIES THESE ELECTORS PURPORT TO CARE ABOUT.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE A COMMITTEE AND DO ALL OF THE THINGS WE WILL DO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF LAWS IN PLACE THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED MANY OF THE CRIMES WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY.

YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE PEACE.

YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE CHANGING THE CULTURE IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

IT'S NOT FINANCIAL.

AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS PART, WE SPEND MORE THAN ANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, WE SPEND MORE ON SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE ARE SPENDING IT ON VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION.

YOU CANNOT GIVE ME MORE LAWS.

LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS CARE ABOUT LAWS.

THESE CRIMINALS JUST DON'T AND WE'RE LIVING IN LA LA LAND THINKING THEY WILL.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK MAYOR ADAMS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL ARE ON TO SOMETHING, THEY'RE GOING TO GET GUNS AND WRECK HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITY SO WE'VE GOT TO GET TOUGH.

I KNOW THAT'S TRIGGERING FOR SOME BUT IT'S TRIGGERING WHEN I HEAR A YOUNG KID WAS SHOT IN MY COMMUNITY.

SO THAT TRIGGERS ME.

SO PICK YOUR POISON.

>> WHAT ABOUT ONE OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS THAT'S BEEN FLOATED RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS GETTING THE MTA TO PUT IN SUBWAY BARRIERS?

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES HAPPENING RECENTLY, A YOUNG WOMAN WAS PUSHED TO HER DEATH, SOMEONE ELSE PUSHED SERIOUSLY INJURED ON THE SUBWAY TRACK.

THAT IS A FEAR I THINK THAT GOES ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACROSS BARRIERS, ANYONE ON THE SUBWAY PLATFORM KNOWS HOW EASILY IT CAN BE FOR YOU TO GET PUSHED.

>> I THINK IT'S TIME WE GET IT DONE.

I THINK WE HAVE THE POLITICAL LAW NOW NECESSARY TO GET THIS DONE.

WE HAVE BARRIERS TO PROTECT US FROM ROLLER COASTERS BUT FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ALL THERE AND ARE SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL AND WANT TO WRECK HAVOC ON OUR TRAINS.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE DO IT.

>> FROM MAYBE A 3,000 FOOT VIEW OR SOMETHING, IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE TREATING THE SYMPTOM AND NOT THE CAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING BARRIERS UP OR IS THIS ACTUALLY A PUBLIC SAFETY MOVE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO WORK OR TO GO HOME?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK BARRIERS ARE THE SOLUTION.

I DON'T THINK SOMEBODY HAS TO TEACH MANDATORY IN PERSON AND RIDES THE SUBWAY QUITE A BIT.

WE HAVE A WHOLE PROBLEM OR UNHEALTHY PROBLEM, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES WHO HAVE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I DON'T THINK BARRIERS ARE THE SOLUTION I THINK FWE NEED TO START FROM THE BEGINNING AND PROVIDE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TARGETED COMMUNITIES WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

I KNOW BARRIERS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES.

MAYBE PARTICULAR STATIONS THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE DEBATES, MAYORAL DEBATES WE HAD ALL LAST YEAR.

THERE'S REAL DIVISION AMONG THE CANDIDATES.

SOME WANT IT.

MORE POLICE ON THE SUBWAYS AND OTHERS THE GROUP IN OUR CITY THAT DOESN'T MAKE OTHERS FEEL COMFORTABLE, BUT ALSO HOW POLICE INTERACT WITH CITIZENS OF COLOR IN NEW YORK STATE AND NEW YORK CITY, THAT'S ALSO A CONVERSATION THAT'S UNDERCURBING WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED MORE OR LESS NYPD OFFICERS OR MTA OFFICERS ON SUBWAYS.

LET'S ALSO BE HONEST THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH COLOR IN THE CITY WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRESENCE OF A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE SO MANY OF THOSE INTERACTIONS TURN NEGATIVE SO QUICKLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT EXISTING AS A BLACK OR LATINO NEW YORKER.

SO ERIC ADAMS HAS NOW TAKEN THIS OFFICE AND AS A BLACK MAYOR, HE HAS TO RECOGNIZE SOMETHING, SOMEONE TARGETING BLACK AND LATINO LEADERS WHO LEAD DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY, HE HAS A DIFFERENT ROLE TO PLAY BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE HISTORIC RACIST AND SORT OF EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES THAT INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY HAVE ENGAGED IN WHILE ALSO MOVING FORWARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH TRAGEDIES AND CRISES HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

>> OF COURSE.

ELLIS, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT'S EXPLODED OF BRINGING BACK PLAIN-CLOTHED OFFICERS TO HELP WITH POLICE PRESENCE IN PUBLIC SPACES ON OUR STREETS, ET CETERA.

FROM WHAT YOU CAN SEE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COMMUNITY RESPONSE IS TO THE IDEA OF BRINGING BACK PLAIN-CLOSED OFFICERS AND KEEPING, I GUESS, PEOPLE ON THEIR TOES FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION?

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF IT.

THEY HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY SUPERVISED AND CONTROLLED BUT PLAIN-CLOSED OFFICERS HAVE A ROLE IN POLICE WORK.

IT WILL BE A WHOLE LOT MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SUBWAY GATES.

THAT'S IGNORANT PANDERING, HONESTLY.

I UNDERSTAND POLITICIANS WANT TO ACT LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING BUT THEY WON'T HELP.

THEY'RE HUGELY EXPENSIVE.

THERE'S NOBODY IN THE TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT THINKS THEY WILL OPERATE IN A SAFE WAY.

WE HAVE 472 SUBWAY STATIONS IN THIS CITY AND TWICE AS MANY PLATFORMS AS THAT.

THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.

THE ANSWER IS REINVIGORATED POLICING AND ESPECIALLY INTRODUCING MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENTS INTO THIS PROCESS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE VIOLENT MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THE SUBWAY PLATFORM IN TIMES SQUARE, CRAZY PERSON DOING SOMETHING CRAZY, THAT'S NOT RATIONAL CRIMINALITY.

THAT'S HAVING TOO MANY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREETS AND SUBWAYS AND THE ANSWER IS HALF THE WHY AND POLICE OPERATING WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN DEALING WITH THE REAL PROBLEMS TODAY.

>> OF COURSE.

J.C. THEN, HOW DOES THE MTA BEGIN TO ADDRESS THIS OTHER SOURCE OF ANXIETY FOR SO MANY NEW YORKERS.

IF YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK, YOU RELY ON THE SUBWAY TO GET AROUND AND THAT'S BECOME ANOTHER PLACE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ROAMING OUR STREETS THAT ARE SEVERELY OR MENTALLY ILL, THEY ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS.

BECAUSE THE LAW IS THE LAW, YOU NEED MENS REA TO COMMIT A CRIME AND MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS.

WE WILL NEVER SEE JUSTICE WHEN THESE PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE SAME FOLKS ARCING AGAINST THESE GATES TO PROTECT FOLKS FROM BEING THROWN INTO THE TRACKS WILL ARGUE AGAINST MANDATORY HE MEDICATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL OR REQUIRING A REGISTRY WHERE WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AT ALL TIMES, WHETHER THE STATE RELEASES ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CITY, WE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE HONEST.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SMI COMMUNITY?

THOSE WHO ARE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE OKAY AND THEY'RE ON THEIR MEDICATIONS?

WHO DO THEY CALL?

KENDRA'S LAW IS WEAK AND REQUIRES US TO GO THROUGH HURDLES TO GET SOMEBODY THROUGH A DOCTOR TO GET THEIR MEDICATION.

UNTIL WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT TREATING THOSE THAT ARE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL, UNTIL WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER PUTTING BARRIERS IN THE SUBWAYS.

TO THINK ONLY MENTALLY ILL THAT HASN'T HAD MEDICATION THAT CAN POSSIBLY THROW PEOPLE IN THE TRACKS, JUST COME BACK TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN FORDHAM ROAD WHERE TWO WEEKS AGO GANG MEMBERS THREW A PERSON ON TO THE TRAIN TRACKS AND THE PERSON DIED.

WE HAVE VIOLENCE ON OUR TRAINS.

TRAIN TRACKS ARE DANGEROUS.

WHY DO WE USE THEM FOR ROLLER COASTERS TO PROTECT FOLKS TO GET ON A RIDE AND NOT THINK IT'S SMART TO USE THEM TO PROTECT US AGAINST SOMEONE WHO COULD THROW US INTO THE MIDDLE OF A TRACK AND WE DIE?

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

YOU THINK THAT'S EXPENSIVE BUT THE $1.5 BILLION WE SPENT ON THRIVE NEW YORK CITY WENT NOWHERE?

THAT'S ABSURD.

WE SHOULD DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT TREATING THE MENTALLY ILL COMMUNITY ASAP.

>> OF COURSE, WE WILL BE WATCHING DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH OF THESE STORY LINES AS THEY CONTINUE.

WE ARE COMING UP AT THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

ELLIS, I WANTED TO BRING YOU IN AND GET YOUR TAKE ON THE TRIAL OF THE THREE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS IS ABOUT TO GET UNDER WAY.

THEY, OF COURSE, WERE THERE WHEN DEREK CHAUVIN HAD HIS KNEE ON GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK.

BUT I WONDER, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS WITHIN A VACUUM, HOW MUCH OF THE I GUESS SORT OF FEELING AROUND VIOLENT CRIME, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST NEW YORK, OTHER CITIES INCREASE IN TIME IN THE WINTERTIME WHERE USUALLY THE NUMBERS GO DOWN, HOW MUCH WILL THAT FACTOR IN OR IS THAT TREATED AS COMPLETELY SEPARATE OUTLIER CASE IN NEW YORK?

>> SURE, THESE ISSUES ARE EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST NEW YORK.

THIS IS A SPECIAL CASE.

THIS DOES BRING UP A LEGAL ISSUE AS TO WHETHER THE OTHER OFFICERS CAN BE HELD LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE ON SOME DUTY TO INTERVENE THEORY IN THE CASE WHERE WE KNOW WHO THE MADE BAD ACTOR IS AND WHAT'S THE SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITY?

IT'S A LEGAL CASE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE CITY OR STREETS OF AMERICA EXPLODE, HOWEVER.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER BUT I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY PANEL MEMBERS, STARTING WITH DR. CHRISTINA GREER, OF COURSE, POLITICAL SCIENTIST, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CO-HOST OF THE FAQ-NYC PODCAST.

THANK YOU I JAYCEE POLANCO, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHO NOW TEACHES AT CUNY UMVC AND THANK YOU, ELLIS HENNIGAN, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND PULITZER PRIZE WINNER.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>>> "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 GANZ COONEY FUND.

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