♪ >>> 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 -- 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.

WELCOME TO THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT TPAGE FORECAST, OUR WEEKL LOOK AHEAD AT LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE TRI-STATE AREA.

TONIGHT W PRIMARY DAY JUST ONE WEEK AWAY, WE'LL COVER THE STATE OF THE RACE FOR MAYOR, INCLUDING THE LATEST ATTACKS ON ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNERS FOR THE JOB, ERIC ADAMS.

WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT BILLS WERE PASSED AND HAS GOVERNOR CUOMO'S POLITICAL CAPITAL DIMINISHED AT ALL.

WE'LL ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER IMPORTANT AND VERY TIGHT LOCAL RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER.

JOINING US ARE PROFESSOR SALADIN AMBAR FROM RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY JC POLANCO, A COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ROUNDING OUT OUR ROUNDTABLE WE ARE JOINED BY LAURA NAHMIAS FROM THE DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START WITH THE TOP JOB THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WANT AND NOBODY GETS ANY RESPECT FOR DOING.

THAT OF COURSE, IS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

I WANT TO START WITH THE FACT THAT JUST VOTING SEEMS TO BE STARTING.

JC, SINCE YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, I'LL START WITH YOU AND ASK DO YOU THINK THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS DONE A GOOD JOB EXPLAINING TO PEOPLE WHAT IT IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEING ON THE BALLOT THIS TAME, IE, RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

>> I RECEIVED A TON OF INFORMATION IN THE MAIL.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I KNOW VOTE NYC IS WORKING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS THROWN UPON THEM.

THIS WAS VERY SHORTSIGHTED.

ANY TIME YOU MENTION THE FORM OF VOTING, PEOPLE GET EXCITED AND DON'T REALLY ASK QUESTIONS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT FLEW UNDER THE RADAR.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF FOLK THAT AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS AND THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF IT.

I THINK THIS WAS A BAD IDEA, THE IDEA OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING WITH SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT EASING IT IN SO VOTERS GET COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THE TURNOUT IS.

ONE THING IS FOR SURE.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING HAS THROWN CAMPAIGNS FOR A COMPLETE WHIRLWIND BECAUSE NOW YOUR NUMBER TWO COULD END UP WINNING AN ELECTION.

THESE POLLS MEAN VERY LITTLE BECAUSE OF THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

WE'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED HOW CONFUSING IT'S GOING TO BE FOR VOTERS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DOES.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE NOT ONLY ON RANKED CHOICE VOTING -- I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, EARLY VOTING DID START FOR THE PRIMARY ON THE 12th, ON SATURDAY.

IT SEEMS TO BE A TRICKLE THUS FAR.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ENERGY WE SAW IN THE LAST ELECTION WHEN THE EARLY VOTING STARTED.

JUST YOUR TAKE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ELECTORATE RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE NOVELTY OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING FOR SURE.

WE ARE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND AFTER A 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT I THINK DRAINED ALL OF HUMANITY OF ANY ENERGY THAT WE HAD LEFT, A COMEDOWN OF SORTS FOR PARTICIPATION MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY UNCALLED FOR.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING IS A KIND OF PROGRESSIVE ERA REMNANT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT PROGRESSIVES HAVE LONG SOUGHT, BUT THEY CAN BE CONFUSING.

THE COMMON PERSON ON THE STREET WHO'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHOM TO VOTE FOR, GIVING THEM FIVE CHOICES OR MORE CAN BE WHAT DAUNTING.

I THINK POLITICS RIGHT NOW IS JUST A BIT HEAVY.

I ANTICIPATE WE'LL SEE THOSE NUMBERS OF TURNOUT INCREASE, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD.

STILL, I THINK THERE MAY BE A BIT OF KIND OF A BLOWBACK EFFECT FROM THE CAMPAIGNS OF 2020.

>> LAURA, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN, SIMPLY BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED IN THE LEAD, ONE OF THE LEADING CONTENDERS FOR MAYOR FOR NEW YORK, ERIC ADAMS, SEEMS TO BE IN HOT WATER AGAIN.

WE ALL GOT A GUIDED TOUR OF HIS BROOKLYN APARTMENT AND REFRIGERATOR, WHICH WAS NOT AT ALL WEIRD.

HE'S NOW IN HOT WATER AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT TEACHERS AND REMOTE LEARNING.

LAURA, CAN YOU CATCH US UP?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THESE TWO MINI SCANDALS RELATED TO ERIC ADAMS IS THE FACT THAT NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE SCANDALS, BUT I THINK MAYBE THE BROADER ELECTORATE ARE GETTING MORE FAMILIAR VIS-A-VIS ADAMS' OPPONENTS WITH SOME OF THE I.D.

SIN KRAS SIS OF ERIC ADAMS, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT TENDS TO OPERATE LIKE IN A SILO.

HE RAN UNOPPOSED IN 2013, VIRTUALLY UNOPPOSED AND DIDN'T GET A LOT OF SCRUTINY.

HE IS A PERSON WHO IS ODD IN A LOT OF WAYS AND HE IS PRONE TO BOMBAST AND MAKING PRONOUNCEMENTS MAYBE THAT HE DOESN'T INTEND THEM THE WAY THEY'RE COMING OUT.

YOU KNOW, HE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE, I THINK, LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS A AGO WHERE HE DROWNED RATS IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF REPORTERS.

>> I DO RECALL THAT.

>> HE TOLD PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM OHIO TO GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM DURING COVID.

>> I ALSO REMEMBER THAT.

>> HE HAS SAID THAT HE WOULD, IF ELECTED MAYOR, CARRY HIS OWN FIREARM SINCE HE'S A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.

>> AND THAT.

YEAH THAT'S A LOT.

>> IN A LONG LINE OF UNUSUAL NEW YORK CITY POLITICIANS, I THINK HE IS NOT BREAKING FROM THAT TRADITION.

IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR WHAT THE CONTROVERSY WAS EXACTLY OVER THE MOST RECENT, NOT THE APARTMENT IN NEW JERSEY, BUT THE REMOTE SCHOOLING.

HE MADE SOME COMMENTS IN A FORUM ABOUT ALLOWING ONE TEACHER TO TEACH 300-400 KIDS AT A TIME VIA ZOOM SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WAS SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF AND HAS SINCE WALKED IT BACK.

JUST HAS A TENDENCY TO OVERSTEP OR OVERSTATE WHAT HIS POSITION IS AND THEN HAVE TO WALK IT BACK IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND HE HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF THAT.

>> JC AND PROFESSOR AMBAR, I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKES.

ARE THESE CONTROVERSIES THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ERIC ADAMS -- I'VE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM THE ANALYZING OF THE CONTENT OF HIS FRIDGE TO -- ARE THESE THINGS SOMETIMES THE PRESS GETS CRITICIZED FOR?

THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN SOMETIMES BE TURNED OFF BY WHAT WE IN THE PRESS OFTEN THINK IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

PROFESSOR AMBAR, I'LL START WITH YOU.

ARE WE TOO FOCUSED ON STUFF THAT MAYBE REGULAR PEOPLE AREN'T AS FOCUSED ON?

>> I'M STILL GETTING OVER THE DROWNED RATS COMMENT.

I THINK SOMEHOW THAT ESCAPED ME.

I LIKE TO THINK I PAY ATTENTION, BUT LAURA, KUDOS, SHUTOUTOUT TO YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO LIGHT.

I THINK VOTERS CARE ABOUT CHANGE.

THEY CARE ABOUT THE BRASS TACKS ISSUES, RIGHT, IS MY SUBWAY SAFE, AM I GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR RENT THIS MONTH.

BUT NEW YORK CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PERSONALITY-DRIVEN POLITICAL CAPITAL.

TO THE DEGREE THAT THESE I.D.

SIN KRAS SIS MATTER, THEY DO MATTER IN NEW YORK.

PERHAPS NOT IN CINCINNATI OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT IN NEW YORK CITY VOTERS DO TEND TO CARE ABOUT THE PERSONALITY AND PERSONA OF THEIR MAYOR.

THE EXTENT TO WHICH RANKED CHOICE VOTING WILL DIVIDE OPPOSITION TO ADAMS AND ELEVATE HIM OR PLAY OUT DIFFERENTLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I HAVE LITTLE IDEA AS TO HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT.

I THINK IT WILL BENEFIT MAYA WILEY BUT THAT'S REALLY A STAB IN THE DARK.

AS FAR AS THESE ISSUES, I DO THINK NEW YORKER VOTERS CARE ABOUT TEMPERAMENT OF THE CANDIDATE IN WAYS MAYBE THAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES DON'T QUITE NECESSARILY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

>> I DO WANT TO BRING UP THE POINT THAT MAYA WILEY ALSO SAW SOME PRETTY HEAVY DUTY ENDORSEMENTS COMING FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-C OCASIO-CORTEZ, DEFINITELY HELPING HER SHORE UP PROGRESSIVE SUPPORT.

JC, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FOCUS, THE HEAVY FOCUS THAT'S BEEN PUT ON, AGAIN, SOME OF THESE PERSONALITY I.D.

SIN KRAS SEE AND HOW THAT MAY FALL FLAT FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO DOESN'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.

>> WITH ERIC ADAMS, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS RACIAL.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CONTROVERSIES OUT OF NOTHING IS BECAUSE ERIC ADAMS IS THE FRONT RUNNER.

I THINK PROGRESSIVES HAD A CANDIDATE IN SCOTT STRINGER WHO IMPLODED PREMATURELY WITHOUT REAL EVIDENCE ON THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHARGES AND ULTIMATELY THE LEADING PROGRESSIVE LOST AND NOW THE COALESCE AROUND MAYA WILEY.

NOW YOU SEE WE'RE INVESTIGATING HIS FRIDGE BECAUSE A GUY CAN'T HAVE TWO HOMES, HE CAN'T HAVE A HOME IN NEW JERSEY WITHOUT MAKING SURE THE PRESS SEES HIS FRIDGE.

AS FAR AS HIS COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE, IT WAS IN RELATION TO PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE COMING TO NEW YORK CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PLAYING A ROLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND WINNING SEATS.

HE SAYS GET OUT OF HERE.

WHAT HE WAS SAYING ABOUT YOU'RE TAKING TOO MUCH COVID RESOURCES.

HE WAS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT FOLKS FROM FLORIDA WHO COME IN AND PRIMARY SITTING SENATORS AND TAKE THEM OUT WITHOUT ANY HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISTRICT OR PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS REFERRING TO.

LOOKING AT AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT AGAINST ERIC ADAMS ONLY BECAUSE PROGRESSIVES KNOW THEIR BEST SHOT AT WINNING CITY HALL IS GONE AND MAYA WILEY IS THE BEST CHANCE TO BEAT ERIC ADAMS.

>> I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THAT PART OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE WITH THE FRIDGE AND THE APARTMENT IS THAT ERIC ADAMS DID A BRILLIANT THING BY INVITING THE REPORTERS INTO HIS HOME JUST LIKE AS A MEDIA SPECTACLE FOR A PRESS CORPS WHO ARE NOT ROBOTS AND THEY ENJOY COVERING CAMPAIGNS AND THEY'VE BEEN DENIED THAT FOR MOST OF THIS CAMPAIGN UNTIL VACCINATIONS HAPPENED AND MORE IN-PERSON EVENTS STARTED HAPPENING.

I THINK THEY TOOK JUST SOME DELIGHT IN ODD, NOT-ZOOM PRESS CONFERENCE EVENTS THAT LET THEM GO IN AND LOOK AT THE INTERIOR DETAILS OF A POTENTIAL MAYOR'S LIFE.

I DO THINK SOME OF THOSE DETAILS WERE WEAPONIZED BY PEOPLE ON TWITTER LIKE, OH, THIS IS PROOF HE DOESN'T REALLY LIVE THERE.

MOST OF THE REPORTERS THAT WERE THERE I THINK JUST WERE GETTING A TON OF JOY OUT OF COVERING SOMETHING A LITTLE STRANGE AND OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

THE FACT THAT HE INVITED THEM INTO HIS HOME I THINK WAS A BRILLIANT POLITICAL MANEUVER ON HIS PART.

IF HE HAD KEPT IT A SECRET AND SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T COME IN, MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE TURNED IT INTO A STORY.

>> HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

IT REMINDS ME OF PRESIDENT OBAMA HAVING TO LOOK FOR HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE PROVING TO THE WORLD THAT THIS ISN'T TRUE.

I SEE A LOT OF RACIAL UNDERTONES IN THIS.

I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY WON'T, BUT I THINK IF HE WERE SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD A COUPLE OF HOMES, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG DEAL.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A FORMER PLIR A POLICE OFFICER AND A CENTRIST.

>> WHAT WE DEFINITELY CAN SAY IS IT GOT HIM A LOT OF NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE.

FOR A CAMPAIGN TO BE ABLE TO STAND OUT IN A CAMPAIGN FOR NEW YORK CITY IS NOTHING SHORT OF A BIG DEAL.

I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYORAL RACE AND IT DESERVES IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO MOVE ONTO ALBANY.

SINCE JC, YOU MENTIONED SENATORS VOTING FOR ET CETERA -- ERIC ADAMS WAS A FORMER STATE SENATOR.

THEY DID AND DID NOT GET SOME OF THE STUFF I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HOPING FOR DONE.

SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT CAME OUT OF OR DIDN'T COME OUT OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM ALBANY?

>> NONE OF THESE SESSIONS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN REGULAR WITH REGARD TO COVID AND ITS IMPACT ON PEOPLE.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT A CAPITOL THAT'S PRETTY CLOSED OFF TO THE PUBLIC AND A GOVERNOR DEALING WITH A LOT OF ISSUES HIMSELF.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING DONE IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

WHAT I THINK NEW YORKERS ARE SEEING IS ONE PARTY RULE IN ALBANY.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION ON OTHER THINGS AT ALL OTHER THAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE TAXES.

I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THIS ONE-PARTY RULE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SITS WELL WITH A LOT OF NEW YORKERS.

WHEN I SAY ONE PARTY, ONE IDEALOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THAT PARTY IS CONCERNING.

THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT CURTAILING SOME OF THESE SO-CALLED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO FAST, TOO SOON AND A LITTLE IRRESPONSIBLE.

THERE WAS NOTHING AT ALL ABOUT CURTAILING SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS FROM LAST YEAR.

>> PROFESSOR AMBAR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WAS LEGISLATION INTENDED TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON PAROLE WHO ARE REINCARCERATED BECAUSE OF LOW LEVEL OFFENSES LIKE MISSING A CURFEW, ET CETERA.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK AROUND THE WAY NEW YORK STATE IS TRYING TO REAPPROACH ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

DO YOU THINK AT LEAST THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS POSITIVE, OR WAS IT JUST LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEN SO MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> THESE DAYS ANY STEP, HOWEVER INCREMENTAL OR SMALL, IS IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

I UNDERSTAND JC'S POINT.

I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF CRIME AND THE FACT THAT NEW YORK HAS FACED A PARTICULARLY HARSH RECENT SPATE OF VERY VIOLENT AND HIGHLY-PUBLICIZED CRIMES, PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY.

HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE ALSO GOT TO PULL THE LENS BACK AND LOOK AT THE 30 OR 40-YEAR TRAJECTORY OF CRIME GOING DOWN AND LOOK AT THE WAYS WE'VE DECIDED -- WE'RE KIND OF AT AN INFLECTION POINT AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS A DESIRE TO RESOLVE CRIME BY OTHER MEANS OTHER THAN JUST THROWING MONEY AT POLICING.

ANY INCREMENTAL STEP HAS TO BE APPLAUDED.

DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE FINAL VERSION OR FINAL STEP.

WITH REGARD TO THESE SHOOTINGS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS AN ISSUE OF FEDERALISM.

NEW YORK STATE AND THE CITY CERTAINLY HAVE VERY TOUGH GUN LAWS, BUT WE DON'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES WITH RESPECT TO GUN LAWS, WHAT HAPPENS IN INDIANA AND NORTH CAROLINA HAS AN IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS IN NEW YORK.

SO IT'S A MORE COMPLICATED ISSUE THAN JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FACING THESE VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS OVER GUNS IN THE STATE.

MORE OF A WHOLISTIC APPROACH HAS TO BE AT LEAST CONSIDERED.

>> LAURA, YOU KNOW, GUN SAFETY WAS A BIG ISSUE ALSO THAT CAME UP.

THE DEMOCRATS, AS JC POINTED OUT, THEY PASSED SEVERAL PROGRESSIVE PRIORITIES.

ONE OF THEM WAS CHANGING AND STRENGTHENING GUN CONTROL LAWS.

DO YOU SEE THEM ABLE TO DRIVE THE CONVERSATION IN ALBANY OR WAS THIS SOMETHING WHERE THE CULTURAL DESPITE GEIST DEMANDED THEY ACT ON CERTAIN PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS STILL AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND THE EDITORIAL BOARD IS HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT.

IT'S A POTENTIALLY INGENIOUS WAY TO GET AROUND THE FACT THAT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, GUN MANUFACTURERS ARE PROTECTED FROM LIABILITY IN CIVIL LAWSUITS WHEN PEOPLE ARE KILLED WITH THE WEAPONS THAT THEY MANUFACTURED.

THE STATE PASSED -- I THINK BOTH HOUSES PASSED A BILL CREATING A NEW PART OF STATE LAW THAT WOULD CHANGE TO A NUISANCE LAW THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FEDERAL STATUTE IN AN ATTEMPT TO TACKLE THIS BIG PROBLEM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THROUGH THE STATE LAW AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO SUE GUN MANUFACTURERS FOR GUN DEATHS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT COULD BE A PATH THAT OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS FOLLOW TO GET AROUND THIS PROBLEMATIC FEDERAL LAW.

WE ARE VERY CLOSELY WATCHING THAT TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS AND WHETHER IT'S SUBJECT TO A CHALLENGE.

BUT THEY ARE TRYING.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I THINK THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMON FACTOR IN ALL OF THESE GUN DEATHS ISN'T MENTAL ILLNESS OR GANGS OR POVERTY.

THE ONE THING THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE IN COMMON IS THE GUN AND THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM AND THAT NEEDS TO BE TACKLED.

>> LAURA, THE GANG PROLIFERATION IN NEW YORK CITY, EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL WILL TELL YOU THAT'S THE ISSUE WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, IS GANGS IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING THAT IN ALBANY, BUT THEY ARE ADDRESSING ANOTHER PIECE OF THE EQUATION.

>> BUT, LAURA, THEY ARE.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN ALBANY IS YOU CAN ARREST A GANG BANGER WITH A WEAPON IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL AND YOU HAVE TO RELEASE HIM IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY CASH BAIL.

HE GOES HOME ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE BACK INTO THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD HE WAS TERRORIZING.

THERE ARE SOME POLICY PROPOSALS AND LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED IN ALBANY.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO REEVALUATE IF ALL WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON IS RELEASING CRIMINALS BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES OR TAKE A MORE CENTRIST APPROACH.

WITH ONE PARTY RULE IN ALBANY, I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

WITH SO MANY PEOPLE STAYING HOME IN POLITICAL PRIMARIES, YOU CAN BE SURE MORE CENTRISTS ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR PRIMARY NEXT YEAR.

>> WHERE DO ALL OF YOU SEE GOVERNOR CUOMO FALLING ON THIS?

I KNOW THAT HE DEFINITELY TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL TO RESTRUCTURE THE MTA, SOMETHING THAT THAT TOUCHES EVERYBODY'S LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY AND THAT FELL APART IN THE STATE SENATE.

IS HE LOSING SOME OF HIS POLITICAL CLOUT?

>> I THINK SOMEHOW HE'S LAZARUS.

I HAVE NO COMMENT.

SESSION ENDED WITH LITTLE TALK ABOUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHARGES AND IMPEACHMENT.

HE'S A MAGICIAN.

HE'S LAZARUS.

>> LAURA?

>> I THINK HE HAS LOST SOME OF HIS POWER, BUT HE OUTLASTED THE CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION AND HE HAS APPOINTED, BASICALLY PICKED HIS OWN JURY FOR A POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

I THINK HE MAYBE IS TRADING HIS POWER GRAB AT THE MTA.

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH BECAUSE OF SOME ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE DRAFTING OF THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

THERE WERE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH BILLS THEY WANTED TO GET PASSED LAST WEEK AND THEY TABLED IT AND NOW IT'S TIED TO ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES.

HE'S ALWAYS ON.

HE'S A 100% GUY.

HE'S A DETAILS MAN AND HE CAN SNIFF OUT OTHER PEOPLE'S WEAKNESSES AND FLAWS AND USE THEM TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

HE'S A DEAL MAKER TOO.

I THINK HE'LL SURVIVE THAT WAY.

HE'S DEFINITELY WEAKER THAN HE WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO AND HE HAS TO RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE'S WEAKNESSES IN ORDER MAINTAIN HIS HOLD ON POWER.

>> PROFESSOR AMBAR, YOU WROTE THE BOOK ON AT LEAST THE GOVERNOR'S FATHER.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON WHERE HIS POLITICAL CLOUT STANDS NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK HE'S A WEIGHTED LINE, BUT HE'S STILL A LINE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE FEW RELEVANT PREDATORS.

HE'S GOING TO LIKELY SURVIVE.

HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO MENTION THERE'S THE LINE IN CITIZEN KANE THAT IT'S EASY TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY IF ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.

POLITICIANS LIKE TRUMP AND TO A DEGREE ANDREW CUOMO HAVE SHOWN IT'S EASY TO MAINTAIN POWER THROUGH A CRISIS, THROUGH A SCANDAL IF THAT'S ALL YOU CARE ABOUT.

WE NEED TO RAISE THE BAR IN TERMS OF ETHICAL STANDARDS IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE.

THAT MEANS EXERCISING RESTRAINT, A LEVEL OF DIGNITY AND HUMILITY THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE AND NEED TO SEE MORE OF IN OUR GOVERNOR, TO BE FRANK.

I CERTAINLY APPLAUD THE CUOMO FAMILY FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT HOLDING ONTO POLITICAL POWER ITSELF CAN'T BE THE OBJECTIVE OR IDEAL, CERTAINLY NOT WHAT WE USE AS CITIZENS TO JUDGE THOSE WE PUT IN OFFICE TO REPRESENT US.

>> LAURA, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

THE COMPTROLLER OR THE CONTROLLER, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

HOW DOES WHOEVER HOLDS THAT POSITION IMFPACT THE LIVES OF EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS?

>> IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT POSITION.

THEY'RE MANAGING THE PENSION FUNDS, $260 BILLION IN PENSION FUNDS OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

THEY'RE BASICALLY THE CITY OF NEW YORK'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR AUDITING CITY AGENCIES.

THE PEOPLE WHO'S ELECTED WILL KEEP WHOEVER'S THE NEXT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN CHECK FISCALLY, WHICH IF YOU'RE CONCERNED AS A PROGRESS ABOUT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON, SOMEONE WHOSE JUDGMENT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ONTO KEEP THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN CITY GOVERNMENT HONEST, VERY IMPORTANT JOB.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK MY GUESTS.

LAURA NAHMIAS, JC POLANCO AND PROFESSOR SALADIN AMBAR.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THE ROUNDTABLE ON MONDAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >>"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 -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

♪