♪ >>> 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 AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS," I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE THIS YEAR IN NEW YORK CITY, AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN MAY, SHOOTINGS IN NEW YORK WERE UP A STAGGERING 73% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND WHILE THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THE CAUSES OF THE UPTICK IN VIOLENCE, THERE IS UNIVERSAL CONSENSUS THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO STOP IT.

SO, JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THE PERSONAL TOLL THAT GUN VIOLENCE TAKES ON EVERY DAY NEW YORKERS AND THE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO END THESE SHOOTINGS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF FAR TOO MANY INNOCENT LIVES, ARE ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE ADVOCATE EVE HENDRIKS AND LINDA KEMP.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY BY NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA GIBSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER GIBSON, WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO, FIRST, EVE AND LINDA, AND EVE, I'LL START WITH YOU FIRST, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT, WHAT YOU WERE YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS WORK OF ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE?

I UNDERSTAND YOU EXPERIENCED A TRAGIC LOSS AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY SPURRED YOU TO THIS KIND OF WORK.

>> YES, LAST YEAR IN JUNE AT THIS TIME, JUNE 29th, MY SON GOT SHOT AND KILLED AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTED FOR ME.

>> OF COURSE.

AND LINDA, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT WAS THE LIFE-CHANGING EVENT THAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK OF ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE?

>> I THINK I WANT TO SAY ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A SHOOTING OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED JUJU THAT WAS SHOT AT 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON WHILE CHILDREN WERE OUT ON A FIRE DRILL AND AT THAT TIME AND BEING AT THAT ONE LIFE EFFECTED SO MANY LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY, I STARTED TO DO INITIATIVES AGAINST GUN VI VIOLENCE, PULLING IN OUR ELECTED AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FORGE A UNITED FRONT AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT KNOWING THAT EVENTUALLY IT WOULD HIT SO CLOSE TO HOME.

>> I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE LAST PART?

>> I SAID, BY THE KILLING OF MY GRANDSON TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> OKAY.

NOW, AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE HAS EVEN A SPATIAL UNDERSTANDING, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CLAIRMONT COMMUNITY IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK.

IT IS -- I'D SAY AN EIGHT-BLOCK RADIUS THAT HOUSES OVER 30,000 PEOPLE.

>> OKAY.

>> IN A CONDENSED AREA.

>> SO -- THAT SOUNDS SO FAMILIAR TO SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEW YORK.

AND EVE, AS, WHERE WAS IT THAT YOUR FAMILY WAS, WHERE WAS YOUR SON KILLED?

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

EVE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIENCE HAS A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE EVERYTHING, THESE INCIDENTS ARE TAKING PLACE, AND SO, WHERE WAS IT THAT YOUR SON WAS KILLED?

>> HE WAS KILLED IN MORRIS HEIGHTS IN THE BRONX.

>> OKAY.

SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU BOTH HAVE TAKEN ON WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND SO, AGAIN, I WANT YOU TO DESCRIBE TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN.

IS THIS JUST, LIKE, OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, IS THIS GETTING INVOLVED WITH, YOU KNOW, GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAMS OR CHURCHES, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU DOING?

AND SO EVE, I'LL START WITH YOU, JUST DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE WORK IS THAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IS -- I TRY TO BE -- COMMUNITY AND NYPD, I TRY TO BE THAT VOICE TO BRING THEM TOGETHER, TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

I TRY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT, IF THIS HAPPENED TO MY SON, IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.

I TRY TO LET THE PARENTS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE, WHO YOUR KIDS ARE WITH AND I TRY TO TALK WITH KIDS AND I ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE ABOUT SOMETHING.

>> OKAY.

LINDA, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN RIGHT NOW?

>> OKAY, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED BRINGING THE PEACE INITIATIVES, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING, WHERE, IF THERE IS SHOOTING OR GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS, WE GO AND ADDRESS THE FAMILY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY NEED.

WE SPEAK WITH THE YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

RECENTLY, AS IN THE PAST, I'VE ORGANIZED WALKS AND TALKS REGARDING GUN VIOLENCE, ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MORE SO ADDRESSING THE VIOLENCE THAT WE DO TO ONE ANOTHER.

BLACK AND BLACK COMMUNITY CRIME, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHICH IS NOT AS MUCH WHAT OTHER FOLKS, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

SO, BY BRINGING GROUPS TOGETHER, INCLUDING THE NATION OF ISLAM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, WE FORGING BOTH THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO YOUTH ON HOW THEY FEEL, REVITALIZING OUR COMMUNITY, REUNIFICATION PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A SENSE OF WORTHINESS, BECAUSE OUR YOUTH, THEY SEEM TO BE A LITTLE LOST AND DISCONNECTED FOR WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO, I THINK BRINGING BACK COMMUNITY.

I DO WANT TO SAY, IN REGARDS TO MY GRANDSON, I SPEAK FOR HIS MOM.

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH HER BEFORE THIS CONVERSATION AND HER, YOU KNOW, I ASKED HER, DID SHE WANT TO INTERJECT, SHE SAID NO, SHE SAID JUST TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT IS OUT THERE TALKING GUN VIOLENCE, THAT SHE APPRECIATES IT.

SO, WE HAVE TO BE -- WHILE CONTINUING TO BE -- >> AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH WORDS TO UNDERSCORE HOW DEVASTATING A LOSS, NOT ONLY JUST FOR A YOUNG PERSON, BUT TO LOSE THEM SO SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER GIBSON, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HEARING THESE STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY CAME TO THIS KIND OF WORK, BUT I'M WONDERING THROUGH YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A SHARP INCREASE IN VIOLENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN JUST THE FIRST HALF OF 2021?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WANT TO THANK EVE AND LINDA FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP.

BOTH OF THESE WOMEN HAVE TURNED THEIR PAIN INTO PURPOSE AND HAVE REALLY ATTEMPTED EVERY SINGLE DAY TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PLAGUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND THEY ARE THE TYPE OF LEADERS WE NEED EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THERE IS AN ASSAULT, WHETHER THERE'S GUN VIOLENCE OR A HOMICIDE OR NOT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AND REMEMBER, LAST YEAR, 2020, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ALSO HAD A SPIKE IN CRIME ACROSS ALL OF THE SEVEN MAJOR CRIME CATEGORIES.

I HAD A FATHER, ANTHONY ROBINSON, WHO WAS WALKING ACROSS SHERIDAN AVENUE WITH HIS 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT AND HE WAS SHOT DEAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER AND WE ALL SAW IT ON VIDEO AND SHE RAN FOR HER LIFE.

THAT 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS TRAUMATIZED AND WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

IT'S THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS THAT REALLY TEAR AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND REMIND US THAT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE.

I THINK COVID-19 HAS BEEN A REAL SET-BACK FOR US IN THE BRONX.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BAIL REFORM AND SOME OF THE RELEASES OF PATROLEES AND REPEAT OFFENDERS FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM.

I THINK MENTAL ILLNESS HAS BEEN EVEN FURTHER EXACERBATED.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR INCOME, THEY HAVE REALLY LOST A LOT OF HOPE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND YOU ALSO HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STRICKEN WITH POVERTY THAT DON'T HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE THE PROLIFERATION OF ILLEGAL HANDGUNS.

IT'S TOO EASY TO GET GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY DON'T COME FROM THE BRONX, BUT THEY'RE IN THE BRONX AND THEY GET INTO THE HANDS OF THE WRONG INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THIS MIND-SET IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONFLICTS ARE ADDRESSED THROUGH VIOLENCE.

SO, IF I AM BEEFING WITH YOU OR YOU'RE BEEFING WITH ME, WE'RE FIGHTING OVER A GIRL OR DRUGS OR MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I THINK IT'S OKAY TO SHOOT YOU AND SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT SOME FOLKS NEED TO DIE FOR THIS TYPE OF BEEF AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

SO, TO ME, THE MIND-SET HAS TO BE CHANGED.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO EXPOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OFFER THEM SOMETHING AND THEN HAVE THEM RETURN BACK TO THE SAME COMMUNITY WITH NO PROGRAMS.

IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED JOBS AND AFTERSCHOOL CORNERSTONE PROGRAMS, SAFE SPACES.

YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE.

AND PARENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL AND NOW WE HAVE THE HOT SUMMER SEASON HERE, THE BUDGET IS ABOUT TO BE PASSED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, STARTING JULY 1, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR ALL OF YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG ADULTS.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU ISSUED SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, EVERYTHING FROM BAIL REFORM TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19, TO THE FACT THAT YOU ALREADY HAD COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ON THE MARGINS TO BEGIN WITH, I MEAN, JUST SO, SO MANY ISSUES.

AND YOU BROUGHT THEM ALL UP VERY ELOQUENTLY, BUT I'M WONDERING, IS THERE -- IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND, WHICH I REALIZE IS RIDICULOUS, BUT LET'S SAY, WHERE WOULD YOU START, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME AT THESE ISSUES AND JUST LIKE YOU LISTED, A LAUNDRY LIST OF CAUSES THAT CREATES THIS PERFECT STORM, WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL STUCK, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, TWO AREAS I WOULD BEGIN.

WE NEED TO CREATE JOBS.

GOOD PAYING, SOLID JOBS THAT CREATE A PATHWAY TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

I WOULD INVEST A LOT OF MY MONEY IN EDUCATION.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST GRADUATION RATES IN THE BRONX.

WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.

THEY ARE LIVING IN SHELTERS.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.

THEY DON'T HAVE UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY, LAPTOPS AND CHROME NOTEBOOKS.

AND A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE IEPs.

THEY ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEY'RE NOT BEING EDUCATED PROPERLY IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

EVERY CHILD IS GIFTED AND TALENTED.

AND WE NEED TO TREAT THEM AS SUCH.

WE NEED MORE GIFTED AND TALENTED SCHOOLS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL HAS A FULL-TIME SCHOOL NURSE, A PSYCHOLOGIST, A SOCIAL WORKER AND A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

AND WE NEED MORE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CLINICS AND RESTORIVE JUSTICE.

AND WE'RE HAVING ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS NOW DURING THE BUDGET, BECAUSE WE GOT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, WE'RE FINALLY GETTING MONEY AND FUNDING, WE NEED MORE MONEY ON SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TRAUMATIZED.

THEY LOST SOMEONE TO COVID, A PARENT, A RELATIVE, GRANDMA, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LEARN IN THIS SETTING.

WE WENT FROM IN-PERSON LEARNING TO REMOTE LEARNING IN A FEW WEEKS AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO RESUME BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING IN SEPTEMBER.

WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR THAT, RIGHT?

AND SO I FEEL LIKE IF YOU DON'T STAY READY, YOU HAVE TO GET READY.

SO, WE NEED THESE PROGRAMS NOW.

SO, IF I HAD MY MAGIC WAND, I WOULD INVEST BALLS OF DOLLARS IN EDUCATION, AS WELL AS CREATING JOBS.

>> EVE, BASED ON THE WORK YOU'VE HAD AND BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, DOES THAT ALSO REFLECT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS GIVING PEOPLE A JOB AND WITH THAT WOULD COME A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND SOME ECONOMIC STABILITY THAT MIGHT NOT LEAD THEM TO SOME OF THE BLACK MARKET CHOICES THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE OUT OF DESPERATION, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING?

>> YES.

>> WHO WAS THE QUESTION FOR?

>> I WAS ASKING EVE, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY GO AROUND.

>> IT'S -- THERE ARE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THE ONES THAT DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE NOTHING TO DO, BUT THEY CAN LEARN A TRADE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, THEN THINGS WILL BE BETTER.

THEY WON'T BE JUST GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF I HAD MY MAGIC W WAND, I WOULD START WITH THE PARENTS.

WITH THE FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE MORE TROUBLE, MORE TROUBLED COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE I LOOK AND I SEE A LOT OF PARENTS, THEY HAVE NOEDY NO IDEA HOW TO PARENT THEIR KIDS.

NO IDEA.

BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THEIR KIDS RUNNING AROUND SHOOTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW -- THEY HAD A PROGRAM, THESE PROGRAMS WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS, CASEWORKERS, VOLUNTEERS, GO INTO THEIR HOMES, SPEAK WITH THE PARENTS, FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE DOING, HOW CAN THEY HELP?

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN THE HOMES, WHEN THE KIDS ARE SMALL, SO THE PARENTS CAN LEARN TO HELP THEIR KIDS, TEACH THEIR KIDS, TEACH PARENTS HOW TO LOVE THEIR KIDS PROPERLY.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY SO THE KIDS CAN GROW UP IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT YOU YOU KNOW, L LIKE -- IT'S ALL GOOD.

WHEN THEY'RE COMING FROM PRISON, MOST OF THEM COME BACK TO THE SAME THING, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL HAVE THAT 30 YEARS MENTALITY IN THEIR HEAD AND THEY HAVEN'T MOVED ON.

AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CHANGE AND HOW TO DO IT.

SO, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GET INTO THE HOMES OF THESE FAMILIES AND START THERE, WHEN THE CHILD IS SMALL AND THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

>> OKAY.

LINDA, FOR YOU, I ALSO -- I NOTICED THAT YOU BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT WE, AT LEAST THROUGH THE COURSE OF 2020, HAD HEARD A LOT ABOUT, AND THAT WAS THE ROLE OF POLICE IN DECREASING VIOLENCE.

NOW, OF COURSE, IN 2020, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, IF WE SHOULD BE CHANGING THE ROLE OF THE POLICE, PERHAPS LIMITING THE FOOTPRINT OF WHAT WE EXPECT THEM TO DO AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE PERHAPS OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN STEP IN AND HELP FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ISSUES, BE THEY, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONAL HELP, DRUG ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS, SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE POLICE DO.

I'M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE A LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION?

BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN.

>> OKAY, WELL, I THINK A COMMUNITY, NUMBER ONE, IS BUILT -- AND WE HAVE HAD POLICING -- I TRULY BELIEVE THAT POLICE SHOULD BE CALLED IN AN EMERGENCY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO POLICE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, IF WE TAKE THIS BACK SOME YEARS, WHERE THE ELDERS OF THE COMMUNITY REALLY DICTATED WHAT WENT ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WOULD CALL THE POLICE IN AN EMERGENCY.

OUR POLICE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE THE PSYCHIATRISTS AND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELOR AND THOSE THINGS.

WHEN THE ISSUE THAT THEY'RE ADDRESSING CALLS FOR THAT, THEN THOSE TYPE OF PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE ON CALL.

RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING WITH NYPD BECOMES PART OF RESPECT, AND ONCE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF RESPECT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE THIS GENERATION OF YOUTH I BELIEVE THROUGH DISCONNECT OF ELECTRONICS AND LACK OF COMMUNITY WITH PARENTS, DON'T RESPECT ELDERS NOR DO THEY RESPECT AUTHORITY.

SO POLICE IS OFTEN SEEN AS AUTHORITY AND INSTEAD OF INSTRUCTORS.

SO, WHEN YOU BRING THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE TOGETHER TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP, YOU CREATE A BOND OF RESPECT WHERE THOSE OFFICERS HAVE RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE RESPECT FOR THOSE OFFICERS.

IT'S A TWO-SIDED STREET.

WHEN SOMETHING ENORMOUS HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, OR SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING TO ME, SOMEONE KILLS SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING ELSE, I'M CALLING THE POLICE, THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

SO WHEN YOU REFORM THE BEHAVIOR OF THE POLICE, WE DON'T -- I DON'T THINK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY ITSELF, THE CLAIRMONT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, EIGHT OR NINE YEARS, WITH WHO SERVES US IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE HELP OF OUR COUNCIL WOMAN AND INITIATIVES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS TO DO SUCH THINGS.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THEY ARE.

AND THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

POLICE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEHAVIOR OF OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SOME INSTANCES, WHEN WE CAN'T POLICE OURSELVES, WE SHOULD CALL IN REINFORCEMENTS, AND I KNOW, I THINK I'M GETTING OFFTRACK A LITTLE OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR QUESTION, SO, REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME DIRECTLY SO I CAN -- >> NO, YOU DIDN'T QUITE GET OFF-TRACK, BECAUSE WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT IS YOU SAW VALUE IN MAKING SURE THERE WAS COMMUNITY BETWEEN BE-- BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT LEAST AT YOUR PARTICULAR PRECINCT WAS WORKING WITH -- >> RIGHT.

>> THAT THE PRECINCT WAS SERVING.

>> YES.

WE DID BRING IN A PEACE INITIATIVE AWHILE AGO THAT BROUGHT OUR YOUTH AND NYPD TOGETHER.

FIRST, IT STARTED OFF VERY TUMULTUOUS, I MEAN, THEY PLAYED A GAME AND NYPD WENT OUT ON A STRETCHER, A FEW OF THEM.

AND, YES -- YES.

AND THEN WE BROUGHT THEM AGAIN TOGETHER ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER TO INTERACT AGAIN AND INSTEAD OF THEM PLAYING AGAINST EACH OTHER, WE BUILT TEAMS UNITED.

AFTERWARDS, WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ABOUT EIGHT YOUTH THAT WOULD BE DOING OTHER STUFF.

AFTER THAT CONVERSATION, THE RELATIONSHIP STARTED BUILDING.

THESE YOUTH FELT FREE TO SPEAK WITH THEM, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE THE OFFICERS WOULD SAY, MS. KEMP, THAT YOUNG LADY IS STILL TALKING TO ME AND THEY WERE SURPRISED.

AND SO, NOW THOSE SAME SET OF YOUTH THAT SORT OF LOOKED AT NYPD BEING AGAINST THEM, SORT OF LOOKED AT THEM AS A ROLE MODEL IN A SENSE.

THEY'RE NOW, I'D SAY, 90% ARE IN COLLEGE OR ON THEIR WAY, THEY'RE WORKING, AND THEY'RE DOING GOOD THINGS AND IT CAME FROM RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING.

SO THAT, I BELIEVE, CAN HELP THE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO GET THE E ELDERS TO REITERATE THE RESPECT THAT IS NEEDED TO PROJECT TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE WORTHY OF YOUNG THINGS AND THAT THEY CAN COME TO US, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND THINGS JUST GOT OUT OF HAND.

BUT TOGETHER AND UNITED, WE BUILT A BETTER COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY.

>> I'M SORRY, MS. LINDA, I DON'T NEED TO CUT YOU OFF.

WAIT TO GO BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE I DO, VERY QUICKLY, WHEN YOU SAID THAT FIRST GAME AND THE POLICE WERE LEFT ON STRETCHERS, THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF HYPERBOLE, RIGHT.

>> NO.

>> NO?

>> NO.

WE PLAYED IN DREW PARK, OUR FIRST PEACE GAME AND WHATEVER I DO, OUR INITIATIVES ARE HEALTH-BASED, SO, THERE'S ALWAYS MEDICAL ASSISTANTS ON HAND, BUT THEY PLAYED ROUGH.

THEY PLAYED A ROUGH GAME.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THE INSPECTOR THAT INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS OKAY, BECAUSE THE GUY WOULD GET WORKER'S COMP AND IT WAS OKAY, EVEN THOUGH -- IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, WHEN GUYS PLAY BASKETBALL AND THEY -- AND THEY -- YEAH, SO THEY -- >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, FOR ME AND FOR THE AUDIENCE EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT.

COUNCIL MEMBER GIBSON, WE ARE COMING UP, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES LEFT, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IN THESE CONVERSATIONS IS THE NEED FOR A MASSIVE INVESTMENT, BUT THIS TENDS TO BE A CONVERSATION WE HAVE EVERY FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, THINGS GET PARTICULARLY, I THINK WE JUST LOST EVE, I THINK SHE'S COMING BACK, THAT'S OKAY, BUT BASICALLY, HOW DO WE KEEP THE ATTENTION -- HOW DO WE KEEP THE FUNDING COMING IN?

IF THERE'S GOVERNMENT MONEY NOW, THAT'S GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN ANOTHER TWO BUDGET CYCLES AND SOMEBODY ELSE DECIDES, MAYBE WE DON'T SPEND THAT MONEY THERE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS.

NUMBER ONE, WE NEED FEDERAL ACTION.

WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE GUN CONTROL LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS.

THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T GET IT DONE WITH A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE U.S. SENATE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

THERE'S NO REASON.

WE NEED TO GET IT DONE NOW.

WE NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLARE GUN VIOLENCE AS A NATIONAL CRISIS.

AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT FROM A WHOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE.

A DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL CRISIS WOULD GIVE US FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE RIGHTFULLY AND DESPERATELY NEED.

THIS IS A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND WE NEED TO BE PREVENTIVE AND NOT REACTIONARY.

WE ALWAYS REACT AFTER A SHOOTING.

WE COME IN WITH PROGRAMS, WITH BLOCK PARTIES, WITH FAMILY DAYS AND WE DO ALL OF THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I NEED TO RESPOND TO FAMILIES THAT ARE IN CRISIS TODAY.

BEFORE SOMEONE IS SHOT OR ASSAULTED ON THE STREET.

THESE BUDGETS ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES.

THE STILL BUDGET, THE STATE BUDGET AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO DECLARE GUN VIOLENCE A NATIONAL CRISIS AND THE BUDGET IS REFLECTED.

WE GOT $10 MILLION BY ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE INITIATIVES IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET IN APRIL THROUGH AL ALBANY.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE PROGRAM, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, BRINGING THE PEACE, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GUN DOWN, LIFE UP, STANDING UP TO VIOLENCE, ALL THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN, BUT WE NEED MORE.

IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY, KIDS WILL CONTINUE TO PICK THEM UP.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND OFFER THEM SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

EVERY YOUNG PERSON WANTS TO MAKE MONEY.

THEY WANT TO LOOK GOOD, THEY WANT TO BE FASHIONABLE.

THEY NEED MONEY.

THEY NEED TO BUILD RESPONSIBILITY AND GET JOBS AND GET PROGRAMS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING AND NO LONGER WANT TO LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT GUESS WHAT?

IT'S HARD TO RELOCATE AFTER THE AFTERMATH OF A SHOOTING.

THEY'RE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, THEY'RE TRAUMATIZED, BUT GUESS WHAT?

THEY'RE STUCK IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THEIR OTHER CHILDREN, RIGHT?

SO, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

EVE KNOWS AND LINDA KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

SO, WE NEED SERVICES, WE NEED PROGRAMS CONSISTENTLY YEAR AFTER YEAR AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TO STEP UP AND SHOW US THE MONEY OR WE ALSO HAVE TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

WE CAN'T MAKE EXCUSES FOR OUR BEHAVIOR.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF MY GUESTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA GIBSON FROM THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO THANK EVE HENDRIKS AND LINDA KEMP.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL STORIES, YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR INSIGHTS ON HOW WE BEGIN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO PLAGUE THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>> "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.