>>> TONIGHT, THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR HEATS UP.

CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI SHOWS HIS VISION FOR NEW YORK.

WHY HE'S RUNNING, DESPITE CALLS FROM TOP DEMOCRATS FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE.

"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, 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 "METROFOCUS," I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

OUR 2022 LOOK AT WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR KICKS OFF WITH AN UNDERDOG CANDIDATE WHO IS REFUSING TO BACK DOWN.

NOW, WHILE RECENT ELECTIONS HAVE SHOWN US TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW HARD IT IS TO PREDICT A WINNER, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS THE CLEAR DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNER, ACCORDING TO MANY METRICS.

BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI FROM TAKING ON HOCHUL AHEAD OF THE JUNE PRIMARY.

NOW, SUOZZI MAINTAINS THAT HE IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO LEAD NEW YORK THROUGH THE POST-COVID ERA, AND HE'S GOING AFTER THE GOVERNOR ON CRIME, HOUSING, AND TAXES.

ALL WHILE FACING PRESSURE FROM MAJOR PARTY LEADERS, INCLUDING HILLARY CLINTON, TO STEP ASIDE.

SO, MFOR MUCH MORE ON THE ELECTION AND HIS VISION ON NEW YORK, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI.

>> HEY, JENNA, THAT WAS SOME INTRODUCTION.

>> OH, WELL, I MEAN, IT'S QUITE A CAMPAIGN THAT YOU'RE MOUNTING.

AND LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

WITH PRESSURE FROM SO MANY PARTY INSIDERS FOR YOU TO STEP ASIDE, WHY DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS YOUR MOMENT AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO BECOME THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME.

I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS IN CONGRESS WHO HAVE SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP OF ANY MEMBER WITH THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, I ENDORSED ERIC ADAMS EARLY, HE ASKED ME TO BE HIS DEPUTY MAYOR.

THEY SAY, YOU HAVE AN INSIDE RELATIONSHIP WITH HOPEFULLY THE NEXT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

YOU'RE ON WAYS AND MEANS, YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR SALT, YOU HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, YOU HAVE MORE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES THAN MOST OF US, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS.

WHY WHAT ARE YOU RISKING THAT FOR?

YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP CONGRESS TO RUN A LONG SHOT AGAINST HOCHUL TO BECOME THE GOVERNOR?

AND THE REAL REASON IS IS THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I SAW MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDPARENTS, THEY ALL LIVED THROUGH THE DEPRESSION, MY FATHER IMMIGRATED FROM ITALY, THREE OFGR GRANDPARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS, MY DAD WAS IN WORLD WAR II.

MY DAD CAMPAIGNED WITH JOHN K. KENNEDY, MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED WITH THE KENNEDYS AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING.

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHAT IS GOING TO BE MY BIG CONTRIBUTION, MY BIG SACRIFICE THAT I HAVE TO MAKE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES?

I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THAT.

I WAS THE MAYOR OF MY HOMETOWN, I LOVE PUBLIC SERVICE.

I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH EVERYBODY FIGHTING ALL THE TIME.

I THINK NEW YORK STATE IS IN SO MUCH TROUBLE.

WE HAVE THE BIGGEST NET OUT MIGRATION OF ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

300,000 PEOPLE LEFT NEW YORK STATE LAST YEAR, MORE THAN NEW JERSEY, OHIO, ILLINOIS, MASSACHUSETTS COMBINED.

I FEEL LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOT TALKING TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND SO, I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR TO TRY AND TURN AROUND OUR STATE, TO TRY AND LIFT UP THE CONVERSATION, TO TRY AND HELP PEOPLE AND ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, OF CRIME, OF TAXES, AND OUR TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

SO, I'M WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY, RISK IT ALL, BECAUSE I FEEL SO STRONGLY THAT THIS HAS TO BE DONE AND I'M -- I'M THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB TO GET THIS JOB DONE.

EVERYTHING I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS PARTICULAR JOB AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

>> WELL THEN, HOW DOES -- I GUESS, IT FEEL, FOR SO MANY PARTY INSIDERS, ESPECIALLY, LIKE I MENTIONED, HILLARY CLINTON, TO BE URGING YOU, OR, IF NOT OUTRIGHT PRESSURING YOU, TO JUST STEP ASIDE?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT PLEASANT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, I RAN FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF NASSAU COUNTY AND MY OPPONENT AT THE TIME WAS ENDORSED BY EVERYBODY, INCLUDING HILLARY CLINTON, AND CHUCK SHOER AT THE TIME AND ELIOT SPITZER AND SHELLY SILVER AND I WAS ENDORSED BY, LIKE, MY MOTHER AND MY WIFE, SO -- AND I RAN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHELLY SILVER AND JOE BRUNO TO FIX ALBANY TO TRY TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION IN ALBANY.

I'VE RUN IN PRIMARIES, I'VE RUN IN TOUGH ELECTIONS, I'VE WON MOST OF THEM.

I LOST SOME, TOO, BUT I'M USED TO, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE THINGS, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE STATUS QUO.

AND I'VE BEEN -- I'VE BEEN DOING THAT THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER, WHETHER IT WAS FIGHTING FOR A MEDICAID CAP OR A PROPERTY TAX CAP OR FIGHTING TO HELP THE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAYOR, FIGHTING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, CLEANING UP POLLUTION, I'VE ALWAYS GONE AGAINST THE GRAIN IN SOME WAYS, AND I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW MY PARTY, THE DEMOCRATS, GOVERNOR HOCHUL, ARE NOT RECOGNIZING THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING OPPRESSED BY HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AND UTILITY RATES.

AND DEMOCRATS CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AS MUCH AS REPUBLICANS DO, AND WE'VE GOT TO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

NOT IN A FOX NEWS WAY OF ADDRESSING CRIME AND TAXES, BUT A RESPONSIBLE WAY OF TRYING TO LIFT PEOPLE UP AND STILL PROVIDING THE IMPORTANT SERVICES WE NEED TO PROVIDE TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> WELL, AND OF COURSE, I WANT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF YOUR PLATFORM AND HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT I WANT TO ASK, WHEN YOU MENTIONED CRIME, YOU SAID CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY, AND AS YOU KNOW, CHILD WE ARE ALL ONE EMPIRE STATE, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSTATE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU DETERMINE THAT LINE IS, THERE IS DEFINITELY A SENSE OF A DIVIDE BETWEEN UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE AND YOU LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL, ARE DOWNSTATERS.

HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE SOME OF THE URGENT NEEDS OF SOME PLACE LIKE NEW YORK CITY TO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE STATE WHERE NEW YORK CITY MIGHT AS WELL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET?

>> HEY, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, ROCHESTER HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN 2021 THAT IT'S HAD SINCE 2006.

THEIR CRIME RATE IS GOING UP DRAMATICALLY.

THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN BUFFALO, IN ALBANY, IN SYRACUSE, THERE'S A CRIME PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SPECIFICALLY TO THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED IN ALBANY, RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THE ACTIONS TAKEN IN ALBANY, AS WELL AS A WHOLE HOST OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

UPSTATE NEW YORK, IF YOU CUT OFF NORTH OF PUTNAM AND ROCKLAND COUNTY AND MADE IT A SEPARATE STATE, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE POOREST STATES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WHEN I WAS BORN, THERE WERE 45 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM NEW YORK STATE, I WAS BORN IN 1962.

TODAY, THERE'S 27 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND IT'S GOING DOWN TO 26 WITH THE NEW CENSUS.

NEW YORK IS LOSING INFLUENCE IN THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A DECLINING RELATIVE POPULATION.

EVERYBODY WHO IS WATCHING YOUR SHOW KNOWS SOMEBODY WHO HAS MOVED TO FLORIDA OR TO NORTH CAROLINA OR SOUTH CAROLINA OR GEORGIA OR TEXAS OR ARIZONA.

PEOPLE ARE LEAVING NEW YORK STATE IN DROVES AND UPSTATE HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT OUT MIGRATION, BECAUSE WE PASS SO MANY OPPRESSIVE LAWS COMING OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, IN ALBANY, THAT EFFECT THE WHOLE STATE AND SO WHILE NEW YORK CITY HAS THE XHISHG ENGINE THAT CAN TAKE ON THAT OPPRESSION AND THE DOWNSTATE SUBURBS CAN FEED OFF NEW YORK CITY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL OR A JAIL OR A COLLEGE CAMPUS OR SOME MAJOR TOURISM CAMPUS LIKE SARATOGA RACETRACK, YOU'RE FACING A LOT OF CHALLENGES BECAUSE THE TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, THE UTILITY RATES ARE GOING UP, AND BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT AFFORDABLE AND THERE'S TOO MUCH REGULATION TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES.

SO, WE'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT IF NEW YORK STATE IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, I LEAVE FOR THE FUTURE, ARE NORTH OF PUTNAM AND ROCKLAND COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND THE SOUTHERN TIER AND CAPITAL REGION AND THE NORTH COUNTY, ON THE HUDSON VALLEY.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, HOW CAN WE MAKE NEW YORK STATE MORE ATTRACTIVE?

ADDRESSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, REDUCING THE COST OF TAXES AND UTILITY RATES, AND ADDRESSING OUR TROUBLED SCHOOLS, SO -- I'M VERY FOCUSED ON UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> WELL, CONSIDERING THAT YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED TROUBLED SCHOOLS AND TAXES, A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU SAID ARE DEFINITELY, PERSONALLY SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE, BECAUSE I AM IN THE HUDSON VALLEY, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT NEW YORK STATE, OUR SCHOOLS, ARE FUNDED BY OUR TAXES, AND THAT BECOMES AN INCREDIBLY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.

SO, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE TAX ISSUE WHILE STILL MAKING SURE THAT NEW YORK HAS GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> WELL, LET ME FIRST SAY, I WAS THE STRONGEST AND MOST VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR THE PROPERTY TAX CAP, I BELIEVE IN THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.

NEW YORK STATE CANNOT TAKE THE REGRESSIVE PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE SHUTTING DOWN THE LIVES OF SO MANY SENIOR CITIZENS ON A FIXED INCOME THAT ARE HURTING SO MANY YOUNG FAMILIES, THAT ARE CHASING SO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF THE STATE, SO, I BELIEVE IN THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.

IN NEW YORK, WE SPEND MORE PER STUDENT, TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THAN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE ANSWER TO OUR SCHOOLS, I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN INCREASING STATE AID TO OUR SCHOOLS AND TYING THAT TO REDUGSING PROPERTY TAXES.

SO, I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE MUST INVEST IN OUR SCHOOLS AND IT SHOULD BE MORE FROM STATE AID THAN FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

BUT THE ANSWER TO OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT MORE PROGRAMS.

THE ANSWER IS TO TAKE EXISTING FEDERALLY FUNDED, STATE FUNDED, LOCALLY FUNDED, AND NOT FOR PROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, VETERANS, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, DRUG AND ALCOHOL, BRING THOSE PROGRAMS INTO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HELP CHILDREN AT A YOUNG AGE.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THIRD GRADE TEST SCORES IN THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE MOST AT RISK, THEY'RE NOT THAT DIFFERENT.

IN EIGHTH GRADE, THE MOST AT RACE HAVE FALLEN OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

I'M A PARENT OF THREE CHILDREN.

I KNOW OUR KIDS DEVELOP THEIR PERSONALITIES AT THOSE YOUNG AGES.

75% OF THE PEOPLE IN JAIL HAVE A DRUG, ALCOHOL, OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

50% HAVE A LEARNING DISABILITY.

WHEN WE LET CHILDREN DOWN AT YOUNG AGES AND FORECLOSE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO THE FUTURE, WE RUIN THEIR LIVES GOING FORWARD.

AND WE HAVE TO BRING OUR EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES -- WE HAVE TO WORK ON CHANGING THE WHOLE MIND-SET.

THERE'S A GREAT QUOTE FROM DESMOND TUTU, ERIC ADAMS USED IT ALL THE TIME, I LOVE IT.

WE SPEND A LIFETIME PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE RIVER.

WE NEED TO GO UPSTREAM AND STOP THEM FROM FALLING INTO THE RIVER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE NEED TO DO PREVENTION.

WE NEED TO HELP CHILDREN AT YOUNG AGES WITH THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE THAT RESULT IN DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND MENTAL HEALTH, THAT RESULT IN CRIME AND POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE REST OF SOCIETY'S DYSFUNCTION.

THOSE PROBLEMS EMERGE AT YOUNG AGES.

YOU GO TO A KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL, ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, EVERY KID IS HAPPY, THEY'RE PRLAYING, PLAYING WITH CLAY, SINGING SONGS.

A TROUBLED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR FIFTH GRADE, YOU SEE KIDS WITH HARDENED FACES, GETTING IN FIGHTS, MAYBE NOT SHOWING UP FOR CLASS.

SOMETHING'S HAPPENED AT THOSE YOUNG AGES.

AND IT'S DYSFUNCTION OFTEN COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE BRINGING INTO SCHOOL RELATED TO POVERTY AND HUNGER AND DISFUNCTION AND DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS AT A YOUNG AGE.

WE CAN'T PUT IT ON THE TEACHERS.

THEY CAN'T DO IT.

YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON THE ONE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, THE ONE SOCIAL WORKER.

THE VOLUME OF PROBLEMS IS TOO BIG.

WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR WHOLE MIND-SET TWAERDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL IDEAS, TOWARD THE CHILDREN ZONE IN HARLEM, TO THE IDEA OF -- FROM CRADLE TO CAREERS, WE NEED TO BRING SERVICES TO CHILDREN.

EXISTING SERVICES, TO CHILDREN AT YOUNG AGES, TO BREAK DOWN THE SILOS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THESE KIDS AND A YOUNG AGE.

>> OKAY.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR THAT AND SAY, YEAH, THAT DOES MAKE SENSE, BUT WITH NEW YORK ALREADY BEING SUCH A HIGH SERVICE STATE, HOW DOES THAT -- I AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED MORE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT HOW DOES THAT LOWER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES, BECAUSE THAT'S CRUSHING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> NOT MORE.

WE DON'T NEED MORE FUNDING.

WE NEED TO TAKE THE EXISTING PROGRAMS.

WHEN I WAS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, I TOOK THE EIGHT AREAS, I PUT THEM IN ONE BUILDING.

THEY USED TO BE IN FIVE BUILDINGS SPREAD ACROSS A COUNTY WITH A GOVERNMENT LARGER THAN 11 STATES IN AMERICA.

AND I CREATED A THING CALLED NO WRONG DOOR, WHERE YOU COME N THE FRONT DOOR AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A TRANSFER PAYMENT, A WELFARE CHECK, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR HEAT ASSISTANCE OR SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY HELP, WE WANT TO FIND OUT -- WE WANT TO HELP YOU, BUT WHAT'S THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS IT SO IT CAN HELP YOUR LIFE AND SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN THE PROCESS?

AND I STARTED TO BRING IT INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS WELL, BUT I ENDED UP LOSING MY RACE IN 2009 TO A GUY THAT GOT CONVICTED OF BRIBERY IS CORRUPTION.

YOU CAN RUN AGAINST ME, BUT IF YOU WIN, YOUR LIFE IS OVER.

I'M TRAINED AS A CPA, AN ATTORNEY, I WAS THE MAYOR OF MY HOMETOWN, I WAS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF NASSAU COUNTY.

I KNOW HOW TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK.

AND NEW YORK STATE IS A $220 BILLION ENTERPRISE, LARGER THAN ANY FORTUNE 500 COMPANY.

AND YOU NEED A PROVEN EXECUTIVE WHO KNOWS HOW TO MANAGE THINGS AND TAKE THIS BIG, UNWIELDY THING THAT IS GOVERNMENT AND DRIVE IT TOWARDS SOLVING PROBLEMS.

AND ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS IS TO HELP OUR TROUBLED SCHOOLS BY BRINGING THE SOCIAL SERVICES IN.

THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO CRIME.

WE HAVE TO REDUCE CRIME.

THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO REDUCING TAXES, SO -- >> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR ANSWER, YOU DID MENTION THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE, AND ON THIS SHOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CRIME RATES IN NEW YORK CITY AND HOW THEY OVERLAP AND INTERSECT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.

AND I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND MAYOR ADAMS HAVE RECENTLY ROLLED OUT A PLAN THAT THEY HAVE TO TRY TO STOP PEOPLE FROM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND, YOU KNOW, CYCLING THROUGH THE SHELTER SYSTEM, BUT HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT, KEEPING THIS MIND THAT IT'S NOT -- HOMELESSNESS IS ALMOST THE, YOU KNOW, EXTREME SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING DEEPER THAT'S UNDERLYING AND A PROBLEM IN OUR CULTURE AND OUR SOCIETY.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE HOMELESS.

WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, I STARTED A THING CALLED THE FORDHAM LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECT.

I USED TO SLEEP OVERNIGHT, SUPER VISE A HOMELESS SHELTER, I SET UP A WHOLE PROGRAM WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FOR -- TO VAOLUNTEE.

I WAS LIVING IN MANHATTAN FROM ' '84 TO '91, LAW SCHOOL, WORKING, AND I SAW THE HOMELESS ISSUE AND I SAW IT GET BETTER AND NOW IT'S COMING BACK AS BAD AS IT IS.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE POLICE, SOCIAL WORKERS, NOT FOR PROFITS, FAMILY MEMBERS, THE POWER, THE AUTHORITY, TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE STREET, IN 10-DEGREE WEATHER, 20-DEGREE WEATHER, IF YOU ARE WALKING AROUND MUTTERING TO YOURSELF AND YOU HAVE A BIG SORE ON YOUR LEG THAT'S OOZING AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DISCOMBOBULATED, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.

WE CAN'T LET OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES GO BEYOND COMMON SENSE, YOU KNOW?

I'M RUNNING AS A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT.

THESE FOLKS NEED TO BE PUT INTO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, INTO HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, INTO SHELTERS AND HOUSING.

IT CAN'T BE THAT THEY'RE ON -- SLEEPING ON THE SUBWAYS.

IT CAN'T BE THAT -- THE THING THAT GETS ME ABOUT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS HOMELESS PLAN TO BRING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, THE SECOND TIME SHELL ANNOUNCED THE SAME PROBLEM.

THE FIRST TIME SHE ANNOUNCED IT, TWO WEEKS LATER, TEN DAYS LATER, WAS WHEN THE WOMAN GOT PUSHED, MS. GO WAS KILLED.

IT TURNED OUT A FEW DAYS LATER, THE GOVERNMENT HADN'T ISSUED THE RFP YET.

OF COURSE WE WANT MORE POLICE, AS ERIC ADAM HAS SUGGESTED, AND MORE SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING TOGETHER WITH POLICE, TO GET THE HOMELESS OFF THE SUBWAYS AND OFF THE STREETS.

WE WANT THAT, AND GET THE PROPER TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.

AND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

BUT JUST SAYING IT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IMPLEMENTING IT.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT ACTUALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED, BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN IMP IMPLEMENTED YET.

>> OF COURSE, BUT WHEN YOU DO MENTION, YOU KNOW, GIVING PEOPLE THE AUTHORITY TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE CLEARLY IN NEED OFF THE STREET, WHERE EXACTLY DO THEY GO?

THERE'S BEEN OBVIOUSLY SO MUCH TALK IN NEW YORK CITY ABOUT THE SHELTER SYSTEM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT HOUSING PEOPLE IN HOTELS, OTHER PLANS OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TAKEN, WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION THEN, IF WE TAKE THEM AWFUL THE STREETS, WHERE DO WE PUT THEM?

>> WELL, AGAIN, IT'S SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKING A PRONOUNCEMENT AND ACTUALLY GETTING SOMETHING DONE.

AND I'VE DONE THIS KIND OF WORK.

I DID IT AS A MAJOR, AS A COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH -- WE WENT THROUGH THIS THING WITH WILLOWBROOK, RESULTING IN A LOT OF THE HOMELESSNESS AND THE RISE IN CRIME THAT WAS RELATED TO THAT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, PEOPLE IN JAIL, 75% OF THE PEOPLE IN JAIL HAVE A DRUG, ALCOHOL OR MENTAL EHEALTH ISSUE.

SO, WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE -- WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON THESE PROGRAMS.

WE JUST NEED TO MANAGE IT PROPERLY AND GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS INTO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND INTO HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TAKING ALL THE MANY RESOURCES WE HAVE, EXISTING RESOURCES WE HAVE, AND MANAGING IT PROPERLY.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW, KNOWN AS KENDRA'S LAW, MAKE IT PERMANENT, GIVE IT EXPANDED AUTHORITY TO THE COURTS, TO JUDGES, TO THE POLICE, TO SOCIAL WORKERS, TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR A DANGER TO OTHERS.

>> WELL, I DO WANT TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE RUNNING AS A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT, AND I'M SURE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN POLITICS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE, YOU'RE VERY WELL AWARE, COMMON SENSE IS A SUBJECTIVE TERM.

NOW, YOU HAVE BEEN OPENLY CRITICAL OF THE NEW MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ALVIN BRAGG AND HIS -- AT LEAST HIS INTENTIONS ABOUT WHICH CRIMES HE WAS GOING TO CHARGE AND HOW HE WAS GOING TO TREAT THEM, ET CETERA, SO, I'M WONDERING WHY YOU FEEL AS THOUGH ALVIN BRAGG, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, BUT I'M SURE WHAT HE FELT KEEPING THE COURT SYSTEM FROM GETTING CLOGGED UP WITH LOW LEVEL CRIMES, TO HIM, WAS COMMON SENSE, SO, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOUR CRITICISM, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND HOW YOU THINK THAT POSITION SHOULD BE HELD OR RUN.

>> SO, THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY CAME OUT WITH HIS OPENING MEMO WHEN HE FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE AND HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE RESISTING ARREST AND HE'S NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ARMED ROBBERIES AS A FELONY, BUT ONLY AS A MISDEMEANOR UNLESS SOMEBODY GETS HURT.

WELL, THAT'S NOT COMMON SENSE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CRIMINALS KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET PROSECUTED WHEN THEY BREAK THE LAW.

IT'S NOT UP TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO DECIDE WHICH LAWS THEY WANT TO ENFORCE.

IT -- IF HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE LAW, THEN RUN FOR STATE LEGISLATURE, RUN FOR STATE SENATOR OR STATE ASSEMBLY.

IT'S UP TO THE PROSECUTORS TO PROSECUTE THE LAW.

IT CAN'T BE THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO RESIST ARREST OR COMMIT AN ARMED ROBBERY, IT'S A FELONY, IN BROOKLYN, BUT IT'S OKAY TO DO IN MANHATTAN.

IT CAN'T BE THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO DO IT IN QUEENS, BUT IT'S OKAY TO DO IT IN MANHATTAN.

THAT'S A GREEN LIGHT FOR CHAOS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DID A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL ABOUT THIS, I WAS VERY, VERY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT IT.

THE GOVERNOR REFUSED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT, BUT A FEW WEEKS LATER, ALVIN BRAGG REVERSED HIS POSITION AND SAID HE WOULD PROSECUTE ARMED ROBBERY AS A FELONY AND HE WOULD PROSECUTE RESISTING ARREST WHEN THERE WAS ANY VIOLENCE TOWARDS POLICE.

SO, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT WE SUCCEEDED IN CHANGING THE CONVERSATION, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS PARTICIPATING, AS WELL.

SO THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER OVER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THAT IF THEY DON'T PROSECUTE CRIMES, IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB, THE GOVERNOR CAN REMOVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR JUST REMOVE THEM FROM THAT PARTICULAR CASE AND PUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THERE TO PROS CUTE THOSE CASES.

I WOULD EXERCISE THAT AUTHORITY.

I RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, ALVIN BRAGG IS THE DUALLY ELECTED MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

HE'S CHANGED HIS PUBLIC POSTURE ON THIS ISSUE.

AND WE HAVE TO LET HIM DO HIS JOB, SO -- BUT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THEIR JOB, WE -- WE HAVE TO STOP, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A CHOICE BETWEEN THIS ANGRY RHETORIC FROM THE FAR RIGHT, YOU KNOW, FOX NEWS, AND, YOU KNOW, SOME WOKE SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS ON THE FAR LEFT.

IT'S COMMON SENSE.

IT'S WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW -- WE KNOW CRIME'S A PROBLEM.

DATA?

THAT'S COMMON SENSE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME.

I'M SUPPORTING MAYOR ADAMS' POSITION ON THIS 100%.

WE KNOW THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE MUCH TOO HIGH, WHERE I LIVE, WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE HUDSON VALLEY, AND THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE CRUSHING PEOPLE AND CHASING PEOPLE OUT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE ALL COMMON SENSE THINGS.

WE, AS DEMOCRATS, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, NEED TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE CARE -- WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 2016, I WENT TO A BIG MEETING DOWN IN WASHINGTON AND THERE WAS A BIG TABLE, EVERYBODY GIVING THEIR OPINION, HOW IS IT THAT TRUMP WON, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

AND I REMEMBER A LABOR UNION GUY SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS USED TO COME TO THE CHURCH PICNICS AND TO THE BARS AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT WE CARED ABOUT.

HE SAYS, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

WE NEED TO START TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

AND RIGHT NOW, THEY CARE ABOUT CRIME AND TAXES.

>> OKAY, SO, THEN TO BUILD OFF OF THAT, AND ESPECIALLY GOING BACK, BECAUSE YOU DID MENTION BEING A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT, AGAIN, BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE LABELED YOU AS A MODERATE OR A CENTRIST, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY CRAZY ABOUT.

SO, WITH OUR REMAINING TIME, WE HAVE ABOUT 2 1/2 MINUTES LEFT, BUT HOW WOULD YOU CLEARLY DIFFERENTIATE YOUR PLATFORM FROM WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR AND BE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

>> WELL, LISTEN, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR.

I WAS THE ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR FOR THE NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION.

I GOT ALL KINDS OF AWARDS, AL GORE, THINGS I'VE DONE TO PROSERVE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLEAN UP POLLUTION.

I WAS THE NEW YORK CITY IMMIGRATION COALITION'S PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR THE WORK I DID FOR THE HELP THE UNDOCUMENTED AND KICKING I.C.E.

OUT OF NASSAU COUNTY.

I HAVE A 100% RATING FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

I HAVE AN F RATING FROM THE NRA.

KATHY HOCHUL WHEN SHE WAS IN CONGRESS HAD AN A-RATING FROM THE NRA.

I WAS -- I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LABOR CAUCUS IN CONGRESS.

I FOUNDED THE LABOR CAUCUS.

I AM A LIFE-LONG DEMOCRAT.

I'M VERY PROGRESSIVE ON CERTAIN THINGS, I'M MORE MOD RAT ON OTHER THINGS, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT ME IN A BOX.

I'M GOING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY.

I'M GOING TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH PROGRESSIVES, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH MODERATES, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO GENUINELY WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE AND TRY TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

THAT'S WHY I'M IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TO TRY AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.

I'VE DONE THAT THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER.

I'M A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT WHO GETS THINGS DONE.

YOU CAN'T PUT ME IN A BOX.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT THE FIGHTS I NEED TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE I SERVE AND TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

>> CONGRESSMAN, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, AND SPEAKING OF BEING A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT, FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE, AND YOUR CURRENT TITLE, CONGRESSMAN, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT BY YOU STEPPING ASIDE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS EVEN MORE VULNERABLE AT A TIME WHEN THE PARTY IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO LOSING BOTH HOUSES.

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ELECT A DEMOCRAT FOR MY SEAT.

I THINK THEY GERRY MA MANNERED IN SOME WEIRD WAYS TO ADD TO MY DISTRICT OF QUEENS AND LONG ISLAND, BUT A DEMOCRAT WILL WIN, AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE A DEMOCRAT WINS MY SEAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT SUCH BIG PROBLEMS THAT I'M GIVING UP A GREAT HONOR AND A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

I'M -- IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUES TO BE.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE SO CHALLENGING IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE CHALLENGES OF OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT KATHY HOCHUL IS UP TO IT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SHE STANDS FOR CONSISTENT PRINCIPLES.

SHE WAS ONCE ENDORSED BY THE NRA, SHE HAD A 50% RATING FROM THE LEAGUE OF CONNER IS VAGTS VOTERS.

SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO REPORT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE TO ICE.C.E I DON'T KNOW WHAT SIDE SHE FITS IN, SHE CAN'T BE PUT IN A BOX EITHER, I GUESS.

I'M A COMMON SENSE DEMOCRAT.

PROVEN EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE WHO IS GOING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE TO ADDRESS CRIME, TAXES, AND OUR TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

>> OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI, WHO IS THE UNDERDOG, BUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNA.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --