>>> TONIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST -- ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND LEAVES NEW YORKERS ON EDGE.

THE HORRIFYING ATTACK IN HARLEM THAT LEFT A WOMAN IN A COMA.

WILL THE VIOLENCE LEAD TO CHANGES IN ALBANY?

"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 THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

IN THIS WEEK'S LOOK AHEAD AT THE MAJOR HEADLINES, NEW YORKERS ARE LEFT FEELING ANXIOUS AND ON THE EDGE AFTER ANOTHER VIOLENT WEEKEND IN THE CITY.

TONIGHT THE NYPD IS INVESTIGATING SEVERAL NEW ATTACKS, INCLUDING THE CASE OF A HARLEM WOMAN REPORTEDLY LEFT IN A COMA AFTER A MAN TRIED TO RAPE HER ON THE STREET.

IN ALBANY, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS FACING PUSHBACK FROM PROGRESSIVES AS SHE CHAMPIONS NEW CHALLENGES TO BAIL REFORM AMID THE CRIME SURGE.

WE'RE ALSO TRACKING THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEE JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, AND THE DEBATE OVER LIFTING THE REMAINING COVID MANDATES AS HEALTH OFFICIALS MONITOR THE STEALTH OMICRON VARIANT.

FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE STORIES AND THEIR TAKE ON WHAT ELSE COULD DRIVE THE NEWS THIS WEEK, LET'S WELCOME TONIGHT'S ROUND TAIBL OF EXPERTS.

FIRST WE'RE WELCOMING BACK J.C. POLANCO.

J.C., COMMENTATOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHO NOW TEACHES AT COMMUNITY MCC.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE ALSO WELCOMING BACK SHBARS JEFFRIES, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND PRESIDENT FOR DEMOCRATS FOR EDUCATION REFORM, THE POLITICAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.

SHVAR, WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> AND WE'RE ALSO WELCOMING DAVID BRAND.

DAVID IS A SENIOR REPORTER AND EDITOR FOR CITY LIMITS, THE INVESTIGATIVE NEWS SITE COVERING NEW YORK.

HE ALSO CO-HOSTS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM "CITY WATCH" ON WBIA RADIO.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START OFF WITH THIS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING ATTACK THAT TOOK PLACE IN HARLEM.

FIRST, DAVID, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE I JUST TOUCHED ON IT IN THE INTRO, BUT WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT WHAT TOOK PLACE?

>> A WOMAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, WAS ATTACKED AND BRUTALLY BEATEN IN EAST HARLEM AND THEN DRAGGED BETWEEN TWO CARS BY A SO FAR UNKNOWN ATTACKER THAT ATTEMPTED TO REAPE HER.

YOU MENTIONED SHE'S IN A COMA.

I SAW SOME NEWS ARTICLES TODAY SHE'S FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AFTER THIS ATTACK, AND IT REALLY IS THE LATEST HIGH-PROFILE ATTACK AND ATTACK ON A WOMAN IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT'S VERY DISTURBING.

CRIME RATES ARE NO DOUBT UP AND WE SEE THESE ATTACKS HAPPENING, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK NOW.

SO THIS I THINK CONTRIBUTING TO THE GENERAL SENSE OF FEAR AROUND THE CITY.

>> AND SHVAR, WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT, THAT THERE IS A GENERAL SENSE OF FEAR?

AND I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF, OF COURSE, THE CITY HAVING -- WHILE STILL DEALING WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC BUT ALSO USUALLY WE SEE A DECREASE IN CRIME IN THE WINTER TIME AND IT FEELS LIKE THIS WINTER, THE CITY HASN'T GOTTEN A BREAK AT ALL.

>> WELL, SHOOTINGS ARE DEFINITELY UP.

IF YOU LOOK AT YEAR-OVER-YEAR SHOOTINGS, WE HAD 22 SHOOTINGS IN NEW YORK LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE 241 THIS YEAR.

WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CRIMES IN THE SUBWAY SYSTEM.

THE SUBWAY SYSTEM HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT IN 25 YEARS.

SO ACCORDING TO THE DATA, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY INCREASES IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

WE DO SEE INCREASE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN THE MIDST OF COVID AND THE PANDEMIC AND THE TRAUMA AND STRESS THAT'S BROUGHT TO COMMUNITIES.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTION VIOLENCE IS UP, CRIMES, GUN VIOLENCE IS UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

ASSAULTS ARE UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

SHOOTINGS ARE UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO RESPOND TO THIS INCREASE IN VIOLENCE.

TOO OFTEN WE HAVE FALSE BINARIES IN OUR PUBLIC CONVERSATION BUT WE NEED A BALANCED APPROACH IF WE WILL RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THIS CHALLENGE.

>> VERY QUICKLY BEFORE I BRING IN J.C., I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, WHEN YOU SAY FALSE BINARIES, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

JAVAR?

>> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

I COULDN'T HEAR YOU CLEARLY.

>> OKAY, SORRY.

YOU MENTIONED TOO OFTEN THERE'S FALSE BINARIES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIME IN THE CITY.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR -- WE'LL HAVE SOME WHO VIEW THEMSELVES AS VERY PROGRESSIVE, WHO MADE -- MAY BRING A LENS THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT ALL CRIME SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A THERAPEUTIC MANNER, SHOULD BE DEALT WITH FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT.

I BELIEVE THERE SHOULDN'T BE BAIL FOR ANY OFFENSES AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME WHO ARE MORE LAW AND ORDER TYPES WHO KIND OF WANT TO THROW THE BOOK AT ANYTHING AND THINK ANY SORT OF INFRACTION -- A BROKEN WINDOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ANY SORT OF REGULATORY ISSUE OUGHT TO BE DEALT WITH IN A CATEGORICAL MANNER AND WHAT WE NEED IS BALANCE.

FOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, THERE ABSOLUTELY OUGHT TO BE A MORE FORCED RESPONSE.

BAIL MAKES SENSE IN THOSE TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR OTHER EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE RECIDIVISM.

HOWEVER, FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF INSTRAKSS, WHICH ARE MISDEMEANORS IN MOST OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, THERAPEUTIC RESPONSES, PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES MAKE MORE SENSE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO WE NEED A TAILORED APPROACH TO THE PARTICULAR ISSUE AND TOO OFTEN IN OUR PUBLIC CONVERSATION, PEOPLE LIKE TO RUN IN THEIR CORNERS AND YELL ACROSS THE WALL AS OPPOSED TO WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND BALANCED SOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES.

>> J.C., YOU WEIGHED IN ON THIS SO MANY TIMES.

GIVE US YOUR TAKE.

>> I FEEL TERRIBLE FOR THE YOUNG WOMAN YESTERDAY IN HARLEM WHO HAD TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

THIS TRUE STORY, THAT'S HAPPENING EVERY DAY ACROSS OUR CITY.

AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME IT'S DONE BY SOMEONE WITH A RECORD, SOMEONE WHO'S DONE THIS BEFORE, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM BEFORE.

AND WE HAVE TO ADMIT SOMETHING, THERE WAS A TIME IN OUR CITY, I GREW UP HERE IN THE BRONX, YOU HAD CRIMES AND RATES WHETHER YOU COMBINED THEM, WE HAD UP TO 3,000 A YEAR.

WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN TO 300 A YEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ELECTING PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORICAL REFERENCE POINT.

WE'RE ELECTING PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T AROUND WHEN THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT'S A ONE-SIDED PARTY WITH ONLY ONE IDEOLOGY RUNNING ALL LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK STATE.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE IRRESPONSIBLE POLICIES.

YOU HAVE THE REALITY OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK, LATINOS AND POOR PEOPLE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S A FACT.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT THE WAY YOU ADDRESS IT IS WITH SURGEON-LIKE PRECISION.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IN NEW YORK WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL PROGRESSIVES BUT REALLY THEY'RE ZEALOTS.

THEY PUSH FOR IRRESPONSIBLE THINGS LIKE RAISE THE AGE FROM 16 TO 18.

TODAY GANG MEMBERS 16 YEARS OLD CAUGHT WITH A GUN IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL WON'T SEE A DAY IN JAIL EVER.

THESE ARE STREET TERRORISTS KILLING OUR MOMS AND CHILDREN AND DADS AND ATTACKING OUR PEOPLE.

AND BECAUSE SOME FOLKS THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE WITNESSES TO CRIMES LIKE THIS, IT GAVE NAME, ADDRESS, ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ALLEGEDLY CRIMINALS TO A CASE LIKE THIS, TO GIVE THAT PERSONAL INFORMATION ON WITNESSES TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND THEN TO GO OFF AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BAIL REFORM BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN WRONGS IN THE PAST AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DOZENS OF VIOLATIONS NOW THE SUBJECT OF BAIL.

AND THEN WE HAVE PROGRESSIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, ZEALOTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FROM SEATTLE TO SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK CITY, WHO DON'T WANT TO PROSECUTE CRIMES, WANT TO DOWNGRADE TO MISDEMEANORS.

DO YOUR VIEWERS KNOW 65% OF ALL GUN CRIMES LAST YEAR WERE REDUCED FROM FELONY TO MISDEMEANOR JUST TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS?

GOD BLESS YOU.

THAT CREATES HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DAMN IT IF YOU ENFORCE THE LAWS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND CHARGE PEOPLE, THEY WILL BE OFF THE STREETS AND WE'LL HAVE LESS MURDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WE WANT TO TREAT STREET TERRORISTS AS THUGS.

IF YOU WANT TO, GOD BLESS YOU.

I RAN AT 19 AND 24.

BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY AND WHAT WE DEAL WITH AND WHAT POLICIES WE PUT IN PLACE TO REDUCE THEM FROM 3,000 TO 300.

SO WE'RE GOING BACK.

I THINK YOUR VIEWERS ARE TIRED.

PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TIRED.

AND TOO MANY FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE ANY STANDING HAVE A SAY.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU'RE DODGING BULLETS, SIT DOWN.

YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SCHARFAR, IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT?

>> I THINK J.C. IS A BIT OVERBROAD IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I DON'T THINK PROSECUTING 16-YEAR-OLDS AND 17-YEAR-OLDS IS REALLY GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE.

TO BE CLEAR, IT'S BEEN A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

I ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY AGREE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, THAT IS AN AREA FOR POLICE AND PROSECUTION AND JUDGES.

GENERALLY SPEAKING IN OUR COUNTRY, THAT'S ABOUT 20% OF THE ALLOCATION OF CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT RESOURCES.

80% ARE USED FOR MISDEMEANOR.

THESE ARE DRUG USE, THESE ARE PROSTITUTION.

THESE ARE REGULATORY OFFENSES.

SO WE CAN'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.

THAT'S MY CONCERN IN THIS KIND OF POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK J.C.'S GONE A BIT TOO FAR WITH THAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED SUPPORT.

WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO INVEST IN PREVENTION, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN RE-ENTRY.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OFFENDERS ARE COMING BACK OUT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE JOB TRAINING AND OTHER SUPPORT SO THEY CAN MOVE ON AND MOVE FORWARD PRODUCTIVELY.

THERE ARE A MINORITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DO FOR THAT GROUP, FOR THAT SUBGROUP, WE HAVE TO HAVE TARGETED STRATEGIES BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT SUGGESTS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ARE COMING INTO THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM ARE ENGAGED IN TERRORISM.

IT'S ACTUALLY A MINORITY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TAILOR OUR STRATEGIES APPROPRIATELY.

>> DAVID, GIVEN WHAT WE JUST HEARD, HOW MUCH OF THIS DO YOU THINK THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AS SHE ATTEMPTS TO READDRESS BAIL REFORM, WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC?

SHE DOES, OF COURSE, HAVE A GUBERNATORIAL OR AT LEAST PRIMARY CHALLENGERS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FROM BOTH THE I GUESS CENTER AND FROM THE LEFT.

SO WHAT DO YOU SEE PLAYING OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH A LEGISLATOR THAT, AS J.C. HAS POINTED OUT, DOES LEAN MORE TOWARDS THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS UPTICK IN CRIME THAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY, SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT IT'S ALSO HAPPENING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF TWO YEARS OF SOCIAL DISLOCATION OF FEAR, OF AN UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC, OF DEATH, OF 40,000 PEOPLE DYEING IN NEW YORK CITY OF COVID, OF ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE THAT IS AFFECTING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN VIOLENCE, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND.

THERE'S AN EAGERNESS TO BLAME IT ON, BAIL REFORM WITHOUT ANY KIND OF DATA TO SUGGEST THAT BAIL REFORM IS LEADING TO A SURGE IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

THAT BEING SAID, HOCHUL, WHO IS FACING A CHALLENGE ON THE RIGHT FROM SOZZI IN THE PRIMARY, ALSO NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING OR MAKE IT SEEM LIKE SHE'S DOING SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THIS UPTICK IN CRIME.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ADJUSTING THE BAIL REFORM LAWS, I GUESS.

SO RIGHT NOW SHE WOULD WANT TO ALLOW JUDGES TO CONSIDER DANGEROUSNESS IN SETTING BAIL OR REMANDING DEFENDANTS.

SHE ALSO WANTS TO ADD GUN POSSESSION TO BAIL-ELIGIBLE OFFENSE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE I THINK SOMETHING THAT COMES UP A LOT IN THE BUDGET NEGOTIATION, WHICH IS WHERE WE SAW THE BAIL REFORM LAW INITIALLY ENACTED IN 2019 BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

IT'S MORE OPAQUE.

LAWMAKERS AREN'T REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO GO ON THE RECORD ABOUT THAT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT COMPROMISES ARE REACHED THERE.

BUT YOU MENTIONED STATE LEGISLATI LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE NOT AT THIS POINT WILLING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS NOW, CARL HASTING, SENATE SPEAKER, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HELPED THIS GO THROUGH THREE YEARS AGO AND DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO BECOME DOWN ON IT.

>> WELL THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ELECTED LEADERS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AT LEAST WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO SOMETHING AND SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN HERE BEFORE, HAS BEEN HERE LONGER AND KNOWS THE CITY AS J.C. HAS MENTIONED, WE KNOW MAYOR ADAMS IS GOING TO BE RE-ENACTING OR RE -- BRINGING BACK, I GUESS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE WORD IS, THE PLAIN-CLOSED UNIT.

DAVID, I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHO THIS UNIT WAS, HOW THEY OPERATED, CAN YOU JUST SORT OF REFRESH US ON PLAIN-CLOSED IDEA.

>> SURE THING.

PLAIN-CLOTHES OFFICER WHO TRY TO GET GUNS OUT OF THE COMMUNITY BUT AT THE SAME TIME HAD A HISTORY OF BRUTALITY, I GUESS, CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS OF HARASSMENT AND ABUSE SO MADE A VERY CONTROVERSIAL UNIT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE SAW THE POLICE REFORM ACTIVITY FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD AND PROTESTS ACROSS THE CITY.

NOW ADAMS IS REINTRODUCING A KIND OF MODIFIED VERSION OF THIS WHERE THEY'RE NOT WEARING PLAIN CL CLOTHES, THEY'RE WEARING UNIFORMS AND WILL BE TASKED CAN GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREET.

>> OKAY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, BECAUSE SHEVAR, YOU AND J.C. AGREE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS PERHAPS SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE AS YOU SORT OF ALLUDED TO, SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE IN THE MIDDLE, OR IS THIS AN EXTREME TACTIC THAT'S JUST BEING BROUGHT BACK BUT, AS DAVID JUST POINTED OUT, IN A DIFFERENT UNIFORM?

>> ME?

>> YES.

>> EITHER ONE OF YOU.

I WAS ASKING SHEVAR BUT, J.C., I DO KNOW YOU ALSO HAVE WEIGHED IN ON THIS UNIT AS WELL.

>> I'LL JUMP IN.

I SPENT SOME TIME AS AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THAT ROLE HAD OVERSIGHT OF THE CRIME PLAN AT THAT TIME UNDER GOVERNOR CORZINE.

THE IDEA OF POLICE WHO ARE EITHER UNDERCOVER OR ENGAGE IN WHAT WE CALL INTELLIGENCE-BASED ACTION MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

AS IS THE CASE WITH ANYTHING, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLATED CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AND THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

INTELLIGENCE-BASED POLICING SHOULD MEAN NOT THAT YOU'RE RANDOMLY STOPPING PEOPLE OR RANDOMLY INTERDICTING PEOPLE, BUT THAT YOU ACTUALLY DO GOOD POLICE WORK, WHICH MEANS YOU DO PROACTIVE INVESTIGATY WORK TO IDENTIFY WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE USING THE GUNS ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE AND YOU TARGET THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO YOU NEED IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM POLICING IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK PREVIOUSLY, THEY WEREN'T DOING THAT.

THEY WERE DOING LAZY POLICING, STOPPING PEOPLE RANDOMLY, STOPPING PEOPLE INDISCRIMINATELY AND GENERALLY USING RACE AS THE PREDICATE FOR THOSE STOPS AND THE DATA WAS UNSURPRISINGLY CRYSTAL CLEAR, WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN LAZY POLICING, YOU'RE GOING TO DRAG IN VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY WERE CIVILIANS NOT ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

TO THAT EXCEPT MAYOR ADAMS STRUCTURED THIS DEPARTMENT THE RIGHT WAY WHERE IT'S BASED ON DATA AND INTELLIGENCE AND EVIDENCE ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE UP TO NO GOOD IN PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES, THIS COULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

IN EXECUTION THEY GO BEYOND THAT AND BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN LAZY, INDISCRIMINATING TARGETING BASED ON RACE, THEN WE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE FALSE BINARY CONVERSATION I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, YOU'RE TOO MUCH IN THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION.

IF YOU HAVE A PLAIN-CLOTHED UNIT, IT MUST BE UP TO NO GOOD OR ABOUT LAW AND ORDER.

YOU DO IT THE RIGHT THING, IT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU DO IT THE WRONG THING, IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC.

>> J.C.?

>> FIRST, I HAVE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER BY SHEVAR AND THAT WAS THE MISDEMEANOR ARGUMENT.

I MADE SURE TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT 65% OF ALL POSSESSIONS OF FIREARM ARRESTS HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED TO MISDEMEANORS BY OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND THROUGHOUT MAJOR CITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY'RE ELECTING MORE AND MORE SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVE BECAUSE OF CLOSE PRIMARIES WHERE ONLY THE FAR LEFT WIN AND THEY PUSH FORTH POLICIES THAT ARE COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF CRIME AND WE ARE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NOW, AS FAR AS THIS IS CONCERNED, IT'S NO SECRET, MAYOR ADAMS WON BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED WE HAVE A CRIMINAL ISSUE, HE RECOGNIZED WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER ON CRIME, HE RECOGNIZES THE DANGERS SOME ARE PROPOSING IN ADDITION TO THE THREE MAJOR PARTS OF THE BAIL REFORM POLICIES THAT WERE PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT MADE US PROMISE THIS.

WHEN YOU EXAMINE, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES TOUGH LOVE, SHEVAR.

THIS IS IMPORTANT NOW.

WHEN YOU EXAMINE THE NUMBERS IN OUR CITY, 95% OF ALL OF THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES LOOK LIKE US, SHEVAR, AND 94% OF ALL WHO COMMIT THOSE CRIMES LOOK LIKE US, SHEVAR.

AND THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY, WE CAN DISSECT IT WITH A SCALPEL WHERE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.

WHEN YOU HAVE PLAIN-CLOTHED UNITS OUT THERE ENFORCING THE LAWS, CHANCES ARE THEY WILL BE DEALING WITH OUR COUSINS AND NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE GOT RID OF SOME OF THESE POLICIES IN THE PAST, WE ALSO FORGOT OVER 67,000 ILLEGAL WEAPONS WERE REMOVED FROM OUR STREETS.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAD LAZY POLICING, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND SOME COPS THAT VIOLATED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THEY PAID THE PRICE AND SHOULD PAY THE PRICE WHEN THEY DO THAT.

BUT WE CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT 67,000 ILLEGAL WEAPONS WERE REMOVED FROM OUR STREETS AND THESE CRIMES ARE EXCLUSIVELY HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND EXCLUSIVELY OUR FOLK, SHEVAR.

WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND WHO THESE VICTIMS ARE.

WE HEAR A LOT OF LET'S DO SOMETHING FOR THE CRIMINAL, LET'S GIVE THEM THE EDUCATION HE NEEDS, THE MONEY THEY NEED, REHABILITATION THEY NEED AND ALL OF THIS.

BUT NO ONE EVER STOPS AND SAYS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES?

AND NEW YORKERS ARE WATCHING THIS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHY IS IT ALL OF THE FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON THE FOLKS THAT ARE CREATING THE TERRORISM AND NOT THE VICTIMS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS.

>> I DISAGREE -- REAL QUICK, I DISAGREE STRONGLY.

WE ACTUALLY HAD -- IT'S NOT THAT EVERYONE FOCUSES ON THOSE WHO WE CALL THE CRIMINALS.

IN FACT, WE HAVE A MASS INCARCERATION STATE IN THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS WHERE WE'RE INCARCERATING IN PRISON MORE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD AND THEY'RE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN.

OF COURSE, THE DATA WILL SHOW IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES.

THAT'S WHO THEY'RE TARGETING.

I WENT TO UNIVERSITY.

YOU GO TO ANY FOLK ANY DAY OF THE WEEK WITH ALL TYPE OF DRUG OFFENSES, IF YOU LOOK IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

YOU WANT TO USE THAT PREDICATE TO JUSTIFY -- >> SHEVAR, SHEVAR, NO.

IT'S NOT JAMAICAN AND IRISH GRANDMOTHERS CREATING HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU CAN SAY THAT ALL YOU WANT IT'S OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CREATING HAVOC.

IT'S OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING KID.

>> YOU DON'T THINK YOUNG WHILE PEOPLE ARE CREATING HAVOC AS WELL?

>> OF COURSE THEY DO BUT NOT AT THE SAME NUMBERS AND NOT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ACCORDING TO WHAT DATA?

ACCORDING TO WHAT DATA?

>> THESE IDEA THAT ASIAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN AND IRISH GRANDMOTHERS IS TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES IS NONSENSE.

>> MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT IN ANYBODY'S COMMUNITY.

DON'T RESPECT -- >> GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE SPEAKING OVER EACH OTHER AND UNFORTUNATELY IN ANY SETTING, LIVE OR ON ZOOM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

I THINK YOU BOTH MADE INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE AND IMPORTANT POINTS HERE.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION, OF COURSE, WE WILL CONTINUE HAVING ON "METROFOCUS" BECAUSE -- >> JENNA, JENNA -- >> YES.

>> I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

I NEVER SAID ANY YOUNG PERSON.

I SAID THE PERSON OF SPECIFICITY COMMITTING THESE CRIMES, YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> VERY SMALL SLICES OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, J.C. >> GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE SPEAKING OVER EACH OTHER AGAIN.

>> I JUST DON'T WANT OUR VIEWERS TO THINK AT ANY MOMENT I SAID ALL PEOPLE WERE DOING THAT.

THAT WOULD BE ERRONEOUS AND NEVER MY INTENT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON AND ALSO MENTION WE'RE TAPING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE IT STARTS BUT TODAY, THE HEARINGS ARE GOING TO BEGIN FOR JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TO THE SUPREME COURT.

OF THE MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED ABOUT JUDGE JACKSON, ONE OF THEM IS SHE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD BE VERY APROPOS TO THIS CONVERSATION.

DAVID, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN AND GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING OR THINKING MIGHT COME OUT OF THESE -- THE FIRST DAY OF THESE HEARINGS.

>> I THINK YOU NAILED IT RIGHT THERE TALKING ABOUT HER CAREER AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND HER WORK ON SENTENCING REFORM.

A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS ARE ALREADY SIGNALING THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GRILL HER ON THAT AND SAYING AMID THIS NATIONWIDE SPIKE IN CRIME, DO WE WANT A JUDGE WHO IS, QUOTE, SOFT ON CRIME, WHEN I THINK A LOT OF SUPPORTERS OF JUDGE JACKSON WOULD SAY THAT PERSPECTIVE AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER IS SORELY NEEDED, SOMEONE WITH THAT TYPE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE AND THAT EMPATHY.

SO I THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE THAT COMING UP DURING THE HEARING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, GENTLEMEN, SHEVAR FIRST, GIVEN, AGAIN, THE EXCHANGE THAT WE JUST HAD, EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CRIME AND THE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE SEEING PARTICULARLY RECENTLY AFTER COVID, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON HOW JUDGE JACKSON'S EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE EITHER USED AS A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE IN HER SUPREME COURT HEARING?

>> WELL, I'M SURE THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO TRY TO LEVERAGE IT AS A NEGATIVE.

I BELIEVE IT IS VERY, VERY MUCH A POSITIVE.

I THINK JUDGE JACKSON IS ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED SUPREME COURT NOMINEES WE'VE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, IF YOU LOOK AT HER BODY OF WORK.

PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.

WE EMPOWER OUR PROSECUTORS WITH IMMENSE POWER IN OUR CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM.

THEY HAVE THE POWER TO CHARGE.

MOST POOR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HIRE ATTORNEYS.

MOST PUBLIC DEFENDERS HAVE HUNDREDS OF CASES THAT THEY HAVE TO MANAGE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THE POWER IS TREMENDOUSLY AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IT IS TRUE IN OUR MASS INCARCERATION STATE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CRIMES, BE VERY CLEAR, BUT THAT'S HOW THE MINORITY OF INCARCERATION APPLIES RESOURCES TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE, NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES AND OTHER LOWER LEVEL OFFENSES AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TO ME IS THE EMBODIMENT OF JUSTICE TO STAND AND REPRESENT POOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD LAWYERS TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE JUSTICE METED OUT IN YOUR CASE AND I'M GOING TO REPRESENT YOU.

I THINK SHE'S ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED NOMINEES WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A POSITIVE.

I'M SURE THE REPUBLICANS WILL TRY TO FIND SOME ALARMIST EXTREME CASE TO PAINT HER AS SOMETHING SHE'S NOT.

SHE SHOULD BE CONFIRMED AND SHE SHOULD BE CONFIRMED SWIFTLY.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE DRAMA, THOUGH, GIVEN THE STATE OF OUR POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AT THIS TIME.

>> J.C., WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, BUT, SIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THE LAST WORD.

>> I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS NOMINATION.

I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN ON THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS HISTORIC.

I KNOW IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO A LOT OF MY STUDENTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH TO FINALLY SEE A BLACK WOMAN ON THAT COURT WILL BE INCREDIBLE.

QUITE FRANKLY, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WON, THIS IS HIS NOMINEE, AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN A MORE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO THE COURT IN RECENT MEMORY.

IT WOULD BE A SHAME FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO MAKE ANY PART OF HER BACKGROUND AN ISSUE.

THEY'VE SUPPORTED HER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST BY SOME PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS.

SO YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH HER ON POLITICS BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT IS SHE QUALIFIED?

ABSOLUTELY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS FINALLY HAPPEN AND FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SEE THEMSELVES ON THE COURT, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.

>> QUICKLY, WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME TO SORT OF ADDRESS THE LIFTING OF THE COVID MANDATES.

DAVID, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THE CITY STANDS AS OF RIGHT NOW WITH ANOTHER VARIANT ON THE HORIZON?

>> RIGHT NOW WE SEE COVID CASES ARE CONTINUING TO DECREASE RECENTLY TO ABOUT 1.6% POSITIVITY RATE IN NEW YORK CITY BUT THERE'S WARNINGS OF THE SUBVARIANT CAUSING ANOTHER INCREASE.

SO OUR NEW HEALTH COMMISSIONER IS SAYING HE'S GOING TO LEAVE IN PLACE MASK MANDATES FOR UNVACCINATED CHILDREN, INCLUDING CHILDREN UNDER 5, AND THAT'S KIND OF CONTRADICTING WHAT ERIC ADAMS HAD SAID ABOUT ALLOWING YOUNG CHILDREN TO GO WITHOUT MASKS.

I THINK ONE OF THE HIGHEST-PROFILE THINGS WE ARE SEEING IS THE EMPLOYER VACCINE MANDATE COMING UP, ESPECIALLY AS THE BROOKLYN NET AS APPROACH THE NBA PLAYOFFS, AS OPENING DAY APPROACHES FOR MY BELOVED METS AND ALSO YANKEES UP IN THE BRONX AS WELL, TO SEE JUST HOW MANY BASEBALL PLAYERS IN NEW YORK CITY ARE OUT OF STEP WITH THE REST OF THE CITY AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR VACCINE YET BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY HOME GAMES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

J.C., NEXT TIME WE'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD, I PROMISE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR ROUNDTABLE OF EXPERTS.

THIS IS A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION, GUYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

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