>>> TONIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST, WE TALK WITH UKRAINIAN NEW YORKERS AS THE WAR INTENSIFIES.

DROPPING MANDATES AND VACCINE REQUIREMENTS.

AND SEVEN WOMEN WERE ATTACKED IN MANHATTAN.

"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 FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

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 YORK IS WORKING TO UNITE UKRAINIANS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS AS THE WAR INTENSIFIES.

THUS FAR THE REFUGEE CRISIS HAS TOPPED 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND CALLS CONTINUE FOR THE SEIZURE OF OLIGARCH PROPERTY.

TONIGHT ALSO MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS K THROUGH 12 WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO WEAR MASKS INSIDE OF CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND PROOF OF VACCINATION IS NOT NEEDED FOR RESTAURANTS, BARS AND GYMS, BUT BUSINESS OWNERS CAN STILL REQUIRE VACCINATIONS IF THEY WANT.

SO THE QUESTION NOW IS, ARE WE MOVING TOO FAST AS SOME TOP LEADERS ARE FEARING?

WE'RE ALSO TACKLING THE LATEST EFFORTS TO COMBAT A.A.P.I.

HATE AFTER A SUSPECT WAS CHARGED WITH ATTACKING SEVEN ASIAN WOMEN DURING A TWO-HOUR CRIME SPREE IN MANHATTAN.

SO, FOR MUCH MORE ON WHAT'S AHEAD THIS WEEK, LET'S WELCOME BACK TONIGHT'S ROUNDTABLE OF EXPERTS.

>>> UP FIRST, WE ARE WELCOMING BACK THE DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE UKRAINIAN CONGRESS COMMITTEE OF AMERICA, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RAISING HUMANITARIAN AID AND REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF UKRAINIANS IN THE U.S.

WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

WE ARE ALSO WELCOMING BACK PROFESSOR -- DR. ANBAR, DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY AND THE CENTER ON AMERICAN GOVERNOR.

IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> AND TO ROUND OUT OUR TABLE, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME BACK ALYSSA KATZ.

ALYSSA IS THE DEPUTY EDITOR AT THE CITY, THE NONPROFIT NEWS WEBSITE DEDICATED TO COVERING NEW YORK CITY.

ALYSSA, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> SO, I WANT TO START, OF COURSE, WITH THE SITUATION THAT IS -- CONTINUES TO, I THINK BE ON EVERYONE'S MIND, THAT IS THE WAR ON UKRAINE.

AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRO THAT THERE ARE UP TO OR AT LEAST 1.5 MILLION REFUGEES SO FAR, AND THAT NUMBER COULD, OF COURSE, FLUCTUATE AS THINGS CONTINUE, BUT HOW IS NEW YORK WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS THEY MIGHT HAVE IN NEW YORK CITY?

>> WELL, THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROBLEM.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IS GRATEFUL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SECRETARY MAYORKAS GRANTED TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS TO UKRAINIANS THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF REQUIRES IMMEDIATE AID THROUGH OUR HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE HERE ON BUSINESS, WORKING FOR UKRAINIAN FIRMS.

THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PAID IN UKRAINIAN CURRENCY, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN SEVERELY DEVALUED, SO THERE IS A MONETARY COMPONENT TO THAT AS WELL.

THAT'S PART ONE, PEOPLE ALREADY HERE.

NOT JUST IN NEW YORK CITY.

THERE IS AN EVANGELICAL CONFERENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THANKFULLY THAT COMMUNITY IS HELPING THEM.

THAT'S AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AS FAR AS WHAT NEW YORK IS DOING FOR THE NEXT STEP, WE DID HAVE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL VISIT OUR COMMUNITY IN THE EAST VILLAGE LAST WEEK.

SHE VISITED WITH COMMUNITY CENTERS IN BUFFALO AND OTHER PLACES.

SHE IS SAYING THAT NEW YORK IS READY TO WELCOME REFUGEES.

THAT WILL FIRST AND FOREMOST HAVE TO HAPPEN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE EXCHANGE OF REFUGEE CAPS.

AS WE ALL KNOW FROM THE IMMIGRATION STANDPOINT FOR ADVOCATES FOR UNITED STATES BEING MORE OPEN TO REFUGEES, THE CAP WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY MUCH DEBATED LAST YEAR, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN RAISED THAT TO OVER 165,000 THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL ACCEPT IN FISCAL 2022.

HOWEVER, THAT NUMBER FOR EUROPE IS CAPPED AT 10,000.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE RIGHTFULLY COMING IN AS PROTECTED CLASSES, THAT CAN INCLUDE WOMEN WHO ARE SEEKING PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THAT CAN INCLUDE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN UKRAINE AND THEY WILL BE A MIKE FOR ASYLUM OR REFUGEE STATUS HERE.

HOWEVER, THAT'S STILL A LONG PROCESS AND WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE NUMBERS WILL HAVE TO GO UP.

NEW YORK, AS THE GOVERNOR HAS RIGHTFULLY NOTED, IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF AMERICANS OF UKRAINIAN DESCENT, SO IT IS PARTICULARLY SUITED TO HOUSE REFUGEES IN AREAS LIKE SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER, BUFFALO, YONKERS AND EVEN NEW YORK CITY ALREADY HAVE EXISTING UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL CENTERS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.

THESE PLACES WOULD BE PERFECT TO HOUSE REFUGEES, ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL A LITTLE BIT AWAY IN TERMS OF THE LEGAL MACHINATIONS TO GET TO THAT POINT.

>> OF COURSE.

I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP THE OTHER BIG ISSUE, BECAUSE AS THIS WAR UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUES, THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF A LOT OF WAYS TO SLOW THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY, OR TO HIT RUSSIANS IN THE POCKETBOOK.

AND ONE OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS HAS BEEN TO SEIZE OLIGARCH PROPERTY HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

NOW, WE KNOW THAT MAYOR ADAMS HAS DECLINED TO TAKE A POSITION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE DOING THAT.

AND JUST RECENTLY ON "METROFOCUS," MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARK LEVINE CAME ON AND EXPLAINED WHY HE THINKS THAT IS THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION.

ALYSSA, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS STORY DEVELOPING?

WHO DO YOU SEE ULTIMATELY, PERHAPS, SUCCEEDING IN THEIR CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A FEW -- POTENTIAL -- THERE IS A QUESTION WHETHER THE GOVERNOR MENDOSA, THE POWER TO SIMPLY SEIZE ASSETS.

THERE IS THE IRONY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT HISTORICALLY RUSSIA DID NOT, SIMPLY GO IN THERE AND TAKE ASSETS WITHOUT A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING MIGHT CAUSE ITS OWN ISSUES.

I DO THINK ONE INTERESTING THING THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY IS A RECOGNITION THAT IN NEW YORK ESPECIALLY, THE DEBT ITS OF OWNERS ARE NOT TRANSPARENT.

WE HAVE HAD IMPROVED REPORTING TO BOTH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND ALSO LAW IN NEW YORK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO REQUIRES A STATE TAX DEPARTMENT TO ALSO KNOW WHO ACTUALLY OWNS PROPERTIES THAT ARE PURCHASED BY SHELL COMPANIES KNOWN AS LLCs OR LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS.

WHAT WE ACTUALLY AS THE PUBLIC DON'T KNOW, AND DESPITE THE INTENTION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THAT INFORMATION PUBLIC, SO THERE IS A NEW BILL IN ALBANY THAT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR OF MANHATTAN AND ALSO ASSEMBLY MEMBER GALLAGHER OF BROOKLYN ATTEMPTING TO PIERCE THE VEIL FURTHER.

I THINK IT IS, SHORT OF EXAPPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY, I DO THINK YOU HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY FOR VERY STRONG SCRUTINY OF OWNERSHIP.

IN A LOT OF CASES WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS WHAT, AND THAT IS ANOTHER LAYER OF DIFFICULTY IN DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THESE ASSETS.

>> OF COURSE.

AND, PROFESSOR ANBAR, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN AND ASK ABOUT THE DECISION AROUND NO-FLY ZONES.

NOW, WE'VE HEARD UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY REPEATEDLY REQUEST FOR THIS, AND YET THERE IS SO MUCH HESITANCY, ESPECIALLY FROM U.S.

LEADERS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S OCCURRING?

>> WELL, IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE RUSSIA AND VLADIMIR PUTIN VIEW A NO-FLY ZONE DICTATE AND POTENTIAL REALITY AS AN ACT OF WAR.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE OLIGARCHS HERE AND IN EUROPE AND OTHER POLICIES RELATED TO PUNISHING THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND TRYING NOT TO PUNISH THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE, BUT ITS GOVERNMENT AND PUTIN AND THE OLIGARCHS THERE, IS A BALANCING ACT WHERE WE ARE DEMONSTRATING OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT AND OUR STAND FOR DEMOCRACY AND NON-INTERVENTION AND THE SECURE WORLD, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING OUR BEST TO NOT ESCALATE THE CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, ATTEMPTING TO DO BOTH IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT THE UNITED STATES TRIED TO DO SUCH DURING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS AND ANY NUMBER OF CRISES.

HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE FORTITUDE AND GET THE AID, MILITARY AND OTHERWISE, WE NEED TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND TO THE GOVERNMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING OUR BEST NOT TO ESCALATE THE CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE NO-FLY ZONE.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S DESIRES ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD AND COMPLETELY RATIONAL AND NEEDED.

BUT I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND NATO HAVE OTHER CONCERNS AS WELL.

>> SO, ANDREI, I'M WONDERING WITH ALL THIS PUSH AND PULL AND BACK AND FORTH WITH UKRAINE CONSTANTLY ASKING FOR MORE HELP, MORE SUPPORT, AND THE CONCERN FROM OTHER WORLD LEADERS SAYING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON PERHAPS LESS AGGRESSIVE TACTICS AND MORE NEGOTIATIONS, MORE TALKING.

WE'RE NOT REALLY READY TO DO THESE FOLLOWING STEPS YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

HOW IS THAT BEING INTERPRETED BY THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, THE MORE SUPPORT YOU VOCALIZE, THE MORE -- THE BETTER YOU'RE RECEIVED BY THE UKRAINIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE IS NOT SIMPLY A CONSTANT ASK, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT CIVILIAN CENTERS, CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS, HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE BEING SPECIFICALLY BOMBED BY THE RUSSIANS.

SO WHATEVER CONVERSATIONS THERE ARE ABOUT DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW ISN'T JUST THE WAR CRIME OF INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE SECOND ARTICLE OF THE U.N. CHARTER, BUT NOW SPECIFIC WAR CRIMES THAT NEED TO BE PROSECUTED AT SOME POINT, AND UKRAINE IS ALREADY BRINGING THAT UP TO THE HAIG.

IN TERMS OF HELPING UKRAINE WITH SOME KIND OF AIR COVER, YES, YOU'RE HEARING THE HASHTAG OF NO-FLY ZONE, PROTECT UKRAINE, ET CETERA.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IS ALREADY VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE ARE NOW TODAY.

SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO NOBODY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE NOR STREAM 2 PIPELINE BEING TAKEN OFF LINE.

NOBODY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY STARTED SHIPPING.

SO THE OVERTON WINDOW HAS CHANGED IN TERMS OF WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE COMING WEEKS WE WILL SEE SOME KIND OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE BEING DIRECTLY SHIPPED TO UKRAINE AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

DON'T THINK OF ITS AS A NO-FLY ZONE WE WOULD IN A POST-WAR SITUATION BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING BOTH GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, GENERAL, ALLIED COMMANDERS OF NATO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE A CEASE-FIRE.

WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS DONE BEFORE IS PROVIDE A DETERRENT TO MISSILE ATTACKS AND PLANE ATTACKS IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT COULD BE DONE ON A HUMANITARIAN LEVEL.

SO THAT INSTEAD OF SHIPPING ALL THESE SUPPLIES TO POLAND AND NOW THEY ARE BEING SHIPPED BY RAIL OR CAR INTO THE WESTERN CAPITAL, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THEN SHIPPING STUFF DIRECTLY ONTO UKRAINIAN TERRITORY AND THEN IT CAN BE DISPERSED EVEN QUICKER.

SO THAT'S THE NEED FOR SOME KIND OF AIR COVER AND THAT HAS HAPPENED IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE UNITED STATES OUR NATO ALLIES, FOR HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES STRICTLY, WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE SO WE CAN LAND PLANES IN THAT AREA.

>> OF COURSE.

WITH THIS ONGOING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND SHELLING, YOU KNOW, HOSPITABLENESS AND HUMANITY IS DEFINITELY ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BRING UP A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO NOTICE THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS BEING LOOKED AT AND ADDRESSED VERSUS OTHER ONES THAT, BY THE WAY, ARE STILL ONGOING.

SO, PROFESSOR ANBAR, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT, I GUESS, DICHOTOMY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BE LIKE, WAIT A SECOND?

>> WELL, IT'S TRUE.

LOOK, I DON'T WANT YOUR VIEWERS TO GET INTO THE BAD HABIT OF BEING IN THE OPPRESSION OLYMPICS WHERE WE COMPARE AND DENIGRATE ONE KIND OF OPPRESSION OVER ANOTHER.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS AFFIRM THE RIGHTS AND HUMANITY AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE WHETHER THEY ARE BLACK, BROWN, EUROPEAN, OF ANY DESCENT, AND AFFIRM THE UKRAINIANS IN THIS MOMENT AND THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.

WE NEED TO AFFIRM THAT.

BUT, YES, WE ALSO NEED TO AFFIRM THAT WHETHER PEOPLE ARE YEMENI OR IRAQI OR HAITIAN OR COMING FROM LATIN AMERICA OR NORTH AFRICA OR THE MIDDLE EAST, WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING ASYLUM, WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING PROTECTION, THEY, TOO, NEED TO RECEIVE THE KIND OF MEDIA ATTENTION AND SCRUTINY AND EMBRACE THAT I THINK THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE SO RIGHTLY DESERVE IN THIS MOMENT OF REAL EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

SO, YES, LET'S NOT GET IN THE BAD HABIT OF TRYING TO DENIGRATE ONE KIND OF PEOPLE'S OR ELEVATE ONE KIND OF PEOPLE'S OPPRESSION OVER ANOTHER.

LET'S GET IN THE HABIT OF AFFIRMING ALL CRISES AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT WHEN THEY ALL ARISE.

>> I DO AGREE WITH THE PRINCIPLE YOU'RE STATING.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, THIS IS RELEVANT TO NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR AS WE REPORTED IN THE CITY LAST WEEK, LEE ZELDIN WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR NOW, ACTIVELY SPONSORED A BILL TO PUT -- TO PREVENT REFUGEES FROM COMING HERE FROM SYRIA AND HAS NOW TURNED AROUND AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP UKRAINIANS.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THAT PRINCIPLE.

HE DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THAT AND TO DEFEND THAT DOUBLE STANDARD AND SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SCREEN THEM.

BUT WELCOME THE UKRAINIANS IN.

SO NEW YORK CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THIS AREA.

>> ABSOLUTELY, OF COURSE.

I DO WANT TO PIVOT TO THE OTHER BIG ISSUE AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE CHANGING PANDEMIC GUIDELINES, I GUESS IS WHAT WE SHOULD CALL IT, THE MASK AND THE VAX GUIDELINES.

ALYSSA, I TOUCHED ON IT IN THE INTRO, BUT THAT KIDS WOULD NO LONGER HAVE TO WEAR MASKS IN CITY SCHOOLS, AND THAT THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER CERTAIN PRIVATE SPACES, BARS, RESTAURANTS, WOULD ALSO BE CHANGED.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

SO, A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING AT ONCE, RIGHT, TOO MANY THINGS AS YOU SAID, FOLLOWING ACTION BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO LIFT MASK REQUIREMENTS STATEWIDE IN NEW YORK CITY FOLLOWED SUIT TODAY AS OF MONDAY.

IT ONLY APPLIES, I SHOULD NOTE, CHILDREN OVER 5 OR 5 AND OVER, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY -- THE MASK OPTION, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK AT SCHOOL AND TEACHERS IF THEY CHOOSE, WHERE AS FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL AND DAY CARE, THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.

I KNOW THAT'S A REAL CONCERN FOR SOME PARENTS WHO SAY WHY IS IT THAT TODDLERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE MASKED WHEN THEY'RE AT LOW RISK AND IT HAS CLEAR DEVELOPMENTAL COSTS.

YOU ALSO HAVE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER VENUES NO LONGER HAVING TO CHECK VACCINE STATUS AS A MATTER OF LAW, AND THEY NOW CAN SET THEIR OWN POLICIES.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS HAS SAID HE CHECKED WITH THE CITY'S LAWYERS AND RESTAURANTS SHOULD BE FREE TO CHECK PEOPLE'S VACCINE STATUS WITHOUT WORRYING THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW AN INTRUSION INTO PEOPLE'S RIGHTS THAT MIGHT RESULT IN A BACKLASH.

CLEARLY THIS IS ALL HAPPENING IN A MOMENT TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

I GUESS, EXTREME ANXIETIES AMONG SO MANY NEW YORKERS WHERE WE WERE A VERY HARD-HIT CITY, A VERY TRAUMATIZED CITY, A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND A LOT OF CONCERNS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WE HAVE A TRACK RECORD AT NYC THAT SHOWS THIS DATA EVERY DAY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE JUST INCREDIBLY LOW RISK RIGHT NOW, AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, GO OUT WITHOUT A MASK INTO ANYPLACE TOTALLY FINE.

AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF DISTRUST.

ONE THING MY ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING AT IS LOW ATTENDANCE DATA.

HOW ARE THESE BIG CHANGES LANDING RIGHT NOW?

HOW ARE PEOPLE REACTING TO THEM, AND HOW DOES THAT KIND OF PLAY OUT OVER THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS?

>> WELL, OF COURSE.

PROFESSOR ANBAR WE KNOW A LOT OF CITY LEADERS AREN'T THRILLED ABOUT THIS CHANGE IN POLICY, NAMELY PUBLIC ADVOCATE JOMANI WILLIAMS SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MANDATE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BRAND LANDER.

I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH OF THIS DO YOU SEE AS PERHAPS FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE AND HOW MUCH OF THIS MIGHT BE POLITICAL?

BECAUSE WE DO NOBODY THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE IS ALSO SEEKING THE GOVERNORSHIP.

>> THAT LAST COMMENT, JENNA, IS WHERE IT'S ALL AT.

WE DON'T GOVERN IN A VACUUM.

I'M SURE THE SCIENCE OF THE MATTER ITSELF HAS TO SHIFT BASED ON NEW TRENDS AS WELL AS THE POLITICS TO THE DEGREE THAT ESTABLISHING MANDATES FOR PEOPLE WHO WON'T FOLLOW THEM ISN'T GOING TO NECESSARILY BE THE BEST HEALTH POLICY.

I THINK THERE IS A SOLEMNONIC EFFORT, NEW YORKERS, WE KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.

WE KNOW THE DEPTH OF THE PRICE YOU'VE PAID OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED TO OPEN UP AND TO DO SO AS BEST WE CAN, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T NAME, I CAN'T ANYWAY, THAT WOULD HAVE PUSHBACK FROM 40% OF THE POPULATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE WICKED PROBLEMS MADE MORE SO BY PAST BEHAVIOR WHERE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED.

NEW YORKERS, I THINK, DID THEIR PART AND ARE READY TO SAY TO THEIR KIDS AND LOVED ONES IT'S TIME TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC.

SO LONG AS PEOPLE RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MASK THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY DON'T SUCCUMB FOUGHT FALSE NOTION THAT THE VIRUS IS DONE WITH US, WE WILL PERHAPS BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> SPEAKING OF MOVING FORWARD -- I'M NOT SURE WHICH IS AGAINST WHICH BACKDROP.

THE PANDEMIC, THE WAR ON UKRAINE.

ANDREI, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW -- IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT ISSUES THAT ARE CONCERNING PARTICULARLY NOT JUST THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK, BUT, OF COURSE, UKRAINE IN EUROPE, COULD GET LOST AMIDST THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.

>> GIVEN THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE TROUBLES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ABOUT WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR IN TERMS OF HELPING UKRAINE, A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES WERE RENDERED MOOT BY THE INVASION.

WE ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION THIS WEEK WHETHER IT'S THE 6 BILLION NUMBER BIDEN MENTIONED, BEING APPROVED A-S-A-P.

IT IS ACTIVE ON THE STATE LEVEL.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IN NEW JERSEY HAS PASSED LEGISLATION BANNING CERTAIN OIL SALES AS WELL.

THERE IS A MOVE TO DO THEIR PART.

THIS IS A MIDTERM YEAR.

EVERYBODY HAS POLITICAL REALITIES THEY HAVE TO AGREE TO.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT IS' HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THIS CURRENT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MASK MANDATES, IT'S ABOUT LEVELING OUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

YOU KNOW THE FAITH COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND STATE WERE GIVEN A BLOCK THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW ANY MASKS AND VACCINATION STATUS.

IT'S ABOUT LEVELING OUT WHAT YOU SEE IN CHURCH ON A SUNDAY.

WHAT YOU SEE IN SCHOOL.

PEOPLE IN EAST BROOKEVILLEAGE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY BUILD BACK AGAIN, IT'S ON THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA BUILDING BACK IN SOME WAY.

THESE THINGS CAN GO HAND IN HAND.

AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT'S PRESSING IS A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER.

THAT ALSO WILL BE ADDRESSED, HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY LOCAL LEADERS.

IT'S BOTH/AND.

>> IT IS BOTH/AND.

IT SEEMS SO MANY COMMUNITIES ARE FINDING THEMSELVES AT RISK NOW AND THE A.A.P.I.

COMMUNITY HERE IN NEW YORK.

ALYSSA, I WONDER IF YOU COULD TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE ASSAULTS OR STABBINGS THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND.

>> YES.

SO, IF YOU'RE -- LAST WEEK WE SAW A TERRIBLE ALLEGED SPREE IN MANHATTAN WHERE ONE INDIVIDUAL TARGETED ASIAN WOMEN AND IN TWO HOURS ASSAULTED SEVEN OF THEM, AND WAS CHARGED WITH -- AS A HATE CRIME.

I THINK THAT ONE THING, YOU KNOW, THAT MY ORGANIZATION, WE HAPPENED TO HAVE THIS ARTICLE IN THE WORKS ALREADY, AND I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THIS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IN THIS CONTEXT THAT ACTUALLY, THESE HATE CRIME LAWS AND THE KIND OF LEGAL APPARATUS THAT WE'VE CREATED TO RESPOND TO HATE AND MAKE IT LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING THE LEGAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN DO IN ORDER TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER, IT'S NOT REALLY WORKING.

AT LEAST IT'S NOT WORKING AS ADVERTISED.

IN FACT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

THESE CHARGES MAY STICK IF THE PROSECUTION CAN ESTABLISH PROOF IT WAS MOTIVATED BY BIAS.

BUT IN SO MANY OF THESE CASES, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, THE CHARGES GET PLEA BAR GONEGAINED.

SOMETIMES CASES FALL APART.

IT HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT KIND OF PENALTIES PEOPLE FACE.

I HOPE THIS IS THE START OF A SOLVERIZA CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THESE CASES.

IN SOME CASES TOUGHER PUNISHMENT.

SOME PROPERTY SECUTORS SAID WE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

THERE'S MORE CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.

>> CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE A HATE CRIME TO THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY BE RATHER CHALLENGING TO EITHER CHARGE AS OR TO ACTUALLY MAKE STICK IN A CONVICTION.

DOES THE LAW AROUND HATE CRIMES NEED TO BE READJUST?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.

I THINK WE NEED VERY STRONG FEDERAL HATE CRIME LEGISLATION THAT'S SPECIFIC, AND ALSO INCLUSIVE.

YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WHAT WE'VE HAD IS A KIND OF FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS, ON OCCASION, DIRECTED AT VERY SPECIFIC GROUPS, AND THERE'S BEEN A TENDENCY BECAUSE, FRANKLY, REPUBLICANS WHO VIEW A LOT OF OUR POLITICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH THE LENS OF INDIVIDUALISM AND WHAT HAPPENS TO US AS INDIVIDUALS, SOMETIMES FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS TO MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES IS THAT THEY ARE TARGETED AS COMMUNITIES.

MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S BEEN TRUE GOING BACK TO THE JAPANESE DURING THE INTERNMENT PROCESS AND EN CAMPMENTS DURING WORLD WAR II.

MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED POST 9/11, SIKHS AND OTHERS.

WE HAVE CLEARLY IN THIS MOMENT MEMBERS OF THE A.A.P.I.

COMMUNITY IN THIS COVID ERA BEING TARGETED SYSTEMATICALLY BY PERSONS BECAUSE THEY ARE ASIAN AMERICANS OR APPEAR TO BE SO.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEGISLATION BEING LOOKED AT FOR POLITICAL LEADERS OF EVERY STRIPE AND PARTY TO COME TO THE FORE TO CONDEMN THESE ATTACKS AND MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THESE CAN'T BE MOMENTS WHERE WE KIND OF GIVE THESE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, ROTE CONDEMNATIONS AND THEN MOVE ON TO NEXT BUSINESS.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS FEELING PARTICULARLY UNDER ASSAULT AND THEY DESERVE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP'S ATTENTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY ROUNDTABLE GUEST AGAIN, ANDREI, DR. ANBAR AND ALYSSA KATZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE "METROFOCUS" ROUNDTABLE.

>> Announcer: "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

THE PETER G. PETERSON FUND.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --