♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAP YELL P. 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, AND THE DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THIS "METROFOCUS" SPECIAL.

EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK WE'RE GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATES ONE ON ONE.

JUNE'S PRIMARY ELECTION IS JUST WEEKS AWAY AND THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATES WITH OFFICIALLY GETTING STARTED.

NEW YORK IS REOPENING AND JUST HOW THE CITY EMERGES AFTER A YEAR OF LOCKDOWNS WILL ALL DEPEND ON THE NEXT MAYOR'S PLANS.

WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME CANDIDATE MORALES.

IN RECENT WEEKS SHE'S SEEN HER CAMPAIGN GAIN MOMENTUM FUELLED IN PART BY YOUNGER NEW YORKERS.

WITH ALL OF THAT I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS" CANDIDATE DIANE MORALES.

ONE OF THE BIGGER ISSUE THAT KEEPS GETTING DISCUSSED AROUND YOUR CAMPAIGN IS YOUR UNAPOLOGETIC USE OF THE TERM DEFUND THE POLICE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, THIS PAST WEEKEND THERE WAS A SHOOTING IN TIMES SQUARE.

I BELIEVE THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE INJURED IN THAT SHOOTING.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TWO OF THE FRONT RUNNERS IN THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN ANDREW YOUNG AND ADD MS CAME OUT AND DOUBLED DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR THE NYPD.

YOU SAID THIS IS A PAINFUL REMINDER WE NEED BIGGER SH SOLUTIONS THAN THE POLICE.

WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT FEELS LIKE RANDOM VIOLENCE IN A TOURIST SPOT LIKE TIMES SQUARE?

>> WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP AT THE FOREFRONT AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IS THE "NEW YORK TIMES" SPECIFICALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY SURVEILLED AREAS OF OUR CITY, THE MOST HEAVILY TRAFFICKED IN TERMS OF POLICE.

AND DESPITE THAT, THIS AWFUL INCIDENT TOOK PLACE.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE THINKING IS GOING TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT ACTUALLY THE PRESENCE OF POLICE AND POLICE SURVEILLANCE IS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO AN INCREASE SENSE OF SAFETY IN THE CITY.

OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

I THINK THE LOGICAL THING TO THINK ABOUT IS, WELL, OKAY, IF POLICING IS THE SAME AND VIOLENCE HAS INCREASED, WHAT HAS CHANGED?

WE KNOW WHAT HAS CHANGED IS NEW YO YORKERS' LACK OF SECURITY.

THE INCREASED INSTABILITY IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO HOUSING, THE FACT THAT WE FOUL TO OFFER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE NOT THE RESULT OF ANY KIND OF CHANGES SO POLICING AND THE POLICE ARE STILL NOT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF PREVENTING CRIME.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO WHAT THE POLICE ARE SAYING IN TERMS OF THE STATISTICS THEY'VE BEEN TRACKING, I DO WANT TO GET FURTHER INTO WHAT'S BECOME THIS CONTROVERSIAL OR PERHAPS MISUNDERSTOOD PHRASE OF DEFUND THE POLICE.

YOU'VE SPOKEN SPECIFICALLY ABOUT REALLOCATING $3 BILLION FROM THE NYPD'S NEXT BUDGET.

WHY HAVE YOU NOT SHIED AWAY FROM THAT PHRASE AND ALSO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REALLOCATING SO MUCH MONEY, CUTTING FROM THEIR BUDGET AND PUTTING IT SOMEPLACE ELSE, WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING?

>> SURE.

I HAVEN'T SHIED AWAY FROM THE LANGUAGE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT EVOKES A LOT OF FEAR IN PEOPLE, BUT I THINK OUR COMMUNITIES, LOW INCOME BLACK AND BROWN WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DEFUNDED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME IN TERMS OF HOUSING, IN TERMS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

IT'S FASCINATING TO ME THIS EVOKES SUCH A STRONG REACTION.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT POLICE WILL GO AWAY TOMORROW.

WE'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY IN WHAT IN FACT CREATES A LACK OF SAFETY AND INCREASED VIOLENCE.

SO WE HAVE OUR NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE LARGEST BUDGET OF ANY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY OF MANY SMALL COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND YET WE CONTINUE TO FACE THESE ISSUES AND THESE CHALLENGES.

AGAIN, THIS GOES TO THE IDEA OF US NEEDING TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.

I HAVE CALLED FOR THE DIVESTMENT OF POLICING AND REINVESTMENT IN THINGS THAT WE KNOW ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO SAFER COMMUNITIES.

HOUSING, ACCESS TO JOBS, ACCESS TO ECONOMIC SECURITY.

THE CRITICAL IS THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS DEPARTMENT.

CASES OF HOMELESS, OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OUR RESPONSES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE OR PROPORTIONATE TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.

THE COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS DEPARTMENT WOULD ACTUALLY BE STOPPING PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED AND SKILLED AT DEESCALATION AND INTERVENTION IN THOSE SPECIFIC SOCIAL SITUATIONS, BUT ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY ACTING AS A PART OF A LARGER ECOSYSTEM SO WE'RE BREAKING THAT CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS, GETTING MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE TO THE SERVICE THAT THEY NEED TO GET THEIR ILLNESSES TAKEN CARE OF, GETTING FOLKS ABUSING SUBSTANCES THE HELP THEY NEED.

BEST CASE SCENARIO THOSE PEOPLE GET LOCKED UP AND RELEASED WITHOUT ANY HELP.

WORST CASE SCENARIO THEY GET HARMED OR KILLED.

WE NEED TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MUCH MORE NUANCED AND TAILORED TO THE SITUATIONS WE'RE ADDRESSING.

THAT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE CALLS THE NYPD RESPONDS TO RIGHT NOW NLTS I DO WANT TO PUSH A LITTLE BIT ON THIS BECAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CURRENT MAYOR'S TERM ALMOST EIGHT YEARS AGO NOW, THE NYPD AND ALSO THE UNION HAS WAYS OF LET'S SAY RESETTING THE CONVERSATION OR TO PUSH BACK.

IT BECAME QUICKLY EARLY ON IN de BLASIO'S TERM AS MAYOR THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS READY TO FIGHT WITH HIM OVER WHAT THEY FELT LIKE WERE SLIGHTS.

IT CAN BE EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO RUN A CITY IF YOU HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS UNWILLING TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR FEELS ATTACKED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I THINK THAT IS A VERY VALID POINT.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT I WOULD DO.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO IMPLEMENT AN ALTERNATIVE.

YOU CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT CHANGES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVES.

THAT IS WHY THE FIRST PART OF MY PLATFORM IS THE IDEA OF CREATING THIS COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS DEPARTMENT.

THE REALITY IS PEOPLE WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB, THAT INCLUDES POLICE OFFICERS, BUT THEY DON'T SIGN UP TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES OR WITH THE HOMELESS.

WE'VE GOT TO CREATE SOLUTIONS TO THAT.

THE COMMISSIONER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS GOT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE MAYOR.

IT CAN'T BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN A LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO HOLD THE LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE IN A WAY THAT IS IMPACTFUL.

YOU GET TO SELECT THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

YOU GET TO DISCIPLINE THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND MAKE SURE THAT PERSON IS ALIGNED WITH YOUR VALUES.

I'VE GOT DECADES OF EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY MANAGING PEOPLE AND RUNNING PROGRAMS AND OFFERING SERVICES.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP AND EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

MY ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE 100% FUELLED BY THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES.

I AM NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYBODY OTHER THAN NEW YORKERS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TRADING FAVORS.

I'M NOT GOING TO OWE ANYBODY OTHER THAN NEW YORKERS.

NEW YORKERS RIGHT NOW ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE IDEA OF DIVESTING AND REINVESTING.

PERHAPS THEY RESPOND DIFFERENTLY WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD DEFUNDING BUT THEY ARE OHM OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE.

>> THERE ARE OTHER CANDIDATES AS WELL WHO ALSO HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN LEADING LARGE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

TO STICK WITH THE ISSUE OF SAFETY AND CRIME IN NEW YORK CITY, AS THE CITY BEGINS TO REOPEN, NOT ONLY ARE THERE THE ISSUES IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MAKING SURE THERE'S INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES TO PERHAPS GET PEOPLE BEFORE IT REACHES A CRISIS LEVEL AND THE COPS ARE INVOLVED.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN ANTI-ASIAN ATTACKS.

THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE ENGAGING WITH THE POLICE ON.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A PLAN OR ANY KIND OF IDEAS TO ADDRESS THAT YOU'RE SEEING A HUGE INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON ONE PARTICULAR GROUP WITHIN A CITY.

>> TRUTH BE TOLD, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

I'VE GOT A STRONG REPRESENTATION OF LEADERS ON MY TEAM SO WE HAVE FELT THE IMPACT VERY CLOSELY.

THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE IT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE NEED TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY.

THE VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS IS NOT DISTINCT FROM THE IMPACT AND OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THIS IS NOT A COMPETITION FOR WHO'S MOST OPPRESSED.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL STAND TOGETHER.

I ALSO THINK THAT THIS SPEAKS TO HOW IT IS THAT WE NEED TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE ARE A MANIFESTATION OF DEEPLY EMBEDDED WHITE SUPREMACY IN OUR SYSTEMS WHERE THERE IS THIS SENSE OF OTHERING COMMUNITIES IN A WAY THAT IS PARTICULARLY HARMFUL AND ALSO CREATING WEDGES AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT ACTUALLY WORKS AGAINST OUR ABILITY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAND TOGETHER AND DISMANTLE THE SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE THESE INEQUITIES AND WHITE SUPREMACY THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMS OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

MY HEART KGOES OUT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND I STAND WITH THEM.

>> THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION.

I PROMISE WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT POLICING.

RECENTLY YOU WERE ON THE BRIAN LAIR SHOW.

YOU MENTIONED THE POLICE DON'T PREVENT CRIME, THEY RESPOND TO CRIME.

AS BRIAN POINTED OUT, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THEIR CONCEPT SYSTEM IS SHOWING, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD SAY THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT FIGUFIGURE OUT WHERE OUR CRIME CLUSTERS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT COMSTAT AND HOW THAT IS AFFECTING POLICING, WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?

>> I THINK THAT THE COUNTER TO THAT SORT OF NARRATIVE WOULD BE THE DISPROPORTIONATE HARM AND CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

IN FACT WHEN WE LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO THOSE NUMBERS, THERE'S A DATA POINT THAT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN STOPPED BECAUSE OF SUSPICIONS OF WEAPONS OR DRUGS, THAT NUMBER WHEN COMPARED TO THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS WAS LOWER AMONG BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS.

AND YET WE KNOW WHAT THE CRIMINALIZATION AND INCARCERATION RATES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AND HOW THEY EFFECT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL HARMS, I THINK THE HARMS HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATE AND OUT WEIGH THOSE SUCCESSES.

I THINK IT SAYS WE NEED TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THEY NEED TO LIVE IN DIGNITY, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN ANY KIND OF ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR.

I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO JUMP TO THAT CONCLUSION WITHOUT ADDRESSING SOME OF THE BASICS.

UNTIL WE DO THAT WE'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO HAVE CLARITY AROUND WHAT IT IS THAT IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM OR WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS IT.

>> I WANT TO TURN TO THE LABELS.

WE IN THE PRESS LOVE LABELS.

YOU HAVE BEEN FREQUENTLY DESCRIBED AND LABELED AS ONE OF THE MORE OR MOST PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

I'M WONDERING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT LABEL AND IS IT THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU.

SECONDLY, FREQUENTLY PROGRESSIVISM, USUALLY LIKE CONSERVATIVE OR CENTRIST OR LIBERAL, BUT WHY IS A PROGRESSIVE LEADER THE RIGHT ONE FOR NEW YORK AT THIS TIME?

>> THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE THING, AS A BLACK WOMAN, AS A BLACK WOMAN, ALA T A LATINO MOM.

I DON'T WANT TO -- MY INCLINATION IS JUST DON'T DEFINE ME.

I CAN DEFINE MYSELF.

AS THINGS HAVE MOVED ON OR PROGRESSED IN THIS RACE, I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, WHY PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO CATEGORIZE US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

FOR ME, I GUESS THE REALITY IS IF PROGRESSIVE MEANS SOMEONE WHO'S MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON THE COLLECTIVE GOOD AND SOMEONE WHO RECOGNIZES OUR INTERDEPENDENCE, YES, I FULLY EMBRACE THAT LABEL.

I WILL TAKE IT.

THAT GOES INTO WHY NEW YORK CITY NEEDS SOMEONE WITH THAT PERSPECTIVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

WE ARE AT THIS CROSS ROADS OF THESE MULTIPLE PANDEMICS THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED AND LAID BARE AND REALLY MADE CLEAR SOME OF THE DEEPLY ROOTED SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE WORKING CLASS AND THE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND AND NOT REPRESENTED.

WE NEED A PROGRESS MIVE MAYOR BECAUSE WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE PEOPLE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SURVIVE AND WE NEED THEM TOO AND THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN DIGNITY AND HAVE THEIR NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF.

THIS IS AN OPEN PROPOSITION.

THIS IS US AND THEM.

WE DON'T GET ANOTHER BITE AT THIS APPLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NOW IS TIME TO MAKE A MORAL AND POLITICALLY COURAGEOUS DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO CARED FOR US IN 2020.

>> OF COURSE.

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S BEEN GIVEN THAT LABEL.

SCOTT STRINGER, I KNOW THAT THE TWO OF YOU HAVE BEEN LET'S SAY DUELLING ENDORSEMENTS IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT, BUT YOU'VE ALSO PICKED UP SOME SIGNIFICANT ENDORSEMENTS RECENTLY FROM A CONGRESSIONAL AND GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE OF NOTE.

>> YES.

I HOPE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ZEPHYR.

>> INDEED I AM.

>> THAT WAS LAST WEEK.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

THERE'S A LOT OF VALUES ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.

I HOPE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WE ROLE ROLLED OUT LAST WEEK WAS EXCITING TO HER.

SHE'S BEEN A MODEL IN TERMS OF COURAGE IN NOT ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE DEFINED BY THE SYSTEM.

I WAS REALLY PROUD AND EXCITED TO HAVE HAD HER SUPPORT.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE OF THE POINTS YOU WERE MAKING AND THAT IS THE NOTION OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN DIGNITY.

YOU REFERRED TO YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE BEING THE DIGNITY NOW FIRST 100 DAYS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT COMES WITH PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS IS HOUSING.

SO THERE'S THIS UNEQUAL HOUSING BOOM AND VERY GREAT GATSBY.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR DIGNITY NOW 100 DAYS AND HOW THAT WORKS WITH HOUSING.

>> THERE'S THREE CORE PILLARS TO MY PLATFORM, DIGNITY, CARE AND SOLIDARITY.

IT'S REALLY WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON AND PRIORITIZING AS WE BUILD A NEW NEW YORK CITY THAT DOESN'T GO BACK TO NORMAL.

SO FAR AS HOUSING I'VE EMBRACED THE IDEA THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 14 MONTHS IS YOU CAN'T REALLY SEPARATE ACCESS TO HOUSING FROM PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY.

AS PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, THE REST OF US ARE IMPACTED FROM A HEALTH AND SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.

WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEWLY VACANT HOTEL SPACES, OFFICE SPACES, STORE FRONTS THAT COULD BE CONVERTED INTO HOUSING WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT.

WE HAVE PUBLIC LAND THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN SOLD TO FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS THAT COULD BE PRIORITIZED AND SET ASIDE FOR 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

COMMUNITY LAND TRUST THAT COULD BE ESTABLISHED.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO SECURE AND PROVIDE NOT JUST AFFORDABLE BUT QUALITY HOUSING FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M ALSO A BIG PROPONENT OF SOCIAL HOUSING.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING IN THEIR OWN INCOME BRACKET.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ATTAINABLE.

THE SYSTEM WAS CREATED BY PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BIGGER THAN US THAT WE CAN'T CHANGE.

IT'S GJUST A CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE.

>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FACED IS ABOUT PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH IS THE SOCIAL SERVICE ARM OF PHILLIPS HOUSES.

THEY CONTINUOUSLY MAKE THE LIST OF ONE OF THE WORST EVICTORS FOR THE CITY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ALLEGEDLY A TERRIBLE EVICTOR AND YET YOU WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM OR FOR THEM AT ONE POINT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS -- I'M ALWAYS GOING TO SI SIDE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS ARE VALID AND UNJUSTIFIABLE.

I THINK IT'S AWFUL THEY WERE LIVING UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.

I SUPPORTED RESIDENTS IN THE WAY THAT I COULD IN MY CAPACITY AS THE SOCIAL SERVICE ARM BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LEGAL RECOURSES AND AT THE SAME TIME MANAGED TO REALLY DO WORK THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF IN SERVING TENS OF,000 THOUSAND LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS.

I STAND WITH ALL OF THE RESIDENTS STRUGGLIE ING AND SUPT THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE IN DIGNITY.

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

I'D LIKE TO THANK DIANE MORALES FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

IT WAS GREAT TO BE HERE.

♪ >>"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 WESTON, DR. ROBERT C AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

♪