♪ >>"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.

AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORS RACE IS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY.

WE'RE SITTING DOWN WITH EACH OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY PLAN TO IMPROVE THE CITY.

2021 DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL CANDIDATE KATHRYN GARCIA IS A NEWCOMER TO ELECTORAL POLITICIANS BUT SHE IS A VETERAN IN NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT WITH EXPERIENCE OVERSEEING MANY INITIATIVES OVER THE PAST DECADE.

SHE HAS THE REPUTATION OF A FIXER, EQUIPPED TO HANDLE JUST ABOUT ANY ISSUE PLAGUING NEW YORK CITY AT THE MOMENT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS NOW HOPING TO STEP OUT OF THE BACKGROUND AND INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS SHE RUNS ON THE PREMISE THAT HER EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE INNER WARK I WORKINGS OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT NEW YORK CITY IS LOOKING FOR IN THEIR NEXT MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START WITH THE BASICS.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND WHY SHOULD VOTERS CHOOSE YOU?

>> I AM A LIFELONG NEW YORKER AND I DEEPLY LOVE THIS CITY.

I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE WE NEED A CITY THAT'S MORE LIVABLE, MORE AFFORDABLE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

I KNOW I HAVE THE SKILLS TO GET THAT DONE, WHICH IS WHY I GOT INTO THIS RACE.

WE NEED TO HAVE VISION, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE ON THAT VISION.

>> AS I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION, YOU HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I WONDER IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AS COMMISSIONER OF SANITATION.

HOW DID YOUR TENURE ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC PREPARE YOU FOR THE JOB OF MAYOR?

>> BEING THE COMMISSIONER OF SANITATION, WHICH BY THE WAY I DO LOVE THAT DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN IT AND WAS THRILLED TO GET THEIR ENDORSEMENT EARLY ON, BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO WORK, THAT WE COULDN'T ZOOM IN COLLECTING REFUSE.

AND WE SAT DOWN WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LABOR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO CHANGES IN OUR OPERATION, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS CHANGING THE SHIFT TIMES, MAKING IT SO THAT THERE WAS LESS MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN GARAGES, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO POD THEM TO THE BEST THAT WE COULD AND PROTECT THEM FROM GETTING SICK SO THEY COULD DO THEIR JOB.

IT WAS BEING AGILE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NEW YORKERS NEED SERVICE.

THEY NEED THE SERVICE THAT GOVERNMENT PROVIDES AND WE COULD HAVE LET IT ALL FALL APART.

THE BEST STORY I HEARD WAS FROM SOMEONE IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORLD WHERE I WAS DOING WORK ON DELIVERING A MILLION MEALS A DAY SAYING WHEN I HEARD THE GARBAGE TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I KNEW IT WOULD BE OKAY.

IT WAS WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET DONE.

>> YOU SAID YOU WERE PROVIDING A MILLION MEALS A DAY.

I SHOULD ADD THAT YOU WERE ALSO GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FEEDING THE NEEDIEST NEW YORKERS WHILE YOU WERE RUNNING THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WHAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT WAS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, A SUCCESS.

IN THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED A DEFENT MANAG, NEW YORK CITY'S GO-TO MANAGER, THE MOST EFFICIENT EXECUTIVE IN NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT.

FAIRLY OR NOT, THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE RARELY BEEN SAID ABOUT THE MAYOR WHOM YOU MOST RECENTLY WORKED FOR, MAYOR de BLASIO.

HE ARGUABLY HAS THE OPPOSITE REPUTATION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE NEGATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MAYOR de BLASIO'S EXECUTIVE SKILLS?

AND IF SO, HOW COULD YOU WORK IN THIS ADMINISTRATION FOR SIX YEARS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

IT IS ABOUT BEING A LEADER THAT LISTENS TO THE DATA, BUT ALSO LISTENS TO THE TEAM AND PUTTING IN PLACE THE STRUCTURE TO MAKE EVERYONE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU DO THE DELIVERY OF A MILLION MAEALS A DAY, THATS HOW YOU DO THE COLLECTION OF OVER 10,000 TONS OF REFUSE TODAY.

IT IS GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS TO BE EFFECTIVE AND LISTENING TO THEM SO WE GET THE JOB DONE FOR NEW YORKERS.

I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO MY MANAGEMENT THAN THE CURRENT MAYOR DOES.

>> HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO WORK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT?

DID YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SOMEBODY WHO WAS COMPENSATING FOR PERHAPS THE WEAKNESSES IN EXECUTION?

>> WELL, PART OF IT WAS COMING FROM A REAL PLACE OF MANAGING AN AGENCY EXTREMELY WELL AND SEEING SANITATION EXECUTE ON WHAT IT NEEDED TO EXECUTE AND JUST DRIVING THE GOAL POSTS OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS ROLLING OUT THE LARGEST ORGANICS PROGRAM OR BANNING STYROFOAM OR CHANGING THE TECHNOLOGY AT A DEPARTMENT AND REALLY FIGHTING FOR THAT IN THIS ADMINISTRATION TO GET IT DONE.

I JUST KEPT PLUGGING ALONG AND PUSHING AHEAD.

YOU ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET THE WORK DONE.

YOU >> YOU ALSO WORKED IN THE BLOOMBERG ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT LESSONS, POSITIVE OR OTHERWISE, DID YOU TAKE FROM MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S APPROACH TO THE JOB?

>> IT WAS A LOT ABOUT FOCUSING ON DATA, ON COLLABORATION ACROSS AGENCIES.

ONE OF THE FUN THINGS I DID IS SET UP A SANITATION FOUNDATION,WORK WITH A FASHION DESIGNER TO TALK ABOUT TEXTILE WASTE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT COLLABORATIONS, YOU DO A BETTER JOB AS MAYOR.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT COVID.

HOPEFULLY THE COVID PANDEMIC'S HEALTH THREAT WILL LARGELY BE OVER AS A HEALTH THREAT BY THE TIME YOU ASSUME OFFICE ON JANUARY 1st, 2022 IF YOU'RE ELECTED MAYOR.

BUT IF GOD FORBID WE GET ANOTHER WAVE AS A RESULT OF THE INDIA VARIANT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MUCH MORE LETHAL AND IS FINDING ITS WAY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LIKELY RESPONSE?

WOULD YOU CONSIDER LOCKING THE CITY DOWN YET AGAIN?

>> I AM VERY VOCAL THAT WE WILL BE THROUGH THE WORST OF COVID BY JANUARY 1st.

VACCINES NEED TO GET INTO ARMS.

WE HAVE TO BE AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE TO GET EVERYONE PROTECTED SO WE END UP WITH HERD IMMUNITY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

WE HAVE TO BE AGILE.

WE HAVE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH.

HOPEFULLY AT THIS POINT WE HAVE FAR BETTER SURVEILLANCE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING.

WE WERE BLIND BACK IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH VIRUS WAS HERE AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO, WHICH IS WHY WE WERE LATE ON THE LOCKDOWN.

WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY THROUGH TESTING, THROUGH VACCINATIONS AND THROUGH REAL SURVEILLANCE AT THE HOSPITALS.

BUT I WOULD FOLLOW THE INFORMATION, BUT MY INTENTION IS TO FOCUS ON GETTING THIS ECONOMY BACK UP AND RUNNING.

PEOPLE NEED JOBS.

WE HAVE BEEN HAMMERED BY THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT AND PEOPLE NEED TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK.

SO WE HAVE TO BE PROTECTIVE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

>> TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THE ECONOMIC WOES OF THE PANDEMIC ARE GOING TO BE WITH US FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS YOU INTEND TO TAKE IN ORDER TO BRING OUR ECONOMY BACK, TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK?

>> OPENING THE ECONOMY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

WE NEED TO LEAN INTO THE THINGS THAT MAKE US SPECIAL, ART, CULTURE, RESTAURANTS, MUSIC, AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT INDUSTRY.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE SAVE OUR STAGES FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS ACT.

BUT WE KNOW WHEN THIS ECONOMY OPENS UP AND WE MAKE THIS A MORE LIVABLE CITY, WE BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR OFFICES, WE BRING PEOPLE BACK AS TOURISTS, WHICH SUPPORTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE CAREERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S COMING OUT OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS OR CUNY.

WE'LL HAVE ONE CITY PERMIT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO EIGHT DIFFERENT AGENCIES BEFORE YOU SELL BOWL OF SOUP.

YOU HAVE TO GET FUNDAMENTAL CITY SERVICES RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO FEEL SAFE, THE STREETS HAVE TO STAY CLEAN.

ONE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS 1 IN 4 WOMEN HAVE STEPPED BACK FROM THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY'RE ZOOM TEACHERS OR THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF ELDERS.

FREE CHILD CARE FOR ANYONE MAKING UNDER $70,000 A YEAR IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU CAN'T GO TO WORK IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR KID IN THE SAME WAY THAT IF YOU NEED TO GET ON THE SUBWAY AND THE TRAINS AREN'T RUNNING, YOU CAN'T GET TO WORK EITHER.

>> AS YOU KNOW, ALBANY JUST RAISED TAXES EES ON THE WEALTHI NEW YORKERS, A GOOD PORTION OF THEM I'M GUESSING RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK CITY.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

AND IF YOU'RE MAYOR, WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER RAISING THE CITY TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS TO DEAL WITH OUR FISCAL COMPLEXITIES?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE THE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE TEACHERS, TO SUPPORT OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT WASTE, TO SUPPORT OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE POLICE IS FUNDED SO THAT WE ARE SAFE IN THE CITY.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE JUST SPENDING MONEY TO SPEND MONEY.

IF WE HAVE ENOUGH, THEN WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO RAISE TAXES.

IT'S REALLY THE LAST TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX, SO IT'S NOT COMPLETELY OFF TABLE BUT IT IS REALLY NOT THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO BECAUSE I BELIEVE CITY SERVICES CAN BE DELIVERED MRP EFFICIENT EFFICIENTLY.

>> DO YOU APPROVE OF THE STATE RAISING TAXES?

>> I'M ACCEPTING OF THE STATE RAISING TAXES.

I JUST HOPE THERE ARE NOT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT PEOPLE LEAVE.

I'M VERY PROGRESSIVE ON TAXES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT I KNOW WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER CITIES TO KEEP THE FOLKS HERE AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ATTRACTING NEW PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE.

>> SOME NEW YORKERS LEFT IN THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THEY HAVEN'T RETURNED.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC PLAN TO TRY TO LURE THESE NEW YORKERS BACK?

>> OH, I THINK THEY'LL COME BACK.

I'M NOT THAT CONCERNED.

WE ARE STILL THE GREATEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO LIVE AND TO WORK.

THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PLACE.

BUT I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT FOLKS WILL COME BACK AND THAT IT IS ABOUT BEING A LIVABLE CITY, BEING A CITY THAT HAS THE BEST ART, HAS THE BEST RESTAURANT, HAS THE BEST MUSIC.

THAT BRINGS YOU BACK.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY WILL COME BACK.

>> AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR de BLASIO RECENTLY RELEASED HIS FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH ADDS UP TO $98.6 BILLION BANKROLLED IN PART BY COVID RELIEF FROM THE FEDS.

THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS $10 BILLION MORE THAN THE CURRENT BUDGET, AN 11% INCREASE.

IT'S 7% LARGER THAN THE ENTIRE BUDGET OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

PRESIDENT OF THE CITIZEN'S BUDGET COMMISSION SAID THAT, QUOTE, THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET NEEDLESSLY LEAVES THE NEXT MAYOR TO SOLVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IT HAS STARTED TO ADDRESS TODAY.

YOU MAY BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT GROWS.

THAT'S HOW WE'LL GROW REVENUE.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY LARGE BUDGET.

THERE ARE NEEDS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF, PARTICULARLY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THE FUNDING WE GET FROM THE FEDS EFFICIENTLY.

THIS HAS A LOT OF CLIFFS IN IT WHERE YOU ARE HIRING PEOPLE WITH NO REVENUE PLAN POST THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> THEY SAID PARTICULARLY THE USE OF THE BILLION DHOLLARS IN AID THAT CAME TO THE CITY IN THIS BUDGET, ANDREW YANG SAID THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE SAVED 70% OF THAT AID.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIS USE OF THAT AID IN THIS BUDGET?

>> IT IS APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET BACK ON OUR FEET, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER.

AND BEING PREPARED FOR WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER IS WHAT I DO.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS IN HERE THAT SHOULD NOT PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PUT IN, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LONG-TERM FUNDING PLAN.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN GENERAL WE ARE ALSO ALREADY A VERY HIGH TAXED LOCATION AND WE CAN'T TO MAKE SURE THE MIDDLE CLASS CAN STAY HERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> IF YOU'RE I ELECTED MAYOR AN THIS BUDGET IS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCRETE STEPS YOU WOULD TAKE TO UNDO THE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT?

>> YOU ALWAYS GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE JANUARY PLAN.

SO ONCE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS DURING A FISCAL YEAR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM.

OF COURSE, THERE IS NO REVIVING THE ECONOMY WITHOUT TOURISM, BUT EVERY EXPERT TELLS US THERE IS NO REVIVING THE TOURISM IF WE DON'T GET A HOLD OF THE RISING CRIME RATES THAT WE'RE SEEING, PARTICULARLY THE DRAMATIC RISE IN SHOOTINGS AND MURDERS AND THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET BACK TO THE NUMBERS OF TOURISTS WE HAD PRE-PANDEMIC IF INCIDENTS LIKE THE SHOOTINGS IN TIMES SQUARE WHERE ONE LITTLE GIRL, 4 YEARS OLD FROM BROOKLYN WAS SHOT, ALONG WITH TWO TOURISTS.

AS MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO TRANSFORM THIS CRIME TREND WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRANSFORMING THE NYPD?

>> IT'S BEEN A SHOCKING INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE, BUT ALSO A SHOCKING INCREASE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIME AND CRIME ON THE SUBWAYS.

THAT IS WHY I HAVE A PLAN TO DO GUN BUYBACKS, TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GUNS.

WE DON'T HAVE A GUN MANUFACTURER IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

THEY COME FROM OUT OF STATE ILLEGALLY.

TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO DRAMATICALLY SPEED UP THE CASES FOR GUN VIOLENCE AND TO EXPAND THE GUN SUPPRESSION UNIT OF THE NYPD, BECAUSE THEY ARE SOLELY FOCUSED ON DISRUPTING THE TRAFFICKERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREET.

WE CANNOT OPEN THIS ECONOMY THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO WITHOUT GETTING THAT RIGHT.

BUT IT IS ALSO A POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE LOST TRUST.

REFORM IS POSSIBLE.

THAT MEANS CLEAR AND CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE THAT IS FAIR TO THE POLICE OFFICERS AND TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO RAISE THE AGE OF OUR OFFICERS TO 25 WHEN THEY'RE NEW RECRUITS TO HAVE THEM LIVE IN THE CITY, WHICH THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO, TO REALLY TRAIN THE FRONT LINE SUPERVISION, THE SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SEND THE MESSAGE OUT WITH THOSE PATROL OFFICERS EVERY DAY ABOUT WHAT WE WANT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO BE GUARDIANS AND NOT LAWYERS OF ALL COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE BECAUSE I'VE RUN A UNIFORMED AGENCY THAT WAS 98% MEN WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION THAT DID CARRY GUNS.

>> THOSE ILLEGAL GUNS WERE COMING INTO THE CITY A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO AND THE CRIME WAS GOING DOWN.

SO CLEARLY SOMETHING HAS CHANGED AND IT'S VISIBLE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE STREETS KNOW THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT AS AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE THEY FEAR THAT YOU, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WILL NOT HAVE THEIR BACK.

HOW CAN YOU GUARANTEE THE NYPD OF OFFICERS THAT THEY CAN BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS THEY NEED TO BE, BUT YOU EXPECT THEM TO STREET ALL NEW YORKERS WITH CIVILITY AND RESPECT?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM A MANAGER AND A LEADER WHO HAS ALSO HAD THE BACK OF MY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THEY CAN ASK ANY SANITATION WORKER WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WORK FOR ME AND HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT I WILL HAVE THEIR BACK WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE WRONG THING.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH, BUT FAIR.

WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHAT'S DRIVING THIS AS WELL.

INSECURE HOUSING, INSECURE FOOD ACCESS, LACK OF OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN WE START TO FIX THOSE IN THE LONGER TERM, WE WILL BEGIN TO GET A REAL HANDLE ON THOSE ISSUES THAT DRIVE CRIME.

>> THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING AT TIMES SQUARE, ANDREW YANG SPOKE AT THE SITE OF THE SHOOTING AND DECLARED THAT DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NOT WHAT NEW YORK CITY NEEDS.

WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THE DEFUNDING THE POLICE MOVEMENT?

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU CANNOT HASHTAG YOUR WAY TO A SOLUTION.

YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL.

WE NEED POLICE AS A SERVICE, BUT THAT MEANS WE STILL GET TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING THAT SERVICE AND MAKING SURE IT'S RESPECTFUL OF ALL NEW YORKERS.

>> YOU TEMPORARILY SERVED AS HEAD OF THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY OR NYCHA.

AS MAYOR, HOW WILL YOU REVERSE THE DECLINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC HOUSING AND ALSO WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY?

>> I SPENT FOUR MONTHS AT NYCHA AT A MOMENT WHEN THEY WERE JUST COMING UNDER A FEDERAL MONITOR.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB.

BUT IT IS REALLY SHOCKING TO GO INTO SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND SEE THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

AS I SAID WHEN I GOT THERE AND UNDERSTOOD HOW SYSTEMICALLY THEY HAD BEEN UNDERFUNDED FOR SO MANY DECADES, WHY ARE WE SURPRISED WHEN WE DIDN'T PUT OIL IN THE CAR THAT THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND NOW WE ARE IN A CRISIS?

NYCHA AND THE BLUEPRINT WHICH I HOPE DOES PASS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE BRINGS AN ABILITY TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO NOW BY CREATING A HOUSING TRUST THAT CAN GO IN AND MAKE ALL OF THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE SO PEOPLE HAVE NEW KITCHENS AND NEW BATHROOMS AND ELEVATORS THAT ACTUALLY WORK.

THIS IS THE PLAN WE SHOULD BE EXECUTING ON, BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.

WE ARE PAST TIME THE CRISIS IS HERE AND NOT MOVING FORWARD.

WE NEED AFFORDABILITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, PERIOD.

WE HAVE BEEN IN A LACK OF SUPPLY OF HOUSING SINCE ABOUT 1947.

MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD, BUT ALSO BUILDING 50,000 UNITS OF DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE MAKING $30,000 OR LESS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE.

BUT ALSO BUILDING 10,000 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED SERVICES AS WELL, PARTICULARLY OUR STREET HOMELESS.

SO THAT IS WHAT I INTEND TO DO WHEN I'M MAYOR.

>> HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE CITY'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT OUR SUBWAY SYSTEM IS SAFE, EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE?

>> I WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE TO GET THE WORK DONE WE NEED DONE FOR THE SUBWAY SYSTEM.

THEY ARE THE ARTERIES FOR THE CITY.

PART OF IT IS JUST GOING SOME OF THE WORK WE NEED TO BE DONE.

IT'S NOT GLAMOROUS, BUT FIXING THE SIGNALS SO THEY CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME.

WHEN WE CAN REALLY DO WHEN I'M MAYOR IS HELP THE BUSES GET TO THOSE TRANSIT DESERTS.

WE CONTROL THE STREETS.

WHEN WE GET THINGS OUT OF THE WAY OF THE BUSES, THEY ACTUALLY GO PRETTY FAST AND GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION.

THE MAYOR HAS CONTROL OVER THE STREETS.

WE CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO TURN THE LIGHTS GREEN.

WE CAN MAKE IT SO THERE ARE MORE PROTECTED BUS LANES.

WHAT HAPPENS IN ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CITY THAT PRIORITIZED BUSES, THERE ARE A LOT THAT THE MAYOR CAN DO TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN THE CITY IS GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, WHETHER OR NOT FOR WORK, FOR SCHOOL OR JUST TO MEET UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN FOUR MINUTES LEFT.

THIS IS THE FIRST MAYORAL ELECTION IN NEW YORK CITY THAT IS USING THE RANK CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM.

ANDREW YANG SAID HE WOULD RANK YOU SECOND ON HIS OWN BALLOT.

BOTH HE AND ERIC ADAMS SAID THEY WOULD MAKE YOU A DEPUTY MAYOR.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO USE THE RANKED SYSTEM TO ALIGN YOURSELF WITH ANY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT YANG AND ADAMS COMMENTS ABOUT YOU WORKING IN THEIR ADMINISTRATION?

>> SO I HAVE NOT PICKED A NUMBER TWO IN THIS RACE.

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO THIS RACE IF I HAD A STRONG NUMBER TWO.

IN TERMS OF THEIR DISCUSSION TO MAKE ME DEPUTY MAYOR, I THINK YOU JUST MADE THE CASE FOR ME TO BE MAYOR AND LET'S CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN.

>> YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SAID IT'S SEXIST AND SAID THAT ANDREW YANG SHOULD STOP TOUTING YOU AS A POSSIBLE DEPUTY MAYOR.

SEXIST?

>> I SEE IT AS SEXIST.

I WOULD SAY THAT MOST WOMEN DO AS WELL.

WE'VE OFTEN BEEN CAST AS THE NUMBER TWO.

WE'RE READY TO ACTUALLY LEAD.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAVE SAID THAT THOUGH NEW YORKERS MAY NOT KNOW YOUR NAME, THEY KNOW YOUR WORK.

AS I MENTIONED, THOSE WHO BEST KNOW YOUR WORK THINK IT'S PRETTY OUTSTANDING.

IN THE FEW WEEKS REMAINING IN THIS RACE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LET NEW YORKERS KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE?

>> WE GOT A GREAT ENDORSEMENT FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" YESTERDAY REALLY DOCUMENTING EXACTLY WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS AND WHERE THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING, BUT WE ALSO ARE DOING WHAT YOU DO ON A CAMPAIGN.

IT'S GOING OUT AND MEETING VOTERS.

IT'S CALLING VOTERS, IT'S TEXTING VOTERS.

IT'S BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS A TON OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HELPING MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> SO THIS IS YOUR FIRST ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND ABOUT IT IN ONE MINUTE THAT WE HAVE LEFT -- WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND ABOUT IT THAT IS MOST ENJOYABLE?

WHAT'S BEEN THE LEAST ENJOYABLE AND THE MOST SURPRISING?

>> SO BEING OUT WITH NEW YORKERS -- I MEAN, I LOVE NEW YORK, SO FINDING LIKE I'M GOING TO GO MEET THIS SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHOSE BUTCHER SHOP HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR 100 YEARS, THAT IS FUN.

BEING ABLE TO EAT ALL OVER THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THAT IS REALLY ENJOYABLE.

>> AND DANGEROUS.

>> A LITTLE DANGEROUS BUT VERY ENJOYABLE.

THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING THE CASE ALWAYS TO NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS ABOUT WHY YOU'RE THE BEST CHOICE TO LEAD THE CITY.

BUT I WOULD SAY I PROBABLY WISH THAT WE WEREN'T IN A PANDEMIC SO WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO AS MANY ZOOMS AS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

IN-PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE ENJOYABLE.

>> AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU IN PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ENJOYABLE, BUT I ENJOYED THIS ONE AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M REALLY THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN WITH YOU.

>> BYE-BYE.

>> BYE.

♪ >>"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.

♪