♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI 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 THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

OUR LOOK AHEAD AT THE HEADLINES BEGINS RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.

TODAY GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCED THAT AS OF WEDNESDAY, NEW YORK STATE WOULD BE FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES IN REGARDS TO MASK WEARING FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THIS, OF COURSE, COMES AFTER THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONFUSION ABOUT WHEN AND WHERE TO WEAR A MASK AND THIS ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT 24-HOUR SUBWAY SERVICE WAS GOING TO BE RETURNING TO NEW YORK TODAY.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE SUBWAY SYSTEM AFTER SEVERAL MORE VIOLENT ATTACKS OCCURRED OVER THE WEEKEND.

JOINING US WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE, SALADIN AMBAR, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSOR AMBAR, WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE JOINED BY LAURA NAHMIAS FROM THE "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS."

AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR JOSEPH PINION.

HE'S NOT OUR JOSEPH PINION, BUT HE IS A FREQUENT GUEST ON "METROFOCUS."

JOSEPH IS CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATIVE COLOR COALITION AND HOST OF "SATURDAY AGENDA."

LET'S START WITH THIS NEW, I GUESS, REGULATION OR LACK OF REGULATION OR CHANGE IN GUIDELINES FOR MASK WEARING.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CONFUSION FROM WHEN THE CDC FIRST ANNOUNCED THAT FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE NO LONGER HAD TO WEAR MASKS AND DEFINITELY OUTDOORS AND IN CERTAIN INDOOR PLACES, ET CETERA.

JOSEPH, THIS SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A BUMPY, I GUESS, ROLLOUT OF THE CDC GUIDELINES IN THE SENSE THAT IT SORT OF LANDED WITH CONFUSION AND NOW WE SEE OTHER STATES PLAYING CATCHUP.

JUST POLITICALLY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DOES THIS MAKE THE MASK TENSION ANY LESS, IN YOUR OPINION?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO THROTTLE UP SOME OF THE POLITICS.

WE SHOULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD SAY EITHER YOU TRUST THE SCIENCE OR YOU DON'T.

WE'VE HAD SO MUCH PUSHBACK.

WE'VE HAD THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CDC WHO SAID HE BELIEVED THE VIRUS ESCAPED FROM A LAB, BUT ANYONE IN THE MEDIA WHO EVEN SUGGESTS THAT IS CALLED A HERETIC.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME STATES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THE CDC ROLLOUT BECAUSE THEY THINK YOUR CAN'T TRUST YOUR NEIGHBOR, THAT THERE'S INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DETERMINE WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO ISN'T.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS ADOPT ALMOST, YOU KNOW, THAT OLD REFRAIN FROM JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE JURY.

DO NOT CHECK YOUR COMMON SENSE AT THE DOOR.

IF YOU'RE IN A VULNERABLE CLASS, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK.

IF YOU'RE ONLY TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER YOU'VE TAKEN THE VACCINATION, MAYBE GIVE YOUR BODY AN EXTRA WEEK FOR THE VACCINE TO KICK IN.

IF YOU'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO KNOW WHO'S VACCINATED, THEN PERHAPS YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK THERE AS WELL.

I THINK ON SOME BASIC LEVEL, YES, THE GOVERNMENT IS THERE TO PROVIDE US WITH GUIDANCE, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OURSELVES AND DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES.

>> PROFESSOR AMBAR, JOSEPH BROUGHT UP AN EXCELLENT POINT.

THAT IS THE QUESTION OF TRUST.

AFTER A VERY DIFFICULT 14 MONTHS WHERE THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES AND WHEN WE WERE FORCED TO QUARANTINE AND SHELTER AT HOME AND YOU WEREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT'S BEEN WHERE, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH TRUST.

AT LEAST, I MEAN, GOVERNOR CUOMO IS FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A LOT OF TENSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE TRUST EACH OTHER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK JOSEPH HIT IT ON THE HEAD.

WHAT ARE THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR BEING A GOOD CITIZEN, FOR TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET VACCINATED?

I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE NOT JUST SPECTATOR CITIZENS BUT HOPEFULLY ENGAGED CITIZENS AND THAT MEANS DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY.

WE SEE IN ISRAEL THERE'S A HIGH RATE OF VACCINATION AND THEY'VE MANAGED TO DO QUITE WELL IN HANDLING THE VIRUS, BUT OF COURSE ISRAEL HAS BEEN NEARLY IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF WAR AND CONFLICT FOR DECADES.

THE NATURE OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP BONDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OURS.

WE HAVE TO COME TO TERMS OF THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE ENGAGED WITH ONE ANOTHER.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ON THE SUBWAY WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE BEING INDIFFERENT TO THE CDC GUIDELINES.

SO IT COMES TO TRUST.

CAN I LIVE WITH YOU, CAN YOU LIVE WITH ME IN A COMMUNITY POLITICALLY, BUT ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF POLITICS JUST WHEN HEALTH ISSUES ARE AT STAKE AND TRUST YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING TO KEEP ME AND YOURSELF SAFE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE CDC CAN'T HANDLE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HANDLE AS CITIZENS.

>> SPEAKING OF OUR INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER AS CITIZENS, WHILE THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE LIFTED, I DO WONDER IF PERHAPS FOR A WALMART OR A LARGER BIG BOX STORE THAT MIGHT BE AN EASIER EDICT TO HAND DOWN.

BUT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE MORE CLOSELY INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC.

THEY MIGHT STILL PREFER PEOPLE TO BE WEARING MASKS.

LAURA, I'M WONDERING DOES THIS CHANGE IN GUIDELINES NOW LEAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING MASK WEARING, IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE ANYMORE, ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC, WHO BY THE WAY ARE NOT NECESSARILY BUSINESS OWNERS OR PEOPLE WHO WERE IN CHARGE.

THEY COULD BE WAIT STAFF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT COULD BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

>> I THINK IT DOES.

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE FDA FORMALLY APPROVE S THE VACCINES BEYOND THE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MANDATING VACCINATES FOR STAFF OR STUDENTS OR ANYONE ENTERING THEIR FACILITIES, BUT PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE ALLOWED TO PROMULGATE RULES FOR ENTRY.

NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE.

THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS.

A BUSINESS IS ALLOWED TO REQUIRE THAT.

WHETHER THAT WILL CREATE DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND CUSTOMERS OR WORKERS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY DIFFICULT SPACE HERE.

WILL WORKERS FEEL DISCOMFORT WITH UNMASKED PEOPLE?

IN THE BROADER SENSE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR TO PEOPLE FROM THE CDC GUIDELINES AND FROM NEW YORK'S WILLINGNESS TO GO ALONG WITH THEM IS THE FACT THAT IF YOU GET VACCINATED, YOU ARE, ALL THE SCIENCE SHOWS YOU ARE SO INCREDIBLY WELL PROTECTED.

WE'VE SEEN BREAKTHROUGH CASES AMONG SOME OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET SEVERE DISEASE.

THESE VACCINES ARE GOOD AND THEY WORK AND THEY PROTECT YOU FROM GETTING THE VIRUS AND FROM SPREADING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

THIS GUIDANCE IS IN PART INTENDED TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE AND SHOW PEOPLE YOU LIFE CAN GO BACK TO MOSTLY NORMAL.

IF YOU GET THE SHOT, IT REALLY HELPS YOU AND PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOU SHOULD GET IT.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE ALL GOING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL.

WHETHER PEOPLE ARE CONVINCED, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> OF COURSE.

BUT ACTUALLY SPEAKING OF THE TRUST THAT WE HAVE WITH EACH OTHER AND, PROFESSOR AMBAR, YOU BROUGHT UP ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT IS A QUINTESSENTIAL PART OF BEING IN NEW YORK CITY AND WHILE THERE MAY NO LONGER BE MASK MANDATES OR REQUIREMENTS, ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE MASK EXPECTATIONS, THERE IS STILL THAT CONCERN ABOUT ADDED SAFETY ON THE SUBWAY.

WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES HAPPENING.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE CITY?

IT SEEMS AS IF THE RETURN OF THE SUBWAY 24/7 IS A GOOD SIGN, AND YET THERE'S STILL SOMETHING ELSE THAT SEEMS TO BE LURKING JUST BENEATH THAT.

>> IT'S NEVER A GOOD THING.

I GREW UP IN NEW YORK.

IF I COULD TELL MY AGE IN THE '70s AND '80s AND I REMEMBER BEING ON THE SUBWAY AND NOT FEELING PARTICULARLY SAFE.

HAVING SAID THAT, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF MERELY THROWING MORE POLICE AT THE ISSUE AS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT SOME OF MY CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS WOULD ARGUE YOU CAN'T JUST THROW MONEY AT AN ISSUE.

I T CERTAINLY WE CAN BE STRATEGIC ABOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SUBWAYS AND PASSENGERS MORE SAFE.

PERHAPS WITH THE COMING OUT PERIOD THAT WE ARE IN FROM COVID AND THE PSYCHOLOGY, MENTAL HEALTH BUT ALSO ECONOMIC DEVASTATION PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECENT UPTICKS IN CRIME.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SOME TIME.

WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT DATA AND SEE WHAT SOME OF THE APPROXIMATE CAUSES ARE.

I'M ALSO RETICENT TO TURN THIS INTO, YOU KNOW, LET'S ADD AN ARRAY OF POLICE OFFICERS IN LOCATIONS THAT FRANKLY ARE GOING TO BE POLICING BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS IN WAYS THAT I'M NOT CONVINCED IS GOING TO SOLVE CRIME AND MAY PRODUCE MORE CHALLENGES.

I WANT MORE COMMUNITY FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED IN POLICING AND ALSO INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN IN THE PAST.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO PRODUCE MORE LONG-TERM SAFETY THAN, AGAIN, JUST RESOLVING THIS THROUGH A KIND OF TACTICAL KIND OF WAY.

>> JOSEPH, IS PROFESSOR AMBAR RIGHT?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT JUST THROW MORE POLICE AT, OR IS THERE PERHAPS A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A CONCERNING ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HESITANT ALREADY TO GET BACK ON THE TRAINS?

>> I THINK I WOULD AGREE WITH HIM.

IT IS A MULTIFACETED ISSUE.

YOU CAN'T JUST UNILATERALLY SAY MORE POLICE OFFICERS WILL SOLVE THIS.

WE ARE A NATION IN PAIN.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE'RE A NATION EXPERIENCING WHAT I CALL DECAY AS A RESULT OF DESPAIR BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DENIAL WHO ARE EMPOWERED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

CRIME IS NOT THE ACTUAL END ALL BE ALL.

IT'S A SYMPTOM OF THIS ILLNESS WE HAVE IN OUR SOCIETY.

COVID IN MANY WAYS EXPOSED THE RAW NERVE ENDINGS OF THE DESPAIR THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE A 15% INCREASE IN FELONIES MONTH OVER MONTH RIGHT NOW ON THE SUBWAYS DESPITE THE FACT THAT MOST CRIME OVERALL IS DOWN.

THAT IS THE CONCERN, THIS NOTION THAT MAYBE PETTY THEFT IS DOWN, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE BEING SLASHED IN COMPLETELY UNRELATED INSTANCES, IT SEEMS YOU HAVE THAT FEAR OF THE '70s CREEPING BACK IN, YOU HAVE THE FEAR OF THE BRONX BURNING CREEPING BACK IN.

I THINK, YES, MORE POLICE OFFICERS ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A FIRST STEP PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT US TRYING TO RETURN TO 24-HOUR SERVICE.

YOU TALK ABOUT VAST PORTIONS OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION THAT HAVE BASICALLY TAKEN UNDERGROUND THAT ARE INCREASINGLY USING THE SUBWAY AS BASICALLY THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

YOU TAKE THE COMPOUND DESPAIR THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN THAT'S AMPLIFIED BY COVID, WHAT SEEMS LIKE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS.

I THINK, YES, IT IS A MULTIFACETED ISSUE, BUT I THINK WE NEED THAT INCREASED PRESENCE NOW TO INSPIRE THE CONFIDENCE FOR PEOPLE TO START USING THE SERVICES AGAIN.

>> OF COURSE.

LAURA, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, I'M WONDERING HOW DOES THIS, I GUESS, RATE AGAINST CRIME ON THE SUBWAY?

AGAIN, AFTER BEING SHELTERING AND NOT AS MANY PEOPLE USING THE SUBWAY TO THE POINT WHERE SERVICE WAS CUT BACK THROUGH 2020, IS THIS LIKE A SHOCKING INCREASE, OR HAVE WE PERHAPS LOST PERSPECTIVE?

LIKE, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS COMPARES TO WHAT USUAL CRIME RATES ON THE SUBWAY ARE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS -- WHAT HAS INCREASED ARE THESE NUMBERS, NOT PETTY CRIME, NOT PEOPLE STEALING YOUR POCKETBOOK OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT HAS GONE DOWN.

WE'VE SEEN AN ACTUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT ATTACKS IN THE SUBWAY, A CONCERNING INCREASE.

THAT IS UNUSUAL.

I THINK THAT TO BOTH THE PROFESSOR AND JOSEPH'S POINT, THIS IS A MULTIFACTORIAL PROBLEM.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, REALLY HIGH AND RISING NUMBERS OF SINGLE ADULT HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE CITY, JOB LOSS.

THE SUBWAYS ARE EMPTY.

I THINK THE STUDENTS OF "METROFOCUS" AND YOUR REGULAR WATCHERS ARE PROBABLY ALSO LOVES OF THE GREAT JANE JACOBS AND THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES.

THEY KNOW THAT HAVING PEOPLE AROUND, HAVING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND IN THE SUBWAYS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND, THAT IS AS EFFECTIVE OR PART OF AN EFFECTIVE CRIME FIGHTING STRATEGY.

I THINK THE EMPTINESS OF THE SUBWAYS COMPARED TO WHAT THE LEVELS ONCE FOR OF RIDERSHIP, THAT HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR SUBWAY CRIME AS WELL.

I ALSO THINK THAT HAVING SOME POLICE OFFICERS VISIBLE EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ACTIVELY ARRESTING PEOPLE, JUST HAVING SOMEONE IN UNIFORM PRESENT CAN REASSURE TRANSIT WORKERS WHO ARE FRIGHTENED AND CAN HELP BRING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE SUBWAYS MAYBE ARE AFRAID OF RIDING BECAUSE OF THESE HIGH PROFILE INCIDENTS.

BUT IT IS A MULTIFACTOR PROBLEM.

I DO THINK POLICE ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE SUBWAYS.

I THINK THAT WILL HELP A LOT.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN IS ESSENTIAL.

>> IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE THE CITY IS COMING UP WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.

WE SHALL SEE, OF COURSE, HOW THIS UNFOLDS AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES.

WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE TIME DURING THESE MONDAY ROUNDTABLES TO ASK YOU GUYS WHAT ARE THE STORIES AND TOPICS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING, BUT TODAY WE ACTUALLY DO.

I'D REALLY LIKE TO HEAR.

THERE'S SO MANY BIG ISSUES ON THE TABLE FOR NEW YORK.

OBVIOUSLY WE JUST CHANGED OUR MASKING GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW THE CDC SCIENCE.

OF COURSE, THERE'S THE MAYORAL RACE COMING UP VERY SOON.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE BASKETBALL FANS, THERE'S SOME BIG NEWS ON THE HORIZON.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES YOU GUYS WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

>> THE DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD JUST ENFORCED KATHRYN GARCIA FOR MAYOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE ARE PLANNING AND STILL INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES TO ENDORSE IN A NUMBER OF OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL RACES, INCLUDING THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S RACE.

I THINK THAT IS A LOT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE SUBJECTS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, INCLUDING CRIME ON THE SUBWAYS AND SOME VIOLENT ATTACKS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WEIGHING IN IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY TO ADVISE PEOPLE HOW THEY SHOULD VOTE IN THE MANHATTAN D.A.

RACE.

>> PROFESSOR AMBAR?

>> I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE LESS SERIOUS THAN LAURA AND SAY THAT "60 MINUTES" LAST NIGHT TALKED ABOUT UFOs.

IF WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT UFOs ARE REAL AND THE KNICKS HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS, CORRELATION?

I'D LEAVE IT TO YOUR VIEWERS TO JUDGE.

>> I'M OPEN TO ANY POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY IF IT HELPS THE KNICKS WIN.

JOSEPH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORIES YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING ON THE MARGINS, PARTICULARLY HERE IN NEW YORK.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW WE DEAL WITH THE MORATORIUMS ON RENT BEING LIFTED, HOW WE DEAL WITH THE DEFERMENTS ON MORTGAGES.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WHO MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES IN AN UNMANAGEABLE, UNSUSTAINABLE GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS.

HOW ARE LANDLORDS GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS?

ARE THEY GOING TO USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE PROBLEM TENANTS?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

WHAT WILL WE DO AS A SOCIETY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T END UP IN A WORSE SITUATION THAN THEY'VE ALREADY IN?

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE DON'T TALK ABOUT NEARLY ENOUGH.

>> EVERYTHING YOU JUST BROUGHT UP FITS INTO THIS LARGER NARRATIVE OF THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE CITY AND COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WE KEEP TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT GOING BACK TO NORMAL AND YET IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE CLEAR THAT MANY OF US ARE NOT COMING OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE THE SAME WAY WE WENT IN.

I THINK THAT'S THE SAME FOR OUR SOCIETY AT LARGE.

I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.

DO YOU SEE THAT SORT OF REFLECTED IN THE REPORTING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALREADY HAVE IMMEDIATELY SEEN HUGE, JUST IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL HEALTH, DROPOFFS IN THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GOING TO CANCER SCREENINGS, STD SCREENINGS.

WE SAW A TREMENDOUS RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CARDIAC ARREST INCIDENTS UNRELATED TO COVID DEATHS.

MANY PEOPLE, THEIR HEARTS BROKE AND THEY DIED DURING THE PERIOD WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND THE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH OF A MASS TRAUMA EVENT AND THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN OF MANY MONTHS OF SUSTAINED LEARNING LOSS AND ABSENCE OF SOCIALIZATION AND JUST A PERVASIVE CLIMATE OF FEAR.

I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT THAT DOES TO A CITY OVER THE LONG-TERM, BUT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND BE THINKING AS A SOCIETY, AS A GOVERNMENT, CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE SEVERE, SERIOUS LONG-TERM NEEDS IN THOSE AREAS AND NOT BE SURPRISED AT PEOPLE STRUGGLING GOING FORWARD.

>> I KNOW IT MIGHT BE TOO EARLY TO MAKE THIS JUDGMENT, BUT I DO WONDER IF WITH ALL OF THOSE FACTORS COMING INTO PLAY AND WE ARE GOING INTO A PRIMARY NEXT MONTH, IS THAT AFFECTING THE WAY PERHAPS HOW SERIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT OR EVEN THEIR ABILITY TO JUST ENGAGE IN ANOTHER ISSUE?

IT JUST CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS SO OVERWHELMING AT THIS POINT.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY CONCERN THAT PERHAPS VOTING FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE VOTED FROM BEFORE -- LIKE, POLITICS SEEMS TO BE ROLLING OUT THE WAY IT ALWAYS HAS TRADITIONALLY, BUT THE ELECTORATE DOES NOT NECESSARILY SEEM TO BE IN THE SAME HEAD SPACE.

I'M WONDERING IF THAT COULD AFFECT -- LAURA, I'D LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I DO KNOW THAT -- AND WE SHOULD ALL BE CELEBRATING THAT WE HAVE EARLY VOTING, WE HAVE MANY MORE PEOPLE REGISTERED THAN WE ONCE DID, WE HAVE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING, I BELIEVE.

SO IT'S MUCH EASIER TO VOTE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN IN NEW YORK CITY AT THIS POINT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE SEE A LARGER SLICE OF THE ELECTORATE ENGAGED, THAT THEY CARE MORE AND FEEL LIKE THE STAKES ARE HIGHER.

ALSO, I WANT TO GIVE THEM ASSURANCE THAT I FEEL FROM HAVING READ HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF ALL THESE CANDIDATES' POLICY BOOKS AND TALKING TO THEM, IT'S A GOOD FIELD.

YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT VOTING IN THIS ELECTION AND YOU SHOULD AND YOU SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, SPEND SOME TIME READING ABOUT IT, THINKING ABOUT IT.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A BURDEN.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL UPLIFTED.

I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND ARE FUNDAMENTAL DECENT AND INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

>> JOSEPH, YOU BROUGHT UP SOME EXCELLENT POINTS ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY.

PERHAPS DO YOU SEE THIS AS A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO RE-EEVALUA SOME OF THE STANCES THEY HAD POLITICALLY AND WE COULD BEGIN TO SEE CHANGES IN AT LEAST THE WAY THAT PEOPLE VOTE, AS OPPOSED TO THE WAY THEY HAD DONE THINGS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> I THINK THE UNFORTUNATE PLACE WE FIND OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW IS THAT OUR POLITICS ARE STILL ORGANIZED AROUND APPLYING AND ATTACKING PEOPLE'S APPREHENSIONS AND NOT ADDRESSING PEOPLE'S CURRENT NEEDS.

I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN ALMOST CONDITIONED TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ALMOST INCAPABLE OF HAVING THE FUNDAMENTAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT I TRULY THINK WILL IMPACT SOCIETY FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND PAST THE NEXT CENTURY.

SO I THINK PERHAPS IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE TO START DEMANDING THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ENTRUSTED TO BE STEWARDS FOR SOCIETY START CHANGING THE WAY THEY TALK ABOUT ISSUES, TO STOP TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US WHEN WE KNOW MORE PEOPLE REGISTER AS INDEPENDENTS EVERY DAY.

WE SIMPLY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEEP DIVISIONS FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT THAT SEEMS TO PERMEATE OUR POLITICS.

I THINK THERE'S A WAY FOR US AS A PEOPLE TO STOP SAYING TO POLITICIANS DON'T USE OUR FEARS AND APPREHENSIONS TO DRIVE US FURTHER APART.

>> PROFESSOR AMBAR, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

HOW BAD DOES THE CITY NEED A WIN?

>> IT NEEDS A WIN TREMENDOUSLY.

IT NEEDS A MOMENT OF UNITY.

PERHAPS THAT CAN COME WITH SOME LEVITY THROUGH SPORTS BUT PERHAPS WITH A LEADER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE CITY'S PROBLEMS AND IS WILLING TO GET OUT AND MEET PEOPLE AND BE AMONG PEOPLE RATHER THAN KIND OF HAVE A PYRAMID STYLE OF LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT NEW YORKERS GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS AND MAYBE A LA GUARDIA TYPE PERSONALLY CAN EMERGE FROM THIS FIELD AND TURN PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS AROUND ABOUT THEIR CURRENT CONDITION.

I THINK LAURA AND JOSEPH HAVE IT RIGHT THERE FOR SURE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

LAURA NAHMIAS OF THE DAILY NEWS, PROFESSOR SALADIN AMBAR OF RUTGERS AND JOSEPH PINION.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON THE MONDAY ROUNDTABLE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HAVE A GOOD ONE.

>> GO KNICKS!

♪ >>"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.

♪