♪♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

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, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE.

TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY AND IT IS AN ELECTION CRITICAL PLAYING OUT AGAINST THE EXTRAORDINARY BACKDROP OF ANDREW CUOMO BEING CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH GROPING AN AIDE LAST YEAR.

CUOMO, WHO HAS DENIED WRONGDOING, AND FACES UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL IF CONVICTED, WILL BE ARRESTED AND ARRAIGNED LATER THIS MONTH.

AS FOR TOMORROW'S VOTE, KATHY HOCHUL ISN'T UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND SHE'S ALREADY GOT A COMPETITION FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES.

IN TUESDAY'S RACE FOR MAYOR, ERIC ADAMS IS HEAVILY FAVORED, HOWEVER, CURTIS STILL THINKS HE CAN PULL OFF THE ULTIMATE UPSET AND HAS BEEN HAMMERING ADAMS FOR SUPPORTING MAYOR DE BLASIO'S VACCINE MANDATE, WHICH JUST TOOK EFFECT.

FURTHER DOWN THE BALLOT, REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING IN QUEENS AND STATEN ISLAND TO SAVE THE FEW REMAINING SEATS THEY STILL HAVE LEFT IN CITY COUNCIL.

AND IN NEW JERSEY, PHIL MURPHY IS HOPING TO HOLD OFF REPUBLICAN TO BECOME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TO WIN RE-ELECTION SINCE 1977.

FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE RACES, IT'S MY WILL SURE TO WELCOME BACK THREE EXPECTS.

UP FIRST, DR. CHRISTINA GREER FROM FORDHAM UNIVERSITY.

DR. GREER, WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNA, FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE ARE ALSO JOINED TONIGHT BY J.C. POLPOLANCO.

HE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND HE NOW TEACHES AT CUNY-BMCC.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY ESE.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON "METROFOCUS."

>> I LOVE BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> SO, LET'S JUST GET RIGHT INTO IT.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MAJOR RACES, OF COURSE, WE CANNOT DENY THE MAJOR NEWS SURROUNDING FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

SO, ESE, I'LL START WITH YOU AND ASK, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CRIMINAL CHARGE HE'S FACING AND THE PROCESS THAT'S EXPECTED TO PLAY OUT?

>> SO, LAST WEEK, CRIMINAL CHARGES, AS YOU ANNOUNCED PREVIOUSLY, WERE FILED AGAINST GOVERNOR CUOMO.

HE IS EXPECTED IN COURT ON NOVEMBER 17th TO BE ARRAIGNED IN ALBANY.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, OF COURSE, POLITICS KIND OF SURROUNDING THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS CHARGE.

CUOMO AND HIS LOYALISTS ARE SAYING THIS WAS -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THIS KIND OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SCHEME TO INSTALL SOMEONE ELSE AS GOVERNOR WHO ISN'T HIM.

HE WANTED TO RUN FOR A FOURTH TERP, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, BUT THIS KIND OF COMPLICATES THAT, OF COURSE.

>> OF COURSE.

AND SO, NOW, TO EVERYONE ELSE, DR. GREER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SITUATION AND HOW IT'S LAID OUT, I MEAN, HERE WE HAVE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES ANNOUNCING THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR THE VERY SEAT THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO HAD TO STEP DOWN FROM AND HE'S BASICALLY ALLEGING THAT THIS IS ALL POLITICAL.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALLEGING, BUT I THINK IF WE LOOK AT THE RECORD OF TISH JAMES, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WAS NECESSARILY GOING AFTER SOMEONE WHO MANY IN ALBANY WOULD CALL A SERIAL PREDATOR JUST FOR HER OWN PERSONAL GAIN.

SO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD OF HER AND HOW SHE'S GONE AFTER NOT JUST ANDREW CUOMO AND DONALD TRUMP, SEVERAL OTHER BAD ACTORS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, I THINK SHE WAS PRETTY CLEAR SHE WAS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO COINCIDE WITH HER DECIDING TO RUN AND BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN EVER TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR OF ANY U.S. STATE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION, BUT OBVIOUSLY ANDREW CUOMO THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD BREAK THE CURSE, YOU KNOW, HIS FATHER FAMOUSLY LOST WHEN RUNNING FOR A FOURTH TERM.

WE ALL THOUGHT THAT ANDREW CUOMO WOULD DO THAT AND RUN FOR A FOURTH TERM AND MOST LIKELY BE SUCCESSFUL.

HE IS ALSO SITTING ON $18 MILLION.

SO, EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT HIM ONE, BECAUSE OF THE MANY, AND TWO, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, IT BREAKS DOWN MORE ALONG AGE DEMOGRAPHICS WHO FEEL HE WAS UNFAIRLY DISMISSED FROM OFFICE AND RESIGNED WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO.

>> J.C., WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS LEAVES FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO AND HIS POLITICAL LIFE?

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN A FALL FROM GRACE LIKE THIS.

JUST LAST YEAR, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT SUBSTITUTING HIM FOR JOE BIDEN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO COMMANDED NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR EVERY PRESS CONFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC, THROUGHOUT THE WORST OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SOMEONE WHO WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HOW TO SAVE LIVES WHILE WE LATER DISCOVERED THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES WAS TO ISSUE A REPORT THAT HE LIED ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD ACTUALLY DIED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THIS IS A AN INCREDIBLE FALL FROM GRACE AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HIS CAREER'S ABSOLUTELY TARNISHED AND IT'S OVER.

I -- THERE'S JUST NO COMING BACK FROM THIS.

AND TO NOW ALLEGE AND MAKE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES AS IF THERE'S SOME SORT OF NEFARIOUS MOTIVE IS JUST GOING TO HURT HIM FURTHER, BECAUSE NO ONE'S GOING TO BUY IT.

LOOK, I RAN AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES WHEN SHE WAS PUBLIC ADVOCATE IN 2017, I THINK THE WORLD OF HER, I THINK SHE'S PHENOMENAL AND I THINK SHE'S A STRAIGHT SHOOTER.

SHE'S GOING TO RUN THIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO TRY TO MAKE HISTORY AND I DO FEEL THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CUOMO SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHO UNDERSTAND VERY WELL THAT SHE'D BE A FRONT-RUNNER ONCE THE CAMPAIGN GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT DR. GREER MENTIONED, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE GOVERNOR OF ANY STATE IN THE UNION, BUT SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED STATEWIDE BEFORE, SOMEONE WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS WOULDN'T BE JUDGED.

NOT TO SAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS WON'T HAVE AN EXCITING PRIMARY AND GOING TO BE READY TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT NEW YORKERS ARE GOING TO CARE ABOUT.

YOU HAVE THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE RUNNING, CONGRESSMAN ZELDON, ANDREW GIULIANI RUNNING IN A VERY EXCITING PRIMARY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE ANNOUNCING FOR THE NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR AND WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE GOVERNOR AS THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE IN THE COUNTRY?

WE SAW HOW IMPORTANT THE SEAT WAS, WITH THE MANDATES THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO ISSUED LAST YEAR.

I CAN SEE IT BEING AN EXCITING CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR ALL AROUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO COME.

I WANT TO PIVOT TO THE OTHER REALLY BIG AND LOCAL RACE, OF COURSE, ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL, AND THAT IS WHO IS GOING TO BE NEW YORK'S NEXT MAYOR?

OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS -- THERE IS A LOT OF FOCUS ON ADAMS BEING FAVORED TO WIN, ESE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND GET YOUR TAKE ON WHERE THE MAYOR'S RACE STANDS NOW.

WE'VE SEEN TWO DEBATES.

WE'VE SEEN THEM BOTH CAMPAIGNS AND NOW WE SEE, OF COURSE, CURTIS REALLY TRYING TO PUSH ED ADAMS' SUPPORT OF THE VACCINE MANDATE AS A REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE OVER SOMEWHAT SOON.

WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE A HEAVY ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE IN NEW YORK, WHICH MEANS ERIC ADAMS HAS USED HIS WORKING CLASS UPBRINGING.

HE'S BUILT THIS MULTI-BORO, MULTI-ETHIC COALITION THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

AND WHAT I'LL BE WATCHING FOR TOMORROW AS THE RESULTS COME OUT AND GET CERTIFIED IS HOW MUCH HE WINS BY.

YOU KNOW, WHERE IS HE THE STRONGEST?

WHERE ARE THERE PLACES WHERE PERHAPS DE BLASIO WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS STRONG, WHERE WE MIGHT SEE ERIC ADAMS DRAWING NEW SUPPORT?

I THINK THAT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING, PERSONALLY, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, THE RACE MAY NOT HAVE THE DRAMATIC CONCLUSION THAT I KNOW THAT SOME, YOU KNOW, POLITICOS ARE HOPING FOR, BUT I STILL THINK THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THE BULK OF THE ADAMS VOTE COMES FROM AND HOW WELL AND WHERE CURTIS DOES WELL.

>> J.C., I WANT TO BRING YOU IN, BECAUSE YOU'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT IN NON-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS AND AT LEAST SO FAR, WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT FOR EARLY VOTING, THEY'RE INCREDIBLY LOW.

WE'RE TALKING LIKE, 10,000, 13,000, ET CETERA.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON WHO YOU THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME OUT WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION?

>> WELL, I THINK THE LAST VOTER TURNOUT FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION WAS ABOUT 17%.

THAT'S TERRIBLE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER -- WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE CITY'S ACTUALLY ALLOWED FOR EARLY VOTING, YOU CAN VOTE BY MAIL IN SOME CASES.

WE HAD OVER A WEEK OF EARLY VOTING AVAILABLE FOR NEW YORKERS.

I REALLY HOPE THAT MUCH MORE THAN 17% COME OUT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THE TRUTH IS, I'M GOING TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOUR VIEWERS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS COME OUT WITH THE SAME PROPENSITY TO VOTE.

THE UPPER EAST SIDE, UPPER WEST SIDE CORRIDORS.

THE SECTIONS OF PARK SLOPE IN BROOKLYN, PARTS OF JAMAICA, SOUTH JAMAICA IN QUEENS.

IT TENDS TO BE THE PLACES THAT NEED GOVERNMENT THE MOST THAT DON'T PARTICIPATE AND SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME.

I THINK YOUR VIEWERS WILL SEE TURNOUT BEING IN THE FEW THOUSAND.

AND JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE THOSE ARE THE DISTRICTS THAT NEED THE MOST GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

SO, WE REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET TURNOUT IN MANY PARTS OF THE CITY, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU DON'T MATTER, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY, REALLY NEEDS TO RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

POLITICIANS RESPOND TO VOTES SO LET'S GET THE VOTE OUT IN PLACES WHERE WE NEED THE MOST SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE WILL SEE, DEFINITELY, HOW THAT TURNS OUT.

DR. GREER, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN ALSO, BECAUSE AS I SAID, EARLIER, CURTIS SLIWA HAS BEEN HAMMERING ADAMS ON THE MANDATE AND WE ARE SEEING PUSH-BACK FROM THE NYPD AND THE FDNY AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU SEE THAT RESISTANCE TO GETTING THE VACCINE AND, OF COURSE, THE MANDATE TO GET THE VACCINE, PLAYING OUT IN THIS POLITICAL RACE, BUT ALSO NEW YORK'S ATTEMPT TO COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, I MEAN, CURTIS SLIWA'S BEEN TRYING TO LINK ERIC ADAMS TO BILL DE BLASIO.

IN THE TWO DEBATES, HE CONSTANTLY CALLED THEM BEST FRIENDS AND SAYING THAT ERIC ADAMS' ADMINISTRATION WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF A BILL DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION.

ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWING NEW YORK CITY POLITICS KNOWS THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I THINK THEIR GOVERNING STYLES WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT.

WE SHOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE THE VACCINE MANDATE CAME DOWN FROM THE MAYOR, WE STILL HAD TWO-THIRDS OF THE NYPD, FDNY AND EMTs GETTING VACCINATED.

THE VACCINE MANDATE ACTUALLY HAS HELPED.

WE SAW THE NUMBERS JUMP QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER HALLOWEEN WEEKEND.

WE STILL HAVEN'T AT 100%, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY AT FOUR-FIFTHS, AS OPPOSED TO TWO-THIRDS.

AND I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY NEW YORKERS THAT WANT TO GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THE LITERATURE AND DATA ABOUT WHAT IT'S DONE TO WOMEN IN THE WORK FORCE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

LOOKING AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WILL TURN OUT FOR ERIC ADAMS, I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME OVERLAP OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT HIM TO GET THE CITY BACK ON TRACK, NOT JUST AS FAR AS OCCUPATIONS TWO, BUT ALSO CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH ARE OFTENTIMES LINKED TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND SO CURTIS SLIWA'S ARGUMENT THAT ERIC ADAMS IS ESSENTIALLY TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, MANY NEW YORKERS ARE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING SMALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS AND CAN GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY, WHICH WE WILL NEVER HAVE AGAIN, BUT SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY, IS TO ACTUALLY GET A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED AND THE IDEA THAT NYPD AND FDNY INDIVIDUALS WHO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC, WHO HAVE SEEN THEIR COLLEAGUES AND LOVED ONES DIE, THE FACT THEY WOULD BE THE HOLDOUTS DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

AND SO THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT ERIC ADAMS AS A POTENTIAL 110th MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY IS THAT AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HE INTERACTS WITH THE NYPD AS THIS SORT OF INSIDER/OUTSIDER, KNOWING MANY OF THE MIND-SETS THAT ARE IN THAT NYPD AND NOW BEING AN EXECUTIVE ROLL, BEING ABLE TO WORK OR AROUND NYPD OFFICERS.

>> OF COURSE, WELL, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF HOW ADAMS WOULD INTERACT WITH THE NYPD, ESE, I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON, YOU KNOW, CAMPAIGN SEASON, WE HEAR A LOT OF PROMISES, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT KIND OF AN ADMINISTRATION THAT ADAMS MIGHT LEAD?

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT VERY EARLY IN DE BLASIO'S ADMINISTRATION, HE HAD A FAUX PAS, A MISSTEP WITH THE NYPD AND THEY HAVE BEEN AT ODDS EVER SINCE.

DO YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING WITH ERIC ADAMS?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

I'M ALWAYS WARY OF, YOU KNOW, FORECASTING THINGS BEFORE WE REACH THAT POINT, BUT I THINK THAT ERIC ADAMS IS, I THINK INSIDER OR INSIDER/OUTSIDER IS A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE HIM.

HE WAS PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

HE HAS RELATIONSHIPS THERE, BUT WE KNOW HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF POLICING, THAT'S A REFRAIN WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM FOR DECADES, TO BE FRANK.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT EXACTLY LOOKS LIKE.

HE'S TALKED ABOUT BRINGING BACK AN ANTI-CRIME UNIT, A PLAIN CLOTHS UNIT.

WE DON'T KNOW THE CONTTOURS OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND FEEL LIKE.

IT MAY BE TOO SOON TO TELL.

I WILL SAY.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT A MOMENT WHERE POLICING IS SUCH A LARGE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

NEW YORK CITY IS NOT THIS DANGEROUS HELLSCAPE THAT I THINK STAYS IT'S DESCRIBED AS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CRIME NUMBERS, THE CITY IS ACTUALLY SAFER THAN IT'S BEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS, OR IN SEVERAL DECADES.

SO, I THINK THAT'S WORTH KEEPING IN MIND.

I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE RESPONSE TO CRIME AND SAFETY PROPORTIONATE.

I'VE TALKED TO THE FAMILIES OF POLICE -- THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT HAPPY THAT SOME OF THESE ANTI-CRIME UNITS WOULD COME BACK.

THAT'S WORTH KEEPING IN MIND.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT UNCERTAIN AT THIS POINT.

>> J.C., YOU KNOW, WE ALL BECAME PAINFULLY AWARE DURING THE DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION THAT PART OF MAKING THE CITY WORK MEANS THE MAYOR HAVING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT SO GREAT BETWEEN DE BLASIO AND CUOMO, TO PUT IT MILDLY, BUT GOING FORWARD, NOT ONLY WOULD ADAMS HAVE TO -- PROVIDED HE IS THE WINNER, WOULD HE HAVE TO SET UP A NEW ADMINISTRATION, BUT HE'D HAVE TO WEIGH IN VERY EARLY ON WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, ONE WOULD ASSUME, BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

DEPENDING ON WHO IS RUNNING, THAT COULD PUT HIM IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION, CORRECT?

>> AS OPPOSED TO ESE, I HAVE NO PROBLEM FORECASTING.

AND I MAY BE 0 FOR 100, BUT I WOULD BET THAT -- I WOULD BET THAT IN THE CASE WHERE THERE IS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES MAYBE FROM HIS OWN COUNTY, I MAY SEE HIM WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END TO MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> I DON'T SEE HIM GETTING IF HE WERE TO WIN.

WE DO HAVE AN ELECTION TOMORROW.

I CAN SEE HIM SETTING UP AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL GOVERN LIKE HE CAMPAIGNED.

HE CAMPAIGNED AS A CENTRIST.

HE CAMPAIGNED ON A BLOOMBERG MODEL AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO GOVERN THAT WAY.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, HIS POLITICS ARE GOING TO TRY THEIR VERY BEST TO MOVE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE.

AND I THINK HE KNOWS SOMETHING.

HE KNOWS THAT TO GOVERN THIS CITY, YOU HAVE TO GOVERN AS A CENTRIST.

YOU CAN'T GOVERN LIKE A LEFTIST IDEALOGUE, I THINK HE KNOWS THAT.

HE'S GOING TO NAME COMMISSIONERS AND ENFORCE LAWS IN THE CITY THAT WAY.

I KNOW THAT ESE MENTIONED THAT CRIME IS RELATIVELY LOW.

THE PROBLEM WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS IS THAT IT DOESN'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY.

A LOT OF THE CRIME IN OUR CITY, THE VIOLENT CRIMES ARE REALLY COMMITTED 96% OF THE TIME BY PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME, 94% OF THE TIME TO PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AS A WHOLE, THEY INCREED AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE CRIME NEVER HAPPENS, SO, THOSE NUMBERS ARE VERY SCREWED.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE BRONX, PARTS OF THE BRONX CRIME IS AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIME, THAT THE PLACES WHERE VIOLENT CRIME IS THE HIGHEST CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM EVERY DAY FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TAKING THOSE NUMBERS AS A WHOLE DOESN'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AS FAR AS CRIME AND THAT'S WHY ERIC ADAMS WAS ABLE TO WIN IN THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

>> DR. GREER, SIMILAR QUESTION FOR YOU.

DO YOU SEE ERIC ADAMS HAVING TO OR DO YOU SEE HIM, PERHAPS, AS J.C. SAID, HOLDING OFF AND NOT TAKING A STAND WITHIN THE COMING DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SIMPLY BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, HE NEEDS TO HAVE A GOOD, HEALTHY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH WHOMEVER THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK IS.

>> I DON'T SEE HIM WEIGHING IN ANY TIME SOON.

YOU KNOW, ONE, HE'S GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY.

HE'S GOT HIS OWN CITY TO GOVERN.

SO, STEPPING INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHAT IS THE VALUE ADDED?

TISCH JAMES IS FROM BROOKLYN, KATHY HOCHUL IS THE INCUMBENT AND COULD POSSIBLY WIN.

SO WHY WOULD HE PUT HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE WHEN HE COULD LOSE OUT -- TISH JAMES WOULD MAKE HISTORY, SHE'S A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, BUT HE'S ALREADY A STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL AND SO SHE'S STARTING FROM AN ADVANTAGE POINT THAT NO OTHER BLACK WOMAN HAS STARTED FROM IN THE PAST.

THE FUND RAISING, THE LABOR UNIONS WILL COME.

SO, I THINK ERIC ADAMS WILL MOST LIKELY FOCUS ON WHAT ESE AND J.C. HAVE MENTIONED, PUTTING TOGETHER HIS CABINET, FIGURING OUT WHO HIS COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO KNOW WHO WILL BE THE NEXT NYPD COMMISSIONER.

TO GO BACK TO WHAT J.C. SAID, CRIME IS DEFINITELY UP, BUT IN SPECIFIC PLACES, SO, DO YOU HAVE A POLICE COMMISSIONER WHO WANTS TO DO A VERSION OF BROKEN WINDOWS?

SAME WITH BILL DE BLASIO BROUGHT BACK BILL BRATTEN.

YOU KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HURT BY THE PANDEMIC?

THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR AND THOSE WILL BE SOME GROWING PAINS THAT I THINK ERIC ADAMS WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

AND HE HAS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP FROM THE PRESS.

BILL DE BLASIO IGNORED THE PRESS IN MANY WAYS.

ERIC ADAMS SAID, WE'RE IN FOR A RIDE TOGETHER, IT'S GOING TO BE FUN.

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS CORPS AREN'T USED TO COVERING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXECUTIVE OR SOMEONE WHO JUST HAS A QUIRKY PERSONALITY LIKE ERIC ADAMS.

SO, I THINK THOSE WILL BE THE THINGS HE FOCUSES ON BEFORE THE JUNE PRIMARY.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO JUNE AND THINGS ARE APPARENT AND WHO HAS A CLEAR PATH TO ALBANY, MAYBE HE'LL WEIGH IN.

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE WHY ERIC ADAMS WOULD PUT ONE MORE ADDITIONAL ITEM ON HIS PLATE WHEN HE HAS PLENTY TO HANDLE IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL, WHERE WE DON'T YET KNOW WHO THE SPEAKER WILL BE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMEONE THAT'S COMPLIMENTARY TO ERIC ADAMS OR SOMEONE TO SERVE AS A FOIL TO ERIC ADAMS' AGENDA.

>> MOVING DOWN THE BALL LET, BUT EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, ESE, REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING TO HOLD ONTO THE FEW SEATS THEY HAVE LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE COMING FOR THESE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THIS ELECTION?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THE CITY COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, WILL BE CHANGING.

SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TERM LIMITED.

WE SAW THE FLURRY OF ACTIVITY, PEOPLE WHO NEVER CONSIDERED RUNNING BEFORE RUNNING, SUDDENLY, THERE.

>> Reporter: WERE TEACHERS, CAB DRIVERS, LAWYERS, KIND OF EVERYONE YOU CAN THINK OF, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC FUNDS OR MATCHING FUNDS ARE, OF COURSE, AN INCENTIVE FOR FOLKS TO JUMP INTO THESE RACES, BUT I THINK THE POLITICAL ENERGY IS INTERESTING AND DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.

I'LL BE LOOKING AT THE QUEENS COUNCIL DISTRICT 32 RACE TOMORROW, THIS INCLUDES SOME OF HOWARD BEACH, OZONE PARK, THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT IS ONE OF THE THREE THAT IS REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED IN THE CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.

ERIC ULRICH IS THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE THERE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE GOP CHAIRWOMAN IN QUEENS, WHO IS RUNNING, CAN HOLD THAT SEAT AND NOT LOSE IT TO THE PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGER, THE DEMOCRAT, WHO IS A TEACHER.

WE'VE SEEN FELICIA STING ENDORSED BY CHUCK SCHUMER, KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, KATHY HOCHUL WAS CAMPAIGNING WITH HER, SO, THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION AND ENERGY ON THIS RACE.

IT WILL BE ONE THAT'S WORTH WATCHING TOMORROW.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, THEN, I KIND OF WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A STEP BACK AND ACROSS THE RIVER, OF COURSE, AND DR. GREER AND J.C., I REALLY WANT TO GET YOUR TAKES ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN NEW JERSEY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION BEING FOCUSED ON IT.

I WASN'T AWARE THAT SHOULD HE WIN, THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE THE FIRST DEMOCRAT RE-ELECTED SINCE 1977, THAT IS 44 YEARS AGO, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT FOR NEW JERSEY.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE ELECTION THAT HAS GARNERED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S ATTENTION THE MOST.

SO, DR. GREER, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW CRITICAL DO YOU SEE THE OUTCOME OF THE NEW JERSEY ELECTION?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, JENNA, THAT IT HASN'T GOTTEN THAT MUCH ATTENTION.

LARGELY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN A SOLIDLY BLUE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FLUCTUATION WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNORS RACES IN THE PAST FEW CYCLES.

SO, OBVIOUSLY, AS MUCH OF THE ATTENTION AND FOCUS HAS BEEN ON VIRGINIA, WHAT WILL VIRGINIA TELL US ABOUT 2022, 2024, BUT BECAUSE NEW JERSEY, I THINK, IS A PRETTY QUIRKY STATE AND THEY HAVE ENJOYED REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN THE PAST, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE RE-ELECTION OF GOVERNOR MURPHY, IF VIEWED CORRECTLY, COULD ACTUALLY GIVE US SOME INDICATION AS TO WHAT 2022 COLD LOOK LIKE, AT LEAST IN THE NORTHEAST.

SEEMS AS THOUGH GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS STUCK TO A JOE BIDEN PLAN.DEVIATED FROM THE PRESIDENT.

AND SOME MODERATE TO PROGRESSIVE VALUES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT THE CONSTITUENTS ARE INTERESTED IN.

AND THAT, TO ME, IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SORT OF LOOK AT THE COUNTIES, LOOK AT THE LESSONS, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MOBILIZED AND MOTIVATED TO TURN OUT.

OFTENTIMES WE IGNORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BASE, BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY TALK TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND TARGET THEM IN A CONSISTENT WAY, IT'S GOING TO GET EVEN MORE ROBUST PARTICIPATION, SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THE NEWCOMER WHO IS A STEADFAST, FAITHFUL VOTER IN, YOU KNOW, AN ODD-YEAR ELECTION, AND GO FROM THERE AND TAKE THOSE LESSONS LEARNED INTO 2022 FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> J.C., I'M SORRY, 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT RACE.

>> DR. GREER IS RACE.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS WORKING ON THE JOE BIDEN PLAN AND JUST STICKING TO HIM THE WHOLE WAY.

TURNOUT WILL BE DISMAL AND THE REASON WHY GOVERNORS IN NEW JERSEY DON'T GET ELECTED SINCE '77 WHEN THEY ARE DEMOCRATS IS THAT TURNOUT IS DISMAL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS GOING IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE REPUBLICAN WILL HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO WIN, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT CLOSER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NUMBERS ARE SO AWFUL AND TURNOUT WILL BE LOW IN NEW JERSEY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I WANT TO THANK, OF COURSE, MY ROUND TABLE GUESTS, ESE, J.C., AND OF COURSE DR. CHRISTINA GREER.

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

>>> "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, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN