♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WELCOME TO ME"METROFOCUS."

WE ARE KICKING OFF 2022 WITH A SPECIAL TWO-NIGHT FRONT PAGE FORECAST EXPLORING HATE EVENT.

THIS THURSDAY MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL THAT THREATENED AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND LED TO INVESTIGATIONS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO FALSELY CLAIMED THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

OVER THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS, WE WILL RE-VISIT MISINFORMATION AND THE EXTREMISM THAT LED TO THE INSURRECTION AND DISCUSS WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

TONIGHT, WE WILL ALSO LOOK AHEAD AT THE OTHER MAJOR HEADLINES IMPACTING THE TRI-STATE AS THE OMICRON WINTER SURGE SHATTERS DAILY RECORDS.

THE GOVERNOR DELIVERS HER FIRST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

FOR MORE ON THE STORIES, LET'S WELCOME OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS.

UP FIRST, WE WELCOME KIRK BURKHALTER.

HE WAS A PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE 21st CENTURY POLICING PROJECT.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY A FAMILIAR FACE, JOSEPH PINION.

JOSEPH A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

HE IS CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATIVE COLOR COALITION AND HOST OF THE CABLE NEWS PROGRAM "SATURDAY AGE AGENDA."

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY ALYSSA KATZ.

SHE'S DEPUTY EDITOR AT "THE CITY."

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> FIRST AS I MENTIONED AT THE END OF MY INTRO, LET'S START WITH COVID.

OF COURSE THE OMICRON VARIANT THAT IS SHATTERING, AS I SAID, DAILY CASE RECORDS.

EXPERTS ARE WORRYING THIS COULD PUT UNDO, IN FACT PERHAPS EVEN DANGEROUS STRESS, ON THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THAT'S IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF STRESS AS MORE AND MORE WORKERS GET SICK AND THEN CALL OUT.

ALYSSA, I WANTED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON, WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION?

IS NEW YORK GOING TO KEEP WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING?

CAN WE EXPECT ANYTHING NEW IN ADDRESSING THIS CURRENT COVID SURGE?

>> YEAH, NO, THESE ARE SUCH IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

I MEAN, SO FAR WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE MAYOR ON TWO KEY FRONTS, ON THIS EMPLOYEE VACCINE MANDATE FOR PRIVATE AS WELL AS PUBLIC CENTER EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE KEY DECISION TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.

THEY REOPENED MONDAY, AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

HE HAS BEEN ADAMANT THAT HE IS GOING TO STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP BOTH OF THOSE IN PLACE.

I THINK SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, THE ARGUMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS -- I THINK THE FACTS VERY MUCH BACK THIS UP -- THAT SCHOOL ITSELF, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS NOT A RISK FACTOR FOR SPREADING COVID ANY MORE THAN JUST BEING AT HOME OR TAKING THE SUBWAY OR BEING IN PUBLIC IN ANY WAY IS A RISK FACTOR.

THEY ARE STAYING THE COURSE ON THAT.

THE QUESTION YOU RAISE ABOUT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CAPACITY AND MORE GENERALLY THE ABILITY TO STAFF ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SUBWAYS, KEEP OUR PUBLIC SYSTEMS GOING, IS REALLY JEOPARDIZED BY JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF INFECTIONS, THE INCREDIBLE TRANSMISSIBILITY, INCLUDING TO VACCINATED PEOPLE.

EVEN KNOW MOST PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY VACCINATED PEOPLE, ARE NOT GETTING SEVERELY SICK, THEY ARE STILL EVEN UNDER LOOSENED QUARANTINE STANDARDS ARE EXPECTED TO QUARANTINE AND ARE SICK FOR A LOT OF THE TIME.

YOU HAVE REAL QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT IN THE COMING DAYS ABOUT, HOW DO WE REALLY KEEP THESE SYSTEMS GOING?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WHEN A CHILD ARRIVES AT SCHOOL THAT THEY, IN FACT, HAVE A TEACHER TO TEACH THEM?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE CRUCIALLY WE HAVE ENOUGH IN OURS HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES STAFF TO TREAT PEOPLE?

ONE KEY PIECE OF INFORMATION WE WILL START TO GET TODAY, TUESDAY, AND COMING INTO THE WEEK WE HOPE, IS KATHY HOCHUL, OUR GOVERNOR, ORDERED HOSPITALS TO START SEPARATING OUT NUMBERS SO WE CAN SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF COVID AS OPPOSED TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR OTHER REASONS AND THEN TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID.

WITHOUT THAT CLARITY, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE IMPACT OF COVID CASE SURGE IS ON THE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS AND ON PEOPLE'S ACTUAL RISK.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION TO HAVE.

>> KIRK, I'M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AS I MENTIONED, AND OF COURSE SO MUCH ATTENTION IS BEING PAID TO SCHOOLS, BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY, BUT IN ADDITION TO SCHOOLS, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER SYSTEMS THAT NEW YORKERS RELY ON.

POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, SANITATION.

IF WE SEE LARGE NUMBERS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THOSE SYSTEMS RUNNING GETTING SICK, DOES THAT THREATEN THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CITY?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY DOES.

THAT'S THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE REALLY WEREN'T AT 100% CAPACITY ALREADY WITH OUR PUBLIC SERVICES.

GIVEN THIS LONG HAUL WITH COVID.

IN POLICE, WE SAW A SURGE IN CRIME NUMBERS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM THAT WAS ALREADY STRAINED.

NOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT POLICE, FIRE, SANITATION, CORRECTIONS AND TALK ABOUT STRAIN, THE STRAIN ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS MASSIVE RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE THINGS GOING ON AT RIKERS ISLAND.

AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THOSE SERVICES, EMS SERVICES, ARE NOT WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THEM FULLY STAFFED WITHS COMINGD IN PARTICULAR THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID.

THAT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE.

HOW DO YOU COMBAT ALL THESE ISSUES IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY STAFFED?

WITH REGARDS TO POLICING, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THE NEW MAYOR WILL HAVE TO DO WHEN HE HITS THE GROUND IS TO COMBAT THE RISING NUMBERS WITH REGARD TO CRIME.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT WITH A POLICE FORCE THAT'S ALREADY UNDER STRAIN AND UNDERMANNED?

HE HAS TO ENGAGE IN SOME FORM OF REFORM.

HE SPOKE ABOUT IT.

HE BACKED OFF A LOT ON IT TOWARDS THE END OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL.

FINALLY, AS A NATIVE NEW YORKER, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME ALL MY LIFE IS KEEPING THE SCHOOLS OPEN, CLEARING THE STREETS OF SNOW AND PICKING UP THE TRASH.

THOSE THINGS ARE FAR MORE DIFFICULT AS WE MOVE INTO JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH AND FAR MORE CHALLENGING THAN THEY TEND TO BE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE ARE REALLY MOVING INTO THAT PERIOD WHERE THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOCUS.

IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY HISTORY, YOU LOOK AT OUR MAYORS GOING BACK, IF YOU CAN'T CLEAR THE GASHGRBAGE, CLEAR THE STREE SN OF SNOW, KEEP THE CRIME DOWN, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT REMEMBER YOU AS A SUCCESSFUL MAYOR.

THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

HOP HOPEFULLY, HE IS UP TO MEETING THE CHALLENGE.

>> JOSEPH, I WANT TO POSE SORT OF THE QUESTION TO YOU AS WELL.

BUT I WANT TO SORT OF FOCUS BACK ON THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD FROM MAYOR ADAMS THAT IT'S CRITICAL TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN BECAUSE IT'S A SAFE PLACE FOR THE KIDS.

THERE ISN'T EQUITY IN THE LEARNING FROM HOME WITH BROADBAND, INTERNET AND LAPTOPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

DOES THAT SORT OF, I GUESS -- DOES THAT CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE CITY HAS TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE INEQUITIES, OR IS THERE JUST NOT ANY TIME OR EVEN BAND WIDTH TO O THAT?

WHILE THERE ARE PERHAPS STRESSORS ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT'S JUST NOT ALL OF THE KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME ABILITY TO LEARN FROM HOME.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR.

WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REQUIRES A LEVEL OF POLITICAL WILL THAT WE HAVE NOT WITNESSED IN NEW YORK OR AROUND THIS COUNTRY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE WITH THE DISTANCE LEARNING IS THAT WE HAVE DRAGGED A BROKEN SYSTEM INTO THE HOMES OF PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM PARTICULARLY ARE DISENFRANCHISED PORTIONS OF THE POPULATION, AREN'T EQUIPPED TO LEVERAGE THIS BROKEN SYSTEM EFFICIENTLY.

WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT WERE ALREADY NOT BEING TAUGHT THE WAY THEY NEEDED TO BE TAUGHT, CLASSROOMS THAT WERE NOT EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING TO CHILDREN WHAT THEY NEEDED TO LEARN.

YES, WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO WI-FI, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS OR LAPTOPS OR WHATEVER THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR HOME, IT CREATES A SCENARIO WHERE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE ALREADY BEHIND, ALREADY AT THE GREATEST LEVEL OF RISK, FIND THEMSELVES IN GREAT PERIL.

I WOULD AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO, HAVING WITNESSED THE BRAIN DRAIN WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, IS TO HAVE CHILDREN TRYING TO LEARN FROM HOME AGAIN.

PARENTS ARE STRESSED WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN KEEP A JOB AND ALSO DEAL WITH CHILDREN NOW CONFINED TO THE HOME.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS DO CON VERG.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH RISKS.

THE SOLE PURPOSE OF OUR PUBLIC POLICY FROM THE BEGINNING OF COVID TO PRESENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO GOT SICK DID NOT END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, THOSE WHO ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL DID NOT END UP IN THE MORGUE.

THE DATA CONSISTENTLY FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO AMERICA SHOWS THIS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OMICRON, WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT IT'S HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE, BUT WE SHOULD BE HEARTENED BY THE FACT IT'S NOT LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, AN INCREASE IN DEATH.

IN MANY WAYS, THE DEATH TOLL STILL REMAINS DRASTICALLY LOW WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE LEVEL OF OMICRON PRESENCE HERE IN AMERICA.

>> IF I CAN JUMP IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ONE CRUCIAL TASK FOR ERIC ADAMS RIGHT NOW IS TO REALLY CONVINCE PARENTS THAT THIS IS NOT THE SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY.

IT IS SAFE TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

WE SAW TREMENDOUS ABSENTEEISM MONDAY.

GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED.

SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

PLEASE COME IN.

YOU CAN'T STAY AT HOME.

>> EVEN TO THAT POINT, IF I MAY, I THINK ALSO IT TALKS ABOUT HOW ARE WE MESSAGING THIS?

WHAT ARE THE POLICIES WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE?

IF YOU HAVE PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SCARED TO DEATH BY A MEDIA THAT WILL NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE PUT IN POLICIES THAT SAY STUDENTS HAVE TO BE TESTED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE CLASSROOM, AT A TIME WHEN WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TESTS BECAUSE FOR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT DIDN'T ORDER THE 500 MILLION TESTS THAT WE LIKELY KNEW WE WOULD NEED AT THE PEAK OF A CORONAVIRUS SEASON, IT CREATES A PERFECT STORM WHERE TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT, YOU DO HAVE PARENTS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OR UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY CANNOT SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THE TESTING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE POLICIES WE PUT IN PLACE.

>> ACTUALLY, THAT LEADS ME INTO MY OTHER POINT.

THAT WAS GOING TO BE TESTING.

THE LACK OF TESTING, THE ACCESS TO TESTING, WHICH TESTS ARE TRUSTWORTHY, WHICH ONES ARE AN ACTUAL AFFIRMING DIAGNOSIS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE VIRUS OR NOT?

HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD BE TESTED.

KIRK, HOW DID IT GET TO BE THAT WE SAW INCREDIBLY BLOCKS LONG LINES OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR PCR TE TESTS?

RAPID TESTS ARE LIKE FINDING A GOLDEN TICKET IN SOME AREAS.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ."

HOW DO WE GET TO OZ?

THE GOVERNMENT IS TELLING US, THAT WAY.

WE HAVE THE AT-HOME RAPID TEST, WHICH IF YOU CAN GET ONE, GREAT, FANTASTIC.

FOLKS ARE STANDING ON LINE FOREVER.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE INFECTED STANDING ON LINE WITH OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED TO GET THIS RAPID TEST.

ONCE YOU PICK UP THE RAPID TEST, YOUR EMPLOYER OR YOUR SCHOOL MAY REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE A PCR TEST, EVEN IF YOU TEST POSITIVE ON THE RAPID TEST.

WHY WERE YOU STANDING ON LINE FOR THE RAPID TEST?

THE PROBLEM IS -- I THINK JOSEPH ALLUDED TO THIS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MESSAGING GOING ON.

IF YOU TURN ON ONE OF THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS, YOU HAVE ONE FORM OF MESSAGES.

THE CDC, ANOTHER FORM.

YOU SEE SOMEONE INTERVIEWED ON A NEW PS PROGRAM, THERE'S A DIFFERENT MESSAGE.

FINALLY, MESSAGES COMING OUT OF WHITE HOUSE.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE SIMILAR AND OTHER TIMES THEY ARE DIFFERENT.

IT STARTS OFF WITH HOW LONG FOLKS HAVE TO REMAIN QUARANTINED.

HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

BASICALLY, HOW YOU ALWAYS GET TO THESE POINTS.

THE LACK OF FORESIGHT.

THAT SOUNDS HARSH, BUT WHAT CAN I TELL YOU?

LACK OF FORESIGHT WITH REGARD TO PLANNING.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.

WE KNEW THAT THIS VIRUS IN ANY PARTICULAR FORM IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING ANYWHERE.

HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A ROBUST FORM OF TESTING?

HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE OUR FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PUT AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF THIS WHO ARE USED TO -- PERHAPS THE MILITARY.

WHO ARE USED TO HANDLING LARGE CRISES?

WE ARE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE SEEPSMS TO BE A LACK OF COORDINATION.

THIS IS LIKE TWO YEARS AGO WHERE YOU COULDN'T FIND A MASK OR TOILET PAPER.

IT'S DEJA VU.

AT SOME POINT OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WILL HAVE TO GET ON SAME PAGE AND THE CDC AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THESE SERVICES TO FOLKS THAT NEED THEM.

AS YOU ALL MENTIONED, THIS IS WHAT'S INHIBITING STUDENTS FROM RETURNING TO SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY.

THERE'S ANOTHER INEQUITY, NOT JUST THE TECH END OF IT, BUT ALSO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD THE LATITUDE TO WORK FROM HOME.

WE ARE TALKING TO YOU IN A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT.

THERE'S NO ONE IN THE BACKGROUND.

THERE'S NO ONE RUNNING AROUND.

MANY OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG FOLKS IN THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, GUESS WHAT, THEY DON'T HAVE A ROOM TO THEMSELVES TO SIT IN THAT ROOM FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN.

THE PLAYING FIELD IS MORE UNEQUAL.

ALL THESE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO ATTACK, STARTING WITH TEFSTIG AND SO FORTH.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET FOLKS BACK TO SCHOOL AND SO FORTH WHERE THERE'S MORE EQUALITY, WHERE THE PLAYING FIELD IS EQUAL.

>> KIRK, I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU AND TURN TO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT, OF COURSE, IS CAUSING A LOT OF ANXIETY FOR NEW YORKERS.

THAT'S THE ISSUE OF CRIME.

WE KNOW SO FAR THAT MAYORED AMA -- MAYOR ADAMS SAID THEY WILL PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO STOPPING VIOLENT CRIME WHILE WORKING WITH THE NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER ON REFORM.

I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON, I GUESS, THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL THIS TIME?

THIS IS THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS SAID, WE'RE GOING TO FIX POLICING.

>> IT'S NOT THE FIRST.

IT'S A SONG SUNG OFTEN AND NEEDS TO BE SUNG OFTEN.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED THAT HE WILL BRING BACK PLAINCLOTHES UNITS.

WE HAD TWO UNITS THAT SERVED THIS FUNCTION IN THE PAST.

ONE BEING A UNIT CALLED STREET CRIME.

IT WAS A CITYWIDE UNIT.

THE OTHER BEING THE LOCAL, THE PRETINCINCT ANTI-CRIME UNITS.

THESE WERE THE SOURCE -- IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TO WHEN STOP AND FRISK, AS FAR AS NUMBERS, WERE GOING OUTRAGEOUS.

THESE UNITS WERE DOING A LOT OF THE STOP AND FRISK.

THEY TRADITIONALLY ALSO WERE KNOWN FOR THEIR CRIME FIGHTING CAPABILITIES.

IN ORDER FOR THESE UNITS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO MAKE SURE THEY LEARN AND INTERNALIZE THE LAW.

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, 4th, 5th AND 6th AMENDMENT.

WE TEACH THIS IN LAW SCHOOL, IT'S CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED TO INTERNALIZE THIS.

THIS IS NOT A ZERO SUM GAME.

EFFECTIVE POLICING DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN THE ABUSING OF THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.

EFFECTIVE POLICING BY THE NATURE OF IT BEING EFFECTIVE AND BY THE MISSION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MEANS CAREFUL, RESPONSIBLE, THOUGHTFUL AND LEGAL POLICING.

THERE CERTAINLY WILL BE SOME RESISTANCE.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO CHANGE CULTURE.

THAT'S WHY WE ELECTED ERIC ADAMS AS MAYOR.

THAT'S HIS JOB.

THAT'S JOB NUMBER ONE IS IF HE DOES RESTORE THESE PLAINCLOTHES UNITS, ENSURING THEY ARE EFFECTIVE AND THAT THEY GAIN THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S A NUMBER ONE WITH REGARDS TO THE CRIME SPIKE.

NUMBER TWO IS THAT WE ARE ENTERING THE WINTER MONTHS.

CRIME TENDS TO GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN THE WINTER AS OPPOSED TO THE SUMMER.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SHOOTINGS.

COMBATING THE PROLIFERATION OF ILLEGAL HANDGUNS IN NEW YORK CITY IS HUGE.

THAT MAY INVOLVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS, I'M HOPEFUL.

I DON'T KNOW -- WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER WITH REGARDS TO WHERE HER FOCUS WILL BE, WHAT HER IDEOLOGY IS.

WE WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE MAYOR CHOSE SOMEONE WHO HAS THE RIGHT MIX OF PROGRESSIVENESS AND WANTING TO FIGHT CRIME.

A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE THAT IF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE STRAINED, PEOPLE OF COLOR, DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THE POLICE OR DON'T WANT POLICING.

ACTUALLY, WHAT THEY WANT IS EQUITABLE POLICING.

THEY WANT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS.

THE RIGHT TO COME HOME, BE SAFE, LIVE AN UNFEATHERED LIFE, HAVE THEIR KIDS PLAY OUT FRONT WITHOUT A STRAY BULLET COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO BE UNHARASSED BY THE POLICE AND SO FORTH.

IT'S A HEAVY LIFT.

BUT IT IS DOABLE.

IT TAKES FORESIGHT, I BELIEVE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME INNOVATION.

ONE THING WE CANNOT DO IS DO THE SAME OLD THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.

WE MOVE FORWARD.

SOCIETY MOVED FORWARD.

POLICING NEEDS TO FOLLOW IT.

>> WELL, ALYSSA, SPEAKING OF HEAVY LIFTS, EVEN THOUGH SOME MIGHT SAY IT'S NOT AS HEAVY OF A LIFT, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S FIRST STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

WE KNOW SHE TOOK OVER FOR THE FORMER GOVERNOR CUOMO.

THIS WILL BE HER CHANCE TO SORT OF SET AN AGENDA.

LET'S NOT FORGET, THIS IS ALSO A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION YEAR FOR HER.

WHAT WILL YOU LOOK TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK IN PART IT'S GOING TO BE HOW HOCHUL IS POSITIONING HERSELF IN THIS DEMOCRATIC FIELD WHERE RIGHT NOW SHE'S IN HER COMFORT ZONE IN THE CENTER.

SHE HAS WILLIAMS ON THE LEFT AS THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE.

THEN SHE HAS THE CONGRESSMAN, WHO IS MORE OF A -- MORE CENTRIST THAN SHE IS IN HIS CURRENT POSITIONING.

I THINK WE CAN EXPECT HER TO TAKE VERY SAFE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BROAD APPEAL.

ONE CRUCIAL QUESTION RELATED TO WHAT THE PROFESSOR HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE, IS SHE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN LUMP TOGETHER AS BAIL REFORM?

THIS PACKAGE OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WHICH ARE BIG GER THAN BAIL.

THEY HAVE TO DO WITH HOW D.A.s HANDLE EVIDENCE AND TURN IT OVER TO THE DEFENSE.

IT HAS TO DO WITH OTHER STRUCTURAL ISSUES AROUND WHAT KINDS OF DECISIONS JUDGES ARE OR ARE NOT EMPOWERED TO MAKE.

IS SHE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, FOR EXAMPLE?

SHE'S FACING A LEGISLATURE THAT IS -- WHERE THE LEADERS ARE ADAMANT ABOUT HOLDING THE LINE ON THESE REFORMS.

THEY HAVE BIG POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE OUTCOMES.

OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.

IS SHE GOING TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THINGS SHE CAN DO FOR TENANTS, THINGS THAT -- PROPOSALS FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL, FREE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.

WILL SHE CO-OPT ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS PUSHING HER ON THAT SHE THINKS MAY HAVE BROAD APPEAL?

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR.

>> WELL, WE WILL PUT THAT ON THE BURNER FOR NOW.

OF COURSE, WAIT FOR THE SPEECH FROM THE GOVERNOR.

JOSEPH, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD SINCE WE HAVE JUST ABOUT THREE MINUTES LEFT.

TOMORROW WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION.

RIGHT NOW, POLLS ARE SHOWING THAT AMERICANS SEEM TO BE LARGELY SPLIT ON WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE.

WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THERE DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE AN AGREEMENT ON WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE ALL WITNESSES UNFOLD ON LIVE TV?

>> LOOK, I THINK THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT A TIME CAPSULE OF THE 21st CENTURY, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO AMERICA, THOSE HORRIFYING IMAGES WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER.

IT'S A BLEMISH ON THE STANDING OF THIS NATION.

IT'S CERTAINLY A BLEMISH ON WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE TAKING THE FLAG OF THIS NATION TO BREAK GLASS AT THE PEOPLE'S CAPITOL, IT'S CERTAINLY AN ABHORRENT DISPLAY.

HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE GET ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE AND THEN THE STANDING FOR WHICH PEOPLE HAVE TO SEEK THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE THE PUBLIC DIVIDE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AGREE WHAT HAPPENED SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

THEY ARE HEARTENED BY THE FACT WE HAVE SEEN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DRAGNETS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.

500 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN A SHORT TIME FRAME.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE NOW GETTING THEIR DAY IN COURT AND BEING FOUND GUILTY ONE BY ONE BY ONE.

I THINK JUSTICE IS RUNNING ITS COURSE.

OUR INSTITUTIONS DID HOLD.

THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCURACY IN THE TELLING OF WHAT OCCURRED?

WHAT IS THE INTEGRITY IN THE PROCESS?

THERE SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO IT.

WHAT CONGRESSMAN ALTERED A TEXT TO PORTRAY SOMEONE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, YOU LOSE TRUST IN THAT BIPARTISAN PROCESS.

THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND.

THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO ARE DENYING THE UNDENIABLE OR TRYING TO HUMANIZE THE INHUMANE.

THE FACT REMAINS, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE A NATION THAT WANTS TO PUT DIVISION BEHIND US AND NOT TALK ABOUT LEFT OR RIGHT BUT ELEVATING OUR POLITICS, TO DELIVER THE AMERICA WE DESERVE, IT HAS TO START BY JUST SAYING, WHAT ARE THE FACTS?

LET US EXPLORE THOSE FACTS WITHOUT THE ANIANEMOUS THAT LED THAT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS.

POLI JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR PART TWO OF OUR EVENT WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR DEMOCRACY A YEAR AFTER THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

STAY SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY --