January 29, 2016: “Broken Windows.” Healthy Communities. Christie Candidacy. Save The Children.

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS' -- WHEN POLICE CRACK DOWN ON QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES THE CRIME RATE DROPPED.

WILL A PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE BROKEN WINDOWS POLICY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD?

WE'LL TALK WITH A NEW YORK COUNCILWOMAN LEADING THE CHARGE FOR CHANGE.

> HE WAS A SERIOUS FRONT-RUNNER IN 2012 BUT FOUR YEARS LATER HE'S LAGGING.

CAN NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE MAKE A COMEBACK IN HIS RACE TO BECOME PRESIDENT.

NEW YORK CITY'S MAYOR HAS A PLAN TO KEEP USLE HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND SAFE.

CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL STARTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM AND INSIDE THE HOME.

WHILE TEACHERS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE, WHO IS HELPING PARENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN?

WE HAVE THE ANSWER.

THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

Announcer: THIS IS 'METROFOCUS.'

WITH JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY -- CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED DI MUTUAL OF AMERICA.

YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

THE THEORY GO IFS A WINDOW ON A HOUSE IS BROKEN AND REMAINS UNFIXED THE HOUSE EVENTUALLY FALLS INTO DISREPAIR.

ON THAT BASIS NEW YORK'S CONTROVERSIAL BROKEN WINDOWS POLICY OF POLICING HAS ITS FOUNDATION.

TACKLE MINOR CRIMES LIKE PUBLIC URINATION AND INTOXICATION SO LARGER CRIMES DON'T START TO OCCUR.

NOW SWEEPING CHANGES COULD BE ON THE WAY UNDER A NEW SET OF REFORMS BEING INTRODUCED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ACT.

A SET OF EIGHT BILLS BACKED BY COMMISSIONER BILL BRATTON TO GIVE POLICE OFFICERS A CIVIL OPTION WHEN THEY ARE RESPONDING TO LOW LEVEL QUALITY OF LIFE OFFENSES.

THAT MEANS PETTY QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES MAY BE STEERED AWAY FROM THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM.

LEGISLATORS BACKING THE PROPOSALS ARE POINTING TO A SYSTEM THAT CLOGS UP THE COURTS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS POOR AND LARGELY MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

VANESSA GIBSON IS A COUNCIL MEMBER LEADING THE REFORM.

I AM DELIGHTED SHE CAN JOIN US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

LET'S START WITH DEFINITIONS.

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS AS IF WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

ALL OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OFFENSES WILL BE DECRIMINALIZED NOW?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

IT MEANS THERE ARE FIVE LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT INFRACTIONS CURRENTLY CRIMINAL OFFENSES.

PUBLIC URINATION, OPEN CONTAINER, UNREASONABLE NOISE, VIOLATING PARK RULES, AND LITTERING.

RIGHT NOW IF YOU RECEIVE ANY OF THESE TICKETS YOU WOULD GET A CRIMINAL SUMMONS, GO TO CRIMINAL OR SUMMONS COURT.

IF YOU FAILED TO RESPOND, A BENCH WARRANT COULD BE ISSUED FOR YOUR ARREST.

SUBSEQUENT TO THAT YOU COULD BE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR.

THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD.

IT WOULD FOLLOW YOU.

YOU WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM ACCESS TO FINANCIAL AID, PUBLIC HOUSING, GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

IT'S NOT DECRIMINALIZING.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE MAKING THE PENALTIES PROPORTIONAL TO THE OFFENSE.

WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE FIVE LOW LEVEL INFRACTIONS, WE ARE ADDING A CIVIL OFFENSE OPTION AS OUR PREFERRED FIRST OPTION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENFORCING THESE LAWS.

BOTTOM LINE SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, THESE BILLS DON'T SAY WE ARE TAKING THESE OFFENSES OFF THE BOOKS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S NOT OKAY NOW TO DO THOSE.

YES.

WHAT'S THE IMPETUS FOR THIS?

WHAT'S THE RATIONALE?

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 1.2 MILLION OUTSTANDING CRIMINAL SUMMONS.

ULTIMATELY THEY WILL TURN INTO BENCH WARRANTS FOR ARRESTS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OBVIOUSLY THE IMPACT OF DISPROPORTIONATE ENFOMPLT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TYPICALLY ENGAGED IN OVER THE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL PACKAGE, WE ARE STILL KEEPING CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTION BUT SAYING A CIVIL OFFENSE IS AN OFFENSE THAT WOULD STILL WARRANT A FINE.

YOU WOULD, INSTEAD OF GOING TO CRIMINAL OR SUMMONS COURT YOU WOULD GO TO THE CITY'S OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRIALS AND HEARINGS.

YOU WOULD ULTIMATELY PAY A TICKET.

WE HAVE A GRADUATED FINE SYSTEM.

YOUR FIRST OFFENSE WOULD BE ONE PRICE.

FOR THE SECOND OFFENSE IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT FINE.

WE WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT QUALITY OF LIFE MATTERS.

NEW YORKERS CARE ABOUT PUBLIC URINATION, NOISE, VIOLATING PARK RULES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE A LIFETIME OF KEEPING A MISDEMEANOR ON THEIR RECORD POTENTIALLY.

FOLKS WATCHING AND LISTENING HEARD THE INTRODUCTION AND MIGHT BE SURPRISE THAD THE POLICE COMMISSIONER IS ON BOARD WITH THIS.

POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN ADAMANT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT TO US HERE.

SOME FOLKS SAY WHILE WOULD THE POLICE BE ON BOARD WITH THIS?

IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE WE ARE DE-EMPHASIZING THE NOTION OF QUALITY OF LIFE OFFENSES.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS WE DIDN'T HAVE THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ON BOARD.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT ASKING FOR IDENTIFICATION, MAKING SURE OF THE BROKEN WINDOW CONCEPT THAT YOU COULD ESSENTIALLY PREVENT LOW LEVEL CRIMES FROM HAPPENING AND REALLY ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO NOW AT THE 11th MONTH OF OUR CONTINUING DISCUSSION, WE DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT AND CONCEPT.

OBVIOUSLY THE COMMISSIONER IS ON BOARD.

HIS ADMINISTRATION IS ON BOARD.

THAT WAS NOT WITHOUT ANY HURDLE.

IT WAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FORCE OF 35,000 OFFICERS AND MAKING SURE PENALTIES ARE PROPORTIONAL.

ANOTHER KRICHL WE HAVE SEEN IS PEOPLE SAYING, WHILE SHOULD CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BE MAKING THE DECISIONS?

THESE DETERMINATIONS, WHAT SHOULD BE CRIMINAL, CIVIL.

WHY SHOULDN'T BE LEAVE TOYOTA THE POLICE OFFICERS, MEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

WHY SHOULDN'T WE LEAVE IT TO THEM TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

I WOULD SAY WE ARE ALLOWING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AT ENGAGEMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING.

I BELIEVE AS LEGISLATORS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE CITY LAW AND OFTEN TIMES WE LIKE TO PUT OUR VISION AND PRIORITY, GOOD PRACTICES WE ARE USING AND CODIFY THAT INTO CITY LAW.

IT RECOGNIZES AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT, IMPORTANT TOOL BEYOND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

SO AFTER POLICE COMMISSIONER BRATTON IS GONE.

AFTER THE MAYOR IS GONE.

AFTER THE SITTING CITY COUNCIL IS GONE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THE POLICIES ARE CODIFIED IN CITY LAW.

LAST QUESTION.

IF SOMEBODY SAY THIS IS SOUNDS LIKE IN SOME WAYS IT IS A CRITICISM OF THE JOB THE NYPD IS DOING.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?

I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT A CRITICISM.

IT'S A RECOGNITION THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN EQUAL SYSTEM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT CRIMINAL SUMMONS.

WE HAVE LOW LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES THAT SHOULD NOT BE A CRIMINAL INFRACTION.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD FOR PUBLIC URINATION.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR.

THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT EQUALIZING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MAKING IT FAIR TO EVERYONE.

YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

EVERY NEW YORKER SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

FOR ALL TOO OFTEN THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN TARGETED, STOP AND FRISK AND OTHER MEASURES.

WE RECOGNIZE THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT'S BEEN AT RISK AND OBVIOUSLY VICTIMIZED BY THE PROCESS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY, TOO, ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

THAT'S WHY THE CIVIL OFFENSE WOULD GIVE YOU A PENALTY BUT WOULDN'T PUT YOU IN JAIL FOR THESE INFRACTIONS.

THE CIVIL OPTION STILL HAS CONSEQUENCES.

IF YOU DON'T RESPOND YOU CAN HAVE A CIVIL JUDGMENT ISSUED AGAINST YOU.

THAT WOULD MEAN COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES ON YOUR CREDIT RECORD, PROHIBITING YOU FROM JOBS AND PURCHASING CARS AND HOUSES.

THAT'S STILL A SERIOUS PENALTY.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT ON YOUR RECORD.

BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS SOMETHING YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.

ABSOLUTELY.

VANESSA GIBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

WE HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK AND VISIT WITH US.

THANK YOU.

ON MONDAY, ALL EYES WILL BE ON IOWA.

THAT STATE'S CAUCUSES FOR ELECTION 2016 TAKE PLACE.

ON THE GOP SIDE NAMES LIKE TRUMP, CRUZ AND RUBIO DOMINATED THE HEADLINES.

THE NAME CHRIS CHRISTIE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GENERATING MUCH INK.

CHRISTIE WAS ON SUCH A MEET YORIC RISE IN 2012 HE WAS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS CONTENDER FOR THE PRESIDENCY THEN.

FAST FORWARD FOUR YEARS AND THE CONVERSATION SEEMS TO HAVE SHIFTED.

GOING INTO THE WEEKEND LEADING UP TO IOWA TRUMP HAS THE SUPPORT OF 32% OF LIKELY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS GOERS.

TED CRUZ FOLLOWS SEVEN POINTS BEHIND WITH 25%. FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO HAS 18%. RETIRED NEUROSURGEON BEN CARSON HAS 8.

JEB BUSH HAS 4%. ALL OTHER CANDIDATES INCLUDING GOVERNOR CHRISTIE HAVE AROUND 2%. MATT KATZ, PEABODY PRIZE WINNING REPORTER AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK 'AMERICAN GOVERNOR, CHRIS CHRISTIE'S BRIDGE TO REDEMPTION' JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THE BID AND HIS STRATEGY FOR TURNING THE CAMPAIGN AROUND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE, MATT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BOOK IN A MOMENT.

LET'S START WITH THE HEADLINE.

CHRIS CHRISTIE IN 2012 CONSIDERED A MAJOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATE.

CHRIS CHRISTIE IN 2016 CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY TRACTION.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS?

YEAH.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN 2011 LEADING INTO THE 2012 ELECTION PEOPLE WERE BEGGING HIM TO RUN.

GRASSROOTS REPUBLICANS, MAJOR REPUBLICAN DONORS.

AND THEN A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENED.

FIRST, HE WON RE-ELECTION THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN DOMINANT FASHION.

HE WAS A FRONT-RUNNER FOR THE 2016 NOMINATION.

HE WAS LEADING POLLS.

BUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER HE WON RE-ELECTION IN 2013 HE GOT HIT WITH THE BIGGEST SCANDAL OF HIS CAREER AND MAYBE THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL NOT INVOLVING SEX WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY IN A FEW YEARS.

THIS IS THE SCHEME TO CLOSE LANES TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

BUSIEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD, IN ORDER TO RETALIATE ALLEGEDLY AGAINST A LOCAL MAYOR CAUSING THESE TRAFFIC JAMS IN THE TOWN OF FORT LEE.

THE LOCAL MAYOR OF FORT LEE DIDN'T ENDORSE CHRISTIE'S REELECTIONS AND THE ALLEGATION WAS HIS AIDES WERE TRYING TO RETALIATE AGAINST THE MARE BY CAUSING THIS FIVE-DAY TRAFFIC JAM.

CHRISTIE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AGGRESSIVE AND BEHIND THE MICROPHONE, AGGRESSIVE POLITICALLY, HE WAS FORCED BACK ON HIS HEELS.

HE KIND OF ALMOST WENT INTO LIKE A POLITICIAN'S HIDING.

HE DID A LOT FEWER INTERVIEWS, DIDN'T DO PRESS CONFERENCES.

HE WAS CONSIDERED TOXIC BY SOME REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO APPEAR WITH HIM.

HE WITH STOOD RELENTLESS NEGATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR MONTHS.

HE'S NEVER REALLY FULLY RECOVERED.

A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE GOT INTO THE RACE.

THIS REPUBLICAN RACE GOT VERY CROWDED.

CHRISTIE'S RECORD STARTED GETTING CLOSER SCRUTINY FROM THE MEDIA IN TERMS OF HANDLING THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY FROM SUPER STORM SANDY AND THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.

HE'S NEVER RECLAIMED THAT NEW, FRESH, BOLD STATUS HE HAD IN 2011, 12.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME AND I'M A JERSEY GUY -- BORN, RAISED, STILL LIVE THERE IN NEW JERSEY.

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THIS THE SO-CALLED BRIDGEGATE AND I'M AN INDEPENDENT.

SAYING TO MYSELF, LOOK, COMPARED TO OTHER JERSEY SCANDALS, THIS REALLY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SUCH A BIG DEAL.

AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS, NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY SAID -- NO ONE IN A POSITION HAS SAID YES.

WHY THEN DOES IT HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON HIS REPUTATION AND THE NOTION OF HIM AS A PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER, DO YOU THINK?

THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT I TRY TO EXPLORE IN THE BOOK AND THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE TO SOME EXTENT ARE NOT WHAT CAUSED THE CLOSURES.

NOT WHETHER HE CAME UP WITH THE SCHEME OR KNEW ABOUT IT WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING.

IT WAS WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS.

WHY IT TOOK FOUR MONTHS BEFORE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING IN THE OFFICE HAD BEEN DOING THIS.

THERE WERE DOCUMENTS SHOWING THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THIS.

IT'S NOT UNTIL THESE DOCUMENTS WERE SUBPOENAED DID WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT.

THE QUESTIONS THAT LINGERED IN MEDIA REPORTS AND IN THE MINDS OF NEW JERSEYIANS, WHY IS A GUY WHO WAS A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR ELECTED IN NEW JERSEY IN LARGE PART ON HIS CORRUPTION-BUSTING RESUME AS A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR NEW JERSEY HE WOULD GO AFTER POLITICAL CORRUPTION, WHY DIDN'T HE KNOW SUCH SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR WAS HAPPENING UNDER HIS NOSE?

LET ME ASK YOU ONE THING WHICH IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION TO BE POSED NOW.

THAT IS -- IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK HE CAN DO?

SOMEBODY WHO HAS CHRONICLED HIM FOR YEARS AND IS LOOKING AT THIS ELECTION VERY IN DEPTH.

IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO RESURRECT HIMSELF, DO YOU THINK, AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

I THINK WHAT HE COULD DO NOW AND WHAT WE MAY ALREADY START TO BE SEEING IS HE COULD TAKE THE GLOVES OFF.

THIS IS A HEAVYWEIGHT BRAWLER WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT POLITICALLY.

YOU HAVE STARTED TO SEE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HE'S GOING AFTER DONALD TRUMP N. THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HE'S GONE AFTER MARCO RUBIO.

HE MADE A REFERENCE TO TRUMP SITTING IN HIS JAMMIES AT TRUMP TOWER, CALLING IN TO NATIONAL TV INTERVIEWS AND GETTING FAVORABLE TREATMENT AND THEN WHINING ABOUT HOW THE MEDIA TREATS HIM AND HE'S ACTING LIKE A CHILD.

THIS IS A NEW FRONT FOR CHRISTIE.

HE'S IN THE WANING DAYS HERE BEFORE THE ALL IMPORTANT IOWA CAUCUS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AND HE CAN FIGHT WITH THE BEST OF THEM.

IF HE CAN REALLY START TO THROW PUNCHES AND LAND PUNCHES AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, IT MIGHT GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND LOOK.

IT MIGHT GIVE THE ANTI-TRUMP VOTER A SECOND THOUGHT SAYING, HEY, IF YOU WANT TO STOP TRUMP HE'S THE GUY TO GET BEHIND.

NOT JEB BUSH, MARCO RUBIO OR JOHN KASICH.

THAT'S WHAT HE COULD AND NEEDS TO DO IS ESCALATE THE FIGHT NOW.

AS WE SAID GOVERNOR CHRISTIE WHETHER YOU LIKE HIM OR DON'T YOU HAVE TO AGREE HE CAN FIGHT WITH THE BEST OF THEM.

INTERESTING TO SEE IF HE PICKS THAT UP AND CONTINUES WITH THAT.

THE BOOK IS CALLED AMERICAN GOVERNOR, CHRIS CHRISTIE'S BRIDGE TO REDEMPTION.

THANK YOU FOR SPEND ING TIME WITH US.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU MORE DOWN THE ROAD.

ENJOY THE CAMPAIGN.

JANUARY IS POVERTY AWARENESS MONTH.

FOR OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GOOD NUTRITION ARE PRIMARY CONCERNS.

THE STRUGGLES HAVE HEALTH ELOQUENCES.

HERE IN NEW YORK CITY LIFE EXPECTANCY IS NINE YEARS LESS IN EAST HARLEM THAN THE UPPER WEST SIDE.

BROWNSVILLE WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING HAS A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 74 YEARS WHILE THE WALL STREET NEIGHBORHOOD IS 85.

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES IS A NEW INITIATIVE AIMED AT PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE MOST UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES.

8.4 MILLION NEW YORKERS HEALTHY IS A BIG JOB.

THAT'S WHY WE CREATED BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

WORKING WITH 12 HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING THE SOUTH BRONX TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO EXERCISE, EAT HEALTHY AND ENJOY THEIR PUBLIC SPACES.

JOINING ME NOW IS GABRIELLE FIALKOFF, SENIOR ADVISER TO MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO AND FROM THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP.

WITH HER, TWO OF BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITY'S CORPORATE PARTNERS LORI TISH FROM THE ELIMINATION FUND AND ELSIE VIVIAN FROM UNI LEVER.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

IN THIS INITIATIVE, IT IS A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.

FOOD, EXERCISE AND SAFE PUBLIC SPACES.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IT DOES THAT AND WHAT THE GOALS ARE?

SURE.

WE KNOW THAT NEW YORKERS CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES OR THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES IF THEY ARE NOT HEALTHY.

SO MANY OF OUR MOST IN NEED AND HIGH NEED NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF DISEASE, OBESITY AND DIABETES AS WELL AS HIGH RATES OF POVERTY AND CRIME.

SO WE ESTABLISHED BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, TO BRING TOGETHER GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, BUSINESS, AND FELON TLO PI TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OUR MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

LORI, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN THE PAST WITH FOOD ACCESS -- HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT HOW THIS FITS IN WITH THE MISSION?

ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST OF ALL, IT FITS IN PERFECTLY.

I STARTED THE ILLUMINATION FUND STARTED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE FOUNDATION ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO.

OUR FIRST INITIATIVE WAS WOULD PEOPLE KNOW AS THE GREEN CART INITIATIVE.

THE GREEN CART INITIATIVE BROUGHT FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GABRIELLE SPOKE ABOUT.

TO THE UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.

ASIDE FROM THE HEALTH DISPARITIES THERE WERE ACCESS DISPARITIES.

THE GROCERY STORES DIDN'T EXIST AT THE SAME LEVEL.

THERE WERE BODEGAS BUT NOT SELLING THE SAME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT YOU SEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU, BEYOND PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES, CHANGE PEOPLE'S HABITS SO THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE TO GO TO THE STORE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SAFE PUBLIC PARKS AND PLACES TO EXERCISE?

WE HAVE EXPERTISE HERE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TRIED IN OH PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WE HAVE DONE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

WE KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHANGE HABITS.

NOT ONLY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD WHICH IS IMPORTANT BUT CREATING, FOR EXAMPLE, RECIPES SO THEY CAN RELATE TO THAT.

WE ARE PROVIDING INSIGHTS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA.

TO HAVE OUR CHEFS CREATE RESIDENCE PEAS THAT ARE RELEVANT THAT ARE TASTY, NUTRITIOUS AND ARE AFFORDABLE.

AFTERWARDS USING OUR CHEFS TO EDUCATE THEM ON HOW TO USE THE FRESH PRODUCE AND OUR BRANDS IN ORDER TO COOK THESE MEALS.

ASLE WELL, PROMOTING FAMILY MEAL TIMES.

WHEN PEOPLE EAT IN FAMILY SPACE, THAT'S EVEN MORE POWERFUL.

THE CRIME LEVELS GO DOWN WHEN NUTRITION GOES UP, LEVEL OF SATISFACTION GOES UP.

WE ARE USING OUR EXPERTISE FROM ALL THE PARTS OF THE WORLD TO RUN THIS PROGRAM.

THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE MAKES THIS SUSTAINABLE AS WELL AND THE COMMUNITIES TAKING OWNERSHIP.

AND LEVERAGING PUBLIC MONEY THAT'S BEING PUT IN.

IF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS SPEND ING $285 MILLION WHICH THEY ARE ON COMMUNITY PARKS AND UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE ARE COMING IN AND LAYERING ON TOP OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'SLE REAL LEVERAGING OF PUBLIC WITH PRIVATE MONEY WHICH IS WHY, YOU KNOW, THE MODEL OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM FIVE OR TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD?

WE WILL BE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MONITORING THE LOCAL RESIDENTS' HEALTH THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH HUBS AS WE OPEN THEM ASLE WELL.

BEING ENGAGED AND HAVING THE DATA AS WELL ONLE HEALTH OUTCOMES, WE HOPE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND, AGAIN BACK TO THE GREEN CARTS IS THEY WERE STILL IN EXISTENCE.

WHEN WE HAD A SURVEY DONE FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THERE WERE CLOSE TO 500 GREEN CARDS STILL IN EXISTENCE.

SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

SO PEOPLE ARE BUYING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

HOPEFULLY TO EAT THEM.

THAT'S A SIMPLE MEASURE.

WE'LL CHECK BACK IN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL STARTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM WITH NUTRITIOUS MEALS, ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE AND A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

THE ORGANIZATION SAVE THE CHILDREN WORKS IN 120 COUNTRIES PROMOTING CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND HELPING PROVIDE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY RELIEF.

AT THE ANNUAL SAVE THE CHILDRENLE ILLUMINATION GALA I SPOKE TO ACTIVISTS, ENTERTAINERS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE ABOUT THE GROUP'S MISSION AND IMPACT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

OUR STORY IS PART OF AMERICAN GRADUATE, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES FIND WAYS TO KEEP STUDENTS ON THE PATH TO GRADUATION.

THE FOCUS IS ON MATERNAL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

THE MESSAGE IS WHETHER IT'S HEALTH CARE OR NUTRITION, A HOST OF THINGS CAN IMPACT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS IN A CHILD'S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK ALL AROUND THE WORLD THE WORK WE DO IN EDUCATION WHICH IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO TEACHING KIDS TO READ SHOWS EVEN A YEAR OF PRESCHOOL -- DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S PRESCHOOL UNDER A TREE, IN A SCHOOL, IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS.

NO MATTER WHERE.

PART OF IT IS ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN THE CRITICAL YEARS, 2, 3, 4.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT FOR A CHILD'S BRAIN IN LOUISIANA OR LIBERIA.

WORK IT IS SAME WAY.

THAT'SLE REALLY IMPORTANT.

SCIENCE HAS SHOWN BECAUSE OF THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT EARLY ON BECAUSE THE SKILLS AND SAFETY OF A CHILD IN THE FIRST YEARS DETERMINES THE LIFE SPAN IN A LOT OF WAYS.

NOT THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVER COME EARLY HARDSHIP, BUT IT IS HARD.

INVESTING IN THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, EARLY EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN IS THE HIGHEST RETURN IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN ECONOMIC SENSE, BUT IN HUMAN SENSE IT MEANS THAT'S THE TIME WHEN CHILDREN'S BRAINS ARE DEVELOPING, WHEN CHILDREN ARE GET AGO HEALTHY START AND THEY NEED THE STIMULUS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTION.

GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS IS DONE.

AROUND THE THEME OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DIGITAL PLATFORM.

HOW IS IT BEING USE WELL?

HOW COULD IT BE USED BETTER TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT?

TRADITIONALLY, WE SEE THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO INVEST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TELEPHONES.

THEY CAN HAVE CELL PHONES.

THAT IS A THING THAT EXISTS NOW.

THE HOPE IS THAT CAN HAPPEN IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF WE COULD TAKE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE THAT BE A DOOR FOR MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION FASTER.

WE MAKE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ON YOUTUBE.

THE BIGGEST MARKET IN THE WORLD FOR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT IS INDIA.

THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GREAT SCHOOLS.

BECAUSE TEACHERS CAN GO TO THE PLATFORM AND HAVE A MUCH BROADER AUDIENCE AND MORE PEOPLE CAN FIND GREAT EDUCATORS, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.

I THINK EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

I HAVE TWO LITTLE KIDS.

I SEE THE CHANGE THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MAKES IN KIDS' LIVES EVERY DAY IN MY OWN LIFE.

I ALSO SEE IT ONLINE.

I THINK THERE ARE GOOD TOOLS.

WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO DEVELOP TOOLS ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG KIDS.

YOUNG CHILD'S BRAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

IT PAYS OFF IN SPADES, MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

AROUND THE WORLD THEY ARE MUCH MORE BASIC NEEDS WITH REGARD TO THE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

CHILDHOOD NUTRITION.

BASIC NEEDS LIKE THAT.

IN MANHATTAN, I'M ANDREA VASQUEZ FOR 'METROFOCUS.'

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED BY.