MetroFocus: June 8, 2021

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

♪

> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO 'METROFOCUS.'

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

THE PRIMARY FOR THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL ELECTION IS NOW JUST WEEKS AWAY.

AS PART OF OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES ON WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR, WE'RE SITTING DOWN WITH EACH OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY PLAN TO RENEW THE CITY.

CURTIS SLIWA MADE HIS NAME AS THE FOUNDER OF THE GUARDIAN ANGELS, PERSONALLY TAKING ON THE MISSION OF KEEPING THE SUBWAY SAFE FOR NEW YORKERS OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS.

NOW HE HOPES TO TRANSITION FROM HIS WORK AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN TO THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE CITY AND TO USE THE POWER OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO REDUCE CRIME THROUGHOUT NEW YORK.

CURTIS SLIWA JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME.

MY PLEASURE TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

WE'VE DONE IT A FEW TIMES.

NOW OBVIOUSLY THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

VERY HIGH.

CURTIS, FIRST OF ALL, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR MAYOR AND WHY SHOULD NEW YORK CITY REPUBLICANS VOTE FOR YOU INSTEAD OF FOR YOUR PRIMARY OPPONENT FERNANDO MATEO.

I WAS THE LAST CANDIDATE TO ANNOUNCE OF THE MANY AND THAT WAS ON MARCH 15th WITH JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT BEFORE YOU COULD OFFICIALLY FILE.

I WAITED.

I LOOKED AT THE PANOPLY OF CANDIDATES.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT STRIPPING POLICE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, FORCING THEM TO HAVE TO GET THEIR OWN POLICE MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LIKE A DOCTOR OR LAWYER.

I SAID, HOLD IT, THIS IS THE PRIORITY ISSUE IN NEW YORK CITY.

NOW, THE POLLS DID NOT REFLECT THAT ON MARCH 15th.

EVER SINCE I ANNOUNCED, WOW, WHAT A CHANGE.

AND NOT JUST AMONGST REPUBLICANS WHERE THEY ALWAYS RATED LAW AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY UP IN THE TOP THREE CATEGORIES.

DEMOCRATS USED TO HAVE CRIME DOWN AT NUMBER 12 AND POLICE REFORM AT NUMBER 3.

NOW IT'S COMPLETELY REVERSED.

I RIDE THE SUBWAYS.

I WALK THE STREETS . IT'S NOT FOR A PHOTO OP.

I HAVE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE EVEN IN PLACES WHERE THE ONLY PRES POLITICIAN THEY'VE EVER SEEN IS ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON A $5 BILL.

EVERYTHING WE KNOW MUST RETURN SO THAT WE CAN ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS AND GRANDEUR OF NEW YORK CITY.

IT WILL NOT COME ABOUT UNLESS WE HAVE SAFE SUBWAYS AND STREETS.

LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS FIRST.

YOU ONLY REGISTERED AS A REPUBLICAN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS IN ORDER TO RUN IN THE PRIMARY THIS YEAR.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

NEVERTHELESS, WHY SHOULD NEW YORK CITY REPUBLICANS TRUST YOUR PARTY LOYALTY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LAST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR WHO SWITCHED PARTIES AND BECAME A REPUBLICAN JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION, MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEFORE HIS MAYORAL TENURE ENDED.

LET'S LOOK AT MY ODYSSEY.

CONSIDER ME A POPULIST MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I DID REGISTER IN 1972 AS A DEMOCRAT.

MY FIRST VOTE WAS FOR GEORGE McGOVERN.

HE GOT DESTROYED BY THE TSUNAMI OF RICHARD NIXON.

WHEN IT CAME TO LAW AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THE DEMOCRATS WERE A DOLLAR SHORT AND A DAY LATE.

FOR YEARS I WAS AN INDEPENDENT.

THEN I BECAME NEW YORK STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE REFORM PARTY FOR THREE YEARS.

IF YOU REMEMBER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO IN HIS DESIRE TO WIPE OUT THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, WIPED OUT ALL THE THIRD PARTIES, REFORM, LIBERTARIAN, GREEN, INDEPENDENCE.

NOW YOU'RE LEFT WITH THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND THE WORKING FAMILY'S PARTY.

I JOINED THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT THEIR PLATFORM ISSUES, IT WAS MORE SYNONYMOUS WITH ME.

I AM A CAPITALIST.

I AM LAW AND ORDER.

I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

SO THEY WERE CLOSE TO ME AND I CHANGED MY ADMINIREGISTRATION B THE LOCKDOWN.

I CAMPAIGNED FOR RUDY, FOR PA T PATAKI, FOR BLOOMBERG.

I WAS TYPICALLY OUT THERE SUPPORTING REPUBLICANS TO UNSEAT DEMOCRATS OR HELP THEM FEND OFF DEMOCRATIC ATTACKS.

LET'S GET TO THE ISSUES.

COVID SEEMS TO BE DIMINISHING AS A HEALTH CRISIS IN THE CITY AS IT IS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THE CONSEQUENCES, THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF COVID WOULD BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO TAKE IF YOU'RE ELECTED MAYOR IN ORDER TO REVIVE THE ECONOMY AND GET NEW YORKERS BACK TO WORK?

I KNOW A LOT OF THE HEALTH AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WANT US TO CARRY AROUND A COVID-19 PASSPORT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I AM GOING TO DEMAND AND STAND UP LOUD AND PROUD AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AMERICA, WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

WHY WOULD YOU NEED A COVID-19 PASSPORT TO GO TO AND FROM WORK OR SCHOOL, TO TRAVEL OR A WHOLE LITANY OF DIFFERENT RESPONSES.

I KNOW THAT IS A DESIRE OF THE CITY OFFICIALS HERE BUT ALSO THE STATE OFFICIALS LED BY CUOMO.

I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

WE HAVE TO OPEN UP NEW YORK CITY.

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, 24/7/365.

NOT JUST RESTAURANTS AND BARS BUT NIGHTCLUBS.

THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO NEW YORK CITY.

THE ENTERTAINMENT, THE CULTURAL COMPLEXES REMAIN SHUTTERED.

THEY GOT TO COMPLETELY OPEN UP.

I REALIZE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE LIKE AOC AND OTHERS WHO SAID, HEY, I'LL WEAR A MASK EVEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

FINE, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.

YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK?

NO PROBLEM.

BUT DON'T DEMAND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES AND REGULAR HAI REGULATIONS WE'RE LEARNING THROUGH FAUCI'S E-MAILS THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS IMPORTANT.

FOR US TO INSIST OUR CHILDREN WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING BACK TO IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION.

THAT'S CRAZY.

THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE LEAST LIKELY TO GET COVID-19 OR THE VIRUS.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CONTINUING TO KEEP PRESSURE OF GOVERNMENT ON PEOPLE WHO NEED TO LIBERATE THEMSELVES, OPEN UP.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN SECLUSION, WEAR A MASK, GOD BLESS YOU.

IT'S TIME TO GET OUT AND CELEBRATE MASK EQUINOX, LIBERATION FROM THE MASK.

YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR PLAN TO REFORM THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

WHAT IS THAT PLAN AND HOW WILL IT HELP ORDINARY NEW YORKERS?

REFORM WHAT?

YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR PLAN TO REFORM THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAXES.

OH YES.

WHAT'S THE PLAN AND HOW WILL IT HELP ORDINARY NEW YORKERS?

FIRST OF ALL, LOOK AT PROPERTY TAXES IN THE OUTER BOROUGHS AND COMPARE IT TO SOME OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE OUTER BOROUGHS.

STATEN ISLAND, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, THE BRONX.

IF I'M LIVING IN MORRIS PARK IN THE BRONX OR MIDDLE VILLAGE OR BAYRIDGE IN BROOKLYN, WHY IS IT AS A HOMEOWNER OF A ONE FAMILY HOME, TWO-FAMILY HOME THAT I'M PAYING MORE PROPERTY TAX THAN THE MAYOR IS ON HIS TWO PROPERTIES IN PARK SLOPE.

IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE HE'S THE MAYOR.

BECAUSE THE ASSESSMENTS WERE MADE SO LONG AGO.

THOSE BROWNSTONES ARE GOING FOR MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YET THEY PAY LESS PROPERTY TAX THAN SOMEBODY DOES IN A HOUSE THAT CLEARLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ASSESSED VALUE.

WE HAVE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD THERE.

NOW THAT de BLASIO HAS LEFT A BLOATED BUDGET OF $99 BILLION, LEAVING US $5 BILLION IN DEBT, WE REALIZE THAT 50% OF EVERYTHING WE BRING IN TO PAY OUR BILLS COMES FROM THE PROPERTY TAX.

WE GOT TO COUNT PROPERTY TAX AT 2%. I WANT A DEDICATED PROPERTY TAX AGAINST THOSE ENTITIES THAT PAY NO PROPERTY TAX, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, COLUMBIA NYU.

THEY'RE BUYING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND PAYING NO PROPERTY TAX.

WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY THERE TO HIRE 3,000 ADDITIONAL COPS, GIVING US 38,000 SO WE CAN HAVE SAFE STREETS, SUBWAYS AND PARKS.

CAN YOU CHANGE THE PROPERTY TAX STRUCTURE OF THE CITY WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE STATE?

WITH A DEDICATED TAX IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT DAVID D DENKINS OUR MAYOR HAD TO DO IN WHICH THEY GOT A DEDICATED TAX SPECIFICALLY FOR THE HIRING AND TRAINING OF MORE POLICE.

WITH PROPERTY TAX LOCALLY WE HAVE A LOT OF AWE O AUTONOMY.

THERE'S WIGGLE ROOM.

IT GAVE RUDY GIULIANI THE 38,000 COPS HE NEEDED TO BRING LAW AND ORDER.

I FEEL WITH 38,000 POLICE OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BEING STRIPPED OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, WHICH IS AN OUTRAGE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET POLICE MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.

WHO'S GOING TO SELL THEM INSURANCE WHEN THEY'RE EARNING 42$42,500 THEIR FIRST FIVE YEAR AS A POLICE OFFICER?

YOU TALK ABOUT OEPENING UP TE CITY.

OBVIOUSLY A BIG PART OF THAT IS BRINGING BACK TOURISM.

AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS DEPENDENT ON ENDING CRIME.

THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.

BEYOND THE HIRING OF MORE COPS, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO REVERSE THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CRIME, PARTICULARLY SHOOTINGS AND MURDERS?

EVERYBODY LOOKS AT THE TOP LAYER OF WHAT WAS DONE IN DEFUNDING THE POLICE TO THE TUNE OF $2 BILLION.

I HAVE WILEY SUPPORTED BY AOC WHO WANTS $3 BILLION TAKEN OUT OF THAT BUDGET.

THAT IS INSANE.

THERE'S A HOMELESS OUTREACH UNIT.

THAT NEEDS TO BE RETURNED, OBVIOUSLY WITH SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I SAW THE STREET CRIME UNIT DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB GETTING GUNS OFF THE STREETS AND NEUTERING THE GANGS.

MEN AND WOMEN DEDICATED AS POLICE OFFICERS WHO HELP THESE POOR SOULS WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS.

WHEN YOU ELIMINATED THAT, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT REPLACED IT.

NOW WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN THE SHELTERS OR THE COVID-19 HOTELS, THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

THE AVERAGE COPS IN A PRECINCT CAN'T DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHELTERS AND HOTELS.

WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTORE THAT.

WE HAVE TO LET POLICE OFFICERS KNOW IT'S OKAY TO BE PROACTIVE AGAIN, NOT REACTIVE.

BUT IF YOU VIOLATE PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CURTIS SLIWA AS YOUR WORST NIGHT MARE.

I GOT ARRESTED 76 TIMES.

I GOT LOCKED UP.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE THESE CANDIDATES TALK ABOUT RIKERS ISLAND.

NOT ONLY THAT.

I VISITED RIKERS ISLAND.

I ALSO WAS IN A DORMITORY IN RIKERS ISLAND WITH 40 OTHER GUYS WHO WERE NOT MY BEST FRIENDS.

YOU SAID DURING THIS CAMPAIGN THAT YOU WANT TO BRING BACKSTOP AND FRISK TO CITY POLICING.

THIS IS WHAT MICHAEL BLOOMBERG SAID ABOUT STOP AND FRISK.

QUOTE, 95% OF YOUR MURDERS AND MURDER VICTIMS FIT ONE M.O.

YOU CAN TAKE THE DESCRIPTION, XEROX IT AND PASS IT OUT TO ALL THE COPS.

THE WAY YOU GET GUNS OUT OF THE KIDS' HANDS IS TO THROW THEM UP AGAINST THE WALL AND FRISK THEM.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT?

NO.

A THOUSAND TIMES NO.

IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE LAST TERM OF MICHAEL BLOOMBERG WHEN HE IMPOSED QUOTAS ON THE NYPD, AT LEAST FIVE STOP AND FRISKS AT THE END OF A TOUR.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG, YOU'RE TURNING THE COMMUNITY AGAINST US.

YOU GOT TO STOP IT.

BLOOMBERG WAS JUST INSENSITIVE TO BASIC HUMANS WHO HAD TO SURVIVE OUT THERE.

HE WAS INTO ANALYTICS.

IT WAS ALL A NUMBERS GAME.

HE HAD CLOSE TO 700,000 STOP AND FRISKS A YEAR, MOSTLY AGAINST YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR.

THAT'S ALMOST EVERY YOUNG MALE OF COLOR IN NEW YORK CITY THAT GOT THROWN UP AGAINST THE WALL.

THEY COULD HAVE GONE OUTSIDE THE HEAD SHOTS WHERE PEOPLE HAD NICKEL AND DIME BAGS AND THEY COULD HAVE DONE STOP AND FRISK, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

WITH RUDY, THEY ONLY DID 100,000 STOP AND FRISKS A YEAR.

THEY USED IT FOR PROBABLE CAUSE.

100,000 VERSUS 700,000.

EVEN ERIC ADAMS WHO NOW HAS TURNED ON GIULIANI.

BEFORE HE PRAISED GIULIANI, PRAISED STOP AND FRISK.

YOU DO IT ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE.

YOU DON'T DO IT LIKE BLOOMBERG DID IT WHERE THERE'S A QUOTA.

IF YOU DID THAT IN ALL WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS, WALL STREET, THE UPPER WEST SIDE, THE UPPER EAST SIDE, YOU'D BE MAKING A LOT OF BUSTS.

STOP, QUESTION AND FRISK HAS BEEN CHALLENGED AND IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL WHEN DONE CORRECTLY.

WHO WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN SOMEBODY WHO WAS STOPPED AND FRISKED IN THE FIRST 13 YEARS OF THE GUARDIAN ANGELS BECAUSE NONE OF THE COPS BELIEVED WE DIDN'T CARRY WEAPONS.

THEY'D PAT US DOWN.

WE DIDN'T, BECAUSE WE SEARCHED OURSELVES BEFORE PATROL.

I WAS CONSTANTLY GETTING STOPPED AND FRISKED IN AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL WAY.

I KNOW WHEN IT CAN BE DONE AND I KNOW HOW IT CAN BE ABUSED.

TELL US WHAT WILL CURTIS SLIWA AS MAYOR DO WHILE HE'S REDUCING THE CRIME RATE AND AT THE SAME TIME INCREASING THE TRUST BETWEEN THE NYPD AND ALL COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO HAVE FELT LIKE THEY HAVE HAD AN INVADING OCCUPYING FORCE FOR SO MANY YEARS?

WE HAVE TO UNDO THE DAMAGE DONE NOT ONLY IN THE TAIL END OF THE BLOOMBERG ADMINISTRATION, BUT WHEN CUOMO AND de BLASIO FORCED THEM TO GO IN AND ENFORCE THE MASK WEARING MANDATE.

MAYBE WE HAVE TO START LISTENING TO OFFICERS WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SITUATIONS INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE CUOMO AND de BLASIO AND BLOOMBERG WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO STREET SMARTS.

YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH MY POLICIES AND POSITIONS, BUT CAN ANYONE QUESTION MY STREET SMARTS?

CAN ANYONE QUESTION MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITY AND THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN RIDING THE SUBWAYS SINCE THE AGE OF 5 BY MYSELF.

THE FACT IS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

YEAH, I'VE SEEN WHEN COPS HAVE VIOLATED THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS, BUT WE CAN COME TO A COMMON AGREEMENT BECAUSE I'LL BE THE MAYOR THAT'S ACTUALLY IT.

de BLASIO OR CUOMO DON'T GO INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.

YOU GOT TO BE THERE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE HEAT, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CRITICISM AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM THAT'S GOING TO COME BEING IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO.

YOU MENTIONED THE SUBWAYS.

MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH THE SUBWAYS.

YOU YOURSELF SAID YOU LIVE IN THE SUBWAYS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE THE CRIME THAT HAS INCREASED IN THE SUBWAY IS REDUCED OR STOPPED?

THE CRIME IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN I STARTED THE GUARDIAN ANGELS IN 1979.

IT WAS MOSTLY GANG BANGERS THEN.

NOW IT'S EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSONS HAVING PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS.

THESE POOR SOULS, THEY NEED OUR HELP.

THRIVE WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM.

THAT WAS $1.25 BILLION.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS SPENT BUT IT DIDN'T HELP THE MENTALLY IMPAIRED.

I WILL HAVE THEM PHYSICALLY REMOVED, TAKEN TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, GIVEN THEIR MEDICATION, NORMALIZED.

THE HOMELESS WILL BE RETURNED TO SHELTERS.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE LIVING IN SUBWAYS.

THAT'S RIGHT, DANTE'S INFERNO.

I'LL MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF THOSE SHELTERS IS CARING FOR THEIR NEEDS AND NOT THAT THEY JUST HAVE TO CLOCK IN AT 10:00 TO MAKE THE CURFEW AND THEY GET KICKED OUT ON THE STREETS AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING WITH NOTHING TO DO.

SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

ANOTHER THING THAT SHOWS THE COMPASSIONATE SIDE, THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY.

I HAVE 15 RESCUE CATS THAT I RAISE WITH MY WIFE NANCY IN A 320 SQUARE FOOT STUDIO APARTMENT IN THE UPPER WEST SIDE.

EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED BY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN THEY BRING ANIMALS OFF THE STREET, IF THEY'RE NOT CLAIMED WITHIN 72 HOURS IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY'RE EUTHANIZED.

YET IN LOS ANGELES THEY HAVE NO-KILL SHELTERS NOW, AUSTIN AND OTHER CITIES.

I WILL IMPOSE THE FIRST NO-KILL SHELTER ORDER ON ALL THE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL FACILITIES IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE WILL FIND HOMES.

THERE ARE RESCUE GROUPS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO WILL TAKE THEM AND WE'LL CREATE SANCTUARIES UPSTATE FOR THEM.

A SOCIETY WHO TREATS ITS EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PEOPLE AND ANIMALS POORLY IS NOT A FIRST WORLD SOCIETY.

THAT'S WHAT I INTENT ON PUTTING BACK INTO NEW YORK CITY.

WE HAVE LESS THAN 4 MINUTES LEFT.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO GO.

LAST WEEKEND THE NYPD DECIDED TO ENFORCE A 10:00 P.M. CURFEW IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, WHICH ON SATURDAY NIGHT LED TO SERIOUS CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN THE COPS AND PEOPLE IN THE PARK RESULTING IN 23 ARRESTS AND 8 POLICE OFFICERS BEING INJURED.

ACCORDING TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE ACTION TOOK PLACE IN ORDER TO CLAMP DOWN ON LARGE GATHERINGS, ON TRASH, ON NOISE AMONG OTHER THINGS.

EVEN THOUGH MAYOR de BLASIO WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENED, HE SAID HE APPROVED OF THE ACTIONS.

DO YOU?

HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

WHAT DOES THIS GUY KNOW?

WITH MAYORAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAYORAL CONTROL OF THE D.O.E.

FIRST OFF, THIS IS FEAST AND FAMINE.

I LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM TOMPKINS SQUARE BACK IN THE '80s WHEN THEY HAD THE RIOTS.

THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT THAT.

THEY ALLOWED ANARCHY.

THEN DENKINS CLOSED IT DOWN AND THEY ERECTED A HUGE FENCE AROUND AND IMPOSED A DRACONIAN CURFEW.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU GO FROM NOTHING TO A CURFEW?

IT'S HOT SWELTERING DAYS.

LOOK AT THE HUMIDITY.

YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SELLING DRUGS, USING DRUGS.

TARGET THEM.

PEOPLE VANDALIZING PROPERTY.

TARGET THEM.

DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER.

YOU COULD HAVE CONTINUED TO LET THE PARK OPERATE UNTIL 12 AND THEN IMPOSE WHAT WAS A REGULAR CURFEW JEGENTLY.

YOU DIDN'T NEED TO COME IN THERE PEPPER SPRAYING.

YOU GO FROM ZERO MILES AN HOUR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE 100 MILES AN HOUR AND IT'S CONFUSING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

COULD YOU HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO LOWER THE VOLUME ON THE MUSIC?

YES.

YOU ASWAUJ THEM.

COMING IN WITH PEPPER SPRAY IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU THE DESIRED RESULTS.

SWITCHING GEARS WITH THREE MINUTES LEFT TO GO, IN YOUR PLANS FOR EDUCATION REFORM YOU CALL FOR NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO OFFER THREE-YEAR DEGREES INSTEAD OF FOUR-YEAR DEGREES.

WHY?

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEM OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO GET PUSHED THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE REMEDIAL COURSES.

WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT.

IT'S LIKE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES IN COLLEGE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

YOU MAY HAVE GONE TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, YOU HAD A TWO YEAR SP AND A THREE YEAR SP.

THERE WERE A LOT OF KIDS DOING ACADEMICALLY SO WELL THEY COULD SKIP THE YEAR.

WHY NOT CREATE THAT APPARATUS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACADEMICALLY ACCELERATED.

ALLOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE DOING EXTRAORDINARILY WELL TO MOVE FASTER THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND THOSE IN NEED OF REMEDIAL TRAINING THEY'LL CONTINUE TO GET THE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES IN CCNY THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW NEW YORK CITY THERE ARE SIX TIMES MORE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

WE'VE ELECTED REPUBLICAN MAYORS IN THE PAST.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT NEW YORK DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR YOU?

FIRST OF ALL, I COME FROM A FAMILY, MY FATHER AND MOTHER CHESTER AND FRANCESCA HARD CORE DEMOCRATS.

IN THE HOUSE BEFORE THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY THERE WAS A PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST, JFK, BARACK OBAMA AND POPE JOHN PAUL.

I COULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

THEY CAME FROM A GENERATION WHERE THERE WAS EXTREME PARTY LOYALTY.

MOST OF THE NEW VOTERS REGISTERING NOW ARE INDEPENDENTS, WHICH I WAS A WHILE BACK, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN BE SWAYED THROUGH DEBATE AND ANALYSIS.

I REALIZE THERE ARE SOME DEMOCRATS LIKE MY PARENTS WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR ME AS A REPUBLICAN EVEN IF THEY LIKED MY POSITION.

THAT'S WHY I'VE CREATED AN INDEPENDENT LINE AND THE FIRST EVER ANIMAL WELFARE IN THE LINE WITH NO-KILL SHELTERS.

I HAVE FOUND THAT ISSUE BRINGS TOGETHER TRUMPERS, BIDEN VOTERS.

BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE ANIMALS.

THEY'LL VOTE FOR ME.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

ANY TIME.

HAVE ME BACK.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG CAMPAIGN UNTIL NOVEMBER.

OKAY.

♪

'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 FOUNDATION.

♪