Former Mayer David Dinkins Set for Upcoming Episode of METROFOCUS on Thirteen

The award-winning series MetroFocus premieres new episodes in the New York and tri-state region weeknights at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 p.m. on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN. All episodes are available at metrofocus.org following the broadcast.

The episodes descriptions for the week of November 2 follow below. Please note episode descriptions are subject to change. Please visit metrofocus.org for the latest information.

Monday, November 2 at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN
The tri-state region's infrastructure continues to grow older while the debate over funding wages on. We talk to House Infrastructure Committee Member Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) about the extent of the problem and what's being done to address it. Plus, we're joined by former Mayor David Dinkins, the first African American to ever hold the city's top post. In the first of a two-part interview, he reflects on his time in the mayor's office and addresses the misperception that crime was up during his tenure. And have you ever gazed upon the metallic sails on the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles or the fishy scales of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain? Local Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic and Vanity Fair contributing editor Paul Goldberger introduces us to the man behind the structures in his new book, "Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry."

MetroFocus #1011
Tuesday, November 3 at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN
In the second of a two-part interview, we speak with former Mayor David Dinkins, the city's first and only African-American to hold the position. Dinkins addresses diversity in the city during his tenure and gives his thoughts on the city's other mayors. We also hear from PIX11 News Investigative Reporter Mary Murphy about the dangers and prevalence of K2, a mix of dried herbs and chemicals that is considered a form of synthetic marijuana but is far more dangerous. Known as "Scooby Snacks," "Spice" and countless other names, K2 has sent thousands to the emergency room and killed more than a dozen people in the U.S in the past year. And we take you to the United Nations on a personal tour with the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena, who explains why the UN's presence matters to the welfare and economy of New York City. Plus, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft joins us for the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and discusses what we've achieved over the last seven decades, what we're still working on and the important issues facing the UN Security Council.

MetroFocus Presents: SciTech Now #141
Wednesday, November 4 at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN
In this episode of MetroFocus Presents: SciTech Now, Reporter Andrea Vasquez explores the rich history of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island; Hari Sreenivasan sits down with Yale University's Dr. David Spiegel to discuss synthetic chemistry and its impact on Science and medicine; we take a step into Robofest Tampa Bay, which challenges children to put their programing skills to the test while inspiring future generations to pursue careers in math and science; and we meet Jennifer Funk, a researcher at Chapman University in California, who discusses plant life in drought conditions.

MetroFocus #1012
Thursday, November 5 at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN
New York Daily News Reporter Dan Rivoli explains the turf war between the taxi industry and the rideshare app Uber that's raging across New York City and how it could affect your commute. New Jersey Capitol Report Anchor Steve Adubato dissects the politics of the Newark public school system and how this affects your child's education. We sit down with Shuli Eshel, Israeli-born filmmaker behind "A Voice Among The Silent," which premieres Nov. 8 on THIRTEEN and tells the forgotten story of a U.S. diplomat who foresaw the events of the Holocaust. Plus, we share NYC-ARTS's visits to the Alice Austen House on Staten Island for a look at the life and work of one of America's earliest and most prolific female photographers.

MetroFocus #1012
Friday November 5 at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN
Ahead of this weekend's episode of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE featuring New Yorker and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, we speak with National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Co-Founder and Chairman Felix Sanchez about the Hispanic community's outrage over Trump's appearance on the show. Pamela Liebman, president of Corcoran Group Real Estate joins us for a look at surging housing prices across the city. Center for an Urban Future's Senior Researcher Adam Forman breaks down a new report that suggests New York may no longer be a HAVEN for artists. And we sit down with comedian and voice of Digit on PBS's Cyberchase Gilbert Gottfried.

MetroFocus Series Overview: MetroFocus is an award-winning multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York and tri-state region. The MetroFocus television program features interviews, in-depth reporting, content from many partners and solutions-oriented reports from the community. Major areas of coverage include sustainability, education, Science and technology, the environment, transportation, poverty and underserved communities. MetroFocus.org amplifies that reporting with daily updates and original stories that also cover culture, government and politics, the economy, urban development and other news in the metropolitan region. More information at: thirteen.org/metrofocus/about-us-faq/

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