A new edition of the award-winning MetroFocus premieres in the New York metro area Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. on WLIW21 and Thursday, October 31 at 8:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN and at 10:30 p.m. on NJTV.
The next edition of MetroFocus features continued reporting on the recovery after Superstorm Sandy. Reporter Rick Karr looks back at the night of the storm at Coney Island Hospital and updates the progress New York hospitals are making in preparing for future storms. Karr talks to Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Dr. Sheri Fink whose new book "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital" analyzes the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Fink says, "I think there are still some big questions about where people would go fromone facility to another if a large amount have to evacuate at the same time and that's the problem that we had with the last two storms."
NJ Today reporter Lauren Wanko takes us to Bradley Beach where volunteers have come up with a novel solution to protect them from storms: a first of its kind maritime forest. The trees planted behind the town's sand dunes may be a powerful second line of defense.
The November 5 general election attention is on the Mayor's race in New York City, but did you know there are six complex ballot measures facing New York state voters? In a continuing series, New York Now's Matt Ryan sorts through Proposition Four, a constitutional amendment that would clear up a more than a century-old argument of property rights on the shore of Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks. Host Rafael Pi Roman follows up with an in-studio discussion with Eleanor Randolph, editorial board member of The New York Times and author of the Times' "Fixing Albany" series.
The New York mayoral candidates have chosen past mayors as a topic for debate throughout their campaigns. Former Mayor David Dinkins has his say in his new book "A Mayor's Life: Governing New York's Gorgeous Mosaic" and in an interview with Pi Roman. Dinkins takes on attacks on his record from Republican candidate Joe Lhota, telling Pi Roman, "... among other things he (Lhota) said was that I deserved credit for the reduction of crime through our Safe Streets, Safe City program. Now he has since made comments that are different from that but I suppose he's a candidate and he's going to say what he thinks he needs to say in order to achieve success."
And from The Star-Ledger/NJ.Com, the story of a cheerleading squad that will inspire you. Video journalist Andre Malok introduces us to the Contender Cheer team, ten special needs teenagers who make Hunterdon Huskies football in High Bridge, NJ about much more than touchdowns.
Website: thirteen.org/MetroFocus
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MetroFocus Series Overview
MetroFocus is an award-winning multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York 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.orgamplifies 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/
MetroFocus is a production of WLIW21 in association with WNET, parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21. For 50 years, THIRTEEN has been making the most of the rich resources and passionate people of New York and the world, reaching millions of people with on-air and online programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites students of all ages to have fun while learning.
MetroFocus is made possible by James and Merryl Tisch, the Ford Foundation, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Charlotte and David Ackert, Jody and John Arnhold, Betty and John Levin and the Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation. Corporate funding is provided by Mutual of America.
