METROFOCUS to Examine Three Tri-State Areas Still Affected by Hurricane Sandy, 2/27

It has been four months since Superstorm Sandy struck the New York area. This edition of MetroFocus takes a look at three regions affected by the storm that are still struggling to cope with the devastation. In Hoboken, NJ Today's David Cruz reports on the city's efforts to find new ways to prevent potential flooding from future storms. In Manhattan, two students from Columbia's University's School of Journalism return to the South Street Seaport where they first met the owners of the Paris Café after the storm. The restaurant still remains closed and many of the businesses are still boarded up. On Long Island, Jim Paymar, host of the Long Island Business Report, speaks with Randi Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest, about the non-profit food bank and its effort to feed hundreds of thousands of people after Sandy. MetroFocusairs Wednesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. on WLIW21; Thursday, February 28 at 8:30p.m. on THIRTEEN; and Tuesday, March 5 at 10:30 p.m. on NJTV. After broadcast, the program will be available to national audiences on metrofocus.org with integrated online stories and additional reporting.

Also featured on this edition, Vin Cipolla, president of The Municipal Art Society of New York, speaks with host Rafael Pi Roman about potential plans to rezone and redevelop Manhattan's East Midtown area. Pi Roman also talks to the Center for an Urban Future's David Giles about the city's libraries and their new role providing services and programs to immigrants and low income communities.

In this episode's "Listening In" segment, an excerpt from the City Limits and the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness-sponsored "Tackling Poverty" panel features keynote speaker Bob Herbert. Concluding the program, Samantha Stark from The New York Times introduces viewers to the man who may be the happiest employee in city government. James Mitchell works at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau marrying as many as 200 couples a week.

MetroFocusis 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, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Jody and John Arnhold, Bernard and Irene Schwartz, The Nissan Foundation, and The Ford Foundation. Corporate funding is provided by Mutual of America.

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