Mayoral Candidate John Catsimatidis Set for Next MetroFocus on THIRTEEN

The next edition of the award-winning program MetroFocus will premiere in the New York metro area Wednesday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. on WLIW21 and Thursday, August 1 at 8:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN and at 10:30 p.m. on NJTV.

The broadcast will feature an innovative solution for the homeless and working poor in the Bronx. Multimedia producer Marisa Wong takes us to "Part of the Solution," a non-profit organization that offers a unique mailroom for those with no permanent place to call home. Host Rafael Pi Roman follows up with an interview with Ralph da Costa Nunez, president and CEO of the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness about his new book The Poor Among Us: A History of Family Poverty and Homelessness in New York City.

As part of the continuing MetroFocus' NYC Votes 2013 project Republican mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis joins Pi Roman for a lively conversation about his roots, his business success and his plans to bring jobs and another World's Fair to New York City. Catsimatidis takes on the continuing saga of Democratic candidate Anthony Weiner and his history of "sexting," telling Pi Roman "...I know Anthony, he's a very smart kid, but you can't make somebody a mayor who, who is the de facto Board of Education person, with our kids, that's gone through what Anthony has gone through. You can't do it. What, do you want to put Anthony in charge of the kids? So I just think that he's a very smart kid, he should do another career."

While politics heat up in the city, the state legislature is off duty until next January. Matt Ryan, host of Albany public TV's news program New York Now, is joined by Casey Seiler of The Times Union and Bill Hammond of The Daily News to wrap up the January to June session and look ahead to the November ballot measures that include casino construction in upstate New York. And finally, what makes New Jersey great? Find out in a report from NJ Today's Andrea Vasquez on the new mobile New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Website: thirteen.org/MetroFocus

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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.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.

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, 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.