MetroFocus: March 13, 2023

>>> IT'S THE MANHATTAN MURDER OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN THAT WAS SEW SHOCKING, ELDERLY NEW YORKERS ASKING IF THEY'RE SAFE IN THE CITY.

TONIGHT MEET A GROUP OF SENIORS, AS "METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

ESTATE OF ROLAND CARLIN.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

THE MURDER OF A NEW YORK CITY GRANDMOTHER IN HER APARTMENT IS REINFORCING FEARS AMONG OLDER NEW YORKERS THIS THEY'RE NOT SAFE IN THE CITY.

IT'S ALSO EMPOWERING OTHERS THE SAVE POTENTIALLY -- MARIA HERNANDEZ WAS FOUND BOUND AND STRANGLED IN THE UPPER WEST SIDE IN JANUARY, AND TWO MEN, INCLUDING A BUILDING MAINTENANCE WORKER WERE CHARGED WITH MURDER, AND THE CASES UNDERSCORE THE RISE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST OLDER NEW YORKERS.

CITING NYPD DATA "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED THAT VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER ROSE ABOUT 10% LAST YEAR.

IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL MAJOR CRIME SURGE PROMPTING SOME NEW YORKERS TO LITERALLY TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS, INCLUDING OUR FIRST GUEST TONIGHT.

JUDGE DORIS LING-COHAN IS A RETIRED NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE WHO TOOK UP MARTIAL ARTS TO EMPOWER HERSELF, STAY SAFE, AND CONFIDENT.

LESSONS SHE'S NOW PASSING ON TO OTHER NEW YORKERS.

JUDGE DORIS, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MARIA CRAMER.

THE POLICE BUREAU CHIEF FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHOSE REPORTING HELPED DRAW ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES.

MARIA, WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME JACK KUPFERMAN, THE PRESIDENT OF GRAY PANTHERS NYC, WHICH COMBATS AGEISM AND WORKS TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH INTERGENERATIONAL COLLABORATION.

JACK, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> WONDERFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

NOW, I TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CASE IN THE INTRO, MARIA, BUT I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT PROSECUTORS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LIFE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BRUTAL MURDER OF MARIA HERNANDEZ.

>> YES, SO MARIA HERNANDEZ WAS 74 YEARS OLD, AND SHE WAS FOUND IN HER APARTMENT BY HER SISTER, WHO HAD COME TO CHECK ON HER.

AND WHEN HER SISTER FOUND HER IN HER APARTMENT SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS, ON THE GROUND, AND SHE HAD BEEN BOUND AND GAGGED.

AND HER SISTER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE.

THE POLICE QUICKLY ZEROED IN ON TWO SUSPECTS.

ONE OF THEM WAS SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN FILLING IN AS A MAINTENANCE MAN AT THE BUILDING AND PRESUMABLY MARIA HERNANDEZ KNEW IF NOT TRUSTED.

SO THESE TWO MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CHARGED WITH OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE.

THERE WERE SIGNS OF SERIOUS SEXUAL ABUSE FOUND ON MARIA HERNANDEZ'S BODY.

IT'S A VERY TROUBLING CASE, AND IT'S ONE THAT REALLY UNNERVED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND JACK, I'M WONDERING, WITH THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU WORK WITH, WHAT WAS -- WHAT HAS AT LEAST BEEN YOUR SENSE OF THE REACTION TO THIS PARTICULAR CRIME, WHICH, AGAIN, JUST SO BRUTAL FROM WHAT MARIA DESCRIBED.

>> AS EVERYONE HAS NOTED, THE SITUATION IS HORRIFIC.

AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WE INTERACT WITH, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF A SPECIFIC OLDER PERSON.

IT AFFECTS EVERYONE.

AND THE FEAR, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ALWAYS JUSTIFIED, IS REAL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN OUT THERE, A LOT OF FEAR, AND A LOT OF SYMPATHY.

AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE ALL MOVE FORWARD OR MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OURSELVES?

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF THAT, JUDGE DORIS, AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, MARTIAL ARTS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WAYS THAT AT LEAST YOU HAVE EMPOWERED YOURSELF TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY SAFE, BUT WHAT -- FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, YOUR REACTION TO THIS HORRIFIC CRIME, BUT ALSO, WHY WAS THAT THE ROUTE THAT YOU FELT WAS GOING TO BE BEST FOR YOURSELF?

>> OH, IT IS A HORRIFIC CRIME, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SO MANY OF THESE CRIMES HAPPEN ALSO ON THE STREET.

AND SO THAT HAS REALLY AFFECTED THE SENIOR POPULATION.

IF YOU CHECK THE STATS FOR PEOPLE GOING TO SENIOR CENTERS, THERE'S REAL CONCERN.

AFTER THE PANDEMIC, FOR EXAMPLE, AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A LOT OF CRIME IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND SO IN THAT COMMUNITY, THE SENIOR CENTERS SAW A 50% DROP, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT RETURNING.

AND THAT IS TRUE PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD AS WELL.

SENIORS ARE NOT GOING TO SENIOR CENTERS.

AND MY EXPERIENCE WAS, OF COURSE, DEALING WITH THE ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE.

I WAS IN VIETNAM AT THE TIME AND I SAW THE DRASTIC INCREASE -- IT WAS LIKE 150% FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN IT WENT UP ANOTHER 350%.

AND SO FOR MYSELF, I WANTED TO FEEL EMPOWERED.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO -- I WAS STUCK IN VIETNAM FOR 15 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WENT ON A FOUR-WEEK VACATION, WHICH TURNED INTO 15 MONTHS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE WORLD CLOSED.

BUT I WANTED TO COME BACK, AND I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT COMING BACK, BECAUSE I WAS -- I DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK IN FEAR.

I DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK BEING AFRAID TO GO INTO THE SUBWAY, TAKING THE BUS, WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAD BEEN ATTACKED, SOME OF THEM WERE OLDER.

ONE WOMAN WAS SUCKER PUNCHED ON MOTT STREET, A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS OLDER.

I DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK FEELING AFRAID.

SO I HAD A MARTIAL ARTS BACKGROUND IN TAI CHI BUT STARTED TAKING MARTIAL ARTS.

WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES -- THE MARTIAL ARTS COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK REALLY STEPPED UP.

A LOT VOLUNTEERED TIME FOR FREE COURSES.

I THINK THAT'S A WAY OF EMPOWERING ONE'S SELF, BECOMING STRONGER AND MORE CONFIDENT.

THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, HOW TO STAND, HOW TO MAKE THAT YOU ARE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A SUBWAY PLATFORM THAT YOU'RE BLADED, THAT YOU'RE NOT -- SO IT'S HARDER FOR SOMEBODY TO -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, SORRY, JUDGE, BUT EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLADED.

>> IT'S HAVING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER SO THAT YOUR BALANCED, SO THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY EASILY SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT FROM ONE FOOT TO ANOTHER, SO IF SOMEBODY PUSHES YOU, YOU HAVE THE COUNTERBALANCE OF THE FRONT FOOT STOPPING THAT PUSH.

WHERE IF SOMEBODY PUSHES YOU FROM THE FRONT, YOU HAVE THE BACK FOOT.

SO A LOT OF MARTIAL ARTS TEACH YOU HOW TO BASICALLY BLADE YOURSELF SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU HAVE PERIPHERAL VISION BEHIND AS WELL AND THE SIDE.

SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT SKILL TO H HAVE, AND A LOT OF THE MARTIAL ARTISTS WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT -- ABOUT BEING AWARE, BEING CONFIDENT, AND NOT MAKING YOURSELF A VICTIM.

>> MARTIAL ARTS IS ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR OLDER PEOPLE TO FEEL EMPOWERED.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT YOU.

IT'S ABOUT EVERYONE.

EVERYONE HAS THIS TERRIBLE FEAR OF VIOLENT CRIME.

AND WE CAN USE THIS, THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE -- NOT ONLY MORE AWARE, BUT LEARN MORE BALANCE AND TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE ALL -- THE 5-YEAR-OLD THAT YOU KNOW IS A FUTURE OLDER PERSON.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE EMPOWERMENT SO THAT ALL OF US CAN LIVE OUR BEST LIVES ALWAYS?

WHICH IS PART OF THE GRAY PANTHERS CONCEPT IS, LIKE, INTERGENERATIONAL.

IT IS NOT EVERYONE INTERGENERATIONAL.

IT'S YOU, US -- TO MAKE IT LESS LIKELY TO THAT'S THESE HORRIFIC INCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THAT IS KIND OF A MIND SET WE SHOULD ALL HAVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, TAKING MEASURES THAT WE CAN BASICALLY PROTECT OURSELVES SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT, THAT WE TAKE THE SIMPLE THING OF BLADING ONE'S SELF -- I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE, I WAS WALKING WITH HER, AND WE SAW SOMEBODY WHO LOOKED A LITTLE OFF, AND SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED HER BACK TO HIM.

I SAID, DON'T TURN YOUR BACK, LIKE, BLADE YOURSELF SO YOU CAN SEE.

BECAUSE IF YOUR BACK IS TOWARDS HIM, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT HE'S COMING TO PUSH YOU, RIGHT?

BUT THOSE ARE LITTLE COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN.

SOME OF US LEARNED IT BECAUSE WE HAD NO CHOICE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT SOME OF US DID NOT LEARN THAT, AND THOSE ARE MEASURES WE CAN TAKE.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT, I SAW I STARTED TAKING JUJITSU, PRAYING MANTIS, FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO DO EVERYTHING.

THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS ONE CAN LEARN, AND MY JUJITSU TEACHER ACTUALLY OFFERED A FREE COURSE FOR ASIAN WOMEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HE'S ACTUALLY NOW OFFERING ANOTHER ESSENTIALLY FREE COURSE.

IT'S, LIKE, $20 FOR TWO DAYS, FOR WOMEN AND ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED CAN, YOU KNOW, SIGN UP FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH GRAY PANTHERS, MY JUJITSU TEACHER AND GRAY PANTHERS ARE COMBINING TO DO THAT FOR US FOR OLDER NEW YORKERS.

SO ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THAT COURSE, THEY CAN CONTACT THE GRAY PANTHERS WEBSITE, AND JACK CAN CERTAINLY GIVE THAT WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE IT.

>> YOU KNOW SOMETHING?

THIS IS -- >> GRAY PANTHERS NEW YORK CITY, RIGHT?

>> GRAYPANTHERS NYC.ORG.

NOW THIS ALSO IS PART OF A WHOLE MIND SET ON HOW WE PERCEIVE AGING, HOW WE PERCEIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERCEIVED TO BE VULNERABLE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE, AND HOW VULNERABLE ALL OF US ARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE -- WE -- WE'RE NOT AS VULNERABLE AS PEOPLE MAKE US OUT TO BE YET.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THESE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

HOW DO YOU MINIMIZE THE RISK?

THAT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM OVER THE -- >> SPEAK OF THAT -- SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT SPEAKING OF MINIMIZING THE RISK, BECAUSE BOTH OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DEFINITELY SOUND VERY PROACTIVE AND DEFINITELY GOOD STUFF TO TAKE.

BUT MARIA, I'M WONDERING, DO WE KNOW IF THE CITY AND STATE ARE STEPPING IN TO SUPPORT EITHER ONE OF THE INITIATIVES WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IN THEIR OWN WAY TO HELP ENSURE -- AS JACK COULD SAY, THIS IS ABOUT EVERYONE FEELING SAFE AND SECURE IN THE CITY.

>> THE CITY AND STATE BOTH SAY THEY'RE TAKING MANY STEPS NO NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND REAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT OLDER NEW YORKERS FACE, BUT ALSO THE GROWING POPULATION OF OLDER NEW YORKERS.

WE KNOW THAT BY 2040, THE POPULATION OF OLDER NEW YORKERS IS GOING TO GROW BY 40% TO, I BELIEVE IT'S 1.4 MILLION.

THAT OUTPACES THE GROWTH OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY AND STATE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS, THEY DO HAVE TO LOOK AT, AND THEY SAY THEY ARE -- I SPOKE WITH A MEMBER OF THE NYPD, AND HE DESCRIBED, YOU KNOW, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR AGING AND THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO OLDER NEW YORKERS, GOING TO MEETINGS, GIVING THEM TIPS AND ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO, USHLGING THEM TO CALL 911 IF SOMEBODY COMES TO THEIR HOUSE AND SAID, I'M THE ELECTRICIAN OR, I'M HERE TO CHECK YOUR GAS.

AND SAYING, IF YOU'VE GOT A FEELING IN THE PIT OF YOUR STOMACH THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT, DO NOT OPEN THAT DOOR AND CALL 911.

GIVING OTHER TIPS LIKE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF ALL YOUR UTILITY COMPANIES HANDY, SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COME IN AND THEY'RE NOT SURE THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE, YOU CAN CALL AND SAY, IS THERE A PROBLEM?

IS THERE A REASON I SHOULD LET THESE PEOPLE IN?

IN A MORE HOLISTIC SENSE, CENTER FOR ANYONING IT'S NASCENT, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS PART OF THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THEY SAY THEY'RE LOOKING AT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A KEY PIECE OF THEIR OVERALL STRATEGY.

>> I WANTED TO AFMPLIFY WHAT YO WERE SAYING, MARIA.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS OVER THE COURSE OF DECADES BEEN ATTUNED TO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OLDER PERSONS, AND THE EMPHASIS ON THAT HAS SHIFTED UP AND DOWN.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THIS INCIDENT, IT SHOULD BE A SPUR FOR FURTHER ACTION.

THE D.A.

'S OFFICE HAVE ELDER ABUSE SECTIONS.

YOU WERE TALK ABOING ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN ON AGING, WHICH IS BEING PLANNED NOW.

THERE ARE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THAT.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS -- AGAIN, FOR EVERYONE.

WE ALL KNOW OF VARIOUS -- THESE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS.

IN THE ARTICLE, YOU ALSO REFERENCED THE OLDER GUY IN THE EAST VILLAGE.

>> OH, YES.

>> KIND OF SIMILAR.

AND ALSO, LET US NEVER FORGET THAT THE -- MANHATTAN IS NOT THE ONLY BOROUGH.

AND THIS SORT OF STUFF HAPPENS ELSEWHERE WITHOUT THE SAME KIND OF ATTENTION.

HOW DO WE MOVE TOGETHER TO CREATE MORE -- FEWER INCIDENTS AND THE FEELING OF MORE SAFETY?

IT CAN BE -- >> I HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS.

>> SORRY, JUDGE, JUST VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, MARIA, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE, CAN YOU SHARE US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN JACK WAS REFERRING TO?

>> YEAH, THAT WAS THE CASE, EAST VILLAGE, LONG TIME STORE OWNER.

HE'S BEEN THERE DECADES.

I BELIEVE HE'S 90 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY A MAN WHO APPROACH HIM LATE AT NIGHT.

HE KEEP HIS BUSINESS OPEN VERY LATE, AND HE WAS STRUCK PR REPEATEDLY.

YOU COULD STILL SEE THE BRUISES ON HIS FACE WHEN THE NEWS CAMERAS CAME TO INTERVIEW HIM LATER ON.

THAT'S THE EXAMPLE OF A MANHATTAN CASE.

BUT THE STORY DOES GO OUTSIDE OF MANHATTAN, DESCRIBES CASES IN OTHER BOROUGHS.

THERE'S THE CASE OF A WOMAN IN HER 80s WHO WAS -- SHE WAS THE VICTIM OF A HOME INVASION, WHERE A WOMAN CAME IN, DEMANDED TO KNOW WHERE SHE KEPT HER MONEY, AND WHEN THE VICTIM REFUSED TO TELL HER, SHE FORWARD BOILING WATER ON HER.

JUST HORRIFIC CASE.

THE WOMAN WAS FOUND BY HER NIECE THE NEXT DAY.

LUCKILY SHE SURVIVED THE INJURIES.

BUT IT'S THE KIND OF VIOLENCE AND KIND OF ATTACK THAT LEADS MANY PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE FOR OLDER NEW YORKERS TO SAY, WHY -- YOU KNOW, WHAT MOTIVATES THIS KIND OF CRIME?

AND THE CONCLUSION THAT MANY OF THEM COME TO IS IT IS A FORM OF AGEISM, BECAUSE YOU'RE PERCEIVING SOMEONE AS VULNERABLE, NOT ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, THEREFORE YOU ARE TARGETING THEM FOR THAT REASON, AND THAT IS A FORM OF AGEISM.

>> CORRECT.

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE SENIOR CENTERS WOULD HAVE SELF-DEFENSE COURSES BEYOND A POLICE COMING IN AND ONE-SHOT DEAL, WHERE YOU CATCH WHOEVER -- WHATEVER SENIORS ARE THERE THAT DAY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANY SENIOR CENTER THAT HAS ANY SORT OF REAL MARTIAL ARTS.

THERE ARE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTRIES WHO FOCUS ON TAI CHI SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE HEALTHY AND BALANCED.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SENIORS ARE SUBJECT TO FALLS.

TAI CHI HAS BEEN PROVEN SCIENTIFICALLY TO HELP THAT.

THAT'S A CONCRETE SUGGESTION THAT IS FRANKLY PRETTY CHEAP TO IMPLEMENT.

YOU COULD DO IT IN A PUBLIC PARK.

YOU COULD DO IT IN A SENIOR CENTER, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF A CITY AND STATE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THEIR SENIORS BE HEALTHIER AND MORE CONFIDENT SO THAT THEY COULD PERHAPS FIGHT BACK OR RUN OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EASY TO IMPLEMENT.

>> THE CHINESE AMERICAN PLANNING COUNCIL, WHICH RUNS CENTERS IN THE CITY, THEY DID SAY THAT THEY ARE OFFERING SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES.

THEY OFFERED THEM I BELIEVE LAST FALL, AND THEY WANTED TO OPEN IT UP AGAIN IN THE SPRING TO SEE IF THERE'S AN INTEREST.

I'D BE SURPRISED IF THERE WEREN'T.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE ALL HEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO MOVE OUT -- GO OUT.

THERE'S COVID, WHICH STARTED TO SHUT EVERYBODY IN, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT AMPLIFIED BY -- NOT EVEN POST COVID, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SO TRAUMATIZED BY THE SPECTER OF DEATH, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, ISOLATING THEMSELVES, WHETHER THE ISOLATING THEMSELVES AT HOME OR NOT BEING -- OR IN INSTITUTIONS OR ON THE STREET.

IT'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND IT IMPACTS OLDER PEOPLE MORE DIRECTLY BECAUSE AS WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE PERCEIVED TO BE VULNERABLE.

AND THIS IS ABOUT NOT ONLY YOUR PARENTS AND NOT ONLY ME AND DORIS AND MARIA AND EVERYONE AND JENNA -- >> MM-HMM.

>> BUT HOW DO WE COME -- THE DREAM IS TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY MAY BE THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE COMMUNITY MAY BE OF OLDER PEOPLE -- TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF AGEISM.

HERE IT'S MANIFESTED AS EASY TARGETS.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.

THERE ARE NO SILVER LININGS TO COVID, BUT WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OURSELVES TOGETHER IN A MORE EFFECTIVE FASHION.

>> JACK, I DO WONDER, AS YOU WERE TALKING, BECAUSE YOU RIGHTLY SO MENTIONED THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND WITH THIS RISE IN CRIME AGAINST NEW YORK'S ELDER COMMUNITY, IS THERE ANY CONCERN OR ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT THIS COULD ALSO BE CREATING A LEVEL OF PARANOIA FOR PEOPLE?

WHICH SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

ON A PERSONAL BASIS, I'M AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID.

I HAVE TO THINK BEFORE I GO OUT.

AND IT WASN'T LIKE THAT BEFORE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE -- AND THAT FOR ME, WHO I LIVE NICELY.

I LIVE SAFELY.

WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY -- OTHERS WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME OPPORTUNITIES?

AND IT'S A -- IT'S CONFUSING.

LIFE IS CONFUSING, AND IT'S CONDITION FUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL.

WHICH AS YOU POINT OUT, PARANOIA.

AND IF YOU REMEMBER WITH PARANOIA, THERE'S USUALLY A NUGGET OF THE TRUTH SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

>> DORIS, DO YOU FIND THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S A FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED?

THAT WITH ALL THE COMPOUNDING ISSUES FACING PEOPLE -- I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO ADD TO JUST THE -- YOU DON'T FEEL THE SAME SENSE OF SAFETY YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR ME, HEARING THE PERCENTAGES, THE INCREASE IN CRIMES IS -- CERTAINLY WHEN YOU HEAR THE STATISTICS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE JUMPING 350% -- BUT YOU BREAK IT DOWN INTO ACTUAL -- WHAT ARE THE INCIDENTS, WHICH IS ALREADY TERRIBLE, NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IS NOT AS GREAT AS THE FEAR IS OF ALL THE INCIDENTS.

>> RIGHT.

AGREED.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN, THERE ARE 150 INCIDENTS, WELL, YOUR CHANCES, ACTUALLY, OF BEING A VICTIM OF A CRIME IS PRETTY LOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF ASIANS.

SO.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN THAT WAY, JUST SAME THING.

IN TERMS OF SENIORS.

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF SENIOR, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO 100, IT'S ALREADY BAD.

BUT IF YOU PERSONALIZE IT AND SAY, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME, AND YOU'RE SO FEARFUL, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I LIKE MARTIAL ARTS, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THAT CONFIDENCE.

I'M NOT -- I'M NEVER LOOKING FOR A FIGHT, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT I COULD AVOID ONE, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE I'M AWARE.

THAT SORT OF TRAINING MAKES YOU AWARE.

AND NUMBER TWO, IF I HAVE TO, I COULD TAKE SOMEBODY DOWN.

I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT.

SO -- >> ONE MORE QUESTION, THOUGH, JUDGE, IS CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT AWARENESS, JUST AWARE OF YOUR SPACE BUT ALSO BE IN A RELAXED STATE, OR IS IT A HYPERVIGILANT AWARENESS?

>> IT'S NOT A HYPERVIGILANT.

I WILL SAY, WHEN I GO TO A SUBWAY, IN A SUBWAY CAR, I ALWAYS SCAN TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMEBODY OFF, AND I'M VERY AWARE.

NOW I WENT ON A SUBWAY, AND THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN THE SUMMERTIME WEARING A WINTER COAT AND TALKING TO HIMSELF.

YOU WOULD BE AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE WENT AND SAT NEAR HIM.

OKAY, THEY WERE COMPLETELY A LIVE UOBLIVIOUS.

THE MAN IS IN A WINTER COAT IN SUMMER ON A WINTER CAR.

PEOPLE PULLED OUT THEIR PHONE AND STARTED LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE.

MEANWHILE, I SIT -- I'M VIGILANT, I'M NOT HYPERVIGILANT, BUT I SIT AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, NEVER TOTALLY RELAXED.

BUT I'M NOT HYPERVIGILANT.

I AM AWARE.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MARTIAL ARTIST TEACHERS WILL HAMMER INTO YOU, WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DEFENSIVE WEAPON, BUT WHATEVER'S NEAR YOU, YOU CAN MAKE A WEAPON.

IN OTHER WORDS, A WATER BOTTLE CAN BE A WEAPON.

JUST A PLAIN WATER BOTTLE.

SOMEBODY WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO DO THAT, HOW YOU USE IT IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

IF SOMEBODY HAS A CANE, HOW TO USE THAT IN A DEFENSIVE WAY PROPER WILL.

>> I MARIA, IS THERE ANY -- TO CHANGE CRIMES AGAINST OLDER NEW YORKERS TO HATE CRIMES?

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD A THAT EFFORT GOING ANYWHERE.

WHEN I WAS SPEAKING WITH ADVOCATES THEY SAID IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS THEY START TO PUSH FOR IT BUT THEN OTHER ISSUES COME TO THE FORE.

SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT DROPS THAT THAT WAY.

I DID WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT THE CONCERN SENIOR CENTERS HAVE.

JUDGE DORIS SAID, THE STATISTIC OF YOU BEING IN A CRIME ARE QUITE LOW, BUT WHAT'S REALLY A RISK IS SELF-ISOLATION, STAYING AWAY FROM COMMUNITY AND STAYING AWAY FROM SENIOR CENTERS WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO WILL HELP YOU AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SOME THAT'S WHY THERE'S SUCH A PUSH ON THE PART OF THOSE SENIOR CENTERS.

♪ >>> THANKS FOR TUNING IN TO "METROFOCUS."

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>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, ESTATE OF ROLAND CARLIN.