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Welcome back to this episode of Power and Politics, everyone. I'm Amanda Bossert. The death of an inmate in an upstate prison has sent shock waves here at home and across the country. This video of correctional officers beating Robert Brooks while he was handcuffed went viral. Brooks died the next day after this encounter. Several officers have been suspended as a Result but no arrests in this case as of yet. Joining us now is one of our local lawmakers who is part of a coalition of lawmakers up in Albany calling for accountability in this case, Bronx state Senator Natalia Fernandez. Senator, thank you so much for being with us here on Power and Politics. Thank you so much for this invitation. Yeah, for you, what is accountability in the death of Robert Brooks? What does that look like? Um, as basic as we can say, arrest, uh, what has happened is atrocious, despicable, and something we should have never seen, uh, happen. It should not have happened, and the scary truth is that maybe it has happened before. If we didn't have the cameras on these officers, we would not have seen this. So to keep awareness there on the issue, making sure that those involved are held accountable to the law and. Being the the punishment they deserve honestly uh is what we want to see happen um you know we have heard from the attorney general who began began investigation unfortunately she had to recuse herself due to internal conflicts with other officers and other cases that they're involved in. Uh, but we do know that the governor has called for the Department of Corrections to initiate, uh, proceeding to terminate these officers, but we need to make sure that we understand everything of what was wrong here and that we never see this happen again. Yeah, the video disturbing and really hard to watch, as I mentioned, this case happening in an. State prison, but it does bring to mind some of the issues at Rikers Island that are ongoing here at home right now. A lot of talk about a potential federal takeover of that jail and of course that looming deadline to shut it down entirely. In your opinion, what needs to happen locally here to reform the jail system in the city? Well, the jail system overall in Rikers and and all over the state, we do need reforms. We need to make sure that um the facilities are equipped with uh resources to address the various needs. Uh, I speak from the mind of um someone who deals with uh or who is the chair of substance use disorder in the Senate, so understanding medical needs in in our facility. Is a priority is something that we really should be looking at because Rikers as we know, is the number one mental health hospital in the city if not the state, uh, and that's very problematic a jail, an incarceration facility should not be the number one mental health hospital so making sure that we're addressing mental health needs is a priority. uh, general safety there's a lot of proposals, um. That we have out there to make our our incarcerated facilities uh a little more safer as in installing more cameras and blind spots and in these blind spots this is where a lot of harm happens whether it's uh inmates versus inmates whether it's officer versus inmate um we need to make sure that we are catching every uh area to. Ensure that terrible things don't happen. So there is a lot to look into. There are some proposals that have existed um to make sure that, you know, the worst isn't happening, that if someone is eligible for parole, they have a real chance to getting the parole given, uh, you know, achieve certain circumstances this coming week. Looking ahead to the governor's state of the state address in which she'll roll out some of the proposals that she is really pushing for in the year ahead. So far those that she's given a little bit of a tease to really seem to focus on affordability. What do you want to hear from the governor this week in terms of her plan and what she hopes to push for? Yes, we are all looking to support uh the task of addressing affordability. We know that's been a concern for many families, if not all families in New York State. I've helped, I carry some bills that do address affordability concerns. One, to make sure that uh prescription drug prices remain low and that you can uh uh obtain the, the lowest price of of a prescription. Um, child care, we're hearing that she will be ready to support a child care statewide, um, making sure that families don't have to go into their pockets so their children can eat at school with the support of universal school meals. These are all things that we're hearing, but I really do hope to see them in the budget and addressing cost of living concerns. um, for a long time we, we've heard how. Uh, insurance costs are going up. We want to address that. I hope she does, um, make sure that it's a priority. And, uh, a piece of legislation that I've hoped to be in the budget is to make the stewardship fund permanent, uh, as we know, the, the opioid settlement funds are coming in and that is extra money that uh organizations have been able to obtain, but we need to make sure that money. Is continuing and right now there is a 3 year plan to put an extra tax on uh opioid manufacturers so we can continue to see funds come in uh for that area but I want that to be permanent we need to know that that money is always gonna be there and it's been a good thing to hear that overdoses have gone down a little bit but that doesn't mean that we should be cutting back any more funding so I'm. Looking forward to seeing what is presented and ready to work with the executive and the rest of the legislative body that we know these priorities and can make sure that they are enacted. To that point beyond the cost of living issue and the harm reduction issue as well, any other initiatives or legislative priorities that you personally hope to push for and pass this year? Um, yes, I do have a few others in, in different areas, um, look uh supportive of our continued efforts to make sure that climate change is addressed and that we are, um, Fundings, the programs and the initiatives to reduce our plastic use, to reduce our emissions, uh, creation, uh, I do have a bill that would remove PFAST, uh, the forever chemical from personal care products, uh, and as well as cookingware, you know, we still haven't done that, so there's a lot of little things that I would like to see done in some bills that I personally carry, but overall. All we really wanna make sure that New Yorkers remain safe, protected, can live, survive, thrive in the state, and, uh, carried on to the next generation. Love that this show can act as a reminder sometimes of the issues that are out there and shine a light on them and how they can be addressed. State Senator Natalia Fernandez, thank you so much for your time and the conversation here on power and politics. We appreciate it. Thank you so much. Still to come, the mayor's office heads to the hub to address the ongoing drug problem there, only to find people overdosing right in front of them. What they're pledging to do when power and politics returns.

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Welcome back to Power and Politics. Reaction is pouring in after Mayor Eric Adams gave his 4th state of the city address this week. This as he seeks another term in office, and News12's Nadia Galindo was at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It was showtime at the Apollo. Mayor Eric Adams takes the stage, painting his three years in office as time spent focusing on the working class and change. His speech focusing on keeping families in New York and making them feel supported and safe. The greatest city in the world. Must be the best place to raise a family. A message as the mayor seeks another term in office while facing federal corruption charges and several key members of his administration facing investigations. There were some who said step down. I said no, I'm gonna step up. an attempt to change the narrative. Don't listen to Among his proposals, a $650 million investment to help end homelessness and make streets and subways safer. The money would add 900 safe haven beds while helping those with serious mental illness, a response to incidents like this one in Brooklyn where a woman was set on fire and killed. The visible mental distress of people in the city of New York is something that we want to solve for and it looks like they're going to that. The mayor also vowing to build more affordable housing. In other places other than the South Bronx or other poor communities that are doing more than their fair share. The mayor's speech leaving some with a bright outlook on the Adams administration ahead of the mayoral election later this year. He's starting off right. right real hope and opportunity for the city of New York. Now as the mayor starts his final year of his term, the Democratic mayoral primary that is set to take place on June 24th in Harlem. I'm Nadia Galindo. News 12. All right, Nadia, thank you. City officials took a walk through the hub and the area around Third Avenue to discuss ways to improve the conditions there, and while on that walkthrough, our crews actually saw a person overdosing. Thankfully. They survived from open drug use to crime and illegal dumping. These are issues we've covered several times here on 12. The deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, the local business improvement district, and councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. say it is a quality of life issue and it's dangerous. Deputy Mayor Anne Williams Ison says that she plans to help facilitate better collaboration between agencies and nonprofits to create long-term enforcement and help for those in need. That is all for this week here on Power and Politics on News 12. Thanks so much for watching.

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Bronx Council Member Althea Stevens and state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez join this week's edition of Power & Politics. 

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Power & Politics: Fighting the rise in crime in the Bronx; justice for Robert Brooks

Bronx Council Member Althea Stevens and state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez join this week's edition of Power & Politics.

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