Jackie Bray: Preventing a storm of mass shootings

Karen DeWitt has been covering the statehouse since 1986. She joined the press corps at a time when very few women were in the industry, and quickly became a trusted voice on New York public radio, covering multiple governors, budgets, scandals, a pandemic and more. Recently, she announced that she’d be retiring and stepping down from her role as Capitol Bureau chief for the New York Public News Network. Dewitt joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her long and storied career in journalism. They also touched on the many campaigns she has covered, if her retirement is indeed final, how she longed to see one presidential campaign without having to report on it and how Mario Cuomo influenced her to quit while she’s ahead. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

Protesting is American as apple pie; it’s right there in the First Amendment. Regardless of what side of the aisle they are on, many Americans at some point in their lives have taken to the streets. Most recently, pro-Palestinian student protesters set up encampments at colleges across the country in a bid to get their universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel. One person who knows a great deal about demonstrations and encampments is Marisa Holmes. Holmes is an author, organizer and professor at Rutgers University and Fordham University and was one of the core organizers of the Occupy Wall Street movement. She joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the history of protests globally, the pro-Palestinian occupations, why she thinks traditional demands no longer work, and how these movements can exercise autonomy.  Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

Two years after a racially motivated mass shooting killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, Errol spoke with Jackie Bray, the first female commissioner of the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Bray joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss a new task force that was created to prevent mass shootings by leveraging public health tools and targeting the hate and radicalization of perpetrators. They also discussed the impact propaganda has in driving people toward dangerous ideologies, her early days in public service, and her concerns over this year’s hurricane season. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

From overturning the constitutional right to abortion to loosening long-standing gun laws, the Supreme Court ended one of its most historic and tumultuous terms in 2022. Breaking it all down is legal scholar Michael Waldman, author of “The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America.” Waldman recently joined NY1’s Errol Louis at Temple Emanuel of Great Neck to discuss his book and the high court’s current term. They also talked about how the Supreme Court plays an extraordinary and unusual role in the lives of millions of Americans. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

More than 50 years ago, an early form of congestion pricing almost came to New York City when Mayor John Lindsay attempted to charge drivers for crossing the East River bridges into Manhattan. While Lindsay’s push died in court, one of his chief planners, Sam Schwartz, has been stuck in city traffic ever since.  “Gridlock Sam” is a former New York City traffic commissioner who has studied driving behavior almost his entire adult life. With the June 30 launch of congestion pricing fast approaching, Schwartz joined NY1’s Errol Louis to talk about the complicated history of traffic in New York City. They also discussed the origins of the term gridlock, support for bike lanes, recent safety issues plaguing McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn and the future of apps like Waze.   Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

Building on the success of NY1’s documentary about the career of Mario Cuomo, NY1 and Hunter College’s Roosevelt House held an in-depth discussion about the former governor that was moderated by Errol Louis. Errol’s panelists were Mary Ann Crotty, Cuomo’s former director of state operations; Harold Holzer, a former top aide to Cuomo who now serves as Roosevelt House’s director; and renowned journalist Denis Hamill.  The special live taping of the panel on May 14 was held at Roosevelt House — Hunter College’s Public Policy Institute and the former Manhattan home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

Few people have had more of an impact on modern journalism than Jimmy Breslin. Breslin was a Pulitzer Prize Award-winning New York journalist and author who rose to fame in the 1960s, with columns that attracted millions of readers. Breslin displayed an unrivaled mastery at deadline journalism, whether he was covering John Lennon’s murder, the assassination of Malcolm X or the man who dug John F. Kennedy’s grave. His influential style has resonated long after his six-decade career came to an end and continues to this day. One person who was influenced by Breslin’s writing is New York Times columnist Dan Barry. Barry is the editor of a brand new anthology of Breslin’s best work, titled “Jimmy Breslin: Essential Works.” Barry joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss their shared love of Breslin’s columns, as well as how he changed journalism. They also discussed the way he wrote about the people who rarely made the headlines. Finally, they touched on the current state of the New York Times, where he continues to work. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

Norman Siegel has been a civil right and civil liberties lawyer in New York City for over 50 years, spending a significant portion of his career defending free speech, often to his own detriment. The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and colleges across the country have highlighted the topic of free speech. Siegel joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss how the protests resemble demonstrations from the past. He explained that it is time that people began to understand the First Amendment properly. Siegel also reflected on his storied legal career, including his tenure at the New York Civil Liberties Union and how he helped create the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Finally, they talked about how he advocates for families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11.   Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

An increase in teen depression and mental health disorders over the last decade has largely been attributed to the widespread adoption of the smartphone by adolescents. Parents are obsessively worrying about screen time and the effects it could have on their children. One such parent is Zephyr Teachout, attorney, author, political candidate and associate professor of law at Fordham University. Teachout joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the dangerous and addictive content teens are being fed by social media platforms. They also talked about the government’s role in regulation, the status of the TikTok ban and how the algorithm preys on children’s weaknesses.  Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].

For more than eight years, Basil Seggos had led the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, trying to help New York in its transition away from fossil fuels. Now leaving office, Seggos joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss New York’s pivotal 2019 climate law and his own tenure with two different governors. They also spoke about Seggos’ dramatic first day in office and his top priority for his successor. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to [email protected].