It's the Brian Larry Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone. Now we'll look at one of the top

issues in this year's New York City mayoral race, public safety.

Why that today? Because yesterday, six candidates sat down for a forum hosted by the journal

Vital City to discuss crime and quality of life in New York City. City Council Speaker Adrian Adams,

which is going to be on tomorrow's show, by the way, for a candidate interview. New York State

Senator, Jessica Ramos, Comptroller, Brad Lander, former Comptroller, for a candidate interview. New York State Senator, Jessica

Ramos, Comptroller, Brad Lander, former Comptroller, Scott Stringer, attorney Jim Walden,

who's running as an independent, and hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who's also in the Democratic

primary. Journey me now to discuss what they learned at this forum is Bridget Bergen, WNYC's senior

political correspondent and Ruvain Blow, reporter for the news organization, The City, who covers

criminal justice and the city's prison system. They both got to dole out some questions to the

candidates on topics like policing, mental health,

homelessness, Rikers, and more.

Hi, Bridgett, and Rubein, welcome back to WNYC.

Good morning.

Hi, thanks for having us.

And let's start with the elephant in the room or not in the room.

Ruvain, none of the candidates who are on yesterday stage are currently

polling at levels that would likely carry them to the top. Andrew Cuomo wasn't there. Eric Adams

wasn't there. Zora and Mamdani wasn't there. Why not? You know, the candidates that were

state lawmakers, they said that they're busy with the state budget and, you know, the candidates that were state lawmakers, they said that they're busy with the state budget.

And, you know, they had to be kind of in Albany or around or available for that issue.

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