Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On the latest episode of One to One with Sheryl McCarthy, Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project, at Brooklyn College, and the CUNY Graduate Center Alex Vitale discusses the legacy of the “defund the police” movement and argues that public safety depends less on armed policing and more on investments in housing, mental health care, drug treatment, and community support programs. He contends that modern policing has roots in controlling marginalized communities, criticizes practices like broken-windows policing and gang databases, and says reforms such as body cameras and expanded police budgets — including increased security spending at City University of New York — fail to meaningfully improve safety. The conversation also explores New York City’s falling crime rates, the role of poverty and inequality in violence, tensions between local and federal policing approaches, and the need for alternative, evidence-based community safety strategies rather than expanding traditional law enforcement.
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Guest: Alex Vitale, Professor of Sociology, Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project, Brooklyn College, The CUNY Graduate Center
Recording Date 04/29/2026
First Air Date: 05-19-26
Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with CUNY newsmakers, notables and experts about the issues of the day in this compelling half-hour series. Ms. McCarthy is a veteran journalist and Distinguished Lecturer of Journalism at Queens College.
Watch more One to One at http://www.tv.cuny.edu/show/onetoone
One to One's playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE218257BDC2BC8B6
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
OTOO19014 V1
On the latest episode of One to One with Sheryl McCarthy, Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project, at Brooklyn College, and the CUNY Graduate Center Alex Vitale discusses the legacy of the “defund the police” movement and argues that public safety depends less on armed policing and more on investments in housing, mental health care, drug treatment, and community support programs. He contends that modern policing has roots in controlling marginalized communities, criticizes practices like broken-windows policing and gang databases, and says reforms such as body cameras and expanded police budgets — including increased security spending at City University of New York — fail to meaningfully improve safety. The conversation also explores New York City’s falling crime rates, the role of poverty and inequality in violence, tensions between local and federal policing approaches, and the need for alternative, evidence-based community safety strategies rather than expanding traditional law enforcement.
Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram: instagram.com/cuny.tv
YouTube: youtube.com/@cunytv
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu
Guest: Alex Vitale, Professor of Sociology, Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project, Brooklyn College, The CUNY Graduate Center
Recording Date 04/29/2026
First Air Date: 05-19-26
Host Sheryl McCarthy speaks with CUNY newsmakers, notables and experts about the issues of the day in this compelling half-hour series. Ms. McCarthy is a veteran journalist and Distinguished Lecturer of Journalism at Queens College.
Watch more One to One at http://www.tv.cuny.edu/show/onetoone
One to One's playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE218257BDC2BC8B6
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
OTOO19014 V1
