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or non-surveillance in the Village, how great do you believe the problem was? Was it a problem of community relations as far as the police precinct went down here, on a broader scale?

Well, the cops, very angry at the liberal community in the Village, delighted, in my judgment, in seeing the racial problems escalate and suddenly see the white liberal beginning to protest when that white liberal was subject to the indignities that come as a result of being hassled or the subject of assault. I think the cops loved it. I think that's changing now.

I had a conversation with a cop on the phone -- yes, in the last three or four months -- and again it was about Washington Square Park. I called up and said, “Listen, this thing is just getting out of hand. You've got to look at that park.” I called up and said, “There are no cops in that park; and if you take a look at that park and the people who are in it [and I didn't say “black” at the time] and the way they're dressed and carry themselves and the intimidation that is taking place there, it's got to stop.” And he said -- I remember it -- “I thought you liked them.” (laughs) Then he laughed and said, “I'm only kidding,” and he was kidding, but he wasn't kidding. I believe he was expressing the same thing that that cop was expressing when he said to that lady who witnessed what she thought was police brutality when that cop brings this naked drunk on 6th Avenue and 8th Street to his feet with a sudden jerk and said, “Don't you hurt him!” and the cop said, “Want to take him home for dinner, lady?” It's that same feeling of irrationality that