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New Day

Historic Snowfall Hits Buffalo, NY; Israel on Edge after Synagogue Attack; Interview with Mark Regev; Keystone Pipeline Voted Down; Governor Nixon Forms Ferguson Commission

Aired November 19, 2014 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's probably heavier than anything in over 40 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've never seen it like this. It was scary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's too much. It's just really a lot of snow here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is absurd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMLAE: Early morning prayers at the scene of a horrific terror attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The two suspects, the two terrorists, worked on their own.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The attack ratcheting up fears of increasing violence.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it's important for both Palestinians and Israelis to get behind (ph) this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your name sir?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New cell phone video has surfaced. A Ferguson resident says this is Officer Darren Wilson.

DARREN WILSON, FERGUSON POLICE OFFICER: I'm going to lock your ass up.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back to NEW DAY. I'm Chris Cuomo with Brooke Baldwin.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

CUOMO: With more than six feet of snow in 24 hours. That is accurate and it could be historic. And unfortunately it is the reality for too many in Buffalo this morning. It's -- you know, not the numbers. It's about a city that is paralyzed by this. It's about people dying. And it's about it not stopping any time soon. BALDWIN: You have so far now -- we have an additional death. So

five, five deaths being blamed on this historic snowstorm. The National Weather Service saying that during this one stretch up to five inches of snow was falling per hour. Five inches per hour. You have snowfall totals that may have eclipsed 76 inches in one day.

And this is why we keep throwing out the word "historic," because this could be the most snow ever to fall anywhere in a single 24-hour period, and it is not over yet.

Meteorologist Jennifer Gray braving it for us this morning in Buffalo. Jennifer, talk to me about what you're seeing there.

JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, guys, our truck died, so we're actually coming to you through Skype. Because this is something that you have got to see.

We were talking to people here, locals. Buffalo, they're used to this. But they say this is even something that they have never seen before. They're comparing this to the blizzard of '77, and that should tell you a lot.

Just look around me. I want to start over here. Look at these cars. They're completely buried underneath the snow. They just look like little humps there. Our last live shot we did you wouldn't even have been able to see these cars. That's how low the visibility was. We had about six inches of snow on the hood of our car just -- in less than an hour, in about 30 to 40 minutes.

Look over here. This is what they're doing with this. They're plowing the streets. They're piling it up on the side of the streets. And you see, it's higher than the street sign right there. And I would go over there, but I can't because I'm tethered so I can hear you guys, and so I can talk to you.

And the snow on the ground is piling up. They plowed these roads just since we've been talking to you. And you can see. We have about a foot, a foot and a half of snow buried under here, and it just packs in so, so tight. And guys, this is something that is not over yet. We have another wave coming tonight into tomorrow. And unfortunately, just as you said, this has become deadly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRAY: Overnight more record-shattering lake-effect snow paralyzing parts of western New York. Buffalo now in a state of emergency as the governor deploys the National Guard for help.

MAYOR BYRON BROWN, BUFFALO, NEW YORK: This is a very serious storm.

GRAY: Up to six feet of snow and climbing. First responders carrying patients to the hospital on foot. The snow so deep in some places snowmobiles can't operate.

BROWN: It's probably heavier than anything that we have seen in over 40 years. GRAY: From the sky, a wall of white. On the ground...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is the garage door.

GRAY: ... the snow is piling so high, so fast, it comes crashing into this home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's horrendous. It really is. We're going to make history.

GRAY: The snowfall up to five inches an hour, crippling emergency personnel. At a firehouse in the heart of the storm, a mother delivers her baby girl.

GARNELL WHITFIELD, BUFFALO FIRE COMMISSIONER: We could not get her to the hospital. She was born. She's safe and she's healthy.

GRAY: Near Buffalo, an 81-year-old man died after first responders were unable to get him to the hospital in time. The man, one of three people dying from cardiac arrest Tuesday while shoveling. The residents scrambling to dig themselves out.

The near white-out conditions already causing one deadly car accident and leaving the Niagara University women's basketball team stranded along the I-90 corridor. The team finally rescued nearly 24 hours later.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRAY: Hey, guys, in the last ten seconds we just had fire crews come through with snowmobiles. They can't get their trucks out. So we just had three snowmobiles come through here with some folks. I guess they were out assisting people that are stranded on the roads.

And guys, the snow that's piled up so high, like the street signs, we've seen ten to 15 dump trucks. They're putting it in the dump trucks, hauling it off. It's not going to melt before this next wave comes through tonight through tomorrow, guys.

BALDWIN: OK. Jennifer Gray, thank you so much.

You know, and on that final point of how these emergency crews are having to get creative to try to rescue people, let me bring in by phone Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield.

Commissioner, good morning. It sure sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Can you just talk to me about, obviously, the challenges. Buffalo, you all know snow; you know how to deal with this. But this is something entirely different. How have you been able to get out on the roads to rescue people?

GARNELL WHITFIELD, BUFFALO FIRE COMMISSIONER (via phone): Good morning. It certainly has been very, very challenging. Even with our familiarity with, you know, dealing with snow, this has been a storm that is certainly extraordinary, even by our -- by our perception. We've again had to be very, very creative. We've have many times had

to carry patients from their homes out to major thoroughfares to get them, you know, transportation to medical facilities. We've had to treat onsite over extended periods of time. We've had to do a number of things that are absolutely out of the norm for us.

BALDWIN: Can you be specific? Tell me one story of something your guys and gals have had to deal with.

WHITFIELD: Well, we've had a couple of things. We were blessed to have -- give birth, assist in the birth of a child at one of our firehouses last night.

BALDWIN: Aww.

WHITFIELD: Yes. The mother was there over an extended period of time in labor and finally did give birth to a healthy baby girl. So that was -- that was something very different for us.

That and again, carrying patients from their homes, you know, over blocks to get them to transportation to the hospital, whatever. A number of things we've had to do. Rescue people from cars. Provide shelter for persons. We have several persons who are bedded down in some of our fire houses, in police stations. So it's certainly been a group effort here in Buffalo.

BALDWIN: My goodness. Well, I'm glad to hear mom and baby are doing A-OK. And my hat is off to your fire personnel for pulling that off.

Let me just ask you, I guess for the people who are -- we've seen pictures, Commissioner, of just snow, you know, literally trapping people in their homes. You open the front door, and you can't even get out. What is your message for those people who appear to be stuck.

WHITFIELD: Well, we want people to stay off the streets. One of our biggest challenges have been dealing with cars that are stranded in the thoroughfares, making it very difficult for emergency personnel and for others to get down the streets to provide assistance.

So we want people to stay in the homes if they can do so safely. If they cannot do that safely, if they have a problem with their heating or whatever, then they certainly should call our 311 or 911 systems, and we'll try to get someone to them.

We've had some issues with persons where their vents for their furnace is being blocked and that -- carbon monoxide issues and that. So we want people to make sure they have operational carbon monoxide detectors in their homes, make sure they're using their heating element safely; working smoke detectors. Do all the things that -- you know, that they can do to be -- to stay in their homes safely.

BALDWIN: That's a great point. It's the little things that mean such a big deal. Make sure those batteries are working. Garnell Whitfield, fire commissioner in the great city of Buffalo, New York, you have your work cut out for you, sir. Best to you. Stay safe -- Chris.

CUOMO: Remember, Brooke, those guys and women are working around the clock when they have their own families, many of whom are being adversely affected by this. So they're helping others when they're not even sure what's happening at home. That's the true definition of a first responder.

All right. Let's go to the Middle East now, where there is at best an uneasy calm in Jerusalem this morning. Israel has promised to retaliate for that gruesome attack on a synagogue there that has now left five dead. A fifth victim succumbing to his injuries just this morning.

Joining us now in Jerusalem is Mark Regev. He's spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It's good to have you, Mr. Regev. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. And let me ask this question, with all due respect. I understand that the outrage is obvious, that this was uncalled for, and there's no justification. However, when there is retaliation for this, whether it's knocking down homes or whatever subsequent actions Israel takes, how do you understand that to help the process of finding peace?

MARK REGEV, SPOKESMAN FOR ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Chris, with respect, we're not retaliating. We're taking steps to protect our people and to prevent further atrocities like the one we saw yesterday.

We've beefed up our police presence in the city, our security presence, to deter further attacks. We're looking at different ways that we can better protect our people. But we're not talking about retaliation. We're talking about protection and deterrence.

CUOMO: Because that's a big difference; it's not just language. It winds up being what motivates the next cycle in this situation. And you have consistently said on this show, and it has come from the head of your state consistently, that the goal is to get past this and towards a more peaceful process. Where do you see that chance here?

REGEV: Well, I think we have to look at what happened yesterday, that brutal massacre in the house of worship. And we have to see it as a defining moment. And we see people across the planet -- President Obama, the leaders of Europe and even some Arab countries -- condemning that atrocity and rightly so.

And we see Hamas and other extremists, relishing and praising the atrocity, and they are showing the entire world exactly who they are.

And between those two camps is the Palestinian Authority, led by President Abbas, who seems to with one word condemn and other word justify, depending who in the Palestinian Authority is speaking.

And I think it's now time for everyone in the international community to be saying clearly to the Palestinian leadership, get off the fence. It's time that you broke up, broke your political pact with Hamas. It's time you dissociated yourself from these extremists. And it's time that you move into the mainstream of humanity in total and utter condemnation for this sort of atrocity.

CUOMO: The prime minister using words to the effect of "We will get even." That sounds provocative. Now was that taken out of context? Is that a poor translation? Or is that what he said? And if so, how does that help the situation?

REGEV: No, he was saying it. And it's important to be said: we will get the terrorists. The terrorists will not have immunity. We will find them. We will neutralize them. The ones that we can put in jail, we'll put in jail. That's part of protecting the Israeli public.

I mean, Hamas celebrated yesterday's atrocity. I mean, it's difficult for an American audience to understand that that's possible, but it's true. The pictures are there. They said publicly that they praise the brutal murder of those rabbis in their morning prayers yesterday. And it shows us, I think, what they really are and what they're about.

So of course, we have do act to protect our people from what is ultimately a very real threat.

CUOMO: This has always been a conflict that was outwardly political but obviously had cultural and religious undertones at the very least. It now seems that the religious aspect of this is in the forefront. And not just because of the venue of this most recent attack, as heinous as it is, being in a place of worship.

But do you think that religious leaders may need to come above the political leaders on the Islamic and the Jewish side to broker peace here? Is it time for that?

REGEV: I want to see the peace process move forward. Israel wants to see peace with our neighbors. We want to see two states for two peoples. That's the policy of Prime Minister Netanyahu. But it has to be understood that these extremists are the most violent enemies of peace. They oppose peace.

And so ultimately neutralizing the threat that they pose -- and for mainstream Palestinian leadership, to finally cut their ties with these groups, to dissociate themselves from these groups, to condemn these groups, that's crucial for moving the peace process forward.

CUOMO: But if it is more religious now in terms of the aspect of where these attacks are, if this wasn't an accident, if it was planned to be in a synagogue and obviously wasn't an accident, is it time for this to become more outwardly religious in terms of having religious leaders, not just political leaders? Would you be open to that?

REGEV: We're open to peace. We're open to dialogue. We want to see a Jerusalem where people of all faiths and of all ethnic communities can feel comfortable and secure and practice their religion in freedom.

The trouble is you see the exploitation of religious belief by these fanatics. I don't think they represent most Muslims. I don't think they represent most Palestinians. But the problem is that they have set the agenda.

And therefore, it's incumbent upon mainstream Palestinian leadership, on people who claim to be moderate and want peace; they have to publicly dissociate themselves from these people.

We want to move forward in peace. We want to have a Palestinian partner that wants that, as well. But it's crucial that the Palestinian partner doesn't have a foot in the camp of the terrorists, of the murderers. You cannot "if and but" about this sort of atrocity. You have to be absolute and crystal clear in your condemnation, and we're still waiting for that.

CUOMO: Mr. Regev, thank you very much. Always good to have your perspective on NEW DAY. Thank you, sir.

REGEV: Thanks for having me, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. We'll be following that story and a lot of else -- a lot of other headlines in the news this morning. So let's get you to Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Let's update you on those headlines, Chris.

Republicans vow that Keystone will make a comeback. That's after Senate Democrats shot down legislation Tuesday to build the controversial Keystone Pipeline by a single vote. The move, a huge blow to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, who was betting on the measure to pass to help in her re-election bid.

Let's get right to senior Washington correspondent, our Joe Johns live with the very latest. Good morning, Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, when you look at this vote in context, it was very important for one Louisiana senator, in a tough run-off race, to try to save her job.

But in the big picture, this is a glimpse of things to come, both here at the White House and on Capitol Hill. The White House has sent strong signals, the president did not like this bill. He would consider vetoing it. But it was pushed through nonetheless.

And what's also clear, is that the incoming soon-to-be Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is planning on bringing Keystone XL back as an issue on Capitol Hill. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), INCOMING SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Well, unfortunately, we came up one vote short on the Keystone Pipeline today. I wanted to make two observations. No. 1, I want to congratulate Senator Hoban, again, for his extraordinary good work on this. And No. 2, to let everyone know this will be an early item on the

agenda in the next Congress. And I'm very confident that Senator Hoban's bill will succeed. And we'll be able to get it down to the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana had predicted that the Keystone would actually pass the Senate. Of course, she was wrong. Democrats did not come to her rescue on that. So the question remains what that means for her run-off in early December in Louisiana.

Michaela, back to you.

PEREIRA: Yes. Big questions about that, Joe. Thanks so much for it.

Ukraine may be edging closer to all-out war with Russian-backed fighters. The new NATO chief is warning Russia to stop its troop build-up along that eastern Ukraine border. He says it's escalating tensions and will lead to more bloodshed.

Germany's foreign minister shuttling between Kiev and Moscow, trying to convince the Russians to deescalate that crisis.

Back here at home, Hannah Graham was the victim of homicidal violence. That according to the Richmond, Virginia, medical examiner. The body of the 18-year-old University of Virginia student was found near Charlottesville after a months-long search. The exact cause of her death is still not known. Meanwhile, Jesse Matthew, who is accused of abducting Graham with intent to defile, could face additional charges in that case.

A new study out by the American Heart Association finds transfats may cause memory loss. Experts say it's likely because the artificial fats penetrate every cell in the body, disrupting basic cell functions. They say the only way to reverse the impact of transfat is to eat right, drink lots of water and exercise. That old scam.

BALDWIN: Those pancakes looked really good.

PEREIRA: Are you going to reconsider the Doughnut Friday, Mr. Cuomo?

CUOMO: No, sir. Never.

PEREIRA: No, sir.

CUOMO: And here's why I won't. I think it is good that the transfats hurt your memory, because then you don't remember that you ate these bad things in the first place. You don't feel as bad about it -- that's right. You don't feel as badly about it. You know, so then you don't do that guilt eating the next meal.

PEREIRA: A little extra working out.

CUOMO: I don't know about you, but what do you do? When you have a bad meal, you go, oh, the day's shot. You know what I mean? PEREIRA: Start from scratch tomorrow.

CUOMO: Let's head to the Red Lobster.

BALDWIN: Moving on along, shall we? Talking about Ferguson, Missouri, helping this community heal, we will talk to a member of this new racially diverse commission just appointed, sworn in yesterday by the governor of Missouri to assess conditions and get Ferguson to move forward.

CUOMO: And the drum beat continues: another woman has come forward accusing Bill Cosby of rape. You will hear from a prosecutor, OK? -- We're going to have a little different take on this -- who says he heard these accusations, and he says he wishes he was able to arrest Cosby almost ten years ago. So why didn't he? Hear from him directly.

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BALDWIN: And good morning once again. You're watching NEW DAY.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has sworn in members of the newly-formed Ferguson commission. And this is their job. They want to make recommendations to address the social and economic conditions in the community, of course, in the wake of the fatal shooting over the summer of the unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

Also keep in mind, still waiting on the grand jury's decision not yet decided whether or not they want to indict the police officer who shot and killed him, Police Officer Darren Wilson. Local police have begun prepping alongside the National Guard for expected protests.

So let's talk about this bigger picture. To talk about the commission and the latest here is committee member and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Sergeant Kevin Ahlbrand.

Sergeant, good morning.

SGT. KEVIN AHLBRAND, FERGUSON COMMISSION MEMBER: Good morning.

BALDWIN: So you are the only police officer on this commission, so I'm glad to get a chance to talk to you this morning. But let me just begin with the notion that, you know, critics are saying this is just all optics. This is a P.R. move to form this commission. You can't really bring about any actual tangible change. I'd love for you to respond to that.

AHLBRAND: Well, you know what? Excuse me. This commission is very diverse. There are very smart and impassioned people on this commission. And it was telling that there were several, over a dozen state legislators at the -- legislators at the swearing in yesterday. And I really think that they will take some of these recommendations to heart.

BALDWIN: Let's talk some specifics. St. Louis County have 60 police departments. You, sir, represent all 60. So just given your knowledge of policing and training, what recommendations do you foresee giving just in the wake of what we saw happening in Ferguson?

AHLBRAND: Well, I certainly think that 60 police departments are way too many for St. Louis County. Some of these officers are making barely above minimum wage. The myriad of training and pay needs to be brought closer together. I think that some sort of consolidation would bring a better paid, better trained and higher quality police officer across the whole region.

BALDWIN: Why is that? You know, in covering Ferguson for those many weeks, I heard a lot from different police officers across the country that the issue is training. Why is that and how do we fix it?

AHLBRAND: Well, like I said, I think that if we had maybe possibly fewer police departments -- and that's a decision that each municipality is going to have to make on their own -- we can really work under the same guidelines. The guidelines run the gamut when you have 60 different police departments.

BALDWIN: OK. What about what we know as far as what's happening. I know, you know, community members. I'm sure people such as yourself for different reasons, waiting on pins and needles just to see how this, you know, grand jury ultimately decides with regard to this officer's fate.

In terms of law enforcement, the state of emergency, getting National Guard troops ready. I'm sure you're privy to those plans if and when, you know, protests et cetera break out. What can you share? How are people ready?

AHLBRAND: Well, it only makes sense to be prepared for the worst. If the worst did happen and we were not prepared, that would be horrific. I think there's a little too much of a hysteria going on with the calling up of the National Guard. The National Guard will be used as security positions for police departments. They will not be on the front line. I think we've seen in the past month...

BALDWIN: Because you can understand those fears just based upon the optics from when everything happened, the militarization of police, you know, the tear gas, that didn't look good.

AHLBRAND: Well, certainly, but I think over the last month peaceful protesters have been allowed to protest without any interference whatsoever. And that's what the police response is going to be. We will respond to law-breakers, but peaceful protesters will have the ability to protest without interference.

BALDWIN: What about just business in your community? I mean, you have Ferguson. You have, you know, the wonderful city of St. Louis just 20 minutes up the road. There have been issues with, you know, conventions pulling out, even people, of course, so long in Ferguson, worried about their own businesses. No matter how this grand jury decides, how worried are you about that? For these communities, that need this money.

AHLBRAND: Well, certainly, that is a problem. We -- like I said before, we have no problem with the peaceful protesters, but we know that there are agitators that are here, that the decision will make no difference to them, and they're here just to create trouble. And we will deal with them.

BALDWIN: What's your message to them this morning? Final question.

AHLBRAND: Peacefully protest. If do you break the law, we will arrest you.

BALDWIN: All right. Sergeant Kevin Ahlbrand, president of Fraternal Order of Police, committee member on the Ferguson commission. Appreciate you taking the time with me this morning.

Chris Cuomo...

AHLBRAND: Thank you.

BALDWIN: ... to you, sir.

CUOMO: All right, Brooke.

Another woman has accused Bill Cosby of rape. So why weren't cases made? Was it just because women didn't come forward in time? Not necessarily. We have a prosecutor who says he wanted to arrest Cosby a decade ago. He will tell you himself why he couldn't, or why he didn't. He's coming up next.

Also for all the controversy about who can get married, one thing's clear: mass murderers can, even while in prison, and you may pay for it. Why was Charles Manson granted a marriage license, and why would this 26-year-old want to marry him? What is she thinking? And she's not alone. Women are often attracted to killers. What's up with that? We'll take it on.

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