% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I DO NOT SEE THIS AS A
% BAIL-OUT FOR MILWAUKEE.%I SE
E THIS AS GIVING THEM THE
% TOOLS TO SOLVE THEIR OWN ISSUES.
% >> MILWAUKEE TAKES CENTER STAGE
% IN THE DEBATE OVER LOCAL
% GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
% NEW FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR
% PREGNANT WORKERS ARE SET TO TAKE
% EFFECT IN JUNE.
% AND 'TIS THE SEASON FOR TICKS.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WHAT
% PEOPLE OF MILWAUKEE THINK ABOUT
% PLANS IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
% STATE'S LARGEST CITY.
% WE LOOK AT DETAILS IN THE
% PREGNANT WOMEN FAIRNESS ACT AND
% AS YOU HEAD OUTDOORS, WHAT YOU
% NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TICKS THIS
% SEASON.
% IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR MAY 26.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNAL AND I AM FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
% WEEK, LAWMAKERS FROM THE SENATE
% CONSIDERED THEIR VERSION OF THE
% SHARED REVENUE BILL TO INCREASE
% FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS
% THE VERY SURVIVAL OF THE BILL
% HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
% THE TIPPING POINT, WHETHER OR
% NOT TO BRING A REFERENDUM
% QUESTION BEFORE MILWAUKEE VOTERS
% TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX BY 2%
% FOR THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND
% BY.375% FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY
% FOR OUTSTANDING PENSION
% OBLIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
% GROWING FOR YEARS.
% LAST WEEK, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
% ROBIN VOS SAID THEIR VERSION OF
% THE BILL REQUIRES THE REFERENDUM
% AND THEY ARE DONE NEGOTIATING.
% SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEVIN
% LeMAHIEU TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT,
% CONCERNED THAT THE REFERENDUM
% COULD FAIL.
% SPEAKING BEFORE THE SENATE
% COMMITTEE THIS WEEK WAS
% MILWAUKEE MAYOR KAVA A LOT OF CR
% JOHNSON.
% HE JOINS US.
% THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.%>>
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING,
% WHERE DOES THIS SHARED REVENUE
% BILL STAND AS OF THIS MOMENT?
% IS THERE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION?
% >> FREDERICA, I WOULD IMAGINE
% THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR
% NEGOTIATION.
% LOOK.%I'VE NOT HAD THE ABILI
TY, THE
% PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN A
% BICAMERAL LEGISLATIVE BODY SUCH
% AS WE HAVE IN OUR STATE
% LEGISLATURE, BUT MY
% UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, IS THAT
% ONE HOUSE CREATES A BILL, AND IF
% THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE WITH THE
% OTHER HOUSE, THEY COME TOGETHER,
% THEY CONFERENCE THE BILL.
% THAT'S NEGOTIATION.
% AND SO I WOULD SUSPECT THAT
% THERE STILL WOULD BE ROOM FOR
% BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THE
% SENATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
% TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND PUT
% FORWARD A BILL THAT CAN PASS
% BOTH HOUSES THAT CAN GET THE
% SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE THAT CAN ALSO BE
% SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
% >> WHAT ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY
% LOBBYING FOR?
% >> LOOK.
% IN THE BILL, THERE ARE A NUMBER
% OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
% LOBBYING FOR.
% YOU MENTIONED THE ISSUE ABOUT
% WHETHER IT'S A REFERENDUM OR
% WHETHER IT'S ENABLING
% LEGISLATIVE ALLOWING FOR BOTH
% MILWAUKEE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL
% AS MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD TO
% PASS LEGISLATION GOING TO BE
% SIGNED BY THE EXECUTIVES IN
% THOSE JURISDICTIONS, MYSELF
% BEING ONE OF THEM.
% LOOK.
% I'D LIKE FURTHER TO BE
% CONSISTENCY HERE.
% WHEN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
% ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
% IMPLEMENT OR INCREASE A TAX,
% WHETHER IT'S A COUNTY SALES TAX,
% .5% SALES TAX, THAT'S 68 OF OUR
% 72 COUNTIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED,
% THOSE HAPPEN BY A SIMPLE
% MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE
% BODY.%THEY ARE NOT SENT TO R
EFERENDUM.
% WHEN STATE OF WISCONSIN ALLOWS
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENACT A
% PLEA MERE RESORT AREA TAX,
% PREMIER, THOSE ARE IMPOSED VIA A
% BOAT OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
% THEY ARE NOT SENT OUT TO THE
% MASSES VIA REFERENDUM.
% SO I'M LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY
% HERE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE
% IN ALLOWING US TO IMPLEMENT 2%
% SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE ALLOWING THE COUNCIL
% TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT AND
% THEN ME, AS THE EXECUTIVE OF
% THIS GINGERBREAD, TO BE ABLE TO
% SIGN THAT INTO LAW AND IMPLEMENT
% IT.%THERE ARE SOME OTHER
% MILWAUKEE-SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THE
% BILL AND MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ON
% THOSE THINGS TO ALLOW LOCAL
% OFFICIALS TO MAKE THOSE
% DECISIONS THAT PURELY AFFECT US
% AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
% >> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
% TAKING THAT EXTRA 2% SALES TAX
% TO VOTERS?
% DO YOU THINK IT WOULDN'T PASS?
% I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT
% WHETHER OR NOT A REFERENDUM
% WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS IN
% MILWAUKEE.
% A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
% THE QUESTION, I THINK, POSED
% WOULD BE TOO LARGE, TOO OVERLY
% CONFUSING, TOO OVERLY CUMBERSOME
% FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE
% PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIRE NEED
% THAT'S AVAILABLE HERE, AND THEN
% THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER
% REASONS WHY.
% I'VE GOT SEVERE CONCERNS.
% IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, IN
% YEARS PAST, WHAT WE HAD DONE
% BEFORE WE IMPLEMENTED A WHEEL
% TAX, THAT'S 20 BUCKS A YEAR THAT
% PEOPLE PAY WHEN THEY REGISTER
% THEIR VEHICLE, WE ESSENTIALLY
% HAD A REFERENDUM WHEN THE
% DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WOULD
% GO TO A PARTICULAR STREET IN THE
% CITY TO RECONSTRUCT THAT STREET.
% WE WOULD SENDS OUT A POSTCARD TO
% THE RESIDENTS ON THAT BLOCK AND
% SAY, HEY, WE'RE COMING TO
% RECONSTRUCT THE STREET.
% IT'S GOING TO COST YOU ROUGHLY
% $3,000.%THAT WAS A REFERENDU
M AND FOLKS
% WOULD VOTE THOSE DOWN
% CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE THEY
% WOULDN'T WANT TO PAY THE
% ADDITIONAL DOLLAR.%WHAT HAPPE
NED, THOUGH, WAS THEN
% THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STREET AND
% SEVERAL STREETS THROUGHOUT THE
% CITY THAT WOULD BE REDUCED TO
% GRAVEL.
% SO THERE ARE THOSE SORT OF
% CONCERNS ABOUT A REFERENDUM.
% WE NEED THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO
% DO THESE THINGS, TO BE ABLE TO
% PROVIDE CITY SERVICES, JUST LIKE
% WE DID BEFORE WITH FIXING THE
% STREET.%THE OTHER THING THAT
I HAVE A
% GRAVE CONCERN WITH IS THAT IN
% MILWAUKEE, TALKING ABOUT ISSUES
% AROUND PENSIONS, I THINK IT'S
% TABOO.
% FOLKS RECALL ABOUT TWO DECADES
% AGO OR SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
% THAT HAPPENED AROUND PENSIONS IN
% MILWAUKEE, AND I DON'T WANT
% THOSE BAD FEELINGS FROM THE PAST
% TO BE INTERMINGLED WITH WHAT WE
% NEED TO ACCOMPLISH HERE RIGHT
% NOW IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE
% REVENUES TO US AT THE LOCAL
% LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN
% SERVICES HERE IN THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE, INCLUDING MAKING SURE
% THAT WE MAINTAIN AND INCREASE
% POLICE SERVICE, THAT WE MAINTAIN
% AND INCREASE FIRE SERVICE, AND
% ALSO THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR
% LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT MEANS SO
% MUCH TO CITIZENS ALL ACROSS THE
% CITY.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
% PEOPLE OF THE STATE ABOUT HOW
% DIRE THINGS ARE FISCALLY IN
% MILWAUKEE RIGHT NOW IN THE
% ABSENCE OF ANY KIND OF EVEN
% OVERALL BOOST IN SHARED REVENUE
% FROM THE STATE?
% >> WELL, FREDERICA, WHAT HAPPENS
% IN MILWAUKEE HAS AN OUTSIDE
% IMPACT ON THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN.
% IT REALLY, REALLY DOES.
% YOU THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES
% THAT WE PROVIDE HERE.
% THEY ARE GOOD, NOT JUST FOR MY
% CONSTITUENTS, THE RESIDENTS IN%
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE; THEY'RE
% GOOD FOR OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY
% AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW,
% THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE
% INTO THE CITY EACH AND EVERY
% SINGLE DAY FOR WORK AND FOR
% DINING AND THE LIKE, AND FROM
% THE WAUKESHA, WASHINGTON COUNTY
% SUBURBS.
% WE, IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND
% MILWAUKEE GENERALLY, WE'RE THE
% LARGEST TOURISM DESTINY IN THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN, ABOUT A
% QUARTER OF ALL TOURISTS WHO
% INTERFACE WITH OUR STATE AND
% THEN THEREFORE PAY SALES TAX
% THAT GO TO MADISON AND THEN ARE
% DIVERTED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES
% AROUND THE STATE.
% THEY COME TO MILWAUKEE.
% RIGHT?
% AND EXPERIENCE THE HOSPITALITY,
% THE TOURISM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN
% THIS CITY.
% AND THEN OF COURSE SOME OF THE
% MOST ICONIC BUSINESSES IN THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE LOCATED
% RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF
% MILWAUKEE.
% NOW, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
% PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE CITY
% SERVICES THAT ALL OF THOSE
% CONSTITUENCIES DEPEND ON, THAT
% WOULD PUT NE US IN A DIRE SITUAN
% WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES DON'T
% COME, WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES
% DECIDE TO LEAVE, AND IF THOSE
% THINGS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE
% RIPPLE EFFECT DOESN'T JUST
% HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
% IT HAPPENS IN THE REGION AND IT
% HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN AS WELL.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WE LEAVE IT THERE.
% MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSON, THANKS
% VERY MUCH.
% >> OKAY.
% FREDERICA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING%
ME.%>> OTHERS IN MILWAUKEE ARE
AN
% UNEQUIVOCAL HARD "NO" ON THIS
% PROPOSAL.
% OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THIS DEAL IN
% THE LEGISLATURE FAILS MILWAUKEE
% BY OVERINVESTING IN POLICE AND
% TAXING THE POOREST RESIDENTS.
% DEVIN ANDERSON IS CAMPAIGN
% DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
% ROUNDTABLE.%THANK YOU FOR BE
ING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO YOUR ORGANIZATION IS
% HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THIS SHARED
% REVENUE PLAN AS IT AFFECTS
% MILWAUKEE.%IN YOUR MIND, WHAT
IS THE WORST
% OF IT?
% >> YEAH.
% ALL OF IT IS PRETTY BAD, BUT I
% THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN ITS
% TOTALITY, THE PROVISIONS THAT IT
% PLACES ON MILWAUKEE IN
% PARTICULAR BRINGING COPS BACK
% INTO SCHOOL, FRIENDS AT LEADERS
% IGNITING STRONG ORGANIZING TO
% GET COPS OUT OF SCHOOL IF YOU
% LOOK AT JUST THE CONTINUED
% INVESTMENT THAT MILWAUKEE WOULD
% HAVE TO MAKE INTO POLICING, PART
% OF THE REASON MILWAUKEE'S IN THE
% PROBLEM, THE BUDGET PROBLEM THAT
% IT HAS IS BECAUSE OF ITS
% OVERINVESTMENT IN POLICING AND
% SO THIS BILL DOUBLES DOWN ON
% THAT INVESTMENT AND WE HAVEN'T
% EVEN GOTTEN TO THE 2% SALES TAX.
% THAT'S A REGRESSIVE TAX, AND A
% REGRESSIVE TAX IMPACTS THE
% POOREST RESIDENTS, AND IT'S
% SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE,
% RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE ARE
% ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS
% MEET AND ADDING A 2% SALES TAX
% WHEN THEY'RE REALLY GETTING NO
% INCREASE IN SERVICES IS A BAD
% DEAL.%>> SO DO YOU THINK CIT
Y
% RESIDENTS WOULD CONSIDER VOTING
% TO APPROVE A 2% SALES TAX THAT
% GOES TO PAY FOR POLICE PENSIONS?
% NO.% I THINK THE ANSWER IS
NO AND I
% THINK THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN THE
% PIVOT FROM THE LEADERSHIP AT THE
% CITY AND COUNTY ASKING FOR THIS
% TO BE APPROVED VIA THE RESPECTED
% LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES RATHER THAN
% GOING TO REFERENDUM.
% I THINK PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE HAVE
% AN UNDERSTANDING AND DON'T WANT
% TO SEE ANY OF THEIR SERVICES
% CUT, BUT WHAT THEY KNOW IS THEY
% DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO PAY
% ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND NOT SEE
% ANY EXPANSION IN SERVICES.
% >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
% BILL AS INTRODUCED, INCLUDING
% THAT REFERENDUM, TAKING THE 2%
% SALES TAX TO VOTERS, WHEREAS
% THAT IS NOT REQUIRED ELSEWHERE?
% >> YEAH.
% I THINK OUR POSITION IS STILL
% WE'RE GOING TO OPPOSE A 2% SALES
% TAX.
% ONE THING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
% LIFT UP IS THAT WISCONSIN HAS A
% $7 BILLION SURPLUS.
% SO INSTEAD OF ASKING VOTERS IN
% MILWAUKEE TO DIG DEEPER INTO
% THEIR POCKETS TO PAY TO MAINTAIN
% SERVICES, THE STATE SHOULD WRITE
% THE CHECK.
% OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND I KNOW A
% LOT OF FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT
% IT, EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAYS
% MILWAUKEE IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE
% OF THE STATE, BUT MILWAUKEE
% DOESN'T RECEIVE ITS FAIR SHARE
% OF SHARED REVENUE.
% OUR FOGS AND WHAT WE'VE FIGURE
% OUT FOR OVER THE LAST YEARS HAS
% ALWAYS BEEN MORE INVESTMENT INTO
% OUR COMMUNITIES.
% SINCE WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN
% IN 2019, THAT'S BEEN CENTRAL TO
% OUR DEMANDS, THAT OUR
% COMMUNITIES NEED MORE.
% THEY NEED MORE ACCESS TO PUBLIC
% HEALTH, THEY NEED LONGER HOURS
% AT THE LIBRARIES, THEY NEED
% THEIR ROADS TO BE REPAIRED.
% BUT OUR VISION OF HOW WE GET
% THERE IS NOT TO INCREASE TAXES
% ON THE POOREST PEOPLE OF
% MILWAUKEE.%IT'S NOT TO SIGN D
EALS THAT
% CONTINUE TO ADD TO MORE POLICE.
% AND INSTEAD, IT'S DEMANDING THAT
% THE STATE GIVE ITS FAIR SHARE
% BACK TO THE RESIDENTS OF
% MILWAUKEE WHO PROVIDE SO MUCH TO
% THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% >> WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU AND
% OTHERS HAVE THAT IN THE KIND OF
% WRANGLING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
% THE SPECIFICS OF THIS BILL, THAT
% THE WHOLE THING COULD GO DOWN
% AND THEN MILWAUKEE AND OTHER
% LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T GET THIS
% SORELY NEEDED BOOST?
% >> YEAH.
% I THINK OUR CONCERNS ALWAYS LIE
% WITHIN OUR RESIDENTS.
% FOR TOO LONG, THE RESIDENTS THAT
% WE'VE TALKED TO HAVE NOTED THAT
% THEY ALREADY DON'T SEE THE
% IMPACTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
% AND SO OUR CONCERNS IS LIKE
% LIFTING UP THEIR VOICE AND
% NAMING RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN'T
% SIGN THIS DEAL JUST BECAUSE IT'S
% THE ONLY DEAL ON THE TABLE; WE
% HAVE TO ASK FOR MORE.
% WE HAVE TO DEMAND MORE.
% OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE SO MUCH
% MORE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND WE
% HAVE TO BE DEMANDING THAT HAVE
% AND NOT ACCEPTING THE SCRAPS
% LEFT ON THE TABLE FOR US.
% >> ARE YOUR SPROISES BEING HEARD
% VOICES BEING HEARD IN ALL OF
% THIS?%>> NO.
% NO, THEY AREN'T.
% WE'VE MADE IT LOUD AND CLEAR THE
% LAST YEARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
% BUDGET PROCESS THAT ACTUALLY
% WHAT MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS WANT IS
% THEY WANT TO SEE MORE
% INVESTMENTS INTO PROGRAMS LIKE
% PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY WANT TO SEE
% THEIR LIBRARIES EXPANDED, THEY
% WANT TO SEE LESS MONEY SPENT ON
% POLICE.
% BUT INSTEAD WE CONTINUE TO SEE
% STATUS QUO BUDGETS, WE CONTINUE
% TO SEE ELECTION OFFICIALS MAKING
% EXCUSES AROUND WHY FOLKS --
% ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW MILWAUKEE
% IS GOING TOWARDS THIS FINANCIAL
% CLIFF, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANY
% CHANGES IN TERMS OF THEIR
% INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR
% POLICE AND POLICING.
% AND SO FOR US, IT'S LIKE, YOU
% KNOW, CITY LEADERSHIP WILL TALK
% ABOUT LIKE HOW PREVIOUS
% ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE LED US TO
% THIS MOMENT, BUT ACTUALLY, THEIR
% ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUDGETS
% THEY PASSED LAST YEAR HAVE
% CONTINUED TO PUSH US TOWARDS
% THIS MOMENT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE
% ASKING MILWAUKEE'S X X POOREST
% RESIDENTS TO BAIL US OUT IN THIS
% MOMENT.
% >> DEVIN ANDERSON, WE'LL LEAVE
% IT THERE.
% WE APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR
% VOICE.
% >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
% ME.
% >> LAST AUGUST, WAL-MART
% EMPLOYEES IN WISCONSIN
% REPRESENTED BY THE U.S. EQUAL
% EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
% COMMISSION LOST A FEDERAL COURT
% CASE THAT TRIED TO ARGUE
% PREGNANT WORKERS, LIKE WORKERS
% INJURED ON THE JOB, SHOULD
% RECEIVE TEMPORARY LIGHT-DUTY
% WORK.
% NOW A NEW LAW REQUIRING
% REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
% PREGNANT WORKERS TAKES EFFECT
% NEXT MONTH.
% THE PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS
% ACT PASSED IN DECEMBER AS PART
% OF-TRILLION-DOLLAR INFLATION
% REDUCTION ACT.
% FOR MORE ON WHAT'S BEING CALLED
% A LANDMARK NEW WILL YOU TAKING
% EFFECT JUNE 27th, WE TURN TO
% SHARYN TEJANI, ASSOCIATE LEGAL
% COUNSEL AT THE E.E.O.C.
% THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING%
US.%>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO IN YOUR MIND, HOW BIG OF A
% GAME-CHANGER IS THIS FOR
% PREGNANT WORKERS?
% >> IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
% CHANGE FOR PREGNANT WORKERS.
% RIGHT NOW, UNDERS CERTAIN LAWS,
% PREGNANT WORKERS CAN GET
% ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT IT CAN BE
% DIFFICULT.
% THIS WEEK GIVES PREGNANT WORKERS
% A DIRECT WAY TO GET AN
% ACCOMMODATION.%OF COURSE WHAT
THIS PROVIDES FOR
% IS ACCOMMODATIONS AS LONG AS
% THEY DON'T CAUSE AN UNDUE
% HARDSHIP.
% IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT
% A PERSPECTIVE WORKER WILL GET
% PREGNANT WORKER WILL GET AN
% ACCOMMODATION, BUT RATHER THAN
% SOMETHING TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR
% EMPLOYER AND SEE IF IT WORKS.
% >> WHAT WILL THE PERSPECTIVE
% FAIRNESS WORKERS ACT REQUIRE
% SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF THOSE
% ACCOMMODATIONS?%WHAT ARE SOM
E EXAMPLES THAT A
% PREGNANT WOMAN COULD SEE?
% >> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT
% CONGRESS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN
% IT WAS PASSING THIS LAW, SOME OF
% THE ACCOMMODATIONS THEY WERE
% TALKING ABOUT WERE INCREDIBLY
% SIMPLE THINGS, THINGS LIKE
% CARRYING AROUND A BOTTLE OF
% WATER, ADDITIONAL BREAKS TO GO
% TO THE BATHROOM, A STOOL IF YOU
% NORMALLY HAVE TO STAND DURING --
% WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB, AND
% LEAVE TO RECOVER FROM CHILDBIRTH
% AND OCCASIONALLY HAVING PARTS OF
% YOUR JOB EXCUSED BECAUSE OF YOUR
% PREGNANCY, YOU'RE UNABLE TO DO
% THEM, SOMETHING LIKE HEAVY
% LIFTING.
% >> IT SEEMS KIND OF INCREDIBLE
% THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A
% FEDERAL LAW TO HAVE THESE
% ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.
% >> WELL, YES, BUT THERE DID NEED
% TO BE ONE.
% SOME EMPLOYERS OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE
% THESE KINDS OF THINGS TO THEIR
% EMPLOYEES AS A MATTER OF COURSE,
% AND IN CERTAIN TYPES OF JOBS,
% YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WORKING IN
% AN OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, LAWYERS,
% FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WORK IN A LAW
% FIRM, THE IDEA THAT THEY WOULD
% NEED A FEDERAL LAW IN ORDER TO
% BE ABLE TO CARRY WATER AROUND
% WITH THEM, OF COURSE NOT.
% MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OFFICES
% ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
% BUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOBS HAVE
% CERTAIN RULES AND FOR THOSE
% KINDS OF JOBS, THIS IS GOING TO
% BE A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR
% PERSPECTIVE WORKERS UP UNTIL NOW
% DIDN'T HAVE A DIRECT PATH IN
% ORDER TO GET THESSALONIANS KINDS
% OF ACCOMMODATIONS THEN THESE
% KINDS OF ACCOMMODATIONS.
% >> HOW DOES A PREGNANT WORKER
% PROVE LIMITATIONS REQUIRING
% PREGNANCY?
% IS PREGNANCY ITSELF A KNOWN
% LIMITATION?
% >> WELL, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT A
% KNOWN LIMITATION IS A PHYSICAL
% OR MENTAL CONDITION RELATED TO
% ARISING OUT OF OUR AFFECTED BY
% PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH OR ANY
% RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS SO
% THERE AREN'T SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
% WITHIN THE STATUTE, BUT WHEN YOU
% LOOK AT WHAT CONGRESS WAS
% TALKING ABOUT, THEY WERE TALKING
% ABOUT THINGS LIKE CARRYING
% AROUND A BOTTLE OF WATER,
% SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED IN
% ORDER TO KEEP HEALTHY WHILE
% YOU'RE PREGNANT AND ALSO
% SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED,
% FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR ANKLES ARE
% SWELLING AND YOU NEED TO SIT
% DOWN, SO IT COULD BE ANY OF
% THOSE THINGS, BUT WHAT'S
% IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT
% IT SEEMS THAT THEY WERE AIMING
% AT KIND OF SIMPLE THINGS THAT
% SHOULDN'T BE A BIG CHANGE IN HOW
% THE WORKPLACE IS FUNCTIONING
% BUT, RATHER, WHAT WILL MAKE IT
% EASIER FOR A PREGNANT WORKER TO
% DO THEIR JOB.
% >> ARE ALL PREGNANT WORKERS
% COVERED UNDER THIS LAW?
% >> THEY ARE COVERED IF THEY WORK
% FOR A COVERED EMPLOYER, AND
% THOSE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE AT
% LEAST 15 EMPLOYEES AND THE
% FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
% >> YOU SPOKE TO THIS EARLIER,
% WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER SAYS THE
% ACCOMMODATION CAUSES THEM UNDUE
% HARD SMP?
% WHAT CONSTITUTES UNDUE HARDSHIP
% AND DOES THAT PRESENTLY A
% LOOPHOLE WHERE WORKERS WOULD NOT
% BE ABLE TO GET THESE
% ACCOMMODATIONS?%>> I DON'T T
HINK IT'S A
% LOOPHOLE.%IT'S A DEFENSE.
% IF THE PLAYER CAN SHOW THAT
% WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IS
% DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE, THEN THE
% EMPLOYER DOES NOT HAVE TO
% PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATION, AND
% SO IT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF THE
% PREGNANT WORKERS AND THE NEEDS
% OF THE EMPLOYERS OVER WHAT THE
% EMPLOYER HAS TO SHOW IS A
% SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY OR
% EXPENSE IN GIVING SIMPLE
% ACCOMMODATIONS THAT MIGHT BE
% NECESSARY.
% HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T BE WHAT THE
% EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING.
% >> HOW DOES AN EMPLOYEE ASSERT
% THEIR RIGHT TO THESE
% ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THIS LAW?
% >> WELL, THE EMPLOYER ONLY HAS
% TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS THAT IT
% KNOWS ABOUT.
% SO IN THE FIRST STEP, IT'S THE
% EMPLOYEE SAYING, I NEED AN
% ACCOMMODATION AND THIS IS WHY.
% THEN THE LAW TALKS ABOUT USING
% SOMETHING CALLED THE INTERACTIVE
% PROCESS, WHICH IS SOMETHING
% THAT'S FROM THE AMERICANS WITH
% DISABILITIES ACT, WHERE THE
% EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE JUST
% CAN TALK OR EMAIL OR SOMEHOW
% COMMUNICATE ABOUT WHAT THE
% EMPLOYEE NEEDS AND WHAT THE
% EMPLOYER CAN GIVE.
% >> WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PREGNANT
% WORKERS BEFORE THIS LAW THAT
% REALLY REQUIRED IT TO BE PUT IN
% PLACE?
% SO PREGNANT WORKERS WERE OFTEN
% FACED WITH A VERY DIFFICULT
% CHOICE.%THEY COULD EITHER KE
EP THEIR
% PAYCHECK OR DO SOMETHING THAT
% EITHER CAUSED THEM PAIN, THAT
% THEY COULDN'T DO BECAUSE OF
% THEIR PREGNANCY OR THAT THEY
% THOUGHT PUT THEIR PREGNANCY OR
% THEIR OWN HEALTH AT RISK, AND
% WITH THIS LAW, ABSENT UNDUE
% HARDSHIP, HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T
% BE HAPPENING.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
% EXPERTISE ON THIS, SHARYN
% TEJANI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.%>> I
N OTHER NEWS, TICK
% POPULATIONS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
% BEEN GROWING SLOWLY FOR DECADES.
% THIS SPRING, HOWEVER, NEW AND
% EARLY ACTIVITY HAS THE ATTENTION
% OF SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THESE
% TINY CARRIERS OF DISEASE.
% MARISA WOJCIK TOOK A WALK IN THE
% WOODS WITH DIRECTOR OF THE UPPER
% MIDWESTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
% IS FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE,
% SUSAN PASKEWITZ, TO LEARN MORE.
% >> WE'RE SEEING MORE TICKS IN
% MORE PLACES.
% >> SUSAN PASKEWITZ'S JOB IS TO
% SEEK OUT THE CRAWLING CREATURES
% THAT MAKE THE REST OF US CRINGE.
% TICKS.
% >> THEY'VE INVADED A LOT OF
% LOCATIONS IN THE STATE WHERE WE
% DIDN'T USED TO BE ABLE TO FIND
% THEM AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY
% DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN QUARTER AND
% THEN THE EASTERN, SAY, QUARTER
% TO THIRD OF THE STATE EXPERT
% IMMATURE STAGES ARE GOING TO BE
% REALLY LOW SO DOWN HERE IN THE
% LEAF LITTER, THEY MAY BE UP ON
% TOP OF THIS VEGETATION, AND OUR
% RESEARCH REALLY FOCUSES ON WHAT
% INCREASES PEOPLE'S RISK OF
% EXPOSURE AND THEN, TWO, WHAT CAN
% WE DO ABOUT IT.
% >> SHE DRAGS HER WHITE CANVAS
% OVER THE FOREST FLOOR TO FIND
% THESE MINUTE E MINUSCULE SPARE .
% >> THEY ARE IN WOODED LOCATIONS.
% >> AND THE RESEARCH POINTS TO A
% GROWING POPULATION.%>> 10, 2
0 YEARS AGO, MAYBE 50 OF
% THE 72 WISCONSIN COUNTIES HAD AN
% ESTABLISHED POPULATION OF DEER
% TICKS AND NOW THERE'S ONLY ONE
% COUNTY WHERE WE DON'T FINDS
% THEM.% >> WHILE THAT GROWTH
HAS TAKEN
% DECADES, THIS SPRING, THERE'S A
% NEW DEVELOPMENT.
% >> ONE NEW THING WE'VE SEEN THIS
% YEAR IS EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE
% JUVENILE STAGE THAT WE CALL A
% NYMPH.%>> OR, AS SHE REFERRED
TO THEM,
% TEENAGER TICKS.
% >> THE NYMPHS ARE THE MOST
% IMPORTANT STAGE IN TERMS OF
% DISEASE TRANSMISSION AND WE
% THINK THAT THAT'S BECAUSE
% THEY'RE SO MUCH SMALLER THAN THE
% ADULT DEER TICKS.
% >> DEER TICKS ARE THE SMALLEST
% AND MOST COMMONLY KNOWN TO
% SPREAD LYME DISEASE.
% >> ADULT DEER TICKS ARE BIG
% ENOUGH SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
% FEEL THEM WHEN THEY'RE CRAWLING
% ON YOU, USUALLY, OR EVEN IF YOU
% DON'T, WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING YOUR
% BODY, YOU MAY FEEL A LITTLE LUMP
% AND SO YOU RECOGNIZE AND YOU CAN
% REMOVE THOSE QUICKLY.
% THE NYMPHS, THOUGH, THEY REALLY
% DON'T TRIGGER ANY KIND OF A
% RESPONSE.%YOU DON'T FEEL THE
M MOVING ON SO
% YOU AND THEY'RE SO SMALL, LIKE
% THE SIZE OF A POPPY SEED OR
% SMALL FRECKLE, BUT THEY ARE
% ACTUALLY HARD TO DETECT ON YOUR
% BODY.
% >> THE EARLIER ACTIVITY OF THE
% NYMPH MEANS MORE CHANCES TO
% SPREAD LYME.
% >> THIS YEAR, WE SAW NYMPHS IN
% MIDDLE MAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SO
% A GOOD WEEK TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE
% WE'D USUALLY BE ABLE TO PICK
% THEM UP, AND THAT IS PROBABLY
% RELATED TO WARMER SPRINGS,
% WARMER TEMPERATURES AND THEY'RE
% GETTING ACTIVE EARLIER.
% >> IN TERMS OF LYME DISEASE,
% WHICH IS THE DISEASE THAT WE SEE
% THE MOST ANAHEIM CASES IN OUR
% STATE -- HUMAN CASES IN OUR
% STATE, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A
% STEADY INCREASE.
% I THINK LAST YEAR, IT WAS OVER
% 4,000 CASES THAT WERE REPORTED
% TO THE STATE.
% >> LYME DISEASE IS USUALLY
% SPOTTED BY A TELLTALE SIGN.
% >> FOR PEOPLE WHO GET A
% BULL'S-EYE RASH AT THE SITE OF
% THE TICK BITE OR DOESN'T ALWAYS
% LOOK LIKE A BULL'S-EYE BUT A
% LARGE RASH THERE, IT'S NOT HARD.
% A DOCTOR WILL KNOW RIGHT AWAY
% WHAT THAT IS AND HOW TO TREAT
% IT.
% >> TO HELP THE HUMAN TUSSLE WITH
% TICKS, THEY'RE USING TECHNOLOGY.
% >> THE TICK APP IS A RESEARCH
% TOOL THAT WE DEVELOPED TO BOTH
% EDUCATE PEOPLE AND LEARN MORE
% ABOUT WHERE TICKS AND LYME
% DISEASE ARE BEING FOUND.
% >> YOU'D HAVE THIS OPTION, IF
% YOU DID GET ANY TICKS ON YOU, TO
% TAKE PICTURES, SEND THEM
% DIRECTLY TO THE SCIENTISTS.
% WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM, GIVE YOU
% AN ESTIMATE FOR HOW LONG THE
% TICK HAS BEEN FEEDING AND THEN
% MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
% YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO AS YOUR
% NEXT STEPS.
% IT ALSO HAS SOME REALLY GREAT
% INFORMATION IN IT THAT YOU CAN
% USE TO IDENTIFY THE TICK
% YOURSELF.% >> AND PERHAPS O
NE DAY HARNESS
% MACHINE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY
% TICKS.%IN THE MEANTIME, RESEA
RCHERS
% LIKE PASKEWITZ ARE ALSO LEARNING
% ABOUT HUMANS.
% >> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
% LEARNED FROM OUR TICK APP TOOL
% ARE THAT PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T
% REALLY REALIZE WHERE THEY'RE
% BEING EXPOSED TO TICKS.
% AN ADULT TICK WOULDN'T BE ON YOU
% FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, SEVEN
% DAYS, AND YET WE HAVE PEOPLE
% TELLING US THAT THEY PICKED UP
% TICKS IN PLACES THAT THEY
% VISITED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
% MANY PEOPLE ARE IMAGINING THAT
% IT'S WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR
% CABINS OR WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN
% THE WOODS HIKING, INSTEAD OF IN
% THEIR OWN YARDS.
% IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THAT
% DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STILL
% CAN'T GET OUTDOORS.
% >> WE CERTAINLY WANT PEOPLE TO
% BE OUT ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL
% WOODS IN WISCONSIN AND NOT TO BE
% AFRAID TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF
% TICKS, BUT THEY SHOULD JUST TAKE
% THE PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE
% THAT THEY, THEIR KIDS, THEIR
% PETS ARE PROTECTED.
% WEARING LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING
% SO THAT IF YOU GET A TICK ON
% YOU, YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT
% AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND.
% IF YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME
% TICKS THAT ARE ON THE CLOTHING
% THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE, IF YOU
% PUT THEM IN THE DRIER AT A HIGH
% TEMPERATURE FOR 20, 30 MINUTES
% THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
% WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE
% USE A REPELLANT AND THAT CAN BE
% THE SAME KIND OF REPELLANTS THAT
% YOU USE FOR MOSQUITO PREVENTION,
% AND THEN DO A SHOWER WHERE
% YOU'RE JUST REMOVING ANYTHING
% THAT MIGHT BE ON EUROPE PERSON,
% PERHAPS NOT -- YOUR PERSON,
% PERHAPS NOT YET ATTACHED AND
% TRYING TO FEED.
% >> REPORTING FROM THE WOODS, I'M
% MARISA WOJCIK FOR "HERE AND
% NOW."
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG, AND THEN CLICK ON THE
% NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% (CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
% RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY)
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.