>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
PUSH.
>> THREATS TO GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS BECOME COMMONPLACE.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE
SAYING ENOUGH.
AND THE COVID VIRUS FLARES ONCE
AGAIN AS THE LATEST VACCINE
BECOMES AVAILABLE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," A
COUNTY CLERK DESCRIBES SHOCKING
INSTANCES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIORS
AND INTIMIDATION DIRECTED TOWARD
ELECTION OFFICIALS.
A MAYOR DISCUSSES WHERE THEY'RE
PUTTING NEW SHARED REVENUE
DOLLARS TO WORK.
THE LATEST ON COVID AND THE
FIRST IN A SERIES OF REPORTS,
WISCONSIN, BLACK AND WHITE.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> A MAN WITH A LOADED GUN
DEMANDED TO SPEAK WITH GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS AT THE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK.
REPORTS SAY HE WAS ARRESTED AND,
AFTER POSTING BAIL, RETURNED TO
THEIBLE LATER THAT NIGHT WITH AN
ASSAULT RIFLE, AGAIN WANTING TO
SEE THE GOVERNOR OF THIS
INCIDENT IS THE LATEST IN A
GROWING TREND OF THREATS AGAINST
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING
ELECTION WORKERS.
A NEW BIPARTISAN BILL AIMS TO UP
PENALTIES FOR VERBAL OR PHYSICAL
THREATS TO ELECTION OFFICIALS AS
THEIR GROWING FREQUENCY SINCE
THE 2020 ELECTIONS HAS LAWMAKERS
SAYING ENOUGH.
FOR MORE, WE TURN TO ONE SUCH
ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO HAS SEEN
TOO MUCH OFTH, CLERK
CHRISTENSEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU POINTED OUT IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 200
POLLING LOCATIONS AND EIGHT
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS THAT
PROCESS ABSENTEE BALLOTS AT
CENTRAL COUNT.
HOW VULNERABLE HAVE THE ELECTION
WORKERS BEEN AT THESE ELECTIONS?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THOSE
LOCATIONS, THEY ARE VISIBLE TO
THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY, IS
TRANSPARENCY, SO PEOPLE ARE
ALLOWED TO COME AND OBSERVE.
THERE'S QUITE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
THERE HAVE BEEN RECENTLY
INCIDENTS WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE
TRYING TO GET CLOSER THAN
THEY'RE ALLOWED, TRYING TO STOP
THE PROCESS, AND BASICALLY
HECKLING SOME OF THE ELECTION
WORKERS, AND I THINK THIS IS
BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AND IS
MUCH MORE HARASSING AND
THREATENING TO OUR ELECTION
WORKERS.
>> SO YOU TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF
THIS BILL THAT WOULD UP THE
PENALTIES, THAT SINCE 2020,
SHOCKING INSTANCES, YOU SAID, OF
VIOLENT BEHAVIORS AND
INTIMIDATION HAVE BEEN DIRECTED
AT MILWAUKEE COUNTY ELECTION
OFFICIALS.
SO HELP OUR VIEWERS UNDERSTAND
THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS.
LIKE WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS?
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE
2020 RECOUNT, WHICH WE RAN HERE
IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY DOWNTOWN, I
RECEIVED DEATH THREATS, AND HAD
PICTURES OF GUNS AND COMMENTS
SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, "HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO FEEL WITH A BULLET IN
THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD?"
OF COURSE, WE REFER THOSE TO THE
OFFICIALS, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BUT THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO
TRACK DOWN BECAUSE IT'S JUST
SOME COWARD, PROBABLY IN ANOTHER
STATE OR SOMEWHERE DOING
SOMETHING DIGITALLY.
HOWEVER, THOUGH, THAT CAUSES ALL
SORTS OF ISSUES AS FAR AS
SECURITY AND AS FAR AS
PREVENTION.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THAT
RECOUNT, I HAD TO HAVE SHERIFFS
DEPUTIES STATIONED AT MY HOME
DURING THAT RECOUNT, AND THAT
COST MONEY, AND THAT ALSO TAKES
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFF THE STREET.
SO THERE'S RAMIFICATIONS OF
THESE TYPES OF BEHAVIORS.
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
ARE A LOT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS
DISIESD NOT TO DO -- DECIDING
NOT TO DO THIS ANYMORE BECAUSE
OF THOSE KINDS OF TIMTIONZ AND S
AND THREATS?
>> A LOT OF OUR WORKERS ARE
SENIOR CITIZENS WHO JUST LOVE
OUR COUNTRY AND WANT TO BE PART
OF THE PROCESS OF THEY'RE PAID
VERY LITTLE TO DO THIS, AND SO
IT'S REALLY OUT OF A LOVE AND
SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY.
AND CERTAINLY IF THEY FEEL
THREATENED, THEY'RE GOING TO
STEP AWAY, AND WE HAVE SEEN
THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE, FOR EXAMPLE.
>> WHAT ARE ELECTION OFFICIALS
THAT WORK AT THESE POLLING
PLACES IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY
TELLING YOU ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE A POTENTIAL VICTIM OF THAT
KIND OF THING?
>> WELL, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US
IS THAT THEY JUST DON'T FEEL
SAFE AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO
PROTECT THEM.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
COURTHOUSE, WHERE MY ELECTION
COMMISSION IS, MY STAFF DOESN'T
FEEL AS SAFE AS THEY USED TO, SO
WE HAVE TO PUT IN ADDITIONAL
SECURITY BARRIERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK, WE
RECENTLY INSTALLED PANIC BUTTONS
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING UP
MORE PLEXIGLAS TO PROTECT THEM,
WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING.
YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO HAVE AN OPEN
OFFICE, BUT IF WE HAVE TO HAVE
SOME PLEXIGLAS UP BECAUSE WE'RE
AFRAID SOMEBODY IS GOING TO JUMP
THE COUNTER OR SHOOT SOMEBODY,
WHAT ARE WE LEFT TO DO?
HOW DO YOU RETAIN EMPLOYEES IF
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE?
>> SO THIS BILL WOULD MAKE IT A
CLASS ONE FELONY TO INJURE AN
ELECTION OFFICIAL.
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL GIVE THE
NEEDED ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
SECURITY TO ELECTION OFFICIALS?
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK IT
WILL HELP.
I THINK YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO
HAVE YOUR EXTREMISTS AND YOUR
BAD ACTORS, BUT I DO THINK THAT
PEOPLE WILL, HOPEFULLY, THINK
TWICE ABOUT ACTING IN SUCH A
MANNER BECAUSE IF IT'S MORE OF A
FELONY, I THINK -- I HOPE,
ANYWAY, THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL
GET THAT MESSAGE.
THIS BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
AND I THINK IT'S UNIVERSAL, JUST
PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF OUR
BORDERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.
IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE
CONTROVERSIAL.
IT SHOULD JUST BE A UNIVERSAL
NORM.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL
CLIMATE, IT DOESN'T SEEMED TO
HAVE TONED DOWN A LOT SINCE
2020.
WHAT ARE YOU GIRDING FOR IN THE
UPCOMING ELECTIONS?
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'VE SAID THAT
YOU ARE TAKING ADDITIONAL
SECURITY STEPS, BUT KIND OF
GIRDING FOR MORE OF THE SAME?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH.
WE ARE.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED.
AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT THE
LEGISLATURE IS WORKING TO PASS
SOMETHING SUCH AS THIS.
WE NEED EVERYBODY ON BOARD.
ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THIS TYPE
OF ACTIVITY, BECAUSE WE ARE
NERVOUS.
AND I DO THINK THAT PROPER
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH IS
IMPORTANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW,
HEY, THIS IS BIPARTISAN, THIS IS
NOT ACCEPTABLE, YOU KNOW,
ELECTION WORKERS ARE SERVANTS,
PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE TRYING
TO HELP FACILITATE DEMOCRACY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
MILWAUKEE CLERK GEORGE
CHRISTENSEN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE NEW COVID-19 VACCINE IS
INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE NOW,
INCLUDING AT VACCINE CLINICS
LIKE THIS ONE AT UW-MADISON THIS
WEEK.
PHARMACIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
PROVIDING SHOTS FOR NO
OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS WITH
INSURANCE OR FREE FOR PEOPLE
WITHOUT INSURANCE.
EVEN IN THE FIRST WEEKS AFTER
APPROVAL, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
HAVE MEANT AN UNEVEN STOCK OF
VACCINE, RESULTING IN SOME
DROPPED APPOINTMENTS.
ON THE INFECTION ITSELF, WHAT IS
THE STATUS OF COVID ACTIVITY
ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW?
AND SHOULD WE EXPECT A FALL
SURGE IN CASES?
FOR THE CURRENT LOOK, WE TURN TO
WISCONSIN'S CHIEF MEDICAL
OFFICER AND STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST, DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, DOCTOR.
>> YES.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ME BACK.
>> LATEST NUMBERS SHOW
HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-19
GROWING AT 95%, IT SAID, IN THE
NORTHEAST PORTION OF WISCONSIN.
IS THAT INDICATIVE OF A SURGE?
>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
THIS FOR THE PAST A COUPLE OF
MONTHS, AND HAVE SEEN THE
VARIOUS REGIONS IN THE STATE
SWITCH PLACES WITH RESPECT TO
WHICH ARE INCREASING AND WHICH
HAVE BEEN DEEMED DECREASING.
IN THE NORTHERN REGION, GOING UP
BY THAT AMOUNT IS PROBABLY
SIGNIFICANT, BUT COMPARED TO
TRADITIONAL OR HISTORICAL
LEVELS, IT'S STILL RELATIVELY
LOW, AND THAT'S TRUE OF OUR CASE
DATA AS WELL.
WE'RE SEEING A STEADY INCREASE
IN HOW MUCH COVID ACTIVITY IS
HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE, BUT
IT'S STILL LOW BY HISTORICAL
STANDARDS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
WORST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC IN
THE PAST FEW YEARS.
>> AND SO WOULD YOU SAY EVEN
THOUGH THESE REGIONS KIND OF
SWAP PLACES IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH
THE CASES ARE GROWING OR
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE GROWING,
OVERALL, IS IT KIND OF A SLOW
BURN RIGHT NOW WITH COVID CASES?
>> IT HAS BEEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
LEARNED ABOUT COVID THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE
OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, LIKE
FLU AND RSV.
THERE TENDS TO BE A FLU AND THEN
IT COMES WITH A BIG SURGE.
COVID'S NEVER REALLY GONE AWAY.
WE FULLY EXPECT THAT IT COULD
GET WORST IN THE WINTER, AS MOST
RESPIRATORY VIRUSES DO, BUT A
SLOW BURN OVER THE LATE SUMMER
AND EARLY FALL IS A PRETTY
ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT
WE'VE SEEN.
>> HOW WELL DO EXPERTS THINK THE
NEW VACCINE PROTECTS AGAINST
THIS LATEST SUBVARIANT THAT
WE'RE SEEING?
>> WELL, WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL.
THE DATA THAT THE C.D.C.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE USED TO
RECOMMEND THE NEW FORMULATION
SHOWED THAT, AT LEAST IN THE
LABORATORY, THE ANTIBODIES THAT
YOUR BODY GENERATES IN RESPONSE
TO THIS NEW VACCINE ARE ABOUT
TWICE AS EFFECTIVE AS
NEUTRALIZING THE VIRUS PARTICLES
THAN THE PREVIOUS COVID BOOSTER,
SO WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT IT'S A PRETTY GOOD MATCH.
NO VIRUS IS PERFECT, AND AS
WE'VE LEARNED AS TIME HAS GONE
ON, COVID VACCINES ARE EXTREMELY
HELPFUL FOR PREVENTING THE MOST
DANGEROUS AND SEVERE
COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19,
INCLUDING HOSPITALIZATION, ICU
AT MISSION AND DEATH.
IT DOESN'T PREVENT ALL
INFECTIONS, BUT IF SOMEONE COMES
IN CONTACT WITH THE VIRUS, IT'S
A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF REDUCING
THE RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE.
>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE --
WHAT'S CALLED THE UPTICK OF
VACCINES ACROSS WISCONSIN?
ARE PEOPLE GOING OUT AND GETTING
THIS VACCINE?
>> WELL, IT'S PRETTY EARLY IN
THE SEASON.
IT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW
WEEKS, SO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE RECEIVED A COVID-19
VACCINATION SIMILAR TO A FLU
VACCINE, AND YOU SHOULD NO IT'S
FLU VACCINE SEASON AS WELL,
STILL LOW BY HISTORICAL
STANDARDS.
AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR INTRO,
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DELAY IN
VACCINES GETTING TO DIFFERENT
PHARMACIES AROUND THE STATE.
WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT THERE'S
MORE THAN ENOUGH VACCINE ALREADY
MANUFACTURED FOR EVERYONE WHO
WANTS A VACCINE TO HAVE ONE, BUT
IT MAY REQUIRE SOME PATIENTS,
DEPENDING ON -- PATIENCE
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE FOR
THE PHARMACY, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
GET IT WITHOUT DELAY.
>> SPEAKING OF THE FLU VACCINE,
PEOPLE WONDER, CAN YOU GET BOTH
AT THE SAME TIME?
>> YOU CERTAINLY CAN, AND WE
RECOMMEND THAT FOR OUR CLINICAL
PARTNERS, TO NOT MISS ANY
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET A VACCINE.
IF IT'S AVAILABLE, IT'S SAFE AND
RECOMMENDED TO GET BOTH AT THE
SAME TIME.
>> IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEEN
DESCRIBED AS THE SUPPLY CHAIN
ISSUE WITH GETTING ENOUGH
VACCINE INTO PHARMACIES,
ET CETERA, THAT'S BECAUSE
THERE'S KIND OF A SWITCH.
IT USED TO BE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT BOUGHT IT ALL UP AND
THEN DISPERSING IT OUT TO THE
STAYED AND THEN IT'S OUT TO THE
MARKET APPLICATION OF THIS?
>> WE'VE CALLED THAT THE
COMMERCIALIZATION PROCESS.
SO THE FIRST TWO YEARS THAT
VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE, YOU'RE
EXACTLY RIGHT, THE GOVERNMENT
BOUGHT THE ENTIRE SUPPLY AND
MADE IT AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES
THROUGH THE STATE HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS, WHICH SET UP MASS
VACCINATION CLINICS, DISTRIBUTED
IT TO HOSPITALS AND COLLEGE OF .
WE CAN ACCESS THE QUID PRO QUO
COVID-19VACCINATION INCREASINGLH
PHARMACIES.
THE OTHER DIFFERENCE, OF COURSE,
NOW IS THAT INSURANCE DOES COVER
VACCINES, WHEREAS BEFORE THEY
WERE FREE FOR EVERYONE, SO
PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE
FOR VACCINES, CAN STILL GET A
FREE VACCINE, BUT THEY NEED TO
GO TO ONE OF THE PLACES THAT'S
PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING
CALLED THE BRIDGE ACCESS
PROGRAM, AND YOU CAN FIND
LOCATIONS IN YOUR AREA
PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM BY
GOING TO VACCINES DOT GOING TO .
>> THANKS FOR WATCHING FOR YOUR
TIME.
NOW IS THE TIME LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CRUNCH THEIR NUMBERS
FOFOR 2024.
STATE'S INCREASE TO SHARED
REVENUE MEANS MORE DESPERATELY
NEEDED MONEY FOR SOME CITIES AND
TOWNS TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES,
ALLOWING THEM TO DELAY GOING TO
REFERENDUM TO INCREASE TAX
LEVIES.
FOR OTHERS, THE ADDITIONAL
FUNDING MEANS MORE
OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING FOR OUR
NEXT GUEST, WAUSAU MAYOR, KATIE
ROSENBERG.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEW
SHARED REVENUE LAW REPRESENTS A
NEARLY 30% INCREASE IN REVENUE
FROM THE STATE, A TOTAL OF NEW
AND EXISTING NOW OF ABOUT 5.IS
MILLION DOLLARS.
AS MAYOR, WHAT IS IT LIKE AFTER
SO MANY YEARS OF FLAT OR
DECLINING AID?
>> OH, IT'S A BIG DEAL, AND WE
ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT ALL PARTIES
COULD COME TOGETHER AND MAKE AN
AGREEMENT ON THIS, BUT FOR US,
IT'S ABOUT A MILLION MORE
DOLLARS, A LITTLE MORE THAN A
MILLION MORE DOLLARS FOR OUR
BELL THIS YEAR AND NEXT.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THINGS
LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT EARLIER
THIS YEAR WE WERE LOOKING AT A
25% INCREASE.
REALLY SCARY.
WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THAT
DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND WITH OUR
PARTNERS, SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS
MUCH NOW, BUT WE NEED TO PAY FOR
IT, STILL.
WE HIRED NINE NEW FIREFIGHTERS
WITH THE FEDERAL F.E.M.A. SAFER
GRANT AND WE GET TO PAY THEM
WITH THAT GRANT AND WE KNOW THIS
WILL HELP US PAY FOR THAT MOVING
FORWARD.
>> ARE THERE PROVISIONS IN THE
SHARED REVENUE LAW THAT ARE
RESTRICTIVE AS TO HOW IT HAS TO
BE SPENT AND DOES THAT REPRESENT
ANY KIND OF HARDSHIP FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS?
>> YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THERE ARE
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THAT KIND
OF EXTRA LEVEL OF MAYBE -- I'M
NOT GOING TO CALL IT
RESTRICTIVENESS, BUT THE
GUIDELINES WE WERE GIVEN MIGHT
BE CHALDZ, BUT FOR US, REALLY,
WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE
SERVICES THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS
FROM US, PUBLIC SAFETY IS
ESPECIALLY PREVALENT, SO WE
EXPECT TO SPEND A LOT OF THAT
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY,
ESPECIALLY FIREFIGHTING, SINCE
WE DID BRING ON THOSE NINE NEW
FIREFIGHTERS THIS YEAR ALONE.
>> INTERESTINGLY, THERE'S A
PROVISION IN THIS LAW THAT
PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM
PREFERENTIAL HIRING BASED ON
PROTECTED CLASSES LIKE RACE.
DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING IN
WAUSAU?
>> YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HIRE FOR
THE BEST FEMALE PEOPLE IT AND T
THE PEOPLE WE HIRE TO BE OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES
ANYTHING.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HIRING THE BEST PEOPLE THAT WILL
DO THE BEST JOB IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> ANOTHER PROVISION IN THE LAW
ALLOWS FOR WHAT ARE CALLED
INNOVATION GRANTS, WHEREBY THIS
EXCHANGE TO CONSOLIDATING
SERVICES AND SAVING MONEY, YOU
COULD GET MORE MONEY, IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT WAUSAU IS
AVAILING ITSELF OF.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVEN'T DONE IT FORMALLY YET,
BUT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO
MOVE FORWARD AND CONSIDER HOW WE
CAN CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH OUR
PARTNERS, THE COUNTY, OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES OF WE'VE DONE A
LOT OF THAT OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE THE
RECESSION, WE'VE FIGURED OUT
WAYS TO CUT COSTS AND WORK
TOGETHER BETTER, BUT WE'RE
EXCITED FOR WHAT THE LOOKS LIKE
FOR THE FUTURE.
CAN WE PARTNER TOGETHER TO DO
SPECIALIZED TRAINING THAT WILL
GIVE ALL OF OUR COUNTY THE BEST
LEVEL OF SERVICE, BETTER THAN
WHAT THEY HAVE NOW?
SO WE'RE THINKING THROUGH WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE AND ALSO ASKING
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
>> DO YOU HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT
IN MIND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PUT IN FOR FOR THAT?
>> I FEEL LIKE IF I TOLD YOU
ANYTHING, WE ARE CONSIDERING --
WE'RE TALKING TRAINING
SPECIFICALLY.
WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH OUR
TEAMS, OUR FIREFIGHTING TEAM, IF
YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, THEY'RE
PRETTY AGGRESSIVE, BUT THEY WERE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TRAINING.
WE DON'T HAVE A TRAINING
FACILITY IN OUR COUNTY, AND SO
IT WOULD REALLY LIFT THE LET'S
LOOK OF CARE IN OUR COUNTY AND
ALL OF THE SURROUNDING
MUNICIPALITIES IF WE WERE ABLE
TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> YOU TELL US STILL THE BIGGEST
ISSUE FOR YOU REMAINS THE WATER.
HOW SO?
>> YES.
THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
SO I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING ALONG FOR OUR ENTIRE
TWO-YEAR JOURNEY SO FAR, AND
WITH P.F.A.S.
WE ARE REMOVING OUR P.F.A.S.
TEMPORARILY.
OUR PERMANENT SOLUTION WILL BE
YOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ON-LINE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER NEXT
YEAR AND SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING
TO ACCELERATE THAT.
IT'S EXPENSIVE.
WE'VE ASKED OUR COMMUNITY TO
INCREASE THEIR RATE 65% TO HELP
PAY FOR THIS, AND SO I'M REALLY
DIGGING IN THE COUCH CUSHIONS
AND TALKING TO OUR PARTNERS
EVERYWHERE, HOW IT WE PAY FOR
THIS WOULD IT GOING BACK TO THE
REPAIRS, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A
HEAVY LIFT FOR OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
WE PAID FOR ABOUT HALF OF OUR
GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON
SOLUTION WITH GRANTS AND AWARDS,
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.
STILL LOOKING FOR MORE, THOUGH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DIGGING IN THOSE COUCH CUSHIONS.
MAYOR KATIE ROSENBERG, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS PAST MONDAY IN PRIME
TIME HERE ON PBS WISCONSIN,
JOURNALIST MURV SEYMORE BROUGHT
YOU WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND
WHITE, A PROGRAM SPECIAL IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEHEMIAH
CENTER FOR URBAN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT.
IN IT, WE LOOKED BACK AT HISTORY
FOR WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE WITH
RACE IN THIS STATE AND WHAT
WE'RE DOING NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE TO TRY TO RIGHT THE
WRONGS.
THIS SPECIAL REPORTED ON THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION
SYSTEMS AS THEY DISPARATELY
AFFECT BLACK WISCONSINITES.
TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE THIS
REPORTING W "HERE & NOW" SERIES
OVER THE COMING WEEKS.
FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS,
REPORTER NATHAN DENZIN LOOKS AT
THE HISTORY OF HOUSING AND HOW
BLACK RESIDENTS WERE OFTEN LEFT
OUT OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, THE MOST
IMPORTANT WAY TO BUILD WEALTH IN
THIS COUNTRY.
HERE'S WISCONSIN AND BLACK AND
WHITE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, LOOKING
FIRST AT HOW HOUSING BECAME SO
SEGREGATED.
>> OWNING A HOME HAS ALWAYS BEEN
KEY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A
POLAR OF WEALTH-BUILDING FOR
MOST FAMILIES, A SOURCE OF
WEALTH THAT CAN BE PASSED DOWN
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> HAVING THE ABILITY TO
PURCHASE A HOME AND LIVE WHERE
ONE CHOOSES IS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD
BE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
>> AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS MOVED TO
WISCONSI IN LARGE NUMBERS AFTER
WORLD WAR II, THEY ENTERED A
SEGREGATE HOUSING MARKET.
>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT RACISM,
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT JIM CROW, WE
HAVE A TENDENCY TO FOCUS ON THE
SOUTH, WHEN IT WAS UNIVERSAL
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
>> INCLUDING HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WE'RE STARTING AROUND 1900,
RACISM WAS BUILT INTO
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS WERE CLAUSES THAT WERE
INSERTED INTO PROPERTY DEEDS
THAT PREVENTED PEOPLE WHO WERE
NOT WHITE FROM OWNING, BUYING,
OR OCCUPYING PROPERTY.
>> PROFESSORS AT UW-MILWAUKEE
MAPPED OLD COVENANTS IN THE CITY
OF MILWAUKEE AND ITS SURROUNDING
SUBURBS.
>> BY 1928, HALF OF ALL HOMES
THAT WERE OWNED BY WHITE PEOPLE
IN THE UNITED STATES HAD SOME
SORT OF A RESTRICTIVE, RACIALLY
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
>> OFTEN, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
HAD SWEEPING LANGUAGE.
DEREK HANDILY READS THIS ONE.
>> NUMBER EIGHT, OWNERSHIP
OCCUPANCY BY MEMBERS OF WHITE
RACE ONLY.
NO LOT IN SAID SUBDIVISION SHALL
BE CONVEYED OR LEASED TO OR
OCCUPIED BY ANY AMERICAN PERSONS
NOT A MEMBER OF THE WHITE RACE.
THIS PROHIBITION IS NOT INTENDED
TO INCLUDE DOMESTIC SERVANTS
WHILE EMPLOYED BY AN OWNER OR
OCCUPANT OF ANY SUCH LOT.
SO NOW AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE
LIMITED AREAS IN WHICH THEY CAN
LIVE AND SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO
BE CROWDED INTO ONE AREA.
>> BLACK PEOPLE WHO COME DURING
THE GREAT MIGRATION HAVE COMING
TO A PLACE THAT HAS A HISTORY OF
ANTI-BLACKNESS AND RACISM.
>> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SHAPING THE TEXTURE OF YOUR
LIFE.
>> DR. CHRIS CHRISTY CLARK-PUJAE
A, A HISTORY PROFESSOR AT
UW-MADISON, ALSO WORKS WITH THE
ORGANIZATION, NEHEMIAH.
SHE'S AN INSTRUCTOR AND IT'S
JUSTIFIED ANGER BLACK HISTORY
FOR A NEW DAY COURSE.
THE NINE-WEEK COURSE TEACHES THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT RACE, HISTORY,
AND JUSTICE.
>> HOUSING IS CRITICAL BECAUSE
THIS IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO PAY
THE SAME AMOUNT MONTH AFTER
MONTH FOR 30 YEARS WITH LITTLE
TO NO MONEY DOWN TRANSFORMED
AMERICAN LIFE.
>> WHILE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
WERE MADE UNENFORCEABLE BY A
1948 SUPREME COURT RULING, THEY
CONTINUED TO BE ADDED TO
PROPERTY DEEDS.
>> AFTER 1948, WE HAVE EXAMPLES
OF DEEDS IN THE 1950s, AND THE
LATEST ONE WE FOUND SO FAR WAS
1962.
>> EVEN THOUGH COVENANTS FELL
OUT OF USE IN THE '60s, OTHER
LONGSTANDING TOOLS OF RACIAL
SEGREGATION, LIKE REDLINING,
CONTINUED TO CARVE UP
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THE TERM, REDLINING, COMES
FROM A SET OF MAPS THAT WERE
DRAWN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> REGGIE JACKSON EDUCATES
PEOPLE ABOUT DIVERSITY.
HE SAYS THAT THE REDLINING MAPS
WEREN'T COMMON KNOWLEDGE.
>> THEY WERE, FOR THE MOST PART,
SECRETIVE MAPS.
BANKERS AND REALTORS KNEW THEY
EXISTED.
>> HOMEOWNERS LOAN CORPORATION
AND THE FEDERAL HOUSING
ADMINISTRATION IN 1934 ADOPTED A
MECHANISM WHERE THEY DREW LINES
ON A MAP.
>> UW-MADISON PROFESSOR, KURT
PAULSEN, IS A HISTORIAN OF URBAN
PLANNING.
>> WHAT REDLINING SAID WHAT WHO
COULD GET A MORTGAGE REFINANCED.
>> REDLINING MAPS, LIKE THIS ONE
DRAWN FROM MILWAUKEE IN 1938
DIVIDED CITIES INTO FOUR GRADES.
GREEN AREAS WERE CONSIDERED THE
BEST PLACE FOR BANKS TO INVEST
IN, WHILE RED AREAS WERE DEEMED
HAZARDOUS AND NOT WORTHY OF
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT.
>> ONE OF THE CRITERIA THAT THE
F.H.A. AND THE HOMEOWNERS LOAN
CORPORATION USED WAS THE
PRESENCE OF WHAT THEY CALL,
QUOTE, INHARMONIOUS RACIAL
GROUPS.
>> NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE BLACK
PEOPLE LIVED WERE ALWAYS RED
LINED, AND SO WHAT THAT MEANT
WAS IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY
DIFFICULT TO BECOME A PERSON WHO
COULD GET A TRADITIONAL BANK
MORTGAGE TO PURCHASE A HOME OR A
BUSINESS PROPERTY.
>> WHAT THAT MEANT WAS THAT A
BLACK PERSON, IF THEY MOVED INTO
A YELLOW OR A BLUE ZONE, WOULD
CHANGE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO A
RED ZONE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT WHITE
PERSON'S PROPERTY WOULD BE --
WOULD LOSE HUGE VALUE.
>> UW-LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR, ION
MEYN, SAYS THE PARTNERS OF
SEGREGATION WE SEE TODAY STEM
FROM THESE POLICIES.
>> SO A BLACK PERSON BECAME A
THREAT TO WHITE WEALTH AND IT
CREATED HYPER SEGREGATION, AND
IT NOT ONLY CREATE DISINVESTMENT
IN OLDER URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS; IT
FACILITATED SUBURBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
>> BECAUSE REDLINING SENT
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO THE
SUBURBS, URBAN COMMUNITIES WERE
LEFT WITH OLD HOUSING AND HIGH
PRICES.
>> IN MANY CASES, BLACK PEOPLE
IN DETERIORATING URBAN
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE PAYING MORE
IN RENT THAN WHITE FAMILIES WERE
PAYING IN THE SUBURBS.
>> THAT MEANS THAT BLACKS HAD
BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE ABILITY TO
BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
>> WHAT YOU HAVE IS BASICALLY A
SYSTEM OF STATE SANCTIONED
APARTHEID.
>> I REMEMBER AS A KID HANGING
OUT HERE, RIDE MY BIKE OR
WALKING, AND I NEVER SAW WHITE
PEOPLE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BLACK.
I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT
WHEN I WAS A KID.
I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
JUST THE WAY IT IS.
>> REGGIE JACKSON HAS LIVED IN
MILWAUKEE FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE
AND TAKES PEOPLE ON SEGREGATION
TOURS OF THIS CITY.
WE JOINED HIM TO SEE THE LINES
OF SEGREGATION UP CLOSE.
>> THE BEST WAYS TO SEE THE
SEGREGATION OF MILWAUKEE IS TO
VISIBLY JUST DRIVE ALONG ONE OF
OUR MAIN STREETS, NORTH AVENUE.
>> HE SAYS THE MILWAUKEE RIVER
IS ONE OF THE LARGEST INVISIBLE
BORDERS.
>> ONCE YOU CROSS FROM THE WEST
TO THE EAST, ACROSS THE RIVER,
YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO SEE A RESIDENTIAL AREA THAT
HAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHITE
PEOPLE, FOR THE MOST PART.
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT TRYING TO
BUILD HOMES IN THIS PART OF
TOWN.
AND SO REALLY, REALLY A SAD
SITUATION, TO ME.
>> JACKSON SAYS THAT IN ORDER TO
RESTORE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS IN
MILWAUKEE, INVESTMENTS IN JOBS
AND AFFORDABLE HOMES ARE A MUST.
>> CLEARLY MISSING IS THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO
BECOME HOMEOWNERS.
PEOPLANT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.
>> BUT JACKSON SAYS THAT IN
ORDER TO CAPTURE INVESTMENT FOR
THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
HOW WE GOT HERE.
>> OURS IS A COMPLICATED HISTORY
AND WE CAN'T HIDE FROM IT.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM IT
AND WE HAVE TO GROW FROM IT.
>> FOR "HERE & NOW," I'M NATHAN
DENZIN.
>> NEXT WEEK, WHAT URBAN RENEWAL
IN THE 1960s WROUGHT ON BLACK
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE CONTINUE OUR
REPORTING ON WISCONSIN IN BLACK
AND WHITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
NEHEMIAH.
TO SEE MORE EPISODES AND
ADDITIONAL CONTENT, GO TO PBS
WISCONSIN DOT-ORG, WISCONSIN IN
BLACK AND WHITE.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING COMPANY)
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.