%
>>>
WELCOME TO "NOON
WEDNESDAY,"
%I'M MARISA
WOJCIK,
MULTIMEDIA
%JOURNALIST WITH "HERE & NOW"
ON
%PBS
WISCONSIN,
AND
TODAY
IS
JULY
%21.
%EXPERTS ARE
SAYING
WISCONSIN'S
%SHORELINES
ARE
UNDERGOING
HIGHER
%LEVELS O
F
FLOODING AND
EROSION
%DUE
TO CLIMATE
CHANGE, AND
A
NEW
%SURVEY REPORTS
THAT COASTAL
%COMMUNITIES ARE
EXPERIENCING
%DAMAGES
THAT
COST IN
THE
%MILLIONS.
%SO
HERE
TO
GIVE
A
LARGEST
%CONTEXT
BOTH
LOCALLY
AND
%INTERNATIONALLY
IS
SHEBOYGAN
%MAYOR,
RYAN
SORENSON,
A
%REPRESENTATIVE ON
THE
BOARD OF
%THE GREAT LAKES
AND
ST.
LAWRENCE
%RIVER
INITIATIVE,
.
%THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
%HERE.
%>>
THANK
YOU SO
MUCH
FOR
HAVING
%ME,
MARISA, IT IS
A
PLEASURE TO%BE
HERE.
%>> I
WANT
TO
START
BE -- SO
THE
%GREAT
LAKES
IN
ST. LAWRENCE
AND
%RIVER CITY
EXPANDS
BEYOND
%WISCONSIN AND
EVEN
THE UNITED
%STATES,
INCLUDED
CANADIAN
%COMMUNITIES,
THE
SURVEY
%ESTIMATED
DAMAGES OF
AT
LEAST
$2
%BILLION.
%WHAT
IS
WISCONSIN'S SHARE
OF
%THAT
COST,
AND
IS
IT
A
%CONSERVATIVE
ESTIMATE
OR
%OVERESTIMATION?%>>
YEAH.
%SO
THE
ESTIMATED
COST
FOR
%WISCONSIN
SPECIFICALLY
ARE
%AROUND
$245
MILLION,
BUT
THESE
%AREN'T ALL
THE
NUMBERS
COMBINED
%FOR ALL
THE
LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES
%IN
WISCONSIN, BUT
ACCOUNTING FOR
%CITIES.%WE'RE NOT
TALKING
ABOUT
THE
%VILLAGES
AND
TOWNS
SPRINKLED
IN
%BETWEEN.
%WE'RE NOT
EVEN
LOOKING
AT
THE
%ECONOMIC IMPACT.
%THESE
COSTS
FOR
OUR
COMMUNITIES%IN WISCONSIN
ARE
JUST
LOOKING AT
%COSTS THAT
IT
TAKES
TO
MITIGATE
%AND
TO
ADAPT
INTO
WATER
LEVELS
%THAT ARE
IMPACTING
OUR
%COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S
THE
%LAKE FRONT OR THE
RIVERS
THAT
%FEED
INTO
LAKE
MICHIGAN AS
WELL.
%$2 BILLION FOR
ALL OF THE
CITIES
%ACROSS
THE GREAT
LAKES IN
THE
%ST. LAWRENCE
RIVER,
THESE
ARE
%MAJOR,
MAJOR
AREAS
OF
CONCERN
%FOR
MILLIONS OF
FOLKS
THAT
LIVE
%ON
THESE
BODIES
OF
WATER,
%WHETHER THEY
WORK
HERE,
VISIT
%HERE, OR
RAISE
THEIR
FAMILIES
%HERE, AND
SO IT
IS
SOMETHING
%THAT
WE'RE REALLY
CONCERNED
%ABOUT,
TOO,
AND
ESPECIALLY
WHEN
%LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES, LIKE A
%MIDSIZED
CITY
LIKE
SHEBOYGAN,
%TRIES TO BUDGET
AND
PLAN FOR
THE
%FUTURE, WE
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT%WHAT WORKS
FOR
US
AND
HOW
TO
%MAKE
OUR
MONEY
WORK
AND
HOW%WE'RE GOING
TO
COMMUNICATE
THAT
%WITH
OUR CON
CONSTITUENTS SO THE
%NUMBERS
ARE VERY
MUCH
A
TARGET
%RIGHT NOW
IN
TERMS
OF
GETTING
A
%BETTER
SCOPE
OF
WHERE
WE
ARE
AT
%
AND
WHAT THE
ISSUES
ARE.
%IT
IS
SOMETHING
THAT
THE GREAT
%LAKES
AND
ST. LAWRENCE
CITIES
%AND
INDUSTRY IS
WORKING
AND
%REALLY
MAKING
SURE
THAT
FOLKS
IN
%WASHINGTON HERE
FROM -- HEAR
%FROM
US
WHEN
W
E ARE
WORKING
ON
%THE
INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE THAT
%THEY ARE
PUTTING THINGS
IN
THERE
%THAT
HELPS
COMMUNITIES
LIKE
%SHEBOYGAN,
MILWAUKEE,
GREEN
BAY,
%TO
MAKE
SURE
WE
ADDRESS WATER
%INFRASTRUCTURE
AS
WELL.
%THERE'S A
LOT
OF
INFRASTRUCTURE%FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
%>>
NOW,
LET'S
GET
A LITTLE
BIT
%INTO
WHAT
THESE
COSTS
REPRESENT.
%SO
SPECIFICALLY
IS
IT
DAMAGE
TO
%THE
SHORELINE?
%IS
IT
ECONOMIC
LOSSES?
%WHAT DO
THESE
COSTS
SPECIFICALLY
%REPRESENT?
%>>
OVERALL,
THIS
IS
DAMAGE
%PROTECTION.
%THIS IS
A VERY
MUCH
REACTION
OF
%WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO
H
AVE
TO
%ANTICIPATE OVER
THE
NEXT
FEW
%YEARS HERE.
%THIS
IS
NOT
LOOKING AT
THE
FULL
%SCOPE OF
ECONOMIC IMPACT
AS
WELL
%TOO.
%WHETHER YOU
ARE
A
SMALL
BUSINESS
%SALON OWNER
THAT'S
RIGHT
ON
THE
%WATER FRONT
OR
IF
YOU'RE
A
MAJOR
%ORGANIZATION
THAT
RELIES
ON
%TOURISTS
AND
IMPACTS
BY
RISING
%WATER AS
WELL,
TOO,
YOU'RE NOT
%LOOKING
AT
THE
LOSS
O
F
REVENUE
%THAT WOULD HAVE OR
THE
IMPACT
ON
%THOSE
FAMILIES
THA
T THOSE
JOBS
%SUPPORT, AND
SO
THAT
WE
DON'T
%GET
THE
HOLISTIC
GROUP
PICTURE
%JUST
YET OF
TRULY
WHAT
THE
BIG
%IMPACT
OF
THIS
IS
OR
FOR
BOTH
%THE UNITED STATES
AND
CANADA
FOR
%INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE
IMPACTED
ON
%THE GREAT LAKES
OR
THE
%ST. LAWRENCE RIVER.
%WE
UNDERSTAND
THAT
THE GREAT
%LAKES AND
ALL
THEY
PROVIDE
WITH
%THEIR
NATURAL
RESOURCES
IS
A
%HUGE
ECONOMIC
DRIVER FOR
ALL
THE
%COMMUNITIES IN THE
AREA.
%WE
DON'T KNOW
WHAT
THE
FUTURE
%HOLDS IN
TERMS
OF
CLIMATE
CHANGE
%SPECIFICALLY
AND
WHAT
THAT
LOOKS
%LIKE, BUT WE HAVE
TO
ACT
AND
DO
%SOMETHING TO
COMMUNITIES ARE
%PROTECTED AND
PREPARED
FOR
%WHAT'S TO
COME IN
THE
FUTURE.
%>>
COULD
YOU
DIAL
IT
IN
A
LITTLE
%FURTHER
FOR
US
AND
TELL
US
ABOUT%WHAT THIS
IT
LOOKS
LIKE
IN
%SHEBOYGAN?
%WHAT
ARE
THESE
LOSSES
LOOKING
%LIKE
FOR
YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
%>>
YEAH.
%RIGHT
NOW, WE
DON'T
HAVE
THE
%FULL
PICTURE, BUT WE
WANT TO
%MAKE SURE WE
ARE
BEING
ATTENTIVE
%AND
FORWARD-THINKING IN
HOW
TO
%ADDRESS
THIS.
%SHEBOYGAN
IS
THE
MALIBU OF
THE
%MIDWEST.
%WE
ARE
A
STRONG
TOURISM
%COMMUNITY
AND
RELY
ON
MANY
%FACETS OF
INDIVIDUALS
AND
THE
%ECONOMY.
%WHETHER IT'S
CHARTER
FISHING, WE%HAVE ONE OF
THE
LARGEST
CHARTER
%FISHING
FLEETS
ON
THE GREAT
%LAKES AND
WONDERFUL
MARINA
THAT
%ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER
%THE UNITED STATES.
%WE
HAVE,
OBVIOUSLY,
SURFACING,
%FRESH
WATER
SURFING
CAPITAL OF
%THE
WORLD.
%MANY ENJOY
THAT SPORT
AS
WELL
%TOO.
%
ALL
OF
THESE
PARTS
TIED
TO
%DIFFERENT
PARTS OF
THE
ECONOMY,%AND
SO
THAT
IS
JUST
A
LITTLE
%SNAPSHOT
OF,
YOU
KNOW,
WHEN
%CLIMATE
CHANGE
IMPACTS THE
%COMMUNITIES.
%IF IT
DAMAGES
OUR
SHORELINES AND
%WE'RE NOT ABLE
TO
HAVE
A
BEACH
%FOR
PEOPLE
TO
ENJOY
AND
RECREATE
%ANYMORE, THAT'S A CONCERN.
%WHEN I WAS ON
THE
CITY
COUNCIL,%I
REPRESENTED
INDIVIDUALS THAT
%LIVED ON
THE
SOUTH SHORE
OF
%SHEBOYGAN, AND EVERYONE THAT I
%TALKED
TO,
YOU
KNOW, THAT
LIVED
%IN THEIR
HOMES
FOR
SEVERAL
%YEARS, COULD
SEE
THE
DIRECT
%IMPACT
OF
THEIR
SLOPES
AND
%SHORELINES
ERODING AND
FALLING
%INTO
THE
LAKE.
%YOU
KNOW,
EVERY
FEW
YEARS,
JUST
%A
COUPLE
MORE
INCHES,
A
COUPLE
%MORE
FEET,
AND
WHEN
THE
SLOPES
%LOSE
STABILITY,
SADLY,
WE
DON'T
%KNOW
WHAT
MIGHT
HAPPEN
WITH
THE
%FUTURE O
F
THOSE
HOMES, AND
SO
%THE
L
IVELIHOODS OF
FAMILIES
AND
%THEIR
SAFETY
ARE
A
CONCERN AS
%WELL
TOO.
%I THINK
YOU
HAVE
TO
LOOK
AT
THE
%BROAD
SPECTRUM
OF
RISING
WATER
%
AND HOW IT
IS
IMPACTING
FOLKS
ON
%LAKE
MICHIGAN,
WHETHER
IT'S
%HOMEOWNERS,
FAMILIES,
TOURISM,
%RECREATION, GO DOWN
THE
LIST.
%IT
IMPACTS SO
MANY
DIFFERENT
%WAYS.
%WE
SEE
IT
FIRSTHAND, YOU
KNOW,%SHE
%SHEBOYGAN, WE
LOST
SEVERAL
%BEACHES OVER
THE
LAST
TWO
YEARS
%BECAUSE
OF
HIGH
WATER,
AND,
YOU
%KNOW,
NOW
IT'S
GOING
BAD,
AND WE
%HAVE
100-YEAR
STORMS
HAPPENING
%FREQUENTLY, HEAVY
RAINFALLS,
%WITH THAT
COMES A
LOT
OF
%EROSION, AND
THAT
IMPACTS
US
IN
%THOSE
WAYS AS
WELL
SO
FOLKS
IN
%SHEBOYGAN SEE
IT
FIRSTHAND.
%WE'RE CONCERNED.
%WHAT THIS
MEANS FOR
THE
FUTURE
%AND
HOW
TO
PLAN
FOR
IT.
%>>
AND
WHEN
YOU
TALK
ABOUT
THESE
%100-YEAR
STORMS
HAPPENING
OVER
%AND
OVER,
IS
THAT
REALLY KIND
OF
%WHAT IS
MAKING
IT
UNDENIABLE OR
%HARD
TO
IGNORE
THIS
IS
CLIMATE
%CHANGE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
SAY,
%WELL, THE
LEVELS
OF
WATER
RISE
%AND FALL ALL
THE
TIME,
AND IT
IS
%CYCLICAL, BUT
IS
THE
INTENSITY
%OF
AND
FREQUENCY
OF
HOW
THIS
IS
%HAPPENING, IS
THAT
WHAT'S REALLY
%
MAKING IT
EASIER
TO
SAY,
NO,
%THIS
IS
CLIMATE
CHANGE?
%>> OF
COURSE.
%THE
INTENSITY, THE
FREQUENCY, IT
%IS
HAPPENING SO
MUCH
MORE
THAT%IT
IS
MUCH
MORE
DIFFICULT
TO
%PLAN
FOR
IT.
%JUST
THE
OTHER
SUMMER, WE
HAD
%OUR
BOARDWALK
UNDERWATER, YOU
%KNOW,
IN
PARTS OF
THE
RIVER
%
FRONT UNDERWATER BECAUSE OF THE
%INTENSITY OF
RISING WATER.
%
WE
WERE
NOT
ABLE
TO
PUT
IN
BOAT
%DOCKS
BECAUSE
WE
COULDN'T
HAVE
%BOAT
LAUNCHES
BECAUSE OF THE
%FREQUENCY OF
HOW
THE
WATER
WAS
%RISING.
%WE
HAD
BUSINESSES THAT
JUST FOR
%THE
LIVELIHOOD HAVE
TO
REACT
IN
%SUCH A WAY
THAT
THEY
JUST
PUT
%OUT
SANDBAGS
AND
HOPE
AND
PRAY
%THAT
THE
WATER
WON'T
DAMAGE
%THEIR
STORES,
AND,
SADLY,
SOME
%DID GET
DAMAGED,
AND
SOME
ARE
%TRYING TO
FIGURE
OUT
HOW
TO
DEAL
%WITH
WATER
RUNOFF THAT
FLOODS
%INTO
THEIR
BASEMENT
AND
INTO
%THEIR
BUSINESSES.
%THESE ARE
FOLKS'
LIVELIHOODS,%WHETHER
THEY
OWN
AND
OPERATE
%BUSINESSES
HERE, WHETHER
THEY
%RELY
ON
TOURISM, WHETHER
THEY
%ARE
HOMEOWNERS, WE
HAVE TO
DO
%SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
%WE
ARE
BEING
PROACTIVE
AND
%THROUGH THIS
INITIATIVE, WE WANT
%TO MAKE
SURE
WE
REALLY
ELEVATE
%THE
VOICE
FOR
COMMUNITIES
ON
THE%GREAT LAKES
AND
THE
ST. LAWRENCE
%RIVER TO
MAKE
SURE THAT
WE
ARE
%HAVING
A
STRONG
COLLECTIVE
VOICE
%TO
MOVE
THIS
ISSUE
FORWARD
AND
%MAKE
SURE
FOLKS
IN
CANADA
AND
%THE UNITED STATES CAN
HELP
US
%OUT
.
%>>
AND
ALONG
THOSE
LINES,
%BECAUSE IT
IS
BI-NATIONAL,
AND
%IT
STRETCHES
MANY
DIFFERENT
%COMMUNITIES
AND
GOES BEYOND
%BOUNDARIES AND
BORDERS,
WHOSE
%RESPONSIBILITY IS
IT
TO
PAY
FOR
%THIS?
%HOW
DO
YOU
DECIDE
VERSUS
%POINTING
FINGERS?
%>>
YEAH.
%I THINK
WE
NEED TO
BE
%PROACTIVING AND
I'M
NOT
A
PERSON
%THAT
LIKES
TO
POINT
FINGERS.
%YOU
KNOW,
THIS
IS
THE
ISSUE
WE
%ARE
DEALING WITH.
%WE
HAVE TO
BE
PROACTIVE
AND
WORK
%TOGETHER
AND
BE
COLLABORATIVE
IN
%OUR
APPROACHES.
%YOU
KNOW, I THINK
THIS
IS
WHAT
%GETS
EXCITING FOR ME.
%THE
ISSUE LIKE
THIS, WATER
IS
A
%NONPARTISAN ISSUE.
%I
LOVE
WORKING WITH
DEMOCRATS,
%REPUBLICANS,
INDEPENDENTS, AND
%EVERYONE IN
BETWEEN FROM
THE%UNITED
STATES,
FROM
CANADA,
IN
%TERMS OF
HOW
TO
MOVE
FORWARD
AND
%HAVE -- THE UNITED
STATES,
%OBVIOUSLY, HAS TO
DO
ITS
PART,
%AND
WE
ARE
HAVING GREAT
%CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THIS
%INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE
GOING
%THROUGH CONGRESS RIGHT NOW.
%I'M
EXCITED TO SEE WHAT
COMES
%OUT OF THAT.
%HOPEFULLY,
WE'LL GET
A
GREAT
%INVESTMENT IN ROADS
AND
BRIDGES
%FOR
LOCAL
COMMUNITIES, AND
WE
%ALSO NEED
TO
FOCUS
ON
OUR
WATER
%INFRASTRUCTURE.
%COMMUNITIES
LIKE
SHEBOYGAN,
%STATES LIKE
WISCONSIN
RELY
%HEAVILY
ON
OUR
WATERWAYS
AND%GREAT LAKES
TO
SUPPORT
OUR
LOCAL
%COMMUNITIES AS
WELL.
%WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS
JUST
A
%HUGE
VITAL
COMPONENT
OF
HOW
WE%CAN
BE
STRONG AND
MAKE
SURE
THAT
%WE'RE A
LAKE
FRONT
COMMUNITY OF
%THE
21st
CENTURY.
%WE
HAVE SO
MUCH
TO
OFFER.
%WE
HAVE
TO
MAKE
SURE
OUR
%COMMUNITIES STAY
STRONG
AND
%
HEALTHY AND
VIBRANT
AND
KEEP
OUR%GREAT LAKES
PROTECTED
JUST
IS
%PART
OF
THAT.
%>>
SO
YOU
SPOKE
OF
REACTIONARY
%MEASURES,
BUSINESSES
PUTTING
%
DOWN SANDBAGS.
%LOOKS LIKE WHAT YOU ARE
LOOKING
%AT WITH
THE INFRASTRUCTURE%PACKAGE
IS A
LITTLE
MORE
LONG
%TERM.
%IS
THERE
ALSO
POLLUTION IN THE
%WATER BECAUSE OF
THIS?
%WHAT
ARE
THE
REAL
LONG TERM
%SOLUTIONS, AND
IS
IT JUST GOING%
TO KEEP GETTING
WORSE
?
%>>
YEAH.
%WHEN
YOU
TALK
LONG-TERM
%SOLUTIONS, IT
GOES
MANY
WAYS,
%BUT
I'LL
SPEAK
FOR
SHEBOYGAN
%SPECIFICALLY.
%WE'RE A
LAKE
SHORE
COMMUNITY
%THAT
HAS
OVER TEN
MILES
ON
THE%GREAT LAKES.
%WE
HAVE
A
WONDERFUL
SHEBOYGAN%RIVER.%WE HAVE
A LOT OF
BUSINESSES,
%PARKS, AREAS
TO
RECREATE, ENJOY%A DAY
AT
THE
BEACH,
GRAB
ICE
%CREAM, GRAB
FOOD AT
A
%RESTAURANT,
RENT
SOME
KAYAKS
OR
%PADDLE
BOARDS,
AND
WE'RE
VERY
%CONNECTED IN A
LOT
OF
THOSE
%DIFFERENT
BUSINESSES.%WE HAVE
A
STRONG
BUSINESS%COMMUNITY.%WHEN
YOU
HAVE
SOMETHING
LIKE
%THIS THAT
COMES
UNEXPECTEDLY AND
%IMPACTS
US, IT
IS
HARD
TO
ADAPT,
%AND
I
MET WITH
THE
SALON OWNER
%THE OTHER
DAY
WHO
OWNS
A
SALON
%RIGHT
ON
THE
RIVER,
AND
WHEN
YOU
%HAVE
STORM
WATER
PIPES
BACKING
%UP BECAUSE
OF
HIGH
WATER
OR
%HEAVY RAIN
AND
THAT
FLOODS THE
%BASEMENT, AND THEY
ARE
NOT
ABLE
%TO
MAKE
PAYMENTS
TO
FIX
THAT,
%THEY
ARE
NOT
ABLE
TO
SOLVE
THE
%PROPERTY
AND
MOVE FORWARD
WITH
%THEIR
BUSINESSES, THAT
REALLY
%IMPACTING
THEM, AND IT
I
S
A
BIG
%STRUGGLE FOR
THEM
AS
WELL,
TOO.
%I
THINK
THERE
NEEDS TO
BE
MAJOR
%COMPONENT
FOR
LONG-TERM
PLANNING%TO
WORK WITH
THE
STATES, FEDERAL
%GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS,
%EVERY LEVEL
IN
BETWEEN IN
THE
%PRIVATE
SECTOR AS
WELL
T
O
%DEVELOP
STRONG STRATEGIC
%PARTNERSHIPS TO
MAKE
SURE W
E
%UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
BUSINESSES'
%NEEDS ARE THAT
ARE IN THE
AREA
%AS WELL
SO I
THINK
THAT'S
ONE
%POINT,
AND
THEN
WE
NEED
TO
TALK
%ABOUT
MITIGATION
STRATEGIES AS
%WELL.
%FOR
E
XAMPLE,
IN
SHEBOYGAN, WE
%HAVE A LOT
OF
JETTIES,
BREAK
%WATER
SYSTEMS, SEA
WALLS
THAT
%NEED
REPAIR,
AND
INVESTMENTS TO
%PROTECT OUR
SHORELINE
FROM
%EROSION WHETHER
IT'S
THE
%BEACHES,
FROM
HOMEOWNERS,
FROM
%
OTHER
TOURISM
ENTITIES AS
WELL,
%AND SMALL
BUSINESSES
AS
I
SAID
%BEFORE.%I THINK
THOSE
NEED TO
BE
KEY
%FACTORS AS
WELL
IN
TERMS
OF
%LONG-TERM
PLANNING
IN
WHAT'S THE
%CYCLE.
%YOU
KNOW, HOW
LONG
ARE
WE
GOING
%TO REPAIR
THIS?
%WHAT'S THE
EXPECTATION
OF HOW
%LONG SOME
OF
THESE
MITIGATION
%AND
EROSION
PROTECTIONS
LAST FOR
%THE
COMMUNITY
LIKE
SHEBOYGAN.
%WE
ARE
WORKING WITH
THE
ARMY
%CORP OF
ENGINEERS
NOW
TO
REPAIR
%THE
SOUTH
PIER
BREAK
WATER
AREA
%RIGHT
NOW,
AND
THAT'S A
MAJOR
%INVESTMENT THAT THE
ARMY
CORP
IS
%MAKING IN THE
COMMUNITY,
BUT
%THEY
UNDERSTAND
THE
IMPORTANCE
%OF
MAKING
THAT
INVESTMENT
AND
%REPAIR, SO
WE
NEED
MORE
PROJECTS
%LIKE
THAT,
UP
AND
DOWN
ALL
THE
%SHORES
OF
THE
GREAT LAKES
AS
%WELL,
TOO, BUT WE
HAVE
TO
%UNDERSTAND -- YOU BROUGHT
UP
A
%POINT,
TOO,
ABOUT
POLLUTION.
%WISCONSIN'S
AN
AGRICULTURE
%STATE.
%WE
NEED TO
MAKE
SURE THAT WE
%HAVE A
LOT
OF
LONG-TERM
%PROTECTIONS IN
MATERIALS
OF
%AGRICULTURAL
RUNOFF,
MAKING
SURE%COMMUNITIES HAVE THE
VINNEST --
%INVESTMENTS AND
SUPPORT TO
DO
%TESTING
F
OR
GROUND
WATER
OR
TES
T
%RIVERS
AS
WELL
TO MAKE
SURE
THE
%WATER
WE
INTAKE IS
CLEAN,
%HEALTHY, AND
GOOD
FOR
FOLKS
THAT
%WANT
TO,
YOU
KNOW,
SWIM IN THE
%LAKES OR
THAT
ARE
CONSUMING AND
%DRINKING IT AS
WELL.
%I THINK THOSE
ARE
SOME OF THE
%KEY
THINGS,
JUST
AS
A
QUICK
%RUNDOWN
OF
THINGS
WE
ARE
%THINKING
ABOUT
FOR
LONG
TERM
%THAT WE HAVE
TO
HAMMER DOWN
AND
%GET
A
GOOD
GRIP
ON.
%>>
BUT
WHEN
WE
ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING
%THAT
CLIMATE CHANGE
IS
AT
THE
%ROOT
CAUSE
OF
THESE
PROBLEMS
, IT
%IS
SOMETHING
THAT
DIFFERENT
%COUNTRIES ARE
PUNTING BACK
AND
%FORTH, AND IT IS
A
CAN
THAT
GETS
%KICKED DOWN THE
ROAD.
%AS A
MAYOR
OF
A WISCONSIN
CITY,
%AND YOU
MENTIONED YOU
GET
%TOGETHER
WITH
OTHER
MAYORS IN
%THE
STATE
,
PART OF
THE
%BI-NATIONAL
COALITION, IS
MAKING
%CERTAIN
PROMISES
TOWARDS
%ADDRESSING
CLIMATE
CHANGE
AND
%LOWERING
GREENHOUSE
GAS
%EMISSIONS, IS
THAT
SOMETHING%THAT IS
A
PART
OF
YOUR FORWARD
%PLANNING?%>>
IT
HAS TO BE.
%IT
HAS TO
BE.
%SOMETIMES WHEN
YOU
ARE
A
MAYOR,
%YOU
FEEL
LIKE
YOU'RE
ON'
ON
AN
%ISLAND BY
YOURSELF.
%
YOUR COMMUNITY IS
FIGHTING
HARD
%TO
RECOVER FROM
THE
PANDEMIC,
%MAKING SURE WE HAVE
A
STRONG
%BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
%WHEN YOU
TALK
ABOUT
A
GLOBAL
%ISSUE
LIKE
CLIMATE
CHANGE,
YOU
%CAN'T
GO
IT
ALONE.
%YOU
HAVE
TO DEVELOP
PARTNERSHIPS
%AND LEAN
ON
YOUR
FRIENDS
%THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF
%WISCONSIN
WITH
OTHER
AND
IN
%OTHER
COMMUNITIES, OTHER
MAYORS,
%HAVING
A
COLLECTIVE VOICE.
%YOU
CAN'T
GO
AT
IT
ALONE.
%WHEN YOU
TALK
ABOUT
ADDRESSING%CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU H
AVE
TO
MAKE
%SURE
YOU
HAVE
A
CONCISE,
%CONCEDED WAY TO
MOVE
%FORWARD,
AND I
THINK
HAVING
A
%GROUP LIKE
THE GREAT
LAKES
IN
%ST. LAWRENCE RIVER CITIES
%INITIATIVE TO
BE
THAT
VOICE I
%THINK
IS
A
STRONG
ADVOCATE TO
%THE FEDERAL POSITIONS.
%WHEN
YOU
TALK
ABOUT
INTERSTATE
%COMMERCE
AND
BI-NATIONAL
%ORGANIZATIONS AND
ISSUES LIKE
%THIS
,
LEADERSHIP
NEEDS
TO
COME%FROM THE
TOP
AS
WELL.
%IT NEEDS
TO
START
LOCAL
.
%ALL
POLITICS
IS
LOCAL.
%IT IS.
%WE SEE
THE
IMPACT.
%WE ALSO
SEE
THE
NEGATIVE
IMPACT
%WHEN
FOLKS
AT
THE
TOP
DON'T
STEP
%UP
TO
HELP
FOLKS
LIKE
US
TO
HAVE
%A
COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH IN
%
TERMS
O
F
ADDRESSING
ISSUES
LIKE
%CLIMATE CHANGE.
%WE
CAN
D
O
WHAT
WE
CAN,
BUT WE
%HAVE TO BE IN
THE
SAME
BOAT
%TOGETHER, AND MAKE SURE
WE
MOVE
%THE
ISSUE
FORWARD.
%>>
NOW,
YOU
ARE
SHEBOYGAN
%NATIVE,
AND
THE
YOUNGEST
ELECTED
%SHEBOYGAN
MAYOR,
AND
YOU
SAID
%THAT YOU
ARE
CURRENTLY
THE
%YOUNGEST
MAYOR
IN
WISCONSIN.
%THERE'S KIND
OF
A
TREND O
F
%YOUNGER
MAYORS IN THE STATE
AS
%
WELL.
%BEING
THE
GENERATION THAT
IS
%INHERITING
CLIMATE
CHANGE, WHAT
%WILL
THIS
LOOK
LIKE
IF
IT'S
NOT
%ADDRESSED?
%>>
I DON'T
KNOW.
%I
KNOW
IT'S
GETTING
YOUNG
PEOPLE
%INVOLVED
IN
POLITICS
LOCALLY
OR
%THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY
BECAUSE%WE
HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING.
%INACTION
IS
NOT
A
WAY
TO
MOVE
%FORWARD, AND
FOLKS LIKE
ME
AND
%OTHER YOUNG
MAYORS
ACROSS
%WISCONSIN OR THE
COUNTRY,
FOR
%THAT
MATTER,
WE
DON'T
DO
THIS
%JUST FOR
THE
POMP
AND
%CIRCUMSTANCE.
%I
MEAN, I KNOW
I
DID
THIS
%BECAUSE I
LOVE
MY
HOMETOWN AND
I
%LOVE
MY
COMMUNITY,
AND I
%REMEMBER
GROWING UP
SPENDING A
%DAY AT
THE
LAKE,
GOING TO THE
%BEACH, HAVING FUN
WITH
FRIENDS
%AND
FAMILY,
AND
THEN,
YOU
KNOW,
%NOW, WHEN
YOU
HAVE ENTIRE
%BEACHES AND
WATERWAYS
WASHED
OUT
%AND
NOT
HAVING
THOSE
SAME
SHARED
%EXPERIENCES, IT
HURTS, THAT
%BECOMES PERSONAL FOR
ME,
SO I
%THINK
MAKING
M
Y
HOMETOWN
A
%BETTER PLACE I
S
A
BIG
MOTIVATING%FACTOR FOR
ME
TO
JUMP
IN
AND
RUN
%FOR
MAYOR FROM
THE
START.
%NOW I'M
IN
THIS
POSITION
O
F
A
%PART
OF
A
WONDERFUL
ORGANIZATION
%THAT'S A
GREAT
ADVOCATE TO
%TACKLE AND
ADDRESS SOME
OF
THESE
%ISSUES,
BUT IT IS
SCARY
WHEN
YOU
%DON'T
SEE
LEADERSHIP FROM
THE
%TOP THAT
WANTS
TO
MOVE
FORWARD
%AND ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES.
%YOU
KNOW,
MY
GENERATION,
THE
%NEXT
GENERATION
AFTER
ME,
WE'RE
%GOING TO BE THE
ONES THAT
ARE
%GOING TO
HAVE
TO
DEAL WITH
THIS,
%AND
WE
DON'T
FULLY
KNOW
WHAT
IT
%LOOKS LIKE,
BUT
WE
KNOW
IT'S
NOT
%LOOKING GOOD I
F
W
E
DON'T
DO
%ANYTHING.%WE
HAVE TO
DO
OUR
PART.
%I'M HAPPY WE ARE
TALKING
ABOUT
%THESE IMPORTANT
ISSUES
AND
HAPPY
%TO HAVE
PLATFORMS
LIKE
THIS
TO
%TRULY ELEVATE THE
CONCERN
OF
%WHAT'S GOING
ON IN
THE
WORLD,
%WHAT'S GOING O
N
IN
OUR
NECK OF
%THE WOODS.
%YOU
KNOW,
WE
HEAR
FOLKS
WITH
%CLIMATE CHANGE,
THAT'S
THE'
THE
%ICECAPS
MELTING
WAY
UP
NORTH,
%IT'S
NOT
MY
BACKYARD.
%WELL, IT IS
IN
OUR
BACKYARD.
%SMALL
CITIES
LIKE
SHEBOYGAN
ARE
%SEEING
BEACHES
WASH
AWAY,
RIVERS
%RISE,
AND
WE'RE
SEEING
MORE
%FLOODING.
%WE'RE
SEEING
MORE
OF
THESE
%100-YEAR
STORMS
HAPPENING MORE
%AND
MORE,
AND
WE
ARE
SEEING THE
%FREQUENCY OF LAKE
LEVELS RISE
%AND
DROP
15
FEET,
MORE
%DRASTICALLY THAN
BEFORE,
AND I
%THINK IT
IS
A
CONCERN FOR MYSELF
%AND
MANY OTHER
CITIZENS.
%PEOPLE
ARE
WILLING TO
STEP
UP
%AND ADDRESS
THIS
ISSUE, AND WE
%HAVE A
LOT
OF
SUPPORT
FROM
LOCAL
%COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
THAT
WANT
TO
%GET
INVOLVED
AND
HELP
ADDRESS
%THIS
AND
SEE
WHAT
SHEBOYGAN
CAN
%DO
THIS
IN
NECK OF THE
WOODS.
%>>
ALL
RIGHT.
%WE
LEAVE
IT
THERE, SHE
BOY
BEGAN
%MAYOR, RYAN
SORENSON, THANK
YOU%SO
MUCH
FOR
JOINING US.
%>>
THANKS SO
MUCH
FOR
HAVING ME.
%I WANT TO
DO
A
QUICK
PITCH FOR%THE GREAT
LAKES
AND
ST. LAWRENCE
%CITIES
INITIATIVE.
%FOLLOW US
ON
SOCIAL
MEDIA.
%STAY
IN
TOUCH.
%>>
ALL
RIGHT.
%FOR
MORE
FROM "HERE & NOW"
AND
%PBS
WISCONSIN,
YOU
CAN
VISIT
%PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND THANK YOU%
SO MUCH FOR
JOINING
US
ON
"NOON
%WEDNESDAY."