00:00:02:11	00:00:03:13	>> We all think we know
00:00:03:13	00:00:05:00	what government is.
00:00:05:00	00:00:06:00	>> How it works
00:00:06:00	00:00:07:05	and what it does.
00:00:07:05	00:00:08:28	>> But what is it really?
00:00:08:28	00:00:10:04	What do we mean
00:00:10:04	00:00:11:13	by "government"?
00:00:11:13	00:00:13:04	>> Is it this?
00:00:13:04	00:00:14:21	>> Or this?
00:00:14:21	00:00:15:20	>> Are these people
00:00:15:20	00:00:16:24	the government?
00:00:16:24	00:00:18:06	>> Are you?
00:00:18:06	00:00:19:04	>> These are just some
00:00:19:04	00:00:20:06	of the questions we'll try
00:00:20:06	00:00:21:16	to answer for you today.
00:00:21:16	00:00:23:17	>> On Engage.
00:00:30:15	00:00:31:28	>> Hi, I'm Paloma.
00:00:31:28	00:00:33:03	>> My name's Zach.
00:00:33:03	00:00:34:19	And we're at a crime scene.
00:00:34:19	00:00:35:27	There's no police tape.
00:00:35:27	00:00:37:10	Nobody was hurt.
00:00:37:10	00:00:38:25	But property was damaged.
00:00:38:25	00:00:40:10	And the community is suffering.
00:00:40:10	00:00:41:19	>> Tagging like this makes the
00:00:41:19	00:00:42:29	whole neighborhood look bad.
00:00:42:29	00:00:43:26	A trashed neighborhood
00:00:43:26	00:00:45:18	affects everyone involved.
00:00:45:18	00:00:47:01	>> And who helps clean this up?
00:00:47:01	00:00:48:02	Neighbors?
00:00:48:02	00:00:49:04	Police?
00:00:49:04	00:00:50:05	Politicians?
00:00:50:05	00:00:51:03	>> How about all of the above?
00:00:51:03	00:00:52:06	Let's take a look
00:00:52:06	00:00:53:11	at a brand new plan
00:00:53:11	00:00:55:23	that gets everyone involved.
00:00:58:19	00:00:59:21	>> The city of Milwaukee
00:00:59:21	00:01:03:03	is a city of neighborhoods.
00:01:03:03	00:01:04:19	And some of those neighborhoods
00:01:04:19	00:01:06:03	face significant challenges
00:01:06:03	00:01:09:14	with graffiti and other crimes.
00:01:09:14	00:01:10:22	In recent years,
00:01:10:22	00:01:11:29	community groups have joined
00:01:11:29	00:01:13:18	with the police to fight crime
00:01:13:18	00:01:16:24	at the neighborhood level.
00:01:16:24	00:01:18:09	A few years ago, after the
00:01:18:09	00:01:20:01	arrest of a group of taggers,
00:01:20:01	00:01:22:07	the police, along with state
00:01:22:07	00:01:24:05	and local government, teamed up
00:01:24:05	00:01:25:19	with a non-profit group
00:01:25:19	00:01:26:28	to create a new program
00:01:26:28	00:01:29:00	called Operation Payback.
00:01:29:00	00:01:30:10	>> It all started with a group
00:01:30:10	00:01:32:15	of individuals who were arrested
00:01:32:15	00:01:34:01	for graffiti.
00:01:34:01	00:01:35:09	>> I was assigning cases.
00:01:35:09	00:01:37:02	And I had gotten one case
00:01:37:02	00:01:39:10	that was for graffiti.
00:01:39:10	00:01:40:21	>> A group of between 12 and 14
00:01:40:21	00:01:43:02	individuals who did graffiti
00:01:43:02	00:01:44:28	throughout Milwaukee.
00:01:44:28	00:01:46:15	>> Then a couple of days later,
00:01:46:15	00:01:47:27	I got two other cases
00:01:47:27	00:01:49:22	that were for graffiti.
00:01:49:22	00:01:50:23	>> Tens of thousands of dollars
00:01:50:23	00:01:52:18	worth of graffiti damage.
00:01:52:18	00:01:54:06	>> And I was looking at
00:01:54:06	00:01:56:01	what the judge had ordered.
00:01:56:01	00:01:57:09	>> The judges ordered that they
00:01:57:09	00:01:58:23	had to do community service,
00:01:58:23	00:02:00:22	250 hours, plus.
00:02:00:22	00:02:01:27	>> Where they had to remove
00:02:01:27	00:02:02:29	graffiti.
00:02:02:29	00:02:05:14	>> 250 hours is a lot of hours.
00:02:05:14	00:02:06:26	>> We didn't have resources.
00:02:06:26	00:02:07:25	How can we get this done
00:02:07:25	00:02:09:21	without resources?
00:02:09:21	00:02:11:01	And I thought to myself, wow,
00:02:11:01	00:02:12:02	this is going to take
00:02:12:02	00:02:14:08	a lot of coordination.
00:02:14:08	00:02:15:15	What do I do?
00:02:15:15	00:02:16:29	So, I got on the horn,
00:02:16:29	00:02:18:08	got on the telephone.
00:02:18:08	00:02:19:12	>> I told her that, you know,
00:02:19:12	00:02:20:11	this is something that community
00:02:20:11	00:02:22:01	partners has done in the past,
00:02:22:01	00:02:23:13	and we'd definitely be able
00:02:23:13	00:02:24:26	to help her out, you know,
00:02:24:26	00:02:26:18	help her with this project.
00:02:29:24	00:02:31:03	My name's Aaron Edwards.
00:02:31:03	00:02:32:03	I work with Safe & Sound
00:02:32:03	00:02:33:19	Community Partners.
00:02:33:19	00:02:35:27	I'm a community organizer.
00:02:35:27	00:02:37:10	Safe & Sound is an anti-crime
00:02:37:10	00:02:40:13	organization, where we basically
00:02:40:13	00:02:41:21	work off a three-pronged
00:02:41:21	00:02:43:22	approach with community,
00:02:43:22	00:02:46:01	law enforcement, and youth.
00:02:46:01	00:02:47:09	We met at a target team meeting
00:02:47:09	00:02:49:01	that we hold on a monthly basis
00:02:49:01	00:02:50:24	at all the police districts.
00:02:50:24	00:02:52:04	>> The Captain was there,
00:02:52:04	00:02:54:16	and Aaron was there, and other
00:02:54:16	00:02:57:07	community partners were there.
00:02:57:07	00:02:58:15	>> We came up with a plan
00:02:58:15	00:02:59:16	that, you know,
00:02:59:16	00:03:00:18	we'd work in partnership
00:03:00:18	00:03:01:23	with Probation and Parole,
00:03:01:23	00:03:03:06	Safe & Sound Community Partners,
00:03:03:06	00:03:04:17	the Milwaukee Police Department
00:03:04:17	00:03:06:24	to go out into the neighborhoods
00:03:06:24	00:03:08:08	and remove graffiti.
00:03:08:08	00:03:09:11	>> Alderman Bob Donovan
00:03:09:11	00:03:10:24	was in that meeting
00:03:10:24	00:03:11:29	and liked what was said.
00:03:11:29	00:03:13:18	>> We have to combine
00:03:13:18	00:03:14:29	our resources and bring everyone
00:03:14:29	00:03:16:18	to the table.
00:03:16:18	00:03:17:19	That's what's happened
00:03:17:19	00:03:19:00	with this program.
00:03:19:00	00:03:20:23	>> Despite the agencies, despite
00:03:20:23	00:03:22:07	the different departments,
00:03:22:07	00:03:23:14	we've got to get this done.
00:03:23:14	00:03:25:08	>> Together, that's where that
00:03:25:08	00:03:26:29	power of collaboration came.
00:03:26:29	00:03:28:12	>> We talked about what we would
00:03:28:12	00:03:31:10	need, who was going to do what.
00:03:31:10	00:03:33:16	>> We set up another meeting.
00:03:33:16	00:03:35:01	Worked out the details,
00:03:35:01	00:03:36:12	and just went from there.
00:03:36:12	00:03:37:24	We went full force with it.
00:03:37:24	00:03:39:04	All these organizations
00:03:39:04	00:03:40:05	coming together
00:03:40:05	00:03:42:23	and working effectively.
00:03:42:23	00:03:44:10	>> Operation Payback started
00:03:44:10	00:03:46:00	as a program for taggers
00:03:46:00	00:03:48:04	to clean up their own graffiti,
00:03:48:04	00:03:49:07	but once they were done,
00:03:49:07	00:03:50:26	the program kept going, as
00:03:50:26	00:03:52:11	other offenders with community
00:03:52:11	00:03:55:10	service hours to fill joined in.
00:03:55:10	00:03:57:00	The program also expanded
00:03:57:00	00:03:59:02	beyond cleaning up graffiti.
00:03:59:02	00:04:00:15	>> How can we make this more
00:04:00:15	00:04:02:08	than just painting out graffiti?
00:04:02:08	00:04:03:16	Somebody said, well, we can do
00:04:03:16	00:04:04:21	neighborhood cleanup, picking up
00:04:04:21	00:04:06:23	trash, as well as flyering
00:04:06:23	00:04:08:11	the neighborhoods to let the
00:04:08:11	00:04:10:00	neighbors in the area know,
00:04:10:00	00:04:11:05	you know, how these offenders
00:04:11:05	00:04:12:06	are paying back
00:04:12:06	00:04:13:22	to the community.
00:04:13:22	00:04:14:26	The offenders
00:04:14:26	00:04:16:19	report to the station.
00:04:16:19	00:04:17:21	>> Everyone did something wrong,
00:04:17:21	00:04:18:20	but you're giving back.
00:04:18:20	00:04:19:24	We also want to give back
00:04:19:24	00:04:20:28	to you.
00:04:20:28	00:04:22:01	We talk to them.
00:04:22:01	00:04:23:03	We let them know, you know,
00:04:23:03	00:04:24:05	we're here to help.
00:04:24:05	00:04:25:04	You're here to serve your
00:04:25:04	00:04:26:04	sentence, serve your community
00:04:26:04	00:04:27:04	time that the judge ordered.
00:04:27:04	00:04:28:05	>> You get out there,
00:04:28:05	00:04:29:08	we get the job done,
00:04:29:08	00:04:30:15	and we get the job done right.
00:04:30:15	00:04:31:17	>> We let them know,
00:04:31:17	00:04:32:14	kind of like the ground rules.
00:04:32:14	00:04:33:12	No cell phones.
00:04:33:12	00:04:34:18	No goofing around.
00:04:34:18	00:04:35:15	>> We let offenders know,
00:04:35:15	00:04:36:19	you did something wrong.
00:04:36:19	00:04:37:22	You're giving back
00:04:37:22	00:04:38:23	to the community
00:04:38:23	00:04:40:08	by doing community service.
00:04:40:08	00:04:41:06	But we also want to let you know
00:04:41:06	00:04:43:20	that we're giving back to you.
00:04:43:20	00:04:46:03	>> So once we have our little
00:04:46:03	00:04:47:24	talk, we load up the vehicles
00:04:47:24	00:04:48:24	with the paint supplies
00:04:48:24	00:04:49:26	and cleanup supplies.
00:04:49:26	00:04:51:09	We keep all the graffiti
00:04:51:09	00:04:52:26	removal equipment, the paint,
00:04:52:26	00:04:54:08	supplies for that,
00:04:54:08	00:04:55:26	supplies for garbage pickers,
00:04:55:26	00:04:57:24	the bags for picking up garbage,
00:04:57:24	00:04:59:01	we have it secured
00:04:59:01	00:05:00:19	at the Police Station.
00:05:00:19	00:05:02:07	As a group, the officers,
00:05:02:07	00:05:03:12	Probation and Parole officers,
00:05:03:12	00:05:04:29	and the community partners will
00:05:04:29	00:05:06:13	go to the different locations
00:05:06:13	00:05:08:19	that have the graffiti.
00:05:08:19	00:05:09:14	>> It's kind of like
00:05:09:14	00:05:10:16	the broken windows theory.
00:05:10:16	00:05:11:15	>> The broken windows theory
00:05:11:15	00:05:12:28	or philosophy is
00:05:12:28	00:05:14:10	if you leave the windows broken,
00:05:14:10	00:05:15:21	or garbage around,
00:05:15:21	00:05:16:26	it's going to expand
00:05:16:26	00:05:17:26	and it's going to get worse.
00:05:17:26	00:05:19:01	So this is fixing
00:05:19:01	00:05:20:09	the broken windows.
00:05:20:09	00:05:21:18	It's weeding out the garbage,
00:05:21:18	00:05:22:29	weeding out the graffiti,
00:05:22:29	00:05:24:21	making it look a little neater
00:05:24:21	00:05:26:11	so the undesirable element
00:05:26:11	00:05:28:00	doesn't want to be there.
00:05:28:00	00:05:29:04	We're taking care of the street
00:05:29:04	00:05:30:13	and the graffiti.
00:05:30:13	00:05:31:18	Hopefully, the owner will
00:05:31:18	00:05:32:23	take pride in their own yard
00:05:32:23	00:05:33:27	and make sure that it's
00:05:33:27	00:05:34:22	cleaned up and looks nice, too,
00:05:34:22	00:05:35:24	to get rid
00:05:35:24	00:05:38:03	of that broken window.
00:05:39:16	00:05:40:20	A lot of the offenders,
00:05:40:20	00:05:41:24	when they first come,
00:05:41:24	00:05:42:27	they're very apprehensive
00:05:42:27	00:05:44:02	in talking with the officers.
00:05:44:02	00:05:45:05	But as they come week after
00:05:45:05	00:05:46:08	week, it's interesting to see
00:05:46:08	00:05:47:08	how the offenders
00:05:47:08	00:05:48:27	are interacting with them.
00:05:48:27	00:05:50:16	We're working with offenders
00:05:50:16	00:05:52:01	who have never known the police
00:05:52:01	00:05:53:28	officers as a friend, or as
00:05:53:28	00:05:55:21	an ally, that they can go to
00:05:55:21	00:05:57:21	for resources.
00:05:57:21	00:05:59:08	>> I think that what happens,
00:05:59:08	00:06:00:26	they get to see each other
00:06:00:26	00:06:02:20	in a whole different light.
00:06:02:20	00:06:04:14	Instead of being chased,
00:06:04:14	00:06:05:19	or feeling like this is
00:06:05:19	00:06:06:20	an adversarial
00:06:06:20	00:06:08:01	type of relationship,
00:06:08:01	00:06:10:04	they're working hand-in-hand
00:06:10:04	00:06:12:20	on doing something positive.
00:06:14:00	00:06:15:06	>> A lot of these kids go out
00:06:15:06	00:06:16:07	and do this, thinking it's a
00:06:16:07	00:06:17:07	victimless crime, that they're
00:06:17:07	00:06:18:19	not hurting anybody by doing it.
00:06:18:19	00:06:19:27	>> I feel like it's a bad thing
00:06:19:27	00:06:21:02	that they done.
00:06:21:02	00:06:21:28	I feel like it's a good thing
00:06:21:28	00:06:22:25	that we're doing.
00:06:22:25	00:06:23:25	But I feel like it's bad
00:06:23:25	00:06:24:25	what they've done.
00:06:24:25	00:06:25:24	>> A lot of people could say
00:06:25:24	00:06:26:20	it's a victimless crime,
00:06:26:20	00:06:27:16	but it costs a lot of money
00:06:27:16	00:06:28:21	to clean up.
00:06:28:21	00:06:30:16	It causes a lot of people harm,
00:06:30:16	00:06:32:09	looking at this every day.
00:06:32:09	00:06:34:12	It's just not pretty.
00:06:34:12	00:06:36:10	>> That brings about, we hope,
00:06:36:10	00:06:37:28	a change in how they feel
00:06:37:28	00:06:39:21	about themselves, how they feel
00:06:39:21	00:06:41:18	about what they contributed
00:06:41:18	00:06:42:28	to the community, and maybe
00:06:42:28	00:06:44:05	change some of those behaviors
00:06:44:05	00:06:45:10	that brought them
00:06:45:10	00:06:46:22	to the Corrections system
00:06:46:22	00:06:49:01	to begin with.
00:06:50:12	00:06:51:16	>> One of our main aspects
00:06:51:16	00:06:52:20	is to go door to door
00:06:52:20	00:06:53:24	in our sectors, and talk to
00:06:53:24	00:06:54:29	the residents to see what's
00:06:54:29	00:06:56:07	going on in their blocks.
00:06:56:07	00:06:57:06	>> We go out every Tuesday
00:06:57:06	00:06:58:25	with Operation Payback,
00:06:58:25	00:07:00:05	in collaboration with the
00:07:00:05	00:07:01:17	Police Department, Probation and
00:07:01:17	00:07:03:14	Parole, and Safe & Sound.
00:07:03:14	00:07:04:12	>> We try to set up block
00:07:04:12	00:07:05:22	watches with residents.
00:07:05:22	00:07:07:09	We take in their concerns,
00:07:07:09	00:07:08:21	and then forward those
00:07:08:21	00:07:10:15	to the appropriate areas.
00:07:10:15	00:07:11:22	>> I go door to door, and
00:07:11:22	00:07:14:03	I try to speak with residents.
00:07:14:03	00:07:15:03	I knock on every door
00:07:15:03	00:07:16:06	in the area.
00:07:16:06	00:07:18:00	And I give them the information
00:07:18:00	00:07:19:14	about our agency, to start with,
00:07:19:14	00:07:20:28	Safe & Sound.
00:07:20:28	00:07:23:15	(speaking Spanish)
00:07:25:06	00:07:26:12	>> We then empower those
00:07:26:12	00:07:27:18	residents with the tools
00:07:27:18	00:07:28:27	and the know-how
00:07:28:27	00:07:30:01	on how they can handle it.
00:07:30:01	00:07:32:06	(speaking Spanish)
00:07:32:06	00:07:34:17	>> Okay.
00:07:34:17	00:07:35:27	What we did, is we came up
00:07:35:27	00:07:37:29	with several flyers
00:07:37:29	00:07:38:29	that reach out to residents
00:07:38:29	00:07:40:25	on the graffiti problem.
00:07:40:25	00:07:42:00	So, I talk to the residents
00:07:42:00	00:07:43:00	and I ask them,
00:07:43:00	00:07:44:04	have you had any problems
00:07:44:04	00:07:45:18	with graffiti on your block?
00:07:45:18	00:07:46:23	And if so, what have you done?
00:07:46:23	00:07:48:21	Have you called to report it?
00:07:48:21	00:07:49:22	>> So, by having a block watch
00:07:49:22	00:07:50:20	on your block,
00:07:50:20	00:07:52:04	you become the ears and eyes
00:07:52:04	00:07:53:12	of that neighborhood.
00:07:53:12	00:07:55:11	>> The main thing is to educate
00:07:55:11	00:07:56:19	residents on the importance
00:07:56:19	00:07:58:00	of reporting.
00:07:58:00	00:07:58:28	>> It's amazing,
00:07:58:28	00:08:00:05	we're walking the streets
00:08:00:05	00:08:01:06	picking up garbage
00:08:01:06	00:08:02:03	with the offenders.
00:08:02:03	00:08:03:03	>> Nice to meet you.
00:08:03:03	00:08:04:00	It's a good thing
00:08:04:00	00:08:05:02	you guys are doing.
00:08:05:02	00:08:05:29	>> The number of citizens that
00:08:05:29	00:08:06:27	will come up and talk to us,
00:08:06:27	00:08:07:29	and ask us what's going on,
00:08:07:29	00:08:08:29	so we can build
00:08:08:29	00:08:10:12	that relationship with them.
00:08:10:12	00:08:11:29	The main purpose is to better
00:08:11:29	00:08:13:22	equip the residents
00:08:13:22	00:08:15:23	with resources, overall quality
00:08:15:23	00:08:17:12	of life, bettering that
00:08:17:12	00:08:18:25	in the neighborhoods.
00:08:18:25	00:08:19:27	I mean, just trying to make it
00:08:19:27	00:08:21:12	a cleaner and safer place.
00:08:21:12	00:08:22:12	The one thing you want people
00:08:22:12	00:08:24:02	to know is you have folks
00:08:24:02	00:08:25:20	that are out there to help you.
00:08:25:20	00:08:27:00	And as an organizer, I'm
00:08:27:00	00:08:29:20	one of those that can do that.
00:08:29:20	00:08:31:09	>> I'm a big advocate
00:08:31:09	00:08:33:02	of city departments, other
00:08:33:02	00:08:34:15	community based organizations
00:08:34:15	00:08:36:05	working together.
00:08:36:05	00:08:37:14	I think that's certainly
00:08:37:14	00:08:39:23	the wave of the future.
00:08:39:23	00:08:41:08	>> I think it's important
00:08:41:08	00:08:42:23	for the residents to see
00:08:42:23	00:08:44:19	all the groups working together.
00:08:44:19	00:08:45:24	After all, they are the
00:08:45:24	00:08:47:03	taxpayers, but what better way
00:08:47:03	00:08:48:20	to see your local government
00:08:48:20	00:08:50:14	and police and community based
00:08:50:14	00:08:51:21	organizations working
00:08:51:21	00:08:54:02	all together for them?
00:08:54:02	00:08:56:13	We're giving back.
00:08:56:13	00:08:57:27	And you know, the offenders are
00:08:57:27	00:08:59:05	an aspect of that, where they're
00:08:59:05	00:09:00:25	giving back to the community.
00:09:00:25	00:09:02:10	>> I have seen individuals who
00:09:02:10	00:09:03:23	have come through this program
00:09:03:23	00:09:05:14	where the police have connected
00:09:05:14	00:09:06:24	them with job opportunities,
00:09:06:24	00:09:08:17	with GED and educational
00:09:08:17	00:09:10:03	opportunities.
00:09:10:03	00:09:11:25	That's important.
00:09:11:25	00:09:13:01	>> To help these offenders who
00:09:13:01	00:09:14:04	are on Probation and Parole to
00:09:14:04	00:09:16:04	be successful in the community,
00:09:16:04	00:09:17:16	to become part of the community.
00:09:17:16	00:09:19:10	>> It's been a great,
00:09:19:10	00:09:21:04	positive thing, in the fact
00:09:21:04	00:09:23:20	that we've got this relationship
00:09:23:20	00:09:25:29	we now have with the police.
00:09:25:29	00:09:27:23	That has just been enhanced
00:09:27:23	00:09:29:05	because of this.
00:09:29:05	00:09:30:10	>> I enjoy working with people
00:09:30:10	00:09:32:02	and helping them.
00:09:32:02	00:09:33:06	The reward at the end of the day
00:09:33:06	00:09:34:19	is knowing that I gave them
00:09:34:19	00:09:35:29	something that can either
00:09:35:29	00:09:37:04	better equip their life or
00:09:37:04	00:09:39:22	their situation that they're in.
00:09:39:22	00:09:40:29	Overall, just helping people,
00:09:40:29	00:09:42:28	that's my goal.
00:09:42:28	00:09:45:11	That's where my passion is.
00:09:45:11	00:09:46:26	We hope to keep moving it
00:09:46:26	00:09:48:10	forward, because it is
00:09:48:10	00:09:50:10	a very rewarding program.
00:09:50:10	00:09:51:22	It feels good
00:09:51:22	00:09:53:26	at the end of the day.
00:09:57:15	00:09:58:23	>> For more information,
00:09:58:23	00:10:00:02	visit us on the Web at:
00:10:00:02	00:10:03:22	ecb.org/engage
00:10:11:13	00:10:12:15	>> We all think we know
00:10:12:15	00:10:14:00	what government is.
00:10:14:00	00:10:15:02	>> How it works
00:10:15:02	00:10:16:07	and what it does.
00:10:16:07	00:10:17:18	>> But what is it really?
00:10:17:18	00:10:18:23	What do we mean
00:10:18:23	00:10:20:14	by "government"?
00:10:20:14	00:10:21:25	>> Is it this?
00:10:21:25	00:10:23:21	>> Or this?
00:10:23:21	00:10:24:20	>> Are these people
00:10:24:20	00:10:25:27	the government?
00:10:25:27	00:10:27:08	>> Are you?
00:10:27:08	00:10:28:08	>> These are just some
00:10:28:08	00:10:29:05	of the questions we'll try
00:10:29:05	00:10:30:09	to answer for you today.
00:10:30:09	00:10:32:17	>> On Engage.
00:10:38:02	00:10:39:00	>> Hi, I'm Zach.
00:10:39:00	00:10:40:01	>> And I'm Paloma.
00:10:40:01	00:10:41:04	One of the most important things
00:10:41:04	00:10:42:05	that local government does
00:10:42:05	00:10:43:06	is run public schools,
00:10:43:06	00:10:44:03	like this one.
00:10:44:03	00:10:45:01	>> And who pays for these
00:10:45:01	00:10:46:06	schools, the buildings,
00:10:46:06	00:10:48:13	the equipment, teachers?
00:10:48:13	00:10:49:19	We do.
00:10:49:19	00:10:51:18	You, me, parents, friends,
00:10:51:18	00:10:53:05	anyone who pays their taxes.
00:10:53:05	00:10:54:07	>> So when it comes time to pay
00:10:54:07	00:10:55:11	the bills, it's a pretty good
00:10:55:11	00:10:56:10	bet that people will have
00:10:56:10	00:10:57:22	something to say about it.
00:10:57:22	00:10:58:23	And what happens if there isn't
00:10:58:23	00:11:00:04	enough money to pay those bills?
00:11:00:04	00:11:01:27	What happens to the schools?
00:11:01:27	00:11:02:28	>> Let's take a little trip
00:11:02:28	00:11:04:22	and find out.
00:11:07:27	00:11:09:23	Welcome to Paris!
00:11:09:23	00:11:11:10	(screeching sound)
00:11:11:10	00:11:13:01	No, not that Paris.
00:11:13:01	00:11:16:08	Paris, Wisconsin.
00:11:16:08	00:11:17:12	Tucked away in the southeast
00:11:17:12	00:11:18:15	corner of the state,
00:11:18:15	00:11:20:09	near Kenosha, this rural town
00:11:20:09	00:11:22:03	is home to just over 1,500
00:11:22:03	00:11:26:06	men, women and children.
00:11:26:06	00:11:27:20	Of the many notable landmarks,
00:11:27:20	00:11:29:02	one in particular
00:11:29:02	00:11:31:28	might not catch your eye.
00:11:31:28	00:11:33:01	But right now, an event
00:11:33:01	00:11:34:07	is taking place inside
00:11:34:07	00:11:35:13	this building that will shape
00:11:35:13	00:11:36:17	the future of this town
00:11:36:17	00:11:39:04	for years to come.
00:11:39:04	00:11:41:04	It all starts in this building,
00:11:41:04	00:11:42:22	Paris Elementary School,
00:11:42:22	00:11:44:01	rated one of the top schools
00:11:44:01	00:11:46:11	in Wisconsin.
00:11:46:11	00:11:47:11	>> It's still a small,
00:11:47:11	00:11:48:26	close-knit group of students.
00:11:48:26	00:11:49:28	The teachers
00:11:49:28	00:11:50:25	know all the students.
00:11:50:25	00:11:51:28	All the students
00:11:51:28	00:11:52:24	know all the teachers.
00:11:52:24	00:11:53:18	>> My math teacher
00:11:53:18	00:11:54:19	is Mrs. Schon.
00:11:54:19	00:11:56:04	>> My teacher is Mrs. Renak.
00:11:56:04	00:11:57:02	>> My math teacher,
00:11:57:02	00:11:58:10	she's really cool.
00:11:58:10	00:11:59:08	>> She's probably
00:11:59:08	00:12:00:07	my favorite teacher.
00:12:00:07	00:12:01:17	>> She's awesome.
00:12:01:17	00:12:02:17	>> I don't really have
00:12:02:17	00:12:03:17	a favorite teacher.
00:12:03:17	00:12:05:17	They're all really nice.
00:12:05:17	00:12:06:18	>> I am a graduate
00:12:06:18	00:12:08:16	of the class of 1982.
00:12:08:16	00:12:10:11	That's me, right there,
00:12:10:11	00:12:11:26	with the really slick
00:12:11:26	00:12:14:12	plaid sports coat.
00:12:14:12	00:12:16:06	>> It's not just the outside
00:12:16:06	00:12:17:29	of the school that's good,
00:12:17:29	00:12:19:04	it's the inside.
00:12:19:04	00:12:20:09	>> Paris has a very
00:12:20:09	00:12:21:23	family-like setting.
00:12:21:23	00:12:23:02	>> As always, a fun place to be,
00:12:23:02	00:12:24:07	a fun place to learn.
00:12:24:07	00:12:25:07	>> The school itself, I think,
00:12:25:07	00:12:26:14	is wonderfully run.
00:12:26:14	00:12:27:15	I think the administrator
00:12:27:15	00:12:28:21	does a great job.
00:12:28:21	00:12:29:19	I've been impressed
00:12:29:19	00:12:30:19	with the teachers
00:12:30:19	00:12:31:20	that my children have had.
00:12:31:20	00:12:32:23	>> They love their school.
00:12:32:23	00:12:33:21	>> I think
00:12:33:21	00:12:34:16	it's a great community.
00:12:34:16	00:12:35:15	>> It's a great environment
00:12:35:15	00:12:36:16	for them.
00:12:36:16	00:12:38:13	>> It's a great school.
00:12:39:11	00:12:40:23	>> But for all the wonderful
00:12:40:23	00:12:41:29	things about Paris and its
00:12:41:29	00:12:43:10	school, a storm is moving
00:12:43:10	00:12:44:17	through, and it's splitting
00:12:44:17	00:12:46:14	the residents apart.
00:12:46:14	00:12:48:21	>> Currently, we are showing
00:12:48:21	00:12:49:28	that we will not have enough
00:12:49:28	00:12:51:27	money to run the operations
00:12:51:27	00:12:53:08	of the school.
00:12:53:08	00:12:54:07	>> Yes, we are in
00:12:54:07	00:12:55:21	financial trouble right now.
00:12:55:21	00:12:56:29	>> If another source of income
00:12:56:29	00:12:59:08	is not found.
00:12:59:08	00:13:00:09	>> We were in
00:13:00:09	00:13:01:10	very serious shape.
00:13:01:10	00:13:03:03	There was a crisis at hand.
00:13:03:03	00:13:04:07	>> This school is in danger
00:13:04:07	00:13:06:05	of closing.
00:13:07:21	00:13:09:24	>> With funding from the state,
00:13:09:24	00:13:11:01	and revenue limits in place,
00:13:11:01	00:13:12:18	we're not able to generate
00:13:12:18	00:13:13:26	the revenue that's necessary
00:13:13:26	00:13:15:25	to operate our building.
00:13:15:25	00:13:16:25	>> Expenditures are
00:13:16:25	00:13:18:05	just exceeding our revenues.
00:13:18:05	00:13:19:03	>> It's shocking to see
00:13:19:03	00:13:21:01	that this situation
00:13:21:01	00:13:23:11	was created so quickly.
00:13:23:11	00:13:24:16	And you know,
00:13:24:16	00:13:26:23	it's a train wreck.
00:13:26:23	00:13:27:24	>> To school officials,
00:13:27:24	00:13:29:09	the answer seemed simple.
00:13:29:09	00:13:30:13	Raise more money
00:13:30:13	00:13:32:24	by increasing taxes.
00:13:32:24	00:13:34:06	So in April, the town of Paris
00:13:34:06	00:13:36:11	held a referendum.
00:13:36:11	00:13:37:22	>> A referendum is where you go
00:13:37:22	00:13:39:25	to the public asking a question.
00:13:39:25	00:13:40:23	And in this case,
00:13:40:23	00:13:42:08	we are asking the question,
00:13:42:08	00:13:44:08	can we have operating funds to
00:13:44:08	00:13:46:21	continue operating the school?
00:13:46:21	00:13:47:21	>> A referendum is kind of the
00:13:47:21	00:13:49:00	natural step that you take
00:13:49:00	00:13:50:15	if you're a school district,
00:13:50:15	00:13:52:18	if you're facing a shortfall.
00:13:52:18	00:13:53:26	>> So, the referendum is
00:13:53:26	00:13:55:01	basically asking the people
00:13:55:01	00:13:56:18	for permission to tax them
00:13:56:18	00:13:58:05	above the revenue caps
00:13:58:05	00:13:59:24	that are set by the state.
00:13:59:24	00:14:01:26	>> And on April 7,
00:14:01:26	00:14:04:19	the residents of Paris voted.
00:14:04:19	00:14:06:09	>> The first referendum failed.
00:14:06:09	00:14:07:13	>> The April referendum
00:14:07:13	00:14:08:20	failed 3-1.
00:14:08:20	00:14:09:23	>> And I was actually shocked
00:14:09:23	00:14:12:06	that it failed 3-1.
00:14:12:06	00:14:14:21	I was overjoyed that it failed.
00:14:14:21	00:14:16:21	But I thought it would be
00:14:16:21	00:14:18:15	much closer.
00:14:18:15	00:14:20:00	Being a retired fella,
00:14:20:00	00:14:22:20	living on a fixed income,
00:14:22:20	00:14:25:11	I don't want my taxes to go up.
00:14:25:11	00:14:27:06	And that's when I started
00:14:27:06	00:14:28:14	taking an interest in saying,
00:14:28:14	00:14:29:27	well, why are you asking
00:14:29:27	00:14:31:02	for a tax increase?
00:14:31:02	00:14:32:08	What about spending?
00:14:32:08	00:14:33:05	>> They were spending
00:14:33:05	00:14:34:09	too much money at the school.
00:14:34:09	00:14:35:09	>> It's all
00:14:35:09	00:14:36:21	just reckless spending.
00:14:36:21	00:14:37:23	>> I say they used our money
00:14:37:23	00:14:38:26	poorly.
00:14:38:26	00:14:40:12	>> We heard from the people
00:14:40:12	00:14:42:00	that it was too much money.
00:14:42:00	00:14:43:22	>> Once we cut our spending, and
00:14:43:22	00:14:45:16	altered the way that we operate,
00:14:45:16	00:14:46:23	we realized that that still
00:14:46:23	00:14:48:17	wasn't enough to cover that gap.
00:14:48:17	00:14:49:16	>> At that point,
00:14:49:16	00:14:50:26	the board had a meeting.
00:14:50:26	00:14:52:13	We decided that we needed
00:14:52:13	00:14:54:04	to go back to referendum again.
00:14:54:04	00:14:55:08	We went back
00:14:55:08	00:14:56:18	for a lesser amount.
00:14:56:18	00:14:57:18	And we went
00:14:57:18	00:14:59:10	for a set period of time.
00:14:59:10	00:15:00:15	It's very important to
00:15:00:15	00:15:02:07	hear input from the community.
00:15:02:07	00:15:03:04	They are the people
00:15:03:04	00:15:04:13	who elected us to represent them
00:15:04:13	00:15:07:02	on the school board.
00:15:07:02	00:15:08:15	>> With a second referendum,
00:15:08:15	00:15:09:19	and the stakes more clearly
00:15:09:19	00:15:11:04	laid out, both sides geared up
00:15:11:04	00:15:12:15	for a strong
00:15:12:15	00:15:14:18	and vigorous debate.
00:15:14:18	00:15:15:22	>> When the referendum was
00:15:15:22	00:15:18:22	defeated so hugely in April,
00:15:18:22	00:15:19:25	we started going
00:15:19:25	00:15:21:09	to the town board meetings,
00:15:21:09	00:15:23:11	the school board meetings.
00:15:23:11	00:15:24:19	The first thing I learned
00:15:24:19	00:15:25:29	is that when you show up to
00:15:25:29	00:15:28:04	a group a people with an agenda,
00:15:28:04	00:15:30:08	they let you lead.
00:15:30:08	00:15:31:12	And that was really
00:15:31:12	00:15:32:24	the beginning
00:15:32:24	00:15:36:00	of the "Vote Yes" movement.
00:15:36:00	00:15:38:03	The purpose of the Vote Yes
00:15:38:03	00:15:39:25	committee was to get
00:15:39:25	00:15:41:16	the word out to the community
00:15:41:16	00:15:44:09	about the referendum issue.
00:15:44:09	00:15:46:00	We really wanted to educate
00:15:46:00	00:15:47:17	all the voters in the community
00:15:47:17	00:15:49:00	about the ramifications
00:15:49:00	00:15:51:16	of a "No" vote,
00:15:51:16	00:15:53:17	and the benefits Paris School
00:15:53:17	00:15:55:03	brings to our community.
00:15:55:03	00:15:56:06	We sponsored
00:15:56:06	00:15:57:22	a sign painting event.
00:15:57:22	00:15:59:03	The purpose was to involve
00:15:59:03	00:16:01:03	the students of Paris School
00:16:01:03	00:16:03:01	in the process.
00:16:03:01	00:16:04:24	We painted large, 4x8 plywood
00:16:04:24	00:16:06:09	signs: Save our School,
00:16:06:09	00:16:08:07	Save Paris School.
00:16:08:07	00:16:09:09	We had the kids
00:16:09:09	00:16:10:17	put their handprints on them.
00:16:10:17	00:16:11:19	>> There are many people who
00:16:11:19	00:16:12:27	are very organized right now
00:16:12:27	00:16:14:27	in support of the referendum
00:16:14:27	00:16:17:09	and against the referendum.
00:16:18:24	00:16:19:29	>> How do you get your message
00:16:19:29	00:16:21:04	into every home
00:16:21:04	00:16:22:09	so that they can read it
00:16:22:09	00:16:24:07	and evaluate it for themselves?
00:16:24:07	00:16:25:13	I started
00:16:25:13	00:16:27:10	by doing a mailing list.
00:16:27:10	00:16:28:17	I said, how many people
00:16:28:17	00:16:30:29	do I have to reach?
00:16:30:29	00:16:33:24	I sent out 635 direct mailers
00:16:33:24	00:16:38:19	to all of these people.
00:16:38:19	00:16:40:11	That way, I got my points across
00:16:40:11	00:16:42:20	to counter their points.
00:16:42:20	00:16:43:24	>> Well, I'm a graphic designer,
00:16:43:24	00:16:45:06	so I was able to contribute
00:16:45:06	00:16:47:01	all the print pieces and help
00:16:47:01	00:16:48:20	with laying out the signs
00:16:48:20	00:16:50:22	that are all over our community.
00:16:50:22	00:16:53:00	I help spread the word that way.
00:16:53:00	00:16:54:04	>> One of the things, you know,
00:16:54:04	00:16:55:07	I personally like to do
00:16:55:07	00:16:56:21	is email stuff.
00:16:56:21	00:16:58:19	Because I can put facts and
00:16:58:19	00:17:02:25	information in an email,
00:17:02:25	00:17:04:12	where it's right there
00:17:04:12	00:17:06:07	for somebody to see.
00:17:06:07	00:17:07:09	You have to educate
00:17:07:09	00:17:08:13	your friends, your neighbors.
00:17:08:13	00:17:09:22	And you have to talk to them.
00:17:09:22	00:17:11:22	You have to email them.
00:17:11:22	00:17:13:01	You have to get the word out
00:17:13:01	00:17:15:08	by any means possible.
00:17:15:08	00:17:16:15	>> We stayed positive.
00:17:16:15	00:17:18:10	We put out our facts
00:17:18:10	00:17:20:12	and let them stand.
00:17:20:12	00:17:22:16	And that's been our mission.
00:17:22:16	00:17:25:26	I'm hopeful that we'll prevail.
00:17:25:26	00:17:27:10	>> I guess we'll find out
00:17:27:10	00:17:29:18	later today.
00:17:31:24	00:17:33:01	>> Today, we are voting
00:17:33:01	00:17:34:06	on the referendum
00:17:34:06	00:17:36:24	for the Paris School district.
00:17:36:24	00:17:38:02	>> I went to Paris.
00:17:38:02	00:17:39:11	I graduated from there.
00:17:39:11	00:17:40:13	I don't want to see the school
00:17:40:13	00:17:41:25	get closed, so I came to vote.
00:17:41:25	00:17:43:00	>> Just make sure
00:17:43:00	00:17:44:15	that there's ten in each one.
00:17:44:15	00:17:46:08	I'm the elected Clerk-Treasurer.
00:17:46:08	00:17:47:24	I set up the election.
00:17:47:24	00:17:49:05	I get my poll workers ready
00:17:49:05	00:17:50:06	here.
00:17:50:06	00:17:51:11	I've been here
00:17:51:11	00:17:52:20	since 5:45 this morning.
00:17:52:20	00:17:53:23	>> We just sign them in
00:17:53:23	00:17:54:26	so they can vote, that
00:17:54:26	00:17:56:03	they're a legitimate voter.
00:17:56:03	00:17:57:09	And we give them a ballot
00:17:57:09	00:17:58:24	and keep track.
00:17:58:24	00:17:59:24	>> I was at one
00:17:59:24	00:18:01:01	of the town meetings,
00:18:01:01	00:18:02:03	where they were discussing it.
00:18:02:03	00:18:03:20	That's how I found out about it.
00:18:03:20	00:18:04:27	>> These issues don't affect us
00:18:04:27	00:18:08:10	quite at this time in our age,
00:18:08:10	00:18:09:15	but later on,
00:18:09:15	00:18:10:18	they will affect us.
00:18:10:18	00:18:11:18	That's why we should
00:18:11:18	00:18:12:28	start voting now.
00:18:12:28	00:18:14:00	>> If you don't vote, then don't
00:18:14:00	00:18:16:17	complain about what's happening.
00:18:16:17	00:18:17:18	>> This voting right here
00:18:17:18	00:18:18:18	is pretty much
00:18:18:18	00:18:20:02	going to make it happen.
00:18:20:02	00:18:20:29	>> It's all dependent
00:18:20:29	00:18:21:28	on this voting.
00:18:21:28	00:18:23:01	>> Yes, it is the first time
00:18:23:01	00:18:24:21	voting.
00:18:24:21	00:18:25:20	>> So far,
00:18:25:20	00:18:26:23	it's been a good turnout.
00:18:26:23	00:18:28:29	Better than 50% already.
00:18:28:29	00:18:30:22	So, any time you get 50%,
00:18:30:22	00:18:32:17	I guess it's a good election.
00:18:34:07	00:18:36:28	>> Okay, quitting time.
00:18:39:17	00:18:40:20	What you'll want to do first
00:18:40:20	00:18:41:22	is just separate
00:18:41:22	00:18:43:26	all the yesses and nos.
00:18:51:07	00:18:52:16	The yesses,
00:18:52:16	00:18:54:27	there were 406 yesses,
00:18:54:27	00:18:58:06	and 274 nos.
00:18:58:06	00:18:59:07	I believe it's actually
00:18:59:07	00:19:01:06	brought people closer together.
00:19:01:06	00:19:02:08	People that probably didn't
00:19:02:08	00:19:03:23	have a cup of coffee together
00:19:03:23	00:19:05:07	before this,
00:19:05:07	00:19:06:23	and now they have been.
00:19:06:23	00:19:08:00	>> I voted yes,
00:19:08:00	00:19:09:13	because as the schools go,
00:19:09:13	00:19:11:01	so does our community.
00:19:11:01	00:19:12:02	>> Local government
00:19:12:02	00:19:14:08	has tons of power.
00:19:14:08	00:19:15:23	>> All of us are more effective
00:19:15:23	00:19:18:01	in our own ways.
00:19:18:01	00:19:19:17	>> Our fathers and grandfathers
00:19:19:17	00:19:20:27	have fought for freedom
00:19:20:27	00:19:22:05	in this country,
00:19:22:05	00:19:23:18	to give us the right to live
00:19:23:18	00:19:25:23	in a democracy, which allows
00:19:25:23	00:19:27:18	us to all have a voice
00:19:27:18	00:19:29:14	in this country.
00:19:29:14	00:19:30:23	And for us to not take
00:19:30:23	00:19:32:17	advantage of that, I believe,
00:19:32:17	00:19:35:10	would be a serious mistake.
00:19:35:10	00:19:36:10	>> I always take my kids
00:19:36:10	00:19:37:22	to vote.
00:19:37:22	00:19:39:04	It's their privilege
00:19:39:04	00:19:40:14	for living here.
00:19:40:14	00:19:41:16	>> I need to keep going
00:19:41:16	00:19:42:23	to school board meetings.
00:19:42:23	00:19:44:24	I need to stay active online
00:19:44:24	00:19:46:01	with the other people
00:19:46:01	00:19:48:03	that are observing this process.
00:19:48:03	00:19:49:05	You can't wait till
00:19:49:05	00:19:50:17	there's a crisis to organize.
00:19:50:17	00:19:51:20	You can avert crises
00:19:51:20	00:19:53:09	by being involved
00:19:53:09	00:19:54:25	and staying active,
00:19:54:25	00:19:56:01	and holding elected officials
00:19:56:01	00:19:57:10	accountable.
00:19:57:10	00:19:58:11	>> You're your own
00:19:58:11	00:19:59:13	greatest asset.
00:19:59:13	00:20:00:21	Go learn.
00:20:00:21	00:20:02:14	Go solve it for yourself.
00:20:02:14	00:20:04:03	It doesn't have to be my way.
00:20:04:03	00:20:05:17	I was persistent.
00:20:05:17	00:20:06:27	I never gave up.
00:20:06:27	00:20:08:06	>> At least be willing
00:20:08:06	00:20:09:13	to talk one on one, which is
00:20:09:13	00:20:12:14	where any changes happen.
00:20:12:14	00:20:15:10	It's been a great experience.
00:20:19:20	00:20:20:26	>> For more information,
00:20:20:26	00:20:22:08	visit us on the Web at:
00:20:22:08	00:20:25:25	ecb.org/engage