>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE OMICRON SPIKE IS ON A
SHARP DECLINE.
BUT NOW ITS SUBVARIANT IS THE
NEWEST THREAT.
VIOLENCE IN MILWAUKEE CONTINUES
TO REACH RECORD LEVELS, BEING
FURTHER FUELED BY THE PANDEMIC.
THE LITIGATION OF THE 2020
ELECTION CONTINUES, AND HOW WILL
FAMILIES FARE NOW THAT THE
EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT HAS
ENDED?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
RAPID RETREAT OF OMICRON'S
INITIAL IMPACT IS GIVING SOME A
BREATH OF RELIEF.
WE SPEAK WITH A GENOME SCIENTIST
AND HOW DO YOU PREVENT HISTORIC
LEVELS OF VIOLENCE?
ONE MILWAUKEE OFFICE SAYS IT'S A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WITH THE ONSLAUGHT OF
SUBPOENAS, COURT CASES AND
INVESTIGATIONS, WE SURVEYED THE
LATEST IN ELECTION ACTION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 4.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
[MUSIC]
>> THE EXTREME SPIKE IN COVID-19
CASES IS NOW DECLINING AS
QUICKLY AS IT ADVANCED.
AT ITS PEAK, THE SEVEN-DAY
AVERAGE HIT NEARLY 19,000 NEW
DAILY CASES IN MID JANUARY.
NOW THAT NUMBER IS UNDER 5,000,
BUT ALL 72 COUNTIES --
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE OMICRON SPIKE IS ON A
SHARP DECLINE.
BUT NOW ITS SUBVARIANT IS THE
NEWEST THREAT.
VIOLENCE IN MILWAUKEE CONTINUES
TO REACH RECORD LEVELS, BEING
FURTHER FUELED BY THE PANDEMIC.
THE LITIGATION OF THE 2020
ELECTION CONTINUES.
AND HOW WILL FAMILIES FARE NOW
THAT THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX
CREDIT HAS ENDED?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
RAPID RETREAT OF OMICRON'S
INITIAL IMPACT IS GIVING SOME A
BREATH OF RELIEF.
WE SPEAK WITH A GENOME SCIENTIST
ABOUT THE THREAT OF FUTURE
VARIANTS, AND HOW DO YOU PREVENT
HISTORIC LEVELS OF VIOLENCE?
ONE MILWAUKEE OFFICE SAYS IT'S A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WITH THE ONSLAUGHT OF
SUBPOENAS, COURT CASES AND
INVESTIGATIONS, WE SURVEY THE
LATEST IN ELECTION ACTION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 4.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE EXTREME SPIKE IN COVID-19
CASES IS NOW DECLINING AS
QUICKLY AS IT ADVANCED.
AT ITS PEAK, THE SEVEN-DAY
AVERAGE HIT NEARLY 19,000 NEW
DAILY CASES IN MID JANUARY.
NOW THAT NUMBER IS UNDER 5,000,
BUT ALL 72 COUNTIES ARE STILL
CONSIDERED "CRITICALLY HIGH."
THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS
AND DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 ARE
ALSO FALLING, AND THIS WEEK,
HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORTED THE
LOWEST NUMBER OF COVID ICU
PATIENTS IN NEARLY THREE MONTHS.
BUT IS RELIEF HERE TO STAY?
DURING A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES MEDIA BRIEFING, STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD SPOKE TO THE
POTENTIAL VARIANTS AHEAD AS THE
PANDEMIC COULD TURN ENDEMIC.
>> OUR EXPECTATION, OUR HOPE IS
THAT WE SEE MORE OF THE SAME,
WHICH IS A DECLINING DAY BY DAY,
WEEK BY WEEK FROM THIS REALLY
EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH PEAK THAT
WE SAW FROM OMICRON.
WHETHER THE NEW VARIATION, IF IT
TAKES HOLD, WILL CAUSE THAT
DECLINE TO OCCUR MORE SLOWLY IS
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN THEORIZED,
BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE
OBSERVE IT.
AND I THINK BOTH OF THESE
VARIANTS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD
IN THE COMMUNITY UNTIL THERE ARE
NO SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE LEFT, AND
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE STILL SOME
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED OR
HAVE BEEN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM
THEIR VACCINE THAT THEY ARE
SUSCEPTIBLE, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED HAVE
SOME PROTECTION BUT THAT OF
COURSE WANES OVER TIME AS WELL.
SO THE PHRASE ENDEMIC AS YOU
SAY, MEANING THAT WE'VE SORT OF
REACHED A STEADY STATE OF
TRANSMISSION, I THINK THAT'S
LIKELY TO HAPPEN DURING THIS
NEXT YEAR, BUT THE THING WE
CAN'T PREDICT, ALTHOUGH MANY
PEOPLE ARE REASONABLY -- THINK
IT'S A REASONABLY LIKELY
EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE WILL
BE ADDITIONAL VARIANTS IN THE
FUTURE THAT WILL CHANGE FROM A
STEADY STATE TO A SPIKE THAT
WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
>> THE OMICRON SUBVARIANT NOW
IDENTIFIED IN WISCONSIN ONLY
DIFFERS BY A FEW MUTATIONS, BUT
A DANISH STUDY IS CALLING IT
1 1/2 TIMES MORE CONTAGIOUS.
HOW CONCERNING IS THIS, AND HOW
DOES SEQUENCING THESE COVID
VARIANTS INFORM RESPONSE TO THE
VIRUS?
WE TURN TO KELSEY FLOREK, A
GENOME SCIENTIST WITH WISCONSIN
STATE LABORATORY OF HYGIENE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WAS THE STATE LAB OF HYGIENE
INVOLVED IN IDENTIFYING THIS NEW
SUBVARIANT?
>> YES, SO THE STATE LAB OF
HYGIENE IS ACTIVELY SEQUENCING
UPWARDS OF 500 SAMPLES A WEEK,
AND OUR EFFORT HAS BEEN REALLY
FOCUSED ON TRYING TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE VARIANTS THAT ARE
OUT THERE IN WISCONSIN AND ALSO
LOOKING FOR THE NEW VARIANTS AS
THEY EMERGE.
>> SO WHEN YOU SEE SUCH A
VARIANT, AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE
IT'S PROBABLY NOT DONE THIS WAY
ANYMORE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE A
VARIANT UNDER YOUR YOUR MICROSCOPE,
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
>> SO WE ACTUALLY DON'T USE
MICROSCOPES.
IT'S A LARGELY MOLECULAR
TECHNIQUE SO IT INVOLVES TAKING
THE VIRUS, BREAKING IT INTO A
BUNCH OF SMALLER PIECES AND THEN
FINDING THE GENETIC CODE OF EACH
ONE OF THOSE PIECES.
AND WHAT REALLY IS INVOLVED WITH
THAT IS -- REALLY IT A DATA
ANALYTICS PROCESS OF GATHERING
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION,
COMPARING TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN
BEFORE, AND TRYING TO CLASSIFY
THOSE VIRUSES USING THAT
INFORMATION.
>> SO DO YOU EVER KNOW HOW A
PARTICULAR VARIANT WILL BEHAVE?
>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO PREDICT.
THE COVID VIRUS IS STILL
RELATIVELY KNEW, NEW, IT'S ONLY BEEN
AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS HERE, A
WEEFNED BEEN TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE CAN MEAN
AS FAR AS WHAT TYPES OF EFFECTS
THESE MUTATIONS CAN HAVE
DOWNSTREAM.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
TO BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY
CERTAIN MARKERS WE NEED TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT BUT THERE'S
STILL A LOT OF SCIENCE THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THESE MARKERS AND
GOING FORWARD, KNOW WHAT THESE
MUTATIONS MIGHT HAVE IN STORE
FOR US.
>> LIKE WHEN OMICRON BURST INTO
THE POPULATION, WAS THAT
ANTICIPATED BECAUSE OF HOW IT
BEHAVED ELSEWHERE?
>> IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY.
SO WE WERE LUCKY IN THE FACT
THAT WE SAW HOW IT HAPPENED IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE, BEFORE
IT CAME TO THE U.S., SO WE HAD
SOME IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT.
BUT LARGELY THAT VIRUS CAME ON
TO THE SCENE AND LOOKED VERY
DIFFERENT COMPARED TO A LOT OF
PREVIOUS VARIANTS WE'D SEEN, SO
IT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE TO
UNDERSTAND EARLY ON WHAT THAT
VIRUS WAS CAPABLE OF DOING.
>> YOU SAY WHEN YOU DO THIS
WORK, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THESE
MARKERS THAT WILL SUGGEST WHAT
THESE VARIANTS WILL DO.
WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR THAT
THE POPULATION SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
IN TERMS OF MARKERS IN ALL THESE
VARIANTS THAT YOU ARE
SEQUENCING?
SO THE BEST PIECE I CAN SHARE
WITH THAT IS THAT A LOT OF WHAT
WE'RE SEEING IS PRETTY STANDARD
THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF THINGS
HERE IN WISCONSIN THAT ARE VERY
UNIQUE TO WISCONSIN.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS LARGELY IN
LINE WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SEEN IN
OTHER STATES AND OTHER COUNTIES,
SO IT'S MORE OF JUST GETTING A
GRASP ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND
USING THAT INFORMATION TO BOTH
GUIDE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
AS WELL AS GUIDE THE USAGE OF
DIFFERENT THERAPIES THAT WE KNOW
MAY OR MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE
GIVEN CERTAIN VARIANTS.
>> GIVEN THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF
COVID-19, IS IT YOUR EXPECTATION
THAT IT WILL EVER BECOME JUST A
PART OF LIFE FOR WHICH WE TAKE
SHOTS, LIKE THE FLU, OR IS IT
DIFFERENT?
>> I REALLY HOPE THAT WHEN WE
GET TO A PHASE WHERE IT'S
TREATED VERY SIMILAR TO THE FLU,
WHERE WE MAYBE HAVE A BOOSTER
EVERY NOW AND THEN TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE PROTECTION
AGAINST WHATEVER COULD EMERGE,
BUT AGAIN, THIS VIRUS IS STILL
VERY NEW AND IT KEEPS THROWING
US THROUGH TWISTS AND TURNS AS
THIS PANDEMIC CONTINUES ON.
>> SO HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE
THAT THIS LATEST, I THINK IT'S
THETHE LATEST, OMICRON SUBVARIANT
IS REPORTED TO BE EVEN MORE
CONTAGIOUS THAN THE ORIGINAL,
BACK TO THAT DANISH STUDY SAYING
IT WAS ONE AND A HALF MORE TIMES
MORE CONTAGIOUS?
>> YES, SO IT HAS BEEN REPORTED
TO BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, BUT
WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR AT LEAST
WITH THE EVIDENCE IS THAT THERE
SEEMS TO BE SOME CROSS REACTION
HAPPENING BETWEEN THE TWO
VIRUSES, SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S
MORE CONTAGIOUS, IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S STILL LARGELY VERY SIMILAR
TO THE OMICRON VARIANT WE JUST
RECENTLY SAW THE PEAK OF IN
TERMS OF VIRULENCE AND OUR CAUSE
FOR CONCERN.
>> SO IT'S BEEN ISOLATED IN
WISCONSIN, EVEN IF IT'S MORE
CONTAGIOUS, WOULD PEOPLE WHO
WERE VACCINATED OR BOOSTED OR
HAD ALREADY HAD COVID-19 BE
PROTECTED FROM THAT?
>> SO THE VACCINE DOES PROVIDE A
LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST
SEVERE CASES OF HOSPITALIZATION
AND TREATMENT, BUT I THINK IN
TERMS OF EXPOSURE, THERE'S STILL
A RISK THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS OF
PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY
EXPOSED OR PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED
COULD STILL GET THIS NEW
VARIANT.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'RE DOING THERE TO HELP US
UNDERSTAND COVID-19.
KELSEY FLOREK, THANKS A LOT.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHILE OMICRON WAS SWEEPING
THROUGH THE STATE, AVAILABLE
TESTING LAGGED.
THIS VACUUM WAS FILLED BID
POP-UP TESTING SITES QUICKLY
OPENED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES.
IN PARTICULAR, TESTING SITES
UNDER THE BANNER CENTER FOR
COVID CONTROL, AN ILLINOIS
COMPANY, AROUSED SUSPICION AND
COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE LOOKING
FOR RAPID TESTS IN CITIES ACROSS
THE STATE.
MADISON HAD SIX SUCH SITES WHICH
HAVE ALL NOW CLOSED DOWN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL SAYS THE POP-UP SITES
CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL SCAMS,
POOR QUALITY, OR THE COMPROMISE
OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.
THE WISCONSIN DHS SAYS TRUSTED
TESTING SITES ARE LISTED ON ITS
COVID-19 COMMUNITY TESTING SITES
WEBPAGE.
IN OTHER NEWS AND IN A QUOTE
RIPPED FROM NATIONAL HEADLINES,
"MILWAUKEE IS IN THE GRIP OF THE
WORST VIOLENCE IN ITS MODERN
HISTORY," WROTE THE "L.A.
TIMES."
VIOLENT CRIME IS ON THE RISE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN MILWAUKEE, AFTER A MASS
SHOOTING THAT KILLED SIX PEOPLE
LAST MONTH, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
THERE SAYS THE CITY IS ON PACE
TO SEE 300 HOMICIDES THIS YEAR,
AFTER A RECORD 197 HOMICIDES
LAST YEAR.
THE MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
HAS AN OFFICE OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, AND IN PARTICULAR,
ONE MAN SERVES AS THE COMMUNITY
INJURY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
MANAGER FOR THAT OFFICE.
JAMAAL SMITH JOINS US NOW.
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO FROM OUR COMFORTABLE PERCH
HERE IN A STUDIO IN MADISON, PUT
US IN THE HEAD OF PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE MIDST AND EVEN
PERPETRATING THIS VIOLENCE, WHY
IS IT ESCALATING AT SUCH
ALARMING RATES?
>> YES, GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOT WEIGHING,
REALLY, THE IMPACT OF THE
PANDEMIC, AND HOW THAT HAS
PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY,
PSYCHOLOGICALLY AFFECTED OUR
COMMUNITIES.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, MILWAUKEE
WAS ON A FOUR-YEAR HISTORIC
DECLINE, WITH EVEN 2018 AND 2019
SEEING LESS THAN 100 HOMICIDES.
AND THEN NOW ONCE THE COVID
PANDEMIC HIT, WE SUDDENLY SAW
THIS ASTRONOMICAL RISE IN
VIOLENCE.
AND WE SAW A NUMBER OF GUNS THAT
WERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE SAW
PEOPLE WHO WERE FEELING PAIN
FROM THE PANDEMIC IN POSSESSION
OF A WEAPON THAT INFLICTS PAIN
ON OTHERS, AS WELL AS
THEMSELVES.
SO WHEN WE REALLY LOOK AT THE
IMPACT OF VIOLENCE THAT'S
HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE, IT'S REALLY JUST A
REFLECTION OF THE AMOUNT OF
PAIN, THE ANGUISH, THE
FRUSTRATION AND ANGER THAT
EXISTS FROM THE EMOTIONAL TOIL
OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AS WELL AS
A LOT OF GENERATIONAL AND
CURRENT TRAUMA THAT MANY PEOPLE
HAVE EXPERIENCED.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN EXACERBATED
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE
UNFORTUNATELY SEEN THIS HISTORIC
RISE IN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
>> YOU SPEAK TO TRAUMA AS A ROOT
CAUSE, AND TRAUMA IS BORN OF SO
MANY FACTORS CULMINATING
TOGETHER: POVERTY THAT PERVADES
EVERYTHING FROM HEALTH TO
HOUSING TO EDUCATION.
HOW CAN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BE
EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE?
HOW CAN YOU FIX VIOLENCE?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
DON'T EVEN APPROACH IT AS US
DOING IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL
ENTITY.
WE MAY BE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, BUT EVERYONE IS PART
OF PREVENTION EFFORTS.
WHETHER THAT'S BUSINESS
EXECUTIVES, MPD OR SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, RESIDENT
ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, GRASSROOTS,
POLICY MAKERS.
WE ARE ALL A PART OF VIOLENCE
PREVENTION EFFORTS.
THAT'S WHY OUR MISSION IS ABOUT
BRINGING TOGETHER OR
ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS WITH
FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, YOUTH,
AND OTHERS TO REALLY FOCUS ON
THE WAYS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?
SO IT HAS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON
DECK APPROACH, IT'S ALL
ENCOMPASSING, MULTI-DISPRIN
PALESTINIAN RI.
EVERYBODY IS AT THE TABLE WHEN
IT COMES TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
>> MEANWHILE WE TALKED EARLIER
IN OUR PROGRAM HOW EVERYTHING IS
POLITICIZED, INCLUDING VIOLENT
CRIME.
REPUBLICANS SAYING DEMOCRATS ARE
WEAK ON CRIME AND WANT TO DEFUND
POLICE, DEMOCRATS SAYING THERE
SHOULD BE POLICE REFORM AND THAT
REPUBLICANS ARE WEAK ON SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
IS THERE A WAY TO COME TOGETHER
ON THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT CRIME?
>> THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS YOU
COULD TAKE THAT.
I THINK THE FIRST IS REALIZING
THAT THE UNITED STATES IS 4% OF
THE WORLD'S POPULATION YET WE
MAKE UP 25% OF THE WORLD'S
PRISON POPULATION.
SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE IN
TERMS OF INCARCERATION.
SO THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER
DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF HOW WE
INVEST IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF
OTHERS, WHICH THEN HELPS TO ALSO
PREVENT CRIME FROM HAPPENING.
THAT'S ONE.
BUT THEN THE OTHER ASPECT IS
THERE HAS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH TO THE WAY WE ADDRESS
THIS.
SO MANY TIMES WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON
WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG,
VERSUS HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER
WITH THE ASPECT OF TALKING ABOUT
PREVENTION.
WE NEED EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE.
WE NEED REPUBLICANS, WE NEED
DEMOCRATS, WE NEED POLICE, WE
NEED COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
EVERYBODY HAS TO BE AT THE TABLE
TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
WAYS THAT WE DO PREVENTION
EFFORTS.
IT CANNOT BE JUST A ONE-OFF OR
ONE ENTITY THAT'S WORKING
TOWARDS PREVENTION.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR SOMEONE
LIKE YOURSELF WHO'S DEDICATING
YOUR LIFE TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION
TO SEE THE SURGE IN VIOLENCE IN
YOUR CITY AND ELSEWHERE?
>> IT'S MADDENING.
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
AND IT'S HURTFUL BECAUSE NOT
ONLY AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE
OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
BUT AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER,
THAT CONCERNS ME AS WELL IN
TERMS OF THE PROTECTION OF MY
WIFE AND MY SON, IN ADDITION TO
MY FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE
FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH PAIN
IN THE CITY.
TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION,
HAVING ARGUMENTS AND FOCUSING ON
THIS FROM A POLITICAL ASPECT,
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE NEED RIGHT
NOW.
WE REALLY NEED TO CREATE THOSE
SPACES OR FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AN
ECOSYSTEM OF COLLABORATION THAT
HELPS ADDRESS PREVENTION FROM A
PUBLIC HEALTH LENS.
AND WE WANT TO SEE BETTER IN THE
CITY.
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WANTS TO
SEE BETTER IN THIS CITY.
IF THAT'S THE CASE AND WE ARE
ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH
AND THE SAFETY AND THE SANCTITY
OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, THEN
ALL OF US ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SEE
THAT THAT HAPPENS.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
FORCES COMING TOGETHER, AND
HELPING PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
GET SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS.
JAMAAL SMITH, THANKS VERY MUCH
AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> EVERYTHING THESE DAYS IS
POLITICIZED, BUT NOTHING MORE
THAN THE 2020 ELECTION.
AUDITS, INVESTIGATIONS,
SUBPOENAS AND COURT CASES.
AND THAT'S JUST IN WISCONSIN.
WITH THE NUMBER OF HEADLINES
THAT COME OUT DAILY, IT CAN BE
DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP.
MARISA WOJCIK TAKES US THROUGH
IT.
>> OF THE MYRIAD
ELECTION-RELATED NEWS, HERE ARE
SOME UPDATES ON SOME OF THE MAIN
AREAS: WHEN IT COMES TO
ELECTION GRANT FUNDING,
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK
MOVED FORWARD WITH A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN
GRANT FUNDING THAT WOULD HELP
MUNICIPALITIES TO RUN ELECTIONS.
THIS IS AFTER THE STATE'S FIVE
LARGEST AND DEMOCRATIC CITIES
RECEIVED MILLIONS MORE FROM A
PRIVATE DONATION THAN THE
SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES DID TO
HELP ADMINISTER THE 2020
ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC.
IN THE WAY OF FALSE ELECTORS,
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
INVESTIGATING THE
JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE U.S.
CAPIOL HAS SUBPOENAED TWO
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR,
QUOTE, ROLE AND PARTICIPATION IN
THE PURPORTED SLATE OF ELECTORS
CASTING VOTES FOR DONALD TRUMP.
ANDREW HITT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN,
AND KELLY RUH, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE
STATE'S EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT GOP, WERE PART OF THE
10 REPUBLICAN ELECTORS WHO DREW
UP FALSE PAPERWORK, CASTING THE
STATE'S ELECTORAL BALLOTS FOR
TRUMP.
IN A STATEMENT, HITT SAID HE
WOULD VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH
THIS COMMITTEE.
ON THE ISSUE OF DROPBOXES, AFTER
A TIE VOTE, THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS LEFT IN
PLACE GUIDANCE OVER ABSENTEE
BALLOT DROPBOXES.
HOWEVER, THE STATE SUPREME COURT
WILL CONSIDER WHETHER DROPBOXES
ARE LEGAL, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER
THE FEBRUARY 15TH ELECTION.
THE HIGH COURT HAD WEIGHED INTO
THE MATTER AFTER A WAUKESHA
COUNTY JUDGE BARRED THE USE OF
DROPBOXES, AND THEN AN APPEALS
COURT SUSPENDED THAT WAUKESHA
ORDER.
WHAT WITH THE YOU UP COMING ELECTION
FOR MILWAUKEE MAYOR AND OTHER
OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE.
AS FOR MISSING ABSENTEE BALLOT
INFORMATION, ANOTHER PRODUCT OF
THE MASSIVE INCREASE IN ABSENTEE
BALLOT USE IN THE 2020 ELECTION
LED TO PEOPLE INCORRECTLY
FILLING OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION
ON THE BALLOT'S BALLOT'S ENVELOPE,
TYPICALLY MISSING A PORTION OF
THAT PERSON'S ADDRESS LEADING
CLERKS TO FILL SOME OF IT IN
USING REGISTRATION INFORMATION
OR GOOGLE MAPS TO FIND A MISSING
ZIP CODE.
ON MONDAY THE COMMISSION VOTED
4-2 TO KEEP THIS PRACTICE IN
PLACE.
AS FOR THE SPECIAL COUNCIL'S
ELECTION INVESTIGATION, FORMER
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN CONTINUES TO BE
SCRUTINIZED FOR HIS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
ELECTION.
THE REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
AUTHORIZED THE PROBE AT TAXPAYER
EXPENSE.
GABLEMAN'S ONSLAUGHT OF
SUBPOENAS INCLUDES THE MAYORS OF
WISCONSIN'S FIVE LARGEST CITIES,
TWO COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE
BALLOT-COUNTING MACHINES,
WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION
ADMINISTRATOR MEAGAN WOLFE,
IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY GROUP VOCES
DE LA FRONTERA, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS' ADMINISTRATION, AND A
NUMBER OF OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL
FILED SUIT, SAYING GABLEMAN IS
EXCEEDING HIS AUTHORITY BY
DEMANDING PRIVATE DEPOSITIONS
FOR HIS OVERLY BROAD DOCK DOCUMENT
DEMANDS.
AND FINALLY, IN RESPONSE TO
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU THAT
ANOTHER OF ISSUES NEED
ADDRESSING TO SHORE UP WISCONSIN
ELECTION LAWS, STATE SENATOR
KATHY BERNIER HAS INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS SOME
ITEMS, SUCH AS SPECIAL VOTING
DEPUTIES, AND INDEFINITELY
CONFINED VOTERS.
>> IN A RELATED MATTER, THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT TODAY
RULED IT WILL NOT TAKE UP A
LAWSUIT FROM REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH.
JUSTICE BRIAN HAGEDORN JOINED
THE THREE LIBERAL JUSTICES IN
THE DECISION.
AS WE'VE REPORTED, A SEPARATE
CASE ON BALLOT DROPBOXES IS
BEFORE THE HIGH COURT.
IN WASHINGTON, WITH SOME MEMBERS
BALKING AT THE PRICETAG, THE
U.S. SENATE HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION
ON THE $2 TRILLION SPENDING BILL
PASSED IN THE U.S. HOUSE CALLED
THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.
IN THAT BILL, THE CONTINUATION
OF THE ENHANCED CHILD TAX CREDIT
GIVEN TO FAMILIES OVER THE LAST
HALF OF 2021.
THAT CREDIT PROVIDED UP TO
$3,600 ANNUALLY FOR YOUNGER
CHILDREN AND $3,000 FOR OLDER
CHILDREN IN A FAMILY.
IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN A
MILLION CHILDREN WERE RECIPIENTS
OF THE IMPROVED TAX CREDIT.
AS AN AN LAST AT THE WISCONSIN
BUDGET PROJECT, TAMARINE
CORNELIUS STUDIED WHAT THEY
SPENT IT ON.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU LOOKED AT HOUSEHOLDS WITH
INCOMES UNDER $35,000.
HOW WAS THE MONEY FROM THE TAX
CREDIT MOSTLY USED?
>> SO THIS IS RESEARCH THAT'S
OUT THERE IN TERMS OF HOW
FAMILIES OF LOW INCOMES ARE
SPENDING THEIR TAX CREDIT.
AND SOME SENATORS OR AT LEAST
ONE SENATOR HAS EXPRESSED
CONCERN THAT FAMILIES MIGHT NOT
BE MAKING WISE DECISIONS WITH
HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT, AND
THERE'S TWO, I THINK, RESPONSES
TO THAT.
ONE IS THAT FAMILIES KNOW BEST
WHAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT
TEMSELVES AND HOW TO SPEND
THEIR BUDGETS AND TO SUGGEST
OTHERWISE I THINK IS JUST
INCREDIBLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE
DECISIONS THAT PARENTS MAKE
EVERY DAY IN TRADEOFFS FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS THAT
WE KNOW HOW FAMILIES SPEND THEIR
MONEY FROM THE TAX CREDIT, AND
THE TOP THREE THINGS THAT THEY
SPEND THEIR MONEY ON, NUMBER ONE
IS FOOD.
SO GROCERIES.
NUMBER TWO IS UTILITIES.
YOU KNOW, LITERALLY KEEPING THE
LIGHT ON OR HEAT ON, AND NUMBER
THREE IS RENT, WHICH IS KEEPING
A ROOF OVER THEIR FAMILY'S HEAD.
SO WHAT WE SEE IS THAT A LOT OF
THESE TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS WENT
TO SUPPORT VERY BASIC NEEDS TO
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.
>> SO MEANWHILE, RIGHT NOW,
THOUGH, RISING PRICES ARE
CUTTING EVEN FURTHER INTO
FAMILIES' BUDGETS.
HOW BIG OF A BURDEN IS THIS FOR
LOWER INCOME FAMILIES RIGHT NOW?
>> SO WHEN FAMILYIES STRUGGLE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET, THAT IS
STRESSFUL FOR PARENTS AND FOR
KIDS, AND THERE WAS JUST A PIECE
IN THE NEWS RECENTLY ABOUT HOW
THERE WAS A STUDY WHERE THEY HAD
POOR MOTHERS AND THEY GAVE THE
MOTHERS A CASH STIPEND FOR THE
FIRST YEAR OF THE KIDS' LIVES,
AND MEASURED THE BRAIN
DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT OF KIDS AND SAW
THERE WAS IMPROVED BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT FROM GIVING THEM
SOME SUPPORT.
AND SO WHAT WE SEE IS THAT
POVERTY, WHETHER THAT'S FROM LOW
WAGES OR OTHER THINGS, HAS
STRESS FOR KIDS AND PARENTS THAT
CAN AFFECT THEIR HEALTH, THAT
CAN AFFECT THEIR ACADEMICS
ACHIEVEMENT AND CAN JUST AFFECT
THE WHOLE REST OF THEIR LIVES,
AND IF WE CAN MAKE INITIAL
INVESTMENTS NOW, THAT CAN PAY
OFF FOR EVERYBODY IN THE LONG
TERM.
>> SO NATIONAL STUDIES HAVE
SHOWN THAT SOME 3.7 MILLION
CHILDREN WERE LIFTED OUT OF
POVERTY IN DECEMBER, AN
ESTIMATED DECLINE IN POVERTY OF
NEARLY 30%, BECAUSE OF THESE
CHILD TAX CREDITS.
HOW MEANINGFUL IS THAT?
>> SO IN WISCONSIN, THAT
TRANSLATES TO LIFTING ABOUT
45,000 KIDS OUT OF POVERTY, SO
THAT'S ENOUGH TO FIT EVERY --
FILL EVERY SEAT IN AMERICAN
FAMILY FIELD WITH A LITTLE LEFT
OVER.
WHEN WE LIFT THOSE KIDS OUT OF
POVERTY, THAT'S HAVING AN EFFECT
RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S REALLY HAVING
AN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES.
AND IT ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR
KIDS OF COLOR, BECAUSE THEIR
FAMILYIES -- BECAUSE OF HISTORIC
AND CURRENT DISCRIMINATION IN
THE LABOR MARKET AND IN
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND EDUCATION
SYSTEMS OFTEN HAVE LOWER WAGES
AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN
POVERTY SO IT HAS AN ESPECIALLY
INTENSE EFFECT ON THOSE KIDS.
>> SO IF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
NEED THIS KIND OF INFUSION TO
RISE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, I
WOULD EXPECT THAT MANY PEOPLE
WOULD LIKE THESE KINDS OF CHILD
TAX CREDITS TO BECOME PERMANENT.
>> RIGHT, AND THE BUILD BACK
BETTER CONTINUED SOME OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS AND MADE PERMANENT
SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE'S KIND OF THREE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT BUILD BACK
BETTER WAS GOING TO MAKE.
ONE WAS -- OR THAT WE HAD IN THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN LAST YEAR,
AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
CONTINUING.
ONE WAS THAT WE GOT THE MONTHLY
PAYMENTS, INSTEAD OF ALL IN A
LUMP SUM, SO PARENTS COULD USE
TO PAY MONTHLY EXPENSES LIKE
YOU'VE GOT TO FILL UP THE GAS IN
YOUR CAR ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST
ONCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH
YOUR TAX RETURN, RIGHT?
THE SECOND WAS THE INCREASED
CREDIT AMOUNTS WHICH YOU TALKED
ABOUT, AND THEN THE THIRD, WHICH
HAD THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE
BUCK IN TERMS OF POVERTY
REDUCTION IS THAT IT REMOVED A
PROVISION THAT PROHIBITED
PARENTS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES
FROM GETTING THE FULL CREDIT
AMOUNT.
SO THAT IMPROVEMENT MEANT THAT
ABOUT -- THAT THE PARENTS OF
ABOUT 350,000 KIDS IN WISCONSIN,
THAT THE FULL CREDIT -- GOT THE
FULL CREDIT WHEREAS BEFORE THEY
DIDN'T.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT
VERSIONS OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
WE MIGHT MAKE PERMANENT, WHAT WE
CAN EXTEND FOR A LITTLE BIT AND
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, THAT PART
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFTING
KIDS OUT OF POVERTY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR INFORMATION.
TAMARINE CORNELIUS, APPRECIATE
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE WISCONSIN NEWS AND
THE LATEST ON COVID-19, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG,
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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