EXPECTS TO APPEAL THE RULING.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
[MUSIC]
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WITH WHO CAN EVEN CONTEMPLATE
BUYING A HOUSE.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN
COVER THEIR RENT?
HOW ARE THEY BEING OUT-PRICED IN
THIS PERFECT STORM?
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?
IF HOUSE PRICES WERE GO-GO CRAZY
IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO, WILL
THERE BE A CRASH?
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS PREPARE FOR
SUMMER INSTRUCTION.
AS EDUCATORS MAKE UP FOR LOST
TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.
AN OVERHEATED HOUSING MARKET IS
SETTING OFF ALARMS, AND ALL EYES
ARE ON THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT OVER THE HIGHLY
ANTICIPATED REDISTRICTING
DECISION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," LAW
PROFESSOR ROBERT YABLON EXPLAINS
WHAT THE HIGH COURT IS DOING
WITH LEGISLATIVE VOTING
BOUNDARIES.
A MILLENNIAL COUPLE SHARES THE
HARDSHIPS OF HOME BUYING, AND A
SUMMER SCHOOL LEADER IN GREEN
BAY DEFINES SUCCESS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 15.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> TONIGHT, A DECISION FROM THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ON
LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING MAPS.
AND IT'S A LOSS FOR DEMOCRATS.
THE COURT VOTED 4-3 TO ADOPT THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE'S MAPS
INSTEAD OF THOSE OF GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS THAT IT ORIGINALLY
APPROVED.
JUSTICE BRIAN HAGEDORN WAS THE
SWING VOTE IN BOTH CASES IN WHAT
DISSENTING JUSTICES TONIGHT
CALLED A DISHEARTENING ODYSSEY,
THIS DECISION FOLLOWS A
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGE THAT HAD
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SENDING
THE CASE BACK TO THE STATE
COURT.
AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE, THE
NUMBER OF MAJORITY MINORITY
ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS IN MILWAUKEE.
THE WISCONSIN HIGH COURT
MAJORITY WROTE IN ITS DECISION,
QUOTE, THE MAPS PROPOSED BY THE
GOVERNOR ARE RACIALLY MOTIVATED
AND UNDER THE EQUAL PROTECTION
CLAUSE THEY FAIL STRICT
SCRUTINY.
BY CONTRAST, THE MAPS PROPOSED
BY THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE ARE
RACE-NEUTRAL.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WEIGHED IN
TONIGHT, CALLING THE DECISION AN
UNCONSCIONABLE MISCARRIAGE OF
JUSTICE AND OUTRAGEOUS.
EXPERT AND UW LAW PROFESSOR
ROBERT YABLON JOINS US TO
DISCUSS.
PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO
THIS DECISION?
>> WELL, THIS IS A BIG DECISION
AND A BIG TURNAROUND FROM
EARLIER IN THE CASE, WHEN THE
GOVERNOR PREVAILED, NOW THE
SUPREME COURT ADOPTED AS ITS OWN
THE MAP THE LEGISLATURE PASSED
AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED.
AND THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL
DECISION IN A NUMBER OF
RESPECTS.
IT'S A DECISION THAT IN EFFECT
NULLIFIES THE FORCE OF THE
GOVERNOR'S VETO.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT STEPS IN
AND, IN EFFECT, DECIDES THAT
EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR SAID
THIS IS NOT A MAP THAT THE STATE
SHOULD HAVE, IT'S ADOPTED
ANYWAY.
IT ALSO GOES WELL BEYOND WHAT
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT REQUIRED
THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO DO.
THE ONLY DISTRICTS THAT THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT TOOK ISSUE WITH
WERE THOSE HAND VOTE MAJORITY
DISTRICTS IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA.
ALL THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WAS
TO HAVE THOSE DISTRICTS RE-DRAWN
IN A MORE RACE-NEUTRAL MANNER
BUT INSTEAD THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT CHOSE TO JETTISON
THE GOVERNOR'S GOVERNOR'S MAP ENTIRELY AND
EMBRACE THE LEGISLATURE'S
ENTIRELY.
>> SO WE WERE JUST SPEAKING TO
THE MILWAUKEE ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR
THE REST OF THE STATE'S
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, WHERE THE
EVERS MAPS WOULD HAVE GIVEN
DEMOCRATS A CHANCE TO WIN BUT
THE GOP MAPS LOCK IN THAT SOLID
MAJORITY?
>> SO THIS MAP, THE MAP THAT THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED LAST FALL, IS
ONE THAT REINFORCES THE PARTISAN
GERRYMANDER THAT THIS STATE HAS
HAD FOR THE LAST DECADE, AND IT
MEANS THAT ALL THOAL THIS STATE
IS OFTEN A 50/50 STATE, ONE
WHERE DEMOCRATS FREQUENTLY
MANAGE TO WIN STATE-WIDE RACES,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE VIRTUALLY
NO CHANCE OF TAKING CONTROL OF
THE LEGISLATURE.
IF ANYTHING, THE ICIAL EU THAT
WETHE ISSUE WE MIGHTSEE COMING UP IN 2022 IS WHETHER
THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE ABLE TO
WIN A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> SO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT SAID THERE WAS
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE ON THE
BASIS OF RACE AND THAT BY
CONTRAST, THE MAPS PROPOSED BY
THE LEGISLATURE ARE RACE-NEUTRAL
AND LEGAL.
ARE THE KEYWORDS THERE
"INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE" OR DID
THEY GET THAT RIGHT?
>> I DO THINK THAT THAT IS THE
KEY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID
IS THAT IT WASN'T CONVINCED THAT
THE GOVERNOR HAD INTRODUCED
ENOUGH EVIDENCE.
THE GOVERNOR ON A REMAND TO THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT OFFERED
TO INTRODUCE MORE, THE JUSTICES
DIDN'T WANT THAT EXTRA EVIDENCE,
SAID HE'D HAD A SUFFICIENT
CHANCE, AND FOUND THAT EVIDENCE
INSUFFICIENT.
NOW, THE DISSENTERS DISAGREE
WITH THAT.
THE DISSENTERS ALSO QUESTION
WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE'S MAP
WAS INDEED RACE-NEUTRAL AS THEY
SAID IT WAS.
>> FOR HIS PART, JUSTICE BRIAN
HAGEDORN SEEMED TO AGREE WITH
THIS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, EVEN
AS HE SIDED WITH CONSERVATIVES
TO ADOPT THE REPUBLICAN MAP
SAYING THAT THE RECORD BEFORE
THE COURT WAS INCOMPLETE, BUT
THERE WAS NO TIME TO DEVELOP IT.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIS
COMMENTS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HE LAMENTED
THE POSITION THAT THE COURT
FOUND ITSELF IN.
NOW, THE COURT COULD HAVE TAKEN
SOME ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE.
THE GOVERNOR OFFERED TO PUT THAT
EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD QUITE
QUICKLY, BUT I THINK THE
JUSTICES FELT LIKE IT WAS
GETTING FAIRLY LATE IN THE GAME.
ANOTHER PART OF WHAT JUSTICE
HAGEDORN WAS GETTING AT IS THAT
THE COURT DIDN'T REALLY IMAGINE
ITSELF TO BE FULLY LITIGATING A
VOTING RIGHTS CHALLENGE IN THIS
CASE AT ALL.
THE MAIN REASON THAT THIS CASE
WAS BEING HEARD WAS BECAUSE OF
THE POPULATION INEQUALITIES IN
THE DISTRICTS AFTER THE LAST
CENSUS.
SO HE SAID HAD THEY KNOWN FROM
THE BEGINNING THAT THE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT WAS GOING TO BE THE
CENTRAL ISSUE, THEY PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE HANDLED THINGS
DIFFERENTLY, BUT IN HIS VIEW,
THEY WERE KIND OF STUCK AT THIS
POINT.
>> HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS LATE
DECISION, DOES IT MAKE IT FOR
ELECTION CLERKS AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION IS GOING TO VERY
QUICKLY NEED TO TRY TO GO
THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS
OF ENTERING THIS NEW MAP INTO
THE SYSTEM.
TODAY WAS THE DAY THAT
CANDIDATES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
ABLE TO START COLLECTING
NOMINATION SIGNATURES FOR
THEMSELVES.
I SUSPECT THAT THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION WILL GET ON
THIS QUICKLY AND THAT THEY'LL BE
ABLE TO DO THAT NEXT WEEK, AND
SO THE TIME FOR COLLECTING THOSE
PETITIONS WILL ONLY HAVE BEEN
DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT, BUT THIS IS
GOING TO CREATE SOME HEADACHES,
NO DOUBT, FOR ELECTION
ADMINISTRATORS.
>> HOW WILL THIS DECISION GO
DOWN IN LEGAL HISTORY IN YOUR
MIND?
>> I SUSPECT NOT VERY WELL.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS STUDIED
COURT-DRAWN MAPS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, IT IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF
FOR A COURT TO ADOPT AS ITS OWN
A MAP THAT IS SO STRIKINGLY
GERRYMANDERED.
BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE
GENERALLY TAKEN THEIR
OBLIGATIONS TO BEING NEUTRAL AND
NON-PARTISAN EXTREMELY
SERIOUSLY, AND SO TO SEE A
JUDICIAL GERRYMANDER OF THIS
KIND REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT
STANDS OUT.
>> PROFESSOR YABLON, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TONIGHT.
>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.
>> ALSO THIS WEEK, THE SUPREME
COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN A
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION REGARDING
THE USE OF ABSENTEE BALLOT
DROPBOXES.
LAWYERS FOR THE CONSERVATIVE
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND
LIBERTY ARGUED THERE IS NOT AN
EXCEPTION TO HAVING ANYONE OTHER
THAN THE VOTER DELIVER THEIR OWN
ABSENTEE BALLOT EITHER BY WAY OF
THE MAILBOX OR TO THE CLERK'S
OFFICE.
>> IN THIS INSTANCE, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS DECIDED THAT
MUCH LIKE MUCH AS YOU MUST GO TO
THE POLLS YOURSELF, YOU CANNOT
SEND ANY -- YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR
SON WITH YOU TO, YOU KNOW, HELP
YOU FILL OUT YOUR BALLOT AND
DELIVER TO THE CLERK.
YOU MUST DO IT YOURSELF.
>> BUT ADVOCATES FROM DISABILITY
RIGHTS WISCONSIN ARGUE THIS
DISCRIMINATES AGAINST ANYONE
UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY DO SO.
>> THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO MOVE
THEIR ARM DUE TO M.S., MUSCULAR
DYSTROPHY, SPINAL CORD INJURY OR
OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE ARMS, BUT THEY
DO HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
TO VOTE.
>> WASHINGTON CAME TO WISCONSIN
THIS WEEK.
A U.S. HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE
HELD A FIELD HEARING ON
MILWAUKEE HOUSING INEQUALITIES,
AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM TO
EXPAND WEALTH BUILDING.
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE WAS
JOINED BY WISCONSIN U.S.
REPRESENTATIVES, REPUBLICAN
BRYAN STEIL AND GWEN MOORE.
>> HOME OWNERSHIP HAS BEEN A
KEYWAY TO BUILD GENERATIONAL
WEALTH.
MILWAUKEE HAS A 29% GAP IN BLACK
TO WHITE HOME OWNERSHIP.
BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP IS JUST 27%
27%.
AND MILWAUKEE IS LOSING AN
ESTIMATED THOUSAND HOMEOWNERS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR EVERY
YEAR.
LIKE FOR RENTERS, THE
DIFFICULTIES FOR FIRST-TIME HOME
BUYERS ARE MYRIAD.
>> WE SPENT TODAY EARLIER ON A
BUS TOUR THROUGH CONGRESSWOMAN
MOORE'S DISTRICT, SEEING
ACTUALLY A LOT OF THE SIMILAR
CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN CITIES
ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE SEE OFTEN OLDER HOUSING STOCK
AND THE CHALLENGE THAT THAT
PLACES ON FAMILIES WITH REPAIRS.
>> THE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM
EXPERTS AND CITIZENS ABOUT
PROGRAMS THAT HELP BREATHE NEW
LIFE INTO MILWAUKEE'S HOUSING
STOCK AND HELP WOULD-BE BUYERS.
FOR MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO
PURCHASE, LOW INTEREST RATES SET
OFF A HOME-BUYING CRAZE, AND LOW
SUPPLY SENT HOUSE PRICES
SOARING.
THIS HITS HARD FOR MILLENNIALS
IN THE PEAK HOME BUYING AGE WHO
HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES THEIR
PARENTS NEVER DID.
MARISA WOJCIK MET WITH A COUPLE
OF THEM.
>> EACH WEEK WE PUT AN OFFER ON
A HOUSE.
WITH THE MARKET THE WAY IT IS,
ALL THOSE OFFERS WERE BETWEEN
LIKE 15 AND 50,000 OVER THE LIST
PRICE, AND JUST LIKE SAYING THAT
OUT LOUD IS SCARY.
>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO KEEP YOUR
SPIRITS UP, DOING THAT EVERY
WEEK.
>> REBECCA LEBEAU AND AMY
SAMPSON DESCRIBE THE REALTY
REALITY THAT MANY FIRST TIME
HOME BUYERS ARE GOING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY
MILLENNIALS.
>> WE WERE JUST READY TO PUT OUR
ROOTS DOWN HERE.
WE FIGURED WE WOULD STRUGGLE.
I DON'T THINK WE WERE EXPECTING
QUITE THE STRUGGLE THAT IT HAS
BEEN.
>> FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS, THE
COUPLE MADE OFFER AFTER OFFER.
>> WE BID 40 OVER ON ONE HOUSE
AND IT ENDED UP GOING FOR 75
OVER.
AND THAT WAS, I THINK, ONE OF
THE LOWER POINTS SO FAR.
>> IT'S HARD WHEN THERE'S NOT A
HARD LOGIC TO DO IT THE WAY
WE'RE DOING IT.
IT'S JUST THIS IS THE GAME YOU
HAVE TO PLAY TO GET IN THE
HOUSE.
>> AS THEIR REALTOR, LINDSEY
COOPER GUIDED THEM THROUGH THE
DIFFICULT PROCESS OF FINDING
THEIR HOME.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF CASES WHERE
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE THEIR
OWN NEIGHBOR.
IT'S JUST GETTING TIGHTER AND
TIGHTER.
>> DISORIENTING, AN EMOTIONAL
ROLLER COASTER AND IN THE
CURRENT HOUSING MARKET,
UNAVOIDABLE.
>> I WAS ALREADY IN JANUARY
WRITING OFFERS THAT WERE 10 TO
20% ABOVE ASKING.
WITH LIMITED CONTINGENCIES AND
LOTS OF FORGIVENESS.
IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST WHAT
NEEDED TO BE DONE.
IF YOU TALK TO THE LIST AGENT
AND YOU KNOW THEY HAVE 15 OTHER
OFFERS AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE
STRONG, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER OPTION BUT TO BE AS
COMPETITIVE AS YOU CAN BE.
>> A PERFECT STORM OF FACTORS
LED TO THIS POINT OF HIGH DEMAND
AND LOW SUPPLY.
>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED
HEATING UP, THE MARKET
ESSENTIALLY JUST GOT TIGHT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO
LEAVE THEIR HOME, THEY WERE
SCARED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
CONSTRUCTION KIND OF CAME APART
AT THE SEAMS BECAUSE SUPPLY WAS
REALLY TRICKY, PRICES WERE
SKYROCKETING.
IT'S GUT-WRENCHING TO KNOW THAT
IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH CASH YOU
HAVE ON HAND.
>> HER CLIENTS WERE DETERMINED
AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY,
PATIENT.
FINALLY, THEY GOT AN ACCEPTED
OFFER.
>> THAT WEEK WAS SPRING BREAK,
AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS
WAITING TO POST THEIR HOUSES ON
SPRING BREAK WEEK, SO THERE
ENDED UP BEING A LOT OF SUPPLY
THAT WEEK.
>> IT'S A TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE ON
THE EAST SIDE.
IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST HOUSE BUT
IT'S LIKE A GREAT STARTER HOUSE
FOR US TO GROW INTO.
>> BUT EVEN THEIR HAPPY ENDING
CAME WITH ITS OWN CONTINGENCIES.
>> WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT
OUR PARENTS NEVER HAD TO MAKE
ABOUT, LIKE, OKAY, IF BUYING A
HOUSE IS IMPORTANT TO US, THEN
WE'RE MAYBE NOT GOING TO HAVE
KIDS OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE
KID INSTEAD OF TWO KIDS, AND I
SEE ARTICLES ABOUT, LIKE,
MILLENNIALS NOT HAVING KIDS AND
IT'S LIKE, YEAH, WE CAN'T -- WE
CAN'T AFFORD HOUSES, DAYCARE IS
THE SAME AS A MORTGAGE, LIKE,
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?
THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO DO THAT.
AND SO WE'RE HAVING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, LIKE, OKAY.
MAYBE KIDS AREN'T FOR US IF WE
CAN'T AFFORD THEM.
JUST BUILD OUR CATS A REALLY
NICE CATIO.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN MADISON.
>> IF THEY CAN'T BUY,
MILLENNIALS STAY WITH RENTING,
PUSHING THOSE PRICES UP.
OUR NEXT GUEST, UW-MADISON
PROFESSOR KURT PAULSEN CALLS THE
NEED FOR HOUSING A FIVE-ALARM
FIRE AND THE FACTORS LEADING TO
IT A PERFECT STORM.
>> THE REASON IT'S A PERFECT
STORM FOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW IS,
PRIOR TO COVID, YOU HAD A REAL
DIFFICULT SITUATION IN THE
HOUSING MARKET.
WE WEREN'T BUILDING ENOUGH
HOMES, AND WE WEREN'T BUILDING
ENOUGH RENTALS, SO PRICES ARE
ALREADY UP, PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
STRESSED IN BEING ABLE TO BUY,
AND THEN YOU JUST LAYER COVID ON
TOP OF IT, THAT'S WHY IT'S A
PERFECT STORM.
THE OTHER REASON IT'S A PERFECT
STORM IS COVID MESSED WITH THE
SUPPLY CHAIN.
SO IN THE LONG RUN, ONE OF THE
WAYS TO SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS
IS TO BUILD MORE HOMES, RIGHT,
BECAUSE THERE'S HIGH DEMAND FOR
HOUSING SO YOU NEED TO BUILD
MORE.
BUT NOW BUILDERS ARE BUILDING
FEWER UNITS IN '21 THAN WE DID
IN 2020.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET GARAGE
DOORS, YOU CAN'T GET APPLIANCES,
YOU CAN'T GET CARPETING, AND THE
PRICE OF LUMBER IS FIVE OR SIX
TIMES WHAT IT USED TO BE PRIOR
TO COVID.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S NEW, BEING
CONSTRUCTED, IS REALLY
EXPENSIVE.
AND THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE
AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM AT ALL.
>> BY HOW MUCH DOES DEMAND
OUTSTRIP THE SUPPLY?
>> SO IN WISCONSIN, FOR EXAMPLE,
WE BUILT, LAST YEAR, ABOUT
10,000 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
AND I ESTIMATE IN A NORMAL
MARKET, WE SHOULD BUILD ABOUT
30,000 HOMES.
SO WE'RE ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF
WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
WE UNDERPRODUCE THOUSANDS OF
HOUSING UNITS EVERY YEAR
RELATIVE TO POPULATION GROWTH
AND JOB GROWTH, AND THAT DOESN'T
EVEN ACCOUNT FOR IN SOME OF OUR
FAST GROWING JOB CENTER, WHICH
WOULD BE DANE COUNTY, WAUKESHA
COUNTY, BROWN AND OUTAGAMIE,
GREEN BAY, APPLETON, THERE'S FAR
MORE JOBS THAN THERE ARE LOUSING
UNITS,HOUSINGUNITS, SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
WORK THERE CAN'T EVEN FIND A
DECENT PLACE TO LIVE.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT YOU
DESCRIBED THIS AS WAS AS A
FIVE-ALARM FIRE.
WHY?
>> WELL, IT SHOULD BE RINGING
ALARM BELLS IN EVERY STATE AND
LOCAL POLICY MAKERS, YOU KNOW,
SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND, WE NEED TO
DO SOMETHING NOW, BECAUSE IF WE
DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW, IT'S
ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
BUT IT SHOULD BE A FIVE-ALARM
FIRE, BUT IT NEVER QUITE RISES
TO THAT LEVEL BECAUSE THE
LEGISLATURE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS OFTENTIMES DON'T
THINK THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY OR
THE POLICY TO REALLY ADDRESS
SOME OF THE MACRO ISSUES IN
TERMS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN, BUT
THEY CAN ADDRESS THE LOCAL
ZONING AND THE LOCAL FINANCING
TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW HOUSING
UNITS ARE BUILT.
>> BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF IT GOING
FORWARD, IF IT CONTINUES IN THIS
WAY?
>> SO IF WE CONTINUE ON THE PATH
WE'RE ON, HOUSE PRICES KEEP
GOING UP, AND THAT MEANS A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS, FOR
MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS,
PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND
HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS, THAT MEANS
THAT ENTRY LEVEL RUNG ON THE
HOUSING LADDER IS PULLED UP,
WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T BUY A
HOME.
AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE GOOD
CREDIT, YOU CAN'T FIND SOMETHING
THAT'S IN YOUR PRICE RANGE.
SO A LOT OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS
WILL STAY RENTERS FOR A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME, AND THAT PUTS
PRESSURE ON THE RENTAL MARKET,
CAUSING THE RENTS TO GO UP ON
THE LOW END.
SO WHEN SUPPLY IS SQUEEZED, IT
AFFECTS EVERYONE, BUT IT
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
PEOPLE ON THE LOWER END OF THE
WAGE SCALE.
THE OTHER IMPLICATION IS,
MILLENNIALS, THE LARGEST
GENERATION IN HISTORY, ARE AT
THEIR PEAK HOME BUYING AGE.
THEY'RE ABOUT 30 OR 31 YEARS
OLD.
IF THEY CAN'T FIND A DECENT
PLACE TO LIVE, THEY'RE GOING TO
MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR
WORKFORCE, YOU HAVE TO HOUSE
YOUR WORKFORCE.
>> SO IN THE MARKET AS IT
CURRENTLY EXISTS, SHOULD
MILLENNIALS WHO MIGHT BE SEEKING
THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOME
OWNERSHIP JUST FORGET ABOUT IT?
>> MY ADVICE TO MILLENNIALS
WOULD BE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU
SHOULD HOOT AND HOLLER AND GET
ANGRY BECAUSE THAT OPPORTUNITY
THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO YOUR
PARENTS IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND
PRESSURE POLICY MAKERS TO DO
SOMETHING.
BUT ON A PRACTICAL MATTER, YOU
JUST HAVE TO START GETTING YOUR
FINANCES IN ORDER, MAKE SURE
THAT YOU HAVE SAVINGS FOR A DOWN
PAYMENT, PAY OFF ANY STUDENT
LOAN DEBT THAT YOU CAN, BUT I'LL
BE HONEST, A LOT OF MILLENNIALS
ARE PRETTY FRUSTRATED.
BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT THAT DREAM
IS INCREASINGLY OUT OF REACH.
AND EVEN IF THEY PLAY BY THE
RULES AND SAVE AND GO TO COLLEGE
AND GET A GOOD JOB, THEY JUST
CAN'T AFFORD A DECENT ENTRY
LEVEL HOME.
>> BECAUSE WHAT IS THE AVERAGE
COST OF A HOME NOW IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, IT REALLY VARIES.
SO IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE,
THE MEDIAN PRICE IS ABOUT 180 OR
$200,000.
BUT IN PLACES LIKE DANE OR
WAUKESHA COUNTY, THE MEDIAN
PRICE IS WELL OVER $300,000.
AND PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING THIS
IS, WHEN THE COST TO BUILD
SOMETHING NEW GOES UP, THE COST
OF ALL THE EXISTING HOAMENTS
ALSO GOES UP.
BECAUSE THE CLOSEST SUBSTITUTE
TO A NEW HOME IS AN EXISTING
HOME AND THE CLOSEST SUBSTITUTE
TO AN EXISTING HOME IS A NEW
HOME.
SO IF YOU OWN YOUR HOME NOW,
YOU'RE VERY HAPPY.
BECAUSE PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED.
SO ON PAPER, AT LEAST, YOU'RE
MUCH MORE WEALTHY.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY,
YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING IN YOUR
PRICE RANGE, AND THEN AS YOU
ALSO KNOW THE STORIES, THERE'S
20 OR 30 BIDDERS, ALL CASH,
ASKING OVER THE ASKING PRICE,
AND SO AGAIN, FOR ANYONE WHO'S A
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE USING
LIKE A V.A. LOAN OR A USDA LOAN
OR AN FHA LOAN, ONE OF THOSE
AFFORDABLE STARTER HOME
PRODUCTS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE
OUT TO SOMEONE WHO'S OFFERING
ALL CASH.
>> DOES THE MARKET KIND OF COOL
AT ALL WITH THE INTEREST RATES
GOING UP?
>> YES.
SO -- ABSOLUTELY.
SO INTEREST RATES FOR MORTGAGES
HAVE GONE UP OVER 1 PERCENTAGE
POINT OR 100 BASIS POINTS SINCE
CHRISTMAS.
SO THAT MEANS, AGAIN, FOR THAT
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER, THAT KIND
OF MODERATE INCOME MILLENNIAL,
THE HOUSE YOU COULD BUY NOW IS
LESS, BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST
RATE.
SO THE SAME INCOME TRANSLATES
INTO LESS MORTGAGE.
SO IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY, RIGHT?
IT'S ACTUALLY A TRIPLE WHAMMY
BECAUSE YOUR RENT IS GOING UP SO
YOU CAN'T SAVE FOR A DOWN
PAYMENT, THE MONEY YOU DO HAVE
DOESN'T GO AS FAR, AND THERE'S
JUST A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY SO THE
PRICES ARE OUT OF REACH.
SO IT WON'T CRASH, BUT IT MEANS
THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD OWN A
HOME ARE JUST NEVER GOING TO OWN
A HOME.
>> PAULSEN SAYS HE DOESN'T SEE
THE CRUNCH FOR HOME BUYERS
GETTING BETTER FOR AT LEAST
THREE TO FIVE YEARS, BECAUSE OF
SUPPLY-CHAIN ISSUES AND RISING
INTEREST RATES.
ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, PARENTS
AND TEACHERS KNOW WHAT THE
PANDEMIC AND REMOTE LEARNING
MEANT FOR STUDENTS DURING THE
2020 SCHOOL YEAR.
LOSS OF LEARNING AND SOCIAL
SUPPORTS.
LAST YEAR IN GREEN BAY SCHOOLS,
STUDENTS SAW ROBUST SUMMER
SCHOOL OPTIONS TO MAKE UP FOR
LOST TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.
BUT WHAT ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
OPTIONS THIS YEAR?
LISA JOHNSON IS THE ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF THE DISTRICT'S
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
WE TALKED WITH HER LATE THIS
WEEK.
LISA, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO TAKE US BACK TO SUMMER
SCHOOL IN 2021 IN YOUR DISTRICT.
DESCRIBE WHAT THE OFFERINGS
WERE, WHICH YOU DEPLOYED ALMOST
IN A WRAP-AROUND WAY.
>> YEAH, WE DID.
WE REALLY LOOKED AT THE WHOLE
PICTURE.
WE TALKED TO OUR FAMILIES AND
OUR STUDENTS.
WHAT DID THEY -- WHAT MET THEIR
NEEDS?
WHAT WE REALLY LOOKED AT,
FAMILIES WERE STRUGGLING WITH
THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE SERVICES
AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
A LOT OF PLACES IN OUR COMMUNITY
HAD CLOSED OR WEREN'T BACK UP TO
WHERE THEY HAD BEEN PRE-PANDEMIC
PRE-PANDEMIC.
SO WE REALLY SAID OKAY, HOW DO
WE MEET THOSE NEEDS AND OUR
KIDS' NEEDS?
SO WE MOVED FROM HALF DAY
PROGRAMMING TO FULL DAY
PROGRAMMING, AND WE REALLY
CREATED A ROBUST PROGRAM AROUND
BOTH ACADEMICS, BECAUSE WE KNEW
COMING BACK FROM VIRTUAL
LEARNING AND THE PANDEMIC THAT
OUR KIDS NEEDED THAT COMPONENT
PIECE, AND WE ALSO KNEW WE
NEEDED TO HAVE SOME FUN TOO.
IT WAS STILL SUMMER.
AND SO WE NEEDED TO DO THOSE
ENRICHMENT THINGS, SO WE TRIED
TO FIND THAT RIGHT BALANCE BY
BRINGING IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AND BRINGING IN LOTS OF
DIFFERENT PEOPLE AS A COMMUNITY,
SO THINKING ABOUT IT FROM A
WHOLE COMMUNITY STANDPOINT.
>> SO ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT,
GREEN BAY REALLY ROSE TO THE TOP
ACROSS THE STATE FOR YOUR SUMMER
SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.
COULD YOU IN YOUR MIND OR SHOULD
YOUR DISTRICT BE A MODEL FOR
OTHERS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WHEN WE GO BACK AND REFLECT ON
IT, I DO THINK THERE WERE SOME
GREAT THINGS THAT WE DID TO
LEARN OVER THAT TIME FRAME.
WE MADE A VERY CONCERTED EFFORT
ON USING SUMMER TO HELP US FROM
THAT RECOVERY OF THE PANDEMIC
AFTER BEING VIRTUAL, AND I DO
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
WE'RE HOPING TO CONTINUE IN THE
FUTURE THAT WE DID AS WELL, AND
HOPEFULLY OTHER DISTRICTS CAN
LEARN FROM THAT MODEL THAT WE
PUT IN PLACE.
>> SO HOW WAS THE DISTRICT ABLE
TO FUND ALL OF THAT PROGRAMMING
LAST SUMMER, AND RAMP UP
STAFFING TO DO THAT?
>>
>> SO THE ONLY WAY WE WERE ABLE
TO DO IT IS WITH THE COVID
RELIEF DOLLARS WHICH
UNFORTUNATELY ARE ONE-TIME
DOLLARS.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
REALLY HAVING TO LOOK AT IS, CAN
WE SUSTAIN THIS WITHOUT THAT
FUNDING SOURCE.
STATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUMMER
SCHOOL DOESN'T COVER EVERYTHING
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN
PLACE FOR LAST SUMMER.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
KNOW IS A GAP IN THE FUTURE, AND
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO BE
ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS LONG TERM?
>> SO WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES
ONCE STUDENTS RETURNED IN THE
FALL?
COULD YOU SEE THAT AFTER THE
SUMMER?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT THING.
WE KNOW SUMMER SCHOOL IS NOT A
SILVER BULLET BUT YES, WE COULD
CERTAINLY SEE THE KIDS THAT
ATTENDED SUMMER SCHOOL, THEY
CAME BACK READY TO LEARN.
WE DIDN'T SEE THAT TYPICAL
SUMMER SLIDE.
FOR AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT, IF
THEY COME TO SUMMER SCHOOL, YOU
CAN SEE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME,
THEY MAKE UP THEIR LEARNING AND
WE DIDN'T SEE THAT SLIDE THAT
NORMALLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER.
WE ALSO SAW THAT THEY WERE READY
FROM THAT SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
STANDPOINT AND REGULATED TO BE
IN CLASS AGAIN.
AND JUST WOULD COME BACK READY
TO LEARN.
SO BETWEEN THE WORK WE DID TO
PREVENT AND THAT
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL PIECE OF IT, WE
DEFINITELY SAW GREAT THINGS, AND
NOT THAT LOSS OF LEARNING TIME
COMING BACK TO SCHOOL JUST TO
REGROUND OURSELVES.
>> SO DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH
STUDENTS IN THE GREEN BAY
DISTRICT WHO TOOK PART IN THESE
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS MADE UP
ANY DEFICITS THAT RESULTED FROM
KIND OF REMOTE LEARNING DURING
THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC?
>> YEAH, WE DID MAKE UP SOME
REMOTE DEFICIT WITHIN THAT TIME
FRAME FOR OUR KIDS.
WHETHER THAT WAS AT ELEMENTARY
LEVEL IN TERMS OF THEIR READING
COMPONENT PIECES OR AT
SECONDARY, WHICH WAS SOME
CREDITS AND SOME CREDIT COURSES
FOR KIDS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO FINISH IT THROUGH THAT
VIRTUAL MODEL, WHICH WASN'TNESS TO LEARN
VIRTUALLY.
>> SO WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM
FAMILIES TO HAVE THESE OPTIONS,
EVEN INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION TO
AND FROM SUMMER SCHOOL?
>> SO OUR FAMILIES DEFINITELY
RESPONDED.
WE HAD OVER 7,000 STUDENTS OF
OUR 19,000 STUDENTS ATTEND
SUMMER SCHOOL LAST YEAR.
SO WE SAW A GREAT RESPONSE FROM
OUR FAMILIES IN SENDING THEIR
KIDS TO SUMMER.
>> SO THIS SUMMER, WILL THE
PROGRAMMING BE REDUCED BECAUSE
OF THE FUNDING?
>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY OUR
PROGRAMMING WILL BE REDUCED.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP A FULL DAY.
WE HAD TO BE CREATIVE WITH THAT.
WE ARE DOING SOME FULL-DAY
MODELS THAT WILL BE SUMMER
SCHOOL-RUN, BOTH MORNING
AFTERNOON WITH DISTRICT TEACHERS
AND WE'RE PRIORITIZING OUR TITLE
1 SCHOOLS AND OUR ACHIEVEMENT
GAP REDUCTION SCHOOLS FOR THAT
PROGRAMMING.
AND THEN OTHER SCHOOLS WHAT WE
DID IS WE HAD TO BE CREATIVE AND
WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE
SUMMER SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND
THEN WE PARTNERED WITH OUR LOCAL
YMCA WHO WENT OUT AND GOT A
LARGE GRANT THAT IS HELPING TO
SUBSIDIZE THE COST FOR FAMILIES
FOR THE AFTERNOON.
SO IT STILL PROVIDES FAMILIES
THAT FULL-DAY OPTION THAT THEY
NEED TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEIR
KIDS TO BE ALL DAY, BUT ALSO
KEEPS OUR FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO
ENGAGE IN THAT SUMMER SCHOOL
COMPONENT PIECE IN THE MORNING.
>> WELL, BRAVO TO GREEN BAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS, THE
STATE DNR HAS NO AUTHORITY TO
REGULATE THE CLEAN-UP OF PFAS OR
FOREVER CHEMICALS UNDER
WISCONSIN LAW.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A WAUKESHA
COUNTY COURT RULING THIS WEEK.
INSTEAD, THE REGULATION WOULD
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE'S RULE-MAKING
PROCESS.
PFAS ARE A GROUP OF TOXIC
CHEMICALS THAT LEACH INTO
DRINKING AND GROUNDWATER AND
DERIVE FROM SUCH THINGS AS
FIREFIGHTING FOAM.
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
DEALING WITH P-PHOS PFAS CONTAMINATION
OF THEIR WATER, THE DNR
EX-PEBLGHTS TO APPEAL THE
RULING.
FOR THIS AND MORE INFORMATION,
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.