TEST
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WE'VE REACHED AN AGREEMENT
HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY ON THE
BREWERS PACKAGE.
>> A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY IN THE
STATE CAPITOL, INCLUDING A NEW
DEAL TO UPDATE THE BREWERS
BASEBALL STADIUM IN AN EFFORT TO
KEEP THE TEAM IN MILWAUKEE.
PLUS, WISCONSIN REACTION ON THE
DEADLY CONFLICT IN GAZA.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," TWO
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS JOIN US WITH
THEIR THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PROCEED
ON THE DEADLY AND DEVELOPING
CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND
HAMAS, AND WE ASK THEM ABOUT THE
HUNT FOR A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER.
THEN, A ROUND-UP OF A BUSY WEEK
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
ALSO TONIGHT, WE LEARN ABOUT A
PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO INCREASE
BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR OCTOBER
20.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
?
>> THE HORROR CONTINUES TO
UNFOLD, NOW NEARLY TWO WEEKS
AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCHED
A DEADLY SURPRISE ATTACK IN
ISRAEL.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SEEKS $100
BILLION IN MILITARY AND
HUMANITARIAN AID, INCLUDING FOR
ISRAEL AND UKRAINE.
MEANWHILE, LEADERSHIP IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH
WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT AID
PACKAGE, HAS BEEN IN CHAOS.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS
STRUGGLED MIGHTILY TO ELECT A
SPEAKER.
ON THIS, WE HEAD TO WASHINGTON
NOW FOR A CHECK-IN WITH MEMBERS
OF THE WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION ON THIS DEVELOPING
SITUATION ON TWO FRONTS.
FIRST, WE TALK WITH WISCONSIN
SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLICAN
GLENN GROTHMAN.
CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US.
>> HAPPY TO BE ON THE SHOW.
>> SO YOU AND THE REST OF THE
WISCONSIN DELEGATION CONTINUED
TO SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE JIM
JORDAN IN MULTIPLE FAILED VOTES
FOR SPEAKER.
MINUS DERRICK VAN ORDEN, WHO WE
KNOW IS ABSENT BECAUSE HE IS NOW
IN ISRAEL.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO BEING
PART OF THIS DISARRAY, REALLY,
THAT HAS LEFT U.S. GOVERNMENT
UNABLE TO FULLY GOVERN?
>> THE PROBLEM IS, I THINK
LEADERSHIP OVER A PERIOD OF
YEARS, AND MAYBE THEY COULDN'T
HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT,
FAILED TO INSTILL IN THE
REPUBLICANS THE IDEA THAT YOU
HAVE AN INTERNAL, FIRST, A PAPER
BALLOT VOTE, A SECRET VOTE
BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE
SPEAKER AND THEN THE PERSON WHO
WINS THAT VOTE, EVERY SINGLE
REPUBLICAN IS SUPPOSED TO STICK
BEHIND THEM ON THE FLOOR SO WE
CAN GO AHEAD.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE LAST WEEK
OR SO, THERE ARE A GIVEN NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT VOTE FOR
KEVIN McCARTHY, THE SPEAKER.
I VOTED FOR HIM.
THERE WERE A GIVEN NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT VOTE FOR
STEVE SCALISE, WHO WAS THE
MAJORITY SPEAKER.
WE DID NOT TAKE THAT VOTE TO THE
FLOOR, BUT 10 TO 15 PEOPLE MADE
A CREDIBLE THREAT THAT THEY
WOULD NOT VOTE ON THE FLOOR SO
SCALISE WITHDRAW.
THE THIRD MAN UP WAS JIM JORDAN,
AND HE WAS GIVEN HIM THREE
VOTES, WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
VOTES, AND HE LOST, 20, THEN 22,
THEN 25 VOTES.
SO YOUR LISTENERS UNDERSTAND
THAT IF THEY LOSE MORE THAN
THREE VOTES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
VOTES TO GOVERN.
AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT
COMES DOWN TO A LACK OF
PREPARATION FROM THE BEGINNING.
I THINK OF THE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO
VOTED AGAINST KEVIN McCARTHY,
I BELIEVE ONLY ONE OF THOSE
EIGHT WAS AROUND WHEN I GOT TO
CONGRESS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
SO I THINK WE'VE TO BE A REALLY
BAD JOB OF EDUCATING THE
FRESHMEN ON THE IDEA BEHIND TEAM
PLAY.
>> A HOUSE VOTE WOULD BE NEEDED
FOR THE $100 BILLION MILITARY
AND HUMANITARIAN AID PACKAGE TO
INCLUDE ISRAEL AND UKRAINE THAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SEEKING AND
SPOKE TO IN AN ADDRESS TO THE
NATION THURSDAY NIGHT.
WHAT IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT
KIND OF AID PACKAGE?
>> THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO IT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE DO HAVE TO GET
AID TO ISRAEL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
TO REALIZE THAT WE'VE GOT TO
MAKE IT CLEAR TO JOE BIDEN,
WE'RE NOT TAKING THESE
PALESTINIAN FOLKS IN AS AMERICAN
REFUGEES.
THEY'VE BEEN RAISED AS EARLY ON
TO HATE JEWS IN GENERAL, AND
EGYPT, WHICH IS THE OBVIOUS
PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GO,
WILL NOT TAKE THEM.
THEY WON'T TAKE THEM BECAUSE
THEY KNOW VERY WELL WHO THEY'D
BE GETTING, SO WE DON'T WANT
THESE GAZA PEOPLE SHOWING UP
HERE, MUCH LESS A MILLION OF
THEM.
AS FOR UKRAINE, I VOTED FOR
UKRAINE PACKAGES SIX TIMES IN
THE PAST, BUT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE AN END HERE OR THEY'RE
NOT DEPUTIZING THE TURKS OR THE
FRENCH OR SOMEBODY TO WORK
TOWARDS AN END.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR
AND A HALF AND I WOULD BE HAPPY
IF IT WENT ON ANOTHER YEAR AND A
HALF WITHOUT ANY STEPS TOWARDS
PEACE.
SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO SEND THE
MESSAGE TO THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WANT
PEACE IN RUSSIA AND THEY ARE
DOING, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL,
NOTHING.
ALSO, WHEN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE
WAR STARTED, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY
SIX WEEKS OR COUPLE MONTHS, WE
CEDE PRIVATE BRIEFINGS FROM THE
RELEVANT PEOPLE IN THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION AS TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A BRIEFING
ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE
SINCE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
SO FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOT
TALKING TO CONGRESS AND THAT'S
ANOTHER REASON TO VOTE "NO" FOR
NOW UNTIL THEY LET US KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
>> SO YOU ARE SAYING WITH LESS
THAN 30 SECONDS LEFT, THAT YOU
WOULD VOTE "NO" ON THIS MILITARY
AND HUMANITARIAN AID PACKAGE?
>> I WOULDN'T CALL IT
HUMANITARIAN AND MILITARY.
WHAT WE WANT IS SOME EFFORT
PROPERTY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO
WORK TOWARDS PEACE AND SOME
GUARANTEE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
OPEN UP THE DOORS AND GIVE US A
MILLION PALESTINIAN REFUGEES.
>> GLENN GROTHMAN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE TURN TO SECOND
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN, WHO
HAS CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE OF
HOSTILITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS IN
THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND
HAMAS.
TO PAVE THE WAY FOR ROBUST AID
IN AN UNFOLDING HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS.
HE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> FIRST, IN THE FACE OF WAR AND
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY IS IN CHAOS.
HOW DOES THEIR STRUGGLE TO ELECT
A SPEAKER EFFECT THE U.S.
RESPONSE THIS ISRAEL?
>> WELL, IT AFFECTS ANYTHING
THAT WE CAN DO IN CONGRESS.
WE CAN'T PASS ANY LEGISLATION ON
THE FLOOR UNTIL WE HAVE A
SPEAKER, BY OUR RULES, AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, UNTIL WE HAVE A
SPEAKER, WE'RE A BIT PARALYZED.
NOW, ACTION HAPPENS OFTEN AT THE
ADMINISTRATION LEVEL SO THE
PRESIDENT IS ACTING AND DOING
WHAT WE NEED TO IN THE IMMEDIATE
SITUATION IN SOME WORLD EVENTS,
BUT WE DO NEED CONGRESS TO PASS
FUNDING AND OTHER ISSUES THAT
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN AND
YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT WHEN THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS BECOMES LESS
CHAOTIC AND CAN SELECT A
SPEAKER.
>> DID PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESS
LAST NIGHT WHAT YOU THINK IS
NEEDED IN TERMS OF SUPPLEMENTL
MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN AID
FUNDING?
>> WELL, WHAT WE NEED ABSOLUTELY
IS FUNDING FOR HUMANITARIAN
NEEDS IN PARTICULAR.
I THINK THAT FIGURE IS GOING TO
HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL
THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST
GIVEN WORLD EVENTS, AND I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW
THE U.S. IS POSITIONED IN THE
WORLD, IS THAT KIND OF --
SHOWING THAT COMPASSIONATE
VALUES OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND THEN THERE WILL ALSO BE
ADDITIONAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE
FOR UKRAINE, THEY'RE PROPOSING
FOR ISRAEL AND SOME BORDER
FUNDING AND OTHER THINGS.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE ANOTHER
DOMESTIC SUPPLEMENTAL THAT WILL
HAVE MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE
CHILDCARE AND OTHER ISSUES.
SO THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT
CONGRESS DOES HAVE TO ACT ON
WHICH IS, AGAIN, ALL THE MORE
REASON WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A
SPEAKER, SO THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
SHORT OF THAT, SOME OF THOSE
FUNDS CANNOT BE EXPENDED.
>> YOU'VE CALLED FOR CESSATION
OF HOSTILITIES TOWARDS CIVILIANS
IN THE REGION.
WHAT ARE YOUR UTTERING CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT'S -- URGENT CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.
THIS IS A HORRIFIC ATTACK BY A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, HAMAS,
AND THE PRICE HAS TO BE PAID.
I DON'T BLAME ISRAEL IN GOING
AFTER HAMAS.
THE PROBLEM IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING
IS NOT GOING AFTER STRATEGICALLY
HAMAS.
WE'RE SEEING A COLLECTIVE
PUNISHMENT, IT APPEARS TO BE, OF
ALL PALESTINIANS IN GAZA.
THERE ARE 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE.
CLEARLY THEY ARE NOT ALL HAMAS.
HALF OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.
AND WE'VE SEEN THOUSANDS PLUS
NOW OF PEOPLE DEAD, INCLUDING
CHILDREN, AND THE AMOUNT OF
BOMBING, THE TYPE OF PLACES THAT
ARE BEING BOMBED, THE VERY BROAD
ATTACK IS NOT A TARGETED ATTACK
GOING AFTER HAMAS, AND THAT'S
WHY WE WANT TO STOP THE
CESSATION OF THIS -- IN REGARDS
TO CIVILIANS IN PARTICULAR, AND
THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING JUST
PUNISHED IS TO DO THAT.
>> JUST SPEAKING WITH REPUBLICAN
GLENN GROTHMAN, HE AND OTHERS
CALL TO CLOSE OUR BORDERS TO
PALESTINIAN REFUGEES OF WHAT'S
YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> IT'S CREDIBLE XENOPHOBIC.
NOT ALL PALESTINIANS ARE MEMBERS
OF HAMAS, BY AN UNBELIEVABLE
AMOUNT, AND HAMAS DOESN'T
NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
IN FACT, THEY'VE HAD PEOPLE IN
GAZA UNDER QUITE TOUGH
CONDITIONS WITH THEIR GOVERNING
IN THAT AREA, COMBINED BY THE
INABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND
GO BECAUSE OF ISRAEL AND EGYPT
ON THE BORDERS HAS REALLY MADE
THIS, IN MANY WAYS, AN OPEN AIR
PRISON FOR TONY 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN DENIED TO GET INTO
GAZA WHEN I WANTED.
I WOULD BE THE FIRST MEMBER IN
10 YEARS TO GO INTO GAZA AND
THEN THIS HAPPENED OF IT'S AN
ISSUE THAT'S BEEN BREWING FOR A
LONG TIME, BUT CLEAR, A HORRIFIC
ATTACK LIKE OCCURRED IS WRONG AT
ANY LEVEL.
THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION
WHATSOEVER.
BUT HAVING THE OVERRESPONSE
THAT'S HAPPENING, INCLUDING
PEOPLE SAYING NO PALESTINIANS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME, THAT'S A
RIDICULOUS STATEMENT AND IT
REALLY SHOWS I THINK AN
UNAWARENESS OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN,
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
>> TURNING TO STATE CAPITOL
NEWS, IT WAS A BUSY WEEK IN
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.
THE STATE ASSEMBLY PASSED A $545
MILLION PLAN FOR RENOVATION OF
THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS STADIUM TO
KEEP THE TEAM IN THE CITY
THROUGH 2050.
>> THIS IS A BIPARTISAN DEAL
THAT FOCUSES ON MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE REVENUE
COMING INTO THE STATE TO SPEND
ON PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE CONSIDER
TO BE IMPORTANT THAN IF THE TEAM
LEFT.
>> ROBIN VOS, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER,
AS COCHAIR OF THE LEGISLATION
COMMITTEE, ALSO APPROVED A PAY
RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, BUT
NOT FOR UW STAFF BECAUSE OF ITS
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
POSITIONS.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO OUTLIE DEI
AND BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN BE, BUT AGAIN,
TRYING TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND,
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SITUATION DOES NOT GET WORSE
THAN WHERE IT IS NOW.
>> ON THE SENATE SIDE, THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY PASSED A $2
BILLION INCOME TAX CUT AND
EXPANDED CHILDCARE CREDITS IN
ANSWER TO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS'
CALL FOR A $1 BILLION WORKFORCE
PACKAGE.
EVERS IS EXPECTED TO VETO THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL.
MEANWHILE, THIS WEEK, THE
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE WOULD USE
$170 MILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC
RELIEF MONEY TO KEEP THE
CHILDCARE COUNTS PROGRAM UNTIL
2025.
THE SENATE ALSO VOTED TO FIRE
EIGHT APPOINTEES EVERS NOMINATED
TO BOARDS, INCLUDING THE
MAJORITY OF MEMBERS ON THE
NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD.
ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER AND THE
CHAIR OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING
BOARD.
EVERS CALLED IT INSANITY AND
IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THOSE
REJECTED WITH NEW APPOINTEES.
>>> TURNING NOW TO OUR SERIES OF
SPECIAL REPORTS ON RACE, WITH
WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEHEMIAH
CENTER FOR URBAN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT.
LAST WEEK, REPORTER NATHAN
DENZIN EXPLORED THE LEGACY OF
URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAMS AND FAIR
HOUSING PROTESTS.
TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND WISCONSIN
ARE DOING NOW TO HELP BLACK
PEOPLE BUILD TOWARD A BETTER
FUTURE.
HERE'S THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF
WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND WHITE:
RACIAL WEALTH GAP.
music]
- Nathan Denzin: Historical wrongs like
blatant housing discrimination in Wisconsin.
- I am sorry.
We don't feel that we can rent to colored people.
- Nathan: The Federal Fair Housing Act
is supposed to protect renters or buyers
from discrimination based on a number
of protected classes, including race.
[dog barking]
However, discrimination in the housing market
has persisted in the 55 years since it became law.
- Tester 1: Is as or more prevalent today
than it has been in the past.
- Tester 2: The discrimination is a reality.
It's not hypothetical, it's not theoretical.
It still happens; it's just more subtle.
- Nathan: These two people, one white and one Black,
test for discrimination in housing
as a part of Wisconsin's Fair Housing Council,
a nonprofit that ensures realtors and landlords
follow the law.
They have been made anonymous to ensure
they can continue to test.
- Well, I'm not gonna rent it to you.
- I'm sorry? - I'm not gonna rent it to you.
- Nathan: This 1961 film was recorded in Madison
at the height of segregation,
but it was hidden by the University of Wisconsin
and never shown to the public until 2021.
Flash forward to today.
- Tester 2: In today's time, it's probably more subtle,
but they've already concluded
that they're not gonna rent you the apartment.
- Nathan: The two testers from the Fair Housing Council
recently toured the same apartment building
and found discrimination based on race.
- Tester 2: I went to an apartment building.
I asked if a unit was available October.
They said nothing was available.
- Tester 1: Yeah, they did show me more than one apartment,
so they were very, very eager to show me around.
- Nathan: However, the Black tester
had a different experience.
- Tester 2: But I never saw the actual unit
because it wasn't available.
- Tester 1: One thing I remember clearly about this
is that they were just so engaging
and they repeated, like, two or three times over,
you know, the amenities that they had.
- Tester 2: Then the person made a slip-up
and said, "Well, there was something available
in October, but that's gone now."
And so then you become aware of, like, what's going on
in the back of your mind.
- Nathan: On top of discrimination by landlords,
lenders like Associated Bank in Milwaukee, Racine,
and Kenosha were part of a recent $200 million
redlining settlement.
A federal complaint in the case alleged the denial
of mortgages to Black and Hispanic applicants.
- Many banks have been caught with their hands
in the cookie jar,
giving Black and Latino borrowers different loans
than they give whites.
- Nathan: Reggie Jackson educates people about diversity.
Jackson noted that despite the Fair Housing Act,
the Black home ownership rate
has not improved much since 1968.
Ranell Washington says that shuts Black families
out of the ability to create generational wealth.
- Housing is the cornerstone
to the beginning of a financial journey.
- There have been laws and policies that created
some of the disinvestment, the plight,
and the wrong that we're experiencing today.
Even if those laws were changed 50 years ago,
the consequences of them are still absolutely present.
- Nathan: Elmer Moore, Jr. and Ranell Washington
play critical roles in the Wisconsin Housing
and Economic Development Authority.
- It's about trying our best, honestly,
to correct some historical wrongs.
- Nathan: The duo cares deeply about evening historical gaps
caused by housing discrimination.
They provide affordable loans, rental units,
and mortgages to low-income individuals.
Plus, they invest in future housing or business projects.
- There's 147,000 families who've been able to buy homes
across the state because of the mortgages
WHEDA made available,
and they might not have otherwise been able
to afford those things.
- Making really intentional decisions to spur
affordable housing development in our inner city communities
is one of the ones that we definitely have a lens on.
- That's sequestering some resources
and intentionally investing in Black communities.
It's the right thing to do.
- Nathan: WHEDA has funded developments
in Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood,
including The Griot,
which fashioned apartments out of an old schoolhouse.
- Elmer: It brought new businesses.
It obviously brought new residents.
It also does things like plants new trees.
- Housing is that cornerstone,
and from that, I can have conversations
about aspiring to be a entrepreneur.
- Nathan: Building equity in your house can spur
the creation of a second way to build wealth:
your own business.
And while Black-owned businesses have seen
an uptick in recent years, there is still a large disparity
between Black and white-owned businesses in Wisconsin.
- And our work does what lots of folks don't do,
primarily, is to center the needs of Black women.
- Nathan: Sabrina Madison is the founder
of the non-profit Progress Center
for Black Women in Madison.
- The first level that I really wanna see
is Black folks having more power in their pockets.
And I always go with the fact Black women
in Dane County on average in 2016 earned 57 cents
on every dollar made by white men.
I wanted to give Black women another option
to be successful.
- Nathan: To help close the gap,
the Progress Center provides Black women
with programming that includes financial health,
professional development, and entrepreneurship.
- Oftentimes, programming is very piecemeal,
where you gotta go to one side of town for this,
you gotta go somewhere for that,
you gotta wait on a phone call for this other thing.
And we wanted to sort of, like,
center all of your needs in one space.
- Nathan: Madison says her foundation
has helped hundreds of women create their own business
or secure a better job.
- I absolutely wanna see the rest of the state,
but more importantly, Madison and Milwaukee
extend its Black leaders through wealth creation
because with wealth, you have more power.
- Nathan: Despite the work of WHEDA
and the Progress Center,
Madison says everyone has to buy in
to make Wisconsin a more equitable place.
- So these visions that Black folks have
for their lives as Wisconsinites,
'cause we too are from Wisconsin and we too live here,
that you want to also be part of this vision
and see this vision expanded.
- Nathan: While that vision might take years
to be realized, Madison says the work starts today.
For Here & Now, I'm Nathan Denzin.
>> OUR WISCONSIN IN BLACK AND
WHITE SERIES ON THE RACIAL
WEALTH GAP FOCUSED ON THE
BARRIERS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR
PEOPLE OF COLOR IN WISCONSIN.
SPECIAL PROJECT JOURNALIST, MURV
SEYMORE, LAUNCHED THE FRONTAGE
AND TONIGHT HAS THIS REPORT ON
WORK IN TWO CITIES TO GET PEOPLE
INTO THEIR OWN HOMES, STARTING
FIRST IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE HAS A
$5,000 GRANT BUT YOU HAVE TO
LIVE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
>> SCHOOL IS ALWAYS IN AT
MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL
COLLEGE.
>> THE MINIMAL CREDIT SCORE
REQUIREMENT TO GET PREAPPROVED
FOR A HOME LOAN IS 620.
>> ON THIS DAY.
>> MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PAYING
YOUR BILLS ON TIME.
>> A MENTORING GROUP THAT HELPS
BLACK AND PRONOUN MEN GET
THROUGH COLLEGE LEARN THE INS
AND OUTS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE
A HOMEOWNER.
>> YOU NEED TO SHOWED THAT
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING FOR SIX
MONTHS TO AID YEAR.
>> THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER.
>> I THINK HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR THE
BLACK COMMUNITY IS A DREAM THAT
MANY DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN
ACHIEVE.
>> WHEN I BOUGHT THAT COMPLEX, I
WAS NOT MAKING ANY MONEY AT ALL.
>> IT'S MORE ABOUT A PLACE TO
STAY.
YOU'REIBLE YOUR FUTURE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO RENT FROM SOMEONE
AND PAY THEIR MORTGAGE WHEN YOU
COULD BE PAYING YOUR OWN
MORTGAGE.
>> THE ALVARADO GROUP IS A SMALL
BROKERAGE.
>> FROM A SMALL OFFICE JUST DOWN
THE STREET FROM CAMP RANDALL
STADIUM IN MADISON, OWNERS OF
ALVARADO REALTY GROUP LOOK TO
CHANGE THE GAME IN REAL ESTATE.
>> WE ARE UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT
SUPPORTING BLACK AND BROWN
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> THEY PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE
THEIR MOUTH IS.
SARAH ADMITS GROWING UP, SHE
THOUGHT EVERYONE HAD AN EQUAL
PATH TOWARDS OWNING A HOME.
>> AT LAST, THE BRYANTS HAVE ALL
THE SPACE THEY NEED.
BIG FLOOR-TO-CEILING CLOSETS FOR
EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
>> IF YOUR PARENTS GO TO
COLLEGE, YOU ASSUME YOU'RE GOING
TO GO TO COLLEGE.
IF THEY HAVE A HOUSE, YOU ASSUME
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HOUSE,
UNTIL YOU START WORKING WITH
PEOPLE AND THEY SAY, OH, MY
GOSH, IT'S MY DREAM TO HAVE A
HOME.
>> RACE-BASED POLICIES LIKE
REDLINING HAVE KEPT
HOMEOWNERSHIP OUT OF REACH FOR
MOST BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.
>> DANE COUNTY NUMBERS, IT'S 15%
OF FAMILIES THAT ARE BLACK OR
BROWN OWNED HOMES COMPARED TO
65% OF WHITE FAMILIES.
IN IS THE 6 WHEN THEY HAD THE
FAIR HOUSING ACT IN 1968 AND
THEN THEY SAID, OKAY, NOW NO
DISCRIMINATION, BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE GO AHEAD AND TRY AND
CATCH UP TO THIS ACCUMULATION OF
WEALTH IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT HAVE BEEN SEGREGATED ON
PURPOSE AND THESE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SEGREGATED ON PURPOSE, HOW IS
THAT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR --
WITHOUT THERE BEING A PLAN OF
SOME SORT?
>> SARA AND HER HUSBAND'S PLAN
IS CALLED OWN IT, BUILDING BLACK
WEALTH.
>> IT IS A DOWN PAYMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH AN
EDUCATION ASPECT TO IT.
>> IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE
CITY SCHOOLS FOR MORE THAN 85%
OF THE STUDENTS ARE BLACK AND
BROWN, FUNDS ARE $15,000 PAYMENT
TOWARDS A HOME FOR ANY ONE CITY
TEACHER OR PARENT.
>> FOR ABOUT LEARNING AND
TEACHING ABOUT WEALTH BUILDING
BECAUSE WEALTH BUILDING IN
ITSELF IS CRITICAL AND THERE ARE
LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.
>> FUELED BY A GROWING NUMBER OF
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS,
INVESTORS, HOMEOWNERS, AND
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CHANGE THE
NARROW AT THIS, CONTRIBUTIONS
AND PROCEEDS FROM HOME SALES
DRIVE OWN IT.
>> WE GET A LOT OF CONTRIBUTIONS
WITHIN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY
AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND
WE'VE HAD SELLERS WHO, AT THE
TIME OF CLOSING, WRITE A CHECK.
SOMETIMES IT'S A THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
>> MEET JODIE POPE AND HER SON,
CAMERON.
>> WE KNEW NOTHING AS CHILDREN,
REALLY, ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FINGERS ON
THERE, WHAT DOES IT DO?
>> SINCE OWN IT TOOK LAUNCH IN
2020, THE SINGLE MOM IS ONE OF
10 FAMILIES IN THE MADISON AREA
WHO NOW PROUDLY OWNS AND NO
LONGER RENTS BECAUSE OF THE
PROGRAM.
>> HOMEOWNERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANT.
IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL PROCESS
BECAUSE I ALMOST DIDN'T GET THE
KEYS.
>> THIS WAS MY SEVENTH OFFER.
>> WE MODE WITH HER DAYS AWAY
FROM THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF
THE MOVE-IN.
>> IT'S OURS.
IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF PRIDE,
OF OWNERSHIP.
I'VE KIND OF LEANED INTO MY
PROJECTS AND I'VE HUNG DRYWALL,
I'VE PAINTED.
MY SON AND I ARE SOCIAL AND I
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HOST PEOPLE
OVER HERE.
NO ONE CAN TELL YOU TO LEAVE.
NO ONE CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN
DO.
YOU CAN PAINT THE WALL.
YOU CAN PUT STEPH CURRY STICKERS
ALL OVER THE WALL AND ON THE
CEILING FAN.
>> HIS MOM SAYS GRADUALLY
CAMERON IS GETTING MORE
COMFORTABLE IN THEIR NEW
COMMUNITY.
>> MY SON CAN WALK TO SCHOOL.
HE NEVER HAS HAD THE
NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCE OF
HAVING FRIENDS THAT LIVE TWO AND
THREE DOORS DOWN.
BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT
STABILITY, TO GO TO THE SAME
SCHOOL FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE,
FROM HERE OUT, RIGHT, THAT TYPE
OF STABILITY TO FORM THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDSHIPS,
WITH TEACHERS, WITHIN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS KEY.
>> JODI SAYS MOST IMPORTANTLY,
HER SON IS LEARNING ABOUT WEALTH
AND HOMEOWNERSHIP.
>> TO TEACH HIM HOW TO PUT A NEW
HANDLE ON A TOILET, WHICH I'VE
DONE, HOW TO UNCLOG A GARBAGE
DISPOSAL.
OUR HOUSING PRICES, RENTAL
PRICES, IT LEAVES US OUT.
WE NEED TO DO THIS.
>> THE NAME ON IT REPRESENTS --
OWN IT REPRESENTS THE PAINFUL
PAST.
>> OWNING THE HISTORY OF WHAT
HAS HAPPENED IN THE REAL ESTATE
INDUSTRY.
>> WHILE SUPPORTING THE
PROMISING FUTURE.
>> IT IS LITERALLY ME OWNING
THIS PLACE.
>> REPORTING FOR "HERE & NOW,"
I'M MURV SEYMORE.
>> NEXT WEEK ON WISCONSIN IN
BLACK AND WHITE, A LOOK AT
HEALTH DIVIDES IN WISCONSIN.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
CAPTIONING IT).
?
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.