ONE OF ONLY TWO STATES THAT IS
HAVING PEOPLE PAY BY THE AMOUNT
OF TIME THAT THEY'RE CHARGING
THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT THEY'RE
USING IN KILOWATT HOURS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY,
REALLY.
IF YOU'RE CHARGING YOUR GAS CAR
AT THE PUMP, YOU WOULDN'T.
SO THIS IS THE SAME THING.
IT WOULD KIND OF MAKE IT MORE
FAIR.
SO IF THE PUMP IS A LITTLE
SLOWER OR YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
IS CHARGING A LITTLE SLOWER,
YOU'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT YOU'RE
USING.
AND THE REASON WE HAVE IT SET UP
THAT WAY RIGHT NOW IS IT'S KIND
OF A WORK-AROUND BECAUSE, AS YOU
SAID, RIGHT NOW.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
VERSIONS OVER LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT MAPS ARE IN THE HANDS
OF THE COURT, BUT NOW A
DEMOCRATIC GROUP WANTS THE
CONGRESSIONAL MAP CHANGED AS
WELL.
AND RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES
OUTSIDE CREATE DEVASTATING
CONDITIONS FOR THE UNHOUSED.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE
PROPOSED VOTING MAPS SUBMITTED
TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND
HOW THE MAPS WILL AND WON'T
MATTER COME NOVEMBER.
THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES ARE
BEING FELT BY ALL, BUT MOST
ACUTELY BY THOSE WITHOUT
SHELTER.
THEN, A LOOK AT A BIPARTISAN
BILL TO EXPAND ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGERS.
AND FINALLY, HOW WISCONSIN HAND
DR. KING AND HOW HIS LEGACY
LIVES ON.
úIT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY
19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AN ANTICIPATED EXPERT
ANALYSIS OF NEW VOTING MAPS
SUBMITTED TO THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT IS OUT.
RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE LUBAR
CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT THE
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL, JOHN
JOHNSON, JOINS US WITH HIS TAKE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOU ANALYZED THE MAPS WITH
THE CRITERIA SET FORTH BY THE
SUPREME COURT.
OVERALL, OF ALL THE MAPS
SUBMITTED BY THE LEGISLATURE,
THE GOVERNOR, THE LAW FIRMS AND
OTHERS, WHICH COMPORTS THE MOST
IN YOUR ANALYSIS?
>> THERE'S NOT A CLEAR WINNER
ACROSS ALL THE CRITERIA.
SOME DO BETTER ON SOME METRICS
THAN OTHERS.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THE COURT
WILL ACCEPT ANY OF THESE
SUBMITTED MAPS?
>> I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK MOST OR ALL OF THEM MEET
THE MINIMUM CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS, CONTIGUITY EQUAL
POPULATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS, BUT THE COURT HAS TO
MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS ABOUT WHICH
OF THESE CRITERIA IT VALUES
MOST.
>> AND THEN IT IS TRUE, AM I
CORRECT, THAT THEY COULD
DECIDED, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THEM
REALLY ARE UP TO MUSTER SO WE'RE
GOING TO SEND THIS TO THESE
MAP-MAKER CONSULTANTS.
IS THAT THE NEXT STEP IF IT GOES
THAT WAY?
>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
THE OPINION THAT THE COURT
RELEASED IS NOT AS CLEAR AS I
WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ABOUT THE
PROCESS THAT WE'LL FOLLOW HERE,
BUT I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, AND HE
HAS CONSULTANTS THEY'VE HIRED
HAVE DONE THAT KIND OF WORK FOR
OTHER STATES.
>> SO WHAT WAS THE MOST
IMPORTANT CRITERIA UNDER
CONSIDERATION AND HOW DID THE
MAPS STACK UP ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT CRITERIA IS EQUAL
POPULATION.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
WE DO REDISTRICTING.
ALL OF THE PLANS HAVE A
POPULATION DEVIATION OF LESS
THAN 2%, SO I COULD IMAGINE THE
JUSTICES SIMPLY DECIDING THAT
ALL OF THEM WERE EQUALLY GOOD ON
THAT METRIC.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME OF THE
PLANS HAVE DEVIATION CLOSER TO
1% AND SOME CLOSER TO 2 LOWER IS
BETTER ON THIS METRIC.
SO WE COULD ALSO IMAGINE THE
JUSTICES SAY, WELL, WE PREFER TO
HAVE THE LEAST POPULATION
DEVIATION, THE MOST EQUAL
POPULATIONS POSSIBLE.
THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, SORT OF
PASS-FAIL IS CONTIGUITY, WHICH
THESE PLANS ALL SET OUT TO
ACHIEVE.
>> SO YOU COMMENTED THAT THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE'S MAP
STUCK TO THE LEAST CHANGE FROM
THE LAST LEAST CHANGED MAPS.
HOW SO?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO AS YOU'LL RECALL, THE REASON
THE OLD MAPS WERE THROWN OUT WAS
BECAUSE MANY OF THE DISTRICTS
LACKING CONTIGUITY, AND THE
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS
SUBMITTED A MAP WHERE THEY
ESSENTIALLY JUST MADE THE FEWEST
CHANGES POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE
THOSE CONTIGUITY ISSUES.
SORT OF THE MINIMAL CHANGES
NEEDED TO MEET THE NEW
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS THE
COURT LAID OUT.
THAT ENDED UP RESULTING IN A LOT
OF MUNICIPAL AND BOARD SPLITS,
ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THE REASON WHY
THOSE OLD DISTRICTS WERE NOT
CONTIGUOUS IS BECAUSE THE
MUNICIPALITIES THEMSELVES WERE
NOT CONTIGUOUS.
>> SO YOU DESCRIBED THE
REPUBLICANS AS DELIBERATELY NOT
PLAYING BALL WITH WHAT THE COURT
REQUESTED.
IS THAT AKIN TO KIND OF THUMBING
THEIR NOSE AT THE PROCESS?
>> I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE
LISTENER TO DECIDE, BUT I THINK
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE
WAS ANNOYED WITH WHAT THE COURT
DID AND CHOSE NOT TO CHANGE THE
PARTISAN IMPACT OF THEIR MAP
REALLY AT ALL, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THAT THE COURT SAID
THEY WOULD EXPLICITLY CONSIDER.
>> SO BARRY BURDEN, PROFESSOR,
TOLD US HE THINKS THE NUMBER ONE
EFFECT WILL BE SHAKING UP
INCUMBENTS, WHEREBY NEW MAPS
COULD PUT THEM IN THE SAME
DISTRICT.
WHAT ARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT
THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED DISTRICTS
WITH MULTIPLE INCUMBENTS?
>> SO AS FAR AS I'M ABLE TO
TELL, THE LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICANS' MAP WOULDN'T PLACE
ANY INCUMBENTS FROM EITHER PARTY
IN THE SAME DISTRICT
CONSISTENTLY WITH THAT LEAST
CHANGED APPROACH WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT.
ALL THE OTHER PLANS WOULD DO
THAT, AND PARTICULARLY A LOT OF
REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS WOULD BE
PLACED IN THE SAME DISTRICT.
SO AS I'VE LOOKED AT THIS, I
BELIEVE THE PLANS SUBMITTED BY
THE RIGHT PETITIONERS WOULD
CREATE 17 DISTRICTS WITH NO
INCUMBENTS AND THEN THE PLAN
SUBMITTED BY LAW FORWARD AND THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS WOULD CREATE 19
DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENTS AND
THEN THE PLANS SUBMITTED BY THE
CONSERVATIVE LAW FIRM WOULD
CREATE 18 DISTRICTS WITH NO
INCUMBENTS.
AND SO IF YOU'RE DRAWING THESE
DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENTS,
THAT MEANS INCUMBENTS ARE BEING
PAIRED TOGETHER ELSEWHERE.
>> HMM.
WELL, ALSO THIS WEEK, A LAWSUIT
WAS FILED OVER MAPS FOR
WISCONSIN'S CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS.
ARE THEY FLAWED UNDER THE
COURT'S NEW CRITERIA?
>> NOT THE CONTIGUITY ISSUE.
MY UNDERSTANDING, I HAVEN'T READ
THE FILING, BUT FROM THE
REPORTING I'VE READ, THAT THOSE
LAWYERS ARE ARGUING THAT THE
LEAST CHANGE APPROACH IS
CONSTITUTIONALLY FLAWED AND
ASKING THE COURT TO REJECT THE
WHOLE CONGRESSIONAL MAP ON THOSE
GROUNDS.
>> LOTS OF REDISTRICTING ALL
OVER THE PLACE POTENTIALLY.
JOHN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
HAS OFTEN SAID IT'S NOT THE MAPS
THAT RESULT IN OUT-SIZED
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN THE
LEGISLATURE; IT'S THAT THEY HAVE
BETTER CANDIDATES.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, IS HERE NOW WITH
ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT
ELECTIONS.
HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FREDERICA.
>> SO IS IT TRUE THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE BETTER
CANDIDATES AND MESSAGING AND
ORGANIZING?
>> WELL, WHEN ROBIN VOS SAYS
THAT, WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO IS,
IN 2018, WITH TAMMY BALDWIN'S
SENATE RUN, IN 2022 WITH
GOVERNOR EVERS' RE-ELECTION,
THEY EACH WON AT THE TOP OF THE
TICKET A NUMBER OF ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS AND ENOUGH THAT THE
DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE HAD THE
MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY IF ALL
OF THEIR DOWNBALLOT DEMOCRATS
HAVE WON THEIR RACES AND HE SAYS
THAT PROVES THAT DOWN-BALLOT
REPUBLICANS WEAPON ON WIN ON THEIR
MESSAGING.
THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT IN
WISCONSIN SPLIT TICKET VOTERS
EXIST AND THEY DO SEPARATE OUT
THEIR FEELINGS ON WHO SHOULD BE
A U.S. SENATOR OR A GOVERNOR AND
WHO SHOULD RUN FOR ASSEMBLY.
THERE IS TRUTH IN WHAT HE'S
SAYING BUT A DIFFERENT DISTRICT
MAKEUP WILL AFFECT THAT AS WELL.
>> SO AS TO THE QUESTION OF
INCUMBENTS LANDING IN THE SAME
DISTRICT WITH NEW MAPS, HOW BIG
OF A DEAL IS THAT?
>> WELL, THAT HAPPENS EVERY 10
YEARS DURING REDISTRICTING
ANYWAY.
IN THE PAST, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
TRIED TO AVOID THAT BECAUSE IT'S
THEIR INCUMBENTS.
REPUBLICANS IN 2011 UNDER SCOTT
WALKER TRIED TO MINIMIZE THE
NUMBER OF INCUMBENTS THAT WERE
AFFECTED BY THAT AND THE SAME
THING THE LAST ROUND.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL AND WISCONSIN'S
LAWS ON WHO CAN RUN AND WHAT
DISTRICT ARE VERY LOOSE.
SO RESIDENTS REQUIREMENTS DON'T
LIMIT AN INCUMBENT WHO IS JUST
OUTSIDE THEIR NEW BORDER TO RUN
OVER HERE, GET AN APARTMENT,
MOVE IN AFTER THEY WIN.
WE'VE GOT CASES WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE ACTUALLY OWNED HOMES THIS
OTHER DISTRICTS AND TAKEN
PROPERTY TAX CREDITS ON THOSE
HOMES BUT STILL REPRESENTED
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THERE ISN'T AN ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM.
IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL BUT
IT'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT IF
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MOVE IF ONE
WANTS TO RETIRE OR THEY'RE GOING
TO RUN EACH OTHER IN A PRIMARY.
>> SO WHAT ARE OTHER
IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW MAPS IN
TERMS OF GOVERNING?
IS IT MOST CONCEIVABLE
ITERATIONS THAT THERE ISN'T --
THAT MOST OF THESE MAPS, THERE
WOULD STILL BE A REPUBLICAN
ADVANTAGE?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE GEOGRAPHIC
NATURE OF THE STATE, THE
DISTRIBUTION OF DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS IS CONCENTRATED IN THE
CITIES AND IN URBAN AREAS AND
REPUBLICANS ARE A LITTLE MORE
SPREAD OUT AT THE MOMENT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T DRAW
DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS IN URBAN
AREAS OR BY TAKING OUT CHUNKS OF
CITIES.
THAT'S BEEN DONE AND PROVEN
THESE MAPS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT THE
AVERAGE MATHEMATICIANS HAVE TOLD
US IN THE PAST WILL SLIGHTLY
FAVOR REPUBLICANS, BUT THAT
DOESN'T TALK ABOUT SWING
ELECTIONS, WAVE ELECTIONS AND
CANDIDATE QUALITY, AS ROBIN VOS
HAS TALKED ABOUT.
>> SO YOU SUGGESTED THE
REPUBLICAN MAPS ARE DESIGNED TO
APPEAL TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT IT IS
HIGHLY UNLIKELY IT WOULD GO
THERE.
>> WELL, THIS IS THE
REPUBLICANS' HAIL MARY.
THEY WANT TO KEEP ALL OF THEIR
OPTIONS IN SO IF THE SUPREME
COURT DOES WEIGH IN AND SAY THE
ONLY THING WRONG WAS THE
NONCONTIGUOUS DISTRICT, THE MAP
FIXES THAT PROBLEM WITHOUT
CHANGING ANYTHING AND KEEPS A
MAJORITY IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS
AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT IS THE
OUTCOME THAT COMES OUT OF THE
U.S. SUPREME COURT, IF IT DOES
GET THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ZAC, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK, THREE
ADULT MEN DIED IN THE BITTER
COLD.
TWO FOUND DEAD OUTSIDE AND ONE
IN THEIR CAR.
BEING WITHOUT SHELTER IN THESE
CONDITIONS IS UNIMAGINABLE FOR
MOST OF US.
WHILE STRIDES WERE MADE TO HELP
PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC USING
FEDERAL FUNDS, THAT MONEY IS NOW
DRYING UP AND HOMELESSNESS IS
ONCE AGAIN ON THE RISE IN
WISCONSIN.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE
PROPOSALS IN THE LEGISLATURE
THAT INCLUDE CRACKING DOWN ON
WHERE PEOPLE CAN CAMP OUTSIDE TO
LIVE.
LATEST NUMBERS FROM THIS TIME
LAST YEAR SHOW NEARLY 5,000
PEOPLE COUNTED AMONG THE
UNHOUSED, INCLUDING NEARLY 500
WITH NO SHELTER AT ALL.
THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE 2012,
ACCORDING TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION,
WHICH SAYS THE PROBLEM IS ONLY
GROWING.
AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
WORKING TO HELP, INCLUDING THE
WISCONSIN BALANCE OF STATE
CONTINUUM OF CARE.
ITS DIRECTOR, CARRIE POSER,
JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DRIVERS
OF INCREASING HOMELESSNESS IN
WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S TWO
KIND OF EQUAL DRIVERS: ONE, THE
LACK OF AVAILABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, IT STALLS OUT
THE SYSTEM.
PEOPLE CAN'T MOVE FROM SHELTER
TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET ACCESS INTO A
SPOT IN THE SHELTER SO PEOPLE
REMAIN UNSHELTERED, BOUNCING
AROUND.
SOMETIMES EVEN STAYING IN
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT OPTIONS
FOR THOSE THAT WANT AND NEED IT,
SO THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE
SUFFERING AND NOT ENOUGH
SERVICES TO MEET THOSE
INCREASINGLY COMPLEX NEEDS.
>> WEREN'T FEDERAL FUNDS ABLE TO
HELP DELIVER MORE PERMANENT
SOLUTIONS BY WAY OF SHELTERS OR
LOW INCOME HOUSING?
>> SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE
WAS AN INFLUX OF COVID FUNDS FOR
THINGS LIKE SHELTER, FUNDING TO
BUILD HOUSING AND FUNDS FOR
EVICTION PREVENTION.
THERE WAS NOT MORE FUNDING MADE
AVAILABLE FOR RENT ASSISTANCE IN
CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS, THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION.
>> SO WE OFTEN THINK OF
HOMELESSNESS AS A PARTICULARLY
URBAN PROBLEM, BUT IS IT?
>> NO.
HOMELESSNESS EXISTS IN EVERY
COUNTY WITHIN WISCONSIN.
SO THE 69 COUNTIES THAT ARE
REPRESENTED BY THE BALANCE OF
STATE ORGANIZATION MAKE UP OVER
60% OF THE PEOPLE COUNTED DURING
THE POINT IN TIME.
THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS, RURAL COMMUNITIES
OFTEN HAVE LESS RESOURCE OPTIONS
THAN URBAN, SO LESS SERVICES,
LESS HOUSING, LESS AGENCIES
AVAILABLE.
AND ALTHOUGH URBAN HAVE MORE OF
THOSE OPTIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TO MEET THEIR CURRENT
NEEDS.
>> SO YOU JUST SPOKE TO
SOMETHING CALLED POINT IN TIME.
THAT IS A COUNT OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND THAT COMES UP EVERY JANUARY
AND JULY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
SO THERE'S ONE COMING UP SOON?
>> NEXT WEEK, YEAH.
IT'S THE FOURTH WEDNESDAY
OVERNIGHT IN JANUARY AND JULY.
>> AND IS THE EXPECTATION AGAIN
THAT THESE NUMBERS WILL RISE
ABOVE LAST YEAR'S?
>> CORRECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN 2023, SO IN
JANUARY'S COUNT, THERE WERE 268
PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN THE
69 COUNTIES I COVER.
LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW,
NORTH OF 2,000 PEOPLE, 2,000
HOUSEHOLDS AND ALMOST 3,000
PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SHELTERS
UNSHELTERED OR IN TRANSITIONAL
FACILITIES.
AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO
GROW.
>> SO I KNOW THAT THE WISCONSIN
EMERGECY RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM ENDED IN 2023 AND WITH
IT, MORE THAN $250 MILLION THAT
WAS HELPING MORE THAN 66,000
HOUSEHOLDS.
EVICTIONS, THEREFORE, ARE NOW
UP.
WHAT DOES THIS SPELL?
>> CERTAINLY.
SO THAT PROGRAM THAT YOU
REFERENCED WAS SOMETHING THAT WE
CALL AN EVICTION PREVENTION
PROGRAM.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO
STOP EVICTIONS FROM HAPPENING TO
HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY A HOMELESS
PREVENTION PROGRAM.
NOT ALL PEOPLE OR HOUSEHOLDS
THAT ARE EVICTED END UP
HOMELESS.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT
INVESTING FUNDS IN HOMELESS
PREVENTION, LOOKING UPSTREAM AND
TARGETING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE
AT THE GREATEST RISK OF BECOMING
HOMELESS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING
TO SEE EVICTIONS, BUT YOU'RE
ALSO GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN
HOMELESSNESS.
>> MEANWHILE, THE LEGISLATURE IS
CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD
CRIMINALIZE CAMPING ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY NOT SANCTIONED BY THE
STATE.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
MEASURE?
GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE
RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH.
SO THE SISSERO INSTITUTE IS A
LEADER OF THIS PROPOSAL.
IT'S COMING UP IN STATES ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT PERPETUATES A
FALSE AND OFTEN HARMFUL
NARRATIVE AS TO THE CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS ALONG WITH THE
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
ROUNDING PEOPLE UP AND PUTTING
THEM IN A PLACE ESTABLISHED BY A
CITY OR A STATE AND MAKING IT A
CRIME TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE DOES
NOT FEND HOMELESSNESS.
OFTENTIMES IT'S
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, IT'S
EXPENSIVE, IT'S HARMFUL AND IT'S
DEHUMANIZING.
IF THE PURPOSE OF THOSE BILLS IS
TO ADDRESS, IS TO TRULY ADDRESS
THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS UPTICK
IN THIS STATE, THEN WE NEED
INVESTMENT IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING
CRISIS HOUSING, SHELTERS,
OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, LANDLORD
INCENTIVES TO GET LANDLORDS TO
AGREE TO WORK WITH OUR PROGRAMS
AND THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO
SERVE, BUT ROUNDING PEOPLE UP
ISN'T THE ANSWER.
>> WITH ABOUT HALF A MINUTE
LEFT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
APPETITE FOR MORE INVESTMENTS OF
THE KIND THAT YOU JUST
MENTIONED?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION.
UNDER THE WALKER ADMINISTRATION,
THERE WERE SEVERAL PROPOSALS TO
INCREASE FUNDING FOR DIVERSION
AND OUTREACH AND OTHER ITEMS
WITHIN THE HOMELESS CRISIS
RESPONSE SYSTEM AND,
UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN UNDER THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP
AT THAT TIME, THEY STILL STALLED
OUT IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR EVERS IS
INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING AND
MAKING SOME GOOD INVESTMENTS IN
HOMELESSNESS.
WE JUST NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO
COME ALONG BOARD.
>> CARRIE POSER, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> THE STATE SENATE PASSED TWO
BILLS THIS WEEK DESIGNED TO
JUMP-START THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE BY
TAPPING INTO NEARLY $80 MILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDS.
THE MEASURES NOW GO TO THE
ASSEMBLY.
A CHANGE IN LAW IS REQUIRED TO
ALLOW GAS STATION LIKE KWIK TRIP
OR OTHER BUSINESSES TO CHARGE
THREE CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR TO
CHARGE UP BECAUSE CURRENT LAW
ONLY ALLOWS PUBLIC UTILITIES TO
CHARGE FOR ELECTRICITY.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ADVOCATE
FOR MORE E.V. CHARGING STATIONS.
WE GET CLEAN WISCONSIN'S TAKE ON
A POTENTIAL LAW CHANGE CLEARING
THE WAY WITH CHELSEA CHANDLER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
THESE BILLS THAT PASSED IN THE
SENATE AND ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
THE ASSEMBLY.
>> THESE BILLS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR UNLOCKING $78
MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE
LAW AS PART OF THE NATIONAL
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
REQUIREMENTS IN THAT PROGRAM
THAT WISCONSIN STATE LAW IS NOT
MEETING RIGHT NOW.
SO WHAT THESE BILLS DO, THEY'RE
GOING TO BRING US INTO ALIGNMENT
WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS SO WE
CAN ACCESS THOSE CRITICAL FUNDS
AND BRING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGING INTO THE STATE.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THE ISSUE IS
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE PAY TO CHARGE
THEIR VEHICLES IN WISCONSIN.
RIGHT NOW, WISCONSIN IS ONE OF
ONLY TWO STATES IN THE COUNTRY
THAT IS HAVING PEOPLE PAID BY
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY'RE
CHARGING THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD
OF THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT
THEY'RE USING IN KILOWATT HOURS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY,
REALLY.
IF YOU'RE CHARGING YOUR GAS CAR
AT THE PUMP, YOU WOULDN'T PAY
FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'RE
SITTING THERE.
YOU'D EXPECT TO PAY FOR THE
NUMBER OF GALLONS THAT YOU'RE
PUTTING INTO YOUR VEHICLE.
SO THIS IS THE SAME THING.
IT WOULD KIND OF MAKE IT MORE
FAIR, SO THAT IF THE PUMP IS
SLOWER OR YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
IS CHARGING A LITTLE SLOWER,
YOU'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT YOU'RE
USING.
AND THE REASON WE HAVE IT SET UP
THAT WAY RIGHT NOW IS IT'S KIND
OF A WORK-AROUND BECAUSE, AS YOU
SAID RIGHT NOW, WISCONSIN SEES
ANYONE WHO IS PROVIDING
ELECTRICITY AS BEING AN ELECTRIC
UTILITY AND THAT'S REALLY NOT
THE INTENT HERE.
THE INTENT IS JUST FOR A COMPANY
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE
TO CAR OWNERS WHO WANT TO POWER
THEIR VEHICLES.
>> HOW SORELY ARE THESE CHARGING
STATIONS NEEDED AROUND
WISCONSIN?
>> WE REALLY NEED MORE ELECTRIC
VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST
BARRIER TO HAVING MORE
WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC
CARS IN WISCONSIN.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL
AND COMMUTE WITH CONFIDENCE THAT
THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, REPOWER
THEIR VEHICLE AS EASILY IDEALLY
AS YOU CAN FILL IT UP AT A PUMP
AND WE REALLY NEED MORE ELECTRIC
CARS IN WISCONSIN FOR A FEW
REASONS.
REALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S BENEFITS
TO THE CLIMATE, THERE'S BENEFITS
WHEN IT COMES TO AIR POLLUTION
AND DISPLACING SOME OF THOSE
EMISSIONS OUT OF THE TAILPIPE
AND THEN THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVING
MORE ELECTRIC CARS IN WISCONSIN
COULD UNLOCK.
I KNOW COINCIDENTALLY TODAY,
U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY GRANT HOLM
AND ACTING LABOR SECRETARY WERE
VISITING WISCONSIN TO TALK ALL
ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, KIND OF MADE IN
AMERICA OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WISCONSIN, AND SO BASICALLY THAT
IS AN OPPORTUNITY WISCONSIN
COMPANIES BASED IN MILWAUKEE,
THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIR
PRODUCTION OF E.V. CHARGERS, SO
THEY SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEN THERE'S THE PLACES THAT
WILL BE HOSTING THE E.V.
CHARGING PLACES LIKE KWIK TRIP
WHO WERE VERY ACTIVE AND
SUPPORTIVE THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS OF ADVANTAGES THESE
BILLS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE
ABLE TO OFFER SERVICES TO MORE
CUSTOMERS WHO CAN COME CHARGE
THEIR VEHICLES AND THEN STOP AND
GET A CUP OF COFFEE OR A BITE TO
EAT.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT
IDEA THAT BUSINESSES LIKE KWIK
TRIP ARE IN FAVOR, BECAUSE YOU'D
THINK THAT E.V. CHARGERS MIGHT
COMPLETE WITH THEIR GASOLINE
SALES.
>> I THINK THESE IT AS PART OF
THE FUTURE.
IT'S A MORE DIVERSE PORTFOLIO SO
MORE PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING TO
ELECTRIC CARS SO MIGHT AS WELL
BE A PART OF THAT.
THEY CAN MAKE MONEY BY PEOPLE
COMING INTO THE STORE AND IS
GETTING SOME FOOD.
THAT'S WHAT I DO WHEN I'M
CHARGING MY CAR.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME FOR THE
KIDS TO GET A BITE TO EAT, USE
THE BATHROOM, AND BE ON MY WAY.
>> IS THE GOAL TO HAVE THESE
CHARGING STATIONS EVERY 50
MILES, AS IS FEDERAL GUIDANCE,
AND IF SO, HOW LONG WOULD IT
TAKE FOR WISCONSIN TO GET THERE?
>> SO THERE'S BEEN PRETTY
ELABORATE PLANNING PROCESS TO
COMPLY WITH THIS NATIONAL
VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
WATCHING HAS WISCONSIN
INFRASTRUCTURE VEHICLE PLAN THAT
WAS-APPROVED IN 2022, AND SO
THEY LOOKED AT ALL OF THE MAJOR
CORRIDORS MAKING SURE THAT THEY
GET THAT COVERAGE AT LEAST EVERY
50 MILES SO WE CAN MAKE IT
CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE AND
OF THAT CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN
RECHARGE.
SO THE BILLS HAVE PASSED THE
SENATE THIS WEEK.
THE NEXT TO STEP IS TO PASS THE
ASSEMBLY AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT
COULD SIGN INTO LAW AND THEN THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ALREADY HAS A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO BUILD THESE CHARGING
STATIONS.
SO THAT IS OPEN UNTIL APRIL
1st.
SO BASICALLY, AS LONG AS WE CAN
GET THESE BILLS PASSED AND KIND
OF MAKE SURE WE'RE ADHERING TO
THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, WE
COULD, AS I UNDERSTAND, HAVE
MONEY OUT THE DOOR STARTING IN
APRIL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHELSEA CHANDLER, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALSO AT THE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, HUNDREDS GATHERED TO
COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LESSONS
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
>> AND LET ME COMMEND THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN FOR BEING ONE OF
THE FIRST TO HONOR THIS GIANT OF
A MAN, THE LIBERATOR OF OUR
PEOPLE, THE DRUM MAJOR FOR
JUSTICE, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. AND HAS
CONTINUED TO HONOR THIS HERO FOR
43 YEARS NO MATTER WHO HAS BEEN
THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE.
>> DR. ALLEN'S SPEECH IMPRESSED
UPON THE DANGERS OF APATHY WHEN
IT COMES TO RACIAL INJUSTICE,
EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, FAIR
HOUSING, WEALTH INEQUALITY AND
BLACK HISTORY AND HE HIGHLIGHTED
THE WORK OF DR. ALEX IF WE, WHO
CREATED A COURTROOM TO TEACH THE
HISTORY THAT BLACK HISTORY IS
AMERICAN HISTORY.
GEE FOUNDED THE PROGRAM,
JUSTIFIED ANGER, BLACK HISTORY
FOR A NEW DAY.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALIST, MUST HAVE MURV SEYMORE SPOKE
WITH HIM ABOUT THE LAST DECADE
OF THIS WEEK.
>> 10 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME
TO FIX ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS IN
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S
ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
HOW MUCH HAS THE NEEDLE MOVED
SINCE YOU BEGAN THIS EFFORT?
>> THE ISSUE WITH THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS NOT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
THE ISSUE WITH THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS SYSTEMIC RACISM.
IT'S THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN
PLACE AND PEOPLE THAT ARE
LEADING THEM AND BENEFITING FROM
THEM.
THAT'S GOT TO BE CHANGED.
THAT'S GOT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED
AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF WE'RE
GOING TO SEE REALLY TRUE
THRIVING.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ARE THINGS
BETTER, I WANT TO ASK THEM,
WELL, HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED?
HOW HAVE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS
CHANGED?
YOUR OFFICE CHANGED, YOUR BOARD
CHANGED, YOUR LEADERS CHANGED?
THAT'S A TRUE INDICATION OF
THIS.
I'M NOT FIXING BLACK PEOPLE SO
THAT WHITE PEOPLE CONFIDENTIAL
MORE COMFORTABLE.
BY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF
BLACK PEOPLE, I'M HELPING THIS
COMMUNITY TO BECOME REALLY WHAT
I CAN BE, WHO IT REALLY CAN BE,
AND THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN
THRIVE.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I WOULD TRAIN
WOULD BE WHITE ALLIES TO
UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF WORK
THAT THEY DO IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM
DISMANTLE THESE IMPEDIMENTS TO
BLACKWELLNESS AND BLACK HEALTH.
WHEN THAT BEGINS TO HAPPEN ON A
LARGE SCALE, WE WILL SEE HUGE
CHANGE.
SO THE WHITE COMMUNITY IS NOT
WAITING FOR US.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE WHITE
COMMUNITY.
>> THE AIM IS TO NOT JUST
EDUCATE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY,
IT'S ALSO ABOUT LETTING WHITE
RESIDENTS LEARN ABOUT
THEMSELVES.
>> OH, OH, DEFINITELY.
BECAUSE LEARNING ABOUT BLACK
HISTORY WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
LEARNING ABOUT THEMSELVES WILL
CHANGE EVERYTHING.
>> WHAT DO THEY LEARN?
>> THEY LEARN WHAT'S REALLY
MEANT BY THE TERM WHITE
PRIVILEGE, THAT THAT'S NOT JUST
A MONIKER, IT'S NOT JUST THROWN
OFF ON PEOPLE.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVEN THE OPTION
TO NOT ONLY TO BE WHITE, WHICH
IS TO BE AMERICAN, BUT TO NOT BE
BLACK.
O THAT NO MATTER WHAT DAY THE
COUNTRY PUT ON YOU AS A WHITE
PERSON, THEY COULD ALWAYS SAY,
AT LEAST I'M NOT BLACK, AND SO
THEN THAT COMPLETELY POLARIZED
THE COUNTRY BETWEEN BLACK AND
WHITE OR WHITE AND OTHER.
AND WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THAT, THEY
REALIZE THAT ONCE YOU
DICHOTOMIZE PEOPLE THAT WAY,
ONCE YOU POLARIZE THEM THAT WAY,
YOU CAN PUT THEM AT ODDS AROUND
ANYTHING.
SEPARATE THEM HOW THEY LIVE AND
THEY NEVER COME TOGETHER SO THAT
WE NEVER WORK TOGETHER.
WE DON'T CREATE SOLUTIONS
TOGETHER WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING
IT, WE'VE BEEN MADE TO BE THE
ENEMIES OF EACH OTHER AND
FEARFUL OF EACH OTHER.
>> HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IF PEOPLE
UNDERSTOOD HOW WE GOT TO WHERE
WE ARE IN TERMS OF RACE
RELATIONS, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT
THE WAY THE COUNTRY WAS BUILT,
LET'S LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AT A
NONPOLITICAL ACADEMIC
PERSPECTIVE.
I FELT THAT PEOPLE, NONBLACK
PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WOW, I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT.
REALLY.
HMM.
I UNDERSTAND THINGS A LOT
DIFFERENTLY NOW.
NOW I KNOW HOW STRATEGIC WE MUST
BE IN DISMANTLING THIS IF PEOPLE
ARE STRATEGIC IN MILITANTLING MANTLING THIS
AND IT'S BEEN A VERY POWERFUL
TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS PLACE OF
A RACIALIZED AMERICA.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN 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.