TEST TEST TEST TEST
?
CAPTION TEST.
THIS IS A TEST OF THE CAPTIONING
SYSTEM.
TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN IN
MARCH, THE CITY OF LACROSSE
CLEARED 130 TONS OF ABANDONED
ITEMS AT LONG-TERM OVERNIGHT
CAMPING SITES ALONG THE BLACK
RIVER SHORELINE.
THE CAMPSITES AND OTHERS ARE
WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN LACROSSE HAD
TAKEN UP RESIDENCE.
AS PART OF A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO
END LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS, BANS
ON CAMPING ON CITY PROPERTY ARE
ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT WITH
NOWHERE TO GO, CAMPERS POP UP ON
OTHER SITES.
IT'S BEEN A THORNY PROBLEM FOR
THE CITY BETWEEN TRYING TO HELP
THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
UNSHELTERED PEOPLE IN THE
AFTERMATH OF COVID AND BEING
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY CALLS
FOR ACTION.
LACROSSE MAYOR, MITCH REYNOLDS,
JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME
ON.
THANK YOU.
>> YOUR PATHWAYS HOME PLAN
STATES THAT ENDOCUMENTS WILL NO
LONGER BE TROCIALTD ONCE YOUR
NEW HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS
UP AND RUNNING.
IS THAT SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING?
>> NO.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PATHWAYS BEGAN
IN JANUARY AND AT THIS POINT,
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DATA
COLLECTION.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST PART AND
THEN.
?
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO FIX
OUR BROKEN STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM.
BECAUSE WHILE A COLLEGE DEGREE
STILL IS A TICKET TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS, THAT TICKET IS BECOMING
MUCH TOO EXPENSIVE.
>> IN A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO
WISCONSIN, JOE BIDEN RELEASES
HIS NEW PLAN FOR STUDENT LOAN
DEBT RELIEF.
AND IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT,
JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY SAYS
SHE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN
2025, AN ELECTION THAT COULD
ONCE AGAIN TIP THE BALANCE OF
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
LOOK AT THE IMPLICATIONS OF
JUSTICE WALSH BRADLEY LEAVING
THE BENCH.
NATHAN DENZIN REPORTS ON THE
RISE OF MASS BOOK CHALLENGES IN
K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL BEHIND BARS.
AND WHY SOME PARTS OF THE STATE
CAN'T FIND CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
AND HOW PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH
THE RISE IN PEOPLE WHO LACK
HOUSING.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL
12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SHE
WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
WHEN HER TERM IS UP IN 2025.
A DEPARTURE FROM STATEMENTS SHE
MADE A FEW MONTHS AGO.
THIS UPSET OF THE COURT COULD
MEAN A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY
ONCE AGAIN.
THE THREE-TERM JUSTICE DID NOT
GIVE SPECIFICS AS TO WHY SHE
WILL NOT RUN AGAIN.
ONLY THAT, IN THE 177-YEAR
HISTORY OF THE STATE, SHE SAID
ONLY FOUR JUSTICES WILL HAVE
SERVED LONGER THAN MY LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
SHE WENT ON TO SAY, I KNOW I CAN
WIN RE-ELECTION, SHOULD I RUN,
BUT IT'S JUST TIME TO PASS THE
TORCH, BRINGING FRESH
PERSPECTIVES TO THE COURT.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS ANOTHER
CURVEBALL FOR THE COURT AS IT'S
BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR
WISCONSIN POLITICS.
IT'S ALSO A 180 FROM STATEMENTS
SHE MADE IN NOVEMBER WHILE IN
ATTENDANCE AT JANET
PROTASIEWICZ'S ELECTION NIGHT
PARTY WHEN THE BALANCE OF THE
COURT'S IDEOLOGY CHANGED FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN HER NEAR 30-YEAR
TENURE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHETHER
YOU'D WANT TO RUN AGAIN?
>> I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO RUN
AGAIN.
I DO HAVE -- BY THE WAY, I DO
HAVE AN IDEA AND IT IS YES,
AFTER TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE AND
SEEING THE ENERGY IN THIS ROOM,
I'M NOT ONLY GOING TO RUN, I'M
GOING TO WIN.
>> IN HER TIME, SHE'S PRESIDED
OVER MANY IMPORTANT CASES IN THE
STATE, BUT A LEGISLATIVE
REFERENCE BUREAU SURVEY OF
SIGNIFICANT WISCONSIN COURT
DECISIONS IN 2020 SAID, QUOTE,
RARELY HAVE SO MANY CASES
INVOLVING THE CORE AND ESSENTIAL
POWERS OF THE STATE'S POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS BEEN ON THE COURT'S
DOCKET.
AND BY 2022, IT AGAIN STATED
POLITICAL CONFLICT INEVITABLY
MADE ITS WAY ONTO THE COURT'S
DOCKET, A TESTAMENT TO THE
RECENT TREND OF HIGH PROFILE
ISSUES TURNING TO THE COURT TO
MAKE DECISIONS.
DESPITE THE COURT JUSTICES
OFFICIALLY BEING NON-PARTISAN,
LAST YEAR'S ELECTION BETWEEN DAN
KELLY AND JANET PROTASIEWICZ
GARNERED A RECORD $51 MILLION AS
INTEREST CONTRACTS BOARD POURED
MONEY INTO THE CAMPAIGNS,
SETTING THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER
EXPENSIVE ELECTION.
AS AN INCUMBENT, JUSTICE WALSH
BRADLEY WOULD HAVE HAD AN EDGE
OVER OPPONENTS.
CANDIDATES FROM BOTH SIDES HAVE
EXPRESSED RUNNING IN 2025.
FORMER WISCONSIN ATTORNEY
GENERAL REPUBLICAN BRAD SCHIMMEL
HAS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED HIS RUN.
IN EDUCATION NEWS, SATURDAY
MARKS THE END OF NATIONAL
LIBRARY WEEK DEDICATED TO
GETTING YOUNG READERS INTO THE
LOCAL LIBRARIES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WISCONSIN
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES HAVE HAD
TO DEAL WITH MORE BOOK
CHALLENGES AND BANS THAN EVER
BEFORE, MORE THAN DOUBLING IN
2023.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER, NATHAN
DENZIN, HAS MORE.
>> I WOULD SAY OUR SCHOOL
LIBRARIANS ARE UNDER A LOT OF
STRESS AND IT'S THIS CULTURE WAR
OF CONTROL.
>> I THINK THERE WAS 280 SOME
BOOKS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT
WERE BEING CHALLENGED.
>> EVEN NONREADERS WERE COMING
UP TO ME, LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING
ON?"
>> WISCONSIN IS SEEING A HUGE
RISE IN BOOK CHALLENGES SINCE
2021 ADMINISTER THE INQUIRIES
ARE SO STRONG THAT IT HAS
SHIFTED THE PRIORITIES OF MY
POSITION AND MADE THAT ONE OF
THE FOCUS AREAS IN SUPPORT OF
OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.
>> MONICA TREPTOW IS THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
INSTRUCTION SCHOOL MEDIA LIBRARY
CONSULTANT.
SHE HELPS EDUCATORS UNDERSTAND
THE ENVIRONMENT OF BOOK
CHALLENGES.
>> THERE'S THE BOOK CHALLENGES
FOR DECADES.
THAT'S NOT A NEW THING.
BUT IT IS NEW IN THAT THE
TECHNIQUES ARE DIFFERENT.
>> THOSE TECHNIQUES ARE OFTEN
SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE'S A
LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT IS
SPREAD.
MISINFORMATION IS DESIGNED TO
STOKE OUTRAGE.
>> DR. JILL UNDERLEY IS THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
SHE SAYS APPS LIKE
FACEBOOK.COM/LOCAL2MORNINGSFACEBOOK OR XHAVE CONTRIBUTED.
THE NUMBER OF CHALLENGED HIT A
HIGH IN 2023.
IN WISCONSIN, THERE WERE 27
CHALLENGES AIMED AT HUNDREDS OF
BOOKS.
MONICA TREPTOW SAID A TYPICAL
BOOK CHALLENGE USED TO BE OVER A
SINGLE BOOK.
A CONCERNED PART WOULD BRING IT
TO THE LIBRARY OR AN EDUCATOR,
INCLUDING LONG LISTS OF BOOKS
THAT HAVE BEEN SENT STRAIGHT TO
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS OR
SCHOOL BOARDS.
>> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS OVER 600
PAGES LONG AND FOR THE HIGH
SCHOOL, I BELIEVE IT WAS OVER
1,400 PAGES LONG.
>> YOU LOOKED AT IT AT FIRST AND
WENT, OH MY GOD.
>> WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS NO
WAY TO READ ALL OF THE BOOKS.
>> JASON TADLOCK, DAN TEAL
WORKED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT.
KIEL IS THE HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL AND McBURNEY IS THE
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
IN LATE 2023, ELKHORN ISSUED A
CHALLENGE TO A WHOPPING 444
BOOKS.
THESE TWO STACKS REPRESENT ABOUT
ONE-SIXTH OF ALL OF THE BOOKS
THAT WERE CHALLENGED IN ELKHORN.
DISTRICT STAFF SAY IT TOOK
MONTHS TO SIFT THROUGH ALL OF
THE MATERIAL.
TITLES LIKE THE GRAPES OF WRATH
AND GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
WERE AMONG THOSE CHALLENGED, AS
WERE BOOKS INVOLVING LGBTQ OR
RACE TOPICS.
>> IT WASN'T JUST SEX.
IT WAS DRUGS, ABUSE, ANY NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.
>> THE POLICY ALSO REQUIRED AT
THAT TIME AND REQUIRES FOR THOSE
BOOKS TO BE PULLED OUT OF
CIRCULATION UNTIL SUCH A TIME A
PRINCIPAL MAKES THAT JUDGMENT.
>> THAT CAUSED ABOUT 160 BOOKS
FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ABOUT 280
BOOKS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE
TEMPORARILY PULLED FROM SHELVES.
IN ORDER TO GET INFORMATION
ABOUT ALL 444 BOOKS, THE PARENT
HAD PULLED REVIEWS OFF OF
BOOKLOOKS.ORG.
THE SITE WAS PREVIOUSLY
AFFILIATED WITH MOMS FOR
LIBERTY, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A
FAR RIGHT ANTIGOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATION BY A GROUP THAT
TRACTS EXTREMISM IN AMERICA.
>> THE MESSAGE THAT PARENTS
DON'T HAVE PRIVACY OVER THEIR
CHILD'S EDUCATION HAS BEEN
PREVALENT FOR YEARS AND FOR TOO
LONG, WE HAVE STAYED SIEBT AS
OUT-OF-TOUCH ADMINISTRATORS,
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND EVEN
UNION LEADERS BEHAVED AS PARENTS
AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO CHOOSE
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR OWN
CHILDREN.
>> SCARLETT JOHNSON IS ONE OF
THE FOUNDERS OF MOMS FOR
LIBERTY.
SHE'S USED SOCIAL MEDIA TOPEKA
OUT AGAINST NUMEROUS BOOKS ALL
OVER THE STATE SINCE 2020.
SHE DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST
TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS
STORY.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH WXOW, SHE
PUSHED BACK WHAT SHE CALLS
INDOCTRINATATION.
>> WE SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL TO BE
EDUCATED, NOT INDOCTRINATED, AND
ALSO WE DON'T SEND THEM THERE
FOR THERAPY.
>> Reporter: IN MADISON,
GROUPS LIKE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR THE DEFENSE OF TRADITION,
FAMILY AND PROPERTY CAN BE FOUND
PROTESTING CONTENT IN SCHOOLS
AND LIBRARIES.
>> THE LITERATURE THAT THEY'RE
PROMOTING IN THE LIBRARIES, A
LOT OF IT IS PORNOGRAPHIC OR
OBSCENE.
>> Reporter: JONATHAN IS A
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN TFP,
WHICH IS AN ANTILGBTQ
ORGANIZATION.
>> THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED IN LIBRARIES.
>> OF COURSE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE
A SAY IN WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE
READING, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
CHALLENGES, IT'S REALLY A SUBSET
OF PEOPLE ARE DICTATING WHAT IT
IS THAT YOU CAN READ AND WHAT
YOUR KIDS CAN READ.
>> Reporter: IN ELKHORN,
PARENTS HAD TO TAKE ON MORE
DUTIES.
>> PRINCIPALS, LIBRARIANS,
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS,
DIRECTORS, ALL HANDS ON DECK TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING,
WITH THE SHEER VOLUME OF IT,
GETTING ALL THAT INFORMATION
TOGETHER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO GET
A CONSENSUS ON WHERE IS THIS
BOOK -- WHERE SHOULD THIS BOOK
BE RATED AGE-WISE.
>> Reporter: TO DETERMINE AN
APPROPRIATE AGE RANGE, THEY USED
A COMBINATION OF PROFESSIONAL
REVIEW SITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE CONTENT OF EACH BOOK.
ULTIMATELY, NONE OF THE BOOKS
WERE BANNED BECAUSE STAFF DID
NOT FIND ANY OF THE BOOKS TO BE
OBJECTIONABLE.
A HANDSFUL OF BOOKS WERE MOVED
FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE HIGH
SCHOOL AND ANOTHER HANDFUL HAD A
GRADE OR AGE RESTRICTION
APPLIED.
DESPITE THE LONG HOURS, DISTRICT
STAFF SAID THAT THERE WAS ONE
POSITIVE.
THEY LEARNED MORE ABOUT EACH
BOOK IN THEIR SCHOOL'S LIBRARY.
>> IT'S NOT BAD FOR ME TO GET
INTO THE LIBRARY, SEE WHAT'S
THERE, WHAT ARE PEOPLE CONCERNED
WITH.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY ALSO
SIDDIQUI IT WAS A DISTRACTION
FOR SOME OF THE STUDENTS.
>> I THINK THAT IT WAS
DISRUPTIVE.
I THINK IT CREATED A LOT OF
ANGST AMONG STUDENTS AND
PARENTS.
>> IT BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION
AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: REBECCA BELLUM IS
THE SPECIALIST FOR THE ELKHORN.
>> SOME OF THE CIRCULATION WENT
UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY'RE
LIKE, OH, WHICH BOOKS ARE ON
THAT LIST?
>> WE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM
PARENTS THAT HOW DARE AN
INDIVIDUAL DETERMINE OR TRY TO
DETERMINE FOR ME WHAT'S
APPROPRIATE FOR MY KID OR NOT.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THE MORE
DIVERSE SELECTION WE HAVE IN
HERE, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY WE
HAVE FOR THESE KIDS TO REALLY
GROW.
>> LIBRARIES ARE PLACES THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE, THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> IN ITS CORE PRINCIPLE,
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A
BOOK CHALLENGE.
BUT WHEN IT GOES TO THESE
EXTREMES AND YOU'VE GOT
RAISING -- PEOPLE RAISING
CONCERNS IN VERY -- EITHER
DISTANT RELATIONSHIPS TO THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR IN MASS
AMOUNTS, THEN IT TURNS INTO
SOMETHING THAT DOES THREATEN
DEMOCRACY.
>> UNDERLEY AND MONICA TREPTOW
SAY NOW IS THE TIME FOR
DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE TO
REVIEW THEIR BOOK CHALLENGE
POLICY.
>> REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOOK AT THEIR
POLICIES SO THAT THEY CAN BE
PREPARED.
>> Reporter: TADLOCK SAID THE
ELKHORN DISTRICT IS REVISING
THEIR CHALLENGE POLICY SO A ONE
PERSON CAN'T CHALLENGE MASS
BOOKS.
>> IT WILL REQUIRE UP TO FIVE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS FROM
DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS WOULD HAVE
TO SUBMIT THE CHALLENGE.
>> Reporter: THE POLICY WILL
REQUIRE THE CHALLENGER TO HAVE
READ THE BOOK IN FULL BEFORE
SUBMITTING.
THE DISTRICT ALSO DEVELOPED A
FORM FOR PARENTS THAT WOULD GIVE
THEIR PARENT STUDENTS ACCESS TO
ANY RESTRICTIVE BOOK.
>> PARENTS CAN SAY MY KID CAN
READ THE RESTRICTIVE BOOKS AND
THEY'RE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO
ALL KIDS.
>> MY ARGUMENT FOR THAT IS
SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE
BOOK IS, THEN MAYBE PUT THAT IN
THE PARENTS' HANDS AND LET THEM
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION WITH
THEIR KIDS.
>> WE WANT OUR LIBRARIES TO BE
THAT INCLUSIVE SPACE FOR ALL OF
OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO FIND
THE RESOURCE THAT THEY NEED.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING
BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF STUDENTS
SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR
LEARNING.
>> Reporter: FOR "HERE AND
NOW," I'M NATHAN DENZIN IN
ELKHORN.
>> IN A SIGN OF THE TIMES, A
CANDIDATE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY
BOARD IN SUPERIOR UPON TWO SEATS
AS A WRITE-IN IN A SPRING
ELECTION THAT HAD FOUR BOARD
RACES WITHOUT ANY CANDIDATE ON
THE BALLOT.
OUR NEXT GUEST HAS STUDIED THE
DECLINING INTEREST IN SERVICE IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY IN
RURAL WISCONSIN.
DAVID HELPAP IS A UW GREEN BAY
PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.
PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> YOU BET.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO HOW INCREASINGLY COMMON
AND WIDESPREAD IS THE KIND OF
SITUATION THAT WE SAW IN DOUGLAS
COUNTY WITH TOO FEW PEOPLE
RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICE?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT
THERE HAS JUST BEEN A DECLINING
INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN
POLITICS MORE BROADLY, BUT WHEN
WE START TALKING ABOUT RURAL
AREAS, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE
THE POPULATION IS DECLINING IN A
LOT OF THOSE AREAS, IT'S GETTING
OLDER, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME
SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FROM THOSE
CURRENTLY IN OFFICE THAT ONCE
THEY RETIRE OR MOVE ON FROM
PUBLIC SERVICE, THAT THERE
REALLY ISN'T GOING TO BE THE
NEXT SORT OF COHORT OF
INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE THEIR PLACE,
THAT THE NEXT GENERATION, THE
NEXT GROUP DOESN'T REALLY HAVE
AN INTEREST IN TAKING ON THAT
ROLE.
>> WHY DOESN'T THE NEXT
GENERATION WANT TO STEP UP IN
THAT WAY?
>> MOST OF THESE POSITIONS, THE
PAY IS LIMIT OR IT IS ENTIRELY
VOLUNTARY.
AND SO IT'S TAKE OFF TIME AND TO
NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR IT, THAT
CAN BE DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY
IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY.
THERE IS THIS NEED FOR SOCIAL
CONNECTION, FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL
TO HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVED, TO, YOU
KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A PART
OF THE COMMUNITY AND FEEL
COMFORTABLE TAKING ON THOSE
LEADERSHIP GOALS.
WHEN THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY
GOES AWAY, PARTICULARLY RURAL
AREAS, WHERE THERE ISN'T A HUGE
POPULATION ANYWAY AND SORT OF
THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY MAY NOT
BE THERE, MAY NOT -- MAY HAVE
DECLINED OVER THE YEARS.
THAT MAKES A SITUATION EVEN MORE
CHALLENGING.
>> AND MEANWHILE, MANY OF THESE
COMMUNITIES FACE RATHER DAUNTING
PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THEY NEED
THIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP.
WHAT ARE THOSE KINDS OF
PARTICULAR ISSUES RELATED TO
RURAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT
THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH?
>> A LOT OF TIME CHALLENGES THAT
HAVE BEEN PLAGUING RURAL
GOVERNMENTS FOR A LONG TIME
CONTINUE TO EXIST.
SO LIMITED RESOURCES, LACK OF
CAPACITY, CHALLENGES WITH
DELIVERING GOOD QUALITY
SERVICES, BUT THEN THERE ARE
SOME MORE RECENT CHALLENGES,
LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT
JUST GOOD QUALITY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THOSE TYPES OF
ISSUES.
AND IT IS, I THINK, A CHALLENGE
FOR SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE
ISN'T NECESSARILY THAT CAPACITY
THERE TO ADDRESS THEM OR THE
EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS THEM.
WHERE, FOR LARGER COMMUNITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME
OF THESE PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME,
THAT THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE TO ADDRESS IT, BUT THAT
MAY NOT BE THE CASE IN SMALLER
COMMUNITIES.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE IDEAS ABOUT
HOW TO ADDRESS THIS?
>> SO GETTING I THINK MORE STATE
SUPPORT WOULD HELP ADDRESS
THE -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CONCERNS, I THINK 98% OF
COMMUNITIES SAID THAT THEY COULD
USE MORE RESOURCES, NOT
SURPRISING.
RIGHT?
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE MAY
BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH
OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
COUNTIES, COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN
TYPICALLY PROVIDE A LOT OF
SERVICES ANYWAY.
I THINK THERE'S THIS GROWING
RECOGNITION THAT IN ORDER TO
SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS,
SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE,
REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE IN AN URBAN
AREA OR RURAL AREA, THAT SOME OF
THAT CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION
IS NEEDED, THAT WE NEED TO BRING
IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE
BUSINESSES TO REALLY SORT OF
MOVE AHEAD WITH SOCIAL WELFARE
ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
IT IS VALUABLE TO HAVE THOSE
TYPES IN PLACE.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
DAVID HELPAP, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND THIS ELECTION YEAR FACT
CHECK TONIGHT, A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
IN WISCONSIN SPECIFIES THAT ONLY
A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AGE 18
OR OLDER MAY VOTE IN AN ELECTION
FOR NATIONAL, STATE, OR LOCAL
OFFICE OR REFERENDUM.
THE AMENDMENT CHANGES CURRENT
CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE FROM
EVERY U.S. CITIZEN TO ONLY A
U.S. CITIZEN.
REPUBLICAN AUTHORS OF THE
LANGUAGE SAY IT'S NEEDED BECAUSE
SOME STATES HAVE ALLOWED
NON-U.S. CITIZENS TO VOTE IN
LOCAL ELECTIONS.
WITH MIGRATION BEING A PRIME
CAMPAIGN ISSUE, DONALD TRUMP IS
PUSHING FEARS OF NONCITIZENS
VOTING.
BUT AS STEVEN POTTER FINDS, THIS
KIND OF VOTER FRAUD IS
VANISHINGLY RARE.
>> OUR STATE ISSUES VALID
DRIVER'S LICENSES TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE NONCITIZENS AND ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
HOW DO YOU CATCH THAT?
>> CONVINCED OF FRAUD IN THE
LAST ELECTION, PEOPLE IN A
RECENT ELECTION EDUCATION EVENT
IN WEST BEND RAISED A WORRY OVER
IMMIGRANTS VOTING ILLEGALLY IN
2024.
>> IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AT
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS
ISSUED DRIVER'S LICENSES TO OVER
A QUARTER MILLION NONLEGAL,
ILLEGAL, WHATEVER THE RIGHT
TERMINOLOGY IS, IMMIGRANTS IN
THE STATE.
>> BUT THAT NUMBER REFERS TO
NON-U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE
LEGALLY PRESENT HERE AS
PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR TEMPORARY
VISITORS.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF
MOTOR VEHICLES HAS ISSUED MORE
THAN 258,000 DRIVER'S LICENSES
AND 41,000 PHOTO I.D. CARDS TO
NON-U.S. CITIZENS SINCE 2019.
THOSE WISCONSIN DRIVER'S
LICENSES, OR PHOTO I.D.s, ARE
STAMPED WITH LIMITED TERM OR
NON-DOMICILED UNLESS THE PERSON
IS A PERMANENT RESIDENT WHOSE
CARDS HAVE NO SUCH STAMP.
A PHOTO I.D. IS REID REDMAN REQUIRED TO VOTE
IN WISCONSIN BUT NONCITIZENS
CANNOT USE THEIR I.D.s OR
LICENSES TO REGISTER AND VOTE.
DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THEY ARE
IN LARGE NUMBERS, THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION SAYS THAT
SINCE 2019, THERE HAVE BEEN
THREE NONCITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN
REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION FOR
VOTING ILLEGALLY.
MOSTLY MISUNDERSTANDING THEIR
ELIGIBILITY.
THE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP
HAPPENS BEFORE ANYONE CASTS A
BALLOT.
WHEN REGISTERING TO VOTE, A
PERSON MUST CERTIFY UNDER
PENALTY OF LAW THAT THEY'RE A
U.S. CITIZEN.
NONCITIZENS RISK BEING ARRESTED,
JAILED, AND DEPORTED IF THEY DO
VOTE ILLEGALLY.
AS TO THE QUESTION HOW DO YOU
CATCH THAT, WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION TOLD US THERE IS NO
MECHANISM AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT
REAL TIME CHECKS ON A VOTER'S
CITIZENSHIP STATUS.
NO STATE OR FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES
THE WEC OR CLERKS TO VERIFY A
VOTER'S CITIZENSHIP STATUS, BUT
THEY ALSO SAID THERE'S NOT
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA
THAT NONCITIZENS ARE VOTING IN
WISCONSIN IN SIGNIFICANT
NUMBERS.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M STEVEN
POTTER.
>> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN,
IN MARCH, THE CITY OF LACROSSE
CLEARED 130 TONS OF ABANDONED
ITEMS AT LONG-TERM OVERNIGHT
CAMPING SITES ALONG THE BLACK
RIVER SHORELINE.
THE CAMPSITES AND OTHERS ARE
WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN LACROSSE HAD
TAKEN UP RESIDENCE.
AS PART OF A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO
END LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS, BANS
ON CAMPING ON CITY PROPERTY ARE
ALREADY IN PLACE.
BUT WITH NOWHERE TO GO, CAMPERS
POP UP ON OTHER SITES.
IT'S BEEN A THORNY PROBLEM FOR
THE CITY BETWEEN TRYING TO HELP
THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
UNSHELTERED PEOPLE IN THE
AFTERMATH OF COVID AND BEING
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY CALLS
FOR ACTION.
LACROSSE MAYOR, MITCHELL
REYNOLDS, JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME
ON.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> YOUR PATHWAYS' PLAN STATES
THAT ENCAMPMENTS WILL NO LONGER
BE TOLERATED ONCE YOUR NEW
HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS UP
AND RUNNING.
IS THAT SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING?
>> NO.
THE IMPLEMENTATION BEGAN IN
JANUARY.
WE'RE DOING DATA COLLECTION.
THAT'S THE FIRST PART.
THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE OTHER
PARTS THAT INCLUDE WHERE WE
IDENTIFY THE HOUSING, HOW MUCH
WE NEED OF EMERGENCY SHELTER,
HOW MUCH WE NEED, BECAUSE WE
DON'T REALLY WANT SHELTERS.
WE WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE DIRECTLY
FROM BEING UNSHELTERED TO A
HOUSING OPTION IMMEDIATELY.
>> ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S
DOCUMENTATION, THERE ARE ABOUT
200 INDIVIDUALS AND 20 FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING CHRONIC
HOMEESSNESS IN LACROSSE.
DESCRIBE KIND OF THE THREE
PRONGS OF THE PATHWAYS HOME
PROGRAM TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
>> IT'S COMPLICATED, FRANKLY,
BUT -- AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU
KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY WHO IS
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS IS LIVING
IN A TENT IN THE MARSH RIGHT
NOW.
WE DO HAVE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE LIVING IN PLACES WHO ARE IN
VARIOUS SPOTS, LIKE IN THE MARSH
AND THE FORESTED AREAS AND
PLACES THAT ARE NOT IN LACROSSE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THIS IS
TYPICAL, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT -- THEY
ARE -- THEY MAY HAVE TEMPORARY
SHELTER WITH A FRIEND OR IN AID
RELATIVE'S SPARE BEDROOM OR ON A
COUCH OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE
LINES.
WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE --
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH
CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS IN THE
CITY OF LACROSSE FOR A REALLY
LONG TIME.
PART OF THIS IS REALLY JUST, AND
ONE OF THE AREAS IN PATHWAYS IS
TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING
OPTIONS IN THE CITY.
AND THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
ALL THE TIME, AND FRANKLY,
THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF
THE PATHWAYS HOME PLAN, IS THAT
PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES IS ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL PART, BUT THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF PATHWAYS HOME
IS HAVING THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY BE THE ONES WHO ARE
DRIVING THE BUS, BEING THE ONES
WHO ARE MANAGING THE HOMELESS
RESPONSE.
THIS IS JUST -- IT'S ALMOST
EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE BID.
IN FACT, I JUST TALKED TO HECTOR
COLOGNE THIS MORNING, WHO IS NOW
HEAD OF LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE
AND WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, AND THEY
ORCHESTRA TRAIT THAT A PATH --
ORCHESTRATED THAT A PATH TO
ALMOST FUNCTIONAL ZERO IN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY BY DOING THIS
SAME THING.
THAT'S THE MOST KRAJICEK CRITICAL PART IS
THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE
GETTING TOGETHER AND MANAGING
THE RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS.
WE'RE NOT LEAVING IT TO PRIVATE
SERVICE AGENCIES.
WE'RE DIRECTING TRAFFIC ON THIS
ONE, AND I THINK THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR ME, THAT'S
THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF IT.
BUT CERTAINLY PROVIDING SUPPORT
SERVICES AND THEN PROVIDING
ADEQUATE HOUSING, FINDING THAT
ADEQUATE HOUSING, THAT IS AN
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL PART OF
THIS.
>> BECAUSE HOW HARD IS IT FOR
YOU AS MAYOR TO SEE THIS
ENDURING PROBLEM?
>> FEELS LIKE FAILURE EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
THAT'S HOW IT FEELS.
IT'S CONSTANT WORK.
IT'S EXHAUSTING.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO QUIT.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR
OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FOR
OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A KIND OF
COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS OUT FOR
THOSE WHO ARE LIVING ON THE EDGE
OF THE ABYSS.
IT'S CRITICAL WORK AND IT'S
SOMETHING I'M COMPLETELY
DEDICATED TO.
BUT, YEAH, FREDERICA, IT FEELS
LIKE FAILURE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> DOES THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
LACROSSE HAVE THE CAPACITY AND
RESOURCES TO MEET YOUR GOAL OF
ELIMINATING LONG-TERM
HOMELESSNESS BY 2029?
>> WE DO.
WE NEED MORE.
I MEAN, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO
MINISTER COLOGNE THIS MORNING,
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
FOR THERE TO BE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT THROUGH VARIOUS
DONATIONS, SUPPORT THROUGH
BUSINESS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, THAT
TYPE OF THING.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WORKING
ON, BUT WE HAVE RESOURCES, THE
COUNTY HAS PERSONNEL RESOURCE
THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE.
THEY JUST HAD TO SHIFT FOCUS
AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS AND MORE
TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF THE
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THE
ADDICTION ISSUES THAT THEY FACE,
THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE MORE
THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.
BUT ALSO BECAUSE THAT -- BECAUSE
THERE IS COORDINATION BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, SO
THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE
SOME FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED AND THERE'S DEFINITELY
GOING TO BE A NEED TO CREATE
MORE HOUSING OPTIONS WITHIN THE
CITY OF LACROSSE.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE, MITCH
REYNOLDS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME
ON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> 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
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WISCONSIN.