>> I'M F FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT GOVERNOR WALKER'S
PLAN TO CLOSE LINCOLN HILLS.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SCIENCE OF
THIS DEEP FREEZE.
STATE SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE
REBECCA DALLET IS HERE.
AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT A
COMPLAINT FILED OVER THE MADISON
DMV.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JANUARY 5.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT,
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER HAS
ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CLOSE
WISCONSIN'S CURRENT JUVENILE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND OPEN
REGIONAL FACILITIES INSTEAD.
LATE THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR
SAID HE WOULD CLOSE LINCOLN
HILLS AND COPPER LAKE, ESTABLISH
FIVE REGIONAL JUVENILE
FACILITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN,
MAKE THE JUVENILE PRISON AN
ADULT MEDIUM SECURITY
INSTITUTION AND EXPAND TREATMENT
SERVICES AT MENDOTA.
THE COST OF BUILDING THE NEW
FACILITIES WOULD BE
APPROXIMATELY $80 MORDECAI MILLION.
THIS PLAN HAS BEEN MET WITH
PRAISE AND CRITICISM.
LENA TAYLOR WEIGH NOTICE NOWS IN NOW WITH
HER REACTION.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S CALL TO CLOSE LINCOLN
HILLS AND COPPER LAKE?
>> I MEAN, VERY CANDIDLY, IT'S A
DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT.
THE GOVERNOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DO SOMETHING IN HIS BUDGET
THAT SHOWS THAT HE WANTED TO
PRIORITIZE STOPPING INHUMANE
TREATMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE DID NOT.
HE DID NOT EVEN BRING US UP TO
THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF WHAT WE
NEEDED TO DO.
AND A DAY -- YOU KNOW, A DAY
LATE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS
KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST 2012, I
BELIEVE IT WAS THAT THE JUDGE
GAVE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR
TELLING HIM THAT THERE WAS A
PROBLEM IN THE JUVENILE
FACILITIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, AM I GLAD THAT THE
GOVERNOR REALIZES THAT HE HAS
MESSED UP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS BADLY MANAGED THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR JUVENILES?
I AM.
>> NOW, MILWAUKEE STATE
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE EVAN
GOYKE IS COMMENDING THIS MOVE,
CALLING IT EXCITING PROGRESS,
AND DURING A RECENT PRESENTATION
INTRODUCED A BILL WHICH HE SAYS
FIRST PRODUCED MANY OF THE
CHANGES MOVING FORWARD NOW.
SO SOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING
DEMOCRATS, ARE APPLAUDING THIS
MOOVMENT WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK IS REALLY IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD
APPLAUD.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING.
WHY ARE WE PUTTING IT OFF TO
TOMORROW WHAT WE CAN DO TODAY?
AND SO I DON'T FIND IT EXCITING
WHEN WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE
ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
RIGHT AWAY, WHICH IS TO GIVE
MILWAUKEE COUNTY AUTHORITY IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN
INSTITUTION THAT THEY CAN HAVE
THERE IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
AND WHY MUST IT BE SOMEWHERE
ELSE OTHER THAN MILWAUKEE COUNTY
FOR THE YOUTH TO BE CARED FOR?
SO IF WE WERE DEALING WITH THE
ISSUE IMMEDIATELY, I COULD GIVE
PRAISE, FREDERICA.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL 2019
AND DOING NOTHING RIGHT NOW.
>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE IS
OPEN TO MOVING THAT DATE UP.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING, PERHAPS, OF
SOME COMPROMISE THAT YOU CAN
LOOK TO.
>> THAT IS POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE MAY CLOSE
LINCOLN HILLS IF YOU LOOK AT HIS
PRESS RELEASE COMPLETELY.
HE DOES NOT SAY I SHALL.
AND THEN EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY,
I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
IMMEDIATELY.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE CHILDREN
THERE AND THEY'RE BEING HARMED.
AND THE CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING, WHO
ARE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, ARE
NOT WELL-TRAINED, THEY'RE
WORKING HOURS THAT ARE
UNREASONABLE.
IT'S AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
BOTH WORKERS AND I WOULD ARGUE
FOR INDIVIDUALS THERE.
>> BUT IF YOU WERE TO
IMMEDIATELY CLOSE THESE JUVENILE
INSTITUTIONS, WHAT WOULD YOUR
ANSWER -- WHERE WOULD THEY GO
IMMEDIATELY?
>> SO THE FIRST THING I'M SAYING
IS NOT NECESSARILY A SHUTDOWN
TODAY IMMEDIATELY, BUT I'M
SAYING YOU HAVE TO START WITH
GIVING THE COUNTY THAT MOST OF
THE JUVENILES COME FROM TO AT
LEAST HAVE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE
TO BUILD THE KIND OF FACILITY
THAT THEY NEED TO HOUSE THEIR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY'VE ASKED FOR IT.
WHY CAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABLE'S
REQUEST TO DO THAT NOT BE
HONORED?
>> GETTING THAT PIECE A LITTLE
BIT, THESE FIVE REGIONAL
JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
PROPOSED IN THIS PLAN.
>> YES.
THOSE FIVE.
MILWAUKEE COULD BE ONE, BUT WE
STILL WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, OF WHICH
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ASKED
FOR SINCE AT LEAST 2016 AND HAS
NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM THE
GOVERNOR.
I PUT IT IN A MOTION IN THE
BUDGET AND IT WAS NOT DONE.
I DO LIKE THE CONCEPT.
THIS IS THE SAME THING WE ASKED
FOR YEARS AGO DURING THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE WHEN WE FIRST SAID
ALSO THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER
PUTTING THE JUVENILE FACILITY
BACK IN DHS OR IN DCS.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THE GOVERNOR COULD DO
RIGHT AWAY TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE.
I DON'T BELIEVE PUTTING IT OFF
TO 2019 IS SOMETHING HE SHOULD
BE APPLAUDED FOR.
I THINK HE COULD GIVE MILWAUKEE
COUNTY AUTHORITY AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY HE COULD DO TRAINING
AND STAFFING TO BE ABLE TO HELP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE MOVE FROM STATE CAPITOL
POLITICS TO THE RACE FOR STATE
SUPREME COURT AND OUR SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATE TIM BURNS AND
CANDIDATE MICHAEL SCRENOCK HAVE
APPEARED IN RECENT PROGRAMS.
TONIGHT WE SPEAK WITH REBECCA
DALLET.
JUDGE DALLET HAS PRESIDED AS A
MILWAUKEE COUNTY JUDGE SINCE HER
ELECTION IN 2008.
SHE SPENT 11 YEARS AS AN
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
I SPOKE TO JUDGE DALLET EARLIER.
>> JUDGE DALLET, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELL, FIRST, OF COURSE, WE
JUST WANT TO ASK WHY ARE YOU
RUNNING FOR SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE?
>> I'M RUNNING FOR SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE, FREDERICA, BECAUSE OUR
RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, OUR
CIVIL RIGHTS.
EVERY DAY, TWEET BY TWEET.
OUR RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND
WATER, OUR RIGHT TO EQUAL
PROTECTION, WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
AND WE'VE GOT A BROKEN SUPREME
COURT.
AND WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEONE WITH
EXPERIENCE AND VALUES TO STAND
UP AND REPAIR THAT COURT.
I HAVE BEEN A JUDGE FOR A
DECADE, A PROSECUTOR FOR MORE
THAN A DECADE, REALLY FIGHTING
FOR OUR RIGHTS IN COURT.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT
FIGHT ON OUR SUPREME COURT.
>> WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU
WOULD BE THE BEST AMONG THE
CANDIDATES?
>> WELL, I REALLY DO THINK IT
COMES DOWN TO EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE BEEN, AS I SAID, A
PROSECUTOR.
I PROSECUTED SEXUAL PREDATOR
CASES IN TWO COUNTIES.
AND NOW AS A JUDGE FOR ALMOST A
DECADE, I HAVE HEARD 10,000
CASES, 230 JURY TRIALS,
EXPERIENCE THAT IS REALLY
UNPARALLELED BETWEEN ME AND MY
OPPONENTS.
AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
I HEAR THE DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES
WISCONSINITES FACE.
I SEE MOMS LIKE ME STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET, YET STILL LOSING
THEIR HOUSES.
I SEE COMMUNITIES RAVAGED BY OUR
OPIOID CRISIS, BY GUN VIOLENCE.
AND I SEE OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE
TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE RIGHT
TRACK, YET TRAPPED IN A CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS SOME
REFORM.
AND THIS KIND OF EXPERIENCE
MATTERS.
THIS IS EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS
IN TERMS OF PROTECTING OUR
VALUES AND IN TERMS OF ADVANCING
POLICIES THAT WILL LEVEL THE
PLAYING FIELD.
>> NOW, JUDGE SCRENOCK SAYS THAT
THE ROLE OF THE HIGH COURT IS TO
INTERPRET AND APPLY THE LAW AND
NOT TO, QUOTE, LEGISLATE FROM
THE BENCH.
HE TELLS ME THAT YOU DO NOT
SHARE THAT VIEW.
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW, YOUR
SO-CALLED JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY?
ONE OF ACTIVISM TO ENACT SOCIAL
OR POLITICAL CHANGE OR ONE OF
RESTRAINT?
>> WELL, THE JOB OF A JUDGE, AS
I DO IT EVERY DAY, IS TO APPLY
THE LAW, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
LAW INVOLVES OUR CONSTITUTION
AND ALSO INVOLVES THE RIGHTS
THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT AND THE
RIGHTS THAT MAKE WISCONSIN GREAT
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I
HOLD DEAR AND WILL PROTECT, AS I
HAVE, FOR MY SERVICE IN OUR
COURTS.
>> WELL, IS THAT LEGISLATING
FROM THE BENCH, AS JUDGE
SCRENOCK WOULD SUGGEST?
>> WELL, WE HAVE OUR ROLES AS
JUDGES.
WE ARE NOT A LEGISLATURE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO
UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF BOTH
THE UNITED STATES AND WISCONSIN.
AND WHEN THAT CONSTITUTION HAS
BEEN VIOLATED, THAT'S WHEN WE
ARE A CHECK ON THOSE
LEGISLATORS.
>> AND SO WHAT'S YOUR REACTION
TO JUDGE SCRENOCK SAYING THAT
YOU DO NOT SHARE HIS VIEW OF
THIS JUST INTERPRETING AND
APPLYING THE LAW AS WRITTEN?
>> WELL, MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS
THAT I -- AGAIN, I GO BACK TO
THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE HAD
EVERY DAY IN OUR COURTS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A JUDGE
FOR ALMOST A DECADE, WHICH IS A
VERY LONG TIME, MUCH LONGER THAN
MY ONE OPPONENT WHO IS NOT A
JUDGE AND JUDGE SCRENOCK, AND
REALLY I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE
EVERY DAY TO LOOK AT THE FACTS,
TO APPLY THE LAW AND TO REACH
DECISIONS THAT ARE FAIR AND JUST
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYONE
IN OUR STATE.
>> NOW, ANOTHER OF YOUR
CHALLENGERS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT
OPENLY BRINGS HIS PROGRESSIVE
POLITICS TO THE RACE AND SAYS
THAT IT IS A FAIRYTALE THAT
WISCONSIN JUSTICES ARE
APOLITICAL.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> I GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT
THE TWO THINGS THAT MATTER IN
THIS RACE ARE VALUES AND
EXPERIENCE.
AND I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT
HAS BOTH OF THOSE.
THE VALUES THAT WE NEED TO
PROTECT THE THINGS WE HOLD DEAR,
THE THINGS WE -- THAT WE CARE
ABOUT THAT MAKE OUR STATE GREAT
AND THE EXPERIENCE TO ACTUALLY
STAND UP AND PROTECT THOSE
RIGHTS.
>> WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON
WHETHER WISCONSIN JUSTICES
SHOULD HAVE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES
FROM CASES INVOLVING THOSE WHO
GIVE THEM MONEY DURING
CAMPAIGNS?
>> I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE
NEED A STRONG RECUSAL RULE IN
OUR STATE.
WE NEED TO BE CONFIDENT IN OUR
COURTS.
THE FACT THAT MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON BUYING A
JUSTICE OR JUSTICE IN THE PAST
OR JUSTICES TO THEN NOT RECUSE
THEMSELVES WHEN THAT MONEY WAS
SITTING IN FRONT OF THEM AS A
PARTY IN THE CASE, THAT IS A
SYMPTOM OF A BROKEN SYSTEM.
AND I FEEL STRONGLY WE SHOULD
HAVE A RECUSAL RULE IN THE
STATE.
>> SO EVEN THOUGH UNDER CURRENT
RULES YOU WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED
TO RECUSE, WOULD YOU IN THOSE
CASES IF SOMEONE CAME BEFORE YOU
THAT HAD CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR
CAMPAIGN?
>> WHERE THERE ARE MASSIVE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY SPENT ON A
CANDIDATE, ABSOLUTELY THERE
SHOULD BE RECUSAL OF THAT
CANDIDATE TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR
COURTS ARE FAIR AND PLACES WHERE
PEOPLE CAN GET JUSTICE.
>> SO INTL INTERESTINGLY YOU SAID
WHEN THERE ARE MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF MONEY, WHICH OF COURSE
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY IN
THESE COURT CAMPAIGNS, BUT
WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF THAT
FOR YOU?
>> WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE A
HEARING.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE NEED
TO DO.
AND THERE WAS A PETITION PUT
FORWARD BY JUDGES TO HAVE A
HEARING IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME
COURT TO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT
THAT MEANS, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
ASKING.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING A HEARING,
THE SUPREME COURT REFUSED TO
HAVE A HEARING AND THEN THE
SUPREME COURT PUT THOSE HEARINGS
IN SECRET AND NOW THOSE
HEARINGS, THOSE RULE HEARINGS
THAT USED TO BE PUBLIC ARE NO
LONGER PUBLIC.
SO WE'VE GOT TO START BY HAVING
A HEARING.
LET'S HAVE INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CARE.
>> VERY QUICKLY, LASTLY, WHICH
SITTING WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
>> ANN WALSH-BRADLEY, HER
ABILITY TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE
COURTS FAIR AND JUST IN
UPHOLDING THE LAW.
AND I ADMIRE HER.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD AS WELL I'VE
GOTTEN GREAT SUPPORT FROM JUDGES
ACROSS THE STATE, OVER 175 AT
THIS POINT, AND I THINK THAT
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS
HIGHLY TO MY BEING THE MOST
QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR THE
STATE SUPREME COURT RACE IS
FEBRUARY 20.
A JANUARY 19 DEADLINE MAY FORCE
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS --
>> AND OTHER CRITICAL FUNCTIONS
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT ALSO REMAINS IMPORTANT THAT
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DO NOT HOLD
FUNDING FOR OUR TROOPS HOSTAGE
FOR IMMIGRATION POLICY.
FOR HIS PART IN MADISON THIS
WEEK, DEMOCRATIC U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN
EXPRESSED HIS DISMAY OVER THE
PROCESS AND ITS PROSPECTS.
>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REAL WORK
TO DO.
THEY'VE STILL ALLOWED THE KEY
PARTY TO HAVE THE KEYS TO THEIR
SHRINER CAR THEY'RE DRIVING
AROUND.
THEY'RE TRYING TO FUND DEFENSE
SPENDING.
WE'RE GOT GOING TO GO FOR THAT
AS DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY'RE
GOING TO TRASH BENEFITS IN
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> THE U.S. HOUSE RETURNS FOR
ITS SESSION NEXT WEEK.
BOMB CYCLONE, POLAR VORTEX.
IT IS FREAKING FREEZING OUTSIDE.
TONIGHT WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS DEEP
FREEZE.
U.W. MADISON PROFESSOR JONATHAN
MARTIN IS HERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> SO EXACTLY WHAT IS A BOMB
CYCLONE?
>> IT IS SORT OF A NERDY WORD
THAT WAS COINED MAYBE 0 40 OR SO
YEARS AGO.
IT GOT TO BE IN GENERAL PARLANCE
AROUND 1980 TO EXPLAIN OR
DESCRIBE CYCLONES, MID LATITUDE
STORMS, THAT DEVELOP REALLY
RAPIDLY.
A BOMB STORM IS ONE WHERE THE
SEA LEVEL PRESSURE DROPS THROUGH
THE FLOOR AT A RAPID RATE, 24
MILLIBARS IN ONE DAY.
>> HOW UNUSUAL IS IT?
>> WE PROBABLY GET ABOUT TWO
DOZEN OF THOSE RAPID STORMS
AROUND THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
EACH WINTER.
SO THEY'RE NOT THAT UNUSUAL.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
ON THE EAST COAST?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
THIS WAS EXTREME IN HOW FAST IT
DEVELOPED.
IT MAYBE IS ONE IN FIVE TYPES OF
STORM IN WINTER.
>> AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE
FOLLOWED BY A POLAR VORTEX.
>> BY VERY COLD AIR.
POLAR VORTEX GOT INTO THE
LEXICON AS A RESULT OF A COLD
WINTER.
IT'S A METEOROLOGICAL TERM THAT
DESCRIBES THE TENDENCY FOR
CIRCULATION AROUND THE POLE AT
VERY HIGH ALTITUDES.
SO POLAR VORTEX NOW SEEMS TO
MEAN COLD AIR.
ON THE WEST SIDE OF SUCH AN
INTENSE CYCLONE, YOU CAN'T HELP
YOU ABOUT DRAG COLDER AIR FROM
HIGHER LATITUDES DOWN SOUTH
WARD.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE IN RIGHT
NOW?
>> EXACTLY.
>> ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE IN IT
FOR A WHILE?
>> FEW MORE DAYS I THINK.
THE EXTREME MAKING UP EVERY
MORNING TO BELOW ZERO
TEMPERATURES.
THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL WHETHER
WE'LL SEE IT AGAIN THIS WINTER,
BUT WE MAY.
>> WHY IS IT HAPPENING?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IT'S THE KIND OF QUESTION THAT
GETS ANSWERED IN RESEARCH AFTER
THE EVENT OCCURS.
I'M CURRENTLY THINKING ABOUT
ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.
ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS TO GET US
REALLY COLD IS A HIGH AMPLITUDE
FLOW AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING
THE JET STREAM.
THAT'S ABOUT SIX MILES ABOVE THE
GROUND.
THAT OCCURS EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE DURING THE COLD SEASON,
BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU
CAN SEE COMING 20 DAYS IN
ADVANCE.
WE DID KNOW THIS COLD SNAP WAS
COUPLINGCOMING AROUND CHRISTMASTIME.
BUT LONGER THAN THAT IS A
DIFFICULT TASK.
>> DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE?
>> MY VIEW ON THAT IS I'M RATHER
SKEPTICAL THAT INDIVIDUAL COLD
SNAPS LIKE THIS ONE ARE DIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE BROAD BACKGROUND
WARMING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND
THE PLANET.
AND THIS IS A DIFFICULT SUBJECT
TO SORT OF BROACH IN SOME WAYS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT SUCH A
THING IS OCCURRING.
THE PLANET IS WARMING UP AT A
VERY SLOW BUT STEADY RATE AND
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SEE THAT.
WHOO IT'S COLDWHOO IT'SWHEN OR NOT IT'S COLD IN YOUR
BACKYARD IS NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO
THAT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
>> AS THE GLOBE HEATS UP, WE
EXPERIENCE THESE KIND OF THINGS
LIKE POLAR VORTEXES.
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THEORIES
OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
DEBATING IT, THE COMMUNITY OF
SCIENTISTS I'M INVOLVED IN IS
DEBATING THIS.
THERE ARE SOMETIMES PRETTY
STRONG OPINIONS OUT THERE ON
SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
BUT ONE THING THAT MAY OCCUR
WHEN THE PLANET WARMS UP, ICE
GETS THICKER AND WEAKER.
THAT MIGHT ADD EXTRA WARMING TO
THE LOWER PART OF THE ATMOSPHERE
IN LATE FALL, EARLY WINTER THAT
WASN'T THERE 50 OR 100 YEARS
AGO.
THAT MIGHT HAVE A TENDENCY TO
INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF SOME
OF THESE HIGH AMPLITUDE FLOWS.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, BECAUSE IT
STILL GETS COLD AT THE NORTH
POLE.
THE SUN IS DOWN FOR SIX MONTHS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO PRODUCE
COLD AIR UP THERE.
IF YOU CAN TAP IT WITH ONE OF
THESE EXCURSIONS FORWARD WITH
THE JET STREAM AND DRAG IT
SOUTHWARD WITH GREATER
FREQUENCY, THEN SOME MIGHT, ON A
WARMER PLANET, IF THE AMPLITUDE
IS INTENSIFIED BECAUSE OF THAT,
IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN WE MIGHT
HAVE A HIGHER FREQUENCY OF SOME
OF THESE COLD SNAPS.
BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL WHERE
THEY'RE GOING TO HIT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S UNUSUALLY WARM IN
RUSSIA.
OF COURSE IT'S FRIGID OVER OUR
PART OF THE WORLD.
>> JONATHAN MARTIN, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.
>> YOU BET.
THANK YOU.
>> THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S
DECISION TO COMBINE AND RELOCATE
TWO DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
LOCATION IN MADISON HAS SPARKED
A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT
ON THE CITY'S PART.
IN TONIGHT'S INSIDE LOOK, WHY
THE DMV MOVE HAS PROMPTED THE
COMPLAINT, WHICH STATES, THE
DECISION TO COMBINE AND MOVE THE
WEST SIDE DMV SERVICE CENTERS TO
AN AREA THAT IS RELATIVELY
INACCESSIBLE BY TRANSIT IMPACTS
RACIAL MINORITY RESIDENTS WHO
RELY ON TRANSIT TO REACH THE DMV
FOR SERVICES, INCLUDING, FOR
EXAMPLE, OBTAINING A DRIVER'S
LICENSE FOR THE FIRST TIME OR
OBTAINING A VOTER ID.
THE CURRENT DMV MAIN LOCATION IS
LOCATED ON A BUSY BUS ROUTE AS
IS A RENEWAL LOCATION.
BOTH ARE TO BE COMBINED FARTHER
OUT, LESS ACCESSIBLE BY BUS.
HERE'S WHAT MADISON MAYOR PAUL
SOGLIN HAD TO SAY.
>> WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WILL RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE OF
OUR STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND WILL STEP IN
AND ORDER CHANGES TO BE MADE SO
THAT WHETHER IT IS GETTING
IDENTIFICATION, WHETHER IT IS
GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR A
LICENSE PLATE, WE WILL SEE TO IT
THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY CAN UTILIZE GOVERNMENT
SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY PAY.
>> THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTES VOTERS
ALSO SPOKE OUT.
PRESIDENT OF THE DANE COUNTY
LEAGUE BROOK SOLTVEDT JOINS US
NEXT.
FIRST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OFFERED THIS
STATEMENT IN DECLINING OUR
INVITATION TO APPEAR.
QUOTE, THE MADISON WEST DMV
CENTER IS A NEW, MORE SPACIOUS
LOCATION.
CUSTOMERS OF THE LOCATION WILL
BE SERVED BY BUS ROUTES, MADISON
METRO ROUTE 15 AND # 53.
CUSTOMERS HAVE MULTIPLE BUS
OPTIONS TO ACCESS DMV OFFICES.
NOW TO BROOK SOLTVEDT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> DESCRIBE WHY PEOPLE TAKING
THE BUS WILL HAVE PROBLEMS
ACCESSING THAT NEW LOCATION?
BECAUSE, AS WE JUST HEARD FROM
THE DOT, THEY SAY THERE ARE TWO
ROUTES THAT SERVE IT.
>> NOT THAT IT IS UTTERLY
INACCESSIBLE, BUT FROM MOST
LOCATIONS THE TIME THAT IT WOULD
TAKE YOU TO GET TO THIS NEW
LOCATION WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED AND VERY OFTEN
INCLUDES A LENGTHY DISTANCE THAT
WOULD HAVE TO BE WALKED.
THE BUSIEST BUS ROUTE OR MOST
DIRECT BUS ROUTE ONLY OPERATES
DURING THE PEAK HOURS, SO THAT
IF YOU COULD GET THERE EARLY IN
THE MORNING, YOU MIGHT NOT
TRANSACT YOUR BUSINESS IN TIME
TO TAKE THAT SHORT ROUTE BACK.
SAME AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> WHY WAS A COMPLAINT FILED
WITH THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS?
DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH FEDERAL
FUNDING COMING INTO WISCONSIN?
>> IT DOES.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS THE
FEDERAL AT THE PRESENT DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION THAT CAN CONTROL
WHAT THE STATE DOES.
>> NOW, THE COMPLAINT STATES
THAT IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THE
DOT INTENTIONALLY CHOSE A LESS
TRANSIT-FRIENDLY LOCATION.
WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
I DON'T WANT TO IMPUGN ANYBODY'S
MOTIVES ON THIS.
BUT OUR CONCERN IS THAT VERY
OFTEN THE STATE IN MAKING
DECISIONS DOESN'T CONSIDER THE
IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR
LESS WELL-SITUATED CITIZENS.
>> DID THIS RELOCATION SURPRISE
YOU AND OTHERS?
>> I LEARNED ABOUT IT IN
AUGUST WHEN I READ ABOUT IT IN
THE STATE JOURNAL AND THAT'S
WHEN OUR LEAGUE STARTED
ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW WOULD BE
IMPACTED.
>> AND HAVE YOU HEARD FROM
CUSTOMERS WHO USE THESE DMV
LOCATIONS?
>> NO, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK
IT'S BEEN REALLY ALL THAT
WELL-ADVERTISED.
UNTIL RECENTLY THERE WAS NOTHING
ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UNLESS YOU HAPPENED TO SEE THAT
ARTICLE IN THE PAPER THIS
SUMMER, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY HAD
NO IDEA IT WAS COMING.
>> AND SO WHEN YOU LEARNED OF IT
IN AUGUST AND BEGAN ADVOCATING
AND KIND OF GOT MORE INVOLVED,
WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION
TO THAT RELOCATION?
>> THE VERY FIRST THING I
THOUGHT OF WAS WHAT ABOUT ALL
THE PEOPLE WE KNOW NEED TO GET
TO DMV FOR ID.
ONE THING ABOUT VOTER ID, IT'S
ONE OF THE MOST STRINGENT IN THE
COUNTRY.
THERE ARE VERY FEW IDs THAT A
CITIZEN CAN USE TO VOTE.
ALMOST ALL REQUIRE GOING TO THE
DMV.
IT EQUATES YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE
WITH THE ABILITY TO GET TO A
DMV.
SO WHEN YOU THEN MAKE GETTING TO
THE DMV MORE INACCESSIBLE TO THE
VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- ARE
LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE A DRIVER
LICENSE OR VOTER ID OR WISCONSIN
ID CARD, IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY
PRELIMINARY REACTION TO YOUR
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE FEDS
CONCERNING THIS COMPLAINT?
>> IT WAS JUST FILED TWO DAYS
AGO, SO AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE'S
BEEN NO RESPONSE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
THERE'S ANY KIND OF PRECEDENT
FOR THIS KIND OF COMPLAINT
CALLING FOR STATES OR THE FEDS
TO KIND OF NOT MAKE THESE
RELOCATIONS?
>> YES.
IN ALABAMA IN FACT, I BELIEVE IT
WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MAYBE
2015, ALABAMA SET ABOUT -- AFTER
PASSING A VERY STRINGENT VOTER
ID YOU LAW, WENT ABOUT CLOSING
ALL THE DMV OFFICES IN THE
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COUNTIES.
BUT THEY LEFT THEM IN THE
PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COUNTIES.
AND A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT WAS
FILED AND THEY WERE FORCED TO
REOPEN DMV FACILITIES.
>> IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THERE
WILL BE KIND OF A DIFFERENT
REACTION UNDER A DIFFERENT
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION?
>> I CAN'T SAY THAT.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> AND SO THE BEST OUTCOME IN
YOUR MIND WOULD BE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DMV
OPEN ANOTHER SERVICE OFFICE
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY ON
ON ODANA ROAD THAT WOULD BE OPEN
MORE ACCESSIBLE HOURS AS THAT
ONE IS.
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE NOT
ADDRESSED IN THIS COMPLAINT, IS
THAT THAT ODANA ROAD OFFICE HAS
LATER HOURS IN THE EVENING AND
IS OPEN MOST OF THE DAY ON
SATURDAY.
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE
ACCESSIBLE TO VOTERS,
LOW-INCOME, RACIAL MINORITY,
TRANSIT-DEPENDENT VOTERS, TO BE
ABLE TO GET SERVICES, INCLUDING
VOTER ID.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BROOK SOLTVEDT, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
INTEREST.
>> THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISC