>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS GOVERNOR TONY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERS
A VIRTUAL STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS WHEN COVID MOVES FROM
THE DISEE ASSEMBLY TO THE CHANNEL
WHERE MEMBERS OF THE LOWER HOUSE
ARE FRUSTRATED.
MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL
WINDOWS BOARDED UP AFTER THREATS
OF RIOTING.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," DEVIN
LEMAHIEU EXPLAINS CHANGES TO THE
COVID BILL SENT OVER BY THE
ASSEMBLY.
WILL EXTREME TRUMP SUPPORTERS
CAUSE TROUBLE THIS WEEKEND AT
THE STATE CAPITOL.
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
IS HERE TELLING WHY ENFORCEMENT
IS TAKING THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE
SERIOUSLY.
WISCONSIN NEEDS FOR VACCINES.
HOW WILL THE STATE GET IT?
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY
15.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF WBS PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FROM OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
TO OUR STUDENTS, WISCONSINITES
HAVE BEEN STRETCHED TO THE
LIMIT, MAKING SACRIFICES FOR
NEIGHBORS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES
AND SO MANY ARE TIRED.
OUR EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THIS
VIRUS WERE MET WITH COSTLY
LITIGATION AND RESISTANCE NEARLY
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS FROM HIS
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
THE GOVERNOR ISN'T THE ONLY ONE
AT THE CAPITOL FEELING THE
RESISTANCE TO COVID LEGISLATION.
THE BILL PASSED LAST WEEK BY THE
ASSEMBLY GOT A FACE LIFT IN THE
SENATE THIS WEEK, CHANGES SEEN
BY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AS MORE
FAVORABLE TO THE GOVERNOR THAN
TO ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS.
>> LAST YEAR, WE SPENT TIME
NEGOTIATING WITH GOVERNOR EVERS.
WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO
FIND COMMON GROUND.
IT SEEMS UNFORTUNATELY SOME
WOULD THINK THE ONLY WAY TO FIND
COMMON GROUND IS TO CAVE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DEMANDS.
WE WILL WORK TO REACH A CON
CONSENSUS AS EQUALS, BUT WE WILL
NEVER COMPROMISE OUR POLITICAL
IDEAS IN THE NAME OF POLITICAL
EXPEDIENCY.
>> WHILE THE SPEAKER MAY HAVE
BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH CHANGES TO
THE COVID BILL, THOSE CHANGES
GARNERED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WITH
ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE
REPUBLICAN VOTING AGAINST THE
SENATE VERSION.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CALLED IT A
GOOD START.
THE SENATE BILL STRIPPED SEVERAL
ITEMS FROM THE ASSEMBLY VERSION,
INCLUDING LIMITATIONS ON LOCAL
HEALTH OFFICIALS' AUTHORITY TO
DETERMINE COVID-RELATED PUBLIC
HEALTH GUIDELINES.
IT TOOK OUT LIMITS ON SCHOOLS'
ABILITY TO RUN VIRTUAL
INSTRUCTION.
THE SENATE BILL WOULD NOT BAR
GETTING A VACCINE AS A CONDITION
OF EMPLOYMENT.
OR GIVING THE STATE LEGISLATURE
OF COVID-RELATED MONEY.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S IN BOTH
VERSIONS IS A LIABILITY SHIELD
FOR BUSINESSES AGAINST COVID
LAWSUITS.
WHY THE DEPARTURE FROM THE
ASSEMBLY VERSION OF THE
LONG-AWAITED COVID RELIEF
PACKAGE?
WE TAKE THAT QUESTION TO THE NEW
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, DEVIN
LEMAHIEU, WHO JOINS US FROM
OOSTBURG AND THANKS FOR DOING
SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
THE GOAL ALL ALONG WITH THE
SPEAKER, MYSELF AND THE GOVERNOR
EVEN BACK IN DECEMBER WAS TO GET
A BILL THAT WE COULD GET PASSED
TO MAKE IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE
SENATE.
WE FOUND A PATH FORWARD TO MAKE
SURE THE STATE CAN STILL BEYOND
TO THE COVID PANDEMIC CRISIS
THAT'S GOING ON AND MAKE SURE
THERE'S PROTECTIONS NOT JUST FOR
BUSINESSES, BUT FOR CHURCHES,
NONPROFITS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MAIN STREET
BUSINESSES.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THAT
LIABILITY SO THAT THESE ENTITIES
CAN OPERATE AS THEY CURRENTLY
ARE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF
FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS.
>> SO YOU WANTED TO GET
SOMETHING DONE.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU,
NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNOR TO
LEARN WHAT HE WILL SIGN INTO LAW
OR NEGOTIATING WITH ASSEMBLY
REPUBLICANS TO MAKE SURE THE
LEGISLATURE IS ALL ON THE SAME
PAGE?
>> I THINK BOTH THOSE AREAS ARE
IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE
ASSEMBLY.
THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO GET DONE
THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY VETO.
SOME OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE
TAKEN OUT, WE HAVE A STAND-ALONE
BILL.
HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN
THEM.
THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS GOING
FORWARD WHEN WHERE THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE
GOVERNOR WE'RE GOING TO WORK
WITH THE GOVERNOR AND GET THINGS
DONE FOR THE STATE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO WORK WITH THE
SPEAKER TO MAKE SURE WE ADVANCE
CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION.
>> WHO'S GOING TO DRIVE THE BUS
ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, YOU OR
SPEAKER VOS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, MY -- I OBVIOUSLY HAVE
KNOWN THE SPEAKER FOR SIX YEARS.
IT'S A NEW ROLE FOR ME.
SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE SPEAKER TO FIND WAYS WHERE
WE CAN DRAFT AND GET GOOD
LEGISLATION DURING THE PROCESS.
>> ON THIS, THE FBI HAS WARNED
OF ATTACKS, AS YOU KNOW, PRY -- BY
PRO-TRUMP CONSERVATIVES OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS.
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
THAT HAPPENING HERE?
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN
PRIVY TO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION
AS TO WHY THEY ARE PUTTING UP
BARRIERS AND BOARDING UP
WINDOWS.
THERE'S ABOUT SOME TWITTER
CHATTER ABOUT SOME
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT MAY GO ON IN
ALL 50 CAPITOLS.
WE CONDEMN VIOLENCE AS A SENATE
GOP CAUCUS A WEEK AGO, SAYING
VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM, IN MADISON
LAST SUMMER, IN KENOSHA LAST
FALL, IN THE CAPITOL JUST LAST
WEEK, IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO
PEACEFULLY PROTEST IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT.
BUT VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE
ANSWER.
IT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED.
>> IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH OF THE
ANGER FROM THESE
INSURRECTIONISTS IS RELATED TO
MISINFORMATION REPEATED BY
DONALD TRUMP AND MANY
REPUBLICANS ABOUT HOW THE
ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
DO YOU BELIEVE WISCONSIN'S
ELECTIONS WERE LEGITIMATE?
>> THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THAT
ALL PROCESS ONS WERE PROCESSES WERE IN PLACE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TO A MAKE SURE THE ELECTION
COMMISSION ISN'T PROVIDING
GUIDANCE TO CONTRARY TO LAW.
THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THAT HE
WON AND JUST THERE'S A LOT OF
CLOSE STATES, BUT WE LIVE UNDER
A NATION OF LAWS AND WE NEED TO
FOLLOW THOSE LAWS.
>> AND SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU
BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTIONS WERE
FAIR AND THAT THE ALLEGATIONS OF
FRAUD HAVE BEEN RIGHTLY DEBUNKED
DEBUNKED?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A --
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER STATES.
BUT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT
PARTS OF STATE LAW WERE -- SUCH
AS HARVESTING BALLOTS IN THE
PARK WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND
WISCONSIN ELECTION LAW.
>> THAT WAS NOT SO DETERMINED.
BUT I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU THIS.
WILL YOU TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS
TRUTH WHEN IT COMES TO OUR
ELECTIONS, THAT JOE BIDEN DID
WIN AND HE WILL BE THE NEXT
PRESIDENT?
>> JOE BIDEN WILL BE OUR NEXT
PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR LA MESA, THANK YOU AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON WEDNESDAY, ONE WEEK TO THE
DAY AFTER TRUMP SUPPORTERS
STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL AND
KILLED A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER,
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
VOTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT
TRUMP, THE.
IT CAME WITH TEN REPUBLICAN
VOTES IN FAVOR.
WISCONSIN MEMBERS VOTED ALONG
PARTY LINES.
>> THE U.S. CAPITOL HAS NOT BEEN
BREACHED FOR OVER 200 YEARS,
SINCE THE WAR OF 1812, THAT IS
UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT WASN'T
ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT ATTACKED
US, BUT OUR OWN PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ASKED HIS
SUPPORTERS TO MARCH ON THE
CAPITOL, INCITING TERRORISM THAT
COST FIVE LIVES.
>> I RISE TO OBJECT TO THE
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, WHICH
MAKE THE CLAIM THAT HE WANTED OR
EXPECTED THE RIOTS THAT TOOK
PLACE LAST WEEK.
HE CLEARLY SAID HE WANTED
PEACEFUL AND PATRIOTIC
DEMONSTRATION.
HE DID SAY HE WANTED PEOPLE TO
FIGHT LIKE HEL ORL OR WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE,
BUT THAT WAS MEANT AS PHYSICAL
FIGHTS.
>> WE HAVE SEEN JUST HOW FAST
THEY CAN MOVE WHEN THEY WANT TO
EXACT POLITICAL RETRIBUTION.
MY FRIENDS NOW HAVE COMPLETE
CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF
CONGRESS AND IN A FEW DAYS THEY
WILL CONTROL THE ENTIRE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL.
MADAM SPEAKER, JOE BIDEN HAS
TALKED ABOUT UNITY AND HEALING.
IS THAT WHAT THIS IS TODAY?
>> WOW, PEOPLE DIED.
HE WATCHED WITH GLEE.
THAT IS WHY EVEN THOUGH IT'S
ONLY SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE END
OF HIS TERM, WE HAVE THE FIERCE
URGENCY OF NOW.
SEVEN DAYS IS TOO LONG FOR HIM
TO BE IN POWER.
>> THE VIOLENCE IN OUR NATION'S
CAPITOL AND FBI REPORTS OF
POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON STATE AND
FEDERAL BUILDINGS AROUND THE
COUNTRY LED GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
TO CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD TO
PROTECT THE STATE CAPITOL OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
HE ALSO ORDERED GROUND FLOOR
WINDOWS AT THE CAPITOL BOARDED
UP AGAINST THE THREAT OF
VIOLENCE.
THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT IN DANE COUNTY SAYS
PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THE
POSSIBILITY OF THIS KIND OF
ATTACK SERIOUSLY.
CHARLES TUBBS IS ALSO AN
INSTRUCTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE FORMER
CHIEF OF THE WISCONSIN STATE
CAPITOL POLICE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO THE FBI TODAY SAID THAT
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE AT STATE
CAPITOL BUILDINGS WHERE RALLIES,
THEY SAY, MIGHT BRISK IN ARMED
PROTESTORS.
WHAT IS THE LATEST THAT YOU CAN
TELL US FROM HERE IN WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, WE'RE TAKING THE
THREATS VERY SERIOUS AND
PLANNING FOR THE ABSOLUTE WORST,
PRAYING FOR THE BEST, WHILE AT
THE SAME TIME WE'RE PREPARING
OURSELVES TO DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION AT HAND AND TRY TO
REDUCE ANY TYPE OF INJURIES OR
PROPERTY DAMAGE OR ANY
SITUATIONS OF THAT NATURE.
AT THIS TIME WE CURRENTLY HAVE
THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN
SHARED BY THE FBI AND HAS BEEN
LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WITH
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND OTHER
PEOPLE INVOLVED.
AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT HAVE A
SPECIFIC THREAT ON A SPECIFIC
LOCATION OTHER THAN THE STATE
CAPITOLS.
BUT WE'RE TAKING THE POSITION
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THE
ENTIRE DANE COUNTY AREA AND NOT
ONLY PROTECT THE ENTIRE DANE
COUNTY AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE
STATE.
>> WOW.
WELL, I KNOW THAT SOME RALLIES
ARE PLANNED FOR SUNDAY, KIND OF
MIDDAY.
THERE IS A RALLY FOR JACOB BLAKE
AND THEN THERE IS A RALLY OF
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND THEY KIND
OF INTERSECT IN THEIR TIMES.
AND SO HOW WELL FORTIFIED ARE
POTENTIAL TARGET SITES LIKE THE
CAPITOL IN MADISON, IF YOU CAN
TELL US?
>> WELL, THE CAPITOL, YOU KNOW,
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY
6 WHERE THERE WAS NO RESPECT, NO
REGARD TAKEN FOR OUR UNITED
STATES CAPITOL.
THAT SITUATION WE RECOGNIZE CAN
HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANY GIVEN
TIME.
SO WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM
AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS
AN ENTIRE COUNTY AND STATE
TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THIS IS A REAL INCIDENT THAT
COULD HAPPEN HERE AND WE'RE
GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
AVOID THAT FROM HAPPENING WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY SAFE IN DEALING
WITH THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
>> NOW, WISCONSIN HAS SEEN ONE
ARREST, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OF AN
EAU CLAIRE MAN FOR BEING INSIDE
THE U.S. CAPITOL LAST WEEK.
FROM WHAT YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE
EXPECT MORE ARRESTS?
>> I BELIEVE WITHOUT DIVULGING
ANY INFORMATION, I BELIEVE THERE
COULD BE ADDITIONAL ARRESTS
INVOLVING PEOPLE FROM WISCONSIN.
>> YOU HAVE DESCRIBED TO ME YOUR
VERY REAL CONCERN ABOUT
WISCONSIN'S HOME-GROWN KIND OF
DOMESTIC TERRORISTS OR
EXTREMISTS.
DESCRIBE THAT.
WHY?
>> BECAUSE WITH OUR HOME-GROWN
TERRORISTS HAS BEEN GROWING OVER
THE YEARS AND A RECENT REPORT,
AREA OF CONCERN.
I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SAW
RECENTLY ON CNN NEWS WHERE THEY
NAMED FIVE STATES AND WISCONSIN
WAS ONE OF THEM IN DEALING WITH
HOME-GROWN TERRORISTS AND
DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T
ALWAYS RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW
AND PLAY BY THE SAME RULES THAT
YOU AND I AND OTHERS WOULD PLAY
BY.
IT'S A REAL CONCERN BECAUSE AT
TIMES SOME OF THESE GROUPS HAVE
NO RESPECT AND WILL DO JUST
ABOUT ANYTHING TO PROVE THEIR
POINT AND CARRY OUT THEIR
MISSION WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY
THINK THEY ARE AND HOW THEY CAN
BE ABOVE THE LAW.
>> AND YET AUTHORITIES TRACK
THESE PEOPLE, I TRUST, KNOW WHO
THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE?
>> YES, THEY DO.
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH
THAT, AUTHORITIES DO A REALLY
GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO TRACK THEM
AND STAY ON TOP OF IT, BUT
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SMALL
GROUPS, SOMETIMES IT'S A ONE
LONER TYPE OF PERSON WHO
RESPONDS IN A VERY DESTRUCTIVE
WAY AND CAUSES GREAT BODILY HARM
AND DEATH TO PEOPLE.
SO IT'S A REALLY TOUGH THING TO
GET YOUR ARMS AROUND.
BUT IN THIS STATE WE'RE DOING
THE BEST AND A GREAT JOB OF
TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF WHAT'S
GOING ON.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VERY RECENT
MESSAGE CALLING FOR NO VIOLENCE
WILL HELP ANY OF THIS?
>> I THINK IT WILL HELP.
I REALLY DO.
SOMETIMES WHEN THE HORSE IS OUT
OF THE BARN, IT'S HARD TO PUT
THE HORSEBACK IN THE BARN.
BUT I'M PRAYING THAT HE HAS
TAKEN UP A BETTER ROAD, A HIGHER
ROAD, ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUES
THAT THE COUNTRY IS FACING RIGHT
NOW.
AND I'M PRAYING THAT PEOPLE WILL
LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY NOW
VERSUS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ON THE
6TH.
THAT APPEARED TO BE NOT VERY
POSITIVE AT ALL, WHAT TOOK A
PLACE ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY.
SO OUR HOPES AND PRAYERS IS THAT
PEOPLE WILL LISTEN AND PEOPLE
WILL FOLLOW THOSE DIRECTIONS.
>> I REALLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT A
HALF A MINUTE LEFT, BUT AS THE
FORMER CHIEF OF THE WISCONSIN
CAPITOL POLICE, I WANT TO ASK
YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU SAW WHAT
WAS HAPPENING AT THE U.S.
CAPITOL ON THE 6TH.
>> I WAS DEVASTATED,
DISAPPOINTED, HEART-BROKEN,
SADDENED.
I FELT SAWFUL.
I WAS WATCHING ON 9/11 WHEN THE
TERRORIST ATTACKS HAPPENED IN
THS COUNTRY AND I HAD SOME OF
THE SAME EMPTY FEELINGS, JUST
LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA, AND
HOPING WE COULD GET OUR ARMS
AROUND THIS AND SOLVE THAT
PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.
CHARLES TUBBS, THANK YOU AND
GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUR DIGITAL REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY WILL BE CLOSELY
MONITORING FALLOUT OF THE ATTACK
ON THE U.S. CAPITOL AS WELL AS
ANY THREATS OF VIOLENCE TO
PUBLIC BUILDINGS HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
YOU CAN FIND HIS REPORTING BY
GOING TO pbswisconsin.org AND
THEN CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.
NOW TO COVID-19 NEWS.
THIS WEEK ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN
VOS WROTE A LETTER TO GOVERNOR
EVERS DESCRIBING THE STATE
EFFORT TO SECURE AND DISTRIBUTE
VACCINE AS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.
NOT POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR THE
OFFICIALS NOW EMBARKED ON THE
MOST COMPLICATED PUBLIC HEALTH
EFFORT OF THEIR LIFETIMES.
WE GET THE LATEST ON THE STATE'S
VACCINE SUPPLY NOW FROM JULIE
WILLEMS VAN DIJK.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE
WORDS FROM SPEAKER VOS?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TAKEN
ON A HERCULEAN EFFORT AND WE
HAVE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE WHO
ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO
MOVE VACCINE QUICKLY AND GET IT
IN THE ARMS OF WISCONSINITES.
THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A
DELAY BETWEEN WHEN VACCINE IS
ALLOCATED, SHIPPED AND IN ARMS,
BUT WE ARE NOW OVER 200,000
VACCINES GIVEN AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO MARCH FORWARD IN
PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> IS IT TRUE THAT -- I MEAN, SO
YOU'VE GIVEN 200,000 VACCINES,
BUT ARE THERE ANOTHER 200,000
KIND OF WAITING HERE IN
WISCONSIN TO BE GIVEN?
>> WELL, THAT 200,000 NUMBER
REPRESENTS BOTH VACCINES THAT
ARE IN TRANSIT AND THAT ARE IN
INVENTORY.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER IN
ANY GIVEN WEEK, ABOUT HALF OF
THEM, ARE ACTUALLY THE VACCINES
THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING
SHIPPED.
SO YOU CAN'T GIVE A VACCINE
THAT'S STILL ON THE FEDEX TRUCK.
AND THE OTHER 100,000 ARE IN THE
INVENTORY TO BE DELIVERED IN A
WEEK.
SO PROPORTIONALLY THERE'S ALWAYS
GOING TO BE THESE VACCINES IN
TRANSIT.
BUT AS WE GO ON, IT WILL BE A
SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER ADMINISTERED.
>> ARE THERE ISSUES IN WISCONSIN
WITH GETTING THESE VACCINES OUT
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE?
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SAID WE
NEED MORE VACCINE FROM THE FEDS.
>> MM-HMM.
YES.
THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH
GETTING VACCINE OUT TO OUR
VACCINATEORS.
WE HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM MOVING
THAT FORWARD ALTHOUGH IT DOES
TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE, VACCINE
IS DELIVERED TO OUR REGIONAL
HUBS AND RE-DISTRIBUTED.
WE MADE OVER 156 DELIVERIES LAST
WEEK.
SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW
WEEKS.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, IF
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO 80% HERD
IMMUNITY BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS
YEAR, WE NEED OVER A MILLION
DOSES A MONTH TO DO THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT
RECEIVING HALF OF THAT.
WE'RE ONLY RECEIVING ABOUT
457,000 DOSES A MONTH.
SO WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE THE
VACCINE SUPPLY IF WE'RE GOING TO
ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STILL
IN THE FIRST PHASE WHERE HEALTH
CARE WORKERS AND THOSE IN
NURSING HOMES ARE BEING GIVEN
THE VACCINE.
IS WISCONSIN MICROMANAGING THE
VACCINE AS HAS BEEN CLAIMED?
>> I THINK WISCONSIN IS BEING
VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WE'RE
MANAGING THIS.
THERE'S OVER 550,000 PEOPLE IN
THAT FIRST PHASE, 185,000 PEOPLE
WHO HAVE HAD IT.
THERE'S MORE TO BE VACCINATED IN
THAT STAGE.
WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE CHAOS OF
HEALTH SYSTEMS, PHONE SYSTEMS
CRASHING BY OPENING UP TO
EVERYBODY AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH
SLOTS FOR APPOINTMENTS OR ENOUGH
VACCINE.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS IN A
METHODICAL WAY.
>> SO WITH THAT SAID, WHO'S NEXT
AND HOW WILL THEY KNOW THAT
THEY'RE NEXT IN LINE?
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE A PROPOSAL OPEN FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT
WILL BE OLDER ADULTS, POLICE AND
FIRE, EDUCATORS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE
IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS IS WHAT
IS ON THE TABLE AND I'M
CONFIDENT MUCH OF THAT WILL MOVE
FORWARD.
AND THEY'LL KNOW THROUGH A
VARIETY OF MECHANISMS.
THE MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE SET UP A NEW EMAIL PEOPLE
CAN SIGN UP FOR TO GET UPDATES
ON VACCINE.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT AS WE
IDENTIFY A GROUP, LIKE PEOPLE
OVER 65, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO
THEIR PATIENTS FOR SCHEDULING.
>> AWESOME.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK, WE
APPRECIATE T.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR
EVERS ANNOUNCED HE WAS DECLARING
ANOTHER EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDER
AND EXTENDING THE MASK MANDATE
FOR 60 DAYS, WHICH TAKES IT INTO
MARCH.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAVE EXPERIENCED A
HIGHER BURDEN OF COVID-19 CASES,
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
IN WISCONSIN, ONE CITY SAW THE
WARNING SIGNS EARLY AND
MOBILIZED TO ADDRESS THESE
INEQUITIES.
MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THIS
REPORT FROM MILWAUKEE.
>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT FROM
THIS.
WE ARE NOT.
>> COVID-19 IN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER HAS TOUCHED ALL OF OUR
LIVES.
BUT WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR HAVE SEEN A
DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGER IMPACT
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
>> I I THINK THERE WAS A
RECOGNITION EARLY ON THAT PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMATION, ACTUALLY
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH
INFORMATION, WASN'T GETTING OUT
TO COMMUNITIES COLOR AS
RAPIDLIMENT
>> THE ALARM OF THIS SOUNDED
EARLY IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THE FOCUS WAS ON ADDRESSING
THOSE DISPARITIES THAT OFTEN IN
THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEN HOW
THE MESSAGING WAS SENT TO ONE
PERSON IS GOING TO AFFECT HOW
IT'S SENT TO ANOTHER PERSON.
WE WERE MAKING SURE THAT THE
MESSAGING THAT WAS GOING OUT HAD
VERY SPECIFIC AIMS AT WHO IT WAS
TARGETED TOWARDS.
>> CENTERED AROUND A GRANT, IT
TURNED INTO A COLLABORATION
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MEDICAL
COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN AND OFFICE
ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
IT BECAME THE CREATIVE HEALTH
COLLECTIVE.
>> THE FIRST TIER WAS TO QUICKLY
ADAPT COMMUNICATION THAT HAD
ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE
CDC, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN FOR
POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITHIN
THE STATE, OR WITHIN MILWAUKEE,
SOUTHEAST ASIAN,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO AND
NATIVE AMERICAN.
>> THERE WAS A RECOGNITION THAT
MOST PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING IS
GENERALLY GEARED TOWARD A WHITE
AUDIENCE AND IT MATTERS NOT ONLY
WHAT THE MESSAGE IS, BUT WHO IT
COMES FROM.
>> IT MATTERS BECAUSE PEOPLE
TRUST WHO THEY TRUST.
AND YOU CAN'T FAKE THAT.
>> TO GAIN THAT TRUST, THE
COLLECTIVE TOOK THEIR WORK TWO
LAYERS DEEPER, ONE LAYER BEING
HIRING LOCAL ARTISTS AND
INFLUENCERS TO CREATE MEDIA FOR
THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
>> THIS IS REPRESENTED THROUGH
THE CHOICE OF SYMBOLISM,
IMAGERY, THE TRADITIONAL
PRACTICES THAT PEOPLE WOULD
RECOGNIZE BUT THAT WOULD ALSO
INVOKE A SENSE OF CULTURAL
PRIDE.
>> THE FINAL LAYER OF GAINING
TRUST WAS HIRING COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO
ALREADY KNEW THEIR COMMUNITY AND
COULD NOT ONLY DIRECTLY DELIVER
PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING, BUT
COULD DELIVER MASKS, HAND
SANITIZER, FOOD AND DIAPERS
DURING THE CRISIS.
>> WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS COME UP
WITH FOLKS WHO WERE UNDOCUMENTED
OR HAVE A COMPLEX SITUATION
DON'T WANT TO COME TO THE CITY
FOR HELP AND THAT HOUSEHOLD
MIGHT BE COVID POSITIVE AND
REALLY NEED THE HELP.
FRANKLY, NEED GROCERIES TO BE
ABLE TO SHELTER IN PLACE.
AND THEY WOULD TRUST A COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKER TO PROVIDE THAT.
>> THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
BROUGHT FORWARD THE REALITY OF
WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO FAMILIES
ON THE GROUND, MANY FORCED TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN HEALTH AND PAYING
THE BILLS.
>> THE COMPANY, SOMETIMES THEY
ARE DOING DON'T COME BACK.
PEOPLE ARE SCARED.
>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF
LOSING THEIR HOUSING, WORK TAKES
PRIORITY.
IF EMPLOYERS AREN'T ENFORCING
HEALTH GUIDELINES, COVID HAS A
BETTER CHANCE OF SPREADINGMENT
WHEN ONE FAMILY HAS MANY PEOPLE
LIVING IN ONE HOUSEHOLD, IF ONE
PERSON CATCHES COVID, EVERYONE
DOES.
PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWS HOW HOUSING,
FOOD INSECURITY, EVEN RACISM
IMPACTS A PERSON'S HEALTH.
>> THE NUMBERS HAVE TOLD THE
STORY OF THE IMPACT RACISM IS
HAVING THROUGH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
>> OFFICIALS ARE HELPING THE
LESSONS CAN BE USED FOR THE NEXT
PHASE, TRUSTING THE COVID-19
VACCINE.
>> IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS
BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS
DIFFERENT FROM AMERICAN INDIANS.
SO WE ALL HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL
NUANCES IN THE HEALTH FIELD.
>> COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT AROUND VACCINE
HESITANCY.
THESE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS OR
OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE
GOING TO HAVE WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF
THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS WE HAVE
IN ADDRESSING THAT.
>> DESPITE EXISTING GRASP,
THERE'S OPTIMISM IN THE
APPROACHES TAKEN BY THE
COLLECTIVE.
>> IN THIS PROJECT, IT'S A
PROJECT OF HOPE.
AND TO BE PART OF A PROJECT OF
HOPE THAT IMPACTS HUMAN BEINGS
ACROSS ALL ETHNIC GROUPS, IT IS
LIKE -- IT'S AMAZING.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTING FROM
MILWAUKEE.
>> IS THE MILWAUKEE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO EXPAND
THEIR CREATIVE HEALTH COLLECTIVE
ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.
AND 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 PBS
WISCONSIN.