>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
CHECK-IN WITH GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS AS WISCONSIN ENDURES
ANOTHER WEEK OF RECORD-SETTINGSETTING
COVID NUMBERS.
WHAT THOSE NUMBERS MEAN TO THE
WISCONSIN TAVERN LEAGUE AND TO
PATRONS HEADING TO THE BAR.
AND THE LATEST ON THE IMPACT OF
COVID-19 ON HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE.
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF DANE
COUNTIES HANDS OUT 15,000 MASKS
TO THOSE IN NEED.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW," JULY 17.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDE BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FOUR MORE YEARS?
>> VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
SPENT THE DAY CAMPAIGNING IN
WISCONSIN AT RIPON COLLEGE
FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO ONALASKA.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK
UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
HE PUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
AMERICA FIRST FROM THE VERY
EARLIEST DAYS.
HE SUSPENDED ALL TRAVEL FROM
CHINA, SET UP THE WHITE HOUSE
COVID-19 TASK FORCE.
>> IT HAPPENS THE SAME WEEK
MADISON AND MILWAUKEE STARTED
MANDATORY MASK ORDINANCES.
RESIDENTS NOT WEARING MASKS IN
INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES ARE SUBJECT
TO FINES.
ALL OF THIS AS WISCONSIN'S
POSITIVE COVID CASES CONTINUE TO
SPIKE AT A RECORD RATE.
>> THE DAILY CASE COUNTS THIS
WEEK HIT RECORD HIGHS RIDING
INTO THE 900s.
STATE EP EP DEEM EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAYING IT'S
BAD AND GETTING WORSE.
HERE'S WHAT SECRETARY HEALTH
DESIGNEE ANDREA PALM HAD TO SAY
ABOUT THE RISING NUMBERS.
>> THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT THE
RESULT OF MORE TESTING.
OUR PERCENT POSITIVE REMAINS
HIGH AND THESE NUMBERS ARE THE
RESULT OF SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY
SPREAD HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN
ON PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES AND
OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT MEANS STAYING HOME AND
LIMITING OUR TRIPS TO THE EE
SEVENTEEN
ESSENTIALS.
>> THAT WAS HEALTH
SECRETARY-DESIGNEE ANDREA PALM.
WE'RE JOINED NOW BY GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS FOR THE LATEST ON THE
PANDEMIC'S GRIP ON WISCONSIN.
GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, FRED REEK CAVMENT
>> FREDERICA.
>> WHAT WORDS DO YOU HAVE FOR
WISCONSIN AS WE EXPERIENCE A
RECORD SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES?
>> YEAH.
THE WORD ARE WE ARE NOT IN THE
BEST PLACE POSSIBLE, FRANKLY.
AS IT RELATES TO COVID-19.
WE'RE HAVING SOME SURGES AROUND
THE STATE.
AND THE TIME IS NOW.
THE TIME IS NOW.
YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS
MAKING PLANS FOR THIS FALL.
LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THE STATE.
AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO DRIVE
DOWN THOSE NUMBERS IS GOING TO
BE -- PAY OFF AND IT'S ABOUT
REAL SIMPLE STUFF.
IT'S ABOUT MASKS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE SOCIALLY DISTANT.
AVOID PLACES WHERE YOU'RE GOING
TO BE CRAMMED INTO A SMALL PLACE
WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE MASKS.
THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A REAL GOOD
THING TO DO.
SO IT'S THE SIMPLE STUFF THAT
WE'RE REALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
TO BE CAREFUL AT THIS POINT IN
TIME.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION.
>> HOW READY ARE YOU TO TRY TO
IMPOSE A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE
AS OTHER STATES HAVE NOW DONE?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE
REPUBLICANS AND THEIR ALLIES ON
THE SUPREME COURT DID WHAT THEY
DID, AND THE ABILITY FOR ME TO
DO THAT IS QUESTIONABLE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THAT,
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU
KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS, AT LEAST
PUBLICLY, HAVE SAID THEY HAVE NO
INTEREST IN THIS.
I KNOW JUST THIS LAST WEEK, THE
SENATE LEADER WAS TALKING THAT
UNDER NO WAY THAT WE'D DO THIS.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE GET -- WE GET THE
WORD OUT.
AND CERTAINLY THE CORPORATE
WORLD HAS STEPPED UP, WITH LOTS
OF RETAILING PLACES SAYING, HEY,
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AND WE'RE
ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE THAT GOT
MONEY FROM WEDC TO DO THAT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THAT
ANGLE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WHETHER WE DID AN ORDER OR NOT
AND WHETHER THAT ORDER WOULD BE
FOUND TO BE VALID OR NOT, IT'S
UP TO INDIVIDUALS TO DO THIS.
AND INDIVIDUALS REALLY NEED TO
STEP UP.
>> WE KNOW THAT MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE AND POTENTIALLY OTHER
DISTRICTS WILL START THE SCHOOL
YEAR VIRTUALLY.
HOW SAFE DO YOU THINK IT IS TO
REOPEN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES?
>> WELL, IN CERTAIN PLACES, I
CONSIDER THEM OPEN IF THEY'RE
OFFERING INSTRUCTION.
AND SO VIRTUAL OPENING IS OKAY
AS LONG AS THERE'S A PATHWAY
TOWARDS IN-PERSON.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT PATHWAY
THERE.
AND THERE WILL BE PLACES IN THE
STATE THAT -- IN THE K-12 WORLD
THAT IT'S GOING TO BE JUST FINE.
SO I KNOW IT'S INDIVIDUAL
DECISION-MAKING, BUT AT THIS
POINT IN TIME, I THINK THAT OUR
SCHOOLS AND OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB THINKING
THROUGH THIS.
>> WE LEARNED TODAY THE
POTAWATOMI CASINO WILL
PERMANENTLY LAY OFF MORE THAN
1,000 EMPLOYEES.
THERE ARE WORRIES ABOUT THE
EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND
UTILITY SHUT-OFFS AND EVICTIONS.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
>> WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT
THING. THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE
DESERVING OF UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS
ARE NOT GETTING THEM, THAT'S
JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD
TO DO THAT.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE WORKING WITH
THE PSC AND OTHERS TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW,
HAVING THEIR ELECTRICITY AND
UTILITIES TURNED OFF HAVE
OPTIONS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
THAT.
SO ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF THIS.
IT'S THE HUMAN, FRANKLY, CARNAGE
IN SOME RESPECTS THAT THIS VIRUS
HAD LAID AT OUR DOORSTEP.
WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND RESPOND
APPROPRIATELY.
>> YOU MET OVER THIS WEEK WITH
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE.
WHAT DID HE TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT
KIND OF FINANCIAL HELP MIGHT BE
COMING TO STATES AND WHEN?
>> WELL, HE INDICATED THAT THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHEN THEY
GO THROUGH THE NEXT GO-AROUND OF
CARES FUNDING, WOULD PROVIDE --
OR THEY'RE INTERESTED IN
PROVIDING SOME MONEY FOR
EDUCATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO DO WHAT
THEY NEED TO OPEN SAFELY.
AND THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S REEFLLY REALLY GOOD NEWS.
BUT, FRANKLY, WE ALSO NEED MONEY
FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES
AND THE MUNICIPALITIES, TOO.
THE REVENUE LOSS HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANT, AND IF THAT MONEY
ISN'T PROVIDED TUESDAY, IT'S
GOING TO HURT SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
IT'S GOING TO HURT
MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
THEM TO STEP UP.
AND I THINK SOMETHING WILL
HAPPEN, BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW,
IT'S PART OF THE WASHINGTON
POLITICS.
WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN?
>> GOVERNOR EVERS, WE NEED TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US
AGAIN.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> WISCONSIN BARS AND
RESTAURANTS CONTINUE TO BE AMONG
THE SMALL BUSINESSES STRUGGLING
TO SURVIVE IN THE FACE OF
COVID-19.
IN DANE COUNTY, AN EMERGENCY
ORDER DECLARED JULY 1 REDUCES
RESTAURANT CAPACITY TO 25% AND
CLOSES INDOOR SERVICE ALTOGETHER
AT BARS.
THE TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN
HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THESE
KINDS OF RESTRICTIONS.
CHRIS MARSICANO IS PRESIDENT OF
THE LEAGUE AND OPERATES THE
VILLAGE SUPPER CLUB IN DELAVAN.
SORRY.
HE JOINS US NOW.
CHRIS, THANKS A LOT FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE IN
PARTICULAR TO DANE COUNTY'S
RESTRICTIONS ON BARS, BASICALLY
PROHIBITING PEOPLE FROM BEING IN
THEM?
>> WELL, WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE
AND WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY,
THE PROTECTION OF OUR CUSTOMERS,
PROTECTION OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR SMALL --
OUR MEMBERS IN THE TAVERN LEAGUE
ESPECIALLY, ARE 5,000 SMALL MOM
AND POP BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE
SERIOUSNESS OF THE PANDEMIC AND
WHAT IT BRINGS TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
OUR ASSOCIATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN
VERY INVOLVED IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
IS THAT OUR PEOPLE CAN'T
SURVIVE.
THESE ARE SMALL INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE FAMILIES TO
FEED, ROOFS TO KEEP OVER THEIR
HEAD.
A LOT OF THESE BARS, ESPECIALLY
IN MADISON, DANE AND MILWAUKEE
HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR FOUR MONTHS
NOW WITH NO INCOME COMING IN,
YET THE BILLS STILL COME, THE
MORTGAGES, THE RENT, EVERYTHING
ELSE THAT GOES WITH IT.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY
TO SURVIVE.
IF THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TOLD US TO CLOSE, YOU
KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH THAT AS LONG AS THEY WOULD
SHOW US A WAY TO PAY THE BILLS.
WE HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS.
THE AIRLINES GOT THEIR BAILOUT.
SOME OF THE BIGGER CORPORATIONS
GOT THEIR BAILOUTS.
AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING
PARTICULARLY BARS AND
RESTAURANTS, BUT MAIN STREET
AMERICA HAS NOT GOTTEN THE
BAILOUT THAT WE NEED.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT KEEPING OUR
CUSTOMERS SAFE, OUR EMPLOYEES
SAFE AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE
BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES
ARE OUR FAMILIES.
WE'RE LOOKING TO HELP TO STAY
AFLOAT, KEEP OUR HEADS ABOVE THE
WATER.
>> WEREN'T SOME OF THE BAR AND
TAVERN BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR
THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM?
>> SOME WERE.
MY BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR, I DID
GET A SMALL PPP LOAN TO HELP ME
ALONG THE WAY.
BUT IT'S BY FAR, WITH THE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE PPP AND SOME
OF THESE SMALL INDIVIDUAL
PLACES, THEY HAVE MAYBE IT'S THE
HUSBAND AND WIFE AND ONE OF THE
KID THAT RUN THE ESTABLISHMENT
OR IT'S JUST A SMALL FAMILY OR
THEY ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO
EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS ARE SMALL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
IT JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR THEM.
THEY DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY
NEEDED.
THEY HAVE TO USE IT FOR SO MUCH
IS SET ASIDE.
SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS DID HELP
A LITTLE BIT, BUT SO MUCH IS SET
ASIDE FOR THE WAGES AND THAT.
WITH BEING CLOSED, 25%, WE CAN'T
HIRE THESE PEOPLE BACK.
WE CAN'T EMPLOY THAT MANY PEOPLE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PPP.
WE NEED THE MONEY FOR OTHER
THINGS, OUR RENT, MORTGAGE
PAYMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE
SOME OF THAT KIND OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FORTHCOMING FOR
BUSINESSES LIKE THIS?
>> WELL, WE WOULD HOPE THAT IN
THE COMING MONTHS, THAT THE
LEGISLATURE, WHETHER IT'S STATE
OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD
LOOK AT THAT TO HELP US.
THE LONGER THAT THIS DRAGS ON,
AND AT THIS POINT WHO KNOWS HOW
LONG THIS WILL LAST, AND, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ABIDE BY
THE CDC AND WEDC GUIDELINES.
WE HAVE TOLD OUR MEMBERS FOLLOW
THE GUIDELINES, DUTY SIX FEET
APART, SOCIAL DISTANCING.
MOVE SOME TABLES OUT.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS
TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES WEAR THE
MASKS, PUT UP PARTITIONS, WHERE
APPLICABLE.
YOU KNOW, TAKE OFF ALL THE CON
CONDIMENTS.
DO THE THINGS THEY'RE ASKING US
TO DO.
BUT AT 25% OCCUPANCY FOR MADISON
AND DANE AND MILWAUKEE PEOPLE,
IT'S JUST NOT CUTTING IT.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME IT'S
JUST -- IT'S BETTER FOR THEM TO
CLOSE RIGHT OUT, YOU KNOW, THAN
TO GO FOR 25% BECAUSE THEY'RE
LOSING MONEY AT 25%.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT
SOME RELIEF FOR THESE PEOPLE.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT HELPING WITH THE
PANDEMIC AND STEMMING THE CURB
AND FLATTENING IT.
BUT WE NEED HELP TO DO THAT.
WE CANNOT STAY CLOSED AND THEN
-- FOR OVER 100 DAYS, FOUR,
FIVE, SIX MONTHS.
HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO
STRETCH OUT TO?
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SMALL
BUSINESS RELIEF, NOT JUST FOR
BARS AND RESTAURANTS, BUT FOR
ALL MAIN STREET.
>> HAVE YOU OR DO YOU EXPECT TO
FILE A LAWSUIT OVER THE DANE
COUNTY ORDER?
>> WE HAVE NOT FILED A LAWSUIT.
WE DON'T EXPECT TO FILE A
LAWSUIT.
LIKE I SAID, WE ARE TRYING TO
WORK WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
NOT JUST MADISON, DANE,
MILWAUKEE, BUT ALL AROUND THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AS DIFFERENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL AND
COUNTY, ENACT DIFFERENT
STATUTES, ORDINANCES, ADOPTED
FOR THE PROTECTION OF THEIR
PEOPLE IN MOST COUNTIES.
WE HAVE ENCOURAGED OUR PEOPLE TO
GO ALONG WITH THAT AND TO FOLLOW
ALL THE GUIDELINES TO HELP --
LET'S BE PART OF THE SOLUTION OF
THIS PROBLEM AND LET'S HELP STEM
THIS TIDE SO WE CAN GET BACK TO
NORMAL, GET BACK TO WORK.
BUT, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE
FACT THAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
HELPING AND TRY AND GET THIS
DONE, BUT WE CANNOT SURVIVE
WITHOUT SOME KIND OF INCOME AND
I THINK THE STATE, LOCAL AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO LOOK
AT SOME TYPE OF HELP FOR MAIN
STREET USA.
OUR BUSINESSES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I KNOW A LOT OF MY MEMBERS, THEY
ARE INTEGRAL IN THE COMMUNITY,
HELPING WITH RAISE CHARITIES, DO
FUND-RAISING.
EVEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC OUR
BUSINESSES HAVE REACHED OUT TO
THE COMMUNITY.
I MYSELF WAS INVOLVED WITH
SEVERAL RESTAURANTS HERE IN
WALWORTH COUNTY FEEDING AROUND
EASTER TIME.
WE WERE FEEDING PEOPLE FOR
EASTER, HANDING OUT HAMS AND
TURKEYS.
THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE
STATE.
EVEN IN OUR TOUGH TIMES, WE ARE
STILL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW OUR OTHER COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE STRUGGLING.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH
THE PANDEMIC.
WE ARE TRYING TO HELP.
AND WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP NOW
FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP US
STAY AFLOAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHRIS MARSICANO, WE NEED TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
LUCK THROUGH THIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL DELIVERY
FOR YOU HERE.
WE HAVE 200 MASKS.
>> CREWS FROM THE BOYS & GIRLS
CLUB OF DANE COUNTY SPENT THE
WEEK GIVING AWAY 15,000 MASKS
THAT WERE DONATED BY A SAFETY
EQUIPMENT COMPANY IN NEVADA.
THE EFFORT IS THE LATEST EXAMPLE
OF THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY
OUTREACH DURING THIS DIFFICULT
TIME.
MICHAEL JOHN ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT AND CEO, JOINS US NOW.
MICHAEL, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
SEEING YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME O.
>> SO WITH DANE COUNTY'S MASK
ORDINANCE IN PLACE, WAS IT YOUR
SENSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE GOOD
ACCESS TO THEM?
>> YEAH.
I THINK ANYTIME YOU HAVE A
CRISIS LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CHALLENGING
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE'VE GIVEN
ALMOST 10 #0,000 MASKS OUT SINCE
THIS PANDEMIC.
WE GET PHONE CALLS, MESSAGES
FROM PEOPLE SAYING THERE'S A
LACK OF ACCESS FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT HAVE
ACCESS TO THEM.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER MAJOR
CONCERNS FOR THE COMMUNITIES
THAT YOU SERVE AS WE SEE SPIKES
IN COVID-19?
I
>> I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT
OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE OR UNDER DN
EMPLOYED PEOPLE OR TEENAGERS WHO
MAY NOT BE WORKING AT THIS TIME,
THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO PUT 150
TEENAGERS TO WORK IN THE LAST
COUPLE WEEKS TO KEEP RESOURCES
IN THEIR POCKETS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LIVE IN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, BEING
ABLE TO PAY YOUR BILLS AND BEING
ABLE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN
NEED, THAT'S WHY WE'VE DONE
NONTRADITIONAL THINGS THAT YOU
TYPICALLY DON'T SEE BOYS AND
GIRLS CLUBS DOING.
WE PAID THE BILLS OF OVER 8,000
PEOPLE.
WE HAVE 61 KIDS WHO WERE IN
COLLEGE.
WE HELPED TO PAY FOR THEM TO GET
BACK HOME.
WE PAID THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE,
INCLUDING KIDS AND SENIOR
CITIZENS, OVER THE LAST 90 DAYS,
MAKING SURE THAT NO PERSON GO
HOME HUNGRY AT NIGHT.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT
TRADITIONALLY BOYS AND GIRLS
CLUBS DON'T DO AND WE JUST WANT
TO CONTINUE TO THINK OUT OF THE
BOX TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES AND SENIORS WHO NEED US
THE MOST.
WE ALSO RAISED MONEY FOR
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
I'M GETTING LETTERS FROM
BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN THANKING US
FOR HELPING THEM TO STAY OPEN.
SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY
CHALLENGES GOING ON RIGHT NOW
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LEVERAGE
OUR RESOURCES TO HELP THOSE WHO
NEED US THE MOST.
>> NOW, ALL OF THAT IS
HAPPENING, OF COURSE, AS
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION
AND HERE AT HOME GRAPPLE WITH
AND DEMONSTRATE OVER RACIAL
JUSTICE AND POLICING.
A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE LAST
SPOKE IN THE DIRECT AFTERMATH OF
THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING,
INCLUDING MOVES TOWARD POLICE
REFORM AND LOTS OF DIALOGUE AND
RECKONING OVER RACISM.
WITH ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO
WITH BUILDING BRIDGES, HAVE YOU
SEEN PROGRESS IN THESE
INTERVENING DAYS?
>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
DISCUSSIONS.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS
FOR YEARS.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE A
SUBSTANTIVE PLAN THAT'S ALIGNED
WITH THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO
BE ABLE TO BACK IT UP.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT OVERSIGHT,
POLICE BOARD WITH CIVILIANS.
AND WHILE WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT THESE KIND OF ISSUES FOR
DECADES, I THINK NOW IS THE TIME
THAT WE GO BEYOND THE STUDIES,
WE GO BEYOND THE TOWN HALL
MEETINGS AND WE ACTUALLY EXECUTE
A PLAN WITH THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO BACK IT
SO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT FEEL
THE MOST MARGINALIZED SEE ACTION
ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY TO BE
DETERMINED.
>> YOU HAVE MET, I UNDERSTAND,
WITH GOVERNOR EVERS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE FROM HIM
OR THE STATE?
>> I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE USE OF FORCE GUIDELINES, I
THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ACROSS
EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN WISCONSIN
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE
CHIEFS AND THE FIRE AND POLICE
COMMISSIONS AND THEIR BOARDS ARE
REVIEWING THOSE POLICIES AND
HAVING DIALOGUE IN THEIR
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT.
I ALSO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE RESOURCES TOWARDS
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, POLICING.
AND SO WHILE I WANT TO SEE --
WHILE YOU HEAR PEOPLE USE THE
WORD "DEFUND THE POLICE," I
THINK THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE
RESTRUCTURED TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT COMMUNITY POLICING,
INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT
PROCESS.
I ALSO HAVE TALKED TO THE
GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR AND ALSO THE SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
ADMINISTRATION.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE
REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
THERE'S NO REPRESENTATION RIGHT
NOW.
SO WE PROPOSE A BILL THAT A VEL
FILL FLIPS
PHILLIPS STATUE GO UP.
WE HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT WILL
HOPEFULLY BE APPROVED AND
REPRESENTATION WILL SOON BE AT
THE CAPITOL TO REFLECT ALL THE
GREAT WORK THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE PROVIDED
IN THIS STATE OVER THE LAST 150
PLUS YEARS.
>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
ANY IDEA WHEN THEY MIGHT ERECT
THAT STATUE OF VEL PHILLIPS?
>> YEAH.
SO THERE'S A VOTE THAT HAS TO
TAKE PLACE WITH THE BOARD.
SENATOR RISSER IS THE CHAIRMAN
OF THAT BOARD.
WE'RE HOPING WITHIN THE NEXT 60
DAYS TO HAVE SOME RENDERINGS
DONE.
ONCE THOSE RENDERINGS IS DONE,
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT A YEAR FOR IT
TO HAPPEN.
I'M OPTIMISTIC GIVEN THAT VEL
PHILLIPS WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUDGE IN THE
STATE AND THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE
ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL, THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THIS
COUNTRY TO BE ELECTED TO A
STATEWIDE OFFICE.
AND SHE WAS RAISED AND DID ALL
HER GREAT WORK IN THIS STATE,
AND I THINK WHITE KIDS, BLACK
KIDS AND KIDS OF COLOR NEED TO
SEE REPRESENTATION AT OUR STATE
CAPITOL.
AND I'M OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL
THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN THE
NEXT 12 MONTHS.
>> GREAT NEWS.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> MORE THAN FIVE MILLION
AMERICANS WORKERS HAVE LOST
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE DUE TO
THE PANDEMIC AND THAT'S JUST
BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF
FEBRUARY AND MAY, ACCORDING TO A
SURVEY BY THE NONPARTISAN HEALTH
GROUP FAMILIES USA.
THOSE NUMBERS CAN BE ADDED TO
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE
NOT INSURED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
BEGAN.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF
COVID FOR THE UNINSURED?
WE ASKED BOBBY PETERSON,
DIRECTOR FOR ABC FOR HEALTH.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD TO HELP.
>> SOT NUMBER SO THE NUMBER WE REFERENCED
WAS A NATIONAL NUMBER, BUT
WISCONSINITES HAVE LOST
COVERAGE.
DO YOU KNOW IN WHAT NUMBER?
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE PRECISE
NUMBERS ON IT, BUT WE KNOW THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS WELL OVER
10% AND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN DISLOCATED FROM WORK,
WHICH IS WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
GET THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO IT CREATES A CHAIN REACTION.
SOME PEOPLE CONTINUED WITH THEIR
BENEFITS FOR A MONTH OR TWO, BUT
MORE AND MORE ARE STARTING TO
LOSE COVERAGE AND LOOKING FOR
OPTIONS.
>> I THINK JUST IN THE LAST DAY
OR SO, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
TICKED DOWN WITH KIND OF THE
LATEST JOB NUMBERS IN WISCONSIN
TO ABOUT 8.5%.
STILL BAD.
AND OF COURSE THERE ARE LAGS AND
THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KINDS
OF STORIES THAT YOU'RE HEARING
FROM PEOPLE?
>> WE'RE GETTING CALLS FROM
PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO PIVOT
FROM THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE,
BECAUSE THEY LOST IT THROUGH
THEIR JOB, TO MARKETPLACE
COVERAGE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PEOPLE THAT ARE
TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE
ELIGIBILITY PROCESS FOR
BADGERCARE PLUS, PEOPLE THAT MAY
HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT ARE
STRUGGLING TO IDENTIFY COVERAGE
THAT MIGHT BE THROUGH THE
MARKETPLACE OR THROUGH A
MEDICAID DISABILITY PROGRAM.
IT CROSSES THE SPECTRUM.
WE'RE NOTICING, THOUGH, THAT
PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING ANXIETY
BECAUSE OF HEALTH COVERAGE AND
INSURANCE RELATED TO THE
PANDEMIC.
>> SO FOLKS LOSE AN
EMPLOYER-BASED PLAN.
THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR
COVID.
BUT THAT KIND THING IS VERY
EXPENSIVE, CORRECT?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S GOING TO BE CARRYING THE
FULL BRUNT OF THE PREMIUM AND A
LOT OF TIMES IT'S VERY
UNAFFORDABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH
FAMILY TYPE COVERAGE.
IT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.
IT CAN BE OVER $1,000 A MONTH
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.
SO IT GETS BEYOND THE BUDGET.
>> AND YET FOLKS CAN SIGN UP
BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE OF
LOSING A JOB FOR THE MARKETPLACE
UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE
FINDING THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE
SAYING THEY CAN'T EVEN AFFORD
THOSE PREMIUMS.
AREN'T THEY BASED ON PEOPLE'S
INCOME?
AND SHOULDN'T THEY BE
AFFORDABLE?
>> THEY SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE,
BUT IT'S A SITUATION WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE
FAMILY MEMBERS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE WORKING.
SOME PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING.
THE PRIMARY HEALTH INSURANCE IS
LOST.
THERE'S STILL INCOME THAT MIGHT
PUT THEM OVER SOME OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAX CREDITS
AND OTHER SUBSIDIES.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A
LOOK AT BADGERCARE PLUS AS AN
OPTION AS A PROGRAM THAT MIGHT
BE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS LOOKING
AT THE MARKETPLACE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE
WITHOUT INSURANCE AND YOU GET
INFECTED WITH COVID-19,
REQUIRING HOSPITAL TREATMENT?
DO THE BILLS JUST PILE UP?
>> THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
FEDERAL CARES ACT THAT ALLOW
PEOPLE TO GET THEIR TETION AND -- TESTING
AND TREATMENT FOR COVID-RELATED
ILLNESSES COVERED.
SO WE'VE BEEN REFERRING PEOPLE
TO THOSE PEOPLE, WORKING WITH
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO MAKE
SURE THEY IDENTIFY THOSE FOLKS
AND THERE'S ELIGIBILITY FOR SOME
OF THE SERVICES.
>> YOU SAY THAT YOUR WEBSITE
OFFERS A LOT OF RESOURCES AND
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
WHAT IS YOUR WEBSITE?
>> WELL, I WAS REFERRING TO A
WEBSITE THAT WE PARTNERED WITH
THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE COVERING WISCONSIN.
IT'S WISCOVERED.COM AND IT
PROVIDES A LOT OF INFORMATION
FOR PEOPLE RELATED TO
MARKETPLACE COVERAGE, BADGERCARE
PLUS AND OTHER OPTIONS AND
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO GET
INSURANCE AND HOW TO KEEP IT.
>> YOU DESCRIBE SEEING A LOT OF
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARISING
FROM THE STRESS, AS YOU
MENTIONED BEFORE, FATIGUE AND
ECONOMIC INSECURITY.
WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE
SUFFERING UNDER SO MUCH RIGHT
NOW?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST, YOU
KNOW, -- WE ARE -- WE HEAR THIS
A LOT, BUT WE'RE IN THIS
TOGETHER.
TRY AND WORK ON YOUR SUPPORT
NETWORKS.
IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT CAN PROVIDE
YOU WITH THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU
NEED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MULTIPLICITY
OF ISSUES.
IT'S MEDICAL DEBT, IT'S LOSS OF
JOB, IT'S HOUSING AND EVICTIONS.
THE STRUCTURES OUT THERE ARE ALL
UNDER STRESS, AS WELL AS THE
INDIVIDUALS.
BUT WE HAVE TO TRY AND DO OUR
BEST TO PULL TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BOBBY PETERSON, WE JUST LOST
YOUR AUDIO FOR AN INSTANT THERE.
THE VAGARIES OF THIS KIND OF
REMOTE PRODUCTION.
BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR JOINING
US AND OFFERING US INFORMATION
ON THIS ISSUE AND RESOURCES FOR
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE
STRUGGLE.
BOBBY PETERSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> MORE COVID COVERAGE CAN BE
FOUND ONLINE THROUGHOUT THE
WEEK.
FOR THE LATEST, GO TO
pbswisconsin.org.
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
ALSO, FOR ONGOING, IN-DEPTH
COVERAGE ON THE CORONAVIRUS
RESPONSE IN WISCONSIN, VISIT
wiscontext.org.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, UW SYSTEM INTERIM
PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON WILL BE
HERE TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR STUDENT
INSTRUCTION FOR THE FALL
SEMESTER.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.