>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> AND I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE
WILL JOIN ME IN THIS IMPORTANT
WORK SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR
STATE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
>> AND WITH THAT, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS SIGNED THE BIENNIAL
BUDGET, A PLAN THAT INCLUDES
MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN TAX
CUTS, TAX CUTS THAT LARGELY CAME
COMPLIMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN
VERSION OF THE BILL, PASSED BY
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WILL
KENNEALLY COVERS STATE BUDGET
NEWS.
UW-MILWAUKEE PROFESSOR EMERITUS
MORDECAI LEE HELPS DETERMINE WHO
GETS CREDIT FOR WHAT IN THAT
BUDGET BILL.
CLEAN WISCONSIN WINS TWO BIG
ENVIRONMENTAL CASES IN THE STATE
SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK.
AND EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN
MILWAUKEE TO DISPATCH UNARMED
RESPONDERS RATHER THAN POLICE TO
CALLS WHERE SUSPECTED MENTAL
HEALTH PLAYS A FACTOR.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 9.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WITH THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK
TICKING FOR GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
TO ACT ON THE STATE BUDGET, HE
DID SO A DAY BEFORE THE LEGAL
DEADLINE.
GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED THE STATE
BUDGET INTO LAW THURSDAY,
WIELDING HIS VETO PEN TO MAKE
SOME CHANGES TO THE FINAL
DOCUMENT.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY HAS THE DETAILS.
>> THE GOVERNOR LEFT THE
GOP-WRITTEN BUDGET LARGELY
INTACT, THOUGH AT THE SAME TIME
ADMONISHED REPUBLICANS FOR NOT
DOING MORE.
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH THE
BUDGET ARE NOT THE THINGS THAT
NEED TO BE REMOVED BY A STROKE
OF A PEN, BUT RATHER THE WORK
THE LEGISLATURE HAS LEFT UNDONE.
>> SPEAKING FROM AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL IN WHITEFISH BAY, EVER,
FORMER HEAD OF STATE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, SAID EDUCATION SHOULD
HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED MORE IN
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
>> THEY COULD HAVE DONE THE
RIGHT THING.
THEY STILL CAN DO THE RIGHT
THING.
THERE IS MONEY LEFT IN THE STATE
COFFERS THAT CAN BE USED FOR
SCHOOLS AND OTHER ISSUES.
SO WE -- I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT
THEY'LL SPEND SOME TIME THINKING
THROUGH THIS INSTEAD OF JUST
GOING HOME AND SPENDING THE REST
OF THE SUMMER ENJOYING
THEMSELVES.
THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
>> DURING HIS NEWS CONFERENCE,
EVERS SAID HE WOULD ALLOCATE
$100 MILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY TO
STEM THE SHORTFALL HE SAYS
WISCONSIN SCHOOLS FACE.
>> THE GOVERNOR INCLUDED 50
PARTIAL VETOES THAT REMOVED
SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BUDGET,
INCLUDING KEEPING THE EXISTING
FORMULA FOR RURAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TRANSPORTATION AID,
PREVENTING DRUG TESTING FOR
THOSE SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, MAINTAINING FUNDING
FOR A HEALTHY EATING PROGRAM AND
STOPPING A TRANSFER OF $550
MILLION TO THE STATE'S RAINY DAY
FUND.
EVERS SAID THAT LAST VETO KEEPS
THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MEET
FUTURE NEEDS OF WISCONSINITES
THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET DOES NOT
ADDRESS.
>> THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE FOR
THESE KIDS, AROUND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM, A WHOLE NUMBER
OF AREAS.
THE MONEY IS STILL THERE.
>> THE GOVERNOR DID TOUT
MEASURES FROM THE BUDGET,
HOWEVER, INCLUDING AN INCOME TAX
CUT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF
WISCONSINITES.
IN THE BUDGET, WISCONSINITES
MAKING BETWEEN ROUGHLY $24,000
AND $263,000 PER YEAR WILL HAVE
THEIR INCOME TAX REDUCED BY
CLOSE TO 1%.
REPUBLICANSCRIED FOUL SAYING
EVERS WAS TAKING CREDIT FOR A
TAX CUT FROM THE GOP.
>> IT'S CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED TODAY.
GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED THE
REPUBLICAN-WRITTEN STATE BUDGET.
>> THOUGH EVERS INTRODUCED A
BUDGET PROPOSAL EARLIER THIS
YEAR, THE GOP LEGISLATURE THREW
IT OUT.
>> ONCE AGAIN, REPUBLICANS ARE
LEADING.
THE LEGISLATURE HAVE LED THE WAY
SENDING A COMMON SENSE BUDGET
THAT INVESTS IN PRIORITIES AND
PUTS MONEY BACK IN THE HANDS OF
FAMILIES OF WISCONSIN.
>> REPORTING FROM WHITEFISH BAY,
THIS IS WILL KENNEALLY FOR "HERE
AND NOW."
>> SO REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE PRAISING THE TAX
CUTS GOVERNOR EVERS SIGNED INTO
LAW, WHILE BLASTING HIS ORIGINAL
VERSION OF THE BUDGET AND SAYING
HE DESERVES NO CREDIT FOR THIS
ONE.
OUR NEXT GUEST HAS SEEN AND
VOAFTED ON HIS SHARE OF STATE
BUDGETS.
UWM EMERITUS PROFESSOR AND
FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR
MORDECAI LEE JOINS US WITH HIS
TAKE.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> SO YOU HAD MUSINGS THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS MIGHT WELL VETO
THE ENTIRE BUDGET.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
REPUBLICANS HAD SAID THAT THEY
WORKED AT MAKING THE DOCUMENT
VETO PROOF.
IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
<!32768> I THINK THAT'S PART OF
THE EXPLANATION.
EVEN THOUGH THEY TRIED TO WRITE
THE LANGUAGE SO IT WOULD BE VERY
HARD TO DO PARTIAL VETOES AND
THEY DIDN'T GIVE HIM VERY MANY
OPTIONS, HE STILL COULD HAVE
VETOED THE WHOLE BUDGET.
HE COULD HAVE TRIED TO GET JOE
BIDEN TO HOLD OFF ON REVOKING
THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
BUT I THINK WHAT IT COMES DOWN
TO IS GOVERNOR EVERS DOES NOT
LOVE POLITICS AND HE DOESN'T
LOVE FIGHTING.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE REPUBLICANS
IN THE LEGISLATURE IN A SENSE
ENJOY CONFRONTATIONS, ENJOY
FIGHTING, HE JUST DOESN'T WANT
TO.
TWO YEARS AGO HE COULD HAVE
VETOED THE BUDGET AND HE DIDN'T.
THIS YEAR HE DIDN'T EITHER.
BUT THE SLICKEST MOVE HE DID IS
EVEN THOUGH HE HAD VERY FEW
OPTIONS, HE TOOK CREDIT FOR THE
TAX CUT.
>> THAT WAS SLICK.
>> FOR THOSE WISCONSINITES AND
INSIDERS WHO THINK THAT GOVERNOR
EVERS IS A LOUSY POLITICIAN, I
GOT TO TELL YOU, TAKING CREDIT
FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T
REALLY DO IS ABOUT AS GREAT A
POLITICAL MOVE AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
SO I THINK HE HANDLED IT PRETTY
WELL GIVEN THAT HE HAD REALLY A
WEAK HAND.
YOU KNOW, IN POLITICS YOU HAVE
TO PLAY THE HAND YOU'VE BEEN
DEALT.
YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR CARDS.
AND I THINK HE MANEUVERED OUT OF
IT PRETTY WELL, AND I THINK THE
REPUBLICANS ARE SORT OF
FRUSTRATED.
>> WELL, YOU REALLY THINK HE CAN
TAKE CREDIT FOR THOSE?
I MEAN, IT WAS A
REPUBLICAN-WRITTEN BUDGET.
THEY STARTED FROM SCRATCH.
AND THAT WAS WHAT THEY DID WITH
IT.
>> TO INSIDERS, THIS WAS A WIN
FOR THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
IDEOLOGY OF GOVERNMENT.
THIS WAS THEIR BUDGET.
THEY DIDN'T LET HIM GET A WHIT
OF ANYTHING.
THEY CAN FEEL THAT FOR THEM IT
WAS A WIN.
BUT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
POLITICS, OF GETTING CREDIT,
GENERALLY SPEAKING IN POLITICS
THE VOTERS LOOK TO THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE, THE PRESIDENT, THE
GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR RATHER THAN
LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL
LEGISLATORS OR THE LEGISLATURE
AS AN INSTITUTION.
SO I THINK THE VOTERS WILL GIVE
THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE RUNS FOR
REELECTION MORE OF THE CREDIT
THAN THEY WILL TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, IN
TERMS OF THE POLITICAL MESSAGING
AROUND THIS DOCUMENT, WHO DO YOU
THINK DOES BETTER?
>> I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT
IN TERMS OF MESSAGING, BECAUSE,
AFTER ALL, POLITICS IS ABOUT
SPIN.
IT'S ABOUT IMPRESSIONS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SUBSTANCE.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR WINS.
HERE'S WHY.
HE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION AND
HE SAYS I GAVE YOU A TAX CUT.
AND THEN WHOEVER WINS THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR
GOVERNOR SAYS, NO, YOU REALLY
SORT OF DIDN'T.
ALL YOU DID WAS SIGN A
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
THAT DOES NOT FIT ON A BUMPER
STICKER.
AND POLITICS IN THE END IS THE
SPIN OF THE MESSAGE.
AND SO I THINK HE WINS.
AND IF ANYBODY'S IN A TOUGH
POSITION, IT'S REALLY THE
DEMOCRATS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR
REELECTION TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
MOST OF THEM VOTED AGAINST THE
BUDGET.
HE SIGNS THE BUDGET.
HE PROBABLY FELT THAT HE HAD
JUST KNOCKED THE STILTS OUT FROM
UNDER THEM.
BUT NONETHELESS, WHAT DOES THE
REPUBLICAN SAY?
YOU VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET AND
YOU SHOULDN'T GET CREDIT FOR THE
TAX CUT.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WILL
WASH IN POLITICS.
<!8192> IN TERMS OF THE
SUBSTANCE, REPUBLICANS WON.
THE LEGISLATURE WON.
CONSERVATIVES WON.
IN TERMS OF POLITICS, I THINK
DEMOCRATS WON.
>> INTERESTING.
MEANWHILE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
THIS BUDGET IN THIS TIME OF
FEDERAL COVID MONEY AND A
WINDFALL OF TAX REVENUE?
DOES IT STRIKE YOU THAT THE
SPENDING AND TAX CUTTING WAS
WELL DEPLOYED?
>> WELL, IT'S TRUE THAT WHEN THE
GOVERNOR INTRODUCED HIS BUDGET
AND HE INCLUDED SOME TAX CUTS
AND SOME TAX INCREASES, THE
SITUATION SIX MONTHS AGO WAS
VERY DIFFERENT.
AND NOW THERE'S JUST THIS FLOOD
OF MONEY, BOTH FROM THE STATE
AND FROM THE FEDS.
SO I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT
SITUATION.
AND IN A SENSE TONY EVERS SHOWED
HOW FLEET-FOOTED HE WAS TO
ADJUST TO THE NEW SITUATION.
BUT THE PRESSURE FROM
REPUBLICANS WILL BE KEEP CUTTING
THE BUDGET, LOOK HOW BIG OUR
SURPLUS IS.
>> MORDECAI LEE, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INSIGHT, FROM UWM, EMERITUS
PROFESSOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A MAJOR RULING FROM THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT LATE
THIS WEEK ON HIGH-CAPACITY WELLS
AND WASTEWATER PERMITS.
THE 4-2 DECISION PUTS THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
BACK IN THE BUSINESS OF
CONSIDERING ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS OF SUCH WELLS AS WELL AS
PERMITS FOR LARGE DAIRY
OPERATIONS.
THE COURT WAS DECIDING HOW MUCH
AUTHORITY THE DNR HAS AFTER A
2011 LAW LIMITED THAT POWER AND
A 2016 OPINION FROM THEN
ATTORNEY GENERAL BRAD SCHIMEL
BACKED THAT UP.
THE DECISION IS A BIG WIN FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP CLEAN
WISCONSIN, WHICH TOOK THE CASE
TO COURT.
CLEAN WISCONSIN ATTORNEY EVAN
FEINAUER IS HERE AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
HIGH COURT'S RULING?
>> WELL, THE INITIAL REACTION IS
RELIEF.
THESE WERE TWO CASES THAT WE AND
OUR PARTNERS IN THESE CASES HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON FOR A VERY LONG
TIME.
THE INITIAL CASE, THE WASTEWATER
PERMIT CASE, GOES BACK TO 2012.
THE OTHER WAS FILED IN 2016.
SO THESE WERE LONG-AWAITED FINAL
DECISIONS FROM THE STATE'S
HIGHEST COURT THAT PUT TO BED
ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING
OVER IN COURT FOR YEARS.
SO A BIG WIN WITH A LOT OF
INVESTMENT OF TIME AND RESOURCES
BEHIND IT.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO THE
EIGHT HIGH-CAPACITY WELLS THAT
WERE AT ISSUE IN THE COURT CASE?
>> WELL, THESE WERE WELLS THE
DNR HAD ALREADY DETERMINED WERE
GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
ADVERSE IMPACT ON SURFACE
WATERS, WHICH VIOLATED THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.
SO NOW ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR THE
DNR TO DO IS SORT OF DO THE
PAPERWORK TO REGAIN THOSE WELLS.
THE COURT SENT THEM BACK TO THE
DNR WITH DIRECTIONS TO DO THAT.
THOSE WELLS WON'T BE GOING IN
UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES ON THE
GROUND THERE.
IN ADDITION, THE DNR WILL DO AN
IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR OTHER WELLS
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THEY
IMPLEMENT THAT AUTHORITY
EFFECTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY TO
PROTECT OUR WATERS.
>> AND THEN ON THE OTHER CASE,
WHAT ABOUT THE 2500 ANIMAL FARM
IN KEWAUNEE COUNTY AND THE WASTE
FROM THAT?
>> YEAH.
SO THIS ONE, KA CAFO PERMITS, TE
PERMITS EXPIRE AND HAVE TO BE
RENEWED EVERY FEW YEARS.
SO IT'S TRICKIER BECAUSE THERE
IS A RENEWAL PERIOD.
WHAT WE HOPE DNR WILL DO IS WITH
THIS AFFIRMATION OF ITS
AUTHORITY, WHICH WE BELIEVE IT
HAD THE WHOLE TIME, IT'S WHY WE
BROUGHT THE CASE, THEY WILL
BEGIN AND CONTINUE TO USE ALL
THE TOOLS AT ITS DISPOSAL AS
APPROPRIATE AND BACKED TO MAKE
SURE THE PERMITS CONTAIN
CONDITIONS THAT ADDRESS THE
WIDESPREAD AND SERIOUS
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION ISSUES
WE HAVE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT A LIMIT ON THE
SIZE OF THE FARMS AND SOME
MONITORING TO SEE WHEN AND WHERE
AND IF CONTAMINATION IS
OCCURRING.
AND SO AT A MINIMUM THEY SHOULD
BE IMPOSING THOSE CONDITIONS
WHERE APPROPRIATE AND THESE
PERMITS.
>> SO WHAT HAVE BEEN THE EFFECTS
OF TEN YEARS OF APPROVALS FOR
HIHIGH-CAPACITY WELLS AND
LIVESTOCK WASTEWATER PERMITS
UNDER THAT 2011 LAW?
>> YEAH.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
TAKING THEM ONE AT A TIME, IN
THE HIGH-CAPACITY WELL CONTEXT,
WE'VE SEEN AN EXPLOSION AND A
CONCENTRATION OF THESE WELLS IN
THE PRECEDING DECADES.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE
QUANTITY OF WATER IN A
RELATIVELY SMALL GEOGRAPHIC
SPACE HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY.
THE LAST TEN YEARS WASN'T GOOD
FOR THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A GREEN
LIGHT TO INCREASE WATER
CONSUMPTION.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S CHANGING NOW.
BUT GIVEN THAT THE RULING
OUTSIDE OF THE EIGHT WELLS IS
SORT OF PROSPECTIVE, IT WILL
CHANGE HOW WELLS ARE APPROVED
GOING FORWARD, THIS WON'T UNDO
ALL THE HARM THAT'S BEEN DONE.
BUT THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE
TUNNEL HERE WAS WITH REGARD TO
THE WELLS, IS NOW WE CAN START
TALKING ABOUT LONGER-TERM
SOLUTIONS TO SHARE WATER
RESOURCES.
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE
GOING.
THAT MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
AGENCY ACTION OR LEGISLATION.
IN THE FARMS CASE, WE HAVE
WIDESPREAD GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION THAT PEOPLE USE
FOR DRINKING WATER ALL OVER THE
STATE.
THIS CASE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE
THOSE PROBLEMS.
BUT IT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE DNR
TO IMPOSE STANDARDS THAT PROTECT
PEOPLE'S HEALTH.
SO FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS,
FRANKLY, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE HAD
SIGNIFICANT WATER QUALITY
CONCERNS AND THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS
BEEN GETTING A LOT OF HELP FROM
THEIR STATE GOVERNMENT.
WE HOPE THAT THAT CHANGES.
>> BECAUSE WHAT KIND OF
MITIGATION IS NEEDED, IN YOUR
MIND, GIVEN WATER LEVELS AND
THIS WELL CONTAMINATION?
IS THERE MONEY EARMARKED TO DO
THAT ANYWHERE?
>> YEAH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY A LOT OF
THIS IS ABOUT RESOURCES.
SO YOU A THE LEGAL AUTHORITY IN
THE WORLD WON'T CHANGE THINGS ON
THE GROUND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES AND
BUDGET TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S WHY THESE CASES, THESE
VICTORIES ARE A BIG DEAL AND
OPEN UP AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO
DO WORK TO HELP FOLKS AND
PROTECT WATER.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
CLEAN WISCONSIN IS VERY ENGAGED
WITH THE STATE BUDGET TO TRY TO
GET OUR ASKS IN THERE AND
LOBBYING HARD TO PUT MONEY
TOWARDS PROTECTING WATER
RESOURCES.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP THE LEGAL
ABILITY WITH THE ACTUAL
COMMITMENT TO THESE GOALS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
EVAN FEINAUER FROM CLEAN
WISCONSIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN OTHER LEGAL NEWS, PURDUE
PHARMA, MAKER OF OXYCONTIN, HAS
REACHED A SETTLEMENT DEAL WITH
SEVERAL STATEMENTS, INCLUDING
WISCONSIN.
ACCORDING TO ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL WISCONSIN IS EXPECTED
TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $65 MILLION
TO FUND OPIOID ABATEMENT
EFFORTS.
INDIVIDUALS WILL ALSO RECEIVE
COCOMPENSATION AS PART OF THE
RESOLUTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY
LAWSUIT WHICH IS SUBJECT TO
COURT APPROVAL.
IN MILWAUKEE, WITH A SPIKE IN
CRIME AND CALLS FOR POLICE
REFORM, CITY ALDERS ARE WORKING
TO SEE WHETHER THEY CAN BRING
BETTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND
FREE UP POLICE OFFICERS FOR
VIOLENT CRIME CALLS.
THE COMMON COUNCIL APPROVED
LEGISLATION TO APPOINT A
MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
DIVERSION TASK FORCE TO REPORT
ITS FINDINGS BY NEXT MARCH.
ALDERPERSON CHANTIA LEWIS SAYS
THE GOAL IS TO REIMAGINE THE WAY
OF DISPATCHING HELP AND HOW WE
CREATE A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR
EVERYONE AND SHE ENGINES JOINS W
FROM MILWAUKEE.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO REIMAGINE
DISPATCHING HELP TO PEOPLE AND
HOW WOULD THAT WORK?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO
REITERATE THAT THIS IS NOT A
REIMAGINING FOR INSTANCES WHERE
OFFICERS ARE NEEDED.
THIS IS LITERALLY LOOKING AT
THOSE CALLS THAT DO NOT WARRANT
A POLICE, A SWORN OFFICER, GOING
TO THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT MENTAL
HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WE LOOK
AT THE BROADER CONTEXT OF WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS HAVING
A MENTAL BREAKDOWN, OFFICERS
SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO THOSE
CALLS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
TRAINED FOR THAT.
THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR
THAT.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF
BACKGROUND.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST
FEW YEARS AS WE TRIED TO
INSTITUTE THAT AND ADD THAT TO
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THAT'S
NOT WHAT THEY WERE SWORN TO
PROTECT I TO DO.
SO WHEN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
IS HAPPENING, THAT'S WHEN YOU
NEED A SOCIAL WORKER.
>> WOULD PARAMEDICS REPORT AS
WELL OR WHO WOULD BE RESPONDING
TO A MENTAL HEALTH CALL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE
PARAMEDICS, THE FIREFIGHTERS,
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED IN
DE-ESCALATION IN A CERTAIN
RESPECT, BUT ALSO THOSE PEOPLE
THAT DO NOT POSE A THREAT.
THEY'RE NONTHREATENING.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON SHOWING
UP WITH A FIREARM, IT TENDS TO
ESCALATE THE SITUATION.
AND NOT INTENTIONALLY.
BUT IT JUST TENDS TO ESCALATE
THE SITUATION.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT FIRE
FIGHTERS ARE ONES THAT ARE
LOOKED AT BY THE COMMUNITY AS
FRIENDLY.
SOCIAL WORKERS ARE LOOKED AT AS
NECESSARY AND FRIENDLY.
AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THOSE TYPES
OF TRAINED INDIVIDUALS GOING
INTO THE FIELD TO RESPOND TO
THESE TYPES OF CALLS, IT REALLY
HELPS ON BOTH ENDS TO, ONE,
DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION, BUT
TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER DONTRE HAMILTON
HAPPENING.
>> WHY WOULD DIVERTING POLICE IN
THIS WAY CREATE A SAFER
COMMUNITY?
>> AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE
REASON.
WE'VE SEEN NOT JUST HERE IN
MILWAUKEE AND ACROSS THE STATE,
BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE AN
OFFICER ESCALATED THE SITUATION,
NOT INTENTIONALLY MOST OFTEN,
BUT SOMETIMES INTENTIONALLY, AND
THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS HAVING A
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LOST THEIR
LIFE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS TO PRESERVE LIFE AND TO
ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE
THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THOSE
CALLS THAT THEY WERE SWORN TO
DO.
>> HOW COULD SAVING POLICE
RESPONSE FOR THE MOST SERIOUS OF
VIOLENT CRIME CALLS HELP ALSO
KIND OF STEM CRIME IN MILWAUKEE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE
CALLS FOR SERVICES THAT ARE
NEEDED FOR THEM TO RESPOND, THE
LAG TIME IS A LOT LONGER, AND SO
A BLARE BURGLARY IN PROCESS OR A
SUSPECT WITH A GUN OR A
CARJACKING OF SORTS, WE ARE
SEEING THAT THEY ARE TIED UP IN
OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THEY
SHOULD NOT BE RESPONDING TO, DOG
BARKING CALLS OR, YOU KNOW, A
DISPUTE WITH A NEIGHBOR THAT'S
NOT ESCALAT ESCALATING TO VIOLE.
WE'RE SEEING THEY NEED TO BE
FREED UP.
WHAT I'M HEARING AS I TALK TO
OFFICERS, I HAVE OFFICERS IN MY
FAMILY, AND SO WHEN I TALK TO
THEM.
THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE DOING A LOT
OF NONESSENTIAL WORK.
AND WE NEED TO BE DOING
ESSENTIAL WORK.
THIS IS TWOFOLD.
THIS IS HELPING TO ENSURE THAT
THE OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING TO
THE CALLS THAT THEY NEED TO
RESPOND TO AND THAT THE
ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS,
THEY ARE ABLE TO WALK AWAY AND
GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
>> HOW BIG A PROPORTION ARE THE
CALLS FOR HELP IN MILWAUKEE THAT
ARE ACTUALLY KIND OF MENTAL
HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CALLS
AS OPPOSED TO VIOLENT
EMERGENCIES?
>> MM-HMM.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE TASK
FORCE IS GOING TO BE TAKING A
LOOK AT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SURFACE
NUMBERS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS A DEEP
DIVE TO ALL OF THE CALLS THAT
MPD ARE ADDRESSING AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT CALLS
ACTUALLY NEED TO BE RESPONDED TO
AND WHAT CALLS CAN BE DIVERTED.
>> AND HOW ARE POLICE OFFICERS
AND CITIZENS RESPONDING TO THIS
IDEA?
>> FROM WHAT WE ARE HEARING, THE
INITIAL CONVERSATION IS IT'S
NEEDED, IT'S WARRANTED, IT'S
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
I THINK THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE
HEARD THAT -- VERY FEW COMMENTS
THAT WE'VE HEARD HAVE BEEN
NEGATIVE, SOME PEOPLE WHO JUST
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TASK
FORCE IS SLATED TO DO.
THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL TO BE IN
YOUR PROGRAM TODAY, TO BE ABLE
TO EXPRESS THE TRUE MEANING AND
THE TRUE MEANING BEHIND IT.
AND THAT'S LITERALLY HAVING
OFFICERS BEING FREED UP SO THEY
CAN RESPOND TO WHAT THEY NEED TO
DO, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT
THIS IS A TRUST-BUILDER WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE'LL SEE
THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO CALL
THE POLICE OR CALL 911 FOR
ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS,
BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL THAT
THEIR LOVED ONE WOULD COME OUT
OF THAT INSTANCE ALIVE.
>> WOW.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, ALDERPERSON CHANTIA LEWIS
FROM MILWAUKEE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IN THE CITY OF MADISON A
PILOT PROGRAM WITH SIMILAR AIMS
IS GETTING OFF THE GROUND.
THE CITY'S CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
IS MADE UP OF PARAMEDICS AND
CRISIS WORKERS WHO RESPOND TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CALLS INSTEAD
OF ARMED POLICE OFFICERS.
LOOKING TO COVID-19 NEWS, THE
VARIANT OF THE VIRUS KNOWN AS
DELTA HAS NOW TAKEN HOLD AS THE
MOST DOMINANT STRAIN OF THE
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
WISCONSIN APPEARS TO BE KEEPING
THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT
AT BAY WITH ONLY 83 REPORTED
CASES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES.
TO LEARN MORE, MARISA WOJCIK
SPOKE WITH TWO UW-MADISON
RESEARCHERS ABOUT THE DELTA
VARIANT AND THEIR WORK TO
PREVENT FUTURE PANDEMICS.
>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
DELTA VARIANT?
>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THIS DELTA
VARIANT IS THE DOMINANT VARIANT
BECAUSE IT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.
THAT MEANS IS SPREADS MORE
EASILY.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
VACCINATED ARE GOING TO BE
PROTECTED FROM SEVERE DISEASE.
SO THE REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT
IF YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR VACCINE,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET SICK
WITH THE DELTA VIRUS.
HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT STILL GET
INFECTED AND BE AN ASYMPTOMATIC
CARRIER, WHICH MEANS YOU COULD
POTENTIALLY INFECT THOSE AROUND
YOU WHO ARE UNVACCINATED.
>> ALSO, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN UNDER
THE AGE OF 12 CANNOT BE
VACCINATED YET.
AND SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HOW
WE MAY NEED TO PREPARE FOR A
FUTURE WHERE THERE'S MORE
TRANSMISSION, WHEN OUR KIDS GO
BACK TO SCHOOL AND THOSE KIDS
AREN'T VACCINATED AND WON'T BE
ABLE TO BE VACCINATED YET, WE
MAY SEE A CHANGE IN THE PATTERNS
OF COVID TRANSMISSION AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO.
>> SO DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD
STILL BE WEARING MASKS WHEN
WE'RE OUT IN PUBLIC?
HOW SERIOUSLY SHOULD WE TAKE IT?
>> SO I THINK IT'S MAYBE A
LITTLE BIT TOO OPTIMISTIC TO SAY
THAT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A HIGH
VACCINE RATE THAT MEANS THE
PANDEMIC IS OVER.
I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS
ENJOY THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN
RIGHT NOW, WHEN CASE NUMBERS ARE
LOW.
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET
VACCINATED SHOULD TAKE THIS
MOMENT TO GET VACCINATED SO THAT
IN SIX WEEKS OR SO THEY'LL BE
FULLY VACCINATED AND HAVE THE
BEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION FROM
THE DELTA VARIANT AND OTHER
TYPES OF THE VIRUS THAT MIGHT
COME IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE JUST NEED TO BE VERY
WATCHFUL.
SO I LIKEN IT TO BEING ON A
BEACH IN FLORIDA BEFORE A
HURRICANE.
RIGHT NOW THE SUN IS OUT, THE
WAVES ARE GREAT, ENJOY YOUR TIME
ON THE SAND.
BUT THERE MIGHT BE A STORM WELL
OFF TO SEA THAT WE NEED TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION IS
WORKING TO CREATE AN
INTERNATIONAL PANDEMIC
PREVENTION INSTITUTE AND THE
UW-MADISON IS RECENTLY A PARTNER
IN THAT EFFORT.
SO CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE
PLANS?
HOW DO WE PREVENT A FUTURE
PANDEMIC GOING FORWARD?
>> SURE.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MAIN
THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE
LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS IS THAT
DISEASES LIKE COVID WILL
CONTINUE TO EMERGE AND THREATEN
GLOBAL HEALTH.
THEY MAY THREATEN HEALTH LOCALLY
BEFORE THEY BECOME GLOBAL
PANDEMICS.
AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS BE
ABLE TO DETECT THE EMERGENCE OF
A NEW DISEASE LIKE COVID LOCALLY
WHERE IT'S HAPPENING AND THEN
HOPEFULLY STAMP IS OUT BEFORE IT
BECOMES A GLOBALLY DISRUPTIVE
PANDEMIC LIKE THE ONE WE'RE
LIVING THROUGH.
AND WHAT HAS TENDED TO HAPPEN IN
THE PAST IS THAT THERE IS AN
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THESE
OUTBREAKS THAT KIND OF STARTS TO
RAMP UP AS THE OUTBREAK BECOMES
SEVERE AND THEN WE TAKE OUR EYE
OFF THE BALL.
SO THERE'S A BOOM AND BUST
CYCLE.
AND THE FUNDING AND THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO RESPOND TO PANDEMIC
AND POTENTIALLY PANDEMIC
DISEASES.
SO WHAT ROCKEFELLER AND OTHER
PARTNERS ARE TRYING TO DO IS LAY
THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A MORE
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO
DETECTING AND THEN HOPEFULLY
STOPPING EMERGING DISEASES
BEFORE THEY BECOME PANDEMICS.
>> MARISA WOJCIK'S COMPLETE
"NOON WEDNESDAY" CAN BE VIEWED
BY GOING TO pbswisconsin.org
AND CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.
LOOK FOR THE LATEST ON VARIANTS
AND VACCINES THERE AS WELL.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
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.