>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> AT LEAST ONE WISCONSIN COUNTY
ISSUES AN INDOOR MASK ADVISORY
FOR UNVACCINATED AND VACCINATED
PEOPLE, AS COVID CASELOADS RISE
TO NUMBERS NOT SEEN SINCE APRIL.
>> THE REPUBLICANS MADE A CLAIM
THAT THIS IS -- THEY PROVIDED A
HIGH AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR OUR
SCHOOLS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS A
SHELL GAME BECAUSE MOST OF THAT
MONEY THAT THEY PROVIDED WAS FOR
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
AND THE SCHOOLS DON'T GET THAT
MONEY.
>> AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
BASHES REPUBLICANS FOR NOT
DELIVERING MORE SCHOOL AID IN A
SPECIAL SESSION HE CALLED AND
THAT THEY GAVELED INTO AND
IMMEDIATELY OUT OF THIS WEEK.
THOSE SAME PARTY MEMBERS, IN AN
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE, FAILED TO OVERRIDE
AN EVERS' VETO OF THEIR BILL
THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED BIGGER
UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS.
SO THE EXTRA $300 A WEEK KEEPS
COMING TO BENEFICIARIES UNTIL
EARLY SEPTEMBER.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
DELTA VARIANT CAUSES A NEW
CORONAVIRUS SPIKE.
THE CDC TELLS AMERICANS TO GET
THE MASK BACK ON.
DO EXTRA COVID JOBLESS BENEFITS
KEEP PEOPLE FROM RETURNING TO
THE WORKFORCE?
A UW EXPERT REVIEWS THE FACT AND
FICTION.
STATE RENTERS AND PROPERTY
OWNERS BRACE FOR WHAT HAPPENS
AFTER THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS
SET TO EXPIRE ON SATURDAY.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS.
AND AN INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY CANDIDATE FOR WISCONSIN
ATTORNEY GENERAL, ERIC TONEY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 30.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" A
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU
COULD GO WITHOUT A MASK, THE CDC
THIS WEEK RECOMMENDED THAT
PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR THEM ONCE
AGAIN INDOORS, WHERE COVID-19
CASES HAVE SPIKED TO SUBSTANTIAL
OR HIGH LEVELS.
THAT INCLUDES 35 COUNTIES SO FAR
IN WISCONSIN SHOWN ON THIS MAP
IN YELLOW AND RED.
DANE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK RECOMMENDED
EVERYONE WEAR A MASK INSIDE
REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION
STATUS.
TO GET THE STATEWIDE PICTURE, WE
TURN TO DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES, JULIE WILLEMS VAN
DIJK, AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> SO IS THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOLLOWING
THE CDC GUIDANCE AND RECOMMEND
PEOPLE WEAR MASKS INDOORS AT
THIS TIME?
>> YES.
WE ARE AGAIN VERY CONSISTENT
WITH CDC.
WE'VE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE RISE IN
CASES DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT.
AND THERE'S ALSO EARLY EMERGING
EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED THAT ARE
INFECTED WITH DELTA, BECAUSE
SOME WILL BE, MAY BE ABLE TO
TRANSMIT THE VIRUS.
AND PREVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T THINK
THAT WAS TRUE.
AND THAT'S THE REAL RATIONALE
BEHIND THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR
MASKS WHERE THERE'S HIGH
TRANSMISSION WHEN WE'RE IN
INDOOR SETTINGS TOGETHER.
>> AND SO, AGAIN, WHO SHOULD
WEAR THEM?
EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF
VACCINATION STATUS?
>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
WHEN YOU ARE IN A COMMUNITY WITH
HIGHER SUBSTANTIAL TRANSMISSION,
AND EVEN IF YOU WANT TO BE EXTRA
SAFE IN COMMUNITIES WITH
MODERATE TRANSMISSION.
WE HAVE NOWHERE IN WISCONSIN
WITH LOW TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW.
WE RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY,
WHETHER YOU'RE VACCINATED OR
NOT, WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE WITH
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR
HOUSEHOLD, WEAR A MASK.
>> AND WHAT IS YOUR
RECOMMENDATION AROUND K-12
SCHOOLS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS?
>> SO CDC AND DHS ARE ALSO
RECOMMENDING THAT ALL TEACHERS,
STAFF, VISITORS AND STUDENTS IN
K-12 SCHOOLS WEAR MASKS, AGAIN,
WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE.
WHEN WE'RE OUTSIDE, WE KNOW
THERE ISN'T VERY HIGH DISEASE
TRANSMISSION.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN
SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A
MIX OF VACCINATED AND
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12
CANNOT GE YET GET VACCINATED, SO
IT'S AN IMPORTANT LAYER OF
PROTECTION SO THAT OUR CHILDREN
CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY
THIS FALL.
>> SOME PEOPLE CONTINUE TO
QUESTION THIS, INCLUDING OUR OWN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON WHO ASKED
PUBLICLY THIS WEEK, DO MASKS
EVEN WORK?
DO THEY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD,
PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN WHO
HAVE A LOW RISK OF SERIOUS
DISEASE OR DEATH FROM COVID?
SO DO THEY WORK?
DO THEY CAUSE MORE HARM THAN
GOOD?
>> THEY ABSOLUTELY WORK.
THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT THIS
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES
TRANSMISSION OF RESPIRATORY
VIRUS AND THE DROPLETS THAT
CARRY THE VIRUS.
AND THEY WORK ESPECIALLY WELL
WHEN EVERYBODY IS WEARING THEM.
SO, AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, MY
MASK PROTECTS YOU, YOUR MASK
PROTECTS ME.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE HEARD
FROM MANY, MANY PARENTS AND I'VE
OBSERVED IN CHILDREN IN MY OWN
FAMILY IS CHILDREN DON'T HAVE
NEARLY AS BIG A PROBLEM WITH
WEARING A MASK AS WE DO.
AS LONG AS THEY GET TO PICK
WHICH CHARACTER OR WHICH PRINT
IS ON THEIR MASK, THEY ACTUALLY
SEEM TO DO QUITE FINE WITH
WEARING MASKS.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
THIS DELTA VARIANT AND OUR JUMP
IN CASES AND HOW THAT MIGHT
PROGRESS?
>> DELTA VARIANT IS VERY
CONCERNING.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY INFECTIOUS
VARIANT OF COVID-19.
AND LET'S BE CLEAR.
THE GARDEN VARIETY OF COVID-19
WAS INFECTIOUS ENOUGH.
CDC IS SAYING TODAY THAT AS
INFECTIOUS AS CHICKEN POX.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER,
YOU KNOW IF ONE KID IN YOUR
FAMILY GOT IT, OF COU EVERYBODY.
THAT'S HOW INFECTIOUS DELTA
VARIANT IS.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S VERY
CONCERNING ABOUT THIS VARIANT IS
IT MUTATED FROM OTHER VARIANTS.
AND SO IF WE DO NOT GET A HANDLE
ON THIS THROUGH HIGHER
VACCINATION, WHICH IS OUR MOST
IMPORTANT STRATEGY RIGHT NOW,
WHAT WILL THE NEXT VARIANT LOOK
LIKE AND COULD IT BE EVEN WORSE
THAN THIS ONE.
>> HOW ARE WE DOING ON THE
VACCINE FRONT?
>> SO AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE
ALMOST 52% OF OUR TOTAL
POPULATION OF OUR STATE HAS
RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE AND
ALMOST -- WELL, 49.3% HAVE
COMPLETED THEIR VACCINE SERIES.
AND WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE STALLED
OUT.
WE WERE SEEING THOSE PERCENTAGE
POINTS JUMP BY A PERCENTAGE OR
TWO A DAY IN MARCH AND APRIL,
WHEN PEOPLE WERE CLAMORING FOR
VACCINE.
THEY'RE CREEPING UP NOW.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF
A BUMP SINCE THIS NEWS OF DELTA
VARIANT CAME OUT AND I THINK
SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
WAITING AND WONDERING ARE
VOLUNTEERING AND GETTING VACCINE
NOW.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE THAT
52% UP TO 70% OR 80% IN ORDER TO
GET A TRUE COMMUNITY IMMUNITY TO
STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE WILL WATCH THAT.
JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU PAY PEOPLE OVER $17 AN
HOUR TAX-FREE TO STAY HOME AND
NOT WORK, THERE ARE GOING TO BE
FEWER PEOPLE WORKING.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
>> BECAUSE HE SAID IT'S KEEPING
PEOPLE FROM TAKING A JOB,
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
WANTED TO END THE $300 A WEEK
UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENT, BUT
REPUBLICANS FAILED TO GET ENOUGH
VOTES TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR
EVERS' VETO TO DO THAT.
IS IT A DISINCENTIVE TO WORK?
TO THAT QUESTION WE TURN TO
LABOR ECONOMIST AND ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF WISCONSIN OF
WISCONSIN STRATEGY, LAURA
DRESSER.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> STUDIES SAY THE ENHANCED
UNEMPLOYMENT ONLY RESULTS IN A
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TAKING
BENEFITS OVER TAKING A JOB, BUT
IT DOES STILL SEEM INTUITIVE
THAT IF THE BENEFITS ARE BETTER
THAN WHATEVER JOB YOU LOST, WHY
WOULDN'T A PERSON STAY HOME?
>> I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU'RE
JUST GOING TO HOLD THAT UP, YOU
CAN GET A JOB OR YOU CAN GET
THESE BENEFITS, YOU CAN KIND OF
SEE THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE
STUDIES FIND A VERY SMALL
IMPACT.
BUT IT'S A VERY SMALL IMPACT.
WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IS WE
JUST HAD A ONCE IN A CENTURY, WE
HOPE, PANDEMIC.
OUR LABOR, WE CONTRACTED
DRAMATICALLY AND THE NUMBER OF
JOBS WE HAVE TODAY IS STILL
100,000 FEWER THAN WE DID IN
FEBRUARY, 2020.
AND SO THE -- AND WE'VE ALL
FACED INCREDIBLE CHOICES ABOUT
WORK AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR
HEALTH.
AND WE ARE ALL FIGURING THAT
OUT.
I THINK ALL THAT IS GOING ON.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
BENEFIT, THE INCREASE TO THAT
LITERALLY HELPED PEOPLE STAY IN
THEIR HOMES, LITERALLY HELPED
PEOPLE KEEP FOOD ON THEIR
TABLES.
IT STILL IS DOING THAT WORK THAT
IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND TO ACT AS IF -- THAT IF WE
TAKE THAT MONEY AWAY, THAT WILL
BRING A FLOOD TO THIS LABOR
MARKET, WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN
LONGSTANDING SHRINKAGE, I THINK
THAT JUST MISPLACES WHAT THE
ISSUES, WHAT THE COMPLEXITY OF
THE ISSUES HOLDING PEOPLE A
LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM WORK THESE
DAYS IS.
>> YEAH.
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE DESCRIBE OTHER
IMPEDIMENTS TO GOING BACK INTO
THE JOB FORCE, LIKE CHILD CARE,
TRANSPORTATION AND, AS YOU
MENTIONED STILL HEALTH CONCERNS
AND PERHAPS NOW INCREASING
HEALTH CONCERNS.
>> YES.
I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO
PRETEND THAT -- MAYBE A MONTH
AGO WE ALL WANTED TO PRETEND
THIS IS OVER, NOW WE GET A NEW
THING.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND I THINK TODAY
BETTER THAN THEN THAT THIS IS A
DYNAMIC THING AND VARIANTS ARE
GOING TO CREATE NEW SITUATIONS.
AND IF WE'RE NOT ALL VACCINATED
OR EVEN IF WE ARE, VARIANTS MAY
CREATE THESE KINDS OF
SITUATIONS.
AND WHAT WORKERS WHO
CONSISTENTLY IN COMING INTO THIS
PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, THE WORKERS
THAT HAVE FACED VERY VOLATILE
HOURS, VERY LOW WAGES AND NEVER
GET HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH
THEIR JOBS.
YOU KNOW, HEALTH INSURANCE IS A
LOT MORE IMPORTANT NOW AND A
RESTAURANT JOB WHERE YOU'RE
EXPOSED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
YOU NEVER GET HEALTH INSURANCE I
THINK LOOKS A LITTLE LESS
APPEALING.
>> SO EXPERIENTIALLY THOUGH
THERE DO SEEM TO BE SUPPLY CHAIN
PROBLEMS AND SERVICE AND
HOSPITALITY WORKER SHORTAGES.
IS THAT BECAUSE ALL THE FEDERAL
RELIEF BENEFITS ARE TOO
GENEROUS?
OR DO EMPLOYERS NEED TO DO
SOMETHING TO SORT OF ATTRACT AND
RETAIN PEOPLE?
>> I'D REALLY LOOK TO -- THERE
ISN'T ONE EXPERIENCE OF THE
EMPLOYERS IN THIS LABOR MARKET.
IT IS HARDER TO FIND WORKERS,
BUT THERE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE
FINDING WORKERS.
THERE ARE EMPLOYERS THAT ATTEND
TO THEIR SCHEDULING PRACTICES.
THEIR WAGES ARE NOT ROCK BOTTOM.
THEY OFFER BENEFITS WHEN THEY
CAN.
AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS A
ROLE TO REALLY MAKE A MASSIVE
INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE, TO
MAKE IT ACCE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDE
SO PEOPLE HAVE SUPPORTS TO MAKE
SURE THEIR KIDS ARE SAFE.
>> A LOT.
LAURA DRESSER, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS MEANT TO CURB THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19 IS SET TO
EXPIRE TOMORROW.
SOME ARE PREDICTING A TIDE
ALWAVE OF EVICTIONS.
OTHERS SAY FEDERAL PANDEMIC
RELIEF DOLLARS ARE HELPING
ENSURE THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
MARISA WOJCIK EXPLORES THE
IMPACT OF THE END OF THE
MORATORIUM WITH THIS STORY FROM
GREEN BAY.
>> AND THEY WERE GOING TO PAY IT
ALL OFF.
AND HE STILL EVICTED ME.
>> IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO, ON HER
DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY.
>> AND HE'S LIKE I'M GIVING YOU
UNTIL THE 31ST TO GET OUT.
THAT'S MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY,
HER 16TH BIRTHDAY.
WE HAD NO PLACE TO GO.
>> 41-YEAR-OLD DANIELLE KASEE
SAID THE RENT CHECK WAS PUT IN
THE LANDLORD'S MAILBOX.
BUT THE LANDLORD CLAIMED HE
DIDN'T GET IT.
DANIELLE AND HER FOUR CHILDREN
LOST THEIR HOUSING ON JULY 31,
2020.
>> WHEN WE MOVED IN HERE, WE
WERE HOMELESS.
WE WERE STAYING AT FRIENDS'
HOUSES.
WE STAYED AT THE FREEDOM HOUSE
FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.
>> THE EVICTION BAN WENT FROM
MARCH TO MAY OF 2020.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE CDC ENACTED A
FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM TO
HELP CURB THE RISE IN COVID-19
CASES.
TENANTS COULD NOT BE EVICTED.
THAT MORATORIUM IS SET TO EXPIRE
JULY 31 AND MANY ARE WORRIED
ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.
DANIELLE WAS EVICTED DURING A
THREE M-MONTH GAP AND BY THE TIE
THE C DC ENACTED ITS BAN, SHE
FOUND HERSELF IN A HOMELESSNESS
PURGATORY.
>> THERE'S NO PLACES WHERE --
YOU KNOW, RENTING OUT BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T EVICT EVERYBODY
BECAUSE OF THAT BEING IN PLACE.
SO I COULDN'T FIND A DECENT
PLACE FOR WHAT I COULD AFFORD.
>> AND AN EVICTION ON HER RECORD
MADE IT EVEN HARDER.
BUT WITH ALLIES ON HER SIDE LIKE
THE NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
COMMUNITY PROGRAM OR NEWCAP SHE
HAD A BETTER JOB OF FINDING AN
APARTMENT AND WORKING WITH A NEW
LANDLORD.
NEWCAP SUPPORTED HER WHERE IT
MATTERS MOST: WITH RENT.
AFTER SHE LEFT HER JOB DUE TO
COVID-19 SAFETY CONCERNS.
>> NEWCAP WAS LIKE WE'RE HERE,
YOU KNOW.
LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HELP HER.
GUYS LIKE FELT SO RELIEVED.
>> DANIELLE IS ONE OF THOUSANDS
OF RENTERS ACROSS THE STATE
GETTING RENT RELIEF FROM THE
WISCONSIN EMERGENCY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR WERA.
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH COMMUNITY
ACTION PROGRAMS, PROVIDING A NEW
FINANCIAL SAFETY NET TO TENANTS
AND THEIR LANDLORDS.
>> WELL, OF COURSE WE SAW THINGS
ON THE TV ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT
KIND OF ALMOST NATIONALLY BEING
ANNOUNCED THAT RENTERS WOULD
SOMEHOW NOT HAVE TO PAY THEIR
RENT.
>> JOE DEKEYSER IS A LANDLORD TO
NINE HOUSEHOLDS IN GREEN BAY,
SOME OF WHICH WERE NOT IMMUNE TO
THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PANDEMIC.
UNABLE TO PAY RENT, THEY TURNED
TO NEWCAP FOR HELP.
>> I WAS -- I WAS KIND OF
ACTUALLY SURPRISED BY IT, THAT
THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE JUST
LIKE, OH, YEAH, WE'RE WILLING TO
HELP YOU AND NO PROBLEM AND THE
PAYMENT'S COMING RIGHT TO YOU.
IT MIGHT BE TWO WEEKS OR SO.
AND IT ALL WORKED OUT.
>> THREE ROUNDS OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED
TO HELP KEEP RE RENTERS' HOUSING
STABLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
MORE THAN 720 MILLION IN RENTAL
ASSISTANCE WILL COME TO
WISCONSIN THROUGH 2025.
TO DATE, MORE THAN $74 MILLION
OF THAT HAS GONE TO HELP 26,000
HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND BECAUSE THESE FUNDS WILL BE
AVAILABLE FAR BEYOND THE
MORATORIUM, SOME ARE NOT
PREDICTING A TIDAL WAVE OF
EVICTIONS ONCE THE BAN IS
LIFTED.
>> YOU CAN MOVE NO ONE FROM
POVERTY.
YOU CAN MOVE NO ONE FROM A BAD
ECONOMIC SITUATION TO A BETTER
ONE.
YOU CAN GET NO ONE TRAINED AND
GET THEM INTO A JOB IF YOU DON'T
FIRST HAVE THEM HOUSED.
>> CHERYL DETRICK IS PRESIDENT
AND CEO OF NEWCAP, WHICH
OPERATES IN TEN COUNTIES IN
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.
WHILE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS
PROVIDE A NUMBER OF SERVICES,
PRIORITIZED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY
NEEDS, ONE ISSUE IS AT THE TOP
OF EVERYONE'S LIST: AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AND
WILL BE FOR THE NEXT DECADE THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE TO
OVERCOME.
NO PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES
WHERE TWO PEOPLE WORKING MINIMUM
WAGE CAN AFFORD A TWO-BEDROOM
APARTMENT.
>> BUT THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF IS
SHIFTING.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE LOWEST
INCOME EARNERS NEEDING HELP.
>> WE'RE ALSO SERVING PEOPLE
BETWEEN 60% AND 80% OF COUNTY
MEDIAN INCOME.
IN BROWN COUNTY FOR A SINGLE
PERSON THAT'S ABOUT $44,000.
SO WE'RE SEEING THIS ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE.
>> ON ONE SIDE, THE COST OF
LIVING KEEPS GOING UP.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, INCOME,
ESPECIALLY THOSE AT THE BOTTOM,
ARE STAGNANT.
>> THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL
FORWARDABILITY PROBLEM, LACK OF
AVAILABLE UNITS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS PREDATE THE
PANDEMIC.
BUT RIGHT NOW THE NEED IS TO
MEET PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY NEEDS
AND GET THEM STABILIZED WHILE WE
FIGURE OUT LONGER-TERM
SOLUTIONS.
>> A HOUSING LAWYER IN GREEN BAY
WITH LEGAL ACTION WISCONSIN
PROVIDES COUNSEL TO AS MANY
TENANTS FACING EVICTION AS
POSSIBLE.
HE IS EXPECTING TO BE A LOT
BUSIER AFTER JULY 31.
>> WE EXPECT TO BE VERY
OVERWHELMED.
WE'RE ALREADY GETTING AN
INCREASE IN CALLS.
>> NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT
EVICTION NUMBERS WILL LOOK LIKE
WHEN THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES.
FILINGS FELL TO 19,429 IN 2020,
WITH THE MORATORIUM IN PLACE.
THAT'S DOWN FROM 27,026 FILED IN
2019.
THE FAST PACE OF EVICTIONS WAS
FORCED TO SLOW DOWN AND
EVICTIONS COULD BE SEEN THROUGH
A NEW LENS.
>> IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL
FROM WHERE I SIT TO HAVE THE
MORATORIUM EXTENDED,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN
THE HOUSING SYSTEM RIGHT NOW
THAT CAN HELP STABILIZE PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THAT HELPS LANDLORDS,
TOO.
>> EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC,
LANDLORD JOE DEKEYSER HAS WORKED
WITH TENANTS WHO MAY HAVE A PAST
EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD OR WHO
STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY.
>> THEY WERE WILLING TO IMPROVE
ON THAT AND HAVE A BETTER
QUALITY OF LIFE AND FOR ME TO
GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY AS A
STARTING BASE IT MEANT A LOT
THAT THEY COULD BUILD FROM THAT
AND HAVE SOME STABILITY.
>> A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND
STABILITY IS WHAT DANIELLE IS
WORKING TOWARDS.
AND THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF
WORRYING ABOUT THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM EXPIRING ON JULY 31,
SHE WOULD RATHER MAKE UP FOR HER
DAUGHTER'S MISSED BIRTHDAY
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO WHEN THEY
WERE EVICTED.
>> AND I FELT SO BAD, YOU KNOW?
SO THIS YEAR I HAVE A SURPRISE
FOR HER.
SO SHE'S GOING TO GO AND HAVE A
BONFIRE AT HER FRIEND'S AT MY
DAUGHTER'S HOUSE ON SUNDAY.
I HAVE SOMETHING NICE PLANNED
FOR HER, SO...
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN GREEN BAY.
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS
CALLING ON CONGRESS TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM DEADLINE
ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF A SURGE IN
COVID-19 CASES DUE TO THE DELTA
VARIANT.
TURNING TO THE 2022 ELECTIONS
TWO CANDIDATES ARE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RACE FOR
WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL.
LAST WEEK WE REDUCED YOU TO RYAN
OWENS.
TONIGHT WE SPEAK WITH ERIC
TONEY.
TONEY HAS BEEN THE FOND DU LAC
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SINCE 2013.
HE'S THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE
WISCONSIN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ASSOCIATION.
DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2020,
TONEY ADVISED LOCAL OFFICIALS
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS EXCEEDED HIS
LEGAL AUTHORITY BY EXTENDING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BEYOND
60 DAYS.
ERIC TONEY JOINS US FROM
FOND DU LAC.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHY SHOULD WISCONSIN VOTERS
ELECT YOU TO BE ATTORNEY
GENERAL?
>> WHAT WE'VE REALLY SEEN FROM
OUR CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL IS
LEADERSHIP FAILURE AFTER
LEADERSHIP FAILURE, WHETHER IT
WAS MARCY'S LAW WHEN THAT CAME
OUT LAST APRIL AND THE FAILED
GUIDANCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ACROSS
WISCONSIN TO GIVE CONCRETE
GUIDANCE WHERE NOW WE HAVE SO
MANY DIFFERENT COUNTIES
STRUGGLING TO ADAPT.
WE THEN SAW THE FAILED GUIDANCE
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND THEN WHEN WE SAW THE DEFUND
THE POLICE MOVEMENT AND THE
CHAOS THAT ENSUED AFTER THE
JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING, OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOWHERE TO
BE FIND.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS NOT
AFRAID TO LEAD.
I'M IN MY NINTH YEAR NOW,
PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE WISCONSIN
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION.
AND I HAVE ALSO PROSECUTED JUST
ABOUT ANY TYPE OF CASE YOU CAN
THINK OF, FROM MURDERERS, COLD
CASE HOMICIDES, SCWAWLTS,
COMPLEX DRUG CONSPIRACIES, DRUNK
DRIVING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I'VE UTILIZED EVERY RESOURCE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
HAS TO OFFER FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS OUR TOP
COP AND WE NEED AN ATTORNEY
GENERAL THAT'S GOING TO ACT LIKE
OUR TOP COP.
I'M THE SON OF A COP.
MY DAD WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I GREW UP
IN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY
AND THEY HAVE EARNED OUR RESPECT
AND OUR SUPPORT.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE WE DON'T
WANT BAD COPS OUT THERE EITHER.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE DUE PROCESS JUST LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE.
BECAUSE ANY BAD COP OUT THERE IS
STANDING ON MY DAD'S REPUTATION
AND ALL OUR OTHER WONDERFUL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THAT'S THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE
THROUGHOUT THIS CASE.
THE LEADERSHIP I HAVE EXHIBITED
OVER MY TIME AS DISTRICT
ATTORNEY IS EVIDENT BY THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT THAT I HAVE.
OVER 60 OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROFESSIONALS HAVE ENDORSED ME.
IT'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM
REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND THE
UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENT FROM THE
WISCONSIN FRATERNAL ORDER OF
POLICE.
>> SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WOULD
BE YOUR POSITION ON SOME OF THE
PRONGS OF POLICE REFORM THAT
PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR IN LIGHT
OF CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THAT OF
GEORGE FLOYD?
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO -- WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT POLICE IMPROVEMENT,
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL,
SO PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS
AND OUR COURTS.
I'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
COIN.
BEFORE BECOMING A DISTRICT
ATTORNEY I WAS A DEFENSE
ATTORNEY.
SO I WOULD REPRESENT CRIMINALS,
DO MENTAL HEALTH CASES.
I'VE SEEN THIS ISSUE FROM BOTH
SIDES AND HAD THOSE PERSONAL
CONVERSATIONS WITH DEFENDANTS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THEIR
CONCERNS ARE.
THAT'S A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT
NOBODY ELSE IN THIS RACE HAS.
SO WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.
BUT WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON
POLICE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEM AS
A WHOLE AND NOT PANDER TO
INTEREST GROUP.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IMPROVEMENTS
THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE SAFE
WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE SAFETY
OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> YOU SAY YOU SUPPORT IMPROVING
AND DEFENDING WISCONSIN ELECTION
LAWS AND SAY YOU WOULD FIGHT TO
ENSURE ALL BALLOTS ARE TREATED
EQUALLY REGARDLESS WHAT COUNTY
THEY ARE CAST IN.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS SOME
CLERKS WHEN WE LOOK AT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS, WHERE SOMEONE IS
FILLING OUT A CERTIFICATE, AND
WHOEVER IS FILLING THAT
CERTIFICATE OUT TO VERIFY THAT
SOMEONE IS WHO THEY SAY AND SAY
FORGET TO PUT THEIR ADDRESS ON
THERE, SOME CLERKS ARE FILLING
IN THAT ADDRESS.
OTHER CLERKS ARE NOT DOING THAT.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY
IS OPERATING BY THE SAME RULES,
THAT THE LAW IS APPLIED EQUALLY
ACROSS ALL OF WISCONSIN.
THAT'S AN AREA WHERE FRANKLY AN
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION COULD
GIVE GREAT GUIDANCE.
BECAUSE THIS ISN'T AN EFFORT TO
SAY WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO
VOTE.
WE DO.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY'S BALLOT IS BEING
TREATED EQUALLY THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN.
AND THERE'S NOTHING
CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THAT.
>> JUST REALLY QUICKLY, DO YOU
BELIEVE THAT INVESTIGATIONS INTO
WISCONSIN'S ELECTION ARE
WARRANTED?
>> WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON
WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS
ELECTIONS -- OR INVESTIGATIONS
GO.
I'M MORE CONCERNED.
I THINK OUR LEGISLATURE HAS DONE
A GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING SOME
ISSUES WITH REGARD TO OUR
ELECTION LAWS TO LOOK AT GAPS.
THE BIGGER CONCERN IS OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS CUT THE
PROSECUTION UNIT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BY 25% AND
ALLOWED KEY POSITIONS TO GO
UNFILLED, EFFECTIVELY DEFUNDING
THE POLICE WHEN WE'VE SEEN
MILWAUKEE SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD
FOR HOMICIDES.
OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING
MORE SHOOTINGS AND MO HOMICIDES.
THAT'S NOT A RECORD TO BE PROUD
OF.
>> I NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OUT OF TIME THERE FOR A
FOLLOW-UP, BUT THE DOJ SAYS ITS
BUDGE TOOK A $2.5 MILLION CUT
AND NOW AFTER THE LAME DUCK LAW
LACKS ACCESS TO SETTLEMENT FUNDS
TO BACKFILL THE AGENCY'S BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE OUR INTERVIEW WITH
OTHER CANDIDATES AT
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS 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 OF PBS
WISCONSIN.