THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN HOSPITALS START TO
FEEL THE SQUEEZE CAUSED BY THE
RISING COVID INFECTION NUMBERS,
NUMBERS THAT HAVE TRIPLED IN THE
LAST MONTH.
AFGHAN REFUGEES CONTINUED TO
ARRIVE AT VOLK FIELD EARLY THIS
WEEK.
THE BASE IS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO UP TO 13,000 AFGHANS.
HOW WISCONSIN VOTED AND COUNTED
THAT VOTE IN 2020 IS STILL A HOT
PRIORITY FOR STATE REPUBLICANS.
AND IT'S MIXED NEWS FOR THE
WISCONSIN WAGES AND JOBS OUTLOOK
HEADING INTO THIS LABOR DAY
WEEKEND.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW,
RISING COVID CASES AND WHAT THEY
MEAN FOR A SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL
IN WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S LAUREL
WHITE UPDATES THE REPUBLICAN
EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE
THE 2020 ELECTION.
NEW NUMBERS ON JOBS AND WAGES
GOING INTO LABOR DAY.
AND THE MADISON FIRE DEPARTMENT
TRIES A NEW WAY TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENCIES, AND KEEP THE PEACE.
IT'S HERE AND NOW,
FOR SEPTEMBER 3.
FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AS DELTA COVID CASES CONTINUE
TO SPIKE, HOSPITALS ACROSS THE
STATE ARE BUMPING UP
AGAINST CAPACITY.
HOSPITALS LIKE THE MARSHFIELD
MEDICAL CENTER IN BEAVER DAM.
IT'S A SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL IN
DODGE COUNTY, A PLACE WHERE
CASES ARE ON THE RISE AND THE
PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS FULLY
VACCINATED IS TEN POINTS BELOW
THE STATE AVERAGE.
THE HOSPITAL IS NEARLY FULL UP
NOW AND STAFF THERE WORRY FOR
THE START OF SCHOOL AND THE
WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.
FOR MORE ON THE SITUATION AT
MARSHFIELD MEDICAL CENTER IN
BEAVER DAM, WE TURN TO ANGELI
FOSTER, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICER AT THE HOSPITAL.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> SO WHAT IMPACT HAVE NEWLY
SPIKING COVID CASE NUMBERS HAD
ON YOUR HOSPITAL AND ITS
CAPACITY?
>> SO I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS.
WE HIT 92% OUR INPATIENT
CAPACITY, AND THAT'S A REAL
UPTICK FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN
THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
WE ARE SEEING A GREATER NEED FOR
RESPIRATORY CARE FOR OUR
PATIENTS THAT ARE COMING IN.
IT IS ON AVERAGE -- OUR AVERAGE
DAILY CENSUS IS 150% UP OVER
WHAT IT WAS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO WE'RE FEELING THE PRESSURE,
WE'RE FEELING THE STRAIN AND
WE'RE JUST SO INCREDIBLY SAD
THAT WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN THIS
FALL.
>> AND SO I GUESS IT GOES
WITHOUT SAYING THAT THOSE
PATIENTS NEEDING RESPIRATORY
CARE AND THE CAPACITY SITUATION
IS DUE TO PATIENTS WHO COME IN
COVID-POSITIVE?
>> CORRECT.
YES.
DIRECTLY TIED.
WE HAD A POINT LAST WEEKEND
WHERE WE WERE ABOUT 30% OF THE
PATIENTS WE HAD IN THE HOUSE
WERE COVID-POSITIVE, AND 100% OF
THOSE IN ICU ON VENTILATORS WERE
COVID-POSITIVE.
>> SO HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU AND
YOUR HOSPITAL STAFF ABOUT
PROJECTIONS OF EVEN FURTHER
SURGING COVID CASES INTO THE
FALL AND WINTER, ESPECIALLY IN A
COUNTY WITH LOWER VACCINATION
RATES?
>> WE'RE VERY CONCERNED.
YOU KNOW, DODGE COUNTY, NEW
CASES ARE UP 53% SINCE LAST
WEEK, SCHOOL STARTS BACK THIS
WEEK.
THE FAIR WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS
AGO, SO WE'RE REALLY
ANTICIPATING ADDITIONAL SURGES.
AND THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS,
LAST YEAR WE WEATHERED THE
STORM, MY TEAM HERE IS
INCREDIBLE, THE CLINICIANS AND
PROVIDERS WHO TAKE SUCH GOOD
CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED UP,
BUT WE HAVE 20% FEWER THIS YEAR
WORKING.
THEY CHOSE TO RETIRE OR LEAVE
HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THE
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS IS SO
INTENSE.
SO I'M NERVOUS NOT ONLY ABOUT
THE SURGE THAT'S COMING AND THE
FACT THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY
LET-UP IN THE NUMBERS, AND ALSO
NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF TO BE
ABLE TO MEET THAT NEED.
>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THE
SHORTAGE OF STAFF?
ARE YOU HAVING TO GO, SAY, OUT
OF STATE TO CONTRACT WITH STAFF?
>> SO WE HAVE SOME CONTRACTED
LABOR BUT EVEN THAT POOL IS
SMALL.
AND SO WE'VE REALLY TURNED TO A
TEAM MODEL.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOLKS WHO ARE
NOT TRADITIONALLY IN CLINICAL
ENVIRONMENTS TO COME IN AND
HELP.
I'M NOT CLINICAL, BUT I CAN
STOCK A PPE CART FOR THEM, OR I
CAN TAKE A WATER TO A PATIENT,
AND OUR STAFF IS SHOWING UP AND
DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS IN ORDER
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
PATIENTS.
>> WHAT ABOUT FOR PATIENTS WHO
MAY BE IN YOUR HOSPITAL FOR
THINGS LIKE HEART ATTACKS OR
STROKE, WHAT DOES THIS CAPACITY
AND THE NEEDS OF THESE NEWLY
INCOMING PATIENTS DO TO THE CARE
FOR THOSE PATIENTS?
>> WELL, OF COURSE WE ALWAYS,
ALWAYS, ALWAYS STRIVE TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR PATIENTS, AND DO THE
VERY BEST WE CAN FOR THEM.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT ACROSS
THE STATE, WE'RE ALL SPREAD
THIN, SO EVEN IF I WILL ACCEPT
PATIENTS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY
TO CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT
IF WE NEED TO TRANSFER OUT EVEN
OTHER FACILITIES ARE NOT IN A
POSITION TO TAKE FOLKS RIGHT
NOW.
SO IT IS A STRAIN.
AND WE DON'T EVER WANT TO GET TO
THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO
DECIDE WHO GETS SERVICES AND WHO
DOESN'T, BUT IF WE DON'T SLOW
DOWN ON THE TRAJECTORY, WE COULD
FIND OURSELVES THERE AGAIN THIS
FALL.
>> AND DO YOU FIND YOURSELVES
CLOSE TO THAT AT THIS MOMENT?
>> I THINK IT'S COMING IN THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS TO MONTHS, YES,
ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN'T GET FOLKS
TO GET THE VACCINE OR TO MASK UP
OR TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AS KIDS
RETURN TO SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW,
I WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE
YESTERDAY, AND IN THIS SMALL
TOWN HERE, THERE WERE ONLY A
HANDFUL OF US WEARING MASKS.
AS WE ALL START TO TRANSITION
INSIDE AND BE MORE AROUND EACH
OTHER, THE DELTA VARIANT IS MUCH
MORE CONTAGIOUS, AND WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE BIGGER ISSUES THIS FALL.
>> DO YOU HAVE AN INDICATION
FROM THE PATIENTS WHO ARE COMING
IN WHO ARE COVID-POSITIVE
WHETHER OR NOT THOSE WERE PEOPLE
WHO HAD BEEN VACCINATED?
>> SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST
MONTH AT MARSH VILLE CLINIC
HEALTH SYSTEM, 94% OF THOSE WHO
WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID HAD
NOT BEEN VACCINATED.
AND SO THAT'S VERY CONCERNING
FOR US, NOT ONLY HERE IN BEAVER
DAM BUT ACROSS THE STATE.
WHAT IT SHOWS ME IS THAT THE
VACCINE WORKS, RIGHT?
WITH ONLY 6% THOSE BEING
HOSPITALIZED HAVING HAD A
BREAKTHROUGH CASE, WHAT CONCERNS
ME MORE IS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT
HAD THAT COVERAGE FROM THE
VACCINE HAVING TO BE
HOSPITALIZED AND PLACED ON VENTS
AND SEEKING ADDITIONAL
RESPIRATORY SUPPORT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU WANT FROM
STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIALS BY
WAY OF ANY HELP WITH THIS?
>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, QUITE
HONESTLY, WE NEED TO QUIT MAKING
IT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE AND THAT'S WHEN I
NEED MY COLLEAGUES AND
LEADERSHIP BOTH AT STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVELS TO HELP US WITH.
MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED.
MOST OF THEM ARE WILLING TO WEAR
MASKS, AND YET WHEN IT COMES TO
PUBLICLY SAYING IT, THEY WON'T.
WE NEED A BREAK.
THIS HOSPITAL WILL HAVE BEEN
HERE A HUNDRED YEARS NEXT YEAR.
I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL
NOT LOOK THE SAME.
THE WAY WE CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS
WILL NOT LOOK THE SAME.
BECAUSE IF WE KEEP GOING THIS
WAY, WE'LL LOSE MORE STAFF,
WE'LL BE IN A WORSE POSITION AND
NOT KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK
LIKE IN THE FUTURE, SO I NEED MY
PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO
ACCESTEP UP TO THE PLATE WITH UD
HELP THE COMMUNITIES TO SEE, WE
NEED TO VACCINATE, WE NEED TO
MASK UP AND WE NEED TO SOCIAL
DISTANCE TO GET THIS UNDER
CONTROL.
>> BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR STAFF
ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS
AND SEEING IT EVERY DAY.
>> YES, YES.
AND YOU KNOW, MY STAFF, I HAD
ONE OF MY ICU NURSES STOP ME AND
SHE SAID, I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR
FIVE YEARS, AND FIVE YEARS PRIOR
TO COVID, I HAD ONLY LOST FOUR
PATIENTS.
AND IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE LOST
OVER 10 THAT I'M CARING FOR.
SHE SAID, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
WHEN THERE'S A SOLUTION AND A
VACCINE THAT COULD VERY WELL
HELP MY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IN
THESE RURAL AREAS, WE REALLY ARE
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY,
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
AND IT BREAKS OUR HEART WHEN WE
SEE THEM COME IN AND NEED THE
KIND OF HELP THAT THEY NEED TO
RECOVER FROM COVID IF THEY CAN
RECOVER FROM COVID.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE, WE LEAR IT
IN YOUR VOICE.
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR
HELPING US TO GET THE MESSAGE
OUT.
PLEASE, GET THE VACCINE.
>> FULL SEEM AHEAD ON THE
REPUBLICAN ELECTION
INVESTIGATIONS IN WISCONSIN.
THIS WEEK, STATE GOP LAWMAKERS
APPROVED AUTHORIZING FORMER
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMEN TO SPEND AT LEAST
$680,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY
INVESTIGATING THE 2020 ELECTION.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS MET WITH
DERISION ON THE PART OF
DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING THE
GOVERNOR.
THIS LATEST PUSH IS ONE OF
SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE
ELECTION IN THIS STATE.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO CAPITOL
REPORTER, LAUREL WHITE, JOINS US
FROM THE CAPITOL TO BREAK THIS
DOWN.
LAUREL, VERY NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO THIS INVESTIGATION,
EMPLOYING FORMER JUSTICE
GABELMAN IS BACKED BY SPEAKER
VOS.
DOES IT THEN TAKE THE FRONT SEAT
OVER THE OTHERS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT DOES
HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE SPEAKER,
IT WAS CALLED FOR BY THE
SPEAKER, AND THAT REALLY DOES
ELEVATE IT IN TERMS OF KIND OF
ATTENTION IT'S GOING TO GET, HOW
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
IT, NOW IS IT GOING TO BE GIVEN
MORE WEIGHT IN THE END THAN
OTHER ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS
LIKE SAY THE ONGOING AUDIT
BUREAU INVESTIGATION THAT'S ALSO
ONGOING?
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
SEE AS THEE TWO THINGS KIND OF
PLAY OUTSIDE BY SIDE AND RESULTS
COME OUT EVENTUALLY IN THE
TIMING OF THAT WHICH COMES
FIRST, WHAT'S FOLLOWING UP, JUST
WHAT IT ALL ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE
IN THE END.
>> SO OTHER THAN THE AUDIT
BUREAU AND THIS GABELMAN
INVESTIGATION, THERE ARE OTHERS
AS WELL, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> SO THERE ARE SOME PENDING
INVESTIGATIONS.
THERE'S AN EFFORT THAT STATE
REPRESENTATIVE JANEL BRANCHIO IS
TRYING TO SPEARHEAD.
SHE SENT SOME SUBPOENAS TO
MILWAUKEE AND BROWN COUNTIES,
TRYING TO GET SOME ELECTION
INFORMATION FROM THOSE COUNTIES
TO KIND OF DO HER OWN
INVESTIGATION.
SHE'S THE CHAIR OF THE STATE
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.
SO WE HAVE THAT, WE ALSO HAVE
AND INQUIRY LED BY SOME PRIVATE
CITIZENS, SO SEVERAL KIND OF
ONGOING OR PENDING EFFORTS
HAPPENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
>> SO FOR HIS PART, WHAT IS
ROBIN VOS TRYING TO SHOW FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS
SUPPORTERS?
>> WELL, HE'S TRYING TO SHOW THE
PRESIDENT THAT HE'S TAKING
CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD OR
WRONGDOING SERIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, THE SPEAKER HAS REALLY
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
TAKEN STRONG CRITICISM FROM THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, FROM MANY
OTHER PEOPLE FROM HIS PARTY TO
SAY HE HASN'T DONE ENOUGH TO
LOOK INTO THE 2020 ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN, AND THAT'S DESPITE
REQUIRED STATE AUDITS THAT HAVE
TAKEN PLACE, THE PARTIAL
PRESIDENTIAL RECOUNT THAT WE HAD
IN DANE AND MILWAUKEE COUNTIES.
OBVIOUSLY SEVERAL
REPUBLICAN-BACKED LAWSUITS THAT
FAILED TO TURN UP ANY WIDESPREAD
VOTER FRAUD IN WISCONSIN.
SO DESPITE ALL OF THAT, THERE
REALLY IS A CONTINUED PUSH,
ESPECIALLY FROM THE FORMER
PRESIDENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT ENOUGH.
WISCONSIN HASN'T LOOKED INTO
VOTER FRAUD OR WRONGDOING
ENOUGH, AND SPEAKER VOS IS
SAYING I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
>> MEANWHILE, WE KNOW FORMER
JUSTICE GABELMAN TRAVELED TO
ARIZONA TO CHECK IN ON THE
INVESTIGATION AND TO AN EVENT
WITH THE MYPILLOW CEO.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT
WHERE GABLEMAN WANTS TO TAKE THE
WISCONSIN INVESTIGATION?
>> SO I HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH
FORMER JUSTICE GABLEMAN AT ALL
ABOUT HIS PARTICULAR INTENTIONS
FOR HIS INVESTIGATION.
BUT WE DID GET SOME NEW
INFORMATION THIS WEEK THAT IS
PRETTY INTERESTING.
IT'S THE BUDGET FOR THE
INVESTIGATION, WHICH OBVIOUSLY
TELLS US A LOT, AND WHAT WE
FOUND OUT THERE IS THAT A VERY
SIZABLE PORTION OF THE BUDGET,
THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS ABOUT --
JUST SHY OF $700,000, IS GOING
TO BE SPENT ON DATA ANALYSIS, SO
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE
A FIRM THAT'S HIRED TO LOOK AT
DATA.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT
MEANS, BUT I THINK IT'S KIND OF
SAFE TO SAY THAT MEANS, YOU
KNOW, BALLOTS, VOTING MACHINES,
DATA FROM VOTING MACHINES.
>> SO WITH ALL OF THE DISCUSSION
AROUND SUBPOENAS, WHICH YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER, BEING ISSUED
TO ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR ACCESS
TO BALLOTS AND VOTING MACHINES,
THEY HAVE TO BE SIGNED OFF ON BY
VOS, BUT WHAT IS THE STATUS ON
THESE SUBPOENAS RIGHT NOW?
>> SO IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD
POINT THAT YOU MENTION THAT
SPEAKER VOS HAS TO SIGN THESE
SUBPOENAS THAT WERE ISSUED BY
REPRESENTATIVE BRANCHION FOR
THEM TO BE VALID.
THE SPEAKER HAS NOT SIGNED THE
SUBPOENAS, SO WE'RE KIND OF
GOING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT
IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MILWAUKEE
COUNTY AND BROWN COUNTY, WHETHER
THEY REJECT OR ACCEPT THE CALLS
TO RELEASE THIS INFORMATION.
WE DO EXPECT MILWAUKEE COUNTY TO
REJECT THE SUBPOENA REQUEST AND
TO NOT RELEASE THAT INFORMATION.
>> MEANWHILE, WHAT ARE DEMOCRATS
SAYING ABOUT ALL OF THESE
EFFORTS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY
REITERATE THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT
OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS SO FAR.
THEY MENTIONED THOSE THINGS THAT
I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE STATE
AUDITS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN
PLACE, THE PARTIAL PRESIDENTIAL
RECOUNT, ALL OF THE LAWSUITS
THAT WE SAW AFTER THE ELECTION,
NONE OF WHICH HAVE TURNED UP
WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD.
THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW,
CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE,
CONTINUING TO LAUNCH NEW
INVESTIGATIONS SENDS A MESSAGE
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO FIND.
AND IN THEIR OPINION, THERE JUST
ISN'T ANYTHING TO FIND.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS FOR YOUR COVERAGE OF IT.
LAUREL WHITE, NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EACH YEAR AROUND LABOR DAY,
ECONOMISTS AT UW-MADISON PUT OUT
A REPORT TITLED "THE STATE OF
WORKING WISCONSIN."
THIS YEAR, AS THE STATE RECOVERS
FROM THE LOSSES ENDURED DURING
THE COVID PANDEMIC, THINGS ARE A
LITTLE SHAKY DUE TO SURGES
CAUSED BY THE DELTA VARIANT.
FOR MORE ON FORWARD PROGRESS FOR
THE LABOR ECONOMY AS WELL AS THE
BACKWARD STEPS INCURRED, WE TURN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COWS,
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CENTER ON
WISCONSIN STRATEGY AT
UW-MADISON, LAURA DRESSER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> WELL, AS YOU REPORT, COVID
OBVIOUSLY REALLY PUMMELED THE
WORKFORCE.
YOUR REPORT NOTES THAT 114,000
JOBS WERE LOST WITH THE HARDEST
HIT BEING IN THE LEISURE AND
HOSPITALITY SECTOR, WITH NEARLY
50,000 JOBS LOST, AND WHERE
EMPLOYMENT IS STILL DOWN 17.6%.
HOW HISTORIC ARE THESE LOSSES?
>> WELL, THE LOSSES IN APRIL OF
2020 WERE HISTORIC, MASSIVE
CONTRACTION, AND REINSTANT KIND
OF RESTRUCTURING.
THAT 114,000 THAT WE'RE BEHIND,
THAT'S HOW MANY FEWER JOBS WE
HAD IN JULY COMPARED TO FEBRUAR.
THAT'S AFTER A LOT OF MONTHS OF
PROGRESS, RIGHT, SO THAT THE
ORIGINAL CONTRACTION WAS INTENSE
AND DEEP, AND LEADER IN
HOSPITALITY ACTUALLY IN APRIL OF
2020 WAS DOWN 50%, AND HAS COME
BACK EACH -- SLOWLY AND UNEVENLY
TO THIS LEVEL OF BEING ALMOST
20% BEHIND STILL WHERE IT WAS IN
FEBRUARY 2020.
>> SO IT'S STILL NEARLY 20%
BEHIND.
ONE QUESTION OFTEN ASKED IS, WHY
DIDN'T THOSE WORKERS RETURN?
>> WELL, ONE THING, YOU CAN SEE
ACROSS THE STATE IS THAT SOME
RESTAURANTS DIDN'T SURVIVE THE
CONTRACTION, RIGHT?
SOME JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY ARE
GONE.
SOME WORKERS DIDN'T RETURN
BECAUSE LAST YEAR, THEIR KIDS
WERE DOING SCHOOL ONLINE AND IT
WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND CHILD
CARE.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
GETTING INDUSTRY -- RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY WAGES, THE CHILD CARE
SITUATION CAN BE COMPLETELY
IMPOSSIBLE AND WITH THE ONLINE
LEARNING, THE FAMILY DEMANDS
WERE HIGH.
BUT I THINK ALSO SOME PEOPLE USE
THE CHANCE TO MOVE INTO
DIFFERENT SORTS OF JOBS, JOBS
WITH LESS EXPOSURE, RIGHT?
THE IDEA OF BEING EXPOSED AT
WORK THROUGH CUSTOMERS OR
CO-WORKERS BECAME MORE
THREATENING.
THE IDEA OF NOT GETTING HEALTH
INSURANCE FROM YOUR JOB BECAME A
BIGGER NEGATIVE.
AND SO THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF
WAYS THAT WORKERS COULD
RECONSIDER WORK, BUT ALSO JUST
THIS INTENSE CONTRACTION THAT
JOBS DIDN'T EXIST.
AND SO BOTH THINGS ARE GOING ON
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
BOTH.
>> NOW YOU SAY IN YOUR REPORTING
THAT A WEAK LABOR MARKET TIPS
THE BALANCE OF POWER TOWARD
EMPLOYERS.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE, ESPECIALLY
AS EMPLOYERS REPORT BEING SO
DESPERATE FOR WORKERS?
>> I KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN
THE -- I MEAN, IN THE ORIGINAL
PART OF THE INTERACTION, I WOULD
SAY IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS A LOT
OF SLACK, THERE WERE A LOT MORE
WORKERS THAN JOBS.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, THERE'S
JUST STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE
BALANCE IS TIPPED IN THE
DIRECTION OF WORKERS FOR SURE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE KIND
OF RELATIVELY WE'RE NOT BACK TO
FEBRUARY 2020 UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES, BUT WE'RE BACK CLOSE TO
THAT.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE
RECRUITING NOTICES THAT YOU GET
IN THE MAIL OR THE SIGNS ON THE
DOORS, AND I THINK THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT MOMENT TO TRY AND SEE
THE UNSUSTAINABILITY OF THE WAY
THOSE JOBS WERE STRUCTURED
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO SEE WHAT
IT MEANS TO HAVE JOBS WITH BAD
HOURS, LOW WAGES, NO PAID LEAVE
IN THE CONTEXT OF A PANDEMIC,
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING YOUR
FOOD DON'T -- IN MOST RESTAURANT
WORK SITES DON'T GET PAID IF
THEY GET SICK AND STAY HOME.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY BIG INCENTIVE
TO COME TO WORK SICK.
SO ALL THESE THINGS KIND OF GOT
REVEALED, LIKE WHAT'S AN
ESSENTIAL WORKER, AND THEN HOW
DO WE RESTRUCTURE THAT WORK TO
MAKE IT -- TO MAKE LIFE IN THOSE
JOBS SUSTAINABLE.
>> AS YOU JUST SAID, OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS DOWN, AND
THIS SUMMER IN YOUR REPORT, YOU
NOTED THAT WISCONSIN ADDED MORE
THAN 13,000 JOBS.
SO THAT IS REAL PROGRESS OUT OF
THE COVID HOLE GOING FORWARD.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK WE ARE SEEING -- WE'VE
SEEN REAL PROGRESS, LIKE I SAID,
YOU KNOW, 500,000 JOBS, IF I
REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IN
APRIL 2020.
SO REALLY, WE'VE MOVED A LONG
WAY FORWARD ON THAT.
WE'RE STILL BEHIND A LITTLE BIT,
BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY
SEEING NOW IS WORKERS THINKING
HARD ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR
THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHAT'S
SAFE, CAN THEY GET CHILD CARE,
CAN THEY AFFORD THE THINGS THEY
NEED IN WORK, AND ARE THEY SAFE.
AND I THINK THE VACCINES HAVE
REALLY BEEN A GAME CHANGER, BUT
AGAIN, GAME CHANGE, ALSO DELTA
VARIANT, AND THAT PUTS PEOPLE
BACK ON THEIR HEELS A LITTLE BIT
AS WELL.
>> TOO MANY GAME CHANGES.
BUT TODAY'S NATIONAL JOB NUMBERS
WERE LOWER THAN PROJECTED.
WHAT DOES THAT FORETELL IN YOUR
MIND?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD
TWO VERY STRONG KIND OF
700,000-PLUS JOBS REPORTS, AND
THEN THIS MONTH WAS MORE LIKE
235.
I THINK THAT FROM MY PRELIMINARY
LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, IT LOOKS
TO ME LIKE THAT'S WEAKER THAN
EXPECTED, BUT STILL SUBSTANTIAL
GROWTH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
AND YOU SEE IN SECTORS IN
RESTAURANTS AND IN LEISURE AND
HOSPITALITY THAT ARE REALLY
NEEDING TO RECOVER.
SO THERE IS RECOVERY THERE, IT'S
NOT AS STRONG AS PEOPLE WANT --
OR PEOPLE EXPECTED BUT IT'S
STILL RECOVERY, AND SO IT'S LIKE
GOOD NEWS BUT A REMINDER THAT
THIS IS A ROCKY PATH AND THERE
ARE A LOT OF DYNAMICS AT WORK.
THERE'S ALSO SOME EVIDENCE OF
STRONGER WAGE PRESSURE IN THAT
REPORT, IN LEISURE AND
HOSPITALITY, SO SEEING THAT
MAYBE THIS IS A CHANCE THAT
THOSE JOBS GET RESTRUCTURED A
LITTLE BIT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LAURA DRESSER, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> EMERGENCY RESPONSES TO MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS CALLS ARE
PRIMARILY ANSWERED BY POLICE.
BECAUSE ONE QUARTER OF PEOPLE
KILLED IN POLICE SHOOTINGS HAVE
A MENTAL ILLNESS.
CITIES ACROSS THE NATION ARE
LOOKING TO CHANGE THEIR APPROACH
BY DEPLOYING UNARMED FIRST
RESPONDERS INSTEAD.
CHÉ STEDMAN, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF
MEDICAL AFFAIRS AT THE CITY OF
MADISON FIRE DEPARTMENT, TALKED
WITH MARISA WOCJIK ABOUT HOW A
NEW PROGRAM IN THE CITY.
A NEW PROGRAM THAT WILL,
DEPENDING ON THE CALL, DISPATCH
A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO
THE 911 CALL, OR SEND THE
POLICE.
>> AND SO HOW DO YOU DECIDE IF A
CALL IS ANSWERED BY THIS TEAM OR
BY POLICE, ESPECIALLY IF TIME IS
OF THE ESSENCE?
>> YEAH, SO THE 911 DISPATCHERS
AND THE CALL TAKERS IN THE
911 CENTER ARE REALLY INTEGRAL
TO THIS AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT
OF TRAINING AROUND IT.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
LUCKILY THEY'VE ALREADY DONE.
THEY THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT THEY NEED TO ASK
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING 911
ONE AND TO SEND THAT RIGHT
RESOURCE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR
DECADES AND DECADES.
NOW THEY JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS TEAM FOLLOWS A
PARTICULAR SET OF PROTOCOL
QUESTIONS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW,
WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
EMERGENCY THAT'S GOING ON, IS
THERE ANY DANGER INVOLVED, ARE
THERE WEAPONS INVOLVED, IS THERE
SOMETHING ON SCENE THAT'S BEING
VIOLENT?
AND IF ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ARE
ANSWERED TO THE NECESSITY OF
HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE
BECAUSE OF SOME SORT OF VIOLENT
SITUATION GOING ON, THEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT WILL STILL BE SENT
IN FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
SCENE IS SAFE.
IF THE INFORMATION FROM THE
911 CALLER IS THAT, YES, THIS IS
A SAFE SITUATION, BUT THERE IS
SOMEBODY HAVING A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH EMERGENCY, THEN THEY'LL
JUST SEND THIS CRISIS RESPONSE
TEAM OR CARES TEAM DIRECTLY TO
THE SCENE.
SO THE 911 CENTER IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THIS, AND
IT'S REALLY JUST THEM STILL
DOING THE SAME JOB THAT THEY'VE
ALWAYS DONE WITH JUST THIS EXTRA
RESOURCE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
THEM.
>> AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEúFIRF
TWO, DOING WHEN THEY RESPOND TO
A SCENE?
>> YEAH, SO FORTUNATELY, THE
INFORMATION FROM THE 911 ONE
CENTER AND THE QUESTIONS THAT
WERE ASKED THERE ALL GET LOADED
INTO A COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH
SYSTEM.
AND SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION
SHOWS UP ON A COMPUTER THAT THE
RESPONDERS HAVE AVAILABLE TO
THEM SO THEY CAN KIND OF SEE
WHAT THE INFORMATION IS,
KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
WALKING INTO.
AND THEIR JOB REALLY IS TO
INITIALLY DE-ESCALATE THE
SITUATION AND MAKE SURE THAT
THEY PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE
INTERVENTION.
AND WHETHER THAT'S A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH INTERVENTION ON THE PART
OF THE JOURNEY, CRISIS
WORKER OR SOME SORT OF MEDICAL
ASSESSMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE
BY THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC,
THOSE FOLKS AT THE SCENE CAN
MAKE THE DECISION WHICH
PROTOCOLS TO FOLLOW, WHICH
INTERVENTION IS MOST
APPROPRIATE.
AND REALLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AROUND
THE COUNTRY, WE'RE FINDING THAT
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SOME SORT OF
MENTAL HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS, THEY TEND TO NOT
WANT TO SEE FOLKS WALKING IN
WITH GUNS, RIGHT, AND SO NO
MATTER HOW GOOD A LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS THAT THEIR JOB,
NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY ARE AT
DE ESCALATING A SCENE, JUST THE
PRESENCE OF SOMEBODY IN UNIFORM,
SOMEBODY WITH A GUN ON THEM CAN
EXACERBATE THE SITUATION.
SO OUR RESPONDERS THAT COME INTO
THIS SITUATION ARE NOT IN ANY
SORT OF FORMAL UNIFORM.
THEY'RE NOT RESPONDING LIGHTS
AND SIRENS AND A BIG FIRE
TRUCK.
SO WE HOPE THAT INITIAL
DE-ESCALATION IS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT'S REALLY
PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE
INTERVENTION FOR THE PERSON AT
THAT TIME,, AND EVEN THEN,
APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY SO WE
CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH THEM ON
SCENE, BUT ALSO DRIVE THEM TO
THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY
SPECIFIC TO THEIR NEEDS.
>> AND SO IF IT'S NEEDED, WILL
THERE BE A POSSIBILITY OF, IN
SOME CASES, OFFICERS INTERVENING
AFTER THIS TEAM OF TWO OF MENTAL
HEALTH RESPONDERS GET TO
THE SCENE AND MAYBE THINGS
CHANGE?
>> YES, CERTAINLY, IF THEY'RE
UNABLE TO DE-ESCALATE THE
SITUATION OR IF THERE IS ANY
SENSE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
ILLEGAL GOING ON, THEN OF COURSE
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES WOULD
NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN.
BUT THE INTENT OF THE TEAM IS TO
NOT HAVE THESE PEOPLE THAT WE
CONSIDER TO BE PATIENTS.
RIGHT.
THAT NEED MORE HELP ON THE
MEDICAL SIDE AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SIDE AND HOPEFULLY
KEEPING THEM OUT OF THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT WORLD IN GENERAL, IF
THEY'RE NOT NEEDED THERE.
THESE FOLKS DON'T NEED TO BE
CONTACTED AND SET DOWN A PATH
TOWARDS JAIL WHEN THE PATH
REALLY THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM
IS TOWARDS A MENTAL HEALTH
INTERVENTION.
SO AT ANY POINT, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER CAN CALL THIS TEAM AND
HAVE THEM COME IN.
THIS TEAM CAN CALL A LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, HAVE THEM
COME IN.
AND IT'S THE SAME ON THE MEDICAL
SIDE.
IF OUR PARAMEDICS ARE OUT
VISITING WITH SOMEBODY THAT
REALLY DOESN'T HAVE AN
ACUTE MEDICAL PROBLEM, BUT THEY
HAVE SOMETHING MORE LOW LEVEL
THAT IS ALSO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ISSUE, OUR PARAMEDICS IN THE
FIELD CAN CALL THE CARE TEAM TO
COME IN AND MAKE THAT
INTERVENTION SO THAT THE SO THAT
THE PERSON CAN HAVE A CONTINUUM
OF CARE THAT'S BETTER THAN THE
PARAMEDICS JUST SAYING, WELL,
YOU DON'T NEED A TRANSPORT
TO THE HOSPITAL, SO WE'RE
LEAVING.
GOODBYE.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. RIGHT. WE'RE
OFFERING THIS KIND OF EXTRA CARE
THAT TAKES THE PERSON
DOWNSTREAM.
YOU CAN GIVE THEM A WARM
HANDOFF TO THE APPROPRIATE
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER AND THEN
HAVE THAT REFERRAL, TAKE
THE PERSON TO WHERE THEY NEED TO
BE.
>> THE FULL INTERVIEW CAN BE
SEEN BY GOING TO
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICKING ON
THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.