>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN CLERKS PREPARE FOR
THE SPRING ELECTION TUESDAY IN
THE MIDST OF COURT RULES
PROVIDING SHIFTING INSTRUCTIONS
AND WISCONSINITES CONTINUE TO
TURN OUT SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR FINAL
APPEALS TO VOTERS TO BE
MILWAUKEE'S NEXT MAYOR.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR WISCONSIN
REDISTRICTING?
AND AD CAMPAIGN CALLS UPON
VOTERS TO HAVE TRUST IN THEIR
LOCAL ELECTION CLERKS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
APRIL 1ST.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY
20 YEARS WISCONSIN'S LARGEST
CITY WILL VOTE FOR A NEW MAYOR
WITH JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE
SPECIAL ELECTION IN MILWAUKEE,
CANDIDATES CAVALIER JOHNSON, THE
CURRENT ACTING MAYOR AND FORMER
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
ROBERT DONOVAN, FORMER CITY
COUNCIL ALDERMAN SAT DOWN FOR A
CONVERSATION WITH OUR PARTNERS
AT MILWAUKEE PBS.
>> HOW MUCH OF THE UPTICK IN
VIOLENCE HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY
THE PANDEMIC AND VOTERS WANT
SPECIFICS AS TO YOUR PLANS FOR
THE CITY TO MINIMIZE ALL OF THIS
CRIME AND VIOLENCE.
CANDIDATES DONOVAN.
>> I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK
PERHAPS SOME OF IT IS DUE TO
COVID OR THIS WHOLE PERIOD OF
THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE SEEN
CHAOS REIGN IN MILWAUKEE AND I
SIMPLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE
IS ANY HOPE OF RESTORING ORDER
AND STABILITY TO OUR STREETS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT PROVIDING
THE MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WITH THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
MAN POWER.
IN ADDITION, WE NEED TO ENSURE
THAT OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND
OUR JUDGES ARE HOLDING OUR
CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
CRIMES.
IT SEEMS TO ME EVERY TIME WE
HEAR OF SOME HORRENDOUS CRIME
BEING COMMITTED IT'S PERPETRATED
BY AN INDIVIDUAL, A RECORD A
MILE LONG, SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN
BEEN OUT ON THE STREET IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
SO THOSE ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
RESTORING ORDER TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> CANDIDATE JOHNSON?
>> YEAH, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
CORRECT AND COVID CERTAINLY HAS
PLAYED A ROLE IN THE UPTICK IN
CRIME AND VIOLENCE WE HAVE SEEN
IN LARGE CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
MILWAUKEE IS NO EXCEPTION.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE HOLISTIC
PUBLIC SAFETY IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON
THE STREETS OF MILWAUKEE.
SO HOLISTIC PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS
HAVING THE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF
POLICE OFFICERS, SOMETHING THAT
I WANT TO SEE AND SOMETHING THAT
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR.
IT ALSO MEANS WORKING TO HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT ALSO MAKES -- ALSO LOOKS TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE EARLIER
INTERVENTIONS IN THE LIVES OF
YOUNG PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY, WITH THE CHIEF JUDGE
FOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
THAT HAS HAD THE STATE COME IN
TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT, TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY APPARATUS HERE IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> SHOULD OFFICERS BE RETURNED
TO SCHOOLS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT POLICE
NECESSARILY NEED TO BE INSIDE
THE CLASSROOM.
I'VE NOT CALLED FOR THAT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE,
THOUGH, IS THAT POLICE ARE ABLE
TO BE ON HAND AT SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY AFTER SCHOOL WHEN
THINGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
HAPPEN, MORE LIKELY TO POP UP.
>> WE JUST CAN'T HAVE OUR POLICE
COMING AFTER THE FACT.
WE NEED OFFICERS, THE
APPROPRIATE OFFICERS IN OUR
SCHOOLS CONNECTING WITH
STUDENTS, CREATING THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE SO
CRITICAL SO THAT THEY CAN
PREVENT CRIME OR PREVENT THE
FIGHT OR THE DISTURBANCE FROM
OCCURRING.
>> LAST YEAR THE OFFICE OF
EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOUND THE
PANDEMIC HAD IMMENSE AND
WIDESPREAD IMPACTS ON THE
MILWAUKEE WORKERS, LOW WAGE
WORKERS HAD IT PARTICULARLY
HARD, BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS HAD
DISPROPORTIONATE UNEMPLOYMENT
IMPACTS.
WHAT SPECIFIC STEPS WILL YOU
TAKE TO BRING JOBS TO CHALLENGE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENSURE THAT
THEY PAY A LIVING WAGE?
>> RIGHT NOW DOWNTOWN THERE IS A
SKY RISE COMING OUT OF THE
GROUND, TALLEST IN WISCONSIN,
AND SKYLINE DEFINING AND GREAT
FOR DOWNTOWN.
THE THING THAT'S MOST EXCITING
IS THE FACT IT WILL TAKE A
MILLION CONSTRUCTION HOURS AND
40% OF THOSE HOURS, 400,000 WILL
GO TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE
MOST DEPRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS IN
MILWAUKEE.
NEIGHBORHOODS I GREW UP IN
BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S RESIDENCE
PREFERENCE PROGRAM, SO CREATE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE IN
DISADVANTAGED CHALLENGED
NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE AN ACCESS
POINT TO A 21st CENTURY JOBS.
WE NEED FOLKS TO HAVE THE ACCESS
POINTS.
>> I WOULD WANT AS MAYOR
DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT
THAT IS FAR MORE AGGRESSIVE IN
REACHING OUTSIDE OUR REGION TO
ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO COME TO
MILWAUKEE AND I WOULD URGE THAT
DEPARTMENT AND INSIST THAT THAT
DEPARTMENT WORK WITH MANY OF OUR
EXECUTIVES CURRENTLY HERE IN
MILWAUKEE.
MILWAUKEE IS HOME TO SOME OF THE
BEST FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES IN
THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO TAP INTO THE
CONNECTIONS THAT THOSE C.E.O.s
HAVE WITH OTHER C.E.O.s AROUND
THE COUNTRY AND BRING SOME OF
THEIR VENDORS AND SOME OF THEIR
COMPANIES THAT THEY ARE
CONNECTED WITH RIGHT HERE IN
MILWAUKEE, BUT IN ADDITION, AS I
HAVE AN SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE NEED
TO TAKE PROGRAMS THAT WORK IN
OTHER COMMUNITIES AND IMPLEMENT
THEM HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD
INSIST ON MOVING FORWARD WITH AS
MAYOR IS THE CLEVELAND CO-OP
MODEL THAT HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL IN CLEVELAND IN
TAKING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED OR LOW
SKILLED, TRAINING THEM, GETTING
THEM INTO JOBS AND THOSE
INDIVIDUALS THEN BECOME OWNERS,
CO-OWNERS OF THE COMPANY THEY
ARE WORKING WITH.
>> BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN FAIRLY
CRITICAL OF OUR FORMER MAYOR
ABOUT HIS SEEMING LACK OF WORK
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
CANDIDATE JOHNSON YOU SAID IN A
RECENT DEBATE, 20 YEARS UNDER
TOM BARRETT, DEPRESSED
NEIGHBORHOOD YOU GREW UP IN,
WINDOWS BUSTED OUT, DOORS
BOARDED UP, HAVE NOT SEEN
IMPROVEMENT.
YOU SAID WE HAVE TO LIFT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATE
STABILITY.
WHAT CONCRETE STEPS WOULD YOU DO
TO IMPROVE UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES.
>> I WANT TO SEE US TO GET BACK
TO A POINT IN THE COMMUNITY
WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOB
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE HERE.
WORKING WITH ENTREPRENEURS,
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES TO START NEW JOBS,
WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF
CITY DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH
M7 TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO
MILWAUKEE TO LURE HERE, LIKE
MILWAUKEE TOOL.
>> EMPHASIZING, RESTORING SAFETY
TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN
BEGIN THE PROCESS ONCE THAT'S
ACCOMPLISHED OF BUSINESSES WILL
WANT TO COME IN TO
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ALSO DESPERATELY NEED TO
ENSURE THAT THESE HOUSES THAT
ARE BURNT UP, FIRE DAMAGE OR
BOARDED UP, WE EITHER TEAR THEM
DOWN OR RESTORE THEM, ONE OR THE
OTHER.
WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO GET
THAT DONE.
BUT WE BEGIN THE PROCESS ONE AT
A TIME OF TAKING OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND REVITALIZING
THEM.
>> THE STATE SUPREME COURT TODAY
DENIED A GOVERNOR TONY EVERS'
MOTION WHY HIS REDISTRICTING
MOTION TO BE UPHELD.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK
DOWN THE MAPS AND SENT THE CASE
BACK TO THE STATE.
EXPERT ON ELECTION AND
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND FORMER
CLERK FOR TWO U.S. SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES, U.W. MADISON LAW
SCHOOL PROFESSOR ROBERT YABLON
JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> THE EVERS MOTION AND EXPERT
REPORT SAID THE SEVEN ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS IN HIS MAP AVOID
ILLEGAL VOTE DILUTION UNDER THE
VOTING RIGHTS ACTS, BUT
REPUBLICANS CALLED IT AMONG
OTHER THINGS UNSOLICITED AND THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
APPARENTLY AGREED TODAY,
REJECTING THE EXPERT'S
SUBMISSION.
WASN'T SCOTUS ASKING FOR MORE
EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OR JUST NOT
FROM EVERS?
>> WELL, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
INDICATED THAT ONE OF THE
OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WAS TO
CONSIDER MORE EVIDENCE AND SO I
THINK THAT IT WAS THAT LINE IN
THEIR OPINION THAT LED THE
GOVERNOR TO PUT IN THIS
SUBMISSION TODAY, WHICH THE
SUPREME COURT, WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT DENIED IN A ONE-LINE
ORDER.
SO IT SEEMS THEY HAVE DECIDED
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE NEW
EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, INSTEAD
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER
PATHS THEY MAY TRY TO PURSUE TO
GET A LEGAL MAP IN PLACE.
>> LIKE?
>> WELL, SO ESSENTIALLY THEY
WERE GIVEN EARLIER IN THIS
LITIGATION A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS
FROM THE PARTIES, THEY CHOSE THE
GOVERNOR'S MAP, THEY SAID IT
BEST COMPLIED WITH THE LEAST
CHANGE FRAMEWORK THEY IMPOSED,
SO GO BACK TO OTHER PROPOSALS
AND SEE WHICH IS THE NEXT BEST
AND ADOPT ONE OF THOSE.
THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS
ASKING FOR.
AND THAT WOULD MEAN JETTISONING
THE GOVERNOR'S MAP WHOLESALE AND
ADOPTING THEIRS INSTEAD.
THE GOVERNOR THINKS IT'S
OVERKILL.
THE SUPREME COURT ONLY CALLED IN
COURT THE MILWAUKEE AREA, SO THE
GOVERNOR SAID EITHER HEAR MORE
EVIDENCE, THAT'S WHAT THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT SAID
TODAY IT'S NOT GOING TO DO OR
LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE IN THE
RECORD NOW AND MAKE A MORE
CONVINCING CASE TO THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT WHY YOU NEED TO
CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE
GOVERNOR'S MAP.
SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW EITHER THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT IS GOING
TO GET MORE ELABORATE REASONS
WHY THE GOVERNOR'S MAP INDEED
COMPLIES WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS
ACT OR CHOOSE ONE OF THE OTHER
MAPS SUBMITTED EARLIER IN THE
CASE.
>> IS THIS LIKE A ROCKET DOCKET
IN THE STATE HIGH COURT, SHOULD
WE EXPECT A DECISION ON
WISCONSIN MAPS VERY SOON?
>> WE WILL SEE A DECISION SOON.
THE COURT IS -- THEY REALIZE
THEY NEED TO GET ON THIS
EXPEDITIOUSLY.
THE NOMINATION PETITION PROCESS
FOR THE FALL ELECTIONS OPENS ON
APRIL 15TH AND THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION NEEDS SOME
TIME AHEAD OF THAT TO DO SOME I
AM -- IMPLEMENTATION STEPS, AND
MAKE SURE CANDIDATES KNOW WHAT
DISTRICT THEY ARE IN, AND THE
VOTERS KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THEY
ARE IN.
WE WILL SEE A DECISION SOON FROM
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
>> BACKING UP A BIT, WHAT IS THE
POINT OF A MAJORITY-MINORITY
DISTRICT UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS
ACT?
>> IT'S A LANDMARK FEDERAL LAW
THAT SEEKS TO ENSURE FAIR
REPRESENTATION FOR COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR.
AND YOU ARE PRIMARILY TALKING
ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT
WOULD POTENTIALLY BE LARGE
ENOUGH TO FORM A MAJORITY IN A
SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT, AND IN
WISCONSIN THE ACT PRIMARILY
APPLIES IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA
WHERE YOU HAVE LARGE ENOUGH
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY COULD FORM ELECTORAL
MAJORITIES AT THE DISTRICT
LEVEL.
TRADITIONALLY WHEN YOU HAVE
COMMUNITIES THAT LARGE,
POLITICALLY COHESIVE
COMMUNITIES, AND THEY VOTE
DISTINCTLY FROM OTHER
COMMUNITIES, YOU TEND TO ENSURE
THAT THEY WILL GET
REPRESENTATION, AND THAT'S WHY
THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE SEVENTH
DISTRICT IN MILWAUKEE, SAW THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN
MILWAUKEE HAD GROWN TO SOME
EXTENT, PARTICULARLY RELATIVE TO
OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THOUGHT
THE ACT REQUIRED THE ADDITION OF
THAT DISTRICT.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WAS
UNCONVINCED AND THAT'S WHY THEY
REVERSED THE DECISION AND NOW
HAVE SENT IT BACK.
>> IN YOUR EXPERT OPINION, HOW
WELL DO EITHER OF THE MAPS,
LEGISLATURE'S OR THE GOVERNOR'S
ENSURE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO
ELECT CANDIDATES OF THEIR
CHOICE?
>> THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED
AREA OF THE LAW.
THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
THEMSELVES SOMETIMES LAMENT HOW
COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING IT CAN
BE.
SO YOU KNOW, ONE -- WITH THE
VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS NOT ABOUT
IS PURELY CREATING DISTRICTS
WITH A NUMERICAL MAJORITY OF A
MINORITY POPULATION.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT WON'T BE
ENOUGH FOR THEM TO ELECT A
PREFERRED CANDIDATE, GIVEN
VOTING PATTERNS AND SO ON.
SO IF YOU ARE DOING A FUNCTIONAL
ANALYSIS WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IS
HAVING THE MAJORITY-MINORITY
DISTRICT MAY BE INADEQUATE.
OTHER CASES, YOU DON'T NEED TO
CREATE A MAJORITY-MINORITY
DISTRICT AT ALL, MAYBE CROSSOVER
FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES TO ALLOW
THE PREFERRED REPRESENTATIVE.
SO REQUIRES A DETAILED
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS AND ONE OF
THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT, THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT DID NOT DELVE
DEEPLY ENOUGH INTO THE KIND OF
FUNCTIONAL INQUIRY.
>> LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT, HOW
ABOUT HOW THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
HANDLED IT.
DESCRIBED AS SHOCKING AND
UNPRECEDENTED.
WHY?
>> WELL, THE DISSENT DID
DESCRIBE IT AS UNPRECEDENTED AND
A COUPLE OF UNUSUAL FEATURES.
FIRST OF ALL, SUMMARY REVERSAL.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ACTED
QUICKLY, IT DID NOT HEAR FULL
BRIEFING OR ORAL ARGUMENT AND
DOES NOT DO THAT VERY OFTEN, AND
WHEN IT DOES, THERE IS A CRYSTAL
CLEARER ROR.
BUT THEY POINTED OUT NUANCES HAD
BEEN OVERLOOKED BY THE MAJORITY.
SO, UNUSUAL IT WAS A SUMMARY
REVERSAL, MORE THAN THAT, THAT
IT HAPPENED SO CLOSE IN TIME TO
WHEN THE STATE REALLY NEEDS TO
HAVE MAPS.
THIS WAS A DISRUPTIVE FROM THE
SUPREME COURT, AND THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT SAID WE RECOGNIZE
IT'S DIFFICULT TO RUN AN
ELECTION AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT STATES ARE NOT -- THAT
WRENCHES ARE NOT THROWN INTO
STATE PROCESSES AT THE LAST
MINUTE, BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE
SUPREME COURT DID TO WISCONSIN
HERE.
>> HERE WE ARE.
PROFESSOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD TALKING TO YOU.
>> ELECTION CLERKS ACROSS
WISCONSIN ARE GEARING UP DESPITE
CURRENT UNCERTAINTY OVER
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
AND THEY HAVE TAKEN TO THE
AIRWAVES WITH AN AD CAMPAIGN
FEATURING LOCAL ELECTION CLERKS
TO IMPRESS UPON STATE VOTERS
THEY CAN TRUST HOW ELECTIONS ARE
RUN IN THE STATE.
>> YOUR FRIEND IS AN ELECTION
OFFICIAL.
>> YOUR FAMILY MEMBER IS A POLL
WORKER.
>> WE TRUST OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS
BECAUSE OUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES,
AND NEIGHBORS RUN THEM.
>> WE TRUST OUR ELECTIONS
BECAUSE WE TRUST THEM.
>> LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS
PARTNERED TO CREATE THE AD
FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF DISTRUST
IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BUT
UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS OF
WIDESPREAD FRAUD.
THE LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN
MUNICIPALITIES SPONSORED THE
SPOT WHOSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS
JERRY DESCHANE, HE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME,
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> WHY DID YOU FEEL IT WAS
NEEDED TO AIR ADS FEATURING
LOCAL CLERKS TO INSTILL TRUST IN
OUR ELECTIONS?
>> WELL, FREDERICA, TWO
FUNDAMENTAL REASONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS PEOPLE ARE -- A
LOT OF QUESTIONS ARE BEING
RAISED ABOUT ELECTIONS, AND
PEOPLE'S FAITH IS BEING SHAKEN,
IF YOU WILL.
AND WE WANTED TO START FROM THE
REMINDER OF HEY, FOLKS, YOU CAN
TRUST ELECTIONS, PRIMARILY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHO IS RUNNING
THEM.
FOR THE MOST PART, THESE ARE
PEOPLE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE, YOU
HAVE SEEN IN THE GROCERY STORE,
SO WE WANTED TO START WITH THAT
MESSAGE THAT HEY, LOOK, YOU KNOW
THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW YOU CAN
TRUST THESE PEOPLE.
THEY ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
THE SECOND REASON TO BE
PERFECTLY SELFISH ABOUT IT IS
CLERKS ARE UNDER A LOT OF
PRESSURE AND IN THIS JOB MARKET
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THEY
COULD DO THAT DON'T COME WITH
THE SAME PRESSURES AS THIS, SO
WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM AN ATTA
BOY, AND SAY WE KNOW YOU ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB, KEEP IT UP.
>> WHAT ARE EXAMPLES CLERKS HAVE
BEEN FACING AFTER THE PUBLIC
AFTER THE HIGH PROFILE
INVESTIGATIONS AFTER THE 2020
ELECTION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS?
>> WELL, WE HAVE ALL SEEN NEWS
ACCOUNTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DEATH
THREATS.
ON A MORE DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WE
HEAR FROM CLERKS ALL OVER THE
STATE WHO ARE GETTING ALL SORTS
OF ACCUSATIONS THROWN AT THEM AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT FRANKLY
THEY NEVER SAW COMING, FROM
PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO SAY TO
PEOPLE, IT'S OK TO HAVE
QUESTIONS, BUT THE BEST SOURCE
OF INFORMATION IS THAT CLERK, GO
AND TALK TO HIM, GOOD AND TALK
TO HER, AND GET YOUR OWN
CONCERNS RESOLVED AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL AND IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD
DO THAT, FEWER QUESTIONS OUT
THERE.
>> ON TOP OF THAT, WHAT KIND OF
PRESSURES ARE CLERKS FACING WHEN
COURTS MAKE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES
TO THINGS LIKE DROP BOXES,
ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES?
>> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING WILL
BE QUITE AS CRAZY AS THE
PANDEMIC WAS, TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU, REINVENT AN ELECTION ON,
WHAT WAS THAT, ABOUT FOUR WEEKS'
NOTICE.
BUT NONETHELESS.
LAST-MINUTE CHANGES ARE PROBABLY
THE WORST THING YOU WANT DO
BECAUSE THE CLERK HAS TO TRAIN
POLL WORKERS, THEY HAVE TO BE
CERTIFIED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO
BE SURE OF THE LAW, WHICH IS NOT
ALL THAT BLACK AND WHITE THESE
DAYS.
SO WE ASK LEGISLATORS, WE ASK A
LOT OF POLICY MAKERS, GO AHEAD
AND DEBATE THE ISSUES, WE THINK
IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY HEALTHY, BUT
TRY TO TIME IT SO YOU ARE NOT
DOING IT RIGHT UP AGAINST AN
ELECTION BECAUSE FRANKLY IT CAN
BE CHAOTIC AND AS YOU KNOW, WHEN
THE PUBLIC IS CONFUSED, THERE'S
A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE, THAT IN
ITSELF WILL BE DISTRUST.
>> ARE THE NUMBER OF LOCAL
ELECTION WORKERS WANING IN THE
MIDST OF ALL OF THIS?
>> THE NUMBERS ARE NOT WANING
BECAUSE -- WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE
AT LEAST 1832 OF THEM.
THAT'S HOW MANY TOWNS, VILLAGES
AND CITIES THERE ARE IN
WISCONSIN.
EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS TO HAVE AN
ELECTION CLERK WHO IS TRAINED
AND CERTIFIED.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE GREAT
RETIREMENT.
CLERKS ARE WALKING.
I CAN'T QUANTIFY FOR YOU WITH
STATISTICS BUT ANECDOTALLY, WE
ARE GETTING MORE THAN A FEW
CLERKS SAYING I DON'T NEED THESE
HEADACHES, AND YOU KNOW, THERE
WILL BE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN,
THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE ARE LOSING
A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE, AND THAT'S A CONCERN,
TOO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JERRY DESCHANE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US AND TALKING
WITH US ABOUT THIS.
>> HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU.
>> A DANE COUNTY JUDGE HAS FOUND
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS IN
CONTEMPT FOR NOT TURNING OVER
DOCUMENTS REQUESTED THROUGH OPEN
DOCUMENTS LAWS.
ORDERED VOS AND THE STATE
ASSEMBLY TO TURN THEM OVER IN
TWO WEEKS AND TO PAY A DAILY
FINE UNTIL THEY DO SO.
RELATING INTO AN INVESTIGATION
BY THE 2020 INVESTIGATION
LAUNCHED BY THE SPEAKER AND
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN.
OTHER NEWS, LOCAL EFFORTS TO
HELP IN THE CRISIS HALF A WORLD
AWAY CONTINUE AS WISCONSINITES
FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.
ONE SUCH EFFORT CALLED
"WISCONSIN UKRAINIANS" OUT OF
GREEN BAY IS RAISING FUNDS AND
AWARENESS, GATHERING RESOURCES
AND STORIES.
THE GROUP'S FOUNDER, JONATHAN
PYLYPIV JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANKS FOR
GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HELP SHARE THE MESSAGE AND WHAT
WE ARE DOING AS AN ORGANIZATION,
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AS A NATIVE OF UKRAINE, WHEN YOU
LOOK UPON WHAT IS HAPPENING
THERE, YOU HAVE SAID THESE ARE
OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES, AND
OUR ANCESTORS.
HOW EMOTIONAL IS IT FOR YOU?
>> BOY, I MEAN, IT'S ALL VERY
RAW WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOME OF
THESE CITIES NOW THAT ARE BEING
LIBERATED AND THE WAR CRIMES,
THE ATROCITIES BEING DONE BY THE
RUSSIAN INVADERS, IT'S JUST --
NOT ONLY LIKE HEARTBREAKING BUT
ALSO JUST ENRAGING BECAUSE LIKE
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN
PEACE AND OUR ANCESTORS, I THINK
OF MY GRANDMA AND LETTING THEIR
BODIES REST IN PEACE AND SO YOU
KNOW, IT MOTIVATES US ALSO TO DO
WHATEVER WE CAN IN WISCONSIN AND
REALLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO
GALVANIZE THE SUPPORT LOCALLY
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, TO HELP
BRING POSITIVE CHANGE OF SUPPORT
BUT ALSO HELPING TELL THE STORY
SO PEOPLE HEAR THE UKRAINIAN
VOICE AND A DIRECT CONNECTION TO
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE.
>> TELL US WHAT YOUR GROUP IS
DOING.
I SEE THAT YOU ARE SITTING
BEFORE A STORAGE ROOM OF GOODS.
TELL US WHAT UKRAINIANS IN
WISCONSIN IS DOING.
>> YES, SO, WISCONSIN UKRAINIANS
STARTED AS A Facebook PAGE IN
2014, BUT NOW WE ARE A 501C3
PENDING ORGANIZATION AND WE HAVE
BOARD MEMBERS AND PEOPLE ALL
OVER THE CITY.
I HAPPEN TO BE IN THE FOX CITIES
AND A LOT OF US ARE IN THE GREEN
BAY AREA, COLLECTING MUCH NEEDED
ITEMS, WORKING WITH TRUSTED
PARTNERS IN UKRAINE TO HELP
LOGISTICS, TO GET ITEMS FROM
POINT A TO POINT B, AND THE
ITEMS YOU SEE BEHIND, THIS IS AT
ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, ONE OF
MANY DRIVES WE HAVE BEEN DOING
AND IT'S KIND OF AN ONGOING
EFFORT, AND ALSO FUNDRAISING, SO
WE CAN BUY SOME HIGH IMPACT
ITEMS.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO DONATE
FUNDS SO A LOCAL NON-PROFIT IN
UKRAINE CAN BUY A VAN TO NOT
ONLY TRANSPORT REFUGEES BUT ALSO
GOODS AND SUPPLIES MUCH NEEDED
LIKE MEDICINE AND OTHER ITEMS
LIKE THAT.
>> HOW HARD IS IT TO GET THOSE
DONATIONS TO THE PEOPLE IN
UKRAINE?
>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, A
GRASSROOTS EFFORT, A LOT OF US
FROM ALL OVER THE STATE JOINED
FORCES TO DO MORE TOGETHER.
THIS MORNING I WAS HELPING A
FRIEND WITH AN ART INSTALLATION,
I SAW THE CURRENT OF THE RIVER
HOW STRONG IT WAS, AND
REFLECTING ON IT THAT ALL OF US
IF WE MOVE TOGETHER AND WORK
TOWARDS THE COMMON GOALS OF
HELPING THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WE
WILL BE STRONG AND POWERFUL
TOGETHER AND I THINK GETTING THE
ITEMS TO UKRAINE WE HAVE
MULTIPLE WAYS.
ONE IS BY WORKING WITH TRUSTED
PARTNERS LIKE HELP HEROES
UKRAINE, IN CHICAGO, AND LOCAL
TRUSTED PARTNERS IN UKRAINE AND
POLAND.
WE ALREADY HAVE TRUST RELATIONS
WITH SO SEND SOME FUNDS FOR
PEOPLE WE KNOW AND TRUST AND
THEY CAN PURCHASE SOME ITEMS
LOCALLY IN MANY INSTANCES AND
THEN GET THEM TO THE PEOPLE
REALLY QUICK, LIKE WE DID WITH
GENERATORS, GETTING THEM TO
POLAND AND THEN UKRAINE TO THE
MOST IMPACTFUL AREAS THAT NEEDED
GENERATORS.
>> YOU AND OTHERS ARE IN
CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH
PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THERE THINK
WILL HAPPEN?
>> YEAH, SO YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN
THIS WAR -- THE INVASION
STARTED, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT
OF CONCERN THAT RUSSIA WILL KEEP
PUSHING AND YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY
IN THE LAST EIGHT PLUS YEARS AND
IN HISTORICALLY WE HAVE NOT SEEN
A LOT OF THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP
HONOR THEIR WORD, WHETHER IT'S
THE BUDAPEST MEMORANDUM WHEN
UKRAINE GAVE UP NUCLEAR WEAPONS,
WHETHER IT'S 1932 AND 1933,
MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS WERE
KILLED AND STARVED, SO VIEWING
IT AS ANOTHER GENOCIDE OF THE
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
THEY ARE KILLING CIVILIANS,
TARGETING CHILDREN, WOMEN, THEY
ARE NOT LETTING PEOPLE FLEE TO
SAFETY AND THEY ARE CUTTING OFF
FOOD AND WATER.
BASIC NEEDS.
AND SO WE ARE -- AND THEN SOME
OF THESE AREAS ARE BEING RETAIN
BY THE UKRAINIANS, HORRIBLE
ATROCITIES.
SOME OF THE RUSSIAN TERRORISTS
ARE DEFICATING ON THE CORPSES OF
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
HOW LOW AND DEPRIVED THIS
INVASION IS.
SO, WE ARE NOT ONLY FRUSTRATED
AND UPSET, BUT WILL EXPOSE THE
TRUTH THAT'S HAPPENING.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK.
JONATHAN PYLYPIV.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
WISCONSIN UKRAINIANS, APPRECIATE
IT.
>> F.D.A. AND C.D.C. APPROVED
SECOND MODERNA COVID-19 BOOSTERS
FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 AND THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
SUPPORTS GETTING THEM.
BUT FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
FUNDS RUN OUT, TESTING AND
VACCINES MAY NO LONGER BE FREE
ACCORDING TO MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
HEALTH COMMISSIONER KIRSTEN
JOHNSON.
>> NOW IS THE TIME TO GET
VACCINATED.
AS FUNDING SOURCES ARE
REEVALUATED, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW
LONG THE SERVICES WILL REMAIN
FREE.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF
GETTING THE VACCINE, MAKE THE
PLAN TODAY FOR THE VACCINE AND
BOOSTER.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN,
WISCONSINPBS.ORG AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
?
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.