>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. VERSIONS OVER LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT MAPS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT, BUT NOW A
DEMOCRATIC GROUP WANTS THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP CHANGED AS
WELL. AND RECORD COLD TEMPER ATURES
OUTSIDE CREATE DEVASTATING CONDITIONS FOR THE UNHOUSED.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED VOTING MAPS SUBMITTED
TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND HOW THE MAPS WILL AND WON'T
MATTER COME NOVEMBER. THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES ARE
BEING FELT BY ALL, BUT MOST ACUTELY BY THOSE WITHOUT
SHELTER. THEN, A LOOK AT A BIPARTISAN
BILL TO EXPAND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS. AND FINALLY, HOW W
ISCONSIN HAND DR. KING AND HOW HIS LEGACY
LIVES ON.úIT'S "HERE AND NOW" FY 19. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
WISCONSIN. JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
>> AN ANTICIPATED EXPERT ANALYSIS OF NEW VOTING MAPS
SUBMITTED TO THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT IS OUT. RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE LUBAR
CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT THE MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL, JOHN
JOHNSON, JOINS US WITH HIS TAKE. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE. >> YOU ANALYZED THE MAPS WITH
THE CRITERIA SET FORTH BY THE SUPREME COURT.
OVERALL, OF ALL THE MAPS SUBMITTED BY THE LEGISLATURE,
THE GOVERNOR, THE LAW FIRMS AND OTHERS, WHICH COMPORTS THE MOST
IN YOUR ANALYSIS? >> THERE'S NOT A CLEAR WINNER
ACROSS ALL THE CRITERIA. SOME DO BETTER ON SOME METRICS
THAN OTHERS. >> AND DO YOU THINK THE COURT
WILL ACCEPT ANY OF THESE SUBMITTED MAPS?
>> I'M NOT SURE. I THINK MOST OR ALL OF THEM MEET
THE MINIMUM CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, CONTIGUITY EQUAL
POPULATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT THE COURT HAS TO
MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS ABOUT WHICH OF THESE CRITERIA IT VALUES
MOST. >> AND THEN IT IS TRUE, AM I
CORRECT, THAT THEY COULD DECIDED, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THEM
REALLY ARE UP TO MUSTER SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND THIS TO THESE
MAP-MAKER CONSULTANTS. IS THAT THE NEXT STEP IF IT GOES
THAT WAY? >> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
THE OPINION THAT THE COURT RELEASED IS NOT AS CLEAR AS I
WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WE'LL FOLLOW HERE,
BUT I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, AND HE HAS CONSULTANTS THEY'VE HIRED
HAVE DONE THAT KIND OF WORK FOR OTHER STATES.
>> SO WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA UNDER
CONSIDERATION AND HOW DID THE MAPS STACK UP ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA IS EQUAL
POPULATION. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
WE DO REDISTRICTING. ALL OF THE PLANS HAVE A
POPULATION DEVIATION OF LESS THAN 2%, SO I COULD IMAGINE THE
JUSTICES SIMPLY DECIDING THAT ALL OF THEM WERE EQUALLY GOOD ON
THAT METRIC. ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME OF THE
PLANS HAVE DEVIATION CLOSER TO 1% AND SOME CLOSER TO 2 LOWER IS
BETTER ON THIS METRIC. SO WE COULD ALSO IMAGINE THE
JUSTICES SAY, WELL, WE PREFER TO HAVE THE LEAST POPULATION
DEVIATION, THE MOST EQUAL POPULATIONS POSSIBLE.
THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, SORT OF PASS-FAIL IS CONTIGUITY, WHICH
THESE PLANS ALL SET OUT TO ACHIEVE.
>> SO YOU COMMENTED THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE'S MAP
STUCK TO THE LEAST CHANGE FROM THE LAST LEAST CHANGED MAPS.
HOW SO? >> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO AS YOU'LL RECALL, THE REASON THE OLD MAPS WERE THROWN OUT WAS
BECAUSE MANY OF THE DISTRICTS LACKING CONTIGUITY, AND THE
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS SUBM ITTED A MAP WHERE THEY
ESSENTIALLY JUST MADE THE FEWEST CHANGES POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE
THOSE CONTIGUITY ISSUES. SORT OF THE MINIMAL CHANGES
NEEDED TO MEET THE NEW CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS THE
COURT LAID OUT. THAT ENDED UP RESULTING IN A LOT
OF MUNICIPAL AND BOARD SPLITS, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THE REASON WHY
THOSE OLD DISTRICTS WERE NOT CONTIGUOUS IS BECAUSE THE
MUNICIPALITIES THEMSELVES WERE NOT CONTIGUOUS.
>> SO YOU DESCRIBED THE REPUBLICANS AS DELIBERATELY NOT
PLAYING BALL WITH WHAT THE COURT REQUESTED. IS THAT AKIN TO KI
ND OF THUMBING THEIR NOSE AT THE PROCESS?
>> I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE LISTENER TO DECIDE, BUT I THINK
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS ANNOYED WITH WHAT THE COURT
DID AND CHOSE NOT TO CHANGE THE PARTISAN IMPACT OF THEIR MAP
REALLY AT ALL, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE COURT SAID
THEY WOULD EXPLICITLY CONSIDER. >> SO BARRY BURDEN, PROFESSOR,
TOLD US HE THINKS THE NUMBER ONE EFFECT WILL BE SHAKING UP
INCUMBENTS, WHEREBY NEW MAPS COULD PUT THEM IN THE SAME
DISTRICT. WHAT ARE YOUR OBSE RVATIONS ABOUT
THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED DISTRICTS WITH MULTIPLE INCUMBENTS?
>> SO AS FAR AS I'M ABLE TO TELL, THE LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICANS' MAP WOULDN'T PLACE ANY INCUMBENTS FROM EITHER PARTY
IN THE SAME DISTRICT CONSISTENTLY WITH THAT LEAST
CHANGED APPROACH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. ALL THE OTHER PLANS WO
ULD DO THAT, AND PARTICULARLY A LOT OF
REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS WOULD BE PLACED IN THE SAME DISTRICT.
SO AS I'VE LOOKED AT THIS, I BELIEVE THE PLANS SUBMITTED BY
THE RIGHT PETITIONERS WOULD CREATE 17 DISTRICTS WITH NO
INCUMBENTS AND THEN THE PLAN SUBMITTED BY LAW FORWARD AND THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS WOULD CREATE 19 DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENTS AND
THEN THE PLANS SUBMITTED BY THE CONSERVATIVE LAW FIRM WOULD
CREATE 18 DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENTS. AND SO IF YOU'
RE DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS WITH NO INCUMBENTS,
THAT MEANS INCUMBENTS ARE BEING PAIRED TOGETHER ELSEWHERE.
>> HMM. WELL, ALSO THIS WEEK, A LAWSUIT
WAS FILED OVER MAPS FOR WISCONSIN'S CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS. ARE THEY FLAWED UNDER THE
COURT'S NEW CRITERIA? >> NOT THE CONTIGUITY ISSUE.
MY UNDERSTANDING, I HAVEN'T READ THE FILING, BUT FROM THE
REPORTING I'VE READ, THAT THOSE LAWYERS ARE ARGUING THAT THE
LEAST CHANGE APPROACH IS CONSTITUTIONALLY FLAWED AND
ASKING THE COURT TO REJECT THE WHOLE CONGRESSIONAL MAP ON THOSE
GROUNDS. >> LOTS OF REDISTRIC TING ALL
OVER THE PLACE POTENTIALLY. JOHN JOHNSON, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE. >> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
HAS OFTEN SAID IT'S NOT THE MAPS THAT RESULT IN OUT-SIZED
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE; IT'S THAT THEY HAVE
BETTER CANDIDATES. SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ, IS HERE NOW WITH ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT
ELECTIONS. HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FREDERICA. >> SO IS IT TRUE THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES AND MESSAGING AND
ORGANIZING? >> WELL, WHEN ROBIN VOS SAYS
THAT, WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO IS, IN 2018, WITH TAMMY BALDWIN'S
SENATE RUN, IN 2022 WITH GOVERNOR EVERS' RE-ELECTION,
THEY EACH WON AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET A NUMBER OF ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS AND ENOUGH THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE HAD THE
MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY IF ALL OF THEIR DOWNBALLOT DEMOCRATS
HAVE WON THEIR RACES AND HE SAYS THAT PROVES THAT DOWN-BALLOT
REPUBLICANS WEAPON WIN ON THEIR MESSAGING. THERE'S ALSO THE F
ACT THAT IN WISCONSIN SPLIT TICKET VOTERS
EXIST AND THEY DO SEPARATE OUT THEIR FEELINGS ON WHO SHOULD BE
A U.S. SENATOR OR A GOVERNOR AND WHO SHOULD RUN FOR ASSEMBLY.
THERE IS TRUTH IN WHAT HE'S SAYING BUT A DIFFERENT DISTRICT
MAKEUP WILL AFFECT THAT AS WELL. >> SO AS TO THE QUESTION OF
INCUMBENTS LANDING IN THE SAME DISTRICT WITH NEW MAPS, HOW BIG
OF A DEAL IS THAT? >> WELL, THAT HAPPENS EVERY 10
YEARS DURING REDISTRICTING ANYWAY. IN THE PAST, THE LEG
ISLATURE HAS TRIED TO AVOID THAT BECAUSE IT'S
THEIR INCUMBENTS. REPUBLICANS IN 2011 UNDER SCOTT
WALKER TRIED TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF INCUMBENTS THAT WERE
AFFECTED BY THAT AND THE SAME THING THE LAST ROUND.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL AND WISCONSIN'S LAWS ON WHO CAN RUN AND WHAT
DISTRICT ARE VERY LOOSE. SO RESIDENTS REQUIREMENTS DON'T
LIMIT AN INCUMBENT WHO IS JUST OUTSIDE THEIR NEW BORDER TO RUN
OVER HERE, GET AN APARTMENT, MOVE IN AFTER THEY WIN.
WE'VE GOT CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY OWNED HOMES THIS
OTHER DISTRICTS AND TAKEN PROPERTY TAX CREDITS ON THOSE
HOMES BUT STILL REPRESENTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THERE ISN'T AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM. IT'S NOT THAT BIG
OF A DEAL BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT IF
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO MOVE IF ONE WANTS TO RETIRE OR THEY'RE GOING
TO RUN EACH OTHER IN A PRIMARY. >> SO WHAT ARE OTHER
IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW MAPS IN TERMS OF GOVERNING?
IS IT MOST CONCEIVABLE ITERATIONS THAT THERE ISN'T --
THAT MOST OF THESE MAPS, THERE WOULD STILL BE A REPUBLICAN
ADVANTAGE? >> WELL, THAT'S THE GEOGRAPHIC
NATURE OF THE STATE, THE DISTRIBUTION OF DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CITIES AND IN URBAN AREAS AND
REPUBLICANS ARE A LITTLE MORE SPREAD OUT AT THE MOMENT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T DRAW DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS IN URBAN
AREAS OR BY TAKING OUT CHUNKS OF CITIES.
THAT'S BEEN DONE AND PROVEN THESE MAPS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT THE
AVERAGE MATHEMATICIANS HAVE TOLD US IN THE PAST WILL SLIGHTLY
FAVOR REPUBLICANS, BUT THAT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT SWING
ELECTIONS, WAVE ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATE QUALITY, AS ROBIN VOS
HAS TALKED ABOUT. >> SO YOU SUGGESTED THE
REPUBLICAN MAPS ARE DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY IT WOULD GO
THERE. >> WELL, THIS IS THE
REPUBLICANS' HAIL MARY. THEY WANT TO KEEP ALL OF THEIR
OPTIONS IN SO IF THE SUPREME COURT DOES WEIGH IN AND SAY THE
ONLY THING WRONG WAS THE NONCONTIGUOUS DISTRICT, THE MAP
FIXES THAT PROBLEM WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING AND KEEPS A
MAJORITY IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT IS THE
OUTCOME THAT COMES OUT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, IF IT DOES
GET THERE. >> ALL RIGHT.
ZAC, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANKS, FRED.
>> IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK, THREE ADULT MEN DIED IN THE BITTER
COLD. TWO FOUND DEAD OUTSIDE AND ONE
IN THEIR CAR. BEING WITHOUT SHELTER IN THESE
CONDITIONS IS UNIMAGINABLE FOR MOST OF US.
WHILE STRIDES WERE MADE TO HELP PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC USING
FEDERAL FUNDS, THAT MONEY IS NOW DRYING UP AND HOMELESSNESS IS
ONCE AGAIN ON THE RISE IN WISCONSIN. AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE ARE PROPOSALS IN THE LEGISLATURE
THAT INCLUDE CRACKING DOWN ON WHERE PEOPLE CAN CAMP OUTSIDE TO
LIVE. LATEST NUMBERS FROM THIS TIME
LAST YEAR SHOW NEARLY 5,000 PEOPLE COUNTED AMONG THE
UNHOUSED, INCLUDING NEARLY 500 WITH NO SHELTER AT ALL.
THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE 2012, ACCORDING TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, WHICH SAYS THE PROBLEM IS ONLY
GROWING. AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
WORKING TO HELP, INCLUDING THE WISCONSIN BALANCE OF STATE
CONTINUUM OF CARE. ITS DIRECTOR, CARRIE POSER,
JOINS US NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DRIVERS
OF INCREASING HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S TWO KIND OF EQUAL DRIVERS: ONE, THE
LACK OF AVAILABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, IT STALLS OUT THE SYSTEM.
PEOPLE CAN'T MOVE FROM SHELTER TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET ACCESS INTO A SPOT IN THE SHELTER SO PEOPLE
REMAIN UNSHELTERED, BOUNCING AROUND.
SOMETIMES EVEN STAYING IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THOSE THAT WANT AND NEED IT,
SO THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE SUFFERING AND NOT ENOUGH
SERVICES TO MEET THOSE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX NEEDS.
>> WEREN'T FEDERAL FUNDS ABLE TO HELP DELIVER MORE PERMANENT
SOLUTIONS BY WAY OF SHELTERS OR LOW INCOME HOUSING?
>> SO DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS AN INFLUX OF COVID FUNDS FOR
THINGS LIKE SHELTER, FUNDING TO BUILD HOUSING AND FUNDS FOR
EVICTION PREVENTION. THERE WAS NOT MORE FUNDING MADE
AVAILABLE FOR RENT ASSISTANCE IN CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS, THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
>> SO WE OFTEN THINK OF HOMELESSNESS AS A PARTICULARLY
URBAN PROBLEM, BUT IS IT? >> NO.
HOMELESSNESS EXISTS IN EVERY COUNTY WITHIN WISCONSIN.
SO THE 69 COUNTIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY THE BALANCE OF
STATE ORGANIZATION MAKE UP OVER 60% OF THE PEOPLE COUNTED DURING
THE POINT IN TIME. THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, RURAL COMMUNITIES
OFTEN HAVE LESS RESOURCE OPTIONS THAN URBAN, SO LESS SERVICES,
LESS HOUSING, LESS AGENCIES AVAILABLE.
AND ALTHOUGH URBAN HAVE MORE OF THOSE OPTIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TO MEET THEIR CURRENT NEEDS.
>> SO YOU JUST SPOKE TO SOMETHING CALLED POINT IN TIME.
THAT IS A COUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND THAT COMES UP EVERY JANUARY AND JULY.
IS THAT RIGHT? SO THERE'S ONE COMING UP SOON?
>> NEXT WEEK, YEAH. IT'S THE FOURTH WEDNESDAY
OVERNIGHT IN JANUARY AND JULY. >> AND IS THE EXPECTATION AGAIN
THAT THESE NUMBERS WILL RISE ABOVE LAST YEAR'S?
>> CORRECT. UNFORTUNATELY, IN 2023, SO IN
JANUARY'S COUNT, THERE WERE 268 PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN THE
69 COUNTIES I COVER. LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW,
NORTH OF 2,000 PEOPLE, 2,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND ALMOST 3,000
PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SHELTERS UNSHELTERED OR IN TRANSITIONAL
FACILITIES. AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO
GROW. >> SO I KNOW THAT THE WISCONSIN
EMERGECY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ENDED IN 2023 AND WITH
IT, MORE THAN $250 MILLION THAT WAS HELPING MORE THAN 66,000
HOUSEHOLDS. EVICTIONS, THEREFORE, ARE NOW
UP. WHAT DOES THIS SPELL? >> CERTAINLY.
SO THAT PROGRAM THAT YOU REFERENCED WAS SOMETHING THAT WE
CALL AN EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM. IT WAS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO STOP EVICTIONS FROM HAPPENING TO
HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY A HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM.
NOT ALL PEOPLE OR HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE EVICTED END UP
HOMELESS. SO UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT
INVESTING FUNDS IN HOMELESS PREVENTION, LOOKING UPSTREAM AND
TARGETING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF BECOMING
HOMELESS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO SEE EVICTIONS, BUT YOU'RE
ALSO GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.
>> MEANWHILE, THE LEGISLATURE IS CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD
CRIMINALIZE CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY NOT SANCTIONED BY THE
STATE. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
MEASURE? GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE
RIGHT NOW? >> YEAH.
SO THE SISSERO INSTITUTE IS A LEADER OF THIS PROPOSAL.
IT'S COMING UP IN STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT PERPETUATES A FALSE AND OFTEN HARMFUL
NARRATIVE AS TO THE CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS ALONG WITH THE
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. ROUNDING PEOPLE UP AND PUTTING
THEM IN A PLACE ESTABLISHED BY A CITY OR A STATE AND MAKING IT A
CRIME TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE DOES NOT FEND HOMELESSNESS.
OFTENTIMES IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, IT'S
EXPENSIVE, IT'S HARMFUL AND IT'S DEHUMANIZING. IF THE PURPOSE
OF THOSE BILLS IS TO ADDRESS, IS TO TRULY ADDRESS
THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS UPTICK IN THIS STATE, THEN WE NEED
INVESTMENT IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING
CRISIS HOUSING, SHELTERS, OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, LANDLORD
INCENTIVES TO GET LANDLORDS TO AGREE TO WORK WITH OUR PROGRAMS
AND THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, BUT ROUNDING PEOPLE UP
ISN'T THE ANSWER. >> WITH ABOUT HALF A MINUTE
LEFT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE APPETITE FOR MORE INVESTMENTS OF
THE KIND THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. UNDER THE WALKER A
DMINISTRATION, THERE WERE SEVERAL PROPOSALS TO
INCREASE FUNDING FOR DIVERSION AND OUTREACH AND OTHER ITEMS
WITHIN THE HOMELESS CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND,
UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN UNDER THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP
AT THAT TIME, THEY STILL STALLED OUT IN THE LEGISLATURE.
I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR EVERS IS INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING AND
MAKING SOME GOOD INVESTMENTS IN HOMELESSNESS.
WE JUST NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO COME ALONG BOARD.
>> CARRIE POSER, THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WOR
K. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME. >> THE STATE SENATE PASSED TWO
BILLS THIS WEEK DESIGNED TO JUMP-START THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE BY
TAPPING INTO NEARLY $80 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS.
THE MEASURES NOW GO TO THE ASSEMBLY. A CHANGE IN LAW
IS REQUIRED TO ALLOW GAS STATION LIKE KWIK TRIP
OR OTHER BUSINESSES TO CHARGE THREE CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR TO
CHARGE UP BECAUSE CURRENT LAW ONLY ALLOWS PUBLIC UTILITIES TO
CHARGE FOR ELECTRICITY. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ADVOCATE
FOR MORE E.V. CHARGING STATIONS. WE GET CLEAN WISCONSIN'S TAKE ON
A POTENTIAL LAW CHANGE CLEARING THE WAY WITH CHELSEA CHANDLER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THESE BILLS THAT PASSED IN THE
SENATE AND ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE ASSEMBLY.
>> THESE BILLS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR UNLOCKING $78
MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AS PART OF THE NATIONAL
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. BUT THERE ARE A COUP
LE OF REQUIREMENTS IN THAT PROGRAM
THAT WISCONSIN STATE LAW IS NOT MEETING RIGHT NOW.
SO WHAT THESE BILLS DO, THEY'RE GOING TO BRING US INTO ALIGNMENT
WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS SO WE CAN ACCESS THOSE CRITICAL FUNDS
AND BRING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INTO THE STATE.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THE ISSUE IS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE PAY TO CHARGE
THEIR VEHICLES IN WISCONSIN. RIGHT NOW, WISCONSIN IS ONE OF
ONLY TWO STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS HAVING PEOPLE PAID BY
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY'RE CHARGING THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD
OF THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT THEY'RE USING IN KILOWATT HOURS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY, REALLY.
IF YOU'RE CHARGING YOUR GAS CAR AT THE PUMP, YOU WOULDN'T PAY
FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'RE SITTING THERE.
YOU'D EXPECT TO PAY FOR THE NUMBER OF GALLONS THAT YOU'RE
PUTTING INTO YOUR VEHICLE. SO THIS IS THE SAME THING.
IT WOULD KIND OF MAKE IT MORE FAIR, SO THAT IF THE PUMP IS
SLOWER OR YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS CHARGING A LITTLE SLOWER,
YOU'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT YOU'RE
USING. AND THE REASON WE HAVE IT SET UP
THAT WAY RIGHT NOW IS IT'S KIND OF A WORK-AROUND BECAUSE, AS YOU
SAID RIGHT NOW, WISCONSIN SEES ANYONE WHO IS PROVIDING
ELECTRICITY AS BEING AN ELECTRIC UTILITY AND THAT'S REALLY NOT
THE INTENT HERE. THE INTENT IS JUST FOR A COMPANY
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO CAR OWNERS WHO WANT TO POWER
THEIR VEHICLES. >> HOW SORELY ARE THESE CHARGING
STATIONS NEEDED AROUND WISCONSIN? >> WE REALLY NEED
MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO HAVING MORE
WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC CARS IN WISCONSIN.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AND COMMUTE WITH CONFIDENCE THAT
THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, REPOWER THEIR VEHICLE AS EASILY IDEALLY
AS YOU CAN FILL IT UP AT A PUMP AND WE REALLY NEED MORE ELECTRIC
CARS IN WISCONSIN FOR A FEW REASONS.
REALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S BENEFITS TO THE CLIMATE, THERE'S BENEFITS
WHEN IT COMES TO AIR POLLUTION AND DISPLACING SOME OF THOSE
EMISSIONS OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AND THEN THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVING MORE ELECTRIC CARS IN WISCONSIN
COULD UNLOCK. I KNOW COINCIDENTALLY TODAY,
U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY GRANT HOLM AND ACTING LABOR SECRETARY WERE
VISITING WISCONSIN TO TALK ALL ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, KIND OF MADE IN AMERICA OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WISCONSIN, AND SO BASICALLY THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WISCONSIN
COMPANIES BASED IN MILWAUKEE, THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIR
PRODUCTION OF E.V. CHARGERS, SO THEY SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEN THERE'S THE PLACES THAT WILL BE HOSTING THE E.V.
CHARGING PLACES LIKE KWIK TRIP WHO WERE VERY ACTIVE AND
SUPPORTIVE THROUGHOUT THE PR OCESS OF ADVANTAGES THESE
BILLS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SERVICES TO MORE
CUSTOMERS WHO CAN COME CHARGE THEIR VEHICLES AND THEN STOP AND
GET A CUP OF COFFEE OR A BITE TO EAT. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK AB
OUT THAT IDEA THAT BUSINESSES LIKE KWIK
TRIP ARE IN FAVOR, BECAUSE YOU'D THINK THAT E.V. CHARGERS MIGHT
COMPLETE WITH THEIR GASOLINE SALES. >> I THINK THESE IT
AS PART OF THE FUTURE.
IT'S A MORE DIVERSE PORTFOLIO SO MORE PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING TO
ELECTRIC CARS SO MIGHT AS WELL BE A PART OF THAT.
THEY CAN MAKE MONEY BY PEOPLE COMING INTO THE STORE AND IS
GETTING SOME FOOD. THAT'S WHAT I DO WHEN I'M
CHARGING MY CAR. IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME FOR THE
KIDS TO GET A BITE TO EAT, USE THE BATHROOM, AND BE ON MY WAY.
>> IS THE GOAL TO HAVE THESE CHARGING STATIONS EVERY 50
MILES, AS IS FEDERAL GUIDANCE, AND IF SO, HOW LONG WOULD IT
TAKE FOR WISCONSIN TO GET THERE? >> SO THERE'S BEEN PRETTY
ELABORATE PLANNING PROCESS TO COMPLY WITH THIS NATIONAL
VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM. WATCHING HAS WISCONSIN
INFRASTRUCTURE VEHICLE PLAN THAT WAS-APPROVED IN 2022, AND SO
THEY LOOKED AT ALL OF THE MAJOR CORRIDORS MAKING SURE THAT THEY
GET THAT COVERAGE AT LEAST EVERY 50 MILES SO WE CAN MAKE IT
CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE AND
OF THAT CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN RECHARGE.
SO THE BILLS HAVE PASSED THE SENATE THIS WEEK.
THE NEXT TO STEP IS TO PASS THE ASSEMBLY AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT
COULD SIGN INTO LAW AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ALREADY HAS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO BUILD THESE CHARGING STATIONS.
SO THAT IS OPEN UNTIL APRIL 1st. SO BASICALLY, AS LONG AS
WE CAN GET THESE BILLS PASSED AND KIND
OF MAKE SURE WE'RE ADHERING TO THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, WE
COULD, AS I UNDERSTAND, HAVE MONEY OUT THE DOOR STARTING IN
APRIL. >> ALL RIGHT. CHELSEA CHANDLER, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALSO AT THE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, HUNDREDS GATHERED TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LESSONS
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. >> AND LET ME COMMEND THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN FOR BEING ONE OF THE FIRST TO HONOR THIS GIANT OF
A MAN, THE LIBERATOR OF OUR PEOPLE, THE DRUM MAJOR FOR
JUSTICE, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND HAS
CONTINUED TO HONOR THIS HERO FOR 43 YEARS NO MATTER WHO HAS BEEN
THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE. >> DR. ALLEN'S SPEECH IMPRESSED
UPON THE DANGERS OF APATHY WHEN IT COMES TO RACIAL INJUSTICE,
EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, FAIR HOUSING, WEALTH INEQUALITY AND
BLACK HISTORY AND HE HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK OF DR. ALEX IF WE, WHO
CREATED A COURTROOM TO TEACH THE HISTORY THAT BLACK HISTORY IS
AMERICAN HISTORY. GEE FOUNDED THE PROGRAM,
JUSTIFIED ANGER, BLACK HISTORY FOR A NEW DAY.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS JOURNALIST, MUST H MURV SEYMOREE
WITH HIM ABOUT THE LAST DECADE OF THIS WEEK.
>> 10 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO FIX ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS IN
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
HOW MUCH HAS THE NEEDLE MOVED SINCE YOU BEGAN THIS EFFORT?
>> THE ISSUE WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. THE ISSUE WITH THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS SYSTEMIC RACISM. IT'S THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN
PLACE AND PEOPLE THAT ARE LEADING THEM AND BENEFITING FROM
THEM. THAT'S GOT TO BE CHANG ED.
THAT'S GOT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF WE'RE
GOING TO SEE REALLY TRUE THRIVING.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ARE THINGS BETTER, I WANT TO ASK THEM,
WELL, HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED? HOW HAVE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS
CHANGED? YOUR OFFICE CHANGED, YOUR BOARD
CHANGED, YOUR LEADERS CHANGED? THAT'S A TRUE INDICATION OF
THIS. I'M NOT FIXING BLACK PEOPLE SO
THAT WHITE PEOPLE CONFIDENTIAL MORE COMFORTABLE.
BY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF BLACK PEOPLE, I'M HELPING THIS
COMMUNITY TO BECOME REALLY WHAT I CAN BE, WHO IT REALLY CAN BE,
AND THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I WOULD TRAIN WOULD BE WHITE ALLIES TO
UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF WORK THAT THEY DO IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM DISMANTLE THESE IMPEDIMENTS TO
BLACKWELLNESS AND BLACK HEALTH. WHEN THAT BEGINS TO HAPPEN ON A
LARGE SCALE, WE WILL SEE HUGE CHANGE. SO THE WHITE COMMUNI
TY IS NOT WAITING FOR US.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE WHITE COMMUNITY. >> THE AIM IS TO N
OT JUST EDUCATE ABOUT BLACK HISTORY,
IT'S ALSO ABOUT LETTING WHITE RESIDENTS LEARN ABOUT
THEMSELVES. >> OH, OH, DEFINITELY.
BECAUSE LEARNING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
LEARNING ABOUT THEMSELVES WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.
>> WHAT DO THEY LEARN? >> THEY LEARN WHAT'S REALLY
MEANT BY THE TERM WHITE PRIVILEGE, THAT THAT'S NOT JUST
A MONIKER, IT'S NOT JUST THROWN OFF ON PEOPLE.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVEN THE OPTION TO NOT ONLY TO BE WHITE, WHICH
IS TO BE AMERICAN, BUT TO NOT BE BLACK.
O THAT NO MATTER WHAT DAY TE COUNTRY PUT ON YOU AS A WHITE
PERSON, THEY COULD ALWAYS SAY, AT LEAST I'M NOT BLACK, AND SO
THEN THAT COMPLETELY POLARIZED THE COUNTRY BETWEEN BLACK AND
WHITE OR WHITE AND OTHER. AND WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THAT, THEY
REALIZE THAT ONCE YOU DICHOTOMIZE PEOPLE THAT WAY,
ONCE YOU POLARIZE THEM THAT WAY, YOU CAN PUT THEM AT ODDS AROUND
ANYTHING. SEPARATE THEM HOW THEY LIVE AND
THEY NEVER COME TOGETHER SO THAT WE NEVER WORK TOGETHER.
WE DON'T CREATE SOLUTIONS TOGETHER WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING
IT, WE'VE BEEN MADE TO BE THE ENEMIES OF EACH OTHER AND
FEARFUL OF EACH OTHER. >> HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IF PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD HOW WE GOT TO WHERE
WE ARE IN TERMS OF RACE RELATIONS, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT
THE WAY THE COUNTRY WAS BUILT, LET'S LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AT A
NONPOLITICAL ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE. I FELT THAT PEOP
LE, NONBLACK PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WOW, I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT. REALLY.
HMM. I UNDERSTAND THINGS A LOT
DIFFERENTLY NOW. NOW I KNOW HOW STRATEGIC WE MUST
BE IN DISMANTLING THIS IF PEOPLE ARE STRATEGIC IN MILITANTLING MS
AND IT'S BEEN A VERY POWERFUL TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS PLACE OF A RACIALIZED AMERICA.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.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 ONSIN. WISC