>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING HERE AND NOW,
2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. EARLY VOTING GETS UNDERWAY IN
WISCONSIN'S SPRING ELECTION, GIVING THE FIRST OFFICIAL
GLIMPSE INTO OUR VOTERS ARE FEELING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," BALLOTS WILL ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS
ON AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
N WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
THEN, IT'S OFFICIALLY LIGHTS OUT FOR TWO HOSPITALS IN THE
CHIPPEWA VALLEY. SENATOR JEFF SMITH SPEAKS TO
WHAT HAPPENS NOW, AND TRIBAL NATIONS ARE SPENDING MILLIONS
BUYING BACK LAND THEY'VE LOST OVER CENTURIES.
ONEIDA CHAIRMAN, TEHASSI HILL, SAYS IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR
SURVIVAL. FINALLY, A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
PROGRAM COULD BE A LIFELINE FOR YOUNG ADULTS RECENTLY AGED OUT
OF FOSTER CARE. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
22. NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WI
SCONSIN.
>> EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY FOR THE SPRING ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN. LOCALLY, BALLOTS WILL INCLUDE
RACES LIKE SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY BOARD AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
THE STATEWIDE BALLOT HAS VOTERS WEIGHING IN ON THEIR PREFERENCE
FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. IT ALSO HAS TWO QUESTIONS ASKING
VOTERS IF THEY WANT TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION RELATES TO THE USE OF PRIVATE FUNDS IN
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, SHALL A SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION BE
CREATED TO PROVIDE THAT PRIVATE DONATIONS AND GRANTS MAY NOT BE
APPLIED FOR, ACCEPTED, EXPENDED OR USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
CONDUCT OF ANY PRIMARY ELECTION OR REFERENDUM.
THE SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO ELECTION OFFICIALS.
SHALL A SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION BE CREATED TO
PROVIDE THAT ONLY ELECTION OFFICIALS DESIGNATED BY LAW MAY
PERFORM TASKS IN THE CONDUCT OF PRIMARIES, ELECTIONS AND
REFERENDUMS. BOTH QUESTIONS BEGAN AS G.O.P.
LEGISLATION BUT WERE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.
REPUBLICANS THEN PASSED THEM AS STATEWIDE BALLOT REFERENDUM,
ASKING VOTERS TO DECIDE DIRECTLY.
AND THESE QUESTIONS, WE TURN TO UW LAW
SCHOOL PROFESSOR, ROBERT YABLON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. >> THE FIRST QUESTION HEARKENS
BACK TO THE USE OF SO-CALLED "ZUCKERBUCKS," FUNDING FROM THE
OWNER OF FACEBOOK THAT WENT TO MORE THAN 200 CITIES AND
COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN TO RUN ELECTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC, A
"YES" VOTE WOULD PROHIBIT THAT. WAS THAT PRIVATE FUNDING FOUND
TO BE ILLEGAL OR POLITICALLY BIASED?
>> SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. THERE WERE SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES
RAISED BACK IN 2022 THAT FUNDING AND THEY WERE REJECTED BY BOTH
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND BY COURTS.
IT WAS FOUND THAT THOSE FUNDS DID NOT VIOLATE STATE LAW.
THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS MADE OF PARTISAN BIAS WITH RESPECT TO
HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED, AND THE BULK OF
THOSE FUNDS DID GO TO THE STATE'S LARGEST CITIES, WHICH
ARE DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS, PEOPLE WHO DEFEND THOSE FUNDS
WILL RESPOND AND SAY IT'S NATURAL THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST
FUNDING. PEOPLE WITH
THE GREATEST NEED IN 2020 AND OVER 100 MUNICIPALITIES DID GET
SOME OF THAT MONEY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO STUDIES THAT
INDICATED THAT ANY OF THESE FUNDS TILTED THE RESULTS OF THE
ELECTION IN WISCONSIN. >> ARE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
UNDERFUNDED TO THE EXTENT THAT PRIVATE FUNDING IS NEEDED?
>> CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF ELECTIONS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE ELECTION OFFICIALS,
BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR MORE FUNDS FOR THINGS LIKE NEW EQUIPMENT, MORE
SECURITY MEASURES AND SO ON, SO THAT'S A CONSTANT ISSUE.
2020 WAS PARTICULARLY DISTINCTIVE BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC, AND ELECTION OFFICIALS IN WISCONSIN AND ELSEWHERE
REALLY FOUND THEMSELVES WITH UNIQUE DEMANDS THAT THEY FACED
AND THEY WERE OFTEN SHORT ON THE FUNDS AND PERSONNEL THAT THEY
NEEDED TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THAT'S
WHERE YOU HAD THE PRIVATE INTERVENTIONS IN 2020.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF IN THE PAST BUT
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SAW THAT THERE REALLY WAS THIS SHORTFALL
AND FOLKS STEPPED UP. >> SO QUESTION NUMBER TWO ON THE
BALLOT IS ASKING WHETHER TO PROHIBIT ANYONE OTHER THAN AN
ELECTION OFFICIAL DESIGNATED BY LAW FROM ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION. THIS HAS TO DO, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING, WITH A CONSULTANT IN GREEN BAY WHO ADVISED
OFFICIALS ON HOW TO MAKE THEIR ELECTIONS RUN MORE SMOOTHLY,
AGAIN, IN 2020, DURING THE PANDEMIC.
CONSULTANTS, WHAT KIND OF ELECTION OFFICIALS
NOT DESIGNATED BY LAW, HOWEVER, HELP RUN ELECTIONS?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND THERE IS SOME
AMBIGUITY ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THIS PROVISION AND EXACTLY WHAT
IT WOULD PROHIBIT. THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT
WHETHER IT WOULD EVEN PROHIBIT WHAT SOME OF THE PROPONENTS SEEM
TO WANT TO STOP, WHICH IS THE USE OF THIS SORT OF ELECTION
CONSULTANTS THAT GENERATE CONTROVERSY IN GREEN BAY IN
2020, BUT THERE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ELECTION OFFICIALS
THAT DO WORK THAT IS IN SOME WAY CONNECTED TO HELPING FACILITATE
AN ELECTION. THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT
ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO WILL HELP THE POLL WORKERS SET UP THE
POLLING PLACE IN THE MORNING AND QUESTIONS MAY ARISE WHETHER THEY
CAN DO THAT. SOMETIMES A MACHINE MIGHT BREAK
DOWN AND QUESTIONS MIGHT NOW ARISE IF THIS PASSES ABOUT
WHETHER THE ELECTION OFFICIAL CAN CALL THAT OUTSIDE VENDOR AND
ASK FOR TROUBLESHOOTING ASSISTANCE, COULD THEY CALL UPON
AN EXPERT IN BALLOT DESIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FITTING
EVERYTHING ON THE PAGE IN A SENSIBLE WAY.
SO THOSE ARE THE WORRIES THAT OPPONENTS OF THIS WILL BRING UP,
THAT IT CREATES UNCERTAINTY, POSSIBLY UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, AND IF IT IS INTERPRETED BROADLY, COULD MAKE
THE JOB OF ELECTION OFFICIALS MORE DIFFICULT.
>> MEANWHILE, WOULD AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 CHANGE EXISTING LAW?
>> THAT'S ALSO A QUESTION. WISCONSIN HAS A STATUTE RIGHT
NOW THAT SAYS ONLY ELECTION OFFICIALS MAY CONDUCT AN
ELECTION, AND IN 2020, THAT PROVISION WAS INTERPRETED
ACTUALLY NOT TO PREVENT THE USE OF EXPERT OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS,
SO IT MAY BE THAT THE AMENDMENT DOES VERY LITTLE, WRITE A NARROW
INTERPRETATION OF THE AMENDMENT WOW SAY IT'S TRACKING THE LAW
THAT WE HAVE BUT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ARGUABLY
AMBIGUOUS TASKS, WHAT IS CONDUCT OF AN ELECTION, THAT OPENS THE
DOOR TO SOME ARGUMENTS THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE A BROADER
INTERPRETATION. LEGAL EXPERTS THINK
OF SEEKING TO ENACT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AS
OPPOSED TO PASSING LEGISLATIVE BILLS INTO STATUTE?
>> RIGHT. WELL, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF
STATES SINCE 2020 THAT HAVE RESTRICTED PRIVATE ELECTION
FUNDING. A POLITICAL
ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. FOR THE MOST PART, THAT HAS
HAPPENED THROUGH STATUTES, NOT THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
AND SO SOME OF THE CRITICS OF THIS AMENDMENT SAY THIS JUST
DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A MATTER THAT NEEDS TO -- THAT YOU
NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR.
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE STATE'S FUNDAMENTAL LAW, IT SETS THE
FRAMEWORK FOR OUR GOVERNMENT, IT PROTECTS OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
IS THIS REALLY THE SORT OF THING THAT WE NEED TO ENSHRINE INTO
THE CONSTITUTION RATHER THAN TRY TO WORK OUT THROUGH THE
POLITICAL PROCESS, IDEALLY THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE A
BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE. >> ROBERT YABLON, THANKS VERY
MUCH. >> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> NEXT WEEK ON OUR PROGRAM, REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ LOOKS AT
ONE MORE ITEM YOU MAY SEE ON YOUR SPRING BALLOT, WHETHER TO
RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO HELP YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
PAY FOR OPERATING EXPENSES. TURNING TO HEALTH NEWS, TWO
HOSPITALS OF THE HOSPITALS SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE
EAU CLAIRE AREA HAVE OFFICIALLY SHUT THEIR DOORS AS OF TODAY.
ONE WHO MONTH AHEAD OF THE ALREADY ABRUPT TIMELINE
ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY. AN ADDITIONAL 19 PREVEA HEALTH
CLINICS WILL CLOSE IN APRIL. AN HONOR WALK WAS HELD YESTERDAY
FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL TO COMMEMORATE THOSE IN THE
COMMUNITY LOSING THEIR JOBS. WE TURN TO DEMOCRATIC STATE
SENATOR JEFF SMITH OF BRUNSWICK FOR WHAT HAPPENS NOW.
AND SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. >> SO, FIRST, THE SHOCK OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT, THEN THE ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION OF THE HOSPITAL
CLOSURES, NOW REALITY. WHAT'S THIS REALITY LIKE IN THE
COMMUNITY? >> IT HAS BEEN SHOCKING.
WHEN THAT OCCURRED, PEOPLE WERE REALLY TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT A HOSPITAL SYSTEM COULD CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY --
ANY SEEMING -- ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO HELP PREVENT THAT FROM
HAPPENING, AND IT CAME AS QUITE A SHOCK.
>> SO FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING, HOW BIG OF A JOB WAS IT TO
TRANSFER PATIENTS ELSEWHERE AND HAVE E.M.S. OR AMBULANCES
DIVERTED AND ALL THAT PERTAINS TO PATIENT CARE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN ONLY TWO MONTHS TIME, 1,600 EMPLOYEES ARE
OUT OF A JOB, PATIENTS HAVE HAD THEIR HEALTHCARE UPENDED.
THIS IS REALLY A BIG DEAL. WE HAVE A MAIL SYSTEM THAT'S
ALSO IN EAU CLAIRE, BUT THEY CAN'T QUITE COVER ALL THAT AND
NEITHER CAN MARSHFIELD, WHICH IS ALSO HERE.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF THEM TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO EXPAND SOME SERVICES, BUT WE
STILL HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THAT LONG-TERM SOLUTION OF WHERE
EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE ABSORBED. >> WHAT HAVE YOU HARD FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH ALL OF THIS?
>> IT'S INTERESTING, FREDERICA. WE HAVE, FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, GOTTEN PLEAS FROM PEOPLE, WHY CAN'T YOU STOP THIS?
THERE'S SIMPLY A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT HOSPITALS
ARE UNDER SOME SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE OR
SOME SORT OF REGULATIONS THAT CAN BE PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT I THINK REALLY, REALLY HURT
PEOPLE, THAT THIS COULDN'T BE STOPPED.
DECISION AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR
DECISIONS BASED ON THE LOSSES THAT THEY'VE BEEN TAKING.
>> HOW HAVE PROVISIONS FOR DOCTORS AND STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE,
IN TERMS OF SEVERANCE OR JOB PLACEMENT, BEEN GOING, TO YOUR
UNDERSTANDING? ERSTANDING, ONE OF
THE REASONS FOR INSTANCE WHEN THEY -- I'LL START WITH WHEN
THEY FIRST MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THEY MADE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT GIVING PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WOULD BE
MIGHT WANT DAYS MEANING TO APRIL 2021 THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THEM
TO CLOSE, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY CLOSED AS OF TODAY, MARCH
22nd, AND PARTLY BECAUSE DURING THAT COURSE OF TIME,
DOCTORS AND NURSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN FINDING OTHER POSITIONS IN
OTHER AREAS AND THAT'S REALLY A BIG CONCERN, THAT WE MAY BE
LOSING THAT TALENT AND SKILL OUTSIDE OF THE AREA.
SO THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN FINDING THEIR PLACES.
I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN, OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, A GREAT
CALLING FOR MORE DOCTORS AND NURSES IN -- THROUGHOUT THIS
COUNTRY, SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND
THEIR POSITION, BUT WE SURE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM FROM
WESTERN WISCONSIN. >> HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING
SPECIFICALLY DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION
AS SOME OF YOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING?
>> YEAH, THERE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN.
CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF THE HEALTH PROVIDERS OVER THE COURSE
OF TIME, TRYING BEHIND THE SCENES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN
DO AS A STATE TO HELP THEM TO ABSORB THE LOSSES, BUT ALSO THE
OBVIOUS PUBLIC THING THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IS THAT
THERE WERE $15 MILLION SET ASIDE A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THIS
HOSPITAL. THEY NEVER DID GET INTO THAT
MONEY, SO WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION, VERY BIPARTISAN
DECISION TO MOVE THAT MONEY BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND AND LET --
HOPEFULLY LET THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACTUALLY SECURE THAT
MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN GRANT THAT MONEY TO HELP MAKE THIS
HAPPEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS BEEN
DRAGGING THEIR FEET. WE'VE HAD A MONTH NOW SINCE WE
PASSED THAT LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY AND
SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND YET WE STILL ARE WAITING TO SEE IF
THEY WILL RELEASE THAT MONEY AT ALL.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT.
>> WHAT WOULD THAT $15 MILLION GO TOWARD?
>> WELL, ORIGINALLY THE REPUBLICANS HAD ONLY SUGGESTED,
AND THIS IS WHERE WE COME INTO THE POLITICAL PROBLEM WE HAVE,
THEY SUGGESTED IT SHOULD ONLY GO TOWARDS EMERGENCY CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THE -- AS I SAID, I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL OF OUR
PROVIDERS AND THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR MONEY TO, FOR
INSTANCE, EXPAND URGENT CARE, TO EXPAND OBSTETRICS, BECAUSE THERE
WAS 900 -- EXPECTED 900 BIRTHS GOING TO HAPPEN AT SACRED HEART
THIS NEXT YEAR, SO OTHER PLACES NEED TO EXPAND THAT SERVICE.
BUT ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS WE HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED ON,
BEING ABLE TO SECURE THE STAFF AND TO HIRE THE STAFF NEEDED.
THE MONEY AS KAITD BY THE REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BE USED BY THAT AND THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR HAD TO
VETO THAT PART OF THE BILL AND OPEN UP THE POSSIBILITIES FOR
PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY AS THEY SEE THE NEEDS THAT
ARE PRESENTED TO US. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE. SENATOR JEFF SMITH, THANKS VERY
MUCH. >> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER 500 ACRES OF
LAND PITS THE VILLAGE OF HOBART NEAR GREEN BAY AGAINST THE
ONEIDA NATION. HOBART IS WITHIN THE ONEIDA
RESERVATION AND THE TRIBE PURCHASED 500 ACRES THERE,
PROVING IT TO TRUST STATUS AND SOVEREIGN LAND NOT SUBJECT TO
LOCAL TAXES. THE ONEIDA BUYBACK IS PART OF
THE NATION'S PUSH TO RECOVER ITS ORIGINAL ACREAGE, NEARLY ALL OF
IT LOST WHEN NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE
RESERVATION LAND. THE ONEIDA HAVE NOW RECOVERED
NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF ITS 65,000 ACRES OF RESERVATION LAND NEAR
GREEN BAY. THE VILLAGE OF HOBART IS SUING
OVER THE LOSS OF ITS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
ITS ADMINISTRATOR DECLINED TO JOIN US.
ONEIDA NATION CHAIRMAN, TEHASSI HILL, IS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> SO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IS ON YOUR SIDE IN
THIS, BUT HOW LONG AND DIFFICULT HAS THIS DISPUTE WITH THE
VILLAGE OF HOBART BEEN? >> YEAH, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE, AS WE ACQUIRE OUR RESERVATION LAND
BACK IN FEE STATUS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS UNDER THE
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO HAVE LAND PUT INTO TRUST.
THE PROCESS CALLS FOR INPUT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AND SO
THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND HOBART HAS ELECTED SEVERAL
TIMES, ELECTED TO APPEAL THE PROCESS OF PUTTING LAND IN TRUST
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR ARGUMENTS HAVE NO MERIT.
>> HOW HAS THE ONEIDA NATION BEEN ABLE TO BUY BACK ITS LAND
IN OTHER PLACES WITHOUT SUCH KIND OF LONGSTANDING AND
LITIGIOUS DIFFICULTY? >> WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
LONG TIME AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE AREA TO COME TO AGREEMENT ABOUT THE --
HOW PAYMENT, I GUESS, FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO TRIBAL
TRUST LAND AND FEE LAND IS TO COME ABOUT, SO IF THERE IS
AMBULANCE CARE, POLICE SERVICE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT THE
MUNICIPALITY OR THE COUNTIES PROVIDE TO TRIBAL LAND IN THE
AGREEMENT, WOULD WORK OUT THE BALANCING ACT OF WHAT WE PROVIDE
IT AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE AND COME TO A MEANINGFUL
UNDERSTANDING AND A PAYMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SERVICES
RENDERED. >> THE ONEIDA AT ONE POINT LAST
NEARLY ALL OF ITS TREATY-GRANTED LANDS.
TO REVERSE THAT?
>> WELL, IT REALLY STEMS BACK TO THE INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT.
SO IN -- UNDER THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH GOVERNANCE
SYSTEM THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED MORE
READILY AND THEN ALSO, OTHER FEDERAL REGULATIONS DURING THE
1970s, AND SO BEING ABLE TO ACQUIRE LAND BACK ON A
RESERVATION AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT LAND IS ABOUT
TRUST STEMS BACK TO THE 1970s IN THAT REVERSAL OF FEDERAL
INDIAN POLICY. >> DESCRIBE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
TO PRESERVE YOUR SOVEREIGN LANDS.
>> THIS IS ALL THAT WE HAVE LEFT.
SO INDIAN TRIBES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY HAVE SEEDED MILLIONS OF
ACRES OF LANDS TO THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IN DOING
SO, REERVEDZ WHAT WE HAVE LEFT, AND SO MANY OF THE TRIBES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE, LIKE US, HAVE A RELATIVELY SMALL LAND BASE LEFT
FROM OUR ORIGINAL HOLDINGS AND SO IT IS ALL THAT MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT TO US, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR HOMELAND, THIS IS WHERE WE
RAISE OUR FAMILIES, WHERE WE DO BUSINESS, WHERE WE GROW OUR FOOD
AND SO EVERY INCH IS BE IMPORTANT TO US BEING ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THAT CONTROL OVER WHAT IS LEFT OF OUR LANDS.
>> HOW MUCH HAS IT COST TO HAVE TO BUY BACK YOUR LANDS?
>> OH, EASILY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
EASILY. 20 YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO BUY AN ACRE OF LAND FOR $5,000.
AND WITH THE LAND PRICES NOW IN THIS AREA, ANYWHERE FROM 15 UP
TO $40,000 AN ACRE. SO AS TIME GOES ON, OBVIOUSLY
THE PRICE CONTINUES TO RISE. >> AND YET, IT'S A COST THAT YOU
MUST MAKE. >> THAT IS -- THAT IS CORRECT.
OUR PEOPLE HAVE REALLY DEDICATED RESOURCES ANNUALLY IN OUR TRIBAL
BUDGET TO FACE THIS LAND DEMAND NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT
PROVIDES LANDS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR HOUSING AS WELL AND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ALL THIS PROGRAM AND
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON THE LAND.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO POTENTIALLY NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO MOVE YOUR REACQUIRED LAND TO
FEDERAL TRUST STATUS AND NOT HAVE IT BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL
TAXES? >> WELL, I GUESS I WOULD LOOK AT
IT AS KIND OF THE OPPOSITE, THAT THIS RESERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED
BY TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES AND TREATIES ARE SUPREME LAW OF
THE LAND. AND SO ESSENTIALLY, OUR
RESERVATION HERE WAS ON LOAN OR RENTED TO NON-TRIBAL PEOPLE FOR
DECADES NOW AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO USE ITS RESOURCES,
WHETHER THEY'RE NATURAL RESOURCES OR TO BUILD A HOME FOR
THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SUCH, TO USE THIS LAND FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME, AND NOBODY AFORCING THEM TO SELL THEIR LAND TO US AS
PROPERTIES BECOME AVAILABLE AND SOMEONE IS -- HAS REACHED THE
END OF THEIR LIFE THAT THEY WANT TO SPEND IN THIS PARTICULAR NECK
OF THE WOODS, THEN THEY DECIDE TO SELL THEIR LAND, AND IF THE
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, ONEIDA CHOOSES TO PURCHASE IT MOST OF
THE TIME. AND SO THAT'S ONE THING.
WE'RE NOT FORCING ANYONE OUT. WE'RE JUST ACQUIRING LAND AS IT
BECOMES AVAILABLE AGAIN. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE. CHAIRMAN HILL, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, A NUTRITIONAL LIVING SPACE ON TRANSITIONAL
LIVING SPACE WOULD HOUSE YOUNG ADULTS THAT HAVE AGED OUT OF
FOSTER CARE, A POPULATION AT HIGH RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS.
THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE URBAN TRIAGE UNHOUSED YOUTH INITIATIVE
AND IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN WISCONSIN.
C.E.O. OF URBAN TRIAGE, BRANDI GRAYSON, JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. IT'S A LONG TIME SEEING YOU.
WELL, BEING ON YOUR SHOW, THAT IS.
>> SO THIS WOULD BE FOR 18 TO 21-YEAR-OLDS.
EEDS OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE AGED OUT
OF THE FOSTER SYSTEM? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE
YOUTH AGING OUT OF SYSTEMS, THEY'RE USUALLY WITHOUT PARENTS,
FAMILIES, OR SUPPORTS. SO THE NEEDS ARE A LOT.
A LOT OF THEM STILL NEED SUPPORT WITH DEVELOPING THE READINESS
SKILLS TO BE ON THEIR OWN, WHETHER IT'S FINANCIAL PLANNING,
LEARNING HOW TO NEGOTIATE A LEASE, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
TENANT, TENANT RIGHTS, HOW TO BUDGET, HOW TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL,
HOW TO NAVIGATE SYSTEMS, AND REALLY HOW TO DEAL WITH THE
TRAUMA OF BEING IN A SYSTEM, FEELING ABANDONED, AND NOT
HAVING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES. I WOULD SAY THAT'S THE BIGGEST
ONE, IS ACTUALLY THE TRAUMA IN SUPPORTING YOUTH WITH JUST
LEARNING THE TOOLS AND THE SKILLS TO NAVIGATE THE EMOTIONAL
IMPACT OF BEING ALONE IN THE WORLD.
>> SO GIVEN THAT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN
WISCONSIN FOR THIS KIND OF LIVING SPACE, ARE THOSE NEEDS
THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED CURRENTLY BEING MET IN THE
STATE? >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE STATE.
I HAVEN'T DONE MUCH RESEARCH, BUT I WOULD SAY NO.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE RESOURCES FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, BUT NOT ENOUGH.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE LET US GIVE YOU A TOTE FULL OF DISHES AND
ESSENTIALS, BUT THERE'S NO PEER SUPPORT OR NAVIGATION SUPPORT,
THERE'S NO RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THERE'S NO CASE MANAGEMENT,
THERE'S NO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ATTACHED TO THAT.
YOUTH, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REALLY ARE FORCED TO
PIECE TOGETHER SUPPORTS BY GOING TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS,
WHICH THEN LEADS TO TRAUMA, WHICH THEN LEADS TO
HOPELESSNESS, WHICH LEADS TO HOMELESSNESS AND LEADS TO ALL
KIND OF DESPERATE ACTS ON THE SIDE OF YOUTH.
>> SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT, THAT IT -- HIGH RISK FOR
HOMELESSNESS. UTCOMES FOR YOUNG
ADULTS, IF THEY'RE NOT HAVING THESE KINDS OF NEEDS MET AS YOU
DESCRIBE? ROM, YOU KNOW,
BEING IN A FOSTER CARE SITUATION TO HOMELESSNESS?
>> I MEAN, YOU -- I MEAN, MOST 18-YEAR-OLDS TODAYANT READY TO
BE ON THEIR OWN. RIGHT?
CHILDREN, AND THEY LIVED WITH ME UNTIL
THEIR OPINION 20 SOMETHING AND BE THEY WENT TO COLLEGE AND THEY
STILL REQUIRED SUPPORT, FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL
SUPPORT, SO WE HAVE FOLKS AGING OUT WITH NONE OF THAT.
RIGHT? SO I GUESS -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO ANSWER THAT, REALLY, BECAUSE IT'S SO -- IT'S SO TRAUMATIC FOR
THEM. SO IT'S LIKE SO MANY LAYERS, AND
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR BASIC NEEDS BEING MET, YOU
AUTOMATICALLY BECOME SUBJECT TO SEX TRAFFICKING, DRUG USE,
GAMBLING, HAVING SEX WITH PEOPLE JUST TO HAVE A HOME OR, YOU
KNOW, PUTTING YOURSELF IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE DANGEROUS
BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE, DESPERATE TIMES REQUIRE
DESPERATE MEASURES, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOUTH RESPONSE,
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND SUCH THAT THEY'RE FORCED TO DO
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RESOURCES, THEY HAVE NO HOME, THEY HAVE NO
FOOD, THOSE KIND OF THINGS. >> SO THIS IS DESCRIBED, AGAIN,
AS A TRANSITIONAL LIVING SPACE. WHAT CAN PEOPLE WHO COME TO LIVE
THERE EXPECT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'LL SEE THERE?
>> YEAH. A LOT OF SUPPORT.
RIGHT? SO WE'LL HAVE OVERNIGHT SUPPORT.
THAT PERSON WILL ACT AS A MENTOR TO THE YOUTH THAT'S IN THE HOME.
WE WILL HAVE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS COME IN DURING THE
DAY, WE'LL HAVE NAVIGATION SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, HOUSING
FOLKS COME THIS DURING THE DAY, SO IT WILL BE FULLY STAFFED
DURING THE DAY, AND THEN WE'LL DO WHAT WE CALL OUR SUPPORTING
FAMILIES HEALTH GROUP, WHICH IS THE TRAUMA RECOVERY SUPPORTING
FOLKS IN DEVELOPING THE PERSONAL LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TO NAVIGATE SYSTEMS, HELPING THEM BUILD THE
SYSTEMS AND HELP THEM DETACH FROM THE FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY
OR FEELING LIKE THEY'RE TO BLAME FOR THEIR SITUATION AS A YOUNG
PERSON AND THEN WE'LL CONNECT THEM TO JOB PLACEMENT READINESS
PROGRAMS AND WE'LL PLACE THEM IN PERMANENT HOUSING WITH RENTAL
ASSISTANCE ONCE THEY'RE READY TO MOVE ON ON THEIR OWN, SO THEY
CAN EXPECT HOLISTIC SUPPORT. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU EXPECT
TO MOVE IN AND WHEN DOES IT OPEN?
>> WELL, THE HOUSE IS LIKE 12 BEDROOMS.
E'S SOME ISSUES ON THE THIRD FLOOR THAT
HAS TO BE MITIGATED SO WE'RE LIMITED NOW TO BEDROOMS, I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH FIVE YOUTH AND HOPEFULLY THE THIRD
FLOOR WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP SOON.
CTIVE WITH DANE COUNTY APRIL 1st, SO
THAT'S WHEN WE BEGIN TO DO THE WORK.
WE'LL START THE FIRST 30 DAYS WITH RENOVATING THE HOUSE AND
THEN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, RECRUITING FOR STAFF AND THEN
HOPEFULLY BY THE THIRD OR FOURTH MONTH, 120 DAYS INTO THE
CONTRACT, WE CAN START ENROLLING YOUTH INTO THE PROGRAM.
>> THAT IS GREAT NEWS. BRANDI GRAYSON, THINKS VERY MUCH
AND THINKS FOR YOUR WORK. >> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.
THANK YOU. >> 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 WI
SCONSIN.