? >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO FIX OUR BROKEN STUDENT LOAN SYSTEM.
BECAUSE WHILE A COLLEGE DEGREE STILL IS A TICKET TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS, THAT TICKET IS BECOMING MUCH TOO EXPENSIVE.
>> IN A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO WISCONSIN, JOE BIDEN RELEASES
HIS NEW PLAN FOR STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF.
AND IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT, JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY SAYS
SHE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2025, AN ELECTION THAT COULD
ONCE AGAIN TIP THE BALANCE OF THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
LOOK AT THE IMPLICATIONS OF JUSTICE WALSH BRADLEY LEAVING
THE BENCH. NATHAN DENZIN REPORTS ON THE
RISE OF MASS BOOK CHALLENGES IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL BEHIND BARS.
AND WHY SOME PARTS OF THE STATE CAN'T FIND CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. AND HOW PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH
THE RISE IN PEOPLE WHO LACK HOUSING.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
WISCONSIN.
>> WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY
ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SHE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
WHEN HER TERM IS UP IN 2025. A DEPARTURE FROM STATEMENTS SHE
MADE A FEW MONTHS AGO. THIS UPSET OF THE COURT COULD
MEAN A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ONCE AGAIN.
THE THREE-TERM JUSTICE DID NOT GIVE SPECIFICS AS TO WHY SHE
WILL NOT RUN AGAIN. ONLY THAT, IN THE 177-YEAR
HISTORY OF THE STATE, SHE SAID ONLY FOUR JUSTICES WILL HAVE
SERVED LONGER THAN MY LENGTH OF SERVICE.
WIN RE-ELECTION, SHOULD I RUN, BUT IT'S JUST TIME TO PASS THE
TORCH, BRINGING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO THE COURT.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS ANOTHER CURVEBALL FOR THE COURT AS IT'S
BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR WISCONSIN POLITICS.
IT'S ALSO A 180 FROM STATEMENTS SHE MADE IN NOVEMBER WHILE IN
ATTENDANCE AT JANET PROTASIEWICZ'S ELECTION NIGHT
PARTY WHEN THE BALANCE OF THE COURT'S IDEOLOGY CHANGED FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN HER NEAR 30-YEAR TENURE.
YOU'D WANT TO RUN AGAIN? >> I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO RUN
AGAIN. HAVE AN IDEA AND IT IS YES,
AFTER TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE AND SEEING THE ENERGY IN THIS ROOM,
I'M NOT ONLY GOING TO RUN, I'M GOING TO WIN.
>> IN HER TIME, SHE'S PRESIDED OVER MANY IMPORTANT CASES IN THE
STATE, BUT A LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU SURVEY OF
SIGNIFICANT WISCONSIN COURT DECISIONS IN 2020 SAID, QUOTE,
RARELY HAVE SO MANY CASES INVOLVING THE CORE AND ESSENTIAL
POWERS OF THE STATE'S POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS BEEN ON THE COURT'S
DOCKET. AND BY 2022, IT AGAIN STATED
POLITICAL CONFLICT INEVITABLY MADE ITS WAY ONTO THE COURT'S
DOCKET, A TESTAMENT TO THE RECENT TREND OF HIGH PROFILE
ISSUES TURNING TO THE COURT TO MAKE DECISIONS.
DESPITE THE COURT JUSTICES OFFICIALLY BEING NON-PARTISAN,
LAST YEAR'S ELECTION BETWEEN DAN KELLY AND JANET PROTASIEWICZ
GARNERED A RECORD $51 MILLION AS INTEREST CONTRACTS BOARD POURED
MONEY INTO THE CAMPAIGNS, SETTING THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER
EXPENSIVE ELECTION. AS AN INCUMBENT, JUSTICE WALSH
BRADLEY WOULD HAVE HAD AN EDGE OVER OPPONENTS.
CANDIDATES FROM BOTH SIDES HAVE EXPRESSED RUNNING IN 2025.
FORMER WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL REPUBLICAN BRAD SCHIMMEL
HAS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED HIS RUN. IN EDUCATION NEWS, SATURDAY
MARKS THE END OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK DEDICATED TO
GETTING YOUNG READERS INTO THE LOCAL LIBRARIES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WISCONSIN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES HAVE HAD
TO DEAL WITH MORE BOOK CHALLENGES AND BANS THAN EVER
BEFORE, MORE THAN DOUBLING IN 2023.
DENZIN, HAS MORE. >> I WOULD SAY OUR SCHOOL
LIBRARIANS ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND IT'S THIS CULTURE WAR
OF CONTROL. >> I THINK THERE WAS 280 SOME
BOOKS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WERE BEING CHALLENGED.
>> EVEN NONREADERS WERE COMING UP TO ME, LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING
ON?" >> WISCONSIN IS SEEING A HUGE
RISE IN BOOK CHALLENGES SINCE 2021 ADMINISTER THE INQUIRIES
ARE SO STRONG THAT IT HAS SHIFTED THE PRIORITIES OF MY
POSITION AND MADE THAT ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS IN SUPPORT OF
OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS. >> MONICA TREPTOW IS THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION SCHOOL MEDIA LIBRARY
CONSULTANT. SHE HELPS EDUCATORS UNDERSTAND
THE ENVIRONMENT OF BOOK CHALLENGES.
>> THERE'S THE BOOK CHALLENGES FOR DECADES.
THAT'S NOT A NEW THING. BUT IT IS NEW IN THAT THE
TECHNIQUES ARE DIFFERENT. >> THOSE TECHNIQUES ARE OFTEN
SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE'S A
LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT IS SPREAD.
MISINFORMATION IS DESIGNED TO STOKE OUTRAGE.
>> DR. JILL UNDERLEY IS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION. FACEBOOK.COM/LOCAL2MFACEBOOK OR.
THE NUMBER OF CHALLENGED HIT A HIGH IN 2023.
IN WISCONSIN, THERE WERE 27 CHALLENGES AIMED AT HUNDREDS OF
BOOKS. BOOK CHALLENGE USED TO BE OVER A
SINGLE BOOK. A CONCERNED PART WOULD BRING IT
TO THE LIBRARY OR AN EDUCATOR, INCLUDING LONG LISTS OF BOOKS
THAT HAVE BEEN SENT STRAIGHT TO DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS OR
SCHOOL BOARDS. >> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS OVER 600
PAGES LONG AND FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, I BELIEVE IT WAS OVER
1,400 PAGES LONG. >> YOU LOOKED AT IT AT FIRST AND
WENT, OH MY GOD. >> WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS NO
WAY TO READ ALL OF THE BOOKS. >> JASON TADLOCK, DAN TEAL
WORKED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT. KIEL IS THE HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL AND McBURNEY IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
IN LATE 2023, ELKHORN ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO A WHOPPING 444
BOOKS. THESE TWO STACKS REPRESENT ABOUT
ONE-SIXTH OF ALL OF THE BOOKS THAT WERE CHALLENGED IN ELKHORN.
DISTRICT STAFF SAY IT TOOK MONTHS TO SIFT THROUGH ALL OF
THE MATERIAL. TITLES LIKE THE GRAPES OF WRATH
AND GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO WERE AMONG THOSE CHALLENGED, AS
WERE BOOKS INVOLVING LGBTQ OR RACE TOPICS.
>> IT WASN'T JUST SEX. IT WAS DRUGS, ABUSE, ANY NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT TOPICS. >> THE POLICY ALSO REQUIRED AT
THAT TIME AND REQUIRES FOR THOSE BOOKS TO BE PULLED OUT OF
CIRCULATION UNTIL SUCH A TIME A PRINCIPAL MAKES THAT JUDGMENT.
>> THAT CAUSED ABOUT 160 BOOKS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ABOUT 280
BOOKS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE TEMPORARILY PULLED FROM SHELVES.
IN ORDER TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT ALL 444 BOOKS, THE PARENT
HAD PULLED REVIEWS OFF OF BOOKLOOKS.ORG.
AFFILIATED WITH MOMS FOR LIBERTY, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A
FAR RIGHT ANTIGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION BY A GROUP THAT
TRACTS EXTREMISM IN AMERICA. >> THE MESSAGE THAT PARENTS
DON'T HAVE PRIVACY OVER THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION HAS BEEN
PREVALENT FOR YEARS AND FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE STAYED SIEBT AS
OUT-OF-TOUCH ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND EVEN
UNION LEADERS BEHAVED AS PARENTS AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO CHOOSE
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
THE FOUNDERS OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY.
SHE'S USED SOCIAL MEDIA TOPEKA OUT AGAINST NUMEROUS BOOKS ALL
OVER THE STATE SINCE 2020. SHE DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST
TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS STORY.
PUSHED BACK WHAT SHE CALLS INDOCTRINATATION.
>> WE SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL TO BE EDUCATED, NOT INDOCTRINATED, AND
ALSO WE DON'T SEND THEM THERE FOR THERAPY.
>> Reporter: IN MADISON, GROUPS LIKE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR THE DEFENSE OF TRADITION, FAMILY AND PROPERTY CAN BE FOUND
PROTESTING CONTENT IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.
>> THE LITERATURE THAT THEY'RE PROMOTING IN THE LIBRARIES, A
LOT OF IT IS PORNOGRAPHIC OR OBSCENE.
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN TFP, WHICH IS AN ANTILGBTQ
ORGANIZATION. ALLOWED IN LIBRARIES.
>> OF COURSE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE
READING, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES, IT'S REALLY A SUBSET
OF PEOPLE ARE DICTATING WHAT IT IS THAT YOU CAN READ AND WHAT
YOUR KIDS CAN READ. >> Reporter: IN ELKHORN,
PARENTS HAD TO TAKE ON MORE DUTIES.
>> PRINCIPALS, LIBRARIANS, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS,
DIRECTORS, ALL HANDS ON DECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING,
WITH THE SHEER VOLUME OF IT, GETTING ALL THAT INFORMATION
TOGETHER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO GET
A CONSENSUS ON WHERE IS THIS BOOK -- WHERE SHOULD THIS BOOK
BE RATED AGE-WISE. >> Reporter: TO DETERMINE AN
APPROPRIATE AGE RANGE, THEY USED A COMBINATION OF PROFESSIONAL
REVIEW SITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTENT OF EACH BOOK.
ULTIMATELY, NONE OF THE BOOKS WERE BANNED BECAUSE STAFF DID
NOT FIND ANY OF THE BOOKS TO BE OBJECTIONABLE.
FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ANOTHER HANDFUL HAD A
GRADE OR AGE RESTRICTION APPLIED.
DESPITE THE LONG HOURS, DISTRICT STAFF SAID THAT THERE WAS ONE
POSITIVE. BOOK IN THEIR SCHOOL'S LIBRARY.
>> IT'S NOT BAD FOR ME TO GET INTO THE LIBRARY, SEE WHAT'S
THERE, WHAT ARE PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH.
SIDDIQUI IT WAS A DISTRACTION FOR SOME OF THE STUDENTS.
>> I THINK THAT IT WAS DISRUPTIVE.
ANGST AMONG STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS. >> Reporter: REBECCA BELLUM IS
THE SPECIALIST FOR THE ELKHORN. >> SOME OF THE CIRCULATION WENT
UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WHICH BOOKS ARE ON
THAT LIST? >> WE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM
PARENTS THAT HOW DARE AN INDIVIDUAL DETERMINE OR TRY TO
DETERMINE FOR ME WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR MY KID OR NOT.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THE MORE DIVERSE SELECTION WE HAVE IN
HERE, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOR THESE KIDS TO REALLY
GROW. >> LIBRARIES ARE PLACES THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR
EVERYBODY. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A
BOOK CHALLENGE. BUT WHEN IT GOES TO THESE
EXTREMES AND YOU'VE GOT RAISING -- PEOPLE RAISING
CONCERNS IN VERY -- EITHER DISTANT RELATIONSHIPS TO THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR IN MASS AMOUNTS, THEN IT TURNS INTO
SOMETHING THAT DOES THREATEN DEMOCRACY.
>> UNDERLEY AND MONICA TREPTOW SAY NOW IS THE TIME FOR
DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE TO REVIEW THEIR BOOK CHALLENGE
POLICY. >> REALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES SO THAT THEY CAN BE
PREPARED. ELKHORN DISTRICT IS REVISING
THEIR CHALLENGE POLICY SO A ONE PERSON CAN'T CHALLENGE MASS
BOOKS. >> IT WILL REQUIRE UP TO FIVE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FIVE INDIVIDUALS FROM
DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THE CHALLENGE.
>> Reporter: THE POLICY WILL REQUIRE THE CHALLENGER TO HAVE
READ THE BOOK IN FULL BEFORE SUBMITTING.
THE DISTRICT ALSO DEVELOPED A FORM FOR PARENTS THAT WOULD GIVE
THEIR PARENT STUDENTS ACCESS TO ANY RESTRICTIVE BOOK.
>> PARENTS CAN SAY MY KID CAN READ THE RESTRICTIVE BOOKS AND
THEY'RE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL KIDS.
>> MY ARGUMENT FOR THAT IS SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE
BOOK IS, THEN MAYBE PUT THAT IN THE PARENTS' HANDS AND LET THEM
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION WITH THEIR KIDS.
>> WE WANT OUR LIBRARIES TO BE THAT INCLUSIVE SPACE FOR ALL OF
OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE RESOURCE THAT THEY NEED.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF STUDENTS
SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR LEARNING.
NOW," I'M NATHAN DENZIN IN ELKHORN.
CANDIDATE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD IN SUPERIOR UPON TWO SEATS
AS A WRITE-IN IN A SPRING ELECTION THAT HAD FOUR BOARD
RACES WITHOUT ANY CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT.
OUR NEXT GUEST HAS STUDIED THE DECLINING INTEREST IN SERVICE IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL WISCONSIN.
DAVID HELPAP IS A UW GREEN BAY PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.
PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU BET. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO HOW INCREASINGLY COMMON AND WIDESPREAD IS THE KIND OF
SITUATION THAT WE SAW IN DOUGLAS COUNTY WITH TOO FEW PEOPLE
RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICE? >> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT THERE HAS JUST BEEN A DECLINING
INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS MORE BROADLY, BUT WHEN
WE START TALKING ABOUT RURAL AREAS, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE
THE POPULATION IS DECLINING IN A LOT OF THOSE AREAS, IT'S GETTING
OLDER, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FROM THOSE
CURRENTLY IN OFFICE THAT ONCE THEY RETIRE OR MOVE ON FROM
PUBLIC SERVICE, THAT THERE REALLY ISN'T GOING TO BE THE
NEXT SORT OF COHORT OF INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE THEIR PLACE,
THAT THE NEXT GENERATION, THE NEXT GROUP DOESN'T REALLY HAVE
AN INTEREST IN TAKING ON THAT ROLE.
GENERATION WANT TO STEP UP IN THAT WAY?
>> MOST OF THESE POSITIONS, THE PAY IS LIMIT OR IT IS ENTIRELY
VOLUNTARY. NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR IT, THAT
CAN BE DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY.
THERE IS THIS NEED FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION, FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL
TO HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVED, TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A PART
OF THE COMMUNITY AND FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING ON THOSE
LEADERSHIP GOALS. WHEN THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY
GOES AWAY, PARTICULARLY RURAL AREAS, WHERE THERE ISN'T A HUGE
POPULATION ANYWAY AND SORT OF THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY MAY NOT
BE THERE, MAY NOT -- MAY HAVE DECLINED OVER THE YEARS.
THAT MAKES A SITUATION EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.
COMMUNITIES FACE RATHER DAUNTING PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THEY NEED
THIS KIND OF LEADERSHIP. WHAT ARE THOSE KINDS OF
PARTICULAR ISSUES RELATED TO RURAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT
THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH? >> A LOT OF TIME CHALLENGES THAT
HAVE BEEN PLAGUING RURAL GOVERNMENTS FOR A LONG TIME
CONTINUE TO EXIST. SO LIMITED RESOURCES, LACK OF
CAPACITY, CHALLENGES WITH DELIVERING GOOD QUALITY
SERVICES, BUT THEN THERE ARE SOME MORE RECENT CHALLENGES,
LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT
JUST GOOD QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THOSE TYPES OF
ISSUES. AND IT IS, I THINK, A CHALLENGE
FOR SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY THAT CAPACITY
THERE TO ADDRESS THEM OR THE EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS THEM.
WHERE, FOR LARGER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME
OF THESE PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME, THAT THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PLACE TO ADDRESS IT, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE IN SMALLER
COMMUNITIES. >> SO WHAT ARE THE IDEAS ABOUT
HOW TO ADDRESS THIS? >> SO GETTING I THINK MORE STATE
SUPPORT WOULD HELP ADDRESS THE -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CONCERNS, I THINK 98% OF COMMUNITIES SAID THAT THEY COULD
USE MORE RESOURCES, NOT SURPRISING.
RIGHT? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE MAY
BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
COUNTIES, COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN TYPICALLY PROVIDE A LOT OF
SERVICES ANYWAY. I THINK THERE'S THIS GROWING
RECOGNITION THAT IN ORDER TO SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS,
SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE IN AN URBAN
AREA OR RURAL AREA, THAT SOME OF THAT CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION
IS NEEDED, THAT WE NEED TO BRING IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE
BUSINESSES TO REALLY SORT OF MOVE AHEAD WITH SOCIAL WELFARE
ISSUES, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. IT IS VALUABLE TO HAVE THOSE
TYPES IN PLACE. >> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
DAVID HELPAP, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND THIS ELECTION YEAR FACT CHECK TONIGHT, A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IN WISCONSIN SPECIFIES THAT ONLY
A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AGE 18 OR OLDER MAY VOTE IN AN ELECTION
FOR NATIONAL, STATE, OR LOCAL OFFICE OR REFERENDUM.
THE AMENDMENT CHANGES CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE FROM
EVERY U.S. CITIZEN TO ONLY A U.S. CITIZEN.
REPUBLICAN AUTHORS OF THE LANGUAGE SAY IT'S NEEDED BECAUSE
SOME STATES HAVE ALLOWED NON-U.S. CITIZENS TO VOTE IN
LOCAL ELECTIONS. WITH MIGRATION BEING A PRIME
CAMPAIGN ISSUE, DONALD TRUMP IS PUSHING FEARS OF NONCITIZENS
VOTING. BUT AS STEVEN POTTER FINDS, THIS
KIND OF VOTER FRAUD IS VANISHINGLY RARE.
>> OUR STATE ISSUES VALID DRIVER'S LICENSES TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE NONCITIZENS AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
HOW DO YOU CATCH THAT? >> CONVINCED OF FRAUD IN THE
LAST ELECTION, PEOPLE IN A RECENT ELECTION EDUCATION EVENT
IN WEST BEND RAISED A WORRY OVER IMMIGRANTS VOTING ILLEGALLY IN
2024. THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS
ISSUED DRIVER'S LICENSES TO OVER A QUARTER MILLION NONLEGAL,
ILLEGAL, WHATEVER THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY IS, IMMIGRANTS IN
THE STATE. >> BUT THAT NUMBER REFERS TO
NON-U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE LEGALLY PRESENT HERE AS
PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR TEMPORARY VISITORS.
MOTOR VEHICLES HAS ISSUED MORE THAN 258,000 DRIVER'S LICENSES
AND 41,000 PHOTO I.D. CARDS TO NON-U.S. CITIZENS SINCE 2019.
THOSE WISCONSIN DRIVER'S LICENSES, OR PHOTO I.D.s, ARE
STAMPED WITH LIMITED TERM OR NON-DOMICILED UNLESS THE PERSON
IS A PERMANENT RESIDENT WHOSE CARDS HAVE NO SUCH STAMP.
A PHOTO I.D. IS REID RED REQUIRE IN WISCONSIN BUT NONCITIZENS
CANNOT USE THEIR I.D.s OR LICENSES TO REGISTER AND VOTE.
DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THEY ARE IN LARGE NUMBERS, THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION SAYS THAT SINCE 2019, THERE HAVE BEEN
THREE NONCITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION FOR
VOTING ILLEGALLY. MOSTLY MISUNDERSTANDING THEIR
ELIGIBILITY. HAPPENS BEFORE ANYONE CASTS A
BALLOT. PERSON MUST CERTIFY UNDER
PENALTY OF LAW THAT THEY'RE A U.S. CITIZEN.
NONCITIZENS RISK BEING ARRESTED, JAILED, AND DEPORTED IF THEY DO
VOTE ILLEGALLY. AS TO THE QUESTION HOW DO YOU
CATCH THAT, WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION TOLD US THERE IS NO
MECHANISM AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT REAL TIME CHECKS ON A VOTER'S
CITIZENSHIP STATUS. NO STATE OR FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES
THE WEC OR CLERKS TO VERIFY A VOTER'S CITIZENSHIP STATUS, BUT
THEY ALSO SAID THERE'S NOT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA
THAT NONCITIZENS ARE VOTING IN WISCONSIN IN SIGNIFICANT
NUMBERS. FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M STEVEN
POTTER. >> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN,
IN MARCH, THE CITY OF LACROSSE CLEARED 130 TONS OF ABANDONED
ITEMS AT LONG-TERM OVERNIGHT CAMPING SITES ALONG THE BLACK
RIVER SHORELINE. THE CAMPSITES AND OTHERS ARE
WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN LACROSSE HAD
TAKEN UP RESIDENCE. AS PART OF A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO
END LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS, BANS ON CAMPING ON CITY PROPERTY ARE
ALREADY IN PLACE. BUT WITH NOWHERE TO GO, CAMPERS
POP UP ON OTHER SITES. IT'S BEEN A THORNY PROBLEM FOR
THE CITY BETWEEN TRYING TO HELP THE INCREASING NUMBER OF
UNSHELTERED PEOPLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID AND BEING
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY CALLS FOR ACTION.
LACROSSE MAYOR, MITCHELL REYNOLDS, JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME
ON. >> YOUR PATHWAYS' PLAN STATES
THAT ENCAMPMENTS WILL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED ONCE YOUR NEW
HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING.
IS THAT SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING? >> NO.
THE IMPLEMENTATION BEGAN IN JANUARY.
THAT'S THE FIRST PART. THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE OTHER
PARTS THAT INCLUDE WHERE WE IDENTIFY THE HOUSING, HOW MUCH
WE NEED OF EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOW MUCH WE NEED, BECAUSE WE
DON'T REALLY WANT SHELTERS. WE WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE DIRECTLY
FROM BEING UNSHELTERED TO A HOUSING OPTION IMMEDIATELY.
>> ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S DOCUMENTATION, THERE ARE ABOUT
200 INDIVIDUALS AND 20 FAMILIES EXPERIENCING CHRONIC
HOMEESSNESS IN LACROSSE. DESCRIBE KIND OF THE THREE
PRONGS OF THE PATHWAYS HOME PROGRAM TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE
INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. >> IT'S COMPLICATED, FRANKLY,
BUT -- AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY WHO IS
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS IS LIVING IN A TENT IN THE MARSH RIGHT
NOW. ARE LIVING IN PLACES WHO ARE IN
VARIOUS SPOTS, LIKE IN THE MARSH AND THE FORESTED AREAS AND
PLACES THAT ARE NOT IN LACROSSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THIS IS
TYPICAL, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT -- THEY
ARE -- THEY MAY HAVE TEMPORARY SHELTER WITH A FRIEND OR IN AID
RELATIVE'S SPARE BEDROOM OR ON A COUCH OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE
LINES. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH
CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS IN THE CITY OF LACROSSE FOR A REALLY
LONG TIME. PART OF THIS IS REALLY JUST, AND
ONE OF THE AREAS IN PATHWAYS IS TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING
OPTIONS IN THE CITY. AND THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
ALL THE TIME, AND FRANKLY, THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF
THE PATHWAYS HOME PLAN, IS THAT PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES IS ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL PART, BUT THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF PATHWAYS HOME IS HAVING THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY BE THE ONES WHO ARE DRIVING THE BUS, BEING THE ONES
WHO ARE MANAGING THE HOMELESS RESPONSE.
EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE BID.
IN FACT, I JUST TALKED TO HECTOR COLOGNE THIS MORNING, WHO IS NOW
HEAD OF LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE AND WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THEY
ORCHESTRA TRAIT THAT A PATH -- ORCHESTRATED THAT A PATH TO
ALMOST FUNCTIONAL ZERO IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY BY DOING THIS
SAME THING. THAT'S THE MOST KRAJI CRITICAL S
THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE GETTING TOGETHER AND MANAGING
THE RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. WE'RE NOT LEAVING IT TO PRIVATE
SERVICE AGENCIES. WE'RE DIRECTING TRAFFIC ON THIS
ONE, AND I THINK THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR ME, THAT'S
THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF IT. BUT CERTAINLY PROVIDING SUPPORT
SERVICES AND THEN PROVIDING ADEQUATE HOUSING, FINDING THAT
ADEQUATE HOUSING, THAT IS AN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL PART OF
THIS. >> BECAUSE HOW HARD IS IT FOR
YOU AS MAYOR TO SEE THIS ENDURING PROBLEM?
>> FEELS LIKE FAILURE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT'S HOW IT FEELS. IT'S CONSTANT WORK.
IT'S EXHAUSTING. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO QUIT.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FOR
OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS OUT FOR
THOSE WHO ARE LIVING ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS.
IT'S CRITICAL WORK AND IT'S SOMETHING I'M COMPLETELY
DEDICATED TO. BUT, YEAH, FREDERICA, IT FEELS
LIKE FAILURE EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> DOES THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
LACROSSE HAVE THE CAPACITY AND RESOURCES TO MEET YOUR GOAL OF
ELIMINATING LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS BY 2029?
>> WE DO. WE NEED MORE.
I MEAN, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO MINISTER COLOGNE THIS MORNING,
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE COMMUNITY
SUPPORT THROUGH VARIOUS DONATIONS, SUPPORT THROUGH
BUSINESS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, THAT
TYPE OF THING. IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WORKING
ON, BUT WE HAVE RESOURCES, THE COUNTY HAS PERSONNEL RESOURCE
THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE. THEY JUST HAD TO SHIFT FOCUS
AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS AND MORE TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF THE
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, THE
ADDICTION ISSUES THAT THEY FACE, THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.
BUT ALSO BECAUSE THAT -- BECAUSE THERE IS COORDINATION BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE
SOME FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT WE NEED AND THERE'S DEFINITELY
GOING TO BE A NEED TO CREATE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS WITHIN THE
CITY OF LACROSSE. >> WE LEAVE IT THERE, MITCH
REYNOLDS. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME ON.
>> 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.
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