>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT A STUDY THAT
REVEALS ECONOMIC RISKS CONNECTED
TO THE FOXCONN PROJECT IN MOUNT
PLEASANT.
A CLOSER LOOK AT EFFORTS TO
BOOST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP IN MILWAUKEE.
AND POLITICAL PANELISTS MCCOSHEN
AND ROSS THRIFER SOME POLITICAL
THANKSGIVING.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 27.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> THE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR
INCENTIVE PACKAGE WISCONSIN GAVE
FOXCONN WAS MORE THAN A BAD
DEAL.
IT COULD DEPRESS STATE ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY BY TENS OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW
SPECIAL STUDY BY ECONOMISTS AT
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY IN
VIRGINIA.
IN TONIGHT'S FIRST LOOK, WE TALK
WITH ONE OF THE AUTHORS.
MICHAEL FARREN IS A RESEARCH
FELLOW AT GEORGE MASON.
HE JOINS US FROM ASHEVILLE AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHY DID YOU RESEARCH
WISCONSIN'S $3.6 BILLION PLUS
SUBSIDY TO FOXCONN IN
PARTICULAR?
>> SO WE WERE DOING AN ANALYSIS,
ASKING THE QUESTION DO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDIES ACTUALLY
WORK, CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AT
THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE DECIDED TO USE FOXCONN AS A
CASE STUDY BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE
NEWS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
INFORMATION ALREADY AVAILABLE
ABOUT IT.
>> YOUR PREMISE AND CONCLUSION,
AGAIN, IS THAT SUCH TARGETED
SUBSIDIES, ESPECIALLY GIGANTIC
ONES LIKE FOXCONN'S, DO MORE
HARM THAN GOOD.
IN FACT, YOU SAY THE SUBSIDY MAY
DEPRESS STATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
BY TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OVER THE NEXT 15 10 TO 15 YEARS.
HOW SO?
>> MOST STUDIES THAT EXAMINE
THESE SUBSIDIES NEVER COUNT THE
COST.
SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND FOR
EVERY DOLLAR YOU PAY IN SUBSIDY,
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM
TAXPAYERS AND THAT HAS A
NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE $3.6 BILLION OFFERED TO FOX
COX WOULD INCREASE ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN THE STATE.
>> YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE
MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF SPIN-OFF
JOBS RELATED TO FOXCONN.
WHY IN YOUR RESEARCH DOESN'T
THAT ADD UP?
>> THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT IS
VALUABLE, BUT MOST OF THE TIME
MULTIPLIERS TAKE PLACE
NATURALLY.
YOU DON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO
INCENTIVIZE THEM.
THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE WITH
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDIES
IN GENERAL, THAT THEY ONLY WORK
IN THE CONTEXT OF SWAYING WHERE
A COMPANY DECIDES TO LOCATE OR
ON EXPAND BETWEEN 2% AND 25% OF
THE TIME.
THAT MEANS ABOUT 75% OF
SUBSIDIES OR MORE ARE JUST PURE
WASTES OF PUBLIC MONEY.
>> YOUR RESEARCH DISCUSSES HOW
ELSE THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
MIGHT HAVE USED $3.6 BILLION.
LIKE HOW?
>> SO ONE HUMOROUS EXAMPLE THAT
WE USED IS THAT THE STATE COULD
HAVE INSTEAD SUBSIDIZED SEVEN
SQUARE MILES OF GREENHOUSES TO
MOVE FLORIDA ORANGE GROWERS UP
TO THE UPPER MIDWEST.
THAT WOULD ALSO CREATE
MULTIPLIERS AND WOULD CREATE AN
EXPORTABLE INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S
OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD USE OF
TAXPAYER MONEY.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT
$3.6 BILLION MIGHT HAVE BEEN
PLOWED BACK INTO TAX CUTS.
WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN MORE
ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO RIGHT NOW, WITH THE CURRENT
CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE, IF
THAT SUBSIDY TO FOXCONN HAD
INSTEAD GONE TO ALL COMPANIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT COULD
HAVE LOWERED CORPORATE INCOME
TAXES BY 22%.
THAT WOULD DO A LOT MORE FOR
BROAD-BASED ECONOMIC GROWTH
RATHER THAN PICKING ONE FAVORITE
AND ROLLING THE DICE ON IT.
>> NOW, YOUR REPORT PILES ON
WITH THE IDEA THAT SUBSIDIES
ACTUALLY REDUCE COMPETITIVE
PRACTICES AMONG COMPANIES THAT
RECEIVE THEM BECAUSE BASICALLY
THOSE COMPANIES ARE PLAYING WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO SUBSIDIES ESSENTIALLY GIVE A
MONOPOLY ADVANTAGE TO THE
RECEIVER OF THE SUBSIDY.
ONE OF THE SAYINGS ABOUT THAT IS
THE BEST PART OF MONOPOLY POWER
IS HAVING AN EASY LIFE.
SO ESSENTIALLY IT ALLOWS THE
COMPANY THAT RECEIVES THE
SUBSIDY TO BE A LITTLE BIT LESS
ATTENTIVE TO CONSUMER DESIRES,
TO BE LESS COA FOCUSED ON
EFFICIENCIES RATHER THAN
COMPETITION, WHICH FORCES
COMPANIES TO FOCUS ON PLEASING
COMPANIES AND ELIMINATING WASTE
FROM THEIR PRODUCTION.
>> IT ALMOST GOES WITHOUT SAYING
THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW
ECONOMISTS ARE NOT GOOD WITH
THESE KINDS OF TARGETED
SUBSIDIES, BUT YOU SAY THAT
STATES DON'T EVEN NEED TO OFFER
THEM BECAUSE OTHER FACTORS FOR
WHERE COMPANIES MIGHT LOCATE ARE
MORE IMPORTANT, LIKE LABOR
COSTS.
BUT WOULD FOXCONN HAVE EVER COME
TO WISCONSIN WITHOUT THE
BILLIONS IN TARGETED SUBSIDIES?
>> SO THAT IS AN OPEN QUESTION
AND NO ONE CAN REALLY ANSWER
THAT.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS
THAT MOST SUBSIDIES DON'T MATTER
AND EVEN AMAZON HQ2, WHICH WE
ALSO STUDIED LAST YEAR, WAS --
ITS FOCUS WAS ON TECH TALENT.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT CHOSE
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA AS A PLACE
TO LOCATE.
THEY ONLY ALSO CHOSE NEW YORK
CITY BEFORE PULLING OUT OF THAT
DEAL LATER ON BECAUSE THEY
WEREN'T SURE THAT ARLINGTON,
VIRGINIA COULD PROVIDE ENOUGH
TALENTED WORKERS FOR THEIR TECH
INDUSTRY.
SO THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL
ABOUT PRODUCTION AND ACCESS TO
CUSTOMERS.
SUBSIDIES ARE A SECONDARY OR
EVEN TERTIARY CONSIDERATION.
>> AND AGAIN YOU SAY THAT,
QUOTE, SUBSIDIZING GOVERNMENTS
ARE WASTING THEIR MONEY" AND
PRESUMABLY OUR MONEY.
WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION TO YOUR
PAPER, FROM POLICYMAKERS OR
OTHER ECONOMISTS, WHO TOUT SUCH
SUBSIDIES?
>> SO GENERALLY THE RECEPTION
HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.
AND WE'RE ONLY SAYING SOMETHING
THAT ECONOMISTS HAVE BEEN SAYING
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE
MESSAGE OUT INTO THE BROADER
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE
BIT MORE.
AND IT'S VERY WELL-UNDERSTOOD
THAT A LOT OF POLICYMAKERS WOULD
GET AWAY FROM OFFERING THESE
SUBSIDIES IF OTHER POLICYMAKERS
ALSO PROMISED TO DO SO.
WE WASTE ABOUT $45 BILLION A
YEAR IN STATE AND CITY TAXES ON
THESE SUBSIDIES THAT COULD BE
REPURPOSED TO TAX CUTS, TO GROW
THE ECONOMY OR OTHER VALUABLE
PUBLIC SERVICES.
THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY
SOMETHING THAT WOULD GROW THE
ECONOMY RATHER THAN SHRINK IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
MICHAEL FARREN, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THE MIDST OF A BUSY THANKS
GIVING HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON,
ANOTHER THREAT ON THE ROADWAYS:
DISTRACTED DRIVING.
LAST YEAR, WISCONSIN SAW 60
FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT.
IN TONIGHT'S CLOSER LOOK, A NEW
BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
AIMS TO TARGET ONE COMMON FORM
OF DISTRACTION: THE USE OF
SMART PHONES.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM
HUDSON.
>> I THOUGHT I COULD DO IT
SAFELY.
I DID IT FOR 15 YEARS WITHOUT AN
INCIDENT.
AND I WAS PRETTY DARN GOOD AT
IT.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, I'M A
SAFETY CONSULTANT.
I SHOULD BE GOOD AT THIS.
>> FOR YEARS, TOO MANY GOELTZ TOM GOELTZ OF
HUDSON DIDN'T SEE USING HIS
PHONE WHILE DRIVING AS A BIG
DEAL.
>> MOST OF IT WAS OKAY.
>> EVEN WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, HE
DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A
SIGNIFICANT DANGER OF SOMETHING
HAPPENING WHILE HE WAS BEHIND
THE WHEEL.
>> YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO CRASH ON YOUR WAY TO
WORK AND YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO
CHANGE.
>> BUT ON A FEBRUARY DAY IN
2016, TOM WASN'T THE ONE IN
DANGER.
IT WAS HIS 22-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER
MEGAN WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH.
AND IT WAS DUE TO A DISTRACTED
DRIVER.
AND MEGAN WAS PREGNANT AT THE
TIME.
AND I LOST AN UNBORN GRANDSON.
SHE WAS IN A CAR.
SHE WAS DRIVING BACK HERE TO OUR
HOUSE, AND SHE WAS SITTING AT A
STOP SIGN WAITING FOR ONCOMING
TRAFFIC WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE
CROSSED OVER THE CENTER LINE OF
THE ROAD.
>> FROM THAT DAY, NEARLY FOUR
YEARS AGO, TOM HAS REFOCUSED HIS
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE
TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE
DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING.
>> SHE DIDN'T STAND MUCH OF A
CHANCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN
DISTRACTED DRIVING-RELATED
CRASHES.
YOU KNOW, THE VEHICLES, THEY'RE
NOT SLOWING DOWN BEFORE THEY HIT
SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> BUT THERE'S ONE TREND TOM
HOLDS PARTICULARLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS.
SMARTPHONES.
>> IT'S UNCANNY THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN OUR TRAFFIC FATALITIES
ON OUR ROADS INCREASING AND WHEN
WE ALL STARTED GETTING
SMARTPHONES.
>> A SURVEY FROM THE NATIONAL
HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION SHOWS 5.3% OF
DRIVERS REPORTED USING A CELL
PHONE WHILE DRIVING SHES WITH
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DRIVERS
BEING AGES 16 TO 24.
>> THOSE STATISTICS CAN OFTEN BE
MISLEADING.
>> WISCONSIN STATE PATROL
LIEUTENANT NATURE NATE HENRIK SON SAYS
THESE ARE UNDER REPORTED.
>> WE'LL TAKE APPROPRIATE
ENFORCEMENT ACTION BASED ON THE
EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER
IT BEING EVIDENCE OF A SPEEDING
VIOLATION OR FOLLOWING TOO
CLOSE.
>> THE MESSAGE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
THE STATE PATROL IS THAT OVERALL
DISTRACTED DRIVING IS THE
PROBLEM.
AND THAT INCLUDES SMARTPHONES.
>> LAST YEAR, IN 2018, THERE
WERE ABOUT 23,000 TRAFFIC
CRASHES, WHICH WERE A RESULT OF
DISTRACTED DRIVING.
9,000 OF THOSE CRASHES WERE
INJURY CRASHES.
AT LEAST 60 OF THOSE WERE
FATALITY CRASHES.
>> IN WISCONSIN, IT'S ILLEGAL TO
ON TEXT WHILE DRIVING, STREAM
ENTERTAINMENT OR USE A HAND
HOALD DEVICE WHILE DRIVING
THROUGH A WORK ZONE.
BUT IT IS LEGAL TO TALK ON YOUR
PHONE, SO THERE'S A BIT OF A
GRAY AREA OF WHAT YOU CAN AND
CAN'T DO ON YOUR DEVICE.
>> AND AND TALK TO STOP AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT
IT.
I SAW YOU WERE DOING SOMETHING
ELSE WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING.
IT'S NOT ILLEGAL TO TALK ON YOUR
PHONE UNLESS IT DISTRACTS YOU.
>> THERE'S A NEW BILL IN
WISCONSIN THAT WOULD PLACE
STRICTER LIMITS ON WHAT YOU CAN
DO ON A DEVICE WHILE YOU'RE
DRIVING.
>> ONE TOUCH.
THEY CAN TOUCH IT ONCE.
THAT'S IT.
YOU CAN'T SCROLL.
YOU CAN'T MULTIPLE TOUCH.
IT HAS TO BE IN A HANDS-FREE
MODE.
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD
SAY WHY DO WE NEED IT.
>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
SPIROS OF MARSHFIELD AUTHORED
THE BILL.
>> IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE
LIVES.
>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER
STATES THAT HAVE ADOPTED A
HANDS-FREE LAW IS ABOUT A 15% TO
20% DECREASE IN FATALITIES AND
SERIOUS CRASHES.
IS THAT PERFECT?
NO.
BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.
>> THE BILL WAS INTROOSESSED IN INTRODUCED IN
OFNLGTOCTOBER.
IT HASN'T GOTTEN VERY FAR.
>> I'M HOPEFUL WE GET A HEARING
AT LEAST SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT
IT.
BUT BOTTOM LINE IS EVEN IF IT
DOESN'T GET DONE THIS TIME, AT
LEAST IT'S READY TO GO NEXT
SESSION.
WE'VE VETTED EVERYBODY.
>> TOM HELPED GET SIMILAR
LEGISLATION PASSED IN MINNESOTA.
HE SAID IT WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR
LAWMAKERS THERE EITHER UNTIL
MORE PEOPLE LIKE HIM CAME OUT
AND HAD THEIR STORIES HEARD.
>> SO I NEED TO DO MORE.
I NEED TO KEEP PLUGGING AWAY.
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
EVERY YEAR WE WAIT, IT'S JUST
HUNDREDS OF MORE PEOPLE DIE.
>> THE DRIVER RESPONSIBLE FOR
MEGAN'S DEATH PLED GUILTY TO
RECKLESS DRIVING, A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR.
>> MY FAMILY'S HAD A LOT OF --
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY
DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION.
>> TOM SAYS HIS MEMORY OF MEGAN
KEEPS HIM GOING.
>> SHE WAS A CNA.
SHE WAS A CERTIFIED NURSING
ASSISTANT.
SHE LIKED TO WORK WITH THE
ELDERLY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO THE
FUNERAL THAT WERE FAMILY MEMBERS
OF THE PEOPLE THAT SHE TOOK CARE
OF IN HOSPICE.
WE HEARD ABOUT IT AFTER SHE DIED
FROM THE FAMILY MEMBERS, HOW BIG
OF A DIFFERENCE SHE MADE.
I REMEMBER FEELING SO PROUD OF
HER AT THE TIME, AND I JUST, YOU
KNOW, WANTED TO JUST TELL HER
THAT.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> SHE KNOWS.
SHE KNOWS.
>> 15 STATES HAVE ENACTED A
SO-CALLED HANDS-FREE LAW.
OF THOSE, 12 SAW A DECREASE IN
FATALITIES WITHIN TWO YEARS.
>> NEXT, WHAT TO DO ABOUT
MILWAUKEE, WHERE A NEW STUDY
FROM A FINANCIAL NEWS SITE RANKS
THE CITY WORST IN THE NATION FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
THE STUDY POINTS TO DISPARITIES
BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE
IN THE WAY OF INCOME,
UNEMPLOYMENT AND HOME OWNERSHIP.
BUT HOPE MAY BE ON THE HORIZON
AS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE THERE
ACTIVELY SEEKS SOLUTIONS,
INCLUDING DEVELOPING AND
SUPPORTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LEADERS.
ANTONIO RILEY IS BOARD PRESIDENT
FOR THE ALLIANCE.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING
SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW, YOUR ALLIANCE WAS
FOUNDED IN 2017 AND ITS MEMBERS
ARE READY NOW TO ACTIVATE YOUR
MISSION GOALS.
GOALS STATED ON YOUR WEBSITE TO
WITHIN FIVE YEARS REDEFINE
MILWAUKEE AS TOP-RANKED FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ENSURE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS WANT TO
LIVE AND WORK IN MILWAUKEE AND
ENHANCE A THRIEFG THRIVING AND GROWING
POOL OF TALENTED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS THERE.
WHAT ARE YOUR ACTION STEPS TO
REACH THESE GOALS?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE WITH YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
OUR VISION AND GOALS, NOT JUST
FOR MILWAUKEE, BUT FOR OUR
REGION HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WE REALLY FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT
WE NEED TO WORK WITH HARD AT
CHANGING SOME OF THE
DEMOGRAPHICS, DEFICIENCIES THAT
WE SEE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS
HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO MAKE
MILWAUKEE BY 2025 A PLACE WHERE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP CAN
THRIVE.
AND ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GOALS
THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IT
IS ABOUT A TALENT POOL ALSO.
NOW, AS PART OF THOSE EFFORTS,
WE ARE ENGAGING WITH ALLIES, THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE LIKE
WITH ACTUAL DELIVERABLE
STRATEGIES ON HOW TO ACHIEVE
THAT GOAL.
WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY BY 2025
WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAN
THRIVE AND THAT WE HAVE THAT
TALENT POOL AS WELL, WE WORK
WITH THE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE TO COME UM COME UP WITH THE
REGION OF CHOICE, SETTING SOME
REALLY CLEAR, MEASURABLE GOALS
ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET
THERE IN TERMS OF, ONE, DOING
TWO THINGS.
ONE, IT IS TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
LATINOS IN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS
BY 25% BY 2025.
AND IT IS TO INCREASE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO
EMPLOYMENT BY 15% BY THAT SAME
TIME.
IN ORDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE THOSE
GOALS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
HERE IN MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN
AREA ARE GETTING THE SKILLS THEY
NEED BY WHICH TO CLIMB THAT
CORPORATE LADDER.
WHEN WE RECRUIT PEOPLE, MAKE
SURE THEY CAN LIVE, WORK AND
PLAY HERE.
THAT MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE TO
STAY HERE.
SO ALL THOSE GOALS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT TO US ACHIEVING THAT
BENCHMARK BY 2025.
>> WHY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LEADERS IN MILWAUKEE IMPORTANT
TO TURNING THE CITY AROUND FOR
ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT.
AND I'LL JUST PUT IT TO YOU,
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THIS WAY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A
COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR OURSELVES.
AND WE REALLY DO.
AND A LOT OF US DO.
AND WE HAVE TO SIMPLY SAY THAT
LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY,
NOT JUST IN THE CORPORATE AREA,
BUT FOLKS IN CORPORATE
WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE AS WELL AS
FOLKS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
FROM NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND ALL
SORTS OF OTHER GROUPS AND IT
DOESN'T JUST CONSIST OF STRICTLY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS' VOICES ARE
BEING HEARD AND THEY ARE A PART
OF THAT CONVERSATION AND THUS A
PART OF HELPING US TO ACHIEVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A
STRONGER REGION.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT WE
LEAD FOR OURSELVES AS WELL.
>> WHY HAS MILWAUKEE IN YOUR
MIND LANGUAGE LANGUISHED AND RANKED SO
POORLY FOR DISPARITIES
HISTORICALLY?
>> WELL, THAT IS A VERY LARGE
QUESTION THAT HAS LOTS OF
DIFFERENT NUANCES TO IT.
AND WE KNOW OF THE RACIAL
SEGREGATION THAT EXISTS WITHIN
NOT JUST THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
REGION.
ONE OF THE OTHER POLICY -- ONE
OF THE OTHER AREAS, AS YOU KNOW
FROM OUR WEBSITE, IT IS TO BE A
LEADER ON PUBLIC POLICY,
ENGAGING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS,
TALK ABOUT THOSE STRATEGIES THAT
BUILD ALSO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TALKS ABOUT
HOW DO WE TRANSFORM THE ENTIRE
REGION.
BUT WE HAVE LAGGED BEHIND.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, FOR A HOST
OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
IT COMES TO HOUSING, THE
SEGREGATION, THE TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES.
ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL.
AND SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL
THOSE SYMPTOMS OF WHAT EXISTS IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE
WORK WITH ALLIES TO FIGURE OUT
MEASURABLE STRATEGIES TO BEGIN
TO ADDRESS IT.
>> BRIEFLY AND FINALLY, DESCRIBE
HOW COMMITTED YOUR GROUP IS
TOWARD THESE GOALS FOR
MILWAUKEE?
>> OH, WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO
IT.
I MEAN, THIS CAME OUT OF THE
AALP, WHICH HAS BEEN FOR THE
LAST TEN YEARS ONE OF THE
PREMIERE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO
DEVELOP AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP IN CORPORATE
MILWAUKEE, SOME 200 ALIEWM ALUMNI.
WE CALLED TOGETHER ABOUT 80
FOLKS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS
AND CORPORATE FOLKS, TO DO A
SESSION BACK IN MAY.
AND THAT'S HOW WE THEN WENT
FORWARD AND LAUNCHED OUR GROUP
PUBLICLY AND ESTABLISHED A
NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS AND BOARD.
NEXT YEAR WE ARE GOING TO BE
RETOOLING THE LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN MARCH OF
2020.
WE WILL HERE A LEAD CHAMPION
CATALYST, WHICH MEANS OUR NEW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO WILL
THEN HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
FURTHER THE MISSION.
SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO IT AND WE
THANK ALL OF OUR ALLIES AND
PARTNERS OUT THERE FOR ALL OF
THEIR SUPPORT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
THIS WORK DONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANTONIO RILEY, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN THESE HYPER, UBER,
UNCONTROLLABLY PARTISAN TIMES
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING
PARTISANS CAN COME TOGETHER ON,
LIKE BEING THANKFUL IN THIS
SEASON ON OF GIVING.
WELL, MAYBE.
WE CHECK IN WITH OUR POLITICAL
PANEL OF TWO, BILL MCCOSHEN AND
SCOT ROSS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
SO YOU GUYS HAD AN ASSIGNMENT
AND THAT WAS TO GIVE US SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE THANKFUL
FOR.
WE WILL START OFF WITH BILL
MCCOSHEN'S FIRST ONE.
THAT IS THAT YOU ARE THANKFUL
THAT SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI PUT
ADAM SCHIFF IN CHARGE OF THE
PREEVMENTIMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.
WHY ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THAT?
>> I AM SUPER THANKFUL FOR THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT COULD HAVE GONE
BETTER FOR REPUBLICANS.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK HE'S THE
LEAST CREDIBLE CONGRESSMAN IN
D.C.
HE WAS THE GUY THAT TOLD US
THERE WAS COLLUSION HIDING IN
PLAIN SIGHT.
REMEMBER THAT?
AND THERE WASN'T.
HE SAID THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE
THAT WOULD TAKE DOWN DON
NATIONAL TRUMP AS RELATES TO
THIS IMPEACHMENT.
HE'S THE LEAST CREDIBLE GUY.
SECONDLY, TURNS OUT THE BOOK WAS
MUCH BETTER THAN THE MOVIE ON
THIS.
THE POLL NUMBERS FOR THE
IMPEACHMENT WAS GROWING WHEN
THEY WERE HAVING SECRET
DEPOSITIONS DOWN IN THE BASEMENT
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEN THEY PUT THIS ON TV, ADAM
HIF IS SORTSCHIFF IS SORT OF A
CREEPY-LOOKING GUY.
IT PLAYED TO REPUBLICANS'
BENEFITS.
AND NATIONAL AND STATE POLLS
HAVE SHOWN THAT DONALD TRUMP'S
NUMBERS HAVE FLIPPED AS RELATES
TO IMPEACHMENT.
>> THAT IS TRUE.
YOUR RESPONSE?
>> I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE
DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE
CONSTITUTIONALLY-REQUIRED
PROVISION THAT THEY HOLD
CORRUPTION ACCOUNTABLE IN THE
EXECUTIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I SAW --
I JUST SAW A POLL, YOU KNOW,
EARLY, MIDDLE WEEK, THAT SAID
60% OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED
STATES WANT IMPEACHMENT AND
REMOVAL AND THAT THERE IS A
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT
IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL.
I KNOW THE FRANKLIN POLL HAD
SOME NUMBERS, BUT TO BELIEVE
THOSE NUMBERS, YOU HAVE TO
BELIEVE THAT LIBERALS INCREASED
THE AMOUNT THAT THEY -- LIBERALS
INCREASED -- REDUCED THE AMOUNT
THAT THEY ARE FOR IMPEACHMENT BY
10% TO 15%, AS DID THE 18 TO 44.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S CREDIBLE
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
>> LET'S GO THEN TO YOUR
THANKFUL NOTE.
YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE THANKFUL
THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD
TRUMP TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS ENDLESS
CORRUPTION ON THIS SAME TOPIC.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE IF THE PRESIDENT CAN GET
AWAY WITH THIS CORRUPTION, THEN
ANYONE CAN GET AWAY WITH THINGS.
IT'S A RECKLESS LAWLESSNESS THAT
WE DON'T NEED.
THE CASE HAS BEEN LAID OUT IN
PLAIN SIGHT.
THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED THAT WHAT
YOU DID, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF
ADMITTED WHAT HE DID.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT BILL'S
TASK IS.
HE'S GOT TO MUDDY UP THE WATERS.
BUT WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE
IN THIS, CAREER PUBLIC SERVANTS
WHO TESTIFIED UNDER OATH WITH A
CONSISTENT TIME LINE AND NO DARE
DERIVATION IN THEIR STORIES.
>> THEY'RE BECOMING THE PARTY OF
CHICKEN LITTLE.
THE SKY ISN'T FALLING SINCE TWO
YEARS AGO.
SO I THINK THEY RUN THE RISK OF
NOT HAVING AN AGENDA AND
ACTUALLY GETTING ISSUES DONE
THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.
POLLING NOW SAYS THAT VOTERS SAY
THAT POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA
CARE MORE ABOUT THIS THAN THEY
DO.
>> LET ME ASK YOU BOTH WHAT YOU
THINK OF RUDY GIULIANI?
>> I CAN HEAR IT.
IT'S THAT SOUND WHEN THE BUS
BACKS UP, BECAUSE TRUMP IS IS
GETTING READY TO ROLL HIM UNDER
THAT.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT
INSURANCE POLICY IS THAT HE'S
BEEN CROWING ABOUT.
>> RUDY HAS GOT SHARP ELBOWS.
I DON'T THINK TRUMP IS GOING TO
ROLL HIM UNDER ANY BUS.
I'D RATHER HAVE RUDY IN THE
FOXHOLE WITH ME.
>> SCOT ROSS, YOU SAY YOU ARE
THANKFUL THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IS THE PARTY OF INCLUSION
AND EMPOWERMENT.
THAT'S VERY NICE.
>> I'M A WHITE GUY, SO THERE'S
CLEARLY A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHERE
THE IDEAS OF INDIVIDUAL --
RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND
NEEDS ARE A PART OF THE PARTY
PLATFORM, WHETHER IT'S ISSUES OF
RACE, LGBTQ, ISSUES OF GENDER.
YOU KNOW, ALL THESE ISSUES OF
DIVERSITY ARE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
AND WHY IT REPRESENTS PEOPLE IN
A MUCH BETTER WAY THAN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY DOES.
ONE THING IN PARTICULAR.
AFTER THE HOUSE ELECTIONS IN
2018, THE REPUBLICAN -- THE
REPRESENTATION OF WHITE MEN IN
THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE WENT FROM
86% TO 90%, WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY WE WENT FROM 41% TO 38%.
>> DO YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY DOES NOT
EMPOWER OR INCLUDE PEOPLE?
>> I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A WHITE
NATIONALIST LIKE STEVEN MILLER
DIRECTING POLICY THAT ARE SO
HARMFUL TO SO MANY FOLKS, I
THINK THE REASON THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF
AMERICA IS BECAUSE IT'S GOT MORE
OF AMERICA IN IT.
YOU SEE THAT IN THE POLICY, YOU
KNOW, IN WHAT IT'S CONCERNED
ABOUT.
>> REPUBLICANS JUST ELECTED THE
FIRST BLACK ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
KENTUCKY HISTORY A COUPLE WEEKS
AGO.
DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE
PROUD TO RUN ON HIS RECORD FOR
MINORITIES.
UNEMPLOYMENT FOR BLACKS AND
HISPANICS IS THE LOWEST IN
HISTORY.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT BARACK
OBAMA, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
PRESIDENT, COULD NOT SAY.
UNEMPLOYMENT ACTUALLY INCREASED
WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT.
SO I THINK WHILE I UNDERSTAND
SCOT'S POINT AND I APPRECIATE
IT, I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS COME A LONG, LONG WAY ON
THIS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE ABLE TO COMPETE MORE
FAVORABLY IN THE MINORITY
COMMUNITIES IN 2020.
>> UNTIL THE PRESIDENT IS NOT
TWEETING BY THE LET OF A TIKI
TORCH ABOUT COUNTRIES, I THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>> WE'LL LEAVE THAT THERE.
REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN
SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED FOR MIDDLE
INCOME TAX CUT.
>> THIS IS IMPORTANT.
ALSAS PEOPLE GET READY TO START
BUYING HOLIDAY GIFTS, THEY HAVE
MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET
BECAUSE TONY EVERS LOWERED
MIDDLE INCOME TAXES.
HE VETOED A BILL IN
FEBRUARY THAT WOULD HAVE DONE
THAT.
THEY PUT IT IN THE STATE BUDGET
A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROCESS.
THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT.
IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD POLICY.
IT TURNS OUT TO BE GREAT
POLITICS BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE
DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR THOSE BILLS
IN FEBRUARY OR JUNE.
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS IN
2020.
>> THE REPUBLICANS ARE HAULING
TONY EVERS TO COURT BECAUSE HE
WANTED TO INCREASE EDUCATION
SPENDING.
THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE ECONOMIC PRIORITIES OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.
>> YOU TOO.
>> YOU AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M F HAVE A FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.