County Executive Candidate Forum 10/06/2024 recap

I was able to attend one of the candidate forums, this one was sponsored by the NAACP and the Racine Interfaith Coalition hosted registration and refreshments. This is MY recap, any clarification will have to come from the candidates. We have 6 candidates running for this position:

• Cory Sebastian – she wants to hear all sides, and consider our socio-economic as well as cultural diversity of all ages before making a decision. Please click her name for more details, and “she” to get to know her as a person. As a small business owner and serving on various nonprofits boards and as a volunteer, and is eager to help Racine county as a whole, flourish. She is also currently serving as an alderperson on Racine City Council.
• Adam Jaskie is a newcomer to the public eye. As a family man from Waterford, he could use some extra help filling up nomination papers. He has a “loud voice” for the people, and is willing to go up the chain to get more to help Racine county. He offers a fresh voice.
• Lorenzo Santos has been involved with government offices such as Emergency Management for Ready Racine County, and a former Navy Reserves officer. He believes in grassroots organizing and believes that we empower everyone by getting people involved from the bottom up. He understands the inner workings of government.
• Wendy Christensen is the current Clerk of Courts and believes in the community. As a proud Racinian, she wants to run. She wasn’t present at this forum, so I don’t have her answers.
• Melvin Hargrove is a strong community leader and an ordained minister and founded Zoe Ministries. He has served in the Army, Racine police and fire, school board and more. He is for the development of our young people.
• Ralph Malicki has rooted in Racine, and has been a successful business owner in Racine, and has helped many people, groups, local/regional small businesses and produce farms/orchards, and so many more. He has also served on many nonprofits of all types and brings knowledge of where the gaps could be closed between government services and nonprofits.

Moderator Question 1: Out of all of the items that the late County Executive Jonathan Delagrave was working on, what do you agree with most and what would you cancel?

• Jaskie supports the 0.5% sales tax – not to disregard anyone, but would be a small solution to fund necessities like 911 services and infrastructure
• Hargrove supports the sales tax to keep city and county jobs going as well as health services across the board
• Malicki supports the sales tax and would prioritize where it would go
• Santos agrees with the sales tax to continue the many vital programs that Racine County residents have come to rely on.
• Sebastian supports for mental health, youth programs, and to share services to benefit the city and county

Moderator question 2: What are the thoughts about public safety

• Jaskie mentioned state tax surplus in Madison and would be a loud voice to bring some of those funds here, to help fund school safety, include greater scope to speak loud for us on a larger level
• Hargrove would steer conversation toward work, environment, partnerships, and make Racine a place to go, to live, and to work
• Malicki has proven himself in bringing together people and connecting people with churches and community groups to bridge the gaps in services
• Santos wants to equip the people responsible for safety and bridging the gaps in staffing underserved areas
• Sebastian believes we all deserve to be safe, adapt to the budget and continue serving in the best way possible

Moderator question 3: How would you approach the fentanyl and drug issues?

• Malicki would be proactive about getting addiction support by supporting programs like AA/NA, public health services, and reach out to places that can add to the services such as the nonprofit sector, to help save public funds
• Santos would work on prevention through education, utilize law enforcement and treatment programs including social programs to help teach the public to say no
• Sebastian loves nonprofits which often bridge the gaps that the public sector can’t do, and to look at duplicate services to see if some could redirect to areas not covered
• Jaskie wants to step up services to also look at trauma therapy as many who face addiction issues have underlying trauma that led to that in the 1st place. (as an advocate, I appreciate this)
• Hargrove would bring together the family, community, and maybe form a cabinet of teamwork to tackle this issue

Moderator question 4: how to balance the budget if the budget passes or fails:

• Santos wants to support public safety, economic support, health services lik LS, HHS, and prioritize on what should be on the budget
• Sebastian would work on the best way with what we have and together, work through things by not overlapping services. nonprofits can help bridge gaps
• Jaskie would cover he holes and would like to legalize medical cannabis, prioritize education and student safety
• Hargrove would cover mandates first, youth jobs and trade programs, education, and housing
• Malicki is willing to make the tough decisions and support partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and more, and would set priorities by talking to people

Public question 1: Homelessness is an issue, HALO is underutilized. What can you do to help people?

• Sebastian believes all deserve a roof over their heads and to be safe. Nonprofits can totally help fill this gap with other resources as well
• Jaskie would attract developers, get granting to our area and collaborate with other leadership to make things happen, reiterates being a big voice for Racine
• Hargrove would push for leadership from the entire county to collaborate to attract people to come to visit, spend money here, and make it attractive for businesses to come here
• Malicki would focus on HALO and collaborate and build bridges between various agencies to support jobs, transportation, rehab and education beyond high school
• Santos supports nonprofits to help as inflation is up, and there are gaps where people need help, and would reach out to state and federal legislators to press them to act as well

Public question 2: The economy is down, and has been for decades. What kind of permanent economic development to make the heart of the city and the county flourish again?

• Hargrove would work with agencies like RDCD, RAMAC, etc to ensure Microsoft is stable here, and that would attract more businesses here, help farms reach out to get more help, and reach out to new partnerships
• Malicki believes Microsoft is the biggest thing going on, and pushing the trades to foster long-term/futuristic skills as well as to attract more jobs to the city and reinvigorate the economy
• Santos would prioritize making US attractive to net new builders that will follow Microsoft. average age of Racine is 40, so for the long-term, would like to attract younger people to the area, and supports a commuter rail to bring people to the area.
• Sebastian is excited to build a balance of who works, lives and plays here as well as push trades for young people, and looks forward to what Microsoft can bring
• Jankie admits that Microsoft isn’t the end-all, but it’s a great start, and how this can lead to revitalization because more business would follow. He also supports light rail.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness had a candidate forum earlier in the month, which I could not attend, so I will not answer anything from that one, as I was not there.

here is the video, 1 hour, 42 minutes and 45 seconds, to get your own interpretation: https://www.facebook.com/BigHomieRay/videos/580246304575822

I’d like to ask my own question: Many 50+ people are struggling financially. Nonprofits aren’t the end-all. Those who are underemployed because they can’t work in factory, warehouse, or fast food due to health issues. How do you intend to bridge the gaps for this group, especially into retirement, because some of us can’t wait 20 years for economic programs? This is a serious concern for me and several people I know.

Need gifts? Please support local businesses & people!

During this pandemic, we could all use a break.  With holidays coming up, some of us are wondering how we're going to pull it off, and not that gift-giving is the most important, but, let's face it, it's nice to do, or at least have a little extra to do something nice with the family.  So...  here it goes.

A fun morsel in the West Racine business district is Refined Salvage & Pallet Design, where you can find some fun, interesting, unique items for your house, as a gift, and these are perfect for those who just got into their 1st home!

While you're there, stop by at Wilson's Coffee & Tea, because they really have the best coffee, and stop in to get some kringle at Bendtsen's Bakery.  They definitely have the BEST kringle, this side of the Atlantic.  Then there's Gold Bear Trading Company, all here in the same business district, on the same side of the street.  Please don't forget to check out the new bakery, which offers items that aren't at the Danish places, and pick up your Christmas cookies from Nissi's Cake Room!  

Downtown, there's Lighthouse Gallery & Gifts, perfect for out of town people you're sending gifts to.  Their items range from pictures to T's to coffee mugs, all featuring Racine, WI!  I remember stopping in at Plumb Gold LTD as a college student when I'd ride the bus all over, and would walk down to check them out.  They just expanded, and have a 2nd store, called Plumb Silver.  I haven't been there, so I'd love to check that out someday as well.

I also have friends who could use a boost for the holidays, and here are some of what they can offer...

Kira T - Rustic Stone Jewelry & Gifts - please order on Etsy for your unique gift to your special gals in your life!

Mike Phipps - for your computer needs - he can fix your laptop & desktop at a great price, guarantees his work, & is better than many of these places where you spend an arm and a leg for...  When you message him, please also ask about vintage gaming units & classic games he has available.  Perfect again, for gift giving this holiday season!

Laura Fogel - She is a professional Mary Kay dealer, and can help you from skincare to makeup, men & women both!

Lika's Professional Resume Services - ask me what I can do for you, so you get an interview, even during this pandemic.  You're worth the investment, right?  Do it for you!

Because I need money, just to get to the end of the year...  I'll have to figure out next year after the 1st...  I also have these items for sale.  Please message me - lika.yvi@gmail.com if you're interested:

Greenbay Packer men's medium leather jacket - $30:  

Vinci R tenor saxophone - $250:

Sony Stereo with JVC speakers - $225 takes it all or individual components at prices listed below:

Sony stereo system - $150 if buying sony set
Sony receiver - $75
Sony dual cassette w/ radio - $30 - sold
Sony 6 - CD changer - $50
The stand is free, if purchase above, or $20 just for the stand

JVC surround speakers - $150 set
Bar style woofer SP XC 33 - $30
Subwoofer SX pw100 II - $65
Surround speakers (4) - $60 for all 4 or $40 for 2 or $20 for 1
Cord hook up & remotes available. Free if purchase the above, ask about ala carte pricing

It's been pampered, kept in pristine condition. Nonsmoking home.

Available 12/01/2020 - $500/month & $250/deposit, all utilities included, month to month lease. Looking for a responsible & liberal roommate, preferably female, to rent a furnished bedroom. All common areas are shared, including the laundry area. Interviews to discuss expectations & basic background checks with references needed.

Call or E-mail to schedule an interview & application to rent.

Any & all help is greatly appreciated!  Thank you in advance.

Concert Settings:

Back in April, my 19-year-old son treated me to the Billy Joel concert up at Miller Park Stadium.  Yes, I corrupted him...  He loves classic rock.  Other concerts he has gone to include ZZ Top and The Who.  Definitely a boy after his mother's heart.  I am fortunate.

I wonder if it is because growing up myself, I'd always been a music head, and love classical music, jazz, etc.  I even play clarinet and tenor saxophone, sang in the jazz choir, and can't imagine my life w/o music.  My son also is a musician.  As a preschooler, he'd sneak my harmonica and play along to his favorite cartoon shows at the beginning.  He now plays trumpet and is learning how to play acoustic guitar.  Yes, I'm bragging just a little bit...

To make things more interesting, I'd been involved at a young age helping out with various campaigns to get people elected since I was about 9, and got him started around the same age, maybe slightly older.  We also love Science Fiction.  We try to see every sci-fi flick that comes out on the big screen together, even if it's on $5/Tuesdays or at the Value Cinema.  It's pretty fun.  Everything from Star Trek to X-Men to whatever else that comes out...  Plus we love action, thrillers, and so much more.  I hope we can continue to do things together as he goes on, though I realize it will be a lot less often.

So, when I found out that my friend, Soldwolf is writing a military sci-fi story filled with action, humor and even a little romance story called Meeting the Parents, I was interested.  Because I like the story so much, I decided that I just have to share it, because it's too good not to share.  It's a neat storyline featuring a hero from post-unification Earth, where he is serving in the UN military, and his love is from a prominent family on a planet called Tamal, a humanoid race that evolved from herbivores.  This Tamalnii heroine is such an endearing character, you'll be cheering on for her and her people as well as for her and her studly to make it through to the end.

Chapter 41:  Post Takedowns - With so much going on, people need to chill out to make out sensible reports...  Oh, the info collected is huge.  I'm just wondering what kind of smackdown is awaiting in the future...

Happy reading!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

Just where does my time go, seriously?

People who’ve known me for a long time know that I am a busy person, and even if I have some open time, it can fill up quickly. I’m always up to something, whether it’s working, spending time with my friends, or best yet - doing something adventurous with my son Chad. Regardless, you can always count on me being a “trouble maker” of sorts, where I like to believe that I’m working toward improving the quality of life for at least a small group of people, whether it be survivors of sex abuse or domestic violence, improving the quality/quantity of jobs for those seeking (better) employment, or whatever else may require me to be the advocate that I am. It’s just in this case, rather than being community activated to push a political or legal agenda, it’s actually giving me a lot of personal satisfaction in helping in my small little way in the name of humanity and making my corner of the world a little bit at the Hospitality Center. No, I do not work in the entertainment business. Nor do I work for a hotel/motel chain. This actually has less to do with the hospitality industry as it does touching the daily lives of those in the greatest need in my fair city within the Badger State called Racine, WI.

As the Mission Statement states in the Hospitality Center website, is: To provide hospitality without agenda to those in need or underserved in Racine - the homeless, near homeless and mentally ill. At a glance, it sounds nice. Simple enough. Yet it goes so far beyond that. This place literally welcomes everybody, offers a judgment-free zone, and offers so much more than just some meals.

While I’ve been familiar with the Hospitality Center since it’s inception, and have given little bits of whatever I had, it’s only been since mid May of 2018 until present where I’ve been here regularly and somehow became a part of the daily grind, and I’m surprised they actually LIKE me around here, if you actually believe it or not!

It is located inside of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the hours of the center are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 7:30 am -1 pm - some exceptions for holidays apply but inquire before assuming whether they will be open or not. Reverend Seth is the minister for the church as well as the Executive Director of the center, and Carl is the Program Manager for the Hospitality Center as well as having other important titles for other organizations.

These two guys seriously put in a lot of work for this place, and it’s really been a positive experience working with these two guys, who have grown on me in various ways. The regular staff & volunteers are pretty neat, too, and if you ever come in, please insist on getting some Navy coffee.

Of course, the staff (paid and volunteer) works hard to ensure that the meals are available for all. One super cool lady insists on offering a hot breakfast because it’s the most important meal of the day, and the clients who have the least are who she thinks most about when offering this service. But what’s breakfast w/o coffee? Yes, there is a bottomless pot, one is always brewing, and thank goodness for that, because if I’m a fiend for anything, it’s a good cup of java! One guy, in particular, has me spoiled. I make some good stuff, but his rates even better than my Godmother’s (just please do not tell her that). While the coffee is good the whole time, the hot breakfast is from 7:30-8:30, and fresh donuts, muffins and more are offered until 10.

There is always a nice, hot dinner served at 11:30 with a choice of beverages. It is always a healthy and well-balanced smorgasbord that you can brag to your doctor about. Most of the time, it is our staff & volunteers who prepare and serve the meal, but on occasion, we get some really awesome people in the community who come in, and they even cater the food, too! I’m sure the kitchen staff/volunteers are grateful when they get these types of breaks because normally they are going overtime with busting out their moves getting the good food out & serving cafeteria style. Fortunately for me, it does not make MY job any easier.

On Tuesdays & Fridays, there are AA meetings at 9 am. All are welcome. Approximately every 8 weeks on a Monday, there are free haircuts for those who need to update their hair, whether it’s to shave it in the summer or just to clean up the tips. Thursdays are when it seems everything else happens... Sign up for healthcare, dental check-ups, clothing banks, and today, Aurora healthcare was there doing women’s well checkups because it’s always good to take care of your breast health.

This is the 1st time I know of that they’re here, and it’s possible that Aurora may come back in the future with other health programs to cover other exams, so please stay tuned, you never know if the life it changes is yours, and in that event, it might be good to know that EVERY Thursday is clothing day, and there are lockers you can use temporarily utilize a locker while you stay and enjoy the company of others. I, for one, am thankful that the volunteers who keep the clothing bank straight are there because have a look, who wouldn’t want to “shop” for free here? They just ask that you only take what is needed, and if there is a shortage of clothing, there may be limits to what is able to be given out at any certain time. There is always a need for clothing of all sizes, especially undergarments, socks, women’s hygiene, personal hygiene, and more. The people who put this together definitely go above and beyond the call of duty.

Yes, it’s impressive at all of the services that are offered, but most importantly, it offers a place for people to connect, and for those who are in poverty, it helps people not get that sense of social disconnect. Seriously, this place is perfect for anyone who needs a place to go, something to do, and people to see. While for me, personally, yes, I can go anywhere and adapt to what it is, especially when it comes to talking in front of elected officials to talk about what needs to be done, the Hospitality Center goes beyond that. When I first arrived as an intern to do administrative work, I thought I was just going to be offering my professional services in the office and maybe offering some of my own hospitality to add to what was already there, which was easy. What I didn’t expect was to be given some of that back, and while it was awkward for me to try to accept it at the beginning, it actually kind of feels nice that this unlikely clientele would be part of the group giving the vibes back. I don’t ask for much, but I feel like I really do get more than I give (which isn’t much) and it’s huge.

I invite, actually dare you to come in and have a look around. And make sure you stay a bit, and not just once, either. Come in regularly, even if it’s once a month, and see what it transforms into for you. IF you’re lucky, I’ll share some of that good coffee with you, and we’ll talk a bit and take it from there.

In the spirit of keeping with good things going on at the Hospitality Center, my dear friend Soldwolf, the author of the Military Sci-Fi story called Meeting the Parents, also is a volunteer, who makes the awesome coffee. With the amount of work he puts in, Soldwolf is extremely valuable to the entire staff, paid and unpaid there. Sometimes he's misunderstood, but in reality, a good guy who is also funny, smart, and a great friend. He's there all 4 days but doesn't always stay for the whole time, so if you're especially lucky, you'll be able to meet the guy whose coffee won my heart over but do me a favor, don't let him know that I'll fight for that last cup... Sh! Just be a dear and read his next 4 chapters, will you? This retired Navy guy deserves your support in this endeavor to get his story published into a real book.

Chapter 29: Lunch & Phone Calls delves into some interesting info on ships designed for space, and how it can be difficult to juggle personal and professional business (especially when you have to clear intergalactic military clearances) with a business lunch and formal calls to family.

Chapter 30: Phone Calls & Introductions dang... It would be cool to have video calls to meet and get introduced to new people, and I like the international flair of having a multiethnic earth unit. The family affairs can get quite complicated and interesting, but is it time to start biting our nails or do they have it? It's business before pleasure for sure, especially in military life... The tension builds. How fast can these people work?

Chapter 31: Meetings & Arrivals It's interesting that in this day, we are still figuring out how to understand fellow Earthlings of different cultures, yet in the future, it's all about knowing how to fit in with the other humanoid species from other galaxies. The way it pans out often is hilarious, and hope that the snafus are at a minimum, and if not, at least workable. In the meantime, enjoy the humor in getting to learn & know the various cultural customs. And oh, the seduction! Wow. I think maybe a new vent system is in order, but then maybe it's the heat coming off of the active military personnel...

Chapter 32: Celebrations We all know that the bride-to-be's family is good for throwing the parties. It's even more fun when the groom-to-be's family does the same, and it's heartwarming to be able to see certain things. Just like earthlings, "alien" culture also revolves around the arts as well, which is refreshing to know. I wonder what Talmanii music sounds like? Hmm. I just know that sometimes it's interesting as to how we have to balance family & work business.