And good morning. I have a very special guest for the first time in our studio. That's great.
We'll close it at that microphone. I want to hear every word you have to say. All right.
Alder Marlo Harmon is here and thanks for joining us. No problem at all. Thanks for having me.
A lot of people you don't say, well, I'm not going on the radio. I don't want to know my secrets
going. I don't have any secrets, but I don't want them getting out anyway. They'll find secrets.
No, that's good. I'm glad you decided to come in here and introduce yourself to our audience.
Now, you're the 14th district, right? I am in the 14th district. I've been an aldermen of that
district for a little over a year prior to me being aldermen or aldermoman. I actually was
county board supervisor for my district. Oh, yes, it was. How long have we that for?
One term. So about two years and then one straight from that position into alder.
So there's a few things that are different, but politics is politics.
And what's the difference? I don't want to city ones a county, but what's the difference when
you work with a county board versus the city council? Well, as a county board supervisor,
it's a larger emphasis. So businesses being brought in to the county. How we distribute funds
to the various entities within the county. Alder person, it's really focused on
Hot holes and manhole covers. Yes. Snow blowering in the trash. So yes. So really more
cars going down this. Yes. Yes. I get it all. I get calls about everything, but yes.
Let's get this one out of the way. Yes. Because this one's I mentioned it's different alder
alders. And my next door neighbor called me the other day. I actually texted me.
She said, great neighbors. And she said, when you get the alders in your studio, have you ever
mentioned the manhole covers to them? And I said, all the time. And it's almost like a running
joke now with a Melissa Caprillian, who was a former alder. And David Mack, who's my current
alder. Yes. The manhole covers on Main Street. Some of them are like two to three inches below
the street level. So my neighbor hit one and blew a tire. Yes. And you know, you get angry because
and they're not in the center where you can ride over them. They're right where your right
tire is going to be. And you hit them and boom. And I see a lot of them on Main Street. And I
see some of them on Spring Street where you're just a state street rather. And you just, how do we
get those fixed? How do we get these manhole? Now I wait before you begin. I saw I got a I got a
memo from the mayor's office. There was something I'll look for it in just a second here.
So that manhole coverage. And maybe it's you know, it's working. How do you get those fixed?
Who do you go to? Well, the very first step is to getting contact with your alder in your district
or the altar where the manhole cover is. Get in contact with that alder. Let them know what the
issue is and and they are supposed to and they will. Many will. They will bring it to the council,
usually department of works. And we look into that. There are times, however,
that we can have residents come and speak and say, no, we do not want that fixed because if it's
fixed, we have the cost. We have to pay for the cost. Someone's going to pay for it. You know,
and so it's a, you know, it's a balancing act with what should be done and the request of the
residents and the constituents within the area. Let me see. Breaking axle on my car, paying extra
dollars to the manhole cover. Let me see. Let me weigh those. See how they are.
I really don't have the only other thing. And it's not a major thing. And the 15th,
the 14th district is where now just so we know the 14th district is out by the mall. That area,
a high mountain pleasant. Yes. Yes. Actually. Yes. So the new buildings going up with the mall was
that your territory. Yes. Yes. That is my territory. Oh, you're right down the block from this
here. I am down. You're not our older, are you? I don't think so. You know what you're saying
that because he looks like he's got a list. The lines are so, you know, just convoculating sometimes.
I'm not absolutely sure. However, I am the alderman that will work with anyone in any district.
Yes. Okay. So on Main Street. Yes. So much so in the summertime, the, the cars go up in
down Main Street. I'm used to that. But the people who don't have the mufflers and they put the
special, I don't know what they are on their cars and they're speeding because I know what 30
miles an hour looks like. I mean, I lived long enough, you know, almost two decades on Main
Street. I know what 30 miles an hour looks like. These cars are not going 30 miles an hour. They're
40 to 50 sometimes. And it's, it, there's going to be trouble with a pet running into the street
or a child running into the street. And they drag race. I've seen them drag race too. I mean,
I can watch them. Yes. And they're loud. They get those, I don't know what they put on their
cars, but it's like sputters, you know, they get that sputtering sound. How annoying. It's also
illegal. Yes. But no, they don't seem to, I don't see anybody getting stopped on Main Street. They
might be when I'm not looking. But man, it's, it's like, but that doesn't affect me, you know,
rather than those manhole covers because I hit that thing and I got to check the air pressure
my tires. I just knock out blow a tire on that. And no, it just, I can't be the only one getting hit
by the me and my next door neighbor. It's got to be other people too. There are other people.
I'm one of the other people. I can't stand it. So what, what else are people? What's, what's
good going on in the city and what needs help in the city? Well, good things that are happening are
like, like we just talked about, we are bringing businesses and woodmen's is opening up.
It's going to be, you know, a large grocery store, grocery stores are something that the
residents and the constituents are definitely asking for. They're asking for positive businesses.
What is positive businesses? Positive businesses is something that doesn't have to do with
it. Fires and alcohol and massage parlors and vaping stores. We have so much polymers
in our scene. Oh my goodness. We do. We do. I didn't know this is like Potter's Ville from it's
a wonderful way. I didn't know that. So we're bringing businesses in. We're definitely trying to
balance the budget that the budget is coming up in October. We're working together to bring
additional entertainment into racing. Island Park recently has started a beer garden. Let's
talk about that for a second. Yes, sir. Because I think I know where it is. And at 730 Sherma
Query is going to be on with us. And she's performing at Island Park this weekend and something
going on that event going on. So Island Park, when I was on Spring Street, just where I got to
the roundabout. Yes. My wife said there's Island Park and I'm driving. I had to take a quick look.
Is that where it is? Yes. Yes. How do you get to it? I mean, I can't go across the river, you
know, swim across again. How do you get to my, Don? I know. I hit you with it. I told you it's
going to be like face the nation. My sense of direction is horrible. When I came out with GPS,
I was like, I need to buy stock. But that's where it is. Yes, that is where it is.
I can show you better. I can tell you how to get to it. Is this new Island Park? Or has it
always been there? No, Island Park has always been there. You can get to it off of six street one
way to get to it. I've been in a coma these last 30 years. Why did I know? No, no, that was there.
I can't speak too much sitting in my living room. Yeah. Too much sitting in my living room.
There's so many things in Racine that I've recently found out. Yeah. Oh, what's the park by
it's right up spring street again. I'm trying to put where that park is. We went there. It was
beautiful park. There's a Lincoln park over there. No, it's not Lincoln. It's such with a sea, I think.
I don't think about it for a second. Off a spring? I think I could be wrong. All right.
I could be wrong. Anyway, there's so many great parks in there. I don't even know they're here.
Racine has beautiful parks. Not just Racine, the county. The county has some beautiful parks.
I'm a part of a hiking group and we go to the different parks and hiking. So they're, yes,
take advantage of it. We have guests in here once a month. Carol, June,
40, and Jim, Miss seer, and they do the history we're seeing. And I'm not part of that. I'm not
from this area originally, but I enjoy listening to it. And when they brought up with a place called
Kittyland, are you from here originally? Yeah. Well, not originally. I was born in Mississippi,
but I've been in Racine for over 50 years. Okay. Well, that's your former scene. Okay. So I
would never guess you 50 years old. So anyway, the Kittyland was right where
there was a Rogan Shoes in there anymore. It's right in that area where Rogan Shoes used to be,
right with that intersection of, I hate when I can't remember the
rapid stride. And they showed pictures of Kittyland with roller coasters and
merry go rounds. And it was, it was really a fun place to be if you're a kid. It was like a,
it was like an amusement park right there. Well, it's long gone. Wow. And I went there with my wife
recently. And we walked around. It's all grass and picnic areas now. And there's one little sign.
And it's a marker. So this was the site of Kittyland. Wow. And it gives a little history of
Kittyland on the sign. And I felt really bad. You know, that used to be a fun place in Racine
for kids to go. These look forward to it. Yes. Whatever reason it's not there anymore. The land is
there. It's all grass. And there's no, except for the sign. There's no sign that it was Kittyland.
So I, I reason I tell you this is take advantage of all the things around town. So true,
because it might not be here. So true. And you'll say, I, you know, I should have gone there.
Yes. Well, that's your chance. So I'm a park. It's a beer garden. Yes. Yes. And they do other
events there too. I think they do. So we got one coming up. We'll talk about it 730 this morning,
735 this morning. So tell me what needs to be done now in Racine. You talked about the good
things. We're getting more businesses moving in. That's always good. That's always good. We're
trying to give more activities where people can be outside more festivals. We're trying to do
a lot of that more festivals more festival. So let's talk about what needs to be done. What do
you want done that? Yes. You're working on your got to get it finished before, you know,
your days and you got to get this done. What do you need to get done? I really would like to see
more emphasis on, you know, I really am for businesses. I would like to see more businesses come
to Racine. I would like to see more infrastructure development, those potholes, those streets that
need to be fixed. I really am working well with all of the Alders, the chief of police. I'm
working well with him as well as many of the other Alders. I would love to see safety improve.
There's been, you know, quite a few incidents that have not been positive that impacts the safety
of all of the residents. So I would like to see a collaborative effort with Racine residents,
neighborhood watch, police department, sheriff department. We can work more on decreasing some
of the gun violence. Okay, let's talk about that. That's my list here. Crime and Racine. Do we have
a lot? I mean, I hear a lot of police sirens all day long because I live on Main Street. That's
where they go. Do we have a lot of crime? In comparison to some of the other surrounding cities,
it's not as bad. It's actually crime has decreased some, but one incidence of a homicide really is
one too many. In my opinion, we don't have, you know, significant numbers, but we have, we have some
numbers. We have numbers that I think that if we were to decrease it, that it would benefit everyone.
People say I'd like to live in a city where there's no crime. You know what? There is no place.
And if there was a place, everybody would move there. It's nice and it should be overpopulated.
So true. Okay, so and I don't mind. You know, I think the city does a great job on fixing roads.
I don't have a problem with that. They just did that whole thing on Main Street by
Gould all the way up past the zoo. They redid the concrete and everything and the job. It's
it the right time for the Fourth of July parade. It was really nice. Yes.
Main Street in front of me. I don't have any problems with. They fixed where they got
a fix and it's nice. There's some other areas that could use some additional. Like what?
I think out by more on the north side, Martin Luther King dropped. They're actually going to be
bringing in the new health facility out over there. So a lot of more infrastructure and fixing
some of those roads could could help. Yeah, I think that out in the Washington Avenue,
12th Street, Washington, over and there could could use some fixing up there. We've talked about,
you know, some of the dilapidated buildings and just kind of working on some of those and
get rid of some of those as well. You know, when I start grabbing my manhole covers, if that's my
worst thing, you know, the city's in good shape. Yes. Because that's the last thing on the list,
manhole come. And I can't think of anything as a taxpayer that I'm upset about. I can't think
of it because everything seems like garbage gets picked up. The streets get plowed. I mean,
that's, you know, everybody says, well, plowing aren't it? But when it snows outside,
you'll be the first to gripe your street wasn't plowed. And when garbage, with it in pick up,
my garbage, people are so concerned about garbage. I can tell you this, if I wasn't in order,
I still would be saying the exact same thing. I love the city that I live in. I am glad to be able
to do the job that I do. I have no issues with the taxes that I pay, with the snow plowing, with
the garbage pickup, with safety, with the businesses that come into my, I have no issue with them.
So I agree with you. And the police, I think, do a great job. I don't have a problem with the police
here. I can't think of one, the fire department, thank goodness, I never have to use them.
Goodness, I know, right? It's like they used to say the New York Times on Sunday was so thick.
And they said, nobody can read that. Yes, but it's nice to know it's there.
Yeah, the same thing with the fire and police. I don't want to use them, but it's nice to know
they're there. Yes. You know, I can't, I think the city does a great job on what they do.
How many? So we have all there is for 15 districts. I think it's 15 and you're 14. Yes.
We do want to go from here. Before we do that in your other life, other than being a city official,
you work with people who like people in special needs and so forth. Yes, my background is in
human services, social services, forever have been doing that administrative work with
adults and youth with counseling, behaviors, addictions, disabilities. I've always wanted to
help my passion is in helping others. So it was just a really good transition from having that
as a full-time career and then moving into something like public works. So what do you,
so what do you want to do from here? You're an older, is there, is there a ladder?
You know, all right. I see it. There's a ladder. There's a key word. People start out with
there's a ladder. I fell into this role without even planning it. So sometimes, you know, they say
the best plans are never what you expect. So I kind of go with the flow. I don't have any plans.
I kind of, you know, I'm fluid when it comes to that. Look at you just going along with the breeze,
wherever the breeze blows. Yes, I can never be in politics because I'll tell you why.
Never say never. Well, I'll tell you why I couldn't because I tell people what I think.
Oh, that's what they love. No, no, no, no, no, no, you can't tell people what you think. No,
you have to do it in a way that's receptive. There was a politician and he was a big friend,
I'm not going to mention who he is, a big friend of the radio station. And he got pretty big,
huge, a national politics, huge, but he quit because he couldn't tell people what he really thought.
And he was afraid of doing it. This is just my opinion, afraid of doing it. So we decided
to quit instead. I would tell people and then I'd make a lot of enemies. And so that would be it.
Because I can't, you know, I tell you, I mentioned this before at a box truck in front of my house.
And I called the police and they said, nothing we can do about it. They said the lights
has played his two years expired. And he's not supposed to be parking trucks on the street.
There was a neighbor of mine. All right. And he got arrested. He was mass anyway. So I wanted to
get this box truck parked somewhere else right in front of my house. Right. I wake up in the
morning, give it beyond and that's in front of my front window. So nothing was being done.
So I went down to the council. And now you can speak at the council. Yes, I got up there.
And some of them knew me who I was. And they said, listen, I am, I got this box truck. I told
them the whole story. And so what I did was I went to my yards and I got the price of a box truck
for the entire summer. Three months. And I'm going to pay it. And I'm going to put each one of your
names in a hat. And I'm going to poke a pick up a name. And that box truck is going in front of your
house for the entire summer guaranteed. And if you think I'm kidding, just try me. I already got
the price from my yards. And two days later, the truck was gone. See? I think it's the squeaky
will that gets the oil. But I don't like the threatened people. And it seems like you were just
seems like you good at it. Well, it's not that I'm good at it. It's just my mother work for the
department of consumer affairs in New York for 21 years. And something dropped off on me. And she
knew how to get her way with some big companies. But nobody would look me in the eyes when I
said that. Every other faces were down. Did you did you get the objective done? Yeah, the
box truck was gone. Yeah, but I didn't want to thrive right. People on one one. Something tells me
down you, you, you're pretty good at, you know, well, I know you're going to do a good job.
And what you're in now, I know how but now is it a two year position? Yes, it is. You want to do
it again? Yes, I will be running again. I'll go get you. Well, we'll have to have you in there
when you're running again. Thank you. Because we have all the candidates in. Well, you've
been a real charmer to be in here today. You have to thank you so much for having me. I never
know if I'm going to have to pull teeth to get information. But no, I didn't have to pull teeth
today. Yeah. Well, that's very good. Thank you, all their harmonies. Thank you, Diane.
And after Marlott Thomas. I am. My mom loved the TV show that girl. You know it. Do you know
what her boyfriend's name was on that girl? No, what was it? Donald. Donald, who is her boyfriend?
The kid Bissell was a boyfriend, but his name on the show was Donald. Oh, that girl.
They used to always start the show off with something going on. And then somebody would say,
it was that girl. Marlott Thomas. Yeah, she's, I don't know, she's still around. I think she's
still around. She was, she's still around by her husband. Yeah, fill down here. Passed away. Yeah,
they were married for like decades and decades and decades a long time. Yes.
Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Marlott Harmon are all during the 14th district.
Thank you very much for coming to this morning. Appreciate it.