Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and President Donald Trump(Photo: Wire services)

KENOSHA Kenosha has become the political center of the country this week with a visit from President Donald Trump on Tuesday and a scheduled visit from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden onThursday.

But people in Kenoshaarent blind to the ambitions of the presidential hopefuls. Many interviewed Wednesday said they feel the two candidates, coming to Kenosha against a backdrop of civil unrest sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake,are hustling for votes in November.

Michael Charleston, a Kenosha resident for more than 20 years,said he felt that Trumps visit was toobrief,and he is wondering about Bidens real motivation behind the visit.

At the end of the day, what are you still doing for the city as a whole? Charleston asked. Are you trying to get votes to see if you can get re-elected? Or are you seriously trying to help?

In 2016 Trump carriedKenosha County over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by less than 1%.

The laws need to change, Charleston said, regarding police accountability and transparency. (Trump) didnt really speaktoomuch to any of that. Letsfix these laws.

With these two visits, Charleston said, he would like to hear more specifics on what the candidates plan to change.

If things dont change and they stay the same, its going to be the same outcome, Charleston said.

The shooting of Blake, a Black man,by a white Kenosha police officer on Aug.23 caused days of massive protests and damage to local businesses.

During one protest, two people were killed and another was shot in the arm, allegedly by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and five other felonies.Rittenhouse is seen in a video with armed men who said they were protecting a car lot in Kenosha.

Protesters have been calling for the arrest of Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha officer who shot Blake, and for police departments to be held more accountable.

Trump toured the Uptown neighborhood of Kenosha, where much of the damage took place.

Biden and his wife, Jill, planto meet with the Blake family. Other plans for the trip haven't been announced. Biden told reporters Wednesday after a speech in Delaware that Sheskey should be criminally charged.

Tabitha Miller said neither candidate should come to Kenosha because the community is trying to heal.

There was a lot of concern from the citizens that Trump coming to town would bring all of this (tension) back up, Miller said, adding she feels the same about Bidens visit.

I understand the position of the president and he should come here and show the people he supports us. But as far as the timing of it, it really wasnt safe even for the citizens, let alone the president to come here or potential president.

Grant Howe isaschool social worker at Harborside Academy and Reuther Central High School, which is right across the street from Civic Center Park, the location of many protests.

It causes a lot more division, Howe said of the visits by the candidates. I think were healing right now.

Howe saidboth the Trump and Biden visits bringextra scrutiny to thearea, but he is interested in what Biden has to say.

If he does win the election, hes got to take some real steps to look at what Black Lives Matter are demanding and work on those things, Howesaid. The only way to stop whats going on is to work toward the justice that people are asking for.

FriendsSamebeToddandHedda Gandy came to Kenosha from Racine to look at the murals that have beenpaintedon the plywood that covers many windows and doors of Kenosha businesses.Neither is a Trump supporter.

What Trump has started has divided the country, Todd said. All of this was bound to happen soon. Who wouldve thought Wisconsin? I wouldve never thought it was going to be Wisconsin.

Todd said she wants to hear more from Biden on how communities like Kenosha can come together.

How is he going to start uniting people, Todd said. And nobody is ready to do that.

Gandy said its going to take a lot of work to heal some of the division that is in the country.

Its going to take more than just him to do that, Gandysaid about Biden unifying the country. Its bigger than Black and white.

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