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Dave talks with State Senator Patricia Spearman about various legislative actions geared toward veterans. Dave also sits down with Suzanne McDonald to discuss the numerous benefits and services that veterans might not know they have access to.
Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
Kevin Krall 0:00
You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Unknown Speaker 0:22
Good morning Las Vegas. This is the Washington Post of Veterans Affairs plus. What's going on? What's going on? We have a great guest that will be on shortly. State senator Tricia Spearman who's doing a great job. He's going to update us on a couple of things. So before we get her on the line, we're actually talking to us this morning. I want to extend condolences to the Cooper family and Mr. Ines Cooper passed away. They just had his services. And also we have Mr. Henry rushing from my wife's church over at Victory Baptist Church. They just had his funeral a couple of days ago. And then finally, brother and sister in law Miss Helen Campbell, Madison Campbell, she passed away so they head off ers are brother and sister law, even Eva and Aubrey Campbell out of Houston, Texas. Then I want to express condolences again to the Cooper family, Rush family. Campbell's and also former fire chief for the city of Las Vegas, Claire West passed away he was an inspirational guy within our department. And he was the first outsider if you will, who came to Las Vegas fire from Phoenix fire department in Phoenix, Arizona. And also I'd be remissed. In fact, I forget failed to say last month, I want to extend congratulations to Kevin Ashton, the general manager here. This is the 40 year anniversary of this radio station doing great work within our community. And again, I'm Dave Washington, making moves life coaching services. Our first guest this morning is Miss Patricia Spearman, State Senator for the state of Nevada. Senator, give us a little bit of background on you. And then I'll ask you about maybe some of the legislation you may have been involved with this year that is germane to veterans.
Unknown Speaker 2:15
Sure. And I will join you in condolences to all those who have lost loved ones. That's not a fun thing. I mean, and so it takes, it takes a minute to get over it. So just know that God is there. God is there. So I am a veteran of the United States Army. I served 29 and a half years in the military police corps and loved it, and probably would have gone longer had it not been for an injury. Among the places that I served were Korea three times, Panama, Texas, Kentucky, Colorado, and probably host of other places that I'm forgetting right now. But my last assignment was at the Pentagon, where I served from 2003 to 2006. In the Army operations center, the what they call a nerve center of the Army, and everything that happens in the Army goes right to that area, my area of responsibility was Europe, and all of Africa, with the exception of Hawaii. And love that too. It was rather taxing emotionally taxing because I was there during one of the roughest times of the of the war. And I will tell you, there was probably not a day or night that I drove home that I wasn't crying because of because of what I knew. So I've tried to bring that bring that bring that bring that pain, as passion to my work as a as a state senator and make sure I'm doing all that I can to help veterans and active duty military.
Unknown Speaker 3:59
That is absolutely great work. And from your experience, as you say, 2829 year veteran of the United States military, I trust that you do bring passion that is needed for us to ensure that we look out for veterans in our community.
Unknown Speaker 4:16
Yeah, yeah. You know, and let me let me say this, too, you know, one of the things that we are, we are missing. Now, I guess within the last 20 years or so, there aren't as many veterans who are serving in elected office. So many times some of the things that those of us who are veterans readily recognize needs to happen. It's it's more of a matter of trying to educate those who did not serve as to why a piece of legislation needs to go forward. So I would encourage veterans to get as intimately involved in the legislative process as you possibly can. Your voice is necessary and without your voice. It's very difficult to do that. Things that I know have to happen for for veterans. Great
Unknown Speaker 5:03
points. In fact, when I was serving, and I served 33 years for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, I wasn't a retiree from the military, but served two years in the United States Army. And I can tell you that there's many times when I've said, there's two to different groups, and there's others, but certainly, at the top of the list are veterans and school teachers, I just don't think that we treat them fairly, particularly as it relates to dollars and cents. And I think it's something that we need to as as a community as a whole, as I'm talking about the entire United States, we need to do a better job of dealing with it. So Senator, during this term, was there anything in particular that you were able to, to put forth for veterans?
Unknown Speaker 5:46
Yes, one of them I want to talk about, and I was looking for the number, but we passed a bill that would give a tax holiday in September, two members of the National Guard, Nevada National Guard, and that's very important, because what a lot of people don't don't know is that it's the National Guard that actually in the early days, when we were doing vaccinations, that, you know, help to set up to help the screen helps you do a number of things. And even before we were doing that, the National Guard was very busy helping communities to adjust various and sundry things. So that's, that's one of the things and we passed, there was another bill that I sponsored, Senate Joint Resolution six, which is a bill that encourages our federal delegation, to sponsor a bill that will establish a national Retirement System for military spouses. Now, people who aren't in the military, if you move, you know, you and your spouse can talk about whether or not you want to move to Florida, Georgia, New York, Wisconsin, where you can talk about that and decide what's gonna be best for both of you. But for military spouses, that's not the case. They are, they are moving around from state to state country to country because they are supporting that active duty service member. The unfortunate part is that if they are in a profession where they could get a retirement, they never, they are never anywhere long enough to get invested. And therefore, when the military after a military person retires, the spouse retires with them from the moving but the spouse has no retirement plan. So I think that that's very, very important one bill that I lament that we were not able to get past and that was Senate Bill 402. And that's a bill that would, that would make it easier for spouses to get professional license. All things being equal, if they come from South Carolina, all things being equal, and they are, let's say they're their doctor. Okay. If if the requirements are the same in South Carolina as they are in Nevada, establishing a reciprocity would give them an opportunity to get licensed very quickly. I think that it's not just a good idea for the spouses to be able to continue their professional career, but when they were stationed here in Nevada, here in at Nellis especially, this is a high cost area, high cost area. And in a meeting with one of the commanders at Nellis, they explained it to me that one of the things one of the challenges that they face is that for their junior enlisted, that's the ones who are privates, and sergeants, they haven't yet made it to such a first classroom, they have a difficult time finding housing that they can afford in a place that they would actually want to live. And I believe the commander said it's going to be about two years, and they will not be able to have housing for people who are assigned to Nellis, anyone who is at the grade of E three or below. For your listeners, I just want to say this, that getting a bill that helps our military spouses and veterans for that matter, and when they when they retire, it's difficult for them to get licensed, and what they have practiced for 2025 years in the military. So this is important because if you are the spouse of an E three, Private First Class, their pay along with their housing and quarters allowance, all that comes up to about 25 No more than $2,700 a month in Las Vegas. Where are you going to find an apartment? You know, for that amount, even if even if you're not married? Where are you going to find an apartment for that amount if you have a family. So it's very important. It's a matter of economic security to make sure was that that happened. Last but not least, I'll say, this bill is another one that we passed, has to do with making sure that the Nevada Department of Veterans Services is maximizing their outreach and service to all of the veterans in the state. And that includes all veterans that, you know, doesn't matter what the ethnicity is, doesn't matter what the language is doesn't matter whether it's LGBTQ, it doesn't matter. There are certain things that that we expect from the veterans, Department of Veterans Services. And so we're asking them to report back to us, tell us how this is going. And if it's not going the way we thought it would go, when we pass the bill, what do we need to do to fix it? Because everything that we pass, especially those bills that affect military and veterans, all those bills are very necessary. And if there's things that need to be fixed, then we need to know about it so we can fix it. Great.
Unknown Speaker 11:00
Look, Senator, 10 minutes go so fast. Look, this is what I want to do. I want to bring you back on, we're only on once a month, I want to have you to come back on. And because I generally do three sets. And we generally do about three segments, I want to have you to come back on if you can next. And we'll give you plenty of notice this time to get to get you to get you on and do two segments. Is that okay? That's good. We, we appreciate the work that you're doing. Because sometimes, and I guess once again, due to your service, you know, what is needed in terms of looking out for those who have served our country so well. Senator, we thank you so much for your time. And we look forward to having you back on next month. Thank you so much.
Unknown Speaker 11:42
Thank you all gave some and some gave all those forms.
Unknown Speaker 11:55
Good morning, once again, this is Dave Washington with making moves life coaching services, who sponsors Veterans Affairs, plus, an AI engineer is keeping me on track. We have another guest here. Suzanne McDonnell, who has been in our community for years, her family, they've done tremendous work, and learned through her good friend, my wife, Marsha, that she's doing some things for veterans. So I thought, wow, that's perfect for the show. So give us a little bit of background on you.
Unknown Speaker 12:23
Absolutely. I am Susan McDonald, born and raised here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Basically, I've worked in entertainment for a long amount of years. But I came back to Vegas, as my mother got older to actually assist with my mom. And I started working for Nevada adult day health care, which deals with seniors. And it's a daycare for the seniors. And I got to a point where I was seeing a lot of the veterans there that were not being taken care of. So being the person that I am like your wife, I jumped in with both feet. And when I jumped in, I actually realized that there were a lot of them that were not getting the services that they needed. Coming down to where it was, if it was their medical, that they weren't getting every service that they possibly needed, or the family didn't know what their options were. So I actually started kind of searching things out. And some of the things that I found out was that a lot of times that are veterans because they're young, when they enter the armed forces that when it's time to go, they're ready to go. So they're just like, sign your papers, and they did get off. Right. And they have the tendency not to sit still and find out every single service that's available to them. Valid point. Yeah. So these are some of the gentlemen that I have met had met at the Nevada adult daycare that needed. They needed medical, but they didn't they were only getting minimal everything. I ended up meeting a gentleman by the name of Mr. Douglas Marvel who has unforgettable heroes. And he had just settled a case for a gentleman that was 88 years old. That again, he joined when he was young, and when his time was up. Although he was a little bit older. He left without full coverage. He was getting basically nothing he was on Medicaid. And he went back in and was able to recover some of the finances for him to where he should have been getting since the age of 36. Should have been $3,000 a month. He should have had full insurance because he had been the war that he had been in. He had gotten us a skin disease as well as he had the total ringing in his ears. Well with him doing that he got all these benefits for him but my heart has been pulled because I learned this from this gentleman. And needless to say, he died three years later. But he did get that money and he got the insurance. But again, it was really to an extent too late. And what our veterans had not been told at that time, is that this is money that's due to you tax free. And upon your demise, if you have a wife, there's the spouse will receive it for the rest of her life, right? tax free. And because two of his children actually had severe disability, they would get the money for the rest of their life.
Unknown Speaker 15:36
Tax free this is this is good information to share with our listening audience out there, I can tell you, in my own particular case, I was a draftee served two years. And when I got out, I didn't think nothing about down the road, which are physical health, etc, etc. And a friend of mine, I know you remember Monroe Williams, he was a captain and one of my mentors on Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, he told me you need to get a medical card. Well, I went down, and they kind of chuckle when they saw what my retirement income was. My point is, when when folks get out of the military, whether you, you know, do a 20 year, you know, service and retire or you do 234 years, when you get out, always seek a medical card, because you never know what type of income you may gain over your, whatever career field you choose. And in my case, I had no idea I would have the kind of retirement income. So as a consequence, we're not getting that when I first got out, I ain't got nothing coming. But it's that's great work that you've done as far as this gentleman is concerned, and his family is unfortunate, but still, you've opened up the doors. And I know God's gonna continue to bless you for the things that you're doing. So great work, continue that.
Unknown Speaker 16:48
I'd like to interject something that your listening audience needs to know when you're filing these papers, and I learned this from from Mr. Marvel who served 30 years, when you're filing your paperwork, do not take it to the Veterans Administration, do not take your get your records, but do not leave them at the hospital even actually mailed them in and I will actually leave my phone number. And my website, when I get through, will make sure I leave my phone number to give information. But to certify those letters that they go directly in to the Veterans Administration. reason for doing that. If when you see it, send it certified. And everybody should kind of recognize this, when you send a certified letter, somebody's got to sign. So whoever's at the Veterans Administration has to sign the initial, a mail that comes in, not only do they sign it, they have to date stamp it, it's put on a specific person's desk. Again, it has to be signed and date stamped, that way is tracked, it's also attached to a specific person. And believe it or not, that person really does get paid to do that specific job. When you take it to these other locations. It gets lost because there's no one that's held accountable.
Unknown Speaker 18:16
So what you're doing is you're making sure that it's attached to someone by going through this particular procedure. It's
Unknown Speaker 18:21
attached to more than one person. It's attached to the US mail.
Unknown Speaker 18:25
So there's some there's some accountability that can be added.
Unknown Speaker 18:30
It's a Cal it's accountable to the mail room. Because again, they have to sign and date stamp, and then the desk that it lands on sign and that dated that causes that person to be held accountable. And with the card that comes back to you, you know, so put it in a safe place, you know that it's been delivered. It's been signed for and someone is going to call you for positive not just guessing at it.
Unknown Speaker 18:59
So So who is this? You say? It's a group called the unforgettable heroes.
Unknown Speaker 19:05
This name is a Mr. Mr. Douglas marble, and he's out of Michigan. As a matter of fact, just a little backdrop on him when he got ready to get out his he got ready to do the same thing because he was young. But there was his, his sergeant stopped him and said, sit down. And when he told him to sit down, he said, How do you think I have my boat? How do you think that I have full coverage here? How do you think and he took it through line by line, as the Bible says precept upon precept. So what he did is he made him sit there and he filled out all the paperwork to where he's getting full everything he could possibly get. But his demand to hint to Mr. Marble was now I bless you, you get up there and every man that you know if you can recover for him, but the ones that are leaves I think we're sending them out with what they deserve because they served our great country. Yeah, absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 20:07
Look, as we prepare to wrap up, look, sometime early next year, we'll get you back in. And maybe you can bring the gentleman with you for further discussion, because you have no idea how important it is for the listening audience, particularly those veterans and family members of veterans who can share this information with them, that we get some of what is due to folks who helped put their lives on the line for us to do what we do in this country. So the work that you're doing, sister is tremendously appreciate. So you want to give out some additional information as we prepare to close this segment?
Unknown Speaker 20:43
Yes, I'm going to give, I'm gonna give you a phone number, which is 725-777-3887. And my name is Mr. McDonnell. Also, I'll give you my email that is attached to this type of thing. Is b like boy in like Nancy be like, boy, the number 12 l l. C, like Larry, Larry, Charlie llc@gmail.com. Again, that's b n be the number 12 llc@gmail.com.
Unknown Speaker 21:17
Well, we certainly appreciate your time and the work that you're doing. And like I say, I hope God continue to bless you because I don't think we can have enough people out there working for the good or the veterans as you are doing and some other so we appreciate your time. Look forward to talking to you again, particularly next year. We will get you back on. Absolutely. All right. Thanks so much.
Unknown Speaker 21:38
Great. And you have a great day. No, make it a great day. Yes,
Unknown Speaker 21:41
indeed. Take care. Bye bye.
Unknown Speaker 21:53
Good morning. Once again, this is Dave Washington, Veterans Affairs plus. I am with making moves life coaching services. And pleased to be back on the year to talk to you guys about things that are particularly of interest to veterans. And we've had today we did have Senator Pat Spearman on and we're gonna get her back on and we also had Miss Sue McDonald on and they both talked about some things that will be helpful to veterans, so we'll get them back on the show. In fact, my my goal is to get the senator back on next month and, and Miss McDonald will get her back on after the first of the year. But the bottom line is we're here to serve the needs of our veterans and make sure that we have the kinds of programs and people who come in as guest to talk about things that can be helpful to our to our veterans in our community. That being said, I also got a friend and this is the plus side of Veterans Affairs where we talk about other things that are important to include business that occurs within our community. Mr. Frank Hawkins, longtime friend, longtime resident of Las Vegas, former Wolfpack running back blocking back whatever he was, he's also a businessman and he owns a Wellness Center. It's called Nevada Wellness Center dispensary. In fact, it said 3200, South Valley View, those who have medical need for marijuana and recreational now, I would urge you guys to stop by and see Mr. Hawkins, again, local businessman, philanthropist, it is good that we have people in our community that's willing to assist others, as they have done well. And Frank has certainly been one of those kinds of individuals. So we were going to have him on the show today. But I trust that he got tied up. And we'll get him back on sometime in the future to just go over some of the things that he's been doing within the community, not only as a businessman, but also again as a philanthropist. And another guy that's doing some work within the community is Mr. Brian Harris. And I know that Brian has has a show as well, I believe he is on Sundays. That's a show that I encourage you to listen to. But Brian also had a call together about eight to 10 businessman from the community. Last week, we were on a call with it was Wells Fargo, with some of their higher up their regional offices. And we're just talking about things that could be helpful to black businesses within our community. And I just wanted to salute Brian, for taking that effort on as a project because I think, as we all know, the access to capital for businesses and black businesses in particular, it is an obstacle that we have to deal with. So for Brian to put that together, once again, kudos young man for doing that. So once again, this is a Veterans Affairs plus, and we're a show that has a purpose and that purpose is to ensure that we discuss and talk about and bring those types of guests and once again, that's going to be helpful to providing information that will be helpful to our veterans. And we have a number of veterans, as we all probably know, from just seeing them as we travel around our community that are homeless, you know, just doing bad. And I just think that we can do more to assist them. So we're gonna stay on our mission to bring people in here. There's a gentleman on campus here, he runs a he runs a program for veterans, to help them with their schooling, particularly college level here at UNLV. So, cuz I can't recall his name. But we did have another show, at one point that we did have him on. And my goal is to get him on here on the station that's on the capitals, where he does most of his work. So we're gonna make that happen. Because I think it'll be good for, for the people to know particularly again, the veterans and their family members to know what kinds of programs that even exist here on the campus of UNLV. So once again, this is Dave Washington, making moves life coaching services. We sponsor this show because we think it's important to bring people together to talk about the needs of veterans, so we'll see you guys or you'll hear from us again in a month. Take care of one Bye.
Kevin Krall 26:30
You've been listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services, the content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Smoking tilde Hey,
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