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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.
Announcer 0:00
This is a KUNV Studios original program.
Wesley Knight 0:04
You're listening to special programming sponsored by Making Moves Life Coaching Services. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 90-1.5 Jazz and Moore, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Pick it
Music 0:28
back and pick it south. Come on, talk to me, so you can't see what's going on.
Music 0:39
Yeah, what's going on? Tell me what's going on.
Dave Washington 0:48
Great day, Las Vegas. Great day. This is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host, and I have Wes over there in the director producer seat to keep me on track. I appreciate him very much. Always keeps it moving with me. So pleased to be here. I have a number of birthdays. I want to shout out my sister-in-law Pam Fountain, wife to Ernest Fountain. Then we have Little Bud Leon Washington Jr. That's my oldest brother's son. His birthday this month, William Jr. Fountain. He's junior to my wife Marcia's father, William Senior, who was an ancestor, of course. And then Alicia Fountain, the daughter of Ernest Fountain. Her birthday is this month. A long time neighbor, Ramy Chapman. Raymie and our children grew up together. Her mother and father were both educators. They're now ancestors, but they were very good, good neighbors. In fact, they used to west. They used to say, tell us, you guys don't need a swimming pool. Send your kids over. We got a swimming pool, and you know, because we don't use it that much. Oh, we are very grateful, and also Monroe and Brendan Williams had a pool, and our kids, especially his son Ray Ray, would go swim at their house. So, just wanted to acknowledge those folks, and then our earnest son Brian Roland, his birthday is this month old. Birthday shoutouts to all those who are celebrating birthdays in the month of July. Condolences lost, and these folks are all ancestors, and all but two, three of these fives are were in their 90s. Miss Lewis Farrcon, she passed. I think she was 90-two, if I'm not mistaken. So condolences to that family, Tony Brown of Tony Brown Journal, something we used to watch on PBS many many years ago. He was in his 90s as he passed away. John H. Johnson, not not John H. but John Johnson. He is the Johnson who had the hair products for African Americans. He recently passed away. He had a lot of products, products, the Afro Sheen and stuff like that, that folks were very appreciative of. George Turner. Let me make a correction at our showing of our documentary of my cancer journey. I mentioned we were told that George Turner had passed away, and that was a couple of weeks ago that we did that that show, and that was not the case. He was he was very ill, and he most recently has passed away. So George is an ancestor. What a wonderful guy! In fact, George, a few years senior to me, and I believe his birthday was on march 3. Mine's march 2, and again a few years apart. Then a dear friend of ours, Marcia and I, Steve Stower's brother, who Michael has been around the community for a number of years. He recently passed away. So, again, condolences to those families because it is something when you lose a loved one and you feel it deep in your heart, announcements. I certainly want to acknowledge we had him in here a couple weeks ago. He is an NBA baller, Orlando Roberts. He has a skills workshop that's going to be at Tarkanian at the the last Saturday of this one. I believe that's the 27th if I'm not mistaken, of July, and I think it's from 10 to two, one to two. But it should be posted somewhere that you can look that up. So once again, we appreciate him for coming in. His mom, Christopher Fails, Clark County firefighter. So we appreciate them both, and she got us hooked up. And when you see the picture that Wes took of us, man, I look like a little peanut. I mean, this-I think he's 610 611-and it shows shows big time against my five eight frame. Voter education. Last night we had our biannual border. Meeting with Frank Hawkins for his housing, us and our spouses were there, and Frank Hawkins and Deborah Campbell suggest because I told him I'm going to do a voter education program, and I was thinking about doing it the the library over on MLK, and they said, well, why don't you do it where people reside? And Frank has 18 different complexes. So, thanks, Debra and Frank.
Dave Washington 5:25
You're giving me more work, but I will certainly be looking at that possibility of having the voter education programs at several of his Frank's facilities. So that's something that will be coming up, and we'll get the dates out. It'll be late August and October. Try and do at least two of those. So we will keep you posted. The Performing and Visual Arts Summer Camp. They believe it or not. They have their their final show, the show that they work on for over a number of weeks. It's called the dawn of a new day, and they're celebrating. Believe it or not, 30 years of excellence. I've been a speaker. In fact, my middle daughter Angel and I we were there just a few. In fact, last week, speaking with the students in West, believe it or not, I got down and showed them I could still do it. I did 20 push-ups, and it wasn't even hard. But I remember just about total nine months ago, I couldn't do one push-up. So grateful that I'm regaining my health. But again, those who can make it try and get by us at the West Las Vegas Theater, 950-one West Lake Mead Boulevard. The event is free. However, you need to get there early because it generally the seats fills up pretty quick. This is a pretty dynamic program led by Dr. Marsha Robinson, and we really appreciate her for the years that she's put into this program. It's one of the well recognized, and as we Angel and I spoke to these young folks, we talked about how they will learn such things as you know, just overall learning, and all of them will not go into whether visual or performing arts. Some of these students will actually take on jobs as firefighters, doctors, lawyers, but the discipline they learn while going through this academy, I think, is great for any young person. So, thank you, Dr. Robinson, you and your team for the work that you're doing over there. Dr. Lonnie Wright is getting ready to put on a program. In fact, he he got up and spoke, or didn't get up, but he he made an announcement during the showing, the second showing of our documentary, where he said, you know, where two or more are gathered, you know, there can be action, there can be things that can be brought to the forefront. So, speaking of that, this brother, Doctor Lonnie Wright, is going to do a special program, a gathering of 50 black men who have been around Las Vegas for at least 50 years. I think it's a pretty dynamic program that he's thinking about, just to sit and talk, because there's things that need to be done, and he's into doing that. And I told him, "Hey, success to you. I know it's going to be good. I plan to participate with him in what he's trying to put together. And I always, from time to time, as West Nourse have to have to have some editorial comments to make. Let me tell you something to the world out there. We need to regain our humanity. We're we're just all over not caring about people, and it's something that we need to be about. And as I speak about that in terms of editorializing anything, you know. Sometimes we think that when we're older, person like me at 70-five, we can't. And I'm not one who prescribes this, nor do I think this way at all. But sometimes people think that you can't be mentored by anyone that's younger than them. Well, I, I'm not a one who believes in that. In fact, I try to have an annual meeting with Dr. Ashley Ridley of the University here. He runs. He's the general manager here at the radio station, and he gave me some tidbits that I will be working on and presenting to the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute. I won't put them on the air because I I want to give it to them because I generally send this to the board of directors of each one of these tapings, just so they will know about the kinds of things that I talk about as I try to do the things that I can do to help to grow in terms of student body each year for the institute.
Dave Washington 9:35
Another one I learned from is Frank Hawkins, and Frank is he is a good guy who's always trying to help us all grow. As as and the same as with his wife, they they've encouraged me routinely to you know look out for me, you know from a from a health standpoint. I think we all need to be about that because sometimes we must sell. Ourselves to include taking care of our health, and I'm taking that to heart and doing some things that are that's going to be good for Dave Washington. And as we continue to to editorialize once again, I just want to say that we must do the kinds of things that's going to bring us back together as a nation. We can do it, and I'm talking about worldwide. So, with that, on the other side, we're going to have the current president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, Gary Tenney, and he has a number of things that he's going to cover. Two includes something that he's embarking upon has to do with cancer in our profession, the fire service profession. So, with that, once again, this is Veterans Affairs Plus on 90-1.5 Jazz and more. Dave Washington, your host, and we'll be back on the other side with the gear. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 jazz and more. West just counted me back in. We have on the line from the east part of our country the current president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, Gary Tenney. Hey, Gary, how you doing?
Gary Tinney 11:15
How you doing, sir?
Dave Washington 11:16
I'm doing well. Doing well. Well, certainly one of the things I always like to do, mr. President, is give have our guests to give a little background on themselves, give us a little indication, particularly for our listening audience, who is Gary, where you're from, where you're born, where you raised, where you went to school, those types of things.
Gary Tinney 11:37
Alrighty, again, thank you for having me. My name is Gary Tenning. I currently serve as the president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, Incorporated. My organization we work tirelessly to make communities safer through projects like community risk reduction initiatives, while ensuring that our communities are represented through the fire service. You know, we mainly focus on recruitment, entry level opportunities, retention, mentorship, leadership development, and upward mobility for firefighters across the country.
Dave Washington 12:14
Great. So, where were you born and raised in in in terms of your family as well, brothers, sisters? Well,
Gary Tinney 12:21
my family were born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, which is probably about an hour and 15 minutes outside of New York. Okay, so we we've spent you know myself and my family, and we go back to the I would say the mid 1800s
Dave Washington 12:37
as
Gary Tinney 12:38
far as my family being here. So we're grounded, rooted here, and you know, love the community that I grew up in and my family grew up in. I'm had I had three sisters and one brother who passed, and we all, you know, we were in New Haven, and we all were very involved in community activities.
Dave Washington 13:00
So your fire service time was there in New Haven,
Gary Tinney 13:04
correct?
Dave Washington 13:05
Okay,
Gary Tinney 13:06
I I served what 2027 I was credited with 27 years of service in the New Haven fire, and I spent most of my career working at the firehouse in my community I grew up in. So that was a blessing, to say the least.
Dave Washington 13:21
Absolutely, you say 20-seven years.
Gary Tinney 13:24
Yeah, yep, 20-seven. Actually, served a little bit over 20-two, but we were able to. We had buyback. So, say for instance, if an individual didn't take any time off, so for 10 years I was I had straight time. So I was credited to five years served on top of that.
Dave Washington 13:44
Oh wow, what a contract!
Gary Tinney 13:48
Yeah, those things are
Dave Washington 13:49
over. Oh, that is excellent, man. So you say you have three sisters that are still. Do they actually live there as well?
Gary Tinney 13:58
Yeah, I have three sisters here in Connecticut, and of course I'm the baby. I always mention that. Okay, but I'm 61 years old. But yeah, I was blessed to have three sisters and my brother, and unfortunately, he passed due to cancer.
Dave Washington 14:15
Was he a firefighter as well, or different profession?
Gary Tinney 14:19
No, he actually worked in the dialysis industry, and so he was always traveling. He didn't mind; he loved traveling across the country. So he was able to. I was able to visit him and take advantage, and learned a lot just traveling with him.
Dave Washington 14:34
All right. Well, let's talk a little bit about. You're in coordination with a number of other fire service agencies, particularly as it relates to this ugly, ugly, dreaded disease, cancer. Let's let's go into some detail about that. Your activities and what you're trying to to accomplish.
Gary Tinney 14:52
Okay. Well, thank you. Yes, of course. You know, cancer affects firefighters at a higher. Number I believe than any other disease or any other occupation.
Dave Washington 15:05
Right.
Gary Tinney 15:06
Unfortunately, we're exposed to cancers and on a daily basis. One of the main projects I'm currently working on is a bill that was introduced a couple of years back in 24 by Senator Booker and Congressman. Soto out of Florida, and it was called the PFOS Injury Compensation Act. And what it'll do is, unfortunately, a lot of folks that are being diagnosed with cancer across the country, they're being diagnosed, and then they have to lawyer, you know. They have to have to retain a lawyer in many cases, and fight to prove that the cancer was due to their profession.
Dave Washington 15:51
Right.
Gary Tinney 15:51
And fortunately, what we're seeing is you know firefighters that have to one, some have to take their kids out of school. You know, end up losing their homes because of the cost of litigation in some way. So this this group and this act would do. It's sort of like a trust fund, and what would happen if you're if you're diagnosed, and this is for the the firefighters who are living and who have passed. If you're diagnosed with cancers, and there's certain cancers that were identified,
Dave Washington 16:20
right,
Gary Tinney 16:21
due to the PFAS and the foams. You there's a trust fund so that you're not just going to get a $30,000 check or a $20,000 check in in a disability pension. God forbid something happens to you, then the family too will will benefit from this trust fund, you know, so you're going to receive. It depends on the cancer. You could receive from 300,000 up to 600,000 So there's a lot of teeth in in this this bill, and it and it's. But what's interesting is the challenges we face to to get folks to sign on to this. So we're working diligently across the country to you know we have the proof, we have the environmentalists, we have the folks, the legal people that have done the research and have you know put these things out there. I actually serve as the co-chair of the Firefighter Health Coalition, which is on. You can look at you can Google and find it on the website that speaks to some of the work we do and what we're trying to do to get this bill passed.
Dave Washington 17:28
So you're getting a little pushback from both sides of the aisle, I would imagine.
Gary Tinney 17:33
Yes, yes, and fortunately, go ahead. I'm sorry.
Dave Washington 17:37
You know, it's something when we spend money on all sorts of things, supporting other countries as well, and then because one thing I will continue to harp on because I believe it is a fact. I I consider firefighters as domestic warriors. Not all firefighters like myself served in the military, but on the home front, they are warriors because, as some of my police friends and other, you know, public safety type folks say, man, y'all going in and we trying, we ain't trying to go up in no building that's on fire. So we admire what you guys are doing, and we we feel as though, and and I tell people all the time, brother president, that the elected officials they are not our friends; they are to pass policies and to provide resources for us to do what we need to do to have a better life. Now, firefighters are always out there doing what they do to save lives and property. Lives number one, of course, but certainly we y'all keep knocking on us. So, who who are some of the other groups that you may be working with to to keep pushing forward to our legislators?
Gary Tinney 18:48
Well, I'm work. I'm actually the last year and a half. We I spent a lot of time in D.C. meeting with a lot of the legislators pertaining to this, you know, and and and this bill. Some. resistance, but some you know. Overall, we were able to get some folks that are really interested in moving on this bill. But it's the challenge is getting folks to that are in some of the folks that are in the fire industry to really look at this and embrace this. This this is you would think this is a no brainer,
Dave Washington 19:24
right?
Gary Tinney 19:24
This bill should be a no brainer because again, I've spoken to folks all over the country and the testimony from individuals who are going through this and who have families or who even can't have families due to the being diagnosed with cancers. Young folks that you know, unfortunately, you know they they were diagnosed with cancer, but they also were in the military,
Dave Washington 19:45
right?
Gary Tinney 19:46
So you have folks that were in the military, you know, gave their life and their dedication to the country, and then and became firefighters. So you would think that folks would just take and do whatever we can do to make sure. Their lives or their family lives are in a better place, right? That they don't have to struggle.
Dave Washington 20:05
Sure. Well, I can tell you that long before I was, you know, diagnosed with cancer, I met with a group, well, a couple of guys that are members of what's called the Professional Firefighters of Nevada, and I told those guys, I said, you know, we need to we need to be pushing the legislators, and then I'm just gonna roll over and do it. And and I know that the whole part of the issue is money, of course, because certain things have money need money to be attached with them. But the bottom line is, as I've said before, we've sent money here, there, and everywhere around this world, and we can't take care of the domestic warriors, what is wrong with us? But I also know that from a legislative standpoint, whether it's local, state, federal, we have to push these people who pass these laws and bills to do the things that we want them to do. And if they don't, if they can't get that done, some of them have to be replaced, and we have to keep our eyes on on all that they do, because there's there's things that we can do through them. Of course, again, them passing those those laws, those policies, that's going to be helpful to us. And so, I admire what you're doing and urge you to continue, because it's something that we deserve. And I and I recall there's a number of firefighters, black and white, right here in this valley, who died from cancer, and several of them was stomach cancer. And do you know that? And I don't know what the what the law states now, but there was a window, and I think in Nevada it was 10 years if you contracted cancer, if you was diagnosed after 10 years of retirement. You're just up a creek, and that makes no sense to me because once it's inside your body, it could pop up 1015, 20 years later, and that's that cap just needs to be. And I haven't checked back, you know, busy doing the things that I do, but it's certainly something there should be no cap to it at all, particularly when you've served many years in this very dangerous environment.
Gary Tinney 22:07
Yes, and and then the science is telling you know due to the science and the research, you know it's it's it's proving that these cancers come from these specific you know chemicals, and and what's unfortunate too, Chief, is that the folks are unaware. A lot of I've traveled, spoke to firefighters across the country, and they're unaware of of this, you know, these issues. So that means folks aren't communicating and telling them, look, it's a great possibility that this can happen. I mean, just right here in New Haven, Connecticut, firefighter. I think he was 30-six years old. He passed due to cancer, and that's you know it's that's unacceptable. And like you said, we have the we are domestic warriors, and we we do. But not only do we fight fires, but I refer to things as fire, the fire within. You know what we fight internally, and our health concerns, our health issues is one of those psychologically or physically that you know really take us take you know we know what profession we're getting in, but at least when we're putting on gear and we're we're thinking that certain things protect us and they're actually harming us. That's that's that's not acceptable.
Dave Washington 23:24
Very true. This is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. We have the president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, Gary Tenney, and he's doing some work to try and get legislation passed federally, hopefully as well as state and local to assist firefighters, so we're going to continue our conversation with him, Gary. There are some issues, and I heard you mention this kind of vaguely, but can you speak to? Because I know that there's some of the turnout gear, and I know I know the industry don't want to hear that, but it has an effect, if I'm not mistaken. I know I read that somewhere.
Gary Tinney 24:04
Oh, most definitely. The yeah, the turnoff gear. So what you can do if folks out there can do a little research, you'll see that some of the gear is being replaced by departments. I think just recently, I believe it was in San Francisco that the they told they replaced all the gear, so all this information is out there. It's just we have to go look for
Dave Washington 24:28
it.
Gary Tinney 24:28
So it's a proven fact that this you know these studies have proven that this gear in the foam is associated with with cancer.
Dave Washington 24:39
Yeah, in fact, I had some, I had some folks to contact me, and ask me about the AAA phone. Well, I was really, I had got promoted by the time we really started using. I was more in the office as the battalion chief over training, so I didn't hear back from them. But I'm like, the bottom line is. Again, brother, long before I was diagnosed, I was in the hunt because when you hear and you know some friends who passed away in in this valley, people that you knew, black or white, that served in this profession, you go like, somebody's got to do something. So again, I I contacted that group, and I just hope that they're working, and they're they're the kind of folks who you'll be able to contact, and because see, sometimes people forget the fact that when these people go in, whether they're United States Senator, you know, a Congress person, they really yeah they they're assigned to a district, you know they're voted in by a particular ward, et cetera, et cetera. But also, they're supposed to protect the interests of all citizens of the United States of America, and that is not just blowing smoke, man. No pun intended. That's that's a fact. You're supposed to look out for the interests of all of us, and you know we got some. Sure, you got some special areas for your own district. We understand that, but overall, what we're talking about is going to help firefighters throughout this country, and it's something that we must continue to to shake the tree, if you will, agitate, push, shove, whatever we got to do, because I think it's the right thing to do, and I know it took a long time, and I know you're very familiar with, I'm sure, what happened in New York with 911 You know, it took a long time for them to to get them to give up anything. Yet once again, I'll keep reiterating the point that we give a lot of money to others in support of them and their countries, and and we can't take care of our own. That is a sad state of affairs, and we must continue to remind them that look, you can help other countries. What about us, your own? That's important.
Gary Tinney 26:54
Yes, yes, yes, sir. You know, and then if I may, I just want there's a one of our environmental lawyers, you know, the remark that he made. He said these heroes, being firefighters, shouldn't have to suffer as a result of selfishly protecting their communities. And in this legislation, this legislation would be a major step to ensure they're protected. All right. So I mean that that says a lot. So you know if we're speaking to if we reach out to our representatives, senators, local, regional, national politicians, and and let them know this is you know this don't wait for it to hit home.
Dave Washington 27:35
That's right.
Gary Tinney 27:35
To to become a you know a priority. You know, do some research and find out, especially you firefighters too, and the families out there. This work is essential, and you know we're going to work hard, and the organization and the other groups that we're affiliated with are going to work hard to make sure that we keep pushing until this PFAS Injury Compensation Act is passed.
Dave Washington 28:01
All right. Well, we appreciate you. That's a perfect way to end our segment and the show for this week. Once again, is Veterans Affairs Plus. We just had Gary Cheney. He is the president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters. He and other groups are attacking this this this legislation that needs to be passed. We're not attacking, but trying to inspire people to to put forth these bills. So thank you, and we'll get you back on sometime to give us an update. Appreciate you, Gary.
Gary Tinney 28:29
Okay, and I hope to see everybody in Cincinnati, where the our folks are going to present there also from the Environmental Litigation Group.
Dave Washington 28:38
All right,
Gary Tinney 28:39
they're going to speak French, you know, present to the the organization and their and their members.
Dave Washington 28:44
Appreciate it. Take care. All the smoke in the air, feel the hate when they stare. All the pain that we bear on.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai