Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

In this episode of "Veterans Affairs Plus," host Dave Washington discusses vital issues affecting veterans with guest Frank Hawkins. They delve into the significance of real estate investments for veterans, exploring how owning rental properties can build long-term wealth. The conversation also covers recent tax proposals from political leaders, highlighting the potential impacts on working-class individuals. Finally, they examine Project 2025, a controversial initiative that could reshape veterans' rights and freedoms. Hawkins emphasizes the importance of staying informed and making educated decisions in these critical areas. 

What is Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington?

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.

Unknown Speaker 0:00
This is a Kun V studios original program.

Unknown Speaker 0:03
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 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. You

Unknown Speaker 0:42
what's going on good

Unknown Speaker 0:49
day Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host, as I mentioned last week, we we had a few minutes ago that we had mister Frank Hawkins on the show, and we will finish up with him today. So hold on, mister Hawkins, glad that you were able to to rejoin us this week. Appreciate it very, very much.

Unknown Speaker 1:12
Hey, well, thank you very much. And I gotta say, I like that song. As you open, what's going on, man, that's

Unknown Speaker 1:18
right. Listen today. That's right, what's, what's, what's going on. Look,

Unknown Speaker 1:23
it's a whole lot going on.

Unknown Speaker 1:25
No doubt, no doubt. Look, one thing I want to say again, and you heard Jason, one of our the program director, head guy around here dealing with programs, he did a disclaimer. This is not a political show. I don't try to tell people what to do or how to do it, but I just think that it's important. That's why it's called Veterans Affairs. Plus there are times and there are needs for this platform, in my belief, to say things and encourage people to study and learn about what's going on in our world, and then you can make decisions on who you may want to vote for, and those types of things. And I appreciate my my producer and director West for reminding me. He said, Man, you better make sure everything is clean and good, because you're not trying to tell people what to do. But I'm just it's important for me, and I've talked to Frank about this several times, we have an obligation when we have platforms so my way of thinking to at least inform people and then let them make a decision on what they want to do. And as I've said, as I read off in the show last week, some information that I had got from Mr. Hawkins, and I'm hoping that he will share the app, as I told people last week, you don't have to read that. The total 9900 some pages of the project, 2025, when I asked Frank, how would this thing affect veterans, he was able to pull it out. And as I read it last week, and I won't go into this week, you can take last go on the, on the, the what is the podcast and and listen to what I read off last week. I won't do that this week, but I think it's important for people to people to be knowledgeable about what the heck is going on as it relates to US veterans and the former president, should he and his group get back in that's a decision you veterans, police, fire. These are decisions and military veterans, these are decisions that you have to make. And I want to also add that in the very near future, I have to plan to have Reverend Darryl Johnson of Mount Bayou Museum in Mount Bayou, Mississippi, and also Deborah Cameron, former Deborah Deborah Campbell, former Fox five uh, TV show host. And in regards to the the passing of Lillian McMorris, I want her to talk in detail, because I think if I'm my memory serves me correctly, she came in after, after. Deborah. So Mr. Hawkins, how you doing, sir?

Unknown Speaker 3:52
I am blessed and highly favored and glad to be here with you

Unknown Speaker 3:55
right on, right on, Frank, something I think that is very important for us to talk about, as it relates to affordable housing. Now, I know you have some some positions and thoughts on apartment versus homes. Can you explain your position and your thoughts on it in regards to the United States of America and what they do or don't do in that regard?

Unknown Speaker 4:20
Sure, I personally think that, as a young person starting out in the 20s, that the first property that they should buy AND and OR own should be a duplex, a triplex or a fourplex in the capitalist system United States of America, and this helps your veterans, because once they come out of the system, they can get a one to four units with $1 down if you this, this, this system allows you. For the average man to become a multiple millionaire, to real estate, more people in the United States of America have become wealthy, rich, whatever you want to call it, able to take care of their families, to provide a lifestyle because of real estate, rental real estate. So why, and I know why people do it, because that is the way the system teaches you, just like the the system does not teach its people about math and accounting and numbers. They aren't teaching the people what to buy. They tell them to go buy a house as the first investment I would know what I know at 60 plus years old, I tell anybody who will listen why they should buy rental real estate. If you buy it, you can live in it and have other people help you pay for and the blessing is you get to write all of that maintenance interest off, And you get to pay down your mortgage faster. So was because somebody's helping you the simple little things. When you replace your air conditioner on your house, you can't write that off. When you replace the water heater in your house, you can't write that off when you have somebody come and help you take care of your yard, because you're too old like me, you can't write that off. But if you have an apartment or a fourplex or a duplex, you get to write all that off, and they don't tell the people that. And now, when you have those those investments that are called expenses, you get to deduct those expenses against your income, right? But the most the more beautiful thing is you get yourself two or three of those, and you pay them off as quickly as possible. You start out in your 20s, by the time you get in your 40s, you got two or three duplexes, four flexes, pay it off, and guess what happens now? You got yourself 12, $15,000 a month coming in, and you own some properties that are worth over a million or $2 million and you did all of that in simple way of living through rental real estate. You let those rental properties, then you go by, get yourself married, have a family, then you let your rental properties pay for your asset, your home. Because, if not, what's going to end up happening is in your 20s, you buy a house, you pay it off in your 40s, and you gotta, let's say your house is worth $500,000 you have an asset sitting there that has it worth $500,000 but you can't take the $500,000 out. Mm, because if, if something goes wrong in the economy, and you have a note, they going to call you a note, and if you can't pay for it, you're going to lose your house. Wow, if you have your house and you don't owe any money on it, it don't matter what happened in the economy, because you got somewhere to live. So it's not, it doesn't do you any good to have the asset with the money sitting there that you can't borrow against. Mm, hmm, that's

Unknown Speaker 8:35
a that's a great perspective. In fact, I think it's something that's important. And for you to mention that that four to one on the units in the $1 down payment to you veterans, to US veterans, I should say, I hope you all take heed to that. And I do. We did have a young brother on a few months ago who does particularly work in the market of real estate for veterans, so anyone interested that they can give me a call or text me or whatever. Now make sure I don't remember his name offhand, but we'll certainly get you in touch once again. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more on the line, as we had in the complete last week's show, we have Mr. Frank Hawkins and and I just the question that Frank answered was because I had an interest in wondering about having apartments versus homes as relates to us as American citizens. And Frank just gave a pretty interesting description of why it's important to rent, to own and and it helps you to grow, grow your dollars, if you will, once again, go ahead. Go ahead.

Unknown Speaker 9:44
Second thing Dave, let me add to you is that President Biden was here not very long ago, and they announced and said, In Nevada, they have 4543 parcels that they are going BLM, land, which is beer. Of Land Management. That means the government owns it. Our government that we own, owns this land, and they have decided that they want comments from the public and the local governments. And they you can go to BLM or Bureau of Land Management, and look at these 45 lots, parcels, individual parcels. And you can make comments. So if you think yes, here are some housing that is surrounded by home ownership. And yes, we think this 10 acres should be used for single family homes which are affordable, and then the government takes that comment into consideration, and when they make their recommendations back to the public to announce what they're going to do if you want to see apartments built on the land, if you want to see affordable single family homes for homeownership built on the land. It's important that you weigh in, and you can do that just by going online. And then if you real smart, like all the smart people I know listening the BLM land, the 45 parcels and Clark County, Nevada, or in Nevada, that the BLM wants comments on. And you were able to look at those from Google like the eye in the sky and see where they are. They they got them by streets so that that would be a public good that would help the Southern Nevada community for generations to come. Hm, interesting. Once

Unknown Speaker 11:37
again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. You know, it's very interesting, because I know that with your nonprofit, which I'm the chairman of the board, not to pet myself on the back. But one thing I noticed, Frank is there's a lot of apartments being built throughout this city. I see a lot of them as I ride around. So you're saying with with regards to the BLM property, if you think that more affordable single family dwellings should go on one of these particular parcels. But does it matter? Say, for example, somebody purchases it, you can have some influence, because all the big developers, I'm sure they, they're chopping at the bit, and they're getting their money, because they're going to have to be it on this on this land, right?

Unknown Speaker 12:23
Well, supposedly, the BLM said they going to sell it for $100 an acre. So it depends on the plan that you submit and what the county and the state and the federal government decide they want to do, but they're asking for comments from the general public. Hmm,

Unknown Speaker 12:45
okay, interesting. All right. Well, you heard it from Mr. Frank Hawkins. He's been involved in real estate for a number of years, and he's had a lot of success. So we appreciate that, Mr. Hawkins, now we're going to swing into more detailed discussion. Can

Unknown Speaker 13:02
I say one more thing? One more thing before we go to another topic? Okay? And here's another opportunity to come up with some fresh thoughts. How about this that we say, or the public says to the government, we want to have duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes built whereby veterans can own those properties and then rent out the other unit, or two units, or three units, that would be huge. That would be huge because now you're helping a veteran build wealth, and that's what we should be all about. They pay, they duty to society and we owe and this federal government land, and we should help them to be able to take care of themselves and their families Absolutely,

Unknown Speaker 13:49
well said. So you veterans out there and others, what we need to do is the information that Frank put out in terms of making your thoughts known. We need to be about that in more than just allowing people to build apartments, single, you know, just big apartment complexes with hundreds of people living there. How about some duplexes, fourplexes along with single family dwelling? That's the point you're making. Correct?

Unknown Speaker 14:17
Yep.

Unknown Speaker 14:19
All right. Well said, once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. We'll be back shortly with some other comments from Mr. Hawkins in regards to project 2025,

Unknown Speaker 14:38
once again, good day, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Wow. Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more on Dave Washington, tongue tied as your host. Taxes. We've heard on tips Frank, from both the former president as well as the current. President. So give your perspective on that, if you will, before we dive deeper into project 2025

Unknown Speaker 15:08
Yeah, they they sound the tax on tips sounds the same, but they like night and day, really. So the Yes, so there is the tax on tips that was announced by the Biden, which is they have tried to get through the federal government prior to Vice President Harris announcing it here in Las Vegas last week, we had another tax, no tax on tips, announced by former President Trump about two or three months ago, just for the record, though, right the Democrats have proposed this some years ago now here, here is where the rubber meets the road. The tax on tips, or no tax on tips is important because who or whom is going to benefit? Is it the rich people, or is it the working man and woman? The Democrat position is, that is, as they announced the other day, as for the working person making minimum wage, if you don't have no as they call it, guardrails on the program. The riches of the rich are going to benefit because they are now going to have their taxes. They'll be tipping their financial advisors. They'll be tipping their lawyers. They'll be tipping their CPAs. Oh, really, whereby the working man and woman won't be able to get no benefit. So the difference, in my opinion, is that the Democrat proposal is already said, we want the people making minimum wage. We want the working class folks. So they they said, We want culinary we want people working in restaurants. We want people who working in the strips, so in Nevada. So that's real clear. We have to bifurcate, so no tax on tips is not equal if they don't say who they are looking out for Democrats or President Biden and vice president Harris. And as Harriet press, Vice President Harris articulated the other day, culinary workers, workers working in restaurants, people working in Las Vegas and the tip industry make it minimum wage. That is huge. That's unlike vice former President Trump, where truly the riches of the rich are going to continue to get richer just by giving tips as opposed to paying wages and salaries.

Unknown Speaker 18:05
Wow. You know, that's an interesting perspective. I guarantee you, the average person to include myself, never gave that any thought. Because what I immediately always think when you talk about tips, I'm talking about those who are in the hospitality industry, your your your maids, your your bussers, your waitresses, your bartenders. That's where my mind was. But you're saying, in fact, you can tip anybody you want to tip professionals include, Wow, interesting. That's

Unknown Speaker 18:36
right, the former president never said Who the devil is always in the details.

Unknown Speaker 18:45
Well, one thing I know about you, Frank, for knowing you over the years, you were very, very studious, man. You take stuff and you you look at it thoroughly. That is an interesting perspective that I hope people will take into account as they go to the polls. And one thing again, I'm going to continue to express that it's important for us to be informed as a voter. Once again, I'm not telling you who to vote for, but your butt better. Need, need. You need to be informed. And I'm and I felt this way all my life, because, see, I was a lifelong Democrat up until 2012 where I became an independent. Not, excuse me, not an independent. I am nonpartisan. I don't have no party affiliation or allegiance to nobody. And in my past life, at 73 Frank, there's been many times I voted for Republicans because I thought they had the best thing going, you know, and sometimes we get caught up in in the party thing. And I always tell people, Don't get caught up in the party, man. It's a trick. It's a trick. Look at what you want to be interest, yeah, vote your interest Absolutely. And don't vote

Unknown Speaker 19:55
your feelings. You vote your interest

Unknown Speaker 19:58
anyway. Uh, Will. Said. Frank, and we appreciate that very, very much. So again, look at the difference between the two parties and what they're seeing in terms of how this tipping is going to take place. Very, very good stuff. So project 2025, and again, Frank, there's an app that you have that you can pull out. Would you please share that with our listening audience? Because I told them last week that when I get you on the show, I'll ask you to to at least. I mean, whoever this is, they'll make some money with their app. But so what the key thing is using that app for the better, betterment of you as an individual, in terms of gaining more knowledge about whatever the issue is. And in this particular case, we're talking about Project 2025,

Unknown Speaker 20:44
well, in this particular case, I'm gonna make it real simple for folks who who don't want to type just that cell phone in your hand is one of the most powerful tools in the world, if You ask Google or whatever the other one apple is, if you ask Google, pull up the project, 2025 top 25 issues. Now you can say top 25 issues that help me or hurt me, that helps veterans or hurts veterans, that helps women that hurts women, that helps government, that hurts government, and it will give you and it will size, and it will put in order however you ask it, and it will give you information that has been fact checked.

Unknown Speaker 21:34
So wait, so frank, so frank, you're saying you don't need no special app. It's just going to Google or one of the other search engines, and it will, it will, that's right. This stuff out for you. Okay, that's right. You

Unknown Speaker 21:47
can go to chat, chat, GPT, you can go to, you know, AI, you can go to Google. Yeah, all of this information is out there, and we as a as a general public, needs to be informed. And if something you don't know, just ask, and keep asking, and it'll lead you. You'll have more information than you did before you asked the question. But, but some of the things that project 2025, and you starting to hear as the two candidates heat up some of the concerns that people have, and I'm gonna let you make your own decision. But what I'm gonna say, I'm with Dave. I just want the information you get out there and do your homework and help tell you who to vote for, who not to vote for, but freedom of speech, I think that's relatively important. Absolutely, Project 2025 will put restrictions on the media, and as we already know, we've seen on academic freedoms, 2025 wants to increase control and limit freedom of the press. Well, sometimes we might not like the press, but I think we want to be able to feel that the information we get in is either as best to their knowledge, but we don't have want to have them spoon fed to them and then spoon feed it, feed it to us. Right? The right for privacy, expanded surveillance. You know, we got cameras on every corner in every city now, but you're going to have reduced protections against the government. So that means the government's going to intrude further into our lives, and with us having less rights to fight against them, freedom of assembly. So you want you talk about Minnesota. So if the government says you can't protest, which is your right as an American, and they put stricter laws, because that's what 2025 one of the items they want to do, then you won't be able to assemble. And then they going to call the National Guard. Right to due process, huge issue. If I want to sue the government or anybody else, if they put on more restrictions and more and limit the judicial processes that we can have, especially as it relates to a fair trial, right and or discrimination, we don't want

Unknown Speaker 24:15
that absolutely. And you know, Frank under the law, sure. And Frank what everybody wants, sure. And I've said that many, many times on this show as a veteran, there was some things that I did when I was in the military, and as a consequence, I got court martialed, but I was willing to take my medicine, do my time, and get out there with an honorable discharge. In serving in the military, you take an oath, and that oath is for us to provide all those things that you just mentioned. That is a responsibility that we have as military folks to ensure now they trying project 2025. Is trying to take all that stuff away that makes absolutely no sense to me. And again, I think we all should continue to have the right to protest. Whatever it is. However, as I mentioned, you can't break the law in terms of breaking into buildings all this, all is foolish, because you're gonna pay a price price for that. But the just the common decency as an American citizen or as an American government, we should have the right to protest. Man, if the government is doing stuff wrong, man,

Unknown Speaker 25:20
let me give you four big ones. Dave, how about this? Sure the right to vote. Now you got the right to vote or not to vote, right the voter ID laws, if they pass 2025 and other measures might suppress your vote and you might not even be able to vote right? Now you can vote yes or no or No, but you may go even have the choice if they pass and get what they want. You know, healthcare access, if they roll back the protections of the Affordable Care Act, right, then we know how many people were not having insurance because of existing conditions. So if they rolled that bag you going back to before Barack Obama, and you know what

Unknown Speaker 26:05
Frank and Affordable Care Act? And I'm glad you said Affordable Care Act, because I would never, I never call it Obamacare. It's not Obamacare. It's the Affordable Care Act. What are y'all talking about? If you look it up as as a piece of legislation, you know Obamacare, it's the Affordable Care Act. But anyway, no, those are important things, man that we need to recognize. And again, using this platform Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. And I think, well, not think. I know I have a responsibility to share this information. I know Frank is very, very studious. He's always been studious. And like I say, I've known him a long time. So there are certain things that I'll call upon him and then and then, in terms of some finance issues, I always call on my brother in law, earnest. But Ernest gets so radical. Sometimes people be like, Man, he's out. He's mad. I'll call Ernest and make sure you listen to this show, Frank. But go ahead, brother. I think you're bringing up some valid points, Frank, that we I that we as as as American citizens, black, white, male, female, we better get on top of it, man, because it could come crashing down on us. For sure, one

Unknown Speaker 27:11
of the most important issues that women all over the world and men are talking about restrictive policies on reproductive health and abortion, a woman's right to choose to do what she want to do with her body, right? Frank, we got about LGBTQ, right, right? Okay, we got about reversals or protections against discrimination. Frank, we

Unknown Speaker 27:35
got about two minutes. So give me, give me some wrap up, because I think again what you are stating. Summarize, because I want people who hear parts or all of this show recognize that we need to be studious man. No doubt

Unknown Speaker 27:50
I think, I think that we, as an individual, every American, need to say this. Ask the ask this question. Am I about trying to make the world a better place, or am I about criticizing denigrating people? No, we all out to help each other to make this world a better place. We ain't out to say that America is not worth nothing, or only one person can save America. No America was promised from day one. It's supposed to get better and better, if not for us, for our kids. But if we can't say that this person going to save us, we have to save ourselves Absolutely. And America was created. We don't want no kings. We don't want no queens.

Unknown Speaker 28:42
That's right. Very well said. Hey Frank, thank you so much, man. And as always, you'll be invited back on this show, man, because you always share a wealth of knowledge. Once again, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more had Mr. Entrepreneur, capitalist, Mr. Frank Hawkins on the show. Go ahead, Frank, thank you, bro. All right, thanks. Talk to you soon. Hello.

Outro Song 29:35
Hey, all the smoke in the air till they hate when they stare all the pain that we bear, all you bear.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai