1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,970 Kevin Krall: You're listening to special programming sponsored by 2 00:00:02,970 --> 00:00:06,720 Stovall and Associates law firm. The content of this program does 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,800 not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jas and more, 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,520 the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,770 the Nevada System of Higher Education. 6 00:00:26,550 --> 00:00:28,770 Leslie Stovall: Good morning, this is Vegas law talk. This is 7 00:00:28,770 --> 00:00:31,980 Leslie Stovall. Today I have the pleasure of having Shelley 8 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:36,240 Berkley, as my guest. I hope everybody's doing well this 9 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:42,360 morning, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. Shelley. Thank 10 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:43,080 you so much. 11 00:00:43,109 --> 00:00:45,899 Unknown: And Leslie, I was absolutely delighted when your 12 00:00:45,899 --> 00:00:49,169 office called it's nice to see you after all this time. 13 00:00:49,470 --> 00:00:52,830 It has been a while it has been a while. And I understand you're 14 00:00:52,830 --> 00:00:53,610 doing wonderful. 15 00:00:53,970 --> 00:00:59,640 Well, I think so I'm happy. My family is healthy, Touro 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,630 University where you know, I'm the CEO and senior provost is 17 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:08,790 blossoming. And so it's a good life. And I'm grateful for it 18 00:01:09,180 --> 00:01:13,470 isn't a wonderful we're sitting here in UNLV is radio studio. 19 00:01:13,890 --> 00:01:15,390 And what a wonderful facility. 20 00:01:15,510 --> 00:01:19,560 It most certainly is. And as I was sharing with you earlier, 21 00:01:19,740 --> 00:01:24,000 when I was student body president of UNLV, we were in 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,430 the process of getting this radio station licensed for the 23 00:01:29,430 --> 00:01:34,650 students at UNLV. And so to come back now and actually see the 24 00:01:34,650 --> 00:01:39,150 facilities and know what an important function this radio 25 00:01:39,150 --> 00:01:43,170 station serves for the students, faculty and for the entire Las 26 00:01:43,170 --> 00:01:46,170 Vegas community makes me very, very happy. 27 00:01:46,530 --> 00:01:50,880 Well, and it's wonderful. And it's wonderful that you had the 28 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,850 opportunity to be involved in that and see your grow. 29 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,560 Well, as you know, we're both, you know, UNLV is our collective 30 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:04,770 alma mater. Back then, you were a jack of all trades. So student 31 00:02:04,770 --> 00:02:08,430 government ran the radio station and did the yearbook and did the 32 00:02:08,430 --> 00:02:13,200 newspaper and did all the student activities. And now I 33 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,040 think things are a little more sophisticated and mature. But 34 00:02:17,070 --> 00:02:21,510 4045 50 years ago, things are a lot different. You 35 00:02:21,509 --> 00:02:24,239 know, and I agree with you. I know when I was here at 36 00:02:24,239 --> 00:02:28,469 undergrad and in grad school that it seemed like students 37 00:02:28,469 --> 00:02:31,499 were encouraged to be involved in development of programs like 38 00:02:31,499 --> 00:02:35,549 this. I know I got involved in the setting up the Graduate 39 00:02:35,549 --> 00:02:41,069 Students Association, and administration was very open to 40 00:02:41,399 --> 00:02:44,909 encouraging students to do those kinds of projects. I don't know 41 00:02:44,909 --> 00:02:48,359 how it is today. I hope it's still similar to that. 42 00:02:48,419 --> 00:02:51,809 Well, I would hope so too. But I have to tell you the experience 43 00:02:51,809 --> 00:02:56,219 i i received in student government here at UNLV. And you 44 00:02:56,219 --> 00:03:00,179 know, when I started it was Nevada Southern University. And 45 00:03:00,179 --> 00:03:05,369 then it changed to UNLV. But when I started, we were just a 46 00:03:05,369 --> 00:03:10,529 branch campus of University of Nevada, in Reno. And that's when 47 00:03:10,559 --> 00:03:14,069 a few years after I started school here, things changed 48 00:03:14,069 --> 00:03:17,489 dramatically. And, you know, the rest is history when it comes to 49 00:03:17,489 --> 00:03:22,289 UNLV. But if there wasn't anything that I did in my 50 00:03:22,289 --> 00:03:26,579 political career, which spanned 30 years that I didn't learn as 51 00:03:26,579 --> 00:03:29,189 student body president of UNLV, you know, 52 00:03:29,189 --> 00:03:33,899 I was going to ask you if, if you're interested in politics, 53 00:03:34,199 --> 00:03:37,739 was encouraged or created by your participation in the 54 00:03:37,739 --> 00:03:39,389 student government here at UNLV. 55 00:03:39,479 --> 00:03:43,919 I believe it was, I was student body Secretariat at Valley High 56 00:03:43,919 --> 00:03:48,239 School. And I part of the first graduating class at Valley that 57 00:03:48,239 --> 00:03:51,899 I gave actually, I was invited to give the commencement address 58 00:03:52,469 --> 00:03:58,499 and their 50th anniversary which made me feel very having said 59 00:03:58,499 --> 00:04:03,989 that, that so I was student body secretary in Valley. And then I 60 00:04:03,989 --> 00:04:07,799 started at Nevada Southern University, which was just the 61 00:04:07,799 --> 00:04:12,059 smallest little school and we were all coming from the local 62 00:04:12,059 --> 00:04:15,839 high schools and most of us certainly me a first time 63 00:04:15,839 --> 00:04:19,769 college goer, my dad was a waiter on the strip, but most of 64 00:04:19,769 --> 00:04:23,039 the kids that went to school here had family working on the 65 00:04:23,039 --> 00:04:26,699 strip, and we were the first generation in Las Vegas that 66 00:04:26,939 --> 00:04:31,679 actually went to college. And this was a big deal, but my 67 00:04:31,679 --> 00:04:35,699 experiences and student government really set me on the 68 00:04:35,699 --> 00:04:39,389 path that I that I certainly loved as an adult. 69 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,440 Is this at UNLV where you met Dina Titus? No, 70 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:47,610 I met her afterwards. I'm not sure she was here yet. But I'll 71 00:04:47,610 --> 00:04:52,230 tell you her father in law, John right to the building is named 72 00:04:52,230 --> 00:04:58,050 after was my history teacher. And I just loved that because I 73 00:04:58,050 --> 00:05:04,170 knew most of of the namesakes of our buildings. It was such a 74 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:07,590 it's hard for people to understand how very different it 75 00:05:07,590 --> 00:05:13,200 was those many years ago, but John Wright was my history 76 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,560 teacher, Paul McDermott was one of the members of the Board of 77 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,660 Regents. And of course, a very prominent businessman in town, 78 00:05:21,660 --> 00:05:25,710 Flora dungun, the humanities building, she was on the Board 79 00:05:25,710 --> 00:05:30,630 of Regents. I mean, you can go down the list of names of the 80 00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:34,440 buildings, and I knew them there was an intimacy there. That was 81 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:35,430 pretty striking. 82 00:05:35,490 --> 00:05:38,310 Yeah. And there was a close relationship between it seemed 83 00:05:38,310 --> 00:05:40,860 like, at least instructors in the political science 84 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:44,430 department, I got to know very well. And me too. Yes, I agree. 85 00:05:44,490 --> 00:05:49,740 And it was nice. It was really interesting. You yourself came 86 00:05:49,740 --> 00:05:54,330 back after law school. You got involved in state politics, you 87 00:05:54,330 --> 00:05:56,310 sat in the were you in the assembly or 88 00:05:56,550 --> 00:06:00,990 was in the assembly. And, interestingly enough, and this 89 00:06:01,050 --> 00:06:04,620 so this was, in a way, this is still a small town, even though 90 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:09,270 when we moved to town and 63, there were approximately 80,000 91 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:12,780 People in the Las Vegas Valley. Now, of course, well over 2 92 00:06:12,780 --> 00:06:16,560 million, but and when I was in office, I made it a point to 93 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,790 meet everybody that came in. But for many years when I was in 94 00:06:20,790 --> 00:06:24,690 Congress, Clark County, or my congressional district was the 95 00:06:24,690 --> 00:06:27,360 fastest growing district in the United States. Now, 96 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,290 you were before you went to the House of Representatives you 97 00:06:31,290 --> 00:06:34,110 were on or was Yeah, you were on the Board of Regents. 98 00:06:34,140 --> 00:06:36,960 I was on the Board of Regents for eight years. And that was 99 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:42,150 during the Tarkanian Maxim years. At the beginning, believe 100 00:06:42,150 --> 00:06:46,380 me when I tell you, when I would get phone calls from people, 101 00:06:46,380 --> 00:06:49,710 they were not going to get me into school, can you get my son 102 00:06:49,710 --> 00:06:54,480 and nothing can? Can I get a ticket to the Thomas and Mack I 103 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,590 want to see the rebels play. It was the hottest ticket in town 104 00:06:58,590 --> 00:07:04,650 and so exciting. And of course that came to an end. But it was 105 00:07:04,650 --> 00:07:08,010 an exciting time. And then of course, you paid the price for 106 00:07:08,010 --> 00:07:13,500 an exciting time. And the town was very, very divided. And we 107 00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:16,950 as a member of the Board of Regents, we got you know, a lot 108 00:07:16,950 --> 00:07:22,620 of people were either very supportive of you or very 109 00:07:22,620 --> 00:07:23,520 hostile to 110 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:27,150 you. With regards to Tarkanian leaving the school. Yes. And 111 00:07:27,150 --> 00:07:33,090 I was, much as I admired a maxim for really taking this 112 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:38,460 university to the next level, I felt that TARC had been treated 113 00:07:38,460 --> 00:07:40,080 very, very unfairly. So 114 00:07:40,230 --> 00:07:43,170 Well, I think a lot of people agreed with you at the time. And 115 00:07:44,340 --> 00:07:49,260 you know, I think, Maxim I don't know, maybe he could have 116 00:07:49,260 --> 00:07:51,450 handled things better. I don't know. 117 00:07:51,959 --> 00:07:54,839 You know, it's it's past history now. And of course, the 118 00:07:54,839 --> 00:07:58,979 university has moved on. But those are very exciting times, I 119 00:07:58,979 --> 00:08:02,789 have to say, when the rebels were playing in their heyday, I 120 00:08:02,789 --> 00:08:07,229 mean, the Thomas and Mack was vibrating. It was I read there 121 00:08:07,229 --> 00:08:12,059 was so much energy, so much excitement and and I remember 122 00:08:12,209 --> 00:08:16,919 tarts last game, you know, standing there looking around 123 00:08:16,919 --> 00:08:22,289 thinking, Are we crazy, we're throwing this away. So, 124 00:08:22,529 --> 00:08:25,649 unfortunately, but you know, things move on and the school is 125 00:08:25,649 --> 00:08:28,919 certainly become far more mature. We have so many more 126 00:08:28,919 --> 00:08:32,819 graduate programs and the Law School, which we didn't have 127 00:08:32,819 --> 00:08:34,229 when I was a student, 128 00:08:34,590 --> 00:08:39,270 you were instrumental in bringing the law school to UNLV 129 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:39,540 where you're 130 00:08:39,539 --> 00:08:42,689 not, that's a slight overstatement. But I have a 131 00:08:42,689 --> 00:08:46,079 border region that before that when I was student body 132 00:08:46,079 --> 00:08:50,579 president, they put me I was the student representative on the 133 00:08:50,579 --> 00:08:56,879 committee that was deciding whether or not we should bring a 134 00:08:56,879 --> 00:09:01,889 law school to a UNLV because obviously the natural place 135 00:09:01,889 --> 00:09:07,409 would be where the Judicial College was up in Reno. But we 136 00:09:07,439 --> 00:09:11,549 we did, I was on that committee that I graduated, went to law 137 00:09:11,549 --> 00:09:16,409 school, ran for office, came home, got appointed to the Board 138 00:09:16,409 --> 00:09:20,519 of Regents 20 years after I graduated, they put me on the 139 00:09:20,519 --> 00:09:25,229 same committee. Nothing had been done. And so I vowed that I 140 00:09:25,229 --> 00:09:28,259 would not leave the Board of Regents until we had a law 141 00:09:28,259 --> 00:09:34,319 school and Carol harder was very, very excited about it. Jim 142 00:09:34,319 --> 00:09:39,959 Rogers and and Mr. Boyd, I mean, they saw the possibilities and 143 00:09:39,959 --> 00:09:40,589 funded it. 144 00:09:40,950 --> 00:09:42,180 Those are the big contributors. 145 00:09:43,230 --> 00:09:47,880 Boys School of Law. And you know, 20 years after I made the 146 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:53,850 motion to bring the law school to UNLV. My son graduated from 147 00:09:53,850 --> 00:09:57,000 the Boyd School of Law, so it's been great for us 148 00:09:57,150 --> 00:10:00,000 and your son is now running for judicial position. 149 00:10:00,210 --> 00:10:04,020 My son Max is running for justice of the peace. So I'm 150 00:10:04,020 --> 00:10:07,950 very, I have to say it now I was in office for 30 years, Leslie 151 00:10:07,950 --> 00:10:11,760 and I, you know, I became very accustomed to a political 152 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:16,740 lifestyle. But I have to say, when you're your son, your child 153 00:10:16,740 --> 00:10:22,200 is running. I was driving down West Sahara, and I saw one of 154 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,860 his signs, I practically drove off the road. I was so excited. 155 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,390 i Oh, my gosh, look at that side. So, yeah, it's a different 156 00:10:30,390 --> 00:10:33,690 perspective as a mother, and then when you're the candidate. 157 00:10:34,230 --> 00:10:46,050 Well, it's a wonderful thing. So you finished up your term in the 158 00:10:46,050 --> 00:10:48,990 House of Representatives in I think 2013. 159 00:10:49,470 --> 00:10:55,290 Yes, January 3 2013. was my last day I worked up and this was an 160 00:10:55,290 --> 00:11:00,870 example set by dip Brian, Senator Brian, he worked in till 161 00:11:01,050 --> 00:11:08,490 12 noon, when his successor was sworn in, and Dix. The staff 162 00:11:08,490 --> 00:11:12,930 came in and said, you know, Senator, you have to leave now. 163 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,530 And he picked up and left his desk and close the door. And 164 00:11:16,530 --> 00:11:20,130 that was it. And I thought that that Dick, Brian is worthy of 165 00:11:20,130 --> 00:11:24,270 emulating so when my time came, I did the exact same thing. 166 00:11:24,750 --> 00:11:30,300 What did what was your What were you most felt best about when 167 00:11:30,300 --> 00:11:33,030 you were in Congress? The what you accomplished 168 00:11:33,030 --> 00:11:41,070 VA Hospital in North Las Vegas. It started out. I had a 169 00:11:42,540 --> 00:11:47,010 veteran's Advisory Committee, I had a Hispanic advisory, African 170 00:11:47,010 --> 00:11:51,150 American women, you name it. I had an advisory committee for 171 00:11:51,150 --> 00:11:54,750 it. That included the veterans. So we had our first meeting, I 172 00:11:54,750 --> 00:11:58,710 was a young freshman at the time. And when it was over a 173 00:11:58,710 --> 00:12:03,060 group of the women vets, mostly from World War Two and Korea 174 00:12:03,180 --> 00:12:06,660 came over to me and they said, We want our own advisory 175 00:12:06,660 --> 00:12:10,320 committee. We don't want to be with the men. Okay, so we 176 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:14,160 started a women veterans Advisory Committee first 177 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:19,710 meeting, they said, We need a mammogram machine at the VA 178 00:12:19,710 --> 00:12:24,030 clinic. Because without it, you know, we a lot of us don't drive 179 00:12:24,030 --> 00:12:27,510 anymore, we have to get transportation to the VA clinic, 180 00:12:27,510 --> 00:12:30,870 and then they give us kind of a prescription to go get a 181 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:35,730 mammogram, then we got to go back and get it read. And so I 182 00:12:35,730 --> 00:12:40,020 decided, you know, working with my staff, we were able to get a 183 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:43,860 mammogram machine. And at the ribbon cutting, and I still have 184 00:12:43,860 --> 00:12:48,540 pictures of it. At the ribbon cutting, I made a quip at the 185 00:12:48,540 --> 00:12:51,720 podium that you know, next time we're going to get an MRI 186 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:58,740 machine, someone came over to me one of the, I guess, people that 187 00:12:58,740 --> 00:13:03,330 worked for the VA, and they said think bigger. And I said bigger 188 00:13:03,330 --> 00:13:06,990 than an MRI. And they said you need a hospital here, you've got 189 00:13:06,990 --> 00:13:11,250 over 200,000 veterans in the Las Vegas Valley. And if anyone is 190 00:13:11,250 --> 00:13:14,310 really sick, they gotta go to Long Beach. And they are away 191 00:13:14,310 --> 00:13:18,360 from their family away from their support system. And that's 192 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:24,420 when my mind started going. And that's not going. My mind is 193 00:13:24,420 --> 00:13:31,350 still started moving moving. That's, that was a big priority 194 00:13:31,350 --> 00:13:34,530 for us. And even and you could see how things have changed so 195 00:13:34,530 --> 00:13:38,790 dramatically in Washington. During the time that we were 196 00:13:38,790 --> 00:13:44,220 getting the funding and moving towards acquiring a VA hospital. 197 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,460 The Democrats were in the minority. So I was in the 198 00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:52,110 minority party and was able to work with the majority party to 199 00:13:52,110 --> 00:13:56,730 get the approval and the funding for a VA hospital. And that I 200 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,700 don't think would happen anymore. And I don't think so. 201 00:13:59,730 --> 00:14:05,970 And that is very fortunate. Yes. And it's beautiful. 44 acres. 202 00:14:06,330 --> 00:14:09,300 That's a wonderful facility. VA hospital. 203 00:14:09,570 --> 00:14:13,620 It's I'm very, very proud of that. That probably was my one. 204 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,640 My one most significant accomplishment. 205 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,840 It's a wonderful thing. So we thank you very much for it's my 206 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:30,180 pleasure. Well, you are now the CEO and Provost of the Toro 207 00:14:30,180 --> 00:14:34,470 University both here in Nevada and the northern campus of Toro 208 00:14:34,470 --> 00:14:35,100 University. 209 00:14:35,130 --> 00:14:40,560 That's exactly correct. And you know, after after I I lost the 210 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:44,640 Senate seat and I was sitting on my couch feeling really sorry 211 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,820 for myself thinking what am I going to do with the rest of my 212 00:14:47,820 --> 00:14:52,380 life? I love public service, but I don't have a job to be a 213 00:14:52,380 --> 00:14:56,730 public servant with anymore. And I received a very fortuitous 214 00:14:56,730 --> 00:15:01,200 phone call asking me if I would like to be either head of Toro. 215 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:05,490 And you know, I said immediately I have no academic medical 216 00:15:05,490 --> 00:15:09,480 background at all. Just because my husband's a doctor doesn't 217 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,540 qualify me to run a medical school. And they said, Well, we 218 00:15:12,540 --> 00:15:16,230 still want to talk to you. And in two and a half weeks time 219 00:15:16,230 --> 00:15:20,580 from the initial phone call, the day after Thanksgiving of that 220 00:15:20,580 --> 00:15:26,550 year 2014, I decided to do it. And best thing, one of the best 221 00:15:26,550 --> 00:15:27,810 decisions I ever made. 222 00:15:28,050 --> 00:15:30,600 Well, you sound like you enjoy it very much. 223 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:35,400 I absolutely love it. And we are educating the next generation of 224 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,430 health care providers for the state of Nevada and beyond. 225 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,900 I didn't realize I was doing some research that poro is the 226 00:15:42,930 --> 00:15:45,420 largest medical school in the state of Nevada. Is that 227 00:15:45,420 --> 00:15:45,750 correct? 228 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:51,750 Yes, we had 4200 applications last year for 180 slots in the 229 00:15:51,750 --> 00:15:56,640 med school. usnr has a little over 60 students graduating a 230 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:01,200 year UNLV, around 60, they'd like to go up to 120. And I'm 231 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:05,220 sure they will. And in my opinion, every one of those 232 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:09,210 students and future doctors are needed in this state. So I'm 233 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:10,650 thrilled to be a part of that. 234 00:16:10,770 --> 00:16:14,250 One of the things if I understand that you're 235 00:16:14,250 --> 00:16:18,030 interested in in your position, we're residency programs. So 236 00:16:18,030 --> 00:16:20,280 what's the significance of residency programs? 237 00:16:20,309 --> 00:16:24,059 Oh, I'm so glad you asked. And again, this is newly acquired 238 00:16:24,089 --> 00:16:28,349 information for me, I did not know, eight years ago, and I 239 00:16:28,349 --> 00:16:32,519 took the job little over eight years ago. When you finish your 240 00:16:32,519 --> 00:16:36,119 four years of medical school, you're still not a doctor. I 241 00:16:36,119 --> 00:16:39,569 mean, you're a doctor, but you're not practicing. Uh, you 242 00:16:39,569 --> 00:16:43,949 need three years minimum residency, before you could 243 00:16:43,949 --> 00:16:48,299 actually practice. And so those are it's called graduate medical 244 00:16:48,299 --> 00:16:54,209 education. It's the residency programs. Nevada has about 48th. 245 00:16:54,209 --> 00:16:57,629 In the United States, when it comes to providing residency 246 00:16:57,629 --> 00:17:01,289 programs. They're expensive to create. They're funded by 247 00:17:01,289 --> 00:17:06,299 Medicare, and Medicare funding is way down. And so if you are 248 00:17:06,299 --> 00:17:10,769 in a growth state like Nevada, there was no way for you to keep 249 00:17:10,769 --> 00:17:15,479 up. So rather than waiting, and I think this is a tremendous 250 00:17:15,479 --> 00:17:19,679 tribute to our legislature, and Governor Sandoval, and now 251 00:17:19,679 --> 00:17:24,059 Governor sisolak, they recognize the need for doctors, we have a 252 00:17:24,059 --> 00:17:28,079 tremendous physician shortage in this state. And we 253 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,460 have for many, many years, 254 00:17:29,850 --> 00:17:33,660 ever. And the only way to correct that because here's the 255 00:17:33,660 --> 00:17:38,190 interesting number 70% of doctors end up practicing where 256 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:41,550 they do their residency you have we don't have residency 257 00:17:41,550 --> 00:17:46,770 programs, all of these future doctors that are getting their 258 00:17:46,770 --> 00:17:51,930 education here have to leave town, and 70% of them are not 259 00:17:51,930 --> 00:17:53,400 coming back to Nevada, 260 00:17:53,430 --> 00:17:56,370 how does it look for the future? Do you see the funding coming 261 00:17:56,370 --> 00:17:59,550 from the state legislature that will help out significantly 262 00:17:59,580 --> 00:18:04,980 that we have in when Brian Sandoval was governor, he was 263 00:18:04,980 --> 00:18:08,580 the first one to recognize the need and funded along with the 264 00:18:08,580 --> 00:18:13,920 legislature, I think $10 million biennium happened a few times. 265 00:18:14,010 --> 00:18:18,510 And then when Governor sisolak came in, he continued it. Now 266 00:18:18,510 --> 00:18:23,640 they cut it slightly during the pandemic, because I had no idea 267 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,070 what the state budget was going to be like, but there was still 268 00:18:26,070 --> 00:18:30,930 funding. And now I'm hoping that people are getting out and about 269 00:18:31,530 --> 00:18:34,470 hoping praying that things are going to get back to normal. 270 00:18:34,650 --> 00:18:37,560 We'll know what the budget is for the state when the 271 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,650 legislature convenes. And hopefully there'll be additional 272 00:18:40,650 --> 00:18:45,240 funding, if we're waiting for the feds to fund Medicare to 273 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,570 help us out. We're going to be waiting and awfully, but you and 274 00:18:48,570 --> 00:18:52,650 I won't be here anymore. So I'd like to see this done. Before we 275 00:18:52,650 --> 00:18:53,130 leave. 276 00:18:53,970 --> 00:18:56,670 You're also interested in health care reform? 277 00:18:56,820 --> 00:19:02,610 Yes, we have a system where we need to ensure that people are 278 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:08,070 insured, and that they can they have access to affordable health 279 00:19:08,070 --> 00:19:11,220 care. And I think that is something that's very important. 280 00:19:11,310 --> 00:19:11,580 This 281 00:19:11,580 --> 00:19:15,210 is what I don't understand is how people can say someone 282 00:19:15,210 --> 00:19:18,600 should not be entitled to health insurance and not and then 283 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,480 ignore the fact that those persons are going to require 284 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:25,020 health care anyway. And the cost shifts to the taxpayer 285 00:19:25,050 --> 00:19:28,620 in the end we pay for it one way or another. It's more expensive 286 00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:32,850 when you I shifted over you are 100% Right let's 287 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:38,190 i i listened to people argue against universal health care, 288 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:43,140 and I just go you don't you realize how much more expensive 289 00:19:43,140 --> 00:19:46,200 it is and that you're gonna pay it anyway. Plus, it's very 290 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,540 uncaring. How could you be so cruel? 291 00:19:49,020 --> 00:19:53,910 I, in the end, if somebody is terribly ill and they don't have 292 00:19:53,910 --> 00:19:57,240 insurance, they're going to end up at the UMC emergency room. 293 00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:01,470 And we're that's our tax dollars that are Hang for that. So I 294 00:20:01,470 --> 00:20:05,820 would rather see everybody with affordable health care insurance 295 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,580 so that they can take care of their own needs. And you 296 00:20:08,580 --> 00:20:12,810 know, that begins with children that begins. Neonatal that 297 00:20:12,810 --> 00:20:17,250 begins during pregnancy, if you don't support those people, you 298 00:20:17,250 --> 00:20:20,820 have the health care expenses over a lifetime lifetime. 299 00:20:20,820 --> 00:20:21,750 endodontic disease. 300 00:20:21,750 --> 00:20:25,620 As a matter of fact, I'm awfully glad you mentioned that. United 301 00:20:25,620 --> 00:20:31,620 Healthcare just gave Touro University a $2.6 million grant 302 00:20:31,740 --> 00:20:36,600 to create a prenatal program. So we're in the process of creating 303 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,590 that program and going into underserved communities to 304 00:20:40,590 --> 00:20:45,390 provide prenatal care to women that don't can't afford it. And, 305 00:20:45,570 --> 00:20:49,680 again, they were gonna live longer, live healthier and save 306 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,900 billions of dollars of taxpayer money. 307 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:57,240 zactly. Right. So I was going to ask you, when we were talking 308 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,510 about you coming over to the show, I asked you some of the 309 00:21:00,510 --> 00:21:03,330 topics that you were very interested in. I'm not sure 310 00:21:03,330 --> 00:21:07,290 which one to address, or dashcam, about at this point. I 311 00:21:07,290 --> 00:21:11,670 know voting is a really key topic for you. What is your 312 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:13,080 concern about voting this year? 313 00:21:13,140 --> 00:21:18,510 Well, you know, you and I talked about this off air. Look, I 314 00:21:18,510 --> 00:21:24,870 think people are very confused, unhappy, frustrated, angry at 315 00:21:24,870 --> 00:21:29,850 the political system right now. But I am encouraging everybody 316 00:21:29,850 --> 00:21:32,610 because I hear all the time, I'm not even going to vote next 317 00:21:32,610 --> 00:21:36,690 time. I don't care any more than I don't like any of them, I 318 00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:39,870 don't care. I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican, 319 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:44,040 they all are terrible. But my opinion is this is the time that 320 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,430 good citizens roll up their sleeves and get involved. I 321 00:21:47,430 --> 00:21:50,670 don't agree with everything the Democrats are doing. And I don't 322 00:21:50,670 --> 00:21:54,300 agree with everything that, obviously the Republicans are 323 00:21:54,300 --> 00:22:00,330 doing. But I know this my vote, My voice matters as a citizen. 324 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:05,190 And if I sit this out, if you sit this out, then who is going 325 00:22:05,190 --> 00:22:09,570 to be running this country. So let's as citizens, Let's 326 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,280 appreciate our democracy and the fact that we have a right we 327 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:18,390 have a voice in this country, and our responsibility as an 328 00:22:18,390 --> 00:22:22,710 American citizen, to do our part. And that is at the very 329 00:22:22,710 --> 00:22:28,200 minimum, to go to the polls as an educated voter, and cast your 330 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,050 ballot, if you don't like the person that wins, there's 331 00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:35,310 another election in two years, I promise you, there's always 332 00:22:35,310 --> 00:22:38,310 another election around the corner. But if you don't 333 00:22:38,310 --> 00:22:40,590 participate, vote, just shame on you. I 334 00:22:40,590 --> 00:22:47,520 think of it in terms of a duty, it is something that we must do, 335 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:54,780 so that we join everyone else, and determining who will hold 336 00:22:54,780 --> 00:22:59,850 those elected positions to sort of steer our government, from 337 00:22:59,850 --> 00:23:00,840 election to election, 338 00:23:00,990 --> 00:23:04,590 I couldn't agree with you more or less than, you know, I'm the 339 00:23:04,590 --> 00:23:07,110 granddaughter of immigrants that came to this country, they 340 00:23:07,110 --> 00:23:10,200 couldn't speak English. If they hadn't gotten out of Europe, 341 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,500 when they did, they would have been exterminated in the 342 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:17,310 Holocaust, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you now. They 343 00:23:17,310 --> 00:23:21,270 came here, just so that their children and their children's 344 00:23:21,270 --> 00:23:24,420 children could have a better life, a better life in this 345 00:23:24,420 --> 00:23:29,100 country includes participating in the political process. That's 346 00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:35,730 right. And, and by doing that, we keep our country in hopeful, 347 00:23:35,970 --> 00:23:40,590 optimistic, and welcoming. Our country is truly a country of 348 00:23:40,590 --> 00:23:45,840 immigrants. My generations back came from Ireland, then from 349 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:47,700 Scotland. And, 350 00:23:48,150 --> 00:23:53,070 and it saved them this country that I suspect they came during 351 00:23:53,070 --> 00:23:56,880 the potato famine, years and years ago, they would not 352 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,030 probably have survived if it wasn't for the United States 353 00:24:00,030 --> 00:24:00,870 welcoming them, 354 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,110 they'll try and and I think everybody should embrace the 355 00:24:04,110 --> 00:24:06,150 fact that we're a country of immigrants. And that's a 356 00:24:06,150 --> 00:24:07,080 wonderful thing. 357 00:24:07,980 --> 00:24:11,400 And I am sure that your grandma, whoever came great grandparents 358 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,330 bears that they could not have had an easy time here when they 359 00:24:15,330 --> 00:24:19,080 got here. I'm sure they struggle, the same way minded. 360 00:24:19,380 --> 00:24:19,680 You know, 361 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,500 I think that's the story of most immigrants is that your struggle 362 00:24:22,500 --> 00:24:26,880 and you find that the struggle was worthwhile. And it teaches 363 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,800 you that it's, it's worthwhile to go through the struggle and 364 00:24:31,830 --> 00:24:35,310 to become a citizen and participate in our, our country. 365 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:35,850 I couldn't 366 00:24:35,850 --> 00:24:39,240 agree with you more. And neither one of my parents, I mean, they 367 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,050 were newly you know, they were born in the United States, but 368 00:24:43,050 --> 00:24:47,070 they came from definite immigrant parents. They neither 369 00:24:47,070 --> 00:24:51,090 one graduated high school, but a generation later. I mean, the 370 00:24:51,090 --> 00:24:54,750 most important thing in our family was getting an education. 371 00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:58,020 My parents didn't care if my sister and I were pretty if we 372 00:24:58,020 --> 00:25:01,950 were popular mattered that we got good grades so we can make 373 00:25:01,950 --> 00:25:05,040 something of ourselves. And that's why UNLV was so 374 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:06,450 significant to us 375 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,940 than you know, you and I could sit here and talk about the 376 00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:13,140 importance of education. And and the greatest renewable resource 377 00:25:13,140 --> 00:25:15,990 we have in this country are children and education, 378 00:25:16,140 --> 00:25:20,730 educating our children. And that's another topic that people 379 00:25:20,940 --> 00:25:22,140 should talk more about. 380 00:25:22,290 --> 00:25:25,170 I know. And, you know, it's, it's just so frustrating, 381 00:25:25,170 --> 00:25:29,580 because we need to desperately improve our education system 382 00:25:29,580 --> 00:25:33,930 here in Nevada, we fund it very, very poorly. And then we 383 00:25:33,930 --> 00:25:39,420 complain that our education system isn't stellar. Well, you 384 00:25:39,420 --> 00:25:41,280 get what you pay for You sure 385 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,040 do. And I don't understand how come a teacher and my families, 386 00:25:44,190 --> 00:25:47,310 a family of teachers, why they are paid less than, say, a 387 00:25:47,310 --> 00:25:50,070 fireman or a policeman or a nurse, 388 00:25:50,340 --> 00:25:55,080 I think, you know, in, in our society, in our culture, that 389 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:59,880 people are valued by what they make. I mean, it's not it could 390 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:03,300 they could be wonderful people and all of this, but in the end 391 00:26:03,420 --> 00:26:09,150 that I have my daughter in law is a teacher. I mean, it's 392 00:26:09,150 --> 00:26:14,940 shocking how how little she makes, and how necessary she is. 393 00:26:14,970 --> 00:26:17,820 I mean, she is a vital person. And 394 00:26:17,850 --> 00:26:20,940 where would any of us be if we didn't have good teachers, from 395 00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:25,650 preschool, all the way through university graduate schools, but 396 00:26:25,650 --> 00:26:29,040 those, those early years are, as we all know, are some of the 397 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,790 most or the most important years. And those people who 398 00:26:33,450 --> 00:26:36,750 dedicate their life to doing that should be well compensated 399 00:26:36,750 --> 00:26:40,050 because the job is so important. And listen, it's not an easy 400 00:26:40,050 --> 00:26:42,960 job, you have to be well educated, well trained, you 401 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,840 really know, half have to know what you're doing to be 402 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:46,590 successful. 403 00:26:46,740 --> 00:26:52,830 It is it you are 100%, right. And, you know, I was honored 404 00:26:52,830 --> 00:26:57,240 with having a school named after me, Berkeley elementary school. 405 00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:01,590 So I go down there, I try not to be intrusive, but one when 406 00:27:01,590 --> 00:27:05,250 invited, I go down to see the kids and go into the different 407 00:27:05,250 --> 00:27:09,000 classrooms. And I'm looking at these kiddies, and that they're 408 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:13,860 the future of this community, the state our nation, and they 409 00:27:13,860 --> 00:27:15,510 deserve better than we're giving them. 410 00:27:15,660 --> 00:27:20,910 They do. They do. Absolutely do. And hopefully someday, things 411 00:27:20,910 --> 00:27:23,640 will funding will be corrected. 412 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:28,800 I hope. So. It's an even let me even mention this when I was in 413 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,720 the state legislature. So this is like a million years ago. I 414 00:27:33,750 --> 00:27:34,740 was part of 415 00:27:34,740 --> 00:27:36,330 this doesn't seem that long ago show. 416 00:27:36,420 --> 00:27:43,200 Oh, it is. But it's gone very fast, though. Very, very now. 417 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:47,400 It's going too fast. You know, I was part of this group. We were 418 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,090 the Young Turks in the legislature that talking about 419 00:27:51,090 --> 00:27:54,150 economic development, and as much as I love the gaming 420 00:27:54,150 --> 00:27:57,960 industry, and I really do, I recognize that we have to 421 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:03,150 diversify our economy, bring in hype good, high paying jobs for 422 00:28:03,150 --> 00:28:06,870 our people. And me started going there were a group of us started 423 00:28:06,930 --> 00:28:11,760 throughout California, in trying to encourage businesses to 424 00:28:11,850 --> 00:28:16,560 relocate to Nevada, and these were fledgling tech businesses 425 00:28:17,190 --> 00:28:20,340 at that job sure don't exist anymore. And they've been bought 426 00:28:20,340 --> 00:28:24,270 up by the big guys. But they said back then, and this is 427 00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:30,240 1983. They said, You know, we love your climate. We love your 428 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,410 location. We love this that. But we don't love your education 429 00:28:34,410 --> 00:28:34,920 system. 430 00:28:34,950 --> 00:28:38,430 You've got to have good education system for all 431 00:28:38,430 --> 00:28:42,150 businesses. I don't. It's not just tech, all businesses, 432 00:28:42,150 --> 00:28:47,550 finance, okay. engine manufacturers, all businesses 433 00:28:47,550 --> 00:28:52,950 require and look for good education systems. And I think 434 00:28:52,950 --> 00:28:55,200 you're right, I think that's one of the reasons Nevada has had 435 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,370 trouble doing economic 436 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,520 development. And you know, I'm a member of the board of the Las 437 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,300 Vegas Global Economic Alliance, our mission is to encourage 438 00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:07,590 businesses to come here, and we're still battling with the 439 00:29:07,590 --> 00:29:11,730 education factor. And until we recognize that it's an 440 00:29:11,730 --> 00:29:17,130 investment in ourselves in our future, that and our future 441 00:29:17,250 --> 00:29:21,810 economy. Nevada is still going to be struggling. And that's 442 00:29:21,810 --> 00:29:22,590 unfortunate. 443 00:29:23,459 --> 00:29:26,609 Once again, it's short sightedness, right. It's kind of 444 00:29:26,609 --> 00:29:29,069 like health care. It's like, well, we're not going to spend 445 00:29:29,069 --> 00:29:35,009 the money on this. Because whatever. Not realizing or not 446 00:29:35,009 --> 00:29:38,069 recognize or just simply ignoring the fact that you 447 00:29:38,069 --> 00:29:38,909 invest now. 448 00:29:40,020 --> 00:29:43,290 You pay now pay later, and you're gonna pay more later, or 449 00:29:43,290 --> 00:29:44,820 later. Yes, indeed. That's 450 00:29:44,820 --> 00:29:47,610 right, Shelly. It's been wonderful. Unless it's great to 451 00:29:47,610 --> 00:29:51,150 see you. My pleasure. My pleasure. And thank you again, 452 00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:51,870 you're very 453 00:29:51,870 --> 00:29:52,350 welcome.