We The People (Aired 06-27-25) Legal Survival and Leadership in a Broken Economy

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign of we the People, tackling current issues, both political and legal, with common sense. As we the People, we must bring common sense back to make our lives better. [00:00:17] Speaker B: Only on NOW Media tv. [00:00:22] Speaker A: Good evening and welcome to we the People we, where we bring you truth with clarity, principle with conviction and perspective grounded in common sense. I am Eileena Gonzalez Dacri. Tonight we're diving into what may be the most defining political shift of our time. The internal collapse of the Democratic Party as it fractures under the weight of extremism, identity politics and moral confusion. We'll look at the chaos that erupted after President Trump's bold and widely supported strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. And we'll explodes how the party's inability to unite on even basic foreign policy has revealed a much deeper problem. They don't know who they are anymore. So let's get to it. So tonight we begin with the fundamental question, who is the Democratic Party now? Because in the wake of President Trump's recent military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, strikes that many national security experts, American allies and even moderate Democrats have quietly admitted were both necessary and effective. I mean, think about it. It's a country that constantly chanting death to America. What we're seeing isn't just political disagreement. It's a party on the edge of ideological implosion. So let me break this down. Two weeks ago, Iran was on the brink of operationalizing its nuclear weapons program. U.S. and Israeli intelligence confirmed it. And after a direct threat was made against Tel Aviv, with Iran promising retaliation beyond Gaza. And remember, Iran is the head of the snake of terrorism. President Trump responded. Three key Iranian nuclear facilities were taken out in precision strikes. No civilian casualties, no boots on the ground, no drawn out war, and in fact, an immediate ceasefire. What did we get? Iran's nuclear program delayed by years. Israel deterred an immediate attack. The region entered into a US Brokered ceasefire three days later, one that even Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan public publicly endorsed. And Trump a rare diplomatic victory that aligned national interest, military restraint and global stability. You would think that was a win for everyone, because even the vast majority of US population was in support of what occurred. But not for the modern Democratic Party, not for the extremism, not for the woke extreme left. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, or better known as aoc, once the progressive French, now arguably its North Star, didn't just disagree. She called it disastrous. She accused the President violating the constitution. She said it was grounds for impeachment. Even though Congress has allowed and relinquished this supposed power that they only control to presidents for, for decades. Obama, Bill Clinton, W and potentially what Biden could have done if he knew what he was going, whether he had the gall to do it, or whether he knew it was going to happen. So let me ask you, what president are we allowed to have? Because we are seeing an extremism take over and it is socialist. And you know what is so ironically hilarious is that of all people, aoc, she does not have any accomplishments as a congressional woman in Congress. She has not passed one bill. She has not done anything but to save a rattle and always say what is horrible. And this because of why. So she can get more followers on social media. She can get more clicks and make more money based on that. Because going into Congress she didn't have any money. Now she's a millionaire. If defending American interests, halting a nuclear threat, supporting our allies and helping create peace through strength now qualifies as an impeachable offense, then we're not debating foreign policy anymore. We're debating whether America is allowed to lead at all or exist because AOC and her squad and the like of this extremism have such a hate towards capitalist America or democratic America. Would it seem reasonable that maybe they want us to completely fail? Here's what's really happening. The Iran strikes have exposed a deep civil war within the Democratic Party. A war between pro Israel traditional Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi. Which is laughable to say that she is actually a traditional Democrat considering she was on the fringe of progressive. But it was really this is now becoming Sanders party who while critical of Trump, stopped short of condemning the action and a radical progressive wing led by aoc, the squad and their activist base always tearing down America. Oh, and praising Hamas, praising the the terrorist organizations and actually saying that Iran is a victim. The squad AOC see American military strength as imperialism and any alliance with Israel as complicity. And the average American, they're not buying it. Once again, AOC finds herself esconced in like the most 20% or less of, of of the polling where 80% are in favor AOC, who has less than 1% 1% success in Congress, which means basically she hasn't done squat for the basic good is always on the contrary to what the American people want or desire or believe or support or hell, let's just be safe. They are the ones promoting this domestic terrorism because these young kids are so susceptible to this propaganda that they're now attacking. We're seeing it more and more. So according to a recent Quinnipiac poll, 67% of Americans supported the limited strikes. And it was limited, including a majority of independent voters and even 42% of registered Democrats. Support from NATO countries like France and the UK followed within 48 hours. Even Egypt, a long term broker in Arab Israeli affairs, called Trump ceasefire effort a critical act of regional stabilization. So let's talk about the Constitution. Because that's what AOC was trying to say. And it was such a failed attempt again only to garner more clicks, more attention, all for the wrong reason. Progressives like to throw around phrases like unauthorized war and violating Article 1. But Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, yes, Democrat, introduced a resolution that acknowledged these strikes were defensive in nature and did not violate war powers. Why? Because Iran had already declared intent and capability for a direct strike on an ally. That's not war, that's deterrence. It's lawful, it's proportionate and yes, extremely effective. So if it wasn't unlawful, if it helped create peace, if it weakened a nuclear threat by an an extremist Islamist state, that sole purpose is death to America. Why are the progressives so angry? Because they're not just anti Trump, they're anti America as leaders. We've reached a place where one wing of a major party celebrates our enemies grievances louder than our allies victories. They rush to criticize Israel. They hesitate to condemn Hamas. Hell, they're pro Hamas. They are quick to cry imperialism. They cry for Iran as a victim. Seriously? Are you kidding me? And they say absolutely nothing. When we saw the atrocities of October 7, the killing and murdering of young innocent children, the raping and the brutality against women. But yet they're all about women's rights. No they're not. But when it's time for our safety, when it's really a concern, they go silent. I don't say this lightly, but when I watch the Democratic Party today, I see a mo a movement less concerned with truth and more concerned with performing outrage for more clicks, for more followers and more money. That's why their response to Iran strikes wasn't unified. It was scattered, confused, contradictory. Because deep down they're not sure who they are anymore. Are they the party of Pelosi or the party of protest? The party of JFK or the party of TikTok revolutionaries? Because right now they're trying to be both and failing at both. And in fact the Democratics party is shrinking. And nowhere is this ideological schizophrenia more visible than in New York City when a where a former governor just lost to a socialist endorsed by aoc. It's not just the national party fracturing, it's the cities, the states and the leadership pipeline for 2028 and beyond. Coming up next, we dive in. We dive into Zoran Mandani's victory for the Democratic primary mayoral primary of New York City, what it signals about the hard left script on urban politics and why Chris Cuomo, no right winger by any track, says his party's on the verge of self destruction. I'm Alina Gonzalez Dockery. This is we the People. Stay with us after this. Welcome back. If you thought the Democratic Party's foreign policy chaos was troubling and also the embarrassment of trying to impeach Trump for securing our interests, just wait until you see what's happening on the domestic front where identity politics, socialism to the point of communism and ideological extremism are no longer French. They're winning primaries this week. In a historic and frankly alarming upset in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Zoran Mandani, a self proclaimed socialist trust fund baby who never really held a job until he was elected as a statesman, a vocal anti Israel activist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo to become the party's nominee. Now governor, former Governor Cuomo had his own baggage. Anybody recall Covid? And also the sexual harassment scandals which caused him to step down from his seat. But let's pause on that. A man who froze rent prices in his district, called for slashing police budgets and has openly aligned with pro Palestinian extremist rhetoric just beat a former governor in America's biggest city. This isn't just changing of the guard. This is a hostile takeover. And let's face it, and I will agree with Ben Stiller when he stated that this was no better than this Democratic primary which had a very small turnout. Really is the cool kids going after the height, whoever was going to promise all this freebie stuff because it was free, free, free, which a lot of the promises he made Mamdani made are not even within his power as a mayor if he were to win. But it's not just that 60% of educated liberal white voted for him. And let's be clear who's behind it. Mamdani didn't win this on his own. He had the full endorsement and organizational firepower of Alexandria, Ocasio, Cortez and the so called squad, Bernie Sanders, the same politicians who called Iran strike grounds for impeachment, downplayed the Hamas terrorism, called to defund ICE and called to defund the police department, which Mandani is all for, and promote economic justice through rent strikes and wealth Seizure. What are we. What we are watching is the nationalization of the AOC model. Or is it. I mean, this is a microcosm. But it is interesting to see, even though less than 4% of the people voted in the primary. And remember, Mayor Adams is running as an independent. But it starts in districts like the Bronx and Queensland. It grows in city councils and state legislatures, and now it's reaching the mayor's office in one of the world's most influential cities. And here's the kicker. When Mandani won and Cuomo conceded, it wasn't the Republicans who sounded alarm. It was Chris Cuomo. And it wasn't because his brother conceded. Yes, Chris Cuomo, former CNN anchor, liberal talk show host brother, the man who just lost. He called AOC a deranged Democrat. I completely agree with him. Not because of her tone, but because she's winning. She's killing her party, he said bluntly, and there's no one left to stop her. It's rare to see that kind of honesty from the left, but Chris Cuomo is right. Let's look at what's actually on the agenda for Mondani and his progressive allies. Rent control so extreme that small landlords are selling off and leaving. Abolishing qualified immunity for police and defunding police. Eliminating overtime for police. Support for pro Hamas slogans like globalize the intifada. That's death to America, people. This is extreme Islamism. I am not saying that Islam the religion or Muslims are bad. This is the extremist, the Sharias, the ones that want to kill us, put women back in, not even into the closet or back in the kitchen, about complete subjugation of our rights. And most chilling of all, celebrating violent uprising against Jews worldwide. This man does not believe. He states, oh, Israel has a right to. Israel, you know, has a right to be a state like anybody else, but they had to follow through international law. But then on the next breath, he's saying that if, if Bibi Netanyahu steps foot in New York City, he's going to have him arrested. On what authority? I don't know. This guy doesn't understand what the restrictions are of a mayor and what it takes. And most chillingly of all, the normalization of anti American, anti capitalist ideologies. Mainstream policy. This is what's going. And Bernie Sanders like, oh, this is great. He's following it. All he's been stating is, free, free, free. And he's courting the young, educated white voter. That's who he's courted 60% of black, educated and Hispanic voters voted for Cuomo. That actually showed up for this primary. And that's another major shift for the Democratic Party because before it used to be all wins went through black voters. Not so much now. Chris Cuomo compared his own party to maga, that this is the new maga extremism on the left. He said, we are now on both sides in a period of extremism. The left is embracing prejudice, targeting Jews, defending radical equal Islamism, just as the right ones flirted with white nationalism. Let that sink in. The Democratic Party of today isn't drifting left. They're not slightly left. It has been hijacked by the hard left ideologues who just identify, who use identity politics as shield for dangerous ideas. And while the mainstream press might try to hide it, the international community is starting to notice. Because while Trump was coordinating a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after a successful limited military strike, while Western allies, Gulf leaders and even skeptical US Voters were applauding the effort as a path towards stability, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party was doing what? Screaming imperialism and promoting people with sympathizers who sympathize with terrorists. Again, those that want death for America. So here's what the extremism is cost in New York. Anti Semitic attacks up 42% in the past year, much of it tied to pro Palestinian protests. And let's all remember the second largest Jewish community is in New York City, second only to Tel Aviv, Israel. Violent crime rising in progressive lead boroughs. Small business closures driven by rent policy and tax increases. Oh yeah, and he wants to further increase taxes on the top 1%, which he can do through a city tax. And now a mayoral front runner who sees free enterprise as oppression and condemns border enforcement as violence, who swore that he will direct the police to interfere and block and prevent ICE from doing their jobs. On what authority? This isn't a New York story. It's a preview of what happens when a major political party loses its spine. And that's what it did. And we saw it in 2020. We saw it during the BLM. We saw it when they were pushing this transient of kids and pushing the fact that men should play women in sports and trying to eliminate the Title 9 protections for women that are only 52 years old. When it lets slogans replace strategy, elevates tik tok radicals over people who've actually governed or heck, actually worked, had a business, had a home. And when it decides, the loudest voices must also be the wisest. America is watching. We're watching a Democratic Party that used to produce the likes of fdr, jfk, Bill Clinton, now embrace democratic socialism, cancel culture and racial division. And the irony, it was the liberal white educated, rich middle class to wealthy kids that voted for him. But yet the Democratic Party is always extolling of how evil the white people are. And while this transformation might excite the radical base, the rest of the country should be definitely looking at this with some concern, with pause, because if they could take over New York, then they can take over Chicago, Louisiana, which California is extremely left, but not this left, and potentially Washington. And then what we're going to see is a country that was once built on freedoms, capitalism, that American dream, which I am a product of, thanks to my parents, being able to escape communism, escape Castro's regime. Not once has socialism worked. Look at the history books. But no, we're going to do this. Everybody's going to have everything free, and we're going to get rid of the cops and everything. You know what? I welcome you to Florida. New Yorkers, we already started seeing major hedge funds coming to Florida, leaving New York, New York City that is dependent on Wall street and the likes, but they want to vilify them and control them. Again, the good news, the American people are intelligent, they are observant, and they see through this charade. Polls show broad support for Trump's handling of Iran. Support for Israel is rising, not falling. And even traditional Democrats are beginning to question who really speaks for them anymore. So let me leave you with this. From Mandani to Minneapolis, from AOC to academia, the left isn't drifting. They're charging. And unless we meet the charge with courage, clarity and conviction, they won't just win city halls, they'll win the narrative. And that that's a battle we the people can't afford to lose. So as we've seen in New York, with the rise of radical voices like Mamdani and the growing group of socialism on urban politics, the consequences of ideological extremism aren't just theoretical. They're being felt in our cities, in our courts, and in the way we do business. And that's why I'm especially honored to bring on our next guest, Christina Villaboa Able, a respected real estate and business litigation attorney who's been on the front lines of how these political and economic shifts are affecting property owners, investors and small business owners across Florida and beyond. And she's here to talk with us about what's happening on the ground, legally and economically, and why it matters to you. Don't go anywhere. That conversation is coming up right after this. Welcome back to we the People. After examining the fractures in national politics, we now turn to something even more personal. The financial and legal challenges that many Americans are facing every day. Joining me now is someone who understands that landscape better than most. Christina Villa Boa Aibo is the founder of Cava Law, a respected South Florida law firm that focuses on insolvency, debt litigation, negotiation, and real estate. And what sets Kava Law apart is its unwavering commitment to personalized legal care, treating each case as unique, each client as a real person, and each solution as a custom tailored aspect. Whether you're facing mounting debt, a complex property dispute, or need for bankruptcy protection, Cristina and her team bring not only expertise, but compassion and clarity. Cristina, welcome to we the People. It's truly a pleasure to have you with us. [00:25:32] Speaker B: Thank you so much, Alina. It's a pleasure to be here. [00:25:35] Speaker A: So, Christina, tell us a little about what inspired you to found Cava Law and how your firm's mission differs from the traditional law firms that I've been doing this for quite some time for, you know, just sees where your uniqueness really is. The shining light. [00:25:53] Speaker B: Yes, yes. I mean, we did it with a hope. By we, I mean me and my business partner, we're both founding partners of the firm. We did it with the hope of injecting the human element back into legal service. You know, the foundational area of law that our firm specializes, specializes, and started in was in bankruptcy. And at least in our geographic area, that's an area of law that tends to be very volume based. So, you know, somebody struggling with their financials would go to a bankruptcy law firm and be a number and wouldn't get that personalized service. So, you know, we said, you know, we need to find a system, a process, an operational format that will allow the practice of law to really not just address the law, but the human that is the law is affecting. [00:26:50] Speaker A: And that is so important, especially when you're dealing with, look at, I mean, since COVID since 2020, it's amazing. That was only five years ago that we are now seeing more families, more individuals reliant on credit cards to get them through their monthly bills. And I was just talking to this with one of my clients, like now the interest rates are 30% plus on these credit cards. Like it's, it's, it's a never ending cycle. And I know that your firm specializes in insolvency and debt litigation, two areas that are incredibly personal and often overwhelming not just for the client, but for the families and or businesses. What's one thing you wish more people understood before they walk through your door? [00:27:40] Speaker B: That's a great question. I think that the quote that I once heard about law being like IKEA furniture, in which, you know, you could technically do it on your own with all the parts, but good luck. You know, law is very similar. A lot of people walk into an attorney's office thinking that they can just kind of tell their attorney sort of what's going on and let the attorney figure it out. But anybody dealing with a legal issue has to keep in mind this is your life. Whether that be your financial life, your personal life, if it's a divorce, your immigration status, if it's an immigration issue, it's your life. And really, the attorney handling whatever matter it is can grab your circumstances and insert the tool strategies and put the conditions where they need to be to help resolve the problem, if it is possible. But the client, the person seeking that attorney's help, they need to be involved and really take the attorney by the hand and push forward the facts while the attorney really uses a knowledge, experience and background to mold the legal situation as it needs to be molded. [00:29:04] Speaker A: And I couldn't agree more because you do see, oftentimes I've been doing family law for 28 plus years, and that is the one where everybody's like, I can do it. I have a client now that constantly tells me that she could be a lawyer, she could do it better. And I love that because I was like, okay, let's, let's just educate you on where the interest case are and why. A lawyer, especially in an involved case or a matter like bankruptcy or even property litigation, you need those expertise of a lawyer who not only understands the laws, but also the procedures and how best to navigate certain matters. [00:29:43] Speaker B: Yes, absolutely, absolutely. [00:29:46] Speaker A: And in a moment where we're, you know, we're seeing many people facing rising costs and property disputes, mounting debts, what, from your perspective, how is this shifting economic landscape that we're experiencing now, and there's still a lot of unknowns impacting your clients on the ground right now? [00:30:09] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. Well, I'll tell you, at least in bankruptcy, for example, one of the analyses that we have to do, there are many, but one of them is obviously the income and expenses that a person has on a monthly basis to present that to the court, etc. And then there's, there's a way that we can use what the IRS has as national standards of regular household expenses like Food, rent, if somebody rents an apartment or a house, you know, personal care, supplies, things like that, you know, to kind of shift the budget that we're presenting. And what is interesting is that at least where my practice is, which is in South Florida, the economic landscape has shifted in such a way, especially in the real estate market, that the IRS national standards that we five, six, seven years ago could use to apply to kind of make creative arguments and shift the budget to where things need to be to restructure the person's financial life. They don't apply here. They don't apply here. For example, you know, the average rent for a two bedroom, two bath is way above what the IRS national standard would consider a normal housing monthly cost to look like. So as financial legal practitioners, those of us here in South Florida, seeing how those rental increases and such have really affected the way we even have to kind of prosecute these cases, you know, and try to negotiate a better budget for our clients. It's, it's crazy that. And insurance cost to insurance, the insurance fight here in Florida, in the state of Florida is very, very intense and really, really increasing costs. [00:31:57] Speaker A: Well, and I couldn't agree with you more because we were all right in the southwest Florida area, in the Fort Myers, Naples area, we were always heavy on the rental side and it's very landlord friendly and it was that even before 2020 and things like that. But we're looking at a person renting an 800 square foot loft is almost $2,000 a month. Yes, and that's, you know, we're starting to see that. And, and again, I'm seeing more and more clients coming in with greater amount of credit card debts, not being able to get out of that hole. And I know that you're, that you handle bankruptcies, but I'm just curious, are more people pursuing the bankruptcy route or are they looking at debt settlement than like say a couple years ago or five years ago? [00:32:45] Speaker B: Comparably, yes, actually, that's a great question. I think the amount of people looking at all their options has increased. But whether before COVID or after Covid, I'll tell you this, Alina, the debt settlement route, I've rarely seen only a few, a handful of debt consolidation and debt settlement companies that actually do things in a way that end up with a positive result. Because when people end up in my office after trying that, what they get is half of their debts may be settled or less than half, and then the rest already putting them into, into the courts, you know, and usually the settlement companies don't do anything. Their contract doesn't encompass legal defense. If the debts that couldn't be settled or consolidated or what have you end up suing them because they had to default to be able to negotiate in the first place. So it always ends up kind of being a little bit scary, scattered and messy, you know. And when I explained to people, well, you know, if you had really been stuck against the wall from the outset and you sought consolidation, having looked at insolvency at bankruptcy as a tool and not this death sentence, as a lot of people look at it, would have really benefited them because in looking at that, they would have realized, oh, my goodness, bankruptcy is not just liquidation under Chapter seven, but also restructuring. There's many chapters, right? So they could have done, you know, what is very similar to a debt consolidation under Chapter 13 and use the bankruptcy court to stop any litigation that they couldn't stop with debt consolidation. And so many clients have gone through that and then ended up with us and said, oh, my God, if only I had really looked at bankruptcy as not just a right, because it is a right in our country, but a tool to really help me in this situation. People think it's just, oh, you, you file and you, you get rid of your debts and that's it. No, no, no. There's so many more ways to, to structure things under the bankruptcy code that the general public just doesn't understand. [00:35:02] Speaker A: Sam, I love that because you, you kind of touched on what I was going to ask, like, the misconceptions, because true people think, oh, my God, bankruptcy, and it's not a way. And, and I see it even more so, like, bringing it up with clients that are going through a divorce because, you know, if you're saddled with all this debt and you're drowning literally, this could be something that would assist in that restructuring. I'm so glad that you brought that up. And it also goes directly into the reputation that you and your law firm have built, and that not only are you skilled litigators, but you're compassionate in your advocacy for your client. And that is so important for clients and for the community to realize that there are attorneys that are truly there to advocate on your behalf and treat you with respect and compassion and empathy. [00:35:56] Speaker B: Exactly. [00:35:57] Speaker A: You know, and we're definitely going to go deeper into strategies and business litigation with Christina after this quick commercial break. Tune right back in after this. Welcome back. I have an extremely wonderful and expert guest with me, Cristina Vilaboa Abel, partner and founder of Cavala in South Florida. We Were just talking about bankruptcies and how the individual, with respect and compassion, is dealt with through your firm. And I want to now go into shifting towards the business owner because of course you do specialize in business law, business litigation. So what kind of legal issues are entrepreneurs and small business clients bringing to your firm right now? [00:36:50] Speaker B: Well, a lot of SBA loans that perhaps right after Covid, the small businesses made arrangements with the SBA to, you know, have a reduced payment as they start going. And now those payment arrangements are coming to an end. So, you know, a lot of businesses are looking to kind of restructure their budget to see can they negotiate something else or can they, you know, afford the actual full amounts that are owed. You know, a lot of, a lot of small business owners and entrepreneurs are really starting to have to budget differently and more creatively. [00:37:29] Speaker A: And I can appreciate that. I mean, I'm a small business owner also. I used to run two different non profits. So budgeting is something that you're always playing with. And I guess this segues right into this. So what's one common legal mistake you see these business owners, investors or landlords make before they come to you? [00:37:53] Speaker B: Oof. I don't think we have enough time for this. But I'll name one of the biggest, one of the biggest. You know, a lot of small business owners, you know, people want to start their business and are excited and they want to jump in and, and people with an entrepreneurial spirit, they, you know, they just want to jump in. And, and one thing I always tell individuals who are maybe in their first or second year of starting off a company or a solo venture is remember, your company is not you. You are not your company. You know, do not mix your personal funds with your corporate funds. Always, always, always. If you start off, get a good account and a good CPA that does good bookkeeping, make sure even better. Actually, I tell them, have your accounts for your company in one bank and your personal accounts in another. You know, do not mix, do not mix because in the event that you need professional help, either from an attorney, maybe a more specialized CPA or tax planner, if you have all these commingled, you know, accounts and you can't tell what the corporate funds and what the personal funds are, it is not only going to be more complicated because it just will be, but the complexity will make everything more expensive down the line. And what small business owner wants to pay something more expensive at a time when they're looking for solutions to problems. [00:39:19] Speaker A: And it does, it makes, but also it pierces the veil that the corporation is, is ultimately liable. And now your personal accounts or assets and investments can now be attached as potential assets for rewards. [00:39:37] Speaker B: Yes. [00:39:38] Speaker A: And that is so important because it's true. I know many people who will like they're, you know, they want to start business, they're proactive, you know, they, they got that burning desire and they're using their personal credit cards and, and commingling as far as even what funds are whose, you know. So that is such an important aspect. [00:40:00] Speaker B: Yes, absolutely. And even, even, you know, I get so many business owners that, you know, maybe things go terribly wrong and they just say, you know, Christina, I want to give up. That said, can we just put the company into bankruptcy? I'm like, okay, well, the one chapter of bankruptcy that closes down the company and tries to do away with all liabilities is chapter seven, the corporate side. Even then, if you did not manage your company in a way that, you know, kept things separately and you know, was very, very by the book, a bankruptcy trustee trying to wind down a company in chapter seven is going to really audit that company to, you know, to the end. And if that trustee thinks that the owner, even if it was a small one person owned company, you know, perhaps took a distribution they shouldn't have in the previous year instead of paying certain creditors or, or anything, you know, oh, they, they will get, they will get consequences at least within that bankruptcy. So, you know, something like that cannot be taken informally. You have to, you have to keep that corporate veil up and steady. [00:41:14] Speaker A: It's, and I was going to ask this, so it's perfect. What are in order to protect your client's assets like the client wants to protect their assets before the crisis hits. What are one, two legal tools you recommend for your clients who want to safeguard their property or business ahead of time? So like just preventative in that thinking? [00:41:36] Speaker B: Yes, that is actually, yes. I want everybody to be preventative in every which way. I don't want people coming to, you know, a legal office right when, when everything just goes downhill. I, at least financially, when you're looking at asset protection ahead of time, is really familiarizing oneself with the protections their particular state gives, you know, understanding really well what those protections are. For example, in Florida, where we practice, it's, you know, $1,000 worth of equity of personal property. You have your homestead protection. You know, if you don't have a homestead and you rent, you get $4,000 of extra personal property protection on equity of personal property. You know, things like that. You know, and on top of that really finding a really good financial advisor that will help over time strategize a way to maybe open certain retirement accounts, insurance accounts, to really be able to understand that if things were to go downhill, it'd be an easy shift to be able to take things that perhaps grew equity over time. And you didn't once have to protect. But then you have the tools to protect them very quickly if you have to. You know that that is indispensable if you have any sort of asset whatsoever. You know, people. People are shocked that, you know, a credit card company that sues you, let's say in the year 2000, has until almost two decades later to come after you if they have a judgment and attached to maybe something valuable you bought in 2015. You know, assets, assets with value need to be protected from the outset. [00:43:27] Speaker A: It's interesting because I actually came across that in a case I had a probate, and unbeknownst to the children, the father had a judgment, and it was 18 years before, and they were able to successfully get a lien and attach it to a rental property or an investment property. [00:43:46] Speaker B: Yes, yes, absolutely. Absolutely. [00:43:50] Speaker A: And nobody had a clue because it was 18 years ago. I mean, it's. It's. But you don't think of that. You're like, okay. And fortunately, here in Florida, we do have very strong homestead protections. What that means is your primary residence, your homestead has, I think, at least seven constitutional protections from that. But it's to look into. [00:44:11] Speaker B: Yeah. And you know that, Alina, one time I had a client that bought a property with the intention of making it homestead, but construction made it longer for him and his wife to be able to move in. So an argument came up later with a creditor. Was it homestead protected? If the intention was there, but they didn't actually live there for six months. So it's, you know, a lot, you know, to. To really look into to make sure one is protected. A good attorney on one side is very important. [00:44:41] Speaker A: Well, and I absolutely agree, especially when you're planning, especially when you're dealing with businesses, whether you are a seasoned business owner, anytime you want to open, it is so important and necessary, I truly believe, to go to a lawyer such as Christina, you know, as you and your partner and your law team, because they. You're able to structure and work with other professionals and bring them in to ensure your client success and growth in the future. And especially in the times that we're living in, where politics and policy are affecting every layer of economic life. And it's not just about the tariffs. I mean, we're seeing it now with, with like, our real estate market, which is now starting to maybe stabilize a bit, but then we're still, you know, still reeling from all the insurance hikes, things of that nature. So when we're looking at our current economic situation, as you know, especially here in Florida, from property rights to tax burdens to regulation, how do you help your clients stay focused amid all of this noise that we're hearing? [00:45:56] Speaker B: I tell them to focus on their own numbers. One thing that we try to offer our clients after, you know, whether it's an insolvency or some intense financial litigation, is, all right, let's sit down and really budget. You know, let's budget not just for this year, but let's project out to next year. Think about what's going on and how that affects you, you know, and plan. Because staying a few steps ahead is always the right key and the right, the right strategy to be able to surpass any difficulty, whether that's due to policy or what have you. You know, none of us are immune, and planning is key, so you can't bury your head in the sand. [00:46:41] Speaker A: And that's so true. And I think that's. Some people feel like if you ignore the problem or ignore what is out in the thing, it will never come forward. And that's when all heck breaks loose. Yeah. So if you could give one message of hope or one call to action for people watching who feel buried in legal or financial trust right now, what would that be? [00:47:06] Speaker B: One call to action is Put pen to paper. Put pen to paper. You know, one good thing about today's day and age is that we're also connected. And through that connection, we have the tools to find the right specialists that we need, you know, whatever that may be. And, and think ahead and make yourself a folder. Okay. If I ever needed this, these are the people I might go to. If I ever needed this, these are the people I might go to. You know, always preparation. Preparation is really what sets the successful person apart from the less successful. [00:47:39] Speaker A: And Christina, where can people learn more about you? Kavala, and how can they reach you? [00:47:46] Speaker B: Absolutely. Well, Kabbalah is my firm. We're here down. Down in South Florida. Our website is www.cava.law. follow me on Instagram. I'm Avogada Christie. I'd love for. For you to follow me and, and comment and tag back and yeah, we're on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and we're starting to build our tick tock. We're trying to get out there and really modernize. [00:48:14] Speaker A: I love that. Okay. I am one of those. I got onto tick tock and it's so addicting. But I love and it's such a good tool. I actually been following some other attorneys that provide such excellent advice or, you know, just knowledge. And I think knowledge is power. Christina, thank you for joining me and sharing such valuable insight for our audience. Not just into the law, but how people can reclaim control during some of life's toughest moments and retaining their composure and respectability. And to and to all of you watching, thank you for being part of another episode of we the People. Your voice, your freedom and your future matter. Love what you're watching. Catch this episode of we the People and every NOW Media TV show live on demand or on Demand anytime. Just download the free NOW Media TV app on Roku and get instant access to all our bilingual contact in English and Spanish. I'm Alina Gonzalez Dachry. Thank you for spending this time with me. Until next time, stay informed, stay courageous and stay grounded in truth and keep that common sense in the forefront. This is we the People.