EXCLUSIVE SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW: Rockland Daily Interviews Senator-Elect Joe Rand

By Yisroel Rose

After months of campaigning, a closely watched election, and a major political shift in Rockland County, Joe Rand is preparing to take his seat in the New York State Senate. Exactly one week after his election victory over incumbent Senator Bill Weber, Rockland Daily sat down with the senator-elect for an exclusive interview about the race, his experiences on the campaign trail, and what lies ahead as he prepares to represent the 38th State Senate District in Albany.

Shortly after noon on Tuesday, November 10, the Rockland Daily team arrived at Rand's home in Nyack, where the newly elected senator warmly welcomed us into his dining room. Away from the campaign events, political speeches, and election debates of recent months, we began with a warm, personal, informal conversation before turning to a series of questions about the competitive election campaign, the people and communities he encountered along the way, and what he learned during his visits to homes, schools, and institutions throughout Rockland County. The discussion then moved toward the challenges and responsibilities awaiting him in Albany.

Here is our exclusive, wide-ranging sit-down interview with Senator-elect Joe Rand.

• Election Victory and Transition

Rockland Daily: First of all, congratulations on your election victory! It's been a week since Election Day. Have you already begun the transition process, and how are things going so far as you prepare to take office in January?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Yeah. We started the transition process basically Wednesday morning, the day after Election Day. There's a lot to do, and there's a lot of things that I don't know, because I didn't spend any time prior to Election Day thinking about the transition.

The campaign was all about getting elected. Part of it was that I didn't want to jinx myself by actually thinking about what I needed to do if I won. And part of it is just that I didn't have time.

So now there's a rush of information I have to process. I have to learn about my budget for my staff and for office space, and about the processes I have to create for my office to manage my affairs.

But I have a dedicated team working with me, and we're making good progress. We'll be ready on day one to hit the ground running, representing the constituents of District 38 in Albany and providing services to residents here locally.

• Getting to Know Our Community

Rockland Daily: Before running for State Senate, you served as mayor of Nyack. During your campaign, our community welcomed you very warmly, inviting you into their homes, schools, and institutions. What have you learned about our community that you didn't know before you hit the streets and started engaging with the Orthodox Jewish people?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: I was very grateful for the reception I got from the communities of Ramapo when I started to visit. I had not spent a lot of time in those communities before that. I had some familiarity. I had worked with many Orthodox real estate people, particularly builders, but I had not really spent much time up in Ramapo.

So it was very gratifying to get the kind of reception I got, and the welcome I got, when I started spending time with them. I will say it's been one of the most rewarding parts of the campaign: getting to know the people in the community and getting to know the communities better.

Some of the things that have really impressed me are the sense of belonging people have. They feel like they're part of something bigger. They have a togetherness, a sense of family, even among the larger community.

First of all, they have very large families. So I'm constantly running into people who are related to other people I know. This person is my brother, this person is my son-in-law, and so on.

I'll give you an example that explains one of the most meaningful experiences I had spending time in the community.

On several occasions, when I had to go to an appointment, I would walk through the streets of Monsey and through residential neighborhoods to meet with somebody. And I would see something that I don't see in every community here in Rockland County.

I would see children playing in the front yard with other children in the neighborhood. On every block, you would see kids outside in the front yard, playing with other kids from the neighborhood, with the parents out watching them, or older kids watching them, bikes and toys and everything in the front yard.

It really touched me because there's obviously a sense of community and unity that you don't see everywhere. And I feel like we miss that in the other communities in Rockland County.

It was very much a reminder of what small-town America was 50 or 60 years ago.

Rockland Daily: Yes, like the old black and white photos.

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Yeah, you see people in the front yard, and they're playing, and there were no screens. There were no phones. There was no TV. There were just people playing games and playing with each other, and being watched by the parents, who were talking to each other.

It occurred to me that some of the people who are most skeptical and critical of the religious communities of Ramapo should see what I saw. Because what they would see is a community that's bound by its sense of belonging, by its shared faith, and by its familiarity with each other, which is sometimes missing in the modern world outside of these communities.

• Affordability

Rockland Daily: You mentioned the big families in our community. A big word lately across America has been "affordability," and we've been hearing it from both the left and the right, especially in light of the midterm elections. Considering the large families in our community, how do you plan to tackle the issue of affordability during your upcoming term in office?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: That was the big issue of the campaign. That's the big issue of my senatorial term: to deal with the affordability challenges that families are going through.

Whether it's taxes or utilities or housing or health care or groceries or gasoline, everything's too expensive. We have to try to reduce some of those costs and keep them from going higher.

There's a very powerful affordability agenda that is being proposed up in Albany that I'm looking forward to digging into and learning more about. But it's definitely a priority to do what we can to make life more affordable for people throughout Rockland County.

And obviously, it hits especially hard with big families, because there are a lot of groceries, a lot of school tuition to pay, taxes are high, and everything else goes into the calculation.

You don't want people to have to make decisions between filling their gas tank and putting food on the table. You want them to be able to afford to do both.

• Democratic Majority and Albany Leadership

Rockland Daily: You mentioned the big families in our community and the rising cost of living. Obviously, you have a strong record of success from your time as mayor of Nyack, but one of the major talking points of your campaign, which resonated very strongly with many voters, was the argument that Rockland County needs a Democrat representing it in Albany, especially with Democrats now expected to hold a two-thirds supermajority in the State Senate.

What do you see as the main benefit of being part of that majority? And have you already started building relationships with Democratic leadership in Albany?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Absolutely. I started building those relationships years ago, before I ever got into politics, and certainly once I became mayor. Then it became much more of an urgent need once I became a State Senate candidate.

So I have relationships with the leadership in the Senate, and I have relationships with the governor's office. And that's what's important. That's one of the reasons there's an advantage to being a Democrat in Albany. You have relationships with the people who actually make the decisions on priorities and who decide how legislation is going to be crafted. And I'm going to have a voice in that.

On top of that, when you're in the majority and you're a Democrat, you have opportunities to bring money back to the district in a couple of different ways.

One is that you can get line items put into the budget. You have the ability to argue for that and fight for that. You also get special member items, where you have a budget that you can bring back for special projects within the county or within the district, which, in this case, is Rockland County.

There are many opportunities to influence legislation in ways that benefit the people of Rockland County, and that's just not something that's available to you if you're not a Democrat.

So I believe I'll be much more effective, not only in legislation but also in bringing money back to the district, than I would be if I were not in the majority.

• Community Priorities

Rockland Daily: Staying on the topic of getting things done for the district, what would you say is the number one issue you heard from residents that's facing our community, and how do you plan to prioritize addressing it once you take office?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: I would say the rising cost of living was discussed frequently, as you mentioned, to take steps to help ease rising costs and make life more affordable for people.

I would say one of the most surprising and consistent issues brought up to me by people in Ramapo was sidewalks. That may seem very ordinary, but it's extremely important for Ramapo.

Most of the people in Ramapo live in communities that were built for a society that drove everywhere. All the outer villages outside of Spring Valley, outside of the central Monsey area, Route 59, all those villages were built with relatively big lots, with driveways and garages. They were built for people with cars. They were not built for people who walk.

But the reality is that infrastructure has to adapt to the people who live there. People should not have to adapt to the infrastructure of where they live. So we have to adapt the infrastructure, which means we need more sidewalks.

That's going to be a priority for me, because there are a number of communities that need it. They didn't build them back in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, when many of these houses were built and many of these developments were completed. Especially for Shabbos and Yom Tov, when people don't drive. This is a walking community, and sidewalks are a big necessity.

Rockland Daily: Sidewalks are extremely important for our community. We've seen several sidewalk projects completed in different villages through county funding, and they've made a tremendous difference, improving safety and making it much easier for residents to get around.

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Absolutely. The county has done a really good job, allocating about $30 million toward improvements along county-owned roads, including sidewalk projects in villages and towns throughout Rockland County. Several villages have already taken advantage of that funding, and we've seen important progress.

But there are still miles of sidewalks that need to be built, and these projects are not cheap. It's going to take a monumental effort to get all of this done, and I am committed to this important project.

I've already sat down with people from several different villages to talk about their needs, and sidewalks keep coming up as a major concern.

I believe we need an organized program with a substantial funding source specifically dedicated to sidewalk construction. Once that funding is available, we can establish priorities based on where the need is greatest.

That means looking at population, how many sidewalks are needed, and which roads present the greatest safety concerns. Some streets are much more dangerous for pedestrians than others, and those should receive particular attention.

Getting sidewalks built along the most dangerous streets will be one of my highest priorities once we secure that funding, and I'm going to work very hard to make it happen.

• Childcare Vouchers

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Another very important issue for residents is childcare vouchers. For years, the state’s childcare funding formula has relied heavily on outdated information and historical spending patterns, effectively penalizing Rockland County by failing to adequately reflect its growing population and the increasing demand for childcare assistance.

I’ve been advocating for fairer childcare funding for our county for a long time, and earlier this year, I prepared a detailed memorandum highlighting the disparities in the state’s funding formula and explaining why Rockland wasn’t receiving its fair share. I shared those findings with state officials, including Governor Hochul’s budget team, and we were able to make meaningful progress. The state revised its funding formula, resulting in an increase of nearly 70% in Rockland County’s childcare funding allocation. That’s certainly a significant step in the right direction, but it’s still not enough. There is more work to be done to make sure the funding formula properly reflects the actual needs of families living here.

Rockland County continues to grow, and we have many families with young children who depend on childcare services. I’m going to fight very strongly in Albany to make sure Rockland receives its fair share of funding and that our growing needs are fully recognized, so every eligible family can access the childcare assistance they need and every child has the opportunity to receive the care and early education they deserve.

• First 100 Days in Office

Rockland Daily: There's a big emphasis in politics on the first 100 days in office. How do you expect your first 100 days to look? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of those first 100 days?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: A hundred days will take us to mid-April, which is about when the budget starts to become a priority, finishing the budget.

In the first 100 days, I'll try to really find my way around. I have to build relationships with legislators, and I have to prepare my staff to make sure the budget reflects the priorities we have here in Rockland County.

I will work on getting items into the budget that will help people in Rockland County, and I'll try to bring as much influence as I can into the budget process. That won't be easy, but that's what I signed up for.

So, in the first 100 days, the most important thing I can do is get involved with the budget process and make sure I'm securing funding for the needs we have here in Rockland County.

If I can get other legislation on the table in those 100 days, I will. But my first priority is the budget and bringing needed funds to the programs that have to be funded here in Rockland County.

• Direct Access to Your Office

Rockland Daily: During your campaign, you received the endorsement and help of most of the Chasidic rabbanim, mosdos, and askanim. While the work of our askanim is tremendously appreciated, some residents have shared with me concerns about whether they will have direct access to your office without having to go through additional people or extra steps.

Will you make sure that individual residents have a direct, open line of communication with your office, without having to rely on community leaders to get their concerns addressed?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Absolutely, 100 percent. I'm committed to bringing my office to the people of Rockland County and the people of Ramapo.

I've already reached out to the budget people up in Albany to find out whether I can have a satellite office, which I would like to have right in the area. It's a very large community with very specific needs, and I would like an office that's accessible by public transportation or within walking distance.

I know Assemblyman Aron Wieder has that, and I would like to coordinate with him and have something similar in the district.

I also want to offer a consistent schedule of ongoing mobile office hours and visiting office hours across Rockland County, making sure that constituent services are available throughout the entire 38th State Senate District.

People might not want to travel half an hour or 40 minutes just to get to the district office.

I want my constituent services staff to visit once a week in, say, Haverstraw, then one day in Spring Valley, another day in Clarkstown, and other locations around the county where residents have needs. This would also make services more accessible to residents who live farther away from the district office.

With dedicated staff at the district office, together with regular mobile office hours and visiting hours throughout the county, we can ensure that every resident has close, consistent, and direct access to constituent services, no matter where they live in the district.

I think one of the most important things you can do as a senator is take care of people's needs and help solve their problems. I want a constituent services operation that is second to none. I want to have a tremendously successful constituent services operation.

I spent 25 years building a service organization in my real estate company. I have experience managing.

• Unity After the Election

Rockland Daily: This has been a very competitive race, with people having strong feelings on both sides. What message of unity would you offer to residents, and how do you plan to work with constituents who have different political and personal views?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: I've always been very successful working with people on the other side of the political aisle. As mayor of Nyack, which is divided between Clarkstown and Orangetown, I worked with Republican supervisors in both towns throughout my tenure. Obviously, Clarkstown just voted in new leadership, but during my tenure as mayor, I maintained very good working relationships with Republican leadership in both towns.

I've also worked very well with County Executive Ed Day and his administration. I've never once had a difficult interaction with any of the supervisors or the county executive. I've also maintained good relationships with Congressman Lawler and, for that matter, Senator Weber before the campaign. I get along with people, and I maintain relationships with people regardless of their political affiliation.

I was endorsed by many town and village legislators, trustees, and town council members, but not all of them. Many of them did not endorse me, but I've maintained friendships and relationships with them. I don't blame anybody, and there's not going to be any negative fallout for people who didn't endorse me.

Even if someone voted for my opponent, I respect that. As I always say, whether you supported me or not, I support you. So I support these villages, I respect them, and I'm going to maintain relationships with them. I represent all the people of Rockland County, whether they voted for me or not. I've always worked well with Republicans, and I will continue to work well with Republicans.

Most issues you deal with on a State Senate level, or a mayoral level for that matter, don't have a left-right political dimension. There's a problem, and you've got to solve that problem. I'm good at solving problems, and to solve a problem, you have to have input from all sides to make sure you have all the information you need.

So when I'm trying to secure funding for the district, I'm going to work with Republicans as well. It's not going to be a question of which village voted for me and which village didn't, and allowing that to affect my decisions. My decisions will be based on where the needs are.

Rockland Daily: And what about constituent services? Let's say someone comes into your office who is a Republican, someone who voted for another Republican candidate. Can they expect the same level of service and assistance from your office?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Absolutely, 100 percent. No one's going to be asked at the door who they voted for.

And I'll say something bigger about unity. I think our county is fractured in a number of ways. One of the important aspects of bringing unity to Rockland County is bringing the different communities together, particularly the religious communities of Ramapo and the other communities outside of Ramapo.

We need to reduce some of the tensions we see between communities, particularly online. There's a lot of toxicity in online interactions, and I think much of that comes from people simply not understanding the religious communities and being unfamiliar with them.

People generally don't like change. They see the communities around them changing as the religious community expands, and that makes them anxious.

I think it's important to help people understand that all people are people. I wish those who are skeptical of the religious communities could have the same opportunity I've had to spend time with them, get to know them, and develop friendships in those communities, which I've been privileged to do.

They would realize that people in Ramapo's religious communities have the same needs as everyone else throughout Rockland County.

We all care about our families. We want to raise them in a safe place. We want to be able to afford the things we need to provide for them. We all want good jobs, clean air, clean water, safe streets, and a happy, healthy community in which to raise our children.

At the end of the day, we all want the same things.

When you're the state senator representing nearly the entire county, you have a responsibility to bring those people together. That's something I'm going to be very strongly focused on.

Rockland Daily: That's why you got elected.

Senator-elect Joe Rand: That's why I got elected. It's also why one of my campaign slogans was "We Love Rockland."

I want to instill a sense of pride in Rockland County among all the people who live here. Right now, I think many people who live here have a very negative impression of Rockland County, and I want to turn that around.

• A Message of Respect

Rockland Daily: You ran a strong race against your opponent, who has represented Rockland County for the past four years. As you prepare to succeed him in office, what would you like to say to Senator Weber and to the residents who have felt a connection with him?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: I would say to Senator Weber what I've said before: Thank you for your service. That's what I told him when he called me on election night to concede. It's what I said in many of our interactions and when we did joint appearances and forums.

Bill Weber is a good man. He worked in good faith for the community. He provided a valuable service to the people of our communities, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

For the people who supported him, I want them to know that I understand they're disappointed. I will do my best to win them over and show them that I am just as dedicated to serving their needs as I am to serving the needs of the people who voted for me.

• Final Message

Rockland Daily: What final message would you like to share with the residents of Rockland County, the constituents of the 38th State Senate District, and our readers at Rockland Daily?

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Here's what I would say. I think we should give each other more grace and more consideration. I think we're too tough on each other, and we're too quick to criticize. We should all be more forgiving and more giving in the way we interact with each other.

Politics does not have to be as divisive and as negative as it's been. Politics is the art of compromise. It's the art of working together toward common goals, and that's what I'd like to do. I'd like to bring people together to work toward what we all want.

I also think we're all very lucky to have Rockland Daily providing local coverage of what's going on in Rockland County, because local media is so important. We've lost so much local media over the last 25 years that local issues often don't get covered except by outlets like Rockland Daily.

I'm grateful for the coverage you gave the campaign. I thought it was fair, balanced, and accurate. I didn't always love the coverage because it was fair to both sides. Sometimes I liked it, and sometimes I didn't, but I think you guys run a fair operation.

You run a good news outlet that provides a real service to the people of Rockland County, and I'm grateful for it.

Rockland Daily: Thank you so much, Senator-elect Rand, for taking the time to sit down with us. We really appreciate your time and wish you much success as you prepare to take office.

Senator-elect Joe Rand: Thank you very much. I really appreciate you guys giving me the opportunity to speak with you.