I was disappointed to read the recent Monsey Scoop article, “Senator Bill Weber Advocates For Child Care Funding to Help Rockland County Families.”
No one disputes that child care is one of the most urgent issues facing families in Rockland County. Parents are struggling with skyrocketing costs, providers are facing enormous challenges, and many families are desperately hoping for relief. That is exactly why public officials must be careful not to create expectations that do not match reality.
The article gives the impression that significant new child care funding has been secured for Rockland County. According to advocates who work on this issue every day, that simply is not the case.
The $155 million referenced in the announcement is not new funding specifically secured for Rockland County. In fact, advocates familiar with the issue estimate Rockland’s share will be approximately $2 million. While every dollar helps, that amount falls dramatically short of what is needed. Those working directly with child care providers and families estimate that Rockland requires more than $40 million annually to adequately address the current funding gap.
It is also important to understand that the state budget was passed by the Democratic majority. Senator Weber’s vote was not needed for passage, and there was no requirement for legislative leaders to negotiate with him or secure his support. While every elected official has the right to advocate for issues affecting their constituents, taking credit for statewide funding approved by others is misleading.
Perhaps most troubling is the confusion this announcement has caused. One of Rockland’s leading child care askonim expressed frustration after being inundated with calls from parents who believed substantial new assistance was now available. Families saw the headlines and understandably assumed meaningful relief had arrived. Unfortunately, that is simply not the reality.
Meanwhile, the real work continues. Community advocates, providers, and local leaders remain engaged in discussions with state officials in an effort to secure the level of funding Rockland families actually need. Assemblyman Aron Wieder has been working tirelessly behind the scenes on this issue, but despite ongoing efforts, no promises have been made and no comprehensive solution has been approved.
Credit should also be given to local leaders, including Joe Rand, whose advocacy helped bring Governor Hochul together directly with Rockland child care providers so she could hear firsthand about the challenges facing working families. Those conversations continue, and the fight for meaningful funding is far from over.
Child care is too important for political victory laps. Families need real solutions, real funding, and real relief. Until those goals are achieved, elected officials should focus less on press releases and more on delivering results.
Etty S.
Chestnut Ridge
The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of Monsey Scoop. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Send it to us for review.
Paid ad by?
It is interesting that the article begins by dismissing Senator Bill Weber’s involvement, suggesting that his support was not needed because the bill was passed by the majority party. Yet, in the very same article, it highlights Assemblyman Aron Wieder and Mayor Joe Rand as key figures deserving credit. By that logic, neither of them was in a position to pass the state budget either. Assemblyman Wieder is not a State Senator, and Mayor Rand is not a member of the State Legislature at all.
If the standard is that only those whose votes were necessary deserve recognition, then the article’s own argument falls apart. The reality is that advocacy matters. Elected officials at every level play a role in raising awareness, bringing stakeholders together, and pushing issues forward.
The article also attempts to create the impression that there is widespread frustration within the community. From what I understand, many individuals and organizations are actively engaged with mosdos and community leaders on this issue. There has been ongoing communication and collaboration for quite some time. Claims that advocates were “inundated with calls” appear greatly exaggerated. Receiving a couple of WhatsApp messages does not constitute a public outcry.
Most importantly, no one is claiming that the childcare funding challenge has been solved. Everyone understands that significantly more funding is needed and that the work is far from over. Multiple elected officials, askonim, providers, and community advocates continue to work together toward meaningful solutions.
Rather than publishing divisive and misleading articles, perhaps the focus should be on encouraging more people to get involved, submit applications, work with their mosdos, and support the ongoing efforts that are taking place. The families affected by this issue deserve facts, cooperation, and constructive advocacy—not political narratives and sensational headlines.
The community benefits when everyone working on an issue receives recognition for their efforts. Turning a positive development into a political attack serves no one and does nothing to help the families who are waiting for real relief.
Etty s lol
More like Mayer Tauber and sruly welz
Yeah. Thats more like it.
It is interesting that the article begins by dismissing Senator Bill Weber’s involvement, suggesting that his support was not needed because the bill was passed by the majority party. Yet, in the very same article, it highlights Assemblyman Aron Wieder and Mayor Joe Rand as key figures deserving credit. By that logic, neither of them was in a position to pass the state budget either. Assemblyman Wieder is not a State Senator, and Mayor Rand is not a member of the State Legislature at all.
If the standard is that only those whose votes were necessary deserve recognition, then the article’s own argument falls apart. The reality is that advocacy matters. Elected officials at every level play a role in raising awareness, bringing stakeholders together, and pushing issues forward.
The article also attempts to create the impression that there is widespread frustration within the community. From what I understand, many individuals and organizations are actively engaged with mosdos and community leaders on this issue. There has been ongoing communication and collaboration for quite some time. Claims that advocates were “inundated with calls” appear greatly exaggerated. Receiving a couple of WhatsApp messages does not constitute a public outcry.
Most importantly, no one is claiming that the childcare funding challenge has been solved. Everyone understands that significantly more funding is needed and that the work is far from over. Multiple elected officials, askonim, providers, and community advocates continue to work together toward meaningful solutions.
Rather than publishing divisive and misleading articles, perhaps the focus should be on encouraging more people to get involved, submit applications, work with their mosdos, and support the ongoing efforts that are taking place. The families affected by this issue deserve facts, cooperation, and constructive advocacy—not political narratives and sensational headlines.
The community benefits when everyone working on an issue receives recognition for their efforts. Turning a positive development into a political attack serves no one and does nothing to help the families who are waiting for real relief.
Nice ad for Joe Rand. U should be ashamed of yourself for taking sides in an election. The Democratic party is a danger for this country and especially for כלל ישראל!
*Ironic that Weber’s team is calling Rand a photo-op guy when Weber’s been in the minority for years and can’t actually pass anything. Meanwhile Rand isn’t even in office yet and he’s already meeting with Gov. Hochul to deliver for the community. That’s what doing the work looks like.*
Mtt
I like your new name here and on ivelt
“He is meeting with hochul” LOL his supporters aka askanim arranged it for him. Big frkn deal
Mtt it’s nice to see your new nick here and on ivelt
+1
Lol sleepy Joe Rand is seeing that the community dose not buy there lokshen so there trying to attack our beloved sanetor Bill Weber
But it won’t help them
Rockland stands strong and united to support Bill Weber
Not all of Rockland and rightfully so.
Etty s
בגמטריא
סליפי דזשאו
Clown Bill Weber makes a living of his fake credit by Roads, red lights, bills that he has no power to…
Bill, if you can’t deliver, just RESIGN, Don’t INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE with fake and misleading headlines..
Lol
Thanks you Monsey Scoop for publishing the truth. By elections is crucial to stay focused, we should all vote for issues and not for a party line. Its know for all the failure weber cant do anything for any of our issues.
Joe Rand has a clean record and an experience record, lets hope everyone will unite for him.
This is the truth
https://monseyscoop.com/senator-bill-weber-advocates-for-child-care-funding-to-help-rockland-county-families/
ממה נפשך if he can’t deliver that means that the bill passed without him, and if he did deliver {which is the fact} that shows that the slogan “a Republican can’t deliver” is fake news
Bill’s office helped hundreds of families and they all know that your democratic campaign full of lokshen is FAKE NEWS 📰
And just FYI 😴 Sleepy Joe Rand is hated in nayak his one community is not happy with him at all, 0 good experience