Joseph Hernandez

Joseph Hernandez earned a graduate degree from Yale University and a graduate degree from the University of Florida. Hernandez's career experience includes working as an entrepreneur, founder, and senior managing partner.[1]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased June 23, 2025

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Camagüey, Cuba, and came to the United States as a child refugee after my father was imprisoned for opposing the Castro regime. My family arrived with faith, grit, and a belief that freedom and hard work could open doors. America gave us that chance.

I built my career in healthcare, biotechnology, and philanthropy, founding and leading more than a dozen companies focused on improving public health and saving lives. Early in my career I helped advance the first FDA-approved test for HPV, a milestone in cancer prevention that has protected millions of women through earlier detection. Today I serve as Founder and Senior Managing Partner of Blue Water Venture Partners, where I invest in technologies that make medicine more effective, more affordable, and more accessible.

My professional path began at Merck and continued at Affymetrix in Silicon Valley, where I helped bring innovative diagnostics to market. At Digene, our team’s work contributed to a breakthrough that led to the company’s acquisition by Qiagen. I earned degrees in neuroscience, molecular genetics and microbiology, epidemiology and biostatistics, and business from the University of Florida and Yale, and I am currently pursuing a master’s in global healthcare leadership at the University of Oxford.

I am the father of three wonderful children, Alexander, Sebastian, and Estella. They are the reason I work to build a safer, healthier, and more hopeful future for every family in New York City.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Public safety is my top priority. I will hire 10,000 more officers, place cops in every subway station, and launch grid-based neighborhood patrols so every block is protected. We will ban face coverings in subways, use AI to reduce 911 response times, and partner with federal agencies to fight illegal guns, gangs, and corruption. I’ll expand mental health crisis response, transitional housing, and job training so vulnerable people get help and our streets stay safe. We will prioritize victims and hold repeat offenders accountable.The rising cost of living is driving too many New Yorkers out of the city they love. The real path to affordability begins with fixing the housing crisis. I will deliver 132,000 new units in 24 months by unlocking 50,000 vacant rent-stabilized apartments, converting 60,000 commercial spaces, and building 22,000 new mixed-income homes. More housing means lower rents and stronger neighborhoods. I’ll cut red tape, reduce property taxes for working families, and make city government spend smarter so New Yorkers can afford to live, work, and raise a family here.Technology is the key to making New York safer, cleaner, and more efficient. I will launch Smart NYC, a citywide AI-powered infrastructure and safety platform that uses real-time data to improve trash collection, traffic flow, and emergency response. With modern technology, we can cut violent crime by up to 40%, reduce traffic congestion by 25%, and shorten 911 response times by more than half. Technology should make government faster, fairer, and more accountable — and under my leadership, it will.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about policies that improve quality of life for all New Yorkers. That starts with public safety, because nothing works without safe streets and a functioning justice system. I’m equally focused on affordability — tackling the housing crisis, cutting wasteful spending, and ensuring working families can afford to live here. Finally, I’m deeply committed to innovation and education. By integrating technology and AI into schools, government, and healthcare, we can make New York more efficient, more equitable, and better prepared for the future. My goal is a city that works for everyone — safer, smarter, and more affordable.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important quality in an elected official is remembering who you work for. I believe in the idea of the citizen-politician — someone who serves out of duty, not ambition. Public office should never be a career; it should be a temporary responsibility to deliver results and then return to private life. Integrity, accountability, and common sense matter more than party politics. An effective leader listens before acting, spends taxpayer dollars like their own, and always tells people the truth. I will bring real-world experience, not political calculation, to the job of serving New Yorkers.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of the mayor is to make New York City work — safely, efficiently, and fairly — for everyone who calls it home. That means protecting public safety, managing taxpayer dollars responsibly, and ensuring city agencies actually deliver results. A mayor must lead by example, set clear priorities, and hold people accountable for performance. The job is not about politics or photo ops; it’s about solving problems, fixing what’s broken, and improving quality of life in every neighborhood. My focus will always be on results, not rhetoric — restoring competence, trust, and common sense to City Hall.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of leadership that restored faith in government and made New York City work again for its people. My goal is to prove that competence, compassion, and accountability can rebuild trust and results. I want New Yorkers to look back and say their city became safer, more affordable, and more hopeful for everyone — not because of politics, but because we focused on solutions. Most of all, I want my children and future generations to inherit a city that is freer, fairer, and full of opportunity, just as it was for me when I arrived here.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Our campaign is endorsed by the Reform Party of the United States and New York State, as well as the Bodega and Small Business Group. I’m grateful for their support and their shared focus on reform, accountability, and improving quality of life for working New Yorkers.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

My greatest accomplishment is my three children — Alexander, Sebastian, and Estella. No achievement in business or public life compares to the pride I feel watching them grow into kind, curious, and determined young people. They are my constant reminder of why I'm fighting to save this city. Everything I do is guided by the belief that their generation, and every child in New York, deserves the same opportunity my family found when we came to this country.