November 16,2023
FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL:
My number one job as the New York State Governor is to keep people safe. And I believe that the best anti-crime tool we have is a job. When people have steady work, they’re less likely to commit crimes and less likely to be homeless. New York also has a labor shortage right now. I have 460,000 jobs that are unfilled today. Our employers are begging for workers. That’s the equivalent of the populations of Buffalo and Rochester combined. Plenty of work, right? So, common sense. We do everything we can to fill those jobs. But New York State has lagged behind some other states. Sad but true. Lagged behind other states in allowing people to get jobs because they’re haunted by perhaps long-ago criminal records, right? They’ve paid their debt to society. Now let’s make that very clear. They’ve gone through the process. They did their time. They’re done. But when they re-enter society, there are still barriers to housing and jobs. I say no more. Today, we’re here today to correct that injustice by signing into law the Clean Slate Act. And I want to thank our Attorney General, Tish James, for all her work on this initiative. I want to thank the District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, great champion. The sponsors of the legislation, let’s give a special round of applause to Senator Zellnor Myrie and Catalina Cruz – stand up. There have been many powerful voices behind this movement. I want to thank the leaders of the labor community as well. Labor union in the house, thank you for your support for this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I want to thank businesses led by Kathy Wylde, the President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City for adding her voice behind this and the voices of thousands of employers. Thank you.
And we have a lot of people who will validate us all over the social media world, I’m excited about this. La La Anthony is here, TV personality, actress and activist. Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you. We also have a woman whose life was touched by this problem up until now. Melinda Agnew, you’ll hear her powerful story. I look forward to hearing her remarks. I also want to thank the members of my administration that have been out there on the front lines championing this but also making sure that it works for everyone. And the state legislators, let’s give them a round of applause, our Senators and Assemblymembers. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. And the members and advocates of the New York Clean Slate Coalition, congratulations to you. Since I took office two years ago, I’ve been laser focused on, as I said, protecting New Yorkers and driving down crime. Murders are down 38 percent statewide. That’s amazing. The other day, the NYPD reported, that we had gone an entire week without a single murder in New York City. We’ve not done that since 2018 and that was a historic low, not seen since the 1950s. We’re making progress. And we’re continuing to invest in criminal justice – half a billion dollars in the 2024 Budget that was passed by all of us, the legislators and myself. And we’re focused on helping low-income New Yorkers get better legal representation, as well as boosting alternatives to incarceration. Those are important priorities of mine.
And with the signing of this law, it adds to our momentum to get people back to work. Give them those opportunities. And all those people who’ve been convicted, not able to find someone who’ll believe in them again, who’ll help lift them up, give them a home, let them have independence again, have the dignity of a job. It means everything to people. This is even years after they’ve done their debt to society, years after they’ve done nothing else wrong. And if they can’t take care of themselves and their families, what alternatives do they do? It cycles people back to the streets. That’s not what we want to have happen. We invest in people, we believe in people, we keep them out of that alternative, which led them to this place in the first place. That’s what we have the power to do here today. And as we know, if people end up in financial desperation, they may recommit crimes. That’s not what we want to have happen because we want to make sure people feel and are safe in the state. We disrupt this cycle with this law by sealing criminal records for specific crimes and after a waiting period. Now we’re talking about misdemeanors for starts, sealed after three years after someone gets out of jail. The waiting period is eight years after being released from jail for felonies. Now, if they’ve had their probation or parole revoked, the clock starts over again, right? You only get this if you’ve turned your life around. But the good news is, millions of people have. They’re the ones we’re focused on here today. We seal the records, they can look for a job, learn a trade, without having that permanent scarlet letter on their forehead that says, I can’t work, I won’t be able to work. That’s what we’re taking care of today. We’re talking about people who went before a judge and a jury, paid the price for their action and sometimes over many, many years. As a society, we must welcome them back, help them get back on their feet. Supportive housing sometimes. I’ve wanted job training while people are still incarcerated, helping them overcome their struggles while they’re still incarcerated, having a welcome home for them and even bringing our Department of Labor teams to the prison so they can sign up for jobs and know it’s out there. We can keep investing in people even before they come out, so they know there’s a better alternative. That’s how we help them. That’s how we keep society safe from future criminal acts.
FROM STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETICIA JAMES
New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “The millions of New Yorkers who have paid their dues and are ready to rebuild their lives deserve a second chance. The Clean Slate Act will help ensure our justice system is fairer and more equitable, and help build stronger families and communities by making it easier for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers to find stable housing, good-paying jobs, and quality education. I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing this critical legislation today, as well as Senator Myrie, Assemblymember Cruz, and all the dedicated advocates who worked for years to make it a reality.”
FROM FORMER LT GOV BOB DUFFY
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy said, “A conviction on a person’s record hinders opportunities like stable jobs, professional licenses, and secure housing. After someone pays their debt to society, they deserve the opportunity to procure a good job to forge a path towards a new life. Today represents a pivotal moment in New York’s commitment to breaking down barriers for individuals with criminal records who have already paid their debt to society. Greater Rochester Chamber is proud to have been a strong supporter of the Clean Slate Act and we thank Governor Hochul, Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Myrie, Assembly Member Cruz, and all of the advocates who played a role in its enactment.”
