Gov. Hochul Ignores Opposition, Signs Clean Slate Bill

Ignoring widespread opposition from law enforcement, elected officials, and residents across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul went ahead and signed the "Clean Slate" bill, a law that automatically puts the criminal records of job seekers off limits. Her approval set off a wave of disgust and promises to keep the issue in the forefront as New York continues to suffer a crime wave thanks to the pro-criminal, anti-police actions of the governor and her Progressive Democrat colleagues.

"Clean Slate is wrong on so many levels. Not only is the message this law sends to crime victims and their families a disgrace, I have absolutely no doubt that this will also create more crime victims," said Senator Dean Murray, who organized a rally against the bill at Suffolk PBA headquarters in Brentwood. "Private business owners won't fully know who they are hiring, and landlords won't have the whole picture about who they are allowing into their properties and in some cases, into their homes."

Clean Slate was approved by the legislature earlier in the year in the face of intense opposition from Republicans, mostly from suburban areas such as Long Island. It seals the records of individuals convicted of felonies, including assault, robbery, manslaughter, and other violent crimes. It follows a cashless bail system put in place by the Democrats, which is credited, along with Defund the Police and other anti-law enforcement measures, with a crime wave that is sweeping across New York's cities and its suburbs.

"I am truly disappointed that the Governor and Legislature have once again put the interests of convicted criminals ahead of the rights of victims," said Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "These reckless games with our public safety must stop. Automatically wiping away hate crime convictions while we are seeing an epidemic of hate speech, financial frauds in an age of online scams, weapons charges when we are seeing school shootings and drug sales when our children are dying of overdoses, without any mechanism of review to protect us, leaves us utterly exposed to violence and victimization." - Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney

"This is yet another example of the harmful pro-criminal, anti-law enforcement measures coming from the Progressive Left," said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, who noted that the state already has a mechanism whereby criminals can apply to have their records hidden. "This will make it harder for police to do their jobs and make everyone less safe. Clean Slate is a very bad idea,” DeStefano said.

PBA President Louis Civello pointed out that a similar law is not in the books for police officers who have no protection from having their service records released. "We have gang members and other criminals filing false complaints against officers, and these remain part of their permanent records," Civello said, adding, "Clean Slate is an engraved invitation for criminals to rip off unsuspecting businesses and continues the radical left's pro-criminal anti-public safety agenda. Employers won't know if the bookkeeper they hired is a convicted fraudster, store owners won't know if the guy who responded to a help wanted sign has a history of sticking up convenience stores, and serious felonies like vehicular homicide and burglary will be sealed, and the public will be kept in the dark. Make no mistake, this wrongheaded law will only create more opportunities for criminals to commit crimes and victimize hard-working New Yorkers."

State Senator Dean Murray at a rally denouncing Gov. Hochul’s signing of the Clean Slate bill. File Photo

Also speaking at the rally was Suffolk County Executive-Elect Edward Romaine, who stressed that changes in how New York is governed must be made at the ballot box. "Long Island has a majority of elected officials who do not support this. We need to keep electing pro-law enforcement representatives to counteract the current balance of power in Albany."

Senator Mario Mattera said Clean Slate discriminates against business owners and the public because it exempts schools and government agencies from the law. "Most of us will be kept in the dark about who we're hiring or allowing into our homes as renters, while taxpayer-funded offices have access," he said. "This is dysfunctional government at its worst."

"First, we had to accept that our loved ones were gone forever, then process that another human being intentionally and horrifically took them from us. Then, we had to accept the outcome of the court proceedings. Then, the people who did this to us would be free to live their lives and see their families. Now, we will have to accept that they get to pretend it never even happened while we still suffer the lifelong pain and consequences of their actions," said Jennifer Harrison, Founder/Executive Director of Victims Rights NY.