Gov. Hochul signs legislation (photo: Darren McGee/Governor's Office)

New York’s clean energy transition is critical for the state’s future, but for it to be successful, we will need to expand our workforce across the city and state. This is proving to be a challenge, driven in part by outdated laws that punish justice-involved individuals long after they have served their sentences. 

That’s why Con Edison supports the Clean Slate Act and applauds its passage through the State Legislature. Now, Governor Kathy Hochul should immediately sign it into law. 

Like so many other employers across the state, we at Con Edison are feeling the brunt of New York’s labor shortage. At this critical moment, we must ensure that we’re reaching every potential employee, even those who may count themselves out because they think that a decent paycheck and a steady job are out of reach because they have a criminal record. 

Research shows that recidivism decreases with the passage of time — and that employment itself is key to reducing recidivism. Once a person is off parole or probation, by sealing misdemeanors after three years and felonies after eight, we can give these New Yorkers the opportunity to leave their past behind and build a new future. They can access job training and education without unnecessary barriers, and transition into the workforce with a record that is sealed. 

At Con Edison, we have made a conscious effort to recruit and hire justice-involved individuals. Every day, we see the impact these employees have on their communities, and the power of a second chance. And we’re not alone. Major companies like National Grid, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, and Microsoft support Clean Slate, as do the Partnership for New York City, the Business Council of New York State, and many chambers of commerce. 

A larger workforce is not just good for employers, it’s good for the economy. A recent report from the New York City Comptroller estimated that annual wages, in the City alone, would increase by $2.4 billion under Clean Slate. Another study found that the State loses an estimated $7.1 billion in wages because of unemployment and underemployment among people with conviction records.

The Clean Slate Act will also increase employment, wages, and public safety. For example, in Michigan where a similar law was passed, research showed that an individual was 11% more likely to have a job and earned nearly 20% more in wages within two years of expunging their criminal record. 

Our current system of perpetual punishment limits opportunities for a job, a place to live, and an education. Long after a sentence has been served, these essentials should not remain out of reach for a lifetime, especially when their absence reverberates across children, families, and whole communities, and disproportionately impacts Black and Latino New Yorkers. 

But we can change this. The Legislature has now passed the Clean State Act, and we are grateful to the sponsors of the bill, the legislative leaders, members of both chambers who approved it, and the coalition partners behind this hard-fought victory. Now it is time for Governor Hochul to act and sign the bill into law immediately to ensure we can unlock the human and economic potential of New Yorkers with conviction histories. We have too much at stake to wait.

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Joeann E. Walker is Senior Attorney at Con Edison and a CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow.