​We urge you to continue exercising your clemency power before leaving office on August 23. We are encouraged by your grant of 5 pardons and 5 commutations on August 17, and hope more announcements will follow in the coming days.

You have the unique power, through clemency, to reduce cruel life without parole sentences, allow people to reunite with their families and loved ones, unburden people who struggle to find employment and housing due to their past offenses, and help stop deportations of immigrant New Yorkers.

By exercising this power, you would be joining many other Governors across the country who have granted mass clemencies during their last days in office. Your administration knows better than anyone how many people in need have applied for clemency. Thousands of New Yorkers have applied for a commutation or pardon but have not heard back from your office in years. Many of them are elderly, hoping to live out their days alongside family and community. Many are parents whose children need their caretakers back in their lives. Many are leaders in the faith community, counselors, program facilitators, artists, and graduates of college or graduate school. Many are immigrants with past convictions who are now facing deportation and separation from their families and loved ones. All of them are waiting on you.

The clock is ticking for you to do the right thing and grant as many pardons and commutations as you can. We urge you to do so.