New NY Gov so far has ugly clemency record like last NY Gov

Roughly a year ago, anticipating the resignation of disgraced NY Gov Andrew Cuomo, I wondered in this post whether a change in New York leadership might lead to a better record on clemency.  As noted in that post, Cuomo had talked big about NY clemency efforts in 2015 and again in 2017, but he never thereafter delivered any significant results.  This new press piece, headlined "Governor Hochul’s ‘Rolling’ Clemency Process Has Set Just One Person Free," suggests that there is little reason for new clemency optimism with the new NY Gov.  Here is an excerpt:

In 2015, Cuomo announced the formation of the state’s executive clemency bureau to identify people who might be worthy of commutation. His announcement encouraged thousands serving decades-long sentences across the state to ask for clemency.  By the time Cuomo left office last year, the clemency bureau had received more than 10,000 applications ... [but] Cuomo issued only a total of 41 commutations in response.

When Kathy Hochul took office, those seeking clemency — and their loved ones — hoped that she would show more compassion than her predecessor.  On Christmas Eve 2021, Governor Hochul announced plans to devote additional staff resources into clemency and create an advisory panel.  She also declared that she would grant clemency on "a rolling basis" rather than only once each year.  That day she granted nine pardons and one commutation.  The singular commutation devastated many behind bars — and outraged family members and advocates — who had hoped for more.

Seven months later, Hochul has granted no other clemencies. Since becoming governor, her office has received 286 applications for commutations, and 82 for pardons.  At an event in mid-July, the governor told reporters that her office was overhauling the clemency system, including creating uniform applications for commutations and pardons, and instituting a process notifying applicants of their status.  She also said that she was still considering who to appoint for her clemency advisory board.  "It’s not an overnight process, but it’s one that’s going to be thoughtful, and one that will be long-term enduring," Hochul said.

The delays are frustrating advocates who have been working for years to push the governor’s office to fully exercise its executive power to grant more clemencies.  "There are fully vetted, powerful, robust applications, hundreds on her desk, so if she wanted to do it, they’re there," said Steve Zeidman, co-director of the CUNY Law School’s Defenders Clinic Second Look Project.  "We filed some going back four or five years that we supplement from time to time. It's not as if there aren't applications. It's just the will to do it."

Some prior related posts:

• Despite creating lots of clemency hope, NY Gov Cuomo delivers little clemency relief 
• "Cuomo's Clemency and Cruelty of False Hope"
• Might "big change" in New York leadership include a better record on clemency?