60 survivors of human trafficking push Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the START Act | POLITICO

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Sixty survivors of human trafficking sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushing him to sign the START Act, which would allow courts to vacate criminal convictions that result from sex or labor trafficking. ‘These convictions also make it much more difficult to rebuild our lives, creating hurdles for obtaining employment, student loans, housing, or legal immigration status. It is traumatic enough that trafficking survivors have to deal with the long term effects of being exploited. Survivors should not also have to carry the weight and burden of criminal records,’ they write in the letter, along with the Legal Aid Society. The bill was passed by the Legislature and is awaiting Cuomo’s signature.”

— POLITICO’s New York Playbook, July 9, 2021