Today in @NYGovCuomo being cold & heartless. In 43 seconds:

First: Lies that NY jails/prisons can quarantine. Experts including Chief Rikers doctor unanimously say they cant given numbers jailed.

Second: Says no clemency or plans to use power to decarcerate.

This is your hero?

On quarantine: It’s not just jail & prison overcrowding that’s the issue. It’s that every cell & housing area are linked by vents. No separation. Also “quarantine” has come to really mean “solitary confinement,” which is torture.

On clemency: Cuomo has granted literally ZERO clemencies. Forget even the politically “easy” ones. Elderly, non-violent felonies, those serving short jail stints on misdemeanors, those in last 1-2 years of sentences, young people, those on technical parole violations. ZERO.

A good time also to remind every one, that while the rest of the country was either doing nothing or taking some small steps to decarcerate, @NYGovCuomo led a secret effort, in the dead of night, 2 weeks ago, to pass a new bail law that will jail thousands more Black people. Yep.

This man- @NYGovCuomo-caved to White supremacists, police, & prosecutors. Ignored advocates, directly impacted people, defenders & data showing bail reform worked all to inflict costly & unnecessary pain on Black & Brown communities. During a pandemic. Months after signing reform.

Every one of @NYGovCuomo’s “bold” & “decisive” statements about caring for one another, no one left behind, taking precautions on Twitter or TV exacts emotional violence on advocates & people actively harmed by his mass punishment system. His hypocrisy & indifference is cruel.

And he doesn’t just get away with it. He gets praised. Gets accolades. News stories get written about how @NYGovCuomo is “presidential.” And should replace Joe Biden as candidate.

No.

He’s CHOOSING to let thousands get infected & die. Deciding they are undeserving of humanity.

One of the worst things @NYGovCuomo has done is lie about his lack of power to decarcerate. As Governor, he has more power than any other person in the state to save thousands of lives. Any one of the 40,000+ imprisoned. With a stroke of his pen. He can do this. But he’s not.

But here’s the thing: It’s not too late. I’ll be the first to praise @NYGovCuomo (did when he announced close to 1000 he’d release jailed for non-criminal violations of parole) when & if he takes decisive action. But I CANT abide by his daily lies, indifference, cruelty.