“This bill is an example of ideology trumping practicality. There are many positions where employers must consider the background and criminal record of an applicant before offering a job. That is presumably why this legislation gives wide exemptions to city government. It should do the same for private sector employers. New York State already has a strong anti-discrimination law on the books to protect ex-offenders from unfair discrimination in the job market. A bill like this discourages employers and ends up resulting in fewer, not more, job opportunities for the people the City Council wants to help.”