I understand the political situation in NYC all too well. Make no mistake about it - politics is dirty. It is all who you know - not whether the issue is just and ethical. It is about spin and appearance - not truth. Money equals power. The fate of legislation is always in the hands of the Council Speaker - regardless of who it is. It is the nature of this position. Unfortunately, the current speaker, Christine Quinn, is also anti-animal and happens to be a staunch supporter of the carriage industry. She owes her position to the late Tom Manton, former council member and congressman and very powerful head of the Queens Democratic party, now headed by Joe Crowley, whom he picked to succeed him in Congress. The genesis of that support has its roots in Irish politics and Tammany Hall. In the late 1940s, former Mayor, Irish born William O'Dwyer, gave 68 horse carriage medallions to his cronies. The O'Dwyer name has continued to have weight in politics. Still, how can one small industry have so much clout? Every online poll I have seen about the industry has resulted in over 70% of the participants saying they want a ban of the industry. But this is raw, real politics. This is the people -- not the City Council. Club house Tammany Hall style politics plus the Teamsters Union -- all bullies. Couldn't get any slimier.

But let's be real about the political situation. Speaker Christine Quinn decides what will be put up for a vote and what will pass. It is generally known before hand if a bill will pass and be signed into law. Council hearings are required by law, but they mostly do not make a difference since the desired result is already known. Council members like to pretend they have power - but they don't. This is not a democracy and let's not fool ourselves into believing that it is. A City Council member does not take action unless blessed by the Speaker. Brave outspoken members run into problems and become ineffective. But should the fact that they are not independent let them off the hook? Absolutely NOT. They are still accountable to the public who voted them into office. They earn $112,500 of tax payers money annually. And it is a PART TIME job. Plus - many get tens of thousands in additional compensation or "lulus" while serving as chairs of committees. They need to listen to you and to be held accountable.

The worst thing we can do is to give up - to give up on these horses who need us. Please let this be your challenge. This is why I keep asking all of you to continue writing to the mayor, council speaker Christine Quinn, your council members and the head of the tourist agency. You must let them know that the horses have a constituency. To do less is to fail them. The legislators may not do anything anyway -- but they surely will not do anything if they believe their constituents do not care and have never let them know how they feel.

This industry is inhumane for the horses, but also a safety issue for people. In addition, if the classic cars became a reality, the drivers would have better paying and more secure jobs. How can she be opposed to that? She claims that she does not want to see 300 families lose their means of support. But the classic car industry would provide union jobs with benefits to the drivers and real investment opportunities to the owners.

Speaker Quinn can be contacted through her web site. I do not like to tell people how to act since I assume you will do what is best for the horses, but please be polite. Be better than the carriage drivers who continue to call us terrorists and worse. Click here to contact her. You may also contact your Council Members by clicking here.

• Send your council members the article about the tourist killed by a spooked horse in Salzburg. This is a safety issue and it is only a matter of time before a human death occurs in NYC.
• Snail mail letters are preferred -- personal meetings with the Council Member or their legislative aide are even better.

You can address such issues as the industry being a blot on NYC's image; how Central Park South smells bad; how it is inherently inhumane; how it is dangerous and an accident waiting to happen. Because of their size and physiology, horses are unwitting weapons. They can spook easily and cause a lot of damage. Recently, an accident in Iowa involving carriage horses resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to 25 others. Just last week, a tourist was killed by a spooked carriage horse in Salzburg, Austria. It is only a matter of time before it happens here. If you do not live in NYC, say that you will not visit the city - or how you have avoided the area if you have visited. Also say that the new legislation did not do anything to help the horses - that it was mainly about giving the drivers a raise. Horses are still deprived of water in Central Park in the winter months and their stalls are less than half of what experts suggest.

BLOG ABOUT TERRIFIED HORSES: Carriage Horses NYC Blog - 8/9/10 : How Many Times do I have to Tell You? A spooked horse can kill!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.