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HORSE SENSE
Periodic updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
www.banhdc.org
Horses Without Carriages International
www.horseswithoutcarriages.org
PLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ** in this issue: Ban carriage horse bill introduced** ** Donate to our advertising campaign ** December schedule for demos ** your online purchases can help us ** Call your council member
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BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IS INTRODUCED
Intro 573 - Please CALL your council member
WE ARE THRILLED! On Monday December 8, 2014, Council Member Daniel Dromm introduced the bill to ban horse -drawn carriages into the City Council. It will be in the Transportation Committee. This is the language of the bill, known as Intro 573. Text underlined is new; in brackets is removed. Bill highlights:
- The industry will be shut down by May 31, 2016 when the current licenses expire. They will not be renewed.
- Owners are prohibited from sending their horses to slaughter and are required to submit documentation to this effect.
- The maximum fine for violating any of the provisions of this law has been increased to $25,000.
- The drivers will be offered extensive job training for other industries
- The drivers will also be offered free a medallion for green or "hail" taxis, worth about $6,000.
The administration is required to do an Environmental Impact Study on the effect of shutting down this business. During that time, no legislative hearings or vote may be taken on this bill. We have been told it can take up to six months to complete. In that time, we ask that you contact your council member.
This is a video of Council Member Dromm introducing the bill. This is a portion of the speech: "We the human beings of New York are the guardians of our animal companions, both wild and domesticated. Whenever cruelty and endangerment is so clearly documented and brought to our attention, we must act. This bill is simply that--government stepping in to correct a grave injustice. Views in society evolved on issues from civil rights to environmental protection, and animal issues are no different.
The longevity of our horse carriages is no defense to the overwhelming evidence of animal cruelty and endangerment that has been, and will continue to be, presented to us. It is not appropriate for any living creature, outside of a motor vehicle, to be in the middle of New York City traffic. It was never OK, but what has changed is the increasing compassion and caring we have for animals. For us to pretend horse-drawn carriages are OK 'because it looks pretty' or to certain tourists it is part of a tradition is unacceptable. We need to protect good jobs that do not rely on such odious practices. This bill generously extends to these drivers options to help them transition to jobs that do not abuse animals."
PLEASE CALL YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER
this is crucial for the bill to get enough support to pass
Please take the time to call your Council Member and ask them to support Intro 573 - the bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. You can find out who your council member is by going to the Council web site and plugging in your address. CLICK HERE. DO NOT E-MAIL. It is not effective. The best way is to call their DISTRICT OFFICE.
These council members have taken a position on the bill.
- SUPPORT: These council members have signed on to support the bill: Daniel Dromm , Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, Margaret S. Chin, Mark Levine, Helen K. Rosenthal, You can call their offices and thank them for their support.
- OPPOSED: These Council Members have come out in opposition to the bill. Vincent Ignizo, Steven Matteo,Vincent Gentile; Elizabeth Crowley ; Mark Treyger, Mark Weprin, Andy King, Robert Cornegy, Costa Constantinides; Corey Johnson; Daneek Miller, Jumaane Williams
- WHAT TO SAY: Introduce yourself and say you are a constituent. Tell them that you would like the Council Member to sign on to Intro 573, the bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. You will probably speak with the person who answers the phone so they will not ask you more. IF THEY SAY that the Council Member is undecided - ASK THEM WHY and E-MAIL us at coalition@banhdc.org. THIS IS CRUCIAL.
OUTSIDE NYC? If you live outside NYC, you may call Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito at 212-828-9800
IDEAL: if you have time to make more calls, contact me at coalition@banhdc.org and I will provide you with a list of telephone numbers to call.
OUR NEW SUBWAY AD
We need your help
This is our new subway ad. (It will be much larger, therefore legible.) At this time, we will be able to pay for ten posters and have targeted three subway stations. We would love to do more with your help. Each poster - printing and placement - is about $600. We plan to begin this campaign after the bill is introduced - this month. We will also resume with our newspaper ads in Metro. Currently we are waiting for ad approval from the MTA.
If you would like to support our new subway campaign, please send your donation per the instructions on our web site. Thanks so much to those of you who have supported our ad campaign.
WHAT THE MEDIA IS NOT REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE
WHAT THE MEDIA WON'T SAY ABOUT NYC'S EXPLOSIVE CARRIAGE WAR. from the article: " Unfortunately, NYC's pro-carriage newspapers have not only lied about the Mayor's motives, claiming that he's merely re-paying a campaign donor who wants to buy the stables, but they have also largely failed to provide fair balance. If the media shared this information, then elected officials and members of the public would at least have the chance to make an informed decision about whether or not to support the Mayor's bill."
TWO MUST READ ARTICLES FROM OUR LIBRARY
IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE - From the article: In the debate on whether or not to ban horse-drawn carriages, the media and politicians have lost sight of a fundamental truth. The very nature of a horse makes this majestic animal unsuitable to work on the crowded streets of NYC because they are serious accidents waiting to happen. Although gentle by nature, at 1,500 to 2,000 pounds, they can become uncontrollable, unwitting weapons when spooked. As prey animals, their nature is to respond to upsetting stimuli in a fight or flight manner. Horses are predictably unpredictable and there is no such thing as a "bomb proof" horse. Unfamiliar sudden movements or loud noises will often trigger an innate anxiety in a horse, which may lead to panic and fear. "
Many of the NYC horse spooking accidents have come close to leaving dead people in their wake. There have been serious human injuries, including a few carriage drivers who were hospitalized in a coma. And of course, horses have died and been seriously injured in spooking accidents - but this does not seem to have convinced politicians that the industry needs to be shut down.
''Spooking' can happen to even the best-trained and well-mannered horse... there is no such thing as an unspookable horse, nor can the average driver control the horse once he bolts.'' said international horse expert and equine veterinarian, Holly Cheever D.V.M.
The other is from our contribution to BuzzFeed. This is a collection of images showing the drivers doing what they do best -- BEHAVING BADLY - from illegal U-turns to texting while driving to parking their horse over a steaming manhole cover.
SCHEDULE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEMOS
Please note the demos for December:
- Saturday, December 20th
- Sunday, December 28th
- Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
- LOCATION: Hack line - north/west side of Central Park South off Fifth Avenue.
As the weather gets colder, please dress warmly so you will feel comfortable standing outside for a few hours. This means warm socks, gloves, scarves, hats - the usual. We supply all posters and flyers. This is a "silent" protest. We do not chant and we ask that you do not engage in any altercations with the drivers or their passengers. The purpose of these events is to educate tourists and others about this trade.
Please plan to come to these demos - as many as you can. From Thanksgiving through the end of the year, many of these horses are worked to exhaustion.
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ONLINE - iGIVE
If you buy online, you can help the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
Through a free registration with iGive, when you buy merchandise on line, your purchase will help us. Many organizations give a percentage of the sale to not for profit organizations at no cost to you. There are more than 1500 stores that include such popular ones as Amazon.com, Staples, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Click here to get started.
On iGive - the name of our organization is "The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc." Click here to begin.
PLEASE JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google Blog & Flickr
"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.
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Thank you for caring about the horses,
Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban
Horse-Drawn Carriages - a standing committee
of The Coalition for New York City Animals,
Inc.
Please DONATE
to our campaign to ban
the inhumane and unsafe carriage horse industry.
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