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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: Call the City Council about ban carriage bill ** Driver busted for overloading carriage ** Danny Glover - revealing comment about carriage horses ** Donate to our advertising campaign ** December schedule for demos ** your online purchases can help us ** (all photos except ad by M. Culpepper)
NOTE: the best way to receive this newsletter is to subscribe directly. Although I post it on other lists, sometimes (for reasons unknown) they do not approve it - so you are subject to their whims. PLEASE CLICK HERE to subscribe directly. If you want to see past newsletters - CLICK HERE for our archive.
PLEASE CALL THE NYC COUNCIL ABOUT CARRIAGE BAN BILL
Intro 573 - bill to ban horse-drawn carriages
BILL INTRODUCED: 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.
PLEASE CALL YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS 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.
STREET LAWS NOT ENFORCED IN CARRIAGE TRADE
Carriage driver busted for overloading carriage.
On one of the busiest day of the year for the carriage trade, a driver was busted for overloading his carriage. This was documented by the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. The driver had gone into Central Park with six people and passed us. When he realized that we had a video camera and were on to him, he suddenly remembered the law and had the passengers get out of the carriage, mid-ride.
The woman is heard saying something like, "Take us on a short circle and bring us back" and the driver mumbles "no, no, no" and something very inarticulate about only allowing "two kids." His parting words: "three adults." She correctly points out that he should have noticed this BEFORE starting the ride and collecting their payment.
Click here for the video. Please note that the ASPCA has not been enforcing these laws since January 2014. The NYPD is supposed to do it but does not. We have complained numerous times to the Mayor's office but they turn a deaf ear.
"You're documenting so he threw us out." said the woman who was asked to leave the carriage. If we were not there, the driver would have continued. It should be an embarrassment to the City that because no one enforces these laws, it is up to activists to do the work of the NYPD.
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 still 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.
ACTOR DANNY GLOVER REFERS TO HORSES AS "PRODUCT."
supports carriage trade
HORSES ARE PRODUCT! So says actor Danny Glover who supports the carriage trade. But unlike Liam Neeson who talks about how the drivers "love" their horses, we finally have some "honesty" and we learn just how carriage trade supporters feel about the horses. Glover's comment is at 1:04 minutes into the video: "I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO COME BY TO SEE THE PRODUCT THEMSELVES."
Thank you Mr. Glover for telling it like it is - telling us what you really think of these horses - although I am sure that would not have been your intent. The carriage horses are considered "PROPERTY" or "PRODUCT " and a means to an end. $$$$$$$. When they get used up - like an old TV or worn out shoes, they are discarded. They are NOT considered sentient beings with innate needs of their own. If Mr. Glover had done his homework he would have learned about some of the racist comments the drivers have made.
SCHEDULE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEMOS
Please note the demos for December - one left:
- 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 this demo - the last of 2014. 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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