BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES GETS PUBLIC HEARING -NEED TESTIMONIES!

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3-48/112-November 2, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HORSE SENSE Weekly updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages www.banhdc.org

 

Ban carriage horse bill gets hearing ** Let's organize ** Fund raiser for Avella ** Horses Without Carriages International ** Letters ** Photography show ** volunteer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES GETS PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, November 25th at 10:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following is Council Member Tony Avella's press release: October 31, 2008 - Press Release - AVELLA OBTAINS HEARING ON HIS LEGISLATION TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY Today, Council Member Tony Avella announced that he has obtained a public hearing on Intro.. #658, which would ban the operation of the horse drawn cab industry in New York City. The legislation is scheduled for a November 25th, 2008 public hearing at 10:00 AM before the City Council Consumer Affairs Committee. "The time has come to ban the operation of horse drawn cabs within the city of New York. Society as a whole has come to realize that the mistreatment of animals is clearly wrong and should not be tolerated. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the mistreatment of these horses. It is time for this industry to be put out to pasture," stated Avella. Elizabeth Forel, President of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, stated, "We are delighted that the City Council will be holding a public hearing on this bill. It will give New Yorkers the opportunity to weigh in on this very important issue and help direct the focus in the right direction to a much needed ban on horse-drawn carriages." Edita Birnkrant, NYC Campaign Coordinator for Friends of Animals, stated, "It's been a long and hard battle to get Intro. #658 on the floor of the City Council for a hearing, and I'm thrilled that Tony Avella and the advocates for the horses will finally get a chance to make our voices heard on this issue in front of the governing body that has the power to once and for all end the exploitative, inhumane, and dangerous horse-drawn carriage industry in NYC."

In order to obtain the public hearing, Avella invoked the little known "Sponsor's Privilege" rule of the City Council. The rule states in part that, "the first-named sponsor of a proposed local law or resolution referred to a standing committee may, at least 60 days after introduction, petition the chairperson to schedule a committee meeting to consider such proposed local law or resolution. A meeting shall then be scheduled within 60 days of such petition for the purpose of determining future action. At such meeting, the sponsor shall be the first heard in support of such proposed local law or resolution. The committee shall either vote thereon or schedule a hearing to be held within 30 days, at which hearing a vote shall be taken if the

sponsor so requests.Despite introducing this important piece of legislation almost a year ago, it had yet to be scheduled for a hearing before the Consumer Affairs Committee. It is unfortunate that in order to get a worthy piece of legislation such as this one to move forward, that I have to utilize this little known rule. Nevertheless, it is extremely important that the public be able to voice their opinions, and that the residents of the City have the opportunity to see where their elected officials stand on this issue," concluded Avella. [my note: please see Intro 658 on our web site. Because of the way legislation is written, this is more clear.]

 

PLEASE TESTIFY AT THIS HEARING Mostly hostile Committee - will not be a walk in the park - we need all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, we also found that Council Member Gennaro's pro industry bill will be heard at the same time. Gennaro happens to also be on the Consumer Affairs Committee. His two bills were combined into one called Intro 653-A. This bill could easily persuade people that it is actually doing something for horses when it 's what it does not say that is telling. The members of the Consumer Affairs Committee are: Chairperson: Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.; Charles Barron; James F. Gennaro; G. Oliver Koppell; John C.. Liu

 

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU PLAN TO TESTIFY this must be done with much thought and planning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANYONE CAN TESTIFY!. What you are testifying about is why Intro 658 should be passed into law. Generally, you are given 2-3 minutes - I will try very hard to find out what the allotted time is since you will be cut off if you are in the middle of your testimony. It is crucial that we coordinate our testimony and cover every aspect of this issue. We must not be going before the Council all saying the same thing -- it will be a terrible waste of an opportunity. I prefer not to say more here, but please contact me if you want to be part of our coordinated effort. coalitionbanhdc. There are many aspects of this issue to address and it will take longer than 2 minutes to address them. This is a strategy we have done before when testifying for animal bills..

 

FUND RAISER FOR AVELLA'S MAYORAL CAMPAIGN Tuesday evening - December 2nd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are invited to an early holiday/fund raising party for Council Member Tony Avella who is running for mayor of NYC.

When: Tuesday evening, December 2, 2008

Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Where: Mantra986 at 986 Second Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets - 1st floor.

Donation: $25 minimum - but more is welcome

Council Member Tony Avella has done so much for us and we need to help him in this battle. His voice needs to be heard! Please go to www.tonyavellaformayor.com for the printable donation form.. You must include this form with your donation and mail it to the address indicated. This is a requirement by the Campaign Finance Board. Please take the time to do this now.

 

HORSES WITHOUT CARRIAGES INTERNATIONAL Saturday - December 6, 2008 - Save the Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE. We are part of an international coalition of groups from Rome, Florence, Dublin, Victoria, Annapolis, Boston, Charleston, Victoria, to name a few. We are planning an action to be announced soon. But now - please mark the dates in your calendar.

 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR response to editorial about term limits and carriage horses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown Express - Oct. 31 - November 6, 2008 -

Horse sense To The Editor: I agree with everything you say in your recent editorial against extending term limits except for a statement made at the hearing, which you reprinted (editorial, Oct. 24 - 30, "Again let the voters decide on term limits"). It said that the city values carriage horses more than taxpayers because there were nine hearings over a short time.. You are wrong. The city actually values the carriage horse industry more than the average taxpayer. Why is anyone's guess. In 1989, a law was passed to keep the horses working in the Central Park area. A sunset clause was slipped in at the last minute, which meant the law expired in 1993. Because of this, in the next four years, there were many, many hearings. The tiny carriage horse industry is politically connected - they were then and they are now. And Christine Quinn is part of that establishment, which is why the current bill to ban horse-drawn carriages, sponsored by Tony Avella, has gone nowhere. Like the taxpayers, the city also does not care about the much beleaguered and dispirited carriage horses. The extent of damage the Council has done to the democratic process is yet to be seen. But people will not forget. The process has been devalued for years to come. Why should we ever trust any of these "representatives" again? And why should we bother voting? They were all beneficiaries of term limits and knew the rules going into the game. They violated a very deep trust and it will never

again be business as usual. Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

 

FOX TROT - A PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW ON HORSES November 25-December 17th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fox Trot is a 31 piece show being shown at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle at 59th St. and Columbus Avenue. Percentage of the sales of photographs will benefit the Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. Opening reception is

December 4th - 6-9 PM.

 

VOLUNTEER FOR THE HORSES ever weekend weather permitting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every weekend, weather permitting, we set up a table near the hack line to educate tourists and New Yorkers about the inhumanities of the horse-drawn carriage industry. We do this either on Saturday or Sunday from 1-5 PM. If you are able to volunteer for a few hours, please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteerforthecoalition

 

 

 

 

"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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

email: coalitionbanhdc

web: http://www.banhdc.org

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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