Working Families Party Mayoral Forum

Too important to miss!
Tony Avella is the people's choice!
Here is the Working Families Party Mayoral Forum webcast in its entirety. Michael R. Bloomberg is up first. Your patience will be rewarded when you hear New York City's wealthiest citizen stammer [cue in to 1:04] that "I made every dime that I have." It's precious. NEXT! Tony Avella follows, and the juxtaposition is very interesting. As we heard from those who were in attendance, and as you can see in viewing the webcast, the energy in the room was electrifying when Tony fielded questions--and he never minces any words. The applause tells the story. Comptroller William C. Thompson was next. Slick and well-rehearsed, as the story goes. He said something but I don't remember what it was.
[Viewing note: Fast-forward the video by opening a full-screen view, and cueing in by clicking on the horizontal nav bar at the bottom of the control panel.]
July 2, 2009

If they had their druthers...

They'd have "free rein of the city"
Some of you heard at the recent hearing from carriage driver Frank Rodden, who, after all these years, is still talking about his "industry being the most regulated in the city." He's a broken record, as this piece from the New York Times archive shows. If he had his druthers today, I guess tourists would be seeing the sights from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, in a carriage.
All the rules in the world mean nothing if they are not enforced. Bad enough that the horses receive poor and infrequent veterinary care and live in filthy multistory stables. We also have a Department of Consumer Affairs that apparently doesn't even know the legal fare structure for a carriage ride, and shows every indication that it doesn't want to know! Cash only, and a ripoff!
How much is a ride, anyway? Watch "Tourists Overcharged," by YouTube member "HorsesinNYC"

Horses and people in harm's way

A carriage horse spooked recently in Charleston, S.C. What frightened him? A puddle of water. And a well-trained appaloosa named "Mouse" spooked at the presidential inaugural parade, which was delayed as a result. The slam of a car door frightened him. A close call, and he was injured but is recovering. Surely the inauguration is one of the most controlled events in history (and experts were standing by, which is probably why Mouse is still alive). These reports are not surprising. Every week, we read news accounts of highly trained, "bombproof" horses spooking. And this is why horses don't belong in New York City. Having horse-drawn carriages in the city is not safe. It is inhumane.
Update: By most news accounts, Mouse spooked and backed, kicking, into the grill of a truck, after spooking at the sound of car door slamming. A new report says that Mouse has a pet peeve: horse-drawn carriages, and that one had stopped beside him. The idea is distasteful enough to sentient beings. This parade veteran should stay away from New York City. He would be beside himself.
Photo: Kevin Wolf, Associated Press

One woman's view

Film student Jennifer Pham went to Central Park recently to get the story on the NYC carriage horses. View her video report on YouTube.
Learn more -- Visit the website of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Spring Awakening!

"Spring Awakening" actress Lea Michele is the latest celebrity to say, "Buck Cruelty" and join the fight to ban horse-drawn carriages. Read more
ACTION ALERT: Tell your City Council member that you also support a ban, and ask that he or she do the same. Not a New York resident? Tell the mayor's office of your support. Call: 212-NEW-YORK

Not tourism

It's crazy to have to explain cruelty over and over again. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that some of these carriage horses look as if they're already dead. I was speaking with tourists on Saturday near the park, and the comment I kept hearing was: "The horses look so awful."

Even in a Steady Rain, Cash is Cash

This rainy evening, on West 45th Street between 9th and10th Avenues, a soaked horse was trotting westward to his home at Shamrock Stables. I wondered why the driver had him out. It rained all day long, as the weather forecasters had predicted.

Same the week before, when a biblical rain blew through NYC. Another horse being trotted back to the stable, in a driving rain.

Tourists being dragged around Central Park in the rain? Pathetic.
Support the proposed ban on carriage horses in New York City. New York City residents, let your City Council member hear from you. Ask him or her to co-sponsor Intro. 658/2007, the measure introduced by Tony Avella.