Carriage horse deal protested
Friends of Animals and supporters hold a rally for the outright ban of the carriage horse industry in front of City Hall in Manhattan on Jan. 21, 2016. Credit: Yeong-Ung Yang
Animal welfare activists joined with parks advocates Thursday to denounce as a “backroom deal” a compromise floated by Mayor Bill de Blasio to limit the horse-drawn carriage industry to the confines of Central Park.
Members of Friends of Animals and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages at a City Hall news conference said they will continue to push for a full ban rather than the proposed reduction to 75 from 180 working horses.
“That’s what Mayor de Blasio promised,” Edita Birnkrant of Friends of Animals said of a ban. Other animal rights groups have endorsed the plan.
Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates said that using public park space for a private enterprise could be grounds for a lawsuit.
The City Council transportation committee will hold a hearing Friday morning on the bill, an “agreement in concept” between de Blasio, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Teamsters union representing the carriage drivers.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
