City Hall Hearing for the Horse Carriage Ban

A hearing was held today at City Hall for Intro 658A, a bill aimed at banning the horse carriage industry in New York City, which was proposed by Queens’ council member Tony Avella.

(Photo to the right: Tony Avella and I)

Also deliberated on was the opposing bill Intro 653 A, a bill aimed at adding regulations to the industry and proposing a raise for horse carriage drivers.

Testimonies from carriage horse drivers, including the local Teamsters union that joined forces with them around Christmas, claimed driving these carriages is the very livelihood that feeds their family.

They allege that they love their horses, that they follow the current regulations, and that in the midst of economic hardship and unemployment, the city should not allow 400 carriage horse drivers to lose their jobs.

At the same time, they were demanding a raise in fare hikes being that they claim that expenses, for the horses and the cost of living, have nearly tripled since 1989.

Testimonies for the ban note the safety issues involved with placing a prey animal in a busy and congested environment. It is a horse's nature to become easily spooked by loud noises that they do not recognize.

They noted the lack of adequate amounts of food and water. Among the concerns was the poor ventilation and drainage in stables which sometimes forces the horses to stand in their own waste.

One memorable testimony was that of a spirited, Rachel Trachtenburg, 15, whom I had the opportunity to speak with before the hearing. Her biggest concern was: "It's very dangerous for them (the horses)". This proud animal lover wound up being the youngest person to testify, later that day, in proud support of Avella's legislation. On her yucalaly she played a song in which she wrote herself. (Photo to the left: Rachel Trachtenburg)

Also delivered were the powerful testimonies of:
Donny Moss: who put together the independent film BLINDERS in which the plight of the carriages horses is clearly and accurately portrayed.

Elizabeth Forel: founder and president of the local Coalition to Ban Horse Drawn Carriages.

Christine MacMurry: vice president of the Coalition.

Elaine Sloan: a much devoted member of the Coalition.

Despite opposing testimonies heard at City Hall, I still hold steadfast to my sympathy of the carriage horses. They are exploited for money and are subjected to inhaling harmful fumes from vehicles, while working double shifts.
At the end of their day, they do not return to a pasture where they can run around and interact with other horses, rather they return to small stalls where they have no room to lay down.

Should a human receive the monetary benefit from the hard work of an animal? I invite you to give this question some thought. The reasons for the ban are endless. We are at a point in which the outlaw of the industry is necessary for the well-being of the horses, New Yorkers, and the reputation of perhaps the best city in the world.

Here are a few websites you can visit:
http://www.tonyavellaformayor.com/
Tony Avella's website

http://www.petitiononline.com/ch4ny123/
An online petition to ban the industry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31GgmMsFzOM
The trailer to the film BLINDERS

http://www.myspace.com/supportthecoalition
The official myspace for the Coalition to Ban Horse Drawn Carriages

http://www.banhdc.org/
The website for the Coalition to Ban Horse Drawn Carriages

Cage-Free Production in California

Proposition 2, passed in California in November, is requiring that farmers transition to more humane and environmentally friendly farm practices. This means no longer cramming animals into small cages where there is no room for them to move or stretch.

The official title and summary of Prop 2, as prepared by the Attorney General, states that it: 

“Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.

Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes.

Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.”

Some are arguing whether the bill really makes a difference to the treatment of hens. Hens in commercial cage-free farms are just as crammed, but in filthy sheds. They are still subjected to having their beaks cut off with hot blades.

“They suffer from the same lung lesions and ammonia burns as hens in cages, and they have breast blisters to add their suffering”, according GoVeg.com, a website allied with PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA, which claims Prop 2 does not make much of a difference, was actually one of the animal rights agencies that endorsed the bill.

The truth is that this bill does make a huge difference. To those hens, the difference of being able to stretch and move around is certainly an improvement for them.

To clarify, cage-free does not imply “cruelty-free”. But for one thing, it is a step in the right direction. Other states should follow in California’s direction. From that point on, there must be a push for even more legislation that would further improve treatment for farm hens.