Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

For Immediate Release:  New York, NY  December 31, 2008

Answer:  NO ONE!

(not the ASPCA,  Parks Department, Department of Health, Department of Consumer Affairs or the NYC Police Department)

     The carriage industry is risking public safety by not obeying the existing laws and none of the agencies charged with enforcement seem to care or to be able to do anything about it.  Video documentation of these violations will be shown to the public on our large video monitor.
    On December 19th, the horses were forced to work in a brutal snow storm, in clear violation of existing law, resulting in at least one horse slipping into a split on the dangerous street conditions, and putting many other horses and people at risk.
     Council Member Tony Avella has demanded an investigation into this incident and urges the City Council to pass his pending bill that would ban this inherently inhumane industry.
    In addition to working with impunity during adverse weather conditions, the drivers also overcharge tourists, they go through red lights and make illegal u-turns; stand up and/or face backward while driving, use cell phones and read and work in out of designated areas—all at great risk to pedestrians, other vehicles, bicyclists, carriage passengers, and the horses.  It is an industry out of control, and with 68 carriages out on the streets at any given time, it is an industry that cannot be monitored successfully and must be shut down.  

WHAT:  Demonstration & Rally - The horse-drawn carriage industry must be shut down because it cannot be monitored successfully.  A super-sized video screen projector will show footage documenting numerous horse-drawn carriages violating the law and endangering the lives of horses and people.

WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, 5th Avenue and Central Park South

 WHO:  Council Member Tony Avella, Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, Friends of Animals and NYC Animal Rights

 WHEN: Thursday, January 1,  2009  - 2:00 to 4:00 PM

References:  Existing Law:  http://www.banhdc.org/ch-existleg.shtml

ASPCA Press release regarding laws:  http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_121808

To honor
Bobby II Freedom
previously known as Billy
ID# 2873 rescued by the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and Equine Advocates on June 25, 2010 from the New Holland auctions.

In memory of
Lilly Rose O'Reilly
previously known
as Dada ID# 2711
R.I.P.August, 2007