OPEN LETTER TO NYC COUNCIL RE CARRIAGE HORSE BAN ISSUE

Open letter concerning the horse-drawn carriage issue
September 11, 2014

Dear Council Members:  We elect our representatives because we hope that they will make smart, fair, ethical  and informed decisions on issues that concern us and our City.    We also expect that our elected representatives will not be a mouth piece for any union - especially one that does not play fair – and especially the Teamsters.  Any time this happens, they are helping to kill democracy and fair play.   It gives the perception of a deal made and it is ugly.    The middle class was created because of unions and we support them. However, while unions are strong, the majority of people in NYC do not belong to unions.   

But this is exactly what Council Member Espinal, a first term council member, did on Wednesday,

September 10^th when he allowed the Teamsters and carriage trade to co-opt him and came out against a ban of the inhumane and unsafe carriage trade – something that we – the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages - have  been working on since 2006 as a grass roots, all volunteer organization. 

Espinal  says he has done a lot of research but his arguments are straight from the carriage drivers’ play book – almost the exact words and they are clearly either lies,  exaggerations or manipulations of the truth.    I do not know why he is doing this.  I think it is foolish for a first term council member  to play with fire on something he knows little about.  I suspect he made a deal with the Teamsters.  He is also wrong suggesting  that the only committee for such a bill is Consumer Affairs.  In the 1990s similar bills were in the Health Committee.  It was not until 2007 that it was put in Consumer Affairs. 

Anti labor?  don't think so:  Espinal says he will convince all of you who are undecided to join with him.  Quite presumptuous. 

Please read these articles below first and become educated.   Know the issue.  Also know that the Teamsters’ carriage driver local is not a real union shop. Approximately 150 drivers belong to the union and pay $60 a month dues. Drivers and owners are in the same local.   There is no collective bargaining; no medical or vacation benefits; no paid days off.   Based on this estimate, the Teamsters get about $108,000, which goes toward their already hefty salaries.  Please do not think these are real union jobs.  They are not.  This is all about bully politics.   Any real union member should be ashamed that this is what the Teamsters are fighting for while  risking any good relationship they might have with the Mayor.   

Mayor deBlasio & the Teamsters:  It is also curious that Mayor deBlasio is the first pro union mayor in 20 years and the Teamsters are trying to hurt him on this issue.  If they could get him to back off and flip flop, this could work against him in the future and he may not get reelected.  Is this what the Teamsters really want or have they even looked ahead and weighed the consequences of their actions.?  Are they willing to sacrifice their many members for a tiny group of people - many of whom are not even union members?  How quickly they forget that municipal workers went five years without a contract under Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor deBlasio is working through and settling the contracts.  

Mayor deBlasio has never wavered:  With all the pressure, we are grateful that Mayor deBlasio continues to remain firm on this issue.  He has always said he will find other employment for the drivers.  An excellent solution is one offered by Andres Carriage Tours, which was approved by legislation for Detroit.  It involves the same carriages  -- just not the horses.  We have sanctuaries waiting to help find homes for all the horses if the drivers agree.  Instead they are acting like spoiled children wanting their own way, something that all past administrations have given them.    Last year I produced a well documented report that revealed a turnover of 529 horses in 7 ½ years.  This is not something you will ever see in the Daily News.  The link is at the end of this letter.

 
Revenue:  Do you realize that no one really knows how much the carriage trade contributes to the

economy?  It is a cash only  business.  Inside sources have told us that a medallion can bring in about $130,000 per year, which is a little over $8,000,000 (68 medallions).  But this same source says that the amount reported is a fraction of that, which means that the City of NY is losing out on tax revenue.   The carriage drivers should be forced to produce their tax returns. 

The Daily News has taken control of this issue spewing outrageous, unchallenged lies about the carriage trade.  Why are they doing it?  Please do not think they care about the horses or drivers.  It is a metaphor for Mayor deBlasio’s progressive agenda, which they despise,  and a Mort Zuckerman payback for Christine Quinn’s primary loss and his  loss of access to City Hall.    We have not been able to get the truth out.  I implore you to read these documents below to learn the truth about this business and issue.  

A few months ago, the Daily News, supported by the carriage drivers, Teamsters, Working Families Party (the latter referred to the carriage trade as the third most popular tourist attraction in NYC - and they did this with a straight face) and various council members ran a cover saying "You're an Ass, Mr. Mayor."  simply because the Mayor could not be bullied by them.  

Support is there.  There is a lot of support for this ban.  Do not think otherwise.  Before the Daily News got involved with this crusade, every poll taken showed 75-80% of respondents in favor of a ban.  But after they polluted the atmosphere with lies about this issue for one year, it is not surprising that the Quinnipiac polls show that 60% of the respondents are opposed to a ban.   The truth is not getting out. 

IF ONLY THE MAYOR WOULD VISIT THE CARRIAGE STABLES ...

this is what the stables are really about

IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE    

Anyone considering whether to support a ban or not must be informed about the inherent dangers of the carriage horse trade and the nature of the horse.

NYC CARRIAGE DRIVERS BEHAVING BADLY

Since the ASPCA gave up humane law enforcement in January 2014, most of the street laws are not enforced.  The drivers are getting away with a lot. 

What has happened to all the carriage horses - there has been a turnover of 529 horses in 7 1/2 years. 

Thank you for reading this letter.  Please learn about this issue.  If anyone is interested in seeing how horses are supposed to live WHILE they enjoy being real horses, I suggest you visit the sanctuaries at Equine Advocates or Catskill Animal Sanctuary about 2-2 1/2 hours from NYC.  Equine Advocates is the home of Bobby II Freedom, a former NYC carriage horse we rescued from the kill auction in 2010. 

Equine Advocates    

Catskill Animal Sanctuary  

Bobby II Freedom - the NY Times report on his rescue  

List of Accidents - NYC 

List of Accidents - outside of NYC.  (remember horses do not care where they are to spook) 

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DADA & BILLY -- VICTIMS OF NYC CARRIAGE TRADE - SAVED!

The Story of Dada and Billy - better known as Lilly O'Reilly and Bobby II Freedom - rescued former NYC carriage horses.  

The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages  recently published a  study of horse disposition in  the New York Carriage trade, which revealed that an average of 71 horses a year do not get their license renewed ... 529 over 7 1/2 years. The study is linked from our home page www.banhdc.org.    There is no protection for the horses - the owners are

not required to be accountable for their lives.  If they are not wanted - if they cannot do the job anymore - they are out.  Some may find good homes - but some don't.  We believe many went on to auction but because of the way the system works - no records after they are not licensed anymore - there is no proof.  But we do not believe for one minute that the owners found homes for all 529 horses.  

I'd like to tell the story here of two horses (who are part of this 529 number) who were saved despite their uncaring owners -- Dada who went on to become Lilly O'Reilly -- and Billy who went on to become Bobby II Freedom.  They had both been dumped at the New Holland kill auctions -- an auction frequented by kill buyers.   If you want more information about the study, please go to our web site www.banhdc.org.     

DADA - I first became aware of this horse in 2006.  She had  recently been rescued by 
Central New England Equine Rescue  in Massachusetts.  She  looked terrible.  She was a 19 year old mare and very tall at 18.2 hands.  She was 200 pounds underweight and her  body was filled with harness sores, which she could only have gotten working as a carriage horse.  We do not know how long she was in the carriage trade but her body showed the harsh effects of life 

harness rubs
photo by CNEER

harness rubs
photo by CNEER

as a workhorse pulling heavy loads.   By the 4-digit number on her hoof - #2711 -  I was able to find out that she was a New York City carriage horse who had been owned by Clemente Cretella.  She had been sent to the New Holland auction to meet her fate and been purchased by a Boston carriage owner to be put to work.  She had been at a horse dealer's farm when she was rescued. 

This is the section of the report that includes Lilly (Dada).  She is listed on the first line.The blue color indicates when the horse was no longer on the DoH rolls.   Click to make it bigger.  

Changing her name to the pretty "Lilly O'Reilly" the good people at CNEER set out to work with her.   They wanted to help her to trust people again.  She was very withdrawn and depressed.  She was distant.  This is what Vicky of CNEER said: "Lilly still has not lost that sadness in her eyes.  I don't know how long it will take but it's still there - she has moments of interest, but that's all - little by slow she will trust us to keep her safe.  She has had a hard life I think - a very hard life.  And how she can even tolerate people is beyond me.  She can't be adopted until she is restored both physically and emotionally."   

With CNEER's guidance and help, Lilly's luck was changing.   After all, their motto is  "making

Beautiful Lilly
photo by EForel

a difference - one horse at a time"  and they mean it.   This is a   link to our page with Lilly's story.  I was fortunate to get to meet Lilly a few times.  What a treat.  She and I are both NYC girls.  Although  withdrawn, we seemed to commune with each other.  I fell in love with her.  

Sometime later she was adopted by an equine vet, Michaela and went to live with Cole, a quarter horse and Badonkeydonk, a little donkey.  She and Cole became very close.  

This is what Michaela said about her new girl.  "Lilly is doing great.  She has come out of her shell like you wouldn't believe - her newest favorite game is taking everything out of my tack 

Lizzie and Lilly 

box one item and a time when I am busy brushing her or picking her feet.  I swear that horse smiles the entire time she does it."   

How great is that!  So it was with much sadness that I learned of Lilly's death one year after she got to her new home.  She and Cole got sick - he was strong enough to recover but she just succumbed in the field with her loving and caring family around her.  At least for the last few years of her life, she was a much loved being.  Micheala knew how much I cared about her and sent me a  lock of her mane, which I will always treasure.  She is honored on our web site.  (left side - scroll

Cole, Lilly & Badonkeydonk 

down) 

Bobby at New Holland 

BILLY - This is the horse who became the famous Bobby II Freedom.  I became aware of him on Friday morning , June 25, 2010  when I turned on the computer to read an e-mail about a "bay gelding ex carriage horse"   "Can you guys offer any info or know anyone who would like to save this gentle gelding from slaughter?  We have til Sat 6 p.m. to find him a secure home."

As I described in my article in One Green Planet, I immediately went into action reaching out to rescues to see if anyone could take him.  Equine Advocates in Chatham, NY happily agreed to do it and Billy finally arrived at their place on the following Monday.  

Bobby's worried look - 1st day at EA
photo by Jim Craner

This is the section of the report that shows Billy and his owner Maria Sulla.  He is third from the bottom - #2873

The press showed interest in Billy who immediately got a lot of  coverage - he was fast turning into a celebrity.  Referred to as an "it" by co-owner, Mr. Spina,  in the NY Times article, Billy  was finally living with his own herd and with people who loved him.  Take that!, Mr. Spina.  

This is a link to a NY Times article that featured Billy's story and arrival at Equine Advocates.

Bobby rolling - 1st day at EA
photo by Jim Craner

 The first thing he did was to roll on the grass - natural behavior for horses.  Susan Wagner, president of Equine Advocates, believes he probably never had a chance to do that before .  So heart warming.  The writer, Elizabeth Hess, has referred to it as "palpable horse joy."

Billy immediately was seen by an equine vet who determined serious lameness in his right front leg,  overgrown teeth and two kinds of worms -- not exactly  the condition of a cared for horse.  Find our more about Bobby on Equine Advocates' blog.  These  are some pictures of Bobby II Freedom when he first came and how he is today.  

Bobby and Susan Wagner, president of Equine Advocates
photo by Jim Craner

Bobby and I communing 

Photo taken by Jeffrey Anderson 

painting by Peter Max