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Carriage Horse Debate Goes to City Hall
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 31, 2009
Modified Jan 31, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 31, 2009
Modified Jan 31, 2009
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Yesterday over 500 people came together at City Hall to discuss the banning of carriage horses in New York, during the first public hearing on Tony Avella's proposed bill. Unsurprisingly, the passionate debate lasted over four hours, pitting animal rights activists against the drivers who want to keep their jobs. The NY Post reports that one pleaded, "At this time of economic hardship, it's your time to give an industry a chance for survival. It will let me feed my family, my wife and my three children. Please, help me keep my job." He was up against Avella and his supporters, including actress Rue McClanahan, who was there to speak out in favor of the bill. WCBS notes that there are alternatives being offered to the drivers, including training them to be pedicab drivers. One man from the Teamsters Local 553 asked, "They're gonna teach these guys to ride tricycles through New York?"
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ban
carriage horses
debate
tony avella
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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