Erica Sullivan reads Assemblymember Glick's testimony supporting ban
Erica Sullivan reads testimony from Assemblymember Deborah Glick strongly supporting the ban, comparing carriages to circuses the city has already outlawed, and calling for an end to the debate.
Absolutely.
Good afternoon.
My name is Erica Sullivan.
I'm here from New York State Assemblymember Deborah Glick's office to read her testimony.
Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in strong support of the passage of Introduction 943
to ban the operation of horse-drawn carriages in New York City, ensure the drivers a transition to new employment, and retire the horses to sanctuaries for their healing and freedom.
Horse-drawn carriages are an outdated industry where animals are exploited for profit as entertainment, comparable to the use of wild animals in circuses, which the city has outlawed.
The incidents involving horse-drawn carriages are predictable results of horses being put to work in our city and represent preventable chaos and tragedy.
We learn the news of horses fleeing and colliding with cars, resulting in injury, collapsing and taking their last breaths on our streets, and the tragic death of Ramanj Mahajan, to whose family and friends I extend my sincere condolences.
Horses should not be subjected to breathing in exhaust fumes, dressed in costume with blinders on, and living in buildings that are ill-suited to comfortably shelter them.
Even on our city's most beautiful day, this attraction
Is antiquated.
15 years ago, we were having the same discussion, with calls for replacing horse-drawn cabs with electric vehicles to carry visitors through our parks.
It's time for this debate to finally end.
Horses will flee when frightened and collapse when overworked, and no amount of tighter
reins, hitching posts, studies, regulation, or reform could effectively avoid or alter the innate behavioral responses of these powerful animals.
The only way to avoid the next tragedy involving horses is to pass Intro 943 and ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Thank you very much, and thank you, Brother President, for taking the time to come and do this today.
Really appreciate it.
All right.
All right, next panel is Kana McHugh.
John Chee.
Councilmember General had a question for you.
I'm sorry?
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
All right, we have to, okay.
John Cielo.
Gabriel Cook, Christina Hansen, Angel J., and Cherise Dubois.
All right, we'll make sure.
Who's going first?