Former Councilmember Holden testifies, blames obstruction for Romanch's death

Good afternoon, Chair, and thank you for this hearing.

And I want to thank Speaker Menon and Chris Marte for taking up the banner.

My name is Bob Holden, and I had the honor of representing District 30 in Queens from 2018 to 2025.

And I'm the original author of the legislation before you today.

The bill that began as writer's law and is now rightful.

fully Romantia's law.

I introduced this bill in 2022 after a horse named Ryder, nearly 30 years old, malnourished and suffering

a disease, collapsed on 9th Avenue in a heat wave while his driver struck him with the reins.

I spent the next four years begging the council, the former council that preceded this, for a hearing.

Four years trying to get a hearing.

Adrienne Adams, the Speaker, refused to allow it, flat out.

And I was told that, that it would never get heard.

A deal was made.

Year after year, she personally blocked this bill from reaching the floor.

No hearing, no vote, no voice.

70% of New Yorkers who supported it, they had no voice.

The Conservancy, Central Park Conservancy supports it, endorsed it.

The mayor endorsed it.

She still said no.

Now I'm going to say something that's difficult to say, and the family I know is here.

And my original bill would have banned horse-drawn carriages in New York City on June 1st of this year.

Ramones died on June 17th.

That should be chilling to the members listening.

16 days we're talking about.

That is the cost of four years of obstruction.

An 18-year-old boy on his family's first trip to America celebrating his graduation is gone because this industry was allowed to keep operating 16 days past the date my bill would have shut it down.

The hearing I fought for four years is now happening.

The bill is in front of you.

The public is behind you.

Pass Ramones'law now.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Adita?