Giovanni Vallone (carriage owner) testifies opposing ban
Giovanni Vallone, second-generation carriage owner, testifies about his 37 years in the business, his father's 65 years, and organizing a Columbus Day parade with Sicilian carts. He asks the council not to end their business.
Good afternoon.
My name is Giovanni Vallone.
I'm the second generation of a family of carriage owners and drivers.
My father started 65 years ago, and I continue his business with the happiness and with the principles.
I was raised to respect my horse and respect the customers and see all my customers happy getting out from the carriage.
I know about horses a lot because it's 37 years I'm here in this business and I'm the last member of the family with my cousin actually that's 30 years in this business and we also always respect everything.
We try to respect all the rules and follow all the rules, respect all the people.
And also another thing I want to say, three years ago, I was a promoter of a parade for the Columbus Day with seven Sicilian carts and seven New York horses that did a really great job.
job and we were a lot of cities, big cities in the United States was jealous than what we did in New York because it was a big thing.
Seven horses from New York horses and seven Sicilian cars that come all the way from Bagheria that if you check is the base where they always do the Sicilian cars.
I don't know if you never heard about it.
I also want to ask you to please sell our business or try to help us, you know, after 65 years for a family.
It's a little bit kind of hard.
Okay.
Thank you.
Natalie?