Narcisse questions on horse rehoming and worker transition specifics

Thank you, Chair.

And first and foremost, thank you, Madam Speaker.

And the family, I feel you.

Thank you so much for being here, being present, and using the time to let us know what's going on with you.

It's a difficult time.

And as a mother of four, I can feel you sitting here.

Now, is it difficult for me to even

Let me go to the question.

This is, you know, listening to you is just in my head.

What is the administration's plan for the horses themselves?

Rehoming, sanctuaries, placement oversight, and who is financially responsible for that transition?

That's one.

The bill that we have here on our hands, focus on the license of the drivers, what happens to the stable, I mean,

the stable hands and other workers, local 100 and the union have said the industry supports.

Are they eligible for any of this transition benefits?

Third, what specific industries or role is DCWP targeting for placement

Is this a real pipeline into union jobs or a genetic resume workshop programs?

Do you know?

I'll start with the questions about the horses, and the bill is quite detailed, directing the health department to collect information about where the horses

might go and to provide that information to the owners and then requiring that the owners certify to the disposition of the horses and provide that certification to the health department.

We are still reviewing those provisions and to determine exactly how we would do that should the bill pass.

And as Deputy Commissioner Ortiz mentioned, and I agree, we would work very closely with the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare on that.

And I would add, Council Member, you know, the bill already describes a workforce development program for horse-drawn carriage drivers and other workers engaged in the business of operating such horse-drawn cabs.

To me, I mean, I'm encouraged that the Council has already drafted or is keeping these workers in mind, both the drivers.

and the stable hands, I think we want to make sure that that is preserved throughout a final version of the bill in whichever mechanism we decide to be able to support the workers.

Tough one.

What could I have done here in this situation to prevent the death of this young man?

As the speaker eloquently articulated, this was preventable.

The council has set out a law that clearly says that a horse must be attended to, cannot be left unattended.

And one life is too many.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much.