Paola Gaviño (Tamerlan Sanctuary) testifies supporting ban

My name is Paola Gaviño, and I'm also here as a board member of Tamerlan Sanctuary, where we take care of rescue animals, including horses.

But I'm also here as an Hispanic immigrant.

So I'm going to speak Spanish a little bit.

I will translate because my testimony is somehow connected to the experience as an immigrant.

So, as an immigrant Latina, I understand perfectly what it means to come to this country, looking for new opportunities, working hard to have a better life.

But precisely because I understand that, I think all the immigrant workers from all the countries deserve something better.

Jobs that are safe, worthy, with a stable future.

Muchos de estos trabajadores de carruajes no tienen protecciones básicas, no tienen un salario garantizado, beneficio, seguro de desempleo, licencia por enfermedad o compensación si se lesiona.

Son clasificados solo como contratistas, no como empleados protegidos.

Esta transición propuesta ofrece exactamente eso, trabajos protegidos.

No tenemos que escoger entre proteger a los animales o a los trabajadores inmigrantes.

Tenemos y debemos que proteger a todos.

Les pido que lo apoyen.

Como a la inmigrante latina,

I don't know how, I know exactly how it's like coming to this country and look for better opportunities, working hard to build a better life.

But precisely because of that, I believe all immigrant workers deserve better, safe jobs, stable futures.

Many of these carriage horses don't have that.

So they don't have no guaranteed salary, benefits, employment, insurance, health care, workers'compensation if they get injured.

They are classified as independent contractors rather than protected employees.

This transition proposed here offers them that.

Jobs with real protection.

So at the sanctuary, okay, I'm gonna wrap it up.

Horses are not machines.

They deserve to be retired and we'll have to choose between immigrant workers or protecting the animals.

We should protect them both.

So please pass from Ansh Law.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay, so now I'm going to recall some of the names I called before.

If they're not here, Gabriel Stubert.

Oh, Gabriel, I'm sorry.

Grace Choi.

Grace Choi here.

Tara Lauren Clinney.

Marie Carlissimo.

Kirk Miller.

April Lang.

I'm sorry, what?

Oh, okay.

Which one?

Who's the last person?

Cindy Finch.

Cindy Finch?

I'm sorry, what was your name again?

I'm sorry.

April.

Oh, April.

Okay, go ahead, April.

I'm sorry.