State Senator Bottcher testifies in support of ban

Good morning, Chair Shulman, members of the committee.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

I represent New York State Senate District 47, which includes Hell's Kitchen, where the horse carriage stables are located, and parts of Central Park where these carriages operate.

Every day.

And every day, I and my colleagues who also represent this district, Councilmember Carl Wilson, Councilmember Gil Brewer, we witness 1,500 pound animals

pulling carriages nose to tailpipe through Manhattan

gridlock behind buses, trucks, taxis, through construction sites.

And I've watched this issue unfold firsthand.

Our district has been the site of multiple horse carriage deaths, including Ryder and Lady.

And after years of seeing these tragedies repeat themselves, I've reached one.

unavoidable conclusion, the status quo is not sustainable.

And then, of course, we witnessed what so many of us feared would happen eventually, the loss of human life.

Romange came to New York to experience the world's greatest city.

Instead, his family experienced the most unimaginable tragedy.

His death made clear what many of us have known for years, what the Central Park Conservancy has been saying, that tourist horse carriages are fundamentally incompatible.

With modern midtown Manhattan.

I want to make a very important point that this bill is the best path forward for the workers.

Now is the time to help them transition before the industry's decline leaves them with fewer options.

Waiting only makes this transition harder.

As we move forward, the carriage drivers must be part of this process.

They must be kept informed every step of the way and have a seat at the table and be given access to new employment opportunities with the wages, benefits, health care, and job security that they do not currently have.

Finally, I want to say that it is so important that we do not demonize each other during this process.

That includes...

The drivers, the stable owners, the union, the animal welfare advocates, and the elected officials.

I want to thank my former colleagues in the City Council for supporting this legislation.

I know firsthand that this is not an easy issue.

When I was a sponsor of this bill, I had full-page ads taken out against me in the New York Post, and they were really nasty.

But leadership sometimes comes with a political cost, and I want to thank all of you for your courage.

And I know that one day we'll look back at this moment and be proud that New York City chose compassion, safety, and common sense.

I urge you to pass this legislation.

As soon as possible.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Senator.

I apologize, I was supposed to read something before the Senator spoke, so I'll do it now.

I want to thank the members of the administration who were here earlier.

We are now opening the hearing for public testimony.

I want to remind members of the public that this is a government proceeding and that decorum shall be observed at all times.

As such, members of the public shall remain silent at all times.

The witness table is reserved for people who wish to testify.

No video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table.

Furthermore, members of the public may not present audio or video recordings as testimony, but may submit transcripts of such recording to the sergeant at arms.

For inclusion in the hearing record.

If you wish to speak at today's hearing, please fill out an appearance card with the sergeant at arms and wait to be recognized.

When recognized, you will have two minutes to speak on introduction 943.

If you have a written statement or additional written testimony you wish to submit for the record, please provide a copy of that testimony to the sergeant at arms.

You may also email written testimony to testimony at council.nyc.gov within 72 hours of the adjournment of this hearing.

Audio and video recordings will not be accepted.

I'm going to ask Assemblymember Rosenthal to please come up and testify.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Yeah, it's on now.