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Public Testimony

Tarek (carriage driver) testifies about his bond with horses

New York City Council · Jul 15, 2026 · starts 5:22:26 · 2 min 30 sec

Tarek, a carriage driver and nephew of Denise's owner, testifies about leaving a software career for his passion working with horses, describes Denise as his teacher, and fears losing all his horses.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Okay, I'll be next.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Hello, dear council members.

Member of the Public - Tarek

My name is Tarek.

Member of the Public - Tarek

The thing what I'm doing right now is some kind of a family business.

Member of the Public - Tarek

You probably heard the name, Denis the horse died in the park because of he ate a poisoned plant, unfortunately, and his owner, Nurettin Kurvik, right over here, is my uncle.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Like I said, it's some kind of a family business and I started to work here thanks to them, him and his brother, Umet Kurbik.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Before that, I was earning my life with the company that I created with two of my friends by developing computer games.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And before that, I graduated from a good college.

Member of the Public - Tarek

With a 3.5 GPA.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And however, this process that started to help my uncles and started spending time with the horses, is it helped me to discover my actual passion.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And that's how, you know, I always defined myself as an animal lover.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And that's how I became able to work with the horses.

Member of the Public - Tarek

There was something precious for me, you know.

Member of the Public - Tarek

So much so that I left my company, that left that company that I created and started to work here.

Member of the Public - Tarek

So, I mean, okay, the AI stuff are coming.

Member of the Public - Tarek

It may take many people's job, but it will never replace my horse, my beautiful horse, Leila.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And I'm not afraid of that, too.

Member of the Public - Tarek

I mean, I can make money somehow from software stuff.

Member of the Public - Tarek

The actual thing what I fear is...

Member of the Public - Tarek

The possibility of shutting down the horse carriage business because unlike the many of these folks behind me, the animal activists, I'm not

Member of the Public - Tarek

calling my, I will never call myself an animal abuser, you know, because

Member of the Public - Tarek

Like I told you before, I love animals.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Denise was also my horse.

Member of the Public - Tarek

I worked with him for two years.

Member of the Public - Tarek

And I learned everything from him.

Member of the Public - Tarek

So, you know, I lost him.

Member of the Public - Tarek

That was so hard.

Member of the Public - Tarek

He was only one of the eight horses that I worked with.

Member of the Public - Tarek

I cannot imagine how it will be hard for me to lose all of them.

Member of the Public - Tarek

I just don't want any alternative job or any way to earn money.

Member of the Public - Tarek

I just want to keep going my life in that way with my horses.

Member of the Public - Tarek

Thank you.

Lynn C. Schulman

Thank you.

Lynn C. Schulman

Next.