Una Rose (Toronto activist) testifies remotely supporting ban

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Hi, my name is Una.

I'm from Toronto and I'm a long time animal rights activist and I'm speaking today on behalf of carriage horses and to give my support to the passing of Roma Lux Law and to ban the use of carriage horses in New York City.

It is very important that this ban be passed and all these beautiful horses be retired to reputable sanctuaries and other non-working, loving, forever homes.

They all deserve a nice retirement and that could easily be arranged by the city working together with aligned activists and welfare groups for all of them.

For the drivers, the city could purchase electric carriages, which other cities around the world have.

They're really popular.

They look like a lot of fun, and they're green, so they're electric.

So they would be green as well.

Historically, passing this bill would be furthering the proud history of New York City as a leader in animal welfare.

ASPCA was founded by a New Yorker, Henry Berg, in early 1800s, who would walk the streets of New York City berating drivers who abused, neglected, or forced sick animals to work.

This decision, passing this bill, would confirm New York City is not only a great city for people, but also a great progressive one for animals as well.

And finally, as a tourist, I long to visit New York City.

I live in Toronto, so it's not much of a journey, but I can.

I made a pledge to myself about 15 years ago I would not visit New York City until the carriage horse industry was banned.

So it's been 15 years and four mayors, and I'm still waiting for that.

It's just, it would be too depressing to go into beautiful Central Park and see these horses that all look sad.

They look bored.

They look like just full of, just miserable.

That would ruin my trip.

So I said, no, I'm not going to do it.

I'm not going to support a city that supports this kind of animal abuse.

So crew of kindness to animals is deep.

Time expired.

Just to summarize your end.

Okay, so let's not let the heroism and tragedy of the young man who died be ignored and denied, and let's not let this bill be delayed and postponed any further.

Let's get this bill passed and let's ban this cruelty because it's the right, smart, and kind thing to do for animals, for horses, for New Yorkers, for tourists, and for New York City.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Sherry Ramsey.

You may begin.

Sherry Ramsey.

You may begin.