A Model "T" Idea To Replace Horse Carriages In New York

The debate over whether to allow horse-drawn carriages to operate in New York City has shown both sides of the issue to be quite passionate for their cause. Those feelings have been simmering and certainly boiled over at the Council hearing on the issue at the end of January. Now it comes time to decide what to do about the situation. There is without a doubt strenuous circumstances that these horses are put into, no matter what the carriage drivers try to say. Something must be done and one Councilman must just have an idea ready to be passed as legislation.

From The NY Post:

After 82 years, the Model T is set to replace the horse - again.

A city lawmaker wants to phase out controversial buggy-pulling horses and replace them with eco-friendly electric replicas of vintage Model T Fords.

The proposal - which has been pitched by animal-rights activists for months - has been taken up by Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who is hoping to put it before the City Council this spring.

Whether Garodnick gets Quinn's approval to present the bill is still up for debate, though it is better that he is presenting it rather than CM Avella. Of course carriage drivers are still upset over this, apparently for the love of their horses. If they love their horses, they'll send them away from the fumes of NYC and to, clichés aside, greener pastures.

On Liam Neeson And NYC Carriage Horses

Like many animal lovers that watched the Daily Show on Thursday night, I was appalled at what Liam Neeson had to say about the horse carriage industry. For someone that owns horses, he is clearly not a friend of the four-legged creatures, especially for the poor souls that parade tourists around Midtown and Central Park. One comment in particular, about him moving into the Central Park Stables, had PETA thinking that Neeson was kicked in the head by one of his own horses. Especially when you look at where Liam lives, and the conditions of the stables he's talking about.

From PETA:

Horses who are forced to pull carriages endure terrible living conditions like these. Sounds like home sweet home to Neeson, though!

Liam's posh 6,000 square foot estate that he would apparently prefer to give up to live in the stables

When Jon Stewart questioned whether the horses would prefer to be free, Liam said, "Everyone thinks cows in the fields would rather be running wild … that's bullsh** … horses don't either."

Oh, Liam, maybe you're right, let me ponder this for a moment … It does seem like horses would prefer to endure the freezing cold and the panicky booms, noisy traffic, and exhaust fumes of the city over living in a lush pasture. And you're right, they probably much prefer the whips, shouting, heavy gear, traces, and lack of water in the troughs as well as the long shifts trudging for hours and pulling strangers in a half-mile circle all day without rest over living a natural life. Makes sense, right?

Jon stood firm, though, and came to the support of horses, adding, "I don't think living on 52nd and 11th is a holiday for a horse."

Why Liam is such an avid supporter of the cruel horse carriage industry in NYC, I can't imagine. If he's really seen the conditions the horses endure, and still carries on like this, well, Liam must be one sick individual.

Now I know that this is from PETA and they can be a bit over-reactive from time to time. Yet the conditions of what horses in NYC endure does not rest on PETA alone. These horses have been killed in traffic, are put to work in nasty, cold snowy weather and made to work incessantly throughout the day. There is a better approach to getting a tour of the park, such as riding a bike, or a pedicab if don't want to peddle. I understand back in the 19th century and before the use of horses in cities, but nowadays with cars and mass transit available, there is no need for them to be in such a chaotic environment. Don't believe me though, there are plenty of sources to check out just on YouTube.

NYC Carriage Horses Forced To Work In The Sleet And Snow

If you need another reason to convince you that the horse carriage industry in New York must be banned, this is a prime example. The owners of the carriages have no regard or sympathy for their horses, as they let them out into the wintry weather and the dangerous streets created from it. And as you'll see, at least one of the drivers despises the cameraman enough to hit him with his whip.

Tony Avella Continues His Quest To Rid NYC Of Horse Carriages

Tony Avella showed up at an Eastside event last night to protest the use of horse-driven carriages in New York City. The idea to ban them for the inhumanity of the practice has been around for a while, but progress has been slow. Organizers put together a video to make dual use of the word "blinders" to inform tourists and locals alike and shocked the most friendly crowd. Though no one is really sure if anything got done.

From The NY Observer:

In a small theater on East Third St. at around 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 26, you wouldn’t have wanted to be a carriage-horse driver.

It was a benefit screening of Blinders: The Truth Behind the Tradition, which documents the alleged abuses of the horses that ferry tourists around Central Park in hansom cabs. Before the film had even started, organizers ejected a driver for threatening to disrupt the event, and a sympathizer was thrown out when he showed his pro-carriage colors during the question-and-answer session afterward.

But you wouldn’t have minded being city councilman and long-shot mayoral candidate Tony Avella, who has been making political hay out of the issue ever since the untimely death of Spotty the horse in 2006.

Playing to a crowd of several hundred adoring Eastsiders after the screening, the white-haired Councilman said, “Speaker Christine Quinn just goes along with what the mayor wants.”

For those that followed the issue, Quinn and 45 others on the Council have remained mum, most likely out of deference to the Mayor, who promotes NYC for everything and anything. Our city has so many great attractions for the tens of millions that pass through here every year, but the carriages do not have to be a part of it. One thing is for sure that as long as Bloomberg is Mayor, nothing will change.

Of course there are on-going talks about alternatives, but so far I haven't seen any proof that there is any hope of movement in the near future. However, with enough pressure we'll be able to join other forward-thinking cities across the world...probably even before the MTA can build the 2nd Ave. subway.

Central Park Carriage Rides No More?

When it comes to romance and New York City, some locals and many visitors think of a carriage ride in the park before anything else. Who knows how many marriage proposals have been made on those horse-drawn wooden carriages? Though many people see it as a vehicle for romance, animal rights supporters see it as something much different. If you have ever walked down Central Park South, or around the entrance for Tavern on the Green and looked closely at the horses, they seem to be the saddest souls in the city. Now Councilman Avella is trying to do something about it.

From The Daily News:

Horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park will become a thing of the past if a Queens lawmaker has his way.

Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens) is introducing a bill next month that seeks to ban the carriage rides, arguing they promote animal cruelty and aren't safe.

"It is time to put this industry out to pasture," said Avella, explaining that attempts to regulate the industry have been fruitless.

Patrick Byrne, who operates out of Central Park Carriages, said, "Let the market decide if we should be in business, not a publicity-seeking councilman."

Damn, that a nasty (but expected) response from one member in the industry. Besides seeing sad eyes and hearing from Avella, is there anything written or reported about the carriage industry and how they treat their horses?

You bet there is.

If this bill does not pass, take the words Patrick Byrne to heart, stop thinking of those carriages as romantic and realize what those horses go through...then vote with your wallet and walk away. There are dozens, if not hundreds of other things in New York that you can do to be romantic.

The Red State Update

The two stereotypical southerners cover Romney's abuse of his dog Seamus and the effect it will have nationally:

Romney Defends His Animal Abuse

Mitt Romney faced an onslaught of coverage following the Boston Globe article that told of him strapping a dog carrier with his Irish Setter "Seamus" inside for a day long roadtrip from Boston to Ontario in 1983. Dog owners and people who believe in humane treatment for dogs (probably over 99 percent of the population) were shocked at the news, even thought it was so long ago. So how does a Presidential candidate respond to the story showing his callous behavior for the family dog? Perhaps with an apology.....but we are talking about Mr. "Double Guantanamo" Mitt Romney here.

From WTAE-TV:

Romney answered questions about a Boston Globe feature story that mentions how he strapped his dog's cage, with the animal inside, to the top of his family's car during a 12-hour road trip 24 years ago.

He said Thursday that the pet enjoyed the experience, and he took a shot at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a group that has labeled his actions as cruelty.

"You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years," Romney said. "PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air."

FRESH AIR??? Are you kidding me? Dogs like fresh air when they are running outside in the grass or on a walk. Not experiencing it at 70mph on a highway for hours upon hours. To blame PETA for the abuse of an animal is outrageous to say the least. PETA isn't the only group that is upset over this, so is the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. An officer of the group says it could be illegal as well. If Mitt were any kind of man, he would apologize for his treatment of the dog, not try to blame someone else.

Love Dogs? You're Gonna Hate Romney

There have been many jaw dropping moments for the Republican candidates so far, but when it comes to cruel, inhumane and just plain sadistic behavior, Mitt Romney takes the cake. Granted, the incident happened fifteen years ago, but no decent human being can vote for a man that treats his dog like a piece of luggage.

From The Boston Globe:

Before beginning the drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family's hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon's roof rack. He'd built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog.

Then Romney put his boys on notice: He would be making predetermined stops for gas, and that was it.

(snip)

As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ''Dad!'' he yelled. ''Gross!'' A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who'd been riding on the roof in the wind for hours.

As the rest of the boys joined in the howls of disgust, Romney coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station. There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway. It was a tiny preview of a trait he would grow famous for in business: emotion-free crisis management.

Emotion free for business? That passes for capitalistic America these days. Emotionless and cold-hearted treatment for the family dog? That is completely unacceptable and according to Massachusetts state law it is illegal as well. Forget all of the other abhorrent things he has said and done so far in the campaign. This is enough to discard Mitt from the race right here and now. If you can't care for the member of your family that gives the most unconditional love, you don't deserve the trust of your children, not to mention the entire country.