In a Letter, NYCLASS Asks for Quinn's Leadership in Supporting Safer Alternative to Horse-Drawn Carriages

NEW YORK, NY - In the wake of HBO's decision to cease production of its series about horse racing, "Luck," after the death of three horses, NYCLASS is today sending a letter to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn calling on her to show similar leadership by supporting a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New YorkCity. In related news, Kristen Chenoweth became the latest high-profile supporter to call for the carriage-horses to be phased out in a series of tweets.

Dear Speaker Quinn:

Last night, HBO announced that it would cancel production of its new series "Luck," a program about the horse-racing industry. Its decision came after a horse fell and died during the show's production - the third such death since 2010.

While HBO made the right decision in response to these accidents, New York City continues to turn a blind eye to the carriage-horse industry and the fact that it routinely puts animals in harm's way. Indeed, there have been at least two accidents this month involving carriage horses but no action has been taken by the city to phase them out or to hold the industry accountable.

It is shocking that New York City is behind the curve on this issue. Fortunately, you are uniquely positioned to do something to right this wrong.

We respectfully renew our request for you to immediately advance legislation in the City Council, Intro 86A, that would phase out the carriage horse industry and replace it with a cleaner, safer, and more animal-friendly alternative: a fully electric, turn-of-the-century vintage-replica car. More than 70,000 people have signed a petition supporting this bill.

At the very least, you should publicly announce your support for the pilot programthat, at no cost to the city, will phase in two versions of the electric vintage-replica cars to replace the carriages. This reasonable request can pave the way for a long-term solution that modernizes the industry while maintaining the Old World New York charm and providing alternate jobs for carriage operators.

With a series of high-profile carriage-related accidents in New York City over thelast year, the need for this pilot program has never been greater. Last year, four people were injured when a carriage landed on top of its horse after a taxi slammed into it. There was an incident involving a carriage horse with a family on board that became spooked by a pedicab, backed onto a sidewalk, and fell to the ground twice. Just this month, a carriage horse bolted into 11th Avenue traffic, dragging its overturned carriage behind it. The horse eventually crashed onto the concrete in front of The Daily Show building.

HBO should be leading the way on entertainment, not animal welfare issues. We hope you will do the right thing and lead the effort to take these animals off the streets.

Sincerely,

Carly Marie Knudson
Executive Director
New Yorkers for Clean, Livable & Safe Streets (NYCLASS)