Edie Falco, Russell Simmons, Gillian Anderson and others personally urge Council Members to pass the compromise
NEW YORK, NY – Celebrities from New York are leading a personal lobbying campaign – including hand-written notes, personal emails, and pre-recorded robo calls – to encourage City Council Members to pass new legislation that will protect carriage horses by removing them from dangerous city traffic.
Celebrities include Edie Falco, Russell Simmons, Gillian Anderson, Kathy Najimy, P!nk, among others. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the legislation this Friday.
For instance, in a robo-call to the entire City Council (recording attached), Edie Falco made the following appeal:
“Council Member, this is Edie Falco calling. I’m a life-long New Yorker and as such the plight of the New York City carriage horses has been an issue very near and dear to my heart for as long as I can remember. I am so thrilled that the Council is acting to protect them. It is crucial that we get these beautiful and vulnerable animals off our dangerous city streets. I am asking you to please vote yes on Intro 573. Again, this is Edie Falco and I do hope you’ll join me in supporting this very sensible compromise. Thank you for your time.”
Animal rights organizations, including NYCLASS, PETA, ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States, have strongly endorsed the new legislation, praising the following efforts to help these horses live happier, healthier, safer lives:
- Reducing the number of carriage horses by nearly half.
- Requiring that the remaining horses live and work in Central Park – not on dangerous city streets where they are risk being spooked or struck by passing cars.
- Nearly doubling the minimum size of their stalls to 100 square feet
- Requiring daily turnout and time to roam, an essential component of their mental and physical well-being, and
- Providing sanctuary to the retired horses and preventing them from being sold for slaughter.