HORSE SENSE
Periodic updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses +
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages www.banhdc.orgHorses Without Carriages International www.horseswithoutcarriages.orgPLEASE FORWARD TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES **
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VICTORY - CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY AGREES TO LOOK INTO ISSUE
Temporary water provided. Situation needs to be monitored
 Last week, I asked you to write to the Central Park Conservancy about the lack of water in the 5th avenue trough. Because of the way the plumbing is configured, the water is turned off in the winter since it would freeze. As a result, the trough is bone dry and often filled with garbage. This is a link to thenewsletter from last week. Thanks so much to all of you who wrote letters. It made a difference. This is an excerpt from their response:
- "As the Conservancy looks ahead to capital work in Grand Army Plaza later this year, however, we are exploring the option of separating the Fifth Avenue water trough's plumbing from the larger irrigation system so that it may operate independently."
- In addition, representatives of the Horse Carriage Association have agreed to fill the Fifth Avenue trough up manually this winter.
- As a result of your email, we met with Horse Carriage Association representatives very recently; we expect water to be available in that trough in the next day or so. Please keep us updated if you ever pass the trough and observe that it does not have water in it.
PLEASE HELP US TO MONITOR THIS TROUGH
we need your help!
This situation needs continual monitoring. We need to follow up with the CPC to make sure they do the necessary plumbing. And we need to follow up on the temporary water. PLEASE if you live or work near 5th Avenue and 59th St. and can monitor this situation, let us know atcoalition@banhdc.org.
ANOTHER HORSE COLLAPSES
Friday, January 4th at approximately 4:30 pm
A sorrel colored horse pulling carriage # 1075 collapsed on Friday, January 4th as he was making a right turn from the road coming out of the park near 5th Avenue onto 59th St. The driver had just come out of the park and dropped off his passengers. Eye witnesses said the horse looked exhausted. He simply collapsed. He was unhooked from the carriage and walked back to the stable.
PLEASE DONATE TO THIS CAUSE
 The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages is gearing up to advertise as much as possible this year to promote the Avella/Rosenthal bill in the NYS legislature. This is the only bill worth supporting because it is a pure ban and it is not dependent on the success of an untried industry. We are an all volunteer organization, which means that 100% of your donations go into the campaign. For more information about us - please check out our accomplishments indicated below.Please help us by donating what you can. You may donate by check or credit card. Click here. The orange "make a donation" button will allow you to donate by using Paypal. Other wise, you may donate by check.
A REVIEW OF THIS ISSUE AND OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
When we began this campaign in 2006, we knew it would take a long time. It has been seven years and we still have patience. In that time we have brought this issue to the public through every means possible. Many people are aware of it now and support a ban. It had not been an issue since 1995 because people simply did not know what to do since the industry is so politically connected. But campaigns take a long time. The abolition of human slavery and women's suffrage took many years to achieve and people did not give up. We hope to get a good mayor this November - one who is smart, courageous and compassionate. In the meantime, we soldier on and continue to support the Avella/Rosenthal bill in the state legislature to ban horse drawn carriages.For those who do not know the background, click here for highlights and our accomplishments.
WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST
 As many of you know, the reason why we have not been successful in achieving a ban of horse-drawn carriages in NYC is because of Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Christine Quinn - both of whom support the NYC carriage trade, continuing to look the other way when there are accidents.But we also have to put up with the carriage horse people themselves and their supporters. They are far fewer than any who support this cause - but they are out there stalking our Facebook pages, our articles and our blogs. They lie about our intentions and make up stories about us. They try to marginalize us by posting articles about animal rights activists having mental illness. They try to figure us out by claiming that either the women are lonely and need a man or are whores; that the men are all "faggots." In order to get in more criticism, they comment on our looks, ethnic background and age - saying to one activist who had been sick - "you look like you need a transfusion - why aren't you dead yet." or writing on their Facebook pages that they wished the Connecticut shooter had come to the hack line and shot us instead. They try to make others believe that we are out to rid the world of carriage horses and that we are opposed to the animal/human bond. And my favorite is that it is a class war - we are the wealthy land owners against them - the poor working class. This is absolutely not true. But they will do anything rather than to take responsibility for an abusive business. All of this we take in stride and consider the source.This morning I woke to a crazy e-mail, which I will not answer but will share it here. I reported it to Google. It is from a "Jason Freelen" whom I do not know. It is worth reading to see the level of hatred and insanity coming from this group. People like you are the reason criminals have rights and everyone else dont, if i had my way with it. Tree hugging hippie freaks like you should all be lined up and shot! Your just a bunch of idiots whos parents didnt beat you enough! I'd be willing to gladly let people like you be harnessed to a wagon in place of the horse. Fuck your causes and your stupid coalition! Horses are the reason the americas were settled! Anything u say to try aggrivate me wont work, ive killed for less than what you could say to try to piss me off! Further more i hooe each and every one of you get hit by a car, bus, taxi, or even a horse drwan carriage! Stupid tree huggin hippy fags!
PLEASE JOIN US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK. & YOUTUBE
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ON LINE
Also check out Cafe Press to purchase CBHDC merchandise
 Through a free registration with iGive, when you buy merchandise on line, your purchase will help us. There are over 700 stores that include such popular ones as Amazon.com, Staples, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Even Cafe Press is available if you purchase some of our merchandise. Click hereto get started.On iGive - the name of our organization is "The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc." We also have three stores on Cafe Press with great t-shirts, bags, hats, mugs, mouse pads, etc. Purchasing this merchandise helps our organization. Click here.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead. |
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