ASPCA, NY-CLASS Urge NYC Council to Support Intro. 86

NEW YORK—During a rally and hearing at City Hall today, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets) announced their support for Intro. 86, sponsored by New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. This legislation will phase out New York City's horse carriage industry and replace it with a 21st century "green" eco-friendly horseless carriage.

"The time has come to put an end to the use of horse-drawn carriages in New York City," said Council Member Mark-Viverito.  "The legislation I am sponsoring would provide a viable and exciting alternative to the horse carriage industry. The 'green' vintage cars being proposed in Intro. 86 will bring in greater revenue to our City and will make us a leader in eco-tourism."

"We have said time and time again that neither the New York City environment nor current law provides carriage horses with the fundamental necessities to ensure their safety and well being, said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres.  "New York City carriage horses live and work under conditions far removed from what nature intended and humanity dictates; these animals were never meant to live and work in today's urban environment."

"These eco-friendly horseless carriages will preserve jobs and place New York City at the forefront of environmentally friendly tourism," noted Laura Eldridge, Executive Director of NY-CLASS. "The NYCLASS alternative will improve the quality of life of New Yorkers and will strengthen our City's economy, bringing in more than twice the revenue of the current horse carriage industry."

"Intro. 86 is an opportunity for those members of the industry who love their horses to provide them with a better quality of life, and transition to a safer, more humane, environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative," added Sayres.  "The use of carriage horses in New York City is not only a safety hazard to City residents, tourists, pedestrians, motorists and the horses themselves, but horses must often work seven days a week in heavily congested traffic and extreme temperatures.