Public Voices for the New York City Carriage Horses

Get the cash, leave the horses (February 1, 2016: New York Daily News)

Manhattan: Mayor de Blasio has put the City Council in the awkward and unseemly position of having to vote for a pay raise for themselves while voting for his carriage bill on the same day. I’m a carriage driver and this bill would put dozens of carriage workers out of work, as well as harm the pedicab industry, with scores of workers affected there, too. Workers that remain in both those industries would see their earnings drop sharply, perhaps to the point of being put out of business altogether. Council members have a difficult and important job to do as public servants. Council members at the Transportation Committee hearing last week showed that they are thoughtful, intelligent advocates for the people of the City of New York in voicing very real concerns about the carriage bill. Council members deserve their raise. But they need to do their jobs and protect ours. Vote yes for their raise, and no to Intro 573. Christina Hansen