NEW YORK—Council Member David Weprin joined Teamsters Local 553 Sunday, Feb. 8, to support New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industries.
On Jan. 30, a public hearing was held to discuss two bills, Queens Council Member Tony Avella’s proposal to ban the carriages and a proposal to amend regulation for horse-drawn carriages.
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in the city is concerned about the dangers caused by the close proximity between the horses and vehicles such as bicycles and cars. Avella said in the last 18 months, there have been seven accidents in which three horses were killed and five people were injured.
“There are individuals who seek to shut down this service based upon inaccurate information and buy into misinformation,” Weprin said regarding the hearing.
Weprin says closing down the industry would severely hurt the economy.
“The horse-drawn carriage industry is a staple of New York City’s tourism—it is as much a part of this city as the yellow taxicabs that fill our streets,” he said. “It’s simple economics. Now is not the time to contribute to steeper job losses by banning an industry that has a positive, multi-fold economic effect on this city.”
Weprin added that the ban would result in the loss of 293 jobs for drivers and 150 workers for the five stables throughout the city.
“We’re in a fiscal crisis; we’ve lost over 300,000 jobs in New York City this past year alone,” said Weprin. “The horse carriage industry is an important part of the tourism industry. I say no to banning horse-drawn carriages. There were 48 million tourists last year who came to our great city, and as many people who visited the Empire State Building took a carriage ride.”
Stephen Malone, a horse-drawn carriage driver for 22 years, attended the rally with his horse Olympia. Malone said prices for maintaining the horses, such as grain, have gone up by five to six times while the rate of the fare has stayed at $34 for a half-hour ride. The new bill amending regulation for horse drawn carriages would raise the fare to $50. Some of the new regulations include an 80-hour apprenticeship for new drivers, brakes on all carriages, and winter blankets for the horses.
On Jan. 30, a public hearing was held to discuss two bills, Queens Council Member Tony Avella’s proposal to ban the carriages and a proposal to amend regulation for horse-drawn carriages.
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in the city is concerned about the dangers caused by the close proximity between the horses and vehicles such as bicycles and cars. Avella said in the last 18 months, there have been seven accidents in which three horses were killed and five people were injured.
“There are individuals who seek to shut down this service based upon inaccurate information and buy into misinformation,” Weprin said regarding the hearing.
Weprin says closing down the industry would severely hurt the economy.
“The horse-drawn carriage industry is a staple of New York City’s tourism—it is as much a part of this city as the yellow taxicabs that fill our streets,” he said. “It’s simple economics. Now is not the time to contribute to steeper job losses by banning an industry that has a positive, multi-fold economic effect on this city.”
Weprin added that the ban would result in the loss of 293 jobs for drivers and 150 workers for the five stables throughout the city.
“We’re in a fiscal crisis; we’ve lost over 300,000 jobs in New York City this past year alone,” said Weprin. “The horse carriage industry is an important part of the tourism industry. I say no to banning horse-drawn carriages. There were 48 million tourists last year who came to our great city, and as many people who visited the Empire State Building took a carriage ride.”
Stephen Malone, a horse-drawn carriage driver for 22 years, attended the rally with his horse Olympia. Malone said prices for maintaining the horses, such as grain, have gone up by five to six times while the rate of the fare has stayed at $34 for a half-hour ride. The new bill amending regulation for horse drawn carriages would raise the fare to $50. Some of the new regulations include an 80-hour apprenticeship for new drivers, brakes on all carriages, and winter blankets for the horses.
