Photo: Cedar Lane Stables on South Conduit Avenue in Howard Beach. Forum Photo by Alan Krawitz
As Mayor Bill de Blasio’s efforts to push through legislation to ban carriage horses in the city appear to be faltering, many borough business owners and residents continue to raise their voices in opposition.
A recent story in the New York Post indicated that the mayor’s proposal, introduced last December, is stalled in the City Council’s Transportation Committee with little support.
Despite the fact that there are no carriage horses galloping down the streets of Queens, there is no shortage of opinions among observers who view de Blasio’s proposal as little more than a clash of special-interest groups pitting animal rights activists against the city’s 150-year-old carriage horse industry.
Stephen Malone, a spokesman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, called the plan a “created issue by animal rights activists and real estate moguls.”
A 2007 audit, conducted by then-City Comptroller Bill Thompson, concluded that carriage horses were well-cared for and that drivers were following regulations.
Malone said that it “all comes back to real estate and special interests,” adding that powerful development companies have been actively trying to buy out Manhattan stable owners for highly-valuable property located in the Hudson Yards district, where the huge Hudson Yards Development Project is currently underway.
Activists say it’s a matter of animal welfare.
“The carriage industry is unsafe and abusive and it’s time to end this antiquated practice in New York City,” said Allie Feldman, a spokeswoman for the animal rights coalition New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. “We continue to support the mayor in his plan to end this industry.”
NYCLASS, which counts the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as members, has donated heavily to de Blasio’s campaign and even helped to derail the mayoral bid of his chief opponent, former Council Speaker Christine Quinn, according to a Crain’s New York report.
De Blasio’s proposal would phase out carriage horses by May 2016 and replace them with antique, electric automobiles. The bill would also provide the city’s 300 licensed carriage horse drivers with free job training and permits to become green taxi drivers.
Anthony Danza, the owner/operator of Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, said he wants better care for horses but doesn’t feel the carriage industry should go anywhere.
“Keep the horse and carriages but only in Central Park,” Danza said. “The horses should also be housed in Central Park so they can do what they’re naturally born to do.”
Oliver H., a barn manager for Cedar Lane Stables in Howard Beach, which houses about 10 horses, said he feels that the proposed ban is political.
“…de Blasio is trying to get rid of the horses because people donated money to his campaign, so now they want him to replace horses with antique cars,” Oliver said. “You have to be blind not to see the agenda, the connection between the antique cars and the mayor wanting to ban horses in the city.”
Oliver also addressed Cedar Lane’s own recent problems. In 2013, the stable was temporarily closed when several horses died and city officials charged there was abuse and neglect at the facility.
“We’ve been open since May of this year and much of what was said and reported about Cedar Lane just wasn’t true,” Oliver noted.
Donnamarie Striano, a former resident of Whitestone, agreed that horses should stay in the city.
“A horse and carriage ride through Central Park has always been one of the city’s most vintage attractions,” she said. “Replacing the much-loved horse and carriage ride with a ride in an antique car is honestly tacky and unfortunate.”
By Alan Krawitz
