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January 2009 NYC To Consider Horse-Draw Carriage Ban Paws Up! To members of the New York City Council for sponsoring city bill, Introduction 658, which seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages in the City. Introduced by council member Tony Avella and co-sponsored by Council members Mark-Viverito, Palma, Arroyo, Mendez, and Yassky, Int. 658 seeks to repeal all provisions allowing for the operation of horse drawn cabs. Horse drawn carriages pose both a safety issue and an animal cruelty issue. Navigating the congested streets of New York City is a feat millions do every day. However, navigating around the slow moving carriages poses a public safety issue for fire and ambulance vehicles and a physical inconvenience for all other city travelers. Life for a New York City carriage horse revolves round walking the streets surrounded by exhaust fumes. They work in all types of weather and have been known to injure themselves on ice-covered streets. They often come to their jobs after life on a race track or from working on a farm. The typical lifespan of a New York City carriage horse is four years before they are sold at auction or sent to slaughter. The Council is reportedly set to debate Friday, January 30, 2009. Please send a letter to Council member Avella thanking him for sponsoring Int. 658. New York City residents: please contact your council member to urge their support of this important bill! Tony Avella Council Member, District 19 38-50 Bell Blvd. Suite C Bayside, NY 11361 Phone: (718) 747-2137 Fax: (718) 747-3105 Email: avella@council.nyc.ny.us Sources: http://www.banhdc.org/news.shtml http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/01/01/2009-01-01_animal_rights_protesters_take_whip_to_ce.html # Chicago Leader Goes Vegetarian Paws Up! To Dr. Terry Mason, Chicago Health Commissioner, for “publically” going vegetarian for the month of January and encouraging Chicago citizens to join him in the adventure. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, as part of Commissioner Mason’s campaign to slim down waists and lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol citywide, he is encouraging everyone to join him in eating a vegetarian diet during the month of January. Having adopted a vegetarian diet himself seven months ago, the Commissioner is eager to share its many health and animal welfare benefits. Please send a letter to Dr. Mason thanking him for his challenge to encourage Chicago citizens to consider a vegetarian diet! Terry Mason, M.D., F.A.C.S. Chicago Health Commissioner Department of Health DePaul Center, Rm 200 333 State Street Chicago, IL 60604 Phone: (312) 747-9884 Email: publichealth@cdph.org Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-going-vegetarian-09-jan09,0,92202.story # |
