Deal curbing NY horse carriages collapses in blow to mayor

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

A plan to rein in horse-drawn carriages has collapsed after the labor union that helped negotiate the deal withdrew its support, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Thursday.

The abrupt reversal came just one day before the City Council was set to vote on a bill that would have cut the number of carriage drivers from 220 to 95.

The legislation's demise is a political setback for de Blasio, who pledged during his 2013 campaign to eliminate the carriages that carry riders around Central Park in the heart of the city.

The Teamsters local union, which represents carriage drivers and had worked with de Blasio to craft a compromise that stopped short of a total ban, said on Thursday it had decided it could no longer support the legislation.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-horses-idUSKCN0VD1HD

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World | Thu Feb 4, 2016 11:37am EST
NEW YORK | BY LAILA KEARNEY AND JOSEPH AX

[Renew Deal]

1. DiBlasio should understand that once again, NYers don't support him on this.

[scscholar]

2. Why not just arrest them?

Animal cruelty charges might not stick, but you at least get them off of the streets.

[Javaman]

3. why do you wish to charge people with false charges? nt

[NYC Liberal]

7. Carriage drivers routinely violate the law. I see it every single day.

Here is the overview: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/environmental/horses.shtml

And the one I see violated all the time?

At what temperature must the horses be brought back to the stable?
All rental horses must stop working and be brought back to the stable when the temperature reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32oC) and above in the summer and 18 degrees Fahrenheit (8oC) or below in the winter.

I have seen horses collapse in the street working while it's over 100 deegrees outside. I've seen them out working in sub-zero temperatures.

Enforce the law.

[Javaman]

9. then how about then charging them with an actual crime than instead of something false?

I know, novel concept.

[NYC Liberal]

10. That's fine by me.

And in some cases you could argue animal cruelty, although I don't agree with the poster saying that we should just find "something" to arrest them for just to get them off the streets.

[Peregrine Took]

4. We have them in Chicago, too. I always give the passengers the finger.

Cooperating with animal cruelty.

Ever notice how the horses have their heads down..because they are so miserable lugging those 2 tons carriages around in traffic. Its obscene.

A few years ago they had a route under the el and one day I had to run into a church and holler at the wedding party convening in the vestibule as the horse was going bonkers with the noise of the el overhead.
He was winnying and trying to get away - almost overthrew the carriage. The driver begged me to run into the church and get the party out as he couldn't get out of the carriage to let them know they had arrived.
Why didn't the carriage owners figure out the horse would have to be under the el and the noise would drive anyone insane let alone an animal.

[mopinko]

6. the reason they have their heads down is that is the way they are built.

when they pull, they put their heads down. when i pull, i put my head down. it is how the muscles need to line up.

it isnt cruel. it is a job. horses like having jobs. there would be no horses if horses didnt like to have jobs.
as far as the wedding party, the owner probably thought the animals would be fine, as they are acclimated to all kinds of noises. plus they likely didnt examine the site. freak outs happen sometimes. boo on that driver for not calming the horse.

my daughter used to drive downtown. with rare exceptions, the animals are treated well. when it is time to go to work, they just fall in.
you really cant make a 2 ton animal do things they dont want to do. you might succeed for a while, but eventually they step on you.

[bklyncowgirl]

8. Pulling horse 101. Low head=comfortable horse

Horses that are pulling a load drop their heads in order to lean into the collar. If you see a draft horse with his head held high it does not mean he is spirited and happy it usually means that someone pulled the overcheck too tight, cranking his head into an unnatural position. This puts a painful strain on the animal's back and Neck.

A horse with his head down and hind leg cocked is likely dozing. It doesn't mean he's overworked. If he's in good weight, good coat and sound he'd alright. A horse standing with the weight on one foreleg and is likely lame.

NYC carriage horses are highly regulated these days. They get better health care and more vacation than most human New Yorkers. Sure some drivers test the limits and there's no excuse for that but it's a far cry from the bad old days.

[saidsimplesimon]

5. Eugene, it's complicated with horses.

Raised on a farm, horses meant survival for a small farmer circa 1930. The industrial complex has created awesome prospects for some while ignoring the basics. Those basics are a job, food on the table and a roof over your head for most of US.

[Yavin4]

11. Shit like this gives unions bad names

It's this kind of near-sightedeness that turned off generations of Americans to unions.