Thursday, January 29, 2009
Liam Neeson Faces Off With Animal Rights Activists
The world has been waiting to find out where Liam Neeson falls on the whole carriage horse issue, and you can stop holding your breath now, world: the actor has spoken...and PETA isn't gonna like what he has to say. Last week a story ran in the Irish Echo regarding the New Yorker resident's public support of the Central Park carriage industry, which came out in a letter to the City Council.
Neeson stated in the open letter that there's been a "coordinated attempt by animal activists and a certain Queens council member to ban the industry from the city." Indeed, Tony Avella's bill to put an end to carriage horses is being introduced at a public hearing on January 30th (at the same time the industry will also propose their first fare increase in 19 years). Neeson (who didn't seem at all like an animal cruelty supporter in that Love, Actually movie) continued his letter as follows:
As a horse lover and rider, I am deeply disturbed by the unnecessary and misguided political and extreme rhetoric against the horse-drawn carriage industry and feel obliged to counter this action.
The horse-drawn carriage business is an iconic part of this city, employing hundreds of dedicated, hard-working men and women, caring for well-bred, well-trained horses and attracting tourists to New York City for over 100 years.
As a proud New York resident, I have personally enjoyed the beauty of Central Park on a daily basis for many years, and these horses are an undeniable integral part of that experience. The notion that a well-nourished horse pulling a carriage through Central Park is considered cruelty may fit in with animal activists' extremist view, but not with the rest of us. Surely we have a responsibility to protect commerce, especially one with such history, and one I truly feel helps define this city. May pragmatism prevail
Today the NY Post is pitting him against Alec Baldwin, who recently came out in support of putting an end to the industry.
"Pragmatism" Mr. Neeson?
Let's be pragmatic:
Limit the horses to Central Park.
Provide a paddock for the horses.
Provide suitable stables for the horses.
Monitor the hours, the weather conditions with regard to the horses.
Open your eyes Mr. Neeson.
Maybe it's the fact that the majority of drivers are your fellow kinsmen from Ireland...eh???
Monday, January 26, 2009
Carriage drivers join Teamsters as City Council hearing looms
Carriage drivers join Teamsters as City Council hearing looms
BY LARRY McSHANE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, January 25th 2009, 4:00 AM
The city's horse-drawn carriages are rolling through Central Park with a new passenger aboard: the Teamsters.
A coalition of owners, drivers and stable workers voted last week to join the international union as they gear up for this Friday's City Council committee hearing on a bill to ban the industry.
"This is not an animal rights issue for us," said Colm McKeever, owner-operator of Shamrock Stables and a 20-year industry veteran. "This is a labor issue, which makes this a very natural fit with the union."
Demos Demopoulos, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 553 in Manhattan, said the new members wanted some juice in the battle to keep their industry alive.
"What they're really looking for is to be part of an organization that has some political power and represents working people," said Demopoulos.
"They just want to have their voices heard down at City Hall."
There's a historical tie, too: Local 553 represented coal-delivering carriage drivers at the turn of the 20th century.
"They saw that kinship," the union leader said. About 40 industry workers, including the stable owners, voted last Wednesday to join the Teamsters, according to McKeever.
On Friday, a public hearing is slated on Councilman Tony Avella's bill to ban the carriages. The Coalition for New York City Animals, a pro-ban group, collected 35,000 signatures on a petition supporting the bill.
Critics say the horse-drawn carriages are arcane and inhumane, citing the 2006 death of a horse killed on Central Park South after it was spooked.
Driver Emilio Marquez disputes the mistreatment claims. And while he cares about the animals, his main concern remains his family.
"Let me tell you something: We need these jobs," said Marquez, one of many immigrants in the business. "They talk about the horses, but they don't talk about us."
