humanescorecard

2009 new york city council

a project OF the new york league of humane voters

top 10
issues

We care about animals... Interview

with

and we vote! Humane

Voter
Stephen
Nislick
senior citizens & Humane
their companion animals Voter
Dan Piraro
Dogs Deserve Better takes on
Than a Life of Chaining Horse-
HORSES DESERVE BETTER Drawn
THAN A LIFE IN TRAFFIC Carriages
contents NEW YORK LEAGUE OF HUMAN VOTERS 2009 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARD

Letter from John Phillips

4 NYLHV Executive Director

Horses Deserve Better Than a Life in Traffic

6 The Carriage Industry Wants No ASPCA Oversight

Senior Citizens & Companion Animals:

7 A Match Made in Heaven
Your Apartment or Your Pet?
You Shouldn’t Have to Choose!

top 10 Dogs Deserve Better Than a Life of Chaining

issues 8 Instituting a Citywide TNR Program

Elephants Deserve Better than

6 9 Madison Square Garden

Notifying Schools of the 1947

10 Humane Education Law
Assessing Schools’ Compliance with the
Humane Education Law

It’s a No-Brainer:
11 Pet Shops MUST Install Fire Sprinklers!

Special Feature:
12 Interview with Humane Voter Stephen Nislick

Special Feature: Humane Voter

13 Dan Piraro takes on Horse-Drawn Carriages
scorecard designed by johnagnesini.com

2009 NYC Council Funding Spotlight

15 2009 New York City Council Humane Scorecard

new york league oF

humane voterS
www.nylhv.org 151 First Avenue, Suite 237 | New York, NY 10003-2965 | T: 212-889-0303 | John Phillips, Executive Director

 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
 letter FROM NYLHV EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN PHILLIPS

Dear Humane Voter,

Thanks to you, the City Council is starting

to take animal welfare seriously.
Finally, animal protection legislation
with teeth is being introduced in the
Council and supported – in some cases
even sponsored – by a vast majority of
the City Council members. Today, the
biggest obstacle to more humane laws
in NYC is the inexplicable opposition
to animal welfare legislation by City
Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Speaker Quinn has attacked virtually
every effort in the Council to make life
better for animals, despite claiming
in letters to concerned citizens that
she cares about animal welfare and
even “supports animal rights”. As
Speaker, Quinn alone decides which
legislation is voted on, and is able to
exert tremendous political pressure
on her peers. What can we do to stop
her? As voters, we have a right to
demand accountability for the words
and actions of our elected officials. It
is at the voting booth where they will
ultimately be held accountable. This is
why, among our many endorsements,
we are supporting civil rights attorney
and animal welfare advocate Yetta
Kurland in her bid for Quinn’s Council
seat. (See our endorsements online at
NYLHV.org)

We are the only organization working

day to day to provide New York City’s
animals with a voice in the political
process. We need your continued
financial support to elect officials
and pass legislation that will protect
animals. With the support of you and
thousands of other caring citizens, we
can insist that the City Council vote
on bills that improve the quality of
life for countless animals throughout
the city. By contacting your Council
Member and supporting candidates
we endorse, you will help bring about
a more humane New York. If we speak
up, we can make a real difference for
the animals of New York City.

Sincerely,

John Phillips
John Phillips
Executive Director

 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
 HOW THIS SCORECARD WORKS
Each City Council Member is awarded a numeric score based on their support for the following animal
protection issues. The higher the score, the better their voting record on issues affecting animals. For
the latest information on any of these issues, please visit our website at www.nylhv.org or call us at
(212) 889-0303.

Proudly endorsed by
new york league oF
humane voterS
www.nylhv.org

Yetta and her partner,

Elizabeth are proud
parents of their two
adopted Italian
Greyhounds Sal & Luca
PAID FOR BY YETTA KURLAND 2009

vegan. guardian. advocate.

CLINTON, CHELSEA, WEST VILLAGE, SOHO & TRIBECA | Democratic Primary - September 2009

yettaKurland.com myyetta.com

nylhv.org NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 

 issue Horses Deserve Better Than a Life in Traffic
NO. 1 NYLHV Supports Intro. 658 by Council Member Tony Avella (D-Queens)

This bill would promote the welfare of horses as well as improve

public safety. The horse-drawn carriage industry forces horses to
pull carriages through the busy streets of Manhattan for a minimum
of 60-70 hours each week. The horses breathe exhaust fumes,
work in extreme temperatures, and frequently become dehydrated
for lack of access to clean water. At the end of each grueling work
day, the horses are returned to unfit stables too small to even lie
down in. The conditions on New York City’s streets are inherently
harmful to horses, both physically and psychologically. Traffic
accidents in which horses are injured or killed are common. The
horse carriage industry threatens the health and safety of drivers
and pedestrians by forcing them to work and live in an environment
not meant for animals that are easily frightened.
1) Call Council Member Leroy
In January 2009, the City Council’s Consumer Affairs Committee
held a hearing on Intro 658 (and also Intro 653-A, see below).
how Comrie, Chair of the Consumer Affairs

Hundreds of people attended and the testimony was overwhelmingly you Committee, at 718-776-3700 and
request that he help the horses and
in favor of a ban. Media coverage of our vigils for horses has put can support Intro. 658.
the issue in the public spotlight, and we have met with countless help
2) Call Council Speaker Christine
elected officials and convinced several to become cosponsors.
Quinn at 212-788-7210 and urge her to
Despite these efforts, the bill has garnered relatively little support help the horses and support Intro. 658.
in the City Council, as efforts to help the horses have been fiercely
opposed by members like James Gennaro (D-Queens), Oliver 3) Call Your Council Member and urge
Koppell (D-Bronx) and David Weprin (D-Queens). her or him to support Intro. 658.

4) Call Council Member Tony Avella

We are currently working together with the business community to at 718-747-2137 and urge him to make
develop and promote a green alternative to horse-drawn carriages: passage of his bill, Intro. 658, a priority.
eco-friendly replica antique cars would allow us to improve the Intro 658 would repeal the NYC law
safety of the city’s streets and end the exploitation and suffering of that permits horse-drawn carriages to
the horses by retiring them to sanctuaries. See the interview with operate.
Steve Nislick on PAGE 12 for more information.

issue The Carriage Industry Wants No ASPCA Oversight

NO. 2 NYLHV opposes Intro. 653-A by Council Member Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn)

Intro 653-A would eliminate the authority of the ASPCA,
Police Department, and Department of Consumer Affairs to
inspect horse stables used by the industry to ensure proper
veterinary care. Quarterly inspections would still be required,
but who would conduct them? According to the New York City
Bar, “The legislation appears to permit the carriage-horse
industry itself to choose and compensate the inspectors.”
653-A would also allow the industry to nearly double the
rate it charges customers, increasing company profits at the
expense of the well-being of horses.
NYLHV opposes this bill because it would significantly
weaken the already inadequate regulation of the horse-
carriage industry. This bill would create a biased inspection
process and allow the industry’s abusive practices to be
kept out of the public eye. Animal welfare standards in the
carriage horse industry would fall even lower than they
already are. Despite widespread violations of animal welfare
laws reported recently by the ASPCA and the New York
City Comptroller’s office, this bill would reward the horse-
carriage industry with more money for abusing animals.
Strongly supported by the horse-carriage industry, 653-A is
an exemplar of poor legislation.
Thankfully, NYLHV has so far been successful at keeping this
inhumane legislation in check. Sponsors have been dropping
off – and after we singled out the bill’s main sponsor, Jim
Gennaro, in last year’s scorecard, he removed his name
from his own bill! Despite this, the horse carriage industry is
lobbying hard and we need to keep the pressure on.
PHOTO: flickr.com/photos/kangaru82/

1) Call Council Speaker Christine Quinn at 212-788-7210 and urge her to oppose Intro. 653-A.
how
you 2) Call Your Council Member and urge him or her to oppose Intro. 653-A. If you have time, please explain that the
bill removes critical regulatory powers, and that it adds regulations without any teeth as a distraction. Find out who
can help represents you at www.nylhv.org or call us at 212-889-0303.

 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
 Intro 751 would give seniors over
62 the right to live with companion
animals, without fear of being
evicted by their landlords, as
long as the animals do not cause
a nuisance to neighbors.

Seniors with companion animals

tend to live longer, require fewer
doctor’s visits, cope better with
stressful life situations such as
the loss of a spouse, and recover
more quickly from illness.
1) Call Council Member Erik Martin Dilan, Chair of
how the Housing & Buildings Committee, at 718-642-8664
you and request that he support and hold a hearing on
Intro. 751 immediately.
can
help 2) Call Council Speaker Christine Quinn at
212-788-7210 and urge her to support and hold a Senior Citizens & Companion Animals: issue
hearing on Intro. 751.

3) Call Your Council Member and urge him or her to

A Match Made in Heaven NO. 3
NYLHV Supports Intro. 751 by Council Member
support Intro. 751.
Maria del Carmen Arroyo (D-Bronx)
4) Call Council Maria del Carmen Arroyo at
718-402-6130 and urge her to make passage of her
bill, Intro. 751, a top priority.

issue Your Apartment or Your Pet?

NO. 4 You Shouldn’t Have to Choose!
NYLHV Supports Intro. 13 by Council Member
Tony Avella (D-Queens)

Intro. 13 would clarify the law so that once the no-pet clause in a renter’s lease has been
waived, it is waved permanently. Lanlords would no longer be able to re-instate a no-pet
clause at the death of a tenant’s companion animal.

Many New Yorkers who live with pets know about the “3-month rule.” If you live openly
with your pet for three months or longer, even if you have a no-pet clause in your lease,
your landlord loses the right to evict you on that basis. Unfortunately, a court decision
in the 90’s weakened the pet law, making it harder for New Yorkers to live with pets. how
The court decision gave landlords a new 3-month opportunity for each pet you bring into
your home. In other words, if your pet dies, you may not be able to get another. If you
you
can
do, your landlord can evict you or force you to give up your companion animal. Some help
unscrupulous landlords even use this policy to harass tenants into moving so that they
can get around rent controls and charge higher rent to new tenants. The pets in housing 1) Call Council Member Erik Martin Dilan, Chair of the
bill would change this.
PHOTO OF EMMA: flickr.com/photos/flowercat/

Housing & Buildings Committee, at 718-642-8664 and request

Seems simple enough, right? It would be, but Speaker Christine Quinn has vehemently
opposed this legislation, going so far as to break the Council’s own rules to block the
bill from getting a hearing. In April 2008, at our request, Council Member Tony Avella,
the bill’s sponsor, invoked the “Sponsor’s Privilege” rule. This little-known Council rule
allows the sponsor of a bill to force a hearing and vote on their legislation. Unfortunately,
to our shock and dismay, Quinn ignored letters from Avella and NYLHV, and broke the
rule, refusing a hearing and a vote on Intro 13, effectively killing this bill… for now.
that he support and hold a hearing on Intro. 13 immediately.
2) Call Council Speaker Christine Quinn at 212-788-7210 and
urge her to support and hold a hearing on Intro. 13.
3) Call Your Council Member and urge him or her to support Intro. 13.
4) Call Council Member Tony Avella at 718-747-2137 and urge
him to make passage of his bill, Intro. 13, a top priority.

nylhv.org NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 

 issue Dogs Deserve Better Than a Life of Chaining
NO. 5 NYLHV Supports Intro. 545 by Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. (D-Queens)
Intro 545 would ban chaining any animal outdoors
to a stationary object for three hours or more
during any continuous 12-hour period.
There is substantial evidence that tethering
animals for several hours is dangerous because
it restricts their movement and can lead to death
by strangulation; exposes them to risk of attack
or extreme weather; and is often accompanied by
unsanitary conditions.
The Washington (D.C.) Humane Society says,
“Chaining, by definition, keeps a dog in solitary
confinement.” Tethering for long periods of time
causes animals intense psychological suffering.
The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association
says, “Dogs are, by nature, social beings who thrive
on interaction with people and other animals. A
dog kept chained in one spot for months or even
years suffers immense psychological damage.
A continuously chained dog usually becomes
neurotic, anxious, and aggressive.”
issue Instituting a Citywide TNR Program
NO. 6 NYLHV Supports Reso.
 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
The American Veterinary Medical Association
cautioned, “Never tether or chain your dog
because this can contribute to aggressive
behavior.” When confronted with a perceived
threat, a chained dog unable to take flight may
feel forced to respond with aggressive behavior.
Chained dogs are almost three times as likely as
non-chained dogs to bite. The National Canine
Research Council concluded, based on its
review of 40 years of data about dog attacks, that
neglecting dogs by chaining them for long periods
of time can cause them to become dangerous.
Since 1965, there have been 25 fatal dog attacks
in New York State. Of those attacks, four children
were killed when they approached a chained dog.
The Web site for Helping Animals, an animal
advocacy organization, lists 71 reported attacks
nationwide by chained dogs during 2007. Most of
these attacks were on children.
This bill currently has 29 co-sponsors, at least 25 of
which are a direct result of NYLHV’s lobbying efforts.
1570 by Council Member Letitia James (D-Brooklyn)
Reso. 1570 calls on Animal Care and Control
of New York City to establish a Trap, Neuter,
and Return (TNR) program for stray cat
colonies.
Sadly, New York City shelters kill thousands
of cats every year, many of them born
without homes. Thankfully, this number has
decreased in recent years as adoptions have
increased, but not by nearly enough. TNR is
a proven method of population control and
the city could save a lot of lives this way.
When we began lobbying for this bill, it had
few co-sponsors. Today it has 17, including
three who have signed on in the last couple
months.
1) Call Council Member Joel
how Rivera, Chair of the Health
you Committee, at 718-842-8100 and
request that he support and hold a
can hearing on Intro. 545 immediately.
help
2) Call Council Speaker Christine
Quinn at 212-788-7210 and urge
her to support and hold a hearing
on Intro. 545.
3) Call Your Council Member and
urge him or her to support Intro. 545.
4) Call Council Member Peter
Vallone, Jr. at 718-274-4500
and urge him to make passage of
his bill, Intro. 545, a top priority.
how
you
can
help
1) Call Council Member Joel Rivera,
Chair of the Health Committee, at
718-842-8100 and request that he
support and hold a hearing on Reso.
1570 immediately.
2) Call Council Speaker Christine
Quinn at 212-788-7210 and urge her
to support and hold a hearing on Reso.
1570.
3) Call Your Council Member and urge
him or her to support Reso. 1570.
4) Call Council Member Letitia James
at 718-260-9191 and urge her to make
passage of her resolution, Reso. 1570, a
PHOTO: flickr.com/photos/viamoi/
top priority.
5) If you can provide good care, adopt an
animal.
 This photo is among the images
placed in evidence by a coalition
of animal welfare groups in a
lawsuit against Ringling Bros.’
circus claiming that circus
elephants are sometimes
chained for days at a time.

Elephants Deserve Better than Madison Square Garden issue

NYLHV Supports Intro. 389 by Council Member Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan) NO. 7

Intro. 389 would ban the use of wild animals in circuses, including
elephants and apes.
Circuses simply cannot meet the needs of wild animals. Elephants
require miles of land to roam just to stay mentally and physically
healthy. In the wild, they cover 25 miles per day. For this reason, the
Bronx Zoo recently announced that it will phase out its elephant exhibit.
If the Bronx Zoo can’t meet the needs of wild elephants, it’s clear that
AP Photo/The Daily Oklahoman, David McDaniel / AP Photo/Animal Welfare Institute
admitted under oath that Ringling beats elephants to force them to
perform. Animal welfare advocates have known about this abuse for
years. Tom Rider, a former Ringling employee who has spoken at
NYLHV press conferences, witnessed first-hand the frequent beatings
and intensive confinement that the Ringling and other circus animals
endure. The reality is that wild animals used in any circus perform
not out of a love for show business but because they are beaten into
submission. Trainers use bullhooks, whips, electrical prods, and other

Ringling Brothers Circus can’t either. As NYLHV Executive Director
John Phillips said in the New York Times in March 2009, “These animals
are being denied a natural social existence, all just for eight minutes of
entertainment.”
Even the CEO of the company that owns Ringling Brothers recently
devices to turn wild animals into unwilling daredevils and performers.
This legislation was introduced for the first time ever in New York City
in 2006 by Rosie Mendez, whose election to the City Council NYLHV
strongly supported. Today this bill is closer to passing than ever before,
with 23 co-sponsors – nearly a majority of the council.

1) Call Council Member Joel Rivera, Chair of the Health Committee, at 718-842-8100 and request that he support and hold a hearing on Intro. 389
how immediately. Ringling Brothers CEO Kenneth Feld recently gave him a $1000 campaign donation. Please urge him to stop taking gifts from those
you who are affiliated with Ringling Brothers.

can 2) Call Council Speaker Christine Quinn at 212-788-7210 and urge her to support and hold a hearing on Intro. 389.
help 3) Call Your Council Member and urge him or her to support Intro. 389. Find out who represents you at nylhv.org or call us at 212-889-0303.

4) Call Council Member Rosie Mendez at 212-677-1077 and urge her to make passage of her bill, Intro. 389, a top priority.

nylhv.org NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 

 issue Notifying Schools of the 1947 Humane Education Law
NO. 8 NYLHV Supported Reso. 497 by Council Member Tony Avella (D-Queens): Defeated.

A New York State law enacted in 1947 – specifically Section 809 of the
New York State Education Code – requires instruction in the humane
care and treatment of animals in elementary schools. Unfortunately, how 1) Call Council Speaker christine
most educators in the City are not aware that this law exists. In 2006, you Quinn at 212-788-7210 and
tell her you’re shocked and very
NYLHV teamed up with Humane Education Advocates Reaching can unhappy to learn that she worked
Teachers (HEART, teachhumane.org) to increase compliance with help to defeat Reso. 497. Urge her to
this decades-old law. Our efforts became Resolution 497, sponsored use the Council’s oversight powers
by Council Member Tony Avella (D, 19, Queens). Resolution 497 was to increase compliance with the
the first step towards that goal. It called upon the Department of humane education law.
Education to issue a memorandum to educators alerting them to the 2) If your Council Member is one of
existence of the law and instructing them to comply. Unfortunately, those who voted to table Reso. 497,
this Resolution was killed in the Education Committee because of call to say you’re unhappy. See the
arm-twisting by Council Speaker Quinn’s office. Several members scorecard page to find the phone
of the committee also held a mistaken belief that the notification numbers of those who voted against
Reso 497.
component of this resolution was incorporated into another resolution
and unnecessary (see Resolution 1541 below). Shockingly, 12 of 3) If your Council Member was one
the 13 members of the committee that voted to table (effectively to of the brave 3 who voted for Reso.
defeat) Resolution 497 were actually co-sponsors, reflecting Quinn’s 497, call to say how thankful you are.
political influence. Details are on the scorecard page.

NYLHV Supported Reso. 497 by

NYLHV believes that Speaker Quinn opposed Reso. 497 because of Council Member Tony Avella
political friction with the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Avella, who (D-Queens): Defeated.
forced the bill to receive a hearing against her wishes.

issue Assessing Schools’ Compliance with the Humane Education Law

NO. 9 NYLHV Supported Reso. 1541 by Council Member Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan): Passed.

Reso. 1541 calls on the New York City Department of Education to survey schools to assess
compliance with curriculum mandates in the State Education Law and in the Regulations of the
Commissioner of the State Education Department, including the humane education mandate, and
to assist schools that are not in compliance to fully comply with the law. Though not as strong as
Reso. 497, this resolution was a positive step forward.

1) Call Council Member Robert Jackson, Chair of the Education Committee, to thank him for
how including humane education in Reso. 1541. Urge him to continue his efforts to assess schools’
you compliance with the humane education mandate.

can
help

10 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
 1) Call Council Member Erik Martin Dilan,
how Chair of the Housing & Buildings Committee,
you at 718-642-8664 and request that he support
and hold a hearing on Intro. 417 immediately.
can
help 2) Call Council Speaker Christine Quinn issue
It’s a No-Brainer: Pet Shops MUST Install
at 212-788-7210 and urge her to support
and hold a hearing on Intro. 417. Fire Sprinklers! NYLHV Supports Intro. 417 by
NO. 10
3) Call Your Council Member and urge them to Council Member Alan Gerson (D-Manhattan)
support Intro. 417. Find out who represents
you at nylhv.org or call us at 212-889-0303.

4) Call Council Member Alan Gerson at
212-788-7722 and urge him to make passage
of his bill, Intro. 417, a top priority.
Intro. 417 would save lives by requiring that pet
SPRINKLER PHOTO: flickr.com/photos/mandolux/
With animals locked in cages, fire safety is as important in pet stores as anywhere. In
the last decade fires at pet stores have killed thousands of animals, injured firefighters,
and wasted tax dollars. For example, on November 20, 2008, a fire at a pet store in the
Bronx killed dozens of animals and required more than 140 firefighters to be dispatched.

stores, and other establishments that house On August 6, 2006, a blaze at a Queens pet store killed approximately two hundred
animals, install fire sprinklers. animals. In 2004, a similar pet store fire killed over one thousand animals in Long
Island, and in 2002, an Upper Manhattan inferno killed over two hundred animals.

These tragedies could and should have been prevented. When we began searching for
sponsors for this bill in 2004, only a handful of Council members were signed on. Today
the bill has 45 sponsors – more than 90% of the Council! There’s no excuse for Speaker
Quinn to continue to stall on this important bill. It’s past time for a hearing and a vote.

proud to be
t h e o f f i c i a l d es i g n e r
of the 20 0 9
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nylhv.org NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 11
 special feature INTERVIEW WITH HUMANE VOTER STEPHEN NISLICK

meet
stephen Stephen Nislick is the CEO of Edison Properties, LLC. His career at Edison Properties spans three decades with
nislick many accomplishments, including the repositioning of the Hippodrome Building on Sixth Avenue while 90%
occupied, partnerships between Allright Parking and Edison ParkFast, and the financing and development of The
Ludlow, a 243-unit 80/20 residential development on the Lower East Side. Currently, he serves as a Member of the
Board of the Princeton Blairstown Center, an organization which helps “high risk” children, as well as a Member
of the Board of Directors at Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy. In 2008, NYLHV awarded
Mr. Nislick its “Humane Leadership Award” for his commitment to ending the abuse of carriage horses in NYC.

Few individuals have done more to help carriage horses than

you, from investing sums of money and time to literally making
sure that the horses have water. What made you decide to get
involved with this issue?

My wife Linda and I have always been animal lovers. We’ve

owned horses and ridden them for the past 20 years. We live
on Central Park West and witness first hand the suffering
of these animals.

I know you rescued a carriage horse… can you tell me a little

bit about how that happened?

My wife and I rescued a beautiful 7 year-old Percheron from

slaughter. She was only on the streets for 3 years and like
a great many of the carriage horses suffered from flounder
as a result of improper shoeing, the harshness of the road
surfaces in Manhattan, and improper nutrition. Rather than
give her the proper rest time to see if she could recover,
she was sent to off to slaughter for $400. We turned her out
with 3 retired horses in giant field for 6 months to let her
feet recover and now she is doing great

Your company, which owns Manhattan Mini Storage, took out

ads all over NYC promoting the ban on horse-drawn carriages. MEET CHANCE
Can you tell me how this came about? The beautiful 7 year-old
Percheron horse rescued
Edison Properties has always supported animal issues. from slaughter by Stephen
Archie Gottesman, one of Edison’s owners, is president of and his wife, Linda.
the board of Animal Haven and huge supporter of mandatory
spay/neuter.

You’ve helped to bring what you call the “grass tops” on

board with the campaign to get horse-drawn carriages off the
streets. How did you do that?

The pain that the carriage horses suffer is obvious to most

people, including many business leaders in NYC.

We’ve been working with you to transform the horse-drawn

carriage industry and replace the carriage horses with a fleet
of green-powered replica antique cars. How do you envision
these cars being deployed and, as a business leader, why do
you think it’ll be successful?

This is a great idea! All electric replica antique vehicles

which tour throughout Manhattan as well as Central Park
is economically much more viable than trying to keep 200
horses jammed into horrendous stables with no turnout
and in tiny stalls where they can’t even lie down. Besides,
this business has already been proven successful in San
Francisco. WE LOVE THIS
Manhattan Mini Storage ads
When we win and get the horses retired to sanctuaries, what’s that ran all over NYC promoting
next for you? the ban on horse-drawn
carriages.
I haven’t thought about it. I am 100% focused on saving the
carriage horses!

12 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
HUMANE VOTER DAN PIRARO TAKES ON HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES special feature

Our friend Dan Piraro recently took on the issue of horse-drawn carriages in his syndicated “Bizarro” cartoon strip. Says Piraro: “New York City still has
carriage horses stumbling through Central Park and these animals lead miserable lives. They live in concrete garages by night, on the streets among
traffic by day. They never get a break until they are hit by a car and killed, which happens with sad regularity... No animal deserves that life, human or
otherwise.” Dan really hit the nail on the head with the comic above, so we’re very excited that Dan has allowed us to share it with you. Enjoy!

nylhv.org NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 13

 spotlight 2009 NYC Council Funding

On June 30th, 2008, the City Council adopted its budget for fiscal year 2009. In 2007, NYLHV became the first humane organization to publicly review
the City budget’s “Schedule C” document for animal friendly funding. Schedule C, which covers the Council’s expense budget, lists which programs
are being funded along with the sponsoring Council Member, allowing watchdog organizations like NYLHV to hold legislators even more accountable
to their constituents.

See below which Council Members helped to secure money for humane programs. If your Council Member is not listed, call to urge him or her to
support humane organizations in the City budget.

Council Member What He/She Helped to Fund Call to Say

(Party, District) Thank You!
mendez (d,2) $3,500 for Humane Education Advocates Reading Teachers 212-677-1077

lappin (d,5) $4,000 for funding to support spay/neuter vans 212-535-5554

mark-viverito (d, 8) $5,000 for Humane Education Advocates Reading Teachers 212-828-9800

arroyo (d, 17) $7,500 for Humane Education Advocates Reading Teachers 718-402-6130

palma (d, 18) $15,000 for Humane Education Advocates Reading Teachers and $10,000 for 718-792-1140
community education on animal cruelty, HIV/AIDS and other important issues

gonzalez (d, 38) $5,000 for Humane Education Advocates Reading Teachers 718-439-9012

oddo (r, 50) $3,000 for a spay/neuter program 718-980-1017

ignizio (r, 51) $7,000 for equipment and food purchase for no-kill animal rescue 718-984-5151

the manhattan delegation, $3,500 for funding to support spay/neuter vans 212-818-0580 (Garodnick)
chairs dan garodnick (d, 4) 212-873-0282 (Brewer)
and gale brewer (d, 6)

14 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HUMANE SCORECARd 2009 edition, published may 2009
2009 New York City Council Humane Scorecard SCORES ACCURATE AS OF MARCH 31, 2009

Council Member Call Your Council 2009 2008 Carriage Carriage Seniors Pets & Tethering Citywide Exotic Humane Humane Pet Shop
(Party, District) Member to Voice Your Score Score Ban Oversight & Pets Housing Ban TNR Ban Ed. Ed. Sprinklers
Support for Animals! Notification Assess.
MANHATTAN
Gerson (D, 1) 212-788-7722 75% 80% a a a a a N/A a a
Mendez (D, 2) 212-677-1077 100% 100% a a a a a a N/A a a
Quinn (D, 3) 212-788-7210 13% 0% N/A a
Garodnick (D, 4) 212-818-0580 56% 60% a a a a X a a
Lappin (D, 5) 212-535-5554 67% 60% a a a a a X a a
Brewer (D, 6) 212-873-0282 100% 100% a a a a a a N/A a a
Jackson (D, 7) 212-928-1322 33% 40% a a a a X a a
Mark-Viverito (D, 8) 212-828-9800 88% 80% a a a a a N/A a a
Dickens (D, 9) 212-678-4505 25% 40% a a a N/A a a
Martinez (D, 10) 917-521-2616 50% 80% a a a a N/A a a
Manhattan Average: 61% 64% 30% 0% 40% 80% 60% 60% 40% N/A 100% 90%
THE BRONX
Koppell (D, 11) 718-549-7300 50% 60% a X a a a a a X a a
Seabrook (D, 12) 718-994-9900 38% 20% a a a a a N/A a a
Vacca (D, 13) 718-931-1721 67% 80% a a a a a a X a a
Baez (D, 14) 718-294-3950 25% 0% a a a a a N/A a a
Rivera (D, 14) 718-842-8100 25% 40% a a a a a N/A a a
Foster (D, 16) 718-588-7500 44% 100% a a a a a X a a
Arroya (D, 17) 718-402-6130 89% 80% a a a a a a a a
Palma (D, 18) 718-792-1140 100% 100% a a a a a a N/A a a
Bronx Average: 55% 60% 25% 12% 38% 75% 38% 38% 50% N/A 100% 100%
QUEENS
Avella (D,19) 718-747-2137 100% 100% a a a a a a N/A a a
Liu (D, 20) 718-888-8747 60% 20% X a a a a a X a a
Ferreras (D 21) * 718-205-3881 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Vallone, Jr. (D, 22) 718-274-4500 67% 60% a a a a a a
Weprin (D, 23) 718-465-8202 44% 60% X a a a a a N/A a a
Gennaro (D, 24) 718-217-4969 50% 40% a a a a a a N/A a a
Sears (D, 25) 718-803-6373 25% 20% a a a a a a N/A a a
Gioia (D, 26) 718-383-9566 63% 80% a a a a a N/A a a
Comrie (D, 27) 718-776-3700 25% 0% a a a a a N/A a a
White, Jr. (D, 28) 718-843-2735 50% 20% a a a a N/A a a
Katz (D, 29) 718-544-8800 25% 20% a N/A a a
Crowley (D, 30) 718-366-3900 86% N/A a a a a a N/A N/A a
Sanders (D, 31) 718-527-4356 38% 40% a a N/A a a
Ulrich (R, 32) 718-738-1111 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Queens Average: 53% 41% 8% 17% 25% 42% 67% 42% 50% N/A 100% 100%
BROOKLYN
Yassky (D, 33) 718-875-5200 56% 0% a a a X a a
Reyna (D, 34) 718-963-3141 50% 40% a a N/A a a
James (W, 35) 718-260-9191 88% 60% a a a a a N/A a a
Vann (D, 36) 718-919-0740 11% 20% X a
Dilan (D, 37) 718-642-8664 13% 0% N/A a
Gonzalez (D, 38) 718-439-9012 63% 80% a a a a N/A a a
de Blasio (D, 39) 718-854-9791 56% 80% a a a a X a a
Eugene (D, 40) 718-287-8762 13% 0% N/A a
Mealy (D, 41) 718-953-3097 50% 80% a a a N/A a a
Barron (D, 42) 718-649-9495 88% 20% a a a a a N/A a a
Gentile (D, 43) 718-748-5200 75% 60% a a a a N/A a a
Felder (D, 44) 718-853-2704 10% 0% X a X X
Stewart (D, 45) 718-951-8177 56% 80% X a a a N/A a a
Fidler (D, 46) 718-241-9330 22% 40% X a a
Recchia (D, 47) 718-373-9673 44% 0% a a X a a
Nelson (D, 48) 718-368-9176 75% 60% a a a a N/A a a
Brooklyn Average: 48% 39% 6% 13% 25% 69% 63% 25% 44% N/A 94% 75%
STATEN ISLAND
Mitchell (D, 49)* 718-556-7370 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Oddo (R, 50) 718-980-1017 38% 40% a N/A a a
Ignizio (R, 51) 718-984-5151 56% 0% a a a a a
Staten
TOTALS:Island Average: 47%
48% 20%
39% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 50% 100% 100% 100%
COUNSIL Council
TOTALS:Average: 53% 47% 15% 10% 29% 63% 60% 38% 46% N/A 98% 90%

KEY: a= vote for or sponsorship of legislation to help animals X = anti-animal vote or sponsorship of legislation that hurts animals * = Elected in Special Election in February, 2009

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