Animal Rights Guru, Peter Singer: Carriage Horses "Isn't a Big Issue"

Carriage driver sharing quiet moment with his horse. Picture of "abuse?"

Noteworthy is all the clamor about carriage horses is the statement from Animal Rights pioneer and bioethicist, Peter Singer, that "this isn't a big issue." 

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2016/01/8588991/animal-rights-pioneer-says-de-blasio-carriage-deal-misses-bigger-p

.

Singer, who wrote the 1975 landmark book, Animal Liberation, has long been regarded as one of the most respected and quoted leaders in animal rights.

.

Though continuing in the interview to say he favors abolition of the carriage horse trade (likely for political reasons), Singer adds that compared to the larger issues of factory farming and slaughter, it pales.

.

Such represents basic dismissal of the carriage horse issue as one, either the mayor of New York City or Animal Rights activists should be spending time on or devoting significant resources to.  

.

Unfortunately, "significant resources" have been highly channeled towards destruction of the carriage horse industry in New York City from the more than a million dollars pumped into the effort by Real Estate developer and NYCLASS founder, Steve Nislick,  to endless protests and demeaning Facebook pages to the nearly obsessive focus of our seemingly "bought" Mayor deBlasio.

.

And though advised by Singer to promote "Meatless Mondays" and replace animal products at official functions or school lunches with healthy non-animal alternatives, deBlasio nevertheless continues pushing his "compromise" carriage horse bill on the City Council:

.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2016/01/8589240/administration-provides-council-details-horse-carriage-plan

.

In this latest memo, the mayor's officials attempt to address some of the questions raised by Council Members in last Friday's hearing. But, instead, they merely serve to pile on more questions.

.

For example, the memo states:

.

"Starting June 1,2016, horse traffic will be limited during rush hours with total ban on city streets between 7 to 10AM and 4:30 to 7PM weekdays."

.

Considering that day horses generally go from the stables in midtown Manhattan to Central Park during the specific hours "banned," what does this exactly mean?  That drivers take horses out at dawn or close to noon, thereby losing mornings all together?

.

And what about relief for the day time horses?

.

Usually the night horses are brought on board in CP to relieve day horses between the hours specifically "banned" in the proposal.  (4:30 to 7 PM)

.

So does this mean the day horses simply work day and night?  

Drivers can replace each other, but there seems no way for the horses to rotate and relieve each other without traveling to or from the midtown stables.

.

More questions:

.

The mayor appears set in the idea (or should we say, fantasy?) of the 85th Transverse location serving as the new "stable" for the horses in 2018 (this despite the fact of not securing permission for a stable to be built).

.

The memo doesn't say how the horses are expected to get from the 85th Street Transverse location to 59th Street -- a distance of more than a mile and a half.

.

Pedestrian paths are out of the question. The Bridal Path is not suitable for carriages. And the Park Drives are already congested with bikes, runners and sometime vehicle traffic.

.

Finally, the issue of pedicabs, which according to the latest memo are restricted (starting June 1) to north of 85th Street in Central Park.

.

Runners and cyclists aren't known for taking pedicab rides. Nor is it likely marathoners and cyclists will welcome pedicabs into their space.

.

Despite how the mayor attempts to "put lipstick on a pig," it is still a pig. (No offence to our porcine friends.)

.

And yes, the bill is still a ludicrous and misguided attempt to cripple and ultimately destroy two industries for no good reason.

.

If Animal Rights guru, Peter Singer is surprised and disenchanted with this ill-thought campaign (especially in light of all the real and egregious abuses and slaughter heaped on millions of domestic farm animals everyday) it is nothing compared to most New Yorkers or those who have actually studied the issue.

.

I think of the many engaging, confident and beautiful carriage horses I have observed and interacted with over the years and wonder of their futures now?

.

Either doomed to some unknown and likely precarius fate or forced to work double shifts (without benefit of days off or furloughs) in Central Park because there is no rotation or relief for them.  (Also direct result of "reduction by 2/3rds" of existing and available carriage horses.)

.

DeBlasio's "solution in search of a problem" is indeed shockingly short on solutions, but infinite in the problems it actually creates (including potential for real animal abuse).

.

Singer must be gasping in his vegan espresso -- though he is much too polite to say.  -- PCA

.

                                                 




                                                      *******