Nix the carriages? Nix the elitists, too<\/p>\n
Alexandria, Va.: After 150 years, a single, absolutely horrific human death and 30 horse deaths over that same time period have brought no compromise on horses and city asphalt. The Manhattan some of us were raised knowing may have to abandon the carriage trade. This quintessential Noo Yawk tourist attraction, the romantic notion of riding in a horse-drawn carriage, could still be in Central Park if a safe place were made for them, but clearly requiring an agreement to no cars, bikes, scooters \u2014 no shared driving space.<\/p>\n
That no longer seems to be what anyone wants to attempt in city government. But if politics is pushing this industry\u2019s extinction, then here is what some might suggest must be done. Both the Clinton Park Stables and the West Side Livery should immediately be declared historic landmarks. This would prevent NYCLASS from accomplishing the mission, unwittingly or not, as a front for wealthy real estate developers. Historic museum exhibits and even live history events \u2014 having a real horse or two with a coach driver dressed in late 19th- or early 20th-century garb \u2014 would continue the tourism value Manhattan needs to maintain.<\/p>\n
Commercialization the likes of our current \u201ccleaned up\u201d Times Square, and catering to extreme wealth at the exclusion of what gives the city some depth, have been the wrong directions for the borough that most tourists see first.<\/p>\n
S. Bowen<\/p>\n
Indifferent to animals<\/p>\n
Wappingers Falls, N.Y.: It was depressing and appalling to see the Daily News come out in favor of voting against a bill to stop the brutal, exploitative NYC carriage horse industry (\u201cMamdani and Menin horse ban bill is an unworkable mess<\/a>,\u201d editorial, Oct. 16). This disgrace to the city has already been banned in several U.S. cities and in other countries. The NYC Bar Association supported the ban, citing horrible conditions for the horses plus the danger the pitiful carriages have caused the public. Have you no shame? But the Daily News has always been in the pocket of the Transport Workers Union. Ryder\u2019s sad, needless death, suffering in the gutter like he was trash, is on your hands.<\/p>\n Yliana Franco<\/p>\n Indefensible industry<\/p>\n Manhattan: In 1991, I found a dead carriage horse in Central Park. The Daily News ran my photo. Since then, countless carriage horses have suffered and died. In addition, 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan died while out for a carriage horse ride with his family. In response to legislation to end the cruelty once and for all, the Daily News once again trotted out its old and tired defense of this cruel, deadly and outdated industry. The NYC carriage horse industry is inherently cruel. It will never change. Shame on The News for opposing Romanch\u2019s Law.<\/p>\n Peter Wood<\/p>\n Far deadlier<\/p>\n Flushing: One person was killed while riding a horse-drawn carriage in the last 10 or more years, and now they want to ban the horse-drawn carriages in and around Central Park. Well, thousands of people have been killed by cars in the same 10 years, so why not ban cars?<\/p>\n John Procida<\/p>\n No parking<\/p>\n Manhattan: Thank you, Mayor Mamdani, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and all the other elected officials who are calling on private parking lot owners to evict ICE (\u201cMamdani and over 100 elected officials ask city parking lot owners to boot ICE<\/a>,\u201d Oct. 16). Mamdani can\u2019t command those owners\u2019 actions, but he can point out the community harms of hosting staging areas for potentially violent ICE activities. New York business owners should be good citizens of the city where they make their money. Plus, how can welcoming armed agents be good for business? I wouldn\u2019t feel safe parking in their vicinity.<\/p>\n Pamela Butler<\/p>\n Political persecution<\/p>\n