LOHV-NYC announced today that it is endorsing Micah Kellner for the New York State Assembly in the 65th Assembly District (Upper East Side, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island). Current Assemblyman Pete Grannis has been nominated by Gov. Spitzer to head the Department of Environmental Conservation. Grannis has yet to be confirmed by the Senate."Pete Grannis has been a great friend in the Assembly and Micah Kellner will make an excellent successor," said John Phillips, LOHV-NYC's executive director. "We look forward to working with him to protect the welfare and rights of all animals in New York State."
Among the animal issues Kellner supports:
- A ban on the production of foie gras in New York State. Foie gras, French for "fatty liver," is called something else by vets: hepatic lipidosis. Ducks are force-fed three times a day to produce the fatty liver disease and are slaughtered before they drop dead from the illness.
- Funding for humane education programs. Kellner also supports an amendment to the education law to require a 3-hour course in humane education for new teachers.
- A ban on canned hunts in New York State. Canned hunts are fixed hunts which guarantee the “hunter” a "trophy." The animals used are docile animals who are fenced-in and drugged to make it easier for the killer.
- A statewide ban on the use of wild and exotic animals in circuses and other performances
LOHV-NYC’s endorsement process includes a written questionnaire and an in-person interview with its Director and members of its Executive Committee. The final decision on all endorsements is made by its Board of Directors.
LOHV-NYC is the non-partisan political voice of the city’s animal protection movement. For more information, please visit their webpage at www.humanenyc.org or call (212) 889-0303.