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2007 NYC Council Humane Scorecard
Some City Council
Members got “purrs” while others got “growls” on the 2007 City Council
Humane Scorecard, released today by the League of Humane Voters of New
York City (LOHV-NYC). In the scorecard, LOHV-NYC examines the 51 Council
Members’ records on animal welfare issues–such as pet-friendly housing,
wildlife protection, humane education, etc.–and grades them on a scale
of 0 to 100. For the first year ever, LOHV-NYC’s Scorecard will also
track individual Council Members’ funding of animal-friendly (and
un-friendly) projects.
“Animal lovers will
howl when they find out that Speaker Christine Quinn and 9 other members
of the City Council are getting zeros on our City Council Humane
Scorecard,” said John Phillips, LOHV-NYC’s Executive Director. “Many New
Yorkers care deeply about animal welfare. Our City Council Humane
Scorecard will shed light on politicians’ voting records and hold them
accountable to their constituents.”
The 51 Council Members
were graded based on their support for six issues: Resolution 497,
related to humane education in city schools; Introduction 13, related to
allowing pets in housing; Introduction 417, related to requiring that
pet stores install fire sprinklers; Introduction 389, related to
protecting wild animals used in circuses; Introduction 652, related to
increasing rates for carriage horse operators (which LOHV-NYC opposes);
and Introduction 331, related to pedicab restrictions (which LOHV-NYC
opposed).
Six Council Members
got perfect scores on this year’s Humane Scorecard, including Council
Members Rosie Mendez, Gale Brewer, Helen Foster, Annabel Palma, Tony
Avella and Hiram Monserrate. Ten got a failing grade of 0, including
Council Speaker Christine Quinn - who LOHV-NYC credits with blocking
numerous animal welfare bills - and Council Members Maria Baez, Leroy
Comrie, Dennis Gallagher, David Yassky, Erik Martin Dilan, Mathieu
Eugene, Simcha Felder, Domenic Recchia and Vincent Ignizio.
Manhattan Council
Members came out on top again this year, with an average score of 64%.
The Bronx was not far behind with an average score of 60%, nearly double
what it was last year. Queens came in with 41%, Brooklyn with 39% and
Staten Island with 20%, down from last year’s 27%. The average score for
the Council as a whole was 47%, up from 38% last year.
2007 NYC Council Humane Scorecard (PDF)
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2006 NYC Council Humane Scorecard
Released on January 8th, 2007 (blog
entry)
There’s been more buzz about animal protection
issues at City Hall this year than ever before. Among the issues city
legislators were talking about: the abuse of wild and exotic animals in
circuses; New York State’s humane education mandate; the 30,000 pets
killed in city-funded shelters; the slaughter of animals for their fur;
the force-feeding of ducks for foie gras; and the suffering endured by
horses used for carriage rides in Central Park.
Despite this ongoing dialogue among the Council Members, Christine
Quinn, the newly-elected Speaker of the City Council, has essentially
ignored the plight of animals in New York City. Under her leadership,
not a single bill of concern to animal advocates reached the floor for a
vote. Prior to becoming Speaker in January 2006, Quinn received a zero
on our City Council Humane Scorecard in 2004 and 2005. Her score for
2006 remains zero.
2006 NYC Council Humane Scorecard (PDF)
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