Mayor Bill de Blasio’s long-standing quest to overhaul the Central Park carriage-horse industry highlights several of his administration’s weaknesses, including a disregard for facts, contempt for taxpayer funds, and subservience to special interests. Despite initially promising to ban the industry, de Blasio now proposes reducing the number of horses and relocating them within Central Park, coupled with banning pedicabs from the park’s lower areas. This plan faced significant scrutiny during a City Council hearing, where administration officials failed to provide concrete answers to basic questions about the necessity and logistics of the proposal, including traffic safety concerns and the cost of constructing new stables in the park.
Critics argue that the mayor’s plan lacks factual basis, particularly regarding the safety of horses and potential conflicts between horses and pedicabs, and question the significant expenditure of potentially $25 million on a stable. This expenditure, viewed as serving special interests rather than the public, reflects a pattern of decision-making influenced by campaign donations rather than evidence or public benefit. The controversy surrounding the carriage-horse bill is emblematic of broader concerns about de Blasio’s governance, including issues with homelessness statistics and prioritization of donor interests over those of various city stakeholders.
The article suggests that de Blasio’s electoral security, despite these controversies, stems from voters’ focus on immediate personal concerns rather than broader governance issues. As the City Council prepares to vote on the carriage-horse proposal, it remains to be seen whether council members will align with the mayor’s plan or heed the criticisms of its opponents.
For more information:
https://nypost.com/2016/01/25/the-carriage-horse-fight-exposes-all-of-de-blasios-weaknesses/