Timing Of Pay Raise, Horse And Carriage Bills Draws Suspicion From Drivers
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- There were harsh accusations from horse carriage drivers on Tuesday. They claim politicians are pushing them off the street like worthless pawns as a way of engineering pay raises.
Hansom cabbie and horse owner Ian McKeever said the tentative deal between the city and the union representing horse and carriage drivers will kill his livelihood.
The plan would cut the number of working horses from 180 to 95.
"They say it's the best deal they could get. Well my life is not a deal," he told CBS2's Hazel Sanchez.
The city council is expected to vote on the horse and carriage bill on Friday, the same day they vote on pay raises for themselves and other city officials.
Many hansom cabbies said they find the timing suspicious.
"It seems a little bit strange doesn't it," Christina Hansen said, "They deserve to get paid for their jobs, but they also need to protect ours."
Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito said the scheduling of votes is purely coincidental.
"This is an issue of timing. There's been a lot of conversation on both of these issues," she said, "So we're not hiding anything. We're very transparent and accountable."
As WCBS-880's Rich Lamb reported, Councilman David Greenfield wants the vote postponed, saying that the administration has failed to answer fundamental questions.
"I believe that before the city puts dozens of people out of work, we need to have answers to basic questions like exactly how many people will be out of work? Why are the pedicab drivers not part of the deal? Is it even legal to put a stable in Central Park? And of course, is this a good use of taxpayer funds, to spend tens of millions of dollars to have a stable in the park as well?" he said.
Greenfield said a number of his colleagues have thanked him quietly for speaking out about doubts and questions they also have.
Sources told CBS2 that Mayor Bill de Blasio has been lobbying council members to vote yes to pay back his campaign supporters.
"I feel that the mayor was given a lot of donations during his election campaign and promises to ban the horses. he realizes he couldn't ban the horses, and then he decided to compromise," one cabbie said.
City Councilman Rory Lancman plans to vote against the compromise, but said he isn't aware of any lobbying by de Blasio.
"I can assure the drivers and everyone else that there is no linkage or shady dealing that links the payraise bill and the horse carriage bill. The timing of both pieces of legislation are on their own track," he said.
Lancman said if de Blasio vetoes a pay raise after a failed horse and carriage bill, he's confident there are enough votes to override the mayor's veto.
