Mostly I push “Yes” on my keyboard all the time to support liberal progressive causes from the comfort of my swivel office-chair. My advocacy for human and animal rights has largely consisted of signing “Yes, I agree.” “Yes, I stand with you!” on such petitions.

In the past two years, there have been 18 accidents involving horse-drawn carriages, many injuries and several deaths. So why is it so hard to end this archaic form of so-called amusement? The carriage industry has a strong union which, along with stubborn politicians including Christine Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg, says the carriage rides are good for the all-important tourism industry. But, of course, it is also a form of animal cruelty.

NYClass, an animal advocacy organization (the acronym stands for New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets), has proposed a plan that is tourist-friendly, helps carriage drivers keep their jobs, and uses clean energy. It suggests these horses be humanely retired and replaced with vintage electric cars. Makes sense to me.

In December, I met NYClass and fellow protesters at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue. The Trump-lined street was teeming with tourists interested in carriage rides through the park. While we protested by holding signs and posters of horses down from accidents, I was taunted, mocked and cursed out by an angry horse driver.

“Oh, the poor horseys,” he called out to me. That alone was a bit shocking, but he continued by calling me a crude name for female genitalia. Really? Did he just call me that? Who does that? Feeling helpless and provoked like a 12-year-old being bullied, I retorted by giving him the finger. The fortysomething, amply built man then challenged me with what he thought was a clincher of a question.

“Name me three breeds of horses—go ahead, name me three breeds of horses!” he yelled. I shouted back, “No, I can’t, but can you tell me the names of the last three horses that died while pulling tourists?” Again he replied, “Oh, the poor horseys!”

By then, rip-roaring mad, I called him a different body part and walked away. I am not proud of this. I probably should have been more mature and controlled.

Well, you don’t have to put yourself at risk of being cursed out by a carriage driver, although it was instructive to join the fight. If you would like to help put an end to this abusive practice, check out NYClass’s website, www.ny-class.org, and push “Yes, I support retiring the horse-drawn carriages and replacing them with humane, sustainable electric vintage-replica tour cars proposed in the NYC Council bill, Intro 86A.”

And if you do decide to join them on their next outing, they have a calendar full of events. Hey, you may meet Kathy Najimy or Alec Baldwin or Lea Michele or Miley Cyrus’ sister Noah, or any number of stars who also think this industry is just downright mean.

WE MUST PASS THE PRESIDENT’S BALANCED APPROACH TO OUR LOOMING CRISIS

By Ken Biberaj

I recently attended a briefing at the White House with business leaders from around the country. The message was clear: Going off the fiscal cliff would be devastating to every sector of our economy. The president understands this and is willing to take hard steps to solve it, but the House Republicans have not acted in kind. We need their action.

The automatic cuts associated with going off the cliff would cause a loss of jobs, cuts to essential social serves and higher taxes for all Americans, likely resulting in a double-dip recession at a time when we are making steady economic progress.

Our country cannot afford this option, and there is no excuse why our leaders in Washington cannot come to an agreement. Those stubbornly refusing to act are more interested in self-preservation. The only option is a deal that addresses both spending and revenue. The president’s balanced approach to the situation would restore confidence in our political system and markets by providing greater certainty for businesses, and lowering the debt burden we pass on to our children.

If House Republicans do not act, the mandatory reductions will take a sledgehammer to Social Security, Medicare and other programs that are essential to our seniors. The average middle-class family will see an immediate increase of $2,200 in taxes. This is not the way to cut the deficit. The president is willing to compromise and address cuts in a way that protects seniors and keeps the economy moving forward. A version of the Bush tax cuts for middle class Americans has already passed the Senate, and the president is prepared to sign it. Now the House Republicans need to vote for it.

The stakes are especially high for New Yorkers.

State Controller Tom DiNapoli recently projected that working New Yorkers would see a $43 billion increase in taxes and 3.4 million people would also be forced to pay the federal alternative minimum tax. All in all, the state would witness an automatic drop of $600 million in federal funds—devastating local budgets. This, coupled with the projected costs associated with the recovery from Hurricane Sandy, would put our most vulnerable communities, small businesses and seniors at risk. New York City is surviving the recession, but not on even footing: Issues of inequality have been exacerbated. Not responding to the fiscal cliff would hurt those already suffering the most.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that consumer confidence would nosedive if a deal is not made; resulting is nearly $200 billion less in spending next year. The taxes in our city are already high. Adding a tax increase on middle-class New Yorkers coupled with a double dip in the recession would cripple New York businesses, especially those that benefit from the over 50 million visitors who come through our city each year, a major part of the New York economy. Places like the Russian Tea Room, which benefit from this tourism, would be hit even harder by reduced travel and spending in our city.

As a businessman, I believe the White House approach is the only real option available. Yet as we get closer to the cliff, it is becoming clear that the Republicans are not willing to make the obvious choices that are needed to keep our economy moving forward. I urge all New Yorkers to look past the distractions and recognize that going over the fiscal cliff is not an option. Act now and call our elected officials in Washington to push them to support a balanced approach. In 2013, we need our leaders to turn their attention to other important issues that affect New York’s economy: immigration reform, innovation and infrastructure, to name a few.

Running a business in New York City is very challenging, and as the Russian Tea Room celebrates its 85th anniversary on West 57th Street, we hope that our leaders in Washington don’t make it even harder for us to survive the years to come.

Ken Biberaj is the VP of the Russian Tea Room and a Democratic candidate for City Council on the Upper West Side (www.ken2013.com). The views expressed here are those of the writer and not the Russian Tea Room.

Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Here’s one visit to New York that did not end well. Yesterday, a tourist from Barcelona was attacked by a man in a suit and tie in City Hall Park, reported Gothamist. The weapon of choice? A hammer. According to witnesses, the attacker—who supposedly “looked normal”—repeatedly struck the man with the claw end of the hammer.

The attacker, 43-year-old John Yoos, screamed about Nazis and various American presidents while striking the man, according to police. Witnesses took Yoos down to the ground and held him until police arrived. The victim suffered a fractured skill and defensive wounds, but is in stable condition according to the NY Post. His wife witnessed the whole disturbing incident.

The attack is reminiscent of another random act of violence two weeks ago on the Upper East Side, in which a crazed homeless man stabbed a young woman walking down the street. Hopefully this recent spate of summer violence calms down soon.

—Alissa Fleck

By Reid Spagna

Tour buses that idle in front of the historic Dakota and Majestic buildings on West 72nd Street and Central Park West have long frustrated residents. Despite police trying to crack down on double-decker buses that sit in front of these famous New York City landmarks, residents have yet to see an improvement.

A tour bus travels past the Dakota.

“It’s no good; there are too many buses,” said Roberto Fuentes, a doorman at the West 72nd Street entrance to the Majestic building. “They shouldn’t be over here, blocking the entrances and double parking.”

Theodorus Nutarnio, who mans the Majestic’s Central Park West entrance, agreed with his fellow doorman, Fuentes.

“It happens every summer. It’s annoying,” Nutarnio said. “Three or four buses will be lined up, and stand idling in front of the building. There is a sign that says ‘$500 For Idling’, but the buses don’t listen to them.”

As the dwelling of many celebrities and the site of John Lennon’s death, the Dakota is an especially strong draw for sightseers visiting the Big Apple. The result is a blockage of tour buses and their passengers along the intersection’s western boarder, where they disrupt public bus services and traffic.

Tenants have become frustrated with the situation. They have frequently called the police after complaining to the doormen, who have little control over the situation. With most tour buses frequenting the intersection on Sundays, it becomes difficult for many tenants to return home at the end of the weekend.

Even pedestrians walking through the neighborhood are angry with the congestion.

Francis Apgar was waiting for the cross-town M72 when a tour bus parked in the MTA bus lane.

“You can’t park in a New York City bus stop,” Apgar shouted. The driver replied in a dismissive manner and walked away with his customers.

“The crowds stop here, and it’s getting so bad,” Apgar said. “Everyone in the neighborhood is getting very upset.”

In May, Council Member Gale Brewer wrote to the mayor’s office about the sightseeing bus congestion. The NYPD announced an increase in officers at the intersection to combat traffic obstructions.

From 8 a.m. until 11 a.m., the buses’ exhaust and engine noise are a daily distraction for residents of the neighborhood, Brewer explained in her letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Brewer cited the lack of coordination between the tour companies as a reason for masses of tourists blocking the streets.

“Residents cannot be expected to endure a significant loss in their quality of life in exchange for tourist dollars,” Brewer wrote in the letter.

In a July 5 response, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly wrote that over 200 tour buses have been forced to move from the intersection through the first two weeks of June. Half of these vehicles have received parking summons.

The Commanding Officer of the 20th Precinct and the Manhattan Traffic Task Force of both divisions have amped up the amount of officers at the site. Captain Michael Merritt of the Traffic Task Force has promised that the early mornings of weekdays will be incorporated into the current shifts.

With tour buses coming and going with the seasons—spring and summer tend to see more tour buses in the area—Jesse Bodine, Brewer’s director of constituent services, expressed that the “ebb and flow” of tour buses needs to be monitored.

“There have been positive signs to show that there needs to be some sort of continuing enforcement,” he said. “We need to think of it on a long-term scale, about how spots like [the Dakota] become de facto or cultural landmarks and how to balance the interests of both residents and tourists.”

Lincoln Center will offer $5 off the adult price for guided tours of the complex throughout the month. Tickets are available at official NYC Information centers and kiosks in Midtown, Harlem, Chinatown and City Hall.