Some Of My Best Friends Are Dogs
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- October
- 18
Toward the end of today’s “High Noon” radio program, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson answered a a couple of questions about the controversial Ward Acres issue.
That’s the northend park where for years dog owners let their pets run off leash. In a controversial move, the city imposed a law which has limited the hours for “dogs gone wild” and also created a special licensing fee for anyone who takes their dog to the park with or without a leash.
This has caused a contretemps and has become an election issue, which Bramson believes has been blown out proportion.
He may be right about that.
But midway between a rather wonkish answer to a question, I asked him if he owned a dog.
“I do not,” replied. “But I don’t know if that’s necessarily material.”
Sure, I said, but laws like this can really rile dog owners.
Bramson continued, “I understand. Look, my wife grew up with retrievers. I have close personal friends who walk their dogs every day at Ward Acres. I understand the passion that surrounds this issue.”
The full interview can be heard by clicking onto the High Noon menu on this blog.
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on Thursday, October 18th, 2007 at 4:36 pm by Phil Reisman.
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Phil Reisman is a veteran journalist and native of Westchester County. He began his career in 1977 as the head copy boy of a startup New York City newspaper that quickly went belly up. Reisman was not to blame for the newspaper's failure, or so he claims.
He also said that, although he wasn’t crazy about them, the Cappelli monstrosities possess a “cosmopolitan, energetic feel.” Also had to laugh when he inadvertantly called something or other a “trumped-up claim.” And with his exorbitant salary-grab, he’s just trying to “keep up with inflation.” After all, his property taxes are going through the roof!
If His Excellency the Mayor of New Rochelle believes that this issue is blown out of proportion, he seems to be a little out of touch. He must not understand how hard it is for many people to find a way to have a healthy, well-socialized dog; get exercise for themselves; be part of the community; and still be able to afford to pay Westchester’s exorbitant property taxes. Which one of those would he like us to give up? I’m sure he wants us to keep paying the taxes that pay his salary.
And why are they cutting down the trees in Ward Acres? Do they have some plans? It doesn’t even seem to be in accord with what their consulting study suggested. What was the point of all the hearings about Ward Acres?
If Hizzoner Mr. Bramson thinks that this issue is going away, he would be dead wrong.
Perhaps he and the rest of the New Rochelle City Council would be interested in the first national political survery of over 1000 dog owners, sponsored by my company, My Dog Votes.
A startling 94.3% of dog owners ranked dog laws and policies as being an even more important concern than even property taxes, when questioned about which issues were important in a local or state election.
In response to the growing concern over other local laws or measures that limit or restrict dog ownership, dog owners are also opposed to ordinances that restrict or ban dogs by weight or size (97.9%), pet limit laws (78%), as well as ordinances that limit or ban access to leashed dogs in public spaces such as parks or downtown areas (99.6%).
A key finding of the My Dog Votes™ Voter Opinion survey showed that a whopping 98.6% of the dog owners said a candidate’s position or track record on dog-related laws.
This issue ISN’T about dogs at all. This issue is about the the Mayor and City Council railroading the public into thinking it’s about dogs.
This issue is about land use – and Mayor Bramson and City Council seem to have other ideas in mind about how to use Ward Acres, and perhaps those ideas contradict the intended and legal use of the land. There’s a big obstacle in the way of what the city fathers want – dog owners.
Even more troubling is hte fact that Mayor Bramson and the City Council have no qualms whatsoever about depriving citizens of their 4th Amemndment Constitutional rights and turning Ward Acres into a police state.
Ward Acres is a wakeup call for not just dog owners, but for all citizens in New Rochelle who value democracy.
And it’s time that Bramson & the city Council wake up and smell the dog.
You don’t really need or want that lifestyle, it might hurt y’all slowly more…....Just tell him you
don’t wanna repeat something your not too proud of z7uas.
Hi, hello, privet
deadwood