Horse-drawn carriage industry: revenue & taxes

*** A great moment from the Jan. 30, 2009, hearing at New York City Hall on two carriage horse bills ***
Featuring George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, and Kimberly Spell, SVP of Communications & Government Affairs for NYC & Company.
Background--NYC & Company is one of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's pet projects, apparently--the "official" NYC tourism company. Perhaps they thought God was on their side that day.
Fertitta had given predictable testimony, and he ran out of time just as was getting ready to give some statistics about the industry. Spell came along not to testify but to field possible questions, of which there were a few--first from pro-industry Council Member G. Oliver Koppell, and then from Avella, sponsor of the bill to ban horse-drawn carriages.
Avella sought to deconstruct the ridiculous "revenue" estimates that NYC & Company presented; he asked for an explanation from Spell. She set out to explain. Avella stopped her several times with questions, and she soldiered on bravely, even raising her hand to silence him.
On and on she went, telling us how the revenue figures were compiled and wading deeper into the gator-filled swamp.
Spell insisted that the figure was based on estimated personal income taxes and business taxes associated with the lucrative cash industry ("400 people who pay taxes, and businesses who pay taxes," she explained). We watched intently as she calculated how $15 million is "spent on rides."

CM Avella was delighted. "I am so glad you said that," he said, adding that he is asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate each and every one of the stables.

The January 30, 2009, public hearing was held to address two bills: Intro. 658, Avella's bill to ban horse-drawn carriages, and an industry bill, Intro. 653-A, which the Bar Association of NYC has said will only make things worse for the horses.
VIDEO CREDIT: ANTHONY SPEZIALE

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• George Fertitta
• Kimberly Spell
• NYC & Company
• carriage horse
• horse-drawn carriage
• Intro. 658
• Intro. 653
• Leroy Comrie
• James Gennaro
• Tony Avella
• G. Oliver Koppell
• John Liu
• Elizabeth Crowley
• Internal Revenue Service

[plazahorsescom]

@FreeTheHorses12 : Good job!...

[friendofhorsesatcps]

this is the address of ice-immigration police unit for marriage fraud:26 Federal Plaza

9th Floor, Suite 9-110 New York, NY 10278. let the immigration police know about their fraud, i am out of stay in this country too, but i didn't give one cent for marriage fraud to save my status.i am here to make my money not to do criminal things.this is how america became america,with immigrants,not criminals.kill horses,dont pay taxes,get green card and money from fraud marriage,what else,anything good?

[friendofhorsesatcps]

you the public dont know nothing about them.you know only what happened on the streets.what about the horses died in the stables? i will explain everything to NYC & Company and ASPCA soon.you wanna hear about marriage fraud?it is there in the horse carriage hack spots.there are people who make money from this,this is known and spoken.I know 8 men and 1 woman made fraud marriage,paying 20000-30000 dollars to american citizens.they don't live together,not a real marriage,just for green card.

[friendofhorsesatcps]

CPS is Clinton Parks Stable, on 52nd street in nyc.another horse named Muffin was killed by it's driver from overworking,this driver don't normally walk a horse,he runs instead.Muffin couldn't take it anymore,it was an old horse,this happened in december 2011,around christmas.I was in the business to make money not to love horses,but I felt sorry for Muffin.I wish IRS, USCIS and US attorney's office for their federal crimes and NYC&Company, Avella, ASPCA wipe them off the map or new york soon...

[Manfred694]

Friend: Who or what is CPS? Is it a stable? Did a horse die there? Please let us know since I am new to this, but find it very intriguing. I don't like to see the horses on the street, but I was not aware of the corruption. Now I understand that it is an all cash business with no documentation. It is a breeding ground for tax cheats. Why do the Mayor's Office, comptroller's office, Department of Consumer Affairs and District Attn allow them to continue. I do not get it.

[Manfred694]

to friendofhorsesatcps - What horse died in the stable in December? Can you tell us about it? I think if you know something, you should go to the press with this information. There is too much behind closed doors with these people.

I just remember a horse dying on the street sometime in October. I remember reading that he was very sick with an ulcer.

[Manfred694]

I hear that legislation is being considered in the Council that would require people to buy tickets to take a ride No money would change hands between the customer and the driver. There have been too many complaints where people have been overcharged and also charged sales tax.

Central Park Conservancy would create a booth near the hack line to sell the tickets.

[Manfred694]

It seems that this corruption (tax evasion) has been known for some time but nothing was done about it. I hope the IRS is smart enough to do the job. After all this is how they got Al Capone and OJ Simpson.

[friendofhorsesatcps]

I read your posts here,I understand you are against the business.Why don't we get together, go to IRS all togehter and submit a public complaint in addition to Mr.Avella's statement?Or if anyone from you guys contact me via here,I'll get you all I know.I have pictures and videotapes that will help Avella and anyone support Mr.Avella. TO THE manager OF CPS:What did you do for the recent horse that died in your stable,in December 2011?Do you want me to tell details here, of what happened to him?

[MichaelUWSNYC]

The Bloomberg administration has to know that the carriage drivers are underreporting their income, if they're reporting it at all. It's an all cash business. They refuse to make a change that would require them to take credit cards. They illegally charge sales tax. They overcharge unwitting customers. Meanwhile, NYC residents ingest the horse manure that paves the lower loop of Central Park, and the City uses our tax dollars to clean it up. Why do Bloomberg and Quinn protect this industry?