Shelter Reform Action Committee
P.O. Box 268 - NY, NY 10028 - (212) 886-3700
A coalition of animal advocate groups, rescuers, former CACC
employees and volunteers and concerned citizens
CHARTER MEMBERS:
United Action for Animals, Inc., Julie Van Ness, president
The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc., Elizabeth Forel, director
Animal Adoption League Inc., Carol Caver, president
New Yorkers for Companion Animals, Inc., Patty Adjamine, director
The Caring Corps, Inc., Livi French, executive director
In Defense of Animals, Inc., Barbara Stagno, northeast director
Gary Kaskel - Marie Mar - Karen Harris
October 27, 1997
Dear Friend of Shelter Reform,
First we want to thank you and congratulate you for your extraordinary effort in helping us obtain more than 75,000 signatures for the 1997 Animal Welfare & Shelter Reform ballot initiative.
To bring you up to date.
Thanks to the Giuliani Administration's opposition to creating humane solutions to pet overpopulation, the City refused to put the initiative on the November ballot on two grounds. First, they challenged the validity of more than 34,000 of our signatures. After carefully reviewing the notations made by the Board of Elections, we were able to show that the City did a careless and shoddy review, and that we did indeed acquire many more than the required 50,000 signatures. But the City also took the position that our proposed referendum is in conflict with an 1894 New York State law, which gives the mayor discretion over the city agency to perform animal control. A State court judge agreed with the City's argument and the Appellate Division affirmed that lower court ruling. The New York State Court of Appeals refused to hear a further appeal. Therefore, we will not be on the ballot this November 4th.
We will not be defeated!
Please know that we are not going to drop this vital battle. We have accomplished two very important things in a short time with a relatively small group of committed people like you. First, we have educated thousands of New Yorkers about the mistreatment of NYC's animals at the Center for Animal Care and Control. Second, we've obtained the support of a huge number of citizens who took the time to sign our petitions and commit to voting for our mandate for change. In short, we have amassed a significant constituency to speak out politically for NYC's animals. We plan to carry on our efforts with the State legislature and the City Council to ensure change.
The next step.
We must keep the issue of shelter reform alive in the public's eye. In order to get the message out to the largest audience possible, SRAC would like to place a series of display ads in The New York Times that will tell New Yorkers about the horrific problems at the CACC, and about the ballot initiative that they never got to vote on which would have changed that. Please, if you are able, send us a contribution to make the ad campaign a reality. So far, we have not made any appeals for monetary support; however, it is essential now that we receive funds to sustain our efforts. Please be as generous as you can, We assure you that your donation will be spent with great care and will go directly toward the mission of shelter reform.
SRAC's efforts for reform and accountability will continue and we will keep you apprised of future activities. Feel free to call our hotline (212-886-3700) or visit our new website (http://users.infohouse.com/srac) for more information. Thank you, once again, for your monumental effort. And do not give up hope -- the animals need us to forge ahead.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gary Kaskel, co-Chairman