Shelter Reform Action Committee
P.O. Box 268 · NY, NY 10028 · (212) 886-3700 · srac@infohouse.com
A coalition of animal advocate organizations and concerned citizens
visit our website: http://users.infohouse.com/srac
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 28, 1998
ANIMAL ADVOCATES CHALLENGE
CITY HALL CONTROL OF ANIMAL SHELTER BOARD
The board of directors of NYC's controversial animal shelter system, The Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC), will hold its second meeting open to the public on Wednesday, April 29, at 1 p.m., One Police Plaza, 2nd floor press room.
The Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC), a coalition of animal advocate groups and concerned citizens, which suedCACC to get such meetings open to the public, will present the CACC board with a demand to change its by-laws to oust the Mayor's authority to hire and fire board members. SRAC has investigated the not-for profit corporation laws and determined that such an outside influence over any board of directors is unlawful, and SRAC is prepared to go to court over the issue.
The Mayor has abused this power by firing two board members last June who criticized the Giuliani Administration's management style.
Last year the City killed more than 45,000 companion animals, the vast majority of which were healthy and adoptable. TheCACC operation is the largest animal shelter system in the country, and yet received about half the funding per capita than the rest of the country's shelters.
Animal advocates complain that the CACC board members do not -- and cannot -- do their jobs while under the control of the Mayor.
"Rudy Giuliani has micro-managed 175,000 animals to death since he became mayor," says Gary Kaskel, SRAC co-chairman. "The picture is bleak for the future unless he allows professionals to run the shelters in a humane and responsible way, and gives them the proper funding to do the job."
This year the City budget is $34 billion. The Board of Ed budget is $8 billion. The Child Welfare budget is $1.5 billion. The Animal Care and Control budget is just $5.7 million. Advocates says this is only enough money to collect and kill animals and the Mayor's policies are callous and inhumane.
Shelter Reform Action Committee
P.O. Box 268 · NY, NY 10028 · (212) 886-3700 · srac@infohouse.com
A coalition of animal advocate organizations and concerned citizens
visit our website: http://users.infohouse.com/srac
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 28, 1998
PROFILE OF CACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
or
will shelter animals will ever come out alive with this group in charge?
John J. Doherty, Sanitation Commissioner; chairman for the third year in a row. Career bureaucrat; rose in ranks from garbage collector to commissioner. Has no known prior interest in animal welfare. Has no apparent compunction about lying to animal advocates or committing perjury before the City Council. Obstructed the hiring of a qualified executive director [Ed Sayers] in favor of an inexperienced "city manager" [Marilyn Haggarty-Blohm] to further the Mayor's micro-management grip on CACC. Seems more interested in containing bad press than advancing animal welfare. Refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Neal L. Cohen, MD, Health Commissioner since February. Also Commissioner of Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services since 1996. Clinical psychiatrist at Mount Sinai, Gouverneur, NYU-Tisch andBellevue hospitals. Lifetime involvement in a profession with strong links to pharmaceutical industry and animal research; has no known prior interest in animal welfare. and refuses to meet with animal advocates. Unknown entity at this time, but does not appear sympathetic to shelter animals.
Yolanda Jiminez, Deputy Police Commissioner for Community Affairs. Has no known prior interest in animal welfare.Has refused to meet with animal advocates.
Lia Albo, employed by the Fund for Animals. Currently runs the Have-A-Heart low-cost spay neuter clinic in Manhattan, an important community-based service. The clinic does business with the CACC, a conflict of interest. Another conflict arose when she interfered with a CACC volunteer who approached a fundraising source for Fund for Animals. Has professed a philosophy that euthanasia is the solution to animal over-population. Has stated that she "would rather see a cat dead than declawed." Also boasted of taking stray dogs off the street directly to private vet for euthanasia -- a violation of the law. Non-confrontational board member who permits CACC status quo. Seen by most as uncooperative and refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Todd Davis, a former Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted animal cruelty cases, now employed at Arthur Andersen & Co. Member of NYC Bar Association's Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals. Author of "Animal Fighting and Cruelty Cases in NY, a guide for judges, prosecutors and defense counsel." Has a demonstrated interest in animal welfare. Has too often been an apologist for CACC rather than a proactive advocate.
Daniel D. Ricciardi, MD, a private practice clinician and hospital administrator. Lifetime involvement in a profession with strong links to pharmaceutical industry and animal research; has no prior known interest in animal welfare. Head of Italian-American political group. Appears strongly allied to John Doherty. Seems more interested in containing bad press than advancing animal welfare. Is publicly arrogant and refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Arlene Pedone, has no known prior interest in animal welfare. Apparently appointed by Mayor because of fundraising contacts. Sits on several other non-profit boards. Appears to have limited time for animal advocates.
P.O. Box 268 · NY, NY 10028 · (212) 886-3700 · srac@infohouse.com
A coalition of animal advocate organizations and concerned citizens
visit our website: http://users.infohouse.com/srac
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 28, 1998
ANIMAL ADVOCATES CHALLENGE
CITY HALL CONTROL OF ANIMAL SHELTER BOARD
The board of directors of NYC's controversial animal shelter system, The Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC), will hold its second meeting open to the public on Wednesday, April 29, at 1 p.m., One Police Plaza, 2nd floor press room.
The Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC), a coalition of animal advocate groups and concerned citizens, which suedCACC to get such meetings open to the public, will present the CACC board with a demand to change its by-laws to oust the Mayor's authority to hire and fire board members. SRAC has investigated the not-for profit corporation laws and determined that such an outside influence over any board of directors is unlawful, and SRAC is prepared to go to court over the issue.
The Mayor has abused this power by firing two board members last June who criticized the Giuliani Administration's management style.
Last year the City killed more than 45,000 companion animals, the vast majority of which were healthy and adoptable. TheCACC operation is the largest animal shelter system in the country, and yet received about half the funding per capita than the rest of the country's shelters.
Animal advocates complain that the CACC board members do not -- and cannot -- do their jobs while under the control of the Mayor.
"Rudy Giuliani has micro-managed 175,000 animals to death since he became mayor," says Gary Kaskel, SRAC co-chairman. "The picture is bleak for the future unless he allows professionals to run the shelters in a humane and responsible way, and gives them the proper funding to do the job."
This year the City budget is $34 billion. The Board of Ed budget is $8 billion. The Child Welfare budget is $1.5 billion. The Animal Care and Control budget is just $5.7 million. Advocates says this is only enough money to collect and kill animals and the Mayor's policies are callous and inhumane.
Shelter Reform Action Committee
P.O. Box 268 · NY, NY 10028 · (212) 886-3700 · srac@infohouse.com
A coalition of animal advocate organizations and concerned citizens
visit our website: http://users.infohouse.com/srac
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 28, 1998
PROFILE OF CACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
or
will shelter animals will ever come out alive with this group in charge?
John J. Doherty, Sanitation Commissioner; chairman for the third year in a row. Career bureaucrat; rose in ranks from garbage collector to commissioner. Has no known prior interest in animal welfare. Has no apparent compunction about lying to animal advocates or committing perjury before the City Council. Obstructed the hiring of a qualified executive director [Ed Sayers] in favor of an inexperienced "city manager" [Marilyn Haggarty-Blohm] to further the Mayor's micro-management grip on CACC. Seems more interested in containing bad press than advancing animal welfare. Refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Neal L. Cohen, MD, Health Commissioner since February. Also Commissioner of Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services since 1996. Clinical psychiatrist at Mount Sinai, Gouverneur, NYU-Tisch andBellevue hospitals. Lifetime involvement in a profession with strong links to pharmaceutical industry and animal research; has no known prior interest in animal welfare. and refuses to meet with animal advocates. Unknown entity at this time, but does not appear sympathetic to shelter animals.
Yolanda Jiminez, Deputy Police Commissioner for Community Affairs. Has no known prior interest in animal welfare.Has refused to meet with animal advocates.
Lia Albo, employed by the Fund for Animals. Currently runs the Have-A-Heart low-cost spay neuter clinic in Manhattan, an important community-based service. The clinic does business with the CACC, a conflict of interest. Another conflict arose when she interfered with a CACC volunteer who approached a fundraising source for Fund for Animals. Has professed a philosophy that euthanasia is the solution to animal over-population. Has stated that she "would rather see a cat dead than declawed." Also boasted of taking stray dogs off the street directly to private vet for euthanasia -- a violation of the law. Non-confrontational board member who permits CACC status quo. Seen by most as uncooperative and refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Todd Davis, a former Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted animal cruelty cases, now employed at Arthur Andersen & Co. Member of NYC Bar Association's Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals. Author of "Animal Fighting and Cruelty Cases in NY, a guide for judges, prosecutors and defense counsel." Has a demonstrated interest in animal welfare. Has too often been an apologist for CACC rather than a proactive advocate.
Daniel D. Ricciardi, MD, a private practice clinician and hospital administrator. Lifetime involvement in a profession with strong links to pharmaceutical industry and animal research; has no prior known interest in animal welfare. Head of Italian-American political group. Appears strongly allied to John Doherty. Seems more interested in containing bad press than advancing animal welfare. Is publicly arrogant and refuses to meet with animal advocates.
Arlene Pedone, has no known prior interest in animal welfare. Apparently appointed by Mayor because of fundraising contacts. Sits on several other non-profit boards. Appears to have limited time for animal advocates.
