NYC Council Tells New Yorkers Where They Can File Their ACC Testimony
Or is it that council members care too much?
The Scoop New York is a newsletter dedicated to companion animals and the New Yorkers who care for them, from Buffalo to Brooklyn. NYC ACC KILLS, published by TSNY, enumerates and memorializes adoptable cats and dogs who were nonetheless exterminated by Animal Care Centers of New York City.
Headlines from Buffalo to Brooklyn
It’s Friday, May 31, 2024. This is The Weekly Poop.
This week, the New York City Council health committee canceled a scheduled NYC ACC oversight hearing. (Technically the meeting was “deferred,” but since no new date was provided: canceled.) It’s the same hearing The Scoop New York previewed two weeks ago, convened to address what the council described as an animal control “capacity crisis.”
Given that ACC is taking in about half the number of cats and dogs it admitted annually in the early- to mid-10s, and given that the non-profit that is nominally in charge of the system is just five years into a $1.4 billion, 34-year contract, it’s fair to wonder what kind of “crisis” could be serious enough to require a City Council hearing.
But we know the answer to that. Just as we know the hearing, as much as anything, was called to make a show of concern on the part of council members whose raison d’être is making solemn hot mic proclamations before setting out to change not one damn thing.
TSNY emailed the office of Council Member Lynn Schulman, who chairs the health committee, and received a reply. Not only that, the response was tailored to the question we actually asked.
“Unfortunately,” a Schulman spokesperson wrote, “the council is just very focused on the contentious budget season right now, and right now the council just wouldn’t be able to dedicate the full time and attention NYC ACC deserve. We hope to have this hearing as soon as summer is over, and we can definitely keep you updated when we figure out our next date.”
Now, TSNY is sincerely appreciative of Council Member Schulman’s office for getting back to us — and promptly at that. But we have to (again) wonder: Which is more likely?
Are New York City Council members so indifferent to the fate of animals at the city pound that they canceled an oversight hearing at the first hint of publicity? Or are they so invested that they’re waiting to hold said hearing after the city budget passes, so ACC can have their undivided attention?
TSNY filed a freedom of information request for council member emails pertaining to the scheduling and cancellation of the hearing. Ideally that will shed some light.
In a related incident, last week The Scoop New York asked ACC about its dormant Twitter/X account.
“In speaking with our adopters and members of the community that need our pet resources, we found that they were not active on Twitter,” wrote ACC spox Katy Hansen. “So, we decided to concentrate our efforts on other social media platforms.”
Now here’s another — nah. There’s no pretending to take that seriously. And the direct consequences to ACC’s victims are too hellish to pretend it’s funny.
Here’s the latest New York companion animal news:
Watch the Niagara Falls city council nickel and dime homeless companion animals.
Hempstead animal control handed over dogs to a newly formed Florida “rescue” whose operators have a history of animal-related infractions. Also: Hempstead is looking to offload animal control to a private entity.
The state police charged four people with felonies after dozens of dead and neglected animals were found on a farm in Chenango County.
NYPD made a dogfighting arrest in the Bronx, but it’s unclear if the case is related to area cat abductions.
Rescued by NYPD after he was nearly killed by his “owner” in Washington Heights, Rocket now needs saving from the ASPCA.
"A few cats became more than 20 in just a couple months.” Welcome to Eric Adams’ New York.
A Williamsburg Dog Cafe announced it will be shutting down.
Cat rescuers sent to a condemned home in Mayfield found “mountains of dead animals” on the property. No charges were filed.
A Dutchess County rescue took in 32 dogs from NYC and could use some assistance.
“Hard times sometimes do call for desperate measures, but animal abandonment is never the answer!” Welcome to Kathy Hochul’s New York.
The state police are looking for the people who castrated a dog (he’s alive and recovering) and dumped him by the side of a road in Otsego County.
Good news: NYC ACC reunited Mecca Jr. with his dad. Just look at these faces.
Good news: A Suffolk County police officer rescued three dogs from a burning house.
Good news: MTA officers rescued a terrified pit bull from underneath Metro-North tracks in the Bronx.
Good news: Strong Island Animal Rescue does it again.
This week on The Scoop New York
SARA: Thousands of Lives Hang in the Balance as Legislators Eye Capitol Exits
Electeds don’t so much need the courage to do the right thing as the wherewithal to take credit for it.
Food recalls
Per the FDA, Pedigree has recalled its Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food due to the "potential presence of loose metal pieces.”