From an article about how Christine Quinn overturned the law mandating a full service animal shelter in every borough. “City Council Speaker Christine Quinn . . .  said the legislation was a response to an animal “emergency” in New York.  Not incidentally, the legislation would undo a potentially expensive requirement that the city open up a full-service animal shelter in each borough.”

Speaker Christine Quinn has vehemently opposed this legislation (pets in housing), going so far as to break the Council’s own rules to block the bill from getting a hearing. In April 2008, at our request, Council Member Tony Avella, the bill’s sponsor, invoked the “Sponsor’s Privilege” rule. This little-known Council rule allows the sponsor of a bill to force a hearing and vote on their legislation. Quinn broke the rule, refusing a hearing and a vote on Intro 13, effectively killing this bill.”

After pushing two useless bills (tethering and licensing) through the City Council overnight, Quinn boasted about her commitment to animal rights in a letter to constituents. In response, “You have a well-deserved record of being openly hostile or indifferent to our City’s animals, so we find your letter to be particularly puzzling.”

“As Council Speaker, you derailed a bill to enforce a long-standing State law requiring the teaching of humane education in our public schools. It was reported that you had no principled opposition to the bill. You simply disliked its sponsor.”

“The bill has 45 sponsors – more than 90% of the Council.   There’s no excuse for Speaker Quinn to continue to stall on this important bill.  It’s past time for a hearing a vote.”

After pet store fires that killed hundreds of caged animals, Christine Quinn blocked a vote on the bill that would require pet stores to have sprinklers:  “The current version has 40 sponsors, a pretty hefty portion of the 51 members of the City Council.”