We went into NYC today to Mayor Giuliani's hearing for the ferret
legalization bill.
 
There was a good turnout of NYC ferret people and many of them spoke and
did a very good job at making their pro-ferret points.  A representative
from the ASPCA and a representative from the HSNY also spoke.
 
In any case, the information did not help as Mayor Giuliani had his heart
set on vetoing the bill.  He said that ferrets should be illegal in NYC
for the same reasons that tigers are.  He feels that both animals are
dangerous to the public.
 
This leaves it up to New Yorkers to convince enough Council Members who
voted "no" or abstained to change their votes to "yes" - otherwise this
chance at legalization is gone.  The bill won't even get a second chance
to be voted on unless ferret owners can demonstrate that they have changed
at least 8 Council Members to pro-ferret.
 
If ferret people fail to achieve this, there are more options down the
road - but they are just that... down the road.
 
Mayor Giuliani stated that he felt that ferret people were going about this
the wrong way as one of the reasons he vetoed the bill.  He thinks that the
Council has no right to pass laws that encroach on the territory of the
Department of Health.  Mayor Giuliani thinks the proper way to change the
ban is to get the Department of Health to change its stance on ferrets.
A case of which branch of government can go over the heads of which branch
of government.
 
People like Gary Kaskel have been working a VERY long time to change the
Department of Health's stance.  The DOH does not seem interested in any of
the information presented by Gary, the ASPCA, the HSNY, or anyone else that
is pro-ferret.
 
What I would wonder is what circumstances would change the person in charge
of the DOH?  Is this is position appointed by the Mayor?  If a pro-ferret
Mayor is elected, would it be possible to get the ban removed through the
DOH (which is how Mayor Giuliani suggested it be done) instead of by
getting legislation passed?
 
Meanwhile...
Gary Kaskel has an ongoing lawsuit over this same issue.  Another case of
which branch can go over the heads of which branch.  This appears to be an
interesting avenue to pursue, but one with which I am not very familiar.
 
Otherwise...
If the above all fail, it will be necessary to try again next year.  This
will necessitate finding a new bill sponsor and going through all the steps
that the current bill has already been through.  That would make this issue
continue to go on, with all the while NYC being used as an example to
encourage other places to make ferrets illegal.
 
I have some photos of the hearing (don't know how they came out yet) and
will try to put them up soon.
http://www.modernferret.com/pressreleases
 
- Eric
 
Modern Ferret Magazine - For ferret owners. By ferret owners.
Mary & Eric Shefferman & the Fuzzies:
Trixie, Balthazar, Cauliflower, Koosh, and Gabrielle
http://www.modernferret.com  -  http://www.modernferretstore.com
[Posted in FML issue 3425]