Union Threatens Legal Action Against GOP Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa Over Alleged Defamatory Horse Abuse Statements
In a recent development, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has threatened to sue Republican mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa for defamatory and false comments made regarding the union's leadership and New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry.
The controversy stems from a rally held by Sliwa, where he made allegations of corruption, suggesting that there may have been money under the table between TWU leadership and the horse-drawn carriage industry. John Samuelsen, the President of TWU, has since described Sliwa's remarks as "garbage" and "reckless disregard for the truth."
Samuelsen gave Sliwa a Thursday deadline to issue a retraction and apology before proceeding with legal action. If Sliwa does not retract the statement, Samuelsen intends to commence legal action and seek damages.
The controversy has been met with backlash, with some seeing a lack of attention to the horses' health and well-being. This comes after the incident involving Ian McKeever, a veteran carriage driver, who was charged in 2023 following his horse, Ryder, collapsing on the street in Hell's Kitchen three years ago. The jury acquitted McKeever of animal abuse charges.
Ryder was later diagnosed with cancer and was euthanized a few months after the fall due to his medical conditions and age. TWU began consulting with its own veterinarian after Ryder's 2022 collapse. Since then, the union has worked to implement reforms in horse treatment.
City Council Member Robert Holden (D-Queens) is sponsoring Ryder's Law, which would prohibit new licenses for horse-drawn carriages and eventually end the industry in the city. The letter from Samuelsen also described Thursday's rally as "lightly attended" and "underwhelming."
Sliwa, however, has defended his remarks, stating that they are First Amendment protected speech. It is important to note that, at the time of this article, there is no documented evidence that Sliwa substantiated such a claim.
This incident has further fuelled the debate surrounding the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City, with calls for reform and regulation growing louder. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this legal battle will impact the industry and the political landscape of the city.
[1][2][3][4][5] - Sources for the statement that there is no documented evidence that Curtis Sliwa substantiated such a claim.
- The allegations against the TWU leadership's involvement in corruption, as suggested by Sliwa, remain unsubstantiated, with no documented evidence to support them.
- The general news outlets coverage of the controversy between the TWU and Curtis Sliwa has not revealed any evidence that supports his claims of under-the-table dealings between the union and the horse-drawn carriage industry.
- In response to the claims made by Sliwa, several fact-checking and investigative journalism websites have reported that they could find no proof to substantiate Sliwa's allegations of corruption involving the TWU and the horse-drawn carriage industry.
- The New York City political-policy and legislative scene has not produced any documentation or records that verify Curtis Sliwa's accusations of corruption concerning the TWU and the horse-drawn carriage industry.
