Now THIS is an interesting story on a number of levels! I'll just recap briefly here and let the court papers and press releases speak for themselves with maybe a snarky comment from me here and there.
Brief recap: for some time, one of my favorite rescue groups in New York, Stray from the Heart (I love them all, but there are a few that stand out) has been petitioning the city to, in short, obey and implement it's own law. That law (ordinance, what have you) introduced almost ten years ago pretty much said that each of the city's five boroughs had to provide shelters for dogs and cats throughout the city. Currently there are only three: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Queens and the Bronx have 'intake shelters' where animals are pretty much dropped off but no full facility--including a place where people can meet and possibly adopt them--exists.
Long story short, Stray From the Heart (SFTH) took the city to task to obey it's own law in this regard. The city (and in this case it would be the Department of Health primarily, which oversees Animal Care and Control) balked with a number of excuses, from interpretation of the law to SFTH's standing as to bring such a point to court.
Well, guess what? As of late last week the New York State Supreme Court ruled that, yes, indeed, DoH, you have to obey the law and you have 60 days to come up with how you're planning to do it!
This story has many interesting, moving parts. Of course the main subject is in itself interesting, but consider these extra factoids as well:
1.) Here's the recent court order, which gives a pretty good recap of the issue. The document you really want to read is the one from September--that will get you up-to-speed one what's transpired since January of this year between SFTH and the DoH. Kudos to the Parke Avenue law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP, by the way, for taking on the city. No matter which way your opinion sways, that does take a pair of eggs.
2.) Note that on the court order you'll see Dr. Thomas R. Frieden named as a Defendant in the case. Interesting on two fronts: number one, Dr. Frieden was appointed by President Obama as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back in May 2009. So he's got other things to do. Secondly, however, now that I think about it--don't you think as part of the 'vetting process' when Obama makes an appointment that stuff like this comes out, ie, that you are a named defendant in a rather serious case that involves whether you are obeying the law? Sheeh, other potential members of the President's men (and women) have been torpedoed for less, no? Yet the mainstream press let that one slide.
3.) The job of new 'defendant' in this case falls to another Tom, Thomas Farley, who is now head of the NYC Department of Health 'and Mental Hygiene' (what, by the way, does that mean? Brain flossing?) Ironically, he started his career at the CDC, which Frieden now heads, and specializes in infectious diseases. My favorite job title for him that he'd held in the past was 'Epidemic Intelligence Officer.' I'm not kidding, look at the bio. This may come in handy if New York gets hit with the H1n1 flu ("swine flu") this season. Who knows what those nasty microbes are planning--maybe they are even hiding weapons of mass destruction.
4.) As you read here first, the head of the AC&C, Charlene Pedrolie, will no longer be the head of the AC&C come mid-October. If the city is supposed to come up with a plan for how it will obey it's own pet sheltering rule 60 days from the court order that brings us to, what, mid-November or so? (Maybe Charlene is getting out just in time; as I write this, there are a number of names being bandied about for her replacement.) In any event, there's going to be lots and lots of activity going on at the city's shelter system/s in the next two months, so stay tuned.
Give the links above a click and let me know what you think of all of this.
Brief recap: for some time, one of my favorite rescue groups in New York, Stray from the Heart (I love them all, but there are a few that stand out) has been petitioning the city to, in short, obey and implement it's own law. That law (ordinance, what have you) introduced almost ten years ago pretty much said that each of the city's five boroughs had to provide shelters for dogs and cats throughout the city. Currently there are only three: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Queens and the Bronx have 'intake shelters' where animals are pretty much dropped off but no full facility--including a place where people can meet and possibly adopt them--exists.
Long story short, Stray From the Heart (SFTH) took the city to task to obey it's own law in this regard. The city (and in this case it would be the Department of Health primarily, which oversees Animal Care and Control) balked with a number of excuses, from interpretation of the law to SFTH's standing as to bring such a point to court.
Well, guess what? As of late last week the New York State Supreme Court ruled that, yes, indeed, DoH, you have to obey the law and you have 60 days to come up with how you're planning to do it!
This story has many interesting, moving parts. Of course the main subject is in itself interesting, but consider these extra factoids as well:
1.) Here's the recent court order, which gives a pretty good recap of the issue. The document you really want to read is the one from September--that will get you up-to-speed one what's transpired since January of this year between SFTH and the DoH. Kudos to the Parke Avenue law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP, by the way, for taking on the city. No matter which way your opinion sways, that does take a pair of eggs.
2.) Note that on the court order you'll see Dr. Thomas R. Frieden named as a Defendant in the case. Interesting on two fronts: number one, Dr. Frieden was appointed by President Obama as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back in May 2009. So he's got other things to do. Secondly, however, now that I think about it--don't you think as part of the 'vetting process' when Obama makes an appointment that stuff like this comes out, ie, that you are a named defendant in a rather serious case that involves whether you are obeying the law? Sheeh, other potential members of the President's men (and women) have been torpedoed for less, no? Yet the mainstream press let that one slide.
3.) The job of new 'defendant' in this case falls to another Tom, Thomas Farley, who is now head of the NYC Department of Health 'and Mental Hygiene' (what, by the way, does that mean? Brain flossing?) Ironically, he started his career at the CDC, which Frieden now heads, and specializes in infectious diseases. My favorite job title for him that he'd held in the past was 'Epidemic Intelligence Officer.' I'm not kidding, look at the bio. This may come in handy if New York gets hit with the H1n1 flu ("swine flu") this season. Who knows what those nasty microbes are planning--maybe they are even hiding weapons of mass destruction.
4.) As you read here first, the head of the AC&C, Charlene Pedrolie, will no longer be the head of the AC&C come mid-October. If the city is supposed to come up with a plan for how it will obey it's own pet sheltering rule 60 days from the court order that brings us to, what, mid-November or so? (Maybe Charlene is getting out just in time; as I write this, there are a number of names being bandied about for her replacement.) In any event, there's going to be lots and lots of activity going on at the city's shelter system/s in the next two months, so stay tuned.
Give the links above a click and let me know what you think of all of this.
0 comments:
Post a Comment