The combat over the way forward for Central Park’s carriage horses is heating up, with animal rights activists threatening to sue the carriage drivers union for defamation after its management stated the group was tied to actual property pursuits attempting to develop the West Facet.
In a letter Transport Staff Union head John Samuelsen and Native 100 president John Chiarello this week, an lawyer for New Yorkers for Clear Livable and Secure Streets — NYCLASS — advised the union to “cease and desist from making, publishing or distributing any further false statements” in regards to the group, its spokeswoman Edita Birnkrant, or its co-founder and President, Steve Nislick.
Steve Nislick founding father of NYCLASS speaks at “A Night of New York Class” on October 23, 2012 in New York Metropolis. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Photographs for NYCLASS)
In one other put up, Samuelsen accused Nislick of shopping for Adams’ help, claiming, “it wouldn’t be the first time that NYCLASS and their real estate mogul founder Steve Nislick have bought off NYC Mayors.”
Within the letter, Nislick’s lawyer laid out a listing of allegedly defamatory statements expressed by the union boss, and advised Samuelsen he was now “on notice of a litigation hold,” and will protect all data in expectation of a forthcoming defamation lawsuit.
“Every single thing on that list is provable,” he stated.
“It’s an effort to intimidate the Transport Workers Union into not representing our workers,” Samuelsen stated of the letter. “It’s clearer than ever to us that we’re correct — this is an absolute David & Goliath battle for 170 largely immigrant workers against an organization that was founded by real estate developers.”
Nislick, an actual property exec, is the president of NYCLASS — a 501(c)4 non-profit with a said mission “to inform business leaders, policy makers, and members of the community about alternative transportation options, traffic safety, and sanitation solutions that will improve the quality of life for residents of New York City,” in line with IRS filings.
Samuelsen, requested to again up his declare that the group’s advocacy is linked to efforts to get management of the land underneath a number of carriage horse stables on Manhattan’s West Facet, Samuelsen pointed to a 2017 report in Politico noting that Nislick was lobbying the de Blasio administration to outlaw carriage horses whereas additionally pitching growth concepts for the West Facet.
John Samuelsen of Transport Staff Union. (Alex Wong/Getty Photographs)
“I’ve never had any interest in those properties whatsoever,” Nislick stated. “Zero.”
In an announcement, Birnkrant, the NYCLASS spokeswoman, punctuated that dedication.
NYC_WEATHER
Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Day by day Information
Horse and carriage in Central Park. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Day by day Information)
“Mr. Nislick stands ready and willing to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, with terms including a legal declaration that he will not be involved in any developments on these sites—either directly or indirectly—and will pay the labor union pension fund $50 million if that pledge is broken,” Birnmrant stated.
“Beyond this, he will sign an agreement stating that, even if the stables were offered to him for free, he would not accept ownership of the land in any shape or form,” she added. “This agreement will be enforceable by law.”
Requested if that pledge allayed any of his considerations, Samuelsen shot again, “Not at all, not in the least.”
“Nislick is involved in this industry and has a dozen proxies he can go to effectuate his goals,” Samuelsen stated.
Nislick famous that this was not the primary cease-and-desist letter he’s despatched Samuelsen. The newest letter references no less than two different such communications from 2022.
“The last time we sent [one] they discontinued the lies,” Nislick stated. “We’ll see what happens this time — if they don’t, I’m gonna sue them.”
Samuelsen stated he’d welcome it.
“A defamation action leads to discovery,” he stated — which means NYCLASS would wish to submit inner paperwork as proof to show their claims. “We would love nothing better.”
