Edita Birnkrant

BREAKING: “Yet again, a carriage horse violently spooked at the 7th Ave entrance to Central Park today, flipping the carriage, throwing and trapping the driver underneath in yet another terrifying and completely preventable crash in Midtown.  The driver was reportedly seriously injured and taken away in an ambulance, and there are reports of injuries to other drivers and passengers. We still do not know the traumatized horse's condition. NYCLASS urgently calls on @SpeakerMenin and the @NYCCouncil @Lynn4NYC to quickly reintroduce and fast track Ryder’s Law before more people or horses are seriously injured or killed. Today, both a heat advisory and an air quality alert were in effect, yet these horses were still being forced to work in dangerous conditions. These incidents keep happening because horses are skittish prey animals who do not belong in chaotic city traffic. Seventy-eight percent of polled New York voters support passing Ryder’s Law, along with the Mayor, the Central Park Conservancy, and countless horse experts and welfare groups. The City Council must act now before the next tragedy occurs.” Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director, NYCLASS

This is unacceptable. For both the horse and the driver. We need to reintroduce and pass Ryder’s Law now.

The animal advocates leading the campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC are Jewish. In an effort to discredit their advocacy, horse-drawn carriage driver Jill Adamski posted an antisemitic cartoon on X, implying that they're motivated by money rather than concern for the horses. The advocates have nothing to gain personally from helping the carriage horses. Instead of debating the issue on its merits, Adamski resorted to a classic antisemitic trope — portraying Jews as money-driven manipulators. In doing so, she is fanning the flames of antisemitism.

In story after story, the @WSJ frames high prices as the biggest issue associated with the beef industry. This coverage routinely overlooks far more consequential issues, including environmental destruction, animal cruelty and human health. Why does the #WSJ omit these existential issues from its beef industry coverage? cc: @PatThomas1318 @wadeNYC @Ajawmoore

Despite the fact that animal agriculture emits more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined, #climatechange organizations largely overlook this environmentally destructive industry. Thank you @EarthDotCom and @GajbhiyeSa79924 for reporting that each of us can cut our food-related emissions in half by switching to a #vegan diet.

“We here in New York are taking caring for animals seriously. … These bills strengthen accountability for abusers while reinforcing our conference’s longstanding commitment to standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Democrats in the state Senate are again advancing legislation meant to strengthen animal protections in New York, ranging from banning harmful surgical procedures to cracking down on animal fighting rings. One bill by @SenGianaris would ban the practice of devocalization, a surgical procedure that removes tissue from an animal’s vocal cords, reducing or removing their ability to make sounds. Another bill sponsored by Gianaris would create a process for law enforcement to take civil actions against people who may be abusing their pets. Thank you @AndreaSCousins @SenatorHinchey @JamesSkoufis @NYSSenatorMRM 🐾🎉 timesunion.com/capitol/articl…

The @IrishTimes reports that non-vegans are choosing #plantbased foods purely for taste—debunking the myth that eating #vegan means sacrifice. See link below. Thank you, @RuadhanIT Note: Plant-based foods are also better for our health, the planet, and animals.

Watch this video to hear what tourists really think about NYC’s horse carriages. 78% of New Yorkers already support ending them. The truth is impossible to ignore. 💔Horses forced into traffic, collapsing or dying on pavement, crashing into cars, used until they’re broken and discarded. Horses deserve better. @NYCCouncil @SpeakerMenin, let’s give the people what they want and reintroduce & pass Ryder’s Law this year: nyclass.org/stophorseabuse/

Clearly displaying issues as well as underweight a @TWULocal100 repped #NYC carriage horse working in @CentralParkNYC, driver telling me where I can be? This is NYC, USA. @NYCCouncil @SpeakerMenin @HarveyforNY @nyclass @peta @nycHealthy @NYCMayor when will this be stopped?

“New York is home to hundreds of species of wildlife, with hundreds more passing through each year,” New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets Executive Director Edita Birnkrant said in a statement. “Today’s vote sends a clear message that their protection matters.” 🌱 Thank you @PhilWongNYC2025 @SpeakerMenin and @NYCCouncil qchron.com/editions/queen…

New research confirms that lobsters experience pain when plunged into boiling water. The @nypost stands out as one of the few media outlets to cover the findings. Notably, its reporting didn’t just highlight the cruelty, but also pointed readers toward #plantbased alternatives. Thank you #NYPost. cc: @ErinGeismar @KJTorrance

Thank you @KeithPowersNYC! This is a win-win for New Yorkers and their four-legged family members. Let’s get it done! 🐾🙌

A new bill in the NYC Council would establish an animal abuse registry that would publicly provide the names of people convicted of hurting pets and wildlife within the five boroughs. amny.com/news/nyc-publi…

New York state lawmakers have introduced a new resolution to officially proclaim April 2026 as "Pet Cr*elty Awareness Month." The resolution aims to bring statewide attention to the millions of pets that are abandoned, neglected, or abused every year. By dedicating an entire month to this issue, legislators hope to encourage local communities to increase their protective activities and support for animal shelters. The bill emphasizes that public awareness is a critical tool in identifying and preventing animal cruelty before it escalates. Along with the proclamation, lawmakers are discussing updates to the state's "aggravated cruelty" statutes to ensure that intentional harm to companion animals is prosecuted more effectively. This initiative is part of a broader push in New York to treat animal welfare as a core community value and a vital component of public safety. #NewYork #PetCrueltyAwareness #AnimalRights #NYLegislation #Nature2026

In a previously unaired interview with tech entrepreneur and conservationist Dax Dasilva, filmed three months before her death at the age of 91, Jane Goodall shared her advice for how to keep hope in the face of so many global problems: “Act locally first. And do something.”

Thank you, @KeithPowersNYC, for this urgently needed legislation. Pet food is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity. At NYCLASS, we see every day how many New Yorkers are struggling to feed their pets. This common sense bill will help keep families and their animals together. New Yorkers: contact your State Rep and urge them to co-sponsor A10815. @HarveyforNY 🐾

🎉A historic victory for New York City’s wildlife.🐾 Today, the City Council UNANIMOUSLY passed Intro 806, a landmark wildlife protection bill, a major step forward for our urban animals and biodiversity. Grateful to @PhilWongNYC2025 and @SpeakerMenin for their leadership, the Animal Welfare Caucus, and to the @LightsOutNYS , which NYCLASS is proud to be part of, for leading the charge. 🌎As part of an Earth Week package, this is an incredible step forward for New York City.

Edita Birnkrant, the Executive Director of NYCLASS, offered her words of support for the upcoming passage — a long-awaited measure to uplift citywide biodiversity. “New York City is home to hundreds of species of wildlife, and even more pass through each year. Intro 806 is a historic and much-needed step toward protecting them through a coordinated, citywide approach that promotes biodiversity and strengthens our environment,” Birnkrant said in a statement. “It will benefit our communities, as well as the urban wildlife and ecosystems we all share. We are especially grateful to @SpeakerMenin and @PhilWongNYC2025 for their leadership in advancing this critical bill as we head into Earth Week.” qns.com/2026/04/city-h…

In an article headlined “It’s Over For The Vegans,” @TheTimes promotes meat consumption, arguing that “the key to good health is to eat a varied diet." #TheTimes - A #plantbased diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes is varied. The addition of meat is a health downgrade. This story reads more like industry messaging than unbiased journalism. cc: @tonygallagher