He saved the horses from tourists in search of Sarah Jessica Parker.
Via Reuters
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was named 2014 Person of the Year by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for opposing horse-drawn carriages in Manhattan and advocating other animal-friendly causes, the group said on Thursday.
De Blasio, a liberal who took office less than a year ago, campaigned partly on the promise to push for a ban on horse-drawn buggy rides in Central Park, a cause that has won him the support of PETA and other animal rights groups.
“I’m humbled to receive this support from PETA,” de Blasio said in a statement. “From moving horses off our busy streets to protecting circus animals, our administration remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of our animals and the livelihoods of all New Yorkers who care for them.”[…]
The mayor also has promoted animal-free eating by unveiling a model of the Manhattan skyline carved out of vegetables when his city was named as the most vegan-friendly city in the nation.
“When the mayor of New York City talks, the world pays attention and Mayor de Blasio’s kindness to animals and determination to protect them speak volumes,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement.
De Blasio, who will receive an engraved horse sculpture as an award, joins high-profile PETA Person of the Year honorees including Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Russell Simmons.