The county is in the process of appealing Judge Bergerman's
ruling that NYS has jurisdiction over wildlife and therefore the
County cannot protect citizens and pets from injury in traps.
Meanwhile Ken Zebrowski (D) and Tom Morahan (R) two influential
legislators who supported the Rockland ban (Ken was the one who
drafted the legislation) are both running for Joseph Holland's
State Senate seat. Holland was given an appointment by C. Scott
Vanderhoef which gets him out of the Senate (fortunately for wildlife).
We had asked him to sponsor a Senate companion bill for home rule
over trapping and he refused.
After a meeting in Albany with Wildlife Watch, the Fund, and
others, we learned that the Home Rule bill will not be going anyplace.
It is not for lack of a Senate sponsor, but because Sheldon Silver,
Speaker of the Assembly, doesn't think it has a chance of passing
the EnCon committee of the Assembly. We think that Assemblyman
Silver plays a major role in whether or not it has a chance. Is
he saying that 28 committee members think that counties should
not be able to determine their own destinies?
You can contact Sheldon Silver (especially if you vote for
him) and ask him to please push this bill through.: Assembly District:
62 : E-mail: speaker@assembly.state.ny.us Albany
Office: LOB 932/CAP 349, ALBANY 12248 518-455-3791 District Office:
270 BROADWAY, SUITE 1807, NEW YORK 10007 212-312-1420
PENDING LEGISLATION PROHIBITING TRAPPING
IN NEW YORK STATE
There are currently four bills pending in the New York State
Assembly that will go a long way toward outlawing the outdated
barbarism known as "trapping."
The legislation that will have the most impact on trapping
is a bill sponsored by Assemblymen "Pete" Grannis and
Scott Stringer. A1155 prohibits the use of the leghold-trap in
the state of New York. Its enactment into law is tantamount to
outlawing trapping in New York.
Another bill, A6602, proposed by Assemblyman Steven Englebright,
would outlaw the use of body-gripping traps (Conibear traps) around
dwellings, public buildings and all recreational areas open to
the public. It would also require extensive posting in all areas
where trapping is permitted. It is not as sweeping as A1155 - but
nevertheless a step in the right direction.
***Bill A1149, also introduced by Assemblyman "Pete" Grannis,
requires the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) to furnish the Governor and the State Legislature with
a report on alternatives to trapping. It further requires NYSDEC
to hold public hearings and consult with animal rights groups before
submitting the report.
Lastly, Bill A1150, also sponsored by Assemblymen "Pete" Grannis,
Alex Gromack, and John McEneny, allows each municipality and county
legislature to regulate trapping in its own area of jurisdiction.
This bill would make the Anti-trapping law that was passed in Rockland
County, but was held not legally enforceable by a NY State Court,
a binding law. [See above in Rockland County trapping update section.].
All in all, it is encouraging to see the emergence of this
proposed anti-trapping legislation.
