(04-20-2014 06:01 PM)Smaug Wrote: I wonder what de Blasio crony owns NYCLASS.
Well, now that you've asked:
NYCLASS head threatens Daily News photographer while unveiling car to replace horse carriages — SEE IT
Steve Nislick, a parking lot magnate and founder of anti-horse carriage group NYCLASS, was presenting the prototype of the old-fashioned car replica he wants to replace the horse-driven carriage industry when the ugly confrontation took place. An expert also told The News the replica is not appropriate for New York.
The founder of NYCLASS clearly has NO class.
The car-crazy millionaire who wants to ban city carriage horses and replace them with antique vehicles had to be reined in Thursday after threatening to slug a female Daily News photographer in the face.
Steve Nislick, 70, told his handler he was on the verge of getting violent with the photog as he unveiled the prototype of his electric car at the Javits Center.
“Let’s get away from the Daily News before I hit her in the face,” muttered Nislick, the anti-carriage industry crony of Mayor de Blasio
“Steady, steady,” the man with him said, taking Nislick’s elbow and guiding him out of hitting range.
Just moments before, Nislick, founder of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets, walked away in a huff after being approached by a reporter from The News.
“I have no interest in talking to you,” said the deep-pocketed activist.
“You have one side and you got it,” he sniped, before turning his back to her.
But as the photographer continued to film him, Nislick blew his stack — and threatened to hit her.
Nislick wants drivers to abandon their buggies in favor of the antique cars. His NYCLASS group paid $450,000 to develop the prototype in hopes it would wow the public.
But the idea hasn’t caught on with the carriage drivers or New Yorkers who support keeping the push by New York’s Hometown Newspaper to keep the 156-year-old tradition alive.
As of late afternoon Thursday, more than 7,000 people had signed on to the paper’s Save our Horses Campaign. The petitions, available online and in newspapers, urge de Blasio not to ban the industry that keeps some 300 drivers employed.
Several hundred other supporters have mailed in signed copies of The News’ petition.
“Can you bring me more copies? I’ve already run out,” yelled one carriage driver Thursday, after spotting a News reporter in Central Park.
“It’s a great job everyone is doing for us, we thank you all so much,” said Enda Moran, whose fun-loving horse Murphy was featured in Thursday’s newspaper.
Despite the public outpouring of love for the quaint carriages, de Blasio has insisted that he will do what is “humane” and ban the horses from working.
Earlier Thursday, the mayor mayor was challenged by the Hot 97 morning show hosts to “kick” Liam Neeson’s “ass” because of the actor’s push to save the city’s horse-drawn carriage industry.
“De Blasio, kick his ass! He cannot fight like he does in those movies in real life,” urged one of the hosts during de Blasio’s p radio station. Mr. de Blasio during a morning appearance on the station.
“You’re way bigger than him,” another host added.
As far as de Blasio’s suggestion of replacing the horse-drawn carriages with electric antique-style replicas, a walk in the park might be a better idea.
Drivers and passengers are in for an uncomfortable ride, according to an engineer who designed similar vehicles for his touring company. The replica car — shown to the press at the New York International Auto Show — looks “like a truck,” said Eric Lundquist, who owned San Francisco touring company Mr. Toad’s for eight years.
“It could be done cheaper, smaller, lighter, and more user-friendly,” Lundquist said of the replica car, which is built to look like a 1909 antique ride.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nycl...-1.1760306