Pink praises New York Mayor over horse-drawn carriage move

Singer Pink is using her star status to shore up New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio's efforts to remove horse-drawn carriages after a five-year campaign to ban them.

The So What hitmaker has been an avid supporter of the initiative since 2009, when she appeared in a billboard advertisement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which was installed in a prominent location at the Big Apple's Times Square.

De Blasio has recently announced plans to phase out the animal-drawn carriages and replace them with electric vehicles but the proposal has met opposition from actor Liam Neeson, prompting Pink to back de Blasio's solution.

In a blog post on PETA.org, she writes, "Five years ago, I appeared on a PETA billboard in Times Square to give the campaign against horse-drawn carriages in New York City a boost. I was proud to help make this issue a hot topic, and I'm thrilled that we now have the enthusiastic support of the city's new mayor, Bill de Blasio...

"I grew up caring for horses and mucking stalls for my aunt, who owns a horse farm in North Carolina. I learned that horses are very social herd animals who, by nature, spend their days grazing, playing, and running together. Sadly, the 220 horses in New York City in the carriage industry endure a miserable, solitary life, forced to navigate through midtown traffic in all weather extremes pulling heavy loads of tourists...

"Luckily for everyone, Mayor de Blasio has found a win-win solution for all. His plan to phase out the inhumane horse carriages and replace them with vintage electric cars will provide solid jobs for the current carriage drivers and loving homes for the horses."

Neeson argues the initiative will rob the carriage drivers of their livelihoods.