Saturday, August 26, 2006
Humane Society of the US Sues To Block NY Taxpayers Subsidy to CAFO
The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) has filed suit in the New York Supreme Court to block a $420,000 state grant to the country’s largest foie gras producer, Hudson Valley Foie Gras (see: http://www.farmedanimal.net/faw/faw6-22.htm#4 ). The suit alleges that the state’s use of taxes to underwrite foie gras production violates several state laws and rewards a business with a track record of polluting New York waters. “This company is polluting the state’s rivers, flouting the cruelty law, and getting rich doing it; they don’t need to get a free ride on the backs of taxpayers,” said HSUS attorney Jonathan Lovvorn.
Several local residents are co-plaintiffs. There are also two bills pending in the state legislature to ban foie gras production.
Hudson Valley spokesperson Marcus Henley said the company is upgrading its facilities and expanding from 250,000 to 325,000 ducks. The grant money will be used to improve wastewater treatment, according to Henley. “The idea is to retain and create jobs. To do that, we have to improve our infrastructure,” he said. He dismissed the lawsuit as “baseless.”
HUMANE SOCIETY SUES TO BLOCK NY FOIE GRAS EXPANSION
North Country Gazette, August 24, 2006
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/082406FoieGrasSuit.html