When I think of New Rochelle, I tend to think of Dick Van Dyke, not armed police busting dog walkers for not having IDs. What is going on?

Let me see if I understand… New Rochelle’s Mayor has placed an ID requirement and membership fees on lands purchased with state funds. And there is jail time connected to not having an appropriate ID?!?!?! Good grief!

What would Mary Tyler Moore (remember she played Laura on Van Dyke’s show) do?

Thanks to Jeff W. for barking in this report:

Hello fellow dog lovers! I am new to this site and would like to introduce you to an outrageous ordinance (“Bramson’s Bullying” – he’s our Mayor) enacted April 1st of this year in New Rochelle.

In brief, the city now requires dog owners who wish to walk with their pets in a 62 acre open parkland called “Ward Acres” (purchased with state funds) to get a PHOTO ID and pay $50 (residents) and $250 (non-residents) per dog per year. The photo ID and fees apply whether you are walking on or off-leash as the city has allowed some very limited off-leash recreation.

The city is deliberately directing armed police officers to enter the park, STOP law-abiding citizens and demand to see their photo IDs.

Many long-time users of the park are now AFRAID to go there.

Penalties of up to $250 and FIFTEEN DAYS IN JAIL are possible.

WE HAVE YET TO FIND ANY MUNICIPALITY IN AMERICA THAT DOES THIS.

This ordinance is illegal under NY state law, we believe, and it has needlessly destroyed a decades-old community of dog owners who have peacably shared their lives and pets together in Ward Acres mostly off-leash.

You can go to our web site for more info and read about the lawsuit that has been filed.

We are publicizing this issue in advance of the Nov 6th elections and we have a Voters Guide on our web site which identifies dog-friendly New Rochelle candidates.

This fight is much more than an on/off leash issue. These rules violate our civil liberties and even apply to on-leash dog walking.

We NEED ALLIES in this fight as the city is dismissive of our entreaties. If this ordinance stands, look for municipalities near you to try the same thing!

Jeff & Lulu