New York City Council Proposes Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages by 2028

<p>New York City's horse-drawn carriages may be phased out from Central Park under a proposal agreed upon by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin. The agreement, if approved by the City Council on October 22, would prohibit horse-drawn carriage operations starting June 1, 2028, amid ongoing concerns regarding animal welfare and public safety.</p><p>The proposed legislation, referred to as Romanch's Law, is named after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old who died in a horse-drawn carriage accident in June. It mandates that city officials create a transition plan for carriage drivers, owners, and stable workers, although it does not guarantee financial compensation.</p><p>Mamdani stated on X, "The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City. Our administration will make sure workers and owners are protected, and the horses are safe." The animal rights organization PETA expressed support for the agreement, citing past incidents of horses collapsing and a reported 70% of New Yorkers favoring a ban, a figure that has not been independently verified.</p><p>The Central Park Conservancy also welcomed the proposal, emphasizing the importance of public safety. Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Conservancy, stated, "We applaud the City Council for finally taking on this issue. We hope carriages can be phased out efficiently and humanely so that no one else ever suffers the fate of Romanch Mahajan." </p><p>Conversely, the Transport Workers Union criticized the agreement, claiming it lacks sufficient financial protections for workers and carriage owners. TWU International President John Samuelsen stated, "Council Speaker Menin's bill has no meaningful economic relief for workers," and accused her of using Mahajan's death to promote the ban.</p><p>The legislation requires city agencies to develop a workforce transition plan by April 1, 2027, which would include job placement, career counseling, and training for affected workers. While officials are tasked with considering compensation for carriage owners and assistance for retiring horses, no financial payouts are guaranteed.</p><p>City Hall spokesperson Sneha Choudhary mentioned that the administration has been collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure a just transition while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. Menin, the first sitting City Council speaker to support this legislation, remarked on the need to balance tradition with public safety and the livelihoods of workers.</p><p>The proposed ban follows the death of Mahajan, who was killed when a horse-drawn carriage bolted and collided with another carriage in Central Park. Menin stated, "The tragic and preventable death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan made clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable." The Central Park Conservancy noted that this incident was the eighth horse-related accident in the park within approximately 13 months.</p><p>In response to Mahajan's death, TWU Local 100 had previously called for enhanced safety regulations rather than an outright ban on horse-drawn carriages. Mamdani's office has not yet responded to requests for comment.</p>