New York City to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages by 2028

New York City has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028, a decision that comes after a series of incidents, including the death of an 18-year-old tourist in Central Park over the summer. The City Council passed Romanch's Law with a 40-to-7 vote, which prohibits the issuance of new licenses for horse-drawn cabs and mandates that horses not be sold to slaughterhouses.

The vote is veto-proof and was met with approval from animal rights organizations and park advocates who have long campaigned for the ban, citing safety concerns and past accidents. The Transport Workers Union, which represents approximately 150 carriage drivers, has vowed legal action, calling the bill unconstitutional and warning of economic devastation for its members.

Previous mayoral administrations, including those of Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams, had sought to ban the carriages but lacked sufficient support in the City Council. The push for a ban gained momentum after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist, died when the carriage he was in overturned after a horse reportedly got out of control. His family was present for the vote.

Investigators determined the carriage clipped the wheel of another carriage before toppling. In prior incidents, horses have broken free, causing damage and injuries, including one instance in January where a horse crashed into vehicles.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin stated that the carriages posed a safety risk, particularly in an area frequented by millions of visitors annually. "They don't belong in an area that attracts 42 million people a year, pulling a 1,000-pound carriage in record heat," she said.

The legislation includes a workforce transition program designed to assist carriage drivers. This program will offer job placement, training, career counseling, and financial compensation. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park and has advocated for the ban, issued a statement noting that Mahajan's death was the ninth carriage-related incident in just over a year.

Union representatives have indicated their intent to seek a temporary restraining order as soon as the law is enacted, expressing concerns about the lack of concrete plans for affected workers and owners. Alexander Kemp, administrative vice president for TWU Local 100, stated that the bill lacks concrete provisions for hundreds of workers, carriage owners, and their families who face total economic ruin.