NYC Horse Carriage Union Sues City After Council Votes to Ban Industry

The union representing New York City's horse carriage drivers and owners has filed a lawsuit against the city, seeking to block the newly passed legislation that will end the Central Park tradition. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) submitted a request for a temporary restraining order against Romanch's Law, which passed the City Council with a veto-proof majority on Thursday.

The legal action followed a warning from the TWU that it would pursue litigation the moment the legislation was finalized. In a statement, TWU International President John Samuelsen denounced the bill, calling it "a train wreck of constitutional and due process violations" and "anti-worker theft."

Attorneys for the union sent a letter to the city's Law Department, asserting that the bill contains "a mess of serious Federal and State Constitutional violations." They claim the legislation takes property from employees "without just compensation" and would render investments in their careers worthless. The union stated it was not opposed to regulations for the industry and remains willing to collaborate with city officials on a law that benefits workers, animal welfare, and is legally sound.

Spokesperson for the Law Department, Nicholas Paolucci, indicated that the city is reviewing the union's letter but is confident in the legislation's legal standing. "We are confident the legislation is grounded in the law and will be prepared to defend it," Paolucci said.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin's office referred to a statement released the previous week, in which she explained the ban's necessity due to public safety concerns. The bill is named in memory of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who died earlier this year after being thrown from a carriage when the driver was not present. Menin stated that while horse-drawn carriages are part of New York City's history, their presence in an increasingly congested Central Park has become a public safety liability. She added that moving forward in the interest of public safety, worker protection, and economic vitality is necessary.

Romanch's Law is set to prohibit horse-drawn carriages in the city's five boroughs beginning in June 2028. The industry, which employs approximately 200 drivers and owners, faces an uncertain future as a result of the council's vote.