New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday backed a bill to end the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park and directed police to tighten enforcement of existing rules governing the industry. Adams, a Democrat running for reelection as an independent, said he had sent a “letter of necessity” to the City Council to accelerate passage of legislation that would phase out the carriages, arguing that safety concerns in the park’s increasingly crowded green space require a change.
In tandem with the legislative push, Adams issued an executive order directing police to prioritize enforcement against horse-drawn carriages operating outside their designated areas, illegally soliciting fares, or impeding traffic. The order also directs city agencies to identify new employment opportunities for industry workers and to establish a process for the voluntary return of carriage licenses. “While horse-drawn carriages have long been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they are increasingly incompatible with the conditions of a modern, heavily-used urban green space,” Adams said. “It has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city.”
John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union of America, dismissed the announcement as a “desperation act” by a mayor trailing his rivals in the campaign, including Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. He argued Adams was betraying blue-collar New Yorkers who rely on the industry and accused the administration of siding with real estate developers who would rather convert stables into skyscrapers than support carriage workers.
Animal rights groups applauded the announcement, with Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), calling it a life-saving step for both people and horses and saying the long-running debate has reached a turning point: “horse-drawn carriages have no place in our city any longer.”
The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, announced in August that it also backed calls for a ban, citing safety concerns for visitors and staff as the park becomes more crowded. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams hasn’t said whether the proposed ban would be heard, let alone put to a vote this session. Spokespersons for the Democrat, who is not related to the mayor, didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The mayor is the latest notable voice in a long-running debate about the carriage trades. Adams’ predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, vowed to shut down the industry “on day one,” only to encounter years of council opposition and public pushback. Actor Liam Neeson has been an outspoken supporter of the industry, illustrating the enduring public sentiment on both sides of the issue. The question now is how the city will implement a transition for workers and how the licensing framework will be managed as the potential ban moves through the City Council.