New York City votes to end century-old horse-drawn carriage industry
The New York City Council has voted to end the Big Apple’s horse-drawn carriage industry, which has been around for more than 160 years.
TL;DR
- New York City Council voted 40-7 to ban horse-drawn carriages.
- The ban will take effect by June 1, 2028, including in Central Park.
- The legislation, Romanch's Law, was inspired by the death of a tourist, Romanch Mahajan.
- The bill prohibits new carriage licenses and mandates a transition plan.
- No horses will be slaughtered; the legislation requires humane disposition.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to sign the bill.
- Animal welfare advocates cite around 40 horse deaths since 1982.
- Carriage operators, many of whom are immigrants, face livelihood harm.
- The Transport Workers Union plans to sue, calling the ban unconstitutional.
- Former President Donald Trump criticized the ban as ending a tradition for political reasons.