The New York City Council voted Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028, moving to end a nearly 170-year tradition after the death of a teenager in Central Park and prompting threats of legal action from carriage drivers.

The council voted 40-7, with two abstentions, to approve Romanch's Law, named after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park.

The legislation would phase out the industry by June 1, 2028, while requiring Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration to develop a transition program for more than 150 active carriage drivers and other workers.

The plan would include job training, career counseling and employment referrals, although financial compensation is not guaranteed.

MAMDANI PRAISED OVER MOVE TO DISMANTLE CONTROVERSIAL NYC INDUSTRY — BUT INSIDERS SAY THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY

President Donald Trump weighed in on the decision Thursday, criticizing the move to eliminate one of New York City's longtime tourist attractions.

\"The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!\" he wrote on Truth Social.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU), which representscarriage industry workers, threatened to challenge the ban in federal court and seek a temporary restraining order. Union representatives accused City Council Speaker Julie Menin of failing to adequately consult drivers whose livelihoods are at stake.

MAN KILLED AFTER HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE BOLTS AND FLIPS NEAR POPULAR NEW YORK CITY TOURIST DESTINATION

Opponents argued the city had failed to establish a concrete financial plan for drivers and carriage owners. An effort to delay the phaseout until January 2030 failed before the final vote.

Menin defended the legislation Thursday, saying the council had strengthened worker protections and was prepared for a legal fight.

\"We're very confident in the legislation. That's why we took the time to work over the summer on the legislation,\" she said at a news conference.

\"We made changes to legislation to beef up worker protection. We are very confident in defending this law and will vigorously defend it. I've already talked to Steve Banks about it and our team, and we will vigorously defend this law.\"

Animal rights group PETAalso celebrated the vote, pledging $50,000 to help carriage horses retire as the industry winds down.

TheCentral Park Conservancycelebrated the decision, arguing that horse-drawn carriages pose growing safety risks in a park that welcomes roughly 40 million visits annually.

MAMDANI, CITY COUNCIL MOVE TO END ICONIC NYC HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AS WORKERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE

\"In the modern era, carriages pose a serious — and even fatal — safety risk to park visitors, carriage drivers and the horses themselves. Our hearts break for the family of Romanch Mahajan, who stepped into a carriage earlier this summer and never thought he might lose his life,\" the organization wrote in a press release.

The Conservancy saidMahajan's deathwas the ninth carriage-related incident in just over a year.

The legislation also includes protections intended to prevent retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter, while allowing owners to keep their animals.

The bill now heads to Mamdani, who has expressed support for ending the industry. If signed, it would bring an end to a decades-long political battle over one of New York City's most recognizable tourist attractions.

","f9e37964e6a76eab9c8bdf414eac233d1b2e78843b04934017c0bd91c8e593af","250708798d6b76bfd1160f5314808a918f5b0315f0a8eb6a0022d4cd1f820d579a81749bcefdede2b26cc55a262bba52f5baf4aa92516c4ce1c9385b759cc04c",[140,141,142,143,144],"d9ce26dad2db27b53683a9e9b339de47f4fb926ca550b089e5192b46334fbaaf","NYC votes to end nearly 170-year-old horse carriage tradition as Trump blasts ban, drivers threaten lawsuit\nThe Transport Workers Union threatened federal court action after the New York City Council voted 40-7 to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028.\n\n\nnostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpkwwymdd9ke8k5mg820fkvuau3l5lwfxef2skzy72xftgce5lw40qqjrwvesxgcxyvf394jrwdfs956r2wfj95unzen9956rgcmxxyexvcm9x9jnyffhxta ",1792711976,[48,126],[81,129],[78,145,76,80],[77,76],[75,137,76],"30023:d9ce26dad2db27b53683a9e9b339de47f4fb926ca550b089e5192b46334fbaaf:73020b11-d750-4592-91fe-44cf12fce1e2","63ece313-6664-40f2-aeb5-f0169946987f","live","userDomainName","news","userPubKey","ad97bf80bee1f2476edadb4ff1869575c8426163efb5df412513a802c12acf8c","domainAliasName","icon","https://pub-238dbe5dbaad42f89540a272cca1ecac.r2.dev/c2444d28f2e6ff4d77e0ef00d8e5f368d7c01480d3c452be79240210f84fb01e.png","appleTouchIcon","layer3 news","Get the latest headlines, political updates, business trends, and cultural stories from across the United States — summarized into clear, easy-to-read insights delivered straight to your inbox.","https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/I_nnaUHlvsXXGiRiOvfhBG2ZIwQ=/0x61:2876x1559/1200x625/media/img/mt/2026/01/20260112_trump_id_2/original.jpg","themeColor","#d8052c","headerLogoUrl","topArticleId","81d938b1-e974-4b68-b16e-beb9d1a24044","url","messageFooterTemplate","createdAt",["D",1765466426835],"updatedAt",["D",1765466426835],"userId","d9bf80ff-c7a4-4f72-80c7-c289acec499b","user",{"_31":171,"_273":149,"_274":149,"_275":276,"_37":157,"_277":154,"_278":-5,"_279":280,"_281":282,"_283":-5,"_284":-5,"_285":190,"_286":287,"_288":289,"_290":151,"_291":292,"_50":293,"_51":-5,"_250":205,"_294":12,"_295":12,"_296":-5,"_297":-5,"_298":299,"_300":-5,"_301":-5,"_302":12,"_303":-5,"_166":304,"_168":305},"domainSettings",{"_176":146,"_177":178,"_179":-5,"_180":-5,"_181":182,"_183":184,"_185":186,"_187":188,"_189":190,"_191":192,"_193":194,"_195":196},"domainId","indexName","new-layer3-news-prod","stripeApiKey","stripeAccountId","stripeAccountStatus","disconnected","gettingStartedGuide",{"_264":205,"_265":205,"_266":205,"_267":205,"_268":205,"_269":205,"_270":205,"_271":205,"_272":205},"perspectives",[52,89],"contentFilters",[],"blogLanguage","en","supportedLocales",[258,259,260,261,262,263],"preferences",{"_13":197,"_198":199,"_200":201},"hubSyndicateId","9369e774-abe1-4ca9-a0b1-cd8d53f4b79a",{"_223":224,"_211":212,"_225":226,"_227":228,"_229":230,"_231":232,"_233":234,"_235":236},"grouping",{"_211":212,"_213":214,"_215":216,"_217":218,"_219":12,"_220":221,"_222":12},"interfacePreferences",{"_202":203,"_204":205,"_206":207,"_21":22,"_208":209,"_210":12},"mainLayout","news-hub","showArticles",true,"showComments","right","profileHeaderVariant","bottom","useTopNavigationBrandHeader","model","gpt-5.6-luna","balance",50,"rebalanceVariant","articles","minRelatedArticles",2,"stressOneSidedInTitle","perspectiveRequirement","both","deprioritizeOneSidedInReranking","tone","critical","blocks",[243,244,245,246,247],"format","compare_contrast","length","short","elements",[241,242],"workflowVariant","v2","heroImageOptions",{"_237":238,"_239":240},"skipPerspectives",[],"skipAuthorsPubkeys",[],"direct_quotes","tweet_citations",{"_31":256,"_62":257,"_250":205,"_251":75},{"_31":254,"_62":255,"_250":205,"_251":75},{"_31":253,"_62":241,"_250":205,"_251":75},{"_31":252,"_62":242,"_250":205,"_251":75},{"_31":248,"_62":249,"_250":12,"_251":75},"45159e9f-d754-4d66-b0eb-88aca5047d50","source_footer","enabled","wrapper","938dacb4-3c56-4701-bebf-63ae0fc80f7d","4f61f6d6-5152-4233-b89d-1a0b7d123c99","1142e507-48de-46cb-8087-a51b4d1f1764","body","9233b0ea-e80f-4834-8181-76ea69876131","lede","es","fr","de","pt","it","ru","create_plan_v1","import_blog_v1","upload_logo_v1","setup_domain_v1","setup_news_hub_v1","customize_theme_v1","add_synced_feeds_v1","publish-first-article","personal_information_v1","username","displayName","fullName","US News","avatarUrl","nip5","website","https://news.layer3.press/","banner","https://media.newyorker.com/photos/6a0c8c10642a1634572af773/master/w_2240,c_limit/Gangemi_Bird-SongMnemonics_GettyImages-1088111602.jpg","bot","birthday","interfaceLanguage","blogDescription","AI-news","blogTitle","Layer3.news","publicKey","lightingAddress","l3ponews8c955292@coinos.io",[],"translate","deleted","email","oneTimeCode","oneTimeCodeExpires",["D",1792750767685],"telegramId","signStrategy","hasConnectedSecret","connectedPublicKey",["D",1765466426601],["D",1792068832889],"New York City Council Votes to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages","slug","new-york-city-council-votes","The New York City Council voted to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides by June 2028 under Romanch’s Law, prompting opposition from carriage operators and their union.","index","rootArticleId","compareContrast","imageCaption","imageCopyrightNotice","videoUrl","videoCaption","videoCopyrightNotice","videoEmbedType","ready",[],"pinned","pinnedPosition","appearance","consensusLayout","summary_then_columns","lockedUntil","articlesCount",4,"mostRecentArticlePubDate",["D",1792711976000],"eventId","eventPublicKey","publishedAt",["D",1792743208699],["D",1792743208706],[347,348,349,350],[],"selectedArticleImage","rootArticleImageUrl","likes",0,"zaps","reposts","comments","localization","consensusHtml",{"_55":56,"_351":104,"_352":28},{"_55":56,"_351":125,"_352":27},{"_55":56,"_351":82,"_352":29},{"_55":56,"_351":32,"_352":30},"articleId","article","hasPaywall","isStripeConnected","userSubscription","theme","light","currentUser","currentUserVersion2","currentPath","/stories/01a167d2-76fd-179d-7361-010d3569691d","customDomain","defaultLocale",[258,259,260,261,262,263],"domainPrimaryAccentColor","relays",[503,504,505,506,507,508,509,510,511,503],"plans",[490],[52,89],"isDomainOwner","userInterfaceLanguage","session",{"_290":-5,"_486":12,"_487":488,"_191":364},"locale","sessionNpub","sessionPublicKey","hostname","syndicated",{"_31":196,"_381":382,"_383":384,"_385":205},"name","nos.news","list",[386,387,388,389,390],"isActive",{"_391":469,"_393":470,"_375":471,"_277":154,"_397":469,"_399":472},{"_391":451,"_393":452,"_375":453,"_277":454,"_397":451,"_399":455},{"_391":434,"_393":435,"_375":436,"_277":437,"_397":259,"_399":438},{"_391":415,"_393":416,"_375":417,"_277":418,"_397":260,"_399":419},{"_391":392,"_393":394,"_375":395,"_277":396,"_397":398,"_399":400},"key","brazil","host","https://resumosbrasil.com/",{"_260":401,"_190":402,"_258":403,"_259":404,"_262":405,"_261":406,"_263":407,"_408":409},"https://pub-238dbe5dbaad42f89540a272cca1ecac.r2.dev/1d1b24d2c4813e873c478d6871f68d7c1d25839b083f0a980be34272ce6ed121.png","countryCode","br","defaultName","Brazil",{"_381":414},{"_381":400},{"_381":411},{"_381":413},{"_381":412},{"_381":411},{"_381":410},"en-GB",{"_381":400},"Бразилия","Brasil","Brasile","Brésil","Brasilien","germany","https://germany.nos.news/",{"_260":420,"_190":421,"_258":422,"_259":423,"_262":424,"_261":425,"_263":426,"_408":427},"https://pub-238dbe5dbaad42f89540a272cca1ecac.r2.dev/9ead1bc194a3a01035de7f65160c91b32604d2c788b35a914543c34ef451cd3a.png","Germany",{"_381":433},{"_381":419},{"_381":432},{"_381":431},{"_381":430},{"_381":429},{"_381":428},{"_381":419},"Германия","Alemanha","Germania","Allemagne","Alemania","Deutschland","france","https://france.nos.news/",{"_260":439,"_190":440,"_258":441,"_259":442,"_262":443,"_261":444,"_263":445,"_408":446},"https://pub-238dbe5dbaad42f89540a272cca1ecac.r2.dev/0d075f82e2b4f4fa762101ae95488a425d2df9f40c5b7e120954509c635879bf.png","France",{"_381":450},{"_381":438},{"_381":449},{"_381":438},{"_381":449},{"_381":448},{"_381":447},{"_381":438},"Франция","França","Francia","Frankreich","uk","https://uk.nos.news/",{"_260":456,"_190":457,"_258":458,"_259":459,"_262":460,"_261":461,"_263":462,"_408":463},"https://pub-238dbe5dbaad42f89540a272cca1ecac.r2.dev/16d2af8dfe6bff63fd76dc7434e09f1c98de85b1aa8d35ab98b473bae3c1f97d.png","United Kingdom",{"_381":468},{"_381":455},{"_381":465},{"_381":467},{"_381":466},{"_381":465},{"_381":464},{"_381":455},"Великобритания","Reino Unido","Regno Unito","Royaume-Uni","Vereinigtes Königreich","us","https://us.nos.news/",{"_260":473,"_190":474,"_258":475,"_259":476,"_262":477,"_261":478,"_263":479,"_408":480},"United States",{"_381":485},{"_381":472},{"_381":482},{"_381":484},{"_381":483},{"_381":482},{"_381":481},{"_381":472},"Соединённые Штаты","Estados Unidos","Stati Uniti","États-Unis","Vereinigte Staaten","isAdmin","rights",{"_489":12},"owner",{"_31":491,"_381":492,"_37":493,"_494":495,"_496":497,"_498":499,"_500":341,"_385":205,"_166":501,"_168":502},"aa350e4b-615d-4e49-ac7d-9832ef82b0a9","Basic plan","Stay informed with essential updates delivered straight to your inbox.","price","0.00","currency","USD","billingInterval","monthly","trialDays",["D",1765466430811],["D",1765466430811],"wss://articles.layer3.news","wss://relaypag.es","wss://nostr-01.yakihonne.com","wss://purplepag.es","wss://nos.lol","wss://relay.primal.net","wss://relay.damus.io","wss://relay.nostr.net","wss://relay.damus.io/"]

New York City Council Votes to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Story coverage