NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that while he supports ending the horse-drawn carriage industry, he believes a City Council proposal to phase out the business does not go far enough to protect workers.
“I’ve said in the course of my campaign and while in office that we need to bring the industry to an end,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Although I support the spirit of the bill, I am critical of its insufficiencies in worker protections, and I look forward to addressing these concerns with the council on an issue that is so important to New Yorkers.”
Intro 943 also mandates a city-led workforce program to assist drivers and workers in securing alternative employment. Currently, over a dozen council members co-sponsor Intro 943.
It has the support of Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and recently gained backing from Speaker Julie Menin.
“The day has come for our city to begin the transition away from horse-drawn carriages as a tourist attraction in Central Park for the safety of our residents and visitors from all across the globe, and the safety of the animals here at home,” Menin said in a video posted to X. “That is why I’m announcing my support today for the legislation currently before the NYC Council to ban horse-drawn carriages.”
Animal advocates argue that forcing horses to navigate Manhattan traffic is inhumane. Supporters view these carriages as a romantic symbol of old New York.
However, critics like NYCLASS, an animal welfare organization, say that carriage horses can easily become frightened on busy streets, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. They also claim that the horses are overworked, housed in inadequate stables, and that drivers often ignore city regulations, such as failing to remove horse manure.
An advocacy group in NYC is calling for an end to carriage horse rides after an incident on Thursday. (WPIX)
“Far from creating jobs for carriage drivers, as proponents falsely claim, Intro 943 only has a vague two-sentence reference to creating a workforce development program. That’s little comfort to someone who has spent their entire adult life working with horses and has a family to feed,” read a letter from TWU Local 100, the union that represents hundreds of horse-drawn carriage drivers and owners. More than 60 carriage owners, meanwhile, spent or have borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars individually to buy city-issued carriage medallions, which are like city-issued yellow taxi medallions.”
Onur Altintas, who owns four horses and operates a carriage in Central Park, said he’s concerned about losing his livelihood. He said the industry provides hundreds of jobs to drivers, stable hands, and others in horse-related trades.
“Car crashes and plane crashes are happening every single day. One horse makes an accident, and the world is destroyed? Come on.” Altintas said the industry needs better regulations to make it safer. He also said 90″ percent of horse-related accidents could be avoided simply by installing hitching posts throughout the park so drivers could safely tether and secure their horses, including at popular tourist photo stops.
TWU also noted that eliminating the industry could threaten not only workers’ livelihoods but also the horses’ welfare. Currently, there are over 150 horses in the Manhattan stables, a TWU spokesperson said.
The horses would need to be relocated to sanctuaries or adopted by new owners.
At a minimum, the cost of caring for the horses in the city is $100,000 per month, officials from the TWU say. The union also notes that thousands of horses are already slaughtered or euthanized each year because owners are unable to afford the costs of upkeep.
PIX11 independently reviewed research related to the claims in an academic paper published in 2017 and available here.
Several horses have died in New York City, including Ryder, who collapsed on an 84-degree August day in 2022. Despite indications that Ryder was struggling, he was reportedly forced to work in the heat. His driver, Ian McKeever, was tried but found not guilty. Following Ryder’s death, Lady, a 15-year-old carriage horse, died near the stables, and Deniz also recently passed away.
An incident involving tourist Romanch Mahajan, 18, who died after he jumped from the carriage as its horse sprinted through the park without a driver. He is believed to be the first person to die in a horse carriage accident since these carriages were introduced in Central Park over 150 years ago, according to the Central Park Conservancy, which also supports banning horses.
Will the bill pass
Mamdani’s comments leave questions about whether such a bill has enough support to become law, despite growing backing from key elected officials.
Multiple polls conducted by the Conservancy and the TWU indicate opposing views from New Yorkers on whether such a bill will pass Council Chambers. Public comment for Intro 943 is being held by the Committee on Health on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Council Chambers.
New Yorkers interested in having their voices heard on this topic, whether in support of ending or keeping the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City, can register to testify at the following link.
New Yorkers can also show up to City Hall to testify in person.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.