Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed to a deal to ban horse carriages in New York City, and the council speaker’s office announced Tuesday that the bill will go to the Council for a vote next week.
“Horse-drawn carriages have long been part of New York City’s history, but in an increasingly busy Central Park, this tradition has become a growing public safety liability,” Menin wrote in a statement.
The bill would provide training to transition drivers into new jobs before a total ban goes into effect in 2028, and would also retire the horses to sanctuaries.
According to the council speaker, a majority of council members are on board to pass the legislation. Known as Romanch’s Law, it is named for an 18-year-old tourist, Romanch Mahajan, who died after being thrown from a horse carriage in Central Park in June.
“Just as importantly, the legislation will require the Administration to develop a plan to connect hardworking New Yorkers employed in this industry with new economic opportunities. We can honor our city’s traditions while recognizing when it’s time to move forward in the interest of public safety, protecting workers, and strengthening our city’s economic vitality,” Menin’s statement reads.
In a statement, Sneha Choudhary, a City Hall spokesperson, wrote that the city has “been working closely with the City Council, union partners, carriage drivers, animal welfare advocates, and community leaders to deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”