NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — A deal has been reached to end the horse carriage industry, a city official says, with the mayor pushing for worker protections in the bill to be voted on next week.
The council is scheduled to vote on the bill Oct. 22, and it is expected to pass.
The mayor also agrees with ending horse-drawn carriage rides and is expected to support the legislation.
The legislation includes provisions intended to help carriage owners transition out of the industry. It is not yet clear what will happen to the horses.
Horse-drawn carriages have been a New York City attraction for more than 160 years, drawing tourists to Central Park.
Efforts to end the rides intensified following the death of a horse named Deniz this summer and the death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was riding with his family when a horse became spooked.
City Hall issued a statement Tuesday saying officials have been working with those affected by the proposed ban.
“We have 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.”
Councilman Chris Marte, the sponsor of the bill, spoke about the legislation Tuesday.
The horse carriage union remains concerned about what the ban would mean for its workers and the animals.
Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen said the bill does not have meaningful economic relief for workers.
“It only says the city should prepare a worker transition plan by April 2027 and include weak measures like job fairs and job counseling. It says the city should ‘consider’ financial compensation for carriage owners who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy city-issued medallions and build up their businesses.”
He went on to say that Menin is using “the tragic death of a tourist to contrive a public safety crisis. This is disgraceful political opportunism, and Zohran should not simply go along with it, particularly when immigrant families’ livelihoods are being destroyed. This entire situation is reprehensible.”
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