NEW YORK (WABC) — Horse-drawn carriage drivers, business owners, and union leaders gathered near Central Park on Friday to push back against plans to phase out New York City’s horse carriage industry.
The rally comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin agreed to phase out the industry by mid-2028. The City Council is expected to vote on the legislation next week.
Members of the industry, joined by TWU Local 100 leaders, said the proposal would jeopardize hundreds of jobs, hurt immigrant-owned and family-run businesses, and end a tradition that has been part of the city’s landscape for more than 160 years.
TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp joined carriage drivers and owners in urging city leaders to reject the plan and instead protect the workers and families who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.
Industry representatives say the horse-drawn carriage business remains an important part of New York City’s tourism economy, providing more than 100,000 rides each year to visitors from around the world.
Many drivers say the industry has created opportunities for immigrant families and supported generations of carriage operators whose businesses have been tied to Central Park for decades.
Speakers at the rally warned that ending the industry would have significant economic consequences for workers and small business owners, while supporters called on city officials to preserve what they describe as an iconic New York City tradition.
The proposed phaseout has reignited debate over the future of horse-drawn carriages in New York City, with supporters arguing the industry should be preserved and opponents pushing for its eventual elimination.
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