Politics

Mayor Mamdani and Council Speaker Agree to End Central Park Horse Carriages by 2028

By Swati Gandhi

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have reached an agreement to end horse‑drawn carriage rides in Central Park. The City Council will vote on the measure on 22 October. If passed, the ban will take effect on 1 June 2028. Menin said the 51‑member council is expected to approve the bill with enough votes to override a veto.

The amended proposal, announced Tuesday, adds provisions to help carriage drivers find new employment and to provide compensation after the ban. City agencies chosen by the mayor must submit a plan by 1 April 2027 to assist drivers, owners and stable employees. The plan may include financial support, though the bill only requires the city to consider compensation for carriage owners and does not guarantee payouts.

The bill also strengthens protections for horses, prohibiting owners from selling or transferring licensed horses to other carriage businesses or for slaughter. Owners must notify the Health Department and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare at least 10 days before removing a horse. Anyone operating a horse‑drawn carriage after the ban could face a $10,000 penalty.

In a statement, Menin said, “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.” She added, “Next week, the Council will take decisive action by voting on this bill to protect New Yorkers, visitors, and the horses themselves.”

A spokeswoman for Mamdani declined to comment on whether the mayor would sign the bill, but said a deal had been struck with Menin. The spokeswoman added, “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.”

Mamdani posted on social media that “the horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City. Our administration will make sure workers and owners are protected, and the horses are safe.”

Central Park currently has 68 horse‑drawn carriages, about 150 drivers and more than 180 horses, said industry spokesperson Christina Hansen. The bill has 29 City Council co‑sponsors, enough to secure passage in the 51‑member chamber.

The use of horse‑drawn carriages in Central Park has long been contentious. Animal‑rights activists argue that the animals are forced to work in urban conditions that harm their long‑term health and safety. In 2013, former Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to shut down the industry on his first day in office, but the plan failed to gain council support.

Calls to ban the rides intensified earlier this year after 18‑year‑old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan died when he fell from a carriage. A poll by the Central Park Conservancy, which has advocated for the ban, found that roughly 68% of New Yorkers support banning the carriages. CPC vice president for government relations David Saltonstall said, “This is fundamentally about public safety,” adding, “It’s about mitigating a known and growing risk that we have watched build for years, which very sadly culminated in the death of Romanch Mahajan.”

Carriage operators argue that the rate of horse‑related injuries is lower than that of other park activities, such as riding e‑bikes or scooters. They say that without carriage revenue, they will struggle to care for their horses and pay relocation fees after the ban takes effect.