NYC votes to end nearly 170-year-old horse carriage tradition as Trump blasts ban, drivers threaten lawsuit

The New York City Council has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028, following the death of a teenager in Central Park. The legislation, named Romanch’s Law, aims to phase out the industry and provide a transition program for over 150 carriage drivers. Animal rights groups and the Central Park Conservancy supported the ban due to safety concerns, while the Transport Workers Union threatened legal action.

• New York City Council voted 40-7 to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028.
• The ban, named Romanch’s Law, is in response to the death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan.
• A transition program for over 150 carriage drivers will be developed, including job training and career counseling.
• President Donald Trump criticized the ban as a political move that will eliminate a “quintessential New York experience.”
• The Transport Workers Union threatened legal action, including a temporary restraining order, and accused the City Council Speaker of insufficient consultation.
• Opponents argued that a concrete financial plan for drivers and owners was not established.
• PETA and the Central Park Conservancy celebrated the vote, citing safety risks and the well-being of horses.
• The legislation includes protections to prevent retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter.