NYC Council, Mayor Mamdani agree to end Central Park's carriage horse industry

Key Points:

• The New York City Council plans to vote on October 22 to phase out carriage horses in Central Park, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani supporting the ban and emphasizing protection for workers and horses.
• The push to end the carriage horse industry gained momentum after the deaths of a carriage horse and a teen tourist, Romanch Mahajan, who fell from a runaway carriage horse in the park.
• Animal rights advocates and groups like NYCLASS have long campaigned for the ban, viewing it as a necessary step for public safety and animal welfare, while the Transport Workers Union opposes the bill, citing insufficient economic support for affected drivers.
• The legislation aims to balance honoring New York City's traditions with advancing public safety and economic vitality by connecting displaced carriage drivers with new job opportunities.
• The ban coincides with broader city efforts to manage traffic safety on the Central Park loop, which has seen multiple fatal crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists in recent months.