Who speaks for the horses? New push seeks to ban Central Park’s carriages
Summary
New York City’s council is considering a bill to stop horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by June 2028. This comes after a recent accident where a tourist died, sparking debates between carriage industry workers and animal rights activists.Key Facts
- Central Park has had horse-drawn carriages since 1858, with about 160 horses pulling 68 carriages.
- An 18-year-old tourist from India, Romanch Mahajan, died after falling from a carriage when the horse spooked.
- The bill to phase out carriages is called “Romanch’s law” and will be voted on in August.
- Some city leaders, including Council Speaker Julie Menin, support banning the carriage industry due to safety and animal welfare concerns.
- Horse carriage workers and Transport Workers Union argue horses enjoy working and oppose the bill.
- Animal rights activists, supported by some actors, say the horses’ welfare is at risk and they cannot speak for themselves.
- Central Park recently had a horse die from eating poisonous plants, raising safety concerns.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports the idea behind the bill but worries about jobs for carriage drivers and wants solutions for their future work.
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