New York City Council Votes to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
The city's council passed Romanch’s Law, named after a teen who died when ejected from a carriage earlier this year.
TL;DR
- New York City Council voted to ban horse-drawn carriage rides by June 2028.
- The legislation, Romanch's Law, is named after a teenager who died after being ejected from a runaway carriage.
- A plan to help affected employees and business owners transition out of the industry is included, set to begin in 2027.
- Workers and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 protested the ban, citing uncertainty about worker transition and retraining.
- The ban could affect dozens of carriage medallions, including those belonging to immigrant-run family businesses.
- Industry advocates highlight the economic importance of carriage rides to the city's tourism sector.
- Some drivers expressed disappointment with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's stance on the ban.
- Concerns about passenger safety and animal welfare have been raised by advocates pushing for the ban.
- Donald Trump criticized the ban on his Truth Social platform, calling it a loss of tradition.
- The TWU plans to pursue legal action, arguing the measure unlawfully deprives owners of licenses and businesses.