Full Breakdown
Mayor Mamdani and Council Speaker Menin Push Ban on NYC Horse-Drawn Carriages
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Legislative Action
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced a deal to phase out horse-drawn carriage operations in New York City. The legislation, renamed “Romanch’s Law,” is slated for a full Council vote on October 22 and would make carriage rides illegal citywide beginning June 1, 2028. The bill also bars new carriage medallions and requires owners to rehome horses “in a humane manner.”
Background & Context
The horse-carriage trade has operated in Central Park for roughly 150 years, but safety incidents have risen. On June 17, 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan was killed after being thrown from a carriage, prompting renewed calls for a ban. Earlier, a horse named Deniz collapsed on June 9, and the Central Park Conservancy reported eight serious horse-related incidents in the preceding 13 months. Prior attempts to end the industry under Mayors Bloomberg, de Blasio and Adams failed.
Data & Statistics
- Approximately 200 carriage-industry workers are employed in the city.
- The industry relies on 68 carriage medallions, licenses that can sell for up to $400,000 each.
- The bill’s transition plan must be drafted by April 1, 2027.
Official Statements & Responses
A city spokesperson noted that the administration is developing a “workforce transition program” that will include career counseling and job-fair resources.
Criticism & Opposition
Union representatives and drivers argue the bill offers inadequate protection. Alexander Kemp, administrative vice president of TWU Local 100, warned that the bill provides “no protection for the workers” and fails to guarantee compensation for medallion owners. Driver Ahmet Bilici likened the mayor and speaker to “mobsters” for threatening his livelihood. Danielle Slot questioned why the focus is on carriages while “illegal pedicabs and e-bikes” also pose safety risks. Critics also note that the bill does not specify how owners will be reimbursed for the value of their medallions or horses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact enforcement date: some cite May 31, 2028 as the final day of legality, while others state the ban takes effect on June 1, 2028. The legislation mentions “consideration” of compensation for medallion owners but provides no concrete funding mechanism or timeline.
What’s Next
The Council will vote on the bill on October 22. If passed, city agencies must deliver a workforce transition plan by April 1, 2027. The ban will become enforceable on June 1, 2028, ending a century-old tourist tradition and prompting the re-homing of the city’s carriage horses.