NYC mayor and council speaker reach agreement to ban horse-drawn carriages by 2028

Mayor Zohran Mamdadi and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have reached an agreement to make horse-drawn carriage operations illegal in New York City beginning in June 2028. The city council is slated to vote on the legislation next week.

"The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City. Our administration will make sure workers and owners are protected and the horses are safe," Mamdadi wrote on X.

"Horse-drawn carriages have become a growing public safety liability," Menin said in a statement, adding that the city can honor its traditions while advancing public safety and economic vitality.

The proposed bill includes a workforce-transition program offering career counseling and job referrals for carriage drivers, and it calls for the city to consider compensation for carriage owners. It also mandates humane disposal of horses, prohibiting their sale for slaughter or use in other carriage operations.

The Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage drivers, has expressed concerns that the legislation does not provide sufficient economic relief. International President John Samuelsen described the proposal as lacking meaningful support for workers.

City Hall spokesperson Sneha Choudhary said the administration is working with union partners, drivers, animal-welfare groups and community leaders to ensure a just transition that protects workers while ending the carriage rides in Central Park.