NYC bans Horse-Drawn Carriages!
New York, Oct 22 (EFE).-
The New York City Council passed on Thursday a law that will ban horse-drawn carriages in Jun. 2028. The law is aimed at putting an end to a tourist transportation option that has been part of the Central Park landscape for about 150 years.
After a floor debate, the legislation passed with 40 votes in favor, seven against, and two abstentions. Several council members who support the carriage industry proposed an amendment to postpone the ban until 2030, but it did not pass.
City Council President Julie Menin had previously reached an agreement with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the content of the so-called “Romanch Act,” named in honor of Romanch Mahajan, the tourist who died in a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park on Jun. 17.
Romanch Mahajan’s death, the first fatality in the history of the horse-drawn carriage industry, as well as pressure from his family and animal rights organizations, helped intensify the debate over the industry’s future.
The measure is expected to take effect with Mayor Mamdani’s signature, which will immediately suspend the issuance of new horse-drawn carriage licenses, ban the activity by Jun. 2028, and establish employment programs for drivers and other workers.
Council members who favor the measure noted that it includes “protections” for approximately 200 workers in the sector, most of whom are immigrants or their descendants. These workers often went into debt to obtain licenses and have campaigned against the measure.
Menin noted that the first proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages was made 19 years ago and sought to reassure the workers. He told them that they have 18 months to seek new opportunities with public assistance and that the horses will not be sent to slaughter.
However, TWA, the union representing these workers, told local media on Wednesday that it is preparing to challenge the legislation in federal court. The union argued that the legislation does not truly guarantee a future for employees in the sector and that it violates state and federal laws.
The controversy continued until the very last moment, as evidenced by Joann Ariola’s withdrawal of support. Ariola, one of the city council members sponsoring the initiative, justified her decision by arguing that workers need “a clear path forward before their ability to earn a living is taken away.”
United States President Donald Trump has also spoken out in support of the industry. Trump posted a message on social media questioning the ban because “one tragic accident” and noticing that car accidents in the surrounding area did not have such consequences.
Before Mahajan’s death, two incidents involving collapsed and deceased carriage horses, one from illness and the other from poisoning, caused an uproar on social media, reigniting the debate over the industry’s future.
Animal rights organizations that have been calling for an end to horse-drawn carriages due to animal cruelty concerns for years celebrated the move. These organizations include PETA, which will donate 50,000 dollars to “retire” the horses, and NYCLASS, which advocated for relocating them to rescue farms.
If all goes according to plan, New York will soon join other major US cities that have banned horse-drawn carriages in recent years, including Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Antonio; however, their image will live on in numerous movies and TV shows, ranging from Home Alone to Sex and the City. EFE nqs/dgp
[…] Otro defensor del sector ha resultado ser el presidente de EE.UU., Donald Trump, oriundo de Nueva York, que publicó en redes un mensaje cuestionando la prohibición “solo por un solo accidente” y señalando que los accidentes de automóviles en los alrededores no han tenido esas consecuencias. […]