New York City Council passes law to phase out horse-drawn carriages by 2028
The law will phase out the industry by June 1, 2028.
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The New York City Council voted Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages, a move that will end an industry that has operated in the city since 1858.
The vote for Romanch's Law was 40 to 7 with two exemptions. The bill now heads to the mayor's desk, although it has passed with a veto-proof majority.
The law will phase out the industry by June 1, 2028.
"The first bill was introduced into council 19 years ago, that fight ends today," City Council Speaker Julie Menin said ahead of the vote.
Supporters of the legislation argue horse-drawn carriages no longer belong in heavily traveled areas of the city.
"They don't belong in an area that attracts 42 million people a year, pulling a 1,000-pound carriage in record heat," Menin said.
Horse-drawn carriages have long been a draw for tourists in Central Park. Last June, 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting from India with his family to celebrate his high school graduation, was thrown from a carriage and killed. The proposed legislation would bear his name.
Mahajan's uncle spoke outside City Hall Thursday and vowed that he will never be forgotten.
Supporters of the ban maintain that 80% of New Yorkers want the activity to end.
The city will have to develop a transition plan for drivers, including helping them find jobs over the next two years.
Opposition to the measure has been fierce, with critics calling the bill unconstitutional because it would ban a licensed industry. Christina Hansen of TWU Local 100 said the legislation would harm both people and horses.
"This bill is deeply defective, it's offensive, it's a bill that will hurt people and hurt horses..." Hansen said.
The union says there are about 180 horses, roughly 150 active drivers and 68 carriage medallions.
"They are taking away from the people that own the carriages, that have medallions like taxi medallions, that they paid 10's 100s of 1000s of dollars for..." Arthur Schwartz of TWU Local 100 said.
