NYC Council Passes Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban

New York City Council voted 40–7, with two abstentions, to pass Romanch’s Law, which would phase out Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028; Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office says he will sign it. The measure follows the June death of 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was thrown from a carriage after its horse bolted, and years of concerns about public safety and horse welfare. The law calls for a workforce transition plan with job placement and training, bars owners from selling the horses for slaughter, and leaves compensation for operators to be explored. The Transport Workers Union has threatened a legal challenge, while workers and other opponents say the plan does not adequately protect their livelihoods. President Donald Trump criticized the ban as the loss of a New York tradition, while supporters, including animal-welfare advocates and the Central Park Conservancy, say the phaseout addresses persistent safety and animal-welfare concerns.