A real revolution is preparing to transform the face of New York City, putting an end to a centuries-old tradition that has become a source of heated debate. The New York City Council is set to vote on October 22 on a bill aimed at banning horse-drawn carriages starting June 1, 2028.
The measure, strongly promoted by City Council President Julie Menin and supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, already enjoys the support of the majority of councilors. The legislative initiative takes the formal name of Romanch’s Law, in homage to Romanch Mahajan, the eighteen-year-old Indian who died in June 2026 following the overturning of a carriage in Central Park.
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.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 13, 2026
The fatal accident of the young tourist represented the point of no return for public safety within the park, which has reached record levels of visitors. Other serious episodes have been added to this tragedy, such as the recent death of the horse Dennis due to ingestion of a toxic plant, prompting the Central Park Conservancy led by president Betsy Smith and the animal rights association PETA with spokesperson Ashley Byrne to applaud the turning point. The regulatory text strictly prohibits the sale of carriage horses for slaughter, imposing strict protections for the future of resting animals.
For too long, horses have been forced to pull heavy carriages through NYC streets.
Speaker @JulieMenin has set an Oct. 22 vote, and @NYCMayor has committed to signing the bill! Thanks, Speaker Menin, for doing the right thing and bringing this cruel industry closer to its end! pic.twitter.com/q5scOUuCj1
— PETA (@peta) October 13, 2026
The transition plan for workers and the union’s harsh opposition
The bill establishes that city agencies must prepare a detailed professional reconversion plan for operators in the sector by 1 April 2027. The measure provides training, orientation and job re-placement courses in the tourism and transport sectors, as well as evaluating possible economic compensation for the owners of the stables. However, the lack of certain financial guarantees sparked a fierce reaction from the Transport Workers Union, the transport workers’ union representing around 300 drivers and owners.
The international president of the union, John Samuelsen, harshly criticized the president Julie Menin and the mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing the institutions of political opportunism for having exploited a dramatic accident in order to dismantle an activity that ensures the livelihood of hundreds of families. Despite workers’ protests, the city administration seems determined to go all the way, closing a historic era in Central Park to finally inaugurate a new tourism model attentive to animal welfare.
