Why Zohran Mamdani Aims to Ban NYC’s Iconic Horse-Drawn Carriages

The proposal, backed by City Council Speaker Julie Menin, would make it illegal to operate horse-drawn carriages beginning in June 2028, according to a report by Politico. If approved, it would mark the biggest breakthrough yet in a long-running effort to ban one of New York’s most recognizable tourist attractions.

Mamdani confirmed his support for the proposal in a post on X Tuesday, writing: “The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City.” He added that his administration would “make sure workers and owners are protected, and the horses are safe.”

The move represents a major victory for animal welfare advocates, who have spent years arguing that horses should no longer be used to pull tourists through one of the world’s busiest urban environments. Opponents, including carriage drivers and labor groups, say the industry is heavily regulated and remains an important part of the city’s history, economy and cultural identity.

Transport Workers Union Local 264, which represents carriage drivers, has been among the most vocal opponents of previous efforts to ban the industry. Newsweek has reached out to the union for comment.

Julie Cappiello, executive director of Voters For Animal Rights, welcomed the agreement.

“I have worked on this issue for nearly 15 years, and I am thrilled that we now have a path forward that protects horses while ensuring a fair and just transition for the workers in this industry,” she told Newsweek.

“New York City’s crowded, high-traffic streets are no place for horses, and they have not been for a long time,” Cappiello added.

The latest effort gained momentum following a series of high-profile incidents involving carriage horses and passengers.

In June, a 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died while pulling a carriage in Central Park. Images and video of the incident quickly spread online, prompting renewed criticism from animal welfare advocates and fresh calls to phase out horse-drawn rides.

A subsequent necropsy conducted through Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine found Deniz died after ingesting Japanese yew, a highly toxic ornamental plant. While the findings sparked debate about how the poisoning occurred, the horse’s death intensified scrutiny of the industry.

Days later, 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan suffered fatal injuries during a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park. Officials and union representatives said a horse bolted, causing a carriage to overturn. Mahajan later died in a Manhattan hospital.

Cappiello told Newsweek that recent tragedies helped push the issue to the forefront.

“Deniz’s death this year, and the tragedy involving Samson that took Romanch Mahajan’s life, made that impossible to ignore,” she said.

The accident became a turning point in the debate. Supporters of a ban argued that the crash demonstrated the risks horse-drawn carriage rides can pose to passengers, pedestrians and horses alike. The legislation was later renamed “Romanch’s Law” in Mahajan’s honor.

Advocates have also pointed to other recent incidents, including carriage collisions, runaway horses and traffic crashes. In January, a carriage horse reportedly ran into traffic and struck multiple vehicles. In May, two carriages collided, causing one to overturn.

The controversy has increasingly drawn attention beyond New York. Animal welfare groups, activists and elected officials have weighed in for years, turning the future of the city’s carriage horses into a broader debate over how working animals should be treated in modern urban environments.

The fight over horse-drawn carriages has stretched across multiple mayoral administrations.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio campaigned on ending the industry during his successful 2013 mayoral run but never succeeded in implementing a ban. Former Mayor Eric Adams later backed legislation to phase out the rides, arguing they posed safety concerns, though those efforts also stalled.

The current proposal traces its roots to Ryder’s Law, legislation introduced after a carriage horse named Ryder collapsed and later died in Manhattan in 2022. Supporters sought to replace horse-drawn rides with electric alternatives, arguing regulations alone could not eliminate safety risks.

The proposal failed to advance amid opposition from carriage operators and labor unions.

Cappiello told Newsweek that the latest effort succeeded because animal-rights advocates became more politically organized over the past decade.

“For ten years, Voters For Animal Rights has been building political power for animals in New York, endorsing candidates and mobilizing volunteers to elect officials who will champion animal protection,” she said.

“As animal advocates became an organized, active part of the electorate, elected officials took notice, and today’s City Council is the most animal-friendly in recent memory.”

Supporters of the industry note that carriage horses are subject to work-hour limits, regular veterinary examinations and mandatory vacation periods. Drivers must also be licensed and complete training requirements.

Critics counter that tradition does not outweigh concerns about animal welfare and public safety.

Mamdani agreed to support the latest version of the legislation after additional labor protections were added for carriage drivers and business owners, according to Politico.

The bill would require the city to establish a workforce transition program offering career counseling and referrals to new employment opportunities. Potential employers could include agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority, along with tourism and transportation operators in the private sector.

The legislation also calls on the city to consider compensation programs covering the value of carriage businesses, equipment, licenses and horses.

Animal welfare provisions are included as well. Horse owners who sell animals during the phaseout period would be required to do so in a humane manner, and the bill contains restrictions intended to prevent horses from being sold for slaughter.

Cappiello said the legislation could have effects beyond the carriage industry itself.

“Passing this law tells New Yorkers that animal suffering is no longer an acceptable cost of tourism,” she told Newsweek. “This is a win for the horses, for public safety, and for every New Yorker who wants this city to be a leader in how our society treats animals.”

The City Council is expected to vote on the measure October 22. If approved and signed into law, New York would bring an end to a tourist attraction that has operated around Central Park since the 19th century while closing one of the city’s longest-running and most contentious animal welfare debates.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Edward T. Cummins