New York is preparing to push legislation to end horse carriage rides in Central Park by June 2028 after a horse carriage accident resulted in the death of a tourist. Meanwhile, carriage drivers fear losing their jobs and horses being abandoned.
The profession of horse carriage drivers in New York City's Central Park faces a major turning point as the City Council plans to vote on a bill banning horse carriage services by June 2028. This would end a tradition lasting over 150 years and a popular city icon for many tourists but has long faced opposition from animal welfare advocates.
Alexus Lawson, 28, a carriage driver from Queens who grew up around horses and once worked as a riding instructor, said she feels betrayed by the push for this law. She worries about how she will afford to care for the horses she keeps, including "Starlight," a 7-year-old mare she has raised from the start, if she loses her job.
Lawson believes the rapid push for the law is not based solely on facts or safety. She questions why, if horse carriage services were truly dangerous, the profession is still allowed to continue for another two years. She says she is prepared to take legal action against the city if the law is enforced, viewing the ban as potentially harming both the physical and mental well-being of the horses.
She also expressed concern that each horse has different needs: some may adapt to retirement and living in pastures, but others may not. She questioned the future of horses that can no longer work, fearing some may be sold off and end up in the animal trade for slaughter. She emphasized that if the law is enacted, she will fight by all means to protect the future of the horses she cares for, which she considers family members she does not want to be separated from.
The bill follows an incident last June when Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old Indian tourist, died after jumping from an out-of-control horse carriage during a park ride. This event reignited calls to end horse carriage services after decades of debate over animal welfare and safety. Reports indicate this may be the first fatality from a horse carriage accident in Central Park since the service began.
Under the bill, the office of Mayor Sohrahm Mamdani must develop a plan by April next year to assist the more than 150 remaining carriage drivers. This plan will coordinate job placements in transportation, hospitality, tourism, and taxi industries, provide career counseling, and consider compensation for those affected.
A spokesperson for the mayor stated that the administration is crafting a detailed workforce transition plan and has begun discussions on compensation options. Mamdani has said the city government has a responsibility to ensure that these workers are not abandoned.
However, the carriage drivers' union has announced plans to file a lawsuit opposing the law as soon as it is officially enacted.
. Source:AP
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