The New York City Council voted 40-7 to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park by June 2028, ending a tradition dating back to the park's founding. The measure, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, follows the June 2024 death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, whose family has pushed for the ban. The legislation includes vague provisions for addressing economic fallout for approximately 200 owners, drivers, and stablehands, and the fate of 180 carriage horses.
The Transport Workers Union Local 100 has vowed to challenge the bill in court, arguing it lacks worker protections. The ban marks a major victory for animal-rights activists after years of campaigning. Mahajan's uncle, Gaurav Mahajan, described the vote as 'incredibly bittersweet' but said it will 'ensure no other family goes through what we are experiencing.'.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing