The New York City Council voted 40-7 with two abstentions to end the horse-drawn carriage tradition by June 1, 2028. This summer in Central Park, a runaway carriage threw an 18-year-old boy, leading to his death and this decision. The vote happened Thursday afternoon, according to the Washington Examiner.
City leaders named the new law Romanch’s Law after the teen, Romanch Mahajan. The legislation requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani to create a transition plan for over 150 drivers and workers. Fox News reported that the plan includes job training and career counseling, though money is not guaranteed.
THIS IS FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS!
NYC just voted to END horse-drawn carriages! @NYCCouncil passed Romanch’s Law, and PETA is pledging $50,000 to help horses retire. This moment belongs to every PETA supporter who never gave up, and @SpeakerMenin and @NYCMayor for their leadership!
— PETA (@peta) October 22, 2026
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize the move immediately after the vote. “The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience,” he wrote. We will lose this due to political reasons, which is so sad.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents the drivers, says it will sue the city in federal court. Union reps claim City Council Speaker Julie Menin failed to talk to drivers about their jobs. Menin defended the bill at a news conference, stating, “We’re very confident in the legislation.” Fox News reported that is why we spent the summer working on the legislation.
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino warned of legal trouble before the final count. “There will be a lawsuit coming up because this is unconstitutional,” she told Fox News. The Washington Examiner noted that the union plans to file these suits once the mayor signs the bill.
New York City, Central Park included, will see a ban on all horse-drawn carriages by the 2028 deadline. NBC News reported that the measure mandates the “humane disposition of carriage horses” without slaughter or transfer to other businesses.
City officials say about 40 horses have died on the job since 1982. An attempt to push the ban to January 2030 failed before the vote took place. The industry has operated for more than 160 years in the city, according to the Washington Examiner.
Menin posted on X after the vote to highlight the new focus on safety. “Today’s historic vote marks our commitment to animal welfare, public safety, and protecting workers,” she wrote. The legislation now waits for the mayor’s signature to become official law. Sources say the signature is expected given his support for animal rights. The legal battles are set to begin as soon as the bill is signed.
