New York City Council Votes to End Central Park Horse Carriages

The proposed measure now awaits the signature of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has previously balanced support for animal welfare with concerns regarding the livelihoods of approximately 150 active drivers. Council Speaker Julie Menin noted that the three-year transition window is designed to assist workers in finding new employment, while the bill also includes provisions to explore compensation for current license holders. To prevent further exploitation of the animals, the legislation mandates that owners of the city’s nearly 200 horses may not sell them for slaughter or re-entry into other carriage operations.

Opposition remains fierce, with the Transport Workers Union promising to challenge the ban in court. For nearly two decades, the debate has pitted those who view the carriages as an essential cultural heritage against critics who highlight a history of horse collapses, traffic incidents, and the tragic death of an 18-year-old tourist earlier this year. The Central Park Conservancy, managing a site that sees 42 million annual visitors, ultimately backed the ban, citing the carriages as a persistent threat to public health and safety.