New York City is moving closer to ending its horse-drawn carriage industry. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed to support a ban that would end carriage rides by June 2028.
The agreement, announced on Tuesday, is an important step in a campaign that animal protection groups have fought for decades. The City Council is expected to vote on the proposed law on 22 October. More than half of its 51 members already support the legislation.
If approved, the law would end horse-drawn carriage operations across New York City on 1 June 2028, including the famous carriage rides through Central Park.
Years of concerns about horses
Horse-drawn carriages have operated in New York City for more than 150 years. Animal welfare organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about horses working in busy traffic, extreme weather and crowded streets.
Several horses have collapsed or died in incidents involving the industry over the years. Campaigners argue that pulling tourists through a busy city puts the animals at unnecessary risk.
The proposed law includes rules intended to protect carriage horses when the industry closes. Owners would not be allowed to sell or transfer their horses for slaughter, or send them to another horse-drawn carriage business.
The legislation also requires the city to establish a programme to help carriage drivers find other jobs.
However, the Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage drivers, opposes the ban. The union argues that the proposed support is not enough to protect workers and families who depend on the industry for their income.
Animal protection organisation New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), which has campaigned for years to end carriage rides, welcomed the agreement.
Previous attempts to ban horse-drawn carriages have failed, despite support from several New York mayors.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
