Mamdani and Menin Back Plan to End NYC Carriage Rides

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed to support legislation that would end horse-drawn carriage rides, with a council vote scheduled for October 22, 2026. If passed, the ban would take effect June 1, 2028. The proposed phaseout would end an industry that has operated around Central Park for more than 150 years. The agreement was confirmed by Menin’s office, and the legislation is expected to go before the City Council later this month. The vote has not yet taken place. The bill would require city agencies designated by the mayor to prepare a transition plan for carriage workers and owners by April 1, 2027. The plan could include job training, career counseling and referrals to other employment. The legislation requires the city to consider compensation for owners, but does not guarantee payments. It also sets conditions for the horses’ disposition during the phaseout. Owners would be prohibited from selling or transferring licensed horses for slaughter or to another carriage business, and would have to give the city advance notice before disposing of an animal.