NYC Council to Vote on Central Park Carriage Ban

New York City Council members are expected to vote Thursday on legislation that would phase out Central Park’s horse-drawn carriage rides beginning June 1, 2028, while requiring a plan to help affected workers transition to other jobs. The vote has not yet taken place in the reports, and the final terms of any assistance remain unsettled. The proposal directs Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office to develop a workforce transition plan by next April. It calls for job referrals, including opportunities in transit, hospitality and taxi industries, as well as career counseling. The bill also anticipates consideration of compensation for industry workers. A City Hall spokesperson said the administration had begun discussions about possible compensation, but no terms were settled. The industry employs more than 150 drivers, according to the legislation’s transition provisions. A separate estimate in reporting puts the broader number of people affected, including owners and stable workers, in the hundreds. Drivers and business owners say the phaseout threatens their livelihoods and raises questions about the care and future of their horses. The Transport Workers Union Local 100, which...