New York City lawmakers voted Thursday to end a horse carriage tradition that has lasted nearly 170 years, approving a controversial ban despite fierce objections from drivers and union leaders who say the measure will destroy livelihoods, as reported [1] by Fox News.
The City Council approved Romanch’s Law in a 40 to 7 vote, with two members abstaining. The legislation would phase out the horse carriage industry by June 1, 2028.
The law is named after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park. His death became central to the renewed effort to eliminate the industry.
The legislation requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to create a transition program for more than 150 active carriage drivers and other affected workers. The program would provide job training, career counseling and employment referrals.
Financial compensation, however, is not guaranteed under the plan. Opponents argued that the city failed to establish a concrete financial plan for carriage drivers and owners who would lose their businesses under the ban.
An effort to postpone the phaseout until January 2030 failed before the council held its final vote. The bill now heads to Mamdani, who has expressed support for ending the industry.
President Donald Trump criticized the decision Thursday, defending the carriage rides as part of the city’s identity and tourism experience. He denounced the ban in a post on Truth Social.
“The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!” Trump wrote.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents workers in the carriage industry, threatened to challenge the measure in federal court. The union also said it could seek a temporary restraining order against the ban.
Union representatives accused City Council Speaker Julie Menin of failing to adequately consult the drivers whose jobs are threatened by the legislation. Carriage drivers and union leaders vowed to continue fighting the measure in court.
Menin defended the council’s work and expressed confidence that the city could prevail against a legal challenge. “We’re very confident in the legislation. That’s why we took the time to work over the summer on the legislation,” she said at a news conference.
“We made changes to legislation to beef up worker protection. We are very confident in defending this law and will vigorously defend it. I’ve already talked to Steve Banks about it and our team, and we will vigorously defend this law,” Menin added.
PETA celebrated the council vote and pledged $50,000 to help carriage horses retire while the industry closes. The legislation also contains protections intended to prevent retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter.
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 [3]
Owners would still be allowed to keep their animals under the measure. The protections address what happens to the horses after the city forces the industry to shut down.
The Central Park Conservancy also welcomed the council’s decision, arguing that carriages create growing safety concerns in a park receiving roughly 40 million visits each year. The group pointed directly to Mahajan’s death while backing the ban.
“In the modern era, carriages pose a serious — and even fatal — safety risk to park visitors, carriage drivers and the horses themselves. Our hearts break for the family of Romanch Mahajan, who stepped into a carriage earlier this summer and never thought he might lose his life,” the organization wrote in a press release.
The Conservancy said Mahajan’s death was the ninth incident involving carriages in just over a year. Supporters of the legislation used those incidents to argue that the city should remove carriages from Central Park.
If Mamdani signs the bill, the law will settle a political fight that has continued for decades over one of New York City’s most recognizable tourist attractions. For drivers facing the loss of their livelihoods, however, the courtroom fight may be just beginning.