NYC Council Votes to Ban Central Park Horse Carriages as Union Threatens Lawsuit

New York City's 168-year-old horse-drawn carriage industry is set to disappear after the City Council voted Thursday, October 22, to ban the longtime Central Park attraction following a tourist's death, setting up a potential federal court battle with a union fighting to preserve carriage jobs and businesses.

The Council approved Romanch's Law in a 40-7 vote, with two abstentions, requiring horse-drawn carriage operations across the city to end by June 1, 2028. Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports the measure, which passed with enough votes to override a potential veto. As of October 23, 2026, the legislation was awaiting his signature.

The vote follows the June 17 death of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a carriage after a horse bolted during a family visit to Central Park. His death intensified concerns about visitor safety and renewed efforts to eliminate the industry. Lawmakers subsequently named the legislation in his honor.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 has threatened to challenge the ban in federal court, arguing that it would deprive carriage owners of valuable business assets without adequate compensation. In an October 21 letter to New York City Corporation Counsel Steve Banks, union attorney Arthur Schwartz outlined plans to seek emergency judicial intervention once the legislation becomes law.

Schwartz said the union intends to request a temporary restraining order blocking the ban, arguing that eliminating the industry would strip carriage owners of the economic value of their city-issued licenses and investments. The proposed challenge could put the city's authority to end a licensed industry before a judge as officials begin preparing for the phaseout.

Under Romanch's Law, the city must consider compensating carriage owners for their businesses, licenses and equipment, but payment is not guaranteed. Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen has criticized the provision, arguing that owners who invested substantial sums in the city-regulated industry could lose much of their businesses' value. Samuelsen also said the Council should have strengthened safety regulations instead of banning carriage rides, noting that the union had called for tighter oversight before the June fatality.

The compensation dispute is expected to figure prominently in the union's constitutional claims. The Fifth Amendment prohibits the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation, although whether that protection applies to the elimination of carriage operations would depend on the property interests involved and the effect of the ban.

Existing carriage licenses would permanently expire May 31, 2028, with operations prohibited the following day. City officials must prepare an industry transition plan by April 1, 2027, including workforce assistance and employment opportunities for drivers, carriage owners and stable workers.

The legislation also calls for consideration of programs to help owners retire their horses and dispose of equipment. Retired animals would be protected by restrictions against selling or transferring them for slaughter or continued use in another horse-drawn carriage business.

Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Christopher Marte, the bill's lead sponsor, have argued that eliminating carriage operations is necessary to address public safety and animal welfare concerns. Supporters have also cited congestion on Central Park's busy roads, where horses share space with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

The Council's approval follows an October 13 agreement between Mamdani and Menin to advance the legislation, succeeding where previous efforts to end carriage rides had stalled. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio sought a similar ban after taking office in 2014 but faced sustained opposition from carriage operators and labor unions.

Mamdani has pledged to sign the legislation, which would begin the city's transition toward ending carriage operations. TWU Local 100 has indicated that it will seek emergency federal court relief following enactment, potentially bringing the ban before a judge well ahead of the June 2028 deadline.