Overview
- An 18-year-old tourist, Romanch Mahajan, was killed after falling from a runaway carriage in Central Park on June 17, a crash that reignited calls to end the horse-drawn-ride industry.
- The City Council held a marathon public hearing on Wednesday where Mahajan’s family, animal-welfare advocates and carriage drivers gave emotional testimony about safety, animal care and jobs.
- Speaker Julie Menin announced support for the measure and the bill has gathered roughly 26 co-sponsors in the 51-member council making passage likely unless amended.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he supports the bill’s goal but seeks stronger worker-transition guarantees while TWU Local 100 opposes a ban and pushes regulatory fixes such as tougher training, more veterinary rounds and hitching posts.
- Romanch’s Law would stop renewing carriage licenses, bar operations in Central Park by mid-2028 in many drafts, require a city-run workforce development program for drivers and forbid sales that could send horses to slaughter as the council and committees decide next steps.