Historic Carriages to Continue Operating in Central Park
New York City's iconic horse-drawn carriages will continue operating in Central Park after a proposal to ban the popular tourist attractions failed to clear a key City Council committee. The Committee on Health voted against sending the proposal to the full council following a packed hearing on Friday, preserving the tradition that has been a fixture in the park for more than 150 years.
Union Celebrates Victory While Animal Advocates Decry 'Sham' Vote
The Transport Workers Union of America, which represents horse carriage workers, applauded the committee's decision. John Samuelsen, the union's president, praised the panel for standing up for their members in a statement. "They are hardworking immigrants who take good care of their horses, and have consistently been attacked and slandered by monied interests who care nothing about animal welfare," Samuelsen said.
Meanwhile, animal rights advocates who have long called for ending the industry derided the vote as a "sham" and vowed to continue their fight. The debate over the popular tourist attraction was reignited over the summer when a carriage horse collapsed and died near its stables, with videos and photos of the animal's body circulating widely online.
Safety Concerns and Political Fallout
Critics argue that carriage horses can easily get spooked on city streets, leading to accidents and injuries. They also claim the horses are overworked, live in inadequate stables, and that drivers frequently violate city regulations, including leaving behind piles of horse manure.
New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) emphasized the safety risks in a Friday statement: "Horses have collapsed, even dropped dead on the streets recently. Multiple horses have had violent runaway spooking incidents, crashing into vehicles, sending New Yorkers to the hospital, and nearly trampling others."
New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized city lawmakers for ignoring the opinions of the "vast majority of New Yorkers" who want the industry ended. The outgoing Democrat had thrown his support behind the proposed ban in recent months and issued an executive order stepping up enforcement of the industry.
"It's a shame that the City Council has once again refused to follow the will of our citizens, while simultaneously endangering pedestrians, drivers, and animals alike," Adams said in a statement.
The council's Democratic leadership has long resisted calls to hold a public hearing and vote on the proposal, which called for winding down the industry as early as next summer. Friday's vote was instead instigated by the bill's sponsor, Council Member Robert Holden, who invoked a procedural rule to force a committee vote.
Holden, an outgoing Queens Democrat, called the process "one of the most undemocratic displays I have ever witnessed in the New York City Council" after his bid was denied. "The Council could not care less what New Yorkers think," he stated.
Benjamin Fang-Estrada, a spokesperson for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, suggested Holden failed to do the "legislative work of building support" among his colleagues. "The Council recognizes that this is a difficult and emotional issue, and any path forward requires a sponsor bringing all parties together in a constructive way," he said in an emailed statement.
The Central Park Conservancy, the influential nonprofit that manages the 843-acre park, also came out in support of an industry ban, citing its impact on public safety and road infrastructure in the increasingly crowded park.
