A final farewell to NYC’s horse carriage industry

New York City has officially put an end to its horse carriage industry, following a decisive City Council vote. The ban, which will take effect in June 2028, will see the 200 or so carriage drivers continue operating until then. The controversial decision came after the tragic death of Romanch Mahajan, an Indian tourist, who died in a carriage-related incident in June.

Council Speaker Julie Menin, who had been rallying for the ban, stated that Mahajan's death was the final straw. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who initially opposed the measure due to concerns about worker protections, eventually joined the cause after the Council reworked the bill to provide drivers with pathways to other careers and a transition period.

However, the bill has faced opposition from carriage drivers and their supporters, who argue that the measure lacks proper compensation for their licenses and that it violates federal and state laws. The Transport Workers Union, which represents many of the drivers, plans to file a lawsuit to block the ban. President Donald Trump, while initially supportive of the ban, expressed disappointment after the vote, citing one tragic carriage-related accident as his reasoning.