New York ban on horse-drawn carriages ends 160-year-old industry for Irish emigrants
Sligo carriage driver says operators are being unfairly blamed for wider public safety concerns after a tourist died in a carriage crash in June
The New York City Council has voted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, ending a long-standing tradition. If Mayor Zohran Mamdani signs the measure into law, the ban will take effect in June 2028. The timeline is intended to assist approximately 150 active drivers in finding new employment. According to City Council Speaker Julie Menin, the bill includes a provision to explore potential compensation for license holders and mandates that owners of the nearly 200 horses cannot sell them for slaughter or for use in other carriage businesses.
The decision follows nearly two decades of legislative debate. Critics of the industry cite animal suffering, including dangerous escapes and deadly collapses, while advocates highlight the heritage and jobs the carriages provide. The Irish Times reports that a carriage driver from Sligo stated operators are being unfairly blamed for broader public safety concerns following a carriage crash in June that resulted in a tourist's death.
The Transport Workers Union, which represents the laborers in the industry, has vowed to take legal action. Mayor Mamdani has previously supported a ban but expressed concerns regarding protections for industry workers.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Irish Times, Free Malaysia Today — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
