President Donald Trump on Thursday called the horse-drawn carriage rides in New York City a "quintessential" experience as the City Council passed legislation to phase them out of Gotham. "The Horse-drawn Carriage in New York City is a quintessential New York experience. So sad that, for political reasons, we will see it go!" Trump said on Truth Social.
In another post, the president said, "So sad to see the beloved Central Park Horse-drawn Carriage Industry ending after over a Century, based largely on one tragic accident. When there is a car accident in the area, of which there are many, they don’t stop cars from entering the Park. So why would they stop the Carriages?
It was a Great Tradition. Another piece of History that’s gone. It will be missed!" The vote comes after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani agreed to support the legislation that will terminate the 160-year-old industry operating around Central Park in Manhattan.
Thursday's vote marks the most consequential development in the long-running effort to ban the tourist attraction amid fierce scrutiny surrounding the treatment of the horses, safety and conditions in which they work. In a post last week on X, Mamdani said, "The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City. Our administration will make sure workers and owners are protected and the horses are safe." Newsweek reached out to the mayor's office via email on Thursday for additional comment.
The legislation, Romanch's Law, passed by a vote of 40-7 on Thursday, ABC News reports, while two council members abstained. The law prevents new issuances of licenses for operations involving horse-drawn cabs and will phase out all carriages by June 1, 2028. Under the law, the horses cannot be sold to slaughterhouses, ABC adds.
The bill also requires the city to establish a workforce transition program, offer career counseling and referrals for new employment avenues. Potential employers could include the Port Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, along with private tourism and transportation operators. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said Thursday's vote was "historic." "The @NYCCouncil just passed Romanch’s Law!
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