“While horse-drawn carriages have long been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they are increasingly incompatible with the conditions of a modern, heavily-used urban green space,” he said in a statement. “It has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city.”
In addition, the mayor’s order directs city agencies to identify new employment opportunities for industry workers and to create a process for the voluntary return of carriage licenses.
“This is not about eliminating this tradition — it’s about honoring our traditions in a way that aligns with who we are today,” Adams said. “New Yorkers care deeply about animals, about fairness, and about doing what’s right.”
“He’s betrayed the blue collar New Yorkers who were relying on him to stand up for their jobs against the real estate developers who want to kill the industry solely to develop those stables into skyscrapers,” Samuelsen said. “He should be ashamed of himself.”
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams similarly suggested the mayor was using the announcement to boost his reelection campaign. In a statement, her office called Adams’ actions “opportunistic and not helpful,” though it declined to say whether the proposal would get a public hearing, let alone a council vote this session.
“The Council appreciates that this is a difficult and emotional issue for many New Yorkers, which has persisted for decades,” Adams’ office said in a statement. “This bill continues to go through the legislative process, which is deliberative and allows for thorough input from all stakeholders.”
Animal rights groups, which have long called for ending the industry over concerns about the health and welfare of the horses, applauded the announcement.
“This is a life-saving step for both people and horses, and it makes clear what we and so many New Yorkers have long said: horse-drawn carriages have no place in our city any longer,” said Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, or NYCLASS.
The influential Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that manages the park, announced in August that it also was backing calls for a ban, citing safety concerns.
The mayor is the latest notable voice to weigh in on the long-running debate, but he certainly isn’t the first mayor to call for an end to the carriage industry.
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