NYC mayor throws support behind bill to ban Central Park horse carriages

NEW YORK -- New York City’s mayor threw his support Wednesday behind a proposal to end the horse-drawn carriages that have been fixtures in Central Park for more than 150 years as he ordered police to more stringently enforce laws already on the books to rein in the industry.Mayor Eric Adams, in joining supporters of a ban, cited safety concerns in the increasingly crowded green space, including incidents in recent years of horses collapsing and dying on the job or breaking free from their drivers and running loose in the park.“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.”The Democrat, who faces a steep climb in his bid for reelection as an independent, said he sent the City Council a “letter of necessity” giving lawmakers the authority to expedite passage of a bill phasing out horse-drawn carriages.Adams also issued an executive order that, among other things, orders police to “prioritize enforcement” against horse-drawn carriages operating outside their legally designated areas to illegally solicit fares or impede traffic.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.”John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union of America, which represents horse carriage workers, dismissed the announcement as a “desperation act” by a mayor badly lagging his campaign rivals, including Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, forme...