Manhattan – The New York City Council is set to vote next week on a bill that would ban horse‑carriage rides in Central Park, a move supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The legislation, if approved, could affect over 100 carriage drivers who rely on the historic pastime for their livelihood.
MTA proposes a transition pathway
At a press conference on Wednesday, MTA President and CEO Janno Lieber announced that the agency is prepared to consider hiring carriage drivers should the industry be dismantled. “They are already members of our largest union. We’d love to see if there is a fit with some or all of them at the MTA,” Lieber said, emphasizing the transit system’s willingness to provide a just transition for workers.
Drivers voice concern and hope
Christina Hansen, a veteran carriage driver, expressed both anger and skepticism about the proposed ban. “We are angry, we’re upset,” she said, adding that the lack of a clear mechanism to protect workers raises serious questions. “It’s a ban first, ask questions later,” Hansen warned, noting the difficulty of finding comparable employment for those trained to work with horses.
Despite her concerns, Hansen acknowledged that the MTA’s offer could represent a lifeline for some of her colleagues. “If the MTA can give us a job, that would be better than losing everything,” she said.
Safety and animal‑welfare arguments
Supporters of the ban point to recent incidents that have heightened public safety concerns. This summer, a teenager from India died after falling from a runaway horse, and a carriage horse collapsed and died weeks earlier. Edita Birnkrant of the New York Coalition for the Advancement of Animal Safety (NYCLASS) said ending the industry would protect elderly and sick horses and make the city safer for pedestrians.
Political backdrop
Mayor Mamdani framed the legislation as a matter of public safety and humane treatment of animals. “We want to ensure that this is a resolution that also comes with a measure of a just transition for those who have earned their livelihood,” he said.
The City Council’s vote will determine whether the ban proceeds, while the MTA’s potential hiring plan remains contingent on the outcome. If the bill passes, the transit agency will work with the affected drivers’ union to identify suitable positions within the agency.
What’s next for the industry?
Should the ban be enacted, carriage drivers will need to transition to new careers, many potentially within the MTA’s extensive operations. The agency has not yet detailed specific roles or timelines, but Lieber indicated that discussions with the drivers’ union are already underway.
Community members and advocacy groups continue to debate the balance between preserving a historic tourist attraction and ensuring public safety and animal welfare. The upcoming council vote will be a decisive moment for both the drivers and the city’s broader vision for Central Park.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
