NEW YORK CITY — Horse-drawn carriages have traveled through Central Park for over 160 years. This Thursday, the New York City Council is scheduled to vote on a bill that would end the long-standing tradition by banning horse-drawn carriage operations starting June 1, 2028.
The legislation, known as Romanch’s Law, has garnered support from both Democrat Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Democrat Council Speaker Julie Menin.
“It’s going to be a disaster for me, for my family. I cannot pay my bills,” said Atakan Aktay, a Turkish immigrant who has worked in the Central Park carriage industry for 13 years.
“They’re stealing my American dream from me,” he added.
The bill follows the death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, an Indian tourist vacationing in New York with his family. During a carriage ride through Central Park, the driver stepped away to take a photo of the family when the horse suddenly bolted, throwing Mahajan’s mother from the carriage. Mahajan jumped out after her and struck his head on the ground, suffering fatal injuries.
Supporters of the ban argue that eliminating the industry would protect both horses and the public. However, for drivers whose livelihoods depend on the carriages, the legislation threatens to dismantle everything they have built over decades.
