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4 clusters · 142 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

NYC Council passes Romanch’s Law to ban horse carriages

Overview

The New York City Council has officially passed legislation, known as ‘Romanch’s Law’, to phase out horse-drawn carriages in Central Park and across all five boroughs. The law aims to end the 150-year-old tradition by June 1, 2028.

The decision follows intense pressure from animal welfare advocates regarding inhumane working conditions and physical exhaustion, as well as public outcry following the death of 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan. The Mahajan family had previously filed a $50 million notice of claim against the city.

In a recent vote, the Council approved the measure with 40 votes in favor, seven against, and two abstentions. While the full ban will not take effect until 2028, the city will immediately cease issuing new carriage licenses. The legislation includes a transition plan intended to provide approximately 150 drivers and workers with job retraining, counseling, and potential economic compensation for their licenses. The city is mandated to develop a specific workforce transition plan by April 2027.

While Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin support the measure, the move has met fierce opposition from the Transport Workers Union (TWA/TWU), which represents approximately 200 drivers and owners. The union has filed for a temporary restraining order, characterizing the ban as a ‘train wreck of constitutional and due process violations’ and has announced intentions to challenge the ban in federal court. Former President Donald Trump also criticized the ban on social media, describing the carriages as a ‘great tradition’ and a ‘piece of history’ that will be missed.

To protect the animals, provisions ensure that the city’s approximately 160 carriage horses will not be sent to slaughterhouses, with advocates coordinating with equine sanctuaries to prepare for their eventual retirement.

Entities

Zohran Mamdani · Julie Menin · Romanch Mahajan · Central Park · New York City Council

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 62 sources
    New York City to ban Central Park horse-drawn carriages by 2028

    New York City Council has approved a ban on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by June 2028, following a fatal accident involving an 18-year-old tourist and years of animal welfare debates.

  2. [POLITICS] 35 sources
    New York City Council approves ban on Central Park horse-drawn carriages

    New York City has approved a ban on horse-drawn carriages, to be phased out by June 2028, following a fatal accident and long-standing animal welfare concerns.

  3. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    New York City plans to ban Central Park horse-drawn carriages by 2028

    New York City aims to ban Central Park's horse-drawn carriages by 2028 following animal welfare concerns and a fatal accident involving a teenage tourist.

  4. [POLITICS] 52 sources
    New York City to phase out Central Park horse carriages by 2028

    New York City officials have agreed to a plan to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by June 2028, following safety concerns and animal welfare advocacy.

Sources

24ur.com · 6abc.com · 6sqft.com · 7news.com.au · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc17news.com · abc30.com · allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de · allgaeuer-zeitung.de · americanindependent.com · augsburger-allgemeine.de · balleralert.com · barenakedislam.com · bhaskarlive.in · boardingarea.com · bookclubz.com · brasilemfolhas.com.br · calibre800.com · canal44.com · carriermanagement.com · cbs58.com · centraldenoticiasmadariaga.com · chosunonline.com · cyprus-mail.com · dagens.no · dailydigest.ie · dattelner-morgenpost.de · delo.si · deutschlandsuchtdensuperstar.de · digitalchew.com · dk-online.de · dominicanaaldia.com · dorstenerzeitung.de · dziennik.com · eldiariony.com · elinformante.com.do · enca.com · enikos.gr · ensegundos.do · epaper.assamtribune.com · fakt.pl · faz.net · fehmarn24.de · flash.gr · fnn.jp · focus.de · folgefonnsenteret.no

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history