New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday endorsed a plan to bring an end to the horse-drawn carriage trade in Central Park, a practice that has lasted more than a century and a half. At the same time, he ordered the NYPD to step up enforcement of existing regulations aimed at controlling the industry.
In explaining his position, Adams pointed to growing safety risks in the busy park, noting several recent cases where horses collapsed and died while working or escaped their drivers and bolted through the area.
“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,” Adams said in a statement. “It has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city.”
Adams, who is pursuing reelection as an independent despite tough odds, said he had sent a “letter of necessity” to the City Council. The letter allows lawmakers to fast-track legislation that would gradually eliminate the carriages.
The mayor also signed an executive order instructing police to “prioritize enforcement” against carriages that operate outside the zones where they are legally permitted, whether by illegally soliciting rides or obstructing traffic.
His directive also called for agencies to begin planning alternative job opportunities for carriage drivers and to set up a system where operators can voluntarily hand back their 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, head of the Transport Workers Union of America, which represents carriage drivers, blasted the mayor’s move, calling it a “desperation act” meant to revive his struggling campaign against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
“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.”
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams also suggested the timing was political, labeling the mayor’s move “opportunistic and not helpful.” Her office would not commit to scheduling a hearing or vote on the measure this session.
“The Council appreciates that this is a difficult and emotional issue for many New Yorkers, which has persisted for decades,” her 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 advocates, who for years have pressed for the end of the carriage trade, hailed the mayor’s position as overdue and necessary.
“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 Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit in charge of managing the park, had already come out in August in support of a ban, also citing safety hazards.
Adams’ announcement adds his name to a list of city leaders who have waded into the contentious fight over the industry. His move echoes earlier promises, including that of Bill de Blasio, who pledged to eliminate the carriages “on day one” of his mayoralty but ultimately ran into resistance from the City Council.
{Matzav.com}
