New York City Council votes to phase out horse-drawn carriage industry
Forty council members voted for “Romanch’s Law,” with 29 council members voting in favor of the legislation sponsored by Council Member Christopher Marte.
The New York City Council voted to pass a law that would phase out the 160-year horse-drawn carriage industry.
Forty council members voted for “Romanch’s Law,” with 29 council members voting in favor of the legislation sponsored by Council Member Christopher Marte.
The City Council first introduced legislation to ban horse-drawn carriages in 2007.
Rallies were held prior to the vote in support of both sides of the issue.
"This is a vote of big business against working-class New Yorkers," shouted Alexander Kemp, the administrative vice president of TWU Local 100.
The vote for Introduction 943-A (also known as Romanch's Law) will slowly phase out and ban the horse-drawn carriage industry in the city by June of 2028.
The push for the law comes after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan was killed after he was thrown from a horse-drawn carriage back in June.
The family of Mahajan attended Thursday's rally in favor of the vote. Mahajan's Uncle, Gaurav Mahajan, spoke to News 12 ahead of the vote.
"We haven't had that time, we haven't had that space, so I think once this law gets passed, we can go on to just grieve our child (Romanch) and start to focus on what needs to be done from there," he shared.
Others like Michelle Wen, who were in support of the ban, said it has felt like a long time coming for the vote to be passed.
“I have been a supporter since 2014. I would come to these protests, share the articles, and it felt like there was no end in sight, like this was never going to happen,” said Wen. “But finally, this is happening and it's sad that it takes one human life to cause a big change, when the horses have been suffering for the past 40 years at least.”
However, those against the vote argued not only would it impact their livelihood but will leave a big question for the care of the horses.
"Where are you finding a home for 80 horses that you can't send to an industry where they were bred to do the work for? I assure you, this is not a vote of decency," said Kemp.
Next, Mayor Zohran Mamdani will sign the bill.
