The horse-drawn carriages that have long symbolized New York's Central Park are set to disappear. A tourist's death and mounting animal welfare concerns have halted a tradition spanning more than 150 years.
Teen Tourist's Death Prompts Ban
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed on a bill that would completely ban horse-drawn carriage operations in Central Park, according to Bloomberg and other foreign media outlets on the 13th.
The bill is scheduled for a City Council vote on the 22nd. With 29 of the council's 51 members signed on as co-sponsors, the measure is widely expected to clear the legislature. If it passes, carriages will be barred from Central Park starting June 1, 2028.
The decisive factor behind the push was a tourist's death in June. Romanchi Mahajan, an 18-year-old Indian national, was killed while riding a carriage during a family trip to New York to celebrate his high school graduation.
The driver had briefly stepped down to take a family photo when the horse suddenly bolted, overturning the carriage. It was reported as the first fatality since tourist carriages were introduced in Central Park more than 150 years ago. Carriage operations were suspended for six days immediately after the accident while safety rules were reviewed.
Limits on Disposing of Horses, Support for Operators
The bill, dubbed "Romanchi's Law," covers not only the operating ban but also measures to protect the horses. Its core provisions tightly restrict sending the animals to slaughter or transferring them to other carriage operators.
Horse owners must notify city authorities at least 10 business days before disposing of an animal. Anyone caught operating a carriage after the ban takes effect faces a $10,000 fine. Central Park currently has 68 carriages in operation, involving about 150 drivers and more than 180 horses.
The bill also calls for support measures for industry workers. The city must draw up a plan to assist drivers and carriage owners by April 1, 2027.
The Central Park Conservancy and animal rights activists have long called for an end to the carriage rides. Carriage operators countered that the accident risk is far lower than that of e-bikes, scooters and other forms of transportation. They also argued that halting operations would make it difficult to cover the costs of feeding and caring for the horses or moving them to other facilities.
The new White House press secretary officially referenced South Korea's $54 billion investment in Alaska LNG at a first briefing. The Korean government, however, has yet to decide on the investment.
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Why does the U.S. keep treating Korea's investment as a done deal?
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