Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposal to restrict carriage horses to Central Park and ban pedicabs from operating below 85th Street has faced significant opposition from city council members, the carriage horse and pedicab industries, and animal rights activists. During a nearly seven-hour hearing, council members criticized the plan for its lack of transparency and the negative impact it would have on both industries. Queens Councilmember Van Bramer expressed strong disapproval, highlighting the administration’s failure to defend the legislation effectively.
The deal, announced in conjunction with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Teamsters union, aims to reduce carriage horses from 180 to 95 by October 2018, coinciding with the opening of a new stable in Central Park. However, concerns were raised about the feasibility of completing the stable by the deadline, the lack of consultation with pedicab drivers, and the dissatisfaction among animal rights activists who prefer a total ban on carriage horses.
The Teamsters union, despite not being fully satisfied with the deal, views it as preferable to a complete ban on carriage horses. The reduction in horses and working hours is expected to result in a loss of 40 to 50 jobs, amounting to a 25% reduction in the industry. Pedicab drivers, who are not unionized, voiced strong opposition to the bill, arguing that the ban below 85th Street would severely limit their business opportunities and that they had not been consulted during the bill’s drafting process.
City council members showed sympathy for the pedicab drivers’ plight, with several expressing support for more lenient legislation towards pedicabs. The council’s response suggests a desire to include pedicab drivers in the conversation and find a more balanced solution that considers the interests of all parties involved.
For more information:
https://gothamist.com/news/de-blasios-carriage-horse-plan-struggles-to-whinny-over-angry-neighsayers