During a City Council hearing, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to downsize and relocate New York City’s horse and carriage industry to Central Park faced strong opposition and skepticism from council members. The administration struggled to provide details on the cost, location, and job impacts of a proposed new stable for the carriages, leading to frustration among lawmakers. City Councilman Barry Grodenchik likened the proposal to buying “an empty bag with a hole in it” due to the lack of information.
Additionally, the plan’s provision to ban pedicab rides south of 85th Street in Central Park was criticized for potentially ruining pedicab businesses without having conducted a traffic impact study. Despite this, the city’s director of operations, Mindy Tarlow, suggested that a compromise could be possible, stating the city is open to listening and finding a balanced solution.
Carriage drivers and a Teamster official expressed concerns about job losses and the timeline for the new stables, which are not required to open until October 2018. The bill proposes reducing the number of horses from around 170 to 110 by the end of the year.
The plan has drawn support from animal rights advocates, including NYCLASS, who rallied outside City Hall. Mayor de Blasio, who received significant donations from NYCLASS during his 2013 mayoral campaign, had initially promised to ban the carriage industry but shifted to pushing for its downsizing and relocation as a compromise due to lack of support in the Council.
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