The de Blasio administration in New York City announced a deal to significantly reduce the Central Park horse carriage industry, aiming to confine carriage horses to a new stable within the park. This agreement would decrease the number of horses from approximately 220 to 95 by 2018. Mayor Bill de Blasio, fulfilling a campaign promise to his animal-rights activist supporters, initiated this move, which has been a contentious issue since his election in 2013.
The plan requires constructing a stable by October 1, 2018, that can accommodate 75 horses at a time, with an additional 20 horses rotating out to rest. This proposal, still needing City Council approval, has been described as “an agreement in concept” and could be reviewed in a hearing soon.
Animal-rights activists, who have been critical supporters of de Blasio and instrumental in his mayoral campaign against Christine C. Quinn by spending around $1 million, have long targeted the horse carriage industry. Despite their support, the mayor’s efforts to completely eliminate the industry faced widespread opposition from New Yorkers, including some of his supporters who wished he would drop the campaign.
The specifics of the financing for the new stable, which would be the first of its kind in Central Park for commercial carriage horses, were not disclosed. However, an area near the park’s 86th Street Transverse is considered the most likely site for the stable. Additionally, the deal includes a provision to ban pedicabs from operating below 85th Street in Central Park, thereby removing competition for the carriage trade. This aspect of the deal has sparked protests from the pedicab community, who view it as an unfair restriction on their business.
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