NYC Council votes 40-7 to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028 after teen death New York City lawmakers approved Romanch's Law to phase out horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028, prompting criticism from President Trump and threats of legal action from drivers and unions. New York City lawmakers voted Thursday to ban horse-drawn carriages by June 2028, ending a nearly 170-year-old tradition after the death of a teenager in Central Park. The City Council approved Romanch's Law by a vote of 40-7, with two abstentions. The legislation is named after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park. The bill phases out the industry by June 1, 2028, and requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration to develop a transition program for more than 150 active carriage drivers and other workers.Trump and Union Leaders Blast Carriage BanPresident Donald Trump criticized the decision Thursday, calling the carriage ride a quintessential New York experience. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that it was sad that for political reasons the tradition would end. He also called the Central Park activity a great tradition. Carriage drivers and union leaders blasted the ban, accusing officials of destroying workers' livelihoods and vowing to fight the measure in court.They threatened to challenge the ban in federal court and seek a temporary restraining order. Union representatives accused City Council Speaker Julie Menin of failing to adequately consult drivers whose livelihoods are at stake. Second-generation horse carriage driver Frank Riccobono was among those speaking outside New York City Hall on Oct. 21, 2026, ahead of the vote, according to Fox News Digital. Opponents argued the city had failed to establish a concrete financial plan for drivers and carriage owners.An effort to delay the phaseout until January 2030 failed before the final vote. Menin defended the legislation Thursday, saying the council had strengthened worker protections and was prepared for a legal fight. She said at a news conference that they were very confident in the legislation and had worked over the summer on it. She added that they made changes to beef up worker protection and would vigorously defend the law.Supporters Highlight Safety Risks and Worker ProtectionsSupporters of the ban celebrated the decision, arguing that horse-drawn carriages pose growing safety risks in a park that welcomes roughly 40 million visits annually. In a press release, the organization wrote that in the modern era carriages pose a serious and even fatal safety risk to park visitors, carriage drivers and the horses themselves.The group added that their hearts break for the family of Romanch Mahajan, who stepped into a carriage earlier this summer and never thought he might lose his life. The legislation also includes protections intended to prevent retired carriage horses from being sold for slaughter, while allowing owners to keep their animals. The bill now heads to Mamdani, who has expressed support for ending the industry.If signed, it would bring an end to a decades-long political battle over one of New York City's most recognizable tourist attractions. City lawmakers have been arguing over whether to nix the industry for decades, with animal activists backing a ban and the union representing drivers opposing it. Trump's post also questioned why the city would stop the carriages when car accidents in the area do not lead to cars being banned from the park.