The family of an 18-year-old tourist who was killed last month in a runaway horse carriage incident in Central Park urged New York City lawmakers on Wednesday to end the city’s century-and-a-half-old horse-drawn carriage industry. The appeal came during a City Council hearing examining a bill that would phase out the carriages within two years, including their operation on Central Park roadways.
Romanch Mahajan’s parents, Deepak and Priya Mahajan, joined the hearing remotely from India. Deepak Mahajan described the trauma his family experienced after the carriage horse bolted while their driver had stepped away to take a photo. According to his account, Priya Mahajan fell from the carriage, and Romanch Mahajan jumped down to assist her but hit his head in the process, resulting in his death. “I cannot properly describe to you the real, true fear inside that carriage,” Deepak Mahajan said emotionally. “It was shaking, it was speeding, there was no one holding the reins.”
The hearing took place at City Hall, where the room was filled with animal-rights activists advocating for the ban and horse carriage drivers opposing it. For years, activists have criticized the carriages as outdated and cruel to the animals, but prior efforts to ban the practice had not gained significant political traction. The recent fatal incident has intensified calls to end the industry.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin expressed her support for the ban the day before the hearing. The bill is expected to move forward and, if passed by the City Council, would then be sent to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has indicated support for a ban paired with efforts to provide a “just transition” for affected workers.
John Chiarello, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the carriage drivers and owners, conveyed condolences to the Mahajan family but argued against ending the industry. He raised concerns about the limited employment options available to horse carriage drivers, questioning the feasibility of retraining for jobs in the hospitality or tourism sectors. “If you’re a horse and carriage driver, I don’t think you want to be a host at a casino,” he said.
Several drivers at the hearing echoed these concerns, emphasizing their long-standing connection to working with horses and the uncertainty about their futures without the industry. Angel Hernandez, a longtime driver, spoke emotionally about his commitment to the profession and desire to keep the horses under driver care.
Supporters of the ban included Curtis Sliwa, a Republican mayoral candidate last year; Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets (NYCLASS); and Robert Holden, a former City Council member who introduced a previous bill to abolish the carriages. Holden noted that his bill would have taken effect on June 1, shortly before Mr. Mahajan’s death, and criticized political opposition for delaying action. “That is the cost of four years of obstruction,” he said.