New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have agreed to support legislation banning horse-drawn carriages beginning in June 2028, ending a long-standing tourist attraction in Central Park.

The proposed ban follows years of concerns from animal welfare advocates over horses’ treatment and safety, including several horse deaths and the death of an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a carriage in June.

The legislation is expected to go before the City Council for a vote on October 22 and includes plans to help carriage drivers transition to other jobs and potentially compensate owners for their businesses.

The Transport Workers Union has criticized the proposal, arguing that it fails to provide adequate financial assistance to drivers whose livelihoods depend on the industry, The Guardian has reported.

The bill would also require the city to establish a program ensuring the horses are humanely rehomed and are not sold for slaughter or transferred to other horse-drawn carriage operations.