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1h ago

NYC Council Panel Defeats 'Ryder’s Law' After Forced Vote

With the vote over, advocates pin hopes on Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's stated support for a ban.

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A city councilmember long opposed to the carriage horse trade is making one last attempt to ban the practice.
Horses and their drivers are seen pulling carriages through vehicle-clogged Midtown Manhattan traffic early Tuesday, July 18, 2023. New York temperatures are expected to reach over 100º degrees in the afternoon. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can result in horses suffering heat stress, heatstroke and problems such as dehydration, muscle spasms and colic.(Photo by: Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News)
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Overview

  • The Council's Health Committee rejected the measure by a 1–4 vote with two abstentions and two absences.
  • Sponsor Bob Holden compelled the vote through a seldom-used rule after months of stalling and was refused a full hearing by Chair Lynn Schulman.
  • The proposal would have banned Central Park horse-drawn carriages, halted new licenses, and tasked the consumer and worker protection agency with helping drivers transition.
  • Supporters pointed to recent collapses and deaths of carriage horses, including Ryder and Lady, to argue city streets are unsafe for the animals.
  • The Transport Workers Union opposes a ban and this week sued NYCLASS over alleged false claims, as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani signals he will pursue a driver-focused compromise, possibly with electric carriages.