October 17, 2026 NEW YORK, NY An iconic piece of New York City history is on the verge of total annihilation, and the workers who built their lives around it are refusing to go down without a fierce fight.

Horse carriage drivers and medallion owners gathered in force at the entrance of Central Park on Friday to issue a fiery ultimatum to City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani: a deal struck to outlaw their centuries-old industry is an "unacceptable" betrayal that will destroy lives.

A Historic Tradition on the Brink of Destruction

With 30 co-sponsors out of 51 council members backing the measure, the controversial legislation—dubbed Romanch’s Law—is virtually guaranteed to pass a full council vote on Oct. 22 before heading to the mayor's desk for his signature.

The legislation was named after 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who tragically died in June after being thrown from a horse carriage. While Mahajan’s death marked the first human fatality in the industry's 168-year history in Central Park, animal rights activists have pointed to years of prior incidents involving bolted horses and traffic collisions to demand an immediate end to the trade.

The proposed bill explicitly bans horse carriage operations in Central Park, halts the issuance of licenses, and proposes a "workforce transition program" to steer affected workers toward government jobs, such as positions with the MTA. It also states the city must "consider" compensating owners for lost businesses, equipment, and medallions.

"Like a Mafia": Workers Slam "Flawed" Protections

Those on the frontlines say the bill’s promises are nothing more than an empty illusion that leaves hard-working New Yorkers stranded on the street.

Christina Hansen, shop steward for TWU Local 100 and a 14-year carriage driver, tore into city leaders for rushing the legislation through alongside high-profile animal rights groups like PETA and NYCLASS.

"This bill does not do what the speaker promised... It does not protect the horses. It’s bad for horses. It does not protect the workers. It’s bad for workers. It does not protect the medallion owners. It’s bad for them. It destroys people and horses’ lives," Hansen declared.

Alexander Kemp, Local 100’s executive vice president, similarly blasted the council’s proposed transition plan, arguing that the bill contains zero guaranteed job protections for displaced workers.

The anger turned raw as 23-year driver Ahmet Bilici, who poured his entire life savings into his carriage medallion, likened top city leadership to organized crime figures pushing hard-working citizens toward homelessness.

"The mayor and the speaker coming like mafia, like a gangster, and they come and take my business, my home," Bilici said. "Put me out of business. Put me out in the streets. Make me homeless."

City Hall Hits Back as Legal Battle Looms

City Hall officials firmly defended the measure, insisting that labor unions were included in the discussions that shaped the transition framework.

Jack Lobel, a spokesperson for Speaker Menin, maintained that the council has built a structure to deliver better economic opportunities for displaced workers, promising that Menin's office will remain actively engaged through a newly invited joint working group with TWU and the administration.

However, carriage workers are already preparing for nuclear legal options. Hansen warned that drivers and medallion owners are currently weighing a major lawsuit if the City Council officially enacts Romanch’s Law next week.

As the Oct. 22 vote draws near, the countdown is officially on for the future of Central Park's most famous tradition.

Sign in with Google