City Council Passes Carriage Horse Ban Bill But Fight is Not Over

IB ImageOCTOBER 23, 2026—After the City Council voted yesterday to pass a bill that would ban horse carriages and destroy the industry as well as the financial futures of hundreds of workers, one thing remained clear: this fight is not over.

“We will see them in court. This bill is blatantly unconstitutional, providing nothing but a plan to draft a plan. There’s nothing concrete for hundreds of workers, carriage owners and family members who face total economic devastation,” said TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp.

Intro. 943 would create chaos for workers who have sunk everything they had into an industry and the horses they love, purchasing medallions from the city for hundreds and thousands of dollars. Despite Julie Menin and others paying lip service to protecting workers, there are no guarantees for how the carriage drivers will survive and where the horses will go.

“The city faces an $8.8 billion deficit and this workforce is getting nothing but promises that there might be some aid in the future,” Kemp said.