{"id":112,"date":"2026-08-17T15:56:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/carl-wilson\/?page_id=112"},"modified":"2026-08-17T15:56:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:56:28","slug":"council-member-carl-wilson-romanchs-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/carl-wilson\/council-member-carl-wilson-romanchs-law\/","title":{"rendered":"COUNCIL MEMBER CARL WILSON RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF ROMANCH\u2019S LAW AND QUESTIONS THE ADMINISTRATION ON IMPLEMENTATION"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Council Speaker Julie Menin and Health Committee Chair Lynn Schulman Held Hearing, Council Member Carl Wilson Called for an End to Horse-Drawn Carriages in New York City<\/em><\/p>\n

Wilson: \u201cNew York City is one of the busiest and most densely populated cities in the world, it is simply not an appropriate environment for horses to navigate. Surrounded by congested traffic, crowded streets, constant construction, and the relentless noise of modern city life, these animals face conditions that are fundamentally incompatible with their well-being. We owe it to Romanch Mahajan, our residents and tourists, and to the horses themselves to pass Romanch\u2019s Law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

CITY HALL, NY<\/strong> \u2014 Council Member Carl Wilson joined colleagues, advocates, and the family of Romanch Mahajan yesterday in support of Romanch’s Law<\/strong>, legislation that would wind down the operation of horse drawn carriages and prohibit the issuance of new licenses for horse-drawn carriage operations in New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hearing, convened by New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Health Committee Chair Council Member Lynn Schulman, marks a significant step forward for legislation aimed at ending the horse-drawn carriage industry, advancing stronger animal welfare protections, rehabilitating the horses, and providing pathways for the carriage drivers to settle into new work.<\/p>\n

Prior to the hearing, Council Member Wilson participated in a rally on the steps of City Hall alongside the family of Romanch Mahajan, Speaker Julie Menin, Council Members Christopher Marte and Harvey Epstein, actress Edie Falco, animal welfare organizations, and New Yorkers advocating for this legislation.<\/p>\n

During the Committee on Health hearing, Council Member Wilson joined fellow Council Members in listening to testimonies as well as questioning representatives from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare, the Transport Workers Union, NYCLASS, the ASPCA, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund regarding the legislation and its impact on animal welfare, public safety, and the future of the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City.<\/p>\n

Council Member Wilson inquired about welfare check-ups on the horses once they reach the retirement farms in order to ensure they are getting the care they need to support their well-being. \u201cIt\u2019s very nice to say they\u2019ll be sent to a retirement farm or sanctuary, but oftentimes there\u2019s more to it than that for the horses. The transition from one environment to another can be disruptive,\u201d said Council Member Wilson. \u201cI want to make sure it\u2019s not just a line written on a page but something the City continues to follow up on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nRally for Romanch\u2019s Law to End Horse-Drawn Carriages in Central Park<\/a>