Mamdani expected to face legal trouble over PETA-backed horse carriage ban

EXCLUSIVE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides after an 18-year-old tourist died in a Central Park carriage accident is expected to face legal challenges.

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino told Fox News Digital that Intro 943, also known as Romanch’s Law, is "unconstitutional."

"There will be a lawsuit coming up because this is unconstitutional," Paladino said. "Intro 943 is unconstitutional. Lawsuits are going to be filed immediately after this effort is passed. They’re going to be tangled up in legalese."

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New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino raised concerns about mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s economic agenda, including his proposal for government-run grocery stores. (Getty Images; Fox News)

The New York City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on the proposal, which would phase out the horse-drawn carriage industry by June 1, 2028. The legislation would also establish a transition plan for carriage drivers and require the humane disposition of the horses.

The bill is named after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who died after jumping from a runaway carriage in Central Park. Mahajan’s mother was also injured in the incident.

A carriage horse is seen pulling a 1,800-pound carriage, tourists and the driver in Central Park on June 18, 2024. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Paladino criticized the proposal, which is supported by animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She argued that the ban would threaten the livelihoods of carriage operators, many of whom are immigrants and small-business owners.

"Let’s remember that these owners represent a melting pot," Paladino said. "Their livelihood exists in and around the city."

Paladino also warned that eliminating carriage rides could hurt New York City’s tourism industry and weaken a historic tradition.

"It’s a tremendous tourist attraction," she said. "People come in from all over the world to take those carriage rides."

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The councilwoman also criticized proposed alternatives, including electric bicycles and scooters, arguing that they can pose greater risks to pedestrians.

"These scooters and these motorized bikes that go 20 miles an hour — these scooters that go 30 and 40 miles an hour, zigzagging throughout the park, with no license, no registration and no insurance," Paladino said. "How many people get run over by those people?"

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference on Oct. 8, 2026, in New York City. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

Paladino said the Mamdani administration should focus on regulating e-bikes and scooters instead of eliminating the carriage industry.

"If the Mamdani administration truly cared about public safety, why don’t they get a handle on the scooter and bike industry?" she said.

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The union representing carriage workers has also said it plans to challenge the ban in court if the legislation becomes law.

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Mamdani’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.