Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 10 a.m. (New York City time), Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee: Committee on Health
The Committee on Health held an extensive hearing on Introduction 943 ('Roman's Law'), sponsored by Council Member Christopher Marte, which would prohibit the operation of horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The hearing followed the death of 18-year-old Roman Mahajan, an Indian tourist who fell from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park on June 17, 2026, when the driver stepped away and the horse bolted. The administration (DOHMH and DCWP) testified in support of the bill's intent while raising concerns about sufficiency of worker protections. Council members extensively questioned the administration on oversight, enforcement, stable conditions, and the proposed phase-out. Many hours of public testimony were heard from the victim's family, animal welfare advocates, equine veterinarians, the carriage industry and its union (TWU Local 100), and sanctuaries. No vote was taken at this hearing.
0:02 Floor, please. Do you know
0:02 where it is gorgeous korea's
0:08 crawling
0:09 . All right, folks in the
0:09 balcony, please have a seat,
0:11 please find a seat. Good
0:15 morning. Welcome today's New
0:16 York City Council hearing for
0:17 the committee on health. He
0:18 this time, please. Science
0:19 ,all cell phone and electronic
0:21 devices moving forward no one
0:22 is still approach the day is
0:25 please, um, keep the
0:26 quartermaine here does
0:29 government proceeding chair,
0:29 we are ready to begin.
0:35 Good morning. I am council
0:37 member Lynn Schulman of the
0:39 New York City Council's
0:40 committee on health today, the
0:41 committee on health will hear
0:43 introduction 943, sponsored by
0:46 council mart martin in
0:47 relation to prohibiting the
0:48 operation of horse drawn cabs.
0:51 I would like to recognize tha
0:52 twe have been joined by speaker
0:52 men and by council members
0:58 . Mart, genero wang Epstein De
1:03 La Joann Ariola month, roman
1:05 maha john and his family wer
1:06 evisiting New York City from
1:07 india when they took a horse
1:09 carriage ride in central park
1:11 during the ride, the carriage
1:12 driver stepped away from the
1:13 carriage to take a photograph
1:15 of the family, the horse
1:19 bolted, causing romansch, his
1:20 mother, pria to fall out of
1:21 the carriage roman than either
1:23 jumped or fell from the
1:25 carriage suffering a severe
1:26 head injury, he tragically
1:28 lost clyde later that day, my
1:31 heart goes out to the maha
1:32 family for the unimaginable
1:34 loss they have endured. Please
1:35 join me in a moment of silence
1:37 in memory of romance,
1:52 thank you. I will now turn
1:53 it over to speaker men in for
1:54 her opening remarks
1:56 . Thank you, everyone. I'm
1:56 jueli Menin, of the New York
1:58 City Council and I want t
2:00 owelcome all of you to this
2:02 important hearing. I first of
2:03 all want to thank my colleague
2:05 or health care council members
2:08 showman for convening today's
2:09 hearing and I want to thank my
2:11 colleague councilmember hey,
2:14 the sponsor of romance law, so
2:17 to the mahajan family. There
2:19 are no words for romance chose
2:22 death when I spoke to you this
2:24 morning and I heard the pain
2:25 in your voice. We there is
2:30 nothing we can do to bring him
2:32 back. But what we can do is
2:35 honor his legacy, which is
2:37 what we're doing today at this
2:39 hearing to make sure that this
2:42 type of tragedy never ever
2:45 happens again and so I just
2:47 khere. I know this is not easy
2:51 and we're going to hear from
2:52 you in a few minutes and our
2:55 condolences extend to your
2:58 whole family. Um, we know when
2:59 a young person is taken from
3:01 us cut off in their prime of
3:03 life as raymond was with the
3:05 world of potential going to
3:07 college ahead of him. It is,
3:09 and I say this as a mom. It's
3:11 like, really deeply heart
3:13 wrenching when that death was
3:14 avoidable where he could be
3:16 alive if only we had acted
3:17 sooner. It is a call to actio
3:20 nfor all people of good
3:23 conscience for your family for
3:24 all the families and for our
3:25 City. We are here to ensure
3:27 that this never happens again.
3:31 This issue is not New to our
3:33 City. It's certainly not New
3:35 to City government. There are
3:36 many people who are in this
3:38 chamber's who've been working
3:38 on this issue for many, many
3:41 years, but it has never come
3:45 to fruition the matter of
3:46 horse carriages or maintenance
3:48 or safety and operation has
3:49 come up under previous mayors
3:51 in previous City councils
3:53 every year for almost for
3:58 decades. The time to act is
4:03 now.
4:03 This is not a simple issue
4:04 because this industry is
4:06 historically and culturally
4:08 significant for years horse
4:10 carriages have been synonymous
4:11 where their iconic world class
4:15 tourism. The rides they
4:16 provide have given visitors an
4:17 opportunity to slow down and
4:19 take in the sights of our City
4:20 and they have given hundreds
4:22 of hard working immigrant New
4:25 yorkers the dignity of a good
4:28 paying job. These are drivers
4:29 who care deeply for their
4:30 horses and who takes the
4:31 safety of their passengers and
4:34 pedestrians extremely
4:35 seriously. I do not take these
4:39 considerations lately. Anytime
4:40 there is possibility of ending
4:41 anne industry the possibility
4:43 of job losses for small
4:45 business owners and employees
4:46 .we obviously need to think
4:47 carefully about that. I'm a
4:50 former small business owner
4:51 myself. I understand the
4:54 challenges and burdens of
4:55 operating and working for one
4:57 ,so I'm committing here today
5:00 that we are going to charge a
5:03 path forward to protect the
5:05 workers and ensure that they
5:07 have good paying jobs and
5:09 moving forward whether it be
5:11 in the hospitality or tourism
5:12 or other industry, we know
5:15 that you are a vital threat of
5:16 the fabric of this City and we
5:18 will not exclude you from thi
5:22 sconversation. I'm also very
5:23 committed to ensuring that
5:24 horses involved are treated
5:27 fairly and compassionately,
5:28 and we will ensure through
5:31 this bill that we will
5:34 guarantee their safety and
5:34 well being as well. So that
5:37 brings us to the pivotal
5:38 crossroads where we stand
5:40 today as public servants. We
5:42 must respond to the concerns
5:44 of our constituents and we
5:47 must recognize that the
5:48 appetite towards banning horse
5:50 carriages has grown
5:52 significantly over the past
5:53 four decades New yorkers have
5:55 long been concerned about
5:59 public safety with scores of
6:00 accidents and close calls
6:02 involving horses, passengers,
6:04 commuters maintaining large
6:06 and naturally skittish animals
6:07 and are chaotic. City is a
6:12 dangerous combination and
6:12 sadly with romance, death we
6:14 have now reached a turning
6:17 point. We have also become a
6:18 City that is overwhelmingly
6:21 supportive of the humane
6:24 treatment of animals, and
6:25 there have been many incidents
6:27 involving horses collapsing in
6:30 the hot, congested environment
6:32 of our streets accordingly.
6:34 Nearly 70 of New yorkers are
6:37 supportive of phasing out this
6:39 practice and we want to be
6:41 clear, the counsel's focus is
6:43 on ending this tradition while
6:45 protecting the workers whose
6:47 livelihoods depend on it and
6:48 we will ensure strong worker
6:52 protections in this bill, we
6:54 can and we should have this
6:56 conversation today with
6:58 respect and with empathy, no
6:59 matter where we stand on this
7:01 issue, I hope and I know that
7:04 this hearing will maintain a
7:04 tone of somberness of
7:08 sensitivity and civility for
7:10 everyone who has come here
7:12 today. I'm looking forward to
7:14 hearing from the
7:14 administration from the
7:16 industry from advocates and
7:17 most of all from romance chas
7:21 family. I'm also so incredibly
7:23 sorry as I said from the
7:23 beginning for your loss
7:27 . And for those of you that
7:28 don't know this aspect.
7:29 Vermont in an act of heroism
7:31 as he tried to protect his
7:34 mother, now a law named in his
7:37 honor will protect countless
7:39 others residents, tourists,
7:42 humans and horses, while
7:43 there's nothing we can do t
7:45 osadly change a tragedy of his
7:48 death. Passing his law is one
7:49 way to seek justice for him
7:51 and his family to keep his
7:53 blessed memory alive and to
7:55 carry his brave and
7:58 compassionate
7:58 . Spirit forward, so I now
7:59 want to turn it over to
8:00 council members showman again.
8:03 Thank you
8:04 , thank you, speaker man in
8:06 circumstances surrounding
8:07 roman's deeply disturbing the
8:09 driver's conduct was reckless,
8:10 unacceptable. And this young
8:11 man's death was entirely
8:15 preventable. This recent
8:15 tragedy comes on the heels of
8:17 other high profile incidents
8:18 in which carriage horses have
8:20 broken free, collapsed and
8:22 died. These include denise, a
8:23 carriage was who died in after
8:25 eating a plant toxic to horses
8:27 and writer a horse who
8:28 collapsed in hell's kitchen in
8:31 20 22 and was later euthanized
8:33 these incidents have
8:34 intensified a debate that has
8:35 been taking place for years in
8:38 our City about the welfare of
8:38 carriage horses. The safety of
8:40 our residents and visitors the
8:42 livelihoods of carriage
8:43 drivers and the future of the
8:44 horse carriage industry. Today
8:46 we are discussing legislation
8:47 that, if enacted, would wind
8:50 down the horse carriage
8:51 industry introduction. 943
8:53 Would prohibit the issuance of
8:55 New horse carriage operator
8:56 licenses after June 1 2028 an
8:59 dwould also prohibit the
9:00 operation, of course, joining
9:02 cabs after that.
9:02 Date the bell would also
9:04 require the humane disposition
9:05 of former carriage horses,
9:07 including prohibiting their
9:08 sale or transfer for slaughter
9:10 or for use in another horse
9:11 drawn care business. Finally
9:14 ,the bill would require the
9:15 department of consumer and
9:16 work of protection and the
9:17 mayor's office of talent and
9:19 work development to develop a
9:20 job for training program for
9:22 former drivers and other
9:23 workers involved in the
9:25 industry with the goal of
9:26 facilitating the transition to
9:28 other fields of employment.
9:29 This is an industry with a
9:30 long history in New York City
9:31 and for generations, carriage
9:35 drivers have built their
9:35 livelihoods around this work,
9:36 but times are changing and we
9:38 cannot ignore these tragic
9:40 incidents or the serious
9:41 public safety concerns they
9:44 have raised the landscape of
9:45 our City has changed
9:46 dramatically central park in
9:47 the surrounding streets are
9:49 ebicycles, e bikes, pennekamp
9:53 scooters, vehicles and horse
9:55 drawn carriages increasingly
9:56 competing for space when a
9:58 horse becomes distressed,
9:59 collapses or breaks free in
10:01 this environment the
10:02 consequences are devastating
10:03 not only for the horse, but
10:05 for drivers, passengers and
10:06 everyone sharing our streets
10:07 and public spaces. This is
10:10 fundamentally an issue tha
10:11 tgreatly affects the public.
10:14 These concerns are not based
10:14 on a single.
10:15 Incident for years, New
10:18 yorkers advocates elected
10:19 officials and others have
10:20 raised questions about animal
10:22 welfare and public safety
10:22 within the horse carriage
10:25 industry, last month's
10:26 devastating tragedy has forced
10:27 us to confront these concerns
10:28 in a New light and consider
10:30 whether it is time for a New
10:34 path forward
10:34 . As we consider the future of
10:35 this industry. We must
10:37 carefully examine what a
10:39 responsible transition would
10:40 require both for the horses
10:41 and for the people whose
10:42 livelihoods depend on this
10:45 work, we must consider how to
10:46 protect the horses by placing
10:47 them in safe and caring homes.
10:49 We must also recognize the
10:50 drivers and workers who have
10:52 devoted years and in some
10:54 cases generations to this
10:55 industry as well as the
10:57 significant investments they
10:58 have made in their carriage
11:00 licenses. We must consider how
11:02 to provide drivers with
11:03 meaningful opportunities for
11:05 New employment. My hope is
11:06 that we can bring people
11:07 together around these shared
11:09 responsibilities. I know
11:10 emotions are running hig
11:11 htoday on all sides of this
11:12 issue and I want to conclude
11:14 by reminding everyone that
11:15 although there be strong
11:16 opinions on this legislation
11:18 and on the future of this
11:19 industry we must maintain a
11:22 civil and respectful
11:23 proceeding. The purpose of
11:23 this hearing is to ensure that
11:25 all voices and all
11:26 perspectives can be heard
11:29 today. We must maintain
11:29 decorum throughout the
11:30 proceedings, I would like I
11:32 would also like to thank the
11:34 representatives for the
11:35 administration for being her
11:35 eand I want to thank the
11:37 committee staff and I want t
11:39 omake mention the committee
11:39 staff has worked an enormous
11:42 amount of hours and an
11:43 enormous amount of days and
11:45 worked really hard on this and
11:47 so I really want to thank the
11:48 mfrom the bottom of my heart,
11:50 Chris pepe newman, elizabeth
11:51 thought for their hard wor
11:52 kand preparing for this hearing
11:53 as well as my team, jonathan
11:56 boucher, Kevin mcaleer and
11:57 sami no. Before I hand it over
11:59 to Council Member mart, a
12:00 brief statement on his
12:01 legislation. I want to. I I
12:04 want to let people know that
12:06 you can request translation
12:07 and the following language is
12:08 spanish, hindi tragic turkish,
12:12 turkish and russian. So if
12:14 anybody needs anything. Please
12:15 let the sergeant's now. Now I
12:16 will turn it over to council
12:18 member mart for a brief
12:19 statement on his legislation
12:23 . Good morning, everyone. I
12:23 like to give a huge thank you
12:25 to speaker men in showman for
12:27 holding today's historic
12:28 hearing and to the thousands
12:30 of advocates and everyday New
12:31 yorkers who for years have
12:33 been demanding. We take action
12:35 on horse carriages in central
12:37 park for decades we've seen
12:39 horse carriages live in
12:42 cramped stables. We've seen
12:42 the mark through midtown
12:44 traffic breathing in exhaust
12:46 we've seen the poor thousands
12:46 of pounds in the heat and in
12:49 the cold we've seen them t
12:51 oget scared, run off and die in
12:54 the streets every time an
12:57 incident occurs, we are given
13:00 an excuse. We are told this is
13:00 just an isolated incident and
13:03 the industry is completely
13:04 safe, but the reality is that
13:05 in the past 34 years there
13:08 have been 128 documented horse
13:13 carriage accidents, dirty
13:14 horses have died. Dozens of
13:15 horses and people have been
13:17 injured and hospitalized
13:18 vehicles have been damaged and
13:21 destroyed and most recently we
13:22 lost a life of a young tourist
13:27 from ma as legislators now is
13:30 the time for serious
13:31 accountability while the cit
13:32 ycouncil has dragged its feet
13:34 through endless debates we now
13:36 have the loss of a boy on our
13:39 hands. These are not unrelated
13:41 accidents, but a pattern o
13:42 ffailure that proves this
13:44 industry does not work I
13:45 nmodern day New York City
13:48 during this hearing, we're