NEW YORK (AP) – New York City officials are close to a deal that would save Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban.
When he was elected two years ago, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to end the popular carriage rides through the park on “day one” of his administration, calling it inhumane to keep horses in loud, car-clogged Manhattan.
But now his administration is negotiating a compromise deal with a union representing many carriage drivers that would keep the horses trotting.
As many as two-thirds of the approximately 200 horses now working in the park would be permanently retired from the carriage fleet, but those that remain would get a permanent home, a new stable built within Central Park itself, a City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing negotiations told The Associated Press.
The official told the AP that the plan is likely to be announced by Friday.