Mamdani seeks to ban Central Park carriage rides after tourist's death

A proposal by Zohran Mamdani seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York's Central Park, an activity with over 150 years of tradition. This effort gains momentum following the death of an 18-year-old tourist who fell from a carriage.

The incident occurred on June 17 when Romanch Mahajan, visiting from India to celebrate his high school graduation, fell from a carriage that reportedly began moving uncontrollably. His father recounted that the horse spooked and bolted while the driver was momentarily away taking photos. The teenager jumped to help his mother, who had fallen, shouting "Mom!" as he hit the ground. The carriage continued, collided with another, and overturned.

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I was screaming: 'Mom!'

This tragedy highlights ongoing concerns raised by animal welfare organizations, which have long denounced the inadequate conditions and risks faced by the horses. The Associated Press reported this as the eighth incident involving horses in Central Park within the last 13 months. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, stated that the coexistence of horses with pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters is no longer safe.

Similar attractions have been eliminated in other U.S. cities like Chicago and San Antonio. Edita Birnkrant, director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, emphasized a "conclusive record of problems," including crashes, escapes, horse deaths, injuries, and now a human fatality. Carriage owners, however, reject these accusations.

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The record is undeniable: crashes, escapes, horse deaths, injuries, and now a devastating loss of human life.