TWU Threatens Lawsuit Over NYC Horse Carriage Ban
Transport Workers Union Local 100
Horse-drawn carriage service near Central Park in Manhattan. The Transport Workers Union has warned that it will pursue federal legal action if New York City approves legislation to end the horse carriage industry.
New York City's debate over horse-drawn carriage rides could move from City Hall to federal court as the Transport Workers Union prepares to challenge proposed legislation that would end the industry. Ahead of an October 22 City Council vote, TWU notified city officials that it intends to seek an emergency court order if Intro. 943 is approved. The union argues that the proposal threatens carriage drivers' jobs, business owners' investments and the value of city-issued medallions without providing adequate financial protections. TWU also disputes restrictions on the future sale of carriage horses, raising constitutional concerns about property rights and due process. The proposed ban remains subject to legislative action, and the union's legal claims have not been adjudicated.
TWU to Sue City if Horse Carriage Ban Bill Passes Tomorrow
The Transport Workers Union officially informed New York City’s top lawyer today that it will file a legal challenge in federal court if the City Council approves Intro. 943 tomorrow, the bill that would ban horse carriage rides.
The union will seek a temporary restraining order “the minute the ink dries,” according to a letter sent to NYC Corporation Counsel Steve Banks. Copies of the letter were also sent to City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“This bill is a train wreck of constitutional and due process violations,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “It offers nothing concrete for blue-collar drivers and carriage owners who will be financially crushed, stripped of their jobs, their licenses, expensive city-issued medallions, small businesses and way of life. It is not progressive. It is anti-worker. It’s theft.”
The bill as currently written takes property without compensation, including city-issued medallions carriage owners spent hundreds of thousands to purchase. It also says horse owners can’t sell their horses to anyone intending to use it as a carriage horse, meaning a horse owner couldn’t sell their horse to places like Colonial Williamsburg. These are Fifth Amendment violations. Intro. 943 as written provides no guarantees of employment or financial compensation for the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to the city for medallions.
There are no safeguards, only vague mentions of potential job fairs and job counseling and possible compensation for medallion owners.
“The bill does not meet any minimum standard of protection for the workers or the horses,” said TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp. “It’s quite clear that Intro. 943 needs to be changed in order to provide any measure of security and fairness for the industry and the carriage horses.”
Source: Transport Workers Union
