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Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico Bans Horse-Drawn Carriages

April 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment


The News

The Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico has signed an executive order banning horse-drawn carriages, effective April 20th. The ban comes four days after a horse collapsed on the street. In a statement, Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto said she made the decision based on “exploitation” and the “mistreatment to which they are exposed every day.”

San Juan, Puerto Rico

A spooked horse who bolted and crashed into a jeep in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2012

The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has also pledged to ban horse-drawn carriages. In December, 2014, he introduced a bill that would phase out the carriages over a three year period. In mid-April, he reaffirmed his commitment, telling a reporter that he believes horse-drawn carriages in the streets of Manhattan are “inhumane” and “archaic.” Earlier in 2015, he elaborated on his position on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

The NYC Council is expected to vote on the Mayor’s bill this summer, after the city completes a mandatory and routine Environmental Assessment study.

Spooked horse collides with motor vehicle in midtown Manhattan

Spooked horse collides with motor vehicle in midtown Manhattan (photo: Catherine Nance)

Your Turn

To see how you can support the ongoing effort to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC, please visit NYCLASS and The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.


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