Compromise sought but elusive in NYC carriage horse debate

The fate of Central Park's horse-drawn carriages may come down to a compromise, but ideas floated to preserve the 300 drivers' jobs while ensuring the 200 horses' safety face hurdles.

Animal rights activists, the drivers' union and City Council members on all sides of the debate have indicated a willingness to discuss a resolution. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who once vowed an outright ban, has moved his deadline to year's end. He also has softened his rhetoric, emphasizing the goal of keeping the horses away from busy midtown traffic.

"We're considering a range of options that move the horses off our streets, safeguard the animals and protect the livelihoods of the men and women who provide carriage rides," de Blasio spokesman Phil Walzak said without elaborating.

The City Council has yet to introduce a bill, but some members say a solution could be building stables inside Central Park so horses wouldn't have to travel in traffic from their current West Side stables.

Another idea is to let the horse-carriage rides continue while giving a proposal to replace them with vintage-style electric cars a limited trial run.

"I've always believed that there has to be a middle ground here," said Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens), who is undecided. "I don't know that we have to get rid of the whole industry and put all these people out of work to save the horses."

He and Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) are among those who favor stables in the park, but Ulrich said the Central Park Conservancy "won't be happy."

Conservancy President Doug Blonsky last month told the Daily News he didn't want electric vintage vehicles in the park because they would endanger pedestrians. Carriage drivers say their passion is horses.

Elizabeth Forel of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages opposes the vintage cars -- promoted by de Blasio and the pro-ban NYCLASS, or New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets -- on grounds they would add to congestion and are too expensive at an estimated $150,000 apiece.

Representatives of the union, Teamsters Joint Council 16, and of NYCLASS and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are now City Hall regulars, gathering twice a month to lobby council members. None will signal their bottom line for compromise, but all say they would like to seek a resolution.

“We look forward to an opportunity to speak with the mayor and find a solution so our members can keep driving horse carriages,” said union president George Miranda.

NYCLASS, while touting electric cars, told Newsday it’s open to other suggestions.

“Ending the unsafe and inhumane use of horse carriages on New York City streets is the priority and there are certainly a number of different ways to accomplish that goal,” it said in a statement.

Others hold a harder line. Forel’s group wants the horses gone — completely. Stephen Malone, a driver and spokesman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, says nothing should change because the industry isn’t doing anything wrong.