Horse Carriage Driver's Union Backs Compromise To Keep Horses In Central Park
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The union that represents Central Park horse carriage drivers has announced it would be open to a compromise that keeps the horses out of traffic.
As WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported, a big part of the anti-carriage movement has focused on the journey through traffic from the stables on West 52 street to the park.
Horse Carriage Driver's Union Backs Compromise To Keep Horses In Central Park
"Horses don't belong in the middle of the busiest city in the world," Mayor Bill de Blasio has argued.
The mayor wants a full ban on horse carriages in the city, noting other large cities around the world have done the same.
De Blasio has proposed antique electric cars to replace the carriages so the drivers can remain employed.
Some newspaper editorials and at least one New York City Councilman have proposed a compromise of stabling the horses in Central Park so they never have to cross paths with a car.
The head of the carriage drivers union said that would be an acceptable way forward.
"We're open to just about anything that keeps this industry going," Demos Demopoulos told Silverman. "But one thing is for sure; we don't want anything to do with electric cars."
The mayor's held firm on his call for a ban, but so far the effort doesn't have enough support in the city council.
"Sit down and solve this issue once and for all," Demopoulos said.
There is so far no word from the mayor on the union's proposal.
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