January 19, 2016
By Joe Maniscalco
New York, NY – A deal to keep New York City’s iconic horse carriages on the road has been reached with parties on both saying that they are looking forward to ironing out the details.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito joined with Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda, Local 553 Secretary-Treasurer Demos Demopoulos and Teamster Horse Carriage Driver Stephen Malone, in issuing a statement saying, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement in concept on the future of New York's horse carriage industry. We look forward to working together on the final details of this legislation and getting this passed.”
Demopoulos will talk about the details of the agreement on this Sunday’s noon edition of the LaborPress Radio Show/Podcast broadcasting on WWRL 1600 AM.
According to published reports, the new deal curtails the number of horse carriages in operation over the next three years, but could also wind up actually boosting the overall industry by establishing new stables inside Central Park for the first time in the history of the city.
That stable, capable of accommodating 75 horses at one time, might be located near the 86th Street Transverse. The deal would also reportedly restrict pedicabs to operations above 85th Street.
The fate of the existing horse stables, which has also been at the center of the more than two-year-old controversy, remains unclear. To find out more about the plan and what it means for the future of New York City’s horse carriage industry, please tune into the LaborPress Radio Show/Podcast this Sunday at noon on WWRL 1600 am.
