NEW YORK (AP) - The latest on negotiations over horse-drawn carriages in New York’s Central Park (all times local):
6 p.m.
New York City officials may announce by Friday a deal that would save Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban.
A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing negotiations told The Associated Press an announcement was likely on a plan that would retire as many as two-thirds of the approximately 200 horses now working in the park from the carriage fleet. The plan would provide a new stable in the park for the remaining horses.
One location being discussed flanks Central Park’s 86th Street Transverse.
Animal rights advocates have been fighting to get the carriages banned entirely, and Mayor Bill de Blasio had pledged to ban the carriages. They say it is inhumane to keep horses in Manhattan.
But that effort failed amid public opposition.
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4:30 p.m.
New York City officials are close to a deal that would save Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban.
A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing union negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday the plan would substantially reduce the number of horses operating in the city.
But it also would give them a permanent home and build them a stable in Central Park.
Right now the horses live in private stables on Manhattan’s West Side.
Animal rights advocates have been fighting to get the carriages banned entirely, and Mayor Bill de Blasio had pledged to ban the carriages. They say it is inhumane to keep horses in Manhattan.
But the effort failed amid public opposition.
Any deal would have to be approved by the City Council.
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