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Mamdani expected to face legal trouble over PETA-backed horse carriage ban

EXCLUSIVE: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to phase out horse-drawn carriage rides after an 18-year-old tourist died in a Central Park carriage accident is expected to face legal challenges.

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino told Fox News Digital that Intro 943, also known as Romanch's Law, is "unconstitutional."

"There will be a lawsuit coming up because this is unconstitutional," Paladino said. "Intro 943 is unconstitutional. Lawsuits are going to be filed immediately after this effort is passed. They're going to be tangled up in legalese."

FAMILY SEEKS $105 MILLION FROM NEW YORK CITY AFTER TEEN’S FATAL CENTRAL PARK CARRIAGE RIDE

The New York City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on the proposal, which would phase out the horse-drawn carriage industry by June 1, 2028. The legislation would also establish a transition plan for carriage drivers and require the humane disposition of the horses.

The bill is named after Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who died after jumping from a runaway carriage in Central Park. Mahajan’s mother was also injured in the incident.

MAJOR CITY EYES CRACKDOWN ON GOLF CART TOURS AS FURIOUS LOCALS PUSH BACK

Paladino criticized the proposal, which is supported by animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She argued that the ban would threaten the livelihoods of carriage operators, many of whom are immigrants and small-business owners.

"Let’s remember that these owners represent a melting pot," Paladino said. "Their livelihood exists in and around the city."

Paladino also warned that eliminating carriage rides could hurt New York City's tourism industry and weaken a historic tradition.

"It’s a tremendous tourist attraction," she said. "People come in from all over the world to take those carriage rides."

MAMDANI, CITY COUNCIL MOVE TO END ICONIC NYC HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INDUSTRY AS WORKERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE

The councilwoman also criticized proposed alternatives, including electric bicycles and scooters, arguing that they can pose greater risks to pedestrians.

"These scooters and these motorized bikes that go 20 miles an hour — these scooters that go 30 and 40 miles an hour, zigzagging throughout the park, with no license, no registration and no insurance," Paladino said. "How many people get run over by those people?"

Paladino said the Mamdani administration should focus on regulating e-bikes and scooters instead of eliminating the carriage industry.

"If the Mamdani administration truly cared about public safety, why don’t they get a handle on the scooter and bike industry?" she said.

MAMDANI ACCUSED OF BETRAYING NYC WORKERS AS UNION BOSS BLASTS 'ANTI-LABOR' HORSE CARRIAGE BAN

The union representing carriage workers has also said it plans to challenge the ban in court if the legislation becomes law.

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Mamdani's office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Dashcam video captures small plane crashing on San Jose highway, injuring three on board, including child

Dash camera footage captured the dramatic moment a Cessna 177 crashed into the Capitol Expressway in San Jose, California, on Saturday.

Video shows the single-engine plane careening into an overpass arching atop the expressway.

The crash injured three, including a child, who were aboard the plane, the San Jose Fire Department (SJFD) announced in a post on X.

DEADLY CRASH KILLS TWO AS PLANE PLUNGES INTO 'BALL OF FLAMES' NEAR SUBURBAN GOLF COURSE

None of the injuries were life-threatening, SJFD wrote.

"SJFD is on scene of a plane crash in the area of Capitol Expressway and Excalibur Dr.," the department wrote in the Saturday post on X.

"Small prop plane down, no vehicles involved. Two adults and one child transported with non-life-threatening injuries out of an abundance of caution. Please avoid the area," the post read.

The fire department also said the crash resulted in a "minor fuel spill which was absorbed."

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Investigators from the SJFD, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are still investigating the cause of the crash and have not publicly released a potential cause, according to Fox2 KTVU.

A spokesperson for the San Jose Police Department told KTVU that drugs and alcohol were not believed to have been a factor in the crash.

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Fox News Digital contacted SJFD, SJPD, the FAA and the NTSB for further comment.

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