New York Note: Council Legislation, Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban, Client Spotlight

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the New York City Council passed several bills, including measures to require wellness checks on older adults during certain weather events, raise the maximum age for the police officer civil service exam, coordinate inspections to speed up business openings, and increase the salaries of elected City officials and district attorneys by 18.2%. The Council also introduced legislation to expand street cleaning in nightlife districts, study the effects of private equity on small businesses, and promote arts and cultural institutions citywide. All passed and introduced legislation is available here.

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City Council Holds Hearing on Proposal to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in Central Park

On Wednesday, July 15^th, the New York City Council Committee on Health held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit the use of horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. If adopted, the bill, known as Romanch’s Law, would phase out the horse-drawn carriage industry before fully prohibiting horse-drawn carriage operations beginning in June 2028. The legislation would also establish a workforce development program to help affected workers transition to other fields of employment. Although similar bills have been introduced in the City Council before, Intro 943 carries newfound momentum as City Council Speaker Julie Menin became the first sitting Speaker to publicly support phasing out the horse-drawn carriage industry. In the hearing, Council Members expressed concerns about safety for both horses and passengers, while others raised concerns about the displacement of horse-drawn carriage workers should the ban be enacted. The future of the bill remains uncertain, as the earliest it could be brought to a vote is August.

Client Spotlight: Wonder Releases First Community Impact Report

With more than 130 locations across the Northeast and a marketplace that connects customers to local restaurants across the country, Wonder is a food technology platform focused on making great food more accessible. The company recently released its 2025 Community Impact Report, highlighting more than $8.2 million in investments in communities through its corporate and philanthropic initiatives. Nearly 60 percent of that investment supported efforts to advance food access. Through partnerships with 10 regional food banks, Wonder supported a network of over 5,000 grassroots organizations working to address food insecurity. The report also highlights Wonder’s efforts to reduce food waste through partnerships with organizations like Food Bank for New York City (FBNYC) and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC). Wonder’s community impact also extends to small businesses and local organizations, supporting over 400 restaurants through business development opportunities, and investing $1.4 million in local community organizations through Wonder’s corporate and philanthropic programs. The report underscores Wonder’s continued commitment to “making great food more accessible,” including through its goal to recover more than 100 million pounds of food by 2027.

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