Yelp Kicks Off ‘Along the 7 Train’ Series Highlighting Queens’ Growth, Food Scene, and Transit Access

By Christian Spencer

A Yelp Queens event kicked off its Along the 7 Train series, highlighting the borough’s development boom and how the 7 train is fueling accessibility to its neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural hubs.

With its combination of transit access, investment, and cultural vitality, Yelp Queens hosted an event on August 19, recognizing how New York’s third most populous borough is reshaping itself in real time.

The 7 train continues to act as both conduit and beacon, linking residents and visitors to the borough’s fast-evolving neighborhoods and signaling that Queens is no longer just a pass-through, but a destination with enduring appeal.

The Lighthouse Rooftop in Long Island City event drawn in local leaders, residents, and food enthusiasts to celebrate Queens’ growth.

The rooftop venue offered sweeping views, breezy lantern-lit spaces, and a lively atmosphere that emphasized the borough’s appeal as a social hub.

Guests sampled chocolate chip cookies from Darryl Makes Cookies, gelato and sherbet infused with tequila from Tipsy Scoop, and Platter’s Nuts, represented by Mr. Peanut.

Attendees also had the opportunity to enter a raffle for U.S. Open tickets, connecting the celebration to Queens’ major cultural and sporting events.

Ben Gutmann, Executive Director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, said the 7 train provides a direct link to the borough’s diverse neighborhoods, vibrant food scene, and expanding cultural institutions.

“We see it as a big gateway in terms of accessing all the wonderful neighborhoods we have,” Gutmann said. “You can get off the train at any stop on the 7 line, and there’s some of the best food you’re ever going to have, some of the best cultural institutions, the most beautiful neighborhoods you can walk around. This is end to end the end-to-end most important train in New York City.”

Gutmann hyped that Queens’ transformation is widespread, saying, “I don’t think you can make an argument that anywhere else is more exciting than Queens,” he said. “In every corner of the borough, you see what’s happening — in Long Island City, in Jamaica with planned development, in the Rockaways, Flushing. It’s a must-stop for every foodie. We have the Resorts World proposal, the Willis Point development, Flushing Airport development — there’s more happening in Queens than anywhere else.”

Home to 2.3 million residents who speak more than 800 languages, Queens operates a $133 billion economy and hosts two major airports.

Gutmann noted that continued transit improvements, including proposals like the Interborough Express and Queens Link, are key to unlocking further economic growth.

“If there is a magic button that unlocks more economic development in the borough, it’s transit and housing,” he said.

Growth along the 7 train corridor reflects both economic expansion and changing social patterns. Businesses from Long Island City to Flushing are capitalizing on the line’s convenience, drawing commuters to stay in the borough after work to enjoy dining, nightlife, and cultural events.

Observers say the corridor’s accessibility acts as a catalyst for new investments, turning subway stops into active nodes of commerce and community.

Events like Yelp’s rooftop kickoff offer a platform to coalesce local entrepreneurs, residents, and visitors around shared experiences, showing that Queens has the ability to balance pragmatic economic development with cultural and culinary exploration.

“Queens is the most diverse urban place on the planet, and it’s the most exciting borough in the city right now,” Gutmann added. “We have the most exciting new projects going online anywhere, and we have the best people making this the beating heart of New York City.”

US Open Gets Underway With A Bang

Much to the delight of tennis fans this week the USTA changed the format of the US Open by spreading the first round singles matches over three days. The matches started Sunday, while tens of thousands of fans turned the grounds and pathways into the best-dressed 3-day mosh pit we’ve ever seen. The National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park is certainly the ‘place to be’ for the end of summer.

It’s the place to be in NYC to end the summer as we called it ‘the best-dressed mosh pit’ ever.

Although 6th seeded American Madison Keys disappointed the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday, amassing 89 unforced errors in a first round loss, Californian Jenson Brooksby beat Aleksander Vukic from Australia in 5 sets in one of the most intense matches Monday.  Fan favorite Frances Tiafoe outlasted 149th ranked Yoshihito Nishioka, from Japan in the afternoon. Carlos Alcaraz surprised onlookers at the practice courts Monday afternoon, revealing his new ‘buzz-cut,’ and the anticipation of Venus Williams playing on center court Monday night was the chatter of the crowd. Venus lost to 11th seed Karolina Muchova in a 3-set night-match on center court followed by Alcaraz, who beat 7 footer, Reilly Opelka, who hails from Delray Beach.

Californian Jenson Brooksby outlasted Aleksander Vukic on court 11. Tennis fans get to see high level tennis on the outer courts through most of the tournament.

Frances Tiafoe, with his signature backhand jump wins on center court Monday. He is one of America’s best hopes to win this championship, which has not seen a winner from the US, on the men’s side, in 2 decades.

Play continues every day through September 7th in Flushing Meadows Park. The day session begins at 11:30 while the night sessions start at 7PM.

Paws and Provisions: Maison Provence Introduces Canine Cuisine

Calling all dog owners! Restaurant Maison Provence in Williamsburg is giving locals another reason to stop by with a brand-new menu just for dogs. Maison Provence is officially dog-friendly in the tastiest way possible for your pup.

While you indulge in a crêpe or one of Maison Provence’s signature French dishes, your four-legged companion can enjoy a small selection of thoughtfully crafted treats.

“I’ve always loved two things: good food and animals,” says Chef Lolo, the heart behind Maison Provence. “So it just made sense: crepes for the humans, treats for the dogs. Simple, joyful, and made with love for everyone.”

Chef Lolo crafted two nourishing and satisfying options. One is a sweet buckwheat crepe layered with peanut butter and banana ($10), while the other is savory, penne pasta with chicken and zucchini ($11), both designed to delight even the pickiest pups.

Do you want your dog to participate in this chef-crafted tasting experience? All you have to do is go to Maison Provence website (www.maisonprovencebk.com) or send us a DM at @maison_provencebk. Treat both you and your companion to an amazing dining experience.

How Coffee Pro’s Owner Mohammed is Brewing a Global Story in Astoria

A year ago, tucked into a lively corner of Astoria, Queens, a new kind of coffee shop quietly opened its doors. But Coffee Pro wasn’t just offering lattes and croissants—it was serving culture, connection, and a personal dream that had traveled continents to get there.

Founded by Mohamed, a passionate coffee lover and baker, Coffee Pro was born from years of exploration. Before opening his first café, Mohamed traveled the world—learning the art of coffee in places like Morocco and Egypt, where tradition and flavor run deep. He studied roasting techniques, sampled spices, and immersed himself in the craft of creating not just a good cup of coffee, but a meaningful experience.

“I wanted to blend everything I’d learned into something that felt personal but universal,” Mohamed says. “Coffee is a global language—and I wanted Coffee Pro to speak it fluently.”

Inspired by the journey of the coffee bean from fertile lands to the perfect roast, and the rich baking traditions of the Middle East—especially Egypt—Coffee Pro is a love letter to heritage. Every pastry and pour tells a story, rooted in family recipes and the ancient rituals of hospitality.

The shop’s design draws from the natural elegance of desert dunes—warm, flowing, timeless. “The desert represents growth and gathering,” Mohamed explains. “It’s a place where people slow down, share stories, and connect. That’s what I wanted to bring to New York.”

In just one year, Coffee Pro has become a beloved neighborhood spot in Astoria. Locals come for the vanilla lattes, stay for the buttery, handmade pastries, and return for the welcoming vibe that feels more like a living room than a coffee shop.

But Mohamed’s vision doesn’t stop in Queens. Coffee Pro is expanding, with a new location set to open soon in Lower Manhattan. “We’re excited to bring this same sense of warmth, quality, and culture downtown,” he says. “This is just the beginning.”

At its core, Coffee Pro is about more than caffeine. It’s about connection—between people, places, and traditions. As Mohamed reflects on the first year, he’s most proud of the community that’s formed around his dream. “It’s not just my story anymore,” he says. “It belongs to everyone who walks through the door.”

In Memoriam: Patrick J. DiMotta

Photo courtesy of QPTV

It is with profound sadness that Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPCC) announces the passing of our esteemed Chairman of the Board, Patrick J. DiMotta.

A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Patrick first joined QPCC at the recommendation of former New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, bringing with him a deep well of experience from his work with numerous Queens County organizations. His appointment came during a formative moment in QPCC’s history, as Queens Borough President Claire Shulman was laying the groundwork for a company dedicated to developing community media for the borough. Patrick’s leadership and insight were instrumental in shaping QPCC into the award-winning media organization it is today.

Throughout his tenure, Patrick remained a tireless advocate for the residents of Queens. His influence touched every facet of the organization—from guiding QPCC through the Y2K transition and the shift from analog to digital production, to overseeing its financial health, strategic direction, and nonprofit compliance. As Chairman, he led with vision and integrity, chairing pivotal meetings that explored emerging platforms such as streaming media and internet distribution. His unwavering commitment to QPCC’s founding mission—to protect and promote freedom of speech—remained central to his work.

Patrick’s dedication extended well beyond the boardroom. He was an active member and strong supporter of the Alliance for Community Media (ACM), the national organization championing community media, and participated in its annual conferences.

Pat was proud to be with his colleagues and was as fond of the QPCC staff, as they were of him. His participation enabled him to stay abreast of technological advancements, ensuring the organization remained forward-thinking and responsive to the evolving media landscape.

His legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of QPCC and the broader Queens community. Patrick DiMotta’s impact will continue to resonate through the media, the neighborhoods, and the lives of those he served with such passion and purpose.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

The Key to Success is a Good Education

Robert Hornak

Robert Hornak is a veteran political consultant who has previously served as the Deputy Director of the Republican Assembly Leader’s NYC office and as Executive Director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail. com and @roberthornak on X.

Ronald Reagan famously said that the best social program is a productive job. People don’t only support themselves and their families, but they develop a sense of selfworth by getting paid for their services. The best way to get a good job is to get a good education.

NYC currently spends over $41 billion running over 1800 schools at all levels, serving approximately 1.1 million students… and failing.

The city is failing to provide far too many of NYC’s children with a good – or even acceptable – education, dooming many to a life of poverty. At a cost of about $39,000 per student, 43.6% of students in grades 3-8 in Bronx traditional public schools passed the English Language Arts (ELA) exams according to a recent report.

Newsflash – it’s really hard to get a good job if don’t have basic language skills.

In contrast, NYC’s charter schools are doing much better with much less money. There are 99 charter schools in the Bronx, and those students achieved a passing rate of 68.6% in the same English Language arts exams for the same 3-8 grade cohort. These charter schools spend around $18,000 a year per student.

Overall, there are 285 charter schools in the city, with the vast majority located in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. They serve approximately 150,000 of the 1.1 million public school kids (charter schools are public schools, they just operate under different guidelines), or 15% of all kids in NYC public schools.

While the naysayers like to accuse these schools of cherrypicking the better students, the facts don’t support that. Many kids are admitted through an open lottery process, and 89.2% of the kids come from “economically disadvantaged” families. 11.1% are multilingual learners, 11.4% live in temporary housing, and 19.3% have Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) for special needs learning.

When you look at the numbers by race it’s even more shocking. City- wide, Black student proficiency for math is 34.3% for traditional school kids and 61.2% for charter kids. For ELA it’s 40.3% for traditional schools and 58.6% for charters.

Latino student proficiency for math is 35.7% for traditional schools and 60.5% for charters. For ELA proficiency is 39.4% for traditional schools and 55.2% for charters.

It’s the Black and Latino students who are suffering the most from NYC’s inability to provide a basic education to all its kids. Anyone looking for examples of institutional racism need look no further than the

government of the City of New York and its Department of Education.

The solution would seem simple; continue expanding charter schools to reach more children in the neighborhoods where they are most needed. Unfortunately, the cap has been reached, and no new charters are being issued for schools in NYC.

The teachers unions and many elected officials are opposed to increasing charter schools and in many cases are strongly opposed to them entirely. Zohran Mamdani, the leading candidate in the race for mayor, has expressed strong hostility to charter schools. Should he win, he will surely fight against any expansion or additional funding.

It’s obvious why the unions are opposed, most charter school teachers are not union members, aren’t bound by restrictive union rules – and don’t pay union dues. The union’s interest is in protecting their members, good or bad, and not in the quality of education that the children receive.

It’s harder to understand why elected officials, who largely represent the Black and Latino families that are being shortchanged by the traditional school system, would oppose solutions that work and offer hope to children growing up in poor, or economically disadvantaged communities.

But the results are clear and so should be the solution. NYC needs more charter schools. They offer a far better education for our kids and at a lesser cost. Every child deserves the chance to have a successful and fulfilling life that allows them to reach their full potential, support a family, and be a valuable part of society. Nothing less should be acceptable.

Raul Gustavo lands in New York as City Continue Unbeaten Run

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

In another daring comeback, New York City FC were able to fend off Eastern Conference contenders Nashville SC over the weekend. In Sunday’s clash at Yankee Stadium the Boys in Blue overturned an early deficit to win 2-1, their third win in their last four MLS matches.

Canadian youngster Jacob Shaffelburg caused all sorts of problems in the opening half as visitors piled on shots early. He was finally able to beat NYC’s shotstopper Matt Freese in the 10th minute with a first-time shot, his second goal of the year.

Maxi Moralez had an opportunity to answer in the 16th minute, but his shot was smothered by Joe Willis. Later in the half, Andres Perea finally scored to draw the hosts level with a gorgeous curling shot from the top of the box.

New York’s remarkable defense once again stepped up in the second half. None of Nashville’s three shots made it on target, as Freese enjoyed a tame 45 minutes.

On the other end, New York City’s crafty attackers got to work. Alonso Martinez and Agustin Ojeda produced a number of late chances, with the final one resulting in a goal. Ojeda’s clever run delivered a pass inside the 6-yard box, and Martinez added to his team-best goal tally with his 13th in MLS play.

Alonso Martinez scored his team-best 13th goal of the MLS season to give New York a late win over Nashville (Photo: New York City FC)

The win gives NYC some breathing room near the bottom of the East’s playoff picture, now in 8th with 41 points after 25 games. They are two clear of both Chicago and the Red Bulls with one and two games in hand respectively.

If they’re able to keep the results coming, NYC is in reach of the top three. They sit just 6 points behind both Nashville and Orlando

In other NYC news, center back Raul Gustavo is signing with the club on a deal through 2027 with options for the next two seasons. 

The defender joins from Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary’s first division where he briefly played under current New York City manager Pascal Jansen. Before that he suited up for both Corinthians and Bahia in his home country of Brazil.

Brazilian defender Raul Gustavo is joining NYC on a deal through 2027 (Photo: New York City FC)

“Raul brings a unique background having already been part of City Football Group, during his loan with Bahia in 2023, and his previous work with Pascal at Ferencváros,” said Sporting Director David Lee. “We believe it will help Raul adapt once he joins us in New York City. We’re confident he will strengthen our backline as we enter the final stretch of the season.”

Already a focal point this season, NYC is currently tied for the league’s 4th best defensive record, conceding 30 goals. With nine matches left remaining, time will tell if NYC’s back line can power them to postseason play.

NYC’s First Soccer-Specific Stadium on Track for 2027 Kickoff

By Sofia Montagna

The New York City Football Club’s long-awaited soccer stadium in Willets Point in Queens – the first soccer-specific stadium in the five boroughs – is set to open in 2027, marking a major milestone for both the club and the city. Construction began in December 2024 and is progressing steadily, with steel framework installation underway since June.

“It’s been 10 years in the making, and it’ll be 12 years when the stadium opens from the time the New York City Football Club launched, and so there’s a lot of excitement around it,” said New York City Football Club (NYCFC) Chief Operating Officer Jennifer O’Sullivan.

Councilmember Francisco Moya was one of a few speakers at last year’s groundbreaking event. He was joined by Mayor Eric Adams, Borough President Donovan Richards, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

The 23-acre Willets Point project – led by the Queens Development Group in partnership with the city’s Economic Development Corporation – is transforming what was once a long-neglected area with acres of empty space into a new neighborhood. While New York City FC is solely responsible for the stadium, the broader development will include 2,500 units of affordable housing, a 650-seat public school, and 115,000 square feet of public space.

When completed, the overall Willets Point development project is expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating more than 1,500 permanent jobs and thousands of construction jobs, O’Sullivan reports.

A render of Etihad Park, constructed just beyond Citi Field (Courtesy New York City FC)

New York City FC is on track for the stadium to open in 2027, and plans to host “soft openings” and test events ahead of the first major event in Spring 2027. “Construction will probably take us through 2026 and early 2027,” O’Sullivan said. “The hope is that [the stadium] will be open for our season, which generally starts in the Spring.”

The stadium will be more than a home field for soccer. The club plans to host a range of other sporting events – including lacrosse, American football, and rugby – as well as concerts and other large-scale events. “When you have a venue like this, the goal is to try to attract as many large-scale events as you can,” O’Sullivan explained. The club also hopes to one day field a women’s team at the venue and to bring in international teams.

The new stadium is set to open in 2027 ahead of the MLS season (Courtesy New York City FC)

The stadium will integrate New York City FC’s business headquarters and its nonprofit foundation, City in the Community, which delivers free soccer programming for kids. Sustainability is also a central focus: the facility will be the first all-electric stadium in New York, the first all-electric building in Major League Soccer, and only the third all-electric stadium in North America, with solar panels installed on the roof of the stadium.

The project has faced challenges in the past, such as finding the right site and navigating flood zone construction limitations. “We’re in the flood zone. A lot of stadiums will build into the ground, and we weren’t able to do that. So we’ve had to build up, and we’ve had a slight challenge there,” O’Sullivan noted. However, she reported that at the moment, progress on the NYCFC stadium project is smooth. “Everything has gone really well for us on the construction side,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve been really pleased with how well things have gone so far for us.”

In Memoriam: Patrick J. DiMotta

Chairman of the Board, Past Board Member, and Dedicated Community Advocate

Queens Public Communications Corporation

It is with profound sadness that Queens Public Communications Corp. (QPCC) announces the passing of our esteemed Chairman of the Board, Patrick J. DiMotta.

A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Patrick first joined QPCC at the recommendation of former New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, bringing with him a deep well of experience from his work with numerous Queens County organizations. His appointment came during a formative moment in QPCC’s history, as Queens Borough President Claire Shulman was laying the groundwork for a company dedicated to developing community media for the borough. Patrick’s leadership and insight were instrumental in shaping QPCC into the award-winning media organization it is today.

Throughout his tenure, Patrick remained a tireless advocate for the residents of Queens. His influence touched every facet of the organization—from guiding QPCC through the Y2K transition and the shift from analog to digital production, to overseeing its financial health, strategic direction, and nonprofit compliance. As Chairman, he led with vision and integrity, chairing pivotal meetings that explored emerging platforms such as streaming media and internet distribution. His unwavering commitment to QPCC’s founding mission—to protect and promote freedom of speech—remained central to his work.

Patrick’s dedication extended well beyond the boardroom. As a member of the Alliance of Community Media, a national organization, he attended its annual conference. He was proud to be with his colleagues and was fond of the QPCC staff, as they were of him. His participation enabled him to stay abreast of technological advancements, ensuring the organization remained forward-thinking and responsive to the evolving media landscape.

His legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of QPCC and the broader Queens community. Patrick DiMotta’s impact will continue to resonate through the media, the neighborhoods, and the lives of those he served with such passion and purpose.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Daniel Leone
President / CEO
Queens Public Communications Corporation

Debate Over Horse Carriages Pits Tradition Against Welfare

Heritage or Humane Progress for Horse Carriages?

MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

A push to ban New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry is intensifying with Ryder’s Law, legislation that would phase out the practice by June 1, 2026, and replace the carriages with electric vehicles.

The bill, formally titled Intro 0967, was introduced by City Council Member Robert Holden and has more than a dozen co-sponsors. It would also require humane disposition of carriage horses, prohibiting their sale for slaughter or transfer to other carriage businesses.

The proposal follows years of controversy and repeated incidents of horses collapsing, bolting into traffic, or dying while working in Manhattan. Public outrage surged in August 2022 when Ryder, a 26-year-old underweight horse, collapsed on Ninth Avenue in the summer heat. He died weeks later.

Chris Green, executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), said the case highlighted the dangers horses face daily.

“This is important because well, they keep dying on New York streets, that would be top of my list. I mean, it’s just this horrific anachronism. You know, horses were not meant to walk on pavement and just being in traffic and it’s happening pretty regularly,” Green said.

He pointed to multiple incidents in recent years, including crashes and heat-related collapses, as evidence that regulation has failed.

“Records show that children, cyclists, pedestrians, carriage drivers, passengers, and even New York Police Department and police officers had all been physically injured by accidents involving New York’s horse carriages,” Green said. “In one of those instances, a child was rushed to the hospital after falling out of the carriage and being run over by the wheel.”

Under current law, horses can be worked nine hours a day, seven days a week, and are housed in cramped midtown stalls with no pasture access. Green said the conditions compound the risks.

“Heat, you know? I mean, New York City gets hot, and that’s when it’s high tourist season,” he said. “And again, they’re doing that nine hours a day, seven days a week, and they’ve got no access to anywhere else to get through any other sort of just normal exercise or run or… it’s not just an animal welfare issue, although the animal welfare concerns are huge, you know, it’s a really public safety issue as well.”

Courtesy Animal Legal Defense Fund

Ryder’s Law has been referred to the Council’s Committee on Health, but advocates say progress has stalled under pressure from the Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage drivers.

“So, it’s just, it’s really frustrating when you have something that’s very obvious, animal cruelty and public safety issue, and you’ve got 70% of New Yorkers wanting it, but you’ve got these sorts of special interests controlling, preventing it from happening at the city council level,” Green said.

Other cities including Chicago, Biloxi, Camden, Las Vegas, London and Paris have already banned horse-drawn carriages. Green said New York could follow suit by embracing alternatives.

“There was back in like 2014, or 15, the same donors that had sort of knocked out de Blasio competitor, paid all this money to develop this really amazing looking electric carriage. It was huge, and it turned so many heads. I went for a ride in it once. You know, there’s, there’s a lot of things you could do that would be just as appealing to tourists and having an actual, you know, poor animal having to drag them around,” Green said.

For Green, the stakes are moral as well as practical.

“As a resident, I think, you know, there’s the famous Gandhi quote that the moral progress of a nation can be measured by how it treats its animals,” he said. “And you know, as a city, people want to be proud of the city that they live in, and if their city is allowing this type of very visible, overt cruelty to continue where you’ve got literally, these poor horses dropping dead on the streets of New York, sort of with alarming frequency now, yeah, so why? Why are we letting our city do this?”

The ALDF is urging New Yorkers to contact their City Council members in support of Ryder’s Law.

“You can just contact your city council member and ask them why the hell this hasn’t happened yet,” Green said. “Hold your council members’ feet to the fire and just ask them to justify why they’re allowing this type of cruelty to continue.”

As lawmakers and animal welfare advocates press for Ryder’s Law, which would phase out New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry, Cowboy Eddie of Lynne’s Riding Center in Forest Hills sees things differently.

Eddie, whose family-run stables date back to 1960, said the industry has safeguards in place to ensure horses are not overworked. “Number one, I think that measures have been taken to make sure that the horses are well kept. As a matter of fact, my stables, were asked to be a vacation spot for those city horses that they have to be relieved from their duties at least two weeks a year, or something like a vacation, where they don’t work at all, and they are really taken off the premises and brought to another location.”

According to Eddie, horses thrive when given work to do. “I think that the if those horses weren’t being used for what they are doing, which they love to do, and horses love to pull. They love to work. They love it. They can’t wait to get out there and just do it. And what these people don’t know. If those horses weren’t out there, they’d be dead somewhere. They’d be euthanized, and they’d be useless just because they’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Eddie argued that the recent collapses and deaths, including Ryder’s, are being misrepresented. “The last horse had a blood clot or something. So… I don’t think it’s abuse, not at all,” he said, adding that the ASPCA inspects barns like his regularly.

Concerns about extreme heat or cold, Eddie said, are misplaced. “Horses don’t feel the hot pavement because a horse’s hoof is made out of the same thing your fingernail is made out of. Yeah, they don’t transfer heat or cold. You see what I’m saying?” He added that horses are naturally adapted to both seasons. “In the wintertime they grow thick, hairy coats… and in the springtime… I cut away the winter coats to expose the summer coat.”

To Eddie, the bigger issue is preserving New York’s horse heritage. “Me personally talking to an old school guy. I think that New York is one of the largest appreciated horse states in the country. I mean, we have Aqueduct, Belmont, Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga… the oldest surviving horse ranch, cowboy ranch in the country is in New York. There’s a deep Hollow Ranch, which is in Montauk that’s been there since the 1800s. So, I understand that they need the space well, as long as they got the space and the availability to take care of those horses, like I believe they do, I think that they’re doing a disservice to this, to the state, by not allowing that heritage to be still existing in Central Park.”

The future of New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry now hangs in the balance, caught between competing visions of heritage and humane progress. As the debate continues in the City Council, New Yorkers face a defining question: whether to uphold tradition or chart a new path that reimagines the iconic carriage ride for a modern era.

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