The full story
Due to concerns over animal abuse, exploitation and traffic congestion, the original ordinance would have authorized a three-year plan to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages by Jan. 1, 2028. Additionally, the ordinance creates a plan for an annual reduction of operating hours for horse-drawn carriages.
District 10 council member Marc Whyte, District 9 council member John Courage and District 5 council member Teri Castillo disagreed with the ordinance, claiming that it is unnecessary and affects small businesses and a part of San Antonio’s historical culture.
“These are lives that have a value to our society, [and] a majority of people don’t necessarily want to have [horse-drawn carriages] disappear,” Courage said.
“Today I find it to be a little bit of a sad day here in our city’s history. It seems the council is intent on becoming the first city in Texas to ban these horse-drawn carriages,” Whyte said.
“[City Council members] are eager to kill 81 jobs and five businesses because it is always easier to punch down and hit small businesses,” Castillo said.
In a counter offer to provide business owners and employees with more time for the transition, Whyte made a motion to extend the period from three years to five years.
District 8 council member Manny Pelaez disagreed with Whyte’s motion and said that the transition period of three years would provide plenty of time and delays a needed change for downtown San Antonio.
“I think three years is too long. I would like to see these horses off the streets two years ago when this effort began,” Pelaez said.
The amendment of the ordinance from a three-year phase out to a five-year phase out passed 6-5, with council members Sukh Kaur, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Marina Alderete Gavito and Pelaez voting against it.
The main motion to phase out horse-drawn carriages over a five-year period passed 10-0, with Pelaez abstaining.
Horse-drawn carriage operating hours:
- Current hours effective through May 31, 2028: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. on city holidays
- June 1, 2028 to May 31, 2029: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, and 2 p.m.-2 a.m. on city holidays
- June 1, 2029 to Dec. 31, 2030: noon-4 p.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight Monday-Friday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, and 5 p.m.-2 a.m. on city holidays
The outlook
The vote divided the council and citizens who came to voice their concerns about the ordinance.
Denise Gutierrez-Homer, vice-president of InfuseSA, said that the City Council has been misled to believe that horse-drawn carriages are a nuisance and that the horses have been mistreated.
“[Residents] are misled because of what the [City Council] wants to do with downtown development. But something [like horse-drawn carriages] that has been here since 1865 should not be removed. Horses helped build this city. They are Texas,” Gutierrez-Homer said.
District 2 council member Rodriguez said that the issue comes down to the morality of horse-drawn carriages.
“For more than a decade now, San Antonians have wanted to discuss the morality of horse-drawn carriages. We have a duty to all [and] we cannot let fear stop progress,” Rodriguez said.
What else?
To help horse-drawn carriage owners and workers transition, San Antonio city officials will provide assistance through the economic development department and the workforce development office.
The San Antonio Economic Development Department will assist business owners through programs such as LaunchSA to assist with business plan development and LiftFund to explore Zero Percent Interest Loan eligibility.
The San Antonio Workforce Development Office will schedule monthly resource fairs and coordinate with local workforce partners and education institutions to help workers transition to a new career path. The fairs will focus on increasing awareness of resources, including the city’s Ready to Work program. Carriage operators will be offered education, training pathways and assistance in navigating resources and programs tailored to their interests and abilities.
