San Antonio City Council Debates Phase-Out of Horse-Drawn Carriages Amid Controversy

San Antonio City Council Discusses Future of Horse-Drawn Carriages

San Antonio is buzzing with discussion as the City Council grapples with the future of horse-drawn carriages in the heart of downtown. Just two months ago, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee made a big decision to craft plans outlining how to gradually phase out these charming carriage rides. On Thursday, city staff presented three various timelines to the council, stirring up a lively debate among its members.

The Transition Plans

In the recent meeting, city staff laid out three potential plans for phasing out horse carriages. The options included transitions over 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months. Each of these plans suggested modifications to existing city ordinances and codes, with a focus on providing support for affected carriage operators and business owners.

All three plans have a shared goal: to provide employment resources for those currently involved in the horse carriage business. These resources would include training programs through the city’s Ready to Work initiative, along with career fairs and workshops to help carriage drivers transition into new jobs. Additionally, these plans recommend connecting operators to organizations like LaunchSA and LiftFund for zero-percent interest loans, aiming to ease the financial impact of the transition.

What’s on the Table?

As the options were presented, each plan diverged on how quickly the city hoped to implement changes to the city code regarding horse-drawn carriages. The focus on moving forward sparked intense discussions among the council members. All members recognized there is no turning back from the decision to phase out horse carriages. But just how quickly that phase-out should happen was a point of contention.

Voices of the Council

Council members expressed their opinions openly, with Mayor Ron Nirenberg asserting the need for a prompt and thoughtful transition. He stated, “I believe it’s time, actually overdue. I would like to transition thoughtfully, compassionately as soon as we can.” His perspective was echoed by District 8 Councilman Manny Palaez, who voices frustration over the slow-moving process. “I’m for prohibiting these horse carriages from operating downtown yesterday,” he emphasized, feeling that even a year could be too long.

On the other side of the aisle, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia and District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur aimed to extend the timeline to a three-year phaseout. Their rationale was grounded in a concern for the business owners’ financial stability. As things heated up, some council members floated the idea of an even longer transition, suggesting a five-year plan to ease the burden on businesses and avoid bankruptcies that could arise from hastily enforced timelines.

The E-Carriage Option

Amidst these discussions, Councilwoman Kaur also raised a relevant question about the legality of e-carriages. City staff clarified that in order to operate, these vehicles would require registration and vehicle identification numbers (VIN) from the Texas Department of Transportation, which entails further modifications to the city ordinance.

The Road Ahead

The meeting came to a close without a definitive vote, but the anticipation in the air was palpable. City Manager Erik Walsh indicated this issue would head back to the council for concrete action during their gathering in early December, promising to capture community interests as they head into decision-making mode.

With the discussion ongoing, it’s clear that San Antonio is on the cusp of a significant change that may reshape its downtown experience. As passionate voices rise on both sides of this debate, residents are left watching closely to see how this journey unfolds to a new chapter in the heart of their city.