The Adams administration’s contracting of the Saratoga County-based vet, Kraig Kulikowski, comes after Adams and his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, have for weeks been looking for methods to ban Central Park’s horse carriages.
“This is an abuse of power, this is not honest, this is not nice,” mentioned Ahmet Bilici, a Central Park carriage driver who has been doing the job for 20 years. Bilici mentioned the town already requires him to get his horse screened by a non-public physician each 6 months.
Mastro, who was once a lawyer for one of many principal teams advocating for a ban, performed a key position in choosing Kulikowski to do the exams, that are going down this week, based on sources with information of the matter.
For years, Adams defended the carriage drivers, siding with their argument that there are methods to guard their jobs and hold the horses secure on the identical time. However after empowering Mastro to search for “a better path forward” for the trade, Adams reversed course in September, saying he finds the carriage follow inhumane and declaring help for a Metropolis Council invoice that’d remove the trade. The Council declined final month to go that invoice.
Kraig Kulikowski, an upstate veterinarian, is pictured throughout an NYS Senate public listening to in 2019.
Reached over cellphone Tuesday, Kulikowski mentioned he was employed after being forwarded an utility for the job. He didn’t disclose who despatched the applying.
Kulikowski has spoken at occasions held by Equine Advocates, an upstate-based nonprofit that pushes for horse carriages to be banned. The non-profit’s founder, Susan Wagner, described Kulikowski as “our veterinarian” in a submit on its web site.
Mastro, meantime, was once a lawyer for NYCLASS, the principle city-based animal rights group advocating for a horse carriage ban.
Adams spokesman Zachary Nosanchuk confirmed Tuesday that Mastro was concerned in figuring out Kulikowski for the job, however mentioned the Legislation and Well being Departments performed roles, too.
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro speaks throughout a press convention alongside Mayor Eric Adams at Metropolis Corridor on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Day by day Information)
Nosanchuk mentioned Kulikowski was employed as a contractor below a micro procurement, which means it didn’t must exit for aggressive bidding. Nosanchuk didn’t have a precise greenback determine for Kulikowski’s contract, however mentioned micro purchases can not legally exceed $25,000 and likewise confirmed the vet’s solely anticipated to look at 16 horses as a part of the deal.
There are some 200 carriage horses within the metropolis.
Nonetheless, Transport Employees Union President John Samuelsen — who’s suing NYCLASS over efforts to ban the trade and has threatened so as to add Mastro and Adams to the authorized motion — voiced concern Kulikowski may use the exams to droop horses from carriage service and create a brand new commonplace for the trade.
“I think the play here is that Randy Mastro, before he leaves office, has created a construct that he believes will be able to start 2026 off with a narrative, as put forth by a veterinarian that he hand-picked,” Samuelsen mentioned.
“He can affect the licensing status of the drivers, and he can do this and just say, ‘if you don’t like it, appeal it,’” he added. “And this is coming right into the holiday season. The drivers rely on this period of the year to carry them through the less economically beneficial times of the year.”
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro is pictured throughout a press convention at Metropolis Corridor Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Day by day Information)
Nosanchuk mentioned the administration entered right into a micro contract with Kulikowski particularly so some exams may happen whereas Adams continues to be mayor. He’s leaving Metropolis Corridor on Dec. 31, having deserted his reelection bid amid fallout from his corruption indictment.
Citing polling exhibiting widespread help for a carriage ban in New York, Nosanchuk mentioned it “isn’t enough” at this level to easily urge the Council to behave.
“Ahead of the busy season, when these horses will face the bitter cold and unhealthy conditions, they have never had an independent veterinarian examination,” Nosanchuk mentioned. “That’s why our administration is working with a state-licensed veterinarian to conduct a standard review, to shine a spotlight on how these animals are truly treated.”
Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced help for a horse carriage ban, too, however says he needs to work with the union earlier than enacting an outright prohibition.
Samuelsen mentioned he believes Mamdani’s administration “will do a fair assessment, not a politicized assessment, of whether or not the horses are well taken care of.”
