New York’s largest transit union is making preparations to launch authorized motion towards Mayor Adams’ high aide, Randy Mastro, and several other different politically-connected people over their efforts to ban town’s horse carriage business.
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, left, speaks alongside Mayor Eric Adams throughout a press convention at Metropolis Corridor on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Day by day Information)
Fox, an Adams marketing campaign donor, runs the Hunter Brady Basis, an animal rights group that has sought to fabricate electrical carriages that’ might exchange Central Park’s horse-drawn buggies. A high govt at Fox’s basis is Eric Lerner, one other Adams donor who helped run the most important tremendous PAC that supported the mayor’s reelection bid earlier than he deserted it final month.
In his letters, the TWU legal professional, Matt Richard, wrote that the union believes Fox, Lerner, their basis and NYCLASS, the animal rights group that has spearheaded efforts to ban the horse business, might have engaged in “possible misrepresentation, improper fundraising, deception of donors and lobbying violations” as a part of their anti-carriage push.
Citing an investigation by the union, Richard wrote within the letters that the TWU additionally suspects involvement by Mastro, NYCLASS executives Steve Nislick and Edita Birnrkrant, lobbyists Corey Johnson and Jason Goldman in addition to two Metropolis Council members, Bob Holden and Erik Bottcher.
Holden and Bottcher have launched a Council invoice that might sundown the carriage business, whereas Goldman has represented NYCLASS as a lobbyist. Johnson, an ex-Council speaker who used to make use of Goldman as his chief of workers, has been lobbying for the Central Park Conservancy, which got here out in favor of a horse carriage ban in August.
TWU Worldwide President John Samuelsen declined to elaborate additional on his union’s findings, however mentioned he “strongly believes” there’s an effort afoot to “monetize the cessation the Central Park horse carriages, through real estate development and the procurement of electric touring vehicles.”
Richard mentioned all of the people referenced in his letters in addition to “other consultants and lobbyists” are anticipated to be named as defendants within the swimsuit, which he added is prone to be filed “in New York and/or Florida.”
Frank Carone, Adams’ longtime political confidant, labored for Fox in 2023 to get his electrical carriage plan in entrance of metropolis officers. Carone wasn’t talked about in Richard’s letters.
Frank Carone attends the 2022 Sandy Hook Promise Profit at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on Dec. 6, 2022 in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Pictures)
Spokespeople for Fox’s basis didn’t instantly remark, and neither did Johnson, Goldman, Holden or Bottcher.
Mastro, who represented NYCLASS as a lawyer earlier than changing into Adams’ first deputy mayor this 12 months, referred to Metropolis Corridor spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak, who known as the TWU authorized menace “frivolous and an obvious PR stunt by a campaign that’s getting more desperate every day.”
“More than 70% of New Yorkers agree that it’s time to end horse carriages for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and animals alike,” Mamelak mentioned, citing latest polling. “Let’s tune out this noise, follow Mayor Adams’ lead, and get it done as a matter of public safety and the humane treatment of these magnificent animals.”
Birnrkrant, NYCLASS’ govt director, mentioned Richard’s letters are “clearly meant to intimidate and silence the truth.”
“For several weeks TWU leadership has been running a desperate intimidation campaign straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook — full of bullying, unhinged lies and misinformation,” mentioned Birnkrant, whose group lately accused Samuelsen of defaming NYCLASS.
Animal rights advocates have pressed for years to abolish the carriage business over considerations concerning the horses’ well being. The TWU says an finish to the business would deprive its members of their livelihoods whereas arguing there are methods to make sure horse security with no ban.
Earlier than he grew to become mayor, Adams mentioned in 2021 he would oppose an outright ban.
However final month — lower than two weeks earlier than he dropped his reelection bid amid continued fallout from his corruption indictment — Adams introduced he backs a ban and urged the Council to cross the Holden-Bottcher invoice. In explaining his reversal, Adams mentioned he was moved to behave by a video of a carriage horse breaking unfastened and working panicked by means of Midtown.
Initially Revealed: October 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM EDT
