Union Launches $1 Million Ad Campaign Against Mayor Adams

The union for carriage riders has kicked off a $1 million advertising campaign ahead of the upcoming November elections.

“Eric Adams stabbed us in the back,” said John Samuelsen, the chairman of the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

Samuelsen expressed disbelief at Adams’ sudden opposition to the carriage industry, especially given that First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro has ties to a major animal rights group that opposes street carriage rides.

Representing 170 carriage riders and other workers—many of whom are immigrants—TWU Local 100 initially supported Adams during his 2021 mayoral campaign. The union as a whole encompasses 41,000 subway, rail, and bus workers.

Some of their ads have been featured in various outlets.

One advertisement quipped, “Ambassador Adams? What a joke. You’re a dishonorable. You’re not even going to be Alcatraz’s ambassador.” Another stated, “You’re an unreliable backstabber.”

Recently, Adams signed an executive order to phase out the horse-drawn carriage industry, citing concerns over the welfare of horses amidst urban traffic.

He also encouraged the city council to pass new legislation banning carriage rides in and around Central Park, a well-known tourist spot.

Currently, the council is deliberating on rider laws, named after a horse that collapsed and died last summer. However, Samuelsen is skeptical of the newfound interest in horse welfare, claiming that the animals are well cared for. He attributes the mayor’s shift to a corruption scandal involving the administration.

Samuelsen pointed out, “Randy Mastro has a deep connection with the benefits of mercy that supports Nyclass,” referring to the animal rights organization.

City officials deemed Samuelsen’s remarks offensive, noting that Mastro had previously represented Nyclass before 2019.

In response, a spokesman for Adams argued, “Mayor Adams stands with the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers who support the ban on carriages, rather than these unfounded claims.” A poll highlighted by animal rights groups indicated that 71% of New Yorkers are in favor of a ban on horse-drawn carriages.

“This misinformation will persist. These carriages pose risks to everyday New Yorkers,” the spokesman continued. “It’s unfortunate that these claims distract from our commitment to support transportation drivers as they transition to new employment opportunities.”

Adams emphasized that the health and safety concerns related to both the public and horses cannot be ignored, insisting that the administration is focused on “real solutions, not distractions.”

In addition to Adams, three other major mayoral candidates are also supporters of the carriage ban, including Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who runs under the “Protect Animals” line. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is also campaigning on an independent platform advocating similar views.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had wanted to end the horse-drawn carriage rides as well, but faced significant opposition in the council.

Meanwhile, Nyclass officials are actively countering claims made by Samuelsen on social media, as well as through other channels. An official criticized Samuelsen’s decision to allocate $1 million of union funds towards this campaign against the mayor. “It’s absurd for TWU to waste workers’ hard-earned fees to attack someone trying to address animal cruelty,” they said.

“When was the last time the TWU invested in making buses and subways safer for its own members? Instead, they seem to support a few wealthy carriage owners at the expense of both workers’ and animals’ rights.”

As the debate continues, the contrast between the city’s modern aspirations and the historic charm of horse-drawn carriages is becoming increasingly pronounced. Adams described the carriages as outdated relics in a bustling urban environment, especially after a summer marked by several incidents involving the carriages in Central Park.

“While they’ve been iconic in Central Park, they no longer seem suitable for the city’s current dynamic,” he remarked.