Mayor de Blasio is pulling back the reins on his plans to quickly get rid of the city's horse-drawn carriage industry.
He has been stung by a recent outpouring of support for the colorful coaches that have clip-clopped their way through Central Park for more than 150 years.
At first, he said he would ban the horses during his first week in office. Now, facing resistance from the usually compliant City Council, he says he will end the "inhumane" practice by year's end.
He wants to replace the horses with old-timey electric cars.
But he has encountered fierce opposition from actor Liam Neeson, some city unions and several newspapers.
A recent poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers oppose the plan.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
