Union Slams NYC Council Speaker Menin as a Traitor in Brutal Attack Ad: ‘Thanks for Your Betrayal’

The Transport Workers Union has launched a blistering attack ad, branding City Council Speaker Julie Menin a traitor for her backing of a bill aimed at banning horse-drawn carriage rides in New York City.

Menin's support for the legislation emerged only after a young tourist died during a carriage ride last month, propelling the bill toward likely passage.

“Thank you for the betrayal, Julie,” declares the narrator in the scathing ad funded by the union.

The 30-second spot accuses Menin of jeopardizing 200 jobs in the horse-carriage industry while she enjoys life in her “$22 million mansion in the Hamptons,” a reference to the luxurious summer residence owned by her and her affluent developer husband, Bruce Menin.

The ad juxtaposes scenes of champagne toasts and polo matches with images of a distressed family “worrying about how they put food on the table.”

This six-figure advertisement is airing during television news segments and on digital streaming platforms, according to TWU president John Samuelsen.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” Samuelsen stated regarding the ongoing battle to protect the beleaguered horse-carriage industry, which has faced significant challenges, including the recent tragic incident that resulted in a young tourist's death.

Local legislation to outlaw horse carriages has stalled for years, despite persistent efforts from animal-rights activists.

However, momentum surged following the death of a teenage tourist last month, who was thrown from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park.

The family of the 18-year-old victim, Romanch Mahajan, has expressed support for permanently banning the iconic rides and dismantling the 160-year-old industry.

Samuelsen accused Menin of exploiting Mahajan's death to further her political ambitions. He criticized the latest proposed legislation for lacking robust job protections for carriage drivers if their rides are eliminated.

Menin defended her position, rebuffing the TWU's claims as “false personal attacks.”

“I’ve been clear that any transition away from horse-drawn carriages must come with a plan to protect affected workers with sustainable, comparable jobs,” Menin asserted.

She dismissed the attacks as unproductive and reiterated the council's commitment to collaborating with affected workers to create a workforce protection plan based on their feedback.

A prominent animal-rights organization, New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), criticized the TWU for its efforts to maintain the horse-carriage industry.

“TWU Local 100 falsely claims these are ‘union’ jobs, but carriage drivers receive no protections, benefits, or bargaining rights,” NYCLASS stated in a release.

Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced his support for banning carriage rides since his campaign and throughout his tenure beginning in January. He pledged last month to work towards “a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”