Regulation gone wild in NYC: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

By Kenneth Schortgen Jr

It did not take long for the soon to be inaugurated mayor of New York City to look exactly like his predecessor when it comes to regulating the lives of citizens.  In his first intended act once he takes office, Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio is seeking to destroy a long standing tradition for locals and tourists alike by ending horse drawn carriage rides in Central Park.

New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio said that one of his first acts after taking office this week will be to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, de Blasio said it was inhumane to expose the horses to the city’s dangerous streets.

“We are going to quickly and aggressively move to make horse carriages no longer a part of the landscape in New York City,” de Blasio said, according to NBC New York. “They are not humane. … It’s over.” – US News/NBC News

Horse drawn carriage rides are not only a long tradition in America’s history, but they are considered by National Geographic to be one of the top 10 global holiday traditions.  In Central Park, the rides were considered to be as much a part of the landscape of the city as the Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, and their famous street performers.

Like outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio appears to be setting an early precedent on using regulation to promote politically correct agendas over the desires of people and the citizens of the city.  We are reminded of Bloomberg’s moral crusade against sodas, styrofoam, and even cooking oils, despite the fact that NYC is one of the nation’s capitals for food, cuisine, and culture.

States like California and New York are quickly becoming sterile places, where past traditions, culture, and a welcoming atmosphere is being replaced with the harsh reality of a segmented and rigid society.  And when people no longer can look towards their past and the traditions that made their city or state unique and enticing, then a people lose their roots and their reasons for living in that area.

Kenneth Schortgen Jr is a writer for Secretsofthefed.com, Examiner.com, and hosts the popular web blog, The Daily Economist. Ken can also be heard Friday evenings giving an weekly economic report on the Angel Clark radio show.