Aldermen want to ban horse-drawn carriages in Chicago

Following once again in New York City’s tradition of petty nanny statism, a new ordinance proposed by aldermen Edward Burke and Anthony Beale seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages in Chicago. The proposed ordinance would amend the municipal code to prohibit the renewal of carriage licenses, which would bring an end to the industry by the...

Following once again in New York City’s tradition of petty nanny statism, a new ordinance proposed by aldermen Edward Burke and Anthony Beale seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages in Chicago. The proposed ordinance would amend the municipal code to prohibit the renewal of carriage licenses, which would bring an end to the industry by the end of the year.

It’s already a highly regulated industry: no carriages may operate on days warmer than 90 degrees or colder than 15 degrees, which may cut out a lot of potential work days. Carriages are inspected regularly; drivers are required to pass an extensive geography test (even though they can’t operate throughout the city); and the horses must wear diapers.

According to Burke, “Carriage rides have outlived their usefulness in Chicago in 2014.” But what is “useful” should be a matter of what consumers actually want – and apparently they want carriages, because they continue to patronize them.

And deliberately destroying jobs on a politician’s whim is unconscionable, especially when the city’s unemployment rate is at 9.5 percent.

Unfortunately, Burke’s arrogant disregard for the citizens he supposedly works for, and his willingness to sacrifice their well-being to grab headlines, is all too common in Chicago and Illinois government.

Let’s hope that it’s only a publicity stunt, and that the rides, the jobs and the happiness they provide will continue as long as consumers and carriage operators want them to. We can also hope that someday we’ll have city officials who aren’t interested in continuing to copy New York’s worst ideas, and who will instead make the city a leader in entrepreneurial freedom.