The controversy over Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages has escalated into a legal battle, with animal rights group NYCLASS threatening to sue the Transport Workers Union (TWU) for defamation. TWU leaders, including John Samuelsen, accused NYCLASS and its founder Steve Nislick—a real estate executive—of being tied to Manhattan real estate interests aiming to develop the West Side by pushing for a ban on the carriage horses. NYCLASS responded with a cease-and-desist letter demanding the union stop making false claims, emphasizing that prominent figures like Mayor Eric Adams support ending the carriage trade due to animal welfare concerns.

Samuelsen dismissed the legal threat, insisting his allegations are provable and framing the dispute as a fight for the livelihood of immigrant carriage drivers against powerful real estate interests. NYCLASS has pledged Nislick will not buy any carriage stable properties and offered a legally binding agreement to that effect, but the union remains skeptical. Both sides appear prepared for a defamation lawsuit, with Samuelsen welcoming the prospect as a way to uncover internal NYCLASS documents through discovery. The dispute highlights the complex intersection of animal rights advocacy, labor interests, and urban development politics in New York City.