Ahead of Thursday's vote on a bill that would end the 334-year-old horse carriage industry in New York City, Republican City Councilmember Vickie Paladino has a vision for a horseless Central Park.
What if all 68 horse carriages were replaced with old-timey-looking, battery-powered vehicles?
An AI-fueled, 10-slide presentation deck that Paladino's chief of staff forwarded to a handful of the councilmember's colleagues earlier this week details the pitch.
"At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, the beloved Main Street Vehicles attraction offers families and children a nostalgic journey aboard beautifully styled, turn-of-the-century vehicles, including vintage trolleys, jitneys, fire engines, and omnibuses," the powerpoint reads. "We envision bringing that same timeless appeal to Central Park through a fleet of 68 elegant, vintage-style electric LSVs, operated by professionally trained drivers wearing tailored, period-inspired uniforms." (The proposal even goes so far as to create a "dress code": "Every operator would wear elegant, professionally tailored, vintage-inspired attire complementing the classic vehicles and Central Park's historic character." Just say "steampunk," it's quicker!)
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