Pizza shop owners in New York City are decrying the overstep of government that many fear will crush small businesses already struggling in the Big Apple.
A new rule going into effect next month targets wood- and coal-fired stoves in an attempt to curb carbon emissions. The green agenda measure only adds more crushing regulations on businesses in the city whose cries are falling on deaf ears.
“The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rule, which will take effect April 27, applies to restaurants with cook stoves installed before May 2016. The mandate, originally proposed in June, requires affected pizzeria owners to install a filter, then hire an engineer to regularly inspect the carbon emissions,” Fox News reported.
JUST IN: NYC proceeds with rule forcing wood-fired pizzerias to cut emissions 75%.
New York City officials have quietly approved a new controversial green initiative. The plan requires pizza parlors and matzah bakeries that use decades-old wood- and coal-fired stoves to cut… pic.twitter.com/yZpwOStRIR
— I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) March 12, 2024
Pizzeria owner Paul Giannone, who has operated his Brooklyn shop for about 14 years, told Fox News it is a “sad day in my opinion.”
“This regulation will go a long way to put an end to charming wood-fired pizza restaurants in New York City,” Giannone, known as Paulie Gee, said.
Ahead of the rule taking effect, the shop owner had already spent $20,000 on emission-control air filters but is concerned that not all pizza businesses will be able to afford to make the changes.
“I think putting this regulation in place for everyone, regardless if it’s having an impact on neighbors or not, is overkill,” Giannone said.
He previously recounted to Fox News Digital the many steps and costs involved in complying with the government regulations.
According to a DEP spokesperson, the department was directed by the New York City Council to develop the regulation, reportedly involving environmental groups and restaurateurs in the process.
“All New Yorkers deserve to breathe healthy air, and wood- and coal-fired stoves are among the largest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighborhoods with poor air quality,” the DEP spokesperson told Fox News. “This common-sense rule was developed with restaurant owners and environmental justice groups and is a product of years of review.”
“We are confident that these critical upgrades will allow us to cut harmful emissions and prioritize New Yorkers’ health, while preserving authentic New York City pizza,” the statement added.
But last year, Giannone had expressed to Fox News the “pressure” this was putting on business owners.
“Regulation after regulation puts more pressure on us and makes it difficult to do business, particularly now with the cost of labor has gone up, the cost of the goods we have to buy to produce our products — it’s just making it more difficult,” he said at the time.
New Yorkers were incensed by the proposal and spoke out in anger.
Most of the over 150 comments that came into the DEP before the rule was approved were in opposition, calling it an “egregious overstep” by the government.
“John’s of Bleecker Street — one of the oldest coal-fired pizzerias in the country — spent more than $100,000 to install its smoke-reduction system,” the New York Post reported, adding that “Alter Eckstein, a manager of the Satmar Broadway Matzah Bakery, has said his shop has already spent more than $600,000 on filtering systems in anticipation of the new rules.”
“We have to do it. We can’t cook pizza any other way,” Grimaldi’s Pizza co-owner Anthony Piscina told The Post.
Social media users expressed their frustration with the rule once again on X.
You’re literally ruining something that your city is famous for over a negligible amount of carbon.
— Joel Schamber (@JoelSchamber) March 10, 2024
But, why? Why do this… Who’s benefiting from ruining the good of NY? Running off business and closing stores?
— NurseOnDuty (@Kelij66) March 12, 2024
Why people still vote for Democrats is amazing to me.
— Social distancing champ (@LadyGriz) March 10, 2024
That’s more important than illegals and actual criminals…
— Mike Sperrazza (@MikeASperrazza) March 10, 2024
This woke nonsense accomplishes absolutely nothing except for a war on entrepreneurship and hard working American citizens.
Totally unacceptable.
— aiartx.eth (@aiartxeth) March 12, 2024
ah yes, go after pizza … not crime, not illegal migrants, not fixing homelessness, not doing anything about the filth and lawlessness in the 5 boros but those damn pizza places and bakeries … this cesspool of a city is done
— John Patrick (@ForeRight1013) March 11, 2024
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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