New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed a new green plan that requires pizzerias with wood- and coal-fired stoves or cooktops installed after 2016 to cut emissions by 75% starting April 27.
Restaurants in this category will need to install an air filter, then hire an engineer to perform regular carbon emissions inspections. Nearly 130 pizzerias in the city could be affected by the city’s new law.
"This regulation will go a long way to put an end to charming wood-fired pizza restaurants in New York City," Brooklyn pizzeria owner Paul Giannone, known as Paulie Gee, told Fox News. "A sad day in my opinion."
He spent $20,000 on emission-control air filters in anticipation of the rule. He said that while he was glad to install the air filter because of neighborhood complaints about excessive smoke from his restaurants, other businesses may not be able to afford the expense.
"I think putting this regulation in place for everyone, regardless if it’s having an impact on neighbors or not, is overkill," Giannone said.
John’s of Bleecker Street, an iconic New York pizzeria, spent $100,000 on its smoke reduction system, according to Fox News.
"We were told we had no choice. We have no business without our oven," John’s of Bleecker Street manager Joey Schirripa told the New York Post . "We understand the direction the city is going in. We want to be environmentally friendly."
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Businesses can apply for an exemption to the April deadline if they prove they cannot financially meet the requirements of the law. With an exemption, pizzerias will still need to cut their emissions by 25%.
“Get the people doing crack on the corner of the street away from me and leave my wood-burning ovens alone,” Alejandra Sanchez, a professional chef, told DailyMail.com. “We want health care. Leave our pizza alone.”
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