Don’t let them take our dough!
A new alliance has formed to fight New York City’s edict targeting famous pizzerias that bake their pies in pollutant-spewing coal-and-wired-fired ovens.
Lobbyist and self-described pizza fanatic Brad Gerstman said Wednesday he’s created the “New York City Pizza Alliance” with fellow lawyer Nina Marinaro and pie makers to block “a concerted effort to undermine and suppress the coal and wood-fired pizza business.”
The city Department of Environmental Protection has drafted new rules that would order eateries using the decades-old baking method to slice particulate emissions by up to 75%.
The rule targets coal-and-wood-fired ovens installed before May 2016 and restaurateurs said it would cost at least $20,000 to install air filtration systems to dramatically curb smoky emissions.
Mayor Eric Adams and DEP officials emphasized the proposed new rule — first reported on Sunday by The Post — is open for public comment and not final.
It was drafted to comply with Local 38 of 2015 approved by former Mayor Bill de Blasio — who was widely mocked after he was pictured eating a slice with a fork and knife — and the City Council, to reduce emissions.
The DEP estimates under 100 restaurants total would be impacted.
But some of New York’s oldest and iconic pizza joints — that pride themselves on having their pies baked in coal-and-wood-fired ovens — are facing the heat over the new strict emissions mandate.
The pie-making eateries include Lombardi’s in Little Italy, Arturo’s in Soho, John’s of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, Macoletta in Astoria, Patsy’s in Turtle Bay and the Upper West Side, Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint, Grimaldi’s near the Brooklyn Bridge and Totonno’s in Coney Island.
Gerstman — who joked that he’s devoured so much pizza that he can claim Italian heritage — said the emissions rule is a green initiative run amok that leaves a bad taste of stale pizza in his mouth.
“The smoke from wood and coal-fired pizzas is truly a drop in the bucket when it comes to the grand scheme of emissions and the administration’s commitment to appeasing the green mandate by any means necessary is emblematic of a blatant disregard for the future of these small businesses and a stark sense of apathy for the proud history and cultural significance of many of the establishments subject to this draconian injunction,” Gerstman said.
The rule has triggered a backlash including from Twitter honcho and electric car manufacturer Elon Musk and conservative shock artist Scott LoBaido, who registered a protest by throwing 48 slices of pizza into City Hall Park.
“Give me pizza or give me death!,” he said.
[Written in collaboration with other media outlets with information from the following sources]
