A new bill proposed by state lawmakers says it would be racially discriminatory to force Big Apple pizzerias and matzah makers to remove smoke and other contaminants from their wood- and coal-fired ovens.
Rep. Sam Pirozzolo (R-Staten Island) told the Post that his proposed bill would force companies, including some legendary local facilities, to reduce their emissions by 75%. He said the move exempts him from the controversial urban greening ordinance he mandates.
“I’m trying to end discrimination against ethnic restaurants. These misguided laws work against businesses that prepare ethnic food,” Pirozzolo said.
“A police officer was just killed. People are being thrown in front of subway trains. People are dying from overdoses and an immigration crisis that we didn’t ask for,” said the state lawmaker, who was first elected in 2022. the lawmaker said.
“But do we want to eat wood-fired pizza? That’s wrong. Let’s get our priorities straight.”
The city just buried Jonathan Diller, a 31-year-old married father and hero cop who was shot during a traffic stop on Saturday, but is reeling from last week’s fatal subway shoving. It is drowning in people seeking athletes who need services.
Pirozzolo’s Protecting Our Culinary Traditions Act specifically exempts the burning of wood, coal, natural gas, propane and other fuels for cooking and food preparation purposes from pollution regulations.
New rules from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection that go into effect on April 27 will require existing coal-fired and wood-fired restaurants to install expensive air filtration systems that will significantly reduce emissions from traditional ovens. is required.
According to the DEP, the new rules implement a law approved in 2015 by the City Council and then-Mayor Bill de Blasio that requires companies that emit these pollutants, which are known to cause asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The government is calling for significant reductions in unhealthy emissions of particulate matter.
The new rules, supported by Mayor Eric Adams, will affect about 130 businesses in the Big Apple.
Some restaurants have already paid tens of thousands of dollars to build systems that meet their requirements.
But Pirozzolo said the rules are ridiculously anti-business, amount to a war over traditional cooking methods in wood- and coal-fired ovens, and do little to curb actual pollution. Ta.
In a memo explaining the bill, Pirozzolo said Gov. Kathy Hochul’s controversial move to ban gas stoves, stoves and propane heating in new homes in the Empire State would require restaurants that use them to It was pointed out that an exemption had been established.
“Given the rich culinary traditions of New York City residents and those from far and wide, we want to help restaurants continue to follow proper cooking procedures to maintain rich flavor. It is perfectly reasonable to exempt yourself from the use of the above utensils, allowing you to taste the textures and aromas of the far-flung homeland of these dishes. Of course, it also protects business owners from shouldering the cost of these dishes.
We are updating at least some of our equipment just to comply with the mandate, and we are paying for it out of pocket,” Pirozzolo said in a memo explaining the bill.
He said he expects the measure to be introduced in the state Senate as well. He is distributing a draft bill to other lawmakers to drum up support.
Another lawmaker, Brooklyn City Councilman Justin Brannan, is considering tax breaks to help pizzerias pay for the filtration equipment they need to comply with the new mandate. Such equipment can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Pirozzolo, an optician who previously served as president of the island’s local education council, made headlines in 2016 when a giant sculpture of Donald Trump on his front lawn was set on fire.
He is running for re-election in November, flipping his long-held Democratic seat to the Republican field.
