Big Apple pizzerias and other businesses that use coal- and wood-fired ovens must be given public dough — in the shape of a tax break — to comply with a latest emissions rule, a pie-loving Brooklyn pol says.
The Adams’ administration’s controversial reg — which goes into effect April 27 — is already costing some eateries tens of 1000’s of dollars to put in filtration systems to scale back their smoky pollutants by the mandated 75%.
Without financial help, among the city’s beloved famous pizza joints could go up in smoke or on the very least, hike up the associated fee of Big Apple pies — that are already the most costly within the country.
“Relating to our surroundings, I’ve all the time believed we must always be incentivizing and assisting as an alternative of immediately punishing,” said City Councilman Justin Brannan, the Finance Committee’s chair, to the Post on Monday.
Businesses that use coal- and wood-fired ovens must be given public dough to comply with a latest emissions rule, a pie-loving Brooklyn pol says. Jonathan Barth
Brannan — whose district includes slice-loving Bay Ridge and Coney Island — is proposing a tax break for the estimated 130 city pizzerias, matzah-makers and other businesses impacted by the brand new anti-pollution rule.
“If the goal here is actually to scale back the emissions produced by these old-school ovens and never to lift revenue by issuing more fines to our beloved small businesses, then let’s help these pizzerias comply as an alternative of setting them as much as fail,” Brannan said.
City Councilman Justin Brannan is proposing a tax break for the estimated 130 city pizzerias, matzah-makers and other businesses impacted by the brand new anti-pollution rule. Gregory P. Mango
“I’m confident we are able to provide you with an answer so no one gets burned,” the pol said.
“To that end, I even have been working on a bill that may work with Albany to create a tax credit to assist the affected businesses purchase and install the essential smoke-reduction emissions exhaust systems.”
Brannan said he’s still working on the small print and hasn’t calculated what the tax credit or break can be for the dough-flippers and bakers and what it will cost town and state treasury.
But he said it wouldn’t break the bank.
The councilman said he has been fielding calls from nervous affected business owners in his district.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is enforcing a 2015 law approved by the City Council and his predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, requiring pollutant-spewing coal- and wood-fired pizzerias to dramatically curb their unhealthy emission of particulate matter, which is thought to cause asthma and other respiratory ills.
Among the city’s beloved famous pizza joints could go up in smoke or on the very least, hike up the associated fee of Big Apple pies. Getty Images
“The scientific evidence is obvious that reducing emissions of high quality particulate matter will improve the health of Latest Yorkers and reduce hospital visits and costs, without changing the amazing taste of NYC pizza,” city Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Edward Timbers told The Post on Sunday.
But Latest York pizza aficionados said the rule stinks.
“Pizza is a lifeline to this city. We must protect it in any respect costs. Ban private jets and commuter helicopters, after which come back and see me about this,” Luke Failla said in recent online comments to town DEP.
A DEP rep, responding on behalf of the mayor, said it’s going to review Brannan’s bill once it’s drafted.
“All Latest Yorkers need to breathe healthy air, and wood- and coal-fired stoves are amongst the biggest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighborhoods with poor air quality,” said DEP spokesman Edward Timbers.
“This commonsense rule was developed with restaurant owners and environmental justice groups and is a product of years of review. We’re confident that these critical upgrades will allow us to chop harmful emissions and prioritize Latest Yorkers’ health, while preserving authentic Latest York City pizza.”
The agency noted that eateries facing hardships complying with the rule can file for a waiver. It has yet to receive any.
