(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A man waits outside Arturo's, a famed New York City restaurant that makes pizza in a coal-fired oven, on June 26, 2023.
A lawmaker wants to exempt wood- and coal-fired ovens from a New York City air pollution measure that will force restaurants to install air-filtration systems to keep cooking the old-fashioned way, according to a report Sunday.
State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo told the New York Post that his "Preserving Our Culinary Traditions Act" was intended to help eateries that rely on smoky fires to make pizza, matzah and other food.
"I'm trying to stop discrimination against ethnic restaurants. These misguided laws go against businesses that cook ethnic cuisine," Pirozzolo said.
In a legislative memo explaining his bill, the Staten Island Republican also cited the "rich flavors, textures and aromas" produced by cooking with heat from burning wood and coal.
About 130 businesses will reportedly be covered by the new city Department of Environmental Protection regulation, which requires them to dramatically reduce the amount of unhealthy particulate matter coming from their ovens by 75%.
The rule, supported by Mayor Eric Adams, is set to go into effect on April 27 and is the result of a 2015 law passed by the City Council and signed by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Some business owners have already spent tens of thousands of dollars to comply with the rule, the Post said.
