New York City has crime problems and overcrowding thanks to busloads of illegal immigrants that arrive in the Big Apple daily that Eric Adams has tried to stop. Even the Empire State’s governor recently ordered the National Guard and State Police to keep the peace the city’s subways. But gosh darned it, Eric Adams and city bureaucrats gotta make sure pizzerias in the city that use wood or coal-fired ovens don’t pollute. From the New York Post:

New York City has quietly approved a controversial green plan to require pizzerias and matzah bakeries using decades-old wood- and coal-fired stoves to cut their smoky pollutants by 75%.

Mayor Eric Adams’ Department of Environmental Protection said the fresh edict takes effect April 27, with some city businesses having already coughed up more than $600,000 for new smoke-eating systems in anticipation of the expected mandate.

“You are going after pizza? Glorious New York pizza?” groused Mike Dabin in a recent online comment to the city DEP. “Can’t you go after Diesel Trucks instead of pizza ovens?”

It doesn’t matter that many pizzerias will be forced to close throwing hundreds (if not thousands) of New Yorkers out of work. But despite the rule going into effect next month, the New York Post reveals Adams has a back up plan: he can give exemptions. Perhaps a little bribe … er … campaign contribution to his re-election campaign would help?

Pizza in New York City is very expensive and this new rule will hike pizza prices even higher. Thankfully, the New York Post says some pizzerias are grandfathered in, the ones that are not are installing the needed equipment (that can cost $50,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars), or converting to alternatives (like gas ovens).

Not surprisingly, Adams defends the new requirement but, thankfully, the majority of people who submitted comments are dead set against it. Despite the opposition, the emission reduction rule will undoubtedly will go through anyway since The Post reports there are less than 150 pizzerias in New York that use wood or coal fire stoves to begin with. Easy pickings, ya know?

New York isn’t like Los Angeles. The Big Apple isn’t located in a valley, has weather conditions (like regular rainfalls) that keep the city’s air very clean, and the amount of pizzerias affected by Adam’s requirement pose no threat to the environment. There’s no excuse for Adams doing this other than using it as a cash grab.