[h=1]In the Birthplace of Pizza, Pollution Rules for Ovens Spur Outrage[/h] By
ELISABETTA POVOLEDOJAN. 7, 2016
SAN VITALIANO, Italy ? If there is one label that Antonio Falcone, a doctor turned civic leader, does not want to be known by, it is ?the anti-pizza mayor.?
Yet that is how notoriety caught up with the mayor of this small town in the Neapolitan hinterland in late December when, in an effort to decrease air pollution, he issued an ordinance banning the use of wood-fired stoves not equipped with filters that reduce toxic air pollutants.
The ban affects family homes with chimneys as well as businesses like bakeries, restaurants and ? most controversially ? wood-burning pizzerias, the gastronomic boast of an area known as the birthplace of one of Italy?s most renowned culinary exports. Outrage was guaranteed.
?We?ve even been compared to China,? complained Pasquale Tufano of Ristorante La Vigna, piqued that the town?s half-dozen pizzerias had been singled out and equated with a country whose capital, Beijing, announced its first-ever toxic smog red alert last month.
?I became the anti-pizza mayor,? said Mr. Falcone, adding that the new ordinance was in San Vitaliano?s best interests. ?I am responsible for the health of the citizens of this town. We had to start somewhere.? Credit Gianni Cipriano for The New York Times ?I became the anti-pizza mayor,? said Mr. Falcone, adding that he acted only in San Vitaliano?s best interests. ?
I am responsible for the health of the citizens of this town. We had to start somewhere.?
In fact, Mr. Falcone was one of dozens of Italian mayors who adopted emergency measures last month after a prolonged dry spell repeatedly pushed air pollutants beyond legal limits.
Rome, which has been trying to reduce car emissions to help clean the air, restricted driving to days based on the odd or even numbers at the end of license plates.
Milan banned all traffic for three consecutive days, to little effect. Milan and other cities even banned fireworks on New Year?s Eve.
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