Debating the Wood-Fired Pizza Oven ‘Ban’: A Misleading Proposal?
Commentary
A few weeks ago, there was a good deal of Internet debate about a proposal affecting coal- and wood-fired pizza ovens under consideration by the city of New York. Opponents of the measure described it as a ban. Supporters said it was nothing of the kind. Both were, either by intention or by error, misrepresenting the issue.
The pizza oven ban wasn’t an actual ban in that it never says thou shalt not operate wood-fired pizza ovens. The pizza oven ban is rather a textbook example of what government does when it wants to force a certain outcome but still appear to be fair. The proposal created a set of obstacles that would drive some coal- and wood-fired pizza oven operators out of business and/or significantly cut into their profits….