In a rather unconventional act of protest, a prominent activist from the borough took center stage at City Hall, aiming to make a statement that was as bold as it was cheesy.

Scott LoBaido, an artist and conservative figure from Staten Island, made waves by flinging slices of pizza over the fence surrounding City Hall. His actions were in direct response to a recently implemented regulation mandating restaurants using coal and wood-fired ovens to invest in costly emission-reducing equipment.

Captured in a video circulating on social media, LoBaido, accompanied by another protestor, was seen tearing slices from pizza boxes and launching them onto the grounds of City Hall.

However, the stunt didn’t go unnoticed by authorities. After tossing his fourth slice, LoBaido was promptly detained by NYPD officers. Amidst the commotion, he could be heard shouting expletives directed at Mayor Adams as he was escorted into a police vehicle.

Supporters of LoBaido vocally backed him during the encounter, arguing that his actions warranted no more than a littering citation, not a full-blown arrest.

Attempting to justify his pizza flinging, LoBaido later claimed on social media that he did so to “feed the pigeons,” although this explanation appeared flimsy to many observers.

According to sources within the police department, both LoBaido and another individual involved in the pizza-throwing incident were taken into custody, although no formal charges had been pressed at the time of reporting.

This wasn’t LoBaido’s first foray into pizza-propelled protest. He previously staged a similar demonstration in June 2023, during a period when the Department of Environmental Protection was soliciting public feedback on the proposed rule change.

The regulations in question stem from a 2015 law aimed at slashing restaurant emissions by as much as 75% through the installation of pollution-filtering devices. However, critics, including business owners, have decried the hefty financial burden associated with compliance, citing costs reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

The new mandate primarily affects establishments with wood and coal ovens installed before May 6, 2016, as those with more recent installations have already been subject to similar regulations.

The Department of Environmental Protection has defended the rules, citing their aim to curtail small-particle emissions that pose health risks, exacerbating lung and heart conditions and potentially leading to hospitalizations and premature deaths.

{Matzav.com}