New Yorkers are a proud folk, people who expect the world to marvel at their famous landmarks: the Empire State Building, the Christmas tree at 30 Rockefeller Center, and the Coney Island Boardwalk. In the case of the latter, a change is underway, and not everyone is happy about it.

A USD 114m (EUR 100m) renovation project for the area includes an upgrade of the elevated walkway to Brighton Beach that runs along the seaside and the amusement park, and the plan is to replace the hardwood decking with slats made of recycled plastics. While this would be a win for those who promote such materials, one incoming local politician isn’t having any of it and wants to stop the switch, which means that part of the project, like many good ideas in the past, could die in committee.