New York City Council Honors Top Environmental Leaders for Making NYC the Big "Green" Apple

City Hall, June 6 – New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Environmental Protection Committee Chairman James F. Gennaro recognized New Yorkers who are working to protect New York City’s environment. The inaugural Big “Green” Apple Award for Environmental Leadership was handed out to a diverse group of honorees, from an environmentally conscious architect to a community environmental justice organizer.

“These five New Yorkers definitely put the ‘green’ in the ‘Big Apple,’” said Council Member Gennaro. “Thanks to these dedicated and talented individuals, all of New York City is greener, cleaner and healthier.”

“From architects to civil servants to community organizers, these leaders embody the diverse and unified effort we are going to need to make New York a more environmentally friendly place to live,” City Council Speaker Christine said. “The City Council is proud to honor their work, and we are committed to working with them to make our City cleaner, just as we did recently by increasing the number of alternativefuel taxis. Together we can continue to move the effort to improve our City's environment forward.”

Robert Fox, of Fox+Cook architects, was honored for his work leading the field in “green building” design. One of his best known designs is 4 Times Square, the Conde Nast headquarters, a building that is credited for setting the standard for all other high rise “green” buildings. He is also the lead sustainable design consultant for the New York Transit Authority.

“I am honored to both live and work in a city where leadership in environmental responsibility is a priority,” said Fox. “I thank the City Council for this award and for recognizing the importance of the environment to the life of this city.” Elizabeth Yeampierre was honored with the community group Big “Green” Apple Award for her work with various community-based organizations, including serving as executive director of UPROSE, United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park, an advocacy group based in Brooklyn. Yeampierre’s many successes in community organizing include helping to pass New York State’s first contaminated site cleanup “brownfields” legislation. She is also active in the environmental justice community and was a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Energy.

Eric Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council was given the non-profit sector award for his lifetime of work on behalf of the NRDC. Over his career, he spearheaded the campaign for New York City’s recycling statute, lead the fight to phase out lead in gasoline and worked to protect New York City’s drinking water supplies.

Former Chairman of New York City Council’s Environmental Protection Committee, Stanley Michels, was given the government sector award for all of the environmental progress that the City Council made during his tenure as Committee Chairman from 1992-2001. Major legislation passed under his guidance includes: expansion of the citywide recycling program, noise pollution controls and legislation created to prevention of lead poisoning in children.

During his time at City Council, awardee Marcel Van Ooyen ensured the passage of numerous pieces of environmental legislation. The legislation he oversaw established New York City’s policy of buying environmentally preferable products, protected children from lead paint and increased the use of energy efficient products in the public and private sector. He is now the Executive Director of the Council on the Environment of New York City.

“These honorees need to be recognized, both for their great work, and to encourage others in our city to follow in their footsteps,” said Gennaro.