My career with the New York City Council provided opportunities to enact major environmental initiatives; these included “The NYC Recycling Law” aka (1989) “Local Law 19,” the “Spill Bill” mandating cleanup of accidental releases of hazardous substances or assessing three times the cost of any cleanup performed by the City of New York (The Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Law - 1987 Local Law 42), “The Right to Know Law” mandating the disclosure of toxic chemicals (1988 Local Law 26) and the 1989 ban on apartment house incinerators (Local Law 39). Later working in the Bronx Borough President’s office, I developed Clean Water and Clean Air plans, both still worthy of consideration.  In the private sector, advising unions representing MTA bus operators, we annually deliver Earth Day messages that “urges policymakers and the public to focus on bus public transit as a cost-effective and sound means to address transit deserts, improve our environment...”  This work explains my  involvement in GOtham GREEN®  which last week continued its tradition of recognizing worthy initiatives, products and people.

On November 25, Gotham continued its recent pre-Thanksgiving holiday tradition: the announcement of its Gotham Green Awards® last week. Since November 2020 GOtham GREEN® heralds worthy initiatives, products and people ahead of Thanksgiving. Earlier awards took place at various times including the end of each year and around Earth Day. This timing fits best and just before we gather with family, and in many cases with friends as well, the Gotham tribe again recognized recipients – this year five – of its Gotham Green Awards®, last Tuesday.  

Gotham Green Awards® recognize three categories:

1. Green Business or Green Initiative  – For businesses whose core message and products are green in concept and/or sustainable.

2. Green product, program or building  – For businesses that have produced, planned or created a singular item that is green and sustainable.

3. Green/Sustainable non-profit organization  – For non-profit organizations that focus on or have created a program or product that they believe contributes to the global sustainability effort.

Please join me, my co-chairs award-winning architect Joshua Zinder and Gotham co-founder labor and employment attorney (and Friday blogger) Fred Klein and group coordinator healthy living and business advisor Shelley SImpson in congratulating the winners for 2025 (where applicable I note a nominator in parentheses after each description):

FEAT Solutions, a mission-driven energy consulting firm, founded last year, focused entirely on advancing New York City’s climate goals. Since its May 2024 launching, FEAT Solutions has helped property owners, co-ops, and affordable housing developments meet ambitious decarbonization targets.  FEAT Solutions combines technical expertise, policy alignment, and community impact to make New York’s clean energy transition real, inclusive, and lasting. 

Immersive360’s green service centers creating highly detailed digital replicas of physical spaces that allow clients in construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and real estate to interact with their facilities remotely.  Since introducing this service in 2021, Immersive360 has prevented hundreds of site visits and saved thousands of printed materials. For example, in construction projects, its technology has enabled architects and engineers to collaborate virtually, reducing both travel-related emissions and on-site waste.

Russo Law Group: Serving Long Island for 40 years, Russo Law Group has been dedicated for the past 15 years, to making a positive environmental impact by embracing digital solutions that reduce our reliance on physical resources like paper and energy-intensive processes. The firm prioritizes green practices to minimize its environmental footprint. It  also provides secure shred bins in the office and participates in community shred day events, ensuring environmentally safe disposal.

Two Sons Environmental/Critter Cleanup NY. (Victoria Drogin). Funded in 2011, the affiliated companies have continually demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices, innovative green solutions, and the restoration of both residential and commercial sites to healthy, thriving environments.  Two Sons Environmental employs LEED Certified Green Building associates, estimators and building designers, and NY State certified asbestos and mold remediation supervisors.  It has continually demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices, innovative green solutions, and the restoration of both residential and commercial sites to healthy, thriving environments. Critter Cleanup’s remediation procedures exceed every known cleanup protocol for decontamination of contaminated areas. (Victoria Drogin)

GOtham GREEN® plans to showcase each winner at meetings throughout 2025 so plan to come and meet them or reach out.  

Watch the Gotham website for more information on each meeting date

Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 4:00 p.m.

If you know someone worthy, please know that GOtham GREEN®  accepts nominations throughout the year. If you know any business, initiative, or individual that solves both environmental and social problems, adopts principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, their employees, communities, and the environment, nominating them provides a great way to show your appreciation to a client, customer or colleague. 

P.S. Continuing a tradition, please enjoy my fave Poco fave song on this topic (this one live), which found its way by reference in several statements and testimonies prepared by this correspondent.