NY Apollo, a coalition of union workers, business leaders, environmental justice advocates and educators, launched their Ten Point Plan for a Strong Economy and a Healthy City last week. The program aims to make New York City safer and healthier through initiatives like green building, elimination of waste, transit alternatives and the use of renewable resources. The platform calls on New York to “plan and distribute power fairly,” meaning that one borough shouldn’t have to shoulder the brunt of the environmental burden of utility plants, and to “develop transit alternatives.” While improving both our indoor and outdoor environments, NY Apollo also wants to train skilled workers to fill jobs created by energy efficient technologies. As Jim Quigley, director of the Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College, explained, “Why do we keep exporting money for imported oil when we could create jobs and make our own energy?” [10/11/04]