green seal is the oldest independent third party that deals with ecolabels, and it's celebrating 20 years of its work. green seal has been working to improve the lodging industry across the nation since 1996, and it has at this point over 100 service hotels. the -- certified hotels. the standard for green seal helps to increase the products, the green products, the green services and assist in aiding green jobs within a city. a certified green seal hotel gets rid of the -- approximately 400 tons in average to a regular hotel. that's like taking 73 cars off the road. the strict standards that have been employed to address the certification for the kempton hotels have included an audit, not just energy audit, but a full audit of each of the hotels. so, again, i would sigh that green seal couldn't be more pleased to be here and to say how important it is that kempton hotels have provided environmental leadership, not only here in the city, but as a model for their industry. [applause] >> thank you, michelle. now i'd like to ask the mayor to make a few comments. thank you very much. >> thank