Van Jones

Editor's note: Van Jones defends Seattle's green jobs program, which has been taking some fire in the media. He argues that building a sturdy foundation takes time. All of us have had the experience of struggling early in a new area of interest, learning the right lessons and then later triumphing. We all know that a stumble at the start of a race does not doom the runner to defeat - as long as the runner does not give up. Nobody declares a football game over as soon as the other team scores its first goal. So I read with raised eyebrows the recent cynical media assertions that Community Power Works is not going to deliver. Oh, really? I wouldn't be so quick to count out the City of Seattle's neighborhood-based energy upgrade program.