“If you want to do business in the Bronx, we can do business,” Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. thundered. “But it has to be good for everybody.”
More than 1,000 Bronx residents and clergy joined Democrat mayoral candidate Bill Thompson and Diaz Jr. at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Bedford Park on Sunday, October 25 to rally for a living wage guarantee at the planned Kingsbridge Armory shopping mall.
Although the City Planning Commission passed The Related Companies’ plan on Monday, October 19 and Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a strong proponent, Diaz Jr. issued a “no” recommendation on the armory mall in September. The borough president opposes the plan because Related has yet to sign a community benefits agreement or guarantee a living wage – $10 an hour plus benefits – for armory mall workers.
To oppose billionaire real estate developer Stephen Ross and his billionaire pal Bloomberg has been tough, Diaz Jr. told a raucous crowd.
“But I know the Bronx has my back,” he shouted.
The CPC passed the armory mall eight to four; CPC members loyal to the Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum backed Diaz Jr. Bloomberg-anointed plans rarely face opposition on the CPC.
The City Council will vote on the plan before the year ends. Councilwoman Maria Baez, who represents Kingsbridge Heights, has yet to state her support for a living wage guarantee. Councilman Joel Rivera, Councilman Oliver Koppell and Councilman Tony Avella of Queens, whose subcommittee will review the armory mall, attended the rally.
Chosen in 2008 to redevelop the armory, Related is set to buy the 575,000 square foot behemoth for $5 million and benefit from tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks. The armory is worth more than $20 million; small business owners in Kingsbridge Heights threatened by the planned mall never got from tax breaks, Diaz Jr. argued.
“I stand with you today for good, responsible development,” Thompson said.
Diaz Jr. referred to the effort as a “new civil rights movement” based on economic development.
“The fact is, the Bronx still has the highest poverty rates in the United States,” the borough president said. “I’m tired of that fact.”
The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, a powerful member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, hosted the “Blueprint for the Bronx” rally. A march to the landmark followed, as Bronx residents chanted, “Whose armory? Our armory!”
