Norwood News

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has made it clear that he plans to do things differently when it comes to large development projects in the borough.

“I thought that we shortchanged ourselves … in terms of community benefits agreements,” Diaz said in an interview with the Norwood News shortly before his election in April, referring to the Gateway Mall and Yankee Stadium pacts. “I think we could have done better.”

Diaz now faces a very early test of his leadership, thanks to the Kingsbridge Armory project, which the Related Companies will turn into The Shops at the Armory if it can successfully navigate the land use review now under way. He can either fall prey to the hostage mentality that afflicts most elected officials, who fall for corporate threats to flee and avoid the borough. or he can set a tone at the outset of his tenure that, while the Bronx is open for business, it is no longer going to be taken to the cleaners.

The model for what not to do lies just down the road at Gateway, another Related project, where former Borough President Adolfo Carrion presided over a sham community involvement process that resulted in few benefits for Bronxites.

And while we’ll refrain from ranting about Yankee Stadium, suffice it to say that promised replacement parkland is years away.

This is a tremendous opportunity for the borough president to preside over the crafting of a real community benefits agreement – one that is actually negotiated with local stakeholders in the room — that secures actual and long-lasting benefits and sets the tone for future development during Diaz’s tenure.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, a broad coalition of community organizations and institutions, insists that the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) include a requirement that prospective retailers pay a living wage to its employees.

Related sees this as an unrealistic demand, but that‘s only because for too long we have allowed corporations to dictate the norms of acquiring and developing public property. Is it really so unrealistic to expect that people who work should be able to support themselves and their families? 

The living wage is even mentioned in the Request for Proposals issued by the city. The NYC Economic Development Corporation “will view favorably development plans that maximize the number of jobs that meet the city’s living wage and health benefits standards,” the document says. 

The taxpayers have already opened their wallets for Related – $50 million in subsidies and tax breaks; $15 million off the appraised value of the facility; and the $30 million that has already gone to stabilize the roof. 

Doug Cunningham, a local pastor, framed the issue succinctly at a recent hearing: “How do they [Related] take all these millions of dollars of public benefits for themselves and offer those of us who will work at this mall minimum wage jobs with no benefits at all?”

This is a great opportunity for the borough president. He’s a shoo-in for re-election this fall and doesn’t need wads of developer cash, which, incidentally, got his predecessor into hot water.  If he stands up to Related and the Bloomberg administration, he will stand out from the crowd of pols who have repeatedly signed on to raw deals for Bronxites.

Diaz knows what’s right. “We shortchanged ourselves,” he told us.
Well, now it’s time to walk the walk.