Bronx politicians have a choice. They can keep making the same mistake over and over again by letting developers walk all over them (and us).

Or they can send a message that taxpayer subsidies like the tens of millions about to be handed over to the Related Companies to build a mall at the Kingsbridge Armory comes with significant responsibilities.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., who has been a breath of fresh air following Adolfo Carrion’s development-at-any-cost tenure, said it best at a recent rally at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church.

“I want to do business in the Bronx,” he said. “But it is not radical to simply say a) we should protect surrounding businesses and b) we should have jobs and living wages. You want to do business, we can do business. But business has to be good for everybody.”

The signs are good that Diaz’s stance and the organizing power of the Kingsbridge Development Alliance will result in an enforceable Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that includes a living wage requirement. Yes, this hasn’t been done anywhere else in this city, but strong CBAs elsewhere in the U.S. are common. Some agreements have guaranteed a living wage for projects similar to the Armory mall.

 We urge the Bronx Council delegation to stick together, back the borough president and present a united front. Councilman Oliver Koppell says he wants a CBA, but he’s been telling constituents he’s not wed to a living wage requirement. He also feels that we can’t put too many restrictions on developers in this economy. We disagree.  Besides, why give away a bargaining chip before serious negotiations on a CBA?

 This is a historic moment. The Bronx can be at the forefront of a movement for economic justice in city neighborhoods. It will soon be up to our elected representatives. We urge them to vote “no” unless Related signs an enforceable benefits document agreed to by all stakeholders.