The youth in the northwest Bronx have created their own forum, using art and spoken word, for talking about the issues they care about. This month it was the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.

Our new borough president did something plainly logical, but nonetheless refreshing, this week. Coming up on a deadline to vote yay or nay on a Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment proposal from the Related Companies, Diaz essentially said he didn't have enough information and needed more time. He got his wish.

Diaz, propelled by a vigorous community campaign for a real community benefits agreement, wants to know how the developer is going to respond to a draft agreement hammered out by Diaz, the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, and Community Board 7.

As I get ready to go back to school, I like to look back on my summer vacation. I am proud to say that this summer I led hundreds of neighborhood youth in the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance's campaign to make sure that the redevelopment of the Armory serves the needs of our community.

In the past few months, Councilwoman Maria Baez has raked in a significant amount of cash from local supermarkets in support of her reelection campaign in the 14th District. According to the Campaign Finance Board, Baez has garnered $3,375 from a variety of local supermarkets in the Bronx, $2,000 of which she received the day before she had a press conference voicing her support of small supermarkets opposing the proposed big-box supermarket at the Kingsbridge Armory.

The youth in the northwest Bronx have created their own forum, using art and spoken word, for talking about the issues they care about. This month it was the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.

Our new borough president did something plainly logical, but nonetheless refreshing, this week. Coming up on a deadline to vote yay or nay on a Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment proposal from the Related Companies, Diaz essentially said he didn't have enough information and needed more time. He got his wish.

Diaz, propelled by a vigorous community campaign for a real community benefits agreement, wants to know how the developer is going to respond to a draft agreement hammered out by Diaz, the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, and Community Board 7.

As I get ready to go back to school, I like to look back on my summer vacation. I am proud to say that this summer I led hundreds of neighborhood youth in the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance's campaign to make sure that the redevelopment of the Armory serves the needs of our community.

Followed by a crowd of more than 500 people, including activists, politicians, union leaders, local clergy, new moms and a radical marching band, 16-year-old Adolfo Abreu wrapped yellow tape around the Kingsbridge Armory. The message from the northwest Bronx community was simple, clear and written in black letters on the yellow tape, both in English and Spanish: "It's Our Armory."

In the face of loud opposition from community groups, union leaders, business owners and local residents, the members of Community Board 7 voted to conditionally approve a developer's plans to turn the long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory into a giant shopping mall.