Last week, we tried to cover a meeting of the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force, held at the office of Community Board 7. We were told that the state Open Meetings Law did not apply because the task force only makes recommendations and is not an official government body.

This is technically correct and we also understand that people sometimes feel more comfortable offering unvarnished opinions if they can do so without the press in the room.

The problem is that, too often, decisions get made in advance at these kinds of things without public scrutiny or even awareness. Then the formal "public review process" becomes a sham, a lesson in theater or both.

We hesitate to bring up disagreeable memories, but are compelled to do so by an overwhelming desire not to see history repeated.

The Kingsbridge Armory Task Force is set to meet on April 24. What will the topic of discussion be? Depends on who you ask: the city or community groups.

Last Wednesday, the city approved a proposal that could lead to $17.8 million in tax breaks for the Related Companies, the developer that plans to transform the massive landmarked Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping center.

For the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), the decision was a setback. The Alliance hoped the agency would postpone its decision until Related committed to negotiating a community benefits agreement.

This week the city will begin discussing how much public financing to award the Related Companies in exchange for buying and renovating the Kingsbridge Armory into a giant shopping mall. With the inclusion of public financing for the Armory project, community groups believe they will have added leverage to negotiate a substantial community benefits agreement

Yet another developer in New York City is asking for millions of dollars in tax exemptions. On March 5, the Related Companies will ask the New York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) for a huge tax break to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory. The company is actively refusing to negotiate with the Bronx community and guarantee basic outcomes, such as good, living wage jobs for local residents, vital community space and quality retail shopping opportunities.

Yet another developer in New York City is asking for millions of dollars in tax exemptions. On March 5, the Related Companies will ask the New York City Industrial Development Agency (IDA) for a huge tax break to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory. The company is actively refusing to negotiate with the Bronx community and guarantee basic outcomes, such as good, living wage jobs for local residents, vital community space and quality retail shopping opportunities.

In the mid-1990s at a meeting about the fate of the then recently abandoned Kingsbridge Armory, we were chatting with School District 10 official Bruce Irushalmi about the new councilman for the area, Adolfo Carrión. "He could be governor some day!" an impressed Irushalmi said.

You don't hear that much anymore. Carrión is still ambitious and may still be headed for the political stratosphere, but it's been a long time since Bronxites talked like that or rooted for him to be governor or mayor or anything else.

That's largely because he has promoted large, unpopular development projects by running over community opposition.

Only three of 18 community groups signed on to the Gateway Mall Community Benefits Agreement because the rest considered the process a sham.

And he kept his stadium opponents out in the cold (literally, on the occasion of one critical public hearing where supporters were bused in) and then threw those who didn't do his bidding off the community board.

This brand of leadership is not the kind practiced by Carrión's prospective new boss, President Barack Obama.

In the mid-1990s at a meeting about the fate of the then recently abandoned Kingsbridge Armory, we were chatting with School District 10 official Bruce Irushalmi about the new councilman for the area, Adolfo Carrión. "He could be governor some day!" an impressed Irushalmi said.

You don't hear that much anymore. Carrión is still ambitious and may still be headed for the political stratosphere, but it's been a long time since Bronxites talked like that or rooted for him to be governor or mayor or anything else.

That's largely because he has promoted large, unpopular development projects by running over community opposition.

Only three of 18 community groups signed on to the Gateway Mall Community Benefits Agreement because the rest considered the process a sham.

And he kept his stadium opponents out in the cold (literally, on the occasion of one critical public hearing where supporters were bused in) and then threw those who didn't do his bidding off the community board.

This brand of leadership is not the kind practiced by Carrión's prospective new boss, President Barack Obama.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance dominated the first official public hearing to discuss community hopes and concerns regarding the massive renovation of the 100-year-old landmark.