Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, a Bronx activist who became the face of last year's strong community push for living wage jobs at the Kingsbridge Armory, is exploring the possibility of making a run at the state Senate seat occupied by Pedro Espada, Jr.

Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, a Bronx activist who became the face of last year's strong community push for living wage jobs at the Kingsbridge Armory, is exploring the possibility of making a run at the state Senate seat occupied by Pedro Espada, Jr.

While the defeat of the Related Companies' proposal to build a giant shopping mall at the Kingsbridge Armory was not a final victory by any means for community residents, it was a victory nonetheless.

It was a victory for local residents who went to years of meetings, rallies and planning sessions and laid out their vision for a redeveloped Armory that addressed community needs like schools, recreation and community programs. Now they, and anyone else who wants to get involved, have a chance to see their collective vision realized. It's important to remember that there would have been no new roof on the Armory, no request for proposals, and no City Council vote at all were it not for more than 16 years of local efforts to put the Armory on the radar screen of City Hall. Participation matters.

It was a victory for the political process and community organizing. Faced with a strong local coalition of residents and community leaders, Bronx politicians were encouraged and emboldened to take up this cause and bring it across the finish line. We hope this sets a precedent for the Bronx delegation whose unity convinced every other borough's delegation to join them.

It was a victory for residents in every borough who want their voices heard in the planning of their communities. Though the city's land use review process does not prioritize the views of the neighborhoods most affected, concerned citizens now know it's not impossible to fight City Hall. It was a victory for workers citywide who may soon see a boost in their incomes if Bronx Council members follow through on their promise to introduce legislation to require a living wage at projects subsidized by taxpayers. It was a victory for the Bronx which has set the tone for development in Mayor Bloomberg's third term.

Despite meeting face-to-face on at least two recent Saturdays, the Bronx City Council delegation and the Related Companies are not budging on the issue of living wage in the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project. This standstill might just be the kiss of death for the development, which could be voted on by two Council committees as early as Thursday, Dec. 3.

Despite meeting face-to-face on at least two recent Saturdays, the Bronx City Council delegation and the Related Companies are not budging on the issue of living wage in the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project. This standstill might just be the kiss of death for the development, which could be voted on by two Council committees as early as Thursday, Dec. 3.

Requiring developers of city property to guarantee a living wage for retail employees may have seemed far-fetched to some observers six months ago. Not anymore.

At the City Council's hearing on the Related Companies' proposal to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a giant shopping mall, virtually the entire Zoning and Franchising Subcommittee, grilled company representatives on the living wage issue.

Speaking before a crowd of at least 1,000 people at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School on Oct. 25, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said the battle for living wages jobs at the Kingsbridge Armory was the beginning of a movement for economic justice in the borough, calling it "our new revolution here, our new civil rights movement."

Speaking before a crowd of at least 1,000 people at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School on Oct. 25, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said the battle for living wages jobs at the Kingsbridge Armory was the beginning of a movement for economic justice in the borough, calling it "our new revolution here, our new civil rights movement."

Since coming to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in 2005, I have been an active member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), working to make sure that any commercial development of the Armory meets our community's needs. I do this because I support the principles that KARA espouses, particularly the one that has to do with a living wage. If there is going to be commercial development of the Armory, I want the people who work there to earn a living wage and have the freedom to unionize without fear.