Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. last week received an extension [see correction below] for submitting his recommendation concerning the approval of the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment so that he can give Related Cos. time to accept a draft CBA. The proposed agreement was drafted by the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, Diaz, Community Board 7, and local elected officials.
Update and correction 08-27-09: The news that Diaz was granted an extension was not completely accurate. While he does have a de facto extension, Diaz is apparently "being considered non-compliant for not making a recommendation by the land review process' built-in Tuesday, August 25 deadline." Although the influence of community boards and borough presidents during the ULURP process is sometimes described as practically nonexistant (see here, calling ULURP a "horse and pony show"), Diaz is confident that the planning commission will take his opinion into account if no CBA is signed by the real deadline, September, 9. The Bronx News Network has also learned that the CBA includes a living wage requirement, which may throw a wrench in the CBA's gears, as Related Cos. has stated flat out that it will not agree to increased wages
In the first democratic party debates for New York City Comptroller, the candidates weighed in on the Yankee Stadium CBA-like agreement. Melinda Katz raised concerns about the enforceability of CBAs and suggested that the city should develop a standardized method for reviewing stadium developments. David Weprin declared that he would use the Comptroller's audit powers to hold the Yankees and the New York City Economic Development Corp. to the commitments made in the CBA. John Liu also promised to review the Yankee Stadium CBA "intensively," and David Yassky explained that he would pursue fewer large scale developments and seek to use the city's economic development programs to provide the types of amenities that communities in each of the five boroughs need, such as parks and schools.
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