Last night, the Working Families Party threw its weight behind the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance’s demand that the City Council vote "No" on the rezoning and sale of the Kingsbridge Armory until the developer, The Related Companies, has signed a fair, binding and enforceable Community Benefits Agreement that includes living wage jobs, first source local hiring, protection of the right of retail workers to join a union without fear or intimidation, community and recreation space, and the exclusion of a supermarket or a big box grocery store.

The WFP will now send a letter (to read statement, click here) to City Council members to lay out the reasons why they decided to support the growing list of powerful elected officials, labor unions and community organizations that have lined up behind the need for publicly subsidized development to benefit the working people of New York City, not just developers.

"When you are using public funds for private development, we have to make sure there is real public benefits," said Dan Cantor, Executive Director of the Working Families Party. "Related's current proposal fails the working families of the Bronx, and the City Council should insist that they do better."

“It’s great that the WFP, New York State’s party of working families, has joined our efforts to ensure that people in our communities earn living wages and their right to join a union is protected,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a KARA co-convener. “Their support adds significant weight to our call for the City Council to reject Related Companies’ plans to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory unless Related agrees to a Community Benefits Agreement that requires their retail tenants to pay living wages, accept a policy of union neutrality and provides other community benefits.”

A living wage in New York City is at least $10 an hour plus benefits or $11.50 an hour without benefits.

The New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises is scheduled to meet on Monday, December 7, to consider Related’s application to develop the historic Armory. The full Council is scheduled to vote on Wednesday, December 9.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) is a growing coalition of community groups, churches and unions that seek high road, equitable development for the Kingsbridge Armory. The Alliance wants the redevelopment to meet the community’s needs for living wage jobs, community space, recreational facilities and schools. City, state and federal officials have endorsed KARA. Visit http://www.ourarmory.org

On Dec. 3, clergy gathered on the steps of City Hall to pray that City Council members see the wisdom and have the strength to reject the rezoning and sale of the Kingsbridge Armory until the developer, The Related Companies, has signed a binding Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that includes living wage jobs, first source local hiring, protection of the right of retail workers to join a union without fear or intimidation, community and recreation space, and the exclusion of a supermarket or a big box grocery store.

The Related Companies have rejected a living wage so we are urging the Council to vote NO. We are asking you to do 3 things:
1. Join us on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 9:00 AM for prayer on the steps of city hall and to talk with Council Members as they enter the land use meeting.
2. Call your council member and tell them to VOTE NO. (Click here to Take Action)
3. Join us next Wed. Dec. 9th for the entire council vote and press conference. (time TBD)