Three Bronx Supermarkets on Violations List

William Sloan, an owner of Morton Williams on Jerome Avenue, at a Kingsbridge Armory hearing in 2009. The store was recently named one of the most-fined supermarkets for overcharging consumers. (File photo by Adi Talwar)

Last week, the NY Post published a list of 25 city supermarkets that racked up the highest in violation fines during 2010 from the Department of Consumer Affairs for overcharging customers, failing to properly mark items or using faulty scales to price goods.

Three Bronx markets made the list of worst offenders: a Pathmark in Co-op City, a Pioneer Supermarket in Mott Haven and the Morton Williams on Jerome Avenue in University Heights. All of the stores had over $3,000 in violation fines to their names.

The owners of the the same Morton Williams were a vocal party during the great Kingsbridge Armory debate two years ago, fighting the developer's plan to open a supermarket in the landmark building and storming out of a public hearing after the Community Board 7 voted in favor of a new market (see photo above.)

In the recent Post article, a spokesman for the Food Industry Alliance told the paper that most of the supermarkets made the list for minor, unintentional mistakes.

Debate on Supermarket

There's a roiling debate under way over at Boogiedowner about a proposed big-box supermarket at the Kingsbridge Armory.

Boogiedowner is in favor of the idea and tangles with a spokesman for Morton Williams (the supermarket across the street from the armory on Kingsbridge Road, which has been a driving fore in opposing a supermarket at the armory) in the comments section of the post.

Norwood News visited Morton Williams and wrote about the supermarket issue in detail in July, but one question that hasn't gotten much ink is, if the developer beats back the opposition to a market, what kind of market would work at the armory? Many members of Community Board 7 support a supermarket at the armory, and have cited a desire to see a specialty foods market like Whole Foods or Fairway. But it's not certain whether either of those businesses considering opening up shop there. What do supermarket supporters want to see there and what do they think would actually be viable?

Much of the debate on the Boogiedowner centers on the living wage issue, which we also wrote about in July. On its editorial page, Norwood News has supported the push for a living wage requirement at the armory.

Diaz Stalls on Amory Project, Waits for Response on Draft Benefits Agreement from Developer

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has asked for and received an extension on his deadline to submit his recommendation to the city regarding the Kingsbridge Armory mall project, saying he wants to see how the developer responds to a proposed Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

Diaz is in the process of weighing the pros and cons of the Related Companies’ land use review application, which, if approved, would pave the way for the developer’s plan to turn the 575,000-square-foot Armory into a retail shopping mall. He was supposed to say whether or not he supports the project by early next week, but, with the extension, he now has until Sept. 8.

Earlier this week, Diaz’s office sent Related a draft of an agreement that would bring the community addition benefits from the project aside from new shopping options and low-paying retail jobs. The agreement was a collaborative effort between Diaz’s office, Community Board 7, the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) and local elected officials.

“We do not want to say yes or no on the ULURP application until we have some idea from the developer regarding their direction on the CBA,” said Diaz spokesperson John DeSio, in a e-mail.

According to Greg Faulkner, the chairman of Community Board 7, which voted yes on the project on the condition, among others, that a substantial and enforceable CBA be signed by Related, the draft CBA included a living wage requirement for tenants at the Amory mall, something KARA has lobbied hard for over the past year.

Related has said it will walk away from the project before including living wage requirements. Related officials could not be reached by the time of this post, but we'll keep trying. The Riverdale Press reported that Related is still reviewing the CBA document.

Also included in the draft CBA are local hiring goals, labor neutrality (to protect unionization efforts) and mechanisms to protect and create affordable housing in the area.

The CBA also included language excluding a big-box supermarket at the Armory. Related had carved out space in the Armory for a 60,000-square-foot supermarket and Board 7 members had voted to support a new supermarket with organic food options. But Morton Williams, a local supermarket chain, had lobbied hard against an Armory supermarket and had the support of the entire Bronx delegation to the City Council.

CBA’s have become common practice for big development projects in California and have gained popularity in other parts of the country, but the few signed in New York City have been criticized for being unsubstantial and lacking true community involvement. The Armory CBA would be the first driven by community voices, including Board 7 and KARA.

Maria Baez Shows Up to Support Local Supermarkets

After noticeably missing BP Ruben Diaz’s public hearing on the Kingsbridge Armory’s redevelopment process, 14th District City Councilwoman Maria Baez took to the streets yesterday afternoon to support local supermarkets. These smaller, localized supermarkets feel threatened by the large-scale supermarket included in the plans for the redevelopment of the armory.

In the past, Baez has been criticized for not being actively involved in the redevelopment of the armory, especially since it falls within her district. However, yesterday Baez said the Kingsbridge Amory redevelopment is “a very important priority” for her.

Yesterday afternoon, Baez (center) stood her ground outside a C-Town Supermarket on the corner of University Avenue and Fordham Road supporting local businesses and “opposing big box stores.” Baez holds that if Related Companies, the developer, builds a shopping mall with a brand name supermarket, “thousands of local jobs” will be lost in the process. Instead of filling the armory with large corporate stores, Baez said the Kingsbridge Amory should be transformed into “a place where our children can go, a recreation center.”

Standing tall behind Baez at her press conference outside of C-Town was the owner of the supermarket, Jose Frias and a handful of other local supermarket and bodega owners. In the press release for the event, Frias said, “Maria Baez recognizes the contributions that small business owners have made to the Kingsbridge neighborhood.”

Despite Baez’s press conference at C-Town, the Morton Williams supermarket appears to be the major opponent to the Kingsbridge Armory supermarket. Since Morton Williams is located directly across the street from the armory, competition would be fierce between the two potential food stores.

Although Baez did not specifically mention Morton Williams, she was clearly sending out another message unrelated to supermarkets: Vote for me! With signs reading “Vote Maria Baez” plastered on walls lining the C-Town, Baez chose to combine campaigning for reelection with her opposition to the Kingsbridge Armory supermarket.

After the conference, Baez briefly discussed the Kingsbridge Amory Redevelopment Alliance’s (KARA) fight for securing a living wage at the future stores in the mall. “I have been working with KARA and there is a lot that we need to look at and address,” she said.

As for negotiating a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with Related Companies, Baez said that if reelected, this would be the third time she has been involved in a CBA, so she is familiar with the process.

Handicapping The Armory Hearing

The Bronx News Network will be in attendance tonight at the Bronx Library Center when Community Board 7 votes on whether or not to support the Related Companies plan to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a giant mall. Here's a guide to all our latest Armory coverage.

If last week's Board 7 land use committee meeting was any indication, it looks like the board will vote in favor of the project, which will disappoint a lot of people in the community, most notably the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) and the Kingsbridge Heights-based supermarket chain Morton Williams.

Last Tuesday, the land use committee voted unanimously (there were only three voting committee members) to recommend the project be approved when the whole board votes on the project tonight. They are, however, going to add a 10-point caveat to their position. So, they will essentially say: We will vote yes on this project, but only if x, y and z occurs. Those points include the signing of a binding Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), free wi-fi, more community space, the inclusion of a World Peace Atrium and the creation of community advisory group for the duration of the Armory's redevelopment.

Only Board 7 members were allowed to speak at the meeting. This enraged Avi Kaner, a part owner of Morton Williams, who said he was promised a chance to make his case at the hearing. Kaner and Morton Williams want the board to vote no on the project unless Related agrees to stick to its original proposal.

"Why was I lied to?" Kaner asked angrily as he filed out of the meeting with about 15 Morton Williams employees and supporters.

Related's latest proposal now includes a 60,000-square-foot supermarket that Kaner says will force the chain to shutter its two Bronx stores. Related says it included the supermarket idea based on feedback from Board 7 members. In an interview two weeks ago, Morton Williams owner Morty Sloan said Board members who supported an Armory supermarket probably didn't understand what a supermarket of that size would do to Morton Williams and its hundreds of Bronx employees.

Board member John Harris said he wanted to see a supermarket that offered organic food. "It's not about competition, it's about options," he said.

Kaner gave us a copy of the speech he wanted to give. In it, he said, "Our employees and we are intergral parts of the community. We are your neighbors. Related is not."

KARA representatives have also lobbied heavily to have Board members vote no on the project because a benefits agreement has yet to be signed. About 10 KARA reps were at last week's meeting. Wendoly Marte, a young local community activist, said she didn't understand Board 7's reasoning behind the Board plans to vote yes with conditions. "Their rational makes absolutely no sense."

Added Desire Pilgrim-Hunter, who lives nearby in Fordham Hill: “If they [CB7] are really advocates for the community, why are they ignoring what the community is asking them to do, which is to vote no” until Related signs a binding and substantial CBA. “We can see [by this vote] that the community board is going to vote yes to this developer.”

Board 7 Chairman Greg Faulkner said he thinks the Board should vote yes with conditions so they can maintain leverage in the continuing benefits agreement negotiations. He thinks it would be easier for Related to ignore the Board's wishes if it votes no.

After the Board votes, the project goes to the Bronx Borough President's office, then to City Planning and then on to the City Council.

We'll have more coverage of tonight's vote tomorrow.

-Reporting by James Fergusson

Kingsbridge Armory Coverage Preview

This is a slideshow of photographs of the majestic Kingsbridge Armory by Adi Talwar. We thought it would be a fitting introduction to our extensive Armory coverage in this week's edition of the Norwood News. Here's a preview of the stories to get you up to date on all things Armory.

Here's our coverage of the latest public hearing on the Armory, a raucous four-hour marathon affair.

We run through two of the biggest issues that came out of the hearing:
-How The Related Companies' plan to put a supermarket in the Armory will affect the Morton Williams supermarket chain, which has a store and its headquarters across the street.
-Will the Armory bring living wage jobs to local residents and should the developer in fact require retailers to do so?

In its plan for the Armory, Related has decided to include a World Peace Atrium, which Community Board 7 land use chairman Ozzie Brown has been pushing for months.

Here's our Armory fact file.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. is working behind closed doors to craft a Community Benefits Agreement with Board 7 and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA).

Why this a huge opportunity for Diaz to demonstrate his leadership skills.

Why Board 7 should vote no (with conditions) on the Armory project.

Bronx News Roundup, June 19

We'll start with Pedro Espada, Jr., who is fast becoming one of the most high-profile and controversial Bronx legislators in history.

Yesterday, during a closed-door meeting among leaders in both parties, Espada, a former boxer, nearly came to blows with fellow Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein (who was/is the deputy majority leader). Espada told the Daily News, "I was going to kick his ass." Later Klein responded. "I can take it. He lives in Mamaroneck. I live in the Bronx." (Oooo. Snap. Why do I feel like I'm back in 5th grade?)

Apparently, Espada is upset that the Dems are sending out robocalls to people in GOP districts telling them that Republicans should drop Espada as Senate president.

Ok, on to other stuff:

Mayor Bloomberg was in the Bronx yesterday, at Truman High School on Baychester Avenue, to publicize and take credit for the 9% drop in crime at city schools.

A front page story in Times reports that, over the last five years, the Bronx has had the most murders per capita of any of the five boroughs. The Times also has a cool interative map that shows all the murders in the city since 2003 and allows you to search several categories associated with the murders.

Now, some more Kingsbridge Armory news:

The Village Voice's Runnin' Scared blog has a story on how Moroton Williams, the Bronx-born supermarket chain, is digging in for a battle against the Related Companies' plan to put a new60,000-square-foot supermarket in the Kingsbridge Armory. Morton Williams owns the Associated supermarket directly across the street from the Armory, on Jerome Avenue.

[On a long side note:The story says Related put the supermarket into its plans because the local Community Board (7) wanted it. It's true, several board members and local residents have expressed a desire for a better supermarket for the area, but CB7 Chairman Greg Faulkner said recently that the larger point is that the area needs more healthy eating options, not necessarily another competing supermarket. I'm sure we'll hear more about this at the hearing next Wednesday, June 24 at Lehman College at 6:30 p.m. If you want your voice heard, don't forget to sign up to speak beforehand by calling, (718) 933-5650.]

In a related story, the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, which Morton Williams enlisted for the Armory fight (and also was heavily critical of the city's deal with Related at the Bronx's Gateway Mall), writes on its blog that Council member Maria Baez is against a competing supermarket in the Armory, according to Crain's.