Bloomberg Rejects Proposed Bronx Mall Deal

New York, NY —

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is rejecting a proposal that would have resolved the standoff over a proposed mall at the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. Some city council members, labor unions, and activists have been pushing for a guarantee that all retailers there would have to pay their workers a "living wage" of $11.50 an hour, or $10 an hour plus benefits.

Speaking on WOR radio this morning from Grand Central Terminal, Bloomberg said the city would not dictate terms like that to developers of city owned property: "This city is not going to get into this business. And then some people say, well, have a program that will essentially do the same thing but it doesn't look like the same thing. We aren't going to do that. Period."

On Wednesday, an administration official and city council members said the two sides were nearing an agreement. The deal would rely on using money from the sale of the Armory and some rental income to subsidize retailers who paid their employees a living wage. Calls to Bronx city council members have not been returned. The city council must vote on the proposal by Monday to meet the city's deadline for the project.