NY Daily News: "Councilman dodges allegations he tried to secure money from Kingsbridge Armory developer"

Councilman dodges allegations he tried to secure money from Kingsbridge Armory developer

Rejects developer's charge that he pegged support for Kingsbridge National Ice Center to $100,000 a year, for 99 years, for a former nonprofit associated with his church.

BY JENNIFER H. CUNNINGHAM / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The developers, through their attorney, said the councilman did try to secure such a deal as part of a community benefits agreement that the developer negotiated with an alliance composed of 27 local organizations.

Under that deal, the developer promised to set aside $1 million each year for 99 years to provide ice time to needy residents and groups, but the councilman was alleged to have demanded $100,000 of that money be redirected each year.

“A request from Councilman Cabrera, coming as it did from a sitting city council member who would ultimately vote on this project, was inappropriate in our view,” said William Brewer III, who is the lead counsel to KNIC Partners. He added that because Cabrera was affiliated with the group, and because it had lost its non-profit status, “the request was rejected out of hand.”

Cabrera, a minister, wouldn’t acknowledge that he made the request...