The race for New York Metropolis Council’s District 1 seat is beginning to warmth up amongst the batch of Democratic celebration hopefuls forward of the first election on June 24.
Encompassing the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, SoHo, Decrease East Facet, Little Italy, Tribeca, Decrease Manhattan, Monetary District, and Battery Park Metropolis, District 1 is residence to a various and politically lively citizens.
With incumbent Council Member Christopher Marte in search of re-election for a 3rd time period, three opponents, all members of Group Board 1, are difficult him within the main race this yr.
Right here’s a have a look at who’s shaping the District 1 race and the place they stand on the problems they hope will resonate with District 1 residents.
Christopher Marte, incumbent
Marte at the moment serves because the co-chair of the Manhattan Delegation and sits on the Parks, Getting old, Landmarks and Web site Deposition, Resiliency and Waterfronts, Civil Rights, and Senior Facilities and Meals Insecurity Committees.Photograph courtesy of Vote Marte
First elected in 2021, Christopher Marte changed term-limited Council Member Margaret Chin within the Decrease Manhattan district with a 72% share of the vote, earlier than being re-elected in 2023 with a 68% share.
In his reelection marketing campaign, Marte touts specializing in defending reasonably priced housing, supporting tenants, and resisting overdevelopment. He notes his work with native residents to problem luxurious high-rise tasks, modernize zoning plans, and defend group areas like Elizabeth Avenue Backyard. He has additionally advocated for 100% reasonably priced housing at 5 World Commerce Middle and invested over $1 million in public housing repairs. He opposes congestion pricing and Metropolis of Sure.
“Affordable housing is the biggest issue facing Lower Manhattan, but instead of giving in to luxury developers and rampant displacement, we’ve stood up to billionaire real estate tycoons from Tribeca to the Seaport to Two Bridges. I’ve spent my time in office helping thousands of tenants fight off illegal evictions and landlord harassment while supporting the development of hundreds of new affordable housing units,” Marte mentioned in a press release.
Marte additionally factors to his report on environmental resilience and high quality of life. He fought towards the destruction of East River Park, expanded inexperienced areas, and secured funding for brand spanking new timber, composting packages, and park revitalization. To deal with sanitation considerations, he elevated avenue cleansing companies, put in new trash bins, and launched rat mitigation efforts in partnership with metropolis companies.
“Since being elected three years ago, we’ve secured millions of dollars for public housing improvements, expanded street cleaning services from Thompson Street to Delancey, created two new parks, and invested in afterschool programs for all our students,” he mentioned. “I’ve been delivering on the promises we first campaigned on. We don’t let lobbyists craft our ideas, we write legislation that our residents care about: protecting municipal retirees’ healthcare, ending the 24-hour workdays for home attendants and fighting climate change. One of the most impactful things we’ve accomplished is passing a bill that financially assists our seniors and people with disabilities to continue to afford to live downtown.”
He added: “We have been able to serve thousands of people at our storefront office on East Broadway in seven different languages to make sure every person in our diverse district can be served and well represented. We’ve united this district for the fights that matter to our communities. From Battery Park City to Chinatown, we’ve shown that with one voice, we can improve the lives of people who call downtown their home.”
Jess Coleman
Jess Coleman, a lifelong Decrease Manhattanite and Group Board 1 member, is a lawyer by commerce.Photograph courtesy of Jess for New York
Lifelong Decrease Manhattanite and lawyer Jess Coleman is operating a pro-housing improvement platform. An advocate for the Metropolis of Sure, the Group Board 1 member is in search of to reform restrictive zoning legal guidelines to extend housing provide, strengthen tenant protections like Good Trigger Eviction, and set up a Social Housing Growth Authority to construct completely reasonably priced, mixed-income housing. Coleman additionally helps absolutely funding NYCHA repairs and increasing group land trusts to advertise resident possession.
On public security, Coleman says he needs to handle homelessness and psychological well being crises by way of supportive housing and outreach groups. He proposes increasing diversion packages for low-level offenses, funding common after-school packages, and guaranteeing summer season jobs for at-risk youth to stop crime.
To enhance public areas, he helps increasing pedestrian plazas and Open Streets, implementing citywide trash containerization, cracking down on unlawful placard parking, and absolutely funding the Parks Division to take care of inexperienced areas.
“I’m running because the status quo isn’t working. Rents are out of control, the subways feel less safe, and too many neighborhoods are stuck in decline while City Hall looks the other way,” Coleman mentioned in a press release.
“We need to build more housing and strengthen tenant protections so regular New Yorkers can actually afford to live here. We need cleaner, more vibrant streets with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. And we need to make our subways and public spaces safer and more reliable—with better staffing, lighting, and maintenance, he continued. “I’ve spent years doing the work—advocating for affordable housing, cracking down on placard abuse, expanding outdoor dining and open streets, and challenging the political gatekeepers who block common-sense improvements. If you’re ready for a Councilmember who brings practical solutions—not excuses—I’m ready to get to work.”
Elizabeth Lewinsohn
Elizabeth Lewinsohn says she’s going to draw on her expertise on the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau and as a group board member for over a decade.Courtesy of Lewinsohn for Council
Elizabeth Lewinsohn is one other longtime Decrease Manhattan resident, a 12-year member of the group board, and a former NYPD Counterterrorism coverage chief. As chair of Gotham Park, she led native initiatives like the event of the inexperienced area on the Brooklyn Bridge. She lives within the Civic Middle along with her household.
Her marketing campaign platform is concentrated on public security, reasonably priced housing, and responsive metropolis companies. Drawing on her NYPD background, she intends to name for extra group policing, higher lighting and avenue upkeep, and outreach to stop hate crimes.
She helps platform obstacles within the subways and stronger enforcement of e-bike and moped guidelines. Her imaginative and prescient contains constructing belief between police and residents, rising native officer recruitment, and guaranteeing all neighborhoods really feel genuinely secure and supported.
“Lower Manhattan is where I’ve built my life—from raising my family to serving my community for over a decade to working to keep our city safe and vibrant. I’m running for City Council because our neighborhoods deserve a leader who shows up, listens closely, and gets results,” mentioned Lewisohn.
“My top priorities are public safety, affordable housing, green space, and compassionate solutions to our unhoused crisis. I believe in community policing that focuses on quality-of-life concerns and builds real trust with residents. I’ll fight for stronger tenant protections, deeper affordability in new development, and push for more office-to-residential conversions to create deeply affordable housing and bring new life to underused buildings downtown,” she continued. “I’ll also work to expand our greenspace, creating more accessible parks and recreational areas. I’ll advocate for better-targeted supportive housing options and coordinated services to help unhoused individuals.”
Eric Yu
Eric Yu, a former member of america Marine Corps Reserve and present Group Board 1 member, hails from Monroe Avenue in Chinatown.Photograph courtesy of Eric Yu for NYC
Hailing from Chinatown’s Monroe Avenue, Eric Yu is a former Sergeant within the Marine Corps Reserve and a member of Group Board 1 since 2021 the place he participates within the Transportation & Avenue Exercise and the Waterfront, Parks & Cultural Committees, and represents the board at Chinatown BID conferences.
Yu’s platform focuses on bettering transportation infrastructure, guaranteeing environment friendly use of metropolis sources, and enhancing public security in District 1. He opposes congestion pricing, viewing it as an unfair burden on working households and small companies. His marketing campaign platform additionally emphasizes the significance of financial vitality, public security, and group engagement.
“I’m running for City Council District 1 to bring a fresh perspective and ensure NYC government works for all of Lower Manhattan,” Yu mentioned in a press release. “I’ll fight to ensure our residents feel safe, and our businesses have an opportunity to thrive. We need to enforce existing laws. We need to support our police, and keep them accountable for their actions or inaction. I want businesses to stay open at night and for people to feel secure using public transportation.”
“I oppose closing Rikers and building new borough-based jails. Rikers needs better management and transparency. I also oppose Congestion Pricing and believe the MTA should focus on fare collection and reducing waste, before taxing the region it is intended to serve,” he added. “We deserve safe schools, clean streets, and reliable city services, which will retain and attract both residents and businesses. A strong and safe NYC allows residents and businesses to thrive.”
Ready in November: Republican challenger Helen Qui
Working on the Republican and Conservative ticket once more this yr, Helen Qui secured 30.9% of the vote within the 2023 normal election for District 1.Photograph courtesy of Helen 4 NYC
As the one candidate operating on the GOP, Conservative ticket for District 1, Helen Qui is about to sail into November’s normal election to face off towards the Democrat who comes out on high. She final confronted off towards Marte within the 2023 election the place she secured over 30% of the vote.
Initially from China, Qui obtained her bachelor’s diploma from Zhongshan College in 1990. She later pursued graduate research on the Reformed Seminary in 2007 and at Columbia College in 2010. Her skilled background spans roles as a Christian pastor and Silicon Valley engineering supervisor. If elected she mentioned her focus might be on public security, jobs, and high quality of life.
