The race for New York City Council’s District 1 seat is starting to heat up amongst the batch of Democratic party hopefuls ahead of the primary election on June 24.
Encompassing the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, SoHo, Lower East Side, Little Italy, Tribeca, Lower Manhattan, Financial District, and Battery Park City, District 1 is home to a diverse and politically active electorate.
With incumbent Council Member Christopher Marte seeking re-election for a third term, three opponents, all members of Community Board 1, are challenging him in the primary race this year.
Here’s a look at who’s shaping the District 1 race and where they stand on the issues they hope will resonate with District 1 residents.
Christopher Marte, incumbent
First elected in 2021, Christopher Marte replaced term-limited Council Member Margaret Chin in the Lower Manhattan district with a 72% share of the vote, before being re-elected in 2023 with a 68% share.
In his reelection campaign, Marte touts focusing on protecting affordable housing, supporting tenants, and resisting overdevelopment. He notes his work with local residents to challenge luxury high-rise projects, modernize zoning plans, and defend community spaces like Elizabeth Street Garden. He has also advocated for 100% affordable housing at 5 World Trade Center and invested over $1 million in public housing repairs. He opposes City of Yes, and has called for local exceptions to congestion pricing.
“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 said in a statement.
Marte also points to his record on environmental resilience and quality of life. He fought against the destruction of East River Park, expanded green spaces, and secured funding for new trees, composting programs, and park revitalization. To address sanitation concerns, he increased street cleaning services, installed new trash bins, and launched rat mitigation efforts in partnership with city agencies.
“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 said. “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
Lifelong Lower Manhattanite and attorney Jess Coleman is running a pro-housing development platform. An advocate for the City of Yes, the Community Board 1 member is seeking to reform restrictive zoning laws to increase housing supply, strengthen tenant protections like Good Cause Eviction, and establish a Social Housing Development Authority to build permanently affordable, mixed-income housing. Coleman also supports fully funding NYCHA repairs and expanding community land trusts to promote resident ownership.
On public safety, Coleman says he wants to address homelessness and mental health crises through supportive housing and outreach teams. He proposes expanding diversion programs for low-level offenses, funding universal after-school programs, and guaranteeing summer jobs for at-risk youth to prevent crime.
To improve public spaces, he supports expanding pedestrian plazas and Open Streets, implementing citywide trash containerization, cracking down on illegal placard parking, and fully funding the Parks Department to maintain green spaces.
“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 said in a statement.
“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 is another longtime Lower Manhattan resident, a 12-year member of the community board, and a former NYPD Counterterrorism policy chief. As chair of Gotham Park, she led local initiatives like the development of the green space at the Brooklyn Bridge. She lives in the Civic Center with her family.
Her campaign platform is focused on public safety, affordable housing, and responsive city services. Drawing on her NYPD background, she intends to call for more community policing, better lighting and street maintenance, and outreach to prevent hate crimes.
She supports platform barriers in the subways and stronger enforcement of e-bike and moped rules. Her vision includes building trust between police and residents, increasing local officer recruitment, and ensuring all neighborhoods feel genuinely safe 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,” said 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
Hailing from Chinatown’s Monroe Street, Eric Yu is a former Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve and a member of Community Board 1 since 2021 where he participates in the Transportation & Street Activity and the Waterfront, Parks & Cultural Committees, and represents the board at Chinatown BID meetings.
Yu’s platform focuses on improving transportation infrastructure, ensuring efficient use of city resources, and enhancing public safety in District 1. He opposes congestion pricing, viewing it as an unfair burden on working families and small businesses. His campaign platform also emphasizes the importance of economic vitality, public safety, and community 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 said in a statement. “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.”
Waiting in November: Republican challenger Helen Qui
As the only candidate running on the GOP, Conservative ticket for District 1, Helen Qui is set to sail into November’s general election to face off against the Democrat who comes out on top. She last faced off against Marte in the 2023 election where she secured over 30% of the vote.
Originally from China, Qui obtained her bachelor’s degree from Zhongshan University in 1990. She later pursued graduate studies at the Reformed Seminary in 2007 and at Columbia University in 2010. Her professional background spans roles as a Christian pastor and Silicon Valley engineering manager. If elected she said her focus will be on public safety, jobs, and quality of life.
