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(New York, NY) – A local resident — as well as a political consultant — are accusing New York City Councilman Christopher Marte of immoral practices ahead of the upcoming primary. The New York Daily News reports it has obtained video from a Ring camera — dating back to May 7, 2025 — that seems to show Marte taking down a small piece of paper from an apartment complex.
This happened at a Lower East Side complex, on Cherry Street — and the claim is that Marte was removing a palm-sized campaign pamphlet advertising one of his political opponents. Specifically, one of the candidates running against Marte in the June primary may have been the subject of the pamphlet.
According to the Daily News, repeated attempts to contact Marte and get a response were unsuccessful. Christian Gil has been identified as the local resident who owns the Ring camera that captured the footage. And political consultant David Quesada tells the Daily News he believes — having reviewed the footage — that his client Elizabeth Lewinsohn was victimized by the move. Quesada says it looks like her pamphlet touting the phrase “Leadership That Gets Result,” was the paper that was removed.
Lewinsohn is one of the candidates opposing Marte in the June 24 primary. Manhattan attorney and community board members Jess Coleman is as well. The district they are vying to represent includes Chinatown and parts of the Lower East Side.
Gil — the Ring camera owner — was less-than-impressed by Marte’s alleged behavior, telling the Daily News: “If he’s going around doing shady s–t like this, he does not have my support.” Gil added that he previously voted for Marte in 2021.
As for Quesada — who also serves as Lewinsohn’s campaign manager — he called the alleged actions from Marte “disheartening… (but) not surprising. A growing number of his former endorsers, such as the teachers’ union, are now support Lizzie’s surging campaign. We all cope differently.”
One of Marte’s most controversial positions while serving on the City Council has been his opposition to some affordable housing projects — including his support for celebrities who seek to block redevelopment of the Elizabeth Street Garden.
