Julie Menin said she has pledges of 37 votes, more than enough to secure her election as speaker of the City Council come January. ( Photo: Courtesy Julie Menin campaign) Julie Menin Declares Victory in City Council Speaker Race Upper East Side City Council Member Julie Menin said she has secured 37 votes, more than enough to be elected to speaker... News 01 Dec 2025 | 01:33
Locals have long enjoyed relaxing in the Elizabeth Street Garden and until recently thought they had achieved a last-minute reprieve to halt development plans. ( Photo: Marie Pohl) New Peril for Elizabeth Street Garden: Developers Sue the City The fate of the Elizabeth Street Garden, a community and sculpture garden in Little Italy, remains uncertain once again.... News 24 Nov 2025 | 05:36
Elizabeth Street Garden on the morning of Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. ( Photo: Brian Berger) Elizabeth Street Garden is Saved—Again!— By Mayor Adams, Randy Mastro In the waning days of the Mayor Adams administration, Hizzoner made further moves to protect Elizabeth Street Garden, the... News 17 Nov 2025 | 07:25
Left: Christopher Marte in City Hall Park. Right: Helen Qiu flyers on East Broadway. ( Photos: Brian Berger) Christopher Marte Re-elected, Defeats Helen Qiu in Council District 1 Down in old Chinatown and from the NYCHA projects near the East River to Battery Park City with South Street Seaport, FiDi... News 10 Nov 2025 | 03:19
The Elizabeth Street Garden in the summer of 2025. ( Photo: Marie Pohl) Elizabeth Street Garden Faces Death, Again: This Time by Mamdani In another break with his rivals, Zohran Mamdani said he intends to evict the beloved Elizabeth Street Garden from a city-owned... News 01 Nov 2025 | 10:57
Left: Christopher Marte in City Hall Park; Right: Helen Qiu flyers on East Broadway. ( Photos: Brian Berger) Christopher Marte faces Helen Qiu in District 1 City Council Race Incumbent District 1 City Council Member Christoper Marte, having handily vanquished a slate of Democratic rivals in the... News 01 Nov 2025 | 08:48
Aerial view of Chatham & KImlau Squares showing proximity to Shearith Israel Cemetery #1. ( Photo: Google Maps, Straus News markup) Chatham Square Redesign Unveiled by DOT Located at the junction of five streets and multiple cultural histories, Chatham Square has been many things to many people... News 26 Oct 2025 | 10:16
The ribbon cutting at the gazebo. Note the golden scissors! Congressman Dan Goldman arrived just after this photo was taken. ( Photo: Brian Bergrer) Renovated Washington Market Park Reopens, Tribeca Rejoices! Shout it loud and proud, New Yorkers, Washington Market Park is back! That’s the esctatic exclamation of Tribecans and visitors... News 22 Sep 2025 | 12:05
Left: Looking up William Street from Pearl Street. Right: Looking west up Ann Street from Gold Street. ( Photos: Brian Berger) Council Member Marte Blasts Dept. of Transportation Study Delays In late August, not long before Council Member Christopher Marte declared his ambition to become the next Speaker of the... News 15 Sep 2025 | 02:34
Christopher Marte announcing a new dog run to be built at Captain Jacob Joseph Park on Rutgers Street, June 5, 2025. ( Photo: Brian Berger) Marte Launches Campaign for City Council Speaker Frustrated by what he sees as an unwieldy abuse of power by city council speakers in the past, Council Member Christopher... News 13 Sep 2025 | 08:28
Governor Hochul, labor leaders, and other solons behind the banner at the NYC Labor Day Parade 2025. ( Photo: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) Labor Day Parade Shows Union Solidarity & Fractious Politics Many thousands of union members from over 200 different groups across many dozens of trades came to midtown Manhattan on... News 08 Sep 2025 | 12:31
One of two “Resonating Bodies” by British sculptor Tony Cragg. ( Photo: Brian Berger) Newly Raised Wagner Park Reopens, Lower Manhattanites Rejoice! More than two years after it was closed, in March 2023, as part of the Southern Battery Resiliency Project, a redesigned... News 04 Aug 2025 | 10:22
Manhattan Bridge Plaza crash memorial as of July 28. ( Photo: Brian Berger) Fatal Manhattan Bridge Crash Driver Indicted for Murder A week after a speeding car blasted off the Manhattan Bridge and killed two innocent bystanders, the wheels of justice have... News 29 Jul 2025 | 05:21
Election night at Conbody, the gym founded and owned by Marte’s brother, Coss. ( Photo: Christopher Marte Facebook) Incumbent Marte Wins Four- Way Primary Battle in CD 1 After a frenetic last month of campaigning, including the election-eve shock announcement that Elizabeth Street Garden had... News 28 Jun 2025 | 10:51
At the press conference June 23 where the stunning news that after years of battling the city, the Elizabeth Street Garden was announced. (left to right): Norman Siegel, Steven Hyman, Joseph Reiver, Christopher Marte. ( Photos: Marie Weigl) Elizabeth Street Garden Saved! Mayor Adams & Christopher Marte Strike Historic Housing Deal On the sweltering morning of Monday June 23, as Council Member Christopher Marte led a rally to protect city retiree benefits,... News 23 Jun 2025 | 05:55
