State Sen. Ron KIm speaks with Christopher Marte and State Sen. Jessica Ramos (left) on Feb. 18, 2026. ( Photo: Brian Berger) CM Marte Pushes Bill to Protect Home Health Aide Workers—Again! On the drizzly morning of Ash Wednesday Feb. 18, Council Member Christopher Marte and dozens of mostly Chinese home health... News 02 Mar 2026 | 12:17
Flowers placed on monument during Black History Month at African National Burial Ground, Feb. 21, 2026. ( Photo: Charles D. Fall Insagram) Black History Month Celebrated at African Burial Ground: Rejoice! Black History Month just can’t seem to get a break sometimes. It’s always the shortest month, of course, with Valentine’s... News 02 Mar 2026 | 11:42
320 Pearl St. homeless shelter and Peck Slip School, Feb. 15, 2026. ( Photo: Brian Berger) Mamdani Opens Homeless Shelter Next to Peck Slip School On Tuesday February 3, with no public forewarning, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced via press release that a 106-bed “Safe... News 16 Feb 2026 | 03:24
Renderings of the soon-to-be under construction Chinatown Jail. ( Photo: NYC DDC) Chinatown Jail Construction Starting Soon, Will Continue for Years To make an omelette, the hoary apothegm goes, you have to break few eggs. And so it will be with the Chinatown Jail, whose... News 01 Feb 2026 | 03:43
Christopher Marte with some of his constituents, June 5, 2025, after unveiling a new dog park. ( Photo: Brian Berger) ‘Just Paws Eviction’ Bill Seeks End to No-Pets Housing Policies Christopher Marte may not have won the race for City Council speaker, but he’s not lifting a hind leg on his constituents,... News 25 Dec 2025 | 11:51
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
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
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
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... Home 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
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
