My name is Helen Qiu, pronounced “Q”, as “Q” in the James Bond series. I’m 53, a legal immigrant and a naturalized citizen. I came to New York in 2008 as a Masters and later a PhD student at Columbia University. Prior to coming to New York I had a successful career as an engineer and later engineering executive managing multimillion dollar projects in high-tech semiconductor companies in Silicon Valley.

Helen Qiu seeks to unseat Chris Marte in City Council District 1 race

After graduating from Columbia I established the Mamre Christian Church, an online gathering congregation which helped many community organizations, families and youth during times of family or personal crisis, and in need of guidance.

6) Anything else we should know about you?

I have a 12-year-old son, David. We have five parakeets named Avocado, Anzler Monet, Lemon, Blueberry, and Albino. All are welcome to meet me, my son, and our birds on the campaign trial.

Helen Qiu came to New York in 2008. She attended Columbia University as a master's student and later as a Ph.D. student, and after graduating established Mamre Christian Church, an online congregation. She has one son.

A Blue Wave Sweeps Manhattan - Our Town Downtown

I became involved politically in my district in January last year when Chinatown was set to build ten homeless shelters within a one mile radius. I teach as an adjunct professor at Manhattan College in the Bronx.

Helen currently works as an adjunct professor at Manhattan College in the Bronx. She previously worked as an engineer and engineering executive at high-tech semiconductor companies in Silicon Valley.

Early voting starts Oct. 28. Election Day is Nov. 1. Helen Qiu, a community activist is making her first foray seeking elected office in a race against incumbent Democratic candidate Christopher Marte in Manhattan’s District 1. She says she does not support vaccine mandates and supports religious and medical exemptions.

Helen's campaign for New York City Council in Manhattan's District 1 was her first run for elected office.

2026 New York General Election

I will effect a new approach in the City Council. Look at Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, who is tackling one of the world’s worst inflation crises by cutting costs, slashing bureaucracy, and demanding fiscal discipline from government itself. That kind of courage is what New York needs: less bureaucracy, more accountability, and a leaner government that respects every tax dollar. I will give New Yorkers relief from the crushing cost of living.

Helen 4 NYC City Council District 1

Plans to reduce government costs and bureaucracy, increase fiscal accountability, and provide cost-of-living relief.

- Plans to reduce government costs and bureaucracy, increase fiscal accountability, and provide cost-of-living relief.

Economy

"Lower Manhattan can use more green spaces. Research shows even tiny patches of urban nature dramatically improve mental health, reduce stress, strengthen communities, and raise property values. I will push for pocket parks, expanded tree cover, and community-designed green zones tailored to local needs; boosting health, social cohesion, and economic vitality. I'm a leader equipped to turn our concrete landscape into a greener and healthier Lower Manhattan."

I’m against Local Law 157 because it unfairly hits residents and landlords with high costs. It forces people to install pricey gas detectors, even though there haven’t been any deaths from kitchen gas leaks.

Plans to expand pocket parks, tree cover, and community-designed green spaces in Lower Manhattan.

Opposes Local Law 157, citing the costs of requiring gas detectors for residents and landlords.

- Plans to expand pocket parks, tree cover, and community-designed green spaces in Lower Manhattan.
- Opposes Local Law 157, citing the costs of requiring gas detectors for residents and landlords.

Energy & the Environment

I do not support COVID vaccine mandates, and I support both medical and religious exemptions. All vaccines should be “recommended only.” Why? Current COVID vaccines are not sufficiently tested compared to MMR and chicken pox. The COVID vaccine’s medical effectiveness is heatedly contested and dangerous side effects have raised significant concerns among doctors. No, COVID vaccines should not be mandated by city government.

Opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates, supports medical and religious exemptions, and says vaccines should be recommended rather than mandated.

- Opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates, supports medical and religious exemptions, and says vaccines should be recommended rather than mandated.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, Helen Qiu’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

As your Councilwoman, I’ll fight to fully fund the NYPD and protect qualified immunity, bring in new recruits, and make sure our officers can do their jobs without fear, because safe streets start with a strong, supported police force.

I will STOP having repeat offenders take advantage of current bail reform. This will bring about greater subway and community safety.

Helen proposes empowering judges to detain or strictly supervise those with serious felony histories, using tools like GPS monitoring or high-level oversight until their trial. That way, we preserve bail reform’s fairness for most people but close the loophole that lets repeat violent felons roam the streets ahead of court.

Protect Pedestrians, Regulate E-Bikes!
Lower Manhattan’s streets and sidewalks must be safe for everyone: kids walking to school, seniors crossing the street and families enjoying their neighborhoods. But reckless e-bike and e-scooter use has caused too many injuries and even deaths, and the incumbent City Council hasn’t done enough to keep people safe.
That’s why I support Priscilla’s Law, which will require e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered with license plates, and I back the 15 mph speed limit. You can count on me to fight for strong enforcement so our streets are safe for all New Yorkers.

Accountability for Pet Owners, Safety for All
I love dogs, like so many New Yorkers, but I also care deeply about public safety.
That’s why I support Penny’s Law which will hold negligent dog owners accountable, make it a crime to flee the scene of an animal attack, and enforce stricter penalties for repeat leash-law violations. These are common-sense steps to keep both people and pets safe.

Plans to fully fund the New York Police Department, protect qualified immunity, and recruit more officers.

Proposes changing bail policies to allow judges to detain or strictly supervise people with serious felony histories before trial.

Supports Priscilla’s Law, requiring e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered and display license plates, and a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit.

Supports Penny’s Law, which would penalize negligent dog owners, make leaving an animal-attack scene a crime, and increase repeat leash-law penalties.

- Plans to fully fund the New York Police Department, protect qualified immunity, and recruit more officers.
- Proposes changing bail policies to allow judges to detain or strictly supervise people with serious felony histories before trial.
- Supports Priscilla’s Law, requiring e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered and display license plates, and a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit.
- Supports Penny’s Law, which would penalize negligent dog owners, make leaving an animal-attack scene a crime, and increase repeat leash-law penalties.

Public Safety

Teach Kids, Not Agendas
Our schools should be teaching reading, writing, math, and science — not Critical Race Theory or gender ideology. Parents are frustrated because kids are falling behind while schools focus on the wrong things.

I’ll work to take politics out of the classroom. I’ll push for accountability from teachers and principals and make sure schools get back to basics so every child can learn and succeed.

Every student should graduate with the financial literacy and responsibility needed to manage money, avoid debt, and build a secure future. I will push for a practical, agenda-free curriculum for our kids.

Plans to focus school instruction on core academic subjects, oppose Critical Race Theory and gender ideology in classrooms, and seek teacher and principal accountability.

Plans to require students to complete financial literacy instruction focused on managing money and avoiding debt.

- Plans to focus school instruction on core academic subjects, oppose Critical Race Theory and gender ideology in classrooms, and seek teacher and principal accountability.
- Plans to require students to complete financial literacy instruction focused on managing money and avoiding debt.

Education

Imagine the difference if NYCHA residents could transform rent payments into ownership over time. Instead of a cycle of dependency, families would have the chance to build wealth, stability, and pride of ownership. Affordable housing isn’t just about lowering the rent it’s about opening the door to ownership, security, and generational opportunity.

When the government inserts itself and mandates rent caps, it discourages new housing construction, drives landlords to cut back on upkeep, and traps families in apartments they no longer need but won’t give up because the price is frozen. We need solutions that expand opportunity for all renters, not a broken system that disadvantages the very people it claims to protect.

Homelessness has become an industry unto itself, where nonprofits absorb billions in taxpayer funds while lacking salary transparency and accountability. The system is broken, and New Yorkers are paying the price.

As your Councilwoman, I will fight to rebuild this system from the ground up, starting with payroll accountability and ensuring that resources actually help people off the streets and into stable housing.

Advocates for enabling New York City Housing Authority residents to convert rent payments into homeownership over time.

Opposes government-mandated rent caps and calls for housing policies that expand opportunities for renters.

Plans to increase payroll accountability among nonprofits providing homelessness services and direct resources toward stable housing.

- Advocates for enabling New York City Housing Authority residents to convert rent payments into homeownership over time.
- Opposes government-mandated rent caps and calls for housing policies that expand opportunities for renters.
- Plans to increase payroll accountability among nonprofits providing homelessness services and direct resources toward stable housing.

Housing & Urban Development

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Helen Qiu

- Proposes changing bail policies to allow judges to detain or strictly supervise people with serious felony histories before trial.
- Supports Priscilla’s Law, requiring e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered and display license plates, and a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit.
- Supports Penny’s Law, which would penalize negligent dog owners, make leaving an animal-attack scene a crime, and increase repeat leash-law penalties.

- Plans to require students to complete financial literacy instruction focused on managing money and avoiding debt.

- Opposes government-mandated rent caps and calls for housing policies that expand opportunities for renters.
- Plans to increase payroll accountability among nonprofits providing homelessness services and direct resources toward stable housing.

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Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.