Slurs ‘not unforgivable’
Council pol won’t fire aide, sez rant not ‘sexist’
Manhattan Councilman Christopher Marte won’t fire a top aide who allegedly berated a female journalist with misogynistic slurs because he does not believe the staffer’s outburst amounts to “sexist behavior,” the Daily News has learned.
The Marte aide, Steven Wong, left four voicemails on Feb. 15 with Lotus Chau, a reporter at Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily, in which he repeatedly called her a “c—t” and other offensive terms in Cantonese, according to a complaint Chau filed with the City Council.
Marte has held off on taking action against Wong since Chau lodged the complaint, saying he’d wait for the outcome of an investigation by the Council’s general counsel office.
On Thursday morning, Marte told The News in a statement that the general counsel informed him late last week that it has concluded its inquiry and deferred to him on whether to reprimand Wong.
While condemning Wong’s tirade, Marte said he won’t terminate him because he does not believe Chau’s translation of the voicemails was accurate.
“The recording that was provided to our office does not match the translation provided by Ms. Chau,” said Marte, a first-term Democrat who represents Chinatown and other parts of downtown Manhattan.
“There is usage of Cantonese slang curse words which are unprofessional and inappropriate. We do not find them as grounds for termination. While Steven uses curse words to describe a newspaper, the reporter and political opponents, the recording does not demonstrate sexist behavior.”
Marte added: “It is unacceptable that Ms. Chau was subjected to this language, but as she released in her own statement, it is not unforgivable.”
Marte did not specify which parts of Chau’s translation he believes are inaccurate, but noted that she and Wong have known each other for more than two decades.
The News obtained Wong’s voicemails, and a Cantonese-speaking Manhattan business owner — who reviewed the recordings on condition of anonymity — said she could confirm Wong repeatedly calls Chau a “c—t” in them.
Wong, who serves as Marte’s senior adviser, did not return a request for comment, and neither did Chau.
A Marte spokeswoman said Wong is expected to return to work in the councilman’s office after having been on leave pending the general counsel probe.
Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) declined to say Thursday afternoon what she thought of Marte’s handling of the Wong dilemma. But she confirmed the general counsel’s office referred the matter back to Marte for “appropriation action” and also offered a broad rebuke of misogyny.
“The Council finds derogatory statements and language against women and any person to be unacceptable,” she said.
Susan Lee, a Manhattan lawyer who’s challenging Marte in this summer’s Democratic Council primaries, said he should “be ashamed of himself” for keeping Wong on his payroll.
“I know that politics can be rough and tumble, but there have to be limits to acceptable behavior. Steven Wong’s crude, sexist, bigoted, threatening comments are not a close call,” Lee said.
Wong left the heated voicemails with Chau because he was angry with a story she’d written about apparently contradictory comments Marte had made on whether he supports slashing funding for the NYPD.
In his Thursday statement, Marte made a point to critique Chau’s coverage of him as “frequently negative.” He also acknowledged he’ll likely face criticism for keeping Wong employed.
“I understand that some might disagree with my decision, and anticipate my political opponents will use this as an opportunity to attack me, my office and Steven,” he said before adding that Wong’s rant “does not represent me or my office’s attitude toward negative press.”
Michelle Kuppersmith, a member of Manhattan’s Community Board 3 who called on Marte to fire Wong during a heated meeting last month, said the councilman’s decision makes her furious.
“It’s no surprise that Chris Marte is supporting someone who should clearly be fired, given that he has made it his mandate to ignore the facts in favor of always protecting those closest to him,” Kuppersmith said.