Mayor Mamdani joins Lower East Side tribute to Chino Garcia at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A packed St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery hosted a memorial service Saturday afternoon for longtime Lower East Side activist Carlos “Chino” Garcia. 

Before the service, Mayor Zohran Mamdani met privately with Garcia's family, the Revs. Anne-Marie Witchger and Amanda Hambrick, and David Soto. 

He later addressed the gathering, speaking about Garcia's life, family and decades of community work — and the responsibility of carrying that legacy forward.

After his remarks, Mamdani spent time greeting and comforting Garcia's loved ones and other attendees.

The afternoon also included remarks from elected officials and community members, along with a slideshow, music, food and fellowship. 

Among those attending here on Second Avenue and 10th Street were actor and LES native Luis Guzmán, former City Councilmember Margarita López, Councilmember Harvey Epstein and many longtime residents.

Garcia, who died on July 24 at age 80, co-founded CHARAS and was a pioneering neighborhood organizer. 

His decades of work included housing advocacy, sweat-equity rehabilitation, community gardens, environmental initiatives, the arts and the continuing campaign to preserve the former P.S. 64 for use as a community center.