New York City’s political scene is abuzz with intrigue and controversy following a week that saw a high-profile indictment, a viral campaign stunt, and renewed scrutiny of Mayor Eric Adams’ embattled inner circle. On August 23, 2025, Zohran Mamdani, the self-described Democratic-Socialist mayoral nominee, launched a citywide scavenger hunt with a cheeky campaign video that seemed to take direct aim at Mayor Adams—just as fresh corruption scandals threatened to upend the mayor’s re-election bid.
The campaign video, posted to Mamdani’s X account with the cryptic caption “game on,” opens with a trail of Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion ripple potato chips leading to Mamdani, who sits on a bench munching from the same brand of chips. “Hello, my friends. I have to come clean,” he declares, chips in hand. “I have something to hide. Many things, in fact, because we're doing a scavenger hunt.” The video, which quickly racked up over 30,000 likes, was more than a whimsical campaign ploy; it was a sharp, satirical nod to the city’s latest political scandal—a not-so-subtle jab at Adams and his associates.
The inspiration for Mamdani’s potato chip motif? Just days earlier, as reported by Fox News Digital, Winnie Greco, a former aide to Mayor Adams, was accused of attempting to hand a reporter a wad of cash hidden inside a bag of the very same chips. The incident, first exposed by THE CITY, added fuel to the fire of corruption allegations already swirling around Adams’ administration.
Mamdani’s scavenger hunt, set to kick off at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, promised participants a series of clues tied to New York’s storied past. The first clue would be revealed in a video Sunday morning, and the final stop, Mamdani teased, would feature “a special surprise—not a wad of cash,” another pointed dig at his opponent’s recent troubles. The video closes with Mamdani sweeping up the scattered potato chips, a symbolic gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by viewers hungry for accountability at City Hall.
“While New Yorkers struggle to afford the most expensive city in America, Adams’ administration is too busy tripping over corruption charges to come to their defense,” campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec told Fox News Digital in a statement. “New Yorkers deserve a mayor who is focused on them, not stuck in courtrooms. As for the video, we think it speaks for itself.”
The timing of Mamdani’s campaign stunt couldn’t have been more pointed. On August 21, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced four indictments in a pay-to-play scheme that allegedly involved several Adams associates—including a former top adviser, her son, two political donors, and local business owners. Among those indicted was Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor’s longtime confidante and former chief adviser, who prosecutors say orchestrated a yearslong bribery operation that netted her more than $75,000 in home improvements, cash, and catered crab cakes.
According to The New York Times, Lewis-Martin’s alleged misdeeds began as early as 2022, when she was granted a cameo role on the TV show “Godfather of Harlem”—a perk prosecutors now claim was part of the bribery scheme. Her influence in City Hall was legendary; with a starting salary over $250,000 and an office across the hall from the mayor, she was widely regarded as the second most powerful person in city government. She even hung a poster in her office declaring herself “the lioness of City Hall.”
Prosecutors allege that Lewis-Martin used her considerable clout to pressure city agencies, fast-track projects for friends, and manipulate multimillion-dollar contracts. In one profanity-laced call cited in the indictment, she told a developer, “when she gives a city agency an order, ‘we expect them to make that shit move.’” In another instance, prosecutors say she intervened to derail a bike lane project on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, telling an associate, “Just make sure we shut their asses down on McGuinness.”
Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, Arthur L. Aidala, pushed back hard against the charges, stating on August 22 that both she and her son—who was also indicted—would “vigorously contest each and every charge.” Aidala emphasized her “meaningful achievements and acts of genuine dedication to this city,” arguing that her decades of public service called the veracity of the accusations into question.
Yet, for many in New York politics, the allegations against Lewis-Martin were not entirely surprising. As The New York Times details, her aggressive style and willingness to bend the rules had long polarized Adams’ inner circle. She was known for her devotion to Adams—whom she’s known since their twenties—and for her readiness to clash with staff and even the mayor himself. “Ingrid is a shrewd operator,” City Council member Lincoln Restler told the Times. “But she thinks that the rules don’t apply to her, and she believes that she’s fighting for team Eric Adams and therefore what she’s doing is inherently right or just.”
Lewis-Martin’s career has been marked by both fierce loyalty and controversy. She played a key role in Adams’ rise from Brooklyn borough president to City Hall, managed his successful State Senate campaign in 2006, and helped lead his mayoral campaign four years ago. Letitia James, the state attorney general, once observed that “nobody does it better than Ingrid” when it comes to retail politics in Brooklyn.
Despite the mounting legal troubles, Adams has neither directly defended nor criticized his former adviser. “Ingrid is like a sister to me. I love Ingrid,” he told reporters at City Hall on August 23. “I know her son and I know her and I know her heart. She and her attorney will deal with the case that’s in front of her.” He sidestepped questions about any prior ethical complaints, saying only, “There were no complaints on her work ethic. In fact, to the contrary, people knew that she knew how to make sure the people in this city got the services they needed.”
For Adams, the indictments and ongoing scandals represent a significant threat as he campaigns for re-election in 2025. While he has not been directly implicated, the fallout has put his judgment and leadership under a harsh spotlight. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s scavenger hunt, with its playful yet pointed critique, has captured the city’s imagination—and, perhaps, a growing appetite for change.
As New Yorkers prepare to follow Mamdani’s clues through the city’s history, the real mystery remains: Can City Hall shake off the shadow of scandal, or is the trail of potato chips just beginning?
