City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (Getty)

Council Speaker Christine Quinn likes to chew gum, but an etiquette expert told CBSNewYork that the speaker's public mastication is unacceptable "in polite, civil society."

Speaker Quinn is regularly enjoys a stick of gum during public appearances. On Monday, she was filmed furiously chewing behind Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congressman Jerry Nadler as they spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for an affordable housing project in Hell's Kitchen. Speaker Quinn also spoke at the event. She tucked the gum in her cheek during her own remarks.

Etiquette expert Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick told CBS Speaker Quinn's gum chewing "shows a lack of polish" and "a lack of judgment."

“In polite, civil society, people don’t chew gum in public," Napier-Fitzpatrick said.

Speaker Quinn's spokesman, Jamie McShane, dismissed CBS' concerns about the sticky scandal.

“Yesterday, Chris Quinn announced the creation of 682 affordable apartments and 2,900 construction jobs — now that’s something to chew on,” Mr. McShane said.

Watch video of Speaker Quinn chewing things over below.