Catherine Almonte Da Costa, a key appointee for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, has resigned from her post and was subsequently edited out of a New York magazine cover photo. The departure follows the surfacing of several antisemitic social media posts written by Da Costa more than a decade ago. Da Costa had been tapped to lead the administration’s office of appointments before the controversial comments were brought to light.
Why It Matters
The incident marks an early challenge for the incoming Mamdani administration as it seeks to build a diverse leadership team in a deeply polarized political climate. As the city’s first Muslim mayor-elect, Mamdani’s personnel choices are under intense scrutiny from advocacy groups and political opponents alike. The swift resignation and the magazine’s decision to physically remove Da Costa from its “inner circle” imagery highlight the low tolerance for past bigoted rhetoric in high-level municipal government.
What to Know
Da Costa was originally selected to oversee “talent recruitment strategy” for the new administration. However, her tenure ended before it began after the disparaging social media posts from 2011 and 2012 were publicized. The posts included tropes regarding Jewish people and specific comments about transit lines in Jewish neighborhoods.
The timing of the controversy created a logistical hurdle for New York magazine, which had conducted a photoshoot of Mamdani’s top aides the day before the scandal broke. According to reports, Da Costa was edited out of a magazine cover to reflect her departure from the team, leaving a visible white space where she had originally stood.
Following the revelations, Da Costa officially tendered her resignation on December 18, which Mamdani accepted immediately. This transition comes on the heels of Mamdani’s decisive victoryin the mayoral race, where he campaigned on a progressive platform.
What People Are Saying
In a statement, Da Costa expressed “deep regret,” noting that as a mother of Jewish children, she felt “profound sadness” over the harm caused by her past words. Lauren Starke, a spokesperson for New York magazine, explained the editorial decision to remove her, stating it would have been “inappropriate” to include her in a photo meant to represent the mayor-elect’s functional inner circle.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has taken a proactive stance toward the new administration, announcing the launch of the Mamdani Monitor, a dedicated initiative to track the mayor-elect’s policies and personnel appointments for potential antisemitism.
While Mamdani has been a vocal critic of international policy and has shared firm views about Israel’s war in Gaza, he has consistently gained the support of various progressive Jewish groups who defend his platform as being rooted in human rights rather than bias.
What Happens Next
The Mamdani transition team is now tasked with finding a replacement for the head of the office of appointments. As the administration prepares to take office, the ADL’s “Mamdani Monitor” will likely keep a close watch on future hires. Observers will be looking to see if this incident prompts more rigorous background checks for upcoming appointments to avoid similar controversies during the administration’s first 100 days.
