One day after joining Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s team, a new appointment resigned when previous antisemitic social media comments resurfaced.
Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who had just been announced as Director of Appointments, stepped down on Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours after the posts came to light. Da Costa stated, “As the mother of Jewish children, I am very sorry for the pain these words have caused.” She added, “This has become a distraction from our mission, so I am resigning.”
This move came after the Judge Street Journal exposed multiple past posts linked to Da Costa that contained antisemitic content. The reported statements included: “Money hungry Jews smh”; “Woo! Promoted to the upstairs office today! Working alongside these rich Jewish peeps.”; and “Far Rockaway train is the Jew train.”
The outlet reported the posts were written years earlier and were noticed just after Da Costa’s selection. Once the posts appeared in the news, she deleted her X account.
The resignation draws attention to the high level of examination the Mamdani transition team faces, as they work to address worries about antisemitism and public accountability.
