Catherine Almonte Da Costa, the newly named director of appointments for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, abruptly resigned on Thursday. Her departure followed the resurfacing of several social media posts containing antisemitic remarks and derogatory comments about the NYPD.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of New York/New Jersey raised concerns over the posts, which were made between 2011 and 2012 on a now-deleted account. The messages included references to "money hungry Jews" and "rich Jewish peeps," and referred to a train in Far Rockaway as the "Jew train."
In her resignation statement, Da Costa expressed "deep remorse" and "profound sadness" for the harm caused by her past statements. She stated that the comments are not indicative of who she is, noting that as a mother of Jewish children, she chose to step down to avoid being a distraction.
In addition to the antisemitic tropes, other posts surfaced by the New York Post showed Da Costa using derogatory language toward police, including references to "NYPD piggies." Da Costa had previously served in former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration and was tasked with recruiting "top talent" for the new City Hall.
Mayor-elect Mamdani accepted the resignation, stating that Da Costa had expressed her "deep remorse" for the comments. The controversy occurs as Mamdani prepares to be sworn in as mayor on January 1, 2026, amid ongoing efforts to build trust with New York’s Jewish community.
The ADL called the posts "indefensible" and noted that they echoed classic antisemitic tropes that demean Jewish people. The resignation comes less than two weeks before the new administration is set to take office and begin its transition.