Catherine Almonte Da Costa fired for anti-Jewish statements and white supremacy comments
Early Administration Forced to Fire Appointee for Offensive Social Media History
The Mamdani administration removed Catherine Almonte Da Costa, director of appointments, following revelations of her past social media statements containing anti-Jewish expressions and racial hostility. Da Costa’s removal marked an early personnel crisis for the newly inaugurated mayor’s team, raising questions about appointment vetting procedures and ideological screening. The incident preceded controversy surrounding Cea Weaver’s appointment as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, revealing patterns of inadequate background review.
Problematic Online History Becomes Public
Almonte Da Costa had written statements including antisemitic comments alongside expressions of extreme racial ideology. She posted that “it’s important that white people feel defeated” and expressed other views widely considered offensive. The statements found audiences skeptical of her ideologyprimarily those outside progressive digital spacesforcing her departure. Her role had made her responsible for recommending appointments across city agencies, a position requiring careful consideration of public perception. Mamdani’s office acknowledged the problems required immediate action.
Pattern of Vetting Issues Within Administration
The Almonte Da Costa removal preceded the Cea Weaver controversy by weeks. Both incidents reflected broader concerns about vetting procedures within Mamdani’s political organization. Conservative critics used both cases to argue that Mamdani’s administration insufficiently screened appointees for controversial views. National Review wrote extensively about the pattern, suggesting ideological alignment overshadowed qualification assessment. Mamdani defended his appointees collectively while accepting the necessity of removing Almonte Da Costa specifically. The mayor stated his commitment to professional standards while acknowledging the individual failed to meet them. Both personnel crises revealed tensions between Mamdani’s basewhich valued ideological alignment with progressive democratic socialismand broader city electorate expectations for professional governance.
