Jahmila Edwards and Catherine Almonte Da Costa bring experience to critical transition roles
Union Leader Edwards Named Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani continues assembling his administration, he has named labor veteran Jahmila Edwards to serve as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, a crucial liaison position between New York City government and state Capitol officials. Edwards brings more than a decade of experience as Associate Director of District Council 37, the city’s largest public employee union and key Mamdani campaign supporter. This appointment signals the incoming mayor’s commitment to maintaining strong labor relationships while advancing his affordability agenda. Edwards’ track record demonstrates sustained commitment to worker advocacy. During her tenure at DC-37, she helped secure a $15 minimum wage for public employees and partnered with state legislators to deliver nearly $300 million in new funding for City University of New York. Her previous roles in the Department of Education, including Executive Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Chancellor, position her well for managing complex city-state negotiations. “There are few leaders with records of as much sustained ambition and proven achievement as Jahmila,” Mamdani said in official announcement. “She possesses deep knowledge of city government, having worked for borough presidents, public advocates and the Department of Education.”
Da Costa Takes Appointments Director Role
Catherine Almonte Da Costa has been named Director of Appointments, returning to the Office of Appointments where she began her career over a decade ago. This position proves critical as the Mamdani administration fields over 70,000 job applications from New Yorkers seeking positions across 60 city agencies. Da Costa’s previous private sector experience at Orchestra and Sotheby’s, combined with her government background, positions her to build what Mamdani describes as a team “defined by experience, competence, and dedication to the needs of working New Yorkers.”
Staffing an Ambitious Agenda
These appointments arrive as Mamdani’s team coordinates efforts to address immediate budget challenges while pursuing transformative policy goals. The incoming administration faces a projected $2.18 billion budget shortfall, with projections suggesting potential deficits exceeding $13 billion by 2029 due to under-budgeting and sluggish economic growth. Federal funding cuts compound these challenges. Yet multiple union contracts require renegotiation, and the mayor has pledged funding for signature initiatives including free public buses and universal childcare without abandoning any campaign promises. Andrew Rein of the Citizens Budget Commission emphasized that success requires organizational efficiency. “He needs to comb through city government and identify what programs aren’t delivering for New Yorkers,” Rein stated.
Broader Transition Process
The appointment of Edwards and Da Costa follows Mamdani’s earlier naming of Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and Chief of Staff Elle Bisgaard Church. These selections demonstrate focus on experienced administrators who understand city government mechanics while sharing the mayor-elect’s progressive vision. A pending announcement regarding the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget signals continued careful personnel selection. For more information on Mamdani’s transition strategy, see NY1’s detailed reporting on appointments. Additional perspective on transition challenges appears in ABC7’s Brooklyn coverage. For budget context, see City Comptroller analysis of municipal finances.
