New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Removes Former Aide Over Anti-Jewish Posts in Digital Cover Alteration

New York magazine digitally altered its latest cover to remove Catherine Almonte Da Costa, a former member of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s staff, following her resignation over anti-Jewish posts made more than a decade ago.

Da Costa spent just one day as Mamdani’s director of appointments before resigning. She was featured in the photo alongside nine other aides and Mamdani.

A publication spokesperson stated the magazine’s editors decided to remove her from the image because it was meant to represent the mayor-elect’s inner circle for the new administration.

Mamdani said Da Costa “expressed her deep remorse over her past statements and tendered her resignation, and I accepted.”

The Anti-Defamation League described the posts as echoing classic antisemitic tropes and demeaning Jewish people. Da Costa posted on X in January 2011: “Money hungry Jews smh.” In a June 2011 post, she wrote: “Woo! Promoted to the upstairs office today! Working alongside these rich Jewish peeps.” She also stated in July 2012: “I always think it’s (sic) strange that orthodox Jewish women can’t expose their hair, so they wear wigs. I guess that it beats wearing a head scarf.”

Mamdani, who became New York City’s mayor on Thursday, vowed at his public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall to enact an aggressive agenda aimed at making the nation’s largest city more affordable for working people.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist was elected last November in a prominent victory that could influence this year’s midterm elections determining control of Congress. Some Democrats have embraced his style, while Republicans portray him as a foil on the national political stage.

Mamdani campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and has been sharply critical of Republican President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has fallen over the past year amid economic concerns.