The BareStory
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Friday appointed Julie Su as the city’s first deputy mayor for economic justice. The appointment comes as his administration's transition team faces public scrutiny, including the recent resignation of another appointee over past remarks. In his announcement, Mamdani praised Su, a former acting U.S. labor secretary, for what he described as her record of fighting for workers and securing pensions.
Su’s appointment drew criticism related to her previous role as California’s labor secretary. Senator Bill Cassidy questioned her competence, citing an estimated $31 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims that were allegedly paid out by the state department she led. A spokesman for the senator stated that Su prioritized partisan activism over workers. When asked about her record, Mamdani stated he was aware of it and was "very excited" to have her on his team.
The new appointment followed the Thursday resignation of Catherine Almonte Da Costa, Mamdani’s appointee for director of appointments. Her resignation occurred after past social media posts containing antisemitic remarks resurfaced. According to one summary, the posts included comments about "money hungry Jews" and referred to a train line as the "Jew train." The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey reportedly called for accountability for her statements before the posts were deleted.
Mamdani’s other appointments include retaining Jessica Tisch as police commissioner, who is described as supporting a tough-on-crime stance. He has also appointed officials who served in previous mayoral administrations, including Dean Fuleihan as deputy mayor and Sherif Soliman as budget director.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The new administration's focus on "economic justice" could signal new policies affecting NYC workers and businesses, potentially influencing labor debates in other U.S. cities.
• Retention of the police commissioner suggests continuity in NYC's tough-on-crime policing, a public safety approach often observed by other cities and agencies nationwide.
• Scrutiny over appointee vetting and a key official’s past performance may affect public confidence in the new administration's ability to manage city finances and services.
