Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who was announced as Director of Appointments, speaks during a press conference in New York City, U.S. December 17, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference in New York
(New York, NY) – As we gear up for the new year, New York City is gearing up for a new set of faces at City Hall. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has been rolling out his administrative picks as we get closer to the January 1st inauguration. However, the rollout has not been without issue as one of his named picks has already resigned over allegations of Antisemitism. Here’s what we know about the people hand-picked by the 34-year old Democratic Socialist about to lead the city.
Sticking to his Playbook
The November election was largely considered an upset win over establishment Democrat Andrew Cuomo in both the primary and the general. Much of the credit goes to the brains behind the scenes, Mamdani’s campaign manager turned chief of staff, Elle Bisgaard-Church. She first started working with Mamdani as his Assembly chief of staff and comes from the same Democratic Socialist cohort. She was one of the first two appointments announced for the incoming mayor.
Directors
Affordability was the mantra of the campaign trail that built Mamdani’s momentum, and in order to pass some of the sweeping reforms he envisions like universal childcare, he will need someone that will push his fiscal agenda. Sherif Soliman will serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He served in both the Adams and de Blasio administrations and as an executive director of the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform. Labor leader Jahmila Edwards has been named Director of intergovernmental affairs. She leads District Council 37, one of the first unions to back Mamdani, representing 150,000 public sector workers.
Deputy Mayors
A slew of advisors for specific focuses of City Hall serve the role as Deputy Mayor, serving as an advisor but operating outside of a typical office or agency. Mamdani has actually already created a new deputy mayor role, one for economic justice. Julie Su will fill that novel role. She was formerly a Biden appointee for the Department of Labor that was never confirmed by the Senate despite two separate attempts.
Mamdani will be one of the youngest city mayors in generations, so he is calling in a career political advisor to guide him in City Hall. Dean Fuleihan is going to be Mamdani’s right hand as first deputy mayor. Fuleihan, like Soliman, also served in the de Blasio administration. In another sign of keeping around some familiar faces, Leila Bozorg, a member of the the Adam’s camp that championed the “City of Yes” initiative, will serve as deputy mayor for housing and planning.
Already Departed
The transition team was rocked by a scandal broken in the Judge Street Journal this week, when Mamdani’s pick for Director of Appointments was exposed for past Tweets talking about “money hungry Jews” and calling the train to Far Rockaway the “Jew train”. Catherine Almonte Da Costa also touts a resume featuring roles with de Blasio. After the story broke, Da Costa announced she was resigning from the position before Mamdani was even sworn in. The 111th NYC Mayor has also announced plans for his Inaugural celebration with a block party in Times Square.
