In a recent development, New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, has appointed Julie Su as the city's first deputy mayor for economic justice.
Su, who previously served as the U.S. acting labor secretary, has a controversial past, particularly during her tenure as California's labor secretary. Her time in California was marked by significant issues, including overseeing an estimated $31 billion in fraudulent unemployment payouts.
This occurred during the pandemic lockdowns when Su's department froze unemployment checks and failed to prevent payments to suspicious accounts, leaving the state's unemployment insurance fund nearly $20 billion in debt.
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, Mamdani expressed enthusiasm for Su's appointment, stating on X, "Welcome to a New Era, Julie Su!" He praised her efforts as a former U.S. secretary of labor, highlighting her role in advocating for workers' rights and safeguarding the pensions of over a million union workers and retirees.
However, Su's record has not been without scrutiny. During her confirmation as U.S. labor secretary, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana raised concerns about her competence, citing her history of partisan activism and policies that allegedly favored politically connected labor unions.
Cassidy remarked, "A qualified Secretary of Labor needs to successfully handle negotiations, manage a department properly, and refrain from partisan activism. I havent seen evidence of Julie Sus ability to do any of those three things."
The controversy surrounding Mamdani's appointments extends beyond Su. Recently, Catherine Almonte De Costa, another appointee, resigned following the revelation of anti-Semitic social media posts. These posts included derogatory remarks about Jewish people and calls to defund the NYPD.
Despite the controversies, Mamdani remains optimistic about Su's contribution to his administration. He acknowledged her past but emphasized his excitement about her potential impact on the city. "Im aware of the deputy mayors record, and Im very excited to have her," Mamdani stated.
He further expressed, "I can say that in looking at our deputy mayors record and looking at how she stood up for workers across the country, it is a moment of incredible excitement for myself and the entire team to have her."
This appointment comes at a time when New York City faces significant economic challenges, and the choice of Su as deputy mayor for economic justice signals Mamdani's commitment to addressing these issues. However, the decision also highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between experience and past controversies in public service appointments.
As Su steps into her new role, the city's residents and officials will be watching closely to see how her leadership unfolds in the coming months.
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