Mamdani Sidesteps Full Condemnation After Brooklyn Café Targets Dan Goldman Over Israel Views

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stopped short of directly condemning a Brooklyn coffee shop that publicly attacked Rep. Dan Goldman over his pro-Israel views, refunded his purchase and told him not to return.

Asked Tuesday whether Poetica Coffee’s post was an acceptable way to express political disagreement, Mamdani said, “I have many political disagreements with Congressman Goldman when it comes to his votes and his views on Israel.” He added: “What we saw online goes beyond that.”

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into Poetica Coffee, while the National Jewish Advocacy Center urged federal officials to examine what it called New York City’s broader failure to protect Jewish residents from antisemitic hate.

Poetica Coffee sparked the controversy after posting a photo of Goldman at its Park Slope location and saying it had refunded his $9.82 purchase. The café wrote, “Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice?”

The post continued: “Here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.” The café also claimed Goldman’s money was “probably coming from AIPAC anyways” and ended by writing, “Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.”

Goldman said he had entered the shop during a campaign stop after the café allowed his 7-year-old daughter to use the restroom. He said he bought coffee and tipped the barista because the exchange had been pleasant.

“I was just so startled and surprised because I had had such a nice interaction with the barista,” Goldman told the New York Post. He said the incident reflected “the sad state of affairs we are in that this degree of anger and vitriol and hate is being normalized by some.”

“And it’s not just me. It’s not just Jews,” Goldman said. “Everybody needs to stand up against this kind of hate.”

The Justice Department said it was investigating the café incident as a possible civil rights violation. Federal law bars public accommodations, including cafés, from discriminating based on race, religion or national origin.

The case also drew a response from Jewish communal leaders in New York. Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, called the incident a “Jewish identity litmus test” and said it should be reviewed under city and state human rights laws.

Separately, the National Jewish Advocacy Center sent a letter to the Justice Department requesting a wider investigation into Mamdani, New York City and the NYPD. The group alleged a “discriminatory failure to protect Jewish residents from antisemitic hate.”

NJAC cited NYPD data showing Jewish New Yorkers were the victims of 330 reported hate crimes in 2025, accounting for 57% of the city’s total reported hate crimes, while Jews make up about one-tenth of the city’s population.

The group also pointed to several Mamdani administration decisions, including his rescinding of executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams on antisemitism, his administration’s refusal to use a codified definition of antisemitism, and his veto of school protest buffer-zone legislation, which he said would restrict free speech.

“A government that declines to recognize the most common form the hatred now takes has declined, in advance, to police it,” NJAC wrote.

The referral also cited Mamdani’s recent comments calling AIPAC “monsters” who use “dark money,” remarks that Jewish groups said echoed antisemitic rhetoric about Jewish political influence. Mamdani has defended his criticism of AIPAC as opposition to the group’s political spending and support for Israel.

The DOJ probe into Poetica remains open, while NJAC is pressing federal officials to review the city’s broader handling of antisemitic hate crimes.