City Council Appointee Resigns After Controversy
A recent appointee to the Chicago City Council has stepped down following a public backlash. The appointee was filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages, sparking widespread criticism that led to the resignation.
Ishan Daya, the appointee who stepped down, is a co-director of the progressive think tank, the Institute for the Public Good, and a former co-CEO of the food and beverage company Crafty. He is also a community organizer in Chicago's 32nd Ward, focusing on public safety and mental health initiatives, and a graduate of Northwestern University. The incident that sparked the controversy took place in New York City in the weeks following the October 7th Hamas attacks. A video showed Daya tearing down posters of Israeli hostages. This led to his termination as co-CEO of Crafty in November 2023. In a statement, Daya claimed the poster contained "racist and vitriolic" language about Palestinians that he felt was dehumanizing and dangerous. He has since apologized, stating, "I understand that my actions in 2023 caused pain within some members of our Jewish community, and for that, I am truly sorry." Daya was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to the newly formed Chicago Fiscal Sustainability Working Group. This group, composed of leaders from various sectors including Google, Microsoft, and the Chicago Urban League, is tasked with advising the mayor on the city's long-term financial plan. The appointment drew immediate condemnation from Alderman Debra Silverstein, who called it a "deliberate slap in the face to the Jewish community." The Anti-Defamation League also expressed deep concern over the appointment. Following the backlash, Daya resigned from the working group just hours after his appointment was announced. He stated that a representative from the Institute for the Public Good would take his place. This is not the first time a Johnson appointee has resigned under similar circumstances. In October, the president of the Chicago Board of Education stepped down after a history of antisemitic social media posts was uncovered. Alderman Silverstein described Daya's appointment as part of a "deeply troubling pattern" and stated that the mayor's "repeated disregard for the Jewish community is both painful and unacceptable."
