Mamdani hires Anna Bahr, a former NYT reporter and longtime staff member of Bernie Sanders, as communications director.

New York City Mayor Appoints New Communications Director

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has announced the appointment of Anna Barr, a former New York Times journalist and a longtime staff member for Bernie Sanders, as his communications director.

Barr, who is 33, will manage the entire communications department under the new mayor. This team includes various members such as speechwriter Julian Garson, deputy communications director Rekha Sander, campaign communications aide Dora Pekek, and former Sanders aide Joe Calvello.

Calvello, whose recent role was as an administrator for Sen. John Fetterman, will be in charge of communications across all city agencies. Sander will take on duties as the deputy press secretary, while Pekek will oversee the press room at City Hall, all working under Barr’s leadership. It’s interesting to hear that this communications group is reportedly larger than any previous mayor’s office in the city’s history.

Barr graduated from Barnard College and previously worked as Sanders’ communications director and press secretary during his two-year presidential bid. She remained with Sanders’ Senate team even after he lost the 2020 primary to Joe Biden.

At one point, Barr briefly stepped back from the Sanders campaign to create a progressive media consultancy called Left Frank Strategies, but that venture seems to have disappeared from public view. She left the company earlier this year, returning to her role with Sanders as communications director, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Before diving into politics, Barr gained experience at several media outlets, including a year spent at the New York Times in 2014 and an internship with The Rachel Maddow Show. After leaving journalism in 2015, she joined the communications team for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Barr openly supported Mamdani during his campaign and played a role in organizing Sanders’ numerous engagements, including the recent inauguration ceremony where Sanders swore in the new mayor.

Additionally, she has been vocal about her criticism of Elon Musk, United Healthcare, and the Trump administration, reflecting views that align with those of her former boss.