Brooklyn café refunds Congressman Dan Goldman and bars him over Israel stance

A Brooklyn coffee shop has drawn backlash after telling Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman that he was no longer welcome because of his support for Israel. The dispute happened at Poetica Coffee in Park Slope, New York, after Goldman stopped in with his 7-year-old daughter.

Goldman said the barista was kind to him and his daughter, even letting the child use the bathroom before they had bought anything. In response, he bought a coffee to say thank you. He later wrote, “I bought the coffee to thank the barista. Hope she got the tip.”

The café then posted, and later deleted after criticism, that it does not serve “fascists or genocide enablers.” It said Goldman’s $9.82 purchase had been refunded and added that he was not welcome back. The post also said, “Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away,” and, “That money probably coming from AIPAC anyways.”

Goldman is running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District against former city comptroller Brad Lander. Lander has accused Israel of committing “genocide” and is backed by mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Goldman identifies himself as “pro-Israel and supportive of peace.”