Overview
- Poetica Coffee posted a photo of Rep. Dan Goldman in its Williamsburg shop, showed a $9.82 refund and called him a "genocide enabler" because of his support for Israel.
- Goldman said he bought the coffee to thank a barista who let his 7‑year‑old daughter use the restroom and expressed regret about the shop's public post.
- Poetica staff declined to retract the message, telling reporters only, "No comment. We stand against genocide," while the social‑media post remains public.
- Critics including Jewish leaders and a civil rights lawyer said the post's reference to AIPAC and related language functions as a coded slur and contradicts the shop's stated mission to treat guests with "unconditional dignity."
- The episode has drawn immediate media attention and political scrutiny because Goldman is facing a competitive Democratic primary, making the dispute a live reputational and electoral flashpoint.