Christine Marinoni, wife of actress Cynthia Nixon, has been hired by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for a role as chief of mass engagement at the Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) office. The position comes with an annual salary of $203,500. This appointment has sparked controversy, with critics alleging it is a reward for Nixon's endorsement of Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his mayoral primary campaign.
Marinoni previously served as a special assistant to the chancellor under the de Blasio administration, earning $131,708 annually, according to public records. Nixon, a prominent figure in progressive politics who ran for governor in 2018, held a fundraiser for Mamdani in March, reportedly raising over $200,000 for his campaign. She publicly expressed support for Mamdani, citing his platform for an "affordable NYC."
Critics have drawn parallels between this hire and historical political machines, with one source describing it as "painfully fitting that inside Tweed Courthouse, a DSA machine reminiscent of Tammany Hall is handing taxpayer-funded jobs to the well-connected spouses of multimillionaire celebrities." Nixon has denied that her wife's hiring was politically motivated and declined further comment. Marinoni could not be reached for comment.
Nixon and Marinoni have a history of involvement in education advocacy. They met through their work with the Alliance for Quality Education, an organization that opposes gifted and talented programs in schools. Marinoni formerly served as the organization's New York City director, and Nixon was its spokesperson for 17 years. Another official from the Alliance for Quality Education, Zakiyah Ansari, has also been noted for her past comments on educational equity.
Also recently appointed to a role within the DOE is Sadye Campoamor, who began as the agency's chief of external affairs in March. Campoamor's prior tenure at the DOE in 2019 was marked by controversy over an email allegedly sent from her work account encouraging employees to attend a political rally for a former school official.
A spokesperson for the DOE stated, "Christine is a longtime public servant, community organizer, and education advocate—precisely the experience and commitment our public schools need in leadership… Sadye is likewise a longtime public servant, with invaluable knowledge of our city’s education system."