Global renowned commercial real estate company JLL dismissed a highly influential senior broker in the New York real estate industry, Scott Panzer, last week. The reason behind this decision was due to an internal email where Panzer likened the recently elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Nazi dictator Hitler and expressed dissatisfaction with the possibility of Islamic call to prayer being heard in the city hall in the future.
According to real estate news media The Real Deal, the incident began with a company-wide email sent by JLL’s New York regional president Peter Riguardi after Mamdani’s victory, urging everyone to “he is our mayor now, give him a chance to lead us.”
In response to Riguardi’s email, top commercial real estate broker Panzer replied, stating, “Is it just me or does this phrase sound eerily similar to what many in Europe said about ‘that person’ (referring to Hitler) in 1938? We all know what happened after that.” He added, “At that time, ‘Time’ magazine even named him the person of the year.”
In the email, Panzer also mentioned his experience from traveling in Turkey, saying, “During my few days in Istanbul, I didn’t mind hearing adhan (Muslim call to prayer) five times a day, but I don’t want to hear it every day of the year… sadly, this may be imminent for New York.”
This email caused a stir within the company. Several employees believed his remarks carried an “Islamophobic tone” and contradicted the company’s “inclusive, diverse” culture. Reportedly, Riguardi was very furious about this and immediately requested the Human Resources department to handle the matter.
Later that afternoon, JLL informed Panzer of his dismissal. The company subsequently issued a statement confirming, “Scott Panzer is no longer employed at JLL. His personal remarks are not in line with our company culture and shared values.”
Following his dismissal, Panzer, in a written interview with the New York Post, stated that his intention in sending the email was to “start a meaningful discussion.” He wrote, “As an industry, we need to openly discuss the leadership challenges of the new mayor. My views represent the voices of millions who dare not speak up. Our real estate industry cannot withstand the management of a political novice with no experience but radical ideas.”
At 67 years old, Panzer is one of the most well-known office leasing brokers in New York, having handled top-tier real estate projects like Sheldon Solow’s 9 West 57th Street, considered a “money-making expert” in the industry.
In the email, he also criticized, “When people think it can’t get any worse from Wilson to Adams, New Yorkers are once again dipping their toes into the scalding cauldron of socialist reform.”
JLL is one of the New York City government’s important commercial real estate partners, with a significant amount of dealings in office buildings, leasing, and infrastructure projects with the city. The company’s move is seen as an attempt to swiftly disassociate to prevent any political turmoil from affecting city cooperation.
However, according to the New York Post citing industry sources, some property owners and colleagues have expressed support for Panzer, believing JLL’s reaction was excessive, with discussions even emerging about boycotting JLL.
A colleague familiar with Panzer described him as, “one of the few genuine and conscientious individuals in this industry. He may not excel in political correctness, but he speaks the truth.”