Top NYC realtor fired for comparing mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to Hitler: reports

Scott Panzer, one of New York City’s leading office leasing brokers, has been dismissed by JLL Real Estate Services after making offensive remarks about newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Panzer sent a company-wide email comparing the socialist, Muslim mayor-elect to Adolf Hitler and expressing unease at the prospect of hearing Islamic prayers from City Hall, reported the New York Post.

The incident occurred shortly after Peter Riguardi, president of JLL’s New York office, circulated a message urging staff to support the new administration and “give [the new mayor] a chance to lead”. In response, Panzer hit “reply all”, writing, “Is it just me, or does this sound eerily similar to what much of Germany and Europe said about you know who back in 1938?” He added, “We all know how that worked out for them — and for the world.”

Panzer went on to share an anecdote from a trip to Istanbul, stating that while he did not mind hearing the Muslim call to prayer during his holiday, he “would not want that to be a 365 day event.” He concluded that this change was “just around the corner for NYC.”

Company confirms dismissal

According to reports, Riguardi’s original message had been intended to ease tensions within the firm following Mamdani’s election, which had unsettled some conservative business leaders. Instead, Panzer’s email quickly drew internal backlash, with several employees labelling his comments Islamophobic.

JLL acted swiftly, terminating Panzer within hours. “We can confirm Scott Panzer is no longer with JLL,” a company spokesperson said. “The views and sentiment expressed in his email do not align with our company’s culture and shared values."

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Panzer, who had worked with JLL for over 16 years and was known for handling major leasing deals in Midtown, did not respond to requests for comment. His dismissal came as New York’s real estate industry adjusted to Mamdani’s unexpected win.

The 33-year-old democratic socialist, originally from Uganda, campaigned on rent freezes, public housing expansion and greater transit subsidies, pledging in his victory speech to “build a city for the many, not the few.”