A
t San Diego International Airport last week, Scott Panzer, a 67‑year‑old senior broker at JLL, sent an email that made the news and cost him his job. He had replied “reply‑all” to a company‑wide memo from JLL’s New York chairman, Peter Riguardi, urging staff to support Zohran Mamdani, a 34‑year‑old socialist running for mayor. Panzer’s message compared the memo to the acquiescence that enabled Hitler’s rise and warned that the real‑estate sector could not afford inexperienced, radical leadership.
Panzer, who had built a reputation as a top rainmaker—handling major accounts such as the 9 W. 57th St. tower—had long been known for mentoring younger brokers. A former colleague described him as “amazing” and “not very PC about speaking his mind.” Despite his success, he had clashed with Riguardi over management issues. When he saw the memo, he was shocked and asked why Riguardi was involved. He then launched a “conversation” about how the firm should respond to Mamdani’s controversial positions, including threats to arrest Israeli President Netanyahu over the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
In his email, Panzer cited his background as half‑Jewish, half‑Christian and his study of history, arguing that the city’s political climate was reminiscent of pre‑World War II Europe. He also referenced a trip to Istanbul, noting that hearing the adhan five times a day was tolerable, but a 365‑day event would be problematic for New York.
Within hours, JLL’s HR and management called him to explain that his email violated company policy. He was told he was being terminated. Panzer did not apologize; he said he was simply urging employees to think about past radical movements. After the call, his email and other company accounts were disabled.
Panzer’s future is uncertain. He has enough wealth to retire but is still deciding what to do next. He has received many supportive emails from people who feel silenced. Some real‑estate clients are considering boycotting JLL for cutting ties with a prominent broker who spoke his mind. The firm will continue to honor its brokerage agreements with his clients.
