Several of New York City’s major brokerages elected to close their offices Friday when a former Hamas leader called for a “day of rage” worldwide to support the organization’s war against Israel.
Douglas Elliman, Corcoran and Coldwell Banker Warburg are shutting their New York City offices. Brown Harris Stevens, Serhant and Compass have made in-office attendance optional, with Compass urging its people to stay home.
“We are encouraging all Compass employees and agents to travel as little as possible/work remotely,” Gordon Golub, who heads the brokerage’s tri-state operations, wrote in an email to staff.
The inaugural opening of a Serhant office for executives and staff will not be disrupted, said founder Ryan Serhant.
The closures come after former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called for supporters to “send a message of rage to Zionists and America,” the New York Daily News reported.
Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman messaged her agents and staff that “cities around the country including NYC are on high alert as large-scale protests are scheduled to take place in the wake of the attacks in Israel by Hamas.”
Coldwell Banker Warburg COO Kevelyn Guzman said in a statement that agents would be able to use their offices “as necessary,” but advised staff to “steer clear of public transportation and areas that may be potential safety concerns.”
Thousands have died and hundreds of thousands are homeless as a result of the violence that began when Hamas orchestrated large-scale terror attacks in Israel last weekend, according to The New York Times.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul preached calm and vigilance in a joint press conference Thursday evening, emphasizing that no specific or credible threats had been made against Jewish communities in the city. But Hochul noted there was an “elevated” threat level.
“There’s no reason to feel afraid,” said Hochul. “No one should feel they have to alter their normal lives and routines.”
But the brokerages elected to err on the side of caution, as did the NYPD, which ordered all of its cops to report for duty Friday, according to the New York Post.
City and state law enforcement agencies will be working together to provide increased security to Jewish communities and houses of worship, while the National Guard patrols major transportation hubs.
Hochul said the safety of New York’s Jewish communities is “not up for debate.”
“There is no call to violence that will shake that conviction,” she said.
Leaders of the city’s major residential brokerages this week issued strong statements against the Hamas attacks and pledged charitable action in a show of solidarity for Israel and Palestinian civilians.
Brown Harris Stevens distributed a list of nonprofits accepting donations, while Corcoran Cares, the philanthropic arm of the brokerage, launched a fundraising campaign to support Israel’s emergency medical services.
Douglas Elliman launched a fundraiser and pledged to match up to $50,000 in donations to the Israeli American Council to support hospitals, humanitarian relief efforts and Israeli soldiers.
Elliman Chairman Howard Lorber, who was appointed chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum by former President Donald Trump, issued a statement Thursday decrying the attacks.
“The atrocities committed against innocent Israeli people by Hamas are simply horrific,” said Lorber. “Words will never adequately describe my outrage, disgust and sadness for the innocent children, women and men who continue to suffer at the hands of these barbarians.”
Read more
Residential
New York
Brokerage execs condemn SCOTUS ruling, pledge to cover abortion costs
Commercial
National
CRE players wrestle with grief, outrage over Hamas