A manufacturer based in New York City, which provided drones to Israel for monitoring the Gaza Strip border, has been dismissed from the city-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard. This decision came just six weeks after Mayor Zoran Mamdani, known for his pro-Palestinian stance, took office.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Company chose not to extend the lease with Easy Aerial. Councilman Lincoln Ressler (D-Brooklyn) expressed approval of this decision on social media, stating, “This public property should not be renting space to companies that manufacture drones that will be repurposed as weapons of war.”
Easy Aerial had faced protests for years, including demonstrations from a group named “Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard.” This group has been vocal in urging the Navy Yard to evict tenants that support Israel.
State Representative Kalman Jaeger (D-Brooklyn), a well-known supporter of Zionism, criticized the decision. He remarked, “Kicking good jobs out of New York because Mr. Mamdani and his friends hate Jews is probably not a very good economic development program.”
Easy Aerial’s exit from the industrial park signifies a notable change in approach at City Hall since Mayor Mamdani assumed office on January 1. Under former Mayor Eric Adams, an ex-police officer who was a passionate backer of Israel, Easy Aerial had received favorable attention. Adams had even entertained the idea of using small drones for crime-fighting purposes in New York City after a joint presentation with Easy Aerial and Tel Aviv’s Blue White Robotics at a 2022 chamber event.
Beyond its work with the Israel Defense Forces, Easy Aerial has maintained partnerships with the U.S. Air Force and various federal agencies focused on border surveillance, even supporting activities along the Mexican border. Its involvement has included high-profile jobs, such as security for the Super Bowl.
Ivan Stamatovsky, the head of Easy Aerial, did not respond to inquiries. Another co-founder, Ido Garr, who is no longer part of the company, expressed disappointment with the Navy Yard’s choice but opted not to comment in detail.
The mayor’s office also did not reply to requests for comment. When questioned about whether Israeli-Palestinian politics influenced the decision, BNYDC spokesperson Claire Holmes stated that non-renewals were based on “business reasons related to operational and campus compliance issues,” emphasizing that renewals are evaluated like any other landlord would do.
