By: Daisy Fay Buchanan

A New York City-based drone manufacturer that supplies surveillance technology to Israel was pushed out of the city-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard just six weeks after Mayor Zohran Mamdani assumed office — a move the NY Post first reported.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC), which manages the 300-acre industrial campus and whose board members serve at the pleasure of the mayor, chose not to renew the lease of Easy Aerial. As the NY Post first reported, the company has provided drone systems used by Israel to monitor the Gaza Strip border.

Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler celebrated the decision publicly, stating that city-owned property should not house companies whose products are used in warfare. His comments came after years of demonstrations outside the Navy Yard by activist groups, including one calling itself “Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard,” which demanded the eviction of tenants connected to Israeli defense efforts.

Easy Aerial produces autonomous drone systems, including its Falcon models, designed for persistent aerial monitoring. The technology has been used to support Israeli border surveillance operations. As the NY Post first reported, the firm has also maintained longstanding relationships with US federal agencies, including the US Air Force, and its drones have been deployed for security operations along the US-Mexico border as well as for high-profile events like the Super Bowl.

The company’s departure highlights a stark contrast in leadership philosophy at City Hall. Mamdani, who has voiced strong pro-Palestinian positions, was sworn in on Jan. 1, succeeding former Mayor Eric Adams. Adams, a retired NYPD captain and vocal supporter of Israel, had previously expressed admiration for the company’s work. After attending a 2022 NYC-Israel Chamber of Commerce presentation featuring Easy Aerial and Blue White Robotics, Adams reportedly considered whether similar drone systems could be utilized to bolster crime-fighting initiatives in New York.

State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger criticized the lease decision, arguing that forcing a technology company out of the city over political disagreements sends a troubling message about New York’s business climate. As the NY Post first reported, Yeger characterized the move as economically shortsighted.

Company leadership declined to publicly elaborate. Ivan Stamatovski, who leads Easy Aerial, did not respond to requests for comment. Ido Gur, a co-founder no longer involved in day-to-day operations, described the non-renewal as upsetting but offered no further details.

The Mayor’s Office did not return inquiries about whether international politics influenced the decision.

A spokesperson for BNYDC said the lease was not renewed for business-related reasons tied to operational and campus compliance matters. The corporation maintained that, like any landlord, it evaluates tenants based on adherence to lease terms and campus policies.

Still, the timing of the move — shortly after a new administration took over — has fueled speculation about whether foreign policy tensions are spilling into local economic development decisions.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard, once a naval shipbuilding center, now houses a wide range of manufacturing and technology firms.