Libyans Picked the Wrong New York City Realtor to Try to Dupe

New York has a new hero in the form of 32-year-old realtor Jason Haber, the guy who told Moammar Qaddafi's representatives that he would only find them a lavish Upper East Side New York abode if they returned the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi to Scotland and the prison he was sentenced to for life. (Megrahi was given a hero's welcome in Libya when released by the Scots on compassionate grounds on August 20th, as part of an alleged oil deal between Britain and Libya.)

But thanks to Haber, when Qaddafi arrives here for the UN General Assembly this week, the Libyan leader will have to make do with his more humble country's mission on 48th Street.

Haber, 32, first received a call from someone in Qaddafi's entourage around Labor Day weekend. Haber had seen the footage of Megrahi's welcome and, like most Americans, was appalled. Still he made no connection at this point between his new client and the news as, strangely, the person claimed to be representing a senior person in the "Dutch" delegation.

This person said the "Dutch" wanted a triplex on East 78th Street. They wanted it fully furnished with very high-end furniture. Haber explained there were problems with this, since the building in question has only one leasable floor -- for $28,000 a month. Another floor is being renovated. And a third has just been leased.

The "Dutch" person on the phone was clearly not used to being told "no." Haber was rudely told "sort it out, now" and the person hung up on him.

More phone calls in this vein continued -- until Haber, to his shock, suddenly found himself on the phone with "some person in Washington" at the Libyan embassy.

All sorts of alarm bells rang.

If the Libyans hoped to strong-arm a young ignorant realtor they'd missed their mark. Haber happens to hold a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia; as an undergrad he majored in political science at George Washington University and -- oh -- he ran for City Council in New York in 2001.

The Libyans gave him the opportunity to play politics. "I will find you a house if you return Al-Megrahi to Scotland," he told the person on the phone in Washington. The phone went dead.

"At least I consider I did my part for the victims' families," Haber told me yesterday, referring to all those who lost their lives on Pan Am flight 103.

Next time perhaps the Libyans will check more carefully into the background of a New York realtor they want to bully.

And I think Haber should run again for political office.

 

Follow Vicky Ward on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VickyPJWard

Comments

[scotnat]

I've just seen and heard Jason Haber on a BBC news clip. He comes across as someone who likes the sound of his own voice.

Michael Follon

[TXfemmom]

Alright. Give the guy a high five. Seeing that video of that man arriving just made me want to puke.

By the way, we haven't seen any additional pictures of how sick the guy is, either, have we? The Libyans put him in the hospital for one day and had photographer take pictures of him, but I bet he is is at home happy and celebrating.

[GoodFeathers]

I am a big capitalist and detest socialism. I will rent the Libyans my first and second floor penthouse in upper Manhattan for $20,000 / day (minimum 5 days). Security for the entourage is not my issue. Libyans should handle it for themselves.

[BlueRoseofTexas]

Are you for real?

[scotnat]

So Jason Haber has a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and he ran for New York City Council in 2001. Here is some free advice for him -

'Just remember, especially in politics, that people who make statements as facts, without knowing what they are talking about, are just opening their mouth and letting their belly rumble.'

The whole issue of the bombing of Pan Am 103 has been the subject of misinformation before and since the trial. Press coverage of the actual facts has been extremely woeful and irresponsible - the saying: 'Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.' comes to mind. If the trial at Camp Zeist had had a jury of 15, as is required by Scots Law, the evidence presented would very probably have been rejected and both defendants aquitted.

I have been a political activist here in Scotland for almost 35 years.

Michael Follon

[mredder4]

Understanding public sentiment enough to recognize the toxicity of a potential client doesn't make someone a hero, nor does turning down a commission check from a tainted source. Doing the right thing was refusing to do the work requested, or even saying that quote on the phone to whatever representative called. But it all quickly degenerated into doing the "American thing" by giving interviews about it, getting some spotlight out of it, and otherwise turning a simple transaction into a level of hero-worship. Meanwhile, there are thousands of good people who did something similar today who just went about their business afterwards. THOSE people are heroes.

Heroes don't seek recognition.

[GodBlessAmerica]

I don't entirely buy that. One's heroic actions are not made less so because of want of glory, from Achilles to Patton to MacArthur to the Madoff whistleblower.

Perhaps slightly less admirable, but the heroics came in the actions before, not the news after.

[Eris23]

Heroes do more than turn down an over-priced commission check through one of the most pointless jobs ever. The unknown people of NYC who happened to take 5 seconds to pick up a piece of trash off the ground and put it in a waste bucket are bigger heroes than this guy.

[Propaganda-Killer]

Aren't there laws preventing a realtor from discrimination? Especially when in this case it is clearly based on the customer's ethnicity as a Libyian

The reasons for everyone being upset don't seem to make much sense either. Libya didn't release this guy, Scotland did. And there is a fairly good chance the guy was innocent in the first place. So I don't get the scandal

[SusanStoHelit]

Not ethnicity - it was a representative of a government, and based on that government's actions (seeking the release, throwing the big party for the released killer).

[Economike]

His reaction would have been valid simply based on the callers lack of courtesy.

[Eris23]

Assuming there's any truth to his statements at all.

[GodBlessAmerica]

You are not permitted to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, but you can on the basis of citizenship and actions/reputation. If OJ wanted healthcare from me, and wasn't bleeding out the eyes or seizing on the spot, we would likely decline. Ditto Hugo Chavez.

[Winston Steward]

So you think that because a realtor was tough enough to get sassy with a rep from the most unpopular person in America, that makes him qualified to be a leader? The guy was able to thumb his nose at someone that everyone would thumb his nose at, and you consider him exceptional?

[Diogenes08]

He turned down a big commission in a bad economy. In NYC that'll get you a medal and a seat on the Council anyday.

[gavrielle]

You betcha!

[GodBlessAmerica]

I don't consider this heroic, but I do consider indicative of decent values similar to my own.

[RandomMandarin]

Pish. The man might really, really be innocent. The case was weak and a retrial might have freed him.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/hugh-miles-lockerbie-was-it-iran-syria-all-i-know-is-it-wasnt-the-man-in-prison-1206086.html

Plus, you know, the US is harboring Posada Carriles and Bosch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Posada_Carriles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Bosch

[Fein]

Bush, Rove and Cheney too!

[wattany100]

you could have sort it out then , by finding Dutch cage in the zoo . if the Libyan government will promise that Ghadai won't hurt the animals in the zoo .

[MNKen]

Ghadai?

[Economike]

Sorry I don't think even spellcheck can help you.

[unitron]

Independent verification or it didn't happen.

[Philclock]

Maybe.

But they picked the right President.

[peterg76]

He came to power in a coup, and technically Ghaddafi isn't president.

[goodmarina]

At the risk of being politically incorrect - may I suggest that a Realtor worth his/her salt would have met such a potentially high-end client for an initial consultation. At that point, if the Realtor had concerns, he had the opportunity to not sign a representation agreement. I presume there was an agreement (implicit or tacit) because the word Client is used. This telephoning, cat-and-mouse game sounds very strange -- at least, if you are a professional real estate agent.

There's a code of conduct that a Realtor is supposed to adhere to -- and revealing confidences (regardless of whether you agree with the politics of the client) is very troubling. If this Realtor suspected some law was being broken, certainly he could have notified the authorities through his Broker. If he disagreed with the politics of this Client, he could have severed his professional relationship with this client. However, notifying the media of one-upping a Client is never acceptable.

Whether you are a rookie or a seasoned real estate expert, the expectations remain the same. Who cares about his degrees -- is he a politician or someone who serves the real estate needs of his community (mind you, not for free).

Sure, this Realtor thumbing his nose at these Libyan clients is the popular thing to do. But ... who's next?

[KellyKay]

You do make some great points and like many posters, I was not impressed with this man's credentials or behavior. But once in a while the little kid comes out in most of us and I bet he gets more referals from his actions than people who would wonder 'will he betray confidential information?'

[goodmarina]

Kelly, sadly - you are right. As a real estate broker (especially during a tough housing ecomony) I do see some behaviors that make me shudder. If he was uncomfortable with the situation, he should have asked his Broker to get involved or terminated the relationship. You also make a great point about 'will he betray confidential information'. You'd be amazed as to how often one transaction crosses paths with another related cleint, friend, agent, property, etc.. Rule # 1, respect your Clients - they are hiring you to wholely represent their best interest.

[InLosAngeles]

The appropriate response by the city of New York would be to rent a very large, half full garbage barge. On it, install a very large Bedouin tent, and float it in the river within view of the UN Building.

[Pema]

your bedouin tent remark is making fun of the culture, not the situation.

[anfractuous]

Yes, let's hear it for New York City realtors! This story should have been run along side the one about the shark who tossed the drowning passenger back into the boat.

[Ergon]

NYC realtors have not been unknown to stretch the truth, on occasion.
Someone from the Libyan embassy tried to strongarm him?
He decided to start a sideline in Foreign Affairs?
Has all sorts of feelings and scruples? Uh huh.
If he were a real NYC realtor, he'd have tried to lease a roach infested apartment to the Libyan dictator for the $28,000. Or maybe he did try, and got turned down.
No wonder I stopped subscribing to Vanity Fair.