An incident at a Brooklyn bookstore where a Jewish author’s book launch event was canceled due to the pro-Israel views of the scheduled moderator has led to the firing of the manager responsible. Powerhouse Arena owner Daniel Power confirmed that the decision to cancel the event was made by a rogue staff member who acted unilaterally. The manager, identified as Hannah Hayes, made the decision without consulting anyone else at the store and without any prior indication of holding such beliefs.
The controversy arose when the author, Joshua Leifer, was informed that the bookstore did not want to host the conversation between him and Rabbi Andy Bachman. The manager cited Bachman’s pro-Israel views as the reason for the cancellation, stating that they did not want a Zionist on their stage. This led to outrage and criticism from various sources. Powerhouse Arena later clarified that the former employee made a grossly misguided decision and had overstepped her authority by derailing the event.
Initially, Powerhouse Arena owner Daniel Power had blamed the cancellation on Leifer’s publicist, but he later backtracked on this statement when the truth came to light. Power admitted that he had been misled by Hayes and was unable to connect with Leifer’s representatives until after media reports had been published. The bookstore condemned Hayes’ actions and emphasized that they do not define the values of the establishment. Despite the setback, Leifer expressed gratitude for the store taking responsibility and announced plans to hold the event at a different venue.
Hannah Hayes, who had worked at Powerhouse for over three years, was terminated before she could start a new position at a nearby competing bookstore. Powerhouse Arena intends to hold further discussions on whether to inform the new employer about the incident. The cancellation of the event sparked a backlash with local politicians condemning Powerhouse for stifling healthy debates and diverse viewpoints. Councilman Lincoln Restler expressed disappointment in the decision and called for a more inclusive environment in neighborhood bookstores to encourage open dialogue.
In response to the uproar, Powerhouse Arena expressed regret for the incident and emphasized its commitment to promoting diverse perspectives and facilitating meaningful discussions. The bookstore is taking steps to ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future and is working to address any lingering concerns within the community. Despite the negative publicity surrounding the canceled event, efforts are being made to reschedule and hold the conversation between Leifer and Bachman in a different location. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding principles of inclusivity and free expression within public spaces.
