Quick Read
- Curtis Sliwa is running for New York City mayor, emphasizing public safety and affordability.
- He founded the Guardian Angels and has decades of grassroots experience.
- Sliwa proposes hiring 7,000 police officers and cutting bureaucratic waste.
- His platform includes education reform and increased government accountability.
- He positions himself as an alternative to establishment politicians like Adams and Cuomo.
New York City at a Crossroads: Sliwa’s Vision for Change
New York City stands at a pivotal moment. The city, known for its relentless energy and diversity, is grappling with deep-seated frustrations. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a decades-long fixture in the city’s neighborhoods, believes he’s the alternative that New Yorkers need—a candidate who’s walked the streets, not just the corridors of power.
Sliwa’s campaign is rooted in the belief that ordinary New Yorkers have been forced to accept a political reality marked by corruption, rising costs, and a sense of chaos. He points to the city’s leadership, invoking past and present names—Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, and Zohran Mamdani—as emblematic of the status quo. For Sliwa, the problem isn’t just ideological extremism; it’s a lack of practical, common-sense governance.
From Subways to City Hall: Sliwa’s Grassroots Credibility
“If you do nothing, that just empowers the gangsters,” Sliwa once said. It’s a mantra that’s guided him for more than 45 years. His legacy began with the Guardian Angels, a group known for its iconic red berets and hands-on approach to community safety. Sliwa has patrolled subways, engaged with residents in all 350 neighborhoods, and consistently positioned himself as an advocate for everyday people.
This street-level experience is a cornerstone of his campaign. Unlike career politicians, Sliwa emphasizes that he’s not beholden to party machinery or entrenched interests. He claims to have warned New Yorkers about the potential for corruption under Eric Adams before Adams took office—a warning he says was ignored, resulting in resignations, arrests, and a “pay-to-play culture” at City Hall.
Public Safety and Affordability: Sliwa’s Policy Blueprint
At the heart of Sliwa’s platform is a promise to restore public safety. He proposes hiring 7,000 additional police officers, funded by cutting what he describes as “bloated agency budgets” and redirecting resources from political insiders to essential services. Sliwa wants to end cronyism within the NYPD, ensure promotions are based on merit and leadership, and refocus the force on community engagement.
Affordability is another pillar. Sliwa argues that families are being squeezed by taxes, fees, and fines, all exacerbated by city policies. His plan involves lowering taxes across the board, streamlining permits, and reforming property taxes to make home ownership less burdensome. He pledges to protect seniors with targeted relief and rein in water rates and city-imposed fees.
Education is a third focus. Sliwa points out that New York spends over $42,000 per pupil annually, yet many students struggle with basic reading and math. He promises to shrink the Department of Education’s bureaucracy, redirect those funds to classrooms, and restore academic standards. His vision includes parent-controlled education accounts, which would allow families to receive rebates for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition.
Quality of Life and Government Accountability
Sliwa’s campaign also addresses the city’s quality of life issues. He vows to clean the streets, remove illegal vending from sidewalks, crack down on unauthorized smoke shops, reclaim subways for riders, and ensure that animal abusers face real consequences. For Sliwa, city government must “live within its means” and deliver the services that residents actually pay for.
Transparency and accountability are central to his approach. Sliwa promises to publish a citywide performance dashboard, open the books on city contracts, ban pay-to-play arrangements, and audit every agency for results. “Government must be accountable to the people,” he insists, arguing that only through public scrutiny can City Hall regain trust.
Challenging the Political Status Quo
Sliwa’s rhetoric is sharply critical of both the left and right. He frames the election as a choice between “right and wrong,” not simply party lines. The former governor, Andrew Cuomo, is criticized for policies like bail reform and congestion pricing, which Sliwa claims have contributed to crime and higher living costs. He also takes aim at Mamdani’s “radical socialist” ideas, warning that ideological extremes—regardless of label—yield higher costs and weaker safety.
Instead of choosing between “the architect, Cuomo, and the apprentice, Mamdani,” Sliwa urges New Yorkers to choose change, drawing a contrast between his decades of public service outside of elected office and what he sees as the failures of establishment politicians.
The Road Ahead: Sliwa’s Appeal to Voters
Sliwa’s campaign is grounded in visibility and engagement. He promises to show up in every community, listen to residents, and keep showing up. His message resonates with New Yorkers who feel disconnected from City Hall and are hungry for leadership that prioritizes safety, affordability, and competence over ideology.
Ultimately, Sliwa’s bid for mayor is less about partisan politics and more about a return to basics: making the city livable, transparent, and responsive to its citizens. He invites voters to imagine what he could accomplish with the power of the mayor’s office, given what he’s already achieved without a title.
By placing public safety, affordability, and accountability at the center of his campaign, Curtis Sliwa offers New Yorkers a vision built on grassroots activism and a deep familiarity with the city’s challenges. Whether this approach will resonate with voters amid entrenched political divisions remains to be seen, but Sliwa’s candidacy underscores a persistent desire among many for pragmatic, community-driven leadership.