In a new TV ad, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa claims that if either Zohran Mamdani or Andrew Cuomo becomes mayor, New Yorkers won’t be safe. The ad, released on Monday, underscores concerns about public safety.
The 30-second spot features a narrator asking, “Raping during the day. Attack on the subway. Why?” and then points directly to Cuomo.
The ad includes clips of Cuomo, who had touted his support for ending the “cashless bail system” back in 2018. He later signed laws that drastically limited cash bail.
Cuomo was seen in the ad stating, “We’re going to end our cashless bail system completely,” during the Global Citizens Festival. He also mentioned attempts to implement change in New York that year.
While omitted from the ad, Cuomo previously stated that “the cashless bail system violates justice.” He also described the Rikers Island Prison complex as a “hole of hell” that needed to be closed.
Sliwa’s ad goes further, asserting that Mamdani wants to push policies that are sympathetic to crime, declaring “You’re not safe when they’re in charge.”
At the end of the ad, Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels Civic Patrol, emphasizes, “We’re more valuable.” He proposes adding 7,000 police officers to the NYPD if elected.
This ad was released shortly after incumbent mayor Eric Adams announced his decision not to seek reelection as an independent.
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who beat Cuomo in the party primary, has distanced himself from earlier supportive statements about police refunds and calls against police racism.
Cuomo is currently running as an independent on a “fighting and streaming” platform.
The ad is part of Sliwa’s $500,000 campaign effort and responds to encouragement for Cuomo to remain in the race, potentially improving Sliwa’s chances against frontrunner Mamdani.
As Sliwa releases his third ad for the general election set for November 4th, Cuomo’s campaign spokesman Richard Azzopaldi has countered, insisting that cashless bail isn’t over in New York. He noted that the law has been updated multiple times since Cuomo’s resignation in 2021 to allow judges more authority in detaining repeat or violent offenders.
Cuomo’s team also accused Sliwa of inflating crime stats to bolster his image and of his “vigilante group,” mentioning that the Guardian Angels organization has lost its tax-exempt status due to their activities.
If elected, Cuomo said he would seek to increase the police force by 5,000 officers. Mamdani’s spokeswoman, Dora Pekek, remarked, “We agree with Curtis Sliwa. Andrew Cuomo is dangerous to New York City.” She asserted that Mamdani represents a new direction away from the influence of disconnected billionaires.
