Many in New York City’s business sector find it hard to take Curtis Sliwa seriously.
He often seems to be dozing off in his signature Red Guardian Angels beret.
His high-energy speeches, delivered in a strong accent, can be quite distracting.
Interestingly, it seems like the main candidate isn’t even fully aware of his own mayoral campaign. Even in the Democratic primary, he faces tough competition from Andrew Cuomo and Zoran Mamdani.
However, most voters in the Big Apple aren’t part of that elite crowd.
A recent Harris poll shows Sliwa and his red beret are performing surprisingly well against frontrunners Mamdani and Cuomo, even besting Adams in a four-candidate race.
“You say you follow the numbers. In contests like these, people seem to like me and have issues with the others, so there’s definitely a path to victory,” Sliwa told me during our chat.
It’s a bit of a bumpy road for Sliwa as a GOP candidate in a predominantly Democratic city.
Back in the mid-1980s, I reported for Pace University’s newspaper, covering Sliwa’s rise alongside the Guardian Angels—a group dedicated to crime prevention.
We share some mutual friends and even have had meals together where, naturally, he sported his beret.
At one point, he even staged his own ad for publicity.
In a past incident, he was shot three times after confronting mobsters involved in drug deals—a life-threatening situation that didn’t slow him down. He continued to be active on television and radio while working with the Angels.
Even as violent crime spiked during Bill de Blasio’s tenure, Sliwa remained a presence, though his run for mayor ended in a significant defeat.
Financial Struggles
Now, he’s back at it, and some recent polls suggest he has a chance.
While his fundraising is modest—only about $169,000 compared to Adams’ $1.5 million—his hands-on campaigning style seems to resonate more in the subways and across the boroughs than Cuomo’s approach.
Essentially, he’s gaining traction among business circles.
Sliwa claims he hasn’t yet connected with Cathy Wylde of the NYC Partnership, a prominent business group that has met with other candidates but hasn’t reached out to him. Last week, I heard puzzling explanations about some politicians praising socialist ideals while shunning police involvement.
In Sliwa’s view, the city’s power brokers are making a mistake by not taking him seriously as the genuine business candidate.
(Wylde mentioned that Sliwa hasn’t requested a meeting yet.)
He aims to revitalize Midtown into a true business hub by enhancing crime prevention measures and addressing high costs that hurt property values.
His approach to taxes and bureaucracy seems to lean towards favoring big corporations moving out of state for better conditions, which he believes is urgent.
“Big companies are leaving for places like Florida, Texas, and even Tennessee,” Sliwa said.
“It’s tough to keep them from diversifying, but we need to make sure they want to stay by addressing homelessness and ensuring safety, especially for women on their way to work.”
Brooklyn Roots
Sliwa is a genuine New Yorker, unlike the sons of former governor Mario Cuomo who have different backgrounds. He’s from Canarsie, a working-class area, contrasting sharply with the affluent lifestyle of many Manhattan elites.
His pro-business stance leads him to expect respect from Wylde and her group, stating he is there to support the Fortune 500 companies that contribute significantly to tax revenues.
To achieve this, he believes in tackling rising crime and keeping Adams’ capable police chief, Jessica Tisch, in her role.
“She’s a beacon amidst a sea of corruption,” Sliwa remarked, referring to challenges in the Adams administration.
“If Adams weren’t such a weak mayor, Mamdani wouldn’t even be a contender. I’m the only barrier standing in the way of New York becoming fully socialist.”
From Sliwa’s perspective, Cuomo isn’t far off from losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary; he’s just as unpopular, he says.
“Cuomo’s approval ratings are just as low as Adams’. People may dislike them, but they find me more likable,” he claimed.
Mamdani may seem likable on the surface, but Sliwa asserts he would lead the city toward socialism.
Importantly, Sliwa wanted to clarify that he’s not dropping out of the race, despite rumors suggesting otherwise.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he emphasized.
In fact, he committed to removing his iconic red beret if he wins the mayoral seat.
“I know the beret tends to be a conversation starter,” he acknowledged.
“If elected mayor, I’ll put it aside.”
