Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Patch posed seven questions to candidate Curtis Sliwa ahead of the general election in November. Here are his replies. NEW YORK CITY — Curtis Sliwa, CEO of the Alliance of the Guardian Angels and 77WABC broadcaster, is the republican candidate running for New York City mayor on Nov. 4. The 71-year-old is a well-known community activist and has run the Guardian Angels for decades. Sliwa was the Republican nominee for mayor back in 2021, when he went head-to-head with then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. The republican candidate currently lives in the Upper West Side. Patch recently asked Sliwa seven questions about his campaign. See his replies below. EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns in the 2025 general election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received. PATCH: Why are you running for Mayor? SLIWA: I’m running for Mayor because I’m sick and tired of watching working-class New Yorkers get pushed out of their own city. Crime is out of control, the cost of living keeps rising, and quality of life is slipping away while the political class cashes checks and makes promises they never keep. I’ve spent my life standing with New Yorkers. From protecting young people from gangs to helping families clean up their neighborhoods, I have seen the struggle, but I have also seen the strength. I believe New Yorkers deserve better. I have never given up on this city. Not when it was on fire, not when others turned their backs, and not now. I know how to fix this city and I will work with all people to make my platforms a reality. PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidates? SLIWA: As founder of the Guardian Angels, I’ve spent my life organizing all people, especially young people who want to give back but grow up in neighborhoods where all they see is pain, violence, and neglect. I’ve worked with families, with mothers who came to us in tears asking for help to keep their kids out of gangs. They weren’t looking for handouts. They were looking for hope. We gave people a path to better themselves through service. The Guardian Angels became a place where people could grow, protect one another, and believe in something bigger than themselves. It wasn’t about politics. It was about purpose. We didn’t show up with empty promises. We showed up with action. We helped people believe they mattered, that they could be part of the solution. The other candidates in this race have had their chance. They’ve held office. They’ve made deals. They’ve watched this city become more dangerous and more unaffordable. Meanwhile, I’ve been out there, year after year, riding the trains, walking the blocks, helping real people. I don’t need a title to lead. I never have. PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York more affordable. SLIWA: 1. First, we must repeal City of Yes. That plan fast-tracks displacement, hands developers free rein, and pushes working people out of their neighborhoods right now. My opponents talk about building thousands of units over 10 or 15 years, but New Yorkers need solutions today. We have plenty of spaces for development that don’t mean displacement. We can create more local affordable housing now, without waiting 15 years. 2. We need to lower taxes for homeowners and give people incentives to become small landlords without fear of crushing regulations or penalties. By supporting small landlords, we can get rent-stabilized units back on the market and protect neighborhoods from being overtaken by luxury towers. At the same time, developers must be held accountable. If they promise affordable housing in their projects, it must be truly affordable, not just a marketing gimmick. We have to stop empty promises and make sure New Yorkers get what they need. PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York safer. SLIWA: 1. Every New Yorker deserves to live in a community where they feel safe and respected. That’s why I will hire seven thousand new NYPD officers and make sure precincts in every neighborhood are fully funded and staffed to respond to all types of crime, from violence to shoplifting. We must maintain police morale by offering better support and more incentives for officers to stay in a job that is already incredibly challenging. Keeping experienced officers on the force is essential to build trust and effective policing. 2. Strong communication between residents and police is also key so every concern is heard and addressed quickly. Safety starts with a local focus because every community faces different challenges. Whether it is a rise in violence or quality of life issues, we can fix this by working together and giving precincts the resources they need. PATCH: What’s your plan to improve the subway system? SLIWA: On day one, I will restore the Homeless Outreach Unit to connect homeless individuals living in the subway system with shelters and support services. Homelessness must be addressed with both compassion and firmness. The subway is not a place for anyone to live. It is unsafe for homeless people, pedestrians, and everyone who relies on public transit. The subway is slow and unreliable because it faces many issues that delay riders. To improve safety and speed, we will increase police presence on platforms and inside trains, create more emergency help points for quicker response times, and prevent criminals from entering the subway by having boots on the ground officers monitoring stations closely and enforcing the fare. Safety for MTA workers is also critical. Of MTA workers surveyed, 89 percent reported being victims of crime or harassment. We need to protect the people who keep the system running every day. PATCH: ICE is cracking down on college campuses and immigrants in NYC. How will your administration respond? SLIWA: My administration will focus on targeting violent criminals, drug dealers, sex traffickers, gang members, or terrorists, anyone here illegally who threatens the safety of New Yorkers. If arrests are made, we support due process taking place here. Recently, ICE was instructed to stop raiding farmworkers, hospitality workers, or restaurant workers, people who contribute positively to our country. Recent exemptions for these groups are the right approach. Our priority is fighting crime and protecting communities. At the same time, we will encourage the federal government to address immigration reform responsibly. We will look at cooperation on a case by case basis to assure those who are identified as threats are removed from our city. PATCH: What’s one place in the city you frequent the most? SLIWA: The New York City subway system. I’ve spent decades riding the trains, walking the platforms, and connecting with everyday New Yorkers who rely on it to get around. It’s the city’s lifeline, and being there helps me understand the real challenges and opportunities facing our transit and communities.
