Curtis Sliwa

{{Short description|American politician, talk radio show host, and founder of the Guardian Angels}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Curtis Sliwa

| image = Headshot of Curtis Sliwa.jpg

| caption = Sliwa in 2023

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|3|26}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican (2020–present)

| otherparty = Reform (until 2020)

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Lisa Evers|1981|1994|end=div}}
{{marriage|Mary Galda|2000|2012|end=div}}
{{marriage|Nancy Regula|2018}}

}}

| partner = Melinda Katz ({{abbr|sep.|separated}} 2014)

| children = 3

}}

Curtis Sliwa ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|l|iː|w|@}}; born March 26, 1954) is an American activist, radio talk show host, and founder and chief executive officer of the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit crime prevention organization. Sliwa was the Republican nominee for the 2021 New York City mayoral election, which he lost to Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams. He is currently a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2025 New York City mayoral election.{{Cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Craig |last2=Golden |first2=Vaughn |last3=Campanile |first3=Carl |last4=Crane |first4=Emily |date=February 13, 2025 |title=Exclusive {{!}} NYC Mayor Adams weighing GOP run if he loses Democratic primary |url=https://nypost.com/2025/02/13/us-news/nyc-mayor-adams-weighing-hail-mary-play-thatll-let-him-run-on-gop-line-if-he-loses-dem-primary-sources/ |access-date=February 14, 2025 |work=New York Post |language=en-US |quote=Republicans have yet to select a candidate but Curtis Sliwa — the red-bereted founder of the Guardian Angels — officially became a mayoral candidate Thursday.}}

Early life

Curtis Sliwa was born on March 26, 1954,{{Cite news|last=Uhlig|first=Mark A.|date=1988-06-17|title=Sliwa, Angels' Founder, A Herald, Not a Cherub|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/17/nyregion/sliwa-angels-founder-a-herald-not-a-cherub.html|access-date=2021-10-21|issn=0362-4331}} into a Catholic family of Polish and Italian descent, in Canarsie, Brooklyn.{{cite news | title = Back On the Street With: Curtis Sliwa; Not Invincible, but Standing Fast | work = The New York Times | last = Witchel | first = Alex | date = November 12, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/12/garden/back-on-the-street-with-curtis-sliwa-not-invincible-but-standing-fast.html&pagewanted=all}} He has two sisters.{{cite news |last=Couric |first=Katie |author-link=Katie Couric |date=December 18, 2005 |title=Aleta St. James' journey to motherhood |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10506847 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224215456/https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10506847/ |archive-date=December 24, 2005 |work=NBC News}} He attended Brooklyn Prep, a Jesuit high school from which he was later expelled.{{cite web | title = Brooklyn's Favorite Crime-fighter, Curtis Sliwa, Is Honored by Local Politicians | work = Brooklyn Daily Eagle | date = March 6, 2008 | url = http://www.guardianangels.org/pdf/2373.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101020180038/http://guardianangels.org/pdf/2373.pdf | archive-date = October 20, 2010 }} He graduated from Canarsie High School. In his youth, he worked as a delivery boy for the Daily News, where he was awarded the title of "Newsboy of the Year" and a trip to the White House after he saved several people from a burning building while on a paper route.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/12/garden/back-on-the-street-with-curtis-sliwa-not-invincible-but-standing-fast.html|title=Back on the Street With: Curtis Sliwa; Not Invincible, but Standing Fast|first=Alex|last=Witchel|work=The New York Times |date=November 12, 1992|access-date=March 4, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/06/20/guardian-angel-founder-ambushed-in-cab/|title=Guardian Angel founder ambushed in cab|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=June 20, 1992|access-date=March 4, 2021}}

Prior to founding the Guardian Angels, he was night manager of a McDonald's restaurant on Fordham Road in the Bronx.{{cite web | title = Curtis Sliwa, CEO and Founder | publisher = Guardian Angels | url = http://www.guardianangels.org/curtis.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070905050453/http://www.guardianangels.org/curtis.html | archive-date = September 5, 2007 | access-date = September 11, 2007}}

Guardian Angels

File:Miami angels.jpg in Miami Metrorail, 2001]]

In May 1977, Sliwa created the "Magnificent 13", a civilian group dedicated to combating violence and crime on the New York City Subway.{{Cite web|url=http://heathermgraham.com/2004/01/01/25-years-later-how-the-magnificent-13-became-the-guardian-angels/|title=25 Years Later, How The Magnificent 13 Became The Guardian Angels|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220522/http://heathermgraham.com/2004/01/01/25-years-later-how-the-magnificent-13-became-the-guardian-angels/|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} At the time, the city was experiencing a crime wave.{{Cite web|last=Baker|first=Kevin|date=May 18, 2015|title='Welcome to Fear City' – the inside story of New York's civil war, 40 years on|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/18/welcome-to-fear-city-the-inside-story-of-new-yorks-civil-war-40-years-on|url-status=live|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522115925/http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/18/welcome-to-fear-city-the-inside-story-of-new-yorks-civil-war-40-years-on |archive-date=May 22, 2015 }} The Magnificent 13 grew and was renamed the Guardian Angels in 1979. The group's actions drew strong reactions, both positive and negative.{{cite news | title = Either Right Or Wrong Angels On Patrol, 1980 | work = Daily News | location = New York | last = Hester | first = Jere | date = November 9, 1998 | url = http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-11-09/news/18081650_1_guardian-angels-curtis-sliwa-eight-angel | access-date = March 26, 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Most of the Guardian Angels members were either Black or Hispanic.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/guardian-angels-started-protecting-nyc-subways-article-1.804336|title=The early history of the Guardian Angels and their controversial New York City subway patrols|first=Jere|last=Hester|work=New York Daily News|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=March 4, 2021}} Unarmed, the group required members to train in karate and learn the legal requirements for citizens' arrest for all members before they were to be deployed.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/07/us/effectiveness-of-guardian-angels-called-uncertain.html|title=Effectiveness of Guardian Angels called uncertain|first=William|last=Robbins|work=The New York Times|date=August 7, 1981|access-date=March 4, 2021}}{{subscription required}} Sliwa's red beret is a component of the Guardian Angels' uniform.{{Cite web|last=Gabbatt|first=Adam|date=2021-08-06|title=The cat-loving, beret-wearing Republican who wants to be mayor of New York|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/06/curtis-sliwa-new-york-mayor-republicans|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-21|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806060847/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/06/curtis-sliwa-new-york-mayor-republicans |archive-date=August 6, 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Michelle L.|date=2021-10-15|title=Stunts, cats and crime: Sliwa's colorful run for NYC mayor|url=https://apnews.com/article/crime-new-york-new-york-city-campaigns-curtis-sliwa-58654737eaabed0113ea72e354aa0547|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-21|website=AP News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015080518/https://apnews.com/article/crime-new-york-new-york-city-campaigns-curtis-sliwa-58654737eaabed0113ea72e354aa0547 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 }}

In 1981, then-Mayor Ed Koch, a critic of Sliwa and the organization, launched an investigation into the Guardian Angels, which, according to The Washington Post, proved "so positive that the Guardian Angels will soon be awarded some sort of official status."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/04/14/guardian-angels-different-gang/7ed2bd20-eb54-4129-856d-cb80953b6704/|title=' Guardian Angels': Different Gang|first=Joyce|last=Wadler|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 14, 1981|access-date=March 4, 2021}} Then-Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo was a rare early advocate of the organization, being quoted saying "[t]hey are a better expression of morality than our city deserves".

In 1992, Sliwa admitted that he and the Guardian Angels faked heroic subway rescues for publicity. He also admitted to having claimed falsely that three off-duty transit police officers had kidnapped him.David Gonzalez, [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/26/nyregion/police-union-to-sue-sliwa-over-hoaxes.html Police Union To Sue Sliwa Over Hoaxes], The New York Times (November 26, 1992).

In the early 1980s, he expanded operations to Buffalo and was often critical of local police policies and practices.{{cite news | title = James Cunningham, Buffalo Police Commissioner, Dies | work =The New York Times | agency = Associated Press | date = January 22, 1984 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/22/obituaries/jamescunningham68dies-buffalo-police-commissioner.html}} One incident involved Guardian Angels member Frank Melvin, who was fatally shot by a Newark police officer in December 1981 after an officer claimed they mistook his unzipping of his jacket – to display his Guardian Angels emblem – as a threat.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/01/nyregion/gua-rdian-angel-is-killed-by-an-officer-in-newark.html|title=Guardian Angel is killed by an officer in Newark|first=Michael|last=Norman|work=The New York Times|date=January 1, 1982|access-date=March 4, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/02/nyregion/death-of-angel-will-be-studied-by-a-prosecutor.html|title=Death of 'Angel' will be studied by a prosecutor|first=Glenn|last=Fowler|work=The New York Times |date=January 2, 1982|access-date=March 4, 2021}} Sliwa claimed that the killing of Melvin – an African American – was racially motivated, and had been done by a White officer who was being protected by the police department, rather than by the Hispanic officer identified as the shooter.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/05/nyregion/officers-cleared-by-a-grand-jury-in-angels-case.html|title=Officers cleared by a grand jury in 'Angels' case|first=Alfonso A.|last=Narvaez|work=The New York Times|date=February 5, 1982|access-date=March 4, 2021}} An Essex County grand jury cleared both officers of charges related to Melvin's death.

Murder attempt

On June 19, 1992, Sliwa was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi in Manhattan. The taxi picked up Sliwa near his home in the East Village, and a gunman hiding in the front passenger seat jumped up and fired several shots, hitting him in the groin and legs. The kidnapping was foiled when Sliwa leaped from the front window of the moving cab and escaped. Sliwa underwent surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds.{{cite news | title = Koch Visits Sliwa as Investigation Fails to Yield Shooting Suspect | work = The New York Times | last = Bennet | first = James | date = June 21, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/21/nyregion/koch-visits-sliwa-as-police-inquiry-fails-to-yield-shooting-suspect.html | access-date = June 1, 2009}}

File:Cacciopoli and JGotti.jpg (middle) in an FBI surveillance photo]]

Federal prosecutors eventually charged John A. Gotti, the son of Gambino crime family leader John Gotti, with attempted murder and a raft of other charges. Prosecutors claimed that Gotti was angered by remarks Sliwa had made about Gotti's father on his radio program. After three attempts to try him, on September 20, 2005, three separate juries could not agree to convict Gotti on any of the charges brought against him, and the charges were dropped. Jurors later told reporters they believed he had a role in Sliwa's shooting.{{cite news | title = 3rd Gotti Jr. Trial Ends in Mistrial | newspaper = The Washington Post | agency = Associated Press | last = Neumeister | first = Larry | date = September 28, 2006 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092800169.html | access-date = March 26, 2009}} Prosecutors declined to re-try Gotti and dismissed the charges against him. Sliwa said he would seek damages in civil court.{{cite news | title = No Fourth Trial for Gotti, Prosecutors Say | work = The New York Times | last = Feuer | first = Allan | date = October 20, 2006 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/nyregion/21gotticnd.html | access-date = July 10, 2007}}

Michael Yannotti, a Gotti associate, was also charged with shooting Sliwa in the incident but was acquitted.{{cite news |title=Mob Goon's 20 Yrs. Moves Sliwa to Tears |work=Daily News |location=New York |last=Zambito |first=Thomas |date=November 14, 2006 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2006/11/14/2006-11-14_mob_goon_s_20_yrs__moves_sli.html |access-date=March 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201070704/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2006/11/14/2006-11-14_mob_goon_s_20_yrs__moves_sli.html |archive-date=December 1, 2009 }}

Media career

=Radio=

File:Curtis Sliwa Cropped Sep3 2007.png

File:Gary Ackerman with Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby.jpg with U.S. Representative Gary Ackerman in 2005]]

Sliwa has been a radio broadcaster for three decades, most of that time on WABC-AM, where he began his career in 1990. In 1994, the then city-owned and operated WNYC hired Sliwa, whom WABC had released. Some, including Sliwa,{{cite news | title = WNYC's Planned Move Will Finish Its Breakup With the City | work = The New York Times | last = Collins | first = Glenn | date = July 17, 2006 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/nyregion/17radio.html?pagewanted=all | access-date = April 30, 2010}} have suggested that he was given access to the station by newly elected Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whom he had supported in the 1993 mayoral race.{{cite news | title = City Radio Gives a Host's Job to Sliwa | work = The New York Times | last = Martin | first = Douglas | date = February 9, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/09/nyregion/city-radio-gives-a-host-s-job-to-sliwa.html?pagewanted=all | access-date = April 30, 2010}}

As a political conservative, Sliwa has hosted various radio talk shows on WABC since 1996.{{cite news | title = Gunman's Tale of Fear, Hatred and Drugs | work = The New York Times | last = Nossiter | first = Adam | date = April 13, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/13/nyregion/a-gunman-s-tale-of-fear-hatred-and-drugs.html?pagewanted=all | access-date = April 30, 2010}} His longtime broadcast partner was lawyer Ron Kuby, with whom he hosted the "Curtis & Kuby" weekday radio show at noon on WABC-AM in New York City.{{cite news|last1=Sisario|first1=Ben|title=Talk Radio on WABC Shifts Focus to the Local|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/business/media/talk-radio-on-wabc-shifts-focus-to-the-local.html?smid=tw-nytmedia&seid=auto&_r=2&|work=The New York Times|date=January 2, 2014}} In 2000, Sliwa and Kuby became the co-hosts of the long-running Curtis and Kuby in the Morning, which lasted eight years before Citadel Broadcasting replaced them with Don Imus.{{cite news | title = Curtis & Kuby will 'go out with their heads high' | work = Daily News | location = New York | first = David | last = Hinckley | date = November 28, 2007 | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/11/28/2007-11-28_curtis__kuby_will_go_out_with_their_head.html}}

The Curtis Sliwa LIVE program began national syndication on December 1, 2008.{{cite web|title=ABC Radio Networks Launches Curtis Sliwa LIVE|url=http://affiliates.cumulusmedianetworks.com/press/2008releases/112008.pdf|publisher=ABC Radio Networks|access-date=May 27, 2013}} WABC retained Sliwa until November 2009, when his show was cancelled after a contract dispute.{{cite news |title=Curtis Sliwa is leaving WABC 770 AM |work=New York Daily News |location=New York |date=November 25, 2009 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/11/25/2009-11-25_curtis_sliwa_says_so_long_at_wabc.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906045946/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-11-25/entertainment/17940419_1_carolina-lightcap-wabc-disney-channels-worldwide |archive-date=2012-09-06 |url-status=dead}} He hosted both the morning and evening "drive time" shows on WNYM-AM 970,{{cite news | title = A big 'Apple' welcome for Sliwa | work = Daily News | location = New York | date = December 7, 2009 | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/12/07/2009-12-07_untitled__inn07tv.html}} but as of January 2, 2014, Sliwa returned to WABC, replacing Rush Limbaugh, who moved to WOR-AM.{{cite news|title=The EIB Network Welcomes New Affiliates|url=https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/01/02/the_eib_network_welcomes_new_affiliates/|work=RushLimbaugh.com|date=January 2, 2014}} Starting in June 2017, Sliwa's co-host was attorney and television commentator, Eboni Williams.{{cite news|title=Eboni Williams To Co-Host With Curtis Sliwa|url=https://radioink.com/2017/06/05/eboni-k-williams-co-host-curtis-sliwa/|work=Radio Ink|date=June 7, 2017}} His most recent co-host was Juliet Huddy, who joined the show in February 2019.{{Cite web|title=Juliet Huddy Joins Curtis Sliwa In Middays At WABC|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174681/juliet-huddy-joins-curtis-sliwa-in-middays-at-wabc/|last=Venta|access-date=2021-07-07|website=RadioInsight|date=February 21, 2019|language=en-US}}

After officially declaring his candidacy in March 2021, Sliwa's radio program went on hiatus.{{cite web|url=https://radioink.com/2021/03/02/sliwa-goes-on-hiatus/|title=Sliwa Goes on Hiatus|work=Radio Ink|date=March 2, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-nyc-mayoral-race-curtis-sliwa-20210315-xbg3zw5uezgflf546b4axqry2y-story.html|title=NYC mayor's race gets a late entry: Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder as GOP contender|first=Tim|last=Balk|work=New York Daily News|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021}} His programs once again went on hiatus upon the announcement of his second candidacy in February 2025.{{cite web |last1=Staff |first1=B. N. M. |title=John Catsimatidis: Curtis Sliwa, Frank Morano, Anthony Weiner 'Crossed the Line' on 77 WABC {{!}} Barrett Media |url=https://barrettmedia.com/2025/02/21/john-catsimatidis-curtis-sliwa-frank-morano-anthony-weiner-crossed-the-line-on-77-wabc/ |website=barrettmedia.com |date=21 February 2025}}

Politics

In September 2016, Sliwa and Frank Morano launched a successful hostile takeover of the Reform Party of New York State.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/whiteboard/2016/10/upstart-group-wins-legal-battle-over-control-of-the-reform-party-106901|title=Upstart group wins legal battle over control of the Reform Party|work=Politico|first=Bill|last=Mahoney|date=October 31, 2016|access-date=October 31, 2016}} The Party lost its ballot access in the November 2018 elections.{{Cite news|url=https://newsgrowl.com/reform-party-new-york-ballot-status/|title=Reform Party of New York & Women's Equality Party lose ballot status|date=November 7, 2018|work=News Growl|access-date=November 7, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702232007/https://newsgrowl.com/reform-party-new-york-ballot-status/|url-status=dead}}

In December 2019, Sliwa declared in an interview that he hated then-President of the United States Donald Trump, calling him a "screwball and a crackpot".{{Cite web|url=https://video.wttw.com/video/curtis-sliwa-trump-and-state-todays-media-74spf8/|title=One-on-One | Curtis Sliwa on Trump and the State of Today's Media | Season 2020 | Episode 2284|date=May 17, 2023 |via=video.wttw.com}} In February 2021, weeks after Trump left office, Sliwa switched from the Reform Party to the Republican Party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manhattanrepublicanparty.com/blog/?viewDetailed=202002121815|title=Curtis Sliwa Officially Re-Joins the Republican Party|website=www.manhattanrepublicanparty.com|access-date=June 23, 2021|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526001407/https://www.manhattanrepublicanparty.com/blog/?viewDetailed=202002121815|url-status=dead}}

Sliwa changed parties and lost control over the Reform Party after losing the required votes to keep the Reform Party on the ballot. Bill C. Merrell regained control over the NYS Reform Party and is now again NYS Chair of the Reform Party. The official state Party is again affiliated with the National Reform Party.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

=2021 mayoral campaign=

Sliwa announced on March 8, 2020, that he would be running for mayor of New York City in 2021 as a Republican, seeking to become the 110th mayor of New York City.{{cite web | url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/guardian-angels-founder-curtis-sliwa-to-run-for-mayor/ | title=Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa to run for mayor • Brooklyn Paper | date=March 16, 2020 }}

The primary race turned Sliwa and Fernando Mateo, once friends, into bitter rivals.Emma G. Fitzsimmons, [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/25/nyregion/fernando-mateo-curtis-sliwa.html How the GOP Primary for Mayor Turned 2 Friends Into Bitter Rivals], New York Times (May 25, 2021). The Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx Republican parties endorsed Mateo while the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican parties endorsed Sliwa. Sliwa criticized Mateo for donating to the 2017 re-election campaign of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, and also accused Mateo of breaking the law; Mateo replied that Sliwa's accusations were bogus and shameful.{{cite news |last1=Benitez |first1=Juan Manuel |title=Meet the Republican Candidates for New York City Mayor |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/02/09/republican-candidates-for-new-york-city-mayor |access-date=30 April 2021 |work=Spectrum News NY 1 |publisher=Charter Communications |date=February 9, 2021}}

During the campaign, Mateo and Sliwa clashed over loyalty to former president Donald Trump.Katie Honan, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-candidates-for-new-york-mayor-face-off-in-two-man-debate-11622064803 Republican Mayoral Candidates Tussle Over Trump, Party Loyalty], Wall Street Journal (May 26, 2021).Dana Rubinstein, Jeffery C. Mays, Jazmine Hughes, Anne Barnard, Michael Gold and Mihir Zaveri, [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/nyregion/progressives-wiley-mayor-nyc.html Wiley Wins the Progressives: 5 Takeaways From the NYC Mayor's Race], The New York Times (June 7, 2021). Mateo voiced support for Trump's claim that he won the 2020 presidential election; by contrast, Sliwa did not support Trump in either 2016 or 2020Emma Seiwell, [https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/10398-republican-primary-mayor-two-candidate-race-mateo-sliwa Race for Mayor: Republican Primary A Two-Candidate Race], Gotham Gazette (May 7, 2021). and does not support Trump's election denial. The unofficial results showed Sliwa winning by 72 to 28 percent.{{cite web |title=New York Primary Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/22/us/elections/results-nyc-mayor-primary.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=June 24, 2021 |date=June 24, 2021}}

Sliwa ran on a platform opposing the defund the police movement, supporting a property tax overhaul so that working-class residents would not pay higher property taxes than wealthy citizens, keeping in place the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test while increasing opportunities for vocational training in charter schools, and focusing on fiscal restraint.{{Cite web|title=Meet the candidate: Curtis Sliwa|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2021/03/16/meet-the-candidate--curtis-sliwa|access-date=2021-06-29|website=www.ny1.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Why Curtis Sliwa Says He is Serious About Running For Mayor|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2021/02/27/nyc-elections-2021-whos-running-curtis-sliwa-on-the-issues-public-safety-crime-bill-de-blasio-donald-trump-rudy-giuliani|access-date=2021-06-29|website=www.ny1.com|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Fitzsimmons|first=Emma G.|date=2021-05-20|title=What's the Next Mayor of New York's One Big Idea?|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/20/nyregion/nyc-mayor-candidates-ideas.html|access-date=2021-06-29|issn=0362-4331}} He also opposed the killing of unwanted animals and supported making all animal shelters no-kill shelters, pointing to his own home life with 16 cats.{{Cite web|last=Durkin|first=Erin|title='I come right at you': The vigilantelike figure who's running to be the GOP mayor of New York|url=https://politi.co/3jiP158|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Politico PRO|date=June 28, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Emma G. |date=2021-10-26 |title=Curtis Sliwa, who owns 16 cats, is courting animal lovers. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/nyregion/sliwa-cats-animals-welfare.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Sliwa campaigned on beginning a trial program, if elected, to test out the feasibility of universal basic income in New York City.{{Cite news|last=Lepore|first=Stephen|date=2021-05-20|title=NYC Republican mayoral candidate Sliwa pitches universal basic income program|url=https://pix11.com/news/politics/new-york-elections/republican-mayoral-candidate-sliwa-pitches-ubi-program/}}

Sliwa lost to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in a landslide defeat in the general election on November 2, 2021, with Adams winning just over two-thirds of the votes. Sliwa conceded that same night, calling for unity in order to save New York City.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-03|title=Eric Adams, former police officer, wins New York mayor's race|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/02/eric-adams-wins-mayor-election-new-york-city|access-date=2021-11-03|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sommerfeldt|first=Denis Slattery, Chris|title=Curtis Sliwa calls for unity as he concedes mayoral race to Eric Adams|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nyc-elections-2021/ny-nyc-mayoral-race-curtis-sliwa-concedes-20211103-sryhpadcpbet5fb462vckefhse-story.html|access-date=2021-11-03|website=nydailynews.com|date=November 2, 2021 }}

After his loss, he brought two cats outside the Brooklyn home of Adams in January 2023, after the latter had been fined for rodent violations, and suggested that feral cats could address the rodent problem in the city.{{Cite news |last=Rubinstein |first=Dana |date=2023-01-05 |title=Mayor Adams Has Rats. Curtis Sliwa Has Cats. What Could Go Wrong? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/nyregion/adams-rats-curtis-sliwa.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

=Anti-illegal immigration rallies=

In late August 2023, Sliwa, along with four other organizers, were arrested after an anti-illegal immigration rally outside Gracie Mansion. Police issued a desk appearance ticket on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstruction, but the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to prosecute. Sliwa had previously been arrested at several previous rallies.{{Cite web|last=Woods|first=Amanda|title= Manhattan DA will not prosecute Curtis Sliwa over migrant protest outside Gracie Mansion|url=https://nypost.com/2023/09/11/manhattan-da-wont-prosecute-curtis-sliwa-over-migrant-protest/|website=New York Post|date=September 11, 2023}}

=2025 mayoral campaign=

File:Curtis Sliwa 2025.png

On February 13, 2025, Sliwa announced his candidacy to run for the Mayor of New York City in the 2025 race, again as a Republican. His platform includes addressing the housing shortage in the city by repealing current mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" proposals, restoring zoning control to "local residents, community boards, and City Council members", and revising the city's zoning laws to "prioritize affordability and community stability". He also plans to address concerns about crime by hiring 7,000 more police officers, pushing for repeal of former Governor Andrew Cuomo's bail reforms, which the campaign says has led to violent offenders being released from custody and committing more crimes, and improving conditions in the city's homeless shelters, particularly for those with mental health issues. His platform primarily focuses on crime in the New York City subways, with proposals for combatting fare evasion, prioritizing prosecution of those accused of crimes against women and minorities in the subways, improving the assistance booths in subway stations, and deploying a task force of certified social workers to assist the mentally ill who live in the subway tunnels. Sliwa also pledges to improve economic conditions in the city by investing in and rebuilding boroughs outside Manhattan where needed.{{cite web |title=PLATFORM {{!}} Curtis Sliwa for Mayor |url=https://www.sliwafornyc.com/platform |website=Curtis Sliwa for NYC |access-date=27 February 2025 |language=en}}

Personal life

File:Curtis sliwa toronto2006.jpg

Sliwa has been married four times. He wed his second wife, Lisa Evers, in 1981. At the time, she was National Director of the Guardian Angels{{cite magazine | title = People: December 28, 1981 | magazine = Time | first = E. Graydon | last = Carter | author-link = Graydon Carter | date = December 28, 1981 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949425,00.html | quote = Guardian Angels National Director Lisa Evers, 28, who will marry Angels leader Curtis Sliwa, 26, on Christmas Eve in Manhattan | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101015130303/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C949425%2C00.html | archive-date = October 15, 2010 | url-status = dead }}{{cite news | title = In a Time of Tragedy and Growth, the Guardian Angels' Curtis Sliwa Relies on His New Wife, Lisa | work = People | first = Fred | last = Bernstein | date = February 8, 1982 | url = http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081394,00.html}} and co-hosted a WABC-AM radio show called Angels in the Morning. She is also a martial arts expert who briefly trained with the World Wrestling Federation in 1986.{{cite news | title = Guardian Angel Embodies The Right Attitude | work = Chicago Tribune | publisher = Montreal Gazette | date = July 21, 1986 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pxUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DaYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2113,158474}}

In 2000, Sliwa married his third wife, Mary (nee Galda), a former WABC employee who also served as the Guardian Angels' national director.{{cite web | url=https://gothamist.com/news/curtis-sliwa-was-ex-council-member-melinda-katzs-sperm-donor-and-now-theyre-getting-married | title=Curtis Sliwa Was Ex-Council Member Melinda Katz's Sperm Donor and Now They're Getting Married | date=April 15, 2012 }} They have one son, Anthony, born circa 2004.{{cite news |title= Gotti Goons Target My Boy: Sliwa |work= Daily News |location= New York |last= Zambito |first= Thomas |date= June 14, 2006 |url= http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-06-14/news/18323315_1_junior-gotti-curtis-sliwa-john-gotti }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In 2019, Mary became Mary Paterson, after marrying former New York State governor David Paterson, who in turn is the step-father of Sliwa's son Anthony.{{Cite web|url=https://abc7ny.com/post/david-paterson-assaulted-nyc-upper-east-side-new-york-nypd/15394891/|title=Former NY Governor Paterson, stepson assaulted on Upper East Side|date=October 5, 2024|website=ABC7 New York}}{{Cite web|url=https://pagesix.com/2019/08/12/ex-gov-david-paterson-weds-mary-sliwa/|title=Exclusive | Ex-Gov. David Paterson weds Mary Sliwa, ex-wife of Curtis Sliwa|first=Mara|last=Siegler|date=August 13, 2019}}

Curtis Sliwa was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, which he announced publicly on April{{nbsp}}20, 2011.{{cite web |url= http://www.curtissliwa.com |title= Curtis Sliwa Homepage |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120730133656/http://www.curtissliwa.com/ |archive-date= July 30, 2012 }}

Sliwa was in a relationship with Melinda Katz, the Queens County District Attorney, and separated from her in 2014; they have two children together, conceived in vitro over the previous five years.{{cite news | title = Curtis Sliwa Was Ex-Council Member Melinda Katz's Sperm Donor And Now They're Getting Married | work = Gothamist | first = Jen | last = Chung | date = April 15, 2012 | url = http://gothamist.com/2012/04/15/curtis_sliwa_was_council_member_mel.php | accessdate = April 19, 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419182128/http://gothamist.com/2012/04/15/curtis_sliwa_was_council_member_mel.php | archivedate = April 19, 2012 | df = mdy-all }} In court documents, Sliwa's ex-wife, Mary, accused him of diverting money to Katz while still married to Mary, as part of a plan to build a "nest egg" with Katz prior to moving in with her.{{cite news|author=Fanelli, James|work=DNAinfo New York|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130509/forest-hills/guardian-angels-curtis-sliwa-accused-of-cheating-on-wife-with-melinda-katz|title=Guardian Angels' Curtis Sliwa Swindled Wife During Affair, Lawsuit Says|date=May 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731031828/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130509/forest-hills/guardian-angels-curtis-sliwa-accused-of-cheating-on-wife-with-melinda-katz|archivedate=July 31, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|author=Gregorian, Dareh|work=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/melinda-katz-grilled-curtis-sliwa-child-support-trial-article-1.1545063 |title=Curtis Sliwa Child-Support Trial: Queens Borough President-elect Melinda Katz Gets Grilled|date= December 11, 2013}}

On July{{nbsp}}5, 2018, Sliwa wed his longtime girlfriend, animal activist and attorney Nancy Regula, at the Howe Caverns.{{cite web |title=Guardian Angel's Founder Curtis Sliwa Weds Attorney Nancy Regula |url=https://thebronxchronicle.com/2018/07/09/guardian-angels-founder-curtis-sliwa-weds-attorney-nancy-regula/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918004957/http://thebronxchronicle.com/2018/07/09/guardian-angels-founder-curtis-sliwa-weds-attorney-nancy-regula/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |website=thebronxchronicle.com |date=July 9, 2018 |publisher=The Bronx Chronicle |access-date=28 October 2021}}

References

External links

{{Facebook|curtisliwa}}
{{C-SPAN}}
{{IMDb name|nm0805913}}
{{youTube|id=Y9hk0AGBvt0|title=Sliwa introducing stickball to Cuba, 2004}}
{{cite news|title=Chester Sliwa, father of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, dies at 92|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=September 11, 2012|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/chester-sliwa-father-guardian-angels-founder-curtis-sliwa-dies-92-article-1.1157280}}
{{cite news|title=Frances Sliwa, mother of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, dies at 93|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 31, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/nyregion/francis-sliwa-dead-guardian-angels-supporter.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0}}

{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Mayor of New York City|years=2021}}

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:Activists from New York City

Category:American community activists

Category:American conservative talk radio hosts

Category:American people of Italian descent

Category:American politicians of Polish descent

Category:American shooting survivors

Category:Anti-crime activists

Category:Brooklyn Preparatory School alumni

Category:Canarsie High School alumni