BROOKLYN, NY – In a fervent address at the Skywise Lounge, mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa delivered what supporters called a “historical speech,” outlining his vision for New York City and sharply critiquing his opponents. The event, captured in a YouTube video transcript, served as a rallying cry for Republicans, independents, and even some Democrats, urging them to embrace American exceptionalism and reject what Sliwa calls the “destruction” of the city.
Sliwa positioned himself as the only candidate capable of rescuing New York from what he describes as the failures of past and present leadership, including Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, and Zoran Mandami. He questioned whether New Yorkers are “better off today than they were 4 years ,” echoing a famous question by Ronald Reagan, and concluded with a resounding “no”.
A Stark Choice: Rejecting “Isms” and Failed Leadership
A core tenet of Sliwa’s campaign is a rejection of ideologies like “socialism, Marxism, communism, anti-semitism,” advocating instead for “American exceptionalism”. He decries current leaders as those who have proven “their failure and inability to govern our state and our city”.
Sliwa specifically targeted current Mayor Eric Adams, highlighting:
• Poor Poll Performance: Adams has reportedly finished “dead last in each one” of four recent polls, “including the one he paid for”.
• Lack of Democratic Support: Adams “couldn’t even win his own Democratic party nomination” and didn’t even try to run in the Republican primary, choosing to become an independent instead to avoid humiliation.
• Misplaced Priorities: Sliwa accused Adams of giving “illegal aliens an additional $55 million” in the budget while allocating only “$4 million” to veterans.
• Ties to Billionaires and Developers: Sliwa claimed Adams “partnered up with his billionaire friend George Soros” and his son. He asserted that Adams is “wined diamond pocket line by the developers and the realtors”.
• Support for the “City of Yes”: Sliwa vowed to “repeal legally the city of Yes” on day one if elected, arguing it “destroys your neighborhood,” eliminates zoning, and allows for massive development without community input. He stated that Adams, Cuomo, and Mandami are “all in cahoots on this”.
• Support for Lithium-ion Battery Warehouses: Sliwa noted that Adams, Cuomo, and Mandami support these warehouses, which he claims are terrifying residents in neighborhoods like Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Sliwa also criticized the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), calling it the “worst landlord” in the city, with “6,000 empty apartments” despite a housing crisis, which he claims benefits developers.
Focus on Real Issues and Working-Class Values
Unlike his opponents, whom he alleges focus on irrelevant issues like Zoran Mandami’s SAT scores or perceived anti-Semitism on the left, Sliwa emphasized that the number one issues for New Yorkers are “affordability, rents too high to pay, cost of living, crime, quality of life”. He promised to “microtarget” issues unique to each zip code.
Sliwa proudly identifies as a “blue-collar working class” candidate, a “Brooklyn boy” born and raised, who will fight for “working class people” and “small business people who get screwed”. He declared, “I’m not the candidate of the billionaires and billionaires,” contrasting himself with opponents who he claims are backed by wealthy interests. He stated that no billionaire or millionaire will choose the next mayor.
A poignant endorsement came from Athena Clark, a teacher who was “terminated during the mandate” and is now running for city council. Clark, who changed her registration from Democrat to Republican to vote for Sliwa, praised his commitment to city workers and the working class, stating he is the “only person who’s fighting for us”. She highlighted Mandami’s stance to “stand behind the mandates that occurred and for the next pandemic,” which she views as a threat to “freedom of choice”.
Building a Broad Coalition for Victory
Despite some Republicans doubting his citywide electability, Sliwa confidently asserted his path to victory. He revealed that he wins the most votes from independents, who are a growing demographic and “choose me overwhelmingly”. He believes independents are “free agents” who pick the best person for the job, unburdened by party affiliation.
Sliwa also highlighted support from:
• Millennials and Gen Z: Who he claims “study the numbers”.
• Moderate Democrats: Many of whom are telling him he can win.
• “Democrats for Sliwa”: A group now led by Bob Holding.
• Former RFK Jr. Campaign Staff: Who decided to back Sliwa after RFK Jr. joined Team Trump.
He chastised national Republicans for “vile” and “despicable” rhetoric (e.g., about Muslim women) that alienates patriotic Muslim voters, pushing them towards Mandami. Sliwa stressed the importance of uniting Republicans, moderate Democrats, and independents.
Emphasizing his dedication, Sliwa proclaimed, “I’m not leaving, I’m not running, nothing is going to drive me out. I am going to fight fight fight for the working class people to the outer burrows”. He encouraged voters to “improve, don’t move” and fight for what’s right by voting for the Republican candidate. His supporters are convinced that he “can win, he will win and we will overcome”.
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Sources: Big New York news BigNY.com
