23:45ABC News’ Linsey Davis interviews NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, Oct. 31, 2025. Michael J. Lebrecht II/ABC News
From his distinct ruby beret to his unforgettable catchphrases, plus his frank demeanor on the streets and complimentary comments about his felines, Curtis Sliwa has been a prominent person in New York City for a long time.
The 71-year-old Republican contender for mayor expressed to ABC News' Linsey Davis that this background not only distinguishes him from his rivals, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but also strikes a chord with voters.
ABC News’ Linsey Davis interviews NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, Oct. 31, 2025.Michael J. Lebrecht II/ABC News
"I'm the sole genuine New Yorker vying in this contest. The rest, they've had a brief stint here, and after that, they've journeyed to different locales, which is acceptable. But Curtis Sliwa, if you were to even poll my detractors, they'd acknowledge that he's the authentic New Yorker, the genuine New Yorker," stated Sliwa, who also ran as the Republican nominee for mayor back in 2021, ultimately losing to the current Democratic officeholder Eric Adams, who isn’t seeking another term.
Even though he is lagging in the polls and has been urged by President Donald Trump and certain Republicans to withdraw, Sliwa has remained unwavering in his campaign efforts, taking to the streets and presenting his argument focused on enhancing safety for New Yorkers.
This has been Sliwa's singular mission since the age of 24, when he established The Guardian Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to crime prevention. Upon its inception in the 1970s, he, along with other volunteers, patrolled the Bronx during a period when the city's crime statistics were rapidly increasing.
"There was a scarcity of police officers, and there were financial reductions. New York City was teetering on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. I held the position of night manager at McDonald's in the Bronx, which was succumbing to fires and, at times, harbored a greater number of gangs than law enforcement," he recounted.
The group swiftly grew, encompassing all five boroughs and eventually expanding across the globe.
While Sliwa acknowledged that the city has undergone positive transformations since the '70s, he asserted that substantial issues related to crime persist, which he argues were not adequately addressed by the previous two Democratic mayors.
ABC News’ Linsey Davis interviews NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, Oct. 31, 2025.Michael J. Lebrecht II/ABC
"I characterize it as a crime emergency. We inhabit a city where we secure toothpaste while leaving criminals unrestrained. It's rather shameful when visitors come and remark, 'Curtis, I attempted to purchase a tube of toothpaste, but I had to wait for 20 minutes.' Virtually everything is under lock and key, yet you don't appear to detain your criminals," he commented.
Sliwa expressed disapproval of both his opponents' platforms and their critiques of him. Cuomo has contended that he is the contender who possesses the most extensive background in public service.
The Republican contender criticized Cuomo's track record, citing criminal justice reforms enacted during his tenure as governor, as well as his resignation from office triggered by investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct. Cuomo has refuted these accusations.
"He was a governor who had lost credibility," Sliwa stated. "He possesses such a wealth of experience and has accumulated so many negative attributes that we would need to fill up an entire New York City public library with the chronicle of his failures."
Mamdani has anchored his campaign on the issue of affordability, advocating for proposals to freeze rents on rent-stabilized apartments and introduce free bus services and universal childcare.
Sliwa jokingly suggested that Mamdani's "entire professional history could be written on a small paper napkin," and argued that he fails to connect with blue-collar, working-class New Yorkers.
"The stark reality will quickly become apparent that he lacks the financial resources to support all of his initiatives, which include complimentary bus fares, rent freezes, and most notably, universal childcare. Although childcare is urgently needed, it's unrealistic to expect universal coverage," Sliwa observed.
ABC News’ Linsey Davis interviews NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, Oct. 31, 2025.Michael J. Lebrecht II/ABC
Sliwa maintained that Mamdani's ambitious proposals are the cause for Trump's threat to withhold federal funding should the assemblyman emerge victorious in the election.
Sliwa expressed that he would cultivate a more amicable relationship with Trump.
"Upon my election, I will take a seat and engage with whomever Donald Trump assigns. Let's engage in negotiations. He relishes that. Invoking the term 'negotiate' with Donald Trump is akin to offering him the most enticing proposition imaginable," he remarked.
However, this sentiment has not been reciprocal, as Trump and some Republicans have pressured Sliwa to abandon the race, albeit without success. Sliwa acknowledged that he isn't a MAGA Republican and is open to disagreeing with the president on matters, such as deploying National Guard troops into cities.
Nonetheless, he set himself apart from the top 1% whom he claims are supporting his opponents.
"I am a populist, blue-collar, working-class candidate. I'm not backed by billionaires," he declared.
Regarding legitimate criticisms directed at him, Sliwa admitted to occasionally being a bit of "an entertainer," a nod to his past as a talk radio personality, but he asserted that there was nothing inherently wrong with his energy.
"It's not necessary to be perpetually serious, as if you're delivering a lecture on the issues of the day. You can achieve both objectives. However, it's imperative to communicate in the vernacular of the average woman and man. You must avoid condescending to them; instead, engage with them directly, which is precisely what I do," Sliwa concluded.
ABC News’ Linsey Davis interviews NYC Mayoral Candidate Curtis Sliwa, Oct. 31, 2025.Michael J. Lebrecht II/ABC
The candidate also conveyed that he felt no shame regarding his affection for animal welfare and the related jokes.
Sliwa has accommodated as many as 17 cats within his studio apartment, a practice that he said originated when his wife began adopting rescue cats from city shelters during the pandemic.
"As Mahatma Gandhi articulated, a society that fails to care for its animals is equally neglectful of its people," he remarked. "I hold a deep affection for animals, as I believe most Americans do."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
