With Mayor Eric Adams officially bowing out of the race for New York City’s top office, the field is down to three names that every New Yorker knows: former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. For many political observers, Cuomo’s name recognition and machine politics make him the only “viable” alternative to Mamdani. But that view smacks of corruption and sells New Yorkers and their city short.
In reality, there’s only one candidate who has consistently put New York City and its people first, and that’s Curtis Sliwa. If you’re a New Yorker who cares about public safety, ethics, and genuine grassroots leadership, voting for Curtis Sliwa isn’t just an option; it’s the only responsible choice.
The Case Against Comrade Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani is no ordinary left-wing politician. A proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani represents the ideological extreme that has contributed to New York City becoming less safe and less livable over the past decade. He has blamed police for rising crime, advocated for the city to take over privately owned food stores, and refused to condemn Hamas or the atrocities of October 7, 2023. Mamdani openly questions Israel’s right to exist while promoting policies that would cripple the NYPD, gut small businesses, and turn the city’s already fragile economy into a socialist experiment.
His worldview is not only misguided but also dangerous. A city already struggling with crime, affordability, and infrastructure cannot afford a mayor who thinks law enforcement is the problem and government ownership of the food supply is the solution.
The Cuomo Problem
Many New Yorkers who are understandably horrified by Mamdani’s platform are being told they must “hold their noses” and vote for Andrew Cuomo. But that is a false choice. Cuomo is no savior. His disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the nursing home policy that contributed to thousands of unnecessary deaths, should disqualify him from ever holding office again. And his administration’s subsequent attempt to cover up those deaths out of political self-interest only compounded the tragedy.
Beyond that, Cuomo is a lifelong Democrat machine politician from a family dynasty synonymous with patronage, backroom deals, corruption, and ethical controversies. As radio legend Bob Grant used to say, the Cuomos are the very embodiment of New York’s political rot. Voting for Cuomo just because he isn’t Mamdani is not an act of pragmatism; it’s an act of despair.
Curtis Sliwa: A Life of Service
Unlike Mamdani and Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa has built his reputation not on ideology or political machines but on action. Born in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Sliwa is a son of the city who has spent his life fighting for it. As a teenager, he saved people from a burning building. In his 20s, while managing a McDonald’s in the Bronx, he organized employees to clean up the neighborhood and protect commuters from violent crime on the subways. Those early efforts evolved into the Guardian Angels in 1979—a volunteer crime-prevention group that has since grown into an international organization with chapters worldwide.
Sliwa’s unmistakable red beret became a symbol of community-driven action at a time when New York was being ravaged by crime. Today, he remains a tireless advocate for law and order, personal responsibility, and animal welfare. He has hosted radio talk shows for decades, where his plainspoken, no-nonsense style has earned him a loyal following among working-class New Yorkers.
Principled, Independent Leadership
What sets Sliwa apart in this race is his incorruptibility. He’s not beholden to a political machine or special interests. He’s turned down lucrative offers to abandon his campaigns and continues to speak out against both left-wing extremism and establishment cynicism. He’s a high school dropout with a prodigious vocabulary, a martial artist who can handle himself physically and intellectually, and a man whose entire public life reflects New York’s resilience and grit.
Curtis Sliwa isn’t pretending to be something he’s not. He’s not trying to reinvent himself for political expediency. He’s a real New Yorker who has been on the front lines of the city’s struggles for decades, and he’s precisely the kind of mayor New York needs now.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
Choosing between Mamdani and Cuomo is like choosing between two poisons. One offers radical policies that would upend the city’s economy and safety; the other offers the same old machine politics and a legacy of deadly mismanagement. But New Yorkers are not limited to those two options. They have a third—Curtis Sliwa—and that choice is rooted in common sense, courage, and integrity.
In 2021, Sliwa lost his mayoral bid against Eric Adams. But since then, Adams’ own failures have made many New Yorkers question the establishment’s hold on City Hall. With Adams out of the race, the field is wide open. This is the moment for New Yorkers to break free from the tired “lesser of two evils” mentality and vote for someone who actually represents their interests.
Wise Up, New Yorkers
Curtis Sliwa isn’t just the better choice; he’s the only ethical choice. He’s spent his life defending the city’s people, riding the subways, cleaning up neighborhoods, and standing up to criminals when the politicians wouldn’t. He can’t be bought. He won’t sell out. And he embodies the kind of leadership—scrappy, principled, and unapologetically New York—that the city desperately needs.
This November, New Yorkers have the chance to reject both radical socialism and corrupt machine politics. New Yorkers can send a message that the city belongs to its people, not to ideologues or dynasties. The way to do that is simple: vote for Curtis Sliwa.
We are so screwed if you don’t elect Sliwa.
— Steve
