Many voters tend to choose candidates that present themselves as “men of the people,” and that’s exactly how Curtis Sliwa hopes to be seen as he enters the race for public advocate in February’s special election to replace state Attorney General-elect Letitia James.
The bold, tough-talking founder and face of the civilian vigilante group the Guardian Angels, radio personality, and perennial Reform Party candidate spoke with Kings County Politics to discuss his efforts to eliminate the office for which he is running via referendum if elected.
Sliwa explained that with the exception of Betsy Gotbaum, every public advocate the city has had since the post was established in 1994 had largely used the position as a springboard to campaign for higher office on taxpayers’ money, citing James, Mayor Bill De Blasio, and Mark Green.
“If I were to run for Public Advocate…I would take the oath of office if I won, fire myself, fire everyone else, and padlock the office,” said Sliwa. “You do not need a public advocate, because all they’re advocating for is themselves.”
Still, he made it clear that if the people vote to maintain the public advocate office in the referendum that he is proposing if elected, he will respect their decision and use his position to “be Bill De Blasio’s worst nightmare,” highlighting his July 2017 arrest at Gracie Mansion for serving the mayor court papers to emphasize their differences.
Sliwa proceeded to explain that his top priority would be the subway system. “I was birthed in the subways. For 40 years, I have been patrolling the subways with the Guardian Angels,” he said, “And that’s something the mayor disdains. Riding the subway. He’ll do it for a photo-op, but he refuses to ride the subway.”
He also accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of similarly being aloof on matters of the subway system. “You must come together in unity, like you did in selling us out to Amazon…because you wanted contracts in order to get political kickbacks…and figure out a way to save our subways, because they’re doing a miserable job,” he said.
Sliwa also intends to make issues with NYCHA projects another major priority, suggesting better relations with the Trump Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “I believe…I’ve been in more NYCHA houses and developments in all five boroughs, so I think I understand the needs of the tenants,” he said. “If you don’t have a relationship with the Trump Administration…which supplies 90% of the funds to run the public housing…the state and the city alone do not have the money necessary,” emphasizing De Blasio’s recent appeal to HUD Secretary Ben Carson for assistance with NYCHA.
He also explained that he was motivated to run by the announcement of Republican candidate and City Councilmember Eric Ulrich (Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven), who he blamed for endorsing former cop Bo Dietl, who he called a “buffoon,” over Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis for the Republican nomination in last year’s mayoral election.
He also noted how Ulrich voted to approve “radical” former City Council Speaker and Democratic P.A. candidate Melissa Mark-Viverito (Concourse, Concourse Village, East Harlem, Highbridge, Longwood, Mott Haven, Port Morris, Randall’s Island) as speaker.,
However, Sliwa acknowledged that Ulrich is the only true Republican in the race and could be redeemed for his past mistakes if he apologized, comparing it to the Stations of the Cross in reference to their shared Roman Catholic faith.
On Mark-Viverito, he told this reporter that he respected her intelligence, passion, and dedication to her goals, but felt she was out of touch with the needs of New Yorkers.
“I’ve always thought that Melissa Mark-Viverito’s heart was always in Puerto Rico. She seems to be much more attached to the island’s needs,” Sliwa told this reporter. “Why do you want to run for public advocate here? You should run for Mayor, Governor of Puerto Rico…the public advocate cannot be thinking about Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic or anywhere else. We’re thinking of the five boroughs of the City of New York.”
