Latest news with #Sliwa
Politico
17 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
The billionaire, the vigilante and the mayor
CATS' CAMPAIGN: An eccentric billionaire grocery store magnate, a red beret-wearing vigilante who fosters cats and a nightclub-hopping Democratic mayor are at the heart of a battle over the GOP ballot line for New York City mayor. GOP megadonor John Catsimatidis wants his fellow billionaires to line up behind Mayor Eric Adams' longshot reelection bid to block the ascent of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, according to several people familiar with internal discussions and granted anonymity to speak freely. But the actual Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, said he won't be cowed from leaving the race. Catsimatidis relayed his support for Adams in a brief interview with POLITICO while staying diplomatic about Sliwa. 'The only people who are going to help Eric Adams is Washington, whether it's (border czar) Tom Homan, whether it's Donald Trump,' Catsimatidis said. 'And Tom and Donald Trump want a safe New York.' Finance executives and aligned Republicans have been huddling since Mamdani's primary night upset on how to derail the election of a democratic socialist targeting the wealthy. And boosting the Trump-friendly independent candidate Adams at the expense of Sliwa has emerged as consensus — even as the mayor faces campaign finance hurdles and dismal approval ratings. Sliwa is insistent he will actively campaign and said pressuring him to drop out is futile. 'I'm not getting out of this race unless they figure out a way to put me in a pine box and bury me six feet under,' the Guardian Angels founder told POLITICO. Catsimatidis, Sliwa's boss at WABC radio, did not deny he's pulling for Adams but stressed that Sliwa is a longtime friend. 'Right now, Curtis has to make up his own mind,' Catsimatidis said. Billionaire Bill Ackman separately has promised to bankroll a viable business-friendly candidate against Mamdani, a state lawmaker whose ascendant campaign shocked the establishment. But the ballot lines for November are set. Sliwa, known as much for his decades of patrolling the subways as he is for his heavy-handed antics, said he'll run on the GOP and independent 'protect animals' ballot lines. So far, the New York GOP has his back. Former Gov. George Pataki and state party chair Ed Cox fundraised Thursday with Sliwa among Asian Americans. The party is preparing for a general election with Mamdani as the presumptive Democratic nominee, and the tenacious Adams, business leader Jim Walden and primary loser Andrew Cuomo as independents. Whether Cuomo runs an active campaign remains unclear. Sliwa said that even a Trump intervention, direct request or offer to join his administration would not succeed in removing him from the race for mayor. 'If the president were to call,' Sliwa said, 'I, very respectfully, would say, 'President Trump. I'm interested in only one job: being mayor of the city of New York.'' Read more from POLITICO's Emily Ngo. From the Capitol TODAY IS THE DAY: Eight bidders are finally submitting their applications to nab a license to operate what could be some of the most lucrative casinos in the world. Today is the deadline for casino bidders in the New York City area to turn in thousands and thousands of pages of applications — so enormous in scale that some are being delivered by the truckload — to the state's gaming commission as they vie for three state licenses to operate a casino. The bidders include: A Times Square casino backed by Jay-Z, a Citi Field casino from Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen, a Bronx casino on the site of the former Trump Links golf course, a Coney Island casino steps from the boardwalk, a 'Freedom Plaza' casino right near the United Nations building and a casino on Manhattan's West Side overlooking the Hudson. Two other bidders — Queens' Resorts World NYC and Yonkers' Empire City — are also vying for the licenses. The two sites already operate 'racinos' where people bet on horse racing through digital machines, and many involved in the process acknowledge that this gives them a steep advantage over the other bids. The state's 'Gaming Facility Location Board' will assess the proposals through a detailed rubric that evaluates community support and 'speed to market' as some of the important factors. With the deadline today, many of the bidders are blasting out press releases celebrating their proposals. Resorts World is touting a video with the rapper Nas and a plan to generate over $1 billion for the MTA in the first five years. Cohen is releasing video renderings of what Citi Field could look like with a massive gaming and entertainment complex next door. And Empire City is expecting its gross gaming revenue to surpass $960 million per year. 'We've spent years engaging with the community so that we could put together a bid that combines the needs of the neighborhood with the stated goals of New York State,' said Dan Boren, secretary of commerce for the Chickasaw Nation, which is behind the Coney Island bid. 'We are excited and proud to submit this proposal and look forward to the next steps of this process.' — Jason Beeferman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL MAMDANI'S LABOR NODS: Two major labor unions that backed Cuomo's failed Democratic mayoral bid endorsed upstart democratic socialist Mamdani. The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ SEIU, which represents building service workers in New York City, will back the Democratic nominee as Cuomo ponders whether to actively campaign as an independent. 'This is a campaign for the working people of this city who deserve dignity on the job and neighborhoods they can afford,' Mamdani said in a statement. 'That's exactly who HTC and 32BJ fights and delivers for every single day, and I am honored to have their support as the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York. Together, we will win a new day for the New Yorkers who keep this city running every single day.' The endorsements are an indication Mamdani is pulling together institutional support after his upset bid over the moderate Democratic ex-governor. Mamdani is set to meet next month with influential business leaders who are skeptical of his tax and spending proposals, according to NY1. Read more from POLITICO's Nick Reisman and Sally Goldenberg. GTFO: All four Muslim Democratic House members are denouncing 'racist smears' against Mamdani from lawmakers in both parties since his primary win, POLITICO first reported. 'The vile, anti-Muslim and racist smears from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle attacking Zohran Mamdani cannot be met with silence. These hateful, Islamophobic, and racist tropes have become so entrenched and normalized in our politics,' said Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Lateefah Simon of California in a statement. Mamdani, who would become New York's first Muslim mayor, has faced attacks from GOP lawmakers after his primary win this week. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) tied him to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for him to be deported, among others. The left was also concerned about since-clarified comments from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) about Mamdani's rhetoric about Israel. Brooklyn Democratic Party leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn also forcefully defended Mamdani on Friday, calling the attacks 'baseless and unconstitutional' in a statement. Bichotte Hermelyn endorsed Cuomo in the primary, but threw support to Mamdani for the general election.— Jeff Coltin IN OTHER NEWS — CUOMO ON THE BALLOT: We don't know for sure whether Cuomo will run in the general election, but he will be on New Yorkers' ballots. (New York Post) — FROM MOM AND DAD: Mamdani's parents talk to the Times' and say Mamdani's views are his, not his parents. (The New York Times) — SHE'S BACK: Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former top aide to Adams until she was indicted on bribery charges, is working on his reelection bid. (Daily News) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
18 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Billionaire and radio host John Catsimatidis prefers Eric Adams over fellow Republican in mayor's race
NEW YORK — An eccentric billionaire grocery store magnate, a red beret-wearing vigilante who fosters cats and a nightclub-hopping Democratic mayor are at the heart of a battle over the GOP ballot line for New York City mayor. GOP megadonor John Catsimatidis wants his fellow billionaires to line up behind Mayor Eric Adams' longshot reelection bid to block the ascent of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, according to several people familiar with internal discussions and granted anonymity to speak freely about closed-door strategy. But the actual Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, said he won't be cowed from leaving the race. Catsimatidis relayed his support for Adams in a brief interview with POLITICO, commending the mayor's working relationship with the Trump administration, while staying diplomatic about Sliwa. 'The only people who are going to help Eric Adams is Washington, whether it's (border czar) Tom Homan, whether it's Donald Trump,' Catsimatidis said. 'And Tom and Donald Trump want a safe New York.' Finance executives and aligned Republicans have been huddling since Mamdani's primary night upset on how to derail the election of a democratic socialist targeting the wealthy. And boosting the Trump-friendly independent candidate Adams at the expense of Sliwa has emerged as consensus — even as the mayor faces campaign finance hurdles and dismal approval ratings. Sliwa is insistent he will actively campaign and said pressuring him to drop out is futile. 'I'm not getting out of this race unless they figure out a way to put me in a pine box and bury me six feet under,' the Guardian Angels founder told POLITICO. Catsimatidis, Sliwa's boss at WABC radio, did not deny he's pulling for Adams but stressed that Sliwa is a longtime friend. 'Right now, Curtis has to make up his own mind,' Catsimatidis said. Billionaire Bill Ackman separately has promised to bankroll a viable business-friendly candidate against Mamdani, a state lawmaker whose ascendant campaign shocked the establishment. But the ballot lines for November are set. Sliwa, known as much for his decades of patrolling the subways as he is for his heavy-handed antics and many foster cats, said he'll run on the GOP and independent 'protect animals' ballot lines. So far, the New York GOP has his back. Former Gov. George Pataki and state party chair Ed Cox fundraised Thursday with Sliwa among Asian Americans. The party is preparing for a general election with Mamdani as the presumptive Democratic nominee, and the tenacious Adams, business leader Jim Walden and primary loser Andrew Cuomo as independents. Whether Cuomo runs an active campaign remains unclear. Sliwa railed against Adams as corrupt, referencing his since-dropped bribery charges, and blamed the mayor for the pressure campaign to get Sliwa out of the race. 'He's a crook,' Sliwa said in an interview. 'A lot of good men and women lost their careers who happened to be Republican conservative prosecutors because of Eric Adams, and he's the luckiest man alive because he should be in a jail cell right now with Bobby Menendez.' Adams has denied wrongdoing and called the prosecution against him politicized. Sliwa said that even a Trump intervention, direct request or offer to join his administration would not succeed in removing him from the race for mayor. 'If the president were to call, I, very respectfully, would say, 'President Trump. I'm interested in only one job: being mayor of the city of New York,'' Sliwa said. 'I'm the Republican nominee. I'm the 'protecting animals' independent party nominee, and I'm running 'til November 4, until the vote to figure out who our next mayor is.'
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Defiant GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa insists on staying in NYC mayoral race
He wants to be New York's guardian angel. Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa defiantly insisted that he's not going anywhere Thursday — as calls mount for him to drop his longshot bid over fears of socialist Zohran Mamdani's surging campaign. The pressure campaign on Sliwa amped up as Mamdani surprisingly trounced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday's Democratic primary — and both the Guardian Angels founder and the Queens assemblyman will face Mayor Eric Adams in November. 5 Sliwa insisted that he would remain in the mayoral race despite calls for him to drop out. 5 Sources said Mayor Adams, who is running as an independent, hasn't given up his Hail Mary hope of taking over Sliwa's spot on the coveted GOP party line in the general election. AP 'I'm focused on one thing: winning this race and saving New York City from the corruption and collapse he created,' Sliwa told The Post of Adams on Thursday. 'He's not running against a fantasy. He's running against me. I'm the only one capable of beating Zohran Mamdani and I'm going to do it.' Sources said Adams, who is running as an independent, hasn't given up his Hail Mary hope of taking over Sliwa's spot on the coveted GOP party line in the general election. Adams has been gunning 'big time' for Sliwa's spot as recently as Wednesday, and even told bigwig donors that the red beret-wearing vigilante was dropping out for a job in the Trump administration, according to the sources. 5 Republicans, big business leaders and even some moderate Democrats are panicked over the prospect of Mamdani sailing to victory against a divided field of opponents. AFP via Getty Images But Sliwa scoffed at the idea. 'It's laughable that Eric Adams is telling donors I'm headed to the White House,' he said. 'He's clearly panicked.' Republicans, big business leaders and even some moderate Democrats are panicked over the prospect of Mamdani sailing to victory against a divided field of opponents: Sliwa, Adams, independent Jim Walden and perhaps even a stubborn Cuomo also running as an independent. Follow The Post's coverage of the NYC mayoral race Even if Cuomo does end up deciding to carry on his campaign, sources said he's viewed as a loser unlikely to stop Mamdani. But Adams viewed Mamdani's victory as a way to resurrect his own waning re-election hopes, casting himself as the best chance to stop the socialist from winning, sources said. Likeminded big donors have also been pushing to get Sliwa a job in the Trump administration to clear the lane for Adams, sources told Post financial correspondent Lydia Moynihan. Grabbing the GOP line would make Adams' task easier, but many hurdles remain. 5 Adams reportedly views Mamdani's victory as a way to resurrect his waning re-election hopes, casting himself as the best chance to stop the socialist from winning, sources said. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock According to an obscure New York election law that aims to stop party jumping, Adams would need to gain the backing of three out of five Republican county chairs, or Sliwa would have to die, be named a judge or move out of New York City for Hizzoner to take the GOP nomination. A GOP insider said Adams was 'big time' trying to boot Sliwa, with no success. 'It's immense pressure,' the insider said Thursday. '(Adams) is still calling around to county chairs as recently as yesterday… They are telling him no, he has his chance and they are behind Curtis.' 5 'He's not running against a fantasy. He's running against me,' Sliwa told The Post. 'I'm the only one capable of beating Zohran Mamdani and I'm going to do it.' AP But Staten Island Republican Chair Michael Tannousis said he hasn't heard about Adams' overtures, making it unlikely the mayor's machinations will work. The island is the backbone for the Republican party in the city, and Sliwa easily carried it over Adams when the two faced off in 2021's mayoral election. Adams ended up trouncing Sliwa, carrying 67% of the vote to the Republican's 28%. John Catsimatidis, a billionaire Republican and ally of Adams, said Sliwa is unlikely to budge. 'I don't think Curtis is getting out,' he said.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Inside the campaign to find a new Republican to run against Mamdani
Prominent donors are gunning to get Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa a job in the Trump Administration in hopes of pushing him out of New York City's mayoral race, sources told me. The aim is to open up the GOP nomination — and the nearly 30% of the vote someone running in that lane is expected to get — for current mayor Eric Adams. At present, the mayor is running for re-election as an independent — sandwiched in between Sliwa on the right and Zohran Mamdani on the (ultra-far) left. My sources said Adams, who recently struck a deal with the Trump Administration to clear himself of charges leveled by the DOJ, is open to running as a Republican, but it hinges on a rather complicated chain of events. 4 Curtis Sliwa, 71, ran as the Republican nominee in 2021 and won 27.8% of the vote. Advertisement Sliwa would have to leave the state to open up the slot, and then Republican borough leaders — city council members and the only Republican borough president, Staten Island's Vito Fossella — would need to anoint Adams. Getting Sliwa a top job in Washington, D.C. would be one way — the only way some sources think — to make sure he leaves the state. My sources believe the scheme wouldn't come across as undemocratic given that Sliwa was the only choice in the Republican primary. 4 Eric Adams is running for re-election as an independent — sandwiched in between Sliwa on the right and Zohran Mamdani on the (ultra-far) left. Michael Nagle The 71-year-old ran as the Republican nominee in 2021 and won 27.8% of the vote. That wasn't enough to win a plurality let alone a majority, but if his supporters were to rally behind Adams in November, it could be enough to keep the mayor in Gracie Mansion. Advertisement Of course, it all hinges on President Trump's willingness to extend an olive branch to Sliwa (and by extension New York City) and Sliwa's willingness to take it. 'Curtis has to make a decision of conscience. How much does he love his city as opposed to running for office?' longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who is vehemently against Mamdani, told me. 4 Eric Adams moving to the Republican ticket would give him votes from the right and the center. Getty Images Sliwa voted for Trump in 2024, but has previously called him 'a screwball and a crackpot.' He also briefly left the Republican party in 2020 and has stated he didn't vote for Trump in that election. Advertisement It is unclear what kind of job could woo Sliwa to Washington. As of now, my sources said he remains hell bent on staying in the race even if it means spoiling it for Adams and ushering in a socialist. (Adams and Sliwa did not respond to requests for comment.) One other consideration? The 30-year contract Sliwa has with WABC for his radio show. But WABC owner John Catsimatidis — who owns the radio station through his Red Apple Media — told me that will not be an issue. 4 Pro-business leaders are trying to rally around one candidate to defeat socialist Zohran Mamdani. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Advertisement 'If he was nominated to a great position, how could I hold him back?' Adams, who saw support among the business community wane as Cuomo appeared poised to nab the Democratic primary, has picked up momentum since Tuesday as business leaders fret Mamdani could win. He's been working overtime the last few days trying to win back support and is exploring launching additional PACs to raise additional money. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). This wouldn't be the first time a candidate switched his registration to win an election. Bloomberg left the crowded Democratic field in 2001, nabbed the Republican nomination and went on to win the general election. Adams has already shown a willingness to engage with Republicans, appearing on 'Fox & Friends' earlier this week to express concerns about the possibility of Mamdani winning the primary. He's also working with the Trump Administration when it comes to letting ICE do its job by arresting illegals in NYC. Sheinkopf is cautiously optimistic that it could all work for Adams. Advertisement 'In the last 55 years, only two incumbent first term mayors have been defeated … Abe Beams and David Dinkins and he's not either,' he told me. 'Adams can win by putting together the coalition that elected him last time — the business people and the people who create the jobs.' Send NYNext a tip: nynextlydia@
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Curtis Sliwa: The lone Republican running for New York City mayor
The Brief Sliwa is a longtime New York City activist and founder of the Guardian Angels. He frames himself as the only candidate focused on quality of life, public safety and representing what he calls "the outer boroughs." He's also a staunch animal welfare advocate. NEW YORK CITY - While Democrats battle it out in the NYC mayoral primary, Curtis Sliwa is coasting to the general election for a second time as the GOP's one-man army. What we know Sliwa is a longtime New York City activist and founder of the Guardian Angels, the 1970s nonprofit known for its volunteer crime-fighting patrols and signature red berets. He frames himself as the only candidate focused on quality of life, public safety and representing what he calls "the outer boroughs." He's also a staunch animal welfare advocate. While he says his rivals chase headlines, Sliwa shrugs off political debates as empty "back and forth" theater, saying they ignore the real problems: crime, fare evasion, garbage and homeless shelters. "Did they discuss congestion pricing or the fact that we lose $8M in fare evasion?" Sliwa said in a recent interview with Good Day New York. "Who knows more about crime in this city and dealing with quality of life issues?" Sliwa has received endorsements from all five of NYC's Republican county parties, virtually placing him in a lane of his own for the upcoming primary race, according to to The City. Local perspective Sliwa, a Canarsie native, is famously known for creating the "Magnificent 13," a civilian group formed in the 1970s to fight violence on the streets. The group eventually evolved into the Guardian Angels by 1979. Unarmed but trained, members were required to study karate and understand the legal rules for citizens' arrests before being deployed. Sliwa's iconic red beret became a key part of the Guardian Angels' uniform. He also built a decades-long radio career on WABC-AM, where he started in the 1990s, partly thanks to his early support of Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Sliwa grew up in Brooklyn in a Catholic family of Polish and Italian descent. He was expelled from a Jesuit high school and, at just 15, made headlines for rescuing a family from a burning building, an early moment of recognition for his bravery. He was even invited to the White House to meet President Richard Nixon, as a result. On June 19, 1992, Sliwa was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi in Manhattan. He escaped by leaping through the front window of the moving cab and required surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds. Federal prosecutors charged John A. Gotti, son of mob boss John Gotti, with ordering the attack in retaliation for comments Sliwa made on his radio show. After three mistrials, the charges were dropped, but jurors believed Gotti was involved. Prosecutors chose not to retry him. Sliwa later announced plans to seek damages in civil court. In August 2023, Sliwa and four others were arrested at an anti-illegal immigration rally outside Gracie Mansion. They faced misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstruction, but the Manhattan DA declined to prosecute. Sliwa wants to restore NYPD budget cuts, hire 7,000 officers citywide and deploy 500 undercover cops in the subways. He also supports bringing back qualified immunity and funding police by forcing institutions like MSG, NYU and Columbia to pay their share in property taxes. He calls for repealing the "City of Yes" zoning plan and blocking lithium-ion battery warehouses from being built in the outer boroughs. He also wants a cap on homeless and migrant shelters, saying: "Manage the ones you have." Sliwa created a separate "Protect Animals" ballot line and vows to crack down on animal abuse. "If you can't vote for me as a Republican," he says, "you can vote for me on the Protect Animals line." Sliwa wants to repeal 42-1A, which he says hurts small landlords. Sliwa also supports discretionary funding and says he'll meet with every City Council member to hear district-specific concerns. Sliwa brands himself as "the outer borough mayor," saying Manhattan gets too much attention. With 46 years leading the Guardian Angels, he believes he's uniquely equipped to tackle crime and restore order citywide. Sliwa is a Republican, but has repeatedly said he does not support President Donald Trump and has never voted for him. He often distances himself from national party rhetoric and focuses his campaign on local crime and city services. "Curtis Sliwa is the real New Yorker in this race," he said.
