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Sliwa describes himself as a Republican candidate “running for mayor of New York City to finally end the disastrous reign of de Blasio-Cuomo."
In the late 1970s, he founded the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit volunteer organization that began its anti-crime activities by patrolling the subways. Today, the group has chapters in 13 countries and over 100 cities, according to its website.
Safety and refunding the police are central to the campaign of Sliwa, a radio host who still wears the Angels’ trademark red beret. He proposes adding 4,500 uniformed and 500 undercover officers to patrol the subways. He also calls for restoring "all budget cuts" to the NYPD and giving the department more money to combat gun violence.
Sliwa is part of the Republican wing that does not support former President Donald Trump. In the first debate of the GOP candidates, he said he had never voted for Trump.
The 67-year-old current Manhattan resident got involved in community work at an early age. At 14, he became known as a "neighborhood garbage collector" when he opened a recycling center in Brooklyn.
Website: sliwaforny.com
Positions
THE CITY sent three multiple-choice surveys to every Democratic and Republican mayoral candidate on the ballot for the June 22 primary, starting in February. See how Curtis Sliwa answered below.
NYPD
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Should the NYPD uniformed force be downsized beyond currently planned levels?
Yes, redirect a substantial share of NYPD operating resources to other city agencies
No, maintain police officer headcount at roughly current levels
No, increase the number of NYPD officers
"Crime is at an all-time high in terms of what we've seen recently. We've got to save our city.... You restore the money that was taken away, the billion dollars in the budget."
from Newsmax, Feb. 23, 2021 -
Should the NYPD respond to 911 calls involving people in severe emotional distress?
Yes, where the call suggests a risk to others’ safety
Yes, under most or all circumstances
No, NYPD officers should not respond to these calls
"I agree with some of the critics of the police department: Cops don't want to be social workers, don't want to have to deal with mental health care problems. You should have special units in each precinct compose the mental health experts who can respond simultaneously with the police when there is an emotionally disturbed person having an episode."
from Decision NYC With Ben Max, MNN, Jan. 27, 2021 -
Should NYPD officers reside in the five boroughs?
Yes, all officers should reside in the five boroughs by the end of the new mayor’s term
Any new NYPD officer must live in the five boroughs but existing officers may live elsewhere until retirement
NYPD officers should be able to live in any of the counties currently authorized
-
Should the NYPD commissioner have final say on disciplining officers for conduct violations?
The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in all cases
The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in some cases
Decisions should be made by a newly empowered Civilian Complaint Review Board
The mayor should have the final say in all cases
Education
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Should admission to existing specialized high schools continue to depend on a single Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT)?
Yes, keep the SHSAT
Keep the SHSAT but also require additional admissions measures
No, abolish the SHSAT
"The specialty test must be maintained for the elite high schools and the Gifted and Talented programs have to be maintained but we also have to put pressure on promoting vocational training."
from NY1, Feb. 27, 2021 -
Should New York City have more charter schools?
Yes, advocate for more charter schools
No, discourage more charter schools
Advocate for more charter schools under stricter conditions than currently apply
“I'm a supporter of charter schools but I really wish that they would devote some of their curriculum to vocational training.”
from Decision NYC With Ben Max, MNN, Jan. 27, 2021 -
Should middle school admissions remain limited to students attending school in or residing in a district?
Yes
Allow applicants outside the district, through set-asides or other means
No
-
Should public school parent associations continue to be able to raise unlimited sums?
Yes, keep fundraising as is
Yes, but a system is needed to share funds between schools with many wealthy families and those with many poor families
No. Limits or further ground rules are needed for fundraising
COVID Recovery
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Should New York consider mandatory vaccinations (with appropriate medical exemptions) if voluntary uptake of COVID vaccines does not reach sufficient levels?
Yes
Yes, for health, education, law enforcement and other workers interacting with the public
No
-
Should the Open Streets program, including outdoor dining, become permanent?
Yes, ban vehicular access to current open streets
Yes, and expand the program to include more streets
No
-
Should NYC provide economic relief to undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for federal aid?
Yes, ongoing aid for the needy
Yes, one-time assistance
No
-
Which statement most closely reflects your view of Mayor de Blasio’s approach to school reopening?
Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too quickly
Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too slowly
Schools have reopened at an appropriate pace
Transportation
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Should New York proceed as soon as possible with congestion pricing, charging vehicles to enter central Manhattan?
Yes, supporting current plan to capture funds for the MTA
Yes, while pursuing city control over the revenue
No, or further evaluation is needed
-
Should New York City gain control of its subway and bus systems?
Yes, while splitting bridge and tunnel toll revenue with LIRR and Metro-North
Yes, provided the city also gains full control of bridge and tunnel toll revenue
No
-
What course will you chart for the city-funded NYC Ferry system?
Continue or build on current NYC Ferry service and expansion plans while keeping fare at $2.75, providing additional dollars to step up service
Alter NYC Ferry service or expansion plans while continuing $2.75 fare
Raise or change NYC Ferry fare to help support existing and expanded service
Raise or change NYC Ferry fare while reevaluating routes and/or service
-
Choose the statement that best describes your position on bike lanes:
NYC needs to expand its bike lane network into underserved areas, even where lanes have met some local resistance
Expand bike lanes, while being responsive to local objections in deciding where to put the lanes
Alter or remove existing lanes where warranted
Housing
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Which statement describes your preferred approach to spending the city’s affordable housing dollars?
Focus city funding on development projects that mix affordability at a range of incomes, using rents paid by higher earners to help cover costs for the lowest-income tenants
Focus city funding on 100% affordable development projects for the lowest-income tenants, even if that may create fewer units overall
Scale back city subsidies to affordable housing development, focusing resources on helping renters pay for existing housing
-
Do you intend to “upzone” (increase permitted building size) areas of low-density neighborhoods to promote affordable and other housing development?
Yes, as part of area-wide rezonings
Yes, for specific blocks or properties
No, the city is already overbuilt
-
Should NYCHA continue toward its goal of placing half of its apartments into private management under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program?
Yes, this is the best way for NYCHA to upgrade its deteriorating apartments
Yes, but keep a substantial number of apartments out of RAD to maintain oversight of those apartments by the monitor
No, NYCHA should not rely on private firms to manage its buildings
-
Should surplus funds received by the city from Battery Park City — an estimated $400 million over 10 years — be steered exclusively to NYCHA?
Yes, NYCHA needs a dedicated revenue stream to pay for much-needed apartment upgrades
Yes, but split the money between NYCHA and other affordable housing programs
No, 100% of this money should continue to be dedicated to general affordable housing programs
Immigration
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Should non-citizens be allowed to vote in local elections?
Yes, permanent residents (green card holders) only
Yes, all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, should be allowed to vote
No
-
Should government cash assistance be available to low-income undocumented immigrants?
Yes
Yes — special pandemic assistance only
No
-
Should NYC pay for attorneys to represent New Yorkers facing deportation in immigration court?
Yes, immigrant New Yorkers facing deportation should have a right to counsel
Continue existing city funding sponsoring legal services for immigrant New Yorkers held in detention
No
-
Do you support measures to legalize basement and attic apartments?
Yes, revise building codes to allow current illegal apartments to be compliant
Yes, revise building codes and encourage conversions through financing, counseling or other means
No
Labor
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With hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers facing extended unemployment, which of the following would you make your top priority for investing federal aid dollars?
Wage subsidies to help employers bring back and retain their employees
Extended unemployment benefits to all impacted people
Access to loans for entrepreneurs and worker cooperatives
Government jobs in underserved communities to rebuild local economies
-
Should New York reclassify gig workers — including food deliverers and Uber drivers — as employees?
Yes, require companies to classify workers as their employees
Yes, give workers flexibility to decide whether they are classified as employees or independent contractors
No
-
Which statement best describes your approach to bargaining with municipal labor unions?
The mayor is working for voters and taxpayers, who must come first in bargaining with city employees
Municipal employees keep the city running and the mayor should put their needs first
Mayors should strive to find a balance between taxpayers and workers, even when that leaves everyone unhappy
-
New York has been a leader in increasing the minimum wage. Should the state increase it above $15 an hour in the first two years of your term?
Yes, and be indexed to inflation so the wage automatically rises each year
Yes, but not indexed to inflation — the wage should come under review before future increases
No
Criminal Justice
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Will you direct the NYPD to stop arrests for drug possession?
No response / no position
-
Should NYC stay on course to close all jails on Rikers Island by 2027?
Yes, build all new planned smaller borough-based jails on the current timeline
Yes, build new smaller borough-based jails but consider changes to plans or timeline
Reevaluate closing Rikers
Close Rikers, but build no new jails
Sliwa said he wouldn’t close Rikers when he was asked.
from WABC Radio Republican Debate, March 31, 2021 -
Should NYC ban solitary confinement within jails?
Ban solitary confinement entirely
Maintain current plan to allow minimum 10 hours per day out of cells
No
-
Which of the following would you choose as your top priority in addressing individuals charged with a crime and awaiting trial:
No response / no position
Taxes
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The next mayor will inherit well documented inequities in property tax assessments. What will you do?
Respond without impacting overall tax dollars collected, even if that means some will pay more than before
Respond without increasing anyone’s tax burdens in the process — potentially reducing tax dollars collected
Maintain existing property tax assessment system
“I will also finally deliver much-needed property tax reform, which will provide economic relief to millions of low- and middle-income residents.... By finally making private, wealthy universities and businesses pay their fair share, I will deliver millions of dollars in tax relief to NYC residents.”
from Campaign website -
Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?
Yes
No
-
Should New York impose a “pied a terre” tax on homes that are not a primary residence?
No response / no position
-
Will you further tax the ultra wealthy?
Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $5 million annually
Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $10 million annually
No additional taxes
Borough Edition
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The Bronx: Do you support building a stadium for the NYCFC soccer club next to Yankee Stadium?
Yes, I will do whatever I can to make this happen
Yes, but only if a deal can be reached with no public subsidy or tax breaks
No
“We shouldn't be subsidizing any arenas, any stadiums, any facilities that have professional sports where they're making money. So absolutely, if they had the money, not a penny of tax dollars should go to that”
from THE CITY interview , May 17, 2021 -
Brooklyn: Do you support the National Grid’s proposal to expand its natural gas facilities, including building a pipeline through parts of Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, and Williamsburg?
Yes
Yes, but the proposed route requires more review
No
“I would be open to look at the route, but I'm not afraid of natural gas. If we had to look at all the pipes that are on the ground, the transport different of our needs, we will never have anything other than water."
from THE CITY interview , May 17, 2021 -
Manhattan: Do you support commercial rent control?
Yes — I’m ready to work toward implementing a system
Let’s study the issue and see if any model could possibly succeed in Manhattan
No, commercial rent control does not work
“Let's see if market forces lower the prices and that new people get involved in opening up businesses. Meantime, we can study commercial rent control, rent stabilization. See if it even makes sense.”
from THE CITY interview , May 17, 2021 -
Queens: The Sunnyside Master Plan envisions 12,000 affordable homes, a new regional rail station, 60 acres of open space and more to be built atop a platform over the western Queens rail yard. Will you work to realize the plan?
Yes, as planned
Yes, but the project’s cost, scale, community input or other fundamentals need revisiting
No
“We first fill up all these empty -- I'll call them catacombs -- these empty buildings of glass, steel and concrete before we start trying to develop other areas”
from THE CITY interview , May 17, 2021 -
Staten Island: Will you commit to restoring 24/7 half-hour service on the Staten Island Ferry? If so, when?
Yes, immediately after taking office
Yes, within my first term
No
“The reason you need it [the Staten Island Ferry] is the city is starting to open up now 24 hours soon. The subways today are open 24 hours. So why would we not open up service on the Staten Island Ferry 24 hours.?”
from THE CITY interview , May 17, 2021
Leadership
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Should NYC’s next mayor appoint campaign contributors to boards, commissions and other posts?
Yes, potentially to any type of position
Yes, only to advisory or other groups without decision-making authority
No
“In New York City, which has a lot of Democrats, a lot of liberals, a lot of progressive, I am probably going to have to appoint quite a few [campaign contributors] because they are skilled, they are knowledgeable, they are doers…but they cannot be in the leadership position. Advisory, you know, part of a board where there are other members, yes, but they cannot be the head of any of these agencies.”
from THE CITY interview, May 21, 2021 -
Should city officials be able to raise funds from private donors for affiliated nonprofit entities?
Yes, as currently permitted
Yes, adding disclosure of the nonprofits’ spending and recipients
No
“When you are an elected official, and everybody knows, the reason people are giving to your nonprofit is they want something in return. Everyone understands that. It is the most corrupt practice that exists in New York City and must be stopped.”
from THE CITY interview, May 21, 2021 -
Which of the following leadership styles will best serve NYC’s next mayor?
The decider — centralize decision-making with the mayor and close advisers
The delegator — hire top talent to run agencies and rely on their judgment
The partner — make decisions in coordination with the City Council
"You have to be a delegator because our leaders are always acting pretentious, omnipotent, like they know everything.... I'm not an expert. So if I appoint an expert to be in charge of an agency, why wouldn't I allow the expert, he or she, to do the job?"
from THE CITY interview, May 17, 2021 -
Should NYC’s next mayor veto any bills presented by the City Council?
Never — bills should only come to a Council vote following mayoral agreement
Only under extraordinary circumstances
As often as necessary
“Well, especially if the DSA ends up controlling the City Council, I am going to have to veto a lot a lot of their legislation, because they want to defund the police even more. They don't want tenants — whether commercial or residential — to pay rent. They don't want gas pipelines in certain areas.... So I'll be at war with the DSA candidates and my only chance to balance is with the veto power.”
from THE CITY interview, May 21, 2021
Homelessness
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NYC is legally required to guarantee a “right to shelter.” Should related agreements be updated?
Renegotiate “right to shelter” into a “right to housing” to invest in permanent solutions
Keep “right to shelter” but lower existing barriers to families seeking shelter
Keep “right to shelter” as already agreed to
“If you show up in New York City — you could be from Philadelphia, Newark, and claim that you are indigent, you have nowhere to stay — the city by federal court order has the responsibility to provide you with housing, food, medical care. We have to challenge that. People are taking advantage of this by coming in from surrounding cities that don't have a very good shelter system.… It's an overburden on our system.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
Should hotels remain residences for homeless people post-pandemic?
Yes, hotel capacity is needed for temporary or permanent housing
Keep current city plan to phase out hotels for the homeless by 2023
No, end homeless hotels as soon as possible
“Right now, if you go into Times Square, many of the hotels are COVID-19 homeless hotels. We'll never get tourists to come in, we don't have hotel rooms. So we have to return the homeless to the shelters.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
Should the NYPD play a role in response to people living on the streets and in the subway system?
Yes, generally
Yes, specifically when public safety risks arise
No, NYPD should not be involved in homeless response
“The NYPD had a Homeless Outreach Unit that was closed when De Blasio took a billion dollars out of their budget but the city has not replaced what the police used to do.... They have to restore the homeless outreach unit from the police because nobody is doing it now.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
Should NYC’s next mayor close the 30th Street shelter, the main point of entry into the system for single men?
Yes, completely close within the next mayor’s term(s)
Close but keep ready and available to handle surges in demand
Keep the 30th Street shelter open as is
Climate Change
-
By 2024, big NYC buildings will have to meet energy efficiency targets or face fines. Which one of the following should the next mayor prioritize to make sure they don’t fall short?
Help owners finance upgrades
Institute a cap-and-trade program that lets owners buy credits to offset their emissions
Revise the law’s timeline or penalties
None — Local Law 97 is solid as is
“The owners, so far in the lockdown, when it comes to rent many of them have received no rent for either commercial space or residential space.... So they're desperately going to need help with this.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
What should the next mayor’s top priority be for neighborhoods in the most vulnerable flood zones?
Limit new development and enable owners to sell properties to the city
Invest in elevating and fortifying homes and other buildings
Construct protective infrastructure such as seawalls and restore wetlands
No new action
-
NYC’s current mayor vowed to ban gas hook-ups in new construction by 2030. Are you on board?
Yes
Yes, and move the goal sooner and/or make strides to phase out fossil fuels in existing buildings
No
-
The newly revived organic waste recycling program will be available only in some community districts and only on demand. Should that change?
Maintain the program as is
Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers, but keep it optional
Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers and make it mandatory
Get rid of the program
“You start with the educational process. Same way they started separating bottles and cans. Originally people say it's not going to work, you know, bottles, cans and paper. And now people are used to it. But in some neighborhoods, they don't do a very good job.... So you have to really raise the standards in all neighborhoods.”
from , May 28, 2021
Building NYC Better
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What route should NYC’s mayor take to expand access to broadband internet at home?
Create a publicly owned and operated municipal broadband network
Build on the existing city plan inviting companies to build out low-cost service
New state law requiring $15/month broadband for low-income customers is sufficient
“I think that really has to be in the private sector. I think the government has too much responsibility, too many expenditures. That should be something that can be provided by the private sector.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
Should real estate developers be allowed to construct bigger buildings if they pay for elevator installation at nearby subway stations without access?
Yes, with the MTA maintaining the elevators
Yes, only if the developer also commits to providing ongoing maintenance
No
"That's a fair trade."
from , May 28, 2021 -
Should new real estate development require approvals beyond those that currently exist under the city land use review process?
Yes, require additional review
Stick with existing procedures and customs
The process needs fewer obstacles to development
“If you wanted to develop property right now, one City Council person can stand in your way...and that person would make the decision. That's not in the best interest of the city. So that procedure has to stop when it comes to land use.”
from , May 28, 2021 -
Which of the following should NYC’s next mayor do first about sidewalk sheds attached to buildings?
Champion, sign and enforce a City Council bill that would require property owners to complete facade repairs within 90 days
Review existing building codes and enforcement to ensure the Department of Buildings doesn’t go overboard in requiring sheds
Focus on managing the current facade inspection and repair system
Quality of Life
-
Should the mayor’s office crack down on short-term rentals from services like Airbnb, which are illegal under state law if the owner is not present during the stay?
Yes, large-scale professional operators only
Yes, all illegal rentals
No, let Airbnb be
"So many men and women, especially now, after the pandemic, landlords have had no rent to pay for water, sewage, electricity. They haven't been able to evict anybody because of the moratorium. It has to earn income any way they can, we have to help them.”
from , May 21, 2021 -
Should NYC be home to full-fledged gambling casinos?
Yes — including Manhattan
Yes — not including Manhattan
No
-
Should city government open public restrooms as a widely available amenity?
City should launch effort to deploy and maintain public restrooms
No city restroom program, but incentivize business establishments to make their restrooms available to the public
No
“Public lavatories should be open with bathroom attendants, you know, who are servicing it. Again, Europe has that, they treat this citizen so much better when it comes to having bathrooms and public accommodations.”
from , May 21, 2021 -
A new law creates 4,000 new street vendor licenses over 10 years, most outside Manhattan. Should the city:
Expand the number of licenses further
Keep the number of licenses as set
Evaluate impact of new vendor licenses on businesses before further action
“It is unfair that you would have so many vendors in the street who could charge much lower rates, but not have to pay taxes, not have to have insurance, not have to pay minimum wage to employees as a normal store would have to do. So you have to really wait until things return back to normal.”
from , May 28, 2021
Candidates
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