Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa addressed a full home on Thursday, April 3, at a discussion board hosted by the Ridgewood Property House owners and Civic Affiliation (POCA).
Sliwa opened by addressing a subject dominating the town’s political dialog that day: Mayor Eric Adams’ resolution to depart the Democratic Occasion and run for re-election as an Unbiased.
Drawing a historic parallel, Sliwa in contrast Adams to former Mayor John Lindsay, whom he described as a politician he “loathed,” recounting Lindsay’s efforts to win over voters—together with posing as a devoted Mets fan—regardless of widespread skepticism.
“It just goes to show that in any campaign, anything can happen,” Sliwa stated, mixing humor with political perception.
Looking forward to the 2025 mayoral race, Sliwa predicted at the very least 4 candidates would seem on the June main poll, together with Adams, himself, a candidate from the Working Households Occasion, and presumably former Governor Andrew Cuomo, whom Sliwa advised might reemerge because the Democratic nominee regardless of sustaining a low profile.
Sliwa pointed to the complexities of ranked-choice voting, noting that its dynamics are sometimes misunderstood by voters however might favor a candidate like Cuomo if lower-tier candidates aligned.
“If you do it right and disciplined, all of those Democrats that don’t seem like they have a chance, if they align with each other like on a bingo card, Cuomo could be way ahead of everyone on the first level and then slowly recede,” Sliwa stated. “But let’s assume the election was tomorrow. Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic nominee, is battered and bruised—it’s going to be bloody.”
He anticipated resistance to Cuomo from progressive factions, significantly the Working Households Occasion, and floated the opportunity of Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani working on that line.
Curtis Sliwa was vocal about many various points of his marketing campaign on the Ridgewood POCA discussion board. Photograph by Colum Motherway
“They’re going to be going at each other like three scorpions in a glass because technically they’re Democrats, even though they may be running on different party lines,” Sliwa stated. “I’m going to be able to take the high road and talk about all of the issues that are important, especially to the people of the outer boroughs.”
Sliwa emphasised his longstanding connection to the town, referencing his upbringing, his first solo subway journey in 1959, and a long time of expertise navigating New York’s neighborhoods.
Because the dialog shifted to coverage, Sliwa strongly criticized Mayor Adams’ controversial “City of Yes” zoning initiative, which proposes upzoning residential areas to permit for taller developments. Sliwa denounced the plan as a giveaway to “corporate developers” that will erode the character of New York’s neighborhoods whereas failing to ship significant affordability.
“This will destroy the very nature of what America is,” he stated. He argued that the plan’s purpose of constructing 80,000 residences over 10 years wouldn’t present sufficient reduction and claimed that Adams was “in the back pocket of corporate developers.”
Sliwa additionally raised alarms concerning the placement of lithium-ion battery storage services in residential areas, a coverage he linked to Cuomo’s administration, citing critical considerations over security and environmental dangers.
Responding to questions from POCA board members, Sliwa addressed the rising burden of property taxes on householders. He criticized metropolis spending, significantly on migrant providers and municipal pensions, and claimed these prices are being handed to taxpayers.
“Remember, we just paid and will continue to pay $6.5 billion to the migrants. Where did they find that money?” Sliwa requested. “You, the homeowners, had to pay for it, obviously.”
“When I get into office, the first thing I’ve got to do is look at all the spreadsheets. Where did all of this money go?” he continued. “The people in office, de Blasio, then Adams, they said, ‘Trust us, we know how to manage this city.’ They managed us into this situation.”
He additionally known as consideration to disparities in property tax assessments, noting inequities in areas like Canarsie and Staten Island, the place householders could also be taxed at greater charges than in wealthier neighborhoods. He pledged to reform the property tax system to make sure equity citywide.
On public security, Sliwa stated the town’s police power is under-resourced, arguing that the NYPD must develop from 32,500 to 40,000 officers to successfully police the town. He sharply criticized opponents who had beforehand supported defunding the police however at the moment are calling for extra officers.
“We have 32,500 cops. We need at least 40,000,” he stated. “I laugh when Andrew Cuomo says he wants to hire 5,000 more police officers when he stripped them of qualified immunity.”
He additionally addressed the issue of fare evasion on public transit, claiming it contributes considerably to the MTA’s monetary troubles, and argued for extra rigorous enforcement.
“You have to have enforcement,” Sliwa stated. “Once you give something away for free, you’re never going to be able to charge for it.”
All through the night, Sliwa maintained a direct, typically combative tone, however concluded the occasion by thanking attendees for his or her civic engagement and inspiring them to remain concerned within the election course of.
