GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa promises to bring the fight to Democratic front-runner Eric Adams
Shant Shahrigian
A day after winning the Republican nomination for New York City mayor, Curtis Sliwa promised to pummel his Democratic opponent with a pro-cop message — even if that ends up being Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, an ex-NYPD captain.
“I know Eric, I’m certainly going to take him to task. I’m going to ask him to join me in solidarity, if in fact he turns out to be the winner of the Democratic primary,” Sliwa, the controversial founder of the Guardian Angels volunteer safety group, said at a Wednesday news conference.
Curtis Sliwa gives a press conference in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, June 23, a day after winning the GOP primary for New York City mayor.
Curtis Sliwa gives a press conference in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, June 23, a day after winning the GOP primary for New York City mayor. (Shant Shahrigian/)
But he went on to accuse Adams of committing “a sin” against police officers, citing the Brooklyn borough president’s previous comments in favor of making it easier to bring civil suits against cops.
“How can he say he backs the blue when he wants them to go out and get their own personal malpractice insurance policy, which is just not feasible,” Sliwa said.
Sliwa was ranked first on 68.9% of Republican ballots tabulated Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from the city Board of Elections. Adams won the most first-place votes in the Democratic primary, but not enough to win outright. A rival may be able to seize the lead once all the ranked-choice ballots are fully counted in the coming weeks.
Eric Adams speaks to supporters at his primary day party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Tuesday, June 22.
Eric Adams speaks to supporters at his primary day party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Tuesday, June 22. (Gardiner Anderson/)
Sliwa criticized Adams for promising to carry a gun instead of using police protection in the event a serious threat comes in.
“Who’s he afraid of? I don’t carry a gun,” Sliwa said. “[He] shouldn’t be carrying a gun if he’s going to be mayor of the city of New York.”
“If and when Eric becomes the Democratic nominee, we greatly look forward to comparing Eric’s public-safety record with Sliwa’s,” Adams campaign spokesman Evan Thies said in a statement.
Speaking outside WABC-AM’s Midtown Manhattan studio, Sliwa repeated his typical tough-on-crime talking points. He also said he rejected the offer of police protection the NYPD gave him as winner of the GOP primary.
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley addresses supporters at an evening gathering on June 22, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley (L) dances with guests at an evening gathering on June 22, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley (C) watches with guests as primary election results are reported during an evening gathering on June 22, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Ranked-choice voting is being used for the first time, a system that lets voters prioritize more than one candidate on their ballot. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the Republican candidate in the fall.
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Maya Wiley addresses supporters at an evening gathering on June 22, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Supporters cheer during an election party for New York mayoral candidate Eric Adams, late Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in New York.
Eric Adams speaks to supporters at his primary election night party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Supporters of mayoral candidate Eric Adams take a selfie during Adams' election party on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in New York.
Bernard Adams, center, brother of New York mayoral candidate Eric Adams, mingles with supporters at an election party, late Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in New York.
Eric Adams supporters celebrate their candidate's early lead at Adams's primary night party in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia, center, hugs her family after speaking to her supporters on election night at 99 Scott Ave in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia speaking to her supporters on election night at 99 Scott Ave in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
The family of Kathryn Garcia listens while Kathryn Garcia, candidate for Mayor of New York City, delivers remarks to supporters on June 22, 2021, in the Bushwick neighborhood in New York City. After polls closed at 9 pm, early results suggested that Eric Adams held the lead as ranked-choice voting was used for the first time. The final results of the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City may not come until two weeks later.
Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia's supporters cheering for her on election night at 99 Scott Ave in Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang greets supporters at a Manhattan hotel as he concedes in his campaign for mayor on June 22, 2021, in New York City. Early polls showed Yang, who has never held a political office before, far behind other candidates in the Democratic primary.
He also said if elected mayor — a long shot in overwhelmingly Democratic New York City — he would ban the killing of animals at shelters.
“On day No. 1, New York City will never kill a dog or cat or an animal again,” he said. “We will find them a home of their own. They are our furry little friends.”
