NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa calls on de Blasio, Hochul to visit the sewers after Hurricane Ida

Tim Balk

Curtis Sliwa, the long-shot Republican New York City mayoral candidate, said Monday that the city should focus on the sewers to stave off flooding calamities — and called on Gov. Hochul and Mayor de Blasio to explore the muck below ground.

“I would suggest to Hochul and de Blasio that they actually go into a sewer like I’ve been, go into a catch basin, and see for themselves the fact that they haven’t done any maintenance on the system,” said Sliwa, the stunt-prone founder of the Guardian Angels patrol group.

After Hurricane Ida’s remnants delivered a potent blow to New York City on Wednesday night, killing more than a dozen people, public officials rushed to propose both long-term fixes and instant band-aids.

Mayor de Blasio vowed that evacuations and travel bans will be enacted in future storms. Gov. Hochul suggested changes to the state-run subway system’s response procedures. And President Biden approved an emergency disaster declaration that unlocked federal funds.

New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa
New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa


New York City Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa (Hans Pennink/)

But Sliwa argued that the city should focus on what he described as a basic fix: clearing sewers and catch drains. He said the sewage system once underwent more regular cleanings and should again.

He made the case during a live-streamed tour of Middle Village, Queens, where he also climbed into a dumpster and greeted neighbors. Though he is widely expected to lose the November mayoral race in deep-blue New York City, Sliwa has attempted to highlight pet issues — including pet issues — on the campaign trail.

Sliwa paid $11K for Proud Boys-backing political consultant

De Blasio, a Democrat, visited the Woodside neighborhood of Queens on Monday, where locals expressed frustration with the mayor’s handling of the historic storm.

It’s unclear how much damage could have been staved off by a more robust city and state response. The ferocious monsoon quickly flooded streets, transformed subway tunnels into subterranean rivers and turned basement apartments into watery death traps.

Deborah Torres , right, talks to police officers stand outside her home in the Queens borough of New York where some of the occupants died including a 2-year old child when their basement apartment flooded, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Deborah Torres , right, talks to police officers stand outside her home in the Queens borough of New York where some of the occupants died including a 2-year old child when their basement apartment flooded, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Damage to the side of a building from the remnants of Hurricane Ida is shown on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. Some of the occupants were killed when several feet of water collapsed the wall to their basement apartment and flooded the apartment.
Damage to the side of a building from the remnants of Hurricane Ida is shown on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York. Some of the occupants were killed when several feet of water collapsed the wall to their basement apartment and flooded the apartment.
Felix Delapuente, a neighbor fo the home in the Queens borough of New York where some of the occupants died including a 2-year old child, shows the flood damage in his basement, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Felix Delapuente, a neighbor fo the home in the Queens borough of New York where some of the occupants died including a 2-year old child, shows the flood damage in his basement, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
A police officer stands guard as a man survey the damage to home where people died after their basement apartment flooded in the Jamaica neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
A police officer stands guard as a man survey the damage to home where people died after their basement apartment flooded in the Jamaica neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Emergency service personnel work at the scene of a basement apartment where bodies were found on Peck Ave. in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Emergency service personnel work at the scene of a basement apartment where bodies were found on Peck Ave. in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Police officers use a yellow tarp to block the view as bodies are removed from a flooded basement apartment on Peck Ave. in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Police officers use a yellow tarp to block the view as bodies are removed from a flooded basement apartment on Peck Ave. in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Danny Hong and his wife Wenqing Ou are emotional as they talk to reporters in front of their flooded home in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
Danny Hong and his wife Wenqing Ou are emotional as they talk to reporters in front of their flooded home in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
A person who eventually waded to a truck, moves amongst cars and other trucks that are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
A person who eventually waded to a truck, moves amongst cars and other trucks that are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
People clear debris and damaged belongings from their homes, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York.
People clear debris and damaged belongings from their homes, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
Cars and trucks are stranded by high water Thursday, Sept 2, 2021, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Bronx borough of New York as high water left behind by Hurricane Ida still stands on the highway hours later.
A resident of Peck Ave in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York use buckets to remove water from their basement apartment, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
A resident of Peck Ave in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York use buckets to remove water from their basement apartment, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in New York.
A 43 yr old woman with her 22 yr old son pronounced dead on scene after the flood waters broke through the wall of their basement apartment on 183rd Street in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
A 43 yr old woman with her 22 yr old son pronounced dead on scene after the flood waters broke through the wall of their basement apartment on 183rd Street in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Delays and cancelations for Metro-North are displayed in Grand Central Station on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Manhattan.
Delays and cancelations for Metro-North are displayed in Grand Central Station on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Manhattan.
A section of the flooded basement where a 48 yr old woman was pronounced dead at Forest Hills Hospital after flood waters entered her basement apartment on Grand Central Parkway in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
A section of the flooded basement where a 48 yr old woman was pronounced dead at Forest Hills Hospital after flood waters entered her basement apartment on Grand Central Parkway in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
Three people were discovered dead inside a basement apartment that was flooded on Peck Avenue in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Three people were discovered dead inside a basement apartment that was flooded on Peck Avenue in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
A flooded out and abandoned vehicle is towed by an NYPD tow truck on the 86th St. Transverse in Central Park on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
A flooded out and abandoned vehicle is towed by an NYPD tow truck on the 86th St. Transverse in Central Park on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
A gas station in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens was heavily damaged after a night of extremely heavy rain and wind on Sept. 2, 2021 in New York City.
A gas station in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens was heavily damaged after a night of extremely heavy rain and wind on Sept. 2, 2021 in New York City.
A motorist drives a car through a flooded expressway in Brooklyn, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
A motorist drives a car through a flooded expressway in Brooklyn, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows Special Operations personnel rescuing a man from his flooded basement apartment, in New York , Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows Special Operations personnel rescuing a man from his flooded basement apartment, in New York , Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
Police officers and rescue workers gather outside a house where a person was trapped in a flooded basement in Queens, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
Police officers and rescue workers gather outside a house where a person was trapped in a flooded basement in Queens, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
A person sweeps up debris in the front of a brownstone after the extremely heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York City.
A person sweeps up debris in the front of a brownstone after the extremely heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Residents sort through damaged and destroyed items after a night of heavy rain and wind caused many homes to flood on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Residents sort through damaged and destroyed items after a night of heavy rain and wind caused many homes to flood on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Police officers and rescue workers gather outside a house where a person was trapped in a flooded basement in Queens, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
Police officers and rescue workers gather outside a house where a person was trapped in a flooded basement in Queens, New York early on Sept. 2, 2021, as flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall brought by the remnants of Storm Ida swept through the area.
Cars sit abandoned on a flooded highway in the Bronx following as night of heavy wind and rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021 in New York City.
Cars sit abandoned on a flooded highway in the Bronx following as night of heavy wind and rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021 in New York City.
New York City Parks Security Service officers on horseback explore the Greyshot Arch which is flooded in Central Park after a night of extremely heavy rain caused by Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021, in New York City.
New York City Parks Security Service officers on horseback explore the Greyshot Arch which is flooded in Central Park after a night of extremely heavy rain caused by Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021, in New York City.
People look at cars abandoned on the flooded Major Deegan Expressway following a night of extremely heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
People look at cars abandoned on the flooded Major Deegan Expressway following a night of extremely heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Residents sort through damaged and destroyed items after a night of heavy rain and wind caused many homes to flood on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Residents sort through damaged and destroyed items after a night of heavy rain and wind caused many homes to flood on Sept. 2, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Damaged furniture seen outside after the deadly flood waters from Storm Ida broke through the wall of basement apartment on 183rd Street in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Damaged furniture seen outside after the deadly flood waters from Storm Ida broke through the wall of basement apartment on 183rd Street in Queens on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Flood waters filling cars , and moving them on Grand Central Parkway in Queens on Sept. 2, 2021.
Flood waters filling cars , and moving them on Grand Central Parkway in Queens on Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
The damaged home where a 66 yr old man was pronounced dead on scene after flood waters filled the entire basement on Ridgewood Avenue in Brooklyn on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded the city subways Wednesday.
Torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded the city subways Wednesday.
Torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded the city subways Wednesday.
Torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded the city subways Wednesday.
MTA bus and cars caught in flood water on Queens Boulevard in Queens on Thursday Sept. 2, 2021.
MTA bus and cars caught in flood water on Queens Boulevard in Queens on Thursday Sept. 2, 2021.
A teenager cleans water out from a car in a flooded Queens neighborhood that saw massive flooding and numerous deaths following a night of heavy wind and rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 3, 2021 in New York City.
A teenager cleans water out from a car in a flooded Queens neighborhood that saw massive flooding and numerous deaths following a night of heavy wind and rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 3, 2021 in New York City.
Rainfall from Hurricane Ida flood the basement of a Kennedy Fried Chicken fast food restaurant on Sept. 1, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Rainfall from Hurricane Ida flood the basement of a Kennedy Fried Chicken fast food restaurant on Sept. 1, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York City.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows flooding on New York York's Upper East Side, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows flooding on New York York's Upper East Side, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows flooding on New York York's Upper East Side, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows flooding on New York York's Upper East Side, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Sliwa’s general election opponent, on Monday linked the unprecedented rainfall to the ravages of climate change, saying: “We screwed up our planet, and this is the byproduct of that screw-up.” The Democrat has said the city needs to drastically rethink its approach to guarding itself for storms.

But Sliwa said the city should focus on less ambitious objectives.

“I ask Hochul and anybody else — when’s the last time they were in the sewer?” he said in Queens. “Let’s do that first.”

Requests for comment were not immediately returned by the governor’s office or the mayor’s office.

Sliwa told the Daily News that he last visited the sewer about a month ago, and that he used to enter the system more frequently to collect rubber balls used in stickball. He said he now visits the sewer about two times per year.

“The basic maintenance has not been done,” he said. “That needs to be addressed.”

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