Curtis Sliwa on NYC Mayor Race, Infrastructure, and Public Safety

Campaign Stance and Infrastructure

• 🗽 Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee for New York City mayor, states he is committed to winning the race despite calls for him to drop out.
• 🌧️ Addressing recent heavy rains, Sliwa highlights infrastructure problems, particularly with sewers and catch basins, which he vows to clean monthly if elected.
• 💡 He criticizes past administrations for neglecting basic maintenance, leading to predictable flooding, and promises to prioritize these essential city services.

Policing and Public Safety

• 👮‍♂️ Sliwa criticizes Mayor Adams' late announcement of funding for 5,000 new police officers, questioning the timing and feasibility.
• 🛡️ He emphasizes the importance of qualified immunity for police officers, arguing that its absence hinders recruitment and retention.
• 💰 Sliwa proposes taxing underutilized university properties and demanding property taxes from entities like Jimmy Dolan to fund an additional 7,000 police officers.
• 🚨 He expresses concern that a potential Zoram Mandani mayoralty, with a platform to defund the police, would further deter recruitment and compromise public safety.

Governance and City Management

• 🏛️ Sliwa contrasts his approach with professional politicians, emphasizing his willingness to listen to experts and implement their guidance.
• 📉 He advocates for cutting taxes, including property and corporate taxes, by shrinking the city budget and eliminating waste, particularly in departments like Buildings.
• 🏢 He proposes retrofitting empty office spaces into affordable housing within a year, a more efficient solution than new construction.
• ⚡ Sliwa criticizes the closure of Indian Point and restrictions on natural gas, leading to high electric rates, and opposes the proliferation of lithium-ion battery warehouses.
• 🚗 He calls for the elimination of congestion pricing and speed cameras, viewing them as punitive taxes on citizens rather than safety measures.

Social and Political Issues

• 🚫 Sliwa opposes sanctuary city policies, advocating for legal immigration and the right for citizens to vote on such matters through initiative and referendum.
• 🤝 He criticizes politicians for corrupting the process for personal gain, likening politics to organized crime.
• ⚖️ Regarding police disciplinary proceedings, Sliwa insists the Police Commissioner, not the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), should have the final say, citing concerns about the CCRB's impartiality.
• ✡️ Sliwa strongly criticizes Zoram Mandani's stance on Israel and terrorism, questioning his support for those accused of terrorist acts and urging Jewish families to reconsider their support.
• 🗣️ He identifies public safety, quality of life, and affordability as the primary concerns of New York City voters.

Candidate Self-Assessment

• ✨ Sliwa rates himself highly on likability, personality, experience, energy, and diligence, giving himself a '10' in these areas.
• ⚖️ He rates himself a '5' on the ability to compromise, acknowledging it's an area he's learned through marriage but not his strongest suit.
• 🗽 He positions himself as a genuine New Yorker dedicated to serving the people, contrasting with politicians he deems corrupt or ineffective.