If you’ve spent more than five minutes in New York City over the last forty years, you’ve seen the red beret. It’s basically a permanent fixture on the head of Curtis Sliwa. Most people know him as "that Guardian Angels guy" or the Republican who ran for mayor against Eric Adams and, more recently, Zohran Mamdani. But honestly, the guy is a walking contradiction. He’s a radio shock jock who rescues dozens of cats. He’s a populist Republican who supports Universal Basic Income.
He is, quite literally, the last of the old-school New York street characters.
Born in Canarsie, Brooklyn, in 1954, Sliwa didn't start out as a political figure. He was a night manager at a McDonald’s in the Bronx. Think about that for a second. The Bronx in the late 1970s was a different planet. Crime was everywhere. The subways were a nightmare. Instead of just complaining about it, Sliwa started "The Magnificent 13." It was just a group of kids, mostly black and Latino, who decided to patrol the trains because the NYPD had basically stopped doing it at night. By 1979, that group became the Guardian Angels.
Who is Curtis Sliwa and Why Does He Matter?
You can't talk about Sliwa without talking about the Guardian Angels. They weren't exactly welcomed with open arms by the city government back then. Mayor Ed Koch called them vigilantes. The police hated them because they felt Sliwa was showing them up. But the public? They loved them. There was something about seeing those red berets on a graffiti-covered "A" train that made people feel like someone actually gave a damn.
But it wasn't all heroics.
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Sliwa later admitted to faking some of the "heroic" acts in the early days to get media attention. He’s been open about it since, but it definitely left a smudge on his reputation. Still, the organization grew into a global movement with chapters in hundreds of cities. He turned a bunch of neighborhood kids into a legitimate international non-profit.
The Survival of a Street Fighter
The guy has literally almost died for his causes. In 1992, he was kidnapped and shot in a stolen taxi. Why? Because he was running his mouth on the radio about John Gotti. The Gambino crime family didn't take kindly to a "vigilante" calling out the "Teflon Don." Sliwa took bullets to the groin and legs, jumped out of a moving cab to escape, and survived. That’s the kind of New York grit you just don't see anymore. It’s also why he’s so stubborn. If you can survive a mob hit, a political debate with a billionaire isn't going to scare you.
The 2021 and 2025 Mayoral Runs
Most people outside of NYC really learned who Curtis Sliwa is during the 2021 mayoral election. He was the underdog Republican candidate going up against Eric Adams. He campaigned with a cat in his arms. Seriously. He and his wife, Nancy, share a tiny studio apartment on the Upper West Side with upwards of 16-17 rescue cats. It sounds like a punchline, but he’s dead serious about animal welfare.
In 2021, he grabbed about 28% of the vote. Not a win, but a respectable showing for a Republican in a deep blue city.
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Fast forward to the 2025 election cycle, and things got weird. He was the GOP nominee again, but the field was crowded. You had the rise of Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, and the return of Andrew Cuomo. Sliwa was under massive pressure to drop out. Billionaires like Bill Ackman and even some of his own radio bosses at WABC-AM were telling him to quit so he wouldn't split the "moderate" or "conservative" vote.
He didn't budge.
In fact, he had a massive, legendary blowout on live radio with station owner John Catsimatidis. He basically told the station to shove it and quit right then and there. He ended up getting about 7% of the vote in that three-way 2025 slugfest, where Mamdani eventually took the win. Sliwa’s refusal to quit might have actually changed the course of New York history, depending on who you ask.
The Political Outsider Who Doesn't Fit a Box
Sliwa is a Republican, but he isn't a "MAGA" guy. He’s a populist.
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- He supports same-sex marriage and pro-choice rights.
- He wants to tax massive institutions like Columbia University and Madison Square Garden.
- He’s been arrested over 75 times for civil disobedience.
- He thinks the city should give people a Universal Basic Income.
It’s a weird mix. He’s pro-police but anti-corruption. He’s a conservative who thinks the rich aren't paying enough. Basically, he’s a "New York City Republican," which is a breed that is almost extinct.
The Radio Legend and the Future
For 30 years, his voice was the soundtrack of NYC commutes. Whether he was paired with Ron Kuby—a radical left-wing lawyer—or hosting solo, he was always "The King of the Five Boroughs." His departure from WABC in late 2025 marked the end of an era. People wonder if he’s done with politics, but honestly, knowing Curtis, he’s probably just recharging. He’s 71 now, but he still moves with the energy of someone half his age.
Why You Should Care
Curtis Sliwa represents a version of New York that is fading away—unfiltered, gritty, and fiercely independent. He’s a reminder that you don't have to fit into a perfect political box to make an impact. Whether you love him or think he’s a self-promoting circus act, you can't deny he’s spent his life actually out on the streets.
What to do if you want to follow his lead:
If you’re inspired by the "do-it-yourself" spirit of the early Guardian Angels, look into local neighborhood watch programs or volunteer at your local animal shelter. Sliwa’s biggest takeaway is that you don't need permission from a politician to try and fix your own block. You can also check out the Guardian Angels' official site to see how they've shifted toward youth mentoring and cyber-safety in recent years.