With the New York City mayoral elections just a few months away, it’s time to start thinking about who will be running for mayor.
The “nyc mayoral debate tonight” is a live debate that will take place in New York City. The debate will feature Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa.
8:11 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
20th of October, 2021, 8:11 p.m. ET
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Last summer, the nation’s biggest police agency was pressured by protests after the death of George Floyd, a campaign to cut budget for the department, and escalating levels of gun violence. The New York Times’ Dakota Santiago contributed to this article.
The next mayor will take over the New York Police Department at a pivotal point in its recent history. And during the first general election discussion, issues about how the nation’s biggest police force would work were at the forefront.
The two candidates, Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa, argued on daily police tactics, the possible return of a plainclothes police squad, and how to treat mental health issues that drive certain instances of violence on public transportation.
Mr. Sliwa, the Republican candidate, sought to imply that Mr. Adams would support the misuse of stop-and-frisk, which at its zenith featured the detention of hundreds of thousands of individuals, many of whom were young Black and Latino males, for weapons that seldom appeared.
“I would not do what one of his biggest backers, Michael Bloomberg, did,” Mr. Sliwa added, “which required 700,000 men of color, mostly of color, to be stopped and frisked using a specific system that was put in place.”
Mr. Adams, the Democratic contender and a former police captain, said that his record as a cop and politician demonstrated he had “saved Black and brown and low-income New Yorkers” from police abuses.
Mr. Adams said, “My kid was a victim of stop-and-frisk in the city.” “I never advocate for harsh police techniques; instead, I advocate for police tactics that are acceptable.”
Following last summer’s demonstrations over the assassination of George Floyd, public pressure has grown to cut police expenditures and curtail the department’s mandate. Simultaneously, the number of shootings and killings in the city soared to their highest levels in at least a decade last summer and have stayed considerably above pre-pandemic levels ever since.
The agency is likewise faced with a public relations dilemma. Even when incidents of police brutality have been verified by department or city investigators, abusive officers nearly always stay on the duty and typically get little to no discipline, according to documents disclosed over the past year.
Mr. Sliwa chastised Mr. Adams for not interviewing Hispanic and Latino applicants for the position of police commissioner in one of their clashes. Mr. Adams, who had said that he would choose a woman of color for the post, responded by telling Mr. Sliwa that he had no idea who he had interviewed and that he should concentrate on his own plans.
Mr. Adams endeavored to maintain a consistent tone throughout the primary season, describing a moderate approach to police in general while highlighting public safety as a key campaign issue. He has said that he believes in cutting fat from the police department’s budget in a responsible manner.
Mr. Adams said, “I’ve been clear on this message for the past 35 years.” “I haven’t changed in the least.”
Mr. Sliwa, who has highlighted a commitment to public safety, chastised Mr. Adams for his budget stance, saying that he not only feels the spending should be preserved, but that it should be increased. Mr. Adams’ past claims that he would carry a pistol as mayor were also criticised.
“I’m always in the city, I don’t wear a bulletproof vest, and I don’t have a gun.” Mr. Sliwa said, “I never have.” “I’ll tell you what, if you want to reach out to young guys who use weapons in violent acts, you can’t say, ‘Do as I say, but not as I do.’”
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20th of October, 2021, 8:08 p.m. ET
20th of October, 2021, 8:08 p.m. ET
Curtis Sliwa is up against near-impossible odds in a community that is heavily Democratic. But if he’s going to make a miracle return, it’s not going to start tonight. Sliwa pummeled and harassed Eric Adams, but he failed to faze him or affect the race’s dynamics.
WNBC-TV and the New York City Campaign Finance Board are to be credited.
Sunday, October 20, 2021, at 8:01 p.m. ET
Sunday, October 20, 2021, at 8:01 p.m. ET
The discussion is ended, and Eric Adams’ new commercial has already begun. Thank you for coming to see us!
The New York Times’ Hilary Swift is to thank for this.
8:00 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
8:00 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
WNBC-TV, which transmitted the discussion live, immediately airs an Eric Adams commercial, highlighting Adams’ significant fundraising edge over his opponent.
8:00 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
8:00 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
As we end off, a reminder that early voting starts on Saturday and will continue through October 31. The election will take place on November 2nd.
The New York Times’ Hilary Swift is to thank for this.
7:58 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:58 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
When asked whether he wants to react to Curtis Sliwa, Eric Adams answers, “I’m speaking to New Yorkers, not buffoonery.”
7:58 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:58 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Time for a lightning round of questions! Curtis Sliwa wants carriage horses to be outlawed. Without truly addressing the issue, Eric Adams says he’ll work with the union to find a better way to moving people about Central Park “if necessary.”
Credit… Craig Ruttle took this shot of the pool.
7:57 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:57 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Now it’s time for the fast-talking-pitchman part of the show. Both candidates have been asked how they would pitch New York City to out-of-towners. Eric Adams was a good player. Curtis Sliwa did not respond to the query.
7:57 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:57 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
With a slight tweak, we’ve arrived at the typical softball phase of any discussion. Right now, both candidates are making their case for visiting New York.
7:56 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:56 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa wants the NYCHA, which homes over 400,000 New Yorkers, should be managed by tenants.
7:56 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:56 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
New York City was flooded to death by the remains of Hurricane Ida. The New York Times’ Dakota Santiago contributed to this article.
After the leftovers of Hurricane Ida murdered 15 individuals, the majority of whom were killed by basement flooding, protecting New York City from the increased flood hazards associated with climate change is a hot topic among voters.
Both Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa vow to improve drainage, flood warning systems, flood-resistant architecture, and coastal flood barriers in order to combat floods.
When asked to describe three things they would do to avoid further flooding fatalities during the discussion, the contenders argued over their tactics. Mr. Adams emphasized the need for stronger warning systems and clearer planning for what to do in the event of significant cloudbursts.
He remarked, “We’re going to put in place a clear reaction strategy.” “We learn from terrorism that you don’t wait till an aircraft strikes to act.”
Mr. Sliwa urged for the construction of new sea barriers, noting that one planned in Staten Island has remained unbuilt nine years after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the region with coastal flooding. “Politicians like Eric Adams, Bill de Blasio, and others have lost people’s trust,” he stated.
Mr. Adams accurately emphasized that the current flooding was caused by downpours, not storm surges from the sea, unlike Mr. Sliwa, who has been sure to portray the flooding issue as part of the greater concerns of climate change.
“It had nothing to do with sea barriers,” he added, insisting that trying to solve a contemporary issue with old ways won’t work: “This requires intervention and prevention.” (Mr. Adams is not anti-sea walls; rather, he views them as one of many instruments that must be used in diverse ways depending on the demands and ecology of each location.)
While Mr. Sliwa’s four-point policy proposal ignores climate change, Mr. Adams’ plan pledges to address climate concerns in every community, including high heat, sea level rise, and severe storms. He promises to push through measures started by the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, such as increasing green roofs and restoring wetlands.
Mr. Adams has also mentioned cutting fossil fuel use and phasing out gas-fired power plants to address the city’s impact to climate change, but he has not stated a deadline. He also hasn’t specified whether he’ll make it a priority to execute and extend a municipal ordinance mandating major buildings to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Real-estate lobbying organizations, who sponsored his candidacy, want to narrow the statute and exploit loopholes.
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7:55 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:55 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams’ biography is continuously bringing up new questions. When questioned about his idea for street sellers, he recalls selling lemonade outside his home as a child to assist his mother purchase food for his family. Adams has also stated that as a youngster, he worked as a squeegee guy to supplement his income.
7:53 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:53 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
The influence of the future mayor on the congestion pricing plan will be limited in the end. The mayor will have one seat on the board that will devise the fee structure, but the state will be in charge of the tolling system.
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa is obviously speaking to his Republican base, where congestion pricing and vaccination requirements are thought to be unpopular.
Credit… Craig Ruttle took this shot of the pool.
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Meanwhile, Curtis Sliwa opposes congestion pricing, claiming that it will “crush” middle-class commuters from Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:52 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams reiterates his support for a proposal to establish congestion pricing in areas of Manhattan as the state goes ahead with the plan, but he wants to see additional exceptions and exclusions.
7:51 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:51 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Both candidates were asked how they would balance safety concerns with the entrance of e-bikes and scooters into the city. Cars kill more New Yorkers than either of those modes of transportation, something the moderators failed to mention.
7:51 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:51 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams is positioning himself as the mayor of safe streets. He is expected to follow Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose Vision Zero plan to eradicate traffic fatalities by 2024 went awry during his last year in office.
7:50 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
7:50 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
Eric Adams focused largely on his background of growing up poor during the Democratic primaries. During a question regarding supportive housing, Adams acknowledges for the first time that his family was on the brink of homelessness when he was a youngster.
WNBC-TV and the New York City Campaign Finance Board are to be credited.
7:49 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:49 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Sliwa, Curtis indicates that vacant land in Hudson Yards and other big complexes may be turned into homeless homes with social services.
7:48 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:48 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
When questioned why his proposal to establish supportive housing for mentally ill homeless individuals, which includes converting vacant hotel rooms into homes, does not involve doing so in Manhattan, where the majority of hotels have closed due to the epidemic, Eric Adams responds that it does. He claims that once the city recovers, Manhattan hotels will reopen.
7:47 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:47 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa now needs two or three moderators to cease speaking. Throughout the discussion, Eric Adams has complained about Sliwa’s failure to obey the debate rules.
7:46 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:46 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
People with recorded histories of “emotionally disturbed person” calls have been implicated in many incidents of violence throughout the subway system, but the city has failed to address underlying mental health concerns during the epidemic.
7:46 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:46 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa said that if elected mayor, he will look into ThriveNYC, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife’s mental health group. The nonprofit was founded to combat drug misuse, despair, and suicide, but it has faced scrutiny over how it spent hundreds of millions of dollars.
WNBC-TV and the New York City Campaign Finance Board are to be credited.
7:45 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
7:45 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
Eric Adams says he plans to assist mentally ill homeless persons by cooperating with groups such as Fountain House and other supportive housing providers that have proven successful in assisting them in achieving stability.
7:44 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:44 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
When asked what he would do to improve the city’s mental health system, Curtis Sliwa says he would get individuals into mental-health institutions so they can receive the help they need. However, he has promised to look at ThriveNYC, the mental health initiative led by the current mayor’s wife.
7:43 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:43 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams has said that he would go to Florida the day after becoming office and pleading with New York firms to return. Curtis Sliwa, on the other hand, has different ideas. He claims he’ll move into the warden’s residence on Rikers Island on his second day in office and remain there until the prison complex’s condition improves.
7:43 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:43 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa refers to Eric Adams as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “ally” while criticizing the mayor for delaying his visit to Rikers Island as it plunged into mayhem.
7:42 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:42 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
City authorities have recommended shutting the Rikers Island prison complex by 2026, and although Eric Adams believes that it should be decommissioned, he does not address the precise deadline, which many consider to be difficult.
7:42 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:42 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
The inherent lack of openness that has accompanied Eric Adams’ candidacy has led to previous questions about where he lives and travels. He has refused to provide a public itinerary on several days as the mayoral front-runner.
7:40 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:40 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Basement apartments, according to Eric Adams, should be brought up to code to avoid tragedies like those of persons who drowned in unlawful dwellings during the Ida floods. Curtis Sliwa accurately observes that getting owners to do so is tough, and adds a dig that Adams’ Brooklyn home may have undergone an unlawful modification.
7:39 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:39 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
The candidates are asked how they plan to make illegal basement flats, which were a major source of inexpensive accommodation during the Ida floods and where many people perished, lawful and safe. According to Eric Adams, the city should set aside funds to rehabilitate the units.
7:39 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:39 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams provided a media tour of a ground-floor apartment in Brooklyn where he claimed he stays most of the time as doubts about his residency circulated earlier this year. Credit… The New York Times’ Dave Sanders
The topic of where Eric Adams lives has been a source of considerable consternation throughout the campaign.
A moderator questioned Mr. Adams how the voter could trust him given the uncertainties surrounding his residence and how he accounted for his real estate on his tax filings.
Mr. Adams said, as he has before, that he accepts responsibility for any errors on his tax forms and then blamed his accountant, whom he claimed was homeless.
Mr. Adams said of his accountant, “He went through tremendous anguish.” “And I’m not a hypocrite; I still wanted to provide him the help he needed.”
Mr. Adams again reiterated that Brooklyn is his main home.
Mr. Adams owns a multi-unit townhouse in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, where he claims to have an apartment. He conducted a media tour of that flat, with reporters witnessing non-vegan food items reportedly belonging to Mr. Adams’s son, in one of the most strange moments of the mayoral race. (For years, Mr. Adams has been a vegan.)
However, Mr. Adams and his partner own a co-op in Fort Lee, N.J., and he has said that he temporarily relocated to Brooklyn Borough Hall once the epidemic struck. Mr. Adams used inconsistent addresses in public records throughout the primary, according to Politico New York, and he was still spending nights at Borough Hall.
According to the news site The City, he had to re-file his tax returns due to inconsistencies with his residence. According to the publication, the city has requested an inspection of his Brooklyn home after an accusation of an unlawful apartment conversion. Despite the fact that the complaint is still current, his team has said that he intends to address the concerns.
Mr. Sliwa recently conducted a trek from Manhattan to Fort Lee, with the goal of discovering “where Eric Adams truly lives.”
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7:38 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:38 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
The flooding caused by Hurricane Ida’s leftovers had nothing to do with sea walls, which protect low-lying coastal regions, as Eric Adams pointed out. Flooding was reported around the city.
7:37 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:37 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
“Flash floods caught us off guard,” Eric Adams says, adding that he would strengthen warning systems and flood resilience. He has a thorough strategy in place to repair flood defenses. According to Sliwa, the city has to construct sea barriers, establish flood zones, and clean sewers and drains more often.
7:37 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:37 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
In New York City, the high-stakes exam, which is usually given in January, has contributed to establish a cottage industry of test preparation for young children. Credit… The New York Times/Marian Carrasquero
The most urgent concern for both candidates on gifted and talented education is whether they would keep using the widely panned entrance test for entering primary school pupils, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would abolish permanently.
However, the next mayor will have to decide whether or not to employ that test, which is administered to 4-year-olds against the recommendations of many proponents of gifted education.
In New York City, the high-stakes exam, which is usually given in January, has contributed to establish a cottage industry of test preparation for young children.
The contract for that exam was rejected by the city’s advisory school board earlier this year, leaving Mr. de Blasio, who has slammed the test, without a clear admissions mechanism.
Mr. Adams and Mr. Sliwa have both said that the gifted program would be maintained, but they have not stated if the exam will be administered again, whether it will be overhauled, or whether it will be replaced with another kind of screening.
Mr. Adams said during the discussion on Wednesday that the city should re-examine the admissions test while ensuring that chances for “accelerated learners” are available in “every district in our city and every ZIP code.”
He said, “I made it plain that we need to look at that test.” “I don’t think a four-year-old passing the test should have any bearing on the remainder of their education.” This is inexcusable.”
Mr. Sliwa also expressed his support for extending the gifted program to all schools, citing his son as one of thousands of pupils who “failed” the exam.
Mr. Sliwa said, “We appear to be taking it out on Asian and Southeast Asian families because they’re doing so well.” “Gifted and talented has to be expanded so that it is available in all schools, even if only three or two students qualify.”
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7:35 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
7:35 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
Eric Adams claims his tax preparer has been homeless for many years, which is one of the oddest aspects of his wrongly filed taxes.
7:34 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:34 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
At the previous six months, Eric Adams has refused to specify how many nights he has spent in his Brooklyn apartment. He also claims to spend time at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
WNBC-TV and the New York City Campaign Finance Board are to be credited.
7:34 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:34 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
In response to the subject of where Eric Adams truly resides, which has haunted his campaign, he faults his accountant for inputting a false number on a tax return once again.
7:33 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:33 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Eric Adams argues New York should remain a “sanctuary city,” restricting cooperation with federal immigration officials, in one of the candidates’ most vehement clashes. Curtis Sliwa disagrees, and reels off a list of groups that he claims immigration officials are on the lookout for.
7:32 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:32 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, or “the TikTok girls,” are Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, if you’re not in Gen-Z or attached to your phone.
7:31 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
7:31 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
When asked who they would support in the governor’s campaign next year, neither candidate takes the bait.
6:55 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
6:55 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
Credit… The New York Times/James Estrin
Given New York City’s predominantly Democratic slant and many political analysts’ perceptions of him as a fundamentally unserious public figure, Republican mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa is clearly a long-shot candidate.
While some New Yorkers remember him for his early work with the Guardian Angels, which he established, or his many appearances in the mainstream media, Mr. Sliwa has acknowledged to fabricating crimes for the sake of attention. He’s also notorious for living in a 320-square-foot studio apartment with more than a dozen cats while campaigning.
Mr. Sliwa is anticipated to use the discussion to emphasize some of his key campaign topics, such as public safety, animal welfare, and addressing homelessness.
Mr. Sliwa has the opportunity to surprise spectators with a calm manner that reflects the nervous tone of the city during the discussion. However, he is more likely to take the Democratic candidate, Eric Adams, to task on a range of issues, including his residence.
Onstage, Mr. Sliwa can be a brawler, as seen by his first big debate against Fernando Mateo in the Republican primary, in which the two men hurled obscenities and continued to shout at one other, even when muted.
However, even some political strategists were unaware that the discussion was taking place, indicating that Mr. Sliwa would have minimal influence with the ordinary people.
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6:45 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
6:45 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
In Wednesday’s debate, Eric Adams, the Democratic contender for mayor of New York City, is expected to avoid acrimonious exchanges with his long-shot opponent, Curtis Sliwa. Credit… The New York Times’ Hilary Swift
The debate requirement for Eric Adams, the Democratic mayoral candidate, is clear: Do no damage.
Given New York City’s overwhelming Democratic lean, Mr. Adams enters the discussion as the obvious front-runner, and few political experts anticipate anything in the debate to alter that.
Even yet, it’s been months since Mr. Adams has been at the heart of a debate-stage brawl, and many Democrats feel he’d be smart to keep out of it, no matter how much his Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa, tries to provoke him.
Instead, the debate provides an opportunity for Mr. Adams to set out his ideas and stress unity in front of a city where he was most recently involved in a crowded and heated Democratic primary fight.
Mr. Adams is most known for his public safety ideas, but the discussion may force him to provide specifics about how he would address the city’s many other issues.
More generally, it will be an opportunity for Mr. Adams to demonstrate that he understands the attitude of a community that is both hopeful about ongoing recovery and gravely concerned about the pandemic’s enduring health, educational, and economic implications.
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The date is October 20, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The date is October 20, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
David Ushery is a WNBC-TV anchor. The New York Times’ Hiroko Masuike is to thank for this image.
For decades, the four moderators for Thursday evening’s discussion have been questioning prominent people.
Indeed, David Ushery, a news anchor for WNBC-TV in New York, has been interviewing celebrities since he was an 11-year-old host on “Kidsworld,” a news program on which he interviewed Walter Cronkite. Mr. Ushery is a Connecticut native who has contributed to the Hartford Courant and the Los Angeles Times.
Sally Goldenberg, Politico New York’s relentless City Hall bureau director, earned her first job in journalism in 2002 at the Hillsborough Beacon in New Jersey, where she worked on the police blotter and covered school board meetings. Mr. Adams, who had refused to specify where he had gone on his post-primary European vacation, had vacationed in Monaco, according to Ms. Goldenberg. She adores old-school R&B and the Olympics.
Melissa Russo, WNBC’s political and government affairs reporter, has covered four mayors and is recognized for her hard-hitting investigations into child-related issues, which have included the New York City Housing Authority and the Administration for Children’s Services. She enjoys a capella music and photography.
Allan Villafaa, a Telemundo 47 anchor, was born in Puerto Rico, studied journalism at Ohio State University, and worked as an anchor for Mega TV in Miami. He recently took two canines to the blessing of the animals at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in New Jersey on St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, Petunia Marie and Yoyo Jesus.
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6:15 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
6:15 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican mayoral candidate, is seldom seen without his red beret, a relic from his time as the Guardian Angels’ commander. Credit… The New York Times/James Estrin
Curtis Sliwa is more than his 16 cats and his infamous red beret.
Mr. Sliwa, 67, has gotten more attention on the campaign trail for his tiny army of rescue cats than for anything else. He is a long-shot Republican mayoral candidate.
Mr. Sliwa, on the other hand, has been a New York City star for decades.
In the 1980s, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Guardian Angels, a citizen crime-fighting organization. He rose to prominence as a conservative radio presenter noted for his outlandish remarks. He testified in a federal trial against John A. Gotti, the Gambino crime family scion, after surviving a gunshot that left him with five bullet wounds.
He entered politics and became the leader of the Reform Party of New York State; in the most recent statewide election, the Reform Party received the fewest votes for governor among the ten parties on the ballot. He switched parties last year and decided to run for mayor, winning a contentious primary in June against his longtime friend and restaurateur Fernando Mateo.
Mr. Sliwa has emphasized a law-and-order theme, criticizing former President Donald J. Trump and stating that he did not vote for him in either 2016 or 2020.
He concedes that his campaign hasn’t had many analogues.
“Who, at the age of 67, is wearing a red beret and a red satin jacket and acting like a crime fighter and a superhero from our childhood days of reading comic books?” Over the summer, Mr. Sliwa told The New York Times. “That’s a little strange.”
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6:00 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
6:00 p.m. ET on October 20, 2021
The Democratic mayoral candidate, Eric Adams, claims that he can increase public safety without jeopardizing New Yorkers’ civil rights. Credit…Dieu -The New York Times’ Nalio Chéry
During the Democratic primaries, Eric Adams’ pitch was that he would be a blue-collar mayor whose life experiences were similar to those of ordinary New Yorkers.
Mr. Adams, 61, effectively argued that he could concentrate on public safety while safeguarding civil rights by emphasizing on his background of growing up poor, enduring abuse at the hands of police, and then joining the department to attempt to transform it from inside.
This weekend, I had the opportunity to meet up with some of New York’s finest on the campaign trail, and I wanted to thank them for all they do to keep our city secure. pic.twitter.com/yB4gkjfJb7
October 17, 2021 — Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc)
Mr. Adams would be the city’s second Black mayor if elected.
Mr. Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and a moderate, declared himself “the face of the new Democratic Party” after the June primary victory, vowing to “teach America how to manage a city.”
Since then, he’s worked hard to broaden his support base, wooing the city’s business sector, conducting many fund-raising events, and meeting with former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his staff on how to rule.
Mr. Adams’ primary campaign was centered on the issue of crime. Despite the fact that the issue remains a top priority for him, he has begun to lay out some of his other ideas, including calling for neighborhoods like SoHo in Manhattan to be rezoned to create more affordable housing, promising to build hundreds of miles of new bike lanes, and promising to keep and expand the city’s gifted and talented program in public schools after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that it would be phased out.
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5:45 p.m., October 20, 2021 ET
5:45 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021 On Wednesday night, Eric Adams, left, and Curtis Sliwa, right, will debate each other at the WNBC-TV studios. Credit… The New York Times/Tony Cenicola
Since winning a hotly fought Democratic mayoral primary in June, Eric Adams has spent the majority of his time collecting money, evaluating possible administration employees, and preparing for his anticipated transition to the mayorship.
Mr. Adams, on the other hand, will be compelled to focus for at least an hour on his Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa, when they face off in the first of two formal debates between the two top contenders for mayor of New York City on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The one-hour discussion will be broadcast in English on WNBC-TV Channel 4 and in Spanish on Telemundo, Channel 47.
On Channel 25.1, a simulcast of NYC Life TV will be available.
NBCNewYork.com, Telemundo47.com, and Politico New York will all be livestreaming the discussion.
The debate will be moderated by four journalists: David Ushery, a news anchor for WNBC-TV in New York; Sally Goldenberg, the City Hall bureau chief for Politico New York; Melissa Russo, WNBC’s political and government affairs reporter; and Allan Villafaa, an anchor for Telemundo 47. A team of reporters from The New York Times will provide live commentary and analysis for the debate, which will be moderated by four journalists: David Ushery, a news
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5:30 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
5:30 p.m. ET, October 20, 2021
In the weeks running up to Election Day, Eric Adams, right, has mostly disregarded his Republican opponent, Curtis Sliwa, left. Credit… The New York Times/James Estrin; The New York Times/Hilary Swift
The two major-party candidates for mayor of New York City will debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first of two televised debates, with Election Day less than two weeks away.
Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, is the obvious front-runner, having won a close Democratic primary in June and holding a big edge in fund-raising, endorsements, and party favoritism: registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in New York City by about seven to one.
Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels subway patrol organization, has failed to establish traction as a candidate and is likely to use the debates to criticize Mr. Adams, who has mostly ignored him throughout the campaign.
In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 2 election, the candidates have already hurled insults. Mr. Adams slammed Mr. Sliwa as a bigot who was turning the campaign into a spectacle. Mr. Sliwa has condemned Mr. Adams’s campaign against a whistle-blower police officer in the 1990s and has raised concerns about Mr. Adams’s whereabouts.
Both candidates have emphasized the need of law and order. Mr. Adams, a former police captain, has regarded the race almost as an afterthought, declaring himself the Democratic Party’s future leader and arranging meetings to discuss his inevitable transfer to the mayorship.
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