Curtis Sliwa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curtis Sliwa
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Sliwa in 2023
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| Born | March 26, 1954 New York City, U.S.
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| Political party | Republican (before 2016, 2020–present) Reform (2016–2020) |
| Spouse(s) |
Koren Drayton
(m. 1976; div. 1977)Lisa Evers
(m. 1981; div. 1994)Mary Galda
(m. 2000; div. 2012)Nancy Regula
(m. 2018) |
| Partner(s) | Melinda Katz (sep. 2014) |
| Children | 3 |
Curtis Sliwa (born March 26, 1954) is an American activist and radio talk show host. He is best known as the founder of the Guardian Angels. This is a group that helps prevent crime. Sliwa was the Republican candidate for mayor of New York City in 2021. He is also running for mayor again in 2025.
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Early Life and School
Curtis Sliwa was born on March 26, 1954, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York. His family was Catholic and had Polish and Italian roots. He went to several schools in Brooklyn. As a young person, he worked delivering newspapers for the Daily News. He even won "Newsboy of the Year" for saving people from a burning building. Before starting the Guardian Angels, he managed a McDonald's restaurant in the Bronx.
The Guardian Angels
In May 1977, Sliwa started a group called the "Magnificent 13." Their goal was to fight crime and violence on the New York City Subway. At that time, New York City had a lot of crime. The group grew and changed its name to the Guardian Angels in 1979. Many people had strong feelings about the group, both good and bad.
Most Guardian Angels members were Black or Hispanic. They did not carry weapons. Members had to learn karate and how to make a citizens' arrest. Sliwa's red beret is a well-known part of the Guardian Angels' uniform.
In 1981, the mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, looked into the Guardian Angels. The investigation showed the group was doing good work. Lieutenant Governor Mario Cuomo supported the group early on.
In 1992, Sliwa said that he and the Guardian Angels had sometimes staged events. These events were meant to show how dangerous the subways could be. He said these actions helped lead to improvements in safety.
Surviving a Shooting
On June 19, 1992, Sliwa was shot after getting into a taxi in Manhattan. A person hiding in the taxi shot him. Sliwa managed to jump out of the moving taxi and escape. He had surgery for his injuries.
Later, federal prosecutors charged some people in connection with the shooting. They claimed the shooting happened because of things Sliwa had said on his radio show. After several trials, the juries could not agree to convict the main person charged. The charges were eventually dropped. Sliwa later said he would try to get money for damages in a civil court case.
Media Career in Radio
Curtis Sliwa has been a radio host for over 30 years. He started his radio career in 1990 on WABC-AM. He has hosted many radio talk shows. For a long time, his co-host was lawyer Ron Kuby. They had a popular show called "Curtis & Kuby." Sliwa returned to WABC in 2014. His most recent co-host was Juliet Huddy. When Sliwa announced he was running for mayor, his radio show went on a break.
Politics and Campaigns
In 2016, Sliwa became involved with the Reform Party of New York State. In 2019, he said he did not like then-President Donald Trump. However, in 2021, after Trump left office, Sliwa rejoined the Republican Party.
Running for Mayor in 2021
On March 8, 2020, Sliwa announced he would run for mayor of New York City in 2021. He ran as a Republican. He competed against Fernando Mateo in the Republican primary election. Sliwa won the primary election.
Sliwa's campaign focused on several issues. He was against reducing police funding. He wanted to change property taxes so working-class people would not pay more than wealthy people. He also supported keeping the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test. Sliwa also cared a lot about animals. He wanted all animal shelters to be "no-kill" shelters. He even mentioned having 16 cats at home.
In the general election on November 2, 2021, Sliwa lost to Democratic candidate Eric Adams. Adams won with more than two-thirds of the votes. Sliwa accepted his loss that night.
Community Activism
In August 2023, Sliwa took part in rallies about immigration. He has been involved in several rallies over the years.
Running for Mayor in 2025
On February 13, 2025, Curtis Sliwa announced he would run for mayor of New York City again. He is running as a Republican for the 2025 New York City mayoral election.
Personal Life
Curtis Sliwa has been married four times. His second wife, Lisa Evers, was also involved with the Guardian Angels. She was a martial arts expert. In 2000, he married Mary Galda. They have one son named Anthony. In 2018, Sliwa married his current wife, Nancy Regula. She is an animal activist and a lawyer. They were married at the Howe Caverns.
In 2010, Sliwa shared that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is also known for competing in eating contests.
See also
In Spanish: Curtis Sliwa para niños
