© 77 WABC and James Flippin
(New York, NY) – Inside the 77 WABC studios, where Republican-Independent candidate for mayor Curtis Sliwa has spent so much time broadcasting, he was discussed at length on Wednesday — in absentia. Earlier in the day, Sliwa had vowed he’d never return to the Midtown Manhattan building that 77 WABC broadcasts from, explaining how put off he was amid the ongoing race for mayor.
Politics can he an ugly business. 77 WABC owner-operator John Catsimatidis — himself a candidate for mayor in 2013 — knows that all too well. And he alluded to that when noting “people get upset,” after being asked by reporters if he takes Sliwa at his word that the Guardian Angels founder would “never return” to the station. “I love Curtis,” Catsimatidis said, describing Sliwa as both a friend and longtime broadcast partner. The supermarket and oil mogul noted he only wants what’s best for New York City, as Catsimatidis has routinely campaigned in support of “Anyone but Mamdani” — in opposition to the socialist policies supporter by Zohran Mamdani. A state lawmaker from Queens, Mamdani won the Democratic primary in June, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo — who many had assumed would win.
For weeks, if not months, political pundits and interested parties have said the candidates ought to coalesce their support behind one candidate who can beat Zohran Mamdani. These include more conservative voices as well as more moderate Democrats. Independent Jim Walden departed at one point. Eventually, so did incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
Now, Cuomo has spent recent days calling on Sliwa to drop out of the race, as he looks to firm up his position as a more conservative alternative to Mamdani. But Sliwa has vowed he will do no such thing, insisting he’s “in it to win it.” It was during Sid and Friends in the Morning when Sliwa raged he’d never come back to 77 WABC, but Catsimatidis didn’t flinch when asked about that — noting people often get upset during shouting matches on the air.
Catsimatidis also noted what he felt were some inconsistent remarks from Sliwa, in connection to the Republican-Independent objecting to the influence of billionaires. While Sliwa was making those comments specifically in regard to “big money” influence during political races, Catsimatidis recalled when the longtime radio host was happy 77 WABC was purchased and brought up from the ashes — under the Red Apple Group’s leadership.
Still, Catsimatidis and 77 WABC president Chad Lopez left the door open for a potential return from Sliwa, “if he doesn’t get the job” at City Hall. Both men also acknowledged they have a long list of potential hosts to choose from, if a radio spot is open — come November 5.
As if to highlight the intense personal and political ties amid this race, a reporter asked Catsimatidis if he worries about the future of the Republican party if Sliwa dropped out. He pointed out that his daughter, Andrea Catsimatidis — head of the Manhattan Republican Party — is standing by Sliwa. The elder Catsimatidis described himself as “stuck in the middle” — searching for common sense — while backing moderate members of both parties.
Early voting begins Saturday, October 25, and lasts through Sunday, November 2. Election Day is November 4. Most polls give Mamdani a double-digit lead, but that shrank to 4% this week in a poll put out by Gotham Polling and NYC AARP — if it was a head-to-head contest between Mamdani and Cuomo.
