“….it is imperative for us, as working-class New Yorkers, to boycott WABC. John Catsimatidis has betrayed a true Conservative New Yorker who worked at his station for 35 years in favor of a man who stated that people like us who believe in traditional values have no place in New York.”

By Cody Persaud

For over 40 years, Curtis Sliwa has stood up for working-class New Yorkers. When the NYPD was  rife with corruption and bribery in the 1970s and criminals were let off the hook more often than not, Sliwa made sure that he and the Guardian Angels kept a keen and watchful eye over a city plummeting into the depths of crime and corruption, much of which involved the mafia, who attempted to assassinate him in the back of a taxi cab.

Despite the various economic and public safety ailments of the city and the promises of a better life elsewhere, Sliwa stayed, not for money nor for publicity, but because his love for New York City is true and genuine. Unfortunately, however, some of the more established members of the Republican Party, both in New York City and outside of it, do not seem to think so, and even if they do, they doubt his ability to secure a victory against Mamdani. Fox News has ran segments in which political pundits have tried to encourage Sliwa to drop out. President Trump has not endorsed Sliwa, and within Conservative circles citywide and nationwide, it is a common talking point to state that Cuomo has a better chance against Mamdani than Sliwa, and that the polls show Sliwa lagging behind, despite the polls having been completely wrong about Cuomo in the Democratic Primary.

Out of all of these, however, the worst perpetrator of this talking point has been WABC, Sliwa’s now former employer. Before Sliwa ran for Mayor, most people knew him from his talk show on 77 WABC, in which he would break down New York City issues and anything which came into his mind, but despite such a long career with WABC, the owner of the station, John Catsimatidis, has refused to endorse Curtis Sliwa. Despite the two previously having a good relationship and Sliwa having worked for Catsimatidis at WABC for just around 35 years, Catsimatidis has chosen to betray Curtis in favor of Andrew Cuomo, in which he stated that if Sliwa truly loves New York City, then he must drop out of the race in order to allow Cuomo to win, making the assumption that Sliwa’s voters will automatically vote for Cuomo if Sliwa drops out of the race. What was not taken into consideration, however, is the fact that many Conservatives remember Cuomo’s policies and suffered under them, and then when they raised concerns, were told by Cuomo himself that Conservatives “have no place” in New York.

That said, it is imperative for us, as working-class New Yorkers, to boycott WABC. John Catsimatidis has betrayed a true Conservative New Yorker who worked at his station for 35 years in favor of a man who stated that people like us who believe in traditional values have no place in New York. He has shown his true colors, as have other hosts at WABC such as Sid Rosenberg, who joined Catsimatidis in trying to get Curtis Sliwa to drop out of the race and was just as convinced as Catsimatidis that Cuomo has a better chance against Mamdani. Clearly neither of them watched the two mayoral debates. Curtis Sliwa has always stood up for working-class New Yorkers. Now is our time to stand up for him by boycotting WABC. Spread the message to any and every Conservative and Sliwa voter you know.