In the midst of the New York City mayoral race, the competition is heating up with candidates engaging in various activities. Some are vacationing, some are meeting voters, some are busy with official duties. However, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa held a rally at City Hall on July 23, calling for an end to the “cruel” horse-drawn carriage tours.
Sliwa has always presented himself as a protector of animals and together with his wife Nancy, they have many cats. During his mayoral campaign in 2021, he even went to vote with a pet cat.
“Today, Nancy and I stand on the steps of City Hall, urging the end of New York City’s cruel and outdated horse carriage industry. It is time to switch to electric carriages and give animals the dignity they deserve,” Sliwa said. “As Mahatma Gandhi said: ‘The greatness and moral progress of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’ I am proud to be the first candidate in New York City’s history to run under the slogan of ‘animal protection’.”
Sliwa distinguishes himself from other competitors by highlighting the fact that he has been walking the subways of New York for decades.
“My campaign takes place on the subway. Apart from photo opportunities, you rarely see them on the subway,” Sliwa said at a press conference on Monday. “They spend all their time elsewhere, how can they be mayor?”
One of those “elsewhere” individuals Sliwa referred to is Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. After receiving endorsements from numerous unions and Democratic council members, Mamdani is currently on vacation in Uganda and is scheduled to return to New York at the end of the month.
Another candidate, former governor Andrew Cuomo, has been actively visiting various neighborhoods in New York, meeting with voters. He has notably adopted the video strategy of his opponent Mamdani, releasing daily short videos of his interactions with voters on social media platforms.
In a video posted on July 23, Cuomo visited small businesses in the Upper West Side.
“Every New Yorker has a different perspective – that’s what makes New York, New York. But no matter where I go, I hear one thing: our small businesses are under pressure from the city government: cumbersome bureaucratic processes, unnecessary regulations, and fines that are causing many to close down. Too many storefronts are vacant, too many restaurants, bars, and shops are being forced to close,” Cuomo explained in the video. “From day one, I will streamline bureaucracy and work to revive businesses. Let’s take action!”
Meanwhile, independent candidate Mayor Adams is juggling city hall affairs while gearing up for his re-election campaign. As he mentioned recently, working for New Yorkers every day is part of his re-election campaign.
Concern for the elderly, installing low-cost WiFi projects for low-income families, expanding after-school programs, providing summer programs for youth…
The day before, Department of Homeland Security officials criticized New York City’s illegal immigration policy and public safety situation. Adams used this to attack his opponent Cuomo, attributing New York’s security issues to the “revolving door” cashless bail reform passed during Cuomo’s tenure as governor.
In a media interview on Tuesday, Adams revealed that the number of people seeking shelter in New York City weekly has dropped from a peak of 4,000 to less than 100. He credited this to President Trump.
“The Trump administration ensured border security,” Adams told the New York Post. “Therefore, you won’t see tens of thousands of people pouring in, which is truly a relief for our city.”