Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels and a recent candidate in New York City’s tumultuous 2025 mayoral race, now finds himself in hot water regarding his treatment of campaign workers. According to a report from the New York Post, several canvassers are claiming they were promised wages that never came. After weeks of hard work canvassing and phone banking, these workers are owed thousands of dollars.
One canvasser, feeling let down, expressed that the lack of payment is especially disappointing coming from someone who campaigned on principles of honesty and reform. The sentiment was echoed by Alonzo Henderson, another former worker, who stated, “When someone is promised something, you need to live up to that end of the promise — especially when you’re running on reform.” Such statements highlight the gravity of Sliwa’s situation; they go beyond simple financial grievances and touch on principles of integrity and accountability.
Despite the accusations, Sliwa’s campaign swiftly denied that anyone would not be compensated. His spokesman, Rob Cole, stated that “everyone is going to get paid,” noting that payment processes are subject to verification by the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Sliwa himself suggested that any worker who presents proper timesheets will be paid by December 1. He labeled the verification process as “standard protocol,” denying that his campaign stiffed any workers.
This controversy takes place in the context of a significant campaign budget. Sliwa raised nearly $7 million, with substantial funding coming from public matching funds. At the end of the race, it was reported he still had about $1.7 million left over. Given such financial resources, the claims of unpaid workers raise hard questions about how Sliwa managed his campaign finances.
Sliwa’s poor performance in the election—achieving just 7% of the vote—has amplified scrutiny of his financial practices. This is not the first instance of financial controversy surrounding him. Earlier, he faced a lawsuit from his ex-wife for over $530,000 in unpaid child support. Her attorney accused him of disregarding legal obligations. Additionally, there are reports that a corporation registered in Sliwa’s name owes nearly $4,000 in state taxes, a claim his campaign attributes to clerical errors linked to a dissolved business.
Republican activists within the city are not taking this lightly. They see the failure to pay campaign workers as a significant breach of trust that undermines Sliwa’s populist image. Party officials expressed concerns that these allegations could tarnish the image of a man who positioned himself as a champion of the common New Yorker while campaigning under the banner of law and order.
Sliwa rose to prominence by pledging to take back New York, harnessing the image of a tough-talking, streetwise advocate for safety. Now, with the spotlight on his campaign’s disputed payments and outstanding tax issues, he faces accusations that run counter to the principled approach he advocated. His past association with the Guardian Angels, loosely tied to community safety and self-defense, stands juxtaposed against the claims of failure to honor promises to his own workforce.
As accusations mount and anger festers among Republican ranks, the troubling narrative surrounding Curtis Sliwa continues to evolve. He may need to address these financial issues head-on if he wishes to restore confidence among both his supporters and the workers who helped him on the campaign trail.
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