Curtis Sliwa
Curtis Sliwa (born March 26, 1954 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York) founded the Guardian Angels in 1979, a volunteer anti-crime organization with which he has remained closely identified.
Career
Sliwa originally created the organization to combat widespread violence and crime on the New York City subways. At the time, New York City was suffering a double burden as the crime capital of the nation and broad cutbacks in municipal services to reduce huge debt.
The Guardian Angels' activism drew strong reactions, both positive and negative, from the public and the media. Sliwa later admitted that, in order to attract favorable media attention for the Guardian Angels, he had fabricated a series of criminal incidents "that clearly had not taken place" in the late 1970s and early 1980s. [1] Throughout the early 1980s the group's distinctive uniform, a red beret and white insignia t-shirt, became instantly recognizable as the group grew.
In the early 1980s, he was also active in Buffalo, New York and was often critical of local police policies and practices.[2] The Guardian Angels are currently organized in nine countries and eighty-two cities around the world, with approximately 5,000 total members.
Sliwa later became a populist conservative radio talk show host, although his political views are less noticeable than his "gift of gab" rapid-fire speaking style. In the early 1990s, Sliwa was co-host with his then-wife Lisa Evers on WABC-AM in New York City.
Assassination attempt on Sliwa
On June 19, 1992 Sliwa was ambushed by two gunmen after getting in the back of a taxi in New York City. Sliwa was shot multiple times and underwent surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds. John A. "Junior" Gotti, son of the late Mafia boss John Gotti, and two members of the Gambino crime family were charged with conspiring to murder Sliwa in retaliation for comments about the elder Gotti that Sliwa made during his radio program.
On September 20, 2005, the case against Gotti was declared a mistrial after the jury became hopelessly deadlocked. A retrial on the same charges was declared a mistrial on March 10, 2006, again due to a deadlocked jury. The third trial was declared a mistrial on September 27, 2006, once again due to a deadlocked jury.[3] On October 20, 2006, prosecutors announced that they will not re-try Gotti, and dismissed the charges against him. Sliwa was outraged by the decision and announced that he will sue Gotti for the kidnapping attempt.
According to a November 13, 2006 New York Post article[4], Sean Yannotti was convicted by a jury of racketeering and loan sharking. Yannotti was apparently ordered by "Junior" Gotti to intimidate Sliwa, however Yannotti shot Sliwa instead of beating him. The injuries resulted in a life of debilitating pain for Sliwa. Yannotti's sentencing Judge said that she found the evidence regarding his involvement in Sliwa's shooting "quite credible" and cited that when she sentenced him to twenty years in federal prison.
The TV series Law & Order dramatized these events in the 15th season episode "Cry Wolf". Jose Zuniga played Sliwa's fictional counterpart, called "Cristof".
Current media presence
After his attempted murder, his WABC (AM) program was cancelled. Through his friendship with Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sliwa landed a radio program on the then city-owned and operated WNYC.
Sliwa is now the co-host, with Ron Kuby, of the "Curtis and Kuby in the Morning" program aired weekdays from 5 A.M. to 10 A.M. on WABC (AM). Sliwa and Kuby also co-hosted a television version of "Curtis & Kuby" on MSNBC in the afternoons for a time in 2002-2003. The "Curtis and Kuby" radio show has won many broadcasting awards and is produced by Frank Morano.
He occasionally fills in for Sean Hannity and Mark Levin on the The Sean Hannity Show and the Mark Levin Show.
Sliwa has more recently been active in forming chapters of the Guardian Angels in New Orleans and Boston.
Personal life
Sliwa attended Brooklyn Prep, a Jesuit Catholic high school, and graduated from Canarsie High School, a New York City public high school located in Canarsie, Brooklyn.[1] Prior to founding the Guardian Angels, he was night manager of a McDonald's restaurant on Fordham Road in The Bronx. [2]
In 2004 Sliwa married for a third time and became a father.
Trivia
Sliwa is known for his connection with the New York City local community and frequently participates in local events. He is an active proponent of the game of stickball and sometimes refers to himself as the "Stickball Commissioner" of New York City. He is also a former host and participant in competitive eating events. His achievements in those events include four reigns as the world pickle eating champion. Sliwa is a former McDonald's restaurant manager.
Sliwa has taken to wearing his red beret at all times during the last few years. He also wears his red jacket at all times, trying to look as though he is in Guardian Angels Uniform. Most people know, however, this is merely an attempt to hide his baldness.
Notes
- ^ Lambert, Bruce (1995-10-29). "Guardian Angels Lose Home Base on Restaurant Row". New York Times. p. 13.1.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ JamesCunningham,68,Dies; Buffalo Police Commissioner
- ^ Gotti Jurors Hear Closing Arguments
- ^ Avenging Angel