Guardian Angels founder and CEO Curtis Sliwa agreed to meet with the Facebook group Upper West Siders for Safer Streets this weekend. He agreed to meet with them after receiving many messages from local residents distressed about the current status of the streets on the UWS.
Sliwa and his Guardian Angels are credited for helping to clean up the streets in the late 1970s when the city was known as a violent and unsafe place.
“Residents of the City resigned themselves [the] reality as the politicians and police seemed powerless. However a young man from Brooklyn, a former Jesuit student, felt someone had to do something. So he stepped forward. He knew that the City he was born in, the City he loved, deserved better,” states the Guardian Angels website.
The Guardian Angels program not only helps reduce crime, but has created an outreach program to help under-served youth. Sliwa is also running for Mayor of New York City in the upcoming election.
“He is a real life Batman,” said one member of Upper West Siders for Safer Streets. “I hope he knows we feel that way,” she said.
The meeting took place on Saturday at 2pm at the Central Park entrance at 72nd Street. Another meeting is scheduled to take place at the same time and place on Sunday, too.
Sliwa committed to having 60 Guardian Angels patrol the UWS.
Photos below by Christopher Yewchuk:
Many people no longer feel safe in the areas surrounding the hotels – with many particularly concerned about the registered sex offenders still residing at Hotel Belleclaire.
Sara Lind, who is running for Helen Rosenthal’s City Council position representing the UWS, has been outspoken about her support for those being housed at the UWS hotels. Lind also launched a second petition in response to the homeless crisis on the Upper West Side.
“A narrative I’ve seen about the shelters in hotels is that individuals are being “warehoused” and not getting any services. I’m not sure what “warehoused” is supposed to mean when we’re talking about housing large numbers of human beings, but they are getting services,” she tweeted on Friday night.
Lind is encouraging people to show up at the hotels and welcome the residents with baked goods and sidewalk chalk on Sunday morning in a show of support for them being in the neighborhood.
When asked if she would be showing up on Sunday to bring supplies or to do artwork, one UWS parent said, “No, and one has to wonder if those showing up to welcome the residents of the hotel are bringing their children with them.”
Thank you, Curtis, for your service to this city. You’ve got my vote.
You’ve got to be kidding. The Upper West Side is not exploding with crime. I’ve lived here for 30 years and I remember when it was. If all goes well, we will rid ourselves of our new hotel guests. The only people who I see on the street are the usual beggars and shouters. They’ve been here for years.
These hotels should be shut down and send all these homeless over to De Blasio’s residence ..
Definitely, Let his wife use the $850 million she stole to build some homes for the homeless
Not sure about shutting them down BUT a new shelter in Brooklyn around DeBlasio’s home on 11th St. Betw 6th & 7th Avenues should be explored.
Lol, absolutely! Send them to Gracie mansion and the governor’s mansion too
DiBlasio – does this sad man ever smile. He always seems sad.
Also – Has he ever worked a capitalistic job much less owned a business?
Exactly, I have saying put them on the lawn at Gracie Manson. Then they can shoot up in front of DeBlasio and make catcalls at his wife.
One of the earlier comments was that Curtis was a Real Life Super Hero “Batman’
Batman’s turf is “Gotham” . . .
I am a 50+ year resident of UWS. Given the NYC bureaucracy I have always been amazed of his accomplishment of the local Deep State finding accommodation and not squashing the Guardian Angels. Pure Genius there some place.
Thank you, Curtis! We look forward to seeing the Angels all around now that the “City Management” has forsaken the residents!
Agreed. I will not vote democratic in NYC again except for President. all the left wing in this city will bring back more crime. How about stop and frisk so we can get the guns off the streets where in this city blacks are killing blacks. does any of this make sense. I get the possible benefits with community relation improvements with the police. But not bail for hitting a cop over the head with a hammer. Felons belong in jail not on the streets. I believe half the shooting in the neighborhoods stem from gangs getting even with other gangs.
CH:
In total agreement.
DeBlazyo and his “wife” have sucking on “Reverend” Sharlaton’s ass for way too long. The police are weakened.
And yes, back lives matter, but not to each other it would seem.
I think stop and frisk saved a lot of lives years ago and they should bring it back. The bail system should be reinstated and so should strict sentencing. Feeling and being safe isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity
I feel exactly the same way! I am a Democrat, but I am tired of being bulldozed by whatever this is within the party. I can count on Republicans to take my safety seriously and put our citizen’s needs first
I totally agree with you. DeBlasio has fiven this City to the criminals. Bail Reform is a joke. Stop and Frisk, Anti-Crime should be beought back, its sad, but I knew when he did what he did, the criminals was going to run circles around him. I liked him in the beginning, being a Black person, never did I think he would stop EVERYTHING. Criminals are loving this shit, cops are not doing anything just sitting and watching abd i cant blame them, let them KILL EACH OTHER and at.least the.cops will still have their jobs. Mayor DeBlasio I am ashamed to call u my Mayor now before I loved what u were doing for this City, NO LONGER, YOU ARE NOT HELPING ANYONE WITH THESE LAWS TGAT DONT ALLOW COPS TO DO THEIR JOBS OR MAYBE THE PLAN IS TO LET BLACKS KILL EACH OTHER.
If the politicians have deemed it safe enough for teachers and kids to go back to school, then we should expect it’s safe enough for the residents at these 4 hotels (homeless people with their criminal drug and registered sex offenders background) return to their shelters and get the proper assistance they need. If it’s safe for teachers and students, how can it not be safe for the shelters to welcome them back?
Thank you Guardian Angels for protecting us on the UWS from our idiot mayor
All of these indictments of DiBlasio are correct. All of these indictments of Democrats are wrong. Remember Bloomberg was a Democrat who only became a Republican to get on the ballot. Guiliani was a fascist.
Truth
We need to be more centrist and less radical
Great comments here.
Despite objections to Trump …
Look at …
Portland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Baltimore, DC, SanFran, Chicago …
OUR problems are Nothing compared to theirs.
IF Joe Biden is elected president . . . THIS will be all of America
.
This is literally Trumps America. His reelection, or stealing of it more likely, would exacerbate this problem in ways I can only fathom. Biden would calm down this country and bring everyone to their senses. He would restore a sense of normalcy and his actions would end the cause for daily protests. If you care about your security, your city, your country, crime, etc. then for Biden and campaign for him with all you got. Otherwise vote for the Chaos candidate. That’s all trump is or ever will be until he is in jail.
It’s true that Biden would “calm things down” in the sense that the paid rioters would suddenly go home with a Democrat in the White House. It’s pretty clear who these violent agents are working for. Let’s recall, George Floyd died in a Democrat city and a Democrat state. Maybe the most progressive state in the country. Using your logic, the Michael Brown shooting & Ferguson riots were 100% on Obama. Same with Freddie Gray. All on Obama.
If you support Trump, you are supporting:
racism and white supremacy, pedophilia, rape, misogyny, lying, lying about lying, failed economy, anti-LGBTQ rights, failed COVID response and over 150,000 Americans dead, children and those seeking asylum put in cages, threat to constitutional law, end of social security, tax cuts and special treatment for the uber rich, threats to national parks, wildlife and the environment, a malignant narcissist suffering from dementia who slurs, stumbles and doesn’t even read important daily briefs that every president before him has read, a man who has law suits, bankruptcies and indictments following him wherever he goes. Trump left NY for Florida and could care less what happens here. He has shown again and again that he only cares about himself and his family.
Think this is a liberal democratic hoax? Listen to the Lincoln Project, a group of respected and well-known Republicans who have banded together to stop Trump.
You can’t support Trump and his corrupt GOP enablers who have allowed him to tear us apart and destroy the country and also claim to love the diverse, beautiful melting pot that is and has always been NYC. If so, I don’t buy what you’re selling.
Riots, high unemployment, civil unrest, and spikes in crime from coast to coast is all happening under Trump’s watch. This is happening now under Trump. The chaos is happening under Trump. Trump is the President, and has been the President for the last 3 1/2 years. The buck stops with him.
Things were mostly calm in America when Trump took over 3 1/2 years ago. Trump turned calm into total chaos and disorder – all of this happened under his watch, not Biden’s.
Amen amen amen!!
So you are pro Fascist? Nuff said!
FU Cuomo and De Blasio
You DESTROYED THIS CITY IN UNDER 3 months!!!
even if I have to leave after NOV. I will be VOTING TRUMP 2020 you Democratic Marxist MoFos and you BOTH OUT…and then leaving!
Baked goods and chalk drawings!?!
Hope there will be a cure for liberalism alongside with Covid.
Thanks DiBlassio for making the 80’s great again.
Hey, Mr. pedophile junkie! After I saw you masturbating and shooting up on my stoop, I also noticed you heaving your guts out onto the sidewalk in front of my steps. I thought after having emptied yourself in such a violent manner, you must be hungry so I brought you these oatmeal raisin cookies I baked. And here, take this lovely colorful chalk. I’m certain you can turn that pile of barf you left for me into a most beautiful artwork!
Seriously, what alternate universe is this crazy woman, Lind living in???
Neighbors –
Please show your support for the Guardian Angels. Let them know you are an UWS resident and how much you appreciate their help. It’s the least we can do for them regardless of the amount.
http://guardianangels.org/donate
On
If Sliwa runs for Mayor of NYC, I will vote for him, and I won’t care if he runs on the Democratic or Republican ticket.
More than ever, we need leadership with heart and guts, and Mr. Sliwa personifies these qualities. He cares about this City and the people in it. You CANNOT say that about Cuomo, DeBlasio, and AOC, who are singularly focused on the power and rewards they can reap for themselves at the expense of those they are sworn to serve.
Also, can someone please tell me, why not place homeless families, including single mothers with children, into these hotels instead of hundreds of drug-addled men with violent tendencies into our vibrant community? If families came in, members of our compassionate community could welcome them and possibly help without jeopardizing our safety and sense of well-being.
I’m very liberal when it comes to people’s rights, women, gays, children, the elderly etc. but I’m tough on crime and would love to feel safe again. I don’t think that we could take another Democrat mayor who’s really a fascist pos
After this fiasco, I would never vote democratic for our city again
Oh, great.
Look, I’m not happy about my neighborhood being converted into homeless central either. (I was shook down by a guy who demanded a “contribution” using his maskless-ness as a weapon by spewing saliva on me while yelling yesterday at 11:30 AM, B’way & 75th – a creepy level of aggressiveness that I haven’t experienced before). But why on earth would a community turn its neighborhood over to a vigilante group with a highly questionable record? Welcoming the Guardian Angels is as whacky as going to the hotels-cum-shelters with batches of “welcome to the neighborhood” cookies. I am disgusted.
I agree with you 100%, Theo. I work in a shelter and drug use is rampant, especially heroin and K2. I walked by Penn Station today and it was like zombie land. The UWS does not need the Guardian Angels or Lind’s welcoming cookies. We need the NYPD (hopefully wearing masks, but I am not optimistic about that) to actually do something other than stand on corners chatting or hang out eating pizza.
But we don,t have the police to count on.Meanwhile I am deeply thankful for Curtis Sliwa and his Guardian Angels being willing to help us ALL.And yes, I would vote for him as Mayor of NYC. He will meet with concerned neighbors again tomorrow Sunday, 72nd CPW. Everyone can get the free Citizen’s app to keep abreast of the current crimes as they are happening here in UWS..you may be in for a shock.
I know what happens here on the UWS but Sliwa and the Guardian Angels are not the answer. The UWS does not need vigilantes. I have had the misfortune of being followed by the Guardian Angels, not in NYC but in LA, because I was with a person that they did not think belonged in the neighborhood and that is a quote. If we can’t count on the NYPD, and I agree we can’t, then we need to address that problem since millions of our UWS tax dollars support them.
The police have had their hands tied. People who voted democratic are now paying big time for it. The Democratic Party morphed into something else , radical fascism. It’s a disaster
This comment has no basis in reality. you’ve been hypnotized by Fox News and Trump. Trump IS the fascist. HE is the reason there are protests. He doesn’t care about the rule of law, decency, fairness, etc. He is nothing but chaos and thrives on sewing discord and creating tension and disaster. Vote for Biden to end this mayhem. It is beyond local politicians like DeBlasio (I’m not the biggest fan either).
My comment was based on a total reality. I live in that neighborhood and see what the current mayor and governor have done and not done. The only two good mayors were republicans. Giuliani, whom I personally couldn’t stand and Bloomberg before he went rogue and embarrassed himself
Yea, but remember the police can’t do anything anymore. Don’t want to have BLM (bowel movement) running amok.
So, enjoy the new artwork.
It won’t be by chalk tho.
More like dookie palette.
Theo, you were shook down because you allowed it. It would be turned over to a so called “vigilante group” to protect beta cucks like yourself.
You don’t know me “Snert” so resorting to tired slang is ineffective in your snarky comment. Jerks like you make meaningful discourse impossible. Oh, wait, that is your intent. And “Harriet” (if there is a Harriet) you need to get a life and get off this thread.
You just can’t stand the truth. The time has come to end the ruination of our city. Btw, in spite of this new mess, my life is just fine, whew!!
Theo, you sound quite sane . What are you doing here amongst the wackos?
Great question, Rand. As distressing as navigating UWS streets among the mentally ill, drug addicted and criminal can be at this point in time, it is just downright disappointing to know what convoluted, nasty stuff is going on in the minds of the neighbors.
Interesting observation.
(Goes beyond a song from way back re Fidelity . . . )
Gotta think Trump truly is a Political Genius and Blasio is his plant.
Blasio is turning NYC Republican/Conservative 3/1 by the ‘votes’ here.
Curtis Sliwa or other conservative candidate will ride a Tidal wave of Blasio Reaction
Enough to turn NYS and other ‘Blue” states Red?
Trump = Political genius
(Red/Blue/Trump personality aside . . . Americans have had enough of this BS bright to us byCorrupt Parasitic Establishment Pols
.
Agree! There are no Democrats anymore, just a group of facist socialist phonies from the keep them dumb and down ideology. I say, get these people out.
Yes!! Vote for curtis
The worst mayor by far. Vote for Curtis
I’m thinking that a large percentage, way more than 50% are trolls just out to get Mr. Sliwa some publicity.
It appears the same person is leaving multiple, duplicate comments here using different names. Admin, do your stuff. There are those who want to jam Trump’s failed fascist, racist rhetoric down our throats no matter what the discussion. Homelessness and crime have existed under both Democratic and Republican mayors. I’m old enough to remember Giuliani’s mass incarceration and Bloomberg’s catering to the uber wealthy as one luxury building went up after another. Neither of them had to deal with a global pandemic. Yes, DeBlasio is a terrible mayor, and what’s happening now is the result of a perfect storm of Covid, a failing economy, and years of New Yorkers being priced out of the housing market.
” Admin, do your stuff. There are those who want to jam Trump’s failed fascist, racist rhetoric down our throats no matter what the discussion.” Irony at its finest. Your words sound exactly like the words of real fascist; not one that was made up by CNN to brainwash your weak liberal mind.
A child could see that the same person was leaving identical comments with different names. Christ, you’re thick.
Why do you assume it’s one person leaving multiple comments and not multiple people waking up to extreme liberalism?
I guess the 5,000 plus people that signed this petition are all the same individual?
Petition We demand safe and clean streets on the Upper West Side
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fight-for-safety-and-clean-streets-on-the-upper
GB Ira-
It must be noted that Silwa also met with with the residents. Realize it is a global pandemic and this frail group needs safe HVAC rooms not misdirected anger. It is sad to read some of the awful comments on this serious issue in bias media, uws rags espousing veiled segregation of NIMBY even thought most hotels are sitting empty, quasi ”Bull Connor-ish”. No matter folks have to work together for viable solutions. Great coverage!
Hey, all my anti-De Blasio comments got deleted. I guess Democrats don;t like democracy, eh?
I know you will delete my comment, but I’ll try. Coming from socialist communist country, yes you can see that Democrats are fascists. I don’t like Trump, but Democrats are really destructionist party.
I come from a communist country too. And this website deleted my comments about De Blasio and the Democratic party. They are destroying not only NYC, but many other cities. They are evil hypocrites! (Of course. they’ll probably delete my comment from here.)
Why not use all the airport hotels? Or midtown?
Why residential neighborhood?
I will most definitely vote for Sliwa. I am also 100% voting for Trump in November. The Democratic Party of the old days is forever gone. These people who call themselves Democrats today are deranged individuals who have destroyed our city & our country. They let the woke mob control everything. If you want any sense of normalcy moving forward vote for Trump.
Me too! I’m sick of these fascist sheep getting bullied into believing that what is wrong isn’t. Everything is wonderful. They are drinking the koolaid
No one wants to be afraid when they’re outside. Covid has polarized people, even though at the beginning of the Pandemic everyone was saying it would unite us in caring. It’s odd that no one complains anymore about the mask-less moms, bending over their babies while pushing strollers, even though I see them all the time. One problem with the NIMBY crowd is that a lot of the complaints are from people who look at the homeless and drug-addicts as if they were animals in the zoo, as if it were impossible to walk to Fairway without WATCHING someone do something that grossed them out! I’ve actually never seen that, but you know, your kids are probably not as offended as you are. And some of us have been able to walk forward, without taking pictures, without staring, without inciting the anger of the hungry or sick people, who were once somebody’s children, now sitting on the sidelines. Yes, things have gotten worse since Covid and the hotels. We should give the Guardian Angels a chance to intervene if necessary, and to look out for everyone. These are tough times. Toughen up for a while. It may do you and your children some good. Grow a heart and give us all a fighting chance. I grew up here in the 60’s, and my parents are here as well. We are not limousine liberals. We’re staying, and remaining positive.
Right on!! It’s good to feel safe and not get abused for working and for trying to do the best you can in life, amen to that!
I’m staying, I don’t run away from problems. However, I have seen more homeless doing bad things in the streets than good. There are a lot of frauds out there too. There are no good reasons for anybody to be subjected to seeing people doing vile things in the street. The loitering laws need to be changed. We can’t have encampments all over the city. We need a mayor and governor who can figure out how to handle things
Life was going fairly well until the Covid hit and everything went to hell. Sadly, it is showing the true intentions of the far left in the democratic party. The pandemic begot mass unemployment, schools shut down, stock market crash, rioting, tying police hands and increase in violent crime. This has created the perfect storm for the country to fall to socialism. The blame lies with the Chinese government, allowing the covid to run rampant and lie about it. We take all our anger, fear and hate and blame it on Trump. There is plenty of blame to go around. If there were no covid, does anyone believe our country would be in this nightmare?
I don’t understand what the democratic party is doing. I am convinced that Joe Biden is the far left Manchurian candidate. Many of the patients I see have fled from socialistic countries and the stories are frightening. There is no such thing as democratic socialism. If Joe Biden wins, they will be coming after everyone who doesn’t tow their line.
Absolutely! The radical left is taking over. Biden is a mess and can easily be manipulated. I would never vote for him
Easily manipulated? Trump is Literally Putin’s puppet And does whatever he asks. Sad to see so many people brainwashed by fox and the far right.
David, the mainstream media, as well as the entertainment industry and most professors are all left-wing and despise Trump. I believe it’s you who has been thoroughly brainwashed. And I can tell that by how you bring Putin into the the same old stupid lie. Sad.
Absolutely agree! And as a former citizen of a communist regime that my family and I were lucky to escape from, these leftist Americans do not know what evil they’re opening the door to. At this point, this has reached an emergency phase. We need to stay vigilant, and fight back at all costs. If we do not do this now we will prisoners of the far left, who, I can vouch, are only interested in power and control — and they are ruthless! Caveat lector!
Life was going fairly well until the Covid hit and everything went to hell. Sadly, it is showing the true intentions of the far left in the democratic party. The pandemic begot mass unemployment, schools shut down, stock market crash, rioting, tying police hands and increase in violent crime. This has created the perfect storm for the country to fall to socialism. The blame lies with the Chinese government, allowing the covid to run rampant and lie about it. We take all our anger, fear and hate and blame it on Trump. There is plenty of blame to go around. If there were no covid, does anyone believe our country would be in this nightmare?
I don’t understand what the democratic party is doing. I am convinced that Joe Biden is the far left Manchurian candidate. Many of the patients I see have fled from socialistic countries and the stories are frightening. There is no such thing as democratic socialism. If Joe Biden wins, they will be coming after everyone who doesn’t tow their line.
De Blasio is purposely causing white flight, and making room for “low income” residents, so NY receives that guaranteed subsidized Federal money. This is a classic Geirge Soros move. He’s going to tank the economy and then buy everything up. That’s how Soros got rich and it’s why he is not allowed in several countries.
I agree so true . Its a shame with what’s happening to this city . With the answer so visible smh. I can’t wait for my brother to retire.
An idiot PR stunt for idiot people. There are 100 neighborhoods that need the Guardian Angels more than the UWS does.
Well, as the saying goes: Ask that ye may receive.
Our Mayor needs to Reaign. The copa are too scared to do their jobs, the criminals are running CIRCLES AROUND THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONER. STOP & FRISK NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK AND THE COPS NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT, YESTERDAY THE COPS WATCHED AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL GET BEAT UP AND DID NOTHING, THIS IS HEART WRENCHING AND THE MAYOR AND POLICE COMMISSIONER HAVE NO CLUE THAT COPS ARE OUT THERE BUT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THEY HAVE A NO HANDS APPROACH AND THE CEIMINALS KNOW THIS, THAT’S WHY SHOOTINGS HAVE GONE UP, MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE ARE ROAMING THE STREETS LIKE CRAZY, THIS IS. UNACCEPTABLE. DO NOT DEFUNXSS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, RETRAIN THEM. I AM A BLACK YOUNG WOMAN WHO GREW UO IN THE HOOD AND WHEN THE MAYOR SIGNED ALL THOSE REFORMS IT GAVE THE CRIMINALS A PASS TO DO WHATEVER AND THAT STOP&FRISK SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN STOPPED.