Curtis Sliwa Won the Debate — Because He Spoke Like a Real New Yorker

By Eric S. Dym, The Finest Unfiltered

Before the lights even came up on debate night, The Finest Unfiltered Network went live with a 30-minute X Space preview, a real time watch party, and post-debate breakdown across X. The verdict from our team — and most New Yorkers watching — was loud and clear: Curtis Sliwa won.

Let’s be real — that debate felt more like a Broadway rehearsal than a mayoral showdown. Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo hit the stage with plastic smiles and perfectly rehearsed lines. Then in walked Curtis Sliwa — no script, no polish, just grit. A guy who’s been through every borough’s battle zone and still rides the subway like it’s his office. He didn’t sound like a politician; he sounded like New York itself.

From the jump, you could tell the deck was stacked. The mic cut, the clock ran fast, interruptions flew — a full “let’s-see-if-we-can-mute-Curtis” production. But like any real New Yorker trying to navigate rush hour, he refused to be silenced. His voice cut through — raw, loud, real.

While the others danced around crime, housing, and the city’s decay, Sliwa came swinging. He called out subway chaos, small businesses gasping for air, and seniors too scared to walk the streets of the Big Apple. No buzzwords, no consultants — just street-level truth from a guy who’s lived it.

Then came the defining moment: Sliwa defended the NYPD. No slogans, no “I respect our officers” routine — just honesty. He said what everyone else whispers: without cops, this city doesn’t function. Few have the guts — he did.

Here’s the difference. Curtis isn’t the Norwegian rat like Eric Adams, slithering through photo-ops while the city burns. He’s not chasing DEI trophies like Mamdani or bragging about “experience” like Cuomo. Sliwa told you flat-out: he’s not a politician. He’s a real New Yorker — blunt, flawed, fearless, and fed up.

Jacket, and tie and no Red Beret but with heart on his sleeve — Sliwa looked like the city itself: tough, tired, but still swinging. Even critics admitted he cared. When he spoke about the homeless, lost kids, and fading neighborhood pride, it wasn’t politics — it was personal.

In a debate full of actors, Sliwa didn’t perform — he showed up. Rain or shine, cameras or not, he’s been fighting for this city long before anyone handed him a mic. The Finest Unfiltered Network called it first — and many NYers agreed. Curtis Sliwa won the night because he’s the only one left who still talks, walks, and fights like a real New Yorker.