Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa returned to 2134 Coyle Street on Friday, July 25th, to stand with Brooklyn’s Asian-American community and local residents who have now spent over one year protesting a proposed homeless shelter project in Sheepshead Bay. The visit was part of his continued opposition to Mayor Eric Adams’ “City of Yes” development initiative, which Sliwa has vowed to revoke if elected.
Before the rally, Sliwa stopped at Knapp Street Pizza — a local neighborhood favorite — joking with supporters, “You wanna pizza me?” Sliwa checked in with protestors, thanking Brooklynites for their support and loyal backing. “No thank you, Mr. Sliwa, for supporting us,” one of the residents at the shelter site said.
Sliwa was met by a large crowd on Coyle Street, where he delivered a fiery speech condemning Mayor Adams for “handing contracts to developers looking to profit, not to help,” and for disregarding the concerns of families living near the site, which is adjacent to schools, small businesses and homes.
“This community has stood firm for over a year. They blocked Adams on 86th Street and now here on Coyle Street,” Sliwa declared. “My opponents support the City of Yes. I’m the only candidate who will say no — no to chaos, no to displacement and yes to communities.”
Members of the Chinese-American community accused Adams of tokenism, alleging that he only appears during election cycles “to collect Chinese votes” while ignoring grassroots opposition year-round. “He hasn’t been here for over a year,” one resident said. “Now he’s bringing people from Chinatown to make it look like we support him,” referring to a recent appearance by Mayor Adams in Sunset Park. “We do not,” another resident said during the event, which included live translation for the crowd.
Sliwa, who has made a point of frequent appearances at protest sites like Coyle Street and 86th Street, reiterated his promise: “We won’t stop until I’m mayor — and when I am, this shelter gets shut down.”
In a separate visit on Sunday, August 3rd, Sliwa returned to the area at Coyle Street alongside his wife, Nancy Sliwa — whom he dubbed “the future First Lady of NYC” — and to address another local concern nearby: trapped cats. The couple visited a vacant NYCHA building on Avenue X, formerly home to the Beachbrook Nursery School, located at 2953 Avenue X, after residents reported hearing cats meowing from inside the shuttered property. A press conference was held to demand immediate action and ensure the cats’ safe rescue.
Sliwa, also running on the newly formed Protect Animals line, emphasized that protecting New Yorkers includes both people and animals: “This city belongs to all of us — human and furry alike.” Recently, he was on the scene in South Ozone Park, Queens, where an alleged dog killer dragged and set a dog on fire. That day, he led an investigation, handing out flyers, going door-to-door, car-to-car and speaking with neighbors. The man was arrested later that night.
As the mayoral race heats up, Brooklyn remains a critical battleground — not just for votes, but for the future of its neighborhoods.
