Sliwa Takes Mamdani’s Side in the Columbia Admissions Mess
New York politics never fails to surprise. Just when you thought the drama around Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani‘s Columbia admissions scandal couldn’t get weirder, GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa jumps in—not to pile on, but to defend the guy. While heavyweights like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are tearing into Mamdani, Sliwa’s out here warning they might be creating an accidental martyr. Talk about plot twists. This whole thing makes you wonder: are we seeing alliances shift, or is this just another day in NYC’s ideological circus?
Breaking Down the Columbia Admissions Drama
So What Actually Went Down?
Here’s the deal: Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist assemblyman, is catching heat over how he got into Columbia. Critics—led by none other than former Governor Andrew Cuomo—claim he fudged his racial identity to game the system. And just like that, we’re back arguing about affirmative action, privilege, and which politicians are being hypocrites. Classic New York.
The Key Players Throwing Punches
Cuomo’s leading the charge, demanding investigations and basically shouting from the rooftops about accountability. Mayor Eric Adams is right there with him, framing this as some big trust-in-government moment. Meanwhile, folks like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand? Radio silence. Guess they’re letting the locals duke it out first.
Sliwa’s Head-Scratching Defense
What Exactly Did He Say?
In a move that made political reporters spill their coffee, Sliwa actually stood up for Mamdani: This isn’t about race or privilege—it’s about political opportunism. The attacks on Mamdani are a distraction from real issues.
He’s basically warning that going too hard on Mamdani could backfire—turn him into some progressive folk hero. Smart play or total misstep? We’ll see.
Why Would a Republican Do This?
Okay, let’s think this through. A GOP candidate defending a Democratic socialist? Either Sliwa’s trying to position himself as some unity candidate for moderates sick of the fighting… or this is a sneaky way to make Cuomo and Adams look like bullies. Maybe both. Politics is chess, not checkers.
Cuomo and Adams Aren’t Having It
Cuomo Doubles Down
Not surprisingly, Cuomo’s coming in hotter: If you lie to get into college, what else will you lie about?
He’s pushing for investigations, turning up the heat. But here’s the thing—when you go this hard, you risk looking like you’ve got a personal vendetta. And New Yorkers can smell that from a mile away.
Adams’ Play for the Moral High Ground
Mayor Adams is framing this as some grand test of character: New Yorkers deserve leaders who are honest from day one.
Clever move—tying this scandal to bigger questions about progressive policies. But is anyone buying it?
Could This Blow Up in Their Faces?
What’s the Street Saying?
Social media’s all over the place. Some folks are roasting Mamdani; others think this is just political hit job. Get this—an informal poll showed 42% of NYC voters think the whole thing’s being overhyped. That’s nearly half saying Cuomo and Adams might be overplaying their hand.
The Potential Fallout
If public opinion swings toward Mamdani, Sliwa’s gonna look like a genius. But if the scandal sticks? Then Cuomo and Adams come out on top. Thing is, New York politics is unpredictable—what works today might flop tomorrow.
What This Means for NYC’s Political Future
Alliances in the Blender
Sliwa’s move shows how fluid NYC politics can be. Remember when Giuliani would occasionally cross party lines? Sometimes that worked; sometimes it blew up spectacularly. This feels like one of those moments that could go either way.
Mamdani’s Long Game
Short term? Yeah, this hurts. But progressives love an underdog, and if they see this as establishment bullying, it might actually strengthen his base. The real question is whether this story has legs or if it’ll fade like last week’s tabloid scandal.
The Bottom Line
Sliwa’s wildcard defense of Mamdani just made this scandal ten times more interesting. Will Cuomo and Adams’ attacks backfire like Sliwa predicts? Who knows. But one thing’s clear: in New York City politics, the only constant is chaos. And this fight? It’s just getting started.
Source: NY Post – US News