Guardian Angels founder and longtime New York activist Curtis Sliwa took direct aim at billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, accusing him and New York’s elite donors of trying to control who becomes the city’s next mayor instead of letting voters decide.

“John Catsimatidis is part of that billionaire class,” Sliwa said. “They think they can pick the next mayor. How did that work out? Whatever happened with the people deciding who the mayor should be?”

In his impassioned remarks, Sliwa defended the right of everyday New Yorkers to choose their own leaders, rejecting what he called the growing influence of money and political elites over city politics.

“It’s called democracy — the people’s right to vote,” Sliwa said. “And the billionaires don’t want the people to make this decision. I trust the people, not the political elite and not the billionaires.”

Sliwa’s comments strike a populist tone as the city approaches another contentious election season, where questions about wealth, influence, and grassroots representation are once again at the forefront. His message resonates with working-class voters frustrated by the perception that New York’s political future is being shaped in backrooms rather than ballot boxes.

For Sliwa, the issue is simple: power belongs to the people — not the billionaires.