NEW YORK - Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani spearheaded a Manhattan event Wednesday that was billed as the unveiling of local Republicans’ two-year plan to “bring New York City back” -- but the announcement served more as a platform to attack Mayor de Blasio and his fellow Democrats.
Giuliani, who is personal attorney to President Donald Trump, was joined by former mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis and declared 2021 mayoral contender Curtis Sliwa.
The former mayor painted the city as overrun with crime, rampant with anti-police sentiment and crumbling economically.
“The only people who are going to stay are people who can’t find a job or don’t want to find a job," Giuliani said. "That’s a city that eventually goes into bankruptcy. He’s trying to make us Baltimore, Philadelphia, and with the crime rates, we’re chasing Chicago.”
He mourned the city he once presided over, one that he said was more moderate politically.
While crime is on the rise in New York City this year, it's still far lower than at any point in Giuliani's eight years in office from 1994 to 2001.
At times, Giuliani's remarks at the Women’s National Republican Club in midtown Manhattan veered toward racist and conspiratorial.
He said City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza should return to Cuba. Carranza is of Mexican descent.
“He has a chancellor that belongs in Cuba, running their school system," Giuliani said.
Giuliani also argued without evidence that the COVID-19 precautions de Blasio and Governor Cuomo enforce are a “political campaign” rather than “about your health.”
De Blasio, at a separate event, called Giuliani “unhinged.”
“I think he has amnesia," de Blasio said. "I think he’s out of touch with reality, I think we’ve seen more and more Rudy Giuliani become unhinged."
The Republicans’ news conference featured no GOP leaders currently in office, although it included the candidates for several seats.
All argued the city would be better with Republicans at the helm.
There was no comprehensive plan introduced, although Giuliani and his colleagues outlined that they would cut taxes and boost the NYPD.
“Double the number of street cops, double the number of specialists,” said Sliwa, an anti-crime activist and founder of the Guardian Angels, calling for “common sense and pragmatic awareness.”
At times, the event seemed designed to promote the radio station on which Giuliani, Sliwa and Catsimatidis all have shows.
Asked where his two-year plan is, Catsimatidis urged reporters to “tune in tomorrow,” as WABC-AM is set to air a Republican forum Thursday evening.