WABC Radio host Curtis Sliwa was the victim of a violent attack in 1992 in New York City. According to the New York Times, he claimed that the attack was carried out by members of the Gambino crime family, and he later identified one of the attackers as John Gotti, the head of the Gambino family. Sliwa’s accusations against Gotti and the Gambino family led to a highly publicized trial.
On that fateful day, some 40 years ago, Sliwa was rescued by Ray Alvarez, the owner of Ray’s Candy Store, a famous convenience store and restaurant located in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. Recently, Alvarez was brutally attacked in the wee hours as he was attempting to open his store.
On Sunday, Sliwa told the New York Post that he will deploy his Guardian Angels to patrol the area around Alvarez’s store so that he’s never attacked again. The Guardian Angels is a volunteer-based crime-prevention organization that was founded by Sliwa in 1979. The organization is known for its red beret-wearing members who patrol city streets to deter crime and aid those in need.
“We’re going to make sure everybody knows that Ray is untouchable,” Sliwa said. “You just don’t touch Ray. We both had our blood on the sidewalk and the streets of the Lower East Side, right outside his candy store.”
New York City Police have charged two men in Alvarez’s attack. The paper said Alvarez was beaten so badly that he now is forced to eat through a straw.
The East Village is a neighborhood known for its rich cultural history and vibrant arts scene. Sliwa said in recent years, the neighborhood has seen an uptick in crime.
“I see how it’s slipping,” Sliwa said. “There aren’t enough cops there.”
