Former New York Governor David Paterson and Stepson Attacked on Upper East Side

 

Former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, were assaulted on Friday night while walking in Manhattan's Upper East Side, according to police reports. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. following a verbal altercation with five individuals.

Paterson, 70, sustained minor injuries to his face and body, while his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, 20, received injuries to his face. Sliwa, the son of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, managed to defend both himself and Paterson during the attack. Curtis Sliwa later expressed pride in his son's actions, explaining that his son protected the governor, who is visually impaired, during the altercation.

Both Paterson and Sliwa were taken to a local hospital and are in stable condition. Police confirmed that Paterson, who served as New York’s first Black governor from 2008 to 2010, was not specifically targeted in the attack. According to a spokesperson for Paterson, the stepson had a previous encounter with the group of attackers.

Myles Miller, a managing editor at Bloomberg, posted online that both men were treated at the hospital as a precaution and managed to fend off their assailants. As of now, the attackers have not been apprehended.

Paterson’s spokesperson urged the public not to use the unfortunate event for personal or political gain. The attack comes amid heightened concerns about street crime in New York City, with increasing scrutiny on public safety, especially in the subway system.

This incident also coincides with the upcoming trial of ex-marine Daniel Penny, who is facing charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man he choked on a subway train last year. Penny has pleaded not guilty, and the case has sparked significant debate around safety and vigilantism in the city.