EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). Something is fishy about this “impromptu” fundraiser in the Hamptons by John Catsimatidis, co-hosted by Karloutsos. Here is the message we received from one Helleniscope reader with extensive experience in these events: “One hundred power brokers in NYC came up with 21k? Even if they hated the candidate, they would raise more than that. That is the lowest amount I have ever heard of. Are these people ‘power brokers’ or ‘shameless pretenders’?… The food bill alone for this restaurant is more than 21K… ”
Don’t hold your breath for an explanation….
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Big Adams backer John Catsimatidis hosts impromptu Hamptons fundraiser for GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa
Big-time Eric Adams backer John Catsimatidis hosted Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa for an impromptu Hamptons fundraiser — as the billionaire businessman pushes an “Anyone But Zohran” movement targeting the socialist frontrunner.
Sliwa was the guest of honor Saturday at Catsimatidis’ “Hamptons Business Power Breakfast” — a regular Southampton meeting of influential New Yorkers — that has also recently hosted the incumbent mayor and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“I appreciate everyone who invited me out to share our plan to fix New York City and bring common sense back to City Hall,” Sliwa said to The Post.
His campaign confirmed a haul of more than $21,000 from the jaunt out east on Long Island.
“When the movers and shakers join together with regular, working-class New Yorkers behind this campaign, it’s a clear sign we’re on the path to defeating Zohran Mamdani and turning this city around,” Sliwa said, referring to the Democratic mayoral nominee.
“Curtis did exceptionally well,” he said. “People at the end… volunteered and made a contribution. That was not the original intent.”
The Guardian Angels founder turned heads when he entered the room, and some attendees didn’t initially recognize him as he ditched his signature red beret — which he’s been doing more frequently on the campaign trail.
The event was co-hosted by Alex Karloutsos, a Greek Orthodox priest who received the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2022. More than 100 other movers and shakers in Big Apple politics attended, including former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, former NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Catsimatidis told the room that business leaders and others need to unite to stave off a mayoralty of Zohran Mamdani, who stunned the politicos in June when he delivered an embarrassing defeat to Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
“ABZ….Anybody but Zohran Mamdani,” the radio host and supermarket magnet told the crowd.
The Gristedes owner said he wants to continue to urge people that “socialism doesn’t work in our city.”
Sliwa will square off with Queens Assemblyman Mamdani in November when Cuomo, Adams and another independent Jim Walden will also be on the ballot.
Recent polls still have Mamdani as the frontrunner in the general election, with Cuomo sitting in second and Sliwa in third.
