Please disable your Ad Blocker to better interact with this website.

Sad News Today–former NYC Mayor Ed Koch passed away at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital early this morning, he was 88 Years old. Koch served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to
1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989.  He took over a city that was going bankrupt and restored it to health not only via policy but by his will (and cheer-leading skills).

During his 12 years as Mayor Koch became a symbol of NYC, he was a combative, in your face, take no prisoners type of politician whose heart was as big as the City he managed. Koch was one of my early political idols, not necessarily because of his stances but because he was willing to switch parties to support (who he thought were) the superior candidates

Koch was an icon, who led by example. He used to walk through the city flashing thumbs up sign and asking his constituents, “How am I doing?” 



take our poll - story continues below

Which Democrat Presidential Hopeful Has The Wildest Campaign Promise So Far?





His last words to me (via email) was a blunt you are an idiot when I complained to him about his off again on again criticism of Obama (but that is for another day).


During the 1980 transit strike he walked across the Brooklyn Bridge–cheer-leading the commuters walking across the bridge to work.


When the NY Giants won the Super Bowl (a decade after they left NY) Koch refused to throw them a parade in the city saying;

“If they want a parade, let them parade in front of the oil drums in Moonachie, (a town near their Stadium in NJ).”

Though we had disagreements over his support for Barack Obama, Ed Koch was a good man, a great New Yorker, who and he will be missed.

Koch was fiercely proud of his Jewish faith and a tireless supporter of Israel. On his gravestone (which he already had made) is engraved with the last words of  Wall Street
Journal reporter Daniel Pearl: “My father is Jewish,
my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.” 

Ironically Koch died on February 1st the same day as Daniel Pearl.

“HaMakom yenachem etchem b’toch sha’ar availay Tzion VeYerushalayim”
May God comfort his family, friends and all his loved ones amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

Send this to a friend