New York City Ed Koch Dies At 88

Sad news in the political world…

New York City Ed Koch Dies At 88

Via CNN reports:

Ed Koch, the brash former New York City mayor who typically greeted constituents with a “How’m I doin’?” died Friday at the age of 88, his spokesman said.

Koch died of congestive heart failure, spokesman George Arzt said.

The lawyer-turned-public servant was a U.S. congressman from 1968 until he ran for mayor of the city in 1977 He served three terms until David Dinkins defeated him in a Democratic primary.

He told New York magazine in 1998: “I think my personality was helpful in this job. I always had a great sense of humor, though I am also pretty reserved personally. I mean, I don’t go to chichi parties; never did. I don’t like going to dinners other than small dinners at the homes of people. But I realized that if I was to harness the energies of the people of the city of New York and give them back their pride, I would have to become bigger than life. And I did.”

After he left office, Koch — whose ebullient personality made him popular nationwide — practiced law, hosted a radio show, was a newspaper columnist and made countless appearances on TV series as himself. His cameos included “Sex and the City,” “Spin City” and “Picket Fences.”

For two years starting in 1997, he was the judge on the syndicated show “The People’s Court.”

He also reviewed movies online at The Mayor at the Movies site (mayorkoch.com).

In his later years, he became politically motivated again. In 2011, he grew upset after President Barack Obama called for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders, with land swaps, as the basis of a Mideast peace deal.

Rest in peace Mr. Mayor. You were true to your heart and true to your fellow New Yorkers.