Ed Koch Has Passed Away
Ed Koch, the former mayor of New York City and Judge Wapner's successor on The People's Court, died early this morning in NYC of congestive heart failure. Ed was 88.
Ed was in and out of the hospital during the past few months and he suffered from everything from a lung ailment to anemia and pneumonia. The New York Post says that Ed was admitted to the hospital on Monday and when he got worse, he was moved to ICU yesterday.
After serving in the US House of Representatives for almost 10 years, Ed was the Mayor of NYC from 1978 to 1989. Many thought he pulled NYC out of a mound of financial messiness, but there were also a lot of people who felt that Ed Koch closed his eyes and ears to the AIDS crisis hitting NYC in the 80s. Playwright and gay-rights activist Larry Kramer wrote a character based on Ed Koch in his play The Normal Heart and made it perfectly clear that he had zero love for Ed Koch. At one point, they both lived in the same building (AWKWARD!) and in the lobby, Ed walked up to Larry and Larry's dog Molly and started petting her. Larry pulled Molly away from him and yelled, "Molly, you can’t talk to him. That is the man who killed all of Daddy’s friends." Molly looked up and Larry Kramer and her eyes said, "Um, you know my ass can't talk, right?"
Larry also outed Ed Koch, but Ed Koch never came out and said he was gay. But did talk about it to reporters:
"Listen, there's no question that some New Yorkers think I'm gay, and voted for me nevertheless. The vast majority don't care, and others don't think I am. And I don't give a shit either way!"
I wasn't in NYC during the 80s, so my only memories of Ed Koch are of watching him smack down tricks on People's Court while I swallowed a Cup 'O Noodles. But I wish I was in NYC during the 80s and the 90s and I wish I lived in Larry and Ed's building at the time, because that's where the drama was.
RIP, Ed Koch.
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RIP, Mayor Koch. For a man to become so synonymous with such a city as New York is a testament to his character and his hold on it. Love him or hate him...he was THERE.
And as far as blaming Koch for the AIDS epidemic, I say this. It doesn't matter how large a city you come from, few mayors, if any, have significant pull in Washington.
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I was there at the time, and Ed Koch swore he didn't want to give up being mayor and wouldn't run for governor. That is when people turned against him, when he ran for governor, but before that he was so popular that he was on both the Republican and Democratic tickets at the same time. His paranoia about being found out was totally illogical, because there was nothing to find out... we knew. When he floated pictures of himself dating Bess Myerson (google her if the name doesn't ring a bell), New Yorkers chuckled, "Have a look at this!" We didn't know he had a lover until much later, and that he died of AIDS. The difference between Reagan and Koch with regard to AIDS is that Reagan was unaware of any gay people in his life, and so the consequences of doing nothing about it were foreign to him, something he couldn't relate to. Koch knew gay people, including the one he saw in his mirror, yet only felt fear, that if he did anything that seemed activist, it would blow his cover. And that is the irony. Everybody knew. There was nothing to cover.
Submitted by mike on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 5:44pm.
Submitted by cocoebert on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 1:51pm.
Wow, people asking what could he have possibly done during the AIDS epidemic? Some of y'all need to read up on your history. Props to Larry Kramer and his courage.
If you haven't yet seen it, check out How to Survive a Plague. It's awesome. It's currently available to stream on Netflix.
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I've read about it but I haven't seen it yet! Thanks for the reminder.
RIP, Ed Koch. :(
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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SNAP! Frank Perdue - thanks fleawatch.
I spent the entire 1980's in NYC and Ed was ubiquitous. There was also a guy selling chicken on TV who looked like him (whose name escapes me). He helped bring the city back from the brink so no hate here - RIP Ed Koch.
Submitted by cocoebert on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 1:51pm.
Wow, people asking what could he have possibly done during the AIDS epidemic? Some of y'all need to read up on your history. Props to Larry Kramer and his courage.
If you haven't yet seen it, check out How to Survive a Plague. It's awesome. It's currently available to stream on Netflix.
RIP Mayor Koch...he really was loved by many who knew him outside of his mayorship. Another good movie that shows a 70s style NY was Taxi Driver with Robert Deniro and a very young Jodie Foster,
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If anyone is going to pee on him it's going to be me.- Nicole Kidman
Hmmmm, when I think of movies that celebrate NYC in the Koch era, I think Spike Lee. Summer of Sam, Jungle Fever, even Girl 6.
Submitted by original putas on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:59am.
What exactly should he have "done"? That's a serious question to you, because I'm old enough to remember when AIDS was a breaking story in Time magazine and I don't see it the way you do. Nobody knew what the hell to "do" about AIDS for a long time. In 1984 it really came on the scene to the general population. A whole lot of folks died, overnight!
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I remember it well. It was on the cover of every magazine and newspaper in the country, maybe the world, for a few months when it was discovered. It was found out pretty quickly how it was transmitted, so I don't know that any politician could "do" anything about it. If someone isn't engaged enough to hear about it, read about it, turn on a fucking TV at night and hear the news go on and on about it, etc., what more could a politician do to get the word out? It's always tempting to find someone to blame for things that are awful, but this is just silly.
Submitted by mike on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:38am.
A movie that really captures the grittiness of '70s NYC is Panic in Needle Park. Great movie, too.
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that movie was practically a documentary. pacino, as usual, killed it casually in a very natural ny environment.
cold gray fucking concrete anonymous jungle, the colorful people made it the special place it was because outside the characters, it was shit (eyesore galore). (and that's a compliment where it counts).
*peddles off in a mint '88 yugo*
Rip Judge Koch! I use to love The People's Court. I use to like those judge shows, my favorite is Judge Joe Brown and Judge Judy...OF FUCKING COURSE! So many people have been judges on that show. At one point I think Judge Judy's husband was a judge on The People's Court.
I think the last one I saw on The People's Court was Judge Milian, she's okay.
As far as AIDS, as unfortunate as it is, and as something along with cancer, I don't think I'd wish on anyone; aside from maybe taking part in public campaigns and what not, the reality is, people are responsible for their own actions,aside from like tainted blood transfusions or babies; it was the 80s, not the dark ages. Yea Aids wasn't widely that known yet, but shit like Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, along with other STD's were, also pregnancy, along with condoms being available,the idea of safe sex shouldn't have been an unheard concept. Don't get me wrong anything can happen even when you're safe, but still he shouldn't be held accountable for peoples personal decisions.
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"Vanity’s a business built to fleece the unique. Silicone and stars collide. The rest will fall in line. Just as beautiful as you are, it’s so pitiful what you are.You should have seen this coming all along."
Wow, people asking what could he have possibly done during the AIDS epidemic? Some of y'all need to read up on your history. Props to Larry Kramer and his courage.
Just told my husband that Ed Koch died...he didnt know who he was. He said, "I dont know...he dont sign my checks!". *shakes head*
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
Submitted by softness1 on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 12:45pm.
And nothing is more lame than the apple store they built into the side of Grand Central. I walk through GC everyday and I swear I roll my eyes at the apple sign every single time.
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Your Chick-Fil-A is showing. - ISprainedMyUvula 8/3/2012
I only know him from "The Normal Heart", so yeah I don't have a good impression.
Was he really a closeted ghey his whole life? You'd think he'd turn about 80 and pull a Gomer Pyle.
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"Brows should not look like a condiment!" -MK
mike, I can remember when that self-righteous, shoe black hair mofo was governor here. Fuck, we've has some shitty governors! *smacks head on table*
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
Did he really hide his gayness. I was in elementary when he first became mayor and I knew he was gay without it even being a question. It's like asking Wesley Snipes if he's black... wtf.. It was common knowledge..
That Koch-era spirit remains in the outerboroughs, save the precious parts of Brooklyn.
That said, I left the city with my family nearly two years ago and don't miss it at all.
Sarah Smile
Submitted by Hekki on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 12:07pm.
Submitted by original putas: "Shut up! That's a horrible story. I've lived in NY since koch was mayor and I do not endorse your comment. What you wrote isn't about the spirit of MY city. I've been in trouble or seen other people in trouble and have always seen plenty of help to go around. You were trying to be cool so you could fit in here, but that comment sucks. I hope the doorman is ok. I used to work near that neighborhood. Everybody there for the most part is socially conscious. And they're tough too. They stand up for what's right. I don't think your story is even true. Please stop lying!"
I'm LYING? To FIT IN here? You're free to believe whatever you like, but it's true.
To the extent that I can, I defend New York, and New Yorkers. I've been here since 1988 and have seen the very best and worst of humanity. I love this city and will never leave it. But. The bad shit didn't get Disneyfied away - it's still lurking.
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TRUTH.
OMG Yes and when Time Square was filled with Junkies and prostitutes.. I missed that NYC.. The graffiti all over the trains. ..Leona was my favorite.. such a bitch.. I love bitches.. Martha Stewart fills the void a little bit, but she's a subdue bitch. Leona was an in ur face bitch.. Now Time Square is fucking disney.. they have cartoon characters walking around.. da fuck.. And Grand Central Station is down right fancy now... ewwww...lol
Submitted by TexnDoc on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:35am.
Oh back when Ed and Leona ruled NYC. That was New York. At least to a Southerner.
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Submitted by jack-n-the-hat on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:59am.
When I was young my grandpa said "thar's only three play-suz you bed not show yer face a-yut, bwah... 'nats look'n downuh barl of uh gun, tween the lay-gz uvah nuther man's woman, and fuckin Lexington and 82nd. in new york city..."
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LOLOLOL!
Ed Koch maybe wasn't the greatest mayor ever, but he was still light years better than that Nazi control freak asshole who currently runs NYC like a midget dictator.
Submitted by Gardening Girl on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 12:34pm.
You and I share a hatred!
"And I don't give a shit either way!"
RIP Mr. Koch
He was my Mayor from the time I was 6 up until I was 18 when I help vote his ass out of office by voting for Dinkins, who was a goddamn joke, always at a fucking tennis match. I did love Koch. He was such a queen. He would curse a bitch out like no one else could.. And he wasn't about being politically correct.. big stomach and bald head.. lol.... RIP Koch..
Well this New Yorker will miss his grumpy ghey ass. RIP Ed. In other (trivial) news, Art Garfunkel looks a lot like him now, but with slightly more hair.
TEAM I DON'T GIVE A SHIT EITHER WAY!
PSL, stop saying that name! *sprays air freshener in thread*
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
The flea is a native Noo Yawka. Edward I. Crotch as we called him, was the best.
Remember when he ran for governor against the current governor's dad? The slogan was 'Vote for Cuomo, not the Homo."
Only Jew with a reserved seat at St. Patrick's...
RIP Edward I. Crotch.....never saw you and Frank Perdue in the same place
He was survived by his sister. He made many political mistakes. He opted not to come OUT in public. He created an image (true or false) of a city that was the most vibrant, tolerant and prosperous in the world. That's how I will remember this devoted public servant. Who happened to be also be gay.
My vision of world peace: a chicken in every pot, and pot for all us chickens...and weasels.
Submitted by mike on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:42am.
Submitted by ba-buttons on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:17am.
However, by all accounts, NYC was a warzone from the mid-1970's until the 1990's.
You could say that. I'd say NYC was more varied and more interesting then.
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You are both exactly right. It WAS a war zone, but also the most exciting and stimulating city in the world. It was fun until I got pregnant. When I had to run for it, twice, in that condition. it was time to leave. We decided NY was not the place we wanted to raise our kids.
We ended up settling in Egypt, which for 20 years was like paradise for a foreigner like me. Now I'm living in a war zone again, and there is a Disney store in Times Square. #gofigure
I think Reagan was more at fault for the AIDS crisis. Do you know he NEVER mentioned the word AIDS in his entire term? HIS people were the ones who allowed the rampant spread of this disease, as well as denying funds for research.
Read "And The Band Played On".
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Don't you never, ever, pull my lever
Cause I explode
And my nine is easy to load
Ermahgerd, I am starting to understand Jack's hillbilly!
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
I grew up in NYC, and Ed Koch was Mayor as far back as I can remember.....I moved to CA in 1988. He was finished by then, but it is hard for me to remember anyone other than him.
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Don't you never, ever, pull my lever
Cause I explode
And my nine is easy to load
Cried my eyes out this morning. His time in office coincides exactly with the years that I lived in NYC. I love my kids, but those fun, single years in New York were the best time in my life.
Godspeed to "Da Mare". Just thinking about him brings back many fond memories of my youth.
Submitted by original putas: "Shut up! That's a horrible story. I've lived in NY since koch was mayor and I do not endorse your comment. What you wrote isn't about the spirit of MY city. I've been in trouble or seen other people in trouble and have always seen plenty of help to go around. You were trying to be cool so you could fit in here, but that comment sucks. I hope the doorman is ok. I used to work near that neighborhood. Everybody there for the most part is socially conscious. And they're tough too. They stand up for what's right. I don't think your story is even true. Please stop lying!"
I'm LYING? To FIT IN here? You're free to believe whatever you like, but it's true.
To the extent that I can, I defend New York, and New Yorkers. I've been here since 1988 and have seen the very best and worst of humanity. I love this city and will never leave it. But. The bad shit didn't get Disneyfied away - it's still lurking.
Submitted by original putas on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:59am.
Nobody knew what the hell to "do" about AIDS for a long time.
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it appears they were under the assumption that the "cure", or at the very least the "prevention" of the syndrome, was to be found deep in the anus of a man... only to be discovered and retrieved with a highly technologically advanced scope dubbed "the penis".
Later research debunked this myth.
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" Can I wear the Scream mask? The mask from Scream... when I do you from behind..." ~ Kenny Powers
What exactly should he have "done"? That's a serious question to you, because I'm old enough to remember when AIDS was a breaking story in Time magazine and I don't see it the way you do. Nobody knew what the hell to "do" about AIDS for a long time. In 1984 it really came on the scene to the general population. A whole lot of folks died, overnight! I remember the medicines being talked about as effective beginning around 1994. So there were several years there where all you could do was hope to die quickly and painlessly. Yes, I've lost friends to AIDS...but to hate a Mayor who was learning this virus along with the rest of us...I don't know about that.
And there were grassroots groups like ACTUP. They were real instrumental in spreading messages of prevention and HIV testing. Their funding came from somewhere, most likely partially from NYC, so ultimately there's a bigger picture here. I really need to stay off Dlisted today. Cause the bullshit is working my nerves!
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Submitted by Dirk Diggler on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:43am.
He (and Ronald Reagan!) could have done MUCH MORE for the gay community during the AIDS crisis. At the end of the day, he failed a significant share of his constituents. I can't feel empathy for such a hypocritical character. Rot in hell ya old bastard.
When I was young my grandpa said "thar's only three play-suz you bed not show yer face a-yut, bwah... 'nats look'n downuh barl of uh gun, tween the lay-gz uvah nuther man's woman, and fuckin Lexington and 82nd. in new york city..."
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" Can I wear the Scream mask? The mask from Scream... when I do you from behind..." ~ Kenny Powers
I have never been mugged in over 20 years I have lived here, (knock on wood) however I was mugged three times when I lived in DC..
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"OBAMA PLEASE HELP ME I DON'T HAVE A JOB"
"NO SORRY BUT HERE'S SOME WEED AND A VOUCHER TO GET MARRIED TO YOUR UNCLE" THANKS OBAMA
Sucky 12/19
I'm sorry about that poor doorman, but mugging can occur at any place, at any time. The only time I was mugged, I was mugged TWICE during the same night!
nothing worse than people who are all "I have lived in NY since blah blah blah so that makes it more MY city than yours" ha ha
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"OBAMA PLEASE HELP ME I DON'T HAVE A JOB"
"NO SORRY BUT HERE'S SOME WEED AND A VOUCHER TO GET MARRIED TO YOUR UNCLE" THANKS OBAMA
Sucky 12/19
Submitted by TexnDoc on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:35am.
Oh back when Ed and Leona ruled NYC. That was New York. At least to a Southerner.
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Let us not forgot The Donald Ivana Trump.
As for movies, Mean Streets starring a very young and unknown Robert DeNiro is one of the greatest NYC movies ever made.
Submitted by original putas on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:42am.
First of all why would she make up that story? And how in the hell would that comment make her cool around here? Shit happens here people keep walking. Shit happens here people help. Why are you so upset about that?
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Your Chick-Fil-A is showing. - ISprainedMyUvula 8/3/2012
Submitted by snowpiece on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:38am.
And not just any Duane Reade but the new FANCY ones with department store style cosmetics and a sushi kiosk. *eye roll*
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Your Chick-Fil-A is showing. - ISprainedMyUvula 8/3/2012
Shut up! That's a horrible story. I've lived in NY since koch was mayor and I do not endorse your comment. What you wrote isn't about the spirit of MY city. I've been in trouble or seen other people in trouble and have always seen plenty of help to go around. You were trying to be cool so you could fit in here, but that comment sucks. I hope the doorman is ok. I used to work near that neighborhood. Everybody there for the most part is socially conscious. And they're tough too. They stand up for what's right. I don't think your story is even true. Please stop lying!
RIP to Ed Koch. I adored him. Not that I expected him to live forever but I'm so sad that he died. He really truly reminded me of NYC when I was a kid. Now everything is corporate and bland. Ah well...
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Submitted by Hekki on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:16am.
Oh, New York still has its edge, occasionally.
One of our doormen was jumped and beaten to a pulp by seven young guys. At 8:15 pm on Lexington and 82nd. Which is a very nice and perfectly safe place to be, ordinarily. His eye socket was smashed in (he needs several surgeries) and he was crawling around, bleeding massively, looking for his glasses. People walked around him and he was floundering around, in and out of consciousness for ten minutes before someone helped him.
So... The spirit of old NYC still lives on.
MJT you left out
3) a Duane Reade!
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"OBAMA PLEASE HELP ME I DON'T HAVE A JOB"
"NO SORRY BUT HERE'S SOME WEED AND A VOUCHER TO GET MARRIED TO YOUR UNCLE" THANKS OBAMA
Sucky 12/19
Submitted by Meatblocks on Fri, 02/01/2013 - 11:30am.
A movie that really captures the grittiness of '70s NYC is Panic in Needle Park. Great movie, too.
Oh back when Ed and Leona ruled NYC. That was New York. At least to a Southerner.
MissJane: Right? The rents are ridiculous. It used to be a lot easier to make a go of a small shop. It's impossible now.
Sad.
One of the other doormen said that the big groups are more common now, because they can't be stopped and it's harder to identify a group of kids, as opposed to one person. Scary. It's a nice neighborhood, and 8:15 isn't a dangerous time to be out and about!