Mayor Ed Koch: New Yorker, Villager & Straphanger

This is one of a series of blog posts which highlights the Village Independent Democrats collection in our Preservation History Archive. Two parts of this collection have been published. Part I, documents the club’s work from 1955-1969, and Part II from 1970-1979.

“At age 88, I wake up every morning and say to myself, ‘Well, I’m still in New York. Thank you, God.'” Ed Koch to Vanity Fair in 2013, briefly before his death.

Born in the Bronx on December 12th, 1924, Ed Koch would eventually become New York City Mayor from 1978 to 1989. While his time as Mayor was (and still is) controversial, his love for the City of New York, and Greenwich Village in particular, is undeniable. Koch moved to Greenwich Village in the 1950s and famously refused to leave his rent-controlled apartment at 14 Washington Place following his election to the city’s highest office.

Koch also began his political career in the neighborhood, as a reform Democrat working with the Village Independent Democrats (VID). With VID, Koch helped break the power of Carmine DeSapio and Tammany Hall over local Democratic politics. Much of his early political activities are documented in the Village Independent Democrat Collections in our Neighborhood/Preservation History Archive.

Koch first ran for office in 1962, against Tammany Hall associate William F. Passannante for the Democratic Nomination to New York State Assembly.

While Koch lost this election, he had had the support of notable figures including Eleanor Roosevelt. Following the election, he sent Mrs. Roosevelt a letter, writing:

“I can only express my heart felt thanks and admiration for your great courage and understanding in remaining with us even when it must have been a great source of embarrassment for you.” View entire letter as PDF.

The following year, Koch ran and won the election for Male Democratic District Leader in Greenwich Village. He ran with with fellow VID member Carol Greitzer, and the pair defeated Carmine DeSapio of Tammany hall.

Greitzer previously ran and won in 1961, making this VID’s second successful election against DeSapio of Tammany Hall. Koch and Greitzer would do the same again in 1965.

Pro Koch and Greitzer flyer, view entire document as PDF.

Koch also worked on a number of local and national issues. In 1963, Koch wrote a letter to Community Planning Board 2, outlining some of the issues in the Village, particularly on MacDougal Street. Here is an excerpt:

“The basic problem is one of a conflict of uses. Here we have a formerly solely residential street which for the last 20 years or more has been turning into one of the most commercial and touristy spots of the Village. I am told that out-of-towners no longer say ‘Take me to the Village.’ They say “Take me to Macdougal Street.'”
View entire letter as PDF.

Koch also helped at the 1964 VID food drive for the Council of Federated Organizations Mississippi Project.

From 1967-1969 Ed Koch was a City Councilmember for the 2nd District. In 1968, he was elected to Congress in New York’s 17th Congressional District. He would win again in 1970. In 1972, he was redistricted to the 18th District, where he won again.

Koch remained a member of Congress until winning the 1977 election for New York City Mayor. After this, Koch continued to work with VID, and was the guest speaker for the club’s 1978 Annual Dinner. Our Village Independent Democrats archive also includes a letter written from Koch inviting VID member Herman Gerson to a reception at Gracie Mansion.

As Koch continued on in his career in politics, his politics shifted to the right. In 1982, Koch ran an unsuccessful campaign for Governor, in which VID, Koch’s own home club, endorsed Mario Cuomo over him, as Cuomo was considered to be the more progressive candidate. The endorsement battle was controversial, and club members who supported Koch split off from VID to form their own new club, the Village Reform Democratic Club (VRDC).

Nonetheless, Koch’s love for Greenwich Village never faded. While Mayor he would eventually leave his Washington Place apartment for Gracie Mansion. After his time in office, he returned to the neighborhood, moving to an apartment at 2 Fifth Avenue, overlooking Washington Square Park. This was the fourth location Koch lived in the Village, previously living at 81 Bedford Street and 72 Barrow Street before moving to his apartment at Washington Place.

It is impossible to appropriately record the complicated political and personal life of former Mayor Ed Koch, but his love for the city is unquestionable. As Mayor he helped lift the city out of a fiscal crisis, and became famous for both improving the Subways and for taking them. Known for his signature wit, following his 1989 primary loss to David Dinkins, Koch remarked, “the people have spoken… and they must be punished.”

Explore the entire Village Independent Democrats archive collection here. Explore our entire Neighborhood and Preservation History Archive here.