On the recordFebruary 4, 2013
This morning, I attended the funeral of former Congressman and former mayor Ed Koch in New York City. Ed was larger than life. He was a great mayor of the city of New York, a fantastic Congressman before that, and a personal friend of mine and so many others. It's generally thought that Ed was the one who brought New York City back from the bad days--starting the good days. He was the quintessential mayor of New York, walking up and down the streets when he was mayor, asking people, ``How am I doing?'' I just want to say this body had the good fortune to have had Ed Koch as one of its Members, and New York City had the good fortune to have him as mayor for three terms, and I had the good fortune to have him as my friend. In later years, he and I would meet periodically and go out for lunch at one of the restaurants downtown in mid-Manhattan. Ed would always pick the restaurant and be as feisty as ever. He was a very proud, proud New Yorker, and we are very proud of Congressman and Mayor Ed Koch. I will miss him dearly, as will all of New York and America. May he rest in peace. ____________________
