BROOKLYN, NY – U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke issued a statement to express condolences to the family and friends of the Honorable Edward Irving Koch and to commemorate his legacy of public service as a Member of Congress and as Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Mayor Koch died today. He was eighty-eight years old.

Mayor Koch, an infantryman in the United States Army in World War II, became involved in politics as a District Leader in Manhattan. As a member of the United States House of Representatives, Mayor Koch worked with Representative Shirley Chisholm – Representative Clarke’s predecessor in Congress – in opposition to the Vietnam War and on behalf of human rights throughout the world. In 1977, he was elected Mayor of New York City, and was subsequently re-elected in 1981 and 1985.

“People could agree or disagree with Mayor Koch about various issues, but we always knew that he was committed to and loved the City of New York,” said Representative Yvette D. Clarke. “He wanted to remain actively involved in the politics of our city, state, and nation – providing endorsements to both Democratic and Republican candidates, writing in many newspapers and magazines, and through his regular appearances as a ‘wise guy’ on the local news program, ‘Inside City Hall’– and he did. Mayor Koch will be missed by all New Yorkers.”

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