Zohran Mamdani, the “Democratic socialist” mayor of New York, isn’t feelin’ groovy about former Mayor Ed Koch’s name remaining on the iconic 59th Street Bridge.
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Koch was a liberal Democrat who served three terms leading the city from 1978 to 1989. His policies were friendly to the gay community during a time when homosexuality was still stigmatized even in New York City, where same-sex activity remained illegal until 1986. But today’s leftists aren’t happy that Koch did enough to prevent AIDS deaths in the early 1980s, so his name should be removed from the bridge.
Mamdani wasn’t even born until two years after Koch’s mayorship ended, so his personal awareness of the times is zero.
To be fair, the idea wasn’t Mamdani’s. It comes from a gay activist group that has been pushing it for years. Mamdani supported it during his time as New York State Assemblyman and during his mayoral campaign. But in his current role, he has more ability to use his influence to erase the honor to Koch. The City Council would need to pass legislation to make the change official. It passed 38-12 in favor of naming it the Ed Koch Bridge in 2011, two years before Koch, who was NYC’s second Jewish mayor, died.
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The New York Post on Monday reported that a number of public officials support the move, though others oppose it. Everyday New Yorkers said the mayor and his minions should focus on more pressing matters.
The Post interviewed New Yorkers near the bridge who opposed a name change. One, Wilson Crow, told the Post, “They shouldn’t [rename it]. It’s no big deal. I don’t know why they are making a big deal about it. It doesn’t bother anybody,” Crow said, adding that Koch “couldn’t stop” the AIDS crisis since it was in “nobody’s power and control — AIDS is a sexual thing.”
Supporters of removing Koch’s name (primarily based on responses to Jim Owles Liberal LGBT Democratic Club questionnaires and public statements) include:
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- At least 16 NYC Council members — Indicated support or strong consideration for legislation to rename it (specific names not fully detailed in recent coverage, but one example is Brooklyn Councilwoman Sandy Nurse, who said she was “OK with that” support).
- City Comptroller Mark Levine — Supports the effort.
- Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — Supports it and noted he voted against the original 2011 renaming.
- Former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (now running for lieutenant governor).
- Councilwoman/House candidate Julie Won (represents area near the Queens side of the bridge).
- Jim Owles Liberal LGBT Democratic Club (and its president, Allen Roskoff) — Driving force behind the push for years, framing it around Koch’s handling of the AIDS crisis.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others like Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng, and Hakeem Jeffries (open to it).
Opponents or those against the renaming effort:
- City Council Speaker Julie Menin — Initially indicated support on the questionnaire for reverting to “59th Street Bridge,” but later reversed: her office stated she “does not support efforts to rename the Ed Koch Bridge, and would not support any legislation to do so.”
- Councilmember Virginia Maloney — The only council member who gave a clear “No” to renaming in her questionnaire.
- Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf — Called it “insane” and “cancel culture run amok”; “Koch is dead. Leave him alone!”
- Peter Vallone Jr. (former Councilmember) — Longtime opponent; introduced legislation post-2011 to restore the original name, citing borough pride.
- James Gennaro (former Councilman) — Called dropping the name “preposterous.”
(This list was compiled with help from Grok.)