There was no question that Koch used influential people to get himself elected and then once in office he would infuriate them by reneging on his promises for the sake of political expediency. At one time or another he managed to fall out with the Black Community, and the Jewish one, plus the increasingly powerful Gay community too. With the latter, he won points for passing major Legislation to stop Discrimination, but his lackadaisical response to the AIDS crisis, then at it’s peak, had the furious community up in arms at what they considered a major betrayal.
Lovable rogue or self-aggrandizing ego-maniac? After watching 90 minutes of some fascinating footage that covered some of the highlights and low points of his career, I think the jury is still out on that. His legacy will be the massive re-building of the Bronx public housing, and the fact that he was responsible for the city’s survival/revival. He will also be remembered bitterly by some of his missteps such as the closure of the Sydenham Hospital in Harlem which even he admits was wrong.
What is indisputable was his passion and his humor, and with him in charge there was never ever a dull moment. He joked himself through some of the tough parts of his life, like losing the Primary for a fourth term as Mayor. ‘The people have told me to go, so now they must suffer’ he laughs, but a little too hard for it not to completely hide his pain. Interestingly though many people echoed the sentiments of activist minister Calvin O. Butts who certainly shared no love for the man, but he unhesitatingly concedes that Koch was the quintessential New York mayor of their lifetime.
In the closing minutes of the film Barsky pushes the ex-Mayor on the one question that he has dodged his whole life i.e. is he gay? The very public slurs and loud innuendos almost stopped his career before it even took off. He still refused to answer, claiming that that his sexuality is absolutely nobody’s business. But whether he was straight or gay, what the film does show so poignantly was that after all the crowds had gone this man, that only seemed to come alive in the spotlight, goes home totally alone.
Love him or hate him, the film is unmissable.
P.S. Ed Koch died aged 88 on Feb 1st 2013 : the same week this film premiered in his beloved New York.
Labels: 2013, Aids, biography, closet gay, documentary, political
