Mayor Ed Koch on rent control, his sexuality, Andrew Cuomo, and how he helped save New York

In 1978, New York City was crumbling and the leading indicator of America's seemingly irreversible decline. The South Bronx, once a thriving middle-class neighborhood, had became a national symbol of urban horror. From 1960 to 1980, New York's murder rate tripled. Out-of-control spending had brought the city to the brink of bankruptcy, leading to a state takeover of its finances. The city's subway was plauged by crime, graffiti, and equipment breakdowns.
On July 13th, 1977, the city reached its nadir when a 24-hour blackout gave way to mass looting. Bushwick, a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, was practically burned to the ground.
Then in 1978, Edward Irving Koch became New York's 105th Mayor.
A veteran congressman from Manhattan, Koch's chutzpah was exactly what the city needed. A self-proclaimed "liberal with sanity," Koch took on special interests, he put the city's finances back in order, and showed that it was not only possible to govern but to have fun doing it.
Koch gained a national reputation by being the quintessential New Yorker: A Bronx-born ethnic whose disparaging remarks about life outside the city may well have sunk his 1981 bid for the governor's mansion in Albany. Long presumed to be gay, Koch kept mum about his personal life while pushing for social tolerance. His symbolic and practical role in the Big Apple's multi-decade renaissance is as huge as his appetite for publicity.
Since losing his bid for a fourth term in 1989, Koch has been a tireless dilettante. He's written books and hosted his own radio show. He was Judge Wapner's first replacement on the People's Court. He started a nonprofit to clean up corruption in the state capital. He turned his passion for film into an avocation as a movie reviewer, first for a community paper called the West Side Spirit, and now on the KZbin Channel, The Mayor at the Movies.
Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie sat down with Mayor Koch at his office in Midtown in April 2011 for a wide ranging discussion about rent control, the Tea Party, Donald Trump, his sexuality, whether Gov. Andrew Cuomo coined the phrase "Vote for Cuomo not the Homo," his memories of World War II, and how he "gave New York City back its morale" (as the late Sen. Daniel Moynihan put it).
Approximately 18 minutes.
Produced, shot, and edited by Jim Epstein, with help from Lucas Newman. Additional camera by Anthony Fisher.
Go to reason.tv for downloadable versions, and subscribe to Reason.tv's KZbinChannel to receive notifications when new content goes live.

[@pooh44100]

MY EX AND I SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL IN 1977 AND LEFT NYC FOR GOOD I NEVER LOOKED BACK AFTER OUR DIVORCE EX WENT BACK I STAYED HE IS NOW SPENDING THROUGH THE NOSE TO LIVE AND I AM DOING FINE SUCCESS IS THE SWEETEST REVENGE...

[@blakeparker1992]

A true New Yorker through and through. We'll miss you, Ed.

[@donmoore7785]

Ed Koch was alright in my book. Went to the 1986 Easter Parade, and baldy was out there enjoying the day, walking among the masses. Koch came in when NY was in upheaval - he did a good job. Who the hell cares about his sexuality?

[@ChescoYT]

TY for posting, excellent interview & man!

[@jmjfanss]

Koch, guilani and later bloomberg made ny the city that it is, until 2020.

[@robertfishman3742]

Until Bill DeBlasio and his gang of progressives took over and dismantled all of the law and order/quality of life measures that those three previous Mayors had enacted.

[@xtremeentertainmenttv9664]

@@robertfishman3742 deblowsio. Dinkins was an idiot too

[@ryanyoung9202]

@@robertfishman3742 ☝️- 💯 WORST MAYOR EVER !!! LET’S GO DE BLASIO

[@wolfstar675]

Bloomberg? LOL the billionaire who wanted to ban sodas? xD

[@spagandtuna]

Just watched this interview, great job. Farewell to Ed Koch, our great great mayor. Didn't know they named the Queensborough after him, wish it was the Verrazanno. Hope for many more honors now that he is in the pantheon of what's great about the city. RIP our treasured citizen and brother.

[@tjraso]

Rest in Peace Ed, Mr.Mayor

[@szqsk8]

liberal with sanity, lol! Ed Koch rocked. I live in Los Angeles but I love visiting NYC. The first time I saw Ed Koch was on the People's Court and I loved him. He was a frequent guest on the Howard Stern radio show and always had something interesting to say. RIP Ed Koch..,,

[@svd348]

That was a really good interview. I think it's great that they don't always have to interview libertarians and can push them on certain topics.

[@JulieAnnRacino]

Excellent interview, and good support for budgetary control, well needed as a government role; supportive of the Andrew Cuomo administration. Worth knowing more about his role and history in New York City, a complex financial and world leader.

[@anthonyfrias5533]

Ed koch was our best mayor

[@Satchel334]

I like how they took these old TV broadcasts that were not made for modern widescreen TVs and put the blurred see through panels of the sides of image to make it full screen. It kinda works. I'm surprised that Reason would praise Ed Koch.

[@BillTadler]

That was fun. Good interviewer.

[@Justindd911]

Your best interview ever Nick. -a New Yorker

[@lekesha00]

well said.

[@KagarBeardtooth]

Every so often, Reason will interview someone hoping to reveal or inspire some libertarianism within them. More often than not, it backfires. The interviews are still enjoyable, though.

[@TampaBayMoFo]

Good interview.

[@Chggy317]

First! Good to see he is doing well.

[@ralphinator2]

@marinegrunt0341 Without rent control, they would be able to charge more without modifying the property, and reducing the numbers of affordable apartments even more.

[@seand67]

Great documentary

[@edog5005]

Very interesting interview.

[@Thewizzardof9]

good interview

[@thomasrogers202]

He was a fiscal conservative. He could have tried to raise taxes or tried to borrow it. He cut spending.

[@flicker0546]

Hello, I'm not familiar with both terms he used to describe Trump. "brogette"? "Huckster"? Can someone explain? Thx

[@Shelver92]

When you can get into the Mayors face @1:08, Beame should have known that was not the right job for him.

[@ericgamliel4161]

Good video!

[@TroyOi]

For now, let's leave aside the question of whether rent control in general works against its own ends by discouraging development. I mean the kind of rent control that leaves the issue of who to rent to up to the discretion of landlords, and pays no regard to the needs of potential tenants. I believe this is the case for NYC rent control, and most rent control around the country.

[@theRoseofmyheart]

love him :)

[@hugo121175]

@DackIsBack We had a BlackOut in 2003, and nothing happened..... I was working that night in Washington Heights (Manhattan) for the FDNY. We had one candle related fire, and not much else.....

[@chcikenpencil]

Do you mean rent control in general or rent controls under Ed Koch? Because in general there are plenty of grounds to support rent controls

[@CuteCatFaith]

Uprated, favorited and shared. I lived in NY from 1977 until 1994 and thanks to Koch, I more often had heat and hot water. The city was a mess. I must say, it was mostly ordinary citizens who took it back, but he was a great, though imperfect, leader. Human. I knew Anna Carroll, his photographer.

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

ED MOTHERFUCKING KOCH! This man was a legend for one good reason: He single handedly saved NYC from the brink of collapse! RIP.

[@checkerslane]

He is obviously gay. If he was straight he would simply say he was straight. He is gay. (Not that there is anything wrong with it)

[@ErickOberholtzer]

What do you think is wrong with being gay?

[@bobbypaluga4346]

I like the old fart type of mayors, the Jimmy Walker's, Laguardia's etc. Of course people ask about his sexuality, if he came out as gay, his popularity would likely increase. Today who cares what you do, who you sleep with.

[@ga3pmcb]

The truth is even more.

[@randypullman1155]

That interviewer loves the sound of his own voice...

[@Northeastern292]

@CrisVangel NYC needed a guy with guts to do the job, and that's what Koch did. Do I agree with everything he did? No (and worse, I have no first hand experience). But it was Koch (and a few others) who got the ball rolling on NYC's revitalization. (P.S. I was born in Forest Hills and lived in Richmond Hill for a while).

[@ExposedRoot]

He knew Donald Trump was very very very well. Would love to know his opinion now. Koch was a reasonable thinker and would certainly do battle philosophically with Trump in 2019. Gosh I wish you were still here. Would also like to know what his thoughts are on Israel today.

[@PoliticalWeekly]

What a flamboyant mayor. I think we need more fiscal conservatives.

[@Amadeus5150]

@kmg501 There is no correlation in any of that. There are plenty of leaders in the world who aren't jewish. There are plenty of financially overlords who are not jewish.

[@stewl5081]

I went to France. Nice T. Schumer.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Very creative word pronouciation, narrator!

[@benyaakov6453]

So was he or wasn't he that's the million dollar question?

[@limousineny]

@ QueenofSolesNToes4U: the answer is rest in peace Mayor Ed Cock.

[@LetsTryLiberty]

@Loathomar You make a good point that there are often good reasons for intelligent people to believe different things and it is unpersuasive, dividing, and even insulting to say, "you're stupid if you don't believe as I do" (paraphrasing). It is worth emphasizing, however, that beliefs, especially political philosophies, which require individuals to submit or else face violent violations of their natural rights to life, liberty and property can never benefit everyone equally and are unjust.

[@turnerthomas5627]

I know the Bronx was poor but happy that NYPD is well

[@sintruder]

@Loathomar You can't have concencus agreement on anything that is why I used the word most. Political philosophies are generaly moral view points. As a human being would you be more comfortable having others make decisions about your life?

[@KleWdSide]

Was Bill de Blasio as good as Ed Koch?

[@hellsunicorn]

Ed Koch is actually a good bit like Bill Clinton, he's more into pragmatic thinking than standing for principles of liberty. Banning food and cigarettes yet embracing gay rights doesn't make logical sense, but pragmatism is about what is practical, not what is logical. Sometimes this approach works because it avoids having the wrong principles being stuck to, but sadly, the best you can hope for is getting things partially right, rather than completely right.

[@neonshoji]

So Koch thinks the government should take more of your money and add more restrictions on what you can eat, where you can smoke and how you decide to run your business. I really don't understand how anybody can respect that.

[@sintruder]

I was referring to the ideology not the party. Libertarianism is freedom. I would like to know where this misconception comes from. I personably know many Libertarians & I say this with out fear of contradiction we want roads, schools, military protection, police, & fire departments. What we do not want is to be treated like children incapable of making our own decisions concerning our lives. The best way of putting it is the freedom to do what you want as long as you don't hurt anyone elses

[@ERoot]

a nice video, but the narrator mispronounced "chutzpah"

[@truthterrain3484]

ring ring don't go to work on the 23rd day of Elul

[@CyberspacedLoner]

Libertarian Ideologues at ReasonTV, what a surprise.

[@killadelphiaHC]

yeah fuck um

[@axlbernard]

Gillespie comes off as contrarian in this

[@thomasley4006]

He was so right about Trump. He was totally wrong on the teachers. The US is reaping the fruits of this kind of education fights. He was wrong on Obama. Otherwise a remarkable man.

[@polevaultrockstr]

Do people really think that a home owner will rent out a home for less than it is worth? Controls on cost always lead to a lower standard of goods and a shortage of goods, as people who should nt be able to afford certain things now can because the price is kept low enough for them to compete. Lets look at computers. The worst cell phone today has more computing power than the best computer of the 80's that cost $3000 back then! Why is Apple not crashed if their prices have dropped for "better"

[@Loathomar]

@sintruder I responded to your statement "I belive any one with common sense would want to be a libertarian", which is a statement I am sure the majority of people in the US would not agree with. If you said "any one with common sense would want freedom" I would agree, but libertarianism gives freedom at a cost, to say otherwise is foolish. You want the freedom to pay less taxes, the government can't build all the roads or school. You may say "GREAT", but most would disagree.

[@JanJohnsonNYC]

Government SHOULD NEVER be involved in the private citizens life.

[@echatav]

@ZombiedustXXX I'm not blaming libertarianism. Clearly these people don't understand it. I just wonder honestly why they're drawn to it.

[@somercet1]

Oh, come on, Ed! Call it a "Re-Education War"! Be honest!

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

New York City Mayors are like London Mayors- whatever you think of their politics... they are anything but dull Koch reminds of Ken Livingstone or Boris Johnson. Incidentally, Johnson- Mayor of London, was born in the Big Apple

[@Hashishin13]

@IJUSTLOVETURTLES You could support legitimate voluntary third party organisations that verify what is in producs and how they work. You could boycott restaurants that aren't willing to submit to these tests, or even better, the ones who aren't willing to pay for these things themselves. I agree with you, I think that ingredients lists and the makeup of food is very important information for the consumer, so why should we leave that important function to the illigitimate and inept government?

[@EvanJR9]

No one has banned smoking (except in locations where smokers harm non-smokers)), food, or salt. As Koch implied it's an education program to save lives. Education is not watching TV ads. If smokers want to smoke there are plenty of places available, eat all the salt you want, get as fat as you like, just don't come whining to the government to pay your medical bills with my taxes. That should be a Libertarian position.

[@Loathomar]

@sintruder The term Libertarianism is a political philosophy, you want non-political try Objectivism. And there is clear no clear agreement that Libertarians want school, roads and firefighters. Though there is generally agreement on a small military and police/courts.

[@dragknuckle]

The data shows that in city after city, rent control destroys housing.

[@RTENAC]

Loved Koch at the time, but his perspective on certain things sounds pretty bad. That George W. Bush had a great foreign policy, when everyone even acknowledged at the time that his war crime policy was based on lies and a big mistake, makes me disappointed. I thought he was better read than that

[@alistairproductions]

Why does Reason keep promoting politics as a solution?! STOP

[@eirefrance]

@pigoutultra Well, you obviously disagree with him. That's not the same thing as being correct.

[@limousineny]

dont call him that because he liked that. just say Rest InPeace.

[@trixiec4880]

The city was at it's worst under Ed Koch, Giuliani cleaned up the mess.

[@marilynogorman5468]

Trixie C Exactly, for me Rudy was tbe best since Fiorello!

[@vickynaz8371]

Wrong Koch helped Fix NYC as Mayor it took time BUT it was Bloomberg who really fixed the City. Every poor person needs respect and dignity and he got a bunch of investors to invest in housing. Many neighborhoods are great now.

[@plasticpimps]

giuliani made NY a police state.

[@kmg501]

@pigoutultra Correction, correlation does not equal causation unless you see multiple factors correlate. The other factors when examined bare this out, such as percent in government, financial sector, geopolitics, social sectors so such orgs like the SPLC. Again and again when you start factoring in a broad range you see the common element which is the most powerful and most politically active group in the world. Address the issues or be a demagogue. -

[@imrnlil]

Do you deny his accomplishments?

[@VentrueCapital]

@Loathomar I am a libertarian and I understand and respect your argument. I believe that we don't need government to have schools and roads, and in fact that schools and roads are better when they are privately-owned and open to the public, like department stores and movie theaters.

[@ga3pmcb]

I support reasonable doubt and evidence. And in this case there is no theory. He was a clear cut supporter of Zionism.

[@FiveofHearts1]

Too bad Koch is a statist. He seems mostly well-balanced and intelligent.

[@limousineny]

Judy, I agree with you, but your comments are getting negative rates because we all know why. Its best just to not argue here.

[@sintruder]

@jaberwocky6669 whats $10 when you are talking about $200?

[@gooseguzik9339]

anyone else rather live in 70s NYC, than today's bullshit city

[@TuMalditaMadre]

How is the first comment on this video also the dumbest comment I've read.

[@sintruder]

@Loathomar Tell me how is it someone who can type a responses can't read? I wasn't refering to party. I wrote my if not the consensus view on what libertarianism means off that I say anyone with common sense would agree. I stand corrected on the view point that most people with common sense would like freedom because unless you have no common sense you would not like to be censored & have all your choices made for you like a child. So tell me which are you?

[@Loathomar]

@echosyst It seemed very reasonable for reason to interview a fiscally conservative liberal. But, would you have had the same problem with reason interviewing someone who wanted to ban all same sex marriage? It is also very anti-libertarian. I would much rather have rent control and end the war on drug then the other way around. I mean sure rent control isn't optimal, but at least if would have swat breaking down my door and shoot my pets for no apparent reason.

[@Andyhoffman98]

Libertarians getting mad at calories being listed. Priceless.

[@sintruder]

@ralphinator2 In other words not much

[@TotalSinging]

@biozamadotcom = Huh? "Norweigens, Swedes, Spanish, German, French, etc. deserve their own homeland, too"... Have you not heard of Noway, Sweden, Spain, Germany and France? Wow. Jews behind multiculturalism? You've got to be kidding. Multiculturalism is a Liberal ideology not a Jewish one.

[@Andyhoffman98]

Typical libertarian, doesn’t like the Sierra club. But I like the environment.

[@Loathomar]

@sintruder Anyone who believe that there point of view is right can and would say that "any one with common sense would want to be "Insert you belief here". Liberal, neo-cons, marxists, ect. they are believe there view is right and all people need to do is "open your eyes" or something of that kind. Really, there is often good reasons for intelligent people to believe different things and actions like say "it's common sense" is not in the least be persuasive and only divides views more.

[@markjwil]

No Ed. Barack Obama did not kiss Israel's ass because of their hypocritical actions against the Palestinian people.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

Great how he spoke honestly on Obama.

[@DrClaw77]

I guess true to his belief, but not true to reality. I can only wish Obama was how he was potrayed as being regarding Israel. Maybe Netanyahu would have less of a free reign to be a racist shitpot.

[@elmocotton3078]

"Ed Koch was a disaster for New York. He's not very intelligent and probably not really all there, if you know what I mean" -Donald Trump

[@PoliticalWeekly]

@PoliticalWeekly dammit

[@Couldbeniiice]

Ridiculous anti-Semitic comments take away from legitimate debate.

[@greenghost2008]

I thought it was pronouces coke?

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

I don't like Bloomberg in general- but he is 100% right about obesity

[@mdb831]

When some Democrats still loved America.

[@sintruder]

@echatav libertarianism attracts people who want to be left alone from over bearing government which feels a need to be involved in of every aspect of life. I belive any one with common sense would want to be a libertarian

[@ralphinator2]

@sintruder 5%

[@blogegog]

He sounds like he's ok with the government enforcing rules on living, just for the good of the people. That is the type of politician that I despise the most. It's a shame too - he seems like a good guy.

[@Tuxster3]

pu tuhS .toidi na er'uoy

[@PoliticalWeekly]

@PoliticalWeekly first coment.

[@TroyOi]

As impressive a guy as Koch was, his defense of rent control -- let alone of his personally taking advantage of it -- was pathetic. I'm an open-minded person, but I have yet to hear a justification of rent control (as least as practiced in New York) that passes the common sense test. It's one thing to let the heavy hand of government distort the market, but it's a whole 'nother thing to do it in such a way as to not even let it benefit those in need. Anyone wanna take a shot at defending it?