NEW YORK: Mayor Ed Koch, the three time mayor of New York from 1978 to 1990 passed away due to congestive heart failure on February 1at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He was 88.
“Since the community grew in large number in the 1970s in New York city, there were issues of the community including crime against the community and Mayor Koch opened the city hall for interaction with the community,” said Dr. Thomas Abraham who was serving as the president of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at that time.
“For the first time, he had set up an Ethnic Advisory Council at the City Hall with regular meetings with community representatives,” said Dr. Abraham. Mr. I.P. Shah, a close friend of the mayor represented the Indian community at this council. The community in turn also endorsed him for his reelections in 1981 and 1985.
“As the community started to settle in America, political leaders like Mayor Koch helped the community to get involved in the political process, and that is how we remember Ed Koch,” Dr. Abraham added.
India Post News ServiceÂ