Time for some history.
Ed Koch was the former Mayor of New York City, serving from 1978 to 1989. When he took office New York was going through a difficult time, but Koch was what New York City needed. Mayor Koch was cool under fire and many found him effective, outspoken, and a great communicator. As the Mayor in Chief during those trying times, he pulled the area through some rough waters.
I met Ed Koch in his political prime at a fundraiser in 1984 and I found him funny, intelligent and his tell it like it is persona was fully on display. The old Town and Campus in West Orange was packed and we had an overflow of ordinary New Jerseyans who wanted to see this larger than life Mayor in person. Ed didn’t disappoint with his straight talk. He was funny, acerbic and as engaged as any public official I have ever seen.
That night Mayor Koch opened with his very popular and memorable refrain – “How am I doing?” The public roared, he had won over the audience in seconds. I knew then why the hard scrabble New York media covered Mayor Ed with so much attention, and most of it was positive. They, like the crowd that day, fully appreciated his on-point delivery as he pushed his emphatic thought or play of the day.
That autumn day in 1984 I was taught two pretty valuable lessons.
Lesson one was public officials should seek out opinions of their constituents as much as possible and understand that the solicitation will be appreciated. Lesson two was that elected officials should deliver their messages in plain speak more often. I’m not saying that it is easy to do, but blunt straight talk allows the voter to fully understand your stance, and you will be respected, even if they disagree with you. I find too many politicians today talk from a safe and neutral written text and most are afraid to call it like they see it. This inorganic manner of communicating doesn’t serve any purpose.
I hope that the above helps someone find their inner Ed Koch and allows forThe a more open and honest dialogue.
Let me close by asking: “How am I doing?”