Former New York Mayor Ed Koch was hospitalized on Tuesday, marking the second hospital admission for the 87-year-old in the last three months. Koch’s recent hospitalization stems from a respiratory infection.
The Associated Press , citing Koch’s spokesperson George Arzt, reported that Koch is being treated with antibiotics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Arzt and Koch were having lunch Tuesday when the former New York mayor complained that he wasn’t feeling well and planned to call a doctor.
CNN reported that Koch was hospitalized in early September and treated for anemia after complaining of weakness while staying with friends in North Carolina. He underwent a blood transfusion and was in the hospital for three days, keeping up with the Democratic National Convention via media reports.
A long-time Democrat, Ed Koch was a three-term mayor of New York City from January 1978 to December 1989. His terms as mayor saw New York step back from near bankruptcy. He was also famous for greeting his constituents by saying “How’m I doing?”
Koch made news for his political views again back in 2011 when he protested President Barack Obama ‘s request that Israel return to pre-1967 borders by supporting a Republican candidate for Congress. When the president later spoke on Israel’s behalf, Koch reported he was once again a supporter of the president.
Prior to his three terms served as mayor of New York City, Koch served a term in the US House of Representatives. After his political career, he had many roles, including serving as judge on The People’s Court, television show.