Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Koch Thinks He's Better Than George Washington (When It Comes To Bridges)
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 12, 2011
Modified Apr 12, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 4
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 12, 2011
Modified Apr 12, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It's official: Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill adding "Ed Koch" in front of "Queensboro Bridge." And as expected, there was much rambling and patting-on-the-back in honor of this momentous pretty much meaningless event. “Ed Koch was the bridge that brought New York City back from the brink of bankruptcy to financial solvency,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “And many New Yorkers feel very close to him for that reason. The City Council is proud to pay tribute to Mayor Koch and his decades of public service with this timeless honor." Koch even had some fightin' words for the George Washington bridge!
Koch said of "his" bridge, "This is probably the very best structure that I could be identified with because it's in my [former congressional] district, it's a workhorse bridge. It's a bridge that everybody loves. It doesn't have the inspiring heights of the George Washington Bridge—it's better than the George Washington Bridge because it works." We've never known the GW bridge not to function, but sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. Speaking of working, two cars have fatally crashed while coming off the Queensboro Bridge after City Council voted on the name change.
Mayor Bloomberg said of the naming, "It’s only appropriate that we name something iconic, something great after Mayor Koch and his work in literally saving this bridge and the rest of the city’s bridges is symbolic of his overall legacy of bringing our city back and building for the future." So everyone can now resume calling it the Queensboro bridge, right? And then whining when our kids call it the Koch bridge? Because back in our day...
Tagged
ed koch
ed koch queensboro bridge
gallery
queensboro bridge
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A sixth person dies after falling ill in NYPD custody this year
The 54-year-old was hospitalized twice after his arrest Friday, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 4, 2026 at 4:44 p.m. ET
NJ reports first West Nile Virus death of the year
While the national West Nile Virus trend has slowed down, activity in the Garden State has picked up.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
NJ reports first West Nile Virus death of the year
While the national West Nile Virus trend has slowed down, activity in the Garden State has picked up.
By
Michael Sol Warren
NY's prison system is in crisis. It's driving staff away from the job.
By
Emily Russell
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
By
Jill Webb
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .