Former New York City Democratic Mayor Ed Koch has died at the age of 88. The legendary mayor served three terms in office from 1978 to 1989. He is widely credited with rescuing the city from the brink of financial ruin, but also faced criticism for his handling of unions and the early onset of the AIDS crisis. Koch was known for his feisty demeanor, which gave him a national reputation and sparked multiple political controversies. The writer Pete Hamill said of Koch, “That’s the voice of New York, that’s what we are.” Ed Koch died this morning in New York City.