Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last that week that former Mayor Ed Koch will be chairperson of a volunteer drive for the 2004 Republican National Convention. The volunteer drive is centered around a campaign that includes print ads with the tag line “Be a part of it,” featuring Koch and a Web site, www.nyc2004.org, where New Yorkers must apply to volunteer.
“Hosting the Republican National Convention is good for New York City,” Bloomberg said. “In late August, 50,000 delegates, officials, convention participants and members of the media will gather in New York City to be a part of history. The economic benefit will give a tremendous shot in the arm, providing work to thousands of New Yorkers during what is often a summer slowdown. We will also be the center of the nation’s attention and New York will be able to show the world how far we have come in such a short period of time.”
“You don’t have to be a Democrat to love New York,” said Koch. “Hosting the Republican National Convention will reinforce for the world that among the many things New Yorkers do well is to pull together — New Yorkers have always banded together to lend a hand. And we will do just that to make the Republican National Convention a resounding success.”
A lifelong Democrat, Koch is backing Bush for reelection, the first time he has supported a Republican for president, because he feels Bush is better on national security and fighting terrorism. Last year, asked if he planned to attend the G.O.P. convention, Koch told The Villager that, as of that time, he had not been invited, seemingly leaving open the possibility he would consider attending.
Koch left last Friday for Berlin for the April 28-29 International Conference on Anti-Semitism, for which Bush appointed him chairperson of the U.S. delegation.
