The fact is he was a lousy mayor surrounded by corrupt buddies. While he did not appear to be corrupt he did absolutely nothing to stop his buddies from the Bronx and Queens from looting the city. He only looks good when compared to his successor David Dinkins.
I have a feeling you might be a New Yorker, because you certainly have insights into the Old Queen that I don’t. Guess I just liked him because he was so colorful.