NYC Marathon to be held Sunday as scheduled: Good call or bad?

[TitoFan]

New York City Marathon controversy: After Superstorm Sandy, New York divided over marathon plans


This is getting lots of coverage in the news right now. New York City is still reeling from the effects of Sandy, but Mayor Bloomberg feels it is the right decision to go ahead and stage the scheduled marathon this Sunday. He feels it will help lift the city from the post-storm gloom, and will bring much-needed revenue to the city. Critics are outraged, saying it will draw much-needed resources away from the rebuilding efforts, and is also an affront to those who have lost their homes and even some loved ones.

Personally, I side with the critics.
What do you think?

[VictorCharlie]

I don't really care but I also don't see how a race is an affront to anyone.

[El Kabong]

I don't really care but I also don't see how a race is an affront to anyone.

Generators power up New York City Marathon tent as rest of city struggles without electricity after Hurricane Sandy - NYPOST.com

The marathon has a couple of huge generators that they are using for a "party" instead of using them to help keep people warm, fed, get people gas, and what not. It's just not right to run this race at the moment when there are people who need help.

[TitoFan]

Stephen Smith of ESPN was saying he has no problem with the scheduled basketball and NFL games, but is totally against the marathon being run on Sunday. His reasoning is that people who can get to the arena and/or stadium should be able to do so and the games should proceed as normal. I would add that these venues either have power already, or have massive generators to supply power.

The marathon is different. The marathon uses a lot of resources that would normally be needed to help those in need, as right now the city can use all the help it can get. There are people without power, homes, heat, etc, etc. As Lyle correctly pointed out, there are powerful generators that will be used for the event, which could otherwise be used for people in need.

There might be a psychological aspect, also. It's not the same to have a sporting event in a closed arena, where you physically have to attend..... as having a marathon with runners going through city streets and in full view of those who are now living in shelters. Not to mention the nightmare logistics of those who find it hard to move around because of the lack of public transportation (subways still down).

I don't personally live in NYC, but if I did... I'd probably have a problem with having the event on Sunday.

[El Kabong]

I think 100% of New York & New Jersey sporting events should be postponed until people there have SOME sense of stability/normality. It would be nice to be distracted from the reality of the situation at hand, but I think people there right now need heat, they need clean water, they need food, and the resources used by the marathon further block the roads and provide help for very few people.

I've got friends up in the NY/NJ area and they've said it's a bit hairy being up there at the moment. we need to focus on NEEDS and not wants right now. I've offered what little help I can to my friends up there, but you can't get to them, and its just a bad situation up there at the moment.

The population density has really hindered helping out. If that storm hit the Southeast we would have coped better because everything is spread out and there aren't any high rise buildings to funnel the wind and make it stronger and the water is not really close to huge cities...big cities & important cities yes, but nothing like NYC.

[TitoFan]

Looks like Mayor Bloomberg came to his senses.



NYC Marathon canceled amid outcry - CBS News

[VictorCharlie]

I don't really care but I also don't see how a race is an affront to anyone.

Generators power up New York City Marathon tent as rest of city struggles without electricity after Hurricane Sandy - NYPOST.com

The marathon has a couple of huge generators that they are using for a "party" instead of using them to help keep people warm, fed, get people gas, and what not. It's just not right to run this race at the moment when there are people who need help.

Fair enough. I say get rid of all the volunteers, and support and do the run anyway. It would be a great TV moment. Kind of Marathon meets Walking Dead scenario minus the Zombies ofcourse.

[TitoFan]

I don't really care but I also don't see how a race is an affront to anyone.

Generators power up New York City Marathon tent as rest of city struggles without electricity after Hurricane Sandy - NYPOST.com

The marathon has a couple of huge generators that they are using for a "party" instead of using them to help keep people warm, fed, get people gas, and what not. It's just not right to run this race at the moment when there are people who need help.

Fair enough. I say get rid of all the volunteers, and support and do the run anyway. It would be a great TV moment. Kind of Marathon meets Walking Dead scenario minus the Zombies ofcourse.

It's all a moot point. Sensitivity and common sense prevailed, and the marathon was cancelled.
I'd say Mayor Bloomberg saved himself a lot of grief by changing his mind.