Outrage grows over decision to run NYC marathon

CBS ^ | 11/2/12

[DallasBiff]

But Staten Island resident George Rosado assailed the decision.

"It's repulsive," said Rosado, who spent two days scrubbing sludge from his tiled floors and was preparing to demolish the water-logged walls of his home a block from the water. He added: "They should be getting resources to the elderly people who can't fend for themselves. That's more important than a marathon right now."

Some marathon runners agreed, posting Facebook messages vowing to head to the race's starting line in Staten Island to spend the day volunteering, not racing.

"Let's not waste resources and attention on a foot race," marathon entrant Penny Krakoff told Gothamist.

SNIP

Even some hotel owners are taking a stance. The Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island, which has served as a refuge for people affected by the storm, has vowed to turn away marathoners - even those with reservations - in order to preserve rooms for storm evacuees.

"How do I tell people who have no place to go, that have no home, that have no heat, that you have to leave because I have to make room for somebody who has to run a marathon?" hotel owner Richard Nicotra told New York 1

[DallasBiff]

Man - I’m entered in the Race. What should I do?

Have no idea if you are serious, but if I were in your place, is ask that my entrance fee be used for relief and ask that your fellow runners at the starting line walk away and go into Staten Island and ask how you can help.

[verum ago]

Man - I’m entered in the Race. What should I do?

Wear long pants and sleeves then ditch the race and find someone to help on Staten Island. And wear your race bib- let people know that you've decided to help in lieu of running.

At least that's what I'd do.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Imagine the Japanese running a marathon after their tidal wave ??

[verum ago]

Heck with it, I'm just gonna paste my reply from another thread:

---

Those marathoners will be running past people with no food, water, medicine, clothes, or shelter. They will be running down the only cleared roads. They will be running past crews doing the initial door-to-door check for the dead.

There's a small army of volunteers invading NYC right now. That army brings with it tons of free labor, generators for electricity, clothing, space blankets, water, high calorie food and drink, and medical supplies. Sounds like a great source of help for disaster victims, right? Well too bad- because all that great stuff is there for the marathon.

And don't forget that a lot of paramedics are being pulled from other efforts and will be standing around doing nothing to "support" the marathon. The cops that are being used for even security are those who were due to have a day off Saturday. Many of them want to go home (if they still have homes!) and attend to their own Sandy-related problems too. But instead, they get to babysit recreational runners.

A lot of the people who've watched the news don't seem to realize how bad some parts of NYC have gotten it. Staten Island was laid to waste by Sandy.

Bloomberg wants the marathon to go ahead as some sort of sign of recovery and unity or some BS like that. But the simple fact is that those runners will be jogging through an ongoing humanitarian disaster, one in which people are still in danger of losing their lives. I laughed bitterly when I heard that the running club was pleading for help at their website because they can't find enough volunteers. Unbelievable.

To those who're obsessed with running your race- show some humanity and common freakin' sense. And to the Mayor of the City of New York- you can go eff yourself with the arm of a saguaro cactus.

/rant

[Grams A]

the emperor’s show must go on.”

Me thinks this is just child’s play compared to what BO will do if he wins.

[ari-freedom]

“...the majority of the people who vote in NYC obviously LIKE what Bloomie is doing since they vote him back into office time after time.”

They didn’t want the Democrat to win.

[Covenantor]

The Marathon union cops get good OT pay.

There has never been a NYC marathon that hasn't had casualties requiring ambulance trips to ERs.

Graphic twitter response

[wayoverontheright]

Bloomberg’s endorsement of Obama turns out to be a big backfire for the Dems. A lot of the anger will be directed toward Obama, IMHO.

[GeronL]

This is what they voted for.

The greater good.

The needs of the marathon outweight the needs of the downtrodden.

Bread and circuses without the bread.

[GeronL]

bump

[GCC Catholic]

However, where do (say) 20,000-30,000 runners go when they can't get a room?

Any runner uncaring enough to show up to race deserves to be turned away.

I would be willing to make an exception for any who use their already-purchased plane ticket as a reason to go to NYC to volunteer for a few days.

[capt B]

have the 30-40 thousand “volunteer” 4-5 hrs, to clean SI, Coney Is,etc., instead of running

[longtermmemmory]

I have enjoyed marathos, (glory remembered pain forgotten), and there is a time to reassert. However we are dealing with self cented, democrat heavy, city dwellers.

These are children and the marathon, while a good moral issue, is not going to cut it with the stupid class.

Compare NYC/NJ dwellers with the Japanese post tsunami. They had a grace that NYkers seem to have lost.

Perhaps it should be cancelled because NYC does not DESERVE to have such a world class event.

[GCC Catholic]

Actually, looks like some runners WILL BE volunteering. That gives me a little more faith in humanity.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2953904/posts

[longtermmemmory]

Drudge has a story about NONunion work crews being turned away in NJ. I wonder if that is happening in NY. (remember the snowplow slowdown that killed a baby?)

The effete elite areas of NYC are fine and clueless.

NYC does not deserve the marathon.

the savages going nuts b/c they are dependent on government, the politicians making hay, the red cross handing out cookies not blankets, the delusional reporters who think they matter that much when the rest of the country has dealt with far worse than a mere cat. TWO windstorm.

The NY officials skimmed on the disaster prep money (ala N.O.), have inadequate building codes, and have dwellers witn no notion of being self suffient.

There are too many OTHER marathons that deserve the money and attention.

[Bon mots]

The real reason all of these stories appear is to keep Benghazi out of the papers and off the news on TV...

But what the heck...

Katrina: "Where's Bush?"
Sandy:    "Where's the governor?
                  Where's the mayor?"

[justa-hairyape]

So Bloomberg claims his city was hit with a Superstorm that was unprecedented and caused by Global Warming. He claims the Superstorm was so bad that it even caused him to endorse Obama due to his stance on Climate Change.

Yet, he still plans on running a city wide marathon just one week after his city was devastated by the Global Warming caused Superstorm.

Bloomberg is a lying scumbag.

[bert]

Rush got it right.....

Bloomberg hates trans fats, popcorn, large sodas and those who consume them

He loves diet wise runners who eat none of the above and espouse all the virtues Bloomberg touts

[tomkat]

hotel owner Richard Nicotra              Bravo !

[justa-hairyape]

One would think he would at least show some concern for the runners. They are going to be running through some really ticked off neighborhoods if the power is still off.