GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Nov 2, 2012 9:36:44 GMT -5
Six generators in central park right now. Multiple hydration stations. Oh by the way, people don't have electricity or water in half the city. Am I an old man or was there a time when this would be an easy decision just out of reverence for the dead in Staten Island alone? But there's actual real scarce resources being diverted to a sporting event as well. I do not know how anyone can defend this decision.
Are we really this disconnected that we think a "run for charity" is the same as actually helping people? Sorry for the rant but I'm sitting here as one of the lucky ones in a hotel. I can't believe that Bloomberg would be asked about generators and the answer would be "They were contracted before the storm" and this "will bring money to the city." The people downtown don't need a fundraiser, they need power and water. It's unreal.
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PhillyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by PhillyHoya on Nov 2, 2012 9:53:55 GMT -5
You're one of the lucky ones who hasn't been bounced from their hotel for runners with reservations.
There is no reason whatsoever why they couldn't have delayed the marathon days ago.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 2, 2012 9:59:50 GMT -5
You're one of the lucky ones who hasn't been bounced from their hotel for runners with reservations. No way. Are you serious? That is simply unconscionable. |
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hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 2, 2012 10:03:31 GMT -5
The sponsors should give the money to victims' relief.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 2, 2012 10:20:38 GMT -5
The sponsors should give the money to victims' relief. I'm sure the sponsors will do that. It doesn't change the fact that an event such as the marathon requires significant resources all weekend. Police, power, EMTs, etc. Those resources could come in handy elsewhere over the next few days. I am also somewhat disturbed that the Giants game is going on as planned at Metlife. I realize that interfering with the NFL schedule is enormously difficult, but it CAN actually be done when necessary. |
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 2, 2012 10:45:42 GMT -5
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 2, 2012 11:41:16 GMT -5
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MassHoya
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Post by MassHoya on Nov 2, 2012 11:53:40 GMT -5
The runners should stay home an refuse to participate. Maybe they have some sense of what is right and wrong. Bloomberg certainly doesn't. For shame.
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PhillyHoya
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Post by PhillyHoya on Nov 2, 2012 14:36:28 GMT -5
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Nov 2, 2012 14:49:13 GMT -5
I really can't blame the runners. They had planned a long time for this and if the event is going on, they need a place to stay. Again, the fault lies with Bloomberg and the event organizers for not postponing. It doesn't get THAT cold in NY in November. You can have it a couple weeks from now. Two additional notes: * Cheers to Richard Nicotra, owner of the Staten Island hotel, for doing the right thing and also trying to accommodate the runners at the same time as best he can. * Whoever owns the Pod Hotel on East 39th Street should be held down and pummeled in the groin by people who are currently homeless. |
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Nov 2, 2012 15:41:59 GMT -5
I do sympathize with the people stuck trying to make a call in a no-win situation. Marathon prep takes a long time and involves precisely timed and scheduled training runs - postponing by a couple of weeks would throw a giant wrench into that. Also, New York is one of the six World Marathon Majors runs (Tokyo, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York), so it is one of the races at which the world's best runners literally make their livelihood for the year. Postponing it poses a huge set of problems, albeit ones that could be greatly ameliorated through an infusion of cash from a certain billionaire mayor.
Having said that, I think the organizers - and Bloomberg - are not thinking very creatively. The folks on the USMA Marathon Team created their own "West Point Marathon" course designed specifically to prepare their team members for New York (emulates the course to the extent possible). West Point is 45 minutes from NYC and has a major train connection. It would require a serious and concerted effort, but you could get 40,000 runners there from the City. And the folks up at West Point are pretty good about following orders and throwing things together in short order. But Bloomberg wants his own 9/11 Giuliani moment or something, so...
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hoyaLS05
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by hoyaLS05 on Nov 2, 2012 16:20:00 GMT -5
People have spoken. Marathon cancelled.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Nov 3, 2012 21:38:27 GMT -5
As an ex-marathon runner, I could see both sides (see Russky's post), but on balance I thought they should have definitely cancelled the marathon immediately when they knew the magnitude of the storm and its damage. For the common runner (i.e., non-elite) there is always another race (especially, if you didn't have to pay for an expensive hotel in NYC, and calling it off soon enough would have prevented hotel costs). But more importantly there are many like my 94-year old mother with pancreatic cancer, who are without power and heat still. They should be first priorities.
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