The race could have been held. The 26.2-mile course was clear from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Central Park, where the finish line had been painted in the traditional blue and orange. The elite runners had arrived and were ready to answer the gun on Sunday morning and nearly 50,000 recreational runners were expected to join them.
But as opposition from politicians, citizens, and even runners themselves continued to build late Friday afternoon, City Hall and event organizers concluded that the New York City Marathon, which had been staged annually since 1970, should not be held while the metropolitan area still was struggling to come back to life after Monday’s watery devastation by Hurricane Sandy.
Comments
Bravo, right decision.
“While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort...” Mayor Michael Bloomberg and race director Mary Wittenberg said in a joint statement. This is an untruthful statement. These two live on a different planet and are totally insensitive.
"Holding the race would not divert resources from the recovery effort" Is this guy out of his mind? Of course it would. All the water for the runners should have went to the residents. All the police needed for the detail should be patroling the streets. All the paramedics and EMTs should be out helping people that are already hurt not waiting for those that may get hurt. Should I go on?