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Michael Bloomberg defiant in face of calls to cancel New York City Marathon Michael Bloomberg faces growing calls for cancellation of New York marathon
(about 1 hour later)
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was defiant on Friday, in the face of a growing backlash over plans to go ahead with the New York City Marathon on Sunday. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was facing a growing backlash on Friday over his determination to press ahead with the New York City marathon on Sunday.
"We have to find some way to express ourselves and show solidarity with each other," Bloomberg said, regarding his decision to stage the race despite the city's ongoing cleanup operation and the growing death toll caused by Hurricane Sandy. "We have to have a city going forward." Despite the city's ongoing cleanup operation and the escalating death toll from Hurricane Sandy, Bloomberg remained defiant, insisting the event would take place. "We have to find some way to express ourselves and show solidarity with each other," he said. "We have to have a city going forward."
The marathon is due to start on Sunday morning in Staten Island, the borough that was worst hit by superstorm Sandy. The race is due to start on Sunday morning in Staten Island, the borough that was worst hit by superstorm Sandy.
Jimmy Oddo, a City councilor representing the borough, said in a tweet: "If it takes one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon I will scream. We have people with no homes and no hope right now."Jimmy Oddo, a City councilor representing the borough, said in a tweet: "If it takes one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon I will scream. We have people with no homes and no hope right now."
A growing online campaign is demanding that race officials have a change of heart, in light of the destruction that was wrought upon Staten Island. To date, 19 people, nearly half of the total for New York City, are confirmed to have died in the borough. Many on Staten Island feel marginalized, believing that the focus of the recovery effort has been trained on more-glamorous Manhattan. On Friday afternoon, Christine Quinn, the city council speaker and normally an ally of Bloomberg, broke ranks with him. In a statement, she said: "The decision to move forward with the marathon is not a decision I would have made."
A Staten Island resident, Paul Ferdandez, said the decision to stage the race was a further "slap in the face" for the borough. She continued: "That said, I think we need to look forward and continue to focus on the task at hand — helping those without electricity, food and water and rebuilding our city."
A growing online campaign is demanding that race officials have a change of heart, in light of the destruction that So far, 19 people, nearly half of the total for New York City, are confirmed to have died in the borough. Many on Staten Island feel marginalized, believing that the focus of the recovery effort has been trained on more-glamorous Manhattan.
One resident, Paul Ferdandez, said the decision to stage the race was a further "slap in the face" for the borough.
"I think it is bullshit, we need some help down here," he said. "We need help fixing the beaches, fixing people's houses. Nobody is helping us here, nobody is saying anything.""I think it is bullshit, we need some help down here," he said. "We need help fixing the beaches, fixing people's houses. Nobody is helping us here, nobody is saying anything."
Bloomberg, who has said that emergency resources will not be diverted, said that the race was a source of revenue for the city, with tens of thousands of out-of-towners either participating or watching. Bloomberg, who has insisted that emergency resources will not be diverted, said that the race was a source of revenue for the city, with tens of thousands of out-of-towners either participating or watching.
"There are an awful lot of small businesses that depend on these people. We have to have an economy," he said in a press conference on Wednesday. It has been estimated that the marathon generates some $340m in additional economic activity."There are an awful lot of small businesses that depend on these people. We have to have an economy," he said in a press conference on Wednesday. It has been estimated that the marathon generates some $340m in additional economic activity.
The New York Road Runners club will donate $1m to the Sandy relief fund, Bloomberg said. That figure may go up to $2m, as the organisation has urged all marathon participants to donate $26.20 to the cause – corresponding to the 26.2-mile distance covered by the race.The New York Road Runners club will donate $1m to the Sandy relief fund, Bloomberg said. That figure may go up to $2m, as the organisation has urged all marathon participants to donate $26.20 to the cause – corresponding to the 26.2-mile distance covered by the race.
However, as the death toll in Staten Island has become fully known, voices of complaint have grown louder. Concern is not only related to the possible diversion of resources from the relief effort. There is also the matter of holding the race in conditions that are far from perfect. Much of lower Manhattan remained without power on Friday and despite suggestions from utilities firm Con Edison that it hoped to have electricity restored to most of Manhattan by Saturday, the race could yet turn into a logistical nightmare.However, as the death toll in Staten Island has become fully known, voices of complaint have grown louder. Concern is not only related to the possible diversion of resources from the relief effort. There is also the matter of holding the race in conditions that are far from perfect. Much of lower Manhattan remained without power on Friday and despite suggestions from utilities firm Con Edison that it hoped to have electricity restored to most of Manhattan by Saturday, the race could yet turn into a logistical nightmare.
Plans for the start of the race have already been changed. A notice on the ING New York City Marathon website informs runners that the Staten Island Ferry option for travel to the start line has been cancelled. Instead, all participants have been re-assigned to bus services running from the New York Public Library in mid-town Manhattan. The first will set off at 4.30am.Plans for the start of the race have already been changed. A notice on the ING New York City Marathon website informs runners that the Staten Island Ferry option for travel to the start line has been cancelled. Instead, all participants have been re-assigned to bus services running from the New York Public Library in mid-town Manhattan. The first will set off at 4.30am.
The decision to stage the marathon is a gamble for Bloomberg. If the race proceeds without incident, he could be lauded for helping the city return to normality. But if chaos ensues, he is likely to be held responsible.The decision to stage the marathon is a gamble for Bloomberg. If the race proceeds without incident, he could be lauded for helping the city return to normality. But if chaos ensues, he is likely to be held responsible.
New York state governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear that this was Bloomberg's decision. "There's a debate and I understand both sides," he said, pointedly refusing to publicly back the decision to stage the marathon.New York state governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear that this was Bloomberg's decision. "There's a debate and I understand both sides," he said, pointedly refusing to publicly back the decision to stage the marathon.
At a City Hall press conference on Friday, Bloomberg compared the current situation to the decision to go ahead with the race in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan. "It pulled people together," he said.At a City Hall press conference on Friday, Bloomberg compared the current situation to the decision to go ahead with the race in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan. "It pulled people together," he said.
Bloomberg also denied that essential workers would be pulled from recovery efforts in Staten Island. "There will be no diversion of resources," he said.Bloomberg also denied that essential workers would be pulled from recovery efforts in Staten Island. "There will be no diversion of resources," he said.
Should the marathon go ahead? Have your say here...Should the marathon go ahead? Have your say here...