|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2012 12:39:15 GMT -5
Mayor Bloomberg has announced that the NYC Marathon will go on as scheduled. Am I missing something here or am I wrong in assuming that NYC should have more pressing needs at this time instead of running a marathon? The marathon begins in Staten Island which was devestated by the storm. Staten Island where bodies are still being recovered.
And where is Cuomo? You would think that the leader of this State would suggest that maybe the marathon be postponed until at least all the bodies are recovered?
I don't know, maybe Couomo & Bloomberg want to maintain tradition or some semblence of normalcy after the devastation. Well, these are hardly normal times.
|
|
|
Post by dave on Nov 1, 2012 13:21:14 GMT -5
Well, like it or not, counted among the losses from Sandy are business dollars. And we should not forget tax revenue. I can't begin to imagine how much NY State lost in taxes from the unscheduled closing of the NY Stock Exchange for two days, plus all the businesses that would have collected sales tax on everything from hot dogs to cab rides. (One 'bright' spot: think of all the new car sales tax that will be collected when all the flooded vehicles are replaced.) Bloomberg is probably figuring he doesn't want his business owners and workers to lose out on the sales to thousands and thousands of people attending and running in the race.
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Nov 1, 2012 13:23:14 GMT -5
They discussed that on the Today Show this morning. I am with you on this one Kracker. Bloomy's theory is that the city needs something to cheer people up, and also the marathon generates millions for the city. On the other side of the coin, I assume it is quite expensive to provide the police and other resources necessary to block off streets, manage traffic, and maintain order. I am of the opinion that the police and EMS folks have much more pressing things to address right now, but who am I. I am not a Bloomberg fan, and I still like a large soda when I am thirsty. Yes, Cuomo could probably step in, and probably should, but then again, I am not a Cuomo fan either I still have memories of his father's reign. In fact I am glad I am not a NY taxpayer in recent years, period. I don't know the route that the marathon takes, but maybe they have provided rubber boots for the muddy portion of the route if it goes around the Southern tip past the Staten Island Ferry slips and Battery Park. Dave you have valid points also. When I saw the picture of an entire taxi fleet with water up to the windshields, I was reminded of the pictures of the school bus fleet in New Orleans that was parked during Katrina. I wouldn't go near NYC for love nor money right now. They just showed pictures on the news of the traffic snarls caused by the unusual number of people that are driving cars to work instead of taking mass transit. Hell, it will be time to go home before they find a place to park and get to their offices, LOL.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2012 16:26:41 GMT -5
Well, like it or not, counted among the losses from Sandy are business dollars. And we should not forget tax revenue. I can't begin to imagine how much NY State lost in taxes from the unscheduled closing of the NY Stock Exchange for two days, plus all the businesses that would have collected sales tax on everything from hot dogs to cab rides. (One 'bright' spot: think of all the new car sales tax that will be collected when all the flooded vehicles are replaced.) Bloomberg is probably figuring he doesn't want his business owners and workers to lose out on the sales to thousands and thousands of people attending and running in the race. Gee Dave, they'd still collect the revenue down the road if the marathon were postponed for a few days. And on a side note, the used car market will be flooded {no pun intended} with vehicles damaged in the storm. Beware!
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Nov 1, 2012 16:34:04 GMT -5
Geez, if I had planned on running in the Marathon I certainly would pass on it this year. Just thinking of all the bacteria floating around would definitely keep me away. Guess people don't realize just how dangerous that can be to ones health. Not worth it to just run in a race. The smart ones will cancel.
|
|
|
Post by dave on Nov 1, 2012 16:57:19 GMT -5
Kracker, that's good advice to look for "flooded" cars. It happened after Katrina and Hugo in '89 (and probably after every hurricane.
Bz, hadn't thought of that. And the rats!
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Nov 1, 2012 18:16:09 GMT -5
Bz, hadn't thought of that. And the rats! Dave, with all the flooding there is human feces all over the place and the water is definitely contaminated which will cause serious bacterial diseases and other problems on the body. I'm sure you've heard on the news in recent years about people who have had their limbs amputated because of bacterial diseases. Most of the time it happens because of contaminated waters. Unless one really needs to be there not a good idea for anyone else to travel there at this time.
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Nov 2, 2012 17:06:41 GMT -5
They just announced the race is now canceled. Very wise decision in the name of humanity and for everyone's health and safety.
|
|
|
Post by dave on Nov 2, 2012 18:31:17 GMT -5
See? You were right, after all! Son of a gun! I wasn't for holding the race, by the way. I wasn't thinking of it in those terms. I was just stating why I thought NY City wanted to go ahead and have it. I have the habit of trying to figure out why things happen. I don't always have an opinion on whether they should happen, unless I'm there on the ground to see the pros and cons and be able to evaluate the options. Or, like you, have experience in such matters enough to make an accurate judgement because you've seen similar situations. Have your trees been carted away yet? Or are you going to burn them all winter.
|
|
|
Post by virgilgal on Nov 2, 2012 19:10:03 GMT -5
I was of the mindset that "the show must go on" was a bad idea for many reasons. A little bit like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. The sanitation concepts added by BZ reinforced another point of view. Now I am hearing that because it was cancelled so late that many people had already flown in, that storm victims were thrown out of hotels for Marathon reservations. A schlamozzle all around and I guess it's hard to get really down on anyone when they are spread so thin trying to reach out in so many directions at once.
|
|
|
Post by dave on Nov 2, 2012 20:39:23 GMT -5
I'd feel terrible to have a storm survivor kicked out of the hotel so that I could have my room the night before a race, for crying out loud. But I can guess why. The Storm Victims were probably paying (or the city was paying for them) a reduced rate, while I would be paying a premium rate because of the race. Plain old greed would do it.
Sorry to hear about your sister, virgilgal. You'll do what you can, I know, and you'll have to be satisfied with it and not blame yourself. You do what you can. Dave
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Nov 2, 2012 21:10:08 GMT -5
If I were a person coming in to race there would be absolutely no evicting someone in need. It would definitely be a very full room with all of us sharing it. VG, is right. Can't blame anyone when it comes to the race and whether to hold it or not. At a time like this horrible disaster I don't believe anyone is thinking clearly. All must be very frustrated, tired, feeling helpless and probably not thinking clearly on anything. They made the right decision and that's all that counts.
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Nov 2, 2012 21:20:12 GMT -5
See? You were right, after all! Son of a gun! I wasn't for holding the race, by the way. I wasn't thinking of it in those terms. I was just stating why I thought NY City wanted to go ahead and have it. I have the habit of trying to figure out why things happen. I don't always have an opinion on whether they should happen, unless I'm there on the ground to see the pros and cons and be able to evaluate the options. Or, like you, have experience in such matters enough to make an accurate judgement because you've seen similar situations. Have your trees been carted away yet? Or are you going to burn them all winter. Nah Dave. It was such a huge mess and we couldn't get in or out of our driveway that we were so happy the Town of Marcy came and took all away for us. Otherwise it would have cost us about $500 to cart it away and we would have waited a few days for them to do it. Besides that, did you see the size of the tree that fell across our driveway? RJ ain't got a chain saw that big to do the job or the energy. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Nov 3, 2012 11:54:51 GMT -5
www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/ok_that_how_you_run_city_1DIJx1rBDVGQISf9qB3HlII have thought from the beginning that holding the race in the midst of this crisis was a bad idea, irregardless of how much money it was going to generate. The idea that they have been hoarding 41 generators and other resources in order to support the race, while people are sitting in the dark, cold and dazed, in the midst of the rubble from the damage done to their homes, if the house wasn't destroyed completely. What is the running club thinking? Yes it is sad that people like our own Realist have been training for months for the race, but that is trivial compared to having your house blown away or flooded, and having someone with a generator hoarding it away to support a foot race. Realist made a laudable decision early on to run in a different event. I would not be surprised if this decision didn't seal Bloomberg's fate. He may very well have lost any chance of re-election. While some may think his efforts to "skinny down" the world, are worthy of praise, and his ideas for putting serial numbers on individual rounds of ammunition are brilliant, many of us disagree. Seems to me that his desire to see all the money that the race generates, clouded good judgement and greed took precedent over compassion, but then that is only one person's opinion, and I am not a big fan of Bloomberg anyway. The financial impact on businesses that make money as a result of the marathon will take a hit, but nothing compared to the devastation that those directly affected by the storm are suffering. I do a slow burn when I think of 41 generators sitting somewhere, unused, while people are sitting in the dark, with no heat or means to cook a hot meal. That is simply selfish and unforgivable. If Mayor Bloomberg was aware of these generators, he is as guilty as the running club and race organizers. Let's be realistic. If such a storm devastated Utica, do you think that they would hold the Boilermaker in the midst of the destruction and rubble? I don't think so. YOUR mayor would probably be out on the street with a shovel or a chainsaw in his hand.
|
|
|
Post by realist13413 on Nov 3, 2012 14:17:17 GMT -5
|
|