Thank god. The NYC Marathon is Cancelled.

[Smarmie Doofus]

Apparently Mayor Boo-Boo relented in the face of generalized astonishment and outrage from the few moral and ethical grown-ups within his inner circle.

Police, etc can now concentrate on relief efforts. Imagine that. Jesus. What a world.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544624/nyc-marathon-canceled-amid-outcry/


>>NEW YORK The New York City Marathon was canceled Friday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg after mounting criticism that this was not the time for a race while the region is still recovering from superstorm Sandy.

With people in storm-ravaged areas still shivering without electricity and the death toll in New York City at more than 40, many New Yorkers recoiled at the prospect of police officers being assigned to protect a marathon on Sunday.

An estimated 40,000 runners from around the world had been expected to take part in the 26.2-mile event. The race had been scheduled to start in Staten Island, one of the hardest-hit areas by this week's storm.

Outrage grows over decision to run NYC marathon Staten Island Sandy victims: We're being ignored
"We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it," the mayor said in a statement. "We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track.">>>

More at link.

We debated this here earlier today:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021691794

[flamingdem]

1. Kudos to the DUers who knew this was not the time

Some people with plane tickets must be pissed. Maybe the airlines will understand and refund them.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That's a relief!

The Mayor showed some good sense, finally.

[oswaldactedalone]

3. This was a no-brainer

WTF was he thinking?

[Skittles]

4. well, yeah, I guess it is because of god?

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. It's a colloquialism. Hence the lower-case "g".

I hope you didn't miss the point of the post.

[CTyankee]

5. Diverting police and other city workers to the Marathon would not be a good thing at this time.

DUH!

Sometimes, you have to bite the bullet.

It's the "cost of doing business" for the government...you make choices and this was the right one...

[jimlup]

6. Honest question...

How come the Knicks are playing tonight and no one is excited? As a runner I'm Just say'n... I mean in the long run I'm thankful as I think people would have blamed runners for anything that went wrong on Sunday.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. They should be excited. But I'm not as excited because I doubt that the police deployment for....

... a routine Knick game at the Garden is anything remotely comparable to that required by the Marathon:

Traffic shutdowns, re-routing of traffic, crown control, five ( 5 )boroughs, millions of spectators. See the differences?

We need those cops to save people in the midst of this emergency. There are handicapped and elderly people stuck in the upper floors of apartment buildings all over the city with non-working elevators. To mention just one scenario.