Frankenstorm Sandy

Ginger · 11-02-2012, 04:32 PM

Alex, Thank you for organizing the arguments around this. I posted on FB that maybe since the marathon brings over $300 million in revenue it is a good thing, but soon two friends got my ear and one was upset that I was supporting it and the other, just pissed off. Now I understand the issue a little more deeply. Scout

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexri

And the New York City Marathon is still on this Sunday.

And I have very mixed emotions about this. And ultimately I think it should have been postponed or cancelled.

My friends will be running a mile away from where bodies were just found. They will have food and water handed to them miles away from where people have no heat, electricity, food or water. There is a pasta party in a heated tent tomorrow night, powered by rented generators that could provide electricity to 400 homes.

I know many, many people who have deferred to next year and are not going. They heard how people who had no homes left were being asked to leave hotels because of marathon reservations and they couldn't fathom it. One friend was on the phone with her airline, who canceled and refunded her flight, and mentioned how many people had been stuck in DC or elsewhere and were just trying to get home.

But I also have friends who live in the area, who still today have no power in their homes, no water, no heat, even one that had a tree fall on her car. And she is running because it is for her own sanity. It is her way to tell this storm that it didn't get the best of her or her city. She has never missed her race and she said that going is the one thing that has kept her hopes up. Another friend fundraised in memory of her husband who was killed in Iraq, they were supposed to do the race together when he returned from duty.

Some friends are taking the race transportation to key points, taking the free water/food they get from their race fees, and are going to bail from the race and hand the food to people who need it.

Sadly there have been threats made against the runners; people threatening to throw rocks at them during the race.

I know the argument from the mayor's office and from some officials is that this would bring unity to NYC and inspire people; that it would show NYers are resilient, but... it seems foolish when there are so many people in need of shelter and food. Some also said this would raise the city's hopes like it did after 9/11. Only thing is, that was 7 weeks later, not in the same week.

The argument has also been raised about the amount of money this race brings into the city ever year-- 350 million dollars. While it would help the economy, I think it's a slap in the face to all those are waiting for help. I do have other friends who said they would still go to NYC, whether the race was held or not, so they could support the city financially and volunteer where they could.

There will always be another race. I wish all the energy people are spending online in fighting over this was spent helping those that need assistance. NYC needs to heal and this does not seem to be the appropriate way to do it.