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Post by lagatta on Nov 2, 2012 22:46:15 GMT
I heard on the news (Radio-Canada/CBC) that the NYC marathon has been cancelled. Some marathon runners were advocating this and saying runners (who lived in NYC or were already there) should use their athletic prowess instead to run supplies upstairs to people stranded in apartment blocks.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 3, 2012 1:02:44 GMT
My brother arrived in NYC this morning.
They made the decision to go because the website for the Race assured them the Race was going ahead as scheduled. The Airline assured them their flight was departing as scheduled and their Hotel confirmed their reservations.
They kept questioning whether they should go but kept getting reassurances that the City wanted the Race to proceed, that was until they arrived in NYC and then the news reports changed and anger now replaced the reassurances, then the decision was made to cancel the Race.
They are trying to get an early flight home tomorrow morning so that people who need the rooms can book back in. They had no idea that people were told to leave so Race participants could be booked in. They feel just horrible.
Mayor Bloomberg made the correct decision, just 24 hours too late, is how most of the race participants responded when they were questioned today after the decision was made public.
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 3, 2012 3:01:17 GMT
I'm hearing this a.m. of the 2 children on Staten island drowned as their mother was trying to get them to safety. So so tragically sad. That was so heartbreaking. I can't even imagine the sadness and guilt the parents must feel. It was the right call to cancel the race. It just wasn't appropriate, with thousands of people out of power and victims still unaccounted for. It was one thing having the marathon as scheduled 7 weeks after 9/11. The city was still grieving, but at least the rescue work was over. But less than a week after the hurricane, there is still so much to do. Mich, it's such a shame your brother had to go through the hassle of coming here. Bloomberg has a reputation for being stubborn and not letting public opinion change his mind, but he really should have relented days ago. I hope your brother can come back next year. |
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Post by nycboy on Nov 3, 2012 4:01:01 GMT
My brother arrived in NYC this morning. They made the decision to go because the website for the Race assured them the Race was going ahead as scheduled. The Airline assured them their flight was departing as scheduled and their Hotel confirmed their reservations. They kept questioning whether they should go but kept getting reassurances that the City wanted the Race to proceed, that was until they arrived in NYC and then the news reports changed and anger now replaced the reassurances, then the decision was made to cancel the Race. They are trying to get an early flight home tomorrow morning so that people who need the rooms can book back in. They had no idea that people were told to leave so Race participants could be booked in. They feel just horrible. Mayor Bloomberg made the correct decision, just 24 hours too late, is how most of the race participants responded when they were questioned today after the decision was made public. Sorry for you brother, a decision should've been made one way or the other. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 3, 2012 5:25:17 GMT
Holding out until the last minute to cancel the Marathon was a horrible injustice to all the people who spent money, took off work, etc. to get there.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2012 6:33:16 GMT
Every year, there are chartered airliners that arrive from Europe just for the marathon -- what an financial and ecological waste to have waited so long to cancel!
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Post by lagatta on Nov 3, 2012 13:42:32 GMT
Yes, it is a huge event. Of course runners from here haven't travelled as far or spent as much.
Where does your brother live, Mich?
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 3, 2012 14:22:03 GMT
It's funny, in his statement Bloomberg was basically like, "I still say the marathon won't take away from the relief effort, but just so everyone will shut up, fine, I'll cancel it."
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Post by mich64 on Nov 3, 2012 16:55:06 GMT
nycgirl your comment regarding the race being held after 9/11 is so correct, it was appropriate to have it then, it was 7 weeks after the tragedy, gosh this would be just a week! There are still people unaccounted for! There are people without, electricity, heat, food and with no idea how there are going to recover from this or how long it will take to just get heat and water resumed.
The Mayor and Race sponsors/organizers had so much more information then the public and should have been able to make this decision before all these people arrived in the city but they even held the Registration! They had no intention of canceling this, just like nycgirl said "just so everyone will shut up, I will cancel it" came across clearly.
My brother lives about 3 hours north of me, drove here to drop his son off with me and pick up his training partner, drove another 3 1/2 hours to Toronto, stayed over night before flying from there to NYC Friday morning. There was a lot of planning and expense that went into this. It was probably a one and a life time experience for many reasons. However, it pales in comparison to what is happening there to so many people.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2012 16:56:58 GMT
It's funny, in his statement Bloomberg was basically like, "I still say the marathon won't take away from the relief effort, but just so everyone will shut up, fine, I'll cancel it." That's exactly the way I interpreted it as well. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2012 13:43:34 GMT
I hate to get on a Bloomberg bashing here but, that was so irresponsible and arrogant.
I'm sorry about your brother Mich. What a shame.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 5, 2012 2:36:15 GMT
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 5, 2012 18:48:55 GMT
Great article, Lagatta. So moving.
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Post by mossie on Nov 5, 2012 19:31:41 GMT
Excellent. Just shows how people can pull together at times of disaster.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2012 13:52:36 GMT
Thousands still without power throughout the region....and, it's cold!!!!!!!!!! Gas rationing in New York and New Jersey.... NJ Governor Christie lifting the "blue laws" in NJ this weekend to give the economy a boost.... Grim.....  |
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