Hurricane Sandy and the New York Marathon

Well, they say that New Yorkers are blunt, pushy and inconsiderate of others. Maybe it is because of their environment in the Big Apple with millions of souls rushing around and hustling for a buck. I have only known a few of them and the generality holds true.

This inconsiderateness rises to a new level now. A level that I find repulsive because of the devastation and loss to many New Yorkers and those in New Jersey and Staten Island. Talk about insensitivity, rudeness to others. But, the mayor of NYC has declared that the New York marathon scheduled for November 4th will go on. It is bad enough that the resources are diverted away from those in real need for those not impacted and eager to run through the war torn debris left by Hurricane Sandy. What is worse, like adding salt to a deadly wound, is that the race begins in Staten Island, an area devastated by the tsunami-like waves that flattened most of that island. Homes and lives have been ruined and hardships are incredible. I wonder how many of those on the island will be interested in a marathon?

There are many New Yorkers who are very angry about the decision to continue the marathon. Some, that are in favor of it, state it will make things seem like normal; that, the resources slated for the marathon will not impact the recovery area of war zone areas. Not all runners agree, an online petition circulating via Twitter has collected more than 750 signatures from runners and others who want to see the race postponed. The mayor claims that NYC could use the money the race generates, around $300 million in the past years when 50,000 runners participate.

The mayor of NYC is an idiot. An insensitive idiot who obviously is rich and not impacted by Sandy. Had he personally suffered real devastation of his home and property, he might have a different viewpoint.