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Many affected have jobs related to tourism. Do you want them to lose their homes and their jobs too?
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Originally Posted by annerk
It does bring tens of millions into the city. However like I said, with so many pulling out or not able to get there, I think this could end up being like the party that people don't show up for. Planned for ice cream and cake for 50 and only the kid who is lactose intolerant and the other kid who is allergic to everything show.
If that happens, it's a lot of resources wasted on an event that doesn't bring in a whole lot of revenue. Classic Catch-22.
If people can't get there, it should be postponed to the near future.
these other NYC area events will also take place this weekend?
Miami Heat at New York Knicks......Tonight in Manhattan
Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets......Tomorrow in Brooklyn
Like many things in New York, this debate is really about money and class. This tragedy, as so often happens, has disproportionally affected poor and working class families. The marathon is perceived as an affluent pastime whereas basketball has a broader appeal.
The decision was made very early, on Tuesday if I recall, before people realized the full extent of the challenges. It was meant to demonstrate the city’s resolve and determination to recover. I don’t fault their motivation.
Once the subways are fully functional, which could be soon, a lot of the criticism will die down. It won’t help the Rockaways or Staten Island, but the will calm tempers in the city as a whole.
Like many things in New York, this debate is really about money and class. This tragedy, as so often happens, has disproportionally affected poor and working class families. The marathon is perceived as an affluent pastime whereas basketball has a broader appeal.
The irony is that many of the poor and working class probably have jobs in tourism via housekeeping jobs at hotels, etc.
Canceling events could result in staff lay offs until tourism improves. That's a double blow to work class people affected by the storm.
There are EMS tents every mile plus about 80 EMT's and paramedics on bikes riding the route. Each tent is staffed with a three to eight EMS. Mostly EMT's and paramedics although they often get some nurses and doctors that volunteer. There are less at the start, progressively more towards the finish--minimum six EMS per tent once you get to the 20 mile mark (the "wall"). I get this from my EMS husband who is also a marathoner. (No, he isn't running this year, he's run it twice in the past and hates the NYC course with a capital H.)
So using an average of four per tent that's 179 plus an extra 20 or so at the finish--let's call it an even 200 as some are nurses/doctors who volunteer and are not part of the NYC EMS. Police presence is at least that, probably double it. That's an awful lot of manpower.
Not really--have you ever seen a marathon course after the race? It's insane. Completely buried in paper cups, fruit rinds, power gels packs, discarded clothing, and assorted other flotsam and jetsam.
True, although the marathon will still take additional resources for the race route.
Not arguing that at all.
I don't think it's just SI. It's also lower Manhattan, parts of Queens and Brooklyn, it's going to take months to clean it up and I do believe that the marathon is taking away a lot of city workers who would be better leveraged as assets towards the recovery effort at this point.
I agree to an extent, there are far too many people waiting for rescue instead of helping themselves, but I'm guessing you've never been to a marathon, never run one, never volunteered at one. I have, and the resources they take to operate are enormous.
i've been to the NYC marathon, i've volunteered at the Steamtown Marathon. I grew up a mile from the start of the Steamtown Marathon. Relatively quickly after the start, it's passed through my neighborhood, some volunteers clean up, and the rest of the day it's like it didn't even happen.
and, i know the resources it will take. i'm just not convinced those people would otherwise be in Staten Island or the Rockaways helping out, if not for the marathon.
If every single person complaining about the marathon is currently volunteering in the relief efforts...then maybe i'm convinced. but even those people are sitting on their couches with their internet and power (of which, i still lack) and criticizing from afar.
my friend that lives in Tribeca says "no water, no power, but everything is fine". People handle these things differently. The fact is...most people are fine, and some people are panicking.
By the way, if the marathon is cancelled, all entrants get a guaranteed spot in 2013 but their entry fees are NOT refunded or applied towards next year. The majority of entry fees go towards over 50 charities supported by NYRR. Discuss among yourselves.
very true. my friend would be on the hook for $6,000, though most of that was donated to him through friends for the charity he is running with. people are overlooking the amount of money this event raises for the charities, many of which can use it now, more than ever, in the recovery.
Channel 2 news reported that the 6 massive generators that they have to keep the runners warm in the tents can power over 400 homes that are without power. Is a marathon that is going to clog up the city at a time during a recovery really a priority right now???
i'm sure the 2 massive generators my company is running so we can be at work can power the entire town I'm in. but no one is complaining about that.
No one is complaining about Goldman Sachs requiring their employees to drive in if they must, to get to work on Wednesday, yesterday, and today.
I bet a lot of small businesses starving for customers cannot wait for Sunday, though.
If people can't get there, it should be postponed to the near future.
It's not that easy. In two weeks the Philadelphia and Brooklyn Marathons run. Then you run into the Thanksgiving Day parade, then the St. Jude, the following weekend there are several large events.
After that you run the risk of snow--the elite runners won't risk injury to run in snow.
So unless you want to postpone it until April--where you'll run into the grand daddy of them all--Boston, and several Rock & Roll Marathons, and then it gets too darn hot to race until fall without people dying on the course.
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