NYC Marathon canceled amid outcry over priorities

Updated 10:00 p.m. ET

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.

"That controversy (about holding the race) grew and division grew over the course of the week," Howard Wolfson, NYC deputy mayor for government affairs and communications, said at a press conference about the cancellation on Friday night. "Those of us who love the city and those of us who love the race realized it wasn't the marathon if it wasn't a unifying event."

Workers assemble the finish line for the New York City Marathon in New York's Central Park, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Richard Drew

Mary Wittenberg, president of New York Road Runners (NYRR) which organizes the marathon, said at the press conference that officials and organizers talked about a modified race or postponing the event, but decided it was best to cancel it this year. All the supplies -- including generators, food and water -- will be redeployed to people who need it.

This is the first time the marathon has been cancelled in the event's history. CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller spoke to a group of Irish runners who were extremely angry since they spent $30,000 to get to New York City in time for the marathon. About 47,000 runners were expected to compete on Sunday.

But, 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.

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"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."

10 Photos

Before-and-after views of Sandy destruction

Bloomberg called the marathon an "integral part of New York City's life for 40 years" and "an event tens of thousands of New Yorkers participate in and millions more watch."

He still insisted that holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, but understood the level of friction.

"It is clear it that it has become the source of controversy and division," Bloomberg said. "The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination.

Earlier, Bloomberg had said he hoped to lift spirits and unite the stricken city when he decided to press ahead with this weekend's marathon. Instead, the move became a source of division Friday, with some New Yorkers - even some runners - saying this is not the time for a road race.

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Bloomberg responds to calls to cancel NYC Marathon

They complained that holding the event just six days after Sandy would be insensitive and tie up precious resources when many people are still suffering.

The marathon's start is in Staten Island, the hardest hit part of the city, with at least 19 dead.

Before the race was cancelled, some marathon runners had posted Facebook messages vowing to head to the race's starting line in Staten Island to spend the day volunteering, not racing.

Even some hotel owners took a stance on the issue. The Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island, which has served as a refuge for people affected by the storm, has vowed to turn away marathoners - even those with reservations - in order to preserve rooms for storm evacuees.

"How do I tell people who have no place to go, that have no home, that have no heat, that you have to leave because I have to make room for somebody who has to run a marathon?" hotel owner Richard Nicotra told NY 1 News.

But the last-minuteness of the cancellation has many runners, some who have traveled from different parts of the world, frustrated.

"I agree that canceling it was the right move, but it the decision should have been made immediately," said Joel Schrock, who was hosting a runner for the weekend. "It's frustrating that they waited so long."

Some runners at the New Yorker Hotel in midtown -- just above the blackout zone caused by the superstorm -- were in the lobby crying when they learned the race was off. One person was curled up on a couch, sobbing.

"We spend a year on this," said Gisela Clausen of Munich. "We don't eat what we want. We don't drink what we want. And we're on the streets for hours. We live for this marathon, but we understand."

The fee to participate in the race is $250. Roberto Dell'Olmo, from Vercelli in northern Italy, said he "would like that the money I give from the marathon goes to victims."

A charity called Race 2 Recover has been started to allow marathon runners to donate their hotel rooms to NYC residents who cannot return to their homes, instead of simply cancelling them. Displaced New Yorkers can also use the website to help locate a place for them to stay on a first come first serve basis.

[MRC2191]

I agree that the marathon should have been cancelled given the plight of so many affected by Sandy. But I completely disagree with the timing and the way the decision was handled. Thousands of runners trained for months. Some we visited with in the city had saved money and time-off from work for over a year to enable them to participate. All checked hour by hour to ensure the race would go on before boarding planes for NY. Bloomberg was unwavering in his statements that the marathon was a go. We took him at his word.

This brings me to the conclusion of every runner we spoke with -- and there were thousands expressing their views in the park on Saturday and Sunday. To quote a runner from London, "the mayor is a thief." At best, it feels like the timing of the decision was made without regard to the thousands of runners and their guests traveling from all over the United States and world to participate. As late as Wednesday, the vast majority could have changed plans and avoided incurring thousands of dollars and days of travel.

At worst, it seems the reversed decision was an intentional misrepresentation to get the runners in the city spending their money before the announcement was made and after it was too late to minimize damages to participants. I am not one to lightly attribute malicious motives to public officials or the NYRRC but the timing of this decision is highly suspicious and leaves runners and guests looking for reimbursement for plane fares and hotel bills.

[waternoggin]

The World we live in is selfish. All anyone cares about is "me, me, me." What happened in NYC is awful, but what good did canceling the marathon do? Absolutely nothing. The marathon would not have diverted any resources, except maybe police. Instead, the complaints ruined probably a once in a life time opportunity for thousands. The damage to the city was already done but people could not look beyond themselves. Instead, thousands of people had something that they worked hard for taken away from them. I understand that people lost homes, family members, and everything they have. But how did ruining the dreams of thousands bring any of that back?
It is just running, right? No one cares about running. We don't watch it on TV or follow those who compete like we do the Knicks or the Giants so they cannot have their day. We like and understand football so it is ok that 80,000 people travel and pack into Met Life Stadium. Use valuable fuel to get there. Tailgate and drink beer in the parking lot. It is ok that fans can take hotel rooms that those who lost their homes could have. It is ok for them to do it because we like football. No one is going to Tweet and say how the stadiums are using valuable resources, how those athletes should stop playing their game and help out with the recovery. No one made that Tweet how they should carry cases of water to victims.
It is ok when it is something we like and understand, but when it is someone else, it does not matter. America, we are selfish.

[israeleaguilar]

Wanted to share the facebook page to a group running the marathon tomorrow, they started the page today and over 250 people have confirmed assistance!
https://www.facebook.com/RunAnywayNYC2012

https://www.facebook.com/events/461612577215073/

[realnyc]

The Marathon should NOT have been cancelled. This was not a NY move (and I am a native New Yorker, and not a participant in this Marathon).

FIRST, canceling it to avoid "sending the wrong message" is completely backwards reasoning. A Marathon is not some dopey parade. It is about persistence, determination, and overcoming obstacles. 40,000 people literally running their hearts, and many more yelling their lungs out, is exactly what is appropriate at a terrible time like this. Toughing it out, remember people?

SECOND, As for money and resources- duh. How about dubbing it the "Race for the survivors of Sandy" (or the "Up Yours Sandy-Marathon"-I know humor is not allowed now). Then in addition to the huge flow of millions the event already brings to NY, every corporation is prodded to donate money during the event directly for the survivors, a big 1-800 number during the live coverage in all-50-states, and around the world to donate money, food, etc for the survivors of Sandy, Bloomberg, whoopi or whoever comes on live during the event to encourage donating, all the runners are given arm-bands symbolizing the recovery, etc. etc. etc. This would bring in 20 x as much aide as "sting".

MORALE and MONEY to help the devastation GO UP (and lame-ass snaky pc and emotion-over-substance dries up with the brackish water). This was not New York.

[Curmudgeon236]

REALNYC - Diverting recovery resources to a marathon would be a hard sell, considering the fact that the Weather Channel has predicted a possible storm front (not as bad as Sandy) coming in to the same areas a week later.

Who would affected residents rather see on their streets - restoration workers trying to prevent further damage to vulnerable properties or a bunch of sweaty jocks with numbers on their backs?

[Curmudgeon236]

OK ... imagine that 5 people are standing in front of you, crying and saying:

1) I have no food.
2) I have no fuel.
3) I have no dry clothes.
4) I have no shelter.
5) I have no place to "run."

Now, assuming you want to help people, put those 5 people in a list based on YOUR priorities.

[Marcia Manzello]

:c first things first. this is the prudent course of action - postpone the marathon, come back a different day. the city looks like a wasteland. the last thing NYC needs at this time is an extra 100,000 people or so flooding our already devastated streets...

[AOCGUY]

Of course the problem is that many of those people are not only already in NYC they spent alot of money to get there.

[TheNyorker]

I think they should stop the Giants game!! I the should of stopped the Knicks game too. How dare anyone have fun and smile while I have no electricity. EVERYONE should be miserable like me. Its a shame that we canceled the marathon. 34o million dollars are now lost for the budget. 30,000 tourists now have a negative image of new yorkers as we rudely throw them out of town as they bought their flight to come. We should of used this opportunity to raise money for the victims. We could of raised millions but our yenta complaining deafened the logic. emtion won over logic today but tomorrow we will all pay. With respect to the dead bodies. In 2001 there was 2000 dead bodies burried in ruble as the runners passed by during the marathon but no one said a peep then. Big lose of new York. Lets see who Bloomy will have to lay off for this. Probably the same people that were complaining.

[Joe_Murphy_DPO]

Good idea

[KramLedyes]

So, the Borough President of Staten Island pretty much told the Red Cross to go to hell and now the marathon, which was going to donate a ton of money towards the relief project, has been cancelled. This could have been a great source of inspiration and unity in a time of hardship. Get you emotional heads out of your a$$es. I understand people are suffering, but now more people are. Many of these runners trained for a long time and spent thousands of dollars to come to N.Y. for this. Now more people are suffering. Is this really what the victims of the storm want? I am amazed and disappointed. Where is all of this 'strength" and coming together I heard about on the news?

[petabarbara]

There are unrecovered bodies (in the 100s according to residents) on Staten Island, the originating point of the marathon. They are still without power, many homeless, without clothing, without food and potable water, not to mention heat. Their cars were destroyed. But Waaah, waah, waah, those poor poor runners are suffering. Get a grip of reality-true suffering is not missing a race. Your warped priorities are what is truly amazing in this scenario. BTW, Bloomberg being his compassionate self, is not paying NYC employees who cannot get to work-not allowing them to use vacation time as well. Nice, huh?

[KramLedyes]

@PETABARBARA, Should the world be put on hold because of the suffering the victims of Hurricane Sandy are experiencing? THAT is unrealistic. This marathon could have done much to help the victims and the N.Y. City economy (they surely need it right now). I understand the marathon is not important to you, personally. That just goes to show me that you are only concerned with your emotional feelings and perhaps not thinking clearly of the whole picture. By the way, I have plans today and am not cancelling them to help on Staten Island because my plans are important. Am I a bad person? Get a grip.

[cystal650]

Listening to people on the news whining about the Marathon in NY being cancelled because they spent so much money getting there in travel arrangements. SERIOUSLY? If you have already spent the money in traveling and are there, perhaps you could look around and aknowledge the aftermath of what just took place, stop whining about your little dilema and spend your time helping those families in need. If you have a hotel, house some of those families who could use rest, showers, a dry bed ect. Instead you wish you could just put your shoes on and take a run through their destroyed community. What is this world coming to?

[hypnotoad72]

It's all about the money. Your response effectively admits that...