Bloomberg puts marathon over hurricane victims

One of the greatest regrets of the late Pete Rozelle, long time Commissioner of the NFL, was that he did not cancel the scheduled games the weekend after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He felt at the time, that the games would be a source of healing for the nation. As Redskins Linebacker Sam Huff, a hall of fame player put it years later "As I listened to the Anthem,  my only thought was, what the hell are we doing out here." Flash forward 29 years, to the events after 9/11. They were all canceled.

Which brings me to the New York Marathon. As I write this, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is dead set on having the Marathon go off. It seems rather insulting that a few miles away, people are sifting their their tattered belongings, wondering when their insurance companies are going to be able to help them get back on their feet. There are others who sit in dark houses, no power.

Thee are plenty of others, sitting in nice warm hotel room who are hours away from getting evicted. You see, these rooms are reserved,for the competitors in the New York Marathon. Doesn't matter if these victims of the hurricane have anyplace to go right now, they just have to get out.  All because Mayor Bloomberg is putting others over the ones that are in the greatest of need.

One could wonder what type of philosophy Mayor Bloomberg has employed here. From a human stand point, it doesn't make any sense. Why, after these people just suffered a great loss, would he tell them to get out, that these runners are more important then they are.

I know one thing that you are thinking. The marathon is going to bring in millions of dollars that could go to relief efforts. There is just one flaw with that logic. They city will already have to pay for the scores of police and medical personnel that are going to have to be on stand by. Keep in mind that current relief crews are already stretched to the max,and more are going to come in to help. However, to take away assistance from people whom have just survived a hurricane just boggles. the mind.

I mean, just conjure up the image of any elected official telling storm victims to get the hell out of the hotel room they are needed for others, out of towners, runners. How would you re act. Would you like to see said elected leaders apologize, and let the victims stay? How about telling the runners, the race is canceled? Wouldn't that make sense?

Facts are you have nearly 100 people dead, hundreds of thousands without power as I write this blog at 11am, the Jersey Shore is nearly wiped off the face of the Earth, Rockaway beach is gone. Families are going to struggle to  rebuild. I read a story in the USA Today this morning about a man who lost all of his possession, including those from his now deceased parents, which can never be replaced. And Mayor Bloomberg is going to go ahead with the goddamn Marathon! Mayor Bloomberg, who already has tried to usurp the power of the constitution by trying to say who can get married, what sized soda they can drink, and use the NYPD to illegally track Muslim-Americans, is putting a marathon over the needs of the citizens he was elected to lead.  Maybe Mayor Bloomberg should follow the lead of new Jersey governor Chris Christie, and actually give a damn about the people of his state. Mayor Bloomberg don't give a damn about the people of New York city. The only time he notices them is when he looks to see what he is stepping on.

Congrats, Bloomberg, you've just become the worst mayor in New York history.