View Full Version : Bloomberg cancelled the NYC Marathon...........good move!
I was so glad to hear this.
I was so glad to hear this.
Is the race an official New York City event, giving the Mayor some standing to step in to cancel it?
Or is it a privately-supported event, of the New York Road Runners, and sponsored by NGOs?
While I appreciate the political sentiment Bloomberg expresses, I wonder if he's stepped over the bounds of his authority? Did he take this action in consultation and with the consent of the NYRRs (whose site doesn't even mention the cancellation yet)?
Is the race an official New York City event, giving the Mayor some standing to step in to cancel it?
Or is it a privately-supported event, of the New York Road Runners, and sponsored by NGOs?
While I appreciate the political sentiment Bloomberg expresses, I wonder if he's stepped over the bounds of his authority? Did he take this action in consultation and with the consent of the NYRRs (whose site doesn't even mention the cancellation yet)?
I don't see how they could do it without NYC resources (police, etc.) and consent. Also, as precedent, he had no issues cancelling OWS occupations, marches, etc.
While the marathon is a private event with both professional & amateur runners, it is so large that they do need permission from the city to do it.
They need permission to close the roads, need police security, extra ambulances and medical personnel, and acres of portos. Even if they chose to go ahead, there is no guarantee those who planned on running, those who planned to volunteer could even get there.
It would have been nice to have it, to help keep the spirit of the city up but the resources are just not available yet to hold an even of this magnitude :( Having trained for marathons, that can be really, really disappointing for the runners.
I ask because I recently went through a regional disaster drill, and the first inclination of some of the authorities, recent immigrants from California..., was to:
- inventory, ration, and distribute supplies of goods held by private people
- impose curfews and limits to travel
- not allow people back into their own property until "the proper authorities" had deemed structures safe, even though we have no supply of people to do the necessary inspection and "deeming"...
This came to a crunching halt when our Prosecuting Attorney pointed out that most of the proposals were outside the legal authority of anyone in the region to carry out in the circumstances of the theoretical exercise, and that some thinking and learning *ahead of time* about when you can properly use such powers would save everyone a whole lot of trouble and money long-term.
I myself, as an elected official for an independent political jurisdiction of my state, acting only agreement from only two other people, have the same sort of power and authority I believe Bloomberg+the NYC Council have together. So I try to learn about such things, and avoid leaping to excessive exertions of coercive governmental authority.
I ask because I recently went through a regional disaster drill, and the first inclination of some of the authorities, recent immigrants from California..., was to:
- inventory, ration, and distribute supplies of goods held by private people
- impose curfews and limits to travel
- not allow people back into their own property until "the proper authorities" had deemed structures safe, even though we have no supply of people to do the necessary inspection and "deeming"...
This came to a crunching halt when our Prosecuting Attorney pointed out that most of the proposals were outside the legal authority of anyone in the region to carry out in the circumstances of the theoretical exercise, and that some thinking and learning *ahead of time* about when you can properly use such powers would save everyone a whole lot of trouble and money long-term.
I myself, as an elected official for an independent political jurisdiction of my state, acting only agreement from only two other people, have the same sort of power and authority I believe Bloomberg+the NYC Council have together. So I try to learn about such things, and avoid leaping to excessive exertions of coercive governmental authority.
This kind of thing, especially points one and three, really flushes out my Libertarian side. Inventory and ration goods? I suppose the community could use my fabric stash and cooking utensils, along with bedding and the dried beans I keep around in case Armageddon hits. And I could perfectly well live on my own property in a tent, if necessary. (Note to self: buy tent.)
During WWII (the big one ;-) ), people were exhorted to contribute to the cause with scrap metal drives and the like, but the idea that some overly zealous lout would toss my house looking for weaponry brings out my inner Ma Perkins. Or is that Ma Barker? Maybe both.
During WWII (the big one ;-) ), people were exhorted to contribute to the cause with scrap metal drives and the like, but the idea that some overly zealous lout would toss my house looking for weaponry brings out my inner Ma Perkins. Or is that Ma Barker? Maybe both.
There is "private property" and there is "private property". Your house is private property. But so is the gas station down the street. And the hardware store. And the broken crane hanging from that building in Manhattan.
Is it fair to regulate how much gasoline the station can sell to a line of people two hours long? Is it fair to allow the hardware store to sell generators for four times the regular price because they are at a premium? Should we let the crane company decide when they want to take down the broken crane? I don't have discrete answers to those questions; I can see both sides of the issue. I'm just saying there is a purpose for government in acting for the common good, and that that sometimes (or often) requires regulation of private property.
Was that a rhetorical question? Of course you can argue that government may act for the common good--as it should--but that shouldn't include invading someone's home to rustle up goods to "redistribute." We've got an extensive body of law that should cover the situations you cite, including statutes covering price-gouging during emergency situations.
Using scarce public resources such as police on this race is stupid. They are needed elsewhere. The subways aren't even running, right?
I don't see how they could do it without NYC resources (police, etc.) and consent. Also, as precedent, he had no issues cancelling OWS occupations, marches, etc.
Come now, those events had gone on already for what--months? I wouldn't draw a parallel.
It's too bad he didn't have the foresight to realize that his initial decision to follow through with it would be a political loser. I don't like to see any pol make an error and have to eat crow--unless they're running against my person and it hurts their chances.
Bloomberg was trying to make a good decision that normally brings a lot of revenue into the city and this this was definitely a misstep.
It's too bad he didn't have the foresight to realize that his initial decision to follow through with it would be a political loser. I don't like to see any pol make an error and have to eat crow--unless they're running against my person and it hurts their chances.
Bloomberg was trying to make a good decision that normally brings a lot of revenue into the city and this this was definitely a misstep.
I hoped that revenue played into his decision. Only he can weigh all of the pros and cons, but I'm sure there are merchants hurting who would like the business. It's a tough call either way.
SteveinMN
11-2-12, 10:35pm
Jane, I read what bae wrote ...
I ask because I recently went through a regional disaster drill, and the first inclination of some of the authorities, recent immigrants from California..., was to:
- inventory, ration, and distribute supplies of goods held by private people
- impose curfews and limits to travel
- not allow people back into their own property until "the proper authorities" had deemed structures safe, even though we have no supply of people to do the necessary inspection and "deeming"...
... and pointed out that it wasn't necessarily a case of power-hungry gummint employees running into people's houses to steal yarn stashes and dried beans or find out who has a lot of toilet paper. I don't read anything in what bae wrote that indicates it applies only to individual homeowners. So I pointed out that private property can extend to businesses as well. Power-hungry gummint employees aren't running into stores and office buildings to commandeer what's in there, either. I don't believe the government should have 100% access 7x24 to private property. But people in a collective environment cannot do whatever the &$#% they please, either.
I can certainly understand -- but as a runner, I would be so disappointed -- the months and months of training. With that being said, my disappointment is nothing like the suffering I see going on with these victims of Sandy.
Hard decision, but I think the right one.
I agree it's the correct decision. Even a 5k takes a fair amount of resources because you have to have traffic control etc, and with that huge number of runners and a long course like a marathon would be a nightmare to coordinate at a time like this. Never mind that it looks horribly crass.
As far as the subways go, they are running down to 40th st, I believe.
The mayor should have made this call soon after the hurricane hit, so people who spent alot of money, coming from other countries/states didn't lose so much money. But it must have been a really hard call for Bloomberg to make. I sure wouldn't want to have to be making all these decisions. You know there will people who hate you for whatever decision you make. I think people should give him (and other mayors in the thick of this disaster) some slack.
There is not way that any politician could win in this situation. If he had spoken earlier, he would have been slammed as being too quick to decide and should have waited to see how bad things really were.
Somewhere, sometime, somehow, we, the general public, have to accept that there are times when people who are elected to do so, do have to make some difficult decisions that are very difficult.
I don't know exactly what Bloomberg said or how he said it. It would seem correct if he simply told the private organization(s) behind the race that the city would not provide any support because resources were needed elsewhere and they could hold the race as long as they could pay for every aspect of it. It would also seem to be in bounds if he withdrew their event permit for the same reasons. He's not stupid. I'm guessing the legal team at city hall did a decent job of CYA. And hey, its only a race. Its not like Bloomberg wanted to deny Coke for storm victims.
It is a fact that some people won't leave their property when they really should because many times the authorities won't let them return when the immediate crisis is over. We are subject to hurricanes where I live and there are many who won't leave because they may not be allowed back for days afterward.
I don't know exactly what Bloomberg said or how he said it. It would seem correct if he simply told the private organization(s) behind the race that the city would not provide any support because resources were needed elsewhere and they could hold the race as long as they could pay for every aspect of it. It would also seem to be in bounds if he withdrew their event permit for the same reasons. He's not stupid. I'm guessing the legal team at city hall did a decent job of CYA. And hey, its only a race. Its not like Bloomberg wanted to deny Coke for storm victims.
They can have a coke, but only a 16 oz! Don't be greedy!:D
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