Daniel Gross considers the logistics:
The marathon can?’t work without a fully functioning transit system. On no day in New York is the underground transportation system more vital. Several bridges are essentially closed for the day—the Verrazano-Narrows, the 59th Street Bridge, the Willis Avenue Bridge, and the Madison Avenue Bridge. In many areas of the city, it is impossible to get across certain streets above ground. And the street closures and huge concentrations of people in Manhattan have huge ripple effects. With the region?’s train and subway systems not yet completely operational, getting around will be very difficult for everybody, from? marathon runners and spectators to New Yorkers who have no interest in the race.
A reader writes:
I was happy to see you finally feature Staten Island on your blog. I have a good friend who lives out there and she says the devastation is unbelievable. She just about started crying when she found out that policemen were getting sent to supervise the marathon, while her own neighborhood is experiencing looting and with no one out patrolling the streets and with people from the area still missing.
I heard the Red Cross didn't get into Staten Island at all under yesterday, and she said she's personally seen no sign of them. My friend is okay – she's lucky, with minimal damage and power back on. But she's worried about her neighbors and I think we should be, too.
Another:
The next few days are crucial for Bloomberg, Cuomo, and even Obama to get ahead of this thing. If the marathon goes on and power is still not restored to most/all of NYC, there will be a backlash. People are starting to get pissed. And it's only the beginning. The next few days could be the difference between Sandy becoming another Katrina.
I know a lot of people read your blog. And people that have Obama's ear read your blog. You need to start a movement asking officials to postpone the marathon. Maybe it's too late. But it would be the wise and prudent thing to do.
Above image from Buzzfeed's collection of "21 Pictures Of Staten Island Near The NYC Marathon Starting Line." Earlier backlash here.
The Dish 