New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says Sunday?s marathon won?t divert resources from victims of Superstorm Sandy?s devastation.
Bloomberg responded to criticism of his decision to hold the race at a news briefing Thursday. He notes that electricity is expected to be back on in downtown Manhattan by Sunday, freeing up an ?enormous number of police.?
He says the sanitation workers and fire fighters who are aiding storm victims are not involved in the marathon. Race organizers have said they?ll use more private contractors than in past years to minimize the strain on city services.
Bloomberg says ?this city is a city where we have to go on.?
Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro slammed the Mayor when speaking to ABC News.
The race?s staging area is on Staten Island and Molinaro said it would be ?crazy, asinine,? to have the race after what has happened.
?My God. What we have here is terrible, a disaster,? Molinaro said Wednesday. ?If they want to race, let them race with themselves. This is no time for a parade. A marathon is a parade. Now is the time to put your shoulder to the wheel. If they want to prepare for something, let them prepare for the election, not a marathon.?
?Do you realize how many police officers you need for a marathon?? he asked. ?There are people looting stores on Midland Avenue. There is looting taking place in the homes on the South Shore that were destroyed. That is where we need the police.?
The residents of Staten Island are pleading for help from elected officials, begging for gasoline, food and clothing three days after Sandy slammed the New York City borough.
?We?re going to die! We?re going to freeze! We got 90-year-old people!? Donna Solli told visiting officials. ?You don?t understand. You gotta get your trucks down here on the corner now. It?s been three days!?
Staten Island was one of the hardest-hit communities in New York City. More than 80,000 residents are still without power. Many are homeless, and at least 19 people died on Staten Island because of the storm.
One of the devastated neighborhoods was overwhelmed by a violent surge of water. Residents described a super-sized wave as high as 20 feet, with water rushing into the streets like rapids.
(AP / ABC News)
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