Staten Island hotel refuses to evict storm refugees for visiting marathoners

[meegbear]

Source: Rawstory.com

The owner of the Staten Island, New York’s Hilton Garden Inn is refusing to evict local refugees from Hurricane Sandy, even though his decision has drawn fire from marathoners who made reservations to stay and run the 43rd annual ING New York City Marathon this weekend.

"How do I tell people who have no place to go, that have no home, no heat, that you have to leave because I have to make room for somebody that wants to run the marathon?" asked hotel owner Richard Nicotra. "I can’t do that," he said.

Mary Wittington, the president of the New York Road Runners, the group is sponsoring the marathon, agrees that displaced New Yorkers should take precedence over visiting runners.

"Marathoners will find a way," she said in an interview. "They’re coming here now in support."

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/02/staten-island-hotel-refuses-to-evict-storm-refugees-for-visiting-marathoners/

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[speedoo]

1. A couple of people exercising some common sense.

Well done.

[msrizzo]

2. Awesome! nt

[shawn703]

3. Drawing fire from marathoners

Probably just those marathoners cast from the same Randian mold as Lyin' Ryan.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Seriously, what the f*** do the marathoners expect? It's a national tragedy.

[liberal N proud]

5. Good, these people need a warm place to stay until they can get other accommodations.

Screw the runners.

[Jimbo S]

20. OK, say someone had a room booked

now they show up in town and they have no place to stay. What to do?

[liberal N proud]

21. Considering the circumstances, they should have called.

I have done this when traveling somewhere that has experienced extraordinary events prior to my trip.

It is always good to confirm reservations last minute any time.

[qanda]

6. Why isn't the marathon being cancelled?

Ridiculous!

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Because Bloomberg just bought a new fiddle and is eager to play it.

[bluemarkers]

14. corporate sponsors will lose money

can't have that....

ING major sponsor

why don't they just run a half marathon around Central Park, or wait a few weeks, or a year?

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Apparently marathon organization has insurance, I read.

[bluemarkers]

16. and they will be using it

finally, cancelled

Seriously, I think everyone was in shock and not thinking clearly about the marathon.

[LiberalElite]

17. It has been

Bloomberg cancelled it a few hours ago. The outrage was spreading. I'm a New Yorker who doesn't find too much to applaud about the mayor many call "King Mike", but I'd give him a standing ovation for doing this.

[qanda]

19. Yes, this was a good decision

Probably should have been called off sooner but better late than never.

[NYC Liberal]

7. Another reason why the marathon needs to be postponed!

You just know too many hotels WILL kick homeless (at least temporarily) people out. Postpone the marathon so that doesn't need to happen.

[tblue37]

8. This was quoted in one of the comments on the article:

FROM THE COMMENT: Here's another runner, showing that not everyone who was planning on running shares that mentality, Penny Krakoff's statement:

"I cannot start a 26.2 mile run in Staten Island—people are missing, stranded, in need of resources. Brooklyn and Queens have equal devastation. Parts of Manhattan are without electricity, water, major hospitals are closed. The Bronx too has its own challenges. Today I will volunteer at a city evacuation shelter. Sunday morning I will catch the marathon bus to Staten Island. Not planning to run. Plan to volunteer instead and gather resources (extra clothes, bottles of water, food from runners at the start). Let's not waste resources and attention on a foot race. Who is with me?"

[groundloop]

10. Hell, just postpone the race two weeks....

I know some runners would be inconvenienced, but residents there are far worse than inconvenienced right now.

[dgraz007]

11. SCREW THE DAMN RUNNERS!

THE DAMN RACE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE GOING ON!

[Dont call me Shirley]

12. Those who have (such as Bloomberg) need to offer up their own guest rooms for the runners.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. Faith in humanity RESTORED!

[LiberalElite]

18. Absolutely positively the right thing to do! n/t