The mayor was trashed in the press for devoting resources to the race while hurricane victims suffered.
Despite Mayor Bloomberg’s insistence that it would boost both morale and business, the New York City Marathon has been canceled.
Plans to continue the annual race this Sunday in the wake of the storm’s deadly devastation drew intense criticism in recent days.
Bloomberg finally caved to the overwhelming sentiment, as officials announced early Friday evening that the race is off.
In a statement, Bloomberg said the marathon had become a “source of controversy and division.”
The marathon had been held every year since 1970, including in 2001, two months after the 9/11 attacks.
After cancellation, marathon runners are urged to donate their hotel rooms to those displaced by #sandy: race2recover.com
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) November 2, 2012