This article is more than 13 years old. See today’s top stories here.

An Open Letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg

My windows face Central Park West and I feel sick. As far as I can see, massive trucks are assembling to serve the Marathon scheduled for Sunday. I also hear that a priority now is to empty the water in a tunnel needed for the race. A priority?
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Workers assemble the finish line for the New York City Marathon in New York's Central Park, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The 43rd New York City Marathon is on Sunday, with many logistical questions to be answered. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)Workers assemble the finish line for the New York City Marathon in New York's Central Park, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The New York City Marathon is on Sunday, with many logistical questions to be answered. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Workers assemble the finish line for the New York City Marathon in New York's Central Park, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The 43rd New York City Marathon is on Sunday, with many logistical questions to be answered. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)Workers assemble the finish line for the New York City Marathon in New York's Central Park, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The New York City Marathon is on Sunday, with many logistical questions to be answered. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Dear Mr. Mayor,

My windows face Central Park West and I feel sick.

Up CPW, as far as I can see, massive trucks are assembling to serve the Marathon scheduled for Sunday. I also hear that a priority now is to empty the water in a tunnel needed for the race. A priority? How many of our police, how may generators are being used so they can assist at a race? A race instead of aiding people who are in dire need of their services?

A RACE?

I read that you and the CEOs of corporations sponsoring the Marathon feel it will "show" how resilient we are. Resilient? What, in truth, are we showing? Where are our values?

I'm sure there is a great deal of money involved. I'm sure some, perhaps many, people who might need the money generated by the Marathon would want/need it to take place. And it's not that I don't feel for them. But measured against the enormous suffering that we have all seen during these last days, how can that compete?

Please, Mr. Bloomberg. I think you've been a great mayor and I will be sorry to see you leave office. Don't have this be a part of your legacy.

Yours truly,

Joyce Ashley

Close

What's Hot