Staten Island Hotel Refuses To Evict Storm Refugees For Visiting Marathoners

[Purveyor]

By David Ferguson
Friday, November 2, 2012 11:11 EDT

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.”

MORE...

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

[drm604]

1. Why wasn't this Marathon cancelled?

[MADem]

2. The old "we can do anything" bravado, I guess. nt

[aristocles]

3. Cancel this Marathon n/t

[MADem]

4. They should grab a CRUISE SHIP that is between runs.

Park it at the damn pier, and use that as a hotel for the marathoners.

DUH. Simple. Problem solved.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

13. That's not how it works with cruise ships

I've been on too many to count. The ships have a very short turnaround time between trips, usually about 6-8 hours.

[Horse with no Name]

18. Actually cruise ships were chartered for the refugees of Hurricane Katrina

so yes, it can be how it works.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9188316/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/cruise-ships-chartered-hurricane-refugees/#.UJPukWez6XE

Federal officials are chartering three of Carnival Cruise Lines' ships for six months, part of a plan to provide shelter for as many as 7,000 people displaced by devastating Hurricane Katrina.

The three ships — the Ecstasy, Sensation and Holiday — will be pulled from regular use starting Monday.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

23. Sigh.....I know this

But that only happens IF THE CRUISE LINE TAKES THEM OUT OF SERVICE.

I've seen nothing to indicate the industry leaders -- Carnival and Royal Caribbean -- have volunteered to do this or have been asked to by the federal government.

The other poster was implying there was all this time "between runs", whatever that means. As if it was days, not hours. That is not the case.

[MADem]

35. It is when they are preparing one to go to overhaul. Or one that is coming out.

Find out what's going in/coming out of the rehab facility in Freeport Bahamas--and snap that up.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=521

Alternatively, find a heated warehouse, grab some office partitions, grab cots, grab a ton of porta potties and construction showers wired in to hot and cold water, set up a bathing/crapping corner, set up a mess area in the opposite corner, and give that to either runners or disaster workers or what have you.

So long as people are warm, have a place to eat, and have a place to grab a shower, they're OK. This can be done with heavy duty tents, too, but since there's a nor'easter out there heading this way next Wednesday, I'd think that something a bit harder is a better bet.

[MADem]

20. Grab one that is getting ready to be overhauled.

Push back the overhaul a week or three and use it as a hotel--this is what they were going to do at the GOP convention, only weather made it unnecessary. I'm betting they can find one if they look.

Or, do what they did with the TS KENNEDY, only use a USNR vessel. KENNEDY is the training vessel for the MA Maritime Academy, and it is headed down to NJ to house FEMA and other rescue/recovery/disaster assessment people.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

26. The overhauls (dry docks) are usually not done in the US

Many/most are done in the Bahamas or other places in the world, not the US. In some cases they are done at the original ship builder which is going to be Italy or Germany.

[MADem]

28. Like I said, get one that is going but hasn't gotten there yet.

This is easily and often done. Also, full time, purpose built charter ships are available.

Examples:
http://www.smallshipcruises.com/corporategroupcharter.html

http://landrykling.com/cruise-event-success-stories/dockside-charters-and-global-events/

It's not rocket science.

USN did something similar during the Indonesia tragedy. It's simply a matter of will, identifying the need, and getting on the phone and making the deal.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

33. I'll predict cruise ships will not be used to house storm victims

There were many problems with the way that was handled during Katrina. W's govt. was criticized for overpaying to use the ships and the company (Carnival) was reportedly not pleased with the condition of the ships after they were done being used for storm relief. There has to be some level of cooperation.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

21. Wow, great idea...

Granted, they can't just commandeer a ship but there's got to be at least one cruise ship company who would lend a ship just for the PR it would bring.

Although I'd like to see a company step up and do it for the people who lost their homes on Staten Island; at least until the whole marathon thing is over and there are hotels available to them...then it would be cool if the hotels would let them stay there at an extremely reduced rate or if FEMA subsidized the rooms.

[MADem]

31. The kids who lived on the KENNEDY moved ashore and doubled up to offer their ship

to NJ for their rescue/FEMA people to live on.

Surely King's Point Maritime Academy in NY has a training vessel? They should get that thing down to the city and do the same thing--the berths aren't gorgeous, but they're sufficient, they're warm, and there's hot water and a mess where people can grab some food.

People need to think creatively in an emergency. Figure out what the need is, and make it happen. I've had some experience doing this kind of shit--who knew a bowling alley and a cafeteria could "work" as emergency shelter with the addition of a couple hundred cots?

A riff on the (sponsored by TIDE) "Loads of Hope" truck (washers and dryers on a flatbed) would help people too--nothing like clean clothes to lift spirits. Red Cross needs to get their asses into the worst-hit areas and start doing a regular feeding schedule, too--three meals a day and sandwiches, plenty of water, coffee, tea, and milk and juice for the kiddies, too.

[malaise]

5. Bravo

Charity begins at home

[yesphan]

6. Good on the Hotel owners.

[mil_5529dem]

32. +100

They did the right thing IMO. The refugees were there first.

[Greybnk48]

7. Let the Mayor put them up in the Mansion.

The displaced people need a warm, dry place to stay.

[hockeynut57]

8. one more small business owner putting priorities before profit this is why we are a great country n

[NCTraveler]

39. Where does it say he is not profiting. nt.

[hockeynut57]

41. my assumption, but

lots of hotels jack up prices for special events

[TBF]

9. The marathon should've been re-scheduled -

crazy to focus on a frivolous activity when folks are in need of food and shelter due to a natural disaster. I say this as someone who ran hundreds of road races and finished 2 marathons in my younger (and healthier) days. Of course they will be disappointed, I would be too, but there are priorities.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Correct decision

[jumptheshadow]

11. Yep, they're correct, the marathoners will take care of themselves

And they will share this piece of history among themselves for years.

[Horse with no Name]

12. Bless this man with moral kindness. n/t

[txdemsftw]

14. I'm a runner

and I cannot imagine even entertaining the idea of going ahead with the race when there are so many more important things going on right now. And I certainly wouldn't expect someone displaced due to the storm to give up their hotel room so that I can run in a race?!

I know the New York Marathon is a HUGE deal to road racers..I get it. But, seriously. Re-scheduling isn't the end of the damn world and life does go on. The people suffering there deserve FIRST priority. Period.

[leveymg]

16. If the proceeds go to help the people there, go ahead and run the race as scheduled.

Presumably, anyone who's fit enough to run a marathon could sleep in a tent for one night, if they have to.

[txdemsftw]

19. ...

Yes, but the same money could be raised in another week or two if the marathon was re-scheduled to focus on the storm victims.

[leveymg]

27. Runners are coming in from all over the world. Difficult to reschedule for many.

It's not just the venue.

[Redford]

36. Well, they need to change their schedules

I have no sympathy right now for the people from other countries that may be inconvenienced. My sympathies lie with the displaced people who are hungry.

[leveymg]

44. How is cancelling the event going to feed the hungry? If proceeds go to aid the victims, why cancel

or delay the event? That makes absolutely no sense.

[NYC Liberal]

38. "Difficult to reschedule" - And what about all the residents who are now homeless,

even if temporarily? They don't have the option to "reschedule" their homelessness.

[leveymg]

43. How is cancelling the event going to make anyone not homeless? If proceeds go the victims, what's

wrong with letting the marathon go on, as scheduled?

[NYC Liberal]

45. Limited resources being diverted, hotels being occupied by displaced residents,

the disruption of travel -- to name a few.

The marathon is highly disruptive as it is on a normal day. It's almost impossible to get around the city. With huge portions of the public transportation system, this will make things even worse.

There's no reason it can't be postponed.

[leveymg]

46. I understand what you're saying, but provided no residents get displaced, and $ go to help them,

this looks like a win-win. The event lasts for about 4 hours. If funds are raised and distributed to help the people in the area, I can't help but conclude that it's a net plus for everyone. It would be even better if some of the athletes and the organizers get personally involved with the community and the recovery - that could lead to some really good long-term benefits.

[Robb]

15. They aren't *giving* these rooms away, are they?

I presume the "local refugees" are paying to stay at the Hilton. Nice courtesy from the hotel to let them stay in lieu of checking in their existing reservations, but this isn't exactly an exceptional act of charity here.

[Purveyor]

17. The next time I visit NYC, I will go out of my way to stay at the "Hilton Garden Inn". eom

[Third Doctor]

22. I'm glad to hear this.

After Katrina the local hotels in my area evicted refugees for the football crowd. That was just awful, they treat football like a damned religion while saying they are good christians.

[RagAss]

24. Throw them out in the streets !!!...LET MY PEOPLE RUN !!!!

[AngryAmish]

25. What a heartless bastard

Doesn't he know that housing marathon runners is so much more important than putting a roof over the heads OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR MOTHERFUCKING HOMES DESTROYED BY A GODAMN HURRICANE!\

It is much more important to have people run through a disaster zone.

[quinnox]

29. WTF?

A hotel owner with a conscience? Where did he come from in todays America? This guy is as rare as a Unicorn.

This is kind of shocking, I would have expected the stranded folks to be told to get the hell out of there. Welcome to America.

[BainsBane]

30. Bloomberg needs to cancel that race

It's just stupid. The city can't afford the resources for something so trivial.

[Vox Moi]

34. At least someone has their priorities straight ... and it isn't the Mayor

The rationale for holding the Marathon is that it will pump millions into the local economy.
This is typical for so many Mayors who seem to think that their cities are some sort of amusement park.
Memo to Mayors:
Cities are places where people live and work. The first order of business the the well being of the citizens of your city. 'Pumping Money Into The Local Economy' is another of those untested, manna-from-out-of-town assumptions you make in order to justify using your city as some sort of storefront display to entice tourists, shoppers and hotel guests from out of town for the benefit of big downtown retail interests.
Oh, yes, the upside is easy to understand for politicians: visitors pay lots of taxes but don't require a lot of city services and can't vote or complain: almost perfect citizens.

[liberalhistorian]

37. The angry marathoners sound like they graduated

from the Ayn Rand School of Life Management: Get mine and fuck everyone else.

[NCTraveler]

40. This article shows no proof that there are angry marathoners.

Looks like the news is trying to make the news again. Not uncommon.

[oneshooter]

42. Why can't the runners stay in FEMA trailers?