MIchael Bloomberg and Marie Antoinette

When Mayor Bloomberg announced earlier in the week that the New York City Marathon would proceed this weekend as scheduled, all I think of was Marie Antoinette. Although the entire lower part of Manhattan was still without electric, although sections of the city were decimated, although bodies were still be recovered, he thought the race would boost the spirits of New Yorkers. He thought that maybe some spandex suited yuppie in expensive sneakers would somehow console the residents of Staten Island's east shore, where a whole neighborhood was destroyed, and over twenty people perished. The citizens of Queens, where 80 houses were burned to the ground, could certainly take pride in the resiliency of New York. Canceling the race isn't good enough, he should visit Staten Island and apologize.