Mayor Bloomberg: New York Marathon Canceled

Just hours after saying that the New York Marathon would go on as scheduled this Sunday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reversed course as tensions in parts of New York City continue to escalate while conditions deteriorate as a result of damage sustained by Hurricane Sandy. “We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it,” Bloomberg said. “We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track.” Now that’s some right thinking. [NBC News]