NY Post
Marathon canceled but generators still sit unused in NYC park
Larry Gold, 61, of Rockaway Park, who has difficulty breathing, can’t use his oxygen tank without electricity.
“I need power to breathe,’’ he said.
“Right now all I can do is sit outside my house and pray that they bring us a generator.’’
A marathon security worker still working yesterday from a generator-powered trailer in the park, said the power sources had not been moved to devastated areas of the city because of an impromptu race run by marathon holdovers in the park.
“Once we found out they’d still be running a marathon, we had to call all the towing vendors and tell them they couldn’t come,” he said.
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Maybe the City needs to hire 20 more people to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Oil Can on November 5, 2012 at 4:03 PM
“Let that be a lesson to you peasants not to question your betters.” –Emperor Bloomberg, from his Bermuda estate
Fabozz on November 5, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Union workers are sifting through union rules before contacting union bosses for instructions on which union to deliver them to.
Limerick on November 5, 2012 at 4:04 PM
May bloomberg and his whole bunch have a special ‘place set aside for them’ in the afterlife with this mess they are doing?
I am so sorry to read things like this, it breaks my heart.
L
letget on November 5, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Uhm… why? The marathon was canceled. Did someone authorize them starting it up again? If not, then the answer should have been, “you can run all you want, but the generators won’t be here.”
Shump on November 5, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Unbelievable.
And I can’t decide which is worse…that runners are being this dense and tonedeaf or that the people in charge of the generators catered to them.
James on November 5, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Bloomberg: “Psych!”
apostic on November 5, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Obama’s Katrina.
RedNewEnglander on November 5, 2012 at 4:13 PM
The only difference between this and Katrina is
a) Katrina’s aftermath wasn’t handled this poorly and
b) the media isn’t determined to ruin Baraka Obama
Other than that – the two situations are pretty much identical.
CycloneCDB on November 5, 2012 at 4:15 PM
The cluelessness of these people is just staggering. As soon as the marathon was called off they should moved the generators to some type of large facility, done the wiring to hook into the facility and run them as emergency centers.
You want to have a marathon of your own? Fine. You don’t get to use extra equipment that could be better used in a disaster area. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a bunch of people running around.
Mitoch55 on November 5, 2012 at 4:15 PM
fify
faraway on November 5, 2012 at 4:17 PM
BIC is flying in ten quadrillion lighters from China.
Limerick on November 5, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Oh great, the Post said where the unused generators are sitting….
Now the Mafia will nab them and those will be in a Chicago warehouse by Wednesday.
viking01 on November 5, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Where’s the Staten Island Fairy?
faraway on November 5, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Hoffa, you magnificent bastad!
Limerick on November 5, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Is he talking about when the decision was still up in the air or is talking about the runners who still did a run to deliver goods to the victims? And while FEMA didn’t stage any bottled water, is that the case of the marathon coordinators? I’m thinking there might be a bottle or two already there for use.
Cindy Munford on November 5, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Who’s in charge here? Go get the darn things and tell the runners tough beans.
kim roy on November 5, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Anything except this would be news.
Government = Still meeting expectations
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Meanwhile, back at Gracie Manor, Mayor Nanny State is taking another hit from his platinum plated bong…
Gohawgs on November 5, 2012 at 4:28 PM
I have to ask what good these generators will do the residents. I doubt they can power up homes as that would make it a really dangerous situation with downed wires etc. They could be used for add-hock shelters but it sounds like people expect them to power up their homes.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Where to start. If the Mayor isn’t down there with a print out of this NY Post story and rigs within the hour…
NickelAndDime on November 5, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Fridge, small heater, and a light bulb would be helpful.
faraway on November 5, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Since there is no optimal purpose, don’t even try.
I’ve heard that recently….I can’t put my finger on it…
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 4:42 PM
Don’t put words in my mouth it makes you out to be a jerk.
I asked a legit question on what value they where. Everyone is jumping on the fact the generators are not where they are needed. How big are they? What can they power? Who decides who gets one of these 3 generators. There are no facts here as to the capabilities of the generators and how they can be used. Every article seems to imply that the people in need expect their neighborhoods to be powered up. Are these generators capable of doing that? Is it safe to attempt that or are we going to get stories of people killed because of downed lines now powered up. There is a lot more to this then just Bloomberg bashing but that is all it seems people here care about.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 4:54 PM
If you needed power to breath wouldn’t it be a good idea to buy your own generator just in case?
What was he expecting? A Fedex delivery from FEMA in the middle of a hurricane?
Any bets on whether or not Larry votes Democrat?
MHatch on November 5, 2012 at 5:01 PM
To who? As I said above who decides who gets these generators? How are kept running? Who provides the fuel? Are they just given to a resident in need and that’s it? Who provides the training to the resident on operation and safety. Is the city libel when a resident kills themselves or others with the generator?
I’m not saying these generators can’t be useful. I just asking how.
But if it makes you all happy to think I’m an a-hole for asking then I’m glad I provided some people at least a little happiness.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Hey Bloomberg?
There’s still plenty of New York bridges/ high rises. There’s still time for you to do the right thing here.
If you need help with your courage, just remember not to look down.
Hawkins1701 on November 5, 2012 at 5:07 PM
I’m a jerk. No shame in that (I’m not the one who thought running a marathon while just across the river people were trying to survive was a good idea…up until somebody pointed out that it wasn’t a good idea). Running or not running that race will have absolutely no effect on the plight of those harmed by the storm. Zero.
And while your questions are good ones, they are completely irrelevant. It matters not one whit whether or not those generators can actually be hooked up to provide some needed service.
Although, the ingenuity of the American citizens is not to be discounted. What are the odds that if a large generator was plopped down in the middle of the devastation, within hours someone has figured out to put it to use?
I’d say about 100%. But until it gets there, there is 0% chance that it can happen. And even if they can’t get it in service, they will appreciate the effort and the chance to try.
Generator on site = WIN.WIN.WIN.
Do you see the difference?
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Bob’s comment was a sideways poke at another poster who’s basic position elsewhere was if you couldn’t fix something completely, don’t bother doing anything.
(1) According to news reports, the generators could power approximately 400 homes.
(2) The generators are privately owned – rented by the NY Road Runners club. However, any emergency response official worth his salt would offer compensation to re-rent from the club and owners. And if they refuse, tell them to go put on CNN and watch the city put on a press conference telling the world exactly who wouldn’t rent the generators to the city.
(3) Entirely possible. Although impractical. Transmission from the generators to the homes would be problematic with possible downed wires, blown transformers, etc. However, they can be wired into schools, churches, community centers, etc. to power them as shelters.
Mitoch55 on November 5, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Actually, my comment was an upper-cut to the jaw of the federal government, who decided that the consulate in Benghazi wasn’t worth the effort to save it or the people there.
Didn’t have enough info to send in a rescue; People were murdered.
vs.
How big are they? What can they power? Who decides who gets one of these 3 generators. There are no facts here as to the capabilities of the generators and how they can be used. Every article seems to imply that the people in need expect their neighborhoods to be powered up. Are these generators capable of doing that? Is it safe to attempt.
I don’t see a difference.
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Come an’ get ‘em?
Ward Cleaver on November 5, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Not at my schools you won’t!
To take the school off line and install the necessary hookup would be a major undertaking.
If a school is set up with a generator then it is possible, but few are, and the costs associated with having a generator on site is very high.
Having lived through a major disaster I can tell you temp power is never hooked into a grid that was not designed for emergency power.
MHatch on November 5, 2012 at 5:28 PM
This is interesting. I live in a rural county in Virginia, and every one of our public schools has a permanently installed generator. Maybe some jurisdictions are better planners than others? We don’t have unionized school systems, either.
Just sayin’.
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 5:40 PM
To equate my concerns for safety private citizens to the administration’s handling of Benghazi is, well I don’t have the words except yeah, you’re a jerk.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 5:53 PM
I read last week in the Post they are 800 megawats and each one could power 400 homes.
tommyboy on November 5, 2012 at 5:56 PM
It’s not really complicated.
The generators need to be moved to power up as many critical resources as possible, like:
* Hospitals
* Grocery Stores
* Emergency Shelters – including emergency power to support medical devices.
* Gas Stations
Any application which does not support life support, like a marathon, needs to relinquish its generation facilities IMMEDIATELY. Cops, National Guard, and military should already be on the ground enforcing this and commandeering these resources.
The true colors of Bloomberg and his band of incompetents have been exposed. It will take a Giuliani to repair the damage to NYC.
Note that NJ does not have a problem with non-union help to restore power (Christie solved it immediately by threatening any union obstructionists with dire consequences), but NYC cannot seem to correct this problem. The rage in Staten Island and coastal NYC will grow as they see NJ locations recover, while New Yorkers languish and die due to stupidity, wrong-headedness, and deadly Liberalism.
landlines on November 5, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Thanks for the info. Those are pretty big generators but as you pointed out in number 3 even though they could be power 400 homes there would be massive safety concerns. It seems like the best option would be to setup shelters of some sort. If a building wasn’t designed to be powered via a backup generation it would be pretty difficult to change it now. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t use the building and run portable heating and lighting into it.
Your number 2 point. I would think that the city would have the legal right to take them for the duration of the emergency and pay compensation after the fact.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Well said and I agree completely especially where the unions are concerned. I’m surprised that the governor has not stepped in and overridden Bloomberg on that, the Guard and many other things. Bloomberg has shown that he cannot handle this type of emergency.
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 6:09 PM
That’s why you don’t hook it into the grid. You disconnect from the grid and wire into the building feed itself. And yes, it can be done. By any licensed, certified electrician.
Mitoch55 on November 5, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Hmmmmm….that was not my intent at all. Apologies.
My intent was to illuminate the need to try. If my life, or a member of my family, was given a 10% chance of success by trying something, I’ll the chance.
Where is the decision line between trying to do something or not? Mine is way down at the bottom. You can rest assured that if someone tells me the chances of saving Mr. Enstine are 5-10%, I’m taking the chance.
And I’ll do it before flying off to Vegas.
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 6:24 PM
I don’t mind tellling you that you are being ridiculous. You could have easily read about this issue before popping-off like cheap-champagne.
You’re imagining somebody with a five-gallon gascan fueling a generator that might power a household. Get real. Do you understand the scope of thousands of runners and hundreds of thousands of people?
The generators are not like the ones used to light your outhouse or two-door shack. They are huge. They are powerful enough to run a small neighborhood.
Capitalist Hog on November 5, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Why don’t you start now? Think.
Capitalist Hog on November 5, 2012 at 6:27 PM
FEMA is supposed to handle this but there is no follow through. What we have is a Charlie Foxtrot of lame ass bureaucrats all expecting someone else to handle things. Consequently no one handles anything.
dogsoldier on November 5, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Apology accepted and I better understand your point now..
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Unfortunately, the neighborhood electrical infrastructure is not designed to distribute power from a generator of any size, and odds are any above ground service equipment (power lines, etc.) are not usable (mostly because they’re on the ground).
Anyone suggesting these generators can be rolled up to a street corner and within a short time the power would be back on is wrong.
I’m suggesting that there are structures still standing and sound, and can provide shelter and other services if they had power. Schools, grocery stores, hotels, malls, etc. all can be used as shelters. And I mean a shelter, not a vacation spot until FEMA gets off its ass. Give me a generator and an electrician and we’ll get some power flowing somewhere.
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 6:32 PM
This. And its not complicated.
How many schools, fire houses, and hospitals still have those “Bomb Shelter” signs still bolted on the outside? Wouldn’t this qualify?
BobMbx on November 5, 2012 at 6:42 PM
Wow. I’m glad I had you to tell me what I was imagining. You’re a funny guy to. “popping-off like cheap-champagne”. Can I use that or is it copyrighted?
Insulting me by equating me to some sort of stereotype country hillbilly with an outhouse. Kind of fits in with that racist/bigot stereotype that liberals have of conservatives.
Well I do live in the country but I am a doctor with a background in mechanical and electrical engineering.
Huge. I’m not quite familiar with that technical term where generators are concerned. Let me try and wrap my hillbilly brain around it. I’m pretty sure it means real big. Right?
Frank Enstine on November 5, 2012 at 6:47 PM
Awww Cuddles gettin snippy.
Capitalist Hog on November 5, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Exactly.
I love hard-workers. I don’t give a crap about what you said. I can tell that you’re the type of guy that gets hired on the spot at many job sites.
Capitalist Hog on November 5, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Enjoyed the technical discussion, as emergency preparedness is an extremely important and under-served need at every level.
This gave me a laugh, envisioning some FEMA worker quaffing a mug full of Rhein wine as he tried to puzzle out an ad-hoc electrical work-around.
AesopFan on November 6, 2012 at 12:03 AM