Update: The New York Times is reporting that the marathon will not be held Sunday.

Original Text: In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy New York City (and its fellow East Coast cities) is struggling to recover from the devastation the storm wrought. And now a battle is brewing between two camps, both of which want to see the city’s hurricane victims helped wherever they need it most. The fight is centered on Mayor Bloomberg and the city’s announcement that the NYC Marathon will go on as planned this Sunday.

On one side, opponents of the Bloomberg administration’s decision to hold the marathon say the city should be dedicating all available resources to restoring power in hard-hit areas like Staten Island and bringing supplies to those in need, instead of closing down streets and using city employees like the NYPD to run the show. Some critics are suggesting that it’s all about money and keeping the corporate sponsors of the marathon happy, and that’s why the city wants the show to go on.

“The prudent course of action here — postpone the marathon, come back a different day,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer told the TODAY show. “Our first priority, let’s help people who lost their homes, who are missing loved ones.”

Then on the other side, Bloomberg says that holding the marathon will not divert any of those resources from the people who are relying on them to get through these tough times. He announced in a press conference today that the New York City Road Runners would be asking marathon participants to each donate at least $26.20 to go toward the relief effort. Yesterday he also stressed the effect the marathon has on the local economy.

“The bottom line is, some people said you shouldn’t run the marathon,” he said. “There are an awful lot of small businesses that depend on these people.”

It’s a difficult, complicated issue, to be sure. Which is why we want to know what you think:

New York City Marathon to Be Run as Scheduled Amid Storm Cleanup [Bloomberg News]
Backlash erupts as New York City prepares for marathon [NBC News]

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