Gas Leak Update, Kinda

Mayor Bloomberg has just given a press conference addressing the mysterious gaseous odor that has been blanketing a vast portion of the city and parts of New Jersey since this morning. He noted that natural gas does not have an odor but that Methyl Mercaptan is added to it so that if there were to be a leak, it would be detectable. He asserted that it is quite likely that it is a leak of this additive that we’re smelling, and not an actual gas leak because, “Air sensors don’t report any unusual levels of gas in the air.”

Bloomberg also reported that there was a small gas leak at Bleecker and 6th, but not one large enough to account for such a pervasive smell. He added that such small leaks happen not infrequently and that Con Ed fixes them without mishap. Despite his lack of information, Bloomberg was very clear on one point, “One thing we are very confident of is that it is not dangerous.” Many buildings that had been evacuated are now being reoccupied, as are some MTA stops that had been closed. He also reported that an unusual amount of 911 calls were taken for a Monday morning (you think?), but not too many to handle. The most exciting part of the press conference was when the mayor got a little snippy with some of the press, informing them that he can only supply what little facts they know and that they can basically make up whatever they want if they so choose. Ouch.