Newark Mayor Cory Booker has been getting personally involved in the fight to clear his city out from the recent blizzard and is using Twitter to respond to individual cries for help.
“Thanks to the Nwk heroes who helped us get this ambulance unstuck to get to the dialysis patient. Real inspiring ppl here at Cottage place,” Booker said in one tweet Tuesday.
Booker, 41, has over a million followers on the microblogging site. In an interview with Yahoo Tuesday, Booker said that Twitter has been “very, very helpful” in coping with the blizzard. “It expands my ability to make a positive impact on my constituents and meet the needs of the city,” he added.
MAYOR CALLS ON NEW YORKERS TO ‘BE PATIENT’
FURY AS CITY IS PARALYZED BY BLIZZARD
“Just doug (sic) a car out on Springfield Ave and broke the cardinal rule: ‘Lift with your Knees!!’ I think I left part of my back back there,” Booker said in another tweet.
Booker has won high marks for his hands-on response to the blizzard, which has included digging out multiple vehicles and even delivering diapers to one needy resident.
“God Bless the 5 guys who just stopped to help me dig a van out. I am so grateful for all of Newark’s heroes today,” he wrote in another tweet.
Booker has been sending messages non-stop via the service ever since Sunday’s blizzard blanketed the East Coast. The Democratic mayor — who has held office since 2006 – has even asked his followers to send him direct messages on the service when they are in need of help.
“I will address both issues,” Booker told one resident who used Twitter to complain that “Irving Ave has not been plowed and these people at Newark sanitation are rude over the phone.”
Booker also takes time to tweet encouraging messages to Newark residents to ask them to help and join in the fight against Mother Nature.
“Another difficult and sloppy day. Please watch out for your neighbor, lend a hand to someone. We are still working all over the city,” he said in one typical tweet.
The message didn’t work on everyone.
“just seen @CoryBooker bald head on South Orange ave pushn cars ! lmao,” tweeted one resident.
“And u didn’t stop and help me?” Booker fired back.
One resident complained that Booker was doing such a good job of snow removal that it was robbing him of a day off due to the weather.
“I’m upset that @CoryBooker has these plows working so hard. I’m going to HAVE to go to work tomorrow,” the user wrote.
“Lol, that is my goal!” Booker replied.