The Newark, N.J., mayor has emerged as an online hero after he and his staff went around the city helping residents cope with the winter blast. Besides communicating with constituents on Twitter, Booker helped shovel snow and directed plows to congested areas.
Check out some of Booker's tweets that earned him a lot of kudos:
On it asap. RT @Sweet_D81: My street is covered nobody can get out 2 leave 4 work its been 2 days we need help (CRESCENT CT OFF STUY AVE)
Cory Booker
CoryBooker
You are welcome. Sorry no garbage tomorrow RT @NewYork2Newark: Thank You! Holland St. was plowed. Will garbage be picked up tomorrow?Cory Booker
CoryBooker
Sending team immediately back there 2 ensure hospital is clear RT @Babihead: still has yet to clean my street & I live across from hospital!Cory Booker
CoryBooker
The New York City mayor, on the other hand, hasn't emerged as a hero. In fact, Bloomberg has been hit by an avalanche of criticism over the Big Apple's slow cleanup efforts. And on top of that, Hizzoner hasn't exactly come across as the most empathetic person.
Here's what Bloomberg said on Monday (via The New York Times):
Check out some video of Bloomberg defending his administration's storm efforts:"The world has not come to an end," he said. "The city is going fine. Broadway shows were full last night. There are lots of tourists here enjoying themselves. I think the message is that the city goes on."
Now to be fair, New York City did get hammered with nearly 2 feet of snow. And Bloomberg did sound a little more understanding on Tuesday: "The fact remains that many New Yorkers are suffering serious hardships," he said, according to the Times.
But as you can imagine, New Yorkers haven't been exactly satisfied with the snowy state of their metropolis, especially when videos like this start flying around the Web:
(Warning: The clip contains explicit language)
Now contrast all of this with the snow-shoveling Booker, and you see quite a difference in how these two mayors weathered the storm. Watch the video, below, to see the Newark mayor in action:
Of course, Bloomberg isn't the only pol to draw fire over his actions, or lack thereof, regarding the latest snowmageddon. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has taken heat for being away on vacation, leaving a state senator in charge of the response because his second-in-command was gone too.
Surge Desk's advice to Bloomberg: The next time New York gets buried under snow, grab your shovel and start tweeting.
Follow Surge Desk on Twitter.
