The blizzard that topped off the approaching end of 2010 was a big one, to say the least. Kicking off the day after Christmas, the storm brought 5-foot-high snowdrifts, 50-mph winds, and the rare occurrence of a “thundersnow” storm that ultimately resulted in major transportation issues and the utter immobilization of New York City, Wired magazine reports.
However, one thing the snow storm showed us was the power, even the necessity, of social media, like Twitter, during emergencies and crisis. The perfect example? Mayor Cory Booker of Newark New Jersey.
Though the storm earned Twitter hashtags like #snowmagedon and #snowpocalypse, Mayor Booker found a more productive use of his Twitter page that boasts over 1 million followers. Booker, becoming known as the Mayor of Twitter, took to his Tweets and then to the streets directly communicating with thousands of stranded residents and then personally responding o any dire needs or requests. He repeatedly asked the people of Newark, a city with a population of about 280,000, to DM (Direct Message) him their phone numbers if they had problems.
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Running around Newark on only Diet Coke and Advil, the Mayor turned social-media superhero has been helping to plow streets, dig out cars and help people in trouble. That’s right, specific people, one by one. Scrolling down his Twitter page, his responses are to various users who were calling out for help, to which he responded by either sending people to help or showing up himself.
In one Tweet, he responds to a woman’s request for diapers for her sister who could not leave the house and then personally delivered them:
“I’m delivering the diapers now. We will get her street soon RT @tmhester: @CoryBooker Highland Ave b/w My sis can’t get out to get diapers.”
Another instance showed a stream of Tweets where Booker scorned one resident who complained that he was stuck to which the mayor responded, requesting his phone number. Shortly thereafter Booker Tweeted that he was there to help. However, at the same time, the original tweeter was cursing on his Twitter wondering if the mayor would really show up. In response, Mayor Booker called him out:
“Wow u should be ashamed of yourself. U tweet vulgarities & then I come out here to help & its ur mom & sis digging. Where r u?”
The man eventually appeared and the two worked it out. If that doesn’t impress you, Booker even had time to Tweet philosophical sentiments as he raced from crisis to crisis.
“Here is to the lesson of Snowflakes: Individually beautiful yet fragile. But look how strong they are when they all stick together!”
Many have complained that his Twitter triumph is nothing more than a publicity stunt, and to an extent it is. One very effective and admirable publicity stunt. Say what you want about the man’s politics but the Mayor’s hands on approach and presence on the front lines of a city burdened and buried in the snow shows not only the importance of politicians making personal connections with the community but the importance of using any means possible of doing so, even Tweets.
“I hope more elected officials discover the power of Twitter,” Booker told TIME. “It truly is an effective way to connect with the body politic.” Then he was off — to shovel more snow.
