New Jersey mayor to embark on food stamp challenge Tuesday

Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker at a news conference in Newark, N.J., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. / AP Photo/Mike Derer

NEWARK, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker said he will live on food stamps for a week starting Tuesday.

Booker told The Associated Press on Thursday that he will honor the challenge he made to a Twitter follower earlier this month and try living on the monetary equivalent of food stamps for at least a week.

"December 4 to 11. Seven days," Booker said after the ribbon cutting for new loft apartments in Newark. He said he will be limited to $1.40 for each meal.

The North Carolina woman Booker challenged plans to accept, but she is not sure she will do it next week.

• Cory Booker plans to live off food stamps for one week

The woman, who uses the Twitter handle @MWadeNC and goes by the name TwitWit, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because she says she has received threats.

She said she is upset that Booker didn't consult with her before picking the dates. She said Booker sent her a tweet this week saying his staff would be in touch, but she has heard nothing since.

"I don't think it's fair to be challenged and just find out from the Internet when I'm supposed to take part," she said in a telephone interview. "I would have appreciated the consideration that I have a life as well."

Nevertheless, she said she will participate in the challenge for at least a week, possibly two.

The average monthly food stamp benefit was $133.26 per person in New Jersey in fiscal year 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As mayor, Booker makes about 100 times that amount, $13,400 a month.

Politicians and community leaders around the country have taken on similar challenges in recent years to highlight the difficulty of relying solely on government aid for nutrition.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady lived on food stamps for a week earlier this year, and the mayors of Las Vegas and Phoenix, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and the former governor of Oregon all did so within the past few years.

Most participated in the "Food Stamp Challenge," a program from the nonprofit Food Research and Action Center that gives out tools to help organizations and individuals live on a food stamp budget, typically for a week. It even developed a how-to-guide for members of Congress, which includes testimonials from eight politicians.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali and his family also did the challenge earlier this year. An AmeriCorps member serving as the community service coordinator at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut challenged her campus to try it for a week.

Booker, a prolific Twitter user who has 1.2 million followers, has said he wants the public to participate and on Thursday said he will soon announce a celebrity who will also take part.

The North Carolina woman said she thinks it would be "great" if high-profile people tried to live on the equivalent of food stamps.

"I think everybody should do this," she said.

[QueenOfThePen]

If he is serious about having a foodstamp experience, then Booker needs to live off them for at least six-months. One week does absolutely nothing! That's just a joke and a desire to make front page news. Shame on him! http://bitly.com/bundles/queenofthepen/3

[logictoo]

Since he doesn't actually need the food stamps he can sell them for $.50 on the $1.00. Very easy to do especially if he is living with a relative who is supporting him. If he has a dog and actually needs the food stamps he may have to feed the dog hamburger meat since you can't buy pet foods with food stamps.

[uscg97]

1 Week too short be a man! It has been a few years, but I had to recieve benefits earlier in my lfe and agree, if you are going to stand up to a challenge, make it a challenge. Those who know or live the food stamp benefit realize this one week challenge is bogus, we see folks in reality television living on the land for one week.

[binr]

One week is not an accurate representation. Anyone could do it for a week. But doing it for months or years....that's a different picture.

[champlin43]

Are you kidding most people on FS eat better than those of us that work. They load their carts up w/junk food,soada even candy as well as the few basics. and those of us who work for a living struggle to buy groceries for our families.

[Rod_Smith]

I'll second that sentiment. My last couple years of college, while my wife was staying home with our kids, we qualified for FS. We ate very well and made meals for friends on many occasions.

FS should not pay for junk food and soda. I'm sure there'll be some who won't like what gets defined as "junk food". The phrase "beggars can't be choosers" comes to mind. If you they don't like it, they can work, get paid, and buy whatever they want.

[Jona144]

Some abuse the system, yes. Some though are truley disabled and cannot work...would so much rather work than be "crippled" by medical malpractice "butcher" w/o reprieve. I have to live off $16 a month in assistance and don't eat junk, soda etc. Try to be vegan (but would get nearly nothing) and am very health conscious. With rent, utilities, non-stop increasing medical premiums and small supplemental income (in which I am thankful for the little), but there is little to nothing left for food. "Natural Remedies" are not acceptable means, so they push the pill madness that just makes you sicker. If you are severely disabled (not by fault of your own) and single (no kids), you are "cut-off" from receiving most help available in this country. They "system" is really messed up. As I stand in "free food lines...which is embarrassing enough (people are drinking $5 starbucks drinks and cookies...so they don't need it too bad) as I was very self-sufficient and owned my own business..." to receive "basics", it is usually a waste of time as I cannot (or will not) eat most junk that is available...Yes, be thankful for anything, but, if the food will make you sicker or kill you...what is the point. Most foods in their "natural" form are not available... mainly, "processed, GMO + hidden poisons on the label" and other items that I either cannot eat (because of known harmful effects and conscience) or will not, because of other obvious reasons. How does the truly needy get help when the "majority" have abused the system...You have to have KIDS to BENEFIT from almost any program or OVER THE AGE of 65. The younger disabled (mine by severely broken neck from "butcher" doctor) go without... Many just have kids to get their "cha ching" from the gov't...

[Jona144]

$133.26? Try living on $16.00 a month for food... when you are disabled severely, in non-stop debilitating pain, an cannot work if you wanted to... Single,on small disabily which more than 1/2 goes to rent and utilities another 1/4 at least goes to the 2 medical insurances/Dr.s...that I have to have (or would not afford ANY treatment...need more surgery, but too scared to death...) because of the severity of a "failed discectomy...neck is collapsing backwards..."mainly due to a "butcher" doctor (and "other factors" who fled the country because of so many lawsuits...(Completely took away any "quality of life" with no reprieve of any kind...and no possiblity of a "positive outcome surgically" as too far gone... that won't further "disable, maime, increse pain or kill me (that would be a blessing considering what I have to live through)..." or offer any pain relief... There is a book here, too much too list. But, God shall supply all my need according to His riches in heaven...Though He slay me, yet I will praise Him still...

[barcar55]

I doubt if he will make it unless he skips meals to do so.

[RobertVBrand]

Only one week? People on food stamps have to live on them for more than one week. Anybody can make it for a week -- but try it for a full month.