Newark Mayor Booker To Live On Food Stamps For A Week
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Following a debate about the role of government on Twitter, Newark Mayor Cory Booker has accepted a challenge to live on food stamps for a week after Thanksgiving.
Booker confirmed on his own Twitter account that he has accepted the "SNAP Challenge" to live on food stamps. The Village Voice reported it all started when he got into a conversation with Twitter user known as TwitWit, who uses the handle @MWadeNC, about the role of government in public nutrition and food stamps.
On Sunday, Booker tweeted a quote from Plutarch – "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics." He went on to tweet that if government invested "in schools, nutrition, etc., we'd save (money) and create wealth."
TwitWit's tweets are now protected, but the Raw Story said she chimed in with a response – "nutrition is not a responsibility of the government."
Booker responded: "Lets you and I try to live on food stamps in New Jersey (high cost of living) and feed a family for a week or month. U game?"
TwitWit – who describes herself on Twitter as a "Daughter of the American Revolution fighting against any and all forms of socialism/communism," agreed to the challenge, according to published reports.
Since announcing his participation in the SNAP Challenge, Booker has won accolades from many Twitter users.
"Mayor @CoryBooker is an inspiration to us all. His #SNAPChallenge will be difficult, but the guy's already a superhero!" tweeted Samuel M. Gebru.
"I hope @CoryBooker's #SNAPchallenge helps to end the disgusting stigmatisation of poor families," tweeted Mikey Franklin.
The average monthly benefit for food stamps through the New Jersey Supplementary Nutritional Assistance Program is about $133.26 for the last fiscal year, or about $33.32 a week, the Village Voice reported.
Booker tweeted that he will begin the challenge on Dec. 4, and continue through Dec. 11.
Would you spend a week living on food stamps? Leave your comments below...
