New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker announced that he will live on food stamps for seven days starting next week, but his Twitter challenger is not happy with his decision.
Booker is taking up the challenge from a Twitter follower that he will try to live 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 told The Associated Press on Thursday that he will be limited to $1.40 for each meal.
Twitter user @MWadeNC with the name TwitWit challenged the mayor earlier in the month when she wrote, "Nutrition is not the responsibility of the government."
Her tweets are now protected on Twitter, but CSI Monitor reported the conversation between her and Booker soon changed to food stamps.
"Why is there a family today that is 'too poor to afford breakfast?' Are they not already receiving food stamps?" TwitWit wrote.
"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?" Booker responded.
"Sure, Mayor, I'm game," TwitWit wrote back.
"Great. Lets do this. I hope you live in New Jersey. Lets film it and see how we do," Booker responded. He later wrote, "We will have to get a referee. DM me your number so we can see if we can work out details."
TwitWit spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because she said she has received threats. She said she is upset that Booker didn't consult with her before picking the dates and that his staff never got in touch with her, even though he told her through Twitter.
"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."
However, she said she would participate in the challenge for a week or maybe two.
According to AP, Booker said that he wants the public to participate, and this extends to his 1.2 million followers on Twitter. He also said Thursday that he would soon announce a celebrity who will also take part.
Some twitter followers are happy that Booker is deciding to do this.
One Twitter follower, @MochaMommy105, tweeted to Booker, "As a single mother on food stamps I'm glad that u are taking this challenge. Here is some advice coupons are great savers." Booker tweeted back "Thank u."
Will you participate in the food stamp challenge? Sound off below!
