Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, is showing how technology like Twitter can be useful for something other than keeping up with celebrities.

      The mayor used the social networking tool as a way to help citizens snowed in by directing plows and shovels to buried areas, TIME reports.

      The magazine notes that a few years ago, Booker's twitter post were seen as a “narcissistic waste of time” but now that he is using the micro-blogging tool for tangible deeds, it's hard to remain disgruntled about his tech habits.

      Residents looked to Booker for help, bombarding his Twitter with requests for plows and shovels.

      One man contacted Booker about his sister, who could not go out to buy diapers for her baby because she was snowed in. An hour later, Booker responded, and showed up to help.

      The mayor said to CNN on Tuesday, "I ... have a great Twitter feed, residents who are letting me know what's happening, letting me know if they need help.”

      "We've gotten diapers to people. Delivered food," he added. "One pregnant woman who was going into labor -- at least thought she was. We were able to get there before the ambulances could. We actually got an ambulance unstuck."

      "I hope more elected officials discover the power of Twitter," Booker said to TIME. "It truly is an effective way to connect with the body politic."

Source from ThirdAge