R.T. Rybak and Cory Booker trade Twitter blizzard smack

By Hart Van Denburg Tue., Feb. 22 2011 at 8:58 AM

Categories: R.T. Rybak

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Booker's Snowmageddon was bigger than Rybak's.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak never goes anywhere without his Blackberry and iPhone, and he's a tweetaholic when blizzards come to town, updating his followers about snow plow progress and urging neighbors to move their cars and help each other out.

Yesterday, as more than a foot of snow fell on our fair city, Rybak couldn't help but poke fun at Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker. The man who became legendary during a December blizzard for becoming a Twitter Super Hero.

Sick of @CoryBooker showing me up during snow storms. Actively seeking walks to shovel, prescriptions to deliverless than a minute ago via webMayor R.T. Rybak
MayorRTRybak

More than two feet of snow fell on Newark in that storm, and as the Village Voice noted, Booker used the social network as a lifeline:

...delivering diapers to babies, patroling the streets with his trusty shovel, and even helping kids understand the strength-in-numbers beauty of a snowflake, all the while Tweeting his aid to those who need it.

Sending team immediately back there 2 ensure hospital is clear RT @Babihead: still has yet to clean my street & I live across from hospital!less than a minute ago via ÜberTwitterCory Booker
CoryBooker

Booker replied yesterday that he felt Rybak's pain, but reminded his fellow Democrat that, when it comes to Snowmageddon, Newark has Minneapolis beat cold this year.

@MayorRTRybak Brother Mayor w/ the kind of snow u all get, I yield 2 ur snow-prowess - though after this yr I may have a thing or 2 to teachless than a minute ago via webCory Booker
CoryBooker

Then it was back to work for both mayors. Rybak was reminding everyone about snow emergency parking rules, and Booker was fixing traffic lights.

Pls get all cars off snow emergency streets in Mpls by 9pm...one hour from now (u can put it back once street is plowed)less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®Mayor R.T. Rybak
MayorRTRybak

On It. RT @bigscaryteeth traffic light at broad & lincoln park has been flashing since yesterday. Hard 2 cross the street at busy bus stop.less than a minute ago via webCory Booker
CoryBooker

Such is the glamorous life of big city mayors.

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