Mayor Bloomberg took an unscheduled walk around the Rockaway Beach section of Queens on Saturday morning, surveying the damage done by Hurricane Sandy and checking in with local residents. The official clip of the tour produced by the mayor’s office shows some destruction and piles of debris, but also includes what appear to be cordial interactions with those affected. Left out of that video, though, is an emotional exchange between Bloomberg and two very upset hurricane victims.
In a report by NY1, the mayor can be seen posing for a cell-phone photo with a woman when a more frustrated pair start to scream at him. “We gotta get some help!” one woman yells, making her point with profanity. The mayor stays silent as a man shouts about the needs of elderly residents in his building until police intervene. “Taking pictures with somebody’s arm around you …” the man adds, incredulously.
The official dispatch from the trip is below, while the more raw version of the mayor’s visit can be seen here.
