By David Cruz
Newark Mayor Cory Booker was the center of international media attention after saving a neighbor from a fire last night. The fire at 435 Hawthorne Ave. was right next door to the mayor’s home. It started just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, most likely the result of unattended cooking, according to the city’s fire director.
But the story of how Booker rushed in to apparently save 47-year-old Zina Hodge was on the national morning chat shows and then, by mid-morning, prompted a press conference with a media scrum worthy of a presidential candidate.
“I consider us all very lucky,” said Booker. “There was a time when I got through the kitchen and looked back and saw the kitchen in flames. It was really a frightening experience for me. I didn’t think we were going to get out of there, and so I feel just very grateful now, very lucky to be here with you today.”
Reports are that Booker had to fight off Detective Alex Rodriguez, who’s assigned to the mayor’s security detail, in order to get into the house to make the rescue.
“It wasn’t easy but I was trying to hold him by the belt to try to keep him from going into the fire,” said Rodriguez, adding, “He gave me an order and I complied.”
The mayor tweeted his condition to his million or so Twitter followers shortly before being taken to the hospital. The news began to circulate and his staff says today’s press conference was necessitated by the overwhelming number of interview requests. This is a mayor who commands national media attention for shoveling snow and then tweeting about it. Neighbors say they thought the mayor was a genuine Brick City hero.
“He was a hero and I respect him for that. I really do and I think that we do need more people like him, and I’m sure we have them, like he said, in the city of Newark,” said Joanne Miller. “We’re good people.”
Zina Hodge was reported to have been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston in serious condition. Officials say they are still investigating the cause of the fire and will help those affected find a place to stay.
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