Former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner is involved in a project to open a not-for-profit restaurant in Rockaway, Queens, after it was ravaged during Hurricane Sandy, The Huffington Post reported.
The neighborhood continues to suffer almost two years after the hurricane touched down. Residents are lacking quality, sustainable and nutritious food, the infamous politician told The New York Daily News, according to The Huffington Post. Many Rockaway residents need help developing skills to lift them out of unemployment.
The Rockaway Restoration Kitchen, as it will be called, is going to offer a 13-week program to teach restaurant skills to unemployed residents and help place those in need of jobs in other restaurants around the city.
Weiner once derided restaurant work, and said during a 2013 debate that a lot of restaurant worker and poor people jobs are being created. That needs to be stopped, he said at the time, and the government should focus on making the country a middle class capital again. Weiner's role in the business is unclear, but a job ad for the restaurant's executive director lists him as an administrator.
Though Weiner has made no public comments about the restaurant, several sources said they've spotted him checking out sites for it, according to The Rockaway Times.
City Councilman Donovan Richards told the Rockaway Times that Weiner is a friend of the Rockaways and anyone who comes to train people with culinary and hospitality services is welcome. The councilman added that he would love to have some of Weiner's soup.
Weiner resigned from Congress after a sexting scandal where he sent nude images out via twitter was uncovered in 2011. It was revealed that he was involved in another sexting scandal under the name "Carlos Danger" while running in New York's mayoral primary last year.
Weiner finished 5th place in his run for mayor, with 4.9 percent of the vote.
