I think it would have helped to be a little more media savvy. The facts are that they will be there and they won't go away. It's like telling your cold virus to go away. He should have prepeared for it and remained calm and friendly. When you act like something bothers you they exploit it.
Remember when Martha Stewart brought hot cocoa to the reporters? That was calculated and it worked. He should have given them a comment like "New York is a wonderful city and it's great to pitch in and assist in keeping it beautiful."
It would have clearly converyed the idea that he's not ashamed and that there is nothing humiliating about working. It would have been a respectful gesture to sanitation workers and other working people watching. Madoodoo was recently quoted, in reference to her doing some domestic work when she was young, saying "There's nothing more degrading than being someone's housekeeper." Imagine her housekeepers reading that! I hope they spit in her macrobiotic kosher breakfast!
One of the things I love about George is that he will tell it like it is and not filter his words but I think it would have helped him in this case.