The audio cut out, but if Patch is right and Russo voted his vote was clearly illegal. You can't get any more conflicted and if nobody pointed that out shame on all of them. If he didn't vote please correct the story because the resolution can't have passed without an illegal vote by Russo. Its also quite odd that the story ignores Councilwoman Mason's resolution and focuses almost entirely on Russo's remarks without reporting anything said by the Council minority. Shame on you Claire. This is a poor excuse for journalism.

sorry - meant Councilwoman Marsh's resolution.

Russo voted yes on Beth Mason's watered down resolution and voted "present" on the reform resolution that would have had real cost to him. Russo's vote was improper to say the least but after seeing Russo agree to a bribe on the FBI video ONLY acting improperly is a huge improvement.

The real question is how corporation council could allow Russo to vote on this. A first first year law student in a third rate law school woulds recognize the conflict.

Can Michael Russo thumb his nose and shrug his shoulders at the electorate and try to walk away from this scandal too.

He certainly hopes that his little schrade will allow him to conduct businees as usual.

The only other Councilperson who meet with Solomon Dwek other than Peter Cammarano and Michael Russo is Beth Mason .

Trying to smear others with the wording of a resolution to try to deflect attention from Mr. Russo exposure is telling .

It would be informative to see if she met Dwek after Michael Russo and have the FBI release her tape as well.

Mr. Garcia do we have a problem ?

Will the HHA investigate Michael Russo's statement in the FBI tape with Dewk that he gave Hector C. an apartment paid four months rent and then expected hector to work on his political campaign.

Shouldn't The HHA Board be looking to dismiss Michael Russo or at very least have him make another face saving resignation ?

Anyone want to bet that if Russo/Mason control the council in July Mike Russo will be Council President? The worst part is that only time I believe Mike Russo has ever been honest with Hoboken is on the FBI tape.

Its a well known fact that abused children always choose to stay with their abuserive families, even when offered a better home. Lets break the cycle of hostage holding.

Lets help the citizens of the third ward become brave and liberated....Vote out the bully family!

Not surprisingly David Liebler rushed to Mike Russo's defense. Maybe Liebler is in the Russo fraternity of expediting these days.

David Liebler is beholden to developers. He has a raging priapism level 5 hard-on for developers like URSA " Aint giving you no Community Pool" Tarragon and Rockefeller "Bail me out of my bad Hoboken investment because I was hoping Dave Roberts would upzone" group. When in the hell are we going to put the people of Hoboken first over outside developer interests?

Libeler has a right to speak as he sees fit, we have a right to ask him to register as Hoboken's number 1 developer lobbyist beside perhaps Mike Novak. It would be nice to know if he is being paid how much? Just a question. I don't know the answer.

Is HUD going to investigate Russo for what he pulled with Hector Claveria?

1653,

HUD will investigate Russo when the North Hudson Sewage Authority investigate Lenz and Cunningham for the Soares appointment.
Perry

Michael Russo clearly said in fact boasted on the FBI tapes just released that forced Councilman Russo to "step down" he gave Hector Claveria an apartment and a few moths rent and expected him to campaign work in return.

I would think the head of HUD Carmelo Garcia should make a statement on way or the other soon. hey we have the video and the transcripts already. :-)

Looks shady if he doesn't. :-)

1653,
I told Michael at the last council meeting that his behavior was wrong and that, I did not condone it. I pointed out that if if indeed he felt uncomfortable with the way the conversation proceeded and wanted only to get away from the table -he should spoken to someone. Many others who declined the campaign contribution did not call law enforcement, personally, I would have spoken to an attorney.
I don't wish to continue to speak about Hector, who I consider a friend but will end by saying that in regards to the Claveria appointment, I personally told Cunningham that Michael Russo obtained a market rate apartment in Applied Housing for Hector and family, and that Michael sent Hector to Dawn because he needed Dawn and his votes for the appointment to HHA Board. Peter knew of the Russo connection and Dawn and Peter sponsored the resolution appointing Hector. Let's turn the page!
Perry

If Perry Belfiore is to be believed (grain of salt) then he knew about his friend Hector being given this apartment by Michael Russo.

FYI - Hector and his wife did NOT support Mayor Zimmer they supported worked for another of Mr. Belfiore's infamous friends Peter Cammarano,

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.....

More and more reasons that HUD head Carmelo Garcia should make a statement as to where he stands .

I hope these people on the HUD Board are not doing what Michael Russo did and playing fast and lose with HUD apartments ?

Again we have the FBI video and the transcripts of Michael Russo boasting he gave tan apartment and expected something back in return they should be sent in and let HUD higher ups decide.

Perry - can you describe exactly what the behavior was that you do not condone? I don't condone the fact that he agreed to accept an illegal campaign contribution through a 3rd party from someone who made clear that he wanted his development projects expedited in exchange. The fact that he may have later changed his mind doesn't change the nature of his behavior at the meeting, though it may have caused that behavior to fall short of the evidence the US attorney felt they needed to get a conviction. In my opinion, this is the most charitable view that can be taken from the tapes. Others feel his conduct was just "immature" or "brazen. What is your view? Also, do you think Peter Cunningham should have believed something just because you said it, when you likely had your own agenda?

Green,
I didn't like the fact that Michael used the wrong fork for his salad. What do you think. The whole conversation was wrong. There is nothing in it that can or should be defended but riddle me this, why didn't Cunningham do his own fact finding after I informed him of the Russo connection. But let's go to the arrangement struck by Cunningham and Lenz that resulted in Soares getting appointed to the Sewer Authority. That was covered by Mile Square View.
Oh Hobbs, again to bring closure to your search for conspiracy, since Hedtor supported my friend Peter you quid pro quo theory doesn't hold water. Don't let fact get in the way of your hatred of all those who didn't support Dawn.
Perry

Actually Mr. B, I only pointed that you have a few infamous friends. :-)

Hey Red,
No straddling the fence. I believe in term limits. Michael's term end in about 1 month. Don't you
trust the electorate of the 3rd ward to pass judgement on whether Michael should be retuurned to office. Or are comforable being judge and jury?
Hobbs, thankfully only a few. I was taught a long time ago-to err is human, to forgive devine and that all Saints had feet of clay. I only met one perfect person. and I married her.
Perry

I would say with so much at risk and for the first time in a very long time a Russo has a real chance of losing there will be more street workers hired for Russo in the Third than they hired to put Occhipinti int the Fourth Ward.

:-)

I've lived in Hoboken for 20 years, and I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of great people in this town, plenty of whom I don't share the same political beliefs with- but get along with nonetheless. I must say, I've seen Perry speak at council meetings and the one thing I've always come away with is that this is an informed, passionate, and intelligent man. So Perry, would you please indulge me and tell me where you draw the line, you already stated that you don't condone his "behavior". But, what's the tipping point for you when it comes to betraying the public's trust? I come in peace, and in search of intelligent discourse. Thanks in advance.

Khoboken.
You looked foolish holding the tombstone shape sign at the Council Meeting the other night. You should really get a new rankt -this frankly is quite old.
FF-I know that currently many officials and perhaps even some appointed took meeting with Dwek In fact across the country meeting with the potential donors are happening now. Keeping it real one should never promise a quid pro quo, only to listen to a point of view but not to the exclusion of those with contray positions or those who may not have even voted, either for against you. It is a delicate balancing act. Candidates, unless independently wealthy need donations, that's politics. Goverance on the other hand, is blending the disparate views of a fickled electorate while attempting not to loose one's core values which hopefully leads to the betterment of the Human Condition for all. It is Friday-Homemade Pizza night-hauntil tomorrow.
Perry

Plan B

Sorry, I wasn't there. As to foolishness, nobody can compare to you. I wouldn't even dare to try and top you, you safrai hunting gorilla. They are your words. Deal with it.

Okay, I've read your response, and perhaps it's me, but I am having a hard time finding your answer to "where you draw the line". I'm sure we both agree that when someone does represent this implicit public trust that they're emboldened with, there needs to be a distinct line that shouldn't be crossed. I am familiar with politics requiring donations, and also familiar with the fact that this goes on all over the globe. I'm just trying to see if you can articulate what that line means for you. I'm sure you've thought about this as someone who's running for the 5th ward, and if you haven't, I hope I'm helping you in some way. I look forward to your honesty- BUT, pizza night first!!! All the best.

How many more meetings did Michael Russo have that we don't have tapes of ?

We have seen he was ready, his williness and we have seen he is capable of doing unethical and ileagal things.

Do we want to keep giving him more opportunities ?

Can Michael Russo be trusted to continue to sit on the HHA Board ?

After all we have seen an heard of his own actions on the FBI tapes , know of his father's criminal record and the criminal allegations against his mother should Michael Russo be left in his position on the HHA Board ?

I don't think so.

Will the HHA clean their own house ?

APRIL 6, 2011