The Football Guy

Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo is sure of it: one day he is going to be mayor of Hoboken. 

"That's how much I love this town," Russo said. "At one point in my life I will be the mayor of Hoboken," provided it doesn't conflict with starting a family, he said. Russo, 34, got married in August to his wife Lisa ("she's absolutely gorgeous," he said, unable to suppress a smile).

"I can't wait to be a dad," Russo said. Then, with a laugh: "Listen, I'm trying!"

Russo already ran for mayor once—but failed. In 2005, only two years into his term as Third Ward Councilman, he lost to former Hoboken Mayor Dave Roberts. Russo contemplated running again in May 2009, but decided not to "add to the chaos."

Russo and I spoke at the Malibu Diner, the very place where former Mayor Peter Cammarano allegedly accepted bribes last summer, ultimately leading to his arrest in July 2009.  

Russo said he didn't support Cammarano for Mayor. Instead he supported Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason, both in May of 2009 and in the special elections in November 2009. 

Russo ran for City Council in 2003, because he didn't agree with Roberts' financial policies. "I felt he was spending too much," Russo said.

A self-described "budget hawk," he said he looks at the budget every day and thinks of ways to cut it. His proposal: lay off all city employees who do not live in Hoboken and follow the so-called "residency requirement" more closely, especially when it comes to working class and lower-income jobs. 

"Nobody wants to make the tough decisions," Russo said, "but that's what we're elected to do."

He also said he would like to see a reduction of the size of government, by only having three directors (Business, Environmental Services and Human Services) rather than the current six. Recently Mayor Dawn Zimmer appointed Jennifer Wenson Maier, a public works director from Plainfield, to be Hoboken's new environmental services director. 

Although Zimmer and the council members who ran on her ticket (David Mello, Ravinder Bhalla and Carol Marsh) promised to cut the budget by 25 percent, Russo said, "This mayor and this council are not doing the job they promised they would do." And seeing how the Fiscal Year 2010 budget has not been passed yet, there is less time to actually make those cuts happen. (Fiscal year 2010 started on July 1, 2009)

Russo voted against emergency appropriations during the last council meeting and said he would continue to do so, for one basic reason: "you can't lessen a budget that has already been spent."

Mason also voted against, but the rest of City Council  emergency appropriations to cover the city's costs through the end of March. 

"We've been told four times that these are the last emergency appropriations," Russo said. Following that "track record," he said, it's unlikely that a budget will be passed before the end of March. But, Russo added, "I'm optimistic."

Russo said he is a Democrat through and through, but "when it comes to a dollar I am as conservative as can be."

"I believe in a women's right to choose," Russo said. "On the other hand: I own a handgun." (Russo owns a .45)

One of the issues on Russo's mind—besides the budget—is creating an affordable housing option for working and lower middle class families. 

"It's our job as elected officials to house all of our residents, whether they make $10 million or $15,000 a year," Russo said. Currently, he said, there's very little in that middle ground to keep families in Hoboken. Creating an affordable housing option is one of his main focuses, he said. 

"I fight for that on a constant basis," he said.

With that same principal in mind, Russo said he'd like to see an assisted living facility in Hoboken, something he has wanted for the past four years. 

Russo, who is a graduate of Hoboken High School and used to be on the high school's football team, is a physical therapist in daily life. As a big sports guy—a Washington Redskins and an L.A. Dodgers fan—he is also concerned about active open space in Hoboken. 

One of the projects Russo would like to see fixed, is the soccer field by Sinatra Park. The field was deemed unsafe, and is currently not being used. Renovating the soccer field will cost the city millions of dollars, Russo said, "and we'll probably have to bond for it." 

Investing in a project like that though, Russo said, is something he would support, because it will improve the quality of life of the people of Hoboken. 

"I don't pull punches," he said. "I do what I believe is right for this city."

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with Hoboken City Council members. David Mello, Michael Lenz , Ravinder Bhalla and Beth Mason sat down with Patch earlier.