Council Minority Calls For Russo Censure

The minority members on the City Council are calling to censure Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo in wake of what he has said in a meeting with FBI information Solomon Dwek in the spring of 2009. by Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman, two investigative reporters who wrote The Jersey Sting, a book detailing Operation Bid Rig.

The council minority's resolution calls on Russo to resign as City Council vice president and on to remove him as chair of the finance committee. The resolution also asks that Russo resign as a commissioner on the Hoboken Housing Authority.

"We plan to present this resolution to the council at the beginning of the Wednesday's council meeting," said Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Marsh in a joint statement with council members Ravi Bhalla, David Mello and Peter Cunningham. All four are allies of Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

Councilman Russo was not available for comment.

Part of the resolution to censure Russo states: "WHEREAS far from supporting Councilman Russo's claim that his actions were proper, the tape raises other serious questions beyond bribery, and solicitation and acceptance of illegal campaign contributions, including a specific example of trading housing and a position on the HHA board for political gain."

Bhalla said the resolution is intended to take action and is not merely symbolic. "I thnk the tapes speak for themselves," Bhalla said on Tuesday afternoon. Bhalla called the situation an "embarrassment to Hoboken."

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a statement that she was waiting on the transcripts of the tapes, to make further judgement.

Hoboken City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The resolution is attached to this story.