Running in the Third Ward

Although Hoboken politics is nothing new to Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo, one thing has fundamentally changed since the last time he ran for council four years ago: he is a father now.

“I’ve grown so much,” Russo, 36, said over pancakes recently, “I’m a husband and a father.” Russo is running for his third term on the Hoboken City Council.

Like many of his council colleagues and fellow candidates, Russo said he wants to add more park space to the city. One specific is the tow yard—otherwise known as “the Pino site”—in the Third Ward. “That’s something I want to see happen,” Russo said. The city recently to acquire park land somewhere in town.

As far as the budget surplus is concerned, Russo shares the same opinion as Council President Beth Mason and Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti. Russo said the roughly $5 million the city currently has as a cash surplus should be deducted from the tax levy.

How much taxes would be lowered per family, depends on the value of each individual house and is hard to predict or calculate, Russo said.

As far as other cuts are concerned, Russo said he wants to start at the top down in city hall. “Why aren’t we cutting unnecessary positions?” he asked. The problem with the current budget, he added, is the spending. “The spending is the culprit,” Russo said.

Russo said also that he wants the city to enforce a "residency law," which would mean that only people who live in town can be hired to work for the city of Hoboken.

Russo is known as a staunch critic of Mayor Dawn Zimmer and her administration, and said he disagrees with her on some "major things." But, he added, he has also supported her in the past.

"I was one of the voters to make Dawn Zimmer council president," Russo said about his vote on the matter in 2009. Russo didn’t say whom he thinks should become the new council president after the elections.

Russo after tapes of a meeting between him and FBI operative Solomon Dwek were.

Another example on where he likes the city's programs and policies, Russo said, is the city’s . The —which includes Russo—voted against an ordinance to permanently create the parking spots for the car sharing program. Rather, the council voted to create the parking spots on a temporary basis. Parking spots are usually created by ordinance.

“I disagree with the way they implement the program,” Russo said, but added: “I agree with the program.”

Russo also disagreed with the mayor about her decision to and demote police officers to cut cost. Although , late last year. The mayor is still working on a reaction to a recent fire department audit.

Russo said he had not yet looked in depth at and its findings. “The closing of a firehouse is absolutely unacceptable,” Russo said.

“We have one of the best Fire Departments,” Russo said, “why would you want to degrade that?"

Fire Chief Richard Blohm wrote a response to the fire audit after it was released and said that—although hesitantly—he would be open to closing one fire company.

Overall, Russo said, he is also looking to improve the regular day-to-day quality of life issues for residents. "But right now," he said, "my goal is to win."