Dear Editor:
Tuesday, May 13th is an extremely important day for the 3rd Ward of Hoboken. We will be asked to choose our City Council representative. My choice is Anthony Russo.
Twenty-two years ago I moved to Hoboken. The City I moved into was vastly different from what it is today. The waterfront was a bombed out ruin — our very own bottle beach; buildings were burning, and taxes were skyrocketing.
Eighteen years ago I bought a home in Hoboken and got involved politically. I was motivated by Hoboken’s potential, but distressed at the quality of leadership. I ran tax protests and stormed City Hall and wrote letters to the editor. I also got to know the Russo family.
Whenever I had an idea of something that could be changed, or a complaint about something that bad happened I could count on Anthony Russo to take action. If it was the dirty city streets, I could count on Anthony to join me with a push broom and a garbage can to undertake a Ward clean-up. If it was activities for kids I could count on Anthony to help start Hobooooken’s Haunted House, an annual Easter Egg Hunt, to help build a refreshment stand at Hoboken High School. If I knew someone who needed a temporary home, or a helping hand I could count on Anthony Russo to help cut through the clutter to help that person.
Today, when I look around the Third Ward, I see Anthony’s positive influence every place. I see new parking spaces, I see new homes that fit into the character of our old neighborhoods, and in the morning when I go running, I can start at 11th Street and do a full loop around a beautiful waterfront.
I’m proud to call Anthony Russo my friend, but that’s not why I’m voting for him. If friendship were the criteria for voting for someone, in a town as small as Hoboken, we’d all be hard pressed to pull the lever for just one person.
I’m voting for Anthony Russo for the same reason I urge everyone with a stake in Hoboken’s future vote for Anthony. I’m voting for Anthony Russo because Anthony takes action. Anthony makes things happen. Anthony delivers for the residents of the Third Ward. I ask all my neighbors to join me in election Anthony Russo.
Suzanne (Warren) Manzi