Book says Russo met with FBI informant; Russo responds
HOBOKEN – The man running against Councilman Michael Russo in Hoboken’s 3rd Ward election issued a press release over the weekend pointing out that a new book about the 2009 FBI political corruption sting in New Jersey details a meeting between informant Solomon Dwek – who offered bribes to politicians running for office – and Russo in a Jersey City restaurant.
Candidate Greg Lincoln called on Russo to explain the meeting.
The Jersey Sting, released earlier this month, states that Russo met with Dwek in a Jersey City establishment some time before the corruption arrests, and Dwek offered Russo a $5,000 donation for his campaign, to be given to him through an intermediary. The book also claims that Dwek said he’d give Russo more after the election.
The book then states: “Russo agreed and then the foursome broke up. After that, however, Russo would not take calls from Dwek’s middlemen.”
The book quotes speculation that Russo either was advised by his attorney to stay away from Dwek, or that his father, former Mayor Anthony Russo, who went to jail for accepting a bribe, advised him not to do it.
The book does not say whether the donation was meant to be cash, or whether it was expressed that it would be in return for favors.
Russo said on Monday morning that the book only describes some of the discussions, and that it is a third-party account of the meeting.
“My meeting with Mr. Dwek was no secret; it’s been reported elsewhere,” Russo said. “What’s not excerpted in the book is that I made it very clear to Mr. Dwek that I would not accept cash contributions, and there was no quid pro quo. No bribe was discussed.”
Russo added, “He said he wants to be helpful and donate $5,000 to my campaign. I made it clear to Mr. Dwek, who was using an alias, that I don’t accept cash campaign contributions.”
A $5,000 check still would be problematic, as the legal maximum limit for an individual is $2,600 under state election laws.
“I told him what the legalities are,” Russo said. “The guy insisted on doing it his way and that’s why there was never another meeting.”
For the entire book excerpt in question, see this news item at www.hudsonreporter.com.
Statewide 9/11 memorial in JC to be ready by anniversary
JERSEY CITY– A spokesman for the New Jersey treasury department said last week that the “Empty Sky” 9/11 memorial being built at Liberty State Park in Jersey City should be ready for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in September.
Bill Quinn is quoted on nj.com as saying “We’re working on a tight deadline, but it will be completed by the anniversary.”
The group Friends of Liberty State Park has criticized the memorial because it blocks views of the Manhattan skyline, but they were not able to get the state to move it.
The memorial will have all 746 names of New Jersey’s victims engraved in the steel interior.
Former Hoboken Mayor Roberts to hold cancer fundraiser on March 31
HOBOKEN – Former Mayor David Roberts will hold a fundraiser at his Mexican bar and restaurant, East L.A., at 508 Washington St. on Wednesday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. Funds raised will benefit the Hoboken chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Roberts’ wife Anna was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and is currently in remission after being declared cancer free in October 2010.
Tickets for the fundraiser are available by way of a $25 donation to “Team Roberts” on the American Cancer Society website. To donate and purchase tickets online, go to http://tinyurl.com/4j2zhqm. Those interested in purchasing tickets can also call East L.A. at (201) 798-0052.
For a recent story about Roberts, who served as mayor from 2001-2009, see links below.
Teens stage music and arts festival this Friday
JERSEY CITY – The Second Annual Green Teen Music and Arts Festival will be held at Grace Church in Jersey City this Friday, April 1. The event is run by teens to raise money to plant trees and also to showcase their visual and performing arts. This eco-friendly festival will feature live music and artwork by teens which will be for sale along with beverages and snacks.
All proceeds will go toward planting trees locally and around the country in partnership with the nonprofits, Friends of Liberty State Park and American Forests. Last year the teens raised more than $2,100 and hope to top that this year. The event is from 7-10 p.m. at 39 Erie St., Jersey City. Check out
Kennedy Boulevard named fifth most dangerous road in New Jersey for pedestrians
Hudson County pedestrians, beware. Kennedy Boulevard has been named the county’s most dangerous road for those who travel the road on foot by the non-profit organization Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
The road was found to be so dangerous, in fact, that it has been named one of the five most dangerous in the state, with six pedestrian fatalities between 2007 and 2009, according to a report released last month.
Those fatalities account for a little more than a fifth of the county’s 29 pedestrian deaths in the three-year period.
Kennedy Boulevard runs the length of the county, and alongside four county parks and two universities and high schools in Union City and Bayonne.
The Tri-State Transportation advocates for the reduced use of automobiles in the tri-state area.
CASA seeks volunteers
A re you interested in helping children in the foster care system? If so, Hudson County CASA is currently recruiting volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
CASA (court appointed special advocate) and its volunteers speak for children in court, serve as fact finders for the judges, and safeguard the interests of the children while they are in the foster care system.
Information sessions regarding the program and the role of its volunteers will be held on Tuesday, April 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 400 of the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
Hudson County has nearly 700 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes for abuse or neglect. For further information, please call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org, or visit our website at www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
‘Run the Palisades’ for diabetes
On Sunday, May 15, the communities of Cliffside Park and Fort Lee and the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. will host their Third Annual “Run the Palisades” 5K Run/Walk and Health Fair, beginning at Cliffside Park High School and running through the towns of Cliffside Park and Fort Lee.
Runners of all ages are welcome to participate and walkers are encouraged to register, too. This is a USATF certified flat and fast course. At 9:30 a.m. there will also be a Healthy Kids Fun-Run in which ribbons will be given to all who cross the finish line.
Awards will be given out in all age categories. Pre-registration is strongly suggested at www.firstgiving.com/dfi or www.raceforum.com/palisades. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race. T-shirts will be given to all pre-registered participants and while supplies last on race day. Sponsorships are still available and range from $250 at the Community Level to $5,000 at the Platinum Level.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m., the Health Fair will be held inside the Cliffside Park High School, and is open to everyone. Local hospitals will be present offering important screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, eye and foot, all free of charge. There will be a variety of vendors and exhibits to educate on all aspects of health, wellness, fitness, and lifestyle improvements. Special focus will be given to people with diabetes and raising awareness of the incidence of diabetes in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. With 57 million people now diagnosed with pre-diabetes, 750,000 just in New Jersey, the disease is rising to epidemic proportions.
For more information, contact the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. at (201) 444-0337 or email: info@diabetesfoundationinc.org