Just weeks before the inauguration of the new mayor, City Hall is resounding with the anticipation and hope generated by an impending transition of power. As the administration of David Roberts prepares to move in on July 1, the old one packs its belongings and reflects.
After 16 years of climbing the municipal political ladder, two-term mayor Anthony Russo is about to jump down from the top rung.
“In a lot of ways it is going to be a big relief,” said the mayor from his office last week. “I am going to get a chance to spend more time with my children and grandchildren and I’ll get the chance to look into opportunities that I’ve never had while working 10 hour days as mayor.”
Journey to the apex
Russo’s candid self-confidence has made him one of the most fascinating figures in Hoboken’s political history. When the former schoolteacher was elected in 1993, was about to become one of the most hardworking and controversial mayors in Hoboken history.
“Maybe I was a little bit na