Hoboken Board of Education Trustee Chetali Khanna is endorsing 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo for mayor, as well as his running mates Liz Urtecho, Nicole Magaña, and Pete Keeling for city council at-large.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am proud to endorse Dr. Michael Russo for Mayor and Team Russo for City Council At-Large in Hoboken, a group that brings together experienced leadership, fresh perspectives, and a genuine commitment to the issues that matter most: affordability, quality of life, and transparent, responsive government,” she said in a statement.
“With Michael’s longtime service on the City Council, and alongside his talented running mates, I believe this slate is uniquely prepared to deliver lasting, forward-looking solutions that reflect the true needs and values of our community.”
Her endorsement comes after Hoboken BOE President Ailene McGuirk backed Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour for mayor over the weekend.
She was the top vote getter on November 4th, as was her at-large council slate of Councilman Joe Quintero, Zoning Board Chair Steve Firestone, and Caitlin Lawson.
“What sets Michael apart is his character and his approach to leadership. He is genuine, smart, resilient, honest, and hard-working. He listens to everyone regardless of viewpoint or political affiliation because he values dialogue, even when opinions differ. True leadership is about building bridges, not walls, and Michael models that every day,” Khanna added.
“Unfortunately, some have chosen to portray Michael unfairly, using fear-mongering false narratives that divide our community. These claims are false and harmful especially in a small city where we co-exist. This rhetoric deepens the divide between ‘old’ and ‘new’ Hoboken and between political parties. Hoboken is one square mile—ALL of us are Hoboken—and we should be working together.”
The non-partisan runoff elections in Hoboken are on December 2nd.
Here’s what she told Patch in 2017:
“I will not be endorsing anyone for Mayor or for City Council. I believe it is in the best interest of the district and its students if I, as a candidate for BOE, remain neutral. Serving the community and the needs of the children in our district are my priority. However, whoever is elected mayor or to the council will work collaboratively with the BOE and Superintendent.”
Can you smell a backroom deal?
Everyone knows the shadow School Superintendent is planning to run in her ward as a council candidate in 2 years… She will make sure things like Muni Palaces, a Suspended indoor Hockey rink with a side order of 24 classrooms for 650 million and no new HHA apartments with kids ever is discussed in public with advance notice.
She’s part of Emily and The Coven’s shorter runways and secret plans team
Chetali supported the $241 HS project + endorsed RUSSO = GOOD
McGuirk supported the $241 HS project + endorsed JABBOUR = BAD
On Mike’s payroll, I assume.
Nice to know who the bad guys are supporting.
“Unfortunately, some have chosen to portray Michael unfairly, using fear-mongering false narratives that divide our community.”
What deal did she cut with Russo? Corruption knows corruption, I suppose.
Take your pick.
Russo’s website kinda skips a detail or 2 about daddy. Namely, the convicted felon part.
“His father, Anthony Russo, began as a special education teacher, guiding students with patience and compassion before stepping into the mayor’s office, where he helped shape Hoboken’s transformation into one of the most dynamic and desirable small cities in America.”
Also why is he campaigning as “Dr” when he failed out of that business a while ago and is now in a political patronage human resources gig in Newark – where Hoboken traditionally sends its riff-raff (Carmelo Garcia).
All those years while he was on his way to bankruptcy in PT, he never ran as “Dr.” Why now? Is it for “doctoring” the books in Newark? That actually makes sense.
https://www.cake.me/me/michaelrussohoboken
What happened?
Not so long ago the town was abuzz with the worst kept secret.
Emily and Mike’s weekly “Pre Council meeting agenda planning” at 10th & Willow.
It’s one of the more romantic venues for young love to meet and blossom in Hoboken.
Not sure how conducive it is for getting city business done with all those eyes….and ears…
Creepy dude! Hope your kneepads were on…
Can you guys believe the Hoboken BOE.endorsed a candidate for mayor?? Even worse, Phineas Cornfeld, a soon-to-be lame duck city council cis, reposted it on social nedia.
From my NJ state Erich’s complaint:
4. Councilman Phil Cohen also publicly supported the BOE referendum and continues to amplify BOE leadership endorsements.
Councilman Phil Cohen was another vocal proponent of the referendum. His recent social-media post highlighting “Hoboken Board of Education President Ailene McGuirk’s endorsement of Emily Jabbour for Mayor” continues this pattern. Cohen’s amplification of Respondent’s endorsement underscores a longstanding political alliance among Jabbour, Cohen, and BOE leadership.
5. The Respondent’s current political endorsement therefore cannot be viewed in isolation.
Given the history of political alignment in a significant BOE matter — a $300 million referendum — Respondent’s endorsement is not merely “personal speech.” Rather, it appears to be part of an ongoing political partnership between Respondent and the mayoral candidate, arising directly from school-related policymaking and public-finance decisions.
This dramatically transforms the endorsement’s nature and impact:
• It signals institutional alignment between the Hoboken BOE leadership and a specific political slate.
• It undermines the independent governance required of a Board of Education.
• It threatens public confidence in the Board’s neutrality on matters involving taxation, school finance, and capital planning.
• It provides the mayoral candidate with an “unwarranted privilege or advantage” in violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24(b).
• It constitutes “private action that compromises the Board” in violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(e).
• It reflects partisan political alignment in violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(f).
• And it erodes public trust in the Board’s independence, contrary to N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(a).
Cheetahttack!