Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo has released his housing plan, scheduling an October 1st Town Hall to discuss the initiative.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Housing affects how we make critical decisions. It impacts our health, our families, and even the way we think about ourselves. Right now, this is a national crisis—but Hoboken has its own unique issues, and so I’m proposing unique solutions,” he said in a statement.
The 11-page white paper, is divided into six key areas of improvement: reforming the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA), protecting current residents, senior housing, workforce housing, homeless and emergency housing, and veteran housing.
“According to Hudson County’s 2023 Point-In-Time report, hundreds of individuals in our area are homeless. The way that our government responds to the facts on the ground can impact each of those individuals in one of two ways: it can neglect these individuals, potentially pushing them further toward despair, mental illness, and crime—or it can extend a helping hand, creating a foundation for success, productivity, and happiness,” Russo wrote.
” … We need to provide the resources necessary to transport clients to appointments and job interviews, help to expand volunteer programs, and advocate for more affordable housing vouchers.”
He cites the efforts of the Hoboken Homeless Shelter as a metric of success that can be extrapolated, currently boasting providing 1,000 showers a week, three hot meals a day, and housing 50 people a night.
Russo also suggested placing a “modest emergency shelter” at the new Department of Public Works garage at 1501 Madison St.
More broadly, he indicates he will support project labor agreements (PLAs) for new developments, as well as open space and amenities for the public, while pushing for a full Right-to-Counsel ordinance similar to what the Jersey City Council approved in June.
In a similar vein, he comes out against the rent control referendum on the November 5th ballot in the Mile Square City, which was necessitated after the city council unanimously (9-0) voted down a proposed compromise in August (followed by subsequently changing the ballot question language).
“If the referendum passes, giant landlords will be able to raise the rent of recently vacated rent-controlled units up to market price. Because the Mayor vetoed an initial proposal this
past April without attempting to fix anything, members of the City Council first tried to reach a compromise with the MSTA in accordance with Hoboken laws,” his paper says.
“However, after receiving valuable resident feedback, the City Council agreed with residents that we will defeat this measure at the ballot box instead. I will be urging everyone to vote NO on the local ballot question and will be joining them in canvassing our neighbors about the question later this year.”
As for his Town Hall, Russo will discuss this topic in detail at the Gotan Cafe, located at 770 Jackson St., at 7 p.m. on October 1st, where appetizers and coffee will be served. Anyone interested in attending the free event can register here.
“For the past 20 years, I have been committed to elevating resident voices in the citywide conversation, whether it’s through surveys or by making my email and phone number available to all,” added Russo.
“Not only will this town hall give neighbors an opportunity to sound off outside of Council meetings and other forums, but it gives me actionable sentiments that I can bring to the table when it’s time for our government to make decisions.”
An all but guaranteed candidate for mayor next year, this is Russo’s second policy paper and Town Hall, releasing a parking and transportation plan in May, as HCV first reported.
No one is declared yet for the non-partisan November 4th, 2025 contest, but Russo currently leads the way fundraising, with $221,292.92 cash on hand, his July 15th report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) shows.