Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher torches Mike Russo and the Culture of Corruption

Councilman Mike Russo, the poster boy for Hoboken's culture of corruption and a living legend for same among the Russo Crime Syndicate needs a 911. There's a two-alarm fire at Church Towers with the flames towering over Church Square Park, courtesy of Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher. 

Both are rivals in the crowded mayoral campaign but no one has laid a glove on Russo and his lengthy history of corruption, past and present. Despite his questionable past and long list of problems, he's magically walked away a free man in Hoboken. 

When others get indicted, convicted and "go away" as they say in Hoboken parlance, often to "West Hoboken" the federal prison in Lewisburg, PA, Russo skates. The Solomon Dwek FBI video came to light with release to the public based on efforts by this editor back in 2011. That should have ended his time in office but even after telling the FBI informant make out the check to "Russo for Hoboken," he never was arrested. The claim he didn't cash the loot reeked from the word go. Everyone else at that Light Horse Tavern lunch landed up in the federal pen. 

After a series of exclusive reports by your friendly neighborhood 🐴, indictments for election fraud using Vote-by-Mail in 2013 and 2015 led to numerous arrests and convictions with Frank "Pupie" Raia the star of that show. 

Russo however had heavy and quite a suspect "campaign worker" army out of the the fourth ward while he went unopposed in his third ward council race. No one investigated and covered this at length as this editor back in 2019. The suspect election activities that led to numerous arrests and convictions  again saw Russo skate. It led to the creation of this Russo "wash and wear" graphic.

Here's a Russo segment from Tiffanie Fisher's email release last night: 

There is a crowded field for sure – which, in my opinion, is good for democracy. It’s a big change from 2021, when Hoboken voters didn’t even have a choice on the ballot. When I’m asked: Why you, and not one of the other candidates? the answer comes easily. It’s about our future — and having the right leader, with the right skills and experience, to meet this moment. 

I’ve also been asked repeatedly to share my thoughts on the other candidates. I know each of them, and of course everyone has a right to run. But when I think about the challenges ahead — financial, public safety, and the day-to-day operations of our city — and moving Hoboken forward from its corrupt past that has held us back, I believe I am the best candidate to deliver the kind of government our city needs now, and deserves. 

Tonight, I’ll share thoughts on Mike Russo which I have done before — because for many, he is the candidate we cannot afford to see as mayor. His long record shows a pattern of backroom and transactional politics and putting special interests first, and residents last. In 2009, he was caught on FBI surveillance offering to sell the influence of his office to Solomon Dwek, the same federal informant who bribed Hoboken’s former Mayor Peter Cammarano. 

Full story: RussoCorruption.com. 

In 2015, while running unopposed in the 3rd Ward, his campaign paid over 200 Housing Authority 4th and 5th ward residents over $18,000 as “campaign workers.” Since they weren’t working for his own uncontested campaign, the only explanations are: (1) they were working in other races, which should have been disclosed or (2) they were paid to vote in those races. Either way, it’s illegal — and strikingly similar to the cash-for-votes scheme that sent Frank Raia to jail in 2019. 

Also in 2015, Russo hired Arkady to work on his campaign, the consulting firm of Sean Caddle, a New Jersey political operative later sentenced in 2023 for hiring two people in 2014 to murder his associate in Jersey City. (To be clear, I do not believe Mike had anything to do with that crime). 

In 2021, he struck deals with Mayor Bhalla and joined Team Bhalla giving Emily, Joe, Phil and Jim the crucial fifth vote on key issues. In return, he was named Council President in 2022 and Council Vice President in 2023 and avoided Bhalla-backed opponents in his 2023 3rd ward race. He even told me in 2023: “I don’t know why the rest of you don’t do the same.” 

In 2023, he pushed the city to purchase parcels next to the firehouse at 2nd & Jefferson under the guise of expanding the firehouse. The seller profited about $300,000 on the flip, then donated $25,000 to Russo’s campaign, and was overheard expecting redevelopment rights. Afterwards, Russo pushed to have the property appraised as if the city might sell it back. I pushed back and stopped this from happening. 

That same year, he listed business and campaign-funded expenses as personal liabilities in his personal bankruptcy filing — one of several issues investigated by the court as potential fraud and had removed from the final settlement. 

Campaign funding issues: 

In 2025, he violated ELEC laws by raising money under two campaign committees at once, while using it all to fund his mayoral run and raising funds that exceeded individual donor caps. Over 70% of his current contributions come from developers and special interests. 

He has taken hundreds of thousands from property owners who oppose rent control. Including his largest donor, Applied/Ironstate, who has given over $100,000 and let him blanket their properties with campaign signs. Applied controls thousands of units, many that should be under rent control but aren’t — and most of the Shipyard development will fall under rent control soon. 

The next mayor must enforce these laws — do you think Russo will, after taking six figures from their owners? At least one, possibly two, dark money super PACs totaling nearly $300,000 are backing him, fueled by vendors and developers looking for city contracts.