Romano's "albatross is GONE"

GA has spent all morning talking to sources close to Freeholder Anthony 'Stick' Romano.

One might assume that Romano feels like he's sitting on top of the world.  After all, he just won his primary election and has the option of running for Hoboken mayor without risking his Freeholder seat.  (Yes, Romano can be on the ballot for both.)

On top of the world?  Not exactly.

Based on sources, Stick's had an epiphany about some old Hoboken 'friends'- people he has stood with in their time of need, who've piled on against him for a brand new flavor called DeFusco.

Specifically, these so-called friends in Hoboken's political world, are trying to hurt him; "take him down" in an effort to clear the way for their Chosen One, Mike DeFusco.  That, I am told, is unbelieveable to Romano.  He is amazed by the treachery of these backstabbing backstabbers.

But, it's a mixed bag.

Disappointment in his treacherous 'Old Hoboken' circle comes with a feeling of liberation from any future obligation to any of them.  As a source put it, "Stick don't give a shit no more."

Some might say, "It's about time."

I have tried to organize my notes-  excuse me if they're a little disjointed.  GA's notes from conversations with sources:

DeFUSCO'S DILEMNA

They're the gang that can't shoot straight.  DeFusco's been trying very hard to build a coalition.  Big time developers are trying to lure in smaller developers then on the other hand you got Pupie, and Perry on a mission. [redacted] told Pupie "What gives you the right to tell me its gotta be Defusco?  How can you disrespect Anthony so much?"  Pupie gave the same answer "We got a young, gay yuppie that can reach into the young and he can't."  The little developers are all hanging on the vine watching Stick.  The labor unions are not going to go with DeFusco and the little developers are not going to put in money and lose. Small developers don't want to contribute in because they don't know where Stick is at and  honestly believe that in a 3 person race, DeFusco can't win.   The little developers are all hanging on the vine watching Romano. The little developers are not going to put in money and lose...   Stick's gonna sit there on a perch and watch, the more they come at him, the more dug in he gets. I don't think Mike has any understanding what he's into. I guess he thinks whatever it takes to win the old Hoboken vote.  Now he's got Carmelo in the fold. Russo will hold out until he'll give him a couple of picks for jobs. Carmelo will be Director, Perry will be some kind off-on the payroll. Pupie will get his sewerage seat or Freeholder seat. It's just hilarious! Pupie told DeFusco, "Stop talking to Cheryl Fallick." Because Cheryl Fallick is one of the ones that knows what Pupie was doing with the rent control. He worries about that.  The rent control issue.    If Cheryl was ever on his ticket those developers will go fucking apeshit. APESHIT!

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

A couple months ago, Pupie Raia, Perry Belfiore, Ruben Ramos, Nick Calicchio  called Stick to a meeting. Perry said  if you don't agree with us, we'll run someone against you for Freeholder.  Some friends. They tried to ask him nicely, then they tried to buy him nicely, now they gonna try to hurt him, not to run for mayor.  The more they push, the more dug in Stick will get about running for mayor. From the get-go, Ruben was the one running around spreading that Romano made a deal with Zimmer and sold out the committee people. Ruben was the one trying to cripple Stick's vote, making sure he didn't run for mayor.  Ruben brought DeFusco to Muniz. Ruben brought DeFusco to the Barrys. They all felt Stick should have stepped off the line.  They wanted him to go down with the Titanic.  They wanted his numbers very low, some thought Stick losing would help DeFuscco. After the election, Calicchio told Stick: you're gonna get crushed in the 4th ward.  Russo told him "This is a disaster. This is your fault.  You're never gonna be able to run for mayor." Everybody was coming up and telling Stick "You need them. You should make the deal. DeFusco's the one."  [redacted] is coming out of Pupies club and Perry's house all the time, just like DeFusco. DeFusco is hinging his future on Perry. If DeFusco don't win, Perry may finally be done. This obsession and drive that they have for DeFusco is leaving so much collateral damage. They've lost a friend.  He don't want nothing from any of them. The more that they try to go after Stick the more dug in Stick gets about running for mayor. If Stick runs, he doesn't have that Hoboken guilt. He said, "I've finally broken the chain. For the first time in my life, If I ever was mayor, I wouldn't want their support I'd rather lose. If I ran, I don't want any of them."

Here's the worst part for them. The worst nightmare. They can't go away from DeFusco. They're stuck. If Stick ever won by some miracle, he don't want resumes from those people. The albatross is gone.