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‘NO GO’ on ‘NO SHOW’ IS ONLY CORRECT VOTE BY GUV’S COUNCIL, plus, C’s SPLIT IN WORCESTER BUT BLOW CHANCE TO SWEEP, & TEACHERS AGREE TO CONTRACT; TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE THAN $1 MILLION MORE TO THOSE WHO ARE NOW MAKING $80K A YEAR FOR WORKING HALF A YEAR

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By DAN VALENTI

There’s Only One Right Call on the No Show Vote: “Rejected.”

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, Saturday, June 25, 2011) — It’s No Go on No Show.

That’s the verdict 99% of the 12 of 14 Pittsfield wards Chris “No Show” Speranzo represents, and 98% of everyone else. The other 1 and 2% consists of GOBs and their various toadies, apologists, and hangers-on. As you know, the Governor’s Council is considering Gov. Deval Patrick’s nomination of No Show to be clerk magistrate of Central Berkshire Court. The nomination drips of political chicanery.

Pittsfield attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo pointed out in a Facebook discussion that he “liked” Chris because he’s a “good guy.” Well, we’re ALL good guys. Hitler loved children and animals. Mussolini made the trains run on time. Alex De Large loved Beethoven. Everyone’s a “good guy,” but this hackneyed “argument” for excusing Pittsfield corrupt politics stands at the non-sequitur’s non-sequitur. It doesn’t matter is someone’s “a good guy.” We’ve had cheating mayors and city treasurers who are “good guys.”

Only one thing matters in the consideration of No Show for a lifetime post to a six-figure job as clerk magistrate for Central Berkshire Court: Is he qualified?

THE PLANET settled that in our previous posting. Consider the facts about No Show:

The Straight Facts on No Show

* He has never held a job in the private sector since graduating from college.

* He has never practiced law as a private attorney.

* He has never tried a case.

* He has never participated in a case as a prosecutor or defense counsel.

* He received his appointment as city solicitor from Mayor Jimmy Ruberto in what was obvious a patronage appointment. He did not distinguish himself in any capacity while on that job. He did not serve as counsel to the city of Pittsfield, therefore We The People, but as Ruberto’s private counsel, as seen, for example, in the way Speranzo took orders from Ruberto, who took them from assorted GOBs, in scuttling Jim Bouton’s syndicate from putting a team at Beloved Wahconah Park.

* He has a terrible legislative record in Boston.

* He is the only state rep who doesn’t keep the press informed of what he’s doing.

* He lied about seeking the magistrate’s job during his re-election campaign in 2010.

* He stole enough votes for his re-election, narrowly prevailing over Mark Miller’s challenge. The votes were stolen by virtue of his dishonesty with the electorate. If he had been honest about his chicanery, we could have respected that. We can accept liars who are truthful about their deceit.

Add it all up, and it doesn’t spell M-O-T-H-E-R. It can only spell one thing for the Governor’s Council: R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D.

———————————————————–

Colonials Split in Worcester but Blow Golden Chance to Sweep

The Pittsfield Colonials split a doubleheader yesterday in Worcester, but they blew a chance to sweep. After taking the lead 6-5 on Johnny Welch’s dramatic grand slam in the top of the seventh (the final inning in minor league doubleheaders), Matt Lyons — the closer who can’t close — coughed up the win by allowing two runs to score in the bottom of the frame. Lyons couldn’t get an out.

In the nightcap, the C’s pounded Worcester pitchers for 11 runs and 16 hits, winning 11-5. Chris Torrez, who’s had a rough go at the plate so far this season, went 3-for-4. T.J. Wenk for the win with 3.2 shoutout innings in relief. Mike Zenko got the save. Manager Jaimie Keefe would be wise to consider yanking Lyons and inserting Zenko as closer. One has it. One doesn’t.

The two teams play tonight in Worcester. Here’s the box score of victory:

Pittsfield Worcester
11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Pittsfield 2 0 1 1 1 2 4 11 16 1
Worcester 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 6 2
5

Game Info

  • Winning Pitcher: 12 – TJ Wink
  • Losing Pitcher: 2 – Matt McDonald
  • Save Pitcher: 23 – Mike Zenko
  • Date: 06/24/2011
  • Start Time: 08:10 PM
  • Duration: 2:43
  • End Time: 11:20 PM
  • Plate Ump: John Millet
  • Field Ump #1: Chase Edmondson
  • Field Ump #2: Rick Bremer
  • Field Ump #3:
  • Location: Hanover Insurance Park at Fitto
  • Attendance: 1778
  • Weather: 53, Intermittent Rain, 14 MPH N
  • Comments: Game included a 27 minute rain delay from 10:35 PM – 11:02 PM


Batting Stats

Pittsfield
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
11 Edmondson, J CF 4 2 1 1 1 0 .265
4 Nandin, M SS 5 2 2 1 0 2 .328
13 Bomback, D 2B 5 1 2 2 0 1 .398
45 Molina, A 1B 4 0 2 2 0 0 .287
10 Mottram, B LF 2 1 1 2 1 0 .374
14 Welch, J 3B 3 1 2 0 0 1 .306
17 Fatse, P RF 4 2 2 1 0 1 .271
20 Torres, C C 4 2 3 1 0 1 .189
3 Davis, Q DH 3 0 1 1 0 1 .239
34 11 16 11 2 7
Worcester
# Batter P AB R H RBI BB SO AVG
30 Nunez, A RF 2 1 1 0 1 0 .278
3 Nunez, A 2B 3 1 0 0 1 0 .309
20 Colabello, C LF 4 1 1 0 0 0 .381
23 Minicozzi, M 3B 4 0 1 1 0 1 .358
14 Trezza, A DH 3 1 0 0 1 0 .247
36 Salotti, N 1B 4 1 2 4 0 1 .283
24 Fontaine, C SS 1 0 0 0 3 0 .000
31 Sosnoskie, A C 4 0 1 0 0 1 .256
5 Monger, C CF 2 0 0 0 1 1 .133
27 5 6 5 7 4
BATTING
2B: J.Edmondson (8), D.Bomback (13), J.Welch (5).
HP: J.Welch (4).
RBI: J.Edmondson (11), M.Nandin (7), D.Bomback 2 (18), A.Molina 2 (15), B.Mottram 2 (24), P.Fatse (8), C.Torres (6), Q.Davis (5).
SF: B.Mottram (2), Q.Davis (2).
SB: M.Nandin (9), D.Bomback (13), B.Mottram (7).
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
A: M.Nandin 2 (42), D.Bomback 4 (80), A.Molina 2 (13), J.Welch 2 (44), T.Wink (1).
E: T.Wink (1).
PO: M.Nandin 2 (19), D.Bomback (44), A.Molina 10 (138), B.Mottram (72), J.Welch (16), C.Torres 4 (47), T.Wink (1), E.Katzman (1).
TC: M.Nandin 4 (62), D.Bomback 5 (134), A.Molina 12 (151), B.Mottram (85), J.Welch 3 (63), C.Torres 4 (51), T.Wink 3 (3), E.Katzman (1).

BATTING
2B: C.Colabello (13).
HR: N.Salotti (3).
RBI: M.Minicozzi (23), N.Salotti 4 (21).
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
A: A.Nunez 6 (63), M.Minicozzi (47), C.Fontaine 2 (2), C.Monger (1).
DP: 2 (A. Nunez(2B) – C. Fontaine(SS) – N. Salotti(1B),C. Monger(CF) – N. Salotti(1B)).
E: M.Minicozzi (3), C.Fontaine (1).
PO: A.Nunez (42), A.Nunez (36), C.Colabello (200), N.Salotti 7 (40), C.Fontaine 2 (2), A.Sosnoskie 7 (58), C.Monger (6).
SBA: A.Sosnoskie 3 (6).
TC: A.Nunez (43), A.Nunez 7 (100), C.Colabello (221), M.Minicozzi 2 (65), N.Salotti 7 (42), C.Fontaine 5 (5), A.Sosnoskie 7 (62), C.Monger 2 (7).


Pitching Stats

Pittsfield
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
27 Katzman, E 1.0 1 4 4 4 0 7.20
12 Winning Pitcher Wink, T 3.2 3 0 0 2 2 0.00
23 Save Pitcher Zenko, M 2.1 2 1 1 1 2 1.45
6.3 6 5 5 7 4
Worcester
# Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO ERA
19 Keeler, S 4.0 7 4 3 1 5 4.66
2 Losing Pitcher McDonald, M 2.0 3 3 2 1 2 4.50
10 Gedman, M 1.0 6 4 4 0 0 9.88
7 16 11 9 2 7
PITCHING
BF: E.Katzman 8, T.Wink 17, M.Zenko 10.
P-S: E.Katzman 35-14, T.Wink 65-41, M.Zenko 38-27.
WP: T.Wink (1), M.Zenko (1).
PITCHING
BF: S.Keeler 19, M.McDonald 12, M.Gedman 8.
P-S: S.Keeler 73-51, M.McDonald 44-31, M.Gedman 19-15.

PLAY BY PLAY: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Top of 1st Pittsfield
#11 Jerod Edmondson Swinging Strike, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, 11 Jerod Edmondson advances to 1st (BB)
#4 Matt Nandin 4 Matt Nandin advances to 1st (1B P BU), 11 Jerod Edmondson advances to 2nd (4)
#13 Danny Bomback Foul, Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, 13 Danny Bomback putout (KS) for out number 1
#45 Angel Molina Ball, Ball, Swinging Strike, Ball, Called Strike, 45 Angel Molina advances to 1st (1B RF), 4 Matt Nandin advances to 3rd (45), 11 Jerod Edmondson Scores Earned (45), 45 Angel Molina putout (4-6) for out number 2
#10 Billy Mottram Ball, Called Strike, Foul, Foul, 10 Billy Mottram advances to 1st (FC), 4 Matt NandinScores Earned (10)
#14 Johnny Welch 14 Johnny Welch advances to 2nd (2B RC), 10 Billy Mottram advances to 3rd (14)
#17 Peter Fatse Ball, Foul, Foul, 17 Peter Fatse putout (KS) for out number 3
Runs: 2, Hits: 3, Errors: 0, LOB: 2
Bottom of 1st Worcester
#30 Alex A. Nunez Ball, Swinging Strike, Ball, Ball, Called Strike, 30 Alex A. Nunez advances to 1st (BB)
#3 Abraham Nunez Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, 3 Abraham Nunez advances to 1st (BB)
#20 Chris Colabello Called Strike, Ball, 3 Abraham Nunez advances to 2nd (20), 30 Alex A. Nunez advances to 3rd (20), 20 Chris Colabello putout (L7) for out number 1
#23 Mark Minicozzi Swinging Strike, Ball, Ball, 3 Abraham Nunez advances to 3rd (23), 30 Alex A. Nunez Scores Earned (23), 23 Mark Minicozzi putout (3-1) for out number 2
#14 Alex Trezza Ball, Ball, Called Strike, Ball, 14 Alex Trezza advances to 1st (BB)
#36 Nick Salotti Ball, Ball, 3 Abraham Nunez Scores Earned (36), 14 Alex Trezza Scores Earned(36), 36 Nick Salotti Scores Earned (HR LC)
#24 Chase Fontaine Ball, Ball, Called Strike, Called Strike, Ball, 24 Chase Fontaine advances to 1st (BB)
#31 Anthony Sosnoskie Called Strike, 31 Anthony Sosnoskie putout (5-3) for out number 3
Runs: 4, Hits: 1, Errors: 0, LOB: 1

——————————————————————

Only THE PLANET Keeps Taxpayers Informed on the Hoax that Masquerades as Public Education in the City of Pittsfield

THE PLANET has explained the hoax buried without and within the school department budget. The department submits a $72 million budget — 134% times the operating cost of the entire city of Pittsfield — claiming it is a $54.3 million request. They bury the remainder (health care, benefits, and transportation costs) in the municipal side. No one, especially not the Boring Broadsheet, lets taxpayers know, because there might be riots in the streets (although we wonder on that latter point, with apathy being what it is).

The hoax continues with soaring Special Education costs. Special Ed, once a defendable proposition when it provided assistance to kids who truly need help, has become a catch-all designation that dooms too many kids to Bleak House. Educators do this because too many of them are in love with money and not in love with their students.

Another scam involves the negotiating tactics of the teachers’ union. They pull two work-to-rule stunts during the year, get bent out of shape because for their hefty pay and raises they must work an extra eight minutes a day, and resort to fear tactics using kids as human shields in order to frighten parents and jellyfish politicians.

After bellyaching on the injustice of the contract offered by the city, the union overwhelmingly accepted an across-the-board salary increase as well as built-in step raises with $678,000. The two come to more than $1 million in pay hikes. Not factoring in the hikes, the average compensation for a teacher in the city of Pittsfield tops $80,000 a year. That figures includes a hefty benefits package that tacks on almost one-third to the base salary. For a 180-day work year, that’s pretty good money.

The teachers’ contract with the city has some terrible provisions for taxpayers, including this one:

The [SCHOOL] COMMITTEE shall not during the life of this Agreement adopt any policy, practice, rule, or regulation with respect to wages, hours, standards of productivity and performance … without prior negotiations. Such negotiations shall not compel either party to agree to a proposal or make a concession.

That clause is the blank check that has caused school department costs to jump the tracks.

THE PLANET recommends that the school committee fight for the deletion that clause as well as the provision of the contract that requires layoffs to be done on the basis of seniority and not merit.

—————————————-

HAPPY WEEKEND. THE PLANET HAS OUR REVIEWERS AT JACOB’S PILLOW AND SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY TONIGHT. REVIEWS TO FOLLOW.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

Not sure they work 180 of those days.You have your half days and exam weeks mid-term and end of year exam weeks,lets not forget field trips and movie days,oh well not much we can do about it.Dan dont forget Earth Wind and Fire tonite at Tanglewood,should be a good show,hope the rain holds off.

Jake
Jake
12 years ago

Dan Stop being a Baby! Your almost 60 years old for christ sake. Speranzo wouldn’t talk to you get over it!

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Jake
12 years ago

Jake dont get your logic,dont care about speranzo just think they should wait until his term is up,it hasnt been filled for 2 years whats a little more time.Really think it should never be filmed.When it comes to wasting my money I am a baby.

Taylor
Taylor
12 years ago

I’ve noticed that Valenti’s critics, such as Jake above, never take him on the merits of his logic. They just bash him. This convinces me beyond all else that he, Valenti, had the merit of the debate, including this one.

Jake
Jake
Reply to  Taylor
12 years ago

Dan’s ego is so big you can’t find a room big enough to put it in. Because Speranzo had the gall to not do a debate that Dan had pissed Dan off. How dare anyone diss the great Valenti! The short guy has to make up names and rip them on his blog just proves my point! Deal with it! Not everyone thinks Dan is GOD! I think he is a blow heart Howie Carr wonna be!

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Jake
12 years ago

So we know how you feel about Dan,why keep repeating it.How do you feel about Speranzo lying about seeking this job from the Governor,and costing tax payers 40 grand for a special election.The only good on see out of this is Peter White will not run for the council again.

Jake
Jake
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
12 years ago

When did Speranzo lie? Why can’t the special election be on the same day as the primary? Ive delt with Speranzo and have found him to be a very smart and intelegent man.

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Jake
12 years ago

I guess when he was asked if he was seeking the job.Lie ,although a do agree with you very intelegent,knows enough to play the game and the rewards will come,also smart enough to know that 110,000 is alot more than 60,000.Very intelegent no doubt.

gEE Whiz
gEE Whiz
Reply to  Jake
12 years ago

Yeah, Jake. Speranzo is “intelegent.” Well put.

gEE Whiz
gEE Whiz
Reply to  Jake
12 years ago

yur jealous, Jake! The planet has you on the run!

beezer
beezer
12 years ago

Clerk Magistrate job description, guilty, not guilty, next.

What up with that
What up with that
12 years ago

you compare no show to Hitler? really!

I would have thought better of you.

What up with that
What up with that
Reply to  danvalenti
12 years ago

No Dan, that is exactly what you did, and I think you know it as well.

Why didn’t you compare him to mayor Ruberto? Don’t you think that would have made your point?

What up with that
What up with that
Reply to  danvalenti
12 years ago

And, do you really think Hitler was a good guy? If that is the case, you just offended a whole lot of people, including myself.

CONCERNED
CONCERNED
12 years ago

Jake: I have found SPERANZO to be a nice person myself. I have never heard him speak bad about anyone. I don’t think he should be compared to anyone but himself. I do agree he should never have ran when he knew he would be in running for the clerk’s job.

This happened twice to us now, Larkin and now Speranzo. So as I see it why don’t we insist that Mr. Downing and are other law makers pass a law so this can’t happen again. At least in Speranzo case, a active law maker can’t run for another public job while in office, seems simple to me.

edconnect
edconnect
12 years ago

Chris Speranzo is the nicest guy i ever met. Who cares he has never tried a case. Who cares that he is leaving his constituents without representation. Who cares that he ducked the question during his campaign. Who care that he might cost us 40K for a special election. He is a nice guy and deserves a 110K no-show job.

beezer
beezer
12 years ago

Yes pas anew law call it the larkinsper.