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A NEW ‘GREEDYSBURG ADDRESS’ … NFL INSULTS, DEMEANS VIKINGS … ‘THE GOVERNMENT FINANCED DESTRUCTION OF DOWNTOWN’ … WILL ‘THE BB’ SOON BE FOR SALE? … plus … JETER TO BE PUT OUT OF OUR MISERY

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2014) — THE PLANET presents a new Greedysburg Address:

Floor score and seventy plus twenty thousand dollars ago, our Mayor brought forth to 70 Allen Street a new flooring, conceived in vanity and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created unequal. Now that we are engaged in this great civil war, testing when the city, or any city so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

We are met on a great battlefield of crime and gang war, the downtown. We have come to dedicate the new floors on Allen Street as a final resting place for $90,000 for those who gave their last cent in taxes that the Mayor and His Wife, the Mayoress, might enjoy comfort and luxury. It is altogether unfitting and unproper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow — this ground. The brave taxpayers who struggled here have consecrated it far beyond our power to add and subtract. The Bianchis will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, just as they will forget what taxpayers did here.

It is for us, the solvent, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which taxpayers have thus far so nobly advanced. It is for us to be here dedicated to that great task remaining before us, that on behalf of  these dishonored and broke taxpayers, we take revenge for that cause for which they gave the last full measure of discretionary income — that we here highly resolve that these taxpayers shall not have forked over in vain — that this nation, underTHE PLANET, shall have a new birth of revolt — and that government against The People, punishing of The People, and bleeding The People, shall perish forever from the TES corner office.

——– 000 ——–

Nordic Bomb Site:

  • THE PLANET is hurt, insulted, and outraged at the Minnesota Vikings. We loved the suspension of Adrian Peterson, but not for the reasons you think. Peterson has a healthy understanding of the phrase “a good ol-fashioned whuppin’” and he could skate all afternoon for delivering a dose to his unruly child. We like the suspension because Peterson could not play against our New England Patriots, helping the B-Men to waltz to the 200th career win of Bill Belichick‘s career. However, we cannot bear the insult to the Norse people by the demeaning, degrading, and insensitive nickname of “Vikings.” How can the NFL tolerate such insulting, politically incorrect behavior that marginalizes a race of people? We’re sure Kirk Douglass, Richard Widmark, and Leif Erikson feel cheapened and devalued. As for Ray Rice, come on guys, say what you’ve been thinking: “Bitch deserved it for pissing him off.” Men are such animals.
Levine: ‘The Goverment Financed Destruction of Downtown’
  • Recognize this location?

    You may have missed this interesting item, which received scant notice and little discussion, save a brief editorial comment in Jonathan Levine’s Pittsfield Gazette. For its brevity, the small piece made a large point about the [continuing] trend of a “government-financed destruction of downtown.” This destruction comes about as close to a “vision” as you will get from the failed Mayor of Pittsfield (The MOP), his “pleasing call” invariably the herald of a lie. Levine wrote about Pittsfield School Department’s awarding of a $122,000 contract for “dropout prevention services.” They will locate this do-good waste of taxpayer dollars on bustling North Street in ”a street-level retail space.” As Levine correctly points out, converting retail space into another social service agency continues the decline to death for the poor downtown. As mayor, The MOP could have stopped this. He didn’t. Levine closes with a plum: “Landlords generally embrace government money.” Isn’t that right, Gary Scarafoni? Isn’t that right David Carver, owners of 100 North St.


  • PLANET Called It: DFM Newspapers Face Chopping Block
  • Correspondent Craig Swinson recently posted this to THE PLANET on Facebook: “Hey Dan….I think The Eagle called you out on saying they are going to be sold… Now it seems they have to run articles about how they might be sold a month after you published it….interesting, they can’t even get a scoop on their own operation.” When THE PLANET reported that The Boring Broadsheet’s parent, Digital First Media, was putting 51 of its newspapers buildings and land up for sale, we went the next step, interviewing a former DFM executive, who told us about the ultimate plan to sell or close the newspapers themselves. With an absentee owner’s disregard, Digital First will not hesitate to let go of as many newspapers as it can. DFM is the country’s second largest newspaper chain (based on circulation). As the name suggests, it sees the future in its on-line platforms, not newsprint. When THE PLANET wrote about this, The BB chided us for being “premature.” Then on Sept. 12, DFM announced it would “evaluate and consider strategic alternatives” that could end up in the sale of the entire business. To do that, it will need to become more attractive to prospective buyers. Media experts say that can best be done by first selling off as many of its newspapers as possible. Officially, the company is playing it close to the vest, saying in a press release that it “will not disclose” its plans until its board decides on the future direction of the company. Our DFM sources suggest the most likely future path. They tell THE PLANET:
  1. Digital First Media will put its all or most all of its 76 daily newspapers up for sale.
  2. It will invest the money into its digital products.
  3. The move will take place because of “an industry-wide drop in the sale of newspaper advertising.”
  4. Newspapers it is not able to sell will be closed.
  5. DFM will then look to unload its 160 weekly newspapers.

DFM CEO John Paton says the changes are being forced by a “seismic change” in “the news information industry in America.” Paton says this shift is “defined by the need to consolidate to rapidly complete in a digital world.”

THE PLANET finds this ironic to be the future and The BB the past while we own today.

Jeter: The End is Near … Finally

JETER: No class in Endless Finale.

Say no more about Derek Jeter. For all his supposed “class” on the baseball diamond, this man has inexplicably blessed an overblown, over-the-top farewell season that a true class act would not have allowed.

We shall say nothing about the Jete’s 0-for-24 streak.

He should have hung ’em up two years ago. Give me one game to win, and I’ll take Cal Ripken or Joe Cronin at short. Heck, I’d even take Rooster Burleson.

——————————————————————————————-

“I am not a bully.”The Mayor of Pittsfield, (2014).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

 

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dusty
dusty
9 years ago

If the mayors wife was the impetus for an seemedly innocuous $90,000 city hall floor project, what else might she be behind that is bilking the taxpayers? Is she pulling the strings from up in the rafters?

Mr. X
Mr. X
9 years ago

C’mon DV…you gotta be one of those guys who thought Nomar was equal to Jeter as his uneventful short lived career faded away…20 years….309 lifetime…3,450 hits…Yankees all-time leader in hits, ab, stolen bases, games played…13 time all star…5 gold gloves…5 world series rings…absloutely the greatest all around shortstop ever…you sound just like a sorry ass Sox fan…the Rooster couldn’t carry Jeter’s glove…your comments are totally classless which is complete opposite of Derek Jeter

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  Mr. X
9 years ago

Derek Jeter, top notch person. 7th best shortstop of all-time.

edconnect
edconnect
Reply to  joetaxpayer
9 years ago

Burelson could have put game 7 away but he struck out!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS197510220.shtml

It's not my style
It's not my style
9 years ago

Dan, love your ending quote today.

Time for more answers
Time for more answers
9 years ago

$30,000.00 for new carpeting approved.
An additional $60,000.00.
Total $90,000.00 yet to this day, no new carpeting ever installed.

The mayor sits in his office in shameless luxury while the workers work in squaller. Let them eat cake.

Should not the mayor be called on the carpet for this?

Perhaps a few more questions should be added to Barry’s list.

William Pitt
William Pitt
9 years ago

If you win, it was a revolution and if you lose, it was a revolt.

“Don’t you know that you can count me out,…in”

BOC
BOC
9 years ago

I am not a Yankees fan but Jeter has been and is a class act.
In regards to ‘Dropout prevention services’ – I guess another gov’t service is the answer to everything that ails society? We’ve seen this movie plenty of times: 1. Societal issue exists. 2. Gov’t forms agency to address it using taxpayer dollars. 3. Agency does nothing to resolve the issue. 4. Certain hand picked polictial allies benefit from the taxpayer money spent to ‘fix’ the problem.
Can we form a ‘Mayoral Dropout Encouragement’ service?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  BOC
9 years ago

Everyone of these programs creates a job for some connected lackey. That and the loose change that can be spent for questionable items is the real reason for the program. Crock of shit.

Thomas More
Thomas More
9 years ago

Thankfully a group of civic minded people are petitioning save St. Mary’s church property from the tax rolls, With any luck the church will survive many more decades until it looks like the school.
Hopefully the council, community development board and the tobacco folks can ban together to keep that hideous convenience store off lower West St. It seems that businesses with their greedy profit motives will stop at nothing to diminsh the ‘arts overlay district’. The city council would be wise to extend the overlay district from Dalton to Hancock and Lanesboro to Lenox. Then nothing would ever be built.

dusty
dusty
9 years ago

The city is always using the excuse “gateway to the city” to spend money adorning roads coming into the city. But out on route 20 going west, just past the John Deere tractor place on the left, sits a large, long abandoned building and lot. I think it used to be a car dealership. At least 10 years ago, if not 20, I heard the owner was not paying his taxes. If this place is off the tax rolls, and is an eyesore to one of our cities major gateways, why is someone not crying to have something done about it? It may now or in the past belong to one of the special connected folk and so gets a pass. Anyone know anything about it? Who now owns it? Any taxes being paid on it? Probably in Lothrops ward but don’t expect one connected person to go after another connected person.

ed shepardson
ed shepardson
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

770554 06/10/2009 10:49AM INSTRUMENT OF REDEMPTION 1 04319/251 Verified/Certified

Description

1685 W HOUSATONIC ST TAK IN BK 3579 PG 206

Grantor/Grantee-3

PITTSFIELD CITY TREASURER Grantor
ARACE REALTY TRUST Grantee
ARACE JAMES TR

dusty
dusty
Reply to  ed shepardson
9 years ago

Thanks Ed. Exactly what does that mean though. I am not familiar with or understanding such lingo.

Craig Swinson
Craig Swinson
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

I think that means that they were in process on taking and the a person with an interest in the property brought it current.

Mike Ward
Mike Ward
9 years ago

Right on, Jonathan Levine! This is the second time the PPS has moved social services into prime first floor downtown real estate under Mayor Bianchi’s watch (they moved the Adult Learning Center to North Street a couple years ago).
Downtown Pittsfield Inc crafted a 5 year plan which said we should “prioritize first floor for retail”. Sure, that’s a little bit Captain Obvious but it’s still a sensible notion — and yet the city cannot even follow this simple tenet.
You can read the entire unused Downtown Pittsfield Strategic Plan here: http://downtownpittsfield.com/files/2011/06/DowntownPlanFinal.pdf

Mr. X
Mr. X
9 years ago

Joe t p…name the top 6 please

Ahem
Ahem
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

*Ripken
*Aparicio

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

Pittsfield is hiring an Administrative Assistant for the Veterans Office in City Hall.
https://www.smartrecruiters.com/CityOfPittsfield/79063596-adminstrative-assistant-
Deadline: Friday, September 26, 2014.

Nota
Nota
9 years ago

No Zoilo Versailles Dan? The great Minny Shortstop, all 145 pounds of him?

billy
billy
9 years ago

I am totally amazed at the Mayor

1) He parades a few city hall employees up ,with written cue cards in hand,like anyone of them is not going to tow the party line

2) He says he going to use the vacated spots to expand offices,. How is that being cost efficient .? We can’t afford buses with a over a hundred million dollar budget and were going to expand government. We have a shrinking population and yet the mayor spends money like the mayor in North Adams. ,and we all know how he made out having to be rescued from default from the state.

3) The mayor has not saved one dime for city tax payers. Yet he found Monet to give himself and all his managers in city hall 40 percent raises when most so the people he serves are working two jobs .Shame on you and the council! !!!!,,,,

4) We have online permitting yet were going to spend hundred thousand ,will it ever end?

5)it’s a health hazard in the basement yet your going to expand I
Department In city hall when you make the move to 100 north
. Suddenly its able to be used?
Generations of city employees have worked in that building yet no medical evidence was provided showing employees becoming sick.

6) the mayor is rushing to sign a lease saying he could lose the lease,yet the building has sat vacant for years

The city leadership continues to serve itself with pay raises and reckless spending yet the numbers show we are losing citizens and students on alarming rate. This whole thing reminds me of the years of Billy Bulger and we will not make up on fees what we are spending .