THE LORAX LECTURES MARY JANE AND JOE KAPANSKI ON TRUFFULA TREES
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
First of Two Parts
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, NOV. 9, 2015) — Laurie Tierney is the wife of developer David Tierney Jr. The Tierneys own a general construction and real estate-development company that has, for whatever reason (and the reasons are not germane to this series), found favor with The Suits. Among its many and varied clients, The Suits evidently stand as a first among equals.
Over the weekend, Laurie wrote and The Boring Broadsheet published the following opinion piece. We present it here, in full, for its thought-provoking qualities. Tomorrow, in Part Two, THE PLANET responds.
In the meantime, we invite you to read her article and give us your thoughts.
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| “Message of Lorax applies to Pittsfield” By Laurie Tierney, Op-Ed, The Berkshire Eagle, November 7, 2015PITTSFIELD – I happen to think Theodore Geisel was one of the most brilliant, profound writers of our time. More commonly known as Dr. Seuss, writer of rhyming, nonsensical books we read to our children, but many of his stories have adult messages and reflect social issues.One of my favorites is “The Lorax,” in which the main message is about the sacrifice of our environment and our forests for the sake of making a clothing fad called a thneed, “which everyone, everyone needs,” the consumerism which drives the destruction of the precious Truffula Trees and drives the Lorax and his friends away.This story could relate to any environment, but I want to focus on the message of the Lorax, a creature who did all he could to stop the ruination, by warning the Once-lers that they needed to stop or there would be no trees, animals, clean air or happiness.The Lorax was ignored, the land ruined and he and the animals fled, but his message was given to a young boy — the future — by the Once-ler. His message was simply, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”EVERYONE JUMPS INMy husband and I renovated a building in downtown Pittsfield. We opened a boutique hotel, restaurant, bar and small retail store. We took a leap; we took a chance; we took a risk. We are not heroes; we are not visionaries; we are not wealthy; we are not smarter, better than anyone else. We took a big step with this little hotel with a revolving door and gorgeous lobby and fabulous restaurant that serves fresh, local yummy food and the bar that is friendly and fun to sit at, and a store, Dory & Ginger — but you see, none of that matters without everyone, everyone jumping in with us. We have been overwhelmed, rendered speechless and touched to the core by the outpouring of generous praise for this risk we have taken. We have been put on a pedestal of sorts, wined, dined, written about, interviewed countless times, rewarded, awarded and touted by many to others. We are so very flattered and humbled by the support, but this hotel/restaurant/bar/store cannot revitalize this city alone, nor can it survive alone. We are not enough. Pittsfield will not truly be revived without every one of you doing something. Whether investing, doing business locally, reclaiming our streets, or saying no to injustices, use your voices and please use them positively. Stop the negative behavior/talk/headlines/moaning — it is contagious. We have people come into our store and ask if North Street is safe. We are ambassadors of sorts, sending visitors to local restaurants, coffee shops, stores and saying “of course our streets are safe” — but are they? They aren’t pretty — peeling paint on buildings, cigarette butts littering sidewalks, trash blowing around, garbage cans overflowing, people loitering in doorways smoking and yelling out to friends, grown men riding bikes down the main sidewalks and people who don’t look/act/seem friendly. I would love it if our investment was a wake-up call and a rethinking of what it is to be a resident of this city. Unless… UNLESS we stop pining for the days of General Electric. It’s gone folks, along with smoking in restaurants, 50 cent hamburgers and martinis in the office — let it go, let’s move on. We have a world class medical and cancer facility, we have theaters and art venues, we have General Dynamics and so many passionate people who truly care about this city. UNLESS every single business owner in downtown takes one tiny step — mows the grass in front of their business, picks up the trash, scrapes and paints their building, sweeps the sidewalk, lights up and washes the windows, becomes vigilant and voices concerns about unsavory activities, stays open just a little bit later so our street looks alive again, gets involved and demands your city government work to make our streets safe and attractive. UNLESS others who want to invest take that risk, then our city is just a city. Come on people, think outside that little box we have all made for ourselves where it’s warm and cozy and dark — come out into the light and think creatively. FIGHT FOR THE CITY UNLESS the people in our city regain some of their pride and fight back against anything or anyone who either stands by while conditions worsen or makes our downtown less desirable, then why would anyone love and believe. If you don’t love or believe in Pittsfield, then how can we expect people who visit us to see its beauty? UNLESS we all support these local businesses and urge others to do the same, either by word of mouth or going on social media or Trip Advisor, then they will disappear like the Trufulla Trees and the Lorax. UNLESS all who put us on this pedestal heed this message and encourage the same thing I am encouraging, then this city of ours will not get better. We have incredible places on each end of North Street with a sprinkling in the middle — let’s fill in these blanks. Let’s take these beautiful old buildings with their intricate architecture and coax them back to life, light and a future. I thank each and every person who has supported our hotel/restaurant/bar/store/venture, but remember the Lorax — “The word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.” Laurie Tierney is co-owner of Hotel on North. —————————————————————————————————— “When I hold you right up close to me. That’s when I get this feeling inside of me.” — The Guess Who, “Shakin; All Over,” (1965). “OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.” LOVE TO ALL. The views expressed in any comment section are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service. |
Sounds like a message better distributed to Downtown Inc or other of the business baby sitters. Did I miss the part where it addresses the concerns of the average person trying to scrape by? Like the guy who cannot even afford to go into most of these business s that seem oriented to the upper class?
She is spot on Dusty, I work downtown and the north end is really bad! Drug addicts, homeless and trash overflowing in the bins and on the sidewalks, hopefully the Mayor Elect will work on it and not just put effort from Columbus Ave south on North Street
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Deb, I am not a suit, nor do I have a business downtown, but I do agree that it all starts individually,
Let the games begin…Mazzeo is out as prez in 2016…both Tully and Amuso have bagged her and gone to Marchetti…look for Krol to be his vp
Hope your are wrong Mr. X about Krol being vp.
I recall some local posts, which were entitled’ “John Krol, the tax increase Councilor”, and at that time strongly inferred that Krol had never voted against a tax or fee increase.I haven’t got time to research them as I’m off to the dreaded sector.
Also, been told Krol’s house and most of his expenses were paid for from a Sysco law suit settlement that made his in-laws wealthy. So therefore: What ? Me worry ? Go get’em Johnnie Boy.
Wrong! He voted to give HON all the tax incentives availiable.
Mazzeo should have never been the Prez in 2015
Let’s hope for change Henry
That’s exactly the way I see it, Mr. X. Marchetti as prez and Krol as VP.
Mr. & Mrs. Tierney
Thank you for trying. I am just a hard worker and home owner and love this city. Lived other places and came “home”. My hope is that downtown will someday be what it was, although I don’t see that happening with courts in the buildings that one were store fronts, methadone clinic behind your beautiful building and people not only hanging in doorways but with obviously nothing to do but hang around in the lovely parks on North St. I want to feel safe again walking down North Street by myself. I want to feel safe driving downtown at night.
I wish you well with your venture and I have high hopes for this city with our new mayor.
This sounds like a cry for help. It sounds like HON is not doing too well, so let’s blame the neighbors or neighborhood. I think the Tierney’s are first rate people, with great intentions, and while I agree with much of her editorial, I also seem to remember the city helping subsidize this endeavor with some tax credits.
It seems like whenever the city council gives a tax credit, it is the kiss of death on a business. Just saying….
UNLESS every single business owner in downtown takes one tiny step — mows the grass in front of their business, picks up the trash, scrapes and
Until every single business owner in downtown gets 4 parking spaces and tax breaks for their inventory and machinery they’re not going to be picking up cigarette butts.
Why do these great ideas need taxpayer funding? If they’re such good money making ideas why can’t they get private sector money?
Marchetti and Krol will allow Tyer to tax us to death. Can remember quotes for Both Marchetti and Krol,especially one from Marchetti involving a funding project where he wanted and stated, if it were up to me I would have doubled the amount. Krol is just and outright frivolous tax increase advocate. I don’t see where Brian Johnson lawsuit or not has anything to do with this discussion?
Only that it makes it easier for Krol to get used to spending other people’s $$$$$$$.
I wish the Tierneys the best of luck. However, reading between the lines you could easily see the overwhelming concern she feels. In my opinion, all the negatives she listed about the street (she didn’t mention those who urinate openly), was the real intention of the letter.
I hope I am wrong….but this could stop visitors from going to HON and preventing any others from even trying.
If you want to public urination, head up just north of the intersection of Wahconah and North.
The guys from the shelter on the hill prefer using/peeing on the concrete wall out front rather than using facilities in the shelter.
Maybe KK liquors could open up a restroom for those who can’t take their 40ozers all the way back home?
She’s right. But it’s not enough. You want to clean up North St.? Put two cops walking up and down it all day and well into the night. Get them to move the Droogies in doorways along…and KEEP them moving along. Enforce the loitering, jay walking, PI and other “quality of life” violations. It’s very simple really. Just takes some political will and courage on the police chief’s part to deploy guys. Broken window syndrome, and NY city under Bratton and Giuliani were VeRY successful with these methods. Don’t need new laws…just enforce the ones you’ve got. Once people start getting cuffed for loitering, ticketed for littering, etc., others will start to stand up and speak too, once they realize the police and powers that be back them up, and before you know it…that element is gone. At least gone off North St. Then target enforcement elsewhere.
It will take a collaborative effort, and agree as many others do about Police Presence. Leadership is what has been severely lacking in this town.
Yeah, a collaborative, inclusive, initiative……blah, blah, blah.
Kerenel.. We have lost spa-girl she is now a collaborator. Watch out for slogans- can we talk, we need some new initiatives, how about a push for a new dynamic? Can we generate a new search engine? How about a reallocation of the stupid taxpayers money so that they think we are getting something free for them. They will never figure it out. How about some tricky math to convince the stooges that the school population is holding steady even though the school population is dropping like a rock. We can sell this bunch anything. Lets tell them that mrs. Amusso estimates the repairs at Taconic will cost 40 million. Everyone believes her and she has no shame. We will have her out front beating the drum for a 140 million dollar new THS. After all, she knows the cost of construction- she has built many doll houses and she is an expert at projecting costs. AND oh yes– she will jump right in the cockpit of a 747 with Tyer ,and we can be certain of it crashing but- not to worry -the taxpayer will foot the bill for a new one- then put another idiot or the same one behind the controls and expect a different result . This is Pittsfield politics. SCREW THE TAXPAER and don’t worry about a thing . Come election time they will have forgotten what we didn’t do and will elect us again. We the GOB and SIG’S have it made in Pittsfield. I am never leaving here the city is filled with idiots. We can bang their head and they will say thank you. Are we insane? You decide
Maybe a C17 would be better for Amuso than a 747
Kerenel.. We have lost spa-girl she is now a collaborator. Watch out for slogans- can we talk, we need some new initiatives, how about a push for a new dynamic? Can we generate a new search engine? How about a reallocation of the stupid taxpayers money so that they think we are getting something free for them. They will never figure it out. How about some tricky math to convince the stooges that the school population is holding steady even though the school population is dropping like a rock. We can sell this bunch anything. Lets tell them that mrs. Amusso estimates the repairs at Taconic will cost 40 million. Everyone believes her and she has no shame. We will have her out front beating the drum for a 140 million dollar new THS. After all, she knows the cost of construction- she has built many doll houses and she is an expert at projecting costs. AND oh yes– she will jump right in the cockpit of a 747 with Tyer ,and we can be certain of it crashing but- not to worry -the taxpayer will foot the bill for a new one- then put another idiot or the same one behind the controls and expect a different result . This is Pittsfield politics. SCREW THE TAXPAER and don’t worry about a thing . Come election time they will have forgotten what we didn’t do and will elect us again. We the GOB and SIG’S have it made in Pittsfield. I am never leaving here the city is filled with idiots. We can bang their head and they will say thank you. Are we insane? You decide ok.
Sorry, while peeing on North St. may be illegal, being on North St. isn’t. Just because they are dressed poorly in your opinion doesn’t make them “Droogies” whatever that is.
I’m not saying bust people for looking tattered. I am simply saying put people ON the street to enforce quality of life laws that are already on the books. And check/read A Clockwork Orange if you don’t know what a Droogie is.
I agree with others who have said that courts and methadone clinics are not helping the situation on North Street. Stores that cater to people from every income category would be a great step toward bringing people to North Street. As it is many of the stores on North Street are too high priced when the city has 70% living in poverty.
Pittsfield isn’t Great Barrington. The main shopping district in Great Barrington has many stores that cater to the wealthy, but they can get away with it as they have a large population of very rich people, When Pittsfield attempts to create a playground for the rich on North Street, it is doomed to failure. We just don’t have the year round wealthy population to support that kind of vision for North Street nor should we even attempt it as that leaves many of the people living in poverty with no reason to go to North Street since they can’t afford to shop there.
Studies show that if you build a subway system beneath the main road the undesirables will gravitate to that area and away from the storefronts.
Don’t tell me Pittsfield does not have the money for it. We dig up North street and rearrange the planters every five years so the next time just throw in a subway and be done with it.
Next problem please…
In May 2013 there were 27,898 registered voters in Pittsfield.
In May 2015 there were 26,962 registered voters in Pittsfield.
Within a two year time period Pittsfield lost 936 registered voters. I suppose some died and others moved away.
Did the population in general go down by 936 in this time period? If not who replaced the 936 registered voters?
Pittsfield needs good paying jobs instead of a would be cultural arts mecca that is the domain of the underclass called North Street. Is North Street a safe place? The answer is NO! Most people avoid North Street after hours. That is the whole problem with Pittsfield. During the morning and afternoon, Pittsfield is OK. But after hours, Pittsfield turns unpleasant with violence, crime, poverty, drugs, alcohol, homelessness, and the like. I would not want to stay in the Hotel on North Street from 6 pm to 6 am unless I had a good book to read in my hotel room.
As far as the lovely Linda Tyer, Peter Marchetti, John Krol, et al, they are going to raise municipal taxes by about 5 percent next year. It will be more of the same when it comes to Pittsfield politics!
Seems like one big advertisement disguised as an editorial.
“reclaiming our streets, or saying no to injustices, use your voices and please use them positively”
Saying no to injustices? ….. really?
“demands your city government work to make our streets safe and attractive”.
When was the last time the city gave into the demands to make the streets safe. The Planet has called for cops to walk a beat for years now. They will not do it. Its beneath them.
How about every homeowner get tax breaks like the ones you got to open the hotel? That might be an incentive to get people to stay instead of selling their homes and moving away.
This advertisement has a message much like politics. “Get out the vote” “Take our country back” “Yes we can” “Change you can believe in” “Vote the out” yada yada yada……
All the while our “leaders” keep flushing our society down the toilet.
Question:
What happens when your subsidised hotel goes belly up? Will you blame the locals? The politicians? The Lorax?
The biggest injustice I see is that the Tierneys don’t have to pay property taxes on HON. Funny she did not mention that. I find the whole article to be very hypocritical. Maybe if every other property owner got a free ride like that they could take care of their property better?
don’t let facts ruin a great post LOL
Let me know when Pittsdield sets the tax rate to benefit the taxpayer. I will be happy to join in on the collaboration. They lost me when a no confidence on the new school vote for the Taxpaer was null and void. As far as the Tierney letter goes, as a business and taxpayer you, should, be furious to the trash lingering around your establishment.
Tax rate hearing is November 18th.
Barry
Hobnobbing “wined and dined” with the elites who make their living off of other peoples taxes, something funny happened on the way back to earth. She opened her eyes and sees what North St really is. The drug infested open sewer that the city has millions trying to revitalize.
Stay at the HON, turn off the TV and look out the window. Perhaps watch a murder, a stabbing or a drug deal live. You may even catch a glimpse of “Dollar” as he easily outruns the police. At least you see all the colorful trash blowing around in the wind.
Didn’t the people get together and vote for a mall on North Street? Not once but twice?
The very people who now have to pay for a new high school were denied a vote to see if they wanted a new high school.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/holly_robichaud/2015/11/robichaud_taxachusetts_not_very_enticing_for_private
Thanx Barry.
The people need to get together and dig up the pcb contamination that permeates the ground and water in Pittsfield. Then incinerate it. It begins on an individual basis.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for GE or the city to do it. They refuse. Pcbs are slowly killing you. Take back your city and do something about it.
This extremely toxic waste is everywhere in Pittsfield.
Clean it up.
As mentioned before I think Peter M should be the next president for obvious reasons. Under the circumstances I think Melissa did a good job. The VP is largely a ceremonial position with little clout (ask Joe Biden)! John Krol would be a good choice for VP but Tony Simonelli might be a better choice. It all depends on who Peter M believes is more alighned with his way of thinking.
Chuck,
Under the new charter, the V.P. Is elected by the Council, not appointed by the President, as was done in the past.
Barry
Wow the charter is full of surprises. Thanks for the info.
http://ecode360.com/27967372
Tony Simonelli would be a much better choice.
Krol strikes me as someone who might run right over people if he had the power to do so. Keep him in the wings as long as possible.
Isn’t he the one who was a VP at THS for 20+years and let the place all but fall down without saying anything to anyone?
His way of thinking Chuck? You mean marching orders?
the electorate has spoken – Marchetti for prez and the vp will be whoever he wants. prez of the city council is a paper tiger position anyways – just good for gossip talk…city voted for a change and its a coming people – get out your checkbook, b/c change isn’t free….
Which comes first Barry, the President election or the Vice president…rest case. The new president has much influence. PPD regularly schedules O t. how or is L T going to do something about that?
Why does the Hotel on North Street get tax breaks while other struggling businesses there do not?
Why do the Tierneys get wined and dined by the suits while other struggling business owners there do not?
“Say no to injustices”.
What would North Street be like without the bump outs?
How many other investors would set up businesses if they could do so tax free?
The President election comes first, if I recall correctly.
Ask LT any questions for her. She speaks for herself.
Barry
O k thank you Barry L T How will you bring the Police Department Overtime Budget down as stated in the election.
Which reminds me. One huge positive for LT is if she starts to respond to questions here on the Planet , like the one above. Barry if she speaks for herself she should do that.
I like that Clairmont is taking time out of his schedule to answer Kapanski’s questions, maybe I might warm up to the Tyer Tenure, who knows? If she can keep the ship afloat without a significant tax raise i’d vote her in year after year. I’ ll give her a year before I start critiquing, like Terry said though, after a week we’ll know what we’re in for.
Barry, does the new charter have a provision for a do-over vote for President of the CC if a majority votes for it because after a few 4 hour meetings and a hundred thousand “you knows” it will be a slamdunk! Boom shaqalaqa.
The charter and council rules are silent on the issue. It would default to Demiter’s, which I do not have handy. I keep it in my desk in the Council chambers.
Barry
SOL,
I totally agree with your comments regarding HON. Hypocritical! Why were tax breaks given to a high-rent hotel?
Why? Because no one in the private sector was dumb enough to pony up the money. But this is Pittsfield, home of the economic engine where the taxpayer is forced to finance these adventures.
Because the Lorax needs his Truffala trees.
Hey Barry, Since it is your Q and A time here I have to ask while I have the opportunity. Forge Wings, Cims Wings or Patricks Wings?
This should be the real conversation. Although Patricks I feel is grossly overrated and O’Laughlins is so underrated and needs to be in that conversation.
Does the Charter have any language to appoint The Official Wing of Pittsfield?
If so does LT have it in her grand plans to Gather a Standing Milita to seize Lansboro property so we may acquire the Property of The Forge?
The official wing of Pittsfield taxpayers is the pigeon wing.
I like lame duck wings!
Barry
P.S., of which I am one.
The poor in Pittsfield and what’s left of the struggling Middle Class in Pittsfield are facing serious issues, but everyone is worrying about the struggling merchants on North Street. If there were enough good paying jobs in the city, the problem would be solved. People would have money to spend in the stores and might be able to shop in places like North Street with its higher priced stores instead of the Berkshire Mall or Walmart. I would never shop for clothing on North Street because the prices are out of my price range. Very few shops on North Street are in my price range.
What that shows me Pat, is that you haven’t shopped on North St. Lately. I was pleasantly surprised to find Valenti’s VERY reasonably priced for some things, and the service they offer is far, far…lightyears beyond what they offer at the mall or, god forbid, WalMart. I no longer run to Penny’s or Macy’s when I need some pants or a polo shirt. Valenti’s will have it, at better quality for about the same price…and they have womens’ clothes too!
Good one Barry!
We need our reps to worry about real crisis issues that the poor are facing in this city and county rather than the far left liberal nonsense that Tricia Farley Bouvier is worried about like gender bathrooms. Amazingly Pignatelli actually had a good idea in yesterday’s BB that wasn’t more far left nonsense about the problem low income people are having in getting quality dental care here in the Berkshires. Since most poor people in the area are on Mass Health this is a problem because many local dentists do not accept Mass Health hence many seniors are losing all of their teeth and many young adults are not having cleanings done. This is a health crisis. His suggestion was to train dental hygienists to do more of the things that dentists traditionally have done such as fillings and even caps. Many dentists in Berkshire County are getting ready to retire and the remaining ones do not accept the only dental insurance that the poor have so this is a real crisis situation. These are the types of problems our state reps should worry about not green energy and climate change.
Mr G,
That type of policing worked back in the day of the cop on every street corner of North St, call boxes and the paddy wagon. It worked because there were crimes like “idle & disorderly” or “drunk and disorderly.”
Jay walking is a summonsable offense and not worth the time or effort of a cop.
The “Broken Window” (Kellig & Wilson, 1982) theory has been misunderstood and misued to the point it has caused the deaths of people for “Quality of Life” crimes like selling untaxed cigarettes. A police officer’s hands are tied because he/she is dealing with archaic laws that do not address present day community problems.
North St has it’s problems, Morningside has it’s problems, the West end, too. And then are the problems of domestic violence, breaks, theft, and motor vehicle accidents that tax the ability of a shift to address the “high visibilty” crimes. Add to that neighbors that can’t/won’t get along, unsupervised youth in the parks and running amok in the residential areas.
Pittsfield is not alone. It is just a snapshot of what’s going on in every city, town or county in the U.S.
Problems need to be prioritized and sadly, “Q of L” ranks low!
Although your intentions are well, Mr G, they are out of date.
Rick Scapin is a friend of mine, with his permission I speak on his behalf, anybody that experienced, heard or saw any issues while voting at Ward 5 please call him at 413-822-0486. Thanks
such as?
Was there a conspiracy to keep Scapin of the CC? Were the poll workers in on it? All of them in that building? I think team Scapin is grasping at straws. You can recount the ballots 100 times and Rick will still loose every time.
If you dial that number, tell em Angelo sent you.
Mark, believe me, certain types did NOT want Ricky on this C C.
What types?
Nothing like a good old fashioned conspiracy theory.
Sounds like a case for Jesse “the body” Ventura.