THANK YOU, VETERANS … plus …THE LORAX MAY NEED THE TRUFFULA TREES BUT TAXPAYERS NEED RELIEF
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11, 2015 — Today, THE PLANET salutes veterans. It is their day to receive the honors. It is our day to offer thanks for their sacrifices and service. Hail, heroes and heroines, all. Godspeed.
For the day, THE PLANET offers this photograph of my father. It was snapped in Paris, 1945, a few months after my dad got off the front lines in Belgium and Germany in the Battle of the Bulge as an infantryman in the Battling Babies, the 394th rifle squad, 99th Infantry Division.
PFC Michael Gino Valenti, Paris, France, 1945.
——– 000 ——–
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 2015) — Laurie Tierney’s op-ed piece (see yesterday’s PLANET) uses a rhetorical form we dub from our 9th grade Latin as dicere sine dicis, translated as “say it without saying it.”
Tierney acknowledges how the investment she and her husband made in the former (and failed) Spice led to honor and glory. It’s a revealing passage: “We have been put on a pedestal of sorts, wined, dined, written about, interviewed countless times, rewarded, awarded and touted by many to others.”
Politics and Propaganda Didn’t Cut It
In the context of the entire article, this is saying, without saying, that the over-the-top response by The Suits missed the mark. Why The Suits? Only They wine and dine, and They own all the pedestals in Pittsfield. It’s obviously from the tone of the piece that the Tierneys’ aren’t happy, and their investment is in trouble. Did The Suits exploit the investment for politics and propaganda? Are the Tierneys finding out too late?
From the political side, Hotel On North (HON) provided Exhibit A to claimants of a downtown “renaissance.” Once again, though, the “renaissance” didn’t happen. It looks like the mayor’s office, the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., and the many other entities who have everything to gain in perpetuating the fiction of a safe, vibrant downtown pulled a fast one. The “wining and dining” was there. The help and support for rest of North Street wasn’t.
Another notable example of dicere sine dicis is Tierney’s admission of North Street’s deteriorating condition. This not well received by The Suits. They didn’t appreciate her mention of “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.”
Buyer’s Remorse
The city gave the Tierneys tax breaks and exclusive North Street parking spaces, the Tierneys took the bait, and now they seem to be dealing with buyer’s remorse. Laurie says she and her husband “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.” Forget the overuse of the serial semi-colon; you can complete the unwritten part of the sentence: “We took the risk, and it’s backfiring.”
She “would love it if our investment was a wake-up call and a re-thinking of what it is to be a resident of this city.” But why is it the citizens‘ responsibility to worry about the Tierneys’ investment? Did a “rethinking” of citizenship initially motivate their investment rather than pure profit? Or is Tierney’s column a roll of the dice meant to stem the red ink? The signs of panic dangle from the hooks of those semi-colons. Here’s the math. The rooms at HON go for hundreds a night. The “Season” only lasts from Memorial to Labor Day. Locals can’t afford it. It doesn’t add up.
Tierney closes by delivering a series of dissonant “UNLESS”s aimed at Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Unless they stop “pining for the days of General Electric,” the city is cooked, she lectures. She doesn’t realize that what’s left of Pittsfield’s dwindling middle class long ago stopped “pining” for GE. They live much more pragmatic existences than the Tierneys. They scramble to earn a living on the minimum-wage, recreation-and-resort economy the Tienrneys helped create. They try to get by on fixed incomes. The Kapanskis don’t have the time and energy to be “pining for the days of General Electric” or quoting Dr. Seuss.
The Tierneys are not “wealthy,” Laurie says. Relative to what? Would she reveal their net worth and let us judge by the number? They have had a hand in many marquee local construction projects and real-estate developments. Nowhere in her column does Tierney mention the bedraggled taxpayers — small business and homeowners — who have been levied to the point of extinction for businesses like Hotel On North and projects such as the building of a new $140 million high school, for which the Tierney’s have been named project managers.
The Lorax may need her Truffula trees, but ordinary citizens need a functioning economy with good jobs. Short of that, and it is short of that, they need city government to tighten the belt and stop public charity for private ventures.
———————————————————————————————————-
“We got married in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout. We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson ever since the fire went out.” — Johnny Cash and June Carter, “Jackson,” (1963).
“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.
For every tax break a mayor gives a local millionaire to open a business (that he was going to open anyway) the blue collar dude pays even more out of his own pocket to subsidize them. Forgive me for not shedding crocodile tears for this misadventure as I doubt they were dragged kicking and screaming into their investment.
Is seem ludicrous on its face that the Kapinskis are subsidizing plush movie theaters, fancy car dealerships, high end restaurants and who knows what else. This is crooked politics, nothing more and it is not likely to end with the new regime.
Amen Dusty
Maybe they will show a good Dr. Seuss film.
Taxes are the vice that are killing the middle class. It is inevitable they will continue to increase. It is inevitable the number of middle class will decrease in Pittsfield. The Taconic High School Project, and Closing of Sabic, will be the final blow.
SABIC’s relocation to Texas has to have impacted Hotel on North. Whispers of Detroit are blowing throughout the Berkshires.
Detroit is better off than Pittsfield because it hit the bottom. You aren’t there yet.
SHAKES
So true. Detroit bottomed out, which was the best thing that could have happened given its state of finances. The resultant court action, still ongoing as I understand, have at least outlined a path to municipal viability if not health. Unless spending is curtailed and income increased, Pittsfield will be in for the same harsh medicine.
Mr. Valenti I think your above post is right on. I know that you know, that I am a strong supporter of Mr. Gaetani. Actually, his prediction for the city is very similar to yours. Mr. Gaetani feels that the unfunded OPEB will be the straw that brakes the camels back.
Good luck to HON, the last time I was at a restaurant with a tassel on the menu, I was in 7th grade but hopefully the Tierney family can make a go of it.
I know….I’ll bet you like tassels on things other than menus
Thereare 13,506 school districts in the U.S. ( source; Wikipedia). Goodcall.com lists the ten best places to be a teacher, based primarily on salary with other modifiers. Pittsfield is number Nine (9), all the others are larger cities.
Pittsfield is being run by its leaders like we are New York City. Salaries such as those earned by Pittsfield school teachers and administrators are found in large thriving cities. Pittsfield is neither of those things which is why taxpayers are in revolt.
Pittsfield teachers are not making any more money than teachers in other parts of the state or the surrounding communities. Perhaps you could offer your expertise and spend some time assisting the schools as volunteer and then you would find out what really goes on.
the teachers aren’t flashing their cash around in the school, “what’s really going on” are luxury vacations, rental property portfolios, etc.
Right Wilson.
When adjusted for local economics, measures of “ability to pay,” and estimates of discretionary income, Pittsfield public school teachers receive the highest compensation of anywhere in the state. Don’t know about nationwide, but we would suspect it easily to be in the Top 10. The question, however, isn’t the over-generous compensation. It’s the quality of the finished product. The products’ quality should be declining when the employees’ compensation is continually rising. If The Dreaded Private Sector rewarded failure the way the PPS does, this country would be Bolivia right now.
If the quality of the raw material coming into the “Dreaded Private Sector” whatever that means, is equal to what the public schools have coming in the door it would in the same sad state. Its easy for you to sit down there at Eden Hill among the monks or go to BCC and reject anybody who doesn’t do their homework. Try yourself to go into a middle school and challenge the youngsters who walk through the door. You’ve got all the answers but you’ve never got your feet wet or walked in the shoes of those you find it so easy to criticize.
The quality of the kids coming to school is so bad because they come from homes that live in poverty. Little money in the house means mom and dad are fighting over money issues, there is stress in the home and its a vicious cycle. Kids act out over stress from all of these issues.
Irishman..The avg. salary of PSD teachers is $ 67,000. The one’s at the upper level receive close to $90,000 Considering the medium salary wages here is slightly above $20,000, it is clearly evident that the school’s teachers are some of the city’s highest paid employees and the city’s biggest SIG. This will never change unless taxpayers get their head out of the sand and become informed citizens. Short of that.. only bankruptcy can save the middle class who plans on staying here as bankruptcy would create new municipal wage scales that the taxpayer can afford. Other than this I guess we could pray. Sometimes miracles occur but don’t look for that here in Pittsfield
I think this has been the plan of the progressive GOB’s in this area all along. They want people who can’t afford to live here to either leave or to fade into oblivion. The only group of people they want to encourage to live here are upper class extreme far left leaning people who care about green energy, climate change, and have high enough incomes to not care if taxes keep rising. All of the non profits in the area who cater to the people at the other end of the scale will keep the extremely low income people in the area. It’s the people in the middle who are as Dan V. said working 2 or 3 jobs to survive in a tourist and arts economy who are feeling the pain of rising taxes and lack of jobs.
Pat, your concept of a liberal cabal conspiracy is just bizarre. GOB’s being greedy and greasing the skids for their buddies; yes, obviously. But in an effort to attract “upper class far left leaning (sic) people…” Is just sort of silly. The chicanery is not party affiliated. They will take anyone with money willing to play ball.
Not sure that I agree with you. We keep ending up with far left people in all government offices. Linda Tyer is a progressive. We have Tricia Farley Bouvier continually promoting far left bizarre causes with the full support of many local people I might add. Berkshire County has become an area that’s all about far left causes. We read very few articles in the media about the true number of people living in poverty in the area and their struggles. Why? Because this would show the city as it really is and not as it is portrayed through the far left leaning local media. I believe the chicanery is party affiliated because for the most part all we have in this area are Democrats. We have nobody else to blame. In every national election, Berkshire County always votes Democrat even when the candidates aren’t that good.
I can not figure out for the life of me why the Tierney’s thought a boutique hotel in that location would be successful. Convert it to a low rent boarding house with a soup kitchen for a restaurant and they will have more business than they know what to do with.
Play nice and you get big contracts. The graft is fluid.
They should have consulted you, Paul. Hopefully their Idea will survive as they hire about sixty people there and it is a first class place. The city leaders gave a liberal tax break to the Tierneys and the Spice people before them, not to give your money away but with the idea that having something there was better than having nothing. While they don’t pay the full measure of taxes they hire many people that do. The upper class extreme far left leaning folks contribute far more to the economy than the lower class far right who don’t care about climate change or green energy.
‘Something is better than nothing’ is a pretty odd premise to run an economy on, and a recipe for failure. So how did that tax break for Spice turn out, besides taking money from hard working taxpayers to make up for it? And can you let us know how many of those 60 jobs are full time, year round, permanent positions, with above average salaries and full benefits? And it’s ridiculous to compare the upper class to the lower class when it comes to economical contributions, but one thing is sure – the lower class contributes a higher percentage of their money to the economy that the upper class ever will.
As for the 60 jobs question you ask, probably none of them. I wish them well. Remember that Laurie was a founding member of WHEN (Women Helping to Empower Neighborhoods) This was the group that propelled both TFB and Linda Tyre to the lofty positions they now occupy. I guess the corner of North and Summer was one that they forgot to empower.
When color of skin or contents of one’s underwear takes precedence over content of character the result is a politician like Tricia Farley Blah, Blah et al.
Maybe I should do 3 separate posts here, for three distinct thoughts. First, Dan, I believe you are incorrect in your assessment of Pittsfieldians pining for the return of GE; unless it is a clever, long-term bait and switch perpetrated by the infamous GOB/suits. All anyone ever talks about, especially around this past election, is “attracting a major industry/good, high-paying manufacturing jobs/large employer” to the area. This is the ongoing pining for the return of GE, or some facsimile thereof as a replacement. It is simply not going to happen. Pursuing that pipe dream by spending millions on “pet projects” is truly the worst sort of cynical deception. It reminds me of an old friend of mine who lived near Boston. Every Summer, for 40+ years, he went out and “hunted big tuna” with a harpoon from his Boston Whaler boat. He’d spend hours each day up the mast scanning the horizon, chasing phantoms…all Summer, every Summer! I do not believe he ever once even threw his harpoon. Futile, and after a while, rather sad really. Sound familiar? I have detailed my thoughts on a better course to pursue previously; incubators, growth from within and building on the infrastructure, such as it is, that already currently exists here. Continuing to dangle that “major employer” in front of the weary Pittsfield middle class is cruel at worst, profoundly misguided at best. Anyone see a giant tuna on the horizon?
You’re missing the point. “Pining for GE” refers not to bringing another 14,000 employer, it means wanting things to go back to the way they were in the golden age of the 1950s.
Pittsfielders the ones who are working 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet, don’t spend their time “pining”. They spend it paying. DV nailed the point.
I agree fully, Q. The term “pining for GE” as I used it refers to a social quality of life, the “Leave It to Beaver” era, that will never return. What’s left of the middle class in Pittsfield realize that far more than Laurie Tierney apparently does.
Finally, I said this in a post this AM, but attached to yesterday’s column, so it bears repeating here. If you maintain that Shopping on North St. Is too expensive, 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! The shoe store also still has excellent prices.
While I have no doubt that service is very good at Valenti’s, I think that reasonably priced is relative. For someone who earns an upper middle class income Valenti’s would be reasonably priced, but for a lower income person the Berkshire Mall would be more reasonably priced and they offer coupons to reduce the price even more!!! This is the way Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski has to think.
North Street needs a mix of stores in all price ranges to remain viable. The stores on North Street should reflect the population in the city otherwise only one group of people is able to shop on North Street.
First we need people with jobs to shop in the stores…..as my grandmother used to say “no money, no funny.”
Barry Clairmont.. [REDACTED] Why is it that you never took Mr. Gaetani’s invitation to take you and all the other nobodies on the council for a tour of the water plants. All you would have to have done, was ask Collingwood to allow you in there with Gaetani and the whole city would have seen that everything Gaetani was saying was the absolute truth. Were you purposely trying to prevent Gaetani from getting in there, as he would have been able to prove conclusively that he did save the city over 100 million dollars.? [REDACTED] [THE WRITER IS WARNED TO AVOID FUTURE USAGE OF THE KIND ORIGINALLY EMPLOYED HERE. THE NEXT OCCURRENCE WILL RESULT IN BANISHMENT FROM THE PLANET]
Excellent question. He should be heard and any ideas of his should be taken under serious advisement. If there is one chance in a hundred that he saves money it is worth the look.
I do understand that when you cut millions of graft dollars out of a project this size some people will be sad. But do it anyway OK? Take one for the team for once.
Who knows more about the water plants than Gaetani & Wang? The answer is nobody. Krofta knew a whole lot too but he is dead. Unless we go to the fortune teller on Tyler St for a seance to contact Krofta, I suggest that Gaetani get in there and let him look over the situation before some other firm gets in there and hoodwinks Pittsfield.
Why don’t Gaetani and Wang start a business designing and building filtration plants?
RobEM–That’s what Gaetani and Wang did for 40 years. Pittsfield plants are one of many they built. Didn’t you know that?
Maybe he is good at designing water plans. He sucks at trying to get his ideas on running a city across via a comment thread. Also, apparently has a poor demeanor when threatening municipal employees, allegedly.
Concerned,
Just because one is a taxpayer, does not allow you access to any and all of the City owned buildings.
As a City Councilor, my job is to be involved in the legislative branch, not operations. The Charter clearly states this. It is the Mayor’s job to run operations. Mr. Gaetani’s request needed to be decided by the Mayor, which it appears it was, and the answer was no. That is the Mayor’s prerogative.
I’m sure you are going to say that Mr. Gaetani is not an average taxpayer, that he is the inventor, designer, builder, etc…of those plants. That still doesn’t give him any more right to access than the average Mary Jane or Joe, period!
And, unless you are going to refer to Ms. Tyer with civility, and stop being a pig, this will be my last post to you.
A question for you….how do you know we “would have seen that everything Gaetani was saying was the absolute truth”? Are you a scientist or engineer? Can you show me this proof? Or, are you just spewing forth what he said because you wanted him elected?
Barry
Hear, hear, Barry! This blind faith some posters have for Gaetani is inexplicable.
BARRY
You are justified in your reply regarding Linda Tyer. CONCERNED will be warned to avoid future uncontrollable twitches of bad taste. Please accept THE PLANET’s apologies for the emotional waywardness of his message.
Mr. clairmont–just answer the question. When do you want Mr. Gaetani to take you and Ms. Tyer to the plants he co- invented, designed and built? Dan, mr. Gaetani told me to invite you also, as he said you always wanted to see the plants. It is time to put up Mr. CLAIRMONT. You and the rest of the council waffled on this topic for way too long.
That would make a great subject for someone’s TV show. I don’t have a clue on the inner workings of those water plants but now I’m pretty curious. I know the city doesn’t have personnel to give guided tours to every citizen of Pittsfield but every citizen has a right to know what’s happening there. We all use several gallons every day. I for one would to see video. How about the rest of you.
As far as Gaetani not having anymore right than anyone else to go in there…..maybe…..but who the hell else in Pittsfield other than a few people who work there could understand what’s going on there.
I would tend to think that anyone with Gaetani’s level of involvement in the plant should be able to review the plant and make suggestions for improvements.
I suspect that Bianchi and Collingwood were intimidated by Gaetani and knew that he knew much more about the plant than either of them. Isn’t that why we voted Bianchi out? A series of bad decisions?
Perhaps Tyer will realize that it would be to her , and the cities benefit to get Gaetani’s input. She’d be crazy if she just relied on Collingwoods perspective.
We could always check with Collingwood. He just figured out which end of a screwdriver you use to bang in a nail and that it snows in Pittsfield during the winter.
Mr. Valenti-you have been editing all my comments to fit your story line. Why not just print my comments verbatim and let your followers decide? Is this a democratic site or not? If it is, all sides should be heard. Not too long ago, I saw many comments from eye in the sky, who seemed to be a supporter of Mr. Gaetani, as I am. I read her comments and quite frankly, agreed with most of what she said. Without giving an explanation,You erased all of her comments as you have done with my contributions to this site from yesterday. I think this is unfair. Does one have to be in agreement with you in order to be heard on this site? Please explain your policy as I am confused.
CONCERNED
First, I have not been editing “all” your comments, only a select few that have “crossed the line.”
Second, no, this is NOT a democratic site. There is not “unalienable right” to comment. That is a privilege granted by management, which toils free of charge to make this site available.
Third, life is unfair. Get used to it.
Fourth, in a private e-mail you were warned about diatribes and unwarranted, unsupported (by logic or facts) person attacks. Persist, and you will be banished from THE PLANET, left to drift from our orbit. When it comes to protecting the integrity of this site, we act, ruthlessly.
Fifth, there’s always Topix, which seems more suited for you.
Sixth, get back to your measured and reasoned comments, and our door will be open with the “Welcome” mat out, as it is for all our intelligent contributors, of which, BTW, JOE PINHEAD is a prime example.
Hope this clarifies your confusion.
Mr. Valenti.. Fair enough. I always try to be factual. I have reviewed my past comments and feel that they were factual and supported with veracity. Perhaps referring to someone in an unflattering way is what you are talking about. we all see things differently and I guess I can see your point. Point well taken.
“Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
The king of marigold was in the kitchen
Cooking breakfast for the queen
The queen was in the parlor
Playing piano for the children of the king
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
The king was in the garden
Picking flowers for a friend who came to play
The queen was in the playroom
Painting pictures for the children’s holiday
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
The Duchess of Kircaldy always smiling
And arriving late for tea
The duke was having problems
With a message at the local bird and bee
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
At twelve o’clock a meeting round the table
For a seance in the dark
With voices out of nowhere
Put on specially by the children for a lark
Cry baby cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry, cry, cry, cry baby
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry, cry, cry, cry
Make your mother sigh
She’s old enough to know better
So cry baby cry
Can you take me back where I came from?
Can you take me back?
Can you take me back where I came from?
Brother can you take me back?
Can you take me back?
Can you take me where I came from?
Can you take me back?”
– The Beatles
GE wasn’t huge when it first came to Pittsfield , they grew over the years. They were a smaller business that continued to expand. We need to attract small business here but Massachusetts is not very business friendly or for that matter taxpayer friendly. The Bay State is very welfare friendly so what type of folks are attracted to MA?
I agree. Massachusetts needs to be much more business friendly in order to attract jobs since even small business is discouraged from taking a chance. Not everybody will get the tax breaks that are given to the special few.
We should recruit a Moth Ball factory here, if we can’t sell em we’ll use em ourselves.
On Good Morning Pittsfield this morning, Bill Sturgeon, in advocating for the BCC turf field, insinuated that the soil at Wachonah Park was contaminated. I’m not certain that referring to one source of contamination to advocate for another possible source is logical, but what is logical, with its proximity to the Housatonic and to the old city dump, is that the park might be contaminated. Anyone have any information on this?
We have the old King St. dump across the river from the park….who knows what’s in there.
As far as the park itself…..the city used to dump piles of snow removed from city streets there so whatever was on the street and in the snow got into the park.
On GMP today Marchetti said LT needs new direction in the Solicitors office (obviously), Public works (good bye Collingwood) and Finance – good bye Carmel hello new Treasurer Clairmont ??
Yes, Yes and Yes
Isn’t that a conflict of interest if they are in a relationship? Or is that just if they were married? Or heck here in Pittsfield where anything goes if you are related or a friend, maybe it doesn’t matter?
Let me take a minute to answer a question and deal with innuendo.
There would not be a conflict. A conflict only arises if I were direct family and had a financial interest. Since I’m not family, it isn’t a conflict.
The position is currently filled. As far as I know, Linda has not discussed personnel matters with anyone. And until she does, I don’t think people should speculate who is going to stay and who MAY go.
Please keep in mind these people have families, lives and feelings. They did not run for public office, like some of us did, and therefore should be left alone, IMHO.
Public officials are fair game, myself included.
If there was an opening for that position, and let me be clear, there has been no discussion of this to my knowledge, I would not apply. If offered to me I would decline.i HAVE NO INTEREST in that job, or any other paid position in City government.
I’m only interested in serving on boards or commissions.
Barry
Good Barry – they have lives and feelings – they are worker bees and have worked hard for the city – people may not have liked the way they have done their jobs but they don’t deserve public ridicule.
If you want to serve on a board or commission good for you. Those positions are more thankless than the one you have now.
Tax payers have families, lives and feelings as well….and they didn’t run for public office either…..I would hope that all positions are reviewed. If someone is doing a good job keep them but if someone isn’t doing a good job they have to go or move into a job they can handle. The taxpayers of Pittsfield aren’t here to fund political welfare from the current or any future administration.
I am a taxpayer, and could not agree more. Incompetence is incompetence. Public or Private. We surely experienced incompetence this past winter.
Hire Rich Dahoney, Greg Yon,Barry Clairmont.
ah yes, I can smell the change in the air !!
as in pennies from heaven?
The city needs an in-house City Solicitor. There are many good lawyers out there looking for work. No more contracts.
Greg Yon for what? What’s his background?
I’ll be the Personell Director.
Personnel Director goes to Lothrop.
Tax classification has been delayed to 11/24/15.
Barry
CLAIRMONT WHERE IS YOUR REPLY TO MY POST?
SEE ABOVE! And, I’m under no obligation to respond to you, just to be clear.
I do so to try and keep people informed.
Barry
Mr. Clairmont..Typical response from you. Again.. where is your response to my question? You got away with not answering the taxpayer, on the council, time after time but this is not a site where you can hide. I am waiting for the answer to my question and I am sure Mr. Gaetani and many on this site are also. Mr. Gaetani will get into the plants soon and that you can count on. When the city’s taxpayers get a look at what the sewer update costs are going to be ..The whole city will be looking for him. I just hope he is still interested in helping the city. As everyone knows, he doesn’t owe anybody anything and is not like others we know. who owe the sig’s for their existence
thanx Barry, any reason?
My understanding is there was some confusion on the initial date and certain individuals were not able to make the 18th, which is fine with me as I was going to have a hard time making it.
Barry
hmm…you sound just like water boy himself. Lol
Trying to post?
Barry lives in a gated community? The ultimate S I G Eric.
Gaetani may be a gazillionaire. But L T is Mayor.
Go Lawrence Taylor
It is sad to say but I think the HON will fail based not upon its revolving door nor its location on North.
The owners of the HON want everyone to pitch in and be a community, the author is absolutely correct when she states that North Street and the City require everyone to contribute. Unfortunately that is not possible at this time nor will it be in the immediate future.
The HON or the new high school or any other project no matter how noble will flourish until the local government seeks input from the community (not just the well-connected but the whole community) as to what they both need and want the City to look like and the amenities they identify as meaningful. Once the taxpayers feel they are listened to, heard and understood will they feel engaged, involved and connected to the community they so want to revitalize. Yes the citizens of this city will support a project if it is openly discussed both the rainbows and the warts if it all adds up and is not oversold or over promised. This community like any other would love to rally around a cause but we must all be included in a meaningful way not just as a funding source. Mark my words the new high school will never be what it could have been if it was openly discussed vetted and brought to a vote. The citizens who are supposed to rally the community were locked out and will forever be left with a bad taste in their mouths. Those who stuffed it down the throats of the taxpayers (not citizens as in a democracy they get a vote on a project of that scope) will never admit the short comings in a manner that allows them to be addressed timely and or appropriately. I am certain it will be swept under the carpet whatever that short coming is. Floors leaky roof poor drainage etc.
If you want to have a community revitalize the City, you must first foster the community feeling and earn the trust of the citizens who make up that community. We do not pine for the days of GE we pine perhaps for inclusion in our community and I dare say in those days we were a “Community”
Just sayin
Very well said. I totally agree.
The City Charter takes care of that.
Spagirl,
The City Charter takes care of what?
Blocking a Democratic process for taxpayers to be included in a decision for enormous projects that include their money.
Spagirl,
Thanks for the chuckle but sadly you are correct.
Joe Pinhead–Very well said. When city officials lock taxpayers out of their right to be heard on how their tax dollars are to be spent.. sooner than latter, they will revolt against there elected officials. Mr. Clairmont is a prime example of a politician who repeatedly ignored the wishes of the taxpayer. He made the right decision not to run again, as he would surely have been voted out, and rightfully so. The troubling part about him is his close connection to Ms. Tyer. Remember, she was also a staunch supporter of the new THS and that will come back to haunt her. There is no way Clairmont and Tyer can escape the fact that they went against the wishes of the taxpayer, regarding the new THS. As Mr. Valenti has stated, after she submits her first budget which will be significantly larger than the present budget because she owes all the SIG’S, Her honeymoon will be over and Pittsfield will continue its downward spiral. Remember, the only person who can fly a 747 is a fully trained pilot. Beyond any doubt, the city will crash under Ms. Tyer. The only unknown is when the jet will run out of fuel but be rest assured it will. To all our veterans I salute you. We should remember all our veterans every day as they made our country the place we all call home. To all of you veteran s a heartfelt thanks.
Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow veterans and their families. Great picture of your dad Dan. My dad served in WW2 as well as did my father-in-law.
Freedom is not free! Bless our military.
THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS!!
Mr. Pinhead. HON will struggle because of their location. A hotel of looney tunes across the street and a meth clinic in their backyard. I hope they do make it.
Juan Pitts. There are at least 2 documented cases of voting machine problems in Ward 5 race. The process needs to get all the information out about this and other ones. A recount is not grasping at straws. Let’s just make sure everything was done correctly. Remember Bush vs Gore in Florida?
Mark,
I do understand the location is less than desirable and has more than its fair share of issues. But the HON has failed before it was built for the reasons mentioned above and more. We all know that if it was going to be wildly successful a purely private financing scheme would have been used. For a “public-Private” project of any type to work the core reasons the area is depressed economically or otherwise need to be identified and articulated openly and honestly. The objectives need to be clearly stated and accountability needs to be built in. in a nutshell what’s needed is leadership and vision. Not politics and pandering.
The New high school should be a huge source of community pride and investment. It should be seen by the community as the fruit of its hard work and drive but it won’t not because the people in this community are not proud of our efforts but because of the way it was conjured up and forced down the throats of the community.
Just sayin
The ballots were totally different in Fla……
PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED check before you go
To PFC Michael Valenti, a member of the Greatest Generation thank you for your service! Have wonderful Veterans Day!!!
Thanks, BILL. I shall pass along the ind words to my dad.And thank YOU for YOUR service to our great country.
Dan..Happy vets day to your dad. My husband and dad are vets also. I would like to extend my thank you to Mr. Gaetani. He is a decorated viet vet. also, thanks to his two brothers ..Navy and Coast Guard and to his deceased dad..Army. They all served proudly and to them and all veterans ..A job well done Thank you all
I’m going to Applebees tonight !!!! I looked at a list of restaurants offering Veterans Special and out of fifty chain restaurants, Applebees is the only local restaurant .
Friendly’s and Jiffy Lube offers free oil changes and car washes to vets.
Clarification- Friendly’s does not offer free oil changes.
It depends on which dish you order
Voltaire– Old Country Buffet also. until 2pm
Thank s for the updates…. No day off today so Old Country Buffet is out…. why only a lunch special ?????
Because it’s modeled after the senior citizen lunch specials. What you eat at the Old Country Buffet at 2PM, will be out by 3PM.
Not to worry. That place should be free all of the time
It was a question to Carly Fiorina from Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo. Here’s the critical part:
…in seven years under President Obama, the U.S. has added an average of 107,000 jobs a month. Under President Clinton, the economy added about 240,000 jobs a month. Under George W. Bush, it was only 13,000 a month. If you win the nomination, you’ll probably be facing a Democrat named Clinton. How are you going to respond to the claim that Democratic presidents are better at creating jobs than Republicans?
Game, Set , Match
Before u all respond that its an average with skewed results I get that…. But until Conservatives under stand that consumption is the main driver of the economy and therefore labor/wages are key to economic strength, they will never, again, get my vote
Sure looks like good numbers but there is still 8 million people unemployed. More people had jobs under the other presidents that’s why the new jobs added numbers are different.
You could say though that coming out of the Bush # 1 administration the numbers were not good for Clinton and could only go up.
Voltaire the question was from BAKER: Ms. Fiorina, while you’ve all pointed out how weak the current recovery has been and how disappointing by any historical standards, in the general election, the Democrats will inevitably ask you and voters to compare the recent president’s jobs performance.
Now, in seven years under President Obama, the U.S. has added an average of 107,000 jobs a month. Under President Clinton, the economy added about 240,000 jobs a month. Under George W. Bush, it was only 13,000 a month. If you win the nomination, you’ll probably be facing a Democrat named Clinton. How are you going to respond to the claim that Democratic presidents are better at creating jobs than Republicans? But if you believe those figures, I hope you’ve been a good boy because Santa is coming soon
The figure are generally accurate …. maybe u believe in Santa and keep drinking the Kool Aid. It was a question from a Fox News… I thought you all believe that everything from fox is true.
There are many variables that effect the economy, however it seems that the data suggests that lower taxes is not a main driver. My point is that it appears that’s the only economic policy conservatives have… The fact that they don’t value labor and consumption supports the fact they choose to not understand economics.
Communities are destroyed when a large business leaves mainly because of the all mighty dollar… How much do u value the impact that a community contributes to these businesses .. it seems that we don’t “tough luck change with the times; were in a global economy deal with it !!!; oh yeah except that doesn’t apply to outdated industries like coal !!! See the hypocrisy ??? or are u blind from the Kool Aid
Trickle down economics has been proven to be a total failure, yet the Republicans/Conservatives still cling to it. Also wanted to add that Bush and Reagan gave huge tax breaks to the rich and very little relief to the middle class. The only thing the rich do with tax breaks is keep the money for themselves. The 2 largest economic recessions since the Great Depression were caused by these policies.
Rich people supply jobs. Some of them even worked there asses off to get where they are. Like any group of people, some are a holes, and others want to help make this country a better place to live. Yes even some poor and middle class folks are scumbags too.
joe that’s fine that rich people supply jobs and work hard yippie I’m so happy that u realize that….But that’s not a philosophy for a National economy… standard conservative talking point .. u make a reasonable observation and think ur answering the question……Oh wait I have one for U “when was the last time u worked for a poor person” ha ha how bout that one sooo true therefore the problem has to be those lazy folks collecting welfare and using their food stamps to buy lobster while at the end of my work shift I’m eating Hormel chili and rice . ugggg that make me feel better .. Oh so that’s what it feel like to be a middle to low middle class conservative cuz now I feel vindicated !!!!!!!
Joetaxpayer,
Untrue. Only some rich people supply jobs. The CEO of a big corporation supplies zero jobs. It’s the company that supplies jobs, and that rich CEO is constantly looking to cut jobs to increase profits. And how about those rich people who just live off their investments, create zero jobs whatsoever, produce absolutely nothing, perform zero work, and pay a lower tax rate than someone who actually works?
lol
I find it fun that the liberals want to open up the borders, make illegals, legal. This makes it easier for those terrible rich folks to make even more money. More cheap labor, more profit. One thing I do agree with is the middle class is getting a raw deal.
Lower taxes not a main driver? Yeah right.
Show me where that’s true Kernel… Also depends on what a “main driver” of economics is .. If u show me proven straight facts with results then I’m on board… lets be straight forward if u want to solve problems .. unless u just get joy out of insulting welfare mommas .. cuz ur life sucks so bad u feel better when u beat up on those that are struggling.
The fact that states such as ma and ny are losing seats in congress to states such as Texas which is an easier place to do business should speak volumes to you unless you think a welfare economy can thrive
Ma has very generous welfare so if that’s what you’re looking for you come here
I listened to the Republican debates and heard a completely different message than what you are saying. I heard that we need welders not philosophers in this country. Less people going to college and more people doing the work that nobody wants to do cause they are too busy wanting to get a college degree. There are lots of jobs available that go unfilled for welders for example. Rick Santoram said that his message is one of “working families” and making them successful and giving the power to families who stay together rather than break apart. I heard a powerful positive message that was about a lot more than just lowering taxes although that does need to happen.
Don’t you think we need more art history graduates who have massive debt so big education can sustain ?
Very true that were losing jobs to states like Texas due to less regulations and taxes… and wages… so the states raise taxes to maintain a semblance of yesteryear (compensate corp. for the lower wages). Also states like Texas are lure people who get a better education in areas like the Northeast.. without investing in their own education and general public welfare.. Look at the statistics for states that lead in education and health and see where Texas is ranked…. that’s my point , the economic systems is gamed for the uber upper class and the expense of the rest of the country…..major system flaw that is unsustainable. However, as I states in my first reply all u hear from conservatives is less taxes, deregulation, no Federal standard for a min. wage; cuz all those min wage jobs are entry level for high school students, have u been to Wal Mart lately ? I guess all those seniors working at the cash register and greeting u are planning on a management level position …..
Oh so now we have socialist conservatives that tell the citizens what career paths they must choose …. No u cant go to college cuz we’ll make it so expensive. The lower and middle class need to stick to labor and we’ll hire u when we need u .. not to mention a welders body will break down faster … then the conservatives get u with no Health Care u poor lazy slob HA HA H A
That reply was in response to Pat.
It’s an intelligent well written piece by Laurie Tierney. It is early in the game and I am close to praying HON is a success. If it is we all win. HON is a game changer and all of us have a stake in its success.
Mr. Garivaltis..Let’s look at HON. It is clearly an upscale hotel. That means it caters to upscale individuals. Catering to upscale individuals means it is very expensive. When one considers the clientele who will stay and eat there, we exclude approximately 80-85% of all of those who live in this area. To support an operation such as HON.. requires many many high level business executives. Let’s look at potential customers for HON. They don’t exist and eventually HON will fail. Without the generous help the city gave to the Tierneys, they would never have undertaken this endeavor. The HON could be worth a fortune to the owners as a business loss against other profitable enterprises they may own. That said.. is there anything that the owners could do to stay solvent? They would have to reach out to the community and schedule many events that the city’s residents could afford. They could schedule many events and advertise wide and far to attract customers but before they could become solvent, they will be out of business. I, like you, hope they can survive but you have to realize that this is Pittsfield and the City Govt is failing also. We have to be realists it doesn/t look good for HON. Sad but true.
I totally agree. We need businesses on North Street that the average citizen can afford. This is why all of these businesses are failing. They appeal to the upper middle class….not many of them in Pittsfield.
What is an average person? How much money do they have?
Mr. More,
the information as published by City data is as follows:
Estimated per capita income in 2013: $27,761
Estimated median household income in 2013: $45,647
http://www.city-data.com/city/Pittsfield-Massachusetts.html
Just sayin
THE PLANET always appreciates your contributions to this site, JP!
I think you know that an average salary is between $25,000.00 to $35,000.00 per year. This is the median of what most people in this city earn. Actually it could be less. I’m not an expert, but it’s in that range.
Thank you to Applebee’s for a great free meal and wonderful service. A manager stopped at my table and personality thanked me for my service.
Best ever, The children from Egremont school made thank you cards for the tables. The effort they put into these cards was amazing. The school should be as proud of them as I am. Thank you all so much.
Anyone ever see the Vigilante with Charles Bronson where he sets himself up in a seedy flea bag apartment complex and gangs and drug addicts all over the place. This is what H O N reminds me of, of course, H O N is a nicer building.
I’m sharpening my thinking.
Bianchi should take note that Bill Sturgeon has had L T on two of his shows already. I always new it was Tessio.
I woulda thought Clemenza.
Cr@ig has been a breath of fresh air for the City of Pittsfield, it has needed a political ass kicking for some time. Some times you have to be forceful, with that being said,it is easy for Cr@ig to be that force as it is his nature, you can’t change that. If I had to guarantee something, it will be,he will get into that Plant, bank on it!
Congrats to Cheryl from WBRK a great lady for being M C at the Veterans Ceremony.