A PLANET TWO-FER: CACCAMO TAKES THE GARBAGE OUT BUT THE TRASH REMAINS … plus … THE RACE CARD: PANEL PLAYS IT (YET) AGAIN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 19, 2016) — Ward 3 councilor Nick Caccamo thinks garbage is a choice he can impose on the city. He’s a millennial, after all.
You know the type. They only get their coffee from Starbucks — or Dotties if they want to “be seen.” They make sure the beans were handpicked by Juan Valdez on sustainable acreage in a country that signed the non-GMO lineage, certified organic by CCOF from eco-friendly harmonics. Latte mocha pumpkin spice three sweet and lows caramel mist. As for THE PLANET, we take our “joe” hot as fire and black as coal.
With Pittsfield’s garbage situation and the Covanta pullout having caught city leaders and the mayor asleep at the wheel, the Dumpster Speedwagon is about to careen into that yonder oak tree. Yeah, that one — the one that’s closing fast.
Because Caccamo is a millennial, he thinks in a “green” overlay when it’s not rainbows, the type of pretty filter that colors nearly every issue for the obsessed screen-watchers. Sure, they mean well, but Even his need to save the rest of us from ourselves causes him to continually miss the big picture.
As we understand Caccamo’s proposal, each household would be limited to one container each for trash and recyclables. Anything else would impose a fee. Large, bulky items will require a $15 sticker. Consider it another tax. Caccamo loves new taxes.
It doesn’t take The Amazing Randi to see how this will play out should Caccamo’s council colleagues agree. You think the city looks like a shit pile now? Wait to see what a real dump looks like if the proposal passes. It will only encourage litter. Parks and places will fill up with bulging trash bags and all manner of discarded goods. The city’s few responsible citizens and the landlords will be picking up the tab. The deadbeats, druggies, “gimme girls,” and gang members would then have the entire 43 square miles of the city as their own personal trash receptacle.
——– 000 ——–
ED NOTE: The following entry may be offensive to those who love political correctness. Ideological guidance is advised.
The Race is Lost by Running Quickly — Want to do something about “race” in America? Politicize it. That’s what Barrington Stage (BS) and Mayor Linda Tyer did yesterday. The BS got some cheap publicity for a production while Tyer got to express “concern” about this ill-defined issue by chairing a public panel discussion. Handy and dandy.
That’s what BS and The Lovely Linda did with their Sunday afternoon with a panel presentation of “Race, Bias and Culture in Present-day America. The gum-fest coincided with the BS re-staging its summer production of the play American Son.
The theme of the panel discussion was “Community-based strategies to help young people of color create a roadmap of success.” Let THE PLANET say what most of us already know. The “roadmap of success” for “young people of color” is the same as for “young people of non-color:”
1. Don’t have sex until you’re married,
2. Stay in school
3. Study hard.
4. Graduate
5. Get a job or continue your education.
6. Don’t do drugs
7. Don’t join a gang
8. Become an adult
9. Take responsibility for your choices.
An Odd Rhetorical Regression
The phrase “people of color” seems an odd regression, close, actually, to the phrase “colored people” of the WWII generation. It reminds THE PLANET of a cartoon we saw in the early 70s. It shows a multi-generational black family around the breakfast table. The young, afro-ed male asks his dad, “How come gram is ‘colored,’ you’re a ‘Negro,’ and I’m ‘Imamu Baraka?'” Imamu’s children and theirs today could update the gag by adding “African-American” and “persons of color.”
One reviewer of American Son said audience “heads were hanging low, tears filled eyes, and I even heard one man say ‘and yet the GOP is still controlled by the NRA.'” That tells you everything you need to know about the production — and the Pittsfield panel blab — from a political and ideological point of view. Politics and ideology, after all, are the only two forces that matter in a “Massachusetts discussion” of race, gender, or LGBTQU and the rest of the trendy alphabet soup.
A true, authentic discussion of race? If you’re white, use the service entrance. If you’re white, you’re either a “racist” or a “sympathizer.” Either way, you’re guilty.
———————————————————————————————-
“Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.” — Malcolm X
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI 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.
White males are the one group that it is ok to make fun of or bash in any way that you want.
One container for trash and one for recyclables? I think recyclables should be unlimited. Why punish responsible recycle-rs.
Having said that, many recyclables can be crushed or inserted into each other to take up less room in your bin.
I just saw on channel 6 news we had a murder at the YMCA Sun morning. Nothing in this mornings Eagle. The Eagle…….last weeks news today.
Perhaps there is a skeleton crew on at the Eagle for weekends. The editor should be in by ten or eleven so check back then. But do not expect any follow up from the original story. Looks like for every investigative reporter (one?) they have ten selling advertising. Almost all of the stories look like they were picked from the web and are irrelevant to local readers.
Dan V., you describe the progressives SO WELL. I couldn’t agree more.
Caccamo is exactly as you described him, a Millenial shill. Instead of a bike path on Elm street, which either no one uses, or they use it inappropriately and ride out in front of cars. He should have done something about the motorcycles/cars speeding on the straightaway from Domino’s to Williams street. Then again, it doesn’t fit the progressive agenda.
And yes, I do live in Ward 3 and I have in fact talked to Senor Caccamo. I was not impressed
Did he give you a blank stare
Breaking news in the Eagle. State troopers had to put down a moose that was hit by a vehicle in Courtlant, N.Y. Thank god we have a newspaper that saw how important it was to get this information to the residents of Pittsfield in a timely manner.
A lesser news outlet might have overlooked this as non relevant page filler and we would have never known about it. Kudos to the clock tower on this one.
With all due respect to The Amazing Randi, we don’t need a clairvoyant to imagine a future with pay-as-you-throw garbage. As with most municipal matters, all you have to do is look at other cities who have tried these things. Worcester instituted pay-as-you-throw over 20 years ago and it has proven to be a success by every measure. And don’t tell me Worcester is populated by sustainability wonks.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20131129/NEWS/311299878
I don’t care where other cities have down
But Mike, even when you were on the council the people who dared to speak against raising taxes were bitch slapped with the response that if we wanted all these services like trash removal that the surrounding towns weren’t blessed with, then taxes must go up. Does that mean if it goes to pay as you throw taxes will go down? And why is it that we look at other towns when it is something the administration wants but if it isn’t something they don’t the response is that we are Pittsfield-not Worcester(or fill in any town that does what they don’t agree with)?
There is recliner over on Onota St. before the Linden St. intersection, might need a wash, vacuum and some stitching and springs, but otherwise is o k.
Joe, first question — it means the solid waste cost ($2M last time I checked) would come out of the budget. That doesn’t mean there won’t be more than $2M of other increases to the budget. So it’s more likely that your taxes would increase less that one year. And you’d have the new fee. Overall some people would make out better, some worse.
Second question — This is an interesting question but I can’t think of an example of an idea from another city that was presented here and didn’t get any traction. Oh, wait. Yes. There’s that speed humps thing. Crazy popular in Chicago but not really catching on in Pittsfield.
New on this site, new to city. Love first not so crazy about second. I’m renting a house for 6 months maybe 8 (here on computer work for large employer).
Now into my third month here. That’s enough for me to agree with Mr. Valenti that pay-as-u-throw garbage with not work.
I’m appalled at how much trash and litter I see not in my neighborhood but elsewhere and espec. near the down town center.
CO
Welcome to THE PLANET. It’s always a special pleasure to welcome newcomers. Glad you enjoy our product. I can see from your comment that you have fast “come up to speed” on the workings of the fair city of Pittsfield.
I’m actually glad something is like this is happening. Maybe this will finally going prevent the cheap low lifes from neighboring towns from dumping illegally on Pittsfield curbsides, and it will motivate people to recycle. But yes it would be nice to get some kind of rebate on our taxes.
So what is the actual cost???/
Nice.
yes this is a great idea – then Springside Park can become a bigger land fill – great idea Caccamo. I just spend Sat walking around Springside digging out garage, sofas, tires, bikes, diapers, etc – jesus, if your bored read a book –
Any word on the man shot on Columbus a while ago?
You mean murdered?
Between the new school, water and sewer, oh and open it’s conceivable to be about a half billion dollars in debt.
Just heard the idiot that set off the bombs in ny nj is being held on 5 million dollar bond. He can make bond”
African American man shot by a female cop, he died. Chief says he’ll investigate.
Pittsfield High sending students to American Son by donation of free tickets by Barrington Stage. Not sure if Taconic High is also involved.