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TOO MUCH TO ASK: A PARKING PLAN THAT WORKS

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 28, 2017) — Last Christmas season, as you may recall, the city of Pittsfield draped each new parking kiosk with a red or green plastic hood. The city pretended that Santa Claus visited, but we all know there isn’t a Santa. There isn’t even an Edmund Gwynn any longer, or Fred Gwynn for that matter. In fact, the kiosks, scheduled to be working in November, experienced “technical difficulties” that prevented their implementation. Already Tyer-ed of a series of embarrassments-disguised as triumphs involving public safety, public schools, and other areas of common market, Pittsfield put forth the fiction of an early Christmas gift of “free parking.” The sumbitches didn’t dare mention that the half-million-dollar meters went bust.

As we all knew, it didn’t take bringing back that bald retread of Deanna Ruffer to enjoy the experience of no-hassle parking for a month [ED. NOTE: Of course, when the touchy kiosks got well, the snows came. The cold played havoc with the software, and even many of the meters that were working couldn’t be accessed by bedraggled motorists because of the snow banks. Of course, that didn’t stop the city from greedily issuing tickets]. From this Keystone Kops disaster, however, the germ of an idea emerged. Try this one on for size:

  • How about making free Christmas parking a permanent fixture?

Better yet, allow THE PLANET to share a tremendous idea that came after talking with one of downtown most conscientious (and successful) businessman:

  • How about charging for parking only during the so-called “tourist” season? From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the blasted parking machines would be fed. The rest of the year, the parking would be free.

THE PLANET has long recommended the one thing Pittsfield has in recent memory never tried: free parking all year for everyone. It’s an experiment worth trying, betting on the increase in downtown business more than offsetting the lost revenue from the metering. As it is, the kerplunk kiosks will cost taxpayers at least $30,000 a year in loss, once the final totals crash land in the finance director’s office at city hall. That’s assuming the recurring software glitches do not appear with greater frequency, a “taken for granted” THE PLANET isn’t willing to accept. For some excuse never sufficiently backed by reason or logic, Pittsfield has resisted this Edison-like move. It likely will never come around to the sanity of making the experience of traveling downtown as least excruciating as possible.

We get that. Kinda. The second option above would seem a fair compromise. It would be easy to measure the economic impact of free parking from the nearly nine months from Memorial to Labor days, especially compared to the previous money-losing years. Implementing the move would require intelligence and a dash of boldness. THE PLANET realizes that may be asking too much from The H.M.S. Good Ship Lollipop, but we are romantic fools. We would rather call upon reverie from the gods rather than accept the status queer. Perhaps The Lovely Linda would agree?

—————————————————————–

“Simplicity, it’s fine with me. My friends they do agree. … I saw you. You saw me, looking back at you”Mick Valenti

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.

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Helpa Mericabreeth
Helpa Mericabreeth
6 years ago

The best one was the Wahconah side of B M C last winter watching, the old lady try to jump over the snow bank to use the Kiosk. She ended up walking back up Wahconah and around, back to the Kiosk on the other side of the snow bank.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Helpa Mericabreeth
6 years ago

Isn’t the city responsible for shoveling out the meter shacks (Kiosk)? If not how can they ticket you?

The old lady would have a good lawsuit against the suits in city hall.

May Hemm
May Hemm
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Where was the Health Department during the snowstorm where the snow was piled up in front of the kiosks on Wahconah? Last year.

Ron Kitterman
Ron Kitterman
6 years ago

Will be interesting to see if the Kiosks, contributed to the Lantern Restaurant closing its doors.

Make Pittsfield Great Again
Make Pittsfield Great Again
Reply to  Ron Kitterman
6 years ago

The Lantern closed because the fire inspector went in there and found fault with the place. In order to comply with his demands the owner would have to spend 80k on upgrades. Being near retirement the owner said screw it. I’ll just close. Long live Pittsfield.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Make Pittsfield Great Again
6 years ago

Your right MPGA but why did you have to ruin it for these two. Everybody hopes the kiosks and parking system fails and is the cause of more and more businesses to leave.

lakeside
lakeside
Reply to  Make Pittsfield Great Again
6 years ago

maybe the lantern should of changed its name to east side and all their faults might be overlooked by such inspectors,,,

H
H
6 years ago

Ron, Pap has been thinking of doing this for years, business has always been good. He’s in his mid sixties.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

I’m gonna miss the smell.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

Is it ttue that the main reason they want to fix up Tyler street is so they can line it with parking meters and collect a bonanza in fines? Is it?

And by the way Tyler street is an awesome place for a bicycle lane, what with all the traffic coming out of the side streets in a hurry. It is great if you own an ambulance company that is for sure.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

It is the truth Dusty, that’s the main reason.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Thomas More
6 years ago

thanks i knew I could count on you for good info

Don T
Don T
6 years ago

I’ve seen at least five bicycles going the wrong way on the bike lanes?

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Don T
6 years ago

You RACIST!!!

Those are just “directionally confused” minorities who have been discriminated against since the advent of traffic rules and laws. Nearly a century now.

Who are you to say what is right, or left?! And those poor souls that drive right down the middle? Their “rights”?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

or they be from London where there is not one person in the whole country who knows enough to drive on the right side of the rode. after all these years they still have not figgered it out….must be Trump supporters

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Hi Dan.

Here is a story that never generated any traction in the MSM; D- MO State Senator endorses assassination of our President.

Missouri Democratic State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal called for the assassination President Donald Trump last week in a Facebook post that stated: “I hope Trump is assassinated!” during an exchange with a left-wing activist who claimed a family relative was a Secret Service agent.

No outrage at this at all?

Don T
Don T
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Trapped, do you think that she is the only one wishing for his demise?

Still wondering
Still wondering
Reply to  Don T
6 years ago

There are no rules for the Dems. The media allows them to do and say pretty much anything.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Don T
6 years ago

Wish whatever you will. I wish the Hildebeast went to…..

This “woman” took several oaths, to uphold the constitution was one.

Sedition/treason, is a crime. Look it up.

BTW, think we’d be better off now with the Clinton Criminal Network back infesting the White House?

I mean they sold all our uranium to Russia, made the deal with the Koreans that got us where we are now with Nut Job having Nukes (thanks Willie boy) , and for that matter the China trade deals too. That carpetbagger witch spent over a month in China first weeks as Sec. of Treason under Obama.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

I think you should look up the Federal laws. You are an idiot.

h
h
6 years ago

The only Pittsfield Employee with any balls is Randy Stein.

Discreet Cat
Discreet Cat
6 years ago

i believe in the candidate when I vote. I don’t vote Republican or Democrat, but there is not much to choose from lately, so I go..l…N O T A.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Discreet Cat
6 years ago

Can we agree on Re-Elect Nobody 2018?

Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Want happened to that blond chick that used to have the hots for you Mad? She lived off Churchill,hotsy totsy.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Wild in the Streets
6 years ago

????

You are confused.

But send any Blond hotsy totsys my way.

; )

None Of The Above
None Of The Above
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Write in none of the above for school committee and ward 6 city council because the ballot will feature baboons

None Of The Above
None Of The Above
Reply to  Discreet Cat
6 years ago

Write me in.

Discreet Cat
Discreet Cat
6 years ago

I’m not votin.

None Of The Above
None Of The Above
Reply to  Discreet Cat
6 years ago

Vote for me

dusty
dusty
Reply to  None Of The Above
6 years ago

Where can I get my NONE OF THE ABOVE baseball cap?

May Hemm
May Hemm
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Elegant stitches first street makes everything

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

Curious to see who wins in ward races.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Bill Q
6 years ago

Ward 1’s up for grabs, most likely Moon. Incumbents are all locks in the six other wards. Persip wins the vacant at large seat and there are six folks running for school committee for six seats. No need to be curious any more. Now you know.

War Pigs
War Pigs
Reply to  Thomas More
6 years ago

Moon already has lawn signs up so it’s obvious she has the $$. And the $$ almost always win.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

The latest news in Pittsfield politics:
* The BMC nurses are not successfully negotiating with their well paid administrators; there is talk of a strike; there are comparisons between Pittsfield and North Adams’ hospitals

* Tyler Street is being revitalized after millions of dollars were spent on revitalizing North Street; Tyler Street is Pittsfield’s poorest neighborhood

* No one from Ward 6 is challenging incumbent city councilor John Krol; The School Committee is also uncontested; Linda Tyer will have to propose a new municipal budget next year with the city at its levy ceiling under Proposition 2.5; will there be more “free cash” next fiscal year?

* The Lantern restaurant on North Street is closing; it was an institution for many generations; the owner is retiring

* Downtown parking is a mess and operating at loss of tens of thousands of dollars

* PEDA is a joke at 19 years old; but, there is always next year for a Super WalMart store

* The cable company won’t play Patriots games in Berkshire County because they favor New York

* Jack Welch takes morning swims in Silver Lake, then he eats an early lunch at Teo’s hot dogs, then he sells PEDA to Fortune 500 companies, then he fishes in the Housatonic River at cooks his fresh catch dinner at Woods Hole in Lenox, then he retires for the evening in his apartment on the corner of North Street and Tyler Street

May Hemm
May Hemm
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

The apartment burned down years ago, Jack has since moved to Dower Square. Where the action is.

Silent Cal
Silent Cal
6 years ago

Consider, the cost of the kiosks, the 30k per year to maintain them, the cost to the city every month for the phone app, the cost of the cars that the parking monitors drive, how many people in the parking department? What is their total cost per year…including insurance, what the city kicks on for their retirement etc…..if you consider all of these costs are we really making anything? Or does this parking program break even or loose money?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Silent Cal
6 years ago

and if the whole boondoggle kiosk program fails miserably there is no resale second hand value to these things. Take them to a museum or a dump…which ever is closer and if they go to the museum make sure there is a smiling picture of the mayor shaking hands with the consultant hanging overhead

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

The Pitt could convert the Meter Shacks to more low income housing.

Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Reply to  Mad Trapper
6 years ago

Didn’t Donna Shivers have a show about 30 times reruns about how great the Kiosks were. The Generals daughter was on the show along with Frank and Turocy telling us how great they were.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  Silent Cal
6 years ago

It is ridiculous to think Pittsfield will support parking kiosks, when it cannot even sustain itself. Pittsfield is social services laden city. Majority of population is elderly. Then we have moochers and drug addicts. A percentage is upstanding, reliable, working citizens.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Spagirl
6 years ago

the good news is that somebody made a ton of money on these things and who knows maybe there was a kickback or two floating in the air.

I am kidding

No I am not

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
Reply to  Spagirl
6 years ago

Yeah, all employed by the City.

h
h
6 years ago

While in my truck driving I tuned in for wtbr and could have sworn Stoogeon was saying something about the homo’s behind Wahconah Park? What the hell is that?

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Anyone see the story where whored out Evangelist millionaire,Joel , wouldn’t let the environmental refugeses inTexas, into his mega Center,(believe it holds thousands) the reason,he didn’t want it dirtied up.

Still wondering
Still wondering
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Selective outrage. Why didn’t the Houston MLB team open their stadium?

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  Still wondering
6 years ago

Once again a case of a social media troll making up a news story. He claimed the church posted it would not open to those displaced by the storm, which was inaccurate. Then he showed video he did of the outside of the building, showing no flooding in the parking lot.

The church posted that they had flooding inside the building, which they proved with video and pictures, but would open the second floor if the public shelters became full.

tito
tito
Reply to  Still wondering
6 years ago

Because they’re good this year.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Joel Osteen.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Jimmy Swaggart would have let them in.

mi
mi
6 years ago

Guess Trump is waiting until Jung does some destruction.

Freud
Freud
Reply to  mi
6 years ago

You make me feel so Jung.
You make me feel as though spring has sprung.
And every time I see you grin,
I’m such a happy individual.

The moment that you speak,
I want to go and play hide and seek.
I wanna go and bounce the moon,
Just like a toy balloon.

You and I
Are just like a couple of tots,
Running across a meadow
Pickin’ up lots of forget-me-nots.

You make me feel so Jung.
You make me feel there are songs to be sung,
Bells to be rung,
And a wonderful fling to be flung.

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

Ironic how one of the driest states in the union is under a sea of water.

Trumped Up
Trumped Up
6 years ago

The President is out golfing and is said to be being BriefEd on the goings on in the Southwest, while people are dying. Fly out there you bozo. America First.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Trumped Up
6 years ago

Stop the lies. Trump has been planning this trip for days. He is in Austin, Texas today which is as close as his security team will allow. Progressives need to stop spreading lies during national disasters. Why are they constantly trying to score political points and using disasters to do it?

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

“Brownie, you’re doing a heckuva job”

H
H
6 years ago

America is not Great when Jung lobs Missile after Missile against President Trumps orders! He’s no better than Obama with Russia.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  H
6 years ago

Obama also provided all the money for North Korea to be able to afford all these weapons.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

I hear Obama was flying over Houston in a blimp dropping buckets of water on the people trying to get out of the nursing homes. What a meany he is.

Richard Baculum
Richard Baculum
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

That wasn’t a blimp it was Rosie O’Donnell.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  H
6 years ago

Why would any sovereign nation care what soon to be ex president orange moonbat has to say about anything?

Howard Jay
Howard Jay
6 years ago

Best night of the week for PCTV 16. It’s political night starting at 5:00 pm .

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
6 years ago

thanks Jay!

Richard Baculum
Richard Baculum
6 years ago

I think PVTV is in the mix tonight.

Madame Du Barry
Madame Du Barry
Reply to  Richard Baculum
6 years ago

Always!

H
H
6 years ago

Do to severe Deocratic pressure,Joel Osteen has opened the doors to his Church. Severe pressure.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

The mayor is excited about sending our chestnuts seeds to other parts of the country and restoring the pond at Springside park, for catching tadpoles. It will need money for a damn reconstruction, no pun intended, i assume. But the wading pool will not be coming back. As my parents recall, the pond was swampy and smelled back in the day! It had huge sewing needles which used to traverse the stinky pond, which dried up over the years, as they recall, it was a creepy water whole.

Bill Q
Bill Q
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

They might want to reconsider reconstruction or restoration, as I recall, the pond was a mosquito breeding nightmare.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Bill Q
6 years ago

Maybe we could start a mosquito breeding laboratory there to study the West Nile virus. Give it some of that GE in lieu of taxes money and get this economic engine off the ground. What are we waiting for? Is the Nuclea guy around to sell this thing to the politico?

Rocky Creed
Rocky Creed
6 years ago

Moon and the woman running in ward 2, who are good friends, were hand picked by Tyer. She is trying to stack the city council in her favor for voting on her issues.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Rocky Creed
6 years ago

does she need to stack the council? Is she having trouble getting every little thing she wants? Seems like more than a couple of ass kissers lurking on the council.

Is Krol mayor yet? Is he going to wait till this mayors term is over? He is drooling for the corner office

Bill Q
Bill Q
6 years ago

I was watching the Tyler Street hip happening tour of the gelato, and tatoo parlor,that was filled with dignitaries from the city with the Mayor. Didn’t see the Ward Councilor Morandi?