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JIV, PSD HAMMER MARY JANE AND JOE ONCE MORE

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 30, 2017) — THE PLANET has the scoop on the latest legal swindle perpetuated by JIV and the Pittsfield School Department, with the blessings of The Tyer Administration.

Enter the euphemistically named Student Resource Center. The SRC, the PSD tells us, produces “intervention programs” for a segment of our young scholars. In plain English, the SRC is a combination holding cell and playpen for punks who “act up” in the classroom.  It functions with simple elegance:

* Little Johnny throws a nutty during history class and tells Ms. Guerney to “go f—” herself, an activity Ms. Guerney probably has enjoyed on more than one occasion courtesy of a device and the Everready Bunny.

* Johnny leaves the classroom and goes to the SRC to “unwind.” That how the school puts it. At the SCR, Johnny theoretically learns “better self control.”

* He returns to the classroom, no harm, no foul.

* And  no, THE PLANET is not making this up. The PSD philosophy is not to “punish” students for fear of the irreparable harm it will do to the precious self-esteem of our young scholars.

The SRC had been located at St. Luke’s Square on East and Whipple streets. Lo and behold, JIV and company now have so many “disruptive students” that it needed a bigger space. Great job, there.

The PSD purchasing department then conducted the usual nationwide search for a new facility. After this exhaustive — nay, heroic — search, seems that the department only received one, count ’em, one proposal. In another of those amazing coincidences, that solitary plan came from Scarafoni Associates, a real estate firm smart enough to butter its bread with the jam from each of the two political machines that police city government, making sure an honest break for taxpayers has no chance of happening.

Initially, before the start of this school year, JIV and Scarafoni reached a deal to lease 2,045 sq. ft. at the Eagle Building, fourth floor, for $36,810. Wonder of wonders, at this point in the saga, three things happened: (a) JIV found that $100,000 had been snuck into the PSD’s FY18 budget and (b) the fourth-floor space turned out to be too small, and (c) Scarafoni just happened to have a larger playpen on the third floor.

Just like that, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski find themselves on the hook for 5,500 sq. ft. of space costing $74,965. The lease runs 20 months, expires on June 20, 2019, with the city holding a one-year renewal option.

JIV said the initial third-floor at the Eagle Building left much to be desired, and that he “struggled with certain aspects” of the arrangement. THE PLANET has no doubt he did, especially seeing that after initially bleeding taxpayers for nearly $37,000, he had almost $63,000 to play with. “Certain aspects,” like maybe he needed to do business with the “right” landlord? And it couldn’t be that the initial lease of the unsuitable fourth floor was merely a ruse to get the PSD locked into Scarafoniville before the ol’ switcheroo to the much more expensive third floor, could it? Nah, these things don’t happen in Pittsfield under Linda Tyer.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

THE PLANET has no evidence of cash-stuffed envelopes being exchanges in the dark recesses of the Mercer or Eagle buildings, to say nothing of Lach’s Lounge. Nothing of the sort. That only happens in other cities or in the movies. NEVER in Pittsfield, just so we’re all clear on that point.

We do remember the wise advice that felines can be skinned in any number of ways. When it happens, JIV probably turns his head to the left while the mayor coughs.

—————————————

“No sugar tonight in your coffee” — The Guess Who

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer

 

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gocometti
gocometti
6 years ago

A JIV type program is needed because most students want to excel and others want to waste time…by Mass law all students must go to school until they are 21 years old unless a parent takes them out of school. The students who attend a JIV type program cannot pass a CORE Test to get employment of some kind…so they must attend an alternate type school to keep them out of the classroom where the students who are interested in an education go to school. The JIV student usually gets a GED diploma which does not prepare the student for the work force if they can pass a CORE test…it just keeps them out of the regular classroom where more mature students attend school…I used to teach at the Juvenile Resource Center so I’m aware of its need.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

Perhaps this larger area is needed because the number of gang members is increasing in Pittsfield. I commend the superintendent for at least trying to get some of the gang problem out of the schools. I assume that is why most of the teachers and other school and city employees send their own children to a safer place out of Pittsfield with a better learning environment.

Perhaps he should be renting even more spaces so the gangs could be separated. How about letting them sit in the Beacon theater watching movies all day? I am sure Stan the man could use a few extra bucks…poor thing.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Mrs Behnke,Curtis,McCandless do not ever have a llan the public will see.These programs are reshuffeled from the Amuso,Eberwien days.Remember the 9 million dollar grant the Federal goverment gave Massimiano and Schools….that money needs to be explained to someone.Yon never asks the publics questions because it will expose that they all just sorta wing it and money in pittsfield is wasted and alot is hidden……Pittsfield schools budget has black operations money….Yon knows transfers in line items.

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
6 years ago

Great place for learning with trains going by throughout the day and juvenile court real close by. How long will it be until one of the students tries to hop on a train gets hurt and who will pay when PSD gets sued?

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

WTF are you babbling about?

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

Lol, just saying the train tracks are very very close to the building.

Arial Black
Arial Black
Reply to  acheshirecat
6 years ago

Kids haven’t hopped trains for 40 years now.

RobEM
RobEM
Reply to  Arial Black
6 years ago

Are these the same tracks where 2 males were having sexual relations in the daytime? In view of the Boys Club?

Kate Dempsey
Kate Dempsey
Reply to  RobEM
6 years ago

I take it, you got away? Not sure I’d post that stuff here if I were you….but, your not me.

Rust Staub
Rust Staub
Reply to  acheshirecat
6 years ago

Planet is the best.

Wilson
Wilson
6 years ago

chump change when the city can vacuum up residents’ wealth by simply increasing property assessments by 6%

http://www.cityofpittsfield.org/city_hall/board_of_assessors/recertification_fy18.php

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Wilson
6 years ago

When you go to vote next week do not vote for any candidates who mismanaged our tax dollars. Are there any candidates who are committed to spending fewer of our tax dollars?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  12 Gauge
6 years ago

Are there any candidates who are not being backed by the machine? All machine candidates are recruited and vote as instructed. Just look at the votes on key issues and you can see exactly what I mean. They line up like the planets in the sky.

and if you are not backed financially by the machine you lose…it’s that simple. No union votes…unequal media coverage. and if you got in you would by the voice in the wind

Tricksie
Tricksie
6 years ago

the ever expanding municipal government – we’re like the guy on this is my 600lb life when he wonders “how did I get here?” – ounce by ounce my man – ounce by painful ounce…..

Spider
Spider
6 years ago

Of course kids who disrupt the classroom should be housed elsewhere, so good kids can learn.

But here we go again. More renting from Scarfoni and others like him.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our PSD and SC (right now) make a plan to move these kids to a “city owned” bldg. when the lease at the Eagle Bldg. expires. Perhaps closing a school (which is often mentioned) would be the answer.

But I for one am sick and tired of my tax dollars being spent in this fashion when we all know there are better and cheaper answers.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

It is next door to probation and a good spot .

Spider
Spider
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Yes, and it is a very “costly” good spot!

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Tyer is overseeing a rapid decline in pittsfield.Its time that if you work in pittsfield you live in Pittsfield. Start now and in 20 years it wont be an issue.Also if you work here your kids go to school here..Teachers are afraid to school their children here,IIts all Yon Amuso Eberwien and Curtis fault.Stop spending money on more new programs that do not work.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

If you expect millionaires to donate to your reelection campaign ya better be tossing them a bone here and there…and the bone/bones best be bigger than the contribution

If you read the book How Govt Works by Johnny the Screwed Taxpayer you will see how governing actually happens in the shadows just beyond the masquerading mayors and city councils, who are actually just puppets being controlled from beneath the table.

Spider
Spider
6 years ago

One more question. Are the parents responsible for getting their kids there, or is the PSD providing transportation. If the latter, more added expenses for the beleaguered taxpayer.

Info
Info
6 years ago

Pardon my ignorance, but why is Hubbard School no longer used?

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  Info
6 years ago

Dont worry, it will soon be part of the blight program and be eliminated, it’s right behind chicken and Hess and about 10-15 other spots.

Two Cents
Two Cents
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

It’s amazing…That you can hold a news conference at a location of blight and cite it as an example of what you will fix if elected and how it will be a priority of your administration and yet nothing at all has been done at that location…Kinda sums up the entire term of Ms. Trashcan so far!

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Two Cents
6 years ago

I imagine if it could be cleaned up with taxpayer money by a friendly contractor it would have been done by now..Maybe whomever owns it is delaying the process.
The mayor could explain the situation if she wanted to I suppose.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Info
6 years ago

Info, mostly because the animals trashed it beyond repair.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
6 years ago

So $0.68 cents a square foot per month and my apartment rent is $1.01 per month square foot. I fail to see how someone is getting “rich” off this arrangement. (except for my landlord)

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

and the Eagle space was 90 cents per square foot per month. sounds like if they needed 5500 square feet, they negotiated a much better deal.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Pittsfield high,Herberg sped need to be reinvented with logical ideas and a cut in the budget.Herberg principle allows students to disrupt the entire day in the entire building with words of violence screamed for all to hear.This iz the number 1 reason people are pulling the good kids from our buildings.They scream at adults all day long for no reason other than they are allowed.The principles and councilors are allowing it.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Need alt school on seperat site right away.Needs to be announced in a week that they will send kids to a new building …..get them away from mainstream by next fri

H
H
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

What is that curriculum at Berkshire Works, heard good things about that.

Len X Abhorant
Len X Abhorant
6 years ago

Seems the administration has been talking trash from the get go. Hess will soon be our next Museum.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Len X Abhorant
6 years ago

Actually the Hess Mess is what Pittsfield could become if it just tried a little harder.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Donald Trump Christmas carols:

It’s beginning to look a lot like prison, for everyone President Trump knows.

You’d better watch out, you’d better not lie, you’d better not tweet
I’m telling you why, Robert Mueller’s taking you down.

Source: The Pen (The People’s Email Network)

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

and I hope they adopt out the kid to a nice Muslim family

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Great show on Hannity last night. These arrests just a distraction from the real Russian collusion and treason… Bill and Hillary. Even democrats cannot argue with the evidence. They can only try to ignore the truth. Mueller also involved…what a hypocrite. Nothing linking Trump has been proven, even remotely, including this BS.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Ed Check
6 years ago

Hannity never lies or makes shit up. I would trust this guy with my newborn child even if he wanted to take him to a bar with a bunch of drunken Australians. Hannity is the man! In fact, he may even be God in disguise!

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

No, just a great investigator. If we had journalists that were not propaganda agents, they too could fall over all the obvious facts as well.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
6 years ago

Larry’s putting me to sleep.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Ward Council picks ……. Wong,Rivers,Connell,Caccamo,Gueil,

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Simonelli……

mi
mi
6 years ago

Why does the City need a youth Center? the Boys and Girls Clubs Aren’t good enough?

H
H
6 years ago

The BIC idea sux. This is a feel good City council agree upon, which is politically correct, they have nothing else to hang their hat on.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
6 years ago

Sere, Wright, Cacamo , Gueil, Moon and Sere are Tyer’s and Krol’s handpicked candidates. Avoid them at all costs or the only thing Pittsfield can expect is KY Jelly for the taxpayers,

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

There use to be a guy who worked deep in the bowels of the Berkshire Eagle who would come up once every couple of years and tell the people of Pittsfield whom to vote for. He would read off a list of names handed to him from the good old boys.

It will be interesting to see if the new version of the local paper continues this self serving trend. Hopefully they are not taking the bribes and favors.

h
h
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

I haven’t read an Eagle in awhile, according to the show on PCTV it’s not a bad newspaper anymore, is that true ?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  h
6 years ago

I get a free copy from the in laws so I read it much of the time. I was going to wait and see if they endorsed good old boy candidates before I gave my opinion but I will do so now. I think the paper is greatly improved although being better than a total piece of shit is a dubious distinction. If they do not endorse candidates (and why should they) I will say why I think it is better.

painter
painter
6 years ago

I just saw P.M. you know the council President on the debates and he made a statement that just turned me off. He said we should leave the council to the PROFESSIONALS. I am not sure but i think he is saying the voter docent have the intelligence to be on the council. He lost my vote.

H
H
Reply to  painter
6 years ago

Yeah, Professional Politicians, countthem?

Cosbies
Cosbies
6 years ago

Trumps campaign pledges are one Big Failure. Now he has an internal investigation which could lead to an impeachment, what a flop.

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Cosbies
6 years ago

Blame your state, not Trump. I was reading a newsletter from a headhunter I am using. Unemployment rate approximately four percent. Stock market doing well.
Another article I read in the American Free Press even cited black unemployment rate cut in half from record highs during the President Obama years.

Our depression in the Berkshire’s really is a result of poor local and state leadership. And people wonder why our young people get out of here…maybe they are just smarter than us. They realize they cannot fix stupidity.

mi
mi
6 years ago

There are no jobs, health care, wall,unity, just
Unilateral division and PCTV stooge like bootlicking.

Len X Abhorant
Len X Abhorant
6 years ago

Council Vote : Tony (roads) Simonelli
Cack
Real deal Guiel

Jethro C
Mel Maz
G Man
Earl the Pearl

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

Morandi answers to no one,but votes for the powers to be 90 percent of the time. Vote Dina, she’s not Helen Moon or Serre, she’s independent, and NOT a Krol Clone. She is educated, very smart, and will be a proponent averge citizen. She is a graduate of Northeastern University, she’s young and has the energy to do this job, full tilt. Morandi said in the debate that Dina is already looking to move? So wrong, and a desperate falsehood.Why would a sitting City Councilor make that kind of a statement? I like to think that my input here on the Planet is sometimes worthy and have always told the truth with facts behind what I say.To the Ward Two Voters, you can be assured Dina Guiel will represent you to the best of her ability. What do you have to lose?

Sincerely…Nota

Arial Black
Arial Black
Reply to  Nota
6 years ago

Agreed Nota. If Morandi was going to do anything amazing he would have done it by now.

mi
mi
Reply to  Arial Black
6 years ago

May e he was in on the Trash Cans?

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  Nota
6 years ago

I’m sitting out local elections until someone comes along who will fight for the taxpayers. There is just no point anymore, my options on the ballot are between bad and worse. Our mayor supports identity politics and seems to support groups tied to antifa/blm. She should work on Pittsfields huge problems instead of her asinine SJW B.S.!

mi
mi
6 years ago

Or maybe.

Cosbies
Cosbies
6 years ago

Dina came back to Pittsfield after graduating with a Public Administration degree from NU, not many do that. I don’t think she is doing this for personall gain. Morandi makes you believe he’s for the little guy, yet, votes say otherwise, he’s had hers to figure out several key issues and has not come to any conclusions, especially on what to do with the St. Mary’s D D fiasco. Crime is Ward two is at am all time high and taxes are at an all ti e high.

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  Cosbies
6 years ago

Thanks, but no thanks on her campaign facebook page, she has pics with tricia farley bouvier….same old… same old.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Cosbies
6 years ago

Cosbies, Public Administration degree? LMAO give me a break.

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  Cosbies
6 years ago

Rumor is St. Mary’s could already be a done deal and Scarafoni Associates are rumored to be the prospective buyers Should make for a great photo op and vibrant and dynamic story.

Cosbies
Cosbies
6 years ago

Sorry for the miscues.

Cosbies
Cosbies
6 years ago

Funny Pauly,, should have just said N U degree,like the Cop in the Godfather, guess I’m getting too old for this.

H
H
6 years ago

Trumps not getting it done. His ambiguous rhetoric has created division amongst just about every venue of democracy, decency and respectfrom our allies to foreign enemies and our own citizens.

Harry Merkin
Harry Merkin
6 years ago

TFB is worried about sexual harassment at the statehouse….. Tricia, you don’t have a thing to be worried about. Believe Me.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Harry Merkin
6 years ago

She seems to jump on every current band wagon that was someone else issue. Does she ever come up with anything of her own or would that actually involve work?

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Nothing ever changes,nothing we can do.Tyer will get another 6%

Franco-eyed
Franco-eyed
6 years ago

To help the taxpayers we need to bring our kids and grandkids generation back to the area. Morandi is a cash-only barber in Lee. He sits through budget hearings, he doesn’t offer shit to the process. When has he ever saved you money? He knows nothing about capitalism.

At least Guiel comes from a background real small business. I’m with Nota. The kid is the real deal. Don’t look at the pictures, she’s just playing the game. Everyone starts somewhere.