Article

IN NORTH ADAMS, BONEHEAD BONA CRAPS ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT; PLANET THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET, ISSUING DEBATE CHALLENGE

0 0 votes
Article Rating

BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 26-28, 2018) — The U.S. Constitution, one of the most seminal foundational documents ever drafted, has been amended 27 times. The first revision stands by far as the most important. The freedoms articulated by the First Amendment spell out what the Declaration and the Constitution implicitly define. In fact, the Bill of Rights defines America — or at least what America should be, once was, and must become again.

Without these rights, this country becomes the worst of nations, one imprisoned by the facade of freedom. THE PLANET would argue such oppression is worse than the outright brutalities of active totalitarianism in the important aspect of servitude. A fake democracy is one in which most of its citizens remain ignorant. They think they’re free, eliminating the type of discontent that brings petty tyrants like North Adams city council president Keith Bona to the just reward of public humiliation. More on Bonehead Bona in a bit.

First, let THE PLANET remind one and all, including Bonehead, that having freedom without exercising it gives a person no advantage over someone who has none at all. We at this address have practiced our profession armed with First Amendment protection, many times going investigatively into stories and topics that Suits and offenders were trying to cover up. We often pissed off the right people, many of whom, like Keith Bona, would  prefer a country with no Bill of Rights.

In 2012 THE PLANET on our own time and expense uncovered a major travesty of justice when the entitled daughter of one of Pittsfield’s most Connected ran down an innocent pedestrian walking his dog. She drove off, leaving the man for dead. The Powers That Be worked hard to suppress the story. With the help of fearless sources and a hell-bent-for-leather intrepidation, THE PLANET, alone among local media, exposed the wrongdoing, helping the victim and his family achieve justice.

As a reward, the princess daughter brought a lawsuit against THE PLANET. A judge in cahoots ordered us to remove all coverage of the incident and went even further. She slapped a prior restraint on this scribe, ordering that we report no further. We defended ourselves in a six-hour courtroom hearing, resting our defense entirely on the First Amendment and directly asking the plaintiff in court, under oath: Was ANYTHING in our coverage false? Name one specific case. She couldn’t, nor could her defense. The case drew worldwide attention and set an important precedent in the relatively unexplored territory of free speech, free press, and cyberspace. We secured a victory for free speech everywhere.

Now back to Bona. He recently drafted a proposal giving the North Adams council president (a) the power to ban persons from attending council meetings and (b) muzzling any attendees, both at his arbitrary whim.

“I don’t buy into the free speech argument,” Bona huffed.

That may be so, but Keith Bona, you are wrong. Your pig-headed view, topped only by your moronic ignorance, defies even stupidity as a mitigator, embarrassing as that would be. So tell you what: THE PLANET calls you out. We challenge you to a public debate over the merits of “the free speech argument.” Are you man enough to take up this challenge. Or are you going to go all Barney Fife on us, jelly kneed and all? We tell you in advance, if you accept, it will end with your public horsewhipping. We never lose debates.

  • Please reply at once to THE PLANET. We’re open for business 24/7, giving everyone their say. Even the likes of you.

In the meantime, to all our good friends, have a great weekend.

——————————————–

“Congress shall make no law … prohibiting … or abridging the freedom of speech or the freedom of the press” — First Amendment.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
113 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
dusty
dusty
6 years ago

Hail Planet! A voice in the shadowy netherworld. of politics.

Paul
Paul
6 years ago

Funny how you mentioned that hit and run case. Like so often around here she basically walked away from the whole thing and nothing ever happened to her.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  Paul
6 years ago

Because of daddy’s power and influence in a corrupt small town. But Dan Valenti exposed them, and it will follow them wherever they go.

dusty
dusty
6 years ago

This is from a today Iberkshires article……

” Tyer added that the upfront cost would come from grants and free cash, money the citizens have already paid in taxes and not an addition to the tax rate.”

Really? Can we get the roads fixed with all the grants and free cash lying around? Would one of these things be more important than the other?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

this is in reference to the toters/collusion/collision

nothing wrong with free toters right taxpayers?? No spin on this chatter

iffin it’s money y’all worrying yer pretty little heads about fergit about it cuz these toters is free

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

There is a very bad smell to this.

Rocky Creed
Rocky Creed
6 years ago

A female police officer who has been out for the past year on worker’s comp was working day shift when “injury” happened. She recently bid and got onto night shift, with it comes a 10% raise. Even though she continues to be out on comp she got a raise. Something is seriously wrong with the system.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Rocky Creed
6 years ago

wunner if this would work for a taxpayer

Hugh Janos
Hugh Janos
Reply to  Rocky Creed
6 years ago

Rocky. Sorry but she gets paid at the rate she was making at the time she was injured

Dustin
Dustin
Reply to  Hugh Janos
6 years ago

I know who you are

Magoo
Magoo
6 years ago

Is the planet again up to exposing public corruption?

Again Taking those who feel the are above the laws, they are sworn to uphold, to task for their wrongdoing?

Is this a segue into your next expose?

Planet Valente home of the very real news !!

Spagirl
Spagirl
6 years ago

Keith Bona is a prime example of Power going to your head. Ignorance on steroids.

Halo
Halo
6 years ago

Contract time is coming up.Yawn and Alias are spewing the same old same old with the Bootlicker playing the Violin. A statement was made,that at Mercer business ad) it is employing below many other districts, that comment is ridiculous, that could mean towns with one school to fifty schools? Less people there than thirty years ago? How many students did we have back then, how many other employees also? These are the people we have Cheerleadimg for the schools, and by the way, two of the connected people, former teachers are both pulling in 50 g plus from the taxpayer.

Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
6 years ago

The Left and their media minions are approaching full Chucky mode on the FBI, FISA warrant, and the Russian hoax.

Remember when Chucky was caught behind the grill in the fireplace and was getting his little ass burned off? And how he went into frenzied hysterics trying to get out of there?

Well, that’s the Chucky mode that Dems and their propaganda wing (the media) go into when their narrative starts to fall apart–when they’re caught in a lie, essentially.

So, in order to dominate the narrative today they run this Trump wanted to fire Mueller (through WH counsel) story–all over the place, and everyone runs the exact same thing: NYT starts it then goes to BBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC.

So starting with BBC on the radio early this morning, I got up and went through the TV channels–everyone had the same thing–except FOX.

Now, DID he actually fire Mueller? No. Do you think that maybe Bubba Clinton wanted to fire Ken Starr? Do you think that any president would want to fire the special prosecutor?

The difference here is that we will eventually learn that Trump SHOULD HAVE fired Mueller.

Why? Because this Russia baloney is completely made up out of whole cloth by the Clintonistas smarting (getting their little asses burned) by losing or in case they were to lose to Trump.

The Left know it is about to hit the fan on all this. They are heavily invested in this Russia thing–it is all they got. Otherwise they got jack.

Remember how people scoffed when Trump said Trump Tower was bugged? Well, as with many other things, he was actually right.

Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Reply to  Edward R. Murrow
6 years ago

And, I think Trump in Davos is a nice contrast to Obummer, who would regularly travel the world bashing his own country.

Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Reply to  Edward R. Murrow
6 years ago

Sort of a weak bar stool tack just to say that “everyone does it” and “they’re all the same.” This is usually the reluctant answer of one side when caught doing the same things they themselves rail against.

But, if so, why doesn’t the media report both sides to it, huh? Why the 90% bias against Republicans and 99% for Democrats?

“Journalism,” our host has stated eloquently, is supposed to protect the folks from those in power, examine and hold to account those in power.

But what the “journalists” do is only try to hold ONE SIDE to account–because they’re in cahoots with the other side, namely, the Democrats.

So, a total nonstory this weekend (a story 7 months’ old) all about what Trump DID NOT do.

Dems have been taking a beating and needed to change the narrative (always about controlling the narrative and the news cycle).

1. Lost badly on the Shumer Shutdown.

2. Economy going great–tax cuts, bonuses, stock market, repatriation of $250 BBBillion to the US by Apple (the last a story that the media has tried to ignore).

[Not that we’ll see any of this boon in the Pitts.]

3. And then Trump kicking some butt in Davos.

Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Reply to  Edward R. Murrow
6 years ago

Let me ask those of you afflicted with Trumpsteria (related to BDS):

What exactly is the alleged crime in this Russia probe?

Collusion of the Trump campaign with Russia?

To do what, exactly? Throw the election for Trump?

How?

What US state’s votes were tampered with? (I mean beyond the usual Dem. dirty electoral tricks)

Have we see any evidence at all, at all!, my friends, one year into this farce?

I’ve considered this thing a joke from the start. Problem is that highly educated people think this is gospel, it is part of their very psychological makeup, they see Russia everywhere, doing everything that’s bad in the world.

Call it RBS–Russia on the Brain Syndrome.

What’s coming down the line IS quite possibly evidence that CLINTON colluded with the Russians to undermine the Trump campaign, with the help of minions in the DOJ/FBI and the Obama admin, if not Obama himself.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Edward R. Murrow
6 years ago

Hey Edward, it strikes me that instead of putting the Clintons and Trump at opposite ends of a scale and weighing their various transgressions against each other, it would be better to lump them all together on the SAME side of the scale! We talk about it here all the time…whether Pittsfield, North Adams or the nation, those “entitled” people at the top are really screwing us all!! Then they easily pit us against each other like child’s play. At the national level, they are ALL super wealthy and basically battling each other for further enrichment. Trump has already made billions off of being president, Bill and Hillary have transformed themselves into public service millionaires, and the Obamas are getting a $65 million book deal!

Check out David Frum’s new book, Trumpocracy. And David is a good conservative with real bona fides. The problem is not people of color, or illegal immigrants or Medicare or Obamacare. The quality of life for EVERYONE except the very wealthy has declined precipitously in the past 30-40 years. As he points out, middle class white people have begun to suffer and experience poverty and accompanying problems that have been the domain of the historical poor in the past. This is a result of patronage and the wealthy taking care of their friends for 50 years or more, rather than seeing to the business of the people. A 30% tariff on solar panels…and it just so happens the CEO of Exxon is now Secretary of State?!? LOL…Jared Kushner and even Omarosa getting cabinet positions? No different from Dick Cheney rewarding Haliburton with a plum lucrative contract, Hillary and Bill’s relationship with Goldman Sachs. I think you have to go back to Nixon and Carter to find real “men of the people” and look what happened to them! Since then it’s been all about the “ruling class,” and that includes technocrats and captains of industry, enriching themselves further and protecting/insulating themselves.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

I’m in!

Dustin
Dustin
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

No clue at all

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

David Frum is a fake conserative

Dustin
Dustin
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

G always has no clue

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  Mr. G
6 years ago

I’ve been telling everyone for years..They Are All in it Together. The Media the Most. There has to be pro- con or you wouldn’t have news!

SisterGoldenHair
SisterGoldenHair
6 years ago

Here is the esteemed mayor trash talking:

http://www.iberkshires.com/story/56501/Tyer-Holding-Public-Meetings-On-Toter-Proposal.html

In brief, the Kapanskis don’t understand, so she is taking the toters to the people, and it is about equity, and most importantly “cost containment”.

You Gotta Be Fnn Kidding Me! It’s about saving money when she is the one who jacked the budget through the roof, causing my taxes to rise by hundreds per year??? F her and the horse she rode in on. Even Bianchi could beat her now. What else is up this tax and spenders’ sleeve?

How’s that for free speech?

And to Bonehead Bona – You were elected by the people, to serve them, and there is a reason it’s called open mike. If you’re not open to the citizens speaking their mind at open mike, you are in the wrong job. There is an old saying -be careful what you wish for- seems to apply to you.

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  SisterGoldenHair
6 years ago

This has been in the works for almost 1.5 – 2 years and NOW there is an open public forum once the brown stuff hit the fan. Yes, Caccamo, there have been sub committee meetings, but not everyone has the graceful schedule that allows them to attend.

Hugh Janos
Hugh Janos
6 years ago

I think Bona is right. Who wants to hear Guitani call people names every single week. The man should be banned from council meetings!

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  Hugh Janos
6 years ago

Bona is wrong. Putin

Dustin
Dustin
Reply to  Spagirl
6 years ago

If Bona was conservative Hugh (formerly posting as Dennis O’keefe) would have an issue

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Hugh Janos
6 years ago

Therein lies the problem. He is a citizen & taxpayer – therefore he gets his 3 minutes to vent. Yes Guitani has his issues, but who are you to say “ no freedom of speech for that guy!” Thanks Dan for a great column.

Harrison
Harrison
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
6 years ago

Maybe so, but If the guy is such a genius, he should be able to get his point across without personal attacks.

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Harrison
6 years ago

Unfortunately, due to his approach, the G-man is rendered a pariah to work with.

What is disappointing is that no one in city government has searched Krofta technology. If you did, you would learn that Krofta estate had licensing deals and several companies work with it. Based on previous savings using the Krofta in drinking water, why has no one from the city investigated this option.

At the bare minimum, the could honestly refute the G-man’s claims. At the best…maybe they could have a lower cost option, and use a non G-man affiliate to work with.

Just a thought…

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  Ed Check
6 years ago

Everyone is too focused on his public persona and trying to ruin his name. I personally believe that he was in fact targeted by certain people that night at BCC. There are just too many “coincidences” with Amanda Drane and her “witnesses’

12 Guage
12 Guage
Reply to  Ed Check
6 years ago

The current Krofta has almost nothing to do with the original company. They pretty much just bought the name and have gone in a different direction

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Ed Check
6 years ago

The Amanda Drane-0 incident had Krol and Persip’s fingerprints all over it. Drane-0, the cud chewing correspondent hangs out with Krol and his Krony’s are at Dotties instead of being at their fake jobs.

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
6 years ago

Is there any kind of legal injunction to get an online article removed? It seems journalists have quite the immunity these days

h
h
6 years ago

Didn’t know N A had a G Man over there?

LoneGunMan
LoneGunMan
Reply to  h
6 years ago

We refer to him simply as Crazy Bob Cardamino. I must admit, his TV and rants about Devious Dick Alcombright were legendary

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
6 years ago

While I think Bona’s statement was ill-phrased, his point was not if you know the entire background. There is a certain individual who attends every city council meeting and who violates the rules of order every time. The council has a public comment period, where people can speak on any issue they please for two minutes. The public comment period also prohibits people from denigrating others personally. The individual in question has regularly gone over his time and many times has made personal attacks against the Mayor and councilors and other city officials.

Mr. Bona’s request to be able to ban him from meetings if this persists is wrong, plain and simple. And that does violate the spirit of the Constitution, and the Attorney General’s Office said so to the council when asked for an opinion. However, the council president has the right, by state law, to set rules on who can address the council and how.

The person who is the center of this claims it is a violation of his First Amendment rights, and that this does not happen on the state and federal level. I would ask you, can you walk into the statehouse chambers and demand to speak to the House and Senate on any topic you choose? No. Can you walk into the House or Senate chambers in Washington and do that? No.

The First Amendment allows you the right to have free speech. It does not allow it in any location and for any reason.

I think Bona’s move to ban people from a council meeting is absolutely wrong, but he should, and does have the authority under state statute to set rules on public comment, as does every other head of a city or town board.

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

Respectfully, as always, I would agree with your points, Dan, if the individual in question was attending these meetings to make points about city business or business being discussed by the council that evening, all of which should be open to public discussion. Whether I agree with his opinion or not, he should be allowed to state it. However, this person chooses topics not being discussed or even relating to city business, and only speaks when he can insult or call people names, and I think that falls outside of the right of freedom of speech, even in a city or town government setting. He can stand outside of city hall with a sandwich board sign and decry whatever he wants. He can write letters to the editor. He hosts his own cable access show, like someone else I know quite well (though that person’s Pittsfield show is far better, I would add), and that is his right to use that platform for his opinions.

I would agree that Mr. Bona should find a way to manage the meetings, as did his predecessor, without fanfare, and allow the comments that are allowable, whether he likes them or not, but also take a hard line on those comments that fall under the label of personal attacks. Maybe Mr. Cardimino (why not name him, everyone knows who he is if you live in North Adams) can use Twitter to lash out at government officials. It seems to be an effective method for someone to blast out opinions, which can either be followed or ignored.

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

They adopted rules changes that move the open comment period closer to the end of the meeting, but they did not approve any ban on attendance, which the AG said was unlawful.

Mike Ward
Mike Ward
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

The problem with moving the public comment period to the end of the meeting is that is suppresses all public comment. No one wants to sit around for hours waiting to be allowed to comment on an agenda item that has already been voted on. What’s the point? I agree with Bull’s notion about relevance. Council members are restricted to talking about items on the agenda and they are interrupted by the president if they go off topic. Should be the same for the public comment period. This rule is much easier to adjudicate and would deter the bad actors (somewhat) without completely abandoning the purpose of the public comment period – which is the ability to advocate items on the agenda before they are voted on. The president should also have access to a switch to cut the microphone and video feed if needed.

J K Three
J K Three
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

Valenti is the greatest

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Our city is shrinking,our tax base is shrinking,free cash is shrinking,GE funds are almost gone and GE is implodingTyers home checkbook no matter how much money she puts in to pay her bill she keeps withdrawing money to pay for new goodies……only the Behnkes can afford things as she and he make 200k,imagine 200k….her taxes went up 200 bucks

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Have no worry toters are o. The way.

UAlbany
UAlbany
6 years ago

no law says you must be given the RIGHT to speak freely at or to any legislative body – ban 1 ban all…but small town politicians like open mike when their backs are being rubbed and caressed – no so much when they are being criticized…funny

H
H
6 years ago

We don’t need open mike for a lousy three minutes, just come on the Planet.

Ron Kitterman
Ron Kitterman
6 years ago

Thank God the progressives are giving us the Four Freedoms and replacing the 5 parts of the first Amendment for us. No way he would take you up on a debate challenge though. Unbelievable Thanks for defending the constitution Dan. You’d think Mr. Bona would have taken his oath of office a little more seriously to protect and defend it ?

Pittsfield Proud
Pittsfield Proud
6 years ago

THey know enough not to pull this crap in Pittsfield because we have The Planet on watch! Glad you’re on our side DAN VALENTI.

John Smith
John Smith
6 years ago

Garbage toters are stupid

h
h
6 years ago

Bobby Card went at it with Barrett back in the 90’s. I can remember Mayor ( Barrett) going toe to toe like Lincoln- Douglas and remember one night the Fire Firefighter from N A one meetingcscreaming at Barrett at the City Council open mike,quote ‘Barrett is no good’,because of some kind of internal issue. Barrett didn’t back down. Barrett quite possibly was one of the finest Mayors in Massachusetts as far as grit and standing up for the taxpayer.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  h
6 years ago

Is that why many sections of NA are S-holes?

H
H
6 years ago

One thing about Barrett if a North Adams Professional wanted to lay out any proposal, ie torts, it wouldn’t be an underling. Barrett did all of his own dirty work, he represented the taxpayers, not the good old boys. Yeah, he was a teacher, so what?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  H
6 years ago

But when the Pittsfield good old boys welcomed him to Pittsfield to take a make work job for him to help his pension he burned rubber getting here.

Halo
Halo
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

He was helping out a friend,at cost.

Voytek Gobsigski
Voytek Gobsigski
6 years ago

Why is Tyer putting on toter dog and pony shows? The council rejected it. No means no. You have to vibrantly collaborate and come up with a dynamic new idea mayor.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Voytek Gobsigski
6 years ago

No might mean no unless you had already promised some consultant you wanted his toter/white elephant. So it might be OOPSIE time and the dancing bears may need to come out and perform and distract until one day we find toters in our driveways.

Dave
Dave
6 years ago

At least the school committee is tackling the big issues that engulf the PPS. They changed the day off for Columbus Day to a day off for Indigenous Peoples Day. Earning every penny of their new pay.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

Since Columbus has fallen on hard times perhaps the smartest thing to do would be not to call it anything and have school on that day.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

Trump would be for this .Trump gave corporations this tax cut for life and a few of them gave 1k for 1 year for a little pr

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Thomas More
6 years ago

If they decided to have school on that day they would have had to renegotiate the teachers contract. That union is not giving anything back and does nothing without hefty compensation.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

The teachers nor the union have any say whether or not there would be school on that day or any other. However it does give you a chance to take a swipe at them.

Voytek Gobsigski
Voytek Gobsigski
Reply to  Thomas More
6 years ago

Can we change Columbus Ave. to Bouvier Blvd?

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Voytek Gobsigski
6 years ago

It was changed from Railroad St. to Columbus in 1892.

Paul
Paul
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

Dave, people have become childish.

EddieP
EddieP
6 years ago

I saw the video. Read her body language. She looks desperate. Her handlers must be putting on the pressure.

Vibrant Collaborator
Vibrant Collaborator
Reply to  EddieP
6 years ago

She was vibrant and dynamic.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

January 26, 2018

Re: Open letter to Dan Valenti

Dear Planet Valenti blog readers,

North Adams City Council President Keith Bona’s new rule that prohibits belligerent or disruptive residents from speaking at public meetings is only a small part of the problem facing the provincial politics in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Pittsfield politics is virtually a one political party system. The same goes for North Adams. Voter turnout is very low for municipal elections. The special or vested interests handpick the mayors, city councilors, and school committee members, especially by the “Big 3”: Public School, Police, and Fire Unions.

Both Pittsfield and North Adams are financially constrained municipalities that are at the levy ceiling under Proposition 2.5. Both communities are post-industrial polluted wastelands full of people who live in or near poverty. The only things that grow in Pittsfield and North Adams are the underclass, welfare caseloads, teen pregnancies, and crime. Berkshire County is one of the most economically unequal regions in the state and nation!

Over the years, people who spoke out against North Adams career politician John Barrett III’s dictatorship have been marginalized, blacklisted, and retaliated against. In Pittsfield, Jimmy Ruberto was molded in Barrett’s shadow. During the Barrett and Ruberto’s regimes, there were severe losses in population and jobs. They left their respective municipalities with high taxes and debts, and overall public finances near fiscal insolvency.

People have spoken out against political hacks like Barrett and Ruberto over the years. They lost their jobs. They closed their businesses. They moved out of the Pittsfield or North Adams area in droves.

If you want to survive in Pittsfield or North Adams, you have to be a “yes man” to a one political party, top-down system ran by handpicked political hacks that depend on voter apathy and the unwritten suppression of civic participation and dissenting viewpoints.

– Jonathan Melle

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Both are men of the people. The trouble is figuring out where their people are. They sure as he’ll aren’t in the Berkshire s

Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

No truer words have been spoken, Jon!
Want to be employed and promoted in the City employ? Want to excel or, at least survive politics in Pittsfield or North Adams?
A) Eat & drink at the right places & make a little bet now & then,
B) Make LOTS of monetary donations,
C) Stop at the hardware store and get several sets of “knee pads,”
or just re-use plastic grocery bags like is done @ Onota Lake,
D) Buy Kleenex by the case!!!
E) DON’T EVER ROCK THE BOAT OR TELL THE TRUTH!!!
Possibilities unlimited!!!!!!!!!!

Bowlee and Lebo
Bowlee and Lebo
Reply to  Ghost Rider
6 years ago

Ghost rider has just spelled out the exact process for getting ahead(and getting head) in Pittsfield politics. Thank god for this website. Dan Valenti’s challenge to Bona is amazing one a man of courage and conviction the other a man of cowardice and needs to be convicted.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Linda Tyer has a nerve asking the Citizens for more money, when these streets in Pittsfield are in the shape they are in. Throughout this entire City.

Ctrem
Ctrem
6 years ago

Not to worry, in a fight of with, Bona comes unarmed.

Ctrem
Ctrem
6 years ago

Witt, he comes with out.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

“An appeals board has kicked back to the EPA the question of whether tainted sediment from a river cleanup must be trucked out of state.” – The Berkshire Eagle, 1/27/2018

I have a proposal! Put the toxic waste industrial chemicals called PCBs in the backyards of all of the GE corporate executives! Start with Jack Welch’s multiple residential properties! See how they like it!

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
6 years ago

G E did great things for Berkshire Country, and nowvwant to crucify them because they spilled a little PC B in the County.?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Shelly Liver
6 years ago

When? In the 1950s? Is almost 2020? We live in the present, not 70 years ago!

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Shelly Liver
6 years ago

GE causes cancer

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Pittsfield democrats gave permits to GE to discharge PCB’s into the river. Democrats cause cancer.

Vibrant Collaborator
Vibrant Collaborator
6 years ago

After watching the mayor on the Krol show saying we have to stay with republic and sign a no bid contract with them a red flag went up. It’s clear that something is going on. We have to check republic’s ties to Pittsfield ‘s corrupt hacks. Smells very, very bad.

Halo
Halo
6 years ago

Why would anyone leave two puppies in a Park? Just seems odd that they wouldn’t send them to a shelter. Anyone agree?

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Halo
6 years ago

Odd is not the proper word.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Trump would do well in North Adams as he wants journalists who report negatives to go away,The press is here to agitate goverment and nobody likes it.
Trump is putting the countrys safety at risk by undermining the FBI….Trump is anti American but pro business….Dan needs to explain fake news in depth because his President is trying to weaken our real goverment agitators

Dustin
Dustin
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Wow you really have no clue

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

TSC – you’ve got it backwards, as usual. “Trump is undermining the FBI” – oh really? Comey, McCabe, Strzok – have all been accused of covering up Hillary’s crimes against the country! The FBI is corrupt and has lost all integrity. Get your facts straight and report some truth for a change.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
6 years ago

I agree Mr. Fritz. If the situation was reversed and a Republican was having his crimes covered up, the media and Progressives would never let us hear the end of it and they would be right because corruption is corruption, but it has to work BOTH ways.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
6 years ago

Wrong

mi
mi
6 years ago

Trump doesn’t need Massachusetts, just the Glory of Brady.

H
H
6 years ago

Dustin is cool.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

Just came back from a frightening white knuckle drive through Pittsfield trying to avoid all of the holes and missing pieces of concrete on the roads and thinking just how vibrant the city has become. People driving through the area must also think that they would really like to live here because we present such a picture of prosperity and vibrancy. That is if you can make it through the city without destroying your car.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Democrats casuse potholes

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Or maybe just A holes.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

The only stores left in the mall are Target, The Dollar Store, a shoe store, a hair salon and a Bath and Body shop. So sad!!. Pittsfield is left with only a Walmart and some expensive shops on North Street. Lanesboro was so close that it was easy to shop at the mall. Progressives would run Walmart out of town if they could as they did with the Super Walmart.

The wealthy Progressive elites can easily travel out of the area and shop on line. As with everything else in this area, it’s the poor and struggling middle class who pay the price because of the stupid politicians in this area not having a vision for this area that includes helping anyone but themselves.

Bill Q
Bill Q
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Pat, try these roads for a wild ride..Merrill..Pecks….Springside,Linden,Pomeroy,eh, forget it, every road has some issue. Got to give it to Tony Roads in Ward seven, he gets them to put the tar right in the soup.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Bill Q
6 years ago

Bianchi had all the roads in his neighborhood paved before he left office. by the way…where is the little rascal?

so many of these guys drone on about how much they want to “give back to the community” But then when the paycheck stops they go completely off the grid.

h
h
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

He’s incognito and goes under the name Tes.

Gigi
Gigi
6 years ago

Here’s a must-read for any parent in the commonwealth. House Bill 4014 is a “horrific assault on parental rights, freedom of speech and free exercise of religion” and thankfully Ma. Family Institute is helping to publicize this issue.

http://www.mafamily.org/state-legislation/the-man-in-the-stiletto-heels-has-a-plan-for-your-child/9569/

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Gigi
6 years ago

So unreal. This is what comes from allowing schools to teach social engineering. We end up with kids being taught that there are all different kinds of genders. Kids are confused enough with trying to find their way in the world without schools creating more problems.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

These are Gods children. God has overall control. He must want it this way or he would stop it

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Wat???

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

Trump and Hannity seem nervouse to the point that Im pretty sure Hannity is involved.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

ALSO I believe the Trump channel may be involved

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Remember to wash your hands

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

In order to get the last nail in the coffin of Pittsfield bankruptcy maybe Behnke and Mccandless could spend the last of our 4 million in free cash as Mayor and Treasurer…..In the end its Amuso Eberwien and Yon who have not and did not cut 1 red cent…..if the consolidation started 6 years ago our taxes would be down and kids would be better served…….Oh Bouvier
We need a campaign to get kids from Lenox and Dalton to Taconic preferring Athletes who want to play State Champ Division 1 athletics.I hope Crane doesnt close

Spagirl
Spagirl
6 years ago

Everything in Pittsfield has been let go too long. Mayor after Mayor after Mayor. This administration should not turn to the taxpayers, until these streets in this City are passable. Consolidation of schools , and budget cutting need to happen. Shove your toters and any other new projects.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  Spagirl
6 years ago

Free Cash will be supplemented to pay for the School contracts. It is officially a slush fund. The morning show should serve as a Pablum Puking poor me,and the unions will cry underpaid-compared to other communities.

May Hemm
May Hemm
6 years ago

Tony Roads should be given an Award for the great effort he has put into the roads in his Ward. Pecks Rd. is problematic at best, you cannot believe how cars avoid potholes.
On that stretch, it’s unsafe. Anyway, the Award could be called the Zig- Zag and Councilor Simonelli should not be blamed but commended for his efforts. It must cost a fortune to fill the potholes just on that stretch.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  May Hemm
6 years ago

Tony Simonelli is about the only Councilman who is sincere and honest, and puts every effort into his constituents in his ward.

h
h
6 years ago

I hear Boston thinks Tony Roads is legendary for getting the extra yard of tar when potholes arrive. Some have given him the nickname, Little Dig.