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A WARNING TO TROLLS … plus … GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SONSINI AFFAIR

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITYDE WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2018) — On this, the 57th anniversary of Carl Yastrzemski’s debut with the Boston Red Sox (1-for-4 off Ray Herbert, a 4-0 extra-inning win), THE PLANET does a tiny bit of housekeeping before we get on to the business of the day. We have been lenient with posts that add nothing to the conversation except to gum it up with absurdities as name calling, trumpets of “Fake news,” “You are fake news,” and other similar nonsense.

Be warned, offenders. THE PLANET‘s editorial hand has gotten at once heavier to be on the quick to banish repeat offenders and lighter to move swiftly in bouncing off all who insist on trolling. Therefore, pay heed. You know who you are. We offer this board as a privilege, not a right. It is unique among all local and regional sites for giving our readers information that cannot be had anywhere else, with an honesty that comes from fearing no one, premised on facts and driven by the commentary that only comes from a forthright attempt to get the story right and to always be truthful.

Abide.

End of sermon.

——— ooo ———

THE PLANET has recently been in touch with principals involved in the controversy over the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter. It’s been a story hard to pin down, with the city and the Friends of Sonsini making competing claims. Here’s the skinny on what we’ve learned. Our sources have been from both sides of the case, those most closely involved.

(1) The Sonsini will not close. After the Friends vacate the city-owned property on Hubbard Avenue no later than the end of this month, they will take the animals entrusted to its care and for whom it has responsibility. Sources say the Friends will seek to open a new facility, with a new name, organizational structure, and operational process. Meanwhile, the city will maintain the Sonsini facility on Hubbard. Animal control officer Joe Chague will be responsible there on a temporary basis. The city plans to reach an agreement with a new group of animal lovers, with a new manager and board. Chague will have charge of all animals within the city’s jurisdiction.

The city retains control of all animals surrendered to the facility for 10 days. After that, they are turned over for adoption to the Friends. The non-profit received about $50,000 a year for its services. Incidentally, Pittsfield is required by law to operate an animal control center.

(2) THE PLANET has confirmed that the Friends made an offer to buy the building on Hubbard Avenue from the city. The only problem is that the building was not, is not, and will not be for sale. One can’t buy something that the owner won’t sell. The Friends are reportedly interested in relocating to a facility on Crane Avenue. If that happens, the facility would operate independently of the city.

(3) You can put to rest the wild speculations of the rumor mill, which had that one of area’s Big Shots (among The Suits, The Connected) has been behind the push to “drive the Friends out” so that this person/family could use the location for some unspecified business opportunity. This speculation has no truth to it and appears to be a tale begun by opponents of the mayor who wanted to cover their tracks. What tracks? That part of the story isn’t clear.

(4) The city can, and did, cancel its contract with the Friends, with or without cause. It gave the required 30-day notice and has acted entirely within its legal rights.

(5) The city was driven to take action because of numerous reports over a period of time (beginning late 2017 and continuing) that the Friends were letting animals for adoption that hadn’t been properly evaluated, medically treated, or qualified — in short, that it failed in living up to its terms of the contract with the city.

(6) With Stacey Rossi, Friends’ attorney, agreeing that the city acted properly (legally) and that they would abide by the evacuation order, the group should have no quarrel with either the city or the mayor. It should retreat quietly and, if it wishes, open its own facility for animals. There have been murmurings of financial irregularities occurring with respect to the Friends operation of the shelter, but no public accusations have been made. THE PLANET cannot at this point determine the reliability of those whisperings.

With all that, and in the interests of presenting a more panoramic view, THE PLANET shares the text of a letter sent to us by Krista Wroldson Miller, chairwoman of the Friends of Sonsini. We present it edited only for continuity, without comment, which we leave to you, our dear readers.

LETTER FROM KRISTA WROLDSON MILLER TO THE PLANET

“[Here] is the letter that the city council received (and was forwarded to you) concerning the shelter. Although it is accurate, I did not write it. However, in the letter is a dropbox link (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1zgp3977eu3jl2s/AABgPgt9sdpk6UD1gOv1G-Q9a?dl=0) with a treasure trove of documents. The smoking gun (pardon the reference) is Exhibit A51. It is a Facebook conversation between Renee Dodds (of the Animal Control Commission) and our former manager, Lori Robertson. They speak of Renee’s meeting with the mayor and their goal of removing Judith and I from the Board at Sonsini.

“For the record, Judith and I have requested an audit from the State Auditor Susan Bump’s office (to clear our names as we have been the victims of a vicious smear campaign by the former employees working for Renee, Renee herself and our former manager). The State Auditor will ONLY perform an audit if it is requested by the municipality. Linda [mayor Tyer] hasn’t requested one; I have to wonder why. If all the rumors were true, then WHY would we still be asking for one?

“According to Renee, it seems that the mayor intends to turn the shelter (and its contract) over to her (who I suspect will be starting a 501(c)(3) shortly) and possibly rehiring the manager that wasn’t properly caring for the animals. Renee is a former board member and owed Sonsini a duty of loyalty. The Mayor has NO plan for the animals except to have Officer Chague take care of them, in addition to his regular job. (Sonsini has never operated with less than 2 full time key people.) Animals WILL die (investigate the ACO’s ability to handle the dogs as well). And we will be gone and unable to stop it.

“Following this meeting with Renee, Linda also refused to reappoint me to the Animal Control Commission. (I suspect that the ACC will be addressing the shelter issue – and removing me ensures that the truth remains hidden.) Without a voice on the ACC, I am stuck with the 3 minutes of open public comment at the beginning of the meeting to get the real story out there. Furthermore, I feel that my continued engagement on these issues will only hurt the shelter as we rely on donations. Despite the current climate, we will be there on the 12th (ACC meeting) to announce our plans for the future.

“I am reaching out to you because I believe that you might be the only person that the Mayor’s office cannot muzzle.

“I am hopeful that you can get to the bottom of this.”

——— 000 ———

We thank Miller for the letter.  THE PLANET has gotten to the bottom of it. Each party — Miller and Friends, the mayor, and other with a dog in the fight — says it wants only what’s best for the animals.

God save us from those with good intentions.

That bottom? THE PLANET wonders if it’s a false bottom. We trust that it’s not, but only time will tell.

Our chief concern is for the welfare of innocent animals who only have us, people, to advocate on their behalf.

———————————————————————————————-

“Watch out for No. 1, but when you do make sure you don’t step in No. 2”Rodney Dangerfield

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

 

 

 

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Dick Flimsy
Dick Flimsy
5 years ago

Tyer thinks she’s looking out for #1 but she didn’t see the #2 and she stepped right in it. Is there anything else in this city that she’ll foul up? Is there anything left?

dusty
dusty
5 years ago

I don’t know why but this article caused a strange thought to come to my mind. Perhaps the city could turn the PEDA site into a game farm like the Catskill Game Farm. It would fit in with their tourist/culture theme. They could move the Merry-go-round there and the city could operate it and use the income to lower taxes.

And maybe they could then move the Sonsini shelter there because after viewing all the animals people would feel the urge to adopt. They could also move all the pet stores there. Perhaps a dog walking park. And since they are going to gut the museum maybe they could just relocate it to a place that would have more parking.

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Lol.

SisterGoldenHair
SisterGoldenHair
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Good thoughts Dusty. Perhaps add a pet cemetary, especially since the animals that live on this polluted parcel will have a shorter life span. City homeowners will get free plots for their animals to help mitigate the royal screwing they get on their taxes. Good ole boys will get nice plots with a nice view of the city they ruined. Now we just need a fitting name for the idea. Any ideas for a new name? How about PCB Park?

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  SisterGoldenHair
5 years ago

Jacks Dairy Bar.

U
U
Reply to  SisterGoldenHair
5 years ago

The Bridge to Nowhere.

mi
mi
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Looks like one big Cat Fight over at Sonsini.

NIB
NIB
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

They could call it the Pittsfield Stray Farm.

Spagirl
Spagirl
5 years ago

Dan Valenti
I am pleased that you addressed directly, the name calling and trolling on Planet Valenti. It has been ridiculous. Juvenile behavior. Thankyou!!

Rocky Creed
Rocky Creed
5 years ago

Right on Spa

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
5 years ago

Excellent job Dan. Hopefully those baselessly attacking our President will now stop

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

I see that has not happened however. Oh well, I will from now on only present facts, which cannot be refuted.

Stacey Elin Rossi
Stacey Elin Rossi
5 years ago

I need to address inaccuracies in this post. First, I never agreed that the City acted lawfully. Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter would vacate the premises only to avoid further disruptions to the operations of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter which will be relocated. Agreement to vacate should not be construed as agreement with the contract termination, although I can see how it can be.

The city action was not taken for “fail[ing] in living up to its terms of the contract with the city.” This would fall under the clause in the contract allowing termination for breach which I will discuss below. As far as any allegations regarding the Shelter letting animals for adoption that hadn’t been properly evaluated, medically treated, or qualified. These were actually essential issues in the lawsuit — that Defendants were allowing Manager Robertson to do those things and were grounds for the issuance of the restraining order and injunction. Once Plaintiffs, my clients, regained control over the corporation, any and all issues regarding care and evaluation of the animals were immediately rectified. This information was also in the earlier court filings.

Regarding grounds for termination, the Agreement between the City and Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, Inc. can be terminated on three bases: 1. Mutual agreement; 2. Default (aka breach); and 3. Termination for convenience. First, the termination was not mutually agreed.

Under the termination for default clause, if there is a default of non-monetary nature, the Party claiming the other defaulted must provide the defaulting party 30 days notice specifying the default and an opportunity to “cure” the specific default. The City provided no notice of default; therefore, this clause does not apply. Third, the termination was under the termination for convenience clause which states, “The City may terminate this Agreement or individual services at any time upon giving at least thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof.”

Termination for convenience means that the termination is in the government interest. Examples of government interest in termination for convenience cases include, but are not limited to, inadequate funding, cost overruns, and contractor’s failure to agree to contract restructuring

IF the termination was for “letting animals for adoption that hadn’t been properly evaluated, medically treated, or qualified,” then notice and opportunity for cure would have to be given by the City. It did not. Any assertions that the termination was for default, again if for a non-monetary nature, requires notice and opportunity to cure, are completely untrue.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

At last nights City Clowncil Meeting,there was an unbelievable exchange between Councilors Mazzeo and Krol, where Krol who in the last Meeting wasn’t interested in this particular petition Police Advisory-Oversight Com. because of the way it was worded. Councilor Chris Connell then amended it, to read Advisory instead of oversight.So Krol, decides not to vote to go to Ordinance and Rules anyway,because he states that there is a Private Committee already formed,at which point Councilor Mazzeo had to pry out of him after a nauseous exchange that he (Krol) admitted he did say Committee.

Dan, you have to see this particular segment as there were more take backs and mispronounced, phony intentions, in the History of the City Council.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

There was another petition where a Citizen wants five minutes at Open Mike. Two speakers at the Open Mike, one a Scientist and another a Doctor, were both told to wrap it up because they were going over there talk time.Normally I would say five minutes would be to much time, but only if there were a bunch of people speaking. The Council President should be more flexible to five minutes if there is let’s say less than five people signed up to speak. It is the City Councils Meeting, but have a little flexability sometimes. if the Meetings are to long because of the Open Mike Sessions, maybe the long winded Councilors can have their time cut instead of a few Citizens at the beginning of the Meeting.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

Sounds more than reasonable. Someone could bring this idea up to Marchetti…if they want to get laughed in their face.

Still Wondering
Still Wondering
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

A scientist? Really?

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

A political blog will always be a place where the number 1 news story in the world is the investigation of Russian influence on our election process with Trump constantly inserting himself into this story with his followers canstantly saying its a fake story known by 7 billion people in this world.Stop the fake news trolling.
Sounds like the city will be spending a great amount of ot or call in money for 1 man to check the animals.

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

For the last time fool. There is no evidence to support your anti trump delusions / fantasies .

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

I think these same people write to the Berkshire Eagle letters to the editor page

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
5 years ago

Dan – see the above inflammatory and inaccurate post. The majority of Americans know the investigation is a farce and the people that lost need to get over it.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Mr. Dean, crying “fake news” at every turn when you read something with which you disagree ids analogous to, and about as effective as claiming invisibility when in a sticky situation. Fjrst, it’s not true and second, it doesn’t work. Perhaps you should consider reading the Hunter Thompson obit of Richard Nixon…and substituting Donald Trump’s name for Nixon. The shoe fits.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Mr. G
5 years ago

Again, you are always attacking YOUR President. I am not crying fake news at every turn, I am crying fake news when obvious fake news that is stated here as fact is stated.
Perhaps you should consider reality. Our President won, deal with it, and he is making America great again.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

In my opinion the main stream media has become the media wing of the democrat’s. So much of what it would have us believe is indeed fake news and several posters here suffer from Trump derangement syndrome and are all too happy to relay the fake news and add their own dumb spin.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

You 100% nailed it!

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

I agree with Steven & 12 gauge. Good posts!

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

You dont get it.The Mueller investigation is about Russian influence in our election not Trump.The problem is Trump inserts himself into the investigation.as his lemmings call fake news but not on Trump. Mueller has not said 1 thing yet about Trump.But Trump is teaching his lemming to call fake charges ahead of time…..your well trained and Trump depends on this dog whistle response

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  12 Gauge
5 years ago

There is no collusion. Fact

Stacey Elin Rossi
Stacey Elin Rossi
5 years ago

Also, the statement that “Pittsfield is required by law to operate an animal control center” is also incorrect.

Ch 193 MGL Sec 151(a) provides: a. The mayor of a city or the board of selectmen of a town may, instead of appointing an animal control officer, enter into a contract with a domestic charitable corporation incorporated exclusively for the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty, neglect or abuse to perform the duties required of an animal control officer.

It is under this statute that Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, aka Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, has provided animal control services to the City of Pittsfield and also does so for a number of other municipalities.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

I have an idea. Let’s put McCandless ‘s office there. Then he can worry about more than just bilking the taxpayer.

dusty
dusty
5 years ago

Trump just poked Putin in the eye….keep your eye on the stock market

H
H
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Dows In Red now, he give Corps signals when to sell off, then stock drops, and on and on.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

You cannot honestly believe that. How much has the stock market gone up since election day.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

How much has the stock market gone up since the day Obama took office?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Thomas More
5 years ago

How much has it gone up since Ronald Reagan took office

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Market up 5 k in a great economy and 1.5 trillion,appears to have topped out.His behavior accounts for the instability and markets no there is no stimulus from here

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

Incorrect. Your facts are incorrect

H
H
5 years ago

Trumps dizzy. To much Stormy, not enough leadership.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

Incorrect. How much has the stock market gone up since election day. Facts are facts. Look at your 401k

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
5 years ago

What does that even mean? You are going to get yourself banned from this site, maybe that is what you want.

H
H
5 years ago

Corporations are buying their own stock and selling it as Trump deems, yes, that is what I believe. Also, there is no Wall and there is no reason to believe your President-when he says the deficit would be reduced when overseas money comes back to our coffers? Where is it?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

He is your president as well. And how much as the stock market gone up? Can you answer t hat?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

and you have no proof of this. None. “Corporations are buying their own stock and selling it as Trump deems,”

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Corporations regularly buyback their own stock to create value for shareholders.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Which goes on whomever is President. Again the main statement is false and not based in fact.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Trump absolutely manipulates the markets with his Twitter account. He has relatively little personal wealth because his value is based on the “trump brand”. These market swings of several hundred points a day generate wealth, regardless of whether it goes up or down.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Again your post is made up with no facts to back it up

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

No correlation at all. If that was true Barry would have been doing it for years. The can you get any more left wing than USA today.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

None of your statements are ever based on fact, just your uninformed opinion.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

All my statements are based in fact. ALL of them.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
5 years ago

Trump must have thought the sex with Stormy was free and he didn’t know his Attorney paid her settlement money without his knowledge, and Cohen took the money out of his home equity loan.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Dilly Dally
5 years ago

Dan the above post is pure made up information. You can see that.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

It’s TDS made manifest

Harrison
Harrison
5 years ago

Maybe someone could explain why a city of this size has two animal shelters. I realize that Sonsini is a “no kill” facility and BHS will euthanize animals that don’t have a chance, but someone told me that animals that are a lost cause from Sonsini go to BHS if they need to be euthanized. Is this true?

Krista Wroldson Miller
Krista Wroldson Miller
Reply to  Harrison
5 years ago

No, this is not accurate. Sonsini never sends any of our animals to BHS. Many of the animals that Sonsini takes in are those with serious medical issues or who need rehabilitation and training. We are committed to the animals in our care. We WILL spend the time and money on an animal that can be saved; and we don’t care how long it takes. Our devotion to the animals that have been discarded by their owners or who have become homeless by other means is unquestionable. Our dedication to our animals is unwavering. We will not “go quietly” as we believe in what we are doing.

Rudy Baker
Rudy Baker
Reply to  Krista Wroldson Miller
5 years ago

Thank you for trying to make the Sonsini a professional place. Its so sad that the mayor and her hack followers pulled their crap. I wish the new shelter well. How can peopl help thenew shelter?

Krista Wroldson Miller
Krista Wroldson Miller
Reply to  Rudy Baker
5 years ago

We will be opening to the public again soon. In the interim, we are accepting applications for volunteers and the animals in our care. The biggest need we currently have is obtaining funds through the capital campaign, “Shelter Me” to enable us to purchase a forever home for the shelter. We have looked at properties and quickly learned that obtaining an appropriate facility for an animal shelter is going to be a costly affair. We are accepting donations for both the care of our animals and towards our capital campaign at Sonsini Animal Shelter, PO Box 2216, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Thank you for your support; we really do appreciate it.

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

Thank you President Trump for China lowering tariffs on cars. Mika, Joe and Rachel Maddow said it would never happen.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Agreed!

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

Lots of edible pot and other pot throughout the city now. Watch out for kids ingesting it and ending up in the emergency room like what has been happening in Colorado.

Mayor Tyer and city council are so worried about not locating pot shops near facilities for children, but that is a joke since it will now be pervasive throughout the city.

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

Yes,as always people will use pot

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

It makes some paranoid, so try cutting your joints in half and your Trump paranoia may diminish a bit.

U
U
5 years ago

Well, if you are a student and want to get high in school, either you smoke before you get there, preferably under a bridge, or just eat it when you get there ( school) it is irrevalant where the shops will be, this not even a feel good story Mayor.

U
U
5 years ago

Dusty I agree, Dow will be down again today.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  U
5 years ago

As of 4/12 11:50am Dow is up 283.79.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

As of 1pm up 372

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
5 years ago

While the City of Pittsfield occupies itself with nonsense over the animal shelter, wasting scarce public resources, the City of North Adams trudges forward with more redevelopment success. The long listless, languishing Western Gateway Heritage State Park takes on a novel new identity as community leaders deliver the next step to an extreme model railroad museum.

http://www.iberkshires.com/story/57095/North-Adams-Model-Railroad-Museum-Signs-Construction-Team.html

If the failed Greylock Glen State Park and Berkshire Innovation Center, public boondoggles of the highest magnitude, are examples of what not to do, then kudos to Thomas Krens, Perri Petricca, and the museum’s board for successfully leading a significant development jewel in the Northern Berkshires crown.

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
5 years ago

And the one thing you can count on about trolls is they won’t stop even after being warned.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Bull Durham
5 years ago

I believe Dan meant the name calling……replying back to obviously false information with actual facts is not trolling

mi
mi
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

If Dan thinks it is then you are mistaken.

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

So when you called a previous poster a ‘fool’ because he has the nerve to disagree with you, that’s not name-calling? And we’ve found our first winner!

Pat
Pat
5 years ago
Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Excellent post. This is bad stuff.

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

Debasing attorney-client privilege down to the Constitution is absurd and meant to instill some bogus talking points to the uneducated people that watch FAUX News. There are hundreds of years of case law and legal rules at the national and each state level that dictate what exactly attorney-client privilege is and is not.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

You sound like a terrible lawyer, but then again you are.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

I’m not a lawyer.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

You were. Then there was that pesky court case.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Again your post is made up with no facts to back it up

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Plenty of facts, it was in the Berkshire Eagle

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

I am not who you think I am. Stop looking foolish.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Of course you are. I only deal in facts

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

While liberals are obsessing over a porn star, Russia is preparing its citizens for nuclear war. So many people have no idea how dangerous foreign relations are right now. We should all be discussing this issue. Instead President Trump has a lawyer raid on his mind while trying to decide what to do about Syria not to mention a possible war with Russia to think about if we do bomb Syria.

I think we should not bomb anyone. Stay out of it. Liberals want President Trump, however, to act just the opposite of President Obama who did nothing of significance against any of these countries which is why Russia is so out of control now.

Still Wondering
Still Wondering
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Russia has been “out of control” ever since the revolution. Nowadays, the country is a kleptocracy run by organized crime. Fortunately for the rest of the world, the country is only a couple of steps away from bankruptcy and economic collapse.
And of course they hate us, we won the Cold War.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Still Wondering
5 years ago

Sort of like Pittsfield.

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

Yes we do Pat we have been warning you

Paul
Paul
5 years ago

I’m glad Dan is putting an end to the foolishness on this blog. The person who keeps calling people Matt is childish. I quit following this blog for awhile because of these things. We use to stay on topic and now there are people that can’t stop with all the Trump crap. Friday use to be the time for open form. I sure hope Dan sticks to his guns.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  Paul
5 years ago

I say let them sell the fake news comments and Matt somewhere else. I think Shakes Fritz Dean are the same person, so just monitor the new rules name calling to people commenting on here against one another, on HERE should be strickly enforced. With that being said,Gaetani News Hour- six o’clock tonight-channel 1301- call in, name calling is allowed after, all the man fought in the Jungles of Viet Nam, this is kids stuff.

U
U
Reply to  Paul
5 years ago

Excellent comment Paul, more input from you would be welcomed.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

I couldn’t believe the a holes on here calling the Planet for misspelling a couple words, you bloggers are inhreats. Valenti is a Joirnalist-Author, English was his major for gawd sakes. Do you really think he’s that stupid, please allow the posers on here some leeway, especially the damn site owner wow, talk about nit picking.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

Sorry for the misspells PPS grad.

U
U
5 years ago

There are 107 paras for special Ed? Where is Mrs. OLSEN??

Bill Q
Bill Q
5 years ago

Can anyone believe the School Committee. Don’t give them any more. the Mayor looked lost.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

They are not relating to budgets.Seems like they are in charge of the mayor. Mayor needs to be pro active and say we are level funding minus 1 million….now figure it out Taylor Yon

Pittsfield Proud
Pittsfield Proud
5 years ago

Thank you, Dan! The chaff has been outweighing the wheat for a while now.

Bill Q
Bill Q
5 years ago

Great to see that Bozo Paul Ryan is leaving,but not before great damage.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Bill Q
5 years ago

Except he caused no great damage although I am sure you can give concrete precise examples. Oh wait you can’t

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Paul Ryan never met a spending deficit he didn’t like.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Untrue. No accurate, of course you can post examples. Oh wait, you cant.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Ryan’s “fiscal conservative” brand has gotten impressive traction, but now that he’s announcing he’s leaving Congress in January, it’s worth noting (not for the first time) that Paul Ryan Deficit Hawk has never behaved like a deficit hawk. In his two decades in Washington, Ryan has consistently supported tax cuts and spending hikes that have boosted deficits, while consistently trashing Democrats for failing to cut deficits. It will inevitably be described as “ironic” that Ryan came to Congress when the budget was in surplus and left with deficits heading toward $1 trillion, but those deficits are his greatest legacy.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Untrue, and of course you can only cite generalities.

None Of The Above
None Of The Above
5 years ago

Tyer has screwed up this city and now the animal shelter. I can’t wait to vote her and her merry band of dumb hacks out

V P of Lurning
V P of Lurning
5 years ago

She’s like a free agent in baseball that can’t hit and you’re stuck with a four year contract,and dud.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

You can feel McCandless confidence overwhelm everyone.Bottom line is your the mayor,your the city council,your the school committee so give this Superintendant and his other Superintendants and tell them you have a budget and here it is so figure it out.Consolidation works with no loss of service.Everyone pretends there are no limits.These are our best and brightest and they cant do what you average low paid employees do….live within a budget or move on McCandless.

V P of Lurning
V P of Lurning
5 years ago

Cameron is the spinner, McCandless the line and Tyer is the hook. They’re on a fishing expedition looking for your wallet.

Gigi
Gigi
5 years ago

Good riddance to Paul Ryan, Globalilst Extraordinaire. Now when will McConnell retire? We need some America First leaders to lead the House & Senate!

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/11/paul-ryans-globalist-legacy-ignoring-americas-working-class-at-the-behest-of-billionaire-koch-brothers/

Cos
Cos
5 years ago

Ryan is a spend more time with the Family Xongress,an. canmt stand him. When all is said and done, who did he really represent, and what?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Cos
5 years ago

Where is your evidence? Oh yea you have none

Cos
Cos
5 years ago

McDonnell is starting to resemble an empty bird house.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Cos
5 years ago

You are course have evidence to back your statement or it should be removed

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Cos let’s deal in facts and not just angry hostile statements. I agree with Steven – you launch angry comments without having any substance behind them.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

There are 750 kids at Pittsfield high which was built to hold 1800.They will soon tear down Taconic which was built to hold 1700 for a building that was built on purpose to hold 950 and only have 750 at Taconic……both High schools were 1/2 full so you think there were no savings to be had with consolidation…..Go to 10,11,12th grade and put them at the new Taconic and we will save millions on that consolidation….

Still Wondering
Still Wondering
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

That is coming beyond a shadow of a doubt. I personally think it is a good thing especially budget-wise. Old-timers will miss the 2 HS system but there just isn’t enough kids in town anymore.
What I would caution against is believing that a new HS building will stem the school choice outflow to other towns. It’s the kids IN our schools that is causing that.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  Still Wondering
5 years ago

Old timers, real old timers, 67 years plus remember very well the one high school and most think they should return to it.

dusty
dusty
5 years ago

IBershires just posted story about sneaky shell game the school folk are playing with cooperation from the mayor in paying for the school buses. Do they think we are all idiots because we were educated in their schools?

SojournerTruth
SojournerTruth
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Can an accountant, like the mayor’s cohabitant, explain why the various city departments’ (Tyer cited the Police and Fire depts.) operational equipment is not included in their departmental budget. How do you actually get a handle on what these city departments really cost the taxpayer ?

Shelly Liver
Shelly Liver
5 years ago

Thirty five marijuana stores,better get tight security.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Maybe Steven Dean should make his own blog where he can control content, call everyone that isn’t himself Matt, and decide what is fake news?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Maybe you can provide concrete examples of your conservative bashing. But until you can, you can stop pestering the rest of us

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

He will leave having passed a spendthrift $1.5 trillion tax-cut bill and a $1.3 trillion budget bill financed heavily by borrowing.

Sure sounds like House Republicans running up the AMEX bill.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Shakes His Head
5 years ago

Sure sounds less than what the democrats did. Remember you need 60 votes to pass a bill in the senate. I know you know that but you want to try to play inteliigent. Hint it isnt working. Go cry.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

t really is worth being specific on this: It does not take 60 votes to pass an ordinary bill in the Senate; it takes a majority of the senators voting. If everyone is present, it takes 51 votes, or 50 votes if the vice president votes to break the tie. Under the current rules of the Senate–which can be altered by a majority vote–it takes 60 votes to proceed to a vote on a bill when some senators want to continue debate forever, or filibuster.

It has not traditionally been the custom that every bill gets a filibuster and so requires 60 votes in order to pass; plenty of bills in the past have passed the Senate with fewer than 60 votes. In recent years, the filibuster has changed from an occasional gambit to a more routine part of the process. Since the Democrats took back the Senate after the 2006 elections, it has become almost a matter of course that a bill opposed by most of the minority party will have to overcome a filibuster in order to pass.

But that doesn’t mean that a bill needs 60 votes to be approved; it means 41 senators can keep a bill from being voted on. The distinction is worth making, particularly since the ability of the minority to obstruct is dependent on the willingness of the majority to be obstructed.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

You could not be more wrong. Understand that…you are incorrect. Every piece of major legislation (unless it is under reconciliation which this is not) needs 60 to prevent a filibuster. Stop the nonsense. If we presented a normal budget one or more of the demorats would filibuster whether it be chuck you shumer or Fauxcahontas.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

No, what I posted is very correct. Try to read and comprehend it. I cannot dumb it down anymore for you. You stated that a bill needs 60 votes to pass, but what is correct is a bill can be stopped with 41 votes.

You’re ridiculous.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago
Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

You are ignorant. Does it need 50 votes to pass yes but any senator can filibuster any bill and it takes 60 votes for cloture. So in reality it’s 60. And any republican budget – although a good honest budget – would be filibustered by a Democrat.

You are ignorant to say otherwise

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

I think it is obvious in the above senate record and would be comparable in the same House session record that the Republicans passed a tax cut without symmetrical spending reductions.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

I will say this real slow so even you liberals understand…if they wanted it passed by the senate which requires 60 votes to break a filibuster that would have occurred, they had to put a lot of demorat fluff in it.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

You’re back to hypotheticals and conjecture. Republicans even vote against their party’s bills.

I see in spite of Dan’s admonishment and banning your previous alias you are going to keep up your harassing, immature behavior.

Done wasting my time.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

See you have no facts. And you are one to talk about previous aliases

Harrison
Harrison
5 years ago

I did not realize this was a conservative blog. Good to know. I am somewhere in the middle. Thanks for the info. I will no longer participate.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Harrison
5 years ago

So you’ll take your ball & bat & go home, rather than defend your anti-Trump statements with facts. The truth matters.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

If you support Trump it is important to avoid talking about Trump.Trump keeps saying the Russia influence on elections had nothing to do with him.Nobody who follows the news of Mueller s investigation has heard anything about who is involved.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

Your entire post makes no sense. Try again.

u
u
5 years ago

Dean, you’re on the Cliff and guess who’s just about to push you off? Careful now?

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  u
5 years ago

Stating facts is not being on the cliff. You trump haters have no facts

h
h
5 years ago

At Cliff.
^^^^^^^^^^^^€


\
\
~~~~~ Dean~~~~~

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  h
5 years ago

I am sure you think that is a witty response but… no

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
5 years ago

Dow up 376.20 as of 3:23pm ET