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BOSTON GLOBE REPORT ON FINANCIAL CORRUPTION OF ‘AUTHORITIES’ MAKES ONE WONDER ABOUT PEDA, OTHERS IN TOWN

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2018) — As one of the greatest failures in city history hibernates in amber-encased “lacktivity,” the fiduciary guardians of the public trust continue to ignore disaster. THE PLANET shall explain a bit later on in the column.

First, we take note of the excellent investigative piece in yesterday’s Boston Globe. The newspaper uncovered massive fraud being perpetrated by a group of entities with more-than-ample representation in the Berkshires, namely, the dreaded quasi-public-private agencies. Pittsfield has plenty. The Globe piece revealed that numerous of these monstrous bloodsuckers have hid millions of dollars in spending, defying state law with immunity. The law requires full and transparent disclosure of all financials, but the newspaper examination of records shows the agencies failed to report on payroll expenses as well as operating and capital costs.

These public-private quasimodos combine the worst of both worlds. As Pittsfield has seen too many times to count (Beacon Theater, as just one example), the “public” takes the financial risk while the “private” reaps the rewards, if any. The trouble comes structurally. Such agencies receive state — ie., taxpayer — funds, yet their budgets remain separate with no legislative oversight. More ominously, they operate independent of accounting, reporting to nobody. Deidre Cummings of MassPIRG calls it “a recipe for disaster.” She understates.

Not oddly enough, the named agencies abound in “Authorities.” The word invokes dread, fear, and loathing for any Pittsfield resident wiuth enough institutional knowledge to recall the phrase “Civic Authority.” The Globe piece identified not inclusively the Boston-based UMass Building Authority, the Steamship Authority, and the state Convention Center Authority. THE PLANET, playing word association, conjures the Pittsfield Housing Authority, the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, and especially the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority. We referred to the latter in the first words of this article, though speaking of the BRTA, the Globe reported that 14 of the 15 regional transportation authorities it looked at failed to disclose payroll and financial records, which leads to an idle thought: How do you think the BRTA would react to a third-party forensic audit?

Back to PEDA. How does this failed agency justify its existence after 20 years of N-O-T-H-I-N-G except fat pay for its staff, particularly the round robin of politically connected but evidentially incompetent executive directors (“C’mon down, Corydon Thurston!”). How many staff does PEDA employ? What do they make? What does the executive director make? Has PEDA made all of its financial records available to the public? When? Where? Has it accounted for every dollar spent since 1998?

Meanwhile, “the fiduciary guardians” THE PLANET mentioned in the first line sit with their fingers up their reverse openings. Idiots on the city council — Moon, Rivers, Krol, White, and Persip — spent precious man-woman-hours on the “mosquito.” Meanwhile, that other would-be guardian, The Boring Broadsheet, though the mosquito story rated page one treatment above the fold. The BB, its last ounces of self-respect obviously being rationed for another place and time, the day before reported in the same prime-time spot on page one a story with the headline: “Pursuing a city that works for everyone.”

We shudder.

A crusading local daily would have long ago done an investigative piece on the financials of the local quasi-public-private agencies, as well as key non-profits. Thar’s gold in them hills. PEDA, for instance, has been given countless millions over the years yet not once the we know of has its board released or the city council demanded a widely available public reporting. No temptation there, eh, for theft of services, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, or malfeasance. Nope. Not in Pittsfield. Nevah.

Sleep easy, though. John Krol and Donna Todd Rivers give their personal assurance no mosquito will disturb your slumber tonight.

——————————————————————————

“I know the Americans are inherently disposed against us, but when they talk to us, they will see that I am not the kind of person who would shoot nuclear weapons to the south, over the Pacific, or at the United States” — Kim Jung Un

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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Definitely NOT Praxis33/Shakes His Head
Definitely NOT Praxis33/Shakes His Head
5 years ago

How is alleging the Huckeebees’ of incest worse than the constant allegations of Bill Clinton raping or Today’s gem of Barack Obama beating his wife and daughter?

Pat
Pat

Democrats get away with all sorts of nasty behavior simply by being Democrats. It is corrupting our society.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Allendale school must not ever be forgotten as a elementary school 4years old to 12 year old development years breathing in the fumes of a toxic swamp that have no smell.Caccamo,Moon,Kroll,White….your in denial about this….Where is Elias,Taylor,Cameron who want nothing but the best for education.Where are all of you on the elementary swamp school building that each of you ignore when you go to bed.Those are your kids.Do something.Leadership,courage is something you will never have until your days are done if you ignore the Allendale swamp.So you care about the enviroment do you.Curtis look at the data epa report on allendale toxic swamp

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Crosby is another school building that places students in sped in a moldy enviroment with air quality that goes from 100 degrees on one side of the building to an icebox on the other side.Filter not changed and a leaking roof into dark spaces of ehat grows there will never know.Can we get this unsafe SPED building torn down never to be used again for special ed studends.Bus all Williams student to Crosby and take and put all Crosby at Williams and you will see what the truth is about this building.Crosby is not a safe building.

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

Go Trump!!! Obama got the Nobel peace prize for doing nothing. Trump truly deserves it so much!!!!!.

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

Talk only of Trump for the next 10 days and you will see a obese man who wants women and wealth .Try not to say Clinton Obama

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

I thought that was talking about you

Two Cents
Two Cents
5 years ago

Just thinking out loud here: Isn’t Councillor Helen Moon a nurse at BMC? If so, how can she ethically submit a petition seeking more money from her employer on the city’s behalf? Sounds like textbook conflict of interest to me. And if so, shouldn’t the great John Kroll (co-sponsor) know better?

Two Cents
Two Cents
5 years ago

Hit submit accidentally…As Columbo would say, “Just one more thing…” I also find it ironic that Krol wants additional money from the company that fired him (fact) but wants to give the school department-where his mother works and he illegally proposers off of its radio station- the city’s entire budget! You just can’t make this S%^& up!

NIB
NIB
Reply to  Two Cents
5 years ago

There’s always ulterior motives and hidden agendas for these things.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Two Cents
5 years ago

Two Cents,
Please fill me in on Krol’s background. You said BHS employed him – in what role? Can you confirm that he ran Sweetwood into the ground & was fired?

Two Cents
Two Cents
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
5 years ago

Fritz…Yes, I was talking about Sweetwood and it sounds like you know about the situation, which if you heard 2nd hand then I can confirm through a BHS official. Otherwise, Kroll attempted to work in REAL radio, once in North County and once as a correspondent for the regional public radio station. But real radio meant real work so his stints were shorter than Mickey Rooney. But then Jim Ruberto taught him how to not work through politics and siphoning off the public trough.There’s his whole resume since college in a nut shell.

U
U
5 years ago

I wouldn’t send Wrong or troll to do anything, we’ve already had Doyle-Hickey.a

U
U
5 years ago

Larkin dole hickey….

H
H
5 years ago

Do we really want to trust Wrong on chip seal,water and those little critters?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

STAN ROSENBERG RESIGNS!

News Article:

The Latest: “Massachusetts Senator Stan Rosenberg Explains Decision To Resign”
AP — May 3, 2018

BOSTON (AP) — The Latest on the resignation of former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg, whose husband was charged with sexual misconduct (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg says he’s resigning from the Senate because he would no longer be able to fully represent the interests of his constituents.

Rosenberg delivered his brief letter of resignation to the Senate on Thursday, the day after a scathing ethics report said he demonstrated poor judgment and failed to protect the Senate from his husband, Bryon Hefner, who faces sexual assault and other charges.

The Amherst Democrat will officially leave the Senate at 5 p.m. Friday.

Rosenberg said he deeply regrets the difficulties he has caused the Senate and apologized to anyone affected by the actions that were described by investigators.

But Rosenberg also noted that the report found no evidence that he violated any Senate rules, or that his now estranged husband influenced his actions as Senate leader.

___

1 p.m.

Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg is resigning after a scathing ethics report said he failed to protect the Senate from his husband, who is charged with sexual misconduct.

In a letter sent Thursday, Rosenberg said he would resign from his seat at 5 p.m. Friday.

The letter was delivered as senators were holding a closed-door caucus to discuss the ethics report, which cited lapses of judgment and leadership, including allowing Bryan Hefner to access Rosenberg’s Senate email account.

Several Democratic senators, along with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, had called on Rosenberg to resign his seat. He had stepped down as Senate president in December.

Hefner has pleaded not guilty to charges including sexual assault.

___

10:43 a.m.

Members of the Massachusetts Senate plan a closed-door caucus to discuss a highly critical ethics report about former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, whose husband has been charged with sexual misconduct.

The meeting on Thursday will come prior to a formal session of the Senate and amid calls from top state officials and several lawmakers for the Democrat to resign.

The report prepared by investigators hired by the Senate Ethics Committee cited lapses of judgment and leadership, but did not accuse Rosenberg of violating Senate rules or being aware of any alleged criminal behavior by Hefner, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey are among those calling for Rosenberg’s resignation.

Rosenberg has not yet commented on the report.

Two Cents
Two Cents
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Learn how to link Jonathan!!!!

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
5 years ago

Good riddance, Stan. My only regret is that the taxpayers must still foot your pension.

H
H
5 years ago

We thank you for your service Stan.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

No, we dont

H
H
5 years ago

Um…Dow is Down again and uh, Trump is going down.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  H
5 years ago

How much has it gone up since 1/1 and believe that is Stormy going down.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Fake news confirmed. Dow is UP 5.17

h
h
5 years ago

In case you missed the G-Mans Show you will see that our taxpayer advocate Mr. G had a serious conversation with a EPA official and wants the EPA to come to Pittsfield to answer questions regarding the sewer project.

This is what Tyer should have done , but instead , she and Marchetti and Weiss- and Turdocy had a clandestine visit with Alexandra Dunn.

When this official come to Pittsfield you will see Gaetani in action and definitely bring his A-Game.

The Wiz is our only hope to ditch this project, he can’t lose no matter what happens, ecause he established that he is our Vity’s expert in water and waste-water.

The Mayor and the infamous eight couldnmt hold a stick to Gaetani and he more so than anyone, valiantly, tried to help the taxpayer.

Stream his show and listen very carefully to the EPA official and you will see some shocking news.

Praxis33 Shakes His Head
Praxis33 Shakes His Head
5 years ago

BREAKING NEWS !!!!!!

This just in: Trump ate two deserts at dinner last night while some people only ate one. He looked at Melania in an inappropriate way. And, and… his mother wore combat boots and she wasn’t even in the military.

Trump is going down.

Also everyone know that the stock market only goes up all the time and never goes down. If Hillary was President the Dow would be over 50,000 by now.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Praxis33 Shakes His Head
5 years ago

CNN reported the dessert item

h
h
5 years ago

Locals send your water bills to parx ass -dizzy dean (small potatoes all)- and on the-fritz, if you find one,they all the same .

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  h
5 years ago

Or to h I am sure he refused the trump tax cut

h
h
5 years ago

Is it me,or do trump and comey look a-like? Can someone put a photo on here?

Pat
Pat
5 years ago

Five more pot stores will be opening soon in Pittsfield. Is everyone happy? We have no good paying jobs, very few stores to shop in and some of the worst roads in the state, but getting stoned will be easy. Prepare for many more accidents in this city with so many irresponsible stoned people behind the wheel.

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

It’s called “medicating the masses,” and makes them easier to control.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
5 years ago

I agree completely. Vote Democrat and we’ll give you all the pot you want. All the welfare that you want. These are the people making up a large part of the Democratic base. The other part of the Democratic base are the rich New Yorkers and elites who are laughing all the way to the bank on how they are destroying this country and squeezing the middle class.

mi
mi
Reply to  Pat
5 years ago

Pat, pLease name these rich New Yorkers of which you speak? Name three.

u
u
5 years ago

I’m just glad a new Wal Mart isn’t coming and shout out to the great M M for smashing that idea.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  u
5 years ago

The Great Melissa Mazzeo who shops at Target because it’s liberal friendly (otherwise like a good little Progressive she hates all malls) and doesn’t care about the poor in this city and would get rid of our regular Walmart if she could. The Great Melissa Mazzeo has no problem shutting down free speech at city council meetings and the Great Melissa Mazzeo will continue to give all the money that school employees demand. The great Melissa Mazzeo loves high taxation because she and all of her wealthy friends can afford high taxes. So far not seeing any difference from Linda Tyer. In fact all of these Progressives are interchangeable because it’s the philosophy that’s the problem.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

She’s a fine woman or dumb as a board.- Guiliani and Bannon on Ivanka Trump.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
5 years ago

If Ivanka had stormy Daniels brains she might actually be helpful at a government position. She should have stayed in modeling where she would not have to talk.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  dusty
5 years ago

Making fun of the children of the President? That’s low even for Progressives? How much lower can you go? Putting down women who are models? I thought you were supporters of all women? It goes against the MeToo movement to put down women just because they are not Progressives like you are and happen to be former models.

Praxis33 Shakes His Head
Praxis33 Shakes His Head
5 years ago

“The sky is falling, the sky is falling”

– chicken little.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Kroll,Moon,Caccamo, White care about the enviroment.Are any of them on record about exposing Pittsfield children to Toxic wast at Allendale school…we are waiting councilors.We know Marchetti and the rest dont care.We know Yon and Taylor dont care about students at allendales poison.

U
U
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

Selective environmentalists. If that’s what you meant?.

U
U
5 years ago

Trump must be believed that he only knew about payments ten days ago.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  U
5 years ago

You and your fancy Progressives will not impeach President Trump so stop dreaming and do something useful.

Cosbies
Cosbies
5 years ago

Lying Slump.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Cosbies
5 years ago

Trump is not a liar

Unwanted Carl
Unwanted Carl
5 years ago

Slump just cannot tell the truth, just can’t. It s impossible. Donny the Liar, Rudy he Fabricator, Mike the Fixer.

Cosbies
Cosbies
5 years ago

They are very close, could be tommorow,very close.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
5 years ago

What is tomorrow Barry admits he beats Michelle?

h
h
5 years ago

The Contradictung President..Donald J Slump.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  h
5 years ago

You mean your wonderful successful president Donald Trump

Unwanted Carl
Unwanted Carl
5 years ago

Trump will not have a face to face with Mueller because he is a Serial Liar and cannot tell the truth. Guiliani is a buffoonand a has been.

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Unwanted Carl
5 years ago

Pathetic lied

Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Reply to  Steven Dean
5 years ago

Lies