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!!NEW ADD: BEA-CON DEAL UPDATE!! … IMMIGRANTS? YES. VIOLENT MOB? NO. AMERICA HAS A LAWFUL PROCESS FOR NEWCOMERS, ONE THAT DOESN’T INCLUDE VIOLENCE

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

ADD 1, NOV. 29, 2018 — Couldn’t let the 8-2 council vote approve the Bea-Con deal, which lets the developer walk away from millions in debt while keeping intact a brilliant Ponzi scheme in which untold, unnamed principles got their huge kiss in the mail, although if truth be told, the kiss probably came in laundered cash in unmarked envelopes — kinda like they do it in The Sopranos and Better Call Saul. Allow then a few random thoughts, which we shall post during the day. To start:

  • A Bea-Con insider, familiar with the numbers, said ODC head Deanna Ruffer “lied when she gave the attendance figures” for last year. Ruffer cited 121,000. Our source says she “inflated the number by more than five times.” This would align with another source, who earlier told THE PLANET that paid, “legit attendance” was under 20,000.
  • Our source outlined the scheme: He (or she) claims that the principles set up a slush fund of money from the $23 million that went into the project, one that left “more than $10 million to play around with.” The Beacon would then use some of that to “buy” tickets and use the number of seats “bought” in the attendance figures to count as fannies in the seats, even though no actual people showed up. That would explain the many performance in which there were as little as two, three, or four people — or even no one — for shows. If effect, if true, this would mean Richard Stanley was using taxpayer money to buy tickets from himself. No actual money would change hands, only photons on a computer screen. None of this was vetter, of course, by the mayor, by councilors, by OCD, by Downtown Pittsfield Inc., by 1Berkshire, or by anybody.
  • Councilor “Big Earl” Persip defended his vote by saying a “no” vote would “risk the making of a dead, dark area” on North Street. Uh, PLANET to Big Earl. Apparently you don’t get out much at night. You ever take a look at North Street this time of year, long after the Lah-De-Dahs from South County have left until next July? Yeah. You see a “dead, dark area.” That nag done left the barn, honey.
  • Mayor Linda Tyer had a great euphemism for the highway robbery she allowed to occur. She called the forgiveness of debt and the sale of a $23 million investment for a little more than half a million “leveraging the benefits.” Right. And bombing civilians accidentally is called “collateral damage.
  • Some of the street prophets and Wise Guys who piped in with THE PLANET read mayoral tea leaves from the vote. They feel that:
    • The manner in which Tyer pushed this shows she’s serious about another four-year term.
    • Krol’s “yes” vote backing the mayor is a signal that to her people that he won’t run in opposition.
    • Mazzeo’s “no” vote should be considered the first action of her mayoral challenge in 2019.
  • Let it be known and not forgotten that only two councilors — Mazzeo and Morandi — had the courage to vote in the true interests of the Kapanskis as opposed to sweetening the sugar for the Ponzi Perpetrators.
  • Is and was Deanna Ruffer’s relationship with Richard Stanley strictly professional, or was there more involved?
  • Why didn’t Chris Connell recuse himself from the vote, the same as he did when Stanley’s TIF came to the council’s plate?
  • The Bea-Con will go down in local history as perhaps the most blatant act of highway robbery ever. Even broad daylight on the seedier aspects did not stop the skunks in power from their spraying.
  • Enough of the unpumped septic tank known as the Bea-Con Sinema, which rhymes with enema. Now back to our regularly scheduled column.

———- 000 ———-

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDESDAY NOV. 28, 2018) — We temporarily leave the uncharted wastes of The Beacon Bomb to present another bit of incendiary, this one occurring south and west. More Beacon to come later, of course, as we unravel the Scam of the Century … or should we call it … Retread Ruffer’s Revenge. What? You think her return to Pittsfield and the timing of Richard Stanley’s latest move was a coincidence? Every romance novel we check said no.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Monday there is a “war” at the southern border being funded by the far left, explaining it was “a psychological war, very often guided by American leftists who are activists and American left-wing organizations who are helping finance it.” He said the left’s goal in mobilizing the Central American caravan was to embarrass the U.S. by making it seem as though the government cannot control its border. “You are either going to have a country and have a border or you are not going to have a country,” Gingrich said, adding, “we have to be prepared to stand up to that, and to do whatever is necessary.”

Gingrich makes a great point. The United States of America has ALWAYS been open to immigrants. THE PLANET shouldn’t have to remind anyone of that, but, sadly, we have to do that given the hysteria caused by the thousands of migrants, Hondurans, mostly, who have marched to the border demanding illegal entry to the country ad the freebies that go with it. America has a process that welcomes newcomers. The process, one of the few aspects of historical, bureaucratic law that actually performs as billed provided it is followed, doesn’t the seemingly impossible. On the one hand, it gladly welcomes qualified newcomers wishing to take part in what’s left of The American Dream. On the other, it helps weed out the undesirables that every first-world country has to deal with as the cost of success.

———- 000 ———-

THE PLANET‘s progeny left Austria and Italy early in the 19th century to find their way to America. They came having friends and sponsors here to welcome them. They came legally, willing to assimilate and, while retaining the important aspects of their cultural heritage, become “Americans.” They learned the language. They found employment. They didn’t expect a penny from the government. They were willing to begin at the bottom and work their way up. Our grandparents from both sides of the family tree did just that.

We had an opportunity this year to witness the process in action. One of our students, Demid Karpov, became a U.S. citizen. Demid, a native of Russia, came here, applied himself, got a degree, became a bank manager while putting himself through school, perfected his English, studied, and this summer, became a U.S. citizen. THE PLANET had the high honor of assisting him on his long journey and being honored guest at a celebration dinner with Demid, his doctor mother, and his fiancée. Demid is now pursuing more higher education. He will go on to became a great success and, in doing so, help in a small-but-large way to assist his new country, more than he will ever realize.

What’s wrong with that model?

Compare that to the mob of thousands that pressured entry points near Tijuana, Mexico. This horde, led by a group called “People Without Borders,” showed up at the U.S. border, threw rocks and projectiles at uniformed U.S. border agents, chanted that America’s laws do not apply to them, and began cutting through fences, putting personnel in danger. Organizers got what they wanted: Great footage of women with children being gassed. So what if these pawns suffered a little discomfort. The melodrama scored political points.

With TV cameras present and social media burning the wires, they forced agents to use tear gas to repel the attack, a perfectly executed plan of Guerilla Street Theater. All this confirmed what the White House has been saying for weeks now — this is a group of gullible people driven by poverty into the hands of a lawless elite to be used entirely for political purposes.

Of course, they found comfort in the predictable response of some Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The socialist, 29-year-old congresswoman likened the action to “Jews fleeing Hitler’s Germany.” Nothing like fanning the flames in a tinder box. That kind of response, the clueless congresswoman doesn’t realize, will make Donald Trump’s re-election in 2020 a virtual certainty.

People need to study the constitution, learn history, and realize that — as unfortunate as they may be — poverty, ignorance, and bad government can never be used as ground for political asylum. Otherwise, as CBS News pointed out, America’s population would be 1 billion people.

America welcomes immigrants. We have a process. We suggest that would-be immigrants follow it. The rest can go back home and work to improve their lives there.

—————————————————————————————————-

“Nothing discloses real character like the use of power” — Robert Green Ingersoll.

“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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The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Councilor Mazzeo has instincts others including Berkshire Eagle opinion writers dont acknowledge.She voted no not because she didn’t see the rock and a hard place situation involve here but she simply has been trying for years like Morandi has to just slow down votes on huge financial ramifications these votes have on low income taxpayers.
Mrs Mazzeo is the only clear headed leader in a City of followers in the political clique.

Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

I don’t remember her trying to slow things down when Bianchi was mayor.

Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
5 years ago

OK, here we have a good example of leftist “journalistic” slant.

Kathleen Kaine going to jail. Former AG of PA. Heard two stories on her on NPR this morning.

Not one mention of her party. Not one.

I sez to me, I sez, I’ll bet she’s a Democrat ’cause they ain’t saying.

Shu’nuff–Demorat.

NYT mentions “Democratic” in the second paragraph. Fina-freakin-ly.

Now, just do the ol’ reverse test.

Were she a Republican, a conservative, a right-winger, funded by far-right-wing groups, the Kochs, Scaife . . . you would have heard those monikers repeatedly. And with a snarl in the voice–“yeah, see, it’s those nasty, dirty, corrupt Republicans . . . And she probably helped the Russians steal the election for Trump, too.”

But I’m still shocked they even reported the story.

u
u
5 years ago

I was looking at an old article and the campaign expenditures from 2009,it said that City Councilor Kevin Morandi spent some 230 dollars or so, on his campaign,In the same list,one doner gave Ruberto 500 dollars,his name….Richard Stanley.

Thomas More
Thomas More
Reply to  u
5 years ago

PITTSFIELD — David Carver hit a few snags in his latest redevelopment project on Tyler Street, but now the community is chipping in.
This is the first sentence in today’s Eagle. Does this have a familiar smell. OPM, as Sheldon wrote in one of his novels, Other Peoples Money. Carver’s finally catching on to Pittsfield free money program. Farley cited this project as a “game changer”. Same game, new inning. The city will be duped by the Morningside crybabies.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  Thomas More
5 years ago

TM these very generous political buffoons like Bouvier. Tired and the majority of the council always seem to forget who they represent. It,’s not the tax payer but the taxpayer gets caught for all their generosity to private sector investors who shouldn’t be given a dime of hard earned taxpayer dollars. These tiffs and freebies to private sector investors must come to a svreaching end. The real truth of the matter is that the bulk of the politicians do not have a clue as to how these handouts work as was evidenced by how clueless they were at the council meeting on the beacon Tuesday. Ruffed has been the initiator of all these scams and her word on anything should be taken with a brain of salt. Those seats at the beacon she knew about but she didn’t mention them until one of the councilors pulled it out of her. To make a long story short we all need to start enlisting all the bodies we can find to be able to have a huge voting bloc ready to go to the polls in 2019 and sweep out just about every politician holding office in pittsfield in living Bouvier and hinds.It is the only way we can get a new start here in pittsfield. Mr Gaetani has stated repeatedly that this is the only way to save the taxpayer. I agree with him.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Republicans got Ken Starr to investigate Hillary Clinton on Whitewater and it took 6 years and 70 million to clear Hillary Clinton and that was 25 years ago…they found nothing.6 years,6 years,6 years

Art Seller
Art Seller
5 years ago

Trump is finished. Turn into any news source except fox. This will be the biggest news story in the world. Scump is in the deep fryer now and will be fried to a crisp. People are rejoicing throughout the world. The days scump are coming to a close

Kermit Frog
Kermit Frog
5 years ago
Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  Kermit Frog
5 years ago

Trump calling Cohen low intelligence. Sound familiar? I told you that it would be Cohen who would bring trump down. We must hope now that we can get rid of trump!p as soon as possible. Trump is now lying about his involvement with Russia. He just told at least 5 to 10 lies in a press conference just now. Now he says he had some business in Russia but in the past he said he had no Russian dealings. Now Every word he says is a lie. He must go

Johnny Absurd
Johnny Absurd
5 years ago

It is just not fair that some Pittsfield people think they have a right to steal just because they can slide it by through legal mumbo jumbo and they know that the only oversight is by people who have their back

so I am calling no fairsies on them as of right now and is Tyler street an up and coming slush fund ripoff? ahhhh follow the money…follow the contractors…follow the political shovel holding

Halo
Halo
5 years ago

There is one Puppet Master who has his fingers in many many puddings.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  Halo
5 years ago

Just one more tid bit for scumpies. Do you find the timing of Mueller hauling Cohen into court today a coincidence? Not really. As you know scump has just turned into Mueller his responses to questions asked of him. Mueller must have seen some answers from scump that Do NOT gel with Cohen’s account of the same question asked of him. Uh Oh. Who is lyiñg? This is getting very interesting. But. We shouldn’t waste too much time on this because we have our own crisis here in pittsfield with incompetent city officials giving away our hard earned tax dollars. We should never forget this especially at election time. We need drastic change and that can only occur at the ballot box. Keep this in mind.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

So an apartment developer is surprised that 100 year old buildings need a sewar line so you call Pittsfield taxpayers and get cash to help this veteran developer whos in shock and cant move forward without son Ruffer cash….does ruffur live in Pittsfield.If we do an audit at least we will know where 22 million went.Stanley did not wash anything or change bulbs so how clean was that kitchen.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Mazzeo must run for mayor,because she knows Pittsfield is a financial mess.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

We on the planet are a little different than most people. We discuss a wide range of issues and what one person knows that others dont it is a good learning experience. That’s the good news. Now that bad news__what are we going to do with the people who only get their news from the Berk. Eagle. These people become a danger to society because they vote and they head to the polls at election time carrying the eagles list of candidates. This is problem number one in our city. I wish we could somehow get everyone to participate on the planet because they could learn plenty from us. If we hope for any change in pittsfield we need to some how get these individuals to see the light. Does anyone have any ideas to solve this very serious problem??

Kermit
Kermit
5 years ago

Beacon question – I still don’t understand who hadcthe funds distributed to them? Did the money go straight to the Beacon or a third party? The Beacon is a public for profit corporation that apparently issued shares – probably just to Stanley himself.

Kermit
Kermit
Reply to  danvalenti
5 years ago

I hate this form- sorry Private for Profit Corporation not public Corp and not private for public corps. 🙂

Kermit
Kermit
Reply to  Kermit
5 years ago

Mistype above – private for public corporation. No public otherwise they would be traded. They did issue some stock (100 Shares) but then show there is no stock issued. Not sure if that has any meaning at all – probably not.

Johnny Absurd
Johnny Absurd
5 years ago

Can Mueller come to Pittsfield? Will any of the insiders turn on each other or make a plea deal to escape jail time? Can Maura Healey really turn a blind eye to the Pittsfield caper or will she be afraid it will be brought up during the next election?

Will the last show at the theater be a shit show? A shit show shower on the taxpayers? As the stage goes dark for the last time will it be the last time Pittsfield taxpayers ever trust another politician?

Trumped Up
Trumped Up
5 years ago

Jimmy the Gent.

AgentSmith
AgentSmith
5 years ago

When you hear words like “game changer”, “funding gap”, “market rate”, “lean in”, “economic challenges” just know tax payers are going to take a bath!

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  AgentSmith
5 years ago

Agent. Your too kind. I call it bull shit.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Pat,Planet,others can all feel it collapsing today.Thank God come the Democratic Congress liberal thinkers progressive educators we with stop this discusting family from the American embarrassment that is the Trumps.He was an ahole in the 80s as you all know and he will leave office an ahole.He is not smart enough to resign

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

TSC. Amen.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  Art Seller
5 years ago

The trump organization offered to give Vlad Putin a 50 million dollar pent house in trump towers. Now who gives away a 50 million dollar piece of property to an international thug. Something smells fishy here. I think Vlad owns scump. Just saying.

Miss Vito
Miss Vito
5 years ago

Trump is innocent of all Cohens charges. A very weak person trying to get a reduced sentence.

The school committee
The school committee
5 years ago

Trump was blackmailed.He throws everyone under the bus.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  The school committee
5 years ago

Any of scumps underlings or his family who have appeared before congress or the special counsel and lied and scump is aware of it but has said nothing he can be impeached for this. It looks like it truly is the end of scumps presidency. Congress is looking into all associated trump people who have appeared before congress looking for these liars. Dems say they have many liars they will bring before congress shortly after jan:3rd. First to be interrogated are scumps spawn. Uh Oh looks like all of them and daddy scump could all be sharing a jail cell at some federal prison. Oh how these liars think they can get away with their criminal activities. Well not this time. Pat the scumps will be looking for room service in the big house. Should I tell them your still available. Hell they,’re so nice they may invite you to be live in help.What should I tell them???

Trump Derangement Syndrome
Trump Derangement Syndrome
5 years ago

Exactly what crime is Cohen being charged with?

Hondurans for Trump
Hondurans for Trump
5 years ago

It says mostly financial crimes.

Trump Derangement Syndrome
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Reply to  Hondurans for Trump
5 years ago

Where does it say that?

mi
mi
5 years ago

Trumps goose it cooked,now there are things popping up all over the place.Womder when Dans going to start his Jimmy Linda and Stanley and Dianna scheme.

Art Seller
Art Seller
Reply to  mi
5 years ago

Cohen plead guilty to perjury regarding his involvement in the building of a new trump tower in Moscow, He said scump was in contact with Russians also and scump has consistently lied that he had no dealings. He lied and that is perjury. More important however is how scumps answers to Mueller questions which scump completed last week line up to what Cohen has plead to. I believe Mueller knew that scumps written replies didn’t match Cohen’s and thus he draged Cohen into court today . It looks like it is the end of the line for scump. A single confirmed lie by scump will start impeachment proceedings.

Trump Derangement Syndrome
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Reply to  Art Seller
5 years ago

Was there anything wrong with Trump considering building in Russia?

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Trump Derangement Syndrome
5 years ago

Yup,lying to cover it up.Puttin as you see if you read has compromised an American President.Fox news wont cover it so turn the channel…….Bill Clinton…I never had sex with that woman….Impeached……Trump is Russia’s bitch….Wake up,America is being manipulated from the outside