By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2011) — Welcome, my dear friends, to October, when men rake leaves and women are glad they do. Today, we have some quick observations to share, and then we turn the page over to our guest commentator, Francois Arneau.

SHERMAN NEXT COUNCIL PREZ? — The telegraph wires have been buzzing recently, which always happens with a municipal election. The latest intelligence intercepted by our Z agents — and confirmed by two city councilors — is that Kevin Sherman wants to be the next council president. He’s lobbying among councilors who will be back for the next term and doing the calculus on likely winners. THE PLANET likes this display of confidence, so certain that Sherman is that he will win re-election in a populated at-large field. We wonder, because we don’t know, if lobbying for this position now, prior to an election, with other sitting members is or is not covered by the state’s Open Meeting laws. Anyone have a thought on that?

MALUMPHY KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN — Dan Bianchi was at Mazzeo’s Restaurant this past Thurday. Melissa Mazzeo was there (as one would expect). So were a roomful of others, as Pam Malumphy launched her campaign for state rep as an Independent. Bianchi’s presence gives credence to the theory that there’s a proxy battle going on between the Ruberto and Bianchi camps. This has been waged in council chambers the past two years with the duels between our Right Honorable Good Friend councilor Mazzeo and Ruberto’s Community Development Czarina, Deanna Ruffer. Now the battle will be fought between Malumphy and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, for whom Mayor Jimmy Ruberto has stumped vigorously.  Malumphy has been described as Melissa Mazzeo’s guru. As you know, the two women bear little love for each other. The campaign also features Mark Jester running on the GOP ticket and THE PLANET’s endorsee, Green Party candidate Mark Miller.

BAY STATE HAS MOST EXPENSIVE STATE HOUSE IN COUNTRY — Speaking of the General Court, that is, the Massachusetts State Legislature, why are they in session the full year? Of the 50 states in these here United States, only eight have full-time sessions. The remaining 42 meet anywhere from 1.5 to two months (Florida, New Mexico, West Virginia) to six months (only Texas). Most legislatures conduct business for 3, 4, or 5 months and then return home to their real jobs. Salaries are a fraction of what we pay in Massachusetts, and often come with no benefits. Massachusetts legislators make $61,133 a year plus bennies. Only two states — Ohio at $67,584 and Michigan at $71,685 — top Taxachusetts. However, neither Ohio or Michigan gives their lawmakers pensions or any other benefits. Factor that in, and we have the MOST EXPENSIVE STATE LEGISLATURE IN AMERICA. What do you think, folks. We getting our money’s worth?

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We now present this commentary by Francois Arneau. We have known Arneau for more than a decade. He is a social scientist, researcher, and demographer. Arneau raises lingering questions in the case of Pittsfield’s infamous triple murders.

QUESTIONS CALL FOR ANSWERS IN TRIPLE MURDER

By FRANCOIS ARNEAU

Special to PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

I know not all of you are concerned about the issues we face, especially concerning issues as upsetting as mass murders within our community. Nonetheless, The entire story of the triple murders needs to be told. All the questions need to be answered. It is not about offending some or “outing” anyone. It needs to be told and explored as a deeper understanding of what happened to our fellow citizens of the City of Pittsfield.

We need to understand what brought about the murders, how they were allowed to be plotted and planned out in plain site, and finally what type of people would or could do this. We owe this to the victims, their friends, their families and to each other.

We need to question the District Attorney and all of law enforcement to ensure other victims are adequately protected. Just the other day, a young man who was either shot or shot at would not testify in court as to who was responsible. Was it in part due to what happened in the Hall case? That almost surely factored in. If it didn’t, then would those charges have ever been brought forward?

Will the “thugs” be further emboldened? How far will they push? I don’t think for one minute a vacuum has not occurred in whatever enterprises Mr. Hall and his associates were involved in. No I am not blaming the motorcycle gang, but I do not believe this was the only time Mr. Hall crossed lines with the law.

For example IF he was involved with drug dealing, he leaves behind a clientele both upstream and downstream that now needs to either find a source to get or to sell “product” to. Once again, this is what we need to look at and question law enforcement about.

As far as Veiovis or Gutfinski or Trash goes, do we not deserve to know how someone with so many issues wound up here? Did you not read the report put together by the Maine newspaper and reprinted here on THE PLANET? He certainly didn’t come here for Boy Scout camp and decide to stay.

Was anyone aware of who was amongst us? And while his wife was hopefully fully informed of his past, she had a choice to date him, perform with him, marry him etc. The rest of us were neither informed or aware of his history. Do we not deserve to know if the system failed us and, more importantly, failed the victims and their families?

Was no one aware of the possibilities of this guy snapping? It has been stated that Mrs. Veiovis had left him or divorced him in the recent past. Was she afraid of him? Threatened by him? Did she report that to the authorities? If it occurred, what was done to protect both her and the general public? Once again, these are questions for law enforcement to answer. We deserve answers and accountability.

We can examine if the young Mr. Gutfinski was served well by society. Should we not exam the system we pay for as taxpayers? Was he treated adequately for his mental disorders? Or was he a burden on the system and passed around rather than treated? Do we not owe it to him and his victims to press for these answers?

Finally,were he or the former Mrs. Veiovis here in Pittsfield and benefitting in any way shape or form as the much touted “creative” economy? Were they on welfare? Did they collect Social Security? Did they receive any other form of public aid? If so, we need to examine the merits of that program we pay for. No, I am not saying all artists are predisposed to commit crimes or murder, but I am asking and probing. Getting answers to these questions and more will make us a wiser community.

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THE PLANET THANKS FRANCOIS ARNEAU FOR HIS COMMENTARY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT ARTICLES FOR THIS SITE, PLEASE FORWARD THEM ALONG BY E-MAIL AS WORD DOCUMENTS TO THE PLANET FOR CONSIDERATION. BYE FOR NOW.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.