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WADE SAYS SHE WILL SPEAK BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, 6/11 … CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN DOREEN WADE AND MARK SMITH PROVES ENLIGHTENING … ‘CIVILITY IS OVERRATED; WE CAN ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT HARDINESS IN OUR DISCOURSE’

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013) — Doreen Wade, the black Medford businesswoman who, after meeting twice with Pittsfield Mayor Dan Bianchi (April 3 and 29) accused the mayor of racism, tells THE PLANET she intends to speak before the city council on Tuesday, June 11.

THE PLANET asked our Right Honorable Good Friend City Council President Kevin Sherman if Wade had contacted him, asking to speak or be put on the agenda.

I have not received any such request from Ms. Wade via email or by telephone,” Sherman replied.  Unless there is a letter in my City Hall mailbox, I have not received any request to speak from Ms. Wade.”

Wade could be planning to speak during the Open Mic session that starts each council meeting. In any case, it will be more than interesting to see (a) if she makes good on her stated intention to speak and (b) what she intends to say. Does she intend to bring evidence or other polemic testimony in support of her accusations against the mayor? It’s not clear. In the same phone conversation, Wade told THE PLANET that she is thinking of calling a press conference sometime the day before, on Monday June 10, prior to her council appearance. Yesterday, we asked Wade if those were still her plans. This morning, she confirmed that she will be in Pittsfield on Monday.
In the meantime, many readers of THE PLANET were piqued by this comment, left on THE PLANET on June 3 by Mark Smith:
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Mark Smith

June 3, 2013 at 6:53 pm # Edit

Good Evening Dan,

I give you my permission to post the email that Doreen just sent me and had you in copy.

I truly believe this woman is certifiable and will no longer be commenting on this topic.

Thanks,

Mark

Mark Smith
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A Need to Know
Readers contacted us, mostly in private, wanting to see the e-mail, some out of an almost “soap opera” curiosity and others with a more rounded interest in this story. THE PLANET believes the information is relevant to Wadegate, and we share it in a neutral manner, confident that readers will be able to draw their own conclusions. To better understand the exchange, it is helpful if not necessary to follow the “paper” trail of the exchanges between Smith and Wade that took place in the comments section of THE PLANET over two days, prior to the e-mail in question. We shall present these in the order they occurred, giving them a number for easy reference: 1S, 2S, 3S etc. for Smith’s comments; 1W, 2W, 3W, etc. for Wade’s. THE PLANET’s is labeled 1V.
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(1W)
May 31, 2013 at 10:49 am # Edit

Dan,
I am very disappointed in your story. This story sounds entirely bogus. If I were the mayor and your story accused me of racism, I wouldn’t respond to you either.

Do some homework, Dan. Here is how Ms. Wade treated members of the Medford City Council a few years ago. It seems that she was on the city TV board and the council called the board before them because of an explicit show run on public tv.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuUEruggkF0

This woman seems to be out looking for fights.

 ————————————-
(1V)
danvalenti

May 31, 2013 at 2:14 pm # Edit

MARK
Thank you.
We, too, asked ourselves: Is she out looking for a fight? We then examined her situation. She wishes to move to Pittsfield with her elderly mother, so they can reconnect with their family in the city. That being the case, and wanting to uproot her life and her business, why would she come here “looking for trouble?” It would seem more logical that she would meet with the mayor and other city officials with a cooperative, positive attitude. It seems as if that was the case, only that April 3 meeting disabused her of that attitude.

————————————————————

(2S)
Mark Smith
May 31, 2013 at 4:38 pm # Edit

Sorry Dan,

I think you are wrong. It sounds to me that if Ms. Wade doesn’t get her way, she will play any card to her advantage.

In my opinion, you are furthering her agenda, whatever it may be.

Once again, if I were the mayor and saw your posting, I would not respond.

————————————————————-

      • (1W)
  • Doreen

    May 31, 2013 at 9:30 pm # Edit

    Do not know who you are but you need to do your homework my friend. I am not out to look for a fight. I served on the Board of Directors of TV 3. I did not agree with the treatment the Medford citizens were getting and i spoke out at City Council meetings in behalf of Medford. I was backed by the Mayor of Medford and it was all done through very legal channels by the City of Medford’s lawyer and that can be proven. Now you need to check the TV 3 people, who have a list of charges brought against them in the courts and not by me. They have over 50 cases on the dockets. They have been taken to court and lost many many times for harassment of Medford citizens who by the way are white. They have been charged with gay bashing of both men and woman, they have assult and battery cases, they have stocking cases, they have many restraining orders against them from Medford citizens, and they have even hurt a man, who is white and handicapped and so much more. I have many people in Medford who are white who will speak to this. If you are going to try to discredit me please do it with people who do not terrorize and hurt others. And if I am accused of fighting to protect the people in the city where I live than so be it. The City Council has even taken TV 3 to court so if you are going to crucify me for protecting myself and others behind these type of people I stand guilty and if you agree with people who do these type of harmful things and would not fight yourself, than Mr. Smith I do not need you to be on my side. I am happy that you would not believe anything I say because I would rather have you not stand beside me than to stand with a person who would stand with that type of treatment to others regardless of color of skin, nationality, sexual preference or anything else. I am not ashamed to have stood up on behalf of myself being black, my neighbors being gay, my neighbors being handicapped and my neighbors being poor. Thank you.

    ————————————————————————–

    (2W)

    Doreen

    June 1, 2013 at 9:49 am # Edit

    Since everyone is so anxious to accuse me of wanting a lawsuit, my Private Investigator who is a white, gay woman from the Western Part of Massachusetts, yes up your way saw this and decided to find out who you are. She should be getting to you within the week to find out where you got the Board information, how you got your information. As I said previously I helped the city, the council and the board, you have your story wrong and I will enjoy sitting down and talking to you so you can get all your facts before you send out any false and slanderous information. Thank you so much. Look forward to meeting you.

    —————————————————————————

    (3S)

    Mark Smith

    June 1, 2013 at 7:46 pm # Edit

    Dear Doreen,

    Did you ever hear of Google? That Youtube video was easy to find. Oh by the way, I have a call into the Mass Division of the SBA to verify your nomination as Mass SBA Person of 2013. I’m sure it was a self-nomination if such a thing exists. Or maybe Keri nominated you… I will find out. And another thing, anyone can issue a Press Release on anything through PR News Wire.

    Lastly, am I violating your copyright on your website if I should copy my own comments that you posted without my permission and paste them back here?

    Yours truly,

    Mark Smith

    ———————————————————————————

    (4S) — This is the e-mail chain, in reverse order, involving Mark Smith and Jean Sawyer of the Massachusetts Small Business Association.
    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    From: Sawyer, G. Jean <GJSawyer@sba.gov>
    Date: Mon, Jun 3, 2013 at 10:12 AM
    Subject: RE: Request for Press Release Confirmation / U.S. Small Business Administration Recognizes Doreen Wade / Feb 11, 2013
    To: mark smith <mrksmith1967@gmail.com>
    Cc: “Nelson, Robert H.” <RHNelson@sba.gov>

    Hello. Doreen Wade was not a recipient of any Massachusetts Small Business Award this year.

     

    Jean Sawyer

    Jean Sawyer

    Deputy District Director

    Massachusetts SBA

    10 Causeway St., Room 265

    Tip O’Neill Federal Building

    Boston, MA 02222-1093

    Office: 617 565-8514

    BB: 617 549-8601

    Fax: 202 481-1993

     

    From: mark smith [mailto:mrksmith1967@gmail.com]
    Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2013 8:43 AM
    To: Nelson, Robert H.; Sawyer, G. Jean
    Subject: Request for Press Release Confirmation / U.S. Small Business Administration Recognizes Doreen Wade / Feb 11, 2013

     

    Dear Massachusetts Small Business District Office,

    The Press Release below was issued on Feb 11, 2013 through PR News Wire.  I respectfully request your office to confirm that this release is factual. If indeed the nomination is factual, please provide the name of the person who nominated this candidate.  Also, please be so kind as to detail the nomination process.

    Thanking you in advance,

    Mark Smith

    http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-small-business-administration-recognizes-doreen-wade-publisher-and-ceo-of-new-england-informer-dba-ne-informer-newsmagazine-as-massachusetts-small-business-person-of-the-year-190786241.html

    MEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Black History Month brings recognition to so many people but it often forgets to look at our everyday citizens who work tirelessly and silently in their communities to make a change. Well in the small suburbs of Boston is a woman making history in her own right. In recognition of small businesspersons, who perform extraordinary deeds daily for their communities and their business world, Doreen Wade has received nomination by the Small Business Administration. Doreen has lead N.E. Informer Newsmagazine to develop partnerships with renown specialists throughout the United States, delivering news and information to uplift, educate and inform citizens of the community.

    Doreen Wade , a driving force, works tirelessly in raising the public’s awareness on missing children and adults. She sits on various boards, around the country. For example, she serves on a California board that raises awareness on the use of the “N” word through United Voices of Color Community. Doreen has spent many years as a surrogate single parent to her niece, Lisa and nephew, Ralph Wade . This event caused her to get involved, right out of college, working to help youths in Cambridge, Massachusetts, her hometown as a mentor and advocate in collaboration with the Cambridge School System and Police Department.

    “Being an advocate, for the youth, was a great opportunity which guided me to where I am today. These youth helped me understand the importance of knowledge,” Doreen said. “I’ve watched children in many communities, including my own in Cambridge, build confidence and grow through sharing the news and information they needed to find scholarships, write resumes and more information not many people take the time to relay.  Doing this business helps me teach so many no matter where they come from or what they need, the resources are there to give them.”

    Doreen Wade has a strong commitment to uplift, educate and inform around the nation through its N.E. Informer Newsmagazine which supports organizations, foundations and businesses that help others improve their lives through education, literacy, help and more.

    “It may sound simple, but it hasn’t been for me,” Doreen maintains. “It has been a struggle being a black woman with this type of business. Everyone wants to know if you make money; that’s what they base working with you on. Small business is not looked on as a good risk. If they can’t make money from you they don’t care about your cause. This also goes for churches, government agencies, businesses in your community and people who preach to assist until you knock on their doors.”

    This spring, Doreen’s nomination will either be a winning situation or a loss but, as Doreen said, just being given the honor of being nominated and knowledge of knowing her work has value is a win for her and her company.

    For more details about Doreen Wade and The N.E.I. Media Group producers of N.E. Informer newsmagazine and The N.E.I. Report, visitwww.neinformer.net.

    Contact: Keri Singleton
    781-646-5129
    neinformer@verizon.net

    SOURCE New England Informer

    RELATED LINKS
    http://www.neinformer.net

     ————————————————————————–
    (3W) This is the e-mail Wade sent to Smith on June 3 at 9:12 p.m.
     Let me save you the trouble from looking anything up.I did not self nominate myself for a SBA award.  First off, please get in touch with the SBA office. I am a glorified representative who serves as a spokesperson for their work.  Have been working with the SBA for many years now.   I also was nominated from what I understand by a producer at BU.  I have the official letter from the SBA, so do not look ignorant by promoting false informaiton.I do not think I know you but you seem to know me.  Please contact the Mayor of Medford’s office and I am sure they will tell you what you want to know about my character, my standing in the community and how I fought for Medford.I do not have to nominate myself for anything.  I am very respected in the news media and the people that I work with.Sorry you get your information wrong.  Keri hasn’t nominated me for anything so try try again.When you put your comments on the internet you made them public and able to be used.  But your comments were not comments they were false information about something you thought I did.

    Whatever your problem is with me you should let it go.  I do not know you, I do not want to know you, and I do not care if you feel I am doing something you don’t like by standing up for myself.  I will prove anything I need to, to anyone I need and I am not worried about some stupid video that can be proven to be false by Medford City Council, Medford Mayor, cititzens of Medford and the legal department in Medford.

    I have no war with a stranger and I do not want a war.  You obvious have some issues with me but you should be honest and forward about who you are, what you are after and why you feel the need to fight someone you don’t even know over something you are not involved in.

    You seem to be some type of person with some illness and maybe a little dangerous and crazy so if you want to continue to do these things and say these things I will have to take it to the FBI.  And yes, for your information I have a cousin who is an FBI agent and will be forwarding this email to him.

    You are investigating me and I have no idea why or who you are and that makes this a dangerous situation.  You are putting me in fear and I do not know if you will harm me since you seem to have so much information on me and so much anger with me.

    Also I will be forwarding this to the Police Department in Pittsfield because I believe my safety is in Jeopardy.

    ———————————————————————-

This concludes the correspondence between Smith and Wade as far as we know. We do not know if Wade has contacted the Pittsfield Police about Smith. THE PLANET can add, though, that we have not seen any behavior, words aside, that would lead us to believe that either party is in any danger from the other. This has been a spirited discussion that has boiled over at times but that fits well within both THE PLANET’s proscriptions for proper debate as well as Constitution’s. Both encourage people to be free. To be and feel this way, people “must feel free to say things that are controversial and to say things that are wrong, to have the opportunity to correct their statements, to assert views and to change their views. They must feel free to say things that offend and to regret it; to agree and disagree. They must feel free to wrestle with language — to be angry, moving, ironic, kind, and bitter; to be both inelegant and elegant; to grunt and pontificate; and to use words of however many letters in a vigorous engagement on the battlefield of meaning and understanding. Our ears, hearts, and minds must be toughened up to hear it all. We must be prepared to receive strange sounds before we can have a conversation. We must permit our tongues and those of others to be unruly, if for no other reason so that our hands will be ruled. … Civility is overrated. … We can encourage hardiness in our discourse” (Susan Cole, March 17, 1995, The Chronicle of Higher Education).

Meanwhile, the next days to watch will be Monday and Tuesday — the first for a possible press conference that Wade may either hold or participate in, the second for Wade’s possible appearance before the city council. Stay tuned.

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“Factory windows are always broken. / Someone’s always throwing bricks, / Somebody’s always heaving cinders, / playing ugly Yahoo tricks.”Vachel Lindsay, opening to “Factory Windows are Always Broken”

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Charles Trzcinka
Charles Trzcinka
11 years ago

Hi Dan,

Whew, this is a huge amount of smoke but where is the fire? The exchange between Smith and Wade tells us nothing about the Mayor. Why did she want to meet with the Mayor on April 3 and why did she come back on April 29? What did she want and why didn’t she get it? If she got what she wanted there would not be this ruckus-I’ll bet even if she was insulted by the Mayo. I also wonder why she care so much about what “Mark Smith” says?

FPR
FPR
11 years ago

Obviously the entire city of Pittsfield should be on lockdown and the police, FBI, DHS, IRS and the military should be going house to house over this incident.

B
B
Reply to  FPR
11 years ago

Sounds like Ms. Wade has gone off her rocker!

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
11 years ago

WOW….didn’t Doreen threaten to investigate Mark with her gay white female private dick because he posted a YouTube link? I also googled her that video and press release came up on the first page of results. Now a threat of FBI and Police because he researched claims. I don’t think he said anything that would make someone fear for their safety.

levitan
levitan
11 years ago

Dan,

“You can do much worse, and you already have”

Nevital
Nevital
Reply to  levitan
11 years ago

DV let me also be one of your jealous stalkers like “Levitan” and use a name that is an acronym of your name. Like that’s sooo profound or something.Levitan is obviously obsessed with you with your influence celebrity and pull. Keep up the good work Planet!! I love it when you get under the skin of types like that. …

levitan
levitan
Reply to  danvalenti
11 years ago

Thanks, Nevital. I appreciate the cleverness of switching the first and last letters to come up with a catchy name. Do you teach Remedial English and composition too?

Keep up the great work – the whole world is watching you.

teecha teecha
teecha teecha
Reply to  levitan
11 years ago

don’t go knocking remedial English teachers. If it wasn’t for us, we’d all be speaking Chinese and Engrish!

levitan
levitan
Reply to  levitan
11 years ago

weren’t for us. Subjective case is indicated there.

dc
dc
11 years ago

Wow!

Can anyone say “bi-polar”?

outfox
outfox
11 years ago

Interesting how the word Yahoo is a whole other meaning for us than the one that was more common when Lindsay wrote that poem. Thanks, DV, for introducing me to a new ( to me) poet!

Dave
Dave
11 years ago

This whole situation reminds me of a mayoral debate last election season. An innocuous comment by Mayor-to-be- Bianchi that he worked with Pete Marchetti’s husband on some different issues was greeted by a “Here we go” or something to that effect by Mr. Marchetti. Why would someone take that statement as inflammatory unless THEY wanted to make an issue of it? We often take the meaning of statements directed at us as we perceive the person saying them, or if we don’t know the individual, the words will be used in any context that meets our agenda. Budget hearings smudget hearings, let’s deal with this nonsense instead while the budget grows again!

Varsity mom
Varsity mom
11 years ago

I’m sure she feels she represents women, and am sure she is proud of what she perceives to be her “power”, but in reality she makes us all look like hormonal idiots. I think she needs to look up the meaning of the word “dignity”. And then, with class, find another agenda.

Varsity mom
Varsity mom
Reply to  Varsity mom
11 years ago

Because in reality, if she REALLY wanted to start a business, SHE WOULD JUST START A BUSINESS.

Gene
Gene
Reply to  Varsity mom
11 years ago

Thats true. Businesspeople don’t need permission. The whole story doesn’t add up. Im with Mayor Bianchi on this one .

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  Varsity mom
11 years ago

She is not starting a new business, she is relocating one. So why didn’t she ask the SBA for help relocating here. After all she is “a glorified representative who serves as a spokesperson for their work.” Her words.

FPR
FPR
11 years ago

This whole thing is a bit wacky.

She states in the email, “I am not worried about some stupid video that can be proven to be false by Medford City Council, Medford Mayor, cititzens of Medford and the legal department in Medford.”

How do you prove a video of yourself false?

On a jury of “12 angry men”, I’m going with the lone nut theory.

“Just the facts mam”
– Sgt Friday

Thought it would be nice to meet with the mayor.
Money was not a factor.
Maybe like to see about getting a grant.
The mayor is racist against blacks.
No blacks in city hall, why not?
Call in the NAACP.
Someone links to a youtube video, better call in my white gay investigator.
Oh same guy questions her nomination of super woman — better call in the FBI.
Now fears for her life — call the police in also.
Will be speaking at the next council meeting.

Whew is right.

levitan
levitan
11 years ago

Obviously, the poor woman suffers from mild or severe psychosis, and all I see here is a gang having fun provoking her. Dan V should not have printed her latest letter, and having likely known her situation, he should not have opened this forum for public entertainment.

How clever is that? Reminds me of the techniques used by grade school students to bully their classmates.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  levitan
11 years ago

Clinical term, by the way, is ‘agitating’ her. Now, what sort of person gets a rise out of agitating someone with a disability?

FPR
FPR
11 years ago

So, calling her a “the poor woman suffers from mild or severe psychosis” is not agitating her?

Was she clinically diagnosed with psychosis by a psychiatrist or psychologist?

Or is it a case of sticking a knife in yourself, having a stab at what you projecting other of doing?

So, someone can launch an accusation of racism against a sitting mayor who is running for reelection and call in the NAACP and not expect people to have an opinion?

levitan
levitan
Reply to  FPR
11 years ago

Yeah, I can admit that I was fooled – twice at present count. As they say, ‘fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.’

I’m not challenging you, FPR, but consider from a third position what sort of person makes common sport of a person who is not well. Notice that the NAACP is showing the decent approach.

FPR
FPR
Reply to  levitan
11 years ago

Agreed lev. Now that we all know something is not right with her, I agree it would not be good to pile on.

She should be advised however that her speaking at the next city council meeting in few days will be recorded. Someone hypothetically could post it on youtube and link to it down the road thus putting her words in the public eye once again.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
11 years ago

Sounds like she came to the Mayor seeking a hand out. Can’t blame her, seeing Pittsfield’s track record.Give the Mayor credit for sending her on her way.

The Kraken
The Kraken
11 years ago

I decided to wait, and take as much in as possible, before coming to any conclusions and adding my comments.
I my humble opinion, Ms. Wade lacks credibility. Simple as that. I am giving the Mayor the benefit of any doubt here.

tito
tito
11 years ago

I would like to thank the Planet for this interesting blog and the information it presents, with interesting viewpoints by all, if it weren’t for the Planet we would be relegated to the Berkshire Bluff and the other non factor, W B R K light.