COUNCILOR CLAIRMONT’s BB EDITORIAL LAYS OUT CASE in STARK BUT ACCURATE TERMS: IN BATTLE FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, PSD CONTINUES TO SCREW ‘THE LITTLE GUY’

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COUNCILOR CLAIRMONT’s BB EDITORIAL LAYS OUT CASE in STARK BUT ACCURATE TERMS: IN BATTLE FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, PSD CONTINUES TO SCREW ‘THE LITTLE GUY’

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2013) — Did you happen to catch at-large councilor Barry Clairmont‘s editorial in the Boring Broadsheet Monday? If so, you were treated to an informative read, one in which a Pittsfield politician actually dispenses transparency and truth. If you didn’t, you […]

July 9, 2013 15 Comments

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DD-DT OFFICIALLY REJECTED, BUT CITY’s HIRED-GUN LAWYER MAY HAVE GIVEN DEVELOPER AMMO FOR CERTAIN COURT BATTLE … BUDGET BLATHERINGS … plus … PROPAGANDA RAG OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRODUCES INCREDIBLE FICTION

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013) — It’s official, as THE PLANET predicted. There will be no drive-thru window for the proposed new Dunkin’ Donuts store on Fenn and First streets. At its last meeting, our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council said no, […]

July 9, 2013 11 Comments

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LESS FOR MORE, MORE OF LESS, AS PITTSFIELD TAXES UP, SERVICES DOWN …EIGHT LUCKY SENIORS SET TO CHOP COTTON FOR MINIMUM WAGES … FREE SLAVE LABOR WILL HELP GEEZERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES, MAYBE … plus … IT’s NOT ONLY WHAT YOU KNOW; A CAPITANIO NAMED YOUNGEST CHIEF FAMILY PROBATION OFFICER IN STATE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013) — With a budget of $137 million, one that has grown at a startling proportionate rate well past the nosedive of the local and particularly the city of Pittsfield’s economy, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski would figure that at least […]

July 7, 2013 21 Comments

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AN OLD BASEBALL LOGO: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE, OF WHICH THE ‘NOW’ MAKES THREE ABSTRACTIONS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND, JULY 5-7, 2013) — Whimsy, when crossed with wistfulness, produces a healthy attitude toward the past. Seriousness, when crossed with regret, produces Jay Gatsby, the rich man who thought he could repeat the past. You can’t. That doesn’t mean to say […]

July 5, 2013 2 Comments

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HAPPY FOURTH TO ALL THE PLANET’S VISITORS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FOURTH OF JULY, 2013) — Happy sparklers and red-checked picnics to you on this sun-shiny holiday. In honor of this great day of Independence, observed in the good USA and in the hearts and minds of the Beach Boys, we shall suspend out […]

July 3, 2013 12 Comments

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QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM A BUDGET FIASCO … THE PLANET’s LASER LEXICONJUGATOR ZEROES IN ON THE FRAUDS AND THE FRIENDS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013) — Quotable quotes leftover from the latest school department budget fiasco. You won’t find these in Bartlett’s Famous Quotations: — “I thought we had a pretty lean budget.” — School committee chairman Alf Barbalunga. Comment: “Think again, Alfie.” This budget […]

July 3, 2013 20 Comments

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FY14 BUDGET INCLUDES RARE — ALBEIT TOKEN — WIN FOR TAXPAYERS VS. THE GOB … CLAIRMONT LEADS WAY TO COUNCIL’s VOTE TO LOP $200K FROM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET … EVEN WITH ‘CUT” SCHOOLS WILL STILL GET $1.66 MILLION RAISE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013) — THE PLANET has the smartest readers. Yesterday, the ever-observant Prof. Trzcinka commented that we have more fun with theater reviews than reviewing the dire theatricality of municipal budgets. That’s why the economics department at Indiana University pays Prof. T […]

July 2, 2013 13 Comments

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