A LOOK AT THE FACTS PROVE THAT CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO BUILD A $X00 MILLION NEW HIGH SCHOOL
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015) — Late last week, area 8th graders were schlepped off campuses. They were treated with yet another dose of politically correct social engineering, a session of “I’m OK, You’re OK, that Loser Over There Is OK, We’re All OK.” The lead photo in The Boring Broadsheet depicted a boy/girl presenting on LGBT-Bi-TransThis-That.
It was all so inclusive.
Meanwhile, our young scholars lost more hours when they could have been studying and drilling in reading, writing, and math — only they don’t drill any longer. Memorization has long been out of fashion, even though it provides marvelous discipline for later academic and life exercises.
The day before, the young scholars were let out of classrooms at 10:30 a.m. in Pittsfield so that teachers could do whatever they do when they are let out on one of the many contracted “half days.” By all credible measures, U.S. students rank appallingly low compared to the rest of the world. For example, consider this from cnycentral.com:
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As the controversy surrounding the Common Core continues, a new survey puts U.S. students far down on the list of the best.
A global education survey released Tuesday shows when it comes to math, reading and science, teens in the U.S. rank 36th in the world. Students in Shanghai are rated the best.
The results come from an assessment done last year. More than half a million students from 65 countries took a two hour test as part of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. Students in East Asian countries performed the strongest with students in the Chinese city of Shanghai doing the best. Singapore came in second in math, followed by Hong Kong.
The global exam, which was given to 15-year-olds around the world, is considered the worldwide benchmark for education ranking by country. The test measures standards in subjects like math, science and reading across Europe, North and South America, Australia, Asia and parts of the Middle East. This year, Tunisia in Africa also participated.
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In Pittsfield, despite the public schools eating up 71% of a $144 million city budget, academic performance continues to decline. The performance has nothing to do with the bricks and mortar of buildings. What is not happening that should be happening in the schools would require a far longer and more detailed analysis than THE PLANET will supply today.
The essential point is that tomorrow, the Pittsfield City Council will vote on whether or not to approve borrowing of what is advertised as $120.8 million to build a new Taconic High School. By the time you add up all the non-reimbursable costs, including a blank check taxpayers will be required for removal of PCBs on the construction site, the project will likely come in closer $200 million. The cost of financing the bonds alone will set taxpayers back about $3 million a year.
Legality of Council Vote in Question
The council needs 8 or more votes to approve the plan. THE PLANET has already questioned the ability of three councilors (Krol, Amuso, and Mazzeo) to vote because they retain dual membership of the agency requesting the money (the SBNC) and the one that will approve or disapprove the funding (city council). You can’t sit on both.
Nonetheless, they will all vote on Tuesday. The best possible vote for councilors to make is to reject the project outright. That would involve four negative votes against this foolhardy expense. Are there at least four forward thinkers on this council, four independent types, four with the backbone and integrity to cast their lot, for once, with The Little Guy? A vote against the ruinous borrowing will be a vote for We The People. A vote in favor of this spending will be a slap in the face to taxpayers and citizens.
All along, The Suits and the Vested Interests have used subterfuge and deception to sell this project. Financials have been fudged. In place of hard data, the school department has supplied pretty pastel renderings. There has been no official, independent review of the claims being made by the Pittsfield School Department, the school committee, the superintendent, the SBNC, the architects and designers, the bonding agent, or anyone associated with the propaganda put forth.
There are a small but powerful number of insiders that stand to make a killing off this project. With $120.8 million flowing and the usual lack of oversight and accountability you find in city business as a whole, THE PLANET doesn’t have to draw you a map. That would be the most reasonable explanation for the zealous fervor for this excessive project.
Facts that Backers of the Project Cannot Refute
Advocates for the building of this school have not been able to refute the facts:
* Pittsfield has no real economy.
* The city has a spending problem. Expenditures far exceed income. Taxpayers have to make up the difference.
* The city continues to dole out tax breaks to connected individuals and companies. Taxpayers have to make up the difference.
* The mayor has promised and the council is certain to approve yet another round of tax hike to pay for increased spending in the FY16 budget.
* Jason “Jake” “JIV” “Man UP” MacCandless, Pittsfield school superintendent, drove a $4 million increase in department salaries, then cries that the department is in a $2 million hole. JIV makes about $200,000 (including bennies).
* Enrollment in the schools continues to drop. Since the start of the school year, enrollment is down another 100 or so, to 5,744 (source: State Department of Education website).
* More than two of every three students in the Pittsfield schools come from impoverished families. These families are headed by people who have made lousy choices for their lives, and taxpayers are expected to clean up their messes.
* Compared to state averages, Pittsfield schools have a higher dropout rate, a lower attendance rate, average more days absent per student.
* A shocking 35.5% of all Pittsfield students — 2,010 of them — are absent 10 or more days each school year.
* Chronic absence is 35% higher in Pittsfield than it is in the state.
* Unexcused absences are more than 50% higher than in the state. (Source: State DOE).
* Pittsfield’s graduation rates are lower.
* Almost 50% of students in Pittsfield schools fit into one of these categories: first language that is not English, English language learner, student with disabilities, or student with high needs.
* Despite the propaganda issued by School Department apologists on classroom size, average class size in Pittsfield according to state data is 15 students per class, 20 percent lower than the state average.
* In the school year 2013-14, almost 700 students had to be disciplined. More than 5% of the total student body had to be suspended out of school. Another 9% were given in-school suspension.
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This is happening not because of outdated buildings. It’s happening because administrators have failed to back up teachers, who have lost control of classrooms to wild, unruly, disruptive students. It’s happening because the city has given up local control to state bureaucrats, who impose curricula that do not challenge students of meet local needs. A “state of the art” campus won’t change any of that.
The Only Good Vote for the City is a “No” Vote
Rather than tell you the truth about what is happening inside Pittsfield classrooms, The Suits want to distract you. They have tried to sell you on a $200 million new school. It makes it look like they are “doing something.”
They failed in making the sale.
That is why they didn’t dare give you, the citizens who will be paying for this boondoggle for the next 28 years, a direct vote on the measure. They have been terrified since day one that citizens would get a direct vote on the project. Pittsfield needs better than that. It needs representatives who want citizens to own their government. It needs reps who have no problem letting The People, not The Politicians, decide on a nine-figure spending proposal.
Between now and tomorrow, if you’ve ever thought of contacting your councilor, you should do it now. If you ever thought of attending a council meeting, you should do it tomorrow.
If this project passes, bankruptcy is the likely outcome. Instead of being the “economic engine” its backers claim, the new school will be a sump pump that empties the city treasury and the pockets of its citizens.
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“If I laugh just a little bit, maybe I can forget about the way I feel for you, inside.” — Cat Stevens, “Maybe,” (1972).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The done deal new Taconic High School project bonding will add hundreds of dollars per year onto the already high municipal taxrate for residents and businesses. Meanwhile, the state government is facing a billion dollar plus budget deficit next year. That means that state aid for public education and municipal government will not be adequate to cover the increased costs on the local level. Pittsfield has a fragile bond rating, long term debts, and about $400 million in OPEB unfunded liabilities. Thousands of people have moved away from Pittsfield over the past couple of decades. Those who remained in Pittsfield are on welfare, including 2/3 of students receiving free lunches. Pittsfield’s tax base is shrinking due to all of these sad realities.
Do you know who else has an office on 100 North Street?
Nuciforo Law Group
100 North Street, Suite 405
Pittsfield, MA 01201
I do not know if there is any connection between Mayor Dan Bianchi’s move to 100 North Street and Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.’s law office there.
Pittsfield politics is ran by corrupt, insiders, and it is always unaccountable, secretive, and very expensive.
Our State rep. Tricia’s office is there to.
Her web-page: https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/TFB1
…says her district office is at 33 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield.
Different entrance’ same building.
Downtown Inc. same building.
The ginormous Pittsfield school budget is analogous to a huge corpulent pregnant pig lying on its side with its swollen nipples spread out invitingly to the special interests. And since the special interests control everything from how much to tax the people, to which piglet gets in line first, the people are helpless.
In order for the taxpayers to have any control over the school budget they would need to be able to vote in honest, unconnected candidates who truly gave a shit about their city and not about lining their pockets. It is a numbers game. You need more city councilors and school committee members that are for the people than the number of special interest councilors and school committee members. That is very hard in Pittsfield as the forward thinking special interests line up their candidates well before the next election. And they seem to be backed financially and their path is smoothed before they even announce.
So do your homework at election time. You may actually have a viable choice but it will be extremely difficult to get the numbers. Some of you remember all those 9-2 votes the council would come up with several years ago? That is how bad they can stack the deck against you.
You are correct about them not putting this out to a vote, binding or non-binding. They took a vote years ago on the proposed baseball stadium where CVS is today. Thats why CVS is there and a new stadium isn’t. It was a non binding vote, but the people spoke.
Thats exactly what should take place here, but the council knows the probable negative outcome. So they won’t risk it. They want to come accross as they know better then us, we can make the RIGHT decisions on our own.
Those no good SOB’s are suppose to vote by their constituents, and YOU KNOW, that doesn’t come into play what so ever. Its what they want!!
Ex-Councilor Sherman had a letter this week in the Berkshire commi paper, brown nosing the sitting city council. He ends his letter with Keven Sherman, ex-city council president, instead of just Kevin Sherman. By ending his letter that way I’m sure he thinks his voice is more important, so we should all listen to him.
His head is so far up the sitting council’s A$$’s that he’s taking turns looking out thru their nostril’s. I’m really surprised he didn’t thow his hat in the ring for another run for re-election.
They are all a bunch of rump swabs.
Sherman’s letter sing off (ex council prez) struck me wrong, too. What an arrogant thing to say. He’s another shill for the GOB. Mom’s a Del Gallo.
But I like to go back to what was said by an earlier comment. Until we have fresh faces running for office you can foget it. Pittsfield will continue to run and elect people who are connected, DelGallo’s nephew’s baby sitter’s boyfriend’s aunt. Or Wotkowski.
Ordinary citizens are branded and harassed if they participiate in government. Thats the Pittsfield way.
Sorry to bother you BUT The Eagle puts in that they are ex officials. I only wish Kevin Sherman would run for mayor. Good Man!
I agree. Our Pittsfield politicians keep concentrating all of our money and resources on the schools to the exclusion of a truly diversified economy here in Pittsfield and once the children graduate from our local schools they leave the area and find jobs in prosperous areas that have plentiful jobs, a high quality of life, and a balanced economy meaning an area where everything is not all about the school system. Diversity of the local economy is what is lacking here in Pittsfield. So we are investing all of this money in the schools, but the kids are smart enough to realize after all of the education that the first thing they need to do is leave the area in order to have not only a good career but also to live in a place with a high quality of life. That is not Pittsfield. It’s all about the schools while no attention is paid to disintegrating neighborhoods, lack of jobs, and quality of life issues. There is no money for anything else unless it relates directly to the school system which eats up 71% and growing of the city budget.
I did contact my ward councilor, but I fear that these people are in the pockets of the mayor and special interests and have every intention of voting for the new school.
Kate Maguire, of all people, who lives and Richmond and is very wealthy writes a letter to the BB which is published today about how great a new school will be. How she can truly understand the needs of the overburdened taxpayers of Pittsfield is beyond me. She has no concept of living in a city with a school system that takes and takes until people have literally no more to give. A school system that like the mayor keep rewarding themselves with pay raises. This is the reality of our Pittsfield public school system.
Interesting that you point out that Kate Maguire lives in Richmond. She is president of Downtown, Inc. and she works in Pittsfield. The two most vocal critics of Pittsfield politics are Dan Valenti and Jonathan Melle. One lives in Stockbridge and the other in New Hampshire. Neither work in Pittsfield.
That’s why they don’t care how much taxes we have to pay. They just work here but don’t have to live here. Make your money and run.
GREAt REPLY!!!!!!
Maybe we should show up outside of the meeting tomorrow with signs protesting the new school. Perhaps some outside media attention, meaning outside of Berkshire County, would be good to bring a national spotlight on the tension here in Pittsfield over this decision to build a new school. Maybe we could shame a few councilors into making the right decision.
show up with gags on and just stand in the back
At least two city Councilors have hung their Hat on making sure all t’s were crossed and i’s dotted. So, the question is asked, has LOw and Barry vetted this process (vote legality) before making their decision on the legality of who can vote? WE will SEE.
Yes. They can vote.
Barry.
I figured this was just another Terry Kinnas windmill.
Go ahead…you won’t.
Pat I like your thinking! Has anyone ever really realized or asked themselves why the children do so poorly or why the drop out rate is high or why so much absenteeism? maybe its not the children and maybe its the schools and no not the buildings. Some of the teachers just don’t care. It then becomes not about the kids anymore its all just about passing that stupid mcas or the new test that’s trying to take its place.
The kids don’t care about the buildings and I for one don’t want my children when they get older have to pay for a city debt that they didn’t get to vote on but was handed down to them by our city government.
If the new school goes through, which I am strongly against having a new school. Doesn’t that also mean that the taxpayers have to pay more money to bus children from the whole city to one school?
Tammy, I believe the city intends to maintain the costs of both high schools, keeping PHS open.
The new THS bonding can be forced into a citizens vote if a petition for a public referendum is filed 30 days after the council approval. This will require 20 % of the registered voters signatures.
I have been told that the city clerk, Ms. Tyer, was approached more than once regarding the format and procedure of such a petition and that she was reluctant to provide assistance, and that she advised the interested parties to hire an attorney to advise them on submitting such a petition. The individuals were seniors and were in turn discouraged and the effort died. Some one needs to spearhead this and drive it forward, sticking it to the city council and powers to be.We seniors need some help.
This isn’t surprising because as a mayoral candidate Ms. Tyer supports the building of a new THS.
I think it would be easy to get 20% of the registered voters to sign such a petition. I would definitely be interested in helping. It is terrible what they are doing to the seniors in this city. If you want my contact information, let me know.
Tammy Ives should start the petition. If this happens she may be able to run for council again and a big chance to win. Do we have time?
Wow Guess What that is shocking I would love to get involved in it however I don’t have the man power to cover 20% within 30 days I would need a lot of help..
I didn’t realize this could be over turned. Ms. Tyer wasn’t truthful anyone can write the petition. I wish that there was a group of interested people to do some foot work to help with signatures. 20% is a lot.
Does anyone know the total of registered voters?
PHS will remain open.
WHERE IS THE WATER WIZARD ON THIS TOPIC TAMMY?
Larry Gaetani and I share separate views therefore I can’t speak on his behalf. I just happened to walk in on a press conference. I am against the project especially after the pcbs that are on sight. We need to find ways to save and that will never happen under the current administration.
THE PCBs have been ignored by EVERYONE except THE PLANET, which uncovered the fact that the site is polluted.
I would think so, but whatever way you look at it, 80% or more of the city budget will then go to the school system. If not for busing, then cost overruns of the project since in the Eagle editorial yesterday the writer emphasized the school will be “state of the art” which basically means spending lots of money on things for the adults, but which the kids could care less about.
A few years back Wisconsin governor Scott Walker broke the teachers union in his state. Being a bleeding heart liberal myself, I said he is just trying to break union’s. But, after I read further into it was the teacher’s union in particular he was after. He broke it, there was outrage and protest’s. It was appealed and the voters of Wisconsin backed the governor and the teachers union as they knew it was gone. Scott Walker was voted back in as governor. The people have had enough of teacher union’s and balloted school system’s. It’s not about “the children” with them, it’s about how much they can squeeze out of the taxpayers. Please, will some of our councilors take a heroic stand for the taxpayers like Scott Walker did. This school should be voted on by the people.
Pemetina, you hit the nail on the head – these unions are out of control now. But the real problem is the politicians who are in bed with them. They want the teacher’s union backing during election time so make sure they get the big, fat, f-the-taxpayer contracts. I mean, how many private sector jobs pay that much with 14 weeks off a year, plus 10 half days (in service) on top of that? And the benefits they receive are outrageous. I know of no one in the private sector who works that little for so much.
Kathy Amuso would be one of those politicians who gave the teachers a huge raises of 1.3 million from a one time federal stimulus grant that created the deficit the city is dealing with now. She has also been a full time advocate for the new school and the fleecing of the taxpayers.
She has to go !!!
I agree, She’s a Bianchi supporter.
Pittsfield Politics Predictions:
* They will raise your taxes each and every year
* They will borrow millions of dollars for special interests projects
* They will laugh at you for not moving out of Pittsfield
* They will laugh at you while taking your hard earned tax money and then pissing it away
* They will control the government with their hand picked political puppets
* They will take away your job if you speak out about the political corruption
* They will blacklist you from finding a new job if you continue to speak out
* They will support police presence at all public meetings to force you to leave if they don’t like what you have to say
* They will support police state politics instead of democracy and citizen participation
* They will have uncontested state government elections
* They will control the news media through the third rate rag without a conscience called the Berkshire Eagle aka boring broadsheet
* They will never reopen Jack Welch’s Consent Decree while thousands of people continue to suffer and die from cancer causing PCBs
* They will complain that a majority of the children are receiving free lunches at school
* They will stand by as teen pregnancies and welfare caseloads continue to grow
* They will ensure Pittsfield’s never-ending downward spiral
Mr. Valenti. Could you please state the names of the connected few who will make millions from this project?
@Jimmy Gee – PEDA is (not) a model of economic development! A new Taconic High School will cost the already hard hit Pittsfield taxpayers even more money than ever before. Yet, it is being called an “economic engine” for Pittsfield. The revitalization of North Street was called “sacrifice” from the Pittsfield taxpayer by then Mayor Jimmy Ruberto. The airport expansion did not bring in any Fortune 500 corporations.
All of these projects over the past decade has had one result: Excessive local taxation with high losses in population in jobs.
Dan,
Allen Praxis is just trying to bait you here. I know you won’t fall for it.
Ask how is it that Mr. Monterosso walked away with $150,000.00 of city taxpayers money after spending only 3 months on the job? Suspended with pay after allegations of sexual harrassment. Connected?
Debbie Sadowy and Ms. Frieri fired without pay. Not connected?
Its pretty easy what is really going on in Pittsfield’s politics.
JIMMY
Does one light a match to see the sun?
Mr Valenti. I again ask you to back up what you say… What are the names of the connected who will make millions
Mr. Valenti doesn’t need to name these people; we all know who they are and I will not name them either.
I have answered. You aren’t paying attention.
Mr Valenti. You make statements you don’t Back up with facts Just stir the pot right Dan?
JIMMY
I have backed them to the hilt, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Pot stirring, too, of course, which as you know is a required step in making the soup of the polenta. Your questions are a good example of pot stirring, always an essential.
Better keep an eye on your wallets. After the new high-tech High School is built the middle and elementary schools will have to be updated so the technology and course studies are in line with the new school.
Also, is it a done deal the new High School will still be called Taconic ?
Taconic is the holy grail for these connected insiders. However, that is just begining. PHS also has many needs. They want a new police station, a new city garage, new fire trucks and water treatment plants.
The city of Pittsfield does not believe in upkeep and maintenance. They just let the property they own get delapited and then just buy brand new.
Plenty more cash grabs to come. If you choose to live in Pittsfield, prepare for many years of extremely high taxes and fees.
This new high school – new tax hikes will remain in effect for the next 30+ years. If you own property in the city of Pittsfield and you are 50 years old, you will be paying for this new high school for the rest of your life.
The few connected elites who stand to gain tremendous profit from it, will get their money in just a short time from now. They will stop at nothing to shove this down your throats, including some councilors voting illegally with a conflict of interest.
Every councilor who votes fot it tomorrow night – consider it a vote for them out of office. Barry and Jonathan already know this and have taken themselves out of the running for reelection.
True. This shows just how corrupt they are. They do their dirty work and leave before they feel the heat of public disapproval. They know their decision is bad for the public.
I still say national attention needs to be brought in to shed light on just what is going on in this city.
Pat call Geraldo Rivier
I would like to suggest the name Black Hole High School as a tribute to the taxpayers.
You can have all the High Tech you want, the student must have the desire to learn. And what is TES expecting, every student will graduate and stay here for a career after High Tech learning. My child goes out of town and has already been excepted to Stanford, Cal Poly and R P I and M I T. Do you think I’m going to send him P P S?
Money Pitt High.
P C B West
Dan Valenti High School !
NOW you’re talking!
The comment economic engine has been talked about for decades. Let it go! There are no jobs here.
That’s not true Nota, Tes has two.
If the councilors pass this vote for a new school tomorrow, all sorts of legal actions should be taken to reverse it.
You can count on getting a favorable interpretation from our esteemed City Solicitor. Will Lothrop and Clairmont be on board, it could be an agreeable interpretation for the first time that all three would agree. It’s called taking one for the team.
I have little to no faith in her opinions.
I check with other legal minds for my advice,
Barry
the city solicitor is an ass. I am talking about Dengan
ABC you make a valid and interesting point. Mr. Lothrop and Clairmont continually ask the solicitor on rulings of anything that is in question. How can Throp even considered voting illegally until an interpatarion has been ruled, even then Throp would need time to vet it out as he always does. Interesting!
If you explain to anyone who lives outside of this city just what is going on here with this new school project and this school district’s demands, they think we are insane. The truly pity us.
In other news…..Pittsfield man released after denying he punched 10-year old….http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_27905717/pittsfield-man-released-after-denying-he-punched-10
With that being said Mr. , are you and Mr. Lothrop going to run and hide on this one?
To your point Ama, this is one big cluster mess. Seems President Mazzeo or anyone else for that matter didn’t do their due diligence on this one. I would have to say it is a real legality issue if a vote is taken, will it be binding? not so sure. It’s to good to be true, many ways to go on this and both sides will actually have to be on the same side..And we know they can’t stand one another.
It would be nice to know if the vote will be binding. Where’s Rennie when you need him. if anyone would know it would be him
The school dept and the teachers union are destroying Pittsfield. Their talk about caring for our children is a joke. All they care about is themselves. The waste in the school dept is ridiculous. It doesn’t matter how much we increase their budget it will never be enough. They will always find a way to spend it. Followed by doomsday threats of course. If the whole bunch of them are so great then they should already be providing the top notch education they claim is on the horizon.
Maybe notch top notch teaching, but top notch faculties. Sending once again, the wrong message. Economic engine my arse.
Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, 58, is joining Boston’s $80 billion investment firm Bain Capital founded by former Massachusetts Governor Willard Mitt Romney as an investment director of social impact funds. Deval Patrick will earn a big, lucrative salary. He will become one of Bain’s managing directors, and the first African American to do so. This is not about philanthropic charity. Last year of 2014, investors directed $12.7 billion to social impact investing funds, up 19 percent from 2013, according to a J.P. Morgan report.
Well I hope Bain rethinks their hiring of Deval. I don’t think he knows how to add or subtract. When he was the out going Governor, he told the people that Mass had between $300-$400 million dollar deficit. When Baker took over he found that it was $760 million to a billion dollar deficit.
Deval doesn’t even have the qualifications to be a Walmart greeter.
. But he does have connections. And all Bain really wanted was a well connected lobbyist.
Most senior politicians are in large part lobbyist, many of whom trained at the city council level. If you look at your own city council you can see it happening every time they get together.
I heard talk about hypocrisy.
Romney was put through the ringer for being a part of Bain Capital.
The Berkshire Eagle Editors praised Deval Patrick’s deal to work for Bain Capital.
$$$$
“Bain-Patrick link could benefit both”
The Berkshire Eagle, Editorial, April 14, 2015
Maybe the last place anyone thought former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick would emerge would be Bain Capital. But if the Boston investment giant is seeking image rehab he may prove to be a good hire.
The Democrat will become the first African-American managing director in the investment firm’s history. The firm was founded by the former governor’s Republican predecessor on Beacon Hill, Mitt Romney.
The Bain-Romney connection did little good for either when Mr. Romney ran for president against incumbent Barack Obama in 2012. Both attracted withering criticism for the firm’s purchases of struggling U.S. companies, which they ultimately profited from after decimating the workforce. A Berkshire-born firm provided an example.
Bain bought Pittsfield-based KB Toys in 2000 and two years later required the company to assume debt and redeem stock to stay solvent and pay dividends to owners and investors. While Mr. Romney was no longer running the company, as an owner and investor he shared profits of $85 million, a 370 percent return on the company’s investment. Burdened by debt and crippled by layoffs, KB endured a slow demise and death in 2009. The Bain stories played poorly on the campaign trail with unemployment high and investment firms held in low regard.
At Bain, Mr. Patrick will direct investments in companies and causes that address social problems, according to The Boston Globe. Bain will join other companies seeking ways to profit through good works, and in the process, draw positive publicity, which is something Bain is not accustomed to attracting. Mr. Patrick, who defended Bain during the 2012 campaign, told The Globe that while the details of the fund he will manage are yet to be worked out, he could foresee pursuing deals in the fields of health, environment, energy, education and community development.
Before he does anything, Mr. Patrick with his presence enables Bain to diversify its management team. Bain also gets a charismatic personality with many connections in both the public and private sectors who can link the company with popular causes. Mr. Patrick, in turn, gets the opportunity to work on causes that were dear to him as the state’s progressive two-term governor, and not incidentally, make a lot of money. While in the private sector, Mr. Patrick worked as a corporate lawyer and as governor assuredly took a big pay cut.
Mr. Patrick may never return to politics, although that is hard to imagine given his skills. If he does, the association with Bain won’t hurt him as it did Mr. Romney if he is successful at making high profile social-impact investments in the private sector that result in positive contributions and provide jobs.
Mr. Patrick owns a home in Richmond. He could do wonders for Bain’s sorry image in these parts by making an investment in good works in the Berkshires.
Re: Editors of Berkshire Eagle should stand for the middle class instead of the one percent
The Editors of the Berkshire Eagle should know that government for the top one percent does a disservice to most place throughout the United States of America, especially in Berkshire County. What Deval Patrick’s deal to make millions of dollars working for Boston’s Bain Capital signifies is that big government and big business only works for the corporate and ruling elites.
GE left Pittsfield behind for Wall Street. Jack Welch only left behind a corrupt Consent Decree that ensures thousands of local residents will continue to suffer and die from cancer in Pittsfield. K B Toys’ bankruptcy made huge profits for wealthy investors, while hundreds of local residents lost their jobs in Pittsfield. Berkshire County has a very low presence of wealthy financial interests, unlike Boston or Manhattan, NYC.
For the past 15 years, Beacon Hill cut state aid to its municipalities by about 40 percent. Also, Governor Mitt Romney made drastic cuts to public education, which were never made whole. These public financial policies really hurt the local economy in Berkshire County.
– Jonathan Melle
If a few voters would show up tonight and ask Councilors Caccamo, Amuso, and Simonetti to recuse themselves from voting on the school as they are in direct conflict of interest in that Caccamo is a Taconic teacher, Amuso is head of the school board pushing for the new school, and Simonetti although retired was Vice Principal of Taconic for several years. There are still another eight councilors to vote in favor of the new school.
On another matter, I wonder how many taxpayers are aware that the City of Pittsfield has taken ownership of approximately 90 Pittsfield homes for lack of payment of property taxes. I suspect after a vote of YES to this new school, that number will grow in the hundreds as so many people either retired and on fixed incomes and the poor working class working 2 or more jobs just to stay above board, they will really like to pay these new taxes.
What ever happened to Bianchi’s promise to fight crime in Pittsfield. I believe it was his no 1 priority prior to being elected. Since,we have heard nothing but “we need a new Taconic” Maybe if he takes his head out of the sand, he will realize there are more pressing issues presently in Pittsfield. Instead of band aids on the pot holes, Pittsfield needs better roads. We also need a leader who will fight crime in this city as it is getting out of hand.
Let’s face it, if a new business is looking to build in Pittsfield, they will be seeking a city with decent roads, low crime rate, and low taxes. I suspect schools would be considered at the bottom of their list as all towns have schools..
Really? Caccamo is a teacher at Taconic? Did not know that. Either way he votes as told. That is why he was pushed on to the council. Not really put there to think independently much like Amuso and a couple of others.
I thought Cacamoe was principle of PHS !
Wonder if former Mayor and Berkshires Works Barrett has as much to say about Deval as he did when Was touting Bainand Romney as the reason K B went defunct. I don’r know who’s a bigger Hippocrates Hilary, Trisha, or the BIg North Wind?
Going from Wahconah to Pecks rd. was dangerous today as you turn onto Pecks you come to an abrupt halt as road work work gets traffic stopped, almost got rear ended, then when the traffic was allowed to go a street sweeper decides to dust of the road leaving cars with road debris all over them. Must have seen ten or so jaywalkers on North Street, isn’t that enforced by the city? North Dtreet is a dump!
The deck was stacked for this vote, but stay tuned.
It’s amazing, no one has come forward to let us see their insight on whether this will or not be a legal binding vote.
I noticed that too. The councilors will vote, DV has predicted that. But I don’t seen how the 3 who site on sbnc at the same time that they are on the council can have legal standing. The two groups have separate responsibilties. You cant have checks sitting in also as balances.
I talked to a couple of my attorney friends. They agree. Not legal. Both laughed and shook their heads as if “happens all the time in Pittsfield”. Well it
s time for once that someone calls them on it.
One thing of interest and pretty sure about this. Anyone who has a spouse coneected with the school system cannot vote.
My 3rd cousin twice removed married my father. Is he ok to vote ?
The city of Pittsfield is so embarrassed that parents are pulling their kids out of the local school system that they decided to build a new school to try to lure them back. It won’t work but still the “economic engine buzzword effect” will save the city from drugs and gangs and high taxes and disintegrating roads and the lack of decent paying jobs.
But the kids that do attend school on enough days to graduate will still have no viable reason to stay in the city one minute longer than they have to. The ones who drop out however, might just hang around and take advantage of all the city has to offer.
This letter is in response to Tammy Ives question of how many taxpayers in Pittsfield. I have done some research recently on that very question. If you will log into the CityofPittsfield.org there is a page that lists the Pittsfield Assessors. Of the 44,000+ residents of Pittsfield, there is a list of property owners coded as 101. A rough guess would suggest that around 17,000 residents actually pay the taxes that support the city coffers. The assessors list is closer to 18, to 19,000. But if you look closely, hundreds of properties are owned by the city and their is no tax base there. Likewise, the list contains hundreds of commercial listings. Some pay taxes, most don’t. but the 101’s, 102’s, etc.are the actual tax base. Check it out for yourself, you’ll be amazed at what you see on that list.
I listened to the Bill Sturgeon radio show today and he had one of the city councilors on. I only wish I remembered his name, but this councilor, who is voting tonight, said he will vote for a new school. He said he received tons of emails and calls and supposedly more were in support of the school than against it. We can only imagine that these were Pittsfield school people doing what they normally do, which is try to influence the vote. These school members are also the really corrupt member of this city. They used to pack city hall when meetings would come up about issues that concerned them. They could care less about low income people in the city such as seniors who are struggling to survive. They have their guaranteed raises each year on salaries that are already high thanks to their corrupt unions. The whole city is really in on this corruption.
So I’m sorry to say that this new school will probably be voted for if this councilor is representative of the other councilors and he probably is.
This councilor said repairing Taconic would be more costly than building a new one because who knows what they would encounter when they started their repairs. I was only for repairing the roof and cosmetic changes throughout the building not a total do over. So they are still lying to us. Someone against the school wrote a letter to the BB yesterday and said he visited the school with the Superintendent and was showed the worst areas of Taconic and he didn’t think it was in bad shape at all.
This councilor also said along with Sturgeon that the reason we pay so much toward the schools here in Pittsfield is because all the federal mandates raise costs which should be paid for by the federal government. Well, if that is true, why do other schools in other district manage to meet the requirement of the mandates without robbing the taxpayers blind and taking 71% of the Pittsfield city budget. Other school districts know how to act responsibly. Either these councilors are really stupid or they are just corrupt or perhaps both.
Pat. I hope you find your happy place thank god it all Pittsfield voters aren’t like you. Your the resin I will support the new school!
How do you prove a mass of people are e mailing and who cares? The point is the citizens wanted to vote for this, period, just because a board vetted it doesn’t mean the taxpayer wants it?
I agree. We have to take this councilor’s world that he received more emails in favor than against a new school. A vote would have been the fair option, we could have seen for ourselves the results, but this is why they didn’t want a vote. They knew it would be voted against since the majority of people do not want a new school built.
Sorry, I meant to say we need to take this councilor’s word. I am typing while eating…never a good idea.
One person showed up to urge a no vote. Where was everybody?
They like to hide here on the Planet.
Enjoy your new school. This is a large fast moving freight train and it is rolling right over us.
Best option…..talk to a realtor.
17 people went before the open mic. 16 to 1 in favor of Taconic. How many pay taxes in Pittsfield. How many live in Pittsfield. This should be asked by the Council. But then again, Pittsfield Residents should be allowed to vote on such a large expenditure. The non stop letters to the Berkshire Eagle have been part of the dirt that’s kept it all aloof.
Dusty. I’ll give you 50 cents on the dollar for your home. Call me!
The school will pass, and everyone will tell us how much we want it. Our only hope is the SBA shoots it down.
I see all of the trained seals are in the audience.
Woe is me. These Councilors have done absolutely nothing the past couple of years, so they think this is something so important it will leave a legacy of commitment. Listening to Lothrop and a couple of others makes me want to throw up. This school will not see an influx of outside students, Taj Mahal or not. Look at North Street in the day, what is going on downtown other than transients rolling up and down.
Now JIV is saying funding for the school as a rehab doesn’t qualify because of the condition of the school. I would like to reiterate, all citizens wanted, was a chance to make a decision at the ballot box, whether it passes or not. I will not be voting for neither of any candidates going foreword, vote or not, they haven’t done the job.
Forward…educated in PPSS..sorry
This council vote is pure fluff and puff, ie: happy horsesheet. All has been said, but this investment in the city’s future is just that, an investment. Investments hold a degree of risk and bozos, investments can be good or bad. This can go south in a hurry. Only time will tell and yoyos your vote just may live in infamy sometime in years to come. Bask now in your self proclaimed glory as it just may not be forever sustained.
did all of the councilors vote yes on the school?
u should its liberating!
You Lose!
Concede… But you PAY !!! (If you own property in Pittsfield)
Democracy loses!
Got the new name for the new high school….ready? …..
Etch a Sketch High