PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION … plus … MORE “BIANCHI ON MT. CARMEL”
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015) — THE PLANET has done a lot of things over the years. Modesty prevents name dropping. Suffice it to say, we’ve done most everything, met most everyone, and been all over.
This Friday, though, we experience a first.
Here’s the announcement taken from Pittsfield’s First Fridays Artswalk publicity and Facebook page:
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We agree. The artist’s “statement” is precious. When one tries to describe something as random and muse-based as art, you cannot help but inducing groans and gags. The only way to relay one’s intentions with work like this is to shut up and let the works themselves “speak.” That’s why THE PLANET invites each of you to come by to The Marketplace on June 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. for a meet and greet.
Bring a friend or two. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
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Bianchi on Mt. Carmel (Watch Out for that First Step …)
In reference to yesterday’s column on the exit of Office of Community Development director Doug Clark, we need to clarify one point.
Our column, based on department sources, told us Clark got into a shouting match with city treasurer Sue Carmel over the upcoming FY16 budget. Carmel took away promised OCD funding. When the drowning Clark sought backing from the mayor, he was given an anvil. So much for leadership from the corner office.
THE PLANET found out today two things from other city hall sources: One, an elected official, confirms the key aspects of yesterday’s reporting. Two, sources say the mayor gave Clark the back-hand because it was the mayor who ordered the saturnine Carmel to raid the budget for the money.
Typically, we’d be into the treasurer’s and mayor’s offices for comment, but they don’t return our inquiries. That being said, should they wish to dispute the accuracy of the information, THE PLANET is more than willing to hear what they have to say.
Now here’s the clarification. When we wrote that Carmel was taking moolah out of the OCD budget, it wasn’t to save taxpayers a cent. Sources said it was for “a pet project” of the mayor’s. No one would tell us which one. Which leads us to this comment from Questions in yesterday’s PLANET:
| The money given to Mr. Monterosso for being on the job only 3 months was not in the budget. Yet Pittsfield taxpayers paid for it.The move to 100 North St./sweetheart deal to Bianchi’s friend Scarafoni, was not in the budget. The city council denied Bianchi’s request for it. The Berkshire Eagle said the mayor “found” the money anyway. Your money. That is not the truth.The truth is Bianchi took that money from somewhere else. From where? Bianchi knows. Carmel knows. You, the taxpayer, the one paying for all this are not permitted to know. That information is on lockdown.With no money for road repairs, no funds that were promised to ODC…… we sort of see where he took the money from.Will the city council approve this years budget that now has a line item in it for Scarafoni? Will they strike this line item out? or Will they cower in fear of this mayor and give Scarafoni the money? |
THE PLANET does not know if the money was for the six-figure move to 100 North St. We also do not know if there are Yeti on Mars.
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“There are times when all the world’s asleep, the questions run so deep for such a simple man.” — Supertramp, “The Logical Song,” (1979).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
We know where the pay raises for Schools came from. Free cash you say? hell no, it was the taxpayer!
Pittsfield politics is totally corrupt! Everything is done behind closed doors and is a done deal. You have to be connected to the Good Old Boys network to get a good job in Pittsfield. Who are the G.O.B.’s? They are a small group of interrelated, multigenerational families who have ruled Pittsfield politics for generations. Their children (Nuciforo, Pignatelli, Downing, Ruberto, Speranzo, Doyle, etc.) inherited political power from their parents and other family members. If you speak out against this mafia family, you will lose you your job in Pittsfield. The Good Old Boys network serves the vested interests by raising taxes, fees, spending, and debts each and every year. Thousands of people have fled Pittsfield. The tax base is shrinking, while social problems are increasing. Mayor Dan Bianchi is continuing Pittsfield politics downward spiral.
This Mayor is a dipshit. We know that too.
Classy Spagirl classy
There is nothing classy about Dan Bianchi. Truth hurts.
You know when Bianchi originally requested the funds for the move to 100 North St., the city council denied the request.
The mayor then acting unilaterally said he didn’t need the city council to make the move. He single handedly spent the taxpayer’s money, your money for something the city was receiving for free. In acting alone, he proved it was a done deal with Scarafoni.
A city councilor later stated that the mayor can do this and there is nothing they can do about it.
Fast forward to one year later. Now. The mayor has submitted the budget for the new fiscal year. In it contains yet another request for funds to give to Scarafoni. Is it really so that there is nothing city councilors can do?
The council did the right thing the first time by denying the funds. What will they do this time?
Also, will they give the mayor 3.5 million dollars for a new airport runway? Something that should have already been done in the rennovation. $4 Million dollars…. there is your tax increase.
Yet the mayor has gone on record saying your taxes have stayed the same.
Interesting how Lenox school district is able to return $144,000 to the town (out of $327,000 unspent money) and still maintain an excellent school system.
And Pittsfield’s SC always needs more and more.
Great observation.
Pittsfield’s department heads are taught early,use it or lose it. Feed the pig!
Spider,
Sticky Fingers
I’ll bet there are two elected officials who will be spilling all the beans that they consider will be detrimental to the mayor to our modest comentator.
Barring a miracle all the next election is going to accomplish is the transferring of the piggy bank from one person to another. The taxpayer will continue to suffer from same shit different day syndrome for the next four years.
DUSTY
And that’s what it will take. A miracle.
There’s way more than two, TM.
Kathleen Amuso was on the Bill Sturgeon radio show today and was such a cheerleader for more money for the school system. She is running for at large councilor again. She has been in this position forever. She works for Berkshire Medical Center and has absolutely no idea of what it means to be a struggling taxpayer in Pittsfield. She is completely proud of herself for herding all of this taxpayer money toward the school system and intends to continue doing more of the same if elected. She will be difficult to get off of the school committee as naturally she is popular with the schools since she makes sure they get lots of taxpayers money.
It was a difficult radio show to listen to as she was coached by Bill Sturgeon into admitting that the city needs money for things like the roads which are falling apart, but she insisted on keeping money for the schools as being just as important as money for fixing the roads. Of course Bill Sturgeon isn’t much better as he mainly treats his guests much too gently and always lets them know he approves of everything they are doing especially Kathleen Amuso. Taylor Desantis would be a much better choice for an at large councilor. He intends to find out where all of this money is going to that we keep forking over to the school system. Kathleen Amuso must be voted out!!!
I have never heard of or know anything about this Taylor Disantis guy.
I have heard about and am somewhat familiar with Kathleen Amuso s body of work for the city of Pittsfield.
If my voting choice is between the two of them I will vote for the one I have never heard of.
Go on iberkshires and put in Taylor Desantis name and there is a big article about him.
Everyone coming up again needs to be voted out. School Committee, City Council, and Mayor. Every single onem
I’m not voting for a single incumbent.
Yes it was tough to listen to. She thinks everything is coming up roses. They touted Downtown in. and the great job (?) Kate Maguire is doing. Also talked about The Innovation Center To be built on the Peda property, saying build it and they will come. What exactly will the Innovation Center accomplish and who are “they”.
Nothing but suck up from the tax payers just like every other failure of business in Pittsfield that received tax breaks. First we are going to build the building, then buy the equipment and then give them a tax break. Tax break on what? Please don’t tell me that it’s money from the state or grants because that’s also tax payer’s money. Are we paying attention?
I am making a correction on Kathleen Amuso. She has been on the school committee forever, but is now running for at large councilor in which you can be assured she will continue to funnel money toward the school system.
She’s not getting my vote just as Mazzeo, Cotton aren’t. I wish we could vote in all other wards but we can’t.
Kathy hasn’t been on the school committee for 2 years. She is running for re-election for at large.
PAT read more and post less. Makes for a nice blog.
Before sucking down his Beverage…LOw was asking for an extra 100 grand to a line item. Then LOw leaves the room, probably to relieve himself from the glutton of beverage, only to miss the next vote.
News Article:
“School Building Authority To Vote On $121M Taconic HS Funding”
By Jim Levulis, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, June 2, 2015
The Massachusetts School Building Authority is scheduled to vote on funding for a new Taconic High School in Pittsfield during its monthly meeting in Boston Wednesday [June 3rd]. The meeting begins at 10 a.m.
In April the Pittsfield City Council approved borrowing $121 million to build a three-story, vocational-focused school on Valentine Road. It would replace the nearly 50-year-old Taconic High School. Up for a vote Wednesday [June 3rd] is the state’s reimbursement of 65 percent of the cost. If approved the city of Pittsfield would pay about $40 million, according to Mayor Dan Bianchi.
“It will be the best pathway to the middle class for many of the children who come from our economically-challenged families,” said Bianchi prior to the city council’s vote in April.
If approved, construction work is expected to start next spring with the school opening for the 2018-2019 school year.
http://wamc.org/post/school-building-authority-vote-121m-taconic-hs-funding#stream/0