By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, JULY 10-12, 2015) — Secrecy. Lockdown. Furtiveness. The dark, damp shade. The moldy, black cellars. This is the state of Mayor Dan Bianchi‘s #1 promise of transparency. Blindfold the people, pour hot war in their ears, and duct tape their mouths. Though he has no power to do so, and though it in fact goes counter to the oath of office he has now taken once time too many, Mr. Mayor has kept you — The Private Citizen, the owner of government — out of the loop.

Once again, he spits in your face. You, though, can extract the ultimate payback on Election Day.

Lots of Questions, No Answers for a Jittery Community

The latest and perhaps “greatest” (must be used in quotes, of course) example is the lockdown on information on the five shootings and one murder that took place on the evening of July 4. Questions to the mayor’s office are ignored or referred to the police. Questions to the police are thrown the the District Attorney’s office. The DA tells you the case is under investigation and there is nothing new to report.

Extremely odd. Even for Podunk. As one of our commentators put it, “Something smells rotten.”

— Do the cops have any suspects? … They’re not saying.

— Is there a killer (or killers) loose? … THE CITY: “None of your fucking business.”

—  What about witnesses? You talking to anyone? Have people been told to clam up? … “Next!”

— How many and what kind of firearms were used? Did you find shell casings? … “Who do I look like, Joe Friday?”

— Was the gunfire drug-related? Drunken youths having “fun”? … “Beat it, little man.”

There are many more questions, and the city is on edge, but the mayor doesn’t want to hear it. He doesn’t want the $400-a-night clientele at Hotel On North questioning their choice of getting nicked. Even though the shootings happened .2 of a mile from the hostelry. Or is it hostile-ry?

News from Up the Street

THE PLANET through our Secret Squadron has been in contact with our West Side sources, including the Air Jordon‘s in and on the street. Here’s what we have learned, but first this cautionary note: None of this information has been officially corroborated. This is just “words from up the street.” They are shared for what they’re worth. They could be worth a fortune. They could be worth the price of The Boring Broadsheet from last week.

* Some insist there were at least two guns, maybe three; there was an exchange of gunfire; there were two shooters.

* There was only one gun, one shooting, goes another line of equal insistence.

* The incident was — take your pick — a set-up or an argument that, fueled by alcohol, spun out-of-control. Depends on who you’re talking to.

* There’s also different views on whether the dead man was or was not  “an innocent bystander.”

* The victims — a 25-year-old man, a 26-year-old man, and a 20-year-old woman — were known to each other. The five involved in the mayhem were dark-skinned, either all black or a combination of black and Hispanic. This raises the question of the subculture of race and the issues of assimilation, personal responsibility, and victimhood.

* The incident involved drugs, although it wasn’t a “drug deal gone bad.”

* It was not gang related.

* The killer left Pittsfield, heading to the New York City area, soon after the incident. But he “has to return.” In fact, one report has him coming back to attend the “Stop the Violence” rally set for today at 5 p.m., Robbins and Linden. Again, THE PLANET adds a cautionary note: None of this information has been corroborated by authorities. This information is raw. THE PLANET is not evaluating it; we are merely presenting it. For example, we have trouble coming up with a scenario where the killer would attend the rally (intimidation?), although we could envision other reasons for him to return to Pittsfield.

* As to the killer, there’s a strong line that says he doesn’t live in the city, that is, officially — that he’s from the NYC-area, staying with “friends” in Pittsfield.

* The witnesses aren’t talking out of fear. There’s pretty much agreement over that. This would, we think, hamper the investigation.

* The second incident of gunfire on Robbins Avenue, the one that occurred the morning after the July 4 shootings, was related. Perhaps an effort to intimidate?

* The timing of the violence wasn’t random. It was planned to coincide with the plethora of home-made fireworks that plagued the area all night long.

* More ominously, there’s fear on the street that another “hit” is on the way. Does that explain the official reluctance to say anything?

* No one wanted their names used. We can also report a definite edge in the voices and body language of those who did talk.

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Take that information at face value. THE PLANET relays the same message to you that we are telling everyone: If you have pertinent information: Call the Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9700. There are people in the city who know a lot more than they’re telling.

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‘In-CITY-ous’ is a Smash Hit

THE PLANET is delighted with the reception of our film InCITYous: Pittsfield’s Crisis of Confidence, which had its world premier last night on PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION. We received several communications after the showing. Critics highlighted their favorite parts:

* The bit we filmed at the City Hall courtyard outside the mayor’s office.

* The Milt Plum National Museum and Archives.

* Garbage on Wendell Avenue Extension

* The Howard Building — “Larry, Moe, and Curley; hilarious myth that will certainly persist around town.”

* “Visitors from New Jersey” exploring Dunham Mall. This was where THE PLANET hired two trained actor ants to play the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sheckner.

* The invention of Pocket Pool as America’s National Pastime, right here in good old Pittsfield, and the 1791 document. So much pocket pool was being played on Park Square back then that the town fathers had to write an ordinance. Photo of the mayor, on Park Square, playing pocket pool.

* Pesip Park architecture.

 Filmgoers will be excited to hear that plans for the second movie in the InCityous series is already under way.

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With that, we now declare The Comment Line open. All views, all topics are welcome. Just stay out of the gutter. Say it with smarts, with sass, with darts, with class.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

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“What in the world ever became of Sweet Jane? She lost her sparkle you know she isn’t the same. Living on reds, vitamin C, and cocaine — all a fellow can do is say it’s a shame.” — The Grateful Dead, “Truckin’,” (1970).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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