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IS ANOTHER MURDER/MASSACRE ON THE WAY FOR PITTSFIELD? THAT’S WHAT THE STREET IS SAYING, BUT OFFICIALS AREN’T SAYING SPIT

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JULY 20, 2015) — The street’s talking: The killer(s) got the wrong guy.  More mayhem is on the way.

Is that the dirty secret authorities in Pittsfield don’t want citizens to know? Perhaps they think you’re too immature, too weak to handle the truth. Or they think it will ruin the mayor’s fiction that all is peachy, squeaky-clean, hunky-dory, and primed for glory in the “Renaissance” city.

Killer on the Loose?

A killer is still on the loose, and authorities are baffled, intimidated, incompetent, knowing-but-not-saying, or un-indicted co-conspiritors. Take your pick. They might be as guilty as the man who pulled the trigger. And who will be responsible if, as the street predicts, another hit occurs? It’s a question THE PLANET hopes no one will have to answer.

The unconscionable news blackout surrounding the July 4 Massacre has left speculation and possibilities. Nerves are on edge, particularly on the West Side. The lockdown, Dan Bianchi‘s favorite tactic dealing with his phony campaign promise of transparency, appears to have the mayor’s fingerprints all over it. Hard to say. Nobody’s talking.

There are many conflicting “reports” about what went on at the massacre. Most versions coming from the ‘hood, however, agree on a few pertinent and disconcerting facts:

* The shootings were gang related

* They are part of a growing gang presence in Pittsfield that for whatever reason flies under the radar, pretty much operating at will without fear of the law. The odd retreat of the police chief, the mayor, and the D.A. evidence that assertion.

* More ominously, the man who was shot dead on July 4 was “the wrong guy.” If this was an intended hit that plugged the wrong man, you have to believe, as the street does, that another hit is on the way.

Epic Mayoral Failure Trickles Down

This is regrettable: The mayor keeps citizens in the dark when in all likelihood a murderer is on the loose with promises of more to come. Consider that in the 16 days since five people were shot, one fatally, and credible stories about impending new violence, the mayor hides under his desk. His cowardice apparently has affected acting police chief Mike Wynn and district attorney David Capeless. Not one of these three men has made themselves available to the public in the form of a press conference. The mayor directs calls to the police. The police direct calls to the D.A. The D.A. says the investigation is ongoing and will not comment.

In Pittsfield, when the going gets tough, there are no tough leaders to get going.

Remember this when you head to the polls in September to make your mark for mayor.

—————————————————————————————————

The Price Remains Cheap

In 1969 on this date, NASA released Stanley Kubrick‘s filmed astronaut actors scuffing the surface of a convincing moon set. That “one small step for a man” did not produce a “giant leap for mankind.” More like a stutter step under studio lights.

In 1969, workers at Pittsfield General Electric went on strike. Families had a lean Christmas, but management and workers eventually agreed to a new deal. Good times came back another score of years, but after GE moved out — with Sheaffer Eaton, Sprague Electric, Beloit Jones, the woolen and paper mills, and others — the area lost 25,000 manufacturing jobs.

For the next quarter century, citizens watched in horror as the greasy players of corrupt politics oozed their way into the economic and power void. Representative government was out. The Good Old Boys were in. That first generation GOB has largely aged out and has given way to its successor, The Suits.

This sad fact has produced the deadly combination in Pittsfield of anger and apathy among citizens, incompetence and corruption among local “leaders.” It also created the conditions of present-day Pittsfield, overrun with drugs, gangs, Section 8s, the gimme girls, group homes, and all manner of malfeasance.

Everyone has their price, and in Pittsfield, among politicians, big shots, and the mainstream media, that price comes cheap. No amount of furious bombast will change that or the inevitable financial meltdown the city faces unless there is a radical response to its spending problem.

Pittsfield had one shot at redemption: A huge turnout come election time.

————————————————————————————————–

“The free man believes in destiny and believes that it has a need of him.”Martin Buber

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views expressed in any comment section are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.

 

 

 

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Pat
Pat
9 years ago

The city is also overrun with social service agencies which unfortunately took the place of all the manufacturing jobs that were lost and never will come back with the deplorable leadership we have had in the city. Not one candidate with the exception of Gaetani has even uttered the word “poverty” which along with crime should be a major focus of this mayoral race. Crime, poverty, out of control taxes and a greedy school system should be the major issues addressed by the mayoral candidates.

It is unconscionable that citizens are kept in the dark on the July 4th mass shootings. Is this the “new normal” when these types of crimes happen in Pittsfield? Where is the outrage from the general public?

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

Didn’t TES us ethe word poverty in regards to the children being uneducateable? Thought that was front page in the BB a few months ago.

FJlowry
FJlowry
9 years ago

Dan. I believe there is a murderer on the loose in Stockbridge . They never caught the person who killed that women on some side road about 5 years ago did they?

Ed Shepardson
Ed Shepardson
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

10 years ago, May 2005.

STOCKBRIDGE — The unsolved homicide of Jan Stackhouse, 52, a Brooklyn, N.Y., labor organizer, on a leafy lane in a quiet, rural section of town near Route 183 (Glendale Road) is being reopened for a more active investigation.

MrG8811
MrG8811
9 years ago

And while we’re talking about things kept out of the public eye…and lack of follow up by our once grand press, what ever happened to that poor 88 year old woman who was assaulted, taken to the ground and forcibly restrained in cuffs by the cops who were at the wrong house? What ever happened to the cops?!? Talk about murderer on the loose, I feel less safe believing these two loose cannon lunatics are still “patrolling” the streets.

spagirl
spagirl
Reply to  MrG8811
9 years ago

Mr. G
Another embarrassment and Shameful event by the echelon in Pittsfield. We don’t acknowledge or apologize in Pittsfield. We are in Charge!

outfox
outfox
Reply to  MrG8811
9 years ago

That story went out over the wires, too, so it was read nationally. Sad, sad stuff.

Spider
Spider
9 years ago

The city is so hell bent on bringing in new industry and keeping the tourist trade that they are afraid if news reaches these groups that we are having gang wars going on, this city is doomed.

We never heard the rest of the story on the $10,000 missing from PHS; the OT scandal in the Water Dept.; what happened to the guy who stole money from the City Clerk’s office; what happened to the employee who caused damage with a new large vehicle.

Feel free to add to this list. I am sure I left out so much more.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Spider
9 years ago

They want to promote the illusion that we are Pleasantville.

Susan
Susan
9 years ago

Spider. Please add to the list: the murder of 19 year old Tony Colucci on July 4th, 2005.

Spider
Spider
Reply to  Susan
9 years ago

Good one, Susan….thanks!

outfox
outfox
Reply to  Susan
9 years ago

Huh. I thought he was born on the fourth of July. 🙂

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
9 years ago

When ever a citizen or former citizen of Pittsfield speaks of how great it was growing up or living in Pittsfield, the city councilors
are quick to shoot back with the mantra ” It’s never going to be like that again and manufacturing is a dead issue”. “Arts blah blah blah..”.
Ok great. I got your message. Make an adjustment, work 2 or three jobs and downsize the house and live leaner. Ok did just that.
My question is why does the city council still spend as if the good old days are still here? Why hasn’t city govt. gotten leaner?

Pat
Pat
Reply to  acheshirecat
9 years ago

Because the big dogs at the top only want the average Joe to downsize. The suits want to keep living like kings and queens. That downsizing nonsense is for the “little people”.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

Or we turn into Greece.

Southeast
Southeast
9 years ago

whenever you ask School Committee folks about why with fewer kids, the Dept. has more employees – they talk about State Mandates. OK, I can buy that to a point. However, there are more deputies, curriculum specialists (whatever that is) and other non-classroom types and I wonder if some of those jobs could not be combined? Do the smaller districts have all these positions? CBRSD just laid off some folks top reflect fewer kids – why don’t we?

Then they use the “lowest per pupil spending outside of N Adams” argument. Well, shouldn’t we get some economy of scale? Shouldn’t a lunch crew feed 50 kids as easily as 30? Isn’t heat and utilities only marginally more for a 40,000 sf building vs. a 32,000 sf one?

at some point, when you have 3,000 fewer kids in a system than you did 35 years ago – it should take fewer people to run the system. I get that costs go up per employee – but what I am saying is we need fewer bodies.

So far, I have yet to hear an answer that answers the question. and since school spending is the lions’ share of the budget, that is the elephant which needs to be eaten first.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Southeast
9 years ago

That’s nonsense. Other school systems have managed to live within budget while satisfying State Mandates.

southeast
southeast
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

that’s my point – other districts figure it out, Pittsfield points to the inflated costs of small districts and says we “underspend”. that, is b.s. we overspend in a school system that has been depopulating for years.

Tommy
Tommy
9 years ago

Five people are gunned down just hours after our Independence Day parade and the Berkshire Eagle offers an opinion piece on the dwarf planet Pluto.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Tommy
9 years ago

Disgusting isn’t it? We have a city full of social service agencies and yet people are still out of control in the city. I want to see more attention paid to people who live by the rules and do everything right and who try to be good people. Where is the support for the good people? It’s not just the bad apples who need help in society. Plenty of people can’t find jobs and are struggling even when they do everything they are supposed to be doing.

There was a local radio talk show today that was a classic example of what so many people in this area do which is to say that anyone who complains in the city is wrong and Pittsfield really is a great place to live. They just can’t confront problems and give the problems a name like poverty, criminal behavior out of control people, etc. They dance around the issue and say we need mentors to help people. I’m all for mentors, but at some point we have to confront why poverty is out of control in the city and what can be done about it. It’s not just about mentoring although that can play a part. The larger issues and their solutions are ignored.

Sal
Sal
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

That’s right, Pat. You like people who play by the rules. What about your hero, Tammy Ives? She and her husband run an illegal srap business out of her father’s house in a residential zone which I am sure is tax free. Then to hide their illegal business from their complaining neighbors, they install an illegally zoned fence. All the while the Ives drive in and out picking up TV’s to smash with “Ives Got It” printed on their SUV that doesn’t have commercial plates. Right there are 4 great examples of not playing by the rules! When the neighbors complained to Councilor Tully and she pursued these violations, the Ives sued her and the city for harassment and we were adorned with the painted FU & street numbers on her illegal fence. Maybe you should drive by her house and see for yourself. Look at how your hero is singlehandedly lowering our property values in what used to be a great neighborhood. Let me know, I am curious to find out if you would like have the Ives as your neighbors.

urinetown
urinetown
Reply to  Sal
9 years ago

Imagine wht Tammy would do with a little power? Lol

Tammy Ives
Tammy Ives
Reply to  urinetown
9 years ago

A little bit of power goes a long way. I would concentrate on the hole ward and city not just neighborhood disputes unlike my opponent. I would be everyone’s voice and do my best to freeze the taxes with your help and lets see what we can do with St. Mary’s to revitalize and lets fix the traffic lights.
This ward has great potential and I would like to be the one to help it and be your voice. I am not going to let small minded people deter me from doing what I believe needs to be done.
This is the way it is. If you are sick of the way the ward is and you want things to be better and you want this wards vote to be against the raise in taxes then you will vote Ives.
If you like being lied to and have taxes raised yearly and calls being ignored and you like watching people sleep vote for Tully.
It really is that simple.

Tammy Ives
Tammy Ives
Reply to  Sal
9 years ago

Sal I have dearly missed you! I have been waiting for you!
Lets set the record straight. 1. You have been dying inside for me to acknowledge you and well here you go.
My fence has been legal since the first year I have moved here way before I a became a scrapper as a matter of fact we are zoned for it because we had to pay the cost just like everyone else maybe if you had a bigger yard you should get one too. Look it up or are you to “lazy to do your homework before you spout off with that big mouth.
2. You are damn right I have sued Tully but it wasn’t once it was twice and perhaps I will more if it fancys me. I can’t help that you haven’t been included. Step up your game then.
Actually I do have a sticker on my truck which if you weren’t peaking over the fence you wouldn’t know what it said. According to cops it is legal nosy by the way it sounds like I have accomplished my goal to piss you off.As far as tvs go that is not all I take and don’t worry “SAL” everyone knows about our neighbors and what scum they are.
I do the scrapping for free it isn’t any different then you people doing it yourselves.
I encourage people to drive by my gates and coordinate the numbers with the houses to know what kind of gross people harass us!!!!!!!! Wither you are Michelle Leo Marlene Liz or Todd there are only two ways to get your number down. You figure it out.
Your hero Tully can’t help you forever Sally-Ann Put on you big girl pants and say it to my face instead of hiding behind a computer screen.
Any further issues please feel free to call anyone who will give you the time of day. You know where I live and I guess my number too

To the planet I am controversial and never denied it Tully became involved in a neighborhood dispute instead of running the whole ward she was focused on trying to control a small area to no avail and I will not tolerate small mindedness by her or anyone. INstead of fixing the ward she was trying to take money from me even the Ethics commission agreed.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Sal
9 years ago

I want someone who will make the Pittsfield school system play by the rules. Lisa hasn’t done that at all. She is too much under the influence of Dan Bianchi. Lisa hasn’t been strong minded enough to stand up for what is right. Tammy definitely sounds strong minded enough. I never heard anything about this neighborhood dispute until now, but it sounds like Tammy is trying to do what is legal even if her neighbors don’t always agree. Tammy is not my “hero” although she would be if when she becomes councilor for Ward 1 she votes against giving more money to the school department.

Tammy Ives
Tammy Ives
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

Thank you Pat. The neighborhood dispute is minute compared to the city spending problems and the school department is at the top of that list of foolish spending. I will work hard to fight against the corruption that is city government.

Tommy
Tommy
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

I’m not a Tully fan either but Tammy sounds like she would be worse. We have enough petty bickering on the council. If she has that many neighbors against her as she lists, well where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. I’m just saying.

Faked Moon Landings
Faked Moon Landings
9 years ago

“There’s a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin’ like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If you give this man a ride
Sweet memory will die
Killer on the road”

– The Doors/LA Woman/1971/Riders on the storm

outfox
outfox
9 years ago

The BB won’t go after the shooting story but prints some crap about local prisoners gardening? And then quotes the sheriff as saying (even though it is PUBLIC RECORD) that these men have an expectation of confidentiality? Is it me, or….? And seriously, those men do not have a shot in hell at meaningful, sustainable post-incarceration employment due to the collateral consequences that come along with Mass. convictions, although maybe they could become the gardener/growers for that medical marijuana we voted into law but cannot get.

Gigi
Gigi
9 years ago

I heard an interesting perspective from a former police dept. employee, who stated that crime went up in Pittsfield shortly after the jail was built. When prisoners from Springfield were housed there, their families also moved into the area to be closer to the incarcerated family members, primarily adult males. This created many more fatherless homes with unsupervised teens.

silence dogood
silence dogood
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

The Graybar Hotel on 8 is a real wreckenomic engine.

Nota
Nota
9 years ago

Off sub…Trump is dead wrong McCain is a War Hero. He was held captive, suffered and endured great physical pain while Captured. Trump is a Fool.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Nota
9 years ago

I agree. Trump is very wrong to say that about John McCain. To this day John McCain can’t raise his arms much at all due to the injuries he suffered while captured. Trump has to go over the top on his comments all the time.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

I also agree no one is a hero just for being held prisoner. And I think McCain is an idiot as a senator. He needs tor retire. He was good his first few years but seems rather senile too often.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  danvalenti
9 years ago

I agree Dan, but I wouldn’t want Trump as president although I do agree with some of his comments especially his take on immigration. If he can stir up debate, that’s good, but I am worried that Trump is at least for now taking attention away from candidates I do like, Scott Walker for example. We need to hear more about these other Republican candidates. Instead the liberal media is having a field day with making fun of Trump.

silence dogood
silence dogood
Reply to  Nota
9 years ago

to be sure John McCain certainly endured a lot. I than him for his service but both he and Trump are windbags and to some degree rinos.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

July 20, 2015

Re: my final “mass” email

I turn 40 later this week, and I am done sending “mass” emails. A lot of what I went through with Nuciforo’s Pittsfield politics has passed. I am no longer affected by the negative experiences I had as a then young adult living in the Pittsfield area. I am happy my personal and political problems in Pittsfield are over and done with. I like my middle aged life in Amherst, NH. I have a wonderful family and a good dog, support from my fellow Veterans at the VA medical center in Manchester, NH, and I have my self respect back. I wish the people of Pittsfield well. I will still read and blog about Pittsfield and Massachusetts politics. I enjoy reading Dan Valenti’s blog: “Planet Valenti”.

– Jonathan Melle

Nota
Nota
9 years ago

You guys miss the point. To say John McCain was not a hero is wrong. As Senator, who cares?

Gatos
Gatos
9 years ago

Faked Moon landings, huh?
What else?
9/11 was an inside job?
Sandy Hook was faked?
Vaccines cause autism?
Chemtrails are killing us?
Kindly apply Occam’s Razor. These conspiracy theories require far to much, uh, conspiracy. Good luck finding one credible, sane person who worked on the Apollo project that says it was all a fake.

PC 31
PC 31
9 years ago

I like the use of “massacre” here because that was the intent. With a little target practice this would have been an actual massacre.

Tammy Ives
Tammy Ives
9 years ago

T FJLowry you criticize everything just to make yourself feel better and it only makes you look like a fool.

As for Tommy it looks like because of people like you this city is burning in debt already so you must enjoy losing your money to foolish spending and maybe if there were as strong minded people on this council we would be moving forward instead of going down a quick sand of poverty.

PC 31
PC 31
Reply to  Tammy Ives
9 years ago

Tammy some anger is good but you come across as crass, vindictive and litigious. You and Craig are just bullies with an ax to grind. Voters are looking for a little more than that.

Tammy Ives
Tammy Ives
Reply to  PC 31
9 years ago

not too much apparently. Have you seen who is in there now?
Bullies are usually the ones bullied. Hey nice name why are you in protective custody?

Observer
Observer
9 years ago

Dan, please redact FJLowry’s hole comment well above. It is not advanced the conversation and is a personal attack