By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

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PROGRAM NOTE: Tune in Tonight, 7 p.m., Channel 16, Access Pittsfield, as PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION presents to world premiere of the film, Kentucky Fried Pittsfield … or … Where Have You Gone, Col. Sanders. The hour-long film shows Pittsfield as you’ve never seen it before.

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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015) — Sometimes, the little victories mean the  most. In the battle against the “Lockdown” mentality that has rotted from the corner office to infect other local offices, the epicene local media has been neutered and otherwise dismissed by The Suits as a non-factor. Only THE PLANET has taken up the crusading cause based on America’s founding principles, particularly its theory of the press as an institution that would hold accountable the offices and estates in which We The People have placed our trust.

High-sounding words, we realize, so let us bring it back to the ground, where the footprints are left and into which the tears, the sweat, and the blood seep.

Not Fanmail From Some Flounder

Yesterday, we received this message:

Mr. Valenti,

Today the District Attorney and Pittsfield Police Chief issued statements about the murder and shootings. I can’t identify myself but I can tell you that your website is the reason why this happened. Your website was brought up at a recent high level meeting involving the officials and offices involved including Mayor, Police and District Attorney. Your recent investigative work has led to a number of call[s] for these offices to say something to the public. You have done the city a great service. Grateful.

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Markings on the note indicate it was from an authoritative source.

 Capeless, Wynn Issue Statements; Bianchi Hides Under Desk 

The D.A., police, and mayor have been embarrassed by their inability to make progress in the 7-4M (the July 4 Massacre). In fairness, investigators have worn out shoe leather interviewing potential witnesses, but they cite what THE PLANET was the first to report: The street isn’t cooperating. It is now 7-4M+19, and there’s every reason to believe a killer is on the loose in Pittsfield. His neighborhood is the “‘hood” and downtown. Pleasant thought, that.

Here, for the record, are the statements:

FROM D.A. DAVID CAPELESS: “Despite the extensive efforts of the many investigators from various agencies working together, we are still stymied by a lack of cooperation from people whom we believe have information vital to determing who was involved and what their motives were. Multiple shooters were involved and five people wounded, one fatally. Gunplay and street violence are abhorrent to any community, but silence is their ally. Please help us, and help the Pittsfield community.”

Capeless’ office confirmed what THE PLANET first reported, that a second related shooting occurred, on Robbins Avenue. The D.A. said that shooting, on July 4 at 11 p.m., was actually the first,  a drive-by hit, wounding two men and a woman. About a half-hour later, the fatal shooting of Ronald Pinel occurred in a lot at nearby Linden Street and Dewey Avenue. In addition to Pinel’s murder, two people were shot and wounded. This includes someone who got hit earlier at Robbins Avenue (fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice …).

FROM POLICE CHIEF MIKE WYNN: “The investigative efforts of both the Pittsfield Police and the Massachusetts State Police have been extensive in working these cases. However, those efforts are hampered when residents have information that they are unwilling to share with investigators.The most efficient tool that we have to increase neighborhood safety is to remove violent offenders from neighborhoods. We rely on the community to assist us in those efforts, and encourage anyone with information related to either of these incidents to contact investigators [at the PPD detective’s bureau — 413-448-9705].”

The police said they impounded two handguns and “multiple items of ballistic and other forensic evidence.”

FROM PITTSFIELD MAYOR DAN BIANCHI: Not a word. That speaks for itself.

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Some observations:

• THE PLANET, once again, has unilaterally demonstrated the power of the press. Apparently our coverage generated enough outcry to prompt the statements.
• THE PLANET has, once again, provided a “case study” for the toothless local media. Local radio, TV, newspaper, online media are commercial and scared to death of investigative work lest it antagonize The Suits, who are cozy with big advertisers.
• The two connected shootings set up these possibilities:
  • (1) The drive-by on Robbins prompted the retaliatory hit at Linden and Dewey.
  • (2) The Robbins shooting got the wrong guy, which led to the second shooting.
• Here’s one way that might get some people to talk. Threaten to take away their public benefits.

Scenarios (1) and (2) would explain the street’s insistence that another “hit” is coming. This does not include witness intimidation and what outcome loose lips might yield.

When people like the D.A. and police chief appeal to the public’s sense of civic responsibility, it falls on deaf ears in the uneducated, ignorant, hip-hop crowd. As far as we know, the authorities did not deliver Spanish or Ebonics versions of the appeal. Chances are no one in the ‘hood understood a word.

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“God is at home. It is we who have gone out for a walk.” — Meister Eckhart

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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