FROM SMALL CHANGE AT JOHNNY’S TO TOP ‘DOLLAR’ AT LACH’s-cum-LINCOLN … A SHOWER OF SHAKESPEARE … plus … THE COMMENT LINE IS OPEN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, NOV. 6-8, 2015) — At 1:44 a.m. on Sept. 25, a 20-year-old “man” was shot in the foot, he says, as he left Johnny’s Beach Club on Wahconah Street via the back door. According to reports, investigating officers found a .45 caliber shell casing.
Allow an observation before we go further. THE PLANET credits to the “victim.” What better way to leave Johnny’s than by the back door?
We’re not saying Johnny’s is a dive, but the maitre’d is actually the chalked outline of a body on the floor. The doorman of the men’s room is a giant germ. We hear happy hour starts at 9 a.m. Instead of “Exit” signs, the red-lit boxes above the doors read: “GTFO.”
The police viewed the surveillance video and say the film shows [NAME REDACTED], 24, putting a handgun into his pants. What makes this even more interesting is that NAME REDACTED was arrested by the PPD earlier this month and charged with carrying an unlicensed firearm. Judge Thomas Estes ordered him held without bail. We wonder how he got out and why.
NR’s attorney, our right honorable good friend Mark Brennan, said his client didn’t shoot the “victim.” So what happened?
“It was a concealed weapon that may or may not have gone off in someone’s pants,” Brennan said. This is Pittsfield. You don’t have to make this stuff up. Brennan’s quote reminds THE PLANET of the Groucho Marx line from Animal Crackers. Captain Spaulding is giving a talk on his African safari: “I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.”
In a hearing this week, the Pittsfield Licensing Board ordered Johnny’s to close at midnight until further notice.
The horror. The horror.
From the Frying Pan to the F … Frying Pan
Stepping up in class from Johnny’s Beach Club, we come to the redolent ambience of Lach’s Lounge on Fenn Street.
You know Lach’s. It’s the kind of joint that has to put a sign on the door saying “shirts and shoes required.” Otherwise, the patrons will not know. It’s the kind of place that has a saying on the wall: “Well, it’s 8 a.m. somewhere.” It serves dyslexics, thinking they’ve walked into a bra. Another sign says, “Gerry Doyle Slept Here.”
On Saturday past (10/31), police say an “altercation” that began at Lach’s ended with a man shot on Lincoln Street.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.
Dispatch sent officers to Lincoln near Pleasant Street with a report of shots fired. When they got to Lincoln Street, a melee was in progress (aren’t they always?). Cops found a “victim” with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. Officers said the fight began earlier at Lach’s.
Is it just us, or does anyone see a pattern? Do you see the outline of a city in the grips of a perfect storm of gangs, drugs, low lifes, and other assorted bottom feeders?
ANTHONY ROBERTSON: Wanted by the Pittsfield Police Department. His street name is “Dollar” (PHOTO PPD)
On Thursday, police said they have a suspect in the Lach’s-cum-Lincoln Street shooting. They said Anthony E. Robertson, 33, is on the run after a warrant was issued. Police say Robertson remains at large (no, he’s not joing Peter White, Peter Marchetti, Kathy Amuso, and Melissa Mazzeo, although come to think of it, what would Pittsfield taxpayers have to lose?). They say he’s “armed and dangerous.” Robertson is black (yes, you’re shocked, shocked), 5’11”, weighs 180 pounds, has brown eyes and black hair, which he wears in dreadlocks. His street name is Dollar (is he a 20th cousin of Joe Nichols?).
Do the math. Do the math.
Dollar is at large because the cops lost him. Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon gave chase in their squad car, but Dollar stopped the car, got out, made change, and “evaded arrest after leading police on a foot chase.” (quote from scribe Bob Dunn in The Boring Broadsheet). Our theory is that he turned himself into two quarters, three dimes, and four Nichols … er, nickels … and hid somewhere as small change.
Anyone spotting Dollar should call the Pittsfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.
——– 000 ——–
Ladies and gents, the best shower to take after realizing our once-fair city is being held hostage by the smoke-filled thieves, drug dealers, hustlers, freeloaders, scammers, addicts, thugs, underage moms, prostitutes, and pimps comes from sweet poetry.
From William Shakespeare’s “Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds,” (1609).
“Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor man ever loved.”
——– 000 ——–
The Comment Line is open.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
———————————————————————————————-
“Exit, light. Enter, night. Take my hand. We’re off to never never land.” — Metallica, “Enter Sandman,” (1991).
“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
If Johnny’s is being forced to close at midnight then patrons have to go to Lach’s to finish their drinking. Then its off to Lincoln street to score some heroin. If you have a dollar.
That’s just life in 21st century Pittsfield in 2015/16 in the hood. Catching a stray .45 caliber slug in the foot while leaving out the back door is just collateral damage.
Thankfully there is a methadone clinic for those who hit rock bottom. Welfare, ebt cards and section 8. Life is good. Thank goodness the taxpayers pay for it all.
The good thing is the children can receive free school lunches. Girls can get pregnant and get a check. Men who dress like women get to use the ladies bathroom.
Life in Pittsfield has never been better.
Will the taxpaying public ever hear anything more about the charges against Monteresso? How about the money missing from the police dept fund? Will these stories disappear into the vault with the missing PHS prom fund tale?
Is anyone keeping track of all these incidents with the intent of writing a history of Pittsfield missing story endings?
Lack of Communication is astounding under this Mayor. That’s why he is no more. He blamed his loss on dirty politics Lol. Reality is, the people will not stand for Lack of transparancy, finger pointing and lies.
The reason why Bianchi lost was because of facebook posts from fake identites.
Ex Mayor Ruberto was very joyful with the outcome as is acting chief Wynn.
Collingwood, Sabourin, Degnan and DeAngelo are all bumming.
Gaetani tv show-10am,130pm,5pm,830pm. Best show on pctv. Todays show-analysis of election and lesson in neurology. Must see tv for any and all who may be suffering from depression.
I thought Pittsfield has been transformed into a cultural mecca that rivals Paris, London, Manhattan, and L.A.
It’s not? You must not have seen the new city emblem. It’s a circle shaped emblem that states: Welcome to Pittsfield! Around the words are heroin needles, crack pipes, chalk outlines of bodies, fish swimming in Silver lake with three-eyes, and of course the Colonial Theatre.
You mean that all of the money spent on downtown revitalization did not make Pittsfield a better place!
Maybe all of the money to be spent on a new Taconic High School will do the trick.
The lovely Linda Tyer will unite Pittsfield politics and usher in a new age of renaissance.
Jimmy Ruberto will lead to the Good Old Boys club to glory once again.
I really enjoyed reading Laurie Tierney’s op-ed about Pittsfield’s dysfunctional local economy. Here it is:
“Message of Lorax applies to Pittsfield”
By Laurie Tierney, Op-Ed, The Berkshire Eagle, November 7, 2015
PITTSFIELD – I happen to think Theodore Geisel was one of the most brilliant, profound writers of our time. More commonly known as Dr. Seuss, writer of rhyming, nonsensical books we read to our children, but many of his stories have adult messages and reflect social issues.
One of my favorites is “The Lorax,” in which the main message is about the sacrifice of our environment and our forests for the sake of making a clothing fad called a thneed, “which everyone, everyone needs,” the consumerism which drives the destruction of the precious Truffula Trees and drives the Lorax and his friends away.
This story could relate to any environment, but I want to focus on the message of the Lorax, a creature who did all he could to stop the ruination, by warning the Once-lers that they needed to stop or there would be no trees, animals, clean air or happiness.
The Lorax was ignored, the land ruined and he and the animals fled, but his message was given to a young boy — the future — by the Once-ler. His message was simply, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
EVERYONE JUMPS IN
My husband and I renovated a building in downtown Pittsfield. We opened a boutique hotel, restaurant, bar and small retail store. We took a leap; we took a chance; we took a risk. We are not heroes; we are not visionaries; we are not wealthy; we are not smarter, better than anyone else.
We took a big step with this little hotel with a revolving door and gorgeous lobby and fabulous restaurant that serves fresh, local yummy food and the bar that is friendly and fun to sit at, and a store, Dory & Ginger — but you see, none of that matters without everyone, everyone jumping in with us.
We have been overwhelmed, rendered speechless and touched to the core by the outpouring of generous praise for this risk we have taken. We have been put on a pedestal of sorts, wined, dined, written about, interviewed countless times, rewarded, awarded and touted by many to others.
We are so very flattered and humbled by the support, but this hotel/restaurant/bar/store cannot revitalize this city alone, nor can it survive alone. We are not enough. Pittsfield will not truly be revived without every one of you doing something.
Whether investing, doing business locally, reclaiming our streets, or saying no to injustices, use your voices and please use them positively. Stop the negative behavior/talk/headlines/moaning — it is contagious.
We have people come into our store and ask if North Street is safe. We are ambassadors of sorts, sending visitors to local restaurants, coffee shops, stores and saying “of course our streets are safe” — but are they?
They aren’t pretty — peeling paint on buildings, cigarette butts littering sidewalks, trash blowing around, garbage cans overflowing, people loitering in doorways smoking and yelling out to friends, grown men riding bikes down the main sidewalks and people who don’t look/act/seem friendly.
I would love it if our investment was a wake-up call and a rethinking of what it is to be a resident of this city. Unless…
UNLESS we stop pining for the days of General Electric. It’s gone folks, along with smoking in restaurants, 50 cent hamburgers and martinis in the office — let it go, let’s move on. We have a world class medical and cancer facility, we have theaters and art venues, we have General Dynamics and so many passionate people who truly care about this city.
UNLESS every single business owner in downtown takes one tiny step — mows the grass in front of their business, picks up the trash, scrapes and paints their building, sweeps the sidewalk, lights up and washes the windows, becomes vigilant and voices concerns about unsavory activities, stays open just a little bit later so our street looks alive again, gets involved and demands your city government work to make our streets safe and attractive.
UNLESS others who want to invest take that risk, then our city is just a city. Come on people, think outside that little box we have all made for ourselves where it’s warm and cozy and dark — come out into the light and think creatively.
FIGHT FOR THE CITY
UNLESS the people in our city regain some of their pride and fight back against anything or anyone who either stands by while conditions worsen or makes our downtown less desirable, then why would anyone love and believe. If you don’t love or believe in Pittsfield, then how can we expect people who visit us to see its beauty?
UNLESS we all support these local businesses and urge others to do the same, either by word of mouth or going on social media or Trip Advisor, then they will disappear like the Trufulla Trees and the Lorax.
UNLESS all who put us on this pedestal heed this message and encourage the same thing I am encouraging, then this city of ours will not get better. We have incredible places on each end of North Street with a sprinkling in the middle — let’s fill in these blanks. Let’s take these beautiful old buildings with their intricate architecture and coax them back to life, light and a future.
I thank each and every person who has supported our hotel/restaurant/bar/store/venture, but remember the Lorax — “The word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.”
Laurie Tierney is co-owner of Hotel on North.
The representative government of Pittsfield made each taxpayer to water the Truffula, whether they agreed or not.
SHAKES
So true, my good friend. This is what the Lorax fails to mention in the article. Not one word about the city’s dysfunctional politics or The Suits who helped make HON possible.
An interesting day yesterday in the Pittsfield School system.
0929 Phone – DISTURBANCE All ARREST JUVENILE MALE
Location/Address: [PIT 2836] PHS – EAST ST
Refer To Arrest: 15-1388-AR
Juvenile Arrest
Age: 15
Charges: DISORDERLY CONDUCT
0930 Phone – ASSAULT & BATTERY INVESTIGATED
Location/Address: [PIT 1835] REID MIDDLE SCHOOL – NORTH ST
1027 Phone – JUVENILE OFFENSES ARREST JUVENILE FEMALE
Location/Address: [PIT 1054] HERBERG MIDDLE SCHOOL – POMEROY AVE
Refer To Arrest: 15-1389-AR
Juvenile Arrest
Age: 12
Charges: A&B WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON , TO WIT – DOOR
A&B WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON, TO WIT – SHOD FOOT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
1359 Phone – DISTURBANCE All TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL
Location/Address: [PIT 1835] REID MIDDLE SCHOOL – NORTH ST
Is this a typical day or just a random check?
good news is we are dumping millions and millions of dollars into a new school where rainbows will be plentiful and sugar plums will dance every day
And the Tax Pain will be unrelenting.
Maybe the new high school can incorporate holding cells, metal detectors, tazers, armed SWAT teams, electrified razor wire fences and interragation chambers.
The nurses station should be fully stocked with Ritalin, prozac, and many other psychotropic drugs. Perhaps a few electroshock therapy units should be on hand along with forced innoculations.
The Kids are Alright Lol
Funny column Dan. Car 54 where are you?
Has anyone looked in the Dollar store?
The police will wait at the welfare office. “Dollar” will show up in his 2016 BMW, draped in gold jewelry, talking on his new I-phone, and wearing his $200 Air Jordan shoes.
JUAN
Brilliant! He’s gotta be there.
I don’t know how he got away…..we all know a dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to!
Oh my god I have belly laughed like this in ages! Thank you, Juan Pittsfield!
Funny column Dan but very disturbing!
Still wondering why we have an Acting Police Chief. Along with all the other things that have made no sense from this Mayor.
Bianchi inhereted the acting chiefs in both the PD and FD from Ruberto – not easy to change without ousting 2 good chiefs – just more of the smoke and mirrors propogated to elect “change” – other things may change but not this – but since it was a campiagn promise lets keep our eyes on it – shall we ?
Thanks, CV.
Don’t worry everyone, the new high school will fix all this! It will:
1. Solve the crime issue in the city. Who can commit a crime with a beautiful new school in the background?
2. Solve the gang issues. Why hang around in a gang when you can hang around and stare in awe at a new school?
3. Train people for jobs that don’t even exist. I guess the current school has no curriculum whatsoever and doesn’t train anybody for anything!
4. Solve your issue of having disposable income. Hate having all those extra dollars to spend? No worry – we’ll take them off your hands with extraordinary taxes!
5. Solve unemployment. There will be so many new positions opening up in the school system just to maintain the new school, that every single unemployed person will be so no longer!
Training people for jobs that do not exist…at least not here in Berkshire County. Students will take their supposedly great education and go where the jobs are as they have been doing for the past 30 years or more in this county.
Sol, I have read the new curriculum for the new “Taconic.” Here are some answers to your questions:
(1) They plan to build an indoor gun range at the school. This way, when the gang-bangers decide to shoot it out, they will kill or maim each other and not an innocent person.
(2) Instead of learning a foreign language (that whole program will be scraped), the school will teach students to be “a crip” or “a blood.” This solves many issues, one school uniforms. You either wear red (blood) or blue (crip).
(3) Drug dealing 101 will teach the incoming 9th graders the basic to selling drugs. If the student decides to stay in school, he/she will learn to cook crack/meth. Math will simply be tailored to drug dealing (i.e.-ounces, quarter of a ounce, grams, etc).
(4-5 combined) This class will teach students how to take advantage of the welfare system. Why learn a job skill when you can collect welfare, get free healthcare coverage, food (i.e.-cigarettes, beer, potato chips, etc), and have a tax-free job (drug dealing). Plus, it will also deal with the over-weight students. They will be given driving lessons on a Pittsfield Cadillac (a scooter).
Those students who actually care about an education and showing up to school to learn, will be deemed “misfits” and bused to an alternative school. This way they can be properly adjusted to the “gangsta-lifestyle.”
This is just a win-win for the City of Pittsfield. Pittsfield wants to prove to Springfield and Holyoke that they can hold their own when it comes to violence, drug dealing, and gang-banging.
KATE
THE PLANET appreciates your use of humor to make devastatingly serious points. Well done.
No worries Kate – “change” is coming !!
Meth math?
Meth math mismatch?
Je Suis Charlie
What Ed Shepardson just wrote is very disturbing. And I am sure this is par for the course.
It’s also interesting that the police didn’t hesitate to reveal the name of the wanted shooter on Lincoln St. days ago. But we still haven’t learned the name of the person wanted for the July 4th shootings which left one dead. Is there a warrant out for him? And the names of the other victims have never been revealed. One was sent to Bay State, yet no news about his condition.
Is it just me…..or does something smell rotten?
Remember these words Bianchi’s Destination?
Questions:
Does “Dollar” pay his fair share of taxes in America?
Does “Dollar” have a valid drivers license?
Is he paying child support for any yoots he may have impregnated?
Is he a legal gun owner?
Is he registered to vote?
Are his parents proud?
Would you want to be locked up in a cell with him for committing a minor crime?
Would you want to be living on Lincoln street during an economic collapse of the economy?
If you answered “No” to the above questions, you might be a racist.
Watch these two shows today and you’ll see that Terry Kinnas and Cr@ig are super citizens…..both give a good analysis of Tuesday’s election and Mr. G gives a very important presentation regarding PTSD and clinical depression. If you have PTSD/depression or know someone who does this show is a must see.
1:30 PM The Cr@ig G@etani Pittsfield News Hour
2:30 PM Planet Valenti TV
5:00 PM The Cr@ig G@etani Pittsfield News Hour
6:30 PM Planet Valenti TV
8:30 PM The Cr@ig G@etani Pittsfield News Hour
10:00 PM Planet Valenti TV
I saw them both eye, very good shows indeed.
This is why so many Pittsfield school teachers send their children out of the system they teach in. They have first hand knowledge of what a debacle it is.
How many were shot in the fracas?
johnnys beach club is a complete drug infested hole that needs to be shut down once and or all, johnny is part of the good old boy network and has friends in low places who end up giving him continued slaps on the wrists ,
I heard that the guy at Johnny’s actually shot himself not in the foot but more front and center if you know what I mean.
Johnny’s is a fine establishment, we are lucky to have quality venues in the City to go to, he’s only been before the License Board a few times and seems like minor incidents.
Just heard that Johnny’s and HON (hotel on north) are teaming up. Johnnys will become DOW (die on Wahconah.)
I’m not a sex crazed accountant and don’t play one on t v, but Gaetani is right that 98% of the City Budget goes to the Special Interest Groups, the the only thing the new Mayor can do is raise taxes.
I’m a Lach’s Lounger myself, the ambiance is special and the atmosphere is top notch. Leave the door open and the litter box filled. Hope is a good thing….eah, that’s something else.
Think the ambiance is the atmosphere Cat, oxymoron. But agree, Ladh’s is one of the City’s Gems.
thanx Silver, as in held on Sheldon Iver the embattled New York State cronie currently on trial? nice, anyway Thanx for the grammar lesson and the oxymoron correction, who cares? I hitting keys with a paw!!! My point is Gaetani is saying only 2% is left over as scraps ( my wheelhouse,scraps) taxes will have to to raised higher than ever. Another question is, what is the formula for raising taxesfor the city? How high of an increase can be set.
Not sure of the formula, but I believe the highest any city or town can tax is $25.00/$1000 valuation. What happens after that is anybodys guess.
Here’s the formula:: keep raising taxes till an army of citizens shows up at city hall with pitchforks
A few years ago the property tax had questionable assessments ( to high) surprised no one took that to task?
I filed an annual abatement on this over-assessment with a detailed comparison of sales. Denied with no explanation other than “assessment is correct”.
Filed appeal to state, recently called to check status of my docket #. Backlog of a year on appeals in western Mass, and was told to get filing abatements & appeals. They will all be heard once a date is set. That ought to give you an indication of how cities and towns are overtaxing versus valuation.
Appeal every year, if they have less money to spend they will have to deal responsibly with what they have. Yea, and I have some prime swamp land to sell in Florida.
70 to 80% of the voters did not vote for either candidate for Mayor. That should tell us that those voter did not want either candidate.
And can you tell me what they gain out of that; either way someone had to win. At this point that 70% or 80% accomplished nothing because regardless one of the two they did not want will be the new mayor come January.
Anyone hear about the situation on the trail behind Conte today?Maybe it will be in the eagle or hit the press?
Wynn is definitely a Tyer guy as Bowler is a Bianchi guy…look for the same political machine that backed Tyer to back Wynn in a run against Bowler for Sheriff
Why would they not want Wynn to be police chief?
I don’t think Chief Wynn wants to be Sheriff. In MA, the main function of the sheriff is to house prisoners in the county jail.
When I met Chief Wynn before, he has always come across to me as enjoying being a police officer. I don’t think, though I could be wrong, that Chief Wynn would give that up to be the sheriff.
And speaking of the Sheriff, why doesn’t MA just get rid of that position all together? Let the county sheriff’s department merge with MA Department of Corrections (DOC). The state could eliminate at least two 100k jobs with that merger (the sheriff and deputy sheriff). The sheriff’s department does NOT patrol in MA like they do in say Florida. If DOC took over, when inmates in the county jail are sentenced to state prison, DOC could set up certain dates to pick-up and transfer the prisoners-again saving tax-payers the money on fuel it costs to bring 1-2 prisoners across the state to a state prison. DOC could make one huge Western MA sweep 2 times a week. Maybe more, if they swung by and picked up those from Springfield area.
Just a thought?
If one could hold onto the job for a long time as Masmiano did it has a great pension and I think the sheriff makes more that the chief….figure an 80% pension….the job looks attractive……..that’s why Bosely wanted the job…..his pension would be 80% of his three highest years.
The dems in this state like to keep it an elected position….so much the better for the hackarama.
Wynn against Bowler:? You gotta be kidding. He can’t run Pittsfield and officers under him, how do you expect him to run the sheriff,s department.
The need for the Alternate School is greater than ever to house these young students
Soon the Alternate School will be needed for the exemplary students.
Yeah Ron you wouldn’t want those sweat hog’s shooting any of the good students.
Terrible that President Obama has killed the Keystone Pipeline because of climate change. Progressive politics is destroying chances for job creation in this country. We have seen the devastation that progressive politics is creating locally, but progressive politics is also destroying the entire country.
Agreed, Pat. And on a different note – our progressive state rep Tricia F-B needs some socially conservative opponents in the next election – she needs to be voted out! Did anyone read her column in the BB yesterday about “the bathroom bill” which she is pushing so hard for? I believe Ben Downing was the original sponsor of this bill, several years ago – which met opposition. He also needs to be voted out! Gender is not what you “feel” you are, it’s the equipment you were born with! A little common sense, please!!
I agree GiGi, what did all the people that dressed up as the opposite sex on Halloween do when they had to go to the bathroom?
Did they go to the bathroom of their natural parts, or what they pretended to be. Unless a transgender person has surgery and does the deed, they are no different than the Halloween costume person. They just pretend all year round.
Penis..men’s room. Vagina…ladies room. Maybe we just need to change the signs to body part symbols.
And TFB, don’t give me this transgender rights stuff. Recent events…Christian bakery forced to close or bake for homosexuals. Muslim beer truck drivers refuse to deliver beer.
Case #1 Bakerery faced huge fines, and I believe gave up their business. Case #2 Feds step in to defend the Muslims and awarded a couple of hundred thousand dollars. This despite the fact they initially took the job as a beer truck driver.
We are so worried about the rights of less than 1%, yet you want to screw the rights of the wealthy 1% by disproportionately taxing them, etc. (and no, I am not part of that 1% either).
Politicians should be tarred and feathered and run out of town.
It’s unbelievable how out of touch these reps are. I agree. They need to go, but their liberal buddies keep voting them in.
Maybe Trisha Farley-Kennedy-O’Nasis-Clinton-Bouvier, will get her bill through-I hope not. But for argument sake, let’s say she does.
I wonder how she would feel as she was finishing up using the (public) restroom, when a “woman” walks into Trisha’s stall taking out “her” penis to use the restroom? We all know those restroom stall locks don’t always work when given a hard enough push.
God forbid, if it was a young, minor, female, and that happened.
I think the goal of these progressives is to make everyone forget we have a gender. People with gender issues are an extremely small part of the population, but the progressives would have you believe that one out of 5 people feel trapped in their gender. They are really out of control.
how about not shaming people that have nothing to do with you and mind your business because it isn’t your decision?
Over a hundred more students bailing on Pittsfield schools. Where is their loyalty? Who in the hell do they think they are? If you are born in Pittsfield you need to man up and take your punishment just like the rest of the kids. What a bunch of babies using excuses like guns and violence and gangs and a total lack of discipline.
Take those silver spoons out of your mouths and drag your asses back here and get a reel edumacation.
Great post Dusty. AND foreclosure petitions have increased 80% in Sept. compared to last Sept.’s data; overall a 63.5% increase in filings! Yikes! Note to Linda Tyer – don’t even think about raising taxes, or the rest of us will be gone as well!
Agree on that one Gigi. For Linda Tyer don’t dare raise my (our) taxes anymore. Literally any increase will mean we can’t keep up home payments. We can’t afford it.
She will raise taxes to the extraordinary level. Count on it.
Taxes will be risen….Guaranteed.
I see the part time city solicitor resigned. Good to leave on your own, than be shown the door.
Sorry to see Mr Lee go, I was hoping that the new mayor would make him the new city solicitor, and Degnan would exit on her own.
Thank you for that classy sentiment ! It’s helps me judge the rest of your comments !!
DARREN
Your move showed not only smarts but true class as well. Best of luck back at the firm.
Darren Lee is a classy guy with a great reputation who brought back to the city over 2 million dollars into the city coffers by conducting a tax lien of people that owed back taxes for YEARS. Thank you Darren
Larry,
Yes, Darren had a hand in the auction and is a very classy guy.
But, lets give credit where credit is due. The entire idea was that of Councilor Connell who received NO CREDIT for his idea during the campaign.
Thank you, Chris!!!
Barry
BC – you are partially correct – but it is moot. And Connell should get all the credit as far as I am concerned.
Thanks DV – over the course of 4 years I got paid roughly 70k (I only accepted pay for the hours I worked) but brought in $2,200,000.00. I would say it was a bargain for the City. Time for a new admin and I am perfectly willing to give her a chance at success. #movingon
Thank you for only accepting pay for the hours you worked. How classy
!
Very interesting issues already coming out of the Ward 5 recount…which will be heard Nov. 16…true accounts…one voter said that he/she had to put the paper in the machine 4 times before it accepted it because it spit the paper out 3 times…another voter put their paper in the machine and the machine monitor politely said “oh it took that one this time”…everybody was watching the results on PCTV, why did the Ward 5 results clearly come in way after all of the other races? There clearly was problems with the voting machines in Ward 5…very interesting
Same thing happened to me in Ward 7 and to several voters in Ward 1. And it had nothing to do with flipping the sheet over.
I have a friend who worked the polls in 5. There was a lot of funny stuff going on, including several people who tried to vote but were turned away claiming they weren’t listed as voters? Really?? Ballots mishandled. I think Mr. Scapin needs to get a fair count. My friend thinks he was jobbed.
“Show me not who casts the ballots but who counts the votes”.
– Modern day forefather
In 2012 Ron Paul won the primary as the Republican candidate.
Yet at the Rebublican National Convention they refused to even seat his delegates and gave his votes to Mitt Romney. It mattered not how the people voted.
Same type of shenanigans will happen to Donald Trump.
Billions of dollars have already been invested in Jeb Bush. Donald Trump wins by a landslide in poll after poll. Yet he is not wanted by the good old boys. Follow the money.
Hillary’s supporters have also invested billions in her. It matters not how many illegal acts she has committed or how any lies she has told. Hillary is bought and paid for.
The last President truly elected by the people was John F. Kennedy. They thought they could control him. When they found out they could not….. well we all know how it turned out.
The important thing is that you believe that your vote matters. You need to feel warm and fuzzy about going to the polls. You must believe in the system. If people ever lose faith in the system, they may not even show up to vote.
Rigger- very intelligent post. The voter has already given up a long time ago and this is why we get people like Tyer and Bianchi. I stated in a past post that putting Tyer in as mayor is comparable to putting her in the cockpit of a 747. Result?-crash and burn. The first thing every resident who owns a home or business should do on Monday morning is to file for an abatement on their property. Tyer will raise taxes through the roof and this is a first step to contain her. She owes a lot of money to the SIG’S and wants to pay them with your money. This is the first step to collar her and let it be known that you are fed up and will start to pay attention. Mr. Gaetani told me this is what needs to be done and I agree wholeheartedly with him. He is very concerned for the people and taxpayers of this city and plans to stay fully engaged.
Lenox: “Housatonic River Initiative hosts PCB forum”
The Berkshire Eagle, November 6, 2015
The Housatonic River Initiative announces a PCB forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker St.
The forum will explore the known health effects of PCBs and the latest scientific findings.
Guest speaker is David Carpenter, a neurotoxicologist and professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Toxicology in the School of Public Health at State University of New York, Albany.
Information: Tim Gray, Housatonic River Initiative, at 413-446-2520.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/community/ci_29081755/lenox-housatonic-river-initiative-hosts-pcb-forum