MENCKEN, the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THANKS and GRATITUDE, and the MOGs WHO ARE RUINING IT ALL
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25, 2015) — If you are expecting a warm and gushy “These are the things I’m thankful for” column on this day before Thanksgiving, forget it. THE PLANET, you see, is reading a new biography on one of our journalistic heroes, H. L. Mencken, The Great One who wins our nomination as the greatest prose stylist of the 2oth century (we give Ambrose Bierce to the 19th).
Seriously? Will you be one of “these?”
“Thanks” extends outward for favors received. We prefer “gratitude,” a moral perspective directed inward at appreciation for one’s circumstances in life. THE PLANET can list a host of items, ranging from the insignificance of enjoying a cup of green tea to the consequence of plenty of food, shelter, clothing, and the other necessities of life. We won’t do that as a form of restraint and, Mencken style, for the sake of going against the grain. Ah, ever the contrarian. Treasures of the heart can in good conscience — during an era of social media that has made privacy obsolete —remain a private thing. There’s a certain stoicism in that attitude, a maturity, an “adult” mien, dear friends.
One Bad Deed Deserves Another
Thanksgiving used to be the last and only big holiday that the MOGs — the Merchants of Greed — had not managed to grasp in their mammonic clutches. No longer. You can’t have but noticed the many stores opening at midnight or earlier on Thanksgiving to start the Oklahoma Land Rush known as Black Friday. It wasn’t too long ago that stores remained closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving to allow workers and employees a chance to enjoy a long weekend and family. Then came the first MOG who got the idea of opening on Friday, usually in the late afternoon or early evening.
This graceless decision led to an endless game of one-upmanship. Stores began opening earlier and earlier. The loss-leaders sales meant to draw suckers inside shops became more blatant and starry-eyed. From Rachel Snodgrass yesterday in Scene from theodysseyonline.com: “We live in an era of efficiency. We’re constantly trying to save time, which makes us multitask, and run around from place to place, never really enjoying where we were to begin with. The calmest, most peaceful people I know are the ones who take the time to slow down and relax once in a while. Shopping is great, especially when it’s for people you love, but there’s no need to bust down doors, and trample people while you’re doing it.”
All You Need is Love
This being said, let THE PLANET extend a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers (and viewers), your family, friends, and loved ones. Feel free to share such greetings here. As we say at the end of every column, LOVE TO ALL.
————————————————————————————————
“I am grateful for who I am and what I have.” — Henry D. Thoreau.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
(and again) 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.
I hope everyone has a great thanksgiving with their loved ones.
And as there seems to be a continuing rash of car and home break ins I would advise everyone to make sure their homes and vehicles are secure if they go out or away. The addicts will be looking forward to their own feast the holidays and will be stealing anything not nailed down.
I am thankful to be able to post and read other opinions here on “The Planet”. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
The past few days I’ve seen several retailers advertising they will be open Thanksgiving with incredible deals…shame shame shame on these greedy stores forcing their employees to work the Holiday, but even more shame on the people that show up to buy stuff. Stay home and enjoy the day with family and friends instead of giving thanks to corporate greed. Who is more wrong, the shopper or the retailer?
Many restaurants will be serving dinner tomorrow. Are they greedy? Are the people who eat there wrong for making people work on the holiday?
Mark. Some small stores are staying open with the hard working owners working. Just trying to make some extra bucks. Those greedy basterds. How dare them, even though there property taxes are going through the roof and some business are getting a free ride.
MA blue laws still have a grip on Thanksgiving and do not allow stores to open until after midnight. And I for one think that it is something all states should do. Let people enjoy the holiday and not have to worry about working at all!!!!
To each there own. People should do what they want. Stores should be able to do what they want. That’s what used to make this country so great.
Happy Festavus!
For the rest of us.
Why does everyone decry those evil stores who open on Thanksgiving to make money, but no one cares about the people who work in restaurants on Thanksgiving day? I can just picture a group who goes out for dinner tomorrow and the subject of conversation is the evil greedy stores that are open and how they would never go shopping on such a family holiday because those store workers should be home.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you all get a chance to spend quality time with your families.
Happy Thanksgiving to all on the Planet. I am fairly new here and enjoy my new ‘family’.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
I’m grateful for my good health, my decent job, and the ability to live in a nice home. I am grateful that I have good family, a few really good friends, and that I can freely express myself without fear of imprisonment or death. My life is good, and so is my economy – so I am glad to be able to say it is so.
Did Turkey just start WWIII by shooting down a Russian plane?
Russia is fighting ISIS in Syria.
Turkey was under no threat.
The pilot flying the Russian plane was not communicated with.
Russia is considering this an act of war.
Putin says there will be serious consequences.
“A country has a right to defend its airspace”
Really?
Can any country shoot down any plane entering its airspace even when the plane poses no threat to that country?
If Russia declares war on Turkey, will the US get involved?
Will it end up using nuclear weapons?
If Russia invades Turkey from the rear will Greece help?
i spent most of my career working on holidays. First in the military, then later in civilian life where I was always on call, usually helping thankless people. However, on some occasions the people that I helped showed incredible appreciation and it made it all worth it. My family were the best ever, they held countless dinners waiting for dad to get home. I will never forget the Christmas morning that I was paged for an emergency just as we were about to open our gifts, my children were 5 and11. Image my surprise when I got back home and found the kids waiting for me before they would open their gifts. It was 1:30 pm. I had to dry my eyes. We always tried to make the best of it and never complained.
With all that being said, people who have jobs that require around the clock coverage; ie police, fire, medical, utilities and so forth I have no problem with holiday working. i just hate to see non essential jobs for the sake of greed stuck working. To me this is one of the reasons that familys have difficulties staying close and only contributes to the loss of the family unit in America.
Paul, I want to thank you for your service and for being a awesome dad.God bless you.
I just watched the CC replay……Lothrop made up a new word….
“CONVERSATE”…..what a blowhard.
Best thing to happen to Ward 5 and the CoP was JLO stepping down. Obnoxious obstructionist – Happy T-Giving all !!!
He’s a clever one, that j-lo
Sadly, it’s been used by others during the meetings. Makes me cringe every time I hear it.
Please stop saying Happy Thanksgiving, I find it offensive. Signed University of Missouri.
I am grateful that I have so much to be thankful for….
I hope everyone avoids all microaggressions over they holiday.
..Happy Thanksgiving to all.
not to mention micro organisms
not to mention micro organisms
or micro orgasms,,, ooh I love tbr on pctv…
Let me add my best wishes for Thanksgiving to all.
Thanksgiving Council Grades
Krol F
Caccamo A
Cotton F
Amuso F-
Simonelli C
Mazzeo A
Lothrop C
Tully F-
Clairmont A
Connell C
Morandi B
You gave Simonelli a C and Morandi a B, yet they were the only ones voting against the new tax rate. Your logic?
Mazzeo vs. Tyer beginning in January. That’s going to be quite a show.
Cacamo, acts like he’s at a meeting of his fantasy football league. I hear that this Thanksgiving they’re going to let him sit at the table with the grownups!
Amanda,
You watched the city council meeting.
Go to this link and read it. Pay close attention to the graph at the bottom of the page.
http://ward1lisa.com/taxes.htm
It was posted months ago.
Let us know what you think.
Note to Lisa. FREE CASH comes from the taxpayer and usually comes from being over taxed in the first place. Normally it would come from savings department heads would make by being judicious in their spending. But in Pittsfield, department heads are afraid of having their budget money cut the next year if they do not spend every cent from the current year so they make sure every penny is used for something.
And also, you say the councilors can only make suggestions on where to cut. What suggestions did you make?
Dusty, thanks for ruining my Thanksgiving. I thought that money just dropped out of the sky. That’s such a great name for over taxed citizens, free cash . Love it
Simonelli gets an A+
A special thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to The Planet and Dave Bubriski for all his help at the production of Planet and Gaetani News Hour.
I encourage anyone to take advantage of PCTV. For $15.00 a year you can produce your own TV show. Call PCTV and ask for Norm and he will tell you how.
DAVE BUB is theeeeee best of the best!
Let’s celebrate the very first Thanksgiving, when we began to steal,what was a beautiful country, from the Native Americans and ultimately turning it into the cesspool that it is today, physically and morally, killing about 100 million Native Americans in the process. Happy Thanksgiving.
Aww, Jesus Ed did you have to bring that up?
They have the casinos now Ed, I think all us money hungry white people have paid them back enough. We all want better for our children…..The house always wins!!!
That’s Bull Ed.
Pittsfield politics will go financially insolvent about 4 years from now!
“Essentially, Barry Clairmont says four years down the road that free cash reserve could be needed to maintain services because the city won’t be able to raise taxes.”
http://www.iberkshires.com/story/50695/Pittsfield-Sets-Tax-Rate-Holds-Back-Money-For-Reserves.html
Pittsfield politcs near future financial insolvency means that expenditures will exceed revenues. The city government’s bond rating will be lowered, which will increase borrowing costs. Eventually, Pittsfield politics will go bankrupt!
Dan Valenti should cover this news article published by iBerkshires.com!
NEWS ARTICLE:
“Pittsfield residents to see 4 percent increase in property taxes”
By Jim Therrien, The Berkshire Eagle, November 25, 2015
PITTSFIELD – The amount used from surplus city funds to reduce this year’s tax rate increase was the hot topic as the City Council approved the new rates on Tuesday.
The bottom line for taxpayers was a $126, or 3.98 percent hike, for a residential property at the average valuation of $176,234, and a hike of $1,193, or 6.44 percent, for a commercial property of average value at $517,812.
Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi had based his tax rate calculations on the proposed use of $2.25 million from the free cash account to reduce the rates, but councilors cut that figure to $1.5 million, citing concerns over the city’s long-term fiscal health.
Bianchi said the amount of free cash he proposed would allow a residential tax rate of $18.70 per $1,000 in valuation and a $37.27 rate for commercial or industrial property.
After a lengthy debate, the council approved using only $1.5 million from surplus funds and retaining more in reserve, which meant slightly higher tax rates — a residential rate of $18.76 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial rate of $38.06 per $1,000.
Councilor at large Barry Clairmont and others expressed concern that too much was being deducted from the surplus amount to lower the fiscal 2016 tax rate in light of stagnant property values in Pittsfield. “My concern tonight is for the future,” he said.
Councilor at large Kathleen Amuso also declared at the start of the debate that she intended to propose a $1.5 million free cash figure, adding that Pittsfield has to find ways to make government more efficient and reduce spending.
“I think [department] directors have to come up with a decreased budget,” she said, calling for an overall review of city spending.
And Councilors Kevin Morandi and Anthony Simonelli reiterated their prior calls to reduce spending in June when the annual budgets are approved, rather than in the fall when the tax rates are set.
Clairmont cited the potential effects of annually rising budgets and the city’s falling Proposition 2½ tax levy “ceiling” — a figure based on the total amount of property valuation in a municipality, which in the city’s case hasn’t shown significant growth in recent years.
Clairmont noted that the city’s auditor, Thomas Scanlon Jr., of Scanlon & Associates of Deerfield, has referred to a decline in the Proposition 2½ ceiling figure since 2009.
The ceiling number is derived from the annual 2.5 percent tax increases allowed under Proposition 2½ plus the increase in overall property valuation.
Last year, the city had about $8.5 million in excess levy capacity it could use if needed, Clairmont said, but the number for this year is about $7.5 million. Should property values remain at current sluggish levels, the average annual tax increases of 2.5 to 3 percent Pittsfield has approved recently could eat up the city’s levy capacity in about four years, he said.
The mayor indicated he was open to amending the free cash figure after hearing last week that some councilors favored something lower than the $2.25 million approved along with the budget plan in June.
But he said the figure should be in the $2 million range to avoid a spike in the tax rates, especially on residential properties. “We have to consider the taxpayers,” he said.
Clairmont first proposed using only $875,000 from free cash, which was rejected. He next proposed using $1.25 million in free cash, which also was shot down, and finally $1.5 million, which was approved on a 7-4 council vote.
The new tax rate figures compare to the fiscal 2015 rates $18.06 per $1,000 for residential property and $36.63 for commercial property.
Overall, the new rates will support a total city tax levy of $76,785,455 for the current July-to-June fiscal year, up from the $73,514,528 level approved last year.
City Treasurer and Finance Director Susan Carmel said the free cash amount is expected to be certified soon by the state at approximately $4 million to $4.5 million. The average amount taken from free cash to lower tax rates has averaged about $1.9 million over the past decade, she said.
In answer to question, Carmel said a surplus amount of from 3 to 10 percent of a municipal budget is generally recommended, adding that the city has retained a reserve of 3 to 4 percent of the budget in recent years.
Paula King, chairwoman of the Board of Assessors, said that if the new rates were figured as a single tax rate for all property that would be $22.97 per $1,000 valuation, up from $22.07 last year.
She said the total valuation of city property is $3,343,164,997 this year, compared to $3,331,646,372 in fiscal 2015.
Tax rates in Pittsfield, per $1,000 in assessed property value:
Fiscal 2016
Residential: $18.76
Commercial: $38.06
•
Fiscal 2015
Residential: $18.06
Commercial: $36.63
Contact Jim Therrien at 413-496-6247. jtherrien@berkshireeagle.com @BE_therrien on Twitter.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_29164976/pittsfield-residents-see-4-percent-increase-property-taxes
Check out
http://ward1lisa.com/taxes.htm
The ceiling is now the limit. This is big news.
Barry Clairmont said that Pittsfield politics has a nominal margin of $7.5 million left before the city reaches its levy ceiling. If Pittsfield politics is now at its levy limit, it wouldn’t be raising residential property taxes by about 4% this fiscal year.
In about 4 years, Pittsfield politics won’t be able to raise its municipal property taxes without a voter override in accordance to Proposition 2.5. In Fiscal Year 2020, Pittsfield politics will become financially insolvent if the voters say “no” to increased local government spending.
Once Pittsfield politics goes financially insolvent, its credit or bond rating will be lowered. Eventually, Pittsfield politics will be unable to borrow money, and the city government will go bankrupt.
I wonder what the lovely Linda Tyer’s plan is to bail out Pittsfield politics? Is she going to let Pittsfield fail and hope for a state government bailout?
There are several negative factors here. The financing for the new Taconic High School hasn’t kicked in yet. What if the new high school project has cost overruns? How on Earth is the lovely Linda Tyer going to manage Pittsfield politics’ unsustainable finances? Another issue is the closing of Sabic Plastics in Pittsfield. Between 300 to 500 good paying jobs will be lost next year in 2016 in Pittsfield. Pittsfield’s tax base is shrinking!
Maybe the lovely Linda Tyer can invite Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government to write research journals about Pittsfield politics’ downward spiral? Sales of the Ivy League case study on Pittsfield’s financial woes can be used to increase the diminished municipal revenues. Maybe, the lovely Linda Tyer can star in a documentary on the impending fiscal insolvency and near future bankruptcy of Pittsfield? She is lovely and would put Pittsfield on the map for someone like Warren Buffett to rescue.
Barry wanted more of the surplus to be left for Linda? Of course he would.
Pittsfield is quickly becoming another version of North Adams. There is no growth in these 2 Berkshire County communities except in poverty, the underclass, welfare caseloads, teen pregnancies, homelessness, food insecurity and malnutrition, low wage jobs at Wal Mart or McD’s, violence, crime, drugs, blighted properties, and do nothing and useless corrupt and insider local political hacks.
The lovely Linda Tyer is stepping into the Mayor’s office in a perfect storm of bad news. By the time she finishes her first term, Pittsfield will become financially insolvent when the municipality reaches its levy ceiling. Sabic Plastics is closing shop, resulting in the loss of hundreds of good paying jobs in Pittsfield. The lovely Linda Tyer campaigned on increased spending on new programs that address violent crime and public education.
The lovely Linda Tyer will end up managing Pittsfield into another version of North Adams!
The Pittsfield Gazette’s take on Pittsfield’s tax rate hike.
http://pittsfieldgazette.com/council-sets-fy-tax-rate-p3924-1.htm
“A surplus of issues lie beneath surplus funds”
The Berkshire Eagle, Editorial, November 27, 2015
The use of reserve and surplus funds emerged as an issue in both Boston and Pittsfield this month.
Standard & Poor’s, one of the three major bond rating agencies, downgraded the state’s credit rating from stable to negative largely because the state’s stabilization fund declined as the economy improved. The agencies prefer to see the opposite.
The Baker administration blames its predecessor, the Patrick administration, as is customary. However, building up the surplus account while adding proposed new programs and maintaining necessary spending for education and other efforts without raising taxes will provide a real challenge for the governor.
On Tuesday, the Pittsfield City Council voted 7-4 to use $1.5 million from surplus funds to lower the tax rate as opposed to the $2.25 million proposed by Mayor Daniel Bianchi. This will result in a 3.98 percent hike in the residential property tax and a 6.44 increase in the commercial property tax.
Tax hikes are never welcome, especially in a sluggish economy. But the city’s long-term economic health is of consequence as well.
Pittsfield hasn’t had to concern itself with the Proposition 21/2 limit in some time, and the city had about $8.5 million in excess levy capacity available a year ago. However, as Councilor at large Barry Clairmont observed Tuesday, the 2 1/2 ceiling will come down in part because of stagnant property values. It is difficult to imagine voters passing a 21/2 override, but dipping into surplus funds is not a long-range funding solution. It also leaves the city vulnerable in the case of a financial emergency.
Councilor at large Kathleen Amuso, an advocate of the $1.5 million limit, said the city must look for efficiencies and spending reductions. This should be discussed in June when the budget is approved, not in September, when tax rates are set, as has too often been the case with the City Council. Councilors Kevin Morandi and Anthony Simonelli say they will bring this issue up next June, promising a difficult but much-needed debate.
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and a delicious dinner.
prrrr
A happy Thanksgiving to the mayor and city council. Bianchi an four members seemed to be studying Gaetani’s platform. At least a few are waking up.
I was talking about the big stores like Target and Old Navy, not the small business whose owner opens and works the Holiday. Retailers not restaurants. Greedy corporations. All have a wonderful day with family and friends, food and football. I am.
Gobble, gobble……..is that the sounnd of a thanksgiving turkey? Nope! Its your city government gobbling up your tax dollars. Enjoy your tax increase.
Just wait for the one-two punch of when the financing of the new Taconic High School kicks in and the loss of hundreds of jobs when Sabic Plastics closes up shop in Pittsfield.
This year’s tax hike will seem small next to future years!
L T has done the unthinkable in Politics, never promise anything.
And yet her promises were wild and crazy. I have them all written down and we shall see !! Durwin and Guyer need to be held accountable (as necessary) too.
Ways to cut next year
One commisioner D P W
Eliminate top level administrative assistants
No Sports teams, make pay per sport
Better efficiency snow plowing, lower hourly rate
Eliminate tax credit volunteer program
Increase co pay insurance
Decrease Bus Fleet, get out of the Business altogether
Higher Productivity with less redundancy
re: ways to cut next year –
what about the new Taconic High School?
what about all of the special interests projects?
what about the failing public school system eating up about 70% of the city government’s budget?
what about Pittsfield’s huge long-term debts that hover in the one-half billion dollar range?
Here are a couple more doable ideas,
Change health insurance split from 85-15 to something more fair for taxpayers
Increase work week to 40 hours
You forgot opeb’s Jon.
You forgot about that elusive “rolodex”, Dilly Dally.
Check out the Foreclures also, who buying these empy home and where’s the tax revenue on those properties that don’t sell right away?
I would suggest as the current sitting Councilor, Clairmont might have the best idea of state takeover, being an numbers guy, which i’m not and could shed some light on this question? Come on Barry, one for the peeps on Thanksgiving?
If it comes down to an override or state receivership, which idea do you think the new Admin. is going to sell us? That is why Barry Clairvoyant’s 6 per cent increase was put forth.
Smells like one of those sandwiches left for the new mayor?
Dave Bub, we get the Planet for a lousy 15 bucks, now that’s a Bargain! Not to mention the Gaetani News hour…M E O W!
Cat, we get the Planet for zip, that’s a bargain. The Tyer Administration should be a riot, the Planet should have a field day with subjects, not that he needs help, can’t wait.
I can see it now at the apartment? Ok L T , now carry the one, subtract the nine…..you got you’re debit? No that’s a credit, start over.
At Eddie Shep..the main reason for the grade was the twenty years as a V P and like someone else here said never mentioned any awareness do deteorizarion of the building, otherwise is a stellar ward councilor.
Will someone tell me what is the worst case scenario to the taxpayer for the next tax rate, giving hypothesis and not Lothropisms? Bexause this once sux..
Conversation with lothrop about it
conversate that is
The worse case scenario will be a 4 to 5.5% increase. The real bump will come when the permanent financing for the Taconic project kicks in probably in fye 2018. In that year you should see an 8 to 9.5% increase depending on the length oh the bond, the interest rate and the structure of the bond.
Does anyone live in a neighborhood where there is not at least one house for sale? According to Zillow.com tons of houses for sale in Pittsfield and they don’t even list them all. Smart people are bailing out now while they can still get something near their homes true value but many are priced low suggesting people are willing to take what they can get just to get out of town.
“Brutal fights break out in several U.S. malls as shoppers quickly trade holiday cheer for Black Friday violence”
Gotta love it!
Black Friday Lives Matter
During the Ruberto regime years ago here,home values increased by a higher assessment and thought that was a lot unusual, where did that figure come from, it was when Martel got here, very few people complained but it help set a higher tax on properties in Pittsfield, a lot of homeowners trying to move can’t give thier homes away, everyone knows the word foreclosure and in the not to distant future another word to be known will be receivership.
I to Remeber that, of course the reason to evaluate higher for a higher tax on property, don’t know if business wass effected the same way but my home value skyrocketed for no apparent reason, you’re right though…..the ceiling was to low, I guess?
Sorry on the misspells, but I’m not a former school secretary.
I would like to know what the scenario will be going forward when state help doesn’t arrive. How high can’t the taxpayers be taxed, percentage only. Where will cuts come from?
These are the tough questions that city leaders avoid. That avoidance has led Pittsfield to the brink.
I think much of the problem is that the people who have the money and influence to get elected are the ones who set the tax rates. And an extra couple hundred dollars a year means nothing to them. Nothing.
Give me one good reason they should give a crap about the average person they do not even know.
It’s amazing thousands didn’t vote.
Overtax the people. Put the extra money in an account and call it “free cash”. Now to set the tax rates.
Don’t raise as much as you would have because you can draw out some free cash.
Tax and spend. Means you pay your taxes and we spend it on whatever we damn well please. You will not be permitted to vote on anything we spend your money on.
If we didn’t have free cash from overtaxing you, we would have had to raises taxes even higher than we did.
Pay your taxes or sell your home and move out of Pittsfield. We don’t care which.
The Gaetani News Hour was his best show yet, the touch with straight facts and humor to boot with the Planet Show provide an educated and informing two shows. Good job guys,and thank you for all that you two do!
Watch Linda Tyer on Berkshire Viewpoint then watch the G man and tell me what you think.
Both shows are on tonight on 16…. Then cap off the evening with PVTV
Yes, both good shows
They say that Gaetani’s show now has a record viewing audience of 4.
Are you one of the 4?