SCATALOGICS AT THS and TFB … WHATCHA PACKING FOR PLUMBING? … plus … PLANET CATCHES SCHOOL COMMITTEE TRYING TO PULL A FAST ONE … THE COMMENT LINE IS OPEN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, APRIL 1-3, 2016) — No, it’s no an April Fool‘s joke. After construction crews broke ground for the new THS, they caused a backup of the sewers in the present building. Supt. JIV McCandless and Associate Supt. Kristen “Grease Queen” Behnke rushed from Mercer to the scene to view the handiwork. They weren’t phased. They’re used to standing knee-deep in bullshit.
Now to a couple of other items you may have missed.
Of course you missed them. The Mainstream Media is too busy telling you how great everything is. THE PLANET is the only site that’s doing any investigative journalism on a consistent basis.
Plumbing Rules
Speaking of bathrooms, Connecticut has joined four other states, including Cuomoland, and a bunch of cities, including Boston, banning state employees from official travel to North Carolina. Seem that the First in Flight principality has decided — correctly, as it turns out — to keep its men’s and women’s rooms off limits to the opposite sex.
The issue would never be one, of course, had not the latest flavor of the Far Left day not been “those who identify themselves as transgendered.” Need to hit the head? North Carolina goes by your personal plumbing. Regarding No. 1, if you have to stand and whip it out, you’re a man. You use the Men’s Room. If you have to sit and hover, you’re a woman. You go to the ladies toilet. Period.
THE PLANET doesn’t care how you “identify.” You could identify as a frog dressed in latex for all we care. It’s what you’re packing underneath that determines where you have to go when you have to go. You can see the problems inherent in allowing men to use women’s bathrooms. We won’t draw you a map.
You can sleep easy tonight, however, to know that Pittsfield stalwart state rep., Tricia Farley-Bouvier, is right on top of this vital issue. While the city she represents takes giant steps closer to financial chaos, she’s supporting the bathroom issue for the transgendered. Isn’t it a comfort, dear friends, that TFB has her priorities straight? TFB, after all, has gone all-out for another vital issue to Pittsfield. She’s all for giving illegal aliens drivers’ licenses. They broke the law, which makes them criminals, but she’s all for it.
What are the odds, ladies and gentlemen, that The Boston Bosses made up TFB’s mind for her on these two issues?
You, on the other hand, work hard, pay your taxes or at least try to pay, and are working two or three jobs to try and keep your head above water — and she’s pissing all over you.
Michael Bloomberg, the city turns its lonely eyes to you.
It Couldn’t Be Deliberate, Now, Could It?
THE PLANET has been talking up the 6 p.m. April 13 meeting of The Ship of Fools, a.k.a., The Pittsfield School Committee led by the sagging, though not sagacious, Kathy “Lady Boots” Yon. We told you that the meeting would take place in the PHS library (sounds like we’re playing Clue, eh? “Grandpa Munster Jr., with the rope, in the library”). THE PLANET got the location directly off the PSC web site. How naive of us, trusting an official city document.
It turns out that at its March 9 meeting, the minutes of which were posted March 23, the Fools changed the location from the school library to city hall council chambers. The venue change came on agenda item VIII (that’s “8” for all you non-Romans). That was to ensure that few if anyone from the general public (read “citizens, taxpayers”) would be left watching. In other words, they tried to pull a fast one.
THE PLANET, fortunately for We The People, monitors such things directly and through our vast network of Z-Agents in The Secret Squadron. We can confirm that the PSC 4-13 meeting will take place in council chambers at city hall.
Folks, if you are fed up with the school budget’s rapacious plundering of the general fund, make your feelings known. Sacrifice one evening for the good of the team, and let The Ship of Fools know that there must be cuts, not the millions more in funding that the Pittsfield School Department is demanding.
Wake up, folks. It’s time to take back the government.
With that, THE PLANET opens The Comment Line. Bring your A Game, please.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
———————————————————————————————-
“Science flies men to the moon. Religion flies men into buildings.”
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI 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.
It wasn’t to long ago when we were shutting off street lights at night.
I think that Tricia Farley Bouvier was willingly led by her Boston Bosses on those two pressing issues of our day. Berkshire County continues its decline into financial oblivion while this nonsense continues.
I only want women to use the ladies room and men in the mens rooms. To do otherwise would create all kinds of problems some of them dangerous in my opinion.
To Pat. I agree with you 100%! Please, see more:
http://www.massresistance.com
This site is for straight families; they fight H1577 Boston Bill in State house–this Bill is not approved yet.
H1577 –men who believe they are women should have access to ladies bathrooms–crazy–stupid Dem/Liberal idea.
Moreover, this is an asult on Women’s privacy and therefore, violation of Civil Rights and Human Rights of women.
There couldn’t be a more useless or pointless distraction from rich people getting richer on the backs of American workers.
Has anyone noticed how bad the Berkshire Eagle has become? It is mostly filler from the wire ….salacious stories from the web taking places no where near Pittsfield. But if you want Pittsfield news you need to go to a bar, pick it up on the street or read it on Planet Valenti.
Johnny, I have noticed that as well. The stories are not of any real significance. Who cares if someone in Lawrence got caught shoplifting? The Eagle gets worse every day.
But they are giving us 12, count ’em 12 more pages of news each week!! of course, it is not news we need, news that is relevant, or news that we couldn’t find on Yahoo or MSN.com – so I guess technically they are not lying.
I get to read a free copy and can think of much more worthy things to spend that kind of money on. I do not know why anyone who can afford to throw that kind of money away unless they work for the school system. When I stopped having it delivered about 8 years ago it took me about two days to get over it not being in the driveway every morning. (on the days they bothered to deliver it which was another factor in my cancelling)
Everybody who gets it should consider bailing until they put out a worthy product.
It is ironic that they can find so much bad news from other cities but bad stuff we know is happening within our own city does not make their paper. Why?
Has anyone simultaneously noticed the family relationships between those employed in executive positions at the Berkshire Eagle and those responsible for news releases from the mayor’s office, including the mayor’s executive assistant, a Hinsdale resident. Objective PR at its best.
They are extremely selective about what makes their paper and what does not. It was that way when Ruberto was mayor. Coincidence?
Andy Mick’s wife was hired by Jimmy R when he was Mayor and Andy was Publisher of the Eagle. Not a coincidence….
I have also noticed that some people are able to keep family members names out of the paper when they get mixed up with the police and courts.
whatever happened to Cliffy’s daughter?
She’s a driving instructor
Southeast–thank you so much for this info!
This Village is a black hole of MassCorruption.
To Wolfman. Executive Assistant, Catherine VanBramer
is resident of Hinsdale? Good news! I was gonna file a Petition to employ only residents of Pittsfield, aiming on City Solicitor, Richard Dohoney–resident of Great Barrington with Malpractice lawsuit against him dated 2013-14 in Berkshire Superior Court–you can find it http://www.masscourts.org
I simply can’t take this village any more.
To Johnny Dingo–You are absolutely right.
Imagine drafting a budget part of which is based on luck ( not so severe winter expenses ) . If the School Budget is funded by one dollar more, this Council and Mayor will have failed the taxpayer again.
The odds are150 million to one,the Budget will not increase.
Now that there are sooooo many things to do in Pittsfield, many won’t partake because of the crime affixed to going to these venues? AmI dreaming? Chedk out North St. During the day.
How bout it? Does anyone really care if someone got caught rubbing the cheese out between his toes in Accident Maryland?
Is the contractor damage to the Taconic H.S. sewer pipes, the first of unplanned for cost over runs in the building project for the new school ?
Anyone think there will be more ?
Where did you hear about that? Was it in the Berkshire Eagle?
J,D., I was verbally advised by a THS employee. I can’t verify that pipes were involved but read the first sentence this blog as posted by D.V. today (above the comments).
I would imagine the location of the sewer was well known, so I would imagine this repair is on the contractor.
Did somebody call Dig Safe? Or are they above the law.
sewer and water lines don’t get marked by Dig Safe. For that you call the Water Dept. directly.
The sewer lines run under the south driveway far from the construction project..
The Eagle will not include the TV section in Sundays paper if you subscribe.
It’ll be fun watching the police arresting the under 21 smokers in Pittsfield. Bobbie Orsi and her ilk are drunk with power. Will we have a nicotine task force like the drug task force to stake out buildings where 19 year olds smoking may be? Thankfully the city has the money to pay for people like Bobbie to keep us from harming ourselves.
I guess if I am a kid who smokes and I go to store A and they don’t have cigarettes I will just quit. No sense trying another store.
Let’s see…Berkshire County is is ranked as one of the most unhealthiest regions in the state. Pittsfield has one the highest teenage birth rates in the state, one of the highest rates of obesity and has one of the largest cancer clusters in the nation. Meanwhile, citizens of all ages are dying every day as the result of opiate addiction. (I bet you know one) STD’s locally are on the rise, including HIV and local medical facilities have been slammed with cases of contagious viruses. Yet, when was the last time the Pittsfield Board Of Health has even mentioned one of these issues. Let’s just rename the current board the Pittsfield anti-smoking and anti-civil liberties commission and form a real panel that truly cares about the health of citizens.
Hopefully they will issue a hefty fine. This could be the economic engine we’ve been looking for.
right you are about Bobbi Arsi, Thomas. A self-important ninny who thinks shes queen of Sheba. I mean Orsi.
Massachusetts property-tax rates in 2016
Sorted by highest commercial rates in the state
SOURCE: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Municipality Comm. Tax Rate Res. Tax Rate
Holyoke $39.86 $19.12
Springfield $38.60 $19.66
Pittsfield $38.06 $18.76
Framingham $37.98 $17.38
Everett $37.98 $14.45
North Adams $37.93 $17.39
Holbrook $36.68 $19.19
New Bedford $35.83 $16.49
Hudson $35.37 $17.29
Avon $34.71 $17.11
Lawrence $33.75 $15.51
Bedford $33.50 $15.28
Billerica $33.22 $14.14
W. Springfield $33.21 $16.99
Randolph $33.16 $17.39
Dedham $33.02 $15.49
Chelsea $32.25 $14.25
Lynn $32.06 $16.18
Brockton $32.02 $17.36
Clinton $31.45 $17.27
Automatically posted before I could align the columns, but you get the idea (hit the wrong key or something).
Pittsfield has the third highest commercial rate in the state.
But they are always telling us we are very low. Lying Ted. Lying politicians.
Also factor in “ability to pay.” Using an algorithm that accounts for poverty rates, those on some form of public assistance, and discretionary income, guess what. The City of Pittsfield is the most heavily taxed city in the state. It probably also leads New England, and it wouldn’t surprise THE PLANET is it was the highest in the nation. But let’s give more millions to the school department. It’s for The Children.
It would very much surprise me. Not that the issue is not significant in Pittsfield, however, there are many places with substantive need.
Add the cost of cops hanging around at some of the schools all day.
2015: Residential rank was 68th, 5th commercial.
What is there W Mass ranking on residential.
Quick check yields this for 2015 residential rank for the whole state:
Adams 6th
Dalton 28th
Lanesborough 44th
Peru 56th
Pittsfield 68th
Crime rate ranking?
In Pittsfield you have a 1-33 chance of being a victim of a property crime, in Massachusetts it’s 1-54.
17th highest in crime.
USA.com:
Massachusetts Crime Index City Rank
The crime index value is calculated based on the data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the crime level in a region. Higher crime index value means more crime.
Rank Crime Index ▼ City / Population
1. 3,621 Springfield, MA / 153,836
2. 3,483 Chelsea, MA / 37,084
3. 3,469 Holyoke, MA / 40,079
4. 2,923 New Bedford, MA / 94,873
5. 2,716 Fall River, MA / 88,756
6. 2,609 Boston, MA / 639,594
7. 2,605 Brockton, MA / 94,267
8. 2,395 Worcester, MA / 182,511
9. 2,375 North Adams, MA / 13,563
10. 2,327 Lynn, MA / 91,289
11. 2,296 Lawrence, MA / 77,364
12. 2,221 West Springfield, MA / 27,899
13. 2,189 Lowell, MA / 108,491
14. 2,067 Provincetown, MA / 2,777
15. 1,998 Wareham, MA
16. 1,961 Greenfield, MA / 13,128
17. 1,935 Pittsfield, MA / 44,226
18. 1,929 Barnstable, MA / 47,821
19. 1,911 Dennis, MA / 2,431
20. 1,893 Fitchburg, MA / 40,419
21. 1,820 Chicopee, MA / 55,603
22. 1,820 Falmouth, MA / 3,785
23. 1,777 Stockbridge, MA
24. 1,728 Leominster, MA / 40,954
25. 1,701 Gardner, MA / 20,279
look at how high the bucolic town of Stockbridge ranks….
What I’m really looking for is a list of what percentage of total budget each MA town/city spends on schools.
Best i could do was this:
http://archive.boston.com/yourtown/specials/snapshot/massachusetts_snapshot_education_spending_2012/
But it says we spent 42.5% on schools in 2012. Can’t be right.
Who can help?
BROCKTON
That’s the old school budget scam that’s got you baffled. That 42.5% only includes what’s listed on the official school budget. This DOES NOT INCLUDE the cost of health insurance premiums for the more than 1,000 employees and families, the cost of pensions and other benefits, the cost of running the school busses, or the cost of school maintenance. All of those expenses are “hidden” on the city side of the ledger. When you include these expenses, the schools are now taking up nearly 75% of the total budget.
Dan that’s right up there with, the State will reimburse the City 80% of the new Taconic. That is 80% of what they will cover, or 0% of what they won’t cover.
Aren’t school pensions run by the state/MTA?
How much money for city school operations comes from state/feds?
I’ve never heard of a city spending more than about 50% to 55% of its budget on schools. But wouldn’t be surprised if we were the outlier.
Perhaps a rundown by the Planet could clear some things up for the newbie.
Sometimes I try to post my opinion on Dan Valenti’s blog, but it does not post. I don’t understands why this happens. I respect Dan Valenti’s blogging and journalistic style of telling it like it is in Pittsfield. I don’t agree with all of his views on politics, of course. I am more liberal than Dan Valenti.
What does being liberal mean to you?
If anyone should not be allowed to post it’s that troll , Shakes His Head
I’m pleased you are so fascinated with me. It’s flattering really. I’m glad giving me attention helps assuage your lack of self esteem. Keep feeling important. You can do it! And gosh darn people like you!!!
Dry up and bow away troll twerp
You are anything but fascinating, You’re like an internet case if shingles.
Awe, you’re too kind. I guess all you can do is be ugly to people. Bless your little little ole heart. I hope you get professional help for all your deep anger and identity questions.
John you are quite a coward
Jam,you a progressive?
The United States nuclear Arms (deal ) is going to bite us. How can you give a Radicall Country, nuclear capability, when our closest friend, Israel, and others could be harmed? They also have the capibillities to help radical groups, Hezbollah,to obtain arms. Irrational thinking at best.
I agree. In this age of terrorism we need to be extremely vigilant about who has nuclear weapons.
Anyone see the awful video of a cop being shot by another cop mistakenly? Our Nation is out of control. Vito is right on, why would you give Iran nuclear anything???
Jon, where are you going to Get A Message out on One of the best Blogs in the Northeast? Maybe the Squadron thinks you’re repetitive…..but keep them coming!
I wish someone could give validation to Joe Buffis getting another extension on sentencing date. He was convicted almost one year ago. Talk about corrupt. What else could you label this from start to non-finish.
Better yet, how could the US botch their case on all the other charges?
Mindboggling
Dan, you hit the nail on the head, pun intended, with the bathroom issue – penis = mens room, uterus = ladies room, period, pun intended! That this is even under consideration in our legislature shows our sorry state of the state. Same goes for issuing drivers licenses to the illegals.
The new school we can’t afford and don’t need will be renamed, probably after a politician, all of which supported this waste going right back to Ruberto. I say rename it Pittsfield High School and sell the other building, and have one high school.
Yes, the Berkshire Eagle is a joke. Bragging about number of pages versus content, while just adding a bunch of pages from their Bennington paper – we don’t live in Vermont. And then having the gall to brag about it on a billboard by the Big Y. The Eagle is a Big Lie and they can’t even report the police blotter properly – they only publish parts of it so it is not a true blotter.
What is the new mayor doing about crime? Is she going to follow the law and fill the chiefs’ job through civil service or continue to break the law like ruberto and bianchi did? At least the hanging sneakers in front of Riverview were removed after my last post.
The reason Buffis hasn’t been sentenced is because the feds handled it. Maybe Obama will pardon him with the drug dealers and the drug dealers will return to Pittsfield and deal some more drugs – great economic engine right there, right up with a new high school named Pittsfield “High” School.
Dan keep up the good fight and keep working on your Pittsfield book.
You think women piss from their uterus? Maybe we do need more charter schools.
I don’t know why people are so obsessed with what other people do in the restroom. It is deviant and perverted.
I totally agree with you Rip Van Winkle. I don’t want a person who is really a man, but feels they are a woman, to use the female restroom. Talk about uncomfortable for the women using the restroom. It seems to me that could be extremely abused and be dangerous for women as not all transgender people are homosexual and many people with evil intent could abuse this issue. Not to mention the fact that the rights of women are being stepped on by the government to protect another small minority group just because.
In the end, no pun intended, when you got to go, you got to go.
Some people did some very nice research work on crime rates above, and before that someone else had mentioned Pittsfield being a “cancer cluster.” Has anyone seen any empirical evidence that bears that out? I have looked a few times, admittedly half-assedly, Without success and it seems either I’m not finding the right sources…or that no one likes to talk about that subject on the record.
Excellent post, maybe the centers for disease control?
I just get the feeling it’s kinda controversial; designating anyplace a “cancer cluster.” Property value maintenance and all that. I have been to the CDC site before and believe was less than satisfied with the info there too. I mean, the info should exist and be available just like municipal crime maps; color coded by per capita criminal activity and available for every neighboorhood in the country. I just haven’t found it anywhere yet.
The new Taconic will not be an “economic engine”. Schools are not “economic engines”. The new school will only be an economic engine for the Pittsfield School Department as they will continue to demand more money for cost overruns on the new school and other related expenses that they didn’t anticipate. I already heard that they need $11,000.00 to cover off site graduation during the transition phase between the old and new schools. A new Taconic will not benefit the entire city only the Pittsfield School Department. Springfield had a similar new high school built years ago hoping it would be an “economic engine” for that area, but it didn’t bring prosperity to that area.
If so many of the school dept employees are smart enough to send their own children out of the system they work in, the one they see for what it is really worth, then they are probably smart enough not to live in the city either. So how many are not even paying taxes in Pittsfield?
And I don’t blame them one bit. They are educated themselves and smart enough not to bring bad things down on themselves or their own families. More power to them.
If they don’t live in the city, then they aren’t sending their children out of district if the kids aren’t in Pittsfield schools. You get that, right?
Barry
Have you ever asked why TFB sends her kids out of Pittsfield schools, since she’s such a “cheerleader” of this much needed money pit….I mean Taconic 2.0?
She’s explained it publicly many times.
I hope to have lunch with TFB and Gerry Doyle at Del Gallo’s this week. What dish would you recommend ?
Good point Barry. What the hell was I thinking?
Barry, that is true. What is also true is that there are probably a dozen or so kids in neighboring school districts whose parents live in Pittsfield and work for PPS. Three of them live in the Egremont School area – near me. one teaches at Herberg and says she won’t let her kids in the City’s middle or high schools – too much chaos and violence.
Also SHH, I have never heard TFB explain publicly why her kids were enrolled in Lenox. I have heard say it was a “private” family decision. While it was her decision, as a public official advocating for a massive increase in spending on a new building, I would like to hear her rationale. I guess once you run for office, you need to understand that the line between private and public gets blurrier. If she never advocated for a new THS, I may have less interest in her decision, but then again, I may still want to know.
TFB knows what’s good for you…do not question her.
SHH is a jack wagon
Barry why can’t anyone get the breakdown on which city employees live in Pitts and which do not? For school dept’s 1200 employees that would be an interesting number. Could you help us to get that number?
Thanks fr your posts here. we all appreciate it. Tell Mayor Linbda that she’s welcome here too!! So far she’s doing an excellent job
Didn’t they tell Gaetani he could have that list for $6,000.00? I think he mentioned it on his show.
The Eagle or better yet the BB thinks adding 24 pages of air makes a difference. It doesnt. Why did the BB if its so good not have the PSC schedule story? How does DV constantly beat them to the punch? If not the the Planet we wouldn’t know about this deliberate attempt to hide the location of the meetng.
DVs the best journalist going, not afraid to dig, loaded with sources, and can write the fuzz off a peach as my grandfather used to say (“He can ———- the fuzz off a peach” fill in the blank, could be run, talk, play…)
Maybe because any reporter worth his or her own salt wants a decent paycheck and they ain’t gonna get it there. They are a bare minimum overhead franchise.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/letters/ci_29713588/letter-help-is-available-ptsd-depression
Encouraging words and a thoughtfully written piece for those of us that weren’t sure of how great the whiztler was in his own mind.
Excellent letter, Mr. G. It takes courage to share this. Thank you for your service.
Shakes, I hear the BB is now accepting letters written in crayon, so submit a letter.
Pat and Spa Girl, will we see you at the school committee meeting on the 13th? The fiscally responsible citizens need to have a good showing.
I will be there.
I will show up too.
Please everyone be there. Even if you don’t speak. Just your presence will send a message. If everyone can bring at least one friend we can pack the building.
Please please please. I am nearly at the point of being taxed out of my home. Literally. Unlike hte politicians I cant absorb any more increases.
Im sweating this out like I never have before. When your home is at stake you know what I mean.
I’ll be there too.
Page one on Tyer contributors
Date Contributor City State Zip Occupation Employer Amount
Export results to textExport results to excelExport results to PDF
12/31/2015 UNITEMIZED RECEIPT AMOUNT
$1,579.00
12/28/2015 Sherman, Brooks
15 Marcells Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Sherman Investment Group $250.00
12/4/2015 Yon, David
83 Vista Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
12/4/2015 Bleser, Richard
8 Martha Lane Lenox MA 01240 $100.00
12/4/2015 Welch, Thaddeus, III
123 Ann Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
12/4/2015 Leach, Charles
75 Spring Street Lee MA 01238 $100.00
12/4/2015 Hamel, Thomas
10 Wendell Ave Ext Pittsfield MA 01201 $150.00
12/4/2015 Shield, Van
1425 West Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $150.00
12/4/2015 Blodgett, Ruth
241 North Mountain Road Dalton MA 01226 Executive . Berkshire Medical Center $200.00
12/4/2015 Macdonald, Michael
991 Shaw Road Windsor MA 01270 Attorney Self Employed $200.00
12/4/2015 Bissell, John
163 Ann Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 President Greylock Federal Credit Union $250.00
12/4/2015 Hines, William, Jr.
12 Filomena Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Interprint $250.00
12/4/2015 Tierney, Laurie
5 Charisma Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive. David J. Tierney, Jr., Inc. $250.00
12/4/2015 Petricca, Perri
77 Baker Street Lanesborough MA 01237 Executive . Petricca Industries $250.00
12/4/2015 Hill, Eric
438 Canaan Road Richmond MA 01254 Retired Retired $400.00
12/4/2015 Bauman, Alan
16 Whitehead Place Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Compu-works $500.00
12/4/2015 Nuciforo, Andrea, Jr.
100 North Street, Ste 405 Pittsfield MA 01201 Lawyer Self Employed $500.00
12/4/2015 Lyon, Michael
174 Churchill Street Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Lyon Aviation $500.00
12/4/2015 Lipton, Michael
86 Glory Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Lipton Energy $500.00
12/4/2015 Rich, Thomas
332 Williams Street Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Paul Rich and Son $500.00
12/4/2015 Whaling, George
8 Maplewood Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 President Teton Management $500.00
12/4/2015 Sakshaug, Kathleen
50 Vista Street Pittsfield MA 01201 At Home At Home $800.00
12/4/2015 77 East Street, Llc
1 Northside Piers Apt 21d Brooklyn NY 11249 $833.50
12/4/2015 Kroboth, Amy
70 Stonehenge Road Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . County Concrete $1,000.00
11/13/2015 Lloyd, David, Jr.
176 East 71st Street, Apartment 11d New York NY 10021 $100.00
11/6/2015 Kramer, Harold
99 Bellmore Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
11/6/2015 Daly, Michael
1030 West Street Pittsfield MA 01201 President Berkshire Hills Bancorp. $1,000.00
11/2/2015 Sturgeon, Rose Ann
58 Williams Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $50.00
11/2/2015 Gamache, Paul
81 Dunmore Court Pittsfield MA 01201 Dentist Self Employed $100.00
11/2/2015 Hunt, Harriet
25 Rubin Drive Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
11/2/2015 Scalise, James II
161 N Mountain Road Dalton MA 01226 $100.00
10/28/2015 Hammerling, Alden
67 Federal Street, Apt 3g Pittsfield MA 01201 Retired Retired $200.00
10/27/2015 Green, Laurie
198 Bartlett Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
10/27/2015 Algerio, Marriane
65 Plumb Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $50.00
10/27/2015 Schaffer, Sharon & Eric
400 Holmes Road Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
10/27/2015 Stevens, Edwin
23 Appleton Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 Retired Retired $200.00
10/27/2015 Tyer, Linda M.
86 Ventura Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 $5,000.00
10/22/2015 Krofts, Karen
28 Ridgeway Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
10/22/2015 Schilling, Gloria
10 Elmview Terrace Pittsfield MA 01201 $50.00
10/22/2015 Farkas, Frank
69 Spadina Parkway Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
10/22/2015 Deely, Catherine
1136 Barker Road #14 Pittsfield MA 01201 $150.00
10/21/2015 Condaris, Christine
350 Sweet Farm Road Williamstown MA 01267 Professor MCLA $1,000.00
10/21/2015 Comalli, David
7 Westview Road Pittsfield MA 01201 Executive . Comalli Electric $1,000.00
10/21/2015 Sullivan, Erin
9 Hope Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $100.00
10/20/2015 Dejax, Jean-Yves
236 First Street Pittsfield MA 01201 $25.00
10/20/2015 Milenski, Beverly
333 Kirchner Road Dalton MA 01226 Realator Self Employed $50.00
10/20/2015 Edgerton, Shirley
252 Lenox Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 $25.00
10/20/2015 Johnson, Pamela
13 Lillybrook Road Pittsfield MA 01201 $25.00
10/20/2015 Roman., Reinaldo
21 Glennwood Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 $25.00
10/20/2015 Yon, Denice
2 South Carolina Avenue Pittsfield MA 01201 Berkshire Medical Center Nurse $50.00
I guess I don’t understand the purpose of this. it looks like to run for this office, you need money for ads, rent, etc. You ask folks for money – and aside from a few able to give more – most contributions were relatively modest.
When we all decide to run, unless we are able to self fund, we will need to ask folks for money too. $25, $50 or even $150 is a lot for some people and not a lot for others. Aside from a few $500 contributions from folks well able to afford it, the rest seem relatively modest.
it cost me $62.00 to fill my truck with gas today, I spent $40 at Price Chopper. Those were necessities. I bought a Boston Globe for $2.00, a cut of coffee at Lipton’s for $1.50, and took my elderly mom out for an ice cream cone at Stewarts in New Lebanon and the two cones cost $5.77. So I pissed away nearly a $10 bill today – oh – I did buy a Powerball this morning too for $2.00. So that’s half of a fairly typical contribution I saw here. Again, it’s their money, I doubt many can be bought for $50 or even $150.
Is the point to see who contributed? if that is it, we should see who the real prostitutes are – the ones who contribute to BOTH. But again, maybe they know them both and were OK no matter who won?
Maybe it’s things like this that keep good folks from running? Most of us do not have skin thick enough to withstand the cutting posts questioning every move we make. it sometimes seems like no matter what someone in office does, we decide it was the wrong move. I would hate to have my good boots riddled with bullet holes.
I, too, have been wondering the point of this post.
SE I hope you do run. You sound like an intelligent, caring fellow.
To Southeast about Contributors:
Yes, it is important to see Executive contributions=$1,000.00 were done by several companies. We even seen several people from Brooklyn,NY and other cities of Mass.
Any way, we should admit–she was much better organized than Bianchi.
so I have friends and family all over Mass and the US. Some are quite successful. so if I ask them to donate, and they do – am I being bought off? Some of the folks who live in other places (for both candidates) may be cousins, in laws (or former in laws), brothers, sisters, etc.
I went to school with one of Theresa Bianchi’s brothers – and I saw several Harrisons who donated. I imagine some of those on LT’s donor list are also family.
If your family and friends can’t help out, that speaks even less of your candidacy!!
Once again, the donor list proves very little if anything.
Southeast, think real hard and maybe you’ll get the point.
I wish I had friends that would give me $100’s of dollars for a job search.
I don’t want a person who is really a man, but feels they are a woman, to use the female restroom. Talk about uncomfortable for the women using the restroom. It seems to me that could be extremely abused and be dangerous for women as not all transgender people are homosexual and many people with evil intent could abuse this issue. Not to mention the fact that the rights of women are being stepped on by the government to protect another small minority group just because.
The facts and statistics do not support your conclusions. Hypothetical victimization draws attention away from actual violence problems. If some deviant wanted to sexually assault a woman, they hardly need to dress up and sneak into a bathroom. There are more instances of sexual assault by police officers than transgender people taking a dump.
I am a male but I feel my true identity is a very butch lesbian and I love going in a ladies room.
Good for you! If you sexually assault anybody you’re still guilty of that crime no matter how you identify!
I just get my jollys from going in there
Maybe you can hang out in front of the right feield beer stand this summer with all the other creeps.
I don’t drink but I will if you buy
Many thanks to Benny boy and TFB for enabling me
You’re not getting it. We don’t want it to become “normal” for men to go into women’s restrooms. I’m sure the intentions of most of them would be fine, but what about how women feel about this? I don’t think most of us would be comfortable with men routinely using the ladies room. It would be creepy.
What if we sign a paper swearing to put the seat down everytime?
The facts do support this. You are wrong. This is dangerous and immoral
To Pat. I do share your concern about men coming to women’s bathrooms–Iam father of two adult daughters.
But I was alone a few months ago speaking to City Coincilors against Renaldo DelGallo Bill where he asked in 17 pages Petition
to create Transgender Civil right Ordinance for Pittsfield.
Why–why none of you came to oppose this craziness?
City Councilor, Chris Connel rejected(filed) DelGallo Petition politely saying: ” They have Bill H1577 in Boston–let’s wait”
Moreover, Mayor LT silently inserted short version of Transgender Bill into Human rights Ordinance recently!! Peter Marchetti pushed it through–it was approved , even though they did not pass Bill 1577 yet in Boston!
Why you–people, so scared to fight for YOUR rights?
I didn’t know about any of that. Obviously they are keeping much of it on the QT because they know it wouldn’t be popular with most people (hopefully, although in this area you never know).
I just think everyone is WAY too worried about bathroom habits. I wager, Pat, that you will never in your life encounter this “threat” you have concocted in your head whether or not th legislation passes. I mean, aren’t women’s rooms all stalls? So even IN the ladies room no one is leering at you as you piss or take a dump. I mean, think about it…usually the way public bathrooms are built, you are likely less than a foot away and back to back to a dude in the men’s room doing the same thing as you! There is a wall between you though, just as there is when you are in a stall. No one is going to be trying to peek at your precious private bits.
I think you would feel much differently if you were a female.
You think like a macho pig
Wolfman-If y
Wolfman-If y
If you thinkthere was a news blackout in the BB during Bianchi’s tenure -you haven’t seen nothing y
We will have lots of news about painting electrical boxes and reading to little kids, and I wonder if Bianchi left his ribbon cutting scissors in the office for Tyer?
The giant scissors are right underneath the ceremonial first pitch equipment.
To Behnrupt! Bravo!
Don’t really want a man looking under the stall at me to see if it’s occupied?
So women stick their heads under the stalls? That’s pretty gross.
I like to hear the tinkle while I look at all the pretty feet in pretty shoes. That’s what us butch boy/girls like
Looks like we discovered the Whizzerd
Barry C. Since you made a comment on this? Are there any residents under the Tyer Administration who’s child goes out of District?
yet.Tyer has two GOBSIGS with the same last name-DEWS. One is at the Eagle and the other is Tyer’S ADMIN. ASST. Throw in two boot lickingPCTV shows-The Markham and Sturgeon shows and they have all the bases covered. This is how the GOBSIGS OPERATE. gET THEIR POINT OF VIEW OUT AND THE HELL WITH EVERYONE ELSE.Thank God for the Gazette, the Wiz’s and Dan’s shows.Non GOBSIGS must amass in large numbers before the next election cycles or we might as well kiss our city good-by.Every non gobsig must show up at the next SCMeeting on 4/13/16 atCC CHAMBERS AND let thes SOB’S know that their day’s of robing the taxpayer will not be tolerated any more. Let’s all plan to show up and demand accountability to the Taxpayer
So much anger. Let it all out. Deep breaths. I might not like the lies and insults, but I don’t want you to have a rage induced stroke.
Although as a taxpayr, the idea of being robed sounds sorta luxurious; visions of silk and maybe an olive wreath crown!
Spoken like a true gobsig rump swab
Mr. Valenti- why is my comment awaiting moderation and your buddy shakes who has violated veterans, the elderly and the mentally ill, time and time again, continues to spew hate with your blessing? what is your objection to my posts? Is it because I am pro Gaetani? Mr Gaetani speaks very positively about you week after week on his show and you never mention him on your blog or show. One would think that you would support the Wiz as he is unquestionably the true champion of the taxpayer. To continue day after day disregarding this decent man is something I do not understand. As soon as I see my comment printed I will know you read this complaint. IF I don’t see it I shall call Gaetani and let him know I sent you this complaint. I know he will kill me for doing this but I had to do it because I believe you have been very unfair to him by what you don’t say. I like to read your blog and I agree with a lot of what you say but in this instance,you are clearly wrong.
I am having trouble posting. Anyone else?
Yes it happens to me from time to time. Save your message before posting it and then you can repost it later by just changing a word or two in your original message. Not sure why sometimes messages do not post on this site.
Letter: “Big salaries for execs. while BHS fails its mission”
The Berkshire Eagle, 4/2/2016
To the editor:
It’s been a little over two years since North Adams Regional Hospital closed its doors on three days’ notice. The sudden shuttering of the 130-year-old institution put 500 people out of work and created a health care crisis for the 37,000 citizens of Northern Berkshire County. For nearly two months, we had to rely on an overburdened ambulance service to carry us to the Berkshire Medical Center’s ER in Pittsfield (or the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s in Bennington) in the event of an emergency.
While some important services have since been restored at what Berkshire Health Systems now calls the North Adams campus of Berkshire Medical Center, no apparent progress has been made toward certifying the facility as a Critical Access Hospital, a federal designation that BHS’s Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington enjoys.
The findings of the Stroudwater report (the document produced by the consulting firm hired to assess the health care needs of North Berkshire in the wake of NARH’s sudden closing), however, remain as true today as they were in 2014. The bottom line: our community needs a full-service hospital. The only impediment to resuming inpatient care at NARH was the cost associated with serving our region’s large number of Medicare and Medicaid patients.
It’s worth noting that BHS’s mission statement — taken directly from its 2013 Form 990 filing with the IRS — reads as follows: “The mission of Berkshire Health Systems is to improve the health of all people in the Berkshires and surrounding communities, regardless of their ability to pay.”
While progress toward the Critical Access Hospital designation for NARH has been nonexistent, things certainly seem to be progressing nicely for David E. Phelps, the CEO of Berkshire Health Systems, and Darlene Rodowicz, the organization’s treasurer. According to BHS’s 2011 Form 990 — the most recent IRS filing available when I first wrote about the sudden closing of NARH in 2014 — Mr. Phelps took home $493,981 in total compensation, while Ms. Rodowicz received $395,702.
A mere two years later, according to BHS’s 2013 Form 990 (again, the most recent publicly available filing), Mr. Phelps took home total compensation of $718,405 (a 45 percent increase over 2011), while Ms. Rodowicz received $500,191 (a 26 percent increase). One can only imagine where these compensation levels are today.
I had trouble reconciling the lavish salaries of BHS’s top administrators with its noble mission statement until I realized that BHS’s business model is in reality based in part on restricting access to health care for the people least able to pay for it. BHS clearly has a remarkable ability to pay Mr. Phelps and Ms. Rodowicz. It is unfortunate that BHS seems to have no such ability when it comes to health care for the poorest and most vulnerable citizens of Berkshire County.
Steve Dew, Williamstown
Phelps and Rodowicz, greedy pigs. Hope they sleep well after plundering health care in the county.
Today, 04-02-2016, at 9:30 a.m. I came to BCC to LGBT event, which they advertised in advance. So ,I was registered and they gave me name label. Black, heavy built man –55 year-old was talking about his stuggle of being a lesbian and then– first transgender African-American man who no longer uses drugs or abuses alcohol. he explained how they fought against “discrimination” all those years and he almost cried in the end saying–“We finally won! Now we can go anywhere, incuding any bathroom we choose!” …
In the brake, I asked organizers permittion to speak.
They asked–Why?
Me–just to express my opinion.
Them–What opinion?
Me–just my own view.
They called security instead, saying they don’t feel safe because of me! Two security people approached me, but they waited some action from me. Instead I asked them: ” Why are you here?” They replied–“you may do something, so we need to prevent it.”
Make long story short. They allowed me to speak in break to two transgender “women/men”, after which I understood how wrong was I!
Yes! I was completely wrong trying to reason them for Women’s privacy rights, for Kids rights to have Mother and Father–I was so wrong! Why?
You can’t talk to severely mentally sick–it is useless.
I an trans species. I feel as though I am a moose.
Planet Enquirer is among us.
Does anyone have a problem with bad drivers out there?
No, but I once had a bad three wood.
Carolina A T second team will beat Villanova.
Lots of garbage on sides of roads especially in Coltsville area. I think much of it comes from people putting garbage out uncovered on windy pickup days.
Does councilor Tully ever see this crap all over her ward? Does it not bother her that her ward looks like a dump? Can we get the corrections crew out for some exercise because this is a huge embarrassment for the city. Huge embarrassment for city officials.
Maybe if we pretend it is a school related issue someone will get on it.
The garbage in that corridor ihas been there for years, cigs and lottery tickets. I was at Cumberland Farms pumping Gas and some clown goes into the store and leaves a lit cigarette on the window sill, comes back out to the lit cigarette,starts smoking it again. You could smell that thing a hundred yards away.
Tully is probably our finest City Councilor.
Not so loud Harlan. You’ll wake her up.
For all you folks wondering what the Mayor will do with her first budget. Plows out before dawn on Sunday, got hit that 1″ of snow before it melts. I think she will have no problem spending our money, business as usual in Pittsfield.
Those unexpected storms, joe, there a budget killer.
They’re a budget killer, Madame.