LETTERS: ‘City Screws Honest Taxpayer’ … PLANET Rocks With ‘Steaming Excellence’ … plus … LEFTOVERS FROM A DOG-AND-PONY-SHOW
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, MAY 27-29, 2016) — THE PLANET begins today with two letters to the editor. The first nicely sums up the cost of the city council’s foolish vote to approve (7-2) five more years of tax breaks for The Beacon Cinema. The vote was one for The Suits and against citizens and taxpayers. Only two councilors — Donna Todd Rivers and Melissa Mazzeo — saw through the mayor’s injudicious proposal. Only Rivers and Mazzeo fulfilled their roles as Representatives. The remainder (save Chris Connell and Peter Marchetti, who recused themselves) took up the lessons learned in dog school. They rolled over and played dead.
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City Screws The Little Guy
TO THE PLANET:
I am a 67 year old lifetime retired resident of Pittsfield, and have paid my taxes early or on time for about 55 years. Yesterday I received a “Real Estate Tax Demand Bill” because my tax bill had not been paid (22 days late. My fault, I misplaced it). So last night when the City Council voted to give Beacon Cinema a tax break again, I thought they would possibility forgive the late fee of $15.00, and interest of $7.94 in good faith. How very foolish of me. They said if they do it for “one they would have to do it for all”. I remember at a Council Meeting that someone from finance or taxation was talking about delinquent taxes that were collected and the penalties had been forgiven. How glad and happy they were to collect those taxes.
When the very nice lady behind the Tax Collector counter said she was sorry, and asked if I were to pay it today, I asked her if I should make the check out to the Beacon Cinema. She felt my pain. I told her it was not the money, but the principle of it and wished her a happy holiday. I made the check out to “THE CITY OF PITTS.”
They JUST DON”T GET IT.
I’ve been a fan of yours since you had the radio show over 10 years ago
Thanks for your ear. — PT
THE PLANET replies: Welcome to Pittsfield. The city can’t forgive an innocent $15 mistake, but it can give hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax break to a multimillionaire.
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‘A Hot, Steaming Pile of Excellence’
TO THE PLANET:
Holy crap Dan,
Just read your latest entry (THE LOVELY LINDA BLOWS IT ON BEACON AND CRIME RESPONSE, WEEKEND EDITION, MAY 20-22). Wow !
Brilliant writing, you are a hot steaming pile of excellence. I hope the Eagle is smart enough to bring you on board to unleash you on the entire Berkshires.
PS. remind me not to piss you off……
Salut — PH
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Left over observations from the Great ‘Press’ Conference on Crime … and Crime Itself:
* The most unintentionally funny, equivocally ridiculous comment came from Mayor Linda Tyer when she mentioned the “unauthorized basketball game” and how police intelligence prevented an incident. “Unauthorized game?” Back in the day, we call them “sandlot games.”
* Why was there no coverage in the Mainstream Media, including the “new” Boring Broadsheet, of the blast of a quarter stick of dynamite on Reed Street in Pittsfield? Don’t tell anyone. The tourists are arriving. We want them to think the city is safe!
* The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics makes shambles of the claim at the press conference that for a city of 40,000, Pittsfield’s size, there should be a police force of 120. The BJS reports an adequate staffing level of 1.8 officers per 1,000 population. Applying the BJS ratio puts proper staffing level in Pittsfield at 72 — 12 less than current staffing. City officials did not supply any data to support their claim of 120 officers. Politics consume everything in Pittsfield: Water, pickup games, policing — you name it. It’s all about politics first.
* No mention at the Dog and Pony Show of the two positions added recently to the PPD: Administrative Officer and Crime Analyst. No surprise there, since they have obviously had not effect on keeping Pittsfield safer. There’s another $125,000 plus bennies down the drain.
* There were 14 officials at the press conference, ranging from the school superintendent to the DA to the sheriff. Do you mean to tell THE PLANET that these 14, at an average salary topping $100,000 plus bennies, had nothing better to do than to stand there looking “officious” and scratching their nuts ((TFB excepted) while the mayor and police chief spoke? We get the mayor, the police chief, and the D.A being there. The other 11 salt and pepper shakers? Waste and excess.
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So get those baseball gloves and bolt cutters oiled. Our ‘Sandlot Day at Deming‘ is coming soon. We can bill it as “unauthorized baseball.”
The Comment Line is open. Give it your A Game. We won’t tolerate idiocy or ignorance. Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“If you don’t break the rules, the rules will break you.” — Sir Tiberius Fruijuice
“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.
When I heard the Mayor mention unauthorized basketball the 1791 ordinance came to mind. Let’s pass an anti basketball ordinance and claim that basketball originated here. Sorry James Naismith.
Too phunny, MILT!! We do know that Pocket Pool was invented in Pittsfield in 1761.
I think we should go with a basketball tournament. We could call it March (etti) madness.
Dan I think you mentioned on a past PCTV show that Stanley was into or would be into the TIF monies to the tune of over $300,000. And that is all money that other people have to subsidize on top of paying their own taxes. How is that right when this guy is rolling in money and most of them are not. And all those suits who paraded, conga line style, up to the dais at the city council meeting to support this gift, should be watched as they are probably getting goodies of their own one way or another. Certainly they did not believe the bull that was coming out of their own mouths.
The mayor and city council should be ashamed of themselves. Stanley obviously has no shame and will probably be back in five years with his tin cup out once again.
Why doesn’t the mayor go after the guy that owns that large property out near Shaker Village? The one doing the logging business now. The mess right on our “gateway to the city”. I guess we only care about our gateways when it does not involve special interest people. Doesn’t he owe the city a bundle from way back when? Why has the city not just taken this defunct property in lieu of taxes like they do other peoples? Is he another special interest guy? How much will his late fee be if he has to pay it at all?
I sympathize with the guy that had to pay the late fee 22 days late when you see the mayor giving a friend a $300,00 tax break. The word is immoral.
Dan,If the Mayor and Chief said Pittsfield, the herion headquarters of the Central snd south berkshires were going to 72 police say goodbye to Lenox and Stockbridge still looking like tourist towns…..its in the underbelly of Lenox and Stockbridge where you see herion breakins…..Yes Dan we in pittsfield know our southern neighbors lock your doors and we know why.
Lenox would have 8 officers and Stockbridge 4 ,your logic just took a long weekend.Lenox and Stockbridge are the Herion hills of the berkshires.
Sabic chose Houston ,Texas over Pittsfield,Lenox ,and Stockbridge…..That tells the story of our future.Nobody chooses Houston,Texas
Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA. You must truly be on the Pittsfield School Committee if you question Sabic’s logic? It’s always refreshing to see a Pittsfield Public School graduate use his/her “economic engine” of an education and wonder why a company would leave a “city” in rapid decline with very little infrastructure (highway access, large airport, very educated workforce), for a city that is rapidly growing and a state that does not pay state taxes.
I’m not worried though, I’m sure the Pittsfield School Department will add a couple of $100k jobs (for their “special” friends). Here’s a couple of ideas:
(1) Lunch Room Monitor: This position requires that the LMR make sure all the kids receiving free or discounted meals “make a happy plate” and eat it all up. (Skills Required: None)-Salary: $105,000 per year plus benefits.
(2) Transgender Bathroom Monitor: Trisha Farley-Onasis-Kennedy-Clinton-Bouvier will soon be out of a job and needing one. Plus, as an added bonus, instead of trying to convince Sabic to leave Pittsfield, she championed this cause, so double bonus. (Skills Required: None)-Salary: $125,000 plus benefits…..
We here on the Planet already thought of the transgender position. We called it the Transgender Compliance Officer. Coming to the Pittsfield School Dept….it’s only a matter of time folks paying at least 75K with lots of bennies.
You raise great points, KD. Thanks for your contribution.
I Apologize KDI was just thinking that the weather,size,and Texas was not that attractive.It was the huge oil companies that would be the draw.Sorry,big cities are getting bigger and sucking the life out of a small cities across the country
Sabic’s North American headquarters are in Houston.
Maybe if lenders had more confidence in the beacon’s gate (tickets), the debt could be refinanced. Also, keep in mind that the beacon is still paying taxes, it is only a portion of the increment post improvements.
If I were a lender I wouldn’t invest in Pittsfield. Obviously everyone there is on a fixed income, heck that one guy is crying about a late fee that he acknowledged he deserved of $22. Maybe you can’t buy your cigarettes and scratchers. I say, if you don’t like obamacare then bye bye Medicare. Bang that out.
I’m assuming if the Beacon is losing money that Mr Stanley would be writing off the losses on his taxes. Did any of the councillors ask if this was the case? More tax breaks on top of a tax write off sounds like a Pittsfield special.
Basically the taxpayer is paying his lawyer fees,he’s laughing at us.
Next week, we get to see the lovely Linda Tyer’s fiscal year 2017 municipal budget proposal!
That’s when we get the next “uh-oh” feeling, wethinks.
Dear Dan Valenti,
You should have a friendly bet about how much the lovely Linda Tyer will raise spending in her first municipal budget proposal.
I predict a 4.6% spending increase.
Then, you can have a friendly bet about how much money the lovely Linda Tyer will borrow for her first capital budget.
The winner can be a guest on your local TV show.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Melle
Why does a rich man need tax breaks in the first place? The progressives here are showing their true colors. Just as with our former Governor Deval Patrick and soon to be leaving Barack Obama. Barack Obama recently purchased his home for when he leaves the White House. It has nine bedrooms and all other kinds of extravagances. Deval Patrick works for Bain Capital. Both will be living extremely wealthy lifestyles while encouraging the rest of us to live simply. Since the progressives are not job creators, we have no choice but to live simply.
obama is only renting that house untill his daughter finishes high school.
Leasing a mansion, much like leasing a car will eventually pan out costing MUCH MORE than the original price tag. If you feel renting/leasing is cheaper than buying it’s no wonder this economy is going down the tubes
He creates jobs… albeit minimum wage, part times jobs that will accomplish nothing for anyone out of high school. He creates jobs
Rich men always get tax breaks, they write the laws.Rich men need poor people to vote for them so they can stay rich.Guns,they will take them away,unions make us use 3rd world labor,lawyers represent only loser people,Abortion,we need to get in the doctors office.
I really do hate when you throw the word progressive around pejoratively Pat. Is Richard Stanley a Progressive? I highly doubt it. What about Donald Trumd? He’s pretty wealthy…do you resent his wealth? And old Mitt Romney…he too is pretty darn wealthy and also has Bain Capital on his resume. I think the truth is becoming clearer every day. The super wealthy are neither progressive, nor conservative…they are greedy and out dor themselves, want only to protect and grow what’s theirs and will trample you, me or anyone else to do so. This is not a political label problem…it’s a wealth concentration problem.
I don’t resent people who are wealthy. I applaud them if they work hard and make a lot of money, but I wouldn’t want Donald Trump to get a tax break either. There are many super wealthy people right here in Berkshire County and it seems that our local politicians are in bed with them. I do have a serious problem with that.
Looks like we agree again. And I think most, ok, many wealthy did not work hard at all to get there. Born to it mostly. Trump is a great example.
My friend graduated with a friend,who married an heiress and told him the heiress parents gave Obama 2 million just to host Obama and his wife at a dinner party in Chicago during his first term in office.
I completely understand the frustration of PT regarding the heinous crime of misplacing one of Pittsfield ridiculously formatted tax bills.What idiot designed a hard copy bill with two quarters billed on a single bill that is distributed only twice a year. Pay one and pigeon hole and retain the other for 3 months or more until it is due. Not only are you expected to pay the tax, you are also expected to hold on to the subsequent bill until it is due and then pay it.
When I was initially confused about this ludicrous procedure, I was advised that this reduces postage and administrative costs to the city. Also try asking for a receipt at the tax collector office..”We don’t give reciepts”,”Your check is your receipt”.(Quoteth the public servant).
This may save a penny in postage,and put an additional onus on the taxpayer, but because the second bill is easily misplaced, forgotten,etc.with a updated system cash flow could be improved.
I have owned real estate in several states, NY, MD, IL, NC and only The Pitts remains entrenched in such an cumbersome, archaic and confusing taxing procedure. Update it.
and you cannot pay it on line
Dusty, we have had problems paying our wayer bill on line.
They are just very lazy in that office
The tax bills are printed by the State I believe, since I get tax bills from two different towns and the format is exactly the same.
re you sure about the receipts? I get one each quarter. I just tell them I want one and I get one.
You can pay it before it is due. Or in other words, be a responsible adult.
We should all be perfect
On Good Morning PITTSFIELD this morning, Sturgeon is going on, again, about the lack of handicapped parking on North Street.
All this guy cares about is his personal parking spaces.
I bet the merchants don’t want a handicapped space every block. There aren’t that many handicapped shopping. Look at all the unused spaces at Wal-Mart. That place is handi-capped heaven.
They don’t need parking spaces because they drive there on their scooters from public housing.
Im sure Bill is a nice man but it is about him.
Using TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts to spark economic developer almost never works. Here is a study of its use in Indiana. http://projects.cberdata.org/91/some-economic-effects-of-tax-increment-financing-in-indiana
I’ll bet this story repeats around the country and especially in a city with high tax rates. The best use of TIF is when infrastructure hasn’t kept up with development. Imagine a new housing development with inadequate sewer lines. The houses are going up, the city passes the TIF which imposes a sewer tax on the new houses. Using it for economic development like the Beacon is just a waste of everyone’s taxes.
It may be a waste of everyone else s tax money but Mr Stanley saves enough to buy himself a very nice home in a very nice neighborhood. Or 10 nice cars. Or 5 vacation trips to Europe.
and it’s all on us, courtesy of our mayor and city council. Aren’t ya glad ya voted for them?
In most states sewer cannot be a tax because it is a fee. The TIF may pay for a portion of the infrastructure. It is not an additional tax, merely a specific portion of the tax is dedicated, usually according to. TIF plan. And hey, you like Indiana? Move there.
Yesterday, “Really?” questioned Connell’s reason for recusing himself from the Beacon vote.
I, also, had the same feeling that it somehow had to do with his campaign for state rep.
Mr. Connell has said that if elected to state office, he will retain his seat on the CC.
I can’t imagine how many times he will have to recuse himself from a CC vote because it conflicts with something going on at the state level.
So much for Ward 4 representation on the CC!
Why not go to the City Clerk’s Office and ask to see what the conflict form says?
I am certain that would be a public record.
But we also know CC reads the blog. Maybe he could give us a Reader’s Digest version of the reason for his recusal?
Oh I am sure he would come up with something.
Sounds like nonfeasance in office to me.
Putting more Police on the payroll in hopes that it will scare individuals from crime is not the way to go how about solving crime,
The vote on the Beacon shows everyone just what kind of mayor and council we have. None of them care about seniors.
As far as the mayor getting some of these prosperity’s clean up that was just so she could get her picture in the paper by standing in front of them now she is too busy getting tax breaks for people who don’t need them.
The counsel backing Verizon workers great but how about the 500 jobs that will soon be leaving Pittsfield or is that not important enough for them.
Painter, I think the Mayor should get these “PROSPERITY’S cleaned up!
More cops will just mean more tickets on Crane ave in the AM when hard working people are trying to get to work.
Don’t break the law, you won’t get a ticket. Or do you get to pick and choose what laws you abide by?
Be perfect citizens
So, the 20 that Stanley gets is because we don’t want the Cinema to become another massive hole, someone actually said that.
All the pols are for this practice of making us believe that it benefits the critical mass that will travess North Street because of this venue.
So, we should stay the course and dig deep, Heard that also.
I think it may be time for ” The Guardian Angels ” to show their face in Pittsfield.
Or Hell’s Angels.
I’d rather see Charlie’s Angels.
I’d rather archangel Michael with fire and brimstone
“* The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics makes shambles of the claim at the press conference that for a city of 40,000, Pittsfield’s size, there should be a police force of 120. The BJS reports an adequate staffing level of 1.8 officers per 1,000 population. Applying the BJS ratio puts proper staffing level in Pittsfield at 72 — 12 less than current staffing. City officials did not supply any data to support their claim of 120 officers. Politics consume everything in Pittsfield: Water, pickup games, policing — you name it. It’s all about politics first.”
I could be wrong, but it appears that these numbers are from a survey of what police departments actually have for staffing and not a recommendation of what their staffing levels should be. Plus, some cities and towns have more crime than others and therefore require more police officers to protect their citizens. Pittsfield has more crime and fewer cops per 1,000 citizens than any municipality in Berkshire County and also does not fare well compared to the rest of the state.
http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Pittsfield-Massachusetts.html
INFO
Yes, excellent observation. The BJS figure is not a recommendation of staffing levels.
Actually, according to the legend – Pittsfield is average (which sucks if this is what average is). Becket is slightly below Pittsfield and also average, and N Adams slightly higher and also average. In fact, all three communities are on the low side of average.
But I am good with more cops. A lot of the crime here is quality of life crime – and more cops would mean smaller patrol areas, hoping that would allow cops to more intensely patrol.
If there was a real answer other than kick out the poor and other folks who suck up more services – every community would have done it by now.
More cops are great! However, they need to give a crap about their job.
More police mean a new headquarters will have to be built. This should have been completed before any new high school
I thought the police numbers were inflated too. Here’s a source for the various break points in police per 1,000. http://www.theiacp.org/Portals/0/pdfs/Officer-to-Population-Ratios.pdf
Pittsfield is in the 1.8 police per 1,000 but suppose we figure it should be 2.0 per 1,000 (Pittsfield is headed to that level) then it should have 88 officers (NOT 120 which is a ridiculous figure).
I disagree that 120 police officers is ridiculous. That woud be 2.73 officers per 1,000 people. The source you cited states that populations of all sizes average 2.5 officers per 1,000 people. If Pittsfield has more crime than the average community then shouldn’t they also have more police officers?
The cops are rarely seen in the better areas of Pittsfield. Do we really need cops tripping over each other in Moringside and the West Side. Don’t the gangs have lookouts? Maybe there are just too many chiefs and not enough indians in the PD.
Agree, if you look at the personal, most have a title after there names. Should be using the auxiliary Police as much as possible.
For now I would be fine with them tripping over each other in these hotspot areas of crime especially during a long hot summer.
2.5 per 1,000 is for large cities that’s why the “average” is 2.5. And 2.5 for Pittsfield is still not 120 its 110.
88 is a much more reasonable figure. Simply adding officers will do nothing. Management and deployment much change first.
Agree Dan, but what do you think about the wrist slapping judges across our State. I really believe that officer in Auburn would be alive today, if it wasn’t for the jackass judges. If Pittsfield clamps down on crime with more money and the judges continue there wrist slapping what good will it do.
You got it joetaxpayer, the sentencing around here is a joke.
What is the wizard up to?–Didn’t see him at last CC Meeting.
Was the Wizard’s Show on today? I love that Guy.
Isn’t it just like Pittsfield hired police for 40,000 population when people are leaving Pittsfield every day and the population is going down. Just get out there and solve the crimes
That’s why we are building a 120 million dollar school with no vote from the people that are paying for it. Pittsfield is special like that, build a elementary school next to a jail. Dump toxic waste on a hill, with another elementary school at the bottom of that hill. Seems to be a pattern of bad decisions. There are many more examples of poor leadership. Really thinks it’s time to go to a City manager and town government, we don’t have anything to lose.
“120 million” doesn’t do the project justice. The Suits use “121 million.” We all know, of course, that the final cost will be much higher.
I think we should start a pool Dan. I pick $129,599, 277.99.
The population know is almost certainly well below 40,000.
Weak …..Leadership Period.
Could the Beacon TIF vote, mean that Donna Todd Rivers and Melissa Mazzeo are the only councilors that read the Planet daily?
Probably the only ones who come close to having a clue
Or they are not indebted to the current reigning establishment. the others do not DARE think for themselves lest a dark cloud form over their heads. Same for everybody on that group they call a school committee.
GOP show on at 6:00…….Planet at 9:00….Wiz at 10:00
The Wiz has filed a motion in Superior court for a
default judgement against the City and Mayor Tyer- for not responding
to his law suit in shutting down the THS PROJECT until the voter has
an opportunity to weigh in with their votes. It will be interesting to see what the court does now. [REMAINDER REDACTED]
Oiy
Cornblat, blah, blah, blah…………………..
Ooo!
It’s Impossible, it’s just impossible.
Tricia Farley Bouvier owns the New Taconic High forevermore.
All the enhancement and favors for the schools and employees in the school system,were a direct result of forming W H E N and the reason W H E N was formed to empower themselves. Neighborhoods?
How about W-HEN? When the Hens take over, there are no balls.
P W and all the people who voted for the Beacon need to be replace as soon as possible . I am sure the rest of the business on north st feel the same way no break for them and no break for the old who are somehow able to stay in there homes for how long we don’t know.
This whole groin kick got me to pondering about a new city slogan..
MONEY IS GOD!!
We could hang this banner on city hall and strategically place a couple on North street.
Big Floppy just challenged a strike three called. A clear swing and miss. My what a dopey man.
We Got Ours. New Slogan..
I will bet if the Beacon been turn down for this tax break the millionaire owner would have found another way to keep it going. No one can convince me that after all the effort the owner put into this project that he would let it fail. He just took the easy way out yes that right getting the mayor and the council to go along with the tax break was easy.
Great point painter, another aside is the twenty thousand, surely pocket change for Stanley.
Behnke gave her assistant a 20 k raise from 35k to 56 k to do Behnkes job……Curtis and Behnke…..are Lazy…..school employees demand more…..someone said in February that if behnke comes out of her office and sees her shadow she would layoff 3 janitors.She did.Go to work Joe Curtis
At some point The superintendent needs to ask if he needs Superintendent titles everywhere he looks.Mrs Behnke was trained by Sally Douglas on how to juggle line items….its time the Superintendant put on big boy pants and recommend business office cut her salary to 80k and if she not happy tell her to apply for a superintendent job elsewhere.Sheis not a competent employee. Why do her people make more money.
I don’t resent people who are wealthy. I applaud them if they work hard and make a lot of money, but we don’t need government helping them. There are many super wealthy people right here in Berkshire County and it seems that our local politicians are in bed with them. I do have a serious problem with that. Wealthy people do not need tax breaks to either start a business or to maintain a business. In this case Mr. Stanley wants to update the seating to keep up with his competitor at the Berkshire Mall. That should all be on him not our local politicians propping him up by giving him tax breaks.
It isn’t helping poor people in this area to prop up a movie theater that may go out of business anyway. The truth is that local politicians are responding to merchants on North Street to keep the theater going at any cost in order to keep foot traffic on North Street. This is artificially helping to keep these merchants in business. Lowering their prices would be the logical thing to do then more people would shop on North Street.
If he was really losing money for 9 years he would have bailed by now. He can’t be that stupid. Who runs a losing business for 9 years (besides the post office)? It was just an available freebie and he grabbed it. No one was going to stop him.
Pat you are so right about this.
P W you ask people to put you back in office well you have shown us that was a mistake. You don’t care about the poor or the working people. You went on and on how you liked going to the Beacon and then you liked going to a restaurant what do I find wrong with this beside your vote it was ME,ME,ME it is all about Me.
Why does a line item business dept need a Superintendent…..lets get rid of all this BS and Put Joe Curtis in charge of business Data there is no need for Behnke,her assistant can get it done for 56,000 k…..blowing 100 k on Behnke.
Im begging DV to ask if he could shadow her for 1 full week.Dont make me beg DV
Great idea. Consider, too, that Ms. Behnke also rules over 10 assistants in her office. Ten.
Why isn’t everyone standing up to this? Stand up!! This is not right.
Do you think a millionaire businessman is going to take a loss or that he really needs 20 g to keep moving forward? Let’s put it this way…the money has already been made.
I do what I do so I’m good with it. Not for your approval. CG I’m sure is a Titan of goodwill. But his arrogance and anger mute his voice.
As for your anointment of his splendor, great people speak with their actions. This is not the legacy such an accomplished son of Pittsfield should insist on leaving himself. Crass and petulant.
What a week! Dogs, parks, fences, and Bossidy bucks were written about and not all comments were complimentary. And how about this? I learned part of Larry’s money was spent building a fence around a ball field to keep dogs from dumping on a million dollar infield. So I guess it is okay for a dog to poop anyplace in the park but a fence prevents the animal from laying his load on second base. Nice.
It wasn’t that long ago when I was excoriated and booed at a meeting by daring to suggest dogs be bared from all parks because parks were becoming a toilet for precious four legged friends. One person even said that her children (meaning a dog) can crap wherever it wishes. There’s a record on that statement.
Of course, city officials left me hanging and I was the one and only vote to bar dogs from parks. Gosh, if dogs did not have legal authority to use our parks where in the world would they crap? I have an answer to my question. Crap in your own yard or neighborhood and pick up your mess from your dog.
Responsible dog owners do just that. They pick up their dogs mess. And for the lady who said her children can toilet wherever they wish my suggestion is put a diaper on your dog.
When you lunch tomorrow, keep in mind the fly that lands on your hot dog may have had a prior lunch at that woman’s drooping’s of her four legged child.
Great post, CHUCK. As always.
Chuck (the great ) remember the slide?
Nota
One at the park and one at the lake. Am I close?
If you mean that because you pay property tax and work for the city that’s your contribution? I’d say one has to go above and beyond that.
No I mean it because I contribute a portion of my disposable income to charities, raise money for charities, and volunteer my time for direct contact with the recipients of charitable resources. Including veterans support and a group that works with the physically/mentally disabled. And we all pay taxes, property or otherwise.
Well then that’s a step in the right direction. Do you actually reside in Pittsfield? Do you ever post on city time? Your posts seem to come at all hours of the work day.
Chuck, why do cats get a pass?
Miss Vito
Only because they are not brought to a youngster’s park to do their business.
Can you explain?
Does the member of the Health Board really believe that raising the age for tobacco purchase will realize a reduction of 12 percent. Just one question. How do you know this?
They couldn’t answer why we were one of the heaviest intake os smokers per capita in Mass. I believe Dr. Amuso asked that.
Does it seem to anyone else that the folks trying to kill tobacco are the same ones trying to promote “medical” marijuana?
It’s a typical City Worker Bobby D