THE BB ONCE AGAIN SHILLS FOR THE SUITS; MEANWHILE, MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE BEACON IS A BAD RISK
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
Part Three of a Series
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016) — So much for The “new” Boring Broadhseet. The pitiful rag shoved it to citizens by showing its first loyalty is to The Suits, dutifully printing a gushing lead story on Page One yesterday about what a superlative idea it will be to grant five more years of tax breaks to multimillionaire Richard Stanley. While The BB was glorifying the fattening of an overstuffed but malnourished and failing Beacon Cinema, THE PLANET was digging up more of the REAL story.
THE BB
Not all is harmonious in the newsroom. The hopes of a new era each day recede into the mists. The reality has hit in the newsroom that local owners of The BB know nothing about running a newspaper. They know even less about journalism. Meet the new bosses. Worse than the old bosses. They got The BB’s distressed properties for pennies on the dollar and with it bragging rights at the Stockbridge Country Club. That’s OK for playing the big shot, but it does little for the community’s reasonable hopes for a crusading local daily.
THE PLANET heard from one of our newsroom sources, who spoke of an editorial meeting that mentioned our coverage of The Beacon’s request. We’re putting 2+2 together. (a) The BB has their meeting. (b) THE PLANET has rankled Important People. (c) The next day, The BB presents coverage so propagandistic that it fails as journalism. PR, puff, and cheerleading yes. Journalism, no. It’s clear that someone from city hall, or at least a water carrier between city hall and Stanley, sent orders to The BB to counter THE PLANET’s coverage.
THE BLUE-COLLAR
Meanwhile, THE PLANET heard from a recent former employee of The Beacon, who spoke to us about working conditions there. She said Stanley was rarely to be seen and complained of management’s poor treatment of employees. She cited as an example the order for Beacon staff to search pocketbooks, backpacks, and any bags to check for smuggled in refreshments. Staff resisted to no avail. The former staffer said that following the check policy, attendance at The Beacon dropped significantly.
She said staff repeatedly went to management about issues such as the cleanliness of bathrooms, lack of supplies, and, one one occasion, a emergency exit that was either blocked of locked. Each time the complaints were dismissed, said said. These claims align neatly with other reports of poor customer service at The Beacon. We have lost count of people who have told us that they tried the venue once or twice, only to swear never to go back again.
THE BOOKS
Another source familiar with The Beacon’s finances shared the belief that the venture “has not been profitable [in the nearly nine years] of operation. The Beacon has not once met its estimates of revenue or its projections of attendance. Folks will recall the grand promises … that it would bring 250,000 additional people to downtown Pittsfield. That has not happened, obviously.”
We asked how the city council — or anyone else, for that matter — could decide on facts and not fiction if a continued five years of tax breaks are in order for The Beacon. Answer: “The only way to know for sure is to open up the books.”
——– 000 ——–
The pattern is clear, for it has happened time and again with so many of the “quasi-public-private” projects: EV Worldwide, WorkshopLive!, Spice Restaurant, The Beacon. Citizens will once again have no say, even though they disapprove. It was the same way with the new high school project that The Suits shoved down your throats. Resign yourselves, ladies and gentleman. They’re going to do it again.
It’s clear the city council needs to deny this request.
It’s also clear that in Pittsfield, the game is rigged.
——————————————————————————————-
“Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina.” — Marty Robbins, “El Paso,” (1959).
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Pittsfield politics is not going to change. The political power is entrenched, and the vested interests always win. Pittsfield politics is an insider’s corrupt system of state and local government. If you are not part of the ruling group, then you have no real voice. If you are a person of ideals who wants things to change for the better, you will be mocked and blacklisted.
The Berkshire Eagle does not report the truth about Pittsfield politics. Instead, they affirmed WHEN, Jimmy Ruberto, downtown revitalization, the arts and cultural renaissance, tax breaks for tourist businesses, the new Taconic High School project, and the lovely Linda Tyer.
The truth about Pittsfield politics is that it is a very inequitable and unequal community. About 70% of local people in Pittsfield live in or near poverty. About 10% of local people are upper middle class. That leaves about 20% of local people living in the middle class with living wage jobs that pay between $20 to $40 per hour with benefits. Most of these people with living wage jobs work either for the state and local government or one of the many not-for-profit organizations that depend on taxpayer funding.
There are little to no living wage private sector jobs left in Pittsfield. Sabic is leaving the area and between 300 to 500 jobs will be lost within the next 2 years. When jobs are lost, they are not coming back.
Pittsfield politics public finances are in critical condition. Its tax base is shrinking, while its budgets are growing. The people in power are not living in reality!
Blah Blah Blah Melle. Take your meds
That mean-spirited remark is exactly what I would expect from Pittsfield politics!
Hi Dan ,
Great news from PEEDA, the one who PEEs on PISSfield taxpayers.
Nuclea is leaving, unexplained debts unresolved
Oh yes 10 jobs ,TEN, and only THREE left now
Thanks PEEDA/ROBBERto
Thanks Dan, Interesting to see the council fall in line and vote their values over principals. Once a progressive always a progressive. The comments on your web site and the Eagle were resoundingly against it. The choice is clear grab a suicide vest and speak out against it at the open mic or stay at home and watch Netflix from your beat up old recliner and watch Its a
Wonderful Life.
Arrogance is for sure the word. I also seem to recall from when this thing was in the planning stages that the owner was actually only putting up a pittance of his own money BUT was going to pay himself a CEO salary out of the money he was getting to build it.
So even with a new political administration and a supposedly revamped local newspaper most of the people who make this city a city, are on the bottom of the dog heap.
They have boxed us into a corner and have left us with few choices to have a voice. So I am going to start boycotting any venue I see as complicit in the denial of the peoples best interests. And that includes any person of power, who may own a business, who aides or abets in abusing the peoples rights and best interests. I think they have pushed too fa rand gotten too greedy for their own good.
I agree. Do not frequent the businesses where this nonsense of tax breaks for wealthy people is allowed to go on. Do not go to the Beacon. Also CANCEL your subscription to the Berkshire Eagle if you haven’t already done so.
Pat, haven’t subscribed to Pigeion in 5+ years, no more Beacon for me. If the Eagle was a serious newspaper they would allow someone to write a opposing view to the tax breaks. They have a agenda and narrow minds down there.
Yes, allow an opposing view…like Dan Valenti maybe?? The bb story didn’t have the other side. Only talked of “overwhelming” support for giving Beacon 5 more yrs of tax breaks…
The financial abuse of elderly home owners continues .
There are poverty exemptions aren’t there?
The politicians in this area claim to be progressives yet they do everything they can for the wealthy of the area and throw the occasional bone to the poor. Yet they also support all of the far left progressive agenda when it comes to social issues. Can anyone say “hypocrisy”.
As everyone on this site knows I am against the far left progressive agenda when it comes to social issues, but I am also against Pittsfield and Berkshire County continuing to prop up people who don’t need propping up like the extremely wealthy in the area, the school employees and the wealthy GOBs of the area. Independents can do this, but Pittsfield and Berkshire County politicians claim to be progressives. Linda Tyer ran her election as being a big progressive. Then why do progressives in this area do everything for the wealthy and ignore the poor in this area? Again, the word “hypocrisy” is the only explanation. Is it some bargain they have with local GOB’s that the can spout off on their far left progressive nonsense if they give in to the GOB demands for keeping the money and power in the hands of the wealthy locals?
Pat…full and resounding agreement on this one! They give progressives a bad name.
Sabic also got a handout, if Pittsfield taxpayers can afford to subsidize oil sheiks on their way out of town, property developers and Hollywood moguls surely deserve their support to run unprofitable operations. Maybe there can be a 2 1/2 override to help out Warren Buffet
SABIC could have left the day they arrived. they said that they would stay 7-8 years while they sorted out how the GE Business fit into their own. They have been here 7 and will be here for another year or two. They rent from GE and they have kept jobs that could have otherwise left on Day 1.
I’m good with SABIC. The future of the plastics industry is in a few southern cities and nothing our leaders could have done will change that.
That said, more tax breaks for the Beacon is money down a rat hole.
Not to mention, Ice River Springs. The Spring being Pittsfield Municipal Water. At one time, they didn’t fulfill their full time employment requirement and the CC gave them an extension. They advertised for management in Pittsfield, but hired them and located them in FL and Kentland, IN.
It can be done without a TIF Jim Shulman’s Berkshire Carousel project is a good example. They better brace themselves, when the final touches on the project are completed and the ponies start running, they will probably pick a good chunk of the Beacon’s share of freebies.
According to their website, the Berkshire Carousel is actually a 501-c-3 non-profit. They will not pay any real estate taxes – which is a far better deal than a TIF.
But they went to both Lanseborough and Dalton looking for free stuff. I think they wound up in Pittsfield because we like giving away free stuff.
The carved horsies, while cool in a way – are not an economic engine.
Then why is it that the Shulmans, the Carousel originators, have paid more than $73,000 over nine years for a vacant piece of property? They have never asked the city for a dime.
It wasn’t that long ago in some reports the Beacon said they were doing good but there was a little decline due to a lack of people who liked the movies that they were showing. And know he wants a Tax Break I don’t think so email your councilor .
Meet for a beer at Lachs at 6:30 then go sign up to speak against this TIF at open mic one after another.. If would be great to outnumber the hired yes men parade that is a definite.
We have spoken up here and all the councilors and mayor read this daily. They have gotten the message but will do as they are instructed anyway. Why would I go before the council and be subject to the sneers and snickers and eye rolls? They know what is morally right and they will make their own choice regardless. I am sure there may be a councilor or two who would like to vote against this but would not dare disrespect the will of the mayor.
Dusty
Never put yourself in a position to go before the Council. Wasted time.
As I have said many, many times….. They are deaf, dumb, and numb. Body language…dead on arrival.
You are the Poison they don’t want .
Dusty
You are the hardworking, good Citizen…. dubbed the TAXPAYER
Sabic will be here for more than another year or 2. The polymer processing center in Pittsfield is staying.
I thought that was going to Selkirk when they completed their expansion?
It is Southeast
Mr. Valenti,
How would terminating any local tax breaks bring Beacon Cinema to profitability?
From what you are reporting here, it already sounds like the place is hanging by a thread.
If on top of all its other expenses, the cinema were required to pay additional taxes, it’ll just go out of business that much sooner.
When BC was first built, the numbers didn’t add up anyway and it was a foregone conclusion that it’s days were numbered, so why is anyone surprised now at the report of the former employee that the place is in economic decline?
Regarding what’s happening in the BB’s newsroom, why not give the new kids on the block a decent honeymoon til they figure out just how the biz works — unless you, Dan Valenti, is gonna volunteer to show the newbies ‘the ropes’ — and also take on some of the fiscal risk.
Figure out how the business works? Who buys a newpaper then goes to journalism school? Give me a break GM.
GM, if they can’t report both sides of an issue without bias and report the news without there spin, there is no need to honeymoon anywhere. Bye bye birdie.
Exactly, Joe and Paul.
When the mall finally dies I doubt that the theaters there will remain. How will this affect the Beacon?
GDG; I believe Target and Regal Cinemas own their buildings and don’t lease mall space. Interesting question though.
Yes, would Target and Regal want to stay there?
Hopefully Regal will buy it and run it with some class and not act like beggers.
Does anyone know just how many business are getting TIFs? Is there a list somewhere of past and present? I understand city hall is heading for a Bianchi like lock-down of info but perhaps Mr Clairmont might shed some light on this? Appreciate it if so. any other councilors could chip in but not really holding my breath here.
Would be nice to hear from Finance director Kerwood on this and also would he put his name and reputation on backing the Beacon breaks? Did he tell the mayor it was a wonderful idea or did he just bite his tongue?
Dusty…This is the Roberto sic administration, reincarnated.
Oh Dilly!☺ you so nailed it on the head.
Remember the tif lobbying very well. The people against the tif reasoning was, people will not go to theatres when they can watch at home, or they will go to the Mall. then it was supposed to be a different kind of experience with fancy screens and foreign films.People now think of it as a storefront of sorts with rentals and such,helping to sustain his business, not what a tif was intended for in my opinion.
Dan, you can count my wife and me among the ones who went to the Beacon twice and will never return. We usally go to Regal at the mall once every two weeks. The employees are fantastic and usually call us by name. Great safe parking, wonderful reclining seats that are very comfortable. They don’t even paw through my wife’s pocketbook.
Re: I would be a better man than Luciforo!
On this 18th terrible anniversary of Nuciforo’s attempt to jail me on May 20th, 1998 when I was 22 years of age, I have been reflecting on how I would be different than a corrupt, insider, strong-arm, conspiratorial, bullying third-rate politician who rules by fear like Luciforo.
For the past 20 years, since I was 20 years of age in the Spring of 1996, Nuciforo and his political network has been conspiratorially using people to threaten to assault me, harass and bully me, spread vicious and false rumors against me, blacklist me from employment, put me manipulated social situations, and ultimately put me in the Pittsfield jail.
Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. is Pittsfield politics’ dark, inbred political prince. Nuciforo’s late-father was a Pittsfield State Senator and then a Pittsfield Probate Court Judge. Nuciforo’s Uncle, Tom Wojtkowski, was a Pittsfield State Representative. Nuciforo’s late Aunt, Anne E. Wojtkowski, was a Pittsfield Mayor and longtime Professor at Berkshire Community College. Nuciforo followed his family’s political history in Pittsfield politics by being elected to Pittsfield State Senator for one decade and then being anointed to the Pittsfield Registry of Deeds post for six years while he plotted a failed campaign for U.S. Congress.
If I had Nuciforo’s political power, I would do things very differently than my enemy #1. I would advocate for my legislative district by working for social and economic justice for my constituents. I would be a voice for the poor and struggling middle class families on Beacon Hill. I would help people and the communities they live in. I would fight political corruption that plagues Massachusetts politics. And, I would never do to someone what Nuciforo and his political network did against me for the past 20 years!
– Jonathan Melle
http://jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/05/andrea-nuciforo-jonathan-melle-month-of.html
The Berkshire Eagle has the nerve to run an editorial just minutes ago about this TIF issue. They say money spent at the Beacon remains at home while money spent at the mall theater goes to a big mean corporation. I say money spent at the Beacon goes into the hands of the wealthy owner and props up overpriced stores on North Street. The wealthy owner of the Beacon can afford to keep the theater opened and make any upgrades without the poor overburdened taxpayers of Pittsfield propping him up.
The key to keeping people going to North Street is to get some stores that people can actually afford. No mention either of the elitist attitudes of the Beacon in their poor treatment of customers such as going through women’s handbags looking for food and how people are much more impressed with the treatment they receive at the Berkshire mall theater.
This is just more nonsense about how local wealthy people are good while corporate owned wealthy people are bad. Big difference is that we the people are not paying for the corporate movie theater.
I just responded to said editorial. I am shocked they presented an editorial with ZERO supporting facts, saying instead “it’s a good idea because we say so, and several other influential people agree.”
Other than principals and a secretary, get rid of the school committee and replace all administrators with para legals and make Kristen Behnke the super. If anyone needs to see what we’re talking about,check out the beating she put on Barry a couple of years ago. She’s worth every penny, don’t ever let her go.
The Eagle is clueless, so the movies shown at the Beacon are made produced and distributed from Pittsfield? or does the money I spend at the Beacon go to Hollywood? the popcorn all locally sourced? or does the Beacon procure it from some larger concession provider? Anyone know anybody who works at the Movie cup manufacturer? Anyone know anyone who worked at the factory that made the chairs in the theater? Now how about the company that made the projector? No, but we should all support the guy with additional monies from our taxes. It is a business if you offer people IE customers not Hostages a product or service they desire and can afford they will purchase and enjoy. If you hold people hostage and extract revenue from them against their will umm not so much.
I would guess if they ran that editorial they are afraid it will have an impact on them as well let the boycott begin
Just sayin
It’s the same story around the holidays. They want us to shop on North Street to keep it local. North Street is too expensive for my budget so it’s the mall for me. The progressives are so hoping that the malls fail because the only choices they want us to have are those under their control. Not sure where they expect the poor and what’s left of the middle class will shop. These are things that really irritate me about the progressives. They want our shopping choices to shrink while government grows.
At least with this TIF issue we are seeing the true side of these politicians and our local media clearer than we ever have before. The jig is up as they say. They have revealed themselves for who they really are. They are all looking out for each other not the average citizen. Any skeptics out there should now see the truth.
Amazon and E-bay You need not support a single merchant that supports the Eagle. Boxed.com for groceries we each vote daily with our purchases be they items or services wield your power as a consumer don’t stand for it demand better from your dollar
Its for the children
just sayin
“We each vote daily with our purchases.” Thats so true. I’m making a copy of that (calligraphy, my hobby) and it’s going on my refrig. Thanks Joe.
Excellent joe!
Mrs behnke over 6 years gets 30 grand and she cant add.
Mrs Benhke sold her sole and took custodial ot away.
Mrs Behnke is afraid people will fond out zhe is a nut
A hard nut to crack..ask Barry?
If Mr. Stanley and those at the Eagle editorial staff really want the money to stay locally Mr. Stanley would pay his fair share of both property and personal property tax. The $72,000 in taxes would go along way towards changing a childs life and way of life. The poor innocent children are going to lose in this situation.
So now we have both a theater and a newspaper that is both ant child and anti education? my god they might as well spit on the children on their way to school in the morning. As it is now the teachers must pony up supplies and tissue during cold season. Anyone know how many boxes of tissues the $72k would procure?
Im getting ill now just thinking how they so hate children
just sayin
Personally I think the teachers and administrators salaries are so high that they should willingly pay for the tissues and school supplies out of their own money. If their salaries weren’t so high there would be more than enough money to pay for tissues and school supplies.
They should start paying a higher percentage of their health insurance.
I agree. They need to pay more. what they pay now is ridiculously low. The free ride is over.
Yeah Joe you hit it, it could be used to staff some parks for the summer or hire some lifeguards. Maybe even pay for a school attendance officer.
Nuclea pulls out of PEDA. It was with unbridled fanfare that the politiicians and educators lauded the literal placement of several play stations, yes ,play stations as the greatest economic engine in recent history.
No one can comprehend the $ millions of grants and private equity investment fund capital that Nuclea recieved.
Another deal breaker….take the money and run. Pittsfield is blind to the blood suckers.
Just like Richard Stanley and the Beaxon.
It’s almost an epidemic of shootings lately, not blaming anyone other than the thugs doing it, but it seems to be out of control and out of our hands. I see even the Eagle cannot keep up with them. A couple were close to North St.
It’s not that they can’t keep up with the shootings. It’s that they want to make us think everything is find when we know it’s not. We read more about crimes in other cities with much more detail than the crimes in this area.
Often the second business owner succeeds when the first one fails. Restaurants fail all the time. How many jobs did OCB lose? Pizza Hut? If jobs/skills matching is the problem in Pittsfield, why is the city abandoning the jobs that actually match residents’ skills?
Showplace ,Palace ,Capitol, Union,three drive-ins.
Now you have all kinds of home movies and Netflix which is awesome, Hulu on and on. On the face of it it just seem like dubious investment (which is probably why he wants to put as little of his own money into it). Throw in a few gang bangers and muggers in the area and a lack of parking and what is not to like about this investment?
What the hell went on in Pittsfield last night?
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!
A friend said there was gunfire all around her neighborhood.
What do you think went on? People went arm in arm to the Beacon theater, paid a fortune for their snacks and had a lovely time. If anyone was shot in the area last night it was not reported. It’s just a lovely, lovely, wonderful place to go to and is run by very community oriented folk who are constantly giving back to the community.
blahhhhtt
Your definition of a fortune equates to coming to McDonald’s and complaining you could catch the cow, butcher it grind it, bake the bun make the cheese buy the tv and produce the movie for less. A night out is a night out.
Ask your City Clowncilors.
Nuclea was outed on the Planet a couple years ago, just the way the name is pronounced,new-clay -uh…..you say no.
Pittsfield ought to revert to the old west form of law, bring in the slinger and clean the town up. The city might go for it if he’s from out of town.
Don’t think most citizens counted on the Mayor’s priority of taking care of the schools ( voting block ) and Beacon,especially after her comments on crime, being unacceptable. Shouldn’t crime have been the number one priority.
Chief Wynn out collecting awards meanwhile back in Pittsfield gunfire rings in the street – bang bang pop pop – it’s only a matter of time until some innocent person is killed
The award is given to a Williams alumni who has had a substantial impact on their Community. Where the hell have I been? I missed this one.
State and local Police on scene of shooting near Harry’s Supermarket. Several shell casings visible on Pecks Road. Wild Wild West.
U A B that’s when it will hit the fan, when some innocent pedestrian oran official takes one, god forbid, that’s when we’ll be in lockdown.
Well, to say the time to cut is during Budget Session, so lets’s see.
I like that Oran, invented a new word!
Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss
Won’t get fouled AGAIN!
Amen. The more things change, the more they remain the same. Welcome back; Gerry, Jimmie, Carmen, Garry, and Evan. Read Jim Bouton’s, “Foul Ball”. Same team, same coaches, different puppets.
3 shooting incidents involving youth in the city of Pittsfield within 24 hours.Thank God we’re keeping them away from tobacco…It’s dangerous to their health you know!!!!
Yall come downtown for 3rd Thursday. Relax, Enjoy yourself, bring your families. Hell No!!!!
There was just a shooting down by Harry Nichols at 1:30 this afternoon. School buses had to be rerouted.
THE TRAFFIC isn’t shut off at Depot Street for THIRD THURSDAY what a joke, I’m outta here?? EVER HEARD OF BARRIERS MAYOR?
We need tougher judges who are going to sentence these punks to the max. Adding more police won’t help until they get rid of current group.
No Joe, we need tougher punks. I’ m afraid to leave my house.
Although I would hope Mayor Tyer would call Governor Baker and get State police to patrol Pittsfields hot spots. Anything that might prevent innocent people from getting shot.
I know, a little off subject but it is timely.
We have seen the Lady Justice statue. She’s blindfolded. She is holding scales insuring justice is fairly and evenly dispensed in the American legal system. This was a bedrock belief. We have a constitution and Bill of Rights guaranteeing fairness under the law.
News late afternoon has another Wall Street trading scandal.
Nothing new here; however, what makes story interesting is golfer Phil Mickelson is involved in an insider trading scandal. He made almost one million dollars trading with insider information.
He got caught. His penalty is to pay money back he made trading with this insider information. That’s it. Nothing more.
In 2004, Martha Kostyra Stewart, you know, the cook, made a similar trade with insider information and was sentenced to 5 months in jail. She served it, too.
Why did Martha Kostyra Stewart get jail time and Phil Mickelson is back on golf course for same criminal offense?
Chuck they were not quite the same offense. Martha Stewart cooked her books and tried to hide what she had done because she had detailed insider information. From what I have read and put together is Mickelson was told as a tip to buy stock in Dean Foods. No details but a strong tip. He bought 2.4 mil worth of stock and reaped an almost 1 Mil profit in just a couple of weeks when Dean foods announced a spin off of that company. The person who gave him the tip was owed a gambling debt from Mickelson. He is a gambler named Billy Walters. Walters was given the tip by former CEO of Dean Foods, Thomas Davis. Have been charged. Also an appellate court ruling in 2014 limits the ability of authorities to bring insider trading charges against individuals who get inside information second- or third-hand, rather than directly from a corporate insider. Basically he is considered an innocent bystander.
i love Dan Man..excellent stuff.
Martha the Cook, priceless Chuck. Phil plays golf with Supreme Court Justices if that helps you…and the Last three Presidents. Martha…..not so much.
Do the punks have local bullets or do they get them when buying out of town cigs.
Thankfully they cant carry those bullets in a Styrofoam container, however now they can hide them in either public restroom as long as they self identify. Yes these are the three major issues facing our fair city. Who can sell smokes, elimination of Styrofoam containers and transgender restrooms. Anyone have any idea what you need to do to get blood of off concrete sidewalks?
Spot-on, JOE. As for getting blood off of sidewalks, try Spot-Off, the tough new cleanser that fights grime, grease, and the spilled blood from stabbings and gunfire.
Someone should talk to the banks that loaned money for the Beacon..I hear that they are thinking of writing the loans off because Stanley can’t pay them back. Very good investment don’t you think? Wonder who Stanley is supporting for President…Barry?