MAY THE CIRCLE EVER REMAIN UNBROKEN: THE SHULMANS CELEBRATE A TRIUMPH TODAY, THIS WEEKEND, AND FOR GOOD
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JULY 1-4, 2016) — It will spin endlessly back to the beginning, not a journey but a destination. It is the new Berkshire Carousel, debuting today on Center Street off of West in downtown Pittsfield.
It was built not by grant money, like so many suspect projects and positions in Pittsfield.
It did not receive tax breaks or TIFS.
It was built not by the raid on Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski’s tax dollars, like so many money-losing venues that couldn’t make it in The Dreaded Private Sector.
It wasn’t built by The Suits, those windbags who pull strings even when nothing hangs on the other end.
Who built it?
A man.
A Man.
A man from Pittsfield who found great success in his chosen field, moved away, but never forgot the town he has always loved. He loved it even when mayors and officials butted in and tried to usurp the good work he had done. They tried to buy him. They tried to bribe him. He, however, shocked the glad-handers who always hear “yes” to their immoral and corrupt propositions.
He prevailed.
Thus, today, THE PLANET salutes Jim Shulman and his wife as they open the merry-go-round. We salute his persistence and perseverance in pursuit of a vision. He “saw” 400 volunteers, many of whom had never worked with wood before, carving a carousel! Who does this, especially when they have to fight “official Pittsfield,” that vile entity that makes business difficult, destroys the morale of its vanished middle class, and crushes goodness?
Who does this?
A man such as Jim Shulman.
For this reason, we warn all politicians: Don’t show up to make a speech. Don’t appear for the photo-op. Don’t hog ANY of the attention during this inaugural weekend for the carousel. You will regret it if you do. You have no say. You have no part in this celebration. Got it TFB and the rest of you frauds?
You are not wanted. You will not be welcome.
This will be a day and weekend for the Shulmans, for all the volunteers, and for the people and families who want to square this circle.
THE PLANET shall not bother with the details of this project. We will point out that amidst travails that would have discouraged anyone less resolute, the Shulmans pressed forward.
Here, for the curious, is the series we did “back in the day.” You may read for the historical perspective. The articles are presented in reverse chronological order.
- OUR SERIES ON BERKSHIRE CAROUSEL — “WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES” — CONCLUDES TODAY … GOB PITTSFIELD HAD ONLY ONE INTEREST IN THE CAROUSEL: TO SEE THAT NO OTHER TOWN GOT IT … CAROUSEL PROVIDES CAUTIONARY TALE UPON WHICH THE CITY’S FATE RESTS 36 comments
- November 1st PART 3 OF A !!PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! — “WILL IT GO ‘ROUND IN CIRCLES?” THE CAROUSEL PROJECT GETS OFF TO A SLOW START, BUT FROM THE GET-GO, THE CITY SHOWED AN ODD DISDAIN FOR THE PROJECT. WHY? THE ANSWER REVEALS MUCH ABOUT PITTSFIELD’S OFFICIAL DYSFUNCTION 32 comments
- October 30th PT II OF A PLANET EXCLUSIVE: THE BERKSHIRE CAROUSEL — ‘WILL IT GO ‘ROUND IN CIRCLES?’ … PROJECT BEGAN AS A $1 MILLION GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, BUT A TINY HANDFUL OF CITY ‘LEADERS’ ONLY SAW A THREAT 39 comments
- October 30th !!PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! ‘WILL IT GO ‘ROUND IN CIRCLES?’ … ROUND AND ROUND SHE GOES, AND WHERE IT STOPS IS LANESBORO, NOT PITTSFIELD. QUESTION IS WHY? WHY DID PITTSFIELD TURN ITS BACK ON A MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT HORSE? OUR FOUR-PART SERIES EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED … PART 1 TODAY!
But enough of that. We raise this cup for Jim Shulman, his wife, and all those who made a bit of goodness penetrate the black fog of death that overhangs a city now in the hands of incompetents.
With that, The Comment Line is open.
Have a great Fourth weekend, everybody.
——– 000 ——–
“The pain of war can not exceed the woe of their commands.” — Led Zeppelin, “The Battle of Evermore,” from the album Led Zeppelin IV.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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You are probably right. Just trying to think outside the tax box. Why not tax the people who are actually using these facilities. Many are not even residents of Pittsfield. Will never happen, makes to much sense.
You’re either not paying taxes or you’re getting a Grant, No in between.
Councilors have great jobs and great incomes and dont care…KB toys 400 jobs,Best buy 50 jobs…Baba Louies40 jobs…Sabic 600 jobs…General Dynamics 65 jobs….Federal goverment repoted to John Krol and councilors 6 years ago the population will be 30 k in 5 years….Maceys 60 jobs……..Tyer has no plan….Superintendent has no clue
What is Pittsfield’s real economy?
The answer is: Inequality! There are a few wealthy residents and businesses, while there are about 70% of local residents dependent on welfare assistance and social services programs. That leaves about 20% of the local population earning enough money to be in the middle class.
Pittsfield politics doesn’t care about its community’s economic demographics. Rather, Pittsfield politics finds ways to increase its municipal budget by about 5% year after year. Pittsfield politics believes it is a wealthy Wall Street investment bank like Goldman Sachs who can finance everything. But, even Goldman Sachs accepted a huge taxpayer bailout when the economy failed in 2008. Both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama supported bailing out Wall Street back then.
Pittsfield politics’ local finances are unsustainable. There will come a day of reckoning when Pittsfield politics will go bankrupt and ask for a bailout from the state government. What is sad is that there are many proverbial “Pittsfields” in our state and nation.
Once local jobs are lost, they aint comin’ back, Jack (Welch).
– Jonathan Melle
Oh, she had a plan.
I have been on this site for the past couple years. It’s a must read here at City Hall. I have to laugh when the previous mayor ordered the site blocked from city computers. There was such a fuss that IT went to Mr. Bianchi and it was ordered restored.
DV knew about this. He got on the mayor for blocking the site but he didn’t know how it came to be restored so quickly.
Under current mayor atmosphere in the building has improved ever so slightly. Started good but its getting worse. What she did for school department at the expense of city side made PSD employees happy and but City Hall side upset.
There is a growing set of problems in this building and they will be erupting before too long. I have been reluctant to post for several reasons but know I am more freer to do that.
No one will post using their own computers to The Planet. We all watch the site from our personal devices.
I have at least another colleague who is willing to be a source from inside the building. We have been or will be in touch with Dan V to try to let a little sunshine into this dark dank building.
Many appreciate this site.
Best coverage of The Carousel by the way. We went Friday and Saturday. What a beautiful addition !!
You owe me 1$
It’s reassuring that you used a completely made up word. Must be that quality local school district.
DENIZEN
What does the powers to be think of the screaming fit by the License Board member last meeting. Is this is the way the Mayor wants such Board Members to Act ? An apology is in order.
Tony Stracuzzi makes 58 k base pay to tell 6 guys what parks to mow the lawn at and he makes another$ 30,000 in overtime to drive around on Sunday in cold weather looking for snow flurries..this is double time…Pittsfield pays him more money than General Dynamics pays a design engineer.
Stracuzzi is the guy who drove city of pittsfied truck to the casino a few years back
With that kind of money he doesn’t need to go to the casino .
If Mayor Tyer campaigned to raise pittsfield ma taxes by $ 6,000,000 dollars I do not believe she would have gotton 300 votes.I would think with a 4 year term she would have been the first mayor with a 5 year plan.
Hello,all of the millions that need to be cut are in the schools budget…everyone knows this and it time that this mayor tells people that in 5 years our school dept budget will reflect a smaller brick and mortar cost and less population.I would also not fight school choice but ask people to send your kids to lenox …greylock…wahconah….and charter.
To the poor blue collar guys at highway.and public works this taxpayer apologizes to you for councilors disrespect.They all respect the schools budget process and the people who run it like Mcales navy.White and Krol look like kids in timeout when asked to review Mccandless money request.
Did anyone running say they would lower taxes?
The city of Pittsfield Government-Mayor-Council and School Committee are the worst city government in the history of the city of Pittsfield. With a population which drops daily and jobs leaving the City– we are forced to watch these criminals raise the taxes on the city residents who are just holding on by a thread- hoping things will get better. Well- if you are delusional enough to believe that things will get better- you best leave now before you are forced to leave because you will be taxed out. A government that does not ALLOW THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO–TO HAVE A SAY AS TO HOW THE PEOPLES MONEY IS SPENT– IS A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS TO GO– AND AT THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME. Our once proud citizen run government– has morphed into a GOBSIG run government. The highest earners in the city– are all City Of Pittsfield employees and all the rest of us– have to sacrifice to keep these hogs fed. There is only one way to correct this situation and that is by building a Non -GOBSIG VOTER BASE WHICH IS LARGER THAN THE GOBSIG NETWORK. COMPLAINING AND NOT TAKING AN ACTIVE STAND –AGAINST THESE GOBSIG’S will insure that THEY CONTINUE TO PULL THE WOOL OVER THE TAXPAYERS EYES. This is the WIZ and I wish you all a very happy 4th. I am waiting to hear from the courts on the THS Project. I am not a quitter and I have only one goal -in acting on your behalf and that is to return your city into your hands –the taxpayers hands. I know how to play David in the David and Goliath matches and I have a very good record of slaying Goliath. Please help me build this NON-GOBSIG Network- not for me but for all of you who would like to have a say as to how your tax dollars are spent. I tell you that the THE NON-GOBSIG NETWORK must be built and there is no other way that we can return the cirty back to it’s rightful owners the Taxpayers. I hope we are successful. It is our only chance.Thank you mottso for letting me post under your name.
The Clintons are so corrupt that its frightening. She tells more lies upon more lies to cover up her previous lies. These people are pathological. The Americans who would support Hillary are just as bad. If a quick reporter hadn’t discovered the secret meeting between Lynch (the Attorney General in charge of his wife’s CRIMINAL CASES) and Bill, nobody would have known and this is what they wanted.
Berkshire County residents will back Hillary because as we all know birds of a feather flock together.
Pat, I hope you take some to relax and enjoy the holiday. Clinton and Trump will still be here tomorrow.
That’s what I’m afraid of, but I’ll vote for Trump. Happy Fourth of July Everyone!!!!
Would you rather have a couple of Bush’s 15 year wars.
There 0bama’s wars now.
Listen to The voice of reason above, welcome back G-Man!
Hancock Road Speedway. Only a matter of time given the idiots in this City Driving wild already.
I’d say there were a few drunks that got away with DUI today Hal.
Obamas has been picking up the mess for 8 years.
That’s all he’s qualified to do
The business selling fireworks should be held accountable if illegal fireworks are purchased and there is injury, then the person setting these small dynamite works should be fined.It is a nuisance and dangerous, especially to dwellings, that can catch fire. Where is the Enforcement?
My neighborhood sounds like a war zone
Same here. Wonder if people are being shot down like they were last year during all these ILLEGAL fireworks since nobody could tell the difference. I was just reading that if your house or car receives damage from fireworks, you can sue not only the people setting off the fireworks, but also the manufacturer of the fireworks because any damage isn’t covered by your regular insurance.
Pittsfield has again done NOTHING to try to stop the ILLEGAL fireworks. The wealthy neighborhoods in this city don’t have this problem. They let it continue in the poorer neighborhoods though.
overkill with the real fireworks, they’ve been going on to long, then like Pat says, the neighborhoods. Krist, I heard fireworks the last couple of winters. It ‘s year round, just like tax hikes.
Agree about Hancock Rd. you can’tsee anything and drivers never go the speed limit.
I bet Mayor Tyer isn’t having this fireworks annoyance in her gated community.
A lotta lacks….