SPEND-HAPPY TYER WANTS TO RAISE YOUR TAXES 6% … MAYOR PROPOSES $6 MILLION IN NEW SPENDING … plus … SUMMER JOB OPS FOR YOUTH
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JUNE 3-5, 2016) — The Lovely Linda didn’t take long to out-bianchi Bianchi. In her budget proposal to our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council, Mayor Linda Tyer called for $6 million in new spending, wants to raise your taxes 6% percent, and has submitted an all-time record capital budget plan.
So much for her campaign promises. Remember how she campaigned on fiscal realism, pledging she’d make the tough choices come budget time? Seems that her definition of “tough choices” differs greatly from the understandings of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.the “Little Guys” who are truly without representation. THE PLANET can only say we told you so … and told you so. If a twice-told tale issues four-fold in meaning, then you should not have been surprised that Tyer wants to add prohibitively to your already-crushing tax burden. If you live in Pittsfield or own a business there, you are about to find out what Tyer means by “tough choices.” If the council gives her what she wants, many of you will be without a home, lacking prescriptions medicines or wanting food — depending on what you will have to eliminate to stay alive.
THE PLANET hasn’t had time to look closely at Her Majesty’s budget, so we shall save detailed comment until next week. Allow us two observations, though, in light of that:
(1) This atrocious spending plan goes to the council, a paralyzed group that, you will recall, just voted 7-2 (Donna Todd Rivers, Melissa Mazzeo) to give five more years (and hundreds of thousands of dollars) of generous tax cuts to The Beacon Cinema and its multimillionaire owner. THE PLANET reiterates a key point made yesterday by Painter, one of this site’s commentators. In the post, Painter said: “If there are people on the council who are not in favor of the Mayor budget [and I hope there are], then don’t say a thing unless you are willing to fight for it. Don’t just put on a show.” THE PLANET agrees. Councilors, shut your trap unless you are serious about making substantial cuts to this spending fantasy.
(2) THE PLANET‘s brevity on the mayor’s uber-spending daydream is your opportunity to sound off, here and now. Tell them what you think of the plan. Tell them where the cuts are. Remind the mayor, for she has surely forgotten, how much this will negatively impact what’s left of the dying “middle” class in this dying town. You know and we know all The Suits read this site, if only to see if they’ve survived another day without getting taken hard into the boards. Let ’em have it. Tell councilors what you want. Issue your demands. They are, after all, your “representatives.”
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Summer Jobs for the Asking
THE PLANET passes along this jobs opportunity for young people. Youth Works, a program of Berkshire Works, has signed up more than 20 Pittsfield employers who will offer summer jobs. Applicants must be 16-21 years old, offer proof of income level (in case you haven’t guessed, the program is for “under-resourced” city kids), have ID, produce a work permit, give proof of a physical, and present a letter of recommendation.
Those accepted for the program will work 25 hours a week and be paid $10 an hour. For more information, contact Kelly Groves at kgroves@berkshireworks.org. You can also call her at 413-499-2220 x145.
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Finally, THE PLANET thanks Terry Kinnas for sitting in as guest host on Thursday night’s PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION (PV-TV). Being under those McDonald’s french-fry lights in a TV studio for an hour of live television is not for the faint of heart, for sure. Allow a nod, therefore, to the Supercitizen.
The Comment Line is now open. Any and all topics are fair game, but THE PLANET especially would like your take on the FY’17 spending plan. Give us your intelligence and wit, not your ignorance and witlessness.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“It is a popular delusion that government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money.” — P.J. O’Roarke
“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.
I wonder how long it will be before Pittsfield politics high finances will go insolvent? Due to Proposition 2.5, Pittsfield politics will have to ask voters for an override exemption to raise taxes like it has for a long time now. Maybe that is why the lovely Linda Tyer is proposing a record setting capital budget that is up by 20% from last year? Just an idea, but I am not sure.
The lovely Linda Tyer’s municipal budget proposal doesn’t take into account the financing of the new Taconic High School project! That will add another 1% to 2% to the tax increase of 4.2%, which equal a +$6 million dollar spending increase from last year’s municipal budget.
Sabic Plastics will be shedding 300 jobs in Pittsfield soon. Pittsfield politics’ tax base is shrinking, while its budgets are increasing.
I do not believe that wealthy communities with high median incomes and million dollar homes could afford Pittsfield politics’ unsustainable finances!
The lovely Linda Tyer is NOT changing Pittsfield politics. In fact, I believe she is making things even worse than ever before!
Progressives do not believe in austerity measures in any form. Progressives are totally responsible for the financial devastation that we see not only here in Pittsfield, but all of Berkshire County, but especially Pittsfield and North County.
It is time to acknowledge that the Superintendant of schools is the Mayor and Jake Curtis and Jake Behnke make more money…..
Mayor money should be community school coordinator money .
.
I really thought Tyer was sincere about moving Pittsfield in an uphill direction. She said all the right things while campaigning and played the voters, just like a few on here said she would. How can this be good for the shrinking tax base that is hanging on by a thread?
Oh I think we are going uphill alright. I am out of breath already. Feeling a lack of oxygen.
Do not fear, with Barry the dancing bear, and Am I awake yet ? Mr. Cotton, et al,appointed by Tyer to the PEDA board; the big box consultants, and chosen real estate profiteers are back and the closed door meetings ARE in session. When built it will bring additional tax revenues, depending on tifs or incentives, albeit it will displace the present Wally World and leave it abandoned, however the present employees will retain most of the jobs at the new big box.
Many opportunities will avail to line pockets.
Stay tuned more to come.
I think they deserve a 14 year tax abatement for starters. Once you give it to one can you really say no to the next guy who comes along?
I agree with Jonathan. Even wealthy communities, and Pittsfield is poverty ridden, could not afford these increasingly rising budgets. I truly believe they are trying to get those who can’t afford to live here to leave. Do they really seem upset about all those leaving the city? Not really. This will leave the city with the poverty ridden who they figure are provided for by government and the wealthy who can afford the high taxes. They can easily control the poverty ridden since in general they are not voters. The wealthy ones such as school personnel, BMC hospital employees and other big earners will vote in these same type of politicians over and over again because the high taxes are just pocket change for them.
Most of them may not be able to vote in Pittsfield because they can afford to live just outside the boundaries.
There is not the disposable income. Pittsfield citizens by and large are barely hanging on. This budget is a killer. Shame of it is we have a council that won’t reel it in.
Thank you DV for your courage in coverage.
There is a senior poverty tax discount.
Mr Gaetani is starting to look pretty damn good now.
Did he fluff his toupee?
Posting on City time again hack boy?
Actually it’s my day off so I’m in the office producing because whether I like you or not, my job needs to get finished to the point I am satisfied with it.
Maybe if you didn’t screw around all day on Planet Valenti you could get your work done on work days.
As I’m answering emails I get from my officials on Friday night and taking phone calls from people wanting to buy property and solve code violations on My day off. This is why I shake my head.
I’m wearing my merkin. Is that OK?
I just threw up in my mouth.
C’mon now Shakes…appropriate use of the word merkin in this day and age deserves some props! Then you can throw up in your mouth. And I feel ya on that productivity thing. My sister worked for the state for years, while I worked, hard, for private industry. I would talk to her sometimes while still working at 8:30-9 at night and she’d say, Oh, getting some overtime.” I’d reply “no, if I don’t do it, I don’t sell so I don’t eat.” I made way more money than her, but she retired at 55 with 35 years at like 75% pension. So who was the idiot there?
Connell still doesn’t know why the Airport has 98 percent non landing fees. Are you serious Chris?
The City Council has reviewed Budgets before this current Mayor and are to blame if they approve this new increase.
Which is an absurd Budget. Does this Mayor realize what she’s doing?
She and her cohorts are fully aware. Line their pockets after pulling the wool over the taxpayers eyes. At this point anyone who votes “progressive” is essentially voting to progressively move us all towards bankruptcy.
I think a “birth certificate” should also be required for applicants for Youth Works. Some of you may laugh, but I wonder if all who apply are legal.
I am disgusted with the proposed budget. The school budget, as usual, is outrageous. Fewer students, more staff, salaries way beyond those in the private sector, a SB and union with excessive power and a CC so intimidated by them that they will sell their souls (and ours, as well).
And to think that the cost of THS is yet to come!
I haven’t received a raise in a few years. My job and side business have held basically flat. in fact, I work harder because in order to keep my customers, I often find myself cutting my price a bit – so to remain flat, I still do more.
Yet my health insurance has gone up 30%, my property taxes have increased, other insurances have increased, life expenses such as groceries have risen – because even after the price increases due to fuel increases, have never come down.
Yet I have figured out h0ow to re-order my spending and still live. That is how we all do it.
I am not sure we can really cut the budget a whole lot, but if we remained flat for 2, 3, or 4 years – like most of the folks footing the bill – the re-ordering would take place. We would right size the school spending, we would maybe not do things we think we need to do, but once we stop doing it, things would still be fine, maybe we would eliminate curbside pick up as an all you can eat item. Maybe folks like me who put out less than a full can a week could put out one toter and those folks who breed like rabbits could pay for the additional trash they generate.
I know Lew and J-Lo think we cannot cut spending. Maybe they are right. But to keep it flat and re-prioritize (a new fire truck to ensure the fleet is up to date and ready, more cops) would at least recognize the realities of a school system educating 1/2 as many as it did 25 years ago with about 500 more bodies seems a bit outrageous.
Taconic is being built now. That money also needs to be worked into the flat spending plan. So instead of assistant superintendents and secretaries at Mercer, we can use their pay and benefits to make a bond payment. Whatever it takes, the City and its leaders need to realize that those footing the bill are tapped out.
Amuso wants to see cuts. Probably because she can do math. the school we can’t afford and the levy limit will soon crash into each other, and she sees the tea leaves. No override will be approved and if we don’t do soft cuts now – there will be hard cuts next year. Her concern is disingenuous, because she is not asking for a $1.8 mil reduction in school spending, but wants other department heads to take that “hard look” that so “conflicts” her.
Interestingly plan, flat spending plan. I would take that at this point but the budget can be cut. Lots of areas. Health insurance is one. Taxpayers on the hook for 85% of a huge bill. Unsustianable. This has be be renegotiated down. State law requires 50-50. I say go to 60-40. This would save $10 million.
You are correct. But the union contracts enshrine the 85/15 split and a lot of the 2400 or so City employees are covered with contracts. Now as these contracts come due, we could build in a 75/25 then 65/35 then 60/40 split – along with a 1% raised if there is no step raise – and that would be fair.
But as I have said before, I am OK with bankruptcy. A receiver can rip up the contracts and we can right size pay and benefits. When municipal workers got crap for pay, bennies were a good plan B. Now that a lot of folks make 3-4 times the area median income, then they should get one or the other.
It seems wrong when the folks working for the public do so much better than the public they serve. I don’t want anyone to be in poverty – but I don’t need them to be wealthy on my dime.
No Klew Lew and J Lo right?………that’s a good one.
What I would like to know , is why no one on the council asked him to prove a thing for the beacon tax break.. 30 “full time equivalent” positions … I don’t think I quite buy that .. I smell smoke, according to the mayor lately must be ice cream… guess its nice to just throw other people’s money at problems that shouldn’t exist in the first place .. Where is batman? “This town needs an enema!”-Jack Nicholson-joker
southeast says in all in one little sentence of his piece. He works harder. And that is the problem, the C C does not want to work to reduce, they don’t need to go line item to reduce when they can just sign off on this ridiculous mandate by the current Mayor. It’s being lazy that has got us into this mess, assistants to the assistants, duplication, needless position in all departments that could be consolidated with higher production. Ain’t going to happen, the gravy train is out of control and if the C C approves this Budget, we will never get it right. Make a stand for the good of the taxpayer for a change, otherwise it’s real this time, we will go under.
The taxes are going up. So what? At least now we’re inclusive, vibrant, dynamic and most importantly we collaborate.
Are we still sustaining her vision of a ” vibrant representiion of my (Tyer’s) vision of a divrsified Pittsfield”. ?
Maybe. Her tax increases and policies are a true vision of equal opportunity malfeasance and back room “collaboration”.
Your new Berkshire Eagle (just as bad if not worse than the old Eagle)has an opinion piece bitch slapping councilor Amuso for even mentioning budget cuts. Sounds like someone from the corner office put the dogs on her for stepping out of line.
remember, the owners are all 1%ers and live in Stockbridge – white and affluent and exclusionary. The editorial writer for the BB lives in Dalton, a town where they shot down talking any affordable housing because they know what it would bring, and the publisher lives in Vermont and is only here one or two days a week.
How do any of the top brass at the new Eagle know what is good for Pittsfield when their communities and where they lay their heads at night look nothing like Pittsfield?
Thank god they have Ding Dong Dews working there
The “new” BB is worse than the old one. No doubt, no question. Putrid excuse for a paper.
I was looking at some of the proposals in the budget. There are plenty of areas to be cut. The first two, I’ll steal from a poster on the Eagle (Berkman-gotta give him/her credit). (1) $250k for site considerations and planning/developing a new police station? Why not farm that out as a project to an architectural school in MA? I’m sure a few students (aspiring architects) would love an opportunity/project like that. Plus, the city could pay the top 2 or 3 designers $10k each towards their education costs. That would save the city at least $220k. (2) Fire command vehicles priced at about $55k apiece? The fire department couldn’t find two 2013-15 models with low mileage for $50-60k, rather than $105k? They are command vehicles, not fire trucks or ladder trucks. (3) The airport (runway) improvement fund. The FAA will cover up to 90% of the cost. At $2.6 million, that means the FAA will reimburse Pittsfield up to $2.34 million. That “improvement” will cost tax-payers $234,000. Is the Pittsfield airport in that dire need of “improvements?” (4) The idea of beefing up the police is a good idea; however, have you ever taken a close look at the over night calls for service? There are not many. So it begs the question, where are the officers? And what are they doing? A person with an above average “economic engine” diploma, knows that the gang bangers and people up to no good are out late at night. How about pulling over gang bangers, drug dealers, or just doing the job OUR taxes are going up for. Take a look for yourself on their calls log. It will astound you the little to no police activity after midnight. (5) The biggest eyesore in her budget is the schools. She should just level fund them and let them threaten legal action, the work to home rule, and “save our children” propaganda. Just pull Pittsfield’s “economic engines” stats. Let’s see how many drop-outs, habitual truants, and habitual trouble makers roam the hallways. No names needed, just age, grade level, and last grade level passed, is all that’s needed. The Pittsfield School Department is getting a $1.8 million dollar increase over last years budget. Do they really deserve an increase at all? If I were the mayor, I would tell JIV and the PSC to take the thought of the $1.8 million dollar increase and stick it up their ass. Lord knows JIV and the PSC are sticking up our asses. (6) The Beacon? Where does one even begin? Didn’t former con-man, I mean Mayor Jim Rob-u-too tell everyone that the Beacon was going to bring an additional 250k or was it 500k to North Street? We, as tax-payers, didn’t realize the double meaning behind that. What former mayor Rob-u-too meant was, it was going to be bringing in an additional 250k to 500k to North Street, in the form of dollars coming out of our wallets and into William Stanley’s wallet. If I were on the city council, Stanley would be breaking out the books and show me/us what The Beacon was bringing in a year. I wouldn’t even vote for an independent accountant look over his books to make sure there not cooked-up, like his popcorn. I would even wear different t-shirts to the budget hearings for him. First shirt: “Show us your books!” Second t-shirt when he failed to respond or “left his books at home,” would be “No books = No dinero.” (7) Not sure about this one, so somebody should be able to help me out. Do city councilors get paid health insurance from the city? If so, they would pay a 60/40 split, or get health insurance from their other employer.
I’m counting on the city council to do the right thing, that’s why I’m trying to figure out what to cut from mu budget.
I love everything you said, but don’t count on the city council to do the “right thing”. They really don’t know what that is. They just go along to get along.
Great response, KATE.
Keep in mind that 6% budget increase is not the only increase. Water and sewer rates increases are also proposed. Those two operate on “enterprise accounts” which is separate from the City’s budget. The water rates are proposed to increase by 2 percent while the sewer rate is expected to rise by 6.7 percent.
What Tyler and the City council need to do to increase the tax base is give people confidence that there will be no more tax increases and that the money is well-spent. A tax cut will do the former and the later just depends on time.
Tax cuts and time. You nailed it, CT.
I so agree with you . The Beacon should have been made to show there books before getting a tax break. I am quite sure had he gong to a bank they would have required it . To bad there wisent some one who worked for a bank on the counsel O that right we do have such a person on the council. And there should be some way of checking on him [Stanley] to see were the money is going. And it should be published in the paper so the people of Pittsfield can see were there money is going. People in office forget that it is our money and we have a right to know how they are using it.
Stop dreaming. This was cronyism payback at it’s ugly, in your face best. This corner office stool dump on the taxpayer says everything you need to know about how your city government is going to be run for the next 3 1/2 years.
You cannot beat these people. They hold all of the power positions in the city and have control over the rest. Nothing is going to change. We have been talking about all the negative things this city govt has done for the last 20 years. They do not care about being exposed. You cannot vote them out without voting in more of the same type because they recruit and back the campaigns of most of the candidates. You may think you are voting in new blood only to find out that person was part of the hole in the wall gang all along.
The only real choice is voting with your feet. Just move away and let them have their little crap hole of a city. You deserve better. You have a better chance of beating a casino than overcoming what is wrong with Pittsfield, Ma.
More and more people are doing that. You often here the Puff Peeps talk about a city of”45,000.” It’s now below 40,000, counting gang members, drug dealers, drug users, addicts, welfare cheats, and all other manner of bottom-of-the-barrel scum.
Their seems to be a problem.
Painter is write though.
I’m still trying to figure out what Jon M was talking about two milliion missing from a previous Administration?
The Doyle debacle in 2001 sent the city government in Pittsfield into state government receivership after millions of taxpayer dollars went unaccounted for. Through present day, no one knows what happened to all of that money!
I wish Dan Valenti would write a blog entry about this 15 year old story.
But somehow Doyle came out of the whole experience with a lifetime state job with nice benefits. Wonder how that happened.
What job does he hold?
Are City Employyees tested rugularly for drugs?
No
No. Unions refuse.
I believe the exception is if someone holds a Commercial Driver’s License…..Federal law calls for random testing.
Pretty sure that school bus drivers are tested too.
I am part of the random drug pool for my CDL. I get the call on occasion to go to 610 North.
But a holder of a CDL also is held to a lower blood alcohol .threshold. I believe it’s 1/2 the limit, so it would be .04 instead of the usual .08. Refusal to submit to a breathalyzer carries similar revocation penalties, and a conviction pretty much makes your ability to get another CDL a slim to none possibility.
I guess I wonder why a breathalyzer wasn’t done and why field sobriety tests weren’t done. there seems to be enough evidence to at least charge him with a DUI.
I don’t know if holding a CDL (or a valid license) is required for a Fire Dept. Lieutenant. It seems like it should be, but this is Government…..
They let this character out on bail. Did anyone see this woman’s head?????
Are there pictures on line?
And the Judge was convinced he wasn’t a danger. She’s friggen petrified of this Monster. Why wasn’t he Charged with DUI Pittsfield Police Dept.? And why hasn’t he been suspended Mayor Tyer?
HAs his permit to carry been revoked? If he still drawing a city paycheck? He better not be? I hear the union wants him to go away but will they fight it if the dumass city tried to get rid of him. Only in Piss field.
Hows about we have a parade of dignitaries walk down North Street with High Heels on, you know, walk a mile Her Shoes. She’s lucky she’s not dead.
When you’re Connected, you get out. That’s how it works in the great city.
He never touched her, she fell while walking and hit parked Subaru Forester in Yankee Orchards section of town.
He was more interested in his Personal Status….That sums it up right there!!
Can’t help but wonder what the G- Man thinks of this one?
He’s probably thinkin’ what you thinkin’
I don’t give two shits about Mr. Stanley or his investment. There is no way you can convince me that he is owed a damn thing. It’s Crazy.
Agree 100%
Morandi sold us out on the Beacon T I F?
I’m a Blumin Progressive.
Trumps a Racist of the first magnitude.
Racist Lunatic
Will be interesting to see Trump Comment on Mohammed Ali who was Muslim and a Great Person.
Ali a great person? Ask Joe Frazier.
Joe helped Ali get his boxing license back, gave him money when he was short, and how did Ali treat him? Called him an Uncle Tom, a gorilla.
Call it hype, PR to sell tickets–but the purse was guaranteed for both fighters.
Check the whole story.
From Jack Cashill, “Scarlett Letters”:
“For the one-fourth white Ali and his fans, Joe Frazier was both too black and not black enough. ‘A little old nigger boy from Philadelphia,’ said Ali, ‘who never had a thought in his dumb head ’cept for himself.'”
Ali and his media buddies whipped up such dirt on Joe that Joe received death threats. Joe was the real black man–poor, from the Gullah community of South Carolina. Ali was the middle-class kid from Louisville. But Ali and the media reversed the situation.
From William Nack, “The Fight’s Over, Joe,” Si.com, September 30, 1996, http://www.si.com/vault/1996/09/30/208924/muhammad-ali-joe-frazier-war-of-words
“Ali has been living rent free in Frazier’s head for more than 25 years, ever since Ali—after being stripped of his heavyweight championship in 1967 for refusing induction into the U.S. Army, and then serving a 3 1/2-year suspension from boxing—emerged from his banishment and immediately set about regaining his title, which by then was held by Smokin’ Joe. At Ali’s urgent pleading, Frazier backed him in his fight to regain his boxing license, but no sooner had that been accomplished than Ali began cruelly berating his benefactor, a man who had grown up mule-poor in Beaufort, S.C., the son of a struggling farmer and bootlegger. The young Frazier had migrated to Philly, taken up boxing and become the precursor of Rocky Balboa, training by tenderizing sides of beef in a kosher slaughterhouse with his sibilant left hook.”
Over the next five years, from their first fight in New York City, on March 8, 1971, until their third and last in Manila on Oct. 1, 1975, Ali humiliated and enraged and ultimately isolated Frazier, casting him as a shuffling and mumbling Uncle Tom, an ugly and ignorant errand boy for white America. But the most lasting characterization of all was the one Ali coined on their way to the Philippines in ’75, the one that came near the end of the singsong rhyme he would deliver with that mischievous smirk on his moon-bright face: ‘It will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla when I get the gorilla in Manila!'”
Ali, did, I understand, try to apologize–but not sure if he ever did to Joe’s face.
Hillary is a liar of the first magnitude.
Prediction: nothing will be cut from the budget that amounts to a “hill of beans”. There will be a lot of hand wringing and lamenting the “need” to raise taxes. Everyone knows the only way to really cut the budget is to cut the school budget. This will never happen.
The saddest part in this tragic comedy (also known as the budget review) is that the councillors honestly believe that they are doing the right thing. They simply do not get the fact that we are an older community and these relentless tax increases put an unbearable burden on taxpayers who are living on reduced incomes.
I hope I’m wrong but…….;;;;;
Wa wa what??? The councilors honestly believe they are doing the right thing? And did they believe they did the right thing by giving another millionaire an extended tax break while others less fortunate than he truly suffer?
Can’t go along with you on this one Chuck. I just can’t wrap my head around the reasoning. What I believe is that most of these councilors honestly believe they will be in trouble with the establishment if they fool around with the mayors budget. And why would they want that? Are they more afraid of public opinion or the mayors office? You decide.
“Where have you gone, Man from Mensa? The city turns its lonely eyes to you.”
The city has a spending problem, CV. We both know where that will eventually end up. Thanks for lending your views to THE PLANET. We always listen when The Man speaks.
Chuck, I hear this time they’ll be mailing out a packet of KY Jelly with the new tax bills.
Chuck, how is your son doing in his treatment?
Some Councilors believe they are doing the right thing. But others, those who claim to be “for the taxpayer” – they do as they are told.
I think Chuck was tongue in cheek dusty. Chuck was always on the side of conservatism while a City Councilor,. and as Councilor always was in the debate trench on where and why money was spent.
Amuso is a total waste for the taxpayer. We can see through her shell game and wouldn’t be surprised that she’s playing good cop bad cop by asking that the Budget be cut. She above everyone was one of the leaders for all the increases.
Along with Peter Arlos, the best councilor the city’s has had since The Modern Era.
Chuck Vincelette is right about Pittsfield politics. The system is fixed. Decisions have already been made behind doors. The Mayor, who is the lovely Linda Tyer, and the City Council meet only for show. When my dad was involved in Pittsfield, county, and state government politics years ago, everything he dealt with was a done deal prior to any public/government meetings. It is like politicians are actors reading their scripts in front of the people and the cameras. If you are not on the inside of local and state politics, then you do not have a real voice. The late Peter Arlos spoke out on the troubling issues facing Pittsfield politics, but he was ousted by WHEN and Jimmy Ruberto in 2003. The lovely Linda Tyer came to power in 2003 with WHEN and Jimmy Ruberto. 13 years later, she is continuing their political agenda of high taxes, huge municipal budgets, and tax incentives for failed businesses.
Didn’t Peter Arlos call Matt Kerwood “Eddie Munster,” once at a city council meeting? Kerwood was getting under the skin of Arlos and got put on blast.
We need more city councils like the one we had in 2001-3ish. It was like some of those Asian Parliament meetings, with fists and insults flying at one another. Of course, nothing got taken care of city wise. Which looking back now, wasn’t so bad after all. No taxes were raised, city improvements went up in ashes, the police and fire departments were driving patrol/fire vehicles from the late 1980’s with well over 200k miles on them. Nobody cared, unless you shot down one of the councilors proposals. Then insults started flying, punches might be tossed, it made for really great TV. I believe the Ward 1 councilor (Rob Tuttle-I believe was his name) got arrested on East Street for assaulting his girlfriend at the time (It was in the Eagle-back when even they reported on Pittsfield’s dirt). If I’m wrong about the name, I apologize, but I believe Tuttle was his name. We were watching the birth of reality TV right here in Pittsfield. We just didn’t know it at the time.
Didn’t Valenti call Kerwood cufflinks?
Peter Arlos was as sharp as a nail. Nothing got by him. He was tenacious, and a fighter for the Taxpayers. No backing down, …… he stood his ground and held people accountable. That…. was old school !!
But what did he do to make Pittsfield better?
Muhammed Ali Dead at 74 Truly one of a kind.
That, he was! And a kind man.
And this:
http://blacksportsonline.com/index/2009/04/alifrazier.html
Yes he was and a good entertainer also. He loved people and people loved him.
Filing a lawsuit is easy. Anyone can do it. This just says he filed. Filing and prosecuting your case are two entirely different events. I can’t wait til he tries to “school” a Judge. They have huge egos, and the Water Wiz will quickly learn that calling people crazy doesn’t mean they are.
So do you think a new THS is needed?
nope. Not needed. But it’s being built. The votes were “legal” and I doubt a Judge is going to overturn a legitimate decision made by elected officials doing what is in the scope of their jobs.
The decision is legitimate because it is what they are allowed to do.
What we are allowed to do is vote them out. Interestingly enough, we did not do that, in fact, several ran unopposed.
I have to wonder why you are cheering for failure here southeast?
He’s not cheering for failure. We have a representative form of government and that’ how it works, They are elected to do the peoples business and the majority of voters must be satisfied.
But what to do when the majority of voters aren’t that smart like here in Pittsfield? When they vote for people making stupid decisions that are destroying the city we know and love. When people are struggling to survive, but the wealthy voters head to the polls and vote in the big spenders who love big taxation. The wealthy don’t mind high taxes since its pocket change to them. What do the struggling people do then? People who make just enough to not qualify for big government help in the form of welfare and food stamps and fuel assistance mainly because they work and would like to continue to work. It’s a real problem for which progressives have no solution.
Why don’t we just go back to giving people you don’t think are informed 3/5 of a vote, charge a poll tax, require land ownership, and take the vote away from women. It will be like the 1820’s all over again.
Would be nice. Ah the good ol days
STEVE, I think I, too, would dig the 1820s. I’d do the Byron thing.
We never gave people 3/5 of a vote
In fact that’s a very ignorant statement.
The majority just don’t bother to vote. Many active voters have a connection to someone working for the city or school dept….they always vote for self interest…..that’s not always a bad thing……but if you don’t vote you are actually voting against your self interest and for the hackocracy.
We also have a legal system and he is cheering for failure. Why are you defending him?
Plus, judges are actually educated.
Indoctrination does not equal education.
Succinctly; Gerry Doyle and Evan Dobelle will look like Mother Teresa and Clara Barton compared to Linda Tyer during her 4 yr.reign.
And yes they can use the ladies room if they identify.
Both always could as they have no balls
At one time Ali was the most famous person in the World.
I would like to kow if Mr. Blumin would consider a run for City Council.
Mr. Blumin’s whole deal is that he can’t get a job painting for the city.
Hey, Al, gotta give some cash to someone who wins office–that’s the American way, if not the Russia way.
Did anyone catch the Big B at the Health Board, Al let them have it,both barrells.
Maybe the mayor is not all wrong I just came down north street and a motorcycle cut me off and there wisent a police officer to be found. More officers on the Pittsfield Police what for so there are more that cant be found. Get the Sheriff to start doing some patrols so that then Pittsfield Police can start getting some of the drug dealers and the people who shoot people. Right know don’t wait for people to go through the academy
Pittsfield police rarely enforce traffic laws.
PPD…..City Ordinances ? What enforce them? What’s that ? No way, parking on wrong side. No way, parking on tree line ? No way, loose dogs. No way not cleaning your dog waste. No way, unlicensed vehicles. No way,atv, dirt bike violations.
If they city routinely enforced all city ordinances and the city’s designated portion of the fine placed into the city coffers, taxes could be cut.
City ordinances could become an economic engine.(sarcasm).
and you’re complaining?
Why hasn’t “Pittsfield Central”…or “Downtown Pittsfield”…or even “Downtown, Inc.”…lost it’s city support while city taxes increase ?
IT IS A TOTAL WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY,,,,everyone
knows it but no councilors have the guts to do anything about it.
i go the speed limit because I don’t want to get ticketed but in the last week alone have seen at least 40 violations including speeding, red light, following to close, road rage, but the craziest one is passing on a solid line. guess going the speed limit for some people just isn’t fast enough anymore?
And the cops stand by and do nothing. See it all the time. However, don’t speed on Crane Ave because someone has some pull and they get unbelievable enforcement.
So, are authorities going to follow up to see if blood was in the boat? Wouldn’t that be routine procedure? Hard to believe there were no eye witness to the slip and fall or bashing.
Do you understand the nature of the suit?
How does one slip in a parking lot and fall on your face? And the back of head and tell an officer your in fear? Send this actor away, fire him and let the woman sue his ass, otherwise the city will be in for a lawsuit-because no one picked up the banana peal.
His Attorney is wrong, they have a ton of evidence and there should be much more, take the high heals off and look for it.
This Raging ,Control Freak, Abuser should not have been let out.
Personally I think somebody should start a new local newspaper for this area. One that tells the truth. One that doesn’t hide issues. I think such a newspaper would do wonders for this area and it would be wildly popular. Just imagine a newspaper that ran editorials about what is really happening in this area. A newspaper that challenged those in power on a regular basis and did investigative reports. A newspaper without a political agenda.
Pittsfield didn’t get where it is overnight, but did the local newspaper ever report on how badly this area has been deteriorating? Only recently, due to local public pressure, have they begun to run articles about the high rate of child and drug abuse in this area, but this has been going on for years and they just will not report it because we must remain the “beautiful” (everything is great here folks) Berkshires to keep the tourists happy.
Pat, Pittfield has a newsweekly called The Pittsfield Gazette. It has been around since Ann W. was mayor. Unbiased!!!!!
I have read it, but it needs wider readership and needs to be much more than weekly. With all the craziness that goes on in this city a weekly paper doesn’t begin to make a dent in all the problems and it isn’t hard hitting enough in digging into the issues in my opinion.
Speaking of the lack of traffic enforcement. Have you ever watched how many cars will continue through a recently changed red light at the big Coltsville intersection? Scary stuff when you consider what a broadside could do there. Scarier still when you see a big Petricca truck loaded with a huge cement bridge section barrel through, And I have seen those trucks plow through a red light at that intersection many times. I know they would rather not have to power up through 15 gears if they don’t have to but when I think of the damage one of them could do I cringe. But no one wants to mess with these guys either. Guess we will wait till some car load of kids gets crushed.
Has anyone received a “robocall” from the city informing you of dirty water due to a water line break? Didn’t think so. This city doesn’t care if you’re drinking dirty and probably contaminated water. Let’s raise taxes some more!!
When you see police not enforcing simple traffic laws, it reflects on the department heads.
If you don’t respect your superiors, why do you want to make that authority look good, when you can ignore enforcement.
Majority of the voters is blind to Pols when in reality the taxpayer still has to fund these voted in Pols budget. let there be no misconception the The Majority’ is the lazy taxpayer who didn’t vote, but still has the right to complain about tax increase and general cronyism.
The Captain is still employed?, is that true. Isn’t it illegal to carry a firearm drunk? Let alone the other charges.
Isn’t this the O J thing got started? Are there witnesses?
Why wasn’t the boat swabbed?
Chief Czerwinski and Mayor Tyer have dropped the ball on the episode of the Captain not being removed from Duty. Above all people – Especially a First Responder ( who happens to be a Captain in the P F D ) driving drunk in a boat / automobile..carrying a weapon drunk? I dont want this guy coming anywhere near me during a fire let alone the alleged victim, he’s a liability. I hope there are witnesses.
Very disturbing!!
I believe the key component in the T I F for Stanley is the amount of the T I F approximately 72 g over five years. It doesn’t make sense that the project wouldn’t go on if because of a lousy 72 g. The point is the reasoning behind the Silly Council’s doesn’t make sense for the pittance amount alone?