‘HINDS ON THE ROOF’ FUNDRAISER FALLS — SPLAT! — TO THE PAVEMENT…0r…THE BASTARDS WILL TRY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU CATCH THEM AT IT
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION AUG. 19-21, 2016) — If a candidate held a fundraiser in the lobby of city hall, there would be an uproar. Of course, no one, not even the Democrats’ state senate Chosen One Adam Hinds, would attempt it. Even if he did, the city would not, because it could not allow it by law.
It would never happen, right?
Think again.
Yesterday, THE PLANET received this comment from Two Cents:
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August 18, 2016 at 10:43 am
How can the city promote an Adam Hinds fundraiser Friday night on its official website city event calendar? This seems to be clear violation of campaign finance laws. But I’m sure some city hall apologist will explain how the law doesn’t apply this time either.
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We saw Two Cents’ comment in mid-afternoon. We were at first shocked, as in “It couldn’t be true. THE PLANET then dialed up the city of Pittsfield’s website. The home page loaded, as it invariably does, with the photos and links literally under water. THE PLANET went to the events calendar. Our plan was simple. Beginning with the 18th, we would search all the events day by day until we found the Hinds for Senate fundraiser. We needed to see it with our own eyes.
THE PLANET didn’t have to search for long. After coming up empty on the 18th, we placed our mouse over the 19th. Pay dirt. Scrolling down — on the home page city’s official website, mind you — THE PLANET found the following entry:
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“Hinds on the Roof”
436-444 North St.
Event Producer: Adam Hinds Campaign
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There could be no mistake. Two Cents had it right.
It.
Was.
There — the Hinds campaign promoting a fundraiser (scheduled for tonight) on an official, taxpayer-funded website. How could that not be illegal?
Miracle in the Studio
Then a miraculous thing happened. Let THE PLANET take you through the steps.
- Our website draws thousands of hits each day.
- Obviously someone from among The Suits saw Two Cents’ bolt from the blue.
- Fast forward to the set of PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION, Thursday evening, about 4:30 p.m. We had decided this would be a timely, relevant topic. In our preproduction meeting, we went to the city’s website with the intent of showing the funraiser promotion on TV.
- What do you think we found?
- We found the links that were there before in our earlier visit minus one.
- Someone — the Hinds campaign, a peep in city hall, Bill Bixby — had taken the illegal posting down. Nowhere to be found.
- Except in cyberspace today, with the Cloud and all, nothing actually disappears.
Obviously, once the word got out what the city and Hinds were doing, someone from among the guilty got going and quickly tried to wipe off the fingerprints. THE PLANET has an unshakeable premonition, though, that a screen grab of the offending page is in safe hands for future purposes.
Incidentally, if you go to Facebook‘s entry for the Hinds on the Roof fundraiser, you will see that the Usual Suspects will gather on top of the Greystone Building tonight (Friday) for lots of boozing and back-slapping (hey, who says fundraisers can’t be fun?). As we speculated on the air, however, (a) lots of drinking + (b) rooftop location doesn’t seem to be all that wise of a thing. Splat! Look out below! Watch that first step. It’s a doozy!
Ah, but what do we know?
Finally, during the PV-TV show, our Right Honorable Good Friend and co-host Chris Connell told us of another incident (late June/early July) of a candidate for a state office having his or her fundraiser listed on the city’s site. Connell complained to council president Peter Marchetti, and the listing was cancelled. Caught once before, you would think no one would have the gall to try the stunt again. Ah, but this is Pittsfield.
You can watch that show today at Channel 16. There will be four showings. You can also see it at the PC-TV website.
We welcome the Hinds campaign to contact this website with an explanation. First, why was your Concert on the Roof advertised on the city’s home page? Second, who put it there? Third, who in the city authorized it? Fourth, when was it first posted there? Fifth, who took it down? Sixth, tell us why this is not breaking the law and why the campaign shouldn’t be punished?
When the phone doesn’t ring, we’ll know it’s the Hinds campaign not getting back to us.
Meanwhile, folks, we open The Comment Line. Be sharp. Don’t be a dope. And have a great weekend, everybody.
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“A politician is someone who will promise to build a bridge even though there is no river.” — Nikita Kruschev.
“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.
What ever happened to the unofficial start of campaigning as after Labor Day ? With the exception of Mike Bloomberg and Andrea Harrington, they are in your face obnoxious, pandering for a vote. Then after they win, they suddenly become invisible, and no more likely to be seen or heard from till the next election.
Couldn’t agree more with you Ron!!!!
Great job Two Cents!! Who is reporting this to the State Ethics Commission?
The State Ethics commission is not there to enforce ethics. No, their job is to help massage the law breaker back into compliance.
How often have you heard of a meaningful penalty?
Thanks two cents. Actually I propbably seen it before anyone or was one of the first, my first thought was this can’t be illegal as the Mayor’ could not be that dumb to let this on the web site to begin with. Thanks Dan and Chris also.
Does it really matter? Berkshire County and Pittsfield are so far left that anything the Dems do is legal. Even if it would be brought up to the ethics board or ages office they would just be told not to do it again,wink,wink.
Mayor should blame the Hinds incident on one of her high step assistants, for allowing it on the City website?
Also,during third Thursday last night kids were on the heavy equipment vehicles, aren’t laws in place to enforce seat belts whether the vehicle is moving or not, some of those vehicles are pretty high up?
Must say the Beagle is consistent, just printed New Lebanon N Y out of town?Just released it’s fourth quarter? Honor roll.
They may be because one of those students is running the Eagle and wanted to get his friends names in the paper.
no one can be surprised by this – Hinds in the chosen one by the same machine that chose their puppet Tyer – the endless rewards of jobs, political favors, and support will endure for 4 years – which is actually part of the process, but not when the law is broken –
Pittsfield politics hand picks its political hacks to run for state and local political offices. The writing is on the wall! Tricia Farley Bouvier will be re-elected as Pittsfield’s State Representative. Adam Hinds will be elected as Pittsfield’s State Senator.
The done deal is already packaged with a pretty red bow on top!
It is like Christmas day for a child growing up in a wealthy family.
I am not shocked by Pittsfield politics’ pre-determined “elections”!
It has been that way for decades. The Good Old Boys run the show, but they also ran the city into the proverbial ditch.
The refreshing pettiness of politics. See in my world I say who cares? Its a sad reality of how politicians need to raise money and sometimes make stupid decisions like this probably without thought.
What’s really important is the details are in the policy proposals. That’s how you unearth inherited biases from donors or special interests and you can evaluate and debate the success or lack there of by the candidate.
The rest is hogwash.
Will not vote for an itinerant politician who hangs out on Roofs.
Lol
Birdman – details of policy proposals ? We had a presidential race won with “a chicken in every pot” – there are no details in any of the debates that are meaningful – the local races are won by the candidate with the biggest machine, appealing to the lowest common denominator – and now add the most obnoxious social media presence – it’s rat race, and the rat with the most cheese to offer wins – how else can you explain a man like Church Cotton being defeated by Pete W. and DTR ? that was an outrage and embarrassment for the City –
Your completely right. I was speaking in terms of the bias illustrating itself post election.
Chruchill didn’t run a campaign either and Pete and Donna put in the grind.
I didn’t even know he was running until election day.
Re: Smitty Pignatelli on Berkshire County’s tanked economy
Lenox Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli’s op-ed about consolidating local governmental administrative and personnel services really points out that Berkshire County’s economy has tanked on his watch.
Rep. Pignatelli points out the following facts about the economic impacts in his legislative district:
* Population loss
* Aging population
* Business and job loss
* Major employers like GE, Sprague Electric, Rising Mill, and 11 paper mills are gone forever
* Sabic moved to Houston, Texas this year of 2016
* New jobs are found from “The Creative Economy” that consists of travel and tourism companies
* There are a number of small businesses and other quality employers like General Dynamics that remain in the Berkshires
Representative Pignatelli has been a State Representative since early-January of 2003. He has been in that office for over 12.5-years, and he will probably serve another 2 decades until he retires with a big state government pension. All of the facts that he points out are what happened during his time in political office. The local Berkshire County economy has tanked!
In 2016, no one ran a campaign against “Smitty” Pignatelli. No one dares to question Rep. Pignatelli on his public record that saw a declining tax base, tax hikes, losses of employers and jobs, and his support of “the creative economy” that pays people low wages based on seasonal employment.
While I don’t directly blame Rep. Pignatelli for all of these economic issues facing his legislative district, these facts are what happened to the local Berkshire County during the over one dozen years of his public tenure in the state Legislature.
– Jonathan Melle
Smitty is only there to manage the decline. That’s what democrats do in the Berkshires. The GOBs will be scratching their heads wondering WTF went wrong? They are reality challenged Jon, including your friend Tesla Farley Bouvier.
What has he really ever done for Berk County? Let me rephrase….what has he ever done that didn’t cost us a bundle?
Why would William “Smitty” Pignatelli ever write such a depressing op-ed? He basically is saying that Berkshire County’s local economy is at rock bottom. Based on the tanked economy, he wants to consolidate local government services without calling for a new county government since the abolition of Berkshire County government over 16 years ago.
The tax base is shrinking, while taxes are rising. This all happened during the 12-plus years (+ 2 more decades) that Rep. Pignatelli has been in political office in the state Legislature. He can say this because he is running unopposed this year of 2016.
As for Tricia Farley Bouvier, I support her because I agree with what she stands for. Furthermore, she really cares about her community and represents the effectively people of Pittsfield. Just because Dan Valenti and a majority of his blog readers don’t care for her doesn’t change my opinions.
– Jonathan Melle
Rep. Pignatelli is facing facts. I thank him for an honest aseessment. More than we had from either TFB or Hinds who are saying a lot of meaningless words.
assessment (sorry).
Would William “Smitty” Pignatelli have written an “honest assessment” of the tanked local economy in Berkshire County if he was facing a competitive opponent this year of 2016?
I think not! Rather, Rep. Pignatelli would have written a rosy piece of how great things are in the Berkshires, and how voters should choose him for an 8th term as their State Representative.
He is unopposed this year of 2016. No dares to question him. He must be intimidating!
Facts are he never helped Berkshire County so maybe he should look in the mirror and see one of the issues. His resignation would be nice.
Jonathan, Would you enlighten me as to what TFB stands for? What has she accomplished that has been beneficial to our area she represents? I’m looking for something other than the typical political rhetoric that is her claim to fame.
Well said. Berkshire County is getting worse and worse.
The Berkshire delegation to Beacon Hill’s State House should run on that theme!
“Berkshire County is getting worse and worse!”
“Vote for me so I can make things even worse for you!”
“I will raise your state and local taxes higher and higher so more people and business will move away!”
Vote for “Smitty” Pignatelli for over 3 decades so he can receive a big state government pension in his old age!
Rep. Pignatelli: “If we all collaborate and work together to consolidate public services, the Berkshires will get worse and worse even faster than before!”
So the historical commission wants to stop the demolishing of the covent at Saint Joe. I sure hope it’s not going to be a repeat of the covent East Street across from Pittsfield High. That’s supposed to be another hysterical site and They have done nothing to restore or to make it a usable building
This city calendar violation has been reported to MA OCPF. Whatever happens will happen.
Tyer is thinking about getting back to work…Behnke Rush Curtis …3 people who have the highest of income but are mean.Very bad attitudes.All are incompetent to run anything are also all back to work.The schools see budgets as being successful not kids…..Curtis office should be at Allendale
As a PPS employee it is common knowledge that Joe Curtis is as uselses as tits on a bull. All he ever did was get scabs on his knees in JIVE’s office while spewing out “data” that made him sound more intelligent than he actually was. His ‘suggestions’ that he makes are completely impractical and show how little understanding he has on how to teach/run a classroom.
I personally have worked at more than one school, and have friends/family members at others. A few have opted to work elsewhere because they don’t want to deal with him, let alone the rest of the administration.
What’s the good news on Harry “the hatchet” Hayes III? He was supposed to retire at the end of this year. Or is he sticking around to deny medical leave to more cancer stricken teachers?
A guy like Curtis can go far in this town.
Yon Behnke Mazzeo curtis use pittsfield as play money…word is curtis spent 50 on office technology…his office….weird and yon hired him…rush is weird and yon hired her….mccandless want way more money…he is not a manager but a advocate for students…who isnt….need a money manager suit in that job…..everybody wishes for more money…..shut down stockroom….crosby. …phs now that they screwed up
Where was Hinds last job before his latest job? softer theHostage negotiator job?
He ended all the gang violence in Pittsfield and we all lived happily ever after and raised unicorns.
I was sold a unicorn to raise, but it turned out to be a 3-legged churro that was high on the hog. In the words of Estelle Constanza, ‘I WAS DUPED!”
After.the N G job.?
Wasn’t he a roofing contractor?
I’m hearing more kids leaving pittsfield in record numbers this year.Herberg gun issue was not resolved in public.Everyone who wants out can’t get out.Mccandless at a loss for words on this.Curtis giving new teachers a terrible time….Joe Curtis is hurting Pittsfield students…..
Everyone who wants out can’t get out for sure. Tricia trying to limit choice program by putting a cap on Charter Schools expanding. Is she trying to box in the kids so they cannot escape the poor Pittsfield public school system of which she has so much control? The big money cow that so well feeds her friends? Is the bigger picture now starting to form in front of our very eyes?
Our Liar in Chief President Obama has been caught in another lie about giving ransom money for hostages. He was very irritated about even being asked about this issue and doubled down on all of his lies about the issue. He really comes out of this looking even worse than usual. I guess we better prepare ourselves since Hillary as pathological liar will even leave Obama in the dust when it comes to not telling the truth.
Pat ,are you trying to say that the Republican party offers a great alternative in Donald( the progressive )Trump.
The anti union Trump said he will bring union jobs back to Detriot,he is lying to union workers to get their vote.Pandering is getting sad ,but when you are not true to yourself you lie.
Trump gave a GREAT speech yesterday in that city. Hillary was nowhere to be found all week to visit the areas of flooding. Obama has been shamed into doing so after the media played his speech from years ago in which he put down big time the politicians who didn’t visit a disaster site. He said it showed their lack of leadership and concern. I think he really thought his good buddies in the media would protect him as they usually do for the ransom issue and his decision to not visit the flood ravaged area, but they couldn’t save him from these two glaring issues.
Hillary is getting to the point where she thinks she doesn’t need to work at it since she thinks she has the presidency already with the supposed lead in the polls.
Can’t think of a more disgusting person than Hillary. She lied to the faces of families that just lost love ones in Bengazi. She shamed women that were sexually molested and harassed by her husband. Not to mention the Clinton Foundation. Anyone is better than her.
Trish is going to say now how great it is to send kids to PIttsfield Public Schools. That will be her Theme the next few years and collecting toles on exits 1-6 and while monitoring your gas mileage.
Pittsfield public schools couldn’t teach a dog to sit. When is the last time you have heard of a kid staying back? Nope, don’t happen, push them thru, dumb and dumber.
Be wary of the candidates that say employers want ready educated students for jobs here and the new school is a great idea. ?????What employers?
I heard that the new Taconic will be offering an advanced course in burger turning as well as a mustard application course. Spatula 101 is a prerequisite. I am hoping they will also be offering a course on How to use a Belt, for the sagging britches crowd who like to go around looking like they got a load of shit in their pants. I am always fascinated when I see a guy with his pants hanging off his knees and a cute girl on his arm. But I worry more about the girl than the guy because she has obviously set the bar way too low for herself.
Good story about the sagging britches. I couldn’t agree more. Also agree with the course selections that will undoubtedly need to be offered at the new Taconic.
Trish will no doubt win this election since the school people will be coming out in force to vote for one of their chief money grabbers. This is one of the many problems with the school people takover of this city as we now know thanks to Dan V. that the majority of school employees live in Pittsfield. He had a tough time getting that information from McCandless as it was such top secret information for obvious reasons.
It’s similar to government becoming bigger and bigger. Government expands itself by taking on more and more people. Since these people owe their living to the government they will vote pro big government every election as this insures their financial future. This is what has happened on a smaller scale here in Pittsfield. Many city residents who are school employees vote pro school people to insure their own financial futures. The system becomes corrupt and top heavy but is unstoppable due to the sheer number of people propping up this corrupt system.
iBerkshires published a synopsis of Dr. McCandless’ annual performance review by the school committee.
Needless to say, they feel that he is the second coming manifested, and that Nostradamus wasn’t as forward thinking as he is, and Albert Einstein wasn’t as intelligent, and that his compassion rivals that of Mother Teresa’s.
They also feel he is as progressive and fiscally prudent as TFB.
Lee’s counterparts are laughing their asses off.
In an iberkshires article it is reported that the school committee has given GLOWING praise to McCandless. When it comes to doing their bidding, he is TOPS. Someone even wrote in a comment at the bottom of the article that there is no mention of the fact that the schools are doing poorly in their main job of educating the children. No, that’s not the concern of this school committee. He was praised solely for his money grabbing and school expanding abilities. McCandless even says in the article that his greatest ability is knowing to say “yes” to the people who surround me. Unbelievable!!! You can’t make this stuff up.
Joe Curtis is blaming custodians for so many students exits….40 people cleaning 1.2 million square feet of schools.Judy Rush is also blaming custodians and kitchen help for the high budgets.Dennis Guyer is trying to raise his salary by 40 k by taking over the cleaning of schools with custoDiane used as pawns in his plans to rip city off the way Stracuzzi did by taking over grounds dept from schools raising his pay by 50k
So we have Pignatelli writing an article in the Berkshire Eagle in which he lays out just how bad things are here in Berkshire County. Not for him of course or other government workers living high on the hog. No mention of cutting back big government salaries or putting term limits on government leeches like himself. No, folks all of the sacrifice will come from us, you know the ones currently struggling with the lousy economy or lack of an economy in this area. School employees are also doing very well on the backs of local taxpayers, but don’t expect them to make any sacrifices in their salaries either. As Jon Melle mentions above all of this has happened under Pignatelli’s watch.
“Smitty” Pignatelli is running for his 8th term as Lenox State Representative. I predict he will serve 2 additional decades so he can collect a big state government pension in his old age.
Pignatelli is insensitive to be collecting a big state government salary + benefits, while he writes how many local people and communities in Berkshire County are struggling to earn a living and stay afloat financially.
If Pignatelli was a true leader, he would offer to cut his salary, give up his future pension, or step down from being a career politician and try to make a living like those he writes about!
Yes, 80% of his three highest years
Taxpayers are getting creamed by a very small group of people .When you hear a department head say he will take over another group ask him if he is getting a raise or he’s doing it to save money
Is it an illusion or does it just seem that every time another 50 kids bails on the Pittsfield public school system every body who works there gets a pay raise?
Would Mr McCandless be so kind as to tell us how many kids have left the system since he took over? heh heh
Less kids equals more teachers and more money needed to run the system? This guy has got CEO written all over him. Does Trump need a new campaign manager because this guy has a resume that reads like
All is well in the shire city, remain calm.
I was reading articles from many web sites for my daily fix of what’s going on for today. Low and behold a Adam Hinds for Senate popped up on Brietbart. I didn’t see any of them in any other sites. I found it interesting.
We are in control. You are powerless.
H,
re: Seatbelts
M.G.L. Ch 90 sec 13A…..”operate” or “ride.”
(Always somebody out their to try to piss on somebody elses parade).
I am not voting for anyone using such political speak words and phrases as:
Collaborate and collaborative… wish I had a nickel. Please demonstrate how much you actually collaborate and include voters in the process.
Quite frankly… WTH… frankly is bad enough. Why include? Are you not frank most other times? And WTH does quite frankly mean?
These words and phrases reek of GOB politics.
We’re having a great Olympics. So much gold no nation can catch us. Our lady basketball players just won gold. In a first, a Muslim American won gold and in gymnastics Simone Biles has given us a new American sweetheart supplanting Mary Lou Retton.and maybe, just maybe, being the superior of Nadia Comaneci of perfect 10 fame.. Not easy to do but Simone did it. Much to be proud of.
Now, I don’t know about you but I am rooting for whoever Is America’s opponent in basketball for the gold medal. Not because these pompous multi-millionaires don’t room with other Olympian’s, including Americans. My main reason for rooting against the male team is three of them don’t realize, or don’t care, their importance as role models to young Americans, or for that matter, all Americans.
In these Olympics three members of this team were caught visiting a Rio whorehouse. They must have thought 3 almost seven foot tall dudes did not stand out. Well, they did, and from my understanding of the story they did not get their dessert that evening and returned to their yacht digs with wallets intact.
These guys should have been sent home and because Coach K did nothing he should have been canned. too.
For the basketball gold medal, bah humbug to our team.
Chuck, I agree with your feelings on the USA basketball team 100%. I love how these competing teams play teamwork ball and our team has a me,myself and I attitude. Mr.Basketball (Bob Cousy) Hondo ,JoJo White and the others were what basketball was about.
Ball
Chuck U S was disqualified for Baton infraction in the 4/100 relay. How the heck does Fiji win a medal? In Rugby of all sports?
I don’t know, Trumped Up, I can’t figure it out. I thought all Fiiji was gold in was climbing coconut trees.
Still chuckling…Chuck..good one.
Great names, Johnny, and even greater team players .How about Bill Russell? He was brought in to be the rebounder who started the fast break. Made no difference if he scored. I think Red Auerbach would be disgusted with today’s style of play and I’m sure Red would be disgusted with players who would visit a Rio cathouse while representing their country in the Olympics. .
CHUCK
Without RUSSELL, the Celtics don’t win 9 world titles in 10 years! You’re right about Red and today’s “clown ball” NBA.
And let’s call out the Chuck Kruscheffski is a know pill popper with a history of bad back problems. he shouldn’t even be Coaching.
Krzyzewski, Duke Basketball Coach.
As for THE PLANET, we’ll take Ted Kluzewski.
Quite a guy. He had muscles the natural way. Working out and DNA. No pill popper here.
The Babe never lifted anything other than a pint. But he did put heavy syrup on his pancakes.
I take Steve Kruscowski.. 66 Western Ma State Champs
Killer Kowalski..fugetaboutit!
Does anyone have any information regarding the new school project? In particular I am looking for information regarding Vocational student involvement. No I am not looking for the students to be the General on the project however with the trades being taught at Taconic I thought it would be great experience for the kids to look over the plans in class to see what building documents look like. A building located in the community not from a text. You know giving it context. Then they could also go across the yard and look at the stages of progress electrical “rough in” then move to the intermediate and finish phase. The Students built a house for an administrators secretary I thought this would be good commercial experience. Obviously it would need to be controlled and supervised but I thought a great experience.
I can’t find any educational or vocational component in the build documents. I am not saying it’s not there I just haven’t seen it has anyone?
After all, Its for the children
just sayin
Never mind these other K’s ending ski, I’ll take Walt Kowalczyk, Westfield High 1953, Michigan State All-American and #1 draft choice Philadelphia Eagles. Let’s get closer to home. Ray Woitkowski was as great as they come. And he’s Pittsfield High.
Ray Woitkowski.
Chuck the greatest of all time was Captain Carll In my era anyway.
Local,
Who is Captain Carl?
I think it’s YAZ.
Keeping it local, Gene Hermanski.
Chico Escuela was the best
Baseball was “beddy beddy good: to him.
Nah, the players from Japan have it all over Berkshire players.
Masanori Murakani. Once more, keep it local: Katsuhiro Shitanishi, ss, 1969 Pittsfield Red Sox (116-for-513, .226). That team also had Pittsfield’s own Carl Boteze, 3-3, 3.32 ERA, 38 innings, 2 CG … and Paul Dowd, 3-7, 6.23 ERA, 4 CG including 2 ShO)
Teddy Ballgame yes Teddy Buick no.