BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY OCT. 6, 2016) — Perhaps the most preposterous claim made by apologists for the hegemonic decision by outside interests to locate two-score-and-10 Syrian refugees in the city of Pittsfield is that “three quarters” of the city is in favor. 75%? No way. 10%? Perhaps.

Ward 6 councilor John Krol carried the banner leading the pressure-cooker parade. Krol publically stated Pittsfield citizens overwhelmingly favored this risky move. Naturally, this being Pittsfield — a place where ideologues like Krol never have to answer to citizens, constituents, the electorate, or an inquiring press not named THE PLANET — he offered not a drop of evidence to support his claim.

On the other hand, THE PLANET has talked to or heard from what we conservatively estimate at 200 people, all locals. Perhaps a dozen favored the move. If we include as “favorable” those who thought “maybe” it might work but had worries, the number might hit 20. The rest expressed deep concern. Based on that unscientific indicator, THE PLANET feels comfortable saying that 9 out of 10 residents oppose this move.

Beside Krol, the other main cheerleader doing The Bosses‘ bidding on this totalitarian decision and issue is none other than Sweet Pete White, the man who makes at-large seem at-small. Pulseless Pete uses Facebook for most of his politics (curious, but that’s a whole other issue). On the refugee issue, however, Sweet Pete found he wasn’t preaching to the choir of friends. THE PLANET presents a sampling of the reactions White received on FB, along with his responses. Incidentally, we did not include the FB input in our poll of 200.

1. KRISTA MILLER — “Why does a Springfield organization get to determine that Pittsfield is “a good place to relocate” refugees to without actually consulting anyone in the Berkshires?”

2. DOUGLAS CROCKER — “Your constituents have a lot of concerns.”

WHITE RESPONDS —  “Douglas, and I am listening and discussing. Doesn’t mean I have to agree, especially on an issue where no was taken.”  Then, “There are usually 1800 jobs available in Berkshire County at most times of the year. Refugees will not be given jobs, they will earn them same as every other job seeker. Out of 50 Refugees, maybe 15 will be looking for work. Others will be children.”

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3. RICHARD ARNOLD — “Sure hope they can speak English. I can tell you it’s a really difficult in the job world when I can’t speak English.”

 WHITE RESPONDS — “Last I checked America had not chosen an official language, English just happens to be the one most used. I’m sure most Refugees will be eager to learn it to fit in and become part of our community as New Americans. … There is enough money for all 3” [homeless, veterans, and refugees; notice he leaves out taxpayers?].

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4. RITA OSBORN — “My question is this: Tax dollars from the city, state, or federal government? But definitely our tax dollars.”

WHITE RESPONDS — “Federal and maybe state dollars” 

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5. DOUGLAS CROCKER (again) — “Are you kidding me that not one Political leader in the community bothered to inform its citizens prior? How about asking citizens how they feel about it first, before being the Boston pattsies. The Boston cronies and bureaucrats dumped this crap on us. They took advantage of unsuspecting green and gullible local Political Reps knowing darn well the backlash that would be comming. Our local leaders were taken for fools.”

6. JOE WHITE — “If one of these refugees were to do a violent act ,peter all the people on the city council would be done.we don’t take care of our own,there are no good jobs.bring good paying jobs not people that need jobs. Is this why we spent all that money on the new high school.really there should have been a vote if we the people want to do this. Is this still america or what. Fed up.”

WHITE RESPONDS — “Joe, I didn’t vote on this either, nor did any city councilor.” [Notice the “it’s not my fault” running away from the issue.]

7. K — “Just curious…honest question: She [the head of  Jewish Family Services] is from Springfield. Will there be refugees in Springfield? Also, you stated there is plenty of affordable housing available. How about the two-year waiting list for residents? Will they get bumped? I have friends living in shelters, waiting.”

WHITE RESPONDS — “There are Massachusetts Cities and towns that already have Syrian refugees. I am not sure about Springfield specifically. I am not a spokesperson for the program, so I don’t know all the answers. I would expect no one will get bumped and they are being moved into apartments over the 9 months from January 2017 to September 2017.” [Notice how White turns “politician” here, cowardly deflecting the question and thereby not giving an answer.]

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8. K (again) — “Interesting that she chose Pittsfield as an ideal place and not her home town. With our problems, already. Just spend a week at the Christian center, not shaking hands but being part of the patrons. No photo op, just one of the regular folk. Sorry, Pete. I like you. I’m also a generous person. This just makes no sense, if you’ve spent any amount of time with the less fortunate people of Pittsfield. I wish I could wear a camera, so you will see what I mean. … That’s why it’s perplexing that they’ll find housing for refugees, but not for their own residents. I’m just really confused. I did go to the meeting and there was no opportunity for questions. It was informational/feel good, a ‘we are doing it whether you like it or not.'”

WHITE RESPONDS — “Federal money is being offered for this. Write your Congressman and Senators. I didn’t know what to expect at the meeting. I’m hoping the next one will be answering the questions that were asked.” [Dan Valenti — professional smart-aleck, curmudgeon, and provocateur — responded on FB: “K has owned the issue in this discussion. For Pete White to say ‘We’re getting federal dollars for this. Write your congressman’ is a total cop-out Pete, and you know it.” White did not respond.]

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9. KRISTA MILLER (again) — “Dear Lord Peter federal money comes from us — these are our tax dollars  — can we please stop talking about it like it’s just coming out of thin air or being picked from the freaking money tree in Washington???”

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It is clear to every rational mind that the good citizens of Pittsfield:

(a) Are upset over how this issue was settled, without any local say or input.

(b) Want the program to stop until the multitude of questions are answered.

(c) Want a say in whether or not to accept this autocratic decision.

(d) Are livid that not one local “representative” has asked any tough questions, including about the murky finances.

Total lockdown.

Welcome to Pittsfield, Syrians. You probably find it a little safer but not a lot freer than from whence you came.

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“It is the role of good journalism to take on powerful abusers, and when powerful abusers are taken on, there is always a bad reaction. We see that controversy, and we believe that is a good thing to engage in.” — Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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