BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

PREFACE

In THE PLANET‘s article on parking meters from earlier this week, we inadvertently forgot to include remarks the mayor had sent to us earlier on that subject. We regret this omission and now include mayor Linda Tyer‘s exclusive statement to us on that topic:

“There are several reasons for metered parking in the downtown and in the city’s parking garages and lots.  First, the city made a commitment several years ago to implement a parking management plan that would provide a source of revenue for the maintenance of our garages and lots when it accepted a grant for repairs at the McKay Street parking garage. In fact, we have been seeking grant funding for a new Columbus Avenue parking garage which is in total disrepair and structurally unsafe for parking on the upper deck.  We have been stymied because we have not implemented the parking management plan.

“Second, during the review of the city’s parking challenges it became apparent that there is a need to move those who work downtown off of North Street and into the parking lots.  This practice has long been a frustration of downtown merchants because parking turnover has not been conducive to attracting customers.  Third, Pittsfield is a thriving downtown.  We have a strong theater, museum, and restaurant district and a gorgeous boutique hotel.  New investments are being made such as Regions Wine Bar, Funk Box Studios, and Brooklyn’s Best while others continue to succeed such as Steven Valenti Clothing, Mad Macs, and Museum Facsimiles.

“In addition, we have seen significant investments in downtown market rate housing at the Howard Building, the Onota Building, and soon the former Holy Family Church will become Powerhouse Lofts.  In addition, downtown is the financial, legal, and medical center of our city and the county.  We’ve got a lot going for us.  Metered parking is a natural evolution to what is now in high demand because Pittsfield is thriving – parking. — LINDA TYER

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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 14-16, 2016) — All of Pittsfield’s problems can be reduced to one overriding issue from which every other challenge extends, be it failing schools, garbage collection, a sick downtown, parking, taxes, crime, drugs, and the lot. That issue is the lack of a vibrant economy.

Compounding the problem is the chronic overspending by the city, especially to feed the relentlessly money-hungry and underperforming Pittsfield School Department. The schools claim a departmental budget of about $60 million ($60,316,388). The city repeats this fiction, and the Mainstream Media goes along with the lie. In actuality, the budget is almost 75% of the overall $151,302,164 FY17 spending plan, or $112 million.

That $112 million doesn’t include short- and long-term debt service, which will add anywhere between $60- and $100 million; community services; or facility improvement.

That missing $52 million (the difference between the reported school budget and the actual) goes for maintenance, health care, benefits, and cost of running school buses. It is buried on the city side of the ledger.

Rogue Department Runs Wild

Until the city reels in this rogue department, its financial future remains bleak and punishing tax rates will crush homeowners ($18.06 per thousand) and businesses ($36.63 per thousand). This will continue the drop in population, the influx of undesirables, the failure of small businesses, and the inability to attract new business.

Administrators and politicians such as Supt. Jason “Jake” JIV McCandless, his business manager Kristen Behneke, mayor Linda Tyer, council president Peter Marchetti and lockstep apologists such as Kathy Yon, Kathy Amuso, John Krol, and Pete White will tell you with a straight face that the PSD is underfunded. They will use the tired example of teachers having to buy their own supplies for the classroom.

Granted, some teachers spend their own dime here and there. Of course, the reason there aren’t enough supplies is that too few dollars actually make it to the classroom. Far too much money gets eaten by salaries and benefits for administrators, teachers, and the myriad of “support” staff.

The unsustainable increases handed out year after year have come as a consequence of a series of one-sided budget “negotiations.” The teachers’ union and city negotiators represent the special interests. No one has represented citizens and taxpayers for more than a generation.

‘Average’ is Well-Above Average

For example, here are the average teacher salaries for Pittsfield for the past eight years from the state Department of Education:

• 2009 — $53,401
• 2010, $53,707
• 2011 — $58,114
• 2012 — $60,760
• 2013 — $63,853
• 2014 — $64,762
• 2015 — $64,515
• 2016 (estimated) — $67,211.

In 2017 and the years after, that average will continue to increase because of step raises.

Do you see a pattern?

You can see that in this brief time span, salaries increased every year but one, going from $53,707 to $67,211, an increase of $13,750 (26%). This is for a 181-day work year, with overly generous sick time, vacation time, half days (which count as full), professional days, and personal leave deducting from “time served.” Name me one other profession in Pittsfield outside of hooker and drug dealer that pays as much for so little.

How does one solve this problem? Where are the “cuts” to a department whose shuckers claim is already “cut to the bone?” Allow THE PLANET to tell you how to tame this budget and reclaim Pittsfield’s economic future:

1. Change the health insurance spilt for city employees from 85-15 to a more equitable number. THE PLANET recommends the state minimum of 50-50. This change will save tens of millions.
2. Halve the number of school administrators. That function is top heavy both at Mercer and in the schools (assistant principals, deans of students, and other make-work positions.
3. Eliminate tenure.
4. Make it easier for administrators to fire bad teachers.
5. Eliminate early-retirement.
6. Institute pension reform. The current 80% of the top three salaries cannot continue without severe financial damage to the city.
7. Increase the school day by one hour.
8. Regain control of the classroom by adopting school uniforms for all city public schools.
9. Uncap the limit on charter schools. Charters are public schools with the red tape removed. No wonder the teachers’ union opposes more charters. Look at the way BART has ascended to #1. Vote YES on Question 2.
10. Adopt a strict no-smart-phone policy in the classroom.

The city can continue its farce with public education or it can embark on bold reform. The former option will lead to disaster. The latter gives Pittsfield a fighting chance for survival if not revival.

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With that THE PLANET opens The Comment Line. Be intelligent.

Have a great weekend everybody!

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“Learn to value yourself, which means fight for your happiness.” — Ayn Rand

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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