KHEM ORGANICS POT FACILITY, AND THE RETURN OF ANDREA NUCIFORO JR.
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 6, 2017) —When former State Sen. Andy Nuciforo Jr., still a prominent Pittsfield Democrat, became clerk and kingpin for Kind Medical, a medical marijuana factory proposed for Easthampton in Hampshire County, the state rejected the application. Kind, being not so kind in this case, turned around and sued the state. THE PLANET doesn’t know nor do we care about the outcome of that suit.
“We unfortunately have a case where the department, having had ample strong applications, chose to allow none of them,” Nuciforo said at the time, which, to be chronologically correct, happened to be in September 2014. “It’s a disservice to patients and unfair to applicants.”
There you have it from Ang; the state was “unfair” to him. Translated into the political vernacular, Nuciforo didn’t have the political heft to see this application succeed. It had to be a reality check for a “golden boy” who easily went to the statehouse and registrar of deeds without breaking a sweat. Of course, it’s not a state secret or even a beauty-parlor secret that these lucrative licenses are awarded almost solely on “Who You Know.”
Marijuana stores are essentially licenses to print money with hash and weed serving as the printing press. Once you get OKd for a “medical marijuana” facility, you’d have to had a full lobotomy not to make money. For every legitimate medical case such as relief from cancer’s side effects, you will find 10 “phantom back injuries.” That being said, the state makes applicants run through hoops and garters and lastly through a hogshead of real fire. Why? Because it can.
The state’s rejection gave Andy a slap-down he didn’t anticipate. This son of a connected judge and state rep, born on third base on the diamond of local politics (his aunt and uncle were former mayor Ann Wojtkowski and hubby, former state rep Tom), refused to quit. On Sept. 25, 2015 an outfit listing Nuciforo as an investor filed an application with the state Department of Public Health (DOH) to operate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) — what the street calls a “drug dealer.”
Fast forward to 2016 and a company called Khem Organics, a “non-profit” corporation headquartered at 100 North St., 4th floor, Pittsfield. You must remember how that address made news under the previous mayor, who, “coincidentally,” served as finance director for Andy Nuciforo’s aunt when she ruled Pittsfield from the corner office.
Dan Bianchi committed the city to a long-term lease at 100 North, taking over a huge space and paying one of his buddies, who “coincidentally” owned the building, a ruinous rental rate. Granted, what THE PLANET and taxpayers see as “ruinous,” The Suits consider a bargain. As THE PLANET will reveal in Part Two tomorrow, Bianchi also figured in a key filing on Dec. 9, 2015 that allowed the Khem Organics bid to move forward.
Khem Organics has passed the initial state hurdles, and hopes to be “selling the stuff” later this year from a building at 501 Dalton Ave (the former Salvation Army). The company has provisional OK from the state to remodel the facility. Nuciforo has gone to great lengths, it would appear, not to advertise his connection with Khem Organics. He hasn’t taken out billboards nor has he issued press releases or posed for photo ops.
The company’s application, received by DOH Sept. 29, 2015, lists Nial C. DeMena as the company’s chief executive officer. On June 21, 2016, however, Khem Organics’ application for a siting profile for its facility on Dalton Avenue is signed by John E. Mullen IV, who lists his title as CEO. Hmmm …
As part of state’s requirements, RMDs must show at least $500,000 “in its control” at the application process. Khem Organics listed these investors with the following amounts:
— Matthew Feeney — $690,023.67
— Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., CEO and chairman of Taconic Finance Partners — $475,000.
— Albert Wojtkowski — $329,108.31. (Total $1,494,131.98, almost $1 million more than the state requires).
Ah, the Wojtkowskis again. They “coincidentally” own 501 Dalton Ave., doing business as Wojtkowski Bros. Inc., 1548 W. Housatonic St. Everybody sing: “It’s a small world after all.”
Let THE PLANET make clear we have uncovered no signs of illegality. The Khem Organics application seems to fulfill the technical requirements, but doesn’t it strike one as odd that of all the applications received by DOH, and they are by law unlimited, this one should find favor for Berkshire County and advance to the semi-finals?
TOMORROW IN PT. 2: The thick plottens.
—————————————————————————–
“She was starting to think that it might be fun to be in control of the universe.” — Nicki Elson
“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 that violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment, written word, or information from any source other than PLANET VALENTI as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service. All users of the services of PLANET VALENTI agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice.
Well, least it’ll be, Home Grown.
Well,now we have free heroin and meth needles, methadone clinics, drunks on North Street day and night, and now pot. What’s not to like about our fair city. All we need now is a Wally Mart Super Store on a polluted parking lot.
And prostitutes hanging around AMart. One arrested Saturday Night. Our Officials are not doing themselves any favors by denying the truth in Pittsfield.
Isn’t it sad how drug users in Pittsfield can get free needles, methadone, rides to the methadone clinic, drugs to reverse “accidental overdoses”, pot, housing and more. Everything but real help. Meanwhile hardworking people who have to work 2 or 3 lousy low paying go nowhere jobs get nothing but fleeced and run over by their elected spenders.
Also prostitutes have been in Pittsfield “working” for a while. Its a not talked about part of the city’s long time drug problem.
Prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas. But estimates are that there are upwards of 10,000 girls working the trade during peak convention season. And this works very well because everyone from the police to the bellhop to the cab driver is getting a cut for their part in facilitating the business while at the same time denying its very existence. Las Vegas may not be the only place this sort of thing happens.
Dilly, don’t forget the home for pregnant addicts. Brain Center got State money for facility in Pittsfield.
Everyone is allowed their perspective, but personally I find is shameful that people still lump marijuana in with heroin and methadone.
As a chronic pain patient, I wish I had access to the kind of marijuana people in Colorado do. Pain relief without the high. Yes please
I agree with you on pot LGM if used for legit ailments, and treated just like any other prescribe drug.
These clinics have the potential to be multi million dollar pinatas and there is no way someone not politically connected was getting in on the ground floor.
There was a time when gambling was considered a scourge. But if the government was doing it it would be morally acceptable. (who really runs the lottery and is there any oversight?) So now marijuana is legal and morally acceptable and only those with deep “political” connections will be reaping the profits.
It is almost as though Mario Puzo is writing the back story.
WHy was crime scene near 100 N a few nights ago?
Don’t know. Could it have been part of Friday night’s Arts Walk?
PD was checking out a report of person(s) breaking into vehicles. Someone reported to the bartender that outside the area of the establishment this was taking place. It took a citizens effort to report it,as the bartender didn’t call to report it.
Ty Johnny, it was just the night time version of the North St Ambassadors making sure everyone locks their car doors.
They were just looking for $ to put in the parking meters so the patrons would get a ticket.
Wouldn’t
The most important news in 100 years is a sitting Trump has accused a former president of tapping his phone.Potter does not matter today.This paranoid president does matter today for 330 million americans.Impeach
I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of President Trump’s first term you see multiple people from Barack Obama’s administration, if not he himself, in Federal prison.
Trump has mental health problems
SC it appears you have a mental health problem. Atleast your at the right place to get the help you need. I wish you luck. Please continue to post your rants against Mr Trump. I believe this is excellent therapy for you.
You tell em
The American people do not understand this cult of followers.Pat you want a 20 dollar a week tax cut and are willing to dismantle the greatest country on earth to get it .
The progressives have serious mental issues. They accuse Trump of being in bed with Russia with zero evidence. Oh, Sessions forgot he had a meeting with the Russian Ambassador so this proves the crazy theory from the left. Sessions is a 70 year old man. Elderly people do have a tendency to forget things. Just look at 80 year old Pelosi who FORGOT she had attended a dinner with a Russian Ambassador, but that’s okay because she is a Democrat so we will give her a pass on her memory lapse.
Who remembers when Mitt Romney was crucfied as a fear monger when he called Russia our greatest geopolitical threat facing America. Obama and the liberals jumped all over him it.
All of a sudden, it’s true and Russia is the devil.
Oh the irony
Russia becomes a source of hysteria when it is political expedient to do so.
Trump is also a 70 year old man.
My point is that elderly people in 70’s and 80’s do have memory issues. These politicians are elderly. People in their 50’s often begin to have memory issues. These are elderly people. It’s not necessarily evidence that they are up to no good when they forget things.
Absolutely right Pat. and how old did you say you were? Cuz…….
Hysteria and lying are also serious mental health issues being exhibited by the progressive left.
Nothing done in the city for normal hard working people while everything is done to encourage people to stay hooked on drugs. The mayor even goes out of her way to say she wants to make this area a place young people want to come to in order to LIVE not to WORK.
Come to Pittsfield for all of the help given to those who show no motivation to improve themselves and who just want to live addicted while this city enables them to do so. The mayor and other local politicians want to turn this area into a safe space for addicts which means making this a dangerous area to live for everyone.
Pat, you are twisting what the Mayor said.
What she said was that young people don’t look for jobs, then move the place where the job is. They decide where they want to live, then move there and go find a job. Therefore, we need to make Pittsfield an attractive place where young people want to live, so they will move here.
BTW, before you say there are no jobs, you’re wrong. GD has many high paying engineering jobs. Interprint has jobs, Petricca has jobs, as do many of my small business clients, including myself. Problem is there is a lack of a skilled work force or workers that want to work.
Barry
Not shocking that people don’t want to work when so many in the city are being treated for addictions. They couldn’t pass a drug test which is a basic requirement for most jobs. People will NOT want to move to an area known for having a large population of addicts. That isn’t considered good quality of life for most people.
A healthy economy has jobs at all levels including mid level jobs not just high tech positions and lower retails type jobs. Pittsfield is not a healthy economy because mid level jobs are very difficult if not impossible to find.
Barry,
I work with and talk to alot of young people and all of them tell me they look for the work first, and the place to live second. So I find your and the Mayor’s view on this particular subject hard to believe.
And the last time I checked GD’s website there was one, and only one engineering job posted and it required prior engineering experience.
And is it true that the Interprint jobs average about 35K a year? So when someone on public assistance can make that much why would they apply for a job when they can get it for free?
And can you tell us what the average yearly wage and the benefits are for these small business jobs you and your clients have available?
I think you are putting forth alot of ‘alternate facts’ here.
I must correct myself. Today’s search of GDs website does show numerous engineering openings in Pittsfield but the qualifications are very steep indeed. I imagine most of them will go to out of towners.
Barry, do young people take in to consideration skyrocketing property tax rates and crumbling roads? How about failing schools or escalating crime?
I agree. Find job first then look for place to put down roots..
Clearly, the standard of life attained by living off the system is far better than where one gets as an accountant or engineer. All those years in grad school, and I’m getting played by people on food stamps.
Also encourage the local population in their addictions so that the connected individuals can get rich. Where is the motivation for these people to fight their addictions?
Barry you should run for a Trump Cabinet post. The Mayor’s words were,…ome here to live first, where is the confusion?
He’s in Tyer’s pocket, no point arguing. She made a fool of herself, sad how much the city has declined that it goes unnoticed
Progressives are the people who have turned Pittsfield and Berkshire County into the mess that it is in. These same people want to kick Donald Trump and the Republicans out of office with their witch hunt theories so they can eventually be the ONLY party ruling the country. We should all be running in terror.
The FBI said that Hillarys email server was broken into by Russian and given to wiki leaks so they could influence a Trump victory. As part of any investigation one would want to investigate the party that has business with Russian government for reasons that are so obvious to most FBI investigators a moron would investigate Trump
Wikileaks has already stated that none of their DNC emails were provided by the Russians.
If, and only if, the Russians broke into Hilary’s email server then that serves as proof as to how insecure it was and how much at risk she put American security in.
and after all the hub bub about it it still did not occur to Mike Pence to upgrade his own server. Just as a precaution to be on the safe side?
Pence does not have his own email server. There is a big difference between a private email account and having your own email server. Colin Powell also did not have his own email server, he used a private email account. Learn the difference.
Oh my!!
Trump wants all his paranoiasecrets investigated immediately so that his supporter do pay attention to the fact corporations are about to rip this country a new one.Pat goes to sleep knowing his corporations own america…Trump is draining the swamp of human rights…..Pat did you notice this or you still waiting on you 20 bucks tax cut.
Let’s see Trump has been in office 6 weeks, I think I can wait a bit longer.
$20.00 may not be much to the elites (and I’m sure it will be more than that) but for average people, it means more food on the table. Corporations owned America during the Obama administration. In fact, the rich did very well during the Obama years.
Pat, you are correct. Corporations and Wall St. did fantastic under Obama and the hard working middle class suffered. People don’t understand that no matter if a Republican or Democrat is in charge, the special interests are the ones who benefit and the hard working American suffers. The only difference in the 2 parties is which set special interests benefits more.
The rich will always do well Pat, that’s why their rich.
This is why we need somebody in government looking out for the working middle class who doesn’t get food stamps and special help. The middle class who keeps the country in business everyday. The left used to look out for the middle class, but no longer. That ship has sailed.
TSC, wrong. Trump’s tweets about the wire tapping are his way of fighting back against those behind the Russia allegations.
That said, using Twitter to badmouth Obama and put forth allegations with zero proof (so far) was extremely disappointing. He is burning alot of bridges and that will make it very hard to get anything done that will benefit hard working Americans. He hasn’t learned yet, and may never learn, that he is not a CEO anymore and can’t treat people in gov’t like that.
That’s a double standard though. The left comes out and accuses Trump and his cabinet of being in collusion with the Russians with zero evidence, but that’s okay. Trump accuses the Obama administration of wire tapping, but that is terrible. Shouldn’t we say that both sides had better give the American people some real evidence to justify their accusations?
Pat, I agree. Both sides just disappoint me.
Nuciforo has a law office in Boston where he serves big banks and insurance companies.
Nuciforo has a law office in Pittsfield where he serves marijuana applicants and put $475,000 of his own cash into the “pot”.
Nuciforo is the dark, inbred Prince of Pittsfield politics. His late-father was a Pittsfield State Senator and then a Probate Court Judge in Pittsfield. His late-Aunt, Anne E. Wojtkowski, was a Pittsfield Mayor and a long-time Berkshire Community College Professor. His Uncle Tom Wojtkowski was a long-time Pittsfield State Representative. Nuciforo followed in his late-father’s footsteps and served as a Pittsfield State Senator. He then served as a Pittsfield Registrar of Deeds while plotted a failed run for U.S. Congress in 2012.
Nuciforo’s public service in the Statehouse became linked to wealthy financial institutions in Boston. He received many thousands of dollars from big banks and insurance companies during his decade as a State Senator on Beacon Hill. Critics believe he was corrupt and violated “conflict of interests” laws. The Boston Globe in January of 2007 reported that Nuciforo lobbied to have the then new Governor, Deval Patrick, nominate him to be Commissioner of Insurance, but Judge Nonnie Burnes received the nod instead of Nuciforo.
In my personal experience with Nuciforo, he tried to jail me in the Spring of 1998 when I was 22 years old. Prior to his criminal complaints against me, Nuciforo filed multiple “ethics” complaints against my dad from the Fall of 1997 through the Spring of 1998. Nuciforo wanted to get my dad fired from his state government job at the Pittsfield court system. Fortunately, I didn’t have to go to Carmen Massimiano’s jail, and my dad wasn’t fired from his job.
Nuciforo also strong-armed 2 women candidates (Sharon Henault, Sara Hathaway) out of the 2006 state government “election” for Pittsfield Registrar of Deeds!
Nuciforo also plagiarized his policy platforms for U.S. Congress in his campaign web-site.
In closing, I believe Nuciforo is only after money! It is evident by his corrupt connections to the wealthy financial industry in Boston. It is evident by his repeated investments in trying to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Pittsfield. Nuciforo represents politics and government at its worst!
– Jonathan Melle
Pat…your getting this thing so wrong because you feel Sessions should not have to issue a statement that he forgot.Number 2 your problem is Team Trump all act like they are guilty of something and no.3 business is being deregulated under Trump also EPA being dissolved under Trump….if you have young children and live it GE pcb Pittsfield this should scare the daylights out of anyone. …did you really vote for this shit….If you had a public school education your own kids will get a watered down version of one soon .
Most of his supporters want medicare gone and ACA gone….the right now loves Russia.Nothing to see here it’s all Fake.trump is draining the swamp to build a beautiful pool for corps and billionaires. Still don’t know why tax cuts for middle class wasn’t no. 1 on the Trump list and a jobs bill wasn’t no 2
The right doesn’t love Russia. Throughout the Obama administration, the right was shocked at what Obama let Russia get away with and said so. Obama didn’t listen and the media didn’t care. This made Russia and Putin very powerful. This is who Trump now has to deal with. We have the media and the Obama administration to thank for creating a stronger Russia. The media said nothing bad about Obama’s policies on Russia because they never criticize Democrats. They just prop them up and make them look good.
Quit changing the subject. The conservatives have become a bunch of Commie lovers. Damnedest thing I ever did see.
I am against any kind of drugs, however if marijuana has some
healing properties, it should be allowed for medical reasons, but not for everybody. But I do see some arguments like–this is just a natural grass, so we can grow and eat or smoke it. I am not sure about it. But State program to distribute clean needles for heroin and cocaine drug users is wrong, but special interest groups press their way. “Toss Special interests in Nov. city election” was published in Berkshire Eagle today, March06/17 by Mr. Cr. G.—
Read it! Enjoy!
Also Barry, do these young people realize that they have to pay $200,000 for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home on a fine street. The owner will also toss in a snow blower and John Deere tractor along with a workshop. A young person moving here now can find some excellent housing prices. It costs more to live in the surrounding towns. Of course those small towns have the advantage of having wells and septic tanks so they don’t have to worry about a water bill.
Who invest in a home that is going down in value and taxes are going through the roof.Nobody is moving to drugsfield.Crime field.
There are good jobs in Berk County. The problem is the work force sucks. General Dynamics, Unistress, and many others are always looking for qualitflied workers. Berkshire Country no longer can provide a useful work force.
Why would any company locate to Pittsfield? They would have to be nuts! Ignorant applicants incapable of even filling out a basic job application. Imagine trying to get employees that could pass a drug test. Good grief.
Just Curious Einstein, what do you need to know to be a laborer at Unistress?
Read the whole post. They were also advertising for welders and carpenters and a few other positions. Why did you focus on Unistress? How about Gen D who have high paying jobs they can’t fill do to lack of qualified applicants.
As far as low paying jobs go, not everyone is qualified for anything better. Nobody told them to quit school in the 10th grade but these people still believe they deserve 15 an hour. Good grief.
Most are very low wages
Speaking of Unistress, who’s paying the four staties behind the Trucks they ship the product to NY on?
Unistress does, this is common practice for these types of shipping.
And with Sabic gone,there higher only compared to a McDonalds salary.
Let us see how many of trumps supporters love him later in the week when they see what he does to their health care.
Not that he really gives a pink poop.
When he was signing a contract or whatever he was signing a few weeks ago, Trump shows his signature and then says O K? Like O K stupid people, it had something to do with jobs.
Humpty Trumpty sits on the Wall….Still
Humpty Trumpty wil make sure you’ll have no insurance at all
All of Putin’s Killers
And all of his Comrades and friends
Couldn’t find a band aid to stop the bleeding,ever again
Obama is making it his duty to take down Trump. I think the wire tap investigation should go on because of the way Obama has acted in just the past week by setting himself up with Valerie Jarrett. Progressives will not rest until they are back in the White House and take control of the country again. Progressives have a vision for the country that gives them sole power just like they have here in Massachusetts and they will do anything to get it. Once they get that they will institute big government and the country will never get rid of them or be able to keep government corruption under control. One party leadership in the country would mean no checks and balances on power. They could get away with whatever they want.
I ate six bags of 14 oz potato chips today, so who’s crazier, me, or Trump?