CPA, ‘COMMUNITY PICKPOCKET ACT,’ MERELY LATEST TAX SCAM
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 5-7, 2018) — THE PLANET heralded the warning in September 2016 and after in print, cyberspace, radio, and TV, continuing to November’s E-Day. Our efforts, alas, came to naught, going up as they were against the concreted apathy that yearly enables The Suits and the special interests to hijack elections by imposing they minority tyranny upon the silent and inactive majority.
The Commonwealth’s Community Preservation Act, famously dubbed by Supercitizen Terry Kinnas as the Community Pickpocket Act, has now roosted, as we predicted. It is a ponderous bird of prey, a veiny vulture picking over the remains of senior citizens and what’s left of Pittsfield’s shrinking middle class. Coming near the end of mayor Linda Tyer‘s first term, her push for the measure marked her unofficial confirmation as an enemy of We The People and tool of her political masters — the moment she went off the rails of good stewardship and into the brushy brambles of greedy self interest. Prior to that, THE PLANET gave her actions the largesse of the honeymoon period all elected officials receive at our gracious hands.
We waited. She Came. We saw. She squandered.
As one delved into the details of the CPA, it became clear: This was nothing more than another sneaky way for unscrupulous politicians to get around Prop. 2.5. For the past 30 or so years, Pittsfield’s bribed minorities — the ones who benefit from crippling taxes, such as employees of the school department and the beneficiaries of huge union contracts — have elected politicians who have skirted 2.5 with increasing arrogance, in the process running the city into the ground of three thirds.
The first and smallest third comprises The Haves. The are the elite, inner circle, “Connected” types who receive TIFs, tax credits, fake assessments, rigged contracts, and the like to further stretch their outright perks such as grants, salary hikes, and benefit increases. The bottom third, by far the largest, is made up of the scum, riff raff, grifters, druggies, welfare cheats, bums, the working and otherwise poor, and moochers who laregely drain the public treasury without contributing a dime. A quick tour of beautiful downtown Pittsfield on any day but a blizzard will feature a lovely parade of this mangy menagerie. Finally, we get to the middle third: Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, the hard-working, bedraggled working middle class and senior citizens that Gang Tyer enjoys torturing. They pick up the tab.
Pittsfield’s corrupt politicians have skirted Prop. 2.5 since its inception. First, they did it by monkeying with assessments and phantom “new growth,” development that only existed on paper for tax purposes. Second, they messed with the levy limit, using it to yearly raise taxes anywhere from 4 to 7%. Third, they build and pass phony Trojan horses such as the CPA. Fourth, when irresponsible officials reach the levy limit, they got Boston’s permission to raise it via a magic rise in the ceiling. Fifth, the city allows an extremely liberal interpretation of what enterprises should get coveted not-for-profit, tax-free status.
The Community Pickpocket Act (nod to Kinnas) raises Pittsfield’s taxes 40% above the allowable 2.5% limit. You read that right. This comes on top of the 5% tax hike Tyer’s reckless spending has already inflicted on homeowners and small businesses. The new tax bill format adopted by the city includes a line item for this tax surcharge. Read it and weep. They screwed you again.
Ostensibly, the CPA money is technically earmarked for vaguely defined efforts in “conservation, historic preservation (read: ‘Springside House,’ another con act coming soon to a theater near you), and the dreaded ‘affordable housing.'” And who determines where, when, and how this money will be spent? Pay close attention, folks, because THE PLANET has saved the best for last. Tyer says that “local committees” will decide on spending.
“Local committees.” Does THE PLANET have to draw you a map? The politicians and their apologists in the Mainstream Media will be quick to remind you that voters enacted the CPA through a democratic process of free choice in an open election. That, however, is the greatest travesty and tragedy. There hasn’t been a free and open election in the city for a generation.
When the mayor addressed the council Tuesday with a “congratulations on winning office speech,” she made what observers took as a veiled shot at THE PLANET. Tyer butchered a quote from Teddy Roosevelt to the effect of: “The wise guy critics pontificate, but don’t listen to them, you who are in the fight getting dirty and bruised.” There’s only one “wise-guy critic” in ton that honestly and fearlessly covers city politics, and that’s THE PLANET.
Of Tyer’s claim, we can only say more fiction. More borrowed thoughts to make up for a lack of imagination, let alone a personal vision.
There is only one credible media source providing a check on rampant government corruption being perpetrated against the good citizens of Pittsfield.
That is THE PLANET.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
——————————————-
“[It is] Uncivil to judge a part in ignorance of the totality” — Bracton.
“OPEN THE WINDOW! AUNT MILLIE?”
LOVE TO ALL.
The Usual Disclaimer.
This type of professional scam would put fannies in jail in the real world. But to have a so called democratic government use this kind of thievery on its own citizens is just plain immoral. Government is suppose to take care of the people, not victimize them. But it appears to me that greed is a very powerful trait that some cannot control. Some people want all the marbles and are willing to trample all in their path to get them.
And as far as moochers and druggies go, I bet you that far more of them would stop to help a stranded motorist than your first tier group. Far more of them still have their hearts.
Dusty,
Government is not supposed to “take care of the people,” it is supposed to protect its citizens. “Taking care of the people” sounds like the welfare mentality that is so rampant in this country.
Dan and planet readers – why is the Springside House a preferred target of the CPA?
Plowing the streets and taking care of the parks and maintaining the schools and providing police and fire protection comes under “taking care of the people” in my humble opinion. And we pay dearly for that.
And we the people elected these people to “take care of our business” and not to create an oligarchy to rule over us.
Goverment takes CARE of the wealthy and the Corporations
GIGI
A most revelation question.It remains to be seen why the Springside House has been elevated to its current status. THE PLANET is picking up all sorts of “intelligence”from both advocates and opponents. We’re hearing some interesting things, to say the least. Not much is adding up at this point, but with the city continuing its unabated spending spree while the tax base keeps shrinking, any money allocated there would seem to be questionable at best. At worst … Well, we won’t speculate. Suffice it to say that there are some eyes watching this VEDDY CLOSELY. As for the CPA, the S House may not necessarily be receiving those dollars … direct
Y, that is. Thanks for the question.
Oh Danny Boy, there must be some mistake – Taxes Tyer just patted herself and the city clowncil on the back for their “responsible budgeting”, in her speech on Tuesday. How could she raise the budget by several million and brag of responsible budgeting? Something doesn’t add up. Can’t wait for her state of the ciry speech. And it is even free for us bedraggeled citizens, acoording to the boring broadsheet. Wow!
Easy, she’s not smart. Never was
I believe Taxfields Mayor Tyer will lead as Trump leads as a I know how to make Taxfield great again.There is no data given on job creation that is credable.Tyer will tax her way to credibility then leave for Florida.
Excellent article, Dan. I bet all of Haddad’s properties are assessed way below their true value. And then there’s all those ‘not for profits’ that pay no property taxes at all. But not to worry, the rest of us will make up for that.
CPA = Creative Progressive Assault on taxpayers.
Pittsfield schools and others have been closed for almost the last 3 weeks what with LONG 2 week holiday vacation. These kids are struggling in the schools as we have seen with low scores in so many areas. We are only in early January and there will likely be more days off for bad weather as this looks like an arctic kind of winter. They should take fewer days off in the following months to catch up on much needed school time. Shorter spring breaks. I think they have at least 2 more weeks coming up in the following months. Instead of putting those days missed at the end of the school year they should make the days up during the middle of the school year.
With so many days off in the public schools, home schooling might be a better option for some parents to consider to insure consistent learning.
Other channels are reporting the dangerous weather ,Fox news is reporting about Hillary’s Email,turn the channel……Every school calender across the country has days build into the school schedule.
So you admit you watch Fox news until you hear an opinion you don’t like
TSC doesn’t know it’s cold unless PMSNBC tells him.
https://www.amazon.com/English-Grammar-Workbook-Dummies-Geraldine/dp/0470930705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515266614&sr=8-1&keywords=english+for+dummies
Hold onto your wallets, the police chief wants a new police station and the mayor is solidly behind him.
You can read it in today’s Eagle.
They need new police,still a lot of skeletons in that there closet.
Tyer: “Chief Wynn, let’s you and me build a police station”
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/pittsfields-new-police-chief-to-mayor-i-will-not-let-you-down,526084
Shows their attitude that the population are nothing more than slaves, and reveals the real nature of police is not to “protect and serve” but to collect taxes at gunpoint
Any new police station was probably a done deal as soon as she was elected. We are now just hearing about it in a more public fashion. How big a station would you like chief?
No problem! My taxpayers will be glad to help out with that. If not, there isn’t a goddamn thing they can do about it.
They can use her and Barry’s mansion as a station.
Welcome to the People’s Republic of Massachusetts. We raise your taxes, cut services and make ourselves richer in the name of “progress”.
The only thing keeping this city from being a socialist state would be the military force (police state)… wait, we already have that!!
Buy St.Joe High School for the new police station. Located in a troubled area. A lot of rooms for all the police to use. A great parking lot. Easy to convert the large gym, etc. Cheaper than building a new station. No other place to build a new one in the city.
Pittsfield needs a bigger police station to enforce all the laws that you neo cons care most about. Honestly, Pittsfield should just close up shop and move every body out. The population would be a great fit with Troy, NY.
Another useless comment by you.
Another useless comment by you.
You are the king of them. You are sad. go cry.
You are the king of them. You are sad. go cry.
You are pathetic
You are pathetic
You are sad
You are sad
no you are sad
Teddy Roosevelt, what brilliant historian gave you that one, Mayor?
Wait till you see how Republican tax cuts will effect the poor working class.Trump and republicans have walked away from poor cities like Taxfield ,Ma.
Councilor Moon looks like she wants to spend your Social Security check .Mayor Tyer never said she wanted to spend more money than Dan Bianchi .She said she would run Taxfield more efficiently.She lied to get a job……Taxes up 35% and going higher…..Lenox Ma taxes are much lower than Taxfield ,Ma.
That’s true but your house would be worth almost double if it were in Lenox.
Great analysis of this tax scam, the CPA, DV. The Planet is the ONLY place to get the news and more imp. What the news really means. No wonder Planet is a MUST READ in city hall! Just don’t get caught reading it!!
Why do they need a new police station? On an average day how many cops and administrative assistants do you need in that building? Aren’t they supposed to be out patrolling? Why do they need more space?
Why do they need a gym in the building? Didn’t Kerwood just put a gym in City Hall? Why do they need two gyms? Why can’t they use the cop gym for something else. Wynn says they can’t do more wiring. Ever heard of a drill and conduit? Just a lot of Wynn Whyne.
As far as a gym goes, why not use the brand new one that will be in the yet to be named New High School or with the Sheriffs at the House of Correction that we the people already paid or pay for.
we are in rough shape here in the Pitts…1/2 way through her term LT has failed in every of her promises – crime is up, blight is up, spending is up, and on and on….I feel bad for Moon and Persip – put up by the GOBSIGS –
They need to think for themselves or they’ll be known as Moonshot and Parsnip.
Oh I think they knew exactly what they were getting into. They ran right into the open arms of the Good Old Boys who sprinkled a trail of bird seed right up to the council chambers. They will be well taken care of as long as they don’t go rogue and start thinking independently.
Is the conservation tax applied before or after the prop 2 1/2 limit?
Everyone votes yes on everything,stop voting for yes people,consolidation is hard work….nobody on that council does or did hard work
Sheriff Joe keeps immaterial in a tent.
No Missy for V P for U.
The Mayor is a clerk secretary and has help with accounting from the boyfriend and retreads like Sachs and Lo, the four year deal was a big stipend for keeping the gravy train rolling. Nothing else is expected except raise taxes at all costs.
Her lifetime pension for 4 years “work” is expected
January 5, 2018
Re: Open Letter to Dan Valenti
I am in complete disagreement with your harsh criticisms of Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer’s leadership. First, she inherited a mess from the past four mayoral administrations. Pittsfield politics is a nearly financially insolvent public entity. It is only a matter of years before the municipality goes bankrupt. To blame the lovely Linda for this sad reality is totally unfair.
Second, nothing has changed! Pittsfield politics continues to raise local taxes by 5% per year, increase its debt load by tens of millions of dollars per year, and find new ways to skirt Prop. 2.5. It is the same old, same old. It is business as usual for Pittsfield politics. How is it the lovely Linda’s fault that nothing has changed in two short years?
Third, the lovely Linda is the first Mayor in a generation that does not come from the Good Old Boy network’s interrelated, multigenerational and inbred local families. She does not owe anyone anything! She is an independent voice for change. She has only been in office for 2 years, and you already doomed her to the political graveyard.
Fourth, let me explain what Pittsfield politics is all about, please. Pittsfield politics is about a group of interrelated, multigenerational, inbred local families running the show. To get a living wage job in Pittsfield, you have to be related to the Good Old Boy network. If you don’t kiss their dirty, corrupt behinds, then you will lose your living wage job in Pittsfield in a New York minute.
Fifth, that is why I dislike Pittsfield politics. It is also why I like the lovely Linda! She is the first person in a long time who will change Pittsfield from a provincial, post-GE town, to an inclusive, promising community.
In conclusion, aren’t you sick and tired of the Good Old Boys running Pittsfield into the proverbial ditch? Please lighten up on the lovely Linda.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Melle
How much does that cost and how many hundreds of jobs will it bring.Its good to know Ruberto is not on that list.The first normal smart candidate who says they will consolidate schools will get my vote.Its happening everywhere but Taxfield Ma.
Taxfield has 500,000 hundred thousand square feet of high school for 1600 kids.Thats insane.
I want what you’re smoking?
Did you hit your head JM? I hope you feel better.
Tyer has been Ruberto’s puppet from day one. She’s as good old boy as it gets.
Please cite some examples. I have heard she was Jimmy Ruberto’s ally on the City Council over one decade ago. Other than that, how is the lovely Linda “Ruberto’s puppet”?
It appears that she thinks she has given a blank check in that all she has to do if she over spends is raise taxes to cover the largess. She behaves like a teenager with her Dads credit card trying to impress the boys.
Yes she is a spender of Social Security checks,she will never consolidate.
Pauly has it right!
Why would the Mayor quote something from Teddy Roosevelt? He smoked Igars and shitte like a Race horse from Drinkng.Why not Helen Keller, or Louisa May Alcott or Suzie B Anthony or TF Bouvier?
Bouvier,Behnke,Marchetti,Kroll,Cacamo,Pignitali, Masimiano, Tyer,Doyle,Stracuzzi 1,Stracuzzi 2,McCandless, Amuso,Mazzeo,YON, drumroll …..
Curtisand Eberwien….have spent 1 and 1/2 billion dollars and the infastructure of every building is failing……School buildings PHS,Crosby,Allendale need to be closed with a plan that will remove our responsibility for these moneypits.Taxfield is a secret infastructure mess……..Morandi gets it sort of…..Tyer wants Totes
DETROIT has turned around a major bankrupt city in 7 years and PEDA got stevenson insurance to move off north street……Detroit did not turn it around by buying Totes
Detroit wants to be the new Detroit. Pittsfield wants to be the old Detroit.
The voters were intentionally miss lead in order to make certain the Preservation Act would be approved. All news items about the act as it pertained to Pittsfield, stated that the plan called for waivers for those with property assessed at less than $100,000. In addition, there would also be exemptions for low-income residents, veterans and seniors. I took this to be clear cut. But, if you’re a senior, or a veteran who own property in Pittsfield, and have a number more than $0.00 next to the Community Preservation Surcharge on your tax bill…call the tax office for an explanation. I believe you’ll find…as I did…that there is a qualifier for one to be eligible for the exemption. I never saw an article…or heard a city official explain what the requirement was to qualify for it.
Thank you Mannix for that information. I didn’t realize that there were “exemptions” – and I intend to check that out next week. And if I can find out more info on the “qualifier” I will post it.
The list of lost opportunities for Pittsfield politics:
* The bypass highway (no)
* The downtown mall (no)
* The children’s museum (no)
* The new baseball park stadium (no)
* The (fraudulent) Consent Decree with GE
* PEDA (20-years-old this Summer, 2018)
* Dan Fox Drive business district
* Dangerous downtown Pittsfield
* Nearly 700 students per academic year choicing-out of Pittsfield public schools
* No plan to replace the post-GE local economy
* High per capita welfare caseloads with high teen pregnancy rates
* Large loss in population and jobs
* The Good Old Boys network that run the show
Mr. Melle,
You are in love with the mayor and love is blind. UAlbany, Cosbies, Pauly and Dusty are correct – your love interest is indeed a tax and spender, who has increased the budget by millions while the citizens suffer, has not addressed the blight she campaigned on, has done nothing to reign in the out of control school department, and most certainly is a good ole boy, who is beholden to ruberto, who appointed her city clerk. Dummy up you love lorn lemming. And get down here, out of your safe space in New Hampshire and get a front row seat at the free speech she is
giving Monday at a church, and see first hand the tom foolery going on in this once proud city.
She likes photo ops (much like Trump) so maybe you can get a selfie with her Johnathon. And someday when she is picked to be Trumps finance manager it will be worth money.
Holy cow!!
Well said SGH!
While the lovely Linda Tyer is very, very lovely, I am not in love with her. She has a boyfriend named Barry Clairmont! I support the lovely Linda in Pittsfield politics. I admire her leadership. She cares about people and Pittsfield.
She does care about some of the people. The ching ching people
Wake up and smell the wilting roses, Mr. Melle. It must be awful dark and odoriferous where your head is.
Are you as opinionated about the leadership in your out of state, ie: New Hampshire, current hometown ? Why all the lame redundant rhetoric ? You aren’t affected by anything in Pittsfield politics. As a genuine Pittsfield many decade taxpayer,who is daily affected by this disappointing city administration; an outsider like your verbal self can take a hike in New Hampshire’s White Mountains or just mind your own superfluous business.
I do agree 100% that One and Only media in this village
who honestly and fearlessly brings local news and politics
with all its political ugliness –is Planetvalenti.
Pittsfield gazette from time to time also is good.
Berkshire Eagle and iBerkshire both bought and paid by Her.
iBerkshire even confirmed to me in summer: ” Yes, indeed we get
paid by city for running city’s advertisements”
Is Pittsfield better now than it was when Taxes Tyer was elected?….Answer is No,its just way more expensive to watch a bankruptcy in progress
12 Gauge makes an important point. Why a new PD station? This isn’t like we are replacing the ancient lock up that stood on School Street with the handsome new two story brick structure that housed welfare, health department, shooting range with cell blocks for juveniles, women and adult offenders. We’re in the digital age where we have more information in our smartphone than the computers that sent us to the moon. But, what the hell if the state kicks in 80%, our taxes will only increase a buck or two for the average homeowner.
Scarafoni must have a property we can renovate for sure.
Exactly Ron, start booking them at the County Jail. Create double sized fridges at the Fire Houses also.
Question for “italia”. While I agree with you that St. Joe School would be a good choice for the new PD, where is all this parking space that you claim is available?
If you are talking about the parking behind the church (which the teachers and students used), do you really think the diocese of Springfield will sell a portion to the city. Hardly. Not when it will adversely affect those attending St. Joe.
Dimes to doughnuts this topic makes Lovely Linda’s plan for the future for the State of the Pitts…to the adulation and support of ALL.
No Missy V P planet.
Remove the students from Allendale school and turn the building into a police station,good access to the Tyler street heroin problem and gangsters
The public mural on the front of the police station is falling apart…does anyone care ? It honors the officers of the Pittsfield
Police Department…so much for public art.
Why repair it if there is going to be a new building? The new one will probably have a digital mural which will alternately advertise for local business s friendly to the corner office. And the TIF crowd.
What is the Mural of,Just Curious?
I am taping the Golden Globe awards tonight so I can see the only segment I am interested in which is whether Freddie Highmore wins for the Good Doctor. I can cut out the majority of the show with phony women dressed in black to protest sexual harassment when Hollywood has ignored it for years. The show will also be another opportunity to put down President Trump by these overpaid out of touch phonies.
The Hollywood elites have ignored their own sexual cesspool for years, but we are now supposed to believe they have “found the light” after they ignored Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assaults for years and they even cheered on Roman Polanski who was found guilty of raping a 13 year old child and Hollywood phonies gave him a standing ovation at one of their many awards ceremonies. Hollywood has jumped on the bandwagon of the latest issue of the day, but it all rings hollow when you take their past behavior into consideration.
I love Freddie Highmore and hope the Hollywood hypocrisy and shallowness doesn’t consume him. He seems like a NICE guy and is definitely a great actor. Freddie said in one recent interview that things are so much “anything goes” over here in America than in England where he is from. Don’t we know it. Stay strong Freddie Highmore and avoid being corrupted by Hollywood.
and I am sure that Hannity and Rush and the Fox news zombies agree with you that Trump should not be admonished as he “Grabs em by the pussy” because I am pretty sure it says right there in the constitution that if you are a star (and Donald is certainly a star) then you are free to do so.
It all rings so hollow…hollow…….holloww
Only if you hate Trump to begin with which Progressives do…..Sorry, but the real zombies in the country are the Trump haters which includes phony Hollywood with their sudden concern for sexual misconduct among their ranks.
Pat,you know its impossible for regressives to say Trump is pervert sexual preditor. You are condoning Trump everyday…Truth
Locker room talk vs. actual sexual assaults? No comparison……
If I ever heard any guy in a locker brag about grabbing a woman without her consent (which I have not), I would think he was a major blow hard misogynist. Amazed anyone (male or female) would defend this behavior.
It’s not good and nobody is saying a stupid comment is good, but not in the same category with sexual assault that Bill Clinton did, but everyone was ready to put him and his wife back in the White House. Hillary said that Bill would Co-President with her.
I would die of shock if a Trump supporter ever failed to redirect the conversation to the Clintons.
I would die of shock if an Obama supporter ever failed to redirect the conversation to Bush.
No mo Missy V P.
Soon,be just P.
Pence is immoral to say nothing
Trump said because hes has celeb they women let him Trump molest them,he is the admitted abuser of women….Fox news calls his admission locker room bantor…..he plead guilty to all he offended and as of now there are 19 victims
What has Trump done for unemployed coal miners, no healthcare and he cut their taxes when the get a job
In English Grammar Workbook For Dummies you’ll find hundreds of fun problems to help build your grammar muscles. Just turn to a topic you need help with-from punctuation and pronouns to possessives and parallel structure-and get out your pencil. With just a little practice every day, you’ll be speaking correctly, writing confidently, and getting the recognition you deserve at work or at school.
Mccandless and Yon need to remove Superintendant status from the purchasing agent Behnke and other making over 100k
I wonder who registered democrats Yon, Behnke and big mac McCandless voted for, for president?
Who gets the cash from the Crosby staff room sales,does it go to the Cities general fund
Hollywood wants to give America a morality lesson? I don’t think so. Hollywood is full of sexual depravity so no…..
I couldn’t help but catch the opening lines of the Golden Globes as I was getting my taping ready. President Trump is compared to Harvey Weinstein by one of the phonies. Fortunately the speaker was roundly booed even by many in the Hollywood audience
Does Fox news report about anything other than hollywood celebs and Clinton.Bannon today said Trump jr is now a patriot…..he was right the first time