BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 17, 2018) — THE PLANET can tell there are more developments in the white-hot District Attorney’s race than the number of flies buzzing a horse-trader’s mule.

Lawyer Judith Knight, who took 5,000 votes in the September primary won by a slim 700 votes by Andrea Harrington, has formally endorsed D.A. Paul Caccaviello in front of the courthouse steps for the openers. There are carpet bombings going back and forth between the two camps, mostly behind the scenes. And THE PLANET continues to dig up the news that the lame mainstream media, led by the lamer local daily, continues to [CHECK ONE] (   ) miss   (   ) ignore   (   ) is afraid of   (   ) won’t touch because of pressure from advertisers   (   ) won’t touch because of pressure from The Suits   (   ) all of the above.

For example, we have unearthed a flurry of back-and-forth letters sent by principles and deputies involved in the race. We present the letters in full, without editing, with the intention of giving the electorate important information that the sleeping local media z-z-z-z-z-z-‘s through.

Exhibit A is a letter sent by one Bonnie Burman on behalf of Harrington. Exhibit B is Caccaviello’s rebuttal to the lies he says are in the letter. Finally, Exhibit C is an e-mail from Helen Moon, Harrington’s campaign manager, about an upcoming fundraiser.

THE PLANET has confidence in the electorate’s ability to parse these letters and glean from their tone, style, diction, an intent key nuggets that may help inform who knows how many votes on Nov. 6.

With that, may we present the exhibits? Bailiff, if you please.

EXHIBIT A
E-MAIL SENT BY BONNIE BURMAN ON BEHALF OF ANDREA HARRINGTON. In this letter, Burman claims that Caccaviello has registered as a Republican. Cacc vigorously and personally denied the claim to THE PLANET and in the rebuttal letter (EXHIBIT B) he sent shortly after Burman sent this to the following long list of recipients. Note that the section of the letter NOT IN ITALICS was written by Harrington herself.

From: bonnie burman <bonnieburman2@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 5:35 PM
Subject: More re: Event for Andrea Harrington
To: amy Diamond <amy.f.diamond@gmail.com>, Andrea and Andrew Gerber <afgerber@gmail.com>, Ann and Peter Herbst <annherbst@gmail.com>, Arnold Kotlen <askotlen@gmail.com>, Barbara and Doug Newman <barbaranewman7@gmail.com>, Barbara and Shel Goldberg <barbruth2015@gmail.com>, Benno & Stephanie Friedman <benno2@verizon.net>, Betsey and Mark Selkowitz <bselkowitz@nycap.rr.com>, Betsy Dovydenas <bdovydenas@gmail.com>, Bonnie Burman <bonnieburman2@gmail.com>, C. Jeffrey Cook <jcook@cohenkinne.com>, Carol and Gordon Hyatt <cshyatt@aol.com>, Carole and Dan Burack <cburack37@gmail.com>, Carolyn Butler <pineneedles21@roadrunner.com>, Catherine and Matt Mandel <mandcmandel@gmail.com>, Cheryl and Michael <michaelzaccaro1@gmail.com>, Cindy and Ollie Curme <cynthiacurme@gmail.com>, Cindy and Tucker Welch <cindywelch@rnetworx.com>, David Schulman <dschulman@financialguide.com>, David Tierney <david3@davidjtierneyjrinc.com>, Deb and Bill Ryan <evelynda@aol.com>, Diane and Deval Patrick <devpatrick71@gmail.com>, Diane Pearlman and Jeff Diamond <diane@berkshirefilm.com>, Douglas Crane <dcrane@newdalton.com>, Edith Dobelle <kitdobelle@hotmail.com>, Eleanore Velez <eleanorevelez@hotmail.com>, Elizabeth McGraw <buzz.mcgraw@gmail.com>, Ellen Cohen and Bob Schwartz <ellencohen1000@gmail.com>, Ellen Kennedy <ellen.kennedy@roadrunner.com>, Georgeanne and Jean <georgeanne41@gmail.com>, Gregory Bulger and Richard Dix <gebfoundation@aol.com>, Hillary and Phil Deely <hilaryhsd@gmail.com>, Ingrid and Richard Taylor <ingridtaylor01@gmail.com>, Isabelle and Aso <aotavitian@aot61.com>, Isanne Fisher <isannef@gmail.com>, James Ruberto <jrube@me.com>, Jan Healey <janhealey2@gmail.com>, Jennifer and William <whinesjr@interprint.com>, Joan and Paul Kopperl <jhkopperl@gmail.com>, Joan Hunter <joanbhunter77@gmail.com>, Julie and Norman Boyd <julianneboyd@gmail.com>, Karen O’Donnell <karen@autonomyllc.com>, Kate <kate@berkshiretheatre.org>, Kate and Hans Morris <hmorris@nycapartners.com>, Kelley Vickery <kelley@biffma.org>, Laurie and Marty Schwartz <laurieschwartz2@aol.com>, Laurie Norton Moffatt <lnmoffatt@gmail.com>, Laurie Tierney <ltierney39@gmail.com>, Lee Abraham <fishpalm11@gmail.com>, Letty and Burt Pogrebin <cpletty@gmail.com>, Liz and George Krupp <george.krupp@berkshire-group.com>, Louise <flfarkas@nycap.rr.com>, Lynn Edelstein <ltpe220@gmail.com>, Maggie Merelle <mmerelle@williampitt.com>, Marcia Feuer <mzfeuer@gmail.com>, Margy and Lew Steinberg <margyss@aol.com>, Marita and David Glodt <maritaglodt@gmail.com>, Mary Ann and Bruno Quinson <magq@me.com>, Matt and Hannah Keator <mkeator@keatorgroup.com>, Melissa Mazzeo <melmaz33@gmail.com>, Melissa Scarfoni <mescarafoni@scarafonifinancial.com>, Michael and Sandra MacDonald <mike.macdonald@petricca.com>, Michael Hashim <mhashim@hashimspinola.com>, Nancy Feldman and Mike Chefetz <nancy@nancyedmaninteriors.com>, Nancy Fitzpatrick and Lincoln Russell <nancy.fitzpatrick@redlioninn.com>, Pam Sandler <Pam@sandleraia.com>, Pamela <sanmiguel.newyork@gmail.com>, Perri <perri.petricca@petricca.com>, Philip <pheller@hellerandrobbins.com>, Ralph and Audrey Friedner <rtfman@aol.com>, Ramelle Pulitzer <ramelle1@mac.com>, Reba and Bruce Evenchik <reba_evenchik@hotmail.com>, Renee and Steve Erenburg <rerenbjd@aol.com>, Rhoda and Morris <rholevgrove@me.com>, Robert and Esther Rosenthal <robert.rosenthal@childrens.harvard.edu>, Robert and Karen Youdelman <ryoudelman@ameritech.net>, Robert and Lyn <rwpetricca@gmail.com>, Rosita Sarnoff and Beth Sapery <rosita.sarnoff@gmail.com>, Roz and Charles <rstuzin@aol.com>, Sheila and Harold <sheilarichman4@gmail.com>, Sheila Keator <skeator@keatorgroup.com>, Steven Perles <sperles@perleslaw.com>, Suky and Tom Werman <suky@stonoverfarm.com>, Susan Wissler and Deborah Dickman <swissler@edithwharton.org>, stusanne <stusanne@aol.com>, Suzanne Nash <snash1@nycap.rr.com>, Sydelle and Lee Blatt <syddblatt@gmail.com>, Tammy and David Valicenti <tamcsw@gmail.com>, Warren C. Dews (Wdews@berkshireeagle.com) <wdews@berkshireeagle.com>, Wendy Gordon <wendyagordon@gmail.com>

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday, when I sent out the invitation to the event for Andrea Harrington on 10/24, I did not explain why this fundraiser is necessary. Below is an email from Andrea detailing the necessity of this fundraiser even though she won the primary and will be the only candidate on the ballot.

Thanks to your support and the hard work of dedicated volunteers, I won a three way race for Berkshire District Attorney in the Democratic Primary based on my progressive platform that called for tough prosecution in serious cases like sexual assault, prioritizing treatment over incarceration for people that need it, and ending the shameful scourge of racial bias in criminal justice here in Massachusetts. My opponent, the incumbent District Attorney, whom I beat in the primary, has now launched a write-in campaign. This is after he negotiated a back room deal with the Governor to appoint him as the DA and switched his enrollment to Democrat in February so that he could run in the primary as the acting DA.

Now, my primary opponent falsely claims that he wishes to provide unenrolled voters an opportunity to vote for him. In fact, 91% of registered voters in Berkshire County were eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary and we saw record voter turnout. Additionally, 62% of primary voters rejected the incumbent in favor of myself and a fellow progressive candidate. He has an uphill battle, but we are taking this challenge very seriously.

The good news is that I have strong support from my fellow Democrats. I am tremendously grateful to our amazing Attorney General, Maura Healey, for her ringing endorsement. I look forward to working with AG Healey on continuing the push for statewide criminal justice reform. We have more endorsements to come from Democrats up and down the ballot.

I am asking for your support. I can win this fight, but only with your help. I hope you will join me on Wednesday, October 24th at Hotel on North from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm for a fundraising reception.

An update as of today is that Andrea’s opponent has now registered as a Republican and has the support of the Republican party. I have included the invitation to the 10/24 fundraiser again below. I know that some of you already have RSVP’d but I did want to be certain that everyone is aware of these recent developments. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation. The donation information is below, on the invitation. — Bonnie Burman

———- 000 ———-

EXHIBIT B

PAUL CACCAVIELLO’S RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER. You can see that Caccaviello responded quickly to the same recipients. You can peruse the recipients and draw what conclusions you will. No doubt you will see some familiar names. It’s interesting to note that on this list, generated by Team Harrington, there are dead folks. Yes, dead men tell no tales, but we hope even more fervently that they do not vote.)

From: Paul Caccaviello <caccaviellop@gmail.com>
Date: October 13, 2018 at 4:45:53 PM EDT
To: bonnieburman2@gmail.com, amy.f.diamond@gmail.com, afgerber@gmail.com, annherbst@gmail.com, askotlen@gmail.com, barbaranewman7@gmail.com, barbruth2015@gmail.com, benno2@verizon.net, bselkowitz@nycap.rr.com, bdovydenas@gmail.com, jcook@cohenkinne.com, cshyatt@aol.com, cburack37@gmail.com, pineneedles21@roadrunner.com, mandcmandel@gmail.com, michaelzaccaro1@gmail.com, cynthiacurme@gmail.com, cindywelch@rnetworx.com, dschulman@financialguide.com, david3@davidjtierneyjrinc.com, evelynda@aol.com, devpatrick71@gmail.com, diane@berkshirefilm.com, dcrane@newdalton.com, kitdobelle@hotmail.com, eleanorevelez@hotmail.com, buzz.mcgraw@gmail.com, ellencohen1000@gmail.com, ellen.kennedy@roadrunner.com, georgeanne41@gmail.com, gebfoundation@aol.com, hilaryhsd@gmail.com, ingridtaylor01@gmail.com, aotavitian@aot61.com, isannef@gmail.com, jrube@me.com, janhealey2@gmail.com, whinesjr@interprint.com, jhkopperl@gmail.com, joanbhunter77@gmail.com, julianneboyd@gmail.com, karen@autonomyllc.com, kate@berkshiretheatre.org, hmorris@nycapartners.com, kelley@biffma.org, laurieschwartz2@aol.com, lnmoffatt@gmail.com, ltierney39@gmail.com, fishpalm11@gmail.com, cpletty@gmail.com, george.krupp@berkshire-group.com, flfarkas@nycap.rr.com, ltpe220@gmail.com, mmerelle@williampitt.com, mzfeuer@gmail.com, margyss@aol.com, maritaglodt@gmail.com, magq@me.com, mkeator@keatorgroup.com, melmaz33@gmail.com, mescarafoni@scarafonifinancial.com, mike.macdonald@petricca.com, mhashim@hashimspinola.com, nancy@nancyedmaninteriors.com, nancy.fitzpatrick@redlioninn.com, Pam@sandleraia.com, sanmiguel.newyork@gmail.com, perri.petricca@petricca.com, pheller@hellerandrobbins.com, rtfman@aol.com, ramelle1@mac.com, reba_evenchik@hotmail.com, rerenbjd@aol.com, rholevgrove@me.com, robert.rosenthal@childrens.harvard.edu, ryoudelman@ameritech.net, rwpetricca@gmail.com, rosita.sarnoff@gmail.com, rstuzin@aol.com, sheilarichman4@gmail.com, skeator@keatorgroup.com, sperles@perleslaw.com, suky@stonoverfarm.com, swissler@edithwharton.org, stusanne@aol.com, snash1@nycap.rr.com, syddblatt@gmail.com, tamcsw@gmail.com, Wdews@berkshireeagle.com, wendyagordon@gmail.com, helen.moon@gmail.com
Subject: Correction to Harrington Fundraiser letter

Dear Friends:

It’s not in my nature to respond to criticisms or campaign rhetoric but I am making an exception in this instance. I have seen the email blast for the Harrington Fundraiser and it is important that you not be given false information.

First, I am not a registered Republican as Bonnie Burman’s email states in a message forwarded from Andrea Harrington. As you all know, I was a registered Democratic on the ballot on September 4th and that has not changed. Even an apparent “correction” that I have gone back to independent is simply false. It is concerning that those false statements were presented to you as actual facts that you ought to consider.

Second, I take exception to the new narrative that “I negotiated a backroom deal with the governor.” This is absolutely not accurate. Governor Baker’s appointment of me was based on my nearly 30-year record of public service and accomplishments as a prosecutor. That all took place in the courtroom-not the “backroom”.

Lastly, and as we finish out this election season, I welcome the opportunity to speak to you directly about issues that truly matter to the voters of Berkshire County. We need to focus on the well being of our community, standing up for victims in court, the opioid crisis; protecting victims of domestic violence, elder financial exploitation, and sexual assault; the eradication of implicit bias in the criminal justice system; the expansion of crime prevention education programming; and the full implementation of the Crime Reform Bill. We must remain resolute in our committment to prosecute violent offenders. Compassion where appropriate and consequence when needed is my philosophy- not a slogan.

This is not the time for injecting partisan politics into what must be an apolitical office. Why anyone would think public safety depends on political party is perplexing? Public safety is not a Democratic or Repubican value–it is a commuity concern that we all must commit to supporting, irrespective of political party. This committment must transcend the tribalism that grips politics today and the focus must be on what is best for the citizens of Berkshire County.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Distirct Attorney Paul Caccaviello

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EXHIBIT C
HELEN MOON’S LETTER (sent as an E-MAIL CHAIN to the same long list of recipients presented above. Moon is Andrea Harrington’s campaign manager. She’s also Ward 1 city councilor in Pittsfield).

Hello friends,
I have known some of you all my life and others I’ve only met recently. Each of you cares about the state of our country. We are in a confusing time when racism is acceptable and discrimination is commonplace. I believe that you join me in feeling the urgency in which we should react – to hold our elected officials accountable to the needs of all people, and to fight against injustice.

In this vein, I started volunteering on a local Berkshire County campaign for Andrea Harrington. She is the Democratic nominee for the District Attorney’s office. With courage, Andrea has joined the fight to pursue criminal justice reform in the courts of Berkshire County. For decades all across America, our “tough on crime” and “war on drugs” approaches have lead to the disproportionate incarceration of our Black and Brown brothers and sisters, overcriminalization of low level offenses, and sky high recidivism rates. And for what? Our communities are broken, with increased drug addiction, rising opioid related overdoses, and systemic injustice.

The data is clear, we are not safer with more people in jail. Recently, the Massachusetts American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launched an educational series on “What a Difference a DA makes.” It speaks to the incredible amount of power district attorneys have in how they pursue criminal cases. If you have time, check out their website: https://dadifference.org.

Thankfully, residents across Berkshire County have been paying attention. And on September 4th, with record turnout, 63% of primary voters voted for change. In a contentious 3-way race, Andrea’s message of treatment over incarceration, and justice over convictions rang true. She won the primary election.

Unfortunately, at the cusp of an exciting time of moving Berkshire County forward on criminal justice reform, the old guard won’t stand down. The incumbent District Attorney, who Andrea beat in the primary, has now launched a write in campaign. This is after he negotiated a back room deal with the Governor to appoint him as the DA, and switched his enrollment to Democrat in February so that he could run in the Democratic primary as the acting DA. You can read more about it here.

Now, more than ever, we need to fight back against this kind of insider politics, unjust policies, and stagnant offices. We need to pursue a criminal justice system that works for all of us. We need reform, and we need a reformer, like Andrea Harrington, to help get us there.

But she can not do it without your support. Will you consider making a donation today? You can make a donation here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/helenmoon. Every dollar helps. Also, listed below is an invitation to our Pittsfield fundraiser at Hotel on North on Wednesday, October 24th. If you live in the area, I would love to see you there.
In solidarity,
Helen Moon Campaign Manager
Andrea Harrington, Democrat for District Attorney

———- 000 ———-

These letters beg a million questions, for instance, but for now we’ll leave our readers to form their own lines of thought. We invite your comments, particularly those on topic.

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“The singularity may be coming, but that’s OK … that is, if you’re bipolar” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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