THE PLANET’s ORBIT PROCEEDINGS GET UNDER WAY … BILLIONS AWAIT WITH BREATH-ED BAIT.
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 28-30, 2018) — No doubt your attention has been riveted to the latest news concerning THE PLANET‘s coveted ORBIT AWARD.
Many names have been put in nomination by you, our readers, and each one has gone before The Selection Committee for careful consideration. They included but were not limited to (and in no particular order) Agent Smith, Jonathan Melle, Spagirl, Chuck Garivaltis, Chuck Vincelette, Joe Pinhead, Dusty, Mr. Fitz, Art Seller, Cosbies Ladies, and others.
PLANET VALENTI: ORBIT drama unfolds.
Today (Friday) in Orlando, Florida — where coincidentally the Syracuse Orange footballers meet West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl, voted by sportswriters as the 8th most important bowl of the 39 bowl games that overpopulate the increasingly hypocritical world of alleged “amateur” NCAA athletics — THE PLANET‘s ORBIT selectors begin their weekend deliberations in the Chancellor’s Suite of the St. Regis Hotel, a hostelry so exclusive you can’t find it listed … anywhere! It’s the perfect spot for A-listers to meet (spotted in the lobby, Bob Costas, Joe Biden, Kid Rock, the great Jim Brown, and more), and it is the choice of capos di tutti capi when the “families” need to gather to exchange pleasantries.
The game, by the way, begins at 5:15 p.m. on a national broadcast. Television remains the best place from which to see The Orange roll to victory, but the Chancellor’s Box remains fixed as a solid second best. Repasts include Moet et Chandon and hummingbird tongues on toast. Tasty … and at the right price!
While we can’t print the names of committee members for security reasons, suffice it to say THE PLANET‘s top operatives, including the elite Z-Agents, grace the board with their knowledge and input. Ballots are taken until by majority the winner is selected. When we have a new ORBITer, white smoke issue from the main chimney of the St. Regis. Until then, eager watchers will see black smoke. THE PLANET personally presides over the proceedings, if necessary casting the tie-breaking vote (after consulting with Biden, of course).
The only restriction placed upon the committee is time. They have to have made their selection no later than Sunday night. In Monday’s New Year Edition, we shall name the winner.
The ORBIT AWARD consists of the fabulous ORBIT trophy, the conferring immortality, and all-expenses-paid breakfast with THE PLANET at the fabulous Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Mass.
Until then, we open the comment line.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
———————————————————————————————————————-
“I never saw in youth that life threw open the world for me to take. That’s the only reason I later came to take it.” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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I got no shot, I’m not in Arts league. But I will take honorable mention……..just sayin.
Take the Mountaineers and the over. The orange are outclassed as usual in front of a national TV audience.
It still isn’t as bad an ass kicking as the last time the Gman tried to use a smart phone. But when you have an 84 IQ, any phone is smarter than him.
Props to the Orangemen for a dominating fourth quarter. That comes Down To motivation, good show.
SHAKES
Agreed. In crunch time, the ORANGE delivered. Best play: When Dungey under pressure got off that prayer to Moe Neal who, stumbling, managed to right himself and take it inside the ten. A most satisfying win for the boys. Bodes well for the program. And, by the way, good to have you back my good friend.
Fake prediction.
Massachusetts State Legislators are receiving a nearly 6% pay raise in 2019! It must be nice to be Smitty Pignatelli, who will be serving his 9th two-year term on Beacon Hill in 2019. It pay$ to be a career politician! The politically connected are well taken care of, while the common people get to pound sand.
Please name 1 job or piece of legislation our reps have accomplished.I know that at least once per year Trisha and Smitty inform Pittsfield that GE wont becoming to poison us again.Thats worth a 5k raise.
6% is small change compared to the pay raise the legislature is getting in New York State. “Phased” in over 3 years, the raises will total $50,000 and will make the New York freeloaders the highest paid state legislators in the entire country.
NY is probably the worst state, least effective legislature, high taxes, most corruption.
It’s interesting what is happening on Tyler St re Agent Smith. Why do they need to slow a road that is a main artery to Dalton. It’s like a cardboard wizzatd of Oz set up.
The current mayor doesn’t seem worse than others but definitely not better nor different. Also, how many cronies did AH pack into the DA office? Is Moon going to be a deputy too?
Shakes, West Virginia Q B not playing, Cuse by two touchdowns..
So was anyone in the Price Chopper Christmas Eve? Parking lot was maxed out. It was wall to wall people inside, like you had to move a half step at a time to get anywhere.
Looking at this I thought about the capacity laws and such laws that are supposed to protect people from being trampled or trapped in a building in an emergency. It was truly scary.
But I suppose just like parking in fire lanes or ignoring traffic signals there is no enforcement for these rules either in Pittsfield. Gotta make the money.
anybody else see this live and in person?
I don’t believe that stores have capacity laws like theaters do. I saw the crowds in other locations. One of the hazards of having to be out on Christmas Eve.
Speaking of fire lanes, how about enforcing the one at the Pittsfield Big Y?
Feces-for-brains just sit there for a long time–sometimes there’s no driver in the car!
Police take notice.
Speaking of PPD. On the Saturday before Christmas it was a Chinese box puzzle just to get through the intersection in Coltsville where Merrill and Dalton meet. Folks blocking the intersection up the yang (no pun intended).
I called PPD to alert to situation. I guess there was an accident up the road. I sez, yeah, you’re gonna end up with another accident down at this intersection.
“We’ll figure it out.”
Did they?
Did anybody else catch Kanye West sporting a MAGA (Make America Great Again) Hat during his visit to Mass MOCA on Thursday? Big article in the Berkshire Eagle, but of course no mention of Kanye’s support for President Trump.
SEE:
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/kanye-tyler-the-creator-get-personal-tour-at-mass-moca,560044
The liberal media went insane over Trump signing MAGA hats in Iraq.
Funny part was that supposedly nobody knew Donald was coming and yet the troops just happened to have these brand new MAGA hats dug out of their combat gear and ready to be signed. (Footage showed Melania unpacking them and handing them out).
Caught again Donald…caught again!
Nobody cares.
GM and Still, Kanye’s fanatical, and misguided support for Herr Trump is well documented, accepted fact. Why would it need to be covered in any media? And I do not recall seeing any media, liberal or otherwise, cover Trump signing hats. Why would that make people nuts anyway? Those are his thing.
Where can I find that footage?
al jezeera
Absurd,
Yeah, and I heard that these very same soldiers were threatened with bankruptcy by Herr Robert Mueller if those soldiers didn’t go up to Trump, thank him for all he’s done as Prez, and then hand him their ill-gotten MAGA hats (an obvious bribe violating both US campaign finance law as well as the emoluments clause of the US Constitution) so that Donald can sign them in front of television cameras making it appear as though he’s got the grateful support of military rank-and-file.
A real scam, but Donald doesn’t have you fooled, right?
Link to the viedeo?
I vote for Agent Smith – great info without attitude! Thank you Agent Smith for educating us on issues related to the recent DA race – invaluable.
Chuck Garivaltis has my vote. I was looking at previous winners and one came to mind was Pete White.
Oh God. Please tell me you are kidding. That “great info without the attitude” included the following:
“Harrington ran because of three things; money, power, and entitlement. At a meeting for her campaign she talked for about 15 minutes about the money she would earn. She also talked about how when in office she could “pay back” both those who helped her and those who wronged her.”
“Harrington is ready to seek expungements for many of her friend’s criminal behavior.”
“I full well expect her to do nothing as a DA if she actually gets elected, her office will be as empty as her head.”
“To those in the DAs office now, if she wins, quit. You’ll make easy money defending Berkshire counties worst against her and her minions”
“Healey when asked to endorse her actually said, and I quote, “Who is she, remind me who she is.” The response, “she’s an attorney in Berkshire county running for DA, she’d be the first woman DA.” Long silence “The short lady with the bad hair and shrill voice.” “Oh her”, Healey says.”
“I love when Andrea Harrington says things like
‘The blacks know I’m their only choice.’
‘I don’t have to worry about the blacks.’
‘Blacks love me!'”
Describing that info as educational or, ugh, invaluable, is patently ridiculous.
Why “the wall” is completely unnecessary despite your fears as stoked so carefully by the POTUS:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/factcheck/trump-s-arguments-about-the-wall-are-mostly-exaggerated-or-false/ar-BBRvCJR?ocid=ob-fb-enus-280&fbclid=IwAR3BMM1_YWtAzHhOIBKTNwmHcgIWOR3capkNLX3C0w2qbIFF-Nj2wKj7IoM
G,
If you actually believe Philip Bump’s fake news article on MSN.com, I’ve got an option on a bridge in Brooklyn New York that no doubt you’ll be interested in buying.
A 11 year police officer just killed by an illegal immigrant today in California and they are devastated by the loss of this father of young children.
An illegal immigrant admits that he brought a child (the one that just died) because it would make it easier for him to get into the country despite the fact that a perilous journey such as this is not good for children.
Many of these immigrants are ill and need to be screened for disease before being allowed into the country. We can’t just let them walk in for so many reasons and health is a big reason.
Yes we need a Wall or some kind of barrier in this age of terrorism.
Is there a timeline with illegals,how many more are to be exiting or did trumps non existing illegal immigrants law exist,at all?This is on Trump.
This is not on President Trump. We need a wall or some other structure to prevent people from just walking into the country. The Democrats do not want President Trump to get the wall because they know that it is needed and they don’t want him to get the credit.
Some on the far left don’t want a wall at all because they want open borders. This has been disastrous for France and other European countries and the far left wants to take us down the same dangerous path of just letting anyone into the country.
You need to read other news sources to be informed. Our press is a partisan disaster. The main problem with immigration is tourists over staying their visas. The National Review is better than Fox, maybe start there as a conservative.
I am not against a wal, it’s just stupid ‘ol Trump has to alienate everyone and can’t get anything accomplished in a Republican controlled Congress. He’s a loser.
America needs a President and Pittsfield needs to turn over its councilors.Mazzeo needs to run for mayor.And a friend is asking how he can make up the 3 k shortfall that the Mayor is taking out of his wallet to pay for broken school buildings,losing millions and millions to maintaince of unrated for schools.
The only decision that Mazzeo or anyone else could do for the sucker payer is to take free cash at the end of the year to reduce the tax rate, that’s it. Why would any mayor turn down state aid and tifs? That’s what gets them elected in the first place.
If you really want to stop effing around elect someone like Gaetani, who will cut across the board. Taxpayers and rate payers would rather have less service than,Pay higher rates or taxes, if that what it takes. Tell th judges to give hardher sentences so these repeat offenders know we mean business.
It’s a good time to draft the G-man. Right now he’s between assault charges. He’ll be very busy later, guaranteed.
Gman is a liar and a fraud, you buffoon!
Fritz tell us why you call the Gman a liar and a fraud. Be specific. Remember I said you couldn’t string two sentences together??? This is you cue. Fire away!!!!!!!!
Still Wondering:: Your post is or borders on libel and slander. There are rules and regulations on this site. I will not ask Dan to bar you from this site but if I did I be!I’ve Dan would concur. When you make statements which are false it just goes to show how low you would go just to make a post. Try being like fritz who throws stones and makes a fool of himself with each post but he isn’t slanderous and libelous like you. And the but of your slander is aimed at an individual who has saved his city over 116 million dollars already and hopes to save us another 60 to 70 million dollars. What kind of a fool are you to chastise an individual who is trying to help you?? Have you ever met the Gman?? He doesnt have an enemy in the world and he always is looking out for the taxpayers of this city. If you find something wrong with what he is doing why dont you call him. His number is:14132811089. He will be glad to hear from you. Any one else who needs information regarding the water and sewer projects you also can contact him. The Gman wants you to know that he will be advocating for the taxpayers regarding these water and sewer projects as he feels the projects cost is absurd. He should know. He has been doing these type of projects for fourth years. I posted a reply to Doomie on yesterdays blog that I hope everyone will look at. It is the last post on yesterdays blog
Here are some facts everyone needs to know:: Scump:: you military people haven’t had a raise in pay for over 10 years. Fact: military has had a raise every year since 1983. Scump::I’m going to give you a 10% raise In 2019. Fact::Military getting a 2.4% raise. This info from Washington post. They say these two lies are numbers 7501 and 7502. Do any of you condone a liar?? Not me. Give me the truth 100% of the time. I know this is tough for scumps to swallow but ask yourself this;; Do you prefer to have a president who tells the truth or do you want to live in a country where every other word that individuals say are a lie. Some choice–hum. Let’s hear from pat fritz and still wondering. They seem to be very astute individuals!!!!!!
You
Washington Compost = very fake news.
Art, just wondering if you have a list of politicians who have never lied or stretched the truth? Please post it.
I’d recommend, as a public service, that you avoid Prime Storage at the bottom of Crane Ave.
1. Price of rent has increased 60% in 7+ years. Somehow I doubt their expenses have gone up anything near that.
2. They look to rook you on every little thing–must use only one particular type of lock, for example, which lock sucks. They have it for sale right there, conveniently.
3. They’re ready to help you with any problem no matter how small or simple–as long as you pay them confiscatory prices.
4. Employees seem to have no problem lying/making up some BS excuse–which will, you guessed it, cost you more money.
5. There’s no one above that employee to complain to, no redress of grievances, as it were. Just some nebulous “corporate group” playing Wizard of Oz behind the curtain–but you can even get anywhere near that.
But, they do fit perfectly in Pittsfield: can’t do nothin’, don’t know nothin’.
And, of course, that famously pleasant and attentive Pittsfield customer service.
Stay away.
G Man, pay no mind as the topix site has been shut down. Now those clowns are here, they look to challenge anyone especially if you are as accomplished as the G Man. I think it is a complement quite honestly.
Without a doubt the G Man has been the most instrumental influence of savings and low rates (water) over thirty years, since the water plant he built allowing massive,massive savings to the citizens of the Berkshires.- the secretary and her fledgeling administration has tried to make a mockery of the G Man with the help from the gobsigs from the get-go. The pain dof it all will settle in if this project goes through and water rates go sky high.
The troops in Iraq love t
Trump and Trump loves them. Pelosi on Vacation in Hawaii after she and chucky lucky shut down govt.
Dow was DOWn Today.
No Wall and Mexico says G F Y to trump? So what is he doing to make them pay for it. NOTHING? ZIP-NOTA. We don’t need a 25 billion Wall anyway, step up drones to survail.
An illegal alien scumbag killed a legal immigrant who became police officer in California. Democrats care more about illegals than citizens.
Let’s stop calling them illegals because they haven’t he n able to get to a legal crossing because of scump. These are human beings like us and they want what we all want. They want to be free of persecution and join our country just like our ancestors did. We can’t blame them as a group for what one or two do no more than we can blame ourselves for what some of our citizens do. People have been coming to america looking for a new life for over two centuries and they have assimilated very well. Have we forgotten who we are? I hope not!!!!!
Great comments G Man and so every time someone gets murdered its all illegals,that’s absurd. Statistics show legals kill 9999-1 murder stats of A,Erica.org.
Trump fellas: Reread my post. You are missing something!!!
Less than 10% of the ones who actually show up for there hearing are granted assylum . The actual number of those who qualify is 1 or 2 percent. Some are here to work. Many more are here to collect various forms of welfare. They over burden schools and hospitals as well as other services. Many are criminals. This has been going on long before Trump was elected. Non Essere Uno Stronzo. Non Essere Uno Retard.
As you would say. Post the link. I will read it and post back
The new year will bring the same old same old nonsense from the mayor and the city council. They know they are insulated and can do as they please as they know the taxpayer has tuned out long ago. That being said what do we here on the planet do to try to change this?? We can all try to find five or ten people who do not post on the planet and introduce them to the site and hope they become contributors. Those new people can do the same etc etc. How many people who post on this site ever sent a letter to the editor to the Eagle. It is a very well known fact that the eagle and the Gman do not see eye to eye on anything. However he has a commentary in the eagle every month. The point I am getting at is that we who post on the planet have to become involved by participating as I just stated. No one person can overcome the lies and innuendo coming out of city hall but united we have a much better chance to identify those that must go due to incompetence. With the numbers we can reach on the planet and the Gmansbshow we can make a very significant inroads to clean up the incompetence we are forced to live with at city hall. There is no other way to start to weaken the crud at city hall. Everyone of us has a stake in this city and we have to do whatever it takes to clean out city hall and start with new people who will respect the wishes of the taxpayers. If everyone of us does our part we can take back control of our city from these miscreants. Let’s make this our new years resolution.
Art you are an absolute moron.
There is a process to be followed for legal immigration. Illegals are people who choose to break the law and cross illegally into our country, they overwhelm our social services, and the large majority end up on public assistance. Gang members, criminals, terrorists have been sneaking across our wall-less southern border for many many years. There is no screening for disease. Your legal immigrant ancestors had to be sponsored by a friend or family member who would guarantee that they would be able to support themselves. Anyone who has not entered this country through the legal orderly process is called an ILLEGAL!
Art, there are rules in place to insure that American citizens are protected. We must all strive to follow the rules. You seem to think that you are above the law for some reason – YOU ARE NOT!
Fritz many of your statements are correct. However trump has closed the many legal sites that would allow them to enter legally and apply for asylum. I never said I was above the law and I am not. I want every immigrant to be able to apply for asylum legally and only after thorough vetting should they be allowed to enter. Right now all of these immigrants are in limbo and the fault for that lies solely with Trump. After Jan3rd when the dems take over the house you will see this immigrant problem cease to exist and we will return to the legal process for entry which has worker successfully for decades and decades. The process is broken now only because ofntrump
Asylum is being abused, we’re aliens to them too and they have no compunction about scamming us. Hopefully the radical Democrats will destroy their own party before the country
Wilson. Do you think The vetting processs at the legal entrances are sufficient??? If not how do we make it better???
It won’t be long before rumps are behind a wall or two. Shoe program,Leavenworth.
Letit Jackson new elected @G in ny is waitng for you homes.
Good call on the Syracuse Game Hondurans for Trump. Cuse by 16 …..”……..34-18 Syracuse
Hondo who do you like Norte Dame Vs Clemson.
John. I dont believe I ever met a politician who didn’t tell a lie or two. They do the most lying during campaign season. ie tyer comes to mind. After they get elected they lie again about the lies the made during the campaign. It becomes a never ending string of whoppers. After a while no one calls them on their lies and that S when they do the most damage to the taxpayers.think water and sewer
Scump for the first time will have to deal with a divided congress. No longer will one lie after Another go unanswered. I predict he will be up against the wall in less than two months and after that. Mueller. Things look bleak for scump. He couldn’t get anything done even though both houses were republican. Now with the dems taking over the house I believe it will be sinara scump very soon. I won’t miss him.
Scump main promise to his sheep was ( I will build a great wall) This is what he told the sheep. Now what is he going to tell his sheep. He should tell them the truth. No wall. What do you think of this you sheep?????
I think the sheep should run when they see you getting ready to cum after them.
You take the Notre and I’ll take the Dame. Notre Dame upset. You football fans gotta see this.. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3lLFo4OWvgI
Article in the paper today about the Tyler street renovation stuff. Included in the multi million dollar make work project is the “narrowing of the road for car traffic”. This road is one of the most heavily traveled in the city and is a main corridor to get from one end of the city towards the other. Why in the hell would anyone who has a clue about Pittsfield city traffic want to slow down the traffic any more than it already is? My guess is that the design was farmed out and nobody working for the city has a clue or the guts to speak up. This is the kind of really stupid thing intelligent knowledgeable city planners avoid at all costs. But we are Pittsfield, and if it looks dumb as hell we want to be first in line to get some.
Didn’t you hear? Part of the millions spent is so Mayor Tyer can order larger trash cans that can house the prostitutes doing their tricks and also the drug deals can go down without the public watching. That is why they have to narrow the street.
Agree, Dusty. Narrowing Tyler St. is a bad idea (in my opinion). I think it will make it less safe.
And what the hell are those stupid yellow things that extend into the road on each corner at the intersection of Pine and Tyler? What is their purpose?
Narrowing the roads requires more engineering. It requires a change to sewer infrastructure, which is the entire point of this excercise. This isn’t about the needs of Tyler street but the needs of David Carver
Well yah, they want to add bike paths and probably wider sidewalks for the merchants to put their shit out on display like north street. The fact that the main purpose of the road was for cars and trucks seems to have taken a back seat to turning it into a boardwalk type park.
You just know there will be pocket parks and bump outs added and after the five years of reconstruction it will have been abandoned by people and the business’s that failed due to lack of access for so long.
Have you ever seen those narrow streets in Ho Chi Minh city where all the cars and trucks and people are all in the road at once going in 9 different directions, horns tooting, dogs, cats and goats, people bitching and waving their arms at each other and you wonder why there are not 100 people killed every day?
You cant slow Pittsfield down. Pittsfields Williams street is now good for 60mph as all southeast residents who have children of their own travel at a dangerous pedestrian speed of 60.These speeders are from Dalton and streets entering Williams.Police will not,I repeat will not Target personal trucks or business trucks as these aholes put children in danger.Police get double time on Sundays to pull over people on the way to church.They just wont target trucks going over 45mph …
You are correct Mario.
If the Staties went on strike and didn’t work would anyone notice?
This just in, the Tyer Tyler Street Fix is in!
Tyer has been working diligently with Carver to come up with a reason to upgrade the infrastructure that supports Carver’s I’ll conceived pet project on Tyler street.
Sources say that as part of an upcoming study, Turocy and Morales have been given their marching orders to come up with a reason why the ridiculous upgrades to Tyler Street will also require upgrades that are oddly also needed for Carver’s “market rate” housing project.
The saddest part, they are planning to do upgrades to the road, then come out with an engineering study that says the upgrades have damaged the infrastructure under the street, then forcing an upgrade and a redo to the street yet again.
Why spend once when your plans can soak the taxpayers and rate payers twice, especially when you can help a friend?
While on the topic, cuff links Kerwood was given a new fuller set of pencils, and ordered to come up with a betterment plan, and to “make it work” to the advantage of Carver.
The theory here, some sort of TIF or rural development program will be pulled out to save him some bucks.
Expect this to be highlighted at the State of the city address.
It will be heavy on how great the city is doing, a Wayfair dog and pony show, words like “continued investment” will show up. There will be a play on the word Beacon and that it’s a new refreshed light showing progress in downtown.
Crime will be “all of our problem and responsibility”
So basically Tyer plans to take credit for the good and spread the blame for the bad.
Happy New Year!
AGENT
As always, excellent sleuthing here. Most appreciated as food for thought.
Agent Smith The Gman was wondering if you live in pittsfield?? He is looking for individuals to run for 8 of the 11 council seats. You can contact him at 1 413 ,281 1089.All other individuals who are fed up with the council can contact him also. We need to have individuals ready to go to run for office
Is it the usual 30 percent for kickbacks on this project?
Agent, think you just about seals the Orbit. Seems like there is never any risk on the part of developers, and a parachute is always in the backdrop.Its economics and political influence plus debt that drives this a Mayor. But what do you expect when look at who laid he foundation.
The Tyler street project is a public works sewer and water line project in the guise of a traffic calming project.
Here’s an excelent article/website on traffic calming, all the various devices and methods used to slow traffic down.
http://www.mikeontraffic.com/techniques-and-devices-for-slowing-down-traffic-traffic-calming-explained/
What the brain trust at the Mayor’s office doesn’t get, or maybe gets but doesn’t care, is that when there are parallel roads near “calmed” streets, people just seek that route.
Burbank and Stoddard both run parallel to Tyler street for a majority of the length, will not have those calming devices, and will become the new path of least resistance for those avoiding the new “calmed” Tyler street.
These devices are an attempt at gentrification, all they will do is push faster moving traffic into more residential streets.
Expect this to be a disaster. Expect it to be done twice.
I read the article in the eagle and was going to post my opinion but The last five posts says it all. Gaetani and I had breakfast today and he sees it just as the five above posters above see it. He said this article shows how dangerous an incompetent mayor such as tyer can be to the city’s taxpayers. She will propose and get approval by a vote of 8 to 3 by the puppet controlle d council. As I stated in another post above the only way we solve the problem is by voting tyer and the other 8 rouge councilors out of office. If you want to do something to make this occur ask Dan. He will concur with me that you all have to become engaged actively as he and Mr. Gaetani have tried to carry the ball for all of us for many years. The mayor and council read this board daily and what do they see??? They see a lot of people complaining and at CCmeeting time only gaetani shows up. When he and lis gave their presentation four brave souls got up and agreed with the Gman. Of note. There was not one individual speaking against the amans proposal. If there were 30 or 40 people there supportingnthe Gman project it most than likely would have been approved. This is what I mean when I say we now need action. Every week the Gman has a show which I believe is widely watched as he gets 30 to 40 calls a week from people who have watched the show. He has built up a very long list of names butthese people are afraid to go to council meetings or even to call but into his show as they feel some kind of retribution from city hall. It is this kind of thinking that sets the stage to the election of the type of crap we have runing our city. My friends you ,must get involved otherwise you will have the tyer and bunch perpetually picking your pocket. You all know I am right now let’s correct what is wrong. If we stick together we can rid ourselves of the cancers who are eatingnus alive
The national deficit will approach 1 trillion dollars in the next fiscal year and the national debt which is the sum of all past national deficits will approach 22 trillion. Now here in pittsfield we are facing an OPEB other post employee benefits account which is short by some 465 million dollars. Who do you think is going to cough up these monies?? Do you think we need a mayor and council here in pittsfield who know finance?? I know of an individual in pittsfield who could start to reverse the run away spending and knows finance like the back of your hand and is a past successful corporate executive. Do you think we may need an individual like this to run our city??????
I am already thinking of Crane ave as my new route into the city. I am sure thousand more cars will be joining me. Hope they don’t mind but I don’t have all day to cross town.
Thanks for the great info Agent Smith. We have another boondoggle project benefiting a select few.
Fritz. Yes we do . What can you to try to put an end to this nonsense? Do you agree that in the new year we need a house cleaning at city hall????
The waterboy is politically radioactive. If he wants change, the best thing he can do is work quietly and nicely behind the scenes. People do not care for nasty local political campaigns, and they showed him the last time he impotently ran for office. Unfortunately even when he is partially correct on an issue, his poor attitude, hubris, and incoherence turn everyone off from listening to him.
Well said Shakes.
Gaetani has to do traditional campaigning. He thinks appearing at city meetings, writing letters to the editor and having a PCTV show are enough. But to be successful in local politics you have to do the traditional things like mailings, meet and greet fundraisers, radio ads and lawn signs. People won’t take a candidate seriously if they don’t see lawn signs. If he did these things he’d have a good chance.
I agree.
12 The Gman ran for mayor and council at large but really didn’t care whether he won or not. In both runs he dominated the debates and he was the best candidate for both runs. He was beat by Tyer for mayor and tiny persip for council at large. Now really does anyone think that these two could go one on one with the wizard.?? The Gman knew he had no chance of wining and also knew both tyer and persip were gobsig supported candidates. He is very well aware that gobsigs control every election. That being the case he always gears his show toward the 21,000 registered voters who dont vote. If he can reach just half of them city elections would become very interesting. 12 I dont know if the Gman is going to run for any office. He is very busy and is in and out of the state and country. He loves his work and he has very little personal time for anything else. When I asked him if he was going to run for mayor this is what he said : I might because I need a vacation : The Gman is a very good friend and there is never a dull moment when I am with him
Shakes. You have to realize that the Gman knows this game well. He is pointing out that the costs of the sewer and water updates are preposterous. For 160 million dollars he could build two new water plants and a brand new sewer plant and still have a fortune left over. He is not just some crackpot he is an expert in his profession. Whether he wins or loses in these projects makes no difference to him. He could be living on the Riviera but he is out there because he loves the challenge. He has won with this sewer project by exposing the incompetence of the mayor and 8 of the. Councilors. Many citizens are up in arms with these projected costs and they are fully aware that the Gman has done his best. What is missing Shakes is you and others who k ow the Gman is correct but you never show up at council meetings or speak up to support the Gman. If you think that the Gman is thru with the sewer project you better think again. He will be visiting the EPA next week with other powerful people to find out once and for all what kind of fines the city will have to pay if the city decides to look at other less costly technolies such as his ozonator which will reduce the sewer project from ,74 million dollars to 44 million dollars. Let’s see what the Gman thinks about these fines if any::1 no fines at all. The city has never been fined and the Gman believes the EPA will not fine the city now.2″ Let’s say that the EPA finds the city 10 thousand dollars. That’s 100,000 per year. With a saving of 28 million dollars using the ozonator, This 100,000 fine if occurred is peanuts compared to the 28 million dollars saved by the Gman technology. So you see shakes the Gman needs bodies at CC meetings. He has the proper presentation , he has the technology he only needs you and others on this board to come to CC meetings and state your demands as residents. He has won already and now the taxpayer will pay the penalty for not doing their part. Do you believe this Shakes???
No, he’s not the best candidate. He’s a narcissistic ass. He’s not qualified to clean toilets, he cannot even complete simple math on his TV program.
Shakes it is easy to post your vitriol against the Gman but we know who he is and we know nothing about you. All the things you just said about the Gman pertains to you .Dan Valenti warmly welcomed you back and does he look at the Gman as you do??? Your just an unhinged buffoon wiith a few supporters on this thread. The Gman is a collusous compared to you who are nothing but small potatoes and a aGmwn wanna be. You were asked some questions in my post. Where are your replies?? There will be no more replies to you because you are a pitiful buffoon and everyone on this board knows it. I,all bet the only friend you have in the world is Dan Valenti. And Dan should have his head examined for befriending you. You ass hole
Both my extensive public and volunteer service are none of your concern because I give my career and my time willingly to help others, not to puff my chest out and brag.
I don’t write anything here for support. I could care less if you like me.
If the waterboy knew what he was talking about he could be doing the work at his claimed savings for the city right now. He does not know procurement laws, environmental laws, or how construction happens. If he did know these things he would have what he claims. But he doesn’t.
I honestly feel bad for the dude. It’s pretty pitiful to watch him on TV.
While trying to maneuver around Pittsfield today and dealing with the high speeds and vehicles blowing red lights, this thought came to me. I believe Mayor Tyer stated that she had started up a Traffic Bureau since they had hired more officers. In checking with my Councilman, he told me Mayor Tyer stated there are 5 officers in the Traffic Department, yet I just recently read in Amanda Drane’s article there are only 3 officers in the Traffic Department per Officer Maddelena, the head of traffic. You can’t expect three officers to be everywhere in the city especially when there are 3 shifts. So is this another one of Chief Wynn’s and Mayor Tyer’s lies to the over taxed residents?
Merry and bright. Now you understand why the Gman was pushing for a police advisory oversight board made up of no political hacks. When you see the names of the people on that board you will be sad and dim instead of merry and bright. Just saying.
U. You are close its leti James. But close enough.
Art, thanks for the correction,always there when I need you.
The traffic dept. seems to spend most of its time responding to accidents caused by not doing the preventive like enforcing traffic laws. Perhaps they might try handing out a bunch of tickets to the people who are likely to be causing the accidents before they happen? Would this be a new concept or just for Pittsfield.
If you took a poll I believe the consensus would be that Pittsfield roads are scary. And the reason is because people are allowed to get away with careless driving like being on the phone, running red lights and stop signs, speeding.
The mayor could ask her friend at the police dept. to step up traffic enforcement. Curious why she does not.
Maddelena said he’d rather curb the behavior through means other than tickets (iberkshire 5/31/17). So whatever that means.
You can have 15 in the department chasing offenders around,it is impossible. Seen some clown going up west in a pick up truck toward b c c passed on a double line flying,believe that is 35mph.
The City is going to do proprty re -evaluations in early 2019. They are coming into your homes. The Gastapos are coming to try and screw the taxpayers.
That’s funny Joyce.
Probably to look at toilet numbers.
property re -evaluations
Thanks JOYCE.
NYT says trump I!peachment is inevitable. They say the impeachment looms closer with dem control. They also say pence is also impeachable for supporting a rouge president. Jan 3 changes everything with a democratically controlled house. Things are looking very dire for scump but he has screwed so many people that there will be no sympathy for him. It is starting to look as though trump and his entire family could be in a federal penitentiary sooner than many of us thought. We should start a lottery on the planet so that everyone has a guess as to what date SCU!p ends up I the slammer. I say some time in may.
Most americans support immigration. That may be hard for several who post on this board to swallow. They also want kirstjen Nielsen fired.
Only a retard doesn’t distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. But we are dealing with this Artard.
Who wrote the story? Jason Blair?
What’s the big deal, fritz is three people on here, and they all have bad bad breath.
Add “paranoid” to your list of issues.
Fritz, I am voting for you as the most sensible and logical person on this board.
Unquestionably, Art Sellers is the most influential person right now in the City of Pittsfield.
He’s a regular Dale Carnegie.
You are smoking way too much pot!
He’s right up there with Dale Carnegie.
Now that’s funny.
Trumps EPA is in line with Tyer, McCandless,Caccamo, White,Moon,Rivers,Kroll,Marchetti,Yon,Taylor
Elias,Connell,Simonelli, and Kroll,Also Mazzeo ….They allow children to breath the dust and fumes of Allendale School and deny the poison exist on this former chemical swamp.A bowl of cancer at the bottom of a former wetland as this is the lowest point in that area.Where are the air testing machines that where placed there after the scandle.
Pittsfield has hired a company to enter your home to tax any new upgrades because the need millions going forward.Smart people never create debt.When debt is created you stop spending until you are relieved of that debt.Our free cash should around 60 million.It is at 2 million.What happens if Pittsfield has a disaster?……Connell talks like he knows business,Mazzeo,Rivers like they know business….Pittsfield spending is not sustainable for our retirees or veterans.The Pittsfield Public Schools are killing this City.The leaders in this department solve everything by renaming the problem then creat new titles to address old problems and throw new money at something they can not fix.They rearrange principles so you won’t track their failure.The schools are lying to the parents.We must hire people in The schools to lead not excuse or cover-up.
Tyer is just rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic she built. Her and kufflinks Kerwood are ruining Pittsfield. They meddle in things for the PR and so they can claim the “success” but are so clueless they don’t realize it’s not viewed as a success by anyone outside their bubble.
The reval as it is often called is a state requirement for data integrity. The state will send out an auditor and select random properties, pull the property record cards, and compare data.
Some of it is objective, some is subjective. This is a data quality issue as much as a revenue issue.
That said, you DO NOT have to let them on your property, you can ask them to leave, you absolutely DO NOT have to let them into your home. What they will do is do a best guess “estimate”.
Tyer/Kerwood via the assessors office has told them to “estimate high”. This will put the burden on homeowners who do not allow inspections to contest the value at a hearing.
My suggestion, get a copy of your property record card, compare it to what your house is, use a critical eye, and dispute any inaccuracies.
Agent: the second sentence in your first paragraph says it all about the secretary and kufflinks. These two belong on a chuck wagon ñot runing a 165 million dollar business
It’s just for show, a show that costs us $400k, they increase the average valuation to whatever is needed to the raise tax collection, everyone scammed except the wealthy who still profit since the average drags their assessment down, and their market gain is relatively much larger
Every homeowner SHOULD be BUT PROBABLY WILL NOT be mailed a detailed copy of their evaluation, any changes to the last one and why. And this should arrive within a week of the inspection so that people have a chance to check for accuracy before their taxes go up.
Hiring outside firms and having them work on commission is set up for malfeasance. The city knows this but probably does not care. Make sure you are not a victim by getting a copy and check any changes to the reality of the condition of your premises. Trust me you need to do it.
UnstablePresident. Mexico is Not Paying For The Wall.
No home invasion, liability, because I have two pit bulls and never home during the day and leave them in the hallway.
Art, why would anyone vote for someone who doesn’t care if they win or loose. Do it right or don’t waste the voters time.
12 I know we are normally on the other side of the fence on issues but are you actually saying that you think the Gman should run for mayor??? If so, I guess there still is some hope for enemy’s to become friends. I dont know if the Gman will run but I think I mis spoke when I said he didn’t care if he won or lost. What I meant to say was it wouldn’t impact him if he won or lost. He cares a whole lot about the taxpayer and has and will always do what he can to protect the taxpayers !like he did in the 80,s. If the Gman decides to run I hope that you will be able to support him with your vote. Thanks for your concern.
What Art-should say is, maybe if someone took him seriously he would be serious about it. He has very little support, mark my words, those who could care less what he’s trying to do for you, will know pretty soon in water rates.
TF:: The Gman knows exactly what he is doing. Look what he did for the city in the 80s He is folllowing his game plan to the letter. I think I mis spoke when I said the Gman doesnt care whether he wins or loses the sewer project. What I should have said is that it has no impact on him one way or the other. That said he will do everything in his power to prevent the bloodbath that he sees coming for the ratepayers. Do people know the Gman or do they care what he is trying to do?? That’s hard to say but let’s just consider some of the nuts that post on this board. They are known to everyone and if the general public looks at the Gman the same way then the rate payer will be slaughtered. Its amazing how anyone would not support the Gman knowing that he is trying to save their ass to the tune of 28 million dollars. This is what the Gman is up against. Look at the posters for the weekend session. There isn’t anyone talking about or supporting the Gman. Yes TM the people who choose not to support the Gman will find out very soon what it will cost them for not supporting the Gman. It will not affect the Gman but many others will feel an intense financial pain that will drive many out of their homes in pittsfield. There are two ways to go on this sewer project. Which way do you think YOU should go?????
Do I even need a toilet? Can I have an outhouse?
Last minute info in the closing hours of 2018
Beacon
Well they did it, they jacked up the concessions prices by about 20% or in some cases forced “upgrades” to combo deals that no one wants.
The new owners of the Beacon are in for a world of hurt if they think concessions sales are going to turn the Beacon around.
It’s not going to happen. Pittsfield (and the Berkshires) are notoriously cheap when it comes to movie concessions purchasing. We are, on average, almost 30% below industry standard for concessions purchase in combination with ticket sales. Like every red blooded thrifty New Englander, we smuggle our food and drink in! Water went from a $1 to $2.75!!!
Good thing they got a $30 million building for under $700k
https://www.phoenixmovies.net/concessions
Bousquet Ski Area
Troubles are just beginning for Bousquet. In anticipation of a sale last year, problems with the snow making, electrical issues, and ski and facility equipment were left “for the new owners”. Well there aren’t any new owners and the poor maintenance and patch fix mentality has come home to roost.
Waterline failures dating back to the end of last season, not fixed. Known electrical problems, unaddressed, lift equipment problems, ignored.
Sources say that Bousquet makes more money in the summer than it does in the winter, that they’ve been pulling money out of reinvestment and maitence and moving it into a retirement fund.
Well that deferred maintenance (like the Beacon) has now all but crippled this ski season.
Most ski areas are “all about the base”, well there is none at Bousquet. Also those pesky things like safety inspections, plumbing and wiring/electrical inspections, not working in the favor of Bousquet this year.
One worker notes that the electrical problems were so bad they kept running on reserve (read: generated power) and the main breakers would trip. That they can’t run all the lifts without power failures.
Another longtime worker said that these attempts at fixes are just that, attempts to meet the legal minimum to keep people from getting refunds for money spent on seasons passes.
A long time employee noted, “if you can open by thanksgiving, it’ll be a great year. If you can open by christmas it will be a normal year, if you aren’t open by New Years, You are having a very bad year”. (S)he mentioned that they’d be lucky to be open by mid to late January at this point.
Agent. These problems you mention won’t affect the average individuals earning a average wage as they can’t afford to anyhow. The Most pressing problems facing this city is the 160 million dollars of updates, yes I said updates and not new at the sewer and water plants which will affect every pocketbook in the city. There are many people in the city going about their merry way not paying any attention that are going to get a rude awakening very soon when they see what these 160 million dollars of updates are going to cost them. I guess you could say we are in the calm before the storm but make no mistake the storm is getting closer and closer. I’m not even sure we can prevent the storm because to prevent it we need a plan to escape it but the city has no road map for that but Mr. Gaetani has a plan. We will see how it pans out soon.
I heard the owners of Berkshire East made an offer to buy Bousquet for 1.2 million. Owner wanted 1.4. They moved on to other ventures. Such is life.
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/05/owners_of_berkshire_east_to_pu.html
So chemicals costly I might add, chemicals that are used at our Water plant and cause aluminum discharge are not environmentally good and cost more than the two hundred thousand would have you believe if you add pumps and storage, a Building to maintain,I’m sure it is heated. Where is Greenpeace on this,not even a twitch.
Great comment Agent Smith. As a kid I never had to Money to pay for candy, now that I do I wouldn’t, it’s like you say, frugal berkshireite and we’re only talking a few dollars. My mother would have killed me if I had bought candy at these prices. But that’s where they make money, concessions.
And Seller is doing a great job on here, also,naysayers should be sent down the road.
A patriotic, triple-amputee military vet has started a go-fund-me site to build the wall and protect his country. He’s a real American hero!
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/29/vet-who-has-raised-17-million-for-border-wall-promises-announcement-next-week-we-have-pulled-it-off/
The lovely Linda Tyer is the best Mayor of Pittsfield EVER! If I lived in Pittsfield, I would go to her speech on how well she is doing leading Pittsfield towards 2020!
– Jonathan Melle
“Tyer To Deliver Her Third State of The City Address”
iBerkshires.com Staff Reports, December 29, 2018
Pittsfield, Massachusetts — Mayor Linda Tyer’s “state of the city” address will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019.
The annual mayoral address will start at 5:30 p.m. at Taconic High School. It is free and open to the public.
It will be Tyer’s third state of the city. The first year she spoke at the Colonial Theatre and last year at Zion Lutheran Church.
Each address has tended to last about an hour and has highlighted successes from the year before and introduces new initiatives in the works for the upcoming year.
Following the presentation, there will be refreshments and tours of the new high school.
That will be a gigantic Gobsig event. When it comes time to mention the accomplishments a dearth of silence will come over the crowd. One thing for certain there will be very few individuals who actually have accomplishments in attendance. I guess you can call the whole exercise real fake news. And Mr. Melle why dont you try to tell us the accomplishments the secretary has that makes you feel so enamored of IT I think you have lost your mind.
Gaetani will be there in the front row smiling at Tyer.
AA The Gman doesnt particularly enjoy funerals. Will you be weeping at the funeral????
Wednesdays piece in the Planet on pickleball was a hoot. Loved lyrics extolling virtues of this fabulous new sport. I wonder, does one need a sports bra or a jockstrap to play pickleball? Whatever the answer, I have a follow-up to Dan’s lyrics. Here it is:
Hooray for pickleball
Hooray at last
Hooray for pickleball
It’s a horses ass.
The biggest horses ass remains an unknown. A consultant (?) got paid (how much) to identify a place to play this, do I dare say it, game. Love to see paperwork and time spent on this crap.
Once before $65,000.00 was peed away to identify two city parks. I hope we did not do that again. We know our parks – I think.
To all readers of the Planet and to you, Dan, Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, Chuck. And Happy New Year to Gaetani and all the rest. I mention Gaetani because it just might be a better year if he could pull it off. We’ve already had the BeaCon nonsense Agenthas mentioned today
Happy New Year, May. Nice hearing from you.
Moon rivers white Krol Marchetti cacamo persip Simonelli and tyer are the ones who will be stealing the bread off your table. There is only one person who can stop them and that is Gaetani and even he may not be able to stop them but at least he is trying. As long as I am alive I will tell everyone I know in person and in print including here that these ass holes have to be voted out. People have short memories but I who post daily I will remind you at every opportunity I get. Who in the hell decides to pay 74 million dollars for a project that can be done for 44 million dollars and the one proposing it the Gman has already saved the city 116 million dollars in the 80,s One has to ask why these assholes are sticking with the 74 million dollar albatross????? We better pray that the Gman is successful as if he isn’t. Many in this city are in real trouble