BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 31-FEB. 2, 2019) — It didn’t take long before reports trickled out of the Berkshire County District Attorney’s office, led by newbie Andrea Harrington. Our new Hamilton Burger assumed office with the startling agenda of going after “crime” on the basis of politics, race, and gender as opposed to the tenets of honest justice. Justice? Or “just us?” And what is it that they say about “assumptions?”

In fairness, only time can arbitrate her “new approach.” Perhaps she’s so far ahead of the curve she appears behind. That’s how it is when you lap everyone. If that’s the case, Berkshire County can expect a dramatic improvement in public safety. On the other hand, as Tevye says, perhaps she’s actually a plodder bringing up the rear. In that instance, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski had better invest in security systems and tae kwon do lessons.

Harrington rode to victory over Judith Knight and Paul Caccaviello. While campaigning, Harrington painted a dire picture of crime under David Capeless-Caccaviello. Now, according to the fluff coming out of her office, things have become, instantly, much better. However, until proven otherwise, the jury is out on the D.A.’s “cultural change,” which seems to be code for giving certain minority groups preferential treatment and “Get Out of Jail” cards. If that’s the case, the new D.A. stands as racist, sexist, and every-“ist” as she thinks the rest of the world is.

In this report, THE PLANET has drawn from sources within the D.A.’s office, the courthouse, and others outside the office but with inside knowledge. Multiple times we sought comment from Harrington so we could get her version of events. She ignored the requests.

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One of the first things Harrington did, according to sources, was impose a draconian press policy. As one source put it — we shall call him “Paul Drake” —  “She thinks a crime not caught or publicized is a crime that statistically didn’t occur.” Crime in Berkshire County is now the tree falling in the forest with no one to hear.

To borrow from Sir Winston O’Boogie, an Iron Curtain has descended over the D.A.’s office.

This policy betrays an incredible naivete about how the media works. During the campaign, when she had use for THE PLANET,  Andrea couldn’t be more accommodating. After, she turned off the spigot.

So she thought.

When the top dog stops talking to you, a good investigative reporter goes to alternative sources. Competent newshounds will have cultivated those sources, as  THE PLANET has done. Truth is, Harrington’s office has more leaks than a rum runner’s skiff, and the harder she clamps down, the more leaks spring up.

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There appear to be three levels of office turmoil:

1. Old v. New:  Andrea cleaned house, but she couldn’t toss everyone. She needed continuity and institutional knowledge. Some veterans HAD to say. The irony is that as much as the retained employees had loyalty to their old boss[es], they “are more loyal to the job and to those that they serve.” Nonetheless, Harrington, sources say, doesn’t believe that and has instilled a “great deal of suspicion of the old employees by the new. She’s become paranoid, but it’s so misplaced.”
2. New v. New: There is infighting among new staffers, since many have no idea what they are doing. They are “jockeying for position and favoritism.” Sources report issues with [Deputy D.A. Rich] Dahoney and [1st Ass.t D.A. Karen] Bell. Dahoney, sources say, “is virtually clueless when it comes to office procedure and operations … but he’s more of a municipal lawyer so it makes sense.” Bell, sources say, is “abrasive, needlessly aggressive, and not particularly bright. When anyone questions her, she gets loud.”  Sources say [Chief of Appeals Legal Counsel Jeanne] Kempthorne, the most talented newcomer, is frustrated by the lack of professionalism and “extremely frustrated and discontented” over the office chaos. There’s also anger over the hiring of Helen Moon. The ex-nurse knows little about law and makes $70,000-a-year-plus bennies as “director of special projects,” whatever that is.
3. Communications: Press relations are a mess. Sources say the most recent conflict was Dohoney “reading the riot act to staff about communications outside the office, leaks, and complaints by local news organizations about lack of access and information. It forced them to do a dump of press releases related to cases. Andrea has been using her staff as sort of a PR firm and has focused on Facebook and Twitter, releasing positive press and news snipits and not meeting the needs of the local press for information.” Sources say the atmosphere in the office is one of mistrust and suspicion that has “the most talented person in the office [Kempthorne] on the verge of quitting.” Sources say Kempthorne has shared her frustrations with ex-colleagues in Boston. The now-infamous photo-op with state auditor Suzanne Bump, where Harrington wore a shirt top that appeared to show the outline of her nipples also caused “a great deal of embarrassment, especially among [the women] in the office, who found it degrading,” Street says.

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So there you have it. Five days prior to publication, THE PLANET invited Harrington to comment, set the record straight on anything she disputes, and to present her side. She ignored the request. We interpret her silence as an endorsement of the report’s accuracy. Should she wish to comment after the fact, we remain open to her contributions.

Have a great weekend, everybody. Keep the comments semi-intelligent. Our bouncers are getting testy.

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“Anger will not help us now, Mr. Ambassador” — From Stanley Kubrick‘s screenplay of “Dr. Strangelove.”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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