LETTERS TO THE PLANET: DOING BUSINESS IN PITTSFIELD, AND MUCH MORE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JULY 26-28, 2019) — We open to the weekend by cleaning out some files, including letters sent in that for one reason or another weren’t used — the Sophie Tucker dilemma: So much to do, so little time to do it in. Our first epistle comes from comes from The Whistler via this Facebook post from Karen Schiltz. It will be of interest to all as a kind of cautionary tale about doing business in Benigno Numine, which too often resembles Death Valley Days.
“Just so everyone knows how WONDERFUL it is to try to run a small business in Pittsfield MA, after years of run around and nickel and diming people whose small businesses make less than $10,000/year, like me – forcing us to fill out endless forms every year describing over and over again down to a paper clip what we use to run the business so they can tax us on every single bit of it (and I’m not even going to go into the stupidity of putting paid parking meters in a downtown like Pittsfield that is struggling to revitalize) – after years of all this, I finally join others who’ve left and I decide it’s no longer worth it to try to run a business the size of my photography business in the city of Pittsfield. I closed my studio and my business April 1st. I continue to receive tax bills for a business I have closed and I figure it’s a mistake, so I call the assessors office only to be told that even though I CLOSED my business to avoid this idiocy, I still have to pay taxes on a business that’s now closed for the rest of the YEAR. I am so angry I could break something. If you want to open a small business, for God’s sake and for your sanity AND the health of your future business do NOT open it in Pittsfield.”
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The next one deals with the “sellout” of PCTV. The scam, one that public TV and radio have used for years, involved soliciting money from advertisers who are not called “advertisers” but “underwriters.” This chiffon veil allows public media to essentially break the law legally.
“So the guy over at PCTV tells me that they are now going the way of WAMC and public radio and TV as far as advertising goes. And they tell us that you have to be a member and pay a fee to do a show over there? Look, I know no one watches the damn shows but this really bothers me the fact that WTBR is involved in any aspect of advertising, especially when the schools don’t ever participate on these political and art pump ups. What is the Mayor doing on the page also, as administrator? Dan was the only good show over there anyway. He never took a nickel and doesn’t on this blog. Kudos Dan! Wish you would be in real time though.” — Mission to Mars.
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Our next letter is brief and to the point, one we have made numerous times.
“Great site Dan. Wish the comments could be a little more cordial lately. Anyway very informative” — Pete C.
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This one came after the death of Jim Bouton, which THE PLANET commented upon in a roundup column a couple weeks ago. We disagree with the points, especially arguing that the Bouton-Elitzer plan for Wahconah Park was nothing more than a TIF. It was not close to a TIF. They wanted the beer rights as part of the financial sustainability of the plan. Perfectly reasonable. Oh, and the fact that Bouton was a Yankee? He was a Yankee when the Yankees were still the Yankees. We do appreciate the pushback.
“On Bouton, first of all he was a Yankee. Second, he made a fool of of himself later as an Atlanta Brave. Third, he wanted to have a party on Pop’s grave at the beloved hallowed grounds of the morning league Red Sox memorial grounds (sacred) for beer rights. You could say it was the beginning of the famous TIF giveaway, of which people like the Beacon theatre owner and builders have squandered down the road (same concept). Bouton’s idea along with the partner at that time Chip Elitzer was to get the beer rights more than bring pro baseball to the city. This isn’t that far from what a TIF represents. It’s all a shell game folks. A buyout or takeover is, well, a TIF. You have a good weekend Dan. — U.N.
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Finally, we have two letters supporting the candidacy of Alex Blumin for councilor-at-large.
“I’m voting Alex Blumin for councilor-at-large” — R. Rowler.
“I have seen Alex Blumin at many public meetings. I love how he brings common sense to the table. I have agreed with him on almost every issue. He will get my vote. I urge everyone to vote Alex Blumin for At-Large.” — In a Class By Herself.
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We thank everyone for their comments and letters. We invite everyone, with all points of view, to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech here on THE PLANET. God knows the other local media have taken that right away from You The People. All we ask is that you make your points, support them with good argument, and avoid the gutter.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“No idea is so antiquated that it was not once modern. Not idea is so modern that it will not someday be antiquated” — Ellen Glasgow.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
Would any of the councilors who are running please inform this site if you are for cutting taxes? Would candidates for Mayor also inform this site if they are for cutting our budget?….or anyone that knows the candidates.
Progressives DO NOT cut taxes. They only raise them.
Alex Blumin running for an at large seat is on record pledging to cut taxes and trim the budget. Mr Blumin is a local landlord and entrepreneur but true man of the people. I will vote for him and recommend others do the same
Yeah yeah yeah. He’s unelectable.
not if you vote for him
Seriously!
Don’t know the answer to your question. However I can answer for the folks that are elected: with possibly two exceptions the answer is a resounding NO!
Happy Birthday Chuck.
Here is my submission to the editor for this weekend’s edition:
Start with a song. You know me.
Well actually you don’t know me. “Some kind of solitude is measured out in you, you think you know me but you haven’t got a clue” – Hey Bulldog
This weekend’s song:
“I’M FREE- I’m free,
And freedom tastes of reality,
I’m free-I’m free,
AN’ I’m waiting for you to follow me.
If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You’d laugh and say ‘nothing’s that simple’
But you’ve been told many times before
Messiahs pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!
I’m free-I’m free
And freedom tastes of reality
I’m free-I’m free
And I’m waiting for you to follow me.
How can we follow?
How can we follow?”
– The Who (I’m Free)
My extrapolated breakdown:
”If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high”
(Reach the highest high? Exit the Maze through the Sun)
“You’d laugh and say nothing’s that simple”
(It really is that simple. No need for some complicated physics or religion or any bullshit)
“But you’ve been told many times before”
(The clues are scattered in everything you see. They are everywhere. You just need to open your eyes and See them)
“Messiah’s pointed to the door”
(The Christian Cross = X marks the spot.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No-one exits the Maze except through Me.” – The Sun)
”An no one’s had the guts to leave the temple.“
(It takes courage to leave the Game. People accept the reality they are presented with. Fear is one factor that keeps you in this Game.)
“Im Free. I’m Free. And I’m waiting for you to follow me.”
How can we follow?
How can we follow?
Candidates do not cut taxes but they invent ways to raise them. The latest was to cut the tax rate two cents and raise home assessments,water rates, and increase new school costs,also the new c p a tax by the state.
Pat would you please look at how conservatives have put us in huge dangerous debt.
Oh wise one…,, only the house can approve spending money and last time I checked AOC and her democrat pals were in charge.
Republicans are now supporting the breaking of American laws.Russia is now winning the war on America from within the republican party.You can’t justify anything at this point.
Can any one here translate TSCenese to English?
In a nutshell, the republican party is welcoming the Russians to interfere with our elections. You will not he4ar about this on Fox so this may be why you are so confused.
Wow, tell me how the republican party is welcoming the Russians to interfere with our elections.
The DNC, Debbie Wasserman, and H-Beast is a tough act to follow.
Think the Russians are up to it?
Muellar stated that Russia is embedded in the American election to insert Trump as American President
Thank you for your wisdom.
Me pleasure Ang
Mueller is a doddering imbecile. Few will deny that after watching him Wednesday.
He is also a decorated marine who fought in the Viet Nam war….the one Donald bent over backwards to avoid.
Why do you disrespect a man who fought with honor for your freedom?
Demi
Benedict Arnold was one of Washington’s favorite generals, you’re only as good as your last act.
Mueller is a disgrace.
List of a few of his accomplishments
Mueller framed 4 men in Boston to protect his mobster Pal Whitey Bulger
Costing the American taxpayers $102 million on a pay out
Framed Hatfill in anthrax debacle another 20 million settlement
Ted Stevens frame up and election rigging, which gave Obama the vote he needed to get obumer care passed.
That they are now subject to Rico statutes eliminating immunity, resulted in Mueller having a stroke.
Two provable Rico predicated crimes,at taxpayers expense.
Enron And Arthur Andersen frame ups reversed unanimously by Supreme Court- unanimously!
General Mike Flynn frame up, Which is Coming unglued
Now that Sidney Powell is tearing apart Mueller and Wiseman- and spearheading prosecutions of same.
He was a willing figure head, again attempting to alter election results, by the collusion delusion
Are democrats jealous they have competition?
Now The penguin Nadler and pencilneck shift are looking at money laundering.
That time magazine cover that depicts 2024 and beyond, gets more realistic every day.
Trumps turn to play offense, by steering justice department to investigate the investigators.
quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Mueller never put helpless little children in cages though. So at least he has that much going for him.
Nonsense, all of it nonsense
If you see the nitwit, thank him for his service.
Trump,Barr ordered him not to venture to far.
Tsc
All very easily verifiable facts
Try Google
Why did Mueller just say “I can’t get into that” , repeatedly when asked about democRAT meddlings?
TAXES
I love the “cut taxes” comments. Fact 1: you want services, roads, sewer, water? Fact 2: all government services come from taxes. So, if you want services, you pay taxes. Government doesn’t have money by simply printing it.
CUTTING TAXES
The problem with all of our goods and services, from streets to schools to whatever is that politicians simply come in and don’t truly evaluate where the money is going. Politicians simply shift money. They cut from one department to move the money to another. Or they add a new program expecting the money to come from something like lottery sales or cigarette taxes, and when that money dries up, the program continues on our backs.
HOW TO CUT TAXES
We need politicians willing to start fresh. That means from scratch. Evaluate every departmental budget and see where the money is being spent. Cut out programs, projects, and areas that are nothing more than glamour and waste. Set priorities and goals for each department. Work with each department head on reaching those goals. Frequently meet to get progress reports and make adjustments instead of meeting at budget time only.
I agree taxes are too high. They could be cut if we vote for people willing to work to spend efficiently. We don’t get that. We get peacocks that just add to the nest.
I question when we’re going to get someone in office that’s willing to separate the wheat from the chafe. Long overdue.
While it might be expensive we could start with an audit of the city finances. And get some fresh eyes on the budget, someone who is not connected to the cabal.
Hire department heads that are not indebted to the machine who can make intelligent decisions not influenced by city hall.
Institute a real bidding system where all bidders have a real chance and eliminate the kickback habit.
Set realistic limits on campaign contributions so that special interests have less control over who gets elected.
I agree with Dan Valenti,Al Blumin is worth a look. Anyone ever listen to radiostation WT B R in the morning? I’m not saying the show is bad,but man, it is not even remotely interesting. Wasn’t he the jokester that was kicked out of the wbrk studios? I know the secretary over there couldn’t stand him and everyone I know that has heard him can’t stand the man, after listening today,know know why…awful programming.
Are there any decent shows on pctv?
I love following Pittsfield politics on Dan Valenti’s awesome blog! This year’s (2019) municipal election is going to be very interesting. Why does the lovely Linda Tyer deserve another 4 year term as Mayor of Pittsfield? Can another candidate do a better job in the corner office? I can’t wait to read all about it!
We need spendapalooza Tyer to manage the decline of Pittsfield for four more years.
You could do a better job Jon.. Tyer has been one big failure. I’ll be writing in Dan.
Jon,you’re not in Dans class.But keep posting.
Just going to leave this post from a facebook friend here. Right on.
Incompetence knows no limits, knows no boundaries.
Tyer is not only not qualified to be mayor, she’s dangerously incompetent.
Wynn is a complete failure as a chief of police and Harrington wants to coddle drug users and criminals, it’s a trifecta of failure. You know how they say circle of life in the Lion King? This is the circle of incompetence.
Drugs are sold, low level addicts are not punished, there’s no incentive for them to roll over on dealers, addicts need their fix, DA won’t prosecute property crimes or low level non-violent theft, addicts steal more to buy more, drug dealers then supply more.
Remember the stabbing in front of a known drug house, Wynn said without controlled buys there’s nothing they can do. That’s BS. He’s been told how to run interdiction in bad areas, the DEA told him specifically, he’s doesn’t listen because he doesn’t care.
Criminals, from petit thieves to cartel bosses know very well how to exploit the weaknesses in society, the weaknesses in people, and the weaknesses in the law. We have an incompetent mayor, a weak police chief, and a DA who has less criminal trial experience than a public defender out of law school for 3 months.
It’s a criminals paradise, and while all this is going on, what do they do? Take trips to Portugal, worry about trash bins, and the chief is permanently out to lunch with cop ice cream programs, radio shows, and sitting on the board of a failed museum who’s biggest claim to fame is selling the best art they had.
Rodney
1) addiction is a disease not a crime
2) Berkshire County residents have zero confidence in law-enforcement, which Harrington is not helping by having same corrupt officers that have created the credibility problem
Unsure at this point if she is Naïve or corrupt, as no one at the District Attorney’s Office including Harrington and Bell will answer the simple question.
Does she understand that public participation is vital to her efforts to stem criminal behavior?
While da Harrington inherit a mess , she does seem unwilling or unable to clean it up. By changing the players on her losing team.
Rodney
She Inherited a very troubled office, which leads the Public to have very Little confidence in reporting crimes.
Seems she is uninterested in fulfilling her campaign promises.
Or is being insulated from complaintants.
No emails reporting criminal behavior are returned
Or followed up on.
Harrington fired most of the office so she could give jobs to her campaign cronies and attorneys who support her politics. It’s always been about politics. Watch next, she’s trying to get legislators to adopt juvenile court for 21 year olds. That’s bloods and crips.
Should of started from scratch, previous administration loyalists,won’t be,exposing their own criminal behavior
And are,commiting crimes,at. Taxpayers expense
Wow, what crimes, Tom?
Rodney
Problems were there before
It’s not lack of experience
it’s lack of information
Witness intimidetion
Perjury
Compounding and conceaking hundreds of felonies
Including rape ,witness intimidetion; perjury,falsifying evidence, false statements, distruction of evidence
Conspiracy ,civil rights violations in the thousands
Accessory to murder before and after.
Racketeering influenced criminal organization
…..
Relax it didn’t go unnoticed 47 girls were assaulted at Williams college or the 150 at mcla,many of which rape kits were lost or destroyed
Then factor the Catholic rape fest
And police misconduct and sexual assaults
20 yearx,per count
25,000$ fine
And forfeiture of any assets ( campaign donations)
Pensions pay etc….
Them crimes.
Tsc i thought had more cards in her deck than JM. But to come out with a statement that we should take as fact something Mueller said is laughable. He was a prop for the Lefty Loonies which i’m sure Tsc is a proud member. Tsc he did not write or read the Mueller Report. He did not lead the 100% Anti Trump team that was put together. But if you want to see a true unbiased story keep your eyes on AG Barr
Deep state is Corporate and wealthy and Trump
I thought that shot spotter was 100 percent accurate. I’ve heard at least 10 shot spotter announcements that ended up as fireworks,the joke is the perps are given advice and no charges. What a joke,fireworks are illegal and can cause fires and explode in your face
Report: Serious Violence on Rise in Nation’s Public Schools
Federal data released Thursday show serious incidents of violence in the nation’s public schools are on the rise at the same time more schools are employing Obama-era “restorative justice” disciplinary policies and nearly all schools are touting “social emotional learning” (SEL) practices.
sauce……..
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/26/report-serious-violence-on-rise-in-nations-public-schools/
Jeepers Wally, what a coincidence!
The same thing will happen with the crime rate, thanks to the so called criminal justice reform.
What school employee is being investigated for having an affair with a student, while she was a student at a high school in his district and while his wife was in rehab?
It’s all very hush hush because the family involved doesn’t want the story out because it will be obvious who the victim is.
Evidence includes text messages, nude photos, references to sexual acts that they participated in, on school grounds, at school events, in his car, and at his hone while his wife and children were away.
Proxy
Cbrsd? Or Pittsfield?
Cbrsd
Student resource officer likes to “ date” students
it’s ok, look the other way!
But his wife & kids already fled the area due to
The embarrassment.
So I’m guessing Pittsfield.
A bit lower
Seems to be an Epidemic
Historical epidemic.
Lack of punishment caused the epidemic
I don’t watch very much of pctv, except council meetings etc. I used to watch the planet show and I’ll catch the newshour every no and then. Are there any other shows worth watching?
Marchetti, White and Persip totally useless as councillors at large. Who with a brain could vote for such mediocrity and incompetence? Now along comes the darling of the Tyer crew, Yuki if she and Gueil Lampiasi and lobe lathropget on the council Pittsfield is doomed.
Blame Linda!
She’s a huge part of the problem.
There was the “Doyle debacle”, then the “Hathaway hack”, then the “Ruberto regime”, and then the “Bianchi bust”. AND now there is the “Tyer travesty” where Pittsfield politics is at its worst!
It is all Linda’s fault. She is a huge part of the problem. If the lovely Linda is ousted, then Pittsfield politics will miraculously recover from decades of leadership failures.
Ousting Tyer for incompetence will not solve PIttsfield problems. It will only open the door for another incompetent to take her place.
Still, you cannot reward an incompetent with reelection as that suggests something bordering on stupidity. One has to gamble that they will luck out and get someone who actually gives a shit about the people more than themselves.
If Tyer was a football coach she wouldn’t have made the playoffs in four years. Who would keep such a coach?
President Trump wins another victory from the Supreme Court….money for our border wall.
Somebody important is about to get rich putting up Steele slats
Sadly, every time Trump wins the country loses. He has played so many games with the NATO countries that they don’t have confidence backing him on Iran anymore. His big bully attitude is coming home to roost in a very negative way.
very fake news
I love it as it will allow dems to finance anything we want that repubs wont vote for
Dan
What was wrong with last posts?
Not allowing any posts that support current da?
Very google like, not the usual planet:)
Judge gag you again?
It randomly happens. It will show up at some point.
Cut taxes….Get rid of MCAS Testing,Dont add any school department employees,The mayor should have blocked these and so she loses.Close a elementary school,close a high school….I just saved millions…real hard to do my ass.
Let me get it straight.
If Donald Trump is re-elected, then America will be great again.
BUT, if the lovely Linda Tyer is re-elected, Pittsfield will be distressed again.
SO, please re-elect Trump, but not Tyer.
Do I have it right?
Trump will be charged when he loses in 2020.He will be driving Epstien crazy
Fanto from BB must be out of his mind if he thinks Stockbridge is an example in civility. Isn’t their Fire Chief suing the town and making AG complaints? I thought the police department had a big lawsuit too – maybe that was west Stockbridge. It really is lie Mississippi out here. Let me pour you some sweet tea!
Fanto hasn’t had an original idea that wasn’t fed to him by the editors since the mid 2000’s
Longer than that,he was kissing Barrett’s ass in the nineties. This Kevin Moran is a real dud also.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/harrington-other-das-want-juvenile-court-age-limit-raised-to-21,580649
Idiot Harrington strikes again!!!
Harrington, other DAs want juvenile court age limit raised to 21
Posted Saturday, July 27, 2019 11:55 am
By The Statehouse News Service
Three county prosecutors are calling on lawmakers to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include defendants between the ages of 18 and 21.
Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, and Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, in a statement distributed by the national prosecutors’ network Fair and Just Prosecution, said such a move would create a safer, fairer and more developmentally appropriate justice system.
A 2013 state law brought 17-year-olds into the juvenile court system, which had previously served youth age 16 and under. A task force, chaired by Sen. Cynthia Creem and Rep. Paul Tucker, is studying whether it would make sense to further raise the age. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan serves on that panel.
“We’ve learned over the past three decades that tough-on-crime approaches rarely work, and in no population other than emerging adults, aged 18 to 24, is this more evident,” Rollins said in the statement. “The record shows that young people treated in the juvenile justice system fare better and the community becomes safer.”
Said Sullivan, “It’s time to learn from science and experience to implement strategies aimed at rehabilitation rather that harsh punishment and retribution.”
Harrington said the juvenile system “provides a better pathway forward by looking at youth more holistically in the context of their family, school and community.”
Juvenile Court Chief Justice Amy Nechtem this week said expanding the juvenile justice system beyond the age of 17 would not be a good match for the court.
“Much of our work in the juvenile court relies on the participation of parents and guardians and others that will surround the child, support the child with ongoing success in the community,” Nechtem said. “Very different from an adult that will come into a family-centered juvenile court, and our oversight on this young person will be absolutely different from what is happening for the younger. Their needs are different and their presence in the community is different, so it is, in my opinion, not a match for the juvenile court, I say respectfully.”
I just knew that Harrington and Rollins were working together on this Progressive insanity for our legal system.
I am getting confused by the progressives lately, under this proposal they could potentially have a military member under 21 charged as a juvenile. Then they also try to float voting for 16 year olds because they are mature enough to understand the consequences of their votes.
Good point Cat. The progressives want it both ways.
I love it as it will allow dems to finance anything we want that repubs wont vote for
Continued without finding, with pretrial probation allows,young perpetrators to earn a,clean record. Eliminating the stigma and hindrance of a criminal record. If they reoffend the charges are then prosecuted. Should be used more often as it saves,money on incoseration. But prosecutors can’t measure rehabilitation and can measure years,of prison given to perpetrators
Is my thoughts
Locking up people doesn’t seem to be fixing the problem.
I always have a heart for the kids but … that idea is too simplistic. The Boston Bombers were 19 and 26. The older one was known by law enforcement for years too.
Kermit
Cwof would of kept the Boston terrorist on the top of the to do list,as,charges are prosecuted upon any other criminal activity
the Boston Fbi dropped the ball on that case
Russia warned he was a radical Islamic terrorist
There was lots of evidence he was a terrorist, I agree law,enforcement failed to do their job
Springfield Fbi failed to follow up on complaints about parkland school shooter,because they are too busy looking the other way.covering up western mass police misconduct. Allowing another tragedy
It is now speculated that Ukrainian drug addict that killed 7 bikers in NH was an informant ,being handled by same FBI agent Ron Zanoli,who comprised himself with his drunken spousal abuse ,which Msp was employed to intimidate the victims. It’s not just Berkshire detectives
As long as D A Harrington validities her ridiculous judgement by appearing on the ludicrous PC T Morning Show, she’ll never be able to justify common sense.
Tonight, I read that a 3 year study of poverty in Pittsfield will come to an end at the end of 2019. I wonder what the solutions are?
Pittsfield is an economically unequal community. The gap between the Haves and the Have Nots is large. There is a circle of poverty that surrounds North Street, which is also known as “Social Services Alley”.
The only growth in Pittsfield is in teen pregnancies, welfare caseloads, the underclass, and crime. Pittsfield should advertise this.
Who is doing the study? Why does it take 3 years? Will seniors on fixed incomes still be the base of Pittsfield taxation with special interest business s getting huge tax breaks?
And why does the mayor keep the list of Pittsfield business s getting tax breaks such a secret? Are they friends of hers? She does know that seniors on fixed incomes have to pay more to subsidize these pampered special interests, right? Does she know and not care? Will she keep up this unfair and insensitive practice if reelected? Or would she rather just not talk about such spooky things?
It was done by workingcitiespittsfield.org which clearly has no expertise in anything they are trying to accomplish.
They don’t even post legally valid minutes of a meeting, post no real agendas. It’s just more money wasted to try and prop up a failing city. It’s jobs for Linda Tyer’s friends.
https://nypost.com/2019/07/27/how-trumps-television-city-started-a-decades-long-feud-between-trump-and-nadler/
Soooo this is why that petty Nadler won’t let go. Talk about an abuse of power.
Great post, Proxy.
Abuse of power is right. Explains why Nads is after information that he is legally not entitled to have.
While some here have had bad things to say about Mayor Tyer, you have been here all along. For all those new handles coming out bashing her, well, we know who you are. Do you really think the electorate is that stupid? It’s kind of insulting.
Barry
Bashing or staying facts?
Are you going to set your attack dog , Marquis free on this blog again?
He is not a part of the campaign. He does what he does on his own.
Barry
Do you approve of what he does?
I’m not friends with him on Facebook.
He went after my wife four years ago and now it seems he is going after Mazzeo. I don’t like name calling and don’t condone it, no matter who is being attacked, or who the attacker is.
Barry
Of course he does. Because now it suits him and his failure as a mayor wife.
But Barry’s cut from the exact same cloth. He makes threats to protect his wife’s little dynasty. A small man and stupid man with delusions of grandeur.
I don’t use the facebook much. I was talking about this blog.
You know what’s insulting, Linda “Tired” Tyers “performance” as mayor.
Worst Mayor Of Pittsfield
“We know who you are” sounds like an eerie threat. And that is why so many in Pittsfield are afraid to speak up and on here use handles instead of real names.
And that is just sad isn’t it Barry? That is the kind of bully tactic I expect from Donald Trump.
This is the Harrington maneuver.
Remember when Harrington threatened Mazzeo if she didn’t get in lie. Same thing here.
“We know who you are”
So Barry man up and tell;
1. Who the “we is” of your little secret cabal
2. Name names
Threats are a very bad sign.
Threats were employed by both wives of disgraced former da’s
“We are a big Italian family ”
Too many suprano reruns? Or good ole boys are realy organized crime?
Google wifegate in 2018 election Berkshire eagle
I think Harrington was warning mazzio about pending exposure of williams sexual assault crisis & how it may stain her future political ambitions
Nobody will forget that.
Barry – People are not bashing Lovely Linda personally they are upset with the way the City is being run. Maybe you can answer some questions about issues that are not being addressed from her office. It is either you or Roberta that seems to answer questions from the corner office anyway. Where is the Traffic Bureau she promised? Why are lines still not painted on streets? Why are potholes not filled? Why are drivers allowed to run red lights? Is the new speed limit in Pittsfield 65? Why are the City Parks a mess and taxpayers have to take it upon themselves to keep them clean and safe for children. Does the Health Department not notice the pot fumes that fill Dalton Avenue and the surrounding streets, thought that would not happen and what about the long standing businesses around that area, why are they having to deal with this? Why are people so afraid to go to Springside park? Why are fire damaged buildings which are unsafe allowed to remain? Why are children leaving our school system? Why are children afraid to go to school? Why is the permit process allowed to fall through the cracks on a major project? Why are some police officers sound asleep early in the morning in their cruisers? Why are prostitutes allowed to work on Tyler and North Street? Why is White Terrace allowed to be such an unsafe drug infested area? Why are crosswalks not painted? Why are safety signage down all around the City and replaced with orange barrels or cones? Why does Pittsfield wait years and years to try to collect back taxes? Do we even know who owes taxes? Why can’t answers be found about how much money is being brought in from meters? Has your wife every ventured out mid day and view the open parking spaces on North Street and her new parking lot? I could go on and on, but bottom line, taxpayers are not going to receive answers to these questions from her or her department heads. Just hope that other mayoral candidates are reading this and help the City find answers to these issues.
I would add that there is trash everywhere making the city look like no one cares anymore. Was never this bad. Why can’t jail or juvenile people pick this stuff up?
JA
Have to agree on that point. Trash and litter have never been as bad. The pity is that they are totally unnecessary. It’s a simple thing, in concept: Look after yourself and clean up your own mess. As a society, we have gotten away from it.
As always I respectfully call her Mayor Tyer who is the 1st 4 year term Mayor who had extra time to get control of school spending.Mayor Tyer has not asked for a plan or presented a plan of school consolidation.She needed to demand this of her schools department head.For this reason she failed military vets who need a stable tax year after year not 200 dollar rise.
Mazzeo will now be given a chance and she will get her 4 years or its bye bye to Mayor Mazzeo.
Re: Pittsfield’s useless 3-year study on poverty
After 3 years of studying poverty in post-industrial Pittsfield, I would like to know what the solutions are to bring people and poor neighborhoods out of poverty and into the middle class.
GE left Pittsfield in 1990 – or 29 years ago – and Pittsfield politics has done absolutely nothing to bring in or retain the thousands of lost jobs in the community.
The only growth in Pittsfield has been in teen pregnancies, welfare caseloads, social services programs, not-for-profits, poorly performing public schools, and crime. And, don’t forget about PEDA, which turned 21 years old this summer, and it is nothing more than a polluted, vacant wasteland with zero private investment.
Pittsfield politics is a ran by a corrupt group of Good Old Boys who always raise municipal taxes and debts on the back of fixed-income senior citizens, Veterans, and Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, who always have to assume the position.
In closing, post-industrial Pittsfield is a symbol of what is wrong with America. There is growing economic inequality, scarce living wage jobs, and a useless 3-year study of why poverty is severe in neglected neighborhoods.
– Jonathan Melle
“Three Years In, Working Cities Pittsfield Tracks Successes And A Path Forward”
By Josh Landes, WAMC, July 22, 2019
A nonprofit working to bring opportunity, prosperity, and equity to Pittsfield, Massachusetts has an uncertain future after three years of work. ….
“We’re a post-industrial city that had a lot of industry leave, and increased poverty, and is just trying to get the economy going again,” said Alisia Costa, the initiative director for Working Cities Pittsfield. “Working Cities Pittsfield is an initiative that was started by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. ….
The group uses the Bridges Out Of Poverty model to examine Pittsfield through a socioeconomic lens, bringing attention to the kind of dislocation people on the lower end of the economic spectrum feel. ….
Working Cities has focused on the West Side and Morningside neighborhoods, Pittsfield’s poorest communities. ….
The three-year, $475,000 grant awarded to Working Cities Pittsfield by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston expires at the end of 2019. ….
Another wasted small fortune on a useless “study.”
http://workingcitiespittsfield.org/
Yeah I’d LOVE to see an accounting of how they spent all that money.
This group is a disaster!!!
Patronage! Plain and simple
How has working cities helped Pittsfield or is it just bullshit?
So just to remind people Barry Clairmont is married to Linda Tyer, the mayor of Pittsfield. She has wasted three years and millions of dollars giving out jobs to friends, interjecting herself in national and international politics, and has done nothing of note for Pittsfield. Her major claim to fame is she’s accelerating Pittsfield’s demise by clearly not knowing how to run a small city. This is what you get when you hire a hairdresser to the position of mayor.
She can even sort out trash bins…a real do nothing under achiever.
But back to Barry Clairmont, his politics and those of his wife are INTIMIDATION!
Since they can’t run on a record of success, any success at all, they (and yes she is absolutely part of this) try to intimidate those that point out their failures.
Cowardly and despicable politics, a signature of the good old boy network, Roberto cronyism and dirty cowardly people.
So Barry you and Linda know who we are! Kind of a threatening comment. How do you know this, come clean! Now I know why the two of you get along, you both have snarky, it is none of your business, intimidating attitudes. May I remind you that the taxpayers of Pittsfield are paying your wife.
Don’t forget old Barry and Bouvier’s roles in Harrington’s campaign so we know who to blame for the cesspool Pittsfield is.
Mayor Tyer never addressed the huge overruns in budgets at highway.Use accurate numbers in the budget process.OT at police ,fire,Highway means everyone is not putting forward real budgets so that the schools budget gets passed and we end up under budgeted everywhere else.Taconic is a mess.Twentyfive new school employees is a huge budget mistake by Mayor Tyer.The bottom needs a tax break.Tyer plans on great revenue due to new evaluations.If I were Mayor Tyer I would resign.Very nice lady and a victim of the Peter Principle
Ummmm did Barry Clairmont, the husband of Pittsfield’s current mayor, Linda Tyer, just publicly threaten (albeit in veiled fashion) to use otherwise protected information (actual identities on a private blog) to intimidate the voters in the city of Pittsfield?
Is anyone watching this? Where is the OMG emoji when you need it?
Hardly anyone actually votes, anyways!
Yes that spineless poor excuse for a man and a husband just threatened voters, with his not so veiled lie.
He did this, with full knowledge of his wife because she is even more cowardly.
“We know who you are”.
That “we” is at least him and the horrible mayor, I’m gonna guess he’s also referring to a small inner circle of hangers on.
Hey Barry, even those that kiss up to you and your wife also tell tales behind your back.
If there was ever a doubt of the most cowardly men in Pittsfield politics, it’s now been confirmed its Barry “can’t do anything right” Clairmont
We certainly know what kind of man he is.
This is war! It doesn’t get better than this.
Wifegate rises,again!
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/60483/Kalinowsky-Seeks-to-Bring-Fairness-Accountability-to-Mayor-s-Office.html
iBerkshires ran a story about one of the candidates that don’t have a snowballs chance in hell of being mayor.
If anyone is wondering this is a crumbling campaign. Very sad.
Does anyone remember when America was great we had litter ,polution of the lakes the Rivers,the land as the wealthy powerful corporations screwed American as we die of cancers caused by the great times of deregulation.The race problems of that great time in America the Trump will bring back.Many here dont remember the crap on your screen at night from burning at GE after midnight.You were not allowed to question what the deep state was doing to prevent socialism from coming.Trump wants this back.He wants all of us to go back to this false greatness.Trump hates our America and he should go to Russia if he hates so much.