A LITTLE TRAVELING MUSIC, SAM: A GLIMPSE OF ‘INSIDE BASEBALL’ AT PV
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, AUG. 2-4, 2019) — A formal welcome to August and the weekend.
THE PLANET‘s review of a play’s out-of-state production was served, as most readers realized, with the “comments” feature suspended. This produced several reactions, mostly good, with several contacting us privately to express appreciation for the feedback portion of PLANET VALENTI.
The sentiments echoed the Joni Mitchell line: “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” or, more appropriately, a line from Damn Yankees: “A man doesn’t know what he has, until he loses it.” A couple correspondents wrote with recollections of the production staged in Pittsfield at Wahconah Park in 2003, with former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette as Benny, opera star Maureen O’Flynn as Meg, and Your Truly as Benny’s boss, Mr. Welch. To this day, Duquette rides us about the bonus he never received from Welch for winning the A.L. pennant over those “damn Yankees.”
As much fun as it was to appear in the James Warwick-directed spectacular, it stretched our capacity for an insane work load to its outer limits. For Damn Yankees, Warwick, then in line to become artistic director of the Colonial Theater, put together an acting troupe of Broadway-experienced actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and staff. Well, he did have $250,000 from Jenny Hirsch to put the “damn” thing on. Hersch was then a partner in the Berkshire Black Bears, the pro team owned by Buddy Lewis in the Atlantic League.
Why would Warwick throw Dan Valenti and Dan Duquette in with the Broadway pros? (a) They were friends, (b) DV had a daily talk show and was writing for two newspapers, and (c) the two Dans’ connections with media and MLB. The Dans, BTW, accepted for the money — mercenaries, plain and simple.
Ah, but the workload. At the time, we were involved in several creative time eaters. In addition to the radio show and newspaper work, we were running a business, teaching at BCC, managing a musical act, and trying to beat a book deadline.
The production went by in a blur. Immediately after, we headed to the hills, literally, to a condo in Killington, VT. The R&R performed wonders.
———- ooo ———-
In our editor’s note preceding yesterday’s column, we mentioned our following in Central New York. How this happened isn’t germane. Fact is, it did happen, accidentally. Our review of Damn Yankees served as a test to isolate how many hits came for a column that exclusively pertained to CNY. Turning off comments also served as a diagnostic for certain aspects of our firewall. ‘Nuff ced about that. The number of CNY hits came in just shy of astounding. There’s is a viable opposition party in the CNY region, unlike lockstep-liberal Massachusetts. In Pittsfield, THE PLANET plays devil’s advocate. In CNY, our tiny-but-growing audience largely forms a choir. Syracuse, in short, has a healthy political climate, with actual non-Democrat opposition.
Without getting all “inside baseball,” THE PLANET is in the initial phases of due diligence for a possible media venture pertaining to Central New York. It’s a big market with tempting commercial potential, one that might be ready for the kind of unabashed, muck-raking alternative coverage this site offers free to Berkshire County and environs.
The recent closing of the Syracuse New Times had a role in this exploration. TNT began in the mid-70s as a feisty underground weekly. It fell victim, however, as the internet streamrolled newspapers countrywide. Like many papers, including The Boring Broadsheet, the Times panicked.
The Times “sold out” not because it went commercial. We get going from free to fee. In doing so, however, it gutted the very rousing, investigatory content that made it one of the country’s best weeklies. Stories got “safe.” Puff, the magic dragons, and all sorts of PR and “pleasantry” began to dominate coverage, and the paper spiraled into death throes. It ceased publication this month. This has left a media gap, leaving THE PLANET in the pleasant position of being courted by those who smell a business opportunity.
A couple of immediate questions: Will we launch a new publication out there? Will that affect the Pittsfield PLANET? We simply can’t say at this point. First, if PVCNY becomes a reality, it won’t be for months. We aren’t in a hurry. Second, we would expect that even if PVCYN happens, we’ll still keep the Pittsfield flagship.
That’s about it.
We now turn the con over to you. The weekend is yours for comment. Speak your mind. Have your say. Any topic. And remember, this is the only place in town where you can do that. Have a great one, everybody.
———————————————————————————————–
“Inside most people you read about in history books is a child who fiercely resisted toilet training” — George Packer.
“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.
Dannul,you don’t give yourself enough credit, the film clips you did as the ‘general’ and weed whacking Hess Gardens in real time were hilarious and better than anything I’ve seen on pct or any production period.
https://nypost.com/2019/08/01/ex-philly-sheriff-gets-five-years-in-federal-corruption-case/
This is Philly. You can bet this is happening in Baltimore as well.
You can bet it’s happening in Pittsfield.
Proxy
See my reply
Misplaced under goodbye krol world
I need to learn how to attach links to posts
TSC, here is the debate you referenced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ER2FEenPH4
Oh that DID NOT age well at all. Lying Linda caught in all her lies.
Acute,
Thanks for the video.
School Committee, please tell where in that video my wife said she would lower taxes. You can’t, because she never said it. Have you watched it Proxy? I’m guessing not.
Barry
Hey scumbag Barry. Who you gonna threaten today.
I watched the whole thing. Best parts are when she talks about priorities and all the things she’s gonna change.
It’s actually a laundry list of all the things she hasn’t done.
She talks about how Bianchi wasted money and talks about $100k spent on flooring and moving departments to different buildings.
Bianchi wasted $100k, Loser Linda…. hold my beer.
Nice try you lying scumbag
Wow! Why so bitter Proxy? Barry comments here under his own name and usually adds to the discussion. Why cal him names? And unless something happened that I missed I see no threats either. Wow
Yes then you must have “missed something”
He threatens posters and said he “we know who you are” the implication being that he had special access to information. It was designed to create a chilling effect on those critical of his wife.
Then when called out, realizing the optics were poor, and that we saw through his lies, he tried to backtrack and say he knew in a general sense, and the “we” was him and the other users here.
Also he adds lies and half truths. He’ll tell you the tax rate didn’t go up, but he doesn’t mention the taxes you are paying has gone up. He’s a scumbag and a liar and it’s time he got called out for it.
The best part, people have been sending me some of his texts and emails he’s sent out. Expect a data dump as election rolls around.
Looks like somebody triggered the snowflake troll.
Jonathan’s column from today’s Gazette. Long but good read especially with a mayoral election coming up.
Information deficit
What was the average value of building permits issued in Pittsfield this past year? How many marriage certificates were issued?
In the old days, such information was readily accessible.
Today such information can usually be ascertained, but often only with effort, perhaps with fees.
Pittsfield government has transformed from generally transparent to downright secretive. It’s not the fault of any one person or single administration, but rather a trend that has continually worsened. It’s an attitude problem, a disregard for taxpayers and accountability.
In the old days, data had to be manually recorded and transcribed, but it was readily available. In today’s high-tech era of spreadsheets and digital communication, paradoxically information has become elusive.
Pittsfield still has watered down requirements in its code requiring departments to file annual reports that are supposed to be available to the public.
In the old days, the city compiled the information into printed reports. Today it’s ignored or largely guarded as state secrets. A few programs that file annual summaries, often because of outside requirements, but in general the practice is not followed.
On page four of this weeks Gazette, the Pittsfield’s Past page cites data from old city reports. In this case, there’s information about parking meters and revenues. Current information is hard to come by these days but was documented and routinely distributed 60 years ago. By contrast, city councilors looking to evaluate the latest parking kiosk debacle have had to press to get even the most basic comparable data.
The city code was changed to adjust the timeline for most departmental annual reports, shifting from January to July, based on fiscal years. Yet if one looks for submission of reports to the city council in July, one usually comes up empty handed.
Successive administrations have allowed the filing of reports to be lax. Compiling data these days may primarily involve pushing a few keyboard buttons, but it doesn’t seem as though much effort is being undertaken to complete the task.
Certainly there is no public dissemination of reports. Printing and distributing bulk taxpayer copies may be unnecessary these days, but one would hope that such reports and data would be regularly updated on the municipal web site. Yet looking for an annual report section on the city site would be fruitless.
Taxpayers, in essence the owners of the city, aren’t getting information that they should routinely have easy access to.
Swaths of information may be revealed at budget time or as particular issues are debated, but there is no comprehensive collection and posting of information.
Aside from today’s consumers being left in the dark, the failure to comply with the city’s annual report requirements mean that data is not saved for posterity.
It’s embarrassing that someone can learn more about Pittsfield’s revenues and programs in the mid-twentieth century than the same information for the 21st century.
When Mayor Linda Tyer assumed office, one hoped that her background as city clerk would lead to an improvement for city records. Tyer did start annual “state of the city” presentations, but these oral events are sparse on data and more about political propaganda than factual information.
One hopes the next administration, whether it be under the leadership of Tyer or someone else, acknowledges the importance of complying with city law and resumes reporting, in some public form, the varied business and activities of city government.
I recently came across an ANNUAL REPORT issued by the town of Dalton for the past year. I was amazed at the information contained within as it seemed to account for every dollar the town spent. Also covered who worked what position and what was accomplished.
Pittsfield used to do this and mailed it to everyone. I thought it was a law. But I agree Pittsfield government seems to have become some secret society and one might wonder why this would be.
I keep bringing up the subject of what business s in Pittsfield are benefitting from the TIF breaks hoping someone in the government will be embarrassed and have the info printed in the Eagle. I thought perhaps the Eagle might even do it on their own. This should certainly be public information but the fact that it seems hidden suggests to me that someone wants it kept in the drawer. And I wonder why.
Does anyone out there know anything?
Demi
Pittsfield politicians are taking a page out of MSP-13’s
Playbook MSP is annual National nominee of the investigative media’s
Golden padlock award
Winning in 2015
Massachusetts Justice second place this year
Deny and delay, hope they can intimidate the citizens in the silence
As happened to the planet in 2012, via judge Sabrina Garcia Vega
Which shows an obvious pattern of racketeering influenced criminal organization activity.
one of the differences between a City and a Town. Why don’t you FOIA the information from the City? too much effort?
It is the difference between open govt. and clandestine govt.
Do you think people should have to use the Freedom of Information Act for things that should be basic public information? Why would the mayor make people jump through hoops? What is she so afraid of anyway Mr. Shakes?
I wonder how Mazzeo feels about such things. Is she going to run an open government like Tyer said she would? I hope not.
So you would be okay with the City not filling a police officer vacancy and hiring a qualified public information professional that will spend all day creating magical things that the laws don’t require because you are too lazy to read a budget?
Doomie
If Mrs Mazzeo can somehow explain her support ,
of former disgraced da and soon to be former disgraced sheriff,
She will most likely be next mayor, although her silence is deafening,
Very much like Harris in debate when Tulsa Gabbard called her on her record.
Harris campaign managers now “exposed “ Tulsi as a Russian stooge like trump.
Democrats are truly unable to take the L, evolve , and learn from their mistakes.
I’m sure the next one to call out the chosen candidate Harris will be a racist.
Notice how they’re all pounding on Biden and odumber? Like present da, & the squad Harris is an actor, unable to answer anything but scripted questions, only thing missing is Donna Brazile to give her the answers first.
Missy isn’t scared, or a transient politician
Born Berkshirite and won’t soil her own yard repeatedly.
Proven track record of public service, prior to becoming a mazzeo, they are luck she found them.
Who’s tall blond campaign manager?
Seems they are running quiet for time being,
Being seen as establishment hang around
Will only strengthen mr graves position.
We may see another 2016 upset with the outsiders
Unseating the status Quo !!!
Proxy
It is at a much more depraved, pedophilic
And criminal manner in Berkshires & commonwealth
Think about ex governor Devil Patrick’s rapist brother in law
Starts at courthouses in western mass
Google “cash for kids” nbc news 8/12/2015.
Or “ Alabama hunting club scandal “
It’s a reoccurring problem.
It’s probate courts and DCF here with assistance from local ,state and court law enforcement personnel.
Seems it’s trending mostly in Commonwealths throughout America
Costing 7 bikers there lives in nh, to tamper with awitness
Truly sickening
Already did
Still waiting
That’s how I learned about
“ Golden padlock award “
From a reporter friend in Pennsylvania
Lying Linda has a great spiel about government accountability and transparency in this video.
Too bad none of it came true, she made things worse, and she lied while doing it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ER2FEenPH4
Great editorial by Jonathan Levine. What are they hiding? Wish Mayor Tyer would respond. Glad we stil lhave the Gazette. and Planet of course.
It is August, which means that U.S. Congress is on vacation all month long. It must be nice to be a do nothing on Capitol Hill. Our grandchildren will inherit tens of trillions of dollars of public debt from our borrow-and-spend federal government.
As for Pittsfield politics, it is always totally predictable! Municipal taxes always go up by 5% every fiscal year, municipal debts are in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the corrupt Good Old Boys still run the show, and the lovely Linda Tyer unfairly gets blamed for it all.
– Jonathan Melle
“That one last shot’s a permanent vacation
And how high can you fly with broken wings?
Life’s a journey, not a destination”
“Its Amazing
With the blink of an an eye, you finally see the light”
– Aerosmith (A-Maze-ing)
The Pittsfield Ma.School Committee is for the last 15 years spending 10 of millions more on a very rundown system while losing almost half its students.We must get rundown building off the books and consolidate and reconfigure staffing to serve kids with a high quality of proffessionalism.The cost of using the rundown schools is in the millions
Unanswered question from a few days ago.
If houses in Pittsfield are selling like hot cakes now are we losing population? Are ghosts moving in? Fact.
Earth to Barry.
Houses aren’t selling like hot cakes in Pittsfield.
The city is overrun with blight and abandon properties.
Also the population is propped up by section 8 housing as well as it being a pseudo sanctuary city.
Lying Linda is very good at doing one thing, chasing taxpayers out and allowing drug dealers, junkies, and welfare recipients to come on in.
Thank god all those welfare recipients and baby mamas who’s 5 kids all have different dads are breeding… otherwise you’d be down another 5k in people.
But to directly address your question, houses in Pittsfield are not selling like hot cakes. In the office we are seeing a downward tren is overall sales and a decrease in quality of properties.
The reason the population is dwindling is people are both moving away and dying off.
Go back 40 years when things were better, a man takes a wife, has a child or two, those people grow up here make a life here, children go off to college. That’s two people gone. Husband dies, one more person gone, wife dies, kids have lives in actual vibrant communities, they don’t want to come back. They sell the house to whomever. If it’s in a nice part of town, maybe a new family moves in, not so nice, it’s sold for a cut rate price or abandoned.
Here’s an example of how bad it is.
All the hotels around here, I could never figure out how they made money. I was at dinner with Vijay, a hotel owner, and he explained it to me.
Most of his customers are doctors from BMC or General Dynamics and some from SABIC when that was in full swing.
The doctors, many of the nurses, most of the engineers, live someplace else, come in from Sunday night or Monday morning to Thursday and leave. The doctors will do three days on and four days off and rotate out.
So what’s happening, most of the money being made here by some high earners, is being exported to other communities.
No big tax revenue, no home sales, Pittsfield is a place to work and get out. Many of those that do live locally, live in Lenox, Lee, Richmond, Dalton GB, and Sheffield.
PROXY, you summed it up perfectly.
I’m no expert, but Zillow.com shows significant numbers of recent property transfers in 01201.
Is the data fake?
I dunno aboutBarries math,but I know something isn’t right in Den,pmark when does salt become an overnight nightmare cost on a bland winter at best. This past winter the salt sand in my gutter was minimal, five times less.
So what you don’t know, because it’s an election year, and lying Linda doesn’t want you to know.
In a meeting with her DPW head and Kufflinks they had a discussion about contractors and how they were allowed to “self fill” their trucks for asking and sanding and in some cases fuel allocations.
Soooo lying Linda and Kufflinks Kerwood came up with a plan after the fact, it requires a few shifts on a spreadsheet, denoting a person, promoting someone else who will help cover up the mess and the world moves on.
Lying Linda, red faced and sputtering, “But you said, but you said, but you said we would SAVE money!” Oh that was a glorious day in city hall.
I did a little research to see if my point about new posters saying negative about any candidate would hold water. Here are two examples…
ProxyDate, a regular critic of my wife made their first post on April 5, 2019. Political season started on April 1, 2019. Coincidence? I think not. They have been getting more and more nasty each and every day. I would bet my life on it that they are working for one of the other mayoral candidates. They usually don’t have the guts to post by their own name, with the exception of Brian Marquis when he was working for the Bianchi camp.
As to made up stories, lets take the post from Merry & Bright. While they were around before political season, I noticed they posted about once every two or three weeks from mid-February until May. Then the postings ramped up. Here is an example of a post that I just cannot believe happened, as I am downtown everyday. While I have seen some of these things on occasion, I’ve never seen all of them at once in such a short period of time. Here is the post, then I’ll comment at the bottom…
Merry & Bright
July 12, 2019 at 4:30 pm #
Took some vacation time to go to Barrington Stage this afternoon. Because I did not want to pay to park, I parked for free a few blocks from Union Street. In walking North Street I felt totally disgusted. There were drunks passed out on benches, one young lady was passed out in one of sidewalk flower pots. People were congregated outside of several apartment buildings with scooters and wheel chairs and their language was foul. I have no problem with them being outside, but make a path for pedestrians to walk by. I had to go off the sidewalk and step into the street. North Street is filthy dirty with nips, barf and garbage. I also noticed that the Mayor Dynamic Vibrant Lovely Linda’s meter kiosks are grossly dirty. Couldn’t help but think of the germs on these things. Does the City clean them? Does the City ever pick up the garbage in the street? Where is our Police Department, why aren’t they making sure the side walks are clear for pedestrians? I did see two cruisers go by, do they not see the people passed out? After the play my stroll back to my car was even worse, drug exchanges right in front of me, a couple more intoxicated folks, one that had lost control of his bodily functions. When I finally got to my car and locked myself in, I was thankful that I chose to go to the play at 2 in the afternoon. If North Street is this bad on a nice afternoon it must be awful to go to the theatre at night. The Mayor should be ashamed that she had not addressed these issues. You drive through Lee, Lenox, Great Barrington and even Northampton and their Main Street make you feel invited to enjoy their stores and restaurants. I am so tired of the excuses that Dynamic Vibrant Lovely Linda and her departments heads hand out. All of them have had almost 4 years to better Pittsfield and they have done absolutely NOTHING. They can’t even figure out how to put American Flags up for the 4th of July! Oh dear, the truck is broken! Did she ever think of calling the phone, electric, or cable companies? I pretty sure they might have volunteered to help out! I just hope that the election brings some drastic changes for the better! The Pittsfield taxpayers deserve so much more!
Now, Merry & Bright had to lock themselves in their car and they have talked about what a cesspool Pittsfield is long before this post. Do you find it plausible that they would not spend the $1.00 on parking and have to put their life at risk walking these dangerous streets? Wouldn’t you either avoid the entire area to be safe, or pay just $1.00 to ensure your safety? I know I would.
Merry & Bright noticed the Kiosks were dirty and gross, yet they didn’t use a kiosk. While this is possible, would you examine a machine you didn’t use?
Merry & Bright noticed multiple drug transaction take place right in front of them. They noticed two cruisers go by, but didn’t try and flag them down and didn’t 911 to report the crimes. Ask yourself, do drug dealers make their deals out in the open? Maybe a few idiots do, I don’t know, but it doesn’t make sense to me.
Merry & Bright wants the cops to “clear the sidewalks” of people who are lawfully there. Yes, some of these people are on scooters and in wheelchairs, but they living in senior or low-income housing projects, or are clients of Adlib, which serves this population. While you may not want to look at poor or disabled people, they have every right to be there, just like you and me.
If someone lost control of their bodily functions, as was stated, that is somehow my wife’s fault? Or, the cops should arrest them? I personally would feel bad for that individual.
Yes, I believe Merry & Bright is working for one of the other mayoral candidates.
Barry
Barry, really tired of you calling me a liar!! I find it rather pathetic that you spent so much time on this beautiful day in the Berkshires analyzing my posts. For the last time I am not working for any one of the mayoral candidates, but I do know I will not be voting for your wife especially because of your comments towards me. Maybe your demeanor can intimidate and bully others but to me it is really comical mainly because I know my comments have hit a nerve in you. Remember sometimes the truth hurts.
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much.
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much.
Barry, while you spent so much time cutting and pasting my posts, which I do agree with Kermit is creepy and I am adding pathetic! Under your exploration of my posts, did you not see any of the questions I asked regarding the state of the City and the lack of response from the Administration? Also, why are you going after me, there are many others saying much worse about the City. Are you focusing on me because I have very legitimate questions? You have never answered any of these questions, just spent time accusing me of lying.
The only reason I’m nasty is because you threatened people here, then tried to lie you way out of it.
But yeah you scumbag liar, keep making stuff up. We know you lie but nice try going on the offensive.
Scumbag Barry. That’s ok buddy the photos, emails, and texts people have already sent me. It’s gonna be quite a show when they are released.
Logging their critics comments is creepy and Nixon/Trumo like. I think being on this blog at all to comment to critics is inappropriate but logging their comments is worse. I missed the threat. All the comments he made during the Beacon threads seemed, ahem, less than transparent.
Maybe JM likes Tyler as his nemesis doesn’t? That is a suggestion – I have facts about that but also no other reason to understand why he would.
I don’t know who on here is or isn’t working for one campaign or the other but it stands to reason as an election approaches comments about the candidates, particularly an incumbent would pick up.
I have my preferences but I don’t work in coordination with any campaign and I’ve been posting for a long while.
“Yes, I believe Merry & Bright is working for one of the other mayoral candidates.”
And you’re not?
People do tend to get on here during the political season.
People are moving in.
Barry
and nobody is moving out?
A shrinking population means we are headed for more homes than we need. This won’t increase demand. More supply than demand lowers prices and shrinks the tax base.
One would hope so but we are losing population.
Section 8 housing has lead to a population boom in Pittsfield. Look at the “needs” calculator that indexes on the number of families that need aid. Look at the ESL stats from the Pittsfield schools.
Pittsfield is a boomtown for those on public assistance, the professionals (doctors, nurses, engineers) mostly live out of town or in hotels.
I don’t think section 8 people are buying many homes
They aren’t but the are adding population to the city and students to the school.
This isn’t the 1700’s. It’s not land owners that are counted as voters and on the census. Anyone living in the city who’s on a voting roll or fills out the street census is considered a resident.
Population and services to that population is not a function of owning a home.
My point was that we are losing population. Fewer people living here means more single family home empty. The portion of city residents 60 and above is high. The older our population the more people will pass away each year. Without decent jobs attracting new people or keeping young people here. The city is in trouble. As Bob Dylan wrote…”you don’t have to be a weather man to figure out which way the wind is blowing “.
You mean moving on.
My son is one of your readers from Syracse. He’s in the Whitman School for business. Uses it as his way of keeping up with going on in the Pitts. btw he has half of Skytop reading the Planet! Good luck with your venture DV.
THEO
Thanks for the nod. The daughter of my best friend graduated from Whitman in May. She was scooped up immediately by a tech company in the city for excellent bucks and bennies. Your son will do well with a Whitman sheepskin. Glad to hear we are all the rage on campus!
One more bad auto accident on W. Housatonic st. The Pittsfield demolition derby is free and open to the public. Make sure your air bags work every time you pull out of your driveway because as soon as you hit the Pittsfield streets you are playing Russian roulette. Advise everyone to up there life insurance so the rest of the family has some cash to move forward with.
https://wupe.com/pittsfield-man-not-guilty-on-serious-charges/
Another loss for DA Harrington or whomever actually tried the case cause you know she sure didn’t. I think I saw her at Lucky Nails today.
The lovely Linda Tyer is the best Mayor of Pittsfield, EVER! If I lived in Pittsfield, she would get my vote. I hope she wins re-election in 2019. She stands for everything I believe in when it comes to politics. She listens to everybody, including the poor residents who make up a majority of Pittsfield residents.
Pittsfied politics was a big mess prior to Mayor Linda Tyer. Every problem her detractors bitch about was there prior to 2016! She inherited a mess from the “Doyle debacle”, the “Hathaway hack”, the “Ruberto regime”, and the “Bianchi bust”!
Thank you Emmet Melle.
Jonathon, how can you say with such conviction that she is doing a great job and at the same time say Pittsfield is falling apart? Is it not her job to make sure Pittsfield is not falling apart?
If she is doing a wonderful job why is the city not doing wonderful? Please break down your logic for me. It is a tad confusing.
You sir are a fool!
Jonathon Melle,
For once and for all would you please stop saying Linda Tyer inherited a mess. She was not some unfortunate next-in-line successor who was suddenly thrust into the position of mess-fixer. She didn’t inherit anything. She interviewed and advertised and bought and paid for ownership of the mess. She pursued it and fought for it, fully aware of what she was signing up for.
And just a side note re: Merry & Bright’s rendition of A Day on North Street – whether it’s fact or fiction or a little of both, this tale of unpleasantness is really a g-rated version of what actually happens in the streets and behind closed doors of Pittsfield’s unsavory culture. The reality is much more shocking than this neatly written story.
Levines article reinforces my strong belief that a complete audit of the city finances is in order. Sounds like it would be a total nightmare trying to find records and that in itself screams loudly that we need one. A mayoral candidate promising such an event could garner many votes. If the city can come up with $75,000 for such whimsical things like pickle ball it can afford an audit.
Intense pushback from city hall and special interests should be interpreted as even more reason to do it.
We need a forensic audit for sure…
https://thelawdictionary.org/article/what-is-a-forensic-audit/
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/forensic-audit-vs-financial-audit-25409.html
Look he does that to get attention and because he’s mentally unstable. Melle is Dan’s pocket troll. Once election season is over he’ll go back to his lucifaro shtick.
No comment on the ESPN Camp Greylock story?
Apparently that creeper dude was at Syracuse too? Dan do you recall him?
The camp is now owned by folks who were there at the time all this funny business took place. I would be careful sending your kids to that place people. I doubt anyone in Pittsfield can afford it. It if you can do something else.
What a gross legacy around here of pedos. Pedofield, MA.
There are many more pedophile stories to be told… who was it that solicited teen boys in Maine?
I thought one of that gang was in the current administrations That is friggin amazing if true.
Why does this reporting come from La and not here? How rotten and corrupt must it be that this must be hidden?
Here is a link to the story for anyone interested…..
http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/27244072/44-years-41-allegations-how-caught-former-olympian
At least it wasn’t Camp Russell, which was a surprise.
The personal stuff on here about the mayor’s race wont work in any candidates favor.Harrington used it and it didn’t work for her.It probably tainted her for the future.Mazzeo has been a very good councilor for a very long time.Tyer was fast tracked by Ruberto. Mayor Tyer had her 4 year shot to control and consolidate.Tyer is one tough candidate and you better be as tough on her as she was brutal on Bianchi.Mazzeo has a reputation of wanting to learn and wanting to inform people.She I’m sure can be tough but less than brutal.She is our next Mayor and she gets her 4 years.Tyer did not get it done.NEXT
I for one applaud Barry’s defense of his wife. I also agree with him. Linda’s done an excellent job. I am happy to see someone on this site fight back. And do it with facts and data. He uses his own name also. Added bonus.
With sites like this ( not a criticism, I read every day.. even though I rarely agree.. b/c its well written& intelligent) progressive push back required. Like DV sez: they give you 1 you give them 2 back. that’s the way you win today. Thank you Barry Clairmont!!
Eye roll. Yes defend loser Linda by threatening others.
The critiques of his wife have been on her failure in doing her job, nothing else.
You can watch the Dan video of her debate. She’s not delivered on one of her priorities. She’s had 4 years to accomplish something,
She’s only made Pittsfield worse.
Could you post her accomplishments?
I think this mayor has done an abysmal job. I think she knows it and Barry knows it and the people who paved her way to the corner office know it. I think she has done so bad that she is actually hurting the special interests that she is fronting for.
You can almost see the city swirling around the drain.
600 dollar garbage cans on Tyler St. with ribbon cutting ceremony???
Stay down Luke…quote of the year on the Planet !
How does a good Mayor leader ignore the 1 place to analyze how the cash is spent if you don’t try try try to understand the schools budgets.How can you not ask for 3 plans for pittsfield schools 3 years out then 5 years out so if you never asked you will never know how we can change the physical structure of our school system.If you want a sped school then take over a quality building like Morningside and do it.
I get it! Pittsfield has problems! Moreover, Pittsfield politics makes things even worse!
BUT, to blame the lovely Linda Tyer is unfair and myopic. Maybe she hasn’t turned things around, but she did, indeed, inherit a mess.
If the lovely Melissa Mazzeo can do a better job than the lovely Linda Tyer, then by all means, vote for the lovely Melissa Mazzeo!
I long supported the lovely Linda Tyer in Pittsfield politics. I think she is smart and she gets it. I don’t agree with everything she has done, but I believe her good heart is in the right place.
As for ________, I promised Dan Valenti I would comply with his request not to share my negative views of him on his awesome blog. Please note, everyone has enemies, including Jesus, Gandhi, and MLK. I hope to fight for good in this World of ours.
– Jonathan Melle
Mayor Linda Tyer did not inherit any new problems.Mayor Tyers only shot to win is she would have to admit mistakes of not addressing a department that spends and mis spends or unnecessarily spend 70% of all taxes.What happens in the very near future if Trumps economy goes into a tailspin.Remember the last Republican collaspe as we will sdspin out of control
Jon, first of all if you inherit a mess it doesn’t automatically mean you increase the budget by not only millions but the way you raise revenue and her formula stinks,it leaves out the Less to do paid for by the multiple job families, and elderly. I told you before, not in the Planets class and your repetitive diatribe is losing credibility.
(Sarcasm): I am wrong! Go ahead and blame Linda.
Melle; Only time will tell, and I don’t care enough to research and expound, but wasn’t the “Lovely Blow-Up Doll Linda”, in a position (s) of municipal power and clout as well as input in the previous mayoral administrations which you criticize and nominally satire, as a city councilor and city clerk ???
Everyone makes valid points about how the lovely Linda Tyer is supposedly to blame for Pittsfield’s problems. She was part of Pittsfield politics since 2003, or for the last +16.5-years. She is supported by Jimmy Ruberto’s Good Old Boys club. She voted for spending millions of taxpayer dollars on the so-called downtown renaissance. She favored out of town millionaires with tax breaks.
I get it! I am not stupid. The lovely Linda Tyer is imperfect. She has flaws. She made decisions that didn’t make financial sense to Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.
What do you want me to do about it?
The one thing I won’t do is “Blame Linda”.
When I grew up in Pittsfield, it used to be “Blame GE”.
I have long supported Linda Tyer in Pittsfield politics. I thinks she is the best thing to happen to Pittsfield since sliced bread!
– Jonathan Melle
The bread has gone moldy.
Otto Rohwedder invented the bread slicing machine in 1928 so that’s how long its been since the last best thing happened to Pittsfield. Perhaps the nod should go to Pete Arlos who was born in 1926,
That was well after pocket pool was invented at the Common.
I thought researcher John Thorne discovered the 1791 document that has the first official reference to Pocket Pool and Park Square. The doc said so many guys were playing pocket pool in the Square that the city father had to introduce a resolution prohibiting it. BTW, I took the family to the Milt Plum Hall of Fame on Fourth Street. Definitely a winner and another “economic engine” for Benigno Numine.
I stand corrected.
Peter Arlos should get a nod. But also remember in 1958, Glendora of Satellite Six visited the Common. That is my nominee for Last Best Thing. TM, you have invented a great new category. THE PLANET invites others to share their nomination of the Best Last Thing to Happen in Pittsfield.
So one of the candidates stated he was in favor of slashing each department by seven percent. That is the best and-only idea heard thus far by any of the candidates. The major problem with being mayor is the four year impact that a Mayor has especially our current Mayor who has carte Blanche to raise taxes as she wishes,like assessment increases? Water rates,no back and forth at all with the e p a ? We don’t need new water- sewer plants, and from what I heard doesn’t treat certain other issues,like cryptosporidium.Many failings under the administrators as well. Something wrong when you get hit with an under-budgeted mild winter to boot,item,but almost a million plus? I’d like some of these candidates start talking real life problems here.
I’m pretty sure council has to vote on the budget, you may want to go back for a civics refresher. The mayor is not ‘Carte Blanche’.
Think about this. How would you feel if you were a relative of Norman Rockwell who donated his wonderful talent and many works worth tens of millions and the people in charge at he Museum order them to be sold. This still is incredible to me. And politicians also agree with the sale?
I’m surprised anyone would pay a dollar for those trash illustrations.
I thought Moby Dick was a good Thing.
If you have moby dick try viagra.
Brian M.,
Why do you believe that other people should pay for the upkeep of your house? Maybe you should go out and put that vast intellect to work in the private sector. You are insane to think that we should effectively pay you to sit behind your keyboard and make the world a worse place. People who are too lazy to work and unwilling to even try to provide for themselves need to be cut off, wouldn’t you agree Brian?
Go away. You are poison.
Blare
600 for garbage cans and tens of millions more in water plants. 500g for a boiler, has had hundreds of thousands for an aggressive plowing program. Not good management.
Mazzeo is as n upgrade .Not afraid to expose city goverment.You will see who wants to keep city goverment hidden.
Hess still stands. And for creepers sakes please level that old fire station next to Dairy Queen,please Mayor? I’m s a rat nfested dum.
Respect the old building . Hopefully it can be restored and reused. Once old buildings are gone that’s it they’re gone forever.
I saw a Graves lawn sing today. Now that on a lawn in front of your home is appropriate.
I will be working hard for the reelection of MAyor Linda Tyer. Let me be clear I’m not part of the official campaign in fact I’ve never met her. But I am a local businessman and have nothing but support for her many initiatives.
I would respectfully ask all her vicious detratctors to go back and read Linda’s State of City speech. There she lists the many initiatives taken on behalf of citizens. Please support Mayor Tyer.
You’re as big of a clown as Emmet Melle.
Craig Harras. Can you list her accomplishments?
Can you list her accomplishments?
Are you kidding Greg Harris? See her state of city speech. All fluff and bluff. Mellissa Mazzeo has been serving the citywide as councilor at large for years.
Melissa is fearless, a strong woman of great integrity. I will tell you she has the lowdown on whats really been goin on with Tyer administration. Linda, you better drop out now. It’s going to get uncomfortable for you. We’re talking criminality here.
@Baseball Man – You sound crazy!
The lovely Linda Tyer is the best Mayor of Pittsfield, EVER!
Did you put your application in with Ringling Brothers or Barnum & Bailey?
Of the incumbent At Large Councilors , what have they done to warrant re-election? I say Persip, White and Marchetti haven’t done a damn thing. Comments?