IDLE THOUGHTS WHILE PONDERING ARRIVALS AND DESTINATIONS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, STILL OFF THE MAP, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 11, 2019) — THE PLANET, here at the most remote and idyllic camp this side of Breezely Bruin’s Camp Frostbite, nonetheless maintains a link to civilization. Some of our spies have been in contact, with the county’s top law enforcement officer having them blue in the gills.
- A PPD source tells THE PLANET there are at least three witnesses to the Columbus Avenue murder. One and maybe more know the identities of the killer(s). You can guess why they’re not talking.
- A high-ranking Berkshire County courtroom source blamesv”incompetent leadership” in the office of D.A. for hampering the investigation into the murder.
- One retired county jurist says Andrea Harrington’s office at 7 North St. has become her de facto campaign headquarters, adding that Moon and Guiel-Lampiasi hold the same job: to “stump” for their boss. Which had THE PLANET stumped. Gosh, we thought the District Attorney served as prosecutor for Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, The Little Guys.
- If that’s the case, then former iBerkshires scribe Andy McKeever’s must be little more than a PR pitchman for a political effort. Shame the lad sold out so cheaply.
- By the way, a sizeable portion of the complaints about the D.A.’s office come from those working inside it. It must be hard to take stock of yourself when you realize you serve under Squeaky.
- No one says the Anthony Ruberto-Gerry Downing-David Capeless reign threw perfect games ala Don Larsen on Oct. 8, 1956, but at least you had the sense about the D.A.’s office that there was a “there” there (Dorothy Parker’s greatest witticism). You know, experienced, ballsy trial lawyers who argued cases themselves.
- The political thrust of the office can be exemplified by Squeaky’s approach to “restorative justice,” designed to win the votes of women, blacks, Latinos, and other minorities stupid enough to permit their objectification in so crass a manner.
- “Restorative justice” is code for a double legal standard: tolerant for minorities, harsh for white males, especially middle aged and older. Who ever thought that “equality under the law” would become a cigar-store Indian or a typewriter?
- Speaking of spawtz, how much phun was it to watch the New England Superpatriots, reigning 6-time Super Bowl Champs, demolish a Pittsburgh Steelers team that didn’t belong on the same Gillette turf? Tommy GOAT and company delivered the 33-3 woodshed beating in surgical fashion. Without Antonio Brown.
- Don’t tell anyone, but Pittsfield conducts a preliminary election next Tuesday. Low turnout, fixed outcomes. Nothing to see there, folks.
- It’s one of life’s greatest joys to skip a mid-life crisis and head straight to a second childhood. As “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” so cogently puts it, “I don’t care if I ever get back.
- Finally, we won’t memorialize Sept. 11, 2001, a planned attack allowed to happen to perpetuate war — the alleged “War on Terrorism” — and hasten the dawn of a national surveillance state. “Where have you gone, habeus corpus? Our ‘homeland’ turns its lonely eyes to you.” You can fight an army. You can’t fight an idea.
THE PLANET welcomes your comments.
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“Psychological problems … require more courage to pose them than to risk answering them” — Friedrich Nietzsche, from Genealogy of Morals.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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“Everybody seems to think I’m lazy
I don’t mind, I think they’re crazy
Running everywhere at such a speed
Till they find there’s no need (There’s no need)
Please, don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away
And after all I’m only sleeping
Keeping an eye on the world going by my window
Taking my time”
Word on the street is that the killer walks his dogs in front of the witnesses home several times a day in an effort to intimidate.
(Sarcasm): Blame Linda, Andrea H., and TFB. Their progressive politics is making the streets in Pittsfield a place to avoid unless you are a violent criminal, drug dealer, gang member, or other social problem.
The good old days of Pittsfield had bad news, but now there is a murderer on the loose! Middle class families and small business investors will continue to move far away from Pittsfield.
Maybe your three girlfriends will walk the hood at 3am when heads get blown clean off.
Progressive politics invaded our school systems years ago, and today, we graduate kids based on their age, not because they’re able to read or write or even balance a checkbook. Now, we struggle for solutions by throwing money at schools hoping for a change for the best, but getting nothing but the worst.
People avoid crimes for two reasons: 1) a strong moral upbringing so you know what’s right from wrong; 2) the incentive of fear of punishment if you commit a crime.
So, today’s Progressive Berkshire DA Clouseau is eliminating 2) above in dealing with groups that never had 1) above.
Yeh, that’s REALLY gonna work! It’s a good day to commit a crime in the Berkshires if you’re a non-white male, and you can probably murder someone if you’re a minority female.
Squeaky Harrington is simply incompetent. If she had an ion of integrity, she’d resign. But for a Progressive Democrat like her or her crew of loser supporters, the word integrity is something others are supposed to have, not them.
So if I am a teacher, looking at this coming picture of wild child endorsement, I might want to take my degree and teach elsewhere. Will this sort of atmosphere encourage nice peaceful families to come to our city? Are parents in Utah going to say, “Let’s move to Pittsfield, Ma. where we won’t have to worry about little Johnnie going to jail if he assaults somebody.”
Or will our ever growing reputation for leniency attract even more of the bad element? Just what does this city want to be when it grows up?
Precisely!
This growing leniency will just make children victims in the ongoing drug and turf battle in Berkshire County.
Are the schools doing well in Pittsfield? Are they known for their academic achievements or for their students running amok in school?
How has that intervention and soft on discipline worked in the most structured environments these children have?
Mainstreaming, how are school policies that are more concerned with political correctness than personal responsibility working out at these schools?
They aren’t and they won’t on the streets.
This is a social justice experiment that we can not afford.
Nothin could be finer than havin Moon shot and Dina in your office.
Whilst thou art technically correct ‘tis an insult of the tallest order, to any man, women, or even child, who ever wore the badge, and patrolled their yard with a cap gun, or risked their life with a real one, patrolling the mean streets of Pittsfield, to refer to Harrington as a “law enforcement officer”.
Exactly. If I am a cop in Pittsfield, do I get up every morning and wonder what the hell I am putting the badge on for? Are the police going to be hamstrung just like the teachers? How long will it be before the juveniles will just totally ignore the police because they know they are toothless?
Pittsfields last chance is Mayor Mazzeo.Tyer is Moon,Caccamo,White,Rivers,Persip.They believe in higher taxes period.Our CC does not ask questions.Our School committee cant think of a question…..Mayor Mazzeo has questions about how budgets are run.When department heads spend cash they dont have something is wrong.Pittsfield is lucky to have Mazzeo as a candidate.Dont vote Tyer in the preliminary.
Just look at the picture of the cops In this story on Harrington’s latest bull shit program. They do not look like happy campers, at all. I wonder why??? Perhaps Police Report, who seems to have inside knowledge, will tell us why. At least Pittsfield Chief had the sense to stay away. Tyer should be Asshamed of herself,
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/60796/Harrington-Launches-Ambitious-Juvenile-Justice-Initiative.html
Mikey is on a break at the beach in R.I. drinking scrumptious wine and staying in air b and b. Does he have a city expense account? He has no kids and so this juvenile justice has no affect or effect on him. And what about the murder on Columbus Avenue? Move on nothing to see here.
Let’s break this down.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/06/move-juvenile-court-age-up-to-21-say-massachusetts-district-attorneys-rachel-rollins-david-sullivan-andrew-harrington.html
Move juvenile court age up to 21, say Massachusetts District Attorneys Rachael Rollins, David Sullivan, Andrea Harrington
So first DA Andrea Harrington wanted to include people up to 21 years old as part of the juvenile system.
That would certainly change the crime stats.
Next ask DA Andrea Harrington at what age she thinks people should be allowed to vote. Her answer in the past was 16.
That 16 year olds are mature enough to vote. I think she quoted a study that said “on average 16-year- olds possess the same level of civic knowledge as 21-year-olds”. It was a sound bite but it’s also a progressive talking point.
Now consider this:
Since Harrington took office, there have been 122 juvenile cases, but only 37 of those cases have involved an arraignment, she said. Harrington said her office didn’t have similar data under her predecessor.
As for the number of minors sentenced by a judge to a juvenile detention center, the numbers are already trending down, according to data provided by McKeever.
Between January and August 2017, 13 minors were sentenced to a juvenile detention center, with nine of them being committed and four having their sentences suspended.
The next year, there were 15 total sentences, with nine committed and six suspended.
So far this year, there have been 10 total detention center sentences, with seven committed and three suspended.
I’ll take their word for it on the numbers, granted they’ve been wrong on the numbers before. So does that inspire confidence? Or do those numbers do as many have said before, just lower the COMPSTAT numbers?
There are things in law enforcement, a closing ratio and a conviction ratio.
Cases reported to arrests made. For a police department that’s their close ratio. They’ve investigated and closed that case and it was then either pleaded out or adjudicated.
With the changes in the juvenile justice approach, police now effectively don’t arrest juveniles. Most juvenile crimes “don’t show up”.
On the other side of that ratio, there’s a conviction ratio, crimes presented to the DA that are either pleaded or adjudicated, and their outcome. DAs and PIRGS often track the disparity in crimes charged/crimes convicted, race of those charged, severity of original charge versus the adjudicated charge, and various breakdowns based on race, socioeconomic levels, that kind of thing. There are whole subsections of law enforcement and sociology dedicated to this discussion.
So basically we now have a system, where juveniles and the crimes they commit effectively exist outside com criminal statistical reporting. So only 37 juvenile cases will “count” as criminal complaints. DA Andrea Harrington will tout that vast disparity of juvenile cases as a win, look at the progress. I can assure you arraigning 37 out of 122 cases is not a win and not progress. The juvenile mind is malleable, it learns based on experience. For those 85 juveniles that were diverted, they have learned about a life without consequences. And remember that original number of 122 is significantly off from actual offenses as anyone under 12 basically walks away with no impact. Those that are 14-18, mostly walk without a warrant. Now will all of them lead a life of crime? No
But you can bet, that more will get the idea that crime has no consequence.
Now imagine if DA Andrea Harrington got her way and we extended juvenile designation to 21. It would again certainly improve the COMPSTAT numbers, crime would go down dramatically. Unfortunately for the victims of the crimes, the impacts will be the same, just that they won’t see any justice.
So in DA Andrea Harrington’s world, juveniles 16 and above are competent and engaged enough and mentally developed enough to vote, but only after the age of 21 are they competent enough to be responsible for their own actions if they violate the law.
So are school shooters, not responsible for their actions? Are bullies at school not responsible for their actions? If a 17 year old has sex with a 13 year old? Not responsible?
Just so you know, 21 was the lowest number they agreed on. They were floating the idea of it being 23 or 25.
Blah Blah Blah, Bitter Bitter, the last 30 years have been so great? NOT!! change is hard.
Before Squeaky Harrington became DA, prisoners at the House of Correction didn’t talk about committing future crimes as there was a palpable fear of Capeless and his team.
These days, they all talk about getting out, going back to selling drugs, committing robberies and other crimes and do so right in front of the guard staff. They’re reasoning is that with Harrington, they’re not even going to get charged and will get away with it. This isn’t a rumor. This isn’t made up. It’s a fact.
Harrington has created an environment that supports the criminals, creates potential new victims, and forgets the rights of victims. That’s the opposite of her mandatory job description. She was and is unfit for the office of DA. BAR complaints are appropriate. We can’t recall her, but if her license is suspended or revoked, she has to step aside.
I’m not sure ignoring anti social behavior in the juvenile age range is going to help stop the childhood to prison pipeline. I don’t see any numbers that show that restoration justice (can AH even articulate what in brass track language that term means? — probably not) even ends up with lower recidivism.
The social militants that are into this phrase have usually had zero experience in criminal justice and it seems like the phrase is a tribal folly along the lines of the anti vax movement. Basically it’s just anti establishment language they rally around.
Data does show the justice system is contorted by race and poverty – show me some data about this restorative justice concept – I don’t think it exists out of the mind of some badly educated MCLA social workers or other ineffective types that were already not solving any poverty injustice related problems in the region with whatever other initiatives they started.
I agree Dan V. So many of these women supporting the far left agenda of people like Elizabeth Warren are not the brightest bulbs and they prove it when they believe the dangerous rhetoric of the far left. Oh, they want to help the kids they say when it comes to Restorative Justice. It’s not really helping the kids though to keep disruptive kids in the schools who stop other kids from learning. Ignoring the crimes of some young people because of their background of their brains not being fully developed if they are under 21 is also nonsense.
These women are falling for somebody like Liz Warren who comes off as grandmotherly, but who really has a terrible future planned for this country.
I guess that makes woman who support Donnie Trump genius s?
Remembering the attack by Muslim terrorists 18 years ago today. Over 3,000 dead. Now they are invading our government, i.e. Ilhan & Talib. Wake up people!
I remember the day Trump brought a KGB agent (Putin) right into the oval office.
The Russian influence has already invaded our media, our schools, and the far left. Calling each other comrade is very common in California young people. That frightening scenario will be all across the country if one of these far leftists ever becomes president.
Pat,do you learn upside down.You dont watch any news.
Clearly, the Planet nor many of the rightwing nutjobs that comment here regularly can correctly understand or process restorative justice concepts or implementation programs.
Modern criminal law is not based on the “Law and Order” fantasy. CSI is not real.
Pat et al, maybe you should have some kids and be parents before you understand what issues face young people today? It is definitely different from your 1950’s dementia/nostalgia.
Yes, Shakes, for far too long those who commit crimes have been left out by the DA’s office. Thank God they now have a champion. I have kids. I am blue through and through but stop at the lunatic line. Everyone I know and meet feels the same.
Shakes & Charlie,
You two are a pair. What we are looking for is accountability. Those who commit crimes, regardless of age or color, need to be held accountable for their crimes. Re-read Dan’s column, above. Restorative justice offers a double standard, a two-tier judicial system which is totally unfair.
Maybe you two will catch on, tho I have my doubts.
I was joking, Lenny. Coddling criminals is not the job of the DA, law enforcement is, then again, this is actually happening so I can see how it is no joke.
I’m sure that Shakes and Charlie live in the wealthier neighborhoods of the city. We know that Shakes sends his kids to schools NOT in Pittsfield where they do not practice Restorative Justice.
Schlitzie, stop the nobsense posts.
Schlitzie, be ready when the short bus shows up.
The drug dealers must be ecstatic. Now they can send any neighborhood kid off on his bike with a backpack full of goodies to be delivered door to door and that kid will be in his or her own bed at 9 PM as usual. In fact, a parent needing a few extra bucks for the cable bill need not fear if his kid has an after school job running fentanyl for the boss man in the Cadillac. Might as well give it a shot..nothing to lose.
Anyone else remember the old Superman comics with the Bizzaro world where everything was opposite of on earth?
As you state all this does is make juveniles, especially those most vulnerable – those under 12, targets for those who would exploit them.
Strong male role models, with money, power, respect who control the streets, will now have a whole new population of children to use and discard as needed. This isn’t a movie, where the bad guys are undone by a plucky neighbor and a “can do” attitude. These are real children in real danger, and no level of social working, intervention is unfortunately going to save these kids. You can’t replace the parents with social programs. The more unfortunate part in this that DA Andrea Harrington won’t mention, most diversion programs are meant for first time, non-violent, non-drug related cases.
Cases like shoplifting, vandalism (without hate crimes), public disturbance, theft from of property without contact with a person.
Crimes where the victim has very little or no contact with the offender.
This program will work for juveniles who have parents or guardians that are engaged. This program will not work for those children (an unfortunate majority) who’s parents are disinterested or absentee.
I agree PoliceReport, but most of the people posting here live in higher income neighborhoods of Pittsfield where there is lower crime and don’t worry about their kids not learning because of disruptive kids because they do not go to schools in Pittsfield.
Why is it you think poor, non-white people are the drug users and sellers in Pittsfield? It’s just not true.
It’s the poor neighborhoods where all the violent crimes are happening. It’s the West Side. We need help for the people living in those neighborhoods and not playing political games. People are afraid in those neighborhoods. They are afraid of the gangs that have set themselves up in those neighborhoods.
Keeping the white kids with money out of the struggling areas of the city will eliminate the drug transactions.
How do you know where most of the people who post here live, Pat? We all hide behind silly names so no one will know where we’re from or who we are.
An acquaintance of mine was recently robbed by juveniles. The police told him they’re not going to do anything. The police told him if he retaliated they would arrest him. Doesn’t sound right to me when police protect criminals.
Mazzeo said today on 1420 that she will make sure the trains run on time in Pittsfield meaning streets get swept, roads maintained, and more cops hired by getting rid of Civil Service hiring, but, in true Progressive style, she does believe in high taxation.
I agree with her that nobody would want to come here with all our crime and poor roads. That situation doesn’t attract good paying companies to this area. She didn’t address the school situation at all except to say that good schools are important for the city. Too vague of an answer for me.
Pat you can’t be all things to all people. I believe Mazzeo wants to set policy and she stated that. She stated she cannot do it as a sitting a City Councilor. I happen to believe she could be a pretty good Mayor as she gets involved with every issue. The current Mayor as previous others just don’t get it done.
In this juvenile “diversion plan” where or what are the children being diverted to?
Most diversion plans for “youthful offenders” divert non-violent offenders to social welfare programs that are “tailored” to their particular situation.
The largest problem or stumbling block to these programs, it requires a parent or guardian that has the time and resources (vehicle) to participate in the program with their child.
In other cases students, through the school or the Boys and Girls Club, or the YMCA, or Railroad street or other programs will participate in after school programs, therapy sessions with case workers, in school interventions with therapists.
The theory behind DA Andrea Harrington’s version of this program is that her office will decide, prior to adjudication, where these “youthful offenders” should go and then direct money towards that.
So programs like the Boy’s and Girl’s Club and the YMCA will be new safety nets for at risk juveniles. If we’re a parent with school age children who participated and paid for those programs, I’d immediately find a new program to move my child to.
This is fascinating because I doubt any of the programs/places you listed employ therapists, social workers, teachers, psychiatrists, etc.
Wouldn’t the “treatment/service” need to involve a level of professional expertise? Is the plan just to send them to Camp Russell and hope for the best? Or is the Club just the location for outside services to be held?
Interesting.
It will include social workers and real professionals. In fact it will be big business for certain politically connected not for profits.
These programs at the B&G club and YMCA will just be admitted care programs. They may also provide space for certain interventions.
Glad you didn’t lump social workers together with real professionals. Nothing like an alcoholic, unmarried twenty-something telling you it’s not OK to yell at or reprimand your kids.
Interesting story from Mazzeo today that she saw the first plane to hit the twin towers. It was flying extremely low over the MA pike in Otis and she later realized that it was flying so low to evade the radar so it could cruise on in to hit the towers. At the time, she said she couldn’t understand why such a big plane was flying so incredibly low. Chilling story.
It is chilling. Just watching the special 9/11 on TV brings it all back.
Will those responsible ever be brought to justice?? Will we ever know the whole truth about that terrible event?
MissyMazzy was probably also at the collapsed Towers with Trump helping lift steel beams to save those trapped in the rubble.
Schitzlie, were you born an a hole or did you have to work at it?
Pat, The first jet did indeed fly right over the Berkshires.
Maybe Chief Wynn could learn a thing about directed policing from the little town of Great Barrington.
Imagine a police department actively policing areas based on COMPSTAT and crime data.
Maybe if the chief of police in Great Barrington writes a book, Chief Wynn and Mayor Linda Tyer will buy a copy.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/great-barrington-police-to-crack-down-on-speeders,584482
GREAT BARRINGTON — Amid townwide complaints by residents that motorists are flouting speed limits and other traffic laws, town police announced Monday that they are cracking down by using unmarked cruisers and other tactics.
“There will be spotter cars and chase cars,” said town Police Chief William Walsh.
Walsh told the Select Board that he is forming a traffic enforcement unit that will undergo additional training and will monitor certain intersections, street lights, stop signs and crosswalks.
The unit will continue its high visibility enforcement, but will also use subterfuge to nab and deter speeders.
“That old Ford pickup truck could well have a police officer in it,” he said. “We’re serious.”
Police will also continue to set up solar-powered speed trailers at problem spots, and residents can call the station to request one, Walsh added.
He also plans to emphasize education, particularly about the less well known local laws that prohibit people from crossing the street on scooters and skateboards, or while wearing roller skates.
Imagine if Chief Wynn and Mayor Tyer invested in advance camera systems instead of shot spotter.
https://www.news10.com/news/local-police-upgrade-cameras-to-track-suspects-on-the-move/
Rotterdam Police Department is upgrading their traffic cameras and making it easier to track down suspects in real time.
Deputy Chief Michael Brown says the cameras are their prime crime solving tool, and the installation of new vehicle recognition software will only enhance it.
In the four years that Rotterdam has had traffic cameras, Deputy Chief Brown says they’ve been crucial in solving burglaries, bank robberies, and more.
“We use those in almost every crime that is committed in the town,” he said.
And now the cameras are getting an upgrade. Lt. Jeffrey Collins says the installation of the Rekor Systems software on five existing cameras will turn them into license plate readers that send back real-time data.
“In a dangerous situation like an Amber Alert or anything where time is paramount, if any vehicle passes these areas we can look up and find where and when they pass and potentially who may have been driving that vehicle,” said Collins
Rekor’s Watchman software comes at a $50 monthly fee, which the company says is far more cost effective than buying new license plate recognition equipment.
“License plate recognition has been around for a decade, but It’s been so expensive that there’s just not a lot of it around because a police departments can’t afford 20 thousand dollars for a camera,” said Rekor’s Chief Science Officer Matthew Hill.
Along with the plate, the software records the make, model, and color of the vehicle and will alert police if it’s on a hotlist.
“We’re seeing stolen car arrests going way up. As soon as a car gets stolen they catch the guy and they recover the property,” said Hill.
Sure, if you don’t mind 5th amendment violations.
The 5th amendment is about due process. Cameras collect evidence. Then they get the warrant and make an arrest. You might go back and actually read the amendment.
Johnny: Fentenyl coming south across the northern Maine border is a reality. It not Bizzaro world, it happening right under our noses. Me think change not so hard. Putin influence on oval office only help achieve our reel goals. We need is more strong influence like that. Without there help, the restorative justice double standard plan cant possibly succeed. Wake up citizens! It is clear long-term strategic cure to our cities problems. Unmarked police cars will not turn the trick.
“Our approach is based on proven data that will enhance public safety by preventing and curbing criminal behavior and by supporting victims,” she said, later adding, that “the old guard’s claim that policing low-level crime is necessary to protect the public is not just wrong, it has had serious negative impacts on our young people, and particularly on communities of color.”
Where is the proven data one she speaks of? NYC was cleaned up by implementing “broken windows” policies until the far left commie DeBlasio and his ilk took over. The far left are a clear and present danger to us all.Our approach is based on proven data that will enhance public safety by preventing and curbing criminal behavior and by supporting victims,” she said, later adding, that “the old guard’s claim that policing low-level crime is necessary to protect the public is not just wrong, it has had serious negative impacts on our young people, and particularly on communities of color”
I don’t understand how ignoring low-level crime will help communities of color. It seems to me that ignoring low-level crimes leads to larger and more serious crimes and Harrington and Rollins from Suffolk County are two far left District Attorneys who just don’t get the correlation. People are scared now in many neighborhoods in Pittsfield so the solution is to ignore theft under a certain amount and even vandalism? This is a recipe for disaster and will destroy the quality of life for everyone including communities of color.
These far left District Attorneys are playing a very dangerous social experiment.
I agree. Ignoring low-level crimes like theft and vandalism under a certain amount as well as other so called low-level crimes, doesn’t help anyone. Far left District Attorneys Harrington and Rollins of Suffolk County are playing a dangerous social experiment.
Why should Harrington care? She doesn’t live in the dangerous west side she lives in Richmond where the biggest fear is a mosquito bite.
Or a unicorn waking you up at 6am with its snorting
So hordes of little Fagins and Artful Dodgers may reappear on the scene with their parents guiding them from the shadows. If it is not a crime then you won’t do the time and if you can’t prove daddy sent the kid out to steal that bike then may not even have been a crime at all.
This is District Attorney Rollins of Suffolk County at work and she is who all these other far left District Attorneys across the country, including our own, are using as a model of how to be an effective District Attorney.
https://www.masslive.com/boston/2019/09/this-was-a-colossal-waste-of-time-suffolk-county-da-rachael-rollins-says-of-judge-refusing-to-dismiss-charges-against-straight-pride-parade-protesters.html
These are the “low level” crimes that DA Rollins will not prosecute. Remember DA Andrea Harrington jumped on the 21 and under as a juvenile band wagon, the “restorative justice that’s anything but”, and local police know there’s an informal line whereby crimes like below are not going to be prosecuted.
Crime is up but COMPSTAT reporting is down. It will be a record year for a decrease in reported crime, because it’s just being ignored.
Trespassing
Shoplifting (including offenses that are essentially shoplifting but charged as larceny)
Larceny under $250
Disorderly conduct
Disturbing the peace
Receiving stolen property
Minor driving offenses, including operating with a suspend or revoked license
Breaking and entering — where it is into a vacant property or where it is for the purpose of sleeping or seeking refuge from the cold and there is no actual damage to property
Wanton or malicious destruction of property
Threats – excluding domestic violence
Minor in possession of alcohol
Drug possession
Drug possession with intent to distribute
A stand alone resisting arrest charge, i.e. cases where a person is charged with resisting arrest and that is the only charge
A resisting arrest charge combined with only charges that all fall under the list of charges to decline to prosecute, e.g. resisting arrest charge combined only with a trespassing charge
Unless many of those crimes are nipped in the bud then it is proven that criminals will go on to even worse crimes including violence. The television show Forensic Files proves that all the time. Criminals start out with smaller crimes and quickly advance to much worse crimes. Not to mention the seedy atmosphere that will develop in any city that ignores that list of crimes.
Most of the guns these kids carry are stolen. Is that no longer a crime?
Can I steal $250.00 per day? Per store? Xmas is coming and I have to pick up gifts.
Dan,let preface this comment,I ont have a mayor or council favorite as of this writer no and I do not watch pctv as a rule,a Council Meeting here or there and a couple shows once in a blue moon. I never watch the school sponsored Morning drivel but do listen to the show when channel searching. I doubt he has ten people listening or watching the show.
Today was the last straw. The host had former mayor Ruberto on and it was basically him talking praise for Tyer? Aren’t there campaign Laws prohibiting anyone on a pubic radio especially with a School License with a FCC contract? I thought this was prohibited ?
This former Mayor didn’t address crime at all? I’d like to see what he has been doing. Oh, he also is praising Bouvier,what comedienne.
The host should get an award for being able to put up with bad breath Ruberto for an hour. PPPPPPUUUUUU.
Tomorrow the D A will be on discussions no her Dillusional Juvenile Offender Program. It will have ten people watching. No,I won’t be one of them. P C T has turned into WAMC, a political advertisement for mayors,council,schools,Arts, state,non-profit sic,and now the courts.
Ask yourself one thing? If a radio station ( public) has way more listeners when music is played ( me being one of them) why have that political show on it).
If you ask me the music is a bad as the Bill Surgeon show.
I will not allow my vote to go to anyone who let department heads spend money saying it’s for safety (Highway Department) or it’s for students (The department of schools).I will vote for the candidate that will make running gangs out of the City of Pittsfield the number 1 job of the next Mayor.I want school consolidation and I want street level crime solving not school level violence solving.You cant improve schools until you remove gangs from the street…..Mazzeo is my choice but has said nothing about school consolidation.Mccandless does not have the answer to Pittsfield schools.
McCandles is nothing more than an affable boot licking buffoon.
A vote for Tyer is a vote for much higher taxes without jobs and a failed school violence program. After win will mean lower population and large payouts for school choicing.We continue to have a half empty PHS
School Committee you have to realize that Pittsfield is at the point where the two main people running for mayor both believe in high taxation and giving the schools whatever they want. This is what will happen if, God forbid, socialism happened in this country. There would be little difference between any of the candidates because they are all part of the “far left socialist system”. Pittsfield fell so far down the far left rabbit hole that it is at that point now.
There is only the wealthy Pat.You have the country you voted for.Your Trump rich.
Mayoral candidate Karen Kalinowsky said today that the kids in Pittsfied are basically running the schools. Very sad.
I know six people who are voting for Karen Kalinowsky and I am one of them. She may not win but my conscientious will be clear and my kids will know I had their best interests at heart by not aiding and abetting a failed administration
Karen urged people in the poor crime ridden areas of Pittsfield to get out and vote for her. She said she realizes they feel beaten down and ignored, but if they would only rise up and vote they could help their own neighborhoods. Karen said that cops should be walking throughout the city especially in the areas that have had gang activity.
Maybe a few cops walking the beat on and around North St. but your not going to cover the hot spots in the city by walking around.
Karen seemed very sensible and fiscally responsible. I liked her answer to the moderator asking her why go right to running for Mayor. Why not aim for being on the council first? She said Mazzeo was on the council for 10 years and said she couldn’t get anything done and she agreed with her on that. I think Karen would be better on the schools and on the city budgeting and on crime and that is why she will not get elected.
It’s the irresponsible school personnel who push the vote every time. They don’t even care that their schools are out of control.
Big standoff over at onota and Columbus. Taking waaaaay to long.
They neededKalinowki at Onota and Columbus today
Is she the new Andy of Mayberry?
Why didnt residents in the area of Columbus and Onota get a robot phone call concerning the incident at Onota and Columbus Street today? Also why wasn’t traffic rerouted from the get-go if this guy was so dangerous he could have shot at someone? through a window for instance? Bad performance in all aspects especially concerning safety.
I just don’t get it. What good does exaggerated, over-the-top rhetoric do? It only inflames the dialog and makes positions less credible and harder to defend.
What you describe works well for the Donald and these DA people seem to appreciate his game plan. Sad truth is that half the population will buy horseshit if you shovel it at them with a convincing sales pitch.
If you cannot get out yourself begin formulating a plan for you children because everyone will need bars on their doors and windows to keep out the “it’s not a crime crowd” in a year or two.
The bottom line is Tyer just hasn’t done the job. And maybe the next Mayor won’t either. I’m willing to gamble.
If that Amanda Drane look stupid chomping-on her gum at the Mayors needless press conference concerning the new Fire Chief. Both those bimbos are way over the top. Mayor,you haven’t done the job. You are going to be booted out in November.
Solve the gang drug wars and run them out of town.Im so sick of Dalton,Lenox,Richmond,Lanesboro Stockbridge and the rest coming to Pittsfield and making gangs rich buying drugs .Light up the streets as these drugs are killing Pittsfield Ma.Run the g as gangster into Lenox and Dalton.Take 8 million out of the school budget and spend it defending our kids.Wake up Tyer as your still the Mayor who ran to fight drug crime.Right now you are doing nothing.Make a weekly statement about our gangs.Lets stop being a lazy city.