ONCE MORE TO THE LAKES
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 6-8, 2019) — Calling to mind E.B. White’s brilliant essay
A slower pace, a deeper insight.
“Once More to the Lake,” THE PLANET has taken flight, this one to a lake district so remote that a couple of the bodies of water aren’t even on a map. With guide, naturally.
The amazing thing about the place is to drop the “l” — place becomes pace.
Slow does not quite capture the movements here, nor does quiet get at the full quality of the silence. Both bid a person to do what one wills.
If you want to move on, it feels like the exact right thing to do. If you want to stay in place, that too has a Zen-like fulfillment.
The experience harkens words from Frost’s classic poem, “Two Tramps in Mud Time:”
He knew a path that wanted walking; /
He knew a spring that wanted drinking;
A love that wanted renewing. Nor was this just a way of talking /
To save him the expense of doing. /
With him, it boded action, deed.
The lake is hidden, but it’s the most “civilized” on our list. From here, we’re off the map.
We have taken with us Complete Poems of Robert Frost, a beautiful hardcover edition from 1968. Taken together, the work testifies to Frost’s incredible to the rhythms of nature, especially how they impact human experience. No encomium is needed. Just read the poems.
When lost in the wild, our senses sharpen — sometimes even to poetry.
It’s a welcome effect and affect, both quality and verb.
Nothing is seen out of the corner of the eye.
Everything is gazed upon full-front, a quality we attribute to the abiding nature of the wild and the honesty of innocence that slams a person when out of “civilization.”
We can learn much.
THE PLANET hopes you, too, can enjoy late summer in this way — or the way that best suits what your soul needs.
With that, we open the lines to you, any topic. Just advance the discussion.
————————————————————————————————————————
“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play” — Alan Watts.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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“I’m fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go”
“It took me Soooewooo long
To find out
But I found out”
The Planet has been on fire of late. Very interesting venting and exposure. The city needs a good exorcism and wholesale bowel cleanse. Let’s get it all out in the open so that the city can move on in a semblance of normality.
Doctor Valenti deserves a nice long vacation and I’m sure the local politicians would agree wholeheartedly.
A semblance of normality????? In Pittsfield???? Seriously????
Key word…”semblance” outward appearance when the reality is different
Dan,
Enjoy your well deserved respite from your award winning series on Dodge City. Perhaps you can squeeze in some “forest bathing” near your lake retreat. And if you need some cash to extend your hiatus, I know of a few local politicians willing to jump start a go fund me page to keep you outta Doge. Thank God for your column and it makes me wonder what us Planeteers would do without you. Thanks for being the voice of the little guy. Enjoy the sound of silence.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/letter-community-engagement-critical-to-westside,583974
Have a murder, get a community BBQ. That’s engagement!!! Sending Ice Cream Cop Derby to a meeting that should be about how many police should be on the street is a joke. The people of the Westside don’t get how little Chief Wynn, Mayor Tyer, and DA Andrea Harrington care about them. This is reactionary policing and politics.
What DA in their right mind would EVER suggest making it easier to do illegal drugs? It might be better for the junkie but it drives demand that drives the theft and violence on the street.
Maybe she can spur the economy with a new program called Uber Opioid. Police can start selling and delivering drugs they find.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/letter-community-engagement-critical-to-westside,583974
Letter: Community engagement critical to Westside
To the editor:
Residents and stakeholders of Pittsfield have long endured street violence in our public and shared spaces. The trauma of these events is therefore not limited to the victims involved but also vibrates through our communities and impacts our shared experience.
Our hearts go out to yet another family that must now consider the future without a loved one. In addition, we have concern for our neighbors, the bystanders, and children who must also consider and reconcile these acts of violation that occur in their shared space.
The members of the Pittsfield Neighborhood Action Team (PNAT) endeavor to put our collective care and concern into action. Planning meetings have taken place over the past month with the intention of expanding the ability of volunteers to engage their community and develop solutions that address the root causes of the violence that has become so commonplace. The PNAT team, currently comprised of volunteers of the Westside Community Outreach Post, have maintained that this effort must be collaborative to be successful. Partnership with the Pittsfield Police Department, mayor’s office and district attorney’s office has been critical to the formation and ongoing development of this effort to improve the safety of our communities. It will only be together that we may actualize a Pittsfield free of violence.
The Aug. 29 editorial “Worried Westside needed timely information” fell short of mentioning that the mayor and district attorney attended the Aug. 26 meeting on short notice; they were joined by Officer Darren Derby, representing the Pittsfield Police Department. They listened to resident concerns and provided what information they could. It must be clear, that first and foremost our frustration is with the violence and the complicated causes that prevent long-term progress on issues like gun violence. We believe that the Pittsfield Police Department, mayor’s office and district attorney’s office are providing genuine participation in the ongoing conversation to develop solutions. These groups were joined by Westside Initiative members and concerned residents and were able to hold an emergency meeting to have a preliminary discussion on what a collective response to the recent violence might be; including but not limited to the BBQ on Sept. 20 in Durant Park. The Aug. 27 meeting was separate, a continuation of the PNAT’s conversation about opportunities to expand our roles and increase our impact.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER THESE ADS
We are all in agreement that there is no simple solution to this problem and our approaches must be able to evolve. The PNAT firmly believes that community engagement is the first step as a solution must be derived from resident experience in order to be successful. All parties involved understand this is a work in progress and are committed to its success. Keeping our elected officials and government agencies accountable will always be an important part of this process and we appreciate The Berkshire Eagle’s continued reporting on these important developments. We look forward to expanding the PNAT and encourage residents to get involved in the many opportunities to create a just, thriving and safe Pittsfield.
Christine Hamilton,
Karen Roche,
Pittsfield
The writers are members of the Pittsfield Neighborhood Action Team
Funny how this Aug 26th WS COP meeting has been described in three different instances.
(Paraphrased)
BERKSHIRE EAGLE EDITORIAL
Police department was not represented at the meeting. Volunteers haven’t seen much collaboration and feel that the PD is waiting for them to fail.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ABOVE
The mayor, District Attorney, and Officer Darren Derby attended the meeting on short notice.
AUGUST 26th PUBLIC FACEBOOK POST from Christine Hamilton
The mayor, DA, Brian House (of the DA’s Office) and Officer Derby stopped by the meeting to talk about “the shootings, crime and drugs in our city.”
Keeping in mind that the murder happened August 25th, the meeting took place the 26th, and it wasn’t reported as a homicide until the 27th.
So which one is it?
No participation, a hearty sit down discussion with officials, or an appearance to make an appearance during difficult times?
Sounds like an appearance to give the appearance of collaboration (minus the disclosure and transparency of reporting that it was actually a homicide that had occurred 100’ feet from the COP post). I suppose if nothing else, it was a meeting to plan another meeting. Oh, and a bbq…
Very well stated
Pittsfield violence is verbal and it intimidates the Seniors and youngster in our schools.The code of conduct is needed for administrators and principles.We hopefully have finished the week principle era that was afraid of everything.Keep the code simple. Mccandless and Tyer were lazy and so were their principle.They never backed the teachers and are allowing abuse .Any incident of posturing towards a teacher or student needs a suspension. Principles and assistants need to own the behaviors in the building.Walk your building as your school is failing.The number 1 focus each principle must achieve is safety of staff and the neighborhood kids.Walk the halls for 6 hours.That is the job.
The PPS administration is nothing more than a bunch of do nothing, feel good, social justice warriors who are “Woke”
You can be assaulted by a student and if you feign anger or frustration you will be on the chopping block.
Most teachers toe the line, dont make noise (unless Brendan gets them on the picket line to complain) and wait for that hefty pension
Every student should be asked by a parent if the principle sits in her office B.S.ing or are they seen by every student every period walking the building.Energy and fitness should be a hiring mandate.Do you think you can physically do the job.
Nobody and I mean nobody does it better than Dan the Man. Of course they’re praying he stays on vacation,uh,he still has his putter. Dan have you ever considered a book,script,movie of the goings on here? It it’d be something like a Thorn-birds Trilogy. Who’ll play The Greek God? I’d like to play Jack Welch.
I think we are all in need of a “forest bathing” and a lake retreat to purge ourselves of the insanity coming from the fanatical ideas of the Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday night. Their climate change paranoia will plunge this country into a Great Depression since all of the candidates want to spend outrageous sums of money to fight climate change when, in fact, our country is the most environmentally friendly of the entire world. All of the “sacrifice” they are demanding will fall on the backs of the poor and the middle class.
Perhaps if you actually listened to them instead of getting the rebranded version from Hannity you might learn something. Stop cheating yourself out of your own life Pat.
The far left wants to spend trillions of dollars on lunacy and control every area of our lives. I know all I need to know. Thank you.
Matt – Johnny absurd – why did you steal from Sherwood ?
Too late Pat. Donnie boy and his enablers, including Moscow Mitch have already pulled the switch to plunge us into depression. Check the deficit lately? Republicans used to be pretty intractable on deficit spending.
Also, School Committee, I know you have a lot to say, but could you try taking a breath or two while you type and proofreading before you post? And also, the leader of a school is a principal, not a principle. That hurts your credibility.
I don’t know if it hurts his credibility so much as identifies him as a Pittsfield school product.
There is no depression yet Mr. G (the economy is booming) not until the far left people like fanatical Liz Warren is president (God help us all). Wild-eyed Liz as president would guarantee that this country goes into serious decline. Vote President Trump!!!
Pat, the economy and the stock market are, as you surely well know, two different things. The stock market is booming…the end of this week but is as mercurial as Donnie T.s temper; really completely unpredictable. Dan talks often about IPEB and its potential, nay likelihood of becoming an economic time bomb that can sink a city. The VAST vast national debt Donnie has single handedly created with his ridiculous tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans provides the same time bomb for our nation and our children.
So really Trump is responsible for the economic conditions in Pittsfield…
Not one person would tell Mccandless that he can solve a conduct problem in schools by having the principlesa,the mayor and him sitdown behind a desk in his office.Go to the schools unannounced to see if anyone is sitting.Construction workers are on their feet for 8 hours.You need 6 hours from them.
The pctv morning show should jump in the Lake. The taxpayers own the show, not the the stooges running it. Not on the radio,keep it on pctv. I like the music not commercials the first ten minutes. Why are we force fed this crap on the radio end of it?
Silver Lake?
Yuki For Pittsfield
·
“So loved attending last night’s garden party to benefit the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. Very inspired by the incredible group of women successfully working hard towards gender equity by providing grants, mentorship, guidance and empowerment. Stacey Flowers, author and speaker, stated that happiness and peak performance is connected to networks and connection to five types of people in your life: cheerleader, coach, mentor, best friend and peer. It seems the Women’s fund provides all these and more! Thus so many success stories!” Statement of Yuki Cohen.
Police Report,
I just read your post on the previous blog highlighting Tyer bypassing Kirchner in the police department, and the civil service appeal decision, that you provided a link too. It’s interesting because the decision upheld her bypass of Kirchner even though he scored higher, but in the decision it upheld the other promotion after it said “ The fundamental purpose of the civil service system is to guard against political considerations, favoritism, and bias in governmental hiring and promotion.” And then you posted later that “the real reason our city is as dangerous as it is because of Chief Wynn. This is compounded by Mayor Linda Tyer as she had the opportunity to change the path by firing Wynn, and instead of doing well by the city she actually spent thousands to make sure we were saddled with a Chief who has no idea about law enforcement.” I’m not so sure I agree on any count – the person promoted over Kirchner was clearly more qualified, and civil service allowed it, so they didn’t consider it political, or favoritism, and you criticize the mayor for promoting the chief through civil service, but that is supposed to be a fair process, and wasn’t he made acting chief way back under Roberto, and didn’t Bianchi also keep Wynn acting for 4 years, and didn’t Tyer campaign on filling the job through civil service??? So it kinda seems like she did the right thing, and maybe the other mayors’ didn’t and you really are kind of hard on the chief by the way. City’s been going to hell in handbasket a long time, and not sure its fair to blame the chief to the exclusion of all the factors that contribute to crime and the fact that no previous mayor supported the police like Tyer does. Who was Tyer supposed to make chief, Bill Bratton? And if he was so bad, why did Roberto keep him, and why did Bianchi? By law it’s a civil service job, and it was Bianchi and Roberto that failed to follow the law and didn’t appoint within the civil service law. It also begs the question – will there be a civil service appeal on the new fire chief selection because Tyer just bypassed the top two scorers for that job? And lastly, Blare is really out to lunch thinking you are Capeless. You are but one amongst thousands who know Harrington is inept.
The point of the civil service example was that they wanted to extend the rules well past the acceptance date for one person, Chief Wynn but did not strictly follow it for the other person.
Further Kirchner was skipped over, because he was not qualified, then a year he was was promoted, a year after that moved to Captain, and is in charge of the patrol division.
So if he was unqualified for lieutenant two years prior, now he’s qualified to be in charge of the patrol division? The people responsible for day to day policing?!?
What it was was Chief Wynn wanted to give an ally and “buddy” a promotion, and did so under the guise of a “more qualified” candidate. Then promotes who he felt was a less qualified candidate to a more difficult position. By giving his friend the choice position he double screwed over the city.
The other Mayors kept him as acting because that’s an at will position. It would allow them, and they tried, to quietly find a better replacement. The problem is anyone who knows anything isn’t going to want to work in Pittsfield. Under Chief Wynn it’s gotten so bad, No one wants to step into the mess his 10+ years of command have created. Now even if Tyer is gone, we are stuck with Chief Wynn.
As to law enforcement and what Wynn knows and doesn’t know or his competence levels. The proof is in the pudding. If he were any good at his job, crime would be going down. Crime would also be going down not just because they quit taking reports.
He would have also weeded out officers who he knew were using drugs (how embarrassing is it that a drug task force officer gets nailed by postal inspectors?) He would have gotten rid of an officer who stalked women and slept on the job and lost his gun, instead of letting the guy stay on the force for 10 more years and get a full pension after that officer let his child use his duty gun to shoot herself. Just realize that officer would have been able to stay as long as he wanted, if that didn’t happen.
If you or I let that happen we’d be in jail.
If Chief Wynn was any good at command, the Dale Eason event would have been handled entirely differently. Like with the other example, Eason could have been removed well prior to that very weak shoplifting case. If Chief Wynn knew anything about leadership and command, Eason would not have been in a position to arrest anyone that day. The city would not be out hundreds of thousands for legal fees, back pay, and interest.
Understand that for all the time Dale was not working, he got paid and they had to divert resources to cover his patrol and they paid extra overtime to do it.
At best, Chief Wynn should have maxed out at Sargent, he lacks basic command understanding, force modernization fundamentals, and is absent from his day to day job too much.
He’s a perfect example of the worst rising to the top.
CS
The command structure has failed, it’s not a shock. Ten years of failed leadership
How can you say chief doesn’t know anything about leadership? He’s and expert in it, and I hear he wrote some book on it and teaches it. Furthermore, I’ve been informed that the mayor is the only one that can fire firemen or police so how can failure to fire the bad apples be the chiefs’fault?
Wait, what? The mayor fires policemen and firemen?? Is he just a figure head? There are way too many bad apples and now they get boot lickers too.
Does Pittsfield have more policemen than a similar sized city elsewhere?
The chief of the department (fire or police) suspends then makes the recommendation for termination.
That is why they are department heads.
Depending on the city charter, the actual termination may be by a mayor, the town manager or administrator, the city council. In most civil service cases, when an officer is fired and they contest the finding based on the Chief and the “CEO” of the city.
Example from Kirchner steroid case:
“This discipline (suspension coupled with loss of assignment), is the most severe discipline that I can impose as a chief of police, given the nature of the allegations and Officer Kirchner’s lack of prior disciplinary findings,” the police chief writes.
If there had been prior findings in the above instance, the Chief could have fired the officer or made recommendations that he/she be fired.
Asked why Kirchner was not terminated, Wynn pointed out that, on advice of the city’s legal counsel, the offense didn’t rise to that level because it was a first-offense misdemeanor, and he had no prior discipline in his record.
“Even if we were to take that action [termination], [considering Kirchner’s status] as a civil-service employee, we don’t believe, legal counsel doesn’t believe, it would have been upheld.
“Could we have taken that action? Yeah, but we would have been overturned. We’d be paying him back pay, and we’d be right back here after a long and laborious process.”
I imagine the union support is good if you are getting railroaded but that is less common than the union propping up the bad apples. I think they might be correct, they might need to change the process so they can fire the bad ones and restore respect to the good ones.
PoliceReport:
Peter Principle?
DV enjoy a well deserved break. As said earlier thank you for the Planet and for your Pulitzer-worthy coverage of the recent violence. No other media can touch your reports. Your are relelentless, fearless and fair.
Dan,
Ditto the above.
I wish you peace & quiet, and refreshment of spirit. ENJOY!
OFF TOPIC but important nevertheless.
Anyone heading towards Alabama this weekend needs to watch out for wayward hurricanes which apparently can pop up at any moment. Stay safe!
Early NOAA projections showed it tracking that way
Just ignore Matt (Johnny absurd ). He is a disgraced former lawyer who was fired for stealing.
Dan
Enjoy your peace and quiet! Thankyou for your wisdom and for providing this forum for your followers to vent. Have a nice time away.
He doesn’t look like he’s having a good time. Maybe he sees Carma.
Department Heads will have new energy under Mazzeo and the will spend money like its their money.Walking around doing your job in a brand new way.Department heads will participate in what is happening. Mazzeo will have a very hard job if Lothrop gets to spend money.He loves tax cash.We will never survive another term with the same irresponsible CC.
Anyone remember Lt. Fireball. I remember the testimony of the local police officer saying she had never seen a victim look so terrified. That was from one of the officers who bosses parade down north street in hi-heels exclaiming “ We are totally against violence to woman.” Another is little girl that was dead at a Plunkett Street. Spa is correct against n. We is doomed!
National debt 22 trillion plus.
DANIEL, don’t let your Gitche get in the way of your Gumee
Brian M
Ms Harrington put the first of many rapists former administration covered for will head to prison today.
Mr Bae finally paying for his 2014 crime, luckily the victim had sexual assault kit done in New York, so MSP attached to office couldn’t lose it.
Good job ladies
You got it, Tom Betit.
Kudos all around at DA Harrington’s office. Hopefully, there are more prosecutions to come.
Welcome to Pittsfield! You can buy some scratch tickets, drink booze, and buy pot. If there are shootings and a murderer on the loose, be ready to dodge bullets! If you walk around North Street at night, be ready to run for your life. If you want to see a vacant 21-year-old so-called “business park”, please visit PEDA. If you want to see a corrupt museum that sold off its most valuable pieces of art, please visit the Berkshire Museum. If you like insider political hacks, please visit Pittsfield’s City Hall. If you want to send your children to an under-performing public school system, please enroll them in Pittsfield’s public schools. If you want to pay high taxes and fees, please own a home in Pittsfield. If you like teen pregnancies, welfare caseloads, social services, not-for-profits, public sector bureaucrats, and career politicians, then Pittsfield is your place to live. When people bitch and moan about it all, you will learn to say: “This is Pittsfield”.
Andrea Harrington has given the nitwit criminals in Pittsfield a collective license to carry handguns. You can fire off your illegal weapon to your hearts content. You can destroy property. Hands off Harrington only starts to care when someone gets their brains blown out. And even then she doesn’t care much. She had her boot lickers talk about rich drunks at a millionaire college.
What do you know. Now that Capeless and Caccaviello are gone, it is once again illegal to rape women at Williams College.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/09/former-williams-college-student-yoonsang-bae-convicted-of-raping-classmate-in-2014.html
Imagine if he had accepted the simple assault plea offered by Team Misogyny, the impact that would have had on the victim. Thank God we have a new DA.
Too bad she doesn’t give a shit about murder and illegal guns on the west side of Pittsfield.
Do women on the west side get raped. What’s squeaky gonna do about it?
Department heads in Pittsfield are not aware of problems on the street.Mayor Barrett said it best,get away from the desk and get to the problem.Mazzeo shout announce a state of emergency in Jan.All department heads are needed out in the field .Mccandless should not sit down for 10 months.He needs to be in the halls un announced everyday.
Superintendent Behnke needs to update spending every 30 days in public as a taxpayer courtesy. She needs to open her office door and stop playing with budgets.Joe Curtis needs to stop spending and go work from the Eagle street building.Joe needs to push his computer adding away and go to work with the troubled children.
Curtis us a major doofus. Just a few short years ago he was an av guy for the schools and handing out iPads and now he’s an overpaid administrator.
I agree.
Molly,
What ever happened to all those iPads and how much was peed away on that foolishness?
Good for the lovely Melissa Mazzeo for taking on city leaders for a “significant lack of response to recent violence.”
https://www.wamc.org/post/mazzeo-crime-claims-spark-debate-pittsfield
Columbus Ave. Killer still on the loose. Word is there were witnesses who are afraid to come forward.. Killer intimidating thosevwith the eyes.
Even within the last few weeks, a number of people on this board have mockingly asked “what about those supposed rapes at Williams College?” Almost as if the multitude of documented rape accusations at Williams during the last decade+ never happened – because a sick former DA decided that the future of a young man (rapist) was more valuable than the lifetime of pain a young woman might be forced to endure.
I doubt Andrea Harrington will ever be perfect. But she is decent and has a sense of morality. That is enough for me.
Good riddance Capeless and Caccaviello. Women are safer now that you are gone.
Capless was a nitwit, caccaviello wasn’t in there long enough fir us to make a judgement and Harrington is a danger to residents on the west side. Her boot lickers are trying to infiltrate this blog. She should resign. She. Is a squeaky child.
You’re lucky Capeless and Caccaviello don’t sue you for libel and slander and for Harrington to slam her predecessors with out stating whether or not the victim was willing to testify back then is uncalled for to say the least – she’s not telling you that the victim probably was unwilling to testify in 2017 and henceforth the plea offer made after consulting with victim. Nobody in the know believes women victims are better off under this DA. And the only reason a conviction was obtained is because the defendant was dumb enough to take the stand, against his lawyers advice no doubt. The case was obviously weak as a kitten – couple a drunk people that can’t remember what the heck happened.
When they don’t fit the “tough on crime” narrative just ignore the facts.
The woman was raped.
Was given a chance to testify but entered into an agreement with the DA and the college.
Bae was suspended for two years, the woman was able to continue her studies and graduate. The DA didn’t move forward with the case until the victim was ready.
Neither Capeless or the college covered anything up, and both were as accommodating to the victim as they could be. The offer to pleaded the case was on the table and was fully discussed with the victim. It was the only option that would have been available without her complaint and testimony.
What people don’t understand is that with minimal evidence, no willing complainant, it’s not easy to make any type of case.
To frame this like it was what DA Capeless wanted or anyone in the office wanted is a lie. Da Andrea Harrington politicizing this case and trying to make it seem like Capeless did something wrong or somehow DA Andrea Harrington did anything of value for this case is another lie.
Dis DA Andrea Harrington prosecute the case? No. Do any of the research? No. Do anything to make sure Bae was prohibited from contacting the victim? No.
Under cross-examination by Bae’s attorney, Charles Dolan, the woman couldn’t recall the exact language Bae used and acknowledged there were details of that night she also couldn’t recall.
She testified that at the end of the weekend visit, she accepted a ride from Bae back to Albany, where she was catching a bus back home. She said that ride had been arranged before the assault and that Bae indicated he wanted to talk to her about the incident.
When Bae dropped her off, she told him to never contact her again.
She reported the assault to New York authorities and contacted the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). She also underwent a sexual assault examination at a New York hospital.
According to information aired in court, Williams College investigated the matter and suspended Bae for two years and barred him from campus during that time.
The woman testified that, at first, she elected to not pursue criminal charges against Bae, with the understanding she could at a later date.
After she graduated and Bae had completed his suspension, she decided to go forward with the criminal case in part out of concerns that if she didn’t pursue the charges, she might be subjecting other people to Bae’s behavior.
She also said she felt she was more emotionally ready to do so in 2017, rather than immediately after the incident.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Stephanie Ilberg.
Yes. I am well familiar with the case. DA Capeless did a 24/7 upstanding, outstanding job on that case. Handled it well and professionally.
“The woman was raped. Was given a chance to testify but entered into an agreement with the DA and the college…”
Holy Toledo. These are the thoughts of a sociopath. The pressure that might be brought to bear on such a woman is obvious. The notion that the above statement is exculpatory is comical.
Capeless and Caccaviello have disgraced our County. I believe this is going to get much worse. As it should.
From her testimony
She wanted to complete and graduate school, she and the college agreed to a suspension of Bae until she graduated. The initial suspension was two years, if she needed longer it would have been extended.
There was no coverup, she as the victim was able to direct how the case proceeded. There was zero pressure on her to even testify, although it would have made the case much harder.
“The woman testified that, at first, she elected to not pursue criminal charges against Bae, with the understanding she could at a later date.
After she graduated and Bae had completed his suspension, she decided to go forward with the criminal case in part out of concerns that if she didn’t pursue the charges, she might be subjecting other people to Bae’s behavior.
She also said she felt she was more emotionally ready to do so in 2017, rather than immediately after the incident.”
Prosecuting an innocent man is not being tough on crime. A “victim” took a ride from her rapist to Albany a few days later… That’s enough evidence to convict her of making a false police report and harassment; and have Harrington disbarred and jailed for life for misusing her office. Beyond a reasonable doubt. Scary that there are juries full of people like you out there, you realize that Harrington could get you convicted of anything, of murdering a person who is still alive!
In triial much will come out from the defense that will support Bae’s being not guilty. A woman accepting a ride from an alleged rapist only days later does not add up and may not stand up. There is more. Discovery, if this trial is done right, will be most interesting.
A ward councillor can’t represent her ward by licking Harrington ‘s boots.
Good point HT. Voters should understand whos running and why.
Yeah, police report was right. She set her boot lickers free to plead her pitiful case.
The mayor of Fall River was arrested for extorting money from marijuana vendors. Imagine that. Thank God that sort of thing does not happen in our bucolic little burg.
The pot industry is probably the worst thing happen to western ma in a long time. The ‘can’t stop spending’ towns will do anything to get their share and it just brings the dirt bags out of woodwork.
It surprises no one that the Stare set up the whole system as a racket to get money into their coffers. The pot company folks are obnoxious too. It’s just gross, second only to vaping, which btw has the support of our illustrious former state AG (pottsfields own) – being the head lawyer representing a company poisoning kids. I know, I must be old and square.
I agree Kermit Frog. Vaping is killing and disabling young, healthy and strong young people. Pot is killing them on our highways and bringing more corruption and low life people into our cities and towns across Massachusetts and especially here in the Berkshires where the local politicians are trying to use the pot industry to financially jump start a sick and dying Berkshire County economy since, with their limited thinking abilities, they have no other ideas of how to bring prosperity to this area.
The combination of pot and vaping is deadly, but even just vaping on its own is destroying the lung tissue of healthy young adults. One young man fighting for his life was only vaping for a year and a half. The damage in other young people may take longer to show up.
“In North Carolina, five patients with illnesses potentially linked to vaping developed a noninfectious form of pneumonia, researchers report in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. All five said that they had used THC concentrates or oils purchased on the street in their e-cigarettes. Clinicians diagnosed lipoid pneumonia in the patients, which occurs when oils or fat-containing substances enter the lungs and provoke inflammation.
Lungs aren’t designed to handle the onslaught of chemicals and toxicants that can be inhaled while vaping, says Illona Jaspers, who studies inhalation toxicology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. And substances that are considered safe to eat, such as vitamin E acetate or the flavors added to vaping liquids, can pose risks to the lungs. “When you change the route of exposure, you are changing the potential for toxicity,” she says.
Even if vitamin E acetate were identified as a culprit in these lung injury cases, there are other substances inhaled during vaping that could harm lungs, Jaspers says. “Heavy vapers who got scared by all of this may now have this false sense of security, saying ‘oh, I’m not doing the vitamin E stuff, so I can continue.’ ” That, she says, “is a bad idea.”
It is sad. And
I meant to say it’s also bad Juul is targeting kids. I have heard vaping is common in middle and high schools in many places, not just here. My health habits aren’t anywhere near perfect but the vaping seems nuts.
When I role a joint it’s always my ankle
Yes, and thank God we have no bribery on construction projects, especially park ‘renovations’ and airport ‘upgrades’. And thank God we have no seized drugs ‘removed’ from the evidence room at PPD with Chief’s knowledge. And thank God such drugs are not later sold at market prices in various Pittsfield watering holes including Home Plate, The Madison, The Crossroads, and the East Side. Thank God none of that happens.
There was no nonsense when Frank Koldys ran the Madison. But that was a way different time.
Yes. Frank was a great guy. Ran a clean, respectable taproom. As you say, those days long gone. Well not so much those days, but those kinds of people. Decent, upstanding, honest folk? Dying breed in Pittsfield.
Pittsfield needs to tell lazy department heads to cut budgets next year 10% and have the plan ready for review Jan 1st. Retired taxpayers cant give 1 more penny.The road to a state financial takeover is already in place. Mazzeo can save us from starving SS citizens who support Mrs Behnke and her 125k salary.The rich are in charge in Pittsfield and the poor have no representation.Somebody must step forward and cut taxes…..Mazzeo is the only hope for the poor taxpayer.
Lothrop wants to spend alot more money than Pittsfield did this year.Lothrop and Tyer are raising taxes so the poor have to move out.Tyer is using gentrification to clear our streets of poverty.The CC is made up of very spoiled children who get what they want. Caccamo has never responded to a Ward issue and he is a irresponsible spender.
The poor home owners may be moving out but the poor renters are moving in. By the droves.
It might be interesting to know how many current Pittsfield citizens were actually born here. And how many have lived here 20 years? 10 years? 5 years? Because my guess is that less than 20 percent have been here 10 years and that the general population could be considered transient.
If you look at the names of people on, say the 411, so many of them say they live in Pittsfield but they came from elsewhere. Very few originally came from Pittsfield. And if you read between the lines on that it says a lot about Pittsfield, and it is not all good.
Berkshire county jail.
Contrary to those painting the recent rape case as “coverup” it was nothing of the sort.
When the woman, who lived out of state, was raped she went home. She had her rape kit done where she lived.
She later reported the crime and an investigation was done. For reasons of her own, she decided she was not ready to go ahead with going to trial.
The options where to go to trial without witness testimony, without most of the compelling evidence, to pleaded the case out, or wait.
Through an arrangement with the DA and the school, the alleged rapist at the time was suspended from campus. This allowed the victim to complete school, seek counseling, and move on with her life until such time as she was ready to proceed with the case.
After she graduated, and knowing this might happen to others she bravely chose to move forward.
She testified that at the end of the weekend visit, she accepted a ride from Bae back to Albany, where she was catching a bus back home. She said that ride had been arranged before the assault and that Bae indicated he wanted to talk to her about the incident.
When Bae dropped her off, she told him to never contact her again.
She reported the assault to New York authorities and contacted the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). She also underwent a sexual assault examination at a New York hospital.
According to information aired in court, Williams College investigated the matter and suspended Bae for two years and barred him from campus during that time.
The woman testified that, at first, she elected to not pursue criminal charges against Bae, with the understanding she could at a later date.
After she graduated and Bae had completed his suspension, she decided to go forward with the criminal case in part out of concerns that if she didn’t pursue the charges, she might be subjecting other people to Bae’s behavior.
She also said she felt she was more emotionally ready to do so in 2017, rather than immediately after the incident. It has taken two years for the case to go from pending to trial.
There was no coverup, the former DA Capeless and the school worked directly with the victim to make sure her needs were met and allowed her to direct the case as she wished.
It’s too bad the classless Harrington tried to mislead the public once again. Not to mention publicly attacking her predecessors and fellow bar members. No doubt it will come back to bite her.
Police Report,
I have to take issue with some important points. 1. Law enforcement including the DA’s office was never notified of this case at the beginning. 2. The DA’s therefore could not have agree to any resolution through the college process. 3. Williams College has for many years pursued a policy of convincing students NOT to go the police. 4. The victim agreed with the college to have her assailant suspended as a resolution of this matter. 5. The idea that Capeless and Cacccaviello would not want to pursue such a case is laughable.
You would be wrong on most accounts.
1. DA Capeless knew of the case, not immediately but knew of the case via the rape reporting kit. The victim/witness was not cooperative. It was one of the reasons DA Capeless was going to pleaded down to a lesser charge and CWOF.
2. The DA did not work with the college. The DA and the college both worked with the student/victim to accommodate her needs. The school suspended Bae for the time the victim would take to graduate. That happened. The victim, then in 2017 chose to pursue the charges. She initially did not want to testify so lacking her willingness to testify not many options were on the table for success at trial.
3. I don’t know if that’s true or speculation. I do know the university has to abide by Title IV, many have incorrectly used that to paint the university system as suppressing the reporting.
The rape case was reported to and investigated by the Williamstown Police. As a law enforcement agency in Berkshire county they consult with the DA’s office.
4. Agreed. It gave her time to graduate and seek help for her trauma.
5. Of course they would want to pursue a rape case BUT DA Capeless, again trying to accommodate the victim/witness also offered a plea to save the victim a trial.
DA Andrea Harrington trying to portray this as a coverup or DA Capeless being “not tough” on crime is laughable.
What this is is DA Andrea Harrington engaging in political theater by using a rape conviction to make her look “tough” on crime.
DA Capeless, as he was presented with the information, moved forward with it. The only reason DA Andrea Harrington was able to move forward with the case was due to the victims change in attitude about testifying.
Remember DA Andrea Harrington was the one working with Pucci to malign DA Capeless and DA Caccaviello over cases just like this. They suggested using subpoena powers to compel victims to testify. A way to re-victimize the victim.
Also note DA Andrea Harrington did not try this case and to date has not tried any cases as DA.
A good DA knows to allow the victim to take their time and proceed at their own pace. Sometimes you will have to pleaded a case down due to lack of evidence, to secure some kind of conviction.
A perfect example of why this “we will not pleaded” puffery is an example of DA Andrea Harrington’s ineptness,
Albert J. Kolodziej was found not guilty of seven charges, including two counts of rape and single counts of attempt to commit murder and suffocation/strangulation. So DA Andrea Harrington thought this case was good enough to go to trial but only secured convictions on charges the man effectively admitted to.
If DA Andrea Harrington thought this case was strong enough to go forward, then she should have argued it herself and secured a conviction.
Alternatively a smarter DA or a DA with at least the tiniest trial experience would have maybe pleaded the case down to secure some sort of sentence for the attempted murder, strangulation, and two rapes.
Taking a hardline on not pleading cases down just to appear tough on crime, is the game DA Andrea Harrington gets to play so she looks good political.
Okay, I see where you are coming from and I appreciate your illuminating things, as many do here. The Pucci case seems to have disappeared. I have an idea of why.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on Pucci if you don’t mind.
For those that don’t remember the Pucci letter and claim,
To the editor:
I write in regard to the Berkshire district attorney campaign. I have been a trial lawyer for 38 years. I was a federal prosecutor for 10 years, and have practiced criminal law in Berkshire County and other counties across Massachusetts.
Throughout the campaign, candidate Paul Caccaviello has claimed that his long “experience” in the DA’s office makes him the best candidate.
I beg to differ, but first some facts. The Clery Act is a federal law requiring colleges to report on-campus crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education. Williams College made its most recent Clery Act disclosure in 2017 covering the years 2014-2016. For those three years, Williams identified 41 credible complaints of rape that it had reported to its campus security office and the Williamstown Police Department. The Berkshire district attorney had the responsibility to review these cases and prosecute those that could be proven in court. My research reveals that only one of these 47 cases has been prosecuted.
These shocking statistics demand an explanation from candidate Caccaviello. At a recent public forum in Williamstown, Caccaviello blamed Williams College, claiming it had failed to report them to law enforcement and to advocate for the rights of student survivors. But according to the Williams Clery Act Reports, all the data about this sexual violence was reported to the Williamstown Police Department and must have been reviewed by the DA’s Office. Moreover, all this Clery Act information for 2014-2016 has been publicly available online to Caccaviello’s Office for quite some time.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER THESE ADS
In an August 3 letter to The Eagle, Meg Bossong, the director of sexual assault prevention at Williams, wrote that Caccaviello’s claims at the Williamstown Forum were “categorically false.” Ms. Bossong asked that Caccaviello provide the public with statistics detailing the number of these kinds of rape cases his office has prosecuted, and their resolution. Caccaviello has failed to do so.
Voters are entitled to this information and a truthful explanation for the DA’s failure to prosecute more of these cases. They are also part of Caccaviello’s “experience” for which he is accountable.
Andrea Harrington has made a public commitment to review the many rape cases Caccaviello’s Office has failed to bring. This has to be done to restore credibility and common decency to that office. She is the only candidate who will bring this kind of accountability to the Berkshire DA’s office.
John Pucci,
Northampton
Here’s an example of Pucci, and by extension DA Andrea Harrington re-victimizing the victim.
Now I’m sure Pucci is a good lawyer but I think he’s confused when he thinks the DA can compel a university to release the names of victims. The public interest would not outweigh the right to privacy. It’s actual case law.
In situations and states where you can use material witness warrants against rape victims, it just revictimizes the victim.
But DA Andrea Harrington endorses that behavior.
Yes let’s pay for junkies to shoot up, facilitate illegal activity but also use subpoena powers to put rape victims in jail.
If a victim doesn’t want his or her name shared with the police, u set Title IX they are afforded that right.
Pucci says the DA’s office could have initiated a basic criminal prosecution investigation.
“You contact Williams College. You ask them for their reports and interviews of the victims. If they don’t want to give them to you, you issue a grand jury subpoena,” he said. “The district attorney in Berkshire County has a grand jury standing and available. They issue a simple piece of paper to Williams, Williams gives them the name of the victims, and then they do the basics. The basics are laid out in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security guidelines for sexual assault investigations.”
Great post, Police Report.
Have recently decided to move my business to Planet. Just completely fed up with Eagle and the other so called ‘journalists’. I will say I misjudged Mr. Valenti. Impressed with how solid his inside info is. Also, great writer to boot.
Great letter to the editor in today’s Eagle by Maggie Smith regarding bonehead Bouvier’s bill to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens.
The only thing not mentioned in her letter is that when drivers licenses are issued in MA., so is a voter registration form. Another ploy to give voting privileges to non- citizens.
A recall should be started to throw TFB out of office. She has continually voted for new taxes and legislative pay increases. Just another politician sucking at the pump.
There will be no recall. Bouvier is a heroine to the far left. She is doing their bidding. It was about voting all along. They make it out to be all about helping illegal immigrants, but it’s about helping the far left at the ballot box.
The far left politicians are no longer listening to the people. They take their orders directly from their far left masters here and in Boston. Give them even more power as in one is elected President in 2020, and they will literally be telling us all to shut up and sit down. Make our sacrifices all in the name of climate change and be good comrades.
Non citizens cannot vote in federal elections. Non-citizens May vote in local or state elections if allowed by law.
Shakes,
While you are correct that non-citizens cannot vote in federal elections – in reality, it happens.
https://www.newsmax.com/TomFitton/aliens-fraud-illegal-voter/2017/01/30/id/771123/
https://www.facebook.com/PittsfieldCommunity/videos/545988266144473/?multi_permalinks=1113624432181349¬if_id=1567867528815343¬if_t=group_activity
Let’s hear it from Linda
All is well. Everything is vibrant and dynamic and the economic engines are firing on all eight cylinders. Oh and we’re collaborating like never before. And I never said what I said even though there are audio and video recordings.
Dan, looks like you’re on the shores of Lake Kasasa .
I wonder if making treatment available to addicts is more important to DA Andrea Harrington or does she still want to offer shooting galleries where junkies can shoot up in comfort and be medically supervised. Every dollar spent to facilitate illegal drug use equals approximately 4.6 dollars needed for treatment. Is it in the best interest of women and mothers who are in recovery to spend money on treatment or spend money on facilitating criminal behavior?
Another frightening trend, as the deaths from opioid abuse go down in MA (mostly due to reversal drugs, not treatment programs) deaths from opioids has gone UP in western MA.
How can DA Andrea Harrington want to jump on the bandwagon to sue pharmaceutical companies, then in the same breath suggest the State or Local government facilitate illegal drug use?
How can she recommend diverting money for recovery to money for continued abuse?
PITTSFIELD — Dr. Kathleen Sheridan was at a national gynecology convention in 2017 when she shared with colleagues the rate of babies born in Berkshire County who are exposed to opioids.
The room went quiet.
That rate, 82 per 1,000 babies born at Berkshire Health Systems, was about four times the state average and 10 times the national average, said Sheridan, an OB-GYN with BHS.
That number has since grabbed the attention of state and community leaders, agencies and health care providers, who have joined forces to ensure that these babies and their moms are getting the services and care they need to thrive.
I believe in New Hampshire the state runs the liquor stores. Why does not the state of Mass. just run all the pot stores and keep all the profit and taxes?
Because cannabis is a Schedule I drug as per 21 U.S.C. §813 and 21 U.S.C. §802(32)(A).
If the State engaged in selling what is a Federally prohibited drug, I’d suspect we would lose all federal funding for the State and it would open up a can of worms over state sovereignty.
In NH there are privately owned stores that have a Liquor Agency License but not many of them.
And exactly what is the logic in giving illegal aliens a drivers license? Do they take a test? Do they go to a driving school? Can they read or write English and understand signs? Will someone make sure they purchase insurance?
And seriously how do you know who the person even is if they migrate from say Columbia? Can we access real driving records or birth records from their home country to prove they are who they say they are?
I am actually in favor of immigration and helping people assimilate but there needs to be some boundaries.
The theory is, after entering the country illegally, those here legally will seek to comply with all the other laws of this country.
They will be able to produce documentation sufficient to secure a license. They will voluntarily pay for a license, have their information entered into a government system.
They will then get insurance and register their vehicles and obey all traffic laws, you know because they didn’t enter the country illegally or anything.
A better approach, they should require real ID’s to buy a car.
There should be a waiting period for a car purchase, like 3-5 days, background checks should be run on anyone buying a car.
Bouvier says we must help those to get a license for their needs. It’s only fair.
Thanks for Mayor Mazzeo being prepared and having great energy.Ex Mayor Tyer ran on crime in 2016
Patriots will hacpve a tough fight tomorrow night,but don’t fret after watching Bill-jets and Miami,they have zero worries. Bills really stink.
They all run on crime,that is the crime.
Dear Dan,
We hope you enjoyed your vacation.While you were out someone in the DA’s office won a case. I know, right? It happened after the defendant shot himself in the foot. Even a blind hog gets an acorn, as they say.
Sadly, said DA ruined her employee’s win by putting out a false statement that the defendant wanted to go to trial when she did not. Then she used it to politically attack her predecessors. In business as usual, the BB ran her statement without talking to anyone else. Luckily, PoliceReport was on the job to get us some facts. I’m sure there’s more. Glad to have you back!
OD in the Walmart men’s bathroom yesterday, 4 police cars, one fire engine, one ambulance and one ALS bus.
Illegal drug use costs the city tens of thousands of dollars in resources, divert an understaffed police department, police officers and first responders from mission critical work to support and save a junkie who will just do it again.
This will only be compounded by DA Andrea Harrington’s plan to provide safe and government funded locations for junkies to shoot up. When those facilities are closed for the evening, do you think junkies won’t get their fix?
As the top law enforcement officer in Berkshire County it’s unconscionable and contrary to her job to suggest facilitating, aiding and abetting illegal drug use. Worse still DA Andrea Harrington wants to use taxpayer funds to do it.
She wants to divert funds from treatment to facilitate continued drug use. What’s next, selling confiscated heroin out of the evidence rooms? Will she suggest police deal drugs?
DA Andrea Harrington is tough on crime as long it’s a criminal enterprise she doesn’t support or endorse.
DA Andrea Harrington the Drug Addicts partner in crime.
I don’t see a problem. The shoot up zones could be combined with autozones and dunkin donuts…..maybe we could have a greylock or berk bank too. I see an economic engine on the horizon.