SALT OF THE EARTH POURS DOWN ON CAPITOL HILL, PITTSFIELD’S DPW BUDGET, ROADS, & TAXPAYERS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
[ED. NOTE: To inaugurate our updated site, THE PLANET will be publishing daily through the rest of the week. Today is one of the bonus columns. Make sure you tune into F this week then M-T (Election Day). It’s our way of again thanking our readers for building this site into the region’s most “traffic-y.”
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY OCT. 31, 2019) — Salt. It’s as old as humanity and as common as crime.
Salt. Jesus makes clever references to the mineral in his parables. Inquisitional nasties used it as a Vaporub to sharpen tortuous wounds. Cities including Pittsfield use it to keep roads safe in the winter.
Today THE PLANET writes about these two uses of salt. First, the Inquisitional kind employed by Democrats looking to impeach the President because of a phone call to the Ukraine, even though they know they can never convict. The effort, though, isn’t about conviction. It’s about the November 2020 election.
President Trump asked “Where’s the whistleblower,” referring to the State Department source — a known Trump hater — who made the claims. Great question, Mr. President. Where IS the dude? It’s been nearly six weeks since this informer blew on Trump’s call to the Ukrainian president. Congressional committees have called a phalanx of witnesses since, everyone from Gen. Tom Thumb to Marshall Mathers as the Beaver. The one person We The People have not seen, heard, or even known by moniker is the person who started this latest “gotcha!”
From ABC News:
In a letter on Wednesday [10/23/19] to [House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam] Schiff, Reps. Jim Jordan, Devin Nunes and Michael McCaul said they were surprised by [the] announcement that they will not receive testimony from the “anonymous intelligence community employee whose complaint initiated the so-called impeachment inquiry.”
“You had earlier committed that the employee would provide ‘unfiltered’ testimony ‘very soon,’ only to reverse course following revelations that the employee had a bias against President Donald Trump and that you had received a secret, early account of the allegations,” the letter from the ranking members of the oversight, intelligence and foreign affairs committees said. “As the so-called impeachment inquiry gathers information that contradicts the employee’s allegations, we ask that you arrange for the Committees to receive public testimony from the employee and all individuals he or she relied upon in formulating the complaint.”
Sen. Richard Burr … claimed the whistleblower’s attorneys are not cooperating with his own panel’s inquiry.
“This is a very serious charge the whistleblower has made,” Burr, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday. “I cannot envision a scenario where we would not want not want to have legal counsel staff talk with the whistleblower in person.” Burr, who said the Senate committee had specifically asked the individual for an interview, said the lawyers “haven’t even offered to make them available. They haven’t been specific as to their reason,” Burr said, later adding he didn’t know “how to put into context the whistleblower’s claim. I’ve read the transcript. Is that a high crimes and misdemeanors, the conversation that went on? I don’t see it.” he said.
The refusal of Democrats to produce a tattler known to have a bias against Trump pours salt into the open wound of government — cynical, divisional, dysfunctional government.
The second salt is road salt. In Pittsfield, last year’s MILD winter mysteriously produced a salt-budget deficit of millions. Why so much salt for so little winter? Mr. Clutch, a DPW employee source, says some “play-ball” plow jockeys were told to “keep the chutes open,” instructed to dump their loads off-road. This agrees with a then-puzzling complaint we received earlier this year (in winter) about a load of salt dumped off outer East Street.
Clutch (no relation to Clutch Cargo) says salt was dumped on roads needlessly, in rain and after-plowing clean-ups, in a plan designed to produced what he called “the big payoff” in the form of Mayor Linda Tyer’s FY21 budget: An extra $2.5 million for salt. At least, the line item ostensibly will be for salt. We think here of the classic tool of investigative reporters and muckrakers going back to Bierce and Mencken: Follow the money. The rumor mill, as ever, is rife with tales of bribes, kickbacks, cash-filled envelopes, mysterious exchanges, and back rooms. While this case admittedly provides a speculative basis for such bantering, THE PLANET has seen no hard evidence for it. Of course, as soon as we try to probe more deeply and word gets out, everybody gets deaf and dumb.
There are certain things official Pittsfield can’t seem to do these past four years. Parking, anyone? The other is reasonably handling city streets in winter. This year, when the first 1/100th inch of snow falls and you see the plows sparking the asphalt laying down a thick layer of Morton’s, remember the motto: “When it rains, it pours.”
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“One touch of nature and the world is kin” — William Shakespeare.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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One other item, how many days was it cold enough for the salt to melt the ice? Something doesn’t add up.
Prove salt wasn’t laid down on snow or bare roads during rain, you can’t. If there was hanky panky good luck proving it. Methinks there was.
Great observation, DUTCH. Let’s see, from high school physics: When you put salt in water, it eventually melts into the liquid. You might say that salt and water are “collaborative” … “dynamic,” too, but not “vibrant.”
Trump is innocent until proven guilty. Let all of the evidence come out during the impeachment process.
Per Pittsfield politics, the lovely Linda Tyer is not that bad! She inherited a mess.
Tyer inherited the mess from MMaz’s Clowncil presidency.
How much power/influence does the council president have? Someone in here tried to say that MelMazz was council president during the great snow plow debacle under Mayor Bianchi.
Seems like almost all of the power in this town in vested in the mayor.
Vote MelMazz for a change in office.
History Tonight. Nats Winn all four road games..
Loved it. I think that’s the only time the home team, either side, did not win a single game.
Are you going back to 1791 with that stat?
HAM
As we know, the most significant year in Pittsfield’s history!
“There are certain things official Pittsfield can’t seem to do these past 4 years? “
You mean like safe streets, proper fiscal management, and safe schools? Parking is just the cherry on the salt pile, speaking of which, is it the honor system with these subcontractors or is someone watching the rock candy store?
If the republicans did to Obama, half of what the dems have done to Trump, the mainstream media would have cried racism and cried foul . Trumps the duly elected POTUS and the ballot box is the remedy for change. We are supposed to be a democracy for cryin out loud.
Trump used 400 million as his blackmail for Ukraine to dig something up on the Biden family.The Ukraine needed it to defend against Russia…..well what do you know.It is impeachable.
Stop being so negative Dan and stop picking on Linda. Just because she blamed Bianchi 4 years ago doesn’t mean she’s responsible now, and besides we’re vibrant and dynamic and a city on the move, haven’t you heard?
You forgot “collaborative.” Pittsfield is “vibrant, dynamic, and collaborative.”
Yes siree. The GOBSIGs are collaborating to give us Kapanskis a vibrant and dymanic screwing!
And a “collaborative” one.
Funny you should mention that. Two Tyer puppet candidates were identified in today’s LsTE as collaborators . Collaborative is the new vibrant and dynamic buzzword that Tyer loves.
Don’t forget “bold, new vision” for the Berkhire Museum which has been reduced to a sandbox!
Taking bets:
1. Even money that the House brings any article of impeachment to the floor for a vote, maybe even never get into and out of the House Judiciary Committee.
2. Even money that Biden drops out before Iowa.
Vegas is giving odds that Putins girlfriend will be picking out new furniture for the Whitehouse by this time next year.
Yes, Absurd, that is absurd.
But easy to forget that the Left’s game all along has been to try to shame Trump into resigning, which ain’t going to happen.
Only possible way to get the most powerful man in the world to give up his office voluntarily is if he doesn’t have the votes in the US Senate and is facing certain conviction and removal, as I’ve repeated reminded you about Nixon’s case.
I mean, the arrogance of these people–“We’re so important and smart that we can get the guy to resign.” Not so smart, after all.
perhaps, but that may not change the strong possibility that Putin may decide to change the Whitehouse décor to his own liking. The Americans may not be able to remove Trump but when Putin packs Trumps shit up and tosses it outside the Whitehouse fence Trump will know he better get to steppin
Trumps allowed to defend himself.This is what he wanted.He will never lose the cult believers
The new white house furniture is all vinyl. Easier to klean up comrades’ golden showers
Two informed and intelligent posts . . .
We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities – Thomas Paine.
kinda puts to-day’s Eagle endorsement of Pittsfield’s mayor into perspective!
The Eagle has never, in recent memory endorsed Mrs. Mazzeo however she wins without it. The most prolific endorsement for MMazz , ironically is the ubiquitous endorsements of her opponent by Mr.s Marquis and Melle.
BTW, speaking of “Crybabies”, have you heard the one about the UMass student from Lanesborough who sued his professor in federal court because he earned a C and he wanted an A ? Although this student is a self proclaimed legal professional; he lost. The lawyers lounges in Springfield still ring with laughter about this case.
Again, I’m forced to address this decades-old issue. For yours and everyone else’s info: I won that case; University lawyers ceded with a middle ground comprise; instead of an A- (which I earned outta the box), we comprised on a B. And I am not a “self-proclaimed legal professional”. I do have a bachelor’s in Legal Studies and in Paralegal Studies – if that helps. along with a couple of advanced degrees and an associate’s from BCC. But thank you for pointing out my lawsuit to Dan’s audience. In case (pardon the pun) you’re interested, I can hold my own when my interest conflict with others – only when required too!
Oh, by the way, I happened to catch a glimpse of Tom Bowler in Pittsfield District Court yesterday. Interesting, because he went into an emotionless glare when our eyes met; this, of course, came about after he finished (tightly) embracing a female court officer (not his wife); if looks could kill, though, I’d probably be six-feet under by now. Such a standup guy, our county sheriff.
And for the record: I’ve been known to exercise my male imperatives by displaying a well-deserved crybaby side. I also whine when necessary, and growl when threatened. After all, I am me!!
And that’s the bottom-line!!
BCM
“And for the record: I’ve been known to exercise my male imperatives by displaying a well-deserved crybaby side. I also whine when necessary …” I appreciate wit, especially when it’s martini-dry!
Gotta love it, Dan!
Damn “Crybabies”. How dare they sue!! . . .
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/18/14-more-rejected-students-file-class-action-suit-against-universities-mastermind-admissions-scheme/1489550001/
I almost forgot to thank Dan for yesterday’s needed perspective on what pub school teachers face, a perspective sorely needed in here, as I have tried to offer myself.
You offered a good one, Icky. Thanks.
A serial sex offender walked free in Great Barrington yesterday. What is the record of the district attorney’s office under Harrington?
This is disgraceful.
During the At-Large debates, Earl Persip said that the council deliberately underfunds that line item (which is allowed by the state). Did I hear that correctly and if so, why would this be the practice?
PHIL
Yes, that was an interesting comment. Now, all your sleuths, why would a city knowingly do that?
An interesting observation – I’ve been taking a look at Facebook reactions and comments. A couple of “notable” Pittsfield insiders shared the BE article endorsing Tyer for mayor. The interesting part is the LACK of likes on their post. Now this could be due to Facebook’s audience algorithms, or timing, or whatever. But these are people that usually get close to or over hundreds of likes on other posts they share…
Could be nothing…could be telling…
A favorite quote posted here…”if lawn signs could vote…”
This is going to be real interesting. I feel like a ton of the support Mazzeo is going to get doesn’t sit on Facebook all day. I also found it interesting the turnouts between both campaigns during their respective fundraisers. Mazzeo packed Berkshire Hills… seriously line out the door… and Tyer had a small handful of tables at the legion, mainly filled with the usually political insiders….
As soon as one of them reads your comment there will be a robo call going out and Tyers soldiers will be giving thumbs ups galore.
Funny you should mention this, JA. Word is out from our spies that Team Tyer has told its people to click on thumbs down for stories on PV they don’t like. I think the are beginning to read the handwriting on the wall.
I was talking to Pat Kavey in Ward five and he was telling me some thoughts that sounded old school,concerning the basic ward duties,like policing neighborhoods,better roads, issues that have taken way to long to address, amongst other things. He stated that there would be no way he would take a raise in Council pay like the one Lothrop championed himself, that was shot down by the way.
The biggest thing I took from his conversation is his business and leadership acumen. Ward Five has an impressive future leader if elected. Give him a look or talk to him,you will be impressed
Dan,have you noticed everyone on tyers administration needs job,but everyone on team Mazzeo has one. As a property owner I’m under siege with the assessment hikes,the water rates kill us.The property owners of multiple toilets will take a bath. I can’t charge the tenants higher rent, they can’t afford it either, and half of them are in and out or don’t pay,plus renovations and heat,another killer? But you give millions in forgiveness to millionaires and shut off hydrants in neighborhoods ? Of course city employees don’t mind paying taxes and good old boys they get benefits from their jobs.
That’s where i saw the Mayor’s phone number.
A good reason to dispense with the thumbs up/down folderol altogether, no?
just till Tuesday night
For all the taxpayers out there…. Here is how your hard earned tax dollars are being used. A city employee with a history of social media use promoting a candidate during the work day… at it again….
“Roberta Mcculloch-dews -Khan Marquis – you are not a resident of this community nor do you work in – Pittsfield. Yes, it is true I live in Hinsdale. That just happened to be the place where we found our home. However, my entire social and professional life is in Pittsfield. I have been a member of Price Memorial AME ZION church on Linden Street for the last nine years. Two of my children attend Pittsfield Public Schools. I am a part of a mentoring program, the Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program, which serves a great deal of Pittsfield young women. So please inform your self of all the facts before you try to publicly shame folks.”
HEN
Thanks for sharing this with us. Most revealing.
Just like Teamsters Local 404 endorsing her. Many of the employees had no vote nor did they know about the endorsement taking place… not to mention half these guys are from Springfield. Wonder where that $2 million over budget ended up… sounds like its in their pockets
PT
That’s the joke about union endorsements. The rank-n-file know little to nothing about it and have no say in who gets it. Typically, the endorsement comes from the personal prejudices of union bosses and for reasons the faint of heart would be better off not knowing. And we all know how politically honest and forthright the Teamsters have been historically.
I cannot understand for the life of me why otherwise seemingy-perfectly reasonable people continue to shill for this president, or how they justify it. Regardless of the whistleblower’s identity, which needs to be protected, or their “personal bias” against Trump which is a complete, concocted lie, do you support what Trump did? The “claims”, and cause for deep alarm, have been corroborated by several others already, including Taylor and Vindman who are beyond reproach, and also historically profoundly Republican. EVERYONE was distressed, at some level, by what transpired on that call, and in the hasty cover-up that ensued. Is what he did impeachable? Well that’s what the process is for. Impeach the SOB and let’s get on with it. I find his conduct in this, and many other regards, indefensible. But his impeachment is NOT a coup attempt. It is the constitution working as intended. The Republicans still supporting Trump are now eating their own young; cannibalizing the likes of Taylor and Vindman who, according to National Review, a Conservative voice, “A short while ago, men such as Robert Mueller, William Taylor, and Alexander Vindman would have been pin-ups for (us) American conservatives: decorated combat veterans; patriots; straight arrows. The urge to prop up Trump changed all of this. A heartbreaking and infuriating era.”
#1 – no one is beyond reproach
#2 – did you read the transcript of the call? What exactly did Trump do to deserve impeachment??
#3 – why should a “whistleblower’s” identity be kept secret? Turns out he is a CIA Dem plant placed in the White House by Brennan
#4 – not a coup? Where have you been, living under a rock? The Dems have been trying to overturn the election for three years! The problem is, they have no reason to impeach!
#5 – President Trump has committed NO CRIME!
#6 – Biden has violated the Hobbs Act, a felony, for his actions in Ukraine! He’s the one who should be investigated!
G, turn off CNN!
I read a heavily redacted partial transcript. What he did was to use money approved by Congress to blackmail Ukraine officials into digging up dirt o a domestic political opponent. Do you know the identity of the whistleblower? Who told you he was a Democrat plant? Everyone ON the call was a Republican and many of them were horrified enough by what transpired on the call, enough so to do something career-risking. An impeachment is definitively NOT a coup. It is a constitutionally provided method for remedying serious criminal breaches by the chief executive. And if you dont like blackmail or seeking foreign intervention in a domestic election as grounds for impeachment, how about war crimes…like looting (“we’re keeping the oil, $45 million a month”!) Or violation of emoluments? The man is a crook, a penny ante gangster who has tarnished the US reputation perhaps irreparably. His own party is disgusted and fed up too. What Biden did or didn’t do has no bearing on Impeachment. Just about everything remaining Trump supporters say to refute are made up, discredited conspiracy theories. Hannity is not helping your knowledge base.
You read “ a heavily redacted partial transcript” from which you have decided Trump should be impeached??
You’re worse than most mainstream journalists. Come back to the discussion when you’ve read the transcript word for word!
You do realize the impeachment process is the trial, right? He’ll now have his due process, and it will be interesting to see how many Senate Republicans grow a spine and follow their conscience rather than the money Trump throws at them…which by the way is another impeachable offense in my book; in any ethical person’s book.
On the local side, I do not see how Tyer can possibly hang on, but I dont believe Mazzeo will bring any significant change.
To help bring Mr. G up to speed;
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2019/10/30/nolte-dem-star-impeachment-witness-vindman-confirms-trump-did-nothing-wrong/
And really gigi? A Breitbart take on Vindman’s testimony accusing him of wrongdoing and chicanery in the first 2 sentences?!? Please. As I said, the Republicans are eating their young, denigrating war heroes, accusing highly respected REPUBLICAN experts of wrongdoing and calling anyone who is against Trump human scum instead of being honest with themselves.
Let’s hear the tape.
Great column today Dan. Looking forward to the “ one-a-day” program – you are spoiling us!
In regards to the Dem witchhunt, President Trump has committed no crimes. Quid Pro Quo Joe Biden, on the other hand, is on video openly violating the Hobbs Act which could result in a 20 year sentence in the slammer. When will the inquiry begin into the Bidens?
In regards to the mayoral election – where is the inquiry into the millions “lost” by the DPW? We need an audit! Mayor Tyer should be held accountable for this loss during her time in office.
She would rather you do not bring this up sir, especially at election time. Also, the Stanley giveaway for his failing Beacon theater or her failing school system and other tax breaks given to friendly business s. (the ones she and they absolutely want kept secret) But if you only knew!
Dan,
You called it on The Eagle’s endorsement weeks ago. Spot on. If the Berkshire Birdcage Liner’s endorsement of Tyer goes the way of their other endorsements in competitive races, Tyer is toast. The only time this rag gets it right is when the candidate is unopposed or the incumbent’s opponent is total crackpot.
Deacon….What was more probable the Nats winning the four on the road? Or neither team winning at home?
Hey Dan, was I redacted? Or did my quote from the National Review trigger your spam filter?
MR G
Nope. You have never been redacted. It’s just the random element of our firewall and security.
The Berkshire Eagle endorsed the lovely Linda Tyer because she is the best Mayor of Pittsfield, EVER! I am endorsing the lovely Linda Tyer, too!
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that cancelling Halloween was Mayor Tyer’s proverbial nail in the coffin. The natives are restless in the land of social media and they are out for blood. How ironic.
(Yes, I realize most of them probably won’t vote, but it still is an interesting twist.)
In other news, has anyone heard of a big layoff at LTI Smartglass? I’m still trying to ascertain what qualifies as “big” but I hear they let go at least ten people yesterday with more to come.
Again, still trying to get the full story. I imagine it’s possible that this is seasonal, but one person I spoke to said this hasn’t happened in years.
PHIL
I have heard from a lot of angry folks, especially from those with kids. For sure this will not help Team Tyer.
Just curious, did the Eagle endorse LT when she ran against DB for mayor?
Does a bear poop in the woods?
Yes. Quite a few noteworthy lines from 4 years ago….
Our Opinion: Linda Tyer for mayor of Pittsfield
Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2015 4:26 pm
The Berkshire Eagle
If Pittsfield is to successfully confront its challenges over the next four years while moving forward as a community, a team effort based upon openness and mutual respect will be required. For that to happen, there must be new leadership in City Hall.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi is certainly not unskilled. His financial acumen is proven, his budgets are on time and well-defended, and the tax increases he has proposed have been justified. He would be a good city manager.
As a leader, however, he has fallen short, and those failings are rooted in his defensiveness and intolerance of disagreement. Ward Councilor Bianchi regularly challenged mayors but councilors who challenge him are written off as dissidents, creating a destructive divide in city government.
Moving City Hall basement offices to 100 North Street and changing the health insurer for city workers weren’t necessarily bad ideas but in doing them unilaterally the mayor shut off the legislative branch of government and by extension those who voted for their city councilors. A needless change of leadership at BerkshireWorks resulted in a disastrous hire and discord in an important agency. These and other unforced errors created problems for a city that should be solving the problems it has.
The mayor’s routine playing of the blame game in relation to city issues has heightened during the campaign. The portrayal of Ms. Tyer and her supporters as an evil cabal by the mayor’s allies is insulting. Tyer advocates, like the supporters of Mayor Bianchi, want what they believe is best for the city they care about.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER THESE ADS
The lack of transparency in the Bianchi administration is exemplified by the near absence of press conferences during his tenure. Instead there is a needless and restrictive press policy that puts a wall between the mayor and the people he is elected to serve.
While Mayor Bianchi is quick to point fingers at his predecessors and political foes he is equally quick to credit himself with their initiatives, with the new Taconic High School serving as the best example. The mayor opposed the plan at its roots when he was a city councilor, and while his support as mayor was welcome, jumping on the bandwagon does not constitute leadership.
As a Ward 3 city councilor, Linda Tyer was a strong backer of the progressive initiatives, like the Colonial Theatre and Streetscape, that Mr. Bianchi opposed or signed onto belatedly. Her work on the blight problem in the ward lends credence to the anti-blight effort that has been a key part of her campaign.
As city clerk, an office that is connected to all facets of city government, she and her employees have earned high marks for efficiency and transparency. The brief controversy over the scheduling of the preliminary election on Yom Kippur ignited by the mayor proved to be revealing of Ms. Tyer’s methodology, as it turned out she had done her homework, contacted relevant parties, and made a well-reasoned decision.
We hope voters will not subscribe to scare tactics about the alleged financial burden of Ms. Tyer’s proposals. Some are short-term, others are long-term, some may qualify for state grants and there is no reason to believe any will be embarked upon irresponsibly. The new Taconic, paid for primarily with state money, is the kind of program we would expect Ms. Tyer to support – from the ground up — because they are necessary investments in a city that will stagnate if it is not progressing.
We would also expect Ms. Tyer to welcome differing opinions and not write off anyone who disagrees with her as a life-long enemy. Pittsfield confronts tangible problems like crime, job creation and education funding, and intangible ones, such as defeatism and cynicism. Ms. Tyer’s positive, transparent approach will enable Pittsfield to take on all of its problems and challenges cohesively in the four years ahead. The Eagle endorses Linda Tyer for mayor.