IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN … PITTSFIELD HAS ‘FALLEN FOR IT’ ON BREWERY GIVEAWAY
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 6-8, 2020) — Roll call, Doctor, partial and not in order if you will:
- Beacon Cinema — Money loser. $2.3 million debt forgiven.
- Spice Restaurant — Failed.
- Hotel On North — In the red 10 months of the year. Too expensive for locals.
- EV Worldwide — Failed.
- Nuclea — Failed.
- J. Allen’s — Failed.
- WorkshopLive — Failed.
- Hudpuckers — Failed.
- The BIC — Initially budgeted at $3 million. Came in at $13 million.
- EMA — HQ in Colorado, jury out.
- Wayfair — Hemorrhaging money, shedding employees.
- Dews’ Cigar Bar — Up in smoke, yeah?
- The wine bar on West Street — Failed.
- Brûlées — Failed.
- The Brewery — Failed.
- The Howard Building — On life support.
- St. Mary’s of the Star project — “Affordable” housing. Cost to taxpayers: At least $10 million.
Do you see the pattern of this partial list? These were or are all supposedly private companies (or worse, the dreaded public-private partnership where the public takes the risk and the loss if it fails) to whom and to which Pittfield’s alleged “leaders” opened the public treasury.
Each of these enterprises were given Kapanski Kash in the hundreds of thousands up to the multimillions. Return on Investment? Let’s put it this way: If you were putting your own dough into these businesses, you’d now be on the corner of Fenn and North hawking pencils. Even there you wouldn’t stand a chance. You’d either be mugged by the booming drug trade or you would lack foot traffic 0f the civilized kind. If you want foot traffic, try Cumbies on First Street, preferably at 3 a.m.
You would think with this dismally disastrous record, the mayor and city council would be hesitant in the extreme going down that potholed road again.
But noooooooooooo!!!!! as Steve Martin used to say in his standup days.
To quote Yogi, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
The Lovely Linda and Her Merry Band of Stooges just approved $150,000 to give the owner of yet another of these fly-by-nighters. Just what littered North Street needs next the the cinema where customers show up as empty seats — another brewery and tap room. If it fails, as nearly every other business in that particular location, The Kapanskis are out again. If it succeeds, more drunks on North Street.
What could go wrong?
More beer! Set-em up, Timmy. Drinks are on Mary Jane and Joe, even though they are tee-totalers.
THE PLANET has heard the moans of “Oh no, not again!” from numerous people both on this board and off. They make the fair point. If the investor-entrepreneur of this latest House of Suds says he will pour $1.7 million of his own dough into the building and business, why give him $150,000? The ever-more-lost mayor and her clueless council, however, see that as the very reason to approve! It’s “only” 11% of the total. Yeah, and how many potholes could be repaired for that money? Or how about putting the $150,000 into Kufflink Kerwood’s $10 million “slush fund?” Better still, maybe give it back the The Kapanskis in the form of lower taxes.
This latest giveaway comes at a perilous time for the City of Pittsfield.
- The State Legislature will be putting in a tax hike for FY2021. Tricia Farley-County-Buffet, Sen. Heinz (s-l-o-w), and the rest of the Berkshire delegation will eagerly step in line with the party bosses.
- Lady Boots Yon and the Pittsfield School Committee just gave Supt. JIV $400,000 (not counting bennies) to hire five SPED “coordinators. Can you spell “corrupt?”
- Water rates will be skyrocketing. Consider a 40% increase fortunate.
- A half million in back taxes were just forgiven for the dump, aka the former Arace dealership, on outer Route 20. You try getting away with that with your personal taxes, and the Gestapo will be on you faster than a crawdad on a breadcrumb.
Again, this is just a partial list.
By the bye, someone asked how much money the Lee select board gave the brewery that opened up there. Answer: $0.00.
We would have asked The Lovely Linda for comment, but we’re letting her cool off and compose herself. She’s in hiding, you see, from honest questioning. We “got” to her.
THE PLANET, though … We are the forgiving type. Our door is always open.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
————————————————————
“When I think, I’m praying. When I use words, it’s an act of politics” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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US Census, Massachusetts office at least, totally incompetent in hiring people and scheduling training. Seem to have trouble leaving a voicemail or using email to contact you, after they said you’re hired and you go through all the red tape to fill out all the forms and go to Springfield for fingerprinting.
I guess you’re supposed to wait by your phone, after you’ve put US Census in your call waiting list (no one said to do this before the fact) and then call right back.
So what they tell you have you confirm two or three times means nothing, apparently.
Give you a training date but don’t stick to it. Move it again. Will that one hold?
Good enough for government work, I guess.
With that kind of incompetence, can we trust then to actually count people in the US? Or just make up the numbers according to the “funding” you want your political cronies to receive.
Same screw-in, different mayor and council. Absolutely shameful. Tyer and every councilor who approved this should be ashamed of themselves.
Eff you Kapanskis.
Don’t support this brewery or the Beacon. You already did, Have a nice dinner and drink at The Highland and watch a movie on your couch. Highland doesn’t get city handouts and has great food and drink. Support business like that.
Exactly, and how long has a place like The Highland been in business in Pittsfield? There are many other eateries, shops, etc that have long standing roots in Pittsfield that get 0 help. Instead, we give those places the proverbial screw you by surrounding them with competition that is funded by the taxpayer.
I would also love an explanation as to how they are going to fill 30 positions. Go to some of the most popular breweries in Massachusetts and you find a small dedicated group of brewers and a small PT staff of bartenders and runners.
Again, PLEASE support the longstanding businesses in Pittsfield that haven’t mooched off the taxpayer.
Great point, HEN. The Highland has been going since the early 1930s, all on their own. Just like I ran my business from beautiful downtown Pittsfield for 28 years. We employed more than 70 people over those years, with millions in payroll, and always on time with our taxes. From day one, when I started in a windowless one-room office in what was then call the El-Glo Mall (now Crawford Square), I NEVER asked for one cent in public money. Did it all with my own wits and my own dough.
The Highland has also given great portions for what you pay. I have never walked away hungry.
The Bloody Mary cocktail @ Highland is tops. Great cuisine ~ agreed.
And don’t forget the cream pies and the great coffee. I recommend chocolate cream or coconut cream or Boston cream or banana cream.
Did Barry get any K Kash for the pot shop?
Don’t know but us Kapanskis need some K Y
Bonnie and Clyde would commend this mayor for her achievements. Barnum and Bailey would welcome her under their circus tent. And Sunbeam would name a toaster after her for her efforts at making the city of Pittsfield toast.
It’s all over except the funeral people. She is getting out her gold shovel to throw dirt over us.
Many folks think this a “political blog”. However Dan has stated in the past that he does this to sharpen his writing skills. Like muscles, if you don’t use them, you lose them. Just like your mind. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” – United Negro College Fund
Dan has become so proficient at putting words together so as to topple empires.
Remember the mystery photo contests from the newspaper in the past? As a child, I’ve always enjoyed the, there are at least six differences between these pictures cartoon challenges. They got you closely examine what you were looking at.
In the spirit of bringing more value to Dan’s columns I will post a picture. Feel free to comment on what you think it shows. It may be helpful to take a fresh look and use your own eyesight instead of what you were told this is.
This is in line with politics as this is on so many Government Buildings, especially in Washington DC.
You don’t have to take any oaths. Just look, see. What do you see?
The Masons have their fingerprints in every part of our institutions in America.
Free Masons
0100110101100001011100110110111101101110.
PIES ARE SQUARE
PLUM, FLUSH & LEVEL
3
3 3 3
CC
Excellent distinction. This is NOT a “political blog.” This started out as a writing exercise. It’s still some of that, plus a huge dose of what I consider my form of good citizenship and public service: Using my communication skills to help ordinary people (i.e., Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski) get some of the information that would otherwise be hidden from them. Look, they KNOW they’re getting screwed. That’s one thing. Getting bits of the verse and chapter is another. Who knows where it might lead? Dare we say “regime change?”
And your ten times better than what Stooge is feeding them over at p c t.
The STOOGE and his “Polish Princess” both have City of Pittsfield pensions. Retired on the PUBLIC TROUGH.
I believe Mrs. Sturgeon is on the state pension plan and Mr Sturgeon does receive a City pension. I receive SS so I guess I’m at the public trough also.
If you paid into SS, you are not at the public trough. It is your money that you are getting back and a smaller percentage of it as well.
Yes. I love the concept. Big Brother Fed steals from your legit paycheck every week of your working life. For decades, if you work that long, Big Brother uses that money for all sorts of things, not all of them good. Then it comes time to get it back. You do — YOUR money in the first place, as our good friend MARK has pointed out — but then you get taxed on it. When the mob does the same thing to a business, they call it a shakedown.
Well, apparently my answer will not be published. Posted it last night at midnight. Thought it had to go through Dan’s filters first but he’s been on and the comments are still blocked. You know you are over the target when you are censored.
Hello Dan Valenti, Would you please tell me how I can start yet another business doomed to fail in Pittsfield so I can receive a couple hundred thousand dollars, too, from Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski? Should I donate to the Lovely Linda campaign? Should I buy Kufflinks Kerwood a nice lunch out? Should I buy a painting from The Berkshire Museum? Thank you in advance for your consulting advice. Best wishes, Jonathan Melle
JM,
Your not in the GOB Club . You and your dad were chased out of Pittsfield ,No tax breaks for you.
(Sarcasm): Last Christmas (2019), I received happy holidays cards from Jimmy Ruberto, Carmen Massimiano, ________, Angelo Stracuzzi, Gerry Doyle, Peter Larkin, Smitty Pignatelli, Daniel Bosley, Linda Tyer and Barry Clairmont, and Matt Kerwood. I also dunked a basketball. I also won the state lottery jackpot.
JONATHAN
Campaign donations, buying free lunches, and buying artwork are all good ideas. They have worked for others, so why not you? Also, kiss up as much as you can, go to all their fundraisers, check all self-worth and human dignity at the door, prepare to grovel and lie … and you may have a shot.
I was thinking of opening a casino in Pittsfield. My business plan is to give gamblers $100 each from the GE economic development fund for the first 30 days. If the gamblers win, they can keep their $100 gift from Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Do you think the Lovely Linda and Kufflinks Kerwood would go for it?
I sure hope you do not offend anybody by offering a kickback. that is a no no in PIttsfield.
(Sarcasm): I asked State House Lobbyists Peter Larkin and Daniel Bosley about that. Peter Larkin advised me to donate heavily to the Lovely Linda’s campaign, while Daniel Bosley told me to give high paying casino jobs to Kufflink Kerwood’s family and friends. BUT, I had to pay Lobbyist Larkin and Bureaucrat Bosley a pretty sum.
“I will post the answer on SUNday”. “You can read it in the Sunday Papers” – Joe Jackson (Look Sharp)
The prize. The prize is knowledge / No Ledge
No ledge to fall from into the pit. Or field of Pitts as the case may be.
Pay for brewery machinery? What the freak is That?Maybe they should take the rest of the peda funds an allotment of free cash, each retired worker an allotment. Pretty soon tyred and bare bares relatives will be investing in a crop or two.
Two questions Perfesser Valenti: Did Warren Dews’ ridiculous cigar smoking barber shop idea REALLY get the city to buy in as a partner?!? And why did the tax lien get forgiven out on Rt. 20? Were at least some empty promises made? I was shocked first to hear Warren Dews idea. Then I went to the web site..and he is pushing access to GOBSIGS in his second sentence of his home page!! It is hysterical. Here is the quote. Who would give this venture ANY $$?!?
“The County Club Barbershop and Cigar Lounge is that place where you can smoke some of the finest cigars with some of the movers and shakers of the Berkshires and beyond. “
JOHN
To your questions: I don’t know if the city has given Mr. Dews any money. I also don’t have the details on the forgiveness of the lien. I wasn’t aware of that statement from The Country Club Barbershop and Cigar Lounge. “Movers and shakers?” That’s precious. If the smoke-job DOES open, we will have our spies there! Count on it. You won’t believe how many ex-“movers and shakers” are on THE PLANET’s payroll!
Would you say that the movers or the shakers have the best info?
GOB
Great question with a complicated answer. In one sense, yes, because they have fuller access to what’s actually happening outside of public view. That said, they almost always share information that is the product of an “agenda.” Hence, it’s necessary to cross-check as best one can with alternative points of view — a process hindered by the fear and retribution that grip the officials, offices, and hallways where power rests, is exercised, is received, and is carried out. Information is shared, but usually furtively, on the fly, and strictly anonymously, off-the-record, or some other cover. It’s a little like the post-war Europe pictured in the classic film “The Third Man.” In that atmosphere, it’s easy to see why and how the local media — so entirely dependent on ads first and circulation second — shies away from it. They judge it far easier to essentially “play ball.” Moreover, to do enterprise journalism in that atmosphere takes reporters with a combination of skill and fearlessness. Even when you get such talent, their bosses typically will let them know how long or short the leash is, and it’s usually short. We write and publish form a far different set-up. We are lean, speedy, and able — through our network of sources — to cover a lot of the “scene.” That said, we do it with limited resources, an office of one or, as BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE called us, “The most prolific journalist in Berkshire County … a one-man mob scene.” We can’t cover everything. We don’t look into everything. We are sometimes limited and wrong. When we are, and we get better information, we immediately correct the record. That’s why we always — and few things are “always” — invite opposing views and have a standing invitation to officials to fully participate here by responding to our inquiries, writing guest columns, using the COMMENTS section, sending us their perspectives. Our aim is the truth, which we try to get at through honesty.
Exactly what I thought you’d say.
If the city hasn’t given him anything, why is the venture included on your list of companies to which the “public treasury” was opened? When you said that I immediately thought it was at best terrible optics given his wife’s position in the administration. But if that’s not the case I bear no resentment to Mr. Dews at all. Anyone is entitled to try to bring their dream to life, no matter how half-baked, as long as they’re not receiving public money to do so.
JOHN
I agree. As long as no public money is involved, no harm-no foul. The optics aren’t good. But your comment starts out with “if.” That’s an “if” I don’t know and to which I couldn’t get a clear answer. That’s why it’s there. If it’s all private money, I’ll light one up and toast his success.
Has the cigar bar received all needed approvals? Does anyone know?
Good question. I’d like to know that too.
For what it’s worth..Mayor Bianchi’s snow job on Crane Ave. just before he left office, like everything else in Pittsfield, is falling apart.
Which snow job is that?
Can we also trace public school teacher contracts – how many of them are ‘in the family tree.’ It might explain why the schools are an armpit of learning..
And while at it how many “jobs” at Mercer are tied to nepotism and patronage? Could half of these be cut without anyone noticing production if everyone actually worked? What is the ratio of school related employees to each student? If you divided the TOTAL cost of running the schools by the number of students what would that figure be?
Would a forensic audit of the Pittsfield school system leave an aura of shock and awe in the Pittsfield community?
(Sarcasm): Pittsfield public schools have a new civics program for students! Children from 5 – 18 years old will learn Matt Kerwood’s creative accounting skills, Linda Tyer’s tax breaks for out-of-town millionaires, Barry Clairmont’s shakedown methods, Peter Marchetti’s views on banking, and Tricia Farley Bouvier and Adam Hinds’ political agenda of raising their own pay and increasing their own benefits.
This is a change but it is timely. I always liked Bill Clinton but he has proven himself to be a donkey. He says his affair with Monica was because of “anxiety”. Is this guy serious or nuts? How can anyone believe his statement? He probably wants to keep Hillary’s name in the news to help her chances if the democratic nomination comes down to a convention vote. Looks like that will happen. Monica matured from the 19 year old teener that Clinton abused. Sorry, Bill, your “anxiety” excuse nonsense doesn’t fool anyone. You wanted and got your blow job from a 19 year old young lady.
That’s right Chuck – Typical entitled, self serving politican, blaming everyone but themselves, and all these years later, hasn’t really apologized. Let’s not forget all the women he actually sexually assaulted.
Monica Lewinsky, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal (and the like beautiful women) all love rich men with power. Being President has its benefits! A bit of advice for your lusty and cheating hearts, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump: “Look, but don’t touch”. “Don’t let your little head think for your big head.” “Keep your it inside your pants.”
Trump and Clinton are the same.Trump much bolder than he.Lewinsky was turning 23 years old.Certainly young but not a kid.
Sparta,
Your right, BC’s only anxiety is how to get HC a shot in this 2020 election. He wants to make it up to Hillary before he is no longer here and that is the only thing that will work. What a poor excuse he used to justify taking advantage of a young intern.
CHUCK
Bubba had the looks, the gift of gab, the perfect lip-biting, and all the charm of an insurance salesman. Like you, I do not buy the “anxiety” excuse.
He was nothing like Donald “They let you do anything you want” Trump.
Let implies consent. Clinton was a rapist.
Trump and and Clinton were alike. Both had a stain in their Presidency’.
I always thought Clinton looked like W.C. Fields with hair.
It’s the nose and complexion
You only give money away to a failed business if you get a little back personally you should have added The Berkshire museum and the Hancock shaker village both failed.
Good points, TSC. I left out the museum and Shaker Village because they are (ahem) not-for-profits. If I included all of those, the list would still be spitting out. Also, as we said, it’s a partial list. In good conscience we couldn’t include them all. It would have caused too many good people to take the pipe. Yes, it’s THAT demoralizing.
But because there is absolutely NO evidence of kickbacks, freebies, or favoritism let it be know that each and every one of these hand outs, I mean hand ups, are technically legal and will surely make Pittsfield a better place for all of us to live.
Still, I will not support any business in Pittsfield that has such a weak business plan that it needs the help of senior citizens on fixed incomes to make a go of it. It shows a lack of confidence in the plan and has a touch of immorality to it if you ask me. And for the city leaders to encourage and abet such activity is just plain sad for the community as a whole.
Mccandless needs to close PHS and Crosby along with Allendale.He is out of control. Marchetti needs to put his banking cap on.There is a financial meltdown coming. Wake up Pittsfield. Mccandless gace new sped positions 80k in salaries…..ridiculous money.
I guarantee those sped positions are not only administrative, but are to help cover the districts butts with out of compliant IEPs, missing services guaranteed by those ieps and the fact that most of the recent hires are so wet behind the ears they couldn’t write an IEP to save their life.
Talking from personal, parental experience. The sped department in this district is a joke. It’s no wonder MS. west didn’t even last a full year and they hired internally afterwards. She knew a sinking ship when she saw one
Ms. West is gone? Where did she go?
What was it that Einstein said about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?
There is a brewery in Williamstown that just raised monies for a Youth Program. Yet in Pissfield our Administration gives away $150,000 to a brewery that can afford 1.7 million in upgrades. This Administration could care less about the Pissfield students sweating their brains out at PHS because of a broken heating system or other students studying near a PCB created landfill at Allendale. Pathetic and shameful.
The scent of spring is in the air as is the smell of cordite and gun powder, and the gentle sounds of gunfire.
Congrats to the blog for breaking three stories in the last week.
Shooting, stabbing, and the Monument students quarantine.
PR – You are so right, let the games begin. Especially when the gun fire is at 1p.m. in the afternoon. Also, if you have a chance, take a ride around the Allendale area and take a strong wiff of the pot growing at Berkshire Roots. The place that this Administration assured was not going to have any odor because of the “high tech filters” they installed. When you call City Hall they still do not know what department is responsible to report this issue to. In other words, hardworking taxpayers, just shut up and pay your taxes. Oh well, Happy Spring. Remember Bare Bare says the City is safe!
Is this the one Barry is invested in?
It is very very skunks over there.
Yep, it’s Barry and a bunch of other in the knows. I honestly can’t believe they are supporting outdoor growth sites. Move while you can. Volunteer to help a senior citizen move. It’s like the ‘families’ of Springfield carving up the city.
I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning.
Is there an article in the Eagle saying that there is a case of CORONA VIRUS in PIttsfield? This is not a drill says WHO. You can take it serious now people. Will the mayor make an announcement?
First case presumed two more.
Not sure why I got ten quick negs. Guess Trump people don’t believe it. He probably gave them immunity or will pardon them if they get it.
I don’t know why either. Although we don’t agree on some things, I generally up vote most of your contributions and never down vote you. Plus you were providing real information
Trump said to give Corona V two weeks and it will be gone. Trump is so much smarter than everyone.
Unbelievable Jiohnny,absurd.
The reason for the negs maybe do to people believing Bill used his elected offices and elected positions as an elected official to get what he desired on the taxpayers dime. Trump was a private citizen with money and power which still isn’t right. I maybe wrong. I voted for BC.
I just gave you one. Your miserable clog was just found by my brother up north. It knocked a chunk out of his Big Green Egg and spoiled its surface. Yes, it sure took its time coming down to Earth, but the damage caused is on you.
Donald Trump never assaulted SD or the prostitute. Sleeping with such men is integral to their business plans. So? They paid him, had a bad night, and now want to complain? Why tolerate that behavior? These complaints are not the stuff of self respect.
Councilor Moon,of D A employ thinks the Ppd actually had full numbers staffing the streets. The Chief had to remind her,he’s never had full staffing. This is our present from Ward One to this fine Silly Council.
I think I got it too
You’re more likely to get shot in Pittsfield than catch Corona.
Or stabbed. Or assaulted. Or robbed.
Or ripped off by your government!!!!!!
Actually, you’re more likely to get rhinovirus than either. If you are concerned, which is reasonable, stay indoors after dark, don’t make eye contact with strangers, keep your back to walls, and wash your hands after touching things.
Or one can just hold their breath like the mayors neg freaks. When you see one of them with a beet red face and puffed out cheeks and bulging eyes you know whose camp they are in.
The mayor will speak Monday sbout corona virus preperations in Pittsfield. All mayors with positive virus in their citys are speaking to residents.Lets hope we have a plan
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/2/25/applying-essential-oil-to-anus-cures-coronavirus-iranian-cleric
Hopefully ky works also. The taxpayers here in Pittsfield are covered.
Every time she speaks in public some kind of mayhem happens simultaneously
The corona virus will be both vibrant and dynamic but will require $50k to relocate to the former Spice Resturant.
LOVE
We need to hire at least five consultants at $80 an hour to ascertain and evaluate the vibrancy (or not) of this or any other rogue virus s in the area and have them collaborate at the BIC laboratories as this was always the plan. There may be a surcharge on your next tax bill to cover this just so you know ahead of time.
We hear it will also be “collaborative, diverse, yet inclusive.”
The GAME is a Game Of Deception. Shhh is the prime directive to those who know. Your Heart will lead you Home.
Mason = Maze Sun
The Clues are scattered everywhere. In the Arts, Music, Movies, TV shows, Comics, News, literature, magazines, on and on.
You need only open your eyes, your mind and your heart.
The GE money is a curse.Nobody comes forward honestly.Take for example The Hancock Shaker Village with no jobs getting Ruberto and Tyer to give them 500k.Why?…..Tyer and Mccandless must now focus on the corona virus.This can not be handled like Trump by playing it down.Dont panic just be real for once.Two born bullshit artist must just tell the truth.Its awful that you need to beg leaders not to lie.
What is the current status of the Araces dealership? Anyone know?
Dews’ “opening in March”’venture shows very few signs of activity in the empty space. A recent article said he had 20 members pre-pay for a membership and he was still trying to secure funding.
The corona virus is the most fascinating thing in the news right now. We need something exciting to happen to redirect the 24-hr news cycle. A new tragedy or event will single handily wipe out the corona virus.
I would imagine someone is trying to mesh it into the pot cannabis bonanza. Why else was this debt forgiven just as the pot craze came upon us after 30 years of neglect and unpaid taxes.
Shout out to the eviormental nut who’s actually for the new pcb dump in the heart of the Beserkshires. Nimby
I heard that Captain Spalding, Professor Wagstaff and Rufus T. Firefly have become members of the cigarbershop.
Clinton’s cigar lady will be hostess
Plus Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Ernie Kovacs, Andy Brown, Alan Kind, George Burns, and Jack Kennedy. Movers and shakers.
Red. Red Auerbach.
Absolutely!!! The Ol’ Redhead, called “Arnold” by Bob Cousy and Bob Cousy ONLY, should have been No. 1! Great catch.
Here is proof, as if any is needed, that far left liberals can’t do basic math. These people want to run the country into the ground with their fuzzy math skills. MSNBC was going on and on about how Michael Bloomberg could have given every one of the 327 million people in the country a million dollars of the 500 million he spent on his campaign and still have money left over. Trouble is that this would actually come out to less than $2.00 per person, but everyone on MSNBC ran with the story. Even Juan Williams was caught up in the frenzy. So disturbing. Basic math skills need to be taught in the schools and we need to get rid of courses on how many genders we have and political activism.
https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-bloomberg-couldnt-give-every-american-1-million-2020-3
Donald Trump knows his numbers very well. He knows that if he only tests a few people for the Covid virus it will look like there is no problem. That is why he did not let more people on the boat be tested because if he did it would show that over 1000 people have the virus and his poor effort on containment would be exposed. Smart like a mathematician this guy is.
Just the opposite is true. President Trump wants to test more people because it will likely lower the percentage of the death rate caused by this corona virus. Since China was in no hurry to let people know about the virus quickly because communist countries are so secretive, this virus is out of control in many places and much worse than even this country, but it has probably been in our communities, but not causing death or serious illness in everyone. The more people tested, the more we could see how widespread it has become, but not causing serious illness or death in most healthy younger people, but causing very serious problems including death in the elderly and/or people with serious illnesses. To protect our elderly and our healthcare workers, everyone has to be quarantined for 14 days.
President Trump had no control over what happened on the ship off the coast of California. Someone who boarded from another cruise ship spread the disease to the current ship that is being quarantined, but the people will be sent to quarantine units in Oakland California beginning tomorrow.
When Cannabis is approved as medicine, thus allowing it to be used to treat opiate addiction, this is when the real money happens. Currently grant money can not be used to treat opiate addiction because Cannabis is not labeled for that YET. Craig Barnum bought the North Adams medical building & also why the big idea for safe galleries, to normalize an industry – THE industry.
Monkeys can’t sell bananas but monkeys can sell illegal real estate. Toxic real estate.
Harrington has hired Atty David Pixley to head the new sexual assault unit – he’s the guy who couldn’t hack the stress of being a prosecutor and quit under a prior administration, but somehow he’s now ideal to be in management. He’ll be working with his ex wife Melissa Pixley Odell, fired from the House of Correction but also good enough to work in the people’s law office. #Kapanskisforthewin
Did the previous head of sex assault resign ?
Isn’t Street over at the jailto?
No- that comment is nonsense. David isn’t taking a management position and who ever wrote that is bitter and needs to get a hobby.
Sex on the side is in today. Look at all these Pittsfield pols divorcing and taking up (shacking up) with-others in politics here.
???
Hello,
Attorney Pixley isn’t taking a “management” position. His leaving the DA’s office over ten years ago was in regards to his dislike of how the past DA ran the office. In response to your broad statement about “Melissa pixley O’Dell” I have confirmed she does currently work at theDA’s office, it’s also public knowledge that she has open litigation against her former employer “berkshire House of Correction” & won a complaint filed with the massachusetts commission against discrimination for discrimination and retaliation. Before you insert your biased “knowledge” make sure you know what you are talking about.
Cheers Good Mate
He left after a few months because the job was too hard for him. He didn’t work there long enough to even understand how the past DA ran the office. Other than the first assistant and Kempthorne (who resigned out of concern over Harrington’s violations of state ethics laws), most competent local attorneys will not ruin their reputations by working for the current DA. Talk to anyone who works in the court house and you’ll hear that the current lot of prosecutors are untrained and unsupervised. This is not their fault, but rather that of the DA and deputy DA. Hiring Pixley is more of the same untrained, unsupervised, incompetent approach. The DA’s office is at its heart a law firm, but when the DA is a politician and not a professional prosecutor, legal expertise is not required of the legal staff.
This does not bode well for the status of sexual assault cases in Berkshire County.
He was horrible at his job the last time he was employed at that office and his win rate as a defense attorney isn’t very good.
One the plus side, he at least knows which court to show up to most of the time and will save taxpayers money as he likes to pleaded cases because it stops him from having to go to court. Restorative justice due to incompetence.
PR
Will you be attending Andrea Harrington’s first “official” campaign event. That’s what she is calling it, a St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser? In her announcement, the D.A. said “My office is limiting the effects of racial bias and equalizing the playing field for the “haves” and the “have nots.” She noted how she has been particularly effective at “prioritizing” cases and demanding “accountability” for crime in an office she calls “mission-driven.” Care to interpret the quotes? Can we take them at face value, or is this code-speak?
She’s giving the Irish a bad name!
Dan, wasn’t it about a year ago wehn she held some sort of fund raiser at some North St venue? Pretty sure it was posted about here.
At methuselah owned by Yuki Cohen. It was right after she got her free VIP tickets to the Cardi B concert.
5 or 6 green beers helps the message.
Ten will get you twenty she doesn’t wear green.
I don’t speak pseudo-progressive pandering so it’s hard for me to say.
I’m still waiting for her to prosecute those cases from Williams. I think it was 78 sexual assaults including 55 rapes.
Pucci seems to be very quiet lately, why hasn’t DA Andrea Harrington given a voice to Pucci’s client?
We all know what this is really about, pandering to the uniformed voter who either sees her as a shield from white guilt or sees her as a get out of jail free card.
https://www.wamc.org/post/attorney-claims-berkshire-das-negligent-handling-williams-college-sexual-assault-reports
Hess Forest and debris, has abetter chance of demolition before any cases are heard.
The bic should be called the Barge. Cuz it looks like the be.
Your continued posts mocking the “supposed” Williams rapes – are you a disturbed person or is it just a misogyny thing? Anyway, your numbers are light. You do know that colleges are required by law to report data about those crimes, right? Numbers are really easy to find. Just looking at Capeless’s tenure since 2012, there were 90 reported rapes at Williams. When did he take office again, 2004? Lots more on top of those for sure.
For a whole lot of reasons, it’s fair to expect that a relatively small % of these cases would lead to criminal prosecution. These are complicated crimes and that’s the way the world works. But when the number of prosecutions is zero, when a zero such cases were ever investigated and put before a grand jury during a DA’s entire 14 year tenure, well, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out what was going on.
One of the prime reasons why Capeless and Cacaviello are gone. They were a disgrace. Good riddance and then some.
Eff you you liar. Let’s see how many Harrington drags to grand jury against victims’ wishes.
I am not mocking the rapes or the victims I am questioning DA Andrea Harrington’s dismal response.
The numbers were taken directly from the Clery Act reports as clarified by Pucci and Candidate Andrea Harrington.
The question is where is all the action on those cases, it’s been 5 years since the earliest year Pucci is discussing. There’s be action on how many cases?
Also why hasn’t Pucci’s client been heard? Supposedly it involved a staff member, would the women and public be served if a rape case that allegedly included a person imbedded in the culture of Williams?
“On October 1, Williams released new data for an additional year 2017,” said Pucci. “When you add ’14, ’15, ’16, to ’17, the total number of sexual assaults reported publically by Williams College is 73, those four years, including something like 55 rapes.”