WILL COUNCILORS BACK CONNELL AND KEEP FLICKER OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVT. ALIVE, OR WILL THEY BOW TO MAYOR? AT STAKE: A CRUEL TAX HIKE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
[EDITOR’S NOTE: UPDATED WITH YUKI COHEN’S RESPONSE]
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 24-6, 2020) — In our previous column, THE PLANET presented Ward 4 councilor Chris Connell’s challenge to the proposal of the mayor and finance director to enter as a separate line item in the upcoming FY20 reimbursement money taken from “free cash” for COVID-19. We agree with Connell that the measure imposes a double whammy on bedraggled Pittsfield taxpayers.
Whammy 1 occurred with the raid on “free cash.” As we’ve long said, “free” cash isn’t free. It reflects the amount the city OVERTAXED citizens the previous fiscal year. That money should be returned to taxpayers in the form of levy relief. In Pittsfield, that never happens. Whammy 2 will occur if the onerous proposal passes, since it will require taxpayers to pony up a like amount to fund the line item listed in Emergency Services. That would not only be bad economics but unfair in the extreme.
THE PLANET polled each of the other 10 councilors for their thoughts on Connell’s proposal, which will be made presumably at the next virtual council meeting, also know as Hollywood Squares. We heard from:
- Kevin Morandi, Ward 2.
- Nick Caccamo, Ward 3.
- Patrick Kavey, Ward 5.
- Dina Guiel Lampiasi, Ward 6.
- Tony Maffuccio, Ward 7.
- Peter Marchetti, at-large, council president.
- Peter White, at-large, council VP.
- Earl Persip III, at-large.
Helen Moon, Ward 1; and Yuki Cohen, at-large, did not respond. Interestingly, both are newcomers. They either do not check their city e-mail accounts; do not care to let readers know where they stand; have believed everything they’ve heard about that “unfair, nasty, people-eating, bullying monster,” Dan Valenti, and were too afraid to peep; were too busy to do the work for which they were elected; or were given orders by The Administration not to respond. We don’t know which.
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UPDATE: Cohen got back to THE PLANET after we went to press. In the interests of a more complete tally, we present her belated comments here:
COHEN — Apologies for not responding on time! I wanted to get feedback from Matt Kerwood, and other councilors from PITTSFIELD and around the commonwealth as well as from MMA so I could gather good intelligence in an area I am not yet fully familiar with to get to a decent conclusion to your question. I didn’t get to them all quite yet. I hope you did get enough feedback from other councilors to get your article out on time!
THE PLANET presents the responses in full, allowing the widest range for the respective arguments. No other local media gives you that. They use quotes selectively, often distorting the message. THE PLANET has edited only for mechanics (spelling, typos) and not for style. We present councilors’ words without comment, and in no particular order.
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KAVEY
As you know, I supported using $300,000 from free cash for our COVID-19 response. The reason I made that decision was because many of our costs are eligible for reimbursement at a rate of 75% from the Federal Emergency Management Agency covering $225,000 of the $300,000. As of April 8 the city has received approval of those funds. My only concern is how long the reimbursement of those funds will take to reach the city. We also have received an additional $25,000 grant for our efforts. That leaves the city on the hook for $50,000. I feel confident in our ability to secure additional opportunities for funding to cover that cost, but in the event we are unable to cover the $50,000 with additional grants, I would still support using our funds for our COVID-19 response. Our days are continuing to change rapidly as we settle into our new normal, and now is not the time to hold back resources from our first responders and other departments that are hitting this virus head on. With continued uncertainty at a global level, I think it is important for local leaders to do everything we can to plan appropriately for our future. It is our job to keep our citizens safe, healthy and informed, while being mindful of our expenses and the economic impact this situation is having currently and will continue to have for years to come.
With that being said, reimbursements are likely to be a year or more away. It is true that COVID related expenditures like overtime for our Fire Department and Police Department are eligible for 75% reimbursement. However, items like laptops for remote staff may not be unless they are specifically used for emergency operations. I am in the process of discussions with our finance director over what exactly is eligible for reimbursement and a more concrete list of what our expenses are thus far.
As far as Councilor Connell is concerned, I agree that this is a longer conversation to be had. Our finance director may have a good reason for what he is proposing, and I am more than willing to listen to what he has to say. However, at this point in time I agree with my colleague [Connell]. As I have said before, we aren’t being reimbursed next month or maybe even next year. A line item seems irrelevant to me. I am in the process of learning how those reimbursements will get back to the city, which should give some clarity on the situation. Let’s say the reimbursement came through next spring, we would have an extra $225,000 to appropriate to stabilization or to which ever area the current administration and the council sees fit. I agree that we could simply transfer free cash directly to the lines that are over and transfer the money back into a revenue-bearing account when our reimbursement is received. I am willing to support which ever measures keep our citizens safe while effectively managing our fiscal responsibility to our tax payers. I believe with proper oversight from our council, we can find common ground with the administration throughout the remainder of this pandemic.
MARCHETTI
First let’s be clear that the city council voted to appropriate $300,00000 from free cash to a newly created line item with the Emergency Management Budget for Covid-19 expenses. I supported that request because we would track all expenses associated with Covid-19, and at the end of this fiscal year any funds remaining in that line item would go to undesignated fund balance and eventually returned to free cash. If the adminstration wanted to take any of those funds for another department, that request would require council approval.
As for the reimbursement, I support it going to an account of miscellaneous, non-recurring income in Emergency Management. When the CIty Council approves the budget, we approve a spending plan. If there are expenses for COVID-19 in the FY21 budget, we can discuss it at that time. if the money goes into a miscellaneous, non-recurring income account, it would then at the end of FY21 make it to undesignated fund balance and then become part of free cash.
I would need to check with the Department of Local Services as to the proper way to add to free cash during a budget cycle, as free cash is certified each year by DOR and we cannot use any of those funds until that process is completed, which I believe is usually in October.
I do not believe that Council Connell is correct in his opinion of the taxpayers being hit twice. Any one-time non-recurring revenues assist with free cash position at the completion of that fiscal year.
CACCAMO
The “Connell Measure” is unnecessary. Pandemic-related costs paid for by the city are going to be reimbursed by the Commonwealth. Whether or not those funds go back into the free cash account seems redundant in FY20.
Local recipes are going to come in lower than anticipated and budget deficits in the typical accounts (Public Safety Overtime & Snow/Ice Removal) are likely going to happen. The city will have to cover those costs from free cash regardless.
On a policy level, free cash can/should be used for a range of expenditures that benefit the city, including protecting public health in the wake of COVID-19. The account is in place to do more for the city than just reduce the tax rate.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
WHITE
I haven’t seen a proposal by Councilor Connell. I support the current course of action on COVID-19 funding by the administration that I voted in favor of at the council meeting. Any funding not spent or that is reimbursed by the end of the next fiscal year would then return to free cash. No, I do not support Councilor Connell’s idea. I support a separate line item for the use of COVID-19 funding allocated from free cash to fight the virus. That is correct, however line items do not have to be funded. The act of creating a line item does not automatically make a tax increase. A new line item is just a way to keep the accounting of funds clearer.
PERSIP
I have no knowledge of Councilor Connell actually proposing any measure. I support how the administration funded the COVID-19 line items. It’s the best way to track expenses for COVID-19. Councilor Connell’s concerns about having to fund the new line item is unfounded in my opinion. The city has no requirement to fund a line item. We have accounts that are inactive, and this account can become inactive after COVID-19. The city council approves the budget and spending plan. If there are expenses for COVID-19 in the FY21 budget, a conversation can be had with the administration about the need. What doesn’t get used in the account this year is turned into the designated fund balance then returned to free cash. I don’t agree with Councilor Connell when he says the taxpayer is hit twice. If Councilor Connell can explain a different scenario that supports his thinking, I am intrigued and look forward to seeing his proposal.
MAFFUCCIO
As for the money you are referring to, if we get the money back from the government, that is 75% reimbursement, and the way the mayor and Kerwood were talking, volunteer hours can be billed also. We should get 100% of this money back, and it should be returned to so-called free cash (overtaxed money, in reality ). So yes in those circumstances, I will back Councilor Connell’s plan. I do also believe they could find a way through the federal disaster in place and state of emergency. There has to be some sort of grant to recuperate those monies, which belong to the citizens in fairness.
LAMPIASI
I have spoken to Chris about this issue and I do respect his commitment to saving taxpayers from “getting hit twice.” However, without a written proposal, it is premature for me to comment on this. There are many more questions that need to be answered before I take a position.
MORANDI
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Base on this rough polling, we have a tie. Connell, Kavey, Morandi, and Maffuccio agree that putting reimbursement funds into the general fund will constitute double-taxation. Marchetti, Caccamo, White, and Persip do not agree and will support the Administration’s plan. That leaves Moon and Cohen in the balance. A reasonable guess is that they will support the Administration. Another way to put it is “they will do what they’re told.”
Perhaps, though, this time lightning strikes.
Even if one accepts the arguments made by Marchetti, Caccamo, White, and Persip, it would behoove councilors including those four to support Connell. Their argument is essentially that taxpayers WON’T get hit twice and that, therefore “The Connell Measure,” as Caccamo calls it, is a wash. If that’s so, then the “Measure” should be backed because this is not merely a debate about the assignment of funds. It is actually a test, a showdown, between the mayor and the council. If “Thee Connell Measure” doesn’t matter, the council needs to assert its power as co-governors and support it. If it doesn’t jump at this rare opportunity, it will give The Administration’s already inflated sense of infallibility an ill-advised feeling of invulnerability and pretty much convince citizens and the electorate that they don’t matter because they have no effective representation.
If, on the other hand, “The Connell Measure” prevents double taxation, it should be passed on the merits.
It promises to be an interesting debate, one we hope is sharp and free-spirited to the point of just under rudeness and incivility.
Yeah, it’s that important a measure, because it will indicate if We The People have a semblance of representative government in the spirit of the check, balances, and accountability provided by co-governance. The charter makes the city council antipathetic to the mayor’s office for a reason.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“Always, first ask, ‘What do I know‘” — Montaigne.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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The state and local governments across the U.S.A. need an immediate federal bailout from U.S. Congress, which has not yet happened. All of the creative accounting gimmicks (that Matt Kerwood is infamous for), tax hike proposals (on Beacon Hill) and federal reimbursements (which takes months to happen) will be useless if and when the City of Pittsfield (Mass.) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts goes bankrupt within weeks.
I cannot understand why local, state and federal politicians are not working together to pass a federal bailout for state and local governments as soon as possible. The facts are that tens of millions of people have lost their jobs and health insurance at a level not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Tens of thousands of American residents have died, while hundreds of thousands are infected with COVID 19.
We all know what happened when people lost hope, saw their loved ones starving and suffering, and the like: the nightmare we all cringe at: Hitler and Nazi Germany rose to power and the Holocaust and World War 2! Never again!
I do not understand why politicians and the public are not expeditiously working together to pass more bailouts to save the economy from collapsing! We don’t have much time left to help each other survive the coronavirus pandemic. Let us love instead of hate each other.
Because bailouts are not the answer, Jon. Ending the lockdown NOW will enable people to get back to work and earn a living.
I’m not sure about bailouts. Many blue states have created financial messes for themselves via pensions, wasteful spending on other programs etc..
There are 2 options: bailout or bankruptcy
JM-when you have pols who care more about getting driver’s licenses in the hands of illegal immigrants, than you do about the people they represent, this is what you get. The lead law enforcement officer in the county advocating for the early release of inmates? Would you bailout that mess, or let it sink?
I am not happy with Pittsfield Massachusetts’ state and local politicians either. But my unfavorable views are irrelevant. Pittsfield Massachusetts is looking at bankruptcy if it doesn’t receive bailout fund from U.S. Congress. It is that simple.
Pittsfield.ma has many small businesses. The real problem is tourist in hotel industry.The Red Lion Inn is in big trouble.Restaurants and South County big problem to recover.Motels and high end playhouses .Pittsfield will be OK except the tourist industry.Slow and data confidence. Time and a good plan with testing.The Trump supporters who over react to everything are going to be the problem.We still have morons not respecting others who wear a mask to protect the moron but the moron wants to spit on everything.That moron needs to be dealt with.No service for you dummy. America has alot of stupids as Trump called them.
We are all in this together.Democrats understand its our money bailing out ourselves.Republicans only want to bailout big business. Dems understand we need to do both.
Dan,
Instead of the usual political nonsense, you should invite RN to post a column laying out his/her vast knowledge about COVID. Erudition is your thing, right Dan?
Dan is always open to reviewing material for potential guest columns. Perhaps you would like to submit one showing your eruditedness on the stupidity of the electorate voting for Tyer, Harrington, and Far Away Farley!
T&S
You’re right about our openness to guest material. If BLARE or anyone else wants to submit material, we are always more than happy to review it.
Everyone is stupid but a few in the gong show Right? Harrington won in a friggen landslide Tyer put the Beatdown on Mazzeo when everyone thought it was over. TB same thing. Yup everyone is stupid but you. Child Please! Start doing and start Helping.
Linda is this U.
MM
It’s interesting that you tout the old news of Andrea’s win over Cacc while at the same time previously post about the selfless heroics of Helen Moon. Do you see the common link here? I only point this out because of a narrative run by me that says the D.A. told Moon not to reply. Can’t say this is true, because I don’t know. Let me ask you, though, would that surprise you?
Harrington won because she was well organized, has a vagina instead of a penis, and beneited by the progressive DA movement, and because she outcampaigned Caccaviello, who was way late to the dance, and because Caccaviello was painted with Caplesses brush, and mostly because Caccaviello ran as a democrat, instead of an independant. Mark my words, she will never win that office again.
Mazzeo could have beat Tyer had she campaigned much harder and differently and earlier, and was actually not another feminist progress Whenner. In other words, any other viable candidate who was well funded and campaigned harder could have won. By the way, Tyer barely won, and for a 4 year incumbent backed by all the GOBSIGs, that ain’t sayin’ much.
RN seems to be way more honest and knowledgeable that any one on the clouncil, and more than many on here. It is correct than immunity doesn’t exist. I have no idea of if BHS are hiding numbers but the reporting is certainly skewered. A nerve has been hit by the clounicls who want us complainers in a Goulag for dissidents.
So people who dispute factually absurd, incorrect information are complainers? What is your definition of moron?
Might you have a mirror?
The Pitts has the lamest, weakest, most disappointing mayor in my lifetime, other than perhaps Hathaway, and a lame, weak, and rubber stamp council.
Do Moon and Yuki know or have close contact with persons getting Tyers Stanley type bailouts? Will all business s who receive free taxpayer money from Tyer be publicly listed or kept quiet like the TIF monies? And the reason I ask is because if a business owner takes taxpayer money I might have to rethink whether I would patronize them.
When Stanley got his theater built almost completely with taxpayer money and without hardly any of his own money, many people resented this and did not patronize his theater. Sadly, mayor Tyer used a double dildo on the taxpayers and jammed them again anyway.
But if you are a Pittsfield business owner taking hard earned taxpayer money you need to think twice if it will haunt you down the line unless the mayor can keep it secret.
Yuki must have made a load of money from all the drug deals that went down in the bathroom of her bar. I think once a teen got shot outside her bar she had to stop pretending she didn’t know about it all and maybe had to earn her money. She did a lot of Pillow events at her bar which as a director is probably a no no. The Beagle got a good photo of her slack jawed stupidity when appearing in court. Commenting on Moon is like shooting fish in a barrel. Democratic machine garbage each one of them.
Just to clarify Mr. Accountant, while the taxpayers of Pittsfield were indeed jammed twice over the Beacon theatre, the “jammings” were compliments of two different administrations. The Tyer gang got sloppy seconds, to complete your crass but colorful metaphor.
JAA
You raise a crucial question: Will the mayor publicly post those companies and people who will receive bailouts? It will be interesting to cross-check the list with political donors and other insiders. Stanley is a good example. He gets his theater built by The Kapanski’s. When it loses money, they bail him out. They also refurbish it. Shortly after, Stanley sells, and the mayor grants him forgiveness on a $2.3 million debt owed to the citizens. Is it a just a quixotic odyssey or perhaps too cynical to wonder how much of that $2.3 million found its way back into certain pockets? We think not.
Silence is Golden.
If we apply Einstein’s theory of relativity to your last question I would think the pockets are jingling. And if we apply Midas’s theory of greed we might deduce that the pockets are still hungry. I wish we could get a collaboration of taxpayers to just not pay the next 6 months taxes and see what she thinks she can do about it.
If I live for another election I will vote for the candidate who promises to rewrite the city charter ending four year terms, gets rid of the conservation tax and takes heath insurance away from city councilors and school committee people.
How many years did they let James Arace default on his taxes on the run down property on outer West Housatonic Street? Years and Years and Years!!!
My understanding is that the site is heavily polluted which is why the bank never foreclosed and probably why the city didn’t move to take possession of it.
“It’s not WHAT you know …”
Trump is getting very frustrated that the real questions about our unpreparedness keep being asked.The reporters at his very controlled update on whats happening with the virus and testing wont go away.The updates are now a dog and pony show for his 44%.He is now exploding at reporters who will continue to ask the number 1 question. Testing when will it happen on a scale that allows for a plan to be put in place.Trump does not understand that he hurts himself when hes on camera talking. Americans want the experts on healthcare talking.They dont want Jared and Pence saying because of the leadership of Trump we are blah blah blah…..Trump immediately starts ripping into name calling Biden for not doing something .His positive approval ratings will go up if he just stops talking.Don you will never lose your base and we know this so stop talking if you want to get to 51%
The CDC guy had to come out and specifically warn Trump supporters NOT to drink bleach because Trump gave the impression that that might be a cure. And that is where we are at these days people. Please do not drink bleach even if the president hints that it might be good for you.
There were a lot of great ideas from the President’s corona virus report yesterday including UV light having been shown to kill the virus and what that would mean for using UV light in public space lighting at low wattage. The were discussing different cleaning agents that kill the virus and how long the virus is able to survive on surfaces. It survives the longest on porous surfaces, but will die even in theses surfaces in higher heat and humidity. Lots of interesting information. Nobody was told to drink bleach!!
Could you elaborate on how Trump expected scientists to get UV light into peoples veins? Perhaps he was a big Star Trek fan? Is there a good reason he doesn’t just let the doctors and scientists do the talking instead of jumping in and adding the whack job perspective to it all?
the process is called Photo-Oxidation it has been around for a while. I was only a young pup when Al gore invented the Sun and the Internet (sorry I had to have a little fun) but Photo-oxidation it really doesn’t take a scientist to do it most of us are capable of walking out into the sun and exposing our bodies to UV. Now we have harnessed specific wavelengths for specific purposes. Think Bilirubin removal from the blood for easier processing by the liver. Hope that helps Johnny
And didn’t Al Gore invent the light bulb?
I meant to say the virus survives the longest on non-porous surfaces like plastic and glass. It survives for a shorter time on porous surfaces like clothing.
New York (CNN Business)The company that makes Lysol is urging customers not to consume its cleaning products after President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of injecting disinfectants to protect people from coronavirus.
No Pat…he did not tell his idiot parade to drink bleach. He told them to inject it directly into their lungs. That, of course, would be after you shoved a UV flashlight up your rectum AND took your dose of hydrochloroquine he also suggested…which has since been proven not only completely ineffective but potentially toxic.
So strange that people keep coming forward everyday saying that hydrochloroquine has saved their life. So strange that other studies say that it does work. The trials will be the final word.
Pat…PLEASE…You gotta stop. It’s just irresponsible!
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Friday against using hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that President Trump has touted, to treat coronavirus outside of a hospital or drug trial.
Nobody ever said to use it on your own. You should be under a doctor’s care for using any of these medications.
Mr. G, take a chill pill. Go out for a walk, take some deep breaths. Have you been taking your meds? Call me Monday and I’ll set up a therapy session.
very strange
The ONLY message coming from the far left is that the country is on fire and it’s President Trump’s fault!! That’s all they care about. The whole virus crisis is just an extension of the impeachment hearings fiasco and Russia Collusion hoax for them. They use “gotcha” moments continually and show on a regular basis that their far left agenda is all that matters to them.
Here’s the transcript from yesterday’s discussion about UV and disinfectants. Johnny Absurd, read this and educate yourself. Pat is correct
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/media-mocks-trump-suggesting-light-treatment-coronavirus-patients-bio-tech-company-working-fda-cedars-sinai-uv-light-treatment-kill-virus-patients/
I honestly tried to avoid the most bizzar statement ever made by any President. It looks to me like even the most faithful supporter can’t walk away from what he said.I do get that some want to buy in and clean up his nightly emotional disaster but he’s not fit to serve.Im feeling sorry for him now .People need to help him.
Maybe Trump will take his own advice and hit his body with UV light and inject himself with disinfectant. What a freaking ass!!
Yeah,saw that SPA. What the hell is he thinking? Don’t tell us he said after that….what do you have to Lose? Maybe your lungs? When is there going to be a confidence vote for giving-health care,office workers in health care,groceryclerks,transportation workers,all first responders, to give some kind of bonus compensation like the one Cuomo is proposing in N Y State?
Forget Dottie’s and the rest of them. And what about the businesses that were going before Co-19? We’ll see how the Beacon is really doing? The Mayor should give taxpayers a break from free cash and federal stimulus to pay their taxe increases.
Damn straight. Beacon will be all done unless Tyer bails em out again. It’s probably already in the works. Perhaps one of Dan’s spies, gumshoes, or secret squadron members will give Dan a heads up.
Beacon was bad idea before all this. Who goes to the movies anymore? How was Beacon doing before the pandemic?
It was doing almost no business before. That entire project, from Day 1, was ill-fated, ill-advised, and a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. THE KAPANSKIS lost untold millions, and this isn’t pronounced after the fact. THE PLANET was onto the scam from the beginning. We did deep research. We predicted what would happen, and it did. The red flag for us was when The Suits projected 250,000 visitors annually for the downtown because of The Beacon. It was a con all the way. That has been repeated countless times, over and over again, beginning with the rejection of the Spalding golf ball mfg facility and followed up by the EV Worldwide fiasco and the “1,000 jobs” that the local daily touted. We knew that day we had also lost a responsible daily newspaper. It has been downhill ever since for Pittsfield, a city about to be taken off the respirator because of the hopelessness caused by its failed leaders, including most the current ones.
If it happens, we will probably know about it, although who we have soured the warnings ever since Day 1 of this cinematic disaster, no one in power listened. There were “favors” at stake. And that $2.3 million that the former owner was forgiven — where did THAT money go? Possibilities: Donation to The Little Sisters of the Poor, gift to Make-A-Wish, bribes, kickbacks, C-notes stuffed in envelopes. Ever wonder why THEY get so riled up whenever someone raises the subject of FORENSIC AUDIT?
Yup. It’s moronic.
Are you sure he hasn’t? He kinda acts like he might have tried it out as a child. (and it did not work)
I am not condoning nor suggesting what was said by the President is accurate or correct. I did not see the press conference yesterday. I am going to suggest that light therapy has been around for a while. As a matter of fact I bet some of the people who have been posting on this very subject here on the board have even benefited from it.
You just know it as a different name. What do you think a Bililight is? You all may recall babies being put under “blue lights” to help with the Jaundice. The light waves are absorbed by the babys skin and blood and convert the bilirubin into products the body can process. What spectrum are those lights on? Also if one was to look Chromotherapy defined as light therapy is covered by many insurance companies as it is beneficial in some cases and instances. The alternative medicine groups pushed for its inclusion in the ACA. I am not suggesting that’s what The President was suggesting I am not saying to run out and get lights etc. I have linked the abstract if you are interested in learning a bit about it.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297510/
The UV “C” spectrum is currently in use for cleaning in hospitals currently and is very effective in handling
a number of types of infections
http://www.surfacide.com/
lets see how this can be twisted by those with an agenda
Speaking of light does anyone remember Trump looking directly up into the sky at the solar Eclipse without benefit of any eye protection? Well there are still thousands of hilarious pictures of that moment and they are not at all hard to find. With all the warnings he was one of just three people on earth that had to look up just to show he knew better than anyone.
You should really take the time to watch the video. It was the chemical ingestion comments that were particularly bizarre.
I watched it live. He said injection, not ingestion.
Andbody but Biden, who is incompetent, senile, and a pedophile, who can’t keep social distance pre-corona, nor can he keep his hands off the women and children. At least Trump likes adult women.
And Chris Cuomo’s wife bathed in Clorox as part of her “healing” protocol. Chris Cuomo violated his own quarantine while suffering from covid while preaching to the nation about staying at home. Why don’t you talk about the idiot Cuomos?
The far left will NOT listen to any ideas that may help in the fight against the virus and have mocked every idea from the President because they need the economy to go downhill to win the election so they have no interest in keeping the virus under control. They have never given ANY praise to President Trump for the fantastic work he has done in the fight against this virus. The work to create and supply ventilators, hospital ships, building hospitals, moving much needed supplies from one hot spot to another, expanding testing after early failures for the CDC, financial aid to individuals and small businesses. None of it was good for the far left. China, the country that sent the virus to 185 countries, continues to be the hero of the far left.
Fantastic work? He and Pence have been saying they have millions of tests for 6 weeks now but they won'[t tell the doctors and nurses where they are. Why?
You do know that a person can test negative today, but test positive tomorrow after taking the test? The virus can be brewing in your system, but not detected. The antibody test is the only one that will ultimately matter, but the left even puts down that test saying that just because you have antibodies, doesn’t mean you can’t catch the virus again and become positive and infect others. They have every angle covered to keep people housebound and the economy shutdown. The far left KNOWS that this kind of massive testing has NEVER been done in this country before, but acts like this is an everyday event. Getting testing off the ground has been difficult and the CDC, NOT President Trump made mistakes with the test in the beginning!!
That may be true Pat, but the real botch in that regard was Trump not immediately asking for the already proven effective, in-use tests from the WHO which were available rather than spending the time to develop our own, and prior to that canning the pandemic response team completely which would’ve had much of that stuff well in hand.
The CDC should have pushed for that testing, but many do not trust WHO after their collusion with China to not warn the world about this virus. Or that China has been stockpiling protective equipment when they knew the virus was spreading and would be needed by the rest of the world. As I said, the test reveals those people testing positive for the virus, but it’s not a good method for getting people back to work unless people could be tested everyday which would be a massive undertaking. A person could be not spreading the virus today, but begin spreading the next day. The test is good for isolation of individuals who test positive and treating them when we know they test positive, but it doesn’t solve all of the problems.
The World Health Organization may not be perfect but it does far more good than harm. And Donald Trump was the only world leader that pulled money from that organization in the middle of a pandemic. Is everybody else wrong and he is right AGAIN???
WHO is corrupt and they front for China. Trump IS right again!
Joe and Hunter Biden!!!
ARE you defending not having test?
Do you know how nuts you and his other enablers sound Pat? I have no desire for people to die OR for the economy to tank. Nobody blames Trump for the virus, or for the immutable fact that if you shut down the economy it will not be a good thing for the economy. We are, however, looking for answers that will help everyone, medically and economically and not just pad the pockets of the wealthiest among us.
Then tell Nancy Pelosi that she shouldn’t have taken so long to sign off on the assistance bill for small businesses and individuals. Yes, it is being signed today, but Nancy and friends sure did drag their feet. I agree, Let’s all work together!!
Trump is the President of redirection.We dont want anyond to ask about the testing.
Pat, Pelosi is too busy wiping her snot all over congressional podiums.
Blah,blah,blah.
Sounds like you are trying to spit out some bleach Chuck.
Chuck, It really is about blah blah blah. They have no idea of what they speak. I am not certain what the President said to be fair. However there is currently research ongoing with some of the things mentioned (NO NO ONE is researching injecting bleach) but there are exciting things happening in the research field with EVLP or Ex Vivo lung perfusion. Penn Med is one of a handful of places doing it before transplanting lungs. It is overly complicated to try and describe here and will be misconstrued, etc. Yes it is EX VIVO or outside the body at this time however technology advances daily. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/transplant-institute/lung-transplant/treatments-and-procedures/ex-vivo-lung-perfusion is this helpful for the current situation I wont say way to many unknowns and way to much research left to do I will let the researchers march on.
ROFL…I am quite sure Donnie is current on his medical journal reading about Ex Vivo lung perfusion? What he said was that the doctors should look into ways a disinfectant could be injected directly into the lungs. He SAID it. Walk it back all you want, he said it.
It is not my comment to walk back if that was in fact the comment made. I would bet he is not up on the research but I would suggest a large number of conversations regarding research, therapies and so on have been had. The Agencies ( CDC, NIH, FDA and so on) are up on the research and I would hope everything is on the table for discussion. When I get a free minute I will try to find a transcript of what was said along with the video Do you happen to have one? Honestly I am suspect of what was said in this very blog we have two different statements regarding what was said.
the link to the transcript:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-31/
relevant portion:
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. So I asked Bill a question that probably some of you are thinking of, if you’re totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that too. It sounds interesting.
ACTING UNDER SECRETARY BRYAN: We’ll get to the right folks who could.
THE PRESIDENT: Right. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds — it sounds interesting to me.
So we’ll see. But the whole concept of the light, the way it kills it in one minute, that’s — that’s pretty powerful.
I didn’t see where he told anyone to inject swallow or in anyway use bleach or disinfectant in their bodies. Please link to that portion
Thanks, 5th. This won’t end all the nonsense the Enemies of Trump are spouting about the President’s comments. More proof that the opposition’s main focus is on the politics of the virus and not on public safety.
Conservative right wing aggitated power all day everyday.That is what built this base of political redirection.Trump was media point man during Obamas political life doing constructive things like rebuilding Bushes failed economy and doing a Affordable Care Act .Obama hate was broad and the goal was complete destruction of President Obama. The destroyer was Donald J Trump.His hatred is well documented……Media agitating power with simple questions about his war strategy is hatred when in reality the power of journalism is so weakend by this one man.He was appointed to tear down the America many here grew up with. Steve Bannon is proud.
I watched it yesterday. I was shocked. The video is widely available on any news site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zicGxU5MfwE
Do I have the proper clip here? It shows what the transcript says above. Please reply with time stamp of when he tells anyone to inject or ingest anything? am I missing it? Please show me where it differs from the official transcript I posted above relevant portion?
But for some reason the makers of Lysol felt it necessary to ask people not to drink their product. I wonder why they would do that.
Because a group of people started a narrative that could prove harmful. The same group has been less than honest with other information in the past and the company might have seen it as a public service. Have you sent an e-mail to the company and asked them for an explanation?
Has anyone thought about injecting Kool-Aid? I’d think it would be a tremendous thing to look at. I’m just here to present talent.
And they put caytion hot on cooffee cups for people like you
Geez 5th…it says it right in the quote YOU pulled above. ” is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.”
I mean, I guess he does not say, “you should all take bleach and inject it,” but he does say we should check out injecting disinfectant into the lungs…it’s just syntax. He is the president of the goddam United States of America. He should NOT be telling people to check out injecting disinfectant into their lungs. Just pipe down and let the medical professionals talk.
Mr. G are you saying that ” is there a way we can…” Is some sort of an instruction? We should check out once again is that an instruction to do or to explore? Your post from above claims he said. He never said to inject. What in your opinion was the context of the conversation? Did you miss all that?
Trump spoke of injecting a cure into a body. He never said into a human lung. you are taking what he said out of context. He was referring to the virus getting in the lung, in his next sentence. You lefty losers are as despicable as Elmer Fudd.
Better re read the transcript Joe. The implication was clear. The the the that’s all folks!
Much ado about nothing.
Anyone and I mean anyone who can defend what Donald Trump said yesterday is seriously blinded. President of the United States? He is wreckless.
Are you spellcheckless?
Much ado about nothing.
I get the UV ljght which makes complete sense. Lets not redirect that the statement is about UVLight.Ladies and Gents its about injecting disinfectants.He said it and it made people feel there is something wrong with him.Dont redirect to the UV
TSC no redirection if you are unable keep focused do not redirect that on others the attribution that was given to the President was that he told people to either ingest or inject disinfectant when he clearly did not. You want it to be something that it isn’t if your hell bent on manufacturing something might I suggest masks
I support Chris Connell. Connell & Morandi appear to be the only councilors concerned about city taxpayers. I completely disagree with Tyer’s proposed “economic plan” as it will be 1) administered by Ruffer, her corrupt right-arm partner in crime, 2) benefit a select few, 3) raid existing city funds, and 4) duplicates federal loan programs. How about an economic plan that benefits everyone in the city and not just hand-selected political allies, like an across-the-board tax decrease? How about a plan that cuts 10% out of every city department? How about the mayor and top department heads take a salary cut?
Thank you to the planet poster who alerted us to Lenox’s economic plan yesterday – a plan fair to all residents, not a few hand-selected winners!
Holy Cow. A shining example of responsible management, including a hiring freeze, no property tax increase for next year, no capital expenses next year, and a fiscal control board. Too bad it ain’t Pittsfield.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/lenox-eyes-22-million-in-cuts-to-offset-virus-born-losses,603069
Alex,
I’ll go with the others won’t do the right thing and go against a tax hike with Connell for $1,000
It will be business as usual with this Council. Even in the hardest of times, it is time to do things differently for the people.
Dan, how dare you expect a response from Moonbeam and Yuki. Moonbeam is home trying to figure out how many days she can wear her yoga pants before having to turn them inside out. She did comment that she is fighting acne with Biore Pore Strips, sincerely hope her acne gets better. Yuki is celebrating her virtual birthday party and listening to Yo Yo Ma and most likely calculating how much free money she will need to reopen her drug haven bar. Happy Birthday Yuki. Bottom line, they are both very busy, too busy to respond and do their elected job. Thanks to those that did responded at least we know you are awake. Do wonder what has happen to PeePee Petie, not the man we use to know that fought for the taxpayers?
Yuki And Moonare doing a great job. Check out oak hill road for example.
While you are on here constantly flapping your gums and complaining about Moon she is out picking up garbage and the like, arranging meals for community members who have lost jobs. In addition to feeding women and children and collections donations for the Elizabeth freeman center, Finding gloves and masks for the Nurses I could go on but you get the point. I’m sure she does more before 9 am then you do all day. So lighten up on things you know nothing about PLEASE!
The lady doth protest too much me thinks
MM
Yes, all good, but the one thing she did not do was respond to our questions — 10/11 did. If you run into her, tell her to get in touch with me. When the phone doesn’t ring, I’ll know it’s Helen not getting back to me.
Moon is garbage so she’s basically with family
So is she still on the city council? Doesn’t she have to work from home? Is she doing this angel of mercy act on state time and getting paid? Where do we sign up for a job like this?
How many government employees working from home in this city, counting teachers, and how many actually “working” while home????? If the private sector wants to pay people to choke the chicken at home, that’s their business but when Tyer and McCandles allow it, it’s my business.
Maybe if they can’t form a coherent thought about a spending plan they should not have voted on it? Just a reasonable idea. I love that Yuki had to check with Kifflinks first. That is what the communists called ‘ideologically reliable’. And I can hear the boot lickers started to swarm and flap their wings …
So iberkshires is running a story about the empty hospitals looking for business. The Beagle is running a story about the Guv looking for federal aid. How about ENDING the LOCKDOWN!!
Good for Gov. Kemp of GA allowing businesses to open up, IF they want to. Giving control back to the citizens. Bravo!
Cheers Bleach shots all around!
Speaking of Gov. Kemp. Why is Trump so mad at him? Embarrassed the hell out of him on national Tv. Pretty much told him to open up his state and then when he did he threw him under the bus.
Never told Kemp to open up the state.
The people of Georgia are not opening as many dont feel that its safe even if the Governor does.
Do you still get black market weed of do you get it at Barry’s shop?
I laughed till tears about the iBerkshires story. Dear public CHOOSE NOW to take an elective surgery! Now is the time! We have no PPE, possibly no soap or clean towels but we still have an accounting dept churning away so some dickhead at the top can get a bonus. You can recuperate in one of the county’s well kept care facilities. Please leave address and contact details of next of kin for billing purposes.
Like I’ve said all along BHS is only interested revenue to give management bonuses. No hospital that cares about patients would ever suggest doing elective surgery now.
Bonuses over safety and health. The tried to convince the state to allow them to put homeless COVID patients at Fairview commons.
I believe you!
Explain why and then how.Business as usual but no customers.Good leadership will have a plan after the data is processed. I would say mid may you will see something for after Memorial day and many things will start slowly befor that.Fools rush in.
The lockdowns need to end.
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/we-have-never-seen-an-economic-collapse-quite-like-this-and-it-is-largely-a-self-inflicted-wound
Just received my third online reminder from the City Of Pissfield that my real estate tax in due the first of May. So do I trust that Mayor Crayola had deferred payments until June 1st? NOT! Don’t trust her one bit. Also, just finished paying my mortgage, insurance, utilities and car payment. Went to the grocery store for weekly shopping. Noticed as I was checking out what my cost would have been if I qualified for an EBT card. While driving back home I couldn’t help thinking that evidently I have been a fool all my life for working so hard, at times working two to three jobs to survive and many times having to forgo something I wanted to pay my bills on time, thinking maybe I can get it next month. If I had just sat on my butt, I would be receiving all the freebies of the USA right now. I feel totally taken advantage of and used by this Administration and there is nothing us hardworking taxpayers can do about it. Sorry for my little rant, guess I am having a bit of a down day. Just very tired of the injustice.
I. Getting my water bill and mortgage payment confused. The water bill is now a mortgage payment.
Your concerns are perfectly justified and you have a lot of company.
Thanks, M&B. Hope your day improves.
Mayor Crayola
https://live959.com/watch-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-mayor-tyer-exercises-to-purple-hat-video/
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Linda Tyer has joined Slater and Marjo In The Morning on Thursday mornings to keep listeners in the city informed of the latest numbers among other things.
When asked about exercising during “quarantine” she mentioned to Slater that she prefers “Purple Hat” by SOFI TUKKER. Whaddya think
What do I think, this is what you get when her biggest claim to fame was what she could accomplish with two guys.
RN, your last sentence makes no sense.
Maybe you should go make a sandwich Harrison.
the last sentence is intriguing
Yeah it does Mayor Crayola is know for back work
I could accomplish a lot with two girls.
I call her Friday updates fake news Friday.
Will work for Lysol.
When it comes to the ‘thumbs-up’ and ‘thumbs-down’ votes, most of the time they don’t have much to do with the content and have everything to do with the person.
Give that man a cookie
Yes, and a glass of chocolate milk, because he has the courage to post under his name. Thanks, JERRY!
A lot of people spoke out against Stalin under their own names but it didn’t work out too well in the end.
Understood, HT. That principle is well in place in the People’s Free and Democratic Republic of Pittsfield.
That’s probably true, JP.
Certain people post certain things that are reflective of that person.
For instance you can tell by my moniker that I am a real doctor. And I don’t mean a TV doctor like doctor OZ. I could actually stitch up an appendix if I wanted to.
Unless your body is so fatigued it can’t breath on its own, ventilators are NOT the answer.
Everything coming from China, Japan, Korea, Italy and the UK is suggesting MAX O2 is better for most patients.
Your long term prognosis isn’t good if you’re put on a ventilator.
Blare baby, are you talking to me or RN?
Go away you. You have nothing to add to this conversation. [THE REMAINDER OF THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN REDACTED TO SAVE THE WRITER FROM EMBARRASSMENT]
So is the Pittsfield public works shut down completely? There are some hugeamongous potholes out there and some areas getting really bad. Anyone been down Cloverdale near PLT lately? Who is the council person for that area anyway? Roadside garbage is piling up. Some honorable citizens have taken to picking some of it up but if we are paying high taxes shouldn’t the city pitch in and help them?
I hear they are non-essential and paid to stay home but I don’t believe the city would be that stupid. Valentine Road looks like it was bombed.
the way roads are here they’ve been non-essential.
Very funny, Dan, you must be very proud! The record will bear out that you have created a completely mindless and bitter blog that gives morons free reign to vent their spleens and make absolutely no sense. Thank God for free speech, right Dan?
You’d get a better deal on the weed at Barry’s pot shop.
Poll: In the wee wee small hours of the morning, after he’s taken his viagra, who does Blare have a bigger boner for, Valenti or Capeless?
classy
Hands down, no pun intended, he has the biggest bone for RN for some reason.
Morons vote ya know.
At least sometimes they print the news and tell the truth. Still no word from the eagle about the one, now two in Pittsfield. Why is that?
It’s funny to hear how safe these facilities are from companies that run nursing homes and PT and OT facilities.
Also they don’t mention all of these cases are homeless patients from other parts of the state that won’t be required to stay at the facility and can leave at any time.
Great Barrington — A COVID-19 recovery center will be opening soon in the former Great Barrington Healthcare long-term care facility on Maple Avenue.
Town health agent Rebecca Jurczyk has confirmed that the facility at 148 Maple Ave., previously owned by Timberlyn Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center (formerly Kindred Nursing & Rehabilitation), is going to re-open as a “completely positive” COVID-19 facility. The facility, which was closed in mid-March, has already been accepting patient referrals and will open with 10 patients.
Dr. Michael McHugh, chairman of the department of emergency medicine at BMC
In the Berkshires, waiting rooms are not congested, everyone is given a mask immediately if they don’t have one, and the “super sick are separated from the not sick,” McHugh added.
He’s lying and what he forgets is signs of sickness are not relevant when it comes to COVID+ patients.
Has he not been paying attention?
8 people got infected sitting in the emergency room waiting room before BMC even knew what happened then they waited a whole week trying to cover it up.
Just because you have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies doesn’t mean you are immune to reinfection.
The couple ways that COVID is like the flu is that you aren’t even immune to the flu. That it mutates and will forever present an issue, cold and flu season is now cold, flu, SARS, and COVID season.
In a small percentage of people it will be a tremendous problem every year, in a majority of people, it won’t be a problem at all.
For those with a genetic predisposition they will be carriers for life.
Bill Clinton must be proud of Joe!!!!
How long before Joe, who put the DEM in DEMentia, Biden, gets the Clarence Thomas/Bret Kavnanaugh treatment before Congress?
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/04/24/biden-accuser-tara-reade-mother-called-larry-king-cnn-program-to-discuss-allegations/
“Tara Reade, the former U.S. Senate staffer accusing former Vice President Joe Biden of sexual assault, says her mother called into a live show with Larry King on CNN in 1993 to anonymously discuss the alleged incident without naming Biden or her daughter.
Last month, Reade revealed there was more to the story she told in April 2019. At first, she only accused the former vice president of unwanted touching and sexual harassment. Reade now claims Biden pushed her up against a wall and forcibly penetrated her with his fingers, while she was briefly employed by his Senate office in the early 1990s. She also claims that, before departing Biden’s office in August of 1993, she broached the topic of sexual harassment with the senator’s aides but did not mention the assault, which Reade alleges took place either in the U.S. Capitol or the Russell Senate Office Building……”
Or maybe it was the Lincoln Memorial or the National Cathedral but wherever it was it sure as hell had to happen if breitbart says so.
Tommy, I bet You believed everything CNN told You about Crissy Ford and Anita Hill.
Here’s a good read on the biased Media’s double standard depending if You happen to be a Jackass or an Elephant
https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/14/media-treated-joe-bidens-assault-accuser-differently-than-brett-kavanaughs/
Tommy! nobody’s called me that since my days back on milk st.
The Eagle reports 12 people are in BMC suspected of having covid. Rest of hospital mostly empty. Why is city still shut down? What are Hinds, TFB and Crayola doing to open businesses up? This is ridiculous! RN reports that covid- infected homeless are sent to the Berkshires, but not quarantined? Is Baker pulling a “Cuomo” by sending the sick out (or in Cuomo’s case, back into nursing homes) to purposefully infect others, jack up the numbers to continue the lockdowns?
Yeah. The new banner should read, “WELCOME TO PITTSFIELD, THE HOME OF ‘WE DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU'”
Welcome to Pittsfield, land of the free, home of the homeless.
Trump could not run a Casino.Baker and Cuomo could both run a casino.
Cumo is converting slot machines into ventilators. Fredo is helping out.
Just hate for someone that is a zillion times more successful than we are.
It’s an old story, CV: The successful don’t like failures, and failures don’t like the successful.
Does life insurance pay if a person dies of the Corono virus? Or is it considered a natural disaster and they get a mulligan on paying the death benefits?
And with 50,000 (so far) people added to the countries death toll just this month does anyone think life insurance will bo up a buck or two next year? Or maybe go up three bucks if you are over 70?
Yes, Corona is covered as an untimely death if it relates to any Presidential order that specifies to flush it out with detergents.
So, the next proposal is to give Americans 2000 a month for six months or until employment levels reach levels that they had before Corona. ILL TAKE IT.
Of course it pays and no the cost won’t suddenly rise. Life insurance has fixed pricing and the amount of people dying, as a percentage of population, is very small. And whole life is a big rip off. Buy term only, and only if you need it.
Just wondering. Is there anyone out there who is closely related to Mr. James O’Brien, teacher at Pomeruy Jr. High School?
The best I can tell you Chuck is that he had 5 kids and lived on Commonwealth Ave. He had a daughter that graduated with you and her married name was Marybeth Mastropaolo. I think she’s dead. He also had a son John that would be about 82 and a daughter Maureen who graduated from St, Joe in 1958. Jim himself died around 1954. He graduated as valedictorian from St. Joe in 1924 and later from Niagra. Don’t know if any of this helps.
Thank you, Thomas. I knew Marybeth. Sorry to hear she passed. Years and years ago I met all the children. Bright and good-looking youngsters. I think I knew Maureen. At Pomeray Mr. O’Brrien was my coach and teacher in all 3 sports and had a major influence in guiding me. Many times he visited my parents to help me through and to make certain I signed for college courses in high school. Are there teachers that do that nowadays? None that I know of. I want to visit his gravesite. Thus my purpose in writing.
He’s most likely buried at St. Joe cemetery. You can get that information and the location of his grave at the office at the cemetery.
There’s a cemetery database, findagrave.com, and Thomas is correct. 1954.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43253960/james-j_-o_brien
Thanks, Harrison, very helpful.
for a little more info Maureen and Terrence live in town. Maureen possibly on Valentine Rd. and Terry on West St.
Thanks, Thomas, helpful once again.
Chuck,I thought the Gaetanis guided you?
I smiled when I read the name Gaetani’s. What a wonderful family. Joe and Charley cut my hair for 18 years. First time I sat in another barbers chair I was a college freshman in another town. Then there was Tony, Tommy, Rosie. There were others I didn’t know well. We got to know Craig in the next generation. He was a teacher, scientist, and politician. Yes, indeed, a wonderful family. First-generation productive citizens who contributed to the greatness of America. Thanks, Banded, you sure stirred my memory.
Joe and Charley Gaetani rented barbershop space from my father. I knew them well. Good people.
Maybe we have been wrong in our thinking of politicians at every level?
We have to stop thinking of them as “idiots” if we ever expect to understand this game. Not stupidity at all…MALICE.
Most are actually quite smart and reading from a script provided by their handlers. As long as we think they’re only stupid, they are winning.
Facts are scary: Over 11,000 deaths in U.S. long term facilities (over 20% of COVID 19 deaths in U.S.). Around 3,000 deaths in U.S. per day. Politicians are not helping matters. It is tragic!
Fear is the new flu.
I agree. Maybe WE are the idiots for thinking they are idiots?
If there was any question as to how much the Eagle, the other “news websites, and BHS are in collusion togethers it should be clear now.
We still don’t have proper ppe. We still are running short staffed and they want to cut nursing staff hours. They still want people to volunteer to do eork. BHS doesn’t care about patients or staff health or safety.
IBerkshires and the Eagle then have stories of how people should come to the ER or schedule elective surgery because the hospital is safe.
It wasn’t safe when this first started, it isn’t safe now, and it will never be really safe. If you to schedule elective surgeries, go someplace else.
Just hope you don’t need emergency care at BMC.
If you can get seen at Baystate or Albany Med do it. Coolie Dick. Go there.
how fucking disgusting can the new papers and BHS be. It ain’t safe people go someplace else.
RN
Yes, there is collusion. Of course, there’s always been collusion in this business. When I was in newspapers, we regularly talked with our colleagues from other rags and with the TV/radio people. When I was in radio, same thing. But it was collusion of a type that helped journalists cover the truth — what was going on out there, what are you hearing, that sort of thing. The collusion we’re seeing in Berkshire County is of a detrimental sort. Reporters and writers are essentially being told not to cover the truth, if that truth would hurt, for example, tourism or embarrass city hall. When you have that contrarian in the newsroom, and he or she probes a little too deeply into forbidden areas, they can’t get the stories past management. Fortunately, THE PLANET remains totally independent. We owe no one, we ask for nothing.
If Kim Jong Un passes away does Hilary get is pantsuits?
Does Hillary get the VP nod?
“What have we got to lose?” as Mr. Trump says.
Here’s hoping she does.
So it sounds like as long as the city gets reimbursed by the Commonwealth. And the state gets the money from the Federal Government and the Federal Reserve continues to print money. and eventually we lose our sovereignty to some global entity created by the United National and the World Health Organization it’s all good.
As long as the mayor pays and taxes our ass,she doesn’t care where it comes from or who pays for it. Just stop dipping into ssi
Finally broke down and watched Mayor Crayola’s latest Friday update. Made sure I did it before I ate so I wouldn’t barf. First thing I noticed is the weekly message was almost 3 minutes shorter than the week before. She seems to have less and less to tell us hardworking taxpayers, is she hiding something? LOL Mayor Crayola we all know after almost six weeks of this that we need to wash our hands and stay home! This little speech took up about 2 minutes of her update. How about explaining to us why there is no traffic control? Why Pittsfield speed limits have evidently been changed to 70 mph on Dalton Ave. & Merrill Rd? Why people are allowed to blow red lights and stop signs? Have heard that the police officers are working 7 days on 7 days off with hazard pay and overtime pay even though they are not working overtime. Could she explain this? Young mothers and children are spending their days picking up garbage and nicely bagging it by the road for the DPW to pick up. Notice that there have been some of these bags on New York Avenue by the deer for at least a week. While taking a walk to watch the deer I saw 3 DPW trucks drive by these bags, two dump trucks and one pick-up with nothing in the back of their trucks. So Mayor Crayola, why are we paying these trucks to drive around all day? They most certainly are not filling potholes. Why is the Health/Police/Fire departments not enforcing the amount of people going to Walmart and Market 32? It is time for our City Council to demand a update from Mayor Crayola and Eddie Munster-Cufflinks to divulge who is getting paid in this City for doing absolutely nothing. Or do they even know, or care, of course they are also getting paid and have basically free health insurance. Meanwhile make sure you pay your taxes on time so Mayor Crayola has enough money to keep her inside circle of friends happy.
M&B
Great questions. I am going to forward them directly to the mayor for a response. What are the odds of hearing back? 100-to-1? More?
I’ve sent the mayor these questions.
Thanks Dan. Although I don’t think we should hold our breath for answers. She has always been too defiant and does NOT like to be questioned about her work ethic and decisions. Even though us taxpayers foot the bill we have no right to know what is going on in her eyes. We will see.
I have questions too.
More stimulus coming soon to the unfortunate. Rep Kennedy originally wanted four grand.