!! COPS NAB MAN IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING NEAR PALMER’S VARIETY !! …REOPEN THE BERKSHIRES TO INFECTED TOURISTS? NO WAY. LOCAL ECONOMY MUST PREPARE FOR THE HIT
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
ADD 1, MAY 8 morning — Here’s the full text of the press release issued by the Pittsfield Police Department concerning the shooting near Palmer’s Variety on Elm Street last night:
On Thursday 5/7/2020 at approximately 10:05 PM multiple units with the Pittsfield Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Palmer’s Variety, located at 221 Elm Street. Information obtained at the scene indicated that two vehicles had been involved in an altercation that included a motor vehicle crash. According to independent eyewitnesses, a passenger in one of the vehicles then fired multiple rounds at the other vehicle. Damage consistent with gunfire was observed on the victim’s vehicle. A handgun and ammunition were later discovered a short distance away from the shooting. No significant injuries were reported.
As a result of the ensuing investigation, 27 year old William Hennessey of the Springfield area was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Carrying a Firearm without a License, and Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges against Hennessey and others may be forthcoming.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact the PPD Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705. Information can also be provided anonymously via the Detective Bureau Tip Line at 413-448-9706, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).
———- ooo ———-
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 8-10, 2020) — Damned if you do, shot twice in the head and fished out of the Susquehanna River if you don’t.
That’s the dilemma America finds itself in after willfully putting the world’s No. 1 economy into an induced coma. THE PLANET realizes we’re long past judgment over that decision. When the President acted to ban arrivals from China, liberals blasted him for being too premature. When he finally imposed federal mandates on COVID-19, libs again took to the petard and barked that the Trumpander-in-Chief waited too long. If Hillary had been on the Ovular Office, she would have faced similar treatment from the conservatives. That’s what passes for politics these days.
The debate shifts to now, the present, the one thing we can still affect (don’t ever think we can control it). Do we reopen or not? How do we decide? What will a reopening look like? Pittsfield mayor Linda Tyer is looking at this matter. THE PLANET has sent her the following questions:
We hope to publish her response in Monday’s edition.
———- ooo ———-
The one certainty is that at some point, we must revive the economy or else join Moonwatcher in his cave oogling the Monolith.
The longer we wait, the harder it will be to restart. The steel industry, for example, seemed impervious threats save foreign price undercutting. Now, however, the bottom has dropped out as developers and builders killed construction projects, forcing contract cancellations and massive layoffs. Alcoa just canned 700 workers at its Ferndale, IN plant, the equivalent of GE giving Pittsfield the bum’s rush in the early-90s. Expect this scene to repeat across the nation, in countless industries, then play out the residual effects. We need not delineate them. But does that mean The Berkshires should reopen now? THE PLANET thinks not.
A key factor for Berkshire County will be the tourist problem. The No. 1 influx of tourists to the county come from New York City. Boston follows Gotham for second place, then Hartford-New Haven, the rest of Massachusetts, and the other five New England states (source: Berkshire Visitors Bureau). Couple that with studies based on three months of hard data. They show genetically link a full 92% of the virus samples collected in New England from The Big Apple.
“New York [City] acted as the Grand Central Station for the virus,” said David Engelthaler, head of the Infectious Disease Branch, Transnational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ. Nine of every 10 New Englanders who became infected can blame The Big, Rotten Apple.
Tyer, Sen. Adam Hinds — who’s pushing for an early reopening because of the intense pressure he’s receiving from cultural groups and businesses dependent on them — and others need to put one and one together here and come up with two: Nearly all of the local economy comes from tourists + Nearly all of the local COVID-19 cases from NYC.
Conclusion: With what we know now, there’s no way they can reasonably justify a decision to reopen the Berkshires to the onslaught of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Stephalacoccus from Long Island and Queens. That closure includes all summer camps.
“Hello Muddah, hello Faddah” will have to wait. Local leaders must realize that.
Have a Happy Mother’s Day, all you mothers out there, and have great weekend, everybody!
———————————————————————————————
“There’s believers, deceivers, and in-betweeners who all see there is no place to go” — Willie Nelson from the album The Red Headed Stranger.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information, hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer. Copyright (c) 2020 by Dan Valenti.
NYC second homers have been coming to the Berkshires and ignoring the stay at home thing anyway. They load up GB every weekend.
Many of them are just “here” now. They dont go back and forth but just stay.
My friends in GB report otherwise.
Not true. Some travel back and forth weekly if not more.
It’s unconstitutional to close borders between states.
I thought Trump tore that up
In less than one month’s time, the U.S. National Debt increased by one trillion U.S. Dollars. It surpassed $24 trillion on April 9, 2020. It surpassed $25 trillion on May 7, 2020. We are in a 2020 economic recession. Massachusetts’ state government faces a $5 billion budget deficit. Over 33 million American workers lost their jobs and health insurance so far. 1 out of 5 workers are unemployed. U.S. House of Representatives is still in recess after over 5 weeks and counting. The U.S. Senate reconvened on May 4th after taking the month of April off. The U.S. Senate this week is doing nothing about the coronavirus pandemic. Donald Trump is in it over his head as over 70,000 Americans have died so far from COVID-19. Nursing Homes are death camps! Holyoke Soldiers Home is a total debacle. Pittsfield’ (Mass.)’s economic demise happened a generation ago. Re-opening Pittsfield (Mass.)’s distressed economy won’t help the area’s working poor. The lovely Linda Tyer will soon propose a fiscal year 2021 municipal budget with very low revenue projections. Without a federal bailout for state and local governments, Mayor Linda Tyer is looking at financial insolvency. Matt Kerwood will have to part with his $10.1 million slush fund. Berkshire County’s tourism economy will take a hit this Summer of 2020.
From March 26, 2020 through May 7, 2020, the U.S. National Debt increased by $1.5 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office’s estimate for fiscal 2020 – that ends on September 30, 2020 – deficit is $3.7 trillion.
.
Hi Dan,
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (BHLB) stock declined today to a 20-year low — $11.35 per share (and this on a day the rest of the market was rallying).
COVID-19 may be a contributing factor, but other bank’s faced with COVID-related issues have been dealt four-year lows compared with BHLB’s 20-year cratering.
Management owes an explanation.
Why was Daley given the golden handshake?
Karma B B
They are probably looking at a bunch of legacy defaults. I can’t imagine that the down grade happened related to Covid as that is an awfully fast impact — but if so they should fire all their credit analysts. The original loans weren’t any good if they are already defaulting.
So the people in charge of releasing numbers related to the virus are saying only 37 deaths in Berkshire county?
I generally check the obits daily to see if I am there and about mid January I started noticing what seemed to me an abnormal amount of deaths in Northern Berkshire. Adams, North Adams and Williamstown. And these numbers seemed to be consistently high every week and even now. I was wondering when they were going to run out of people up there. So if it is not the virus why are so many people dying up there lately? Anyone from North Berkshire notice this stark trend?
I know a guy who does body pick-ups for three local funeral homes. Last night, he had three bodies to fetch. Two died from C-19.
Drugs, suicides, illness (non-covid)……people die all the time and it will continue….
Do you have any stats comparing the past 5 years??
The numbers are a lie. They have been coding a number of COVID deaths as unknown location.
Tourism is what getting back to work looks like outside of Pittsfield. Circling around the Red Lion in is all Stockbridge has.The president wants Stockbridge to open up. Fox brain is telling people you beat this.Trumpers are not wearing mask so they can spit all over everything they encounter because it is their constitutional right. Relax ,be Trump cool and spit.
I doubt the president knows anything about Stockbridge. Up to the guy.
Open everything . Pronto!
Pronto is right! I know families with both parents out of work struggling to pay their bills. The coronavirus peak is over, time to get back to work.
Dan,
Please post a link to this genetic link to NYC study.,I’m not buying it.
When the phone doesn’t ring, you’ll know it’s…….
F O X reports single worse jobs report….EVER….Thanks Trump Bear.
Dan,she’s not going to answer your questions,she’s would offend the Eagle. Thank you trump bear.
We shall see. I’m thinking you’re right. Actually, you are and will be correct only if and until she responds. If she doesn’t, we will need to load both barrels.
I’m no handicapper, but with lack of any races to bet on, I’ll toss a coupla bucks on the nose of the Tyer pony. I think you will get AN answer, but most of it will be boilerplate and ultimately avoidance of the actual questions…like she will say Dottie’s will be in the same line as everyone else in what will undoubtedly be a fair, unbiased, dynamic process…something like that.
Love Dotties
And my little friends and I love you.
Hot coffee, hot baristas!
Caliente Cucaracha
MR G
If she says the process will be “fair, unbiased, and dynamic” (or “collaborative and vibrant,” for that matter, then she’s on record. If Dotties or anyone else gets pushed ahead of the line, I’ll find out and then will bring out the heavy artillery.
Oh…I have no doubt Dan! I was just saying I’d bet 2 bucks…no more than that tho…that she’ll respond to you in some fashion, maybe by Tuesday? If no…Well the race was exciting. Which brings to mind the thought that chronic gamblers must be going through Hell right now. Nothing in the whole world to wager on. When we first moved to NYC, my wife and I, and maybe a couple of other friends would go sit on a bench on Central Park West and bet nickels on…the next pigeon to fly off…how many cars it would take for a car to crush an acorn rolled into traffic…
MR G
I gave the mayor a deadline of Sunday night, 9 p.m. If I don’t hear from her by then, I’m going with what I got. Betting on pigeons? Funny stuff!
Is Haddads car dealership on her list of business s that need taxpayer help? Just who are the lucky winners? Can’t wait for the open and honest part of her administration although it has been about 5 years already. She will be showing her tr7ue colors again on this one folks. Secrecy on where tax dollars goes indicates something weird is going on behind the scenes.
Agree with you Johnny Come Lately. Dan, she wouldn’t answer my few questions a few weeks ago about the terrible conditions of the City and the rising crime /traffic concerns. These were the questions you forwarded to her and then spoke to her. By the way the conditions are steadily getting worse by the day. Do you really think she is going to answer yours? Basically is it NONE of the taxpayers business!
Anytime she appears on tv something bad happens. Last night cops all over the place by palmers and chickening Street. She goes on t v and makes a fool of herself.
Speaking of crime Mayor Crayola not answering my questions, just read there was another drug war shoot-out on Elm Street last evening, a third innocent person’s car was shot. We have only just begun, time to get Chief Mikey Wynn out of his library filled with kids books and make him do his job!
Scanner chatter suggesting many windshields broken out last night.
Thank you to the police for dealing with all the societal ills at this time. I don’t know how you do it. But could we set aside a couple of hundred cells at the jail and lock up some morons and just forget they are there till things calm down? Dead serious question.
Ahhhh is that what the multiple response from law enforcement near Palmers was? Just around the corner from the scene of the January 2019 Murder of Jaden Salois.
We can be very sure of two things this summer under lock down – violent crime will be higher than a usual summer and investigation/prosecution will be at an all time low.
Welcome to the new world order.
M&B
True, She refused to answer your questions, but we did have a conversation, which she provided with the strict understanding that it be off the record. That has never stopped me from asking other questions. It has happened many times in my career, where a politician stops responding because he or she has a thin skin or is angry over something I’ve written or spoken in a speech, on the radio or TV. It usually means that I’ve struck a chord with a note of truth. Invariably, when they stop responding, they hurt themselves politically. There is the attitude that “We know better than you” and the taxpayers need to shut up and simply pay the next increase.
Did your “off the record” conversation have anything to do with accepting remuneration for shutting down this blog? Cuz I can see her and her people going there
No. It didn’t “go there.” They know better.
Mayor Crayola not getting back to you.
Ruberto inherited,economy not so foolproof.
I agree Dan. Unfortunately local politicians insisted on making Berkshire County all about tourism. Local citizens do not want to pay for that bad decision with their lives. People are still getting infected in New York from the Virus and with so many people there, it will more than likely continue for some time. The second round of this virus could be very difficult for Berkshire County if New York and Boston tourists start pouring in.
AlienAte China for a few hundred billion and get us trillions in debt now jobless. Great formula Trumpy Bear.
Absolutely! You open the bars and restaurants in Berkshire county the people who are frustrated from being shut in will come from a hundred miles or more away. Incredibly stupid, ignorant asinine idea. IF we are lucky enough not to be too infected (and I am not at all sure that is true) why would we jeopardize that? We should be thankful for it and leave well enough alone.
I agree, but what can open are regular businesses that have nothing to do with tourism or their employees can continue working from home which would be an ideal situation. More stores can open that are not related to just the basics. This should be gradual or in the steps program as outlined by President Trump, but anything tourist related or bars should be the last to open. Restaurants are tricky, but they could become an attraction for out of the area people and locals might still be wary of eating out yet so restaurants may need to wait a while longer before reopening. It’s all up to Charlie Baker, but he seems like a sensible governor.
I thought the quarantine was to stop overwhelming the hospitals. It seems like it might not take much to do that given what we have heard. I take the Covid seriously but I am leaning towards opening things up too.
Tourism focused businesses should be the last to open. People coming out of town will bring their germs and take ours back home. That is bad. I think sensible people are talking about opening up local businesses. Bars might be up a creek. It’s funny that in other countries opening schools is considered first priority but in Berkshire Co it’s about making sure Hind Ends‘a donors get cash. Sounds about right.
KERMIT
I like that solution: open everything up for the tourist venues.
The figures are out. Dept of Labor puts the employment rate at 14.7%. A federal reserve banker estimates the real rate to be 23% to 24% when adding in uncounted information, that many businesses will not survive. The economy won’t bounce back quickly because corona IS a real thing. The problem isn’t the infection rate, it’s the mortality rate. (BTW, don’t waste your breath comparing it to the flu because I have the actual infection & mortality rates for the flu versus corona. It’s like comparing an air pistol (flu) to a gatling gun (corona).)
We’re in it now no matter what. The economy has to open no matter what. For once in our lives, we have to move forward smarter and not just run around blindly to get things running. Every time we’re in it up to our necks, I don’t care what party they’re from or even the country they’re from, we got here because of some politician/president/dictator, you name it.
About time we started thinking for ourselves. I only we’ve learned one thing: We are all Americans. It’s not about right or left, Republican or Democrat.
Just over 100 years ago, the Spanish Flu devastated us, followed by wars, recessions, diseases. What did we learn? How to be titanic angry jackasses. Think that this time around we’ll learn to be different?
We need each other. We may not agree, but we are not enemies. Good luck to everyone and stay well!
You really can’t predict CFR or IFR of COVID until testing is more widespread. We needed to open yesterday, this game of picking and choosing who gets to open and when is only going to cause more resentment. You want to go play golf? No problem. If your a barber/stylist and want to cut a clients hair? you might end up in jail. I am convinced the golf clubs who said they were opening despite the order, forced Baker’s hand as the last thing he wanted to do was have to arrest/jail people for trying to earn a living. The economy absolutely will bounce back if you allow people to make their own decisions based on risk tolerance.
Soon the Trumpers will constitutionality be able to spit all over Stockbridge and their waitress can assert their right to sneeze and cough wherever they please..The man is controlling you no more.Tne regressives are going maskless.MAGA ..Make America Maskless Again…Spit at will Trumpers…..Or you can just be respectful for a small amount of time so our President and Govenor can implement a cautious safe plan going forward.Lets be respectful and safe to others and get some normalcy.People want to be confident we are all in this together.
The Gates of Hell are waiting for Bill..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3YCyoQfQahawPAWlOG5AXnyKMdCRbJyKT18Ow5kRR-Nw59bMvm_r7kmWw&v=OpKLtGty3H4&feature=youtu.be
Is Fox brain reporting this?unemployment is 15%
Soon to be in the twenties
I agree. Thanks for posting that video. Everyone should watch it. The Mark of the Beast!
Now we have Pence staffers testing positive.You dont practice what they preach.
I completely disagree with you, Dan. Lift the lockdowns now!
Facts;
– avg age of deaths in MA – 82 (MDH)
– national avg. age of deaths – 75 (CDC)
– the more we test, the more cases are found
– no spikes in new hospitalizations
– health system not in danger of being overrun
– mortality rates skewed upwards due to inaccurate reporting as encouraged by Dr. Birx
Do we want to continue to destroy small businesses? Do we want to put BMC out of business? (They currently have 6 covid patients) 60 – 70 beds open! Lift the lockdowns. Allow businesses to make their OWN decisions whether or not to open. Encourage quarantine of those most at risk – the elderly! Allow citizens to make their OWN choices which businesses to visit!
FRITZ
Thanks for the pushback. You may well be right.
Be thankful you don’t live down here in Holyoke and Chicopee. Sections of stores are closed off, deemed nonessential by the local mayors. Good luck buying a Mother’s Day card as even the grocery stores are unable to sell seasonal merchandise, cards, small appliances, etc.
Trumps buying his wife a fever Counter for Mothers Day
BIDEN IS BUYING ABORTIONS FOR HIS FEMALE STAFFERS FOR MOTHER’S DAY.
ferrite,hows it feel to have the worst ever President? The numbers don’t lie,neither does his legacy!
They are doing that in the Berkshires. Try buying certain things in Target.
I went to Target and bought my kid a nice Nerf gun, semi-auto type, for birhtday along with some other stuff, like a Nintendo game, no questions asked. Tried to get two pack of toilet paper though, and was told only one.
and it’s time for some more stimulus moolah in the hood.
Open every damn thing including camps. Period, period, period, as Former presidential candidate Biden would say.
Hell no,not Camps,very very dangerous. Trump is tanking,the economy is tanking,and his base is tanked. Valenti better find a new outfit to promote. Why not a Syracuse alum..why? Cuz Trump didn’t get it done. Hell go down like Wendell Wenke.
Fake news!
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
What I like most about your style of journalism is that you allow free speech. You listen to all sides. I read that in your long coverage of Pittsfield politics, many elected officials ignore your request for answers to the issues that impact the people. I believe that when politicians do not answer your questions, they are wrong. My reasoning is that politicians are supposed to represent the people. When they support or oppose a political issue or a budget, politicians should explain why….they decided to shutdown non-essential businesses or raise municipals taxes, fees, and debts.
Exhibit A is Pittsfield (Mass.) State Representative Tricia Farley Bouvier, who blocks all of my emails. Some blog posters said she is part of Pittsfield politics’ Good Old Boys cult that includes Jimmy Ruberto, Carmen Massimiano, Angelo Stracuzzi, et al. I believe she is a banal “yes woman” for Beacon Hill State House Speaker (for life) Bob DeLeo – who is a de facto dictator!
Good luck dealing with these mean-spirited and provincial Pittsfield political hacks!
– Jonathan
Well Jon, I agree with you on THIS issue! TFB is useless!
That means a lot to me, Mr. Fritz. You are welcome, Dan Valenti.
Thank, JONATHAN!
Behind closed doors she’s known as Gypsy Rose. Carms still-alive?
PLEASE Sign this Petition!
“Stop calling for Payroll Tax Cuts and preserve Social Security and Medicare.”
Created by S.B. on May 08, 2020
The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) and its supporters know that a payroll tax cut would only lead to more calls to cut Social Security and Medicare because of the mounting federal debt. The Social Security Trust Fund is currently estimated to be depleted by 2034; a payroll tax cut will move that date up much sooner. Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance could become insolvent in six years. Medicare claims are on the rise due to the coronavirus, and Social Security claims increase during recessions. These funds are needed to pay those new enrollees who qualify, as well as current beneficiaries.
Needs 100,000 signatures by June 7, 2020 to get a response from the White House
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-calling-payroll-tax-cuts-and-preserve-social-security-and-medicare
So are you against that see you next Tuesday’s, Kamela Harris’ proposal to give everybody 2,000 per month, even bums and illegals?
Tucker and Sean are a disaster
I love the Tucker Carlson show. Best show on tv, by far. Hannity good too, but a little tiresome after a while. And I just love, love, love Doctor Nichole Sapphire, new Fox MD talking head. She can park her stethescope on my chest anyday of the week.
I never miss Tucker’s show. Definitely the best show on tv.
All the far left on this board only tune in to Rachel Maddow, MSNBC, and CNN. Maddow and those networks have told so many lies about the president.
You obviously never watch either, and thus blissful in your ignorance.
Beck Tucker Hannity and Limbaugh are isolated in bunkers.They want Trumpers to go 1st and test the Waters….libs to smart for that nonsense. Watching Foxbrain everyday to understand the talking point even better.
The incestuous relationship that exists between Democrats and the “media” is mind boggling. Most CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS viewers are even unwilling to do any research on this incest. You cannot see that which you are not willing to look at or for!
“Couple that with studies based on three months of hard data. They show genetically link a full 92% of the virus samples collected in New England from The Big Apple.”
Dan, please provide links or names of these stuides, so I can analyze them. I don’t know how a study can show that.
That’s dumb 99. Do your own legwork.
Not exactly. Dan is premising this piece on these studies. It is fair and proper and actually quite smart, to view the sources. Dummy up.
Noticed hidden in the BB paper today a Public Notice from Mayor Crayola’s new wonder boy Ricardo Morales. It was short and sweet stating there had been an issue with the Pittsfield drinking water on April 24th. After searching for quite a bit on the City of Pittsfield glorious website I finally found the information. It seems that on that day an operator closed the wrong valve stopping any chlorine going into the water system. It affected the Coltsville area. Couple more questions for Mayor Crayola, first, why did it take 15 days for the taxpayers to hear about this? Why was it basically hidden in the BB with no information? Why does a taxpayer have to search for the truth? How come Mayor Crayola can address the City again today to tell us to wash our hands, wear a mask and talk about her grandmother’s nursing home, but not mention this water issue to the taxpayers? Why did Mayor Crayola not mention it last week? There is always a chance of human error and I think we all know this, but why hide it? Why not be honest? Why does she not feel the need to communicate to the taxpayers that pay her salary?
Great questions, M&B. We had heard something about the water but not the details. Thanks for sharing.
A decent newspaper would have had this on the first page. Once again covering for the corner office. We are truly on our own in Pittsfield. Buy the newspaper but get only what the mayor wants you to know about.
MB,
Unfortunately the truth and information about an issue that doesn’t bode well for politicians are always buried. Thanks for the information that you had to dig and expose for the people.
The Berkshire Eagle has an article today regarding a key piece of info missing from all the Mass reporting – the number of recovered. This is an important piece of the puzzle, yes.
But more important is data on the severity of illness suffered by the now 75,333 cases in Massachusetts. The current hospitalization rate is 4%.
96% of everyone in our state with Covid are assumed to be relatively well enough to recover at home (like the flu). Add this to the insistence of government and media that there are two or three or ten times as many infected people with no symptoms just walking around enjoying asymptomatic life as well.
The mass hysteria surrounding the virus was its deadly, highly contagious nature. We see that it is indeed contagious. And it has killed 72,000 US people which is higher than a serious flu season, but not twice or three times or tenfold as high.
We are destroying our country – economically, socially, healthwise, educationally, etc. The sick and elderly should have been quarantined and protected. The rest of the population for whom the virus is at worst a bad flu, should have been left to keep the machine in motion.
Very well stated. I agree wholeheartedly Phil.
450 000 K People flew in after Trump lied and said they were not allowed
6,000,895 were denied passage/
Gov. Newsom of CA has ordered vote-by-mail for the November election. President Trump had this to say;
“This is a thinly-veiled political tactic by Gov. Newsom to undermine election security. There’s a difference between people voting absentee by mail because they can’t be at the polls on Election Day versus mailing everyone a ballot. Sending everyone a ballot – even those who didn’t request one – is a wide open opportunity for fraud. CA has a bad record on ensuring that people on the voter rolls still live at the same address, still reside in CA, or are even still alive. Everyone is concerned about the safety of voters, but jeopardizing election security is the wrong way to go about it.”
President Trump is right. And MA is trying to pass legislation for mail-in voting as well.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/08/california-gavin-newsom-orders-vote-by-mail-for-november-election/
President Trump is absolutely right about cutting off funding to WHO. Look at this garbage they are trying to push on our kids;
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/05/08/who-under-4s-should-learn-about-early-childhood-masturbation-explore-gender-identities/
We should never ever give them a nickel again.
Seven more reasons to believe Tara Reade’s allegations against Creepy Joe;
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/08/nolte-7-pieces-of-corroboration-that-back-up-claim-joe-biden-assaulted-tara-reade/
Crane in North Adams has decided to reopen in spite of the mayor calling them “nonessential.” Good for them! More companies should be defying these ridiculous lockdown orders. The MA gun shops sued the governor & won!
Right on Lenny. These are made up laws and unconstitutional
Next week, the U.S. Senate will vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act. The U.S. Government will continue to be able to disregard the U.S. Constitution and spy on U.S. Citizens. How can the two laws coexist together? The U.S. Constitution protects U.S. Citizens like me from the government violating my privacy rights, while the Patriot Act allows the government to violate my privacy rights. If I took the government to the U.S. Supreme Court, I wonder how they would adjudicate my case? President Donald Trump wants to make the Patriot Act permanent, despite all of the exposed abuses since 9/11/2001. If the Patriot Act becomes permanent, will they have to change the U.S. Constitution to allow the government to violate my privacy rights? Is this a step towards authoritarianism with Trump and his hand-picked successor becoming a Dictator? I always wondered if the U.S. Constitution is the law of the land or just an old 18th Century piece of paper!
Trump getting testing at W H. You and me,not so much.
Obviously just a piece of paper – look what the got damn governors are doing! Open every state now. Burn your masks in protest and storm Walmart and target.
Fox brain
With all due respect sir, at least I have a brain, Foxy though it may be! I find your posts, and in fact most of the school committee in this city, to be lacking in the brains department, or at least the common sense department. MAGA!
Great message, JONATHAN. The Patriot Act should be scrapped. It won’t be, but it should be. Instead, the Constitution will again go to the shredder.
May 10, 2020
I hope the U.S. Senate this coming week scraps the Patriot Act and upholds the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution! The two laws contradict each other! Either I have constitutional privacy protections or I do not have the right to privacy against Big Brother government. Please pick a side, 100 U.S. Senators.
– Jonathan Melle
—–
“Senate revives surveillance brawl”
The Hill, May 10, 2020
The Senate is set to revive a fight over a shadowy surveillance court, bringing to a head a months-long stalemate that resulted in the lapse of three intelligence programs.
The looming debate, which will pit some of President Trump’s biggest allies against each other, comes on the heels of growing questions about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court after the Justice Department inspector general found widespread errors as part of an interim report on warrant applications.
According to the crime map their were 2 armed robberies this week in Pittsfield as well as rampant vandalism.. did not see any of it in the local papers. If it was not in the paper then Pittsfield is still a wonderful place to be during a pandemic.
So did the Eagle get virus money from our low crime mayor or not?
There was also a windshield-smashing spree on the east side. No report from THE BB, no word from the mayor.
You would think the mayor, police chief and the Eagle would notify the citizens so they could be on the lookout to protect their property. What possible reason could there be for holding this info back?????
JA,
It takes time to clean up a sh!t mess and disinfect it so it can be presented without the stink.
JOHNNY
Good question. The only reason I can think of is to project an image, false as it may be, that this is a safe, calm, pleasant city. The backstory may be the panic over the likely cancelation of tourism this year.
They can’ t afford to report the news.
I guess you have to listen to Limbaugh or watch Tucker to get this:
Seems Brennan, Clapper, Yates, et al. were saying one thing in the lamestream media (“we’ve got evidence of collusion”) and another under oath behind closed doors (“we got dick”) to Congress on the Boris and Natasha Ruskie hoax.
Scorecard:
Flynn–railroaded
Brennan–liar
Clapper–liar
Yates–liar
Comey–liar
Chairman Shifty–liar
Mueller–liar
“journalists”–liars
Biden–brain-dead
Obama–guilty
Fake News
Not fake at all, the truth actually. Grow a brain sir.
More “journalism” in one hour than we’ve seen in the last four years–or forty:
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2020/05/08/vindication-day-on-the-russia-hoax-and-coup-against-trump/
https://www.aier.org/article/woodstock-occurred-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic/
Great article!! Reinforces the fact that we are shut down for primarily political purposes!
Thanks for this Free Bird. Time to open wide the country. MAGA
Trump and Pence McConnell want the Berkshires open for business.Those 3 know what they are doing.Fox News wants it open.Beck Hannity,Limbaugh and the reconstructed Laura Ingraham. When will they do the show from times Square
So, what do you have to say about any other leaders from the blue states that are and wanting to do the same?
So arrogant and phony for Obama to come forward and say the rule of law is at risk by releasing Flynn. He was behind the whole setup of destroying Flynn’s life to get him to lie. Obama knew the Russia Trump investigation was a hoax because President Trump did nothing with Russia, but Obama and his weaponized FBI used Russia trying to interfere in our elections to try to implicate President Trump in the whole mess. Obama is shameless!! Russia became bold enough to try to interfere in our elections while Obama was president!!
Right you are, Pat. Obama will be exposed for the crimes he has committed…
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/05/crooked-obama-panics-deep-state-reporter-isikoff-releases-leaked-call-former-presidents-fingerprints-attempted-coup-documents-coming/
Don’t forget Biden was there also. Although he probably already forgot about it.
This damn narrative being set by all those clowns who talk justice saying , Flynn lied regardless of the false crap that started all of this nonsense should just put themselves in his shoes. What would they have done?
Come on Pat. If you had a choice of the Obamas moving next door to you or any of the Trumps you would pick the Obamas in a heart beat.
No way Jose. I would rather have Trump any day of the week than the raciss Obamas
Obama, Rice, Comey, Lynch, and the rest are lucky they don’t get locked up with crooked Hillary. Obama was a most dissapointing president on so many levels. History will judge him as a dud. History will judge Trump much better.
I agree. A bad group of people. Just when I thought Comey’s behavior couldn’t get any worse, I hear the news clip from the other day in which he is speaking to a CNN reporter and he’s bragging about not going through the normal FBI process when prosecuting Flynn. If it was any other administration I wouldn’t be able to do this he says because there is a protocol you have to follow. This guy is just so arrogant. He really thinks he has a higher loyalty to some group outside of the FBI which, by the way, is the name of a book he wrote….Higher Loyalty by James Comey. Unbelievable.
The Trump all day radio is Fake News and all day and night Fox TV is Fake News
TSC, since you must watch/read it all to know ALL, ……….
How do You have the time for: CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, Huffpo, NYT, Left Winged Parrot, Wash Post….
to miss the truth?
This far left progressive, Jimmy Kimmel, gives a half-hearted apology for a misleading story about Mike Pence. He got caught so had no choice. Most of the far left stations like MSNBC, CNN, and Rachel Maddow spew out these lies to the American people on a regular basis.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jimmy-kimmel-backhanded-apology-misleading-clip-mike-pence-empty-ppe
The Trump Presidency is never misleading.They just lie.
You definitely have OMBS.
Just like the flu! So glad Pittsfield is now importing homeless COVID patients and Paying room, board, meals and buying them both drugs and booze.
Hilton Garden Inn a COVID and rehab center paid for by you and me, for homeless from a hundred and fifty miles away or more.
Two more New York children have died of a rare, coronavirus-linked inflammatory syndrome that mirrors Kawasaki disease, Gov. Cuomo announced Saturday.
“The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers. This is new, and it’s developing,” Cuomo said at his daily coronavirus press briefing in Manhattan.
The fatalities, which include a 5-year-old whose death the state announced Friday, are “truly disturbing,” he added.
The illness, which experts have said appears to originate from novel coronavirus, has infected at least 73 children statewide. Tackling it is “the priority for us today,” Cuomo said.
I am all for taking care of the homeless, but don’t we have our own local homeless with COVID-19? Why do we have to take the homeless with COVID-19 from 150 miles away?
I heard that low vitamin D levels are being seen in a lot of the people who died from corona virus. Question is were their vitamin D levels low before the virus or did the virus wipe out all vitamin D in their systems because they were so ill?
Notice that northern states, states with colder weather have higher rates of covid mortality pointing to low vitamin D levels as people don’t spend as much time outside during the winter months. My family has been supplementing with vitamin D3, C & multivitamins, avoiding sugar – and we have’t had as much as a sniffle this past winter.
No camps until further Notice! Kids go to Camps.
Can you imagine this summer the fireworks creating havoc like we’ve never seen before? Is shot spotter even here any more? It wasnt in activavation on that shooting the other night which was reported in the news?
These Tyer transplants will never leave Pittsfield.
We should help the homeless, but don’t we have our own local homeless with COVID-19? Why do we need to take in homeless with COVID-19 from 150 miles away?
Do you Trump birthers have any thoughts about going maskless in the White House while speaking and spitting on the table where the entire military is confering with Don “I wont wear a mask “Trump.Do you ever get the feeling Trump is a one man Trojan Horse?
Awesome analogy. And Putin built and maintains the horse.
For those of you fear-mongering about covid numbers in Adams
http://Www.iberkshires.com/story/62203/Adams-COVID-19-Numbers-Remain-Low-html
Berkshire County has the 2nd lowest covid death rate of all state counties. There are only 8 people in two county hospitals being treated for covid. The Guv, Hinds, TFB, Tyer – lift the lockdowns! NOW!
But as a state we are NUMBER TWO in the country for deaths yesterday and number three for deaths in the country overall since it began That means somewhere in this small state people are dying at a pretty good clip. And if you open up Berkshire county the Boston and Springfield folk will be here before the sun goes down and you have just wasted all the lock down measures of the last two months.
Please don’t pull a Trump in Pittsfield and beg for disaster. Because if it comes we will have to shut it back down and the lockdown will have to be total.
Hello, it’s not up to President Trump. Our governor, Charlie Baker, will make that call.
Baker will make the call to open up ;the Berkshires? What if the mayor says no way I am going to protect my city?
Trump wants us open.He is running on the economy
How are the drug crimes and shootings doing Tyer? “Vibrant economy…” Getting much from the parking meter kiosks?
No help there, and silence on fixing it. Wynn, is reading kiddie books at home….
I can assure you the chief is not working from home
Well OK on that. He’s not been doing his job for years now
Thsnk God we have a highly inteligent Governor who we Trust.Trump is playing both sides.Trump cant unite a country.
Baker is a RINO BUFFOON!!!! Even worse than Twitt.
Be a democRAT Gov Baker, instead of a liar.
Trump said the virus was a unforseen disaster.
So why did RINO GOV BAKER, send us Covid-19 + homeless/drug addicts to the “Homeless Hilton” on south st?
Without oversight. Are they in the total COVIDS for PITTSfield Berk county? Seems 150 MORE would make a dent.
Where do they go? Price Chopper in Lenox? Stop n Shop on Dan Fox? Spirits liquors?
Did the SOB wench running Pittsfield approve of this transfer?
Email Hinds and Smitty, you won’t even get a response there either. Been WEEKS of SILENCE for Me.
They are all holed up , like Tyer/Barry, safe and sound, well paid, stuff delivered……..
Pittsfield.ma has done a great job in controlling transmission. Hats off and big applause.This board has great hatred for the people of Pittsfield but you have got to say ghis is a job well done.There are a few dozen who want to make the case that Trump is msking and that is you can drop your spit in a grocery store or restaurant just because you want t o infect.99% of the people want to keep you well.Put on your spit mask for awhile and we will keep the spitters healthy
Happy Mother’s Day,
To all the mom’s on here and to the Planet posters mom’s. Mom’s are special and the go to people all our lives, I am celebrating not only Mother’s Day , but cancer free Mothers Day! Mom at 85 beat stage 4 cancer!! Thanks to all the those who cared for her at the unit who encouraged her to fight on when she wanted to just let go!!!
This is the grim decision that every government in the world has. Open and some die versus close and many are impoverished. The deaths will happen for an unknown X% of the infected, the awful consequences of ICU will occur for Y% of the infected and X+Y is an unknown % of the exposed. Many, including overconfident epidemiologists, are convinced they know X and Y. Most estimates put X+Y < 20% of the exposed so the temptation is to choose "open and some die" but the public is not passive here. Nobody will go to work if they think there is a big chance of being exposed and therefore a big chance of being in the X+Y group. The best that can be said of the science was by Matt Ridley who argued we known everything and nothing about SAR-coV-2. http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/we-know-everything-and-nothing/
I think opening with restrictions on social distancing and lots of testing is probably the best idea but I would close fast if it looks like the tourists are bringing in viruses. If I ran a shop I would require people to take their temperature before entering and demand wearing a mask.
Democrats have introduced a bill that would allow the government and other organizations to enter your home to conduct covid testing, and to remove infected people from their homes. Rep. Rush of IL has introduced House Resolution 6666 (!) which would authorize the Sec. of HHS to have such powers.
This bill coincides with W.H.O.’s Dr. Ryan’s recent remarks stating that governments may need to forcibly remove family members from their homes to “isolate covid transmissions.”
Where exactly would the covid-infected be isolated? In empty jails that progressive DA’s are busy emptying?
What has changed the democrats? They use to be such anti government and big brother protesters? In a good way. I
Where?
“The Homeless Hilton” on south st! Is it full yet? LOTS of motels.
Then places like “The Hotel on North”, Lynda will approve. She helped the crooks open the place, don’t want to see them go broke, FULL OCCUPANCY!!!! 24/7 YEAR ROUND!!!! Garranteed income!!!
With homeless/drug addict Covid-19 + occupants. State/Taxpayers foot the bills!!!!! Not Lynda/Barry !
Then friends/boyfriends, from Springfield/NYC/Albany will move in too!!!! Economic BOOM! Drugs, prostitution, MURDER, ……..
“An economic engine….we need more……”
ROFL!!!!
Sure. Free the criminals and jail the innocents. Just what the progressives called for.
Without a valid warrant they would remove a corpse. After they cleaned up the many corpses outside
Many in W H Will prove to have Covid 19 this coming week. I can smell it in the air.
Why won’t this work