‘DATA SOURCE’ CACCAMO WRITES WORDS FOR HIS POLITICAL TOMBSTONE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 15, 2020) — “Without a data source I have to reject your statement ‘in light of the crime problem in Pittsfield.’ You’ve offered a single qualitative assessment of the city without supporting evidence. The PPD fields a range of calls and without the longitudinal data we can’t accurately assess the trends.”
Thus spake Nick “Data Source” Caccamo, our Right Honorable Good Friend and esteemed councilor in Ward 3. He probably doesn’t realize it, but the councilor just wrote the words for his political grave marker, an equivalent of Sara Hathaway’s labeling city crime “an aberration,” Gerry Doyle’s “It’s Happening,” and Jimmy Ruberto’s downtown “renaissance.” The cringe-worthy statement neatly juxtaposes with a press release issued by the Pittsfield Police Department Sunday morning:
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On Friday 6/12/2020 at approximately 12:11 in the afternoon, officers with the Pittsfield Police Department (PPD) responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the area of 150 Francis Avenue. Witnesses in the area also contacted police. Upon their arrival, officers discovered evidence of a shooting. A loaded firearm was also recovered shortly after the shots were fired.
The preliminary investigation showed that at least two parties were most likely firing at one another. While processing the scene, investigating officers learned that a 26 year old Pittsfield man had arrived at Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) with gunshot wounds.
Shortly after the incident officers located 27 year old Dane Kessler and placed him under arrest for his involvement in the shooting. At that time, Kessler indicated that he had been shot in the leg, and officers subsequently transported him to BMC for treatment. The wounds to Kessler and the other man are not believed to be life threatening.
Kessler is charged with Carrying a Firearm without a License, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Firearm). This investigation is ongoing, and anyone who wishes to provide information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Bassett at 413-448-9700 x529. 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).
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The action on Pittsfield streets body-slam Caccamo’s tone-deaf words most every day and certainly every night, for instance, .the current fad for local hoods smashing car windows in their never ending search for Pretty Polly. THE PLANET could provide crime’s litany of saints, including many incidents you will never hear about for several reasons: they are too numerous, they are overwhelming city policing, the mainstream local media — including the daily rag — doesn’t report them because that might deter advertisers, who have all but given up.
The Boring Broadsheet, for example, dies a slow death from a surcease of ad sales, while THE PLANET can’t keep Google happy enough with the number of ads we permit. If Lord Goog had His way, we would run an ad after every sentence. While we thrive, the rumor in The BB newsroom involves more layoffs and even talk of the birdcage liner going completely under. If you see Fred Rutberg and Kevin Moran holding a crayon-scrawled cardboard sign on one of the trash-strewn traffic islands that dot Pittsfield’s roadways, stop and kick a buck. Tell ’em THE PLANET, not Angelo, sent you.
All this, and Data Source rejects our “statement ‘in light of the crime problem in Pittsfield.'” All this, in spite of the PPD employing a Crime Data Analyst who, over the years, has cost Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski upwards of half a million bucks in total compensation.
(EDITORS NOTE: THE PLANET intended to include mayor Linda Tyer’s promised remarks on “police defunding.” As of press time, we hadn’t heard back from her, despite two prompts. When the phone doesn’t ring, we know it’s the mayor not getting back to us …).
If Caccamo needs a “data source,” why in Ma Kettle’s name didn’t he just ask the Crime Data Analyst — or was she out on a date with McGruff The Crime Dog instead of doing her job?
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What “data,” Date Source? Just last night:
- A fight on Parker Street in which a gun was pulled.
- Drug deal dispute on Robbins Avenue. Black guy (dealer) knifed white guy (deal-ee). Whitey warned to patch himself up and under no circumstances let anyone know, least of all the hospital or the police.
- A homeless dude taking a dump in the Southeast corner of The Common, where the kids’ water park is. The pile still there as of late Sunday night. Toddlers, wear your muck boots. Disease-causing bacteria on the loose where they used to play Flea League games.
- Several incidents near Elm Street and Edwards Avenue. Not clear what they were about, but lots of shouting, two fist fights, and, again, guns and knives shown. One witness says it happened at the end of a “wild party,” arguments over a girl and, yup, drugs.
- Saturday night, gang bangers behind Paul Rich selling heroin. Dude later seen shooting up in Persip Park across the street. No word on the condition of The Dumpster Behind Paul Rich. Sunday night drug paraphernalia cleaned from near the Dumpster. We don’t know who did the work. Owners or staff at the store? Might be, because they were spotted shaking their heads.
- A guy nodding off near Zenner’s on Tyler Street. Across the street in Hess Forest, a bunch of young white guys (Type: backward baseball caps, buzz cuts, trick bikes, tattoos, pants sagging, pale and emaciated, bad skin and teeth) doing meth.
Ah, but none of this happened according to Nick Caccamo. These anecdotes from street and police sources haven’t been entered into the data set yet.
Nick The Quick, Defender of the Faith.
Still want “data,” pal?
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“I am dynamite” — Friedrich Nietzsche, Jimmy Walker.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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And if I heard correctly, the mayor is asking for another HALF MILLION DOLLARS, for the police department. I assume it is because they need it to fight escalating crime and not because the price of donuts has gone up. So there is 500,000 points of data for ya Nick.
And what is going on with all the vandalism for the last month running rampant? Car windows and windshields being shot out with bb’s or pellet guns all over town neighborhoods. Seriously the Police Dept has to be …
What IS going on with it. Well, don’t ask the Berkshire Eagle because they seem unaware of that problem.
(or they been asked not to mention it)
Maybe Dan could ask the chief. (unless he has been asked not to talk about it)
Not asked, TOLD…..
We got hit with a pellet driving around Park Square. Cops chalked it up to vandalism.
Let me be kind – Caccamo, with his stupid “longitudinal data” and trends statement, has proven himself to be an idiot, plain and simple. Houston, we have a crime problem! You don’t need a crime analyst to tell you that. Get off your stupid computer and walk around after dark, alone, or take Barry with you. Go to the wards with west side, and morning side, hang
around north street, and Cumbys. Did he look at data before funding the stupid shot spotter that wouldn’t exist if we didn’t have more shootings than the Wild West. Grow a brain Caccamo.
Caccamo cannot even interact in his own Ward. It is egregious how derelict he is.
Data is a school employees truth.Hes really saying he does not think about crime.
Is he the best you got Ward 3?
Well they had Capitano.
WAR
Yeah, the phrase “longitudinal data” tells one everything they need to know about Data Source. When I hear a politician use such B.S. language, I think of Orwell’s great essay. He point out back then how evasive language erodes quality thinking. “Longitudinal data” is a prime example.
Dan, fear not for the children in the parks. Our fearless leaders still have playgrounds shutdown and 2 x 4s screwing the basketball hoops closed, so little Johnny can’t play.
Perhaps, but they can still dope up, swill nips, smoke and screw inside the nooks and crannies of the bum magnet playground at Crosby, based on the garbage that litters that disgusting site. In fact the yellow tape is littering it now along with the condoms, nips, butts, and needles,
Well I give one atta boy to the guy using the condoms. He may get hepatitis but probably not syphilis.
Just ask Mel Mazzeo how much of a political rain maker The Planet is. Caccamo must be crying in a dark closet somewhere.
The idea is not to make rain but “let the sun shine in, the su-un, shine in.”
D a in California says no foul play in hanging? While harassing and beating killing continues.
Sunshine is a great disinfectant.
In a state that loves red tape I guess this bill doesn’t surprise me…nobody will want
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/HD5128.pdf
Thanks for this Free Bird. This is a shameful overreaction and would eliminate use of mace or pepper spray, require a verbal warning before cop shoots a person, and eliminates no knock search warrants. If passed, more officers will be injured and killed doing their job, crime will rise because cops will stand down, and drug dealers will be laughing all the way to the bank. The chiefs better band together and get this bill scrapped or fixed.
Farley ought to be ashamed supporting this. And Tyer and Harrington better not support this piece of garbage as written
Farley-Buffet continues to support legislation detrimental to citizens, including drivers licenses for illegals, travel tax etc etc. She should get the boot next election. Please somebody with a brain run against her!!
Someone with a half of brain please run ,as that would double the brain power.
Vote for Bill Tyer for State Rep.
I know BILL. Good man.
Any relation to Linda?
I believe they were related through Linda’s previous marriage.
The DA’s office and its budget are funded by the state.
I meant to say nobody will want to be a cop.
FACT!: Every year, the FBI reports that North Adams & Pittsfield are always among the top 10 communities in Massachusetts for incidents of violent crime.
Thanks for the information JM. N.C. must have missed that data point.Nick could have entered it into his data base with all the other data he collects from outlets he uses ,he mentioned as his data collection sources.
The Trump republicans are the majority of white men living their life through Don Trump.The country is moving forward without you men and as much as you want to go back in time you need to embrace the future.Do it for your kids or grandchildren.They are already there.Fox news was developed to instill fear and negativity.This board loves Trumps fatheaded classless responses to things already settled. Going back to the way we did things is not the future.Trump cant relate to people who arent billionaires.Trump can’t understand blacks and policing.If you go backwards to a time that has a confederate flag flying on buildings and automibiles and public squares.If you go back in time to when men overpowered women then America has little chance to survive.A Christian nation has to help people.We need to sove a problem.The truth is we are in denial about women and minorities.White men need more confidence in themselves.Empowering women and blacks to feel less threatened can help you guys heal your ego’s. A vote for Trump is a vote against women and blacks….He is a broked down white racist billionaire not someone you follow because paid advocates tell you how bad everyone is and a overly simplistic slogan that conjures up good memories does not Make America Great…..Wealth and power want a race war that your grandkids will be fighting on the right side of that war….you will be on the otherside of that trying to keep things the same just like you remembered them….Trump republicans are stuck in the mud of the 50 or 60 year ago past.
Lots of women will be overpowered by criminal men if we lose police departments across the country and replace them with violent mob rule. Freedom vs. a government that tells everyone how to live their lives, takes their private property and vehicles and their guns, and then tells people that, by the way, there will be no police. You are on your own protecting yourself with no weapons. These lockdowns in many states are also putting the health and dental care of so many people in jeopardy. Some people are getting dental and medical care while others are not. The people forcing us to endure these 3 and now 4 month lockdowns are receiving good heath care, but everyone else is suffering. I think the choice is clear in November.
All the politicians were going to change everything for the better. We’ve been rehashing the same issues every election cycle for the last 30-50 years. What’s really changed that much for the better where we can say, “ Go Back To” where these things were much better than now? These issues have been pretty much the same well before Trump came along. This do it for your children and grandkids train left long ago.
TSC
A couple points: First, the majority of Biden supporters are also white men, but I doubt their living their life through Uncle Joe. Second, neither women nor blacks not any other lump herd needs to be “empowered.” It’s up to individuals to do that themselves. Actually, your statement, to use the fashionable labels of the “future” you so embrace, is “racist” and “sexist.” You realize that, don’t you? Thanks for your input to our humble board.
7 OUT OF 10 MEN who voted went with Trump vision of the past.Just think in 5 years we will all be able to throw our ltter right out the window of your car again.That going to be great.
Barry Clairmont should drive at night and just make a list of strrets that need to turn up street lights.Cut branches that block lights.Sweep streets in the hood everyday.Clean litter in the everyday ryday. All storm drains in the city a blocked with debris.Sweeping is important once a week on major streets.Start in the hood.City cars and trucks need to stop and clear storm drains.They just drive by them.
He has a hard time with his own upkeep. Keep eating fast food Bare.
He should stay inside with Corona and come out at Halloween. Get two birds with one stone.
Watching the budget meeting. Is Persip really this dumb?
Moon is even dumber.
The two of them together don’t make a full loaf. We need some smart experienced business people on the council. Brains are in short supply.
Then you should run for office?but that would require you to work uh oh ..Waiting by the Mailbox is not work Fyi
Feel free to send in a report.
Pittsfield gets 30k a year per kid. Isn’t that enough to send an individual teacher to each kids house 1/2 days for one on one instruction? They are worried about safety and yet they don’t need to even have the school buildings. The vast amount of graft in this district is probably going to kick up a hornets nest if they try to pare it back. And the mayor will cower our and pay up. Puki doesn’t send her kids to Pittsfield schools, what about the other clouncil members?
How much does it cost per year to send your kid to Syracuse U.? Just for reference.
Tuition: $50,230 … room & board: $15,500 … Fees: $1,623 … Books and classroom items: $1,500. TOTAL: $69,853 per year. 76% of students have some for of financial assistance.
I wouldn’t count room and board as that probably comes from social services in addition to the education budget.
However, think you need a PHD to teach at Syracuse and from what I understand you do not to teach at elementary schools here.
For me to use NPR as a data source hell must have froze over, but even they question the “experts” regarding the coronavirus…
https://fee.org/articles/npr-mounting-evidence-suggests-covid-not-as-deadly-as-thought-did-the-experts-fail-again/
The amount of faulty, often contradictory information that has come from the “experts” is shameful. Really depressing that we can’t trust scientists and docs to stay above the political fray in a situation like this. Through June 10 in the U.S., COVID had killed 2,426 people under 45 years of age and 31,778 over the age of 85. 81% of fatalities have been people over 65. The fear-mongering needs to stop. Targeted actions to protect the elderly make sense. Approaching this with a “one size fits all” strategy of economic suicide is madness.
Don’t feel too bad using NPR for a source once in awhile.You and other taxpayers help fund it. About time people get some useful information from them.
Everyone is born with a seabag of common sense, unfortunately Mr Caccamo’s was nearly emply according to the longitudinal data
How much is he paid?
RK
“The longitudinal data” — We should immortalize that phrase by mentioning it in every reference to Nick from here on.
His response to your question was commodeitudinal. The kind that keeps Rotor Rooter in business.
Agreed. Biggest load of crap I ever read.
Well Pittsfield, your radical leftists on the city clowncil voted to cut funds from the Police Dept. The police are already understaffed. What the heck were these councilors thinking?! Better get a gun & a permit so you can defend yourself when the police are late in arriving on the scene due to budget cuts. Councilor Moonbat was the driving force behind this. You know, she works for our leftist DA.
Time to pack up the tent and get outta here!
Defund the schools, not the police!
Never agree with the mayor M G H on this budget,she’s all over the place.
lenny,So does Lampiasi and she had a different take.
And she works in the DA’s office is the kicker. It shows you how smart this woman really is. With no police, you have no arrests. No arrests, means no prosecutions.
You really have to look at the true character of Helen Moon. What honorable person would put themselves through the rigors of nursing school, only to give it up to hand out bottles of waters, planning yoga events at work, and happily walk behind Andrea, just like my dogs do when I walk to the kitchen.
She became an RN, only to trade it down to be a lowered paid bellhop. Tells me all I need to know…..
Reading your post tells me all I need to know. Bitter!
Helen is dumb. It’s probably better she isn’t a nirse with her crummy qualifications. But Harrington can’t work with smart lawyers – the smart lawyers quit. She needs YES Women. There are no highly esteemed female attorneys left in the DAs office? Do correct me if I am wrong,
Why anyone would want to be a cop in Pittsfield these days is bewildering. You idiot counselors really stood up for justice in MN by cutting the Pittsfield PD. The same department that has had Darren Derby going into schools, hosting movie nights, going around with free ice cream/pops, and other outreach activity specifically aimed at connecting with the minority community here in Pittsfield.
Remember this next election cycle when your having your car windows still shot out, escalating violence, and more bums, drunks, and druggies walking our main streets. I would never think to bring one of my kids for a walk on North St or Tyler.
“Wynn said the department uses funding for the unfilled positions to fill deficits related to covering unfilled shifts. He said the $85,000 cut to patrol salaries will cause them to draw the conditional set them 1 to 2 years back on the staffing plan, but said adding clinicians would “lessen the burden to responding patrol officers” and guide them while assisting people in distress”
You hear that? When your kids, wife, husband, or other family member are in danger, I hope your comfortable with a clinician who took years of Psychology courses at that state college responding.
I agree with an above commenter about getting your LTC. If you live in Pittsfield, you have to take measures to protect yourself and your family because it is obvious this city will not be.
Yeah, and see what they do about the School Department. Think they’ll cut there? Right, and THE PLANET will lead the NHL in scoring.
You remind me of Terry O’Reilly. Not afraid to mix it up when needed with the politicians and yet, score in the crucial moments.
Lampiasi is Ward 6’s lazy “stay in bed councilor”. She literally contributes nothing to the west side other than photo ops and those useless WSI meetings. She lives on outer West st and still considers herself part of the community from her ivory tower.
shes as bad as they come but yooki,Mooney,poorsup,the two Pete’s ain’t much better.
Great article on what I keep harping about. Politicians and the same old back to the future 30-50 years later every election cycle.
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2020/06/16/democrats-to-the-rescue-n2570659
I would want the help of a Pittsfield Police over a Pittsfield social worker 7 days a week 365 days a year. If social workers helped with anything they would help with bad conduct at the schools, and they don’t. What a bunch of clowns.
No Camps no-day Cares. I’m tellin ya? You want to spread Covid,go ahead. And No ARTS of any kind,take that backtoBroadway where it belongs
Excellent point KF. Nothing against social workers, but I have a feeling they will have to call the police 8-9 times out of 10 when dealing with the people they are going to encounter anyway.
They are afraid of the kids in Reid. Let’s see them with the neck tattoo crowd.
I believe she means taxpayers have the money she is looking for so, the TSC isn’t forced to take the burden on bye themselves.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/pittsfield-councilors-to-revisit-best-case-school-budget-that-cuts-26-positions,607098
After trying to watch Pittsfield ZOOM City Council budget meetings lately I can’t help but think that our elected officials are using the COVIN19 as a barrier to not hear from the taxpayers of Pittsfield. There is no reason at this point that they could not be holding these meetings in one of the school gyms or auditoriums. Most of these elected officials have bragged about joining a Protest March, so why can’t they social distance in a large room. Chris Connell has basically screwed up every meeting due to technical difficulties, rumor has it he is not even in the state of Massachusetts. Could not believe the rudeness of these elected officials during last night’s meeting, especially Helen Moon, would they be acting this way if the meeting was in person instead of hiding in the homes? Doubt it because none of the have to jingle jangles to do so. Moon’s snippy comment about cops handing out ice cream in the BB today was totally uncalled for, especially from a supposed nurse! Evidently she has never seen or listened to what a policeman goes through in one shift. They are harassed, spit on, kicked, crapped and pissed on and basically given no respect. Maybe she needs to take a shift along with one of the cops to see what their shifts consist off. It is much more than Moon’s high paying job handing out water bottles to her staff. Hope she never needs police assistance after her comments last night, but then again our PPD will still do their job and I want to thanked them all for doing a thankless job. No wonder no one wants to join the force with this pathetic backing from our elected officials.
GREAT comment, MERRY. Several points: 1. You’re right. This is the council’s dream situation, also the mayor’s (who has suddenly gone quiet to any kid of meaningful questioning). Tempers are tight. We get that, but they couldn’t have drawn it up better to have budget hearings when the public can’t be there. They hide behind the computer/TV accessibility, but probably 8 true citizens (not counting The Special Interests) tune it. They have no ability to contribute via open mic. 2.) Moon’s comments were a slam at every good cop, especially one of the best, Officer Derby. I know what it’s like to be a cop. My brother was one for 35 years. Moon figuratively spat and kicked Derby and the rest of the PPD. Yeah, but she can’t bother to answer THE PLANET’s inquiries wanting her to state her position and the arguments for it on the police budget. Neither could her D.A. moonlighting sister, Dina Lampiasi.
Thanks Dan. I said this many times unfortunately the elected officials can do whatever they want or more like don’t have to or want to do because taxpayers can’t do anything to them. They are in their own little pathetic world and feel no need to communicate to the people they are suppose to be serving. Mayors all over the country are responding to questions about their Police Departments, but our Mayor is too busy too respond to you. Only hope is that next election some folks with intelligence and morals will run against them. It is getting unbearable in Pittsfield, noticed 5 more homes in my nice neighborhood go up for sale in the past week,already thinking of getting out myself. Just in a week three windshields replaced due to vandalism on my street, so I know my feelings are justified. Taxpayers are totally fed up. Where are these elected officials going to get all their “play money” when homeowners keep exiting stage right?
So outrageous that the Pittsfield council cut funds to police to give to mental health. Pittsfield is already full of money for mental health. North Street is all about mental health establishments. Pittsfield has some of the best mental health support in the country already. This is about weakening our local police force and eventually police across the country. Mental health professionals are already on call if people are suicidal or take a drug overdose or become violent. Many social workers end up calling the police because it’s a situation they can’t handle.
Just as far left district attorneys have spread across the country, this new push is to defund the police. What is their end game? Less police, gun confiscation from citizens which will leave everyone unable to defend themselves and totally at the mercy of a Marxist tyrannical government.
Kavey and Moon need to step forward. M G H is done after this term. It’s time to stop bobble head votes. Leave that to the five Amigos, and Raquel. I would not cut police nor fire one red cent. Schools have to cut they have no choice. I would privatize garbage. I would make police be required to write traffic-citations,at least three each a day. For starters. One thing we all need to know is how much money have we saved because of The pandemic and what was the snow budget this winter.? Combine those two we have at least two million.
Taxin’ Trish FB is at it again, see her letter in today’s BB. No, Trish does not want to see the school budget reduced – she wants more taxes!,
We gotta vote out this crazed leftist!
7 out of 10 white men who vote Will vote for Trump.Why,so that our President can finish destroying the legacy of President Obama.White men love love love Don Trump and Stormy Daniels affair.
He’s getting tired.
Three out of the ten white women three out of ten black men and nine out of ten black woman.