HELEN MOON, THE EMPRESS OF ICE CREAM
PLANET VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JUNE 17, 2020) — THE PLANET has stumbled on quite the James Bond story, this involving Ward 1 councilor Helen Moon. The supporting cast remains a bit of a mystery, but the casting office mentions district attorney Andrea Harrington, school superintendent Jake “JIV” McCandless, other officials, and 14 shills masquerading as “interested citizens.”
The setting wasn’t Dr. No’s underground lair or Emilio Largo’s super yacht (Thunderball). Rather, the squares that infect your television set when our right Honorable Good Friends on the Pittsfield City Council meet provided the platform. Who needs Barrington Stage when you have absurdist theater like this?
We are still unfolding the plot, which we hope to present on The Weekend Edition. You won’t want to miss it. At issue, the police department budget.
The story will be another PLANET exclusive because sure as Quick Draw McGraw, The Boing Broadsheet won’t run it nor will iBerkshires, even though the clues are there. Now if they had the least investigative initiative and plumbed the right sources, they’d get the story. Doesn’t matter, though, because in some combination they (a) do not have the sources and (b) do not have management that would permit a bombshell story, even if true beyond a reasonable doubt.
———- ooo ———–
The drama began during the Hollywood Squares taking on police funding in mayor Linda Tyer’s FY21 budget plan. Tyer proposed $11,424,229, an increase of 4.8% to allow for more officers. The current force stands at 85. Chief Mike Wynn says he needs between 110-115 cops to “right size” the department. Muddying the considerations, of course, and providing another brick in the wall is the national hysteria surrounding the death of George Floyd. Rational thought lies beyond the capabilities of any current debate.
Ward 1 councilor Helen Moon, who didn’t see fit to respond to THE PLANET‘s request for comment on the police budget, slammed the increase. Now we know why she didn’t get back to us. She didn’t want to telegraph her punched. Moon referred to the 14 folks who called in during the half-hour public comment session that began the meeting. We will have much more about this seemingly innocent occurrence on Friday. Don’t be fooled.
“I don’t think this is honoring the request of the 14 people who called in and the number of people who sent emails,” Moon said. “I don’t think this is an issue of us having enough officers out there handing out ice cream to the community … they are concerned about the system of policing.”
Moon’s sucker punch hit the Blue Line below the belt. The reference to “ice cream” was a directed slam at the great community-building work of officer Darren Derby.
Think this doesn’t get worse? Wait until you read THE PLANET‘s Weekend Edition.
—————————————————————————————————–
If you want to know the past, read Kierkegaard. If you want to know the future, read Nietzsche” — Donald Turpentine.
“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.
Other than Connell and Morandi there is no brain power on the Pittsfield City Council.
A barber and a slumlord.
“Speak for yourself John.” They are two strong and solid business men who serve the people of our city. Use your real name you coward.
Nothing wrong with owning a barbershop 20 minutes away from where you live.
Landlords don’t create slums. Tenants do.
That is not correct. Slumlords don’t repair buildings and tenants suffer the consequences. That is a real problem in Pittsfield. North or South county don’t seem to be able to get away with it.
Have you ever been a landlord?
How do things get broken in the first place?
Reply to Kermit Frog. I evicted tenants 23 times since 2005.
I would be very happy to evict you as well. No lawyer will help you, beleive me. One old woman lived in my house 10 years–gave me post card–“Best Landlord!” When I asked her to move out to renovate the house–she destroyed everything she could; run to Community Legal Aid saying I am the worst landlord ever!
7 Billion people watched a police officer slowly murder a black man on video.Other police never came to this mans rescue. Bystanders were begging the police to stop…..This had nothing to do with law and order.Does any get this.What the world saw had nothing to do with law and order.
I agree. But I also think we have a chief who is intellectually able to understand the issues and who we are probably lucky to have. I think most unions over spend if given the chance because if they don’t spend the money goes away. Maybe they don’t need the military humvees or whatever equipment but 85 police persons for a city the size of Pittsfield is lean. Maybe they can make commitments to recruit more women and minorities? Stockbridge famously drove out women police persons – pretty disgraceful.
Part of me is laughing too because if 15 letters is all it took to stop certain spending we would be made in the shade. The schools are not performing as they should for the money spent, it is putting good money after bad. The kids deserve better. By the time they get to middle school they have no idea what is up as the elementary schools completely fail them. Most parents with special needs kids are blacklisted or cornered into inadequate situations because most of the staff working with those kids are third or fourth rate in their qualifications and somehow the money is never there for the services after the tax payer paid for it. They are pawned off on inadequate para professionals who aren’t qualified enough to be teachers – if they even hold a degree.
Re DAS – Maura Healey is not a good example as a DA – she lets white collar crime in public officials and the state police (over time) go unchecked. Not to mention the rape of the Berkshire museum. Without rule of law and all being treated fairly under the law the progressive changes are for naught.
TSC. you murder the truth when you post.
Pittsfield needs to sweep streets at least once per week.The mayor pays overtime to water plants.Lets pay overtime to clean the streets.The morningside side streets need sidewalks bright street lights litter cleanups and tree trimming.Cleanup morningside.Benches along the street.This is Pittsfields problem neighborhood.Lets create clean well lit streets off Tyler.People may not be wealthy but a neighborhood of clean well lit streets will help.
I saw median strips being mowed and weed wacked yesterday. They just chewed up all the garbage that was in the grass and now there is confetti garbage all over the road and mediums. If the intention was to make it look better the effort failed.
I like how the city allows leashed dogs owners and stray cats to dump on taxpayers lawns. Over on Elm St and get at least two dumps a week. Mowing the lawn takes skill.
It’s street art Johnny, part of the beautification project.
OHH. Now it makes sense. Kind of like poor mans art after your museum sells off the Rockwells.
We’re there any Burger King wrappers in the weeds?
What, was I supposed to try to piece it all together to find out? What the hell is the matter with you?
No j…a.s u didn’t get the gist
jus kiddin ya
In the last election, my wife and I sent every Ward 1 voting household a letter explaining why Helen Moon should not be our ward councilor. We explained that she is using this position as a political activist and is not concerned with the needs of the voters in our ward. The result was less than 40% of the registered voters turned out to vote and she won by 53.5%. If voters are so apathetic that they can’t vote in their best interests, then we deserve what we get. In Pittsfield, we have a gang problem with turf wars and shootings. Traffic scofflaws are out of control. The average speed on my 30 mph residential road is 47 mph while we don’t have enough personnel to man the police traffic team. And our ward councilor advocates to make that worse. I listened to the callins at the CC meeting. They were not from Ward 1, except for one who is on “team Helen Moon”. I was appalled to read chat comments during the meeting from callers supporting Political Activist Moon’s comments. This was not a rally, it was a City Council meeting. As part of the 44.7% out of the 39.7% that voted against Helen Moon, we hope she decides to move on in the next election.
Caccamo White and Moon.Caccamo has not returned a call to any resident.Lazy
Your Negativity along with your friends cost poor Kenny his spot. Hint to the next candidate stay far away from this crew if you want a chance.
Please point out the negativity I post
Took a look at Helen Moon’s Facebook page today. I have to say for someone that seems to be an expert in the plight of the African American community and police reform, I was hard pressed to find hardly any minority community members in her photos. Although judging by her photos and friends, she would be an expert in plight of the middle age Karen community who just can’t wait any longer for their $5 latte’s from Starbucks. Perhaps she should stay in that lane.
I saw a video yesterday of another March in Pittsfield attended by our local leaders and officials. Of course, they were not social distancing or adhering to the guidelines set forth by the state and CDC, but don’t let that get in the way of a photo op! The virus is serious enough that to open your business you have to socially distance, invest a ton of money in sanitizing, and if your lucky the one customer that comes in to your business won’t get ticketed by the parking maid, yet as long as your marching BLM, the virus isn’t serious. What a joke.
“The middle-age Karen community who just can’t wait any longer for their $5 lattes …” You win the Line of the Week Award, HENDRIX.
Kind of like officer Karen McMuffin.
The front porch of the Elite Red Lion Inn was empty.50 bucks for chicken not going to fly in the Berkshires.
if you’re not friends with her you wont be able to see all her photos. she has black nieces and nephews and a black sister in-law.
Mayor Tyer was elected to fix a very bad crime problem in this city and she hired more police. Everyone was happy with that decision. Now money is being taken from police and put toward mental health which is not needed. Moon wanted much more money taken from police to go toward social services. A neighborhood block in Seattle now has anarchists in charge of the streets instead of police and the Democrat leadership is just fine with the takeover. It’s a “Summer of Love” they say, but undercover reporters have gone in at night and report a very different atmosphere.
I lam sure there are ways to use the police budget more efficiently. There is always room especially when budget money is tossed around like it grows on trees. And there is NO WAY this mayor is going to underfund her buddies in any department. Beware a PR curveball to distract from what is really going to happen in the school budget.
I give Miss Moon a mulligan on this one. (unless she was just tossing flak into the air, at the mayor request, to distract from other things happening elsewhere)
Re: mental health;
‘Actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.’ i.e. “the act is not culpable unless the mind is guilty”.
The face is not watchable especially early in the morning…..Stooge..
The City website in its,” About Mayor Tyer” states she hired 31 “new” police officers. And the total is still at 85 officers ? All 31 were replacements, not additions ? And more have been hired since these 31. WTH ?
If they were replacements coming in at starters wages and replacing guys that are raking in big bucks that should save the police budget a bundle right there. Where did THAT money go?
Big bucks? How much do you think a senior patrol officer makes per week?
Compared to a newbie I would think the overall difference for 35 peeps would be substantial. Big bucks substantial
But I personally do not have, nor have I ever, had the temperament to deal with the zombie crowd, so whatever they get paid they deserve it
Thank you. After you are on the job 5 years or so there is not much difference in pay. In fact the difference between 20 years and 30 or 40 is pennies per hour. The only way to make money is to go out as a sergeant or above,mor be a road whore – doing road jobs – which does not count towards your pension and neither does overtime. Most tradesmen and nurses make more than senior patrol officers with masters degrees and in fact make more than most sergeants and lieutenants. And they don’t risk their lives. And Tyer has been in office 4 and a half years and she may have replaced 31 officers across time but they were not all retirees some quit and some were fired and lots of them were not at top scale. Why can’t the department get up to staff is the question not being asked or answered. Her bragging is like Bianchi bragging and Tyer called him out for it – they were just replacement troops.
Curious, if there are indeed 85 officers, how many are lower paid patrolman and how many are higher better paid rank. Lts, Capts., etc
So glad the Seagull reported that scam. Every pertinent detail is omitted – usually that means someone of the ‘culture’ was involved.
Look at the names. It completely goes against the DA’s platform. If these guys were white, we would have seen their mugs blasted across the Eagle, IBerkshires, WAMC, etc.
Speaking of the “weak on non-white crime,” DA, where has she been? Pittsfield’s becoming a carnival-game shooting gallery. This is where leaders lead, not disappear into the background.
Good article Dan, looking forward to your weekend edition. In watching the budget meeting I couldn’t help but think how President Pee Pee Petie gets his jollies by shutting down taxpayers when they are addressing the City Council but he allowed the uncalled for attacking conversations go on between the Councillors. Evidently he does not have the jingles jangles to tell the childlike councilors to speak to each other with respect. Also, couldn’t help but think the Nutty Knitters Club (Tyer, Harrington, TFB, Moon and others) weren’t a part of this whole charade from start to finish and is this why the Mayor did not respond to you? Just a suggestion to Chief Wynn, he should have his data analyst run a query of how many times his officers are sent to do a “well being check” for counselors at the Brien Center. What is the cost to the City? Why are the Brien Center counselors not performing this duty themselves? Does the PPD get reimbursed for doing the Brien Center’s job? Would also like an explanation regarding the 31 police officers hired, have they all quit? Realize there have been retirements, but how many?
Almost got through a post without mentioning the mayor.
Pete apparently was never told this but he is supposed to be a counter balance to the mayor. He is supposed to represent the people and protect them from an over zealous rogue mayor. But this guy seems to have found himself a nice warm pocket in her apron and is along for the ride. One more example of what is wrong with government. I am trying to shame him but am sure it is bouncing off his turtle shell like a warm rain.
New Pittsfield motto, SAME SHIT…DIFFERENT DAY. Thanks for all you don’t do Pete.
I posted it yesterday and I’ll post it again: Helen Moon put herself through the rigors of nursing school, only to take a lowered paid bellhop job at the DA’s office.
It really begs the question, is this woman really that stupid? Does she realize she works in the DA’s office? You know the office that prosecutes criminals. But yet, she wants to cut the police.
She then attacks Officer Derby, who has helped bridge a gap between the police and the minority community. What has Moon done for the minority community? Well, besides appearing for photo-ops or holding Harrington’s umbrella or water bottle for her.
Somebody buy Helen some crayons or silly-putty. With COVID slowing the courts down, she’s dangerous when left to think on her own. Let’s just let her get back to her coloring books, yoga, and following Andrea like a puppy. Things she’s good at.
Helen, for the love of God, please leave the adult topics to the adults. Maybe pass out water during CC meetings. You know, treat it like an extension of your work day.
Bitter Betsey!
Pittsfield politics never makes any sense! Pittsfield is #5 in Massachusetts for violent crime, according to the FBI. So what do they do? They cut an understaffed municipal police budget with millions of dollars in overtime expenses. A little old lady cannot walk in Pittsfield’s dangerous inner-city streets without fearing for her life. What about grandma’s mental health? Oh, and let us not forget about Matt Kerwood’s $10.1 million slush fund!
Moon can get us to # 1.
Or number two.
Not one lady has dver been shot on a Pittsfield Street.Drug business drying up.Not enough for 2 gangs.CVS takes care of South county drug problems
Not true. Two young women were shot in the head in separate drive by shootings in Pittsfield.
On North Street Pat?
Tony Carolina was shot in the head on Lincoln Street, standing on a porch, unintended victim. Try some truth next time.
And a cop told me she was doa at bmc, yet I talked to her myself 2 years later. A walking miracle.
Maybe Andy…..was wrong?
I do not care what he thinks of me anymore!
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
She does her zooming in front of her bed?
Did her beaus business get a Tyer handout?
The boyfriend’s vinegar tonic company got a huge taxpayer handout and then the taxpayer funded a Cohen Kinne lawyer (can’t be cheap) to sue little old ladies across America who used the same vinegar tonic recipe. Despite this well funded tax payer assault (trademark nonsense) they got their buts handed to them in Federal court.
Moon….Not Equipped…..
I get the reference. Anyone else? Hint: Look for the eyes wide open.
I can’t wait for the weekend edition to see what DA Harrington has to do with this as I am sure her relationship with Moon is in play. In light of today’s news regarding the North County arrests of two men and their scan and search warrants all over the place, I reached out to the DA’s office regarding an ongoing issue I’ve had to deal with. Should be interesting. We shall see how fair our DA really is.
This has nothing to do with the local DA. She’s a mushroom, they keep her in the dark and feed her shit because she is useless. I’ve felt with sexual assault victims who have received zero support from the DA. They used to have victims advocates that knew what they were doing, now they have idiots who spend more time texting to friends than helping abuse victims.
Garbage! the only nurse you are is the one you play in your basement what a stupid comment! Fresh air man it does a body good
The old planted phone call trick.
Get Smart
Sorry about that chief.
So much for a ‘good shoot’. Crooked murderous cops charged in Georgia.
They have been charged. Innocent until proven guilty. You may have heard of the concept.
It was absolutely a good shoot. Despicable and gutless DA
I was taught from a young age that if I did not comply with a police officer it might makes things more difficult for me. Apparently not all parents feel it necessary to pass this tip along.
Common sense should tell a person not to pick a fight with two police officers in light of the fact that historically it has not worked out well. Don’t understand why so many have to start the shit and then wonder why things went wrong for them.
JA
Yup. That’s a point the apologists don’t want to discuss.
Congratulations to our own TSC who was nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to CHOP.
Moon’s out right slam on Officer Darby with the ice cream remark is disgusting! If you really think about it, Darby is reaching out and communicating with an area that has crime issues and the people who live it daily. I’m sure during his visits he gains some useful information on what is going on or might be a future issue.Having a police official in an area doing something positive and patrolling at the same time is a win win. Maybe even stop a potential crime just by being there.
I am confused by her comment as it seems that is how the DA wants the police to interact. Also, what the heck does she actually do at the DAs office? Moon cost the officethe best prosecutor they had, a fellow woman, who couldn’t abide Moon’s stupidity. This excellent lawyer basically walked because Moon’s dumb placement in the office is actually hurting cases and leading to bad decisions. How can Moon feel high and mighty about anything? Only because she has a false sense of competence imparted to her by the DA.
Bolton has now made public that Trump does everything thats good for the Trumps not America
Buy his book. That’s what Bolton is selling. I’m waiting for it to be on the reduced .99 cents table for fire starter.
What’s good for trump is good for America.
What is this edited business? Can we edit our own remarks? And if so how?
Helen Moon makes way more working for the DA than she ever did as a nurse. She had zero aptitude as a nurse and was LAZY. Ask anyone who went to class with her or had the misfortune of rounding on practicals with her.
Being a nurse was her fallback when being an artist and photographer didn’t work out.
Someone should look into all the side Mo way she made from the city doing graphic design work. She used to brag about how she would just get city jobs because her friends worked for the city
Free nursing education on whatever program, perhaps ???
Helen was/is outrageous. She claims to speak on behalf of black and brown people because she talks to them and the NAACP is an ally. But to disparage the PPD is shameful. I agree we need some reform and made reallocate some funding, but trying to alienate them is not gonna help build the relationships in the community. It’s nonsense to think you can have this reform occur overnight, too. Her sanctimonious ways are not helpful by any means.
Excellent points, TB. THE PLANET agrees, as well. Allocation of police finds WITHIN the department so as to better employ precious dollars? Yes. Slamming the police and officer Derby as the poster child? No. It’s caused more division than Helen can know. Stealing money from the PPD and giving it to the school department? Ten times no. That department is an abject failure led by an all-time payroll patriot.
Something tells me there is going to be a public clarification coming down the pike real soon. Maybe she did not mean it the way it sounded?
She meant it exactly the way it sounded. She hates the police because she used to get in trouble.
So the DA hired a woman to work in her office knowing she hated the police? She must never have to do jury duty.
She doesn’t always have to be vocal to know what her position is – you can easily pick up on it by following her facebook and twitter accounts to see what she shares and “likes.” It’s alarming.
You fellas have lost 2 Supreme court decisions and had a hand picked Trump appointee say that Trump is unfit to hold the office of the Presidency.Then there are the race problems andTrump failure on the virus.He is going to hold a Trump rally with 20 thousand in one building and 40 thousand in another with no mask then 45 mins later he will unleash these fools onto the world.60 thousand strong going home to a little child and a 60 year old grandmother and blame it all on the democrats.Trump has always failed.The New York Hillbillys…Starring Jed Trump as President
If you believe race issues exist after 30-50 years and trillions later you need ask the politicians how is this possible? I’m sure in those big inner cities there is no racial issues because 99.9 % has been under one party rule for just about ever. I’m concerned that after those people attend the rally they will burn, loot and hurt others on the way out just to get a message across. How dare they not social distance and then spread the Covid 19 ?Because that virus will only show up at Trumps rally and at no other place like the peaceful riots that we’ve seen across America? They say warm temperatures might help to keep the virus somewhat at bay and maybe that’s why all the fires going on at the riots were allowed?
We can always count on The Planet for excellent infotainment!
Is the police funding re-allocation really that big of a deal? It is less than 1% of the overall $11mil+ budget. Pennies on the dollar.
Do we really need more policing though? Even though drug dealing in Pittsfield is at an all time high, it’s palatable. What on Earth do you think uninspired, unemployed, drug-loving people do in their ample spare time when they are taking in twice as much money as pre-corona days? They are suitably medicated. We don’t need that many police anyway.
As Mark T noted, Pittsfield deserves what Pittsfield gets.
Thanks PHIL. Glad to hear from you.
Earth to Connell…Earth to Connell. Barry,we have a problem. Earth to Connell,can you here me? Stop playing the piano. Again,one more time,Connell can you hear me?
Earth to Connell. Pittsfield Budget,we have a problem.
Connell sounds like dueling banjos.
it’s the principle of the matter Phil. Just because some racists want to defund the police, it doesn’t mean we should, even if it’s pennies on the dollar. And I will assume there is some sarcasm in the rest of your comments. If not, don’t call us when you need us.
Who owns 1Fenn Street & who owns the law offices of C,K,V,C ? (The Real estate) -Balthazar