COVID FOLLOWUP: PLANET’S COVERAGE SPURS CITY TO ACT … STATE PUTS PITTSFIELD IN ‘CODE RED’ … EMERGENCY DECLARED
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 13-5, 2020) — In large part due to THE PLANET‘s coverage and the relentless nature of the community’s ensuing discussions, the City of Pittsfield has issued emergency orders to combat an alarming uptick in new COVID-19 cases.
“You were the only one who talked about this,” said one city hall source. “I think [THE PLANET‘s] investigation helped move [the city] to act and act promptly. You got into the details of a lot of stuff that would have remained hidden.”
In between those lines: Once again, local and lame-stream media has to play catchup with THE PLANET, who alone dares to look behind the drawn curtains.
Now the news.
Just since yesterday, the Hot Harry’s locations in Pittsfield shut down due to the manager contacting the virus, sources said. It’s not know how many staff or customers were infected. Also, sources say the Proprietor’s Lounge may have contributed to the new outbreak by hosting a Halloween gathering where adults freely mingled without social distancing or masks, with children going to various tables for candy. Also, 99 has been shuttered due to undisclosed incidents related to the virus.
Responding to a wave of frustration and anger over the arrogance of taverns and private groups as well as the state’s designation of Pittsfield as a Code Red COVID city, the mayor’s office issued the following release:
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CONTACT:
THE CITY OF PITTSFIELD OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
70 Allen Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Roberta McCulloch-Dews, MSPP
Director of Administrative Services, Office of the Mayor, City of Pittsfield 413-499-9322
rmdews@cityofpittsfield.org
Steady uptick in COVID-19 cases in Pittsfield result in new restrictions, temporary closures
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 12, 2020) – With the number of new positive COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in Pittsfield, and with growing levels of concern for the potential of further community spread, on Thursday, the city’s COVID-19 Task Force identified several immediate actions to slow the spread of the virus in the city.
Since Oct. 22, there have been 169 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pittsfield. These cases have been directly attributed to large get-togethers in restaurants and large private gatherings held in residences and attended by individuals from multiple households.
“We have reached a point of crisis in our city that impacts our entire community. The number of COVID-19 cases have grown exponentially over a very short period of time,” said Mayor Linda Tyer. “Based on our current case rates and using the state’s new calculations to determine risk, Pittsfield has moved into the red category, making us a high-risk community. We need to take aggressive action now to get us back on the right course and reverse this alarming trend.”
Beginning Friday, Nov. 13, all of the following actions will take effect:
- Today, the Pittsfield Board of Health will be issuing an emergency order suspending table service at city restaurants until further notice. Local eateries will still be allowed to provide take-out and delivery service. Patrons should feel free to utilize the city’s temporary “grab-and-go” zones for food pickup, which were installed this past spring throughout the downtown. These designated areas offer free and time limited space to allow for quick customer turnover and social distancing.
- Pittsfield Public Schools will transition to all-remote learning through Friday, Dec. 4. Current elementary, middle, and high school schedules will be followed.
Meals will be available tomorrow for children 18 and under. They can be picked up between 11:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m. at the following sites:
o Conte Community School, 200 W. Union St.
o Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank St.
o Allendale Elementary School, 180 Connecticut Ave. o Egremont Elementary School, 84 Egremont Ave.
For more information, please visit the district’s website at pittsfield.net.
The Board of Health will issue an emergency order stepping back the City of Pittsfield to Step 1 of Phase 3. Until further notice, the following sectors are no longer permitted to do the following:
o Indoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
o Outdoor performance venue capacity will increase to 50 percent with a max of 250 people.
o For arcades and indoor and outdoor recreation businesses, additional Step II activities like trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag will also be permitted to open and capacity will increase to 50 percent.
o Fitting rooms will be permitted to open in all types of retail stores.
o Gyms, museums, libraries and driving and flight schools will also be
permitted to increase their capacity to 50 percent.
Being a high-risk community also means that the state’s current gathering order changes in one way. Currently, the gathering limits are:
o Indoor gatherings at private residences is 10.
o Outdoor gathering limit for private residences is 25 people.
o Indoor gatherings at event venues and other public spaces is 25.
o Now that Pittsfield is high-risk, outdoor gatherings are now reduced to 50.
For more information on sector specific guidance, please visit www.mass.gov/reopening. Municipal buildings will be closed to the general public. Community members can
visit the city’s website, www.cityofpittsfield.org, to manage their business needs.
Residents should continue to utilize the drop box located in the rear of City Hall to submit correspondence that would normally have to be dropped off at City Hall. Individuals seeking to make an appointment or those with specific questions for city departments, should utilize the City Hall directory, 413-449-5600, during the hours of 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance. To arrange fingerprinting for firearms, please the Pittsfield Police Department at 448-9716; for licensing prints, please call 448-9723.
To stay connected to city updates on the coronavirus, a COVID-19 link is available on the home page of the city’s website and will feature continuous updates from the city. The public is also encouraged to use the subscription service to receive a notification when a new update from the city is available and sign up for CodeRED.
For more information, please visit the COVID-19 page on the city’s website at cityofpittsfield.org.
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That’s a decent start, but it doesn’t go far enough. All indoor and outdoor performance venues should be shut down entirely, along with arcades and the recreation businesses that will be allowed to stay open. The new rules permit up to 250 people to attend. It will be impossible to practice safe health with so many people. It leads to the fair question of just how concerned is the city when it builds in these end-arounds.
Besides officials, THE PLANET has heard from many citizens who have shared stories. Here are two of them. The first is from Gregg Williams:
From a knowledgable source familiar with the local food and bar industry:
“I just finished reading[THE PLANET’s] coverage. You put as much out there as you could without speculating, but Yuki, while trying to cover her ass, basically admitted that she lets people into her bar to just drink. She let non-staff stay after hours and have a ‘shift drink’? All of which are against the COVID regulations. And we all know that nothing will happen. The trail of COVID that left her bar that night has closed down other restaurants. Sage and Madison Soldato, daughters of Mickey and Lynn of Zucchinis and Roasted Garlic, where in Methuseleh’s that night, Madison is 18. They both have tested positive, but not before going to get their hair and nails done and serving customers at their parents’ restaurants while waiting for their test results. So irresponsible. That is why the two restaurants closed, not to ‘deep clean” but because they had to.
“I have heard from a lot of people that are pissed to find out about stuff like this happening. Methuselah is a late-night hangout for other restaurants and bar staff to go for drinks, and it only takes a quick stop in there after 11 to see it. Now with the new time for closing hopefully that will end.
THE PLANET‘s coverage is this story could only have been done with the help of concerned citizens that (a) have credible and specific information and (b) are willing to share it. If you or anyone you know has such information, let us know. Unlike the local lame-stream media, we’re open for business.
The most frustrating aspect of this recent outbreak is that it never had to happen at all. As the mayor’s press release says, the selfishness of certain restaurants, bars, and people who hosted and attended large, private gatherings has once again sent the city back onto the trash heap.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“One word in the wrong place will ruin a beautiful thought” — Voltaire.
“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 and contained in 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.
Sunday November 15 2020……175 Positive covid in the last 3 weeks because of adults and Halloween parties .I sure hope the Alcohol Licensing Board investigates fully the timeline of Methusila Bars reputation as a place to drink alcohol after hours……The children of our city are the victims of what went on in there.The City Councilor should be giving a statement and a apology at the next meeting without her cover story.The amount of work that people put in to keep Pittsfield.ma at the lowest infection rate of cities in the state wasted because of adults who should have been leaders…..It is disgusting from the Republican President and a political party to a councilor who refuse in the most ignorant of ways saying this killer virus is nothing to worry about.This is The Great American Brainwash.This denial can no longer be tolerated….The newest brainwash is the Stop The Cheat nonsense can no longer be accepted as truth…..American Exceptionalism needs to claw its way back from the Crazy Conspiracy of Tom Hanks as the leader of underground baby eaters that support President Trump in his war on a imaginary threat…..There is a virus in America that our President still wont lead on.Now at 2 million people per WEEK…
Excellent post
You sound like you need some help I hope you find it so you can speak in a unifying way. It would also be nice to hear your thoughts on PSD promoting people in a needless way. During this chaotic period keeping things stable would seem more appropriate than moving people needlessly
I need a scorecard
So the Soldato’s are lying because the timeline and their post about closing don’t make sense when you look at their actions? Right? They closed on the 7th but took two rounds of tests which would have meant they should have been closed the last week of October if they cared about the public’s safety. They kept their N.Y. restaurant open the whole time, is it open now?The city plans to pull their licenses?
Yuki knows exactly the day she got covid but waited at least a week or more to close. She operates a bar in violation of her license and covid rules meaning she’s supposed to serve liquor only if she serves food it’s always over crowded, few wear masks, it’s a breeding ground for covid and STIs. Methuselah is some sort of club for wife swappers. The Velastro’s are some how involved in that?
The city doesn’t plan on doing anything.
Port Smits had a Halloween party because they were closing for good so there’s not going to be any punishment but maybe there were infections from that?
The place is closed for good, the city can’t do anything.
Somebody in Richmond had a party for Brooke Velastro, then they went to Mazzeo’s, was that a wife swap party? Is this the PLT connection?People in that party were sick but went out anyway. Mazzeo’s at least limited the party to 10 and kept them in a private area.
Somebody called in a complaint about Mazzeo’s that the party was 30 people after covid started spreading but that was a lie. Video and reservations prove otherwise. Was that Yuki trying to distract from her covid and STI party?
There’s nothing for the city to do because Mazzeo’s did everything right.
Proprietor’s Lodge has racked up a bunch of violations from parking, underage drinking, noise, conservation, and big parties during covid. They’ve been punished for some but skated on others. They’ve been exposed as liars because the owner and manager claim one thing but every picture out there shows that their claims of safely operating during covid are a lie. They recently moved banquet tables further apart and claim that was a big investment. They will probably look for some free money.
The city plans to pull their licenses anyway?
A lot of other restaurants have suffered because of a few bad apples. Yuki and Methuselah seem to get the biggest passes because she’s connected. Proprietor’s gets the least passes because they’ve angered an entire neighborhood and the neighborhood complains, and rightly so.
Kathy Amuso is on the licensing board yet her son, maybe he’s an adult, had a huge Halloween party at a private residence. Was it at her house? Is he an adult or a kid? She’ll keep her job and nothing will happen to her or her son?
This seems to be a fair summation, SCOREKEEPER. Hard to keep things straight, but this is a competent first stab at it. THE PLANET invites anyone with any additional information or corrections to speak up.
Hey Dan,
does Dominion do voting in S##tfield too …just wondering
You forgot about Tyers illegal order about 10 people per private residence.
Tell Tyer et al it was just a D-rat gathering, the D-rat Harrington’s head goes into the sand
Damn straight. The constitution can not be suspended regardless of the reason. It’s the entire rationale for letting the bums gather with cardboard signs at all the intersections. Tyer doesn’t do jack shit or diddly squat about it, but says we can’t have more than 10 people over for thanksgiving. Better get the swat team and a warrant because I’m inviting 12.
fact checker….
Through contact tracing it is known by the city where this began, they are not revealing which is complete BS since so many people and businesses are being slandered!
there were 2 large Halloween parties, 1st was an underage kids party, at Jiminy Peak hosted by Taya Mazzeo! (does she work at Mazzeos?) the 2nd was a large house party hosted by Mark Amuso (mom Kathy on the license board,)
Both large gatherings took place before the night in question and had many positive cases as a result of them. (both exceeded # guidelines)
You started out good then you made it a national political issue.
I agree wholeheartedly. If only you had stopped with the City Councilor you would have 5, 10, or how many thumbs up. However, as soon as you mentioned that our beloved president might have been even slightly negligent the narrow minded dunderheads are ready to pounce and discredit your entire premise. This is what the Planet calls “The Voice of the Little Guy”. Take your thumbs out of your mouths now and point them downward.
Again. You may know who we are but we know who you are.
Are you going to come and get me. spray paint my car, put stupid signs on my lawn?
I’ll pizz on your grave, with a smile doing so
Exactly,the grave is always the best idea. Poor Carm.
Were not Antifa?
Trump is a punk.Hes manipulates your hate and he makes you think hes after Tom Hanks.This is beyond racism as its so sick where you guy are….To quote one Trumper…The celtics won last night 120 to 100….Why do you say that? The final score was reported on the news.We will know more after the investigation because the other team was ahead after the 1st quarter.
Do you live in a van down by the river?
No a burrow in the bank of the riverside. River D-rats
Rite add bus stop
Yeah,but hoops didn’t vanish into the nopightl
Give it up, TSC. There is absolutely no hope here.
Can you even call him beloved? Are you serious? He just was voted out after 1 term
I don’t like Trump but I’m not sure why we are bringing up Trump when we bring up Yuki. Yuki already broke the law and someone got shot outside her bar. For some reason the COP decided she would be a good person to be on a Health Committee after that malfeasance? And now this brazen and admitted last law breaking. Why because she gets to decide, screw the consequences. It’s her world we just live on it. If these Democratic contenders are going to pretend their behavior is because of Trump then why should anyone anywhere take personal responsibility ever? People only have themselves to blame for voting for Yuki – she is selfish and greedy and doesn’t give an f about anything but herself and her narcissism – I guess in that way she is like Trump. She’s a first rate trash and when you pick up trash remember to put it in the garbage can.
Post of the blog. This political divide and gobsig stills lives. In all realms especially here. The administration still has a n hfor the Bianchi and Mazzeo supporters,vice versa.
This is the virus you learned Trump lied about.
Do you really believe these big locals Democrats are persuaded by trump’s attitude about the virus? You must be joking? Maybe you live a bunker and Trump controls your brain. This is as much nonsense as anything Pat has said about China.
Also, I am disappointed in roasted garlic . With all the paisanos around how come they have the only passable pizza? That is crime, too, eating Pizza Hut.
The school committee has the TDS virus
You can’t tell that by the four year ramblings?
Trump does not control my brain.Its you guys believing Tom Hanks controls our goverment through a conspiracy.Your republican beliefs are crazy.
”
Trump does not control my brain.Its you guys believing Tom Hanks controls our goverment through a conspiracy.Your republican beliefs are crazy.Dementia o n the Planet
”
Thanks ,
Dan
Have a talk with TSC
I think she is joking about that. I hope she is joking about that. My tin foil hat is at the cleaners so I don’t understand entirely.
That said, I don’t feel like trashing anybody on here. Really disappointed that our society is so blinkered.
Typical C N Drivel.
TSC has a Trump obsession
Virus,Virus Virus….The freaking Trump Virus
Hunter porn squad.
LOL at 7 people who think Tom Hanks is running the show…unbelievably stupid people .
You must have kool aid for a liver. C N N Chris Cuomo has been sojourning with his sidekick night after night pleading with listeners to social distance and wear masks. Chris Cuomo also blames The President for increased numbers of Covid related transmissions.
Yet Chris Cuomo as you know, is the brother of nursing home patient killer Andrew Cuomo, governor of n y who’s state is in total dissaray financially by th way, and way before Covid by the way, Anywho,Cuomo has been caught not social distancing and wearing the mask,not once,not twice not three times,but more. Chris Cuomo also has been warned by one of his luxury apartment landlords that he was in violation of not wearing protective and distancing guidelines at the apartment?
It see,s these same practices as do as I say but not as I do apply right here in dear old Berkshire County and especially Pittsfield. Oh the Hippocracy.
Cuomo, Tyer, Pelosi, Newton, Lightfoot, Deblassio, eteffingcetera. All a bunch of hypocrites.
Tyer Bouvier..
Red alert red alert lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi6U07gOHW4&feature=emb_logo
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/sidney-powell-drops-bomb-sunday-morning-futures-cia-may-used-dominion-benefit-gina-haspel-fired-immediately-video/
“Sidney Powell: It’s really an insidious, corrupt system and I can’t tell you how livid I am at our government for not paying attention to complaints, even brought by Democrats… No one in our government has paid any attention to it which makes me wonder if the CIA has used it for its own benefit in different places. And why Gina Haspel is still there in the CIA is beyond my comprehension. She should be fired immediately.”
Thumbs up for Sidney Powell!
Indiana University went “full China” in August. We now test 35,000 people a week; we have phone APs that contact trace; we require masks everywhere or students will be suspended and faculty fired; we have quarantine facilities. As a result, students are safer here than most place they come from, we are opening more classes in-person in the spring and we will not take a revenue hit. Unlike Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and many others, we remained open and have low infection rates. Oh, and the football team is winning and ranked 10th in the US. Pittsfield needs to test, mask, distance and close…
Totally agree. “Full China”, is an excellent way to describe the only real way to deal with this virus. Anything less is wishful thinking and that includes the vaccine. The vaccine may help or slow it down. To what degree depends on how many people you can get to take it but my guess is that this virus will stay healthy in the USA for many years because getting the majority of the population to take it will be like herding cats in a barn full of mice. Americans as a group do not have either the common sense or will power to overcome a pandemic and will probably eventually be banned from most of the civilized world unless they can prove their virus free.
But Indiana U. and its efforts are certainly inspirational and show what can be done with the proper people running the show.
No,Pittsfield needs to empty the swamp. The only team in Indiana is Norte Dame!
Non-send. We need to open up everything.
14th ammedment:
Trump may invoke the 14th amedment to strip Ellectoriial College votes froms states engaged in illegal insurections against our repbublic
MI, WiI, PA, GA, AZ , NV
Give it up. The man lost. Time to let it go. When he beat Hillary Clinton by the same amount of Electoral votes he said it was a landslide and she was a sore loser.
Whhaa !!!!!!H-beast /Slo j0e and the Ho oe supporte!!
Dem s did biggest election fraud in history.
Most should be handing on a tree. No Gitmo, hang them in in DC
Biden cheated, it’s coming out.
It is!
Trump 2024. Anybody but Harris for Veep.
This is what happens when stupid meets stupid.
5 standard deviations below the the mean IQ, still proud of that? TSC?
Last time tested, I was 142 , but mine has always been in 140s. Bad days for me,,,
TSC , what in your understnadning is a standard deviation?
I remember clearly when a former Mayor years ago told a local talk show host that the Arts are a fool proof economic engine that survives any kind of downturn in an economy. Except one Mr. Mayor. Covid. And you were wrong.
Covid with a self serving chaser from the bar who was pretty confident that she was immune to being chastised. And so goes Pittsfield with its political buddy system
Partisan relationship were born here.
Waaat?
Fire Fauci!
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/11/15/fauci-social-distancing-masks-still-necessary-after-getting-coronavirus-vaccine/
Hope the courts are true not like the MSM/projections/ polls/TSC
America is done otherwise .
Get ready for SHTF!!!!!
Wait until Hunter is investigated. Trumps kids will look like Choir Boys.
Mayors going on fifth year. Still no blight program or police station. And what about defund police? P S Hess still Stands.
Dan Planet lovers. BEWARE, bad weather overnight high winds also.
No I’m not George B
Trumps are an amazing collection of human beings with one thing in common.Trump is here to save you from Tom WTF Hanks the baby eating real president of America….Everyone of you Trumpers need to go look in the mirror and see what is the results of Trump savior.It is hopeless on your end.
The Soldatos waited until they got back a second set of tests to quarantine and close. They’ve admitted it here and are trying to backtrack.
How selfish and disgusting.
The get the Yuki Cohen award for stupidity.
Remember to contact your city councilor to complain. The Soldatos and Yuki destroyed the restaurant biz in Pittsfield. The both deserve to lose their licenses for good.
Speaking of well, whatever,during the open mike portion of the last city council meeting, Vice President White, asked through zoom,the next caller to speak and identified the last four digits of the cell number. Ready…..it was City Councilor Chris Connell? Earth to Pete. Earth to Pete……
Agree with Chris Connel,all citizens homes should be on a list. How about a lottery. Am totally against funding from g e money. Almost seems like the Berkshire Museum money rape of the Rockwell’s.
It doesn’t matter how destitute you are and dont get me wrong, many are for the project,but the at home mayors ridiculous money grab from the g e development fund is for the development of jobs and should be its the funds) first priority, Any monies helping home owners should not come from this fund.
Eriod.
Leave Lynn and her family alone you stupid moron.
They stayed open thinking they had covid…ya dumb.
They lied about the testing and isolation …ya dumb
They helped put all the city restaurants into lock down…ya dumb
They posted more lies on their Facebook page and the door of their restaurants…ya dumb.
The didn’t shut down in October…ya dumb.
The only shut down after they got positive tests back…ya dumb
They kept the ny resultant open…ya dumb.
They got caught lying and just lied more…ya dumb.
They tried blaming patrons for a while…ya dumb.
They get their friends and family to post under different names…ya dumb.
They gonna lose their license… YA DONE!!!
Yeah let the restaurant die on the vine. They don’t need our help.
The Soldato’s could clear all this up with dates.
The date of the first thought of exposure should have been the day they closed the restaurants.
Quarantine or isolate until you take the test, remain in quarantine or isolation until getting a negative test.
Considering they wear their mask like chinstraps in the back of the house, take them off for group breaks, and take them off immediately after closing the whole staff should have isolated.
Actually I have no skin in the game. I like Mario’s in N L and never been to Zucchinis but it’s always packed. Trump he problem is rather direction these restaurants go to avoid outbreaks. I don’t like the track record at Methuselah and quite frankly do not believe the owner even gives a crap. The License Boad will be examined closely at their next meeting. Dan keeps printing the city wont do anything? How so Dan. This will be I believe her fourth possible violation, and this current violation was a Governors edict. This owner is clearly irresponsible in my opinion.
Sorry for the mispelling.But the game must be played fairly.Close the bar down.
Yuki was actually well intentioned. She was just showing people what can happen if they do not follow the rules. It was just a demonstration for educational purposes. A show and tell sort of demo.
Right mayor?
Make sure never to see them or their friends, which are a lot if people, and don’t go in their restaurants if you want to talk like that. You’re a sad person
Covid upticks in school students and staff in Great Barrington, Lenox, Pittsfield, Dalton, Adams-Cheshire.
Adams-Cheshire is moving to remote for the rest of the semester. They will reevaluate after Thanksgiving.
Any school that moves to remote, should stay remote until after the new year.
If you work in Adams Cheshire you will be notified soon.
Daniel.A relative of mine very close, I might add, was involved in the spacex/nasa launch this upcoming evening. It will commence at approximately 7:27 e s t My prediction? It will be a beautiful send off! Very proud! U S A!
Oh,there is one million pounds of propellant, think about that? U S has the best space program for sure.
Believe it or not Crosby was the model. And I believe they are remote also.
Speaking of Covid and Trump. Mike Pence is leading the charge,not Trump. And he’s doing a Great Job. The States themselves are in charge of mandates concerning Protocol.
The President never said he was against wearing a mask or social distancing. If the Networks are so concerned about Trump rally protocol, for instance,then have the Governors put a mask policy in place or a distance policy in place.
Look what happened in you’re City of Pittsfield? The Mayor didn’t follow her own protocol?Do you think they would listen to Trump or Pence here? Evidentially……ready………… NOT.
Mike Pence has not met in weeks
The Vaccine is here..two. Thank You President Trump. Locally there is an uptick. Great Leadership here. NOT!