ARMED ROBBERY IN DOWNTOWN … TENSION AND THE TOWER PT. 2: AS AN ARGUMENT, NIMBY IS A LOSER
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
ADD 2 — 4/1/21 No April’s Fool joke, this latest in a series of crimes plaguing the city. From the PPD release:
On Wednesday 03/31/2021, at approximately 8:30 PM, members of the Pittsfield Police Department responded to the Mobil Mart located at 580 North St for a reported Armed Robbery.
Arriving units spoke with the Mobil Mart clerk, who was unharmed during the incident. The clerk reported the suspect came into the store with a knife and demanded the money from the register. The suspect reached over the counter and grabbed an undetermined amount of cash before fleeing on foot. He was described as a masked, white male, approximately 30 years of age, between 5’8”-5’10” tall, wearing a black coat with a hood. He was wearing black sneakers with white soles.
A PPD K9 unit conducted a track of the area in which the suspect was last seen running. Members of the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau and Crime Scene responded. Their investigation is ongoing. Surveillance in the area is currently being reviewed.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ignacio Matos at 448-9705. Information can be provided anonymously via the Detective Bureau, the Drug Tips hotline at 413-448-9708, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).
———- ooo ———-
ADD 1 — 3/31/21 The Pittsfield Police Department has requested your help in solving a series of vandalism crimes.
Between last night (Tuesday March 30) and today (Wednesday March 31) the police have received multiple reports of vandalism. Most of the property damage was apparently caused by the firing of BB and/or pellet guns. The damage most likely occurred during the nighttime or early morning hours and cases have been reported throughout different parts of the city. No injuries have been reported.
The police are asking for the public’s assistance. They are also asking any owners of residential or business video surveillance systems to review their footage and report any suspicious activity that may be tied to these acts. Anyone who wishes to provide information regarding the vandalism 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).
THE PLANET now goes to our regularly scheduled column.
Second of Two Parts
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 2021) — The sell of the cell has long left the belated objections of Shacktown standing with thumb out on the road.
Mobile phones started out as backpacks and walkie-talkies. Today, they exist on the palm of the hand as moon-powered rocket ships to anywhere. For better or worse, America and the world fell in love with smart phones. That meant towers. Lots of towers. At the end of 2020, this country had 112,251 such towers, including the one on upper Holmes Road at South Street.
Done deal.
The residents protested too late and now too loud. They had 90 days to respond to the ZBA approval of a special permit, and the records show they didn’t. If there’s documentation otherwise, THE PLANET hasn’t seen it and, of course, we would love to see it should it exist. Actually, even under the most favorable conditions, Not In My Back Yard presents a weak argument. In this case, ex post facto NIMBY doesn’t and shouldn’t have a chance.
The only statement they could make at this late stage is for each of the protesters to give up their cell phones and service. As long as they want the essential conveniences of their smart phones, they would best leave it alone.
There have been rumors circulating about some nefarious “deal” made regarding the tower, including that one of the Shacktown residents had a vested interest in seeing it built. Another is that the address was deliberately misstated so that the notification was sent to the wrong people.
Let us just say that while THE PLANET readily engages in investigative journalism, we don’t do so simply on unsubstantiated rumors or fumes. Information sent to us anonymously, without specifics or any leads, with no factual substance and fake contact information, isn’t enough to launch our thousand ships. Moreover, this site won’t be used for that kind of advocacy. If anyone has anything on record, specifics, we’re all ears. Until then, we go with the facts and information at hand.
The most vocal of Shacktown has been Courtney Gilardi.
On March 22, she sent an e-mail to Ward 4 city councilor Chris Connell, Ward 5 Patrick Kavey, and state rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. THE PLANET has obtained a copy. Here is the full text:
———- 000 ———-
“When our children love what we love, it is a blessing, but O, when they hate what we hate!” — Writer Elizabeth McCracken.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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These crackpots are wasting the cities time.
1. They missed the deadline, if they cared so much they would have responded in time.
2. If there was an error in the certified abutters list, they should bring that challenge, if they don’t it’s false.
3. The doctors they are asking to talk as “experts” are nothing of the sort.
4. The board of health doesn’t need expertise in cell tower radiation or construction. All these rules that are established locally have zero to do with radiation levels, those are set by the FCC.
The only local rules are about aesthetics, danger if the tower falls over, and general detriment to the neighborhood.
Since the FCC sets radiation limits, you can’t argue detriment due to radiation as the output will be within the limits of what the FCC says is allowable.
Bringing a doctor to these discussions when they are not experts, is just smoke and mirrors.
Idiots to a one
Cecelia Doucette makes her money lecturing on the dangers of cellphones and wifi. Is she an engineer? Is the a research scientist who spent decades studying in the field of EMF or radiation? No she’s a copy writer and technical manual writer. I guess years of writing technical manuals makes you somehow an expert in fields you never studied.
This woman is the Shirley Edgerton of wireless safety. It’s great when you can create a NFP and milk people for cash.
Too late, you screwed up and a lawful, safe, and needed cell tower is in your back yard.
I’m wondering if these crackpots have wifi routers in there home. Courtney Gilardi uses a laptop and cellphone ALL THE TIME.
Maybe you can get a good deal on one of the houses going on market in that neighborhood. No doubt some realtors already solicited the neighborhood.
In the neighborhoods defense it used South street as cover for being non transparent.It was misleading and decietful.They know what they are doing.
You just can’t stop lying. They used South Street because that’s the ADDRESS of the parcel.
The system that creates abutters lists goes 300 feet from all boundaries of the parcel.
It’s been that way for over 40 years. They did nothing illegal or misleading. The abutters notifications went out to all properties within 300 feet of any boundary of the property.
I agree that Armstrong is totally being unfairly and wrongly accused of dropping the ball here. You blame only one person here who has let residents in that area down. Start with the Mayor.
What does Pittsfield politics really do for the people and taxpayers? Answers: 2 toxic waste dumps that abut Allendale Elementary School, Level 5 inner city Pittsfield public schools, record setting municipal budgets, fees, public debts and other liabilities, a huge City Hall slush fund that is estimated around $14 million, plus $41.6 million in direct aid – Biden Buck$ – over the next two years, violent crime in a dangerous downtown described as “Social Services Alley” instead of a bustling business district, severe economic inequality, 5G cellphone towers that emit unhealthy radiation onto residential neighborhoods, over 2 decades of polluted PEDA failures and huge liabilities no one will ever pay for, little to no living wage jobs for the average working family, an ongoing homelessness crisis, stinky marijuana odors affecting the quality of life in working class residential neighborhoods, political retribution against anyone who questions or dissents against the oligarchic state and local career politicians, TFB and Adam Hinds – both of whom openly support raising state taxes – voting themselves and accepting huge legislative pay raises during the Covid-19 pandemic instead of spending the limited taxpayer dollars on hospitals and vaccination sites, potholes and other public transportation deferred maintenance, creative accounting schemes without a forensic accounting of Matt Kerwood’s alleged cooked books, an inaccessible and out-of-touch Lovely Linda, and a million other DISSERVICES that screws over Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski! What do you expect other than business as usual from Pittsfield politics?
Yet as long as they have a D by their name on the ballot the sheep will vote. With voters not doing their due diligence this is the government that we end up getting, out of touch and in it for themselves. Do you think this money that the Federal government is taking from the Kapanski’s and diverting to local governments will be used to alleviate the burdens on the common taxpaying citizen? No it will be wasted on what the “small group “ that the mayor has selected choose. You ask how do they choose…follow the money
Democrats spend a lot of taxpayer dollars, but I don’t understand where all of the taxpayer dollars go. Certainly not to the working class, who pays the state and local government’s bills. Do I think the next 2 years of Biden Buck$ direct aid to Pittsfield politics will go to alleviating the burdens on the common taxpaying citizens? I doubt it. The Lovely Linda will probably spend her $41.6 billion in Biden Buck$ direct aid over the next 2 years on anything that doesn’t benefit the proverbial Kapanski family. What about Matt Kerwood’s estimated $14 million slush fund? Why are the Kapanski’s excessively overtaxed when the Lovely Linda and Matt Kerwood are flush with so much cash? In closing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pittsfield politics raises municipal taxes, fees, debts/liabilities again this year! Pittsfield politics is always business as usual no matter the economic and financial situation – good, bad or neutral.
I’ll tell you where it goes JM, in their pockets. Obama’s net worth was $200k in 2008. Now, it’s over $14 million. I know he get’s paid well for speeches, but certainly not $14,000,000 worth.
When he was prez, he only privately overnighted billions of dollars to Iran, started the war on cops, helped energize a hate group in BLM (all cops must die, etc), and government resources to spy on the incoming president. Does that help?
While we’re investigating This nimby project maybe we can look at the millions redone at the sewer plant.
something smelly is going on down there, hee, hee, couldn’t resist. But they are keeping it all hush hush so you know something is happening they don’t want the Kapanski’s to know about until it’s to late
Just a thought, why don’t they put a cell tower on PEDA’s property, it would generate some income. While we are at it put one up at BCC to help 5G connection at the college and again generate income
Hell no. I traverse those two areas daily.
There must be an obstacle or financial reason that the PEDA property has no cell towers given that it is/was the primary business of long time PEDA CEO, Mr. Thurston as well as long time PEDA board member and treasurer Mike Matthews.
Matthews and a few others started a wireless business locally that built cell towers which was sold eventually to CCI out of Texas. Part of that same company he started here another entity, Opti- Site was also started. Not sure what happened with that part of the company.
These telecom companies do lease the land from landowners and from others for these cell tower sites. Check and see who owns the land where this tower went up!
After posting earlier, I saw this article.
Verizon has offered to take on maintenance of the tower and pay the Housing Authority nearly $28,000 annually to lease the tower, which should help cover internet service for all tenants.
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/64565/Some-North-Adams-Housing-Authority-Tenants-Are-Refusing-To-
Pay-Rent-.html
Yea my dad told me that when electricity first came out, people were afraid to flip a light switch.
I’ll bet Linda was really something before electricity
Frankenstein.
If you really look at the picture you could see how it took time but became true. The police are running for their lives right now, no one uses a horse and buggy, people are wiped out from partying under under the electric lights and families have fallen apart…not sure this is where you were trying to go
My earlier post disappeared in the clouds somewhere but I can see where the artist was correct in reading the future. Single mothers, disappearance of the horse and buggy, workers being made to work all day and night, cops running for their lives and the night life destroying people. So I wonder about the future
Xiden and the new wave of criminal aliens.
Don’t forget that they bus/transport these people ALL over the USA. Besides Covid, what other contagions is Joe spreading?
How is the new IM-POTUS dealing with this?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9419871/Over-4-000-migrants-kids-crowded-Texas-facility.html
“Biden administration FINALLY lets media into biggest shelter for migrant kids – where one in seven has COVID: Rammed tent structure is at 1,700% capacity with 2,000 kids who’ve overstayed 72-hour legal limit – and there’s a lice outbreak
Funny they don’t worry about lice in the PSD, they don’t think it’s an issue anymore
They will have to worry about it after the migrant children are enrolled.
How many will Linda take to help diversify Pissfield?
I would be more concerned about the space exploration happening over at the BIC. Did they ever end up delivering on the jobs promise?
Latest PC drivel.
Chess is racist because white makes the first move.
Not lately.
While Pete White is trying to figure out things do this next election. No Marchettiwhite,Low,Lampilousy COHEN,Moon,Persip, King Maffuccio. The mayor ( Great Dane) is calling out to the community to beware of Covid rising? Also she related there is a new strain in the toilets.
Next up will be laundry detergent and toothpaste that “whitens”.
BTM, black teeth matter……..
The dude with the white glasses testifying provided the cops inventive by saying to Floyd you can’t win,give up? The cop took it as a reaction to show Floyd they weren’t stupid. But the cop went way overboard and should be in the gas chamber.
I think the Asian lady who was kicked k in the face and stomped in Manhattan was just as bad as this. And it wasn’t a white person that tried to name her.
Gotta admit. George Floyd was brutalized. Cop committed murder.
He didn’t t die from the knee to the neck.
If the knee weren’t there he’d live. Aside Big Brawl at Tito’s tonight, arrests made. License Bored?
I agree. Murder, no. Manslaughter, all day long. Chauvon prevented the EMT’s from doing their job. #1 job for police is preservation of life, not make arrests.
Probably why the prosecution added a third degree murder charge, which does not require intent.
1/6/2021…Never forget the white supremist party of Trump
You dopes in Pittsfield really don’t know finances and political shacanery do you . Otherwise, you would have been on the Wizards proposal for anything water. Two million already in contingencies at the sewage plan ,8 million and less than three mil proposed. Are taxpayers here really that stupid.
Get a life.
BlueQanon 1/8/21 Speaker of the House commits Treason
Rodrigo at the DPW should resign? Had nothing during City Council debate about water,was blatantly wrong on one statement. Of course the city doesn’t build plants.
Never forget Nov 3-4 2020. Americans votes don’t matter and the legislative and judicial branches of the federal govenment are O.K. with that.
Are you the guy who sells wet teddy bears?
I once asked someone legitimately how I would recognize white supremacy, because short of a KKK rally I have no idea. I was accused of being coy and not to
play games.
Pete White supremacy
No, he’s Sweet Pete White, the Savior of the “houseless.”
Hey DA Harrington, last chance to pay your excise taxes in Richmond before you are reported and civil servants have to come after you in yoga class. https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/community-news/richmond-last-chance-to-pay-motor-vehicle-excise-tax/article_d79b7ab2-919f-11eb-9234-735bf534bf11.html
Is she even allowed to drive?
Joe Biden says only people earning over $400,000 dollars will have their taxes raised so we don’t have to worry. Tell us some more lies Joe. He knows darn well the rich corporations will pass on their tax increases to we the consumers so we pay through the nose for everything. Teachers unions, as good loyalist foot soldiers to the far left, will get their huge increases so they can keep up with the rise in costs of everything, but for the rest of us the far left has other plans. The “you won’t own anything, but you will be happy” baloney that the far left has been spreading across Europe. Government will give you a small income each month to pay for your way in the world, but you can never better yourself and big daddy government will own what little you are allowed to have.
There are two things that are more addictive than opiates. They are other people’s money and the government’s authority on all levels to confiscate and spend it.
cluck
So that’s 2x, personal and corporate (Biden appx. 21% to 28%). Pat, what are your thoughts on GOP suggesting decrease of taxes on capital gains? That doesn’t really move the needle for the average Kapanski?
Can anyone out there believe that Hunter Biden wrote a book that comes out on April 6th, 2021 that he smoked crack every 15 minutes and drowned himself in alcohol, slept with his late-brother’s widow which led to his first wife – who he has 3 children with – divorcing him, had a love child he denied to a court of law – he had to take a court-ordered paternity test – fathering with a then young woman college student who worked as a stripper, then went onto marry a woman he knew less than one week and they now have a baby that was born in 2020 together, wrote about his foreign business dealings for which he is being investigated by federal law agencies, along with his alleged money laundering schemes, and all of his other spoiled rich brat bad boy behavioral problems – including him hiring sex workers and using and buying illegal street drugs – he has had as a middle-aged man who is now 51-years-old? Joe Biden openly says that he is proud of his son, Hunter. This is who we have as our nation’s first family. Why is the Biden family in the White House? What kind of message is Hunter Biden sending to We the People? This is not good on so many levels!
Ask Dominion
You voted for Biden. Cut the crap!
Did he leave out the part about the handgun his lover tossed in dumpster? Did he explain why she tossed it in the first place?
Here’s a video of a Robert on our safe North Street.
https://youtu.be/HajG8JInl1U
The local newspaper had a story about a knifepoint robbery of a North street business yesterday but someone must have told them to get it the hell off there cuz its not there anymore. No crime in Pittsfield. Just ask the mayor. It is a safe as a babys nursery in downtown Pittsfield I tell ya.
Thousands of cases of the B.1.1.7 variant have been reported across the US, and experts fear the strain may fuel another surge as states race to vaccinate residents
No doubt being spread by infected illegal immigrants who are being bussed across the country during a pandemic. What a joke that the Biden administration was elected for its superior policies on COVID.
While the Biden admin. raids the treasury, they have opened the southern border to invasion which will in turn overwhelm our social services, hospitals, social security, police depts., etc etc.
This is how much Obama’s sock puppet &company love you, the taxpaying American citizen!
Oh,socialism and culture war is here fritz!
Pctv crew and media time for weight watchers.
COVID CORPULENCE
PittsfieldCountry Club wants 30 grand to fix old chimneys historical, from C P A money? F U !
WOW!!! That takes balls for a super wealthy club to be grabbing money that coud be used for the less fortunate. But this mayor loves to play Santa Claus with other peoples money. This is shameful.
FIX THE GOD DAMN ROADS for christ sake!!! What the hell is the matter with you????
Who are the idiots who voted for this extra tax…oh that’s right the Pittsfield voters, hooray I know they will only spend it on projects for open spaces
dumbest
That was for tsc
Just read an article on Yahoo News, by Bonvoyaged, titled “Nobody Wants to Live In This City In Massachusetts”. Congrats to the Mayor and City Clownsil, Winner is PITTSFIELD! Time for all these elected officials to come out of hiding and take a ride around the City. It is a mess! Wonder what this years excuse will be for not repairing the craters/potholes? City is receiving all this extra cash, but as a taxpayer, can’t see what is being done with it. Time for Mayor and Cufflinks to come clean and let us know.
Linda needs to hire about 40 more cops with all those millions the city is earmarked to receive.
Totally agree, but according to Mr. & Mrs, Mayor Tyer there is NO CRIME in Pittsfield. To add to Dan’s added report about the robbery and vandalism, there was also a big brawl at Tito’s last night resulting in 4 people being arrested. The natives are getting restless.
Two illegals arrested and IMMEDIATELY released thanks to WRONG WAY Harrington.
Eli eve there was a robbery also somewhere
Vibrant and Dynamic. Jimmy Ruberto’s Downtown Art District at its finest height.
Wait till all the illegals arrive in the Pitt.
And you think it’s bad now?
It’s even coming more Fritz as there are already some.
They are already here
And TSC is even more drunk. I swear you would blow over the limit everyday.
Our sister city in Ireland has zero garbage on its streets. Decent roads too. I am embarrassed to think what they say about us when they return home from their visits here.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/04/joe-biden-says-raising-us-corporate-tax-rate-chinas-corporate-tax-rate-will-put-america-position-win-global-competition-china/
Joe Biden, Obama’s sock puppet, making another incredulous, nonsensical tax increase on corporate America. They’re destroying our country.
Get your wet teddy bears
Your delusional privilege is showing again.
This was good!
Welp, as “reported” by The Babylon Bee — the best satire site in the known universe, IMHO — ingenious parents have begun to dress their kids as illegal-alien kids so they can finally see the inside of a classroom again.
Planet community,
A malware attack has caused the Registry of Motor Vehicles to temporarily stop the process of getting state motor vehicle
inspections. A 60 day reset to get up and running again.
Not a reset, they are extending the RETEST for cars that have failed inspection.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2021/04/massachusetts-inspections-stickers-wont-be-issued-for-third-consecutive-day-after-malware-attack-on-vendor-rmv-says.html
https://www.mavehiclecheck.com/
Thanks
When does correct me if I’m wrong and learning on the job still? Pete White,going to understand,taxpayers don’t want T O T E R S ?
Dump the Arts here in Berkshire County. We cannot and should not Ever Use Covid or any Government relief monies for these failing Arts in the County. Let McGuire pay for her own transportation.
Don’t need inspection or excise,cpa tax. We are over burdened just with asserts tax increase.
I agree, I just wanted to give a heads up from those who might be needing one and not getting one.
There are zero online COVID vaccines available for our area. Looks like the young teachers in Berkshire County took all of the vaccines meant for the 60 and up group, you know the ones most vulnerable to the worst symptoms from the virus.
Well that would be Pittsfield. But I know for a fact that many teachers got vaccinated weeks ago. Just like all the mayors friends and benefactors did.
I am sitting in walgreens right now next for
My vaccines. Just sign up at walgreens.com and register. Go on at 655am and be ready to book. I got my appointment easily.
Thanks. I’ll try it tomorrow morning.
Stop and Shop on Dan Fox Drive was also giving shots this week.
If you are using the mass vaccination site you’re screwed.
Have your doctor do it or go to one of the many not mass vaccination websites.
You can easily get an appointment at Walgreens or any hospital outside Berkshire county.
What are the chances Mayor Tyer, Hinds, Country-Buffet, advocate using some of that $33M to get all people ID’s? This way it’s not racist to require ID to cast a ballot or receive a ballot for mail-in votes. Wouldn’t this end some of this “systemic racism,” I keep hearing about?
I mean honestly, $10k to get all legal US Citizens in Pittsfield and Berkshire County ID’s? Didn’t a Pittsfield dentist and DJ Money-Scam each get $5k? That should cover it. Plus, it allows one vote for one ID.
Voter ID requirement is common sense as a safeguard to electoral integrity.
I fully agree. I’m just tired of hearing OXiden calling it racist.
Armed robbery?We are turning into Great Barrington