BIKE MAFIA CHRONICLES 6: TUESDAY TOUR REVEALS MONSTROUS SCOPE OF PLANNED BIKE TRACK
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JULY 14, 2021) — THE PLANET spent part of the pleasantly soggy Tuesday tramping through Springside Park. We did it to get a first-hand appreciation for the size of the proposed mountain bike development being pushed there by a tiny handful of backers for reasons not entirely clear beyond the selfish interests of thrill-crazed young bikers looking to break their necks.
The zealous backing of the Parks Commission, Jim McGrath, and Alison McGee — city officials, all — shall remain for the moment another matter entirely. We have found typically gregarious sources, particularly those connected to city hall, unusually reticent. THE PLANET would be the last to make accusations based on whispers, but such indications usually point to shenanigans your “representatives” would rather keep hidden.
Though the Special Interests pushing hard for this destructive project are minuscule in number, they exert an oversized tidal pull certain city officials.
Bought and paid for?
Signed, sealed, delivered?
Or are we misreading tea leaves placed there for our Braille tips by Mssrs. Lipton and Twining? Hmmmm?
THE PLANET has unearthed the progression of this plan to destroy a large central piece of the park. It began quietly in November 2020, shielded by a pandemic, initiated by school committee member Alison McGee. She quickly got the Parks Commission and parks director Jim McGrath on board. She already had in-hand plans for the development from builder Powder Horn, a private, for-profit company based in New Hampshire. The backers kept the project under-the-radar until April.
In May, THE PLANET ran our first column on this issue. Since then, opposition has mounted, forcing more crawlies to come out in the open. At the same time, the Special Interests have circled the wagons and, we heard, told McGee and McGrath to dummy up if THE PLANET comes for a friendly visit. McGee we’ve never met, though we remain at her beck and call. McGrath we have known for 25 years and have never seen him so reluctant and uptight.
Just an observation, you see. We could be wrong.
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Fortunately, the Best Friends of Springside Park, a group dedicated to keeping intact what remains of the natural state of this gem, got involved. In May, they received a huge assist from THE PLANET. Since then, we have been doing our own investigation and the deeper we go, the sleazier it becomes. A million questions hang over this suspicious development, not the least of which involves need, since the New England Mountain Bike Association, Berkshire Chapter, already supervises nine bike venues involving 400 miles.
Oh yeah. McGee is president of the Berkshire Chapter — just another of those “Pittsfield coincidences.”
We’ve said it before: “Follow the money.”
The further we try to trace it back, the more we get the sense that there’s a lot dry cleaning going on. Maybe it’s just the Chinese laundry that used to be on Melville Street making a comeback. No smoking gun yet, but THE PLANET has documents that shall interest Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. We shall be sharing at some point soon.
The project has all the earmarks of “Done Deal” rubber-stamped in red on its cover. The only question now for the Kapanskis is this: Has the formal opposition come too little too late?
We’re hoping not.
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THE PLANET tagged along Tuesday as a small group of Pro-Springside preservationists toured the proposed location and then went to other areas to document damage that’s already been done by reckless (and illegal) bikers, ATVers, and dirt cyclists. Yeah, we know. They aren’t supposed to be doing that at all, just as city law prohibits overnight camping.
That’s why “the houseless,” as clueless councilor Peter White calls them, still make the forest their own. It’s also why the “armies of the night,” including a lively drug trade, rule the darkness. As Edgar Winter said, “They only come out at night.”
We also know that the city for years has basically ignored the health of the park, and the only reason we still have what remains of unspoiled areas can be traced back to people such as Mark Miller, Elizabeth Kulas, former parks commissioners Gene Nadeau and Chuck Garivaltis, Dan Miraglia, Royal Hartigan, Joe Kopek, Mary Jo Marchak, and others.
They are now in The Battle for the Very Life of Springside Park with the Powers That Be, the Suits, and Special Interests.
Which side are you on?
———- ooo ———-
The Tuesday trompers included THE PLANET, MRS. PLANET, Miller, Kulas, and Miraglia.
Our first impression was of the sheer size of the proposed bike track. What started out as a one-acre plan has now ballooned to three acres. When you walk it, particularly amid unspoiled Mother Nature, you begin to appreciate how much of God’s good work this unholy project will consume.
The budget likewise keeps going up, now approaching $500,000. Expect the final figures to be much more than that, since the evidence points to this as a “foothold” development meant to pave (pun intended) the way for much larger work.
If the project gets built, it will destroy an orchard of chestnut trees, beautiful meadows, vernal ponds, and disturb wildlife. Just in the first half hour Tuesday, we saw rabbits, deer, snakes, turtles, frogs, and countless birds. All that would be driven away by the loud crowd riding bikes costing anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
We also saw existing damage done by bikers, motorcyclists, and ATVers. Trails were eaten up; tree roots exposed; unlawful “maintenance” that included building jump berms where they cut down plants, bushes, and young trees; flowers, plants, bushes, and young trees crushed; and trash including empties.
Backers make the absurd argument that since the park is being used now for legal and illegal biking, it’s too late to worry about preservation. They say since other development (including what should a law-breaking softball complex rushed into approval) has eaten into the acreage donated to the city by the Miller Family in bequeathals from 1910 and 1930, what’s one more project?
Uh, hello!? McFly!!??
That’s precisely why the city should be safeguarding what remains of this gem.
———- ooo ———-
You will see from our photo gallery below what the building of such a track will mean to the land. This is all-out scorched earth deal involving a full-blown construction project. Check out these pictures and tell us if they remind you of the Big Dig going on at Dalton and Hubbard avenues for the new Taco Bell. Please, open these files and look carefully at what’s in store for Springside Park if the Powers That Be let the Special Interests have their selfish way.
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged)
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 2
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 7our response to mountain bike advocacy and
will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 4
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 4our response to mountain bike advocacy and
will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 5
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 5
our response to mountain bike advocacy and will conroy june 2021 2 (dragged) 6
THE PLANET asks you: Is that what you want at Springside Park?
———- ooo ———-
Finally, here are some pictures taken on Tuesday.
From left: Mark Miller, Dan Valenti, Elizabeth Kulas, and Dan Miraglia. (Photo by Lisa Valenti)
Illegal power jumps for dirt bikes, mountain bikes, and ATVs. The digging for these berms have obviously destroyed countless plants, bushes, and young trees. (Photo by Lisa Valenti)
A rabbit on the trail up ahead. We also saw deer, birds, turtles, snakes, and frogs, all within a half hour of our visit. Can you imagine the wildlife we didn’t see? Who will speak for them about the monstrosity being proposed for their habitat? (Photo by Lisa Valenti)
An empty can of Genesee, representative of a class of garbage and debris being invited into the park by unwanted development. (Photo by Lisa Valenti)
We couldn’t help getting down with the flowers of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin, but look at their beauty. (Photo by Lisa Valenti)
If you’re against the rapacious onslaught that “your” public officials — McGee, McGrath, the Parks Commission, and don’t forget the silent partners to all this — are trying to shove down your throat, now’s your chance. What can you do?
- E-mail councilors. It’s an election year.
- Write to the Parks Commission and DEMAND that they do their job and stick up for Springside Park.
- Ask state rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier why she hasn’t uttered a peep? Same with the so-called environmental groups, especially the Conservation Commission, which has been notably missing in action.
- Attend meetings of the Parks Commission.
- Visit Springside Park, envisioning the destruction depicted in the bike-track building photos.
This type of scuzzy deal has been going on at least since the GE Consent Decree and the Civic Authority coup attempt. If you want to go back further, look only to Hill 78, the rejection of a downtown mall, then the move of BCC from downtown to Outer Mongolia — out by that gated community where the mayor lives. We can’t list a fraction of the “insider trading.”
Those “done deals” have been done.
There’s still time, though not much of it, to undo this one.
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“If you gave me a choice between a Black-eyed Susan and a slab of asphalt, I’m a flower child all the way” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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I must say that the first picture proves Mark Miller is outstanding in his chosen field
He is at that.
thanks again, dan, for your clear reporting and presenting the facts, photos, and observations documenting the beauty of the park, as well as the mountain bike damage at springside that will destroy the entire park with the proposed invasion.
Joni Mitchell
“Big Yellow Taxi”
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put ’em in a tree museum
Then they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see ’em
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
Hey, farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
Late last night I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
I said
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
And so it goes
PERFECT
I grew up in the Springside Park neighborhood. I walked through the park every morning and every afternoon when I went to Reid middle school. In the winters I ice skated in the old swimming pool on Springside ave. As a teenager I needed to get out of my house on an almost daily basis (things were rough at home). I would walk to the park almost every day in the warmer months, taking in the quiet beauty that I so desperately needed. The gem of this park is that it’s an oasis in the middle of a city that’s falling apart. The beautiful Springside park is needed more now than ever before in the history of Pittsfield. Already we have lost control over how things are run. Us taxpayers have no say anymore. The invisible mayor stopped caring long ago. The North street insanity created by “bikers” have done nothing but inconvenience people who need to travel from here to there. The consensus is that whoever makes these decisions has got to be either crazy, or greedy. I’ve traveled many, many places and I have never seen anything so ridiculous and confusing as Pittsfield’s downtown. Seriously, who the hell wants to go there? For anything?
So now it’s about to happen to Springside park. Unbelievable. This can’t be reality. Not only in my teenage years did I frequent the park, but as an adult we brought our children, our families, we had birthday parties and picnics, played frisbee. Not to mention, as a child I remember the pony rides that were hosted on the weekends. The zoo was magical to me as a small child. This park used to be beautiful, and it’s beautiful right now, even with the destruction that I’ve noticed in recent months. I used to be able to bring my dog here, but the area is too unpredictable with noise and the shadiest of characters droning about. Sometimes I bring a bag and pick up garbage, but then, do I give a false representation of how the park is treated by doing this? Do I stop caring? Do I care harder?
You better believe that I will do whatever I can to try to put a halt to this craziness. Since our invisible mayor no longer cares, it’s really up to the public. Unfortunately we don’t get a six figure salary and lifelong benefits for doing so, but you know what? I’ll know I’m paving my way to heaven one little garbage bag at a time.
Thank you, Dan, for bringing to light something so deceptively hidden from all of us who pay taxes. Maybe it doesn’t make you popular with the wrong people, but you’re all right with us “right” people. Keep up the good work.
GIRL
What can I say? Comment of the Month. I hope everyone reads this.
Great Post. Casper The Unfriendly Mayor perhaps should be her new moniker. She may be invisible but she’s doing more damage than Ruberto!
Very well said. Bringing lots of bikers to the park will make hikers feel even less safe in my opinion. It will keep people away who want to go there for the peace and quiet of enjoying nature. In recent years, Springside Park has needed more foot patrols to ensure the safety of the public, but I haven’t seen much of that happening lately. I remember there were police officers on horse patrols in the park a few years ago, but that seems to have stopped.
Nope,recreational healthy fun biking will not make people unsafe.That is absurd.
TSC
The proposed facility including pump track is NOT mountain biking. It’s dangerous, daredevil stuff. It is not healthy, unless you count the number of deaths, broken necks, broken arms and legs, serious head injuries, and the like as healthy. The pump track replicates the illegal berms the bikers have already put in the park. Just yesterday, same day as our tromp through the park, some 200 bikers (400 people) and probably as many SUVs, trucks, and other motor cars, infected the park, parking all over wetland grasses, pounding in stakes, tearing up fields (the ground was sponge-soft), causing untold damage. Some kid wiped out and broken his arm. Fire truck and ambulance couldn’t get to the site because of all the illegal parking. Yeah — “recreational healthy biking.”
I wonder how the mayor would respond to your comments…if she cared enough to do so.
She’s probably holed up in her Colorado million dollar home. Evading. Or, not giving a $#%T.
I hate it when the politically-connected, who are the incestuous ruling elites in Pittsfield (Massachusetts), respond with complete banality to concerned citizens and taxpayers, “No one cares anymore”. It really means, “GO AWAY, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski!!!!” Cliff Nilan used to say that to me many years ago; (but my dad still likes Cliffy, but I don’t trust Cliffy).
There is no immediate need to start a bike project in Springside Park. Pittsfield and nearby communities have 9 bike parks. I believe the conspiratorial projection that the bike park is part of a bigger agenda for private developers.
Post Industrial Pittsfield, Massachusetts is the General Electric Company’s DUMP! PEDA is a 23-year-old debacle that is still polluted with industrial chemicals called PCBs and has millions of dollars in liabilities that will never be paid off. Dangerous downtown Pittsfield is sarcastically called “Social Services Alley” due to Pittsfield’s severe economic inequality and multi-generational poverty. The Mayor, the Lovely Linda Tyer, and her millionaire Accountant husband, Barry Clairmont, live in a wealthy gated community west of BCC very close to the Pittsfield/Hancock border. She (the Lovely Linda) is sitting on over $20 million in Biden Buck$ direct aid, while homeless families are still living in Springside Park and elsewhere in Pittsfield. On top of Matt Kerwood’s multimillion-dollar slush funds – that belong in Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski’s personal bank accounts – why doesn’t she (the Lovely Linda) use some of the tens of millions of dollars she is sitting on to help the homeless people? It doesn’t take a community survey or mayoral advisory council to help Pittsfield’s homeless population find affordable/subsidized housing!
Pittsfield politics only benefits the politically-connected vested and special interests, while the rest of the people and taxpayers are told to “POUND SAND!” by the one political party state and local insider political hacks such as the Lovely Linda Tyer, Chrome Dome (Adam Hinds of Amherst, Massachusetts), and Trippy Country Buffet.
Cliffy has a no show job that pays him 140,000 per year.He does not retire because he does not work.State job welfare.
my response to uninformed unindicted co-conspirators:
my and other presentations opposing mountain biking in springside at the 1 july parks commission meeting was a fact-based assessment on the inappropriateness of mountain biking at springside park. it included history, current proposals, the true undisclosed nature, size, and consequences, and the process by which public input has been marginalized. information isn’t professional or amateur, it is simply true or false, and i gave a full explanation of our position to the attendees.
no one told stories; we each – proponents and opponents – gave meaningful public input that the commission is meant to consider, which necessarily includes history that most of the attendees wouldn’t know and is an important context for intelligent people. to know this one would have to be there, and obviously the author wasn’t.
to quote a west african proverb at the end of my talk in summation is entirely appropriate, since it deals with the importance and sacredness for mother nature that african people feel and, by extension, all people in our human family on planet earth. nyame adom (‘all to the creator’); medaase paa (‘thank you deeply’)’ asase ye duru ([for] mother earth’).
to say that i ‘mascoted an african tribe’ only shows a pure ignorance of my talk, its intent and meaning, my personal history in africa, asia, and globally, african culture and peoples, the importance of proverbs, and how people in africa organize themselves. the first upright intelligent humans appeared in what is now east africa around 2.4 million years ago, and all humanity has moved and adapted over the millennia into our present global places and cultures. i have spent my life since 1991 living with, learning from, performing and recording music with, and being treated as a member of communities across west africa, asia, and other indigenous areas. i am white, but culture is more than skin color and i an inspired by peoples of the earth and their art and music. even as an outsider, i have been accepted by my colleagues across the globe, all from very different cultures.
while not of the peoples, i live in and have a sense of cultures as a guest, and only with their permission, perform, write books, create cds, films, videos, and other global presentations. this includes a humility necessary for the deep friendships i have developed over many decades, and my learning from the wisdom of traditional african culture. through this comes my use of traditional language as expression on an issue in pittsfield but also with a global meaning, the importance of nature and the peoples’ reverence for it, to show the universality of that reverence, including preserving what is natural, whether in the rainforests of ghana, mountains of the philippines, plains of china, hills of korea, monasteries of japan, meadows of trinidad, or springside park in pittsfield.
to use the term ‘mascot’ infers someone would be a racist and belittle african peoples, and the only person doing that is the author of the term in this discussion.
similarly, to use the word ‘tribe’ betrays an ignorance of african peoples that historically and currently implies ‘savagery,’ and this is characteristic of the entitled ignorance about the depth, intelligence, spirituality and profound art of these peoples, equal to any on the planet. the author of these terms only reveals his own ignorance, arrogance, and racism, evidently unacknowledged by him, but evident to anyone who has spent time internationally with indigenous peoples. such a colonialist attitude goes well with the attitudes of entitlement for self-centered thrills at all costs, essential to a mountain biking invasion of a beautiful natural park.
and it is insulting to hear a ploy to gain acceptance for springside’s central location, with statements about ‘helping’ low income people in pittsfield learn about nature on their $500-$1000 mountain bikes. the low-income people of pittsfield and people of all incomes and backgrounds already do visit springside park and learn about nature by quiet walks and observation; they don’t need an outsider from an entitled demographic to tell them what they need, no matter what their background. this ploy is a new style of arrogance and paternalism.
to use ‘dead parks superintendent’ is itself inhumane. vinny hebert was beloved and i and many others opposing this bike industry strategy knew him as a friend for decades, and i do in fact know what he would feel about this mountain bike project. he would never let it be put in springside, period. he was against other earlier proposed invasions and would be equally against this one.
to now backtrack and say they ‘are wonderful people’ is tokenism and cowardly. mr. hebert’s history and feelings are important for any discussion of pittsfield’s public spaces, natural areas, and parks. unlike the author of these statements and others who want to invade our community, we have lived in the city for decades, know its heartbeat, and have lifelong connections to its natural spaces.
the two opposition ‘issues’ mentioned are fantasies in the author’s mind. our opposition to mountain biking at springside park is not universally against biking, but only being placed in natural areas like springside. we do know the facts, both historically and now, and see the nature, agenda, and consequences for this invasion, complete with the usual characters: the bike industry, its related and supported associations, embedded ‘consultants’ with websites, talking points, power points, and hucksters to influence local officials. and this is exactly why we oppose it at springside.
we can easily explain how other communities deal with mountain biking, some are influenced by the power of money and influence and unfortunately allow it, only to be deluded by the promises left unkept. and numerous communities, individuals, and natural area managers are now limiting or excluding mountain biking from trails due to the documented destruction it brings to wildlife, plant life, terrain, and habitat fragmentation, to name only a few. not to mention the thousands of mountain bike injuries to the bikers themselves apart from the wildlife and other park users. a few of these are wallingford, ct; malibu, ca; ulster, ny; gosford, brisbane, and malvern, aus; bainbbridge island, wa; maple creek, bc; montreal, ca; hampshire, uk; and barcelona, spain.
when mountain biking is allowed in an area, it forces hikers and horseback riders away from a natural place or a park. when bike complexes with skills courses, flow zones, slalom race courses, pump tracks, and other items like toilets, concessions, expanded parking, access roads (with asphalt) are constructed, they include clear-cutting a large amount of terrain, wildlife, and plant life habitat. this informs children and even adults to act ride, jump, ‘get air,’ race, among other things, in ways that are destructive and totally wrong in any natural environment such as springside park.
reference this website from 30-year scholar and expert michael vandeman
http://mjvande.info/overview.htm and, as he suggests, look for the photo labelled (move the mouse over the photo to see the label) ‘creating a mountain biking park,’ documenting a clear-cut ruined landscape. is this what we want for springside?
if explanations are in order, perhaps we should ask why mountain biking needs to be forced into a natural area like springside park when there are already at least over 400 miles of trails in berkshire county at 9 different large sites. and there are many viable alternate sites in pittsfield that do not affect a natural environment.
pittsfield doesn’t need to ‘copy other communities,’ we are unique and have people who have lived here for decades, visited springside for all kinds of quiet enjoyment and reflection, and value the deep things in life. instead of the ‘always too much but never enough’ mantra of self-centered invasion, we need to follow the adage, ‘never compromise nature, always honor it beyond ourselves for its own sake.’ pittsfield’s choice is clear: adventure for the few, or reverence for all.
another asante adinkra –
nea onim nsaa na oto nago ‘know well before you choose’ (inner meaning ‘do not be fooled by the fake and fools’)
Talk about drama, OMG lol
Do you love the animals Dan? Yes? Well, I do too. I drive tractor trailer for a living, up and down the highways all day long. I can’t tell you how many dead deer I see on the side of the highway. Two weeks ago there was one on the side of the road, and the only thing that I can figure is that an 18 wheeler ran it over and it somehow got sucked up in between the dual tractor wheels because the entire thing was skinned, and the skin was still fully completely intact and laying in the road still attached to the deer, around it’s ankles. I often see deer that look as if they were literally exploded, probably hit broadside at 75 miles an hour. Can we expect to see any of that sort of thing happening in Springside park? I don’t think so.
Are you trying to make an analogy involving this deer and the city of Pittsfield?
Has even one business owner or other mayoral beneficiary spoke up about Springside park? Has one politician? Anyone currently running for office? Any one of the multitudes getting mayoral tax incentives or tax breaks or tax forgiveness? Any one in law enforcement? Any one who works for the city of Pittsfield?
Does any one who works for the Berkshire Eagle (Ruth Bass perhaps) have any concerns whatsoever?
Or is the silence deafening and if so why. Let us put a little focus on why so few with power in the community are so quiet. Are they owned? Has Pittsfield become tribal? Perhaps the Generalissimo or some other respected reporter could go around and get face time public responses for a large group of city hot shots. Get them on record and do not accept dance around responses such as you might get from the likes of Peter Marchetti or his indebted team of rubber stampers?
My guess is that there is an army of people out there, connected and otherwise, who do not think this is a great idea. Let’s dig into why they fear coming forward because this is not going to be the last power grab this city sees during this mayoral domination.
That’s just it. The pols and officials THE PLANET contacted are apparently too scared to say a peep.
Dan, any chance you could poll the current city counselors on their stance, if you haven’t already?
Yesterday, I emailed and called Tricia Country-Buffet’s (D) Office to voice my displeasure over this and where she stands on it. No word as of yet.
Tricia is busy in Boston supporting her fellow dimorats who are trying to mandate vaccines in the great state of MA in violation of the U.S. Constitution. H4211 would eliminate the religious exemption and H2271 would allow children to take the vaccines without their parent’s consent.
She doesn’t have time for local park issues when there are bigger fish to fry – such as stripping taxpaying citizens of their right to health privacy under the law.
Take note that illegal aliens are welcomed into the country and flown into town without being tested and vaccinated for covid. They have more rights than you!
Perhaps there should be a long and vociferous discussion about WHY people in Pittsfield are afraid to speak their mind or express opinions that might run counter to city hall. Who would want to move to or set up a business in a community where the people were afraid of their own government? Can we talk about why people in Pittsfield are so intimidated by city hall?
Johnathan has told the reason many-a-time.
One of the worst parts of this?
The fact that the Berkshire Eagle and it’s management team care so little, or are in such lockstep with the current administration that they ignore the problem.
While they are running AP articles about trying to disprove real science, puff pieces about bought and paid for tourism pieces, and olive oil, this city is going to hell. The Berkshires is crumbling because the management of the Berkshire Eagle is too afraid to do it’s job.
Parrots been stuck in a Rutberger
Perhaps they feel that their job is to support the mayor no matter what. They seem to have an uncanny allegiance to her. Guess they thought no one would notice.
Dan, you ought win the Pulitzer Prize. Investigative journalism for this. Thanks.
Well, he sure is not going to get the Nobel Peace prize for all the shit he is stirring up
WTF lol
What is this, bot central?
Put this to a vote and it will go down in flames like the civic authority scam.
Dan, thanks for telling it like it is. This whole “project” stinks worse than the human shit littering our parks, And for McGhee to say it’s for the inner city kids is laughable. Even an entry level bike is hundreds.
500K is a good chunk of change the city could spend wiser.
That would fund a decent community bike shop for the needy who would use bikes to get around and kids to get some exercise. At same time all could learn basic mechanics.
Yeah, or finish the two bridges that Have been half done for a year or three.
The funds are not coming from the city. You should raise 500k and start that project.
So Pissfield politicians could urinate it all? Like they did with the park funds.
As I read over all that has been written on this blog I can see a compromise that would work for everyone. Joshua writes about how the bike group wants to open their sport to a more diverse crowd and be close to the inner city. Even talking about Harlem. At the same time the Springside protectors say they aren’t against the sport they just want it to be put elsewhere, the park needs to be unspoiled. Pittsfield is fortunate to have other properties in the inner city that would be great for this endeavor. Our new park on the west side could work, the old jail land would be better but the best would be part of the barren GE land that is begging for someone to come in and rework the land. Let’s get creative and find a place for these peddlers!
Lots of open space right next to the sewer treatment plant. Make it part of the upgrade.
Yea and why the hell is the old jail still on the government books? Should’ve been sold to highest bidder years ago
I am sure Milltown assessed its viability for “affordable” apartments.
The selection 2020 revisited. Off topic. Delete if you wish Dan. I’m all for saving Springside
The former U.S, Attorney for, Eastern District of PA, 2018-2021, Bill Mcswain, wrote a letter to President Trump on June 9th, 2021 that explained that the reason he did not investigate voter fraud in Pennsylvania is that Bill Barr the alleged AG of the United States ordered him not to.
He explained that in 2020, he won a conviction against an election judge for stuffing a ballot box.
He was also able to charge the political consultant and former elected Democratic official who bribed the election judge in Philadelphia, the site of alleged cheating in 2020.
Here is the letter, complete and unedited:
June 9, 2021
Dear President Trump,
It was my great honor to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
in your Administration. You asked me to prioritize public safety, and that is exactly what
I did. While Larry Krasner, the radical leftist Philadelphia District Attorney, was letting
violent criminals go and refusing to prosecute rioters, looters, and arsonists, our Office was
putting them in jail and standing up for law-abiding citizens.
In the spring of 2020, I prosecuted and won an election fraud case against a Judge of
Elections in South Philadelphia who was stuffing the ballot box. I also charged the
political consultant (a former Democratic Congressman) who was paying bribes to the
Judge to stuff the ballot box.
President Trump, you were right to be upset about the way the Democrats ran the 2020
election in Pennsylvania – it was a partisan disgrace. The Governor, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, and the partisan State Supreme Court made up their own rules and did not
follow the law. Even worse, the State Attorney General, Josh Shapiro – the very person
responsible for the enforcement of state election law – declared days before Election Day
that you could not win the election. It would be hard to imagine a more irresponsible
statement by a law enforcement officer, especially during a hotly contested election.
In light of such statements, it is hardly surprising that many Pennsylvanians lack faith
in our state’s election results.
On Election Day and afterwards, our Office received various allegations of voter fraud
and election irregularities. As part of my responsibilities as U.S. Attorney, I wanted to
be transparent with the public and, of course, investigate fully any allegations. Attorney
General Barr, however, instructed me not to make any public statements or put out any
press releases regarding possible election irregularities. I was also given a directive to passalong serious allegations to the State Attorney General for investigation – the same State
Attorney General who had already declared that you could not win.
1 of 2
I disagreed with that decision, but those were my orders. As a Marine infantry officer,
I was trained to follow the chain of command and to respect the orders of my superiors,
even when I disagree with them.
Mr. President, public service is in my blood, and I would like to serve the people of
Pennsylvania and restore conservative leadership to our state. I will be the Republican
candidate for Governor with the best chance to win the general election in November
2022. Based on my background and experience, I am uniquely positioned to defeat
Mr. Shapiro (the likely Democratic candidate) and would welcome the chance to discuss
this with you in person. I would be honored to have your support.
Once elected Governor, one of my first priorities would be to modernize Pennsylvania’s
election process and protect the right of all Pennsylvania citizens to cast a legitimate vote.
That means no ballot harvesting, undated ballots, unsigned ballots, ballots collected
after Election Day (other than legitimate military and overseas absentee ballots), obstacles
to poll watchers observing the counting of ballots, different rules in different counties,
and, of course, no ballot stuffing of the kind that I previously prosecuted. It also means
responsible voter ID legislation. Ensuring people’s confidence in elections should be
a nonpartisan issue. In short, we have a responsibility to make it easy to vote, but hard –
if not impossible – to cheat. That is how we respect the will of the people – and how
the best and most deserving candidates win.
Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to see you soon.
Very respectfully,
William M. McSwain
Former United States Attorney, Eastern District of PA, 2018-2021
It is my sincerest hope that after we find out for sure if voter fraud occurred that Bill Barr will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for obstruction of justice.
Another gem.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/breaking-michigan-attorney-drops-huge-bombshell-election-fraud-tonight-6-pm-et-live-stream-video/
Absolutely ridiculous. While many are focused on allegations that the voting process has been “rigged”, most people , mainly the sleepers, won’t understand that when the two leading candidates are in cahoots, counting the votes fairly is fine, for them. See, it doesn’t matter. What a weak Jedi mind trick to steer a majority of the population around with false problems whereby the solution is already known, which is, expose the voting fraud, so that, the people can get lulled deeper into their foggy coma by thinking that their system of governance has been restored, of course by the greatest American hero, Trump. You’re a sucker lol
Problem reaction solution
Problem…. People losing their confidence in the system
Reaction…… create a false problem, rigged voting
Solution…. Expose the false problem as being legit, and then have the hero come in and proclaim that it’s all been fixed
How shallow can this stuff get?
Sounds like a Netflix
Trumps plan to overthrow the United States Goverment has great popular support from the Republican party.You name the Republican and they support the overthrow.Not 1 person on this Trump board has come out against the Trump coup to institute white fascism.The white Republicans do not support Americans being vaccinated because of the conspiracy of the lie to undermine our democracy.Russia loves Trump fascist….America ended on 1/6/2021 thanks to the New Republican Party….Trump is still your president and you are responsible for his power.
Last week more died from the Jab than the Kung Flu.
That’s a fact TSC
Are you saying you are not vaccinated MT? Because the back side of this plague is coming upon us and it may get the last laugh.
99.9% chance of just a flu, if you do get infected with Kung Flu. I might have had it last spring? and a mild illness and full recovery.
Are you a GMO now? Genetically Modified Organism.
Do you think you’re going to change anyone’s mind with your lunatic rants? You are only showing the world what a buffoon you are.
Yes,the Trumpers know Im right and must try to dignify their support with dumb fox facts
They know you are a nit wit.
In Andrea “Needles” Harrington’s world, this would be a Pittsfield success story. Then again she lives in Richmond well away from the problems she creates.
Staying on topic, that MTB bike park, it’s a $2.5 million project. It’s projected to be 3 plus acres plus improvements for parking, an observation area (grandstands) and a concession area. It’s gonna be BIG and Milltown will offer to run it. Also there will be a new position created to support it. Over $65k and benefits.
Lots of homeless sleeping outside of the Pittsfield library this morning. They were in sleeping bags. So sad and, yet, I’m sure that Tricia Farley is brining lots of illegal immigrants into Berkshire County and will find housing for them.
Did she push for the new doughnut shop by Walmart?
TFBuffet and Fat Tyer are angling to get donut shops in their homes
Did you see that moo, moo that Tyer was wearing at the council meeting?
Sounds awesome.A great idea.
I feel bad the the pigeon
Make that I feel bad “for” the pigeon.
The pigeon is their dealer.
Once people start to look like that in the image, they no longer attend Cc meetings- so…. maybe that’s the dynamic & vibrant goal. Keep everyone sickly & in the dark about their rights & if they smarten up and take a course on Law – gaslight them to deepest depths of hell. Also, change the rules as you go along that way nobody can win ! Take away their family too, that way there they won’t even remember self; they will fail to exist. No longer a person. If they die from dope revive them & give them more dope – you can’t die until they decide, then you can.
RIP D. Zarvis
Why did he have to die
Why this park, this location? Is it due to its central location on Route 7 or were there more deciding factors?
The pictures of the (potential) finished product look cool. I still think that Pittsfield being the home to a world-class (or regionally superior) facility like this would actually be an economic driver and identity uplifter. Two of the biggest complaints of city residents are the lack of entertainment and the lack of things for kids to do. A project like this taps into that void.
Pittsfield has spent the last 20 years trying to be a cultural destination for old farts with money (no offense readers, just a generalization). It has failed miserably. The place falls deeper and deeper into despair.
There is no innovation, there are no modern twists, no sense of entrepreneurship. The biggest for-profit building built in the city in recent years is a growing facility for weed. And weed pretty much grows itself.
We need more.
Send Mt Bikers to the mountains. PSF, Greylock, or October Mt.
It is not mountain biking.
Weed and Greed ask Andy.
There is nothing else bringing money into this town
deleted
Vibrant and Dynamic drug dealing gangs, that keep BHS emergency room busy too
Is that what Tyer meant when she said vibrant and dynamic a gazillion times. Because I thought she was wasnt going to stand for such gunplay.
drug dealers do not frequent dispenseries
Mass. is going to cap potency of legal weed. Street weed will be cheaper and stronger. Vermont already did this. Kids become the main market buying from armed dealers. People like Nuciforo don’t give a crap about public health, crime or youth only the almighty buck.
It was better when poor people made some $$$ off it growing weed in the woods, just like moonshiners.
Now government is involved, for the worse
When they are still alive and leaking.
or Connected ex-politicos do
Let me put it in the PEDA property and leave spring side alone as somebody else said
Nobody has mentioned the fact that BMX is a Olympic sport. Who knows what Pittsfield could produce. I do wonder if this project would get the same response if it was softball fields, basketball courts or Babe Ruth and Little League fields. They also come with rest rooms, parking lots and concessions.
BMX and mountain biking are two totally different sports, you need to figure that out first old man.
How many concession stands have been built for basketball courts in a park in Pittsfield? Please list the number and location.
Funny you should mention softball, I think the city had some softball fields, they let them rot and fall into disrepair because of lack of funds.
I would LOVE for Pittsfield to spend $400k fixing up the existing baseball field, basketball courts. I’d also love for them to spend money on walking paths and hiking trail maintenance or programs for kids during the summer, nature walks, planting programs.
I’d be all for it! Want to improve Clapp park, maybe fix the parking lot. Hey maybe find some money to fix the rope tow and let kids sled again. Tyer shut that down because there weren’t enough funds but they can find money to build a MTB super facility because Milltown and NEMBA or NAMBLA or whoever wants it.
NAMBLA = North American Man Boy Love Association. YOU a member?
You should be castrated.
We need more bike paths and a psyco path for TSC.
Sports all sort of suck now, woke jokes, even NASCAR with fake lying Bubba.
Have not watched the Sux or Stankies in 2 years now
Olympics and MSM coverage has sucked worse for 50 years now
Look at what eating Wheaties for 40 years did to Bruce Jenner
Unfortunately the city didn’t maintain the former softball complex; oversaw faulty construction of the splash pad at Clapp which isn’t working; the playing field at Kirvin has no restrooms and has been littered with dog poop; the Common which used to be great for ice skating in the winter and kids football programs in the fall has been destroyed; and the new skate park is already covered with graffitti.
The Park Commission is useless.
The city doesn’t maintain what they have and what they attempt to create.
I am against the destruction of the woods at Springside Park for this mudpit they want to create. Build it on PEDA land which is already an eyesore.
It would come with security. And it would keep out anyone who was not also a member of the Country Club.
This park,like most every other park venture around here is about money and who gets it. Not really about bikes at all. Bikes are just the facade. The “look over here, not over there” caper.
Pretty sure Mayor loves opposition
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/65388/Pittsfield-Mayor-Police-Chief-Discuss-Gun-Violence-With-City-Council.html
Community Development is a SCAM
Berkshire County is a PRISON we are SLAVES
Dan,
Thank you for the information you provide.
The Powder Horn LLC in New Hampshire is not in good standing with the Secretary of State and the Colorado one is dissolved. Sounds like an upright bunch to take on a COP project. Damn, its turtles all the way down.
Yep, PH MT group shit the bed. But Pittsfield might want more shady investments. What did the PEDA Crooks, invest in?………….returns…0…….
Why don’t people insist the absent Mayor show herself in public and deal with city problems? Is there an impeachment process in the Pitt? That takes away any pension with it?
Mayor who?
Lyin Linda
Anybody have a video link to her on the campaign trail where she promised the moon? How about a video of where she comes out from behind the curtain like OZ and reveals what a bona fide phony she is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ER2FEenPH4
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfqYRjBQGlxUPpeIAdBg3g
Good stuff there….. All her lies at the 2015 debates
lying/gaslighting, same/same
Now the mayor is giving another handout to one of the GOB connected. The CPA is giving money to the old fire station on Tyler, yes the one the city refused to sell last year and is now owned by a connected. They should use the CPA to fund police to patrol Springside in the 3-11 shift.
Amazing how much money Tyer has to hand out to her friends. Why doesn’t she give the seniors trying to hold onto their homes a goddamn decent tax break?? Is it because she will never be in such a position and does not give a crap? She is more like Donald Trump than Donald Trump is.
If the people “investing” in the Firehouse renovation whatever, had any integrity themselves they would not ask for or take CPA money. Grifters and grafters, payoff and favor buying. Tyer is even more like Trump than I imagined. She could be one of his illegitimate daughters. Can we get a DNA test and pay for it with CPA money?
Pittsfield Perfect. Can you say corruption? Unfortunately, this mayor gives bright, intelligent, upstanding women a bad name. She is an embarrassment to our once great and brilliant City. OH WHEN.
Sadly, a lot of women in politics today are giving women a bad name. They can’t think straight. They seem incapable of thinking with any kind of logic.
All the drugs and violence are not Andrea’s fault. Just ask her and her anti police op ed writers who don’t live anywhere near where all the drugs and violence are and have zero plan to do anything about it. Since she isn’t doing anything why don’t we defund her useless job?
Facebook
Andrea Harrington ·
“There’s also little evidence that progressive policies such as ending cash bail or refusing to charge low-level offenses have anything to do with the spike in violence nationwide. The 2020 figures are expected to show a homicide surge coast to coast, in rural areas and urban areas, in jurisdictions with both reform-minded radicals and law-and-order stalwarts in the DA’s chair.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/radley-balko/
Imagine you have heart disease. You go to a doctor and say, “I need bypass surgery.” The doctor says, I have a medical degree. I have barely worked with any patients and never performed heart surgery. You say, I’m not letting you operating on me. The doctor says, “That’s because I’m a woman.” That’s Andrea Harrington.
Democrat women
True. Most of the Republican women are doing well and making good decisions for the country.
Yah, like Marjorie Taylor Greene. She looks and acts like a genetic experiment that went horribly wrong.
But the republicans lover her just the same as any mother would love their disadvantaged child.
I love how the pudgy and befuddled police chief Wynn is in the paper talking about how gun violence in Pittsfield tracked with a national trend.
First off doughboy (yeah you’re a police officer lose some weight) it’s drug violence. It’s not about the guns, it’s about the drugs.
Do you think for one second, any of the fine upstanding out of towners that are frequenting Pittsfield are her for the vibrant and dynamic bike lanes on North Street?
No they are here plying their trade because you and DAs like Wrongway Nipples Harrington make it easier to do business.
These are local problems created by weak leadership. Look at big cities that are tough on crime, that punish criminals, compare yourselves to their trends in drug violence and you’ll note they are diametrically opposed to your trending.
This isn’t a national problem, this is a lack of police, lack of will, lack of getting tough on crime.
For all his recent failings, Giuliani knew how to reduce crime. While drug violence was skyrocketing across the US, under his watch, drug and gun violence went down. Policing made the difference.
Chief Wynn, you have a lazy and corrupt police force, you let it get that way. You have participated and made deals that demoralize your department. You’ve stood by and assisted WrongWay Harrington. You’ve made deals and owe your livelihood to Mayor Tyer so you’ll go along with any crazy plan she comes up with. You letting her dictate diversity training as done by Shirley Sharpton Edgerton, a person known to affiliate and protect drug dealers (some from her own family) means you care more about your job than policing and the safety of Pittsfield.
Lastly, why would you think there would be any Federal help? The current administration is pro-defund police, pro-legalized drugs, the only thing the don’t like are guns in the hands of lawful owners. But that’s no help because lawful gun owners aren’t dealing drugs on the streets of Pittsfield.
Wynn your time is done, time to move on and write that novel, or do more police consulting. You’ve been just one more cog to ruin Pittsfield and you’ve done your best at that.
WynnShield
Excellent
Ouch, The truth hurts. Decent cops are fleeing PPD for other departments. They’re sick of re-arresting the same people over and over only to see them back on the street before they finish their reports.
Looks like 2013-2017 was a real mess in the city.. Law and order=BARF!! Capeless gun charges drop it! I think all the affairs in that office going on clouded judgement.. Real cat house eh Dana?
You should be in bed by now dear.
Amen. Let us not forget the violent police officer who had charges against him for having sex in the back of the police cruiser with a victim of domestic violence who was also special needs and who abused an 89 year old women when he went to the wrong address. He now has a handsome pension from the city of Pittsfield. Didn’t Wynn recruit him to the police force. By the way the records are missing. Coincidence I don’t think so.
Wynn protects those he likes. He didn’t even want to fire the cop who stalked his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Wynn refused to intervene and protect a woman from an abusive cop boyfriend. Then there was the cop that left his pistol out and his daughter shot herself with it. The number of complaints and reprimands against that guy was at least arms length. Wynn protected him until the very end.
When a cop lol’s and says “they can’t fire me”, you need to be concerned. Another good one is “because I can”…. yes, yes you can. Yes you did.
When you have a corrupt police department you have serious problems. There are many good cops in this police department and some have left.
Corrupt leadership at the pinnacle. aka Chief.
Question: Is First Assistant leaving the DA’s office?
Could be. Here’s a job listing posting now on the State’s website:
Berkshire District Attorney’s Office District Court Assistant District Attorney
All full time positions offer a State benefit package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, and paid vacation, personal and sick leave and paid parental leave. Payroll is paid bi-weekly and based o
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office is charged with the mission of prosecuting criminal offenses in Berkshire County in a fair and efficient manner. The Office is required to provide staffing, equipment, and services to the citizens of Berkshire County and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to meet that objective.
The Office is a Commonwealth agency, established in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 12, Sections 12 and 13. The Office is responsible for all criminal prosecutions in Berkshire County, covering everything from misdemeanors to major felonies. The Office handles cases in the County’s District Courts (including Jury sessions), Juvenile Courts, and Superior Court, and is responsible for all appeals to the State Appeals Court and Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. In addition, the Office provides critical services and programs to victims and their families and to the community at large.
Assistant District Attorney – Berkshire District Attorney’s Office
Prosecute all aspects of criminal cases (and some civil matters as provided by statute) in primary and jury sessions of the three divisions of District Court and the Juvenile Court in Berkshire County;
Review police reports and charging decisions made by police agencies and make appropriate recommendations and changes as needed;
Handle arraignments in court, make bail requests, motions for conditions of release, motions for detention such as dangerousness hearings and bail revocation hearings as appropriate;
Provide mandatory discovery to defendants/defense counsel;
Handle all pre-trial motions filed by defense counsel including requests for further discovery, evidentiary and non-evidentiary motions to suppress, dismiss, etc. and to prepare written memoranda and briefs where appropriate;
Review case files, applicable statutes and case law, victim information and input, and determine an appropriate recommendation for case resolution;
Conference all matters and make recommendations for case resolution at mandatory case conference sessions with defense counsel;
Handle any mental health commitment matters which impact criminal cases;
Handle case resolution by way of plea, trial, or dismissal where appropriate;
Follow the mandates of the Victim’s Bill of Rights;
Handle cases in both the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court as assigned by the Appellate Division in conjunction with District Court Chief;
Handle cases in the Berkshire Superior Court and grand jury session as assigned by First Assistant in conjunction with the Chief of District Court
Required:
Law school graduates (Juris Doctorate Degree) with preference for Massachusetts Bar members (current or pending), and applicants with SJC Rule 3:03 certification.
To be proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook) and database access
To be familiar with and to follow the provisions of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office Personnel Policies;
Assistant District Attorneys must be familiar with and adhere to the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct;
To participate in trainings relevant to Office functions;
To interact in a respectful & professional manner with the public, judicial and law enforcement personnel and office staff;
To complete work assignments in a timely, accurate & efficient manner
Communicate effectively with a diverse population and interact in a respectful and professional manner with the public, judicial and law enforcement personnel and office staff.
Demonstrate a genuine commitment to justice and the betterment of the community.
All job offers contingent upon successful completion of background check
Must relocate to Berkshire County upon final acceptance of position
Preference is given to bilingual candidates.
All full time positions offer a State benefit package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, and paid vacation, personal and sick leave and paid parental leave. Payroll is paid bi-weekly and based on a 37.5 hour work week (normally 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of background check. Must relocate to Berkshire County upon acceptance of position. All positions serve at the pleasure of the District Attorney.
Berkshire District Attorney’s Office is an EEO Employer with a firm commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring practices.
Important: Please submit Applications to Chief of Operations, Dina Guiel Lampiasi at: Dina.GuielLampiasi@mass.gov
That listing is always running. Harrington fired most of the ADAs who are now either woking for other DA’s offices or running over her with a Mack truck like in the embezzlement case Judge Vrabel rejected. The rumor is Karen Bell is leaving.
Can anyone confirm this???!!!
He was a bad hire.
Must be Trump’s fault
Trump fascist are the number 1 danger to our democracy….you cant see.
https://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Pittsfield-Massachusetts.html
The facts only matter when ALL crime is reported.
The problem is most of the quality of life crimes go unreported and have since DA ice cube nipples took over.
Car broken into, they don’t come out. House broken into, unless there was violence or major damage, they don’t come out. You can file a report over the phone but since there’s no direct investigation, it’s a civil matter for insurance.
Now thanks to that nipple nincompoop you can steal $31k and get a CWOF.
House broken into, and MAJOR damage! But don’t expect the cops to actually arrest the perpetrator, even though they know who the violent knife wielding perpetrator is.
Is that why they cut back on arresting people so the mayor would not look quite so horrible?
Hiding behind his badge as the overseer of a departments of rogues, Chief Wynn has not only condoned, but has also been a participate in the behavior of cops who have falsify police reports, lied, stole, including stealing exculpatory evidence, and covered up the destruction of evidence. Wynn states that “The best assistance that the police can receive from both the administration and residents, he said, is to report any suspicious activity or crimes.” Apparently wynn states this so that the department can ignore reports of suspicious activity and actual violent crimes. I have reported property crimes, and violent and egregious crimes to the cops, and they have intentionally and maliciously, distorted their official police reports, obviously to protect the criminal perpetrators. Despite yearly increases in Wynn’s budget, in addition to the PPD exceeding their OT budget, enough is never enough. Residents should have no expectations of integrity of Chief Wynn or Mayor Tyer. What residents can expect is more violent crimes, more significant amounts of grants through the police department for their partners in crime, Elizabeth Freeman Centre and 18 Degrees, and more and more $825,000 plus invested in their specious cure for Pittsfield’s crime problems.
Those articles from these officials are copied and pasted from previous releases. Always the same crap. A few swipes of deodorant to cover the smell of the stink of who, what and why things are out of control.
Master plan Springside Park info. Interesting. Some might already have it.
https://29312a58-7024-41fd-aa7e-a9d3be8fbc85.filesusr.com/ugd/645e5b_9316f396ad9341bbbf3c29d45193ef5a.pdf
Dated 2016. Where’s the new one?
I’m still searching
I spent a good amount of time and couldn’t find any revisions to the master plan yesterday. I could’ve missed it or it’s hidden.
This is the most recent master plan.
U.S. Overdose Deaths Hit Record 93,000 During Pandemic Last Year
The mayor and her people would rather you did not know but Pittsfield had a huge chunk of these sad passings.
Councilor asked mayor about water plant she said seven million he though she said 70? The point is no one other than the mayor evidently knows about this expense,question is? Is seven million to much to begin with? Why isn’t there other ideas out there for contract estimates anyway? Who came up with the number and why hasn’t it been vetted by the City Council ?
The mayor lives in a mansion on a hill at the edge of town in a gated community. Of course she’s concerned,
On July 27th, 2021 the American people will investigate the 1/6/2021 attempted violent overthrow of our democracy. HISTORY will survive the Trump republicans.
Wow…What an important point to add to the discussion…Enough already!!!
It was Nov 3rd-4th 2020
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/mi-attorneys-explosive-interview-proof-election-source-accessing-machines-election-subvertedvotes-switched-v/
MI Attorney’s Explosive Interview: “We have proof that ‘Election Source’ was accessing machines and that the election was subverted”…”Votes were switched”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/boom-pa-attorney-bill-mcswain-blows-bill-barrs-wapo-response-former-ag-outed-dropping-pa-fraud-investigations/
PA Attorney Bill McSwain Blows Up Bill Barr’s WaPo Response After the Former AG Was Outed for Dropping PA Fraud Investigations
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/president-trump-news-georgia-beyond-incredible-will-lose-country-allowed-stand/
Most of the new allegations and evidence was based on a VoterGA data team’s analysis of Fulton’s November 2020 mail-in ballot images made public after petitioners won a court order on April 13th.
This was EXPLOSIVE information and only possible because Fulton County was ordered to make public the mail-in ballot images.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/exclusive-michigan-sec-state-benson-allows-vendor-election-source-remove-batteries-voting-machines-possibly-illegal-renders-machines-uncertified/
Michigan Sec. of State Benson Allows Vendor ‘Election Source’ to ‘Remove Batteries’ from Voting Machines – Possibly Illegal and Renders Machines Uncertified
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/hard-evidence-presented-duplicate-ballots-counted-fulton-county-georgia-2020-election/
Hard Evidence Presented: Duplicate Ballots were Counted in Fulton County Georgia in 2020 Election
Biden did not steal the election. Trump will not be reinstated. It’s over, your delusional posts notwithstanding.
It’s been four hours what should I do?
Give it a good thump with a ball peen hammer and take 2 Tylenol.
Will we find out which Pelosi goon murdered Ashli Babbit?
Premeditated and intentional.
Worse than what happened to Floyd
“Now a new name has surfaced in the Babbitt imbroglio — Lt. Michael L. Byrd — and while USCP Communications Director Eva Malecki won’t confirm he is the shooter, in this case she isn’t denying it.
Byrd appears to match the description of the shooter, who video footage shows is an African American dressed that day in a business suit. Jewelry, including a beaded bracelet and lapel pin, also match up with photos of Byrd.”
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2021/07/08/report-identifies-officer-who-killed-ashli-babbitt-n2592205
The new Fox trigger word.Ashley Babbit attacked America’s Capital
Joe DEMentia broke into same Capitol Building was and was arrested TSC
FLASHBACK: Demon Joe Biden Broke into US Capitol and Was Arrested — Now He Holds Hundreds of Trump Supporters in Isolation in Prison Without Trial for Very Same Crime
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/07/flashback-demon-joe-biden-broke-us-capitol-arrested-now-holds-hundreds-trump-supporters-isolation-prison-without-trial-crime-video/
In Joe’s own words on Letterman
https://rumble.com/vjv78z-joe-biden-arrested-for-trespassing-in-capitol-building-at-21.html
Ashley killed herself. It was suicide. She attacked an armed police officer and he defended himself. Suicide by cop. She hated her life and is now at peace.
She didn’t attack anyone. She was unarmed when she was going through a broken window. She was murdered. She was the only one killed that day. Only Pelosi’s goons had guns.
Stage 4 TDS.
TSC’s posts are the biggest threat to the republic since the civil war.
Or at least since Oct 30, 1938 when earth was attacked by Martians. The government spread lies about it being a joke but it was all true and some of them are still here hiding under Agent 86s bed. Hannity can verify this.
Governments never lie.
Even the zoo by the late Mayor Charlie Smith, where the kids killed all the animals made more sense than this proposal.
The good old days when kids would skip stones in the pond and maybe throttle a peacock.
“I wasn’t tasked with it. It wasn’t my job and if it was my job, I didn’t do it. But I did not think it was my job.”
https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/03/31/verner-foster-kaczmarek-fees-massachusetts-attorney-generals-office
Images courtesy of Netflix
“As we celebrate this victory, we must continue the work that we have started to correct the enormous harm that has been and continues to be inflicted.” DA Rollins
Regarding exculpatory evidence
Andrea Harrington, is it outside your perview as the Berkshire DA.
What is the renovated building at Springside used for?
It is a money dump. Restorations give work to political cronies.
if anyone would like to know what vinny hebert felt and would now feel about springside park undisturbed natural essence and invasions like the current mountain biking fiasco, here is something he wrote in 1997 that clarifies. thanks to daniel miraglia:
From: Vincent J. Hebert, Retired Superintendent of Parks & Recreation Department
Date: September 12, 1997
Re: Park land use, preservation and protection
In an effort to caution those who may be of the opinion that the use of public park property for purposes which might not be in the best interests of the majority of our Pittsfield residents and their visitors – today and in the generations to come – I would like to share a few ideas with you on the subject.
Many years ago, when I was doing some research work on the proper use of park land, it was my good fortune to read an address given in 1958 at the 59th Annual Conference of the American Institute of Park Executives by Robert Mann, Conservation Editor of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois who stated:
“Park men are trustees and custodians of public lands for recreational use, lands essential to the spiritual and physical well-being of the people. It was no easy task to acquire those lands; that took foresight and courage as well as money. Now they are irreplaceable and priceless. They are intrinsic to the enjoyment of freedom itself. It is our job to preserve them, protect them from encroachment or dissipation and add to them for the benefit of generations yet unborn.*
We are land managers who must have the long view in an era of rapid revolutionary changes when our problems of preservation and protection become so acute that they dismay the fainthearted. Other local governments and short sighted planners, thirsty for land, are covetously seeking to acquire park properties for schools, hospitals, libraries, parking spaces and even shopping centers. Autocratic engineers, thinking only in terms of alignment, gradient, and “cheap” right-of-way, project new expressways and toll roads across fine park properties without regard for the values destroyed or any other public need.
The pressures are so tremendous and such demands are so difficult to combat that we tend to become near-sighted or fatalistic. As my boss Charles G. Sauers, pointed out: “We have been in error for many years in permitting ourselves to be placed in poor and defensive positions in the many struggles against the usurpation of park lands and the destruction of park values.” We need to take a stubborn stand-a militant stand-and announce in clarion tones that all may hear: “Park properties are precious. They may not be violated.”
The thoughts expressed in this address I believe are of exceptional value today as Park Commissioners are continually confronted with important issues and the Arboretum Committee is in the process of preparing a Mission Statement to guide them in their future endeavors.
The importance of time spent on the care and development of public parks was recently increased in my opinion upon reading an excellent book by David Shenk, a 1995-96 Fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center, entitled DATA SMOG Surviving the Information Glut.
We may all soon learn that a quiet, unhurried walk along a trail in Springside Park is just as important as a pressure-driven, speedy search in the “Information Highway”.
Thank you for your attention on the above and Good Luck on your Future Endeavors.
Respectfully, Vincent J. Hebert
Retired Superintendent Parks & Recreation
ROYAL
Thanks for sharing this from the late and great Vinny Hebert.
Yes! “Park properties are precious. They may not be violated.” Such a thoughtful and well-written piece by Hebert.
I understand that the mayor and Barry love to hike Mt Greylock, possibly because they enjoy the beauty of nature?
So one wonders why they so intensely disagree with Mr Hebert. Wish they could publicly address why they think he was so wrong about Springside park.
ANNUL
Fair point. Barry and Linda do indeed enjoy hiking and passive uses of Mom Nature. That’s why their silence on this is so puzzling.
Does a Barry $h1T in the woods?
Nipples was discussing how she might be able to follow in Harris’s footsteps.
DA, AG,Rep… maybe higher office.
Either that or she plans on banging her boss or someone in power.
Is that Sonja Farak’s cocaine necklace from 1999. I lost mine. That’s called facetious/rhetoric – it’s not a crime in MA. Its also not an admission,, more closer to a joke. You look like you’re doing party tricks in this pic hehh…. someone creeping getting pics of you-spend money on security. You already spent it all.
Oh I wanted to tell you sweetie, cause we are responsible for our own body –
*everyone has nipples, well, most I shall say – wear a f* shawl if you’ve got a chill. People might think you’re aroused. Did you grow up with a mom in the house. Raised in a barn. Purchase undergarments with nipple protection-it’s more refined and ladylike. I bet most people would feel awkward standing near you being in that presentation-to be honest I’m so offended not by your breast but the common sense- be more discreet wtf- given your obligation as a woman in public office representing – which we all know means nothing to you. Some women make purposeful effort toward getting dressed/with certainty their concealing their privacy appropriately BEFORE going out. Tomorrow, put an adult bra on and enjoy your humanness when you’re off the clock – so just let’s not forget that you aren’t selling sex. We don’t gaf about your sexuality. You’re not in a highschool. You are cute, we’re not talking about YOU THOUGH. It’s the Justice System. You know the word Justice right? It would be better if you were professional instead of cute. Keep your lingerie draws and your Adidas for after-work wear a good bra to the office. [all facetious/all legal] I have respect for all to a degree. This is my style. Be real style, I have an album. I’m different than you. I have a study to attend now regarding Paul.
Apostle Paul not the DA. You can’t understand what you don’t know.
Andrea, I’m legit offended by your lack of common sense about keeping your nipples private. And that is not a political strategy it’s straight up.
“Hey Google – how does DA Rollins dress”, ……. loling facetious.
The the points for those don’t understand, yes most every woman has nipples.
It’s just not every woman is a DA and one would hope that she’d know that her bright red “look at me” dress that puts her nipples on display is not appropriate for work or press conferences.
Sort of like we’d hope she knew where the court house is, what cases are adjudicated in what court, how to pay a speeding ticket, how to drive, how to file complaints against judges, how to pay her tax bill, how to stay out of tax title, how to pay her credit card bill.
The problem is she’s an adult and doesn’t know any of this. Her nipple show is just the most crass and ridiculous example of how inept she is.
What’s even more telling, no one in her inner circle pointed it out to her.
I don’t dress her, I didn’t tell her to get a boob job, I didn’t tell her not to wear a padded bra, I didn’t tell her to put on forever 21 bargain bin bright dress, she did all those stupid things on her very own.
There’s someone who can provie disambiguation – on point. Thank you.
Hahaha unintended pun !
your poor mother . Fishing you out of the outhouse toilet when she popped you out now in the adult world this is you. Here’s to you getting hit by a bus.
Craig ( the fire starter) Swine son would be proud
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/65342/Fire-at-Former-Great-Barrington-Gift-Shop-Under-Investigation.html
Dopey observation.
Based on your posts easy to profile you.
1.ln your Mid 40’s balding white guy
2 Short and overweight
3. Bullied in school
4. Never had a girlfriend or married
5 .On the computer always Playing war games
6. Social skills of a 12 year old boy
However Nice you have a safe place to act like a tool.
Sounds like Andy
Question- if exculpatory evidence was withheld from the Farak trial, is someone on the Brady List and did her conviction get overturned. Because that’s what people in the business like to call a due process violation.
“A spokesman for the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association and its president, Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless, could not be reached for comment.”
He might have been busy w/ Governor or Netflix
https://www.nemannlawoffices.com/blog/rogue-chemist-was-involved-in-24-000-plus-convictions.cfm
Sorry playing Tennis
Weaving a basket~
Daniel F. Conley is an American attorney and politician who served as the district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts from 2002 to 2018. Appointed to the office in February 2002, Conley was later elected on November 5, 2002, and again in 2006, 2010, and 2014.[1] He retired in 2018 to enter private practice.[2]
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday tapped a 24-year veteran of the Suffolk County district attorney’s office who has prosecuted some of the county’s most serious violent crimes to serve out the last few months of resigning District Attorney Dan Conley’s term.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/judge-throws-out-remaining-gun-charge-against-sean-ellis/ar-BB1gmfiG
John Pappas has served as chief trial counsel in Conley’s office since 2011 and previously worked on the office’s homicide unit for a decade. He will take over as interim Suffolk County district attorney Thursday and will serve until January, when the next elected district attorney is sworn in.
Rachael Splaine Rollins is an American lawyer and politician serving as the District Attorney of Suffolk County in Massachusetts, which includes the municipalities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. Rollins is the first woman to hold the office of Suffolk County D.A. and the first woman of color to serve as a Massachusetts D.A.[1]
Rollins
We got ourselves up into the old stomping ground, Springside park. We supped with Bruce Banner, and he imparted wisdom unto us, and that’s when we knew
I don’t think it took. You better go back.
“It’s a constitutional right to obtain legal counsel when charges are brought against you criminally, but that same right doesn’t apply here,” McKenna said.
If a prosecutor violates established policy the protection is voided.
Illegal power jumps? My god man, unending paved roads for gas guzzling behemoths are legal, so, all the trees and bushes that were destroyed for all that is fine, but it’s the bicycles that are the problem? What’s going on here?
All the lumber ( trees ) which were cut down and used to build the tens of thousands of homes are ok, but it’s the disadvantaged homeless living in tents that are the problem? Because they are trying to survive inside the enchanted forest?
Dan, you’re barking up the wrong tree my friend, I think you need to take a vacation or something, take a break.
Spend a little time Dan, thinking about the merits of the words legal and illegal when attempting to equate them with what’s right or wrong, ok? Your seemingly arbitrary conclusions about such things appear to amount to, tunnel vision. Think about picking and choosing your battles a little better at least. Remember back in 2004? That was a battle worth fighting, wasn’t it? Some things we gotta let go though, right? And when we do, we can’t complain about similar things later on, because, it’s not good for our character
Thanks for the sermon! I only wish you raised logic worthy of a response, except to say all the development you mention (roads and throughways built, home construction eating up forest) is precisely the reason why we as a society need to stop needless development. With 9 bike parks and 400 trails already in the Berkshires, even you, NUT, can see that further inroads into an already besieged Springside Park are supremely irresponsible. This bike development is two things: (a) a money grab and (b) catering to a small % of young adult thrill seekers.
Do you think that I could start a vegetable garden in the Park or would it interfere with biking?
So should we open up Springside to logging? If I want to shoot skeet or engage in other forms of target I have to join a private club. If I want to play golf I have to go to a golf course. I can’t hunt, target practice or play golf in Springside park. Why should these bikers get to enjoy their sport when I can’t use the park for mine?
Excellent points, 86.
Instead of bad mouthing the homeless people in Springside park, maybe you could focus your efforts on seeing what you can do to help them. Smelling flowers and admiring bunny rabbits doesn’t jive with the lack of compassion you appear to have for human beings, who, in all likelihood have been through a lot of bad times, maybe much of it not due to personal choices, but rather, unfortunate turning of events.
I’m gonna go through there and give them food and water, ok with you Dan? Hope that wouldn’t make you upset
It’s fine with me, NUT. Word of friendly advice: If you go there at night, you’d better be packing a loaded Glock 9mm — for your own protection.
Many of these homeless people are bitter, for good reason. They’ve been hardened by this crazed society, and it is crazed. I’m not all doom and gloom, I see the beauty in the world, but this society went off the rails a long time ago, ostracized the good, the moral. Those homeless people are products of it all, and yes, if I walked through any area like that, amongst hardened people, and I was clearly seen as an outsider, I’d have to have a good reason. A daytime walk would be just as good, and preferable.
If they had a community that was reaching out to help them, they might not have to be so on guard, or, hostile, or, dangerous.
It appears as if your sentiment is that of writing them off, and hence, any chance of stemming the growing tide of homelessness.
There’s a way to reach people in need, and it’s not to snub our noses at them, for they could be us, as, nothing is certain or guaranteed in life
I agree with most everything here, NUT.
Most of them have drug problems, mental illness or both.
Are you saying that society at large is well?
Yes
I wouldn’t trust Nut with a glue gun let alone a real firearm.
I own firearms, and they stay secure, in my home. I live in a state where open carry and conceal carry is ok, without a “permit”.
That chance that I would ever need a firearm out in public is pretty much nil, so, I don’t carry, because, for what?
Is that unstable enough for you?
Ok then. You can have a staple gun.
You should invite Sweet Pete White, Nut. It’s been over a year and a half that Sweet Pete started working on the “houseless,” problem. I’m sure he has the answers by now…..
Any man that can coin a new phrase or word, such as “houseless,” certainly wouldn’t be BS’ing us now, would he?
Ah yes, MARK, the “houseless.” And this guy is VP of the city council. Tells you everything you need to know about Pittsfield politics and governance. And we shall be kind here to our Right Honorable Good Friend and leave it at that.
Hungry people can get free meals somewhere in Pittsfield every day.
The Berkshire Eagle is as bad as it gets, but it gets worse every day.
Take for instance this “article”.
It’s not listed as an advertisement, it looks like news, it’s the same font as the rest of the paper. It’s not uncommon for restaurants to close because of Covid. This is a local restaurant so this might be an article about local restaurants closing.
It’s a clickbait advertisement. Not isolated or labeled as such. It’s set up that way because the Berkshire Eagle gets paid 4x as much if you click though on the advert.
WBUR “It’s rare for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers (BBO), which was created to hear complaints against attorneys, to hold public disciplinary hearings involving prosecutors.”
Another bike disaster in Pittsfield. The new bike lanes are a complete mess and waste of taxpayer money.
It’s been hard enough to do business on North Street, first it was paid parking, then it was lack of policing, now it’s bike lanes that change the entire flow of north street for a few bicyclists. What for? Are they peddling to work? Was it necessary to change the entire length of north street business district twice to accommodate 6 junkie bicyclists? or is this just more pearls on a pig? Creating the trappings of a dynamic and vibrant city to pretend you are vibrant and dynamic.
Remember the consultant dollars spent? Well that contract is over and the city just spent $85k (it’s still being spent) to fix the bike lanes. There’s a new version of bike lane and they are painting them up as we speak.
These idiots plan to have a “big bike ride” every Thursday between 4-6. It’s a manufactured need to pretended all this wasted money was necessary.
I came down North street yesterday morn about 6AM. There had to be 30 cars parked up and down the street. So what would 30 cars be doing parked on North street all night? Is it people living in all the condos that have been discreetly built all along North street? And if so is that the real reason the roadway is being reimagined? Cuz the reasons they are giving make no sense.
Only 30? Most overnights that’s just the car count around Beacon Cinema and the Onota 74 building.
Your car count was probably low due to the parking restriction for the bike lane lines painting this week.
As to who these bike lanes are for well it’s not for the 300 new General Dynamics employees; they’re golfers.
Oops I shouldn’t have said that, damn city will be turning the bike Lanes into putting greens!
in exchange for state and federal immunity against
future charges.” The e-mail included the (seemingly
sarcastic) remark that “[t]he DAs in Western MA would
love this” (emphasis added). Ex. 29.
Why do you think that is ?
Thank you for the photos of the tracks, which speak loudly–these over the protection of the park PROMISED in the original gift (okay $1) to the city? These don’t make an “unreasonable” intrusion? Mountain Bikers, have your fun elsewhere. For heavens’ sake!
CARING
You are among the vast majority of the city and its citizens who don’t want this intrusion in the park. It’s only a small % of young adult thrill seekers, who evidently couldn’t care less about nature.
So after looking at those pix of lovely Springside Park, look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pump+tracks
Can anybody really say that’s going to help the park? It’s certainly going to line some pockets!!!!
Thanks, GHOST. The pump track is NOT what Springside Park needs. It’s got enough problems already.
I personally invite you to join in watching the “neck breaking” going on in springside park on a Tuesday night. The Berkshire Mountain Bikers FREE mountain bike training series positively affects people of all ages and all backgrounds. If, by the end of the night, you cannot tell that this is some of the most wholesome fun that kids, families and adults can enjoy then i just don’t know.
Look nobody says biking can’t be and isn’t wholesome. It’s that you are destroying a natural habitat for a use that could be anywhere else.
It’s that you are trying to make your needs the needs of the majority.
I’ve lived here 50 years, I have kids living in Lanesboro, Pittsfield, and Bennington. I have 5 grandchildren 3 in Pittsfield. None of us asked for this. Where do you live? Do you live near the park? I do. I like taking my grandkids for walks, you know what I don’t like, when mountain bikers took over part of the park, built up some jumps, then started taking over the foot paths. You want a mountain bike course build it on your property or any of the state or municipal places that already have mountain bike trails.
I’ve seen this before too many times to count, it’s always some white people tell us what we should be doing. How good is a free mountain bike training session to a kid that don’t have a mountain bike?
NO
Great comment!
You’ve been warned!!!!
It’s 2pm on a Thurs, Pittsfield has a crime rate that is higher than 96% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes…And your DA is hard at work. #FreeBritney
DA Andrea Harrington
@harringtonforda
·
59m
Judge let Brittney hire her own lawyer yesterday. People with mental illness have constitutional rights and should be afforded legal counsel of their choice. Unbelievable how long and hard she had to fight for this. #FreeBritney
Remember this picture when this guy “Epstein’s” himself in jail
Well Dan you got the Bike Mafia all up in arms on multiple fronts! I’ve gotten prolly 15 or 20 emails in the last 25 hours about sending letters to the editor, doing two bike show ups, one on north street tonight and one on Tuesday at the “illegal” track in Springside.
They want as many people and “especially new riders and POC” to show up at both events.
“Push back against the lies”
“This is our chance to get what we want”
The words of a philosopher from last century apply here:
You can’t always get what you want but,
if you try, you just might find,
you get what you need.
Definitely do not need or want this pump track in Springside Park.
What’s wrong with the one in New Ashford across from Brodie?
It costs money and the sad little people have to drive and follow the rules there.
The spoiled trust fund kids want one they don’t have to pay for and they want the fixed income adults to pay for it.