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HOUSELESSNESS PART 1: CHURCH SHELTER ON INDEFINITE HOLD … TYER ADMIN HAS SECRET PLAN TO SPEND MILLION$ IN PUBLIC MONEY ON NEW STANDALONE SHELTER

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

First of Two Parts

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 27, 2021) — What council veep Peter White calls the “houseless” problem has come back to bite.

As they say in Jamaica, “Him bite hard.”

THE PLANET has learned the 40-bed homeless shelter, slated to open in April 2022 at the Methodist Church on Fenn Street and Renne Avenue, has been indefinitely delayed pending an all-building requirement to bring the old church up to code.

Sources tell THE PLANET that costs for the shelter have eclipsed the 30% threshold value of the church, triggering a review by the Building Commission Board in Boston. Consequently, sources say, the entire building would have to be brought up to code. The Boston board is expected to review the issue within 30 days.

———- ooo ———-

The builder is SALCO owned by John Salvini, 77 4th Street (the former T&J Construction). The designer is Pittsfield architect John Barry. Berkshire Housing Development Corp. (BHDC), sources say, will develop working with ServiceNet and the church.

Brad Gordon, executive direction and staff attorney for the Berkshire Regional Housing Authority, confirmed BHDC as the developer, telling THE PLANET,  “Although BCRHA has been involved in advocating for and helping locate a new site for the homeless shelter, we are not the developers. Berkshire Housing Development Corporation, who we are often confused with, is serving as the developer.

Gordon said he didn’t have information regarding the application of the 30% rule to the shelter, adding ominously that “it’s probably a good thing we are not the developer.”

———- ooo ———-

Gordon says he “hate[s] the 30% rule, which is inherently less fair to communities with lower value property and can be a disincentive to rental property owners that want to rehab their properties, especially as these costs have skyrocketed. It is definitely a Boston-centric concept.”

The red flags started flying  after it was rumored that the city council approved an administration request to waive the permitting process. THE PLANET‘s investigation showed that was not the case, The council waived the permitting fees. Of course, the day after we broke the story, the Eagle jumped on it, not crediting us according to standard professional courtesy.

What’s worse, the city will keep contracting with the now-disgraced ServiceNet. You’ll recall the great job ServiceNet did at the former St. Joe’s High School building on Maplewood Avenue, when it abruptly closed the shelter sending the entire population into the city’s growing netherworld. Most end up camping illegally at Springside Park.

———- ooo ———-

The silver lining inside this golden cloud might be ungreasing of the slippery slope the shelter will create for the city. Not only will the location further devastate downtown businesses, if approved, it will encourage more social services agencies to invade Pittsfield. The city will further magnetize itself to the human detritus of other locations, particularly well-to-do communities who will not think twice about dumping their human garbage on the capital of the Beautiful Berkshires.

There are troubling reason to believe there have been secret and serious talk — press and public excluded — in the Tyer Administration about building a large, stand-alone homeless shelter using millions in KOVID CASH. THE PLANET has learned the favored location would be — surprise, surprise — Fourth Street.

This will create a tsunami effect and invite disaster. After the 40 beds at the church fill up, the Fourth Street shelter (or wherever it gets built), the city will take the “houseless” from other cities and towns in return for 30 pieces of silver in the form of grant money. That will further erode the tax base, continue to slam downtown businesses, and add to the growing population of the denizens of the deep who have zombified the heart of center city.

THE PLANET may start a Go Fund/Fuck Me page to begin collecting money to erect a statue to the mayor. The legend at the base will say: “Send me your poor, your tired, your garbage, your mentally ill, your nut jobs, your addicts, your welfare cheats, and your bums.”

———- ooo ———-

COMING IN PART 2 ON THE PLANET‘S WEEKEND EDITION, WE HEAR FROM MAYOR LINDA TYER, ON THE RECORD … AND MORE.
————————————————————————

“The definition of ‘good government’ in Pittsfield now means good for The Suits and Special Interest. ‘Good’ government is always bad for The Kapanskis ” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

(c) 2021 By PLANET VALENTI & EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All right reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

 

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Hated Taxpayer
Hated Taxpayer
2 years ago

Or get the bums to work. The other day one of our lovable beggars was sitting there with a freaking laptop ! No joke.

Fizzlehead
Fizzlehead
Reply to  Hated Taxpayer
2 years ago

Probably face timing with his partner at another intersection

TellitLikeitIs
TellitLikeitIs
Reply to  Hated Taxpayer
2 years ago

Don’t give theres bums a plug nickel. Jobs are everywhere. People that give these shit bums money just enable them.

Bum’s Rush
Bum’s Rush
Reply to  Hated Taxpayer
2 years ago

Get these people out of here, they are the plague. They are a scourge.

They have no money but have money for cigarettes?

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Hated Taxpayer
2 years ago

Marchetti endorses Kuldate. I guess we know who the gobsigs love

Korner Offiss
Korner Offiss
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

And that endorsement should cost him many votes. Marchetti is poison

Benigo Numine
Benigo Numine
2 years ago

We can call it the statue of no credibility. It can go in a bike lane. Instead of holding a torch she can just give Pittsfield the bird.

Last edited 2 years ago by Benigo Numine
Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Benigo Numine
2 years ago

Statue of stupidity work too.

Same old story
Same old story
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

Stupid of statute.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

The 1946 Christmas classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” had an important economics lesson for community leaders. George Bailey used his small financial institution to INVEST in PEOPLE, while Henry Potter used his large financial institution to PROFIT off of and exploit PEOPLE. In George Bailey’s Bedford Falls, the working class families were given a fair chance because his Building and Loans institution invested in them. In Henry Potter’s Pottersville, the working class families were used as “chattel” and had no choice but to pay rent to live in his slum apartments.

For decades on end, Pittsfield politicians have not invested in the community’s most valuable resource: The people who live in Pittsfield Massachusetts. Instead, City Hall has passed record high municipal budgets as its tax base has diminished, delivered Level 5 inner city public schools, shutout the general public from state and local government through retribution, and elected an elitist Mayor named Linda Tyer who lives with her wealthy CPA husband Barry Clairmont in a millionaires only gated community in far west Pittsfield within feet of the Hancock border. Pittsfield is noted as one of the most economically unequal metro areas in the state and nation. The working class and underclass – who are the majority of local residents – have no real voice in their corrupt state and local government.

The millions of dollars in state administered federal funds for social services and Level 5 public schools is too good for Pittsfield politicians to pass up, which I call “Perverse Incentives” that leads to more and more underclass people moving to and living in inner city Pittsfield. At least Pittsfield still has wealthy Ward 4 and other middle class neighborhoods, but “the Ring of Poverty” around North Street’s “Social Services Alley” is unpleasant.

Lastly, one asks, why is it so important to INVEST in PEOPLE? The answer is because the people will in turn INVEST in the COMMUNITY by paying taxes, shopping at small businesses, working in living wage jobs to be able provide for their healthy families, and live in modest homes or apartments that will eventually be passed onto future generations. It is NOT Rocket Science to have a nice community, but post industrial Pittsfield has given up on that for a long time now.

Ron Kitterman
Ron Kitterman
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago
  • Jon think you better catch It’s a Wonderful Life again this season.
J2S
J2S
2 years ago

Let’s go Linda!

Korner Offiss
Korner Offiss
2 years ago

It always works out well when a city bills itself as a tourist destination and then creates an environment where drugs, overdoses, prostitution, flying bullets and homelessness will flourish. An absolute genius master plan if I ever saw one.

wallowinthemire
wallowinthemire
Reply to  Korner Offiss
2 years ago

Maybe a sign in front of the new digs would be appropriate. White Terrace has moved.

Abi Benniod
Abi Benniod
Reply to  wallowinthemire
2 years ago

Vote these candidates. Ward 1 Warren…2 Kronick…at-large…Benoit….Kalinowsky..Marchetti…Cohen

Fizzlehead
Fizzlehead
Reply to  Abi Benniod
2 years ago

NO MARCHETTI…hes enables and encourages the rest of the lot to become subservient to the mayor.
and I hope the next council president, Sherman or whomever, is not planning on being a tool. please do not be another disgusting tool.

and Cohen???? Are you nuts???

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Fizzlehead
2 years ago

Marchetti is the problem

Jar Jar
Jar Jar
Reply to  Abi Benniod
2 years ago

Nope. No incumbents are getting my vote.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Abi Benniod
2 years ago

Do you drink at Meth?

Same old story
Same old story
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

Do you Meth at drink?

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Abi Benniod
2 years ago

At large councilors are Pittsfields problem.Ward 4 runs the show.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

Please explain

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

WARD 4 COUNCILOR and 4 ward 4 residents as the At large and then the ward 4 mayor then add ward 3…….how long did it take to resurface Hancock road.Hess station on Tyler been vacant 25 years.

Auto Phil
Auto Phil
Reply to  wallowinthemire
2 years ago

They should rehab White Terrace to be the homeless shelter. Or some kind of transition-house. Like the Redfield House was for teen parents. Teen moms lived there, subsidized but with expectations, until they could function and sustain independently.

Fizzlehead
Fizzlehead
Reply to  Auto Phil
2 years ago

We have a jail on first street. How much is that costing the tax payers and what is it being used for?

TellitLikeitIs
TellitLikeitIs
Reply to  Fizzlehead
2 years ago

It should have been sold to highest bidder day new jail opened

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  TellitLikeitIs
2 years ago

Let’s give a load of cash to some gobsig developers and call it Honest Carmen’s Condos.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  wallowinthemire
2 years ago

Maybe if we called it Pete White terrace that would help,

Smith Street
Smith Street
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

That would make sense if it were on a dead end.

LegalEagle
LegalEagle
Reply to  Korner Offiss
2 years ago

It’s interesting you don’t have the business community here banding together to demand a different policy approach to these crimes. If there is no fear of being arrested more will come and operate with impunity. The community doesn’t seem to be the concern at all.Nothing is being done but handing out backpacks. Disgusted.

J2S
J2S
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

I believe a few in the business community have spoken up and the mayor pretty much blew them off in her walk about recently. The things concerning the businesses like crime, shoplifting, pooping etc..were of no concern of hers. The DA with her no cash bail and quality of life crime bs along with her equality crap ,as far as who is committing the crimes has left them to fend for themselves.

LegalEagle
LegalEagle
Reply to  J2S
2 years ago

Apparently the problem is police arresting people based on race. No competent prosecutor would make such a claim without evidence, yet here we are.

DA Andrea Harrington

@harringtonforda
·
Oct 18

The days of hiding from the ugly truth that the MA justice system is plagued by racism are over.

Same old story
Same old story
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

Only one hiding is you. Just stop.

Last edited 2 years ago by Same old story
Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Same old story
2 years ago

When is Wrong Way going to produce the numbers, to show police in Berkshire County are racist? And don’t give me the cop in Williamstown either.

He posted a pic of Hitler, which is wrong, but (a) it was 20 years ago. People had tougher skin back then. They didn’t need “sacred places” or “participation trophies” to make them feel better about themselves, (b) it’s never been proved that cop used race as a determining factor on who he arrested or who he did not.

So, Wrong Way, produce the numbers. As Ted Knight said in Caddy Shack, “Well, we’re waiting..”

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  J2S
2 years ago

They business owners all should have had a dozen rotten eggs handy when Queen Tyer did her walk about.

gotcha22
gotcha22
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

Why does Harrington think people want to hear about her “justic reforms” for criminals when crime is rampant. Is she that tone deaf?

LegalEagle
LegalEagle
Reply to  gotcha22
2 years ago

Harrington only plays a DA on TV. She is actually a criminal rights advocate. She has none of the chacteristics of a prosecutor. Does not play well with others, does not take responsibility, doesn’t lead others in understanding the law, have good judgement, impact the community positively, communicate effectively. We could go on but these topics have been covered here.

Devil Patrick
Devil Patrick
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

She’s actually not a criminal rights advocate. Wrong Way Harrington is a dyed in the wool racist. She just knows what will get her the votes.

She’s married to a racist, her oldest son uses the N-word like it’s going out of style. He got a pass because Dohoney is on the school board for Berkshire Hills and Harrington was a no show school board member when her kid was in Richmond.

J2S
J2S
Reply to  gotcha22
2 years ago

She is playing to a specific group of people with her reform bs all for the votes. What says equality/equity more than the equal opportunity to be a victim of a criminal free to walk the streets because they didn’t have to post bail as part of her being a so called reformer.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Korner Offiss
2 years ago

So Pittsfield created the business of drugs.Please look up some information on how drugs become a problem.The biggest drug problem is alcohol and its legal and the consumption locations are everywhere.The liquor distribution sites are everywhere along every street in the country.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

If anyone would know it’s you

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  12 Gauge
2 years ago

Humor is best when it’s funny.

Shirleyknuts
Shirleyknuts
2 years ago

You knew that the city would not allow the “houseless” to live next door to city hall. The “lovely Linda” would not want to engage or trip over some sleeping beauty on the steps of city hall when or if she decides to return to the mayor’s office. Government is not a charity or Christian organization, they should not get involved except to allow charity/Christian organizations to be tax free. There should never be rules allowing the “houseless” to live in the parks, look what happened to a nice volunteer getting jabbed by a needle while they were cleaning. Time to get a little backbone and move these people either along or into programs that will create working adults out of them.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Shirleyknuts
2 years ago

Please petition to put Pittsfield’s homeless underclass in Mayor Linda Tyer’s gated community neighborhood.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
2 years ago

A NEW homeless shelter? Is the current administration out of their minds?!
I agree with you Dan, it will further hasten the downward spiral of Pittsfield.
This issue needs to be talked up right NOW before the election!

Fizzlehead
Fizzlehead
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
2 years ago

When they say “new” they are talking about a location far far away from city hall, or business folk or “real” people. And especially,away from the condos on the upper floors of North street. They have created the parking for them and now they need to keep the bums at a fair distance while at the same time acting like they give a shit.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
2 years ago

Downtown is doing pretty good.

Juan Alvare
Juan Alvare
2 years ago

Where is Harrington and Kennedy with the milk and donuts?

wallowinthemire
wallowinthemire
Reply to  Juan Alvare
2 years ago

In those incubators probably. It’s getting cold ya know?

Shirleyknuts
Shirleyknuts
Reply to  wallowinthemire
2 years ago

Where did those glass houses for dining go? Did people take them for their own use?

Pot Greenhouse
Pot Greenhouse
Reply to  Shirleyknuts
2 years ago

Look in Tyer’s back yard.

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  Shirleyknuts
2 years ago

They joined the Tyler Street trash bins, The Big Red Pothole fixer and The Bossidy Bucks. *POOF* Gone!

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  acheshirecat
2 years ago

They sure f-ud up Tyler street with a asinine rotary.

Lenny
Lenny
2 years ago

If you are concerned about crime, and have read Earl the Pearl Persip’s comments in the Eagle’s election rundown today, along with his alleged family drug dealing – please don’t give him your vote!

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

Absolutely not! The Big Dump loves to play the race card. So I’ll ask the Big Dump, name three things you have done to help the “people of color,” in Pittsfield?

You always talk about people wanting to see people who “look like them,” in government. So here’s your chance Big Dump. You’ve been there long enough. Three quality of life issues you’ve championed for POC in Pittsfield:

1.
2.
3.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

He hasn’t done three things for anyone

Fizzlehead
Fizzlehead
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

If anyone can solve Pittsfield’s crime problem it is Earl.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

Earl the double extra large dummy

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Pittsfield politics in the news: Grim Covid-19 update – 80 Pittsfield residents have died from coronavirus; Ongoing litigation pending in appeals court, and the City Council’s letter to the Attorney General’s Office concerning the controversial Verizon cell tower.

Pittsfield city council gets grim COVID-19 update, votes to bring Healey into ongoing cell tower controversy | WAMC

The downtown umbrella guy
The downtown umbrella guy
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

That lady wont shut the fuck up about the cell tower, she drags her kids up there every holiday for a themed photo shoot. Waves a ‘meter’ around that looks like a 80’s handheld football game and its exhausting

JoeKapanski
JoeKapanski
2 years ago

Let’s Go Linda. Piss it all away, then just raise taxes some more on us Kapanskis. Put the homeless shelter on PEDA property and pay a GOBSIG 100k per year to run it.

TellitLikeitIs
TellitLikeitIs
Reply to  JoeKapanski
2 years ago

And why now giveaway some more free home improvements Linda? You’re a disgrace to the corner office

Smith Street
Smith Street
Reply to  TellitLikeitIs
2 years ago

It’s a tradition here.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

What do you think about the Democrats in the Swamp pushing to pass the largest spending bill in U.S. history at over $6 trillion that President Joe Biden said won’t cost taxpayers any money and Congress not agreeing on a way to raise revenues to pay for it?

I myself am confused.

Shirleyknuts
Shirleyknuts
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

R not those the peeps you voted in office? Now I am confused

J2S
J2S
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

He is an empty vessel. He is a democrat. See the redundancy here?

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  J2S
2 years ago

I voted for Congresswoman Annie Kuster. I didn’t vote for the rest of the Swamp creatures.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

We’re you at her last stand?

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Gobsig
2 years ago

My great-great Grandfather might have been there.

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

You voted for Biden!
What a hypocrit!

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Radical Republicans….We can’t afford to give the American people 2 free years of Junior college saving you 10s of thousands …..We can’t afford to pay you for 12 weeks medical time off to get healthy…..We don’t want to offer any help with prescription drugs….we don’t want to Rais min wages……We are here to support Trump

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

You voted for Traitor Joseph Stolen

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago
Smith Street
Smith Street
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Bottom line is we continue with this council it’ll be another do nothing,get nothing done and drab news for the Eagle. Give some of the new candidates a try. It’s only two years not ten terms for krist sakes. Change it up!!!!

The school committee
The school committee
2 years ago

Pittsfield.ma owns the homeless problem and will in the end get something humane done.South County has gentrification so we are everyone catch all.Throwing millions at the building solves nothing.The towns south of Pittsfield have zero desire to see or deal with the homeless.The out of towner always make fun of Pittsfields efforts to relieve our neighbors suffering.We are a special city but leadership is the problem.Everyone always comes to Pittsfield for our hard earned cash.We have half a country that won’t participate in government.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

It’s the D-rats in Basstun that dumped hundreds of homeless in the Berkshires , with the ruse of Covid that they also used to, corrupt the fraudulent election Nov 2020 .

Outfox
Outfox
Reply to  Mad Trapper
2 years ago

And dollars to doughnuts there are more coming in the next couple of weeks, Trap.
Boston began dismantling it’s tent City yesterday and Governor Baker and saying housing these people will be a regional and statewide solution.
Quincy and Revere have already refused to accept any of Boston’s homeless folks so you know what state-wide means: one way tickets to Pittsfield and North Adams.

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

The Glasgow Scotland Climate meeting has John Kerry raving in his high tone voice that “It’s the world’s best chance to fight climate change.” It’s a meeting of climate change fanatics, including our own fanatic Biden, who will put government regulation into every aspect of our lives from having the proper showerhead to limiting what foods we can eat. These monstrosity bills from Pelosi and Schumer have billions being put toward climate change and will give these fanatics the chance to rule our lives with iron control using climate change as the excuse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjYhhzieLE8

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago
Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
2 years ago

Biden just wants to impress his totalitarian buddies gathering in Scotland. He could care less about what Americans want. We are just the serfs standing in the way of this climate change SCAM that will rake in big wealth for these money mad people like Biden, Kerry, and Pelosi who are pushing it in this country, but also wealthy people across the globe who want even more wealth.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

Gas and heating oil prices have almost doubled. Trump had us energy independent.

Johnatolla Kerry is the lowest POS unAmerican politician there is, with his kids involved with Hunter in Ukraine energy deals. He has pushed USA importing Iranian oil, when we should be an exporter.

Korner Offiss
Korner Offiss
2 years ago

Hugh shout out to all first responders.. Thank you so much. Your awesome contributions are not forgotten. God bless you all.

Smith Street
Smith Street
Reply to  Korner Offiss
2 years ago

Dan new job created in the Chief Diversity Officer…and Inclusion. You in?

LegalEagle
LegalEagle
2 years ago

It’s more excuses and failure to perform basic duties by the DA. This time Harrington tried and failed to muffle a victim’s family and pulled her usual hiding behind prepared statements. “The DA is a joke” pretty much says it all.

Daughter of North Adams man killed in Cheshire crash in 2019 calls for accountability

Two years after Emard was killed in a three-car crash in Cheshire, his daughter says “nothing has been done to hold them accountable for their actions that morning.”

PITTSFIELD — Two years after Anthony Emard was killed in a three-car crash in Cheshire, his daughter says justice is not being served because no one involved is being held accountable.
Shelby Emard said her father, a North Adams resident and Fall River native who worked in Pittsfield, was driving on Route 8 the morning of Oct. 20, 2019, when he was struck head-on by one of two oncoming cars traveling “70 to 80 mph.”
In a public Facebook post on the two-year anniversary of her father’s death, Emard said her father was on his way home from work and “heading to his church for the Sunday service” when the two vehicles came “barreling around that corner right at him.”
After two years, “nothing has been done to hold them accountable for their actions that morning,” Emard wrote.

“No justice has been served for what they did to not only my dad but also to all of his friends and family that are still absolutely lost in this world without him here.”

— Shelby Emard

“No justice has been served for what they did to not only my dad but also to all of his friends and family that are still absolutely lost in this world without him here.
“The Berkshire County court system is a joke. The DA is a joke. And I am over it,” wrote Emard, who attends college in the state of Florida.
Emard said no charges have been filed in the crash.
This week, The Eagle sought separate interviews with Emard and the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
Emard had accepted The Eagle’s request for an interview Wednesday, but she later canceled, saying the DA’s office contacted her with “new developments” in the case. Emard said a victim witness advocate from the office asked her to delay her Eagle interview to avoid jeopardizing the process.

In a statement, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office told The Eagle: “Prosecutors are reviewing an extensive investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section of the collision that tragically resulted in Mr. Emard’s death to determine applicable criminal charges.”
District Attorney Andrea Harrington declined The Eagle’s interview requests Wednesday.
Anthony “Tony” Emard, 61, left behind three children, two siblings, three stepchildren and 15 grandchildren.
Attorney Buffy Lord represented Emard’s estate in a civil matter against two other drivers involved the crash. Lord said Emard was known as “one of the nicest people.”
On Wednesday, Lord said the Emard family had expressed frustration that prosecutors had not issued criminal charges in the crash.
“From [the Emard family’s] perspective, they believe criminal charges should have issued,” said Lord, who said she was not involved in any criminal inquiries associated with the incident and had no knowledge of how the DA’s office plans to handle that side of things.
“It’s frustrating that a man has died and it does not appear that there’s going to be any reckoning,” Lord told The Eagle. “We’re hoping that the DA’s office can move forward with charges.”
Emard was driving north in a 2009 Hyundai Accent when it was struck by one of the two oncoming cars, causing it to roll over. Emard was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a statement from the DA’s office at the time, Trever Field was driving south in a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee when he began to pass a 1997 Ford Mustang driven by Michael Taylor. Field initially moved into the northbound lane and then struck the Mustang’s rear bumper when maneuvering back into the southbound lane, causing it to spin out. One of the two vehicles struck Emard’s Hyundai.
Field and Taylor, both from Adams, survived, but suffered severe injuries.
The crash occurred on Route 8, near Farnams Road in Cheshire, at about 7:11 a.m.

Field and Taylor could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and it wasn’t clear whether they had obtained attorneys.
Emard worked for Securitas and as a security guard for General Dynamics, and he had served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard out of high school. He was a deacon at the First Congregational Church in Adams.
“He enjoyed reading, collecting bibles, and most of all, he loved watching his grandchildren play hockey and softball,” his obituary stated.
In a prepared statement, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said “supporting victims of crime is one of our top priorities.”
The statement also said, “We diligently maintain contact with victims and their families to ensure that victims are fully informed about the criminal process. We recognize that victims do not begin to heal until the legal process is behind them. We send our deepest condolences to Mr. Emard’s loved ones, and we will continue to do our best work to ensure accountability for their loss.”

laughingstock
laughingstock
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

We all know the DA is a joke. Kudos to this young woman for fighting for justice.

PolicerReportWhereareyou
PolicerReportWhereareyou
Reply to  LegalEagle
2 years ago

Apparently they were drag racing. This family is damn pissed off at the way they have been treated by this incompetent DA.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Please read this letter to the editor; thank you.

—–

Letter: “Pittsfield’s ARPA advisory council should be meeting publicly”
The Berkshire Eagle, October 28, 2021

To the editor: Regarding the article “Linda Tyer lays out $5.6M in spending and names an advisory council,” I have a question.

If the American Rescue Plan Act money is supposed to be distributed throughout our community, and we have a general idea of what areas the money will be applied to, why would the meetings need to be held in a private, sacred place to not be watched or questioned?

Having closed meetings is a big deal to me. The mayor, city councilors and committees work for the public, making decisions to best help the public. So the meetings should be open so the public can watch and question in order to make sure the city and committee are doing what the public wants.

The goal isn’t to have all like-minded people discussing how things should be done; it’s about having open-minded people so a bunch of different ideas can be brought forward and the best ones can be applied.

City officials do not work for themselves, but for the people and when things go unwatched and unquestioned is when they’re afraid of what the public may think. Why would that be if they have the public’s best interest in mind?

Karen Kalinowsky, Pittsfield

The writer is a candidate for an at large seat on the Pittsfield City Council.

—–

Korner Offiss
Korner Offiss
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

She has my vote. Anyone who is not intimidated by the mayor gets my vote. Marchetti, as council president, is the weakest team ember. He would not work at my bank because if he would violate his oath of office to people who elected him, I would not trust him.

Fax Assured
Fax Assured
Reply to  Korner Offiss
2 years ago

I find it incredible that Kalinowsky is the only one interested in this quasi quiet decision making behind closed doors. Again,where has Maffuccio been on this?

Korner Offiss
Korner Offiss
Reply to  Fax Assured
2 years ago

Has he been radicalized too?

Fax Assured
Fax Assured
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Charles Kronick.Can you provide a list on here the people who have already and received the at home funding to fix their home?Why isn’t it public knowledge as taxpayers foot this dumb grant.

Tony B
Tony B
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Great points made by Karen. Has anyone asked the Mayor why this group isn’t meeting publicly?

Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

She has my vote, along with Benoit. Not voting for any incumbents.

The City I Hate
The City I Hate
2 years ago

If tyer wasn’t up to no good with the ARPA millions there’d be no reason for “sacred” shrouded secrecy. EVERYONE invited by tyer, and agreeing to be involved in these secret shady meetings, away from the prying eyes of the over taxed taxpayers/citizens/public has tainted themselves with tyer’s stink. Which makes me believe all of tyer’s chosen ones already have their own stink, and aren’t repulsed by the odoriferous stench coming off tyer. And in other GOOD NEWS from tyer’s vibrant, dynamic and explosive FUN drug infested city of violent crime, two more fine young cannibals have been arrested for making ghost guns in an apartment on Dewey Ave a spit away from tyer’s new riverside crime park. Police are called to an address on Dewey Ave. EVERYDAY/EVERYNIGHT!

The school committee
The school committee
2 years ago

Trump gave a 1,800,000,000,000.00 tax cut to the top 1% spread over 24 months.He did nothing for the rest of America in 4 years.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

So Strange you say that because I was earning more than I ever earned and getting more for my money during the Trump years whereas now prices have skyrocketed and the economy is failing. I had to work for my money, but there is nothing wrong with that. People in the lower income brackets increased their earnings more than ever before during the Trump years and that is a fact not fake news. It wasn’t a handout or a freebie though which is why the far left Marxists didn’t like it.

wallowinthemire
wallowinthemire
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

So the Colonie N Y town supervisor has a candidate named Peter Crummey. The tag line is please support us and vote Crummey.

wallowinthemire
wallowinthemire
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

Looks like Cuomo is a real creep with new allegations and criminal complaints.

J2S
J2S
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

I see Biden and Pelosi couldn’t bring themselves to push or pass the billionaire tax they spew out there for the low information voters. They know if they did their money for elections and everything else they get from them would be gone. They chose billionaires over the people. But hypocrites gonna hypocrite! Pelosi helped kill the talk of this herself.

J2S
J2S
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

Oh, I wouldn’t complain TSC, Biden wants to give money to illegal aliens. At least Trump kept the money here for American people and businesses.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-in-talks-to-pay-hundreds-of-millions-to-immigrant-families-separated-at-border-
11635447591?mod=e2tw

wallowinthemire
wallowinthemire
Reply to  J2S
2 years ago

The one thing I look at is the high gasoline prices. Here’s the deal. Joe you’re a buffoon.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  wallowinthemire
2 years ago

Joe is a dangerous fool because he is destroying this country and doing it intentionally. He has been a far left Marxist all along and is too deep into early dementia for him to come to his senses. Same with Pelosi. Shaky voice Pelosi is also a Marxist who is in deep with China and wants to hand world power over to China as long as she becomes a very wealthy woman. Tearing up that paper after Trump’s State of the Union address was her feeling sorry for herself because she wasn’t as rich as Trump yet and he was holding her back from investing in electric cars so she could become as rich as Trump. These old politicians are complete mercenaries.

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

This is what public education has come to today. Lap dances for teachers from scantily clad teens, many drinking, and acting provocatively and some dressed in Hooters costumes. Apparently this is a yearly event at this school with one parent even defending it saying that these pictures were not supposed to get out to the public. I bet they weren’t. Will our AG investigate this clear abuse of children at this high school by these school administrators and teachers? Far left liberal education is out of control.
https://nypost.com/2021/10/27/kentucky-principal-probed-after-getting-lap-dance-at-homecoming/

Pat
Pat
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Discipline problems in all of these schools and so much more that’s not good. I keep thinking of Principal Reid from Reid Junior High in Pittsfield and how he represented everything that was good about public education in those days. So much has changed for the worse.