BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 14-6, 2022) — The actions of ultraliberal district attorneys across the country prove a concept THE PLANET has long asserted, that “crime” is a legal concept and nothing more. If legislators pass a law against a certain activity, doing that action becomes a “crime.”

Without a law, there’s no “crime.” For example, getting caught with a J years ago might send you to the stripey hole. Today, peddling cannabis has become big business, especially in Pittsfield, one of the city’s literal “growth” industries.

Now a few years into the pink revolution in criminal justice, we’ve seen the results. The progressives tout lower crime rates, but it’s nothing about which to brag. Of course the rate goes down. When you decriminalize or refuse to prosecute so-called “low-level” crimes — offenses like drug possession, shoplifting, vandalism, looting, prostitution, drunk and disorderly conduct, and others, — there can’t be a “crime.” The actions won’t show up on the books. The crime rate goes down.

However, there’s a reason police departments and citizens loathe the new “soft and gentle” approach to criminality. Public safety. People don’t feel safe, and officials standby, frozen into place. Is a counterrevolution in the works?

In Los Angeles, for example, D.A. George Gascon faces a recall effort. In San Francisco, the police union has castigated D.A. Chesa Boudin. Officers say Boudin has given thugs a “green light” to attack cops. In the Big Apple, Manhattan D.A. Alan Bragg may soon be eating his pussyhat.

From The Daily Beast‘s Kali Holloway:

Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo suggested Bragg may as well have given “drug dealers business cards telling everyone they’re open for business,” and Police Benevolent Association head Pay Lynch—in an uncharacteristically measured message, at least for him—expressed “serious concerns.” GOP Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay claimed “Bragg should not be allowed to hold his office,” as does Republican governor long shot and attention-thirsty Andrew Giuliani, who held a press conference to demand Bragg be removed.

But the most headline-grabbing critique came from newly appointed Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who sent a letter that opened by asserting concerns about Bragg’s policies in relation to some 36,000 NYPD members’ “safety as police officers, the safety of the public and justice for the victims.”

“I believe in reform (sic) that make sense when applied collaboratively,” wrote the first Black woman to serve as police commissioner. “In that same vein, I am concerned about sweeping edicts that seem to remove discretion, not just from police officers, but also from Assistant District Attorneys regarding what crimes to prosecute and how to charge them.” She cited worries over escalating subway violence due to fare evasions, fears of “more open-air drug markets and drug use in Manhattan” because of fewer marijuana prosecutions, and a prediction that the policy change for resisting arrest would leave cops open to harm and “have deleterious effects on our relationship with the communities we protect.”

———- ooo ———-

Here in Berkshire County, police officers THE PLANET has heard from cops who feel the same way about D.A. Andrea Harrington. The only difference is that won’t go on the record, at least not at this point. That’s how the guano rolls in “vibrant, dynamic, inclusive, and diverse” Pittsfield.

“Why bother with arrests, if we know ‘The People’s Lawyer’ won’t prosecute?” asks one local officer.

Good question.

Those who have their cuppa Joe at this address also don’t seem too pleased with Harrington.

PLANETEER Markus Aurelius recently posted this about the county D.A.” (in italics):

Wrong Way is a “minister of justice.” Let’s take a look at her track record:

• Lonnie Durfee, white male, burns two bails of hay. No people/property were in jeopardy of being harmed. Sentence: 2 years in jail.
• Reymon Delacruz-Batista, Hispanic male (POC), murdered in Pittsfield State Forest 12/5/21. No updates/No suspects in custody.
• LaQuan Johnson, black male (POC), involved in multiple weapons violations/shootings in Pittsfield. Arrested after being involved in drive-by shooting on Glenwood Avenue on 4/30/2000. Johnson was pled out to 3 years probation.

• Parth “Peter” Chaudhari, Asian decent (POC), involved in a scam, which included seven states and scammed people out of $300,000. Only 8 months pre-trial confinement. Allowed to voluntarily deport himself after paying back money.
• Jesus Lugo, Hispanic male, (POC), drive-by shooting from the hood of his GF’s vehicle. Caught after he shot himself in the hand, after running from the police.

• Edward Jennings, black male, (POC), arrested for murdering Lemond Grady, on North Street, on 4/20/21.
• Myron Crapps, black male (POC), arrested for shooting a woman on Kent Avenue, 7/14/2020.
• Tyler Sumner, black male (POC), arrested for shooting/killing Stephanie Olivieri, on 8/25/2019.

So, based on a quick 10 minute search of recent Berkshire County violent crimes, it brings up quite a few.

Of my observation, one man was sent to jail for a nonviolent crime, Lonnie Durfee, and one man. Peter Chaudhari, was allowed to pay restitution with no jail time for another nonviolent crime.

One person of color, Delacruz-Batista, was murdered with no suspect information, no updates from Wrong Way’s Office. Should the public be scared? Alarmed? On the look out for a suspect/suspects? An update Wrong Way would be nice.

That leaves the other five, all people of color, charged with violent crimes/shootings.

So, from Wrong Way’s statement and my quick research, it would suggest that Wrong Way is truly is a “minister of justice.” That is if you’re a white male, you get punished to the fullest extent of the law. If you’re a person of color, you can commit violent crimes and Wrong Way will begin the defendants mitigation process immediately, to lessen any sentence that person of color might have to serve.

This is actually the role of a defense attorney, but hey, Berkshire County voted for this imbecile. She can’t even drive down a one way street legally with a valid driver’s license, but yet we expected her to know the job of DA?

If you enjoy the notoriety of Pittsfield becoming the Springfield of the North, with the shootings and violent crimes, then re-elect the “minister of justice.”

I’d rather have the late, great, “Minister of Defense,” Reggie White, as our DA, rather than Wrong Way.

———- ooo ———-

Legal Eagle, one of our barrister-type posters familiar with the goings on in local courts, had this to add:

Yes, she’s the Minister of Justice of “minimizing harm.” Let’s go with that. Was “harm minimized” when Andrea Harrington:

• Allowed the attempted murder of a baby to go unpunished due to Harrington’s failure to provide witnesses?
• Violated rules of professional conduct by calling for the removal of our Chief Justice of District Court based on hearsay, without reviewing available evidence?
• Repeatedly blocked the release of public records resulting in the whistleblower resignation of a public records officer?

• Failed to deliver an iota of justice after a racially motivated violent crime hoax at Simon’s Rock? It was the DA’s weeks of foot dragging, lack of leadership and ultimate failure to deliver justice that caused damage to our community’s efforts to combat racism.
• Allowed multiple murders, rapists and assailants to be acquitted or have charges dropped due to her office’s incompetence?

We could go on, but the arrogance has made us sick.

———- ooo ———-

Via today’s posting, THE PLANET sends a request for comment to Harrington’s office. As you know, the office refuses media requests that aren’t prescreened, prescrubbed, and neutered.

Our standing invite remains open to 7 North Street.

When the phone doesn’t ring, we’ll know it’s Andy McKeever not getting back to us.

Have a great weekend everybody.

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“Look at all the bigot piggies in their starched white shirts” — George Harrison, from The Beatles’ White Album.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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