BARBALUNGA CALLS OUT BOWLER ON ‘SPECIAL SHERIFF’ SALARY, SAYS CEREMONIAL POST NETS JACK QUINN $78K … BOWLER RESPONDS: ‘BARBALUNGA ALL WRONG ONCE AGAIN’
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
EDITOR’S NOTE: Before we get going, we mourn the death of all-time basketball great Bill Russell, 88, who died Sunday. He was the greatest winner all time in any sport: 2 high-school state championships, two national college championships, a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, 11 world championships with the Boston Celtics, and 2 as Celtics head coach. He changed the NBA with his revolutionary defensive abilities. He pioneered the art of blocked shot and for his career averaged 23 rebounds a game. He was the ball-handling Big Man Red Auerbach was looking for to engineer the Celtics legendary fast break. Off the field, Russell was no less a champion, speaking out fearlessly on Civil Rights back in the day when to do so COST SOMETHING, so unlike today, when it’s become political and practiced by ambitious career builders. RIP, Bill Russell.
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 1, 2022) — The race for sheriff between two-time incumbent Tom Bowler and challenger Alf Barbalunga continues to sizzle in the pan.
As the Tale of the Tape builds, THE PLANET has identified one clear trend: Alf’s on offense, and Pudge is on defense. The first attacks, the second tries to hold the perimeters. The first involves high-risk, high-reward ventures into enemy territory. The second survives and thrives by parrying the assaults.
Barbalunga and Bowler have scrapped over housing female prisoners from Berkshire County in Chicopee, medical treatments of addicts, administration of the sheriff’s $21 million budget, and managerial strategies.
Barbalunga has adroitly pounced on a salary to one of the jail’s supplemental positions, hitting both budget and management concerns. For his first campaign, the country’s chief probation officer has shown impressive political instincts.
Recently, in his latest barrage against Bowler, Alf put the salary of “special sheriff” Jack Quinn under the microscope. Barbalunga claims this ceremonial, make-work position pays (and wastes) $78,000. Bowler answers by saying Barbalunga doesn’t know what he’s talking about and that Quinn makes $0. Ah, but what’s a $78,000 discrepancy among friends?
Once again, THE PLANET brings you the exclusive, letting you read the actual words from the candidates’ press releases rather than try to draw from the slanted digests that local mainstream media extrapolate, editorializing while hiding behind the myth of non-present “objectivity.”
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OPENING SALVO FROM ALF
Barbalunga Seeks To End Bowler’s “Payroll Empire” By Eliminating A $78,000 Part-Time “Ceremonial” Job
BERKSHIRE COUNTY—Alf Barbalunga released today the following statement in response to questions from the community about how Tom Bowler is misspending taxpayer money at the Berkshire County House of Correction & Jail, and where Alf can find savings in the budget to fund better education and rehabilitation:
“People often ask me: ‘How is Sheriff Bowler misspending money, and how will you save money to fund education and programming?’ The answer is simple: cut out frivolous, wasteful spending, hire more teachers, clinicians, and develop programming with that money.
For example, during my own research of the sheriff’s budget I found that the formerly UNPAID “ceremonial position” of the Special Sheriff has suddenly become a PAID part-time position, at $78,000 per year.
Under Mass General Law (Ch. 37, § 5 & Ch. 37, § 4), a “Special Sheriff” is a role that becomes active and paid in the event that Sheriff Bowler dies or otherwise becomes incapacitated. Is he incapacitated? Is he unable to perform his duties?
The former Special Sheriff under Bowler was unpaid. Why is the Special Sheriff paid now? No one knows. There is no transparency.
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The current Special Sheriff was formerly the Superintendent of the Berkshire County House of Corrections, earning $156,000 annually under Sheriff Bowler until he retired in 2021. He now collects a state pension of $117,000 – that’s the law, and that’s fair. But after his former superintendent retired in 2021, however, Sheriff Bowler appointed him as Special Sheriff, a |
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ceremonial position that in Berkshire County always had a salary of $0. Now Sheriff Bowler has moved his former superintendent back on the payroll—paying him $78,000 to hold the title of “Special Sheriff”. |
Back when Tom Bowler first became sheriff, we were warned about sheriffs building “Empires.” This is the type of misspending that hurts morale among Sheriff Bowler’s rank and file employees. We can reallocate misspent money in “Bowler’s Empire” to shift unneeded “ceremonial” salaries to much-needed rehabilitation staff. $78,000 represents at least 3 part-time teachers’ salaries.
On rare occasions, an employee with another primary role–such as deputy superintendent or a director of a program–might be appointed as “Special Sheriff” by a Massachusetts sheriff and would hold that ceremonial position in the event something happened to the sheriff. But that’s not the case here. This individual is retired and does not have another primary role.
The superintendent’s job has been filled by someone else, and that person earned over $180,000 in 2021. There are 261 employees taking care of responsibilities in a total budget of roughly $21 million.
The Special Sheriff isn’t an active position, yet is receiving a salary. This “ceremonial position” appears to be an egregious abuse of taxpayer funds and a purely patronage position. This constitutes a betrayal of the public trust. This is “good ol’ boy” patronage at its worst.
The Special Sheriff is historically a ceremonial, unpaid position, and reprograming this $78,000 for inmate rehabilitation can immediately fund and improve better services at the correctional facility, and ideally improve job skills, educational certifications, and reduce recidivism (or repeat crimes) following release.
This is just one example of potential misuse of funds that I will reallocate, while improving morale for the rank and file hard-working employees that are critical to the future success of the correctional facility.
We don’t have to accept the premise that a sheriff has a right to build a “Payroll Empire” at taxpayers’ expense. We will cut out frivolous spending and patronage wherever it is found.”
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Bowler quickly issued his rebuttal.
In comments exclusive to THE PLANET, Team Bowler had this to say:
ANTIBALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE, BOWLER
Barbalunga all wrong once again; Special Sheriff’s salary is $0
PITTSFIELD–Sheriff Candidate Alf Barbalunga issued another alarming press release on July 22 about the budget at the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction. This time, he didn’t omit the most important detail. He didn’t know it. Rather than getting his facts straight, he publicly announced that Sheriff Tom Bowler was misappropriating funds.
“During my own research of the Sheriff’s budget I found that the formerly UNPAID ‘ceremonial position’ of Special Sheriff has suddenly become a PAID part-time position at $78,000 a year,” Barbalunga stated. “The former Special Sheriff under Bowler was unpaid. Why is the Special Sheriff paid now? No one knows. There is no transparency.”
Barbalunga went on to cite Massachusetts General Law which says a Special Sheriff is a role that only becomes active and paid in the event that the sheriff dies or becomes incapacitated. “Is he incapacitated?” Barbalunga asked in his press release. “Is he unable to perform his duties?”
“I’m fine,” Sheriff Bowler said. “Thanks for asking. However, you don’t know what you’re taking [sic] about.”
According to the Sheriff, Barbalunga is referring to Jack Quinn, the former longtime Superintendent of the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, who retired in 2021 after more than a 30-year career at the jail.
In addition to his role as Superintendent, Quinn has been the Special Sheriff of Berkshire County since 2011 and is registered with the Secretary of State’s Office. He has never received any compensation for that title.
“The Special Sheriff’s salary is zero,” Bowler said. “And the salary that Barbalunga claims is paid by the jail actually came from grants that reimbursed the jail.”
Prior to retiring, Quinn was among a group of jail staff and employees from several local organizations who were creating Medically Tailored Meals, a collaboration among five local agencies including the jail. Under the supervision of a nutritionist, inmates at the jail prepare meals tailored for people with chronic illness, package and freeze them. Other jail employees deliver them weekly. Quinn was also a key jail employee working on the 2nd Street Second Chances collaboration.
After his retirement, Quinn continued on as a consultant with the collaborations to finalize the initiatives. He was actually paid $36,309 for this work and the grants reimbursed the jail for that amount.
“It’s always a good idea to check with the state before publicly accusing anyone of misappropriations,” the sheriff said.
“Back when Tom Bowler first became sheriff, we were warned about Sheriff’s building empires,” Barbalunga charged in his press release. “This constitutes a betrayal of the public trust. This is ‘good ole’ boy patronage at its worst.”
Sheriff Bowler noted Barbalunga’s reckless and careless language, his refusal to understand the facts while making charges, and said his opponent is “dangerously misinformed.”
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, yet feels completely free to disparage others,” the sheriff said. “He attempts to fool the voters and erode trust in public officials with his ridiculous accusations. These are not the qualities of a leader. As I’ve said many times before, character counts and integrity matters.”
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COUNTER ATTACK & PARRY, BARBALUNGA
MORE ON BOWLER’S “SPECIAL SHERIFF” CONTROVERSY
Sheriff Tom Bowler, who promised the public transparency at the jail, is using smoke and mirrors to confuse the public on what money is being spent at the jail and where it comes from.
After Alf Barbalunga raised concerns over Bowler’s line-item listing of a part-time $78,000 staff position for a “Special Sheriff,” which is supposed to be a “ceremonial” job, Bowler says his former retired jail superintendent actually earns a $0 salary as “Special Sheriff.” But as shown below, this staff position is still on the budget. The FY 2022 budget clearly shows a “Special Sheriff” line item with annual cost of $78,000.
Bowler says the former superintendent’s pay “actually came from grants that reimbursed the jail,” including the Medically Tailored Meals program and the Second Street Second Chances program (a grant obtained by BCC in February 2022). In other words, the pay is real and was paid up front to the retired superintendent by the jail from its budget allocation.
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The reimbursement source may be from a third-party, but the sheriff’s budget does not show where this or other third-party revenue is sourced or credited. The sheriff simply says the retired superintendent is a “consultant”. But he is listed as a payroll position, not as a consultant. The retired superintendent, who receives a $117K pension from the State, recently contributed to Sheriff Bowler’s campaign, and he listed his employment on an Office of Campaign Finance report as “retired.” Yet he remains on the jail’s payroll and was paid by the jail another $36,309 on top of his pension through 7/2/22. Last year Sheriff Bowler also included the “Special Sheriff” in his budget, and the superintendent was |
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paid $42,037 as Special Sheriff. It is immaterial that some or all of that pay came from a third-party grant — it is still revenue distributed at the top of the sheriff’s food chain. The sheriff oversees his administrative salary budget like a private empire with those executives at the very top taking home salaries that are stratospheric. Grant money that could be used to pay for food for the meals program recipients is trickling up to the top to help his former executive and friend potentially earn close to $200,000 this year, while the average salary in Berkshire County is only $37,000. What the personnel budget shows in this case is a “Special Sheriff,” who says he’s retired and is drawing a six-figure pension, plus making a $78,000 salary as a “Special Sheriff.” This is why Barbalunga raised questions about the budget. |
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“Bowler’s budget needs multiple independent audits, and, as sheriff, one of the first things I will do is ask the Department of Corrections, Department of Education, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and/or the State Auditor to inspect the books and make recommendations. This administrative operation is about as clear as mud.” Barbalunga noted that before issuing his earlier press release, he checked with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office and found there was no evidence of official notification that the retired Superintendent was appointed Special Sheriff, as required by law. |
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COUNTER PARRY, RESPONSE, BOWLER
Barbalunga does not understand key details about jail salaries, yet levels charges anyway. Also fails to disclose that his own salary went up during the same time period
PITTSFIELD: In a July 17 press release, candidate Alf Barbalunga expressed alarm by the size of the budget at the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, particularly in the area of salaries, while the inmate population has declined.
“The funding for wages and salaries has spiked from $11.4 million in 2013 to $15.584 million in 2022,” Barbalungs [sic] said in his press release. The candidate claimed he would “rebalance” the budget.
According to Sheriff Tom Bowler, Barbalunga “neglected, as usual, to inform voters of several important details. Nearly all of the salaries at the jail are negotiated with our unions and wage increases are made in accordance with economic parameters issued to us by the Massachusetts Department of Administration & Finance.” Exceptions to this are grant positions, certain specialty positions such as the jail’s physician and dentist, and the statutorily-established salary of the Sheriff.
“They are generally in the 2% to 3% annual range. These state-established parameters apply across the board for a wide range of unions statewide. I have no authority to make up my own economic parameters and I must abide by the outcome achieved through the negotiations. All collective bargaining increases are approved by the Commonwealth and funded by the Legislature.”
Also missing from Barbalunga’s charges of extravagance at the jail is the fact that his own salary as a chief probation officer increased proportionately during the same time period, while overall, probation officers are supervising fewer offenders.
“I am not responsible for the inmate count,” the Sheriff continued. “Convictions and incarcerations are down here and across the state over the last few years, and many inmates were given early release during the pandemic.”
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As you can see, Quinn’s compensation triggered a conflagration.
So how does THE PLANET see it? Score this round squarely for Barbalunga. However you list it in the books, fact is that Quinn, in addition to his $117,000 yearly state pension, has been well-paid for his fuzzily defined “consultancy.” Is he “retired” or still on staff? The sheriff’s books say one things but Pudge says another.
The incumbency of sheriff wields tremendous power, but Bowler will not be well-served by running a relatively low-key defensive campaign. Barbalunga got out of the gates fast, has continuously pressed the sheriff on the latter’s track record, and has siezed the momentum from the incumbent.
Two questions remain for Team Alf:
- Will momentum alone be enough?
- Can the campaign keep up such a torrid pace?
Answers to these and other question shall be forthcoming soon. On Aug. 8, THE PLANET will be filming a one-hour debate between the two heavyweights. It will be released soon after on numerous digital platforms. Details will be announced soon. It will be CAN’T MISS viewing.
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“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face–forever” — George Orwell.
LOVE TO ALL.
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As I asked on my facebook page, “What do all bad managers share in common?”
Is this Forest Gump?
No.
IDK but Alf Barbalunga has experience managing what, one or is it two people? Sheriff Bowler has managed 300 people for 12 years. This is a joke.
If Lunger is saying special sheriff was getting for $78,000 and Bowlers stating no. Then something is wrong. Both can’t be right? If Alf is right Bowler should resign. And if Bowler is right Alf should quit. Serious allegations.
Alf was right, but Bowler says he paid him with grant money. It’s a draw.
Has he though? Bowler had no experience managing anyone before he was elected, and look what has happened? 300 people for 150 inmates? Where is Jack Welch when you need him, either they are spending too much on salaries or not doing enough work. Put them to work, keep the jobs for the people who do the real hard stuff, and get rid of these executives, some of whom are part-time pulling pensions to boot, or shut the whole place down.
Bowler solved a huge problem caused by the previous weirdo
Alf & Andrea are the A-Team! Tom Bowler & Tim Shugrue are predictable Pittsfield politics’ “B-Team”: the Business-as-usual team. Whatever team wins, Pittsfield will still have to deal with its over 1,000 gang members running its dangerous inner-city streets whereby there will still be daily shootings, which Mayor Linda Tyer recently called “an immediate crisis”. The thing that boggles my mind the most is why are the D.A. and Sheriff’s respective state government funded public pay and perks so lucrative that it is akin to a commoner winning the big state lottery jackpot? What do state taxpayers get in return for their tax dollars other than the D.A.’s “Whack A Mole” prosecution of Pittsfield’s always increasing violent criminals that is similar to Sisyphus always pushing a rock up the hill and the Sheriff running an increasingly costly men’s only half-empty county jail? It would be wonderful if all of Berkshire County’s corrupt career politicians end up in the county jail and the Sheriff threw away the proverbial key! Then the proverbial Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski’s state tax dollars would be well spent.
Harrington and Alf are the Z team. Z as in zero.
Blah blah blah
Drugs cheap in NH?
who won the DA debate i missed it?
IDK Dan I think Bowler won this squirmish. Alfie comes off as a golden spoon brat who shoots off at the mouth without knowing what is really going on. I give Bowler kudos for not going low and asking Alfie what he asked all the woman in the interviews. He also doesn’t bring up how Alfie got his job. I am unsure why Alfie is after this position unless it is to create the exact thing he is insinuating Bowler created. It was also troublesome in my eyes that Alfie wants to bring the women prisoners back.
On the specific issue, actually, it’s a non-starter. It is what it is. My judgment of Alf winning the round is based on seeing the O’Brien compensation as a POLITICAL issue. From the political side, which reality dictates must trump most all other concerns, Quinn’s compensation neatly exemplifies a message Alf has been pounding since day 1: Mismanagement of budget and payroll. In the abstract, most voters tune it out. Naming a name and a specific figure, accurate of not, personalizes it so that the casual voter can “see” it.
The charge is kind of farfetched. Easily denied whether true or not.
Much like Harrington, you can say whatever you want when you haven’t held the office.
Charles. I’ll bet 99 percent of Berkshire County residents have never seen the jail let alone goes on there.
No kidding Sherlock.
I will bet 50% of current Pittsfield residents have seen the inside of a jail SOMEWHERE. Have you been out and about lately? Some scary looking population ya got there. Can I get an AMEN here?
CHAZ
The charge might be far-fetched, but if it resonates with “casual voters,” it has served its purpose.
Hard to define a casual voter. Something about the concept is bothersome.
The casual voter is a person who votes but does not closely follow the issues. They will vote for reasons that have little to do with the stuff “policy wonk” think is important and love to rattle on about. They generally remember something, listen to recommendations from family and friends, will remember a familiar name … lots of reasons for why they do vote, but those reasons don’t include being up-to-speed on candidate policies, platforms, or positions. The opposite would be, for example, school department employees, their families, friends, and neighbors. 1,500 PSD employees, give them, say, three who will vote for them because of personal relations. Most relevant in citywide or countywide races.
It seems as though you are giving Alf victories at each step.
BEEN
“Seems” is not reality, though I can understand why you think that. Fact is, I have no “dog in the fight.” I’m only calling them as I’m seeing them, politically, which is the only manner in which we can take the temperature of any race. Thanks for the input!.
Maybe someone should ask for both candidates to show their tax returns. It would be eye opening to see their assets, even ones that are in trusts. It would also be good for the public to see the salaries of all public employees which they once did before the Dems were in charge
bribes might not be listed on tax returns…just sayin
Do your work and check out how much overtime Barbalunga has received in his position as “no-show” Chief of Probation South County. Barbalunga is a scammer and some. Ask him about having probationers detailing his car.
ManyAt the jail make well over 90,000 Many over 100,000 a year
Same with the mayor and many of her “associates”.
Ask him about trying to get some from the women partners of his probationers in exchange for no show monitoring.
There are reports and an investigation out there. The probation commissioner was forced to resign, in part, because of how bad it was out here.
I agree with Knutz. Not a big enough “issue” to give the AlienLifeForm much leverage in this race.
Pot meet kettle! Every time I hear certain names, I picture vermin scurrying off into a dark place. Quinn is one of those names. Nilan is another. Nipples has her Handgun Moon and street signs dina Squeal. Three of a kind. All of them as useless as tits on a bull, sucking the system dry. Why Bowler would even participate in a debate moderated by liar Handgun Moon cast a dark shadow on Bowler. I never wish away time, but it will be a relief to get past the dirty business of what passes as an official election farce.
“…..I picture vermin scurrying off into a dark place…..”
Don’t denigrate vermin!
They are like a lower life form, cockroaches
There is no question that Alffie boy has come out swinging and has Bowler on the ropes. I still think it’s Bowler’s to lose but he has to get on offense. Dan has called this like the average Joe sees it. Facts don’t matter in politics so much as perceptions do. This looks bad for Bowler. Come on Man, 70 some grand for a retired big cheese already pulling in over 100K??? Seriously
Tyer spends taxpayer money like the Crown Prince of Dubai and she is just getting started. She is not worrying about getting reelected. Her two siblings, Pete and his other brother Pete are assisting her in digging a financial hole to China for the city of Pittsfield.
Get out if you can and if you cannot try to at least help others, especially children who do not deserve this and cannot see what is coming at them if they stay in Pittsfield, Ma.
Off topic but I have to ask for everyones help. Just read where the Legislature just sent a $275 million dollar EAST-WEST unneeded rail bill to the Governor’s desk. I hope everyone can call the Governor’s office and tell them NO THANK YOU. There is no need for this train. The state has already shown it can’t run rail service with all the issues that are happening on the T. If they really went to spend the money lower our state income tax. As the Governor said our tax revenue went up 15% 2 years ago and last year it was up 20%. Or they could put all that money into fixing the roads and bridges….maybe the on on Holmes Road!!
Like many other white elephant projects, this rail thingy IS NOT ABOUT TRAIN TRAVEL. It is about spending taxpayer money and funneling it into the proper pockets. It is part of the BUILD AND ABANDON mentality where super expensive things are built knowing full well ahead of time that there will be no money to maintain them. BUT, people get rich along the way, which was the driving motivation in the first place. Not that complicated.
wtf is up with holmes road anyway? how many years will it be like this?
“Or they could put all that money into fixing the roads and bridges….maybe the on on Holmes Road!!”
They built a highway to Alaska, in the early 1940s, through wilderness.
The mASSHOLE DOT can’t fix a 100′ bridge in 3 years.
I forgot in all of SIX MONTHS!!!! 1942
mASSHOLE DOT is AWOL!!!!
It was nice hearing from former parks commissioner, Gene Nadeau, on a recent post. Gene was an excellent commissioner and fair-minded director who understood the importance of parks to children for their safety and healthful play. In today’s environment we miss Gene’s knowledge and leadership ability.
Know it all Gene.
Alf maybe onto something.Hotel Carm?
CHUCK
I agree about Gene. Fair, honest, above reproach.
Wasn’t his brother the Dalton correspondent another knowing all
The ‘ol consultant sham shows up again.
Someone needs to look into Alf and Cliff back in the day. There were allegations by at least a couple of women regarding sexual misconduct and forced sodomy. These women’s had husbands and partners that reported to Alf.
Somehow the allegations, the investigation, the outcome, and the punishment all got covered up.
It was all pretty well documented until one day it wasn’t and they said they would never release the report. It’s no wonder Alf wants women back at the prison. If you are a light skinned Latina with large breasts, watch out Alf has a type.
This is the same group, Cliff and Alf who covered for Stracuzzi who was accused of soliciting sex from minors up in Maine. One day Cliff was in charge of Stracuzzi’s probation, the next day he wasn’t and the record’s were changed to show Alf was in charge of the probation.
“Until last week, probation officials in Boston had remained silent in regard to Eagle questions about whether a conflict of interest occurred when Berkshire Superior Court Probation Chief Clifford J. Nilan supervised the criminal case of his friend and colleague, Angelo C. Stracuzzi, the president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union. Nilan serves on Greylock’s board of directors.
In response to an Eagle inquiry in January, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Probation Department confirmed that Nilan supervised Stracuzzi’s probation.
Now, in what appears to be an about-face, probation officials say Nilan wasn’t among the probation officers who supervised Stracuzzi while he was on probation in the Berkshires from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006.“
“ Meanwhile, Massachusetts probation officials have not explained why the initial information provided to The Eagle apparently has changed.”
Cliff changed the records, Alf helped. Where are the reports about alleged sexual assaults by Alf?
Why haven’t those come out yet.
His past is a nightmare with women, but also the present. I heard from a good source that Alfie boy had or has a restraining order on him. He attempted to get it to disappear by demanding a clerk at the courts make it go away and they refused. His dad got involved and couldn’t make it go away either, prolly buried like the rest of his trash by his daddy!
Bowler has produced his list of accomplishments in office which show high marks for know-how, problem solving and accountability.
ALF, where is your list of accomplishments in your current job and previous stint on the School Committee?
It seems to me quite a leap in all three job factors when jumping from Probation Officer to Sheriff.
Where’s your list, ALF?
was quite a leap to go from cop to sheriff, no budget experience, but who remembers?
Trouble in Bird City, there’s some financial problems with Bird and they are removing scooters and bikes from cities
Any idea which account Kerwood lists the $12.94 that the city has collected form the Bird scooters in Pittsfield in the month of July?
It goes into the general fund
The account would be a 129.4 account I wager.
Barbalunga can keep spewing his meaningless rhetoric, which most of the time is either inaccurate, misleading or both. But from discussing the race among many different sectors of the community, I found that most ask the simple question of who is best qualified to administer the facility and programs at the County House of Correction? Almost everyone I’ve talked to considers it a slam dunk and that is the person who has been doing it successfully for years now. As a result, most voters are no longer even paying attention to the rhetoric or the race. It’s already over!
I’m not even paying attention and I’m a regular contributor here. It’s so obvious it’s stupid. Then again, Harrington got elected thanks to Tyer, Hinds and Farley-Bouvier, speaking of stupid.
i don’t think any voter has any idea how good of a job the current Sheriff is doing outside of favorable Eagle press coverage on things like Medically Tailored Meals which any Sheriff would endorse. how do you define success? what’s the current recidivism rate? how is the money being spent? how many health code violations do they have? no one knows. as long as the jail doesn’t fall down, and bowler keeps smiling and shaking hands and being a nice guy, everyone thinks everything is fine, but no one really knows, not even the State government I bet. Bowler could stay at home all day and let his administration runs things and no one would know. like most politicians, people’s day to day lives aren’t affected much by who is in office, but your point about how voters will vote may be accurate, i don’t doubt what people are telling you.
I find it very concerning that someone who is running for the position of Sheriff, wants to attempt to trample two men who have done so much for the community they live in. Alf is trying his best to attempt to hide his past and current mishaps from public view and hopes that his fathers promises and their family money can win him a political office spot.
It’s very sad when a local campaign will use funds that they raised to create “Change” to misinform the voters. Its very said that these funds are being paid to an outside resource that couldn’t provide the facts needed and who doesn’t understand the community! It’s very sad when a local campaign keeps swinging for the imaginary fence of misinformation, but keeps missing due to truth. It’s very sad when you watch someone who promises “Change”, but resorts to classic bashing to build their own reputation by attempting to bring down the reputation of two individuals who have done so much for their communities! Wait till your skeletons come out!!
This campaign thinks they are in touch with the community they want to serve, however they don’t realize it’s not what this community wants! This community wants and needs opportunities, growth, security and to feel safe! This community wants to know that when they need help, help will be there!
What is trying to be conducted by this campaign is what we see nationally at times. A sinking ship trying to save its name, which no longer carries weight in THIS community. Just throwing stuff at us in hopes of making it stick. They are twisting statements, rewording sentences and using conversations that were had and taking them out of context. It’s a classic last ditch effort to save face in a community that no longer wants to hear it anymore!!
Berkshire County, this isn’t HIS community, but yours! This is your community that you call home. This is your community that your children are growing up in! And this is the community that no matter how hard the times get, you will always support and love!
Vote for Tom Bowler as your Sheriff, the sheriff that worked hard to get where he is. The sheriff that proudly raised his family here! The sheriff who understands the community because he has and always will be there for us, the community!
Liar.
Off topic but is it a headline that a billionaire lands a plane at Pittsfield Airport? The eagle believes so and then of course launches into a carbon footprint bashing. Of course if it had James Taylor on it would be no issue.
Especially since the footage was all over social media and a viral YouTube video for over a week before mentioned by the Eagle. But if it was Taylor, it would’ve been a Fanto exclusive the next day. I’ll feel sorry for Clarence when James moves out of the county soon to be closer to his kids. Or Not!!
Anyone see elves Alfs lawn signs? they look something like out of a Led Zeppelin cover, man who designed those? you literally would have to get right up in front of it with a magnifying glass to understand what it says. Alf has already stated he didn’t want be the Sheriff,he said it on that ridiculous Moon fed zoom interview..
And as far as money allocated for Jackie Quinn I don’t think they paid him enough just putting up with Carmen for all those years is enough to pay him double,don’t worry Jackie earn his money one of the hardest workers I know in my lifetime,don’t forget he had tenure as well. Alf is reaching. Even cliffy can’t even help him. Speaking of Cliffy, what are you doing on two boards that conflict with one another concerning Wahconah Park renovations? Come on man! Common
Predictions. Bowler and Shugrue in a landslide.
Hopefully you are correct. Only problem is Barry Tyer might get lost in City Hall again, then we all know what happens.
Led Zeppelin cover? Ya, we ain’t having that.
They were designed from copy’s of Bonzo Bonham drawings while he was tripping.
Yes, depending on the reason.
Whoever it was, he insists he is NOT an oligarch! Get that – he is not an oligarch. He does not want us to think he may be oligarchical.
NOT AN OLIGARCH! There, that’s cleared up. For a moment, I wondered if it were an oligarch, but now that’s settled.
And he had nothing to do with the B-3 bomber
That would clearly make him an oligarch, which he’s is not.
And fyi, he does not attack women either. He wants to make that very clear. Also he does not eat puppies.
Did he not say so in the paper? “I never ate a puppy. Don’t think that I eat puppies.”
I think that it’s wonderful how we in the Berkshires enjoy some of the finest reporting.
I dont know what would be funnier. 1. The eagle just closes and shuts down leaving us with no newspaper 2. A conservative buys it, and turns it into a conservative paper, just to watch all the berkshire libs get triggered.
Definitely the latter. Much more fun for all. Conservatives would be happy. Libs would be all stimulated.
If it closes down, that could be fun too.
Actually if i had the money, i would buy under a new corporate name, claim to be liberal for a week, then overnight switch. Just for fun. And assign Fanto a cooking column.
Doesn’t he already have the cooking column fixed? Frankly, I’d like him on real estate transactions and obits. He’d do well there.
Majority of readers, including majority of liberal and progressives would like a conservative paper just so long it doesn’t weigh in national opinionwise. For one thing, it would report accurately the crap going on in town and in Boston.
By Fanto,
Maiden Obit:
“Recklessly Careless Behavior of an Unrepentant Trumper Costs Wife Her Husband, (not that you should care)”
The clumsy Mr. Smith took his last shower today at 7:00 AM just after foolishly without thinking dropping the bar of soap on the shiny new floor….
Is good?
Or
As you would expect from a cigar chomping fat morbidly obese trump gun nut voter, Mr. Smith died predictably suddenly while doing things smart people like us with college degrees simply know not to do. Where on earth were his sensible Hillary supporting friends to persuade him to change his ways. Oh well, too late now but we can learn from his mistakes….
LOL
Just got the word, the eagle plans to endorse Shugrue and Barbalunga for their respective positions. It was actually quite close in both cases.
It may flip flop as they put two people on deep dives into all candidates again.
The thought process was they want to split the difference. If they endorsed Harrington they would endorse Bowler. Some of the staff at the eagle have relatives that have gone through the system and had to go to Chicopee. They have an axe to grind with Bowler and they are pushing hard to make sure he doesn’t get the endorsement.
That’s BS. Alf is a muppet that will be crushed in a landslide. Harrington will be buried so deep she’ll wake up in China.
She best not try to promote any of her woke policies in China. They don’t play that shit there.
They play that shit over here.
But to the point – whatever’s left of the US – that will be in play over there in CCP China when she leaves.
Her husband sold, at a loss, NVidia stock which is a signal to us peasants that we should too. Did she sell China something that NVidia wanted?
Don’t know but you might want to ask Trumps daughter. She number one business woman in China thanks to daddies connections.
I am sure you have a source to cite……oh no….fake news
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/09/22/ivankas-trademark-requests-were-fast-tracked-in-china-after-trump-was-elected/?sh=331de7611d60
Articles written by complete leftists (Tommy Beer) do not count. Try harder
People frequently confuse Hunter and Ashley Biden with Trump’s children. Probably something to do with ‘auto correct’ algorithms and Google political AI.
Try typing: “Ashley Biden gets FBI to arrest journalist who acquired her diary she left behind in a rehab clinic.” Or “Hunter Biden, who laundered millions of dollars for the CCP frequently transferred sums of illegal cash to his father”
Auto correct will fix it for you. “Ivanka Trump is the worlds biggest China Mogul and controls the vast portion of world finances.” And “Donald Trump did business in China. No one else did business there just Donald Trump. Do not compare to: Apple, Microsoft, CNN, Amazon, Nike, Coca Cola, Fortune 400, and the NASDAQ”
FBI soldiers revolt against pro-Biden headquarters – Washington Times
We could quibble over who’s the worst. But I’m talking about a real live stock tip from an insider.
Doubt Ivanka is the #1 businesswoman in China. That would displace the CCP party members including Xi.
Funny how politics work. Alf’s father and the owner of the Eagle, former judge worked together for years.
That’s correct!
But it was always my understanding they did not like each other. Tolerated each other, but not liked.
Judge Barbalunga was a good, tough, judge. Judge Rutberg didn’t earn the nickname “Free ‘um Freddie” for nothing.
Maybe they buried the hatchet? I’m curious what ax the Eagle has to grind with Bowler?
Good point!
This is soooo bizarre. I feel I am locked in a Demoncrat Bubble. Y’all so oblivious to the outer REAL WORLD and its happenings. No one can possibly be this ‘checked out’ and still function.
THERE LIKELY WILL NOT BE AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
WE WILL BE UNDER MILITARY RULE/ DEVOLUTION AS WE TRANSITION TO A SPECIAL ELECTION IN JANUARY 2023 FOR DOWN BALLOT POSITIONS.
SCOTUS WILL SOON ANNOUNCE WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY RULED: TRUMP WON 2020. HE WILL BE REINSTATED 120 DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
LIKELY SEN GRASSLEY WILL PRESIDE AS INTERIM.
Wake UP!!!!!! Stop wasting, time, space and attention on this stupidity.
Find honest candidates to elect honestly in January.
No more DEMONCRATS. (= demonic bureaucrats)
Are you on acid?
Word has it Nancy said I’ll be back after the monkeypox is gone, she’s the smartest one of all. And very rich
Here’s your list on who should be dump next elections or when their term is up
Bouvier
Hinds
Mark
Persip
Nilan
Guiel
Conant
Sherman
Harrington
Barbalunga
Maffuccio
Nilan
Also eligible : to be continued
and Tyer should resign today……… out of respect for the human species
You listed Nilan twice, who is not elected. Hinds isn’t running.
if only what you said is true
Buffoon comment.I have to laugh at Nadeau and Nilan. The parking problem at Deming has just arrived ? it’s been like that for 100 years, my kid threw a no hitter there about seven years ago.I didn’t see it because I couldn’t find a parking spot.
Wasn’t baseball invented there? Isn’t that where they used to grow baseballs? Pretty sure a farmer named Deloise Deming was harvesting his melon crop and found a his crop had been deformed by PCBs. They were small and hard and so he decided to invent baseball and then the mayor came along and tore down the city’s most famous ballpark.
There’s an old saying a real man does not use his power or influence to intimidate anyone else.Cliff and Carm exemplified that meaning to a Y
The first Pittsfield player to make the majors was named Wiggy something? He first hit a home ru from which is now a deformed girder of some kind which has since been in deterioration for decades because of a celebratory team whiz on the landmark (after Wiggins home run) that the team took on the beem back then. The new commission looking into the structure damage should start at that point to find the deteriorated steel that was softened by the group whiz. A consultant is not needed.
I find this very pertinent actually.
And one year to the date of baseball being invented in Pittsfield some wanna be Hall of Famer was hitting fungos from under the big elm in Park Square and kinda sorta busted out a window in the popcorn wagon over near Berkshire Bank. All hell broke loose and the guy was given a wedgie by an unruly mob and paraded up and down North street as an example to others. Turned out his name was Honus Wagner who was often a designated bat boy at Deming park.
Noteworthy also, is that during the process up and down North street it occurred to the mayor, who led the process, that bike lanes might be a nice addition along the street as bicycles were actually a common form of transportation back then. But she was over ruled by the city council president, (who was not an indentured servant of this mayor) and instead the funding was used for something that the people actually needed.
As experienced warrior fighting PostModern invaders from Eastern Europe and Sociologia, temporarily seized Stockbridge, Lenox, Berkshire Art Museum, I see you need break from front. You have shell-shock.
Digital,
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nov. elections never happen. The Dems are desperate to hold onto power. Anything can happen. Thanks for posting this.
If no Nov 2022 elections happen, it would be because a Special Election would be scheduled for later, to elect ALL NEW CANDIDATES. All Demoncrats would be booted, many to prison for treason (election fraud). All legislation associated would be NULLIFIED. The secret docket of SCOTUS heard all the election fraud evidence from the military sources and ruled for Trump. But if he is to get the two years of remaining Biden term plus another four in 2024, he would not come in before Jan 20 2023. If so, SCOTUS cannot publically announce the ruling until Sept 22 2022 (120 days before then). But currently we are governed under Devolution which is a combo of military and FEMA. Trump is running it behind the scenes with an exec committee established before he left office. You have to ignore MSM and instead read the Fed Register.
I knew it was only a matter of time before the Bird scooters were promoted as a viable form of transportation to get around the city and not something just for teenagers. This article is saying the scooters are saving gas mileage on your car and that there have been zero accidents involving these scooters. True or not, who knows if this article can be believed, but it’s ridiculous that these scooters are considered a viable mode of transportation. Dangerous, especially for older people, no matter what they say, and where do you carry your bags from stores?
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/69038/Bird-Scooters-Popular-Transit-Alternative-for-Pittsfield-Downtown.html
Why are a bunch of them always parked on the sidewalk in front of where Harry’s was on Elm St?
Supposedly they have tracking devices on them so they can be retrieved, but Harry’s on Elm is an odd place to find lots of these scooters since there is nothing in that area.
The contractor was told to move them away from downtown into neighborhoods because the little thuglets were riding them up and down north street into traffic etc.
It’s a lie. There are at least two lawsuits against the city/Bird over damage done by teens when hitting a car. It’s a longer process because the city is saying it’s bird’s fault, bird saying it’s the cities responsibility.
There might be another lawsuit because a minor cracked his jaw and lost two teeth riding one.
What is NOT a lie is that any news that reflects poorly on the city of Pittsfield or its mayor, is subject to a “cleansing” or “scrubbing” if you will, because alternative news has been proven to be effective in skewing public perception. And this corner office is making the most of that with the cooperation of a selected media.
Bouvier and Tyer just announced that they have persuaded a Chinese solar company to open a factory on the old GE property. They will be building transgender solar panels. A great day in the city of Pittsfield.
Yeah, I heard about that one. They start out as solar panels, expect they think they’re lunar panels. No matter how hard you tried to tell them they are wired for the sun, they insist that you agree with them about the (not “handgun”) moon.
I guess she could not find an American company to give taxpayer funded financial assistance to. Maybe China likes the NO OVERSIGHT theme that has made Pittsfield such a destination for business s. (and govt)
Grant money is the holy grail, the golden goose of Mass government agencies. That is where the true fraud, waste and abuse lies and that is therefore where the answers lie. How much grant money has gone to which county departments over the past several years and who are the people making the money from the programs? How much, for how long, and how many are already sucking off the taxpayer tit???? True transparency requires open books for all grant money.
Uh, excuse me, but “forensic audit” or terms or suggestions of such things are not allowed in Pittsfield. They have been known to cause anxiety and mental health crisis s and the city is already overwhelmed.
Thank you for your future cooperation.
Grants are how the school department has created many positions. The city pushes it through without opposition because it doesn’t cost anything. Funny thing is when the grant ends the positions don’t. Time to shrink the school department. I say cut it in half and then scrutinize if that is even enough
Are you trying to put all the mayor friends out of work?
Bubbalunga is using the age’s old campaign strategy of throwing bs assertions out to make them headlines. Most, not all voters will just read or hear them and absorb just those headlines without looking into them as truth or not. (Lazy) Many, especially the low information voter will base they’re voting decision on the bs headlines they heard or read and not the true qualifications. And most media loves those bs headlines because they get more attention and help the bottom line.
Bowler has done a fantastic job. Especially the current programs on going at the jail. Look,the salaries are what they are. If you want to reform pay structure do it through the legislature and good luck with that. I wouldn’t be a cop or jail guard for twice the salaries they get today.We cant even fill the positions at ppd.
Bubbalunga will be the sheriff Rosco Coltrane of the Berkshires if elected.
gew gew gewt…. who are the good ol’ boys gonna be?
Speaking of media, excuse me while I finish throwing up after reading a letter in the Eagle combining the words Harrington and integrity.
Please take the time to read this online news story about the forthcoming report by Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington on the Pittsfield Police Department’s (PPD) deadly use of force against a mentally ill Pittsfield young man named Miguel Estrella on March 25th, 2022, who the Pittsfield Police Department stated retroactively that technically he was not a “person in crisis”. Chief Michael Wynn will be asked to comment on the D.A.’s forthcoming report, especially about his “person in crisis” denial in the PPD report. D.A. Andrea Harrington’s forthcoming report will make big waves of controversy in Pittsfield and beyond once again. Many people believe that the PPD murdered Miguel Estrella, and that there should be criminal charges and legal liability against the city in order to bring about positive changes so that this tragic incident will not happen again.
Berkshire DA’s report on March 25 Pittsfield police killing expected any day | WAMC
Who are the “many people” that believe PPD murdered Miggy, JM? You, Dennis, Shirley, and Miggy’s fam.
You are aware he walked towards the officers armed with a large knife, walking for over 120 feet (40 yards), while IGNORING officers commands to drop the knife, correct?
You are also aware police are taught to match force with force? A knife (deadly weapon) vs. a gun (deadly weapon). Not, a knife (deadly weapon) vs. a Taser (non-lethal force). That could be a deadly disadvantage for the officer.
In the 2 or 3 months you were in the Army, didn’t they teach you any combat fighting? Or were you in sick bay those days?
Jon, when is the last time you visited Pittsfield, MA.? Just wondering how you became such an authority on what is right and what is wrong with Pittsfield.
Exactly!
Just read where our lovely state government has too much money on their hands and they don’t know what to do with it. They stated they tried to return some to the taxpayer but they found some weird law on the books that says they can’t until the AG creates some made up number? Only in MA could our lawmakers get away with stealing the taxpayers money. I have a thought, remember back in the 90’s when the voters voted for lowering the income tax??? Why not finally do what the voters demanded back then? I think we should follow NH and have 0% income tax!! What about it Berkshire delegation do you really care about the suffering taxpayer?
Law on the books limit Property Taxes, and any increases. Pittsfield Mayor and Council violated that law. No consequences. No one stops the constant massive corruption.
Those in charge see the consequences. They’re just insulated from said
consequences.
It’s about the law that states if revenues are far enough above liabilities than an automatic income tax cut is triggered. Of course lawmakers want nothing to do with a tax cut
if we get rid of the income tax, local property taxes will skyrocket.
DOC oversees BCHC? I don’t think so.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-on-the-issue-of-women-inmates-at-berkshire-jail/article_b50e9a5e-11b6-11ed-bc99-f3f7098cd654.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next
i read that letter, bowler said himself he doesn’t control incarceration rates, they are down statewide over the last ten years, not just here, and some of that recently was due to covid release, so that statement about giving credit to bowler for lowering recidivism is bogus, i was pretty sure the revolving door recidivism rate was pretty high here in berkshire
I’m glad Harrington for DA signs are popping up. Im making note of the houses similar to a sex offender registry. These are the houses to not only keep your children away from, but those who you should rob if she gets re-elected. Apparently, petty crimes are legal now.
Then head to Richmond. You could try to rob Andrea of her dignity, but I’m sure it’s in minimal supply either way
Or start pointing some of Flat Tyer’s “vibrant and dynamic” new citizens that her grant money has brought into Pittsfield towards their houses. You know, the beggars, drug addicts, and thieves.
Let these progressive loons get a good up close and personal look at some of these “treasures” they so advocate for.
Flat’s grant money did bring Pittsfield the bike lanes on NON, aka- Ricky’s Rumpus. We do have that…
She gets grant money for taking them in and then disperses it as she sees fit on frivolous bs and then uses our tax dollars to support them.
Gaetani tries to stop corruption at every city Council meeting where are the rest of you?
Smart enough to realize the fix is already in.
Exactly the problem trio don’t persist just give up don’t keep coming to meetings and stating what you got to state, give up.I commend the Gaetani for what he’s been doing.Rest in peace Bill Russell.
Almost every sign is on public property, a field, or second homes where the people aren’t here. Some are right in the road on route 7. There are laws against this but oh wait never mind. Harrington. It really speaks volumes.
I was curious about that tidbit myself. I was telling my partner that the signs were places illegally on public property. The response was straight forward “She’s the DA, she can’t prosecute actual criminals, why would she do it to herself?”
You forgot the closed gas station.
I agree Capt.
Also, take note of the idiots with the “Fair Share” signs on their lawn – too dumb to realize that if it passes, the millionaires will pack up & leave town, and then everyone’s taxes will increase.
The Dems are absolute bozos. Look to New York state & what happened there!
this might be why Harrington says this is a right wing site, right or wrong, no love for democrats here
“Women are being abused in jail.”
“You could lose your abortion rights.”
“Rapes are being ignored at Williams.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything locally that is more disgraceful than the mudslinging, lies and other dirty tactics being used by the Barbalunga and Harrington campaigns. It is very sad that votes need to be obtained this way. I believe it is a manipulation of voters and a distortion of the electoral process. Isn’t making these types of false statements against the law?
If Tyer can carry Pittsfield for Harrington or Alf they’ll win. If not they won’t.
Likely, but at this point, I doubt the mayor could carry a baggie full of ostrich feathers.
But she does have an ace in the sleeve Dan.
That ace being her hubby, Barry. As M/B stated above, Barry could always get lost again in city hall and end up where the ballots are being counted. Hey, just like last time.
Of course it was an honest mistake from a multi term city councilor, because Pittsfield City Hall is so cavernous.
If Tyler weren’t such a nambypamby she’d publicly denounce Harrington instead of pussyfooting around it with her veiled comments.
Most informative that Tyer has been trying to avoid being associated with AH. No, not Adolph Hitler, Arthum Hallam, nor Augusto Hernandez. Andrea Harrington.
Don’t forget Harrington’s other divisive statements such as this blog is “right wing.” She also recently stated that:
“the immigrant community is very fearful of law enforcement”
That is the kind of statement designed to fuel a deep and bitter divide. WHY???
Harrington’s pal DA Chesa Boudin said it was “right-wing billionaires” who “outspent us three to one” after his recall. But campaign filings show some of the largest donations to Boudin’s recall effort came from wealthy Bay Area Democratic donors.
pretty sure people are losing abortion rights all across the country as we speak, rapes are always ignored on college campuses, and women are neglected in jail, everywhere, including Chicopee – they are likely all true statements, regardless of who speaks them.
More important than this Special Sheriff issue, I’m not sure anyone caught the letter to the Editor Alf wrote where he said the CFOs salary went up about $78K from 2019 to 2021, from $61K to $139K. How does that happen for a part-time salary? And the top paid employee made $180K last year? How do we justify salaries like that? II don’t care if Tom is a nice guy, is that what we want? With annual % raises, those salaries are clearly unsustainable and will bankrupt the taxpayers. For what, 150 inmates? No females? And the juveniles are sent away as well. The Pittsfield jail, for better or worse, is becoming like the Berkshire Mall it was built next to, mostly empty, and a drain on the community, soon it may be completely empty. I think we ought to get rid of the Berkshire County Sheriff position, OR, do what Alf is suggesting and at least bring back the female inmates and do something with the budget other than pay a bunch of executives over $100,000 a year. Alf’s lawn sign may be a cartoon, but his facts matter, and so far he is telling us more about how our taxes are being spent than anyone ever has, and regardless of how this election goes, I think we ought to demand our taxes get spent better. We should be demanding a State audit. We should demand an end to patronage. I don’t think the Sheriff’s office was meant to make millionaires out of a few, that money needs to help the inmates go straight so our crime rate can go down. If Alf gets elected, his feet can be held to the fire now because he told us how that place is run, and now we know, and now we can demand he does it differently, or we can get rid of him in 6 years, or sooner if there’s a recall, but I can’t see how we can continue down the same path, we aren’t ignorant anymore. Personally, I think we should contact our legislators and lobby to get rid of Sheriffs, eliminate the overhead and bring these jails under the State DOC and be done with it. Sheriff should not be an elected position and 6 years is too long a term.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-a-hard-look-at-berkshire-sheriffs-office-budget-numbers/article_4b4d3a64-0c32-11ed-b9b0-1b35058d4646.html
You are as dumb as they come.
If the state DOC took it over we’d be paying more, taxes would go up because now each county would have to pay not only for its apportioned amount of the incarceration costs, they’d pay an administrative fee on top of it, normally 10%.
We actually used to have more criminals, not good or bad, but Harrington can’t even figure out which courthouse she’s supposed to go to, how to drive there, and if she has a drivers license so some of those number’s are down because criminals go free in Berkshire County.
Last lesson for you, Alf hasn’t gotten a fact right yet.
He took a job his dad got him and didn’t show up.
State DOC pays much less per inmate than Berkshire County does, but maybe you are right, tell me then how you fix it, because the current Sheriff hasn’t, he just lets the payroll keep ballooning. I’m not arguing with your point on Harrington, but how Shugrue is going to prosecute all his former clients, how do you switch from defending drug dealers to prosecuting them? How many of his clients are on the streets here because he played defense?
Even if what you suggest is true, Alf is the VERY LAST person i would ask to fix the situation. When I think of Alf, integrity is not the first adjective that comes to my mind.
It will be fun to watch shuglue get all fired up during these debates the odds are good he either pulls a Rudy G and his hair glue leaks or the toupee completely comes off. Prop bet: Drunk Sully comes on zoom crying it was supposed to be me.
You must be so sad Shugrue outraised Harrington $87k to her $25k. Facts hurt.
The only person in this city who can save us the kind of money he saved the tax and rate payers in the 80s over 116 million, is the G-man. He is the king benefactor of all time to the residents of the city of Pittsfield and he wants to add to that savings amount of 116 million by another $60-$80 million more. It would help if he had more support but he says he will go it alone if he has to.
A legend in your own mind.
I have seen this G-man into meetings have you been any fruits?
That kind of money sure is a big FU to Harrington.
Those funds wont vote, and you can be sure every criminal, POC and bleeding heart, brainless liberal will vote for her because she LOVES low information voters that can be herded like sheep
The dems turned against her. So sad.
Will Andrea be wearing the falsies with the pokies?
Maybe the police should stop saying persons have a mental health emergency and instead, respond appropriately to the fucking domestic violence, heroin addiction neglect of disabled people.
https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2022-07-20/police-say-they-want-more-mental-health-collaborators-but-theres-a-shortage