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PANHANDLING SCOURGE HAS SOLUTIONS, BUT PITTSFIELD OFFICIALS ARE TOO PARALYZED BY ‘WOKENESS’ AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS TO ADOPT THEM

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

ADD 1 SAT. OCT. 22, ’22 — This received from the Pittsfield Police Department. More proof of how “vibrant and dynamic” has become under Flat:

On 10/21/2022 at approximately 5:48 PM, Pittsfield Police were dispatched to the area of Dalton Ave and Dartmouth Street for a report of shots fired. 

911 callers observed a fight in progress with one of the parties involved shooting a firearm. Witnesses provided clothing and physical descriptions of the parties involved. All had fled the area prior to police arrival. A PPD K9 unit conducted a track in the area. An area search was conducted with negative results for those involved.   

No one was struck during the incident. Ballistic evidence was found at the scene. A portion of Dartmouth Street was shut down for approximately an hour while the scene was processed. Video surveillance in the area is being reviewed. A vehicle involved has been identified. This is not believed to be a random incident.     

This remains and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department Detective Bureau (413-448-9705), call the Tip line (413-448-9706), or send us a tip via text message by texting “PITTIP” and your message to 847411 (TIP411)

Detective Cody Civello is the Lead Detective on the case and can be reached at 448-9705 ext 522. 

———- ooo ———-

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 21-3, 2022) — Panhandlers. What to do?

The simplest way to get someone to do something they don’t want to do is give them a worse alternative.

What do we want panhandlers to do?

Exit, stage left. Leave. Get outta town.

What’s the worse alternative? THE PLANET can suggest a number of them.

Cut off services. No more freebies. Legislation. Require permits from local police departments. Make it illegal for money to be exchanged from vehicles with running motors. Two in the hat.

What’s the best way to keep them here?

Give them money.

———- ooo ———-

By far, the best solution: STOP THE COIN! This power lies within the ability of everyone.

People panhandle because it works. It stops working when the public doesn’t cough up. When that happens, the grifters drift somewhere else. Think of it this way: Every time you give a panhandler money, it’s taking a dump on public property.

Cities that have become “panhandler friendly” have come to regret it, because panhandling inevitably involves drug use, substance abuse, and homelessness.

Cities such as Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA, whose agencies and institutions support these parasites, have become flooded with them who take from municipal services but give nothing back to the community. They also deteriorate a locale’s quality of life and endanger citizens.

Massachusetts practically advertisers for bums and moochers, and a large part of the economy is wrapped up in public-service agencies. For politicians, it adds up to more power and money. For Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, it amounts to higher taxes and cuts in service.

Check out what Boston’s “safe” services have done. “Safe injection” and safe smoking” packages are handed out free by the Boston Public Health Center, Boston Medical Center, and the Boston Health Care for the Homeless. The packages include meth pipes, tourniquets, needles, alcohol wipes, and other items the conscientious junkie needs to smoke or inject their “medicine.” It has led to intractable populations of scuz, the most infamous example being the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, AKA the infamous Mass and Cass.

———- ooo ———-

Enabling the dregs and druggies draws drug traffickers, which in turn sends the siren’s call to gangs and criminals. That’s now the M.O. Pittsfield.

THE PLANET has questions:

  • Are there “safe” injection and smoking sites in Pittsfield?
  • How much do they cost. In Boston, it cost taxpayers north of $13 million.
  • What is the position of the city council, mayor’s office, PPD, PSD, and the SCOHOL Committee with respect to the “safe” sites and packages?
  • Do any Pittsfield agencies provide free “safe” packages?
  • What plans does the city have to deal with this growing problem?

The do-gooders who fall for the scam of the bums with those pathetic cardboard signs have done as much to destroy the city as the “vibrant and dynamic” policies of Flat Tyer.

Of course, a more direct solution with a 100% success rate would be for the city to hire a contract killer to drive around to the many locations where panhandling flourishes.  A few drive-by shootings of the cardboard-signage-savants ought to be enough to drive the rest of them outta town.

Don’t like that answer, mayor? Then get off your butt, get on the stick, and deal.

Enough is enough, mayor.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

——————————————————————————-

The only way to trust someone is to trust them” — Ernest Hemingway.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

Copyright (c) 2022 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights 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. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. 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, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. 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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levitan
levitan
2 years ago

Trouble with the ‘stop feeding’ them solution is that with 10,000+ drivers passing through East Street from south county to north, enough (non-Pittsfielders) will give them money.

They need to be fined for misuse of public property. The organization behind them should be investigated by the PPD and charged with financial crimes.

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

Tyer says the SC says panhandlers are protected by the 1st amendment. Why are some entities allowed to establish free speech zones without violating the 1st amendment but in Pittsfield every corner is in play?

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  12 Gauge
2 years ago

You know who is NOT protected? People who park their car for two minutes over the limit in Pittsfield. You pull this careless shit in Pittsfield and your ass is fined or you wind up in court.

Begging in the middle of the road? OK. Overstaying your allotted paid time in a parking spot? KAPOWEE!!

Hardscrabble
Hardscrabble
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

You’re catching on FIZZ. You can also shoplift in the downtown stores. Just make sure you render unto Linda at the kiosk.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

Hand them a packet of one dollar bills with an exploding dye pack in it so when they get home mom and dad will know what they do all day.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

Give them counterfit.

Da Troof
Da Troof
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

Give them ass pennies

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
2 years ago

We are told there is nothing our leaders can do about the solicitation of money from the panhandler’s who hold signs begging for money on small strips of land between lanes of road traffic which is a danger.
According to parts of this Park Square article it’s horse shit they can’t do anything!

*signage or displays related to event promotion, solicitation, or advertising are not permitted*

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/69777/Pittsfield-Parks-Commission-Approves-Sign-Policy-Events.html

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
2 years ago

Attention Pittsfield democrats:

Experts and novices alike will have the chance to “Time Warp” together at The Colonial Theatre when Berkshire Theatre Group presents “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” hosted by Drag Queen Nancy Nogood, 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Dan

Don’t SHCOL AREADY DO THAT? With a few lessies and moes on the board?

March MAGA
March MAGA
2 years ago

Tyer had had eight years to deal with these mendicants and what does she have to show for it? More vibrant and dynamic derelicts.

Alfalfa
Alfalfa
Reply to  March MAGA
2 years ago

Mendicants? Are they all on medication?

Agent 86
Agent 86
Reply to  Alfalfa
2 years ago

These people are nothing more than clochards!

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

We live in an era of severe economic inequality that we have not experienced since the 1920s. Pittsfield is one of the most economically unequal metro areas in the state of Massachusetts, as well as the nation. There are little to no living wage jobs in postindustrial Pittsfield. Mayor Linda Tyer lives in a mansion in a Gated Community within a few feet of the Hancock border. Meanwhile, inner-city Pittsfield has multigenerational poverty households, which the Boston Federal Reserve did a grant-funded program study on a few years ago. None of the Financial, Corporate and Ruling Elites give a damn about America’s Rust Belt flyover metro areas such as Pittsfield. There are huge swaths of our country that are in severe economic distress just like Pittsfield. The homelessness crisis, the panhandling crisis, and the housing crisis are all the outcome of the 21st Century’s failed political leadership. Whatever happened to the elites investing in the people and the communities that the people in need of help call home? Whatever happened to being a good man or a good woman and helping those who need the money the most? Joe Biden has spent well over $10 trillion federal dollars per year, but the poor, low- and moderate-income people are worse off than before January 21st, 2021. Where did all of the Biden Buck’s money really go? Why is Beacon Hill still sitting on billions upon billions of dollars in surplus state cash without passing an economic stimulus and economic development bill with tax relief for Senior Citizens, Veterans, and so on? Why is Matt Kerwood sitting on his secretive multimillion-dollar Slush Fund$ without helping the people in Pittsfield who need the money the most? It all makes me very frustrated, but I understand that nothing will ever change unless we stop voting for the same corrupt career politicians over and over again.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
2 years ago

Would it be illegal to set up a tripod camera, say near the library, and train it on the panhandler position at the corner of First street? Record for an eight hour period. It might make fascinating footage to see the panhandler rotation and how many people actually gave them money and “stuff”. (do they ever give people “stuff” back?) Might be able to gather a relative idea just how much loot one position takes in on a given shift.

My guess is the person willing to do this and post it on YouTube, gets enough hits to make some good money and maybe start his or her own channel. Do it on a regular basis from different locations and the money will pour in from advertising your channel. Beggars R Us.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

I don’t think it would be illegal to film. People filming 24/7 with their phones everywhere in public.

The school committee
The school committee
2 years ago

I hope Don Trumps rape deposition went OK.A walking Republican crime wave.A filthy disgusting piece of garbage that you folks think will keep America White

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

WTF are You taking about You Moon bat Lunatic?

Dynamic Vibrator
Dynamic Vibrator
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

Keep Pittsfield Pete White!

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Dynamic Vibrator
2 years ago

You mean everything on “the comp?”

It already is. Council VP Porkchop Pete can give one he|| of a positive social media review on a free (or comped) meal he is given from a local restaurant.

Now when you start talking real issues Pittsfield is facing, like “houseless-ness,” nothing from Pete. He even went to the press in 2018 to announce he was working on a solution. Nothing to date.

How about POC committing gun violence and violent crimes in Pittsfield at unheard of numbers, where is Shirley? Didn’t she get $1,250,000 in ARPA money to better the “disadvantage communities” of Pittsfield? You know, the intended purpose of this taxpayer fraud.

Or was that just for a press release and a chance for Flat Tyer to get a POC photo-op? A family trip to Africa to “explore your roots” certainly seems that way Shirley.

March MAGA
March MAGA
Reply to  Dynamic Vibrator
2 years ago

KPPW

Dementia Joe
Dementia Joe
Reply to  The school committee
2 years ago

Dementia Joe raped Tara Reade.

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

Vote “No” on Question One which is very tricky. The Berkshire Eagle said people are worried about the money not going where it should go, but that’s not the only problem. Having it go to schools is also an issue since the schools already have more than enough money. This will be a huge tax increase and not just for millionaires. Small businesses will also be hit and this could be a huge slush fund for government.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

Why does the State need to dig into fresh pockets when they have to refund taxes for overtaxation?

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

They need to dig into fresh pockets and even deeper into those fresh pockets to make up for the overtaxation refunds, and come out with more than they gave back. They never lose in the end.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Optimus Prime
2 years ago

Tyer could learn from these over taxation refunds. She has spent the last seven years, up all night every night, looking for things to spend money on. Seriously, I would not be surprised, if Kerwood would show us, that she has outspent every past mayor by a factor of five. And at least half of that has been for pork projects that were totally unnecessary.
And she is well aware that when she overtaxes families she is taking money that would have been used to support children including food and clothing. This woman has a dark heart and God may wave her off at the pearly gates.

Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

our ARPA funds were used for tax shelters and fraud. Please, lets vote to tax more people so line the pockets of people who look like Warren and Roberta Dews. I will never vote to penalize others for their income.

Shittsfield
Shittsfield
2 years ago

Your tax dollars are paying for crack pipes, meth pipes, and condoms, among other items not only handed out “for free”, but actually delivered, via Berkshire’s Harm Reduction van, and it’s all in the name of safety. They are called safe smoking kits and they are taxpayer funded.

NoBalls
NoBalls
2 years ago

A mayor with balls would order the police chief to post a cop next to every bum, until they move along. Lather, rinse, and repeat. She has given the police at least 13 million extra bucks since Her Uselessness took over. Pay them overtime if necessary but just do it.

Ifeel Badd
Ifeel Badd
Reply to  NoBalls
2 years ago

It’s pretty sad police have to trespass at will a homeless person or twenty every week. They should not be living like that. It’s damn cold out there!

Lynn Dough
Lynn Dough
Reply to  Ifeel Badd
2 years ago

Don’t feel Badd Houseless persons have developed a demic central nervous system; they don’t even feel the cold.

Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Reply to  NoBalls
2 years ago

It’s because you have super loud liberals like that pedo Luke Marion claiming we are dehumanizing them. Feed them for free in your overpriced grease hut you clown

Pissfield
Pissfield
2 years ago

Anybody who gives a bum a plug nickel ought be run outta town along with the bums. It’s like enabling a drug addict.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Pissfield
2 years ago

I bet most giving are passing through

Milldown LTC
Milldown LTC
Reply to  Pissfield
2 years ago

I heard the guy who works the Hubbard ave spot gets so much money he has to launder it by buying up real estate. Ironically, he is investing in apartment buildings.

Holy cow man…

Mr. G
Mr. G
2 years ago

Seriously Dan. I have avoided your screed for quite some time and now I come back to see you advocating the death penalty for people panhandling?!? That supposed to be funny? Because one or more of the gun toting reactionary nuts who read you regularly is not gonna u derstand your sense of humor. If anything like that happens, YOU should be charged. I’m out.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Mr. G
2 years ago

Seriously doubt it.

Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider
Reply to  Mr. G
2 years ago

Nobody gets sarcasm or dark humor anymore. I’ve got your 6 Dan, same age, same edu, same sense of humor. It is outstanding!

Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Capt M. Taylor ABC ARMY
Reply to  Ghost Rider
2 years ago

Dark humor and sarcasm is like food… not everyone gets it

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

We, the Kapanski’s plea with you Dirty Barry Clairmont to give in to your alter-ego of Barry Kessler and start wiping out the panhandlers and the “houseless.”

You cleaned up the Cumby’s parking lot on First Street. Now get mean and clean up this once proud city your wife, Flat Tyer, helped destroy!!

Show us Kapanski’s how you ridded the parking lot of bums and junkies, like you did the money of that PPP loan.

We beg you Dirty Barry. We need Barry Kessler for this job. You’d also be doing council VP Porkchop Pete a solid, by helping him with his four plus year “houseless” project.

Last edited 2 years ago by Markus Aurelius
Ifeel Badd
Ifeel Badd
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

Actually the shit hit the fan when Barry started all t his Cumbies nonsense. Cumbies is probably the Most dangerous spot in the city.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Ifeel Badd
2 years ago

Safest place is behind the armor proof polycarbonate shield. When the dudes take the product just say nothing and you’re perfectly safe.

Pissfield
Pissfield
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

I’ll settle for Paul Kersey!

Hardscrabble
Hardscrabble
2 years ago

I was minding my business trying to cross South Street this morning when a driver rolled up and offered me a five spot. I took the donation because she seemed so happy to help someone and it wasn’t until later I noticed it was a fake!

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Hardscrabble
2 years ago

That might have been me. Did the five spot be a George with an reinked numeral?

Daria
Daria
Reply to  Hardscrabble
2 years ago

Maybe George Floyd didn’t know it was counterfeit.

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

The Berkshire Eagle reporting we will be subject to rolling blackouts in the Northeast this winter if it gets very cold and there is a high demand for gas. The BB is blaming Putin’s war for this potential disaster with no mention of Biden’s part in all of this.

Last edited 2 years ago by Pat
Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

First, it was all Trump’s bad energy policy was the reason given for the price spike in gas.

Then came the Putin price hike.

Next, it was the oil executives price gouging.

After that, it was Saudi Arabia and OPEC siding with Putin.

Now we are back to Putin’s price hike.

Does Joe Xiden take fault for anything? Let me guess, the Lockness Monster was the cause of the Nord Stream 1 destruction causing prices to continue to rise?

Last edited 2 years ago by Markus Aurelius
acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Yes here is a great article from 2019 explaining how sanctions on Venezuela had slowed their oil exporting to the USA. The draw back on the exporting hampered some refineries efficiency. The reason is Venezuelan oil is high in sulpher and only a handful of refineries can handle it. We have a couple refineries here in the gulf of Mexico. Here is where the Keystone comes into play. The oil that would have come from Canada along the Kestone is similar to the Venezuelan oil. It would have had the refineries working at peak efficiency and most certainly kept oil prices down since at the time of the article i posted , we were still energy independent.

https://theconversation.com/us-sanctions-on-venezuelan-oil-could-cut-the-output-of-refineries-at-home-110864

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

Just as with COVID, the elderly will be the highest number of dead from rolling blackouts since they are always cold and can’t hook up generators without help. The weakest among us is being terrorized by this Biden administration.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

And the price of generators just doubled……………………

levitan
levitan
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

The price of EVERYTHING has doubled.

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

“Remember I stopped two pipelines from coming into this state.” – Maura Healey

Vote Geoff Diehl for Guv!

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
2 years ago

I definitely will be voting for Diehl.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

And a vote for Diehl is a vote for Putins support team.
Keep in mind though that everything Putin is doing to Ukraine right now, he fantasizes doing to America. And some day he will if he can keep the MAGA support behind him.

Oh yeah it is true. Quite true.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

No surprise the Eagle left out the main cause of this mess.

Hendrix
Hendrix
2 years ago

The last two write ups have been dead on and it’s refreshing to see a business owner brave enough to speak out regarding the awful state of Pittsfield. I have friends that work in a couple of different businesses around the area who have put in specific policies regarding leaving work to ensure the safety of their employees.

Employees that work in and around the area have voiced numerous concerns to respective HR offices and they are pissed as it limits their ability to work after hours.

I expect North to be void of any businesses within the next couple of years. It’s just downright scary to be on the street during the day let alone at night. Which really sucks, because there are a couple of awesome businesses there.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Hendrix
2 years ago

Which really sucks, because there are a couple of awesome businesses there.”

Time will fix that. The great ones are quitting.

Lost Visions and Insanity
Lost Visions and Insanity
Reply to  Hendrix
2 years ago

Would you be surprised if you found out that the unpublicized agenda, read city master plan, is to phase out retail on North street entirely by 2025? I did read about a year ago, an article that said North street needs to be a green space, for people, condos, not cars, not shoppers.
Have you ever seen some major cities in Europe that have these mammoth open spaces within the city for people to gather, bike, picnic, paint? They are actually quite nice. IN EUROPE….IN BIG CITIES…with actual sophisticated people. But you cannot plug this model into a rundown dying old mill town overrun with gangs, drugs and homeless people. There is no such thing as a dynamic sewer bed irregardless of the overlay of lipstick you may put upon it.

Charles Kronick
Charles Kronick
Reply to  Lost Visions and Insanity
2 years ago

I am interested, but only if there is information to verify this.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Hendrix
2 years ago

Have there been any more muggings on North street since that elderly lady a week or so ago? I know most of them never hit the paper so that people know just how dangerous it can be up there but they need to remain vigilant at all times. No one knows just how scary it can be more than the few remaining business owners and their employees who have to navigate from the cars to their offices.

Merry & Bright
Merry & Bright
2 years ago

Noticed yesterday while stuck in the daily Rumpass” s North Street traffic jam that several empty door ways of vacant stores now have foam rubber mattresses in them, especially near the former Jim’s Shoes. Is this Flat Tyer’s Vibrant and Dynamic remedy for the “houseless”? Flat Tyer’s latest campaign driven “info commercial” the other day on how much she had done to help the houseless was pathetic, she has done absolutely nothing about the state of the City. Amazes me how excited she gets when telling her lies, have noticed her nose has grown.

The pan handlers are not just on the street corners they are also confronting taxpayers when trying to shop at stores. It is now really scary going shopping at any hours at Big Y and CVS on West Street. Both Stop and Shop parking lots are now becoming dangerous. Find it very hard to believe that nothing can be done to provide safety to the residents of Pittsfield. Listed in the PPD blog it seems that the officers are called almost daily to protect Flat Tyer at City Hall but the rest of us don’t matter. Maybe she can have her ex Mikey Wynn come and sit on her lap to protect her, or does he already do that?

One last comment, have asked several times in the past. Does the Brien Center reimburse the PPD for their constant and I mean constant babysitting of their clients? This well-being checks of their clients is NOT the job of the PPD. Why does the Brien Center not have outreach councilors? Why should us taxpayers have to foot the bill for checking on their clients? Our PPD needs to be doing the job position they thought they were hired for!

Dynamic Vibrator
Dynamic Vibrator
Reply to  Merry & Bright
2 years ago

It’s free speech if the bums snore so nothing can be done about foam mattresses.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Dynamic Vibrator
2 years ago

Ban on mattresses in trash. I expect more to come.

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
Police Report
Police Report
2 years ago

You’d have to make it illegal to give money from a car on a public way or adjacent to a public way at a controlled intersection”.

Every fast food joint receives money from isoline cars, as do lots of banks but on a private way.

12 Guage
12 Guage
Reply to  Police Report
2 years ago

If colleges can have designated free speech zones why can’t Pittsfield establish begging zones?

Police Report
Police Report
Reply to  12 Guage
2 years ago

Because colleges are not public forums or spaces, even state colleges.
The administration can limit access to buildings, structures, and grounds.

https://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/access-public-property

Pittsfield Plummett
Pittsfield Plummett
Reply to  Police Report
2 years ago

Make it a health issue. I am sure the EPA would agree that standing near traffic all day breathing in exhaust fumes loaded with carbon monoxide, which is quite toxic to humans, is not safe. The board of health could ban it as a safety issue.

BUT, in my home country of Mynamar we put a short stack of honey bee hives right at each the popular begging spots. Now while it is true that some of the more creative beggar folk began to wear protective bee hoods or just were not afraid of them, very few donators were willing to risk getting a buzzing bee into their vehicle just to give some bum a dollar. It is not woke approach so if your area has nanny issues just deal with the panhandlers and know that it will get progressively worse and make the city unattractive to residents as well as potential visitors.

Merry & Bright
Merry & Bright
2 years ago

Why is it taking over 5 hours for comments to get approved on the site? My most recent comment was keeping with the subject, hard to join the conversation if your comment is sitting somewhere in LaLa Land. Other complete nonsense comments seem to flow right through.

Agent 86
Agent 86
Reply to  Merry & Bright
2 years ago

I heard TSC has to approve them

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Merry & Bright
2 years ago

There’s goo in the internet today. Hard to find de-gooers to keep the rails clean. NOBODY and I mean no one wants to work anymore. Try vacuuming your Wifi cable. Helps me….

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
Lynn Dough
Lynn Dough
2 years ago

Demic is a valid scrabble word. Not the soft kind.

Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  Lynn Dough
2 years ago

??????

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

See top post

Lynn Dough
Lynn Dough
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

Hardscrabble

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Lynn Dough
2 years ago

????????

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Every Democrat run city turns into an open sewer.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

When I repeat that fast in succession, I get something even more interesting. Almost Platonic

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

???????
Are you okay Lev? One too many nightcaps?

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

Republican run city
Crime in Jacksonville, FloridaCrime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime)
Jacksonville violent crime is 33.9. (The US average is 22.7)Jacksonville property crime is 52.9. (The US average is 35.4)

Pat
Pat
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

When illegal immigrants are overrunning that state and Venezuela is emptying their prisons into our country, what do you expect?

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Pat
2 years ago

May also reflect higher prosecutions and arrests. Pittsfield has a very ‘low’ crime rate, as seen by the number of criminals freely taking catalytics, shoplifting, murdering, selling drugs, pounding on car windows demanding cash, etc…

levitan
levitan
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Now, if crime were legal for honest law abiding people too, I’d be ok with it.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

What’s become quite clear is far left progressives can’t run towns, cities, states or a country…

Last edited 2 years ago by Optimus Prime
Kay Nine
Kay Nine
2 years ago

… … … . That means a sovereign entity, which is defined as the federal government or the state or in the case of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth, as well as those who act on its behalf, cannot be claimed to have committed a legal wrong, regardless of the atrocity of the negligence shown.

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Kay Nine
2 years ago

The Sovereign Entity is the Individual. The State is just a temporary invention that serves the sovereign individual’s welfare

States are temporary. The nature of Man is permanent and unchanging.

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
Kay Nine
Kay Nine
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

The farmers daughter is ugly and she can’t bear children. Obviously temporary. But you will f* her anyway not for the love of mankind, but for the “State”, right. Standarrd Issue.

Here’s one for ya,

‘All structures are unstable’

Mankind
State

You…. that’s ALL

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

Who said that? How does a boy grow into a man and be permanent and unchanging? Check your sources sir. Bogus info alert. Not permanent OR unchanging…wrong on both counts. Did I mention bogus yet?

and Holy Cow man

levitan
levitan
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

Boy changing to man is a permanent human condition. It is best not to try to change that.

Let me correct my thesis, States are man’s inventions. They are extremely temporary – they perish and always for the same reason. The problem is not that they are temporary, but unexpectedly temporary.

Sovereign means unassailable, permanent, supreme. Only permanent feature of civilizations is human nature, which is complex, flawed, and unchanging.

Last edited 2 years ago by levitan
fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  levitan
2 years ago

If you turned that gobbledygook “thesis” in to your professor you would be laughed out of the curriculum. The school mascot would be solicited to drag you back and forth across the quad dressed as a humpback as your classmates jeered and poked at you with asparagus spears.
I expect more from you. You can be better. Please take this opportunity to go over your material and come back to me with a more cohesive effort.

Tip: You did not make any goddamn sense….start over from the beginning or have someone else do it for you. Good God man

levitan
levitan
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

Good grief.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
2 years ago

We used to pizz, 1/2 way full in the old style fire extingushers, then charge them to 160psi with air for Holloween fun.

I’d think that would work well on bums/bummettes. Helps if it sits the sun a few warm days first, Also was effective for annoying tourists

You add a bit of Ajax and a pinch of bleach. not so much to hurt eyes just disinfect the mix, and them.

Last edited 2 years ago by Mad Trapper
HoodWinx
HoodWinx
Reply to  Mad Trapper
2 years ago

The G-man was the only person in the city to attempt to halt construction of THS everyone thought the new school wasn’t necessary but only Gaetani put his money where his mouth was and attempted to kill the project,everyone knows now that the G-man was correct and he should feel proud because he tried.no one else came to his aid, the G-man now has his Eye sit on the water plants,he claims tens of millions are going be saved if the city would take real advice from G-man.
You are the real thing, see the G-man‘s newshour,please consider G-man for running for some kind of office in 2023…thank you for what you have done for a city and what you might do if given the chance…. long with the G-man#

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

“Some kind of office?”
Dogcatcher perhaps?

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Re: Richie Rich Neal, Shitty Pigpen, & Paul Marx don’t deserve the Dirty Bird’s endorsement for the 2022 vote!

Is anyone surprised that the Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) endorsed Congressman “PAC Man” Richie Neal, Smitty Pignatelli (aka Shitty Pigpen), and Paul Mark (aka Paul Marxism) for reelection on November 8th, 2022? To me, it is like the people of Berkshire County and beyond collectively shooting themselves in the foot. PAC Man Richie Neal only represents K Street’s corporate lobbyist firms, especially insurance companies, while he is spending the federal government into financial oblivion with its over $31 trillion U.S. national debt. Paul Mark has been a State Representative in Boston for over one decade, but he has done nothing but vote for his own state legislative pay raises plus public perks and rubber stamp the secretive, corrupt and top-down leadership on Beacon Hill, which only does DISSERVICES to the people and taxpayers of Massachusetts and beyond. Smitty Pignatelli has been in Boston for nearly 20 years now, and he has always voted against Sunshine Laws rules reforms that would make Beacon Hill more transparent. Smitty Pignatelli voted for two State House Speakers – Finneran and DiMasi – who later became Convicted Felons. Smitty Pignatelli supports GE’s proposal to put a toxic waste leaky landfill full of industrial chemicals called PCBs inside of a watershed in the polluted Housatonic River. Like Chrome Dome Adam Hinds, Paul Mark, and Tricia Farley Bouvier (aka Trippy Country Buffet), Smitty Pignatelli voted for his own state legislative pay raise plus public perks that cost Massachusetts taxpayers over $18 million. Smitty Pignatelli writes lofty op-eds in Western Massachusetts newspapers that belie his real failed public record in Boston, which is being a rubber stamp bureaucrat for the corrupt State House Speaker on Beacon Hill. Both Paul Mark and Smitty Pignatelli, along with Tricia Farley Bouvier and John Barrett III (aka the ultimate career politician), are all enjoying their 5-monthslong taxpayer-funded vacation. Given all of these facts about Berkshire County’s failed state and federal career politicians, I believe that the Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) is wrong to endorse PAC Man Richie Neal, Paul Mark, and Smitty Pignatelli’s reelection campaigns.

Wtaf
Wtaf
2 years ago

The DA is going to screw up the Asiyanna Jones “murder” case.

Asiyanna Jones Was a hood rat and was actively engaged in the fight. She had a gun and when she got shot the person with her in the car took her gun and ran. There was a street beef and everyone except the idiot Andrea Harrington knows it. This would have been a gun battle. Asiyanna Jones was an active participant.

Pitt Romney
Pitt Romney
Reply to  Wtaf
2 years ago

This is 100% not true. Slandering the dead is uncalled for.

This was a female v female dispute (Pilot V. Perez (Nunu)).

Carey Pilot’s crazy ass spent a good several hours prior to the shooting posting on Facebook about “getting that $5 leggings bitch” (Perez).

Her beef? Perez’s former relationship with the father of one of Pilot’s children.

Carey Pilot is twice as old as half of the people on the scene that night. Asiyanna Jones showed up with Pilot’s daughter, her peer, who came at the call of her mother.

Pilot shot at Perez, Perez’s boyfriend returned fire.

Jones was not a street thug. She was a sweet girl who sadly hung in the company of some idiots and wound up dead because of it.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Wtaf
2 years ago

Absolutely What. She knew Carey Pilot had a gun and was exacting revenge for getting her a$$ kicked by Perez.

Ask yourself, when you were growing up, if your buddy had a gun and was going to shoot someone, are you following them to the scene and possibly getting yourself wrapped up in a murder charge? Unless of course, she had a gun and was going to assist Carey with this shooting.

There you go DA Wrong Way. I helped you with part of your closing argument. Anybody with half a brain can make that inference.

Have I had a change of heart towards WW? Nope. It’s just Carey Pilot has been a scourge on Pittsfield for over 20+ years. It’s time she goes away for good.

Lenny
Lenny
2 years ago

Great column, I agree with all the points.
Unfortunately this mayor wants a brand new freestanding homeless shelter built, on West Housatonic St. which will just attract more layabouts to the city. And she is using our taxpayer dollars to do it. Hopefully the rest of the funding for this outrageous project won’t be attainable.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

I do not think the mayor has a clue what to do about the homeless. Homeless people are in many cities, but Pittsfield, with a great deal of help from the mayor, have exacerbated the problem. The city has become a magnet for ner’do’wells with its multitudes of hand out programs and seemedly unlimited social services.
Much like the immigrants looking for a better life are treking to America from Colombia, people from two hundred miles away are flocking to Pittsfield looking for a better life. Word travels fast in a world with cell phones and why would they not come to a place with a dozen free food outlets, some with hot meals. Free clothing and heallth care. Maybe even some free drugs..what is not to like?

I do not blame the homeless for coming to Pittsfield. I hope they find everything they need as long as it is given to them and they are not bothering those going about their daily lives.

Stuffy Day !
Stuffy Day !
2 years ago

So next Tuesday all the elementary school students can wear pajamas and bring a stuffed animal from home.

Please the one your child sleeps, drools, eats, poops, wipe boogies on & drags around.

HoodWinx
HoodWinx
Reply to  Stuffy Day !
2 years ago

Covid has risen in my opinion.

Pitt Romney
Pitt Romney
2 years ago

Let’s recap:

Pittsfield’s downtown has always been a cesspool since they situated Ad-Lib (the Help for Retarded People Agency) dead smack on the city’s main thoroughfare.

Steps to make it even worse:

Add in Parking Kiosks, which pissed people off.

Switch to one lane traffic to accommodate an unneeded bike lane.

Locate a Homeless Facility at St. Joe to centralize all the drunks and vagabonds.

Are we surprised it’s REALLY in decline?

How many business’s have closed or relocated in the last five years?

Bagels Too
J. Allens
The Lantern
Massive Graphics
RJ Stohr’s Fine Jewelry
The Army Recruitment Center
Brits R Us
Jim’s House of Shoes

And now, Mission.

Soon, Dotties?

And we can’t forget Candle Lanes and the Indian Restaurant were forced out because their building was supposed to be rehabbed into something way more fabulous. Instead it just sits empty and covered in graffiti now.

Fortunately, we still have Rent-a-Center and K’s fine bootleg merchandise!

Pittsfield deserves what Pittsfield gets.

Meanwhile, I had a joy of walking North Street last night witnessing the fun and frolick of the Downtown Trick Or Treat. It was a nice turnout.

I also witnessed the fact that the city repaired the beautiful cobblestone walkway between the England Brothers building (Berkshire Bank) and the Central Block building by dumping lumpy, bumpy, uneven piles of asphalt/black top on what I assume was areas of broken up cobblestone. I could not believe anyone thought that was acceptable. It looks like shit.

Pittsfield deserves what Pittsfield gets.

No One Will Know
No One Will Know
Reply to  Pitt Romney
2 years ago

Interesting you said RPA.

but, ya AdLib is a retard, I meant Retard.

It’s a funnel and the masterpiece is HIPAA

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  No One Will Know
2 years ago

Number one call at ppd is moving people along homeless,the cops nmbies.

Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
Reply to  Pitt Romney
2 years ago

Pete ‘Porkchop Eating’ White and friends do not approve of you using the R word. Come on dude class up.

As far as your list of closed businesses, not because of North St issues:

Bagels Too – just a socialist who retired and didn’t want to work anymore. Too greedy and tried selling an overpriced bagel recipe otherwise someone would have taken it over.

J. Allens- run by a nitwit that pissed off employees and customers on a regular basis and didn’t have the brains to run a business in an oversized space it never should have been. Now ape boy Powell can run Chili’s into the ground.

The Lantern- lazy spoiled Papas got sick of having to work and porking his addicted waitress wasn’t a good look. Another poor business man who spent more than he made instead of budgeting to do necessary repairs.

Massive Graphics – back on North St

RJ Stohr’s Fine Jewelry – just a whiner of a failed radio dj

The Army Recruitment Center – cowardly American pansies don’t join the Army anymore

Brits R Us – Really?

Jim’s House of Shoes- retired after 100 years of selling shoes

And now, Mission.-Just another notch in Mill Towns master plan to dominate the city like the bitcoin boy in Lenox

Hollister
Hollister
Reply to  Flogging Molly
2 years ago

Don’t know much about Mill Town but they’ve done more for pittsfield than the local government we pay how much for?

Chuck Garivaltis"/"
Chuck Garivaltis"/"
2 years ago

If not for a couple of questionable calls Syracuse would have beaten Clemson. From here on in I hope they run the table and are given consideration for a major bowl game. They are that good. I don’t want to brag, but didn’t we tell pick it.
Chuck

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Stop cryin.the g man picked the spread and Clemson. As far as I know you two had the points,I’m looking for it.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  HaverilleWinds
2 years ago

Yankee fans are looking like their in one big garbage can

Da Troof
Da Troof
2 years ago

The newest panhandlers in Berkshire County
The black Economic Council.

“ Now his office on Tyler Street offers accounting and financial services and help for those starting businesses, he told a group of about half a dozen people representing other Berkshire businesses potentially interested in his services.

Osafo was one of many Black business owners at a the Berkshire Black Economic Council’s Speed Networking Expo on Saturday at Bousquet Mountain.”

“The event aimed to increase the visibility of Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses in the Berkshires, said A.J. Enchill, president and executive director of the Berkshire Black Economic Council.”

“Enchill founded the council last year. “I saw the need for Black businesses to advocate for themselves in order to advance local and state policy initiatives,” he said.” (And when he figure out the city would give him $500k for his grift)

Damari Taylor, 18, runs Frosted by Marii, a bakery and sweets business based at her home in Great Barrington. (You can bet she doesn’t meet state and municipal code for food service, has no license to do what she does, and doesn’t have a serve safe certificate or has had any inspections by the BOH)

Outfox
Outfox
2 years ago

After writing that PPD, BCSO, AND MSP will be policing the game, the email from superintendent of scohols Smokin’ Joe Curtis let people know if they are caught using weed at the Taconic/ PHS football game they will be banned from “future high athletic events”.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  Outfox
2 years ago

What have been the top ten worst things that has happened to Pittsfield this year?
Red Sox
Crime
Homelessness
Springside park bike track
Street Designs
Property taxincrease
Arpa distribution
Restorative Justice
Pickpocket tax
Zoom T V
The Sturgeon Show
Businesses Leaving

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

PITTSFIELD Politics Top Ten list of failed leadership:

1. Having a Level 5 public school district that charges its taxpayers top dollar for rock bottom results.
2. Always being a top ten city for violent crime in Massachusetts.
3. Having a combined municipal operating and capital fiscal year 2023 budget of well over $200 million without any concern for the predicted 2023 economic recession.
4. A Homelessness crisis, a panhandling crisis, and an affordable housing crisis (with Mayor Linda Tyer living in a mansion in a Gated Community within a few feet of the Hancock border).
5. A continued loss in population and living wage jobs (a shrinking tax base); How about that Rolodex, Jimmy Ruberto? I believe it was last sighted on the bottom of Silver Lake.
6. Marijuana cultivation odors stinking up residential neighborhoods without any action taken by City Hall.
7. A one political (Democratic) Party system that only serves the elites’ special interests, while the fictional Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski have to pound sand.
8. The 24-year-old polluted PEDA debacle that has millions of dollars in always increasing debts and other liabilities. Why is PEDA still in existence at this point in time when it is clearly a financial failure? Who will end up paying for PEDA’s multimillion-dollar debts?
9. Pittsfield’s hundreds of millions of dollars in municipal public debts and other liabilities that are hidden from the taxpaying public via Matt Kerwood’s Creative Accounting schemes of Mayor Linda Tyer’s secretive and excessive multimillion-dollar Slush Fund$ and the questionable audits of Kufflink’s Cooked Books.
10. The Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) always praising Pittsfield politics’ failed leadership that put Pittsfield into the proverbial ditch over the past 40 years.

Guy Lefebvre
Guy Lefebvre
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Jonny speaking of top 10 didn’t you finish #3 in gay adult film fluffers in 2015?

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
2 years ago

Ahhh another progressive democrat voter who continues to vote and rally for politicians only because of the D in front of their names, thanks for
checking in.

fizzlehead
fizzlehead
Reply to  HaverilleWinds
2 years ago

no forensic audit

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  fizzlehead
2 years ago

Great one add that to the list

Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
2 years ago

The panhandlers are less offensive than the long haired elderly hippies protesting war on Park Square. Never had a job communists.

P.S. Go away Melle, far far away from this website. The only website that lets a psycho have a forum for his psycho diatribe. Try getting a job to stay busy instead of living off disability for being crazy.

Raise ya $20
Raise ya $20
2 years ago

la la la la la
This is my stop
Got to get off
I might go pop
Excuse me, Excuse me

I’ve got to be direct
la la la
If I’m off, please correct
la la la

You’re standing on my neck

Look right through me
Say I’m gloomy
Well so sue me
Excuse me, excuse me

I’ve got to be direct
la la la
Its like a big train wreck
la la la
Your standing on my neck
la la la
Your standing on my neck
la la la
Your standing

Nothing is like I planned it
So funny I cant stand it
Wish I was made of granit
I must be on another planet

la la la la la
la la la la la

This is my stop
I’ve got to get off
I might go pop
Excuse me, excuse me

Ive got to be direct
la la la
If I’m off please correct
la la la
Your stadning on my neck
la la la
You standing on my neck
la la la
Your staning on my neck

Merry & Bright
Merry & Bright
2 years ago

Latest update from our Vibrant and Dynamic Flat Tyer’s husband Bare Bare. Past week there has been two FB postings with pictures on another site showing “lost or misplaced dildo’s”. One near a flower pot on North Street and another on Newell Street. Lo and behold, once again Bare Bare can’t keep his mouth shut and was posting his interest in them. He totally lacks class and professionalism. Will he ever learn to keep his mouth shut? Just verifies how unsophisticated and totally immature he is. Is Mayor Flat Tyer proud of him, does this type of behavior excite her also? Welcome to VD Pittsfield.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  Merry & Bright
2 years ago

That’s is from generations in the the gene pool. Maybe cannot help it. You know like Appalachia syndrome.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  HaverilleWinds
2 years ago

Rumor has it ithere hasn’t been the greatest conditions for living over at Saint Joseph’s high school, but from the bedbug perspective change the sheets.Does anyone know the current numbers dwelling at Springside Park

Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  HaverilleWinds
2 years ago

Rumor has it? It was front page Eagle news! What rock have you been living under?
Basic services can be provided there, if the city would take ARPA funds away from the proposed brand new W Housatonic facility and spend much less money fixing up St. Joe’s and hiring a reputable (not Servicenet) group to staff it. It’s spacious enough to house many on cold nights. Basic services can be provided. Why build a brand new facility which will get destroyed in the end by some of these irresponsible people?

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Lenny
2 years ago

Kind of ironic many have posted on The Planet about the lack of business ventures by the recent ARPA ($750,000) awarded BBEC.

After holding a dance festival in south county and skipping the small business gathering in Dalton, they finally hold a black business summit in Pittsfield. It was even the eagle’s front page story on a Sunday.

It was nice to see, but something struck me as odd with the photo in the paper. Was it me or did anyone see many black youth in attendance? I did not. I saw the usually POC grifters and older white progressive libs. You know damn well wouldn’t want any of the fine upstanding Edgerton family or “people who look like me” Earl “Dumpster” Persip, in their non-inclusive hoods. Case in point, DA Wrong Way’s wine mixer a few months back. No diversity or inclusion, unless you consider wealthy, white, and can’t think for yourself, as a class. Actually, we do. Their called “Progressives” or “Social Justice Warriors.”

Back to the BBEC. Why do they have office space and are not even a business? Is it the “Clairmont principle?” Can’t work from an office space at your home like 99.9% of Americans can? So, you bilk the taxpayers for horse$hit loans like Barry and his PPP loans and the BBEC with ARPA money, to have unneeded office space?

Dirty Barry, Shirley one upped you. She took her fam and friends to Africa on taxpayer money. Better up your game or you will truly be the dildo like the one you misplaced in city hall on election night a few years back.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Merry & Bright
2 years ago

MB this could be the reason Dirty Barry “got lost” in city hall during the last mayoral election when they were counting votes.

Dirty Barry was searching for his misplaced dildo.

Those late nights in the Cumby’s parking lot get boring for Dirty Barry.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
2 years ago

Speaking of media. This Zoom tv has got to go. The overall performance is a grade D at best. It strains the eyes for one. The audio really stinks as far as voice clarity because pctv engineering is limited. It gets so when it is on Zoom I’m not able to watch or listen,it’s futile.

HaverilleWinds
HaverilleWinds
Reply to  danvalenti
2 years ago

Everything is out of control.

Gobsig
Gobsig
2 years ago

Please join B.O.N.U.S.
Bums On North Upsetting Shoppers needs your help. Just give money to a panhandler and you’re a member.