TWO KEY QUESTIONS FROM THE PLANET … SHUGRUE TAKES OFFICE … & SHORT TAKES, INCLUDING CLUELESS, ‘BLAMELESS’ PETE WHITE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JAN. 6-8, 2023) — Thanks to one and all for your good thoughts in welcoming THE PLANET back into your homes, places of business, and wherever in the nethers you may be in the reading.
We were pleased with the number of people who rejoined us, remembering our return promise of Jan. 4. In addition, THE PLANET also took private delight in the way the board reboosted, technically. We had a few glitches to work out with the comments section that took a bit of doing, but our techies got it going. Tip of the hat to the team!
One other thing. Did you notice that we didn’t run ads on Wednesday’s column and today? We are looking into certain changes and ways to improve, and we want to hear from you: Do you prefer THE PLANET to run without ads? Ads help provide the money to keep us profitably “on the air.” There are two ways to keep this board going without ads:
(1) Eat all the costs internally and continue to offer this board as a public service. We did this for the first nine of our 12 year+ existence. THE PLANET will not return to that again.
(2) Go to a subscription-based model.
Here’s our second and most important question: How many are you would be willing to subscribe to THE PLANET for a fee? Does our content have such value to you? Please let us know.
More to come. Stay tuned.
———- ooo ———-
Yesterday, Berkshire County received its new district attorney in a ceremony at Superior Court. Barrister Tim Shugrue took the oath. THE PLANET hopes those words sink in, are taken seriously, and applied. God knows that in the previous four years, justice became a beach ball, bounced around on the hands of someone all too willing to play politics with people’s lives. Criminals went un-prosecuted, victims were largely ignored, while race and gender became the yardstick by which breaches of law were suspended or enforced.
Shugrue seems to understands that “the law” and “crime” are legal, not political, constructions. He also gets that they are not driven by gender or color. The law is made to protect everyone, and it applies (or should) without exception. Shugrue’s speech brought a Standing-O. His most important statement: “People who break the law must be held accountable for their actions.” Well said.
———- ooo ———-
SHORT TAKES:
White as Snow — Is councilor-at-large Peter White serious when he says no one should be blamed for Pittsfield’s most recent snow debacle? City streets were ignored during a dangerous storm, with accidents galore. No one to blame? PLANET to Pete: Of course you’re to blame! It’s is YOUR JOB, man, to see that streets are plowed so that citizens can travel in reasonable safety through the nightmare of too many traffic lights, countless pan handlers, confusing lane shifts and markings, poor lighting, and all the other memorials to ignorance that make travel in, about, and through Pittsfield a horror show. Blame? By all means, and we blame YOU, your colleagues, and the Administration, Mr. White.
GOP Gobs — Vote-after-vote-after-vote-after-vote-after vote-after vote … or, as one rep put it … Groundhog’s Day. If the Republicans inability to elect a house speaker portends their ability to govern, well, let’s just say this. The Elephant in the room is running amok. House Republicans, with the majority, have failed by 20 votes or so to agree on a speaker. Kevin McCarthy will end up with the job, but the in-fighting has Democrats laughing in the aisles. THE PLANET prefers Kevin McCarthy, actor and star of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Sox Sicks Sux— $331 million to sign Raphael Devers? The Boston Red Sox, following suit with the money madness that has ruined MLB, have done us no favors. Devers hits .285, drives in runs, and is a doubles machine. Defensively, he plays third base 10 klicks south of Frank Malzone. With money of that kind and the fact that it will take a family of four about $500 to see the Sox play at Fenway, THE PLANET says, “Go balk yourself?” The entire payroll of the 1967 Impossible Dream Sox was $850,000. Bring on the atom bombs, shall we?
Prayers for #3 — THE PLANET adds our thoughts and prayers for the healing and recovery of Buffalo Bills DB Damar Hamlin. By now you know what happened. In saying that, we hope the NFL keeps its senses and not turn into the NFFL, the National Flag Football League. The game is a contact sport. The participants know the risks. Best rule is never to play a game of chance unless you can afford to pay the worst case scenario. The NFL should have ordered the game be resumed and played out. Now, both the Bills and Bengals get an extra week of rest, which is huge this time of the season. It puts an asterisk on the playoffs. This year’s Super Bowl winner will not be legit.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
———————————————————————————————
“I took my wife window shopping. She bought three windows” — Henny Youngman.
“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.
Re: “Rally for Democracy” at Park Square at 12-noon on Saturday, January 7th, 2023. Speakers include community activist Shirley Edgerton, and State Reps Tricia Farley-Bouvier and John Barrett III, and old is new again State Senator Paul Mark. They will thank the January 6th (2021) Committee for investigating Donald Trump’s role in the insurrection on Capitol Hill two weeks prior to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ swearing into the Offices of U.S President and U.S. Vice President.
Will Shirley, Tricia, John and Paul also call for a Congressional Committee to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, for his allegedly illegal and unethical business and political practices that may have involved and benefited his father?
Will Shirley, Tricia, John and Paul also call for a Congressional Committee to investigate Joe Biden’s “fist bump” meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Riyadh on July 15th, 2022, which contradicted Joe Biden’s campaign promises in 2020, along with his Green New Deal “HOT AIR” that has cost tens of thousands of American jobs and led to the current energy crisis?
What about the state’s failure in the Holyoke Soldiers Home debacle in 2020 whereby around 80 Veterans died of Covid-19, which cost state taxpayers $56 million in legal settlements? Shouldn’t Beacon Hill lawmakers investigate that fiasco, too?
What about Beacon Hill’s secretive and corrupt governance that the current Berkshire delegation all voted to uphold by opposing Sunshine Laws reforms? Shouldn’t Beacon Hill lawmakers investigate why they support “Cooking the Books” to enrich themselves and their wealthy campaign donors at the public trough, too?
In closing, I believe that the “Rally for Democracy” in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is really about deflecting their own failures of leadership by blaming Donald Trump for everything that is wrong with the government. Look in the proverbial mirror, please, Shirley, Tricia, John & Paul!
https://youtu.be/cOXFOpqkC88
FBI is still knocking on the doors at midnight.
FBI has ben turned into the secret enforcement arm of the loon left that control the once-respectable Democrat Party. Sad. Where is Efrem Zimbalist Jr. when we need him?
I estimate they arrest 1-3 people per day and stuffing them in cells no charges. The Jan 6 demonstration needs to be for the political prisoners.
The Knock On The Door is causing fright someone as we speak.
He’s wearing one of J Edgar’s dresses.
John very good post! You do have some good ones occasionally. May I suggest you print this out and carry it with you. When you go into the voting booth, or voting from your house, take it out reread it and realize that by voting Democrat your whole life you are part of the problem. You could rectify it by voting for the other guys and give them 50 years to see what they can do! Dan I think it would be best to use advertising. The people a fee base service would hurt would be the very ones you are attempting to give a voice, the poor over run Kapanski’s. I actually have used your advertisements for ideas on gifts for others. Any ways i hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and are still doing well on their New Years Resolutins! Oh btw I found it funny that no one at Park Square was asking about Pelosi or Ray Epps or for that matter why the last few FBI Directors were fired for not following the law.
Shirley,
Unfortunately many vote based on party affiliation only rather than who might be the best candidate for the position regardless of affiliation.
Advertise or pay is fine with me.
But charge Mele double.
I don’t mind the ads. Just don’t feature images of Pete White’s toys or free lunches.
Danny, go to a subscription based service. Since most of these Pittsfield Rubes are too cheap to pay for it, it will eliminate most of the riff-raff on here. Most notably madtrapper who would rather keep his monthly porn subscription, shhhh don’t tell him you can get free porn anywhere.
Zero chance you can afford $1 a week.
A moron like you calling everyone a rube. What’s you level of education? Can you list the last five books that you’ve read?
Probably a matchbook when he fires up a joint!
Welcome back! We have missed you sir. Personally, I would prefer an ad-based model. As a person on the cusp of retirement, one more expense is unfortunately too much. I vow to click on ad links in each posting to get the click count moving and perhaps find a treasure or two along the way. In either event, you are providing a much-needed service to counter the Eagle. Their recent coverage of the District Attorney Office transition was shameful. Since I currently live out of State, I don’t have any personal skin in the game other than concern for the Pittsfield community in which I was born and raised. Bottom line: Choose the model that works best for you and one that keeps your money in your own pocket – a concept that our elected officials fail to grasp. Cheers!
BERKSHIRE
Well put! Thanks for the comment of such insight.
Dedicated to Andrea:
https://youtu.be/tx8x3LCnYZw
Pittsfield is a Much better place without you
Would prefer him over you
I have zero problems with ads. And I think it would be bad for the city for those who would not pay to be uninformed. Lord knows much perteinent city information found here is not found in other “news” outlets.
Great commentary Dan. Pittsfield government, the place where nobody is responsible for anything ever. Another thing that is mandatory is that no public input will ever be allowed. However, if any public input is allowed is shall be ignored.
I would never pay for a page of typos nor the senseless babbling of Melle.
Bozo. Mele not Melle. Typo head.
I have no problem with paying for subscribing to the planet. Personally I like pod casts but check in with the Planet most days too. The ads okay too I’d pay to advertise on your site because I’ve received a lot of feed back from posting on here. Find myself paying for sites that I never use, so why not suck it up buttercup. After all we’re all on the same planet.
We don’t want it to be a graft site either like that show on another planet.
I’m on a shrinking income. Hell,my retired woman only gets 60 g a year.
Ads or a fee or both is fine as long as fee isn’t too high. This is Pittsfield after all. Everyone, including the Planet, is staggering under Biden’s economy so I understand the need for revenue. The Planet may lose some people under a fee system, not rubes as someone on here said, but people who can’t afford to pay.
I have no issue with either choice Dan. Welcome back too.
I do have a question about a paid service though. If a person pays for the service, will they have the option to post endless nonsense and not contribute to the discussion (TSC with Trump)? Or endless “love letters” to the Lovely Linda (Melle)? If a paid subscription allows that, then please stick with ads. Just my $.02.
It is funny how Porkchop Pete White already gave Ricky Rumpus a free pass for this debacle. 69 auto accidents in less than 72 hours in Pittsfield, but other surrounding towns had very little to no issues with the weather and road conditions. Unacceptable.
In a government that runs efficiently and holds their people accountable, Rumpus would be out on his Rumpass.
A letter to the editor asked where all the Pittsfield marijuana tax money is going? Flat Tyer can you please give us an update?
Any chance DA Tim Shugrue would release the paperwork from the Simon Rock “racially motivated kidnapping” case? I will file an FOIA in the next week or so on this case.
I know why former DA Andrea “Wrong Way” Harrington didn’t prosecute the black female Jussie Smollett, but I’m curious just how egregious this really was. I’ll keep the Planet informed.
MARK
Thanks for your thoughts on THE PLANET going forward: ads or subscription. One of the downs of allowing relatively unfettered free speech is the nonsense. Comes with the territory, which is why most online media have ditched this type of feedback. The jerks ruin if for the 99% of good people. We have systems in place to catch really bad stuff, but, without getting into the technical details, at some point it’s not worth it to install the monitoring platforms. We have the Army of Robots and human moderation, doing the best we can. We could, of course, keep THE PLANET going, with ads or subscription, and shut off comments. We don’t want that, but it’s an alternative.
As for Rumpus, he’s in over his head. He’s a good DPW guy, with talent, but he’s not the one who would be running that department. That falls on Tyer. And your question about DA Shugrue releasing the Simon Rock files is a GREAT ONE! We shall pose the question. And yes, from your end, keep us informed. We need to hear what went on there.
I do not know if Rumpus is over his head or not. Tried to be patient giving him the benefit of the doubt but his department keeps have major f-ups. It may very well be because the mayor is controlling his every move and he can’t do the proper thing even if he wants to. I kind of believe that because of the magnitude and stupidity of the problems. And whenever anything goes wrong she is no where to be found. Can anyone recall in the last six years where she said “oopsie my bad?” Or does she just stumble forward like nothing even happened? Yah, that’s it.
He’s won awards for snowplowing in his native Puerto Rico. There was never a problem with snow or ice there when he was in charge.
Phunny!!
Or the state representative investigation files.
Post of day-weekend…..69 accidents and no one held accountable? Pete?
I vote for ads.
Don’t want to pay to read comments by several on this board.
So don’t subscribe Rube, simple
There is no way you would pony up the money. Get your head out of your McDonough
Can we work it off Dan?
You mean like being paid contributors?
Lenny got a point about not wanting to pay for insults and crude villanous slurs: writing them, receiving them, skipping over them. Assuming the purpose of Planet Valenti is both the editor and the public writing, the success of the Planet would require subscribers. There be a standard all would need to meet or this experiment dissolves.
I vote (again) for subscription.
I gladly pay you in cryptocurrency Tuesday for the Planet to gay.
Welcome back Dan. Hope you enjoyed your time off. The only thing you missed during your sabbatical is the continuing downward spiral of Pittsfield due to the Liar Tyer Administration. Amazes me that there has been no comment by Tyer, Marchetti or Krol on the road disaster during the Christmas holiday. Hope someone else steps forward and knocks these three right out of the City!
G-man telling all about mayor and council on his show airs at nine tonight channel 1301 or one pctv access anytime. He says he can reduce an average of several million dollars on any work on the six Krofta sand floats which make up the bulk of the engineering treatment process. Asked about the 84 million the consultants say the plants need, the G-man says the pie in the sky figure given by the consultants of 84 million is preposterous.
G says taxpayers should come to the city Council meeting and demand that the project be halted and be advertised again in the engineering record. he
He says this must be done. Everyone please become proactive and get involved to kill this over priced monster which will break the bank in Pittsfield. Time is of the essence. Please Act………thank you Dan.
Eagle had an opinion column Dec 28th. In talking about the snow plowing fiasco they said Pittsfield has a dwindling tax base, suggesting that there was not enough tax money to get the job done?? If they could talk to an account somehow he might tell them that if you keep giving tax breaks to all the new business s you will never increase your tax base. I know, I know, that is a complicated concept.
And, comically, they had a later opinion piece talking about the 3 million dollar grant to fix the Waconah grandstand. They then seemed to suggest that the taxpayers chip in to fix the whole stadium up. Millions more I presume. Somehwere the city found $500,00 to build pickleball courts to go along with bike parks and dog walking parks and turning Pontoosuc Lake into a resort destination but no money for snow plowing?
Get out if you can.
G-Man, can I give you a piece of advice, let the water treatment debacle alone. Flat Tyer, Marchetti, nor Loverboy Krol, care.
That shipped sailed.
Plus, if the mayor spent taxpayer money on infrastructure, how could Shirley Edgerton ever afford to take her fam and friends on a trip to Africa to “explore her roots.” The Eagle documented it well in a couple of stories.
As Col Troutman told Rambo, “It’s over G-Man! It’s over!”
It ain’t over till THS mayor sings
Ever listen to a tree frog at night? Does the sound seem to be coming from the West street direction? Maybe it ain’t a tree frog.
Just don’t get it. Shirley is getting million or so…. FOR WHAT ?
There is no real, legitimate, reason why Shirley gets the money. The only reason she does is because of the color of her skin.
She is a race hustler who fools older, white snowflakes, with scary terms like “racism” and “white privilege.”
In addition to her Africa trip, she’s also used taxpayer money to “recruit” black teachers in NC for PPS.
The net result of teachers recruited from that trip? The same as Blutarski’s GPA: zero point zero.
She did hold that well attended Kwanzaa dinner that was covered too. I’m not against you celebrating anything, but don’t throw our city funds at it where it can be used elsewhere. This includes ARPA
By the way, where is all the pot money? I swore that was supposed to be for education and infrastructure type purposes? Wasn’t that the whole point of the extortion deals between the businesses and the city? Didn’t Bloom Brothers sue over misuse of funds?
JJC-I saw that story too. I fully agree with you. I have no issues with people celebrating holiday traditions.
I do have a question for Shirley about the Kwanzaa celebration and the Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC) forum they finally put in the late fall.
My question is: with all this ARPA taxpayer money that you (and others) have been given to uplift the black community, why is it then that little to no black youth attend any of these ceremonies?
I always see the same grifters, race hustlers, and older white snowflakes, in attendance at these events.
Not to mention, the Eagle photogs must have been instructed not to photograph the sparse crowd at these events.
Pay to play.
I’m betting subscription will encourage quality. I suggest free use with limited posting, subscribers are free to speak.
Dan is doing this as his contribution to the peasants out there that have no voice. Plus he is loaded. Advertising should suit him fine.
and if Mele subscribes where does that leave your hypothesis?
Dan, My wife and I discussed the pros and cons of a fee based Planetary service, versus a freebie one, with adds. We think you should keep it free to read, but charge to post!
Let the posters put their money where their mouths are, so to speak!
All 250 Berkshire AP-MRF will subscribe or forfeit their firelocks, and we agree with ye above.
Stick to Truth Social Rube
Keep smokin bumpkin
Interesting idea, JK! Thanks for sharing.
What ever direction you decide to go in as far as a fee based subscription to the Planet or an ad based one, I’m on board with it . Maybe do a little of both to to keep the cost down as much as possible during these trying financial times most are experiencing.
The Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) published an editorial wishing Tim Shugrue good luck as the new Berkshire County District Attorney, while also relentlessly bashing former D.A. Andrea Harrington. Meanwhile, WAMC’s Josh Landes published a news article about Tim Shugrue always kissing retired Judge Dan Ford’s dirty behind, despite Dan Ford’s controversial history in the Massachusetts court system, especially him railroading Bernard Baran, who passed away in 2014, many years ago.
Shugrue begins tenure as Berkshire DA by reasserting his tough on crime campaign message | WAMC
Tim Shugrue is an Ambulance Chasing Greedy Divorce Attorney who wanted the plum position for the past 18 years. The political and legal establishment, along with the Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) and others, are foolish to put their faith in this greedy conman. I believe that they ousted Andrea Harrington and backed Tim Shugrue because they wanted this corrupt greed-ball in their back pockets for more of the same old secrecy and insider’s only corruption that Pittsfield politics is infamously known for. Shame on everyone who supports D.A. Tim Shugrue! You put your own selfish interests above your values, which means you sold your souls to the Devil!
You already sold your soul to the devil by voting in the Biden Crime Family.
Give it a rest.
JON
We strongly disagree with your assessments here. Good heavens, man! Quoting WAMC to support your broadside makes my point. When the previous DA took office, we gave “them” the benefit of the doubt. Experience revealed the truth. “They” were awful in the job. Point is, THE PLANET went in with an open mind. You, on the other hand, have gone in the Mind Closed Shut. Case closed.
Fully agree with you Dan. She was given a chance. Her office’s track record both in and out of court spoke volumes. Not to mention her ability to operate a vehicle in accordance with MA and NY traffic laws was atrocious as well.
Jonathan, an easy questions for you.
Did you agree with her decision to send a white male to jail to the fullest extent of the law (2 years) for arson-hay. But a black male, who was an armed, career-criminal, with prison stints for drugs/violence, was allowed to plea out to 3.5 years, for another gun/drug charges. He was looking at 12.5 years minimum-mandatory prison time for the gun alone?
And I’m going to quote Army Colonel Samuel Troutman again, when it comes to your posts about Bernie Baran. “It’s over Jonathan!! It’s over.”
Many of those involved have either died or retired. Bernie’s situation was definitely sad, but it was over 30 years ago. Time to move on.
“railroaded” they call it that
JM: Who says Harrington wouldn’t have rolled Baran flat too? It was politically correct business then. PC is her brand.
A fair and interesting point.
Jon,
Harrington ousted herself with her policies that the majority of voters didn’t agree with as the election results showed and proved.
Looks like you are not even going to give the man a chance. And that makes you come across as a tad shallow my friend. Rethink your position please.
Josh Landes was a big Harrington ass kisser.
Just finished reading the City Clownsil agenda for their first meeting of the new year. Liar Tyer is asking for another $250,000.00 for McKinnon’s Spacey Space Rockets adventure at the BIC building. Is this handout why real estate taxes have gone up, is this where the pot money is going? Meanwhile, the roads are getting worse by the day, businesses are closing all over Pittsfield. How about using this money to hire more police officers. Could just ONE of our elected officials explain how this Colorado based private business is benefiting the taxpayers of Pittsfield? Meanwhile, the Mayor has stated she does not have the time to explain the Christmas holiday cluster Fluck of lack of snow removal until later in January. Guess it is taking that long for her and Bike Lane Morales to gather their lies and deceptions to the taxpayers!
This agenda is really a sick piece of work.
Get out if you can. Nothing is going to change. It’s just not. Really, it is not.
Got work to do.
Most of them are.
This mayor sure turned out to be the total opposite of what she claimed to be when she first announced her candidacy for the office. She had played the, “I’m fiscally with the taxpayers “ because she herself experienced trying to make ends meet and if she was voted in she’d always look out for the taxpayers best interest’s running the city.
Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha Thanks for the comic relief as I look at my tax bill for this year, out for the little guy, ha,ha,ha that’s a good one almost as good as she was going to clean up the blight!!
You really cannot believe anything any of them say. And that most certainly includes the two vying to take her place. If those are the only two I will not waste my gas getting to the polls. Neither will make my life any better.
Never vote for a candidate you don’t endorse, doing that leads to false impressions.
Mass Layers Weekly is $449/ year. Anyone who needs to read it can not afford it. Keepin em dumb.
Mass Layers – a union for chickens?
Krols diary?
Council Meeting 1/10/23
It’s a pretty obnoxious bunch of demands for more of your money. Requests and petitions dead on arrival. For reference, check out my petition page 101 which anticipates and counters the petition on page 103 which predetermines the need to purchase magnesium (twice cost of rock salt) and new equipment to distribute it.
January 10, 2023.pdf (revize.com)
BONUS! Who here remembers the EMA spectacle? They are back for more too. They are doing so well that they need a fresh boot of $250,000 (completely forgivable).It’s like an army code “Hpw’s the front?” “Good sir. So good that we need 10,000 more troops, new tanks. It’s going very well,”
This is election year. Papers for office are available in April I am looking for some good souls with a fire in the belly to run for 11 council seats and the mayorship. Go get them! Your vote DOESN’T MATTER until YOU choose your candidate and your peers choose the best. Choice happens when you draw papers and bring light to better ideas,
Totally agree Mr. k.
I also agree. If surrounding cities can clear their roads of snow without magnesium and special trucks, it can be done in the Pitt. The Mayor & Morales should both be turned out of office for their failure to clear the roads after the last two snowstorms! I didn’t see a city plow until 4 days after the last storm!
and when you take out your papers make sure you have the bankroll to back up your commitment because the cabal will be funding your opponent with bottomless backup. That is why we are where we are
That stuff generally doesn’t work. They tried it with me last time and went nowhere.
This time around, they will have a ready load of insults to hurl at me. I’m interested in how that will turn out.
They have always gone on full attack to anyone who might even think of standing in the way of raising taxes or spending it haphazardly. They promote the lapdog persona.
Thank you for being your own person. Nice to know there are a few left out there.
Excellent post, SIR CHAZ.
Can I suggest that only Krol and Marchetti pull papers on April Fool’s day? The serious candidates can wait a day.
Pete White can do his pulling on the 1st as well.
White is actually being groomed for a down the line mayor position. And his comments protecting the administration from criticism in the face of obvious dysfunction will pad his resume. He looks really ignorant doing it but he knows that is what his puppet masters want to hear. Loyalty, not to the citizens who voted for him but rather to those he fears disappointing. He is one more guy who fake read his oath of office.
Never will be Pete W for mayor. Nice guy, loves his mom and super hero action figures, but really? Even his friends wouldn’t vote for him for
Mayor. He just doesn’t have the backbone to assert his own feelings or ideas.
White’s a dummy, and you can’t fix stupid.
Maybe. So why is he taking up a city council seat that might be used by someone who actually cares about the people he promised to serve?
Peter Marchetti will be backing all her requests and telling his sycophant lapdog colleagues to follow him. And the ones that always have will do as he instructs them.
Remember this when he asks for your vote after telling you he will be fiscally responsible and cut your taxes. Because he really believes most people in Pittsfield are that stupid. Watch what he does, not what he says while crossing his fingers behind his back.
Charles when you live in the land of idiots who do you think they will vote for? The smart intelligent person that would be the best candidate or the idiot that is like them? When the population is 90% idiots (ie Democrats) who else will get voted in? My advice is to get out and go to a place where your intelligence will help. Years ago there was a sinking ship in Allendale which was a precursor of where the city was heading
They own it. They’re buying it. They’re developing it. VIM.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/business/volunteers-in-medicine-receives-blue-cross-blue-shield-grant-new-immigrants/article_bea9dd4c-8882-11ed-a29d-4fbe66f18b0e.html
We have a new Speaker of the House finally. I stayed up until 2 am last night and watching it play out was terrifying, exciting, and interesting. Kevin McCarthy’s spech was so good, but Hakeem Jefferies was inappropriate and mean spirited. Mike Rogers was nearly attacking Matt Gaetz at one point, tension was high, it was messy, but we ended up with an excellent communicator with Kevin McCarthy.
Kevin McCarthy said last night that “It’s not how you start, but how you finish that’s important”. He said to Hakeem Jefferies that they would get passionate about their beliefs, but it would never be personal for him. This was in response to Jefferies earlier nasty remarks. McCarthy called the Congressional building the “People’s House”.
Here’s my take:
When two parties are not enough to represent a people, that means that a substantial number of people perpetually are ignored by their party. that probably means that majority groups of both parties have gained too much power.
This is the first time in Congress that I recall any minority standing up to the tyranny of the majority and sticking around to win. That ‘chaos’ was about fighting the accumulation of power in the party leadership and successfully winning concessions. This never happened during Pelosi’s terms, and the pattern of smooth transition with business as usual is likely why parties get brief holds in majority. People are represented by those minority congressmen, and they don’t like the lies. (‘Our party will do x,y,z’ then only do what they always do – return favors, make deals that offend our common sense, grandstand.) 99% of the nation’s voters vote for a congressman and not the speaker. That sequence of 15 votes was a fight about returning governance to the People and challenging the power of the Speaker.
To the point that chaos is a sign of misdirection: when democratic bodies rule without pause and has the lockstep support of the People, you have a tyranny and its welcoming serfs. That is the worst combination and is probably beyond repair.
The business of the parties and DC is of little interest to me. But, for Pittsfield, we have a lesson in this last week in DC. We need a strong minority representation on the Council – councilors willing to dig in their heels and pause the ramming through of spending and taxing.
I agree with what you say. I thought the Freedom Caucus did a great job. I just wish that once they got what they wanted, they then allowed McCarthy to win. It went on about 2 votes too long, but Democracy is messy. It was fascinating and terrifying to watch. I was worried about Hakeem Jeffries somehow being able to win. I stayed up till 2 am watching it all play out.
Thanks to the Republican gang of 20 who stood their ground and got concessions in writing from McCarthy!
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/01/winners-losers-house-vote-speaker/
Tell the truth and stand your ground. Don’t let the bastards get you down.
We aren’t a city of tax and spend,we are a city of spend then tax.
That’s exactly how I put it!
Charles I do have a candidate in mind very intelligent well educated
Actually a lot of it is on credit. The city owes a half billion dollars between loans and pension funding.
“When two parties are not enough to represent a people, that means that a substantial number of people perpetually are ignored by their party. that probably means that majority groups of both parties have gained too much power.”
Here’s my proposal. A Tax decrease to 2022 rates.
$2,000,000 Free Cash returned to General Fund. Liquidate the Pot Fund to the general fund. Apply $10,000,000 ARPA to General Fund to compensate for ‘lost revenue’ per the Treasury’s guidelines.
2024 budget needs to be the 2022 number with 5% reductions across the board.
-Charles Kronick
Tax cut? By all means. Boston took in ONE BILLION DOLLARS MORE IN TAXES than projected for December. All of it tax $$. City DESPERATELY needs to (a) rein in spending (b) reduce the cost of goverment (c) offset with better use of existing money and seeking new sources of revenue and (d) TAX CUTS and homeowners and small businesses.
Tax cut. Those are fighting words with Kufflinks. Don’t you know debt drives our economy.
Charles? On Crane Ave going North near the Crane Ave apartments is a dead coyote on the side of the golf course. Is that your ward ?and if it is could you see if it can be deposited somewhere! And if it’s not I’ll call whoever ward 1 represents,thanks….It’s not a good look,been there a bit also
!
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I’ll check it out. If it’s fresh would make a decent carburetor stew. If not, I’ll push it to the other side of the street and let Kenny take care of it.
Reminds me, in Montana last summer, 7 old guys were chewing the cud in this old hotel cafe. One man said to Jim, “By the way Jim. I passed a coonskin hat layin on the road 10 miles north, Thought you may want it.”
Since it’s laying near the golf course up on the bank let’s call it coyote Mulligan Stew
Meep, meep.
Checked it out – it’s mine.
Be sure to give it rabies test before putting it into the stew.
And maybe check city ordinances. Tyer may have a road kill carcass fee/surtax you need to pay.
Hmm rabies. That was never mentioned in my Whole Earth Catalog’s prepper section.
Skin the coyote as soon as possible, or at least remove the organs if you cannot get it skinned right away. The coyote is a predator species with a lot of bacteria in its digestive system, and this bacteria can start to cause rapid decay if the carcass is not handled quickly enough. If you skin a coyote and notice any green coloration around the belly or sides, do not eat the meat.
Only the freshest, cleanest, healthiest-appearing animals should be chosen for safe consumption!
Davey Crockett
Any chance the unneeded office of Division, Inequity, and Exclusion (DIE), is on the chopping block too?
I don’t know DIE’s leader OB. Might be a good guy, maybe not. Personally, I don’t care either way.
But I do know with the cost of things today, that $100K salary (plus benies), could go towards, oh I don’t know, TAKING CARE OF THE ROADS?
I suggested asked last may, final call on the budget, that if we were to send a hat around town to fund the office, it would raise a total of $5 dollars and some change.Even the beggars on the corners would raise more in a day.
A city budget should fund value and service that is more economical to share in taxes than to fund for exclusively yourself. Ex.city water versus wells and septic, building roads.
First department that needs to go. Let DIE die by killing it.
Barry and Linda just fell on the floor laughing.
BL are irrelevant. Completely irrelevant.
Not sure Donald would agree with that saying.
As an out-of-town retiree, it would take the Jaws of Life to open my wallet for a subscription. Bring back the ads! Unfortunately the handful of liberal progressive Marxists and looney tunes who post here provide entertainment, but detract from your column. Your blog does provide an important spotlight of truth, especially in Pittsfield with the invisible mayor, impotent city council, near-death radical rag and Tyer clones running for the corner office.
I thought you were working on a side-hustle involving the great city of Syracuse?
Fritz:
Money is energy, and it works just like electrons. It’s what is needed to get work done. – from Robertson Davies – What’s Bred In the Bones.
Still, since when did it ever NOT take the jaws of life to open a Yankee’s wallet?
Charles, as an accountant what is your experience with the opeb situation.Is and when is the end game?.One other question? What are your thoughts on city councilors who vote or disagree without tangible arguments or being mute and voting for the mayors side of the issue,every time?
I am not an accountant – just a bookkeeper.
The OPEB is at $337,000,000 and is unfunded. That number is driven by payroll which was increased by hires such as the DIE office, social workers, and salary hikes. The auditor, Scanlon, warn that we need to build a trust for these liabilities and stop hiring more people*. The Mayor now proposes to use $2,000,000 from Free Cash to start the OPEB fund. Take a guess what my opinion is on that since I argued we should give the Free Cash back to the property owners who pay the taxes?
“What are your thoughts on city councilors who vote or disagree without tangible arguments”
There is a special place deep in the Milky Way, or hell, for people who argue by metaphors.
“or being mute and voting for the mayors side of the issue,every time?”
Simpler stated – enablers, fixers, and cowards. I don’t have much use for that behavior and don’t speak to it.
*I own some blame for approving 4 more building inspectors. They said that the department is understaffed and we have a huge backlog of uninspected buildings. But, these inspectors are to be equipped with brand new cars and dispatched to harry downtown property owners about snow shoveling. Yeah – snow. The stuff the City Hall has a thousand pounds of horseshit-excuses how it can’t handle. Lesson learned.
Keep up the good work, CHAZ!
I’ll subscribe of course but ads don’t really bother me. Your choice.
I rented a Tesla during the snow and it got stuck twice.. (AAA pulled it out once and a buddy pulled it out with a Dodge Ram). The streets were awful and while I understand that salt would have made it worse, the city could have sanded.
Yup. Poor job any way you look at it. Great to hear from you, CT!
It’s tough to be one hundred percent accurate but the Planet is pretty close.
Is this stooge like pctv propaganda? He doesn’t pay for anything especially after touting it on his political advertisement school funded and bill paying spectrum license. Which subscribers pay from their bill monthly. Another words your money is no good here Chuck. But your comments are always welcome.
Did you really rent an EV?
Electric golf carts are great……otherwise not so much.
The G-man says now is the time to use the planet for his full potential he’s on board with every Dans selects. It’s critical in the upcoming months to make sure that we get some new blood on the city Council primarily those who stay mute and vote for the puppet led mayor. The city Council should always be arbitrary and protect the taxpayers interest we don’t need someone on there who stays mute and agrees with everything the mayor wants and then their claim to fame is Commemorative street signs. Who’s kidding who this arts form that’s in the agenda now it’s only for a certain sector of the public doesn’t include all live here certainly
Couple errors on there should be not arbitrary and a couple of other miss cues. Sorry.
Charles. The G man is considering a run for Mayor or Ward Six City Councilor. As he states his ward is not represented at all. If he does not get involved he will support anyone other than the current representative in ward six and any other ward he feels is currently not represented.
I’d love to see him in a forum with Krol and Marchetti.
Yes, he did. When Chuck was in town for Christmas, we got together, as we usually do. He’s been a great friend since our days together at St. Joe’s, 9th grade. And yes, his Tesla got stuck TWICE in Pittsfield.
With all due respect, renting any EV in New England in December is not a well thought out move.
No substitute for correct tires in New England. If you drive with summer tires, you will have limitations despite all the neat AWD tech.
A judge, a bald eagle, two bankers, a snake, a retired publishing protégé and friend of Warren Buffett – walk into a bar…
And the eagle said, “I’m not with that guy”
Joe Biden printed trillions of federal dollars out of thin air. Maura Healey and Beacon Hill lawmakers are sitting on a multibillion Slush Fund. Linda Tyer’s “Pickleball” budget is over $200 million. Are you better off today now that the federal, state and local government is better off today?
And anyway you look at it warmer beacon guru Autumn self his own seats at the beacon and tax payers expensive. Don’t forget that photo of Johnny and Linda in the seats
Now Johnny I wrote that on purpose so it would confuse you because you confused us with that post you just planted you can’t have it both ways you voted for Biden and you probably voted for Healy stop the nonsense or I will continue to confuse you
???????
Kevin McCarthy has said that the first big meeting of Congress will be held at the border. That’s another reason why Biden is trotting over to the border today. He can’t have Kevin McCarthy make him look bad with the optics. The other reason is that Biden and his globalists think they have enough people in the country now to win the 2024 presidential election especially when they start kicking in chain migration after he legalizes all of these people.
CHARLES. I checked into the coyote debacle at Crane Avenue of what you said is on your side of the ward, and I got out of the car and tried to peel it off of the ground but it was stuck to the frozen grass. But I wouldn’t worry about it by the time the city gets to it it’ll be disintegrated it’s beyond mangee.
HW get a life!
You touch it, you own it. Buyer beware.
After reading the city council agenda for Jan. 10 – I have questions!
1) Why is $250,000 being proposed as a gift to EMA, Inc? They already received a $140,000 gift from the city in 2019 along with a 5 year TIF! This is a private company which had gross revenues of $7 million in 2021! Is Justin related to someone in the city government? In addition they have applied for $6 mil in state funding thru Mass Tech!
2) Why is $2 million being transferred from free cash to the Public Works stabilization fund? We won’t have a DPW report from Morales until the Jan 24th city council meeting about the snow plowing failures!
3) I fully support Councilor Kronick’s (item 17) proposal! Well done Sir Charles!
From my Facebook page:
If you agree with my petition contact ASAP AT-Large City Councilors! Agenda City Council, Item 17:
— —
Honorable members of the Council,
In response to the reports of the City’s response to Storm Elliot December 23, 2022, I present the following conclusion. It should be the resolution of the City Council to not authorize further expenses and purchasing of capital equipment as a result of the City’s performance in this storm. The final conclusion must focus on those steps that were not followed as these following observations should guide future responses, regardless of the season.
Following the storm that began 12/23/2022, the DPW and the Mayor’s office claim that an effective and prompt response – both plowing and salt – were impossible. Given the advance warning of this storm including temperature drop with combined sleet and snow and the rapid deterioration of the roads’ safety, activating the CodeRED alert and requesting that residents avoid non-essential commutes would have been essential acts. For reference, CodeRED was activated 12/15/22 to warn residents from
parking on street in preparation for that snow storm.
Activating a CodeRED phone alert and announcing a weather emergency with recommendation against driving would have served three purposes.
• Alerted drivers to dangerous conditions and reduced accidents
• Made roads more safe for essential workers
• Granted employment absence excuses for workers unable to commute
My petition anticipated this petition also on the agenda from Councilor Persip. Here we shall have a debate on the merits of the City’s argument for more spending.
Request to have the Commissioner provide the City Council what the cost would be for the following items
1. The trucks or equipment need to be able to use Magnesium Chloride when snow emergencies happen.
2. What the yearly cost that would be added to the budget if we had the correct equipment to pre-treat with Magnesium Chloride
3. Any other one-time cost or annual cost to be able to use Magnesium Chloride when needed to keep our roads safe.
Respectfully submitted,
Earl G. Persip
Councilor At-Large
Note: Councilor Persip does not even request a cost benefit analysis or a confirmation that salt choice is a driving issue (pun intended) as opposed to pretreatment. I received a letter today from a constituent with road management experience who challenges the city’s statement that rock salt would not work.
Sir Charles – the transfer of 2 mil from free cash to DPW – is that in anticipation of the magnesium & truck purchase?
This is unbelievable.
Far left loon and good friend of Pete White likely to run for ward 3 city council.
Who is Nick Caccamo
Cacomoron
I will be looking to run for ward three get ready “Wait till the get a load of me” The Batman
Good luck. And may the force be with you.
Sounds good. I won’t name the left wing lunatic until she announces.
White is speaking on a project going forward which as he says will end twenty years of nightmares? Really. Would one year have been better? Took twenty years? Pete,you are a nightmare.
Procreate millions for magnesium use the hidden magnesium we have and then transfer the money left over on the new magnesium do whatever they want to spend it on
Keep the ads.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/01/far-left-pundits-scared-gop-house-complain-gop-will-end-bidens-policies-end-biden-spending-cost-hunter-millions-legal-fees/
We can only hope that this is true!
Totally against giving two million of free cash to opeb. Hell no.
Imagine giving a step in to a school committee in previous school committees whose votes on certain issues obviously affect the school system yet are some of these on the school committee receive mega pensions so it’s in the best interest of everybody involved to have a biased opinion on anything schools. School committee should be volunteer that takes the bias out of it and after all I mean some of these people get $8000000 your pensions Hill school teachers that were on the school committee were getting 6070
Charles. The coyote stills lays. But Casella should be picking it up on their route today.
Welcome back Dan. I would keep the ads for the revenue stream they provide. I wouldn’t mind paying a subscription fee due to the fact I read the blog almost every day. I still watch the actions of the city, mayor, and councilors from afar through the media because I still have some family and friends that live in Pittsfield, and I care. I wish Charles all the best in his endeavors in protecting the citizens of Pittsfield. He just needs more help with like-minded councilors. Hopefully people will step up this election year. Have a great day.
CC
Great to hear from you and get your feedback on ads v. subscription. We are nearing a decision and will continue to take advice from a variety of sources, including readers. You are sorely missed on the council, but you’re right in identifying Sir Chaz as a successor, of sorts (even though it’s a different ward). Keep reading, stay in touch, and keep up the good work.