BIKING OR BILKING? THAT AND OTHER SUNDRY ENDS & ODDS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MARCH 24-6, 2023) — We end the week in Spring, tips of green spears piercing the soil, shafting through winter’s wake with an eagerness we would do well to emulate.
Biking or Bilking? — A follow up on the New England Mountain Bike Association’s attempt to “pimp” Pittsfield taxpayers out of $500,000. By mere coincidence, of course, school committee member Alison McGee, who has helped ruin public education in the city, is also the NEMBA rep. Royal Hartigan tells THE PLANET his group, The Best Friends of Springside Park (not the compromised and soiled Friends of Springside Park) have been fighting the further rape of Springside Park for 2.5 years, not 1.5 as reported Wednesday. This pump-track vote will help decide two things: (1) Who stands for Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski as opposed to the Special Interests and (2) Any close elections in September and November. Candidates take note!
Stanley Steaming Again — It wasn’t enough that developer and local movie-house impresario Cecil B. DePhonebone, aka Great Barrington’s Richard Stanley, heisted $2.3 million owed to Pittsfield taxpayers when he cut ties with the Beacon Cinema downtown. As you recall Flat Tyer and our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council looked the other way and forgave this massive loan obligation. Now, DePhonebone’s crying “poor” again. He wants taxpayers to cough-up $1.2 million to “rescue” the Triplex Cinema in GB. Prediction: He’ll get it. THE PLANET‘s answer to his demand would be “Sayanara, Baby!” Movie boxes (they aren’t theaters anymore) cost $100 for a family of four versus $10 or less to rent the same film on internet TV.
Trumped — Have to laugh at UberWoke NYC prosecutor and Dumpster Earl lookalike Alvin Bragg for his blatantly political attempt to indict President Trump on the latter’s 2016 $130K payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. The bucks were used as hush money to induce Daniels to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) about a one-night stand. NDA’s, by the way, are perfectly legal. The morals of such hush money are another thing. Good heavens, if NDA’s were illegal, half the make politicians and Big Shots in America and 3/4 in state government would be indicted. They couldn’t get on a series of trumped up charges (Russian “collusion,” secret documents, etc.) Now this bad case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, with Dems using their Uncle Tom Alvin to do the city work. THE PLANET has Dave Seville on speed dial: “Alvin? AL-vin?? ALLLVINNNN!!!!”
Good (Bed)fellows — While President Biden was forgetting his own name, the best politician and head of state on the planet and THE PLANET, China’s Xi Jinping, went off to visit his good friend Vladimir Putin of Russia. With this trip, Xi cemented his rise to regional and global leadership. His visit to Vlad comes on the heels of doing what a succession of U.S. presidents failed to do. He brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who have restored diplomatic relations. Biden-Harris? They don’t even know what country they’re in, what country they’re allegedly governing.
Clock ticking on on Tik Tok? — We can’t blame Biden. He’s long past his shelf life (but we hope not his “Self” life). Unfortunately, he’s been dominated by Kamela, the Gang of Five (AOC, Pressley, et. al.), and a tiny handful of other leftist loons. These minuscule coven has hijacked the once-honorable Democrat Party, guiding an inexorable destruction of America. Case in point, the Administration’s threat to shut down Tok Tok, the wildly popular cyber platform with 150,000,000 American users. The pretext? “National security” concerns and worries about the “mental health of young people.” Let’s take these one at a time. When government invokes “national security” concerns, you know it’s in coverup mode, a hideous practice refined in the Kennedy Assassination coverup, you can be sure it domestic wrongdoing. As far as the mental health of youth, the laughable notion exhibits a colossally out-of-touch mindset.t. If these government criminals were truly concerned about young people, they would ban the internet altogether. Don’t worry, though. That genie escaped Tony Nelson’s bottle long ago. The damage is done and getting worse. Long live Tik Tok.
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“Sisters fled by confusion boats, mutiny from storm to bow” — Bob Dylan, “My Back Pages.”
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Pittsfield officials and dysfunctional.. go hand in hand.. arguably the most inept in recent memory.
No argument from this poster. Citizens take note and vote in Sept and November. This might be the vote of the century. We must beat the special interest group politicians. They are the ones who have created this mess and they must be sent packing. The Gman concurs with this post and also states th a t if voted in as mayor the new special interest groups the overburdened tax and rate payer shall become the right full owner again of this city. In conclusion bye bye to all the inept political hacks. The sherif is on his way to Pittsfield. No more pulling the wool over the heads of the real owners of this city the tax and rate payers. Remember the 7% reduction. This will be the first landlines tossed to the citizenry
Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said that she will conduct an audit of the State Legislature, including all of the NDAs that state taxpayers paid for to coverup alleged sexual misconduct by our elected officials on Beacon Hill. It will be the first audit of the corrupt career politicians in Boston’s Statehouse since 1922, which is over 100 years ago. All three branches of the Massachusetts State Government are exempt from the public records laws that local governments have to comply with. While there are 200 Beacon Hill lawmakers, there are thousands of registered lobbyists, including some greed-balls who make 7-figure salaries legally bribing the fictional Massachusetts State Representative Sellout Shakedown and his colleagues. Beacon Hill lawmakers giveaway a little less than $18 billion per fiscal year in state tax breaks to their wealthy campaign donors, according to an April 2021 news article in the Boston Globe. The financial, corporate and ruling elites are enriching themselves and their wealthy campaign donors at the public trough, while the general public is being scammed with $50 scratch tickets. Why are voters reelecting the same politicians who are doing (nothing but) DISSERVICES to the people and taxpayers? Smitty Pignatelli is in his 21st year in Boston, Paul Mark is in his 13th year in Boston, Tricia Farley-Bouvier is in her 12th year in Boston, and John Barrett III is a Gold Medalist in being Career Politician for Life. They are all useless rubber stamp votes for the corrupt and secretive State House leadership who “Cook the Books” in Boston.
Mass. House speaker rejects plan to audit state legislature (wcvb.com)
JM:
Why are voters reelecting the same politicians who are doing (nothing but) DISSERVICES to the people and taxpayers?
I believe you can shed more light on why voters continue re-electing the same politicians again and again as you are one of those voters.
OP some would say the machines/counters are doing the continued government. Don’t assume voters are picking these people. I have talked to many and if they are telling the truth did not vote for the current office holders, makes one wonder
I’m sure there is some of the issues you mentioned happening, but add in the same ones voting for the same old just because of the letters in front of the politicians names and it adds up to to why things don’t change.
The voters keep putting into office the same failed councilors because the bulk of registered voters are too lazy to study the candidates and the issues. These people are ignorant individuals who can not even balance their own check books.How do we entice these registered voters to study and vote. It appears that only individuals who saturate the city with lawn signs have any chance of wining an election. These individuals are slapping our military veterans right in the face. It’s bad enough that we have no veterans on the council but we have very few in the entire city administration. This administration and council are a disgrace. These are the people who have destroyed our city. I say why bother with elections. Hire 11 councilors and a mayor based on credentials and let them go to work to restore our city to its jformer glory.i rest my case
I went to King Kone last night and got an ice cream cone. It was too Cold. Oh the humanity. The negativity of the site never ceases to amaze me. Bunch of Rubes stuck living in Mayberry. Whaaaaaa Whoa is me. I should be collecting a big fat pension from GE like daddy did. Whaaaaa, people want to ride bikes in a park, Whaaaaa. Get a life swizzle sticks !
IN DA
Now THAT’s a phony one!
In da no more sheep for you
Get your head out of your McDonough. You add nothing here.
In Da Know, would you be willing to testify under oath what you know about city financials and also, are you in favor of a forensic audit so that the taxpayers can be put at ease that their taxes are being well spent? The city seems to be busting at the seems with cash for everything else so why not? What would be a good reson NOT to do one?
Great post IDK.
Happy Friday and start of the first weekend in Spring!! Like a good farmer the city is cleaning out the manure they have been keeping inside and spreading it on their citizenry!!! Just yesterday I read where the Scohol Committee decided an almost 9% increase in their budget is reasonable!! At least Lenox knew only to raise it 5%(yes I am rounding up)! The illegal hidden ARPA committee is stealing money that should pay for the sewer and water construction so that tax bill would stay flat, they are taking their stolen gains to pay for a pickle ball court because the wealthy don’t want to build their own at their house. Our so called city environmentalist are pushing the rape of our inner city forest/park which supplies the children with clean air…not anymore it will be a dust bowl. Also read how the city plowed the private road that the mayor lives on, didn’t think this was legal either,,,,this manure sure does stink!!
SCOHOL forever! How can that department get by on a measly 9% raise. Council and SCOHOL committee will cut 0.01% of the 9% ask and claim they have “cut” the SCOHOL budget. The price of incompetence rises again!
Did anyone get to see the pages of cuts that were made to the school budget in areas of waste and unnecessary spending?
How can you see something that isn’t there?
Pickleball – Bousquet Sport is proud to provide 4-indoor Pickleball courts for year-round use! We’re currently offering Pickleball memberships for just $29 a month. REQUIRED VISITOR SAFETY WAIVER
There are at least two reports that are worth reading. Both tout the importance of land conservation and preserving the natural beauty, which includes open spaces and Wetlands, of these naturally wild spaces. Both involve justifying the use of tax money to purchase these properties in order to ensure the protection and maintaining of the ecological health of these wild spaces of wilderness from the potential invasion and rape of these natural wildlife refuges by greedy developers. Barkerville is a popular spot for hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching.
Pittsfield Committee Supports $50K for Saw Mill Acquistion /November 18, 2022
http://www.iberkshires.com
The city is seeking $50,000 boost from the Community Preservation Act funding to acquire over 50 acres of conservation land along the southwest branch of the Housatonic River.
The Community Preservation Committee on Wednesday supported an out-of-cycle application for the saw mill property acquisition, which would fill a gap needed for the $400,000 transaction.
By owning these properties, the city aims to remove the threat of haphazard and misguided development,
Within the acreage are areas of core habitat mapped by the state’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Pittsfield City Council OKs purchase of Barker Road properties ending a 20-year development ‘Nightmare’ for neighbors, / Berkshire Eagle
Conservation Properties – City of Pittsfield
The Barker Road Conservation Area is a 74-acre property that was acquired by the City of Pittsfield in 2011.
Another interesting read is Barker Road – Berkshire Enviromental Action Team – http://www.thebeatnews.org
Berkshire Mountain Pickleball (BMP) has 250+ members, about six places to play (mostly converted tennis courts), and costs $20/year.
Staanley is building an Empire with Ian Rasch and Frederick Rutberg.
If that is true, then The Eagle must disclose this conflict in any story they do on Stanley’s steaming.
But with all the cob webs, ie. LLC ‘s it’s really like, obscure. An, if no one questions it, than is moot.
For a brief minute Steam boat was with Craig barnum on the housing committee in Egremont its in the minutes but then, quick like, pfftthhh, they were gone.
I mustache you a question, were you or not on the housing committee for a minute?
Birdland is the LLC. which houses Klepetar’s Practice, owned NY Frederick’s of Hollywood…..
And the beat goes on
Did Mum get representation or not?? Was she a tax payer. See.
I wish you say things in a way I could understand. The weirdness…
“I mustache you a question”
That is WWIi quality code material. What does it mean? ‘The deal goes down at Big Y’?
I must ask you a question. Did Elizabeth Freeman get representation, or not.
& it’s difficult to figure out what’s going on because individuals use LLC in order to protect their conflict of interest. I said cob web
Ask me a direct question and I will answer you. I am not speaking in code.
I noticed the llc thing too. More real estate sales seem to involve them.
Question: Would a forensic audit of Pittsfield financials reveal an astounding collaboration of weird and powerful bedfellows?
And if so do you think that is why we will never see one?
And if so, do you feel someone trying to raise a family might do much better in another locality?
Let me pipe in here. Irrespective of an independent audit showing that “weird collection of powerful bedfellows,” which is a great description but the way, such a collection DOES exist. It’s a handful of (mostly) guys who have access to the money and therefore can pull the strings of the candidates.
Depends, will the audit be undertaken in a bed, with more than one person, on zoom, uphill, running.
It’s then not just bedfellows it’s conspiracy and an organization of crime.
Whacchu doin?
PEET
Also, will any such audit look for and find the rumored second- and third set of books?
Stop throttling people to leave here. Highway to freedom, bullshit.
Question: who is E Freeman and how does her case pertain to anyone but E Freeman?
The Declaration. Involuntary Survitude.
Inclusion of All People.
Taxation/ Representation.
Abuse of power.
Unsure if She is a real person or just a Corporate Name.
The story is that, someone burned her arm one day and she got hot.
All People Are Born Free, and are guaranteed rights.
It’s the lie right there. There isn’t equal treatment and nothing is guaranteed, including and especially, freedom.
It’s here. There are people who are victims of misconduct and since 2011 it’s just a lab scandal, it’s just police misconduct, it’s a corrupt system more than anyone knows.
Bread crumbs that lead always back to the same people who own your skin. You thought it was yours?
“Bread crumbs that lead always back to the same people who own your skin. You thought it was yours?”
I sort of follow. Still cryptic.
Yes, @ Big Y.
I actually put a bit of work into deciphering your writing because the issues there are intriguing. What does “I mustache you a question” mean? [scratch that – I get it now!]
What is the big picture you are describing? Framework.
Here is an old link for starters –
http://www.massinjustice.org/Rutberg%20control%20sheet.htm
More recently,
I paid for a property survey. Never received it.
Developer purchased all the surroundings.
The gerryrigged jury; is not uncommon at Berkshire Courts.
Pardon ignorance – what’s a property survey and who grants them?
You paid a surveyor to assess the property boundaries? The surveyor accepted the payment and never performed?
That does seem peculiar as far as ignorance goes though.
The survey in fact happened- but ian rasch got the details of that survey,
not me. I just paid for it. I got nothing, except fucked over. And unsolicited offers for my home, which is not on the market.
I can go to civil court if i want my survey that I paid for $1,200. Fuck that. Court is rigged for the real estate developer.
Mud
It’s not a grant situation. A property owner can hire a surveyor. Maybe that is the reason for confusion. It is actually not a GRANT. it’s a service that an individual paid/pays for. And it’s not cheap too.
I get it now – prior post explains it. (By grant I meant ‘who provides’. Whatever – it’s clear now.)
Dang Homonyms.
Big picture seems to be a land grab. Same as the indians.
I’ve not looked into Framework. That’s not what I meant, no.
I’m reading through your link. By framework – I mean what are we talking about. What’s the players in general (judges, councilors, ethnics….
Is it like, hieroglyphics
So glad that, so far, Soros appointed DA Bragg is unable to politically persecute Donald Trump by perp walking him. I’m not sure about Tik-Tok. Usually when the Wokesters start crying “racism” about shutting down Tik-Tok as a large group of them did yesterday, they have a very bad political reason for wanting to keep it up and running.
Come on Dan,Braggs noggin ain’t that big.
I wouldn’t trust China on their use of TikTok, but if they get rid of it it will probably hurt the Dems.
Another great reason to get rid of it
Indeed. That is what a lot of people now understand about a certain party. Curious – what do you trust the Chinese on?
I trust that they will always act in their own self-interest, kind of like Donald Trump.
Interesting, is acting in self-interest bad?
Well it’s not bad if you’re a fan of Ayn Rand or Nathaniel Brandon, otherwise it has the negative connotation of looking out for yourself at the expense of the group.
Never read Rand or Brandon. They sound fruity.
How do you get through a day without acting in self interest?
The ‘for the benefit of the group‘ is a communist concept. In fact, communist [socialist/gangster] systems prevent protection of self-interest. In classical economic thought, groups that engage in free markets share rewards of efficiency with individuals rising and falling from time to time in the pursuit of self interest.
Insurance and lotteries both depend upon the pursuit of self interests as does behavior such as yanking your money out of the bank before it folds or selling falling stocks. I bet you can find far more reasonable examples supporting self-interest than self-sacrifice (for the benefit of someone else’s self-interest.)
Yes, as Ayn Rand would say, ‘there is no such thing as altruism.’
Did she actually say that? If so, then she definitely is too fruity for me.
You should read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I am sure you’d like it.
I think that I would find her too loose. Not worth my time.
Seems like she is more to your liking.
Or the sequel, “Atlas Dithered.”
They steal your data while you watch their silly videos.
Name one such internet site that does NOT steal data. The only way to protect national security and youth mental health is to outlaw the internet ENTIRELY. I would favor such a ban.
Dan, concerns are doubled when it is governments stealing the data. The concern with companies is now raised as the boundary between them and gov. Bureaucrats vanish. I would fear the Chinese on account of the scale of their ambitions, and the State on account of proximity and intention.
I understand these well-expressed and on-target comments. Since the internet became plebeian, hackers and those who write code have been playing a cyberspace version of pickle ball. Software engineers write code. Hackers break in. Firewalls are installed. Hackers break in. And it’s been like that from the beginning. I recently talked to a couple of software engineers. One of them stated, “There is no code we can write that a hacker can’t break.” They went on to say that when AI (generalized AI) begins write its own code, humans are cooked.
Zero-days is the name of the game.
Every organization in China has a bifurcated structure. Next to the CEO’s office is the CCP secretary’s (and I don’t mean file clerk) office, and do you want to guess who trumps whom? I am confident we could take them in a fight, but we do need to remain vigilant.
We may not be able to take them in a fight. Millie’s concerned with making sure our soldiers are respecting gender identities to the detriment of making certain they can blow the brains out of the Chicoms before they get them first.
Exactly.
Don’t buy anything from China. Throw out your Apple phones, TV’s and computers that all come from there. It is time to give them the boot! Unfortunately the citizens of the US are to brainwashed by the media that they think with Biden in charge everything is awesome! No quid pro quo with the 10% big man in charge….c’mon man I take the train everyday from deleware though no one saw me
Trump is behaving exactly like Mao did after the ‘great leap forward.’ When he fell out politically he tried to rally support of the masses by calling for violent overthrow. The difference is that Mao succeeded and Trump failed.
That’s weird.
You may consider it weird but it’s the truth. Google ‘Mao swims the Yangtze River’ for some insight.
Also weird.
MSM media will be back with some more news, as soon as they make some up………..
First time a U.S. president has been owned by a foreign government. Where’s the investigation of the Biden crime family? Biden needs a nursing home!
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/03/more-biden-humiliation-saudi-tv-makes-fun-of-joe-biden-for-tripping-up-air-force-one-steps-video/
Now employees are asking for more pay ie jim Clark for one. Yet The co h r doesn’t know how much. We are now woke. How about higher productivity and less pay increases.
Pittsfield is looking for ambassadors to eliviate some of the city hall employee pain. Planet has to see the March 20 o and r meeting, pen twirling and giggling councilors. What’s worse is the management personnel came unprepared asking for what they wanted. What else is new?
They may have been unprepared OR may not have had permission to answer questions. Loose lips find themselves on the employment line sometimes. Better to play dumb than piss off the corner office.
Yes.
Zim, The most recent license board meeting even tops this meeting..we are in real trouble with this administration. Police coming to the meeting totally unprepared. What might they be doing behind closed doors. Dumb dumber and dumbest. You can’t make this stuff up. . They are pitiful to a fault
I’m waiting for the one where he trips on the stairs on the way down from AF1 rather than going up AF1 stairs.
Trump thieves Trump University.Trump used his charity for his own personal use.Trump uses election donations to keep his affair with porn actress a secret.Trump threatens DA Bragg with violence.This is not excusable by MAGA.
Drunk early today i see.
Please see help.
Beyond help?
And redemption.
Keep masking up indoors and alone in your car TSC. The “Climate Change” monster is coming to get you.
Wasn’t that slick willy with the Clinton Fundation?? I see he was imprisoned in the pedophile island for all his corruption
Stanley Steaming! Thanks for the laugh.
You got it, SALT.
I think the far right is in just as deep as the far left on the idea of banning Tic-Tok. Watch yesterday’s hearing to see for yourself.
MR. W
I agree completely. I watch all 5+ hours of Tok Tok lCEO Shou Zi Chew. A most impressive lad!
Yes.
MCLA wants to convert dorms on its campus into homeless shelters. Let the crime, drugs and sexual assaults commence.
I think the State is doing it’s darnedest to close that school. What kid wants to live in a dorm next to a homeless shelter?
and in return the homeless dregs will be weeding the sidewalks on all streets right? oh yea no
More excellent clever verbiage by Dan. Thanks and a tip of the hat to MAD Don Martin. The problem with the payment to stormy Daniels is not that he paid off a porn star, but that he tried to disguise the payment instead of putting it down as a campaign expense, which it was.
No, the problem is that DA Bragg is trying to invent a crime that doesn’t exist in order to be a Dem hero and fulfill his campaign pledge to prosecute Trump. Bragg should be locked up for dereliction of duty along with NYAG James.
https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2023/03/23/exclusive-alan-dershowitz-alvin-bragg-created-crime-that-doesnt-exist-to-get-prep-walk-trump/
If it’s a crime that doesn’t exist then why was Michael Cohen sent to prison for doing it?
It’s Cohen’s crime
Don’t be an idiot LL. He had Cohen do it to keep it off his plate. Aren’t we here to find the truth? Come on guys!
I don’t think that Cohen went to jail regarding the hooker. I thought it is because he was a con man. I may be wrong.
He is a con man to be sure. But he went to jail for disguising payments.
Perjury. He went to jail because he is a liar. I said I may wrong – you didn’t double check?
Much appreciated, my dear Mr. B.
Why, is it illegal to pay for a lifestyle coach?
It’s not illegal to pay for a lifestyle coach or sex or an NDA for that matter. What is illegal is to disguise the payment to keep it off the campaign books.
Now, if Trump were a duly elected member of Congress, he could have availed himself to the Congressional NDA Trust Fund that is reserved to pay off sex scandals.
Not all payments issued in the course of a campaign is a campaign expense. With your logic, I’d be inclined to demand all meals consumed, clothes purchased and worn during campaigning, haircuts taken during campaigns to be recorded too.
The only fault I have is that Stormy Daniels had a bad night pimping herself out. That’s on her, and if I were Trump I’d not pay her for it.
A general point about ‘porn stars’ – they are not porn stars, they are just whores doing what whores have always done.
Marjorie Taylor Green considers herself a star. Hard to tell what sex she is what with all the hormonal changes to her face but she wants you to treat her like a star regardless of her pronouns
She’s not a star. She’s a stupe.
Nope, the stupes are still supporting Brandon and giving him/Ukraine entire contents of our treasury is a good thing.
Yeah, her pronoun is ‘usuns’.
What you say is true, PFH.
“…demand all meals consumed, clothes purchased and worn during campaigning, haircuts taken during campaigns to be recorded too.“
That’s exactly how it happens, and it’s perfectly legal.
At this point, the only person potentially likely to be indicted is Bragg.
Another topic to ponder are the waste of taxpayer money DIE programs. Besides spreading their leftist-views, we all know what they are really about. Here a Joe Xiden government example:
Pentagon will not discipline diversity officer who tweeted about white people with CAUdacity | Daily Mail Online
Do you think if a white male pentagon official made a “racist,” “homophobic,” “anti-LGBFUKJB%,” tweet, he’d still have his job?
Shouldn’t DIE programs focus on building up their communities, instead of trying to tear ours down? Gunplay, gang violence, “jugging,” and thug life, are not issues in white communities. Shirl? BBEC? OB? DIE Office? Denny?
Yup. You’ll recall, MARK, my statement that the first of Krol and Marchetti to come out and (1) promise an independent audit, beginning with the crooked ARPA giveaways, (2) Pledges to get rid of the DIE office, and (3) Squash Springside Park as the location for a pump track as well as nixing ANY city money for it … first of these dudes to do it becomes the next mayor. Pledging 2 out of 3 might do the trick. One of three, don’t think so.
Isn’t Marchetti part responsiblew for the ARPA crookery being on the advisory board? Krol likely voted against the Audit.
Not good enough to support an indi-audit. Need to explain the terms of an audit that would be proposed. The extent of the audit matters most.
Dan Considering that all of these things are what the kapanskis would want their next mayor to do and because the Gman shares their
hopes he would have no qualms in fighting for and delivering to the kapanskis what they are looking for. Remember the gman is the taxpayer’s and ratepayers greatest ally and his administration will always fight for the little guy.ie the Kapanskis. This you can bet the house on
Then get off your ass, hire a campaign manager, buy some lawn signs & campaign materials, and actually put some effort into the run for mayor. All we’ve gotten from you is a lot of hot air!
Put up or shut up!
Any audit needs to be a deep dive, not a quick scan like the one that is done now. All department heads need to be called in to explain expenditures, how, why, when, who authorized, did it go out to bid etc? Auditor needs to be given subpoena power for those who may have lockjaw Anything less could be as useless as the one done now. and then make the whole thing public.
Past mayoral candidates have made many promises that were as hollow as a straw so mere words cannot be trusted. And given the track records of the two main characters I would be suspicious of any promises they made without some backup and detail.
That kind of forensic analysis would be almost impossible, as the corruption to be unearthed would choke a T-rex.
Dans missing one voting criteria. Which candidate will support reducing the water plants cost or at least looking into it by tens of millions? Evidentially Marchetti doesn’t give a crap.Why is that going underscored especially on here? Dan?
“WOO”
You asked, so I will answer. “What’s going on here” is you, Craig G-Man, posting under these various nome de plumes and promoting yourself for mayor. I won’t let this site serve as a virtual campaign HQ for any candidate. You have no chance at mayor. That would be a repeat of the last time you ran for that office. You would have a chance in Ward 6, but only if you run a real campaign and actually compete for the office. You could actually bring much to the campaign, but you would need to do a 180 in your tactics. It can’t be simply another “get my name in the paper” type thing.
These DIE policies are inherently racist and unanimously assume lesser competence among non-whites/non-asians, attributing intellectual ability to racial membership alone, implying minorities are somehow naturally inferior. That is the central, unspoken theme gluing
their ideology together.
Actually, they assume the opposite – weaker qualifications from POC. It’s the same Democratic Party that invents ‘race’s metrics and then goes on to exploit.
Markus lots of truth in your post
So you think North Street is safer with bike lanes? Not according to the CDC. They tell us;
Most bike car collisions take place in urban areas .
Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die each year in collisions
Over 130,000 are injured
Costs of death and injuries exceed 23 billion each year
************************
Traffic calming is BS…. Speeding is problem on Elm, Williams, West, South and we don’t hear of any traffic calming BS on those or other streets.
How would one speed on north street considering the number of lights between south and Whachona st?
Excellent post, DB.
If the city succeeds in bringing more cars and recreational bikes to north street accidental deaths will increase.
That destroys dumb Dina’s theory.
For sure.
So when is the Springside bike “bilk” up for a vote by the city council? Do the “Best Friends of Springside” have a website and if not- who do I contact to offer my support? This truly sounds like a bait & switch since the city is now being asked to fork over half a million dollars for this destructive project.
Contact Royal Hartigan @ royal hartigan
Trump was right, as NATO member nations continue to avoid paying their dues. U.S. is bearing the lion’s burden of defending Europe!
And just to repeat – Ukraine is not a member nation!
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/only-7-out-30-nato-members-hit-2-gdp-defense-spending-target-2022
We should withdraw. Let another Churchill come to our shores and make a case and a plea for help. If there is no one of his character and persuasion, let them go.
You guys don’t want to spend money that way. I think it’s money well spent.
Why? We just pay for and fight their wars, then they go back to getting rich together with Soviets when they had enough. Let them go, Bonner, just let them go. Nothing changed since 1775.
We control Europe. I like it that way.
What do we control?
When NATO leaders meet, who do you think calls the shots? We do, cuz our leverage is the greatest. I’ll pay for that ticket anytime.
We pay the bills too. And who gets the benefit? While we are spending towards another trillion dollar to fund Ukraine, the Euros are yes, giving a little (one tank at a promise – not actually delivering) and finding ways to get cheap stuff from Russia and evade our embargo. They win, we lose, Ukraine fights for what they can get and give lots of thanks to our generals and Congress but little thanks to the American People who are the ones who will go broke. And the American person shall remain broke long after the Ukrainians make their recovery likely paid in full by us. And there will likely be the German carpetbaggers who will sweep in to reap their own rewards for our financial sacrifices. That’s my screed.
Let’s dig into the phrase “we call the shots”. How does that work?
“Let’s dig into the phrase “we call the shots”. How does that work?“
We are NATO’s most powerful member, that’s all.
But, what does it mean that we call the shots? Seems like each time we call a shot, we do the shooting and they watch. Up to last summer, we couldn’t even talk them out of plugging into Soviet gas.
The example here is that we are take the bulk of the cost of funding Ukraine, Europe is reaping the reward of a weaker Soviet threat. Another example, perhaps USA would like Sweden in NATO. Makes sense as their island territories are either a base for the Soviets, they do conduct exercise for seizing them, or they serve as NATO blockade to their Baltic fleet. But,Turkey stands in the way of our accepting Sweden. We do not call that shot! Do we control the Turks? Will Erdogan stand down? I don’t think he has much concern for US influence.
But from the American standpoint, we face a growing nuclear threat from the Soviets and the Euro’s are happy to stand aside. So, how are we calling shots and marshalling our Euro ‘allies’ to our mutual benefit?
There are strong economic indicators of an upcoming recession. What is Pittsfield politics’ position on the possibilities of an economic downturn? The answer is a proposed increase in the Pittsfield public school district’s proposed fiscal year 2024 budget of $5.9 million – 8.17 percent – over fiscal year 2023. The School Committee will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget this upcoming Monday evening, March 27th, 2023, at 6pm. $78 million for Pittsfield’s Level 5 public schools, a predicted recession, and Pittsfield politics’ decades of failed leadership on public education (along with everything else) sounds a bit too much for my view of economic and financial reality!
What is the current student/pupil census in the school system? Does Williams elementary still have less than 10 in a class? Time to consolidate!! Allendale school sits on toxic soil. Many years ago the city wouldn’t allow the baseball league dig the soil it had to be done by the city?? Why? and don’t they think 8-12 year old kids will dig in soil? What is the condition of Crosby and Morningside? The multiple Supers and Asst Supers should earn their salaries and come back with a pared down budget…I say cut 10% off this years budget to start
SHIRL
Yes. Money clearly is not the answer for Pittsfield’s awful public school system. It, in fact, is the problem. Little of that money actually goes into producing learning. It goes to pay the out-of-control salaries and bennies for 1,500 employees. With 5,000 students, the ratios are unsustainable.
The big far left teacher’s union boss, Randi Weingarten, is saying it’s antisemitic to mention New York DA Bragg’s ties to George Soros. What?!? Soros gave a million dollars to help get Braggs elected. That’s a fact so Soros has an interest in spreading these far left District Attorneys across the country to destabilize us for a globalist controlled world order. Rani Weingarten has known about this as have most people associated with the school department and our media and they want to keep this association between Soros and the DA’s hidden because it shows very clearly their devious plans.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/randi-weingarten-torched-saying-antisemitic-mention-manhattan-da-alvin-braggs-ties-soros
Soros divorced his first wife because ‘she was too jewish’.
I think he belongs, age notwithstanding being young, in the class of Nazi collaborators who fled to the USA dressed in the stolen clothes of those they persecuted.
Example: in north county, I met the daughter of a sadistic nazi SS commander, all pious about the ‘crimes of the Allies in Dresden’. We had a conversation. At wars end, the called themselves Roma and sought refuge here as refugees. I brought a chair from and burnt it as an offering.
Point is, there are a lot of criminals and collaborators who exploited the opportunity opened by their crimes. I suspect Soros hates jews, and couldn’t tolerate one as a wife.
I hope the people of North Adams don’t fall for the proposed plan to use the MCLA tower to house “homeless.” The Eagle article reports that homeless from outside Berkshire County would be brought in but “ no other details are available.” Migrants? A town in Maine took over a motel & used it for homeless illegal aliens and experienced a huge uptick in crime to the point that nearby restaurants & retail outlets closed down due to the constant break-ins and harassment of customers. The neighborhood went rapidly downhill. This is just the reality of the situation.
Its state property. People don’t have a say. Now, their state rep barrette could have a say, but he’s sounding limp.
Doesn’t want to bite the hand that feeds him? Or just too weak as Marks, tfb, smitty would not want to get in between
From the article:
If the dorm is converted into a homeless shelter, the state would set aside some units for the local homeless population, Keeser said.
“That’s what they told the mayor, and that’s what they told others, and that’s what we’re pushing for,” she said.
How nice! Set aside some units for the local homeless. I think you are right as in this being done more for outsiders.
What to do with all the illegal aliens dumped in MA? They’ll be sent to North Adams!
Send them to TFBlivots house.
Will the intersections/traffic lights, be set aside for panhandlers like in $#!t$field?
Usual suspects were begging at light across from library at intersection with 1st St yesterday………
Yeah what the public doesn’t understand is that they will be paying for schooling, food, housing, medical, etc etc for the invaders along with an increase in crime. And they may be taking jobs (IF they decide to work) from the local unemployed.
https://www.themainewire.com/2022/11/maine-illegal-alien-asylum-seeker-welfare/
Put “houseless” to work for any benefits.
Put the crimial aliens on a boat/train boxcar home.
ITS DIVERSITY!!!!
INCLUSION!!!
What is described in your post is exactly what happens in every area that this goes on in. The people pushing this are the ones who tell everyone how great it will be for everyone , yet are unaffected by it. The politicians take the money and run and leave it to the taxpayers who are already struggling to keep it going and put up with the nonsense after the government funds end.
Why not make it senior housing for the Berkshire Cty seniors who are stuck in facilities due to not having anywhere to go?
I know an elderly person living in one of what used to be a Pittsfield “senior housing” projects. This person tells me that it is now being used for basically section 8 housing for pretty much anyone. Including ex cons. Seniors who have had their adult children moving in with them illegally but no one apparently checking very closely. Some of them with drug and alcohol issues. Not feeling particularly safe.
These places used to be for seniors only and they felt safe and well taken care of. Slowly becoming much less, though kudos to the maintenance people who seem to be trying very hard.
Thanks for the kudos.
Are you related to the “Duke of Paducah?” Or the “Duke of Earl,” for that matter?
Skullery.
Why is Michael Wynn being allowed to retire with a taxpayer funded pension? I ask this question because of all the dirty cops in Berkshire County, Wynn has to be one of the dirtiest, if not the dirtiest, in my opinion. North Adams Police Chief Jason Wood has been officially relieved of his duties. Despite the fact that he is a municipal employee, his fall from grace is shrouded in secrecy, except to say that whatever he got away with is allegedly not criminal, but bad enough to force him resign his post as Chief of Police. I seriously doubt it’s not criminal. But whatever it is, it’s bad enough that the mayor would rather have the public think the worse of Chief Wood than to admit how really bad he is. Getting rid of a bad cop is nearly impossible, no matter how egregiously criminal their conduct. In 2012 there was the scandal of Hinsdale’s Chief of Police, Chief Pedoty. It’s a tawdry sordid tale involving sex and violence among pigs, the police chief, his Peru police officer girlfriend, and others. Just one of many of the scandals involving many of Hinsdale’s law enforcement. And there’s the scandal of Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis, a real life grinch who stole Christmas money meant for disadvantage children, stole Church Bingo Funds, and extorted money from a working girl, among other unsavory conduct unbecoming a police officer. There’s also the confidential agreement between the town of Dalton and its ousted Chief of police, Jeffrey Coe. Just as the town of Dalton was moving to consider disciplinary actions against Coe. The flaccid long arm of the law caught up some of with these criminals in top positions in law enforcement. And yet Michael Wynn is being allowed to retire with a taxpayer funded pension. One can only imagine what his agreement with the Devil is. I can only pray that the Devil double crosses Wynn in this lifetime.
CIH. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT WYNN WILL RETIRE THIS SUMMER?? BECAUSE OF HIS PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH TYER ,,,, HE HAS BEEN RETIRED SINCE 2015. I SAY GOOD RIDDANCE. YOU CANT MISS SOMEBODY WHO IS A NOBODY. YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINTS. AGAIN GOOD RIDDANCE TO A PITTANCE. WYNN HAS WON, BUT ONLY IN THIS LIFE. TO YOU WYNN, I WISH NOTHING BUT THE WORST FOR YOU . You deserve it
Chief Wynn has an unblemished records and has every right to retire.
Why do you debase yourself by lying for Michael Wynn. Wynn is not a good guy, and there’s no such animal as a good cop. It doesn’t exist! The only thing Wynn has a right to do, is to retire, FOR GOOD! The sooner, the better.
CITY
Irrespective of your feelings about any police officer, there ARE good cops.
Oh, right, it’s just a few bad apples. That’s BS! Everyone knows that fish rots from the head and a few rotten ones spoil the whole barrel. You can file this one under Fish Rots from the Head.www.masscops.com Hinsdale ex-chief headed for jail. In addition to the felony conviction of Chief Green, FIVE other Hinsdale Police officers were indicted on similar charges as a result of Green’s wayward leadership.
That’s 6 bad cops in a department of 10 cops. And it wouldn’t surprise if the 4 cops who weren’t indicted, weren’t worried. In addition to the 6 bad Hinsdale cops, a Pittsfield Auxiliary Cop was also caught up in these crimes. The investigation of the Pittsfield Auxiliary Captain was in the hands of the Pittsfield Police for a WHILE, apparently not yielding any results, when it was finally turned over to the State Police for them to conduct an investigation. You can file that under cops solve the crimes that want to solve, cover up the crimes that want to deny, and fabricate crimes that never happened.
Cops are public servants in the most solemn way, sworn to protect and serve, and yet cops do just the opposite.
It took State Police 30 months to investigate the chief and his partners in crime.
And after this scandal Hinsdale hired Chief Christian Pedoty, who set the bar high in April of 2011 only to tumble from his high pedestal by June 2012. But fear not, because then the Hinsdale Select Board hired Chief Nancy Daniels.
Hinsdale selectmen vote to fire Police Chief Nancy Daniels – wwwberkshireeagle.com
EX POLICE CHIEF CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING wupe.com
And then there’s this foul seamy under belly of cops.
bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com
[PDF] Colando Investigative Services,
Another rotten barrel of fish rotting from the head.
Then there’s the tale of the two cops who broke into their own police department evident locker/room where a large cache of illegal drugs was being stored for safe keeping. After this inglorious caper, both of the inglorious bastards left the scene of their crimes and were promptly hired by other Police departments. One was hired by the Pittsfield Police Department.
These are still selected cases. Not even you can believe ALL, as in every single one without exception, A-L-L cops are rogue. Correct me if I’m wring. It will reveal much.
Perhaps selected, but certainly not isolated cases. I can’t even agree that these cases are Selected in the sense of cherry picking, to make cops look bad. Because I didn’t even choose the worst suspects in law enforcement. The selected Hinsdale Police Department is a police department with less than 10 cops. And in less than a 10-year period every Hinsdale Police Chief I mentioned has resigned or been fired, in disgrace. I didn’t make that up. The DA recommended a three-to five-year sentence in state prison for the felony convicted police chief, but he received only a 2-year jail sentence, but did a lot less than that, and he lost his pension.
So, in challenge to your wrongheaded belief that there must be a good cop out there somewhere, if a cop put a gun to my head, I’d probably say, the only good cop is a dead cop. But we both know that’s not even true. A self-inflicted bullet to the brain is not absolution.
Until tonight, I didn’t know this poem existed.
The Only Good Cop is a Dead Cop Poem by Ramona Thompson / 2009
I’m not afraid to say it
I’m not gonna say I’m sorry for it
Ain’t even one of ’em worth a thing
Just dirt beneath our feet
Scum
Each and every last one of ’em
They protect and serve all right…
Themselves!
P.I.G.S.
I can think of no more fitting title than this one for them
Unless maybe it’s
Wormfood
Yeah, much better
Not trying to say they should die and I’m not trying to encourage any nutcases out there
I’m just saying that none of us should honor or shed any tears over these fallen zeroes
Acts so tough
As tough as nails
Think they’re so high and mighty
Above the law
Better than all the rest of us
Rolling my eyes I can only say
Oh please…
NWA said it best
When they said
F the police
I would say creating them was God’s worst mistake
But I think we know by now
God had nothing to do with these jerks
In fact, I’m pretty sure he agrees with me
“Cause he was the one who ask me in a dream to write…
The only good cop is a dead cop
As “a challenge to my wrongheaded belief,” is not a wining one! To call those words you found a “poem” can only be done with quotes around the word, as in “poem.” “Ignorant juvenilia” might be the kindest description I could round up. I’ve known a lot of cops in my day, and most of them have been good and decent.
Well, I guess it depends on your definition of good and decent. I can say that there isn’t a single cop that I’m aware of that’s within the perimeters of my definition of good or decent. I’d also like to say that I didn’t write that poem, and I really didn’t know it existed until last night. My reference to the only good cop is a dead cop was more a taunt than an argument. And now, while I’m certainly not conceding that you’re right and I’m wrong, an undeniable truth is that there is a world of negativity for cops out there. And cops are ones that brought that on themselves. If cops are as good as the best of them, then they’re also as bad as the worst of them.
Great Idea not put a homeless shelter on the grounds of Mcla. They complain now about low numbers enrolled do this a see what happens. They think students do not follow the rules just wait, drinking, drugging, prostitutes, fights, stealing, flith.The kids everyday hit up for money, smokes lets how long it last. Not against the homeless but this is just stupid.
I am hereby pledging 10 percent of my social security check and every one going forward to save the Stanley Triplex and I hope all seniors will do the same. This poor man is doing Gods work trying to save this iconic destination and we should stop thinking about our own frivolous needs like food and medicine and for once in our lives do something good. I think I speak for everyone when I say mr Stanley deserves our best effort to pull him out of the poorhouse as he has given much to the world and would be asking for our help unless it was an emergency. Thank you in advance for your charitable non tax deductible contribution and please check around the house for loose change in the couch and chairs as well.
It’s laughable how the democrat controlled media has so many posters hypnotized with fake news.
There’s daily excavating, blasting, septic, water, electric, and some Intentional development happening without the1
Notice of Intent
NOI is often required – however, it is private property however, obviously the intended use is for commercial use.
I do not understand how come, a place is developed under thu guise of private property but, we all know, it’s a development?
And, the developer is an Air bee and be’er- were all talking about a housing shortage? I do not know the laws, however this seems to be RETARDED.
It just means I live here but I do not know what is happening around me, because the bylaws and development protocol is ignored, doesn’t apply- this is a residential zone and no Campground non-developable!!!!
But if you’re in bed with the mountains and the mills the walking trails and the theater the bread and butter, the first pull of the olive oil, than ur in.