IMPORTANT PROGRAM NOTE: THE PLANET INTERVIEWS MARCHETTI, KROL … OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HAS BOTH TOMORROW @ NOON … plus … THE COUNCIL, CRIME, & PART TWO OF THE MOUNTAIN-BIKE MADNESS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
ADD 1 3/29/23: Here is our interview with Peter Marchetti: https://youtu.be/hFDEXyA8xm0. If this link is not hot, simply go to YouTube and search “PLANET VALENTI VIDEO.” The John Krol interview is at https://youtu.be/h_LbxF6rsp4.
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 29, 2023) — Lots to talk about today.
As promised, THE PLANET presents Part Two of our expose on the pump-track scheme mountain bikers are trying to force-fit into the pristine open spaces at Springside Park. Before that, however, we need to address three items, two of which we didn’t and couldn’t anticipate. Let’s get to those three items, then Part Two.
FIRST: PROGRAM ALERT
Tomorrow (Thursday) at noon, THE PLANET will present two one-hour interviews we did today (Wednesday) with mayoral candidates Peter Marchetti and John Krol. You can watch both shows on our YouTube channel, PLANET VALENTI VIDEO, of which we intend to make much more use this year.
Marchetti and Krol may or may not be the two who will ultimately contend for the corner office in this year’s November election, but as of today, they are the two “front runners.” Again, much may change.
We did this now because on April 3, the first day nomination papers become available at city clerk Michelle Benjamin’s ‘s office, both candidates plan to take out papers. Later that night from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Marchetti officially launches his campaign at Berkshire Hills Country Club. Krol does the same the next night, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Italian American Club, $50 and $25 at the door respectively.
THE PLANET primes the pump with these two, hour+ interviews — and that’s what these are, conversations not confrontations. They’re informal discussions, not debates. We wanted to talk with both men before the sparks begin to fly.
We can already hear the complaints: PLANET, you were too easy on them. You were too tough. Why didn’t you cover the ________________ (fill in the blank) issue? You favored Marchetti. You favored Krol. We bring all this up in what shall prove a futile attempt to stop the jabbering with respect to these two candidates and THE PLANET‘s role in Campaign ’23.
Anyone who has an interest in the city’s future will not want to miss these shows. Watch them both.
Again: PLANET VALENTI VIDEO, streaming beginning noon Thursday, March 30 and available thereafter. We and the candidates will have great interest in what you saw during these two hours.
———- ooo ———-
SECOND: COUNCIL
Last might, our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council met. THE PLANET won’t give you a meeting review or play by play. Let’s just share a few impressions related to the bike-lane referendum.
Cut to the chase. The council canceled its previous support.
On a motion advanced by Peter White, the council rescinded the previous vote to put a referendum on the November ballot with respect to … to what, exactly?
Councilors nullify its previous 5-4 approval of Karen Kalinowsky’s petition to get a binding ballot question before Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Vote was 7-2 (Kalinowsky, Charles Kronick) with one abstention (Maffucio). Jim Conant was absent.
Was the “confusion” part of “a fast one” pulled by back-door interests who fear hearing from We The People on just about ANY issue? That’s for citizens and voters to decide. The muddle stemmed from Ken Warren’s amendment (approved) on the night of the original decision on Kalinowsky’s eminently clear question (essentially, “You want to keep the bike lanes or not?”) to one about returning (or not) North Street back to a four-lane road, north and south.
That Roger Maris* asterisk maneuver gave the city solicitor raison d’être to perform transgender surgery on the initial question.
Bottom line: It won’t be on the ballot in November. Any maybe that’s as it should be, given the muddlement. One encouraging sign was unanimous agreement that the present layout on North Street is disastrous. Earl Persip, Pat Kavey, Warren, White spoke of their dissatisfaction with the current configurations. So, of course, did Kalinowsky and Kronick. Kevin Sherman and Dina Lampiasi said not a word, except “Yeah” to rescind.
And there’s your starting point. Agreement that “they” bungled North Street. Who’s “they?” Anyone and everyone who had a role that led up to what we have now: A clogged, confusing, dangerous, and unsafe downtown/center city.
That has to change. That must change, and maybe that decides the upcoming elections.
———- ooo ———-
THIRD: CRIME
THE PLANET asked both Marchetti and Krol asked about crime, gangs, drugs, gunplay that, in the words of Marchetti, currently “hold our city captive.” Yesterday, we posted late word from Pittsfield police about incidents. If you missed it, here they are:
This morning, our state law enforcement partners made us aware that several communities in Eastern Massachusetts had received similar calls reporting critical incidents at local schools.These reports were determined to be false and are commonly referred to as “SWATTING” in which nefarious callers attempt to precipitate a swift and strong law enforcement response.
At approximately 10:40 AM, Pittsfield Police Dispatch received an anonymous report of an active shooting at Pittsfield High School. The call was immediately recognized as similar false calls received in other Massachusetts communities. Out of an abundance of caution, PPD units responded to the school and based on the circumstances, worked with school and district staff/administration to clear the building, and ensure the legitimacy of all occupants. PPD units cleared from the school at 11:50 AM.
AND THIS
On March 27th at approximately 7:03 PM, PPD Officers were dispatched to the Pittsfield Ulta Beauty store at 555 Hubbard Ave. for a reported shoplifting in progress. This location had been the target of organized theft multiple times in recent weeks.
Immediately upon the officers’ arrival at the scene, Sgt. Matthew Killeen stopped a motor vehicle in front of 875 Dalton Ave which matched the description given by the reporting party.
As a result of the investigation & motor vehicle stop, Rayquan Carter, age 22, of Albany, NY and Jonneasia Welcome, age 19, of Menands, NY were subsequently arrested. Two juveniles were also arrested with the pair for their involvement in the thefts. Over $5000 worth of merchandise from Ulta was recovered from the motor vehicle.
Ms. Welcome & the two juveniles were each charged with:
-Organized Retail Crime
-Larceny Over $1200
Mr. Carter, who was also charged with Organized Retail Crime, was additionally charged with:
-Receiving Stolen Property Over $1200
-Possession of open container of Marijuana in a Motor Vehicle.
What has happened to the city? Crime light years from Sara Hathaway’s infamous “aberration” (she’ll never live it down). Pittsfield has been overrun by a criminal element that, as Marchetti said, “now holds our city captive.”
Kudos to the PPD in nabbing the makeup thieves. As for “active shooting” reports, 99.999999999999% of them will prove to be hoaxes … until that one time it’s real. So do we keep tying up vast resources to cater to the punks? If not, will we regret the 0.000000000001% that’s the real deal?
Society has let the internet-social media-Tik-Tok genie out of the bottle, and Ned and Jane from the third-grade reader don’t have a chance a real education in public schools. They just don’t.
———- ooo ———-
FINALLY, PART TWO OR MOUNTAIN-BIKE MADNESS
Watching the mountain bike pump park proposal melt under the revelations of this website’s expose is like spring sun melt snow piles in “beautiful downtown Pittsfield.” All sorts of treasures show themselves. Under snowbanks you’ll find cigarette butts, alcohol empties, needles, used condoms, fast-food wrappers and cups, poo piles, and other goodies. With the “NEMBA membas” and complicit city officials, you will equivalent detritus, especially poo piles.
The metamorphosis of the old Parks Department into the current “Open Space and Natural Resources” thingy (illegal, by the way, under Chap. 45 of MGL) is part of a long-term plan to turn an organizational framework into a political one. No one thought too much about it at the time, but this subterfuge blurred responsibilities. to provide a way to increase the role of politics and its players and reduce the input of citizens in deciding how to manage park, land, and nature’s bounty pithing city limits.
Eliminating the Parks Department set loose the Parks Commission for a space walk without tether. It floated away to its drifting death. Conveniently, in wake of that murder, the powers-that-be tied the commission to Community Development, where it found itself under the control of Pittsfield’s own Cruella De Ville, Deanna Ruffer. Hello power politics, goodbye sanity.
Since then, Ruffer “retired” from Community Development and, after a nationwide search, she ended up with a Pittsfield plum, heading the secret board set up by the mayor and charged with recommending how the $43 million in ARPA money would be spent, awarding incidentally $500,000 to the bikers for their attempt to destroy Springside Park. No conflict of interest there, eh?!
———– ooo ———-
With the pump-park projects and pickle ball on one of the front burners, these dynamics have come to the surface, bringing to us informed sources who, with protection of anonymity, come to THE PLANET to drop their dimes.
———- ooo ———-
Both Marchetti and Krol talked about the current “Up is Down … Love is Hate … War is Peace” status of this once great city. Of course, that’s what they will do this entire campaign. That’s what they all do in a campaign Talk.
The electorate is pissed off and feeling ignored. What candidates will actually LISTEN to the ordinary citizens?
In the end, that will decide who wins.
—————————————————————-
“I’m looking through you. Where did you go?” — The Beatles.
OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2023 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.
The definition of insanity: A candidate hoping to be the next Mayor of Pittsfield politics!
I would say the definition to be a voter voting in Pittsfield expecting different results
I would say the definition to be a Kapanski looking at the notorious Rolodex for hope….
That would make an excellent statue for park square
What a terrific post. So much time & effort were spent in digging to provide us with information that we truly can’t find anywhere else. Such a service to readers and our community.
But I must say that I am concerned about certain aspects of the blogsite. Despite his free speech mantra, THE PLANET controls the narrative (which is of course his right) by censoring posts, adjusting post times, arranging post orders and outing posters by revealing their anonymous nomes de plume, all based on ‘the website’s Rules of Conduct’ (unpublished), ‘its editorial policies’ (unpublished), and the ‘website’s terms of service (also unpublished).
I hope some of these things can be addressed which I think would result in improvement.
WANNA
Thanks for the comments. It did take a lot of digging (the park) and effort (producing the interviews). It’s all done as a public service. I do it as a form of “citizen’s responsibility.” With respect to free speech, that’s our default position. Then you run into the actualities of a blog like this. The more popular it became and becomes after 12+ years, the more it attracts the internet’s weirder aspects–spam, hacking, the crazies, and so much more. We’ve invested in the technology that makes it all manageable, and believe me, compared to 12 years ago, the technicalities have grown exponentially. Today’s cyberspace environment makes 12 years ago look like the Pleistoscene Age. THE PLANET appreciates the criticism.
Why do you always address criticism in the second person? I’ll bet a dollar to your thousand your being paid to subserviate both candidates.p, as long as either win. After all money or no money only one can win..
BF
Second person is our house style. Simple as that. As for getting paid by both candidates, if that’s what you wish to believe, please do so. It’s a free country for the mind … at least for now. Recent developments in CAI make even that a perilous condition.
I think you guys mean third person.
Yes!
I am
You are
He is
Eggo sum bonner
Makes two eggos?
Inside joke.
Who’s on first and what’s on second…
Dear PLANET, I just thought I’d share this with you. Here are some more of your good and decent cops. Andrew Quemere – Dec. 19, 2022 / The Mass. Dump andrewqmr.substack.com “She just knocked herself out”: A tale of alleged police brutality in Berkshire County
Two cops accused of false reports by DA’s Office. One had previously resigned from a different department.
Officer cleared of excessive force allegation is no longer on active duty in Egremont. – The Berkshire Eagle / March 29, 2023
Egremont police officer involved in alleged brutality incident defends his record, including other complaints – The Berkshire Eagle / December 23, 2022
Police officer has faced 11 internal probes, one lawsuit, and one criminal probe. The Mass. Dump / December 27, 2022 – andrewqme.substack.com
More cherry picking, I see? Or not? There are 18,342 full-time equivalent state and local police officers in Massachusetts. Give me a % that you think are rogue? Data shows about 3.6% are bad cops. Applied to Massachusetts, it leaves us about 650. With 357 police stations, that gives us less than 2 per station. I’ll go with the 3.6% as the rouge number. What’s yours?
I guess if no one looks for police misconduct, none will be found.
99% of cops are corrupt and the other 1% are dead, I hope. I wish it was the other way around.
http://www.ojp.gov
[PDF] Police Integrity Lost: A Study of Law Enforcement Officers Arrested
http://www.usatoday.com
Police Misconduct: Discipline records for thousands of cops uncovered – USA Today
Less than 10% of officers in most police forces get investigated for misconduct. Yet some officers are consistently under investigation.
I’m sure you also believe that lie that cops put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve the cop haters.
CITY
Your second paragraph says it all. It does a fine job of wiping out your credibility on this issue. I believe the phrase is “hoisted on one’s own petard.” Good job!
I say this with great relief, it’s not within me to bring you or anyone else to the portal of this mind field. Only oppressors, persecutors, tormentors, torturers, despots, tyrants, in other words, COPS, can drag you, kicking and screaming, to this place. This place is a forever shock to the system. At best, on a good day it’s just a flesh wound. On a really bad day, it’s an amputation. You’re never getting that part back, it’s gone. In order to survive, you need to accept that you’re less than what you use to be. That’s not to say that there aren’t glimmers of my past life, but those glimmers are a double edge sword. Dante said it best, “There is no greater sorrow than to recall in misery a time when we were happy.”
Dirty Harrys are few and far between. Do ya feel lucky punk? Well, do ya…?
Serpicos’ are far and few between. Cops should be able to do their job within the perimeters of the laws. And if that can’t, then they shouldn’t be cops. Cops shouldn’t be allowed to deviate from laws, and corrupt cops certainly shouldn’t be exempt from laws. But they are.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Blue wall of silence
100% agreement here, CITY.
Pinky Danford would be rolling in his grave.
There are plenty of good cops out there, and some of them take great pride in going after the bad cops. They are absolutely not exempt. I helped put several bad cops out of work. Try reading Blue on Blue, by Charles Campisi, for some blue truth, if you can handle it.
I hope if you ever need a cop, there isn’t one within 10 miles of you.
From your lips to Allah’s ears.
As-salamu alaykum Messenger Johnny Nonsense
What happen to my response?
Was there too much truth in it for you.
Thanks Dan for telling it like it is, and putting this petard of a person in his place.
And there’s your sign, you can all stop asking yourselves why does Peet speak in code. This is why.
All Lives Matter, is a fucking insult.
I’m not trying to hear that shit,
Everyone is suffering from isolation.
Ya, well – not like this.
Crawling through the justice shitstem.
It ain’t O’Sullivan either, that’s a decoy,
scapegoat. He must have received something in exchange for taking this fall, it’s not the true story.
You can not believe what is published in the Eagle because he is covering for himself.
How to fix a drug scandal – is an entire fabrication.
There is a real story though. That you don’t want to hear because you’re very comfortable reading this from where you are.
I don’t want a revolution I want equal protection
perhaps if you didnt post garbage…..
G in G out
Unfortunately I find myself in this stage of my life and time in the city of Pits that I respect no one in the current government structure. They do not follow the credo ask not what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country! I would suggest getting rid of the government as it stands and going to open town meetings where the citizens can ask questions from the audience and give their thoughts on topics. The city is shrinking so they should move to a town form of government!
And this is the narrative that both Marchetti and Krol face, that they are and will be “more of the same.” This means that with respect to their competition against each other, it’s a wash. One other point: Unless somehow the election draws unusual voter response among ordinary citizens, “more of the same” will be enough to win.
Where is the third person who has announced his intent to run for mayor. Why isn’t he invited to talk to the planet. He has many good ideas and should be profiled by the planet
DREAD
Or should I say Craig G., our good friend. You keep posting self-promoting message using fake names (that’s OK) but fake email addresses. It doesn’t work. The robots find these attempts. By the way, I agree, CG. You have many good ideas, and a profile may be looming. After the campaign begins, and if you’re still in it for mayor, perhaps. But you need to convince The Kapanskis that you are actually going to compete for the office. That means campaigning and all the necessities that go with it. Do that, and you’re guaranteed an interview. My thoughts: You should run in Ward 6. There you would have a decent chance. I offer this as a friend, a guy who goes back a long ways with you, back to our long-ago youth. I’m trying to meet you more than half way.
That’s funny that you accuse Dread Locks of self-promoting. That’s not to say that I disagree with that. BUT, illeism can be used to reinforce self-promotion. Illeism has also been associated with self-deprecation, irony, narcissism, egocentrism, and eccentricity. I believe both you and CG fall into that category.
On the other hand, psychological studies show that thinking and speaking of oneself in the third person increases wisdom and has a positive effect on one’s mental state because an individual who does so is more intellectually humble, more capable of empathy and understanding the perspectives of others and is able to distance emotionally from one’s own problems.
That said, I’m not voting for Gkrolchetti. So, I really hope that an actual GOOD DECENT MORAL candidate emerges. I’m not expecting a saint. But I refuse to vote for a lesser EVIL narcissistic egotistical eccentric pompous arrogant charlatan.
Thanks for the arm-chair diagnosis!
I’ll send you a bill.
How’s my credit in your joint?
I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today
Gkrolchetti? Now that took innovation. Frankly there is no candidate out there.
Bob Dole says…Bob Dole wants…
I remember it well. “Bob Dole says Bob Dole…”
Don’t these thieves know there is a new sheriff in town, District Attorney that is, who will prosecute for these crimes? We no longer have our George Soros backed Andrea Harrington who was going easy on crime. So bold that they would take so much merchandise.
Good luck keeping up with that.Thieves don’t care who the the sheriff is.
Depends upon who the boss is. Could be someone’s daughter.
They’re gone, Pat. Like a fart in the wind.
“They’re gone,”
Yeah, there is that.
I wonder if they got to take the car too which was an essential accessory and piece of evidence.
These criminals have been caught. It’s in the Boring broadsheet today.
Made a good run, but they run too slow.
Ba Ha Ha Ha! you think clown shoes Shagrue is going to fix the crime in Pittsfield? Pat, this place is a $hit hole of epic proportions. These walking dead pajama wearing, drug addicted scum bags are hear to stay. News flash it’s only going to get worse. The death penalty is supposed to be a deterrent does that stop people from committing murder? Clown shoes will have little to no affect.
Pittsfield and it’s cast of political misfits have driven this town into the ground. They have sold out to social services and the idea that any real business would want to locate to the city and deal with this god awful labor pool, State reps and a absent Senator have brought what?
NOTHING!!!!
Now we are left with two Clowns on the ballot for Mayor. The future is very bleek unless you are one of the ones expecting a free hand out.
Well, these are far left Democrat policies that have made this city what it is. So people need to start voting more intelligently.
Left democrat police are the root of the problem.
get out if you can
Smart money gets in.
No ethical money manager is suggesting to any middle income families with children that they move to Pittsfield, Ma. It is just a bad investment all the way around Bad for your kids, wallet and psyche.
Escalating crime, homelessness, drug overdoses, prostitution, lousy schools, wallet busting tax increases, deteriorating roads and a wholesale lack of faith in elected representatives. Only those who have money to throw away, homeless people and immigrants coming from an even worse place are showing up in Pittsfield. Conversely, there is a mass exodus of the more educated folk who are reading the tea leaves and heading for higher ground.
SS you might be right about middle income families with children. But then again, is there any place for those families to go in this country? Maybe the burbs of bigger cities – but there again we’re not talking middle income. My three grandkids are now living abroad with their parents (my kids) and are afraid to come home, what with the culture wars and the school shootings. The problem is endemic — by no means just the Pitt. You have to first HAVE money for it to be smart money.
Great final sentence here, MR. B.
No one who was executed ever commited another murder
Tell that to Lee Harvey Oswald.
Let’s bring squeaky noises nipples back. The people demand it.
Silent dog whistle.
Shouldn’t the sochol committee and pctv administrators be embarrassed. The sight of the stooge morning show is ridiculous as is the show. A new studio was built at pctv and isn’t used for the sochol license it was intended for,and makes pctv look ridiculous with an empty studio at the station. Let’s hope if the stooge ever goes to fla to live or retire, they’ll have enough sense for his replacement to do the program where it was intended for at Federico Drive,
SOCHOL forever!
The music sucks on that station and any talk shows are gobsig city.
These people are incapable of feeling embarrassed. They have tuned out their constituency. They are puppets and merely do as they are told. If they do something that benefits the schools or children is is quite by accident. School systems that have diligent, caring, effective school committees are not rated a consistent level 5. Pittsfield will never rise above a low level 5, which is one more reason middle incomers trying to raise a family should investigate options elsewhere. Your child deserves your best effort.
This is one of the most embarrassing issues in Pittsfield. How much money is spent on the schools and the city receives nothing for the money. I would be embarrassed if I was a school leader yet the same people are there getting promoted to higher salaries. Where is the accountability? It is time to get rid of the all the Superintendents and start over with the simple 1 Super and 1 Assistant. Sell the building they are in for apartments and make the Supers be put into the schools on a daily basis. It’s time to go back to the basics!
There’s an inverse relationship: The more $$$ the city spends on its schools, the worse the performance becomes. If money was the answer, we’d be turning out Rhodes Scholars by the dozen.
We need committed, trained teachers.
Yeah but that’s not true either. Your comment suggests that the less they spend the better the system will be, which is just not so.
No, MR. B. You are misreading a “suggestion” into my words unintended (which may poor wording on my part … or not). We KNOW more $$$ have only reinforced a kind of corrupt ineptitude. So more $$$ isn’t the answer. The answer is smarter use of money and more intelligent, less selfish management. The “corruption” I speak of is both fiduciary and moral.
Ok
Ya, collapse the bloated admin hierarchy.
Fair, solid observations, FIZZ. Thanks for sharing.
“Born Learning Trail” Opens to Promote Early Literacy in Pittsfield
http://www.wamc.org / May 20, 2013
“The Born Learning Trail comes from efforts by Pittsfield Promise, a city-wide coalition that is working through a variety of projects with a goal of booting reading proficiency levels among Pittsfield third graders to 90 percent by 2020.
Although Massachusetts is seen as a leader in reading proficiency, Pittsfield Mayor Dan Bianchi said that according to MCAS testing scores, Pittsfield has a third-grade reading proficiency level below the statewide average.”
Considering that this was a Pittsfield Promise, I have to wonder how many of those third-grader 10 years ago can read at a third-grade level today.
and can you imagine what an honest assement would show today? Pay no attention to the honor student status thrown hither and thither. No one is independently testing these “honor students” to see if they can count to ten or read Dick and Jane. And even the city itself admits the pool of able bodied applicants to fill even run of the mill jobs is sparse. The only pools that are growing are the homeless and the pan handlers. (Also the pool of overdose “victims” but let’s not go there)
I for one would be optimistic about $ spent to up reading proficiency. I’ve been involved in many such interventions and they always result in significant positive results.
Give Pitts a chance.
I thought the studio was supposed to be in THS
Dan why are you doing interviews before candidates have declared & filed their paperwork?
Because the Planet covers Pittsfield. Maybe you’d prefer another 2000 word piece on Xi Jinping?
Xi ain’t heavy, Xi’s mah brother.
LEN
I tried, perhaps not successfully, to address that question in the column. It’s sort of an experiment with the aim of increasing attention and awareness of this year’s muni elections.
I can’t wait to see these interviews. Did Mr. Marchetti bring his gavel?
Nope. And he didn’t give me three minutes to wrap up my questions.
Is he using Grecian for his interviews? Krol still have the Ted Cruz beard?
Marchetti reminds me of George Santos. If the two of them stood together you would have to look twice to tell the difference. And since he has no real record of honoring his council oath he will have to lie to prop himself up. And of course, to anyone who pays attention, it will be blatantly obvious that he is a phony as far as being a representative of honest government goes. There is no hope in sight for Pittsfield.
He’d be like Santos Claus givin’ out the ARPA funds to Tyer’s pals.
He’s got to loose the Tyerisims. Don’t say collaborate so much . You’ll sound as dumb as Tyer with the vibrant and dynamic crap.
“Collaborate,” should join “aberration,” “Vibrant,” and “dynamic” in the anti-lexicon.
You guys…
……Last week, in case you somehow missed it, Kraft arranged for the purchase of 1.4 million N95 masks for his home state of Massachusetts and then another 300,000 for New York, sending the Patriots’ plane to China to procure them, at a time of dire need in the battle against COVID-19. What a gesture. As The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro wrote, Kraft has earned family status here.
Bob Kraft is a mensch among mensches. Gillette Stadium is the only stadium complex in the NFL built entirely with private money. He didn’t ask the state for a cent. Kraft even paid the state for infrastructure expenses. And before he bought the team for $175 million (the “experts” called it Kraft’s Folly), he was a season ticket holder. Forbes just valued the team at $4.2 billion. Only the Yanks and the Dodgers are worth more in all of sports. Some folly. But my point is that before all else, Bob Kraft is a Great Man.
He is along with the other two men who own the Pats….. Tom and Eli.
Good one, MP!
When I read the article about Kraft/Antisemitism a direct connection occurred.
How about this? Either both pickleball and bike track, or nothing. You cant talk about the pristine park and still advocate either.
Also crime wave? it was shoplifters that stole expensive perfume. Happens everyday at home depot and wally world. You wait and see, some warm weather and summer 23′ is going to be wild. Oh and its not just morningside and westside anymore!
With respect to the park, the object for all those who love passive use is to keep what’s left of pristine and limit the overdevelopment. I agree with your assessment of the summer.
Introduction of wolves or mountain lions will do much to settle the question of Springside Park.
Anyone can do this.
The dept of narural resources would have to buy Narcan for their dart guns.
Which of the GOBSIGS is w / Kraft.
https://www.westernmassnews.com/2023/03/27/patriots-owner-robert-kraft-campaigns-against-antisemitism/
Thank you Dan. Your analysis of the ballot petition is spot on and instructive. Good critique and points the way.
Your starting to lose your luster. All it took was a couple road pavings?
Not a question. What are you asking?
In regards to the proposed Mountain Bike track at Springside Park ” Kelton B. Miller, in 1910, conveyed to the city a tract of land at Springside, for the consideration named in the deed was ” the affection I bear to the City of Pittsfield”. The conditions of the conveyance were that the city should acquire certain land adjacent to this tract and should maintain forever and reasonably improve the whole for the enjoyment of the public. By the city these conditions were gratefully accepted, so that Pittsfield became the owner of the pleasant ten acres of land then known as Abbott Park, and so named in honor of Rev. Charles E. Abbot, who conducted a boys’ school nearby from 1856 to 1866. Within a few years, Mr. Miller added substantially to his original gift. The first name of the park seems soon the have slipped into disuse, and the title ” Springside Park” to have been officially substituted for it.
The History of Pittsfield Massachusetts from 1876 to the Year 1916 by Edward Boltwood page 119
Excellent, RK. It’s clear to anyone who bothers to educate themselves that what the bikers are attempting contradicts Mr. Miller’s wishes. That should end the debate in and of itself.
Many of these bikers are amoung the elitists who have hijacked Pittsfield and control it from behind the scenes. Elections are mere facades of democracy in Pittsfield. Stop kidding yourselves when you go to the polls. Your vote may effect a position here or there, once in a while, but you will never change the fact the the city is dominated by special interests and the candidates they finance, promote and get elected. And their interests most often run counter to what is good for the general population. AND, shy of a citizen revolution you are not going to change anything. If you plan on staying there, get used to it because that leopard is not going to change its spots.
“citizen revolution”
Good idea, but what does that me
That begins with citizens forming groups. Then those groups must form relationships. Then, those groups become effective by reacting quickly. The relationships gives one person lots of impact.
Examples of groups already seen:
1) Established ones (churches, etc…)
2) Shared Causes: Cell Tower Opponents, Springside Park (various), Bike Lane (pro)
3) Neighbors: Property Interests: streets, illegal camps
What the Bike Lane advocates indicate is that the Machine has an effective city-wide organization in place.
Just astroturfing
Same effect?
A little off topic which I am sorry for but I had to write it down before I forgot about it. I just came across a Town Hall meeting in 2020 where Joe Biden said “You can’t legislate by executive order “unless you are a dictator!” Now illegitimate has used the executive order 109 times since his Presidency even though the Democrats controlled both the Senate and the House. He also issued 137 presidential memoranda, 397 proclamations and 80 notices. Seems to me like he hit it on the head in 2020!
SHIRL
Great find. Thanks for sharing. He out-trumped Trump with these staggering numbers.
Dan. has there ever been a Bob Kraft story? Book? Probably. The reason I say that is it because it was very interesting the way he acquired the Patriots
I believe it was us who stated, “do you know who I am”…
https://youtu.be/Sj8UbmdV7bk
Council Grades:
Marchetti D
White F
Persip F
Kavey A
Lampylousy F
Sherman C-
Kronick C
Kalinowsky A
Maffuccio 😀 –
Warren C+
Conant was absent so will put inger Stevens as his replacement and she gets an A+
Conant had his best showing yet
Actually there wasn’t much difference Maffuccio being there or conant absent?
So Dan. In your opinion? Do you think Tyer was a good or terrible Mayor?
One of the questions I would have asked that would have answered any bias as far as current nepotism going forward is the mayor supporting either of the candidates?
The woman is an absolute Saint. I personally saw her give a certs to a bum at the north street smoking park.
Great question for the mayoral candidates. “Do you think tyer left the city in a better place than when she flew in on her broom seven years ago?
I didn’t ask that actual question, but I asked its equivalents. Watch how they answer.
I asked tyer. And she just cackled and cast another spell on the city.
We already know that answer..Seven years ago……
Krol and Parketti should be asked what they think of Tyers “performance” over the years.
Helen Moon tells of the Pittsfield City Council!
Activists mark anniversary of Estrella’s killing at Pittsfield city council meeting with demands for reforms | WAMC
Good find JM.
You know a newspaper is scraping the bottom of the barrel when the focus of this story is on a proven liar, in Helen “Handgun” Moon.
What I find even more ironic, the people she advocates for are the same group of people who I repeatedly see harming Asians on numerous videos.
Someone needs to tell Handgun that the ‘defund the police’ movement ship sailed a couple of years ago. Time to move on Helen. You sunk your political career.
Your last paragraph says it all, MARK.
And of course speaking about Hand Gun, the people she is talking about won’t do anything to make their neighborhoods and communities safer, many are hippocrits themselves, they’ll cry and whine about the police, but won’t lift a finger to help each other, many of these folks cry about the crime but want someone else to do
something about it.
The Moon never rises or sets on the West side.
She will reemerge as the consultant to one of the Clowns running for Mayor most likely Krol as a expert on diversity.. Biggest fraud in Pittsfield politics ever. what a total Joke!!
The Northeast should expect snowier winters due to climate change according to the Mass. College of Liberal Arts. More moisture in the air will translate into more snow for us in the future until eventually it’s all rain. These so-called climate experts don’t take into consideration that the Midwest has been colder and snowier, that the Northeast Springs are actually colder and longer. Here we are in nearly April and we are cold and snowy. Actual spring doesn’t start in the Berkshires till late April or early May. This has been going on for many many years with no mention by the climate experts. They have to make everything fit into their climate change theory so they are constantly tweaking it to justify the control they want over our lives.
It snowed during the night, it’s March….. must be climate change.
Anti-climatic
Very good.
Quick, call Dina to confirm!!
Dina lampilazy ?
If it’s Thursday it must be climate change.
And in 5 minutes it’ll be climate change in the Berserkshires all over again, and 5 minutes after that again.
March has been the snowiest month in Berkshires for years.
Let us check with Dina, PAT. She’s the world’s greatest authority on Climate Change.
If not the world’s foremost authority
Climate change occurs according to Milankovitch cycles (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles). These cycles are caused by variations in the earth’s rotation and orbit. As you have noted in earlier posts, climate change can only be managed, not halted.
Yes, walk, but DO NOT, I said DO NOT even try to walk in Egremont on a dark country road !!!!
Don’t do it.
They will kill you.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/columnists/fred-rutberg-canyon-ranch-founder-mel-zuckerman-left-legacy-of-fitness/article_0ceccf2e-ca86-11ed-b930-f7dccac51f71.html
Unconscious. And the details are revealed in the medical records.
Seat belt injury on left hip from seat belt.
And, no record of alcohol intoxication.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/crash-injures-woman/article_adb46478-9742-5f5f-a6e1-e4f506383198.html
Reena Bucknell & Brady Rules.
Nothing to do with deflategate.
Everything to do with “covid19”
How to cover up a lab scandal, it’s cute.
Separation of Hospital and County would be nice.
Like church & state I don’t want my prosecutor in my medical files – nor in my trauma unit.
Why not take care of what we have before building the greatest pickleball facility in Western Ma.Sidewalks in ward 3 would be job 1 for Sherman
Agreed, TSC.
Didn’t Kop Kalinowski just complain about worrying that the ceiling in the city hall council chambers is going to fall in on her any moment now. Maybe Kalinowski should report this hazard to the building inspector over in the privately owned 100 North Street building Bianchi sank $800,000 plus of taxpayer dollars into while the Pittsfield owned schitty hall continuously rots from the outside in, or inside out, from neglect and malfeasance.
This interview ought be a doozy
I guarantee you right now there will be a thousand broken tie rods, ball joints and shock absorbers on tyers roads this spring. For every road she has paved ten more fall apart. She let them go to hell for a few years before the masses started to scream and HAD to do something. But too little too late.
The only broken ball joint I have is in my left hip.
so far
You’d be well advised to wear a good athletic supporter until the pot holes are patched.
I vote for building the greatest pickleball facility in Western Ma.
Only minorities will be allowed on it. And trannys
If the city is really going to be inclusive there needs to be pickle-ball courts on all sides of the city. Can’t just cater to whitey.
In my 12+ years playing pickleball in Mass, Illinois and Fla, I have have seen a grand total of ONE person of color play.
Why is that. The answer would be interesting, perhaps enlightening.
BTW Mr. B, will you be willing to give me private pickle ball lessons? I learn the game, and we play all season long. What say?
I don’t come cheap.
The obvious inaugural match would be Tyer vs Edgerton. At least we’d learn if the court was solid. TFB wouldn’t be able to make due to the bridge traffic on Holmes Road.
Are you calling our city leaders racist?
Easy answer: mental statistics: what percentage people play PB. What percentage of those regions where you play PB are POC? What are the odds based on that? I bet in Miami, there are more POC folk on the courts than in Lancaster PA.
One wonders how much PB is played in Lancaster.
I seen courts there. It’s not just for Amish anymore.
Also, not a lot of PB in Miami.
Wait – that brings up a question. Given the migratory habits of homosapiens which is probably a function of mathematical chaos, could that observation mean that there isn’t really all that much PB elsewhere?
I think it is time for me to petition a request for a comparative analysis of consumer purchases of sports equipment starting with raquet sports. If the city is going to dump $500,000+ cash into a complex, we should know in advance how many raquets. balls are in personal possession, how many nets have been sold and are likely in use in private driveways, shoes, etc… One then could then model the data to get a precise number of actual players and estimate accurately the number of qualified players not yet engaged.
Krol the marketer could be the perfect adjunct.
K. Chaos theory doesn’t explain distribution of HS. Factor analytics does the trick, with HS pushing Neanderthal into the sea off Iberia 40k yrs ago. Your racquet sport model wd find zip in Lancaster and ghits in Ardmore.
You been to Ardmore??? Now we’re talking! I know of 1 PB court in Lancaster. I’m certain that there are 2 more.
Probably converted tennis courts.
Now come on.
And, Why did you mention Ardmore? There can be no probable explanation for you to be familiar with Ardmore.
Main-line yuppies are where the PB is. Try Bala Cynwyd.
Yep, the Main Line. What’s your connection?
Bousquet Sport
Outdoor courts will be OPEN for reservations starting this Saturday, April 1st! Please have pickle patience with Mother Nature and consider this spring training until our full outdoor programming begins in May. See you out there.
Call (413) 499 4600 or speak with a client service team member to book now.
#BousquetSport #Pickleball #Outdoors #InTheBerkshires
BERKSHIREMOUNTAIN PICKLEBALL
Open Play
Berkshire Community College
Herberg and Reid
Boys and Girls Club
And this under Membership; It was a significant effort to get each of you to sign a waiver for insurance purposes.
BMP is your best bet.
Pittsfield City Council simply does not care what anyone thinks outside of the alcohol party attendees
Once again, great interviewing of the potentials. I thought you were fair to each of them. It was interesting to watch the personality differences between the two and that you were accommodating to that. Thanks for all you do for us little guys. 🙂
Thanks, THAT. We tried to keep everything on an even footing for both interviews.
So many issues still on the table. You could have given each three hours and still have more to talk about.
Did either outshine the other?
Did Krol stand with Helen Moon during the defund the police hysteria?
A grand jury has just voted to indict Donald Trump, marking the first time in American history that a former president has faced criminal charges.
LOCK HIM UP !!!!!!
Ham sandwhich indictment confirmed. Bring on the clown jury. The “respected ” D.A. should dress like Bozo.
Trump will beat this charge standingbon his head. Cohen isn’t credible.
By a George Soros appointed nasty DA so we know it’s all fake!
Why wasn’t tRumpy this Outraged when his lawyer went to jail? ROTFL LOCK HIM UP !!!!
Your sheep are lonely
Rule of law and equal application of it is now dead in the U S. How is our President going to get a fair trial in the liberal, left off the Cliff state of n y ?…
I guess you can indict a Trump Sandwich.
The Only Crime That Donald Trump
Committed was Beating Hillary Clinton
I wonder if Bubba ever did the same. He musta thought of it a lot.
I just realized after watching these interviews that no matter what, and no matter who gets elected, guaranteed you’d actually see them from time to time. Guaranteed they would actually spend time in the city that elected them and you’d know where to find them on a regular basis. You’d also know how to get into the building they work in.
They both did very well, I think. I always love watching Dan interview because you never know what his strategy will be. Witnessing powerful men squirm a bit is great entertainment, I will say, but this time you seemed to make each of them more relaxed and it was charming to see two men agree to disagree every so often and move on. Our society is so used to drama and explosions, so it was refreshing to watch these two gentlemen simply have a conversation and talk about intentions. The vibe was peaceful and I felt the Interviews were done with love.
Dan, I hope you know how appreciated you are. I really wish it was you who was running for mayor. I feel like you’re the only one who’s not afraid to do the right thing for the hardworking people of Pittsfield without fear of the scummy, retaliatory no-gooders who fill their pockets with money while laughing at the poor jerks that elected them, as they sip their $25 espresso on the slopes of Colorado. Let’s hope these guys don’t become intoxicated with the promises of prosperity on the backs of those of us who have put our faith in them. We are desperate.
Thanks for all your hard work, Dan. It’s amazing that you do this for free, simply because someone’s gotta write it.
JAKE
Thanks so much for this insightful post. I see that you’re a first-timer here. Welcome aboard THE PLANET!
Dan Valenti for Mayor – has a nice ring to it.
Much appreciated, Mr. B. Now see if you can convince my wife! Then …
That’s the rub.