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!PLANET EXCLUSIVE! JUDGE REJECTS MELMAZ’s REQUEST FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN CLAIRMONT LAWSUIT … JURY TRIAL SET FOR OCT. 24

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 7-9, 2023) — On March 31, Superior Court Judge John Agostini rejected defendant Melissa Mazzeo’s request for a summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by Barry Clairmont. THE PLANET discovered the document in a search of court records, a scan we do periodically.

Mazzeo, of course, lost to Clairmont’s wife, Linda Tyer, in the 2019 mayoral election. The close tally (528 votes separation) led Mazzeo to seek a recount. Clairmont sued Mazzeo after she made what he alleges are defamatory statements with “intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED).”

The suit stems from Mazzeo’s public statements in connection with a visit Clairmont made to the Registrar of Voters office on Oct. 28 to request a copy of the absentee voter report as of that date.

Mazzeo sought a summary judgment from Agostini “on the grounds that her statements were not defamatory as a matter of law and her conduct does not rise to the level of severity necessary to state a claim for IIED.”

———- ooo ———-

In his background summary, Agostini wrote that Clairmont waited in the registrar’s office for about 30 seconds “before the Clerk, Michele Benjamin, escorted him through a swinging door into the non-public area of the Registrar’s Office, and then further to her office within the City Clerk’s Office.”

There “Benjamin provided [Clairmont] with the [requested] report and had a brief exchange about it. Benjamin then escorted the plaintiff out the way he came.”

Agostini says Clairmont spent “less than one minute in the Registrar’s Office. He was never alone with or touched any ballots and was in view of the voters on the other side of the counter the whole time.” It also says Benjamin kept the ballot boxes on the conference table “in plain view for all to see.”

If these circumstances are accurate, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Houdini, let alone Clairmont, would be able to tamper with anything other than a loose paper clip or a stray rubber band on the table. Agostini identified Debra Courtney as the one who spilled the beans on Clairmont’s Oct. 28 visit.

———- ooo ———-

Later the night, Courtney texted Mazzeo. They had this exchange (verbatim):

COURTNEY: Saw Clairmont slithering out of michelles office from the back from voters. I thought was odd. Why not front office. He would not look at me. Watch those absentee ballots.

MAZZEO: Ugh. That scares me. U need to go hand out there daily to watch them.

COURTNEY: Yup. John [husband] and I voted today. I questioned where they go and are they locked up. My gut tells me not good. Michele is not one to handle these ballots. I am thinking of going in Wednesday and asking for my ballot back. Just to check.

MAZZEO: Did you see Clairmont there when you voted? I’m hearing he is in there a lot.

COURTNEY: Yes. Coming from micheles office from the back. He looked like he swallowed the canary. Ask Doreen she tells me Clairmont and the chief in there. All the time.

Mazzeo issued a press release Nov. 5, 2019. It included this statement: “An individual closely related to the Tyer Campaign had unauthorized access to ballots inside City Hall.” Mazzeo later confirmed that the “individual” was Clairmont.

———- ooo ———-

Agostini then launches into a legal discussion of the case, sharing the rationale that went into his decision to find against Mazzeo. He talks about the meaning of defamation, false statements, harm to reputation, fault, damages, and IIED.

Agostini says that “a reader of [Mazzeo’s] press release could reasonably infer that the plaintiff tampered with absentee ballots, which could subject him to contempt, hatred, scorn, or ridicule and damage his reputation within the community.”

Key point, since Clairmont is an accountant. That’s a business where reputation is all, given the fiduciary trust clients place in their providers. Agostini said “A jury could find the defendant’s statement to imply criminal conduct by the plaintiff, making it defamatory per se.”

Upshot is that the case will go to a jury trial. Sources tell THE PLANET a trial date is set for Oct. 24 in Berkshire Superior Court, just prior to the November election. Gonna be an interesting couple of weeks.

THE PLANET reached out to both Clairmont and Mazzeo. Clairmont didn’t respond. When the phone didn’t ring, we knew it was Barry not getting back to us. Mazzeo said “I wish I could give my story, but my lawyers won’t let me say anything until the trial.”

Here’s a link to the full text of Agostini’s decision:

searchpage

Have a great weekend, everybody.

———————————————————————

All money exists on nothing but a wish” — Adam Smith

“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.

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Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Hello Blogger Dan Valenti, you and anyone else out there who has read my political emails and blog commentary knows full well that I went through far worse than anyone else in the history of Pittsfield politics over the past 27 years, which started when my dad, Bob, began his campaign for Berkshire County Commissioner in the Spring of 1996 when I was only 20 years old. It amazes me that the Dirty Bird (Berkshire Eagle) wrote editorials about Boston’s state Democratic committee’s homophobic smear campaign against Alex Morse during the late-Summer months of 2020 when he ran against Richie Neal in the primary election. It amazes me that you, Dan Valenti, write about “Big Baby” Barry Clairmont’s civil suit against Melissa Mazzeo for her alleging him being corrupt in Pittsfield politics. YET, you admonished me for writing about the Hell I was put through over the past 27 years of my life and onwards in Pittsfield politics by a disgraced former politician and Pot King who I am not allowed to write about on your blog. I feel that I – Jon Melle – do not count in this world! Nobody cares about how I feel about what happened to me in Pittsfield politics to Boston’s Beacon Hill Statehouse. Please understand that I respect you as a journalist and blogger, that I enjoy reading your blog daily, and that you are and always will be a friend of my family. Thank you, Jon Melle

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

John, the horse(s) you are beating died years ago.

Buy yourself flowers
Buy yourself flowers
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

This one’s for you,

https://youtu.be/G7KNmW9a75Y

Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Forgive and move on.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

Sarcasm: Once again, I wish to thank you for your support.
Not Sarcasm: I am happy that I live in Amherst, NH (for the past 19 years since the Spring 2004). FYI: The abuse from Pittsfield politics to Boston never stopped! It would be nice if it did. THE STORY OF MY LIFE, of course!

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

Agree Lenny, it’s not like anyone here or the many other avenues he puts it out on hasn’t heard about JM’s perils over the last 25 years or so of what supposedly happened to him. It would be best for the soul if he moved on.

Peet
Peet
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

It’s what they call ~

“A One Way Street”
/
“After Suspension”

It is a metaphor,

e.g., attempting to unseal a(n) (in)justice.

(figurative) A course of action that cannot be undone or does not lead to reciprocation.

It is a one way street.

It doesn’t work the way you thought it.

Accept It.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Tell us you are desperate for attention without telling us…

Eric Swansin
Eric Swansin
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Will you quit living in the past sugar plum. You were happy about maybe opening up a clothes store on North Street that catered to gay men. Now you post this.

Maybe go meet the pot king and talk it over. You could even get high together and laugh about all this like it never happened.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Eric Swansin
11 months ago

What I do when I want to clear the air with someone who did me wrong. I buy a bottle of wine. Set out two glasses. Fill one (mine) and drink it and make good with my foe.

The City I Hate
The City I Hate
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

“Freedom is what we do with what’s been done to us.” Jean Paul Sartre

It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere. – Voltaire

It does not take a majority to prevail…but rather an irate tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men. – Samuel Adams

None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. – Johann Wolfgang von Goeth

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius

But this is my favorite. It’s my go to inner peace one.

“If you sit by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.” – Sun Tzu

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  The City I Hate
11 months ago

Is good.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Eric Swansin
11 months ago

JM’s made up story about what happened reminds me of how Al Sharpton used Tawana Brawley to gain attention for something that never happened. All bs.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Optimus Prime
11 months ago

Sounds like Trump saying t he election was rigged even before July 4th….lol

Gobsig
Gobsig
11 months ago

I have no idea of what went on in that office but it’s not a smart idea for a spouse of a candidate to be in the clerk’s office. Bad optics even if his presence was innocent.

Under Ground Elbow
Under Ground Elbow
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Does anyone know why he was in the office. Was he allowed?

Lach’s Lounge
Lach’s Lounge
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Can’t that be done without going behind the counter?

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Lach’s Lounge
11 months ago

Absolutely not.

Everytime I go to the Clerk’s office to pay a bill, I go behind the counter, look up my file, and enter my payment. Then I go stamp the stub and let myself out.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Seems to me: ballot handling is a very secure process. Unauthorized persons in the presence of ballots outside the public voting booth is cause for investigation pertaining to tampering or mishandling. An investigation here is a public matter, and therefore defamation is not a valid complaint.

Seems like the Clerk would be the remaining focus of a complaint as the Clerk opened the door.

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

PFH I think you are forgetting what city you are talking about. I know many stories, which unfortunately I don’t have physical proof so won’t repeat, that Pittsfield politics are as polluted as Hill 76

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Will the same privilege be afforded to any of the campaigns in this year’s elections?

Truly Pickled
Truly Pickled
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Why would one need that absentee report before the election was over? I don’t see a valid reason… unless…

To know how many absentee ballots could be filed fraudulently to help win an election?

But if Benjamin was part of it why not just tell him privately?

I’d like to hear his reasoning behind getting that report.

Last edited 11 months ago by Truly Pickled
Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

On Election Day the ballots are delivered to the various wards to be scanned through the machines. Why would they still be at city hall?

snark shark
snark shark
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Does anyone remember the amount of the Covid money Barry got from the city of Pittsfield? And who authorized it? Can we see the list again of who did and did not get checks from the city?

Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
Reply to  snark shark
11 months ago

The City awarded his accounting firm nothing. The money between $ 150,000 – $ 350,000 was received from the federal government PPP loan and was administered by Greylock Federal Credit Union. The city had nothing to do with PPP loans.

snark shark
snark shark
Reply to  Flogging Molly
11 months ago

do your homework

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Why wasn’t the business out front so people could see, This is at least bad optics, worse something else(don’t want to be sued by Cumby boy)

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Weather nefarious or not, years of Pittsfield’s demise ensued, with Clowncil and absentee Flat.

Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Agree and I think continuing the case makes Barry look bad. Maybe he enjoys the publicity but I think his wife’s poor performance as mayor is more of a negative impact on his business than this particular issue about his presence behind the counter in the clerk’s office.

Again, unforgiveness is a rot which will destroy a person from the inside out.

Last edited 11 months ago by Lenny
Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

it’s not about revenge. it’s about dissolving the only established machine opposing ruberto.

The City I Have
The City I Have
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

Oh, you picked up on that too? That maybe, just maybe, Marchetti vs. Krol is a GOB plan conceived three years ago to keep Ruberto’s influence over Pittsfield intact? Keep digging, grasshopper.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

I think, rabbit, you are onto something. Seriously this makes sense. The machine planned Tyer’s departure the day she first stepped in. They certainly planned this season years in advance.

One thing that they do well are elections.

Chances OUR
Chances OUR
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

And that’s where Dan comes in. Paid to keep the peace.

Peet
Peet
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

Redress differs from revenge, they are different.

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

It will hard to prove his business was effected, since COVID came and the government shut everything down except WalMart(?)!!

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Looks like a set up.

I bet the box on the table was empty.

The school committee
The school committee
11 months ago

Stone,Trump,Florida,Tennessee, Supreme Court Justice Thomas and Coup supporting wife Ginng,Billionaire bribes….hello hello hello being .The Republican party is is a crime wave.

The school committee
The school committee
11 months ago

Tennessee Florida President Trump Supreme Court Justice Thomas and Wife Ginny supporter of the Coup financially Ivankas 2 billion from Saudi Arabia Trumps Chief of Staff at the White House Steve Bannon stole 150k from his scam fund to build a wall Ivankas 17 China patents.A national republican crime wave.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  The school committee
11 months ago

The above post by TSC is an example of what a Level 5 Pittsfield Public Scohol’s education looks like.

TSC graduated Summa cum Laude too……

Last edited 11 months ago by Markus Aurelius
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

Sounds like TSC graduated from the Gifted Sped rubber room program as an A+ student. Only in Pittsfield’s school system could that happen.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Optimus Prime
11 months ago

Interesting thing about rubber rooms; they are real physical places. Like Hell, they actually occupied a precise location. You could dial in coordinates and vaporize anything dwelling in them.

They come from NYC. When a crappy teacher, showing up drunk, not showing up at all, or being completely incompetent and useless, needed to get herorhis ass kicked out, the Union would step in to play defense. The process took generally a decade. During the negotiation, the derelict would show up to work at 7:30, report to a rubber room where heorshe would sit reading, writing, watching porn, etc… until COB and then go home. This would continue until 1) heorshe dies, gets another job, gets fired (never), or they run out of seats and transfer himorher to another district.

I read about them in a New Yorker before the editors became communists.

Last edited 11 months ago by Planet From Hell
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago
Lach’s Lounge
Lach’s Lounge
Reply to  The school committee
11 months ago

Crack open another Bud Light

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Lach’s Lounge
11 months ago

You mean ABs “Tranny fluid”?

Lenny
Lenny
11 months ago

Why is this a “Planet Exclusive?”
This story was on the front page of yesterday’s birdcage liner, the failing and almost-dead Berkshire Eagle!

Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

It was online the Eagle site the night before so this is far from a scoop

Crushed Peanuts
Crushed Peanuts
Reply to  Flogging Molly
11 months ago

Well, though, considering you posted a comment. Here. Did you also comment there?

Under Ground Elbow
Under Ground Elbow
Reply to  Flogging Molly
11 months ago

I can’t believe this suit is going forward. Hasn’t Trump accused 100 s of campaign fraud? That isn’t punishable?

Under Ground Elbow
Under Ground Elbow
Reply to  Flogging Molly
11 months ago

Was he supposed to be there or not?…..lI not then the city clerk officers should be reprimanded. Has Barry’s business suffered because of her comments? I doubt it.

Peet
Peet
11 months ago

What is the potential outcome?

Chances OUR
Chances OUR
Reply to  Peet
11 months ago

Sit in the corner for eight years and do nothing.

The City I Have
The City I Have
11 months ago

Is Alisa Costa really on the ballot twice? I thought that was a mistake.

Jumpin Joe Curtis
Jumpin Joe Curtis
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

It’s simple, if she has enough suckers to sign and help her run for at-large, she will. If she fails, she’ll be good enough for the folks in ward 3.

as long as she’s on the council it’s all gravy. If I was in ward 3 I’d be thrilled

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

“Something there is that doesn’t love a comment,
That sends minuses a’swelling beneath it
Something there is that does.”

-Hebert Hebert
Epitaph gravestone, Circa Cambridge, MA
Identity insciber unknown.

Last edited 11 months ago by Planet from Hell
Lach’s Lounge
Lach’s Lounge
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

No one is on any ballot in Pittsfield yet. You can take out papers for as many different offices as you desire but you can only turn in papers for one office.

The City I Have
The City I Have
Reply to  Lach’s Lounge
11 months ago

Thanks Lachs. I guess she would rather not deal with ward 3 but she will if that’s the only way to get a seat? Already a red flag with this one.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

This song never fails to express the true meaning of Easter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv-CsctQ72g

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Lach’s Lounge
Lach’s Lounge
11 months ago

It’s a good thing that being a putz isn’t a crime.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Lach’s Lounge
11 months ago

Imagine if being a putz were a crime though. We’d have a new class of inmates to reintegrate into halfway houses.

John Dutton
John Dutton
11 months ago

Do you think when Barry wins the lawsuit and takes the restaurant he will keed the singing waiter? maybe Tony can stay on as night manager.

The City I Have
The City I Have
Reply to  John Dutton
11 months ago

The hanger-on vs. the loose cannon. What a waste of court time.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  John Dutton
11 months ago

Remember John, in civil court the burden of proof is a preponderance of doubt. As opposed to a criminal case, which is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Preponderance of doubt is 50.1% in one person’s favor to win the case. With that being said, why Dirty Barry was in city hall at that time when any number of people associated with the Tyer’s could have picked up that form, is a question Barry will have to answer. The optics look horrible for Dirty Barry.

Plus, Dirty Barry has to show how this “wrong” caused him a loss in income. Was that why he needed the PPP Loans? Someone mentioned Dirty Barry got an ARPA grift too? I don’t remember him getting ARPA money, but if he did, he better be ready to explain how MelMaz’s comment financially impacted him with all of this government money Dirty Barry came into.

Dirty Barry might have opened an unexpected can of worms. Especially if the court allows an accountant to go through, he and Flat’s financial records. Barry is the person claiming, “lost income.” He now has to show and prove it.

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

All he needs is his jury. When you go to court, you will have your jury. When he goes to court, he shall have his.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

If it were a criminal case, maybe. A civil case with a county wide jury, don’t think the Flat administration has that kind of pull.

Not to mention, the restaurant is very, very, popular with south county folk.

Like I said, the optics for Dirty Barry are bad. Plus, he has to prove the loss. Not MelMaz.

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

Well, I always say, prepare for the worst (do nothing that is) hope it doesn’t happen. Or, as one says, “you always worry about the wrong things, not the thing that’s going to happen.”

Never fails.

Last edited 11 months ago by Planet from Hell
Peet
Peet
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

You said jury. Very funny.

An unbiased one, right.

Not even a mock trial.

6 peers from the pickleball tourney

Deflate
Deflate
Reply to  Planet From Hell
11 months ago

**6/6 jury pool are 5 degrees separate from footloose.

Peet
Peet
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

If he already blamed losses on covid for ARPA, that it is moot.

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  Peet
11 months ago

We are in for a real microeconomic analysis that will be the study of students for generations.

snark shark
snark shark
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

Maybe this will trigger a forensic audit for the city. Karma

John Dutton
John Dutton
Reply to  John Dutton
11 months ago

*keep

The City I Hate
The City I Hate
Reply to  John Dutton
11 months ago

I believe Homeowners’ Insurance may cover defamation. Not that he deserves to win. But why isn’t Mazzeo’s tipster named as a defendant? But for her suspect phone call, Mazzeo wouldn’t have known about the night creeper creeping about the clerk’s office, and/or ballot boxes, or whatever he was doing there on election night.

But on to something else. Wasn’t there some sort of kerfuffle some years back between the Mazzeo’s, Tony, Lothrop, and Krolly Roller KROL?

Also, Danny, would you post the comments from ‘KrolOil’ concerning Krol allegedly using his position as a city councilor to help this “lady, when she and her husband ran and owned the restaurant next to the Beacon? And would you PLEASE post the comments from ‘Wonderlust’ concerning Pastor Johnny Krol allegedly using his position as a city councilor to get a cut rate deal on a liquor license for his current wife when she was married to another man? Wanderlust implies that Johnny Krol unfairly secured a $100K liquor license for $30K. Danny, this can be found in your “EAT, DRINK, & BE MERRY, FOR TOMORROW … PITTSFIELD RESTAURANTS REOPEN – BY DAN VALENTI (FORTRSS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC.4-6, 2020

merci beaucoup

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  The City I Hate
11 months ago

Who is ‘Tony’?

Chuck Garivaltis"/"
Chuck Garivaltis"/"
11 months ago

Dan,

Haven’t responded much lately because health has been up and down. I continue daily reading your posts and resulting comments and find them excellent and educational. Wonderful comments folks, please keep them coming. To Dan and to all who comment here a happy holiday weekend and a very Happy Easter. To all, have a great weekend.

Chuck Garivaltis

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Happy Easter to Dan Valenti & Chuck Garivaltis, and all of the good people who read Planet Valenti’s blog. Happy Passover to our Jewish friends, too.

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  Chuck Garivaltis"/"
11 months ago

I’ll grant you twenty posts for this one.

Red Ball 4
Red Ball 4
11 months ago
Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

April 7, 2023

Hello, Blogger Dan Valenti:

Here are all of my questions for the candidates for the open elected position of Mayor of Pittsfield politics:

1. Pittsfield’s municipal finances are unsustainable. Pittsfield currently has a fiscal year “Pickleball” budget of over $200 million. Pittsfield’s municipal debts and other liabilities are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Pittsfield has been experiencing a shrinking middle class with significant losses in population and living wage jobs over the past 50 years. What are the candidates plans for a realistic municipal financial management system going forward?

2. The almost 25-year-old polluted PEDA debacle has millions of dollars in always growing larger debts and other liabilities. The millions of public dollars being spent on it do not remediate the pollution. What are the candidates plans for PEDA going forward?

3. Allendale Elementary School abuts Hill 78, which is a “capped” leaky landfill full of GE’s cancer-causing industrial chemicals called PCBs. What are the candidates plans with Hill 78 and Allendale Elementary School going forward?

4. Pittsfield is always in the top 10 cities in Massachusetts for violent crime year-in year-out. What are the candidates plans for Pittsfield’s dangerous inner-city streets that experience daily shootings by the over 1,000 gang members who call Pittsfield home?

5. Pittsfield’s public schools have the worst rating by the state, which is Level 5. Over 650 Pittsfield students per academic year choice out of the city’s failed public schools to neighboring public school districts and the like. What are the candidates plans to improve public education in Pittsfield?

6. The biggest question a municipality should answer is: Would the average middle-class family want to move here? How would the candidates answer this question?

7. North Street is home to 15 empty storefronts, it is sarcastically called “Social Services Alley”, the distressed neighborhoods that surround North Street are sarcastically called “The Ring of Poverty”, and many people avoid inner-city Pittsfield out of concern for their personal safety and peace of mind. How will the candidates change all of these socioeconomic problems for the better?

8. Miguel “Miggy” Estrella was shot to death in an encounter with the Pittsfield Police Department’s Officers over one year ago. This late-young man had a well-known history with the police, including for mental illness, substance abuse and domestic calls. On the evening of the tragic event, he was self-cutting with a knife, he was high and/or intoxicated, and he was in an ongoing mental health crisis. But the PPD’s Use of Force report stated that he was not a person in distress under law. Do the candidates believe that the PPD’s determination that the suspect was not a person in distress under law is wrong? If so, how will they fix this grave injustice by the City of Pittsfield, Massachusetts?

9. The residential neighborhoods nearby Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.’s Berkshire Roots pot growing buildings on Dalton Avenue have publicly complained about the unpleasant odors with no resolution from City Hall. How would you deal with Nuciforo’s disregard for the residential neighborhoods who have to smell the unpleasant odors from his pot growing buildings?

10. Pittsfield State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier’s number one (and only) state legislative priority for 2023 – 2024 on Beacon Hill is to pass a law decriminalizing prostitution. If she succeeds, would the candidates support “Happy Endings” Massage Parlors in Pittsfield?

11. The golden rule of Public Administration is to use the city’s limited financial resources to Invest in People as the community’s most valuable resource. How would the candidates invest in the people of Pittsfield?

12. What would the candidates do differently than Mayors: Sara “Aberration” Hathaway, Jimmy “Rolodex” Ruberto, Dan “Montello” Bianchi, and Linda “Gated Community” Tyer? Why?

Jonathan A. Melle

Eric Swansin
Eric Swansin
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Enough Jonny. No one thinks you’re tough. It’s time to put your sassy pink undies on. Put your glass of wine down and come to bed.

Joe Biden's Ice Cream Penis
Joe Biden's Ice Cream Penis
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

What?

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

Story suppressed by mainstream news since the ax murderer is an illegal alien muslim. Only heard about this on Howie Carr’s program.
The state of Vermont has contracted with several hotels to house these illegals, who have proceeded to destroy & vandalize the hotels and commit local crimes. Rutland, Middlebury and Burlington are in decline due to defund the police movement and state sponsorship of the influx of illegals.

Last edited 11 months ago by Mr. Fritz
Lenny
Lenny
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

Wake up residents of North Adams to the proposal to house homeless/illegals in the MCLA towers. This will not end well. Look at the situation in VT. Use the towers to house senior citizens, as senior subsidized housing options are few.

Pat
Pat
11 months ago

All of the Jesus Christ Superstar songs are perfect for Easter. Godspell too.

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Salt Peter
Salt Peter
Reply to  Pat
11 months ago

Best thing you’ve ever posted! Happy Easter Pat

Pat
Pat
11 months ago

Another song perfect for Easter sung by Carl Anderson from Jesus Christ Superstar. I love the line, “Every word you say today, gets twisted some other way”. That perfectly describes the current culture we live in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URWa0rbB1Kw&list=RDNv-CsctQ72g&index=3

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  Pat
11 months ago

Agree Pat. “As in the days of Noah” as the culture turned into pure evil.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

All Americans need to read the book The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn. It’s about how by driving God out of our public spaces, dark forces have moved in to take God’s place. Baal is one of the ancient Gods, but there are 2 others equally as powerful and dark who are influencing our country for the worse. It sounds crazy, but if you read the book, it makes total sense. It describes everything that we are going through from gender confusion of so many currently believing they are in the wrong body to free love in the 60’s destroying marriages and families.

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Quick Take
Quick Take
11 months ago

Dan doesn’t know what an exclusive is. That’s my take after reading this mess.

If the mere presence of people at a polling place can influence voting, the appearance of a sticker or a placard can change voting certainly Fat Barry in the clerks office during voting can. Plus who’s two say both the clerk and the fat Barry didn’t lie.

If image is everything then Fat Barry has damaged his own reputation far more than Mazzeo ever could.
His tirades here, his 3am cumbies run.
He because the crazy face of a campaign and became part of that campaign. He’s routinely embarrassed himself here and on Facebook.
All Mazzeo has to do is find someone who dropped Barry because of his shenanigans.

Peet
Peet
Reply to  Quick Take
11 months ago

It seems like an impossible burden to prove blame for any loss on an individual, during a time of absolute change and uncertainty. Didn’t EVERYONE suffer losses during the time in question.

Sorry to be the one to say – everyone was inflicted emotional distress during the time in question wherefore the lawsuit is frivolous.

It is frivolous to even suggest it.

All defamation matters.

This is not a case of defamation.

At least there would be almost no chance of proving the cause to be anything other than the impact that COVID-19 had on the majority. Not a minority.

Right there, you already lost your case.

You’re welcome,
Cp’n Obvious

Last edited 11 months ago by Peet
Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Was BC part of Tyer’s election team? Even unofficial ‘work’ on regular time could give him an official position.

If so, are candidates and their agents permitted to go where ballots are being handled? If not, his name belongs in print because elections are public business.

I agree his situation is delicate. How he handles his eggs is his business.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Dan, I too disagree with you.

Let me ask you, why was Dirty Barry in city hall in the first place? In today’s day and age of technology, Michelle couldn’t have emailed the list to the Tyer’s? Flat certainly likes to avoid the taxpayers and conduct mayoral business via zoom meetings any way. The Tyer’s weren’t fans of technology during the election cycle?

Dirty Barry or Flat could have had any number of people pick up that list from city hall for them with a quick phone call.

If I were a business partner with Dirty Barry, I’d be furious at him. It speaks volumes about his business acumen, not to mention it screams arrogance and not giving a sh!t what image DB is projecting to the public as a whole.

Dan, if you were running for mayor, would you have wanted your wife anywhere near city hall on election night? No, it gives the image of something unhanded is happening or about to happen.

The image: just like MelMaz’s friend thought DB was up to when he was in city hall that night. Pi$$ Poor optics on Dirty Barry’s end.

DB brought the lawsuit against MelMaz. He has the burden to prove his losses at her hands. I’d have my attorney ask the court to grant my defense team access to all of their financial records, to include his business. He’s an accountant. They can be creative with hiding money. Not saying DB did or is doing that, but again, he has to show me (MelMaz) his financial losses that she caused. I’d want another accounting professional to look over DB’s finances with a fine-tooth comb. Not an attorney.

A word of advice for Dirty Barry, go back to being the typical A$$CLOWN we’ve all come to expect of you. Cumby’s has fresh hotdogs on the grill and the Slurpee machine is fired up and ready for you. Plus, they need you in the worst way possible, DB. Your wife has turned this city into a portable toilet.

Last edited 11 months ago by Markus Aurelius
Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
11 months ago

One may only subpoena or crossexamine on the base of what is originally presented in argument or evidence. New requests are driven by what your opponent puts on the table.

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Is Courtney a city employee?

Mr. X
Mr. X
Reply to  danvalenti
11 months ago

Yes she was for many years, retired now. She was Gerry Doyle’s top person in the office when he was mayor.

Chances OUR
Chances OUR
Reply to  Mr. X
11 months ago

Is her son a police officer?

The City I Have
The City I Have
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

Do you get a commission for every breitbart click-thru?

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

Please tell us who is forcing you to click on it?

Planet from Hell
Planet from Hell
Reply to  The City I Have
11 months ago

I appreciate the diligence in vetting sources, but try to find these reports on CNN or mNSB.

Salt Peter
Salt Peter
Reply to  Planet from Hell
11 months ago

I bet Fritz used to clip out newspaper articles and mail them to his kid in college back in the 90’s.

Merry & Bright
Merry & Bright
11 months ago

Does Michelle Benjamin bring everyone into her office for private service, or just her boss’s husband? Was she looking for brownie points from Linda? This whole issue is sadly comical since taxpayers are practically locked out of City Hall. Have always felt that Bare Bare’s goal in life was to become Mayor but down deep realized he would never be elected as most taxpayers see through his false demeanor. Next best thing is to co-Mayor with his newly rich because of him wife. He has spent his wife’s whole term as Mayor coaching her and also coaching Kerwood on the finances in the City. Is that not illegal? Is that why he received PPP funds? Why did their bestie Dentist Sakshuag receive PPP when all the other dentist did not? He and his wife go hand in hand in ruining the City of Pittsfield. What have either he or his wife done to better the City? Just imagine their elated joy when they shut down Mazzeo’s and all other restaurants in the City during COVID causing taxpayers to go out of the City for dinner which incurred huge losses to business owners. Maybe the Mazzeo’s and other restaurants should group together and bring a huge lawsuit against Barry and Linda for their loses. Barry and Linda are as slimy and crooked as they come. Also, feel Michelle Benjamin should be held accountable for her ass kissing Barry (yuck) and giving him special treatment!

Lenny
Lenny
11 months ago

This is Easter weekend for Christians, and many Jews have celebrated Passover. So what is the lead cover story in the Eagle? A school in Cummington which will cater to the transgender crowd! What an insult to Christians & Jews at this most holy time of the year! If you are a subscriber, ditch this crappy waste of paper!

br549
br549
Reply to  Lenny
11 months ago

But all the Bud Light you can drink

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

So sad. Now the city of New York needs an exorcism. Actually our whole country needs an exorcism since it seems to be possessed by evil.

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
11 months ago

Now NYC skyscrapers are lit up by the mark of the beast.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

April 8, 2023

Hello, Erin Leahy at Act on Mass,

Happy Easter. Thank you for your political email about the do-nothing corrupt career politicians on Beacon Hill’s corrupt and secretive Statehouse. This month of April, a few state lawmakers will draft a fiscal year 2024 state budget that will give tens of billions of dollars away in state tax breaks to the Solons’ wealthy campaign donors who put these useless greed-balls in elected office for life. The Have Nots will receive small increases – not adjusted for U.S. inflation – in social programs and public education funding. The state lawmakers will return home to their legislative districts to brag – lie – about how they fought for the Have Not families in Massachusetts. It happens every year, of course.

Governor Maura Healey is a Democrat, but her proposed state tax breaks for the wealthy is the stuff of fiscally conservative Republican politicians. The wealthy put Maura Healey in the Governor’s chair so it is no surprise at all that she will return the favor with lots of cash for their deep pockets. I still would like to know whatever happened to our elected officials investing in the people and communities instead of giving all of the state’s tax dollars to the already wealthy few? It is because the corrupt career politicians in Boston only worship the Almighty Dollar and Power so they can sit on their fat asses in elected office for life.

The wealthy receive tens of billions of dollars in state tax breaks, the corrupt career politicians receive 6-figure public pay plus perks. The greedy registered lobbyists receive 6-figure salaries to legally bribe Beacon Hill lawmakers. Some very greedy registered lobbyists even receive 7-figure salaries. Retired Beacon Hill lawmakers such as greed-ball Dan Bosley receive a public state pension plus perks which is on top of his 6-figure lobbyist salary. What do we Have Nots receive? A lot of systemic elitist mockery along via a whole lot of DISSERVICES, including the new $50 scratch ticket from the 50-year-old Massachusetts State Lottery SCAM, which is really a (voluntary) regressive taxation scheme that symbolizes everything that is wrong with the state government in Boston!

Best wishes,

Jonathan A. Melle

Chances OUR
Chances OUR
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Machetti said he’s the best candidate and he’s going to take on the issues which are basically the same issues? Well if that’s the case then it’s gonna be the same old same old. This Pittsfield tonight host has had him on twice and the other two once and nuance?

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

April 8, 2023

Hello Blogger Dan Valenti,

Please read the letter by Barbara Roberts, Pittsfield, about the lack of living wage jobs in our native hometown. 
Best wishes,

Jon Melle

—–

Letter: “I’m now a single-issue voter on bringing jobs to Pittsfield”
The Berkshire Eagle, April 8, 2023

To the editor: It baffles me that none of our elected representatives sees any need to try to get some industrial development introduced to Pittsfield.

Cities and towns to the north and south of Pittsfield are thriving. Pittsfield is like a hospital patient in a coma. One online shopping venue was given several million dollars when it was supposed to bring hundreds of jobs to this city. And how did that work out?

I have decided on how I am voting for local, state and federal representatives henceforth. I will vote only for those who will actively and aggressively work to bring industry to this city. I want to live in a city that our young want to return to after college. I want a city where non-college youths have a chance at making a decent living again.

Who are those aspiring representatives? When I know who they are, I will work to elect them and and will surely vote for them. Those not interested will get no votes from me.

Barbara Roberts, Pittsfield

—–

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
11 months ago

Happy Easter, “old friend from Pittsfield”. Add to that almost everyone who still lives in Pittsfield is on welfare, disability, criminal records, mental health issues, addiction problems, etc. When a city is in acute distress, and is very polluted with PCBs, manufacturing businesses avoid Pittsfield like the plague. Pittsfield is run on state administered federal dollars, state aid, and excessively high municipal taxes, fees, public debt and other liabilities that are in the hundreds of millions of dollars that will never be paid off in our lifetime. The people who run Pittsfield on the state and local level don’t even live in Pittsfield. The people who live in Pittsfield are stuck there. I read the letters over the years by local residents who are in distress in Pittsfield. The politicians don’t care about the local residents at all in Pittsfield. Rather, they are in it for themselves. We should feel fortunate to live over 100 miles away from Pittsfield in Southern New Hampshire. Pittsfield is like a dystopian movie from our childhood in the 1980s and early-1990s. There are a lot of “Pittsfields” out there in the U.S.A., which is called America’s Rust Belt, Appalachia, inner-city gangs, political corruption, and people living in distress while nobody gives a shit about it all. It is so wrong on so many levels. Dan Valenti writes about it on his blog, but nothing changes. When he passes away years from now, his writings will be for posterity. Pittsfield will continue its place at rock bottom even after we are memories in the second half of the 21st century. The only way to deal with Pittsfield is to move away, which thousands of people and living wage jobs have done over the past 50 years. There is no hope for manufacturing jobs returning to Pittsfield in our lifetime, despite the issues of limited highway access, prohibitive production costs – electric rates and taxes, and the like.

Jonathan A. Melle

Gobsig
Gobsig
11 months ago

This lawsuit will not be pleasant for either side. Doubt if it’ll ever go to trial. Lots of stuff could come out in discovery if it does.

snark shark
snark shark
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Perhaps the Barry fella is hoping to scare up a pretrial settlement?

Gobsig
Gobsig
Reply to  snark shark
11 months ago

Maybe he’ll get one free meatball a week for the rest of his life

Planet From Hell
Planet From Hell
Reply to  Gobsig
11 months ago

Reminds me of a Seinfeld

Last edited 11 months ago by Planet From Hell
Who d hoo
Who d hoo
11 months ago

What’s the casual connection w/Doyle, Quigley? Arkema?

Who d hoo
Who d hoo
11 months ago

& Asher Benjamin?

Pat
Pat
11 months ago

This Drag Queen Story hour was in Canada where the Pastor was protesting against it. Drag Queen Story hour is being spread across the world for the smallest of children for reasons nobody can explain.

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
br549
br549
Reply to  Pat
11 months ago

Groomers

Pat
Pat
11 months ago

Pastor is arrested for protesting Drag Queen Story Hour for small children. Can someone please explain why small children need this. Why can’t they just have normal children’s story hour. I understand why the Pastor is protesting this. It’s crazy.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/pastor-spends-easter-jail-after-another-arrest-drag-queen-event

Last edited 11 months ago by Pat
Keet
Keet
11 months ago

This way if 1 person was the victim of an epic hate crime they can say, “everyone was isolated”.

It’s no F U C king di Ffernt than saying “all lives matter”.

It’s ignorance. Forgive em.

If Everyone Mattered; than the spirit and the habit of fairness, justness, and right dealing would be more (l) and less (/).

Covid-19 exists, it always did. and it was exploited in order to elude fairness.

The best way to get federal funds is via a pandemic. SAM.GOV

People don’t understand that you can not believe anything – it’s a manipulation.

Lab scandal/covid 19 – this, that & the other thing. It’s all BULL S H I T

https://nypost.com/2023/02/26/covid-lab-leak-is-a-scandal-of-media-and-government-censorship/

Equ Ine
Equ Ine
11 months ago

Education, employment, and advancement possibilities, as well as benefits, and resources, must be openly available to every citizen.

Peet
Peet
11 months ago

Dan, can the authors of a publication legally alter/protect the names of the individuals named in a media story?

In interviews with The Eagle on March 23 and March 28, O’Sullivan defended himself against the allegations and other complaints in his Egremont file.

This sounds a bit [/].

Keet
Keet
11 months ago

There needs to be traffick/crowd control on the Appalachian Trail. Maybe we’d need to carry less Nalexone.
So much bamboozlement with the Planning Commission.
ttps://theberkshireedge.com/great-barrington-sheffield-stockbridge-lenox-aid-toxic-polluter-undermine-berkshires-environmentalists/

Peet
Peet
11 months ago

Q: Who from BDAO has family in North Carolina.

DUKE PLEA BARGAIN STUDY – The only other district attorney’s office [& Berkshire] to participate in the study was Duke’s home of Durham County in North Carolina.

A: For two, the people pictured standing beside the statue of elizabeth freeman in the eagle article.