AT NAACP DEBATE, KROL OWNED MARCHETTI OVER ISSUE OF DOWNTOWN SAFETY
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 26, 2023) — At the NAACP debate Monday, mayoral candidate Peter Marchetti feigned outrage and exasperation at his opponent John Krol’s use of the phrase “boots on the ground” in reference to downtown policing.
We’re with Marchetti, but not for the same reason. Peter say some veterans find the term offensive. THE PLANET‘s not buying it, but we do loathe the phrase for being a cliche, readymade and straight off pantry shelf.
Cliches pack a lot of irony, though, for representing something so repeated that it becomes worn out from overuse. And why is it overused? Because most cliches happen to be true.
———- ooo ———-
Even since amnesiacs can remember, “downtown” has been an “issue.”
You can look at Ricky Rumpass’ byzantine street markings, the bike lanes no one wants, trash and the various markings and colors that make the road in downtown North Street look like a Peter Max poster. That’s fine, especially since Ricky’s incompetence begs for his dismissal, but you’d have to go back to the Nutman proposal and later the barroom politics of a soused Charlie Smith that doomed the downtown mall to trace the hijacking of sanity.
Then cooler examination goes back even further, when Picklefield took the federal dollars and nuked the West Street enclave and the South Street intersection. The city did this without a plan except to tear down hotels, restaurants, taverns, the train station, and morello create a wasteland.
———- ooo ———-
Krol’s correct. Downtown needs a police presence more than just cruisers speeding north and south. It needs blue pants — or boots, if you prefer — on the sidewalks. Too many small businesses are teetering, parking’s messier than it’s ever been, drug addicts and bums threaten the safety of everyone and yet —
— and yet this is what THE PLANET‘s right honorable good friend the city council president said at the NAACP debate: “[Downtown safety] involves mental health professionals to be downtown helping these folks,” Marchetti said. “If we really want to put an end to [the safety issues] we need to make it very clear to the people of Pittsfield that when you see someone sitting on a street corner, take that $20 that you would want to give that person, put it in your pocket, and write that check to the local charity that can help them” [Quotes as reported by Brittany Polito in her coverage at iBerkshires].
So there you have it. Krol wants a police presence. Marchetti wants you to write a check and send more money into the non-profit sinkhole.
Krol owned the issue. Marchetti punted.
Consider that when you go to the polls on Nov. 7.
———- ooo ———-
Missy Missing in Action
THE PLANET generated a lot of discussion about the teachers’ union go full-on Kim Jung Un when it barred press and public from its mayoral “forum” last week. The feedback included posts from PLANET commentators as well as private emails we received.
The union mobsters privately and anonymously whined a sour vintage, claiming THE PLANET had exaggerated the situation to gain clicks. That’s silly, of course; nonetheless, we reached out to union president Melissa Campbell, inviting her to further explain her position.
Here’s what we sent:
If you read today’s PLANET, you’ll know I strongly disagreed with your tactics in not allowing real-time broadcast coverage of the mayoral forum. The comments also disagreed, seeing it as defensive and not civic on the UEP’s part.
I would welcome any reaction or comments you wish to present, which I shall publish in full.
You know the drill.
When the phone didn’t ring, we knew it was Missy Campbell NOT getting back to us.
————————————————————————–
“The police are the public, and the public are the police” — Robert Peel.
“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.
I wonder who the Planet will endorse for Mayor?
Duh!
Krolchetti.
Could someone please ask Marchetti what the hell “mental health professionals downtown helping these folks” looks like?
When did Pittsfield forget how to give someone the bum’s rush?
The Miggy Law.
Takin it homeee
Simple dont rush a cop with a knife
isn’t that the Brien Center which is right down the street?
Brien center sucks
ServiceNet is right on North St., CSO on South St., Alternative Living Center’s Outpatient office is across the street (First & Maplewood) from the shelter. Berkshire Harm Reduction has a mobile van that can try to get people into services. Not just one agency to work at getting people off the streets.
Is it working?
You got it, how many more agencies do we need to involve into getting help for these people. This community has become a social service community. Granted some of these people dont want the help.
Also, I understand he is against a serious audit of the city finances but he has not come out and explained why it is a bad idea. It seem like a simple question for a person with his extensive experience with fiances. Why is he being so quiet about the subject? Just weird.
Of cource he is against it because it will all prove that the money was used and abused. Ie the Great Africian Trip
He’s fed this crap by his campaign/friends/consultants. These idiots are the ones ruining the city to make themselves remain important. Most social workers in this area are a complete disgrace.
Mental Health Professionals is a fancy name for any low level social worker that thinks they know everything. Same ones that are ruining schools, they just want more control and most can barely blow their own noses themselves. What would you rather have? A police officer or a 23 year old girl with horned rim glasses next time a bum harasses you for his next nip of fireball?
Great question: Who would you rather have? Krol wants the cop. Marchetti wants the social “workers.”
Which one approves importing hordes of CRIMINAL ALIENS?
How will such offal be handled? Will they be given benefits, housing, medical,…….better than citizens/LEGAL residents?
This is a MUCH bigger problem than “houseless” in Springside Park.
How about all bald,good lookin wearing white physicians garb.
Probably the same bald guy I see all the time at the library. That place has turned into a cesspool of filth and decay Instead of getting rid of them they are now using the library as a social work hub. Total enabling
You sure you aren’t Ghost of Jack Mehoff?
Sister of Mike Hunt and 2nd cousin to Hugh Jass
Downtown Pittsfield has 15 empty storefronts, social services agencies, not-for-profit agencies, banks, law offices, the YMCA, Hotel on North, and it is surrounded by impoverished inner-city distressed neighborhoods. When I was a young man a few decades ago now, I always feared that I would end up as a low-income man who would be stuck in this shit sandwich in inner-city Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Now that I am 48, I feel very fortunate to live in my condo unit in Amherst, NH, with my (ESA) dog named Chocolate, with my immediate family living near me nowhere near inner-city Pittsfield.
Inner-city Pittsfield is scary. It is full of poor people who are dependent on the system – an illustration of the underclass in a modern day Charles Dickens novel. John Krol did NOT nail it with his “Boots on the ground” tagline! Peter Marchetti didn’t hit a home run with his mental health and charity proposals.
The purpose of state and local government is to INVEST in PEOPLE and COMMUNITIES, as well as to operate an efficient and equitable, effective and accessible, and accountable and responsible system of government. John Krol and Peter Marchetti should have promised to publicly manage the limited resources of state and local government to make Pittsfield better off than it has been in over 50 years of the city’s downward spiral.
When Pittsfield’s population and living wage jobs decrease, while its taxes and poverty rate increase over the past 50 years, then the state and local politicians who have failed the people and community for so long need to step down from elected office. The problem with money and power in government is that the career politicians never give it up because they win, while the fictional Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski lose.
Jon Melle
“Te purpose of state and local government is to INVEST in PEOPLE and COMMUNITIES, as well as to operate an efficient and equitable, effective and accessible, and accountable and responsible system of government”
Must flip the argument: The purpose of government is to operate an efficient, equitable, effective accountiable and responsible system as well as to invest in people and communities.
The definition of investing in people and communities is always disputable, especially when grants are given to fund profitable investments in real estate that may benefit people as well. Therefore, accountability for public money must be forefront.
Valid points. Why would any career politician expect a HAVE NOT such as myself – Jon Melle, who is a native of Pittsfield (Mass.) – to pay the government taxes, fees and the like, if they failed to use my tax dollars to invest in people and communities to make our lives better off than before I paid taxes?
If a career politician(s) only wants my tax dollars without returning the favor of investing in people and communities, then they are no different than a thief in the night who steals my money and other belongings to make money for himself at my expense.
Part of the deal between taxpayers and career politicians managing the government’s limited financial resources is that We the People get something beneficial back in return for our money. ….In a Perfect World, that is….
Taxes, when not reviewed regularly for purpose, ultimately become thievery. When applied to real estate, taxes are theft by a different name. You think you own your house? Try missing several tax bills. The City or town will take the title, sell it, and you get not a penny.
Hey Jonny Boy when’s the last time you were in Pittsfield to count those storefronts yourself. You just have daddy do it and tell you.
Jon,you did not like the Era of gobs…Pittsfield has survive corporations going to China and conservative school choice laws leaving urban democratic cities to figure it out.Move south to a republican state to see urban city failure at its worst
TSC
The South? Depends on where and what. Our son lives in the Richmond VA area and works for Cola-Cola. The area and the city is booming.
Richmond is thriving and it’s a great democratic city.Republicans have spent 35 years trying to destroy urban America as it targets rural America with conservative a.m. radio propaganda of fear.Billionaires have crafted a message telling the less fortunate they stand between them and the unknown enemy.
A copy and paste job from a buffoon
In the iBerkshires September 11th article about the citizens petition for no more roundabouts, Ricky Rumpus says that roundabouts cause MORE accidents, but it’s cool because the personal injury and property damage is less severe, so we need more roundabouts in Pittsfield.
What the hell is that man smoking?
The city is acknowledging that they are moving forward with something that is more dangerous to us.
The lawsuits are going to be a nightmare for us taxpayers.
At this point I’m ready to write in duct tape for mayor.
Milo Minderbinder.
Rotary traffic s used all over the word because it’s cheap and works fantastic.People on the planet are afraid of circular traffic and North Street
We’re talking about roundabouts.
Which word are they used on?
There will never be police patrolling North street. There are not even enough police to do traffic enforcement, ironically because many of them are too busy responding to a plethora of automobile accidents……. caused by lack of traffic enforcement.
But if you over park on that same North street for seven minutes, one of the mayors money makers will write your sorry ass a ticket and further confuse you as to why the city seems to prioritize parking violations over speeding and reckless driving.
You can find them on overtime traffic duty, staring into their phones texting…
You’re onto something here. The meter maids might be more effective than social workers. They certainly managed to scare away the shoppers.
We really ought to be issuing permits for professional panhandling.
These panhandlers would seem to have the necessary skills to be bank tellers what with all the handling of money all day and there just happens to be quite a few openings for that coveted position in Pittsfield.
Pete could solve two problems at once if he put on his bank president hat and recruited some of these folk to work in his bank. And if he does not believe in audits he should not be too worried about background checks either. Good to go here. Get on it Pete.
They could work for Kerwood
Family members came to visit at the beginning of the month and all they could say was “what happened to Pittsfield?” They said all they say was garbage, beggars and people walking North St with bags and shopping carts. This is what happens when you pick the same people to run OUR government. People forget they do have a voice and they better start using it or the city will continue to decline into the abyss!
Pittsfield’s becoming a Liberal utopia, like San Francisco, Chicago, NYC,……….
Wait until the criminal hordes Biden has let invade our non-existent border arrive. Then the Leftists will all be giddy!
I hope once Trump is locked up that you will feel more comfortable about getting professional help MT. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Many ex pretend teachers have taken such a road and improved their lives immensely.
Your deviant Leftist proclivities are much more in need of help and counseling. Please stay away from the children and farm animals.
Repressed Republicans have all the strangeness
We need the Alcohol of Fame in Pittsfield. You’d be an excellent exhibit.
After watching Republicans for 7 straight years, you have come to believe your party is doing some of their best work.You can not make it up.Your party is a cult following a fool pied piper.
Give me a break, Dan.
Krol will hire a consultant to figure out a strategy for downtown policing or do absolutely nothing like Mayor Tyer. Isn’t handgun Moon part of his team? She wanted to cut the PPD’s budget!
He may make Moon his police chief. She has a great deal of knowledge in the area of law enforceent and many friends on the force. Maybe.
The only ones who believe consultants are low information city councilors. Lenny Penny.
Ask Krol a much more important question about the letters from DOR and the AG’s charities office.
Eagle will drop that next Monday. Maybe you can get the “scoop”
Dirty politics. I sense fear. Afraid that he could be our Mayor and audit the books or or just retaliation?
John Krol: As DA, Harrington will make us proud
By John Krol Aug 28, 2018
John M. Krol, Jr. is vice president of the Pittsfield City Council.
For those of us who have been in and around the Berkshire political scene for some time, it has been a race for the ages. It’s had just about everything, including a concerted effort to skirt voters and keep the district attorney’s seat within the confines of a powerful political establishment. It has also unveiled a clear split between an old guard and a new wave of energetic leaders ready to take our community in a new direction.
The scheme to hand over the district attorney’s seat to Paul Caccaviello included breathtaking political maneuvering by former DA David Capeless. Capeless not only resigned with 10 months left in his term in order to give Caccaviello the position of interim district attorney, he also remarkably pulled his own nomination papers to mislead reporters and the wider public on their intentions.
It was clear that the strategy was devised to dramatically shorten the window of opportunity for any other candidate to enter the race, and give Caccaviello an unchallenged path to continue with unfettered control of the office. It was well-orchestrated as public records ultimately unveiled in the powerful article published in Commonwealth Magazine. The political hand-off was also justifiably admonished by the editorial board of the Boston Globe and this newspaper, among others.
Ignited a spark
The well-devised plan may have seemed foolproof. However, there was something they did not calculate. Or, more accurately, there was someone they never saw coming.
At the very moment Andrea Harrington decided to launch a run for DA, there was a spark that ignited a completely new conversation on what our community deserves in this district attorney’s office. And quite quickly there was a clear acknowledgment across the Berkshires that we deserve far better.
We know the philosophy of the current leadership in the DA’s office is outdated and ineffective for today’s challenges. The status quo policies popular in the 1980s are just not getting good results. We are not going to prosecute our way out of the opioid crisis and we do ourselves no favors when we choose not to take a more proactive approach to addiction, domestic violence and sexual assault. Andrea knows this because of her vast experience as a defense attorney navigating the broken system. She also has equipped herself with a deeper understanding by doing what has not been done by leadership in the DA’s office for far too long: she is listening.
Andrea has taken the Berkshires by storm with her message, but not because of traditional political alignments or endorsements that come along as her campaign has gained steam. Instead, Andrea fundamentally changed the dialogue on criminal justice in this county because she has acted with the courage of her convictions and with an unwavering tenacity to engage people at their doorsteps. Yes, she knew she would have to work at least twice as hard as her opponent to win this election against a political machine that has been in power for decades. But it is also true that you will simply never be more in-touch with the people than you are in the heart of a campaign that is up close and personal with the voters. This is the essence of why the DA is an elected position. It is this hard work, and the knowledge derived from it, that will help shape reform in the Berkshire criminal justice system. That’s the democratic process. When it works, it benefits us all.
Our values shared
Finally, let me tell you about the person that I know. Andrea is someone who you can look in the eye and trust the words you hear. She is a mother, who with her loyal partner and husband, Tim, is raising two wonderful sons in this fine community we call home. Just like so many of us, she wants the Berkshires to be a place where her children will be able to thrive and maybe raise a family of their own. At the very core, it’s this desire that drives Andrea each and every day in this powerful grassroots effort, inspiring so many others to join in. She understands that our hopes and dreams are only attainable if we have a safe community. Andrea will fight for you and your family. She shares our values.
Quite simply, Andrea Harrington is someone who we will be proud to call our district attorney. I respectfully ask that you vote for Andrea Harrington on Sept. 4
Vomittttttt
Tell me the casual connection betwixt Andrea Harrington & that guy. I’ll give you a hint, conflict of interest 2014, & a Malotov gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Andrea is a fucking puppet. The nipples, remember, the Betty fucking boop of fucking law enforcement – suuuckkkk itttttt
An egg I sayyy, silly goose!
What’s the casual connection betwixt that guy and (blow me my) Tire (is so fucking lowwww down dirtayy low down),
You are a smart man. I miss your brother, bruhh. One of, mo Thee smartest men I ever had the pleasure of speaking with.
You win asshole. I can also see you. Doesn’t matter anymore.
The way he’d say
Standard Oil
Hehh hehh
…aww shit, they don’t make em like that anymore.
I’m smart enough not to say your name.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…. yikes
I heard what ya said
Also consider that John Krol for Mayor is a thief and steals from charities when you go to the polls on Nov. 7.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/editorials/our-opinion-john-krol-animal-dreams-transparency/article_14e043fa-6f59-11ee-925f-df9722760992.html
I still can’t get an answer to ‘what charity?’ I hear about some operation to capture wild cats, but what charity??
I believe the correct word would be nonprofit. The nonprofit would be Animal Dreams which has since merged with Berkshire Humane Society. Hope this helps.
Yes, that helps.
Kronick is using a de facto ad hominem attack by refusing to call a 501(c)(3) non-profit a charitable cause.
I guess when your boy steals from a non-profit, the tactic is to lessen the charge by disparaging the victim. Kronick approaches this like the lech who waves off a rape because she “was asking for it.” Despicable.
Kronick, here’s some IRS information that will help you understand the meaning of words. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-501c3-organizations
Non profits are charities? Is the Metropolitan Museum of Art a charity too?
How can I issue an ad hominem attack against something that does not exist? There is no disparagement, but I am generally adverse to inaccurate language.
Some people have such fun with words and bureaucrats too!
Per IRS re. 501-3 “commonly referred to as charitable organizations” That’s not a definition, just a general statement referring to how people misuse common words. Churches, for example, are not charities. They may perform charitable work, but the exemption is a religious category.
Now my turn: the accusation of stealing from a ‘charity’ attempts to use emotion to carry the argument. If the issue is theft, then that is the point. Calling it a charity begs the question. It in fact rather kills the argument.
Damn
Charles Kronick is working hard to defend a thief. I wonder how much of a cut Kronick got…
I just got personally ad hominemed by Charles Dickens!
Mr. Dickens, you are not alone suspecting Councilors get a cut for holding their tongues. I’m certain Krol has much to say on the question.
Why is desperation so unattractive.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s database to search not-for-profit organizations is called the “Public Charities Filing Search.” As a City Councilor, you should know this basic fact.
https://masscharities.my.site.com/FilingSearch/s/
PCTV is a 501c3
You really believe that all these 501 organization are truly non-profits. That’s a joke. I believe we are smarter than that.
A better description is nonprofit. Hope this answers your question.
That is my point. The question is clearly rhetorical – I know what we are talking about. Bad business regarding Animal Dreams.
They keep calling it a ‘charity’ when it is just a boring non-profit.
Totally agree Charles. With due all respect Ozias, that’s that just because it quack like a duck is a duck NOT.
So, my response to Tax Slayer is, why call AD a charity when it is not a charity? A charity serves people. Non-profits serve concepts (feral cats wandering the Berkshires, education, religion, art, etc…)
Is the actual allegation of misusing AD insufficient to degrade Krol’s reputation? If so, what does that tell us about the people running AD?
It’s more bad weirdness un top of weirdness.
The Commonwealth refers to such organizations as charities because donations to them are deductible as charitable donations.
https://masscharities.my.site.com/FilingSearch/s/
You can call it a charity, just as you call yourself mencken.
I call it a silly idea.
You can call it that, as I say, to be in agreement with the Attorney General. But the word ‘charity’ means providing for people in need, not wild cats who are completely self-sufficient. If they were providing for people in need who need cat support, we can talk business.
Sure, I agree. They may all call it 501, but let’s be realistic, it just a lupe hole NOT having to pay their share of taxes and applying for federal grants. Why is it that the we don’t see a list of all the 501 organizations runned in Pittsfield.
Put your name on your post so I can make sense of your post.
CHUCK
I am with you. THE PLANET allows pseudonyms for obvious reasons, but we join in in urging more people to have the courage to post under their real names, the way you do and THE PLANET does. I ALWAYS attach my name to my public utterances and statements. Less fear. More transparency.
The worst you can do is make a fool of yourself! And the honor to be personally recognized and insulted by the greats like Charles Dickens.
Dan, I have great respect for you and appreciate the opportunity that you give us but let’s face it, I’m not about to throw myself to the wolf’s.
Really? Let’s not be naevi. Pittsfield? I have a family to protect. No disrespect. When I said “if it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck NOT” meant that not all these 501 are operating as intended.
What’s the anger? Angry that he made be the next Mayor and discover the in.
I would wager that if someone proposed putting boots on the ground to address crime on the Westside, it might stir up considerable controversy from the NAACP. However, it appears that the plight of the homeless and less fortunate individuals doesn’t appear to be a priority for the NAACP or Krol. Dan, have you considered taking a stroll downtown and engaging in conversations with these individuals to understand their perspective? Oh, right, perhaps the idea of someone asking for spare change comes across as intimidating and wivked scary. While I may not be a supporter of the median brigade, I simply pass them by without losing any sleep.
Why do you continue to advocate for Krol, Dan? Has he offered you a favorable PR position in city hall if he gets elected?
Regarding the teachers union, it’s important to note that they are a private organization and aren’t obligated to provide public access. They likely wanted an uninterrupted opportunity to hear from the candidates. It appears you have a talent for crafting persuasive arguments out of minor issues.
Curious. During this debate or whatever it was called , was their ANY discussion of money or funding? For example, future raises, perks or any other employee perks, benefits or such?
Serious question.
The schools are looking out for their own interests especially as regards salary increases. This should all be public knowledge not hidden away in secret meetings with the mayoral candidates.
I agree Pat. Its unusual that any group, be they teachers, police, firemen or city workers be looking out for their own interests.
What’s unusual is not making it completely public. Transparency matters or it should.
Bravo! Nicely said!
He does have a way of crafting his side, Saturday I posted this about the the church’s request for CPA money. “Had the request been made by a person named Jennifer Smith, rather than Jennifer Kerwood this conversation would not be happening.” The post never saw daylight. I was most likely inconvenient.
In the same theme he emphasized That 156 cities and towns did not accept the CPA tax. He could have just as easily posted that 195 cities and towns. did accept the tax. However, it’s his show and he can do what he wants.
You are fundamentally wrong. While indeed teachers’ Union is a private organization–they used public building–PHS library for the meeting with Public Office candidates. They simply disrespect the Laws, Mass Constitution, and any Decency Rules. You cannot use the public building paid by my taxes for your private meeting, sorry.
Good point.
Craig Benoit just publicly endorsed John Krol for Mayor on the radio. What idiot does that when you are in your own race? Guess he doesn’t want to win.
He’s running for councilor. Moron.
I think he meant focus on the goal.
I know that. I never said he was in the Mayor’s race, just said his own race. Please try reading with comprehension.
Marchetti has a similar problem. Tyer, who he says he would not emulate, has endorsed him. He seemed to be trying to distance himself from her because of all the negative baggage she carries but was having a very hard time cutting that umbilical cord through which he has been fed the last 8 years.
Which is it Pete? Do you think she did a great job and you want to follow in her footsteps or did she do a shitty job and you would like to steer clear of her? Or would you like door number three where you just keep quiet because you are terrified of her when she stares at you for being a bad boy?
No way he can loose the stink of Tyer
Any chance you’ll post a running tally of the votes when you visit Michelle in her office on election night?
You insulted morons everywhere
He meant idiot.
Wait a minute, haven’t other candidates endorsed Marchetti and or running around with him to different events like lost doggies. Are you calling these other candidates idiots?
Please stay current with the events that are unfolding around this election. CRAIG Benoit is not the only candidate that has endorse any of the Mayoral candidates. Just pay more attention.
Are there any City Council at Large Forums scheduled? Why are we not talking more about the candidates in that race? The newcomers include a guy who disseminated the worst kind of illegal smut and a DEI professional running, and nothing from the Planet? Seems ripe for analysis!
Pretty sure the good old boys do not want ANY new councilors that they have not themselves vetted for loyalty. Would that be you sir?
One out of three ain’t bad, I am a boy.
I’m surprised no one has picked up on his arrest/Conviction yet and reported it. You know those pics? Angelo probably sent em
Krol is definitely king of the catch phrase. He is also a master of illusion. When looking and listening to him you might just have the thought that he is or has been successful at most everything, in fact it is all an illusion if you look at his job history and financial success. I can not imagine him running a $200 million dollar budget. HOW is he qualified? Peter… ASK HIM THIS DURING A DEBATE!! Have him point to an experience he’s had the isn’t just a story he makes up. His time at his radio show that he claims was for the community was merely his attempt to create a name for himself to run for an office later down the road. I give him credit for having that vision, but it doesn’t make him qualified to run the city. Somebody please enlighten me as to how he is qualified? Dan, if you could put it in writing that would be amazing. Show us his qualifications for having control of the ARPA funds without bashing anyone else in the process. Show us what he has done in the past to give us confidence that he is the right person for this job. If you can then this post may help your boy so have at it, because I’d love to vote for the right person for the job but I cannot see for a moment that John is BETTER than Pete based upon their past.
He was a snarky little bitch on Facebook. Not real radio.
What’s Lumpy done in 16 years? How is Pittsfield better than it was 16 years ago? Or even the last 8 years?….
Now you tell me how many former mayors had any experience dealing with such a budget like this?
Please, let not play dumb ask our current Mayor how much experience she had with a budget of this magnitude.
Turns out its actually very easy to spend more money. The trick is to spend less.
Yes. Spend less, plus raise more, spend intelligently, and trim as much waste and fat as possible. Think of the savings to taxpayers it the city dropped the Kapanskis’ share of paying the health care costs of city employees. Taxpayers pick up 85% pf the tab, workers 15%. That FAR exceeds the Dreaded Private Sector. So I ask: Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan if the percentages changed to 75-25 or 70-30? Law requires 50-50. Think of the millions that could be saved.
It is one of the big draws to run for city councilor..the family plan can save a councilor a ton of cash
Whoever becomes our new Mayor, besides auditing the books also needs to investigate why the PPD can’t hire or keep officers. We do not have enough officers to cover the city as is. Another huge promise made by Tyer that was not fulfilled, Prime example occurred yesterday in Coltsville during rush hour. Accident by Convenience MD on Dalton Avenue. Traffic in all directions was backed up for over an hour. Not one officer directing traffic, they were all standing around the accident with their hands in their pockets. Is there no protocol to place the officers out in the intersections to direct traffic? Is there no supervisor on sight to scatter these police officers to prevent further accidents? Something is not right.
As far as North Street goes, while driving North Street many times with a police cruiser either in front or behind me you can witness laws being broken, yet the police officers just drive by. People passed out on the sidewalks, people covered in their own feces, open containers, people peeing openly on the street, people crapping in the flowerpots, police drive by. If a citizen can see these issues, why can’t the police? Is there a reason for them not assisting or arresting these folks? Also, once again, the last two days there has been large gaps manually cut out of the police blog, taxpayers deserve some answers as to what they are trying to hide.
“Whoever becomes our new Mayor, besides auditing the books also needs to investigate why the PPD can’t hire or keep officers”
This describes many departments – highway, snow, inspectors.
Totally agree.
Krol wants pickleball stadiums and a new college stadium in the swamp.Safety is the number 1 job.Education is number 2.Pickleball is number 398 and a new Stadium is number 900.Paint lines and sweep streets .Add nothing until everything is well run.If we build a swamp stadium it’s over.Is the Taconic track fixed? Is the parking lot at PHS lit?……
Why can’t we celebrate the grave of the unknown housless person by THE STADIUM?
Agree. Nothing until every thing else get fixed.
Ginormus taxpayer oulays like a new ballpark SHOULD BE PUT ON A CITYWIDE REFERENDUM!!! Otherwise the whole project looks very suspicious to be pushed forward on a population in dire need of tax relief. And baseball at that park has not generated an audience anywhere near justifying its costs in 40 years. The whole thing, in a time of supersized construction costs smells like rotting fish. No mayor worth his or her salt would be shoving this down a poor city’s throat during a time of high inflation, high poverty and no real need at all for such a venue.
Just plain stupid. Reeks of special interest money grabs. End it now.
Do you know that this is all happening under this administration. Vote are been taken as we speak.
Oh yah…Pete is not going to open his mouth on this one. No matter what he thinks about it.
You are right, this should be one of the questions during a debate, Dan?
You Bozos are paying attention to a vote a year in the future when the house is struggling to appoint a speaker in real time.
John Krol Jr. is a man of low ethics and questionable integrity. His word is questionable at best as he is an opportunist.
It is unfortunate that this is even a question here.
What is the penalty for the newest craze burning rubber on roads the latest a pride colored crosswalk. Better start Nipping this in the bud or you’re gonna have an avalanche of these. Hard to catch.
Anti ltbgq and hate raring it’s ugly head.
It’s a crosswalk not a holy place
That’s heresy in our atheistic state.
Do they have these cross walks in Homosassa Fla.?
That time Krol persuaded voters our DA shouldn’t be a pro with a 30 year record of accomplishments but an incompetent phony. Apparently he’s put that behind him, though.
Krol has very poor judgement.
Lenny penny be nice
Don’t forget that the current administration including most of the current councilors were also supporting Harrington. So you re saying that they too have poor sense of judgment?
That is 100% true. Somehow, John Krol always is left holding the bag. It’s funny really.
Tyer and Marchetti have shown excellent judgment over the last eight years. STOP being a buffoon.
Outfox has a roll of duct tape.
Trumpers are falling like dominoes.The lesson is stay away from from the Mafia
That’s true. That’s the message all right.
You should stay away from alcohol cuckoo man!
Dan do you know if Kroll supports the new stadium?
Yes, this goes right along with all the stupid decisions this city has made year after year. Build a stadium on a swamp geez what could go wrong?
Yes
If you are really pain attention to what is going on with the current administration, you can see that this process for a new stadium has already started.
Sorry “paying attention:
pain attention is better.
Yes it is. The actual “pain” when we see the tax bill as we continue the outrageous spending.
Krol would rather not weigh in on this until after the election if you don’t mind.
Anyone want to guess the results of Mayors Election? How say you
Marchetti 5,900
Krol 4,600
That is sad, the total voter amount.
Middle East is officially insane.
er, not just the middle east is it?
People complain and do nothing. You get what you deserve. You can take the horse to the river but you cannot make it drink.
The only way we got anything from Tyer was to screqm at the top of our lungs…pot holes, roads paved, snow plowing etc..her focus was always on feel good projects like dog walking parks and pump tracks and bird scooters
We need to be like other cities that basic functions are done without people having to scream and beg. We need a mayor who is not going to require this…Marchetti is NOT that person
You are correct. He claims to have all these years of experience in government but yet what have he done all these years but vote to raise taxes and fees. Records don’t lie.
There ya go. There is no record of him doing one substantive thing in all the time he has been “serving” on the city council. He has taken much more than he has given.
All the shallow platitudes that White is heaping on Marchetti are mirages. They could apply to almost anyone.
But if just one of the minions of his thumbs downers would like to cite a real life thing he has done to benefit the majority of voters please chime in now. Please don’t use the parade…whoop dee doo…lotsa people would have loved that gig.
To make a horse drink don’t give it any water.
Is that Marchetti’s weight?
Mundane Peter
You forgot Bernie Baran. He usually gets several votes.
Marchetti 5,400
Krol 3,700
Barry 140,000
Needy charities 0
Marchetti: 7
Krol:5
Duct Tape: 7,100
Baran: 2
Trump: 3
Disclaimer: I may be getting a $$$ cut for the plug for 3M Multi-Use Duct Tape
The Favorites 10 000 plus. Taxpayer 0
Still glad you quit?
How many terms do you have to serve without it being ‘quit’? 10? 20? 45?
2 Brown ST Didn’t mean that as sarcastic by the way. Life’s short, there is a lot to get done. And we need, always, new people in office to develop a large core of leaders.
I’m writing in Mike Case.
What about Gorilla Tape?
Overkill.
I’m guessing the parents don’t know the truth. I’m also guessing the Krol campaign didn’t know about this letter.
To the editor: Family — that’s what it has always been about with us and for our son, John, who is running for mayor of Pittsfield.
We have raised four children here in Pittsfield. And it most certainly has been a joy to have our grandchildren grow up in our community, including John’s children. John is a great father and devoted, dedicated husband.
We are proud that our children have always recognized their responsibility as citizens while at the same time utilizing their unique talents to shine on others.
This is the mindset of John Krol and his desire to make this city a better place for his children and for all children in the community.
At the heart of his effort to lead this city is the desire to make the lives of our precious families thrive, flourish and be hopeful for a brighter future. He is a man of compassion, kindness and, yes, he sure has tenacity. John has taken his share of hits, but make no mistake, he has kept his head up and focused on what is important. He has faced adversity in his life and has always overcome it, stronger than ever. That’s exactly the kind of grit we will need in a mayor to transform this city.
We are asking for your vote for John Krol on Nov. 7. Our pride in our son is enormous, and his vision for Pittsfield is spot on.
Come on, people. Don’t let Pittsfield down.
John and Beverly Van Alstyne Krol, Pittsfield
There are two sides to every story- the truth and the bullshit.
Totally, the truth and bs someone is angry better yet enraged.
No need to be so angry, life is too short. In a few years this has passed and what? Here we go again…..
Very true. As they say, “one day we’ll look back on even this and laugh.”
Yeah. Some will say our taxes were sooooooo low.
“devoted, dedicated husband.” = Vomit!
“John has taken his share of hits, but make no mistake, he has kept his head up and focused on what is important” = Vomit!
Seriously, who is running this train wreck?
The only thing they have done right was the sign roll out and keeping a muzzle on handgun Helen
Handgun supports Marchetti
Generally I have a strong stomach but I am starting to wretch right now.
Did Lewiston have shot spotter?
Pride comes before a fall.
On the Letter. Krol,had a shot at Mayor until the cat scandal brought forward by Ms.Carver. Anything can happen in an election.
Well I disagree. As much as I support good deeds for animals, lets face it, this wasn’t about the poor animals funds. We are smarter than, aren’t we?
Devoted and dedicated must mean something else to these people.
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/73465/Pittsfield-Commissioner-Receives-Latino-Excellence-Award.html
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Linda. Tricia you are a disgrace and should do a one person reenactment of Tom Dooley. Safe roads for everyone (Ha!) Hopefully we will have a Puerto Rican Winter with no snow to keep that statistic up And no one else dies in the crosswalks… that’s the most diverse and equitable thing he’s done…. everyone is getting hit. POC’s, elderly. school children walking to Egremont, children going to the parks on the west side, construction workers.
Nothing to see here folks.
Here is an example of what is wrong with the city. A friend told me om his street cars were driving really fast because it is a cut through to avoid a red light. The 10 neighbors on the street called their councilor and city, The city had a meeting with the all the neighbors who wanted to make the one way a dead end st. They actually would prefer this outcome for the kids and elderly people who reside there. Well Rumpass, Marchetti and the lot said oh you can not just put jersey bumpers on one end of the street and make it a dead end. The city would have to hire engineers and widen one end to make a cul de sac and this would take years !! Now tell me what is wrong with this scenario????
Marchetti and Rumpass the great Pittsfield Street Wrecking Crew.
Would like to know how much extra money has been spent by taxpayers having to repave, redig, repave and redig streets because of Rumpass’s ideas. LB Corporation must be laughing their asses all the way to the bank.
do you blame them, they told the city that Rumpass’s horrendous ideas would not work, but once again the city ignored their professional advice. Something is wrong when it takes the city over 3 1/2 months to “correctly” pave a short street and it is still screwed up to the point of being unsafe with the promise of fixing it next year. What a line of bullshit, will the money be budgeted to repair or repave these streets again? Even if Marchetti disagrees with Rumpass he does not have the balls to tell Rumpass that he is wrong. If Marchetti wins, will Rumpass be allowed to continue to wreck city streets that have worked correctly for over 30 years.
Marchetti’s latest flyer looks like six mug shots of most wanted, it tells me these six are the most UNWANTED. Whomever is advising him on his campaign is hurting him more then helping. You would have thought Marchetti would have been smart enough to ditch this flyer. Shows his lack of backbone. Will not vote for any of them.
Same here.
Holdemupthere! Rumpass is the winner of the latino excellence award! They don’t just hand those out to anyone…