BUDGET SEASON BEGINS: CITY SETTING UP TAXPAYERS FOR A HUGE INCREASE IN CITY SPENDING … plus … DOWNTOWN PICTURES YOUR ‘LEADERS’ WOULD HAVE YOU NOT SEE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION FEB. 14-6, 2025) — Hang on to your wallets.
Both hands.
The wannabes running the city have begun noodling on the budget, which has ballooned to $215 million and counting.
You would probably join the Kapanskis and THE PLANET in thinking that with nearly $1 billion in long-term liability and declining services, the Bitchfield braintrust would finally realize it’s time for some serious belt tightening.
Well, no.
The budget is going to rise again, and taxpayers–homeowners and small businesses–are going to get crushed. “Leadership” will invent all sorts of gobbledygook to justify MORE CITY SPENDING, but ordinary citizens, taxpayers, and especially readers of this board know the true reason: Mayor Lumpy, Kufflinks, councilors, the school committee, and the rest of the policy makers don’t care about you. When it comes to facing the public in a serious and substantial manner, they panic, which explains why they keep to themselves with back pats and fanny slaps.
It’s a perfect financial storm:
- Uncontrolled city spending
- Lack of fiduciary responsibility
- More useless programs and initiatives, including DEI.
- A cut in federal spending because Bitchfield is in Massachusetts, which leads the nation in anachronistic, woke defiance of President Trump.
“So we win some, we lose some,” said Lumpy.
By the first “we” he meant himself and the rest of The Suits. The second “we” referred to the Kapanskis, and the loss will be enormous.
———- ooo ———-
These jokers are setting up Bitchfield citizens for a Whopper. Kufflinks said the cost of health insurance premiums taxpayers provide to city employees will be going up between 9 and 19%, 14.8% on average. During this present fiscal year, the premiums jumped 5.5%, Kufflinks said. So what do you think the solution will be? Common sense would say that the generous 85-15 split, with taxpayers picking up the 85, is no longer sustainable.
State law requires municipalities to provide at least a 50-50 deal on health insurance premiums. This begs for the split to be changed. THE PLANET suggests a minimum of 60-40, which is still better than what you will find in the Dreaded Private Sector. A 60-40 split would absorb the premiums increase, save millions, and leave money in the treasury.
Unfortunately, Lumpy, council president Voltron, and the rest of the “players” fear the political backlash of public employees more than they do the silent rage of beleaguered taxpayers. You think your fuel costs are up? Wait until you see your tax bill.
———- ooo ———-
Pictures at an Exhibition
THE PLANET‘s strolling photographer filed these pictures taken in downtown Bitchfield prior to the storm. They depict the all-too familiar faces of a dying city that neither the mayor nor council care to recognize. And to think these spaces only a few short years (decades?) ago were showcases of civic pride.
We hope city “leaders” are haunted by this.
THE PLANET hastens to add that these weren’t isolated instances. Such indigence was by our correspondent commonly seen. We wish it were not the case.
————————————————————–
“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” — Calvin Coolidge.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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The 2-Petes Pittsfield politics will probably increase the fiscal year 2026 municipal operating budget a predictable 8-percent beginning on July 01st, 2025.
It is all about the state administered, federal aid, not the taxpayers. Then there is the matter of the municipal $lu$h funds with millions of dollars for the special interests.
Santa Claus & the Easter Bunny will pay off the small city’s a little less than $1 billion in municipal debts & UNFUNDED liabilities. Also, Mayor Peter Marchetti said he is a so-called financial genius who thinks he should have a 90-day grace period.
Where is WHEN….NOW? Answer: Nowhere….not even in Jimmy Ruberto’s Rolodex that sits at the bottom of Silver Lake.
FJM!!!
FKJM!!!
With all the DOGE publicity you would think that someone could come up with a Calvin Coolidge, PJ Moore, Pete Arlos, Planet Valenti, type of cut somewhere in the bloated budget ?
You put us in good company RK!
Who voted for Them?
Melle?
Not Melle from NH
In short: No matter who is elected to leadership positions election after election in Bitchfield
they always want more government spending to solve problems caused by too much government spending.in the first place.
The roads are disintegrating before our very eyes. They cannot get enough sand. They cannot get enough salt. And they will not be able to get enough asphalt.
They’ll have blacktop for speed lumps
Not only is the city in dire straits, but the state also.
The Beagle headline is “Healey pushes for relief on rates.” What the story doesn’t tell you is that as MA Attorney General, Healey bragged about stopping two new gas pipelines from coming into the state. She has caused this energy dilemma and now she is demanding that the DPU fix it! What a fraud!
Healey has also proposed a new “pharmacy assessment” on all prescription drugs sold in the state. Basically a $2.00 charge on each rx filled, in order to generate $145M to pay for health care for illegal aliens. This will disproportionately affect seniors & those on fixed incomes.
Get the hell out of this state! It’s a disaster!
Caption for the fellow sleeping
in the chair:
I’m tired out ! I had a “random” drug and alcohol test today. I passed and didn’t even have to study for it.
Maybe that is why the LIbrary director took a 4 month cruise. Plausible deniability.
The city will take Bacon’s dough and their homeless but will not spend it to house or provide services in Pittsfield. They have other uses for your money. So, they need a location off the books to place people. Off the books is where they keep all the books. Unaudited, and a perfect place to deal.
It’s all becoming clear to me. I wondered for years what the deal was there.
Mayor Lumpy, CC Prez Wimpy White, and Kerweed-Kufflinks, better look now for some savings in Bitchfield’s budget. Things are about to get much worse for Bitchfield and MA, by Maura Healey defying President Trump’s mandate to end racist DEI programming in education.
It really is ironic that morons like Maura Healey and other race-baiting democRATS believe tossing aside the best qualified person for a job and replacing him/her with a lesser qualified black man/woman, “makes our education system, our communities, our businesses and our economy stronger,” according to Maura Healey.
Really Maura? DEI really does that in places. How did it miss Bitchfield then? DEI in Bitchfield has brought us:
*The Cultural Competency Coach-who teaches white students they are born racist or if they disagree with her “teachings,” they are racist.
*Shirley Edgerton-ROPES course took family and friends on an ARPA funded, all-expense paid, African vacation, to “explore her roots.” This was her 2nd such trip.
*Shirley Edgerton-went on a taxpayer funded “black teacher recruiting” mission in North Carolina. She recruited NO ONE. She did enjoy her 1st taxpayer paid vacation though.
*The BBEC-zero jobs created, except for family and friends. Gives away ARPA (taxpayer) money, to “black students only.” Tried to give away ARPA money once before with “Vibe it Up, North Street,” but the proof is in the pudding.
*Bitchfield’s DEI Office led by OB, has NEVER addressed black on black violence, or other core issues in the black community, other than to keep the “victim mentality,” alive and well.
*The Dancin’ Dean, aka-The Lady’z Man, Lavonte Wiggins, was hired as the Dean of Students, with an expired Dancing Certificate, not a college degree, but a dance certificate.
Yeah, I’d have to disagree with Maura on her feelings about DEI making anything stronger.
Bostonians Against Mayor Wu on X: “BREAKING: MA Gov. Healey (@MassGovernor) plans to refuse Trump’s DEI education mandate saying “DEI makes our education system, our communities, our businesses and our economy stronger.” She then adds “we’re going to stay true to who we are in Massachusetts.” Developing story. https://t.co/KAzzsj10Q4” / X
Excellent summation, MARK. DEI has been a disaster for Bitchfield. The DEI department should be the first cut councilors make.
Last budget showed they’d close a fire station before touching essential services like DEI. There is not much hope unless something external forces them out/into jail
Do we have a Republican party in this town? Who is leading it? Now is the time for a full-court press on the city council to reduce taxes.
Maura and Bitchfield’s leaders will have to meet up at the local park and say goodbye to the oak tree after Trump cuts off the federal dollars they
receive for this DIE stunt.
Good job and dig deeper!
Department of Education Terminates $226 Million in Grants to ‘Decenter Whiteness. ‘
https://x.com/realchrisrufo/status/1892349595193397486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1892349595193397486%7Ctwgr%5E0c6e611645e2ba61dc8fa38ec320d13644559c29%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fbrettt%2F2025%2F02%2F19%2Fdepartment-of-education-terminates-226-million-in-grants-to-decenter-whiteness-
n2408617
You need recent pictures from PITT public library, it is infested by junkies and queers.
Not a good place for ANY chilildren.
Where is the queer Mayor on thiis?
Jeerkng off on kiddy porn?
i
Don’t mean to go off subject but Ward six Onota street near the restaurant and entering vin Hebert blvd awful potholes. If You hit them you’ll know it. Also the stretch of road by cascade street is bad.
There are hundreds of them and more forming every day. Repair shops will be booking out 4-5 weeks for front end repairs. Not kidding!
There are hundreds of them and more forming every day. Repair shops will be booking out 4-5 weeks for front end repairs. Not kidding!
And it’s funny we haven’t heard anything about the water plant improvements?
Believe the staff is all queer.
Commie-loving Chuckie Schumer spends more time kissing up to the Chinese than caring for American citizens…..
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/chuck-schumer-smiles-as-he-shares-stage-ccp/
Chu Ki Hsummer
Anyone of those dozing doofusses could be either the mayor or city council president. Neither of them is going to lift a finger to address runaway taxes in Pittsfield. They are lazy. They are incompetent. And they had no business taking trusted seats of government when they knew ahead of time that they were neither qualified or enthusiastic enough to get the job done.
It is true that Marchetti inherited an infected puss filled mess of city problems. Tyer left him a black hole of issues. But he took the position. And White chomped at the bit to be a part of it. Now neither of them seem to want any part of running the city in any way that their oath of office dictates. They seem to be taking the usual easy way out and just dumping it all on the taxpayers. Cuz obviously, taxing people into poverty has solved all problems before.
God help us all.
Lumpy and Voltron are GREAT at cashing their checks, though!
“And they had no business taking trusted seats of government when they knew ahead of time that they were neither qualified or enthusiastic enough to get the job done”
They run to keep good people out.
Trump’s tariffs and the decade in the 1890’s era of economic protectionism.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-donald-trump-talks-so-much-about-william-mckinley-130007779.html
Google: trump william mckinley tariffs
Ever looked at the tariffs European countries levy on us? The Canadians? 25% is nothing compared them. Norway charges 200%.
McKinley erected tariffs that protected domestic markets.
Two more points: USA is the largest economy. The Euro’s were playing us with hands tied, and they cannot win a trade war, which is not what 25% makes.
Second: the greatest damage done to this country from contemporary pols and economists was done in the name of denying classical proofs from the Modern age. Gold and silver are still better currencies to own than dollars.
McKinley signed into law the gold standard.
McKinley’s
“Full dinner pail” won over the working people during his campaign to win the presidency.
And here is the final fact: prior to the Income Tax, the federal government funded its operations on tariff revenues. The only way to keep federal services, and keep them affordable, is to open the taps to trade revenue and reduce the load on the citizen taxpayer. Relying on taxes means eventually, it all goes away and that means EVERYTHING.
Trade Wars will bring prosperity? Spending billions of dollars on deporting immigrants will bring public safety? Government Efficiency will bring trillions of dollars in tax cuts? Calling Putin’s enemy in Ukraine a dictator will bring a peace treaty?
FJM!!!
Likely yes to all three.
In spite of the illogical framing of your questions- yes to all.
For Ukraine, just because the Europeans have a bicentennial event to wreck each century doesn’t justifying us getting involved.
There is now a ruined generation in Ukraine and Russia. Sunk costs fallacy teaches you must cut out.
How about Gaza? How ya gonna spin this one Chuck?
7 Oct 2024
The United States has spent $22.76bn in support of Israel’s war on Gaza and operations against the Houthis in Yemen, according to a report by Brown University’s Watson Institute.
The $17.9bn in military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza started a year ago is the highest annual total ever, according to the report.
The aid to Israel is a mix of military financing, weapons sales, and transfers from US weapons stockpiles, according to the report, which is part of the institute’s Costs of War project.
A large part of the US-delivered arsenal is munitions, the report said, including artillery shells and 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs.
A perfect place to send it.
100% Sir Chaz.
Word of the day:
: “Nodcock ~ From the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), this is one of many words meaning “fool or idiot” It dates back to the 1500’s. Synonyms include “noddypoop, noddypoll, and niddicock.”
To keep with this theme and blend in Jonny’s travel during his illustrious naval career he used to proudly wear his billycock out in public while in the far east as he devoured a double helping of spitchcock.
(◔_◔)
FJM!!!
Cut school budget 30 percent plus all DEI funding, cut city side 20 percent plus all DEI funding.
Immediately cut tens of thousands for city beautification. Flowers, planters, shrubs etc. It is an easy one. All the flowers are not distracting anyone from the potholes, homeless and insane drivers in Pittsfield. Cut it for one year and see if anyone gives a shit.
Stop giving tax breaks to the connected rich folk. Cut all the bullshit projects like renovating Waconah park. Between the high interest rates and high construction materials costs it is an asinine project. Just one of them.
Times are very tough. Stop acting like they are not. Do your job city council and represent the people you cajoled into voting for you. And you may have to do it without the mayor or council president because they have apparently left the building.
Stop increasing property taxes is number one. That would force lumpy and limpy to cut.
Wonder if any one in the City Administration is keeping track of the legal costs into the investigation at PHS. I envision in the future the Mayor, School Committee and City Councilors will be telling taxpayers that they didn’t expect the cost to be so high and they will be utilizing that excuse to raise taxes.
I also don’t feel that the Mayor, School Committee members and CC members should be included in the hiring of a new superintendent. All of them lack the knowledge to hire anyone. Look how they were all so “clueless” about the issues in the first place. The Mayor and City Councillors weren’t even capable to make a decision on the carousal. Pretty pathetic.
I’m betting the Bitchfield chapter of the NAACP will have a very strong say in this hire. Unlike the last time with Jumpin’ Joe and Denny not wanting him. Denny wanted someone who “looked like him” hired.
This time around Bitchfield’s going to “show Trump and lead the way,” and hire another “DEI type hire” to run the PPS (further into the ground).
It’s my early prediction.
We cannot not exist without d e I .
The last time I seen adumb Clayton was an interview on pctv his ballcap was filthy.
The progressive activists in Bitchfield don’t want equality of opportunity, they want equality of outcome (equity). It’s easier to make everyone a nail, because you only then need one tool, the hammer, to solve every issue.
White said himself he is interested in increasing school and council pay? Cameron is against it ? Then why the f is White for it ? To get quality candidates?
White likes to curry favor with the connected peeps. Never know when they might return the favor. Always got his hand out.
He wants to buy more Voltron crap
Look https://www.iberkshires.com/story/78106/Pittsfield-to-Consider-Speeding-Cameras-.html
Maybe the traffic cameras Gerry Doyle stuffed his pocket full of graft when he bought them will finally get used.
Hope he is having a ball in hell drinking up his vodkis
The Berkshire Museum’s two Norman Rockwell paintings donated by the famous artist himself were replaced by the Gerry Doyle Bar-stool and the Jimmy Ruberto Rolodex to symbolize Pittsfield politics.
Now Howdy Doody wants to spend $$ on surveillance cameras in the name of traffic enforcement. There are cameras all over this city. We have enough cameras. Kenny if you’d pay your taxes, the city could hire several more cops to enforce traffic laws!
Can we please get someone on the council whose income represents most of the city so that we have some representation? None of those council people are worrying about their bills unless it concerns first class seats on there jets to Rio de Janeiro
How about a city law that if you work for the city and don’t pay your taxes, you’re fired!
Kash is confirmed as FBI director! Congrats!!! Now clean up the Mess by starting with the democrats and Rino’s and families enriching themselves with taxpayers $ through kickbacks.
Musk and Trump want to give 5 g back to taxpayers. Has a big chance of happening.
I just got off the phone with a friend who is disabled. She is distraught that her food benefits are being slashed.
Meanwhile DEMOCRATS are in a uproar over the fact, that the RATS are being exposed by Musk/DOGE. MAJOR crimes. RINOs as well.
Every one should be fired and all US benefits/pensions striped totally. Their assets seized. Some need to live out life in prison.
New news from Project Veritas
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/breaking-undercover-video-department-education-operating-rogue-sanctuary/
“In a new undercover video, a Department of Education official has revealed to Project Veritas that the department is operating as a rogue “sanctuary program” for illegal immigrants, misusing federal tax dollars in a way that would enrage Congress if the truth came out. As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) begins its audit, this official revealed to Project Veritas that employees are also evading oversight and hiding secrets on encrypted messaging apps.”