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THE TALKING STICK IS YOURS, CITIZENS … NOW: OWN YOUR GOVERNMENT … TELL THE SUITS ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MAY 19, 2025) — Your esteemed city councilors and THE PLANET‘s Right Honorable Good Friends begrudgingly grant you, We The People, a miserly three minutes at open mic.

THE PLANET, on the other hand, grants you full access to speak your mind. We don’t time you, as if you’re Roger Bannister. In fact, we give you the entire alphabet, all 26 letters A to Z, for you to have your say. It is with these 26 symbols that you can have your say, ALL OF IT, without anyone laughing at you, ignoring you, making you feel as if you are an inconvenience, or essentially telling you how insignificant you are–because you know, that’s how they truly feel about citizens who have the audacity to OWN THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

They think you’re a nuisance, and they hate you for butting in because THEY KNOW BETTER.

———- ooo ———-

Think of it this way. Every time an ordinary citizen gets up to the podium to speak, they perform an act of declaration, asserting that THEY boss THEM and not the other way around. The current makeup of Bitchfield’s city council has a big problem with that.

They see you as pain in the butt. They expect three things from you: (a) complete obedience to their dictates (b) silence and (c) tribute in the form of crushing taxes.

The reason for that is that they occupy office for the wrong reasons, not to help you but to have their 15 minutes of Barney Fife’s one bullet. This council has no more will of its own than Howdy Doody did apart from Buffalo Bob. Simply look at the incestuous relationship between the council president and the mayor. It reads like a treatment for a horror film. All we’re missing is the mad scientist, and THE PLANET doesn’t expect Colin Clive anytime soon (let us know if you get the reference!).

———- ooo ———-

One courageous citizen who’s taken advantage of her civic responsibilities is Ciala Batory. This one person, alone, has forced the corrupt Bitchfield solcodoool kumite to sweat bullets over their reluctance to release the full reports of scandal. Now, she’s taken the next step. She’s running for school committee, and we know she knows how to spell “school” correctly. For this moribund city, that’s an exponential leap.

_____________________________

The city needs more independent candidates–people who hate politics … people who are not bought and sold … people who are sick of the monumental ineptness.

_____________________________

It doesn’t end there, however. The city needs more independent candidates–people who hate politics … people who are not bought and sold … people who are sick of the monumental ineptness. This election cycle, who will accept the challenge of their own citizenship? Who will stand for office and help to clean house of the present collection of incompetents?

The incredible aspect of our present form of government is that revolution exists as a possibility as real as the present moment. Revolution, as Emily Dickinson observed, is the pod that systems rattle from, and if the once-proud city of Pittsfield is ever to regain its footing, a revolution is on order and a new system must take its place.

First institution to go down has to be the present school department administration. Every administrative office in the school department has failed to live up to their educational and fiduciary responsibilities, and for that they eat up three quarters of a budget that will approach a quarter of a BILLION dollars! No more stooges. No more “playing ball.”

It must stop, and the chance to stop it is the upcoming election. Key will be school committee. Needed: Four members who won’t be filed, bought, stamped, briefed, debriefed, or intimidated. Four will form a majority. Ciala Batory has tossed her bonnet into the ring.

Who’s next?

With that, THE PLANET turns the talking stick over to you.

——————————————————————

The most important office holder in a republican democracy is THE CITIZEN” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

Copyright (c) 2025 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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Jon Melle
Jon Melle
29 days ago

Pittsfield politics has the 2-Pete’s predictably proposing a 5 percent spending increase that has been happening every fiscal year for over the past over 40 years.

The average city taxpayers pay City Hall close to $7,000 per fiscal year 2026 (July 01st, 2025 – June 30, 2026) in local taxes and fees.

The taxpayers are their ATM, doormat and toilet for them to shit on. Free speech is met with retribution. There is nobody representing you in our government.

I liked reading that over 30 Pittsfield residents spoke at open mic at the last City Council meeting.

Jon Melle
Jon Melle
Reply to  Jon Melle
29 days ago

May 19, 2025

Hello blogger Dan Valenti,

The 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics anti-panhandling and anti-homeless (“unhoused”) proposals versus their own taxpayer-funded personal financial plans for themselves:

The underclass should face retribution for panhandling and/or being homeless (“unhoused”) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

The 2-Pete’s will each serve as Mayor of Pittsfield and each will collect their 6-figure city public pay plus perks, and then each will collect their 6-figure city pension plus perks for life.

The underclass residents will be punished for trying to survive structural conflicts, abuses, and violence, while the leaders of Pittsfield will cash in on the distressed local economy and severe economic inequality.

I call it “Perverse Incentives” because Pittsfield receives tens of millions of dollars per fiscal year in state administered, federal aid funds for its Level 5 (failed), Group 11 (underclass) public school district, high per capital welfare and disability caseloads, and so on. They see the state aid funds only as a revenue source instead of to invest in the people and community.

Where are the latte limousine liberal Democrats when it comes to Pittsfield politics? Why aren’t these social spending career politicians in Massachusetts addressing the cruelty of the 2-Pete’s in Pittsfield?

Please NOTE: The “Big 3” abuses, conflicts and violence:

1. Personal: Verbal and Physical Assaults

2. Structural: Poverty, Homelessness, Hunger, Uninsured/Under-insured, Jobless, and the like.

3. Cultural: One or more person/group(s) believes that they are superior to other person(s)/group(s) and persecutes them based on their biased beliefs.

Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti’s proposals fall under the 2nd one: Structural abuses, conflicts and violence against the underclass residents of the small city.

When any of the “Big 3” injustices occur in society, the right thing for us to do about it is to immediately stop the abuses, conflicts and violence, and then find a way to change the injustices into positive peaceful resolutions. The 2-Pete’s are wrong to reinforce Pittsfield’s Structural Injustices!

Jon Melle

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
29 days ago

Karen Kalinowski should run for SC. Need another with parliamentary skill to guide. Need others who have and believe in a philosophy of education: what is it, what is its purpose, how is it delivered.

Then you can have a body who debates and delivers results, provides administrations that implement their philosophical framework.

Pat
Pat
29 days ago

The local news media specifically the Berkshire Eagle hasn’t even mentioned that Ciara Batory is running for the School Committee. Better to keep it quiet so nobody will even think of voting for her. It just shows what a threat an outsider poses to the far left liberals on the school committee who love secrecy and pushing the far left agenda.

I’m all for the ban on outdoor encampments across the city. I saw somebody living on the sidewalk here in Pittsfield last week. Anybody who wanted to walk down the street had to step around their setup. Outdoor encampments also pose a fire danger since most of them are near trees. We have seen that in Springside Park in previous years. If the Democrats didn’t pour in so many illegal immigrants we wouldn’t have the current housing crisis which was a problem before the invasion, but which is now out of control.

Jon Melle
Jon Melle
Reply to  danvalenti
29 days ago

I also like the name Kapanski.

JoeKapanski
JoeKapanski
Reply to  Jon Melle
29 days ago

Thank you, John Boy.

Meanwhile
Meanwhile
Reply to  danvalenti
29 days ago

Maybe they are waiting till they can dig up some dirt on her before they use her name. She may have missed a car payment or something when she was a teenager which might show she is fiscally irresponsible and unworthy of a revered Pittsfield school committee seat. Cameron wants only the best on his team and that means people who listen and do not speak unless given permission. Especially people who come looking for answers to questions they are trying to bury deep.

People like Sarah who can say “look over there and not over here.”

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Meanwhile
29 days ago

They did it last time. Remember the golden rule: never deny a slander. Take the offensive and name the insult.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Sir Chaz
28 days ago

It’s the DemonRATic way!

D-minority leader Jefferies, whose TDS knows no limits, has taken to blaming POTUS Trump for the Mexican tall ship hitting the bridge on the Hudson in NYC.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Sir Chaz
28 days ago

Name the insult and leave it with “Only a shithead that eats puppies would say a thing like that.”

Prom Date Kyle
Prom Date Kyle
Reply to  Pat
29 days ago

We should all go and shit ourselves right in front of Witch Slapped and what should be King Kone

Mr. Fritz
Mr. Fritz
29 days ago

Biden’s had cancer for several years, even his brother mentioned that fact in 2024. Obviously the president receives annual thorough checkups – he’s now stage 9 – this cancer would have been caught earlier by his docs. Complete coverup by mainstream press along with his dementia.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/flashback-biden-blurted-that-he-had-cancer-while/

Some Juan
Some Juan
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
29 days ago

Yeah I heard the Dr. Say he’s had it for years based on the cancer location …..(prostrate) I don’t understand why a simple test wasn’t done or psa? Must’ve been hiding it like his cognitive so he could run.

TellitLikeitIs
TellitLikeitIs
Reply to  Some Juan
28 days ago

It was done. Another cover up.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

I wanted to take a quick break from the Bitchfield Pubic Scohol scandal to talk about the other major scandal just announced over the weekend, China Joe Xiden’s cancer announcement.

The announcement that Joe Xiden has stage 4 colon cancer is shocking, because we were told by the democRAT leadership and MSM just before they staged a political coup against him, that “Joe’s in great health and sharp as a tack.”

*Joe Xiden forgot when he was VP.

*This proves that even Joe’s medical team was in on the coverup. The president receives the top medical care in the country, and THEY MISSED HIS CANCER????

Fox News on X: “LISTEN: @JoeBiden forgets when he stopped being @BarackObama’s VP — explosive audio from Special Counsel Hur’s interview reignites questions over who’s actually been running the White House. Should future presidents be accompanied by an accountability official to verify decisions https://t.co/sY6QF4tJzx” / X

Just think, had the democRATS and the MSM been successful lying to the American public about Xiden’s health and was able to get China Joe Xiden across the presidential finish line ahead of DJT, America would soon be entering the Kamala Harris presidency…….

Some Juan
Some Juan
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

Agree. This is serious stuff.

Phonie Electocrats
Phonie Electocrats
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

I understand privacy issues concerning medical diagnosis. But if the President doesn’t share that info during an election that’s a problem. In Bidens case it looks like he would have withdraw because he did have the cancer, and that Trumps the cognitive problem which was hidden also but clearly evident to the naked eye.

Phonie Electocrats
Phonie Electocrats
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

Trump had an election stolen because if a cancerous Biden had been known he would have overwhelming lost that election.

Phonie Electocrats
Phonie Electocrats
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

The clowns that knew this should be held accountable. There is a f…ing Oath in some of these jobs.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Markus Aurelius
29 days ago

No senator-for-life ever dies from cancer. Always it happens when their brain, having turned to runny gello, then hardens into a crust around their skulls and the heart loses signal. He’ll go on for at least a decade, and his public performance won’t degrade noticeably.

Lenny
Lenny
29 days ago

Does Ciara Batory have a website for her school committee run? I would like to support her. If Kalinowski runs I would like to support her as well.

Phonie Electocrats
Phonie Electocrats
Reply to  Lenny
29 days ago

Eh.Terry Tried Batory will be outvoted every time. However if a couple more candidates would come forward hell yeah. You guys need to dump the c c and mayor.

Phonie Electocrats
Phonie Electocrats
Reply to  Lenny
29 days ago

Can the candidates come to our doors and take solicitations. I’m giving to Batory.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Phonie Electocrats
28 days ago

Yeah sure. She’ll have to list “Phonie Electocrats” as a donor for public records. Living on 123 Some Street, Pittsfield

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Lenny
29 days ago

I hope that blogger Dan Valenti will invite her to write and publish an essay on her candidacy for Pittsfield School Committee 2025 on his awesome blog page.

Sledge Teecher.
Sledge Teecher.
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
28 days ago

Stop kissing the bandwagon asses. Deserter

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Sledge Teecher.
28 days ago

Desertion can qualify as a capital crime in the military. Are you being honest in your assertion?

Sledge Teecher.
Sledge Teecher.
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
28 days ago

You couldn’t take an order and cried poor me. You were never military material sorry to say and that was you’re choice.

Ciara Barory
Ciara Barory
Reply to  Lenny
29 days ago

add Ciara E. Batory for school committee on facebook

Ron Kitterman
Ron Kitterman
Reply to  Ciara Barory
28 days ago

Facebook charges for advertising campaigns. You can set a budget and spending limits for your ads, and Facebook will charge you based on how your ads are performing (impressions, clicks, etc.).

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Ciara Barory
28 days ago

Feel free to contact me on FB. I can give you a starter lesson on how to win.

Ron Kitterman
Ron Kitterman
Reply to  Lenny
28 days ago

Just a suggestion but here is something she might consider
https://www.campaignpartner.com/
they make up the website manage your donations there is a fee but it might be worth looking at.

Severe Sue
Severe Sue
Reply to  Ron Kitterman
28 days ago

I’ll do this cuzDizzy is probably sleeping. Streets on west side have not been swept. And the Pecks road bridge is now OPEN. Dump Help me and Dizzy this election. We need all new Councilors. I’m looking at the new Ward 7 councilor. She’s feisty. We need doers not posers.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
28 days ago

May 20, 2025

Re: The Berkshire Eagle Letters told me to unsubscribe

After I sent my annual political email letter today stating that Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior tried to jail me 27 years ago today on May 20, 1998, The Berkshire Eagle Letters replied with the word: “Unsubscribe”.

I find that to be contradictory to the Eagle’s editorials calling for transparency in state and local government in Massachusetts. The Eagle wrote critical editorials about Pittsfield School Committee Chairman Dr. Bill Cameron’s decision to not release the full report with limited redactions on the city’s public school district’s scandals. Also,the Eagle wrote many critical editorial’s about the Boston Statehouse’s exemption from the open meeting law, lack of transparency and secrecy.

The Eagle wrote editorials about U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called attacks on American Democracy in favor of an authoritarian-like presidency. But when it comes to a common citizen and disabled Veteran such as myself, Jon Melle, I have been blacklisted from publishing my many letters to the Eagle for the past 21 years. I guess 2 + 2 = 5 for the Eagle’s attacks on my free speech in their biased news media publication.

Jonathan A. Melle

Eric Swansin
Eric Swansin
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
28 days ago

Jonny you need to let this go. Why don’t you focus your time and energy on dating hot guys and becoming Pittsfield’s next mayor and beating your cousin Mayor Pete instead of losing beauty sleep over Andy Nuciforo.

Pat
Pat
28 days ago

The Berkshire Eagle has made no mention of Biden’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. It brings up too many uncomfortable questions the Berkshire Eagle can’t answer.

Markus Aurelius
Markus Aurelius
Reply to  Pat
28 days ago

If the Eagle makes mention of Joe Xiden’s cancer diagnosis, it will give it away that the Eagle is a democRAT propaganda machine to the simple-minded folks out there.

I did a quick Eagle search on Xiden and their coverage of him about the time he was ousted by the democRAT party, in a non-democratic, not violent, coup.

*No mention of his declining health that we all witnessed with our own eyes, even though MSM told us otherwise.

Our Opinion: When an incumbent’s campaign exit is its own exercise in democracy | Editorials | berkshireeagle.com

**READ THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE. XIDEN DIDN’T “EXIT ON HIS OWN.”

An environmentalist’s thank-you for Joe Biden’s service | Columnists | berkshireeagle.com

Berkshire delegation coalesces behind Vice President Kamala Harris and lauds President Joe Biden after he drops out of the presidential race | Local News | berkshireeagle.com

Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race has a great lesson in humility | Columnists | berkshireeagle.com

**SAME WITH THIS TITLE, “A GREAT LESSON IN HUMILITY.”

For girls in the Pittsfield-based group ROPE, meeting Vice President Kamala Harris was a memory of a lifetime | Local News | berkshireeagle.com

**MAYBE DISCUSSING THAT ARPA FUNDED, ALL EXPENSE PAID, AFRICAN VACATION?

Donald Trump: Cereal offender | Columnists | berkshireeagle.com

I could not find one positive article written about President Trump, sans an occasional letter to the editor.

Sledge Teecher
Sledge Teecher
Reply to  Pat
28 days ago

We dont read the ducking Eagle. Nor do we watch the silly pctv Stooge.

Jabbles
Jabbles
28 days ago

CiCi Eliza Batory may know how to spell school but it looks like she does not know how to follow basic written instructions.

School Committee Preliminary Election Nominee Form Instruction: List all the public offices held.

Answer provided by Ciara Batory: “We want transparency”

How ironic that someone running for the school committee doesn’t know how to read. Anyone who votes for this dimwit deserves what they get.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Jabbles
27 days ago

Sounds like the City Clerk is working her magic.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
28 days ago

Letter: “Don’t criminalize the homeless in Pittsfield”
The Berkshire Eagle, May 20, 2025

To the editor: As the owner of Witch Slapped — a small business and mutual aid sanctuary in downtown Pittsfield — I’ve watched our city fail the most vulnerable members of our community time and time again.

And now, with this newest ordinance targeting our unhoused neighbors, it feels like we’re not just failing them — we’re actively hurting them. (“Mayor Marchetti’s encampment ban ordinance draws backlash from housing advocates, city residents,” Eagle, May 19.)

I see it every day. People walk through my doors needing food, socks, tampons, a safe bathroom or simply a place to feel human for a moment. We don’t ask for anything in return. Why? Because survival shouldn’t come with conditions. Because in the heart of our city, compassion should be a given, not a radical act.

But under this ordinance, our entire mutual aid program would be rendered illegal.

Let that sink in. It would be a crime to hand someone a blanket, a tent or basic survival gear.

The mayor doesn’t just want the unhoused hidden; he doesn’t want the privileged to help them, either. He’d rather criminalize compassion then admit the system is broken.

And it’s not for lack of solutions. There are many successful models in other cities: compassionate, cost-effective and proven to reduce harm and improve safety.

Did the mayor research those?

This ordinance isn’t about protecting the public. It’s a failure to learn, a refusal to research and complete abandonment of real problem-solving. And more than anything, it’s a blatant lack of respect for human life and dignity.

I personally submitted a proposal to the mayor and City Council: a practical, humane starting point for conversation and collaboration. Only three councilors acknowledged it.

What’s next? Will they build a wall around Springside Park and demand the unhoused pay for it, too?

This isn’t governance. It’s cruelty wrapped in red tape and handed to those who can’t fight back.

To the mayor: If you’re confused about what human dignity looks like, I encourage you to read your own city’s Human Rights Commission statement. You might find your answer there.

At Witch Slapped, we will continue to serve, protect and stand up for our community — even if the city won’t. We are more than ready to wear handcuffs if it means saving lives. We will resist, and we will not stop until this calculated attack on our unhoused neighbors is over. We want you to know that if you criminalize survival, we weaponize solidarity.

We are not the problem. Poverty is not the problem. Indifference is.

Danielle Munn, Pittsfield

Lenny
Lenny
28 days ago

Bunch of people running for seats on school committee in addition to Ciara Batory – see iberkshires. Fossilized Katherine Yon, former school committee chairwoman, has also taken out papers along with former member Vicky Smith and several leftists.
Thank you Ciara, you’re bringing candidates out of the woodwork!