FEDS PUT ULTA THEFTS, CRIMINAL ILLEGALS EVERMORE IN THE SIGHTS, AND IT’S ABOUT TIME
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JUNE 6-8, 2025) — From the wires:
A nationwide coordinated crackdown on retail crime — what authorities are calling the first of its kind — led to hundreds of arrests in 28 states last week.
The blitz, led by Illinois’ Cook County regional organized crime task force, involved more than 100 jurisdictions and over 30 retailers including Home Depot, Macy’s, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, Kroger and Meijer.
“When you give specific focus to a crime, it reverberates,” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart told CNBC. “When they see it is being prosecuted and taken seriously, it deters conduct. They don’t want to get caught.”
What the press announcement doesn’t say is that the 100 jurisdictions included the Pittsfield Ulta at Berkshire Crossing. That store has been targeted multiple times by organized criminals who conduct “flash thefts.” These became routine as states such as Massachusetts lowered the threshold on criminality, with entire classes of crime eliminated by DEI-propped attorneys general.
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COME SAY “HI” TO THE PLANET, IN PERSON. SAVE THE DATE. 6 p.m. June 18, Stationery Factory, Dalton, a book launch. There will be a gathering good folks, catering by Mazzeo’s Restaurant (free eats!), a talk, a whiskey raffle, book sales and signings, plus a cash bar. DAN WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU!
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Bitchfield seems to be a special case with respect to federal officials. For instance, just a day after THE PLANET‘s posting of the Department of Homeland Security’s list of “sanctuary cities” in the Bay State, DHS website removed the notice. THE PLANET‘s sources say there’s been quiet but amped federal monitoring of “certain sectors” in Shire City. The Feds are interested in something going on in Bitchfield, though it’s not clear exactly what it is.
Word to politicians, illegals, and anyone else to TDS: Be careful. Be very careful.
———- ooo ———-
A DHS senior official tells THE PLANET that the list of “sanctuary cities” is constantly under review. It can change on a moment’s notice. We speculate that this is being done to preserve the department’s element of surprise. It’s a wise battle tactic.
“Designation of a sanctuary jurisdiction is based on the evaluation of numerous factors, including self-identification as a ‘Sanctuary Jurisdiction,’ noncompliance with federal law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protection for illegal aliens,” the official said.
Of particular interest locally is that though the Berkshire County seat has not officially declared itself per se as a “Sanctuary Jurisdiction,” it acts like one. And DHS sources says that such communities will soon be coming under “special attention.”
Keep in mind that under Biden and the Dem Loons, countless millions of illegals streamed into America, many of them criminals even removed from their illegal status. As President Trump has noted, those countries, especially South America, aren’t sending us their best and brightest.
Bitchfield officials should also keep in mind that pushing back against DHS will only make the situation worse for themselves. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said such cities “think because they don’t have one law or another on the books that they don’t qualify for [as a target], but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals.”
———- ooo ———-
It’s about time.
The current crackdown can also be seen in the aggressive approach the Trump Administration is taking on illegal criminal (ah, but THE PLANET repeats itself) aliens. Massachusetts is in the crossfire, and that includes Bitchfield. More than 1,500 illegals have been taken off Massachusetts’ streets in May alone. And the beat goes on. What Biden did, Trump is undoing.
For instance, only yesterday, ICE collared one Lorenzo Lopez Alcario, 30, originally from Guatemala. This role model has been living in Marlboro, and he’s charges with raping a child there. Other charges include assault and battery, resisting arrest, and assault. (As)Salt of the earth, this fellow.
Alcario had been arrested perviously, multiple times, but (ya sitting down for this?) the Biden Administration released him. Biden let him enter the country “illegally at an unknown date and location.” He had been previously arrested in 2017 in drug charges. Released. ICE then arrested him again. Released again by loon-left court officials, he was finally deported back to Guatemala, but he reentered the U.S. illegally under Joe Biden, again, June 17, 2022.
Bitchfield illegals, especially those who are up to no good, won’t be around for long.
THE PLANET says it can’t happen soon enough.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
——————————————————–
“‘I can’t’ is the certain beginning of virtually all self-inflicted failure” — 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.
The five year plan to morph Pittsfield into a gay/trans community known worldwide is and will continue to cost a ton of money both in the rollout, promotion and decor not to mention police overtime for this months events and whatever else may be soon coming down the tracks.
And it really does not seem fair that seniors on fixed incomes, who are struggling to make ends meet, should have their taxes raised to cover such celebration, even if they have no problem with the community itself.
I also question that a mayor would use his or her position of power to label a whole community/city a sanctuary to a lifestyle that many may be uncomfortable with. Seems to be an abuse of power especially after his school system, which is falling apart and cloaked in secrecy, needs honest and effective leadership. The juxta position of these two city issues screams out for re prioritizing. Perhaps the focus should be on repairing the damage the city suffers from for hiding an investigation into a school system that children spend so much time at. The children are not able to see or find out what it is that they should be guarding themselves against and the adults with power seem to have chosen not to help them. Kinda sad where this city focuses its money and attention.
I know people from Springfield who have moved to Pittsfield because of its alphabet sanctuary status. The new Provincetown of western MA as it is known in these parts. Hopefully some fiscally conservative businessmen will run for the Pittsfield corner office, get rid of DEI and the trans garbage, and shine a spotlight on the mismanaged school district.
Well spoken Linda!
Very strong LM. Reasonable
President Trump said Biden was murdered in 2020 and is now a robot with stage 9 cancer.His staff is protecting his brain,that one big beautiful brain
Likely true. Something very mannequin like in Biden. Reads the parenthetical prompts on his teleprompter which is a red flag for automation.
Ulta is being targeted by italián organized crime of flash mob stealing?
The Pittsfield school system will never move on until the school student safety officer is fired because he is Joe Curtis right hand man and he know everything that was going on.Clean up that administration of immoral behavior that student were put in under that mans leadership.The staff at the administration needs a new start.The student safety director can not be left behind.He is a lacky hire by Curtis and must go.
Who can ever forget our former, failed, DA Andrea “Wrong Way” Harrington, and her POC get a “get out of jail free” card and white males get punished to the fullest extent (and then some) of the law.
In one of Wrong Way’s infamous quotes, she stated, “people of color shoplift to feed their families.”
Thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen makeup, electronics, cigarettes, and liquor, are not “feeding their families.”
Shugrue’s message for shoplifters: There’s a new DA in town with a ‘more aggressive approach’ toward store thefts | Crime | berkshireeagle.com
The jail is 25% full
But fully staffed
What do you expect from a sanctuary city run by progressive nut jobs , a full jail?
Easy on just about any criminal activity from petty theft to murder in the name of “Social Justice “ brought on by progressives caused the situation that now needs to be cleaned up. You don’t have to feed the wolves “criminals “, if you invited them to dinner.
bitchfield is throwing money left and right for ppd o t and shagging homeless. The resources to help homeless aren’t there?
The problem is there are actually too many resources, too much coddling, and too many do gooders enabling all those crap. Police spend over 2 million overtime last year. Let them stand next to the panhandlers for their safety of course, until they move along. Lather, rinse, and repeat.
Soon the city will need to spend 5 million in overtime for teachers to teach double sessions due to a lack of teachers wanting to be a part of the shadowy Pittsfield school system.
And is there anywhere a breakdown of the folk who work at the Mercer building? How many are there? What are their positions and what are their jobs and responsibilities? Is there any overlap? What is the budget just for the people who work there and their supplies and building maintenance? Heat, air conditioning, electricity and toilet paper.
Who do these people answer to if anyone? Would a forensic audit of this entity show a place of high cost efficiency or a dumping ground for dollars to nepotismal hacks? Do they also have their own personal gymnasium like city hall does?
Before they do a forensic audit, they ought to do a financial audit that reviews and tests transactions tying assets to expenses. If they don’t pass that test, you have direction for a forensic one.
Not easy to track an operation whose financing is one big blank check.
With this latest ruling by the USSC, it begs the question: will Bitchfield continue with their racist (D)idn’t (E)arn (I)t programs and face potential federal sanctions?
Personally, if I were a qualified white male in Bitchfield and didn’t get a job, I was more than qualified for in place of a lesser qualified POC, I’d sue the city federally, under this current ruling.
Lavonte “Da Dancin’ Dean” Wiggins, aka-The Lady’Z Man, set the precedent for this.
**A dance instructor with a dancing certificate, not a college degree, was hired as the $100K a year Dean of Students, until he pi$$ed it all away dealing cocaine.
@amuse on X: “RACISM: Activist judges have allowed racial discrimination against whites since the 1980s. In a unanimous decision, SCOTUS has determined that ‘reverse discrimination’ is, indeed, discrimination. It only took 44 years for the court to figure it out… https://t.co/WqpnQ54g7w” / X
PETITION FOR STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
To:
Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts State Auditor
United States Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We, the undersigned residents of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, hereby petition for a formal investigation into the misuse of public funds, abuse of government authority, and suspected violations of state and federal laws pertaining to racketeering, fraud, and public corruption.
WHEREAS, there have been over 450 overdose deaths in Berkshire County in recent years, with no adequate public accounting or systemic reform;
WHEREAS, numerous nonprofits receiving taxpayer dollars have failed to provide transparent services or outcomes and may have submitted fraudulent billing;
WHEREAS, real estate developers and associated nonprofit entities appear to have unjustly profited through coordinated acquisition of distressed properties;
WHEREAS, families have been separated by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with no clear application of least-restrictive or trauma-informed policies;
WHEREAS, these patterns may constitute predicate acts under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), including mail and wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343), obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503), and extortion under color of official right (18 U.S.C. § 1951);
WHEREAS, the Massachusetts RICO statute also applies to a pattern of criminal activity, including fraud, bribery, and perjury under G.L. c. 265, § 49;
WE, THEREFORE, PETITION that:
1. A full audit be conducted of all state and federally funded nonprofit organizations operating in Berkshire County since 2015;
2. Subpoenas be issued for all communications and financial records between nonprofit boards, public officials, developers, and law enforcement;
3. A formal investigation be initiated under applicable RICO statutes at the state and federal level;
4. Any individuals or entities found to have engaged in fraud, conspiracy, or racketeering be referred for prosecution or civil penalties under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968 and G.L. c. 265, § 49.
SIGNED, Residents and stakeholders of Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Name:
Town of Residence:
Email (optional):
Signature:
Berkshire County Resident – send it.
Write one for ARPA too
One for ARPA too;
FURTHERMORE
We, the undersigned residents of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, petition for immediate audit, investigation, and enforcement concerning the use of funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2, hereinafter “ARPA”).
WHEREAS, ARPA was enacted to provide emergency fiscal recovery support to states, municipalities, and vulnerable populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), 42 U.S.C. § 802 et seq.;
WHEREAS, Berkshire County municipalities and regional entities received millions in ARPA disbursements intended for equitable recovery, including investments in public health, housing, economic stabilization, and essential services;
WHEREAS, evidence suggests that a portion of these funds may have been misappropriated or diverted toward administrative overhead, unjustified nonprofit awards, or development interests with political ties;
WHEREAS, federal guidance requires that ARPA funds be used in compliance with 31 C.F.R. Part 35 and that recipients must maintain documentation to demonstrate appropriate use of funds, subject to audit and potential recoupment;
WHEREAS, OMB Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. § 200.303) requires municipalities and subrecipients to implement internal controls, conduct performance monitoring, and maintain transparency in all federally funded programs;
WE THEREFORE PETITION that:
1. The Massachusetts State Auditor initiate a performance and financial audit of ARPA expenditures by all Berkshire County municipalities and regional nonprofit subrecipients;
2. The U.S. Treasury OIG and Massachusetts OIG initiate formal investigations into any misuse, misallocation, or conflicts of interest regarding ARPA-funded projects;
3. Any nonprofit entities, contractors, or government actors who failed to comply with 2 C.F.R. § 200.303 or 31 C.F.R. § 35.9 be referred for enforcement and repayment;
4. The public be given full access to disbursement records, project outcomes, and subrecipient reports pursuant to the transparency mandates under ARPA and related federal compliance bulletins.
We assert that the people of Berkshire County are entitled to fair and honest governance, and that ARPA funds must not be used as political currency or vehicles for enrichment under the guise of recovery.
SIGNED,
Concerned residents and stakeholders of Berkshire County
Name:
Town of Residence:
Email:
Signature:
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!
You need to supply names and positions of individuals engaged in the abuse. Concrete examples, even just one, to make the complaint.
Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse of Government Funds or Property to the OIG – Online Form | Mass.gov
Planeteers, supply names and positions of individuals engaged in the abuse. Concrete examples, even just one. Make the complaint. Send it.
I ditto this: submit the example.
You spend every day bitching here about the thing that bothers you immensely. You have a Federal Government that hates what you hate. Corruption and theft of public money. And with CV’s framework, you can put your anger where it belongs: in the ear of those who are willing to listen. The US Treasury has direct jurisdiction over 41 million dollars that were not dispensed with transparency or accountability.
There haven’t been close to 450 county overdose deaths in recent years.
And what you are suggesting be investigated is actually the GOBSIGS in action and it’s been going on for years and will not be investigated.
Every GOB has his day.
Between 2013 and 2023, there were 441 opioid-related overdose deaths recorded in Berkshire County.
In 2023 alone, there were 48 overdose deaths, marking a 2.1% **increase** over the previous year .
And those are the physical deaths, then there are the other deaths –
Read the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Attorneys on strike. Failures to uphold Due Process.
Pittsfield’s State Representative Country Buffet must be very upset by Trump’s Ice Age!
Elon Musk hates Donald Trump now.
Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski are anxious from the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics pounding of their purses annual 5% spending increase starting on July 01st, 2025.
The Republican’s big beautiful bill is hitting obstacles bigger than the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
Blogger Dan Valenti “rulz”!
Jon Melle
I entered you Jonny into the contest in Willamstown to be the grand marshal of the gay pride hayride towards the end of this month. You should wear your Lone Ranger costume for the parade. It’d fit in with the theme if you bring CC President Pete White as a date you should tell him not to wear his Power Rangers costume. He’s a little too big for it now. He can’t be a Power Ranger if he’s too big to be able to bend down and tie his shoes.
I bet that the Feds are monitoring what our local newspaper is saying about ICE. Their advice to locals about videotaping ICE can’t be going over well with ICE. Just the general attitude toward ICE from politicians and the media in this area is cause for concern for the safety of the ICE agents. The Mayor of Boston making a big stink about ICE wearing masks when she should know why they wear the masks. They do that because they don’t want people showing up at their homes if they are identified. These sanctuary states are making it very difficult and dangerous for ICE to do their jobs.
“THE” GE’s Larry Culp is the 3rd highest paid CEO in the U.S.A. in 2024.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-americas-highest-paid-ceos-in-2024/
But I would NOT be happy for him if I owned property in Lee, Massachusetts, which will plummet in value if/when “THE” GE puts its new capped “leaky” landfill there.
Jon Melle
To try and minimize the Bitchfield Pubic Scohol skandel, the Eagle released a story late today (Friday), that talks about the cost of the DEI law firm investigation that we, the taxpayers, paid for.
I highlighted some key areas from within the story. Questions have been asked about how thorough of an investigation, investigation being the keyword, was this going to be?
Here is your answer:
“Those line items — 10 round trips in all, five each by Kennedy and Rup — are the most expensive items, each costing more than $1,000. However, the invoices show the bulk of interviews over the investigation were handled by phone or over Zoom.”
A couple of thoughts about this.
*Ask any seasoned police officer or detective, if a “bulk of their interviews” are “handled by phone or over Zoom,” when they are trying to solve a serious felony case. I would certainly say the PHS pedophilia scandal qualifies in my book as a serious case.
*How do you detect deception in a person over the phone or Zoom?
*If a juvenile doesn’t have any line of credit, or has never been charged with a crime, without going to his/her last known address (LKA), how are you even able to make contact with him/her? Juveniles don’t always share the same last name as their parents.
*It seems a decent amount of the people who needed to be investigated in this scandal were juveniles, so again, I refer to my above question. How?
*Lawyers are not investigators; any more than investigators are not lawyers. If you believe differently, then I’ll believe you’re a GOBSIG in on this coverup and don’t know your head from your a$$.
*$1,000 per trip of OUR TAXPAYER MONEY paid for “travel time” from Springfield to Pittsfield.
***”The last invoice is largely dominated by revisions and drafts of the report, as well as email and phone exchanges with School Committee Chairman William J. Cameron — including the committee’s desire for executive summaries.”
*The Eagle “left out” the cost of the above. You know, the before cost (the unredacted final report), and the after cost (the multiple coverup report editions).
Here is the link to the full article:
592.3 hours, $154,502.47 spent: Breaking down the Pittsfield High School investigation bill | Central Berkshires | berkshireeagle.com
RELEASE THE FULL REPORT-WE PAID FOR IT, LITERALLY!!
And they charged the city hundreds per hour to read what us Kapanskis were saying about this on this very website!
Reading about it on the Planet from Dan and posters was and still is the only place that anyone can find the real down low about the whole mess.
Commuted to Springfield for my job 5 days a week for 10 years. Imagine if I was paid $1000 a day. Damn, if I made that kind of money I could finally move out of Shitsfield! This bill is the proof of the sheer stupidity and constant lies from the Lumpy Administration.
This entire investigation could have been completed by real investigators for about 30k
Yes. This was a nice, fat plum given to a former judge by her local “friends.” Not a penny in kickbacks, we’re certain.
It could have been skipped altogether for all the good it did. And I imagine the results were in even before the contract was signed.
Official Contract:
“You will do such and such and investigation and these are the results you will find”. Sign here and charge as much as you like.
The crackdown on shoplifting is long overdue. It was a huge problem at the former Berkshire Mall. To buy a pair of socks at the Pittsfield Walmart you must first have someone unlock the case.
And then they have to walk you and your socks to the register. Very embarrassing if you are trans and buying panties. Or not.
Well, if I have to do that to buy 22, you should have to do that to buy socks.
These are the scumbags that the MA Guv wants to keep in the country…….
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/06/06/exclusive-killers-rapists-child-predators-domestic-abusers-among-illegals-arrested-ice-agents-sanctuary-massachusetts/
If you think we have had a bad time with recent criminal activity don’t take a deep breath. With the new structures that are being developed, do you think it is a working-class population that is going to move to Pittsfield?
The Lee and Lenox Police Departments better start hiring and staffing more than 2 officers per overnight shift when the low-income housing projects are up and running.
Small town police departments with (soon to be) big city problems and their problem families to boot. Boston’s finest fam’s coming to town.
But hey, at least to outsiders the Berkshires will look “diverse and inclusive.”
Democrats de funding police. Democrat Judges releasing criminals or failing to prosecute them at all. Democrats making up phony get trump crimes. Democrat DOJ/FBI wholly owned and weaponized against political opposition. Democrats looked the other way as millions of un vetted illegals cross the border. Democrats letting students protest against American Values without any sort of push back. And we’re wondering why they don’t investigate or try to stop drug cartel, and mob theft gangs?
Oh and I forgot. Letting election fraud, favoring Democrats go unchecked.
Looks like the feds brought that wonderful Maryland dad back, and now he’s looking at dozens of years for too many crimes to list. Be careful what you wish for, you supreme idiotic democrats.
Poster Boy.
June 07th, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
The political cards being played on this blog.
“Eric SwanSIN” plays the Jon Melle is gay, weird middle-aged man like Pete White CARD.
Mr. Fritz plays the Democrats – Joe Biden, Governor Maura Healey – are to blame for everything that is bad in the world CARD.
Markus Aurelius plays the Andrea Harrington sucks CARD, the Marxist Melle CARD, the Pittsfield “Scohol” district cover-up CARD, the Tricia Country Buffet illegal immigrants CARD….
Sir Chaz plays the Founding Fathers religious principles CARD, while I remind him that most of them owned SLAVES CARD. If owning SLAVES is a religious principle, then the fictional Kapanski family pays taxes with real representation in Pittsfield, Massachusetts….and when one pastes Wings on PIGS they can Fly CARD.
Other posters play the Mayor Peter Marchetti is turning Pittsfield into another Provincetown CARD, the 90-day GRACE Period CARD….
Blogger Dan Valenti plays that Donald Trump is the best thing since the invention of the wheel, sliced bread, ice cream….CARD. As well as DEI is the worst thing since the beginning of weapons of mass destruction that threatens to end life on Earth CARD.
Jon Melle plays the I am a persecuted person in Pittsfield politics by Pittsfield’s Pot King “Luciforo” CARD. The: “Dan Ford:Bernard Baran::Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior:Jon Melle” CARD.
Flogging Molly plays the negativity CARD whereby everyone is a lost cause because she thinks that she is the ultimate Judge of people.
ShirleyKnutz plays the Democratic Party tanked Pittsfield and distressed cities similar to it CARD.
The School Committee poster plays the Donald Trump is a misguided “Oger Achiever” CARD.
Optimus Prime plays the everyone is a victim of their own personal failings CARD.
Cassian Verity plays the political establishment needs to be prosecuted like the Mafia CARD.
Jon Melle
nevermind. forget it.
Forgetting should be your bailiwick, JM
Jon Mele ReCard!
I agree with your assessments of my “cards” JM; however, you forgot to add:
*Jon Melle plays the “professional victim” WHOLE DECK OF CARDS, non-stop.
*Jon Melle plays the “repeats the same story and post repeatedly” CARD.
JM plays the leftist/communist/totalitarian/marxist card ,if he were smart enough to understand, he would know that our country gives JM the liberty to be an IDIOT, which is not afforded in most countries. JM leaches on society and is lead by his own ego and
the devil himself.
Trump fear
June 07, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
O.K. “Jon Melle” is “BAD” for writing about the themes of the recurring blog posters on Planet Valenti. I will give you that much.
But I am NOT the one in early-2024 who asked for a 90-day Grace Period free from criticisms, while stating that I am NOT a fan of social media outlets, blogs, and other FREE SPEECH commentary. That person was the Openly Gay Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti, who has increased city spending by around 5 percent twice over, while increasing property taxes and fees well above the rate of inflation.
Peter Marchetti said he is good at math, finances, budgeting, and the like, but his public record shows the same trends in City Hall’s tax and spending sprees going back over 40 years in time.
But I am NOT the one who is a millionaire Attorney who sued the City of Pittsfield, and less than one-year later, he won a pot permits settlement award of $341,000 in 2024, while living in his $950,000 mansion in Pittsfield’s elitist Gated Community neighborhood west of Berkshire Community College, along with another residence in Boston. That person was the sitting Mayor’s close political ally – and my Enemy #1 – named Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior, who donated $1,000 to Peter Marchetti’s 2023 mayoral campaign.
I am NOT the Pittsfield School Committee who paid over 6-figures in taxpayers’ dollars to a law firm to write a report that they refuse to publicly release with limited redactions. I didn’t promise transparency only to do the opposite. I didn’t call the criticisms of my actions: “Synthetic”. That was School Committee Chairman Dr. Bill Cameron.
I did NOT say: You kids with your anxieties, while chuckling, like former Pittsfield Mayor and sitting School Committee member Sara Hathaway did after a Pittsfield High School (PHS) – my Alma Mater, 1993 – young woman student spoke at open mic about the serious allegations of wrongdoing by public school faculty and staff.
What kind of messages are Cameron and Hathaway sending? What about the silence from the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics? The students evidently have no political support from state and local leaders. Even Governor Maura Healey’s office emailed me telling me to request that Pittsfield Officials handle the situation, while they have failed in their duties to do so.
I am proud of Ciara Batory, blogger Dan Valenti, and others like them, for advocating for the PHS students so far in 2025.
Lastly, I am NOT a state lawmaker such as Paul Mark, Leigh Davis, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and John Barrett III, who do nothing in Boston BUT DISSERVICES, who do nothing but always increasing state government spending, taxes and fees that harshly impact working-class families, and on top of it all, they are NOT bringing back living wage jobs to small cities such as Pittsfield and North Adams through real economic development, while the underclass population always grows larger in Berkshire County’s distressed communities as time goes on.
I am NONE of the ABOVE. Please give me that much in return.
Jon Melle
T.A.C.O.S. = Trump and Conservatives Outshine Socialists
Another rainy day Shittsfield but that does not stop the beggars with their nice shiny umbrellas and their “woe is me” signs. We are told not to feed the bears in Yellowstone because they become dependent on us. Stop giving the beggars money and they will stop begging. Simple. Problem solved
Ah, but it makes the liberal loons feel so much better about themselves, as they retreat to their gated communities in their electric cars and drink overpriced wine.
If you knew the amount of taxpayer funding that is directly or indirectly funneled to special interest venues (aka, the wealthy local business peeps projects) you might feel less bitter about the homeless folk. They suck their megabucks from the shadows with the help of compliant politicians. Politicians who would never take a kickback by the way. Ever.
Can you name one business?
REally now. Just one? Too easy.
Not bitter in the slightest and I have empathy for them but I do not support beggars nor think they should be tolerated at intersections in a country with so many government handouts for them already.
They must be properly taxed, or else we risk a situation where anyone can just operate without regulation. They need to acquire a permit, and proper documentation is required—papers and receipts should be checked. Who exactly are they, and what’s in their bags? Are they engaging in illegal activity, like selling drugs? If they want to be part of this community, they must pay their dues, just like everyone else. No one should be exempt from the rules.
I really do think that permitting panhandling and restricting to sensible locations (not medians) and maybe 10 ‘ from traffic signals is the proper way to go.
Shame on the Berkshire Eagle for their terrible editorial about ICE and illegal immigration. The law was broken by the Democrats when they allowed the invasion of millions of unvetted illegal immigrants into our country. The Boston Mayor Wu said that ICE are Nazis for trying to protect the American public. The Eagle says, “We all are concerned about illegal immigration”, but they weren’t concerned with the rule of law when we had open borders for the last 4 years. With antisemitism on the rise and violence against Jewish people now happening in our own country, ICE is needed to keep America safe.
Why are you surprised? The Berkshire Eagle is an activist rag, that prints only their agenda. It’s so one sided, I’m surprised the ink sticks to the back page.
JOE
A most clever final line!
June 08th, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
My reply to the criticisms of the Berkshire Eagle and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who is only 40 years old and has decades to serve in elected office, concerning Trump’s Ice Age and the comparisons to Nazi Germany are:
First, the Eagle is a biased news media outlet based in our native hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Eagle’s 21 years of blacklisting me – Jon Melle – along with their hypocritical criticisms of Trump’s authoritarian-like presidency, and their hypocrisy on being in favor of Sunshine Laws in the Massachusetts State Government in Boston, clearly show that “We the fictional Kapanski’s” do NOT count to them.
Second, Mayor Wu does have ground to stand on with her Nazi Germany comparisons to Trump’s presidency and his administration’s Ice Age tactics. The basis for this is that Trump had neo-Nazi’s work for his presidential campaigns and respective presidential administrations. Moreover, Trump’s Ice Age has government agents in street clothes and masks over their faces arresting immigrants, with NO legal entitlements to due process of law, and the courts have been the only check on his authority on this matter.
Third, I am frustrated with the Democratic Party because they are as hypocritical as the Eagle in that they have failed for decades to pass comprehensive immigration reform laws, along with the Biden administrations mismanagement of the immigration policies that have led to tragic outcomes in our country. If Mayor Wu wishes to play the Nazi CARD against Trump and his administration’s Ice Age tactics, then she should be calling out Democrats such as Maryland Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with PAC Man Richie Neal and others, who have done little to nothing to address this important issue.
Fourth, one of the blog posters wrote: “Ah, but it makes the liberal loons feel so much better about themselves, as they retreat to their gated communities in their electric cars and drink overpriced wine.”
I am in agreement with this statement because Nancy Pelosi is worth somewhere between $155 million to around $261 million dollars in 2025. But 1 out of 3 homeless people in our country lives in California. V.P. Kamala Harris may run for Governor of California in 2026. California is the best of worlds for Democrats Pelosi and Harris, but the worst of worlds for the underclass. What does the Democratic Party even stand for anymore, especially in California?
Who is representing us fictional Kapanski’s in the government, blogger Dan Valenti? Why is California so economically unequal? Why is Pittsfield’s inner-city so distressed? Why haven’t the Democrats passed comprehensive immigration reform laws with decades of inactions on the issue? What if a common family has children who see all of this plus the $37 trillion national debt? https://usdebtclock.org/
I am disabled man/Veteran. I am unable to be a career politician like Wu, Maryland Markey, Warren, PAC Man Neal, Pelosi, and Harris. But I am able to exercise my FREE SPEECH! I want answers NOW.
Best wishes,
Jon Melle
You deserve the Liberal/Leftist filth You vote/voted for and their failed policies.
Remember when he was asking for donations for that rag. As opposed to the Planet who refuses donations.
Thanks, HILL. Yes, from the outset in 2010, we vowed to make this site free. You may recall the few years we ran ads. That was profitable, but then the agencies wanted control of content. That’s when we said goodbye. Having worked in commercial media, I knew what that meant. Nope, I said, and told them where the ads could go. They thought they had leverage in the form of $$. For me, some things can’t be bought. Including THE PLANET. We’ve even turned down offers to buy the brand and turn it into something with which I could not agree and to which I didn’t want my name attached. Integrity. It still means something to this boy.
The sad irony is that these “activists” can enjoy their flamboyancy only under capitalism in Liberal, western republics like America. But these are the same people who advocate for Marxism, which would enslave them and all of us.
Pat “It’s Happening” in Williamstown as recent as this morning (Sunday). It seems a student protester took down the American Flag and replaced it with a Palestine Flag then chained himself to the pole. He also painted graffiti on the walkways and a Marble installation near the Quad Library where today’s commencement ceremony took place.
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/79226/Student-Charged-with-Vandalism-Resisting-Arrest-at-Williams-College.html
It’s good to do all the stupidest things you’re going to do early at the youngest age.
Musk has reported that Trump is all over the Epstien file
He withdrew that allegation. I’m guessing he has more than just pictures to go with Epstein. Never try to blackmail a President of the United States.
That is, there are probably more than just juxtaposition pics of Musk and Epstein in that file. If Trump were protecting anybody, it would be Musk. Ha.
️♂️⛳ 1st Annual “Make ‘Em an Offer They Can’t Refuse” Golf Classic ⛳️♀️
A Fundraiser to… Sort Out the Family Business
Presented by: Wyantinuknuknuk Country Club & The Gentlemen in the Back Room
Wyantinuk Country Club
Sunday, June 23rd, 2025
Shotgun Start – 9:00 AM sharp (or else…)
18 holes. 1 goal. Clean up the books… and maybe a few reputations.
Join us for a friendly round of golf, where favors are repaid, loyalties tested, and alibis crafted between tee shots. All proceeds go to the Legitimate Business Fund (in Africa) – you know, for the children.
Prizes Include:
“Best Dressed Like a Made sheMan” Award
Closest to the Safe (we mean “pin”)
Longest Drive – Sponsored by Fat Petey’s Waste Management
️ The Cement Shoe Trophy – For most funds lost in the water hazard
Luncheon at the Clubhouse
Featuring Nonna Celina’s Bolognese and all-you-can-eat cannoli (don’t ask where she got the recipe).
Live music by Frankie and the Allegations
Entry Fee: $250 (Includes greens fees, cart, lunch, and “family protection”)
Sponsorships available – especially for those who’d like to avoid certain “tax issues” next quarter.
RSVP through Vinnie. He’ll know if you don’t.
Bring your clubs, your charm, and your cleanest record. This ain’t no charity for choir boys.
️ “Because sometimes, a little business has to be settled on the back nine.”
RICO Ain’t Personal—It’s Structural
Let’s kill the fantasy now: naming one crooked player doesn’t make a RICO case. You don’t take down a machine by tugging at a single wire.
RICO is not a weapon for personal vendettas. It’s for dismantling criminal enterprises. Plural. That means you need more than one bad apple -you need a whole orchestrated orchard of rot. Patterns. Repetition. Coordination. Profit.
So when someone says, “Just expose [one gob],” they’re missing the entire point. RICO isn’t about a villain-it’s about a system built on fraud, protected by silence, and held together by mutual self-interest.
You want to invoke RICO? Then map the network. Track the transactions. Unmask the pattern. Connect the dots until what they call ‘isolated incidents’ starts to look a lot like a business model.
Until then, save the solo name-dropping for gossip. The real reckoning starts with proof of enterprise.
Post your list Planeteers. Send it.