IN BITCHFIELD, THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP TO ONE BIG PROBLEM OF BAD GOVERNMENT
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 5-7, 2025) — Large things articulate a city. Small things define it.
Let’s talk small.
Driving through Bitchfield from outer West Street, the motorist sees electrical boxes, typically a shade of Fenway green. Some have been painted, and nicely, by gifted artists, such as the “Farm Fresh” box on West Street opposite Onota Street. Tomatoes supply the theme, nicely rendered, and you can tell the artist gave the project a great deal of care and thought.
Heading a short distance past Salvation Army corner, at the TB Bank building, there are two boxes. One shows an intricately painted mermaid and a sea theme. A short ways to the left, another box has been left alone in Fenway green–except for a spaghetti-heap of ugly, black graffiti, pointed, angular, and angry in proud, gang-related design. It advertises the opposite of what you would want any respectable person to see.
Continuing the tour to the end of West Street at Park Square, THE PLANET spots another box, this one, too, an eyesore, even though it occupies the most visible spot of all the boxes, centered on the East-North streets island. It has been ignored. Some piker painted it a decade ago, and even then the ineptness of the “Popcorn Wagon” theme assaulted the eyes.
It has an embarrassing amateurishness about it, complete with misspelling, and having been untouched for a decade, it fades away into “I don’t care” ville. It’s the “perfect” welcome to Lumpy-era downtown. One would think the city would want its best artist to go to work at that location, and one would be wrong. Mayor Lumpy doesn’t care. Either that, or he deliberately wants to keep to keep up the destructive entropy that has infected city government.
———- ooo ———-
The scattershot approach to the small things exemplifies a problem seen throughout the city, namely, lack of an overall strategy. Bitchfield, especially under mayors Flat and Lumpy, has not articulated what in politics is called a “vision,” that is, a goal-oriented, strategic plan of which the little detail provide the tactical elements. You can see the chaos everywhere, from confusing road markings and out-of-synch traffic lights to diminutive trash toters and dim street lighting.
Such is the state of things when a community falls into apathy, with folks too stressed about keeping up with the bills when they face official overtaxation and daily harassment. As THE PLANET has often said, the only thing worse than taxation without representation is taxation WITH representation. Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski merely have to take a look at the incompetents occupying too many key offices–the corner office, the council, school committee, finance, and others.
As the little things go unattended, we come to a mighty big lesson: When overpaid public servants succeed in affecting a disconnect from We The People, who actually own the government and technically serve as their bosses, they get fat and lazy. These corpulent bureaucrats wall themselves off from The Kapanskis and from that comfy position take care of themselves, their masters, and those on the inner circle, the public be damned. That’s how one of the country’s fine, smallest cities becomes a place that may be nice for wealthy tourists to visit in July and August but they wouldn’t want to live here.
How else do you explain the lack of interest in public office, which has reached the low of not requiring a preliminary election this month from lack of competition?
Bitchfield pols got you where they want you, under their thumb and squished.
—————————————————————
“The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem” — Milton Friedman.
“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.
On Williams street heading towards the old Burgner farm on the right there are two 1955 era signs. One is indicating a playground in the area. The other, I forget what it says, perhaps CHILDREN, not too far from the other. The two of them are super old and faded almost beyond readability. Many decades old.
Apparently not one ward councilor in at least forty years, thought they should be replaced and over a trillion city vehicles must have driven past them and no one cared. Contrast that with an annual quarter million dollar inner city budget for planters, shrubs and flowers and you might want to scratch your noggin.
I agree with you in principle, but as you know, it’s easier to “spend” $250k on shrubs and $hit like that, than it is to spend $250k on a couple of street signs.
I believe it was The Planet who exposed a CC or a former CC member getting paid by the Linda “Flat” Tyer-Clairmont administration for his 190 hour work weeks.
I don’t recall who it was, but I do remember it was a male painting lines on NON or creating more traffic confusion with “bump outs,” or something similar.
For those unaware , there are only 168 hours in a week….
Easier if you have a friend that sells shrubs
and is it true that there is already one million dollars of shrubby landscaping built into Marchettis new stadium venue? Or is that a low ball figure?
Spot on Duh. Not to mention the totally faded 35 Mph sign on Williams st. next to the high tension lines heading east. Plus the fucking bush that’s on City property that they won’t trim or take down, on the corner of Dalton Division and Williams heading west. WTF take it down! Nobody cares, going through the motions for a pay check and benefits.
JOE
Great examples of the “little” things that points to a large breakdown.
The “Broken Windows” theory.
Bitchfield is the perfect example of not fixing the problems.
If I were Mayor Lumpy, I would have handed Ricky Rumpus his ass for allowing graffiti to collect on that FedEx box on NON.
I’m sure Ricky was working on important “traffic calming” ideas instead.
The planted (city? state?) bushes on the median at the east end of of Dan Fox Drive obstruct the view of oncoming traffic when turning south onto Rt 7. It is right on red at the location.
Drive by the Mayor’s house and what do you see? Not leadership, not neutrality, but campaign signs—Amuso and Persip—planted right on his lawn like little badges of corruption. This isn’t civic pride, it’s a clique, a public endorsement of his buddies and lackeys.
A mayor who parades his bias in his own front yard isn’t serving the city—he’s serving himself. Hosting signs like that isn’t harmless, it’s a billboard that screams: “these are my puppets.” Maybe the real takeaway is simple: if Marchetti’s backing them, they’re the ones we shouldn’t trust with our vote.
This city deserves a mayor who leads, not a yard salesman for his cronies. Marchetti has officially dethroned himself as the worst mayor Pittsfield has ever had—and yes, that means Sara Hathaway did better. That’s how low the bar has fallen.
The Mayor’s political yard signs:
No Forensic Audit
Level 5 schools
15 empty storefronts on North Street
War against the Underclass
Retribution
Persecution
90 day Grace Period
Mayor Marchetti needs to resign but he will not. For him, it is about pride, not Pittsfield. It has always been about Peter and his ego. Over the last two years, there have been more than enough reasons to question his leadership and his repeated neglect of duty.
That nickname from a recent article “Mean Girl Marchetti” could not have been more fitting. It captured the pettiness, the cliques, the drama. Pittsfield voted in the “popular kids” and now the city is drowning in corruption, infighting, and deliberate dysfunction. Marchetti is not even hiding the status quo anymore, he is flaunting it.
If we are serious about saving this city, then it is time to recall him. The process is simple. Start with 500 signatures on an affidavit to the City Clerk, and then just 20 percent of registered voters, about 7,000 people, need to sign on. That is not an impossible number. The people of Pittsfield deserve better, and someone needs to finally humble this man.
The mayor knows right now exactly who will be elected and or appointed to councils, boards and positions for the next several years. Elections are a facade in Pittsfield and they are laughing their asses off behind the scenes.
Why are the regulars even putting up signs?
Charades anyone?
It’s like they live on a different planet. Planet Entitlement when it comes to elections.
The lack of people drawing papers suggests a lack of talent.
maybe a lack of not wanting to get caught up in things that may ruin their reputations..like what happend to the school committee folk who will carry that shame around for a long time. And any other city official who help to bury the investigation of shady things going on in schools
So cowardice is the enemy of talent then. Probably.
How do you measure talent? It only exists when people say “I can so this” and makes it happen.
There are only 2 or three talented people who believe they can do better. You there need more than that.
Apparently, refusing to audition for the Jerry Springer show means you lack talent. lol.
Possible too. You’re on to something. Why didn’t you run for a seat instead of adopting a pen name and using it to piss into the wind?
Talent is a recognized ability. Not all activities require it.
Sara Hathaway was like the Jimmy Carter of Pittsfield.
She owned a peanut farm?
That is why people vote for Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny instead of Pittsfield Mayor Big Beer Belly, Sara Shoegum, Voltron, the Dumpster, and the other hacks who spend over $62 million per fiscal year more than Westfield.
Pittsfield’s Level 5 (failed) public schools with its Group 11 (underclass) students are Pittsfield”s future non-taxpayers that the fictional Kapanski family will pay for.
It is a dystopian nightmare come true, while the government clowns pull down their 6-figure public pay plus perks.
I’ve been saying this for twenty five years. Pittsfield has to gotta Town- City manager type government. What the fuck is wrong with you people in Bitchfield. The current form of Goverment ain’t working.
Hasn’t been since decades ago.. Don Butler was your best Mayor. Haven’t seen anyone close to him since.
THE PLANET agrees on Don Butler. The best.
Agree10000%. I have been saying the same thing too. We need to get a petition together to put it to a vote. Enough is enough. Pittsfield needs drastic changes.
You can’t even get a basic concern on a city referendum never mind anything that might take power away from the folk running that show in Pittsfield.
Jon, how many times did You vote for Biden? QED
Do not fear , MassHolers will be giving the dangerous useless Covid 19 booster free of charge to children over 5! Why, I don’t know. It’s proven dangerous and ineffective. I guess it’s because of the Orange man. Do not get the jab.
September 06, 2025
Trump is targeting Boston.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/05/boston-ice-trump-michelle-wu
The Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, is pushing back against Trump, the National Guard troop deployments, and ICE agents.
Will the state send the targeted immigrants in Boston to distressed cities such as Pittsfield when Boston becomes Trump’s Ground Zero?
That is what happened during and after the Covid pandemic. The state dumped the Underclass people from Boston to places such as Pittsfield without a plan to find them shelters to live in.
On Tuesday, September 09th, 2025, the Pittsfield City Council will finally vote on Mayor Peter Marchetti’s proposed encampment ban that fines homeless residents for sleeping on public property without any alternatives.
What the Mayor of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield City Council should be voting on is the state dumping its Underclass residents in distressed places such as Pittsfield without a plan to find them shelters to live in.
Then there is Governor Maura Healey, who cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for social services agencies to provide needed targeted assistance to the Underclass residents.
The above events are all happening as I write this post.
Jon, what did D-Rat Gov Healey (one of Your favorites) do with the CRIMINAL ALIENS on Migrants, er Martha’s Vineyard?
She called in the mASSachsetts NG and sent them to Edwards AFB!
Where was their “due process”? Did they end up in housing set aside for homeless US Veterans? D-Healey has spent 1 BILLION US taxpayer dollars illegally funding the invasion.
Trump and Tom Homan should target Gov Healey and Boston Mayor Wu for aiding and abetting CRIMINAL ALIENS. It is still a Federal Felony.
But if Covid takes out half of Pittsfield’s senior population Marchettis tax base will be cut intro deeply. He depends on seniors to fund his TIF forgiveness buddies share.
Covid kills the same as the Flu. If you’re sick and elderly, unfortunately you will die. No one gets out alive.
Tell me again which medical school you went to please. And no Trump university does not count although I am sure you love to show your diploma every time company comes over.
Not the one Biden’s HHS secretary Richard, er “Rachael” Levine went to, that’s for sure
President Donald Trump showed support for vaccines on Friday, following Florida’s move to eliminate vaccine mandates in schools and shake-ups at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During an Oval Office signing on Friday, Trump was asked about Florida’s efforts to become the first state in the country without school vaccine mandates.
“I think we have to be very careful. You have some vaccines that are so amazing,” Trump said, citing the polio and COVID-19 vaccines. “You have some vaccines that are so incredible. I think you have to be very careful when you say some people don’t have to be vaccinated.”
Joe,
I had to post this after reading your post. It is a comment from a fellow poster on another site.
The CDC changed the definition of vaccine in Sept 2021 from a “product that produces immunity” to a “preparation that stimulates the body’s immune response.”
Therein lies the problem. We were led to believe that vaccines gave life-long immunization. That is apparently not the case today, especially with the Covid mRNA “preparation.”
CDC also tried to bury the 250 years history of immunological discovery including George Washington’ innoculating soldiers at Valley Forge and .microbial research by Louis Pasteur and pretend that exposure to virus does not impart immunity to its host. In fact, they denied the discovery of immunity.
Will JFK ban all anesthesia for heart surgery now? Is he recommending placebos because anesthesia turns people trans?
Studies in a rural community in Tibet may now be showing, alarmingly, that everyone who has ever had anesthesia develops a new gene code that causes copious hair patches to grow on a womans breasts and men to start having periods, regardless of age. AND it is non reversible AND sadly, hereditary, according to studies done on Yaks and Llamas.
Some folk think JFK is a complete moron but anyone who eats baby bears in a public park has my vote as a forward thinker who knows a thing or two about vaccinations. (and maybe other stuff as well)
^^^^ JFK got murdered in Dallas Nov 1963. ROFL!!!!!
Meanwhile, RFK JR is HHS Secretary 2025 under POTUS Trump.
Unlike Biden’s HHS Secretary, Robert, er “Rachel” Levine, RFK JR realizes having a penis defines him as being a man/male.
yer right…tanks fer da correction..RFK is the loooney NOT JFK
RFK has the stage. You’re far down below.
Flu vaccines, they work by the way, are now available at Walgreens. I recommend you wait until December though. They last 6 months and peak season is March.
Did anyone listen to the Wednesday morning local radio show with Mayor Marchetti? One of the radio hosts would side with Marchetti, while the other one would try to challenge him, but it was obvious that they were both in his corner. They just had to show some resistance for show. Marchetti complained about his way over $500.00 monthly electric bill this summer and the host said “Don’t you live in a really big house with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms so it must be hard to keep it cool.” He didn’t respond to that. He also complained about the upcoming election saying that it costs $100,00 to have the election and only 13% of the Pittsfield population actually votes. “We have to do something about that”, he said although he didn’t say what he would do. There was no discussion of the serious issues facing the city like lack of housing, too much money going to the schools, the lack of transparency from the schools, and the ongoing garbage collection disaster. The radio hosts insisted on addressing what they referred to as “rumors” that were going around the city that Marchetti was given the opportunity to dispel. The whole tone of the radio show made it sound like any issues facing the city were just gossip and nothing more.
Any call in shows in Bitchfield?
He wants more than 10% support at the polls I guess.
No, when he said he wants to do something about that it sounded like Marchetti wants to do something like have only mail in votes to lower the cost overhead. Liberals love the mail-in ballots so that would be a perfect excuse for him to say that since not many vote in this city we will cancel all in person voting. Except for the cost of having the election, I don’t think Marchetti minds the only 13% of the population voting because the voter apathy is what keeps all of these incompetent people in office. That and the fact that the school personnel control the elections and with voter apathy so high in the city, not many of the school personnel actually have to vote to sway the elections in their favor.
No one there cares who and how many vote in your village. It’s a cult town.
My guess is that it will be substantially less than 13% this year. Less and less people are fooled that they can changed anything in Pittsfield anymore.
Government of and for the people Petes? ha ha ha…you so funny
The current Bitchfield politicians don’t give a hoot about right or wrong, or doing what they promise, or making anything better for the Joe Tax paying public.They play dirty, they cheat and steal the taxpayers money every chance they get. There is no compromising on their part with the citizens of Bitchfield when they decide what they want on any given issue.
Someone ought to take this punk c c and administration to task. The taxes aren’t high here compared to New Dorks but around our region THEY ARE ! Two hundred a quarter now for one toilet.
Health insurance and 8 grand is compensation. But they’ll tell you it’s a real chore. Councilors. Don’t fucking run if you don’t like your situation.
Maybe lumpy can get the 90g plus gig like flats at b c c. No education or experience required. Kennedy and friends should be put out to pasture.
Replace hoot with….
Mary Joe K gets a big tax raise while ,Kufflinks Lumpy and all the rest get raises into the thousands.
From my experience dealing with City councilors, they will tell you why they can’t do something, will not tell you how they can make it work out. We need a City manager with a smaller government aspect.
Several years ago I needed something done to correct a city error. My councilor bagged me for months and then finally said he could not help me. Called an EX councilor and he took care of it within a wee3k.
This is 100% factual, and I applaud this statement with absolute joy. But if you’re so certain the politics suck, then the decisions suck right along with them — don’t they? What I can’t wrap my head around is why, when the city cheats, steals, and harms innocent people, you rush to applaud and take their side. When employees are fired and say they were railroaded, you’ve stood behind the city every time. But here’s the truth: the ones getting railroaded are the truth-tellers, the people brave enough to speak out. The ones still clinging to their jobs are often part of the problem. And yet you show up in these comments ready to tear the whistleblowers down, pretending the city acted honorably. Newsflash — they didn’t.
You were silent so long as you kept your City job. That’s a problem.
I asked Google AI about….
The “Pittsfield is not for small business” sign was put up by Evan Skubel, the owner of EMS Automotive at 51 Center Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in late August 2025. He placed the sign to protest what he called selective and unfair treatment by the city that ultimately led to the closure of his business.
Background on the dispute
I read Daniell Munn’s Go Fund Me web-page….
https://www.gofundme.com/f/witch-slapped-the-munns-and-the-fight-to-bring-down-city-h
City Hall’s “Witch Hunt”….this battle is not just ongoing—it’s escalating.
Mayor Peter Marchetti is using the city government to persecute people via retribution. – JON MELLE
Skubel and Munn are still being bullied and harassed in different ways. Certain avenues, organizations, and businesses are clearly aligned with the city, and they’ve made it their mission to hinder progress, block opportunities, and ensure nothing comes easy. The message is obvious: if you align with this administration, you’ll work to make it difficult for Skubel and Munn to do business or maintain relationships in Pittsfield.
And then I come here and see the hypocrisy from these hateful voices. Everyone seems quick to admit the city is corrupt, yet you cheer on the downfall of people and businesses simply because the city branded them guilty. Do you even hear yourselves? Are you on the side of truth and justice — or are you clinging to whatever narrative feeds your ignorance? Because honestly, it makes no sense.
Speaking of properties that aren’t kept up in the city, here is a new Facebook page where you can post pictures about offenders in your neighborhood and hopefully shame them into action.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19w2frMz1d/
The taxes they pay probably can’t afford upkeep.
The Carousel should be on the list for providing free electricity to vagrants
This board like MAGA congress wont discuss Donald Trumps Epstien file until it is completely washed and MAGA can feel great about their sex addicted out of control traitor.There are 20,000 ICE thugs with 200,000 on the way and you boys clearly dont have a clue what is going on.There must be a brain left in the bunch.Talking nonsense in a Trump traitor takeover because of American exceptionalism in ignorance. Theres no hope for the elderly FOX fix everyday allday.
TSC finally did the Thelma and Louise because of his TDS . Good Bye!
Have You considered Don’t-cry-Cryo for TDS TSC?
https://rumble.com/v5pevbt-dont-cry-cryo-need-a-break-from-trumps-term-freeze-yourself-for-4-years.html
Here’s another enlightening story about the two Pete’s wonderful North Street. Saw on Facebook that Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery is now offering to pay customers parking tickets they get while dining. Kudos to the owners of Maries for doing this, but, they should not have to be doing this! Shameful to the City Administration, showing they could once again care less about Small Business in Pittsfield. Maybe this is why so many storefront windows on North Street are now covered with brown paper. Drove North Street this afternoon, up by St. Joseph’s Church one bench had 4 people sleeping on it and another bench had 2 folks sleeping, another male peeing in an alley by the Senior Center. Welcome to Pittsfield main street. What a sight for the guests at Hotel on North. Evidently the two Pete’s don’t see this with their rose colored glasses on. Welcome to Pathetic Pittsfield.
M&B
Thanks for this input. That’s a grand gesture by Marie’s but a pitiful testimony for downtown. Speaking of Facebook and downtown, check out Brian Andrews’ post on downtown. It contains a couple vignettes of some of the bad actors fouling the area for everyone. It also has photos of the of the calling cards these miscreants have dropped.
As a part time dog groomer I recognize at least one of those feces specimens as deposited by a four legged Canis Lupus. Whether it was left there by the dog itself or dropped there by the photographer we do not know for sure. Either one is a possibility.
Perhaps if the homeless folk could give up a few bucks each every month, they could chip in and pay Marchettis electric bill. If they become a special interest group, tossing treats here and there, they might find their lives getting a tad less hassled.
Rumor has it that some politicians may show kindness to those who leave little goodie packages in the right places. Also, as the homeless population in Pittsfield grows it will become a more and more significant voting block which might come in handy some day. And if they were to form their own union, OMG, they could back up the teachers union if there were ever a close election on the horizon, ensuring that Pittsfield always gets top notch leadership, as they do now.
But in the meantime maybe not running the central AC 24 hrs a day in that large house might lower that bill. Hot tubs can run it up as well.
The voting contingent you identifiy is the social worker bloc. Identified by excessive tattooing, bright hair, facial puncturing with metallic displays. Most of them dream of getting a coveted seat in government or at least the Guv’Council.