THERE’S ONLY ONE ISSUE in the CITY FOR NEW COUNCIL, SCHOOL COMMITTEE … plus … FIDDLERS, DANCERS, AND THE AUDITS THREE
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY DEC. 15, 2025) — Message to the incoming new council and school committee: There is only one issue in Bitchfield, from which all other problems stem.
Can you guess what it is? You can name it in one word.
Finances.
It goes by other designations. The “local economy” and the “budget” are two. Call it what you will; It has been mismanaged for decades, but in the Two-Pete era, it has become perilous. The city doesn’t need an objective, third-party audit, they claim, because the finances have the fragrance of fresh-cut roses.
You know, THE PLANET knows, and The Kapanskis know this to be a lie. About five years ago, the city’s OPEB indebtedness stood at $420 million. It’s now nearing or at the half Billion mark. That’s just the openers. Then throw in a bloated $230 million budget, shrinking tax base, lack of private investment downtown, an increase in those on the dole, deadbeats who consume public resource but produce nothing but chaos and public safety concerns, capital debt, and lack of coherent strategy. You’re talking a Hill 78-size mess.
———- ooo ———-
There has been no comprehensive report on the number of businesses that have closed or moved out of Bitchfield in the past 10 years, but THE PLANET can assure you: It is, like Scrooge’s chains, “ponderous.” The counterplea is that every time a tiny “business” with the half life of a fruit fly establishes a beachhead at high tide (a bookstore for the trans crowd, an dim-lit arcade on crime-ridden Tyler Street), Lumpy and Co. make it sound like they landed Amazon’s HQ for the William Stanley Business Park.
When businesses leave, the city loses tax revenue. Moreover, The Kapanskis still have the ruinous non-profit scam ongoing. Just how much of the city’s potential tax base is off the roster because of “non-profit” status? How many non-profits are there? Can they all justify non-profit status? How many pay PILOT money (payments in lieu of taxes)? If so, how much do they pay?
As you can see, th “non-profit” hoax is another instance where a full-throated audit is necessary. While we’re on audits, let’s also do one for the phony American Rescue Plan Act $43 million sent to the city. If you believe there wasn’t fraud in the administration of this program, THE PLANET can affirm to you that there IS a pink teapot orbiting Jupiter putting strange thoughts into your head.
In sum, the first act of the new council in January 2028 should be to push for three audits: (1) city finances (2) non-profits (3) ARPA money. Audits either provide reassurance or find fault. Either is a taxpayers’ win-win.
———- ooo ———-
The Lumpy Solution to all this?: Raise taxes on the remaining businesses and homeowners, artificially boost selective assessments as a way to skirt Prop. 2-1/2, then raise taxes again on what’s left of the bedraggled middle class. Cut spending? Find the fat in the budget, especially school spending? Not a drop.
THE PLANET shan’t beat this dead calliope nag any longer, except to point out that Massachusetts residents live in a one-party dictatorship. It’s a woke matriarchy. Five of the six top offices occupied by women who are either lesbian, “of color” or “of ilk” … the lone holdout is white, male Secretary of State Bill Galvin, but he’s 74 and on the way out. The women are radical-left wonks who love high taxes, their six-figure salaries and bennies, and who remain completely insulated from We The People.
In the femdom of the Bay State, we have 12 taxes that the common-sense state of New Hampshire doesn’t have. These include:
- income tax
- millionaire tax
- interest tax
- dividend tax
- inventory tax
- sales tax
- corporate minimum tax
- capital gains tax
- liquor tax
- vehicle excise tax
- meals tax
- room tax.
In fact, Massachusetts has lost so many businesses to New Hampshire that a delegation from the “Live Free of Die” state (SynQuor, Analogic Corp.) visited the Mass. State House to thank Gov. Maura Healey for her anti-business policies. It’s proven a windfall for NH.
What a city! What a state!
——————————————————————–
“Bitchfield needs an auditor who’s a rotweiller who won’t roll over and play dead” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE”
LOVE TO ALL.
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This is not commentary — it’s misogyny dressed up as politics, Dan. Disappointed in your failure to hold all humans to the same standard.
Massachusetts did not become “taxed” because women were elected. These taxes existed decades ago, under male governors, male legislatures, and male secretaries who somehow managed to govern without collapsing into gender panic. Pretending otherwise is either dishonest or historically illiterate.
What is new here is the fixation on women’s bodies, identities, and existence in public office. Listing gender, sexuality, or race as if it’s evidence of corruption isn’t analysis — it’s bias. Full stop.
Calling elected women a “matriarchy” isn’t a policy argument. It’s a tantrum triggered by the loss of cultural dominance. Democracy didn’t change — who gets to participate did.
If you want to argue tax policy, do it like an adult: cite dates, statutes, budgets.
If your real grievance is that women now hold power without asking permission, at least have the spine to say that plainly.
This wasn’t “truth telling.”
It was contempt — and it deserves to be called exactly that.
Dan picks on everybody, especially those men who refuse to speak with him – the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics and the Dumpster included.
There’s a difference between teasing a specific person and blaming an entire gender for your grievances. That’s not humor — it’s a cheap shot at women who’ve reached rooms he never did. It reeks of jealous anger and insecurity, and at that point he’s no better than Lumpy: loud, resentful, and punching sideways instead of upward.
“There’s a difference between teasing a specific person and blaming an entire gender”
But why differentiate? Abusing people always stems from judgemental thinking.
We differentiate because precision matters. Teasing or criticizing a specific person—especially with facts—targets behavior. Blaming an entire gender abandons thought altogether and swaps reason for lazy, collective judgment. Abuse isn’t born from critique; it’s born from the refusal to think clearly.
Calling out Lumpy for his treatment of women is factual and targets his behavior. Calling out an entire gender and ignorantly claiming false information is abusive.
There is no teasing here anywhere, ever. I only see abuse and sophism.
Get a grip, pal. Dan runs the blog and you can’t handle the truth. Only three sentences, near the end, are about the fem dykes. That was just icing on the cake. The crux of the article is about the city going down The Shitter, and Dan is spot on, as usual.
Nice try. When you lace an argument with slurs, you don’t get to decide they’re “just icing” — you made them the headline. If the point is the city’s decline, say that and skip the cheap shots, because bigotry doesn’t strengthen an argument, it advertises that you don’t have one. It’s a weak move and it makes Dan look like a weak man, not a honorable one.
I see your point.
Trump is mentally ill….can you handle the truth?
I we’ll aware of his faults yet voted for him several times because he was a better pick than Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and Kamala.
His biggest fault is that he can’t do more faster.
Think you are a bit hysterical Val. I think you should reread the whole blog as there were no slurs used
Correct you are, once again!
Funny how you found your voice when Shirley handed you a pat on the back for punching down. I’ve raised clear, substantive concerns — you’ve ignored them. So when are you planning to respond to the actual issue, Dan, instead of hiding behind applause for sexism?
When will you stop seeing “sexism” where it isn’t there? THAT is the real question, VAL. There wasn’t a drop of it in my piece.
Sexism goes both ways, more so now, because power is shared equally between men and women in the workplace.
With the internet right at your fingertips and you fail to look up the definition of a slur before loudly boasting there is no such thing.
A slur is language used to demean, dehumanize, or discredit people based on an inherent or protected characteristic rather than individual behavior.
More precisely, a slur has most (often all) of these traits:
Targets a group, not an individual
Reduces identity to contempt (gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, etc.)
Strips legitimacy or humanity, implying the group is inferior, dangerous, or unworthy
Relies on stereotype instead of fact
Functions to silence, intimidate, or justify exclusion
and none of that was found in his post, maybe you should use the internet to look up the meaning of the words used in your definition or better yet get an older actual dictionary predated before 2000. While at the library maybe get an English composition book as well
Why does Pittsfield spend over $62 million in fiscal year 2026 more than Westfield?
Pittsfield and Westfield are two similarly sized small cities in Western Massachusetts.
Also, the Boston state lawmakers are enjoying their 6-weeks long taxpayer-funded holidays vacation.
Did the career politics cook the books?
Answer: Over one year later, there is still no audit that the Massachusetts voters approved back in 2024.
You have to give up to Mayor Lumpy and his fiscal watchdog-like policies. While the Bitchfield taxpayer’s struggle to make ends meet, Mayor Lumpy has signed on for the Wahconah Park tear down and subsequent rebuild.
The cost as of right now is $28,400,000
Keep in mind, the Pittsfield Cubs or Pittsfield Mets, are teams of the past. There currently is no team playing at Wahconah Park. They are hoping to attract an MLB-level team. Good luck with that.
Pittsfield ConCom OKs Wahconah Park Demo, Ice Rink / iBerkshires.com – The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
If worse comes to worse, Mayor Lumpy could toss a few million tax dollars towards the Cultural Competency Coach to seek out a new baseball team.
Shirley Edgerton was the POC recruitment specialist under former failed mayor Linda “Flat” Tyer-Clairmont. Shirley did so well recruiting black teachers from NC back to Bitchfield Pubic Scohols, Flat gave her a half million of taxpayer money (ARPA) to “explore her roots,” during an all-expense paid family and friend’s African vacation.
If you could talk to people behind this project after they had a few drinks, they might tell you that this “ballpark” actually has very little to do with baseball. The word baseball is only being used to curry public favor until it is under way. I believe the reality is that this is going to be much more a venue for all kinds of entertainment and shows put on by special interests using a public paid for and maintained venue. Perhaps they will hold an all star little league game there sometime to show good faith that this thing was ever about baseball but don’t hold your breath.
Does anyone know how much money the taxpayers still contribute to the Colonial theater which was originally estimated to cost 2 million dollars and then went skyrocketing over 20 million? Try looking at the books as I doubt it is anywhere near self sufficient and never has been. How about the Museum with its mega million dollar endowment? Taxpayers are paying a boatload supporting this thing.
I am sure Kerwood can bring the financials to the next council meeting to dispute this so make sure to be there.
Pittsfield is trying to fix a swamp for 30 million.
We need to drop the wahconah project now.Put it down at the GE sight.We need something beautiful there and a baseball park will do it.The last project is basically a vacant biotechnology failure. Trump is a dunce and won’t put money into science.Daltons taxes are rising like crazy.Dalton will be a ghost town when crane closes.
Projects are being cancelled all across the country due to the high cost of building materials, interest and so many people losing their jobs, but in Pittsfield the state of the economy or the taxpayer ability to pay is never considered criteria in any large expenditure decision. The only question is, “do special interests want this project?” If Yes, then full speed ahead, no serious public input and don’t hold back on the extras.
Get out now!!!
Be sure to catch President Voltron Porkchop’s Facebook post supporting the anti-ICE nativity scene in Dedham. Suddenly claiming to be church going, psalm quoting, trans dating man.
Should ask Voltron, why the Pope has a fence around the Vatican?
Think you nailed it professor, the Mayor is always trying to magically put 10 pounds of flour in a 5 pound bag. It’s not politically popular but they have to reflect a budget like Calvin Coolidge did on the national level or Patrick J. Moore did on the city side, how about starting at 1% the first year, 2% the second and 3% the third year.
P.J. Moore — ah, yes. Great comment, RK.
He’s incapable of doing basic math.
Not to mention New Hampshire is not a member of the Climate Cult. They are not playing the Net Zero game, like Massachusetts who is seeking Net neutrality by 2025. Net Zero hoax will cost taxpayers Billions.
Massachusetts is a disaster area. These “woke” women in charge are destroying the struggling middle class. These “woke women” can’t be this stupid or can they? If they aren’t stupid then this is an intentional plan to destroy the middle class. Either way, the working middle class is under attack from these far left policies. When the Democrats gave us the Meals Tax years ago, I knew we would never be rid of it. It was only supposed to be temporary, but taxes are NEVER temporary for Democrats.
I can tell you this taxing Governor is on the front for extra funds…She’s is going to try a major excise tax increase and she’ll probably raise gasoline tax. Most recently she has taken suspended licenses from other states from decades ago and multiplying the original fine that had already been adjudicated in court 30 times in some cases.
I thought Casella wasn’t gonna take any overstuffed garbage pails? They’re all over the city.
Mayor admitting failed policy with purposely trying to shaft taxpayers with tiny toters. Over half the city cannot get by without getting a second toter which was the Casella/mayor plan in the first place. Bumping profits with sleight of hand. One hand washing the other but neither ever getting clean.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/massachusetts-state-representative-arrested-and-charged-alleged-fraud-and-cover-scheme
Pat —
Massachusetts’ sales tax (including meals) dates back to 1966. It wasn’t invented by today’s leaders, “woke women,” or Democrats in the last decade. It became permanent decades ago under multiple administrations.
There is no special meals tax — it’s the standard 6.25% sales tax, with some cities choosing a small local add-on by local vote.
Taxes don’t exist because of gender or ideology. They exist to fund schools, roads, public safety, and services — whether you like the spending or not.
You can argue policy.
You can argue spending.
But blaming women and pretending this is new is factually wrong.
Legislator was controlled by the Dems in 1966 in MA
And? Republicans control everything right now. What’s your excuse now?
no republicans in MA….stay focused
You should see the RED STATES
You sound like a racist bigot!
Are you on drugs? Calling out Republican states isn’t racism — it’s political critique. States aren’t a race. If you think “red” is a slur, you’ve officially lost the plot and the dictionary. Before accusing others of bigotry, learn what words actually mean — it’ll save you a lot of public embarrassment.
VAL
Something obviously provoked you. Care to share?
I am part Native American and felt he was demeaning our status
Sorry, Net Zero by 2050.
December 15, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
There is nothing more predictable about Pittsfield politics than the municipal budget spending increases of 5 percent per fiscal year going back over 40 years in a row.
The municipal debt-load is over $100 million plus hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded liabilities that some estimate to be close to $1 billion.
The city’s public schools are rated at Level 5 (failed), as well as Group 11 (underclass). Between 650 to 700 students choice out of the aforementioned public schools to neighboring public school districts.
Since at least 1980, violent crime rates in Pittsfield have more than doubled the statewide average.
The state and local government are filled with one political (Democratic) Party political insiders who are Oligarchic instead of (small “d”) democratic.
Pittsfield has a distressed and severely economically unequal local economy. The city-wide elections are decided by one single Ward, which is the mostly middle-class Ward 4, with some influence from Ward 3.
A few former Pittsfield politicians such as Linda Tyer and her 3rd husband, CPA millionaire Barry Clairmont, as well as millionaire Andrea Francesco Nuciforo Junior (who also resides in Boston), reside in million-dollar mansions in Pittsfield’s elitist Gated Community neighborhood west of Berkshire Community College very close to the Hancock border.
Meanwhile, Pittsfield’s downtown North Street is called “Social Services Alley” along with the around 15 empty storefronts, and the inner-city impoverished neighborhoods that surround North Street are called “The Ring of Poverty”.
When I – Jon Melle (who is 50 in 2025) – was a young man in Pittsfield over 2 decades ago, I walked around my native hometown of Pittsfield (Mass.) looking for a job there for a little over one year of my life (Spring 2002 – late-Spring 2003) without success. I felt that I had a better chance winning the state lottery jackpot than finding a job in the small city in Western Massachusetts where I grew up in (PHS, Class of 1993).
I studied Public Administration (U Mass, MPA, Class of 1999), and I learned that the most valuable resource of a community are the people that live there because the own/rent, work, pay taxes, purchase goods and services, and invest their time and money into the city they call home.
I also learned (the hard way) that it did not apply to me in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I learned that you had to be from one of the 5-families (The Godfather movie reference) that run Pittsfield, kiss their dirty behinds, and never exercise your FREE SPEECH about Pittsfield politics points east to the corrupt Boston Statehouse.
I learned that when a middle-class family or a small business looks to invest in a community, they look at the city’s crime statistics, public schools, and overall economy.
I also learned that Pittsfield’s only economic growth areas are in its always increasing underclass population, the city’s annual 5 percent budget spending increases, the city’s excessive municipal debt-load and unfunded liabilities, and its unsustainable financial future that is quickly headed over the proverbial cliff (Nilan).
I agree with blogger Dan Valenti that Boston’s only connection to Pittsfield are DISSERVICES. It has been that way for as long as I can remember, which is over 30 years.
Best wishes,
Jon Melle
You should have listed your naval career and your winning the 1992 and 93 Mass State High School Pocket Pool State Championships in back to back years at PHS also. It’s a record that still stands today.
To be fair, all schools almost anywhere save Alabama and Mississippi are level five. Intro math is now advanced mathematics to college freshman.
It is frustrating to know that we pay taxes for failed public schools in Pittsfield and beyond.
Nick Reiner brutally killing his parents reminds us why there’s a very good reason for the drug addiction stigma. Pretending these people aren’t dangerous is foolish.
case In point, Healy trying to interfere with ICE.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/12122025-governor-healeys-dhs-letter/download
I have a question for the city leaders ( I find it funny that we have our dumbest citizens running the city) Why do we put Speed Bumps on city streets, that are proven in studies to wreck vehicles at a faster clip than normal roads, after a young student gets clipped by a car when he ran across a busy street. Then on the street where 2 cars killed people not one speed bump, nor rotary by the Salvation Army, but they build bump outs pushing cars across the double yellow line. Of course the political powers all live where the bumps can not be found so they don’t have to be bothered.
SHIRL
You are asking a common-sense question of critters who have none. You get it. They don’t.
That’s not common sense. It’s failure to have enough sense to research and learn facts.
VAL
But it’s you who “did not have enough sense” with this piece, i.e., how you tried to atomically explode a tiny aspect of the overall column, which dealt only in facts. Fact: 5 of the 6 top offices in MA are occupied by women. Fact: The most important, governor, is held by an openly lesbian. Fact: Of color is favored or merit. Fact: All 5 are radical loon-left. Fact: All the taxes mentioned exist. Fact: Those running this state are tax-happy.
You apparently “have not learned” (that is, you are uncomfortable with) these facts being pointed out. Don’t you see? You have lost this case, counselor. Learn from it. Thanks for the pushback.
ou don’t get to call other people stupid while being this wrong.
Speed bumps are proven to slow cars and reduce pedestrian injuries. There is zero evidence they “wreck vehicles faster than normal roads” — damage happens when drivers ignore them and blast through anyway. They’re also not installed on major arterial roads, which is why different streets get different designs. That’s basic traffic engineering, not some fantasy about where politicians live.
Before insulting “the dumbest citizens,” try learning how roads actually work. Ignorance delivered loudly is still ignorance.
Please investigate the automotive engineers who have study these so called Speed Humps, not just Americans but Europeans. They have found after extensive studies that they(Speed Humps) do not have any effects on stopping injuries in the road and actually may cause drivers to lose control causing more dangerous roads. They have also found that yes they do cause cars to decline much faster…shortening the cars life(the reported 10% was the lowest one I found).
If safety is the main concern then the main roads should be the slowest if you want to make them safe, at least that is what the city is telling us as to why Pittsfield needs the bump outs and humps. If this is their belief the first street to be fixed should have been West St where 2 people were killed by drivers, has a large elementary school, a church and a park al clustered together near low income housing. Also from my observation when I am driving there is a majority of cars speed down West St especially on the hills by St. Marks and the Salvation Army.
If the city “leaders” cared about the West Side youth then a Rotary and speed humps in their words are the best answers for West St.
So I will call them dumb or hypocrites or possibly worse,
BTW thank you for giving us an alternate view to share our thoughts, opinions and research on topics…keep it up