By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY-WEDNEDSAY, AUG. 5-6, 2014) — THE PLANET shares our latest attempt at monitoring transparency in government. We can report that transparency has been mucked over by a plague of political locusts smashing against the windshield of accountability, leaving reddish-green streaks of smear intended to block the public’s view inside the corner office.

Like the friendly Shell service-station attendant of old, however, THE PLANET is here with the Windex and cloth.

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The background on this discussion is a verbotin July 18 appearance by city veteran’s agent Rosanne Frieri on John Krol‘s “Good Morning, Pittsfield” radio/TV show.

As you may know, appearances on Krol’s show by Pittsfield department heads have been forbidden by Mayor Dan Bianchi. Also on The Empty Suit‘s “enemies list” is Bill Sturgeon‘s radio show on WRRS (FM 104.3). The crackdown came concurrently with TES‘ gag order, unconvincingly disguised as a “media policy” forbidding any department head from talking with any reporter or media person without prior approval from either the mayor or his #2, Julie Sabourin.

A Job on the Line?

On that fateful July 18, Frieri went on with Krol. Shortly after, THE PLANET received word from credible city hall sources that prior to making her appearance on GMP, Sabourin sent Frieri an e-mail from “telling her not to go on Krol’s show.” Our sources said Frieri’s “job is on the line for defying the mayor’s wishes.” They further told us that “Melissa Mazzeo has abandoned her friend [Frieri] and Dan [Bianchi] can have at her if he chooses.”

THE PLANET subsequently filed a public records request with the city, asking for copies of any e-mails that Sabourin sent to Frieri during the week of July 14. We also asked for any e-mails Bianchi sent to Sabourin that same week.

On July 25, THE PLANET heard from Carol Nichols, city IT manager. Nichols sent us “one e-mail that complies with your request.” She also told us “that there are two other e-mails that fall within your time period,[sic] but are exempted from disclosure pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 4, Section 7, cl. 26, paragraph (c).” This law “exempts from disclosure any personnel and medical files or information.” Nichols says that “the two e-mails to which I refer fall within said statuatory exemption, and therefore, are exempt from disclosure.” We shall not speculate on these two missives.

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The mysterious Paul Gniadek, left, pictured with Catherine Taylor-Williams of The Wharton Salon, at The Berkshire Forum, Colonial Theatre, September 2010.

Incidentally, the document Nichols sent to us has nothing to do with the Frieri incident. It is a cryptic exchange on July 18 between a certain Paul Gniadek and the mayor.

We include it for the record. It concerns the Letter to the Editor Craig Gaetani published in The Boring Broadsheet.

An electronic search reveals that Gniadek is a financial adviser based in Pittsfield. Gniadek is a member of PHS Class of ’69, same as Bianchi. On the surface, this would suggest that the pair are old buds.

Gniadek does not appear to be a city employee. Various sites list him as CFO for Financial Freedoms LLC from 2007 to present.

On Jul 18, 2014, t 11:23 a.m., “Paul” (paul1023@gmail.com) wrote:

Can you respond to this rather lengthy article by Mr. Gaetani?

thanks, paul gniadek

Bianchi responds at 13:28:26 the same day to Paul, with Bruce Collingwood and Julia Sabourin copied:

“Subject: Re: 7/18/14 Eagle Editorial on our Water Filtration needs

We are working on it. Fill with false info. thanks Paul.

Sent from my iPhone

Question is why does Gniadek ask the mayor to respond to Gaetani’s editorial?

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Back to Frieri.

THE PLANET asked Mazzeo about the incident. Mazzeo said, “I actually listened to John’s show and though Rosanne did a good job of describing the veteran’s program she is trying to pilot. And given that Rosanne and I are friends, the mayor doesn’t share his thoughts about her [with me] or, for that matter, [about] other department heads.”

THE PLANET took that response as a deft spin move around what we asked MAzzeo, which — in the name of complete transparency — was the following:

I have from a reliable source that the mayor warned Rosanne Frieri not to go on Krol’s show … that she defied the mayor and went anyway … that she was wanted through an e-mail sent from Sabourin … that her job is now in jeopardy for defying the mayor … and that, according to the source, you have abandoned Frieri and withdrawn your support.

THE PLANET also requested comment from Frieri. She didn’t decline. She didn’t accept. We ignored our request. In other words, she’s been chastised and is keeping a low profile, which suggests her job is hanging by an angel’s hair.

We share this story to illustrate what it’s like these days to be working at city hall for this mayor. It’s not much fun, as you can imagine. The atmosphere is tense, with low morale and a general air of instability. Few in that building can stand their ultimate boss. The subsequent damage this poisonous atmosphere does for We the People remains incalculable.

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“100gate” — The Sign in Front of Us

In our continuing coverage of “100gate,” the only media outlet in the area that has dared to look underneath the slime, THE PLANET has contacted each city councilor. We asked if they intend to stand with councilors Barry Clairmont and Chris Connell in support of sending the mayor a list of relevant questions regarding his proposed move of 40% of city hall offices to 100 North St.

“Global Companies LLC, Dan Bianchi.” But wait, isn’t that guy supposed to be a “full time” mayor?

We heard first from Ward 5 councilor Jonathan Lothrop, who told us he would support the petition.

Give The Empty Suit this much: At least he isn’t trying to hide the fact that he has his offices at 100 North St., as you can see by the sign board in the lobby of the old First Aggie Bank building.

Call it truth in advertising.

As THE PLANET forced the mayor into admitting, despite holding a “full time” job as mayor, Bianchi still works for Global.

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Your mayor, The Double Dipper, in whose memory we compose these humble lines:

Double dipping, ’tis all in vain.

Throw the money against the wind,

and the wind blows it back again.

Every gem becomes a lie

reflected in the beams of TES.

Blown back, they blind the apathetic eye,

but still he will go down, we shall guess.

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“Face piles of trial with smiles. It riles them to believe that we perceive the web they weave.” — Moody Blues, from the album, “On the Threshold of a Dream.”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.