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EAGLE CANS 3; CHAIN DUMPS 10 OTHER EMPLOYEES … IS THE BB ABOUT TO CLOSE? RUMORS ARE FLYING

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015) — Is the other sneaker about to drop for the local daily once proudly known as The Berkshire Eagle? One must wonder in light of a report on the dismissal of three editorial employees at The Boring Broadsheet and the news out of sister papers in the state and in Vermont.

Yesterday, THE PLANET received reports that an editor and two managers were given the heave-ho at The BB. Couple that with a report filed by our colleague Ann Galloway of vtdigger.org. She reported, also yesterday, that New England Newspapers Inc., titular owner of The BB, has given pink slips to 10 editorial employees at The Bennington Banner, The Brattleboro Reformer, and The Manchester Journal. Or maybe these aren’t layoffs at all. Perhaps the pink slips are in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Moran: Nothing to Say

 Don’t tell anyone about this revloting development, because you’re not supposed to know. As Galloway reports, “No formal announcement has been made by the newspaper chain. … Kevin Moran, the regional vice president of the New England Newspapers, was not immediately available for comment.” Anyone surprised? A death watch is on for these papers and all of the chain’s properties, which are owned by Digital First Media.

Earlier this year, Apollo Global Management closed in on a $400 million deal to buy “the troubled Digital First Media newspaper chain,” but Apollo “backed out. Not long after, John Paton, the CEO of [Digital First Media], stepped down, according to Jim Romenesko, a newspaper industry reporter. In recent weeks, Digital First sold off properties in New Mexico and Texas to Gannett, according to the Poynter Institute blog.”

Moran isn’t talking, but THE PLANET‘s sources at The BB tell of a flurry of activity on Rug Row. This includes the three dismissals and a number of closed-door executive meetings. The rumor mill is flying, including talk of the paper closing its doors or larger staff cuts on the way. There are a lot of nervous souls at The Clock Tower.

This comes on the heels of an internal memo sent to Digital First employees after Apollo pulled out of its contemplated purchase. The memo says, in part: “It has been determined that a sale of the Company as previously speculated is not in the best interest of shareholders at this time. However, we continue to have discussions concerning selected assets … .”

Industry insiders are not optimistic on Digital First being able to sell the company, but they point to the likelihood of some of the assets and properties being palmed off and “cherry-picked.” Inside The BB newsroom, employees felt a chill at Paton’s statement, “However, we continue to have discussion concerning selected assets.”

Full Text of DFI’s Internal Memo to Employees

Here’s the entire memo Paton sent to Digital First employees, taken from Romenesko’s website. One wag, John Mecklin, California/Nevada correspondent for The Columbia Journalism Review, said of Paton’s masterpiece, “Methinks this memo is a job for FactCheck.org.” You’ll likely agree as you check out the “Everything is great” tone:

——– 000 ——–

Date: May 14, 2015 at 10:03:36 AM MDT
Subject: IMPORTANT Message From John Paton and Steve Rossi

Folks,

As you all know, it is earnings season and we are seeing others in our industry report on their financial performance. While our fiscal year does not end until June 30th, we can see how it will finish and we thought this was a good time to update you on news at our Company on this and other fronts.

To begin, for DFM, it has been a strong year in a difficult environment. In short, because of you this Company has real, demonstrable momentum. Year-to-date we have:

* Increased our operating profit versus last year, enabling us to deliver on our goal of providing profit sharing for all eligible employees;

* Delivered nearly $200 million of digital ad sales; and

* Expanded our AdTaxi digital platform, both internationally and with large newspaper, television station and ad agency partners in 166 cities and 6 countries./CONTINUES

These results demonstrate that our strategic game plan is working: we are building scale, carefully controlling expenses and investing in the digital future. At the same time, we continue to provide exceptional reporting, winning numerous awards for outstanding coverage including the first Pulitzer Prize for the Torrance Daily Breeze in our Los Angeles News Group. Our Denver Post was a finalist for a Pulitzer as well, and our San Jose Mercury News won the prestigious Scripps Howard Foundation Award for Environmental Reporting. And that’s just to name a few.

None of this success could happen without you.

You will recall that back in September, DFM announced a strategic review process – meaning we would look at all of our options for the future, including potentially the sale of DFM as a whole or in regional clusters, or the continued execution of our business plan. While the review process is not complete it has been determined that a sale of the Company as previously speculated is not in the best interest of shareholders at this time. However, we continue to have discussions concerning selected assets, and we are looking at potential acquisition opportunities. Our performance is driving our digital future and increased profitability, and our essentially debt-free structure has given us a lot of options, which we will continue to explore. We will keep you updated on our plans, including when the strategic review process has concluded.

In addition, we wanted to let you know that in light of the strong trajectory the Company is on, John has decided that the time is right for him to dedicate his efforts on a full-time basis to IVA Ventures. IVA Ventures is a company that actively seeks strategic investments in seed, early and growth stage digital media start-ups aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of legacy media companies. We expect to have an ongoing working relationship with IVA Ventures in identifying cutting-edge products to accelerate our digital growth. John will remain CEO until our fiscal year end which ends on June 30 before taking up his new position, at which time Steve will assume leadership of DFM.

We are both deeply grateful for all of your terrific work and want to express our sincerest thanks for your contributions to the momentum underway at DFM. Let’s keep doing what we are doing and keep our performance strong.

John and Steve

 ——– 000 ——–

In other words, “Things are hunky-dory! Couldn’t be better! Bring on the dancing girls! That’s why we tried to sell the entire company out from under your feet and your jobs along with it. Failing that, we hope we can sell pieces of it. As for you, our valued employees, cry us a river why dontcha.”

As media blogger Steve Buttry remarked not long after the memo was issued, “Selling this scattered company and its diverse properties has … been much more difficult than anyone thought last year when executives decided to pursue a sale.”

Keep the Resumes Polished

The Eagle finds itself in a faux controversy over the publishing of a column on race. The discussion has spilled into a statewide debate. In fact, yesterday Boston Globe business reporter Collum Borchers interviewed THE PLANET for our views on the matter. Borchers’ story, he said, would run today. We’re just as curious as you are to read what we reportedly said.

That controversy, however, pales in comparison to the battle The Eagle has on its hands simply to remain alive. It might be a good idea for all hands to keep the resumes updated and ready.

—————————————————————————————————-

“Silence! coequal with Eternity; / Thou wert, ere Nature’s-self began to be, / ‘Twas one vast Nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee.”Alexander Pope, “E. of Rochester on Silence,” (1737).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views expressed in any comment section are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.

 

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Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

The Berkshire Eagle is “journalism” at its very worst! It would be a compliment to call the Eagle a third rate rag! The Eagle Editors do not have a conscience!
The Eagle consistently endorsed Pittsfield politicians who go along with the Eagle’s business agenda for Pittsfield and Berkshire County. There are no living wage jobs in Pittsfield and Berkshire County unless you are part of the Good Old Boys club.
Over one year of my adult life living in the Pittsfield area, I looked for a job with no success. The Eagle wonders why young adults move out of the Berkshires. It is because if they stay they will be unemployed and end up either on welfare or homeless or in the Pittsfield jail. I felt that I had a better chance of winning the state lottery jackpot than finding a job in Pittsfield. The sad part was that I once believed in Pittsfield. I was a dupe!
Pittsfield politics is totally corrupt! The Good Old Boys served the vested interests instead of the people. Thousands of people have moved out of Pittsfield and Berkshire County over the past decade. The seniors who actually pay high property taxes in Pittsfield are slowly dying off. Home foreclosures in Pittsfield is very high. Over 70 percent of Pittsfield’s local residents rely on welfare services.
I must be a survivor to have lived though all of my sad years experiencing Pittsfield’s depressed local economy and corrupt state and local officials. I turn 40 in a little over 3 weeks from now, I am relieved I didn’t end up as one of Pittsfield’s statistics either unemployed, on welfare, or in Pittsfield’s jail. It has been a long road for me, and I am happy I don’t have to experience Pittsfield first hand anymore. Reading about Pittsfield continues to be disturbing.

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

To all you PV posters—nothing but complaints—same old same old. I have a 10 oclock meeting at the newspaper rag-with Jim THERIEN AND HIS BOSS KEVIN MORAN TO DELIVER YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS DISGRACE OF A NEWS PAPER. IF ANY OF YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE WANT TO JOIN ME, MEET ME AT THE FRONT DOOR. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOMETHING. PICTURE THE PERIL YOU WOULD BE IN IF I WASNT RUNING FOR MAYOR. STOP COMPLAINING, WE ALL KNOW THE PROBLEM SO NOW JOIN ME AND LETS FIX THE PROBLEM—CANDIDATE CRAIG AT PRESENT–I AM DISGUSTED BUT THIS WILL ONLY MAKE ME STRONGER. I WON ALL BY MYSELF IN 1982 AND I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO IT ALL BY MYSELF AGAIN.—IF I DONT WIN ,WHO CARES I CAN STILL LIVE LIKE A KING WITH MY POCKET CHANGE.IF I DO LOOSE IT WILL BE YOU PEOPLE WHO WILL LOOSE BIG TIME -I AM STILL OUT THERE WORKING MY FANNY OFF FOR YOU AND I BET THERE ISNT A HANDFULL WHO WILL VOTE FOR ME FROM THIS SITE. I AM ON MY WAY TO THE EAGLE. I BET NO ONE WILL JOIN ME. OH WELL I WILL CARRY THE BALL FOR YOU .BE SURE TO THROW STONES AT ME TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. YOUR SLAVE —CRAIG

FJlowry
FJlowry
Reply to  Waterman
9 years ago

This man is competent to be Mayor?

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

Either his caps lock is stuck or he likes to SHOUT!

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  Bull Durham
9 years ago

I NORMALLY DONT RESPOND TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE ONLY TO CRITIZE OTHERS. I AM LEARNING HOW TO TYPE AND I HAVE TOLD ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET THAT I AM LEARNING HOW TO TYPE. WITH ALL THAT IS WRONG IN THIS CITY MY USE OF CAPS IS YOUR ONLY CONCERN? GO VISIT THE KARDASHIANS–YOU WILL FIT RIGHT IN. DUMB AND DUMMER AND YOU –DUMEST. GOD GOD LORD HOW MANY OF THESE TYPES DID YOU MAKE –NO WONDER THE COUNTRY IS FALLING APART. AS YOU K NOW I AM VERY RELIGIUOS AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU. ALSO


— DEPENDING ON YOUR VOTE IN THE ELECTION.—SINCERELY –CRAIG

FJlowry
FJlowry
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

He insults your intelligence and you people still want to vote for him? I don’t get it.

Dowgerhat
Dowgerhat
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

There’s the WWE and now presenting The PPE or Pittsfield Political Entertainment.
It’s great !! Who’s the heel ? and Who’s the face ?

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

YOU BET –WANT TO GO ONE ON ONE? I TELL IT LIKE IT IS—-WHOSE BOOTS ARE YOU LICKING ? THE PEOPLE ON THIS SITE KNOW ME. AND THIS IS A HINT OF THINGS TO COME WHEN I AM MAYOR. IF YOU WANT FLUFF GO SEE BIANCHI OR TYER THEY HAVE NOTHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY EITHER –YOU WORK FOR THEM. I KNOW YOU CANT STRING A THOUGHT TOGETHER AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU TO BECOME MORE INTELLIGENT. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME —I KNOW YOU WILL—CRAIG

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Waterman
9 years ago

Craig, you may have more support than you think. Many people do not or can not be on the front lines but will show up to vote for you. And my old eyes are not so good so I do appreciate the CAPS. It is obvious that you are not some politically correct ass kisser and that is the kind of person I want representing the city I live in. If people are offended by your manner or caps then god help them when they get out in the real world.

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

DUSTY–THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME. I WILL USE CAPS FROM NOW ON SO YOU CAN READ MY POSTS AND ALSO IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR ME WHILE I AM LEARNING HOW TO TYPE. I HAD A VERY INTERESTING MEETING WITH THE EAGLE BOSS. HE IS A VERY YOUNG MAN OF 42 ,I EXPLAINED TO HIM ABOUT JIM THERIENS BIAS AS TO WHAT HE WRITES ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY VS. WHAT IS THE TRUTH. I TOLD HIM MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE VERY DISGUSTED WITH HIS BIASED REPORTING ON CITY MATTERS THAT ARE NOT WHAT HE SAYS THEY ARE. I TOLD HIM I HAVE BEEN SENDING MANY NEWS RELEASES TO THERIEN WHICH NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AND I ALSO DIRECTED HIM TOWARDS BIANCHI AND TYERS INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY HAD FRONT PAGE COVERAGE AND THEN I DIRECTED HIM TO MY COVERAGE, WHICH WAS CLEARLY BIASED. I TOLD HIM THAT THE EAGLE NEVER EVEN SENT A REPORTER TO MY ANNOUNCEMENT . ALL THEY SENT WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I DID A SURVEY OF MY OWN IN ASKING PEOPLE IF THEY RECOGNIE THAT I AM A MAYORAL CANDIDATEAND THE RESUL WAS —THOSE WHOS SOLE NEWS SOURCE WAS THE EAGLE HAD NO IDEA WHO I WAS ESPECIALLY THOSE AT SENIOR CENTER WHO GET THIER NEWS FROM THE EAGLE. HE SEEMED GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO TALK TO THERIEN. HE FURTHER ASKED ME TO SEND MY PRESS RELEASES TO HIM AND THERIEN.IN THE FURURE. I TOLD HIM AOUT MY HAND DELIVERED PRESS RELEASE LAST TUESDAY AND THAT THERIEN DID NOTHING WITH IT. I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RELEASE WHICH DEALS WITH FAIRNESS IN THE UPCOMING ECTION AND A LEDGE I WOULD LIKE ALL CANDIDATES TOTAKE TO RID THE ELECTION OF GOB AND THIER INFLUENCE AS IN ALL PAST ELECTIONS. I FOUND MR. MORAN TO BE VERY CONCERENED AS TO WHAT IS AND WHAT ISNT GOING ON IN THIS CITY AND I BELIEVE HE WILL DO WHAT HE CAN. WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I GAVE IT MY BEST SHOT AND I DO THINK MR. MORAN WILL GET INVOLVED.HE SAID HE LOVES PITTSFIELD AND I SAID I DO TO. I SAID LETS SAVE PITTSFIELD—HE AND I SMILED AND SHOOK HANDS AND THAT WAS THAT —–I HOPE THINGS WILL IMPROVE —-SINCERELY CRAIG

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Waterman
9 years ago

I would be happy to help you with your campaign. Need flyers? Help getting the word out? I would be happy to help. What is your email?

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

THANK YOU PAT-NOW MY CAMPAIGN HAS TWO PEOPLE, YOU AND ME. I AM VERY GRATEFULL, I WILL GIVE YOU MY ADDRESS AS SOON AS MY FRIEND TELLS ME WHAT IT IS. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I NEED HELP LIKE YOU OFFERED— AS I WILL ACCEPT NO MONEY FROM ANY ONE .I WANT TO SHOW FUTURE CANDIDATES THAT YOU CAN RUN WITH YOUR BRAIN EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO MONEY. KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR MY EAGLE PRESS RELEASE. MR. MORAN SAID IT WILL BE POSTED.==I HOPE SO. PEACE MY NEW GOOD FRIEND–VERY SINCERELY–CRAIG

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago
poorboy
poorboy
9 years ago

The Eagle is a product that noone wants to buy.
Day after fluffed up articles in favor of the Liberal democrat progressive agenda. The truth about the good old boys is never printed.
People can see right through.
Just like noone wants to watch wannabe hero Brian Williams or NBC. Nobody will ever believe another word he says.

People today are turning to the alternate media and web site blogs to get the truth. The media knows this and is trying to stop it. They demonize these sources as “conspiracy” sites, trying to paint you as nuts for viewing them. Even the government is trying to control internet content.

The Berkshire Eagle deserves to shut down. They have not served the public with the truth. In other countries where there is no freedom, you believe what they tell you to believe.

R.I.P. Berkshire Eagle

Pat
Pat
9 years ago

I read the article in the Boston Globe in which you stood up for the First Amendment right of free speech. Good for you Dan V. That was absolutely the correct response to this over inflated issue. The whole controversy revolves around loyal far left progressive readers of the BB who were offended by an article written by Steve Nikitas in which he encouraged black Americans to take more responsibility for improving their lives. Talk about high drama.

I don’t know if they were more shocked by what Steve Nikitas wrote or by the fact that their far left progressive BB had printed it. Apparently many readers didn’t realize that the BB regularly runs this column entitled “Right From the Berkshires” since 2013 and Steve Nikitas was just one contributing writer for this column and his opinion is not the opinion of the BB as all of us here on Planet Valenti know only too well. This just shows the pressure that this group of far left people puts on any media outlet that prints something they don’t agree with. That, to me, is the true disgusting result of the whole situation and shows very clearly just in this small incident why so much of our media prints and broadcasts only what the far left progressives will approve. This is the main reason our media is so biased.

silence dogood
silence dogood
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

truth……the new hate speech

FJlowry
FJlowry
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

Pat I guess you never heard of Fox News?

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

Or CNBC. At least Fox let both sides debate it out on air.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  joetaxpayer
9 years ago

Sorry MSNBC, new home of Brain Williams

Pat
Pat
Reply to  FJlowry
9 years ago

FOX is fair and balanced as compared to the other news outlets.

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

The fact is 13 years in a row #1rated news station. My opinion is people feel they get a more balanced view. The ratings don’t lie.Politicians lie, they don’t like to be called out.

C. Trzcinka
C. Trzcinka
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

Let me add my admiration for your willingness to stand up to the censors. Nikitas is only saying what many in the African American community are saying– that they need to reform their culture. The fact that the left feels obligated to race-bait simply shows their ignorance. Moreover, I think the Eagle’s financial problems are connected to its attempts to be “among the most progressive in the country”. This means it is attempting to be among the most biased and ignorant papers in the country. It won’t fly, even in the Berkshires and I am glad that people are penalizing it financially.

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  C. Trzcinka
9 years ago

I agree with your post. I also think the “progressive” style newspaper will slowly put the nails in the coffin for the BB. Anyone remember Air America Radio. It was touted as progressive radio. Lasted six years. A financial failure and a scandal too for taking “donations of around 1 million dollars from a New York Boys and Girls club.

Ed Check
Ed Check
Reply to  Pat
9 years ago

When I was in college in the 70’s the media mantra was “I may not agree with your position, but I will defend your right to say it”. How far removed from that freedom of speech the media has distanced itself. Now most media is a Marxist/socialist propaganda agent. There are history shows that chronicle how the Nazi party (national socialists) did this as well. Another great conservative news source is Newsmax online, and I recently heard an ad for their new TV network. Perhaps a good alternative on national and international issues. On local issues we have the Planet…keep up the good fight Dan!

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
9 years ago

Pat, couldn’t agree more. That is why I cancelled the Eagle years ago. Why not hear both sides of a issue and then form your own opinion. Way to many sheep in the Berkshires.

MrG8811
MrG8811
9 years ago

Paton & Rossi…comedy team from the 60’s maybe? Has to be with a set up and punchline like they delivered!! Obviously the Eagle is truly the least of their worries…because they never even give it a second glance. I don’t imagine a lot of people have noticed, but i. The past 24 hours, the Eagle has printed two AP feed stories…on LOCAL topics!! The first was the story on the woman from Great Barrington who found one of the oldest baseball cards ever, and the second is the Lebanon Valley crash/fatality last night. Imagine 2 stories ostensibly of NaTIONAL interest occur less than 10 miles from where the publisher sits….and they rely on a news service feed. For God’s sake, Derek Gentile LIVES in Great Barrington and has written books on baseball!! Send him out for an interview!

Paton has been polishing the DFM turd for years now in hopes of selling it off as fine ebony. It is still a dark colored turd. He even references “our debt-free structure,” which he conveniently forgets to point out is the result of 2 bankruptcies in 3 years! There are actually people locally with real, market experience turning around and transitioning content products from print to online and increasing profitability…but we’re not “newspaper guys” so they don”t want to listen.

Oh, and Pat, I love your characterization of those who complained about Nikitas as ” far left progressives.” I imagine his next story, blaming rape victims for the way they dress and present themselves will be received the same way by ….thooose people.

K-Man
K-Man
Reply to  MrG8811
9 years ago

love it mr. G. Marty Allen & Steve Rossi one of the great comic teams from the 50s and 60s.

I read DV’s comments in the Boston Globe today. Great job Dan.

Thomas More
Thomas More
9 years ago

I buy the Eagle so I can find out what’s going on in Stockbridge. On this blog its getting swept under the rug.

FJlowry
FJlowry
Reply to  Thomas More
9 years ago

OUCH!

joetaxpayer
joetaxpayer
Reply to  Thomas More
9 years ago

Right on Tommy, who’s playing at the Red Lion Inn this week?

Spectator
Spectator
9 years ago

Only when they start sending the sales team on their merry way will the funeral dirge begin playing.

Ed Shepardson
Ed Shepardson
Reply to  Spectator
9 years ago

They have started. Robbie Harrington Brassard, longtime classified advertising supervisor, was one of the victims.

dusty
dusty
9 years ago

Swim at your own risk at Onota Lake over the 4th of July weekend according to the newspaper. There will be no lifeguards. Supposedly they could not even get one to come in from out of town which is weird because people from out of town usually love to work here (as long as they can go back to their out of city homes when their paid hours end)

The city is willing to pay extra for everything else but could not come up with a couple hundred extra bucks to make sure the kids are safe on a holiday weekend?

When I was a kid and taxes were a fourth of what they are now there would be several life guards and a couple of police officers at Onota lake. The city gets 100 million more dollars yearly now than they did in the 1960s and they cannot afford life guards for a special weekend? If the mayor could have only given Monteresso a couple hundred dollars less we could have afforded lifeguards people. Priorities. Remember at election time.

How much is the city ponying up for the parade?

K-Man
K-Man
Reply to  dusty
9 years ago

parade costs $85,000

Waterman
Waterman
9 years ago

Any Body—do you know this bruce wood who is running against Krol in ward 6? I tried to call him two weeks ago and left a message for him to call me.–he maybe saw my name and that was that. I also heard he is a Bianchi boot licker. I have a good friend in ward 6 who would destroy krol (HE IS LIKE ME) NO BS.—BUT HE IS LIKE ALL THE REST OF US –TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THE GOINGS ON HERE AND WOULD JUST AS SOON SHUT OUT PITTSFIELD POLITICS AS HE KNOWS THE GOB AND HAS SEEN IT IN ACTION IN THE PAST 30 YEARS AND ALSO THINKS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK THIER CONTROL OF PITTSFIELD POLITICS. I TOLD HIM THAT FOR JUST THAT REASON HE HAS TO RUN. AT LEAST HE IS STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE AN INCUMBENT IN YOUR WARD WHO IS UNOPPOSED?—CAN YOU FIND SOMEONE INTELLIGENT WHO LOVES OUR CITY TO RUN AGAINST THEM? WE HAVE TO TRY TO CLEAN HOUSE COMPLETELY AT CITY HALL AS THEY ARE THE WOST ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL OF ALL TIME IN PITTSFIELD AND ALL THESE LIGHTWEIGHTS NEED TO BE RUN OUT OF TOWN. I WILL HAVE MY TV PROGRAM SOON AND THE ONLY PEOPLE ALLOWED WILL BE THOSE WHO TAKE MY PLEDGE THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE EAGLE SOON.I DISGUSSED THIS WITH MR. MORAN AND HE SAID IT WILL B E PRINTED) WE WILL SEE. I READ BIANCHIS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RE-ELECTION AND I WANTED TO THROW UP. I CANT WAIT FOR THE DEBATES HE WONT PULL THIS SPEAKING IN GENERALITIES WITH ME. WHEN HE DEALS WITH ME HE IS GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE TO PERFORM. I CANT FORGET THAT YELLING AND SCREAMING AT ME IN FRONT OF HIS SECRETARIES LAST FALL IN HIS OFFICE IT HAS STUCK IN MY MIND AND HE NEEDS TO BE DISMANTLED FOR THAT. ONLY BECAUSE I AM A GENTLEMAN I DIDNT DISMANTLE HIM IN FRONT OF HIS SECRETARIES THAT DAY AND THAT OTHER TIME HE WAS RUDE TO ME AT THE CEREMONY FOR THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THIER LIVES IN THE WARS—WHERE HE WOULDNT EVEN SHAKE MY HAND. OH YES–I HAVE SOME BUILT UP STEAM AS DO MOST OF YOU ON THE PLANET AND AS I TOLD BIANCHI IN A LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT HE HAS NEVER DEALT WITH SOMEONE LIKE ME IN HIS LIFE AND HE IS GOING TO SEE WHAT I MEAN IN THE DEBATES. I MADE ONE OF HIS PUPPETS PISS HER PANTS LAST FALL PUMELEN PAM MULUMPHY WHEN SHETRIED TO PULL THE WOOL OVER MY HEAD AT A HRC MEETING—AND SHE SHOULD INFORM BIANCHI WHAT HE IS GOING TO BE UP AGAINST IN THE DEBATES IN HAVING TO DEAL WITH ME. POSTERS—-SOME TIMES YOU THINK IAM BRAGGING BUT IT IS NOT SO–IT MAY SURPRIZE YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM PRETTY MUCH A LONER AND A VERY CONFIDNT LONER. I ALWAYS AM ON THE SIDE OF THE UNDER DOG 100% OF THE TIME BECAUSE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE I WAS AN UNDER DOG BUT I LEARNED STEALTH AND HOW TO USE THIS TO MY ADVANTAGE AND THIS ELECTION IS LIKE A GAME TO ME AND I HAVE COME TO YHE GAME TO WIN.I COULD LOOSE BECAUSE THIS IS POLITICS AND ANY IDIOT CAN RUN AND I UNDERSTAND THIS BUT WITH ALL THINGS EQUAL NO ONE HAS A CHANCE AGAINST ME I KNOW THERE ARE DOUBTERS OUT THERE BUT REMEMBER I HAVE COME UP AGAINST THE BIG BOYS MANY TIMES IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND I NEVER LOOSE. IRELLISH COMING UP AGAINST THE GOB NETWORK AND YHEY ALL KNOW ME AND WHAT I HAVE DONE ALREADY IN PITTSFIELD IN THE PAST AND THEY ARE INDEED SCARED OF ME AND WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO RAILROAD ME BUT THEY WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL AS I STATED BEFORE TO ALL YOU POSTERS OUT THERE THAT IAM THE KING MAKER IN THIS ELECTION–ANY ONE FIGURED THIS ONE OUT YET? AND THE RACE WILL BE DICTATED BY ME. I AM SURE YOU WILL FIGURE IT OUT A HINT—IF I COME IN3RD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAD A ROUGF TIME WITH THIS OST BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WIYH THIS COMPUTER OR I AM DOING SOMETHING WRONG- MY FRIEND WILL HELP ME TOMORROW—KEEP THE FAITH GANG MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT WITH EHAT YOU SAY AND DO. IT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET RID OF THIS ROT THAT IS KILLING OUR CITYSINCERELY –CRAIF

Raider50
Raider50
Reply to  Waterman
9 years ago

still learning to type I SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

May Hemm
May Hemm
9 years ago

Totally Gaetani for Mayor!

Waterman
Waterman
9 years ago

Dan-did you know that Sheldon ROTHERBERG is in Fairview commons in Great Barrington? He was the best professor I ever had in my college career. I spoke to him a year ago when I called him after not speaking or seeing each other for almost45 years. HE WAS SHARP AS A TACK AND TOLD ME HE FOLLOWED MY CAREER AT KROFTA ETC. AND ALSO REMEMBERED ME WHEN I WAS IN HIS CLASS SHORTLY AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM VIET-NAM. I CALLED HIS HOUSE A FEW DAYS AGO AND HIS WIFE SAID HE WILL NEVER COME HOME. ANY INFO?—HE WAS IN YOUR DEPT AT BCC. I FEEL SAD AND WILL GO TO SEE HIM SOON–CRAIG