WE HAVE WON INFLUENCE, THE HARD WAY … THE COMMENT LINE IS OPEN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, OCT. 2-4, 2015) — Welcome to The Weekend Edition, where we open The Comment Line. A couple months ago, a witty wag asked us “How is The Comment Line different from every other day, where people can freely post?” It brought a laugh, and we can only say that TCL specifies that any topic is fair game. Typically, when we post on a specific subject, THE PLANET generates comments related to that topic. This remains the preference. With a new topic each day, our columns offer We The People an opportunity to weigh in on the particular issue.
TCL expressly encourages views, thoughts, opinions, and commentary on any and all matters. It’s a great way to get a feel for the concerns that float around during the day-in, day-out flow of public life. That’s where the instant presence and interactive capabilities of the Internet best serve journalism in its role of helping to protect and guard democracy and our precious freedoms.
Winning Influence, the Hard Way
We are getting thousands of unique hits everyday, and 99.44/100s % of all city officials, office holders, bureaucrats, and vendors — elected, appointed, or rewarded — read THE PLANET. Your view matters. It may not directly show up in official action, but slowly, it is building a groundswell that yet may erupt in shocking, game-changing fashion.
It wasn’t our intention starting out on this experiment in one-man, daily, cyberspace journalism, but THE PLANET has won influence, the hard way. We earned it. We did not seek it, but we eventually earned it by going after stories that otherwise would have been buried, covered up, or ignored. To that extent, we have lit a candle rather than curse the darkness in a city that, governmentally and politically, has lost its way.
We have received several private letters, e-mails, messages, and face-to-faces telling us that our site will determine who wins the mayor’s office and perhaps other city races. THE PLANET does not know that, nor do we particularly care if it’s true, though it may well be the case, given the near 50-50 split in 2009 (Ruberto over Bianchi) and 2011 (Bianchi over Marchetti … in 2013 Bianchi ran unopposed). Not much has changed between the two warring political machines that control the city and who have nothing but fear and loathing for the other. That, of course, explains why for a generation and counting Pittsfield has done nothing, gone nowhere, and generated apathy.
We Stand Alone
THE PLANET, alone among area media, has provided the lone source of enterprise journalism. We have tread into areas that scared others away, motivated solely by our desire that the playing field be level, that the rules apply to all, and that corruption and the buying of influence not be the official way of life in the town where we grew up. That, most likely, explains the loyalty we have built up over five-+ years — delivering the goods, as honestly, as justly, and as fearlessly as we can. To that end, THE PLANET enjoyed reading the remarks yesterday on the observance of beginning our sixth year with our 1,300th column. Thanks you, one and all.
Speaking of which …
You may or may not have noticed that Info, one of our correspondents, yesterday shared the following link:
| http://www.csexam.hrd.state.ma.us/eligiblelist/eligiblelist.aspx?ListId=1&Location_Id=251 |
This link makes public the names of people eligible to be hired by Pittsfield for the police department. As THE PLANET exclusively reported, the sons of police detective Glen Civello, sheriff Tom Bowler, and mayor Dan Bianchi are on the list. To those who told us our information was wrong and that we were only trying to “stir up trouble,” we present this confirmation. As fact.
P-E-R-I-O-D.
If you have an issue with this, contact the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which published this information — and which THE PLANET alone — dared to share.
If will be interesting, wouldn’t you say, to see if the Sons of Civello, Bowler, and Bianchi miraculously vaunt to the top of the heap in another one of those miraculous “Pittsfield coincidences.”
OK, that’s it for now. Join in with your say. The Suits are monitoring every word!
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“I have seen him eat of the honeycomb / since they nailed him to a tree.” — Ezra Pound, “The Ballad of Goodly Fere.”
“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.
Mr Valenti I am a new reader having heard about you from a friend. You are amazing. You are the saviour or Pittsfield. This is going from the information you have presented here and on the TV//
I caught your show for the first time. Absolutely enthralling.
Thank God for the Planet. Here and on TV.
First time in for me.
I don’t know why any current Pittsfield police officer would push a son he loved to take a position in the local police dept. There has to be much better places to start such a career.
Dunkin Donuts to close 100 stores as economy crumbles.
http://thomasdishaw.com/dunkin-donuts-to-close-100-stores-as-economy-goes-down-the-drain/
The one career that indoctrinated Pittsfield graduates could look forward to, is going down the drain.
Just how bad is the economy when people cannot afford a cup of coffee?
McDonald’s has begun their self serve terminal kiosks in Canada to eliminate human cashieres as they say paying minimum wage is too expensive.
The frankenfood chain has been operating at heavy losses these past few years.
http://thomasdishaw.com/mcdonalds-cuts-cashiers-as-canada-introduces-self-serve-ordering/
At least our high school grads can receive food stamps and Obamacare. Section 8. Their children can receive free school lunches.
The working poor can now pay for a brand new high school.
Please run an article on the new teacher’s contract that is supposedly going to be so good for the city. Would love to hear what you have to say about it. I think it will only be great for the teachers and as usual not for the taxpayers.
Maybe run an article on the refusal of EPA to address popular artificial turf.
Already was addressed
Thanks Joe. I missed that.
Although it is getting appealed by people who don’t want it built in there back yard.
I’m not surprised that son’s would tend to follow their fathers into law enforcement. That would explain Bowler, Civello and Granger. Of course it doesn’t explain Mayor Bianchi’s son.
As long as everyone is treated equally no one should have a problem with these appointments.
I’m missing something here Chuck. How is being bumped to the top of the list over others with higher scores (in some cases *much* higher) being ‘treated equally’?
some people are more equal than others
So of the 3 candidates you cite above, sons of “city fathers” Civello is the highest-ranking, appearing to be the 22nd best qualified according to the exam. The Bowler and Bianchi boys are much further down the list. Could this have anything to do with the mayor’s recent efforts to have the exam removed as a criteria for hire? It would seem that, if the exam is the starting point criteria, the hiring process would be unlikely to get down to the 22nd best qualified candidate, not to mention the 40th or 50th, if they plan to hire ony 2-3 new officers.
that list is two years old and a new one is about to become certified. the names above “the sons” have either already been appointed or passed over for one reason or another. they also are planning on hiring at least 7 if not more…..just the facts. time is running out for this list…the sons unless vets will not make it if the new list is certified soon
So the title of the list is false? It says ‘last update September 24, 2015’.
I have no problem with The Sons on the list. If they are qualified and rank the highest they should get the job. If others are ahead of them by however then measure it, those ahead should get tthe job.
Being related should be neutral and have no effect on who gets hired.
I would hope that the “test” is only the starting point. It should qualify that applicant for interview/consideration for a position. If that test is the sole criteria for hiring, then I would also agree that the state really needs to re-evaluate the entire system. How about psychological screening…I want a stable police officer patrolling without concern how they are going to react in a crisis situation.
With regards to hiring…what is new about children of current employees getting pushed ahead of the line. I saw this many times at GE back in the 80’s and 90’s when I was working there. Also a friend of mine from New York told me years ago that the state police there do the same thing. Also similar in Albany Fire Dept. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
GE is far different from law enforcement. And it happening elsewhere doesn’t mean it’s right. It’s a mountain because it’s concentration of power in the hands of few. In this particular case, it puts those who write the laws in bed with those who enforce them. Now, I’m not naive enough to believe that this isn’t already the case. But given the corruption we’ve witnessed in both of these organizations…I’d be a damned fool if I believed this was just a mole.
In private industry, nepotism is legal. In public positions it’s not legal. There are many safeguards in place to prevent favoratism as it is a potential abuse of power
I love this 3% increase for teachers salaries. How sweet it is! All our retired people in this city must jump for joy. How often has their social security increases ever been 3%….some years there is NO increase at all.
And how many in the private sector get 3% increases, let alone any increases?
And these are the very people paying for this generosity.
The root question is why haven’t low to middle class wages kept pace with inflation…Globalization and free trade and Union busting depressed low to middle class wages. Your pointing a finger at the Teacher’s Union for getting wage increases at rates that we all should… jealousy is clouding ur thinking .
Here is one local resident who feels there should be exams plus additional scrutiny of candidates applying for police positions. With so much incompetence reported in recent comments of Pittsfield’s finest, I submitted a letter a few weeks back about my own experience with an incompetent police officer. Back in early June, I called the police and reported vandalism on my property and an officer arrived within a few minutes. One of my arborvitae trees was burned with an excelerant and remnants of the excelerant trailed unto my neighbors property. He asked if I knew who set it on fire and I said “NO”. He then asked if I suspected anyone and my answer was “NO”. He then asked if I saw it vandaiized and my answer was “NO” A simple “No” to each question knowing full well that if I offered a suggestion of “I think…” would open an endless can of worms. After talking with my neighbor he then informed me that the neighbor agreed to pay for a new tree. The officer then requested that I get a quote for replacement and further instructed me to have no contact with my neighbor in any way to which I said I have no intention to do so and that is why I called the police in the first place. Requesting and finally receiving the police report after several weeks, the officer stated that “I accused my neighbor of the vandalism and after several meetings with my neighbor, I agreed to pay for half the cost of replacement” Now I ask, who in their right mind would call the police and report vandalism and then agree to pay for half its replacement?
At present the burned out tree still stands. I would surely take this neighbor to court but with this totally false police report, any judge would surely laugh me out of his court as the Pittsfield’s finest can do no wrong and anything they say is gospel.
Had a similar experience. Later several neighbors received veiled and some direct threats.
Am I missing something here. Those guys are low on the list. And are there scores public. They are smart kids. Wouldn’t be surprised they all scored very high.
Pittsfield politics two political camps (Remo Del Gallo, Gerry Doyle, Jimmy Ruberto, the lovely Linda Tyer versus Anne E. Wojtkowski, Sara Hathaway, Dan Bianchi) both serve the same master: Massachusetts Democratic Party in Boston. It is like choosing between a Coke or Pepsi cola soda. There is not a lot of difference!
Pittsfield politics continues on its downward spiral. Pittsfield is known for poverty, welfare caseloads, joblessness, crime, poorly performing public schools, economic inequality, and political corruption. Pittsfield politics is a basket case!
If I tried to either find a full time, living wage ($20/hour) job in Pittsfield or win the lottery jackpot, I believe I would have a better shot at winning the lottery jackpot. Those are terrible odds!
If you want a good job in Pittsfield, you have to be related to one of the Good Old Boys low gene pool, interrelated, multigenerational families. If you find a job in Pittsfield, you better kiss the G.O.B.’s behinds or you will lose your job faster than you can snap your fingers together.
Democracy is dead in Pittsfield politics. You have career politicians from the G.O.B.’s who run unopposed year after year after year…. When you have a contested election, you are choosing between one G.O.B. Democratic political hack versus another G.O.B. Democratic political hack.
No matter who wins, Dan Bianchi or the lovely Linda Tyer, municipal taxes, spending, budgets, and huge debts are all going up over the next 4 years!
Right you are JM……I think Pittsfielders are afraid to vote for a non GOB candidate.
Pittsfield politics explained:
* The people are intimidated from participating in their state and local government.
* The Good Old Boys support their hand-picked candidates for political office.
* The Good Old Boys are made up of interrelated, multigenerational, low gene pool Pittsfield families.
* Illustrations of G.O.B. families include Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., whose late-father was a Pittsfield State Senator and Probate Court Judge, late-Aunt was a Pittsfield Mayor, and Uncle was a Pittsfield State Representative; Ben Downing’s late-father was a Pittsfield District Attorney; Jimmy Ruberto’s late-brother was a Pittsfield D.A. and Judge.
* The G.O.B.’s are split into two political camps. These 2 camps originated with Remo Del Gallo and Anne Everest Wojtkowski. Both the Del Gallo and Wojtkowski camps serve the same master: the Massacusetts State Democratic Party in Boston. Gerry Doyle and Jimmy Ruberto and now the lovely Linda Tyer are part of the Del Gallo faction, while Sara Hathaway and Dan Bianchi are part of the Wojtkowski faction.
* There is no difference between the two Pittsfield political camps. Both factions do nothing but raise taxes, increase spending, present municipal budgets with annual 5 percent increases, and add to Pittsfield politics huge debts or liabilities, which hover in the one-half billion dollar range.
* Pittsfield raises taxes while its tax base shrinks due to population and job losses, large welfare caseloads and poverty numbers, and crime. Pittsfield is a very economically unequal community.
* Pittsfield politics G.O.B. political hacks only serves the vested interests, which are made up of police, fire, and teachers’ unions, the hundreds of non-profits, and the politically connected “Suits”.
* The little guy, who are referred to as Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, are losing ground to the proverbial system that excessively taxes and controls them.
* Everything in Pittsfield politics is done in the pseudo-name of “the children”, who eventually grow up and have to move away to find a full time, living wage job so they don’t end up like Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.
* The bottom line: Pittsfield politics will never change and it is on a never-ending downward spiral!
spot on once again
Water Wizard still the most viable candidate in the mayoral race.
Excellent show coming up at 8:30 tonight.
He’s getting good stories out to the electronic media. His write in campaign is taking off.
He was right all along about police recordings, see this week’s Gazette.
Pittsfield has a real choice. He needs everyone’s support now.
Only he can correct thr miryad of city problems. The other two candidates are not even in the same league as he Wizard. With him you’ll get lower taxes and better government.
With Tyer or Bianchi we’ll see higher taxes and a runaway government growth. For real change write in the Water Wizard’s name. It’s as simple as that.
Does anyone know if this is s final ranking? For example is there a different ranking upon graduation from the academy? Is there a psychological test that gives another ranking? Is this the final composite ranking?
Don’t veterans receive priority ranking?
I would like to tell you that this process is absolutely “clear cut” and the appointment of new officers is without the slighest influence of any extraneous circumstances. I can’t.
Many years ago JFK was claimed to have said, “Life is Unfair”.
Chuck,
The way the Civil Service list i suppose to work is like this: (1) Veteran’s Preference puts you above EVERYBODY, (2) you must live in that city/town, because they have two lists. The first list is an over all list. The second list is strictly for that city/town. I always heard they did that so a city like Boston didn’t have 30,000 candidates or a city like Pittsfield didn’t have candidates from Eastern Mass who the city would spend time and money on and then eventually not take the job.
Here’s the caveat: if you are a city resident, a veteran, and get passed over for a Granger, Bowler, Civello, who scored much lower, appeal the process to civil service. It makes the city explain why they bypassed a veteran. It also sets them up for violation of Federal EEOC laws.
My friend, who was a veteran, got passed over (not in Pittsfield) for a son of a cop. My friend appealed it. The city tried the “he’s got a college degree.” Civil Service overturned it, because it only requires you to have a HS diploma. Veterans take precedent. My friend now works as a police officer and the son of the cop…..who cares. They tried to cheat the system and got busted.
Hope that helps.
I meant the way civil service list is suppose to work……
Did Bianchi and Tyer give the Water Wizard the lawn signs he used to ridicule them on PCTV or did he cop them off someone’s lawn ?
His number is in the book so you should call and ask him. Maybe he found them illegally abandoned on city property. The question you should be asking is why isn’t the Pittsfield DPW removing signs illegally abandoned on city property?
Watch channel 16 at 830 pm and 10 pm to see two good shows about local politics
Watch channel 16 at 830 pm and 10 pm to see two good shows about local politics
Hey Chuck, it’s just conjecture on my part, but my son in law has been trying to become a cop, not in Pittsfield, for years now and the process seems to be relatively similar all over. The exam is essentially a qualifier. As they need to hire they go to the next name on the list, call the prospect in for an interview and usually a psych test/eval at the same time, or within relatively the same time frame. If that works out, then there is often another “practical test” involving shooting, reaction times, judgement, etc. if they make it through all that, and they can be dismissed at any time in the process without any reason given, then they may be asked to go to the academy, often at their own expense and where they can still wash out. Then they get hired. It is an extremely rigorous process, and veterans usually do get open preferential treatment (I believe legally) but the dismissal from consideration without reason still leaves room for nepotism and the ability to work all the way down the list to a “preferred candidate.” It’s not normally an easy job to get.
MrG,
Read my reply to Chuck about Civil Service and hiring. I think it should shed some light. Good Luck to your son.
On another subject, since it’s open comment day, I was driving all around Pittsfield today running several errands and I thought I started noticing an interesting phenomenon. It seemed there were a LOT more Tyer lawn signs than Bianchi signs, so I started counting. And lo & behold I was amazed. I saw 65 mayoral lawn signs after I started counting. 49 were Tyer and 16 Bianchi. That’s a 3:1 margin!! Now, this certainly wasn’t scientifically conducted research, but I was in several different areas of differing economic strata and there were zero concentrations for the incumbent; just an occasional sign scattered among the Tyer and Council signs. I also have no idea what this means for or if it projects to the election, but I thought it was interesting.
When Ruberto ran for office he broke all previous records for campaign donations according to the local paper. This special interest backed outfit appears to have bottomless funding from people who hope to benefit in some way from having their candidate elected to the office that controls millions of dollars. A mayor in Pittsfield controls millions of dollars in pork barrel spending. If you help him or her he or she may bless you down the road.
This is the underlying reason why government does not work for the Kapenski families.
95% of them are on city property, which is a no, no…..both campaigns know the rules but ignore them…..an insight into how they would run there administrations over the next four years? Ethics matters.
Are you claiming that a utility easement is city property that cannot be used for a political sign. I cannot see how else you can claim 95% are on city property. If that is your argument, pretty tenuous at best.
I would say that utility easements contain the same amount of city property as other lots. you can go to property maps on the city website and check boundaries on the most recent satellite map. Anything outside of the red line is your neighbors on three sides and city property on the fourth side. Roughly about 12 feet or so back from the curb is your property. Check it out.
A very wise politician once told me, signs don’t vote!! And people sometimes will support someone publicly and once behind the curtain, do something completely opposite!!
Just wondering when the end to the paving season is…it seems there are still places that haven’t been done yet.
Any thing to do with streets and DPW go uanswered. Taxpayers should be able to have answers, and should expect a normal time frame for these projects to be completed. Linda Tyer could also add this to a long list of incompetence within this Administration.
I believe that I have seen the city and state paving as late as veterans day….maybe beyond
The Water Wizard still the most viable candidate in the mayoral race.
Excellent show coming up at 8:30 tonight.
He’s getting good stories out to the electronic media. His write in campaign is taking off.
He was right all along about police recordings, see this week’s Gazette.
Pittsfield has a real choice. He needs everyone’s support now.
Only he can correct thr miryad of city problems. The other two candidates are not even in the same league as he Wizard. With him you’ll get lower taxes and better government.
With Tyer or Bianchi we’ll see higher taxes and a runaway government growth. For real change write in the Water Wizard’s name. It’s as simple as that.
The Water Wizard still the most viable candidate in the mayoral race.
Excellent show coming up at 8:30 tonight.
He’s getting good stories out to the electronic media. His write in campaign is taking off.
He was right all along about police recordings, see this week’s Gazette.
Pittsfield has a real choice. He needs everyone’s support now.
Only he can correct thr miryad of city problems. The other two candidates are not even in the same league as he Wizard. With him you’ll get lower taxes and better government.
With Tyer or Bianchi we’ll see higher taxes and a runaway government growth. For real change write in the Water Wizard’s name. It’s as simple as that. Take a chance on the future.
Eye in the sky, why do you post everything twice?
a glitch in the system????
Eye in the sky’s way to plaster the Planet with campaign signs MrG.
Speaking of campaign signs, the Water Wizard used Bianchi and Tyer lawn signs as props on his PCTV television show. He had the signs placed at a table sitting on chairs. He acted like these signs were Bianchi and Tyer live and spoke to them in a condescending and disparaging manner,
It was very generous of the Bianchi and Tyer campaigns to donate signs to the w-wizard so he could ridicule them on PCTV. He wouldn’t have removed them ftom somewhere, would he ?
Eye in the Sky is the w-wizard’s main man, ghost writer, media advisor,and a PCTV persona.
Well, I agree with eye on one thing…CG is a glitch in the system.
Perhaps the signs were illegally abandoned on City property? Condescending and disparaging manner? I’d go out on a limb and say that describes at least the last two mayors and all of our GOB and GOG politicians. Irishman, I’d guess that you’re a good ole boy yourself who cares little about the average taxpayer in Pittsfield. Perhaps you could maintain your lifestyle if taxes doubled or even tripled. I don’t think many others could. A note on campaign signs. You might think a sitting mayor and a sitting city clerk would be aware of the state law that prohibits lawn signs from city property but almost all of their signs throughout the city are on city property. I guess we can just follow the laws we like now. Not a good sign (pun intended)
I am Karal Axelrod
Or maybe he requested both campaigns to put them on his lawn and he took them in a soon as they showed up.
I’m not sure if a write in campaign can prevail in a mayoral race but one thing for sure all indications point to this being a close race and a write in candidate can have a huge effect on the final outcome. Who will this Water Man take the votes from?
It’s a conspiracy…..put on your tinfoil helmet
eye in the sky
October 2, 2015 at 6:08 pm #
a glitch in the system????
Seems that you shouldn’t be able to double post but but sometimes the post seems delayed so I click submit again and there it goes
Why is the shilling not all in capital letters?
Eye, you in a heap of trouble boy. You done ran afoul of the Good Ole Boys and they have charged you with contempt of their kangaroo court. Da good ole boys gonna run Pittsfield until they suck every penny out of it and it’s buried.
You’re to eager i.
Has anyone heard anything from any of the candidates? At this rate I may snooze through the election if no one wakes me up! Where is our Donald Trump to say something to fire everyone up!
H2O man holds the Trump card…..write him in
Dave B. aka i in sky, Wrong on all counts.
is this correct ? For 98 cents, you can get a H20 man sticker to place his name as a write in on the ballot. $.49 postage to mail him a request for a sticker and $.49 postage with the self addressed, stamped return envelope to mail you his name on a write-in sticker.
Definitely not spending any $ on his campaign.
I’m pretty sure you can use the free pen available at all polling locations to write in any name you choose for free.
I’m sure that I’m correct in my assumptions and I have no idea who that individual is.
I see a lot of Amuso, Marchetti and Tyer signs same lawns.
Hey Karal Axelrod weren’t you in Guns n Roses band?
No, I played a kazoo in Slim Whitman’s band.
Yo Tammy the Judge says clean it up…get cleanin
Yo Rocky maybe you should worry about children dying and real crime around the the city. You know real issues not of people with a stick up their a$$.
Rather you and others worry about whats behind my fence that you cant see unless you are trespassing.
It’s quit here today…..football?
We have become numb to everything…everything.
Lothrop and Clairmont were correct on the Administrative Policy document at the Silly Council meeting. Two years work on it, and you have a faulty (at best) sentence ruining two years work!
Tully is asking the city attorney if there will be any problems, bla bla if the sentence is left or changed, his answer was no, she said ok? End of question and answer. Right?
Tully has no clue and Ives less. I am writeing in Christine Yon
You have no room to criticize if you cannot spell correctly while doing so.
Have you ever tried to have a conversation with my wife about her views? Or is your M.O. just to bash her without a chance to learn whether you think she actually is a viable candidate? I think you may see things a bit different. Just saying don’t be so quick to judge.
Make all the incumbents outcumbents…..Give Pittsfield a fresh start…..No incumbents or retreads please.