THE WEEKEND EDITION: TWO ‘LETTERS’ THAT PACK A PUNCH … plus … THE COMMENT LINE IS OPEN
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, MAY 6-8, 2016) — Happy weekend, all. We begin with two “Letters to the Editor” that come from THE PLANET‘s large population of resident Wise Men — as opposed to Wise Guys, who are, truth be told, in abundance as well.
Spending $$ on Infrastructure Won’t Cut It
‘A Recipe for Mediocrity’
OMG. Today in The BB (Friday, 5-6) [Pittsfield police chief Mike] Wynn states that kids don’t play because they can’t afford equipment. That’s as bad as other comments that all Babe Ruth League players will play in every game. Winning is not important. What a recipe for mediocrity. And they really think this is going to solve our violence problem? How did we ever survive when there were park leagues? — The Tackler
THE PLANET RESPONDS — With all due respect to our Right Honorable Good Friend Chief Wynn, it’s not lack of equipment that keeps kids from playing. There are an infinite number of games kids can play with equipment, save lots of energy and imagination. Anyone ever hear of tag? Hide-and-Go-Seek? Kids don’t play for a number of reasons, of course, including their computer screens and adults. We nominate screens as the #1 reason kids don’t play outdoors (or in). Not to worry, though. Killing lots of people playing Grand Theft Auto prepares them nicely for a future of crime. This, in turn, shall keep Wynn’s department with a steady supply of customers. As for the rule that all BRL players must get in the game, why bother playing at all? It is, indeed, “a recipe for mediocrity.” Kids will respond accordingly to how high or low we set the bar. Set it high and demand that they reach it, and kids will do it. Put it low so that it does not require skill — as the schools are doing with the worthless diplomas, endless honor roll lists, and “every kid gets a trophy” — and they kid remains locked in childhood, helpless and dependent.
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THE PLANET adds one final item, a quickie. Does Mayor Linda Tyer truly believe in the spirit of transparent government? On behalf of We The People, THE PLANET is in the process of finding out. We have a request into the city asking for certain information. The information is not a state secret and not anything any government official should have a problem sharing — irrespective of the technical requirement of the law. Early returns have not been promising, but, as we said, they are early and, we believe (perhaps naively) not definitive. Stay tuned. This week promises to tell all.
Finally, THE PLANET thanks our letter writers. We now invite your contributions, with The Comment Line now open. Keep the discourse high. Don’t embarrass yourself. Let your intelligence and wit shine. All topics welcome.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“Using force to drive charity is like using kidnapping to create love.” — Stephan Molyneux
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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The Berkshire Carousel is the best thing to happen in Pittsfield since the creation of First Friday’s Artswalk. And I mean that.
Another property off the tax roll…
I agree with the letter writer in that the people are the most valuable resource to the community they live in. In Pittsfield, one would analyze the demographics. There are about 70% of local Pittsfield residents who live in or near the poverty level and depend on welfare and social services programs. All K – 6 Pittsfield public school children receive free school lunches due to the lack of living wage jobs in Pittsfield. Over 650 public school children choice out of Pittsfield’s public school system per year. Pittsfield has had recent violent crimes, including shootings, murders, and one mass shooting within the last year. Pittsfield politics only response to Pittsfield’s declining middle class population is to further raise municipal taxes and fees on the remaining local families and small businesses. Pittsfield politicians also give themselves and their cronies awards, while the city sinks into a never-ending downward spiral.
Regarding the lovely Linda Tyer, she inherited a big mess 4 months ago. Her big test will be her fiscal year 2017 municipal budget, which I predict will come with about a 5% spending/tax increase. Then you will have to add about another 1% tax hike when the financing for the new Taconic High School starts. That leaves annual municipal tax increases at between 5% – 6%. Even wealthy communities with high median incomes could not afford Pittsfield politics municipal financial management!
Countdown, day 3. No level 5 story in the BB yet. If I had a student in the Pittsfield schools, I would want this information.
Note to BB..hire some proofreaders. Who is Caitlyn Jennifer?
EddieP, I’ve been saying that for years. Grammar is terrible as is punctuation and spelling. I haven’t noticed any changes yet.
Paul, and you will not. They are keeping the same staff and management. Business as usual. Look at the new owners, suits by any other name.
So true but sad Eddie.
you probably will see no copy editors at BE2. the economics of the business means they will be lean. Thy need to hire back some of what was outsourced to other MNG (then rebranded DFM) properties such as classified ad sales that went to a phone room in York PA, accounting functions that went to Colorado Springs CO, and pre-press/graphics design work that went to India or New Haven CT. Maybe a few more reporters, most likely part time to cover the areas that have been neglected for years.
Do you ever notice that some days it’s the N Adams Eagle? others it’s the Lenox Eagle (since Clarence Fanto does not seem to travel to any other towns)? and other days it’s the Vermont Eagle? Only a week late and in 1/3 detail to we get stories about meetings in Pittsfield, Dalton or Lanseborough.
You may see more local reporting, you may see those new additional news pages with local news – but it won’t come with the old cast of hundreds gathering, editing, and proofreading the material. Nope, those folks have gone the way of secretaries (except at PPS, where I think there are about a dozen still on staff at Mercer and one or more at every school). Today’s reporter is exected to gather the stories, write them, upload them to the web, shoot a few photos on their iPhone, connect to the readers via social media (tweets, facebook, etc.), and editing is a skill that has long since been dispensed with.
A lot of the filler seems to be sensational type stories from the rest of the state. Copy and paste stuff appealing to the Enquirer mentality. Low cost page fillers for the morons they think we are. It is a tad insulting.
You nailed it dusty, most people around here don’t even know where half of those towns are. Most of the story’s are of no interest to anyone other than the locals of that town.
Dusty rides again. You just described the “new” BB same as the old one. You also just described the formula for anyone who owns a paper and wants to run it into the ground.
Wanna know what would instantly make the BB front page news again? Hire DV!!!! Someone with balls, connections and the willingness to dig without fear..
We here at the school committee and over at the council have money and could care less about the people we grew up with so we just raise taxes.Its pretty easy for us to Ok about anything.School comments has at least 2 people retired making more that 55k with the chief at over 100k ..
We on the committee can’t even think of good questions to ask anyone because it makes us look like we dont know what were doing.We have a motto (just say yes) all those in favor just say yes.
Good news the police chief said the public is not directly at risk from gang related violence if you are not in the wrong place at the wrong time so put your mind at rest the police have been fighting this problem for 8 years
Having 650 children to chose not to go to Pittsfield Public Schools is fine if that is your choice but it is not fine to ask the rest of the tax payers to pay for it. I know someone is most likely going to say they have no choice because the state or some other authority says we have to do it that way. Then we need to get busy and change the rules.
Mr Marx, awesome letter. Gets to the nuts and bolts.
The mayor may be a turtle on her back by now. Overwhelmed with problems not of her making but also not willing to make the gutsy moves to correct them.
I have not as yet seen anything different about Eagle Two. Are we supposed to yet? Are they saying it is different? I have not seen any reason to get a subscription.
The lovely Linda Tyer has a choice:
(a) Give in to the vested interests (Police, Fire, School Unions) and non-profits
– or –
(b) Fight the vested interests in the name of the local taxpayers, middle class families, and small businesses
Her FY2017 municipal budget will demonstrate her choice! Either the vested interests win (again) or the local taxpayer finally gets a break from the about 5% annual tax hikes.
I predict the vested interests will win (again) and the Mayor of Pittsfield will raise municipal taxes (again) above the rate of inflation.
Would she even be mayor if not for the vested interests?
News Alert!
Mayor Linda Tyer says the police force is understaffed and underequipped.
Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn emphasized that it is no secret Pittsfield has gangs.
http://wamc.org/post/mayor-tyer-pittsfield-needs-be-open-about-gang-problem-solve-it#stream/0
Big Pappy should have left the game a year ago, he’s an embarrassment to baseball.
He’s a great player, but a dirt bag.
The greatest clutch hitter of all time and on pace for 35 HR and 110 RBIs…he will be the only player to ever leave when he is still on top.Should probably play at least 1 more after this.
Agreed, TSC, with that assessment about Papi’s clutch hitting.
He acted like a 2 year old baby yesterday. Getting ejected is a great way to help your team.
Big Papi for President!!
MR. Valenti– I know Mr. Gaetani and have known him for a very very long time. In fact we went to grade school together at Tucker School. This site has been very hostile to him including you. What I do not understand is the fact that you and he seem to have the same agenda- making Pittsfield a better place for the residents of this city especially the taxpayers and yet you and others try to make him out as some kind of a pariah. Mr Gaetani is a tireless champion of the taxpayer and he represents the taxpayer at every opportunity he gets. He did co-invent,design and built the city’s waterplants and anyone who says otherwise are flat out liars. He had a stellar military career and worked with the highest level military Generals and a president of the United States. He started Viet Vets Chapter 65 with two other Viet VETS and also established CAVA DE TIERRINI SISTER CITY WITH HIS EMPLOYEE MAYOR ABRO THE ITALIAN CITY MAYOR. Gaetani is one of the most generous persons Ihave ever met and he is a friend to many on the West SIDE especially many of the black residents of the West side. He has decided to help the poor taxpayer -any way he can. Put yourself in his shoes having to watch idiots like Shakes his head and several other crack pots trying to tear him apart with lies and inuendo and you who should know better better allowing it. HE HAS NO ACCESS TO THIS SITE AND CAN NOT DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST THESE CRACK POTS. This is why I and several others who post on this site try to do whatever we can to protect him from some of the nuts that post on this site. The taxpayers couldn’t have any better friends than you and Mr. Gaetani and I think the two of you should have a truce for the benefit of we the taxpayers. Stream his show and you will see he has had it with you and several crack pots on this site and has indeed belittled you but you can see it is out of frustration. This city is a mess and the city.s two taxpayer watch dog’s extrodinaire- you and him- must unite and turn this city around. There is no one else as tenacious as you and he and you must unite. IF NOT-WE CAN KISS THIS CITY GOOD BYE. Thank you for leting me vent on behalf of Mr. Gaetani. He sends his regards.
I agree! Everyone who is wants change for Pittsfield politics should unite! Fight the good fight! That is the way politics should be!
New, With deepest due respect to Mr, Gaetani. He has stated repeatedly for well over a couple of years now that he is starting his own blog. Can you advise if this is true ? When can we expect it ? It may be a sensation.
If I had a blog about Pittsfield politics, I would call it “Good Old Boys predictions”. I would point out all of the Good Old Boys who have ran Pittsfield politics into the ditch and then make predictions about what comes next for the city government and community.
QM- No need for another blog. This blog is the best. What is needed is many to join the non-gobsig network. IF THIS ISN’T BUILT Bye Bye Pittsfield. Do you agree?
I M N
Here we go again. It’s obvious you are posting as Craig’s request.
We all know Craig’s C.V. We applaud his efforts on behalf of the taxpayer. He is a generous man. We know that and readily concede those points. Any neutral party, however, would agree that this site site is not at all hostile to him. Craig should realize, though, that he would be best off (a) not responding to criticisms here, which only feeds the fire, and that (b) he would be much better off developing his own blog and continuing with his TV show. I love the guy, and my actions here are for his own good.
if I were a champion of the taxpayers I’d not be filing frivolous lawsuits that will only cost Mary and Joe more to get thrown out of court, expecting the public to record and preserve the audio records of my threatening and belligerent rants directed at public employees trying to do their jobs, and wasting an hour of cable access’ time each week with fairy tales branded as news.
Thank you MR. V–The wiz stands alone and really needs no help from people who won’t help themselves. I spoke to the wiz this morning and he wanted me to relay to you that he sent a letter to Tyer for access to the water plants he built and he made the request as the co-inventor,designer and builder but more importantly– as a major taxpayer Any taxpayer should have access to any city of Pittsfield property as they own all of the city’s properties. The ball is in Tyers hands now and it will be interesting to see where the Wiz goes from here. HE told me to tell you that as soon as he gets access he will invite you as you were the first person he took to the plants but couldn’t get in because of the insecurity of collingwood. We will see what happens now. AGAIN -tHE Wiz sends his regards.
Countdown, day 4,5,6,7,8,9 etc.etc. This number could go to infinity. I doubt the level 5 story will ever see print in the BB. Too close to home. You would think they would have hit the ground running. A missed opportunity. If they can’t hire a proofreader, get an editor that actually edits something. Some of Dick Lindseys columbs are laughable.
EDDIE
It will be fun to continue the countdown, but I don’t know if they make numbers that high. I heard from a couple of inside sources today that the plan is to just ignore the initial flare and let it die down. Typical. Notice, though, that no city official has come forward to refute our assertions.
Another weekend, another chance for Terry Hughes to be back iat a Boys’ & Girls’ Club sanctioned event. Why did the Board fire him and then just turn a blind eye when he is continually invited to be part of Ms. Wixsom’s reign?
Maybe the man genuinely cares about the mission of the boys and girls club and is volunteering his time like any other interested party?
Watching the schools deal with a cut in budget increases is laughable when you think about best buy,macys, sabic,babalouies….they are advocates and the Mayor has been hired to make them deal with reality of home owners that are sick to death of their inability to cope with abudget problem.The guilt trip is in.
They are asking 3rd graders to figure out math problems bigger than this,its simple arithmatic so get it done.
It’s a lot of work for a Mayor and City Council to cut a Budget. Always take the Low Road.
Just pay the 5 percent.
dan,
As kids we would be outside all the time even in winter.
A house with a paved driveway and a hoop would be for basketball, a large yard or field was baseball/football.
Then there was hunting fishing and trapping.
I also remember the common being flooded in winter and pickup hockey games.
Mom would ask where are you going? Out. Out where? Outside….
Worst trouble we caused was throwing snowballs or rotted fruit at cars. I guess that is terrorism these days and much worse than peddling drugs, robbing, and stealing.
TRAPPER
Great response. It’s true. We were outside all the time. “Outside.”